Chapter 5 - Before the storm

Sitting on a bench in the Vermidor Square, Hunfen drew his dagger from its sheath to inspect it. It had been a few days since the child had found refuge in Whiterun, and the weapon had not seen any use. Thus, this inspection was mostly an excuse to admire the craftsmanship. Immediately after his first visit to Dragonsreach, he had gone to see Eorlund Gray-Mane, who had been tasked with repairing the blade.

Hunfen remembered with emotion his first encounter with the blacksmith and his workspace. The Skyforge was a true marvel, equipped with a large hearth where flames danced and a bellows that seemed to animate the metal, breathing life into it. The atmosphere around the forge was warm and vibrant, dotted with sparks that flew with each impact of the blacksmith's hammer. Eorlund had to completely reforge the blade, but he took care to preserve the original work of Alvor. Hunfen had admired the old man's remarkable skill, striking the glowing blade with strength and precision in the Skyforge, gradually restoring it to its original shape. Once the restoration was complete, including tempering and polishing, the blacksmith had presented the repaired weapon to Hunfen, who received it with gratitude and wonder. The child felt he had honored his promise to Alvor to take care of the weapon, even though he reproached himself for having damaged it in the first place, albeit in the course of an epic battle.

Then, Hunfen had passed through the doors of Jorrvaskr, warmly welcomed by the Companions in their great hall. The atmosphere there was convivial and lively, with laughter and conversations echoing through the room.

During dinner, Farkas had stood to recount their encounter with the giant and Hunfen's daring intervention. Adopting a theatrical and grandiose tone, the warrior described how the young boy had braved danger to help the Companions. "My friends, let me tell you the epic tale of a young hero who faced an enraged giant!" he began, capturing the attention of all the warriors present in the hall.

He continued detailing the creature's assault and the Companions' efforts to combat it. When he reached the decisive moment of Hunfen's intervention, Farkas couldn't help but display a mischievous smile.

"And then our Fearless Flame leapt into the fray!
Young Hunfen, fearless and brave, cast a fiery display…
Right on the giant's manhood, his flames found their way!"

All the men present instinctively winced in pain before bursting into uproarious laughter. Hunfen, finally understanding the source of Farkas' amusement after the battle, felt his cheeks flush even more, and an irresistible urge to hide under the table overcame him as the warrior added, laughing: "Never has a warrior seen a creature suffer so much from such a well-placed burn!"

Aela then intervened, casting a reproachful look at her colleague. "Don't overdo it, Farkas. The important thing is that Hunfen acted with courage and helped us defeat the giant. That's why he deserves the nickname Fearless Flame, not because of where he hit the giant!"

The laughter subsided, and the Companions nodded in agreement, acknowledging the young boy's merit and congratulating him for his bravery. Despite his embarrassment, he felt proud to be accepted by these valiant warriors and to have been able to support them in their fight.

Emerging from his reverie, the child sheathed his dagger and headed toward Dragonsreach to meet with Farengar, the court wizard. The latter, conducting research on dragons, had insisted that Hunfen provide every detail he remembered about the dragon at Helgen.

On the large Vermidor Square, Hunfen noticed Lars, the young red-haired Nord boy he had seen upon arriving in Whiterun. Braith, the spirited Redguard girl, was once again busy tormenting him. Over the past few days in Whiterun, Hunfen had finally had the opportunity to talk with several children of the city, including these two. He had discovered that Lars came from one of the oldest, most prestigious, and wealthiest families in the city: the Battle-Borns. However, this noble heritage weighed heavily on the boy's shoulders, as his father Idolaf had great expectations for him. As for Braith, she was the daughter of a pair of former Imperial soldiers, both Redguards, who sheltered her with excessive protection.

Intrigued, Hunfen approached to better understand the situation. Once again, Braith was inciting Lars to fight, employing both physical and verbal provocations, while the boy tried in vain to avoid confrontation. Taking Lars' side, Hunfen called out to Braith: "Stop bothering him! Can't you see he doesn't want to fight?"

Lars, relieved, thanked Hunfen with a look. Nevertheless, Hunfen asked him curiously, "Why don't you ever defend yourself, Lars?" Embarrassed, the boy replied in a timid voice, "I really don't like fighting. And besides," he continued with more conviction, "it's not honorable to hit a girl!"

Braith rolled her eyes and retorted sarcastically, "Oh, really? So that means I can do whatever I want to boys, and you won't do anything to me?" She then resumed her provocations, this time targeting Hunfen as well, pushing and pulling at their clothes.

Hunfen, irritated, broke free and retorted angrily, "Girl or not, I don't care!" And without hesitation, he landed a hit on Braith's face. Surprised, she paused, looking at him with astonishment that quickly turned to fury. She lunged at him, determined to take revenge. Soon, punches were flying on both sides, the two children fighting vehemently under Lars' horrified eyes, completely overwhelmed by the situation.

Panicked, the young Battle-Born tried in vain to separate them, shouting, "Stop! You're going to hurt each other!" circling around them, not knowing how to intervene. But Hunfen and Braith, too engrossed in their fight, paid him no attention.

After a few minutes, Hunfen felt a firm hand grab him and pull him away. "Stop it, both of you!" cried a voice. It was Lucia, the young Imperial girl he had seen begging upon his arrival. Each time they had met, he had been struck by her gentleness and kindness, and this time, the contrast with Braith's aggressive behavior was even more striking. All his belligerent feelings left him instantly as Lucia continued in a reproachful tone, "Look in what state you've gotten yourselves into!"

Glancing at Braith, Hunfen saw that she was also being held back by Lars. However, the boy quickly released his grip after a threatening look from the young Redguard. Reluctantly, the two adversaries sat on a bench, and Lucia placed her hands on their foreheads, activating a healing magic she applied with care.

Hunfen, panting but already feeling his bruises and contusions fade under the spell's effect, declared, "I won!" to which Braith immediately protested, "No way! I was beating you!"

As the two children continued to argue about the outcome of their fight, Danica Pure-Spring, the priestess of Kynareth, approached them, looking displeased. "You should be ashamed of fighting like this in the middle of Whiterun!" she scolded. Hunfen and Braith merely shrugged, a mischievous smile forming on their faces.

However, as Danica prepared to continue her reprimand, she noticed Lucia healing the two children. Intrigued, she stepped closer and observed the young girl's work for a moment. "You're the little orphan girl I sometimes see begging in the street, aren't you?" she asked Lucia, who nodded timidly.

Danica squinted, examining the young girl's healing skills attentively. "You're quite adept! Who taught you healing magic?"

"My mother taught me," Lucia replied, lowering her eyes, slightly embarrassed by the question. "Well, I saw her do it a lot when I was little. She often healed my father's wounds and the farm animals. I tried to do what she did."

Hunfen no longer felt any pain. Lucia removed her hand from his forehead and took a step back, slightly staggering. The priestess of Kynareth steadied her by the shoulders, preventing her from falling, then made her sit on the bench and said softly, "You tire quickly, but you know, it's surprising you can cast that spell without having studied it for long!"

She paused, thinking, and continued, "Listen, would you like to come to the Temple of Kynareth? We are in dire need of help right now. Many injured people arrive every day, and we're struggling to keep up. If you're willing, I could teach you more about healing magic, and you could help us at the temple. It would give you a roof over your head and allow you to use your abilities. What do you say?"

Lucia looked at Danica, her eyes shining with hope. She glanced at Hunfen and Braith, who were watching her with encouragement. She sprang to her feet and exclaimed, "Yes, I'd love that. Thank you!"

Danica smiled warmly and placed her hand on Lucia's shoulder. "Come with me, then. We have a lot of work waiting for us." She cast an amused look at Hunfen and Braith, who had stopped bickering and were now observing Lucia with interest. "As for you two, try not to get into this state again, alright? The Temple of Kynareth has enough wounded to care for without adding children's fights!"

Hunfen felt a pang of melancholy understanding that Lucia would now be less present to share moments of play with them. However, he was happy for the young girl: she would have a bed, guaranteed meals, and no longer need to beg. He cast one last glance towards the temple, then resumed his path.

oOo

Hunfen once again climbed the stairs leading to Dragonsreach, running. He didn't want to keep Farengar waiting any longer, as the urgency of the wizard's research on dragons had become critical in recent days. A certain nervousness grew within him as he entered the fort, trying to recall his memories of the beast as accurately as possible. Once inside the palace, he followed the guards' directions to find the mage's study room.

Upon reaching the vicinity of the room, Hunfen heard two voices in conversation. The discussion seemed to be about dragons. He hesitated for a moment before deciding to stay outside and listen.

A man spoke in a calm and measured voice, like that of scholars. It was probably Farengar himself. "You see, the terminology of this text corresponds to the First Era, perhaps even the Merethic Era. I'm convinced this is a copy of a much older document, perhaps dating back to the end of the Dragon War. I might be able to use this codex to establish a correspondence of names with more recent texts."

"Good. I'm glad to see you're making progress. Time is against us, Farengar. This is no longer a theoretical question: dragons are back!" replied a female voice, firmer and more determined. She spoke in a hushed tone, almost as if she feared being overheard.

Hunfen silently approached to observe the two speakers. Farengar was a middle-aged Nord, his bony face adorned with a carefully trimmed graying beard. His piercing blue eyes seemed to constantly analyze everything around him. His aquiline nose and thin lips gave him an austere and serious expression. He wore dark blue mage robes, almost black, adorned with intricate silver patterns that shimmered slightly in the light. He took a moment of reflection before responding:

"It is imperative that we gather as much information as possible about these draconic creatures. Their physical characteristics and behavior might help us understand them better and eventually find a strategy to combat them."

"We don't need to deliberate; we already know they breathe fire and destroy everything in their path. What we need is a solution to stop them!" the woman responded.

The woman who answered Farengar wore leather armor and a hood that concealed most of her face. She seemed relatively old, based on the little Hunfen could see.

"I agree," Farengar conceded. "But it is crucial to analyze all relevant data to devise an effective tactic…"

The woman suddenly turned her head towards the room's entrance, directly in Hunfen's direction. "And you, what are you doing there? Come in."

Hunfen, surprised to be discovered, stepped forward timidly. "I… I'm sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I heard you talking about dragons and… I saw one at Helgen."

A look of understanding crossed Farengar's face. "Ah yes, you must be the young boy who witnessed the attack on Helgen, aren't you? Could you describe the physical details of this draconic creature? Its scales, horns, size, its roar?"

Hunfen thought for a moment, then replied, "Well, it was huge, with black scales and red eyes. It had horns on its head and immense wings. It breathed fire and made the ground shake when it landed!"

Farengar nodded, taking notes on a parchment. "Fascinating… The pigmentation of the scales and those distinctive eyes might indicate a distinct species of dragon. What about its roar? Did it speak, perhaps?"

Once again, the child delved into his memories. "Yes, there were some kinds of words, I think. But it was a language I didn't understand. It was scary, but… powerful, like it was making things appear by saying them!"

Farengar, intrigued, exclaimed, "Incredible! This matches what the ancient texts say. They can project their will into their voice. They use an ancient form of magic called Thu'um."

The woman interjected, directly and bluntly: "And how can we hurt these beasts? What is their weakness?"

Hunfen looked at her, barely distinguishing her features under her hood, and raised his eyebrows. She looked like Delphine, the old innkeeper from Riverwood! Before he could comment, she gave him a severe look, silently urging him to answer her question.

"Uh… I'm not sure," he finally replied. "The soldiers attacked with arrows, and I saw elves casting fireballs and lightning at it, but… I don't know if it hurt it. It didn't seem injured."

Farengar frowned, thinking deeply. "Some texts speak of heroes who managed to slay dragons using their own voice to fight, allowing Humans to acquire the Thu'um. Even today, the Greybeards practice it, but it takes a lifetime to master, like Ulfric Stormcloak, who only managed to master a few basics after several years."

He sighed in frustration before adding, "Nevertheless, these accounts are rare, and their epic tone doesn't really distinguish the real from the embellishments of the stories. We probably need to find another way to fight them."

The woman nodded. "We must learn more about these creatures, understand their strengths and weaknesses. Only then can we hope to fight them effectively."

Suddenly, Irileth burst into the room, breathless. "Farengar! Farengar, come quickly! A dragon has been spotted near the western watchtower!"

The mage leapt to his feet, excitement clear on his face. "A dragon! How exciting! Where was it seen? What was it doing?"

Irileth frowned, looking serious. "If I were you, I'd take this a bit more seriously. If a dragon decides to attack Whiterun, I don't know if we can stop it. Let's go."

Both hurried out of the room to join the Jarl, forgetting the two guests who watched them in silence. Not wanting to miss an opportunity to learn more about dragons and the plans to fight them, Hunfen decided to discreetly follow the group.

Arriving in the command room, they found Jarl Balgruuf facing a breathless Whiterun guard, struggling to stay at attention.

"So, Irileth tells me you came from the western watchtower?"

"Yes, my lord," replied the guard, still trying to catch his breath.

Irileth impatiently urged him on, "Tell him what you told me, about the dragon!"

"Uh… that's right. We saw it coming from the south. It was fast… faster than anything I've ever seen!"

The Jarl himself showed signs of impatience. "What was it doing? Was it attacking the watchtower?"

"No, my lord. It was just circling above the tower when I left. I've never run so fast in my life… I thought for sure it would chase me!"

Balgruuf softened and responded more warmly, "Good work, soldier. We'll take it from here. Head down to the barracks for food and rest. You've earned it. Irileth, gather some guards and head to the location."

"I've already ordered my men to assemble near the main gate."

"Good. Don't disappoint me."

Farengar stepped forward, catching the Jarl's attention. "My lord, I should come too. I'd love to see this dragon."

"No," Balgruuf replied firmly. "I can't afford to risk both of you. I need you here to work on ways to defend the city against these dragons."

If the mage was disappointed, he didn't show it and simply replied, "As you wish."

Balgruuf turned to his housecarl and continued, "One last thing, Irileth. This is not a suicide mission for glory. I need to know what we're dealing with!"

"Don't worry, my lord," Irileth responded with a nod. "I am the very soul of caution."

Hunfen, still hidden, listened attentively, his worry growing. Would the dragon attack Whiterun? Maybe, he thought, he could see an important detail for Farengar this time? Moreover, he was curious to see the immense black creature again. Irileth was already heading out of the palace. He decided to discreetly follow her to the encounter with the dragon, despite the prohibition against leaving the city walls.

Arriving at the city gates, Irileth delivered a rousing speech to the guards, exalting the honor of slaying a dragon for the first time in millennia. This was enough to dispel the doubt among the soldiers, and they ran towards their target. Hunfen slipped behind them, managing to pass through Whiterun's gates unnoticed. Keeping a prudent distance, he set out to follow the column of guards towards the watchtower, staying alert for any signs of danger.