“The capital moving to Whiterun,” Falk said, nodding and seeming to approve. “Unexpected but not without its advantages. It's a centre of trade, in the cultural heart of the country, and Balgruuf would be a good King... but that's only if you die without heirs. You're not going to die any time soon, I hope.” He was staring firmly at her, as if daring her to disagree.
“Of course not,” Elisif laughed brightly, a little too brightly. “But let's get those documents signed anyway, right?”
~~~~~~~~~~~
Much later, a will signed, sealed and witnessed that in the event of her death, the Jarldom was to be Falk's, Elisif finally closeted herself in her bedroom, collapsing on her bed, still in her Blades armour with the Jagged Crown cradled in her arms. Not the most comfortable of outfits but she couldn't face getting changed at the moment. Couldn't face being vulnerable. Now she was alone, the reality of it hit her. She was out of options. She'd have to face Ulfric down and fight him, and she wasn't entirely sure she'd win. Even if she killed him, his men probably wouldn't let her go free. She'd likely be killed herself in revenge.
Torygg. I get to see Torygg again.
It'll hurt.
So did losing him.
I don't want to die!
I don't care if I live or not.
“Elisif?”
Argis, and what was he doing here? He had his own room.
“What?” she said, rubbing her eyes as she sat up.
“Came to see if you were all right,” Argis said, sounding a little awkward. He was standing at the end of the bed, also fully armoured still. Looked like there were two of them on edge.
“I'm fine. But thank you,” Elisif said, forcing herself to smile. “Did you need anything, Argis?”
“Mind if I sit?” Argis asked. Elisif motioned at a chair and he wasted no time in sitting down, something clearly on his mind.
“What's up?” Elisif asked, wondering what he was thinking. Argis had always given the usual housecarl impression of the passive protector but when he'd talked about his previous life, something else had shown through – a man smarter than he let on, far more complicated than he let on, and more of a Reachman than a Nord in a lot of respects (although he had all the Nord willingness to charge into foes screaming and waving a weapon about, as Elisif had seen for herself on the road). He definitely had a mind of his own and opinions, even if he didn't talk about them much.
“What are you planning?” Argis said, his voice brusque and tone sharper than one would expect from a housecarl. “I mean, Tullius said no but you're not going to give up, are you?”
“Of course I'm not giving up!” Elisif sighed. “Alduin's in Sovngarde feeding on Nord dead, I promised I would go to Sovngarde after him and fight him, and I will! I've just had to rethink how, that's all.”
“And?” Argis said quietly, looking rather shrewd, reminding her a little of Madanach if he did but know it. “Got any thoughts on that, High Queen? You said it'd be dangerous... and you didn't look any too sure when Falk wanted to know if you were actually coming back.”
I'm not. Except Elisif didn't want to admit it out loud, because that would make it horribly, terrifyingly real.
“Do you think Sovngarde's nice?” Elisif said softly. “Peaceful, I mean. Pretty. Because a hall full of warriors all drinking mead doesn't sound it.”
“You're asking me?” Argis snorted. Then he shrugged. “Yeah, I guess it's probably nice. Ma said it was. Said there'd be endless fields and woods to hunt in whenever you liked. Not sure if she knew any more than either of us, but I could live with hunting.”
“I could live with woods to go walking in,” Elisif said quietly. Romantic walks and picnics with Torygg for the rest of her afterlife – she could definitely cope with that. Took her mind off the dying part.
“Except you wouldn't be alive, that's kinda the point...” Argis had looked up, staring right at her, eyes accusing. “Elisif. Lady Queen. Tell me that isn't the plan.”
Damn him for realising, and weren't housecarls supposed to serve without question?
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 26.8
“Of course not,” Elisif laughed brightly, a little too brightly. “But let's get those documents signed anyway, right?”
~~~~~~~~~~~
Much later, a will signed, sealed and witnessed that in the event of her death, the Jarldom was to be Falk's, Elisif finally closeted herself in her bedroom, collapsing on her bed, still in her Blades armour with the Jagged Crown cradled in her arms. Not the most comfortable of outfits but she couldn't face getting changed at the moment. Couldn't face being vulnerable. Now she was alone, the reality of it hit her. She was out of options. She'd have to face Ulfric down and fight him, and she wasn't entirely sure she'd win. Even if she killed him, his men probably wouldn't let her go free. She'd likely be killed herself in revenge.
Torygg. I get to see Torygg again.
It'll hurt.
So did losing him.
I don't want to die!
I don't care if I live or not.
“Elisif?”
Argis, and what was he doing here? He had his own room.
“What?” she said, rubbing her eyes as she sat up.
“Came to see if you were all right,” Argis said, sounding a little awkward. He was standing at the end of the bed, also fully armoured still. Looked like there were two of them on edge.
“I'm fine. But thank you,” Elisif said, forcing herself to smile. “Did you need anything, Argis?”
“Mind if I sit?” Argis asked. Elisif motioned at a chair and he wasted no time in sitting down, something clearly on his mind.
“What's up?” Elisif asked, wondering what he was thinking. Argis had always given the usual housecarl impression of the passive protector but when he'd talked about his previous life, something else had shown through – a man smarter than he let on, far more complicated than he let on, and more of a Reachman than a Nord in a lot of respects (although he had all the Nord willingness to charge into foes screaming and waving a weapon about, as Elisif had seen for herself on the road). He definitely had a mind of his own and opinions, even if he didn't talk about them much.
“What are you planning?” Argis said, his voice brusque and tone sharper than one would expect from a housecarl. “I mean, Tullius said no but you're not going to give up, are you?”
“Of course I'm not giving up!” Elisif sighed. “Alduin's in Sovngarde feeding on Nord dead, I promised I would go to Sovngarde after him and fight him, and I will! I've just had to rethink how, that's all.”
“And?” Argis said quietly, looking rather shrewd, reminding her a little of Madanach if he did but know it. “Got any thoughts on that, High Queen? You said it'd be dangerous... and you didn't look any too sure when Falk wanted to know if you were actually coming back.”
I'm not. Except Elisif didn't want to admit it out loud, because that would make it horribly, terrifyingly real.
“Do you think Sovngarde's nice?” Elisif said softly. “Peaceful, I mean. Pretty. Because a hall full of warriors all drinking mead doesn't sound it.”
“You're asking me?” Argis snorted. Then he shrugged. “Yeah, I guess it's probably nice. Ma said it was. Said there'd be endless fields and woods to hunt in whenever you liked. Not sure if she knew any more than either of us, but I could live with hunting.”
“I could live with woods to go walking in,” Elisif said quietly. Romantic walks and picnics with Torygg for the rest of her afterlife – she could definitely cope with that. Took her mind off the dying part.
“Except you wouldn't be alive, that's kinda the point...” Argis had looked up, staring right at her, eyes accusing. “Elisif. Lady Queen. Tell me that isn't the plan.”
Damn him for realising, and weren't housecarls supposed to serve without question?