The Legend of Zelda: Skyrim - Chapter 15: Ice Snakes of the Serpentstone
Lots of stuff happening in this chapter, enjoy and sorry for the months long wait.

The first thing he noticed was that he was looking up at an unfamiliar vaulted ceiling. It rose above him, wooden beams running across at all angles, wall mounts of various beasts of various shapes and sizes seemed to stare at him with their glazed over eyes as he attempted to figure out where he was. The second thing he noticed was that he had seemed to be lying where he was for at least a day, as he felt rather stiff and somewhat sore. The third thing he noticed was that he wasn't wearing much at all. No armor or weapons, no footwear, no shirt, just undergarments, tan pants, and the Curse Stone and iron-silver necklaces. Bandages covered him in various places, such as his left shoulder and his upper chest.

The room Link found himself in wasn't particularly vast by any means, there was a wardrobe to his left, and two end tables placed next to each other at the far end of the room, two chairs at either side of the two tables.

The Hylian slowly rose to a sitting position, taking care not to aggravate his bandaged wounds. The last thing he needed was to become injured due to his foolishness while healing. A voice then got his attention and he looked towards the door, only to find a man in robes standing in the doorway.

"Good morning. I am very glad to see that you awoke on your own. My name is Wuunferth, I'm the Court Wizard here at the Palace of Kings." Wuunferth nodded and adjusted his robes a bit. ""Whatever you've heard I can do is probably true.", bragged the elderly man as he started to cross the room towards Link. "I have been watching over you for the past three days."

"I haven't heard of you before." Link's voice was surprisingly strong and clear, despite what had happened to him.

"You haven't?" The man looked down at the tile flooring. "Well...erm..." Wuunferth looked back up after a few seconds. "My point still stands. I'm sure you'll hear some of my feats eventually. I used some of them to save you, in fact. You must be curious about your injuries, when Ulfric himself carried you up here, you had lost quite a lot of blood. I used various potions and elixirs to replace the blood you had lost."

Before Link could respond, the court wizard kept talking. "About that dragon you killed. It damn near fell on top of all of us, did you know that? No, I suppose you wouldn't. It's remains are still in front of the palace; by the way, we haven't figured out a way to move them yet. And that fact that you absorbed its very soul...You're Dragonborn."

"What about it?" Link spoke in a guarded tone and Wuunferth raised his hands slightly.

"I meant no harm, I was merely thinking how hard it will be for you. I suppose if you were older, you'd have an easier time going around slaying dragons, but, I also suppose, being how young you are, you're more efficient at fighting, but perhaps not as skilled."

It went silent for a while, around five minutes, before Link spoke up. "Where are my things?"

"Your weapons and armor are being mended and cleaned down below. Some of your clothing was unsalvageable. Now then, you don't seem to be suffering any ill effects, that's good..." Wuunferth crossed the room and held out his hands towards Link. "Let's get you standing, shall we?"

The Hylian nodded and accepted the help of the old man as he slowly stood up and looked around for a few seconds.

"If you want to speak to Ulfric, I believe he's down in the main hall, talking to Galmar Stone-Fist about the war."

Link walked around the room a bit to get his bearings before he started to walk out of the room he was in, then Wuunferth stopped him. "Here. Take these, even while you're here, it's too dangerous to go unarmed." The wizard was holding the twin daggers of Dawn and Dusk; Link accepted them and left the room.

He wandered the palace for a while until he eventually found himself in a massive hall, two men having a very heated discussion at the far end. Not wanting to interrupt, the Hero of Twilight decided to hide behind a wooden pillar and realized that their voices carried, meaning, he could hear everything they were discussing.

Link recognized Ulfric's voice right away.

"He's a true Nord. He'll come around." The man sounded tired, as if he had been talking nonstop for hours.

"Don't be so sure of that. We've intercepted couriers from Solitude. The Empire's putting a great deal of pressure on Whiterun." The unknown voice seemed to sound annoyed.

"And what would you have me do?"

"If Balgruuf's not with us, he's against us."

"He knows that. They all know that."

The other man began to sound slightly irritated. "How long are you going to wait?"

"You think I need to send Balgruuf a stronger message."

"If by message you mean shoving a sword through his gullet."

"Taking his city and leaving him in disgrace would make a more powerful statement, don't you think?"

"So we're ready to start this war in earnest then?"

"Soon."

"I still say you should take them all out like you did Deadking Torygg."

'Torygg? I've never heard that name before. Who was he?'

Ulfric continued to speak. "Torygg was merely a message to the other Jarls. Whoever we replace them with will need the support of our armies."

"We're ready when you are."

"Things hinge on Whiterun. If we can take the city without bloodshed, all the better. But if not..."

"The people are behind you."

"Many I fear still need convincing."

"Then let them die with their false kings."

'False kings?'

Ulfric's voice sounded far away, as if he had gotten up and was now walking around."We've been soldiers a long time. We know the price of freedom. The people are still weighing things in their hearts."

"What's left of Skyrim to wager?"

"They have families to think of."

"How many of their sons and daughters follow your banner? We are their families."

"Well put, friend. Tell me, Galmar, why do you fight for me?"

Link risked looking out from behind the pillar - 'Galmar' was standing before Ulfric with his arms crossed. Ulfric then seemed to notice Link and he retreated behind the pillar again.

"I'd follow you into the depths of Oblivion, you know that."

"Yes, but why do you fight? If not for me, what then?" "I'll die before elves dictate the fates of men. Are we not one in this?"

"I fight for the men I've held in my arms, dying on foreign soil. I fight for their wives and children, whose names I heard whispered in their last breaths. I fight for we few who did come home, only to find our country full of strangers wearing familiar faces. I fight for my people impoverished to pay the debts of an Empire too weak to rule them, yet brands them criminals for wanting to rule themselves! I fight so that all the fighting I've already done hasn't been for nothing. I fight...because I must."

"Your words give voice to what we all feel, Ulfric. And that's why you will be High King. But the day words are enough, will be the day soldiers like us are no longer needed."

'High...King? Ulfric wants to be king? Why?'

Ulfric spoke again, now sounding as if he had returned to the main room. "I would gladly retire from the world were such a day to dawn."

"Aye. But in the meantime, we have a war to plan. What are we going to do about the dragon?"

"I have no idea. It's been three days, I suppose we could hack away at it's bones and use then for weapons and armor. I still can't believe what happened."

"I don't think any of us can, Ulfric. The kid killed a dragon above the palace and nearly died from the fall, not to mention what happened afterward."

"The boy's Dragonborn, Galmar. You saw what happened, how that dragon burned away and its soul appeared. I felt just a sliver of it pass me before he absorbed it."

"Do you think he's in danger?"

"Link? Most certainly. But he handled himself at Helgen just fine."

"What did happen at Helgen, Ulfric? You haven't mentioned it much."

"When the time comes, Galmar."

"Do you think he'd be a good Stormcloak?"

"Yes. Absolutely. I saw how Link fought at Helgen, despite everything that had happened to him. He's a natural-born warrior, Galmar. Although his age might be a problem..."

"Why?"

"I don't think he's eighteen yet."

"Would you let him join despite his age?"

"I'll have to think it over." Ulfric's voice grew a bit louder. "I believe we have a visitor. You can come out from behind the pillar now."

As Link debated on whether or not he should leave his hiding spot, Galmar also spoke up.

"Ah, so we have an eavesdropper? Come out, we won't bite, I promise."

The Hylian looked out from behind the pillar, then stepped from behind it and slowly approached Ulfric and Galmar. Both seemed friendly enough.

Ulfric got up from his throne and before either him or Galmar could speak, Link spoke first. "I'd like to join the Stormcloaks."

"I knew it. Good. Although I have to ask you, when is your naming day and your current age?"

"Feras twentieth, and seventeen."

"Which is...?"

"The sixth month."

"Ah, Midyear twentieth then. I'm afraid that's a long ways off, however...Yes. You can take the initiative now, and the day you turn eighteen, you can become an official Stormcloak, maybe even have a small ceremony. Does this sound good to you, Galmar?"

The Nord nodded and smiled. "Yes...But first, tell me. Why's an Elf want to fight for Skyrim?"

"I'm not an elf, I'm a Hylian. Why does it matter who fights for you, though?"

"You mistake me. I'm not saying no - just wondering about your intentions. We're not looking for sellswords. The Stormcloaks need dedicated men and women who're devoted to the cause and willing to die for it."

"To answer your other question, Hararne said he'd vouch for me."

"Hararne...I'll have to speak to him about this. Right then, the test is for you to kill three Ice Wraiths on Serpentstone Isle, it's off the coast of Winterhold up north. Bring back their fangs as proof, and you can take the oath and all of that, like Ulfric said, your next naming day is when you officially become one of us."

"Does every recruit have to do this?"

"Only the ones I'm not sure about. This will prove your abilities, but more importantly, it will prove your commitment."

"I'm going alone?"

"Not so sure of yourself after all? At the end of the day, every warrior is alone. Before you can stand next to your shield brother, you need to be able to stand on your own."

"I'm off to kill that ice wraith."

"We'll see about that, won't we?"

Link turned around and began to walk away, then stopped and looked back. "Where are my things?"

Ulfric got up from his throne and motioned for Link to follow him.

Several minutes later, Link had donned his other clothing and armor and weapons and was now standing in the entrance hall of the palace. Some distance away from Link, Ralof and another Stormcloak soldier were talking to each other.

"So, what do you make of the massive dragon skeleton outside, Geras?"

The other Stormcloak crossed his arms and looked up at the ceiling. "I find it hard to believe that someone rode a dragon here." He uncrossed his arms and moved his gaze back to Ralof. "It came from Kynesgrove, didn't it?"

Ralof gave a firm nod. "It did."

Geras shifted a bit, having stood in place for too long. "Did you see the look on Ulfric's face when the dragon landed? Not to mention what happened to the kid..."

Ralof took a step back. "Yes. I couldn't see much, me being near the back of the crowd, but I also saw those golden tendrils of...magic?"

"I think Ulfric called them 'a dragon's life energy'. Or soul, I think." Geras nodded in affirmation. "Yeah. Soul energy, that's what he called it. So the kid that flew here on that dragon is...Dragonborn? You'd think they'd choose someone older, yeah?"

Ralof gave a sad smile. "Fate chose him, Geras, it's up to Link what happens."

"Link? Is that his name?"

"Yes. Link Farmanne. He's an outsider, says he comes from a place called Hyrule, though no one seems to have heard of it."

Ralof happened to notice who was standing nearby and grinned. "Well, look who it is! Why don't you come over and say hello?"

As Link approached Ralof and Geras, Ralof reached out and clapped a hand on Link's uninjured shoulder, then removed it after a second. "This is him, Geras."

The other Stormcloak eyed Link with curiosity. "So, you're Link? I've heard all about you from Ralof."

Link nodded. "Yes. I don't recall seeing you before."

The other Stormcloak grinned. "What, Ralof never told you about 'the feared and renowned Geras Hamel'?" Geras shook his head. "No...I jest, I'm not feared, and I'm certainly not renowned either, I'm just a Stormcloak officer." He nodded towards Link. "Ulfric seems to have taken a liking to you, supposedly he never left your side while Wuunferth was healing you. The old wizard nearly killed himself saving you, did you know that? Suppose he wouldn't tell you that himself, it'd hurt his pride too much."

Before Link could respond, Ralof spoke up. "If you don't mind me asking, what have you been up to since we last saw each other?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Tell me. Go on, we've got all the time in the world and nothing better to do."

Geras nodded. "Ralof's right. Besides, we want to hear from you how you killed that dragon."

"Alright. I'll tell you what I've been up to."

Link proceeded to tell Ralof and Geras about his exploits. He told them about climbing the seven thousand steps and meeting the Greybeards, then traveling to Orphan Rock and killing Hagravens with the help of Hararne and his Stormcloaks, then a dragon the following morning. From there, he had traveled to Helgen - as it had been faster than any other route - and had been attacked by bandits. He had survived the bandit attack and had gone to Whiterun to seek healing, which Farengar was happy to give. The following morning, he had set out for Ustengrav and had traversed it, then had traveled back to Whiterun to do various things. From there, he then traveled to Riverwood to talk to Delphine, a Blades member, then to Eldergleam Sanctuary to recover a sapling for the Gildergreen. He then headed for Kynesgrove, only to be attacked by a large group of bandits. He dealt with all of them and made it to Kynesgrove, where he had fought the dragon and had flown it to Windhelm.

Ralof shook his head while Geras simply looked on in amazement. "It sounds like you've had quite the adventure. Not for me, though, all I did was stay in Ivarstead for a day, traveled for three days to Windhelm, and have been merely helping out around here until you showed up."

As Ralof finished speaking, Geras took a step back. "So, Link, how exactly did you kill the dragon? We figured it'd be best to hear directly from you."

"Well, I fought the dragon on the ground, got knocked around a bit, used some Shouts, tried not to die, then I used a Clawshot to grab one of Sahlokir's fins", Link showed Ralof and Geras the Clawshot, then accidentally triggered it and set the claw into a wooden beam about twenty feet above them. A second later, he flew upwards and found himself hanging in the air, looking down at the two Stormcloaks.

"Are you alright? How are you going to get down?"

"I'll be okay, Ralof, I'll think of something." Link eyed the pillar nearby and noted there were small cuts in it, no doubt from the original builders cutting into the beam. He risked unlatching the Clawshot, then shot it into the wooden pillar, ending up holding onto one of the cuts in the pillar with his free hand. The Hylian then did the same thing again, dropping five feet and again catching himself. He did this two more times until he was back on solid ground and he put the Clawshot away, then walked back to Ralof and Geras, who were staring at him with wide eyes.

"Right, as I mentioned, I grabbed onto the dragon's back with the Clawshot, got onto his back, then he took off into the sky. As the dragon climbed, I took out the ice dagger, Dawn," he showed said dagger to both Ralof and Getas, "and started to stab him. Sahloknir didn't like that, obviously, so he began Shouting at me.

"The dragon started to spin around in the air, and it was all I could do to hold onto one of its back fins. However, I eventually fell off, returned the dagger to its scabbard, then used the Clawshot and a Shout to get back on the dragon's back. From there, I tried to stab the dragon in the mouth with the Clawshot, but I missed; instead, it wrapped around its neck and I was able to use the Clawshot chain as reins. - Yes, I steered the dragon like a horse, as amusing as it sounds - Sahloknir really didn't like that, so he began to spin even faster than before and he swooped and dived, trying to throw me off, but I simply Shouted at him, staggered him, then stabbed him in the shoulder with my sword. And I guess that's what killed him. You know the rest."

Geras and Ralof both grinned and then started to compliment Link.

"That's amazing! Absolutely amazing, you must have been fifty feet up at least when you fell!" Geras said as he gave a nod.

"Maybe. The thought of you steering that beast like a horse is in fact amusing, wouldn't you say so, Geras?" Ralof asked, looking at his comrade.

"Yes, my thoughts exactly." Geras agreed.

The Hylian ducked his head slightly and smiled. "Oh, come on, it wasn't like that, I merely just acted on a whim and it all worked out in the end." He then felt as if the lower half of his face had hit a patch of Nightshade and Link absentmindedly scratched his chin and cheeks to hopefully negate the itching. He then stopped when he noticed Ralof and Geras looking at each other while smirking, and as he let his hand fall to his side, he eyed them curiously. "Is...Is something wrong?"

Geras shook his head and grinned. "No. Not at all."

"...Maybe Wuunferth...Could a potion perhaps irritate the face? Maybe. I suppose I'll have to ask if anything he healed me with could cause that to happen..."

Ralof looked up at the ceiling for a second, then back towards Link. "It was nice talking to you, Link. Unfortunately, the two of us were supposed to report to Ulfric and Galmar, and us talking to you for so long...Well, I guess the two of us will see what happens. So I suppose this is where we part ways for now."

Link quickly checked his gear and various items before nodding. "You too, Ralof. I have things to do anyway. You two go and report to Galmar and Ulfric."

And with that, the three parted ways, the two Stormcloaks up the stairs, and Link through the massive double doors and out into Windhelm.

Link wasn't sure to expect when he left the Palace of Kings. Sahlokir's skeleton was still there where he had fallen, guards were standing around it, trying to figure out how to cut the bones into transportable pieces. The Hylian ignored them and left the palace proper, then began to walk in the direction of the main gate when he heard what sounded like people cheering, then a bard singing. All of the noise was coming from Candlehearth Hall, according to a nearby sign.

What caught Link's attention was what the bard was singing. He found himself on the tavern's porch a few seconds later, near the door, simply listening to the bard sing.

"Our hero, our hero, claims a warrior's heart. I tell you, I tell you, the Dragonborn comes. With a Voice wielding power of the ancient Nord art. Believe, believe, the Dragonborn comes. It's an end to the evil, of all Skyrim's foes. Beware, beware, the Dragonborn comes. For the darkness has passed, and the legend yet grows. You'll know, You'll know the Dragonborn's come."

As the people inside started cheering and the bard started to thank everyone for listening, a guard walked up to Link. "They're singing about you in there. We all saw what happened three days ago. If I were you, I'd stop in and say hello, but that's just me."

The guard then walked away from Link, who decided he didn't want to draw any more attention to himself - he had had too much of that back home - so he left the inn and continued on his way.

Link reached the main gate around five minutes later, where two guards raised the gate and he passed under it. A massive stone bridge spanned the river before him and the Hero of Twilight stopped walking for a moment, looked around, then crossed the bridge at his own pace. Once he reached the other side, he noticed stables to his left.

A few horses were visible from where he was standing and Link began to think about Epona, whether she was alright, if she had managed to find safety after they had been separated. The Hylian then heard a horse bray and he looked up to see Epona galloping towards him in the distance.

'You always know where to find me, don't you?'

"I'm beginning to regret not bringing warmer armor. How do the people here stand this?"

It was three hours later; Link and Epona had ventured up north in search of Serpentstone Isle, and neither one was favoring the cold very well. The horse moved slowly, trying not to fall over due to the piles of drifting snow everywhere, while all Link could do was press himself up against Epona's neck and try to shield his bared face from the cold winds. "We have to be close..."

Link then heard distant noises. Epona heard them as well, as she stopped and her ears went straight up, causing Link to look around, but he didn't see anything. Then the horse panicked and reared. Link grabbed onto the saddle and hung on as his horse turned in the air and landed, snorting and trembling.

"Something's here with us. Hang on, I'll go see what it is." The Hylian got down from the saddle and tried to figure out what had scared Epona, but he couldn't see anything. Still, there was the sense of something watching him. He reached to his side and drew Dawn and Dusk, flipping them around in his hands as he took a few steps forwards. He then received a gnash to his right arm as he spun and slashed downwards with Dawn, he managed to hit something and he heard something hiss close by.

Link then realized that the things he was fighting the Ice Wraiths Galmar had told him about. He felt something slice the air in front of him. He took a step back, raised the twin daggers, and simply started to stab at the air occasionally. He couldn't see what he was trying to stab, he merely hoped he would eventually hit something.

The things began to attack him and then fly away, hissing constantly as they seemed to circle him and Epona. The horse began to randomly kick at the air, as well as biting at the things as they dared to venture close. Link swung the fire dagger again and hoped it had connected with something. The Hylian was rewarded with an angry hiss and then was bit on his injured shoulder a second later, causing him to collapse.

Through the cloud of snow that rose up around him, he saw what appeared to be two small flying wingless dragons flying back and forth. They were made of ice, meaning Dusk wouldn't do anything against them. He put the dagger away, then summoned Flames with his free hand as he got up and took a step forward. Link then heard something rush at him and he cast Flames in the hopefully relative direction of the creature.

The one Ice Wraith burst into flames from the spell and as it started to fall to the ground, the other creature flew towards Link, who swung the fire dagger and caused it to burst into flames and fall to the snow as well.

Then the two ice Wraiths melted, only leaving behind their fangs. Link picked them up, inspected them, then placed them carefully in his knapsack. As he desummoned the Flames spell and returned Dawn to its scabbard, he then noticed two small pools of a blue shimmering liquid.

'I don't know what this is, but I suppose it could be useful. I might ask Wuunferth when I get back.' He then, after collecting the strange liquid with two empty potion bottles, walked back to Epona, leapt onto her back, and continued towards Serpentstone Isle.

Link soon happened to come across a wrecked ship. It was somewhat large, and had been cut in two by the frozen cliffs that surrounded it. After thinking about it, he decided to see if the wreck had anything of use and got down from Epona, then crossed the ice island over to the ship.

He avoided the two bear traps that had been set up and, after some searching, found a way to board the wreck, where he was set upon by two bandits.

These two were armed to the teeth, but they were weighed down by their weapons and armor, which made Link able to duck and weave as they attempted to kill him. He used the twin daggers, thinking it wasn't worth while to draw Numinex's Bane, and proceeded to block an axe swing, duck, and stab one bandit in the chest with Dusk, turning the man into ice.

Unfortunately, he had been distracted, allowing for the other bandit to swing his sword and catch Link in the head. He collapsed, dropping the daggers as the bandit raised his sword again for the final blow.

The man was rewarded with an arrow to the chest and he stumbled backwards as Link shakily got to his feet, holding his bow as he aimed another arrow at the man, blood from the head wound running down the left side of his face. The bandit charged Link and he released the arrow, dropping the man instantly.

After Link downed two health potions, he left the two bodies were they were and continued to explore the ship. He was attacked by another bandit shortly after and the fight ended very quickly.

After picking up Dawn from where he had thrown it, the Hylian crossed a wooden walkway and entered the ship's cabin. He discovered that this ship had been called the Winter War, judging by a few logbooks he found.

After walking around a bit, he discovered an unlocked closed door and he opened it, only to reveal a bandit chief sleeping on a bed roll in the room.

Unfortunately, as soon as Link stepped into the room, the bandit chief woke up and the two merely looked at each other before the man got up. "You killed my men."

Link eyed the orc as he readied an arrow and his bow. "They tried to kill me."

The orc shook his head, reached behind him, and drew his war axe. "You never should have come here, kid." Then the orc charged.

Link raised his bow and fired the arrow, catching the orc in the chest, but he ignored the injury and continued to charge Link, who put away his bow and tried to avoid the war axe as the orc swung it at him.

He didn't avoid it. The weapon sank into his injured shoulder and sprayed blood in all directions as the orc pinned him against a wall by his throat. "I warned you, kid, and now you'll pay the price of crossing me."

The Hero of Twilight was surprisingly calm despite what had happened and all he said was, "no, you'll pay the price of crossing me." Before he used Unrelenting Force.

The Shout in such a small space was devastating to the orc and he dropped his war axe as he flew backwards into the opposite wall. Ignoring his grievous injury, Link picked up the blood stained war axe, crossed over to the downed bandit, raised the war axe over his head, and swung downwards.

Link ran across an ice floe and leapt across a gap, landed on the ice floe in front of him, then stopped to catch his breath. He was close to Serpentstone Isle, maybe five more ice floes away, and he looked back at the remains of the Winter War, remembering what happened after he had killed the bandit chief.

He had downed five minor healing potions and had used Heal multiple times, not moving from where he was until he had been healed. He had then found an unlocked chest, which had only held ten Septims and twenty arrows. He had then explored the rest of the cabin, deciding to take the war axe with him for extra protection. Link had found a locked chest, which he eventually smashed open with the war axe after he couldn't unlock it. Inside the chest were fifty Septims, two Soul Gems, and a locket. When he put on the locket, the cold in the air seemed to decrease significantly. Link had then found a story book of sorts that was called Surfeit of Thieves, and had taken it to read later in case he got bored.

He had then left the ship and continued north. Which led to him crossing the ice floes.

Link eventually reached the small ice island and leapt off of the last ice floe, nearly fell in the water, but caught himself and stood. He then heard the somewhat familiar hissing of an Ice Wraith and he once again drew Dawn and summoned Flames.

The Ice Wraith circled him for a few minutes before he saw it charging at him and he swung Dawn and cast Flames, burning the Ice Wraith.

Link then collected the last fang and more of the strange blue shimmering liquid, then noticed some sort of stone nearby. He walked up to it, then reached out and wiped off some of the snow from the stone. It then began to glow, then a light spiraled upwards from the top of the stone and punched a hole in the clouds before it faded. The light on the stone depicted a serpent and Link looked at the glowing snake unnervingly before the glow faded. He then checked his gear and then looked back in the direction of the wrecked ship.

Link and Epona returned to Windhelm a few hours later, the horse was stored at the stables for the price of twenty-five Septims, then Link crosses the bridge and entered Windhelm.

He then entered the Palace of Kings shortly after, walked up the steps, and entered the main hall.

"So, the Dragonborn returns. Were you successful?" Ulfric called out to Link as he approached and he nodded, then spoke to Galmar, who was standing there with an open hand.

"Three Ice Wraith fangs." He took said items out of his knapsack and dropped them into Galmar's awaiting hand, then stepped back as the man inspected them.

"Good. You more than passed the test." Galmar Stone-Fist nodded. "It's time for you to take the oath."

"What is the oath?"

Galmar smiled. "It's the creed all Stormcloaks follow. You'll have to take it if you want to join us. Mind you, you'll have to repeat what I say."

Link nodded in acknowledgment. "I'm ready to take the oath."

A second passed, then Galmar started speaking. "Very well. Repeat after me. I do swear my blood and honor to the service of Ulfric Stormcloak..."

Link waited a few seconds, then repeated the words with uncertainty. Ulfric nodded and waved a hand for Galmar to continue.

"...Jarl of Windhelm and true High King of Skyrim."

Link again repeated the words, this time he sounded a bit more sure of himself.

"As Talos is my witness, may this oath bind me to death and beyond..."

Link sounded even more sure of himself this time.

"...even to my lord as to my fellow brothers and sisters in arms."

He now sounded as if he was caught up in the energy in the room.

"All hail the Stormcloaks, the true sons and daughters of Skyrim!"

Although he didn't sound quite as enthusiastic as Galmar, Link still finished the oath and watched Galmar and Ulfric for their reactions.

Ulfric got up from his throne and walked up to Link, smiled, hugged him for a few seconds, then stepped back and walked into another room. The man came back holding a set of clothing and he handed the clothes to Link. "There. That's the outfit for Unblooded such as yourself. Hide helmet, the Cuirass, fur gauntlets and boots. You can use any of the rooms if you want."

Link took the clothes from Ulfric silently, looked down at them, the nodded to the man and walked off into a room to the left, then, as an after thought, he reached out and pulled the door shut.

When he returned to the main hall, he was wearing everything but the hide helmet. Both Ulfric and Galmar nodded approvingly when they saw Link.

"They fit him well. Almost too well. You think he has what it takes, Galmar?"

Stone-Fist grinned. "I do. Of course, we have to wait until his next naming day until he's made official. But he's more than proven himself."