Skyrim RP series...Danifae (Chapter 13) A familiar face

• Posted by HaggisHunter May 25, 2017 - Filed in TSC: Long Story - ##Bosmer  ##Caerwyn  ##Danifae  ##Ancano  ##Stormcloaks  ##Wood Elf  ##Skyrim  ##Zora  - 1,200 views

  Climbing the stairs up from the dungeon was the longest climb Danifae had ever faced. Even the climb up to High Hrothgar was easier than this! Seeing the expressions on her friends' faces when they were locked inside the cells and she was forced to part from them broke her inside. She stumbled on the stairs and if it hadn't been for the guards on either side gripping her arms, she would have fallen painfully, with her arms shackled behind her. She nodded her thanks and continued the climb, trying to hold back the tears. She had got her friends into this mess and she had to find a way to get them free! Even if it meant some form of punishment for herself she would happily trade her freedom for her friends. She had endured imprisonment at the hands of Ancano and she could endure it again, hopefully under better circumstances...

   

   

  Finally, the climb up from the dungeon was at an end and Danifae and her entourage emerged into the throne room of Ulfric Stormcloak. Jorleif and Jora made to stand next to the Jarl and whispered quietly to him. Despite being seated on his throne, he gave Danifae the impression of a big powerful man. There was another man standing next to the Jarl, dressed in animal furs and a big two-handed axe on his back. Danifae thought she knew his face from somewhere but she couldn't recall where...

   

   

  Suddenly the Jarl's deep voice echoed through the hall 'So, this is the prisoner?'

   

   

  On impulse, Danifae knelt on one knee and bowed her head in a show of respect. Jorleif nodded his head slightly in her direction as if to indicate it was a good sign that she showed respect in this way. Danifae swallowed and raised her head 'I am Danifae, my Jarl and I wish...'

   

   

  Jarl Ulfric raised a hand 'You wish, a prisoner, in my hall? And an elf at that?'

   

   

  Danifae bowed her head again. This wasn't going well after all.

   

   

  Jarl Ulfric continued. 'From the reports I received it seems you caused a ruckus in the city and attacked a priestess of Talos, who was trying to help you. These things do not go in your favour!'

   

   

  Danifae looked up again 'May I have leave to speak in my defense, my Jarl?'

   

   

  Jarl Ulfric looked at her and said 'You are certainly well spoken. You may rise and speak'

   

   

  Danifae got to her feet. 'I didn't mean to cause a ruckus. We were attacked when we were exploring the city by a band of thugs and were trying to defend ourselves. Some magic went off accidentally and caused the guards to come and arrest us. We didn't mean for innocent people to get hurt. I also don't take to being confined very well. It brings back some very bad memories and I thought that Jora was someone else, who tortured and experimented on me. I didn't mean to attack her either. I've apologised for that and I also apologise for what happened in the town. I only wish for my friends to be free and you can do with me what you wish'. She bowed her head again, shoulders shaking

   

   

  Ulfric had another brief discussion with Jora and Jorleif. He eventually said 'Some witnesses did come forward after the event. They reported that the thugs did start the fight and that the guard captain was rather heavy handed. They will be dealt with accordingly.'

   

   

  Danifae suddenly remembered where she had seen the man's face before. He had been the one accosting the Dark Elf when they first arrived and then she'd seen him inciting the crowd during the ruckus. She rounded on the big man dressed in animal skins and shouted 'It was him! I remember him annoying a Dark Elf and inciting the crowd! He should be arrested for causing it all! Please question him!' She was very animated during this accusation and struggled against the shackles, and the guards had to hold her again. The man in furs went very red with anger and charged through the guards to get at her. He gripped her by the collar and held her up off the floor. 'I am Galmar Stone-Fist, Jarl Ulfric's right hand man and general of his armies and I will not have my integrity questioned by the likes of you, elf!' She choked in his grip as he shook her at every word and every shake rattled the shackles and her teeth. Suddenly a thunderous voice echoed through the room 'GALMAR! ENOUGH!' Several guards attempted to remove Galmar's grip from Danifae's collar and finally Jorleif stepped forward and laid a calming hand on Galmar's shoulder. He eventually dropped Danifae and she fell to the floor, gasping for breath. Galmar stepped back to Ulfric's side and said' Forgive me, Ulfric. My temper got the better of me, but to be accused by that...'

   

   

  Ulfric nodded to his friend. 'I know you've had family tortured and killed by elves in the past, Galmar and your integrity isn't in question. But our prisoner here doesn't know about your family. Perhaps you should explain'

   

   

  Whilst Danifae got back to her feet Galmar stared at her for a moment then said 'It was my brother Rolff who you saw in the street and who incited the riot. His wife and child were captured by the Thalmor and tortured and executed. He has little love for elves and their kind, especially after a few drinks. He must have seen you and taken the opportunity to get his own back in his own way'

   

   

  Danifae looked at Galmar in sympathy and said 'I can understand your feelings. I have similar feelings for the Thalmor'

   

   

  At this, Ulfric nodded at Danifae 'Perhaps you'd like to explain?'

   

   

  'I would like to, but I'd rather it be done in private. There are certain things that I don't want aired in public'

   

   

  At this, Jora spoke up. 'Who do you think you are? You are a stranger here and you demand things of the Jarl? You ought to be locked up in the deepest cell or better still executed so that...'

   

   

  'It wasn't a demand. It was a request. I don't care what happens to me but I led my friends into this trouble and only wish their freedom'

   

   

  Jora said 'It was well that I requested she remain in the shackles. My Jarl, she is too dangerous to be allowed her freedom.'

   

   

  Jorleif spoke up 'She claims she knows Ralof, my Jarl. Apparently he can vouch for her. And she cares for her friends, that is obvious'. He also whispered something into Ulfric's ear.

   

   

  Jarl Ulfric considered the things that had been said.  After a few moments he indicated that Jorleif, Galmar, Jora and a few trusted guards escort Danifae upstairs to an inner chamber. There he indicated that Danifae should sit. She did so, and got as comfortable as the shackles would allow. He motioned to one of the guards at the door 'Show in our guest'. The guard left the room. After a few minutes he came back with a familiar person whom Danifae recognised straight away.

   

   

  'Ralof! It's so good to see you! How have you been?' Ralof turned at the sound of the voice and looked at Danifae 'I'm sorry, do I know you?'

   

   

  Jora then piped up 'This is ridiculous! She is clearly lying. He doesn't recognise her!'

   

  Danifae then realised that Ralof wouldn't recognise her, as she had been to the Riften face changer since they last met. Her burned and maimed face was totally gone now. The only thing that Ralof might recognise was her missing eye and even that had been replaced with a cosmetic implant. Desperately she tried a different tack.

   

   

  'Ralof I know you won't recognise me but it's Danifae. I had my face changed at Riften after we parted. Remember when I first saw you in that Thalmor prison, when you removed my blindfold and you were shocked at my burnt face and missing eye! You argued with Gunjar about what to do with me! He ordered you to leave me. And then I saw you at ruined Helgen and gave you a healing potion and went to Riverwood. We parted ways after that'

   

   

  Ralof looked shocked. He took stock for a moment and Jarl Ulfric asked him if what she had said was true. Ralof said 'Yes, my Jarl. Only Danifae could have known all that. I told her she should join up with our cause because from what I saw in the prison, she has no love for the Thalmor!'

   

   

  Ralof smiled at her and it was the warmest smile she had seen since she had left her friends in the cells.

   

   

  Ulfric indicated that Danifae should start at the beginning. She began by telling him of her growing up with her parents in the Valenwood, Ancano's interest in her, her being taken from her parents when she turned 16 and her torture and experimentation by Ancano in the prison for several months. She told them of Ralof's role in her escape and her flight and her finally waking up in Whiterun and her search for answers.

   

   

  Some of the guards went pale at the description of her experimentation and what had been done to her. Even Jora began to understand Danifae's passion and what drove her nightmares and her goals. When she mentioned that she had fought a dragon at Whiterun, had discovered she could shout and become Thane there a new found respect started to dawn in the eyes of the people. And when she mentioned that the Greybeards had summoned her, Jarl Ulfric indicated that he had studied the way of the Voice, along with Jarl Balgruuf, for a few years. Danifae had heard that Ulfric had used the Thuum to defeat High King Torygg in a challenge like the old ways and some people had vilified him for it. But, to Danifae, she had a new found respect for Jarl Ulfric and could understand his own goals and passions.

   

   

  She also mentioned about her investigation of the prison and Fort Amol. When she came to the fight inside Fort Amol and the aftermath Jorleif raised his eyebrows in surprise. 'Many of our soldiers have went missing in that area over the past few weeks. We haven't had the forces to launch an investigation of our own. If you mananged to wipe out the necromancers in there, truly we are in your debt'

   

   

  'We found a journal in there when we searched the place. Apparently Micah was working with Ancano for their mutual benefit. It's in the gear you took from me'

   

   

  Jorleif got one of the guards to fetch the journal. On his return he read it out and showed it to Jora. She looked at it and blanched. She looked at Danifae and asked 'What did you do with the dead bodies?'

   

   

  'We buried the soldiers as best we could. We hung the necromancers from the walls as a warning. We burnt the rest of the books in there'

   

   

  Jora went and got a strong drink and drank it in one swallow. She looked at Danifae and said 'I've badly misjudged you. It seems you are a decent person underneath all that anger. I apologise for slapping you'

   

   

  Danifae nodded her head in understanding. She had no hard feelings for the priestess and could understand what she had done. Jora smiled at her and said 'I think the shackles can come off now'

   

   

  Noone protested and Jarl Ulfric indicated to one of the guards to remove Danifae's restraints. She stood up to let the guard unlock them and they clanked to the floor. She rubbed her wrists and sat back down.

   

   

  Eventually the conversation turned to what would happen next. Ulfric thought on this and eventually said 'A person like you would be very useful in my cause to free Skyrim. I know that you hate the Thalmor, that much is clear, so perhaps we can achieve the same goals if we work together. I propose a small test to see how good you are. Pass the test and you can work for me and I'll help you find the information you seek. If you fail, you weren't much good to me in the first place, but I will see your remains taken back to your parents.'

   

   

  Danifae thought on this for a moment 'What of my friends? Will they be freed?'

   

   

  'If you complete this mission for me I will let them go free. You have my word as Jarl as everyone in here bears witness.'

   

   

  'So, they'll be hostages until I return?'

   

   

  'Dont consider them as hostages. Consider them as my guests. They'll be safe in the cells from any unfortunate incidents. It'll also give you some incentive to return succesfully'

   

   

  Galmar then spoke up 'I will let my brother know that he and his gang are to stop their petty racism. He drinks too much so his allowance will be stopped. When he's sober he's a completely different person. He may even get to like you. After all, you aren't a Thalmor! Are you?' he laughed

   

   

  Danifae shook her head with a smile. Drinks were brought out and toasts were raised and she partook of some mead. Her throat was dry after all the talking and she gladly quenched her thirst.

   

   

  Eventually after a few rounds Danifae asked 'So what's this mission you want me to do for you?'

   

   

  Ulfric looked at Ralof and said 'Ralof, perhaps you can fill her in on the details?'

   

   

  Ralof then spoke up 'You'll be working with me and a group of Stormcloaks I command. There's talk of the Jagged Crown in an old nordic ruin to the west of here...'

   

   

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