The next morning, I awoke with fear churning in my belly. The day had come. The Stormcloaks would be arriving, preparing for a massive attack on Whiterun. On my home, where my family lived. Where my children lived.

We had a rushed breakfast that morning, and the table was deathly quiet. Even the children seemed to know what was to come. The air was thick with solemnity.

I pushed my empty plate forward and cleared my throat. "Attention, everyone!" I called, standing in my chair. Vilkas made sure I stayed steady as I rose my full height.

The Companions turned to me, faces set with worry and trepidation.

"Listen up." I crossed my arms over my chest, squaring my shoulders. "While we are a neutral faction, taking no side in this war, the Jarl has called us to fight for him and his people. Which means we must fight with the Empire. Even though I would rather pull my own teeth out than fight alongside them, we are honor-bound to come to the Jarl's aid. We have no choice but to follow his request.

"With that said, I need to tell you of our battle strategies." I forked my fingers at Aela and Eirik. "You two will be our archers, and you'll be covering the wall behind Jorrvaskr. Stop any invaders who try to climb that side. The rest of us will be running two-by-two through the ranks. Help squads that need it. Vilkas and I have already assigned the pairs, and if you should get separated from your Shield-Sibling, find the next group of Companions and stick with them. Understood?"

"Yes, Harbinger," they all murmured in unison.

"Torvar and Ria will be one pair. Athis and Njada, you're the next. Tyra and Farkas, and then Vilkas and myself. Stick with your Shield-Sibling, no matter what. Don't leave their side."

Once my speech was done, the Companions broke apart and made their personal preparations. I got down from my chair and headed downstairs to don my armor. Vilkas followed me, his face somber.

"And what of the children?" he asked as we came into our chambers. "Where will they be?"

"Under Jorrvaskr. It's the safest place in the Hold. There's no place I would rather them be."

He nodded. "You are right. It is the safest place. I just wish we had a way to get them out of harm's way entirely."

"So do I, but there is no time."

Together, we suited up, putting on our armor in silence. It took a lot to rattle me, and I was efficiently rattled now. My stomach had tied itself into many tight knots, and it refused to release. My hands kept shaking, no matter what I did to stop them. A cold sweat began to run down my neck, making my entire body shiver.

"Ylva," Vilkas said, stirring me from my thoughts. "We will be all right. We have to focus on the task at hand. Can you do that?"

I bit my lip, then nodded. "You're right. As usual."

He offered a weak smile. "I don't know about that. But I do know that there is no point in borrowing trouble."

I gave another nod. "It's time for me to meet with the Legate in charge of the Legion's soldiers. She is supposed to brief me on her plans, so I can coordinate the Companions' forces with hers."

He nodded, then pressed a quick and gentle kiss to my lips. "Go, then. I will see you again soon."

I left him after I equipped my sword. I made sure the sheath was secured to my belt, then I left Jorrvaskr.

I marched down to the Imperials' camp, just past the walls. As I came closer to the entrance into Whiterun, I noticed that barricades had been built, and that many archers already had their places on the walls.

"Legate Brunelli!" I called as I neared the main command tent. "I need to speak with you."

Marina pushed the tent flap aside and stepped into the midday sun. She frowned when she locked her gaze on me. Her gray eyes turned hard, like steel. "To what do I owe the pleasure, esteemed Harbinger? Or do you prefer Dragonborn? Perhaps both?"

"Hate me all you wish, but we must work together." I pulled my helm off and tucked it under my arm. "The Jarl sent me down here, to discuss battle plans. I have to know where my Companions would serve you best."

"If it were up to me, you and your Companions would stay in that mead hall of yours. The Legion doesn't need help from a few glorified mercenaries." She sighed, then allowed me to step into her tent. "But the Jarl has his right to call for whomever's aid he wishes." She pointed to a map of the city, as well as the surrounding plains. "We suspect that the rebels will make camp close to Pelagia Farm, and they won't attack until their war machines are in place and ready."

"So they will have catapults?"

"Yes," she said slowly, patiently, as if she were explaining something so simple to a child. "Any good war strategist knows that catapults will make or break the battle."

"Forgive me. I've never been in a battle of more than a few brigands. Aside from my escape from Helgen, of course, but that was—"

"You escaped from Helgen? All those years ago?"

I nodded. "Yes. After your superior, General Tullius, tried to have me beheaded for crimes I did not commit." I shook the thoughts and feelings of anger away. "But it's behind me. Long behind, in fact. We need to focus on the here and now."

"Right. It's just...." She dropped her head." I had a friend there. Several, but one was a really close friend. His name was Hadvar. He wasn't much of anyone. Just a soldier. But he had a heart of gold, and he cared for his family greatly. After the attack, I... I was told that only a handful escaped, and Hadvar was not among them."

"I am sorry. He was a good man. Brave. Even in the face of a dragon."

She looked up. "You knew him?"

"Not really. I had never seen him before. But he was the only one who tried to get me out of the execution because I was not even supposed to be there. I watched as Alduin, the dragon who attacked, pushed an entire tower down on top of him and three other men. I would have saved him if I could have, but there was no way he could have survived such a thing." I cleared my throat. "I went back to Helgen, after it was rebuilt, and paid my respects to all those who lost their lives that day. Including Hadvar."

"I was the one who told Hadvar's uncle and aunt in Riverwood—the blacksmith Alvor and his wife—that their nephew had perished. If you could have seen their faces...." She sighed. "I will never forget the look of horror and grief that Sigrid had on her face."

"Life is full of loss. It is something we will always have to deal with. But life is not beautiful because it lasts. It ends, and therein lies the true beauty of it. Life is precious."

"Indeed." She wiped her hands down her face, but that did not stop me from noticing the tears welling in her eyes. "Which is why I desire for this war to end as soon as it can. It has claimed far too many lives." She picked up her own helm and started to leave the tent.

I grabbed her arm as she passed. "Marina—"

"You do not have to tell me that loss is part of life." She jerked her arm from my grasp and angrily pulled her helmet on. "I know. I am a Legate in the Imperial Legion." She threw the tent flaps aside and stalked out, leaving me in her wake.

I sighed and secured my helmet to my head. As far as I could tell, Marina was proud and temperamental. She was not someone I wished to deal with more than I had to. I could only hope that my involvement with the Empire did not last much longer.

Maybe the gods were testing me. Maybe this was something of a trial. Something they wanted to see me pass or fail. Maybe dealing with Marina was some sort of test. Perhaps she was a challenge for my patience. Something to help me grow as a leader.

Maybe for that destiny that the gods have already set before me. That final battle.

I shook my head and left the tent. The final battle, the last time that Skyrim would need me to be a savior. I was beginning to believe that was all a bunch of nonsense. It had not happened yet. I had been waiting six years, and nothing had happened. I was starting to doubt that anything ever would.

I ducked my head and marched back up the path into the city. I could not doubt the gods. It would not be right. Not after all they had done for me.

That did not stop me from losing faith in that promise, though.