Chapter LXIV: Stalling

The metallic clang of ebony against ebony resounds in a volume far louder than one might expect as my fingers connect.

A massive wave of Magicka rips its way out of my body, almost all of it in fact, and surges toward the runes bearing my mark combining with the petty soul gems I had placed there.

I do not need to turn around to feel the terror of those among the enemy who know what is coming.

The fools should thank me, after all, they need only fear for but a moment.

The following instant all one hundred runes in the enemy camp activate and ravenous red lightning near-instantly consumes everything around it, like the very jaws of oblivion, with a sound that reminds me of a deep roar leaving only a couple of untouched tents standing.

Through my spreading Magicka, I feel the hundreds if not thousands of lives leave this plane of existence so vividly I would have believed them to be right next to me without context.

This time I do not stagger, nor do I flinch at the sudden loss of energy, I simply lower my right hand behind my back and look at the gathered defenders confidently.

"So..." I smirk "Does anyone else have any opinions on our chances?"

The looks they give me are a mix of fear and awe, and hunger when it comes to Sybille but that is neither here nor there. As no one deigns to speak I nod in satisfaction "Good, now this has only bought us time and we need to be ready for when they stop running around like freshly decapitated poultry"

A round of uncomfortable chuckles spreads through the ranks.

I look to Harald, who still seems stunned, and wave with only light mockery in my eyes.

He flinches and looks around in a light panic before calming down and giving me a resigned look "Very well, what would you have us do?" I can hear the bitterness in his voice but he at least seems ready to cooperate.

"Much of the same really" I tilt my head in thought "Though we can rotate a bit more often now that our numbers are up. Both the mercenaries and soldiers will be fighting at the same time, I don't want anyone to think they are being used as meat shields for the other group."

Harald and the Captains seem satisfied at this and I go on "Gatecrasher will focus on any mages or powerful warriors they send forward, so they should at least be reluctant to invest too much into any one attack."

"What's Gatecrasher boss?" One of the newcomers asks.

I point atop one of the roofed towers where Gatecrasher had climbed using its powerful limbs and was now covering the entire field in all its majestic glory "That" I smirk.

His resulting expression is a mix of fear and amusement.

"You lot can deal with the minor details, I might have an idea on military command but I won't be butting in on how you lead your men as long as you are competent" Most of the mercs seem very happy to hear this "That is all I've had in mind, the Dunmer will be with me as I have fought with them before and the rest can go wherever you all decide is best."

I turn to the future Queen "Lady Elisif, a word in private if you please."

She looks startled for a moment but follows, even as her father lets out a grunt of annoyance.

Sybille looks just about ready to make a snide comment but I preempt that "You can come as well Sybille" She pouts at the lost opportunity but still follows along.

We make our way into a tower and shoo everyone away while my Dunmer agents go ahead and guard the doors, Elisif shifts around uncomfortably at the sudden silence but I don't give her too much opportunity to overthink things "Before I get to the point of this conversation I need to make sure: You and Torygg are in love, yes?"

Her entire face goes red as Sybille giggles at her and she nods quickly.

"Excellent, now taking into account that the only obstacle to your union was your father's obstinance which will be rendered irrelevant once Torygg comes to save his ass, he will most likely propose then and there."

I barely keep myself from bursting into laughter as the poor young woman almost falls unconscious due to my words.

"So" My tone turns serious "I need you to give him this as the wedding present" I summon the bracer I enchanted and offer it to her.

She blinks rapidly and seems completely lost "Why?"

"To save his life"

I feel a hand swat my shoulder "Reyvin, stop playing with the girl and be more specific." Sybille scolds me while keeping her own amusement at the situation hidden.

I roll my eyes "Very well, ruin my fun." Elisif suddenly glares at me and I finally fail to hold back a laugh, which just makes the glaring worse "You are aware of Ulfric's ambitions, yes?"

"Torygg did talk about it..." She admits.

"You are also aware of him being a tongue, like myself?"

A touch of fear appears in her eyes "Y-yes."

I wave the bracer about "I have enchanted this thing to block up to three of the more basic shouts, it SHOULD give him the time to kill Ulfric, or at least call him out on his lack of honor whenever he challenges him for the crown."

Elisif takes the bracer with shaky hands and looks at me almost pleadingly "You are c-certain he w-w-will be challenged?"

I nod gravely "I would almost dare call it a prophecy at this point."

The shakiness stops and the young woman centers herself, her eyes shifting from fearful to determined as she straightens up "Very well, I will make sure he wears it."

"Good" I smile "That is all I needed to tell you." I tilt my head "Now that I think about it please don't get killed, that would be awfully inconvenient after I went through all this trouble."

She seemed ready to excuse herself but my words completely stunned her, she gives me a glare and storms off while huffing something about impolite mages.

I turn to Sybille "Now that that is all said and done, would you like to help me with a little project?"

She raises a curious eyebrow "Oh?"

"Indeed, I dare say it is going to be... enlightening."

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It took the Forsworn half a day to bring themselves together and prepare their next assault, even with all the disgusting damage we inflicted there were still close to seven thousand of them now that the reinforcements arrived.

Their first attempt was to send an elite force with a bunch of cannon fodder in an attempt to overwhelm us and finish this quickly. Unfortunately for them, I was not so considerate and ordered Gatecrasher to go all out.

Now that it was no longer forced to use improvised ammunition a small section below the bow of the ballista opened up as an entire clip of enchanted bolts started getting launched at the enemy force at a ridiculous rate of fire.

Five bolts and a good three dozen disintegrated Briarhearts later, the Reachmen wisely decided to pull back and reconsider their options.

They tried many different and inventive ways to preserve their forces after that.

They attempted to build their own artillery, but somehow forgot their camp was still well inside my range.

They tried digging... against two mages capable of geomancy... I do not feel the need to explain how well that went for them.

They even sent their precious meat puppets to try and soak up the damage, and they actually did to everyone's surprise! What they didn't manage to endure however was the complete unrelenting force shout I hit them with moments later.

By the time they stopped making attempts we managed to make them waste an entire day on patently idiotic behavior due to the fear my earlier actions caused.

As I always say, the most important thing in the field of psychology is presentation!

"Are you finally done with your monologuing?" I hear Sybille quip from behind me.

"I am certain I haven't the faintest clue what you are on about" I smirk and go to join her for an evening meal.

--------------

The morning of the following day started like any other during my stay here, we checked all the units and their numbers, scanned the entire fort against any hidden breaches or infiltrations and had breakfast.

As I was enjoying some rather well made rabbit stew I heard the sound of rapid footsteps and turned to see one of Harald's housecarls, he ran up to Sybille and I and took a couple of deep breaths.

"Let me guess" I preempt his report "They are going all in?"

He gives me a surprised look but then nods to himself and I hear a faint mutter of 'As expected' "Yes sir, looks as if they arrayed the entire force all at once."

"Foolish of them" I say mockingly and turn to Sybille "Shall we?"

Her cruel grin is all the answer I need.

(General POV, with the Legion)

The High King of Skyrim rode his horse at a walking pace, his face contorted in worry and anxiousness, his present officers and advisors words being of no use against his ever present fear for his friends and his love.

He rode down the ranks of legionaries marching in perfect unison and the far less organized mob of ex-gangers and slumfolk, toward a group of four mounted individuals.

They looked to be talking animatedly about something, as he approached he could finally discern the voice of the male twin "And the bloody madman just dropped onto the rider without a care and speared both him and the chaurus below him!"

The red-haired rider sighs "That does sound like something he would do..." while her elven companion merely rolls his eyes.

The female twin notices Torygg and elbows her brother "Your majesty, to what do we owe the honor?"

Torygg looks at a loss for words for a moment, unsure if he should even ask what he wanted, but the memory of a careless Dunmer reminds him of just how little mages cared for noble etiquette "I... worry" He forces the words out "I know of Reyvin's and Sybille's strength, but I still fear the possibility of them failing."

The redhead gives him a teasing look "Afraid your damsel might be in distress King Torygg?"

Her disrespect was evident to everyone present, but the King knew where she was from and chose not to take her bait "Yes, I fear both for my friends and for my love."

"You shouldn't" The male twin quips "If I know anything about that bloody madman it is that he will come up with the most ridiculous shit, just so he can come out the victor."

His sister swats his shoulder "Bor, you are talking to the King!" She hisses.

Torygg raises a placating hand "No matter, I am already used to it."

"Told you Reyvin would break all of their minds" Bor smirks "No offence meant your majesty." Torygg deadpans at him and he chuckles "I was just retelling one of said episodes of abject insanity to Reyvin's apprentices here, maybe listening will lighten your heart." He offers with a smile and the King accepts.

They spend the rest of the morning sharing stories of battles fought and victories achieved.

Just as Torygg was about to go and check if they were getting close to their destination Legate Rikke rode up to their group and saluted "Your majesty, you might want to see this" She looks at the mages "You as well."

They follow her with a mix of worry and excitement, as they bypass the final group of legionaries preparing for battle they finally exit the pass into the valley of Haraldstead.

The sight that meets them is a surreal one, thousands of dead Forsworn lay strewn across the battlefield as their brethren rushed over their corpses to attack the roaring Nords standing atop the walls.

Atop one of the towers stood what looked to be a Dwemer machine launching explosive bolts at a... flesh golem? Torygg blinked rapidly in hopes that his eyes were lying to him.

Soon he found another reason to blink, as atop another tower stood a massive mage-light spell, so bright that he thought for a moment the sun had descended.

"Yep" Bor nods to himself "Definitely looks like Reyvin was here."

Torygg couldn't help but agree.

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Roses are red, violets are blue

Give me stones, or I'll runebomb you too.

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