"Jarl… Balgruuf, right? What was that…noise?" Esil asked.
"The Greybeards. Up on High Hrothgar. They're calling the Dragonborn."
"Well that's great. I hope they find who they're looking for."
"The guards told me that the dragon vaporised."
"Is that not normal?" Esil asked.
"No, it's not. I think you need to go to High Hrothgar and see what they want." Balgruuf told her.
"Me. Go to the top of a mountain. Where the earthquake came from." Esil said flatly.
"Yes. Before you go, though… you've done us a great service. Whiterun is in your debt. If you would accept, I'd like to make you Thane." Balgruuf told Esil.
"What would make you possibly want that?" Esil asked.
"You've helped us. I trust you."
"I am probably the least trustworthy person you could think of. Isn't there anyone else better suited for this?"
"No." Balgruuf looked annoyed.
"Fine. What do I get out of it?" Esil sighed.
"Besides being able to make the guards turn a blind eye? You could purchase property here. And I will grant you a housecarl." He told the Dunmer this like it was the easiest decision she could possibly make.
"A what?"
"A person who has sworn to serve and protect you and your belongings with their life." The Jarl said slowly.
"Sounds good. Count me in." Esil shrugged.
—
"My name is Lydia. I've sworn to serve you, my Thane, with my life." The woman was small, but broad. She had dark brown hair and scary-looking armour. Esil nodded.
"Hi. Ever been to Hrothgar?"
The two climbed upward on the cracked stone stairs. Esil shivered slightly, pulling her ratty cloak around herself tightly. Lydia grumbled but followed diligently. Esil froze as a roar split the air.
"The hell was that?" Esil asked fearfully.
"Frost troll." Lydia told her, unsheathing her sword.
"I don't want to deal with that thing. Let's go around it." Esil said. Lydia sighed and Esil climbed up a rock, offering Lydia a hand. She arrogantly refused, climbing up gracefully and quietly. Esil climbed across the rocks, feeling with her hands and feet where the edges were as much as seeing them. She saw something white bound by, but kept climbing. As they passed the nest stone pillar she jumped down, and kept walking.