Identical pouts on both Madanach and Keirine's faces, a slow shake of the head from the Dunmer and Elisif had the feeling Delphine was trying not to laugh.
“But how will you come and visit me in Markarth when I'm King?” Madanach said, looking most put out. “I was hoping to see lots of you! That's hardly going to happen when you're nearly two days journey away. I can't make the trip as often as I'd like these days, you know.”
“You're not going to be!” Elisif cried. “I – I mean, I can't... Madanach, I'm sorry, I can't help you get your land back.”
Silence. Madanach's smile had faded and he was just staring at her, quiet for now but giving the definite impression he might go for his axe at any moment.
“I see. Keirine. Karliah. Delphine. Leave us. Speak to no one of this.”
Keirine shook her head wearily but stalked out, feathers rustling faintly. Karliah, the Dunmer presumably, hesitated then followed. Only Delphine stayed, not moving an inch. Madanach glared at her as she shrugged, moving closer to Elisif.
“I don't answer to you, Madanach,” Delphine said calmly. Madanach narrowed his eyes before turning back to Elisif.
“Do you mind telling me why.”
“I have to save the world,” Elisif said, clenching her fists as she plucked her courage up. Madanach was less powerful than Alduin, surely. “I'm sorry, Madanach, but the dragons have to be dealt with first or you won't have a Reach to rule over. I know Delphine's probably told you I need to trap a dragon so I can find out how Alduin gets to Sovngarde, but the only place I can do that is the Jarl of Whiterun's palace, and he said no!”
“I thought he might,” Delphine said. “What was his price? He must know dealing with the dragons is important – did you want me to talk to him? I know Balgruuf, he'll listen to me.”
“It won't make a difference, not with the war still on,” Elisif said miserably. “Delphine, he won't help until Ulfric's dealt with! So I went to General Tullius to get his help, and he said no too! Says it'd be too costly in lives and coin to take Windhelm direct and I need to wait! Need to wait?? My husband's in Sovngarde, I can't just abandon him.”
Faint shadow flickering across Madanach's face as she said the word husband, but it was soon gone. Neither he or Delphine had reacted, just waiting for her to finish.
“So you came to me,” Madanach said. “Are you after my help?”
“What – oh! No, no, I'm not asking you to abandon your entire rebellion for me,” Elisif said, caught a little off-balance. “No, I... if I can't follow Alduin to Sovngarde by portal then I've only got one way left to get there. I was going to go to Windhelm and challenge Ulfric, and probably die trying because even if I won they'd never let me leave the city alive, and get to Sovngarde that way... only that means I can't help you because I won't be coming back, but Argis thought I should at least say goodbye...”
She'd had to look away as she said all this, seeing his entire demeanour growing stonier and colder as she spoke, and as her voice trailed off it occurred to her that if Madanach killed her right now, it would at least save her the bother of fighting Ulfric.
When he did speak, it was in a low growl that could have chilled lava, and even Elisif's inner dragon whimpered a little to hear it. Just one word, but not one you argued with.
“No.”
“What?” Elisif whispered, finally daring to look up into silver eyes filled with rage.
“I said no!” Madanach growled. “You do not get to leave me like that, Elisif! You aren't getting yourself killed!” He'd stepped forward, raising his hands and then his palms were cupping her face, eyes boring in to hers, and she wasn't entirely sure what was going on, only that he was furious, absolutely furious, but not attacking her either and Delphine wasn't doing a thing, just staring at them both.
“I don't have a choice!” Elisif cried. “I don't have an army!”
Grunt from Madanach that could mean anything and then he was lifting the Jagged Crown off her head, placing it gently on the table before patting her shoulder.
“Turn around. Walk to the tent entrance. Tell me what you see.”
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 27.6
“But how will you come and visit me in Markarth when I'm King?” Madanach said, looking most put out. “I was hoping to see lots of you! That's hardly going to happen when you're nearly two days journey away. I can't make the trip as often as I'd like these days, you know.”
“You're not going to be!” Elisif cried. “I – I mean, I can't... Madanach, I'm sorry, I can't help you get your land back.”
Silence. Madanach's smile had faded and he was just staring at her, quiet for now but giving the definite impression he might go for his axe at any moment.
“I see. Keirine. Karliah. Delphine. Leave us. Speak to no one of this.”
Keirine shook her head wearily but stalked out, feathers rustling faintly. Karliah, the Dunmer presumably, hesitated then followed. Only Delphine stayed, not moving an inch. Madanach glared at her as she shrugged, moving closer to Elisif.
“I don't answer to you, Madanach,” Delphine said calmly. Madanach narrowed his eyes before turning back to Elisif.
“Do you mind telling me why.”
“I have to save the world,” Elisif said, clenching her fists as she plucked her courage up. Madanach was less powerful than Alduin, surely. “I'm sorry, Madanach, but the dragons have to be dealt with first or you won't have a Reach to rule over. I know Delphine's probably told you I need to trap a dragon so I can find out how Alduin gets to Sovngarde, but the only place I can do that is the Jarl of Whiterun's palace, and he said no!”
“I thought he might,” Delphine said. “What was his price? He must know dealing with the dragons is important – did you want me to talk to him? I know Balgruuf, he'll listen to me.”
“It won't make a difference, not with the war still on,” Elisif said miserably. “Delphine, he won't help until Ulfric's dealt with! So I went to General Tullius to get his help, and he said no too! Says it'd be too costly in lives and coin to take Windhelm direct and I need to wait! Need to wait?? My husband's in Sovngarde, I can't just abandon him.”
Faint shadow flickering across Madanach's face as she said the word husband, but it was soon gone. Neither he or Delphine had reacted, just waiting for her to finish.
“So you came to me,” Madanach said. “Are you after my help?”
“What – oh! No, no, I'm not asking you to abandon your entire rebellion for me,” Elisif said, caught a little off-balance. “No, I... if I can't follow Alduin to Sovngarde by portal then I've only got one way left to get there. I was going to go to Windhelm and challenge Ulfric, and probably die trying because even if I won they'd never let me leave the city alive, and get to Sovngarde that way... only that means I can't help you because I won't be coming back, but Argis thought I should at least say goodbye...”
She'd had to look away as she said all this, seeing his entire demeanour growing stonier and colder as she spoke, and as her voice trailed off it occurred to her that if Madanach killed her right now, it would at least save her the bother of fighting Ulfric.
When he did speak, it was in a low growl that could have chilled lava, and even Elisif's inner dragon whimpered a little to hear it. Just one word, but not one you argued with.
“No.”
“What?” Elisif whispered, finally daring to look up into silver eyes filled with rage.
“I said no!” Madanach growled. “You do not get to leave me like that, Elisif! You aren't getting yourself killed!” He'd stepped forward, raising his hands and then his palms were cupping her face, eyes boring in to hers, and she wasn't entirely sure what was going on, only that he was furious, absolutely furious, but not attacking her either and Delphine wasn't doing a thing, just staring at them both.
“I don't have a choice!” Elisif cried. “I don't have an army!”
Grunt from Madanach that could mean anything and then he was lifting the Jagged Crown off her head, placing it gently on the table before patting her shoulder.
“Turn around. Walk to the tent entrance. Tell me what you see.”