Okay so got a bit carried away and made the second chapter so here you go!
Thanks to TheAssassinOfBadassness for your review! You're too kind.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own the Elder Scrolls.
I couldn't believe what I had heard. A Giant was attacking Whiterun? I remember when I was small I was read stories about Giants and their way of living.
Giants were almost twice the size as any Nord, and had similar features to Orcs. Some believed they were loosely related to Mer, but there had been little evidence to prove this. Usually Giants are paired or in small groups, protecting their camps and Mammoths, which they breed for produce. Mammoth cheese was of great delicacy to Giants, hence why there was always a mammoth close by a Giant's camp. However, the fact that this Giant was so far away from its camp made me curious.
"Giants don't attack unless they are attacked first," I blurted out, almost forgetting where I was. All the fussing and panic stopped as those in my presence turned to look at me.
"What did you say?" Jarl Balgruuf said.
"Giants don't attack unless they are attacked first," I repeated myself, recalling the knowledge of my childhood, "And they don't usually stray far from their camps. Something must have provoked the Giant for it to attack." I was surprised at how much I had remembered, considering I wanted to forget most of my childhood.
"Do you know a lot about Giants?" This time it was a woman that questioned me. She was a Dunmer woman who had burst in to Dragonsreach telling of the Giants attack.
"Giants, and other creatures. I read a lot when I was younger." There was a small pause, and then the Jarl cleared his throat.
"Irileth," he looked towards the woman who had just spoke, "Get down there with as many men as you can gather from here-"
"But Dragonsreach must be protected, my Jarl," She quickly cut him off.
"Dragonsreach will be fine. It is our people who need protected. Now go, and take Farengar with you. See if he can conjure up something to catch that damned beast." She nodded, and her and Farengar quickly walked outside towards the chaos. Most of the guards left with them, leaving the Jarl, Proventus and I. The Jarl turned to me, looking over me.
"What should we do with her, my Jarl?" Proventus asked, his hand tightly clutched his sword by his side.
"You say you know a lot about Giants?" The Jarl mused, "Then I have a proposition for you, Ariana. You help save our townspeople from this Giant, and I will drop all charges."
"Let me see my sister first," I daringly said, struggling slightly to get out of the bindings. All I had to do was help get rid of this giant and I'd be free, my sister and I would go free.
"No, your sister is fine. Once the Giant is gone, then you will see your sister." I nodded against my will, knowing that it would be better for the both of us if I just agreed to the Jarls terms. He came closer to me, and kneeled down beside me, cutting the bindings that held my hands together.
"And if you try to run," he whispered in my ear, "I'll make sure you don't get more than five feet before my archers strike you down."
Outside was beautiful. That was, of course, if it wasn't being attacked by a Giant. The sun was just behind Dragonsreach, showering everything in a dark orange. The night sky was beginning to form quickly, and the clouds were forming as large sheets over Whiterun. I looked below to see the Giant hammering at the gate that separated it and Whiterun. There were men surrounding the Giant, attacking him with swords and axes, but the Giant seemed too powerful for them, and swept them aside like dust.
"What do we do, my Jarl?" Proventus asked as he drew his blade. The Jarl stayed silent, but gave me a look, and I knew he meant for me to respond. I was trying to remember everything I knew. All the books I had read, all the information I had gathered, was hard to remember.
"Well, Giants are actually moderately intelligent, despite what people say. Attacking it from close up won't affect it, it is too strong. What we need to do is attack it from above and from a distance." With that the Jarl nodded and began his descent towards the city gates.
We stood on the walls to the left of the gate, the Giant only several metres away from us. There were archers all around us, readying their bows with arrows, which had been lit on fire. "Aim for the head and chest!" I shouted, although I didn't know whether my words had actually been taken in to consideration.
"Fire!" The Jarl shouted, and there were various buzzing noises around me as the arrows flew past me towards the giant. They hit with force, knocking the Giant back. There was a grunt from the Giant, but as the arrows continued he brought his arm up towards his face, taking most of the arrows hits. Once the attack stopped, the Giant ripped the arrows from his arm, screaming in pain or anger, or maybe both. It looked towards us, made what sounded like a growl, and started towards us. Before I had a chance to move, the wall crumbled beneath my feet, and I feel towards the ground, becoming seriously disorientated. I heard the scream of men as the Giant attacked them, and I searched for some sign of Balgruuf. Amongst the blood and terror, there was Balgruuf lying against the rubble and the Giant was edging ever nearer to him. I could run right now, and he wouldn't even know. I could grab my sister and slipt out unnoticed. However, something was telling me to help him, telling me it wasn't right to leave a whole city under attack. I hoped I was making the right decision, and I acted quickly. Trying to steady myself, I got up and made my way towards the giant. Its back was towards me, so I ran through its legs to the other side and made my way towards the Jarl. The Giant had seen me, and just as I reached the Jarl, I noticed the Giant shadowing over me. Grabbing Balgruuf's sword, I swiped it up towards the Giant and shoved it deep in to its chest as it fell towards me. I felt the blood spray over me, and the stench cover my nostrils. The weight of the Giant crushed me against the rubble, and I found it hard to breath. I could feel myself slipping in to Oblivion, as the noise around me grew quieter. I had blacked out.
"Dovahkiin. Dovahkiin. Dovahkiin." The dark voice repeated. It low tones resonated throughout the darkness. I could see nothing; feel nothing, except this voice.
"confn ekess ve sia vrak," the strange voice whispered, "majak dout iejir ekess wer gul ordah. kiwieg sia skriiod." Then I felt it. Out of nowhere this dragon came towards me, slithering like a snake, its mouth opening and letting out a fire so fierce it blinded me.
"Your awake!" A voice came from beside me as I came to. The voice was familiar, a sweet and innocent child's voice.
"Ria!" I exclaimed as I sat up. Ria moved closer in to me, hugging me tightly. It was sore to hug her, my body aching all over, but I didn't complain, as I was glad just to see her.
"Did they hurt you?"
"No, they have been so kind!" She said this excitedly, which I highly doubted, but I wouldn't go against her word. She wouldn't lie to me. "They let me explore Dragonsreach and they gave me a guard to look after me, and they let me eat all the food I want, and they taught me how to make health potions. Oh I've done so much!" She seemed to be honest in her word, and her face was bright and cheery.
"You blacked out after you killed that Giant. You saved the Jarl's life and everyone is so grateful."
"Yes we are." The Jarl entered the room. I noticed my surroundings, and everything seemed in typical Nord fashion. I guess I was still in Dragonsreach. "Ria, could you please give us a moment. Your sister and I have something to discuss." Ria nodded and exited the room skipping and humming.
"Why did that Giant attack? You must have done something to provoke it," I blurted out. The Jarl raised his eyebrows as I accused him.
"We did no such thing. We have more important things to do than harass Giants. Whatever caused it to attack it was not our fault." I scoffed, but chose to ignore his denial. There was a slight pause.
"You saved my life. You saved my people's life and for that I am thankful. But now we must discuss something. I have spoken to the guards and all charges have been dropped, however you will no longer be allowed near the marketplace any longer. You are also free to go, and are free to leave for Solitude any time you wish." It was on fair terms, but there was a slight problem.
"There's just one problem. I was hoping to sell that amulet off for the money to travel to Solitude. Without it my sister and I can't afford it." I hung my head in disappointment as I realised it wouldn't be long before we were back camping out in the wild again. It was too much of a dangerous place for a child such as Ria. I had spent nights awake waiting to protect Ria against something that would attack us.
"Well then," the Jarl said, "How about you stay here for a while. You can work for me and your sister can serve as well. You will then make enough to travel to Solitude." He gave me a small smile as he stood up to exit the room.
"Why are you doing this? Why be nice to a thief?" I asked curiously.
"Because, if I'm honest you remind me of me when I was young. Brave and courageous, with a heart of a lion, and a soul of fire." He left the room and there was murmuring from outside the door.
"Keep an eye on her." Balgruuf's voice came from the other side of the door. Guess he didn't trust me entirely yet. He was right to do so.
Hope that was a bit more exciting. Please leave reviews and thanks for reading!
