Balgruuf the Great chapter 53 preview (NEW) (Patreon)

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Baltafarian/Nords

I sat on my throne quietly, my fingers tapping on the arm rest of my chair. Before me, my councillors argued with one another.

"The terms of the White Gold Concordant are clear," came the voice of Father, an official looking paper in his hand. Aeschere had long since retired from Stewardship, citing his age. Father on the other hand, I had wanted to retire as well but he found retirement boring and wanted something to do. No better way of showing unity than having the previous Jarl as the Steward. "Firstly, the cessation of Southern Hammerfell to the Aldmeri Dominion. Secondly, the ban of the worship of Talos, and thirdly, the disbanding of the Blades as an organization. In the second clause, the Empire is to enforce the banning of Talos worship. However, it is also stipulated in the treaty that should the Empire be lacking in its enforcement, the Aldmeri Dominion has a right to send Justiciars to ensure the proper enforcement of the treaty, up to including arresting individuals suspected of Talos worship."

The Court bristled.

"What can we do to stop this?" asked Cecilia, her face all manners of disturbed.

"We can't...if the Empire forces the issue or if I give my approval for the Thalmor to send their Justiciars in," I answered, my faced etched in a frown. "We are bound by the Concordant to act. We cannot just ignore it even if we want to. However, Skyrim broke no laws. No Jarl has flaunted the Concordant. This is an isolated incident, borne from fanatics."

I looked up, turning to a pair of red eyes that glowed like rubies. "Irileth. What do we know of the incident in Solitude?"

My Dunmer nightblade stood a bit straighter at my attention. "Exactly at six in the morning, a Priestess of the Temple of the Divines in Solitude found the Declaration nailed against the walls of the Temple. It wasn't just there however. Multiple copies were nailed against government offices as well as in the market and Bard's College. Whoever posted those, they wanted people to know."

"Although, one has to wonder," Cecilia mused. "Why post it in Solitude? If I was someone trying to stir trouble, I would put it up in somewhere else where the locals appreciate tradition more, such as in Windhelm."

That is a valid question. Why put it up in Solitude, of all places? It was perhaps the most Imperial Hold of all Skyrim, and most people there were more commercial minded than religious. Windhelm would have been much more receptive to this religious appeal. Hell, any of the Old Holds like Dawnstar, Riften, and Winterhold would have made better sense.

"I can think of a few reasons, High King," Irileth answered. I nodded at her, bidding her to explain.

"I believe in two possible reasons. Firstly, Solitude is a port city with numerous connections. It would make sense to start there and spread a message through the different merchants and travellers that come to and from Solitude. Secondly...there is the Thalmor."

I leaned in. "What about them?"

"Defiance," Irileth reasoned. "By putting it up so close to the Thalmor Embassy, they are actively shoving the Thalmor in the rear. I reckon by being so brazen, they are making a display of faith."

"Admirable but damn foolish and idiotic!" I thundered, slamming a closed fist against my throne. I forced myself to calm down. Taking deep breaths and with grit teeth, I asked Irileth. "Has anyone claimed responsibility for this?"

Irileth shaking her head was her reply.

My fingers reached for my beard, stroking it. "We have to make sure that this doesn't become too much of a massive problem that it already is. We will investigate this. Find the ones responsible." I glanced up at Irileth. 

She nodded. "You can count on me, my King," 

"The problem remains about the Thalmor," Cecilia added, bringing us back to the elephant in the room. At that, the mood of the room dampened significantly. "What can we do when they take away our people?" 

"We'll think something up,"  I told her. There's got to be something we could do in making sure the Thalmor would limit themselves as much as possible. Perhaps...'assisting' them in their investigations and stonewall them as long as possible? 

"Do you all have any ideas?" I asked my court. 

Much discussion began. 

"Perhaps when they do their investigations, we could offer our help and be as unhelpful as possible? The Empire and Skyrim has laws. If and when they send their people here, it must be on our terms. After all, the Imperial Government and mine can hardly be responsible for the actions of a few fanatics," I suggested. Father rubbed his chin while Cecilia and Irileth glanced at each other. 

"Well, that can certainly work for awhile. There can only be so much bureaucratic stonewalling we can do before the Thalmor themselves accuses us of bad faith and sabotage," Father said after a moment of thinking. 

"There's also the fact that the Thalmor may choose to ignore official channels outright and steal people in the night. I recall my cousin mentioning to me that the Thalmor used to kidnap dissidents before," Cecilia pointed out, recalling something from wayback.

"If we can't even protect our people then what is the point of ruling?" I said, a frown on my face. I already knew what would happen if the Thalmor were going to go fuck around. People would be upset, discontent would grow. And those religious zealots would only grow in number, And speaking of religious zealots...

There was just something a little bit convenient that the Thalmor were so quick to jump on this, and it happening in Solitude and being so close to the Embassy was just...suspicious. It felt fake, like an impostor. Then again, once can always explain the Thalmor swiftness as them simply doing their jobs. I had little to base this on other than the Thalmor being just as usual, the boogeyman. 

"Irileth, I am also tasking you to watch the Thalmor. I have a feeling that they are involved in this somehow," I said a little bit too conspiratorially. Father gave me a look. 

"That is a rather...hefty accusation, my king. And dangerous." coughed my steward. 

 "We are already doing quite dangerous work. What's one more for the pile?" I said with a raised eyebrow. "And besides, we aren't accusing them of anything yet. Better to keep an eye on them and not needing it than needing an eye on them and not having it. We ought to also wait for the official ruling of the Empire on this. I reckon we will get the Imperial Representative soon. If Elenwen thinks Skyrim will buck down like a submissive dog, she can go dig a hole and die."

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The Bards College of Solitude sat well by the cliffside of the city, giving it a rather great view of the Sea of Ghosts. It was a marvelous building of stone, with stained glass windows and roofs tiled with gold. A spire dominated its height, with the Headmaster's office situated at the highest floor. Bolgeir figured it was a way of emphasizing the importance of the Headmaster but damn the headmaster if they had walking problems.

But he was here not to gossip or gawk. He was here to investigate, and investigate he would. Accompanied by a pair of trusted guardsmen, he had set out from the Blue Palace with Stentor. The secret Vampire wandered off to make her own investigations, accompanied by her own guards. Their exit was not hidden and citizens gawked at them as they made their way into the college.

"Focus on walking, and do not answer any questions," Bolgeir had told them. They nodded, their faces hidden by plate. They reached the entrance and Bolgeir pushed open the great doors, decorated in the Nordic-Imperial fusion the city was famous for. Inside, he could make out the distinct smells of aromatics. Cinnamon, incense, herbs and all. Then there was the cacophany of instruments playing from different rooms. They arrived at a busy time, it would seem.

Their entrance to the building did not go unnoticed as a tall High Elf made himself known, dressed in a rich blue robe and with a sapphire necklace, Bolgeir recognized who the High Elf was, meeting him in the occasional function that the Blue Palace would throw. "Headmaster Viarmo," Bolgeir greeted him.

Golden skinned, blonde-hair and a beard tied in a Nordic fashion, Viarmo had been the Headmaster of the College for as long as Bolgeir could remember. Why the High Elf would choose Skyrim instead of the culturally rich High Rock or even the Imperial City, he would not know. "Ah! Jarl Torygg's very own housecarl has come to visit the College!" Viarmo greeted him, jovial as usual. His accent had slipped somewhat, adopting the rougher local Nordic dialect.

"So, what brings you here to the College? Is the Jarl interested in commissioning a saga?" Viarmo asked, half in humor and half in seriousness. The College needed money. After the High Kingship passed to Whiterun, the Bard's college's budget was significantly halved. Solitude was still rich enough to support it but the amount it received wasn't as generous compared to before. The expression on Viarmo's face changed when Bolgeir shook his head.

"Not a commissioning then? What a pity," he said, shaking his head. "So, how can I help you?"

"Mayhaps we ought to speak privately," Bolgeir said, glancing around. Despite the College in full session, there was still plenty of people about. Students, Professors, hanger-ons. Confused, Viarmo nodded and urged Bolgeir to follow him. And so, they did. Plate armor clinking under the light of chandeliers, his men following him behind.

Eventually, they reached the headmaster's office. It was as expected, opulent and rich. A bit of a climb however. Once the door was closed, Bolgeir wasted no time. "You have heard of the Declaration, yes?"

"The Declaration?" Viarmo asked in confusion. His eyes widened in recognition. "Ah yes, /that/ declaration. Well, you know that the Bards College is uninterested in politics or religious matters. I fail to see why the Blue Palace would be interested in coming here?"

"The documents nailed around Solitude had paper commonly used by the Bards College. High quality ones. My men and I are here with questions."

"You cannot just walk in here and disturb the College!" came the protesting voice of Viarmo. "We are a institution of bards and singers, not political dissidents!"

"The College itself? No. But the bards themselves? Do not forget that bards themselves can align with politics. Such as Svaknir the Bard with King Olaf. We do not think that you are responsible for this, considering that you are a High Elf. But your faculty and students are Nords. We would like to interview some of them. The Blue Palace will appreciate your cooperation, Headmaster."

"This is a flagrant violation of the Bard's College neutrality!" protested Viarmo. "This is unprecedented! My staff and my students are uninvolved with whatever that Declaration had! This paper, it is available widely for those with the funds to acquire them!"

"We are aware. The Bard's College is not the only place getting investigated," nodded Bolgeir. He sighed. "Headmaster, I promise you we are going to be as quick and quiet as much as possible. As soon as we are done, we will leave."

"And...I could have you and your men kicked out," Viarmo said quietly, glaring at the housecarl. High Elf as he was, he was a mer that protected those he called his own. Admirable but unneeded.

"It is either us...or the Thalmor will send their Justiciars here," Bolgeir said with finality. Viarmo froze. And with reason. As a High Elf, he of all people should know what the Thalmor do. What they are capable of doing. What they could do to his students, and him.

After a few minutes of thought, Viarmo sighed. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he spoke quietly. "Do it quickly...and with dignity."

Bolgeir nodded. "We shall."

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In the Court of Dawnstar, Jarl Skald sat on his throne, quietly listening as his Steward reported to him on the Declaration. Once he had finished, Skald grinned. "Jod. I want you to send men to find whoever did this. Let them know that they will always have a home and protection in Dawnstar." 

His court glanced at him, apprehension on their faces. Jod, his steward, spoke up. "My Jarl...are you sure that is the best course of action? The White Gold-Concordant specifically has made Talos worship illegal." 

Madena, Skald's court Wizard, frowned. "My Jarl, That sort of action is dangerous. It will invite the ire of the Empire and the wrath of the Thalmor. I served, Skald. I know what the Thalmor can do." 

Skald on the other hand furrowed his brow. Slamming his fist against his throne, he yelled out. "And the Thalmor know what we can do! I do not fear them and no good Nord should!" 

"My Jarl...before we do this, I highly suggest that we ask for Windhelm's opinion. It could certainly be good to see if the other Holds would sign off on this too." Jod suggested, wincing at the look Skald sent him. The Jarl on the other hand rubbed his chin. 

"Perhaps...but I do not hold much stock with Ulfric. The boy has gone soft, weak. If Hoag were still alive, he know what to do. Now, Ulfric's been content in holding his city and play tradesman. Maybe this is the kick that will get him to realize what his people is missing. Very well. Go and send a message to Ulfric and the other Old Hold Jarls. I know for certain the Thalmor will not let this opportunity pass. We must protect our people." 

"But what about the High King, Skald? Are you just going to bypass him?" Madena added, staring at the Dawnstar Jarl. 

At that, Skald actually hesitated. Balgruuf was well respected as High King. Dawnstar itself also benefitted much from his administration and policies. Case in point, Skald turned and glanced at the goods his court enjoyed. Redguard carpets. Spices and better tasting food that he enjoyed in his meals. He dug his nails in his heels. 

"If I may..." Madena continued. "Would it perhaps be better to wait for what the High King has to say regarding this, Skald? Remember, he is the Elfsbane. I do not think such a man would so willingly accept the Thalmor to simply go and seize people here. Let us not...start a fire when it does not need to be started." 

Skald sat quietly, long and silent, his eyes showing calculation. After much talking, he sighed. "Very well. We will wait on the High King. But, should he allow the Thalmor to go after those brave men and women in Solitude, we must convene with the other Old Hold Jarls. Dawnstar itself will open up to those Nords. Unlike others, we haven't forgotten Skyrim's Son." 

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A/N: The wheels turn and turn. They do not stop.