The Eds stood in awe at the sight of Whiterun. The houses. The businesses. The scenery and clothing.
"My word. I didn't think much of it back in Helgen and Riverwood, but...it feels as if we've travelled to the Middle Ages." Edd commented.
"Cool! You think there are more than dragons? Like goblins and elves?!" Ed asked.
"Ed. There were elves back in Helgen." Edd reminded him.
"I just hope that have indoor plumbing, or we're gonna have a problem." said Eddy.
"Enough! We're not here to take in the sights! We came here for a reason!" Delphine reminded them.
"Quite right. We must speak with the Jarl of Whiterun." said Edd.
"Mr. Jarl?! Where are you?!" Ed called out, earning a slap to the back of the head from Ria.
"You don't call a Jarl out like that! It's disrespectful and could cost you your head!" she snapped before she walked ahead. "I can't be with these idiots anymore! I'm going back to Jorrvaskr!"
"Same with us. Good luck to you." Aela said before she and Farkas walked after Ria.
"Let's go. We're heading up to Dragonsreach." Delphine said before walking forward, with the Eds following after her.
"What's Dragonsreach?" Edd inquired.
"It is the home of Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun. It is he who makes all the decisions regarding matters inside Whiterun." Delphine answered as she escorted them through the town, the townspeople casting them a short glance before returning to whatever they were doing. "When you meet the Jarl, watch your words when you speak to him."
"Relax. I got this." Eddy boasted while Edd rolled his eyes.
"You better, or you'll lose your head." Delphine warned as they passed a man speaking at the top of his lungs.
"ALL PRAISE BE TO TALOS, THE NINTH GOD!" the man yelled as he preached in front of a statue of a man in armor.
"Talos?" Ed asked.
"He's the reason for this war between the Empire and the Stormcloaks." Delphine answered.
"What? He started it?" Eddy asked.
"In a way." Delphine answered before she began to explain the legend of Talos, finishing just as they arrived in front of the entrance to Dragonsreach.
"So the Empire banned Talos worship due to the elves not wanting to believe a mere man could ascend to a god, which has angered the Stormcloaks as they revere him as the greatest god?" Edd surmised.
"Something like that." Delphine answered before the guards blocked the entrance.
"Halt! What business do you have at Dragonsreach?" one asked.
"We've come to inform Jarl Balgruuf of a grave situation." Delphine answered. "A dragon has appeared and has laid waste to Helgen."
"A dragon? Are you sure?" the guard asked.
"Yes. These three were there. They are witnesses." Delphine stated as she gestured to the Eds. The two guards whispered to one another before one ran inside, returning a moment later and whispering to the guard again.
"Enter." the first guard said before both guards moved to the sides, allowing Delphine and the Eds to enter Dragonsreach. Delphine walked with purpose while the Eds gazed in awe.
"Wow. Way big!" Ed exclaimed.
"I've always wanted to visit an ancient castle's ruins. This, however, is much better." Edd stated with a smile.
"Check out that skull hanging over the guy in the big chair." Eddy said before being stopped by Delphine.
"What did I say before coming in here?" she asked with a glare.
"That...Talos is the reason for the war?" Eddy answered.
"Watch. Your. Tongue. That 'guy in the big chair' is Jarl Balgruuf. He is the ruler of Whiterun and all within it's domain! One word from him and every soldier here will descend upon you!" she reminded him.
Eddy swallowed the lump in his throat before following Delphine towards Jarl Balgruuf.
"That's far enough!" a Dunmer woman said as she stepped before them, her sword drawn. "What business do you have with Jarl Balgruuf the Greater?"
"Must you do that whenever I visit, Irileth?" Delphine asked.
"I know who you are, Delphine. However, your friends are strangers to me, so I'm not so quick to trust them." said Irileth. "Why have you come to Dragonsreach?"
"I brought them as witnesses to the destruction of Helgen." Delphine answered. Irileth's eyes widened before she sheathed her blade and approached Balgruuf. She said something to him, making him look at the Eds.
"Come forth, Delphine and travellers." he beckoned. Delphine and the Eds slowly made their way forward before Delphine stopped them. "Good to see you again, Delphine."
"And you as well, Jarl Balgruuf." Delphine said before she stepped aside so the Eds could speak.
"And who might you three be?" the Jarl asked.
"Just a few people desperately trying to figure out where we are and how to get home." Edd answered.
"Hello! My name is Ed!" Ed greeted with a dopey grin before holding Edd and Eddy up, making them protest. "And these are my closest friends, Eddy and Double D!"
"Double...D?" Balgruuf repeated in confusion.
"My name is Eddward as well, but it was spelled with two D's." Edd explained.
"So all of you are named Ed in some way?" Balgruuf asked.
"Yeah. It's why we're called 'The Eds' back home." Eddy answered.
"I see. Introductions aside, I hear that you were at Helgen when it was destroyed. Can you tell us exactly what happened?" Jarl Balgruuf asked.
"We were about to be executed before a big dragon appeared and blew everything up!" Ed answered.
"SHUT UP, ED!" Eddy yelled as he grabbed Ed by the lips.
"Executed?" Irileth spoke up with a glare as a few others around them grew tense. "Are you criminals?"
"Heavens, no! We were arrested and slated to be executed because of a misunderstanding!" Edd exclaimed.
"Explain yourselves." Balgruuf demanded. Seeing no way out of it, the Eds began to explain what had happened the moment they had awoken on the wagons heading for Helgen, with Eddy and Edd having to stop Ed from blabbing about where they truly came from. "So you were simply traveling through before you were captured in an Imperial ambush and brought to Helgen to be executed alongside Ulfric Stormcloak and a few others. And before you were put to death, a massive dragon appeared and began to decimate the town, allowing you three to escape. Is that right?"
"That is correct, Jarl Balgruuf." Edd responded. "As I said before, a complete misunderstanding."
"This is but one reason why I remain neutral in this war." Balgruuf mumbled to himself with a tired sigh.
"Hey, um...Jarl Balgruuf. We're...not gonna be punished here, are we?" Eddy asked.
"Unless you've actually committed a crime within my realm, no." Balgruuf answered.
"Thank goodness." Edd said in relief before seeing Delphine and remembering something. "Oh yes! I almost forgot! We were sent alongside Delphine here to ask for your aid in defending the people of Riverwood. The small town has no guards to help in case the dragon returns."
"Proventus, send a small detachment of guards to Riverwood posthaste." Balgruuf ordered.
"My Jarl, I must advise against this. If we send out guards to Riverwood, the Jarl of Falkreath may see that us fortifying our defenses because of this war. He may think we have-"
"ENOUGH!" Balgruuf bellowed, his voice echoing through Dragonsreach and silencing Proventus. "I refuse to sit and do nothing as a dragon burns down my domain and slaughters my people! Do you understand?!"
"...Yes, my Jarl." Proventus answered.
"As for you three." Balgruuf spoke towards the Eds. "I believe a reward is in order for this information. Proventus."
"Yes, my Jarl." Proventus said before approaching the Eds, a small cloth sack in his hands. "100 gold coins." he said before jumping back when Eddy's eyes changed into dollar signs. "What in the name of the Divines?!"
"I apologize. He gets this way when he's around money." Edd said with a sigh as Eddy took the money and gave a low, degenerate laugh. "Well, seeing as we have accomplished our mission, we shall take our leave."
"Hold." Balgruuf spoke, stopping the Eds in their tracks. "That one dragon you saw may not be the only dragon out there. And if that is true, then I am in need of your aid. Proventus. Fetch Farengar."
"Right away, my Jarl." Proventus said before instructing a guard to pass along orders for more guards to head to Riverwood. He then left the room before returning a moment later, a man in a wizard's robe following him.
"You sent for me, my Jarl?" Farengar asked.
"I believe I may have found a few individuals who can assist you in your little dragon project." Balgruuf said before turning to the Eds. "This is Farengar, my court wizard. He has been looking in the dragons before they were rumored to have returned. If you three assist him, I'll see to it that you are granted another reward."
Eddy's grin grew wider than before as he vibrated in place, making everyone look at him funny.
"Is he okay?" Farengar asked.
"Not in the slightest." Edd answered. "Jarl Balgruuf said that you have something you need our assistance with?"
"Indeed. I've been researching the dragons, but I've hit a snag." Farengar explained. "If you three are willing to venture into a dangerous place and retrieve a certain item for me, my research can continue."
"A...A dangerous place?" Edd asked with a twinge of nervousness in his voice.
"Is something the matter?" Farengar asked after taking notice of Edd's sudden shift.
"It's okay! Double D here is just a weak little sad sack, so scary places make him sweat and cry!" Ed answered without malice. The look Edd gave him made Ed stare with a smile while Eddy started to laugh.
"He's got you pegged, Double D!" Eddy chortled.
"Let's just ask what the objective is, shall we?" Edd asked with a huff before turning to Farengar. "Where exactly is it that you wish for us to go, and what item is it that we need to retrieve?"
"I need you three to venture into Bleak Falls Barrow and find a stone tablet called the Dragonstone." Farengar answered. The three Eds stopped and looked at him with blank stares. "What?"
"Is this it?" Ed asked as he held up the tablet in question.
"Yes! That's it! How did you get it?!" Farnengar asked.
"We ventured into Bleak Falls Barrow earlier for another reason and took this with us out of curiosity." Edd answered.
"I'm glad you did. Please, let me have it!"