User blog comment:Thedoucheinthenorth/A question of morality/@comment-5012992-20121212230405/@comment-24.124.2.110-20121214171825

Just because the Stormloaks want to be independant doesn't mean that they would turn their back on the empire. Even after Skyrim is free, the empire has a major shipping industry in Solitude, that if shut down would destroy skyrim economy. And like he said if the Aldmeri Dominion came within 100 miles of Skyrim the Nords would retaliate.