Previous part: https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/5955-gwynolda-deciding-her-future/

 

Rise of the Witch Queen

 

 

 

The understone keep, symbol of the jarl's power, where the jarl of Markath reside, Igmund. Skjoldr, Thane of Markath went in haste to the palace, carrying the dreadful news of the hold to his Jarl. 

 

 

The palace was filled with the usual mood, Skjoldr could even hear the yelling of the Jarl, as his uncle states the problems of the nobility and the other matters. The guards allowed their Thane to approach the Jarls.

 

 

As he approached, he kneeled down and got himself ready to tell the news of the hold to Igmund. Igmund greeted him with happier reaction, expecting better subject from him, however..

 

Igmund: Skjoldr! I hope you bring me good news..

Skjoldr: My Jarl I have dreadful news....

Igmund:(Sigh) Tell me then..

 

 

Skjoldr :The war with Forsworn worsened, they use different tactics than before, they use monsters and abominations, the raidings and trade harrasing became lot more common. We only found remains of the caravans...

Igmund: I fear to ask but what did you found?

Skjoldr: They use magic, now much more than before, only burned corpses, they use now in the battles and ambushes. Recently we lost many battles against them. I heard rumors wich became appareant recently..

 

 

Igmund's face changed to angered expression after hearing the news of the war. He took sometime to be calm and asked Skjoldr about the forsworn.

 

Igmund: Nobility at my throat, Silver-blood screwing my hold's economy and now even forsworn became more problem..Well then tell me about these "rumors".

 

 

Skjoldr started state of the rumors what he heard, althought he was a bit relucant seeing the jarls reaction of the news, he don't really wanted to anger him with rumors from random folks in the city. He thought better tell later what he learnt.

 

Skjoldr: My jarl these are just mere rumors in the city, might better wait....

Igmund: You serving me for many years as my Thane, I know when you lie, what did you learn? 

Skjoldr: They have an leader who united Eastern tribes under one banner....

Igmund: Leader? Who Madanach? He is escaped?

Skjoldr: Even he did, he is now meaningless...

Igmund: Alright, so who is this leader?

 

 

Skjoldr, get himself together and stated the name, even with the chance to anger the Jarl with the foolish thought rumor what has been talked in the city.

 

Skjoldr: Witch Queen of the Reach, as they call her...

Igmund: Witch Queen? Don't tell me...

Skjoldr: I fear my Jarl I have to tell, she is very real, forsworn was never really this united ever since the incident...

Igmund: ...

 

 

The witch queen of the Reach, aside of the rumors there is not too much knowledge about her, she is rumored to came from North East of the Reach and united the most of the tribes there under herself.

 

Skjoldr: The rumors were started by our own soldiers...

Igmund: What?!!

 

 

According the rumors she is fearful witch and the same time formidable warrior, who claimed herself as the strongest of forsworn exceeding the monstorus abominations there.

 

Skjoldr: There was reports of an woman who weared the crown of the Reach, using vile sorceries, she might be the behind in the Ognar incident..

Igmund: I thought the sister named Gwynolda was? She was imprisoned for it, the mother of the Temple told us.

Skjoldr: What?? Why I heard of this now, she can't be done that since she was with me during that... She saved me..

Igmund: If that is true then... Fucking Hamal... I took matter in my hands. 

 

 

She united the Eastern reach under her and lead the armies by herself, ever since she took over Markarth started losing. More abominations, more magic and the fighting style of the forsworn started revolving in cunning then numbers...

 

Skjoldr: I distracted you from the main subject, I'm sorry my Jarl..

Igmund: Doesn't matter another wretched thing to deal in this rotten city, another knife in my throat, if this Gwynolda girl is that capable healer, we should get her back soon as possible... So anything else about this Queen?

Skjoldr: She probably has very big chunk of terrority under her rule and uniting the forsworn, presumably in east..

 

 

Igmund: So what do you suggest to do?

Skjoldr: We need cut the head of the forsworn before its too late, we need kill this Witch Queen as fast is possible...

Igmund: I presume you have a plan how you do this?

 

 

Skjoldr: Of course my jarl, give an expeditionary force, mainly the heavy infantry, I led another campaign against the forsworn, I plan to move fast and use rush imperial tactics, we going to finish her fast as possible then the forsworns will be disunited as it should.

Igmund: I send word, assemble the force then Skjoldr..

 Skjoldr: Yes my Jarl

 

 

As soon as he left the palace, the word was sent, the force was assembled. An low number of fast moving Markarth battalion, resembling the imperial legion, Skjoldr was ready to march in the deep of the Witch Queen's terrority.

 

 

He gave little speech and ordered to march.

 

Skjoldr: Listen well soldiers!! We going to cut the head of the snake before its wakes, we going to kill this so Called Witch Queen in deep of her hut!! Do not fear of the tribals, they are the same puny weaklings as before, even with their mighty Bitch Queen!! Come one Soldiers Glory a Waits!!! victory or Sonvgarde!!!!

Soldiers: Victory or Songarde!!

Skjoldr: March!!!

 

 

As little Skjoldr know, as soon as the nigh fallen, his force was ambushed by werewolves. An unexpected battle against monster what Skjoldr and his soldiers never faced, he got defeated along with his army fast.

 

 

He was captured by the forsworn and brought him to an unknown place, a Redoubt mostlikely, one of the many.

 

Unkown Voice: Wake up Nord!

Skjoldr: Hmmmm...

 

 

Skjoldr woke up and he started see where is he and thinked about his situation..

 

Skjoldr: It seems I am alive, hmmm as an hostage? This is an Redoubt, but well there is too much of it.

 

 

He immediatly saw the hagraven who stare him, she was ugly and her expression was angry. Skjoldr didn't hide his disguist.

 

Skjoldr: Ohh my what kind of ugly abomination are you?

Hag Raven: Disrespectul Scum I rip you into shreads!!

 

 

Another woman was approached, Skjoldr immediatly recognised her as the Witch Queen, the descriptions of the rumors was fit her, Reachmen woman who wear the crown of the Reach, markings on her body. She calmed the hagraven.. she didn't really payed too much attention to Skjoldr at the moment.

 

Witch Queen: Calm Hetta..

Hetta: I'm sorry my Queen...

Skjoldr:(The witch queen, if I could get out...)

 

 

Skjoldr: So you must be the famous Witch Queen I heard of.(Need a bit of distraction of her.. some reason those markings are familiar wonder why...)

Hetta: Silence Worm, Do not talk until you are asked!!

Witch Queen: Hetta...

Hetta: I'm sorry my Queen, but he...

 

 

Skjoldr tries to untie himself as the legion taught him, however no matter how he tries he can't.

 

Witch Queen: Do not bother it my dear, I made preparations in case of escaping.., bit of curse, some enchantment... Can make quite strong tie, even for a mighty warrior... even if you do escape you can't take me and Hetta by yourself...

Skjoldr: Dammit!!

Hetta: Stepid nord, hahah!! Remain there!!

Skjoldr: Nice court, I expected more royal, but well you are just an barbarian with your pet raven...

Witch Queen: I did have an bigger court, but got a bit of misunderstanding with them...

Skjoldr: So who are you exatly?

 

 

She started introduce herself to Skjoldr, althought lot of her name was unpronuncable to him, due that only of part of her name was recognisable to him and remembered.

 

Witch Queen: I am Driada, Witch Queen of the Eastern Reach, member of the Glemoril coven. I am the leader of the Forsworn Alliance.

Skjoldr: How exactly did you rise to power or why?

Driada: We have important matters to do, no time for history.. Now then a question for you..

Skjoldr: I'm not going to tell you anything...

Driada: Ohh you will...

 

 

Her enchantments forced him to answer all question she had to him, still Skjoldr not give up and he tried get more information from her...

 

Driada: Who are you?

Skjoldr: I'm Skjoldr, former Legate, now Thane and main leader of the Markarth army. I'm the strategist of...

Driada: Great! You are the one I looked for, the troops under you caused me quite a bit of problems..

Skjoldr: How did you know we are coming?

 

 

She grabbed her sword

 

Driada: Those who holds the blessing of Kyne, the nature are its ally, I have spies over the entire Reach, just needed send my warriors for you in the right time, you were fool enough to lead.....

Skjoldr: So what are you planning to do with me?

Driada: Send an message to Markarth..

 

 

She started walking towards him

 

Skjoldr: What kind of message you want me to deliver?(Might able to get out here alive...)

Driada: Hmmmm...

 

 

Driada: Ohhh my, you do not need to do anything...

Skjoldr: What?!

 

 

She stopped near him and preparred to strike him down with a smile...

 

Driada: I just send some parts of you and your soldiers back to your Jarl...

Skjoldr: So the message will be my head?

Driada: Ohh don't be suprised.

 

 

Skjoldr started preparring himself to his fate...while the Witch Queen explained him her message..

 

Driada: You are the head of their military, the one who thought all of the ways to defeat us, you bringed us quite amounf of defeat during this years, just like you planned, I intend to make my enemy weaker both military wise and moral wise. You really expected me to let go the main asset of Markarth's millitary?

Skjoldr: Well...

Driada: Before I do this, Do you know who is the current Sybill of Dibella?

 

 

Skjoldr accepted his feat, he was ready to go Sovngarde, as her sword started reach his Throat he made peace within himself.

 

Driada: No asnwers then...

 

 

The Witch Queen cutted off head with a mere smile, she simply showed joy as her sword decipcate Skjoldr...

 

 

She did slowly as she could do, to make him have the most pain as possible, to broke he's peaceful expression, however Skjoldr was already ready, his expression was same as his head fell off.

 

 

After she was done, she bathed in his blood, sheated her sword and looked at Hetta.

 

 

Hetta was a bit scared of her, but she asked her is she done.

 

Hetta: Are you finished my Queen?

 

 

She simply smiled at her and said..

 

Driada: I am done, get ready his body for the message and clean up the mess..

Hetta: Yes my Queen...

 

 

The witch queen was ready to do other matters, she ordered Hetta to call her court.

 

Driada: Hetta, call my court...

Hetta: But my Queen...

Driada: Whats the problem Hetta?

Hetta: You killed them...

Driada: What about the advisors?

Hetta: I think they are somewhere around here, just bit missing some parts of them...

 

 

Driada: Ohh...

Hetta: i make the preparations my Queen for the new court.

End