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skyrimkinkmeme) wrote2011-10-29 12:36 pm
skyrimkinkmeme) wrote2011-10-29 12:36 pm
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"Divide and Conquer" Ulfric Stormcloak/M!DB 15d/??
(Anonymous) 2014-11-03 03:41 am (UTC)(link)“Dragonsreach?” he said. His head was pounding, and he was sore all over but at least his arm wasn’t broken anymore. “Why would –”
“It was originally built to house a captive Dovah. A fine place to trap one of Alduin’s allies, hm?”
Audric pondered this for a few moments, rubbing his hands to keep warm. He couldn’t begin to imagine what he would say to Balgruuf, how he could ask for such a favor, particularly during a time where the only thing that was certain was turmoil. Eventually, he concluded, “The Jarl of Whiterun might not think so.”
Enthir intervened then, having finally found his words again. “Audric, you’re one of the most persuasive men I know. If anyone can convince a Jarl to abide such a request, I’m sure it’s you.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere, Enthir,” Audric spat grumpily.
“Your Thu’um is strong,” Paarthurnax argued. “I do not doubt that you can convince him of the need.”
Exhaustion washing over him, Audric collapsed backward, but Enthir caught him before he hit the snow. All the same, a part of him wished to lie in the cold until it overtook him, and then he wouldn’t have to convince anybody of anything. He pushed Enthir away when his fussing became too much, insisting that he was fine. In spite of every nerve in his body still tingling with fear, in spite of the pain that stretched into every corner of his body, he was fine.
“We can stay with the Greybeards tonight,” he said at last. “They will have food for us, and beds to rest in.”
“So long as we get off of this awful mountain and out of the gale.” Enthir pulled Audric to his feet and wrapped an arm around him, guiding him.
Audric glanced over his shoulder and watched Paarthurnax’s expression, unable to read him as he might with a person. Instead, the dragon’s old eyes bore into him until he lost his resolve and turned away.
The next morning, the pair of them descended into Ivarstead together, and Audric took Enthir so far as the road into Eastmarch. The elf dismounted and Audric sent him off with a few provisions, and they parted ways with little travail. Once Enthir disappeared around a corner, Audric took off at a gallop for Whiterun.
The planes came into view as evening set in, a rosy glow settling over the dead grass and illuminating the spaces between crumbling stone where mortar had rotted away.
Dragonsreach was warm and welcoming after riding through the hard chill that had settled over the land: the lower parts of the country had yet to see snow, but frost crept along the valleys and the wind had grown brisk. Farmers were long past harvest, and now smoke billowed up from the settlements where meat was being smoked, vegetables pickled, and grain stored.
Balgruuf received Audric warmly as always, and insisted that they sit down to dinner together.
Audric ate the delicious food and sat in the comfortable hall and enjoyed the amenities with some guilt, knowing he was really calling for business – and not good business, at that. He listened to Balgruuf fume for a while: about the Thalmor, about Ulfric, and about the dragons.
“I hear you and Tullius are planning some kind of confrontation with the Embassy soon,” he mentioned sometime during the second course.
Audric nodded. “It’s the better of two bad choices,” he confided. “Naturally it’s better: it was my idea.” He smiled and stirred his soup around.
“Probably. Though I believe I’ve heard that putting Ulfric back on the throne in Windhelm was your idea, too.”
“For one, it was Ulfric’s idea; I just agreed to help things along.”
“And I imagine the pay was good?”
The accusation stung, all the more so because it was true. “Yes, excessively. But the money was hardly the most compelling part of the deal.” He sipped some broth before adding, “Ulfric’s friendship and influence could mean everything, in a time of need.”
Balgruuf nodded sympathetically, though his gaze remained dry. “I don’t approve, but I understand.”
“What is this rivalry between the two of you?” Audric asked. “You share many opinions and attitudes.” The jarl scoffed but he went on. “I think if it weren’t for this loathsome axe between you, you might be excellent allies, if not good friends.”
"Divide and Conquer" Ulfric Stormcloak/M!DB 15e/??
(Anonymous) 2014-11-03 03:42 am (UTC)(link)“What do you think I came here for?”
The jarl chuckled; the sound bounced heartily around, dissipating high up in the rafters. But as it settled, so did his expression, and it was sad. “I thought you would know by now that you needn’t hide your intentions from me,” he said. “You’ve never sent word ahead of yourself. Why should that change now? You must want something from me, hm?”
Of course Audric’s attempt at manners would be his undoing.
Putting on his most charming smile, Audric looked on sweetly and said, “Well you know, there are a great many things I want from you –” but he was not allowed to conclude his charade.
“Don’t play games, friend. Get to the point of the matter.” Balgruuf wasn’t unkind, but his patience for Audric’s tricks was at its frayed end.
During this time, the hall had conveniently emptied, save for the necessary guards and ever-present, ever-determined Irileth. All this time and she still watched him like a hawk, which was tiresome, as Audric had a habit of liberating small trinkets and occasional books from the palace.
“I’d rather not say, in present company.” Warily, Audric eyed those who remained. He couldn’t anticipate Balgruuf’s reaction, and he didn’t want to cause alarm before he managed to do anything at all.
Balgruuf was a fair man, in spite of his temper. “I’ll allow it,” he said. “Come, we’ll go upstairs to my study, where the walls don’t have ears.”
Audric nodded and followed.
He'd twisted his words over and over in his head, had composed speech after speech on the way here, but now none of it seemed good enough. It was all disingenuous, evasive nonsense, and it made bile rise in his throat. He would just have to come out with it, then. Once the doors were shut and they were alone, Audric perched on Balgruuf’s desk. “I need something from you.”
“And I am entirely in your debt,” Balgruuf said, smiling, as if Audric was being melodramatic and all could be forgiven.
The silence seemed to pile up and up, crushing Audric with the weight of anticipation. He had to open his mouth and say something but he couldn’t think of anything better than, “I need to trap a dragon in your palace.” The silence bore down on him even harder, and he was the first to look away. “You know I wouldn’t ask this of you if it wasn’t important. Alduin needs to be stopped and I –”
“There must be another way,” Balgruuf shook his head. “The risk is too great. And how can we expect to fight the World-Eater? His return beckons the end times.”
Audric had a few choices here. And he remembered the question Paarthurnax had put to him, upon their meeting. “I don’t care if it is the end times,” Audric murmured, staring at his boots. “It’s only hopeless if we give up. But I am Dovahkiin,” he growled, “it’s my destiny to stop him.” If he had looked at his own reflection at that moment, he wouldn’t have known him: this was a very different man from the boy who was dumped before the chopping block in Helgen, those many months ago. “I was told Dragonsreach was meant to house a dragon; now if I can trap one of Alduin’s allies, I can interrogate him, and maybe I can figure out how to save this world that you and I both love. How about it?”
Balgruuf was nodding, now, moved by his lecture. “That does make a good bit of sense, and I want to help you, Audric, I do. But…”
“Oh, there’s always something,” Audric hopped down from the desk.
“I understand that you have some unfinished business with the Thalmor Embassy, and now Tullius has put out a call for arms to support his cause. I’m not in a position to refuse him, but then how can I put my city in danger of a dragon with so little manpower left over? Go see to this outrageous errand with Tullius and Ulfric, and if you survive, then we can worry about the dragons.”
"Divide and Conquer" Ulfric Stormcloak/M!DB 15f/??
(Anonymous) 2014-11-03 03:46 am (UTC)(link)“That’s fair,” he conceded. “I wouldn’t risk the lives of the people of Whiterun. I’ve come to love this place dearly.”
“And do you always take as you please from the ones you love?” Balgruuf challenged with a smile.
Audric’s eyes widened. “You’ve known this whole time and you haven’t imprisoned me?”
Balgruuf laughed. “I’d be a fool to jail Man’s greatest hope, wouldn’t I? I don’t think Shor would be pleased with me were I to throw his champion behind bars. But that aside, once this catastrophe is over, you’d better watch yourself. You can only be tolerated for as long as you’re essential.”
“And here I thought I had friends in high places. Very well. I’ll come back after the Thalmor have been dealt with. But you’re promising me, yes?” He offered his hand.
Balgruuf eyed it warily. “A king’s word is his bond,” he said. “But what good is the word of a thief?”
Audric didn’t allow his hand to falter. “I don’t know. But my word must be good enough for your gods, mustn't it?” he threw the implications back in Balgruuf’s face. He disliked being joined to any of the Divines, no matter how loosely.
The jarl took his hand and gave it a firm, binding shake. “I have very little reason not to trust you,” he agreed. “But do not test the boundaries of that trust. Now, stay the night in a warm bed and wake up to a warmer meal. The road can wait another day, surely.”
“That it can,” he agreed, and followed his friend into bed.
Hello all! In case anyone at all is interested in learning more about Audric, there's a few places you can check out: crow-featers . tumblr . com / tagged / monsieur bellamy; and also baiseman . tumblr . com. without the spaces, obviously (except between "monsieur" and "bellamy" that space stays). Hope you're still enjoying the fic!
Re: "Divide and Conquer" Ulfric Stormcloak/M!DB 15f/??
(Anonymous) 2014-11-11 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)Re: "Divide and Conquer" Ulfric Stormcloak/M!DB 15f/??
(Anonymous) 2014-11-14 12:23 am (UTC)(link)