Chapter 11: Falk

                                    

                                          
The door to Falk's room burst open at the crack of dawn, and an exasperated maid hurried in waving a sealed letter in her hand. 
"Falk, this came for you this morning- it's an urgent message from-" Falk's face skewed into a frown when he read the name on the letter she pressed into his hand, "General Tullius?" He finished for her, "What could this be about?" The maid held a hand to her chest and tried to catch her breath. Falk had to admit the whole scene was very dramatic. "I've no idea, but the courier insisted that I deliver it to you immediately." The maid gasped. 
"Thank you for getting this to me so promptly," Falk tried not to cringe at the woman gasping for air like a fish out of water, "Please, go rest and tell Odar to give you an extra helping of breakfast for your trouble." 
The maid thanked him and scurried off, enticed by the promise of an extra sweet roll. 
He gingerly opened the letter, truly not knowing what to expect. The last he heard, Tullius was in Solitude, why send a courier with news he could deliver himself? Had Tullius become so self important that he couldn't bother to walk to the Palace? He wondered, annoyance already creeping up on him. He read the first line and stopped short. 
"Elisif travels to High Horothgar on this day with the Dragonborn." His hand gripped the parchment more tightly. He tried to read the rest of the letter but his eyes kept getting stuck on Elisif's name. He knew she would choose to go, but not like this. Not like a thief in the night with a man she hardly knew. She doesn't owe you anything after last night, he thought to himself bitterly. The feeling of betrayal boiled inside of him anyway. 
He immediately pictured the Dragonborn flirting and getting close with the woman who he loved. He pictured Elisif hating him and having no reservations about a different man showing her attention. He pictured her walking out of the palace without looking back because of how he left things with her.
 "That's not what matters now" he growled aloud. He couldn't believe that his first concern was his own romantic feelings and not the safety of the Jarl. 
 What if he never saw her again? What if Ulfric harmed her? What if the Dragonborn betrays her? Multitudes of questions swam in his head.  Then he remembered Sybille's cryptic message urging him to get Elisif to stay. He realized then what he had to do, and quickly dressed for the day. He needed to confront Sybille, and demand honesty from her. If Elisif was in more danger than the obvious, he had to know, and he had to find her and warn her. 
He set off for the Court Wizzard's chambers, ready for a fight. 
Sybille was tinkering at her alchemy table when Falk showed himself into her room. While normally he would feel guilty barging into a woman's room unannounced, he afforded Sybille no such kindness after the way she invaded his privacy the night prior. 
"Gods above. What do you want Firebeard? It's much too early in the morning to deal with your nonsense." She said not bothering to look up from her mortar and pestle. The room smelled of crushed elves ear and cannis root, an overpowering herbal scent that almost made Falk feel lightheaded, but he pushed through. 
"This is to do with your nonsense not mine." He tried his best to reign in his irritation with the woman and continued, "What did you mean that it was in our best interests for Elisif to not attend the peace council?"
Sybille finally faced the Steward, her expression matching Falk's own barely masked annoyance. The early morning sunlight beamed through her lancet windows, showcasing tiny dust moats that would otherwise take refuge in the wizard's dark room. Falk noticed that her usual robes were nowhere to be found and she was wearing a simple dress of black muslin. Something about seeing her in this way felt like a breach of privacy. As angry as Falk had been at her disrespecting his boundaries, he did suddenly feel guilty for encroaching on hers. As though reading his thoughts, she crossed her spindly arms over her body.
"Exactly what it sounds like. She's safer here and there are-" She hesitated for a moment choosing her words carefully, "people who would benefit from the war continuing at this time." 
Falk glared at her incredulously, "People? what people?" Is Elisif in danger?" 
"She's always in danger Falk you know that." She replied, her voice sounding almost shaky. 
Then her ruby eyes widened, realizing why Falk had been so desperate for answers. 
"She's left already?" 
"Is she in danger?" Falk ground out again, taking a step towards her. 
"No-" She shook her head and weakly held a hand to her forehead, "but I might be."