~ Chapter 5 ~

There Have Been Bleaker Falls

Luz's feet barely touched the well-appointed carpet and the wooden stair's of Dragon Reach's main hall. The towering edifice of northern white pine had the late afternoon sun spilling in through high windows, turning the insides to gold.

Even being hoisted between two guards at the Jarl's behest, Luz found time to marvel at the castle.

"This is a really nice place you've got," she said. "Seems a shame to drag little old, scrubby me through it all."

"Don't worry," Balgruuf said, passing his cloak off to a young maid helping an older woman with sweeping the floor. "I trust that your story about dragons is important enough to interrupt the Harvest Festival."

"I mean," Luz said, her feet tapping the stairs as she was lifted up them. "It's a matter of perspective, really…"

"By my perspective," Balgruuf said, striding down the festively decorated and busy tables of the main hall and taking to his high-backed and gilded chair at the head of the hall. "A dragon attacking my people and setting fire to my towns is an important subject."

"I can see why that would be," Luz said, laughing nervously as she landed on the bottom step in front of Balgruuf.

Irileth came up behind her and nudged out her knees, roughly, causing Luz to fall forward.

"You should bow before the Jarl, criminal."

"That's hardly necessary," Balgruuf said, as Luz tried to bow politely from her knees. "But please, don't get up."

"Look, your jarl-ness," Luz said, feeling a little lizard of anxiety creeping up her spine. "It was almost a week ago. I'm sure rumors have traveled faster. My teacher, Eda-"

"The Lady of Owls?"

Luz stopped for a moment. Eda's name really did get around. "Yeah, actually."

"Irileth, get a runner to Caius and tell him to look for Edalyn Clawthorne and her boy. Should be just outside the city gates."

"At once, my Jarl."

"I really need to stop introducing my affiliation with her," Luz muttered.

"You were saying?" Balgruuf prompted. "From the beginning. You say a dragon attacked Helgen. That's not just a fancy tale for that boy, or to earn a few coins for regaling it to drunkards? It wasn't a Stormcloak raid gone wrong?"

Luz suddenly felt the cold block on her neck again, the leering axeman, the terrible Voice that still visited her nightmares, thundering in her chest.

"Positive. I had a pretty good look at it from the headsman's block, when it landed."

Balgruuf grunted and glanced towards the stairs that led from the hall into Dragon's Reach proper. An aging Imperial descended, looking flustered.

"What do you say now, Proventus?" Balgruuf said, addressing the Imperial. "Shall we continue to trust in the strength of walls? Against a dragon?"

"My Jarl," Irileth interjected as Proventus tried to catch up to the conversation. "If this is true, Riverwood is in the most immediate danger. We need to supply them with troops as soon as we can. If this dragon is lurking in the mountains-"

"Wait a moment," Proventus snapped, shoving himself into the discussion. "Wait. The Jarl of Falkreath could see any movement of Whiterun Hold Guards as a potential provocation. It would look like we were preparing to join Ulfric's side in the war, and attack him."

"If it's true?" Luz said, taken a little aback. "What makes you think I'd make something like that up? I wake up some nights to the smell of burned hair and skin. I have scars from when it busted into the side of the tower and threw me over the walls."

"Any number of reasons, no doubt," Proventus said, confusion dawning a moment later. "Who is this?"

She glared at him. "I don't lie. And I definitely wouldn't lie about this."

"The Jarl of Falkreath is a fool," Irileth said, ignoring them. "But even he cannot ignore the danger a dragon would pose to his own people. My Jarl, let me lead troops to Riverwood and I will personally escort a message to Falkreath stating a desire to work together. The deep woods of-"

"Maybe the previous Jarl would consider such a request," Proventus retorted. "But his newly positioned nephew is an indolent mudcrab in sun-warmed mud."

"Enough!"

Luz, Irileth and Proventus jumped as Balgruuf slammed a fist down on his chair.

His calm demeanor was gone, and the kindness in his eyes had ignited into a righteous storm. He stood and helped Luz to her feet.

"Irileth, chose your best and take a small detachment to Riverwood, at once. Relay a message to Falkreath. Siddgeir might be troublesome, but he is still Jarl. It is only proper."

Irileth bowed and strode from the hall without preamble, calling to one of the guards to wait for Balgruuf's message and deliver it to her afterward.

"My lord," Proventus started. "We should not-"

Balgruuf rounded on the smaller man.

"I will not stand idly while a dragon burns my hold and slaughters my people!"

For a moment, Luz thought Proventus would say something, but he merely took a step back, bowed, and left.

After a moment, Balgruuf looked at Luz and seemed to calm down enough to realize he was looming over her.

He took to his throne again, leaning back, feigning ease.

"I have to say," he said at length. "Well done. Surviving as you did."

"I can't take all the credit," Luz said, sheepishly rubbing the back of her neck. "Eda was the one who saved my life, took me in."

"Yes," Balgruuf said, thoughtfully. "The Lady of Owls."

"You're… not going to hurt her, are you?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Well," Luz paused. Balgruuf was hard to read. Would telling him about Eda's criminality help or hurt her situation?

Balgruuf read her indecision, and gestured for her to sit in the chair next to his throne - the one she assumed Proventus sat in.

"Bare in mind, I've never met her," he said. "But my court mage and my captain of the guards have regaled me with her many troubles. Some… petty offenses. A few not so petty.

"But from what I understand, she's as capable as she is powerful. Once outspoken against the Thalmor, but she never declared for Ulfric or Mede either.

"A mage of her caliber, with no lord to be beholden to, scares some."

"Does she scare you, Jarl Balgruuf?"

The Jarl chuckled and shook his head. "I'd be a fool to tell her apprentice otherwise."

"I won't tell her," Luz said with a wink.

She kicked her feet and looked around. "So… should I… just leave? Or something?"

"No…" Balgruuf seemed to regain some presence of mind. "There… was something I think you could do for me. Suitable for a… whatever Eda happens to be..."

The doors to Dragon's Reach - mountainous things of carved oak - opened and Luz grimaced as Eda's voice rolled through the hall.

"If you won't answer me, at least tell me where Luz is. And get that thing off my son's face!"

"He bit me. The gag stays."

"Oh, Azura's rosy apples. He barely broke skin. You wear armor, for gods' sake."

"My vambraces are being repaired. And you're son's basically a wild animal."

"He's loose!"

There was a snarling sound, a scream, and a thud.

"Why don't you let them know you're okay before they tear my guards apart?" Balgruuf suggested and Luz nodded.

"Probably a good idea."

Luz jogged to the top of the stairs in time to see Eda laughing as one guardsman tried to haul the young boy off the other guard, who had scratches all over his arms and face.

"Hey you two," Luz said, jogging down the stairs and getting a hold of Martin. "Long time, no see… Martin, get off him."

She fell back, holding the boy close while he calmed down.

He writhed for a moment before hugging her and hissing at the guards.

"Well, kid," Eda said, folding her arms - with some difficulty from the chains she had on. "I'd like an explanation as to how we went from 'I've got to buy this street urchin a warm meal' to 'Guards! Arrest the witch!"

"Lady of Owls," Balgruuf called from the top fo the stairs.

"Well if it isn't Ol' Gruffy himself," Eda said. She jingled the chains at him. "And just what are these for?"

"To stop you from stabbing people, Lady of Owls."

"Oh, knock it off," Eda said. "How are the little ones?"

"Fine enough. Nelkir's sleeping well now. The other two are much the same."

"There's only so much you can do for spoiled brats," Eda said, wiggling her finger in her ear. "Daedra possession is much easier by comparison. Remind me never to have kids."

Balgruuf cleared is throat loudly and nodded to the guardsman. "Get her out of the chains. My apologies, Edalyn. When your apprentice -"

"You need to not tell people that," Eda said to Luz, who looked away with an awkward grin.

Balgruuf coughed again. "Needless to say, I have a proposal."

"And?" Eda asked, folding her arms and glaring down her nose at the Jarl.

"You have a hefty bounty in the hold. Several counts of theft, burglary, pickpocketing, forgery, two counts of horse theft, an assault and one prison break… and disturbing the Jarl's Peace, as of today."

"Just because my stupid horse decided to un-hitch himself to roll in the mud of your stables-"

"Twice?"

"He's a very stupid horse. And I never assaulted anyone."

"You lit fire to Ciaus' boots." Met with a blank stare, Balgruuf added, "During the prison break."

Eda snorted. "Oh… right. Forgot about that."

Balgruuf pressed folded hands to his mouth and breathed. "In any case, when your apprentice let slip you were here, I realized that I had a dangerous task for an equally dangerous woman, who might be looking to wipe clean a few hundred counts of gold against her name."

"And ruin my reputation?" Eda laughed, high and snorting. "As if."

Balgruuf placed a hand on Luz's shoulder, rather pointedly pulling her closer. "It would be a shame for unnamed characters of interest, with their own criminal histories, to be returned to the proper authorities. While it wouldn't improve Ulfric's opinion of me much, I'm sure General Tullius would be thrilled at Whiterun's cooperation."

Eda's teeth clicked as her grin hardened and her chin jutted. "You know better than to threaten me, Balgruuf."

"I do." He looked down at Luz. "Though, something tells me, Luz, you wouldn't want unwarranted bloodshed on your behalf. Isn't that right?"

Luz's heart was sinking fast into her stomach - at least the icy ball where it had been.

She looked down at Martin in her arms, the guards - at least ten she could see - and then settled on Eda.

"Eda…"

"They're nothing, Balgruuf." Eda's smile was a sneer, her claw-like nails poised, flickers of bright orange flames licking up from under them. "Not even Farengar would dare-"

"But they are something to someone," Luz interrupted, trying to take a step forward, halted by Balgruuf's firm grip. "Eda, please. Maybe we can just… hear him out?"

There was a tense moment, where there was no sound save for the hissing of magical flames, the rasping shift of armor.

With a slow flourish, the fiery tongues vanished and Eda straightened. "Fine. You win, Gruffy, you old goat. Let the kids go."

Balgruuf loosened his grip on Luz's shoulder. "Remember, Edalyn. You do this for me, and I'll make sure your bounty is taken care of. At least your charges here, in my hold. I'm sure your extensive list of offenses across Skyrim will be enough to keep your reputation intact."

With a light shove, Luz was pushed toward Eda, Martin now holding her hand. Though his glare was like iron, Luz could feel his hand trembling.

"Come," Balgruuf said, marching back up the stairs. "I've precious drinking to do - and you, an item of value to find."

Luz gawked at the mage's laboratory, unable to keep the wonder out of her eyes.

Eda glared, reached over, and used a single finger to close Luz's mouth for her with a click.

Then she turned to the mage.

"Farengar Secret-Fire. Good to see the esteemed court wizard of Whiterun again."

The mage - dressed in fine blue robes, barely a stain on them - dropped the alchemical potion he was working on, sending a foul purple and green smoke roiling into the rafters.

Choking, Farengar wafted the smoke away with his wide sleeves and glowered darkly at Balgruuf.

"Is this your idea of a joke?"

"Farengar-" Balgruuf started, but the mage cut him off.

"My, lord, I will not work with her!"

Luz felt more than saw the jarl bristle, and while his tone was jovial, the words were bitten out.

"I will keep my temper on this festive day only so well, wizard."

Farengar paused, realizing what he had said to his patron. Luz watched a grown man have an internal panic attack and recover an Eda-strength glare in a few heartbeats.

He cleared his throat and looked at Eda before eyeing Luz and Martin.

"So," he said at length. "Jarl Balgruuf thinks you can be of use to me, hm? Well, maybe there is something. A small thing. A project. Personal. Research you understand. On dragons.

"I could use someone to fetch something for me."

He had begun to pace, and Luz glanced at Eda to gage the situation, but her face was impassivly smug.

Farengar continued. "When I say, fetch… I really mean delve into a dangerous ruin and search for an ancient stone tablet - that may, or may not, actually be there."

"All right," Eda said. "Where am I going and what am I fetching?"

But before she'd barely gotten the words out, Luz had regained some composure. A mixture of amazement and fear overcame her and she found herself blurting, loudly, "What does this have to do with dragons?"

Farengar stopped pacing, but seemed to have not heard Eda and misinturpetted Luz's apprehension for enthusiasm, as his face lit up.

"Ah, no mere peasant girl, but a thinker? Perhaps… a scholar?" He strode to his desk, beginning to scrounge for parchment, ink and quill. "You see when the stories of dragons began to circulate, many dismissed them as mere fantasies, rumors. Impossibilities."

He brandished a quill at Luz, ink staining the otherwise pristine desk. "One sure mark of a fool is to dismiss anything that falls outside his experience as being impossible." He began to scribble. "But I began to search for information about dragons - where had they gone all those years ago? And where were they coming from, hm?"

He'd finished the scrawls of quill, but Luz couldn't make heads nor tail of it. He waved a hand, ashine with a pale blue-green glow, over the parchment before rolling it up and stuffing it in some dark fold of his robe.

A passing hand, wreathed in the same wisps of glow, removed the ink stains, casting them to who knew where.

"I have… obtained information from… certain people. They spoke of a stone tablet, said to have been laid to rest with an unnamed chieftain, in his tomb, housed in Bleak Falls Barrow. A 'Dragonstone' - said to depict a map of dragon burial sites."

"Just get on with it," Eda snapped.

Farengar shot her a sullen look, but continued.

"Go to Bleak Falls Barrow. Find this tablet - no doubt interred with the chieftain in the main chamber - and return it here, to me. So simple, Lady of Owls, even you cannot complain."