Nero and the Legionnaires arrived in RWhiterun Hold in the evening, when the sun was just falling beneath the mountains. Nero saw the Inn, where he and Delphine had once worked together in order to find out who was behind the dragons, and eventually saved the world because of it. He remembered too where she had come to him, after the peace negotiations at High Hrothgar, when she demanded that he kill Paarthurnax as punishments for his old crimes. He'd refused, and the Blades cut all ties to him, despite his help in reforming them.
The next time he'd seen her was a year later, when he and Serana were searching for more men to storm Castle Volkihar with the Dawnguard. She had heard all he had to say to convince her, and once he finished, she asked if he had yet killed Paarthurnax.
The last time Nero had seen her was a few days before his wedding, when a Blades member had come to recruite in the middle of Solitude, apparently unaware that the Dominion were still hunting them, and very ready to tell the world of Serana's secret vampirism. Nero responded with flying to Sky Haven Temple, returning the public speaker, and removing Delphine from her place as Grand Master, with a good portion of her followers. He hadn't seen or heard of her since. It was unlikely he'd find her at Riverwood, but if he did... he would stand by what he said those months ago.
They headed to Fort Greymoor first, to discuss their plans for saving the hostages. Once they arrived, Nero was greeted by a group of legionnaires, at the head of them an old friendly face.
"Hadvar?"
"Nero! By the gods, it's been a long time!"
Nero got off his horse and shook Hadvar's hand. He looked unchanged, wearing his usual imperial armour and clean shaven.
"Still a soldier, huh?" asked Nero.
"Imperial vows last for life. So yes, I've been assigned here until ordered otherwise."
"Well the years have treated you well," said Nero with a smile, "you're a Captain now?"
Hadvar smiled, "can I say the same? Those are a few new scars."
"Haha guess I've had my fair share of adventures since the war."
"If only the war was the end of it. I got General Tullius' courier ahead of time," said Hadvar, "this Stormblade situation doesn't sound too good."
"It isn't. But that's why we're here. Shall we?"
Hadvar nodded, and ordered the men inside. Nero followed them in, and they eventually surrounded a table upon which was a drawn picture of Helgen and it's surrounding area. Rikke explained to the legionnaires that they would be infiltrating Helgen through a secret passageway that led into the keep. Nero explained that the passage could possibly be blocked up, and that a battlemage would have to open it.
"Once you are through however, you'll have to free the hostages that they're likely keeping in there. Once you have, we can apprehend the rest of the Stormblades," explained Nero.
Rikke spoke up, "Once Captain Hadvar has inflitrated Helgen, I will lead a separate group to break in through the gates. We do not raise the alarm until we have secured the imperial prisoners. Does everyone understand?"
The legionaire men and women around the room nodded, before Rikke concluded, "get some good sleep then. We ride up there tomorrow!"
The men all went to get their sleep and Nero went to a prepared room, and an old woman named Agnis brought him some stew. He thought of Serana as he slept, hoping she wasn't going into Labour. He wanted to be there. The moment this was done, he was heading straight back to Solitude.
The next day, they set off for Helgen, riding through Riverwood. Nero looked over at the Inn as they rode through town, and saw Orgnar the barkeep sweeping the floor outside. He looked up at the riders and watched as they strode through town, focusing on Nero for a longer moment as they went past and left under the other gate. Nero struck it from his mind as they got closer to Helgen.
On the way up, he parted from Legate Rikke, and Hadvar to whom he'd given his sword. Now, he was on foot, walking up the hill to Helgen. Soon enough he saw the front gate, and atop the wall were several men in blue cloaks and armour, much like a Stormcloak. They presented bows and nocked arrows, training them on Nero as he approached. Nero showed them his empty hands, and stopped just in front of the gate.
"I'm here," he said loudly, "I'm surrendering and I am unarmed."
A moment later, the gate opened up and Stormblades appeared inside. They had slightly different armour to traditional Stormcloak, but they donned the same colours. They came forward and took hold of Nero, bonding his hands with rope. One looked him in the eye.
"Utter a single shout and those hostages are dead."
Nero said nothing, and followed the Stormblades into the centre of Helgen, where more were waiting. One figure with a blue Stormcloak cloth over their head stood by a stump. It was a headsman's block. Nero was brought to the figure and stopped just shy of a few metres. Then, the other Stormblades backed away, and nocked arrows ready to shoot at any time. Nero looked up and around, seeing the men in some of the houses and on the tower. Eventually, he looked back down at the figure.
"So, you got me here. Listen to me, whoever you are. You won't win. You think the same thing Ulfric did, that your hatred of the Thalmor gives you right to start a war that will claim the lives of thousands. You're wrong. The Empire won't join you, the rest of Skyrim won't join you, and I won't join you."
"I don't need you to join us Nero," she said as she removed her mask, "I just need you out of our way."
Nero's eyes widened, then squinted, "Delphine."
The ex Grand Master of the Blades, now the leader of the Stormblades.
"It's been a long time, Nero. I truly hoped it wouldn't ever come to this. But when you came into my house and turned half of my own men against me, you gave me no choice but to do this."
"And by this you mean kidnapping hostages, making me surrender, or building a rebel group in order to start another war?" asked Nero.
"By this, I mean dealing with you directly and removing the one thing standing in the way of Skyrim's freedom."
She even sounds like a Stormcloak now, he thought.
"So this is where you and your Stormcloak friends have been hiding all this time," said Nero, "shouldn't be surprised really. You're only concerned about your hatred for the Thalmor, rather than people's lives."
"My sole care is for people's lives, Nero. The very thing the Thalmor destroy. I've given you chances, Nero. Times to finally turn your gifts and your power towards the right thing. Never mind the dragons, the Thalmor are the biggest threat to Tamriel!"
"Ulfric thought the same. Do you know where that got him?" Nero turned to the crowd, "do any of you?!"
"Ulfric made one mistake in his war. A mistake I won't make."
"What's that Delphine?"
She unsheathed a Blades sword, "he didn't deal with you."
She rested the tip of her blade on the ground, and placed her hands upon the hilt.
"I'll give you one last chance, Nero. If you agree to help us, and start by finally killing Paarthurnax, I will let you live."
Nero looked at the headsman's block, "and if I don't?"
"Then I must do my duty."
A heavy quiet fell over the town as all Stormblades waited to hear Nero's answer.
"You know, you've got some nerve doing this just a few days before my wife's due to give birth."
A low murmur went through the crowd; they just realised he was having a child.
"And since you were so eager to ruin my day, I'll return the favour. No, Delphine. I won't join you. I won't help you. Neither will the Empire. You'll be alone in this war, like you always have been."
Delphine raised her chin, and nodded to the men, who took hold of Nero and pushed him to the block, keeping his head down.
"Any last words, Nero? Something I should send to your family."
"You said you must do your duty, Delphine."
She raised her sword.
"And I will do mine."
Suddenly arrows flew, piercing the Stormblades, and the cry of battle began. Legionnaires burst out of the keep, running at the rebels. Nero stood up, and headbutted the distracted Delphine who stood back.
"Nero!" called Hadvar.
Nero looked as Hadvar threw his dragonbone sword through the air. He caught it, and cut his hands free, then turned towards Delphine.
"You brought this on yourself, Delphine," said Nero bluntly, and he ran at her with a raised sword. She blocked it with her own, and the two struggled for a moment, before the fighting continued, and blade met blade.
The legionnaires battled the Stormblades, Hadvar among them, as he made his way to the gate. He cut the middle with his sword and pulled it open, and Rikke came riding up with more imperial soldiers, swords raised ready to attack.
Delphine went on the offensive, swarming Nero with a spree of swings. Nero blocked and parried almost all of them, only catching a few cuts from Delphine. She went for a heavy sidewards swing, and Nero rolled under before springing back to his feet and slicing the back of Delphine's armour. She grunted, taking a few steps forward to disengage from Nero, who stood, waiting.
"You won't win!" she barked, "I have raised this army. I will lead the Empire to victory!"
"You'll crash and burn Delphine, and no one will remember you."
She ran forward, throwing more attacks at Nero, who stayed on the defensive, waiting for an opening. Delphine was very fast, but he was faster. Soon enough, there it was. Nero spun, deflected an attack, and sliced across her leg. Delphine screamed, dropped her sword, and fell to the ground. Nero stood over her. She made a last effort to reach for her blade, but Nero kicked it away. She looked up in utter hatred.
"It's over, Delphine. You're finished."
Soon enough, the remaining Stormblades were outnumbered five to one, and the legionnaires surrounded them all. Hadvar joined Nero.
"You got the hostages?" asked Nero.
"Yup. Safe and sound. The debris wasn't too hard to clear either. We made sure we got everyone in the keep before coming out and helping you."
Nero smiled, and Hadvar looked down on Delphine.
"So, you're the leader of the Stormblades," he realised.
"Not anymore," corrected Nero, "put her in chains, along with the remaining rebels. They'll all receive a fair trial."
The last Stormblades dropped their weapons at the sight of the imperial arrows and weapons trained on them. Rikke ordered them all to be chained up and imprisoned. Once they were all manacled and no longer a threat, and the harmed and killed soldiers were found and treated, Rikke then rode over to Nero.
"Good work, Legate. And you Captain. General Tullius will want to know what happened here. We should ride back to Solitude together," she said.
Nero nodded and sheathed his sword, before patting Hadvar on is shoulder and turning to join Rikke on a horse. Just as he did though, Delphine spoke up.
"You'll regret this, Dragonborn. You will regret this!" she barked.
Nero turned to her, "I already do, Delphine. Men died today, because of what you did. Innocent men, good men. Dead for nothing. All because of stubbornness and foolish pride that you've let go to your head. There was a time I would've at least spared you from this, but now that I know you've been leading this rebellion, I know that there are definitely more dead behind you. I won't save you from what's coming to you Delphine. You're on your own."
And with that, Nero turned back and left. He mounted his horse and joined Rikke's group in leaving Helgen, waving farewell to Hadvar as he did.
As they rode, Rikke turned to Nero, "you knew that woman?" she asked.
Nero nodded, "we worked together. She helped me to deal with the dragon crisis."
"What led her to become the leader of a rebel group?" asked Rikke.
"Pride. She thinks she's the one to save Tamriel. Now she's got another thing coming."
They rode on, and Nero reflected on the time they spent working together. It made it slightly more painful, but she had brought this on herself.
They arrived back in Solitude in the late afternoon, and hitched their horses in the stable. Nero headed into the city, but people were giving him strange looks. Then he saw soldiers running.
"What's the commotion?" he wondered, before walking slightly faster towards his house. Soon enough he sprinted, and stopped just ahead of it.
General Tullius was in front of it, along with a host of soldiers. People had gathered to see. The midwife and her team were there too. Several men were still dousing the flames. It had been burnt down.
"No... no no no," Nero raced forward, "SERANA!?"
Men grabbed his arms, stopping him from running up.
"Legate!" said the General, who was there along with Jarl Elisif.
Nero looked to him, "what happened?! Where's Serana?!"
"Nero," said Jordis who came forward, bruises and cuts across her.
"Jordis," exclaimed Nero, "where is Serana?!"
Jordis was near tears, "they took her, Nero. They came in and they took her."
"Who?!"
Author's Notes
Who indeed.
Characters:
Hadvar: Imperial soldier who you meet at the very beginning of the game. You can choose to follow him out of Helgen, and he'll fight with you in the civil war if you join the Empire.
Delphine: member of the Blades who you meet when trying to get the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller. Bitch nature
Dragon Language: None used