I went and created an entire family tree for Felwinter and the worst part is that its pretty big and contains heavy spoilers so I can't show it till much later
Shadows over Raven Rock
Skaal Village had lost more than half its people to Miraak and his accursed Stones. His machinations had left the settlement a shell of what it must have been before. But looking upon it now, one would never have been able to tell that. The village was alive with voices and movement as the Skaal made the final preparations for their guests' departure.
Jordis stepped away from the window she watched them through, letting the curtain fall and shroud the room in darkness once more. Not much of what she brought had survived the Temple but the last of those few things had been packed away. Her armor, cleaned by the Skaal, had been donned with only a small amount of difficulty, thanks to their healers. Next to her pack and against the wall, lay her sword.
Every lingering ache her injuries caused, every wince of pain they pulled from her, forced her mind back to the battle she just barely survived. To the Khajiit warrior, her blinding agility and skill with a blade evoked as much respect in the shieldmaiden as it did dread. How, even dead, headless and a feast for crows, parts of Jordis feared her return. And, in some parts, how Felwinter would react. Or whatever creature now lurked inside his mind.
Her Thane still didn't remember the Temple, or the state of battle-frenzy he had been in. A luxury Jordis couldn't afford. But more than once, she had seen him flinch and take his arm in hand. The hand he shoved through the Khajiit's chest as if it was a sword. The bulging of her eyes, the sound and sight of his hand exploding from her back. And as if there were nothing there...
Jordis shuddered and shook her head to clear it. She walked away from the window, to the door and picked up her sword and pack, slinging the latter over her shoulder while the former remained clutched in hand. She exited the room quietly, giving the place one more look over before closing the door behind her.
Gregor was already outside. Jordis found him sitting on a bench between their rooms, his pack at his feet, his sword across his knees, pulled slightly from its scabbard. His face was shadowed but it was clear he was frowning. He let the sword close when he heard the sound of her footsteps. "You ready?" He asked quietly.
"I am. Were you waiting for me?" She asked back. He shook his head no. "Then why sit here? They're waiting."
Gregor doesn't respond at first. He keeps his eyes on the wall for some time. Then he responded with another question. "What are your plans after all this?"
Jordis blinked. She hadn't thought much of "after this". "By the way our Thane spoke, this mess is far from over. I'm not looking that far ahead just yet."
"So you plan to see this through?"
Another confusing question. "Do you not?"
Gregor seemed to have run out of questions to use as answers. Felwinter's voice calling them from the ground floor interrupted the beats of silence that passed them by. Jordis glanced once more at Gregor before heading to the stairs and making her way down. A few seconds after she disappeared, Gregor pushed himself to his feet and followed.
The snowfall was gentle but persistent. Even after his time in Skyrim, it was still something Felwinter found himself trying to adjust to. Eighteen years and ten years in temperate High Rock and sun-scorched Hammerfell were not so easily undone.
Felwinter secured the last of his things to Arvak, the beast complaining about the snow as much as Felwinter himself wanted to. Behind him, Frea, Fanari and Storn had their eyes on the flaming horse. Frea, hidden beneath the shroud of blankets her father had wrapped her in, looked both exhausted and impressed. Fanari looked unamused and Storn seemed quite the opposite, a smile hidden within his beard. When Felwinter was finally set, he turned and thanked them. For the supplies, for the information, for the extra horses. He jerked a thumb to the two living ones for his housecarls. "I'll speak to Raven Rock about sending them back," he told them.
He could see the protest beginning to form on Frea's lips but Fanari cut in immediately. "We would appreciate it," she says, "We'd rather you three return to Raven Rock and Skyrim quickly and safely but good mounts are hard to come by."
"I figured as much." Behind them, Felwinter spotted Jordis approaching, Gregor a few steps behind her, his head down. "You're prepared?" He asked both of them.
Jordis immediately makes for her horse and starts securing her pack. "I am, Thane."
"So am I." Gregor was still trailing behind her, his brow a tight furrow. Worry pricked Felwinter, worry that Gregor's injuries were bothering him still more than he would admit.
Storn stepped closer to Arvak, taking his boney snout in his palm and smiling when Arvak pressed into it. "Whiterun, correct?"
Felwinter confirmed, "Whiterun, yes. If I'm anywhere else, it will still be the safest place to hold my messages. But if the gods...or god…" Frea gave a tired smile. Storn, a small, throaty chuckle, "Is good, I won't have to leave Whiterun for a long time." Fanari snorted derisively at that.
"Nevertheless, we thank you and your village for your hospitality. Even with how difficult things have been, you still took us in. And you Frea, especially." He looked at her. "For saving us back there. I'll make it worth your while, I promise."
Storn stuck out his arm and Felwinter used his right arm to take it. It stings when Storn's brawny hand grasps it, even when he was doing his best to be gentle but Felwinter weathered it all the same. Felwinter took the arms of the others in turn before he returned and climbed up onto Arvak. There was little time to be wasted. With one last look to the Skaal and one last nod to its leaders, Felwinter set Arvak off. Gregor and Jordis let him pull ahead before moving to trail behind him. The horses took them into the forest. Skaal village disappeared behind the trees.
The ride back to Raven Rock was silent. Felwinter had too much on his mind for idle chatter and despite the reputation he had, he was capable of reading a room. The others didn't want to talk and there was no need to force it, nor a desire.
No Ash-Spawn, no cultists and Raven Rock was rising from below the horizon before they knew it. Felwinter spurred Arvak to move faster, ready to finally rid himself of this island, even if it was just for a short while.
The gates were still closed, just as he told the Captain. No cuts or breaks in the wood, no scorch marks. It seemed that nothing had attacked Raven Rock during their departure. It was good to know, though Felwinter didn't consider it a waste to have played it safe. From where they were, two guards could be seen, stationed behind the wood and before Felwinter could raise his arm to signal his return, one shouted for the gate to be opened.
The mechanism thundered in the walls as the wooden grate was raised out of the path connecting Raven Rock to the rest of Solstheim. Felwinter led his group through and ignored the looks and murmured words of the Dunmer beginning to crowd around as they passed through the gate.
Plans to seek out the Councilors and the Captain ended when Felwinter spots them approaching from near the port, one of the guards leading them to him. Arvak came to a stop, pawing the ground in mild agitation at the crowd. Felwinter dismounted, removed his things from the saddle and let Arvak return to the Soul Cairn, something he did so gladly.
He turned to see Gregor and Jordis doing the same. When two young men stepped forward to lead the horses away, Felwinter called out, "Have those two watered and fed. They'll need to be returned to the Skaal." They nodded quickly, dark hair shaking in the wind, their eyes averted, before doing as told. Felwinter must have looked rougher than he thought.
Captain Veleth was less subtle. "Azura's eyes," he murmured, his own flicking up and down the Mens' battered frames. "You three look as if the Ashpits chewed you up and spit you out because it didn't like the taste."
"Not the Ashpits, no."
"What's the word, sera?" Morvayn cut straight to the point, "You all survived. Can we assume you had some measure of-"
"Can we speak in private?" Felwinter's voice had lowered so far and quickly, Councilor Morvayn just barely caught him. But he did. And the more he looked at the bruises and bandages wrapped around the three of them, the more dread welled up in his belly.
Morvayn wet his suddenly dry lips. "My home. Quickly."
He led them there, his guards rushing to open the door for him as he barrelled his way through, all the others on his heels. After, he ordered his guards outside. Guardsmen talked and whatever Felwinter had to say was sure to cause a panic. The steel in his voice allowed for no delay nor objection. His guards only bothered with a short bow before they did as he commanded. The last one closed the door behind him, allowing Veleth to lock it.
Felwinter sat down, sighing when he sank into the seat. The housecarls and Councilors followed suit but Veleth remained on his feet, back against the door. Morvayn's eyes flicked warily between the three of them before breaking the silence and directly asking, "What happened, Felwinter?"
Felwinter chuckled bitterly. "What...fucking didn't?" he muttered back. The look in his eyes was bewildered and the curse came through clenched teeth. As if he wanted to stop it but could not. Morvayn cared little. Much more important things to worry about than a simple lapse of manners.
And so, Felwinter told them everything. Approaching the Stones, the cultists, the Khajiit's attack, even his pull into Apocrypha. He told them of Miraak, alive and watching. He told of Miraak's army, of Miraak's intentions. He told them of the Khajiit's death but left out how she died. He told them of the Skaal and how badly this crisis was affecting them. Felwinter spoke and spoke until his tongue was thick and his throat was dry, watching the effect his words had on the men before him.
And an effect it did have. Veleth was pacing, pressing down on his fingers as if he wanted to crack them. Morvayn had his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes on the ground, his mouth a thin, frowning line. Arano's gaze could burn a hole through the wall.
"I knew this was all bigger than it had first seemed. But this..." Morvayn began. Then he leaned over, putting elbows on his knees. "This is...I'm not sure what this is. This army of his alone. I can't even imagine the number."
"The way you speak of his forces, Felwinter, you make them sound endless," Veleth said, "You must have some kind of estimate."
"It was too big to get an estimate, Captain."
"Give us an idea then!" Veleth was agitated and losing the ability to control his temper. "Something, Felwinter. Give us something."
"Bigger than this town," Felwinter snapped and even the hearth seemed to go quiet. "You could place Raven Rock on top of itself ten times over, put a weapon in the hand of every man, woman and child and Miraak would still outnumber you by hundreds upon hundreds. For every one of you they killed, you'd have to kill fifty of them. Can each of your men kill fifty Daedra, Captain? Can their wives? Their children?"
Veleth's eyes bored into him, his head beginning to shake in a nod. "So nothing," he mutters, "We're going to be overrun and there is nothing we can do." The Captain lowered himself into a chair, closing his eyes and rubbing them in frustration.
"If we cannot fight, perhaps…" Arano's eyes close. His face softens. "Perhaps we can flee while we have the chance."
Morvayn turned on him. "That is too many people, Adril," he said slowly.
"But if we begin early…"
"This is our home," Morvayn snapped.
"Corpses do not have homes. Lives can be rebuilt but one has to be alive in the first place to do so."
"And what of those still enthralled by the Stones, huh? We'd be abandoning them." To that, Arano had no argument. "On that point alone, the people of this town would never agree to leave."
Felwinter could see the argument heating up, threatening to spill over. Anger and despair and terror were already threatening to consume them. Even Veleth had gone silent, his eyes glassed over as if he were already dead. "Councilors," Felwinter called, rising to his feet. His voice was quiet but it brought silence all the same. "The situation is not as hopeless as it...very much appears. The Skaal, their shaman, believes he has a plan to free those whose minds have been taken by the Stones. He just needs time to piece this plan together."
"Storn," Arano recalled, "I remember him. He has visited with his village's trading party a number of times before. What makes you think what he plans will amount to anything."
"I don't, to be honest. Even if he means well. But it's all we've got to go on. Even I'm at a loss. All the same, work with his people the best you can," Felwinter told them, "The horses would be a good start."
Felwinter stopped and brought his aching arm up to his chest, feeling the bandages beneath his clothing. He needs time so help give him that time. If what he plans works, then we can worry about what to do with the people of the town."
"Waiting. It is always waiting," Veleth bitterly muttered. His voice rasped, as if it was the first time in days it had been used. "What of the Ash Spawn?"
"Unless you know something I don't, nothing should have changed. Whoever is controlling them is likely still out there but with General Falx gone, you shouldn't have to worry about organized assaults for some time. If you have to move people between here and the Skaal, just use caution."
A long exhale escaped Veleth's nose. Then he nodded, sharply. "We will."
"Morvayn leaned back and crossed his arms again. "And what of you, sera? Will you just be waiting to hear from Storn as well?"
Felwinter's hand began to run over his beard in slight agitation. "I left a host of problems ready to boil over back in Skyrim. And that was when I expected to be back in two weeks. I've been gone a month now and I doubt things have improved." His arm began to sting again. Felwinter resisted the urge to acknowledge it. "But while I deal with that, I'll be doing what I can to convince Skyrim's leaders of the threat. I am on speaking terms with every Jarl. I even consider a number of them good friends like; Hjaalmarch's Idgrod, Whiterun's Balgruuf, Eastmarch's Brunwulf." He rubbed his beard in mild irritation. "The Moot will be conducted soon, to decide the late King Toryyg's successor, since he died without issue."
"And you'll have a say in this decision?" Arano asked.
"I technically already have. There's only one choice now, his widow." He shrugged limply. "And that's only because I cut down the other claimant to the throne. Once the crown is safely on Elisif's head, all the holds can unite behind her. But a lot needs to be done before that and I can do none of it from here."
It was a cue. Veleth returned to his feet first and the others followed suit, albeit a bit more slowly. "When do you depart?" Arano questioned.
"Likely before sunrise, so this is goodbye," Felwinter replied. If the men found his timing strange, they had nothing to say about it.
"Fine. We shall do as you say and stay the course, if you believe it is the best one."
"We'll ensure any message from the Skaal reaches you as needed." Morvayn held out his arm and Felwinter took it. Less pain this time.
Veleth unlocked the door and led the group out. The small gathering from before had dispersed and the town tumbled along as it always did. With the same palpable tension in the air. Final farewells were exchanged before the Dunmer returned to the First Councilor's home. Felwinter began to walk, down the path towards the manor, his housecarls in step behind him.
"Head to the house," he ordered them before diverting towards the docks. He spotted the sea captain, who greeted him with a raised hand. "How are your ships, Captain?"
"Fully repaired," he answered with a smile, "And meaning no disrespect to the Dunmer but very ready to leave."
"You may."
The captain blinked and his smile faltered. "You'll be ready soon?"
"My people and I might be here for a little while longer. Don't worry about us, you go ahead and leave when you're ready." Felwinter clapped the smaller man on the shoulder, rocking him.
"I...if you say so, Thane Felwinter."
Felwinter patted him again before stepping away. He made for the manor, offering nods of greeting to those he knew and little more on his way. His eyes traced over to the Earth Stone, to the people working on it, until he reached his front door. Then he quickly ducked inside.
The upper hearth was dead but Felwinter could see the firelight down the stairs stretching out before him. The others knew that they would be staying in the house for one more night before stepping through the portal, just to give off the illusion that they were there until morning, which would likely be the same time the captain took off so as to reach Skyrim while it was still daylight.
Felwinter dismissed the thought of food, even with his stomach's gentle tightening. He trudged his way downstairs and into his bedroom. His armor was gone in a flash of light and most of his clothing had been shucked off and thrown to the side by the time he reached the bed. It was still daylight outside. Felwinter was asleep immediately.