Chapter 344 - Aftermath

An Extra sponsored by @g0lb0r. Praise the sun!

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The Battle of Kolskeggr Bridge (also known as the Battle of Forsworn-Jon Dare) had an after effect that left the Reach speechless for three days. Jon Dare, the Northern Thane who mysteriously appeared in Markarth during the chaos three months ago and disappeared presumed dead, has made quite the shocking absurdity.

The 'Tongue of Thunder', the 'Four Calamities', the 'Dragon of Winterhold' as well as many nicknames started to spread around for Jon. He was revered as a mighty Nord whose voice transcended sense.

The Nord Bards sang his name for three whole days in Markarth and the Jarl started investigating what happened.

Sure enough, the missing thane preferred to stay missing and no one found a trace of him after he left Kolskeggr Mine. The ones who spread the tale of the battles were of course the hostage villagers of Kolskeggr. Jon Dare has declared his identity while he was shouting the Forsworn to their demise. Knowing Jon Dare's personality, the influential people knew exactly that Jon Dare is the person who would use the Thu'um without holding back even in front of the High King of Skyrim.

But to think that he is waging war on the Forsworn! The people couldn't understand how deep the grudge between the Forsworn and Jon was for him to declare that he will eradicate the Forsworn.

The Nords and the Reachmen never got along anyway but the tension between the two people started to rise in Markarth. The Reachmen living in Markarth, who had nothing to do with their brethren of the Forsworn, still felt bad about the coming days. They were always treated horribly by the Nords and the Forsworn faction appeared because of this treatment.

Still, the man in the center of this uproar remained hidden god knows where.

Away from Markarth in a remote village, Jonrad and Tyr Firemane sat in a travelers' inn listening to the stories.

"At least the kid is doing good." Tyr whispered to Jonrad.

Jon raised his head looking around from under his hood and sighed.

"I don't know."

"Don't know what?"

"If he is fine or not. He said he would eradicate the Forsworn. That doesn't sound like fine to me." Jonrad said and kept thinking.

"What do you think the reason is then?"

"... They probably… I don't know." Jonrad tried to dismiss the ideas in his head.

"You think they hurt him?" Tyr asked.

Jonrad nodded and replied.

"Why do you think he is not contacting us? Something is weighting him down or maybe he lost the ability to contact us."

"We know at some point that he was captured and escaped after two months."

"Two months is not that much but that made Jonhild be this angry. The tale about the battle that he conjured the four calamities of nature by his voice was something really extreme." Jonrad analyzed.

"Yeah, he can just kill a few of them and Teleport away with magic. Not to take them on in such a way. But still, Four Calamities is really something. Can you do anything like that?"

"Me? I don't think I can do what he did but I can at least burn them off the face of Nirn."

"So, where do you think we can find him now?"

"Markarth is an option but after such incident, Jonhild will find a place to hide really well. I expect him at least to do that. He will focus on recovering and then come out to confront the Forsworn in their stronghold. We can look for him now and leave an eye on the Forsworn stronghold."

"There is only you and me though."

As Tyr said so, Jonrad's eyes froze for a second and he closed them then focused on his head and started muttering some words.

Tyr acted natural and waited for Jonrad to finish. This was a Telepathic call probably from Nurina.

Jonrad opened his eyes.

"Hilda has arrived at Winterhold and Alina has departed to the Reach with a small militia." Jonrad said.

"Didn't we tell her to stay put?"

"Stay put and leave Jonhild to rot in the Reach for three months, I don't think a child like Alina will do things like that. Also, that smug Sigurd and sister Nurina are planning to come too after they heard that Jon is waging a war on the Forsworn."

"Well well well, we are not short on men anymore." Tyr said and drank his mead.

***

*Two days ago in Winterhold*

Alina was donned in her Stalhrim gear, the [Deathbrand Armor], and carried her two blades [Bloodscythe] and [Soulrender].

"Mother, please take care of Jull for me."

She turned around to face Hilda who helped her put on the armor.

Hilda smiled faintly and nodded.

"You too, take care of yourself and bring that foolish son of mine home."

"Yes, I will." Alina said and looked around.

There were many people present in the room, Jenna Firemane, Nurina, Vladimir, Hafthor and the rest of the Firemanes and the Moonblades who could come to aid Winterhold. Many of Jon's cousins and hers insisted that they would follow Alina to the Reach.

There was also Lanmas Sadar, the man who lent Alina the Royal Seal of Royal Family of House Hlaalu as well as the heads of the departments. This was all in Jon's house.

Alina spoke to them and then excused herself and went inside the main bedroom to see Jullanar.

The pale elf girl was even paler and lost a lot of her weight. Beside her bed, there was Master Nurelion who was making her drink some potion.

"Jull."

"... Alina."

They called for each other but to Alina's determined tone, Jullanar's tone was weak and barely hearable.

"I'll go and drag him home." Alina said.

Jullanar smiled and nodded.

"... Be safe."

Alina smiled and kissed Jullanar on the head.

She was about to say something but she heard an uproar from outside the room. She hurriedly went outside the room to see what is happening only to find Nurina telling the people around her something and they are all opening their mouths from shock.

Just as she asked what is going on, what she heard next was the best news she heard of in three months.

Jon was appeared, had an epic battle with the Forsworn and sent them defeated. He then declared war on them.

Alina's face hardened.

"We can't dally. The Empire may try to stop us at this rate." Alina spoke and looked at Vladimir, "Contact Wulfur and Ongeim, tell them to do whatever they are doing fast. We need to mobilize our people through the Pale right now. Jon needs an army."

Vladimir nodded then held a telepathy scroll and talked with Wulfur.

Alina turned around to the rest.

"The situation has escalated at this rate. We need some of you in Whiterun and Rorikstead to secure the supply lines. I believe you all understand the plan. The only change we are doing is that we are moving fast."

"Yes."

Alina went out of the house followed by those who are coming with her. She rode Lokthur and took off to the camp.

All the forces were mounted and waiting. Jon has made sure to mass produce Flame Atronach Horse Scrolls for a situation like this. All of the [Dare Dragoons] are essentially Atronach riders and the force Alina is taking has borrowed the equipment from the [Dare Dragoons].

[A/n: To not be confused with 'Dragons', Dragoons are cavalrymen but with a cooler name.]

The 400 troopers were all ready and marched from Winterhold to Neo Saarthal with haste. Upon arrival, Alina received a Telepathy call from Vladimir.

{Alina, you are good to go. Wulfur has returned from Dawnstar but he will cause a political problem.}

'What problem?'

{You see… it started like this…}

***

*The night before Alina's departure - The sea north to Dawnstar*

Wulfur and Ongeim were on one of the Cruiser Ships, the [Hasty Bee], the fastest ship in the fleet. They were discussing the operation they were about to start. While using their Auras to observe Dawnstar.

"It is almost the time. Let's move." Ongeim gave the order.

As someone who was raised in Dawnstar, he was well aware of all the in and outs of the town. He was also aware of the annoying personality of Jarl Skald the Elder and how an old brat he can be. This operation he suggested was to allow the forces of the company to move across the pale without anyone hindering them from the Jarl's side.

Jarl Skald always had a low opinion of Jon and didn't like how he didn't support Ulfric despite being a key figure in not only one of the old holds but the oldest of all holds. He also detested the Dare Dragon company from pulling the rug from under Dawnstar in business.

Reasons varied but Skald's action was always that of a brat no matter how 'elder' he became.

Shutting the door in the face of Winterhold after Jon's disappearance was the last nail in the coffin. The Company needed to take action. Real Action.

As the [Hasty Bee] approached the docks of Dawnstar, Ongeim and Wulfur made sure that no sound or light leak from the ship. The moons were not that bright which was for their advantage and the guards seemed lax.

Just as the ship was too close to be hidden, the alarm bells rang.

"FULL SPEED AHEAD!" Ongeim shouted and the engine of the ship roared in excitement.

In just mere seconds, the ship's metal support frame was crushing to the pier.

"We have ten minutes. Move move move! Secure the dock's chains, blow up the dock's chains."

The Ship's small cannons aimed at the unmanned defenses. The main front cannon was aimed at the wall around Jarl's Longhouse.

*Bang* *Bang* *Bang*

Explosions echoed in the night in Dawnstar and people started running and screaming.

"Wulfur! Our turn!"

Ongeim and Wulfur commanding twenty Elite warriors from the company jumped off the ship and conjured Flame Horse Atronachs. They charged like hell runners to the Jarl's Longhouse.

*Bang*

The front wall of the longhouse was blown off as soon as the Magicka Ball landed. The guards of the Longhouse were stormed by the twenty strongmen and no resistant was offered due to them being stunned by the explosion.

"What is that? Who in Oblivion would do… Who are you?"

An Elderly man holding a sword with a few guards around him and some women hiding behind him.

"Jarl Skald, you have violated the code of honor and did some terrible deeds to Winterhold. The Dare Dragon Company is not a thing the likes of you can play tricks on." Ongeim spoke as he walked up.

"... No! You… traitor!" Jarl Skald saw Ongeim and his face paled.

"You are not blocking the roads for our people again. We are here to make sure of that and… to take insurance with us." Wulfur said as the men aimed their weapons at Skald's guards.

That was enough for two agents of [Team 0] to sneak around and grab the 'package'.

"We are done." One of the Agents spoke.

"Good! Let's leave."

The 'package' was a girl in her mid-twenties. She was looking around with a pale face.

"No! You! Hands off her…" Jarl Skald was enraged but he was completely outnumbered in his own house seeing this woman being taken away.

"If you don't open the roads by the morning, we will return her to you… piece by piece." Wulfur said retreated with the men.

Ongeim followed as the last man and disappeared behind the rubble and smoke.

A minute later, the [Hasty Bee] was sailing out of the Dawnstar while spewing flames at any ship that dared to chase.

Ongeim and Wulfur stood beside each other, Ongeim gave a sigh and patted Wulfur's shoulder.

The dawn was already here. Now the troopers can move through the Pale.