Friends in High Places

Listening to "Frostfall" and "Tundra"

Previously: Pillow Talk

A/N ~ I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be gone this long. I had no idea it had been THIS long!!! Life really got in the way, but I hope I'm back now! Thanks to everyone who's been reading; I haven't actively promoted this one on all platforms and yet I'm still seeing views, so thank you.

"What I don't understand," Zahra frowned slightly, as their carriage rolled away from Riverwood, "is why Nenya felt the need to drag us into this. Why not simply initiate the trade agreement? Why tie it to our betrothal?"

"She wanted to make it public so we won't back out," Eyvindr replied, sliding on a set of black furs.

Zahra felt her heart skip a beat for some reason. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and averted her gaze toward the window. "This isn't the road to Falkreath," she realized.

"No," he shook his head, handing her a set of brown furs. "We are headed further north to visit an old friend of my father's."

Zahra tried not to gasp as she accept the soft warm furs. It was the one of the most lavish gifts she'd ever received. Her heart went from skipping beats to thudding fiercely as she ran her fingers through the fur.

"Eyvindr...," she trailed off, not sure what to say.

He smiled brightly. "You should put that on. It's cold...er where we're headed."

"And where's that?"

"Dawnstar."

Zahra blinked, eyes widening. She hadn't been to Dawnstar since she was small.

"Who's your friend in Dawnstar?"

He laughed fondly. "That would spoil the surprise, wouldn't it?"

"But aren't we due back in Falkreath?" she suddenly tensed. "The Jarl--"

"I sent a courier to apprise him of our success, and our change in plans."

"Eyvindr," she shook her head slightly, as though to clear it, "what is going on?"

"Let's just say our trip to Whiterun was eye-opening," he said, serious now. "Siddgeir may enjoy having others run his life, but I don't. I won't be at his mercy and Balgruuf's, and I won't let them draw me into their little games." He gaze turned towards the window. "I need more customers, as many as possible."

Zahra nodded slowly, understanding. "You want them to compete for you."

This husband won't be like the last one, her eyes widened slightly. He's shrewd, insightful and not easily manipulated.

There was that thudding in her chest again.

"I want more than that," Eyvindr scoffed. "Siddgeir has no intention of getting married. He's unlikely to sire any legitimate heirs. Not only that, he's a childish spendthrift who--"

"You don't want to become Jarl."

Eyvindr blinked, taken aback. It wasn't a question, but a statement of fact. There was an iron edge to Zahra's tone as she drilled her eyes into his.

 

"But Zahra, if I were to become the Jarl of Falkreath, imagine what that would do for us?"

"Dengeir was Jarl of Falkreath," she reminded him. "He spoke out against the Empire, and they promptly replaced him with his much more pliable nephew. Helvard, Nenya, and even Rayya--all who swore oaths of fealty to him--were happily complicit in his fall from grace."

"If I were to become Jarl, the first thing I would do is get rid of them," Eyvindr assured her.

"And the Empire would see them replaced with worse," Zahra countered. "You're a smart man, Eyvindr. They don't want a smart man on that throne. I've often heard Dengeir was a man of many faults, yet stupidity was never listed as one of them. So if you did somehow ascend to the throne of Falkreath, the Emperor and his ilk would do far worse than merely send you into exile. They don't ever want to deal with another Dengeir again."

Eyvindr paused for a moment, as though mulling her words over. When he spoke again, his voice was soft. "And you would be content, only married to a Thane?"

"I would be ecstatic married to a Thane," she nodded resolutely. "I just don't ever want to be married a Jarl." She turned away from him. "I don't want to be widowed again."

***

After traveling all day and night, with a brief stops here and there, they arrived in Dawnstar on a sunny morn. There were still some clouds, but seeing as snow wasn't pouring from the sky they were grateful.

The winds blew crisp and clear as the sun beamed down; the air was salty from the Sea of Ghosts.

Dawnstar looks different in the daytime, Zahra marveled, struck by the high stone walls and the simple wintery grace of the harbor. It was nowhere as grand as the harbor of Solitude, but it didn't need to be. Dawnstar was a cozy city; blanketed in snow and nestled against the sea, it was a haven for sailors and miners. She could smell the familiar fires of smelters, hear the ringing of hammers through out the city, and pounding sound of feet upon planks.

Eyvindr caught her eyeing the city and smile, "You've been here before?"

"As a child," she nodded dreamily. "I don't remember it being this beautiful."

 

Eyvinder beamed. He liked being able to do and give her things she liked. The furs suited her; they adorned her shoulders as well as any highborn woman. Which is it what she might as well be; at Whiterun, the court certainly regarded her more favorably than he.

And now, Eyvindr was counting on a similar reaction here.

"The White Hall," Zahra gasped, when they finally arrived at the Jarl's residence. "I've read about this place."

"Ever visited?" he asked her.

She slowly shook her head. "Last time I was here, we were just passing through." Also, Skald was still Jarl, and he especially despised necromancers.

It finally dawned on her why they were here. "The new Jarl," she blinked, turning to him. "Brina Merilis is your family friend?"

"She and my father went all the way back," Eyvindr nodded, "back to when Brina was still in the Legion. She visited Riften a few times when I was at Mistveil. Jarl Laila would take her on the hunt while Harrald and I would squire."

"Harrald?"

"Laila's older son," Eyvindr smiled faintly. "Those were good times. I mean, I missed my home, and I was upset about losing my mother, but the Law-Givers helped me get through it."

The architecture of the White Hall was stony and regal; its beauty was unusual and unexpected. There was the familiar element of Nordic influence, yet she felt something older and more esoteric here, as though the original hall was originally raised by someone other than Nords.

Brina Merilis was an old Nord woman with white hair. Her furs, however luxurious, were unfortunately stitched to some garish red velvet robe.

Just because someone comes into money and title, doesn't mean they know what to do with them, Zahra recalled, though she couldn't remember if it was Kaidan or Rayya who told her.

"I see a familiar face in my hall, Horik," the Jarl said to her housecarl. "This can't possibly be the son the Erlingr."

"Your Grace," Eyvindr bowed his head in greeting.

 

"You're better looking than your father was a your age," the old woman chortled.

 

"It's good to see you, my lady," Eyvindr beamed back at her. "It's been too long."

 

"Far too long," the Jarl grumbled. "You were a child last I saw you. And now you're what, married man?"

 

"Betrothed," Eyvindr corrected. "May I introduce my lady Zahra, the Baroness of Ilinalta?"

 

Brina raised an eyebrow. "Ilinalta? Like the lake?"

 

"Yes, Your Grace," Zahra curtsied. "I'm honored to meet you."

 

"Horik, alert the servants to prepare a small feast," the Jarl nodded. "It seems we have reason to celebrate."

 

Next: Tomorrow, Tomorrow