Skyrim V: Shadow over Markarth

Chapter Eleven: Jarl in Chains

Vilkas. 

   Dressed as a pauper, no one looked two ways as Vilkas and Uaile walked up Understone Keep and slipped in. Uaile whispered to Vilkas, "I know what to do, just follow my lead until I can get you into the room that your Jarl is being kept in." 
Vilkas nodded and the two walked up towards where the spare bedroom was. Vilkas recognized it the day of their arrival. Two Markarth Guards stood before the door  and spoke harshly as Uaile and Vilkas walked up. "State your business, no one is allowed to enter this room unless permitted." 
  Uaile stepped up, "We were sent by the Silverbloods as....retribution for the Jarl's imprisonment. My friend here, is a medic, and we were told the Jarl has a nasty cough." 
One of the guards nodded. "Yes, very nasty. The man hacks and hacks enough to wake the whole keep." "Well, that's what I'm hear for!" Vilkas said, as he held up his satchel. What the guards didn't know was that he had several small knives and lockpicks hidden for Balgruuf and Irileth.
 "Ok, let's see what you got in there then," The other guard said, taking the bag from Vilkas. The Nord's eyes turned fearful when Uaile screeched. The guards jump and let go of the bag, letting Vilkas grab it quickly. 
"What is it?!" They demanded. 
Uaile pointed towards the other end of the hall, towards the court wizard's laboratory and said, "I saw a Draugr over there! I think it came from the Hall of the Dead!" 
  The two guards hesitated, not buying it. "Brother Verulus has banned anyone from entering the Halls of the Dead...." Said the one who questioned Vilkas. 
Uaile pretended to panic, "Are you sure? I saw a woman slip in from the other side before we came here, and I just saw that Draugr---" 
"FINE WOMAN!" The other guard snaps. He throws the keys as Vilkas. "You get in and out by the time we return, while we go check on the Hall of the Dead to stop this girl's illusions!" 
The two men push Uaile ahead who turns and winks at Vilkas. He takes the moment as soon as the guards turn away. Vilkas shuts and locks the door behind him. He looks to see as Balgruuf is sitting on a chair, handcuffed to it. Irileth was behind him, her cuff attached to the bed post. They both look in alarm and then shock as Vilkas enters. 
"Harbinger?" Irileth gasps as Vilkas presses a finger to his lips.   
"Vilkas? What's happening? You weren't taken? Where's the Dragonborn?" Balgruuf coughs violently as Vilkas uses one of his lock picks to undo his chain. "You really are sick?" He said as the manacle clangs to the floor and he moves towards Irileth. 
"Several restless nights, is all." Balgruuf said. "Where is the Dragonborn? The Princess of Volkihar? The others?"
  As Irileth was freed, Vilkas pulled out the two small knifes and handed it each to them.  "Right now, Serana, Ronthil and the children are in Karthspire, the Forsworn camp." 
Irileth's eyes got large, "Those are dangerous people." 
 "Yet our new allies, for now...." Vilkas said, "The reason I was able to get in was thanks to a Forsworn girl." 
  Balgruuf looked at Irileth, "We can discuss where they politically stand after, but I want to know, where is the Dragonborn?" 
"She, Sinding and the elf are currently imprisoned in Cidna Mines." Vilkas said as he gave the Jarl and Irileth some of the lockpicks. "Apparently Arodil was arrested by the Thalmor for 'betraying them' and the others were arrested by the same Thalmor officer, "Ancano, that's what his name is." 
  Irileth growled. "He's the one who convinced the Jarl here to put us under house arrest." 
Vilkas nodded and pulled out two pairs of commoner clothes. "Here, put these on, it will make it easier for you to not be noticed." The Jarl and Housecarl didn't complain as I went back towards the door, listening for any noise. I heard nothing. I turn back to see that Balgruuf now dressed as a beggar, his crown now sitting on a chair. He pulled up his hood over his head and Irileth did likewise. Vilkas blew out the candles so that no one would see the Jarl and Irileth missing at first. Then he slowly  opened the door and peered out. 
Nothing, no guards in sight or to be heard. 
"Alright, let's go." He opened the door and the pair slipped out. Vilkas locked the door and left a scribbled letter saying since the guards were gone, he just locked up after finishing. He made sure he wrote words either incorrectly or too big, to make himself appear illiterate.  With that, he lead them towards the edge of the halls, and hid in the shadows when he heard Uaile speaking to the two guards as they walked towards the kitchens. "You must be hungry after looking for that Draugr." She said, in a fake voice. 
"We told you woman, and Brother Verulus told you, there are no Draugr." One of soldier grumbled as their voices trailed away deeper into the halls. Vilkas nodded back towards Balgruuf and Irileth. "Quickly, we must get to the Halls of the Dead and then wait for Uaile." 
Vilkas quickly tiptoed across the hall and towards the next room, close to the Court Wizard's lab. The other followed him closely. Vilkas peeked in quietly as he watched the court wizard at the edge of the room speaking to one of the priests of Arkay.  "Yes....I think some of the corpses....have been eaten, Calcelmo." 
  "Verulus, don't be so silly, that would be ghastly! Who in this city would do that?" The Mage responded. 
Vilkas didn't take time to listen as he gestured for the two to follow him as they snuck across the hall towards the Doors to the Hall of the Dead. He quickly opened it and pushed Balgruuf and Irileth inside before following suite and locking the door.
  They all breathed a sigh of relief as Vilkas leaned his back against the door. "Now I know how it must feel to be part of the Thieves Guild." 
  Balgruuf coughed and rubbed his face in relief. "Thank you for coming back for us, you and your Forsworn friend. She's risking alot for just us." 
"Her father is imprisoned in the Mine, but I think she is also working to help us as well as her own goals." Vilkas said. 
"I may want to meet this girl, if she considers aiding our cause." Irileth said, looking around the dank tomb.
  "She will meet us on the other side of this place. For now, let's go." Vilkas got up and found a torch that he lit. He then led the way towards the secret entrance out of Markarth.

     "There you are!" Uaile said, rushing towards me from the other side of the tunnel. She looked exhausted, but otherwise well. Vilkas rushed up to her, and not knowing why, he wrapped his arms around her. But she returned the gesture, much to his surprise. Vilkas felt his face redden and he pulled away, looking her up and down. "They didn't hurt you?" 
"No, after I took them to the kitchens, they quickly forgot about me and their guard duty at the sight of the Honningbrew Mead." Uaile said. She looked at Balgruuf and Irileth and bowed her head. "I'm glad to see you are safe and free with us." Balgruuf stepped forward and took her hand and his and said, "I know you are part of the Forsworn Rebellion, but you helping our Harbinger of the Companions and myself, makes you an ally to Whiterun. Thank you."
   Uaile looked at Vilkas, surprise in her eyes as she said. "Of course." 
 Irileth cleared her throat, "So...now what?" 
Uaile looked from her to the Jarl, to back to Vilkas. "So, we have two options. One,  Vilkas takes you back to Karthspire where you will be rejoined with Serana and the others, or you come with us to Markarth Ruins, where we will wait for two nights for Kaie and the other Forsworn Rebellion as we meet Madanach and your friends."  Vilkas turned to the Jarl. It would be safer for Balgruuf and Irileth to head toward Karthspire, but he knew he needed to be there when they freed Tanii, Sinding and Arodil. 
  "If you need someone to wait with you, Uaile, you should of just asked." Said a soothingly eerie voice. 
 Vilkas's skin crawled as he saw Eola, the sly woman from before, enter into their little circle of light. Uaile stood straighter, "Eola. I wasn't expecting to see you for a while, especially after I gave you such names..."
"Uaile, my dear." Eola purred. "Don't you realize, the one guard, who you gave the name of? He will be in Markarth's Mines when the havoc breaks out. So why not just join you when you wait for your father's freedom?" 
She looked at Vilkas, Balgruuf and Irileth and licked her lips. "Have them return home while I stay with you, Uaile. You see your father, and I see my target? How does that sound?" 
 Vilkas looked at Uaile, and even though he didn't want to leave her alone with this woman, and even though he wanted to be there when they broke out his friends, he knew, that this was most likely the safest best. Balgruuf and Irileth wouldn't follow a stranger into Forsworn territory, not without someone they trust. He rubbed his eyes with a hand and said, "I think this would be our best course of action." 
Uaile looked at him, "Vilkas?" 
Vilkas turned to look at her. "Your father is imprisoned in that mine. Madanach has been receiving notes from you. They will be expecting you. And I told Tanii and Sinding that you would be helping me. Let me take the Jarl and Irileth to the others and as soon as I get them to safety, I'll come with Kaie's party." 
   Uaile looked at her, and then Eola. "Alright. I guess we have a plan then." 
Vilkas nodded. "Aye. We do."