[Encanto] 29 – A…Party?

Stepping into the great hall of Dragonsreach, I almost immediately froze, as what seemed to be a full-blown feast had overtaken the hall, as men, women, children, and the elderly filled the entire great hall, sitting at tables as they ate food, drank, and made merry.

And when I stepped in, the entire hall went quiet as hundreds of eyes swiveled to look at me.

The man I recognized as Jarl Balgruuf rose from his seat, “Our blessed lady has awoken!” 

Shouts and cheers erupted with ear-splitting applause. 

Many rushed towards me, and part of me instinctively called on my magic, only to wince as the consequences of my actions caught up with me. My mana channels were strained and I felt a stiffness when I tried to move the mana through my body, only barely able to form a simple [Ward] around my body a few seconds later than intended, which was too late, as the Nords rushed me and quite literally, picked me up and began 'hip, hip, horay!'ing with my body flopping around like a fish on a chopping board.

"Alright, alright, let her down," Jarl Balgruuf waved at the crowd after seemingly laughing his lungs out from how funny he considered the scene before his eyes.

When they let me down, I nearly stumbled and fell, only to be caught by a dark elf, his housecarl, bodyguard, and companion, Irileth.

"Thank you," I thanked her, coughing to hide my embarrassment and flushed cheeks.

"Glad to see you finally up and about, Hero!" Jarl Balgruuf boastfully shouted aloud.

"Hero?" I asked, confused by the title he was using.

"Oh, right. Well, it'll be my pleasure to inform you of the news! Due to the gift you gave us and had blessed by the Old Gods, many have taken to calling you the Hero of Skyrim. It's been only a few days, but that tree of yours has healed countless! I myself have been rejuvenated by the tree," Jarl Balgruuf smiled, seemingly puffing up in pride of his reinvigorated figure.

"You were healed?" I asked, surprised and confused, looking over to his housecarl.

"That's right! After quite a few volunteers, I myself stepped up to the tree and was healed. Many of my old injuries were healed within minutes, and I feel like a young man again! Even Irileth here had some of her old injuries healed, including an old curse she got in the war that nearly crippled her Magicka and Spellcraft," the Jarl smiled, patting his housecarl on the back, who kept her frown but could not hide her blush.

"Oh? You're a mage as well?" I asked Irileth, not remembering if she cast magic in the game or not.

"I am a Spellblade, I have not delved into the healing arts as you have, and focused more on the combative spells that were effective in the Great War of Tamriel," she admitted, raising her hand to show a simple sparks spell that made a few sparks jump from her fingers before cutting the spell's magicka.

"Oh! Wonderful! What rank of magic have you reached?" I asked, curious as I realized I still had a lot more to learn.

"I am an Adept," she answered, though looking away.

"That's incredible! Most never reach that stage at your age!" I smile, congratulating her.

She stiffened but made no comment, though the Jarl frowned.

"Also, the tree's name is the Erdtree," I commented before looking at the crowd that was drinking, fighting, and toasting around the great hall.

"Erdtree?" the Jarl asked, testing the word on his tongue.

"Such a...strange name," Irileth commented.

I smiled, "It's named after another tree, one from a story I remembered long ago. The original Erdtree was said to be a titanic tree the size of the world's throat, with its glimmering branches visible from across all of the lands between, its radiating gold guiding those that sought the Elden Ring."

"Lands Between? Elden Ring? I've never heard of such a story," the Jarl commented, looking momentarily confused.

"That's because I'm probably the last one in all of Nirn to remember that story," I commented, a bit sadly.

The Jarl and his housecarl exchanged a glance before nodding.

"In reward for your service, I wish to offer you the title of Thane and the rights to purchase property within the cloud's district, as well as one item or favor of your choice that is within my power to grant," the Jarl switched topic, getting my attention.

"A favor or item?" I asked, surprised.

"That's right, it's only natural that you receive a reward fitting for what you have done for all Skyrim and its people," the Jarl answered.

A cherchisal grin appeared on my face, "Alright, I have a favor I wish to ask of you."

"Ask, and I shall do my best to grant it!" the Jarl shouted for all to hear.

"Become the High King of Skyrim," I answered with a small smile while infusing my vocal cords with magicka to increase the volume of my voice to spread across the entire great hall.

The entire hall dropped into silence as the Jarl seemed to freeze in place.

"I'm...sorry? What did you say, las? I don't think I heard you correctly," Jarl Balgruuf asked, having frozen in place at my request.

"I want you to become the High King of Skyrim," I spoke cheerily.

"I'm...sorry, las. But that kind of favor is not within my power to grant," the Jarl stuttered out at the audacity of my request.

“Sure it is, I know where the Jagged Crown is, after all, and if I remember correctly, you Nords do have the tradition of the true High King bears the Jagged Crown, the said crown being considered lost, and therefore no ‘true’ High King having been chosen, correct?” I asked, only to flinch when the Jarl’s brother, Hrongar, a true Nord and veteran of the Great War, just like his brother. 

“You know where the Jagged Crown is?!” Hrongar shouted with as much enthusiasm as you’d expect from a Nord.

“That’s right, and I can get it for you, with the help of the companions, if you swear to put your hand in the ring for the position of High King. I’ve heard many things about you, Jarl Balgruuf, and I do not think there would be a better High King for Skyrim than you,” I complimented the man before me.

“I…aye, I swear by my name and position as Jarl of Whiterun that if you bring the lost Jagged Crown of King Boras before me, that I, Jarl Balgruuf the Greater, son of Jarl Thrungar the Fair, shall pace my name within the succession of the High King of Skyrim, and do my best to become the next High King of Skyrim,” the Jarl swore before everyone with his fist to his chest. 

Satisfied with his answer, I smiled and spoke for all to hear, “Wonderful, I cannot wait to see the future of Skyrim with you as it’s High King, I shall have the Jagged Crown before you by the end of the week.”