The goofy smile still hadn't left Emmet's face by the time they reached Ivarstead. He held Lucy's hand the entire hike back down the mountain, much to her amusement. It was as they were nearing Helgen that the Knight reached over to touch Emmet's shoulder, gaining the Dragonborn's attention. "Yes?"

'I don't think I'll be welcome in Whiterun,' the Knight signed. 'If you don't mind, I can take the Scroll to meet the others at the Ancestor Glade. I can catch up with you again afterward.'

"Good point," Lucy agreed. "Emmet?"

"Yeah, sure." He shrugged off the strap and handed the Scroll over. "Good luck."

The Knight slung it across his back. 'Same to you.'

They split up after that, the Knight continuing west along the mountain range, and the others heading north to Whiterun. They made it to the gates in half a day's trek, only to be stopped before entering the city. "The Khajiit stays outside," the guard snapped. Emmet gave him a startled glance, then a disapproving frown.

"She's my friend, and has been helping me to fight Alduin. She's coming in with us." The guard looked like he wanted to argue, but Lucy and Iron-Tail were quick to put any protests to rest. The guard cowered back at the twin threatening glares he was given.

"…Alright, she can come in."

"Thank you!" Emmet chirped, and led the way to Dragonsreach. Kitty grinned at all the stares she was given along the way.

"Must really be blowing their tiny minds to see a Khajiit within the city walls," she snickered to Lucy, who smirked in response.

"Oh, no doubt. I wonder how the Jarl himself will react."

They made it to the palace without further incident. Balgruuf was certainly surprised to see Kitty had been let into the city, but made no comment, not when Emmet looked like a man on a mission. "Dragonborn. What brings you back to my city?"

"I need your help," Emmet said. "We need to trap a dragon here."

That got a few murmurs. "I must have misheard you," Balgruuf said with a slight chuckle. "I thought you asked me to help you trap a dragon in my palace."

Emmet shook his head. "You heard right. It's the only way to stop the dragons."

The Jarl didn't like the sound of that. "What you're asking for is insane. Impossible! You want me to let a dragon into the heart of my city, with the threat of war on my doorstep?"

"The threat is worse than you know," Lucy growled back. "Alduin has returned."

The murmurs fell silent. "Alduin? The World-Eater himself? But… how can we fight him? Doesn't his return mean it's the end times?"

"With everything that's been going on since Emmet's dragonblood was awakened, it's certainly seemed that way," Lucy sighed, "but that we even have a Dragonborn means we've been given a fighting chance. I don't know about you, but I don't intend to squander it."

Balgruuf stared at her for a moment, then began to chuckle. "No Nord could have said it better," he finally agreed. "I want to help you, Dragonborn. And I will. But I need your help first. Callaghan and the Black Knight are both just waiting for me to make a wrong move. Do you think they will sit idle while a dragon is slaughtering my men and burning my city?"

"I can speak for the Knight. He is every bit as intent on stopping Alduin as Emmet is," Lucy assured.

"But that still leaves the General," Kitty pointed out. "With Whiterun still undeclared, he might jump all over the chance to claim it for the Empire."

"…What of the Greybeards? They are respected by many. High Hrothgar is neutral territory. If the Greybeards were willing to host a peace council…" Balgruuf suggested.

Emmet bounced. "Oh- yes! Then the General would have to listen! Oh that's a perfect idea! Don't you worry Jarl, I'm sure I can convince them!"

"And back up the mountain we go," Iron-Tail huffed.