I am Laeilwyn Riverpool (A Skyrim Adventure)

Chapter Nine: A Jarl's Request

Approaching the centre of town, the first person I always visited was Brand-Shei.

"Good morning Elle. Can I interest you in some fine goods from Morrowind?" Brand-Shei greeted me, then reached below his stand to pull out his new merchandise. "Just got this in yesterday. Finest netch jelly to ever be made?" 

Within the jar was a shimmering blue, jiggly substance. I widened my eyes, intrigued by the foreign alchemical ingredient. "What's netch jelly?" 

"Only the most potent, most paralytic ingredient found in the province. Mix this with a little bit of canis root and a sprinkle of imp stool, and you've got yourself a paralysis poison that could take down a mammoth!"

Brand-Shei was always a great salesman. "Alright Brand-Shei, I'm sold. I'd love to try some." I handed him 40 septims for two bottles of netch jelly. "I can't wait to try this out. Thanks!" I put them in my satchel, and allowed Brand-Shei to kiss my hand once more before I bid him goodbye. I walked towards The Scorched Hammer. The smith, Balimund, was slaving away at his forge. 

"Hello Elle. Welcome back." Balimund's gravelly voice greeted me as I approached. "Looking for anything special?" He struck a steel sword hard with his hammer at the end of his sentence. 

"Nice to see you again Balimund. I need some leather, this armor is weaker than a mage in a lightning storm." I said, pointing to some holes that were beginning to form in it. 

"Not a problem. Take as many as you like, 10 septims each." 

"Thanks!" I took some from the basket next to the forge and handed Balimund the coins. I brought my armor to the workbench and started fortifying its strength. It was tricky because all Thieves Guild armor had special enchantments on them to help make our jobs easier, but with getting to know with Balimund all those years ago, he was able to teach me a thing or two, making it much easier. 

"Hey Elle, I've got a few new items you should take a look at. Just got them a few days ago." He stopped hammering and put the sword in the water to cool before gesturing for me to follow him into the building. We were greeted by Balimund's adopted son, Asbjorn, who was stirring something that smelled delicious in the cooking pot.

"Father, who's this?" He asked.

Balimund laughed. "You don't remember her?"

"Balimund don't tease him!" I added, "He was only a wee baby when we last saw each other. I remember we used to play out on the lake and spar with wooden swords on the dock."

"Elle? By the Nine, it's been ages!" Asbjorn pulled me into a hug. He was just as tall as me now. "Welcome back to Riften! I hope everyone has been treating you well."

"Of course, most of the familiar faces have been nothing but pleasant. You'll have to introduce me to all the new folk, a lot has changed since I've left. But my, how you've changed! Quite the man you've grown into. When I have a free day I'll have to stop by and we'll see if you can still have those sword skills I taught you." I nudged him with my elbow. Asbjorn laughed and retreated back to the cooking pot.

"Now, those items." Balimund said. On one of his shelves was something wrapped in furs and bound in leather strips. He placed it on the table and opened it up.

"Wow. These are amazing!" I said, examining them. There was a glass bow that gave off a chill, and was cold to the touch. These were particularly helpful when you faced a quick enemy that needed to be slowed down. I then picked up a dwarven sword, sharpened to a dangerous point. It glowed a menacing red, which meant it had the power to drain health from your opponent, one of my personal favorite enchantments as a mercenary. Finally, I picked up a silver necklace with a solid emerald in the centre. 

"This seems out of place. Two gorgeous weapons, and then this?" I asked, confused.

"It's not just any necklace Elle. I crafted it here, then took the trip up to Winterhold to get it enchanted. No one in all of Skyrim can make enchantments as strong as those mages in the North. The mage I was corresponding with allowed me to pick two, so I chose poison resistance and enhance stealth. I'm not sure why I picked them, but maybe Talos was watching me because he knew you were going to return only days later. It's perfect for you, don't you think?" Balimund asked, eager to see my response. 

"I can't believe you went all the way to Winterhold to get this amulet fixed up. It must have cost you a fortune!" 

"Yes, but I want you to have it. Consider it my welcome home present." Balimund placed the amulet in my hands and closed my palms around it. 

"Balimund, don't be ridiculous." I warned. "Taking this would be stealing..." As I finished my sentence I realized the irony of my own words. "Allow me to pay for the cost of enchanting at least." 

Balimund was very stubborn, but after a little bit of convincing I managed to get him to let me buy the amulet for half price, 400 septims. I put it on on top of my Amulet of Mara, the way the light from the window caught the pure green of the emerald gave off a fierce light. I thanked Balimund, purchased a few dozen arrows for my quiver and made my way back towards the mausoleum. 

"Hey! You!" I was stopped in the graveyard by a guard.

"Yes?" I asked, immediately switching my brain to defense mode. 

"The Jarl wants a word with you, Elf. Come with me." He said, pointing in the direction of the palace, Mistveil Keep. 

Great. I thought. What am I, an Elf in a Stormcloak city, in trouble for now?

The guard walked me to the palace and opened the large doors. Upon entry, the Jarl was sitting on her throne addressing her Housecarl. I'm not sure what they were discussing, because they immediately went silent as I walked up. 

"My Jarl? Here she is. Is there anything else I can do for you?" The guard asked, bowing. 

"No, Galgrim, that is all. Thank you." The Jarl turned to address me. "You, step forward." 

I moved forwards and bowed my head. "You wished to see me, my Jarl?"

"Yes, you came to my city a few days ago right? With another darker skinned elf?" 

"I did, my Jarl." I answered, nervous at where this was going.

"That's what I thought. I wanted to let you know that the guards who stopped you outside the city  and asked you for a tax were members of my uniform," She began. "Any poor choices they make reflects on me. I will not have my respected name tarnished by a couple of racist lackeys. I apologize on behalf of the city of Riften for their foolishness." 

I was... surprised. No, surprised is an understatement. I was flabbergasted. "Thank you?" 

"You're very welcome. I may be on the side of the Stormcloaks, but my father wouldn't have stood for any discrimination to members of our hold, regardless of their race. We welcome everyone." Her explanation cleared some things up, but I was still confused.

"Excuse my ignorance, my Jarl, but is the only reason you summoned me to apologize?" 

She smiled. "I am impressed at your quick mind. No, Miss. Riverpool, that is not the only reason I summoned you. I would hope you might be able to help me with something." I nodded, eager to keep a Nord in a place of power on my good side. "I heard that a carriage is preparing to leave for Whiterun at midnight, and I also heard you might be on that carriage, yes?" 

I interrupted her for a moment. "Yes my Jarl, that carriage is for a business meeting-". Before I could finish she raised her hand to silence me. 

"The purpose of the carriage is of no concern of mine. I wish for you to deliver this letter to Jarl Balgruuf the Greater. It is of utmost importance to me that this letter be delivered to him and only to him. No third parties, am I clear?" She handed me a letter with the Riften seal on it. I nodded my head and put it in my satchel. "Good. Thank you Miss. Riverpool. You are dismissed."

I turned and went out the front door as she began discussing matters with her Housecarl again. I shook my head as the warm sun struck my head and the sunlight made my amulets shimmer again. A Stormcloak Jarl that likes elves, is there anything this province will throw at me that won't surprise me?