The Bears Shortcoming

Chapter 27 - War

           

(4E 202 12th Suns Height)

This was it. The end of the war.

I was stood in the Imperial camp in Eastmarch, which overlooked the magnificent city of Windhelm. A city that held so many dear memories I kept close to me, a city that felt like a real home. For the first time in a while, I felt doubt.

I doubted myself, and I doubted my ability to be able to attack a city that meant so much to me.

I was trying to keep Ulfric away from my head, as the thought of even raising a sword to him made me want to turn around and abandon it all. I didn't know what I was going to do when we reached the palace of the kings, I hadn't decided yet.

I never had a reply from the Jarl, so it seemed that my letter to him had either got lost on the way, or he didn't care what I had to say. It didn't matter anyway, it was too late to think of that now.

The imperial men were starting to light fires and sharpen their weapons, getting ready to breach the ancient cities' walls when a skinny courier with a pale face and a scared expression approached me.

"Excuse me miss..." he said timidly, he was so young and small, I could hardly hear him. "I have a letter addressed to you"

"You shouldn't be here, this is a military base" I said to him coldly. "I should kill you"

He whimpered and bowed his head sheepishly "Please miss..."

"Go. Before I change my mind" I answered sternly.

I waited for the courier to run away with his tail between his legs until he was out of sight before tearing open the letter, hoping that maybe, just maybe, it was from the one person that mattered.

And it was.

Aiden,

I will pardon you of all crimes you have committed against me, my city and my rebellion.

I will allow you safe passage back into Windhelm and sanctuary in my palace.

I am in love with you and all that you are. I am in love with the things you have brought into my life and the things you have shown me. You are a remarkable woman and you have truly changed the perspective I have on this world.

You need only show a guard this letter and he will let you pass into the city.

Return to me.

Ulfric

I still had time. I could see the city gates from here and there were still hours before the imperial army would be ready to attack. I could go now; I could walk straight into the city and be with Ulfric again just like it used to be. I just had to-

My trail of thought was interrupted by a very familiar wood elf, kitted out in the traditional steel imperial armor. The wood elf placed a firm hand on my shoulder and gave me a reassuring smile.

Armeir.

"Today my friend" Armeir said to me as he looked into the horizon, "Is the dawn of a new era. Today we will bring peace to Skyrim"

And then I remembered. I remembered getting a letter informing me my mother had been killed in a Thalmor raid, I remembered the argonian dock workers freezing to death outside of Windhelm, I remembered the slums that the dark elves were forced to live in, I remembered Armeir's story about the attack on his village, and I remembered my best friends' Brynjolf and Vex, who were counting on me to save them.

I'm so sorry Ulfric.

Swords were sharpened, fires were lit, armor was polished and everything else was as ready as it was ever going to be. We marched up to the ancient walls of Windhelm and the colossal Imperial army started to break down the wooden barricades that protected the city.

All these men and women were fighting for their families and children, so that one day Skyrim could be a safe place again. Free of war and hate and prejudice.

The barricades were no match for Tullius' huge army, and the legion swarmed into the icy city.

Shields splintered, armor was destroyed, buildings were burning and steel clashed with steel as the snowy white city was stained red with Imperial and Stormcloak blood.