Morndas, 18th of Last Seed, 4E 201

Castras stopped at the stairs leading up to Dragonsreach. Why did Nords love stairs so much? There were stairs leading from one district to another, stairs leading to the tavern, stairs leading to Jorrvaskr, stairs leading to homes, stairs just everywhere. Castras sighed before starting up them, wishing his legs luck.

Fifteen Minutes Later...

Castras leaned against the side of the post, glaring at the guard chuckling at him.

"First time climbing these steps? Yeah, you travelers wander everywhere yet when it comes to those stairs, your legs seem to weaken. Heh heh happens to everyone... I remember my days as an adventurer. Yeah that's right, I was one too. That is, until I took an arrow to the knee."

"Who.. the fuck.. asked you.." Castras weezed, trying to catch his breath.

"Well then, rude ass," The guard said, going back to his rounds, heading down the steps.

"Fucking Nords, who the fuck wants to talk to random strangers when you're trying to do stuff?" Castras wondered aloud to himself.

"Well, it's a great way to make friends, a talent you obviously never learned."

He drew his blade and he spun around, only to find Aela there smirking at him. "Well this is familiar... you're rather jumpy, aren't ya? That shows paranoia, which is useful at certain times, but what do you have to be paranoid about? Vengeful ex-lover? Family fueds? Guilty conscience? I wonder which it is," She went on, circling him as she spoke.

"I was taught to always be paranoid, it can save your life. It's saved me quite a few times from wannabe bandits," Castras replied, sheathing his sword and turning his back on her and walking toward the doors of the keep.

She followed him, still going on about something; he tuned her out. He'd learned how to tune things out, had to if he were to survive Neloth's rants. He halted in his tracks when he saw the gleam of a blade in firelight.

"Who are you to disrupt Jarl Balgruuf?" Said an angry-looking Dunmeri woman said, glaring at him from the other end of her blade, which was aimed at his throat.

"I am Castras Telvanni, here on behalf of Alvor of Riverwood. Also, I have news from Helgen that is to be told to the Jarl immediately," Castras said, slowly moving the blade away from his face and toward the ground. The woman didn't look happy about it but she sheathed her weapon and gestured for him to follow.

"Well, that explains why the guards let you in. But I have to ask, why are you, a Telvanni wizard, in Skyrim, delivering messages like a common courier?" The woman questioned, looking at Castras.

Does she have another facial expression besides pissed off? Castras thought. "Well you see, whatever your name is, I wanted adventure and my Uncle Neloth thought it best for me to experience the world and blow stuff up. One of his favorite pastimes. That and he wanted me to try out some new stuff for him, as these experiments cannot be done on the ashy island of Solstheim."

The woman stopped dead in her tracks and turned around with an incredulous look on her face. Oh, so perhaps she does.. "Neloth? Your uncle is Neloth Telvanni and you live with him?" She asked, her voice rising in disbelief.

"Yes, is that so hard to believe?"

"Well, let's just say you must be of his blood if you can stand that man," She laughed, turning around and motioning for him to follow her again.

They stopped in front of a throne with the head of a dragon adorned above it. Sitting upon the throne was a man, probably somewhere in his sixties, maybe early fifties. He was wearing some fine robes of the nobles, had blonde hair with a matching beard, some fur-lined boots, and topping it all off was a circlet which probably served as his crown, or symbol of power. He had a face like chiseled stone as he looked upon his guest but Castras could see laugh lines around his eyes and mouth, so he had a sense of humor. He had an air of confidence around him and even though he was slouched in his throne, he held his head high with pride.

"Would I be correct in guessing that you would be this Jarl Balgruuf the Greater I've heard so much about?" Castras asked, giving a slight bow. He would have kneeled but as a Telvanni noble, he did not feel he needed to. This seemed to offend the Dunmer woman as her hand went to the hilt of her sword.

The blonde noticed this and motioned for her to calm and reluctantly, she did. "Yes, yes I would. Now who are you to disrupt my meeting? I may have the reputation of a patient man but it is offensive to disrupt someone like this. Who are-"

The Dunmeri woman sighed and laid a hand on Balgruuf's shoulder, stopping his beginning rant. "Balgruuf, he's a Telvanni. They have no sense of respect for others, not even other Telvannis. He says he's here on behalf of Alvor of Riverwood and has news from Helgen." She gave emphasis on the word 'Helgen' and gave him a look. His eyes widened slightly and he nodded, turning back to Castras.

"So, you're here on behalf of Alvor, eh? He's the blacksmith, right? Yes, now I remember. Good, reliable man, not one for fanciful tales and the like. What's his message, and for that matter, what news from Helgen do you have? We sent messengers to there but have only had reports that it's filled with bandits and looks burned to the ground."

Castras cleared his throat and began pacing a small line in front of the Jarl as he spoke. "Alvor requests for more guards to be sent to Riverwood, as it is defenseless. If it seems out of the blue-" the woman gave a small noise from her throat and Castras stopped for a second before continuing. "Anyways, as I was saying: If it seems out of the blue, it is because of the news from Helgen. Helgen has been destroyed... By a dragon."

Balgruuf and the woman didn't really seem to be affected except that Balgruuf smirked up at her, as if he was gloating. The real reaction came from behind him, he'd forgotten Aela was still there. She gasped and then laughed, earning weird looks from everyone.

"A dragon, eh? Was it big? Was it scary? Oh yes! I can't wait for it to attack.." She trailed off, realizing that she was saying that she was hoping the dragon would attack Whiterun. In front of the Jarl. She closed her mouth and stepped back, slightly bouncing up and down excitedly.

Jarl Balgruuf raised his eyebrow at her and then moved his gaze to the woman. "I told you, Irileth. I told you that was what I saw from my balcony. You didn't believe me. Now, we should send reinforcements to Riverwood and Rorikstead immediately." Irileth nodded and hurried off outside the keep. He stood and motioned for Castras to follow, and dismissed Aela.

Balgruuf led him up some stairs to the right of his throne and through some great doors to a giant balcony. The first things Castras noticed on the balcony was the amount of guards and the equipment hanging in the darkness above.

"What are those?" Castras asked, pointing to where they hung.

Balgruuf stopped and craned his neck upward at them. "Oh, those old things. Those are basically a dragon version of stockade. Here, let me tell you the history of Dragonsreach." He kept walking as he spoke, leading to a table at the edge of the balcony, offering a great view of the Northern plains of Whiterun that lead into the snowy Pale.

"According to legend, the palace today known as 'Dragonsreach' was originally a smaller building. Olaf One-Eye had the intent of creating a prison for the dragon Numinex after its-"

"He, m'lord."

"Excuse me?"

"The dragon your Olaf One-Eye captured was a he," Castras said firmly.

"How would you know this? This story was years and years ago, even the accounts of how Olaf defeated Numinex, transported him, and about everything in between is still disputed by scholars to this day!" Jarl Balgruuf exclaimed.

"Yes, but you see, Numinex is not a feminine name for dragons," Castras said with a serious face.

Balgruuf's face changed into three emotions, one after the other. First it was disbelief, then it was incredulous, and then it turned to laughter. He laughed and laughed and laughed. The dignified Jarl of Whiterun actually fell out of his chair laughing so hard. Castras gave him a glare as he managed to regain his self-composure, pulling himself back in his chair.

"Oh, I've heard some things in my years but that has to be the richest. I like you, elf. Now, back to business. Tell me what happened at Helgen."

And Castras did, from start to finish, from the time he awoke in the back of that cart to the end when he snuck past a bear to freedom. When he finished, he noticed that the Jarl's demeanor and jolly mood had darkened. His skin had also gotten paler when he'd mentioned the dragon's name, Alduin.

"So.. That's about it. That's my account of what happened at Helgen," Castras finished. He picked up a goblet and drank deeply, soothing his throat from use.

"Alduin.. This is bad indeed. What troubles me more is that you spoke to the dragon, or, at least you say so. I'm going to have to have General Tulius to send Hadvar back to give me his account of the story, just to be sure."

Castras stood, knocking his chair back as he did so. He was offended. This.. this Nord didn't believe him? He was a Telvanni. They were a rude people, but they were not liars. "We Telvannis may be rude, we may be arrogant, but we are not liars. If you do not believe my account of Helgen, then that's your problem! He'll tell you the same damn thing I did. How dare you, sir! I shall take my leave of you, Jarl Balgruuf. Good day." With that, he left an offended and shocked Balgruuf behind, staring at his retreating back.

To Be Continued...

A/N: I could give you the usual excuses, family, school, etc. But I wont. The reason this chapter took so long is because I was being a lazy ass. I apologize for it, but I'm back and ready to write! Also, working on a Fallout fic and I'll release it soon! Enjoy the chapter!
~Skyrimthief235