“The war's coming here, and should Whiterun's walls fall, I don't think Ulfric's troops will care who they kill,” said Kodlak softly. “We fight so that others do not have to, that is our watchword. We risk our lives to protect the innocent, and I will not have it said that when war came to Whiterun, Jorrvaskr stood idle and that the Companions hid away. So while I still say you should not join up with either side... if your honour demands that you go join the defence of this city then go with my blessing. I will not stop you.”
Athis had sat bolt upright, grin spreading across his face.
“Let me get my good armour,” he laughed, before rushing off to get his things. Torvar had also sat up, blinking blearily at Kodlak.
“So what, we can join the war now?” he asked, confused.
“Not exactly,” said Kodlak, smiling a little. “But the war's come to us. For this battle only, if you want to go and help the Whiterun guards, I won't stop you.”
“Well all right then!” Torvar laughed. “Hey Athis, wait for me!” He ran off after Athis to track down all his gear. Meanwhile Njada had got to her feet, face like thunder.
“What, so we can join the Legion for a bit if honour demands it, but not Ulfric's side? What of my honour, Kodlak??”
“Njada,” Kodlak sighed. “This isn't about politics, it's about protecting our city. You don't have to go.”
“Oh, I know what it's about all right,” Njada snapped bitterly. She glared at Elisif, not even bothering to hide her disdain. “She has you wrapped around her little finger, Harbinger.” Getting up, she stormed off to the courtyard, no doubt to carve up some helpless training dummies.
Kodlak sighed, shrugged his shoulders and turned back to Elisif, looking resigned.
“It's the best I can offer, lass,” he said apologetically. “I'm sorry.”
“Don't be, it's more than I ever hoped for,” Elisif gasped, not sure what to say. The Companions were going to help! It wasn't even the extra sword-arms – three warriors wouldn't turn the tide of battle alone. But the effect it would have on those who fought alongside them, of Ysgramor's heirs joining the fight... It would help. It might just be the thing to give them the edge. “I just hope it hasn't caused trouble for you.” She'd not forget Njada's angry face in a hurry. Kodlak just sighed, his heart heavy.
“From the day word came in of the High King's death and I had to break up a particularly violent fist-fight involving her, Athis and Ria, I knew it would come to this,” Kodlak sighed. “She lost her parents in the Great War and was raised by a Talos-worshipping aunt and uncle who were later taken prisoner by the Thalmor. She's hated the Empire for letting it happen ever since. Frankly, I'm surprised she never ran off to join Ulfric weeks or months before, but she had sufficient respect for me to stay quiet and stay here.”
“Not any more,” said Elisif softly. She'd seen the hatred in Njada's eyes and it had chilled her. There could be trouble ahead and she was no longer sure Jorrvaskr was the safe place it had once been. But there was little she could do about it now.
“You leave Njada to me, lass,” said Kodlak gently. “You have bigger problems to worry about, such as the battle to come. You should get back to Dragonsreach, tell them Jorrvaskr will answer. But you also be sure to tell Balgruuf I'm not doing it for him either. I'm doing this for the innocent townsfolk of Whiterun.”
“I know. I'll tell him. Thank you,” Elisif whispered. She stopped to give Kodlak a hug then left the hall, arranging to meet with Aela up at Dragonsreach once she was ready. They had a battle to prepare for.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Stormcloaks had arrived in the late afternoon and the city had locked its gates, terrified residents from the outlying farms fleeing inside the gates or off to Rorikstead and Riverwood. The bombardment had started not long after, catapults lobbing fire into the city all night. Hardly anyone had slept, residents fleeing their homes to take refuge in Dragonsreach or alternately joining the volunteer fire-fighting crews that had formed.
Morning came and Elisif could weep to see the smoking city. The walls were standing – just. But the sentries had sent word of troops massing outside.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 9.8
Athis had sat bolt upright, grin spreading across his face.
“Let me get my good armour,” he laughed, before rushing off to get his things. Torvar had also sat up, blinking blearily at Kodlak.
“So what, we can join the war now?” he asked, confused.
“Not exactly,” said Kodlak, smiling a little. “But the war's come to us. For this battle only, if you want to go and help the Whiterun guards, I won't stop you.”
“Well all right then!” Torvar laughed. “Hey Athis, wait for me!” He ran off after Athis to track down all his gear. Meanwhile Njada had got to her feet, face like thunder.
“What, so we can join the Legion for a bit if honour demands it, but not Ulfric's side? What of my honour, Kodlak??”
“Njada,” Kodlak sighed. “This isn't about politics, it's about protecting our city. You don't have to go.”
“Oh, I know what it's about all right,” Njada snapped bitterly. She glared at Elisif, not even bothering to hide her disdain. “She has you wrapped around her little finger, Harbinger.” Getting up, she stormed off to the courtyard, no doubt to carve up some helpless training dummies.
Kodlak sighed, shrugged his shoulders and turned back to Elisif, looking resigned.
“It's the best I can offer, lass,” he said apologetically. “I'm sorry.”
“Don't be, it's more than I ever hoped for,” Elisif gasped, not sure what to say. The Companions were going to help! It wasn't even the extra sword-arms – three warriors wouldn't turn the tide of battle alone. But the effect it would have on those who fought alongside them, of Ysgramor's heirs joining the fight... It would help. It might just be the thing to give them the edge. “I just hope it hasn't caused trouble for you.” She'd not forget Njada's angry face in a hurry. Kodlak just sighed, his heart heavy.
“From the day word came in of the High King's death and I had to break up a particularly violent fist-fight involving her, Athis and Ria, I knew it would come to this,” Kodlak sighed. “She lost her parents in the Great War and was raised by a Talos-worshipping aunt and uncle who were later taken prisoner by the Thalmor. She's hated the Empire for letting it happen ever since. Frankly, I'm surprised she never ran off to join Ulfric weeks or months before, but she had sufficient respect for me to stay quiet and stay here.”
“Not any more,” said Elisif softly. She'd seen the hatred in Njada's eyes and it had chilled her. There could be trouble ahead and she was no longer sure Jorrvaskr was the safe place it had once been. But there was little she could do about it now.
“You leave Njada to me, lass,” said Kodlak gently. “You have bigger problems to worry about, such as the battle to come. You should get back to Dragonsreach, tell them Jorrvaskr will answer. But you also be sure to tell Balgruuf I'm not doing it for him either. I'm doing this for the innocent townsfolk of Whiterun.”
“I know. I'll tell him. Thank you,” Elisif whispered. She stopped to give Kodlak a hug then left the hall, arranging to meet with Aela up at Dragonsreach once she was ready. They had a battle to prepare for.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Stormcloaks had arrived in the late afternoon and the city had locked its gates, terrified residents from the outlying farms fleeing inside the gates or off to Rorikstead and Riverwood. The bombardment had started not long after, catapults lobbing fire into the city all night. Hardly anyone had slept, residents fleeing their homes to take refuge in Dragonsreach or alternately joining the volunteer fire-fighting crews that had formed.
Morning came and Elisif could weep to see the smoking city. The walls were standing – just. But the sentries had sent word of troops massing outside.