Chapter Seven
Ralof headed to the solitude barracks after the ball. As he was walking, Captain Aldis of the Solitude Guard stopped him and said, " It looks as though you have caught the High Queen's eye already. Will you be staying in Solitude?"
"No I have to leave in the morning. I will be setting up the new guard in Riverwood. I am to be the Captain there. But I'll come back when I get the chance." Ralof responded.
" You might not want to stay away too long, I heard that Hemming Black-Briar is going to be moving into Solitude to better his chances with the Queen. I say, I really don't like that fellow. Something about him smells like trouble for all of us." Captain Aldis said.
"Yes, I understand why you feel that way, it's never good to get into bed with the Black-Briar family." Ralof cautioned, " Well, I'm going to turn in for the night. I'll see you sometime again."
Hemming was watching as Ralof left. His eyes firing darts at him all the while. " I must find away to get rid of that Ralof guy. The Queen seemed very pleased to see him here, as though see knew him already." With that thought in his mind Hemming headed over to the Captain.
"Captain, may I have a word with you?'
"Of course." Aldis said.
"That man you were just speaking with, is he one of your guardsmen?" Hemming asked.
"You mean Ralof? No he is not one of my guardsmen, he is an former soldier from Riverwood. Said he was to be the Captain of the new Riverwood guard." Aldis explained. " Hemming isn't it? I know the two of you have eyes for the Queen, but I will not have any trouble in my city from the two of you over it. I'll haul the both of you to the dungeon if I do, understand?"
"You'll have no trouble from me Captain. How does the Queen now him?"
"From what I understand, Ralof and the Queen escaped Helgen together when the dragon had attack. They have been friends ever since. That's all I know, now move along." Aldis ordered.
With that Hemming went to the Winking Skeever where he and his mother were staying. Maven was sitting in the main room eating her supper when Hemming enter. He sat down at her table and began to tell her what he ad found out.
" Mother, I spoke with Captain Aldis and found out that Ralof fellow is a former soldier out of Riverwood. The Queen and Ralof are good friends also. Aldis said they had escaped Helgen together when the dragon had attacked and have been friends ever since."
"Hmm, is that so. It sounds like he will be more than just a little competition. The two of them already have a relationship built up." Maven mused.
"That's exactly why I need him taken completely out of the picture. Even if I was to win the Queen's heart, he will still be around to pose a problem. So he needs to be eliminated if you catch my drift." Hemming pressed.
"I hear you, and yes, you are right. Don't worry I'll take care of it when I return to Riften. You just concentrate on the Queen." Maven said. " I'll head home tomorrow morning."
Ralof, Camilla, and Lucan boarded the wagon for Riverwood. Camilla couldn't stop talking about the ball. Lucan was giving Ralof a hard time about the Queen doting on him all night. As they left they seen Maven leaving in her own wagon. She was accompanied by several of her personal guards.
"That Maven is something else, she rides around like she is some kind of royalty herself." Lucan commented.
"That she does," Ralof agreed." She thinks everyone should heed her beck and call as well."
" You may have trouble out of that one Ralof." Camilla added.
"Hopefully, with me leaving for awhile things will cool down a bit."
The three of them continued chatting the rest of the way to Riverwood. When they arrived Ralof headed to his sisters house and the Valerious' headed to the shop to get things settled and ready to open the next morning. Ralof told Gerdur all about the ball.
When Maven arrived in Riften she had one of her guards find Vald and have him meet her at her estate. That evening Vald showed up to see Maven.
"Took you long enough to get here. Next time I call for you, you better drop everything right then." Maven roared.
"Yes, Maven. What is it you need to see me about?" Vald asked timidly.
" I need you to perform the Black Sacrament and contract to have Ralof of Riverwood killed. I want it done as soon as possible and I want it to look like an attack by bandits or something." Maven ordered.
" Yes Maven, as you wish." Vald acknowledged and turn to leave.
"Mother, the Black Sacrament, who opposed you this time?" Ingund asked.
"Just getting rid off some competition of your brother's for the hand of the Queen." Maven answered.
"And hopefully an opportunity to become Jarl of Riften as well?" Ingund posed.
"If it so happens that the Queen sees my importance to the hold and of my connections with the Empire as a value to her then, so be it, my dear." Maven smiled.