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64.23% Unbound Familiar / Chapter 458: The Duel...

Chapitre 458: The Duel...

The next day, Ulfric is sitting at the table with the other Jarls present but looks more contemplative than before. Discussion goes on, all without Ulfric saying a word, despite many of the topics having previously interested him.

Halfway through however is when Ulfric abruptly stands, capturing everyone's attention.

"I've had enough..."

"Enough of what, Ulfric?" Torygg inquires, curious at what was troubling his old friend/enemy.

Ulfric gestures around, "At, this... This, joke."

"Oh great, another speech." Igrod groans semi-jokingly, only receiving a glare from the Jarl of Windhelm.

"You want me to sit here with that damned bitch acting like she belongs here, speaking of things that matter little while the Empire takes Skyrim for granted." he shakes his head, "No. I will tolerate it no longer. High King Torygg, I petition you, free Skyrim from the Empire, and the Elve's grasp. Grant us true freedom to do as our people wish, to do as we Nords have done since Ysgramor's landing. GIVE SKYRIM THE INDEPENDENCE IT DESERVES! THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE ITS OWN FATE!"

...

Elenwen's sniff from the corner of the room is the first legible sound after Ulfric's speech, "That was great, very charismatic... Are you done? Can the adults not get to business?" she says, mocking him to the best of her ability.

Ulfric ignores her entirely however, his eyes focussed solely on Torygg.

The High King shakes his head, "I'm sorry Ulfric, but that's impossible. The ties that Skyrim has with the Empire are too strong to break now. Even if I, theoretically wished it so."

Ulfric lets out a quiet growl, "Then you leave me no choice. High King Torygg, I challenge you to a duel for the rulership of Skyrim."

"Hah? A duel? What kind of barbarian would think of that!?" Elenwen scoffs, disregarding it completely while missing Torygg's introspective expression.

"You've really gone crazy now, Ulfric! Who in their right mind would expect that from a lowly traitor like you!?" Igrod shouts.

Balgruuf scowls, "Hold your tongue, Igrod. This is Nord tradition, which you should know given that you're now practically ancient history."

Dengeir nods, "The Kings of old battled to figure out who was fit to rule. I for one think that a duel would solve all of our problems... I'll willingly rejoin under Torygg's banner if he wins, as any honourable Nord should."

"I agree... It might not be under the Empire's laws, but we Nords still rule and live in Skyrim. It is us who decides its fate, and a duel of old would be suitable." Igmund remarks.

Elenwen watches all of this with a dumbfounded look, "You can't all be serious about this!? What use are walls, armies, and defences when the enemy can just walk up and challenge you for your position!?" the elf practically shrieks.

"Torygg?" Sybille asks as she approaches his side.

...

"I. I accept." he says as he stands. "A duel for the fate of Skyrim."

Ulfric nods "A traditional duel, with the Nordic rules of old. Do you agree?"

"I do."

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News of the duel quickly spread through Solitude, while Torygg and Ulfric stepped into a hall that was designed for just such an occasion. The only people present were the other Jarls, some Solitude guards, Lady Elisif, Sybille, Elenwen, Galmar, and a few of Torygg's own Thanes that were available.

The duelling stage was a large rectangular area that had a softwood floor, which was designed to stop people from spilling their brains onto the ground should they hit their head or something equally mundane.

Each participant was equipped in their armour, both wearing their respective family's ancestral steel.

"My love, please don't do this. There's nothing to gain! This is pointless!" Elisif pleads to Torygg, begging him not to engage in the duel.

Torygg gives a sad shake of his head, "There is much to gain, but everything to lose. Lose my honour, lose my life... But it must be done..." he pauses, "My wife... If I do fall...-"

"No! Don't speak like that! If you fear such a thing, why even accept this!? Abandon your honour, if not for yourself, then for me!"

"I'm King, Elisif, that means I need act as King, foolish or not..." he says, giving her a brief kiss on the cheek as he begins walking towards the duelling stage.

"Torygg... Are you sure you want to do this?" Sybille asks as she walks beside him, the duo leaving a heartbroken-looking Elisif. "Ulfric has many years on you, fought at the front lines in the Great War... Not to mention his voice..." she trails off.

"Just. Leave me be, Sybille. I know what I am walking into, you telling me of how likely my death is won't change anything." he mutters while speeding up his pace, wanting to get this over with sooner than later... Whether it be a positive or negative result.

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

"Are you ready, Ulfric?" Galmar asks as he helps his Jarl equip his armour.

"I am. Let's hope that Torygg can give a good showing. A very short duel could lend even less credence to my rule." Ulfric remarks in a cold tone, as if he wasn't about to engage in a life or death battle.

"Well, we can't expect too much, King or not, he's still but a boy..." Galmar says but notes how badly Ulfric was itching to fight. "That elf whore still on your mind?"

Ulfric nods, "Aye, and once I win I'll have her head put on a pike... After I return what she did to me all those years ago of course."

"Hmph, that'll send a message. Ah, the sight of Thalmor scurrying away like wounded rats, I can't wait for it."

"You shan't wait long my friend, it's almost upon us." Ulfric states with finality as he stands and heads for the stage, axe in hand and ready to crack Torygg's skull if the boy was as stubborn as his ancestors were said to be.


L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS
Niggross Niggross

Hope you bois liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know. Thanks!

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Also, thanks to my patrons for their support :

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Kingsprovince

Faruk Ereng

Chapitre 459: The Staging grounds.

Finally ready, Ulfric and Torygg step onto the stage, both armoured in full Nordic steel plate armour. The former held an axe and shield, while the other was using a two-handed sword.

"So you do know how to wield a weapon? Or maybe you're just striking a pose?" Ulfric says as he steps forward.

Torygg frowns behind his helmet, "I have been bloodied Ulfric, I'm not some green boy you can play with."

Ulfric shakes his head, "I give you one last chance, Torygg. Surrender, and we can put this all behind us. You can continue to lead Solitude while I take care of the Province... Do you really want to make Elisif a widow? End your family line without an heir to continue it?"

"I could say the same for you." Torygg retorts, Ulfric was over fifty years old at this point, yet still had no children. "Perhaps if you pleaded to the Arch-Mage of Winterhold he could help you with that." he says, satisfied with this mild slight against the man that'd probably kill him.

Ulfric lets out a sigh, "Let's begin, before your wife can scheme a way to stop this and or kill me in the process." he says, approaching into melee range of the King.

Torygg gives a sudden yell as he steps forward and chops down with his two-handed sword. The attack misses however as Ulfric steps to the side and slams his axe into the King's armoured arm, causing sparks to spring off of the metal. The attack does little to no damage though since their steel plate prevents anything from getting through, not to mention the duel's rules against enchanted items.

Before the King is able to raise his weapon again Ulfric slams his shield into his body, causing him to stumble backwards and almost lose his sword in the process.

*Clank!*

"Huarrgh!" Torygg growls while slamming his helmeted head into Ulfric's, causing them both to back off. "Not bad, old man."

Ulfric huffs in annoyance, "You say after a cheap shot. Shall we just continue to slam our heads into each other until we find the victor? Would that suit you more, my 'King?'"

"If you're offering..." Torygg jokes as he attempts another attack, swinging his large blade horizontally, hoping to catch Ulfric with it. While the heavy blade wouldn't price his armour, the weight alone was enough to crush bone or knock him unconscious.

Ulfric blocks with his shield and trails the sword with it as he rushes forward, keeping it at bay as he makes his attack, this time at the younger man's head.

Torygg leans backwards, causing the axe to be barely out of range, skimming over the top of his helmet. He then lunges forwards, slamming his shoulder into Ulfric before grabbing the blade of his own sword, half-swording it in an attempt to pierce a joint or weak point of his enemy's armour.

*Clink!*

No dice, the tip of his blade draws a long scratch into Ulfric's breastplate before falling aside, doing no harm at all.

"You're overconfident," Ulfric states as he slams his shield into Torygg's visor, cracking his head backwards but not managing to end the fight yet.

"Says the man who waltzes into my city and demanded a duel!"

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

The two continue to clash in an exhausting melee, their armour making them all but invulnerable to any damage they could deal, but the real challenge is their stamina... How long could they fight like this while wearing steel plate, how long would their will carry them?

Elisif and Sybille watch on with trepidation, the former cupping a hand over her mouth as each strike to her husband sends a phantom-like pain through her. She'd attempted to have someone, anyone intervene in this, but no one was willing to lift a finger.

Torygg was stupidly set on this, most of the guards and all of the Jarls were traditional Nords, so they absolutely refused to breach protocol. This left her unable to do anything but watch as her husband tempts fate time and time again.

Still, from the corner of her eye, she could see the Thalmor Ambassador Elenwen, the elf had a crooked look that all but spelt out that she had designs on this already... Hopefully it would be in her husband's favour, because if not... The Thalmor wouldn't leave this city alive, both due to her wrath, as well as Ulfric's.

Most of the other Jarls were watching this with both pride and apprehension, curious to see who'd prevail. Ulfric was the favoured man, but Torygg was holding his own, albeit, quickly exhausting his strength as he does so.

"Anyone willing to place bets?" Bryjolf offers with a sly grin, causing the others to turn to him with a mixture of expressions.

"How dare you, at a time like this?" Igrod seethes, only for Dengeir to interrupt her rant.

"Sure, ten thousand gold on Ulfric." the large bald Nord states.

Bryjolf's brow twitches at this, knowing well that Ulfric was likely to win this. After all, you couldn't make profit if everyone bet on the victor.

"Hmm, ten thousand on Torygg... Might as well support the current King, if that even counts as loyalty?" Igmund mutters.

Brynjolf nods, "Joy, anyone else want to bet!? The approaching end of the war must be met with celebration and debauchery! Besides, those two are going to be at it for a while longer."

"Fifty thousand on High King Torygg." Elenwen says as she walks over, drawing a few ill looks.

"So confident! We like confidence over in Riften... Maybe you should come to visit, when you have time." Bynjolf offers with a smile that belied his true intentions for her.

Elenwen sniffs disdainfully at him, "I'd rather now visit a slum city of beggars and thieves. Just focus on paying what I'm owed and we'll be friendly enough."

Brynjolf shrugs, "As you will, Lady..."


L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS
Niggross Niggross

Hope you bois liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know. Thanks!

Also, thanks to my patrons for their support :

ShinAmazake

Kingsprovince

Faruk Ereng

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