OMG, the feels I had while taking Whiterun for the Stormcloaks. I did NOT want to do this quest. I faffed around for a while, trying to find a way to get out of it. If I could have defected at this point, I would have. I felt sooo awful afterwards, especially when Balgruuf and Irileth deservedly expressed their disgust. Balgruuf is one of my favourite characters and I am so sad about what I did. I would love to read a fic on this theme. Also would love to read about the people of Whiterun feeling betrayed by their thane.
ALL THE INTERNETS IF LYDIA ALSO DESPISES THE DB OVER THIS BETRAYAL. I could not bring myself to take Lydia with me on this quest, I dropped her off in Riften and told her to wait. Maybe your DB forced her to invade and kill defenders of her own home town. Maybe she deserts the DB after the fighting is done and goes off with Balgruuf to Solitude, or maybe her sense of duty prevents her from doing so. Maybe the DB senses how much she hates working for him/her any more and dismisses her from service, attempting to pay a stipend which she of course refuses. Whatever. Just indulge my epic feels over the Battle for Whiterun. I am GUILTY FOREVER.
Balgruuf feels :(
ALL THE INTERNETS IF LYDIA ALSO DESPISES THE DB OVER THIS BETRAYAL. I could not bring myself to take Lydia with me on this quest, I dropped her off in Riften and told her to wait. Maybe your DB forced her to invade and kill defenders of her own home town. Maybe she deserts the DB after the fighting is done and goes off with Balgruuf to Solitude, or maybe her sense of duty prevents her from doing so. Maybe the DB senses how much she hates working for him/her any more and dismisses her from service, attempting to pay a stipend which she of course refuses. Whatever. Just indulge my epic feels over the Battle for Whiterun. I am GUILTY FOREVER.