Chapter 9
The Dragonborn sat down at the end of the large oval table, while Malborn stood behind her. To her left was the Imperial delegation- General Tullius, Legate Rikke, Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun, Jarl Elisif the Fair, and Ambassador Elenwen. To her right were the leaders of the Stormcloak rebellion- Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak and Galmar Stone-fist. At the far end of the table sat the Blades- Delphine and Esbern, next to the Graybeard Arngeir.
Jarl Ulfric spoke first. As soon as he saw Elenwen take her seat by the Imperial delegation he said, "No. You insult us by bringing her to this negotiation? Your chief Talos hunter?"
Tullius replied, "She's part of the Imperial delegation. You can't dictate who I bring to this council."
Arngeir sighed, "Please. If we have to negotiate the terms of the negotiation, we will never get anywhere. Perhaps this would be a good time to get the Dragonborn's imput."
Jarl Ulfric looked at the Dragonborn and said, "By Ysmir's beard, the nerve of those Imperials, to think that I would sit down at the same table as that Thalmor scum. Either she walks or I do."
The Dragonborn replied, "There's something I'd like to discuss with her here regarding the dragon crisis, once the negotiations are over. She stays."
"I can't imagine what you'd possibly want to discuss with that Thalmor bitch. It feels like a mistake to let her stay here, but I'll bow to your judgement," said Ulfric as he reluctantly sat down.
Malborn was surprised by Elsa's decision to let the Thalmor Ambassador stay. He would have loved nothing more than to see Elenwen kicked out of the council. He wondered what it was that Elsa needed to say to her.
"Are we ready to proceed?" said the Graybeard Arngeir, "Jarl Ulfric, General Tullius, this council is unprecedented. We are gathered here at the Dragonborn's request. Who would like to open negotiations?"
Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak immediately spoke, "We want control of Markarth. That's our price for agreeing to a truce."
"Ulfric, you can't seriously expect us to give up the city of Markarth at the negotiating table. You hope to gain in council what you couldn't gain on the battlefield?" said General Tullius, "I can see this council is nothing but a waste of time. You are a traitor to the Empire and you deserve a traitor's death."
"You call us traitors? You're traitors to all of Tamriel to let Thalmor scum decide our religious beliefs and kill our people for worshipping mighty Talos," said Ulfric, "You're nothing but a puppet of the Thalmor. We're fighting for the free people of Skyrim."
Legate Rikke added, "And what about Karthwasten? Your men slaughtered the very people they had sworn to protect. They killed anyone who was old enough to pick up a sword and had refused to join your foolish rebellion. Your men slaughtered elderly people and children. How is that heroic? How is that 'fighting for the free people of Skyrim'?"
"Our men would never do that," said Galmar Stone-Fist, "This is nothing but Imperial lies."
The two sides bickered back and forth slinging insults and threats.
Finally Esbern stood up and shouted, "Stop! Are you so blind to our danger that you can't see past your petty disagreement? Here you sit arguing while the fate of the world is at stake. Don't you understand what the return of the dragons means? Alduin has returned! Even now he devours the souls of your fallen comrades! He grows more powerful with every soul you've slain in this pointless war. He's going to devour the entire world and the Dragonborn is the only one with the capability to stop him! If she fails we'll all die! Can you not put aside your hatred for even one moment in the face of this mortal danger?"
General Tullius spoke, "He's right. This dragon situation has gotten out of hand. If a truce will put an end to that menace, we all gain from it."
Ulfric replied, "Very well. We will agree to this short truce, but only so the Dragonborn can deal with the dragon menace. Nothing more."
Tullius replied, "Then it's settled. A temporary truce. After that Ulfric, there will be a reckoning. Count on it."
The Dragonborn leaned forward and said, "Now that that's settled there is something I need to ask of the Thalmor ambassador."
"What is it you have to say to me?" asked Elenwen.
"We all know that I'm the only living Dragonborn and the only one in the world with the capability to slay Alduin. The entire world will be destroyed if I don't," said the Dragonborn.
"Yes?" said Elenwen.
"Then WHY do you keep sending Thalmor assassins after me and my companions? In the past month I've been attacked by no less than eight Justicier patrols. Look at all of these orders to execute me I found on their bodies. They're all signed by you!" said the Dragonborn as she flung several bloody sheets of paper onto the table, "Do you want the world to end? Is that your aim?"
Everyone at the council stared at Elenwen with a look of shock. Even her own delegation looked at her with hatred. She looked utterly embarrassed.
"You see how these Thalmor bastards can't be trusted," said Ulfric, "They'd kill the only hope for our world."
Elenwen regained her superior composure and said calmly, "Very well. I'll concede. Despite the fact that you've committed high crimes against the Thalmor I will temporarily tell my Justiciers to let you pass. However, once this short truce is over, and you've dealt with the dragon menace, you and your comrades will pay for your crimes."
"Any crime against the Thalmor is an act of heroism as far as I'm concerned," said Ulfric, "She's a true Nord and a hero to stand up to you pieces of filth."
"Are we done here?" said Tullius impatiently.
"Yes. Yes we are," said Ulfric Stormcloak as he stood up.
The Imperial delegation and the Graybeards left the room while Esbern and Delphine stood across the room discussing strategies for trapping a dragon at the Jarl's palace.
As Elsa stood up to leave the table, Ulfric Stormcloak approached her. His hand reached out and gently held her amulet of Mara.
"I'm surprised to see a beautiful and powerful Nord woman such as yourself is not already spoken for," said the Jarl, "You'd be the perfect woman to rule by my side as High Queen of Skyrim."
Elsa looked at him silently and nervously.
The Jarl continued, "What do you say? Will you be my wife, beautiful Dragonborn?"
Malborn's heart sunk at the sound of the Jarl's words to Elsa. Ulfric Stormcloak, the most powerful man in Skyrim had just proposed to the Dragonborn. Malborn wanted to disappear from the room. He couldn't bear to see the woman he loved become engaged to another man right in front of him.
Elsa looked at the Jarl and said, "I'm very honored by your offer, but I wore this amulet with the intention of marrying someone else."
"You can't mean that Imperial bastard Tullius?" said Ulfric, "He'd never deserve a true Nord woman like you. He's in bed with the Thalmor."
"No. Not him," said Elsa, "I'm sorry. I wish for you to find happiness, but... I'm not the one for you."
"Very well," said Ulfric as he walked to the door, "You'll always have my respect and admiration, Dragonborn."
Once Ulfric had left the room, Delphine said with a laugh, "Well that was awkward. It's not every day you see the most powerful man in Skyrim get utterly rejected."
"It's not funny, Delphine," said Elsa.
Malborn couldn't believe what he had just seen. Elsa had rejected the Jarl! He felt both joy and confusion at the same time. Why would she reject Jarl Ulfric? He couldn't imagine who it was she had intended her amulet for. Was she lying when she said it wasn't for Tullius? Could it have been meant for the Jarl of Whiterun? Galmar Stone-Fist? Someone else? Whatever the answer might be, he felt happy to know that she wasn't being swept away by someone just yet.
The Dragonborn unclasped her amulet and dropped it onto the table.
"I should have never worn this thing. It's more trouble than it's worth," said Elsa.
"Not that it's any of my business, but who did you actually intend it for?" asked Delphine bluntly. Although she suspected that Elsa was fond of Malborn, she wasn't entirely sure.
Malborn stared at Elsa with anticipation of her answer.
Elsa looked at both of them and said, "I'd rather not talk about it."
"I really think there's more important things we should be focusing on right now," said Esbern from across the room, "Like how to catch a dragon."
Elsa was thankful for the change in subject, and immediately asked Esbern if he had any ideas.
"Actually, I do have an idea", said Esbern, "The ancient Blades kept a detailed record of every dragon they slew back at Sky Haven temple. I looked through that record earlier. One of the dragons was named Odahviing. If he's been resurrected by Alduin, I'm sure he'd come if you used a shout to call his name."
"Why would he come to me?" asked the Dragonborn.
"Dragons are prideful by their nature. They don't like to refuse a challenge," said Esbern, "He'll come."
The Dragonborn nodded and said with a smile, "Let's go."