Attack attack attack

This tale follows the adventures of Dragonborn Kathryn of the Downs as she went from Imperial Mercenary to Harbinger of the Companions. It then blends into the current quest she has been brought into a struggle for Tamriel itself. This story will be running in conjunction with two other threads:

For how Josin and the Companions have become involved as well as the back-story of the thieves guild: A Theft too far

For how Artur found his way in the Dark Brotherhood, to the assasination targets born of prophecy: A Listener in the Dark

*This story is Pre-Dawnguard*

_______________________________________________________________________________

Attack attack attack and other tales

Table of contents:

Attack attack attack: Part 1

Attack attack attack: Part 2

Attack attack attack: Part 3

Attack attack attack: Part 4

Intermission

Attack attack attack: Part 5 Dark Brotherhood Contingient

Attack attack attack: Part 6 Dark Brotherhood Contingient

Attack attack attack: Part 7 Dark Brotherhood Contingent

_______________________________________________________________________________
Attack attack attack

Part 1


I remember stout arms once a long time ago, passing me down a chain, from one set of arms to another, on down the chain I would go until finally reaching my mother’s grasp. I was but a child my mother turned to my father and smiled, “Your daughter has joined the tribe, rejoice old man, rejoice!”

The man takes his daughter into his arms and cradling her “You my child, you will be called Kathryn, after my own mother.” He notices the child’s attention drawn behind him to the hilt of the great sword strapped to his back; “And you my girl will one day wield one of these!”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Lightning streaks through the air rebounding off of a rock just beside her, she spins throwing a blade upwards, and then with a foot gaining balance she charges the nearest Thalmor. The blade streaks up in an arc and beginning to fall, the nearest Thalmor raises his shield to block and braces for the impact of Wuuthrad on it. The thrown blade falling impales the Thalmor’s shield arm causing it to drop and in a fast arc she removes the soldier’s head.

Not stopping continues to charge forward, this time the Thalmor Justiciar gets her in sight and in a surge of power hits her with duel lightning bolt spells. Blown off of her feet she is hurled through the air in a long tumble, yet her eyes remain fixed on the remaining Thalmor mage. Landing in a roll she pushes out with her free hand forcing her torso up out of the fall and lifting both legs up and then bringing them hard down on the ground she lunges herself the remaining few feet at the Justiciar.

Vision blurred and still shocked from the bolts all she can do is bring the battle axe down in a clumsy chopping movement. A scream from in front of her tells her she has been rewarded for her persistence. Before she can gloat she feels a blade bash into her armour almost piercing her side stumbling quickly round, she loses her footing stunned and desperately swings with Wuuthrad before falling on her back she catches the final Thalmor in the chest.

“It hurts more than a scratch should, but it is still but a scratch, your blade will be taken back to the Aldmeri Dominion for study, Elenwen sends her regards, Harbinger.” The Thalmor paused, smiles cruelly and raises his sword before getting ready to lunge it down at her.

“Why don’t I send her to find you” Then taking but a breath in Kathryn exhales shouted words that turn the air itself into a torrent of fire that rips through the Thalmor soldier lifting him off his feet. When he falls metres away, he is missing everything above his ribcage; the rest of him is burnt and blistered Elvin Armour melted to roasted flesh.

The moans of the Justiciar bring her round to her feet, seeing him kneeling on the ground helplessly pawing at his own severed hands, causes her to feel a mild pang of sympathy for the hated enemy. Walking over to him she resolves to get the information as quickly as possible then to put him out of his misery.

“Before I send you to whatever hole Thalmor go when life is sick of seeing them, I want you to know something. This can go fast or it can go slow”. Pulling the hood back off his head Kathryn stares into the Justiciar’s eyes, smiling as pleasantly as she can force herself. “So simply put, how did you know where we were?”

The Justiciar spat at the ground “I’d rather be tore apart by Dremora than answer you that, Harbinger”.

Before Kathryn had a chance to reply, the listener stepped into her field of vision. Artur taking off his helm smiled once at her and winking slipped an arm round the Justiciar’s neck.

Kathryn looked to the entrance of Irkngthand where she could see the remains of their expedition party exiting the cave system plus the Falmer escort. They milled about the entrance studying the scene of destruction that lay before them.

Aela lay badly wounded propped up against the Dwarven door arch while Vilkas only slightly better off physically was tending to her; it appeared as was the way that the two Companions had exited the ruin first attracting the ambush from the Thalmor. Advancing they, soaked up most of the damage allowing the Harbinger to position herself and then take out the Thalmor scouting party before they could regroup.

The combined party of Thieves and Companions that had exited the caves went to their stricken fellows and started to assist them, with healing magic and nourishment. While with the remaining Thalmor Justiciar, Artur and Kathryn continued with the interrogation.

“The lady asked you a question; it would be very nice of you to answer for her. Oh your wounds hurt do they? I can help, or I can hinder. Choose.” As he talked Artur started to slowly apply a healing spell to the Thalmor, his hands severed were beyond saving however the wounds started to heal his wrists becoming stumps. Relief passed across the Thalmor agents’ face, then without warning the Listener pulled a dagger from his armour and in one movement dragged the tip of it across the Thalmor’s scalp ripping the flesh and hair off. The Thalmor screamed in agony, his scalp landed in his lap, again the listener applied the healing spell and slowly the skin started to re-grow where it had just been cut off.

“You can’t, it’s barbaric!” Kathryn moved to stop Artur.

“I’m a barbarian, what do you expect? Now if you don’t mind I’m working. Go stand with your associates of honour, while the grownups talk” Kathryn went to advance on Artur, then she stopped, she knew she could take him, she remembered fighting with him in the Civil war. Yet he was right, she hated it yet she knew it in her bones, she couldn’t do this work, she turned to tend to her fallen comrades, leaving the Listener to his work.

“So Justiciar, I’ve met a few of your kind, they always talk in the end high born or not. Just depends on how many parts of them I leave them left over to do the talking with” At that Artur sliced the Thalmor’s ear off “So first, what’s you name?”

Bracing at the screams, Kathryn continued to walk away, remembering the first time she had experienced Artur’s brutal nature.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“When will he stop prattling on and start the assault. Is he trying to bore Windhelm into capitulating to the Empires demands, come on Kathryn let’s get the party started. You open the door I’ll say hello to the locals” The large heavy built Nord started to move through the crowd of Imperial troops, with ignorant and berating movements.

The woman called Kathryn followed behind the impatient barbarian, carrying a two handed great sword over her shoulders, she was wearing steel plated armour, sticking close to the wake formed in the barbarians path. His two handed axe gripped tightly in his hand he broke to the front of the Imperial forces. Kathryn stepped out beside him smiling she slapped her helmet down onto her head.

“Looks like Tullius is winding his damnable speech up, you start running, I’ll give it a five count then open the door” Kathryn smiled to the barbarian has he put on his own Iron Helmet and started to run at the gates of Windhelm. Arrows passed his head by inches; the pace of the advance made him a hard target.

Inside him his heart rate rose, almost euphoric, he bounded sideways onto the parapet wall then taking a skipping hop lunged forwards at the gate Battle axe thrust forward in an overhead swipe.

As Kathryn watched him start the dive she heard Tullius yell ‘charge’ “Timing is perfect, late as usual General”. Uttering her last words she breathed deep in, remembering the words she had just been taught by those old men, her thoughts turned to force, her language adapted to a sound that commands the very actions of the world, she breathed out turning air to language and rewrote the world in front of her to be pure kinetic force. It left her and pushed forward as fast as the lightning in the sky. It hit the gate and smashed it open, at that she saw Artur pass through where the gate once stood, now in splinters. Clambering from the rubble a Stormcloak soldier stood up and the barbarian brought his battle axe down hard onto the helmet of the enemy smashing through the light material and cleaving his head open.

Kathryn charged leading the legion toward the gates, she watched the barbarian with a swipe of his battle axe to the left and right take out two more guards with long body swipes.

“Artur, The counter advance is upon you.” He turned to where her shout warned him of and saw three Stormcloaks advancing at him with speed; he pulled his bow out and hit one of them in the head downing him instantly. Switching back to battle axe he braced for the other two Stormcloaks to reach him.

Before they had a chance too, he got passed by the advance wave of legion troops led by Kathryn. She easily dispatched the two Stormcloaks advancing on him then turned “You’re getting lazy Artur, needing someone to clear up your mess!”

“Are you joking, if I didn’t slow down there wouldn’t be anything for our dear Dragonborn to do, now would there!” Grinning he joined her side as they stormed the city.


Link to Part 2

Attack attack attack

Part 2


He had joined the legion merely to earn some coin to pay for his next meal, battle all he cared to know, to be honest the side he was on never mattered to him. Solitude was closer, which he told that pompous fool Tullius upon having his honour questioned, he was a mercenary, the most honourable of warriors, for he had no side to betray, no cause to corrupt, just coin to earn. As long as the General paid him promptly, he would keep killing Stormcloaks.

Kathryn had been in Castle Dour as well at the same time, she had just finished giving her account of the massacre at Helgen to the General. So they both got sworn in together, outside when promised some legion armour he had given her first piece of advice, wear something you know and never change it unless you know you are getting something better, Legion Armour isn’t better than Nord craftsmanship.

So wrapping some red cloth around their own armour to avoid assault by friendly forces they had fought side by side throughout the Imperial campaign. When it had come to the defence of Whiterun, he had stayed to maintain the hold with the Legion while she had been sent on a quest by that Jarl Balgruuf.

Her words upon her return from the quest had been truly the stuff of Nordic humour ‘At least when killing Draugr, blood isn’t an issue. It is the most of frustrating things at the end of a day of violence to have to clean armour of your enemies’ blood’.

Still she seemed different from that point on; it was a relief in a way he had been nursing her till then. Though she would have fought him to a standstill opposed to admit it. She was one of the most talented combatants he had ever seen, yet she was not built for the grind of war. The constant bloodletting would wary her to the following days. Yet once back from the quest she seemed emboldened to go deeper into the bloody act of war, as if she relished the chance to cause more death.

Previously protective to her he started to compete with her, egging her on to be more brutal, decisive and dangerous to the enemy, as long as she was charging through the war and not punishing herself for every battle she survived he wouldn’t have to worry about his partner losing her edge and getting them both killed. It was after she had assisted the Dark Elf woman to slay the dragon at the tower that she had become the juggernaut that fought with him now. When that dragon soul embedded itself in her, she ceased any pretence of nausea with the business of slaughter and embraced the brutality that she had to inflict on others. Finally Artur had someone he could work with on the field of conflict, as her power as Dragonborn rose so did her bloodlust.

Now crashing into Windhelm, the two outpaced the regular legion troops, staying at least ten paces deep into the ranks of the Stormcloaks. Incapacitating any enemy troops to enter their path they moved possessed through the streets of Windhelm.

At one point the Imperial troops had to retreat it was at this stage that the two found themselves surrounded. Stormcloaks trying to attack them in a press found themselves unable to back away from the blades of Artur and Kathryn’s melee swings. By the time the Stormcloaks had pulled back to let the archers try a long range assault on the two, about fifteen swordsmen had fallen, with another five crippled by the men behind them pushing on through the top of their own comrades.

The archers formed a line, arrows straining to be released at the two that had slaughtered so many of their brethren. Before they even had a chance to release a single arrow the ground started to shake, Artur found he was knocked off his feet as did a lot of the Stormcloaks, having to scramble to their feet darkness fell on the courtyard. A roar and a column of flame incinerated the archers in the centre of the blast, those nearby rolled on the ground trying desperately to put out the flames clinging to and burning their flesh.

“Dragon!” the shout went up from almost all the troops Imperial or Stormcloak.

Artur getting to his feet watched Kathryn her gaze locked on the immense flying beast “I’m going to kill that, be a dear Artur get its attention for me”.

Artur looked at her, her eyes were on fire and she gripped her battle axe tightly a smile playing on her lips “Really, any ideas on how I do that?”

“You’re a decent enough shot with that bow does that give you any ideas. Remember it has to see you hit it, we want it to land here” Kathryn backed to the wall while the dragon circled over the city of Windhelm, firing random blasts of inferno down on the populace irrelevant of politics or race. Artur started to climb to the top of the parapet. The dragon’s assault had temporarily saved them from the Stormcloaks Archers, in the confusion it appeared that the Stormcloaks not killed outright had taken the opportunity to retreat from the dragon into the keep.

Artur knew that they would not stay there long. Looking out across the city from the parapet wall he could see that the Imperial and Stormcloak forces were still trying to attack each other. It appeared that the dragon was merely an obstacle to be avoided while trying to attack the enemy.

Pulling out the bow and stringing an arrow Artur smiled, as he remembered how they called him savage for finding the fastest way to down an opponent no matter how brutal. Looking out at these men of honour trying to tear each other throats out, while their very world burns around them he had to laugh at the irony. The only two trying to stop the dragon were the two that the other sides in this war would look down their noses at as irredeemable mercenaries.

The dragon was starting to turn its path back towards the keep, as it flew this way Artur fired an arrow at it. The arrow purposely missed hitting it in the head by metres, passing directly in the dragon’s field of vision it turned and spotted Artur on the parapet. Artur had already got another arrow strung as the dragons eyes locked on him and as it drew its breath in Artur released the arrow. This one flew straight at the dragon, impaling it in the eye; in agony it screamed releasing a torrent of uncontrolled fire that engulfed its own form. Having lost control it plummeted to the ground and in stone shattering crash it collapsed into the courtyard.

As soon as it was on the ground it recovered itself, getting to its feet it tried to find Artur again, to deal with him with tooth and claw where fire had failed. Instead it found Kathryn approaching it at a run, Artur watched as Kathryn breathed out in a shout what appeared to be a wall of unrelenting force. This staggered the dragon while she completed her charge, skidding underneath its head she swung her great sword at its throat smashing through the soft scales were she tore chunks of flesh and blood away. Roaring the dragon swiped at her with a claw, she was already in mid leap as it caught her round the ankle. She was flung against the wall landing heavily of the hard stone of the courtyard.

During this time Artur had maintained his assault with arrows, trying to aim as many at its head and softer sides as possible. Seeing Kathryn in trouble he knew that though the dragon was almost finished one wrong move would mean they could both die instantly, Artur leapt off of the parapet, his battle axe thrust in an overhead swipe that as he landed on the dragon’s neck he brought down onto its remaining good eye. Effectively blinded it flung Artur off in its agony; he landed hard against the courtyard stones and lost consciousness.

He awoke moments later to the sensation of light burning through the fog of his injuries, he saw Kathryn standing there her great sword deep inside the dragons neck. The dragon itself seemed to be burning up, leaving only bones, this fire turned to light that moved in the wind till it found Kathryn and it then settled on her glowing briefly before seeping into her very form.

“Does that happen every time you kill one of those bastarding things?” Artur spoke once his head had stopped spinning.

“Yes every single time, you enjoy your rest there?” Kathryn grinned at him, the last of the light seeped into her flesh.

“I saved your life, so you owe me, remember that” Artur got to his feet and located his battle axe. In response Kathryn tore a ribcage bone off of the dragon and tossed it to him “A keepsake, how nice of you” Artur replied.

At this moment the Stormcloak soldiers exited the Palace of Kings totalling about twenty in force, while the Imperial troops headed by General Tullius and Legate Rikke poured into the courtyard. Both sides stood off against each other, it seemed that the force of the battle had wearied both sides against an immediate charge, they stared across the courtyard at each other weapons drawn.

Kathryn picking up Artur’s bow walked over to him handing it to him; casually he drew an arrow and strung it. They were being ignored by both sides as if the dragon attack now over was had never really happened, in lieu of the fresh slaughter ahead. Artur nodded to Kathryn and she picked up her battle axe.

Artur released the arrow and it went through a Stormcloak Archers head, the arrow strung by the Stormcloak released in his death was released it found its home in the torso of one of the Imperial soldiers.

“Let’s finish this!” Yelled Kathryn and she then charged the Stormcloak line.

Link to Part 3

you started another one!? man keep it up

Doing my best, hope your enjoying the threads and different story points. Taking a couple of days to re edit stuff i tend to upload raw, so a few grammar fixes needed here and there. Then i'll be off again, getting the story out there.

The man has no limits, Van Moro. Lucky for us, huh?

You're too kind, thanks for the praise guys. Glad you're enjoying the stories.

Guessing this is the thread I should be watching for the new stormcloak leader...?

You would think wouldn't ya, but no. The Civil war back story is to explain how Artur and Kathryn know each other you want to see the new Stormcloak leader stick with 'A theft too far'. This thread is going to end up being all about the big bad... Alas who will that be? All the other backstories and stuff will slowly feed into this thread over the period it takes to write them.

Confuddled? I am and i'm writing it. Nah seriously it'll all work out in the end, still some twists to go though.

Attack attack attack

Part 3


“You’re not a real Nord! One who sells his honour so cheaply!” Artur grinned at Galmar Stone-Fist, he enjoyed the aging Housecarls threats and insults, as they pointed to a warrior suddenly insecure in his position and strength.

“Cheap, he cost at least three cartloads worth of weapons!” Legate Rikke retorted as she followed them into the Palace of Kings.

“Subtle as usual Galmar, it’s good to see you put this much thought into all your dealings” Artur was squaring up to Galmar, while the Dragonborn squared up to Ulfric on his Throne. Tullius had followed Rikke in and pulling his blade he started to go through what sounded like a long winded arrest warrant. “Really” Artur uttered under his breath “he likes to talk”.

“Imperials all the same” Galmar snorted “Talk, talk, talk, it is all they know. Shall we show them how it’s done Mercenary?”

“Hey at least they pay well. Better than you cheap skates you expected us to fight for a cause? But i preamble, i would be honoured Galmar if you would assist me. I tell you what, you first old man” At this final comment of Artur’s Galmar charged forward his Greatsword drawn.

Without waiting Ulfric emitted a shout that picked up furniture, long tables and the like tossing them across the room, everyone shuddered and landed to their knees bar Kathryn, who stood her ground and then mockingly dusted off a shoulder “That it? I’m not even going to compare my voice to yours, let us do this as Nord’s of old with blades and flesh, unlike the poor dead boy king i can raise my voice too Ulfric. Can you swing a blade as well as you grandstand?”

“You are about to find out Dragonborn” Ulfric stood from the throne and pulling his axes out he charged at Kathryn. General Tullius went to advance into the burgeoning fray but Legate Rikke grabbed his arm and holding him back shook her head. She knew that this final battle for Skyrim would need to be decided by Nords alone.

Galmar rushed Artur who was watching the aging Nord move, Galmar moved his shoulders to the left his weight apparently going to his right foot. In response Artur got ready to block the blow with the steel shaft of his battleaxe. Only at the last second did he notice Galmar turn on his hips and spin the other way bringing the long heavy blade of the Greatsword round the other direction into Artur’s armour. The blade though not piercing the armour bent it inwards, Artur shouted in pain as he felt a rib crack under the force and stumbled to the side.

“Old I may be but you’ll be lucky to live this long” Galmar gloated.

“Heh” Artur expired the word as an almost breathless acknowledgement of Galmar’s skill. While stumbling forward he feinted to fall Galmar stepped back, to avoid collision, in response Artur lunged out with the heavy end of the Battleaxe quickly catching Galmar on the knee. Landing on his haunches Artur was rewarded by the sound of a loud crack as Galmar’s knee gave out under the force of the strike.

“As, I, said, old” catching his breath Artur stared at Galmar as he stumbled backwards on the bad leg falling into the table. Quickly Galmar did his best to recover his stance with the Greatsword as Artur struggled back to his feet hunched over due to the damage to his ribs.

“You in any rush mercenary?” Galmar looked at Artur as he spoke.

“None, you want to see how the living legends are doing then” Galmar smiled at Artur’s quip.

Nodding his ascent “Ulfric’s going to take her down a peg or two you know, even if he is just a Jarl”.

Artur smiled as he watched Kathryn leap over a table Greatsword pointing straight out like a fired arrow at Ulfric “He’ll never see it coming” then under his breath “Just like you”.

Ulfric braced dual wielded axes at the ready for Kathryn as she landed in front of him, momentum skipping her towards him. Ulfric swung his left axe straight at her torso flicking the flat of her Greatsword blade sideways she knocked the axe from its path, the blow turning Ulfric in his stance. He tried to swipe at her with his other axe, but she had already passed his reach. All Ulfric could do was watch as she slammed her foot onto the ground as she was beside him facing the other way. Forcing her momentum to switch directions, she spun on the spot; the sharp of the Greatsword flew towards Ulfric’s neck and as quick as he saw it happen, Ulfric’s head landed on the ground.

“Ulfric” Galmar called out then stopped and gagged, his eyes slid in their sockets towards Artur, who was holding a dagger he had at the instant of Ulfric’s decapitation swung and then plunged into Galmar’s neck till the hilt felt flesh. Blood gurgled out over Artur’s hand and down Galmar’s neck till his eyes rolled back in his skull then the knees went slack and he slid off of the blade and fell to the ground.

“Brutal but efficient Legate Kathryn, I had hoped to give them the option to surrender, however it seems you Nords know the truth of the matter when it comes to war. Only death ends a battle, you though mercenary what is your name?” At Rikke’s prodding he got it right “Artur you may be useful yet you are the flip side to that coin. I have never seen someone revel in fast and vicious slaughter as much before I set eyes on you. Legate you pay the man and then send him on his way I am sure there is some where he can find work within Tamriel. Kathryn, if you could join me we have an army to relinquish to its boon, time for one more speech I guess”. General Tullius finished talking and headed to the door muttering under his breath “I hope we didn’t just make him a Martyr”.

Kathryn cleaned Ulfric’s blood from her blade and shrugged at Artur, who had been paid by Rikke she turned on her heels and followed the general with Kathryn to address the troops, who were assembled within the courtyard outside the Palace of Kings.

Link to Part 4

I'm quite liking this too, Dale! You're very good at writing battle/action scenes in particular - I'm rather jealous actually!

Keep up the excellent work!

Yeah. I can only hope that I write Tullius's death in "The Bear of Skyrim" with the dignity it deserves.

Thanks guys that means a massive amount to me, considering i really am enjoying both your fanfics and your writing styles.

The one thing that has always annoyed me about fiction be it movies, comics, books, tv or other stuff is the prolonged fight sequences that they have, especially with weapons. Bring a weapon in and almost always the first few blows struck will decide the winner. Even fist fights, (barring stuff in the ring when it is a sporting event) will be over fast and quite brutally. I have experience of this myself, on both sides of that equation. So i try to capture that speed and vicious nature to combat in my writing. In my experience the person that wins is the one that strikes fastest with the greatest precision and intelligence and the least mercy. The victor decides what honour is, though that may just show the sort of youth i have had.

Attack attack attack

Part 4


Standing alone in the throne room of The Palace of Kings Artur looked at the corpses of men lying on the floor. Soldier’s spilt blood dashed his braced iron armour giving it a pinkish patina, normally comfortable he felt over burdened. Without thinking he started to undo the leather straps holding the two torso sections tight to his gut. He then undid the latches holding the armour over his torso. It fell to the ground with an almighty clatter, it could have woken the dead, and alas it didn’t.

This hall would stink soon if these bodies weren’t moved Artur mused, he pulled off his gauntlets and iron boots. His body shuddered and he felt weak on his feet now the battle was over the pain at his ribs stabbed at him and he hobbled through the empty room till he got to the throne. Metres away Ulfric lay on the ground his head separated from the body by a bloody gulf of space.

Sitting in the throne he focused all his thoughts into a mantra he had only recently learnt and started to turn his head to the task at hand. He was no mage so any form of magic was to a degree beyond him, however necessity being the mother of invention for a battlefield veteran such as himself. He had learnt a healing spell through stubborn repetition, slouched in Ulfric’s empty throne he applied it to himself and over the minutes felt the agony easing till it was a mere subsided ache. He kept his eyes closed and enjoyed a moment of rare peace.

The sound of the door opening brought him out of his slumber; he spotted Legate Rikke walking into the throne room. She was obviously carrying his payment in one hand, she stopped shocked when she saw him only attired in loincloth languidly slouched on the now vacant throne.

“Does your dishonor know no bounds Nord” She spoke quickly and vehemently at his apparent disrespect of a downed enemy.

Chuckling Artur responded “Please, call me Artur; I seem to remember you all had no issue with my apparent dishonour when you needed Stormcloak forts taken. Nor had you any compunctions sending me along with your precious Dragonborn, so she wouldn’t spot your mistreatment of Nords guilty only of a faith you yourself share, isn’t that right Legate? Afraid she would spot something that would send her to joining Ulfric opposed to loping his head off for you all” By the end of his tirade Artur was standing before the Legate who had advanced on him while he was talking.

“Why did she find your company so welcome, Artur?” was Rikke’s reply.

“The same reason you are paying me so much I guess, though honestly I don’t question it. She is the closest thing I have had to a friend in a long time”. To this statement of Artur’s Rikke took off her Imperial officers Helmet and laid it down on the table. She proffered him the bag of Septims, when he held them she reached up to his cheek and stroked it softly.

“It is a shame you have never held an Amulet of Mara, you may have missed a few chances of happiness during this conflict mercenary. She is not the only friend you could have had however you have had to consistently be the most amoral combatant I have ever witnessed. Can’t you fight like a Nord?” Rikke unclipped her armour from her body as well, standing opposite him she assumed a grappling stance and smiled at him.

Artur stared at her slowly weighing up his options, he knew what the Legate wanted, this was not the first battle that had led to them consummating some form of temporary union. Yet now the war was over he knew that Kathryn would be venturing to continue her quest to find out how she came to have the voice and the bloodlust that came with it, a journey she wouldn’t need him for.

He would be given the option to stay on with Rikke’s clean up squad, to hunt down more Stormcloaks still in hiding. Looking at Rikke he knew what he wanted and he knew that he couldn’t have it; he was too long in the tooth to settle for second prize with the Legate.

Frowning he shook his head “I cannot, you deserve someone of honour, besides if you do not pay me, I cannot fight you” he reached down and picking up her armour he handed it back to her.

As she stood silently putting on her helmet and armour, Artur wrapped himself in various garments and robes from the downed soldiers lying around, pulling on fur gauntlets and boots. He pulled a sword off of a dead Stormcloak and the Greatsword off of another to this odd behavior she had to ask “What about your iron armour?”

All Artur could say before he left the hall with his pay and new attire was “It doesn’t fit anymore”.

Artur spotted Kathryn in conversation with the General as he slipped out of the Palace of Kings, he quickly and deftly pushed through the throng of Imperials as he entered Windhelm. As he was walking he overheard a Dark Elf speak to an Imperial guard “Surely if a child is by himself in a house it should be dealt with, especially if he is practicing witchcraft”. The Imperial guard just shrugged muttered something about silly superstitions and having more important things to do and walked off.

Artur walked over to the Dark Elf “Could you repeat for me what you tried to tell that guard?”

“Of course, I was trying to get him to understanding that there is a child here called Aventus Arentino, he is trying to summon the Dark Brotherhood”. The Dark Elf looked quite stressed by this information, so Artur decided to assuage him, besides he was interested a child trying to summon the Dark Brotherhood, it was unheard of.

“Never mind, I’ll take care of it; you will find the child to be no more of a problem. Now run along and celebrate, your imperial liberators are here” To that final statement the Dark Elf shot a look of poison through him and walked off.

“Aventus Arentino, interesting name well we shall just have to see what comes of this”. Artur disappeared into the gloom of the Windhelm streets.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Watching from the company of her fellows she witnessed as the Listener tortured the Thalmor agent. The last time she had seen him was after the assault on the Palace of Kings, then he had disappeared after the generals speech, Legate Rikke wouldn’t speak about what had transpired in the keep. It was a shame that he had gone, he would have made a useful ally in her further adventures, if only his brutality could have been smoothed off.

When she heard he had died as a Dark Brotherhood member after successfully assassinating the Emperor she hadn’t been surprised, now to see him here as the Listener of the dark Brotherhood was a shock. Yet wrapped in his Ebony Mail and other Deadric gifts he looked every inch the merciless killer that he was set to become from the first day she had met him.

He stood up as the Thalmor Justiciar dropped down onto the ground presumably dead and was approached by the Falmer that had escorted them to the surface. They had a brief debate and then the Falmer filed back to the entrance way and into the Dwarven ruin without a word spoken to the rest of them, not that she could understand them anyway.

“Well Artur?” Kathryn stepped forward to speak to him and was joined by Josin.

“Well we all have a task to do, as you are aware, the only reason the Falmer have been given a chance to pull themselves out of their slow extinction dive is to stop an old enemy from returning. You heard the pale royalty down there Josin, why don’t you tell Kathryn what they told us”. Artur pulled out a piece of paper and started to write on it.

“Kathryn, the Dwarves if the Falmer are right and I don’t think we have any reason to doubt them, the Dwarves they are trying to come back” Josin clutched his dagger in his hand as if it was a protective ward.

“How, could they come back, from where?” Kathryn asked.

“The Falmer don’t know, though I think there is a way we could find out but as we have noticed the Thalmor are onto this as well. They will need to be taken care of before we are fighting on two fronts”. As Josin finished, Artur handed him a note on a piece of paper.

“Tell no one what you read on that Josin, not even the Dragonborn. Save it for a time you need it and use it well” Artur replaced his Masque and spoke again. “I will deal with the Thalmor at their embassy, besides I’ve always wanted to meet Elenwyn. You too will have to hunt down the location of the last of the Dwarves. I advise you only take those whose motives you can trust with you on this” At that point Artur seemed to be speaking only to Josin. “I will be back with my associates at a later date, don’t look for us we’ll look for you” Then Artur vanished into a blizzard that had suddenly formed around him.

Josin and Kathryn trudged through the snow back over to their companions who were sheltering from the storm in the ruins entrance way.

Kathryn looked over to him “Now what?”

Josin stole one more glance at the note Artur had handed him and tucking it into a spare pocket said “We go looking for someone who should no longer exist and ask him some very difficult questions, right after we send those that don’t meet our motivations away”.

Link to Part 5

Okay guys yes this colour is a bad colour, no I’m not changing the running order again, just making you all aware of some stuffs. At the moment I am trying to write three now separate fanfics simultaneously as well as doing some Rp’ing (You say ditch the Rp’ing, never, I’m getting to kill Thalmor and Imperials, they became bad guys (Bulba, stop smirking yes I see you at the back ) ). Something had to give and it is this thread, I want to finish the two Prequel type threads before I continue with this thread and the main Dwarven inspired storyline.

I may give the Harbinger Dragonborn her own solo prequel fanfic story in this thread before continuing with the main storyline, wait my bad I already am that is the flashback sequence contained within. Consider this the intermission while I get the other reel from my subconscious, bear with me it won’t take long. Meanwhile enjoy my other two fanfic threads and the characters tales held within.

Attack attack attack

Part 5 : Dark Brotherhood Contingient


“Again, why are we involved?” Cicero intoned from a black corner of the cave.

“Because the Listener said we are clown” Nazir impatiently whispered back touching his weapons impatiently. Babette stood at the back of the group of four assassins.

“Wait, okay you lot when we get in here can all of us for once try and remain professional” Artur shot back.

“Was that directed at me?” Nazir sneered back.

“Oh my Redguard friend no one could ever accuse you of being unprofessional, you are so professional one would assume you charge by the hour” Cicero gleefully interjected.

“What did that clown say” Nazir turned with his weapons drawn to face Cicero.

“Okay new rules, Nazir is to lighten up some while everyone else is to act more professional. This isn’t a small assassination attempt; we want to lop the head off of the Thalmor in Skyrim itself” Artur shot a warning glance at all in the squad.

“Again I ask why” Cicero smiled then frowned very seriously as Babette gripped his shoulder tightly and squeezed. “Okay okay, serious time here, I remember the brief, just having some fun” Cicero finished with.

Artur nodded thanks to Babette who merely smiled ascension as she remembered the meeting that happened a day ago.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sitting in the Dawnstar were his Brotherhood, all around the long table waiting news on whatever it was that was important enough to call a halt on all current assassinations. Artur walked in and as one the assembled members of the Dark Brotherhood got to their feet.

Babette was the first to speak to gain a better view of the returned Listener she simply climbed onto the table “You have been gone a month Artur, a month we have been in lockdown waiting for who knows or what knows to smash through the gateway. What do we need to know?”

Artur turned to her “You Babette you need to pay more care when helping Snow Elves return to existence, thanks to you it appears we have a new branch office” he hadn’t even slowed down his walk, passed straight through the room and on to his personal quarters. The assembled assassins merely looked at each other Artur returned to the room carrying a couple of bags, he looked at their dumbfounded faces.

“What are you waiting for, time to hustle grab your gear any and all of your special toys. You five new people, you have your first major trial. All of you have sparred with Cicero and wondered how an old man driven mad by isolation and needing a stick to walk most days could best you” At this mention of his name Cicero took a long and over done bow then waved at the initiates “Well you are going to have a small taste of what made Cicero so; talented. You will be escorting the Night Mother to Irkngthand where you will join the Falmer in guarding her and our new colleagues. You may after I’ve finished with this brief report to Cicero for detailed care instruction in regards to the Night Mother”.

“Are we abandoning our home Listener?” Nazir who had remained silent now spoke.

“No Nazir, however part of the commission we have received recently means we could all even the Night Mother be vulnerable to counter attack. So we need to get prepared, whatever is coming in regards to the Falmer and their return is all part of Sithis plan. So it appears that we are now acting for the oldest payment that Sithis can offer”. The initiates were visibly confused by this information.

Nazir interjected “The Listener means if we succeed we get to live”.

“Thank you for that Nazir. Now yourself, Babette and Cicero will be coming with me, we will be taking care of the Thalmor issue. They are already on our trail and as you know the Thalmor are ruthless in perusing their own goals. One of those goals appears to be the elimination of the Falmer and those who have found themselves in allegiance with them. So while the initiates are securing the Night Mothers new resting place, us four will be wiping out the Thalmor’s Embassy near solitude”. Nazir and Cicero appeared both puzzled by this news Artur spoke to them both “Speak to Babette for the details, I already know them myself now get to it, we will need every tool and weapon at our disposal if we are to succeed”.

With the Assassins getting their gear sorted Artur returned to his own quarters to get his own weaponry ready.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The four assassins waited for Artur to finish with the lock under the trapdoor “How did you find out about this route Artur” Babette asked.

“The Dragonborn used this as an escape route after she rescued an informant from the torture cells above us” he replied.

“Aren’t you moving in respectable circles now Artur” Cicero intoned, at that the lock clicked open for Artur.

“Okay, you know the job once inside. Kill everyone who isn’t one of us four”. At that he swung open the trapdoor and entered the Embassy.

Link to Part 6

Couldn't decide between a funny icon or a creative icon, man, cuz this is easily both. You see who's won. Ahem, coin came up. . . .

Thanks man, i was aiming that way considering what the next DB installment will be dealing with a little funny had to be in the mix...

Attack attack attack

Part 6: Dark Brotherhood Contingent


The Thalmor guard walked down the staircase entering the interrogation chamber as he noticed the room was darker than normal he drew his Elvin sword and in his hand flared a fire spell as it was readied “Come out and face me, fools” he challenged.

“Actually I was thinking you should come in here and meet us” At this point an arrow shot out of the gloom from the direction of an unholy voice and pierced through his light armour impaling his shoulder into his own armour. He dropped his sword in pain turning to look at his shoulder grasping at the arrow with his free hand he noticed a rope tied to the end of the arrow. He tried to pull it off the arrow too late it tightened and he was pulled into the dark in one overwhelming jolt.

Landing in the dark he tried to struggle to his feet but a sharp object almost gently pushed him back down onto the ground from the dark the same unholy voice as before spoke “How many guards, wizards and others are there in the premises? Your answer may tell your fate”.

“I’ll never talk to you scum, the Dominion will prevail” The guard announced.

“Scum? I thought we were devout men on a holy duty. He can’t call us scum, tell him I want an apology” The guard heard another voice speak this time.

“Who’s there?” He whispered back into the dark.

“Look at that now we have lost our menacing tone, Cicero” A female voice rebuked the other in the dark.

Pain exploded in the guard’s left hand as he felt a large metal nail pierce his hand as it was hammered into the wooden ground he screamed out as the nail forced his arm spread out against the floor. Then the same happened with the other hand, pain coursing through his arms both impaled against the wooden ground, he couldn’t scream anymore when the same happened to his feet leaving him spread eagled on the ground almost sobbing in agony.

“Who isn’t menacing?” A third voice now spoke.

“Babette thinks we aren’t menacing” A slightly manic voice almost sung back.

The guard found his scream as the blade started to pierce into his chest slowly “I know my bickering friends can seem a little innocent. Which they are but since one of them just nailed you to the floor you can probably see that their innocence like yours is relative to the act in hand”. The unholy voice had returned to him “So what are those numbers again or I will leave you with my innocent friends”.

“There are about twenty odd guards’ three battlemages and about four servants. That is all I know please stop them, the blade it hurts so” The Thalmor’s voice had faded to a shuddering sob with the pain of the blade slightly piercing his flesh.

“Where is Elenwen?” The unholy voice roared in retaliation.

“Gone, she left to meet the returned. That is all she would tell us” At that the blade pierced to the heart and silenced the Thalmor guard finally.

The darkness faded back to light in the room, with Cicero standing in the centre of it holding a staff between his two hands outstretched, the darkness faded back into the tip of his staff, revealing a brightly lit room.

“Aw sunrise again” Cicero frowned as he replaced the staff over his back with the others.

“Never mind that clown, what do we do about the Thalmor’s prisoners Listener?” Nazir questioned Artur.

“Do they look useful?” Artur replied wiping the blood of his sword free of the Thalmor’s just spilt blood.

“They smell pretty much dead Listener in my humble opinion” Babette replied from the corpse of the Thalmor agent she tore into his neck draining the blood from the corpse. Feeling their eyes on her she raised her head again “I’m hungry; waste not want not as my mother used to say” smiling she returned to her meal.

“Fine I’ll finish them, we aren’t on a rescue mission” Artur announced.

“Have we ever been on a rescue mission?” Nazir questioned sardonically.

Cicero smiled at him “The Redguard made a funny but to Sithis all missions are rescue missions” he replied.

At this rebuke three Thalmor came through the door and spotted the scene of carnage from the floor above the Dark Brotherhood members. Nazir was the first to respond firing another arrow at the lead guard this one also had a rope attached to it. As the arrow pierced the guard Nazir dropped the bow and grabbing the rope he pulled the guard from the balcony with one arm the other pulled out one of his curved swords and as the guard fell he sliced upwards into the Thalmor’s neck decapitating him in a stroke.

Babette tore herself from her feast and in a flickering of fast movement she bounded to the table then hurled herself onto the balcony handrail, couched and pushed herself at the furthest back guard. Landing on his shoulders she reached with her hands under his chin and the back of his neck and using her entire supernatural body strength she pulled the head clean off the guard’s shoulders.

Cicero pulled out a throwing knife and tossed it at the third guard as he was turning round the stairs descending to the lower floor. The blade sped to its target finding it in the guard’s forehead, stepping forward the guard tried to reach up to the blade before the eyes in his head rolled up and he fell down the rest of the stairs.

Artur turned to them after finishing off the remaining prisoners, replacing his knife into his sheath “Well it looks like we are underway”.

At that the four of them climbed the stair and picking different directions entered the Embassy, murder their only true motivation.

Link to Part 7

Damn, dude. With a crew like this, who needs a SWAT team or the SAS?!

Heh, yeah its kinda the way i envision them when writing. And what we will be up against come the RP starting.