Balgruuf the Great ch 46 preview (Patreon)

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Irileth

Balgruuf was tense.

Ever since his lady wife had told him about Freydis's supposed weapon, there was an aura of tenseness around him. She could see it, the way his eyes narrowed when he thought no one was looking, the tapping of his boots against the floor. And now that Balgruuf was tense, she was tense as well. What was there to be wary of? Her mind, ever nursing a healthy dose of paranoia, thought of everything from secret assassins to deadly plots.

But she decided that her time would be wasted thinking of such things and instead, she elected to ask her King on what in Oblivion was going on that made him so tense. The only issue was that she had little opportunity to do so, in complete privacy at least. If Balgruuf feared something happening that she didn't want to tip off whatever he was wary of that his housecarl knew something was up.

After returning to Dragonsreach, Balgruuf had retreated into his chambers, wife in tow. A part of Irileth still felt wildly jealous of that fact but, the fact that something was out there making the High King stand on guard killed the mood. And so, she resolved to do what she could. To the trio, she made sure that they were with her guarding the High King's chambers. The rest, she sent in groups of two to patrol Dragonsreach and stay on high alert.

And so they stood outside the High King's chambers, her with barely concealed paranoia. The triumvirate looking confused on what was happening. For all they knew, Irileth had started giving them random orders out of nowhere and were busy staring at the door of the High King's chamber.

"Lady Irileth..." Cassius began to speak. "What in Oblivion is going on?"

The dunmer glanced up at him, her shoulders crossed. "There is a plot afoot, what it is, I do not know. What I know is, the High King's life is in danger."

Immediately, Cassius's eyes narrowed. Mira glanced around, her features tense. Gotz hand twitched for his weapon. "A plot? Who would attempt a plot against the High King?" Cassius asked, disbelief and no small amount of rage in his voice. He did not like the idea of someone threatening the High King. For one, Balgruuf had offered him work, was good to him, and gave him purpose. The idea that someone would want to toss hands with the High King infuriated him.

Irileth on the other hand thought of how best to phrase the fact that Mephala, the Daedric Prince of Lies and Deceit, was now gunning for her and her liege. She thought of subtlety and diplomacy and decided that trying to soften the blow would still not soften the fact that a Daedric Prince was skulking about. She would be upfront with these housecarls, so that they would know and prepare on what to deal with. "The Daedric Prince of Lies and Deceit have made it known that a plot is brewing against the High King," Irileth revealed with a sigh. Immediately, the reaction was what she expected. Cassius and Gotz frowned. Mira on the otherhand glanced about nervously.

"A Daedric Prince..." Gotz whispered. "I haven't fought a Daedric Prince before."

"You can't fight a Daedric Prince, you knucklehead," Mira said, her voice fearful and reverent, the proper voice to have for a being as incomprehensible as Mephala. "Their power outstrips even the Aedra, the Divines we worship, themselves. They rule over the spheres which we mortals loath but are a part of us and they look at us like how we might look at ants."

"No one bests an orc," Gotz said gruffly though Irileth had a feeling that the Orsimer was saying that in bravado and as a way to reassure himself of his abilities.

"Either way, a threat has been revealed and we need to be on the lookout," Cassius interject, the voice of reason in the discussion. He turned to Irileth. "Housecarl, what must we do? I'm willing to fight whoever and whatever. I have fought goblins, elves, and other things I do not know the name of. But I haven't fought daedra before."

Irileth briefly reflected and thought about telling them of her past as Morag Tong. But she decided that sort of information didn't have to be known yet. She was willing to divulge what she knew of Mephala however, the Morag Tong being a religious institution as much as a organization for execution. "Listen well and listen closely,'' she said, bringing their attention to her. "Mephala's spheres are lies, sex, and murder. She delights in spinning webs of intrigue and making us mortals play her games. She can and she has turned good men and women into shadows of what they were, corrupting their morals and beliefs."

The three nodded. "And what signs should we watch for?"

That was the hard part. She chose her words carefully. "Betrayal is called such because it comes from someone you trusted the most."

She expected flickers of doubt to flash in their eyes, to see if they would look at each other differently. But they did not. For a moment...pleasant surprise dawned in her. "I had a feeling it was going to be that," Cassius sighed. He shook his head. "We fight as one. There is nothing for her to deceive us for we already have everything. Rest assured, Housecarl, our oaths remain in full."

"Aye," Gotz nodded with Mira's loud affirmation.

Cassius then continued. "Then perhaps we ought to look at individuals or people that are lacking in something? Someone that could be tempted? Molded? Feigning affection while planning murder?"

"What, like an impostor?" asked Mira. Cassius nodded.

"Are you suggesting that there's an impostor among us?" Gotz questioned.

"There's going to be hundreds of guards and servants here in Dragonsreach. It would take days to question each and everyone of them," Mira said thoughtfully. Gotz took the moment to add in.

"I think we are looking at the wrong way," Gotz said. "If Mephala wants to harm the High King then she would have to pick someone close to him, someone who is close that would hurt deep."

Cassius listened to them patiently, nodding all the way. He then turned to her and immediately, Irileth felt defensive. This Cassius saw. "I am not going to accuse you or anything, Lady Irileth. Among us all, you are the most loyal and faithful of all of us. What I was going to suggest was that would you know anyone close to Balgruuf, not a servant, who could harm him and have its impact be deep?"

"Though why a family member? Mephala just wants to harm the High King, right? Wouldn't just making an ordinary servant do the deed just fine?"

Irileth mused on what Cassius was trying to say. "I may be wrong but what I think Cassius is trying to say is that a normal ordinary servant or guard would not do. Mephala thrives on her webs and is fixated on making it hurt. The impact of a servant harming our King would be treated and seen as a normal assassination. But if it were say, his wife or myself, just imagine the chaos and pain that would be gained from such a thing." She sighed. "As much as it pains me to admit, consider me as a target. I am closest to Balgruuf, barring his wife."

"But there are also other people close to the High King," Cassius interjected. "What can you tell us of them?"

"The High King has a brother," Irileth said musingly. "But he is in Hammerfell and therefore, he cannot harm Balgruuf. There is his father and mother, the Jarl and his wife but their relationship with their son is stellar and there is no hooks for Mephala to use to turn them against their son. Then...there is Freydis, the High King's sister-in-law."

At that, Irileth frowned. This, the other three saw.

"What can you tell us, Lady Irileth?" Cassius asked, taking tentative steps to the Dunmer. "Is it...is it her?"

Irileth thought about the conversation that she had with the Webspinner, of the Daedric Prince of Lies openly mocking her and telling her about another in the web. "It makes sense," Irileth admitted. "Lady Freydis is vulnerable in manipulation as she has had difficulties in her own private life." Not mentioning that Amazon was sex-starved harlot that tried to seduce Balgruuf, despite her being a married woman. "But we must remember that we are dealing with Mephala, the Prince of Lies, who would delight in the pain that will come from this."

Mephala had told her that there was another in the web and to Irileth, all the signs pointed to Freydis. But there was also the chance that Mephala was lying, that Freydis was so obvious a target and was pushing for her to act out against the woman. Irileth knew for certain there were plenty of reasons for this. She despised Freydis and her harlotry. Mephala pushing her to lash out at the woman she disliked would certainly feed her entertainment.

"Then we have to make sure," Cassius said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"How though?" Mira asked, eyebrow raised. "It's not as if I have a spell that can automatically determine if she's the culprit or not."

"And if we asked her, she would deny it, accuse of paranoia, and alert the Webspinner that we are on to her," Gotz observed.

"Perhaps an artifact then? An amulet? Anything Lady Freydis has as concrete proof of her guilt?" Cassius suggested.

"Perhaps there is..." Irileth whispered, making the three turn to her. "The High King's guard was raised when the Lady Cecilia first mentioned of Lady Freydis owning a certain Ebony Blade."

"Then we have our lead," Cassius nodded. "We ought to-"

The door to the High King's chambers suddenly opened. The four Housecarls stood at attention, expecting to see the High King out first. But instead, it was Lady Cecilia who opened the door, her expression grave and furious. Over her shoulder, Balgruuf was there behind her.

"Freydis is a lying snake and we are going into her chambers!" Cecilia declared.

"Lady Freydis is a traitor and I have proof of it!" Irileth declared.

The two women paused and glanced at each other. Behind Cecilia, Balgruuf cracked a smile. Cecilia raised an eyebrow and glanced at Irileth. "H...How did you find out?"

Mira coughed into her fist. "We...uh....We Housecarls discussed it, My Queen. Lady Irileth noticed the High King raise his guard earlier and immediately ordered us to be on guard as well. We were just discussing on who the likeliest suspect could be and the verdict went to Lady Freydis."

"We decided on it based on what you had said earlier, My Queen," Cassius added in. "That being her possessing a certain Ebony Blade,"

Cecilia turned to look at the Housecarls then back to Irileth. The Dunmer swore she saw something flicker in Cecilia's eyes before she shook her head. "Then there is no time to be lost," she said bluntly. "We we must stop Freydis before she can commit what madness lays in her head."

"Cecilia, I've told you," Balgruuf finally added, joining in as he placed a warm hand on Cecilia's shoulder. "We cannot just barge into her room, call her traitor and put her in chains. Remember that the eyes of all Skyrim is now here, directed at us. Imagine the buzz that will come from that."

"And what do you suggest, Balgruuf?" Cecilia said, slapping Balgruuf's hand away as she turned to face him. "Let her stay here in Dragonsreach's walls, like a sword looming over our heads? I cannot stand for that. I know she is your sister-in-law and the mother of your niece but you cannot just protect her like this!"

The Nord took a breath, measuring his words. "I am not trying to protect her. As far as I'm concerned, she has the Ebony Blade, an artifact of Mephala. Since she has long since owned that thing, it is an unfortunate reality that her mind is most likely warped beyond all measure by its influence. Why she hasn't killed anyone yet, I do not know. What I am concerned about is that we cannot act here in Dragonsreach," He took a step forward. "If we must move against Freydis, it cannot be in here. I cannot afford to start my reign with such a high profile fiasco such as this. I will not disgrace Hrongar by shaming him in arresting his wife and shaming my niece by humiliating her mother so publicly!"

"Then....what do you suggest my lord?" Irileth asked.

"First, get inside," Balgruuf beckoned, motioning for the them all to enter. "Standing and plotting by the doorway feels stuffy."

Irileth and the others blinked before moving to enter. Cecilia sighed, crossing her arms in obvious anxiety. Balgruuf went and sat on a free chair, Cecilia crashing her rear ontop of their bed. Irileth went to lean against the wall while the Trimvirate stood awkwardly. A certain silence descended in the room as they all measured each other. Finally, Balgruuf broke the silence.

"Before we start, we are in perfect agreement that what is discussed and planned here will not see the light of day?" Balgruuf asked, looking into th eyes of the men and women in the room. They all nodded. Balgruuf then added. "I would like to know what my housecarls discussed first before moving onto it."

Cassius and Irileth shared a glanced before Irileth spoke up, repeating what they had all discussed. Cecilia's eyes were murderous while Balgruuf leaned back on his chair. "It would be right for me to be skeptical about the idea that Freydis would be a suspect in a Daedric plot. But there are two things that come to mind for consideration." He lifted a finger and began counting. "Firstly, she boasted about completing her quest with her weapon, an Ebony Blade. It could very rightly just be a normal greatsword crafted out of ebony but Cecilia had told me Freydis found it deep in the bowels of Whiterun. Furthermore, it came to her in a dream."

An out of the ordinary thing to do. Most people wouldn't descend into the darkest recesses of their castles, save if they knew what they were doing or were called there.

"Just to confirm it, I want Gotz and Mira to go down into the basements," Balgruuf ordered, looking at the Breton and the Orc. "Go and check for any old storerooms, see if they have been broken into."

At that, Mira and Gotz nodded, turning on their heels. Balgruuf craned his head at Irileth. "Continuing on, there was also her behaviour." Taking a breath, Balgruuf sighed. "Back when I had just returned, many months ago, she had attempted to seduce me. I did not fall for it however. I did not and would never dishonor my own brother like that."

The old fire of jealousy burned in Irileth. She had more than enough reason to feel jealous. She had seen Freydis try to seduce Balgruuf. Cecilia was angry as well, both as Balgruuf's wife and from the faux pax Freydis had committed. There were rules to their society, even to Nordic ones. To so openly seduce her husband was simply grasping and so hilariously damaging if word ever got out, Whiterun Hold would be humiliated beyond measure. Cassius stood awkwardly, feeling the murderous rage coming from the two women. He resolved to listen to his King, making himself look as small as possible to avoid their wrath. Balgruuf on the other hand continued.

"At first, I had chalked it up to her falling into her needs. But in the context of the Webspinner wanting us to kill each other for her amusement, it all made sense. That would imply that she had been in contact with Mephala for longer and was now under her spell. I...I should have seen it coming," Balgruuf ended with a sigh.

"Why didn't you?" Cecilia asked, her tone frosty. Balgruuf turned to Cecilia, his face irked at her frostiness but still, he explained himself as softly as possible. "Because I had other concerns in mind, concerns that were far too pressing; the Forsworn in Markarth, preventing Ulfric from attempting something stupid. Cecilia, I want you to know that I would never see anyone behind your back. I am not that type of man. I swear it on my honor. I promised you that I would make our marriage work and I will."

At that, Cecilia sighed. "I...I'm sorry, Balgruuf. It was just....it's a shock to find out that the woman I had dined with, traded stories with, held her daughter with is a grasping harlot. As your wife, I am the only one that is supposed to have your attention, not just for the sake of appearances but also for the children we will make." She took in a breath, slightly calmer. "I am not angry at you. I am angry at what is happening, just to let you know."

"It's alright. I understand why you are angry. I am not angry at you either. I just want to solve this problem as best as we can," Balgruuf said, smiling at Cecilia who in turn, smiled back.

Irileth coughed awkwardly.

"A-anyway," Balgruuf spoke up, clearing his throat. "My plan is this. When the feast begins, Freydis will be distracted by the drinking and feasting. While that is happening, Irileth shall enter her chambers, find the sword and hide it. I have half a mind to send it to organizations that would appreciate taking care of it and rid it off our hands," he said, looking at Irileth knowingly.

She immediately understood what he was talking about and it made sense. The Morag Tong worshipped Mephala. They would be over the moon and back at the idea of hosting one of her artifacts. Though, she hesitated.

This hesitation Balgruuf and the others noticed.

"What's wrong?" Balgruuf asked, concern on his face.

Irileth sighed. "If my old Guild knows that I live, I will be considered a deserter. You set me free from prison but that did not mean I was set free from my duties. I...I am afraid of what they might do to me, should they know I am here."

At that, Balgruuf frowned. Cecilia and Cassius looked at her. The former with curiosity, the latter with concern. "Guild? What guild?" Cecilia asked, looking back and forth between Balgruuf and Irileth. 

"Does it matter?" Balgruuf spoke up, looking at Cecilia. "She is loyal to me beyond question. Her life, I had rescued. Hers, I had made mine and her old group left her. She is now mine, Cecilia. Not theirs, not anyone else's." 

Cecilia bit her lip, looking at Irileth. Conflict was present in her features. "What matters is, do I have to worry about my husband's security from your old group?" 

Irileth thought about it carefully. Really, the Morag Tong mostly dealt with conflict between the Great Houses, or what was left of them. They usually were not the type to murder others freely, unlike the Dark Brotherhood. Now them, Irileth disliked intensely. They were nothing more than paid killers, no more and no less. 

"They wouldn't. They have other more pressing concerns than...me." Irileth replied honestly and sincerely. "And if I deliver Mephala's blade, if it is hers, I think it would be enough to absolve me of desertion, if I present them such an artifact." 

"Then, let us get to work!" Balgruuf declared, standing up. "We cannot afford any distractions, any divisiveness in all of us. Mephala would delight in us tearing each other apart. Once the blade has been taken out of here and the dust settles...then we can do so."

Of all the things she expected to deal with in Skyrim, being wrapped up in a Daedric plot was the last of her expectations. It was a daunting and admittedly terrifying concept knowing that the Daedric Prince of Lies had their eyes set on Whiterun. But she was a Tullius, she was a soldier and she would do her duty for both her husband, her new city, and her new people. 

A part of her wanted nothing more but to march into Freydis's chamber and put her in chains, out of sight and out of the way to do damage while they tried to find the blade. Based on the information she had on hand, Freydis was a danger and to her, the more that woman was walking around, it was only a matter of time until she hurt someone. That fact became even more apparent when Balgruuf's housecarls returned and reported a unassuming and hidden chamber had been broken into and its contents were stolen. 

That had all but confirmed it that Freydis was their woman. Now, what to do with her? 

"I saw we kill her," Cecilia proposed. The men and women in the room turned to her. Her husband looked like he had eaten a sour grape. Irileth had conflict written all over her face. Their faces demanded an explanation and so, she gave her reasoning. 

"Firstly, The sword corrupts and twists the mind of its wielder. Since Lady Freydis has long had it in possession, the Divines only know how much her mind is warped." Cecilia explained, putting up her fingers to count. "Two, letting her roam free around Dragonsreach is obviously a terrible idea. Even if we hypothetically remove the sword from here does not mean that it would improve her condition any more. She had claimed that the sword came to her in a dream which shows that Mephala's influence is far and reaching, not knowing distance or time. We must, for the sake of her child and Dragonsreach, consider the possibility of executing her for treason."

"Why treason, my lady?" Cassius asked. Turning to her, Cecilia crossed her arms. 

"Treason as she is plotting to do harm to her King and her city," she argued. 

"As much as I would agree that Freydis removal is for the good of the city and the High King, we cannot just plot to murder the High King's sister-in-law so easily," Irileth spoke up. "The objective here is to limit the possible exposure that would come from this, yes? Imprisoning Lady Freydis is one thing. Outright killing her would only serve to ask questions," 

From his chair, Balgruuf chose to speak up. "Ideally, the only one who is fit enough to decide this is Hrongar. He is Freydis's husband, not me nor any of us here." 

"But he's so far away in Hammerfell. It would take literal months to get a messenger and back, if the messenger finds him at all." Irileth pointed out. 

"I'd rather not deprive my niece of her mother and my brother of his own wife," Balgruuf admitted, looking at Cecilia. His expression was pained and tired. Cecilia could understand why. "We will leave the other unsavory options of a later date. What is important is we find the sword and remove it from Freydis's grasp. Then, I can put Freydis under house arrest for the meantime." 

"How soon should we move then?" Cecilia asked. Balgruuf turned to her. 

"We move during the feast," Balgruuf declared. "Irileth, you must find the sword in her chambers. The rest of us will keep her distracted or watch over her. Once you find the sword, keep it someplace you know no one will find."

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A/N: Friendship is magic. 

Dealing with the Daedra has got to be the most mind wracking and unnerving things a normal baseline human has to deal with in the Elder Scrolls. It's like being an ant and seeing the child going to step on ya and there's nothing you can do about it. Speaking of which, would there be any possible way of protecting oneself from the spooky influence of the daedra?