Victory or Sovngarde

Chapter Thirty-Eight

If Vilkas hadn't been there to catch me, I would've fainted into the cobbles due to blood loss.

But by now, the healers had seen to my injuries. With their quick fingers and gentle words, my skin stitched back together without leaving too much of a mark. As Vilkas hovered behind me, practically biting his nails through his gloves, I couldn't ask the young Imperial to use one of her spells to check on my baby. I didn't want my husband to find out about our child like that. I had to be the one to tell him, and I wanted to wait for the right time.

After the hysteria from the battle wore off and I didn't have to worry about Vilkas yelling at me or running away in shock. Knowing how dramatic he could be, I didn't want to leave anything to chance.

Now, sitting around a small table with Jarls Balgruuf and Ulfric, Marina, the opposing leader, Tyernil Salingian, and a couple of his guards, we could begin to negotiate terms of surrender.

I wasn't the best at the political side of war, which was why I trusted the Jarls to handle this part, but at Balgruuf's request, I had joined the circle. I knew I wouldn't be able to negotiate the same way these skilled leaders could, but my presence at the table would keep the Thalmor from acting out.

We hoped, anyway. As far as the Aldmeri Dominion forces knew, I was the one who killed their leader. No one saw Vilkas take her head from her shoulders. I wouldn't steal the credit for Elenwen's death from my husband, but he had no desire to sit across the table from the Thalmor and play nice while we worked out the terms for their surrender.

Since he didn't want to be involved in the meeting, Vilkas had volunteered to oversee the gathering of bodies. A gruesome task that I had no desire to complete, so I was thankful that my husband was so ready to step up and take the responsibility from me.

"Shall we get these talks underway?" asked Balgruuf, pulling my mind out of the streets of Whiterun and back to the present moment.

"There isn't much to talk about," said Ulfric as his arms crossed over his chest. "I will accept nothing short of total and immediate surrender."

I shot the Jarl of Windhelm a sharp glance. Of course he was jumping straight to demands. I knew very little about the process of surrender in war, but I felt this was a breach in protocol.

"We can promise that your remaining troops will be treated fairly," added Marina, glaring at Ulfric under her furrowed brow. "Those who have been taken prisoner will be transferred back to your homeland. We have no desire to execute your soldiers."

Ulfric's meaty fist slammed into the table, which was an improvement from his habit of shooting out of chairs and knocking them to the floor. "They should pay with their lives for what they did to our land! What they did to our savior!"

Oh, that's me.

"Ulfric," I began, tone sharp, like I was scolding my children, "the one who caused me so much pain is dead, her blood running cold at Talos' feet. I say that debt has been settled. I only wish to usher in a new era of peace. Our nation has been at war for far too long, and it's time to give Skyrim the rest it deserves."

"Well said, Dragonborn," said Balgruuf, turning to the Thalmor soldiers. "Our leaders have promised fair treatment to your Thalmor prisoners, in exchange for your immediate departure. Are these terms acceptable so far?"

"Yes," said Salingian, tilting his pointed chin upward. "So far. I would also request the transport of our dead back to the Summerset Isles."

"That's reasonable." I nodded. "You will surrender your weapons, the Thalmor Embassy in Haafingar, and any riches you have taken from the people in your occupation. I also expect you to pay reparations to the families of those you killed, either on the battlefield or in your torture chambers."