For All of Skyrim

Chapter 7: Elisif

When Elisif had woken up that morning, never in her wildest dreams had she expected that afternoon to unfold the way that it had. She looked on while Falk held his eye and swore under his breath. The Dragonborn apologized only after he let out a short laugh at Falk's expense. Sybille held a palm to her forehead also in complete disbelief of what was happening around them. Bolgeir had laughed too, surprisingly, Elisif hadn't remembered the last time she had even seen the man smile.

"Falk." Elisif tried to bring order back into the room, "are you okay to continue?" The Dragonborn raised an eyebrow as if to say that if a button was enough to take Falk out, that would be very pathetic indeed. Falk's jaw ticked as though even the insinuation that he was that weak angered him.

"Yes Jarl Elisif, please continue." The words were polite enough, but there was an edge to them. His pride was hurt, and one of the most powerful men of all of Tamriel had just laughed at him. Devines what a mess, Elisif thought.

"Mathis, you just announced, to my entire court, information that should have been given in confidence to General Tullius. Now all of Solitude will have heard about it. I know this is our first time meeting, but with all due respect, what were you thinking?"

Mathis looked genuinely perplexed, as though the confidentiality of what he asked never occurred to him.

"I wanted to show respect to you Jarl Elisif, I didn't want to go over your head. I-" he looked around trying to find any look of sympathy. He found none, "I'm sorry. The matter was urgent, and I believed I was handling it properly. Forgive me."

It was sort of amusing seeing such a powerful man squirm before her, she had to admit it.

"That aside, what you have asked of me, to attend a peace summit with the monster that killed my husband, it's unthinkable." She hoped she appeared more angry than afraid because, if she was being honest with herself, fear is what made meeting Ulfric impossible, but she really didn't want the Dragonborn to know that. "I understand the pressure that you're under Dragonborn, and I truly appreciate all that you have done to protect Skyrim already."

Mathis raised a brow, "But?"

"But-" Elisif stood up on the dias, now close to eye level with the giant man. "Ulfric is beyond anyone's reach, he will not abandon his war even for the sake of Skyrim's safety. He-"

"He's already agreed to my terms." Mathis interjected.

Elisif stared back at him in disbelief.

"I'm sorry for the discomfort that this proposal brings up for you, if it were avoidable please believe I wouldn't ask such a thing." She was amazed at the gentleness in his voice. This man who slayed dragons, thought about her feelings amidst saving the realm.

"Are you certain he- he couldn't possibly have agreed." She was floundering for thoughts and words, they bounced around in her head and she was trying desperately to catch one.

"If he did, it was probably because he sees the meeting as a way to gain leverage in the war." Falk said, coming to her rescue. "He wants something I'm sure, and he's going to use this meeting to get it."

Elisif looked to Mathis for his reaction, and his expression seemed neutral. She so desperately wanted to know who the Dragonborn aligned with. When all the chips are down, who will he aid in this war? She wondered. He had gone to Ulfric first, had gotten him to agree to the peace summit. She wondered what he had promised the traitor.

"I will think on this. Please give me the night and by tomorrow morning you will have your answer Dragonborn."

The dark elf nodded, "Of course Jarl Elisif, thank you for your time." He left then, leaving Elisif and her council to untangle the mess in his wake.