“Jarl Elisif. Good to see you, I was worried you'd vanished for good. Glad to see you're in one piece although I'd not expected you here. Is something wrong in Solitude – actually, never mind, we all have bigger problems right now. Elisif, I can't decide if this is good timing on your part or terrible timing, but the Stormcloaks are going to be here within hours. Whiterun's going to be a city under siege.”
“I know, I saw the army from a distance, I came to tell the Jarl...” Elisif's voice trailed off as she realised that not only had Balgruuf known, he'd probably even expected it, and Rikke's presence could only mean... “Balgruuf, what have you done??”
“Taken a side,” said Balgruuf, straightening up and starting to smile. “Come now, Elisif, don't look so shocked. True Nords don't stand idle when their home's threatened, and with half the city's youngsters flocking to the Empire's banner, all claiming they need to avenge Ulfric's slight to their beautiful Dragonborn Queen, I decided I needed to take a stand. So I've invited Legate Rikke and her Legion friends to help defend the city.”
“After provoking Ulfric in the first place by sending him your axe,” Rikke said tersely. “Honestly, Balgruuf, you could have consulted me first.”
Elisif bit her lip, feeling tears in her eyes. Sending another warrior your axe – having it sent peacefully instead of burying it in their chest was a sign you wanted to negotiate. If the recipient kept it, it meant peace and a chance to discuss matters like civilised folk when its owner came to collect it, and once the negotiations had taken place, it would be ritually handed back with avowals of peaceful intent. But the other side of that message also meant the sender wanted an answer – the recipient had to answer in one way or another. It was a challenge as much as an invitation to speak. Sending the axe back without there having been avowals of peace or a discussion – that meant there would be none. That the axe was being returned because its owner would need it in the forthcoming fight. And Balgruuf had sent the challenge because of her.
“Balgruuf, you stupid, stupid man,” Elisif whispered, blinking back the tears. “You've risked your entire city on this.”
“Aye,” said Balgruuf gruffly. “But we always knew it would come to this. Ulfric knew and I knew I'd never take his side. I just didn't want the war to come here either. But we're Nords, Elisif. When war is inevitable, we don't run just because it's dangerous. We'll win today or die, but at least we'll die with honour.”
“You're not going to die!” was all Elisif could say before her self-control snapped and she ran up and hugged him. Balgruuf looked a bit awkward over having a pretty twenty-three year old flinging herself at him but he coped and hugged her back after a minute, before letting her go.
“I don't intend to lose either,” said Balgruuf, returning his attention to the map of the city defences. “Now, you were saying, Legate? And bear in mind we just had the Dragonborn join us. Be foolish not to have her involved in some way, seeing as she's here.”
What??? Elisif hadn't signed up for... well, for any of this if she was honest. But joining a full-on battle?!
“Oh gods,” she gasped. “You mean... fighting?”
Elisif wasn't sure whether to be insulted or relieved that Rikke's first reaction was to stifle a laugh.
“No, no, well, hopefully not anyway. But I'll be giving a rallying speech to the troops before battle, it would help to have you there.”
Elisif relaxed a little. Public speaking was something she found nervewracking, but it was better than actually being on the frontlines. And speaking of doing the actual fighting...
“What about the Companions, are they helping?” she asked. Balgruuf and Rikke both went quiet, exchanging nervous looks. It was Balgruuf who finally answered.
“The Companions are above politics, Elisif,” he said gently. “Kodlak has requested all his people stay out of the war, and that includes this battle. I'm sorry Elisif, but we can expect no help from Jorrvaskr. They are not aiding the Stormcloaks either, we should be thankful for that.”
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 9.5
“I know, I saw the army from a distance, I came to tell the Jarl...” Elisif's voice trailed off as she realised that not only had Balgruuf known, he'd probably even expected it, and Rikke's presence could only mean... “Balgruuf, what have you done??”
“Taken a side,” said Balgruuf, straightening up and starting to smile. “Come now, Elisif, don't look so shocked. True Nords don't stand idle when their home's threatened, and with half the city's youngsters flocking to the Empire's banner, all claiming they need to avenge Ulfric's slight to their beautiful Dragonborn Queen, I decided I needed to take a stand. So I've invited Legate Rikke and her Legion friends to help defend the city.”
“After provoking Ulfric in the first place by sending him your axe,” Rikke said tersely. “Honestly, Balgruuf, you could have consulted me first.”
Elisif bit her lip, feeling tears in her eyes. Sending another warrior your axe – having it sent peacefully instead of burying it in their chest was a sign you wanted to negotiate. If the recipient kept it, it meant peace and a chance to discuss matters like civilised folk when its owner came to collect it, and once the negotiations had taken place, it would be ritually handed back with avowals of peaceful intent. But the other side of that message also meant the sender wanted an answer – the recipient had to answer in one way or another. It was a challenge as much as an invitation to speak. Sending the axe back without there having been avowals of peace or a discussion – that meant there would be none. That the axe was being returned because its owner would need it in the forthcoming fight. And Balgruuf had sent the challenge because of her.
“Balgruuf, you stupid, stupid man,” Elisif whispered, blinking back the tears. “You've risked your entire city on this.”
“Aye,” said Balgruuf gruffly. “But we always knew it would come to this. Ulfric knew and I knew I'd never take his side. I just didn't want the war to come here either. But we're Nords, Elisif. When war is inevitable, we don't run just because it's dangerous. We'll win today or die, but at least we'll die with honour.”
“You're not going to die!” was all Elisif could say before her self-control snapped and she ran up and hugged him. Balgruuf looked a bit awkward over having a pretty twenty-three year old flinging herself at him but he coped and hugged her back after a minute, before letting her go.
“I don't intend to lose either,” said Balgruuf, returning his attention to the map of the city defences. “Now, you were saying, Legate? And bear in mind we just had the Dragonborn join us. Be foolish not to have her involved in some way, seeing as she's here.”
What??? Elisif hadn't signed up for... well, for any of this if she was honest. But joining a full-on battle?!
“Oh gods,” she gasped. “You mean... fighting?”
Elisif wasn't sure whether to be insulted or relieved that Rikke's first reaction was to stifle a laugh.
“No, no, well, hopefully not anyway. But I'll be giving a rallying speech to the troops before battle, it would help to have you there.”
Elisif relaxed a little. Public speaking was something she found nervewracking, but it was better than actually being on the frontlines. And speaking of doing the actual fighting...
“What about the Companions, are they helping?” she asked. Balgruuf and Rikke both went quiet, exchanging nervous looks. It was Balgruuf who finally answered.
“The Companions are above politics, Elisif,” he said gently. “Kodlak has requested all his people stay out of the war, and that includes this battle. I'm sorry Elisif, but we can expect no help from Jorrvaskr. They are not aiding the Stormcloaks either, we should be thankful for that.”