Location: Windhelm
21th of Rain's Hand
7:00pm
Kayleigh took a deep breath, and began to walk to Candlehearth Hall for a good night's sleep. She would talk to Ulfric Stormcloak in the morning, seeing as how Vigilance looked tired. She was exhausted as well, both physically and mentally.
"You come here where you're not wanted! You eat our food, you pollute our city with your stink, and you refuse to help the Stormcloaks!"
She entered the city, and almost immediately, that hateful statement was the first thing her ears picked up. She then spotted 2 male Nords with a female Dark Elf. The argument seemed to be getting heated when one of them raised his voice.
Kayleigh sat Vigilance down near the city gates and assured him she would be right back.
"Maybe we'll pay you a visit tonight, Imperial Spy! We've got ways to find out who you really are!"
"HEY," Kayleigh's voice bellowed with authority, and while it attracted the attention of several citizens and guards, none of them appeared as if they were going to intervene any time soon. "What in Oblivion is going on here?"
Rolff Stone-Fist overpowered her in height and body, but he did not intimidate her in the slightest. "What do we have here? Someone to side with this grey-skin?"
"First of all, I suggest you call them by their proper names. It's called 'Dunmer', not grey-skins," She took a step closer to the larger Nord. "Second, yes, I'm siding with her. You have a problem?"
"Matter of fact, I do. Aren't you ashamed? You're a Nord!"
"I am a Nord, and being a Nord, being a human being, means respecting all races, no matter what they are. And besides, it isn't very manly, you know: 2 men preying on a young woman."
"This one's got quite a mouth on her, Rolff," The other male Nord commented.
"I agree," Rolff looked at Kayleigh and massaged his fists. "Why don't we shut it up for good?"
Kayleigh stood her ground. When Rolff was within hitting distance, he heard an intimidating growl coming from behind Kayleigh. He glanced down to see the battered Vigilance, snarling at him.
With Rolff distracted, she took this opportunity to punch him in the side of his face. He staggered back into the arms of his Nord friend and grabbed his jaw. "Son of a-!"
"There's more where that came from." She assured, wringing out her right hand. "I don't want to see you disturbing any of the Dark Elves or anyone for that matter. Unless you fancy death. Now get out of here."
Rolff stumbled away, followed by his Nord friend, with expressions of hatred painted on their faces.
The female Dark Elf walked up to Kayleigh, smiling gratefully. "Azura bless you, child! Thank you so much!"
"Are you alright?" Kayleigh asked.
"Yes, yes, I'm fine, child. Thank you."
"Not a problem. Do those Nords give you trouble all the time?"
"Rolff is the worst of them all," She told her, disgusted. "He likes to get drunk and walk around the Gray Quarter, yelling insult at us in the small hours of the morning. A real charmer, that one…"
"Gray Quarter?" Kayleigh was confused to hear that name. "What are you talking about? Since when did Windhelm have a 'Gray Quarter'?"
"You're new here, child?"
"No. No, I was born here. I've just been… away for a few years now."
"Well, let me fill you in the details then. Come with me to the New Gnisis Cornerclub in the Quarter. You can see what your beloved Windhelm has become."
Location: New Gnisis Cornerclub, Gray Quarter
21th of Rain's Hand
7:15pm
"The Gray Quarter was previously named the Snow Quarter. We Dark Elves were pushed here when refugees from Morrowind came to the area after the eruption of Red Mountain. The Nords avoid this area, due to the increased presence of the Aldmeri Dominion in Tamriel." Ambarys Rendar, the owner, explained.
"All thanks to the Thalmor." Kayleigh mumbled.
"We've been trying to appeal to the Jarl, to accept us and to fix this place, but to no avail. He's still strong about his beliefs." Suvaris Atheron said. She was the Dark Elf whom Kayleigh had recused from Rolff.
Kayleigh smirked. "I'll try talking to him."
Suvaris's eyes widened upon hearing such a declaration. "You would do that? For us? Bless your kind heart, child. Where have you been all this time?"
Ambarys managed a tiny smile. "Look, I'm no big fan of the Nords," He pointed out the obvious. "But you're different. Your drinks tonight are free of charge."
"Really? Thank you!"
22th of Rain's Hand
Good morning, Journal. I'll be leaving for the Palace of the Kings in a few minutes. I'm going to get Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak to attend my Peace Council. I hope I can convince him, though. I hear he's quite the stubborn one.
Journal, I've hated what Windhelm has become. Stone Quarter? Gray Quarter? This wasn't the Windhelm I lived in! All Nords are in the Stone Quarter and those who aren't are in the Gray Quarter, which used to be our Snow Quarter. I have to do something about this. I need to talk some sense into the Jarl and some of the Nords. I don't know how I'm going to do that, but I must do something. I hate having to see the Elves and the Argonians suffer in this slum.
Location: Windhelm
22th of Rain's Hand
7:02am
Vigilance was able to walk on his feet now. Following Colette's orders, Kayleigh fed him the proper medication and used the 'Healing Hands' spell as well. He was limping, just a little bit, but other than that, he was a tough pup; he was going to be just fine.
Kayleigh and Vigilance exited the Candlehearth Hall and were about to make their way to the Palace of the Kings, when she spotted the entrance way to the cemetery. Kayleigh swallowed the lump in her throat, suddenly feeling a little ill to her stomach. Part of her wanted to hurry to the Palace, but the other part of her wanted to go and say hi to someone. Kayleigh may have been strong in battle, but she was never good at being strong at heart.
She gave into her vulnerability, and made her way to the cemetery.
As she entered, she spotted a Windhelm guard, a female civilian and a priest surrounding what looked like a dead body, which was lying upon a tombstone.
"Oh Gods, how could this happen?" The female civilian whimpered.
Kayleigh walked down the steps and made her way to the guard. "Guard! What happened here?"
"Another girl killed," He sighed heavily. "This is Suanna, from Candelhearth Hall."
"Another?" Kayleigh was shocked to hear that word. "You mean… this happened before?"
"She's the third victim of this brutal attack. It's always the same: young girl, killed at night, body torn up."
"Well, how goes the investigation? Any leads yet?"
"We're stretched thin as it is with the war. We don't have time for this," He related to her. "I know it's not pleasant, but it's the truth."
"Then let me help. I know the, uh… 'Stone Quarter' inside out. I can ask questions, patrol the area… everything." She offered.
"You really think you can do better than a legion of guards?" The guard said with a huff.
"I don't see you making progress, sir. Besides, I will not have some cowardly murder running around my city. So I suggest you tell me where to start."
"Fine. You'll need to talk to the Jarl. We can't just let anyone go around claiming to be on official business. If he gives you the go, I'll be right here."
"Noted. I'll be right back."
Location: Palace of the Kings, Windhelm
22th of Rain's Hand
7:10am
Kayleigh entered inside the Palace of the Kings, holding her breath. This place held a lot of meaning to her, personal meanings. She was glad to step foot after so long. She began to walk to the dining table, with Vigilance behind her when she noticed that the throne was empty.
"Can I help you, miss?" A Nord stood next to the empty throne.
"Oh, my name is Kayleigh and I'm here to see the Jarl. I have a message from the Greybeards." She said.
"The Greybeards? Sit tight, my lady. The Jarl and his second-in-command are in the conference room. He'll be out in a minute. I'm Jorleif, the Jarl's steward."
She gave the man a smile. "A pleasure. And thank you, kind sir,"
She stood there, staring at all the banners as they bore the insignia of the Stormcloaks, the ones who were fighting for Skyrim's freedom. Rest assured that when Alduin was rid of this world, she would work on giving Skyrim back to her people.
"How long are you going to wait?"
"You think I need to send Balgruuf a stronger message?"
"If by message, you mean… shoving a sword through his gullet!"
That last sentence left Kayleigh with widened eyes.
"Taking his city and leaving him in disgrace would make a more powerful statement, don't you think?"
"So we're ready to start this war in earnest then?"
"Soon… soon."
Kayleigh recognized the last voice. It was Ulfric Stormcloak and it seemed that he and his second-in-command were planning on taking Whiterun, but it did not sound like that was going to happen anytime soon.
"We've been soldiers a long time, Galmar. We know the price of freedom. The people are still weighing things in their hearts."
Ah. So the officer's name is Galmar…
"What's left of Skyrim to wager?"
"They have families to think of…"
"And how many of their children follow your banner?" Galmar questioned. "We are their families."
"Well put, friend," Kayleigh heard the satisfactory in Ulfric Stormlcoak's voice. Tell me Galmar: why do you fight for me?"
"I'd follow you into the depths of Oblivion! You know that!" Galmar exclaimed, obviously appalled at why Ulfric would ask such a question.
"Yes," That was when the two gentlemen began to make their way out of the conference room and into the throne room, with Ulfric in the lead. "But… why do you fight? If not for me, then for what?"
"I'll die before Elves dictate the fate of men! Are we not one in this, Ulfric?"
"Indeed we are, old friend. We are…" Ulfric walked up the steps of his throne, his back facing Galmar and Kayleigh. "But when you fight, you have to fight for something. Me?" He turned to face Galmar, still unaware of Kayleigh's presence. "I fight for the men I've held in my arms, dying on foreign soil. I fight for their wives and children, whose names I heard whispered in their last breaths!"
Originally folding her arms across her chest, she lowered them.
"I fight for we few who did come home, only to find our country full of strangers wearing familiar faces! I fight for my people impoverished to pay the debts of an Empire too weak to rule them, yet brands them for criminals for wanting to rule themselves!"
My Gods… Ha, I'm… I'm so mesmerized. With each word he spoke, a smile began to form on Kayleigh's lips.
"I fight so that all the fighting I've already done hasn't been for nothing! I fight… because I must…" Ulfric lowered his voice at the last sentence, making it the most key one of all. He lowered himself onto his throne.
Galmar smirked. "Your words give voice to what we all feel, Ulfric. And that's why you will be High King." He then exhaled. "But the day words are enough, will be the day soldiers like us are longer needed."
"I would gladly retire from the world… were such a day to dawn." Ulfric expressed.
As will I. "Just like your father," Now, the two male Nord were completely aware of her presence. "He would've spoken just like that. That's how much of an impact he's made on us." She looked at Ulfric, keeping a smirk. "I do hope you remember me."
"You know this woman, Ulfric?" Galmar asked, raising a suspicious eyebrow.
Ulfric smiled to himself a little. "Indeed I do. This is the woman from Helgan."
Galmar raised both eyebrows this time. "You were the one who survived? Ha. Figures. I would expect no less from the Dragonborn."
Kayleigh kept her little smile. "So you know, gentlemen."
"Word travels, Dragonborn," Ulfric leaned against his throne. "Now, you must be here for a reason, I'm assuming."
"You assumed right, Jarl Ulfric. I have a message from the Greybeards." She said.
"The Greaybeards? It's high time they turn their gaze from the heavens and onto our blooding homeland. What do they want?" He asked.
"They are hosting a Peace Council on the 25th for the Imperials and the Stormcloaks.; a truce between the two fractions, until I can deal with this Dragon problem." She relayed.
"I have the greatest respect for the Greaybeards. No doubt about that. And the Dragon menace is beginning to be a problem," He acknowledged. "The political situation is delicate, Dragonborn. What does General Tullius have to say about that? Provided you have already talked to him."
"Oh, but I did. He'll come, if you come."
"He did? Fine then. I'll attend. I'll give him one more chance to quit with his tail between his legs." He added in disgust.
Kayleigh, however, could not help but smile a little wider when she heard that last sentence. It left her a little amused. "Honestly, I would beton it. But thank you, Jarl Ulfric. I'm here for other reason."
"And that is?"
"The recent murders. It's being ignored."
"For a reason, Dragonborn. We are low on men to investigate on it." He admitted.
"Not anymore. I want to be involved in the investigation. I'll even solve it whole, if I can."
"Involved? Why?" Galmar asked, his arms folded across his chest.
"I will not have some murderer running around and traumatizing my city. I'm sure you won't let that happen too, right?"
It then hit Ulfric. "So you're a citizen of Windhelm."
She looked at him, realizing her folly. Damn it, her anger got the better of her once again. "Yes. Yes, I am. I haven't been home in… a long time. This is not what I wanted to come home to. This can't happen to Windhelm. I need to get to the bottom of this and put this bastard away. But only if you let me."
The corner of Ulfric's mouth curled into a smile. "Spoken like a true Nord and a citizen of Windhelm. You are now in charge of the investigation. Come to me or my steward, Jorleif, if you have anything."
A/N: Hello! Well, finally some intro, eh? Hope it's good so far.
Now, I'd like to address something that I know, has been bothering people: Kayleigh's 's how her name came about: I apologize if it isn't a very Nord-like name, but I chose the name for a reason. You see, Kayleigh stuck me as a very teenager-like name. And the most impacting part of her life was in her teens. I wanted a name that could echo her teenage years. Hence I chose 'Kayleigh'. I'm sorry once again, if it isn't very appealing, but I won't be changing her name though.
Next, the NPCs. Character's are toned down? I never meant for that to happen. I apologize for that :(
And lastly: THANK YOU, Mizpinkypu! :D