Disclaimer: I do not own the Elder Scrolls series
A Place to Belong: Through the eyes of a House Carl
The thump of horse hoofs was the only sound the two made as they traveled across the land.
Lydia's dark eyes looked forward toward the man riding a few feet in front of her. It had been a few months ago that the two head met in Dragon's Reach. But the first time she laid eyes on him the situation was a little messier.
The city guard had gotten word of a dragon a few miles away, and Lydia came with them but as they approached the smell of burnt human flesh and screams entered her senses. There was little time to take in the carnage as a solider shouted.
"Run for your lives it's coming back!"
A great burst of flame nearly incinerated her as she dived behind a rock, the beast landed with a roar. Brave soldiers charged toward it but where soon brunt to a crisp or became a snack for the dragon. She heard a sick crunch as the armor was chewed through as if it was paper. The situation seemed hopeless, until she felt a shift in the wind, as from the smog of the dragon's flame a figure appeared. The figure was dressed in simple armor with wearing a hood, a sword and shield on his person. As the person appeared the fighting stopped, and the dragon ignored the others to stalk toward the new comer. The two simply stared each other down as the man drew his sword and readied his shield. At an unknown command the man charged at the beast who let out a mighty line of flame. The man simply batted the flame away with his shield, and he swung at the beast eyes, the sight of blood on the blade telling the man he wounded the beast. The dragon let out a angry roar. But the man paid it no heed as with a leap he landed on the beasts head, and with a mighty yell plunged his blade into the dragons head. The body shook for a moment until it collapsed to the ground, and with a gentle leap the man landed on his feet. But as he did the body began to glow, the rest of the soliders backed up, but the man simply stood there as the scales were replaced by bone, and the man inhaled the mystic fumes that came off the body. As they disappeared the dragon slayer glanced her way, and Lydia felt a shiver course through her as his red eyes gained a blueish hue for a moment. The glance passed and the man sheathed his blade and simply continued his walk toward Whiterun, the others gave the man a wide berth.
She entered Dragon's Reach at the tail end of the Jarl's speech, telling them that the man was a Thane of Whiterun, and that he had given her to the man as a house carl. The shiver returned as the man walked toward her, and she had to admit he was fairly handsome with his short gray hair and forming beard. He was also quite young as well barley in his nineteenth year she thought, but she was again drawn to his eyes. They felt as if they bore into her soul. A cough brought her back to reality as she looked to see the man had his arm outstretched, she took it and shook it. The man walked toward the large doors, only to stop and turn around and with a movement of his head told Lydia to come with him. Slightly embarrassed she hurried to catch up and she swore she heard the Jarl slightly chuckle as the two left the keep.
It was as they left Whiterun that she saw what kind of man her Thane truly was. As they approached the Inn she saw the little orphan girl sitting on the bench, she paid the girl no mind, and continued to walk pasted only to see that the man had stopped. He gestured for the girl to come to him, and as she ran over the man pulled out a small pouch of coins and simply handed it to the child. Her eyes widened as he patted the girl on the head, gave a soft smile and simply walked away. Lydia stood still at a moment as she turned toward the girl and saw that she was counting the coins, it looked like to be over 500 pieces. She was amazed by his generosity.
For the next few months the two traveled the land collecting bounty's, but they barely spoke In fact she never heard the man speak at all she began to think that he was mute. She had learned very little about her Thane, she knew that he was a monster in battle, no man, no beast could stand against him. His legend had grown so vast that bandit camps ran when they saw him approach. It was only the fools that fought him and those that did ended up ran through by his blade. Outside of battle he was a very generous man. He split the bounties with her 50/50, allowed her first pick of loot, and by the Divines he had bought her a horse, and not just any horse but the "best pure breed in the land" as the salesman told them, and so far the horse had lived up to his word. But where his generosity truly became apparent was how he treated the homeless and the orphans. No matter what city they entered he would give them a bag of gold and offer to buy them a meal and a night in the inn. Most if not all accepted and thanked him tears in their eyes, others would simply take the coin and run, but either way her Thane simply smiled and continued on his way.
Despite all his good deeds she could tell he was haunted by something, it was in the way that he stared at the flames of the fire whether they were in the inn or on the road. He would stare at it and the flames would dance reflected in his red eyes. It was during these moments that Lydia also remembered how young he was not even 20 and yet he had such heavy burdens on him. She had wanted to ask but it was not her place.
Some of his burden's were revealed to her when the duo had to enter the city of Windhelm to collect a bounty. She felt nothing by hate for Ulfric for have plunging Skyrim into chaos, but her attention was turned toward her Thane because as they entered she saw two Nords harassing a Dark Elf. Lydia saw his fists clutch but the next moment they were released. The Nords left and he headed toward the elf, after a few moments of arguing he handed her one his coin purses and with a thankful smile she left. Lydia caught with up. She had to stop a groan from leaving her lips as they entered the keep and say Ulfric sitting on his chair, but there was something about the look in his eye as if he knew the answer to some grand joke.
As the two approached him the Jarl spoke,
"So tell me Dragonborn to what do I owe this visit?" He asked
Her Thane froze for a moment and Lydia suddenly put all the pieces together, the magic she saw him do, and the dragon's flesh disappearing to all made sense. Her Thane was the Dragonborn of legend.
Ulfric's smirked increased. "I also know that you have gone to the Gray Beards and spoke with them, and that you spent months training with them to master your Thum, and yet since you have left, you have done nothing grand you have simply traveled. You must know your destiny is to do much greater things."
Her Thane was silent but as she heard him speak for the first time his voice was soft but held a great authority and again she felt a shiver roll down her spine.
"My destiny is mine to decide and no one else's." Where the simple words he spoke.
Ulfric nodded, "Truer words have never been spoken, now we will give your coin."
They left without another word but as they neared the stable he spoke again.
"My title whether it be Dragonborn, or Thane does not matter. Dispute my gifts, dispute any "destiny". At my core I am simply a man. That is was matters most. Do you understand?"
"Yes my Thane" She replied
He took a few steps forward before he spoke one last time.
"Thank you Lydia" And she could hear the smile on his lips as headed in to get the horses.
Lydia smiled as the memories replayed themselves in her mind, since Windhelm he had not said a word but there was now a bond between the two, a bond that she knew would only grow. Because Dragonborn or not he was her Thane and she would carry his burdens whatever they may be.
Thanks for reading, please review and if you enjoyed this then check out my other stories. As always thank you for your support.