» Sun May 05, 2013 7:49 am
Rebec, Baldur
Falkreath town
the day after Baldur's return
Rebec and Baldur slept late into the next morning. The admiral woke first and went out, leaving Baldur still asleep in the jarl's bed.
Some time later she returned, dressed in chainmail and warpaint, her hair fixed in braids. Stepping into the bedroom, she was just fixing her axes in her belt. "Baldur! Come on. We haven't got much time."
Sweetrolls...lamb...mead.....mead....
"Uhuh, I want some more plea..pleazzz....."
Baldur rolled over in the bed and put his head under the pillow.
Removing her axe, Rebec smacked Baldur's shoulder hard with the flat. "You got plenty of that last night," she answered, mistaking his dream of sweetrolls and mead for something else. "Come on. You aren't off lolligagging in Thalmor prison anymore. Speaking of Thalmor, there are a few hundred headed this way."
Baldur finally snapped out of his dream of food when Rebec smacked his shoulders with the axe. Remembering why she was waking him, Baldur bolted out of the bed, and began to put on his armor in a hurry. First, he put on the greaves, and then he put on his briast plate. After the straps were secured, he stepped into his large nordic boots. After his armor was on, and his axes were holstered, he washed off his war paint with a bucket of water in the room, and reapplied his swirl design on his cheek. After that, he put on his gauntlets and attached his General cape under his fur collar over his pauldrons, and then holstered his shield over his back and his cape.
Laughing as Baldur bolted out of bed, Rebec watched the flurry of activity for a moment, satisfying herself that he was neither suffering too much from his injuries, nor had he had second thoughts.
"The Thalmor aren't on the way, by the way. That was just to get you moving. But there were some sighted near Helgen, so it's probably true we haven't got much time. I'll be just outside when you're ready. Oh, and there are some sweetrolls and warmed mead in the main room."
Just outside in the main hall, Suri came up to her trailed by some of the other redguard. "Aunt Rebec, are you sure about this? It seems rather sudden."
"Suri, when I want your advice, you'll be the first to know." Rebec grabbed a sweetroll and began stuffing it into her mouth.
Baldur was a bit ticked when Rebec said the Thalmor were not on their way, but got over it when she mentioned sweetrolls. He was still hungry from the night before, so he planned to get as much in as he could before the rationing began. Once Baldur was done, he grabbed his bear helmet, and bolted out the room and attacked the plate of sweetrolls like there was a naked woman somewhere buried under them. While he was gorging himself, he noticed a Redguard girl staring at him in the middle of his meal. Embarrassed from this, all Baldur could think to say was, "Um...would you like one?"
Rebec had wandered off, looking for Boldir. In the meantime Suri tried to size up her new "uncle." Though she was half Nord, she was also noble stock in Hammerfell, and it showed in her manner. "I've eaten, thank you. You're General Red-Snow? We were all glad to hear it when they said you'd returned. The Thalmor are despicable creatures."
Baldur reluctantly put down the plate of sweetrolls, but he put his helmet over the last two in case someone tried to steal them from him.
Anyone tries to steal my sweetrolls, and you'll take care of 'em, won't you bear?
"Yes, yes they are. So, I don't think I've spoken to you before. What's your name? Are you one of Jodun's people?"
"My name is Suri Falani, though you may call me Snake-Blade, as the Nords like to do. I'm the High Admiral's niece. She had some surprising news for me this morning. It isn't one of her pranks, is it? We've got a lot to do and can't afford to waste time."
Baldur couldn't hide his confused expression when she said "niece", but figured that someone in Rebec's family must've married a redguard. What confused him more was that Rebec had family here and didn't mention it.
"Huh. Rebec must've been too busy to tell me she had family here. So I'll have a Redguard niece then? Wow, that's rather interesting. Maybe you could show me some of those Redguard sword techniques, eh?"
Suri lifted a brow. "You want me to teach you? I could. They are not often taught to outsiders, but this is a desperate situation. As for my aunt keeping things from people, she didn't tell me she had a new... friend, either. Since my father and grandfather aren't here, I suppose it falls to me to welcome you to our family."
Baldur gave a warm smile to the young woman. "Are all Redguards so well mannered? I'm just teasing. As for the training, as of right now it may be best for me to stick with what I know, but when we're done with this, I'll hold you to it. So, Rebec made no mention of me?"
"She mentioned you of course. You're the one who got her out of prison, and she spoke highly of your martial abilities. I just wasn't aware... No matter. We all know better than to try to dissuade her when she has her mind set on something."
Rebec came in the door then. "I can't find Boldir anywhere, damn it. Oh, you met Suri. Suri, Baldur, Baldur, Suri. Can we go?"
"Don't you want any flowers, Aunt Rebec?" At the admiral's blank stare, Suri laughed. "Leave that to us, then. We'll be along shortly."
The redguard soldiers departed, off to flower picking duty, and Rebec turned to face Baldur. Leaning in, she lowered her voice. "You haven't changed your mind?"
Baldur was in the middle of the last sweetroll when Rebec asked the question. After he finished, he replied, "About the flowers? No I'm fine with that if you want them."
"No, horkerbrain. About any of it. About me." She shifted, keeping a hand gripped on her axe.
Baldur gave out a bellowing laugh at the reaction.
"Hahaha, hehe, oh, sorry. I'm just pulling your leg."
The grip on her axe tightened. "I'm being serious now. This is me being serious." In her armor and warpaint, she looked more set for battle than for nuptials. However she had woven tiny seashells into those in front, the closest thing to pretty jewelry she owned.
Baldur actually started to get worried when he saw how tight her grip was on her axe. He wasted no further time giving her his answer.
"Sorry, sorry! I haven't changed my mind. And I won't."
Rebec eased off the axe, and took a deep breath. She had worked through her own doubts that morning, in her warpaint ritual. There was a battle coming, but the marriage seemed more momentous than that. And then again, it didn't at all. She couldn't imagine her life anymore except that it included him.
"Alright. I'm glad." She smiled a little. As they began to walk, she added, "I haven't got a dress. This is as good as it gets."
Baldur tried picturing Rebec in a dress, and immediately drew a blank.
"Probably for the best. This suits you more than some frilly dress if you don't mind me saying. It's fitting that we marry under the god of death as warriors, no? We may be starting a new tradition among the Necro Nords."
"It's true that Lady Mara and I have never had much to say to each other." They stepped into the street, busy with civilians and soldiers. Rebec glanced at Baldur's hand as they walked and was tempted to take it, but decided that in their armor that that was ridiculous. "I couldn't find Runil earlier, either, but his assistant said he was walking and should be back soon."
Baldur stopped walking for a second when he realized something.
"Wait a minute...What about rings?"
"We don't need such things, do we? Look, if you want to wait so that we can do it properly, we can. But with this battle..." She let the implication hang in the air, that one or both of them might die before that was possible.
"No, you're right. We could always get some later if Runil doesn't have any." said Baldur.
Rebec smiled at him, finally allowing herself to feel happy and even excited. "Good enough. Let's go surprise the old elf. He must get sick of looking at people crying, so it will give him something different. Unless you plan to start crying." She smirked and knocked on the door of the House of the Dead with her gauntlet.
Rebec could hear the old elf's voice from the other side,
"Come in..."
Baldur's mouth was a little dry, and his breathing was shaky when he gave the priest a reply.
"Hello, Runil...we were wondering if you could oversee a wedding for myself and the admiral. You think you can do that for us with Arkay as witness? It's a little unorthodox, but considering the situation, and our profession...it seems fitting."
Baldur could hear a slight chuckle from the man who was sitting across the aged Elf, it was Marius.
"Well well, the mighty Nordic warrior Baldur Red-snow, getting married..."
Baldur's face turned red when he heard Marius's voice.
"M-Marius? What are you doing in here?"
"Just chatting with a fellow Veteran." said Marius, who had a coy smile aimed at Baldur,
Runil chuckled, before saying
"I was just telling Marius about the recon unit I served in during the Great war. And of course General, it would be my pleasure to marry the two of you together."
The admiral was surprised that Runil took the request in stride, but he was older than dirt and must have seen everything. She was about to thank him when Suri peeked in at the doorway. "There's a nice little clearing up the slope by the waterfall. That should do nicely." The girl paused. "You... weren't thinking of getting married here in the cemetery, were you?"
"Let's pretend I wasn't," Rebec answered. Runil told them to go on and he would be along. As they stepped outside, the admiral paused and turned to Marius. "So you didn't betray us after all, imperial."
Marius, who decided to join the group, said,
"Tullius tried to tell you he meant what he said, as did I, Admiral."
"You'll forgive me if I rate imperial promises about as much as the dung on my boot. Look, what I'm trying to say is... thank you. I owe you a debt I can never repay. It doesn't make me like you any more, but in case you didn't know, a Nord takes such things seriously." Her tone was grave, the sentiment obviously sincere. "You might as well come see us make fools of ourselves, if you've got nothing better to do. This would never have happened without your help."
"Don't mention it, I merely did what any proper soldier would have done. The alternative was risking the entire defense force and losing our fortified position, I did what was expected of me." Marius tone switched from professional to light-hearted and chuckled a bit, "Just don't be calling me brother or anything..."
Rebec gave Marius a half-smile. "You're a little scrawny to be my brother. No offense." With a nod to Baldur, she started up the slope towards the waterfall.
Suri and the other redguard had strewn the area with blue mountain flowers, and as the group approached, she put a sprig of them into Rebec's hair, ignoring the admiral's protests that it looked absurd with warpaint. A few curious Stormcloaks had gathered around to see what was going on, and a few redguard, owing to their reverence for Arkay. Runil was only a step behind them, and as they arrived he took his place with his back towards the waterfall and waited for Baldur and Rebec to take their places.
Baldur's right hand started to shake noticeably as they approached. He was nervous, but Baldur didn't think that was the reason for the shaking....
"Are you alright?" Rebec whispered.
Baldur didn't wish to worry Rebec, so he was forced to lie to her. Baldur placed his hand on his axe handle, and gripped it tight to cease the shaking.
"It's nothing, I'm just a little nervous is all."
Boldir, who had only recently decided to crawl out of bed, was getting frustrated. He jogged across the street and spun a soldier around. "Have you seen Baldur?"
The soldier was surprised at being handled like that, but upon seeing who it was, she calmed down and shook her head."No sir."
"What about Admiral Rebec?"
"No sir."
Boldir left her and walked down the street at a brisk pace. He spotted a couple of Redguards leaving the cemetery. He waved to get their attention as he headed towards them. "Hey! Have either of you seen Baldur? I swear I think he's vanished."
"He just left the Hall of the Dead with the Admiral. They were going that way."The Redguard pointed towards a slope a ways off. "Suri said something about a wedding."
What?!? Boldir composed himself. He nodded at the Redguards."Thank you." He turned and sprinted towards the slope. As he reached the top and approached the clearing, he could see a small group of Stormcloaks and Redguards had gathered. More importantly, Rebec and Baldur were there, and they were walking together. All eyes were on them. Boldir could see the local Priest of Arkay standing further into the clearing, waiting for the pair to reach him. Boldir smiled. Ha! It's just like these two to go and have a wedding with no notice and in full armor. He walked up to the group of Stormcloaks and wedged his way to the front for a better view. He didn't want to miss anything after all.
Unknown to most, Marius watched from a nearby tree, leaning on it. He had...a look of "disapproval" on his face for some reason.
Baldur heard grumbling from behind and a few people saying "watch it" and "don't push". Baldur turned around and he saw Boldir working his way to the front. Baldur saw him standing there with a big stupid grin, and he couldn't help but grin too. His face started turning bright red again. Baldur put his helmet on for good measure.
"Uh, friends," Runil started, trying to get their attention. He looked nervous, too.
"Thank you. Welcome. This occasion is a bit unusual, but not inappropriate, I think. The god Arkay was once a man, and as man he knew that the mortal soul craves companionship. His province is not just death, but life, to teach us its value, and to appreciate all that we have in it. In this troubled time, we are more aware than ever that life's greatest treasures are the people we love."
He then leaned forward to whisper to Rebec and Baldur, "I have something for you both. I hope they fit." From his pocket the old Altmer produced two silver rings, graven with health enchantment runes. Gesturing to Baldur to put the smaller one on Rebec's finger, he raised his voice again. "Do you agree to be bound to this woman in love, now and forever?"
Baldur took the ring from the priest. His hand started shaking again which cause him to drop the ring.
"Whoops, sorry about that."
Baldur quickly grabbed the ring before Rebec took it as a sign of his reluctance or something. The crowd giggled at the sight when he hurriedly scrambled for the ring. Some one in the crowd said "Smart man." Which caused more laughter. After they settled down the priest repeated the question. Baldur cleared his throat.
"I do. Now and forever."
Baldur took off Rebec's left gauntlet and put the ring on her left ring finger.
As Runil was speaking, Rebec suddenly had a flashback to the previous afternoon. A pang of fear caught her breath. She turned her head, scanning the rocky outcropping for a sign of Lorgar drawing his bow on them. On Baldur.
The admiral was brought out of her thoughts by Baldur apologizing, and looked around to see him grubbing in the mud for the dropped ring. His bashfulness drove out all thoughts of the assassin. She helped with the gauntlet, and then watched as Baldur put the ring on her finger. Meeting his eyes, it took her a moment to realize that Runil had said the same words to her and everyone was waiting for her.
She helped Baldur take off his gauntlet, then held his fingers in her palm. The burns had healed a bit, but the scars would be there for a while to remind them both of what they had almost lost. Rebec slipped the ring on his hand and, throat catching, said, "I do as well, now and forever."
Runil continued on.
"Then with Arkay as my witness, I hereby proclaim you husband, and wife. The newly weds may kiss."
Baldur removed his helmet and dropped it on the ground and brought Rebec's head to his for the kiss.
In her nervousness Rebec missed at first, but soon found the right spot. The crowd watching, which had grown by the minute, cheered and clapped.
Pulling back, Rebec smiled up at Baldur, then said under her breath so only he could hear, "This is embarrassing. What were we thinking?"
Baldur laughed and gave her a reassuring kiss.
"Oh hush. You love it. Now, all of this will make the men think I'm soft. Want to work off the nerves with some weapon training? You could use some practice."
"Oh I could, eh? You're on, big talker." Rebec looked around and threw her arm out toward the crowd. "Get out of here, you lazy mudcrabs, before I put you to digging privies. Oh, not you, Boldir. Where in Oblivion were you? I looked all over." She glanced also over at Marius and caught his sour look, but shrugged it off. The imperial was still a puzzle to her.
As the other soldiers shuffled off, Boldir walked up to his friends. He spoke as he approached.
"Where was I?"
Upon reaching them, Boldir spread out his arms and pulled the two of them into a massive, inescapable hug.
"Where were you?! I thought you'd gone and gotten captured on me or something! Turns out only Baldur has! Ha!"
"B-Boldir, watch...the neck!" said Balur while Boldir's inescapable iron grip of comradery has locked around him.
"Right. Sorry." Boldir backed off, but left his hands on their shoulders.
Rebec grinned and stood on tiptoes to kiss Boldir's cheek. "Better late than never, big man. Now Baldur's got it in his head he's going to show me a thing or two with the shield and I'll have to humiliate him on our wedding day."
Boldir's eyebrow raised as he looked at Baldur. "And what does General Red-Cheeks here have to say about that?"
Baldur smirked at the jab towards his blushing face before giving his reply.
"We gotta show the men we didn't turn Breton overnight, and as my shield maiden, it's important Rebec's martial skills increase. Besides...I haven't spared in a long time and I want to see how tough my new wife is. Wanna watch?"
"Sounds tempting, but-"
Come on! Today has been a good day. Just this once stop being so damn uptight and take a break. It won't be but an hour tops.
Boldir looked carefully at Baldur for a moment before nodding his head.
"Okay, I'll go."
"Good, then lets go! I need to warm up and move around to get my body ready after that whole ordeal."
The trio made their way back by the Jarl's loghouse after grabbing a few practice weapons from the weapon storage. Some of the men commented and asked why Baldur had so many extra weapons held in Falkreath, to which Baldur replied you never know when you'll need more...As the newly wed couple reached the area they would use to practice, Baldur began taking off his armor except his boots and grieves.
As Baldur and Rebec geared up, a thought crossed Boldir's mind.
"You two go ahead. I'll be right back. There's something I need to get."
He headed out of the practice area and back towards the town.
Rebec's armor was light enough for her to keep on, so she took a practice sword and shield and set herself, her face sober. Baldur was a formidable opponent and she intended to beat him.
Baldur decided to remove his bandages from his body as they were a bit restricting. Baldur strapped his wooden shield to his back, and decided to wield two wooden axes for the duel like he liked to do every so often. He started waving around his arms to stretch them a bit, and hopping up and down in a sort of jig to get his feet ready to move. He looked over to Rebec who looked like she was ready to pounce at any moment like a Sabre Cat stalking her prey.
"Why so serious, Ms. Red-Snow?"
Rebec lowered the shield briefly at him calling her by his name, eyes flashing. "You think you own me now, eh? We'll see about that." She set herself again and waited for his attack.
Uh oh.
"I don't think I own you, I just assumed you'd want to take my name."
Baldur could see she was determined, so he removed his boots as well so he could attempt to match her in speed. He walked towards her and got into a defensive position by crouching his legs slightly and holding his left axe in front of him to parry, and his right axe above him to strike.
"Come on, snowback, hit me." Rebec circled a bit, shaking out her arms a little to keep loose. She had a defensive advantage now and wasn't going to waste it. "Or are you afraid to hit something with teats?"
Baldur was a bit wary of hurting his new wife on the day of their wedding, but he did want to see what she could do.
"Okay, you asked for it, Rebec Red-Snow!"
Baldur started striking at Rebec with his axes in a left and right pattern. He made sure not to strike at the shield in the same position so she would have to work to block the blows in an attempt to make her grow fatigued and lower the shield. Only thing is she wasn't letting him hit the shield.
Boldir returned carrying a small bag and saw that the fight had already started. He found a large rock and sat on it.
This should be good.
Rebec didn't use the shield at all. Waiting until Baldur was almost on her she sidestepped and spun, letting his own momentum put him ahead of her. Then she reached up and tapped his back with the shield and, laughing, backstepped a few paces quickly to wait for the next charge. "That's Red-Eye, Red Snow. Your brain's as weak as your attack. I've fought mudcrabs tougher than you."
Baldur grinned at the insult, and decided to show her how taunting was really done.
First, let me issue the challenge.
"Is that the best you can do? Are your weapons for show?
I was merely testing you misses Red-Snow,
If I defeat you, and I win this game,
Then will you agree to take my last name?
But if I'm layed on my back, my eyes to the sky,
Then the name I shall take is Baldur Red-Eye!"
Rebec halted a moment, visibly impressed. You knew you were fighting a real Nord when battle was paired with poetry.
"Challenge accepted. Got the name for having second sight on night runs, you know. I already know what you're going to do next." It was not all bluster. Dual axe was her favored attack, and she had fought many a Dunmer reaver and redguard pirate with the same.
We'll see about that.
Baldur charged Rebec with speed that must have been surprising to see from someone so large. Without his armor on to restrict him, he could let loose more than he would normally need to.
"Huuaaahhh!"
Baldur jumped in the air and brought the pair of axes down as hard as he could to stagger Rebec from the block.
Rebec smiled a little at the charge, quickly going to one knee, bringing the shield up above her head and slashing at Baldur's exposed legs with the sword, hoping to trip him. She was likewise stronger than she appeared, from years of manning oars and climbing rigging. The axes came close to her back, but she was already moving forward to avoid his backswing.
Baldur was ready for the swing to his legs. He hopped over it and attempted to pivot behind her for a back stroke. After she ran forward to avoid it, Baldur charged at her again, this time using the under hooks of the axe blades to snag on the bottom and top of her shield. Baldur spread his legs apart for balance, and with all the strength he could muster tried ripping the shield from out of Rebec's grip.
Surprised by his speed and reflexes, Rebec nearly lost the shield simply from the wet grip slipping out of her glove. She hung on, however, grappling with Baldur, now face to face. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Not... today... Red-Cheeks..." With the sword arm she reached around and slashed toward his head, then spun to try to disengage her shield from his axes. Her own cheeks were red from exertion, and sweat mixed with the rain on her face. The chainmail had put her at a disadvantage after all.
Meanwhile the scene was beginning to draw more spectators than the wedding had.
Baldur ducked, then parried and feinted for a while, waiting for Rebec to grow tired from his strikes. He put enough force behind his hits to cause the shield to slightly crack. Not enough to break, but enough to show how hard he was hitting it.
"What's the matter my lady, do you need to take a knee?
Would you rather go back to your boat on the sea?
Pack your bags, wench then go hit the road,
I've seen more agility in an elderly sload!"
Rebec cursed, though she was too out of breath to do more than mumble it. Her arm was beginning to ache from the force of his blows. The plan had been that he should never even hit the shield, as with many other opponents, but he was far better than your average pirate. Disengaging, Rebec circled, trying to buy time. Blood trickled from her nose, her own gauntlet having hit her face behind a shield block.
Baldur could see that he finally tired her out, and decided to try and end things. Baldur charged at her once more, to make her think he was going to power attack once again, and instead hopped forward and lifted his legs to kick at her shield with the force of his body weight, in an attempt to knock her down.
Rebec saw the fake and the kick aimed at her shield, but too late. Losing her footing in the mud, she crashed down on her back. The already weakened shield cracked in two at the force of the blow, but only after it had knocked the sword out of her hand. "Gods damn you," she spat out, trying to scramble back in the mud to retrieve her weapon.
Baldur rolled backwards to get to his feet after he landed on the ground after the kick. He saw Rebec rushing to get to her weapon, so he ran forward to try and deliver a swift kick to her stomach before she could reach it.
Seeing his run, Rebec switched tactic and quickly reached out to grab Baldur's leg in an attempt to force a stumble.
Baldur wasn't expecting her to grab at his legs, and he almost toppled over. To avoid falling over, he grabbed her by her armst to try and lift her off the ground.
Rebec came up face to face with him, breath heaving. She fought briefly, but so close to him, the fury at being bested turned into something else. It was a battle that had more reward for losing than winning. Her name hadn't really come from her uncanny abilities at night sailing, but from her frequent hangovers. It was the blood of war that had brought them both together. She wanted his name, she realized. But some of the fury was still there, and he shouldn't think it was something that it was not. "I yield," she told him, seething and out of breath. "But you don't... own me. Red... Snow."
Baldur smiled at her stubbornness. That independent attitude is what drew him to her. She was not just a woman. She was his equal.
"Of course not. You can keep your name."
Rebec eased a little in his arms. "It was a fair fight. I keep my word." She smiled briefly, letting him know she was happy with the change. "Rebec Red-Snow it is. Captain of the Black Wisp, and the muse of poems from lovesick skaldic fools."
"Oh? So you decided you like the ship name I came up with?"
Realizing that they were still locked together and that the crowd around was calling out suggestions as to what should come next, Rebec stepped back and straightened her chainmail tunic. "I was already thinking it was time for a change. It will be the most beautiful little terror on the Sea of Ghosts and the Abecean."
Baldur saw his window to make up for beating her in the duel, and took full advantage of it.
"Rebec, you're the most beautiful little terror on the Sea of Ghosts and the Abecean."
Rebec's mouth fell open, and for once she was speechless. It didn't take all the sting of being beaten away, but it was a start.
Boldir made sure to carefully hide it from his friends as be turned and accepted his winnings from a bet he'd made with two Redguards behind him. After thanking them for playing, he stood up and walked over to Rebec and Baldur.
"Here."
Boldir reached into the bag he'd been carrying and took out a stamina regeneration potion. He handed it to Rebec.
"This oughta have you feeling a little better."
Rebec looked at the stamina potion with disgust, but grumbled and took it anyway. "I was just going easy on him so he wouldn't be crying in his mead tonight. Nobody wants to see that."
Baldur began putting his gear back on before addressing the two.
"Something tells me I'm gonna pay for this in the future."
Baldur twirled his index finger in a circle for only Boldir to see, so he could know he wanted him to wrap it up. He and Baldur both had things they needed to do.
Seeing Baldur's motion, Boldir nodded.
"Hehehe, I can tell that, if nothing else, your relationship is gonna be an interesting one."
He decided to move things along for Baldur.
"Well, I think it's about time we got back to business. There's a city full of soldiers and people over there that is probably wondering where its leaders are. I've gotta talk to Erik and Thorygg. I'll be in the Longhouse if you need me."
Boldir nodded at his friends and turned to head off for Falkreath.
Suri came up and put her arm around the admiral's shoulders. "Come on, Aunt Rebec. You look like you could use a drink of something stronger." Over her shoulder she said to the men, "We'll have a little celebration at the redguard fire tonight. Sing some more of those verses, Uncle, and we might even bring out the good liquor."
Baldur smiled at the thought of a party of sorts. It would be nice to have the men relax and enjoy themselves before the siege.
"But of course! And Boldir can play the flute! I'll see you all then. In the mean time, I'll prepare our defenses and meet you all in the camp area. See you later!"
With that, Baldur ran off to prepare for the long battle that would surely take place in the near future.
*****
Later in the day after it started to grow dark, Baldur finally completed his rushed preparations for the siege. The supplies were numerous, but to be safe he lowered the rations for everyone including himself, and he put as many men as he could on the wall as archers. He gave them the order to fire on sight, and to lock down the doors that lead into the city. The big doors were large and thick enough that they could keep the doors from being broken open by pressing his men against it, and he had some dunmer posted nearby to use frost magics on the doors if the Imperials attempted to set it on fire. Baldur made his way to the doors and waited for Boldir to arrive with the materials he told him to bring. And the elf.
Boldir arrived at the gate about an hour after dusk. He had one bag for the materials he'd been told to being strapped to his belt, and another much larger bag containing the prisoner slung over his shoulder.
"Sorry I'm late. I had to break up a fight between a couple of other prisoners before I could- Nevermind. You ready?"
Baldur stood up off of the wall and signaled the guards next to him to unbar the gate.
"I am. Lets hurry so we can get to the celebrations. Then we can put this behind us."
"Sounds good. Lead the way."
After a bath and meal, Rebec went to the command center to read up on the sentry reports. There was troubling news of Thalmor and imperial forces moving out of their fortified positions in Pale Pass. She went to find Baldur and Boldir to discuss their defense, but could not find them in town, so she went outside the walls to the main camp.
“They left half an hour ago, admiral,” a Necro Nord told her. “Headed east. Had the elf prisoner with them, and a wooden pole.”
For some minutes Rebec stood looking out at the eastern road. It might not be too late to catch up to them. She recalled Baldur’s wounds, the assassins’ terrorizing of the civilians, and the Dominion army moving towards them, and decided it was better for her to stay away. If Baldur saw her, he might not go through with it.
Baldur took the further up the road until he found a good spot with a tree and a nice big surface on it so he could string up the elf. He took the pole, and some rope that Boldir had brought, and tied the rope around the tree and pole in an x pattern. The pole was set horizontally for the elf's arms. After that, he dumped out the Thalmor who was still bounded, and began stripping him down leaving him in nothing but his loin cloth. Just as they did to him. He took the elf's hands, unbound them and snapped them back, breaking the wrists further so that he was sure the elf wouldn't use his blood magic. The cry from the mer sent the birds in the trees scattering.
"Back in that prison...where you poked, prodded, burned, and branded me, I thought about why you were doing this. You look at me and my brother here, and all you see are...what did you say...pale skinned apes. That was it. All you see are animals. Why? Is it because our culture seems...savage, compared to the Altmers? You're not even an Altmer. You're a Bosmer! Your people are cannibalistic, and we're the savages? Those Thalmor truly have you all brainwashed. You Thalmor have such high opinions of yourselves, that you have the nerve to come into our country and tell us who we can and can't worship. You look down on us from afar and think that you're so perfect, that Talos, a god to you is still beneath you because he was once man. That's why you hate him, right? Because you too desire to be put up high. Well...I can help with that. Boldir, help me tie him up."
"Get up!" Boldir kicked the Elf in the gut for good measure before dragging him to his feet. He raised the Elf's arms and began to tie him up.
Baldur in all honesty after his wedding had lost all desire to string up the elf. Rebec had an effect on him that was dangerous for a man in war, especially one in charge of it. But when he thought about his friends and how hurt they felt when they saw his wounds...as if the wounds were inflicted upon themselves, and how distraught his friend was over what Baldur considered was doing the right thing...he knew he was going to go through with it. To Baldur, in his mind he had to do this for Boldir more so then himself. As Boldir was stringing up the mer with his back facing them, Baldur noticed the crudely cut marking over the elf's face. His eye was closed shut, and it seemed that Boldir must have accidentally cut down into it as he was applying the mark to his face. When Baldur saw it, he could tell it was supposed to be a big S for Stormcloak.
"I see you two were already well acquainted...good. Then we can skip introductions and get down to business. Lets start things with a history lesson. The Atmorans...were an interesting people. Ysgramors people when they came back to Skyrim brought with them a sort of animal worshiping religion. Most scholarly types agree that these are merely animal representations of the gods, like Shor and Kyne. Do you know what lay at the top of that pantheon? A dragon."
Baldur pulled out the dagger that Boldir had brought. It was a Nordic Carved dagger. Very sharp.
Perfect.
"You ignorant elves probably think that that dragon is the representation of Akatosh. We nords call him Alduin. Alduin is not the same as Akatosh. He is much crueler. Legends say that the Dragon Cult used to take elves and strip them of their armor, and expose their backs. After they did this, the executioner would take a dagger...and cut two slots into their backs. This exposed the rib cage to the executioner, who would then break the ribcage, and pull the ribs back through the wounds. This gave the appearance of wings of sorts. Then...the executioner would pull the victims lungs out as they stuck out the wounds and fluttered while he was still alive...and then they salted the wounds and left him to die. They called this method of killing "The Blood Dragon". This is my gift to you. For what fate can be better for a Thalmor then to be like the immortal dragon?"
The elf spoke finally after Baldur finished his speech.
"You think this will solve anything? Do you have any IDEA who we are? We are the Thalmor! We do not fear death! You have no idea why we seek to squash Talos worship. Your brutish barbaric pathetic excuse for a brain cannot comprehend the machinations of the will of our kind. And how could you? We were once gods before your Doom Drum, your Lorkhan tricked us into this prison! Once we stomp out your god, and stomp out all of human kind, we will be one step closer to reaching our birthright in Aetherius! Man will be nothing but a bad memory and we will be the new Kings of existence! No longer bound by the confines of the time dragon. You cannot stop our destiny! So go, send me away. I will be back as a lord, and I not you will have the last laugh! Behold perfection! Behold the ThalmoAAAAAAAH!"
Baldur had enough of the elf's mad ramblings. He jabbed the dagger into the elf's back and carved it down exposing the ribcage, just as he described. Then he did the same to the other side, and he shoved his armored hands into the gash in the elf's back. Then at the same time, Baldur broke both sides of his ribs, and pulled them back until they poked through his wound and stuck out. The screams coming from the elf were deafening, and reminded Baldur of his during his ordeal. Once the ribs were out of the way, Baldur shoved his hands into his back, and pulled out the bloody fluttering lungs until they stuck out. Just as he described. Baldur stepped back to admire his work.
"Boldir, salt him."
As Boldir crouched down and reached into the bag to find the jar of salt, he realized that his hand was shaking. Baldur could be ferocious at the best of times, and this was no more than he'd expected. If this was what Baldur needed to cope, then Boldir would see it through.
Boldir...
Not now Carlotta.
Boldir, this is too much. Thalmor or not, this isn't something the man I met in Whiterun wouldn't have done.
That man you met in Whiterun would do anything for his brother. This isn't for me Carlotta. This is for Baldur. He needs this. Besides, you'll never know this happened.
True. I won't find out if you don't tell me. But are you sure that it's Baldur who wants this? He hasn't acted like he does. Are you sure it's not actually yourself?
You're right. I DO want this! After what this Elf did to my brother, he deserves the most painful death we can give him! Even if Baldur is over it, I'm not letting go so easily. This needs to happen Carlotta. And I need to be a part of it!
...
Carlotta?
...
Fine. I'll do this without you!
Boldir realized that he must've been squatted in front of his bag for at least a full minute. He took a breath and steadied his hand before grabbing and opening the salt jar. His face was devoid of emotion as he stood up and turned to face Baldur and handed him the jar.
Baldur hurriedly emptied the contents of the jar into the elf's wounds. The elf, who Baldur had thought to be dead thrashed around madly from the pain of his salted wounds. Shortly after, the elf faded from existence.
Good. It's over. I hope this helps Boldir move on.
"One last thing."
Baldur unsheathed the dagger once more and carved the word TURN on the elf's back for the Thalmor and Imperials to see once they made their way to Falkreath.
"There...it's done. How do you feel, Boldir?"
Boldir shrugged nonchalantly.
"One less Thalmor bastard to worry about. I'm just glad you got your revenge. By the way, I borrowed that dagger, so I'll need it back."
"Are you sure you are okay? No more thoughts of guilt now that you helped me with this?"
"Am I okay? I suppose. Is it okay to feel good after doing something like that?"
"To be honest, probably not, no. I didn't really want to go through with this after the wedding, but we are warriors. Not priests of Mara. We do what others cannot. And we have to send a message to those Thalmor. No one will take our land. And no one will ever take me from you and Rebec ever again. I swear it. Now come, lets go to the party. I miss my wife."
Before Baldur turned to walk away, he looked one last time to the Thalmor's corpse.
"Now that's how I celebrate a wedding."
Baldur spat into the elf's wound, then took off in the direction of Falkreath.