Wrath of the Dragon part 5
Lydia paced near the gate, waiting. The large wooden doors stayed closed and several guardsmen made sure people stayed inside the walls. On the walls above the gate, nervous guards stared into the white abyss that lay outside the city walls. Lydia would come here, three times a day, and would walk around for a few hours, hoping they would come. After a while she would turn back and stay inside.
Inside the house, Iona was slowly recovering. Life seemed to return to her face and eyes as the days passed. For a few hours each day she would be awake, each day a bit longer than yesterday and Mjoll saw that her strength was returning, slowly but steadily. During these moments when Iona would be awake, Mjoll would not leave her side. Nothing and no-one would move her, except making sure the fire would not go out and her own rest, yet sometimes not even that. Lydia had asked Mjoll about this, yet was given no answer that would satisfy her.
After a few days of being trapped inside the city, people were starting to worry more and more. Although the storm was not as bad as it used to be, the rain had not stopped. Lighting would occasionally flash through the skies, and the streets were all but flooded. The canals had swelled significantly and many of the small houses were uninhabitable. The Ratway had turned into an underwater tunnel system and Elgrim's Elixirs that used to profit from the damp environment was now out of business. The beggars of the town had asked the guards and the Jarl for a place where they could stay out of the rain, yet no answer had come from Mistveil Keep. Jarl Maven Black-Briar had closed the doors to the keep and kept everyone out. Yet small stories and rumours still implied that she still dined like a queen.
On the fifth day, as Lydia hid from the rain under a balcony, she vaguely heard something coming from the gate. Three thumps were heard on the large wooden doors and she quickly ran to the gatehouse. Three guards stopped her and grasped their swords.
"Stay back! Don't come any closer."
"There is someone outside the gate!" she pleaded. "Open it up!"
"I said stay back!" one of the guards shouted at her. "You have no authority here, housecarl. One wrong move and you will rot in the dungeons."
Three more loud sounds came from the gate as someone rammed their fists on the reinforced doors. One of the guards walked towards a small peephole, and slid a small wooden panel away from it.
"Who goes there?"
Even from where she stood Lydia could hear the calm, but threatening tone of the voice and she knew immediately who it was.
"Open this gate."
"Again, who are you?" the guard asked.
"My name is Tarrion Dovahsebrom. I was once the thane of this city. Open this gate, or I will rip it from its hinges."
The guard did not answer and the others seemed a bit nervous when they too heard the threat.
"I suggest you open up," Lydia urged them.
"We don't take orders from you, housecarl."
"I'm not ordering you, I'm advising you," she said quickly while moving to the side. "Open this gate or get out of the way."
"Step aside! Get out of my way," a man said as he came walking from one of the streets. He was a bit short, with light-brown hair. His armour looked like it shined, yet Lydia could see that it would not stop a real blow. A short sword hung from his side and a red cloak hung from his shoulders. Six guards followed him to the gate.
Lydia had seen the man only once before, yet she recognized him, albeit it barely.
The man moved past the guards and looked through the peephole at the man outside.
"Who are you and what do you want?" he asked.
The man outside paused for a few moments before responding. "Aerin."
After a long pause he continued. "Open this gate, or I will reduce it to splinters."
"We have orders from Jarl Maven Black-Briar not to open up for anyone, not even the other Jarls."
"Maven will get her due," the voice said threateningly. "Last chance. Open up."
By now the commotion near the gate started to get noticed by the citizens. A few had come out of their houses and looked at the guards. Many of the were afraid to say anything and watched from a distance at how this would play out.
"Very well," the voice said and Lydia knew what was coming.
"Get out of the way!" she shouted while seeking cover behind one of the buildings. "Take cover!"
The guards saw her panic and three of them followed her advice and ran for cover, while a few others drew their swords, ready to face whatever would come through that gate.
"Stand fast, men!" Aerin shouted as he drew his sword, yet he quickly retreated behind the other guards and it looked like he was not about to follow his own advice.
FUS RO DAH
With a thundering sound the gate shattered into splinters just as another lightning strike flashed across the sky. The guards were blown away as a shockwave threw them aside and three of them fell on top of Aerin. The citizens of Riften ran for cover as Lydia carefully peaked around the corner to see who walked through the gatehouse.
A large man with pitch black hair appeared. A sharp sword hung from his side and although he did not wear armour, only simple travel clothes, he looked more menacing than an entire battalion.
Next to him a woman with black hair and pale skin emerged from the mist. Her clothes were dark and smudged, yet a fierce gaze was in her eyes. A short sword hung from her side, yet she did not look like she needed it to defend herself.
Aerin crawled from underneath the guards and stood up just as Tarrion reached him. Before he could run away, Tarrion grabbed him and threw him aside high against a wall, after which Serana fired a large Ice Spike and pinned his cloak to the wall. Now hanging with his feet barely grazing the ground Aerin struggled to escape, but to no avail.
Lydia joined the duo as they walked through the streets of Riften, heading straight for Mistveil Keep. All around them the citizens of Riften emerged from their houses and followed them, at a safe distance. Many whispered to each other.
"Is that him? It cannot be."
"I thought he was dead."
"Where has he been for so long?"
"Did he summon the mist? What will he do now?"
Tarrion ignored all of them and although Serana could hear it all, she said nothing as they continued towards the Jarl's palace.
Several guards came running from different directions, sword in hand. But when they saw who had entered the city they froze. They stood silent. Waiting for someone to shout orders at them.. to tell them what to do. But no-one came, and even if they did, it was unlikely any of the guards would follow orders. For in front of them stood the Last Dragonborn returned. Many of them had seen him before, and all of them knew him… and all knew of his power. And although they had only heard of the woman called Serana who walked beside him, they had heard rumours that she too was powerful, capable of taking on dozens of men without breaking a sweat. Whether these were only rumours or true, none of them wished to find out.
The people of Riften left their houses and now followed their old thane. Many of them heard the thundering Shout that shattered the gate, while the rest heard the commotion and the murmurs that now echoed through the streets. Serana and Lydia walked beside Tarrion and the townsfolk behind them as they neared Mistveil Keep. There Tarrion rammed his fists on the doors and shouted.
"Maven! Open this door!"
It was silent for a few moments, but then, to the surprise of many, the slow, creaking sounds of hinges was heard and the large doors opened.
Inside the hall, Tarrion saw a large number of guards and mercenaries… all blocking his path to the Jarl's throne. The guards had drawn their swords, yet seemed unsure of what to do if anyone gave them orders. Behind them all, sitting on her throne sat Jarl Maven Black-Briar of Riften. Her black hair had started to turn grey, yet her eyes were as fierce as they had always been. A crown adorned her head and golden rings were on her fingers. Next to her stood a large man with brown hair and a brown beard. He was clad in plated armour and held a large sword in his hand. A large scar was on his face and Tarrion recognized him instantly. Maul. The lapdog of the Black-Briars.
In a corner behind Maven her two sons, Hemming and Sibbi, were trying to blend in with the walls, hoping they would not be seen. Tarrion was not surprised to see them there as the two would follow their mother's command without question. Maven's only daughter, Ingun, was nowhere to be found, yet this was not entirely surprising. Ingun was never one to follow in her mother's footsteps, yet Tarrion did not know where she could be.
"So you have returned."
Jarl Maven sat motionlessly on her throne and she stared past all the guards at Tarrion. "After more than two years you decide to return to where you are no longer welcome."
The guards shifted around. Nervous as to what orders they would be given.
"You have been removed from office," Maven continued. "You are no longer thane of Riften and you have no authority here anymore. Leave whence you came or I will order my guards to attack."
Next to Tarrion Serana raised an eyebrow at this threat. She saw that none of the guards seemed eager to follow that command, and she smirked to herself. If Maven was going to dig her own grave, she might as well dig it deep.
Tarrion stayed silent for a few moments and he saw a muscle pull on Maven's face.
"Maven Black-Briar," he said solemnly. "For the last two years you have hoarded the wealth of the Rift to yourself and made your people starve. For the last two years you have cared for nothing but your own desires. For the last two years you have shown that you are unfit for the role of Jarl. You have declared an outlaw of those who dared stand against you, and provoked a conflict with the neighbouring Holds. You have shown that you care for nothing and no-one, except yourself. You are unworthy of the title of Jarl."
Maven's face did not change, yet Serana could see a fury behind her eyes that could not be hidden. She saw how Maven gritted her teeth when Tarrion continued.
"You now have three courses of action to take. The first is that you will cease all your old operations and work towards restoring the Rift to what it is supposed to be. A place where people can live good lives in peace."
Although Maven was clearly seething already, she still held herself in control and allowed Tarrion to continue, but only to amuse herself.
"The second option is that you abdicate and allow the people of Riften to choose a new Jarl from among them. You will leave the Rift and all its domains, never to return, bringing with you only what you can carry. You will keep your life and those that choose to go with you."
Tarrion glanced at Hemming and Sibbi who stared at it all without moving a muscle.
"The third choice you have is to stay as Jarl, but then we will remove you myself, and any who dare stand in our way. We will act, not for our own benefit, but for the benefit of the people of the Rift. The people of the Rift have suffered enough by your hands… no more. This choice also applies to all who are present here. Any that continue to defend this corrupt and unworthy Jarl will suffer the consequences. No-one can hide behind the excuse of 'just following orders'. No-one can say that they did not have the power to act. Any and all are responsible, and will be held accountable, for their own choices."
For a few moments the silence filled the room until Tarrion continued for a last time. "You have three days to decide. Three days to decide what side you are on. Three days to make your choice."
And with that Tarrion and Serana turned around and left Mistveil Keep with Lydia right behind them. They did not wait for Maven to say anything or responded to her threats and insults. They closed the large doors behind them and turned to the people outside.
All of Riften had gathered outside the Jarls Palace. All of the citizens stood in the rain that was still falling form the sky, though not as much as the days before that. He saw Maramal, the priest of Mara who he first saw in the tavern, preaching about Mara. He saw Grelka and Madesi, Keerava and Talen. Boli, one of the few citizens that seemed to still have enough to keep himself well fed, stood alone and his Dunmer wife Nirevor stood far away from him. Tarrion looked at their faces and saw pain in their faces, yet it was mixed with hope.
But he did not looked at them with kindness. And when he spoke his voice was not soft and calming… but harsh and scolding.
"People of Riten, hear me! I am Tarrion Dovahsebrom, who you know as the Dragonborn. I have returned… and I am disappointed. The Rift has suffered under the rule of Jarl Maven Black-Briar as she hoarded the wealth of this hold to herself. And you let it happen. I see you are suffering, yet you did nothing to change it. You let others suffer and did nothing to change it. Iona, who was once my housecarl here in this city, was declared an outlaw by Maven for speaking against her… and you did what? Nothing! You left her… you ignored her.. you pretended you did not see her. A woman who was born and raised in this hold and who has defended the Rift with her life. You ignored her and left her to starve. When will you see that you are no less innocent than the Jarl who ordered her to be an outlaw? You think you have no power? One man indeed does not… but an entire city? Does Maven influence your minds too? Does she bind you all to inaction? Does she still hold power, even when an entire city is against her?"
As he spoke he saw a few of the townsfolk wanting to speak up, but he did not let them. The majority looked down and stood uneasy as he berated them, for they knew he was right.
He continued.
"No Jarl holds power, unless the people give it. This I say to all, citizens and the guards and soldiers. Are you supposed to protect the Jarl, or the people of the hold? Who do you defend? The walls of this city, or the people behind it? You have failed as much as the Jarl. I have given her a choice. She will either change her ways or abdicate. If she refuses to do either… I will depose her. In three days' time I will return and then you will either be with me, or against me. You have three days."
A bit later Serana, Tarrion and Lydia entered Mjoll's house where they rested for a few moments. Mjoll seemed to be upstairs tending to Iona and Tarrion dropped himself on one of the remaining crates that had not been smashed into splinters and used as wood for the fire.
"You meant everything you said back there?" Lydia asked, yet she was quite sure she knew the answer.
"I did," Tarrion nodded. "The people need to realize that this only happened because they did nothing to stop it. The guards need to realize that they allowed this to happen. Everyone has the responsibility to take action when something goes wrong."
Serana nodded in agreement. "True, but I am afraid that most see themselves as alone and are afraid to act out of fear they will stand alone. Fear is a powerful weapon and most people are not brave enough."
"Bravery cannot exist without fear," Tarrion said as he pushed his hair back. "A fluffy bunny is not scary, and thus fighting it is not brave. But fighting a Dragon is beyond most, and they are terrifying. It requires bravery to face them."
Lydia chuckled. "So you're saying you are exceptionally brave?"
But Tarrion shook his head, with a slight smirk. "No. The first few times maybe, but not anymore. I have faced far worse than Dragons, so they do not scare me anymore."
Lydia nodded. "I know… but I wonder though. Why did you give Maven three days? You know she will not abdicate, let alone change her ways."
But before Tarrion could answer, she perked. "It wasn't for her, but for the people."
She looked from Tarrion to Serana. "You gave them three days to decide whose side they are on and to let them know what would happen."
Tarrion nodded, but Serana answered. "We talked about it before we came here. We decided it is best to inform the people first and let them take in what would happen. If we just barge in and remove Maven instantly, they would never accept any new Jarl, no matter who gains the title. Now they have time to think about it.. and more importantly, they can now remember just how much Maven has ruined the hold and the city and the lives of its people."
"If we act now," Tarrion concluded. "we act out our will. If we let the people adjust first.. we will act as agents of their will."
A smirk appeared on Lydia's face. "Crafty."
Serana went upstairs to inform Mjoll of everything that happened at Mistveil Keep, while Tarrion and Lydia stayed downstairs and exchanged information. She heard no sounds coming from the main bedroom where Iona lay to recover, and Serana assumed she was sleeping. Yet when she quietly opened the door she saw something she did not expect.
Mjoll sat on the bed, next to Iona. One hand gently caressed Iona's cheek and jaw while the other held one of Iona's hands. Her long, golden hair had fallen over their faces as they seemed to be blind and deaf to the outside world and they kissed. They kissed as if they had not a care in the world. As if Iona was the picture of health and they had not seen each other in a long time. Like two lovers who finally found each other again.
Serana froze in the doorway and caught herself staring at the two. She knew the two were close, and since Iona had to recover here Mjoll had not left her side, but she did not know the two were this 'close'. Part of her wanted to quickly and quietly move away and leave the two as they were, yet she did not seem to listen to this part.
When she heard a moan coming from them, she accidentally moved the door a bit further open and its hinges started to creak. With an audible 'pop' Mjoll pulled back and stared at Serana who froze in place as she was about to bolt it out of there.
For a few moments the three women stared at each other, while Serana tried to find a way to either give an excuse as to why she was still there, or an excuse to leave. Iona eventually broke the silence.
"Did something important happen?"
Awkwardly and with lots of stammering Serana answered. "Eh… yes.. we, eh… that is to say, Tarrion and I… we, oh and Lydia… we gave Maven an… eh.. sorry, an ultimatum… sort of. She is supposed to abdicate… or change her ehh, way of ruling… or else we… again sorry… we depose her. I did not mean to.. I mean I wasn't…. Three days… in three days I come back… sorry, we come back and have the people on our side… or hopefully."
She paused for a while. "Again… sorry for, eh… interrupting."
"Don't worry," Mjoll said. "It's alright."
Iona turned her head with an expression that said 'No, it's not' but said nothing.
"But, could you not tell anyone for now?" Mjoll asked. "I don't think now is the right time. Iona is still recovering, and I think it is best she gets the rest she needs."
"Says the woman who tried to push her tongue down my throat mere seconds ago," Iona retorted.
"Semantics," was Mjoll's answer.
Before any bickering started Serana agreed. "I won't tell anyone," her face was still bright red. "But Tarrion and I will be away for three days. But we will be back after to deal with Maven, one way or the other."
Serana left the two and knew there was a good change they would continue where they left off.
Downstairs she told Tarrion that Mjoll would back them when they would face Maven, but also that it was best to leave town now. Lydia stayed behind to help Mjoll with Iona. Serana thought that both of them would prefer her to leave as well, but knew she couldn't say anything. Outside the guard at the gate was tripled and it was likely Maven had given the order to kill both of them. But none of the guards acted against them. They broke their formation and let them pass unharmed. A few of them made a slight move as if they wanted to salute the two, yet held back at the last second. As Serana and Tarrion disappeared into the mist, the last thing they heard was shouting coming from Aerin, who was still pinned to the wall of a house.
=End of Chapter=
=Authors Notes=
A bit shorter than I originally planned, but I am happy with how this chapter turned out. I hope you liked it.
I have to point out the obvious though, this took way longer than I hoped. But with me trying to find a job, and failing… already preparing for a new school year… and the massive pandemic that is Covid-19 that is sweeping all over the world… Well, it has been chaos here too. No area in the Netherlands is under complete lockdown, but the schools are closed until the end of April at least. That does set the tone for the rest of the country. I know that plenty of other countries have it far worse, and I hope that everyone from every country stays safe.
I am fine and I hope you are too. Stay safe and look after each other.