For All of Skyrim

Chapter 3: Falk

The devastating news that Falk had to deliver to his Jarl threatened to burst from him before she even opened her door. It took everything in him to greet her in the proper way. The door had creaked open, revealing an exhausted Elisif, her hair slightly mussed, her eyes framed in dark circles. Had she been crying herself to sleep? Falk wondered. The thought made him want to hold her, comfort her, somehow take away her pain. Instead he was obligated, as her steward, to tell her what he had learned, further contributing to her sorrow.

"My Jarl, I'm sorry to disrupt your sleep." He began apologetically, aware of how difficult it was for her to come by, "We have received news from General Tullius from Helgen."

It had arrived by messenger, in the middle of the night. The unfortunate courier had ridden without rest from the now decimated town of Helgen, to Solitude. The man's eyes had been wide as saucers, his body trembling from fatigue and possibly fear. Falk ordered a room be prepared for him at the Winking Skeever, with an unlimited food and bar tab. Though, he suspected that the man would hardly be able to sleep or eat, after what he witnessed. Falk almost hadn't believed the courier at first, and is occurred to him that Elisif might not believe him either.

"Helgen has been burned to the ground, no citizen survived, it was a-" the word caught in his throat feeling completely absurd, but then he composed himself, "They say, it was a dragon. Black as night, it appeared just as General Tullius was going to execute Ulfric and some of his men."

Elisif balked at him, "They- They had Ulfric in custody but he escaped because a dragon burnt down Helgen?" Falk could see the disbelief written all over her face, and he didn't blame her. Dragons had been a thing of legend, a part of history that felt more like a fairy tale. She held a hand to her own face, an absent gesture, perhaps she was trying to hold herself together in some way. He tried not to think about how it had been Torygg's hand that would rest there to comfort her not too long ago.

Elisif opened her door fully, intending to let Falk in to discuss the issue further, but as she did she seemed to remember her clothes or lack there of. Falk blushed a deep red all the way to his ears, as he caught sight of her body's silhouette under her thin shift. The peaks of her breasts pebbled from the cold night air. He tore his gaze away, hoping that she didn't notice how he had stared at her. In truth, he wanted to slow down time and memorize the moment, devour the image of her like a work of art. But time is never that kind. Quickly shutting the door, Elisif called out, "I'm so sorry, please give me a moment." Falk heard her pad across the wooden floor and rummage around for her housecoat. Breathless, she opened the door again. Her smokey blue housecoat was embroidered with silver leaves and flowers that seemed to move with the fire light reflected in them. Her long unbound hair was pulled to one side, cascading over her shoulder. "Please do come in Falk." She tried her hardest to regain her composure, but she was blushing too, giving away her embarrassment. Falk nodded dutifully, pretending he had not seen, pretending that she had no effect on him. If she had known how he felt for her, would she welcome him in so easily? Falk imagined her disgust, the light of friendship in her eyes changing when she looked at him. No, he could never reveal how he felt, he could never have her look at him that way. He would admire her from afar to his dying breath, that had to be enough for him. Better for her to be ignorant of his feelings than to lose her all together. He followed her into the room. He had to regain his own composure, they had a dragon attack to discuss for Kynareth's sake.

"Who- who survived the fire?" Elisif asked, wrapping her arms around herself. Falk noted that she didn't confirm that she thought it was a dragon attack. A fire was believable, an enormous winged nightmare would have to take some convincing. He cleared his throat, "Many of the soldiers from both sides escaped through Helgen's underground tunnels, Ulfric and Tullius among them."

"Does anyone know where the underground tunnels lead to? Where they could have gone?" She pressed, clearly more concerned about her husband's killer getting away than anything else. Falk couldn't blame her for that either, though he was far more disconcerted by the sudden dragon issue. They could be burned alive in their beds tomorrow, or Ulfric could get carried off by the damn thing and the war wouldn't even matter anymore.

"The tunnels led to caves that were just outside of Riverrun. There is no telling where our enemy went from there." Falk shook his head, "I'm sorry Elisif, I wish I had better news for you."

Her thousand yard stare returned to her face, "No, Thank you for telling me Falk. Please alert the generals. I want double the patrols guarding our outlying settlements, can you ensure our best archers are stationed in these places?"

"Of course my Jarl. What about-"

"General Tullius will not take a blow to his ego like losing Ulfric lightly. I imagine he has the Stormcloak rebellion well in hand."

"We can only hope. Why, may I ask, are the outlying settlements your priority?"

Elisif focused her gaze on him then. Her blue eyes steady and sure, "Magic users are not killing our livestock Falk. The dragon has already been here." His eyes went wide, and he wondered why he hadn't realized it sooner.

"I only hope it is enough to help. Gods save us." Falk nodded in stunned agreement, "Gods save us."