Thanks Tomed Ceht for your awesome ideas, and the serious amount of proof reading you had to do. LoL
Aela shifted in her chair to get more comfortable at the table in front of the fire. She heard Tilma humming as she swept the floor while listening to Vilkas and Farkas' 'heated' discussion. Who was she kidding? They were arguing again... about Azriel and this war.
It had been over three months since Azriel had wordlessly walked out the door after their fight. I should have stopped her from walking out like that. Damn my anger!
"Vilkas, she just wants to honor Kodlak is all I'm sayin'." Farkas said quietly, he didn't want to anger his brother further.
"I know that, but here we are still talking about this, and Kodlak is gone. I'm sick of it. It was Kodlak that forbade us from entering the war," Vilkas fired back.
"And so did she," Farkas said losing his temper now.
Aela had enough, "If you two trolls don't stop arguing, I'm going to crack your skulls together. This isn't getting us anywhere. She didn't forbid us from doing anything." Well that was true. And she did feel like cracking their empty heads together.
The two men turned and looked at Aela silently; they knew it wasn't an idle threat.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Vilkas asked biting back his anger, knowing full well that infuriating Aela was a really bad idea.
"Azriel told us to see how he treated his own people, didn't she? She doesn't just blindly do things because of a desire to 'honor' Kodlak's memory. She is capable of her own thoughts," Aela retorted in Azriel's defense.
"Yes, but she does honor his wishes …" Farkas said quietly.
Aela sighed.
"If she wants us to go 'to see how he treats his people' then what are we doing still sitting here?" Vilkas growled.
Aela shot him a look that made him sit down on the bench he was standing next to.
"Because, you ice brain, we all can't go running off and leave Jorrvaskr empty." Aela rumbled, trying to imagine leaving Jorrvaskr to either Torvar or Njada. She shivered at the thought and continued. "Only one of us should go."
"Who, then?" Farkas asked raising an eyebrow.
Aela chewed her lip in thought when Vilkas answered, "I'll go. Then we'll see the reasons why we should be fighting!"
"That's exactly why you aren't going you hot-head!" Aela shouted at him and stood up from her chair. Vilkas stood, readying himself for a fight when he heard Farkas whisper "That's not a good idea, Brother."
Aela felt a small hand lightly touch her arm and turned towards Tilma. "I don't want to stich Vilkas up today, dear." Tilma said, causing Farkas to laugh loudly.
The two brothers began fighting instantly.
"Better they bash each other over the skull than you doing it," Tilma joked.
Aela chuckled and sat back down in her chair, not really watching the twins beat each other's faces in again. She instead lowered her eyes to the fire once more. Tilma sat down next to Aela and placed her hand on top of Aela's. Aela turned toward the old woman.
"I can see that all of this has been hard on you. I can see the sadness in your eyes," Tilma said quietly. "First Skjor, then Kodlak, and now Azriel. But she's not dead, dear. She won't stay away forever. I know you two were close…" Aela nodded wordlessly in agreement.
Close. It's the right word… and so very wrong at the same time, Aela thought. She just couldn't describe what it was between them with mere words. Their friendship was solid. Of that she always sure before the fight. But, of other things … Aela knew what she felt when their eyes met.
Tilma squeezed her hand, "It should be you that goes. Those boys will only see what they want to see. You will see everything for what it is."
Vilkas and Farkas stopped fighting, both sporting newly blackening eyes. "So you're going?" Farkas asked, rubbing his eye tenderly.
Aela looked up from where she was sitting, "I'm leaving this evening," she answered firmly.
Aela borrowed leather armor from the old blacksmith up at the Skyforge. When he had questioned the change, she shrugged and said "It's a scouting trip."
"I'm guessing you don't want to be recognized?" Eorlund asked.
"No. I want to see for myself how things are going with this war." Aela answered.
"Might want to wash off the paint. No one will recognize you without it," he laughed.
Aela smirked and then she realized he was serious. She decided maybe, just this once, she would forgo the war paint.
She packed up a few things for the road and washed her face. She walked over to the dresser and pulled out a long green cloak. It had been a gift from Azriel, but Aela had never worn it. Its color was like foliage, the material was soft, and it moved silently. The cloak had a simple clasp that Aela had overlooked and she wasn't sure why she hadn't noticed before. The clasp was made of silver. It was a wolf head. As she moved the material around in her hands, she noticed Azriel had enchanted the cloak.
You sly fox, no wonder it doesn't make a sound…
With a smile, Aela decided she'd wear the cloak. Aela left early that evening for Windhelm, making a good pace she figured she be in there by early morning.
"Halt! By order of the Jarl, traveler," the gate guard commanded.
"Is there a problem?" Aela asked softly.
"Remove your hood," he ordered.
Aela slid the hood back off her head. "Is there a law against hoods in this Hold?" she asked sarcastically.
"No. We're looking for the Dragonborn and have orders to arrest her on sight. She's a wanted woman here." He countered, slightly annoyed.
"Oh? Has she committed a crime?" Aela asked politely.
The guard gave her a hard look, "Surely, you know by now she has been deceiving the People of Skyrim, and she threated to kill the Jarl."
"I'm not her. May I go in now?" Aela replied casually.
"Well, alright. Until next time." He said, sounding a little disappointed.
Idiot. She thought as she walked through the gate.
"And stay out of the New Gnisis Cornerclub!" He shouted at her before closing the gate on her heels.
Aela shook her head and stepped further into the city. The place looked more run-down than the last time she'd been there. She was looking around when she saw a little girl standing alone, warming herself next to a brazier. The girl's face and clothes were dirty and Aela could hear her teeth chattering.
Aela walked over to the little girl, "Why are you out here alone, child?"
"I don't have any place else to go. Nobody bought any flowers today." She said through chattering teeth.
"Where are your parents?" Aela asked concerned.
"My mother died when I was young, and my father was a Stormcloak soldier … he never came home." The little girl said with a sneeze.
Aela was worried, this little one was obviously ill and it was a very cold morning. "Where do you live child? I'll take you home."
"I lived with Niranye, but not anymore."
"Was that your nanny? Where is she?" Aela asked puzzled.
"No. She was my friend and I helped her at her stall. She let me sell my flowers there. She was a merchant before the guards took her away," the little girl said sadly.
Aela knelt down and wrapped her cloak around the little girl. "Where did they take her?"
"I think the jail." She answered softly.
"Do you know why they took her to jail?" Aela asked confused.
"They came to the house one night. The guards banged on the door really loud. They told her she had to open the door. They wanted to know where the Dragonborn was. She said she didn't know, so they took her away." The girl said with obvious sadness. "Now I can't go home, because Niranye is gone. So I sell my flowers outside in the day and try to get enough coins to sleep on the floor at the Inn at night."
Aela was pissed, why would the Jarl allow this girl to remain outside to freeze to death if her father was a soldier in his army? "Where is Niranye's house?"
"I'll show you," the little girl stopped and looked at Aela, "Do you know the Dragonborn?"
Aela was caught off guard by the little girl's question. "Yes. Why?"
The child motioned Aela close, whispering, "Tell her not to come back. They said they'd kill her."
Aela pulled away, "Who did?"
The little girl looked her in the eyes, "The Stormcloaks did."
"Show me where you live, child." Aela said standing. The little girl led Aela to the house. When they arrived, Aela looked around for guards before she bent down to pick the lock. "Watch what I do little one," she said quietly. The lock was a simple one to open and it clicked almost immediately. "Did you see what I just did?" Aela asked quietly.
"Yes." The girl said with a shiver. They went inside. The house was cold. Aela went to the fireplace and started a small fire in the hearth. "What's your name little one?" Aela asked the girl.
"Sofie," she said sitting down next to the fire.
"Alright Sofie, don't let anyone see you coming or going from this house." Aela said.
"What's your name?" Sofie asked. Her teeth had finally stopped chattering.
"My name is Aela," Aela answered her softly. "I need to go now. I have things I need to take care of."
Sofie nodded and smiled brightly, "Thanks … thanks for helping me. No one ever really talks to me, so thank you."
Aela picked up her cloak and pulled the hood over her head. She knelt next to the girl and cupped her cheek, "Take care of yourself, Sofie. Make sure you lock the door behind me when I leave."
"I will. Goodbye." Sofie replied quietly.
Aela slipped down the alleyway deeper into the Gray Quarter, and within a couple of minutes she was outside of the New Gnisis Cornerclub. With a quick glance at the entrance, she shrugged her cloak tighter and stepped inside. She made a beeline for a stool at the relatively empty bar.
"What can I get for you?" the Dumner tavern keeper asked.
"I'll have mead, please." Aela responded.
"You Nords are all alike. Mead, mead, mead." He stated cynically.
Aela ignored his sarcasm, "How's business?"
"Since you asked, dreadful! Those damn Stormcloaks keep threating my customers," he spat. "Why are you in here anyway? Your kind usually stick to Candlehearth Hall, the only Nord that ever comes in here is Brunwulf Free-Winter."
"The gate guard told me to stay away from here. So I decided I'd like to come see why I should," she replied mirthfully.
The Dunmer laughed in spite of himself. "I see, a rule falter, eh? Well that's alright then." He set the mead down in front of Aela. Aela picked up the mug and took a long drink.
"So what do you really want?" He asked.
"Maybe I'm just here for a cold drink and interesting conversation," she replied sarcastically.
"Like I said, your kind sticks to Candlehearth Hall. What is it you are looking for?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"I'm curious why 'Niranye' was arrested?" Aela asked quietly.
The Dunmer's mood instantly changed, "I don't know what you are talking about."
Aela pulled a coin purse out and tossed it on the table, "Maybe this will refresh your memory."
"It usually does." he responded quietly. "You must be new around here. His Almightiness, the Jarl, issued an order for the arrest of the Dragonborn. Unfortunately for Niranye, she's friends with the her. Since Niranye didn't cooperate with the Stormcloaks, they arrested her and shut down her stall in the market. Being friends with the Dragonborn is now against the law, apparently."
"That's why she was arrested?" Aela asked skeptically.
"You really are new around here, aren't you? The Jarl wants the Dragonborn's head as decoration for his palace doors. If I were you, I wouldn't ask too many questions." He replied looking at the coin purse.
Aela pushed it toward him, and pulled out another equal in size and throwing it on the table as well.
"What's the Dragonborn's crime then?" Aela inquired.
The elf sighed, This Nord obviously lived in a cave, "If you really don't know; she supposedly threated to kill the Jarl after an argument."
"Do you know what they argued over?" Aela pressed, wishing the elf would just spill it.
"Rolff Stone-Fist likes to get drunk and walk the Gray Quarter. He beat up a Dunmer woman that had just arrived in town by the name of Lillith. That's all I know," he answered meekly.
"And that's enough to get her friends arrested?" Aela probed.
"Well that, and ..." He walked behind the bar and pulled out a rolled up paper and handed it to Aela.
By Proclamation of the Jarl of Eastmarch,
I hereby issue order to whole of Eastmarch, the spurious 'Dragonborn' Imperial who travels under the name Azriel, is to be arrested on sight. Any persons failing to comply with this proclamation shall be arrested for treason against Skyrim, and their property and assets seized.
The aforementioned Azriel is considered extremely dangerous. Therefore, by decree, she may be taken either Dead or Alive. Upon capture, the Imperial Azriel must be brought to the Palace of Kings. If killed, her head must be brought to the Jarl himself.
~ Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak
"In this town, the Jarl has eyes everywhere. I think Niranye's little crush got her hauled away, if you ask me." He mumbled.
"Wait, what?" Aela asked looking up from under her hood, shocked.
"Well it was obvious to me anyway." He added, "Whenever the Dragonborn was around Windhelm, they were constantly in each other's company. The way those two always talked, in hushed tones in here until early into the morning. Always sitting so closely together. The way they looked at each other… I think Niranye bit off more with that one than she could chew. She even took in that Nord child for the Dragonborn! Azura knows why an Altmer would take in a Nord child."
Aela felt like she had been kicked in the stomach. She pushed the purse toward the elf, got up, and walked out. The cold morning air was like a cruel slap in the face.
It was first light in Windhelm and Aela wanted to get off of the streets. She wandered towards the docks by memory; she was tumbling around everything in her mind the tavern keeper had said. The Argonians working the dockside were already busy with their daily chores.
Aela was absentmindedly walking along the dock when one of the Argonians passing her said 'good morning'. Aela growled back in discontentment. Her mind was mulling over the evening and she didn't want her thoughts interrupted.
"Shahvee, why do you even address them? You know they are all alike!" Aela heard the male Argonian hiss.
"Be quiet, Scouts-Many-Marshes. You know I have my own ways. You are too hateful of them; they are not all alike. Land Strider is nothing like them." Shahvee spit back under her breath.
Land Strider? Aela questioned mentally. She stopped, turning around to face the Argonians.
"Forgive me for ignoring you and not saying 'good morning'," Aela told Shahvee.
"One could see you were lost in your own thoughts," said Shahvee simply. She shot Scouts-Many-Marshes a small triumphant smile.
"Well, I do apologize." Aela said with a smile. "May I ask what 'Land Strider' you were speaking of that is different?"
Scouts-Many-Marshes disapprovingly whispered, "Go away Nord, you ask too many questions!"
"I only asked one." Aela growled back.
Shahvee made a small motion for Aela to follow her, "The Land Strider is Azriel. We can no longer speak her name freely here." Keeping her raspy voice low, she continued. "Her heart is kind to us and others. Though too many things have been asked of her, she has always found ways to make our lives easier. Those things do not make Nords like you very happy. They see us as simple tools to make coin; she sees us as people. She has always tried to earn us and others equal standing here. For that, she has earned the scorn of the Jarl."
Aela nodded at the sincerity of the Argonian's words, but was confused. "How so?"
Shahvee waved her over to the tanning rack, "It's said she fought with the Jarl because a Dunmer woman was beaten in an alley by Rolff Stone-Fist. Rumor has it that she dragged Rolff back to the Palace of Kings demanding the Jarl throw the man in jail." Shahvee laughed, "Land Strider did not know the man is the brother of Jarl's General."
I knew they fought, but why didn't I know this? Aela silently scolded herself. Azriel had only just returned from Windhelm the night before the massive fight between them.
"Please, continue." Aela said softly.
Shahvee looked over her shoulder before continuing, "Land Strider stood in front of the Jarl when he used his voice on her. The guard I overheard said she laughed at him. Her voice cracked the Palace floor! Two days later, they closed her house and her Housecarl was already out of Windhelm."
"How do you know all this?" Aela asked.
"One hears many things when they are quietly busy." Shahvee answered gently.
Aela made her way silently to Candlehearth Hall to rent a room and have a meal before putting her head down for a couple of hours. It was still morning, but there were already loud drunks in the tavern when she arrived. Must be the night guards that came off duty.
The tavern maid set down the mugs on the drunken guards' table. "How goes the hunt for the Dragonborn?" She asked loudly over their ruckus.
One of the drunks happily called out, "We've got men everywhere looking for the deceiving bitch, Elda."
A second older looking man followed, "She'll regret threatening the Jarl if we ever catch her!" Cheers went up around the table.
A large man sitting on the other side of the bar lifted his mug and yelled, "Long Live Ulfric Stormcloak!" More cheers went up around the bar again, this time Aela joined them. Aela downed her mead and motioned the woman over, "I'd like another and one for the boys as well." Elda went cheerfully behind the bar to pour the drinks and began to pass them out. "Compliments of the young lady at the bar" she told them merrily. They started cheering again.
One of the men called out to Aela "Hey, come join us! The more the merrier!" She picked up her mug and slid into a chair at their table. The man that invited her over slung his arm over her shoulder; forcing Aela to summon every bit of restraint she could not to hit him.
"So Beautiful, why'd ya buy us a drink?" he asked, breathing all over her neck and face.
Gods did he stink. "I support Jarl Ulfric. I know you boys have difficult work to do and I heard you talking about that bitch the Dragonborn."
"That whore! You know what she did?" the drunken ass to Aela's left slammed his elbow into her, "I'll tell you, she's an elf lover that's for sure. She comes into OUR city, and tells OUR Jarl that those Gray-skins deserve to be treated like Nords. I was there! Saw the whole thing, I did. Bah, she even beat old Rolff for havin' some fun in the Gray Quarter. Traveling around Skyrim like she's all high and mighty. I hear she's even tried to get those Cats into Cities."
The man across from him chimed in, "She's even part of that Mage's College. Poking around in Saarthal… its a place for Nord dead! Not a place for those damned mages to try an' loot! Its cause of them Winterhold's the way it is! Damned mages, I hope the Jarl run's them off when he get's those Elves outta Skyrim. It's the same thing I tell you."
The older man at the bar piped up as though he'd been waiting to share his misfortune. "That Imperial dog told me I had to pay those worthless Lizards at the dock a Nord wage! A NORD WAGE! And for what? Moving around some boxes … those Lizards are lazy! I have to keep on Suvaris just to get them to do their jobs. Lazy, I tell you!"
"Jarl's already said those Cats and damned Lizards aren't ever getting into the cities when he's High King. He's gonna run off all them damned elf boot lickers too. He says Skyrim's for the Nords and we'll be able to worship Talos again like we should. Fuck those elves!" said the man with his arm on Aela's shoulder.
Aela had heard enough and she was disgusted by them. The drunken man slipped his arm off her shoulder reaching for his drink, and Aela pushed away from the table quickly. No one noticed when she got up and quietly walked away. She thanked the gods that they were so drunk.
When she reached her room, she closed and bolted the door behind her. She dropped onto the bed massaging her temples. She was absolutely exhausted. Her thoughts tumbled through the morning's events since she had arrived in Windhelm. It had been excruciating to sit through the last hour with those drunks, but she knew she needed to hear both sides.
Listening to those assholes felt like it had shattered part of her soul. Azriel was her friend and Harbinger, regardless of her feelings for the young woman. Azriel was always so warm towards her and her smile made Aela melt inside. Her laugh made her feel like she was soaring on the wind. Even though Azriel was always a very quiet person, she was always very honest and open with Aela about things that were happening in her life. Every time Azriel had left and returned to Jorrvaskr, she would confide in Aela with the things that had happen on her adventures. To listen to the way those men had talked about Azriel… Aela wanted to rip out their tongues.
Now, with their argument and the look on Azriel's face when she had left, Aela needed to make things right. She just wasn't sure how. Azriel's golden eyes had been like a dragon's eyes. So uncompassionate, yet full of fury. Aela understood why Azriel had become so angry with them.
She needed to sleep. She'd work out what to do later.