U.O.T.W. Chapter 194 Two Tribes

  • As Sotek approached Whiterun he saw a multitude of different sized tents scattered around the southern side of Whiterun. The enemy camp surrounded the farmland which Sotek hoped were now abandoned. Farms could be rebuilt. Families were a different matter. Dozens of Imperial soldiers manned the walls of the city, swallowing up the few of the hold’s own guards. His own route to the gate was beset by a smaller camp which hampered his progress.

     

    Angry shouts and jeers were quickly followed by rocks and stones as he spurred on his horse and charged straight through the centre of the enemy encampment. He found himself having to dodge a few arrows and crouch down as they flew over his head. A well placed fireball or two gave him the adequate cover to make good his attempt at reaching the city.

     

    The commotion caused various guards and soldiers to look down from the battlements while the unfortunate rider’s fate was commented on by two unsuspecting observers.

    “What idiot has the nerve to ride through an enemy camp?” Kodlak said as he tried to make out the galloper.

     

    Aela shrugged her shoulders and grinned.

    “I don’t know anyone that stupid. We should ask Farkas...”

     

    Her wide smile soon turned to horror as the horse came closer to her. She recognised the rider way before anyone else and her outcry caused Kodlak, her Harbinger to gasp in shock.

    “It’s Sotek! Open the gate, open it damn you”.

     

    He entered the main gate and barely took three steps before Aela threw herself at him, punching him in the chest.

    “What the hell is wrong with you? Are you trying to start a war?”

     

    Her anger changed a moment later when she looked at his eyes. She felt a tear trickle down her cheek but everyone failed to notice as she threw herself into her mate’s arms.

    “I didn’t think you would get back in time! They camped out there this morning”.

     

    “Yes, there’s no way out of this”. Sotek stated. He knew it was a forlorn hope that he might be able to make some fragile peace but Ulfric’s intentions were all too clear. Sotek’s mind turned to his own immediate protection, or rather the protection of his mate.

    “Aela, you promise me something! In the shrine, the Underforge? There’s an exit. It’s right at the back, hidden. You’ll find it easily enough now you know of its existence. You promise me, right now! If we are going to lose then you get out. Get yourself out”.

     

    Aela yelled at him and screamed like a banshee on the wind.

    “Like hell I will and you can’t ask that of me. I’ll not run away like a cowardly bitch! No damn you! Damn them and all, no! I’ll stay by your side. If I am to die here then by Hircine himself I’ll take them with me”.

     

    He gave out a sigh then nodded before kissing her on the forehead.

    “Sso be it. We’ll give them everything we got... Hircine so help us all. Harbinger, I need to see Jarl Balgruuf; although the point of my audience with him does seem rather moot”.

     

    “I fear he already knows of Jarl Ulfric’s reply Sotek; he will want his axe back. Farkas! Vilkas! You two as well please. Aela, come along, heel; we’re under siege and no amount of talking will stop it now”. Once Kodlak gathered up his most trusted Companions, the four members of the Inner Circle, he began climbing the steps to Dragonsreach.

     

    Inside the hall Jarl Balgruuf was busy making final plans for the defence of his city when Sotek called out to him as the group of Companions approached the table.

    “Jarl Balgruuf, I have his answer but then again I presume you already know of it”.

     

    Jarl Balgruuf’s eyes focused upon his axe then he almost despairingly turned back to the table.

    “Yes. We guessed that would be it. Kodlak I thank you for your support and that of the Companions in this dark hour”.

     

    Once Sotek had returned the axe to its rightful owner, his mind slipped back to the meeting with Ulfric, causing him to remember the second part of his message. He moved across from where he was standing and confronted the three other Companions.

    “Oh yes I nearly forgot. Ulfric had a message for you three as well”.

     

    Aela, who was now standing next to Farkas and Vilkas, stepped forwards and enquired as to what Ulfric had to say.

    “Oh yes? And what did that pig have to say?”

     

    Sotek slightly lowered his head and took the time to examine her. Aela the Huntress; her eyes were light grey yet they almost crackled with energy; sharp and ever hungry. Her hair was an even all over auburn, un-brushed and tangled except for the knots her fingers could find. Dust and dirt, along with a small twig from where she had gathered wood lay entangled in her hair and ignored. Her skin was dirty, no doubt from where she as the other Companions had been busy helping out with the defences. Her breathing was slow and contained while her arms hung loosely by here sides. Yet... her left foot twitched.

     

    Sotek knew the sign; it was an easy one to spot if you knew of its existence. She was a mere few seconds from howling out. There was nothing womanly about Aela. Yes she had the shapely form of a young woman, at least Sotek thought so. Many a night he would rest his weary head on her chest and he loved her rump and as for her hips and legs. His tail always found a way to coil around them.

     

    She wasn’t a woman though. She was a wolf in Nord’s clothing; a wolf Sotek knew whom he would be calling upon before the darkness of night took them; before the darkness of death claimed them. He never expected so many Stormcloaks; he feared Hircine might get his way after all... and yet.... maybe an opportunity presented itself... maybe...

     

    With doubt screaming at his soul Sotek looked at the three Companions and sighed, accepting whatever storm fate threw at him.

    “Just this...” Catching everyone by surprise, he lightly slapped Aela across the face.

     

    Farkas’s and Vilkas’s eyes nearly popped out of their head. They stared at him like he was crazy while both the Jarl and Kodlak each wisely took a step back; removing them from the immediate area of retribution should the young Huntress retaliate.

     

    As for Aela herself, she stood still and silent like a statue while her mind envisioned her teeth biting into Sotek’s neck, tearing off scales and spilling blood while her two ‘brothers’ tried to pull her off her mate. Something held her back from throwing herself at him. Instead she threw the palm of her hand at him, hitting him squarely in the chest.

     

    She was about to curse her head off at him but when she opened her mouth, nothing came out. Slowly she started grinning as the exact meaning of Sotek’s slap sank in.

    “Oh good! Ulfric! He remembers us...”

     

    “You four have a history then?” Sotek enquired as he moved back from her position.

     

    She smiled at him and nodded. To prevent him from moving away, she stepped up to him and bent forwards so she could rest her chin on his chest plate while she looked up at his face.

    “Yes, just a little bit of a history. He came here years before with some men. We beat the crap out of his Stormcloak guards”.

     

    “Years before?” Sotek asked in surprise. “How old were you?”

     

    “Fifteen!” Farkas stated. He grinned as he lifted his sword up in the air. “We used our weapons. Aela used a chair!”

     

    All of a sudden there was a horrendous boom. Everyone glanced back at the main doors; some in shock while others in fear. For Aela and Sotek, it was excitement; war had finally arrived.

     

    Sotek looked at the main door then called out to the others, relaying orders despite the fact that the Harbinger was there.

    “Farkas, Vilkas stay together, Kodlak stay with the Jarl. Aela get your ass up on the next level and for the love of Hircine start shooting something”.

     

    He then opened the doors to Dragonsreach and immediately felt sick to the stomach. There heading towards the main gate was over a hundred Stormcloaks. Already some homes and buildings were burning, struck by burning barrels of oil which were flung over the wall by war machines. He watched in horror as a burning barrel flew over the wall and slammed into Jorrvaskr. The moment it hit the roof it exploded, sending a sheet of flame across the impact area.

     

    Shouting out he drew his axes and charged towards the main gate with Farkas and Vilkas following behind. Aela was firing from the first floor of Dragonsreach. She sent arrow after arrow over the wall into the Stormcloak's ranks. As she fired her Dragonbone Bow, she watched her friends assault the Stormcloak‘s line as Ulfric’s army stormed the main gate.

     

    As he started to engage the closest enemy unit, Sotek saw four Stormcloaks climb the wall. Cursing at the speed of which things turned dire, he swung his axe at the Stormcloak’s shield, knocking it to the side, forcing the Stormcloak to step back. This gave the Argonian vital seconds in which to use his fire shout at the group of soldiers clambering over the ramparts. He took a deep breath and shouted for all he was worth.

    “Yol Toor!”

     

    Fire roared from his mouth sending a wave of heat along the ground, scorching grass and stone as the pinnacle of the flames enveloped four Stormcloaks. Two of them fell off the wall and screamed as their arms flailed around until they collapsed on the ground but one soldier caught the full force of the blast and fell to his knees. There was little left of his uniform; fur, steel and bone moulded together forming a cindered blackened corpse.

     

    The soldier in front of Sotek reeled back in shock and his sword wavered instead of striking out. Sotek took full advantage and rained down two blows against the Stormcloak's neck. Both axes cut into the shoulders, almost hacking the head off. Drenched in blood, Sotek ran forwards, joining in a desperate fight between four Stormcloak soldiers and two Whiterun guards.

     

    Two of these Stormcloaks saw him coming towards them and broke off from the fight to intercept him. As he charged, he swung his axes at one of them. Both axe heads sliced into the armor just as he ducked beneath the second Stormcloak's attack. He brought one of his weapons upwards in a powerful arc ripping open a Stormcloak's crotch; forcing him down on his knees. Sotek span around swinging his axe as hard as he could. The axe tore through the neck of his target decapitating him instantly.

     

    Before Sotek could regain his balance a heavy blow struck him in the back, knocking his axes out of his hands and forcing him to his knees. Half dazed he turned around to see a mighty Nord stand just behind him with a Steel War hammer in his hands. The Argonian glanced to his side but the axes were out of his reach. Before Sotek could roll to the side, the Nord yelled out his war cry but it was cut short as his throat burst open. A Dragonbone arrow protruded from his throat and the Warhammer fell to the ground. The Nord stood there grasping the arrow when a Nordic shield slammed into his side, knocking him out of the way.

     

    Farkas grinned as he offered a hand to Sotek.

    “What you doing down there? There’s work to be done!”

     

    He yanked Sotek up while Vilkas handed him his axes. With a loud ‘Orc smack’ Vilkas slapped Sotek on the back and smirked at him.

    “Slacker!”

     

    Leaving Sotek to try and work out whether it was the Warhammer or Vilkas that ‘broke his spine’ while at the same time trying to catch his breath, Farkas rejoined the fray, shield bashing a Stormcloak three times in as many seconds. In a blur he slammed the point of his sword down right through the chest of the warrior killing him outright. A second Stormcloak charged at him just to run straight into Vilkas’s two handed Skyforge Steel sword. Its blade dug deep in the side of his opponent, nearly slicing him in half.

     

    Sotek paused as he watched his siblings fight. The two brothers worked perfectly together, covering each other and keeping one another’s backs clear. Three enemy soldiers saw Sotek by himself and took his momentary pause from the fighting to be a weakness. They ran towards him with their swords high in the air. Sotek didn’t refer to himself as the Dragonborn but it was a weapon at his disposal. One he wasn’t afraid of using. For a second time that day the fire breath shout was heard over the roaring cries of battle.

    “Yol Toor!” Flames ignited the air, engulfing the tightly packed Stormcloaks.

     

    Despite the defenders efforts, more and more Stormcloaks poured through the gate. Legate Rikke, who was awash with blood, shouted down to her troops from one section of the ramparts.

    “Pull back, we are losing the wall! Pull back”. She hated to move to the inner compound but even as she shouted, another wall section fell to the invading forces. She almost cried in despair when she saw one of her men thrown from the wall to the jeering Stormcloaks below. The man fought bravely but he succumbed to a torrent of blows as he lay exposed on the ground.

     

     

    The Imperial Soldiers fell back along with the guards and the Companions and vicious fighting broke out in the streets. Four Stormcloaks came at Farkas from behind him. He turned just in time but he only managed to block a single attack. A mere second later one of the Stormcloaks burst into flames as he fell with a Dragonbone arrow protruding from his back. Adrianne’s own blade swooped downwards from nowhere, slicing off an arm, giving Farkas a chance to bring his own might to bear. He thrust his blade deep into one soldiers chest then let go of the hit. A Stormcloak screamed in terror as he was lifted up above Adrianne’s head just to be thrown into the corner of a stoned wall, breaking the man’s back.  

     

    Sotek was fighting against a Stormcloak. He swung his axe at the side of the man’s chest, shattering his ribcage. Sotek then grabbed Farkas by the arm and pulled him towards their Harbinger who was fighting off two Stormcloaks at the base of the steps in the Cloud district. “Dragonsreach! Help the Harbinger!”

     

    Without another word the three Companions ran through the city and headed towards their beloved Harbinger. With every step he took, Sotek could see more and more Stormcloaks climb over the wall to reinforce those already in the compound. Under Kodlak’s instructions, Farkas headed for Jorrvaskr where he saw Vilkas struggling with three Stormcloaks. One of the soldiers burst into flames at Aela shot an arrow at him, giving Vilkas the much needed support.

     

    Sotek found himself fighting desperately at the main door to Dragonsreach. He desperately looked at Jorrvaskr and they too were hard pressed to fight off the overwhelming numbers of enemy units. It seemed for every Stormcloak that fell, two were waiting to take their place.

     

    Kodlak felt the same despairing fate as what Sotek did. He prayed to the Nines but Kodlak knew they were beyond help. The city was on the brink of being lost. He yelled across to Farkas, ordering him to give Sotek what could well have been Kodlak’s last command.

    Farkas shouted to Sotek, who by now was trampling on dead and dying soldiers.

    “Harbinger said can you get the Jarl out?”

     

    A defiant shout came from behind Sotek as he fought at the doorway.

    “No! We fight on!”

    As he turned behind to look behind him a Stormcloak charged up to him just to be thrown backwards by the force of Aela’s bow from where she shot him at almost point blank range. She stepped alongside Sotek and threw her bow to the side having exhausted her supply of arrows. With two Dragonbone daggers in her hands she prepared to fight to the death alongside her mate.

     

    Sotek looked across the compound and saw the last of the defences fall. Stormcloaks now ran freely through the city while piecemeal defences fought vainly on against overwhelming forces. He looked back at the Jarl who was wounded in the arm from when he joined in against the initial assault force of Dragonsreach. His face told Sotek everything; they had lost.

     

    Sotek yelled back at Farkas and screamed at the top of his voice so he could be heard over the din of battle.

    “Yes I can but Kodlak isn’t going to like it”.

     

    Farkas fought off three more Stormcloaks then he desperately shouted to Sotek once more.

    “Get him out!!”

     

    Sotek brought his boot up and kicked a Stormcloak in the chest, knocking him back as two daggers slashed by his side, slicing into a Stormcloak's face from ear to ear in two bloody swathes. Fireballs and shock magic tore into the enemy ranks as Farengar joined in, supplementing Sotek’s own spells with destructive spells of his own. The Argonian turned to Farkas and shouted back at his sibling.

    “He isn’t going to like it”.

     

    The Harbinger swung his two handed Skyforge Steel sword, ‘Twilight’ at a Stormcloak decapitating him in a single strike then he shouted over the melee going on around him. He heard the shouting between Sotek and Farkas and now he stepped in, intervening in their row.

     “Sotek damn your scaly hide! Can you get the Jarl out of there?”

     

    Sotek groaned out loud as he took out his frustrations on a single Stormcloak who fell under a pummel of blows. Aela moved back away from the Argonian’s aggression and watched in surprise as Sotek almost screamed at their Harbinger.

    “Yes I bloody can but you won’t like it!”

     

    Kodlak once again turned to Sotek who lifted his arms up high in the air imitating a werewolf. The Harbinger knew what Sotek had meant and he hated the Argonian for it. With tears streaming down his face, the Harbinger gave the one command he dreaded all his life.

    “Do it! We have no choice. May Hircine help us all!”

     

     

Comments

7 Comments   |   Ben W and 8 others like this.
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  August 14, 2017
    You missed a lot of apostrophes in 'Stormcloak's'.


    I'm really wondering how Balgruuf will react when he finds out the Companions are werewolves. I think the only way they could get away with it is if he learned it from Sotek, he trust...  more
    • Sotek
      Sotek
      Ebonslayer
      Ebonslayer
      Ebonslayer
      You missed a lot of apostrophes in 'Stormcloak's'.


      I'm really wondering how Balgruuf will react when he finds out the Companions are werewolves. I think the only way they could get away with it is if he learned it from Sotek, he trusts the argonian and...  more
        ·  August 16, 2017
      Thanks Ebonslayer. I went through and fixed the ones I could find.
      Balgruuf... see, this is going to be a hard one for I know whats coming. The hardest [part is for me to 'sell it' to the reader. 
      Hope I get it right or as right as possible. 
  • Aela The Huntress
    Aela The Huntress   ·  February 6, 2017
    Oh crap!!  That's not the end of it though....
    I hope...
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  January 31, 2017
    Stormcloaks! lol, at Sotek's repeated line "but you won't like it..."
  • The Sunflower Manual
    The Sunflower Manual   ·  January 31, 2017
    Well, that's not good. Losing Whiterun means that the Stormcloaks now have a good springboard to launch their attacks from.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  January 31, 2017
    Oh yea, you know what's coming alright. I've been looking forwards to these particular chapters for ages. I will try to release the next part tomorrow.
  • A-Pocky-Hah!
    A-Pocky-Hah!   ·  January 31, 2017
    Yes, yes! Let the carnage ensue!
    Unleash the beast within!!