The arrows, fired from the top of the walls by a motley collection of mercenaries and city guards, had little effect on the armored giants. Niernen slowly climbed the last of the stairs and positioned herself between some of the archers. Garm followed, making small noises, swinging its pincered head from side to side. It could smell the death stench that cloyed the air. Some of the archers glanced aside to give Niernen a weird look and one of them was about to say something. "Focus! I'm friendly," she hissed, and they turned their attention back to the scene in front of them. The Dunmer woman took a second to familiarize herself with the battlefield, eyes widening at the amount of blood and gore already scattered on the docks. Scenes flashed before her eyes momentarily but she steeled herself and pushed those thoughts out of her mind. 

She had signed up with the mercenary company just last night. The Redguard commander, whose name already escaped her, had seemed a little skeptical of Niernen at first but allowed her to sign on after she demonstrated some of her fire magic. The whole bunch had seemed extraordinary to her. As far as warriors went she'd only ever been familiar with the Redoran army and their Argonian opponents three years ago. These men and women were all sorts, from all over Tamriel, and seemed to have little cohesion. While they caroused and celebrated something (possibly their survival?), Niernen had retreated to her room and rested. Such frivolous expenditure of energy was beyond her these days. 

Several of them were down there now, up close with the armored monsters, taking them down one by one. Niernen had to admit she was impressed by their daring and bravado. She saw a big Nord and another Dunmer, now carrying crates back to the gate; she had no idea why but presumed it was useful. Closer to her where several others, waiting to assist, including a thin-looking Imperial. The remaining armored giants had banded together, it seemed, and started moving forward. 

Niernen was almost tempted to convince the defenders on the wall to spare their arrows, but she supposed that a lucky strike between the armored plating of the giants might help. 

Fire, however, might be a different story. "Make room!" she said and lifted her left hand, a purple vortex of magical energy forming around her fingers. Alarmed, the defenders made space on the wall, and Niernen released her spell. The barrier between Nirn and Oblivion tore open for a moment and a Flame Atronach coalesced, floating several inches above the ground, heating up the air around it and melting the snow beneath it. Niernen heard a few curses but paid the other defenders no mind. [i]Just you wait,[/i] she thought to herself. Using her right hand to cast, the Dunmer and the Atronach started lobbing Fireball spells at the giants. The spells exploded where they struck, scattering flames over the armored shapes, who reeled in confusion. The detonations weren't powerful enough to knock them down but it gave them pause, and the magical fire ate away at the armor before sizzling out. 

The flames didn't last long enough to do any serious damage, but the giants seemed to be rather afraid of it regardless. They backed away a little bit and raised their arms over their heads. Much to Niernen's satisfaction, the advance of the giants was thus slowed, buying more time for the defenders down there to collect the crates. [i]I wonder what's in them?[/i] she thought to herself while she readied another Fireball spell. With her free hand she felt at her waist, counting three filled magicka potion vials. Enough to last a while, but not forever. She would run out of magicka eventually. 

The whole thing seemed rather confusing. Niernen had no idea who they were fighting or why they were attacking Windhelm. Hell, she wasn't even sure if defending the city was something they were being paid for, though it was undoubtedly the right thing to do. "Someone better have a good explanation for this," she muttered under her breath, and a guard standing next to her grunted his assent. 

Inspired by Niernen's display, the archers on the wall resumed their volleys, and a spectacularly lucky strike hit one of the giants in the neck. The arrow embedded itself deep into the creature's flesh and it howled in pain. "The first one to do that three more times gets a drink," Niernen said with a smile, and the archers chuckled. Niernen glanced at the people carrying crates again and frowned. [i]Hurry up and do something else so I can try to deduce what your plan is.[/i]