I\u2019m sure Roggi must think I\u2019m mad. I know he\u2019s not completely certain I went to Sovngarde and didn\u2019t just imagine it, and no wonder; there\u2019s the ancient Dragonborn spirit that nobody can see except me. I know that Jine was real, because Sayma saw him, too; but what about the times I\u2019ve not been aware that I was about to Shout death by fire at someone? And now I have Hermaeus Mora, or at least his influence, living in my head to an even greater degree than he was before. Am I mad?<\/em><\/p>\n And poor Roggi. Ulfric twisted him. Twisted his life, twisted Roggi\u2019s relationship with his wife, made him do these unspeakable things to people and now is married to the sister who looks almost exactly like her. Is it any wonder Roggi took those tools off the table? I\u2019m sure he has feelings for Ulfric that he\u2019s never admitted. The closest he ever came was that night in Candlehearth Hall, that night when he begged me not to harm Ulfric. He was horrified by that and so was I, to be honest. Can he control himself? Or is he going to break again, the way he\u2019s told me he did after Briinda died? <\/em><\/p>\n Can we ever be normal again, either one of us?<\/em><\/p>\n He pushed the door open and waited while Falco, Cienna, Korst and Roggi all filtered inside.\u00a0 Roggi smiled at him, and he smiled back; but his mind was still in an uproar.<\/p>\n He looks better. I feel certain it\u2019s just an act. But maybe we can find some sort of solace in pounding at the rubble, removing the debris Alduin left behind, and helping to rebuild this place the same way we tried to erase some of the marks of war from Whiterun. Maybe I am mad after all, but it feels like that will help.<\/em><\/p>\n They ran down the stairs and into the central area to find Valerius.\u00a0 He was reading, walking back and forth slowly in front of the fireplace, and looked up and past Dardeh as they all approached him.\u00a0 He saw Korst and broke into a broad smile, then looked back at Dardeh.<\/p>\n \u201cShor\u2019s bones, I see now why Marcus has spoken so highly of you! Quite impressive! Now let\u2019s see if we can find out what in the name of Akatosh is going on in that prison.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot much, right at the moment,\u201d Dardeh said, grinning. Roggi chuckled in agreement.<\/p>\n \u201cKorst, thank the gods you\u2019re safe,\u201d Valerius said, clapping the grey-haired Nord on his back.\u00a0 \u201cBut how in Oblivion were you even captured?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know how they even found me,\u201d Korst said, shaking his head. \u201cIt\u2019s like they knew exactly where I was hiding. I never had a chance to escape.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell thanks to our new friends you\u2019re ok now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t discount Falco and Cienna,\u201d Roggi said. \u201cWe likely couldn\u2019t have made it in to find Korst without them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s definitely the case,\u201d Dardeh agreed.<\/p>\n Valerius smiled a bit before his face returned to its usual dour expression. \u201cTell me what you learned.\u201d Korst nodded and cleared his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a prison, alright, and it\u2019s heavily guarded inside. Well\u2026 it was<\/em> heavily guarded. There are none alive in there now. The Commandant was never there, as far as I could tell.\u201d<\/p>\n Valerius frowned. \u201cDid anyone mention where he was?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe guards joked about him getting soft in the Embassy and spending too much time with some whore from the Tall Mast Tavern but that\u2019s all I could hear them say.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you learn anything else?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI overheard them talking about how many prisoners were coming and going from the prison; and I noticed several new prisoners that promptly got taken away while I was there, just like he said. They were not tortured, beaten, or starved, either. I guess they saved all of that for me. One group had a family, a woman and a small child not old enough to fight. The guard joked about raping the woman and selling the child to bandits as a slave.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi hissed. He\u2019d come up to stand beside Dardeh and this last tale of Korst\u2019s had his eyes dark with rage.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a new low, even for them,\u201d he growled from between tightly clenched teeth.<\/p>\n \u201cCould that be true?\u201d Korst continued, his voice getting louder and more agitated as he spoke. \u201cThey are selling slaves?\u201d<\/p>\n Valerius spoke, calmly and quietly, in the manner of a seasoned leader who knew when his people were getting upset.\u00a0 \u201cWell now. That\u2019s certainly a lot to chew on. Excellent work, old friend. I\u2019ll check and see if any of my sources know anything about this. Thank you, Korst. Go get something to eat, and some sleep.\u00a0 I need you well rested. Dismissed.\u201d<\/p>\n Korst nodded, and left the area.\u00a0 Valerius, though, took a step closer to Dardeh.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve done me a great service, friend. You saved his life, and for that I will never be able to repay you. Is there anything else you can add?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot really. Korst certainly observed more than we did. We did see the evidence that he\u2019d been tortured, and we saw that all the other cells were vacant. We took care of all the Thalmor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWith pleasure,\u201d Roggi added quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you hear anything about slaves?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. About all we heard were screams. But that prison is huge, and he was alone there.\u201d<\/p>\n Valerius crossed his arms, and chewed the inside of his mouth for a moment. \u201cThat is odd, isn\u2019t it? So it looks like the elves are up to no good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen are they ever anything else?\u201d Dardeh snorted.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere else to easily kidnap people but in Skyrim? All they have to say is that they\u2019re worshipping Talos. I\u2019m sure many of these enforcers skulking about in Skyrim are under their command.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, and in Cyrodiil too, from what I saw. And that was some time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Valerius nodded. \u201cI know you\u2019ve had a long day. I won\u2019t keep you. We\u2019ll let you know when we have anything new. But please, check in with Marcus as soon as you can. He\u2019s probably upstairs. Thank you again, my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n They found Marcus upstairs in what had once been the Imperial troops\u2019 barracks. He turned to them and smiled as he saw Dardeh.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you defeated Alduin and saved Skyrim? There will be songs written for you for years, my friend!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did,\u201d Dardeh said, grinning, \u201cbut the dragons keep coming. I guess I didn\u2019t do a good enough job of it. At any rate, Valerius asked us to speak to you.\u00a0 Where do you want us to start digging? Two miners, at your service.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d he said. \u201cI praise the Nine you came along. Your help thus far has been invaluable. But it\u2019s time to make some difficult choices. Valerius and I have spoken at length about this and we value your opinion. We need more guards for the hold, as there\u2019s only a few of us now. We\u2019re vulnerable to attack from several fronts, especially from the entrance through the caves as well as the two main gates. There is no possible way that laborers and carpenters can begin their work if they\u2019re not able to do so safely. We need more guards.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh and Roggi swapped a glance.\u00a0 Roggi was frowning, and while Dardeh was careful not to let himself frown, agreed with that sentiment.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re\u2026 not guards. We have a family to take care of.\u00a0 I had thought we\u2019d just spend time helping to clear the area.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh!\u201d Marcus laughed. \u201cNo, we certainly weren\u2019t intending you to serve as guards. Or as common labor, either. You\u2019re far too valuable for that. We were just hoping you might have some ideas as to where we might find some.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi cleared his throat. Dardeh glanced over to see him nodding his head slowly. It was clear that he had an idea.<\/p>\n \u201cTell us, Roggi. What are you thinking?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe war\u2019s over,\u201d Roggi said. \u201cI\u2019ll bet Ulfric would be willing to send a group of Stormcloaks here. It would be to his advantage to beef up the guard on this part of the border anyway, what with the pass being right there.\u201d<\/p>\n Marcus looked at Roggi and then back to Dardeh. \u201cDragonborn? What do you say to that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI say Roggi knows Ulfric a lot better than I do, and if he thinks Ulfric would send men he\u2019s probably right. It would be strategic of him to put guards here, not just helpful to you; and I\u2019m pretty sure he\u2019d recognize that right away. And for those of us down here on the border it would be far preferable to have Stormcloaks stationed here than having to fight an incursion from Cyrodiil without any help from him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Marcus said. \u201cUlfric would undoubtedly love to have Helgen under his control.\u201d\u00a0 He paused as Roggi started chuckling. \u201cAnd your service to the Sons of Skyrim is legendary. Alright.\u00a0 Are you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I think it\u2019s the easiest solution and the best one for the greatest number of people, even if they may not see it that way right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright. I want you to contact an old friend of ours, in that case. His name is Shadrick Oaken-Heart. According to Valerius he\u2019s still on active duty and has a camp near Winterhold. Pull him to the side and tell him \u2018My sword sings with the heart of Frandar Hunding.\u2019 He\u2019ll no doubt be shocked. But he\u2019ll also know what it means.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I don\u2019t think\u2026\u201d Roggi started.<\/p>\n Dardeh interrupted him and shook his head. \u201cOr he\u2019ll think I\u2019m some Redguard being pretentious. I assume this has something to do with the Keepers of Hattu.\u201d He shrugged. \u201cWhatever, then. \u00a0If you think that\u2019ll work, I guess I can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell him we need his help, and report back to me when you can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright. We\u2019ll be back as soon as we can, Marcus.\u201d\u00a0 He moved toward the door as Marcus headed toward the stairwell.<\/p>\n \u201cDar,\u201d Roggi began. \u201cUm\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh shook his head. \u201cCome on. Let\u2019s go. We\u2019ll talk about it outside.\u201d<\/p>\n They stepped out into the air and crossed the keep\u2019s yard. Once they\u2019d gotten well out of earshot from the door, Roggi turned on him.<\/p>\n \u201cDardeh, what<\/em> is wrong with you?\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh felt the warm embers of irritation rising in him.\u00a0 He frowned. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re no errand boy. That\u2019s practically all we\u2019ve done since the war ended. You\u2019re the Dragonborn, Dar. You helped stop the war, in more ways than one. You deserve \u2026 I don\u2019t know. A break. Some accolades. Time with the kids. But you keep acting like you have to do something to atone <\/em>for some sin none of the rest of us even know about! What is going on in your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh gritted his teeth and frowned. \u00a0The part of him that responded poorly to being challenged was getting irritated, and when he spoke he couldn\u2019t quite keep the sarcastic edge out of his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cYou gave me a hard time for taking myself too seriously when we fixed the trellis in Whiterun, Roggi. I said I wanted<\/em> some accolades and you made fun of me for it. I\u2019m not asking for anything this time, except for a chance to help do something that I know will help. But more to the point, I thought we agreed that getting Stormcloak guards here was a good idea. In fact, it was your<\/em> idea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes! We did! But why should you be the one to go run the errand?\u00a0 And why do we have to go through one of their old friends to do it?\u00a0 I <\/em>can do this, Dar. Send me to see Ulfric. Directly. No middle-men. You know I won\u2019t have any trouble convincing him to send troops here.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh was growing more and more annoyed with Roggi\u2019s entire line of conversation. He felt certain that Marcus and Valerius had a reason for going through their old friend, and neither he nor Roggi had any reason to question it.\u00a0 And then there was the matter of him potentially sending Roggi to Windhelm alone.\u00a0 Dardeh found himself almost snarling.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course you won\u2019t,\u201d he snapped. \u201cEspecially since you were good enough to go to his sham of a wedding. But what will you have to do<\/em> for him, Roggi?\u00a0 Or is that the idea? Are you that anxious to see him again?\u201d<\/p>\n As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted having said them. He watched Roggi\u2019s eyes go wide with shock, and then narrow in anger. When he spoke, his words were short, clipped, as though he was having a hard time to keep them in check at all.<\/p>\n \u201cHow dare<\/em> you say that to me? You\u2019ve got a whole lot of damn nerve.\u201d He threw his hands up in the air and headed for the gate.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi, wait.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo I\u2019m not going to wait<\/em>, Dar.\u201d He strode out through Helgen\u2019s northern gate so quickly that Dardeh found himself having to scurry to catch up with him. Roggi\u2019s voice rose as he increased the distance between them, clearly wanting to be certain that Dardeh heard his words. \u201cIf that\u2019s how little you think of me, I\u2019ll go see Ulfric myself and let the chips fall. I know what he wants of me. If this is the way things are, I\u2019m not sure anymore whether there\u2019s a good enough reason not to give it to him.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh picked up speed trying to reach Roggi; but the man was so clearly incensed and walking so quickly that he couldn\u2019t seem to catch him.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi, slow down a second. I need to talk to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh\u2019s anger flared.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t even think about what he was doing; the words just burst from him, the same way they did when he needed to take down an enemy.<\/p>\n \u201cGOL \u2013 HAH DOV!\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi staggered for a moment.\u00a0 He stopped, and turned to Dardeh; and the expression on his face made Dardeh gasp.<\/p>\n By all the gods. What have I done?<\/em><\/p>\n Roggi had no choice but to obey, for such was the nature of the Bend Will Shout that Dardeh had learned on Solstheim, and which Roggi had never heard before. His expression was open and willing, waiting for his instructions like a soldier facing his commander. But his eyes were dark with anger.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Roggi,\u201d Dardeh said, catching up to him and taking him by the shoulders. \u201cI\u2019m so very sorry. But you have to hear me out. I \u2026 can\u2019t even imagine why I said that about Ulfric. I know better.\u201d He cupped Roggi\u2019s face with one hand and when Roggi flinched his eyes filled with tears. \u201cBy the Nine, Roggi. I \u2026 just get angry and things happen before I can stop them. How did we ever get to this place?\u201d<\/p>\n He knew it wouldn\u2019t be long until the effects of his Shout wore off. He had to speak quickly or risk losing his chance.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re right, you know. I do feel like I have things to atone for. Alduin, for one.\u201d He turned and waved back at Helgen. \u201cThe old legends, Roggi. They suggest that Alduin would only appear when brother fought against brother, when there was another Dragonborn to stand in his way. I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s true but if it is, Alduin appeared because of me<\/em> and Helgen is my fault. My fault<\/em>, Roggi. I know that Ulfric and Tullius were both there, too, and maybe that had something to do with it; but if I hadn\u2019t been out trying to find Dag I wouldn\u2019t have been at the border and I wouldn\u2019t have been taken along with Ulfric and the others. And maybe all those people would still be alive. He might have appeared somewhere else \u2013 but maybe if I hadn\u2019t been alive he wouldn\u2019t have appeared at all.\u201d His voice caught and he shook his head. \u201cAll those people died because of me. Here, and on Solstheim, and the soldiers in the war.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi shook his head, slowly. It was clear that the Shout was wearing off.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to do this, Roggi. I have to. Somehow I have to do something to make up for all the damage I caused and all the people who died because of me. If that means running errands for a time so be it<\/em>. I have to do it. I thought we\u2019d just be helping them rebuild, picking away at the rock, something to do with our hands and our muscles. But if they want me to do something else\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He looked back up the hill at Helgen. \u201cIf it helps put that place back together just a little bit, I\u2019ll do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Then he hung his head and dropped his hands from Roggi\u2019s shoulders and his gaze to the roadway. \u201cBut I\u2019m sorry. I shouldn\u2019t ever question your loyalty to me. To us. I don\u2019t even know what possessed me to say such a thing. We\u2019re always so jealous of each other and it\u2019s stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n He heard a long sigh, and knew that Roggi had his self-control back. He waited. He half expected to be tossed backward by one of Roggi\u2019s powerful fists connecting with his jaw. He surely had earned it. But nothing happened. Finally Roggi began to speak, his voice quiet and low.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t even know what to say. I can\u2019t believe you did that to me.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a long pause, during which Dardeh continued to stare at the ground, not able to look at Roggi for the weight of the shame he felt. Finally Roggi cleared his throat. \u201cBut the fact is that you wouldn\u2019t have had reason to say what you did if it wasn\u2019t so close to the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n This time Dardeh did look at him, shocked to hear him say such a thing.\u00a0 Roggi was standing with his arms crossed, staring at him with an almost unreadable expression.<\/p>\n \u201cI spent years with him, Dardeh. I can\u2019t just erase my own past, even though I\u2019ve tried. Not all the time we spent together was awful. I think you\u2019ve always known that, haven\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi reached for Dardeh\u2019s hands and gave him a sad half-smile.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd now I\u2019ve been forced to get to know him again, because of you and Frina and the war. It raised all sorts of stuff up again. I think I\u2019ve done a damn good job of putting up a nice solid wall between us but once you\u2019ve lost yourself a first time, Dar, it\u2019s not so big a step backward to lose yourself again. I have to fight it every day. So far, the hate has won out. And yet, I offered to go see him on my own to save you needing to do something a lowly foot soldier could do, because I thought you were above it. I guess I was wrong. At any rate, we have an errand to run. Let\u2019s get going.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi dropped Dardeh\u2019s hands, turned, and started down the road toward Riverwood once again.<\/p>\n Dardeh was stung. I almost wish he had laid me out instead of being so calm.<\/em> It would have been easier to nurse a welt on his jaw than to deal with the vague, nagging pain of uncertainty that was settling into his chest.<\/p>\n He settled into a trot trying to catch up with Roggi again.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi. I\u2019m sorry. You have to understand.\u00a0 It just happens like that sometimes. I get emotional and the Shouts just happen.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi stopped, turned to look at him, and sighed. His expression said we\u2019ve talked about this before, Dar. You have to realize the truth of it someday.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a dragon, Dar. Of course the Shouts just happen.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh\u2019s mouth fell open.<\/p>\n What? Is that what he really thinks? Is that how he\u2019s worked all of this out in his mind?<\/em><\/p>\n Roggi saw his reaction and nodded. \u201cYou know I\u2019m right. You may be in a much more appealing package than one of the big scaly ones but inside you\u2019re a dragon. And you expect to be obeyed. But sometimes I don\u2019t do that. And it\u2019s going to be that way forever. I\u2019m not a dragon. I can\u2019t hold a person captive with my voice. But I have my own power, Dar. I haven\u2019t always used it well but it\u2019s mine, and I won\u2019t give it up, ever again. Not even for you.\u201d<\/p>\n He started walking again. \u201cSo. Let\u2019s go find this old member of the Keepers of Hattu and see what he will do to help his friends rebuild Helgen.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh scrubbed at his eyes with the back of his hand, trying to remove the tears that had collected there. He was furious with himself for being the way he was: emotional, jealous, and short-tempered.<\/p>\n All those years Ma taught me that I was a sweet man. That\u2019s what she said she saw in me. But she was wrong. Paarthurnax was right. The will to dominate is in our blood.<\/em><\/p>\n He watched Roggi\u2019s broad back as he moved down the road and had to fight himself to keep from crying more. He swallowed hard against the knot of anger in his throat and then forced himself to start walking.\u00a0 A memory bubbled up to the surface, of the night he\u2019d run to Kynesgrove to find Roggi after returning from Sovngarde. He could picture the long blonde hair spilling all over the pillow as Roggi had grinned up at him and said \u201cYou have some kind of Shout you\u2019re going to use on me, is that it?\u201d<\/p>\n I never thought such a thing could ever happen. I don\u2019t know why he agreed to marry me in the first place.<\/em><\/p>\n __<\/p>\n There was a dragon in the pass just north of the Nightgate Inn.\u00a0 They engaged it, as usual, but after his first Dragonrend Dardeh couldn\u2019t seem to aim a Shout properly at all; and in the narrow confines of the rocky pass the dragon had very few places in which to land. Dardeh found himself running back and forth: up into the mountain, back down toward the Nightgate, ducking behind boulders to keep from being roasted alive. A bandit, and a man pursing him, added to the confusion. Dardeh could hear cries of pain and wasn\u2019t certain whether he was hearing Roggi or the Nord bandit who sounded so similar to Roggi.<\/p>\n Several times he pulled out his bow and fired uselessly; for the dragon was very fast and evaded each and every shot. Time after time it would swerve just before the shock wave of Dragonrend reached it. Dardeh was as frustrated as he had ever been, howling in rage.\u00a0 Finally one of the Shouts struck the beast; it landed on the trail before Dardeh. He was able to get one solid bow strike in on the creature; but it was facing him and roared its enraged fire breath at him, forcing him back behind a boulder. By the time he stepped out into the open again, the dragon was leaping back into the sky.\u00a0 He Shouted at it again \u2013 and missed, again.<\/p>\n Finally the dragon flew south, dropping back over the crest of the hill and out of sight. Dardeh could still hear it roaring, though, and knew there was only one place close enough that the dragon might be. The guards at Heljarchen must be taking the battle to it.\u00a0 Dardeh barreled down the hillside as fast as he could to give them a hand. The dragon was outside the inn, as he had thought, being worked over by at least half a dozen Stormcloaks.<\/p>\n Even though they had the creature well in hand Dardeh sprinted into it as if the world would end without his help. He unleashed a hail of sword strikes on the beast, roaring in rage, opening huge gashes in it as the Stormcloaks scurried backward out of his way for their own safety.\u00a0 He was angry, livid, beside himself with rage that even after defeating Alduin, even after all of the dragons he had destroyed and whose souls he had absorbed, there were still creatures like this one trying to exercise their dominion over the lesser beings on the planet.<\/p>\n It went down and instantly burst into flames, the energy of its soul swirling around Dardeh, rushing into him. He closed his eyes, spread his arms apart and let it fill him.\u00a0 From somewhere deep inside him emotion bubbled up, and out, and he found himself laughing loudly as he absorbed the essence of what this great green dragon had been.\u00a0 Once again, as it had facing Miraak on Solstheim long before, his dragon blood called out.<\/p>\n I have defeated you.\u00a0 I am stronger than you. I am better than you. I have surpassed you.<\/em><\/p>\n You\u2019re right, Roggi. Part of me is sheer dragon. And dragons are made to dominate.<\/em><\/p>\n That thought made him open his eyes.<\/p>\n I haven\u2019t seen Roggi.\u00a0 Where is he?<\/em><\/p>\n He whirled around, checking in all directions, and didn\u2019t see the familiar face anywhere.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi?\u201d<\/p>\n The Stormcloaks hovering around the dragon\u2019s skeleton looked at each other, and then at him, and shook their heads.\u00a0 They were veterans of Solitude. They knew the name as well as he did, and they hadn\u2019t seen him.<\/p>\n Dardeh ran back down the road, back toward the intersection with the trail through the pass.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi!\u201d<\/p>\n Oh gods please no. Please don\u2019t tell me that the dragon got him somewhere when I was hiding behind the boulders. I can\u2019t possibly live with myself if he\u2019s hurt, or worse. <\/em><\/p>\n He turned up the mountain path and started dashing up it, shouting for his husband.\u00a0 Finally, near the crest and just as he was about to panic completely, he saw a familiar form jogging toward him. He sprinted, closing the gap, crashing into Roggi and grabbing him up in his arms, holding him as close as he could. He buried his head against Roggi\u2019s neck, breathing in his scent as he tried to catch his breath, but not letting go of the big Nord. After a moment or two, Roggi started to chuckle.<\/p>\n \u201cThat bandit kept me busy. I assume you got the dragon?\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh hesitated for just a moment before saying the only words his heart could share.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Roggi. You<\/em> got the dragon. And the dragon loves you.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi caught his breath, audibly, and hugged Dardeh a bit closer. They clung together for a moment, not speaking.<\/p>\n \u201cBut yeah, I did get that green bastard,\u201d Dardeh said with a chuckle, pulling back far enough to look Roggi in the face.<\/p>\n Roggi smiled at him.\u00a0 \u201cGood. Now let\u2019s get over this pass before someone else tries to kill us.\u201d<\/p>\n __<\/p>\n The Winterhold Stormcloak camp was atop the snow fields near the excavations at the ancient city of Saarthal.\u00a0 It was a bitterly cold place for people to try to sleep in tents, and it was not a peaceful place, either.\u00a0 As Dardeh and Roggi approached the camp in the dark they heard the sounds of fighting just to the west, down in a fissure in the ice.\u00a0 Dardeh exchanged a quick glance with Roggi and then, without discussion, they ran down the slope to help.<\/p>\n The Stormcloaks walking the perimeter of the campsite\u2019s area had been set upon by a small band of Imperial soldiers.\u00a0 Dardeh growled to himself.<\/p>\n How dare you. We beat you in Solitude. Get out of here.<\/em><\/p>\n He couldn\u2019t use an offensive Shout in this situation:\u00a0 packed as they all were between the ice walls, any one of his most useful attacks would scatter or kill everyone, friend or foe.\u00a0 But I can help the Stormcloaks.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMID \u2013 VUR SHAAN!\u201d<\/p>\n The sound echoed down the slope of the fissure toward the sea and brought a temporary pause to the fighting as startled Imperials looked around for the new adversary.\u00a0 The Stormcloaks, though, felt their own energy surge and grinned, bringing a fresh attack to bear on the Imperials.\u00a0 Dardeh joined the battle, dispatching one of the enemy in just a few sword strikes, and he heard Roggi screaming at another foe uphill from him.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t take more than a minute or two before everything was quiet and the Stormcloak troops were trudging back up the slope.\u00a0 Dardeh broke into a trot and passed them, running up and to the left, finding the camp only by its firelight flickering through the darkness and falling snow.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t a large contingent of soldiers in the camp, so it was easy to spot the man wearing the armor and cloak of a Stormcloak officer.\u00a0 Dardeh approached the man he assumed must be Shadrick Oaken-Heart, and cleared his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cMy sword sings with the heart of Frandar Hunding,\u201d he said quietly.<\/p>\n The man turned and looked him over, top to bottom.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Where did you hear that? What do you want with me? I haven\u2019t done anything.\u201d<\/p>\n Hmm. Did I just threaten him somehow? Did the sword-singers only sing when they were about to take vengeance on someone? I don\u2019t know anything about that part of my heritage.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n Dardeh shook his head. \u201cNo, don\u2019t worry. Just relax. I was sent by a friend of yours who said you would know what that phrase meant and that you would know him.\u201d<\/p>\n The man\u2019s expression changed to one of astonishment. \u201cCould it really be, after all these years? Valerius Artoria, alive? That\u2019s the only person who could have told you that! It has to be. But what could he possibly want with me? This better not be some sort of a prank. I have no time, nor tolerance, for pranks.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh chuckled. \u201cNo, it\u2019s no prank. Valerius is definitely alive. He sent us to ask for your help in getting Ulfric to send people to help guard Helgen. We\u2019re going to rebuild her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHelgen? I\u2019m surprised Ulfric didn\u2019t seize it after that awful dragon attack in the first place but he said we were too short-handed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, he had his hands full getting out of there, as I remember it.\u00a0 And after that we had him pretty well occupied with the war.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut now,\u201d Roggi said, \u201cthe war is officially over and I\u2019m certain Ulfric can spare a small contingent to help stabilize such an important and strategic waypoint on the map.\u201d<\/p>\n Shadrick leaned forward and peered at Roggi for a moment.\u00a0 Roggi pushed his hood back off his head and grinned, and Shadrick\u2019s eyes grew very round for just a moment.<\/p>\n Someone else who knows Roggi when they see him, eh? I don\u2019t know whether that\u2019s good or bad but it always makes for an interesting reaction.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cGuards, you say? A small troop should do.\u00a0 I could convince Ulfric to send them, but before I help you, I need you to help me. Perhaps this is my chance to get back in the good graces of whatever superiors I\u2019ve offended. You help me, I help you. Deal?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI <\/em>could go convince Ulfric, Shadrick,\u201d Roggi said. \u201cBut we assume there\u2019s a good reason we were sent to seek you out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you need?\u201d Dardeh said, grinning past Shadrick at Roggi.<\/p>\n \u201cMy men are bored and restless in this shite-hole camp. I don\u2019t know who we angered enough to get this<\/em> detail but somebody doesn\u2019t like me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTaking bets on Galmar,\u201d Roggi muttered, earning a laugh from Dardeh.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s worse is that, unbeknownst to me, two of them decided to sneak out last night and explore that cave just up the hill, and they haven\u2019t come back. Idiots. Makes me look like I don\u2019t have command of my own men. I need you to figure out what happened to them and bring them out if you can. You do this for me and I\u2019ll get your guards for you. Maybe I\u2019ll even get a new assignment there. Gods! If only I could be so lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh glanced at Roggi.\u00a0 Rescuing soldiers from one of this region\u2019s deep caverns could be a very dangerous proposition. It was just the type of thing that they were better-equipped for than most. Roggi grinned and nodded at him.<\/p>\n \u201cOk, you\u2019ve got a deal. We\u2019ll find your men.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExcellent. In the meantime I\u2019ll write up a communiqu\u00e9 detailing your proposal and send a runner to deliver it to Ulfric. I will see you when you return.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright. We\u2019re off. Oh, put a P.S. in your letter to him. Tell him the Dragonborn congratulates him on his wedding and sends a hug to the new bride.\u201d<\/p>\n Shadrick jumped a bit, startled by Dardeh\u2019s revelation.\u00a0 Dardeh chuckled and winked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Roggi, let\u2019s go soldier hunting.\u201d<\/p>\n The last thing on Dardeh\u2019s mind when they trotted across the yard toward the keep was what Valerius or Marcus would have to say to Korst.\u00a0 He\u2019d been preoccupied all the way back from the Thalmor prison, the look Roggi had given him there weighing on him like an anchor. Will we ever be whole … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/5-1-5-1.png\")
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