Eriah was nearing Whiterun when she came upon three people, two women and a man, fighting a giant at a farm. That was unusual. Giants were peaceable creatures but only if given a wide berth. They weren't fond of being approached in a threatening manner and certainly didn't take kindly to any threatening to harm their mammoths. A giant sacking a farm seemed a bit odd to her. The man and women seemed to be having some trouble so Eriah decided to lend a hand. Unsheathing the sword she had taken from Helgen, she jumped in to help. With a battle cry, she sliced the giant's leg, allowing the other three to finish it off. Sheathing the sword, Eriah was approached by the woman, who wore a rather revealing outfit and had warpaint on her face that reminded her of claw marks. "Excellent form." she said. "Thank you. Though, I feel like I interfered with something now." Eriah said, a bit cautiously. "It's fine. I can tell you're a newcomer. Aela the Huntress, at your service. My cohorts and I are members of the Companions stationed at Jorrvaskr in the city. You should think about putting your sword to use for us." Aela said.
"I'll think about it. Right now I have something I have to do." Eriah said. "Your call. If you're ever inclined, just come to Jorrvaskr and talk to Kodlak Whitemane, the Harbinger." Aela said. Nodding, Eriah went ahead of them down the road, bypassing the long-haired man of the group and not noticing he was watching her. She headed up into Whiterun. She was stopped at the gate. "Halt! City's closed with dragons about. Official business only." one of the guards said. Eriah looked down at the Stormcloak armor she wore. That had to be why she was stopped, despite what the guard said. "Riverwood calls for the Jarl's aid." she said, knowing that time was wasting. Seemed that changed the guard's tune. "Riverwood's in danger, too? You better go on in. You'll find the Jarl at Dragonsreach, atop the hill." the guard said. Eriah nodded as she allowed passed and went through the gates. She looked around as she went up the gentle, curving slope on her way to the biggest building there, built at the top of the hill. Whiterun was a city with the feel of a Nordic village. It seemed peaceful and Eriah could see herself living there for a time. But first things first.
Upon reaching the doors to the palace, Eriah took a deep breath before going in. Heading up the stairs and around the hearth, she slowly approached the throne where an important-looking man sat. The Jarl, no doubt. Jarl Balgruuf the Greater, if she recalled rightly when Ralof told her. With him were an Imperial man and a Dunmer woman. They were having a heated discussion about something. "I only council caution. We cannot afford to act rashly in times like these." the Imperial was saying. "What would you have me do, then? Nothing?" Balgruuf asked, making the Imperial look put out. "My lord, please. This is no time for rash action. I just think we need more information before we act. I just..." he protested before his lord's attention was snagged by Eriah's approach. "Who's this, then?" he asked. She paused as the Dunmer woman took a slight defensive position. "What's the meaning of this interruption? Jarl Balgruuf is not receiving any visitors." she said, gruffly eyeing her borrowed Stormcloak armor. Knowing respect was the name of the game, Eriah went down on a knee, bowing her head and placing a fist over her heart.
"Forgive my intrusion, Lord. I'm Eriah Quintence, a stranger to this land. Gerdur sent me. Riverwood is in danger." she explained. The atmosphere changed from suspicion to questioning. "As Housecarl, my job is to deal with all dangers that Jarl or his people. So, you have my attention. Now, explain yourself." the Dunmer prompted. "A dragon has destroyed Helgen." Eriah said. "You know about Helgen? The Jarl will want to speak to you personally. Approach." the other woman said, stepping aside. Rising to her feet, Eriah came up the steps and stood before Balgruuf, hands behind her back grasping her right wrist. "What's this about Riverwood being in danger?" he asked. "A dragon destroyed Helgen. Gerdur is afraid Riverwood is next." she replied. "Gerdur? Owns the lumber mill, if I'm not mistaken...Pillar of the community. Not prone to flights of fancy..." he mused. "And you're sure Helgen was destroyed by a dragon? This wasn't some Stormcloak raid gone wrong?" he then asked.
Deciding it was in her best interest to keep her near-execution to herself, Eriah kept it from her face as she replied. "A dragon destroyed Helgen. And last I saw, it was heading this way." she replied. Even though Ralof told her Whiterun was neutral in the current conflict with the Empire, she felt it was best to keep Ulfric's presence in Helgen to herself as well. The only thing that mattered was that the town was destroyed by the black dragon and that Riverwood was in danger. "By Ysmir, Irileth was right! What do you say now, Proventus? Shall we continue to trust in the strength of our walls? Against a dragon?" Balgruuf asked his steward. "My lord, we should send troops to Riverwood at once. It's in the most immediate danger. If that dragon is lurking in the mountains..." Irileth said before Proventus interjected. "The Jarl of Falkreath will view that as a provocation! He'll assume we're preparing to join Ulfric's side and attack him! We should not-" he said before he, in turn, was interrupted. "Enough! I'll not stand idly by while a dragon burns my hold and slaughters my people! Irileth, send a detachment to Riverwood at once." he ordered. "Yes, my Jarl." the Dunmer said before leaving to carry the order out. Proventus left as well, knowing he wasn't going to get anywhere now.
"Well done. You sought me out, on your own initiative. You've done Whiterun a service, and I won't forget it. Here, take this as a small token of my esteem." the Jarl said, tossing her a coin pouch. "Thank you." she said, kind of surprised. Reward was the last thing on her mind but combined with the coin she had picked up as she and Ralof escaped Helgen, she might now have enough to buy different armor. "There is another thing you could do for me. Suitable for someone of your particular talents, perhaps." Balgruuf then said, standing. "If it pleases you, I'm at your service." Eriah said, remembering that she had decided that helping people who needed it was going to be her life's work. She also wanted to get to the bottom of this whole dragon business. The black one...his red eyes had sought her out as if he knew her. Eriah had to learn why and if helping the Jarl out further would net her some answers, all the better. "I like you. You're respectful and well-spoken. My compliments to your family for raising a woman such as yourself. Come, let's go find Farengar, my court wizard. He's been looking into a matter related to these dragons and...rumors of dragons." he said.
He led her to a room where a wizard was leaning over a table, looking up when they approached. "Farengar, I think I've found someone who can help you with your dragon project. Go ahead and fill her in with all the details." the Jarl said before leaving her with the wizard. "So the Jarl thinks you can be of use to me? Oh yes, he must be referring to my research into the dragons. Yes, I could use someone to fetch something for me. Well, when I say fetch, I really mean delve into a dangerous ruin in search of an ancient stone tablet that may or may not actually be there." Farengar explained. Eriah kept her ill-ease from her face. She knew that some barrows in Skyrim housed a certain type of dead. The type that walked. Draugr. Delving into such a place wasn't her idea of a good time but she couldn't afford to be choosy. Not now. She had been well-trained and knew she could handle it. "All right. Where am I going and what am I fetching?" she asked. Her question surprised the wizard. "Straight to the point, eh? No need for tedious hows and whys. I like that. Leave those details to your betters, am I right?" he asked. Eriah shot him a withering look and he cowed a bit, clearing his throat. She was no simple-minded mercenary. She was educated and well-read. Sooner he got that into his head, the better.
"So what do you need me to do?" she asked, letting the slightly hostile look fade from her eyes. "I, ah, learned of a certain stone tablet said to be housed in Bleak Falls Barrow - a "Dragonstone," said to contain a map of dragon burial sites. Go to Bleak Falls Barrow, find this tablet - no doubt in the main chamber - and bring it to me. Simplicity itself." Farengar explained. Eriah nodded, filing it away. She then asked for information on the Barrow itself. She knew where it was since Ralof had pointed it out to her so it was a simple matter of backtracking to Riverwood and making her way there. She then asked how he knew it was there but the wizard gave her a vague answer. Something about professional secrets, whatever that meant. With all the information she needed, Eriah departed Dragonsreach to begin her quest. She headed down to the blacksmith's shop where she sold the Stormcloak armor and bought herself some nice, heavy steel. She thanked the smith, Adrienne, and headed out of the city.