An Unbroken Story

Some conversing and a battle

"ULFRIC! HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT I was a dragonborn?!" I ask."I don't know... I just did. Now if you don't mind... actually, wait. Do you think you can battle?" Ulfric asks me."I-I... I can try my hardest." I say."I need you to give the Jarl of Whiterun my ax.""Should I say anything to him?""Men who understand each other often have no need for words. There are but a few simple truths behind one warrior giving another his axe. Balgruuf will know my meaning.""Understood""Keep your wits about you. The Jarl of Whiterun is known for his temper."I bow before the Jarl."What do you need?""Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak asked me to deliver this axe to you." I tell him."Did he now? Ha. The man is persistent, I'll give him that. I suppose it's time I give him an answer...""So, about this axe. You can return this axe to our friend; the esteemed Jarl of Windhelm has my answer. Make sure he gets it." he says after a little while.I bring the ax back to Ulfric."The Jarl of Whiterun returns your axe.""Then I was wrong about him." Ulfric says."Orders, sir?" I ask him, getting nervous."Make haste to our camp in Whiterun. I want you on the front lines. I have a feeling about you. Your place is on that battlefield. I need you there." he looks me in the eye. I look away."Yes, sir." I say. I turn."Fight well, or die well. Talos be with you!" I hear Ulfric say.A battle? A full on battle?! I came up to the camp. Whiterun is already aflame..."This is it men! They say that our cause is false and that we are nothing more than thieves, thugs and murderers! But no! We are farmers! We are craftsmen! We are sons and daughters of shopkeepers, maid servants and soldiers! We are the sons and daughters of Skyrim! And we have come this far because our cause is true. Because we fight as one. And because our hearts are bursting with anger! What we do here today, we do for our country! For all the true Nords of Skyrim! Whiterun's walls are tall, but they are old and crumbling, like the Empire whose Legion lines them. They've barricades to block us, but we'll tear through them and the Imperials behind them! Our objective is the drawbridge. If we can find a way to drop it, the city will be ours! Everyone on me. Let's show these Imperial milk drinkers what true Nords look like!" Galmar says. A war-cry follows his speech.I draw my sword. Each swing that slays, hurts me. I have to do what is done, though. I am fighting beside Rolaf. "I have to admit. This is more fun than I thought it'd be!" He says to me."Less talking, more fighting!" I yell at him."Yes, ma'am..." he says.We are near a tree, half-way to Dragonsreach. BAM! I feel a blow to my back. I fall forward. I had the wind knocked out of me. The person who swept me off my feet, goes for the deathly blow, when another stormcloak kills him, and helps me up."Thank you." I say. She smiles. Her smile is so familiar...We keep fighting. I hear a woosh near my head... darkness.I gasp for air. I sit up."W-w-w-where is that bastard!?" I yell."Hey, the battle is over, sister." Ulfric lays a hand on my shoulder."Did-d we win?" I ask."Yes. You were knocked out. It's been at least a few hours since the battle. Rolaf has been pacing. I should let you talk with him." Ulfric gets up."Who do you think's killed more Imperials? You? Or me?" Rolaf sits down next to me.I cough a few times."You don't care that I could have been hurt, badly? You just come bounding in here, asking that question." I scold him."Sorry. I'm trying to humor you." he says."In that case, *cough cough* me." I laugh."Were you counting?" he asks."Um, no. What kind of sick person would do that?" I ask."Um... me...""How come I'm always the one who is getting hit in the back of the head? That is like, the third time that happened to me!" I say."Many Stormcloaks died, you know." he reminds me."I know that. I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight. The soldiers' faces are already haunting me..." I shudder."I don't know...""Rolaf... when do you think this war will end?""I don't know... this war will end when it will end." he says."I used to count down days until I escaped. Now... I count down to when this war will be over. I just have a feeling it won't, though. It is in our blood to fight. So that is what we do. Even pacifists have spilled blood. I think you guys forget that our enemies are people, too. They have families. Each soldier killed, a widow is made. I hate fighting. I really do. I almost backed out of the battle, honestly. I'm running thin on what I'm using to keep going." I say."I don't like this blood-lust, either, but remember what we are fighting for!" he says."Rolaf. I never told you exactly why I joined the Stormcloaks. I joined them because my father is imperial. I know Ulfric killed the high-king, and that concerns me, but only a little. Remember when you called me a monster? I could see in your eyes that you hated me. I joined the Stormcloaks out of hatred for my father... I joined to make him hurt because he hurt me."Rolaf sits in silence. I do the same.