Chapter 1
The high wooden beams and stout oak pillars added to the majesty of the Jarl's hall. Two dozen braziers and numerous candles illuminated the vast hall and from the bottom Lydia could faintly hear the Jarl's voice. Despite having been here many, many times somehow the Jarl's hall always made Lydia in awe. Up ahead Lydia could see Proventus Avenicci, Irileth and the Jarl among a half dozen white run guards. And another among them.
He was a Nord male, that much relieved Lydia. The thought of serving Nazeem sickened her. He was tall with a terrible mix match of leather and iron armour all not quite fitting but clearly battle tested. Long blonde hair was braided down his back and a close fitting iron helm covered his head. Lydia's suspicions were confirmed when she saw the Jarl hand over the Axe of Whiterun, a famous weapon from the Jarl's arsenal reserved for Thanes of Whiterun hold.
The figure turned and Lydia got a better glimpse at the mans face. He had blue eyes and was surprisingly scraggly looking, with an unkept beard and a look of plight about his face. There were no tattoo's of note and what was more his face almost seemed dirty. As he came nearer this proved to be the case.
"The Jarl has appointed me to be your Housecarl. It's an honour to serve you." Lydia said, hiding her disgust at the unpleasant stench of the new Thane. His eyes remained blue and uncaring.
"What does a Housecarl do?" He asked in a deep baritone voice.
"As my Thane, I'm sworn to your service." Lydia said recalling the oath she had been made to memorise by Irileth for exactly a day such as this.
"I'll guard you, and all you own, with my life." Looking at the mix matched armour and dirty appearance this Thane looked little better than a bandit. Perhaps Nazeem wouldn't have been such a bad choice Lydia thought as she looked at her new Liege.
"I'm a Thane. What does that mean?" The new Thane asked, still staring at Lydia.
By the nine this one is simple! Lydia bit her tongue and forced a deferential tone.
"The Jarl has recognised you as a person of great importance in the hold. A hero."
The new Thane did not react to this and thus Lydia continued.
"The title of Thane is an honour, a gift for your service."
"Guards will know to look the other way if I tell them who I am?" The Thane asked suddenly, catching Lydia off guard.
"Err, yes Thane." Lydia replied, swallowing the sense of dread she felt at having to serve this man.
"Follow me, I need your help." He said and placed his sling bag onto the ground. Rummaging through it, he spoke.
"I want to trade a few things with you" The Thane said, taking several grey and white items from his bag.
"I am sworn to carry your burd-" Lydia began to say in a sarcastic tone when she stopped, looking at what this new Thane was offering her. It can't be what I think it is, Lydia thought as she stared at the items in the new Thane's outstretched hands. Sharp, heavy and with a almost stone like appearance. The bones, too large to be of a mammoth or Giant…Lydia looked to the great skull that rested above the Jarl's throne and returned her gaze to the new Thane, certain of what these items were. The Thane went to leave the hall and Lydia rushed the scales and bones of a Dragon into her own sling bag. Hurrying after him, a new wave of fear and awe went through her. She understood why this stranger had been made a Thane.