Chapter 46
Meeting With The Jarl
Rona dropped her swords and collapsed onto her knees in the snow. She pressed her hands to her face and took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She couldn't stop shaking, even when Bishop wrapped his arms around her and embraced her. She was sure nothing could stop the absolute terror wracking her body and mind.
Alduin knew now. He knew about Bishop. He would stop at nothing to tear him apart in front of her. How could she protect him?
The chanting from the Word Wall was steady and constant, but she ignored it. It didn't matter now. It wouldn't be enough to stop Alduin. Nothing was enough. Bishop said, "Ladyship... Rona. They need your healing hands."
She took a breath and remembered the others and their wounds. She pushed herself off the ground and numbly climbed the steps. She looked over to where Athis and Njada lay, their wounds mildly healed, as Kodlak and Aela made them drink some potions. Farkas and Vilkas were down below, looking on at Torvar's body. And Skjor approached, carrying Ria who had enormous puncture wounds in her stomach and chest. A dragon had bitten her and crushed her insides, killing her.
Rona did everything she could to push back her tears as she focused her magic and continued healing the severely wounded before moving on to fixing up the scrapes, burns and bruises on the others. No one spoke. Two had died, two severely injured. Njada had lost her sword arm, she could still train with her left, but it would be an uphill battle for her. Athis looked like he was on death's door, with shallow breathing and severe blood loss. The members of the Circle were hardly wounded though. Maybe the beast blood had spared them.
When she'd finished her healing she wandered away from the group, heading up a path, leading to the edge of the mountain. There was a tall watchtower to her right. She walked towards it, but did not go inside. Instead she found a spot at the edge of the mountain and sat down in the snow, not even caring how cold it actually was and ignored her shivering. She pulled her knees up and pressed her face to them. She kept taking deep breaths and exhaling slowly.
After a few minutes she heard some boots crunching in the snow by her and looked up expecting to see Bishop standing at her side. Instead it was Kodlak. He sat down beside her, throwing an arm to his knee and said, "It's a difficult line of work we're in."
She just nodded. If she said anything now she would break, she just knew it.
"Much more difficult line of work being the Dragonborn," he looked over at her, his kind eyes full of concern for her, "It is okay to mourn those we have lost in battle."
Her chest heaved and her lips trembled. Was he trying to make her cry?
"You don't always have to stay so strong for everyone else. You may be the Dragonborn, Rona, but you are still human. You are allowed to feel what comes naturally to you," he assured her. It was okay to feel sad and scared and everything in between.
Her face cringed and she gave a deep sob, setting the anguish in her heart free. He reached out to her like a caring grandfather and she cried in his arms. Her breath became sharp and heavy and her tears flowed endlessly. She started mumbling almost nonsensically, "Why did they pick me? I'm not strong enough. I can't do this. I don't want this. How can I beat him? I don't know how. I don't know what to do. I can't save them. I can't protect them." She cried and cried some more, letting her fears and sorrows go.
Kodlak chuckled gently, "I always did envy the girls. So in touch with your emotions, so able to easily express them." She sniffled and looked up at him, brows knit tightly together and he looked into her face and said, "You are much stronger than you think. What you did today, you should be proud of. You saved many lives."
"But," she sobbed, "Ria and - and Torvar..."
Kodlak gave her a pained look and said, "We cannot always save everyone, no matter how hard we try."
She turned away from him, feeling distressed. Bishop was going to die because of her and she would not be able to stop it.
"You worry for him," he said knowingly, "I see the way you two go on fighting, putting everything in your very being to protect each other. The love you have for him and the love he holds for you is incredibly powerful."
She wiped at the tears on her face and sniffled, "Alduin knows. He's going to try and kill Bishop just to destroy me."
He pat her on the back gently and sighed, "You will find a way to save him. It is a path that may break your hearts, but you will find the strength within and you will do it."
She looked over at him, confused. But before she could say anything else he stood up and said, "Come along pup. You were not made for the harsh cold. Let's get you warmed up."
The two of them went back to the others. They'd already found a place to bury Ria and Torvar. They were not equipped to bring the bodies back, especially when they had two wounded to carry and look after. They would hold a funeral in their honor and memory when they returned to Jorrvaskr. Vilkas carried Njada and Farkas carried Athis.
Rona stood before the Word Wall taking in the word, strun, which meant storm. They all started heading back, everyone silent as they mourned those they lost that day. But Bishop stopped his procession and Rona did with him. She looked over at him and he muttered, "I hate this place."
She took his hand in hers and said, "We still have to get your brother's sword."
He looked seriously at her and called out to Skjor who was trailing behind the others, "Skjor!" He looked back and Bishop said, "We'll catch up in a while."
"Don't take too long," he said as he continued his sad march forward.
Bishop turned and pulled her along with him, "I never want to come back to this fucking place," he growled, "I hope we can find it quickly."
They went around the higher ledges, up near the watchtower and he looked around before he said, "It happened around here." He stepped to the edge and looked down and pointed, "Can you take me down there?"
She nodded, grasping him by the waist. They leapt off the cliff together and she slowed their fall. They bound down a few ledges before he told her to let them land on a flat ridge. He stepped over to a crevice and reached into it pulling an old rusted sword from the crack in the mountainside.
He looked it over and actually smiled, though he held a pained look too, "This is it. Forgot how plain it was."
"We'll see if you Eorland can fix it for you," Rona said.
He grabbed a dragon bone he'd strapped to his back and held it against the blade, "I'm going to see if he can use this to make something new with it. Meld them together."
She smiled, "I can teach you how to use dual blades."
He grinned, "Yeah... yeah I'd like that."
He strapped the old sword and bone onto his back again and grasped her shoulders, "You're freezing Ladyship. Let's get you out of here."
She pressed her face to his chest and just held him for a moment, ignoring the biting cold in her hands and on her face. She liked to feel his chest rising and falling and his rhythmic heart beating, all signs that he was still alive and well. She said, "Please don't ever do that again." He knew what she meant. She never wanted him to throw himself at Alduin the way he did in the midst of their battle.
He ran his fingers through her hair and caressed her back before pressing his face to the top of her head, kissing her and said, "I'll always protect you Rona. I'll get stronger and I'll keep you safe." She looked up at him, tears sparkling in her eyes. He ran his thumb over her cheeks, catching them as they fell, "We stay out here any longer and your eyes are going to freeze shut."
She gave a feeble laugh and they turned to the edge, leaping down and made their way along the path back to Riften. Kodlak met with the Jarl and Maven Black-Briar on his own that time. He had to explain what happened on their mission and how three of the seven dragons they faced that day escaped.
Maven was not impressed in the slightest and made sure to cut their payment significantly. He didn't argue it however; he couldn't guarantee anything with dragons being resurrected all over Skyrim.
Athis and Njada were taken to the Temple of Mara where a resident Priestess of Kynareth could tend to them overnight. The rest of them were spending the night in Riften, taking up several tables at the Bee and Barb. Everyone had drinks in hand, though they hardly drank at all, not wanting to take leave of their senses after the deadly battle hours earlier. Skjor, Aela and Kodlak all took up one table, while Farkas and Vilkas sat up at the bar. Rona and Bishop were taking up space at a lonely table together just staring into their mugs. Both deep in thought. A few other patrons sat and stood around enjoying quiet meals and drinking.
It wasn't the first time Rona had lost a comrade in battle. Being a member of the Fighter's Guild she'd seen plenty come and go. There was just something different about this though. She felt that the dragons were her burden to bear, not anyone else's. If anyone should have been killed by them, it should have been her. Survivor's guilt. Charissa would have given her crap about it and told her how dangerous and useless it was to feel that way. "Fight on in their memory and honor! Fight for them!" She'd say. Rona knew Kodlak would say the same.
After a short while everyone got up to go to bed. There were so many of them staying there that a few had to use their bedrolls and sleep on the floor. Rona slept fretfully, her nightmares plaguing her with images of Ronin and Jillian fighting together against the dragon menace. She felt Jillian's love, fears and her anguish again and again as Alduin crushed Ronin and then he'd turn into Bishop and she would stoop over his cold and lifeless body as his golden eyes stared blankly at the sky.
The next morning, they went to get Athis and Njada from the Temple. Athis was in good spirits and doing much better. Njada however, was just angry. Of course she was, she was a warrior at heart and now she had no sword arm. She hardly looked at any of them or spoke. She would live, but she was surely wondering if her life was still worth living at all.
They collected their steeds and made the trip back to Whiterun, taking the shorter path home around Helgen. Strangely the ruined village seemed to be abandoned as there were no signs of Thorn's men or any bandits for that matter. Perhaps the dragons had scared them all off.
On their return to Whiterun Kodlak told them all to get several days' rest and said they would meet in honor of the fallen in the next week. Everyone needed time to themselves to mourn and to recover. He assured Rona that she could take all the time she needed and he wouldn't blame her if she left the Companions. She smiled and shook her head, "I'm not giving up that easily!" He returned her smile and clapped her on the shoulder, looking proud as ever. She started missing her own father and couldn't wait to see him again in another two months.
Bishop stopped by Skyforge and discussed the possibility of melding his brother's sword with the dragon bone, seeing if it could be done. Eorland seemed very interested and took on the task for him, telling him it'd be a month or so before it was ready.
They collected Karnwyr from Jorrvaskr, who was as happy as ever to see them and then they went home, both exhausted and ready to sleep it all off. They dozed off in each other's arms, finding comfort in one another and as morning came Bishop seemed to be back to his usual frisky self, groping at her and prodding his hardness against her rear. She grumbled sleepily at him, not feeling very well, "I don't feel like it."
He pestered her, "Aw come on Ladyship. It's been almost a week," he nuzzled at her ear and crooned , "I'll make you come first."
"I don't wanna," she mumbled grumpily, still his hands were roaming, and they traveled down her nethers and he murmured, "But you're so wet already Ladyship."
She found that odd because she didn't feel aroused in the slightest, just tired and cranky. She threw him an annoyed look and then he pulled his hand back and grinned broadly as two of his fingers were covered in blood, "Looks like someone finally started their period!"
"Eeww," she groaned and pulled out of his grasp. He laughed at her and she ran downstairs to clean up after herself. He followed washing his hand in the wash basin looking much happier than he had in a long time.
"I've never been so happy to miss my mark Ladyship!" He declared, throwing his hands to his hips, still totally naked.
She chuckled at him, feeling a slight twinge of relief herself and also a bit of sadness. Whether it was from her mood, their battle with the dragons or the fact that she'd warmed up to the idea of having a baby with him, she wasn't really sure.
He smirked at her, "You actually look disappointed."
Her face burned red and she said, "Not disappointed! Just... crampy."
"I'll take it all! Cramps and crankiness. Bring on the moodiness!" He chuckled cheerfully and went back upstairs. She rolled her eyes and collected a sanitary napkin from a drawer, not looking forward to her menstrual pain but decidedly glad that she wasn't bringing an infant into her personal world of chaos.
She went back upstairs and found him still nude and laying on the bed, "You know I don't mind a little mess, Ladyship and I wouldn't mind celebrating with you."
She gave him a sour look and pulled on her underwear and dress as she said, "So gross."
He laughed, "You could never be gross. Besides, it might help your cramps."
"No thank you!" She said, "I like our blankets and sheets just the way they are. Clean."
She laid back down on the bed, still feeling fatigued. He grabbed his own underwear and trousers and put them on then laid back beside her, "You gonna lounge around here all day then?"
"I might," she mumbled, "I feel tired."
He smirked, "I bet you do. As for me… I feel amazing!"
"Lucky you," she grumbled.
He laid down next to her, still smiling and caressed her hair from her face and said, "Still feeling upset? Want to talk Sweetness?"
She shook her head and he leaned in closer to her and spoke low and sensually, "Let me take your mind off of all those terrible things, Rona." He pressed his lips to hers, kissing her gently and tenderly at first, sliding his tongue over hers and running his hand through her hair before it traveled down to the small of her back and he pulled her into an even deeper embrace.
Bishop was so skilled at taking her breath away, as his mouth parted slightly from hers, but his tongue was still tracing her lips and inside her mouth. She felt her mind going fuzzy at his touch. She welcomed it and then pressed her lips to his again, nipping them and pulling gently. He groaned under her mouth and started rubbing his hard groin against her leg, pressing against her through their clothes. He whispered heavily, "I love you."
It made her heart yearn for him and she said, "I love you Bishop," as she wrapped her arms around his neck, running her fingers through his soft tufts of hair and pulling him in for a deep and long kiss. He grasped her leg, lifting it to allow himself to press his hardness even closer to her need, as his hands kept roaming up and down her back and over her breasts. They pulled back for a moment, both flushed and breathless from their kiss and she pressed her hands to his chest, curling her fingers through the curly hairs and tracing his muscular form, admiring his handsome masculinity.
And then there was a loud knock on the door downstairs. They both sat up and Rona said, "I wonder who that is?"
Bishop grumbled, "If it's that Priest of Talos pestering us with his pamphlets again I'm kicking him in the snowberries this time."
Rona rolled off the bed and laughed saying, "I'll get it."
She went downstairs and opened the door only to find an anxious courier standing there. He said quickly, looking over the letter, "Uh… Miss Thoraminh?"
"Yes, that's me," she said.
"I have a letter from the Jarl," he passed her the neatly sealed envelope and then said, "Welp! That's it, got to go!" And he ran off hastily to deliver his other letters.
She shut the door and tore open the envelope, pulling out the fancy parchment and read it over.
The Noble Jarl Balgruuf the Greater of Whiterun
hereby summons
The Lady Dragonborn Rona Thoraminh
to appear before the court with immediate urgency.
She smirked as she looked it over and headed up the stairs and back into their room. Bishop was sitting partly upright with his hands behind his head and said, "Tell me you shouted the town crier across the hold."
She laughed and handed him the letter. He read it over and then scoffed, "Pft… And he needs to see you with immediate urgency this time, no 'at your latest convenience' I see. Fantastic," he said dropping the letter on the bed, "What's he want to tell you this time? That your great, great, grans once knew each other?"
"I guess we'll find out," she said as she pulled on her boots and gloves.
He scowled at her, "Ladyship, we were just about to have some fun."
She looked at him with half-lidded eyes and said, "I never agreed to that," then stuck her tongue out and scrunched her nose at him.
"Ah, you were enjoying it," he smirked and rolled over to pull his boots and shirt on.
They collected their weapons and brought Karnwyr along to let him do his business and get a stretch. He wandered around to one of the neighbor's bushes behind their home and squat down. The old woman who lived there suddenly peered through the window and threw the door open, "I'd appreciate it if you'd stop letting your," she paused, narrowing her eyes as she looked Karnwyr over and correctly guessed, "wolf, do his business all over my tea-leaved willows!"
"It's just fertilizer, grandma," Bishop sneered.
The old woman stormed right up to him and jabbed a finger in his face, "Better watch yourself boy, or old Olava will curse you," and then her eyes widened and glossed over. She stared at him as though she were looking through him. Bishop leaned back from her finger and she shook her head slightly and blinked several times before truly looking him up and down. Then she smirked and said, "Oh ho! Looks like this lad will be getting his comeuppance soon enough. Curse of the wolf," she hissed the last part.
He scowled at her crossing his arms, "The hell are you babbling on about you old crone?"
She huffed at him and turned, her pale eyes catching a glimpse of Rona and widening as she breathed, "Oh you dear, poor girl," she walked up to Rona then and grasped her hands, "So much pain. So much darkness," she touched a hand to Rona's face caressing her cheek as Rona looked at her stupefied. "Your future is so murky. But it's alright... you'll come see old Olava again, when you meet Gabriella. She'll send you to me, perhaps it will be more clear then." The old woman nodded fervently, still touching her cheek and grasping her hand firmly.
Finally Bishop stepped between them, scowling furiously at the old woman and said, "Touch her again and you're dead."
Olava just smirked at him, pursing her lips through her smile and shaking her head, "You'll get through it lad. You won't like it, but you'll get through it." Then she turned away from them and stepped back into her house.
Bishop stared at her back, utterly thrown and muttered to Rona, "Remind me to never let Karnwyr take a shit on this fucking mad woman's bushes again."
Rona laughed as they turned to leave, but her face fell slightly. She glanced back at the old woman's home feeling uneasy about everything she just said, not only about her own future, but about Bishop's. The curse of the wolf could only mean...
"Coming Ladyship?" He called as he continued walking down the path with Karnwyr at his side. Rona snapped to attention and ran over to them.
They stepped into the Jarl's Longhouse and walked up the steps leading into the dining area. They looked around, but there was no one in sight. Then Rona looked up at the sound of light whispering and saw three small faces looking down at her. All three of the Jarl's children were up on the landing above, staring at them and she called, "Um... is your father here?"
"He's busy," Frothar said.
"He asked me to come here," Rona explained.
Then his housecarl, Irileth stepped into the room, scowling at the children and pointing sharply at them, "You three - get back to your studies immediately," she turned her attention back to Rona and said, "The Jarl will be with you shortly. He's having a meeting with his Commander at the moment. Please, make yourselves at home."
Irileth left, heading back up the stairs and Bishop rolled his eyes and muttered, "The least they could do is offer some refreshments. I could go for an ale or a pint of mead right about now."
The three children hadn't moved from their spots as they were still up above, whispering to each other and Bishop looked up at them, "Don't you brats have anything better to do than to stare at us all day?"
The little girl bravely said, "You better watch your mouth or my father will have you clapped in irons!"
"Pft... Oh please, you honestly think he could stop the Dragonborn and her personal guard?"
"Told you so," Nelkir sneered at his brother.
"Shut up Nelkie," Frothar spat back and then muttered, "Can't believe a dumb girl is really the Dragonborn."
Rona laughed lightly and looked around the room for a place to sit when she noticed a beautiful harp sitting beyond one of the tables. She hadn't seen one in ages, not since her visit to the Imperial Palace years ago. She walked up to it and looked over the beautiful craftsmanship, admiring it's elegance and the sparkling strings. It had been carved from redwood and plated with golden metal which held the strings. The whole thing had ornate roses carved into it, as though they were blooming directly from the harp. It was gorgeous and she wanted to play it so bad.
Bishop saw her looking at it and warned her, "Don't touch things that don't belong to you Ladyship."
She glanced over at him and said playfully, "I'm not touching, I'm just looking."
"That was Mother's harp," Dagny said excitedly, "Papa just had it restored."
The kid's were all leaning more bravely over the railing above now, feeling more friendly and comfortable it seemed.
"Yeah, they restringed it too," Frothar said.
Rona looked up at them, smiling sweetly, "Do you think he'd mind if I played it?"
Dagny got excited again, "Mother's songs are over there on the bookshelf! Can you play them?"
Rona said, "I'll certainly try."
"Ladyship," Bishop grumbled.
She smirked at him and whispered, "It'll be fine, besides he owes me that much."
He rolled his eyes at her and pulled up a chair at one of the tables.
Rona found a thin book in between many thicker ones on the shelf and pulled it out. She flipped through it. It was filled cover to cover with songs that were hand written into it. She pored over them all, taking them in. They were so beautiful, all meant for the harp, but could easily be played on a lute or another string based instrument. She found a lovely song, humming the tune to herself and felt compelled to play it. She was quick to memorize the lyrics and the melody, drawing the song into her almost the same way she did with Words of Power.
She set the book aside and took a seat on the tall stool behind the harp, smiling at Bishop who was resting his head on the top of his hand and giving her a look that said, if we get in trouble you are on your own.
She poised her hands to the strings and strummed them a few times, rocking the harp and getting the feel of it. She noticed that Bishop suddenly looked more interested as she played.
She took a breath and began playing and singing the song from the book.
(The song is Aerith's Theme by Erutan)
"Far below the city's glow
Lie the flowers blooming in the shadows
They comfort me, saving me
From all I see
Then you came with eyes of pain
Haunting blue and gentle
Like a spring rain
Silently beckoning
For a love to cease your inner tears
I belong here with you
Though the earth cries inside me
I will fly
High into the storm
Far from the light I will be strong
Because they need you
Because I love you
You close your eyes now
I will be gone
But my love for you will go on
Darkest skies, hollow eyes
But the stars burn brighter
Than you realize
It may be destiny
That sheds our tears
You must leave me behind
Though the night howls inside you
You must fly
High into the storm
Far from the light
You must be strong
Because they need you
Because I love you
You close your eyes now
And I will be gone
But my love for you will go on."
When she finished she looked back to Bishop. His expression was one of sorrow, and although it was a very sad song she never expected it would touch him like that. Perhaps the words rang true for him. He uttered, "Ladyship, that was..."
But Jarl Balgruuf spoke over him, "Gods girl, that song... Your voice..."
She looked over at the Jarl and saw that everyone in the Longhouse was suddenly in attendance, including his steward, his housecarl, his court wizard, the servants, the maids and all the guards.
Rona blushed furiously not realizing she'd had an audience the whole time and she quickly got up and stepped away from the harp faltering, "I - I'm sorry Jarl Balgruuf... I didn't mean to..."
"No," he interrupted her, holding a hand up to stop her stammering, "It's quite alright. I haven't heard it played in a long time. You have a beautiful voice Miss Thoraminh. Truly. To grace our hold with it, with that song... I couldn't ask for anything more."
She didn't know what to say but then remembered why she was there in the first place, pulling the letter from her pouch, "I received your summons."
"Indeed, please come with me," Balgruuf turned to walk away and noticed Bishop standing and he said, "I'm sorry but your companion must -"
"He stays with me," she said firmly.
Balgruuf smirked at her, "So be it then. We have much to discuss. Let's meet outside on the great porch."
The three children were still on the upper landing, watching them all, though now they were hiding behind the railing again and Balgruuf barked, "Get back to your studies you three!"
The three of them groaned and muttered, "Yes Papa," and "Yes Father."
Balgruuf, Bishop, Rona and Irileth all stepped out onto the great porch. Bishop stared up at the strange arced structure above as they all crossed the landing to the balcony.
Balgruuf took a deep breath and looked to Rona saying, "I want to apologize to you Lady Rona, for everything I said to you before. It was wrong of me... but, I hope you understand that I was desperate."
"I do understand," she said, "But I still can't help you."
Balgruuf scoffed, frustrated, "I wouldn't have asked you to come so urgently if it wasn't important. I know you've been working with the Companions and you've done a great service for all of the people in my hold. Everyone has done nothing but sing your praises since you've returned to us. You have shown us all your unending compassion, I would only ask that you do the same for me."
She just stared at him, expressionless. She would take no side in the war, not the Imperials, not the Stormcloaks and not Whiterun's.
His mouth twisted at her lack of a response and he turned grasping the balustrade, "I heard about your visit to The Rift... about the Companions that were lost and about... your fight with the World Eater," he glanced over his shoulder at her, "Is it true that Alduin has returned to Skyrim?"
"Yes," she said succinctly, "so you'll understand where my priorities are at this time."
"What do you plan to do about him?"
"We have plans in the works. I can't reveal anything," she looked over at Irileth, "Too many eyes and ears."
Balgruuf laughed tensely, "Well I'm glad you're doing something about it. Still, how much longer do you plan to stay in Whiterun?"
"We're not sure," Rona said.
Balgruuf turned to her again, looking very on edge, "I received a message from Ulfric early this morning. He sent me his axe."
Rona looked at him perplexed.
"Do you understand what that means girl? It means I have a choice now, keep his axe and side with the damn Stormcloaks or send it back and he moves to take Whiterun!"
Balgruuf looked absolutely distressed and she understood why, but there was nothing she could do. She stood firm on her stance, "You have to make your choice then. I can't do it for you. I choose neither side. The Imperials wish to quash the rebellion and are under the thumb of the Thalmor. They will - they have - murdered anyone who worships Talos. But Ulfric," she seethed, "he's a vile racist who cares nothing for the plight of the dunmer and the argonians that take up residence in his hold and pay their dues while living in filth and squalor. He would throw me from Skyrim himself the minute he claims the throne... I cannot choose these sides. I can neither betray the faithful nords of Skyrim nor those who've immigrated here and have done nothing but further the beauty and wealth of this great land."
Balgruuf stared at her, mouth partly open. His eyes wandered as he fell into deep thought and he turned back to grasp the balustrade. Finally he said, "You truly do have a way with words Lady Rona. You speak only the truth," he paused and sighed before speaking with strength in his voice, "Irileth, see to it that the axe is returned to the man who sent it. The esteemed Jarl of Windhelm has my answer, and bring me my pen and the good parchment."
"You're writing a letter my lord?" Irileth asked him.
"Yes, to General Tullius. I need to make a few things clear before I accept these Legionnaires of his."
"As you wish," she stepped away from them, taking her leave.
Bishop scoffed and Balgruuf looked over at him saying, "Got something to say lad?"
Bishop scowled at the word and said, "Choosing the Imperials then?"
"Yes I am. While I detest the Thalmor, I'll be damned if I accept Ulfric as my King. Perhaps if he'd fought Torygg in a fair fight..."
"He still would have crushed him," Bishop said, "Torygg was just a lad."
"You're probably right," Balgruuf agreed, then he addressed Rona once more, "Lady Rona, I know you won't step in to aid us. I understand your position, taking the way of the Greybeards I suppose, but can I ask one thing of you?"
"You may," she said, "but I can't make any promises."
"When I told you about Nelkir, that I wanted you to protect him, I meant that. But if you could protect all of my children I would be eternally grateful. They are my life and I expect Whiterun will be seeing the Stormcloaks soon. I fear for their safety."
"Why not send them away?" She suggested, "Send them to Solitude. You're choosing the Imperials right? I'm sure Elisif will gladly take them in and protect them."
His brows furrowed angrily, "With damned, blasted dragons flying about!? Are you mad!?"
"So you'd rather leave them here for the Stormcloaks to pick them off instead?" Bishop scoffed.
"Of course not!" Balgruuf roared and then his face fell, "I just want to keep them safe."
Rona said, "I'll escort them."
Balgruuf looked stunned, "You would do that?"
"Yes. I can do this one thing for you... for them. I can protect them from the dragons."
He nodded and said, "Thank you Lady Rona. Thank you."
"We can't leave just yet though," she said sadly, "We have some affairs that need to be taken care of here first."
"Of course... for the Companions you lost. I understand. That is fine. I'll make arrangements for your travel to Solitude and your return if you so choose. You'll leave in a week." They turned to go when Jarl Balgruuf said, "You know... that song," they looked back at him, "my wife wrote it for me on her deathbed, but she never had a chance to play it. She passed on shortly after finishing it. Thank you Lady Rona, for finally giving it a voice."