Tirdas, 2nd of Heartfire

	We arrived at the Whiterun gates by mid-morning, and by this time the Stormcloak army was already lurking in the surrounding hills. When I ascended to the keep to warn jarl Balgruuf, they had begun the march, and as I departed the keep, the battle had already begun. The walls and gates had been fortified with troops under Legate Quentin Cipius and the field was commanded by Legate Rikke. I was put up on the front walls with the archers, and Stenvar took position down with the foot-soldiers. 

The Stormcloak force rushed in at a steady rate, so much so that us up on higher ground couldn’t stop the enemy from reaching the barricades. The chevaux de frise had fallen quite quickly, leaving nothing between the opposing forces. It was sometime around this point that I departed from the walls and drew my blade on the ground. And I must say, the delirium that can set in after long spurts in combat can almost bring you to striking your own allies. I recall one instance where I had broken away from a duel and got the chance to pull out my bow to provide covering fire, and yet as I studied the field for targets, I had a difficult time telling the difference between friend or foe. 

Also; I may have taken out one of the Stormcloak commanders, as I encountered a man with intricate garb, who I believed to be a bandit at one point if only because he was wearing a skinned bear on his head. Let’s just say that I took his outfit as a war trophy. The Stormcloak forces eventually gave in and retreated, the battle lasting for around three hours. With a defeat like this, the Empire has proven that we have the ability to fend off the enemy forces. It can’t be long now before we start the attack ourselves and begin reclaiming holds. Or, so I hope.