The Wolf Queen Awakens

Chapter 35

Finally the time came to leave. Everyone was gathered on the plain outside Shor's Hall, Tsun ready to Shout her home.

Jordis had hardly left her side, looking tearful to see her go. Elisif knew how she felt, Jordis was loyal, kind, capable, had been there at the start and helped her out here as selflessly as she had in life. But Elisif couldn't stay and Jordis would be here waiting when Elisif died.

"Stay safe, Maia," Jordis whispered, despite Elisif telling her she could use her name now, she'd earned the right.

"You too, Jordis," Elisif said, kissing her housecarl on the cheek and squeezing her tight. Next up, Torygg, who'd turned up to see her off, and she still wasn't sure what to say to him. They'd talked and talked and said everything they had to say. Nothing would change the fact that what he'd looked for in his wife just wasn't who she was any more. Nevertheless, there was still something left over, or he wouldn't be here now.

"Elisif," he said nervously. "I guess this is it."

Elisif nodded, not sure what to say.

"Guess it is. Until I die, but that'll be years away, I hope!"

"I hope so too," Torygg said quietly. "I'll miss you. But don't worry about me. I mean, I'll be in Sovngarde, you know? All Nords want to come here. You just live your life and be happy. Be a better leader for Skyrim than I was."

"You tried," Elisif told him. Torygg just shrugged.

"Skyrim needs better than that," he said. "You sorted out the mess I left you with. You're what our homeland needs, not me."

Maybe. But there was something she could leave him with.

"You're in Sovngarde," she told him. "You're a hero too. I'll make sure that's how you're remembered. Never mind everything between us. I'll make sure history remembers you as a brave man who died defending his country even when it seemed hopeless."

Torygg looked surprised, and then he was reaching out to pull her into his arms, holding her tight, and for a few precious moments Elisif could close her eyes and it was as if none of it had ever happened. She was still his adored wife, he was still her loving husband, they were safe and happy in Solitude and everything was all right.

And then she opened her eyes and it wasn't.

"You take care, Elisif," Torygg said roughly, tears rolling down his cheeks, and Elisif knew her own cheeks were wet too. "You go and be happy. Go be a hero. Go and be the next Tiber Septim. If we can't have each other, let me at least be able to say I was lucky enough to be loved by a legend once."

You still are! Elisif wanted to howl. She still did love him... but she couldn't look up to him any more, and Torygg couldn't deal with that. Best to just walk away, and in the decades to come, perhaps he'd find peace here. She could but hope.

"Divines keep you," Elisif whispered. "I don't know for sure if there's eight or nine, but I hope you find peace. I'll remember you, I swear."

"Thank you," Torygg said softly. "I know you don't really worship Talos, and if you're Dragonborn, you've got no reason to... but I think he believes in you. I'm sure he'd be proud – he should be at any rate. There's just one thing... you'd have made offerings to the Divines after I died, right?"

Elisif had done that very thing – to the Eight. But with the Thalmor watching, not to Talos, the Divine her husband had worshipped in secret along with his father.

"To the Eight," Elisif admitted. "I was never able to make one to Talos."

"I understand," Torygg said grimly. "If it's too dangerous, I won't hold it against you, but could you do one thing for me? My father's old warhorn, it's on the desk in our bedroom. Can you take it to a shrine to Talos for me, leave it as an offering? There's plenty of them in secret corners all over Skyrim, although the one east of Whiterun has a special place in my heart."