The Gray Wolf Tales: Part 2 ~ Chapter 3

• Posted by Ben W June 19, 2015 - 1,060 views

  Willem

          “So, boy… what happened to you?” Balgruuf asked me. Why was this ruler asking what he already knew… somewhat. I was still in steel cuffs when placed before him. Looking to the right, I saw a Dark Elf woman clad in leather armor. Her face had a stern expression on it, like at any wrong move of mine, she’d strike. To the left, a man in fine clothes and boots. His face was neutral when looking upon me.

          Turning my attention back to the man on the throne, I replied, “You already know, so why ask me to repeat it?” Balgruuf didn’t respond to my statement, but the woman beside him did.

          She took a threatening step forward. “How dare you speak to the Jarl in such a way!” she ordered. Before being able to try anything more against me, Balgruuf spoke.

          “Irileth, that’s enough,” he said sternly. The Dark Elf looked to the man before stepping back to his side, giving him a slight bow by way of an apology. He turned his attention back to me and continued. “Son, it is alright. No one here will harm you.”

          I looked up to him, my green eyes staring into his. “And I believe you, but if you already know what happened to me, why ask me to repeat it?” Balgruuf simply chuckled a little, a smile spreading across his face.

  “To put it simply, boy, to hear your side of the story.”

  I simply looked at him, wondering what his game was. And… something was gnawing at me. This ruler, this Balgruuf.. he acted like one of my father’s closest advisorers back when that meant something to my family. Oh, I miss Bergan… mother and father… and my siblings.

  “Alright. I’ll tell you, but I don’t know if you’ll believe any of it.”
  

  “Try me.” Balgruuf said, continuing to smile.

  And so I did. It began bad right from the beginning. I spoke of how I wondered alone and lost within this strange world, how the people looked at me with expressions of confusion. And then of course came the run in with the group of bandits (I assume anyway). How they chased me for what seemed like miles. How I pleaded with them to leave me alone. Though I didn’t see it, several members of Balgruuf’s were whisper to each other, conveying whether or not my story had any truth to it.

  And finally when I was confronted by the leader of the bandits. How he threatened to kill me. But that’s where the story got deadly. I truly didn’t know if speaking of my first transformation was something that should be spoken of. Looking up, Balgruuf, and the Elf, Irileth, looked at me, waiting for me to continue.

  Letting out a sigh of silent defeat, I spoke of how I looked to the moon that night. How the pain coursed through my body like a lightning bolt. Describing the very transformation didn’t seem to bother anyone, that I could see, in the slightest. My tearing into and killing every bandit that surrounded me made a couple shift uncomfortably.

  Finally, after saying the whole story, my shoulders slumped over from mental exhaustion. My breathing was becoming more hurried, rushed. Irileth moved for her sword but it was quickly told off by Balgruuf with a slight grunt and a open hand waving not to. Getting up and stepping forward, he lifting my head slightly to find the start of tears in my eyes. I didn’t mean to, but speaking of my family and past such like that… I just couldn’t help it.

  “I’m… I’m sorry,” I silently said, fighting the urge to let a cry out. “I don’t mean to…”

  Taking his hand away, Balgruuf reached into a pocket of his, pulling out a handkerchief. Placing it in my slightly trembling hand, I brought it up to wipe away the tears. As I was doing so, he spoke. “It’s alright, boy. Tears are natural to shed, but try to let these be the last. Many people tend to take this as a sign of weakness.”

  I gave him a nod in understanding, however I couldn’t help but feel like continuing.

  Looking up, Balgruuf’s eyes fell onto a soldier of his. “Commander Caius,” he spoke with a voice of authority and friendliness.

  A man walked up, his yellow leather-like armor taking away my gaze from his balding head. The symbol that was on it, a Horse… all I could think of was the Horselords from Lyssia. “Yes, sir,” Caius replied, giving his ruler a slight bow.

  “Take those cuffs off him, if you please.”

  I looked up at the Nord, my eyes a little wide. Why would he choose to believe me so easily? And… so quickly?

  “Of course, my Jarl.” Taking a hand to his belt, the commander pulled a key ring and immediately began to flip through it until coming to a particular key. Kneeling down, he spoke to me in a soft, kind voice. Like that of a friend. “Hold your hands out, son.” Obeying, my hands were held out and, he taking a hold of one of the cuffs for a steady hand, freed from the cold embrace of the steel.

  As the cuffs drooped in his Caius’s hands, I rubbed my wrists, clenching my fists so a feeling would come back to them. “Thank you.”

  He smiled and gave a light chuckle. “You’re welcome, son.”   

  With a nod to the commander, I turned to Balgruuf. “Why?”

  “Why what? Why would I believe you so quickly?” He asked right back. I nodded to him, a look of wonder etched on me.

  “Well, to put it simply,” he placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. His grip was strong, but there was a tenderness there that I didn’t expect from someone of his age. “You look like someone everyone in Skyrim knows about. Very much like him.” Balgruuf smiled, turning to Irileth, signaling her to give her opinion on the matter.

  The Dark Elf woman gave a nod, her red hair tumbling ever-so-slightly. “Yes, he does look an awful lot like him.”

  “Who? Who are you talking about?” I asked, looking between the two of them.

  Balgruuf went to answer. “We’re talking about-”

  A shake from the ceiling of the building we all stood in shook, knocking loose dirt free and to the wooden floor below. Everyone looked to one another, wondering what could have happened. Then, another shake. Bigger and more violent this time, knocking several pieces of silverware to the ground. A loud creaking noise caused us all to look up to see a thick and heavy piece of wood, hurtling towards Balgruuf and myself. With a quick jump backwards, we both evaded what would surely have been a painful death. The two of us looked at each other, panting a little with our quick brush with death. Worried looks from the man in the fine clothes went from one person to the other, including from Caius.

  “What was that? What caused it?” Balgruuf asked, looking from Irileth to the commander. Before either could answer, the Jarl interrupted them. “Never mind that! I want you to go out and-” This time, he was stopped by the very large doors opening at the entrance of the grand building. A guard was running, sword in hand and a dark patch on his side. Both were of blood.

  “My Jarl!” The man didn’t even bother to bow or anything of the formalities. “We’re under attack!”

  “What?! By who?” Balguuf asked, his teeth gritted and frown prominent. “Is it the Stormcloaks? Bandits?!”

  The guard frantically shook his head. “No, sir! We don’t know who it is! They… they wear golden armor and red cloaks around their necks and arms! All of them!”

  The Jarl’s eyes widen. “Ysmir’s beard!” Turning to the balding man, he nearly shouted. “Proventus, fetch my armor and sword at once! Now!”

  The Imperial stared at his ruler. “My Jarl….” Irileth was about to join in on the side of steward, but the Jarl silenced them both.

  “Don’t just stand there! Now, dammit!” He ordered. Not needing anymore encouragement, Proventus ran off up the stairs to the left of the throne. “Commander Caius. Have one of your men fetch some armor and a sword for our friend here. He’ll need it.” He nodded, the commander going off and calling for his men in the building.

  I was taken back by his words. “Wait… you want me to help you fight? But… I barely-” I was cut off from Balgruuf as he spoke.

  “I know who and what you are, son. I know you have the will and ability to fight when the need demands it. And right now, the need is now!” His eyes stared into my own. I knew he was right, but… something in me just felt like I couldn’t do it.

  Before I could even get the chance to speak up, a guard returned carrying a black-studded leather chest piece with matching boots and bracers along with a steel sword on top. “Here you are!” He said to me as another shock wave rumbled through the keep. Just at the same time, Proventus returned carrying Balgruuf’s equipment as well. The steel plate of the armor reflected the light of the fire in the center of the dining area like the stars in the night sky.

  Balgruuf took his armor and quickly put it on over his clothes, taking his boots off before putting the greaves on. “What are you waiting for, son? Hurry and arm yourself!” He spoke, taking the sword from the Imperial’s grasp and putting it around his waist. Irileth stood beside him, a look of grim determination on her face. Not saying a word, I gave him a nod and took the armor and weapon from the guard. Slipping the equipment on, it felt… strange. Right, almost. Mimicking the Jarl, I tied the sword around my waist. “Why are you putting so much trust and faith in me?”

  “Because I know you’re the son of Wergar! His fierce determination, ferocity in battle flow through your veins as well as his own!” I looked at him completely dumbfounded, but he quickly spoke again before a word left my mouth. “I’ll tell you all about it after we repel these attackers, I promise son!”

  Right on queue, Commander Caius returned to us with several of his men. “Good of you to show up, Caius! I want you, Irileth and your men to take position of the stair well that leads to the Winds District from the market place! Do not let any unfriendly bastard through and get the citizens to safety, do you understand me!?”

  “Yes, sir!” Caius said. Irileth on the other hand was not so keen.

  “Balgruuf, I believe I should stay by your side! Even if this boy is Wergar’s son, it doesn't mean he has his father’s skill!”
  

  “Irileth, do not argue with me! Follow my orders as I gave them to you!” He retorted to the Dark Elf. With a grunt of displeasure, she gave him a nod.

  “Alright, Commander Caius, men, on me!” She cried, drawing her blade. As she did, blue runes began to run up and down its length, almost, to me, giving the blade a look of it being encased in a shell of ice. “For Whiterun!” she cried, leading the men with a run down the stairs and out the doors.

  All I could do was stand there, watching and listening as Balgruuf gave more orders to his steward and court wizard, demanding them stay and protect his children should the worse happen.

  The guard that had come in to deliever the news was still standing beside myself and Balgruuf, now clutching his side to try and stop his bleeding. “My Jarl, what of me? I feel… too weak to continue fighting…” He said through the helmet. Taking a look to his arms, I could see beads of sweat beginning to form and run down their length.

  Balgruuf look this way and that very quickly, trying to figure out a duty the guard could still do. “Since you cannot help fight… have Farengar patch you up. Then head back out and help the citizens get into buildings!”  The guard gave his Jarl a “Sir!” and, still clutching his side, walked to the courd wizard’s area for a patching up.

  Having cleared that extra part up, Balgruuf then turned to several of the guards that didn’t leave with the others. “You three, you are with me and the boy here!”

  The guards gave him a nod and drew their swords, taking their shields from their backs. “Yes, my lord!” The leader of the group stated.

  Finally turning to me once again, the Nord ruler asked me, “Are you ready, son? To help fight for Whiterun?” In the distance of the outside world, I could faintly make out the cries of battle, men and women fighting.

  Taking a deep breath, I cleared my mind of all that had transpired in such a short amount of time. My hand balled into a fist, helping me focus. Looking up at Balgruuf, my look had transformed from one of confusion and worry to one of a man who was ready to fight for what was right. “I’m ready, sir.” I said with determination in my voice and heart.

  Balgruuf smiled, drawing his sword. “There’s the Wolf in you, boy!” He laughed. Looking to me and too his men, the Jarl gave the order. “Men… for Whiterun!!” As one, all of us ran from the foot of the throne to the doors of the keep, ready to face what challenge awaited us.