"Thank you for helping us, Dragonborn. As a Jarl of the Rift, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
She looks at me and says,
"Please let me invite you to the Mistveil Keep, my home. I shall make a feast worthy of you."
I can only nod my head and say.
"Lead the way, my lady."
She smiles at me and leads the way back to Riften. On the way there, I can see the people already put off the fire before it can spread too far away into the city. Sadly, Riften loses its front wall and gate after the dragon obliterates it using his breath.
As we get closer, I jump a little when I hear the people start to cheer for me. I can even see some crying and a few kneeling on the ground as if worshiping me. I ignore how they are comparing me to a reincarnation of Talos and only smile at them while I follow the Jarl to her keep.
After a few minutes of walking, we arrived inside the keep, which is the most homey keep I have ever visited. The others are beautiful, but they are not homey like this one. The White Hall of Dawnstar is simple and militaristic, symbolizing the nature of the Nord. The Blue Palace is a place fit for a king and queen and the battlefield for political war. The Dragonsreach is old and ancient, showing power from age. Mistveil Keep, on the other hand, feels like home. The warm feeling coming from the hearth, the color of the wall, and the color of the carpet make it feel like home.
As we walk deeper into the keep, I suddenly remember about Gudrid and the carriage.
"Ah, I am sorry, my lady. Can I leave for a few minutes?"
"Hmmm? Why?"
"I remember the carriage I rode with still on the road. I am the protector of the carriage, and I am afraid my friend, the coachman, will encounter wild animals on the way. Especially with the sun about to go down."
She nods and says.
"Don't worry. I shall send my people to guard him."
She turns around and looks at the man wearing elven armor.
"Unmid, take ten riders and ensure our estimated guest's coachman arrives in Riften safely. Also, tell the stable owner to take care of his carriage and horse. Lastly, tell the owner of the inn to treat him well."
The man slams his fist on his armor and says.
"Of course, my jarl."
After seeing him leave the keep, Jarl Laila looks at me with a smile.
"There you go. Please take a seat and enjoy some of the mead."
She takes the biggest seat, and I can see two young men sitting on her right side while the servant takes me to the left side of the table. Wait. I remember this. Aren't those two her sons? I thought that one of them was disowned for supporting the Empire instead of the Stormcloak.
Oh well. That is not my problem.
I take a sip of the mead. Huh? The mead is not bad, actually. It is not as good as the Honningbrew Mead, but it is good. I guess I can understand the reason why this mead is the most consumed mead in Skyrim.
"How is it?"
"Not bad. Great, even.."
"Of course! This is the best Black-Briar Mead. Maven personally selects this one to be the best for my family's consumption."
I drink all the mead and say.
"And that is why it is sweeter than the regular one."
She takes a sip of her mead and says.
"Once again, I must thank you for helping my city, Dragonborn."
"Please call me Ryan, my Jarl. Another Dragonborn is running around."
"Dragonborn Ryan, then. Anyway, as a thanks for your service, I shall grant you the title of Thane of the Rift. I shall also grant you a house called Honeyside in Riften. What do you think?"
I look at her and say.
"Rather than a house, I think I will take money, my Jarl. It is not because I dislike your city or anything. I came to Skyrim to fulfill my duty. I come here to kill as many dragons as possible so they cannot wreak havoc in Skyrim and cause chaos to its people."
"I see—such a shame. Is this the reason why you come here?"
I nod and say.
"Yes and no. There are dragons in the Southern part of the Rift. However, they are not my main goal in coming here."
"The necromancer, aye? A letter arrives in my keep telling me a Dragonborn will come here to hunt a necromancer that is already building a large army inside the Dragon Burial Mound not too far away from here."
"Ah, you already know about it."
"And I thought it was false information for me to move my soldiers. I am sorry to say this, but Skyrim is not at peace, and getting a letter from a Jarl supporting your enemy faction will be met with suspicion."
"I thought that Jarl Balgruuf was neutral."
"Bah! He supports the empire. He is neutral, but I know that he prefers the Empire over Stormcloak. That man had a good relationship with General Tullius in the Great War, which is why Whiterun still has the statue of Talos in the middle of their city district."
That makes sense. There must be a reason why that statue still exists in that city. It looks like General Tullius is the one allowing it to stand there still.
"Anyway, do you need men to help you?"
I think for a few seconds before saying.
"Yes. However, I don't think it is for hunting the necromancer. I will be the one hunting the necromancer, and I need your soldiers to kill all the undead coming from that hole. It is not because I don't trust your soldiers but because the Necromancer is very powerful, and I don't want to kill them when I go all out."
She nods her head in understanding and says.
"Very well. I shall ask Unmid to gather the soldiers to accompany you. However, you shall not leave this keep for tonight. Tonight will be the day of celebration! Let's start the feast!"
And a group of servant walks out of the kitchen with a lot of food in their hands.