Sunrise

• Posted by Jiogrin December 17, 2013 - 792 views

  Tirdas, 26 of Last Seed

  Belan and I arrived in the city last night. We immediately reported our findings at Greymoor to Commander Caius. The milk drinker was shivering in his boots after hearing of the massacre. Typical Imperial. He told me he would inform the Jarl as soon as he could, but with reports coming in from the Riverwood outpost of the fire at Helgen, and the possibility of war within the hold, the Jarl had his hands full of bad news. 

  Ill give him a day to perform his duties before I take matters into my own hands. Chain of command be damned. 

  The morning report was mostly about handling the refugees flooding in from the Stormcloak occupied eastern holds. For the past week we've been filtering them into a camp just outside the walls, a spot usually reserved for the Elswyer merchants. A group of fifty exhausted imperials wandered through the gates and formed a line outside the Bannered Mare trying to get a room early this morning. I don't know why they thought that little inn could possibly have enough rooms for them all. By the afternoon they'll take to hawking what few things they could carry from their homes in the market, trying to make some gold to feed themselves and afford the tools they'll need for the winter months. As long as they keep their hands to themselves and don't impede the regular merchants, Caius wants us to let them be. He says we don't have the numbers to handle such a large crowd, but I know hes really after the merchant taxes he'll force out of them, and the fat cut he'll get to keep.

  I know what desperate people will resort to, we should move them all out of the city today and into the regular refugee camp, they can barter there to their hearts content. Better yet, we should send the lot of them on their way to Solitude, let their fellow Imperials deal with them. But until Caius is rightfully relieved of his duties, we're sworn to obey his ridiculous orders. 

  My fealty lies first with the Jarl, and to Ulfric, the true king. War is a brutal beast, but the Stormcloaks have no need to force these people out of their homes and businesses. Especially at this time of the year. The ones we get are the lucky ones, the strong ones. The rest died on the road from the cold, or sickness. At least they move in groups, bandits are cowards and wouldn't dare harass their greater numbers.

  Gate duty for me. Damn you Caius.

   Belan was sent to gather some volunteers to bolster the guard. He should get a few good men, he has a way with words that I dont. If i had to wager, id say some Gray-Manes will join us, and the Companions might lend a few whelps for "training". The people of Whiterun are strong and loyal, I know they'll help us protect our city.

  A runner from the eastern outpost came through the Gate. He told me a large group is heading our way. Probably more refugees. Its going to be a long day.

  Winter is fast approaching. The air has that crisp bite in it that gets the blood moving in any true Nord. The sunrise over the tundra was beautiful, and for a moment I forgot the horrors of Greymoor and the gloom of war. Its times like this I wish I could wander the mountains like I did as a younger man, get away from the troubles and despair that are strangling the whole of Skyrim.

  The man who destroyed Greymoor is out there. Near by. Faceless and formless, he could look me in the eye as he walks through the gate and I wouldn't know him from any other man. We are not prepared to defend ourselves should he come through the city. Talos lend me strength.