Lastspell Falls [A Skyrim Fanfiction}

Thalmor Justice

The place is abuzz with chatter after the fight – trial, Hadvar insists on calling it. After washing his face and having his nose and some other scrapes fixed at Hilde's insistence, he orders the legionnaires to start packing up their belongings. While this is happening, the rescue crew manage to send up some of the supplies they've brought along, with Lorius and a few others hauling them up on long ropes.

"Medical supplies, alchemical ingredients, tools, even some weapons," Brand tells me, as Bjorn notes down things in a ledger. "Not to mention the food! We don't usually receive so much, that's why we have our own garden and all,"

"I guess you can relax knowing you've got whatever you need to recover," I say, scanning the rough inventory they've laid out on the ground to sort. Orla, the gardener, is already going over the seeds that have been sent, checking to see what can be planted now and what will have to wait, and I can see Munskr and Lorius both checking out the various tools. Most of the other locals are crowding around the entryway to the path, watching the crew bridge the last few gaps.

The Stormcloaks are in their little camp area, pulling down the three tents and bundling everything up. Skorm, Thelessa, Niom and Kaleb are there, and Skjoren of course – looking more bitter than ever – but there's no sign of Jorell. Skorm glances up, seeing me watching. He says something to Thelessa and Niom before he leaves them, cutting across the clearing to me.

"How's everyone holding up?" I ask him. He shrugs, glancing back at the group.

"Da says we need to get going as soon as the team gets in," he says, his mood clearly fading. "I... I don't think Jorell's coming with us. He's said as much to me, but didn't mention it to Da."

"He's fourteen, Skorm," I remind him. "That whole thing in the Legion camp, it scared him. But it gave him a taste of what to expect."

Skorm is nodding. "I won't force him," he says carefully. "I just want to know he's safe, y'know? That there'll be someone looking out for him."

"I've already told him he's welcome at any of my homes," I reassure him. "You are, too."

Skorm falters, staring at me for a moment. He shakes his head. "I couldn't leave Da like that. He needs us, we're all he's got left. Especially after today..."

He looks back over at where Skjoren is scowling at us, but he looks away quickly. His chain mail is still torn where Hadvar's sword pierced it.

"I just worry that he's gonna lead you into a situation like what Jorell had to go through," I tell him. "We got lucky, that Hadvar was the one in charge and I was there. You might never be that lucky again."

"I know," Skorm looks back to Skjoren, who seems to be doing his usual standover bullshit with Thelessa now. "I know he's not the best person, but maybe if I hang around, if I look after him... maybe he'll change? The Captain seems to think the same."

I can't stop myself from snorting. "You know you don't believe that. I can hear it in your voice." I touch his shoulder lightly, and he looks at me again. "I get that you want to be loyal to him, but some people are just... bad. We can't help that, and the longer we hang around the more likely we are to get dragged down by them. You're seventeen; you don't have to throw your life away just because your dad's an asshole. Remember that."

There's a cheer from the group of people standing near the path as a low rumble sounds through the stone. We both look over as the cheer fades into a hush and people start to step back. I see others, new people, exiting from the path – people in gilded elven armour, and one in unerringly familiar black and gold robes. There's a moment of doubt as I idly realise people are giving him a wide berth, and I hear Skorm suck in a sharp breath beside me, but as the Thalmor turns, looks our way, I feel the biggest, stupidest grin break across my face.