Chapter Ten: Choices and Departures
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"My Jarl, we cannot keep the merchants here much longer. I've received news that Jarl Ulfric was captured recently. There is no reason for them to be delayed further." A woman cut in. "But that storm! And the dragon! I am not certain that the roads are any safer now. I am not going to send the guards out on patrol with a fire-breathing beast flying about the countryside." The first speaker gestured about. "Irileth - they are on the verge of revolt! We really should-" "But-"
Both were interrupted by a man sitting on a throne. "Stop it. Both of you. The Empire has no more need for travel restrictions, and I have no desire for a revolt. Proventus, you may let the traders know that they are free to leave. But- I will not be sending any of my guards out until I know that the beast isn't coming back." The man bowed. "Yes, my Jarl. I will inform the traders immediately." "And I shall inform the guards."
18th of Last Seed, 4E 201, Tirdas
Evelyn awoke to the sound of clattering pans in the morning.
"Be careful with those, Clautus!" Another clang echoed through the inn. "I am being careful. Your cooking supplies are alright - just... a bit dented in a few places."
"Clautus!"
Wiping the sleepiness from her eyes, she rolled out of bed. There was no way that she would be able to get back to sleep with those two arguing. Again.
Some things never change. Even after the coming of the World Eater - though no one knows about that yet.
With that sobering thought, she straightened her tunic a bit, smoothing out a few wrinkles, and pulled on her shoes. She picked up her pack and slung it over her shoulder. She glanced out the window - the sun was just above the horizon.
What's their problem? The sun is barely up - it's nowhere near breakfast time!
She opened the door and entered the common area of the Bannered Mare to see Clautus leaving with a large chest. Every step he took was punctuated by metallic clanging. Are they leaving? ...The Jarl hasn't given the all clear for everyone to leave yet.
Is Habel trying to sneak away? Did they bribe the guards to let them pass?
Evelyn frowned. Wait. Did they run out of money to pay for their stay at the inn?
A man walked out of a nearby room, his leather backpack filled to bursting. He nodded to Hulda and Aprolla as he, too, left the building.
What is going on?
"Oh! There you are! ...Evelyn, right?" Aprolla called her over. "Why so glum? Whiterun is no longer on lockdown!"
Wait. What? Evelyn looked at Aprolla.
I thought the guards weren't going to lift the travel ban until the Dragonborn arrived with news...
"When did that happen?" The woman tucked a stray hair into her bun. "Just this morning, actually. I'm surprised you didn't hear the announcement." Aprolla picked up a bag of vegetables and turned to leave. "We'll be leaving soon for Morthal, if you want to tag along again, I'm sure Habel can cut you a discount."
Evelyn shook her head. "Thanks, but I can't - I'm headed in a different direction. I'll be going up to Winterhold."
"To the College, right? I've heard that the only other things up there are snowstorms and trolls." Aprolla shivered before turning around to leave. "Nasty beasts... I wish you luck, but I must be going! I don't want to keep Habel waiting!"
The door creaked on its hinges and she was gone.
Evelyn blinked a few times.
That was rather... Abrupt.
She grabbed her daily portion of porridge and sat in a corner, eyes creased in thought. I had expected to see the Dragonborn before I left for the College... maybe even ask whoever it is to help me find my way home, and travel with them.
Blowing the steam away from her bowl, she took a bite. It was just as plain and tasteless as always. She looked at the empty spoon.
But who am I kidding? I'm completely inept when it comes to defending myself right now - the most damage I can do is temporarily blind someone with candlelight.
She focused, trying to pull up the feeling of her ball of light.
She could feel it, sitting somewhere near her heart, but it faded when she tried to call it to her fingers.
I can't even conjure the one spell I can actually cast most of the time!
To the Dragonborn, I'd probably be a nuisance - one of those NPCs that you need for a quest yet secretly find intolerable.
Additionally - what's the Dragonborn even going to do to help me? They aren't masters of planar magic or theory like someone at the college might be. The Dragonborn may be perfect for clearing bandit hideouts and dungeons, but I don't think their realm of expertise will be places outside of Tamriel and Oblivion.
The Dragonborn won't be able to help me.
Images of an Elder Scroll contained in glass. A dark castle smothered by storm clouds. A set of eight multicolored masks - all surrounding a dragon skull pedestal.
But. Could I help the Dragonborn?
- Outside of being the Skyrim equivalent of cannon fodder, of course.
She closed her eyes and slumped into the hard chair.
I could show the Dragonborn the places to go and the things to collect, as well as helpful information for dealing with certain dungeons. Helpful shortcuts such as - "Esbern is in the Ratway" and "goodness gracious the Thalmor have no idea what is going on with the dragons," or even "Septimus is crazy - grab the cube and go to Alftand."
A floating bow and glowing doorways.
I could cut the entire Dawnguard quest short by telling them to just "head to that Darkfall Cave place and wait for Gelebor to show up."
I can get the Dragonborn through the quests lightning fast in comparison to all the bumbling around done trying to figure out what's going on in the game version of Skyrim.
But.
That is only on the quest side. The Dragonborn would still need to get experience and 'level up' in order to pose a threat to Alduin.
Whoever they are, they would not thank me for throwing them up against Vyrthur, Alduin, or Miraak at the equivalent of level two or something.
Evelyn reviewed her many playthroughs - including one where she tried going full two-handed. She had just finished up a high-level archer run and was ready to melee her way through all the dragons she could find.
Two minutes out of Riverwood and her new nord warhammer-wielder was ragdolled across a riverbank. Mudcrabs were crawling around where she fell.
No. It is a bad idea to try to speed up the Dragonborn's process - they need to go through quests in proper sequence in order to be ready for the boss fights.
I can't tell them the shortcuts or answers, either - who has ever heard of someone saying "Yeah, you could search for months on end and risk your life in this crazy huge dungeon, or you could simply walk to X location and be done with it... but you really need to do the dungeon thing because you should get stronger."
And, they would probably loathe fighting lesser enemies solely for the experience if they knew that every minute, Alduin could be eating souls in Sovngarde.
So... My two options are to wait for the Dragonborn, or go ahead and travel to Winterhold before my money runs out.
Traveling with the Dragonborn would mean constantly resisting telling them all the shortcuts, dealing with tons of monsters that want people for breakfast, and running about helping random people - but not getting much closer to returning home. And that's only if the Dragonborn decides that they would tolerate a civilian with no discernable use in his adventuring party - which isn't likely at all.
Heading to Winterhold means going straight to the place that would have the most knowledge of other worlds and planes of existence. There is only the disaster triggered by Saarthal to worry about, and if I do need to give advice to the Dragonborn, they will eventually pass through on their way to the Elder Scroll. Or while looking information on the Moth Priest. Or just because there is a quest there that they need to complete.
The odds of never seeing them are pretty low considering their future occupation.
She opened her eyes and picked up her bowl, walking to drop it off at the counter with Hulda.
But I really feel as if I should travel with the Dragonborn...
Twenty minutes passed as Evelyn drifted out of the Bannered Mare and into the streets of Whiterun. She circled around the Plains District in a haze.
...what if I need to help the Dragonborn complete their quest in order to go home?...
...what if they need my help?
She sat down under the Gildergreen - it looked less grand than she remembered it. Dulled and wilting, the leaves were turning into shriveled dust.
...What if I... Evelyn focused her eyes on the sky. She stared straight up through wispy clouds and thought about her reasons for waiting or leaving.
I'd be a hindrance until I learned more magic - something I can do at the College. I can't give hints, so that takes away my usefulness to the Dragonborn. I should go to the College.
But I could still help him...
She shook her head.
No.
I'm not going to be a creepy Dragonborn stalker. I'm going to figure out why I'm here, how I got here, and - most importantly - how to get back.
That means I'm not going to waste the remainder of my money waiting for the Dragonborn.
I'm going to hire a carriage to Winterhold today.
She stood abruptly and strode off to the main gate.
...What is the Dragonborn like?
After a pause, she sped up her pace.
Make that immediately - the best way to remove temptation is to take it out of the equation. I can't sit around waiting for the Dragonborn if I'm already en route to Winterhold.
The main reason to stay is fangirling, I need to be logical about this problem and go to the College for help.
"Oi miss! Are you lookin' for safe passage somewhere? Old Gjolrik can get you there fast!"
"What would your services imply?"
The scruffy old man squinted down at her. His head was covered by a fur cap at least two sizes too large. He gestured wildly into the air.
"The finest meals for the journey, prepared by myself, and the fastest carriage horse you'll ever see."
Evelyn looked at the rickety carriage and the thin horse hooked up to it.
His is the last carriage here that doesn't look like it'll cost me a fortune.
"Yes, please. How much would it cost to travel up north?"
"Hm... I'd say... Forty septims." Yes! Budget travel for the win! OK, I can't act too excited now.
"Very well, I'm ready to leave now." She set down her pack and looked through to find her coinpurse. The man spoke up while she was counting out coins. He sounded uncertain. "Wait. Where exactly in the North are you headin'?"
"She counted out the last of the coins. "Winterhold."
The only noise now was the snorting of horses and the low rumble of the stable-hands working through their chores.
"You're askin' for a lot - the path up there'll be long and treacherous. It's nearly too late to travel there this year, you'd be better off waitin' for the winter to pass." He didn't take the coins she had in her hand extended.
She frowned at him. "You said 'nearly too late for travel,' yes?" She dug through her pack, pulling out her entire coinpurse. "I can give you fifty septims to get me there before the freeze If you are willing." She counted out all the coins in the pouch before dropping them all back inside. His focus was entirely on the clinking bag. She held out the coinpurse to him. Please oh please let him agree - he's the only carriage driver still here! And this is all the money I have!
The wrinkles on his face deepened before he replied wearily. "That... would be acceptable. Where's your luggage, miss...?"
"Evelyn. And this is all that I'm taking with me." She lifted her pack from behind her. It was light enough to sway in the breeze, even with the two spellbooks inside. She kept her dagger wrapped in a scrap of cloth and her dead phone in a pouch, and she had just given over her coinpurse along with all her money, so it was understandable that the man looked concerned.
"Are you... sure? The weather can get right nasty." "That is why I'm hoping to beat the winter weather."
He frowned again.
"I'm not talkin' about 'winter weather,' miss. It's always freezin' up there, and you don't look to have much in the way of gear."
"You said that you will provide food, and I saw that you have some blankets in the back. Would you mind terribly if I mooch those blankets off you until I arrive in Winterhold?" He considered. "I could also trade you for some of them - I can collect alchemy ingredients that you'd be able to trade in cities."
Gjolrik hesitated before dismissing her with a hand. "Whatever, miss. You can use my blankets if you get too cold. Just climb in back and we'll be off."
With a sense of deja-vu, she pulled herself into the carriage. Gjolrik tapped the old horse with a stick and they turned around onto the road. "We should be there in three weeks or so." Time to get comfy. This'll take a while.