Chapter 2
She's a bard
Luckily Whiterun wasn't too far from Riverwood. Barely an hour had passed when they came up on Honningbrew Meadery and the local farms. They heard the sound of people shouting in the distance. The scene immediately caught Rona's eye. There was a Giant attacking a small group on one of the farms further down the road. She burst into a sprint and aimed straight for the commotion ahead of her.
"Hey! Slow down ladyship! I think they've got it!" Bishop called from the rear.
She ignored him and ran right into the fray. This was her element and she'd never seen a beast quite like this one before. The Giant was stooped over a small fence separating it from four terrified cows inside the pen. Two women were attacking the beast with swords and arrows with little effect as it swatted the arrows away with its mighty club. Every effort they made to cut into its ankles was met with boisterous stomping and grunting by the fiend making it difficult to get in any truly damaging cuts.
Rona ran alongside the largest warrior, a roguish man with rippling muscles and long, black stringy hair. His eyes were stained with war paint and his battered armor spoke volumes of the fights he'd been in. He was standing back, holding a great sword with both hands waiting for an opening.
"Think you can throw me?" she shouted at him, trying to catch his attention.
"Uh…huh? What?" the man stumbled looking down at the petite woman suddenly at his side.
"CAN. YOU. THROW. ME?" she repeated louder and more succinctly.
"I…I guess so?" he said more confused, but stuck his great sword into the ground regardless and turned to face her.
The other two women were doing their best to route the beast away from the bleating farm animals when the red haired woman with green war paint slashed across her face screamed, "FARKAS! YOU ICE BRAIN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"
"Just hold your hands out together like this!" Rona explained as she knelt down and pressed the sides of her hands together then motioned them at an upward angle quickly as if aiming at the Giant, "Just like this – okay?"
"You got it." Farkas got into position and Rona put her thumb and forefinger to her mouth whistling loudly catching the attention of the Giant which turned around abruptly from its mooing prey. Rona grabbed her bow and stepped into Farkas's open hands just as Bishop caught up to them, bellowing, "ARE YOU INSANE!?"
Farkas threw her with a bit more force than she anticipated above the Giant's head. She breathed an incantation to slow her fall, drew an arrow, nocking it to her bow and lined her sights up with the Giant's upturned and bemused face.
She pulled the arrow back, drawing weight into it, then loosed the arrow straight into the Giant's left eye. It pierced through with enough speed and force to penetrate the beast's skull, but still wasn't enough to sink into its brain. The Giant roared in pain and turned its head down to tear at its face with its free hand. Rona used the opportunity to ascend quicker, allowing her to kick off its head and bounce outward and away where she safely landed on the ground.
The other warriors used the Giant's distraction to their benefit and began viciously hacking at its heels until it toppled over with a resounding crash. Farkas grabbed his great sword and ran across the farmland where he violently plunged it into the Giant's vulnerable skull, killing it instantly.
Rona was looking on at them, a small smile perking at the corners of her mouth. Finally, she was back at it, doing what she loved. Today was going to be a good day, she could feel it.
Bishop's voice called behind her, "Damn woman. That was...I'm seriously impressed."
The red haired woman strode across the farm and came right up to her, "I have to agree! You handle yourself well Shield-Sister."
"Shield-Sister?" Rona inquired.
"An outsider, eh?" the woman said glancing at Rona's pointed ears, "Never heard of the Companions? An order of warriors. We are brothers and sisters in honor. And we show up to solve problems if the coin is good enough."
"Oh! My mother was a Companion."
The woman cocked an eyebrow, "Truly? Perhaps I know of her."
"Her name is Claudia Windsleaf."
"Wait…you're Claudia's little girl, Rona?"
Rona nodded. The woman grasped her hand suddenly, beaming at her, "Why you were just a pup when we first met," she leaned in getting a better look at her now intensely blushing face. "It really is you - well that certainly explains it. You probably don't remember me. My name is Aela. I often hunted with your mother before she left the Circle to forge her own path. How is the old wench?"
Rona's heart sank, right, I'm supposed to be going to see her.
"Not well," she said, "I received a letter from her a week ago saying that she was ill, so I'm headed off to see what I can do for her."
"I see. I'm sorry to hear that. Well, if you're ever interested in joining us speak to Kodlak Whitemane up in Jorrvaskr. I'm sure the old man will be more than happy to bring Claudia's girl into the fold. Please give your mother my regards and I'll pray for her swift recovery."
The woman turned away to follow her comrades along the path.
Rona heard Bishop's voice behind her, "Your mother was a Companion?"
"Yeah, she was a long time ago."
Bishop studied her with curiosity behind his amber eyes. "Huh…Like mother like daughter I suppose. Anyhow, warn me next time you're about to rush into battle like that. Don't want you to have all the fun."
"Oh, sorry about that."
Bishop said, "Whiterun is just around the corner you know. Ready to tell the Jarl all about your little dragon?"
She scowled at him and trudged right past him up the path leading to the city's outer gates. Two guards stood as sentries, watching the familiar townsfolk coming and going. Just as soon as Rona and Bishop got there a guard proceeded to stop them, "Halt! City's closed with dragons about. Official business only."
A wry sneer pulled at Rona's lips as she slowly glanced over at Bishop who looked dumbstruck by the guard's remark.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me," he said.
The guard sounded annoyed, "No, I'm not fucking kidding."
Rona spoke up quickly, "Riverwood calls for aid."
"Riverwood's in danger too? Damn it...You'd better go on in. You'll find the Jarl in Dragonsreach at the top of the hill."
They walked in together and Rona took in the sights. A small but bustling town sprawled across low white hills, white wooden homes and businesses with yellow thatched roofs were scattered on either side of the cobblestone path. A woman was busy arguing with a man while she sharpened a sword at a forge to the right, people milled about the streets, talking and walking, carrying products, selling in a small market square. It was quaint, charming in a way.
"This way princess," Bishop called to her from atop a staircase to her left.
She hurried up the stairs following behind him as she watched three children playing a game of tag and two Redguards bickering about a lost sword. They came around a large, mostly dead looking tree where Rona overheard a priest of Kynareth complaining about the sad state of the thing. Another priest, one of Talos, was loudly preaching in the plaza to a few bystanders about the glory of Talos and the Empire's betrayal of him.
They carried on, up more stairs leading to an enormous palace. Guards were stationed more closely together, watching as the two strangers entered the palace longhouse. The inside was immense, with tall vaulted ceilings and wide open space, they went up more stairs which lead to a hearth in the center, flanked by two long wooden tables on either side.
An older Nordic man sat on a tall throne discussing important matters with his steward while a furious looking dunmer drew her sword and slowly approached them.
"What's the meaning of this interruption? Jarl Balgruuf is not receiving visitors."
Looking to avoid being stabbed Rona immediately stated their intentions, "I have news from Helgen about the dragon attack!"
"Well that explains why the guards let you in," she said sheathing her sword, "Come on then, the Jarl will want to speak to you personally."
Rona looked over at Bishop with the biggest 'told you so' look on her face.
"Yeah I get it, you can put the smirk away now Ladyship," he muttered back at her.
Rona stood before the court, this wasn't her first time in the presence of nobility, but it was her first time speaking directly to them. She did her best to remember all the rules of etiquette her father had taught her and composed herself accordingly. Though she was a bit thrown by the way the Jarl so casually slumped in his chair, very unlike the Kings and Queens of Cyrodiil.
Despite his slouching, the Jarl spoke with strength and seriousness in his voice, "So. You were at Helgen? You saw this dragon with your own eyes?"
"I did," Rona replied. She went on explaining everything that happened in detail - from her capture crossing the border and being thrown in with the Stormcloaks as a prisoner, to the fact that the Imperials nearly beheaded the leader of the rebellion before a dragon came down and shouted at them, causing fire to rain from the sky. Everyone in the court listened intently. Jarl Balgruuf stroked his beard thoughtfully as Rona finished. He then turned to his steward and said, "What do you say now, Proventus? Shall we continue to trust in the strength of our walls? Against a dragon?"
The dunmer woman interjected, "My lord, we should send troops to Riverwood at once. It's in the most immediate danger, if that dragon is lurking in the mountains…"
Proventus barked back, "The Jarl of Falkreath will view that as a provocation! He'll assume we're preparing to join Ulfric's side and attack him!"
"Enough!" Balgruuf bellowed, "Irileth, send a detachment to Riverwood at once."
"Yes, my Jarl."
The steward protested, "We should not…"
"I'll not stand idly by while a dragon burns my hold and slaughters my people!"
The steward seemed to get the hint and excused himself, "If you'll excuse me, I'll return to my duties."
"That would be best," Balgruuf firmly agreed. He looked up at Rona then and spoke directly to her, "Well done young lady. Considering the severity of the circumstances I appreciate that you sought me out and delayed your trip home. May I ask your name?"
"Uh, Rona."
"Rona?" he suddenly looked bewildered, "Your mother…she is…Claudia?"
Rona looked surprised at him.
"Yes. Claudia Windsleaf," she said.
"Ysmir's beard! I should have known...those rose colored locks and you have her green eyes. Why you were barely walking when I first met you child. Though you look more like your elf of a father, ah – I mean no disrespect of course."
"We…we've met before?" Rona was stunned. All this time she'd known all these people, or at least met them as an infant before her father swept her off to Cyrodiil when she was three years old. How many more people would she find that her mother had been in contact with?
"Tell me, how is Claudia these days?" Balgruuf asked keenly.
Rona once again shared the news of her mother's letter and illness.
Balgruuf sighed solemnly, "I'm very sorry to hear that," he paused for a moment, holding his forefinger and thumb to his head as if in thought, then looked back down at Rona, "I don't want to keep you but could I trouble you for a favor child?"
Rona pressed her lips together tightly. There certainly was no shortage of people in need of help in Skyrim. She took a breath and said, "What would you ask of me?"
The Jarl smiled and said, "I believe this task is suitable for someone of your particular talents, perhaps. At the very least I'm most certain the daughter of a Windsleaf can handle this. Let's meet with Farengar, my court wizard. He's been looking into a matter related to these dragons and...rumors of dragons."
"Wow!" Bishop laughed loudly as they stepped outside into the blistering sunlight, "Just, WOW! What is that, some kind of mental condition?"
Rona glared at him, "What?"
"Your need to help every single moron that comes asking."
"You're saying the Jarl is a moron?"
He paused until they were out of earshot of the guards, "A bit, yeah."
"What's wrong with helping people Bishop? I'm helping you aren't I?"
"That's exactly it, you're helping me, and you're going home soon. You've already got enough on your plate, yet here you are, taking on every little task that comes your way."
"I don't have to take care of it immediately. He said to go whenever the opportunity arises and...he paid me, a lot."
"Oh, it was implied that you should hurry, heavily implied with all his talk of dragons. And that pile of gold? He's keeping you on retainer."
Rona rolled her eyes at him and quickened her pace, "Hurry up or the carriage will leave without us!"
They came up to a small group of guardsman, the dunmer, Irileth, was addressing them loudly, "The Jarl has finally agreed to send you all back to Riverwood."
One of the guards spoke up, "Yes, Housecarl. We'll leave immediately."
Another said, "It's just us against a dragon, is that it?"
Irileth scowled at him, "I can't afford to send anyone else. And we don't know where the dragon is. Your main job will be to keep an eye out and get the people to safety if the town is attacked. I don't expect the three of you to fight off a dragon by yourselves, but I do expect you to do your duty."
"Of course. We'll keep Riverwood safe. You can count on it."
"Glad to hear it soldier. Ah," she saw Bishop and Rona and said, "glad you two made it," then she turned back to the guards, "these two will be accompanying you in the carriage. This young woman was kind enough to go out of her way to inform us about the dragon. I expect you three to be on your best behaviors, you're representing Whiterun after all. Good luck!"
"Of course Housecarl. All right men, let's move out!"
The carriage was very cramped with the five of them. After all the seating was made for four and Rona ended up squeezing in between a blonde guardsman and Bishop who leaned back and threw an arm around her shoulders. She gave him subtle glare which he only responded to with a suggestive smirk.
They all introduced themselves, the blonde guard next to Rona was Talun, the bearded guard across from Bishop said his name was Dagun, the dusky haired guard across from Rona was Sigrs, and the carriage driver introduced himself as Bjorlam.
Sigrs started asking about the dragon, "So Irileth was saying you saw the dragon with your own eyes, can you tell us what we're up against here?"
Rona hesitated, should she tell them just how awful it really was? She decided to give them general details, "Well...it was very big and very loud."
"How big?"
"About as big as a house, oh...and it breathed...fire."
They all groaned inwardly.
Dagun whined, "I've got a bad knee, rockjoint you know, I don't know if I can handle something like that."
Sigrs said, "Oh quit your bellyaching."
Rona perked up, "I know some restoration magic, I could help alleviate the pain."
"Oi, keep the magic away from me," Sigrs grunted.
"It won't hurt or anything?" Dagun asked nervously.
Rona laughed, "No, of course not! It's restoration, not destruction."
She leaned forward and held her hands out to him then spoke a simple incantation. Dagun looked nervously at her hands as they started to glow. It didn't take long before he sighed and relaxed though, "Wow...that feels...that feels so much better!"
Talun marveled at him, "Really? It didn't hurt you at all?"
"Definitely not. Thank you miss."
"Of course I -"
Talun shouted, "Wait! Do me next! My joints have been bothering me too, plus I think I caught a case of ataxia from a skeever the other day."
Bishop snorted, "Never thought I'd see the day a nord would beg for some magic."
"I'd try it if I were you, I feel like a new man," Dagun said flexing his knee.
Rona cast some more magic on the blonde guard next to her, then Sigrs suddenly changed his tune and piped in to complain about his case of rattles. She decided to up the power with a grand healing when Bjorlam said he was sure he had brain rot to which Bishop laughed loudly.
Rona was getting into a real groove casting her magic. It reminded her of home and her time with her comrades after a long day of battle. She started out humming a song but then the words carried from her throat, a magic in themselves. She closed her eyes imagining the joy she felt among her friends as she sang.
(The song is To My Dear Friends by Erutan)
"The wheels of time have turned,
and left their trails on every soul,
and through memories I walk,
their voices to hear, however faint,
their tones resound in me,
in a warrior's ageless heart.
Dear friends, I loved you well,
each steadfast heart,
our dreams kept within,
and though those days are lost,
our story lives on,
in bonds we forged, in battle blazing bright,
in a warrior's ageless heart.
Now, by the hearth I rest,
my battered blade,
old friend by the fire,
and an image I keep, their faces to see,
each one so dear,
forever bound to me,
in a warrior's ageless heart."
When she opened her eyes she realized then that everyone was staring at her, save for Bjorlam, though his head was turned as he listened intently. Rona dared a glance at Bishop who was stifling a laugh. She felt her face flush red.
The others though were awestruck when finally Dagun said, "I think I'm in love."
Bishop broke into laughter, "You know ladyship, when you blush it goes straight to the tips of your ears."
She jabbed an elbow into his ribs.
"Hey now! I might need some restoration if you keep that up."
Dagun opined, "You have quite the talent Lady Rona."
"Are you a bard?" asked Talun.
"What? No - well I mean yes. Everyone in the Fighter's Guild sings songs of battle and glory it's just...normal," she said shifting uncomfortably in her seat.
Bjorlam called back, "We're almost to Riverwood, perhaps the lady would be kind enough to grace us with another song?"
Dagun implored her, "Yes please! We must hear another!"
"She's not like the bards here in Skyrim, her voice, it's like an angel's," said Talun. They all agreed.
Rona felt her redness burning a little less and smiled, "Well, what would you like to hear?"
"Ragnar the Red!" shouted Sigrs.
They all burst out laughing, even Bishop who said, "Aw - no, please spare us from that atrocity." He looked down at Rona and gave her a surprisingly kind smile, "Sing whatever comes to mind, but whatever you do, don't sing that."
She felt the blush rushing back from his sudden warmth towards her, "W-well, I don't know that one but...how about something more lively?"
And she started in with a more confident and vocal, "Aaaaaahhh~"
(The song is You're Not Alone by Erutan)
"Lost in darkest blue
Endless labyrinths weaving though
Will you stagger on,
with no star to light your way?
Share with me your tears
All your troubles and deepest fears
I remember when you chased all my shadows away
Won't you take my hand?
Come away with me from this land
Let me give to you all that you have given to me
Fly horizon bound
Find the moon behind darkening clouds
Even far apart, know our souls together will be
When the storm draws nigh
Dreams will shatter before your eyes
Know that you're not alone
When the battle starts I will comfort your restless heart
You'll know that you are home
When your stars stop shining
Endless vines around you winding
Know that you're not alone I will give my all
So your tears will no longer fall
Down, down on sorrow's stone
Look into my eyes
All eternity you will find
In this fragile heart,
know that you will always belong
Shout into the night
Show the darkness that you will fight
Hopeless you may feel, but inside
I know you are strong
Keep me in your heart
So we'll never be far apart
Let the bonds of love break these chains imprisoning you
Always you will find
Shadows lingering close behind
Lift your spirits now,
We shall be together soon
When the storm draws nigh
Dreams will shatter before your eyes
Know that you're not alone
When the battle starts I will comfort your restless heart
You'll know that you are home
When your stars stop shining
Endless vines around you winding
Know that you're not alone I will give my all
So your tears will no longer fall
Down, down on sorrow's stone
Know that you're not alone."
They arrived in Riverwood shortly after her song was finished. The guardsmen all clambered out of the carriage thanking her profusely for healing their aches and pains and promised her a drink whenever she returned. Dagun shouted, "Marry me Lady Rona! I'll have a ring for you next I see you!" The others punched him in the arm lightheartedly and wished her well as Bjorlam carried on down the path.
Bishop yawned and put his feet up onto the opposite carriage bench. "Finally I can stretch my legs. They were a fun bunch, huh?"
"Yeah, I enjoyed myself," Rona agreed.
"I could tell. You gonna take him up on his proposal?"
Rona laughed, "I don't think so. He's a bit my senior don't you think?"
"A bit, probably around your father's age."
"Ha! Nobody is even close Ata's age."
"Ata?"
"I told you already, it means father in Aldmeri."
"Right, sometimes I forget you're half an elf."
She scowled at him, "And what's wrong with that?"
He smirked, "Nothing at all. Trust me, I'm not one of those Skyrim's for the Nords types. Besides, your elvishness only adds to your charm princess."
The carriage stopped abruptly. Bishop and Rona looked up and saw the smoldering ruin that was once Helgen.
"By the gods," Bjorlam muttered.
Rona hopped out of the carriage and ran around to the secured gates.
"What are you doing!?" Bishop shouted after her.
"There might be survivors!" she cried and pushed on the gates. They didn't budge an inch. "It's only been a day since the attack! Maybe - "
"Ladyship!," Bishop urged in whispered tones, "Ladyship - Rona! Get back in the carriage!"
"Best do as he says lass," a voice said from above her. She looked up to find a bandit with a bow and arrow trained on her, "This hold belongs to us now. So git."
She backed away from the gates when another bandit, a female, came stalking along the wall beside her comrade, "You heard Thorn, anyone who comes up here gets an arrow in the - URK!"
Bishop let loose an arrow of his own straight into the woman's skull.
"RUN!" he screamed. Rona kicked off the ground and sprinted around keeping close to the wall as Bjorlam snapped the reins on his steed. The carriage bolted forward just as Bishop picked off the swearing bandit with another arrow.
The carriage lurched around the building passing her. Bishop held tightly to the side of the carriage, leaning out over the edge and held a hand out to her. She quickly reached for it grasping his hand. He pulled her in forcing her to tumble onto the bottom of the carriage. Bishop grabbed her and pinned her under his body as more shouting could be heard from inside the walls and arrows flew over them.
The carriage bounced onto the rocky path as they came around the town and continued to rumble underneath them. They kept up like this for another few minutes before Bjorlam slowed it down and finally breathed with relief, "Everyone okay?"
Bishop smiled at the woman under him, "Doing just fine now."
She scowled at him, "You can get off me now."
He rolled off of her, sat up and plucked an arrow from the carriage bench. Rolling it between his fingers he looked up at her and barked, "What the hell were you even thinking?"
"I just wanted to see if there were any survivors."
"Of course you did."
"Miss, I...I'm not sure if we passed the farm or not, I know you said it's just outside Falkreath," Bjorlam said.
"Oh!" Rona stood up and gathered in her surroundings. A small house was just down the path from them.
"There!" she said, "My mother's farm is just beyond that house."
"Oh good," Bjorlam sounded relieved.
As soon as they'd arrived Rona thanked the driver and gave him twenty gold pieces for his trouble. She marched up a small hill and around a pond where they were met with a flourishing and quaint farm.
A cozy farmhouse stood in front of them, it had been patched up in various places. Rona looked around, surprised to see it was all so clean and well cared for. This was extremely unlike her mother. She'd always left the farm barren and never bothered patching up the home she would barely spend any time in, though perhaps in her old age she'd finally accepted her fate of retiring on her farm and decided to clean it up.
Rona glanced around looking for any sign of her mother and caught sight of a woman tending to some crops out on the farm. She was covered in head to toe in mage's robes and Rona was immediately suspicious.
She carefully tread across the freshly plowed ground and came up behind the woman, drawing her dagger on her.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
The young woman turned to look up at her and blinked.
"Whoa! Ladyship, is that any way to treat your...mother?" Bishop looked on puzzled.
"That's not my mother," Rona muttered.
"Ah," the woman spoke with a gentle lilted tone of voice, "You must be Rona, your mother's told me all about you."
The woman stood suddenly and wiped her hands onto her robe, then held out a hand in greeting, "It's alright, you can put the dagger away. I'm your mother's steward, my name is Illia."
Rona ignored the woman's outstretched hand and refused to put the dagger away, "Where is she?"
"Um...perhaps we should talk inside?" Illia suggested pulling her hand back and glancing nervously at the dagger, "I can make us some tea."
"Where is she?" Rona reiterated fiercely.
Illia chewed on her lower lip, "That is to say...she...she's already passed on."
Rona felt the tears clinging to her lashes as she gripped her dagger more tensely than before.