As I pushed open the heavy and reinforced gates of the keep, I was greeted by…
Everything was in perfect condition; well, at least as it was and has been during all the years I spent in this place.
No damage was visible to the structure and all the furniture and delicate crystal things were intact too; however there were no guards anywhere. "Sigh".
As I walked further into the main hall of the keep and closer to the fire an eerie squeaking sound made me turn my head rather quick; this motion accompanied with a sense of dizziness and the feel of something hot running down my neck.
I shut my eyes for only a second and when I opened them again, an unpleased face was mere inches away from mine…
"Lydia! Have you finally managed to put a leash on that drunken lout Thane of yours? Or at least sent him to bed? Why by all the gods above did you allowed him to get that drunk! You are his Housecarl! You are supposed to keep him safe and watch over him!".
Irileth, my mentor, scolded me when I had just opened my eyes.
She was not very happy…
Everything looked okay at least; nothing damaged and no massive fire in the middle of the hall, like in Jorvaskar or the inn.
"Care to explain why Laniüs was ransacking the entire city?" Irileth was really angry; also she didn't drink anything when she was near Jarl Balgruuf; an exemplar Housecarl, always professional.
She probably remembered everything… that could be good, or very, very bad... and the situation and her eyes said it all… it was bad.
"Irileth I can't explain what happened… I…" my voice stammered and came out like a little child's excuse; I wasn't allowed to say anything more since Irileth cut me before I could keep explaining.
"Don't even tell me that you were also drunk! You were weren't you?" Irileth said looking even angrier than before.
"I trained you to be a better Housecarl than I am, and you were probably drunk just like that idiot of a Thane you have; you were also naked in a bed, weren't you… you probably bedded your Thane! Didn't I told you not to get attached to him; you are his Housecarl, not his wench."
"Irileth STOP! And let me explain what I know!" I interrupted her with heavy breathing and a scarlet blush… the images of what she just said still clear in my mind…
My mentor was taken aback by my outburst; I had never been one to let out my emotions in public, or lost control over them, but her accusations were getting worse and worse; only the gods knew how far she would have taken this situation.
Irileth remained calm and listened to everything I said without interruptions; I have to say she was surprised by the fact that my Thane ordered me to stay at the inn instead of him.
"The last thing I remember was taking a bath and going to sleep; when I woke up the inn was already in that sorry state and then I went to Jorvaskar to find it in a similar state." I finished my explanation.
Irileth had her eyes closed; she had asked some questions and was probably trying to make sense, and put in order what she knew with what I had just said.
"Lydia, I have just one more question… how could you sleep while Laniüs was doing Oblivion knows what in the floor below?"
I tried to remember any noise or anything strange while I was in bed, but nothing came to my mind… "I, I guess I was very tired… I don't know." I answered my mentor bowing my head apologetically.
"Must have been a very long day I suppose… I only hope that you aren't dead as a rock when both of you have to sleep in the wilderness." Irileth remarked with a disappointed look on her face but then smirked a little.
I was having a quick breakfast with Irileth while she was telling me what had happened in the very early hours of the morning.
"Well, as I was telling you, your Thane came in here followed by Vilkas, Ysolda, and that mage; I think his name was Sam. They came in and were obviously drunk… actually I think Sam was the least drunk of the group.
"They came in and were received by the Jarl, Farengar, and myself; Proventus had already gone to his chambers.
I hope you have also noticed that there are no guards…" I motioned a yes with my head.
"Good; that's because most of them are currently in the back of the keep throwing up or so drunk they can't stand, thanks to your Thane."
I gulped and almost dropped the mead cup I had in my hands at the moment.
"Yes; they drank with the Jarl and Laniüs, they were also singing when I was ordered to take Ysolda to her home".
Irileth took a sip of her Alto wine and continued with her story.
As for Proventus; when I went to check on him the main entrance had been barricaded with the bed, some barrels and boxes; almost as if he tried to keep someone outside; I hope you can figure out who…"
"The second entrance to his room was closed but not locked so I pushed the door open after calling his name and getting no answer.
When I went inside I found Proventus in the floor murmuring something about giants and mammoths; there was also an empty bottle near him… guess that was what they were drinking…"
"Sam's special brew…" I whispered to myself, remembering what Vilkas had said to me.
"Sam's what?" Irileth asked me with a confused look in her eyes. I then went on to tell her what Vilkas had said to Ria and me about the mysterious drink he offered Laniüs and the Jarl.
"So that's what made Jarl Balgruuf drunk; I knew he had not drank enough to fell asleep; he can hold his drink pretty well; after all he is a nord.
Lydia, do you have any idea what he gave the Jarl and your Thane to drink?" Irileth asked with a slight trace of concern in her voice.
"I can't say I know; I didn't even saw this Sam mage…" I answered my mentor.
"Well, it can't be anything dangerous since the Jarl is well and sleeping like a newborn and I think your Thane managed to reach Rorikstead to continue his drunken madness."
"Wait, he went where?" I asked Irileth with my eyes wide in surprise…
"As I said, he reached Rorikstead at least: if you want to know how I know such a thing, just look to the right." Irileth finished and got her attention back to her boiled eggs, and ham.
As I turned to see what Irileth mentioned I saw the door closing and three figures walking up the stairs to where we were; two were guardsmen, the third was a noble by the look of his clothes; and the guards were part of the Rorikstead detachment.
"Hail Balgruuf the Greater, Jarl of Whiterun!" the nobleman said in a deep and solemn voice once he and his guards reached the top of the stairs.
"Hail Rorik; the Jarl is… indisposed at the moment, but I as his Housecarl can help you. What is it that you need?" Irileth answered assuming her role as protector, advisor and voice of the Jarl since Proventus was indisposed too…
"Irileth! Where is Proventus; is he indisposed too? Nothing bad has happened I hope."
"Nothing to worry about I assure you; they had a bit of a feast with the new Thane of the Hold, Lord Laniüs, and are currently resting."
I felt even worse when she pronounced the name of my Thane with such a disgusted voice.
"Laniüs! He is the new Thane of Whiterun!" Rorik's voice echoed through the keep almost like my Thane's when he uses the Thu'um… Ohh that can't be a good sign… Mara have mercy on my soul… I thought after hearing such surprise and anger.
"Rorik is everything alright?" Irileth asked with obvious concern in her voice, probably thinking of everything that Laniüs might have done in the farming town of Rorikstead.
"No, nothing is alright! Your new Thane just passed through my town, but in that little time, he managed to steal a goat and sell it to a giant up in the hills, Mralki's boy, Erik, ended once more drunk and in need of a healer; fortunately Jouane is a miracle worker, saved my life during the Great War and probably saved his too.
Both Irileth and I were shocked; none of us said anything… then I managed to clear my throat and approached Rorik.
"I may be able to help you my lord." I said with a slightly shaky voice; my nord honor demanded that I was not seen as an accomplice of my Thane's actions…
"And you are?" Rorik asked while looking me up and down.
"I am Lydia; Housecarl of Laniüs."
After some moments in silence one of the guards spoke; "So you are the one he was singing about when he left the inn with that mage?"
"What?" Rorik asked the guardsman with a confused look in his face; Irileth had the same confused look; meanwhile I could feel my cheeks getting slightly red…
"Ohh yes; when Laniüs left the inn, he was singing something about a maiden clad in steel who protected him, and was both cold as the snow and hot as a dragon's breath… or something like that… they also said something about finding the bride, whatever that means…"
"Did they say where were they heading to?" Rorik asked the guard.
"No my lord; well actually yes, but I don't know where is that place. They were going to a small grove south of Windhelm and then to a place called Morvunskar." The guardsman said.
"Well Lydia; now that you have offered your help you should travel to this places in search of your Thane, but first you must go to Rorikstead and retrieve the goat Gleda from the giant's grasp and also apologize to young Erik and his father in the name of your Thane." Rorik said in a commanding voice to me and all I could do was nod; I was still thinking about the song but also about the last part… search for the bride…
The voice of my mentor made me react; "And you suppose that she is to do all that by herself Rorik, I won't allow it, neither will the Jarl."
"Well then send someone else with her or some of your guards, which are… nowhere in sight… mhh, where are the Jarl's guardsmen?" Rorik asked.
Irileth's dark skin went darker from the embarrassment; a keep with no guards… at least the city, and the outskirts were still patrolled; plus there were some War bands patrolling the territory by order of the Jarl. He might not want to enter the war, but my uncle is no fool; he has some soldiers watching over the borders of the Hold.
"Fine; I will send someone with her." Irileth answered and excused herself; she motioned me to follow her and we went to Farengar's room.
"Well, it seems that you are now going on a quest; I don't like where this is going. Your Thane could be anywhere… do you move around this fast when you are travelling?" Irileth asked me while looking in Farengar's map.
"No, we do move rather fast, but nothing like this; I can't explain how they travelled that fast… we don't even have horses." I replied.
"Neither do I, but you must find both of them before something worse happens…" Irileth closed her eyes in though; and finally, after a small time in silence lifted her head so she was looking me in the eye.
"Lydia I don't want to send you alone for this, but most of the guards are in no condition to go, and the ones in reserve I will order to guard the keep…" I nodded in agreement; after all, the city comes first.
"So I can't task them to help you; "sigh" I will give you a note with the seal of the Jarl, take it to Riverwood and get some help from the people there or from the guard detachment we sent there. In the note you must write who will go with you, and upon the end of your mission each will be rewarded with two hundred septims; that should be incentive enough." Irileth said.
"Well my friend, good hunting and stay safe." Irileth handed me the note then hugged me.
I hugged back and turned around.
I took a deep breath once outside the keep; the sun was already shining high in the sky, but it was early still; I decided to go back to the inn, change my clothes for my armor and set out in search of my missing Thane…
The only thought that crossed my mind was Talos guide me.
