I woke up early the next morning, having to pull myself out of Vilkas's embrace, and began to pack for my journey to Solitude. While I could have sent a message to Rikke by courier, I had a niggling fear that it could be intercepted by the Thalmor. It would just be safer to make the journey myself. Probably quicker, too, since I would be on horseback.

"You're really doing this, aren't you?" asked Vilkas as I finished stuffing supplies and clothes into my satchel.

I shouldered my pack and turned to face my husband. I hated the look he had on his face. "Yes. I'm going."

"When will you return?"

"Soon. I don't expect to stay long."

"Will you say goodbye to them?"

"The children? No. I don't want to wake them. I'll be back before you can start to miss me."

"Impossible." He slid off the bed and strode to me. "I'll miss you the moment you're gone."

I wrapped my arms around him. "Don't worry, my love. I'll be fine. I'll be back a week from now, I reckon."

"Good." He kissed my forehead. "Stay safe. Talos guard you."

"I love you." I quickly kissed him, pulled myself from his embrace, and left the room. My heart instantly started aching. I couldn't help but feel guilty for leaving.

The sun was just coming over the horizon as I stepped out of Jorrvaskr. The town was still sleeping, streets empty and homes locked tight. The stalls weren't even set up yet, but they would be soon. Carlotta always liked to get a head start on the day. She would be up soon, and the rest of the stall owners would follow soon after.

I jogged out of the city and to the stables, where my midnight-black horse, Keskivö, was kept. He was a young thing, only four years old, and he had a wild spirit. The only person who could calm him down was me.

I scratched his black-and-white speckled muzzle and fed him a couple sugar cubes. He nickered happily as he gnawed on the cubes.

"Attaboy." I patted his cheek. "Ready to go for a ride?"

He nuzzled my hand, expecting more sugar cubes.

Smiling, I stepped into his stall and began to saddle him. It wasn't an easy job, but I was the only one who could do it. He wouldn't let anyone else near him.

Once I had him saddled and bridled, I strapped my satchel to the saddle and led him by the reins out of his stall. He pranced a little, pawing the ground in excitement.

Just as I got him to the road, the whole world seemed to shake. I stumbled a little, steadying myself by holding onto Keskivö's saddle horn. Then, a thunderous cry pealed from the mountains in a rush of bright light and color.

"DO-VAH-KIIN!"

That was a cry I had not heard in a long time. The call of the Greybeards. They were summoning me to their mountain, something they hadn't done in... at least eight years. They wouldn't have summoned me unless something terrible was about to happen. My gut twisted with trepidation.

"I'll answer your summons as soon as I return, Masters," I murmured as I mounted Kes. "Right now, I'm trying to save our land from overlords."

I kicked Keskivö in the sides, slapped the reins to his neck, and started my gallop towards Solitude.

-------

"Hail, Dragonborn," said one of the Imperial guards standing in the warm, sunlit plaza outside Castle Dour. "What can we do for you?"

I tried not to show how saddlesore I was after riding for the past three days from Whiterun to Solitude. It was mid-afternoon, and I had started out just before sunrise today. My poor horse was exhausted by the time we had made it to the stables.

"I seek an audience with the Legate in charge. It's an urgent matter."

The guards looked at one another. One raised an eyebrow, and the other shook his head.

I pursed my lips. Obviously, they were trying to decide on whether I was being serious or not.

The first one turned to me, a skeptical look on his face. "Just how urgent, Dragonborn?"

I sighed, trying to remember patience. "Look, boy, I have traveled all the way from Whiterun to get here. I have a guild to run, two children to raise, and a sister-in-law who is two months with child. I don't have time to make trips like this, especially if guards like you are going to make it even harder. So, get out of my way, or you're going to find out just why they call me 'Sky-Shatterer.'"

They paled, hands going to the hilts of their swords.

"We're sorry, ma'am," the first guard said, visibly trembling. "Go right in."

"Thank you." I offered a slight bow before stepping into Castle Dour.

I came first to the throne room. The cold stone room was well lit by the numerous windows above my head. Potted plants had been placed to make it seem a little more welcoming—or that is what I assumed. The throne was faced with rows of low, wooden benches. It was an odd sight, as if the person sitting in the throne were supposed to be a god, demanding worship from those sitting on the benches. Imagining Ulfric sitting on that throne made my skin crawl. It wasn't an image I wanted in my head.

Shouting from the next room shook my from my thoughts. I furrowed my brow. Although I didn't know Rikke that well, I knew what she sounded like, and that was not her voice.

"Look, I don't care of you think defending Dragon Bridge is a waste of resources!" the voice, clearly female, and clearly perturbed, shouted. "I say those people need to feel secure, so send the troops and make them feel secure!"

"Yes, of course, Legate," said another voice, this one male and very jumpy. "I didn't mean to challenge your authority. I was merely suggesting—"

"Yeah, okay, you made your 'suggestion,' so get out of my sight and relay my orders to Captain Aldis before I demote you to guard duty, soldier!"

"Yes, Legate Brunelli."

My eyes widened, and I took a step backwards. Legate Brunelli? Why was Marina in charge?

The jumpy solider—who was none other than Benor—left the room shortly after the shouting ceased, his face pale and sweaty. He gave me a stunned look, then glanced back at the room. "Harbinger, what're you—" He shook his head, cutting himself off. "If you've come to speak with the Legate, be careful. She's in a very foul mood today."

"I heard that, soldier! Whoever's out there, send them in."

Benor started sweating again. "Y-yes, Legate." He turned to me, hands clasped tightly in front of him. They were shaking. "You'd best go."

I nodded and let him pass before I stepped into the low-ceilinged war room. It was just as cold as the throne room, perhaps even colder. Sconces on each wall gave off plenty of light, illuminating the wide table covered in maps, flags, and plans. Marina leaned against that table, her head down, brow creased, and shoulders tense.

I cleared my throat and clapped my hands behind my back. "Legate."

Her head shot up right away. "Ylva." She, too, clasped her hands behind her. "Well, I can honestly say that you are the last person I expected to see here."

"It's a pleasure to see you again, too." I held back my scowl. "Where's Rikke? I came to speak with her, but—"

"Legate—or should I say General—Rikke is on her way to Cryodiil as we speak. She has been appointed to Tullius's rank, after what happened in Falkreath."

My brow furrowed. "What happened in Falkreath?"

"You don't know? Well, I'll enlighten you. Tullius's caravan was ambushed on the border. Bandits, so the unofficial report says. In truth, they were Stormcloak sympathizers. They attacked and killed everyone in that caravan." She sighed and let her head fall. "The only thing they found left of Tullius was his severed head, mounted on a pike right on the border between Skyrim and Cryodiil." She picked her head back up and sighed. "So if I'm in a foul mood, it's because I lost my general in an unprovoked attack, and I am now in charge of the Imperial army stationed here in Skyrim."

Tullius was dead? Rikke was in Cryodiil? Marina was... leader of the Skyrim branch of the Legion? How could this have happened? "I'm sorry about that, Marina."

She squeezed the bridge of her nose, eyes screwed shut and a sigh escaping her nose. "Gods, this is going to give me gray hair. Anyway, what was it you were going to speak to Rikke about?"

"It's something that I should ask her, and only her."

"Whatever you were going to say to her," she said in a slow and clear voice, as if speaking to a misunderstanding child, "you can say to me."

Really? Could I? Without getting arrested for treason? I didn't come all the way to Solitude so I could be beheaded. "You're going to think I'm crazy and arrest me for treason."

Another sigh. She looked like she was swiftly running out of patience. "Okay, how about this, whatever you say in this room, doesn't leave this room? I won't arrest you for treason, but you have to tell me why you think I would arrest you."

Well, she asked for it. "All right. Fine. I need the Empire's support to help me wage a war against the Thalmor."

Marina blinked, expression a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "What did you say?"

"I said, I need the Empire's military support so I can wage a war against the Aldmeri Dominion and force them out of Skyrim."

"We just got out of a bloody war, and now you want to start another one?!" She started pacing. "You're right, I think you're crazy. Have you lost your mind?!"

"I have never been more sober-minded about anything else in my life. I do not enter into this idea lightly. I don't want another war, but I can't stand by and watch my people become enslaved to the Altmer. This is our land, and I won't stand by and watch it be stripped away from us."

"I can't be the one to decide if the Imperial Legion can help you or not. It's not my place. It's Rikke's now, and she does what the Emperor tells her to. So I suppose it's up to the Emperor, and he's bound to honor the White-Golf Concordat. Breaking that would result in a massive retaliation from the elves, and it could very well destroy the Empire."

"I don't pretend to understand the politics of war, but surely there's something you can do. Marina, please." I leaned against the table, face only inches from hers. "I have two children who will have to grow up under Altmeri rule if we don't take action. My niece, nephew, and their unborn sibling will, too. Every child in Skyrim should know freedom. I'm fighting for them. Not for me, not for my generation, but for the next one. For my children and their children."

"I respect your motivations, but politically, it can't be done. I'm sorry."

I sighed and pushed off the table. "This is exactly why I wanted to make this appeal to a Nord, not some Imperial outlander."

Marina's jaw clenched, cheeks reddening in fury. "If you think that only a Nord can love this land, you're wrong, understand? I grew up here. This land is mine, too. I fought in her fields, I live under her sky. My twin sister died in this land." While she tried to keep her voice steady, I could tell she was only moments away from tears. "She's buried in Falkreath, where we used to live." The tears in her voice welled in her eyes. "So if you think for one minute that an Imperial can't love Skyrim enough to die for her, then you're wrong. Malena did."

"Marina, I—"

"Don't. Don't bother with sympathy. I don't need it from you." She crossed her arms, her voice once again strong. In her eyes were the tears only moments away from falling, she quickly reached up and wiped them away. "It seems to me that you won't leave here until you get what you want, so I will make you a deal. I will send word of this appeal directly to Rikke, and I will try to get her support."

"And what do I do in the meantime?"

"I would recommend answering your summons."

"How did you know—"

"Word travels faster than you, apparently. The Summoning of the Greybeards just doesn't happen all that often. It doesn't take long for word about it to go around." She gave me a little grin. "I wouldn't want to keep them waiting if I were you."

"Right." I offered a salute to her. "Thank you for listening."

"Your motives are admirable, I'll give you that. I just hope you realize the consequences should you fail."

"My life is a small price to pay for this land's freedom. If my death inspires others to rise up and defend Skyrim, then so be it."

"Spoken like a Nord." She gave me the same salute I gave her. "Dragonborn."

"Legate."

With that, I turned on my heel and left the room. Marina began to mutter to herself as she once again leaned over the table.

As I stepped out of Castle Dour, I was glad I hadn't mentioned that I had found Ulfric and had spared his life. If she knew, Marina would probably arrest me—or kill me herself. I would have to tell her at some point, whether I got the Empire's support or not, but for now, that would be my little secret.

I didn't have much time to be concerned about it. After all, I still had to see the Greybeards.

Again, my stomach knotted. I hadn't seen them in a long time, and I had a feeling the visit was going to be far from pleasant.