I sighed as I walked up the large steps leading to the dining area and throne room. Dragonsreach was built in a true Nordic style and it was rather comfortable. I made my way to where the Jarl was sitting on his throne and I swear, the dragon's skull was practically watching me as I walked up. I shivered slightly and didn't notice Irileth, the Jarls dunmer housecarl, had her steel longsword pointed at my chest.
"Who are you? The Jarl is busy and is not to be disturbed." She said glaring at me, I sighed "I come bearing news of the dragon that attacked Helgen." She looked at me and lowered her sword.
"Very well, you may see the Jarl. Explains why the guards let you through." Irileth said
I looked at her and bit back a smart remark and walked by her and stifled a yawn and looked at Balgruuf the Greater. He was a traditional Nord, or a "true" Nord as a Stormcloak fool would say, but loyal to the Empire. However he stayed neutral so far, in the petty civil war. I laughed at the thought of Ulfric playing into the plots of the Thalmor and shocked everyone.
"What's so funny, Companion?" Balgruuf asked
"Just thinking about this pointless war, my Jarl" I said and bowed slightly. He nodded and looked at me in the eyes.
"What brings you here?"
"I have news about the dragon that attacked Helgen, my Jarl." I said slowly as I straightened back up
"So… Irileth was right," he murmured "what do you say now, Proventus? Should we trust in the strength of our walls against a dragon?" he asked his voice rising slightly, but not to an unfriendly or belligerent volume.
I lost track of what was going on until the Jarl wanted to thank for seeking him out on my own accord. I suppressed the urge to scoff then and there and risk making an enemy of the Jarl. I agreed to help his court wizard, a smug scrawny mage, named Farengar Secret-fire. The fool wanted me to go into Bleak Falls Barrow and retrieve something known only as the "Dragonstone"
"What do you mean IF it exists?!" I snarled at the shaking mage "you're sending me after something that may not fuckin' exist?!"
The mage just nodded "I-It should exist. There's nothing pointing to it NOT existing… but given the age of Bleak Falls Barrow…"
I cut him off by giving him a glare "Don't be surprised if I come back empty handed, mage."
With that, I walked out of the mages laboratory. Without giving the jarl or his court a second glance, I walked out of Dragonsreach. I was beyond pissed that such a petty mage would ask me to do this, and no pay at all for it.
"Oh well," I thought "I'll loot the place and sell that ancient junk to… Belethor maybe, or one of those damned caravans." I smirked at the thought, the caravans merchants always gave a fair price for what he sold them and good deals on what he bought from them. Maybe because they know I'm not easily fooled like the others. I made my way to Arcadias Cauldron to buy some potions and maybe a poison or two.
After leaving the shop, I headed straight for the gates. Kodlak had no qualms with me doing odd jobs on the side of my work with the Companions and thus no one stopped me and by know the guards were familiar with me due to the fact of how many criminals I've had to track down and bring in. One of them nodded at me and I inclined my head.
"Companion." He said simply
"'lo Eric." I muttered as I walked down the path towards the stables and the carriage driver. I looked at Bjorlam, the local carriage driver.
"How much to get to Riverwood, Bjorlam?" I asked looking up at him
"Well… I'd usually charge fifty septims. But for you, Vlad, my friend let's say thirty septims." he said
I nodded and handed him the coin and hopped on and laughed as he began singing, off tune, Ragnar the Red. The minute we got too Riverwood, I got off the carriage and asked around about the barrow I was bound for and found assistance in the help of a rather annoying Imperial woman named Camila. She pointed me in the right direction, and after getting a fresh supply of arrows, I headed off to the barrow killing two wolves and skinning them, I saw two bandits outside a tower. One was patrolling one a bridge and was an archer. The other was leaning against the tree and had a two-handed weapon strapped to his back. I crouched behind a rock and smirked. I pulled off my bow and strung it, and nocking an arrow to it, I took aim and fired. The arrow found its mark easily enough and the foolish bandit slumped dead. I put my bow away and drew my Skyforge steel longsword and stood up and walked over to where the bandit was looking over her dead comrade. Before she even knew what was going on, I had run her through.
I went through the tower and killed the other bandit in it, I relieved them of their gold and the chest at the top. I found a few more potions and I smirked, I left the tower and went to the barrow. After clearing out the area in the front, I entered the ruined barrow.