Chapter 2
Lydia.
The night Ragnthor came into town Lydia was at the party in the Bannered Mare. Jon Battle-Born had just come home from Solitude, having completed his studies at the Bards College, and the town was throwing him a party, being he was the only Battle-Born that the Grey-Manes liked.
Lydia was there because Jon was one of her childhood friends and was there for her when Ragnthor left. So she was there to try and have fun for his sake. She came early so she wouldn't have to talk to many people.
When she got there she walked up to Jon "Hi Jon, it has been a long time hasn't it."
Jon roared in laughter and picked her "It has, hasn't it. 5 long years. But it is good to be back home." He spun her around and she laughed but he didn't notice that it didn't reach her eyes.
He put her down "We should try to meet here once a week to catch up."
She shrugged her shoulders "I don't know. The only reason I got tonight off was because your parents told me 2 weeks ago when they got your letter. And I like the work. It helped to keep my mind off of….things for so long. Now I just like the work. I might take some time off next month though."
Jon smiled and nodded "Well if that's all I can get I will take it. Now go get a drink. All you want my treat. I made enough for 2 while I was in Solitude."
She nodded and Hulda brought them some mead. It wasn't long before others started to come. Ysolda came soon after and it was clear that she had missed Jon….a lot. Soon after more people came and Lydia grew more uncomfortable. She had never been one for big crowds, and sticking a village in an inn is a very large crowd. But she felt better than she had in a long time so she stayed. She laughed at the jokes and roared with cheers. It was a few hours before the mood was starting to quite down and she knew it was time to leave. It was easier to slip out unnoticed when it was loud then after it was over.
She heard the door open and looked over, thinking it was just some traveler or merchant her on business. She almost dropped her bottle when she saw his face. The man looked like Ragnthor, just older and with more scars. She decided that it was time to leave. She left her bottle on the table, grabbed her cloak and was gone.
As she walked back to Dragonsreach she wondered if that was really him and if so why did he come back?
"Damn him. Why would he come back? It's been 8 years. 8 years!" she thought for a moment "Maybe it's not him. He never wrote and didn't even come back for his own brother's funeral. I bet it's just some wanderer here to lick the Jarl's boots."
By then she was there. She walked to her room and changed into her bed clothes and let the matter slip from her mind. If she knew what was going to happen, she most likely would have woken Balgruuf and resigned right then.
Lydia woke first thing in the morning. She woke like a wild animal, suddenly alert with no trace of sleep left. This is strange for a person raised within eye sight of city walls.
She stretched then walked over to the armor rack and put on her armor then walked over to the head of her bed and grabbed and belted on her sword. She grabbed her shield from behind the door and then walked down to the training area behind Jorrvaskr, drew her sword and started hacking away at a straw dummy.
Aela was late, thought Lydia, she must have slept in. What an easy life those Companions have.
She heard the keep's door open. That wanderer must have finally woken up to see the Jarl.
The she heard a door behind her open. "So the dedicated Housecarl is here before her partner is even awake. Whatever shall her teacher do?"
Lydia sheathed her sword and bowed "Good morning Aela. What are we going to work on today?"
Aela laughed "Formal as always. Even at the party last night. Will you ever tell me what made you that way? Because I do remember the girl who would laugh and play. No? Very well. Today we will spar until we can no long lift our arms. Consider this a test on everything you have learned this last year. Have at you." They drew their swords and attack each other.
It was strange that a Companion would train someone other than their own but Lydia was a special case. About a year after she had joined the guard she was on solo patrol when she had discovered a group of bandits attacking a farm and she drove them off single handed. She barely made it back to town.
When the Companions heard they tried to recruit her immediately. But she refused saying that she could better serve her hold by staying in the Jarl's service. Aela offered to train her, hoping to convince her to join them. But in 5 years it still hadn't worked. However Aela did gain a lot of respect for the young warrior and felt that she more than deserved her rank.
Their battle lasted for 4 hours with neither of them landing a decent blow on the other. They just stood there facing each other, wishing they had the strength to keep fighting to see who was the strongest.
When their strength returned, they sheathed their swords and Aela smiled "You have learned all I can teach you. We just need to meet at least once a week to keep your skills honed until you get a Thane to serve."
Lydia bowed "Thank you for training me Aela, I have learned a lot from you. Now by your leave I need to go about my rounds." Aela laughed and nodded and Lydia left.
After she left Aela she walked around the wall shaking the pain out of her arms. She then walked over to the forge by the gate. It was owned by the Steward's daughter Adrianne and her husband Ulfberth. She walked over to Adrianne.
As she approached Adrianne she looked up and said "By the nine girl, what happened to your armor?"
Lydia looked down and said "Me and Aela had a bit of a fight for training today. Could I use your forge to fix most of the damage?"
Adrianne nodded "So that's what that loud noise was. So who won?"
Lydia had taken off her breastplate and was standing there in just her undershirt. "No one. We had to stop once we had no strength to swing our swords."
She got to work fixing the slight tears and scratches as Adrianne said "You have come a long way in 5 years. Most people would give there sword arm to be as good as you, able to fight one of the Circle to a standstill."
Lydia was through with the breastplate and was now working on her shield. "But not you. Will you ever be satisfied with your sword work?"
Lydia finished her shield and was buckling her armor back on. "No. I am a Housecarl Adrianne. I stand between my Thane, if I get one, and whatever seeks to harm them. And I can't count on my Thane being a capable fighter. I hear tell of merchants and other milk-drinkers being made Thane so my best might never be enough," she belted on her sword, "Thank you for letting me use your forge. You can name your price when I get paid."
She shook Adrianne's hand. "You don't need to pay me. We are friends right? And besides, I didn't have to do any work." Lydia thanked her again and walked toward Dragonsreach.
After she left Ulfberth came out. "Who was that Adri?"
Arianne sighed "Lydia. She came and asked if she could fix her armor. I miss the child she used to be. Running around and laughing."
Ulfberth put his arm around her shoulders. "What do you think happened?"
Adrianne laid her head on his shoulder. "Ragnthor. After his father died his brother's wife basically chased him off. He left to wander Tamriel. I think she thought he would take her with him. It was sad watching her heart shrivel. She now is totally devoted to the way of the warrior, more than any other Nord I have met." She straightened and walked over to the workbench.
Ulfberth followed. "And I don't know if she knows but Ragnthor is back in town and looks like he might take back the old farm. I worry what will happen if he tries again and then leaves. I bet it will totally break her. Even more so if Balgruuf deems him worthy of following his father's footsteps and make him Thane. Lydia is the only unattached Housecarl in the hold and so would be under him."
Ulfberth threw some more coal in the forge. "Do you want me to talk to him? Make sure he doesn't hurt her."
Adrianne stopped working on fixing a guards helm. "No. You might have been able to handle him before he left. And he was just a skinny lad of 18 with only basic training. I saw him walk out of town this morning and he has changed. He looks like he was born in his armor and he moved with the confidence of someone who knows he can win almost any fight. I think the only person who can scare him now is Lydia herself. And he is a brave man for risking a beating just for coming home."
She walked over and gave him a kiss. "Thank you for caring about my friends though." And then they got back to work.
When Lydia got back to Dragonsreach she walked up to Balgruuf. "Did a wanderer come in here today?"
Balgruuf looked up. "Yes he did. He was in Helgen a few days ago. He said the dragon we saw was the one that that destroyed Helgen. Seeing that he survived that I sent him the Farengar who said he need some help. He should be back in the morning."
She nodded and asked "Did he tell you his name?"
Balgruuf nodded and smiled "He did. But I promised him I would not reveal his name until certain conditions, set by him, were met. Sorry Lydia, but when a Jarl gives his word he cannot go back on it."
Lydia nodded. "Of course, my Jarl. Is there anything you require of me today?"
Balgruuf shook his head. "No Lydia. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy. But try not to get to dirty. I will need you in court tomorrow. If you want you can sit in court and listen. But I have no requests of you." Lydia nodded and left the keep.
She had had a hard day. She didn't want to bother the servants with a request for hot water for a bath so she went down to a secluded spot on the river. It had been her place to unwind after tough days ever since she was a child.
She pulled off her armor and stripped to her small clothes and jumped in. The cold water shocked her mind clear for the first time since last night. She grabbed a handful of sand from the bank and used it to scour her skin. She ran her fingers through her hair and tried to get out as many knots as she could, wanting to look her best tomorrow. She then grabbed a large stone on the river bed and stayed under for as long as she could. When she came out of the water she felt better than she had in a long time. She walked out of the river and sat down on the grass to dry. As she sat there here mind drifted down a path she had not followed in a long time.
She was 10 and her mother had just died leaving only Lydia and her father. Her father was soon driven to drunkenness, spending most of the money he made in the Bannered Mare, leaving her to fend for herself. So most days found her here, sitting on the bank and watching the water and alone with her thoughts. One day the guard found her father passed out behind the inn and brought him home. They helped her get him into bed then left.
She waited until she was sure they were gone and then ran out to the river. Unknown to her Ragnthor had followed. She was sobbing on the riverbank when he came up to her and asked what was wrong. She almost jumped out of her skin at his voice. She wiped her face, glared at him then turned back around and ignored him.
He went and sat by her. "I have always liked the sound of running water. Though sometimes I have to pee after watching too long." She nearly choked trying to cry and giggle at the same time.
He smiled and held out his hand. "Hi. My names Ragnthor."
She shook his hand. "I'm Lydia. Have I seen you before?"
He shook his head. "No. I live with my family outside of town. I'm usually too busy to come to town but I got lucky today. I have seen you a few times but have been too scared to talk to you." She kind of giggled. "I saw you run out of town so I followed you. I don't think people should be alone. Are you ok?"
She sniffed and shook her head as tears filled her eyes. "No. I feel like I'm all alone. My mother died 6 months ago and my father spends more time at the inn than at home. I don't have many friends and the kids make fun of me. I'm just…" she broke off crying.
Ragnthor was thinking Talos, what do I do? Then he remembered what his father did when his mother would cry.
Ragnthor put his arm around her shoulders. "Well I will be your friend. And I might be able to get my father to help with your father."
She wiped her eyes and looked up. "How could your father help?"
Ragnthor smiled and said "Well he is a Thane and I think we could use more help on the farm. If so you could come and visit and I might get to go to town more because I might have less work."
Ragnthor handed her a piece of cloth and she blew her nose and handed it back.
Gross though Ragnthor. "Let's go back to town and ask." He stood up and offered his hand. She pulled herself up and they ran off to town to ask.
They were the best of friends from that day on. Her father started to work on his father's farm and Lydia got to come a few times a week. Her father had so much work most days that he rarely was seen in the inn. And Ragnthor got to go to town sometimes as much as twice a week in the summer and 3 or 4 times a week in the winter. He was her best friend and she helped him grow into the man he would become.
One time when she came over Ragnthor was been given his own dagger. Then were in the woods when they came across 2 wolves.
Ragnthor whispered as he drew his dagger "Go get my father. I will distract them." And with that he yelled and charged while she darted off in the other direction.
The men found him covered with scratches and bite marks but both wolves were dead, he had torn out their throats with the dagger. He did contract a bad case of Rockjoint that they had to take him to the temple to cure.
About a year after that he was in town to help his father pick up some things for the farm when he heard a scream. He took off without a second thought. He found Lydia backed into a corner by 3 boys with knives. Without a second thought he charged in. His father had followed and was amazed how quickly his smallest son dealt with them.
Within seconds one of the boys was running off with a broken arm. A few more and another ran off with most of the bones in his hand crushed.
Within a minute he was kneeling over the third, punching him in the face yelling "LEAVE HER ALONE! NEVER TOUCH HER AGAIN!"
His father pulled him off and calmed him down. "It looks like I need to start giving you combat training."
His father smiled with pride. Lydia seemed to rely on him more after that. As the years went by they grew closer together. One night, about 3 months before his father died, they spend their first night together.
It wasn't much. And was kind of awkward. Her father had to stay the night at the farm and Ragnthor had snuck into town and climbed through her window and that's about all he knew how to do. But it meant the world to her. He was the first person since her mother had died that had really cared for her. And then his father died.
"And he left me," she grabbed her sword "He was the only person I cared about and he left me all alone." She swung her sword into a tree so hard her sword snapped.
"Damn. And damn him. May not even Shor have mercy on his soul." She slipped on her shirt and leggings the buckled on her armor and went back to town, hoping she had enough to buy a new sword.
Life had not been easy on her since he left. Her own father died about a year later but she didn't feel the pain. When Ragnthor left it stabbed a hole in her heart so that all the love flowed out. She tried to stop it but the hole was too big. After 2 years of hoping her heart was but a tenth of the size it was before with no room for love. Only for duty to her country and Jarl. She felt she was better off. With no one to love there was no one to hurt her.
Luckily Adrianne was still open when she got to town. And that she had enough to get a new sword. Adrianne knew that something was off and gave her a reduced price but didn't tell her.
When Lydia got to Dragonsreach the Jarl was still holding court. She sat down and listened for a while and ate some of the food at the table and then went to her room. She took off her armor and went to sleep. And the divines granted her deep repairing sleep for they knew she needed it.
When she didn't show up for breakfast Balgruuf asked where she was. "She is still sleeping my Jarl. Adrianne told me that she looked off last night and that there might be a little bad blood between her and Ragnthor" Proventus replied.
Balgruuf nodded "That's right. He left right after his father died about 8 years ago. His brother's wife chased him off. Damn shame too. Had he joined my guard he mostly likely would have made Thane within 3 years. Guess I get a second chance there. And they were more than close. It would have made for a grand wedding."
Balgruuf smiled and laughed "Damned this romantic side of me. Why am I cursed to live in a beautiful land? Let her sleep."
It wasn't 30 minutes later that a guard came in saying that a dragon had attack the Western Watch Tower. And not an hour later Ragnthor walked in with the dragon stone. And was then sent out to slay a dragon.
It was to the dull sound of roaring the Lydia awoke to. She buckled on her armor and ran out to the Jarl. "Is everything all right? And where is Irileth?"
Balgruuf forced a smile "Irileth and the wanderer have gone to slay a dragon. I hope that because we can hear these sounds that the battle is going our way. If not then I have lost a close friend and a valuable ally. Now sit down with me and eat lunch. I let you sleep in today so don't worry about being late." She sighed with relieve and sat down.
Soon the roaring stopped and within an hour Irileth was back. "The dragon is dead Balgruuf. And according to our guards our new friend might be Dragonborn. Some strange things happened after he killed the dragon. And don't worry about…our new friend. He stayed behind to give the men killed a warriors burial."
Balgruuf smiled "Well that's good to hear. All of it. I think that's the first time I have had nothing but good news my whole time as Jarl."
He then turned to Lydia "I need you looking your finest. If our friend comes back Whiterun will have its first Thane in 8 years. And don't worry about moving out of Dragonsreach for a while. Our new friend has insisted on building a house before offering you a bed in his home. Because he doesn't yet have a house hahaha."
He stood and said "Guards. Go and get the people of the city. Tonight we name a new Thane!"
It was 4 hours before Ragnthor made it back to Whiterun. Lydia was standing on the balcony overlooking the town, listening to the rain, when she heard the gates open.
"Well it's about time. How long does it take to bury a few men?" She ran down stairs and sat in her spot at the table.
It wasn't long before the door opened and a tall man walked through. She though he must be and elf because of how tall he stood. He had a cloak on to keep him and his armor from getting too wet. He shook like a dog before walking up to stairs the main area. He didn't remove the hood until he was passed her so she didn't get a good look at his face but he did have shoulder length dark red hair and wasn't an elf so he must be a massive Nord.
He must have noticed he was late an offered an explanation. "I have always loved the sight and sound of rain. Sorry for being late and I dearly hope Vignar hasn't drank all the mead." The hall broke into laughter.
As he reached the foot of the Jarl's thrown it quieted down.
He knelt as Balgruuf stood. "It has been 8 long years since anyone within our hold has been worthy enough to be called Thane. The time has come for that to change. I have found a man that you all should deem worthy of this post. Not only is he the son of the last Thane and a man you all should know but today he saved our very city by slaying a dragon not 5 miles outside of our walls. And he is the one that the Graybeards called and named Dragonborn."
He drew the greatsword from his back. It was a better sword than Lydia had ever seen.
"Raise now, Ragnthor of the Isles, and take up this sword as your badge of office in this hold."
As Ragnthor grasped the sword and held it above his head Lydia look like she was ready to kill a dragon herself. As Ragnthor put his old sword in his pack and sheathed his new one Balgruuf continued.
"Ragnthor. In honor of your new station I grant you Lydia as your Housecarl." Lydia almost fell out of her chair and Ragnthor looked startled.
"I also grant you back your father's home and land that you may make use of them yourself. Now go and feast among the people you now serve as I do." With that Balgruuf sat and Ragnthor found a seat as far as possible from Lydia, honestly scared for his life of what would happen.
Lydia was angry, of course, but also wondering what she had done to have to serve a man who had broken both her heart and her trust.
Author's note: Round 2 of editing. Mush easier than I thought it would be. I have no idea why I was dreading this.