“This isn't about politics!” Elisif cried, willing him to listen, to understand. Maybe Jorrvaskr was a little depleted but even so, Aela alone was a tough proposition for anyone. “Kodlak, the Stormcloaks are coming here! Today! They'll be here by tonight and we'll be under siege!”
“Yes, and the Jarl's guards are ready,” said Kodlak. “In fact, some would say the Jarl's particular methods of declaring his allegiances brought this on us all the sooner.”
“You don't know Ulfric if you don't think this wouldn't have happened eventually,” Elisif said grimly. “Balgruuf was never going to side with him.”
“I know,” Kodlak sighed. “I respect him for taking a stand, and it's his right to bring the Legion here, but I'm not getting involved. He's not using Jorrvaskr to bolster his cause.”
Elisif felt her heart sink as she realised she'd been right. Jorrvaskr had more than its fair share of Stormcloak sympathisers and she had a horrible feeling Kodlak was one.
“You support Ulfric,” she whispered. Kodlak did look up at that, bristling.
“I did not say that!” he snapped. “Lass, he's a deeply flawed man and I don't think he'd make a good king – you can't take power by murdering the previous incumbent, such is not our way. But I'm no longer sure the Empire has Skyrim's best interests at heart either.”
Nor was Elisif if she was entirely honest, but she was also smart enough to know Skyrim and the Empire needed each other, now more than ever. And right here, right now in Whiterun, the city needed the Legion at its back or it would fall.
“This isn't about the Empire, Kodlak,” Elisif said softly. “It's not about Talos or who should be king or anything like that. It's about protecting your city. When they lay siege to this place, if they get past the defences, this entire city will be in danger. All the innocent civilians who don't care about the war or politics, you think that will matter if the Stormcloaks get inside? You know what Ulfric's like, anyone who isn't for him is against him. His troops could put half this city to the sword. Anyone who was an outspoken Imperial supporter, anyone who isn't a Nord, anyone who just got in the way. Kodlak, please. You don't have to join my side, you don't have to declare me the rightful High Queen. Just help protect Whiterun. Please.”
Kodlak was staring at her, surprised. Then he got to his feet, beckoning for her to follow.
“You might just be the first person to ask me for help in this on behalf of the people of Whiterun instead of in the Empire's name or in order to stop Ulfric,” said Kodlak, looking at her in approval. “And you're certainly the first to say please. Come on. I need to address the others.”
Torvar, Athis and Njada were still upstairs, Athis and Njada pointedly ignoring each other still. Elisif stayed close to Aela, both watching as Kodlak strode to the centre of the room, drawing everyone's attention without even trying.
“Brothers, sisters,” Kodlak said, surveying what remained of the Companions, troubled look in his eyes. “As you no doubt are aware, the war's finally come here. Ulfric Stormcloak's on his way and he'll be laying siege to this city within hours.”
Silence. No one with ears could fail to have heard about it, and if Elisif listened closely, she could hear it in the distance now, the throbbing thud of hoofbeats.
“As you know, I have said on many occasions that when Nord fights Nord like this, no one wins and no one emerges with any honour,” Kodlak continued. “I still stand by that. No one wins in this war, and I will not have Shield-Brothers and Sisters joining opposite sides and meeting on the battlefield.” He paused and then spoke again. “However.”
Elisif held her breath. Had he changed his mind?
“However what?” Athis asked warily. All three were looking curious and next to Elisif, Aela seemed hopeful – almost gleeful.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 9.7
“Yes, and the Jarl's guards are ready,” said Kodlak. “In fact, some would say the Jarl's particular methods of declaring his allegiances brought this on us all the sooner.”
“You don't know Ulfric if you don't think this wouldn't have happened eventually,” Elisif said grimly. “Balgruuf was never going to side with him.”
“I know,” Kodlak sighed. “I respect him for taking a stand, and it's his right to bring the Legion here, but I'm not getting involved. He's not using Jorrvaskr to bolster his cause.”
Elisif felt her heart sink as she realised she'd been right. Jorrvaskr had more than its fair share of Stormcloak sympathisers and she had a horrible feeling Kodlak was one.
“You support Ulfric,” she whispered. Kodlak did look up at that, bristling.
“I did not say that!” he snapped. “Lass, he's a deeply flawed man and I don't think he'd make a good king – you can't take power by murdering the previous incumbent, such is not our way. But I'm no longer sure the Empire has Skyrim's best interests at heart either.”
Nor was Elisif if she was entirely honest, but she was also smart enough to know Skyrim and the Empire needed each other, now more than ever. And right here, right now in Whiterun, the city needed the Legion at its back or it would fall.
“This isn't about the Empire, Kodlak,” Elisif said softly. “It's not about Talos or who should be king or anything like that. It's about protecting your city. When they lay siege to this place, if they get past the defences, this entire city will be in danger. All the innocent civilians who don't care about the war or politics, you think that will matter if the Stormcloaks get inside? You know what Ulfric's like, anyone who isn't for him is against him. His troops could put half this city to the sword. Anyone who was an outspoken Imperial supporter, anyone who isn't a Nord, anyone who just got in the way. Kodlak, please. You don't have to join my side, you don't have to declare me the rightful High Queen. Just help protect Whiterun. Please.”
Kodlak was staring at her, surprised. Then he got to his feet, beckoning for her to follow.
“You might just be the first person to ask me for help in this on behalf of the people of Whiterun instead of in the Empire's name or in order to stop Ulfric,” said Kodlak, looking at her in approval. “And you're certainly the first to say please. Come on. I need to address the others.”
Torvar, Athis and Njada were still upstairs, Athis and Njada pointedly ignoring each other still. Elisif stayed close to Aela, both watching as Kodlak strode to the centre of the room, drawing everyone's attention without even trying.
“Brothers, sisters,” Kodlak said, surveying what remained of the Companions, troubled look in his eyes. “As you no doubt are aware, the war's finally come here. Ulfric Stormcloak's on his way and he'll be laying siege to this city within hours.”
Silence. No one with ears could fail to have heard about it, and if Elisif listened closely, she could hear it in the distance now, the throbbing thud of hoofbeats.
“As you know, I have said on many occasions that when Nord fights Nord like this, no one wins and no one emerges with any honour,” Kodlak continued. “I still stand by that. No one wins in this war, and I will not have Shield-Brothers and Sisters joining opposite sides and meeting on the battlefield.” He paused and then spoke again. “However.”
Elisif held her breath. Had he changed his mind?
“However what?” Athis asked warily. All three were looking curious and next to Elisif, Aela seemed hopeful – almost gleeful.