Chapter 2

A guard opened the door for her. Inside she spotted the Jarl sitting on his throne and beside him was Irileth and his Steward, which name she never caught and sincerely didn't care. As she approached The Great Hall, she thought about what could the Jarl possibly want from her. Then she remembered that she hasn't been rewarded yet for her services and that must be why she was called. No, that wasn't it. Nobility was never eager to pay for services. There must be something else. She hoped that it wasn't anything troubling. She just wanted to start over and live her own life of freedom.
Her thoughts ended when she heard the voice of Proventus, who rushed towards her saying:

- Finally! You're here! The Jarl was waiting for your recovery. He urges to talk to you ! - He hurried her.

She felt annoyed by the way he placed one hand on her back, guiding her towards the Jarl's Throne. More like pushing. As she arrived she jerked her back from his hand and looked at him menacingly. The man gulped down and quickly went to his post.
The Jarl cleared his throat as a sign of demanded attention and Velalwyn looked away from the man.

- I see that you've awaken. Irileth carried you to the Temple. She said you fought bravely.
- You flatter me, Your Grace. - Velalwyn said. - I did what everyone else was told to.
- That you didn't! - The Jarl spoke again. - I heard from my men that you walked over the flames of the beast and killed it without effort. Also they said, you absorbed that Dragon's soul, that you've shouted and that it sent the Dragon meters away. That you're the Dragonborn of Legend.

A scowl appeared on Velalwyn's face. When did she shout? What stories did the guards make up? What madness was this? She calmed her thoughts as she carefully said:

- Your Grace, I certainly don't remember doing anything like that. Especially the shouting part. So i'm afraid those are but lies.

- Well, they might have exaggerated it a bit. - He said.
"A BIT ?" She thought.
- But you certainly got yourself burned all over. Even your feet were burnt as you walked on the hot field to defeat it Irileth told me that much. She also did confirm the Dragon's soul part. And I trust Irileth enough to say that she doesn't lie. - The Jarl continued.

Velalwyn stood silent.

- Plus,didn't you hear the thundering sound as you returned to Whiterun?

Velalwyn looked to her side, to the source of the voice that joined their little crazy chat. She saw a big, muscular man in a scaled horn armor, a greatsword on his back and some warrpaint on his face. She stood silent as he spoke.

- That was the voice of the Greybeards, summoning you to High Hrothgar! - He continued enthusiastically. - This hasn't happened in centuries, at least. Not since Tiber Septim himself was summoned when he was still Talos of Atmora!

Velalwyn furrowed her brows once again. It was starting to be an habit. She didn't understand why they insisted on saying that she was part of a Nordic legend. A Legend. Legends aren't true. She wasn't even a Nord, so why would they make her be part of something she didn't even believed in.

- Hrongar, calm yourself. What does any of this Nord nonsense have to do with our friend here? Capable as she may be, I don't see any signs of her being this, what, Dragonborn. - Proventus said.

For the first time Velalwyn had to agree with the annoying man, as for the first time he said something right.

- Nord nonsense?! Why you puffed-up ignorant... these are our sacred traditions that go back to the founding of the First Empire! - Hrongar spat, as he readied his greatsword in his hands.

The Jarl chose that precise moment to get up and lift an hand over to Hrongar.

- Hrongar. Don't be so hard on Avenicci. - The Jarl said.

- I meant no disrespect, of course. - The pathetic man excused himself. - It's just that... what do these Greybeards want with her?

Velalwyn had to agree. It had nothing to do with her and she pretty much wished she could get this stupid conversation done with and simply follow with her life.

- Excuse me, Your Grace, but I must agree with that. - Velalwyn took a step forward. - This has nothing to do with me. I'm sure this is just a misunderstanding. I'm not a Nord, neither do I believe in such tales.
- That's the Greybeards' business, not ours. - The Jarl interrupted her. - Whatever happened when you killed that dragon, it revealed something in you, and the Greybeards heard it. If they think you're Dragonborn, who are we to argue?
- But Your Grace... - She tried.
- You'd better get up to High Hrothgar as soon as possible. - His voice rose, showing how much it displeased him when someone interrupted him. - There's no refusing the summons of the Greybeards. It's a tremendous honor!
- If you excuse me then... - She said with some annoyance in her voice.

She turned to leave but the Jarl called her once again.

- Where are you going Dragonborn? I have yet rewarded you for what you've done for Whiterun and it's people.
- You honor me Your Grace, but I don't need such things.
She looked at the Jarl and faked a smile as she bowed. All that situation was starting to get to her temper. She only wanted to leave that place of crazy fantasies.

- What are you saying?! - The Jarl exclaimed, with an amused face. - It's my duty as a Jarl to reward those with big hearts and great courage! You've done more today than many. And so, I entrust you with the title of Thane of Whiterun. I'll be informing of your position to the guards and folks here. Wouldn't want them to think you're part of the common rabble, would we?

He burst out laughing.

Velalwyn was the only one who wasn't laughing. She didn't want any noble titles, she didn't want anyone to name her whatever. She hated people who tried to oppose others what they are, what they do and what their future would be.

- I don't mind being part of the so called common rabble, Your Grace. - She said with a stern look and a serious voice.

The Jarl's laughing died down and all room went silent, looking at her. Mouths wide open. As Irileth readied herself to oppose to her tone towards the Jarl, the later burst laughing again, leaving confused expressions in the others faces. Velalwyn furrowed her brows once again at this.

"How could this fool of a Jarl be laughing after I disrespect him?" She thought.

- Who doesn't mind to be part of the common rabble? - He laughed as he said. - Everyone wants to be someone with high ranking. You're so funny!
Everyone seemed to calm down after the Jarl's relaxed posture over the insult thrown over him. Maybe it was better that way.
- Lydia! - He called.

Not long after a woman entered the Hall. She was tall, around her twenties and was dressed in armor. Velalwyn noticed that the armor didn't particularly cover her whole body. It showed off her belly and her legs and it was made of fur, sabrecat fur to be more precise and some kind of metal. Iron, maybe steel. Velalwyn never learned the arts of mining and smithing. At her homeland she mastered the skills of leather working as she made armors out from the animals she hunted.

- Yes, My Jarl. - She heard the woman said. Her voice precise and mellow.

As she looked at her more attentively, she noticed her long raven hair,swept to the side, and her light green colored eyes. She looked fierce and muscular, like one of those warriors who have been trained since their childhood to kill. She hated that. She also wondered if in battle she could defeat her. Her thoughts broke by the overpowering voice of the Jarl.

- I assign you Lydia as a personal Housecarl, and the Axe of Whiterun to serve you as your badge of office...

Velalwyn saw the surprise in the Warrior woman's face at his words. She probably wasn't expecting such fate. She couldn't blame her. She noticed the mighty woman looking right at her acknowledging her presence for the first time.
The Jarl looked over to his steward, hand on his chin, in a disinterested manner.

- I also instructed Avennici that you have now a piece of property from my city. - He said. - A house. See this as a token of my esteem...

He motioned forward with his hand and his steward walked over to Velalwyn, a red velvet cushion in his hands.
Velalwyn looked over the cushion and saw a simple golden key and an Axe. Her expression changed in seconds as she swatted the cushion from his hands. The key flying meters away and the Axe stumbling to the ground, it's blade almost hitting the poor man's feet if it wasn't for the fact he had backed away seconds ago.
Everyone eyed her like if she was a Troll. Probably they thought she was crazy. She had insulted the Jarl and she could have injured or even killed someone.

- Don't decide what I am! - She yelled. - Don't say that now i'm a noble, don't give me things I never asked for and don't decide for me, my fate!

She turned her back to all of them and stormed out through the hall in a quick pace.
- Keep it all ! I don't need it ! - She yelled, not casting a single look at them.

.

Last thing they saw were the doors of the Palace closing. Irileth was the first one to recover from the shock. She took a step forward, making her presence felt.
- She cannot escape. - She said her voice stern as always. - She committed a crime. She insulted you, My Jarl.

The Jarl composed himself. Such situation never happened to him. He caressed his beard, as his brows furrowed as he thought about what had just happened.
- My Jarl... - Irileth pressed on.
- You're right as always Irileth. - He said as he turned to the guards. - Bring me the elf! She must be punished for her crimes!

Lydia who was still looking at the axe buried in the ground, composed herself and took a few steps towards the Jarl and kneel down.

- My Jarl, I apologize on her behalf. - She said looking down. - You must understand that she is just an outsider and born a commoner, she doesn't understand the ways like we do. Forgive her. - She stood, taking a few steps back. - If I may... - She brought her hand to the axe and pulled it in one swift motion from the ground. - I'll be the one making sure these are personally given to her.

She walked a few meters away with a polite bow and took the golden key, forgotten by the steps of the stairs, in her hands. Irileth's voice was heard.

- But My Jarl, she...
- It's fine, Irileth. - He moved his hand up, dismissing her as he looked straight at Lydia. - Let Lydia handle things from now on. But if the elf doesn't accept the gifts and make her home here, she'll be punished. Dragonborn or not.

- Yes, My Jarl. - Lydia said and left the walls of the Palace.

Continue...

.

A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. I apologize in advance for any typo mistakes and eventually for any incomplete sentences. I always read my fics before posting, but sometimes i just miss something because everything is automatically in my head and i read it even though is not there. I'll be keeping the chapters short for fast and easy reading. Thank you so much for following this fic and enjoy the next upcoming chapters.