"So, should we be helping them?" I asked as we watched the scene unfold.
"Do you think you could do better?" Aerana asked. Overhead, Farkas was tossed in an arch. He landed in the river, but he came charging back as soon as he was able.
"I doubt it." I said back.
We moved out of his way, and he didn't even seem to notice us. He just ran past with a crazed look in his eye. Perhaps someone should inform him of the definition of insanity, because upon reaching his foe, he was sent right back to the river.
We had started our journey in the early hours of the morning. For some odd reason, towns folk kept giving me dirty looks, and the bar keeper had banned me from anymore drink. I hadn't even asked. It was weird.
We followed the path along the river. I can't overstate how absolutely beautiful Skyrim was. Picture the heaviest, game breaking mod order you can think of. Well it's not that good, but it was close.
Upon passing the Honeybrew Meadery however, a skirmish could be seen ahead. They did not do the Giants fair in the game. It was not slow, it was not clumsy, and it certainly wasn't weak.
In fact, the Companions seemed more of an annoyance than anything else. Aela was peppering it with arrows, and Ria was trying and failing to get through its skin.
As amusing as this was, we did have things to do. Or, Aerana seemed to think so. So up the path we went. Easily staying clear of the fight in progress. I think Aela might have seen us, but I was hard to tell.
Passing through the front gate, I could tell the guards were as amused by the spectacle as we were. Leaning against the gate to watch. They gave us no mind, and we did the same. Rounding up the path to the city gates however, we were stopped at a makeshift check point.
"Halt. Citie's closed with the dragon's about." Came a muffled voice from the guard on the left. I guess those face plates didn't help the acoustics.
Aerana looked at me. "What now Sheo? We can't get in." She looked annoyed. Like we had just wasted a ton of time.
Walking up to the guard, I couldn't help but notice a slight limp in his left leg. As if he favored his right. Weird.
"SIR!" Ok, maybe bring the volume a bit down. "We have news of the dragon's attack, Riverwood asks for aid!" There. That should do it, nice amount of urgency in my voice, commanding tone, should work.
The guard however seemed unmoved. "Oh, convenient. Jarl said not to let anyone in. Nobody gets in." Oh. What an asshole.
"Sir, please!" I begged. "It's life or death."
He shifted, pulling his sword belt up. "Got a rigorous chain of command here." He said looking over to his partner. His partner nodded. "I let you in, I could get in trouble. Now, let's say you make it worth my time…" He trailed off. Wait, was he asking for a bribe?! Asshole!
Aerana seemed annoyed, then resigned. "Please sir." Her voice had gone up an octave. And the guard looked at her. Her posture had changed. She stood in a pose with her hands behind her arched back. Her chest was pushed forward like one would see on the cover of an anime, or a manga. You know the pose. It was a little ruined, due to the armor she wore, but her half lidded expression completed the look.
"We need to speak to the Jarl on behalf of Riverwood. Can't you just make an exception, just this once." How the fuck was she doing that. I wanted to do that. Could I do that? I'd have to try.
"O-oh. Uh, Riverwood sent you ,you said? Of course, go right in." he stammered. And she did. As we walked passed, I heard the other guard speak.
"Hey, what the hell?!"
"Shut up!" said the first guard.
Inside the city, we made our way up the street. Nazeem sneered at us, but thankfully didn't ask if we had ever been to the cloud district.
As we made our way up the MANY steps I began to give exposition. "So, Dragonsreach is the home of the Jarl of Whiterun. Great guy. Might have killed his wife." Aerana looked at me weird, but I continued. "He's one of the better Jarls. And completely neutral to the war. As you can see, while not legal per say, Talos worship is not punished here." I pointed at the large statue of Talos, and Hemskir. He was screaming about making everyone rise, but I wasn't really listening.
We began making our way up the final set of steps. I had to admit, the irrigation of the place was pretty cool. "I personally, respect him. Just don't go looking in the room behind the kitchen storage." We arrived then. Seriously, why so many stairs.
This place was clearly build on top of a small mountain. And I understood that from a defensive point of view it was very sound. But could they not install some escalators?
I let Aerana open the door. Not because I was afraid I was too weak to get it, but because she should do some things for herself every now and then. Yep.
As we crossed the threshold, Irelith noticed us. She broke away from the heated discussion that was taking place as she and Proventus before their Jarl.
She was still angry it seemed, because she drew her sword and let lightning flicker in her left hand. "What is the meaning of this." That, wasn't directed at us. Who was it, oh. I saw the guards on shift stiffen. Wow. They didn't even try to stop us. Way to drop the ball. "The Jarl is not receiving visitors." That was directed at us.
Before I could make her even more angry with my charming personality, Aerana spoke. "We've come from Riverwood, and Helgan before that. A dragon is making a beeline for Whiterun." See! Now she was thinking and acting for herself. I told you. This is why you don't open doors for people. It encourages independence.
Irelith's angled eyes widened. "Well, that explains why the guards let you in. Come with me. The Jarl will want to speak with you." I choose not to tell her nobody had tried to stop us, aside from the gate guard. And that was token residence at best.
We followed Irelith, walking past the long tables and huge fire pit. I could see the dragon's skull over looking the Jarl's throne. That begged a question. Why wasn't that dragon revived? Could they not be revived without their heads?
If that was true, why did they not just burry the head separately. And why did the keepers of the soul Carin have dragonbone armor? And why didn't Harkan realize that if you kill the sun then-"Ahem." I blinked. Oh Fuck I had just been staring off into space.
"Sorry, can you repeat that?" I asked. Amazingly, every face in the room(Aside Aerana) scowled.
"I said, I asked what you saw at Helgan. I've already asked your travel companion, but I wish to hear it from you." Balgruuf said with a hinge if irritation.
I nearly had a PTSD flashback.
"Spiders." I blurted. "So many spider." Balgruuf nodded, and if this were an anime he would have sweat dropped. "Oh and a big black dragon. Destroyed the whole town indiscriminately. Really spiky too. In fact, in hind site, it probably resembled Molag Bal's di-" A hand was quickly wrapped around my mouth.
I looked at Aerana's hand, then up to her face. It seemed to be panicked for some reason. "Please excuse him, jarl. He was hit by an ox to the head as a child." Her eyes scared me. Like laser death beams. "He corroborates my story, Jarl. The dragon is heading here. We have informed you, and now wish to be on our way." She turned back to him and bowed slightly. It was very impressive since she was still holding my mouth shut.
Come to think of it, I think I needed air. Why was she covering my nose as well. Was I going to reset from suffocation? I hoped not.
"Well done you two. You sought me out. Please talk to Hrongar for a reward. A gift from my personal armory. Before you go though, I would ask your assistance with something." It was only because her face was this close that I saw it. She really wanted to roll her eyes. There was a violent eye twitch before she caught it.
"Of course, Jarl. How may we be of service?" Her tone had take the same of as with the guard. I mentally dubbed it the 'Acting voice' in my head.
"My court wizard, Farengar, has need of a mercenary type or two like yourselves. Come, i'll show you the way." The Jarl got up to move, but Proventus chose this moment to clear his throat.
"Pardon me my jarl, but there is still the matter of sending a detachment to Riverwood. I strongly believe that would send the wrong impression to Ulfric." He and Irelith got into another heated debate. Balgruuf sat back down with a sense of stern resignation. "Go" he said. "I'll be with you in a moment." He pointed us towards Faringar's work area.
As well walked over Aeranas posture dropped. "Is this my life now? Following you around as you do busy work?" That, well when it was put like that it sounded rather sad.
"I wouldn't worry about it. It'll get a lot more interesting for you in the next hour." For some reason that didn't cheer her up.
I was prevented from speaking further when Farengar spoke. He seemed frustrated. "Let me guess, come to discuss the ongoing hostilities? Like the rest of the great warriors?" Was everyone cranky today? I decided to lighten the mood.
"Hey Farengar, how you been. Still allergic to razors?" I prodded. Seriously, look at those side burns. I've seen full length beards less impressive.
He seemed caught off guard. "I'm sorry sir. Have we met before?"
"Nope."
"I see. What can I do for two, mercenary types like yourself." He walked over to his chair and sat down. With us standing in front of his desk, and him sitting behind it, I felt like a kid about to get chewed out by the principal. Weird.
"The Jarl said there was something you needed help with." Said Aerana. "So how can we help?"
"Hmm?" He scoffed and acted confused. "What? Project? You think you could help me? I really don't think so."
I was about to say something about a shock rune, but Aerana said something first. "What do you mean you don't think so? Tell us what you need help with and we'll decide if can or not!"
Farengar wasn't used to women screaming at him I guess, because he folded immediately. Nearly falling out of his chair in the process. "Alright, alright! My apologies." He tried to amend. Then he became professional. Folding his hands under his chin, and bracing his arms on the table.
"So the Jarl thinks you can be of use to me?" Then his face lit up as if remembering something. "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."
Across from him, Aerana froze. Then she pinched the bridge of her nose. "I hate you." She directed at me. "I hate how your right about things that don't make any sense. And I don't know what will happen in the next hour, but I want you to know, I hate you." Farengar looked confused. But his expression went bug eyed when Aerana pulled out the Dragonstone.
"The Dragonstone of bleakfalls burrow! You already found it. How did you?!-"
"Don't ask. It's not worth it. For your sake, don't ask." Her exasperation was a obvious.
"Oh, well, you're certainly a cut from different cloth than the usual brutes the Jarl foists on me."
"Farengar!" Irelith charged in. I knew what would happen next. I waved for Aerana to follow Farengar. I had an objective in mind. Locating a paper roll, a quill, and an ink well, I wrote down my message.
While I was at it, I examined the enchanting table. In my head, I felt a slight sting. Like a tiny wasp had stung my brain. But mentally, I marveled. I could see an list of possible enchantments. Or at the potential for them. Including the ability to deconstruct my mages robes. It was a weird experience. Pulling away, I looked over the map standing on the temporary wall. It had a few locations marked, but was otherwise useless.
I looked over all the stuff around the desk for a few minutes before I heard the stomping of feet approach from behind. I turned and was struck my a fist across the jaw. I was unprepared and fell on my ass, my cheek swollen.
"What the f-"
"You knew!" Aerana accused. "You knew what they would ask me! And you let me walk up there! Well guess what! If I'm going to end up eaten by a dragon, so are you! I told them you had more experience with dragon's than I did. Congratulations! You've been drafted!" This wasn't like before. She seemed genuinely angry at me.
I tried smiling it off. But, that just mad her angrier.
"Why am I even with you! I could have been on my merry way. The only reason I'm here is because I was doing a favor for that Gurder woman. And now, I've been enlisted to kill a dragon. A dragon! And your playing games." She started walking away. At the end, she seemed…well, hurt. I felt the weight of guild rest on me. I had forgotten. This wasn't a game anymore.
Me and Aerana, I don't think we were friends. We didn't know anything about each other. The only reason we were together was because we thought we needed each other.
But we didn't. I may be losing my mind, but she tolerated me for my knowledge. And I stayed with her for entirely selfish reasons. I was trapped here. Put here by, well, the list if possible entities of the Elder Scrolls universe was long on its own. Not even considering the idea of any R.O.B. from the multiverse.
I followed Aerana because she was familiar. They say in a survival scenario, look for something familiar. But Aerana wasn't familiar. I didn't know anything about her. She thought I was from some crazy cultist. Our relationship was built on lies and how useful my ability to seemingly tell the future was. And man, wasn't that pathetic?
The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. I swore, after this fight, I would get to know her better. I would forge a true relationship. A friendship.
These people were real. They had families, motives, flaws, and dreams. I couldn't see them as a game. I had to be better. I could do good. I could be more than the side kick to the Dragonborn.
I got up off the ground, and dusted my front off. I needed to help. But first.
"Farengar" He looked in my direction from the entrance. He had been looking at the spectacle. "About my portion of the reward for the dragon stone." He cut me off.
"Ah. You'll have to take that up with the Jarl I'm afraid." He said.
I didn't have time for this. "The Jarl is busy, and this is something that only you can do at the moment. I need an offensive spell. One with reasonable range. May I request one as my reward?"
Farengar looked thoughtful at my request. "Ah, I suppose. I have a few tomes laying around. Nothing that can be learned before you give aid to the watch tower."
"That's fine." I said. " Please." I asked. I must have looked pretty desperate. Because he opened his desk, and handed me a book with a hand on it. It was lighter than I thought it would be. Maybe 50 pages.
"There. Are you sure that's all you want? This stone will accelerate my research by years, I predict."
"Can you also deliver a letter?" I asked, trying to cease a chance while it was on the table.
Farengar looked confused, but nodded. "And who would it be to? And why not just give it to a currier?"
I handed him the letter. "Its for a mutual friend. The one that informed you of the Dragonstone." He became extremely suspicious at my mention of Delphine. "She needs to see this note. Please give It to her unmolested."
"Your rather well informed, stranger. Some might say dangerously so." He shot back in a low voice. I gave him my best reassuring smile. He didn't relax. "But, I doubt a letter can do much direct harm. And our mutual friend knows better than to walk into a trap. While I am very wary of where you learned such things, I won't pretend to know all of our friends contacts. Though, I would ask for digression in the future."
He put the note in his robe, and walked to his enchantment table. I knew a dismiss when I saw one. Usually. And I left as well. I sat down at the table and opened the book. I would catch up with Aerana and apologize afterwards.
I really hope it doesn't hurt as much as the fir-
-Jarl Balgruuf's perspective.
A dragonborn, in this day and age? And on the cusp of a dragon attack. These are odd times. I looked over to the Dragonborn's…interesting companion. He spoke like, well, an idiot. He was an odd sight. He fidgeted constantly, like he had more energy than sense. But that could have been his youth. Ah youth, how he missed the battles, the blood, the victory parties. But enough of that. Back to the lad. He was barley out of his teens. Any younger and he would still be attached to his mother's tits. He had a crazed look in him. Like he was always aware of the things going on around him. Like he expected them to happen, and was impatient to get to the next phase of his interaction. Even now, he twitched as he rapidly read a spell book he must have acquired from Farengar. At least Balgruuf assumed he was reading it. He twitched in a way one might if reading quickly. Odd. Strange times. Very strange times.
-Back with Sheo-
WHAT ARE WE?! WHY ARE WE BORN? JUST TO SUFFER? ARE WE-oh sweet I can use lightning bolt now.
I could feel the information move through my head. The only thing Iacking was the muscle memory. Then, I paused. I could understand lighting better now. The concept of it. How it worked. It was different than before, when I just knew sparks.
With the reference of how sparks felt, and now the concept of how to release it in a bolt, it gave me an idea.
But I didn't have time to explore that right now. I had to fix my fuck up. I left my seat and headed outside. From there, I made my way down through the cloud district(Fuck you Nazeem!).
I found my companion leaning against one of the posts for Warmaidens. She looked at me, scowled, and turned away. By the gate, Irelith gave a rousing speech to the garrison who would accompany us into battle.
We left soon after that. The walk was, well, awkward. "So, you excited to kill a dragon?" I tried to broach. But to my dismay, she ignored me. Her eyes remaining forward. "Hey, what's wrong?" I asked. My smile, which had previously been on my face, fell just a bit. "Are you scared? Because you shouldn't be. Mirmulnir shouldn't be that difficult."
"So you know it's name?!" she questioned harshly. I flinched. Her voice was like acid. She was not happy with me.
"um, yeah. It's one of the few who I know the name of." I said quickly.
"Your just, ok? With all of this? Do you know when you'll die? When I die? Do you know about my life before?!"
"Err, no. Just things about the Dragonborn, and their adventure." I tried.
"The Dragonborn? The old more myth?" she asked. "Wait! You think I'm the Dragonborn!" she shrieked. "Oh divines, Dragonborn" I…may have fucked up.
Up ahead, one of the guards had been listening. He muttered a "Not likely" that temporarily directed Aerana's furry his way. Huh, so far, nords seemed kinda racist. Rude.
Ok. I was planning on letting her figure this out on her own. But with her not reacting well to the news, it was time for a scorched earth approach.
"Yeah. You're the Dragonborn. Once we defeat this dragon, you'll absorb his soul. And learn your first shout." I tried to be cheery about it. But her face told me that was a mistake.
"I-I'm going to absorb someone's soul?" she whispered horrified. She stopped, so I did as well. "No." she whimpered. "I can't. No!" she shouted at me. Right in my face. Spital got on my nose. Then, she stopped. Her face tilted down. I saw her shoulder shake a bit. And if I was quiet, I might have heard a sob.
She started moving again. It was a few minutes before she got control of herself. Softly, she asked me. "Are we going to win?" Oh. She was scared. That was, understandable. After all, for everyone else, death was final.
"Yeah. No sweat." I said with confidence. "We'll kick it's ass. I promise."
She took a deep breath. She was still a bit puffy. It occured to me in that moment, that this was no hardened warrior. This was no battle happy Nord. Or, despite her appearance, elite battle mage. Was it racist to assume that? Probably. No, this was a girl. Possibly from some form of nobility, if the story of being married off was anything to go by.
She was used to killing it seemed. But this was The Elder Scrolls universe. It was kill or be killed. But that was for mudcrabs, skeavers, and at worst, bandits.
Not dragon's. It would be like asking someone from my world to go out and kill a bear. Possible, with the right equipment and experience, but a daunting task no matter who you were.
She muttered something, but I didn't hear it. "What?" I asked.
"I trust you." She said. We could see the fires burning ahead, and I could see her gain her resolve. "I'm not ok with absorbing a soul. We have stories about that, back home. They say something like that changes you, fundamentally. I know it does. I've seen it. But, you haven't been wrong yet. I trust you. Just promise me, promise I won't become a monster. Like…" she trailer off. I could sense this was something important. But I had no time to ask. Instead.
"I promise." And I meant it. Absorbing a soul wouldn't change her. It's what Akatosh designed her to do.
Right?