3 years later...
She opened the doors to the Palace of the Kings, and entered.
The day was cold and snowy, you could barely see your hand in front of your face, and Benjen's clothes were covered in snow. The moment she entered the palace she sighed and felt herself being surrounded by the warmth of the bonfires.
But there was nothing warm in the expression of the man who had summoned her, he didn't look hostile, but his eyes emanated mistrust.
"Ah, Ulfric Stormcloak, the leader of the rebellion." She said and faked a smile.
She didn't like the man. They had similarities, of course, but their similarities didn't make them allies. Ulfric was a damn madman, he only craved power, and was blinded by it. He didn't know that the real threat hid behind the imperials.
He could only see the smaller picture, while Benjen saw the whole picture.
But her allegiance laid nowhere. She couldn't be bothered to pick a side. Tullius was too moralistic for her, and oh, those rules; and Ulfric was too petty, a man too small for a throne that big, he didn't deserve the power he held.
But there she was, in his palace, invited for a reason that may or may not be completely obvious.
"Benjen Sheothson, thanks for coming. Come with me to the war room, we have to discuss some things." Said Ulfric.
"Straight to the point. He must be in a hurry, or desperate... or both." She thought, right before following him.
They entered the room and saw Galmar Stone-Fist there, the man pierced his eyes into Benjen's. He didn't like her, and it was obvious, but apparently, she was needed.
"You finally arrive, good. Now we can start." He said boldly.
Benjen rose a brow.
"Why am I here?" She asked, turning her attention towards Ulfric.
"You have been around for three years, Sheothson. You killed Alduin, but you haven't picked a side in the fight for Skyrim. You would be a powerful ally, and if you join our forces, you would be compensated greatly." Said Ulfric.
Straight to the point.
"I've said it before, and apparently I have to say it again because you cheese brains don't listen: I am not picking a side, my allegiance lays nowhere. I have bigger problems than you idiots fighting for gold and lands." Said Benjen, standing her ground.
She was tired of this, Tullius and Ulfric wanted her as an ally, but she wasn't interested. She didn't want to get stuck in the middle of a fight she didn't care about, or politics that didn't matter to her.
She was dark brotherhood only, and she meant it to stay like that.
"Speak with more respect, you redguard whore, you are speaking to the rightful king of Skyrim!" Exclaimed Galmar, walking towards her and staring at her with eyes filled with hate.
Before he could do anything rash, Ulfric placed a hand on his shoulder and stopped him.
"Now, now. Don't speak to her like that, the dragonborn is our guest." Said Ulfric.
Benjen stared at Galmar, tranquil on the outside... but on the inside, she wanted to rip open Galmar's belly and take out his intestines, and let him die slowly.
"Our fight goes beyond lands and gold. We want freedom, we want to set this land free from the Empire. Skyrim is a land of the Nords, and it should stay like that." Said Ulfric.
"... you do know that you are talking to a Redguard, right? I don't care who owns the land, as long as they don't get in my business, I do not give a fuck who is the ruler of this land, and I am not going to fight for something I don't care about." Said Benjen.
"Of course you will not fight for a cause you don't care about... but what about the rewards you might get for fighting for us? A piece of land maybe? Your own village? Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a Jarl?" Asked Ulfric.
"I do not want to own a piece of grass and a fucking shack in the middle of a cold tundra. House Fire-Leaf had a great city in Hammerfell, but my stepfather stole it from my family, and now we have nothing. Unless you could give me back Coast Of Fire, I do not give a fuck about your rewards. And I doubt you could send an army to Hammerfell to help me take it back." Said Benjen coldly, her eyes turning golden and her pupils slitting.
"Okay, then let me put it in other words for you: if you do not join us now, you will become an enemy of the Stormcloaks, and my people will attack you if they see you in the wilderness of Skyrim. You should know that I do not beg, miss Sheothson." Said Ulfric coldly. His patience was gone, and he had no time to debate and fight with the daughter of the Madgod.
"And I do not kneel to any king, no matter how legitimate is their claim to the throne." Said Benjen, her eyes pierced into Ulfric's. She stood up straight, but her small height didn't help her to look any more dangerous.
But her scars, and the little piece missing of her left ear, could scare the children away.
"Think this thoroughly, Sheothson. You are just one woman, you can't take on the power of a full army." Said Ulfric.
"Oh look at me, I'm fucking trembling!" Said Benjen childishly.
"Get out of my city, woman. You have no place in windhelm, and now you are a sworn enemy of the stormcloaks. My guards will let you leave without hurting you, but if you return, or if any of my soldiers find you in the field, they are allowed to kill you." Said Ulfric, his tone was full of superiority.
It was an order from a king, a powerful man, but Benjen couldn't care less if it came from a stable boy.
"Hmmm bad idea. Tell your soldiers to stay away, unless you want to see their heads in spikes later. Or their bodies cut in half and hanging from trees. Or who knows!? I can get really creative when it comes to killing. What can I say? It is an art that I master." Said Benjen as she smiled like a psychopath, her golden eyes darkening.
Ulfric felt a little bit nauseous when he heard Benjen's words. He had seen her handiwork, and it wasn't a pretty sight. Some of his soldiers reported seeing bandits torn to pieces or worse... apparently, her favorite way to kill someone was disemboweling them and letting them hang from their intestines. There were other ways she enjoyed, but Ulfric couldn't remember them or he would vomit his breakfast.
"Get the fuck out, before I change my mind." Said Ulfric.
Benjen started walking, she arrived to the great hall where his throne was, and she took a bottle of wine.
"Gotta take something for the road, ya know? Anyway, it was an honor, your majesty." Said Benjen as she made a mocked reverence.
Ulfric scoffed as he saw the mad redguard leave his palace. He sat on his throne, feeling weirdly exhausted.
Galmar appeared from the war room, and he let out a small growl.
"Never liked that redguard. She isn't trustworthy, at least now we know she isn't on our side. I want to kill her, personally." He said.
"We lost a possible ally and made a powerful enemy, this isn't what I wanted. But if she doesn't want to pick a side, so be it." Said Ulfric. Losing Benjen was more of a disadvantage than an advantage; but his pride was at stake, and he couldn't beg in front of Sheothson, or Galmar.
He couldn't show any sides of weakness.
"Bah, forget her. She is just one woman. We have an army. Should I send a party to kill her? So we can get rid of her quickly?" Asked Galmar.
"Yes. Send them tomorrow, and send messengers to alert all our troops that she must be killed on sight. Benjen Sheothson is strong, but not strong enough to take on a whole army." Said Ulfric.
"I will do it at once." Said Galmar.
He left the room, and Ulfric was alone once more.
Alone with his thoughts.
He wondered if he had made the right choice.
But silence was his answer.
