The blizzard had abated during the night, and dawn came clear and cold. They started their journey early, leaving the college and passing through Winterhold, attracting many curious and even some hostile glances from the populace. Most of the Titans did not notice, but Robin did and cautiously mentioned it to Darys.
"Your sight is keen, Robin. People do not trust what they do not understand. Many blame the College for real or imagined disasters, regardless if it was the College's fault or not. And yet, we are their hope and may yet be their salvation, but they do not know it." He sighed heavily. "Sometimes I think it is easier to battle daedra and demons than the nature of men and elves."
"At least that seems to be one constant in the Multiverse. We often see the same thing in our world." Robin's face was grim.
"Let us not sully this wonderful morning with gloom. Most probably we will not see today's sunset, so let us make the most of what time we have left!" Darys said, clapping Robin on the shoulder.
"I guess that was supposed to be motivational" Robin said, but he smiled at Darys. "You are right. It is not the first time we go into danger. It's just that everything is so… strange."
Flashing a wide grin at Robin, Darys fell back a little and engaged in a muted conversation with Raven that lasted until they reached Fort Kastav, more than half way to their destination.
The fort was a bustling hive of military activity. The guards quickly noticed and reported their approach, so by the time they arrived, a delegation was waiting for them.
Darys stepped towards the man who was obviously in charge and embraced him.
"Jarl Balgruuf! It is good to see you again!"
"Dovakhiin! My heart is full of joy at the sight of you! Come, rest for a few moments before we proceed to Windhelm."
They entered the fort, to a welcome warmth radiating from a huge fireplace. "Friends!" said Darys to the Titans. "Please rest and eat, for we shall be continuing our journey in less than an hour. We have to reach our destination by early afternoon."
The Titans were more than eager to take his advice after the long, grueling march through the icy land. Sitting down at the roughly-hewn table, they attacked the delicacies spread before them with zeal.
"They may not have pizza, but what they do have is dee-licious!" said Cyborg, gnawing at a roast ox leg. "There's more than enough stuff even for Beast Boy! And there is no tofu!"
"I don't mind, bro! These pies are fantastic!"
Little else was said until they finished. Darys joined them to explain what awaited, unfurling a map of the province.
"We will continue our travel to the gates of Windhelm. We have already placed our command post at an old, ruined fort called Morvunskar, and we will direct the battle from there. The High Queen has called up the armies of the Nine Holds and has given the command to Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun. They will enter Windhelm and protect its walls, but the main battle will be here, just outside the city" he said, pointing at a place on the map.
"The Imperial Legions and the Thalmor forces are already deployed side by side. They are our strongest and most numerous forces. As I said, the Army of the Holds will protect Windhelm, but they will also attack the enemy from the flank once the initial assault is stopped. Mages from the College will provide bombardment and support, together with the Imperial Siege troops and the Thalmor mages. Other units will be in reserve."
His face softened in a wistful smile. "The Thalmor and the Imperials are blood enemies, and yet they will fight shoulder to shoulder against a common foe today. Would that it could stay that way after the battle." His face fell. "But I fear it shall not be so."
"Darys, we never took part in a real battle. What will be our duties?" Robin asked.
Darys looked at the Titans one by one, returning his gaze finally to Robin.
"You must understand that no matter how many or how strong we are, we cannot prevail. Our job is simply to protect Raven at all costs, until she can defeat Trigon. You shall all be with me at Morvunskar, and your job will be to serve as last line of defense for your friend. If she is lost, we all are. If she is successful, the realm will live, regardless if the rest of us do or do not."
The good cheer of the Titans was suddenly subdued as realization of what they were heading for sunk in.
Several people joined them. Most had the look of hardened warriors, the hilts of their weapons well-worn. The leader of the group greeted Darys.
"Greetings, Harbinger. We are here."
"Vilkas! Good to see you all. Did you bring them?"
"Here they come" Vilkas said, turning around to look at two young girls running towards Darys.
"Papa! We are here!" the girls cried, jumping into Darys' arms. He returned their hug fiercely. "Sophie! Lucia! I missed you so much!"
Darys turned towards the Titans, an arm around each one of the girls' shoulders. "Allow me to introduce my daughters, Sophie and Lucia! Girls, these are the Titans, the heroes that will help us in our struggle!"
The two girls were of similar age as the Titans, beautiful, tall and wide of shoulders. Lucia was shorter, with black hair, wearing a full set of armor made from a translucent, greenish material. A wicked-looking axe of the same color was hooked in her belt. Sophie was taller, red-headed, armored in shiny black and with a closed helm under her arm. She wore a scabbarded curved sword, similar to a katana, of the same black material.
The two girls looked at their guests. Sophie fixed her gaze on Cyborg, while Lucia's eyes were darting from Beast Boy to Robin and back. A spark of anger appeared in Starfire's eyes as she frowned and possessively put her hand on Robin's forearm. Lucia also frowned, placed a hand on the haft of her axe, then started as if remembering something, looked at her father, smiled at Starfire and sat beside Beast Boy. Raven tried to hide a smile, product of her amusement at the girls' antics. And while none of the men noticed anything out of the ordinary, the girls had already gotten to know each other well, and had divided the spoils before uttering a single word.
Robin was worried. "Are you sure you want to bring your daughters to the battle, Darys?"
Darys lifted a quizzical eyebrow at him. "They are well trained and have already been in several skirmishes. Battle is not new to them. And they are not much younger than you are."
Robin was not convinced. "Yes, but… Your own daughters?"
Darys scowled. "If we do not win there will be no safe place for them." He stood up and rolled up the map. "Well, the sooner we start, the sooner we will get there!"
They reached the crumbling fort to meet a throng of people of all races, all milling about in a well-organized chaos. As they climbed towards the main tower itself, Darys looked up at the many bird-like forms circling the shrine. Beast Boy touched Darys' shoulder, pointed at them and asked "Sir, um, Darys, are those dragons?"
"Aye!" said Darys, his grim features lighting up in a fierce smile. He lifted his head up to the sky and shouted in a powerful voice. Drem yol lok, sos zeymah! The dragons roared a deafening reply.
Beast Boy watched the creatures with a strange look in his eyes. "They are… beautiful!" he whispered to himself.
At the summit of the tower a pedestal of white stone was set up, its base carved with runes and fanciful images. Three Dunmer mages were standing around it. Darys greeted them.
"Master Neloth! Master Baladas! Master Aryon! I am glad to see that you are here!"
Neloth just harrumphed, while Baladas Demnevanni stood silent. Only Aryon spoke. "Today there is no other place to be, Darys. We are ready. Let us finish this!"
Darys nodded to Aryon and turned to the Titans. "These are the three most powerful wizards in Tamriel. They will erect and maintain a protective dome over our sorceress, but because of that they will not be able to do anything else. The rest is up to us – and Raven."
He took Raven to the side. "You know what you have to do, Raven. Do you need anything before you start?"
She shook her head and levitated up to the pedestal, taking up a lotus position. The three Telvanni wizards lifted their arms and a shimmering blue dome formed over Raven.
"We are ready", Darys sighed. "Let them come."
They did not have to wait for long.
The invading army poured like a flood down the far bank of the White River. Over them, scores of dragons shrieked their challenge to the defenders. The ground shook and the air was filled with the roars and shouts of the attackers. Behind the army, the enormous red bulk of Trigon hove into view.