Fakhriya faced Alduin at the Time Wound atop the Throat of the World, but Alduin escaped before he could be vanquished. Fakhriya and Jenassa have traveled to Whiterun to ask Jarl Balgruuf the Greater for his assistance in capturing a dragon who may reveal where Alduin has gone to regain his strength.
The province of Skyrim was bordered to the north by the Ghost Sea. High, snowy peaks sheltered the province from its neighbors to east, south and west. In the center of the province was a temperate high plain tundra, most of which constituted Whiterun Hold. The Hjaal River, which ran near the western border of the hold, and the White River, which ran along the eastern border, enriched the fertile, flat land. Farmers in Whiterun Hold were among the most successful and prosperous in Skyrim.
The city of Whiterun, the capital of the hold, was situated on the highest point of the vast, grassy plain. The original elven inhabitants of Tamriel avoided the area where the city currently stood because of the intense magical energy generated there. Humans, however, were attracted to the energy and saw an immediate potential in its use. The Five Hundred Companions, who traveled with Ysgramor from Atmora to battle the mer near Windhelm, carried one of their ships, Jorrvaskr, to the site to provide shelter for those who would use the magical energy of the Skyforge. The settlement of Whiterun grew around the site. Skyrim's modern Fighter's Guild, who called themselves the Companions in honor of Ysgramor's Five Hundred, still occupied Jorrvaskr has their headquarters. Eorland Grey-Mane acted as their blacksmith at the Skyforge and was reputed to be the best blacksmith in Skyrim, not only because of his metalworking skill, but also because of the magical properties of the forge, which produced weapons that were stronger than their relatively light weight would ordinarily allow.
Whiterun in the Fourth Era was one of the largest and wealthiest cities in Skyrim. Its central location and the hold's well maintained roads made Whiterun a hub for traders and travelers. The city was divided into three districts.
The Plains District, which was at the lowest point of the city mostly to the eastern side, was primarily a commerce district. Most of the people who lived in the Plains District were shopkeepers or laborers. Fakhriya and Jenassa's home was located in the Plains District near Warmaiden's, a smithy that serviced the local population.
The Wind District was a primarily residential area situated on a hill to the west of the Plains District. Jorrvaskr was located at the northern end of the Wind District. The focal point of the area was the Gildergreen, a holy tree that attracted pilgrims who worshipped Kynareth. Between Jorrvaskr and the Gildergreen stood a statue and a shrine dedicated to Talos. Talos worship was officially banned in Whiterun in accordance with the White-Gold Concordat, but the local residents knew that the city guards rarely interfered with those who sought the blessings of the hero-god.
A winding stone stairway continued up the hill from the north end of the Wind District to the highest point in Whiterun, the Cloud District. The Cloud District boasted the residence of the Jarl, Dragonsreach, which dominated the skyline and could be seen for many miles in the vast tundra plains that surrounded the city. Dragonsreach was built by Olaf One-Eye to house the dragon, Numinex, who was defeated and captured at Mount Anthor near Winterhold and transported to Whiterun, where Jarl Olaf kept the creature as a trophy. Although Olaf's many accomplishments, including his actions to reunite the province after the War of Succession, made him a strong contender for the throne, the popular consensus insisted it was the capture of Numinex that secured the title of High King for the First Era Jarl of Whiterun. The sitting Jarl, Balgruuf the Greater, was a direct descendant of Olaf One-Eye.
The political situation in Whiterun was as volatile and divided as it was in the rest of Skyrim. After the untimely death of the young High King, the Jarls of the other holds quickly sided with either the Empire by lending their support to Solitude's Jarl Elisif the Fair, the widow of High King Torygg, or with the Sons of Skyrim, commonly called the Stormcloaks, by lending their support to Eastmarch's Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak. Both sides vehemently sought the support of the strategically valuable, centrally located hold of Whiterun, but Balgruuf feared that the side that failed to gain Whiterun's support diplomatically would be quick to correct the situation militarily.
The two most prominent families in Whiterun mirrored the larger provincial divide. The Grey-Manes were vocal supporters of Ulfric's cause. The Battle-Borns were staunch supporters of the Imperials. The two clans, which had deep ties to the city and a history of good will between themselves, fought almost as viciously within the city walls as the soldiers did in the battlefields well outside the walls. Although most of the city's population, and many speculated even the Jarl himself, opposed Ulfric's claim to the title of High King, Balgruuf was determined to shield his city from the turmoil for as long as possible.
Summer was still several weeks away, but it was unseasonably warm on the tundra during the month of Second Seed. Fakhriya wore a lightweight, thigh length pale yellow tunic that featured a dark blue border along the buttons with embroidered white, red and yellow flowers over white pants and a white top. A light brown leather belt and brown leather mid calf length boots completed the outfit. She wore her hair in the simple, casual ponytail that she most often preferred. Fakhriya carried an ebony dagger in her belt because no one ever left home completely unarmed, but she left her sword behind. Jenassa suited up in full malachite armor and wore her weapon to accompany Fakhriya to Dragonsreach.
Fakhriya had not visited Dragonsreach too many times, but despite the vast, imposing hall that extended before visitors to the hold's administrative center, she found the ancient castle rather homey. When the two women entered the palace, they were nearly knocked over by the Jarl's two youngest children, who were playing tag near the entrance while several bored guards watched. Fakhriya and Jenassa continued up a small flight of stairs that led to a long firepit flanked by sturdy wooden tables. Beyond the long tables there was another riser where the Jarl sat in a comfortable wooden throne to receive his subjects and hear their concerns. As Fakhriya and Jenassa approached the second riser, Jenassa nodded to acknowledge Irileth, the Jarl's housecarl. Jenassa smiled when Irileth returned the gesture.
Housecarls were assigned to nobility from the rank of Thane and higher to act as personal bodyguards and protectors of the noble's property. In the case of lower ranking aristocrats, housecarls were often responsible for the day to day administration of the noble's affairs, such as procuring food and household items, hiring and firing staff, and overseeing general maintenance on the house and grounds. Fakhriya's housecarl, Lydia, a Nord who grew up in Whiterun, maintained Fakhriya's home in the Plains District, but was rarely called upon to act as a bodyguard because Jenassa often took that responsibility for herself.
Jarls typically had stewarts to perform administrative functions and to act as political advisors, which left housecarls free to act not only as bodyguards, but also as security advisors for the hold. Jarls often chose trusted friends who had performed particularly well in battle to act as housecarls. Irileth was no exception. She had fought well with Balgruuf during the Great War and had shielded him from harm on more than one occasion. Jenassa particularly admired Irileth because she was the only Dunmer to hold the post of housecarl in any Skyrimic hold. When Jenassa left Windhelm, Irileth's position had been influential in Jenassa's decision to settle in Whiterun.
Jenassa hung back from the second riser to underscore her role as Fakhriya's protector while still maintaining a distance from the Jarl to demonstrate that neither she nor Fakhriya had violent intentions. Although Fakhriya had become an increasingly familiar figure at Dragonsreach since she had been named Thane, Fakhriya was not so familiar that Irileth relaxed her guard.
Balgruuf had named Fakhriya a thane for her role in defeating a dragon that attacked Whiterun's western watchtower several weeks after Alduin had attacked Helgen. Fakhriya had absorbed her first dragon soul after that fight, which prompted the Greybeards to call to her as she returned to the city to report the dragon's defeat to the Jarl. Balgruuf had helped Fakhriya to understand what it meant to be Dragonborn and had instructed her to travel to High Hrothgar in response to the Greybeards' summons.
Fakhriya climbed the last few stairs alone to approach Jarl Balgruuf the Greater.
"My Jarl, I have come to petition your help," Fakhriya said. "I would like to trap a dragon in Dragonsreach."
Jarl Balgruuf smirked and chuckled.
"I must have misheard you," Balgruuf said. "I thought you asked me to help you trap a dragon in my palace."
"There is no mistake, my Jarl," Fakhriya responded. "I implore you to lend your assistance."
"Of course," Balgruuf said as he leaned forward in his throne. "You have already saved Whiterun once before from a dragon. I owe you a great deal. But I don't understand. Why let a dragon into the heart of my city when we have been fighting so hard to keep them out?"
"I am trying to end the dragon attacks once and for all, my Jarl," Fakhriya offered. "This is the only way."
"Well, there must be another way," Balgruuf insisted as he leaned back. He shook his head. "The risk is too great."
"My Jarl, Alduin has returned," Fakhriya stated. "I must pursue him and I need to capture a dragon to do that."
"Alduin? The World Eater himself?" Balgruuf asked. In disbelief he turned his gaze to Irileth, who shrugged. "But... how can we fight him? Doesn't his return mean it's the end times?"
"It's only hopeless if we give up, my Jarl."
"I didn't say anything about giving up," Balgruuf insisted as he sat up straight in his throne. "Now, what's this nonsense about trapping a dragon in my palace?"
"I have faced Alduin once already, my Jarl, but he escaped," Fakhriya said. "I need to learn where he has retreated and I believe only another dragon can tell me."
Balgruuf rested his chin on his right thumb with his fist curled in front of his mouth as he considered Fakhriya's plan.
"I want to help you, Dragonborn. And I will," Balgruuf insisted, "but I need your help first."
Balgruuf leaned forward in a conspiratorial posture.
"Ulfric and General Tullius are both just waiting for me to make a wrong move," Balgruuf said. His brow furrowed as he sat in silence for a moment. "Do you think they will sit idle while a dragon is slaughtering my men and burning my city?"
Out of the corner of her eye, Fakhriya noticed Balgruuf's stewart shaking his head in response to Balgruuf's question. The Jarl sat back. His expression suggested he had settled the question in his own mind..
"No," Balgruuf said shaking his head, "I can't risk weakening the city while we are under the threat of enemy attack. I'm sorry."
"What if you didn't have to worry about an enemy attack?" Fakhriya suggested.
Balgruuf smiled broadly.
"Then I would be glad to help with your mad dragon trapping scheme," Balgruuf replied. His warm blue eyes sparkled at the thought. "But getting both sides to agree to a truce at this point will be difficult. The bitterness already runs deep."
Fakhriya shifted her weight from one leg to the other. Her gaze momentarily met the stewart's. When she looked back at Balgruuf, he appeared to be weighing an option in his mind.
"But what of the Greybeards?" Balgruuf offered. "They are respected by all Nords. And High Hrothgar is neutral territory. If the Greybeards were willing to host a peace council, then maybe Ulfric and Tullius would have to listen."
Fakhriya smiled. Balgruuf smiled back at her.
"I think I can convince the Greybeards to do that," Fakhriya said.
"Aye, Dragonborn. Maybe you can stop the dragons," Balgruuf said, "and the war in the bargain."
"We can only hope, my Jarl," Fakhriya replied. "I will send word as soon as the conference has been arranged."
Fakhriya willed herself to leave Dragonsreach without dancing out the door. She was immensely pleased that Balgruuf had proven so accommodating.
Fakhriya and Jenassa found Arngeir meditating when they reached High Hrothgar. The women stood a respectful distance away from the monk and waited for him to notice them.
"Dragonborn, you have returned," Arngeir said as he got to his feet after completing his meditation. "You left so quickly when you were last here. You faced Alduin, did you not?"
Fakhriya nodded. Arngeir continued before she could explain.
"We heard the Dragonrend shout from here," Arngeir said. "You defeated him?"
"No," Fakhriya said. "He escaped before we could finish him."
"I feared as much," Arngeir acknowledged. "I thought it was him we saw saw flying east after your battle."
"I intend to pursue Alduin to finish what was started," Fakhriya said. "but I will need your help to do it."
"We are not warriors," Arngeir cautioned. "What is overlooked in the Dragonborn is not permitted to any other followers of the Way of the Voice."
"I would like you to permit me to host a peace council here," Fakhriya began.
"You misunderstand our authority," Arngeir said, cutting Fakhriya off midsentence. "The Greybeards have never involved themselves in political affairs."
"The Jarl of Whiterun has already agreed to help me trap a dragon at Dragonsreach," Fakhriya offered, "but he won't allow me to try that until he is certain that the city will not be attacked."
"I see," Arngeir said, "The dragon will lead you to Alduin, but without the Jarl's help..."
"Without the Jarl's help, Alduin will be free to regroup and confront us again," Fakhriya said. "This time, Alduin knows what he will face. If I cannot reach him before he regains his strength, I might not be able to defeat him."
"Paarthurnax has made the decision to help you," Arngeir said with displeasure, "so this is the road we must walk. Even the Greybeards have to bend to the winds of change, it seems. So be it. Tell Ulfric and General Tullius that the Greybeards wish to speak to them. We will see if they still remember us."