She shuddered, and decided that perhaps it was best not to think about that any longer. They\u2019d had plenty of other frightening things to listen to in the recent past without revisiting the horrific sounds of Roggi interrogating a prisoner.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/4-2-10-1.png\")
<\/p>\n
They approached Ulfric and gave him a brief rundown of what had transpired at Fort Neugrad.\u00a0 Each of them had slightly different details to add to the mix; and by the time they finished their report Ulfric was nodding in satisfaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood, good. This is the news the courier brought, as well. I\u2019m proud we liberated Falkreath from the Empire,\u201d he said. \u201cIn many ways, it\u2019s the heart and soul of Skyrim, not to mention its rather strategic position. Reinforcements are going to be harder for Tullius to come by now that we control the Pale Pass. It is a long voyage from Cyrodiil to Solitude. But there is a problem. Before we took Falkreath, a group of Imperials took Fort Sungard, in the Reach. That was supposed to be our territory as a result of the truce.\u201d<\/p>\n
He sat forward on his chair and addressed Frina.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve done well, sister of Skyrim. Some brothers have taken to calling you Bone-Breaker \u2013 evidence of your ferocity and determination. A fitting name. So we shall all call you thus,\u201d he said, smiling.<\/p>\n
Frina smiled back. Bone-Breaker! This is why I came here. <\/em>\u201cThank you, my lord. I will carry this title in honor of my late sister, who loved Skyrim as fiercely as I do.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric continued smiling, but she thought she saw a flicker of some other emotion in his eyes for just a moment. He turned to his left.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi. Thank you for your excellent work both during the battle and before it. That information has proven to be very useful already.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi swapped a quick, somewhat grim glance with Dardeh. He glanced back at Ulfric and smirked. \u201cI definitely prefer being in the field but it\u2019s good to know I haven\u2019t lost my touch.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh cringed, visibly. Ulfric raised an eyebrow and turned to face him.<\/p>\n \u201cNow then, Dragonborn. I understand that you have been indispensible in battle, bringing your particular talents to bear in rallying the troops and fighting as fiercely as officers with many more years of experience. I thank you for that, and so do we all. But now I need you to make your way to our hidden camp in the Rift. I can\u2019t continue to push forward when I\u2019m worried about Eastmarch\u2019s southern border.\u201d<\/p>\n His voice dropped, grew harsher.<\/p>\n \u201cI hold you responsible for this situation,\u201d he said, staring coldly at Dardeh. \u201cSo you\u2019d better win me back Riften, or die trying.\u201d<\/p>\n Frina heard Roggi hiss, a quick inhalation of surprise. She didn\u2019t know what the situation was that had caused the Jarl to speak so rudely to Dardeh, but she recognized how distressed Roggi was and that made the hair rise on her arms.<\/p>\n Dardeh stared back at Ulfric, his look equaling the Jarl\u2019s for sheer coldness.<\/p>\n \u201cYou never have quite grasped why that was necessary, have you,\u201d he said very quietly.<\/p>\n Ulfric frowned at him. Frina heard him make a sound that was something close to a growl.<\/p>\n \u201cDar,\u201d Roggi warned.<\/p>\n Dardeh shook his head and waved one hand in the air. \u201cNo, it\u2019s alright, Roggi,\u201d he said, addressing his husband but staring at Ulfric with daggers in his gaze. \u201cI will never be able to explain to the Jarl\u2019s satisfaction exactly what defeating Alduin entailed, and since that was the sole reason I negotiated the Rift out of his control, he\u2019s never going to get it. It\u2019s understandable that he continues to hold a grudge. We will, in fact, go do what the Jarl of Windhelm requires. The Rift will be in Stormcloak hands once more before the end of another week, no matter the cost. You have my word on that, Ulfric.\u201d<\/p>\n Without waiting for a reply, Dardeh turned and walked briskly back toward the doors of the Palace. Roggi stood for a moment watching him walk away, his mouth partially open; then he turned to Ulfric and spoke, forcing his voice out from between clenched jaws.<\/p>\n \u201cYou truly are an idiot sometimes, Ulfric. You and Dar need to get over this petty pissing contest you\u2019ve been having and get on with the business at hand. I don\u2019t know which one of you is worse. I\u2019ll speak to him on our way to the Rift.\u201d<\/p>\n He then left unceremoniously, not waiting to see whether Ulfric had another assignment for him. He simply hustled down the long room toward the main doors.<\/p>\n Frina\u2019s head swam trying to make sense of it. She was appalled at the tone he\u2019d used, the fact that he\u2019d called the Jarl an idiot to his face, and the fact that both he and Dardeh had left without waiting for Ulfric to dismiss them. She half expected Ulfric to call for guards to bring them back to account for themselves. She watched Roggi\u2019s receding form, nervously, and then turned to find Ulfric smirking.\u00a0 He waved his hand and chuckled.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be concerned. Roggi and I have known each other for a long time now and I\u2019m used to his impertinence. It doesn\u2019t bother me. His husband<\/em>, on the other hand\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He frowned as the door closed behind Roggi, and shook his head. \u201cIf he were not so very invaluable, that might be another story. But never mind that. I wanted to speak to you privately in any event. I need capable and loyal warriors close at hand, so I\u2019d like to offer you a home in Windhelm. Speak to my steward, who will make the arrangements.\u201d<\/p>\n Frina was utterly confused. She\u2019d gone from the excitement of reporting their success to being confused by the unexpected confrontation, to feeling nearly fearful for her brother\u2019s safety.\u00a0 And now Ulfric was saying he wanted her near him, or at least that was what it sounded like.\u00a0 She felt almost dizzy with all of it.<\/p>\n \u201cA\u2026 home, my lord?\u201d<\/p>\n He nodded. \u201cIt requires my permission to purchase property in Windhelm. If you are able, it would be good to have you close at hand, as I said.\u201d<\/p>\n Oh I see. I have to buy it. I thought he was just giving me a place to live near him.\u00a0 I thought\u2026 I don\u2019t know what I thought. Just as well. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThank you, my lord. If I ever become wealthy enough to buy a home I\u2019ll be honored to do so here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow then,\u201d Ulfric said, \u201cI need you to get over to our camp in the Reach. As I told you before, Imperials infiltrated the hold before we were able to take back Falkreath.\u00a0 I\u2019ve sent Galmar there. They need every able-bodied soldier they can muster.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, my lord.\u201d\u00a0 She started to leave, but then turned back to face Ulfric again. \u201cSir? May I ask you a question?\u201d<\/p>\n She couldn\u2019t tell whether Ulfric was annoyed or amused.\u00a0 Regardless, he nodded. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you mean by saying you hold Dardeh responsible for the Rift being in Imperial hands? If I may ask, that is. I \u2026 haven\u2019t been back in Skyrim that long.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric\u2019s brow wrinkled. \u201cThere was a truce in place, for a time, one that the Dragonborn arranged with the help of the Greybeards. When we demanded the Reach, the Dragonborn appeased the Imperials by handing over the Rift.\u201d<\/p>\n He frowned more deeply and shook his head. \u201cHe said this was necessary to allow him to reach and defeat Alduin, the World-Eater. I have seen no evidence that this happened, though he claims that it did. There were no witnesses. There are no bones or scales of Alduin to prove that our sacrifice was necessary, nor have I seen any reduction in the number of dragon attacks on our lands. So I have sent him to take care of the mess he created in the Rift.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, lord,\u201d Frina murmured. \u201cI couldn\u2019t help but wonder. You and Dardeh don\u2019t seem to like each other very much.\u201d<\/p>\n As soon as the words left her mouth, she froze in place.\u00a0 I shouldn\u2019t have said that. Why in the world did I say that?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThat is a matter that is truly not your concern,\u201d Ulfric snapped, glaring at her.\u00a0 Then his expression softened, and he shrugged. \u201cBut you are perceptive. It\u2019s true; we do not care for each other. We do, however, respect each other. At least I believe that to be the case. The Dragonborn is a very powerful ally to have. Now go. Get yourself to the Reach. We\u2019ll speak again when you return.\u201d<\/p>\n Frina found herself unable to break herself away from Ulfric\u2019s gaze for a moment. I want to ask you about Briinda. Your reaction when you met me and your reaction when I said I would honor her with the title of Bone-Breaker.\u00a0 What happened between the two of you?<\/em><\/p>\n Ulfric didn\u2019t acknowledge her unspoken question, and he didn\u2019t look away; instead he held her gaze intently, asking her something as well \u2013 something she could not interpret. Finally, knowing that she\u2019d been dismissed and shouldn\u2019t press the issue further she nodded and began making her way out of the keep. She was just about to push the doors open when it fully registered with her just how presumptuous she had been, speaking to the future High King as she had \u2013 and just how lucky she was that he appeared to like her.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll speak again when you return.\u201d I like the sound of that. I\u2019ll have to make certain that I return.<\/em><\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Dardeh hadn\u2019t gotten much beyond the Windhelm Stables when the dragon came soaring over the bridge from the west and landed directly in front of him.\u00a0 He slammed his helmet down over his face and Shouted Dragonrend at it, snarling.<\/p>\n It\u2019s just as well. This will give me something to kill so that I don\u2019t go back in there and completely ruin everything we\u2019ve all been working for. Kill him, you say? Kill him, Dadarh? No. You don\u2019t get to ruin all our lives by using me.<\/em><\/p>\n He began raining blows down on the beast, dodging its snapping fangs. He heard Roggi join the battle, the distinctive sounds of his greatsword slicing through scales telling Dardeh that he was standing too close to the thing\u2019s dangerous snout as usual. Timing worked in their favor with this dragon.\u00a0 Dardeh was able to keep it grounded, and nearly every blow from both of them was a solid hit. It was only a few minutes before the beast fell, smoking and burning, and its soul rushed in to join Dardeh\u2019s.<\/p>\n Dardeh closed his eyes and raised his face to the sky.\u00a0 He spread his arms as the energy rushed in; and from some place deep inside him a roar erupted. It wasn\u2019t a word, just a scream.\u00a0 He was so angry. He was so powerful, and so angry, and that constant, insistent voice kept telling him to kill Ulfric. But Ulfric was the man he wanted to see as High King.\u00a0 His entire life made no sense to him at that moment. And so he stood, and screamed.<\/p>\n \u201cDardeh?\u201d Roggi\u2019s voice was quiet and soothing, and made him open his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was me not taking my anger out on the man who so richly deserves it.\u00a0 Be happy I did this instead.\u201d\u00a0 He turned without waiting for an answer and started jogging down the road toward Kynesgrove, not waiting for Roggi but hearing his footsteps following along behind.<\/p>\n The inevitable came when he sat down at the table in Roggi\u2019s house to have a bite to eat.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t been able to relax his face out of a frown since they\u2019d walked into Ulfric\u2019s castle, and he hadn\u2019t been able to get himself to look at Roggi.<\/p>\n \u201cDardeh. What is going on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m angry.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t that clear?\u201d<\/p>\n He heard a noise from behind him, almost a snarl, and it was only then that it occurred to him that Roggi angry was as dangerous as many of the other things he faced daily. He sighed and tried to relax his shoulders.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Roggi. I just can\u2019t help it. The man drives me crazy. He dismisses me as if I\u2019m nothing and he refuses to acknowledge what I did for him and everyone else. Thank Frina, sure. Thank you. Turn to me and treat me like a dog.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, you\u2019re jealous? Is that it?\u201d Roggi\u2019s voice was heavy with sarcasm.<\/p>\n Dardeh turned to glare at him, his temper flaring. The sight of his beloved blonde husband made him even angrier.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. You\u2019re gods-damned right I am jealous. I see the way he looks at you. He didn\u2019t want your wife<\/em>, Roggi. He wanted you<\/em>. It\u2019s taken me awhile to figure it out but I\u2019m sure of it. That\u2019s why he\u2019s hated me from the moment he met me. He couldn\u2019t have you back because I was in the way and he saw that before you did, even. He wants you back. And so he\u2019s going to discount everything I do even though he knows perfectly well that the only reason he gets to push forward with his war is because I got rid of Alduin.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi was angry, too. That was clear from his expression, and it was clearer still when he spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat Ulfric wants doesn\u2019t make a particle of difference, Dardeh. I\u2019m disappointed that you would even think that. Yes, he probably does. He\u2019s been told to back down.\u201d He nodded when Dardeh\u2019s eyebrows arched in surprise. \u201cHe knows I am serious about that. I gave him a small demonstration of how strong I really am.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi stomped across the room to one of his footlockers and rummaged around in it, finally straightening up with a neatly-wrapped package in his hands. He waved it at Dardeh.<\/p>\n \u201cMy backup set of tools. You didn\u2019t really<\/em> think I\u2019d be able to give up on everything completely, did you? Are you that na\u00efve, Dardeh?\u201d He slipped the package into his pack before turning back to Dardeh. \u201cI made sure that Ulfric knew what I\u2019m capable of and that he\u2019d be on the receiving end of it if he ever touches me again.\u00a0 So cut it out with the jealousy, Dar. Just cut it out<\/em>. You\u2019ve been jealous of everyone who has ever said hello to me with a smile, ever since we started travelling together. Don\u2019t think I didn\u2019t notice.\u00a0 It\u2019s beneath you.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh\u2019s mouth fell open. Not only had he never considered that Roggi might have more tools somewhere, but he also had never thought his jealousy had been so obvious for so long. He felt the sickly heat of embarrassment rising up from his core, into his face; but along with that came the need to express something else.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not the only thing, Roggi. He\u2019s at me. All the time. \u2018Kill Ulfric. Kill him.\u2019 All the time. It eats at me. That\u2019s one of the reasons I was so glad to be at the lake. It\u2019s peaceful there, mostly. This war, this\u2026 all of it. He\u2019s at me again. I feel like I\u2019m losing control of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour father?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. And I don\u2019t know what to do about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi sighed and sat down beside him at the table.\u00a0 He reached out one large hand and covered Dardeh\u2019s with it.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. But maybe Sayma could give you some advice. She knew him longer.\u201d\u00a0 He paused for a moment and looked at Dardeh. \u201cI don\u2019t want this to get between us, Dar. I promise you that there is no reason for you to be jealous. None. I\u2019m yours. I hope you\u2019re mine.\u201d<\/p>\n He hopes? Doesn\u2019t he know? <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOf course I am.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUlfric is a jackass. He\u2019s also a brilliant warrior and a great man. He has the people with him. It\u2019s not<\/em> just because of what you did that he\u2019s in a position to become High King, Dardeh, no matter how much your dragon blood wants to tell you so. Don\u2019t discount all the decades of battle the man has been in. That\u2019s why people love him. When he\u2019s High King I think he\u2019ll be good at it. We just need to survive his more annoying personal quirks. That\u2019s the price we pay for being in his inner circle.\u201d Roggi grinned. \u201cI\u2019ll bet you never thought you\u2019d end up in Ulfric Stormcloak\u2019s inner circle.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh grimaced. \u201cThat\u2019s for damned sure. Gods, Roggi. I don\u2019t know how you put up with him back then.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEh,\u201d Roggi said, shrugging. \u201cI was young and foolish.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh grimaced as an uncomfortable truth dawned on him. \u201cAnd now you\u2019re older and foolish. Otherwise you\u2019d never be able to put up with a short-tempered Dragonborn who\u2019s letting the power go to his head.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t put it quite that way,\u201d Roggi murmured, failing to contain a grin.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s the truth, isn\u2019t it. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi patted his hand and rose to start rummaging about in the kitchen. \u201cLet\u2019s just get some food and some rest before we head to the Rift.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh thought about it as he reached up and ran his hand over his braids, absent-mindedly, as he often did, his fingers playing at the ends of them and working at their strands. What an unfortunate combination I am, he thought. Redguard, stubborn Nord, and Dovahkiin all in one package. Many more dragons and they won\u2019t be able to contain me anymore. It\u2019s been getting worse and worse.<\/p>\n He watched Roggi cooking, and thought about what might happen and what might be done about it, unconsciously fussing with his hair, and by the time he realized what he\u2019d done he\u2019d completely untied it. It felt good. He rubbed his scalp, vigorously, and sighed with relief as the unruly strands relaxed and stood out on his head.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d Roggi asked him, gesturing toward Dardeh\u2019s head with the wooden spoon he\u2019d been using to stir the stew pot.<\/p>\n What is it, indeed? <\/em>He chuckled. This is my Solstheim look. Which is a bit unsettling, now that I think about it. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOh, you know. Swelled head. The braids were getting too tight.\u201d<\/p>\n Fortunately, to Dardeh\u2019s mind, Roggi laughed at him.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n It was a glorious day as they approached Fort Greenwall, one of those brilliantly clear days that make every color and shape stand out in sharp contrast to those around it. Dardeh crept down from the hillside toward the north gate with Roggi just a few steps behind him.\u00a0 He could hear the battle before he could see it, the sharp clang of metal on metal carrying on the clear air.\u00a0 A lone Imperial soldier stepped out from the gate toward the crude barricades that blocked it; Dardeh drew his bow and took a shot at the man, but missed.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn,\u201d he laughed. \u201cYou\u2019re the archer, Roggi, not me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go get him!\u201d Roggi yelled, sprinting toward the fort.<\/p>\n Dardeh pulled out his swords and took a deep breath as he ran forward. Let\u2019s give them a bit of a surprise, shall we?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMID- VUR SHAAN!\u201d<\/p>\n He grinned as Roggi dashed ahead of him past the first barricade, and saw the Stormcloak attackers grinning as well, their energy having been bolstered by his Shout.\u00a0 He chopped down the second barricade and the soldier guarding it, and ran forward into the yard, where a lone Imperial archer took aim at him. He laughed at the man as he set on him with both swords, cutting him down with a few massive slashes.<\/p>\n A moment later he gasped as an arrow buried itself in his left arm. Another archer, this one atop the wall of the fortress, had tagged him as he took down the first.\u00a0 Dardeh yanked the arrow from his arm, ran back to the slight protection of the fortress\u2019 gateway and began healing himself, listening as he did so for the familiar sound of Roggi taunting his own opponent.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll carve you into pieces!\u201d<\/p>\n Don\u2019t tempt him, Dardeh thought, laughing to himself. He might just enjoy doing such a thing.<\/p>\n He took only enough time to stop the bleeding before Shouting again. \u201cMUL \u2013 QAH DIIV!\u201d\u00a0 Dragon Aspect wrapped him in its ethereal armor, giving him an edge he could now see would be needed in this setting. Another archer had emerged onto the yard and as Dardeh ran forward to engage him, Roggi rushed ahead of him and took him out with the help of a Stormcloak woman.<\/p>\n Before he could take another breath, and from where he could not have said, there were Imperials on all sides of him.\u00a0 Dardeh swung and slashed and whirled as fast as he could, but he was tiring, and being beaten and cut. Just as he took a ringing blow to the head from the flat of a sword and stumbled to the side, something happened that he had never seen before. An ethereal figure appeared beside him, bearing swords like those he himself wielded.<\/p>\n \u201cMUL- QAH DIIV!\u201d the specter Shouted, and suddenly there were two of them wearing the dragon armor: Dardeh and the spectral Dragonborn.<\/p>\n I must have gotten hit harder than I thought.\u00a0 This can\u2019t be happening. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n He didn\u2019t have time to think about it further.\u00a0 At least six Imperial soldiers ran onto the field, along with three or four Stormcloaks.\u00a0 Dardeh heard Roggi engaging another just behind him; he took out the swordsman just in front of him, clearing enough space to run forward and up the stairs toward the fortress\u2019 walls, healing himself as he went. Atop the walls, in the upper courtyard, and near the northern tower more and more Imperial soldiers poured out to engage them.<\/p>\n The battle turned into a horrible set of brief, vivid images in a sea of noise and confusion and pain.\u00a0 Turning to see Roggi skewer an archer.\u00a0 Watching a Stormcloak soldier lose his head to an imperial battleaxe.\u00a0 The spectral Dragonborn rushing up beside him to fend off an attack that would have done the same for him.\u00a0 Shouting when he could catch a breath and watching men fly backward off the walls.\u00a0 Healing himself, just enough to keep going, as his arms and legs began to burn with fatigue.\u00a0 Looking down to find a burned corpse at his feet and once again knowing he had to have done it himself, but not when.<\/p>\n He lost track of how many men and women he killed.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t remember how many times he had Shouted.\u00a0 All he knew was that the enemy kept coming, and Roggi was still fighting like a demon beside him.<\/p>\n Ulfric was right to be worried, he thought as he delivered a massive overhand blow that finished the soldier in front of him.\u00a0 There are so many of them.\u00a0 They were massing on the border.\u00a0 If we don\u2019t win this they\u2019re going to march on Windhelm.<\/p>\n The ethereal Dragonborn appeared yet again, just as Dardeh was wondering whether his legs would hold him up longer, and took out two of the Imperials nearest them.\u00a0 Suddenly he remembered being in Skuldafn, certain that he was about to die, and feeling as though he was being lifted by his ancestor Jine to continue the battle. He lifted his head and saw three more men coming toward him.<\/p>\n \u201cFUS- RO DAH!\u201d<\/p>\n Two of them flew end over end, back out of the field, and he cut down the third with a flurry of strikes. He bent over in agony, out of breath, trying to recover enough to continue; out of the corner of his eye he saw three Stormcloaks running past him on his left to engage the two men who still hadn\u2019t gotten to their feet yet.<\/p>\n And suddenly, it was done.<\/p>\n He heard the sound of a straggler running from the fort toward Shor\u2019s Stone; he heard the scream as someone caught the man and dispatched him. He gasped for breath, cursing his heavy body once again, and looked around him.\u00a0 Most of the Stormcloaks he could see were bleeding from greater or lesser cuts; many were leaning on their swords, just as winded as he was.\u00a0 And then came the sight he had most wanted to see. Roggi came trudging slowly up the stairs onto the upper courtyard, looking sore and tired but very much alive.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi,\u201d Dardeh said, smiling and still panting.<\/p>\n \u201cYup. We did it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe did,\u201d Dardeh said, pulling his husband into an embrace.\u00a0 He pushed Roggi back and smiled. \u201cI\u2019d kiss you but somehow I managed to bite the inside of my lip and my mouth is full of blood.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Roggi said, his eyes twinkling. \u201cLet\u2019s leave that experience to our vampiric friends.\u201d\u00a0 He looked around the area and then leaned backwards, groaning as he stretched his shoulders out. \u201cGods I hurt. I\u2019m getting too old for this, Dar.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou enjoyed it more than anyone else here. Admit it. You like making people scream.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi laughed. \u201cWell. Regardless of that. Let\u2019s get going. We need to get back to Windhelm.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh looked out over the walls, down across the brilliant yellow forest, south across the Rift.\u00a0 He shook his head. You\u2019re not going to like this, Roggi.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNo. You go back. Tell Ulfric the Rift is his again. I\u2019m not coming. Not right now, anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n He couldn\u2019t remember many occasions when he\u2019d seen Roggi look as truly shocked as he did at that moment. His mouth hung open, his eyes were round.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told you,\u201d Dardeh said, casting another healing spell on himself and spitting out a glob of blood. \u201cI\u2019m not coming back yet. Didn\u2019t you see him?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi frowned, looking truly confused. \u201cWho are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe spirit. In Dragon Aspect. Didn\u2019t you see him come to help?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi took hold of Dardeh\u2019s arms and held him still, examining him carefully. \u201cAre you sure you\u2019re ok, Dar? Because there wasn\u2019t anything like that here. You were the only one in Dragon Aspect. Just you.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh laughed. \u201cOk, so I guess I was the only one who saw him. I\u2019m not surprised, really.\u201d\u00a0 He smiled at Roggi.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry, love, I know you must think I\u2019m crazy. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cListen, Roggi. No, I\u2019m not ok. This isn\u2019t the first time something like this has happened to me. I\u2019m in a tight spot and suddenly I have \u2013 an ancestor, for lack of a better term, helping me out. It happened in Skuldafn, too. It\u2019s strange. It makes no sense. And I think it\u2019s related to why my father is whispering in my ear again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDar\u2026 You can\u2019t just walk away. You\u2019re a Stormcloak now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Roggi. If I go back to Windhelm right now, I\u2019m going to kill Ulfric.\u00a0 I know it. I don\u2019t want to do it and I know you don\u2019t want me to do it. But I\u2019m certain of it. I can feel it building in me and it\u2019s going to explode unless something gets done to stop it. I am going to go find Sayma, and see if she can help me. And as soon as I have an answer, I\u2019ll come back.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi stared at him, his eyes misting up.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere you go I go.\u00a0 I\u2019m coming with you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo you\u2019re not.\u00a0 You have to go tell Ulfric that he was right, we needed to take the Rift back. Tell him I said that. Tell him I\u2019m sorry, but that I\u2019ll be back, and I\u2019m looking forward to fighting beside him when we take Solitude.\u00a0 But right now, Roggi, I have to figure out what is going on inside my head before it is too late.\u00a0 Do you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi shook his head. \u201cNo. Yes. I think so, Dar.\u201d\u00a0 He looked down at the ground and hissed. \u201cDamn it, Dardeh, we\u2019re supposed to do this together. If you don\u2019t come back I\u2019m going to end up in the dungeon in Windhelm, carving people up for no good reason. I know it. There\u2019s only so tight a hold I have on this thing. I need you to be with me.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh wanted to scream. It was too much like leaving Roggi behind to go to Solstheim.\u00a0 In fact, he thought, it\u2019s just like that. The anger was so high in me that I couldn\u2019t even control it. \u00a0I feel that way again. I have to do something about it before it\u2019s too late and everybody suffers.<\/p>\n He reached out to cup Roggi\u2019s chin and tilt it up, and smiled as he saw Roggi\u2019s blue eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, love,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cI\u2019m in the same place. I need you. But you\u2019ll hate me if I hurt Ulfric and I couldn\u2019t stand that. You know you would. No matter what happened all that time ago.\u201d He shrugged. \u201cAnd if the truth be known, I would as well. I hate him, but I don\u2019t. It makes no sense.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose you\u2019re right.\u201d Roggi stared at Dardeh for a long moment, searching. Finally his shoulders dropped, and he nodded. \u201cAll right, Dar. I\u2019ll go to Windhelm.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be long. He\u2019s going to be livid, regardless.\u00a0 And we need all of us to be in our right minds for what\u2019s coming next.\u201d<\/p>\n Before Dardeh could stop him, Roggi leaned forward and wrapped him up in a long, fervent kiss. Dardeh closed his eyes for a moment and could almost imagine that they weren\u2019t standing in the middle of a warzone.<\/p>\n \u201cYuck,\u201d Roggi said as he pulled back. \u201cYou\u2019re right, blood-mouth. That\u2019s awful. Give the girls my love, Dar. And give Brynjolf my best.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will,\u201d Dardeh said.\u00a0 \u201cI sure will.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi turned and trudged back down the stairs to head for Windhelm.\u00a0 Dardeh watched him disappear down over them and reached up to scrub the dampness out of his eyes.<\/p>\n I sure do hope I\u2019m not making a mistake.\u00a0 Talos guide me.<\/em><\/p>\n Ulfric looked up as they entered the throne room. Frina thought she saw him smile, but of course in the dim lighting of the old keep it was hard to tell from that far away. She was preparing to be pleased about that until she heard a low rumble from beside her. \u201cSomeone\u2019s glad to … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/4-2-10-2.png\")
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