Just a Skyrim fanfic: Extended cut

A truce gone wrong

(Solitude)

Tullius: Are my men now giving free reign to anyone who wanders into the castle? Or do you have a reason to be here, citizen?

Maximus: General Tullius. I am Maximus. I believe we've already met

Tullius: Have we?

(General Tullius thinks for a moment)

Tullius: Oh! Of course. You were at Helgen. One of the guardsmen if I recall correctly

Maximus: I helped the townspeople escape, and then I helped Hadvar too. He said he'd vouch for me

Tullius: Hadvar's alive? I hope that's true. He's a good soldier. But he hasn't reported in yet, so he can't exactly confirm your story. In the meantime, why don't you have a chat with legate Rikke? I suspect we may have use for someone resourceful like you. Not many survived Helgen

Maximus: As much as I would like to, I have a message from the greybeards

Tullius: The greybeards? What do those old hermits want with me?

Maximus: They're convening a peace council at High Hrothgar

Tullius: Why? There's nothing to discuss as long as that traitor Ulfric is in arms against his rightful emperor

Maximus: We need a truce until the dragon menace is dealt with. And to put an end to all of this bloodshed

Tullius: It IS getting to be a problem, but I wasn't sent to Skyrim to fight dragons. My job is to quell this rebellion, and I intend to do just that. Dragons or no dragons

Maximus: I'd imagine the dragons are a bigger problem right now than the stormcloaks. And the best time to negotiate is from a position of strength

Tullius: Fair enough. We're driving the stormcloaks back well enough at the moment, but we're already overstretched. That's what comes of trying to win a war with a bare handful of legions. If only the emperor would just give me the reinforcements I've requested...

Maximus: Does this mean you'll come to the peace council?

Tullius: Fine. I'll come to this greybeard council. For all the good it will do

(Meanwhile, in Windhelm)

Ulfric: You must be either brave or foolish to approach a jarl's throne unannounced

Leonidas: Jarl Ulfric. I am Leonidas

Ulfric: Wait... I remember you. You were at Helgen with us. If you have come to join the war, please speak with Galmar. He handles the new recruits

Leonidas: As tempting as the offer is, that's not why I'm here

Ulfric: Well, why are you here then?

Leonidas: I have a message from the greybeards

Ulfric: It's about time they turned their gaze from the heavens and back to our bleeding homeland. What do they want?

Leonidas: They want to negotiate a truce. At least until the dragon menace is dealt with

Ulfric: I have the greatest respect for the greybeards, of course. And the dragon attacks are a growing plague. But the political situation is still delicate. Not all the jarls are fully committed to supporting me as high king. I cannot afford to appear weak. I can't agree to this unless Tullius himself will be there

Leonidas: My friend already took care of that. General Tullius has already agreed to attend

Ulfric: Good. We still hold half of Skyrim, despite everything the empire could throw at us. I doubt the empire has the stomach for much more bloodletting