Hadvar V

"Erikur, of Solitdue." Jarl Elisif called out to the next prisoner. I motioned for some of the guards to drag him out. "You have been called here on charges of sexual assault, embezzlement of the treasury of Solitude, conspiring with the enemy, and solicitation with suspected enemies. What do you say in your defense?"

"Oh fuck you, Elisif. You won't find any evidence that will stand. I own this city, I demand a fair trial or people will riot."

"Actually you ass, its wartime and we have evidence of you selling secrets to the Stormcloaks. We don't have to give you a trial. We can throw you off the balcony and no one would care. The people of Solitude will find your sister to be a better employer anyway." I laughed when Falk told the former Thane all of this. Erikur's eyes got saucer sized.

"You." He stuttered. "You can't do this! You need me!"

"Actually, we have already talked to your sister about her being given you title of Thane and all property you own. We also have met with your former 'aide' who told us everything, all the secrets sold to the Thalmor and to Ulfric Stormcloak." I told the man.

"Well that would explain why he never came home." Erikur mumbled. "Did you kill him?"

"Oh no, just the opposite." Sybille smiled, and for a few seconds her eyes glowed. Her true nature was revealed just long enough to scare Erikur.

"Hadvar, I want to see this man executed. Publicly. See to it, please." Elisif said and dipped her hands into a basin of water. Ceremoniously washing her hands of the matter.

"Yes, My Jarl." I bowed and grabbed Erikur by the scruff of his neck. "Come with me, you blasted idiot."

After Erikur was thrown in a cell, I returned to the court. While her official time for the people of the Hold was over, her small council was holding a session.

"Tullius, did make a good point at Elenwen's party. Elisif you should listen." Falk held his fingers to the bridge of his nose.

"I can't throw a lavish party while we are losing a war and I have people starving across the Hold." She sighed.

"Not a lavish party, but just something to welcome the Breton kings." Falk interjected.

"Where will we house the kings while they are here?" Sybille asked. "We already have this castle full of minor nobles throughout Skyrim."

"Not full." Elisif smiled.

"Not this again." Falk groaned out.

"What? I don't understand what is wrong with clearing out the Pelagius Wing and having it exorcised and sanctified by a priest. Then we could clean it up and use it to put people in." Elisif tried to explain.

"Who are we going to send in to sanctify it?" Falk asked.

"Well there is a Priest of Mara that was doing something similar in Dawnstar a few months ago. Send a courier to him."

"And if this wing is haunted, who will protect this little priest?" Sybille added her disdain for organized religion. Elisif's eyes wandered over to me in reply.

"You want me to go into the room?" I asked. I had no desire whatsoever to go into the most haunted part of Solitude.

"Oh come on Hadvar, you have handled worse." Aldis exclaimed. "Besides having the support of the Bretons may turn the tide of the battle."

"Or it might mean a new King to sit next to Lady Elisif." Falk less than tactfully interposed.

"No." Elisif turned to look at her steward.

"My lady, I'm sorry but you know it is something to think over. It has been three years since Torygg died, may the Divines bless him, but you need to move on. If not your sake, then for Skyrim's. You are the rightful High Queen and will need an heir. One of these men may have a courtier, or vassal, or someone that is of proper title to give your offspring a proper pedigree." Falk tried to explain before Matthias shouted.

"Dammit Falk, you are talking about her children not show horses. Pedigree my ass. She has her eyes on someone. You may have missed it during the party at the embassy, but that Nord from Bruma stole her away from everyone else."

"She can't marry anyone from there!" Falk exclaimed. "It's her father's city. She would be the laughing stock of Skyrim if she marries her father's vassal."

"He was no noblemen. At least not by birth." I laughed

"No, that man has been here before. I recognize who he is and applaud you Elisif." Captain Aldis looked to the young Queen.

"Can we talk about something else please?" Elisif whined. She was like a little girl whose first crush was found out by her father.

When the priest got there I found that I was unnecessary. He was a former Deadric priest who specialized in exorcisms. The wing of the palace was being used by one of the Daedric Priests but he was not sure. He would perform whatever right of the Divines he thought necessary and we would be able to reopen the wing for us by any diplomats who travel into the city.

I received a total surprise when an Imperial courier ran up to me as I was making my rounds about the courtyard. He gave me a letter and departed for food and rest. Upon reading the letter, I found it was addressed to Captain Aldis and it was from the Housecarl of Jarl Idgrod Ravencrone. Upon speaking to Aldis, I discovered Gorm had been talking to Aldis previously about removing Jarl Idgrod from power if her magic got in the way of running the Hold.

This puts me in a complicated situation. If Idgrod can no longer rule then she should be replaced, but if she is replaced will the new Jarl hold back the Stormcloaks so well? On that, the Stormcloaks are only held at bay due to the marriage pact between Ulfric and Idgrod. Idgrod's daughter is pledged to Ulfric's son, the young general who is routing the Imperial forces. Idgrod refuses to wed her daughter during war time, so Ulfric is avoiding the town to keep her out of harm's way. If we try to replace Idgrod the Elder, then she could declare for Ulfric and then we would truly be alone in Skyrim. We sorely need the Bretons when they get here.