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SPOILER INFO
This fanfic novel is largely based on the events that occurred in an actual game of Skyrim I played. Therefore, it's inevitably a spoiler.
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previous day
4-202-02-12 04:45
Forgotten Ruins, The Reach, Skyrim
The hour is too early for traveling to Dushnikh Yal, so we take a look around while we're here.
From the place where we slept, a short passage leads to a large hall that has some kind of an altar in front of a big hole in the floor. In front of the altar stands a woman in a light armor and a funny hat.
As we approach, she turns to face us, pulls a sword and demands to know who we are. I tell her she shouldn't be so hostile when she needs help finding her brother. Just a shot in the dark, but she is indeed Cassia. She begs us to jump into that hole and find her brother. I step carefully to its edge and look down into a well whose bottom can't be seen. Cassia informs me they came here hoping to find some hidden treasure and her brother jumped down and hasn't returned and she is awfully worried.
Why doesn't she go looking for him herself, I wonder.
Because he made her promise to wait here for him no matter what, and she always keeps her promises, she says.
This is getting too ridiculous. I'm about to turn away when Cassia shows me a journal by someone called Metellus. It says that he has translated the inscription above this well. Inscription? Right, there's an inscription in that ancient dwemer or dragon language on the wall right behind the big hole. It supposedly says this is the entrance to an ancient Dwemer city where those who seek refuge will find peace and those who seek money will find riches beyond imagining.
The journal is from the year 190. That's 12 years ago.
Is the world going crazy? If you saw a large hole in Dwemer ruins, deep beyond imagining, would you jump into it in the hope that the fall will not kill you and you will find great riches and will somehow be able to come back to actually use them in the world of people? That's what Metellus apparently did, and so did the brother of Cassia. What's his name anyway? Well, never mind that. We'd better leave before we go crazy too.
We have a wash outside in the river. I go into the water last. Lydia asks me if this is the right time to tell me they did not keep away from Zeugini yesterday when I ordered them to.
Well, yes, with me squatting naked in the river, bleeding down there, I guess this is really the best possible moment for me to not wring her neck. So, let's hear it.
Lydia informs me they found out Zeugini has a sweetheart back in Elsweyr and he traveled to Skyrim with Fortune to earn money and marry her in due time. He is technically a guard, but he helps out with other work as well, because there aren't many attacks to thwart while they're in the city.
I guess there's the reason why Hroki is so incensed about him. The poor thing doesn't seem to have a chance. Great job, girls, but now get away from here. I'll be with you in a few minutes.
We travel to Dushnikh Yal where I give to Chief Burguk the magical gloves called The Forgemaster's Fingers which I no longer need, and he vows eternal friendship. Good.
The girls and I get some Heavy Armor training, just in case I should decide to start using heavy armor someday.
Leaving the village, we run north until we reach the Morpork–Hviterun highway, and then east towards Granite Hall.
I hope I haven't been too bad since the last time we were here.
I hesitate a little whether or not I want to stop in Granite Hall. Then I decide not to. I have nothing to sell and I can't have sex, so we'd better just keep running towards Hviterun.
We arrive in the city at noon without any incidents. This time, we won't hang about in the western suburb. We enter the city proper and pay a quick visit to Adrianne and Ulfberth's shop that, as you may remember, is just inside the main gate. Then we go to the nearest inn, The Drunken Huntsman. I want to ask Elrindir if anything unusual has happened in the meantime. There are no interesting rumors, but we witness an altercation between Elrindir and his brother Anoriath. Something about hunting trips and old Bosmer ways. I leave my girls to help out or maybe just offer unwanted advice, while I hurry to The Bannered Mare.
Saadia is angry at first that I kept her waiting for so long. Now I believe she used to be a noblewoman like she has told me. But then she apologizes and gives me my reward.
I quickly say hello to Ysolda and Carlotta and Lucia and Mila. After a brief visit to the palace to make sure everything is more or less all right, me and my followers exit by the eastern gate and run towards Riverwood. I think the southern route to Ivarsted is more convenient. Now that there's war in Hammerfell, we mustn't keep the negotiating parties waiting. I hope they will have arrived by now.
The weather is very beautiful.
After resting briefly in Riverwood, we run straight to the Falkreath Stormcloak Camp without stopping. The guys at the camp inform us it's slaughter as usual in the mountain pass east from here. Not for long anymore, I hope.
The rays of the sun are turning orangeish. When we're through the mountain pass, a heavy rain suddenly begins.
This picture shows a lightning just short of Ivarsted:
We run through Ivarsted without even stopping and then up Mount Nexus accompanied by lightnings every few minutes.
And then we're suddenly in an almost blinding snowstorm. High Hrothgar is right there and we can see two people walking ahead of us. It's Rudelphine and Esbern! What are they doing here? I thought they despised the Gaybores.
They stop just before entering and wait for us to catch up. Rudelphine tells me I have to kill Paarthurnax. I don't quite get it all with that awful wind whistling around us, but it would seem he was fighting alongside Alduin in that ancient war of dragons against humans, so he deserves to die. Rudelphine says unless I kill Paarthurnax, she and Esbern won't help me anymore. I shrug and reach for the door. The last thing I hear before I step over the threshold is "If you're not with us, you're against us."
I can't believe the cheek of that little bitch. She's running for her life, chased by the thalmors, all alone except for an old man who could drop dead any moment, and she has the nerve to threaten me that she won't help me. What kind of help could I possible need from her, someone who has her hands full finding stones to crawl under?
They already made me kill Alduin who had saved my life. There's no way I'll turn against Paarthurnax. Apart from my followers, he's probably my most reliable friend in the world, while Rudelphine is so unimportant and pathetic I don't even feel the wish to give her another whipping to remind her of her place. She's out of my thoughts the moment I step up to Arngeir who is waiting for me.
Have you really so little faith in your stones of peace's ability to exercise positive influence on those men of violence?
He tells me to go to the meeting room, apparently the same I got a brief glimpse of on one of my past visits here. I tell my girls to have a rest and stay out of sight. They wish me luck. Yeah, better wish me patience.
I turn to go, but then I notice a heated dispute behind me. Rudelphine and Esbern insist they be allowed to participate in the peace talks.
Arngeir tries to explain them that they are, firstly, not invited, and, secondly, not welcome in this building to start with. Now Rudelphine says something truly shocking: "We were the ones that put the Dragonborn to this path. If it were up to you, she would sit dreaming on this mountain doing nothing." Esbern sees that this is going too far and steps in. He succeeds in convincing Arngeir to let them join the negotiations – in a similar way to how Rudelphine used to intermediate between Esbern and me in the past. I am, however, far from being able to enjoy the irony, because I am seething. Rudelphine has insulted me unlike anyone ever has. They have put me onto this path?? She talked as if it was self-evident that I didn't have a mind of my own, that I could only have done either what the Blades told me to do or what the Gaybores told me to do. Essentially, Rudelphine was denying my personhood. She revealed that she doesn't consider me a human being, just an unthinking marionette whom either she would control or someone else.
She is leaving me no choice. The next time I catch her, I'll whip her to death. I'll take my time, making absolutely sure she understands what kind of an abomination she is. I'll explain to her how monstrous her attitude towards me is, I'll let her repeat it many times to make sure she understands it. I'll make sure she regrets and repents and begs forgiveness, and then I'll slowly and painfully extinguish her sorry life.
But right now I really need to focus on more urgent matters at hand. The fate of Skyrim is at stake and that's far more important than my hurt feelings.
I step into the meeting hall and am somewhat surprised at the sight. Now, I really apologize for this chapter turning out much longer than you've been used to so far, but the next four hours are of such crucial importance that I'll have to make sure you understand what is happening and what implications it'll have for the future of this country and myself.
The first person I see is Elenwen, the thalmor ambassador. She recognizes me from the party at the embassy.
I nod modestly. At that reception two months ago, I got very valuable information and made Elenwen look like a fool, so I can afford to be civil with her. No need to humiliate her further.
The next one is Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun. The sight of him puts me immediately at ease. He has managed to keep his domain an island of peace and order throughout this war. That's a sign of a truly wise ruler.
General Tullius is not a man of many words. He's a soldier, clear and specific. Probably not the kind of man a woman would be very happy with, but certainly one you can trust with the defense of your city, or country. He looks like made of metal. I wouldn't risk engaging him in a fistfight. For that matter, I'm not entirely sure an axe could cut through his neck.
Next to him stands someone I certainly wasn't expecting here – Jarl Elisif of Haafingar. She says she had to come because she's the acting High Queen of Skyrim. Of course.
Elisif makes no secret of how much it infuriates her to be in the presence of the man who killed her husband. I think the realization I'm not the most uncomfortable one in this room makes me feel more responsible and reasonable.
The final member of Tullius's retinue is Legate Rikke, her second-in-command if I'm not greatly mistaken. She couldn't be more inappropriately dressed. Well, strictly speaking, she could, but... okay, you get the idea.
If this is Tullius's secret weapon, it's bound to fail.
Ulfric has only taken his trusted advisor Galmar. But those two are real bears of men and no less impressive between them than the other side combined.
If Tullius is made of metal, then Galmar is made of stone the world's biggest hammer can't break.
Finally, between the Stormcloaks and Arngeir sit Rudelphine and Esbern as neutral observers and dragon experts. Because dragons still undeniably pose a serious threat to reckon with.
And Esbern is talking to me!
I am to sit opposite Arngeir at the far end of the oblong table, with Rikke to my left and Galmar to my right. However, Galmar won't sit down right away. Neither would Ulfric. They are taking issue with Elenwen being present. Tullius's insistence that he is a party of these negotiations and can take with him whomever he wants to has no effect on Ulfric and Galmar whatsoever. Finally I succeed in convincing them that Tullius's hands were tied. None of us actually likes the thalmors. Elenwen is smart enough to keep her mouth shut now as well as until the end of the negotiations.
I am very worried. What kind of an agreement can we reach with such babies?
After Ulfric and Galmar have finally taken their seats, Arngeir invites the two parties to come up with proposals. Considering that Tullius just received a concession from Ulfric, I am not surprised that the latter immediately comes up with a demand – the Imperials are to surrender to him The Reach. Tullius makes a few faces, but then gives in. However, he correctly points out that the Stormcloaks had virtually no chance to ever conquer The Reach, and therefore, the Imperials must get Winterhold in return. Here I step in. I won't have anyone touch Winterhold. When the thalmor threat has been eliminated for good, and proper peace restored, Jarl Balgruuf and Jarl Korir are to be the backbone of the new Skyrim. I won't reveal that plan in this madhouse, obviously, but I categorically protest againts any change in Winterhold's status.
Tullius says it has to be The Rift, then.
Now we're talking. Imp-controlled The Rift at Ulfric's doorstep is pretty much equivalent to the stork-controlled The Reach at Tullius's doorstep. After some whinging, Ulfric has to agree that this trade makes sense. However, he also demands Hjaalmarch.
Here the argument gets so heated that Ulfric stands up again and threatens to leave.
It's Esbern who succeeds in convincing him that there are still so many dragons flying around that going on with the war would condemn the country to utter destruction. Maybe Ulfric is convinced, maybe he was only bluffing to start with, at any rate he and Tullius agree to let me decide whether Hjaalmarch should be turned over to the storks or not.
Now, my primary concern is the safety of Whiterun which is a neutral territory – nominally loyal to the Empire but in fact fully tolerating Talos worship and closed to the thalmors. Hjaalmarch is to our northwest, between Haafingar and Whiterun. If it belonged to the storks, the imps couldn't possibly attack us. The storks wouldn't attack us because they would be overstretched as it was while the Empire could always bring in more troops.
That's why I decide the storks will get Hjaalmarch.
Now both sides are satisfied, albeit grumpy.
Arngeir stands up to announce the terms of the peace treaty:
"The Reach will be handed over to Ulfric's forces. Jarl Igmund will step down and Thongvar Silver-Blood will become the Jarl of Markarth."
I suppress a cry of horror. I had never agreed to the jarlship going to that gang of bandits! Then again, I wasn't involved in the handing over of The Reach to begin with.
But it gets worse. The handover of The Rift is accompanied by Jarl Laila stepping down and being replaced by... Maven Black-Briar!!!
I'm aghast. I can't stress enough how betrayed I feel. No one ever gave the tiniest hint that the territories to take hands would be administered by depraved criminals! Had I even guessed something like that... yeah, I don't know what I could have done differently. But my head wants to explode from the unspeakable thought that any sane human being could come up with an idea that someone as evil as Maven Black-Briar could even fleetingly be considered for the post of a jarl. I slouch in my chair, utterly devastated. At least Hjaalmarch wins from the trade. The madwoman Idgrod is to be replaced by Sorli from Stonehills. I'm quite surprised to learn that she carries so much weight.
Overall this peace conference has been a major cock-up on my part. I have to muster all my self-control to keep a halfway civil face when the high guests leave and I exchange a few final words with most of them.
Jarl Balgruuf scolds me for giving The Reach to the storks, as if it had been my idea. I feel very hurt that even he is against me.
Rudelphine blabs something about dragons. I tell her to get the fuck away from me, and I guess I must look really furious, because she actually shuts her mouth.
Legate Rikke is convinced the truce will not last. I can't disagree – what with both sides holding some very easily siegeable positions. Geographically speaking, the new borders are sheer madness.
Jarl Elisif thanks me for achieving at least some kind of a peace, but she is convinced that Ulfric is not to be trusted for one second. At least her warm attitude towards me makes me feel less a dismal failure.
Tullius says it could have been worse. I realize he is able to keep his calm because he has no ambitions of his own. He's a straightforward man unconditionally loyal to the Empire and will obey whatever orders he'll be given.
What suprises me the most is Ambassador Elenwen's calm reaction:
I've heard stories of how thalmor patrols arrest people for mere expressions of doubt in their religious doctrines. How can it be that the Aldmeri ambassador is satisfied with a treaty that leaves about a half of Skyrim under the control of Talos-worshippers? At any rate, I deeply regret I failed to send her away when I had the chance. Then she would have had to spend time and resources to find out about the negotiations, but now she was able to witness personally the utter lack of goodwill between the participants. Undoubtedly she'll report promptly to the Aldmeri government how Skyrim is eating itself up.
And finally, Esbern tells me I'm being really mean to Rudelphine and that is irresponsible at the time there are still dragons flying around. I turn away from him angrily. It was she who made herself my enemy by taking into her head to kill Paarthurnax. It's outrageous. He may have been the humankind's enemy hundreds or thousands of years ago, but that's no longer the case. The dragons that are still flying around we can handle. No new ones will be woken up, because Alduin is dead, and that's thanks to Paarthurnax. Rudelphine did nothing but cut my finger and Esbern just came up with a vague idea. Paarthurnax was the one who told me what to actually do.
All right, I'll shut up now. I've made my point, I guess, and it's past 2 in the night and I desperately need some sleep – provided I'll be able to get some with the horrible realization in my head that if I destroy the Black-Briar mafia and the Silver-Blood mafia, then both sides will interpret it as a breach of word from the enemy and the peace will end before it has really started. And if I leave the people of two holds under the tyranny of bandits, how can I ever look at myself in the mirror knowing that my actions caused all that suffering?
I join my followers in the High Hrothgar sleeping quarters. Looks like they have been too excited to go to sleep, but I pretend I'm too sleepy to talk.
next awakening
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