Something in her vaguely recalled needing to sign off the death warrant before an execution happened, but that part of her brain was currently being overridden by howling, shrieking dragon blood. Erikur barely had time to protest before Elisif had impaled him on Dawnbreaker, then yanked the sword out, watching as her former Thane breathed his last.
“Get him to the Hall of the Dead,” Elisif said, wiping the blade clean and resheathing it, trying to work up some shred of guilt over having just killed a man – not an innocent one, certainly not, but she'd just killed someone she knew. Not an enemy soldier, not a beast or Falmer, but a man she'd seen in court every day, dead at her hands. And her dragon blood was rejoicing.
Maybe it was best she sacrifice herself. Die a hero rather than live to see herself turn into a monster.
“Elisif, are you all right?” And that was Falk, fussing again as if she needed it.
“Fine,” Elisif said, her voice devoid of emotion. “I'm fine. He's not the first person I've killed. He won't be the last.”
“I know,” said Falk, rubbing her back. “But all the same, it's not easy. Er, my Jarl, you need to sign the death warrant, we'll all say you did it before he died.”
Elisif nodded, signed the warrant, and turned to head for her room. Argis made to follow her... until Falk barred his way.
“Hey. Are you with her? Because unauthorised individuals are not allowed in the Jarl's quarters.”
“Falk, leave it, he's my housecarl. Jordis's replacement,” Elisif said quietly, exhaustion starting to set in. “He can come into my quarters, although if you could sort out a room for him to actually sleep in, I'd appreciate it. We're staying here tonight. Heading out tomorrow though.”
“But you only just got back!” Falk protested. “You can't be fleeing the Dark Brotherhood now!”
“I know, but it's important!” Elisif sighed, frustrated. “I have to stop the dragons or... or we're all doomed. You've been taking care of things well enough without me all this time.”
“I'm not a Jarl, Elisif,” Falk said. “Every day I get people coming here wanting to know when you're coming back, or if the latest rumour's true. Elisif, they said the Forsworn took you prisoner!”
“Well, clearly they haven't or I wouldn't be here now,” Elisif said wearily. “Falk, listen, I know it's difficult running this Hold on your own, but please believe me, I need to do this.”
“I do,” Falk said, giving in and letting her go. “I just wish you weren't constantly in the firing line, that's all.”
“So do I,” Elisif said, finally managing a smile. “But I'm glad it is me having to do it. I wouldn't wish this on anyone else.”
Would anyone else be willing to sacrifice their own life to save the world? Elisif really didn't think anyone else would.
“I'm High Queen after all, Falk. Might as well be me. That's what kings and queens do, isn't it? Sacrifice themselves for their country?”
“The good ones do,” Falk said, sounding proud of her, so proud and it was breaking her heart, it really was. She could never tell him her plans, that she knew. But she could at least make sure Solitude was taken care of.
“If anything happens to me, you're the next Jarl,” Elisif said, hands on his shoulders, staring him in the eye. “I'll set it in writing before I go, witnesses and everything, make sure the General knows. Erikur's dead, you can marry Bryling at last, I don't mind at all.”
Falk stared back at her, speechless, then he bowed his head.
“I – I don't know what to say. It's not an honour I ever wanted or deserved, you know that... but if you think it's for the best, I accept.” He looked up then, shrewd look in his eyes. “You are coming back, aren't you?”
“I will do my best,” Elisif promised, hoping he didn't see through her smile. “But I'm going into danger and if I die without heirs... Falk, I can't leave the Jarldom in the air. I can't leave Solitude without a leader. You don't have to contest the Crown, I'm happy for Balgruuf to be High King if you don't want the job. He's loyal to the Empire and he's a good man, I don't think the General will object.”
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 26.7
“Get him to the Hall of the Dead,” Elisif said, wiping the blade clean and resheathing it, trying to work up some shred of guilt over having just killed a man – not an innocent one, certainly not, but she'd just killed someone she knew. Not an enemy soldier, not a beast or Falmer, but a man she'd seen in court every day, dead at her hands. And her dragon blood was rejoicing.
Maybe it was best she sacrifice herself. Die a hero rather than live to see herself turn into a monster.
“Elisif, are you all right?” And that was Falk, fussing again as if she needed it.
“Fine,” Elisif said, her voice devoid of emotion. “I'm fine. He's not the first person I've killed. He won't be the last.”
“I know,” said Falk, rubbing her back. “But all the same, it's not easy. Er, my Jarl, you need to sign the death warrant, we'll all say you did it before he died.”
Elisif nodded, signed the warrant, and turned to head for her room. Argis made to follow her... until Falk barred his way.
“Hey. Are you with her? Because unauthorised individuals are not allowed in the Jarl's quarters.”
“Falk, leave it, he's my housecarl. Jordis's replacement,” Elisif said quietly, exhaustion starting to set in. “He can come into my quarters, although if you could sort out a room for him to actually sleep in, I'd appreciate it. We're staying here tonight. Heading out tomorrow though.”
“But you only just got back!” Falk protested. “You can't be fleeing the Dark Brotherhood now!”
“I know, but it's important!” Elisif sighed, frustrated. “I have to stop the dragons or... or we're all doomed. You've been taking care of things well enough without me all this time.”
“I'm not a Jarl, Elisif,” Falk said. “Every day I get people coming here wanting to know when you're coming back, or if the latest rumour's true. Elisif, they said the Forsworn took you prisoner!”
“Well, clearly they haven't or I wouldn't be here now,” Elisif said wearily. “Falk, listen, I know it's difficult running this Hold on your own, but please believe me, I need to do this.”
“I do,” Falk said, giving in and letting her go. “I just wish you weren't constantly in the firing line, that's all.”
“So do I,” Elisif said, finally managing a smile. “But I'm glad it is me having to do it. I wouldn't wish this on anyone else.”
Would anyone else be willing to sacrifice their own life to save the world? Elisif really didn't think anyone else would.
“I'm High Queen after all, Falk. Might as well be me. That's what kings and queens do, isn't it? Sacrifice themselves for their country?”
“The good ones do,” Falk said, sounding proud of her, so proud and it was breaking her heart, it really was. She could never tell him her plans, that she knew. But she could at least make sure Solitude was taken care of.
“If anything happens to me, you're the next Jarl,” Elisif said, hands on his shoulders, staring him in the eye. “I'll set it in writing before I go, witnesses and everything, make sure the General knows. Erikur's dead, you can marry Bryling at last, I don't mind at all.”
Falk stared back at her, speechless, then he bowed his head.
“I – I don't know what to say. It's not an honour I ever wanted or deserved, you know that... but if you think it's for the best, I accept.” He looked up then, shrewd look in his eyes. “You are coming back, aren't you?”
“I will do my best,” Elisif promised, hoping he didn't see through her smile. “But I'm going into danger and if I die without heirs... Falk, I can't leave the Jarldom in the air. I can't leave Solitude without a leader. You don't have to contest the Crown, I'm happy for Balgruuf to be High King if you don't want the job. He's loyal to the Empire and he's a good man, I don't think the General will object.”