The World-Eater's Eyrie

Ullr; Anxious Rumination

The proceedings of the meeting went by fairly quickly, as Ullr had figured they would. They conversed among each other as though the orc halfling  wasn't present at all, speaking for her and about her. Shaken as she was, when moments to speak up did present themselves, the girl wasn't quick enough in the face of them, and anything she might have said or wanted to say was lost among the heated debate. Given the nature of the event, it didn't take long for things to escalate. However, the jarl put an end to the chaos before it could get completely out of hand.

Ullr listened passively for the most part, defeated from her earlier attempts to speak up for herself, but her expression changed and she flinched a bit as they proposed that Cerise continue aiding her in her travels. The shift was unreadable to most however, due to the knot of emotions it expressed, difficult unravel and decipher in its complexity.

Personal feelings were a separate matter altogether however. In light of all they were facing and everything at stake, Ullr felt Cerise was, in fact, most likely the best pick. They had travelled together before, whether or not it was a pleasant experience, and the girl had an idea of how the huntress fought at the very least. This was, perhaps, the safest choice to make.

Therefore, the meeting was adjourned soon after the jarl and Irileth had spoken their parts. Cerise indicated for the halfling to come, and Ullr followed like an obedient pup, still not altogether there. Clear blue eyes remained downcast as they walked; neither wanted to speak to the other, which was fine with both individuals of the silent pair.

Both were too lost in their own thoughts to notice the slowly increasing distance between them. Ullr didn't bat an eye when Cerise's absence did finally occur to her. It was actually a relief to her; the huntress' overbearing brooding would simply grate on her nerves as much as this recent news was already. Recognizing this and realizing that she had but one friend in this foreign city, the orismer halfling sought out her companion.  Finding Bror was fairly easy. He'd been stabled near the front of the city, along with Sigra and Bruse. Ullr took her bay stallion, but not without a glance at the smoky draft mare beside him. However, the girl figured that Cerise would surely take care of her own when she felt it was time.

-- -- -- --

It took a little bit to get in and out of Whiterun, but the alone time was worth it as far as Ullr was concerned. It was evening by the time she returned, having left in the late afternoon. Nonetheless, there was still a horrible queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach, cold and hard as though it were a rock that had settled there, that made for an uncomfortable reminder of what still lay ahead.

The girl made her way to the inn she'd seen near Dragonreach earlier that day – her now permanent travel partner had been near here when they separated, Ullr remembered that much.

Upon opening the door, entering, and catching sight of Cerise sitting at one of the many tables, the halfling found herself still a bit apprehensive to approach the huntress. The nord woman sat stoically in the corner of the room, silent and still and looking as she'd been rooted to that same spot all day. Chewing at her bottom lip, the olive skinned girl neared, hands folded in front of her chest like a praying statue. Ullr took a seat at the table and looked over at the other woman who ignored her presence for the most part and continued to stare at what seemed to be nothing. The silence around them stifled the usual jaunty ambiance of the inn, and Ullr fidgeted as she picked her brain for something  to say. Resolving to speak the first thing that came to mind, the question that escaped her lips surprised even her.

"Why didn't you believe me? Earlier today, when I told the jarl about the dragon?" she asked, her small voice cutting through thick tension.