Chapter 2.006: The Companions

"Nala has heard there''s trouble with your children, hmm?"

The Jarl gave an exasperated breath, "Yes, my youngest son. He''s a dark child. I don't know what to do with him. He was always a quiet lad, but lately... something has changed. 'He's become brooding. Violent. He 'won't say a word to me, but I' don't know how I upset him. If you could speak to him. Draw out the truth. I would be immensely grateful."

Nala nods, "She will do what she can."

and quickly takes her leave, moving through the castle listening for the voice of children, her pace slowing as something catches her eye in a display case.

"That blade is of elvish make." she purrs and she admires it a moment.

"You''ll never steal it, it's locked to tight for a stupid girl like you to crack."

Nala flinched and turned to see one of the Jarl''s son glaring daggers at her, "Nelkir, yes? Nala was not going to steal it, she was only admiring the quality. What more important is your father is worried about you."

Nelkir huffs, "So the disgusting pig sent you to bother me? One day, I''ll tear his face apart so he can leave me alone. My father doesn't know anything about me. But I know about him. And about the war. More than he might think."

"What does Nelkir know, hmm?"

""I know that he still worships Talos. That he hates the Thalmor almost as much as the Stormcloaks do. That he worries about being chased from Whiterun." but then his ton shifts, getting soft and hesitant, ""That he... that I''m... that I don't have the same mother as my brother and sister."

"How could Nelkir know this?" Nala asks softly.

"This castle is old. Lots of places nobody''s been in a long while. Places where you can overhear things. See things. And the Whispering Lady."

"Whispering Lady?"

"She won''t tell me her name. 'I've gotten good at listening to keyholes. At the door in the basement, I hear her talking to me. I thought I was caught, but she started telling me even more secrets. But I c'an't open the door."

"Nala wonders where is this door?"

"In the basement. Trust me, you''ll see it. I bet she'll talk to you, too."

Nala nods then bends down and hugs Nelkir, "Now you listen to Nala. She is not sure who this Whispering Lady is but she is filling your head full of lies. Your father loves you and it tears him up inside to see you act so dark."

Nelkir pushes himself away from her with a huff, "Yeah right, you don''t know anything."

Nala slips off her helmet as she reaches for the ears, taking a moment to look sorrowfully at them, then slips them on Nelkir''s head, "Now you listen to Nala, you ignore the Whispering Lady and listen with her ears to the Jarl and his servants. If Nelkir stays out of sight he will hear the truth that his father loves him."

Nelkir huffs as he walks off, "Whatever."

Nala made her way to the basement, almost immediately regretting her missing ears as she slipped kept her eyes sharp as she looked for something out off place. Eventually her feet carry her to an old locked door. Cautiously she puts her ear to it.

"At last." A woman''s voice whispers from the other side, "'I've been waiting for someone more fit to carry out my will. The child is spirited, but lacks...agency."

"Nala wishes to know who is behind the door." She whispers back.

"Regrettably, I cannot reach your plane so directly. But I forgive you for not knowing who I am. Few hear my whispers anymore. I am Mephala, the Lady of Whispers. I tug at the web of connections between mortals. Love, hatred, loyalty, betrayal. The boy was good at sussing out secrets. You, I expect to take a more active role."

"What is it you expect of Nala?"

"First you must open this door."

"Nala does not think she has to skill to pick this lock."

"A piece of my power has been locked away behind it, and even my eyes cannot see past the seals. I''d much rather it be in in the hands of an ambitious and talented person such as yourself."

''What ever is behind the door must be what has corrupted Nelkir. Nala must remove its corrupting influence,' she mused, "How does Nala open the door?"

"The whole of Whiterun is ripe with paranoia and tensions. The Jarl''s court is right to fear the power I hold behind this door. The Jarl trusts few, and they will be his undoing. The dark child know of what I speak. Let him guide your path."

The voice falls silent and Nala makes her way out of the store room, slipping into the bedroom off to the side of the store room and sitting a moment on the bed, ''This one is not about to burden the boy with more of Mephala's machinations but she needs to get the key to the door. Her gaze drifting down to her armor a moment', 'She has never put the persuasive power of her chain-mail to full use but she may have to, but she will need to improve her odds.'

Slipping her pack off she begins to sort through her things before pulling out an interesting amulet, an Amulet of Dibella, ''This is a start',' as she wraps her fingers around it and closes her eyes, "Dibella guide my words."

Before Nala quickly slipped out of her armor, even the padded one, (but never the chain-mail) and pulled some fine clothes from her pack, slipping into them and the amulet around her neck. After storing her armor she quickly made her wait back to the kitchen and out to the main hall.

"Nala needs to speak with the wise Jarl in private."

"Anything you can say to the Jarl you can say before me," Irileth, the Jarl''s housecarl intrudes.

"It''s all right, Irileth. I want to hear what he/she has to say." Balgruuf says pushing to his feet and leading her up behind the throne, away from traffic, However they were not out of the ears of Nelkir."

"Alright my Thane speak."

"Nala have found who has been feeding Nelkir poisoned words, but needs the key to the store room under the kitchen."

"Are you crazy! No one has been in that room in ages, it was locked for a reason!"

"Nala needs that key to remove the dark presence infecting Nelkir, give it to her and Nelkir can start to heal."

Balgruuf sighs, "Are you sure this is the only way?"

"Yes, Nala is positive."

With another sigh he slips a key into her palm.

"Thank you," Nala smiles, "also Nala thinks Balgruuf needs to spend more time with Nelkir, and all his children, and she has the perfect means."

"Anything for my children, speak it!"

"Nala has plans to join Elrindir and Anoriath for their morning hunt, she ask Jarl and his children join us."

"I have not had a good hunt in ages, and if it will help Nelkir then you have my word as Jarl. Fetch us when you are ready and we will join the hunt."

Nala smiles as she heads back to the storeroom and slips the key into the lock as the Jarl back to his throne. The door swings open without incident and she slips into a small stone room with only a long table were a slim band and a journal sit. Her attention drawn to the book first which she begins to read:

"To anyone reading this: BEWARE THIS BLADE

It is hoped that the only people having access to this room should be the Jarl of Whiterun and his trusted wizard. If anyone else is reading this, please understand the magnitude of your folly, turn around, and never even speak of this room or this blade to anyone.

It has corrupted and perverted the desires of great men and women. Yet its power is without equal—to kill while your victim smiles at you. Only a daedra most foul could have concocted such a malevolent and twisted weapon. But it appears that all who wield it end up with the crazed eyes of those wild men who roam the hills chattering with rabbits.

It is not to be trifled with. Not even the hottest fires of the Skyforge could melt it; indeed the coals themselves seemed to cool when it was placed within. We cannot destroy it, and we would not have it fall into the hands of our enemies. So we keep it, hidden, dark and deep within Dragonsreach, never to be used.

Woe be to any who choose to take it."

Nala lingers long on the words before she looks to the blade, she could feel it''s power, power that even tempted her to take up the way of the blade just to use it. Every sane part of her told her to turn, to run, and leave this damned blade to rust. And for a moment she considered it. Still that would leave Nelkir at the mercy of Mephala, and maybe one day he would find a way to take the blade, she could not let that to pass. Maybe the Skyforge was not hot enough but what of the Red Mountain or Pilgri'm's Trench? Even if this cursed blade can not be destroyed it can not harm anyone if lost in the belly of the sea or the lava flows of an active volcano."

And with her mind made up she wrapped her hand around the blade and slipped it into her pack.

"Excellent Work." Mephala whispers, "Now I trust you''re sharp enough to see that the sword does'n't match the description of the Ebony Blade you may know. It has languished too long outside the winds of alliance and betrayal. To return to 'it's past glory, it must first drink the blood of deceit. Your world is admirably seeped in lies and inclinations. My blade is a darling leech that feed on deceptions, and nourishes its master. Seek out those closest to you. The final pluck of their misguided heartstrings will accompany my blade in the song of your grandeur. "

Taking a deep breath Nala leaves the room, heading back to the main hall.

"My daughter Adrianne wants to forge a new sword for you. Now, it wouldn''t be a Skyforge blade, I know, but she really is quite gifted..." Nala catches Proventus as he approaches the Jarl.

"Nala almost forgot." she smiles sheepishly and takes the blade from her pack.

"Ah, this must be that weapon for the Jarl. Poor girl, so eager to prove herself. I''ll present it to Balgruuf when his mood is... agreeable."

Nala grins sheepishly as she looks between Proventus and Balgruuf, the Jarl''s sight on his children with a faraway gaze. Grinning sheepishly Nala let herself out of Dragonsreach.

"My cousin''s out fighting dragons, and what do I get? Guard duty."

Nala pauses, looking oddly at the guard, "She could have sworn you were complaining about an arrow ending your adventuring days."

The guard sighs, "I used to be an adventurer like you. Then I took an arrow in the knee..."

"And Nala has been stab, beaten, experimented on, and left for dead and is still an adventurer. If Guard really wishes to fight dragons then he should get back out there. If guard feels a knee injury is that much of a liability then he should find a companion to travel with." Then she smirked, "Nala could be convinced, if the price is right."

"What do you need?"

"Two hundred fifty gold should be fair, most sell swords change twice as much."

"I''ll need to clear it with the captain, give me a few days."

Nala nods, "You can find Nala sleeping at the Bannered Mare if anyplace else."

"Alright then."

Picking up her pace Nala made her way to her final destination, Jorrvaskr where Seguri, Vilann, and Guaron were getting some practice in in the back with the target dummies. Guaron was clad in full steel, Vilann had moved to to leather, but most interesting of all was Seguri who had his own padded armor under his iron armor.

Nala smiles, "Looks good on you Seguri."

"Nala?" He said with confusion before looking down at himself, "Oh the padded armor, yeah, cost most of my gold but worth every one of them. I am so grateful you convinced Adrianne to craft me one."

"I see you found some armor the chain-mail obliges, and a helmet, but what happened to your ears?"

Nala smirks, "I lent it to someone so as to open his eyes."

"Ha!" Guaron laughs as he slap her back, "A cat''s ears open the eyes, I love it!"

Nala chuckles, "Any news from the Companions on how we are doing with proving our worth?"

"I was sent to retrieve a stolen amulet on behalf of of Vilkas," Vilann explains as he opens his map and points out a cave to the north.

"I am after a camp of bandits," Guaron explains.

"Aela wants me to rescue someone who was kidnapped," Seguri explains.

"Looks like they are all in the same area, if we travel together we can each complete each ones missions in turn, yes?"

"And what of you, what task have they assigned you?" Guaron wonders.

"Nala has a number of tasks on my plate for the people of Whiterun and while Nala would love to prove herself to Kodlak her duties as Thane take precedent at the moment."

The three boys share a look before Seguri looks to Nala, "What do you think guys? Would the Companions let Nala share in the honor of our quests?"

"You don''t need to do that for Nala, you are her friends, she would help you for that reason alone."

"And you would be recognized for that very reason," Guaron answers, "Come Shield-Brothers, this shouldn't take long."

Nala smiles as she take a seat, "Alright Nala will wait here."

With a nod the boys enter the Jorrvaskr as Nala took a seat at the near table, and took out her map and a piece of charcoal, "let Nala think, hmm."

She started by circling each of the boy''s destination, and then the ruins she was going to return to with Farengar. Then paused a moment to think of anything else in the area, eyes going wide as she reached into her stores and pulled out the note she had gotten from Hulda earlier, "Nala had almost forgotten."

Reading the note a moment she circled another location before putting back the note and once more getting that ''ah ha' look, "Nala should not forget about those mercenaries who have been extorting money from Belethor and other merchants...Is Nala forgetting anything else."

"It''s all set," Seguri announces suddenly.

Nala jumps, not use to having normal human senses, and looked back over her shoulder as the boys, "Good! Nala was just going over everyone''s tasks and there's a steady trek toward Riften so it is possible to do them all in one, long, trip."

Each of the boys taking a seat opposite around her as they looked at the map with her.

"The kidnappers are the most east, past all our others objectives but Nala thinks we should make haste for it first, it is the most time sensitive, if we wait too long the victim could be have been sold or killed."

"Agreed."

"Makes sense."

"We can always hit the others on the way back anyway."

"What is that one," Seguri wondered as he pointed to a spot circled past Riften.

"That is where Nala needs to take Farengar. The place is clear so there is no rush."

"If it''s clear why are you headed there?"

"Nala fought a Dragon Priest there after she get her caravan''s stolen goods back and she was headed to the nearest city, Riften. She ran into what she thought was an Imperial Officer who tasked her with recovering the artifact only to turn out to be a bandit in disguise. Farengar thinks there may be secrets to figuring out the Dragon threat by checking out the ruins."

"Well if there is trouble you''re going to have backup this time," Guaron laughs.

Nala smiles, "Thank you."

"Well it''s getting late and i't's a long trip. We should bed in for the night, head out in the morning." Vilann advises, "We w'on't get far in the dead of the night."

"Agreed."

"Nala is going hunting with some friends in the morning but should be done before the rest of you awake."

"Alright then," Guaron smiles, "Then we meet at the Bannered Mare for breakfast once Nala returns from her hunt and then head out once our bellies are full of mead!"

"Nala approves of the plan," before rolling up her map and walking off, "She is headed to the Inn to get a good night''s sleep then. May you walk in warm sands."

"May you walk in warm sands." the boys echo as Nala slips off to the inn.

"Come on in. Let me know if you need anything, or take a seat by the fire and I'll send someone over."

Nala smiles as she makes her way to the bar, "Nala thinks she will just retreat to her room, but she would appreciate it if Hulda would send Saadia with her meal up later.

"Alright then."

Nala turned, about to head to the steps to her long term suite only to pause, turn back and set a coin purse on the bar, "Nala will be gone for a few days so she is paying her rent early."

"Pleasure doing business with you."

Nala smiles, and turns back, heading up the steps to her room and shutting the door behind her. Her packs resting on the floor as she drops onto the bed with a deep breath, "Today has been a long day for this one."

Taking a moment to just rest she slips back out of her armor, hangs her amulet on one of the bed posts and slips into some loose clothes. As she stares at the ceiling she pauses, "She almost forgot."

And makes her way back to the pack, pulling out the spell tome Ahkari had given her, her fingers brushing the Ebony Blade a moment, a chill running up her spine as she moves out to the balcony and starts to thumb through the tome, getting lost in the intricacies of this special gift left to her by her old caravan, a spell she was told would summon a magic tent that could house an entire caravan of Khajiit safely. Her mind wandering.

"If Ri'Dat had this magic why didn't he use it? Did he suspect something was going to happen? If so, how? Shavir was the only mage she knew off, and he had no such magic?"

She sighed as she turned her attention to the book, brought out of it a moment later as Saadia entered with a tray of food, setting it on the near table. "Will that be all mum?"

Nala nods, and hold out a handful of Septims, "That will be all, Khajiit thanks you." she said on reflex as Saadia took the coin and excused herself.

Meal before her and spell book in hand Nala took her time to memorize the incantations, she had no head for magic and knew it would take a few reads but this was the start as the hours passed, and with a yawn she closed the book, and headed back into her room, started to find Seguri resting on her bed, a wide grin as she walked in, "Ready for another night of pleasure?"

"Not really," her chain-mail may have made it hard for her to refuse a man's request but when that request was worded like a question things became much easier.

"Come on, join me. Don't worry you'll still have plenty of rest for your hunt tomorrow."

Nala sighed as she set the book down and made her way over to the bed, "As you wish."

The sun was just coming up when Nala awoke, naked, save for the collar of the chain-mail around her neck, in her bed beside Seguri. Seguri was fast asleep, that was fine for Nala as she dressed herself, packed her packs and slipped into her armor and out of the inn. Her first stop was the Drunken Huntsman where Elrindir and Anoriath were waiting in their hunters garb, Torygg as well.

"Ready to head out Nala?"

"Actually she has a couple other guests joining us if Elrindir does not mind."

"Depends who it is."

"The Jarl and his children, possibly his housecarl as well, you know how protective she is."

"The Jarl is c-comming? Why? How?"

Nala chuckles, "Nala suggested it...there has been a falling out with his youngest son Nelkir, she suggested a hunt might be the perfect opportunity for the Jarl's family to reconnect."

Torygg wagged his tail and barked, Anoriath laughed, "Sounds like Torygg approves."

"Nala will fetch them, then we can head out as a group, yes?"

The elves laughed and Nala turned about, jogging through the hear archway and into the Wind District and then beyond into Dragonsreach.

"Are we really going hunting together father?" Frothar, the eldest son comments as she enters.

As expected the housecarl Irileth was present beside Balgruuf as were his two sons and middle daughter Dagny, "I don't see why I have to come along, hunting is so boorish."

"You would do well to respect your father's wishes!"

"Irileth!" The Jarl barked before softening and taking a knee before his daughter, "I wanted to do this as a family. Just a father and his children. But if you really have no desire to come you don't have to."

Nala kept her voice low as she came over, approaching the girl, "We live is rough times, never knowing when we could loose our loved one. Cherish this opportunity to spend time with your father, this small reprieve for the eternal troubles of Whiterun that occupy all his time."

Dagny crossed her arms dismissively and looked away, her voice soft and annoyed, "Fine."

"Alright then," the Jarl said with a smile, "now where is Proventus?"

"Father?"

"Well I'm not about to let my young ones go out hunting without proper attire."

The doors of Dragonsreach opened behind Nala a moment later as Proventus arrived, joined by his daughter carrying a collecting of folded leather and a trio of small bows.

"I took the initiative to bring my daughter, master smith of Warmaiden's to make sure the young ones armor was prefect fit."

The Jarl laughed, "Good going Proventus! Come let us get ready!"

Nala smiled as she took a seat at the long table to wait for the royal family to retreat to the storeroom beneath the kitchen to change, Adrianne in town to tighten the fittings. Proventus and Irileth making their way to Nala as they got ready.

"I hope you know what your doing. With most of the royal family out of the city you put the security of all of Whiterun in danger."

"We will have you Irileth," Nala smiles, "But more than that we hunt with Elrindir and Anoriath, not only owners of the Drunken Huntsmen but elf brothers who have been hunting like this every day to fill their market stall with fresh meat. And we will have Torygg."

"The High King?"

Nala laughs at the confusion, "No Nala has a...familiar...a spectral hound with that name. It has protected her for years and possessing healing magic among it's hunting talents."

"So you have a healer with you? That put's me more at ease." Proventus comments just as the royal family emerge back into the main hall.

"It doesn't fit," Nelkir grouses, as Nala makes her way over looking him over, his leather armor seemed as good as fit as any of the three.

"What doesn't."

He removed the helmet to show he still wore her ears, "It comes up your ears."

Nala chuckles, looking thoughtful a moment to Adrianne, "You couldn't modify it?"

"Not in any reasonable amount of time, Had I know he was borrowing your ears I could have made the modifications yesterday."

Nala nods, looking thoughtful, then removes the helmet from Nelkir and tossing it to Adrianne, "Nala will have to improvise then." Before slipping her helmet over Nelkir's head, it was a bit big bu the ears kept it in a pretty solid place.

Nelkir smiled as the Jarl laughed, "Alright then looks like everything is in order. Proventus I trust you can handle the affairs of state, if not you have both my brother and wife to get council as well as Farengar."

"Understood sir."

"Come Irileth, best not to keep ours hosts waiting," The Jarl laughed, and in a moment he was joined by his children, all three. Nelkir's laugh in particular bringing a smile to the Jarl's lips as he took one final look to Adrianne, "Adrianne you are welcome to stay and enjoy the fine cooking of the court chef, and the company of your father while we are hunting."

"I'm honored sir."

And with Nala in the lead, Irileth guarding the back the royal family exited Dragonsreach as Adrianne held back tears and crossed the room, wrapping her arms around her father, "I've missed you."

Proventus smiled as he wrapped his arms around his daughter's torso, "As have I. Every day I hope for even a small chance to spend some time with my darling daughter."

From her post by the door even the stoic Lydia shed a tear.

"Look," Elrindir whispered, his bow raised as the party laid low in the grass and slow, motioning to a a large Elk just over the ridge, "It's a prime specimen."

Dagny raised her bow only for the cord to shake and cut into her fingers, making them sting as she howled, "Ouch!" before growling, "This is stupid."

"You are doing fine for your first time," The Jarl encouraged.

"It's bolting!" Frothar hissed as the elk broke into a run, shouting at his sister, "Look what you did you gave us away!"

"I got this, just get your bows ready," Nala shouted as she slipped on the Wolf Cloak and shifted to her lupine form, "Wuld!"

Closing the distance to the elk in a breath as she pounced, flags sand into the elks soft neck as she sailed over it, forcing the beast to turn broad side to the hunting party. Seven arrows flying, half as many making purchase as the beast started to topple, pinning Nala under it.

"Nala!" Nelkir howled, before quickly turning his head behind him as his ears picked up the sound of another predator, "Wolf!"

Several were circling, closing in but one has slipped past his new senses and was mid leap, going for the boy, "Heeeeelp!"

The wolf dropped dead before the fangs of Torygg, and the blade of his father, "F-Father?"

"Are you alright son?"

He nodded mutely, just as Dagny shrieked, the wold moving in slow motion, he could see the wolf moving toward her, he could feel himself knocking the arrow but there was no way he could make it in time, "Sister!" he shut his eyes tight, he had been so mean to her and now she was going to die and he couldn't do anything to stop it.

Thunk

Breathing heavy with frayed emotions he opened his eyes expecting to see Dagny being torn apart by the wolf. Instead there was an arrow in the wolf, and tracking it's path he could see who had fired the killing shot and saved his sister, Anoriath and breathed a sigh of relief. Short lived as it was as his ears tracked another wolf, lunging at Torygg. This time his hands were steady as his arrow shot through one ear and out the other, instantly killing the attacking wolf.

Torygg didn't take a break, returning to the royal family and looming over Dagny, healing energies wafting of him to heal any damage the wolf had gotten on her before moving toward him.

"I'm fine, but Nala's trapped under the buck."

"She looks fine to me," Elrindir laughed as he pointed to her distinctive wolf form engaged in a battle of claw and fang with an Ice Wolf.

"There's no end to them!" Frothar cried as he fired into the approaching wolves.

"On your left!"

Irileth's arrow shot across Frothar's field of view to drive into an advancing wolf, but it was not dead.

Dagny arrow finished the job as Nala gathered back up with the party, slipping the cloak off as she motion toward a grove of trees behind her.

"Fall back!"

"Are you mad! What good will that do?" the Jarl demanded.

Nala smirked, "Get them all coming from one direction for one."

The Jarl laughed as he guarded his children, "I see."

"I don't!" Nelkir argued.

"Well for one thing it makes it a lot easier to take them down if they are all in one place."

Dagny's back the first to touch the trees as the group rose their bows and got ready to fire as one.

"For another," Nala took a deep breath as she smirked, "You might want to cover your ears."

"FUS RO DAH!"