Fate's Games
(A/N: Second up today. Either side of the war you join, it's all pretty much the same. Until the end. I choose no sides, but without any question the ending if you join the Stormcloaks is far more romanticized and well thought out than if you join the Imperials. Tullius' victory dialogue is basically, "Any last words?" Ulfric's reply, "Let the Dragonborn do it." Tullius, "Fair enough. You want to, Dragonborn, or shall I?" It's bland and colorless. Judging by the Skyrim trailer and the endings of the war, its obvious where the producers were leaning with the game. The Dragonborn is the default prisoner you start with before making your own, and the side you join is neither of them or the Stormcloaks, if the ending of the Stormcloak civil war quest line is anything to go by. It might not be, but still. Hence the reason that for this one I go with the Stormcloak ending.)
And If I Surrender?
He watched silently as the Stormcloaks converged outside the castle. "So it ends," he remarked quietly.
"Sir?" she questioned, voice cracking.
He turned slowly to her, eyes tired. He was so drained, and for a moment, just a moment, she could swear she saw relief in his eyes, calm, acceptance… And her heart dropped. "Let them come," he said gently, moving towards the chairs.
She felt like sobbing as he sat, so resigned, so ready to die… She approached and knelt before him. Her hands were upon his knees, then she reached up and cupped his cheek gently. "We have not lost yet. If we are to die, we will take Ulfric with us."
"No… Not we, Rikke. Me. Only me. Leave this place, now," he ordered, gently cupping her own cheek, and terror came to her eyes, coupled with tears.
"You-you have given up," she said in realization.
"Long ago," he answered.
Flashback
Neither of them knew how they'd come to be in this position now, beneath the sheets of his bed, bodies moving together as one. They had never felt anything for each other, had they? But everything they were doing now seemed to debunk that theory. She gasped for breath as they pulled away from a kiss. What had driven this passion they felt now, driving them to throw away all they had ever believed for the sake of this one night? All she'd done was enter his room as he was bent over his desk writing fervently. All he'd done was obey her plea to him to rest a moment. All they'd done was meet each other's eyes as she gently felt his forehead and then, well, they weren't here right now because he'd let her pull away after her blush.
Only days later the Stormcloak's were at their door, taking out the final stronghold they'd had, and at that moment Tullius knew all was lost. She didn't believe it, she wouldn't, she was in denial, but it was as plain to him as the daylight and the stars. They had lost, and Ulfric was victorious…
Present
Tears burned her eyes. "No, no," she breathed, gently holding his face, her forehead nuzzling his. "Do not give up. Please, do not give up. Oh divines, for all of our sakes, you cannot forsake us. You cannot forsake me."
"I will never forsake you," he swore. "But lady, you must know when there is no hope."
"There is always hope," she replied.
"Secure the door," they heard Ulfric order. She sobbed, shaking her head in denial. She was trembling now, and he embraced her so, so gently.
"Go," he whispered.
"Never," she vowed. "Do not make me leave you. Not now. Find hope once more, beloved one, find your hope once more."
Softly he kissed her and answered, "Give me a reason to try."
"Am I not reason enough?" she asked. He said nothing and she knew… She was more than enough. But it didn't matter… So she upped the ante. "Because there grows inside of me a life."
Tullius slowly looked up into her eyes, gaze shocked. "What?" he breathed.
"I am with child," she replied, and his mind was instantly thrust back to that night.
His lips slowly parted in disbelief, then fear and desperation were in his eyes, but he was slow to react, and they heard Galmar say, "Already done."
ES
Before Tullius could say anything she had risen and stood protectively in front of him, ordering, "Ulfric, stop."
As the rebel leader slowly approached, Galmar and the Dragonborn with him, he asked, "Stop what? Taking Skyrim back from those who would leave her to rot?"
"You're wrong, Ulfric. We need the Empire. Without it Skyrim will surely fall to the Aldmeri Dominion," she tried to reason.
"You were there with them. You saw it. The day the Empire signed that damned treaty was the day the Empire died," Galmar viciously shot.
"You're a damned fool," she answered.
"Stand aside woman. We've come for the General," Galmar declared.
"He has given up," she said, sorrowfully turning around to face him. He met her eyes, his own awed, and she continued, "But I have not."
"Rikke, go. You're free to leave," Ulfric said softly.
"I'm also free to stay and fight for what I believe in," Rikke answered.
"You're also free to die," Ulfric countered.
"This is what you wanted? Shield brothers and sisters killing each other? Families torn apart? This is the Skyrim you want?" Rikke demanded, tears in her eyes. She saw the hesitation flicker in her enemies own.
But then Galmar shot, "Dammit woman, stand aside!" The hesitancy faded, became cold once more, and she knew… she knew this was over.
"That's not the Skyrim I want to live in," she answered.
"Rikke, you don't have to do this," Ulfric reasoned.
"You've left me no choice. Talos preserve us," she replied.
She lunged at them all viciously. "Rikke!" Tullius exclaimed, leaping up and drawing his blade. Immediately he ran into the battle and attacked viciously, shielding her from every blow he possibly could. But they were being separated. No, no, no, please no, he silently begged the divines. Oh gods, spare the woman who bears my child. Galmar was swinging his war hammer at her. "No!" he exclaimed. The General shoved the Dragonborn back then leapt ahead, grabbing Rikke and thrusting her to the side. The blow caught him and he heard bones snapping like twigs. With a cry of pain he fell to the ground on hands and knees, clutching his side. "Enough! Enough," Tullius exclaimed, seeing the Dragonborn running for her, and those two words were all that would spare her now.
ES
Everything seemed to stop in that moment. Galmar made no move, Ulfric paused everything, and the Dragonborn froze, his blade's tip at Rikke's stomach. They all looked to Tullius. There was no need to fight anymore. The Dragonborn pulled Rikke to her feet and held her back from any potential attack. She could only gape in horror at her General, her lover's, position. "Tullius," she breathed.
"This is it for you," Ulfric declared. "Any last words before I send you to Oblivion?"
"You realize this is exactly what they wanted," Tullius replied. Rikke was safe, she would be spared, and right now that was all that mattered to him.
"What who wanted?" Galmar asked.
"The Thalmor," he replied. "They stirred up trouble here. Forced us to divert needed resources and throw away good soldiers, quelling this rebellion."
"It's a little more than a rebellion, don't you think?" Ulfric questioned.
"We aren't the bad guys you know," Tullius answered.
"Maybe not, but you certainly aren't the good guys," Ulfric calmly said.
"Perhaps you're right. But then what does that make you?" Tullius asked.
"You just said it yourself," Ulfric soothingly answered, because despite his hatred for this man, for all he stood for, he respected him. He deeply, deeply respected him. Tullius had proven a worthy opponent, and there was part of him, just a part, that wanted to spare him, that wanted all of this to end, that wanted to see him live another day. This man was a man, just like him. In every he was like him… They thought alike, spoke alike, planned alike, were so much alike… Had it truly come to this? Killing each other over, over this? Who was right and who was wrong? Really? It was almost childish. They were not the ones guilty. Neither of them. Yet he would die innocent.
ES
"It makes us right," Galmar insisted, breaking the thought process. Tullius nearly scoffed. A child's words, no more no less. I'm right, you're wrong, that's final. He could have laughed. He felt Ulfric's hesitancy, and that hesitancy gave him a sense of hope. Even if he were killed here, his death would not be in vain, and he… he would be given all the respect that Ulfric could give. He would be given a burial, he would be returned to his homeland. That realization pricked at him, and he wondered. Would he have done the same for this rival? This man he had come to greatly admire and respect despite how well he hid it.
Then his eyes fell upon her. The woman weeping helplessly as the Dragonborn held her back. If the man released her now she would make no move, he knew. Nothing she could do would help him now. His fate was in Ulfric's hands alone. His eyes filled with pity, his teeth gently clenched. "Forgive me," he whispered to her, and only they knew what he'd said. She sobbed, looking down and shaking her head in denial. Would she be taken care of? Would Ulfric grant her help? He'd wanted to let her go, after all…
"And if I surrender?" Tullius asked, because despite it all, he felt a fire burning inside of him. One that refused to go out. He wanted to be with this woman, to live to see their child grow.
"The Empire I remember never surrendered," Ulfric answered.
"That Empire is dead. And so are you," Galmar stated, and Tullius knew… He knew there was no hope.
"So be it," he replied, bowing his head in surrender. But still Ulfric made no move. Still inside of him there raged conflict, inside of both of them, he knew.
ES
"Just kill him and let's be done with it already," Galmar insisted, seeing the pause. Not now. Not when they were so close… Don't you dare back down, my liege.
"Come Galmar, where's your sense of the dramatic moment?" Ulfric replied.
"By the gods!" Galmar exclaimed, annoyed and agitated. "If it's a good ending to some damn story you're after, perhaps the Dragonborn should be the one to do it."
"Hmm, good point. Well Dragonborn, what do you say? Do you want the honor?" Ulfric asked.
"No, no, please, no!" she begged, struggling in the Dragonborn's arms.
But the hero simply replied, "I've had my fair share of killing today." She burst into tears helplessly.
"This moment we three shall be immortalized in song," Ulfric declared.
"Please, please, don't do this! Do not do this!" she pled desperately.
They were no longer listening. In horror and misery she watched Ulfric approach his victim. Tullius met the man's eyes, but only for a moment. Softly they turned in her direction, and he whispered, "I'm sorry."
"Oh gods, I beg you! Spare him, my lord, please, spare him!" she pled, collapsing to the ground. "My General, do not leave me to raise this child alone." This time Ulfric sharply looked in her direction, stunned. Tullius shook his head sadly. Galmar gaped at her in horror, and the Dragonborn… he simply started and met the General's eyes.
Would it be enough? She didn't know. Somehow she doubted it. But if there could be a chance, even a chance that he would live to see another day… She would sell her soul to the Daedra themselves… Soon, though, Ulfric turned back to the General, and slowly he raised the axe. She sobbed and closed her eyes tightly. Gods, please, spare him… Spare him…
(A/N: I was torn between Tullius and Elisif and Tullius and Rikke for a long time before deciding. I've watched walkthroughs of this quest ending, and in both it seems Rikke stops fighting and stands to the side as Ulfric, Galmar, and the Dragonborn attack Tullius, which made me wonder if she can survive the battle if you leave her alone. But again, I'm not choosing sides, and everyone who does kills her even when she stops fighting.)