Chapter 2

Finding Repercussions

Upon arriving Solitude stables Ondine felt a small turn in her stomach. She remembered that just three days ago she stormed the city with Ulfric and she wasn't sure if she would be met with hostility or bitterness. But she figured it was best to not let that stop her.

She walked up to the front gate where two Stormcloak soldiers greeted her by her war name and opened the gate for her. She walked through the gate to find the city as it always was. Children running about and smell of spiced wine in the air. The only thing that gave away that there was recently a battle there was the missing shingles on the roofs, and of course all of the Stormcloak guards.

Ondine entered the Radiant Raiment and walked to the counter. Edarie gave Ondine her usual cold welcome. Ondine immediately presented her with all of the jewelry with flawless diamonds, knowing that this was the place she would get the best price for them. After some light negotiation Ondine waked away with 1,275 gold more. Just outside the shop Ondine encountered Taarie.

"You wouldnt be heading to the Blue Palace would you?" She asked.

"Not today why?" Ondine replied.

" Well, I need to ask you do do me a favor." Taarie pulled a gown wrapped in paper out of her satchel.

"I want you to wear this gown then speak to Jarl Elisif. Draw her attention to your outfit and if she likes it, tell her it was made at the Radiant Raiment. If you'll do that for me I'd not only pay you for your time but Id also let you keep the gown"

"Alright, give me the gown and I'll head right over." Ondine agreed, not about to pass up such an easy opportunity to make some extra coin.
Taarie smiled, thanked her, and handed over the outfit. Ondine went into the ally across from the store and changed attire behind the pine tree. Removing her elven armor and pulling the new gown over the tunic she wore under her armor. She also changed into fine boots and a full set of jewelry. Once she was dressed, she and Serana walked to the Blue palace and made their way inside. They both went upstairs and approached the Jarl.

"Good day Jarl Elisif." Ondine said with a polite bow.

"Good day." Responded Elisif, with a clear twinge of resentment in her voice. "Unless you have bussiness with the court, I'll ask you speak to Falk"

"I came to speak with you, Jarl."

"Oh?" Still uncomfortable.

"Now that the fighting has ended, what do you think it will take to achieve peace?"

Seeing that Ondine's intentions were pure and sensitive Elisif sighed and responded.

"Well I suppose the only thing we can do is keep communication lines open. I may have lost my claim as High Queen but theres no point in being bitter. Besides, all of the Jarls will need to work together in case our conflict with the elves worsens."

Ondine nodded in agreement. Elisif drew her attention now to Ondines attire. Despite the recent battle she was not wearing armor, but rather a rather well tailored gown.

"Y-you're wearing a gown? Every time I've seen you, you were in full armor."

"Well I thought it would be nice for a change of clothes, armor is rather uncomfortable. Do you like it?"

"Why yes, it's rather fetching."

"It was made at the Radiant Raiment here in the city."

"Well I think I'll be placing an order for a few new gowns there soon."

"I'm sure they'll be glad to hear that. Now if you'll excuse me, my lady, I must go. Farewell."

"Goodbye."

As she and Serana turned away Ondine smiled at herself, pleased with herself and happy to have so easily earned whatever gold was promised to her. But her smile was interupted when she reached the bottom of the stairs and heard something.

The sound was that of the clamor of three or four adults talking. One of the voices sounded familiar so she followed the sound. It lead her around the corner and down the hall to a stairwell. That one voice she couldn't place rang once more. Following it, she went down two small flights of stairs and entered a room. She heard the voice once more, this time unmistakeable.

"I miss the days when you could truly count on your brothers to always be family, and trust the heroes would always be heroes. But now Skyrim is filled with betrayors lusting for power and all those corrupted by their influence." It was Jarl Balgruuf.

She looked around and all talking stopped. All eyes were fixed on her and Ondine could feel the resentment hang heavy in the air. What she saw before her was a room full of all the exiled Jarls that were displaced when the Stormcloaks took control of Skyrim. The Jarls that she displaced.

Across the room, Balgruuf sat by the fire. He made eye contanct with her for a moment. It was as if he had trapped her in that gaze and would only release her once she had something to trade. She holds her breath, searching for a way to buy her life back, but for now she is ensnared by the scornful stare of the man that she had looked up to for so long.

On the day of the battle for Whiterun, it broke her heart to see him removed from the throne. Even more when he looked at her when he surrendered and expressed his disgust that she had made this choice. After that battle she curled up beneath the crag behind the city and wept. Torn and unconsolable she sat on the cold ground until the moons set. Serana tried so hard to comfort her with little success.

She could think of nothing else but to approach him. Irileth hissed about the ways she pictured Ondine dead, but she ignored her and walked slowly across the room. All the while she kept her chin down and maintained eye contact with Balgruuf. She walked so that she was standing right in front of him. She felt that after all she had done, it would be cruel to make him turn his head to speak to her.

"What do you want, traitor?"

She flinches at the sound of the last word. It hurts her but she knows she's earned that name. He guided her, sheltered her, and she joined Ulfric. She wants to look away but she cant bring herself to. She knows that she did what any Nord would do. She fought for what she believed in and was victorious. To her though, it felt like she was a child who had done something very wrong.

She didn't want to defend herself, and it didn't feel right to apologize. To apologize would be an insult to everyone. Again she felt trapped. She had to say something because to let him see her cry would be the worst possible thing to do. She opened her mouth and for some reason the only thing she found she was able to say was "What will it take to end the war?"

"Ulfric Stormcloaks head on a pike. I promise you, he doesn't care about whats best for Skyrim. The only thing Ulfric cares about is Ulfric. He's had his eye on the throne for years."

For a moment now, he broke eye contact. Ondine was able to look away and she saw Joric sitting in the corner fiddling with his feet. Ondine turned her head to look around the room but saw no other children. The thought that was rather odd, she knew Balgruuf had children but she didn't see them.

"Where are your children?" She asked pensively.

Balgruuf sighed and shut his eyes. "If the gods are merciful, they've found a safe place to hide in the city. I'm sure Vignar will ask a kings ransom for them."

Ondines heart dropped. The thought that she had caused a family to be separated made her sick to her stomach.