They left the next morning, catching the carriage from the Whiterun Stables and headed onward to Solitude. The trip was surprisingly uneventful, much to Ysolda's relief. She had never been to Solitude before, so she did not know what to expect. She was surprised to see how large the city was, impressed by its grand structures. The people there were friendly, and eagerly pointed her to the Temple. This part of her journey wasn't the difficult part at all. What proved to be the most difficult was finding a shrine of Talos, where she could pray in peace. She didn't dare ask any townspeople here in Solitude where to find one, not with the Empire so close.
"I just remembered something." Marcurio said as they left the Temple. "Raven was supposed to do a favor for the Jarl here, Elisif."
"Then we should probably let her know what's happened." Ysolda said. "Where does Elisif stay?"
"The Blue Palace," Marcurio answered. "It's not far from here. Follow me." He lead her down the street, past a strange beggar who seemed to be ranting about something, and into a courtyard that looked somewhat untended. The Blue Palace was large and had a sense of foreboding, as if some dark secret was hidden there. They entered and asked for an audience, and waited patiently until Jarl Elisif could see them.
Jarl Elisif the Fair, Ysolda thought, was far more than fair. In fact, she was quite beautiful, and very young for a Queen. Despite being so young, she had the burdens of a large hold to run on top of dealing with her husband's recent death. She looked as if she hadn't slept well, and Ysolda understood her plight. If Raven had not survived his encounter with a werewolf, Ysolda didn't know what she would do.
"My name is Ysolda, and I hail from Whiterun." Ysolda dropped to a knee, as did Marcurio. Elisif smiled.
"Please, you don't need to do that. You're Raven's wife, correct? He speaks very highly of you. But what brings you to Solitude? It's so far from Whiterun."
"Raven brings me here." Ysolda answered. "He's...Currently incapacitated at the Temple of Kynareth, in Whiterun. He was attacked by a werewolf on his way back to the city. He..." She paused, composing herself. It was still difficult to talk about, despite Danica's assurance that Raven would recover. "He nearly died." As Ysolda looked into Elisif's eyes, she saw a kind of sympathy only a wife could give. Elisif had lost her husband, and she didn't wish it on anyone else. She knew how Ysolda felt, and more.
"I'm so sorry. But, at least he is alive. Is there word on his recovery?" Elisif asked delicately.
"As of right now, no. But Danica Pure-Spring, the priestess of Kynareth, is confident he will make a full recovery. That is why I'm here, in Solitude. He will recover, but it will take a lot of time. I came here to pray to the Divines, in the hopes that they will help him-" She paused. "Help us. I hate to sound selfish, but I need just as much strength as he does right now." Elisif gave her a sad, knowing smile.
"And I'm going to guess that when you came to the Temple, you were disappointed that one God was missing." At Ysolda's shocked look, she let out a small, sad chuckle. "I know how you feel. The worship of Talos may be banned by the Empire, but in the hearts of all Nords, he is still one of our Gods. When Torygg died, I prayed to all of the Divines...Except for Talos." She paused, looking away briefly, as if to compose herself. Ysolda swore she saw tears glittering in Elisif's eyes. "I know of one Shrine. It's in the plains just northeast of Whiterun, in fact. I...But, if you go there, may I ask you a favor?"
"Of course." Ysolda nodded firmly. "What can I do for you, my Jarl?"
"As we all know, Talos is, in essence, a God of war. However, he was also capable of much compassion in his life. Torygg owned a war horn that was very precious to him, passed down by his father, from his father, and so forth. When I prayed to the Divines, I left offerings for each. But, I saved this for Talos." She reached behind her throne, and found a cloth bundle. Ysolda accepted it, and she pulled the cloth away to reveal a beautiful, golden horn, jewel-encrusted and weary with time.
"Please, take this." Elisif asked. "Take this to Talos,. Pray for his blessing."
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timeasmymeasure
Struggle (7a/?)
Date: 2013-03-13 09:38 pm (UTC)"I just remembered something." Marcurio said as they left the Temple. "Raven was supposed to do a favor for the Jarl here, Elisif."
"Then we should probably let her know what's happened." Ysolda said. "Where does Elisif stay?"
"The Blue Palace," Marcurio answered. "It's not far from here. Follow me." He lead her down the street, past a strange beggar who seemed to be ranting about something, and into a courtyard that looked somewhat untended. The Blue Palace was large and had a sense of foreboding, as if some dark secret was hidden there. They entered and asked for an audience, and waited patiently until Jarl Elisif could see them.
Jarl Elisif the Fair, Ysolda thought, was far more than fair. In fact, she was quite beautiful, and very young for a Queen. Despite being so young, she had the burdens of a large hold to run on top of dealing with her husband's recent death. She looked as if she hadn't slept well, and Ysolda understood her plight. If Raven had not survived his encounter with a werewolf, Ysolda didn't know what she would do.
"My name is Ysolda, and I hail from Whiterun." Ysolda dropped to a knee, as did Marcurio. Elisif smiled.
"Please, you don't need to do that. You're Raven's wife, correct? He speaks very highly of you. But what brings you to Solitude? It's so far from Whiterun."
"Raven brings me here." Ysolda answered. "He's...Currently incapacitated at the Temple of Kynareth, in Whiterun. He was attacked by a werewolf on his way back to the city. He..." She paused, composing herself. It was still difficult to talk about, despite Danica's assurance that Raven would recover. "He nearly died." As Ysolda looked into Elisif's eyes, she saw a kind of sympathy only a wife could give. Elisif had lost her husband, and she didn't wish it on anyone else. She knew how Ysolda felt, and more.
"I'm so sorry. But, at least he is alive. Is there word on his recovery?" Elisif asked delicately.
"As of right now, no. But Danica Pure-Spring, the priestess of Kynareth, is confident he will make a full recovery. That is why I'm here, in Solitude. He will recover, but it will take a lot of time. I came here to pray to the Divines, in the hopes that they will help him-" She paused. "Help us. I hate to sound selfish, but I need just as much strength as he does right now." Elisif gave her a sad, knowing smile.
"And I'm going to guess that when you came to the Temple, you were disappointed that one God was missing." At Ysolda's shocked look, she let out a small, sad chuckle. "I know how you feel. The worship of Talos may be banned by the Empire, but in the hearts of all Nords, he is still one of our Gods. When Torygg died, I prayed to all of the Divines...Except for Talos." She paused, looking away briefly, as if to compose herself. Ysolda swore she saw tears glittering in Elisif's eyes. "I know of one Shrine. It's in the plains just northeast of Whiterun, in fact. I...But, if you go there, may I ask you a favor?"
"Of course." Ysolda nodded firmly. "What can I do for you, my Jarl?"
"As we all know, Talos is, in essence, a God of war. However, he was also capable of much compassion in his life. Torygg owned a war horn that was very precious to him, passed down by his father, from his father, and so forth. When I prayed to the Divines, I left offerings for each. But, I saved this for Talos." She reached behind her throne, and found a cloth bundle. Ysolda accepted it, and she pulled the cloth away to reveal a beautiful, golden horn, jewel-encrusted and weary with time.
"Please, take this." Elisif asked. "Take this to Talos,. Pray for his blessing."