Act II: Chapter 7

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'There he is.'

I caught the first glimpse of a horse rising over a hill about two hundred yards in front of the stone arch that sat above the Karth River. Five seconds later, I recognized him as Ulfric.

I did not recognize the two people who rode right beside him.

I looked around to the people around me. High King Torygg sat at the front of our group, ready for war. Beside him was his wife, Elisif the fair, and General Tullius. Beside them was Jarl Igmund, Jarl Idgrod, and Jarl Siddgeir.

Ralof had declined the invitation to stand beside the High King, opting to take his place beside me and Ariella. Their presence gave me confidence for the coming confrontation. Torygg understood our position, and ignored the slight against him. Ralof was already a renowned warrior, so I doubted Torygg complained about having him ready to interfere in the duel.

My men stood in formation around our party. I scrapped the training routine once I heard that Ulfric was close, and we began practicing a different formation that would ensure the protection of the most powerful men in Skyrim. Although I doubted we would get the chance, since the High King's personal guard were closer, and looked ready to jump at a moment's notice.

"Hadvar." Ariella's voice caused me to turn and look at her. It wasn't a panicked tone of voice, just one that told me I would be surprised.

I followed her gaze.

Ulfric rode forward at a lazy pace on the back of his horse. Beside him were two men I didn't recognize from afar. Behind them were the other Jarl's that supported him, and beyond them were the thousands of men and women that joined them and made up their entourage/army. I ignored them for the two men beside Ulfric.

One of them was a dark elf, with eyes that shone like the sun, and promised death. He wore the immaculate robes of a Vampire Lord. If those two weren't enough of an indicator about who he was, then the magickal aura he gave off did. It spoke of domination, and other unmentionable things. He rode a black horse with red eyes, and I knew it was Shadowmere. Every motion was graceful on these two.

Before I realized it, I was looking over the second man. I should have noticed his garb sooner. It was Miraak's robes, minus the mask. The main robe was black, with a green tint to it. Dragonbone pauldrons donned his shoulders and vambraces lined his forearms. A quick glance at his hip and I noticed the wiggling that accompanied Miraak's sword. His face was handsome, with black hair that fell down to his shoulders. Black eyes peaked out to me. He moved with even more confidence than Ulfric.

'Both the dlc questlines. One is definitely not Harkon. Talos, don't let that be Miraak himself.'

My gut told me that was exactly who it was.

Ariella's magickal aura rose significantly. I suspected it was her preparing herself for a massive confrontation. I had originally thought it was the sun. Now it felt like the ocean, all-encompassing, never-ending, and with a subtle promise to swallow you whole.

Ralof's aura changed also, although it was otherworldly. It was his werewolf inside, coming out to play. There seemed to be something stalking around us.

I didn't change, although I did prepare myself. Something told me that Ulfric wouldn't obey the rules of the Challenge at all.

Ulfric and his party stopped about twenty feet away. Ulfric and the dark elf were looking towards Torygg. But the man I prayed would not be Miraak stared at me. Not my companions, but me. As if he was surprised to see me. He seemed a little too interested in me actually.

"Wo Los Daar?" The man was the first to speak, and his voice rumbled across the distance. It was the tongue of the dragon. I didn't understand a word of it. But I did feel the sound reach my bones.

Regardless of if the man was Miraak or not. He was Dovahkiin, of that there was no doubt. That didn't reassure me in any way.

Ulfric and the dark elf looked in my direction then, and he frowned. Obviously neither of them expected me. I tried not to worry about their stares.

"Ulfric." Torygg's voice cut across the distance, causing the three of them to look towards the High King of Skyrim. "It has been a long time my friend."

'Friend?' I pondered.

"It has." Ulfric confirmed. His voice was exactly like it was in the games. Powerful, deep, and commanding. I knew it was because of his proficiency with the Thu'um. His vocal cords must be made of steel by now.

"We grew up together, Torygg." Ulfric said. I frowned, and made a mental note to ask about that later. "I know where you stand on the Aldmeri Dominion, but our people don't, and that presents a problem."

Ulfrice looked around to the people behind him, and gestured to those on our side also. "This is your last chance. Renounce them, and I will spare your life. Today, I will be named High King."

The hair on my neck stood up at that last statement.

"You know nothing then, Ulfric. I am willing to kill you, if you pursue this path." Torygg responded. I realized they were having a silent conversation, in the ways that only old friends could.

Ulfric said nothing else, and swund a foot out of his stirrup, dismounting his horse. His companions mirrored him. I dismounted first on our side of the battlefield. Ariella and Ralof followed me.

Torygg let out a loud sigh, before dismounting also. He turned to his wife first. She leaned down and grabbed the back of his head. They kissed, and I couldn't help but think it was a goodbye kiss. They knew Ulfric wouldn't obey the emperor either.

Tullius began reading the letter from the emperor. I didn't hear the words. I was too busy studying Ulfric and his companions. The man that may or may not be Miraak, but was surely dovahkiin, smiled broadly when it was announced the Thu'um was banned from the Challenge. He spoke some more words in the language of the dragons to Ulfric. Ulfric didn't respond to him, but instead to us.

"The emperor is weak and undeserving of the title. How does he think Talos conquered Tamriel? With his sword?" Ulfric said while walking half the distance to Torygg. "No, it was with his Thu'um. He was Dovahkiin, Dragonborn, same as me!"

My heart dropped.

"Talos freed Skyrim, and then his gaze turned to the rest of the world. I will do the same, and it starts today."

'Is Ulfric really Dragonborn, or is that just a claim?'

I had heard enough, and put on my bravest face. "If you break the rules of the Challenge. I will interfere, Ulfric."

It wasn't Ulfric who responded, but the man who wore Miraak's clothes and sword. "If you interfere, Gaaf, everyone here will die."

The words were spoken with such confidence that I believed him for a moment. The small speck of fear that welled up in my heart was quashed quickly. I had been willing to die for what I believed in for a long time, in both lives. A Dragonborn would not change that.

"We shall see." Ariella countered, with just as much confidence.

"If Ulfric cannot defeat me as the old ways demand, then he is undeserving." Torygg said before turning to me. "The empire may only interfere once the Challenge has been forfeited, Battlemage."

I looked in Torygg's eyes, and realized he must have though we would begin fighting before the Challenge even began. He might have been right if he hadn't spoken up. I took my scolding with a nod towards him.

Torygg left his wife's side, and drew his sword before walking to meet Ulfric in the middle of our two parties. I readied my magic to interfere at any moment.

Torygg wasted no time. "Let the Challenge begin." He said.

Ulfric drew his sword slowly. It was a Nordic Carved Sword, made of ebony. The Nordic designs were silver on the black blade. I had no doubt the enchantments were impressive. I fingered my own sword on my waist.

The other man with Ulfric continued to stare at me, as if I was a puzzle for his eyes.

Ulfric and Torygg circled each other for a good two minutes, studying the way each other moved. They were obviously both fantastic swordsmen.

And then, they were a flurry of movement. They exchanged thrusts, and slashes. They moved, and parried, and moved again.

Ulfric kicked out at Torygg's leg, and Torygg lifted it slightly to take the blow. As they continued to duel, I realized that they must have been taught by the same swordmaster. It only made me more intrigued to know of their past. It was a dance, that they were equal in, and one they had done before.

The first blow was made when Ulfric's fist connected with Torygg's nose, breaking it. My respect for the High King rose when he ignored it and countered the downward slash that immediately followed, elegantly.

They backed away from each other for a moment, and started circling each other again. Blood poured down Torygg's face and into his beard.

I realized that the world was eerily quiet.

"First blood goes to you." Torygg said, breaking the silence.

Ulfric responded by lunging forward and starting another engagement. After no less than ten parries by each man, Torygg performed a very advanced maneuver that cut through Ulfric's cloak on his abdomen. The cut was so shallow, that only a scratch showed on Ulfric's stomach.

They distanced themselves and began circling each other again. No words were spoken this time. The lull between their exchange was shortened drastically and they met in a flurry of swords again.

Grunts rang out with the clash of metal. Their moves became riskier, and more cuts were scored between the two of them.

A cut on Torygg's arm. A cut on Ulfric's thigh.

And then, without warning, Torygg caught Ulfric off-balance.

"Fus."

The word was whispered, but I caught it. So did Torygg, because he was flying through the air, towards our side of the field.

Ariella's magick entered the playing field and caught Torygg in mid-air before setting him down on the ground beside Sybille.

I drew my blade and advanced towards the leader of the Stormcloak's just as the sound of my men marching and advancing in front of the other Jarl's hit my ears. Sybille Stentor would be healing any damage that Torygg suffered quickly enough. I had a singular purpose, ending the rebellion before it could begin.

I felt Ralof's presence beside me. Ariella's magicka encompassed the battlefield again, although this time it was met with another. My senses, and eyes, told me it was the dark elf who was now levitating in the air with a wicked smile on his face.

A literal bolt of lightning tore through the air towards him and he batted it into the air with the back of his hand.

I had to focus, because a giant green tentacle flew through the air towards me. I sent my magicka towards my blade and activated the enchantment before deflecting the tentacle away.

"Yol Tor." Ulfric's shout sent a wave of fire across the battlefield towards Ralof.

There was a shimmer of something that surrounded Ralof, and the fire split around him, not allowing it to touch him. Ralof continued towards Ulfric, with a look of hatred on his face. I turned, allowing him to challenge the man who had left Ralof dying on the steps of Jorrvaskr.

My eyes sought out the new comer. He stood with Miraak's sword in his hand, waiting for me to approach. I saw the opportunity for information and took it.

"I did not realize the first Dragonborn had resurfaced." I said as I approached.

Flashes of lightning and fire lit up the world around us. Had I looked to Ralof and Ulfric, I would have seen them moving at inhuman speeds and scoring no blows against each other.

"Hermaeus didn't allow me to see you, why?"

That all but confirmed that I really was facing the first Dragonborn, Miraak. A man that had lived thousands of years in Hermaeus Mora's realm of Apocrypha, learning all kinds of things. I knew that this was the real threat, not Ulfric. This man probably knew Thu'um that rivaled Alduin's. I wondered if they had already killed Alduin, if he was out in the world free to roam.

"I do not interact with the Daedra. They have no hold over my soul." I responded truthfully. I was glad that the Daedric Prince of Knowledge didn't deem me important.

"How do you think you are here then, Hun?" Miraak countered.

I tried to ignore the piece of me that worried over that exact fact. How had I gotten here? In this dimension or realm or whatever you wanted to call it. Was it because of the Daedra?

I didn't respond, and Miraak took that as a sign that our conversation was over. I closed the rest of the distance with my sword in hand.

"Mul Qah Diiv." Miraak's shout told me so much about him.

I couldn't place it, but I knew that his Thu'um was so much more advanced than Ulfric's. It was said with such ease, that I thought he truly had the throat of a dragon, and not a man. I started to doubt the limitations the game put on the Thu'um.

Miraak was suddenly covered in a set of ethereal armor that I knew was Dragon Aspect. The shout that secured the continent for Tiber Septim.

I cast Mages Downfall quickly. I didn't direct it to my body, but more to my perception so that I could save magicka.

Miraak's slash was the fastest I had encountered, but I responded in kind. For a brief moment, I enhanced the muscles in my body that I would need to deflect the blow.

When our blades met, I felt my own buckle under the force we were exerting. I knew then that I couldn't outright block a single blow from Miraak or it would snap under the force. I would have to deflect and fight much more skillfully than normal.

I let Mages Downfall go back to only being perception enhancing, and felt my reserves fall about a quarter of the way because of the strain of enhancing a part of my body. Mentally I told myself I had to finish the fight in the next three moves, or I would die.

The plan came to my mind immediately.

How do you take away the Thu'um for Dovahkiin? I had been pondering this question for a long time now, just in case the Dragonborn didn't choose the side of the Imperial's. I came to a very simple solution for this problem.

Cut out their vocal cords.

I knew I wouldn't have that opportunity in this fight. From the simple slash that Miraak had executed, I knew he was better than I was with a blade.

So I settled for the next best thing.

If Miraak was surprised about my deflection of his tentacle blade, he didn't let it show. He moved into the next slash quickly. One that didn't let me execute my hastily formed plan.

I enhanced my body again and deflected the blow. My sword cracked.

Luckily, that sent Miraak into another overhead blow that would have cut me in two. I saw my opportunity and took it.

With one more chance, I activated my enhancement through my whole body for a moment. My sword broke in two as his slash connected with it.

I dropped the blade in mid-air and immediately stepped towards him. His eyes widened slightly and his body moved to avoid my counter attack.

It wasn't in time.

My fist connected with his throat.

It felt like punching an on-coming train, but my magicka protected my body and didn't allow it to buckle. His windpipe gave way to my fist.

I expected him to fall down, and be out for the count. But this was a man that had lived for thousands of years, and fought during the times when Dragons ruled Skyrim. His body immediately went into a kick towards my chest.

My magicka bottomed out suddenly.

Miraak's Thu'um didn't.

Had Ariella's magick not snatched me backwards, he would have done more than collapse my right lung and send shrapnel from my ribcage into it. His foot might have gone right through my chest and out the other side.

I couldn't dwell on that though, because I couldn't breathe and I was flying backwards through the air.

And I didn't have Magicka to heal myself with.

My eyes saw the battlefield just as clear as the blood I was coughing up.

As I was flying backwards, so was the dark elf that had challenged Ariella to a magickal duel. His eyes were closed and I could tell he was unconscious but not dead. Through the pain and blood, I wondered how much damage Ariella had to do to knock out a Vampire Lord. He showed no visible signs of the battle. But most of his clothes were burned off.

And then she hovered over me. Her eyes were fixed on my chest and she laid her hands there. Her ocean of magicka flooded my body, and suddenly it was mine to do as I wished. That was good too, because I was not a doctor in my past life and only knew the basics of fixing what was just done to me.

I focused on putting myself together, but wasted an enormous amount of magicka doing so.

For a brief moment I saw Ariella look away, and a small section of her Magicka get taken away from me.

I continued to heal myself, and finally was able to take in a deep breath that chased away the panic in my system. It also allowed me to smell the ozone in the air. Ariella was simultaneously dueling Miraak in magick, and lending me magicka to heal myself.

With a little more clarity, because of the oxygen returning to my body, I swiftly put my chest and ribs back together. I couldn't know it, but the crowd around me would describe it as a sun hovering over my chest, healing me. They would claim it was Talos blessing me, or at least that would be the story the Legion told to further my legend.

When I was done, my chest still hurt to breath and there was blood on my lips, but I stood up from my place on the ground.

The entire battle paused for a moment. Miraak, Ulfric, and the now awake dark elf stood side by side again staring at Ariella as if she was a Daedric Prince coming to steal their souls.

The hilt of a sword appeared in my vision, and I turned to it.

High King Torygg stood on shaky legs, with his ebony blade outstretched towards me. It was designed like a regular imperial blade, same as my now broken sword. The only difference was that there were old runes that ran up the blade. It had a simple statement.

'For Skyrim and Her People'

It was the King's Blade.

I knew the significance of him offering it. He was offering me to be his sword for the coming battle and war. If I refused, it would be the ultimate offense. So I didn't. Instead, I grabbed it more confident than I felt.

When I turned back towards the battlefield, Miraak had a hand to his throat and a yellow light surrounded it. I knew he wouldn't be using any shouts for a while. If he was smart, he wouldn't talk to strain it for at least two weeks. I had taken away their biggest threat and it had almost taken my life to do it.

Ulfric was a threat also, but if the way his face was slightly rearranged told me anything, it told me Ralof had handled him. I did notice slashes in Ralof's massive wolf armor, but his skin was already healed. Most likely another one of his werewolf abilities.

"From this moment onwards, I declare Civil War." Ulfric yelled to us from his position. "Torygg has broken the terms of the Challenge and accepted outside involvement. He forfeits his position as High King, and I claim it. I expect your surr…"

"Shut the fuck up!" I interrupted him, and didn't let him retort. My lung screamed at me for the exertion. "The Legion brands you and your followers traitors, and we will hunt you until you bend the knee again."

Ulfric's face turned furious, and he started moving towards us again. Miraak's hand snapped out and grabbed his shoulder. Ulfric looked at him, and I knew their mouths didn't move or speak. But I knew they had a conversation.

"Next time we meet, it will be on a battlefield." It was Miraak's voice, but inside my head. It was like he was broadcasting it to everyone. I didn't even know such a thing was possible.

"And you will face the wrath of the dragons."

Ulfric and his entourage hopped on their horses, and immediately high-tailed it out of there. I moved to mount my horse and give the order for my men to pursue, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me.

It was Torygg once again.

"We must let them go." Torygg commanded. "The actions earlier are considered a part of the Challenge. Everything after now, is a part of war. Tradition forces it's hand, Hadvar."

His voice was weaker, and it looked like he was straining to talk. I could relate to him. My lung still ached with every breath.

'Fuck, tradition does say that both parties are allowed to gather their forces before meeting again.' I remembered suddenly. A part of me wanted to pursue anyway and deal with the rebellion immediately. But I knew that would just sow hatred in half of Skyrim for generations to come, so I didn't. Plus, I didn't know if we would win if we pursued.

'For Skyrim and Her People' flashed into my mind and I felt the King's Blade in my hand. I nodded to Torygg in acceptance.

A part of me wanted to hand the sword back to him, but I knew I couldn't. Not until this war was over. Torygg could not take up another sword himself either. I was his sword now. The ramifications extended beyond this fight. All of Skyrim would see me, Battlemage of the Imperial Legion as the High Kings sword. It was a powerful statement.

I sheathed it on my waist with practiced precision.

"Skyrim needs you, Hadvar."

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A/N: Boom!

Omg so many drops this chapter. If you want to know what Miraak said about Hadvar during the beginning of the chapter, you'll have to look it up. It will give you some insight into Miraak's mindset.

I would like to get this out there. Miraak is not an SI. He is just out of Apocrypha a little early, throwing another wrench into this world. More and more curveballs for Hadvar!

Ariella is a beast, let's just leave it at that.

Almost everyone that is important is on the playing field now guys. What did we think?

Let's talk in the reviews!