Surprisingly it wasn't too hard to get inside the palace, talking to the Jarl himself was the more tricky part. As I walked up to his throne a female dark elf in leather armor approached me with her sword drawn
"What is the meaning of this interruption! Jarl Balgruuf is not receiving visitors."
"Alvor sent me, Riverwood is in danger."
"As housecarl, my job is to deal with all dangers that threaten the Jarl or his people. So you have my attention. Explain yourself."
"A dragon attacked Helgen, Riverwood could be next," I explained urgently, "The Jarl has to send men to protect them."
"A dragon," she gasped, "Alright you may speak with the Jarl."
She sheathed her sword before turning back to her post beside the Jarls throne whispering something to him as I stepped closer.
"What's this about Riverwood being in danger," the Jarl asked as I stepped forward."
"As I told your housecarl a dragon destroyed Helgen. Alvor is afraid Riverwood is next."
"Alvor? The smith there isn't he?"
I nodded back.
"Reliable solid fellow. Not prone to flights of fancy...and you're sure Helgen was destroyed by a dragon? This wasn't some Stormcloak raid gone wrong?"
"Yes Jarl Balgruuf," I nodded, "I was there when it attacked. I saw the dragon burn Helgen to the ground. I was one of the few lucky ones to survive."
"By Ysmir,"Irieth was right," he turned to a man standing to his left, "What do you say now Proventus? Shall we continue to trust in the strength in our walls, against a dragon?"
"My lord, we should send troops to Riverwood at once," Irileth spoke up, "It's in the most immediate danger if the dragon is lurking in the mountains so-"
"The Jarl of Falkreach will view that as a provocation," Proventus interrupted her, "He'll assume we're preparing to join Ulfric's side and attack him. We should-"
"Enough," Balgruuf growled at the man, "I'll not stand idly by while a dragon burns my hold and slaughters my people!"
He turned back to Irileth, "Send a detachment to Riverwood at once."
"Yes my lord," she bowed in response then turned to send the men. I gave a small sigh in relief as she did. Riverwood would have the extra protection and I fulfilled my promise. Proventus said something to the Jarl before walking off away from the hall.
"Well done," Balgruuf spoke to me, "You sought me out on your own initiative. You've done a service and I won't forget it."
I blushed a little, not really accustomed to being thanked by Jarls. I gave a small bow in return.
"Here, take this, as a small token of my esteem," he said, waving his hand to a servant. They disappeared down some steps before coming back with a set of leather armor in their hands. They handed the armor to me with a small bow. I was a bit taken aback at the gift but gratefully accepted it giving a small bow in return before placing the new armor in my backpack.
"There is another thing you could do for me. Suitable for someone of your particular talents perhaps."
"What would you ask of my, My Jarl," I asked in return.
"Come let's go find Farengar, my court wizard," he replied as he stood up from his throne, "He's been looking into a matter related to these dragons and...rumors of dragons."
"Sounds fun," I gave a small shrug, "Maybe he'll have more information on what almost tried to eat me." The jarl gave a small nod and led me to an open room beside the throne room. It had a desk in the center of the room with a large map of Skyrim beside it. Behind the desk was an alchemy lab and arcane table against the back wall. A mage was reading beside the desk when we entered.
"Farengar, I think I've found someone who can help with your dragon project," Balgruuf gestured to me, "Go ahead and fill her in with the details."
With that he left the room, leaving the two of us to talk. The mage looked up from his book to me., looking me up and down before speaking, "So the Jarl thinks you can be of use to me? Oh yes, he must be referring to my research into the dragons. Yes I could use someone to fetch something for me. Well when I say fetch I really mean to delve into a dangerous ruin in search of an ancient stone tablet that may or may not actually be there."
"Not the most confident pitch but sure," I nodded back, "Where am I going and what exactly am I looking for."
"Straight to the point eh, " he said with a small chuckle, "No need for tedious how's and whys. I like that. Leave those details to your betters, am I right?"
I glared at him, crossing my arms over my chest. His confidence faded in that moment as he continued.
"I. Uh-um learned of a certain stone tablet said to be housed in Bleak Falls Barrow-a Dragonstone, said to contain a map of dragon burial sites. Go to Bleak Falls Barrow and find this tablet- no doubt interred in the main chamber and bring it to me. Simplicity itself."
I laughed at , " Not if you had to do it. I've already been there. So you must be talking about this old stone then," I took the stone tablet from my bag.
"Ah-ha," Farengar cheered as I handed it over, "The Dragon Stone of Bleak Falls Barrow! You already found it! You are cut from a different cloth than the usual brutes the Jarl foists on me."
It was becoming very tempting to smack the guy but I refrained myself from such an act, no matter how bad I wanted to, "So am I to be receiving a reward for this?"
"You'll have to see the Jarl about that," he replied, "Maybe his steward Avenicci. I'm sure one of them will pay you appropriately."
Before I could say anything else Irielth ran into the room, "Farengar, you need to come at once. A dragon's been sighted nearby."
She looked at me, "You should come too."
I gave a nod back following after her.
"A dragon," Farengar cheered as we followed after her to a set of stairs behind the main hall. "How exciting! Where was it seen? What was it doing?"
"I'd take this a bit more seriously," Irileth said, "If a dragon decides to attack Whiterun I don't know if we can stop it."
"She's right," I said as we met up with the Jarl as he was speaking with a guardsman.
"Irileth tells me you came from the Western watchtower?"
"Yes my lord," the guard replied.
"Tell him about the dragon," Irileth urged him.
It took the man a few seconds before he replied, obviously very shaken from his experience, "Uh that's right. We saw it coming from the South. It was fast... faster than anything I've ever seen."
"What did it do? Is it attacking the watchtower?"
"No my lord. It was just circling overhead when I left. I never ran so fast in my life...I thought it would come after me for sure."
"Good work son. We'll take it from here. Head down to the barracks for some food and rest. You've earned it."
"Thank you, my lord," the guard bowed before leaving for the barracks.
"Irileth, you'd better gather some guardsman and get down there."
"I've already ordered my men to the muster near the main gate."
"Good don't fail me," he then looked to me, "There's no time to stand on ceremony, my friend. I need your help again. I want you to go with Irileth and help her fight this dragon. You survived Helgen, so you have more experience with dragons than anyone else here."
"I was tied up for most of that," I replied
"It's better than what most of us can say," he replied, "But I haven't forgotten the service you did for me in retrieving the Dragonstone for Farengar."
"It was nothing, I had been in the barrow after some bandits," I said giving a small nod
"Still as a token of my esteem, I have instructed Avenicci that you are now permitted to purchase property in the city. And please accept this gift from my personal armory."
He waved another servant over who was holding a set of enchanted hide armor. I gave a thankful bow before setting it in my bag.
Really goanna have to lighten up after this battle
"We can place your rewards in a chest till you return warrior," the servant offered as I struggled a little with my bag.
"Oh thank you that would be great," I replied handing over the extra armor and weapons I wouldn't need at the moment. They bowed their head to me in return before taking the items to a nearby chest. With my load lightened I turned back to Irileth and the two of us went to the main gate where five other guards were waiting for us. All of us then left to the watch tower.
When we arrived to the tower it was smoking and surrounded in dying flames. I heard several guards mutter prayers to the divines as we approached.
"Look for survivors," Irileth called out .
As we began to search a terrified guard came running out of the tower, "No! Get back! It's still here somewhere! Hroki and Tor just got grabbed when they tried to make a run for it!"
"Guardsman, what happened here,"Irileth demanded, "Where's this dragon? Quickly now!"
"I don't know," he replied still in a panicked daze. Then we heard an echoing roar.
"Kynareth save us, here it comes!"
The dragon flew over head, but this one was different from the one that attacked Helgen.
"Take cover," Irileth called out, " Make every arrow count!"
I ran to the tower as I drew my bow, notching an arrow as I ran up the stairs to the top of the tower. At the top I got a better look at this dragon as it flew around the tower. This one was lighter than the one that I had encountered. It roared out fire as it hovered around the tower. We began firing arrows at it.
"Aim for the wings," I called out as Irileth shouted 'bring it down'. I could hear the dragon speaking in an odd tongue as it fought us.
I ran out of arrows as our combined efforts were weakening the creature. The dragon weakly landed on the road as it could no longer keep itself in the air, but this only made the fight a little easier for us. The guards charged at the dragon as it landed only to get swiped aside by it's tail. I flinched as the men were flung aside before I ran back down the stairs to help. I reached the ground floor just a guard was launched into the tower, knocking ups both down.
"Ow, you alright," I groaned looking over at him.
He winced some before coughing a little, "I think that over grown lizard broke something."
It then bellowed out a wall of flames at us through the entrance. I grabbed the guard dragging him out of the flames path. He groaned in pain as we avoided the flames till it stopped. I pulled out my and my last healing potion tossing it to the injured guardsman., "Drink this and stay down."
He nodded back to me as I ran out of the tower joining the fight on the ground. I blasted lightening at it as it snapped at a guard, turning it's attention to me. It spoke it's odd tongue at me before lunging at me.
I took a step back, gripping my sword in both hands, leaning my weight onto my back foot.
Everything seemed to move in slow motion as the dragon opened it's mouth at me and I pushed off with my foot, meeting it half way, and my sword going into the roof of it's mouth. With both forces the blade stabbed into the dragons skull.
With a weak pained roar it fell to the ground dead, sadly brining my arm down with it. It's head fell onto me, twisting my arm as one of it's fangs stabbed into my leg. It wasn't deep cause of my armor and not being it's full bite force, but it still hurt like Hell.
"We gotcha," a guard called out as he came to help me up. He stopped in his tracks as the dragon seemed to burn away.
"Stand back," Irileth called out. I covered my face as the dragon seemed to turn to ash and strange lights flew from it's body and surrounded me. It stopped when the dragon was nothing but bones. Everyone was still afterwards, trying to figure out what we had just witnessed.
"By Talos," a guardsman gasped as he helped me up, "You're Dragonborn!"
"What," I looked back at him, "Dragonborn? What do you mean-ow."
"In the very oldest tales, back when there still were dragons in Skyrim, the Dragonborn would slay dragons and steal their power. That's what you did, isn't it? Absorbed that dragon's power?"
"I'm...I'm not really sure," I shook my head, leaning against him as it hurt to put weight on my injured leg.
"There's only one way to find out," the guardsman said helping me stay up as the other men came closer, "Try to Shout...that would prove it. According to the old legends, only the Dragonborn can Shout without training."
I concentrated for a moment and a word I had seen in the barrow came to mind and I could understand it now, "FUH!"
A strong gust of wind blew from my mouth, almost knocking down s few of the guards that came closer.
"See you really are Dragonborn," he excitedly cheered.
"Dragonborn," another guard asked, "What are you talking about?"
"That's right," another guard stated, "My grandfather used to tell stories about the Dragonborn. Those born with the Dragon Blood in 'em. Like old Tiber Septim himself."
"I never heard of Tiber Septim killing any dragons," another scoffed
"There weren't any dragons then, idiot," the one helping me stand said, "They're just coming back now for the first time in... forever. But the old tales tell of the Dragonborn who could kill dragons and steal their power."
"What do you say Irileth? You're being awfully quiet."
"Come on, Irileth, tell us, do you believe in this Dragonborn business?"
"Hmph, some of you would be better off keeping quiet than flapping your gums on matters you don't know anything about," Irileth scoffed looking to the dragon's bones, "Here's a dead dragon, and that's something I definitely understand. Now we know we can kill them. But I don't need some mythical Dragonborn. Someone who can put down a dragon is more than enough for me."
"You wouldn't understand, Housecarl. You ain't a Nord."
"Hey neither am I," I elbowed the guard. He groaned a bit before stuttering an apology to us both.
"I've been all across Tamriel," Irileth continued to speak, "I've seen plenty of things just as outlandish as this. I'd advise you all to trust in the strength of your sword arm over tales and legends."
"She's right," a guard agreed, "Least till we know more. Can't just go off of old legends."
Irileth then came over to us, "That was the hairiest fight I've ever been in, and I've been in more than a few. I don't know about this Dragonborn business, but I'm sure glad you're with us. You better get back to Whiterun right away. Jarl Balgruuf will want to know what happened here. I'm taking command here for the moment. You two head back to Whiterun and let the Jarl know what happened. Then get those wounds looked after."
"Yes, Housecarl," the guard nodded back.
"Will do," I nodded back then looked to the guard, "Hope you don't mind helping me there."
"No problem," he nodded, tightening his grip on my side to keep me up, "It would be an honor."
I chuckled at him as we limped our way back to the city. Halfway there a loud echoing voice came down from the mountain, "Dovahkiin!"
"Did you hear that," the guard looked up at the mountain.
"What was it," I asked looking up at the mountain. It sounded liked something the dragon had said in our fight. But I didn;t know what it meant.
"We better go tell the Jarl," he said walking a little faster to the city. When we entered everyone in town was talking about the loud echo as we went up to the place. As we came into the men seemed to be arguing with each other before Proventus came to meet us, "Good you're...oh my are you alight?"
"Just a couple sprains," I replied, "You should see the other guy."
The guard helping me gave a chuckle, "Before or after you absorbed his soul."
"Either way I still look better," I chuckled.
"Well the Jarl has been waiting for you," Proventus continued, "I'll get Farengar to help with your wounds."
"Thank you," I replied back as he went to get the court wizard. The guard helped me to the throne where the Jarl was waiting for me. When he saw me he immediately stood up and met us halfway, pulling out a chair for me to sit and rest. Another man with a Warhammer on his back and hide armor on came to down as well.
"I take it things went well," Balgruuf asked as I sat down.
"Well enough," the guard replied, "We managed to kill the dragon. And she's Dragonborn."
"We heard the summons," Balgruuf nodded, "It was the Greybeards. They must be summoning you."
"Greybeards," I looked up at the Jarl, "Who are they? Why would they want me?"
"Masters of the Way of the Voice," The Jarl began to explain, "They live in seclusion high on the slopes of the Throat of the World. The Dragonborn is uniquely gifted in the Voice - the ability to focus your vital essence into a Thu'um, or Shout. If you really are Dragonborn, they can teach you how to use your gift."
By then Proventus and Farengar came over to us. Farengar kneeled beside me, his hands hovered over my injured leg as his hands began to glow with magic. The pain began to fade away.
"This hasn't happened in ... centuries, at least," the man standing beside Balgruuf said, "Not since Tiber Septim himself was summoned when he was still Talos of Atmora!"
"Hrongar, calm yourself," Proventus said as Farengar moved to heal my arm, "What does any of this Nord nonsense have to do with our friend here? Capable as she may be, I don't see any signs of her being this, what, "Dragonborn.""
"Can't tell if I should be insulted by that or not," I muttered
"Nord nonsense?! Why you puffed-up ignorant... these are our sacred traditions that go back to the founding of the First Empire!"
"Hrongar," Balgruuf scolded him, "Don't be so hard on Avenicci."
"I meant no disrespect, of course. It's just that... what do these Greybeards want with you?"
"That's the Greybeards' business, not ours," Balgruuf said as Farengar finished healing me, "Whatever happened when you killed that dragon, it revealed something in you, and the Greybeards heard it. If they think you're Dragonborn, who are we to argue? You'd better get up to High Hrothgar immediately. There's no refusing the summons of the Greybeards, it's a tremendous honor. I envy you, you know. To climb the 7,000 Steps again... I made the pilgrimage once, did you know that? High Hrothgar is a very peaceful place. Very... disconnected from the troubles of this world. I wonder that the Greybeards even notice what's going on down here. They haven't seemed to care before. No matter. Go to High Hrothgar. Learn what the Greybeards can teach you."
"Sounds interesting," I replied testing my arm and leg, giving the court wizard a grateful nod in thanks. He gave a nod back before going back to his office. I looked back at the Jarl.
"You've done a great deed for me and my city, Dragonborn. By my right as Jarl, I name you Thane of Whiterun. It's the greatest honor that's within my power to grant."
"Thank you, my Jarl," I gave a bow in return.
"I assign you Lydia as a personal Housecarl, and this weapon from my armory to serve as your badge of office," a servant came over giving the Jarl a steel axe. He took the axe and presented it to me. I took it, it was well polished and sharpened. It was a well made weapon. A brown haired Nord woman is steel armor came over to us, giving me a bow with her hand across her chest.
"I'll also notify my guards of your new title. Wouldn't want them to think you're part of the common rabble, now would we? We are honored to have you as Thane of our city, Dragonborn."
"Thank you again, Jarl Balgruuf," I bowed again before he returned the bow. He then turned back to his throne, "Back to business, Proventus. We still have a city to defend."
Proventus nodded following after him, "Yes, my lord."