Chapter Text
The first time Verza Skullcrusher barged into Dragonsreach, it was the middle of an already chaotic afternoon. The agitated orc woman snatched the attention of all the resident warriors as she described the dragon attack on Helgen. Lydia found it all a bit fantastical from where she stood off to the side. Dragons in Skyrim? Please, they had enough problems as it was without all this.
For a few weeks, that had been it. The stranger was given a gift of gratitude and a request to speak with the court wizard, then left and didn't return. The first few days Lydia found herself curious about the woman's exploits, but she was quickly distracted by work of her own.
The second time, she charged through the hall with a large stone tablet and a wood elf companion. Lydia only saw her in passing as the woman headed straight for Farengar's quarters. Less than an hour later Dragonsreach was overrun with the city's guards as they rushed to send forces to the western watchtower, where yet another dragon had been spotted. During the chaos, Lydia and a few others were ordered to stay behind and protect the city if it became necessary.
Time slowed to a soul-crushing crawl, making the next few hours pass like years. In the distance, they could hear the howls of a foreign beast. Then, finally, an unbearable silence while they waited for the others to return or to join the fight. Just as Lydia felt herself crack under the quiet pressure, a chorus of shouts echoed through the city, barely muffled by the hall's stone walls.
"Dovahkiin!"
Jarl Balgruuf sat up straight in his throne as the last of the shouts rattled through the building. His eyes lit up with new interest as Verza Skullcrusher once again burst through Dragonsreach's front doors.
This time, she was covered in ash and rubble and blood, her thick black hair singed where it poked out from under her helmet. At first glance, her silver-blue eyes almost seemed to glow, but Lydia dismissed it as a trick of the light.
The dragon was dead, thank the divines, but at the cost of the watchtower and an unknown number of lives. However, that loss was quickly forgotten as Verza continued to tell how she absorbed said dragon's soul. Part of Lydia refused to believe it, but the woman didn't seem to be faking her lack of understanding of what that meant. What the shouts heard throughout Skyrim meant.
Jarl Balgruuf appraised her once she finished recounting the evening's events, then waved his council closer. After a hushed discussion, he stood tall and raised his voice.
"You've done a great deed for me and my city, Dragonborn. By my right as Jarl, I name you Thane of Whiterun. It's the greatest honor that's within my power to grant." he said. Verza, for her part, seemed… unimpressed? Confused? Whatever she was feeling, it wasn't the awestruck gratitude that others expressed at earning the title.
“I assign you Lydia as a personal Housecarl,” Jarl Balgruuf continued, “and this weapon from my armory to serve as your badge of office.” Lydia stood straighter and nodded at the mention of her name. It was to be expected, she supposed, since she was the only housecarl without a charge. But expected did not need to mean welcomed, especially when her service was being given with only half a sentence.
The Jarl spoke a bit longer, but Lydia wasn't listening anymore. She preferred to silently stew in whatever bitter thoughts found their way into her mind, their hoarse voices screaming "unfair". Ah, but since when had life been fair ? Wasn't that the point? That there would always be those born to be hailed as heroes, and then there would be those like her, born to flounder in their shadows.
Then again, what could be more satisfying than defying the fates' design? Floundering had, in her experience, made her that much stronger. Lydia took her still screaming, traitorous thoughts and shoved them down where they couldn't be heard until she could dispose of them properly. As she returned to the present, she realized the Jarl had finished speaking, and her new Thane was very quickly approaching.
“The Jarl has appointed me to be your housecarl. It's an honor to serve you,” she said, cool and careful with a slight bow. Verza stopped just in front of Lydia, her iron helm already removed and tucked under one arm.
"Thank you? To be completely honest, I'm not sure what all this means, let alone if I deserve it," Verza laughed, surprisingly lighthearted given the situation.
Her voice was rough, like the smell of a bonfire. Smokey and harsh, but not entirely unpleasant. However, her lighthearted acceptance of her new title, an honor many strived and ultimately died for, left a vile taste in the back of Lydia's throat. She swallowed it down before it could sour her expression.
Before Lydia could respond, Verza's companion slapped a hand on the orc's shoulder with a grin. "Come now, my friend," he said. "It's a great honor to be named a Thane, not to mention learning you're the Dragonborn of legend! Now's not the time to try being humble." He faced Lydia properly while Verza scoffed at him. "Please, take no offense at her words. Verza is still new to Skyrim and her traditions."
Lydia nodded to him and tried to keep her expression even. "Of course," she said. How he seemed to read her purposefully unreadable exterior she had no idea, but she made note not to let her guard slip again.
"This is my travel companion, Faendal," Verza explained. "Ah, but not for much longer. He plans on returning to Riverwood after all this trouble." Verza feigned a pout. "It seems the prospect of dragons has him running scared."
Faendal pushed her with a laugh. "Of course not! Who would protect my home should a dragon attack Riverwood?"
Before Verza could make her retort, Proventus called out to her for a quick word. She excused herself and left the two to stand alone. Lydia glanced at Faendal as the new Thane walked away, then stepped forward so they were at a more natural distance for a conversation.
"How does one make friends with such an… interesting person?" she asked after a few stifling seconds of silence. Faendal snorted at her question.
"The same way you make friends with anyone, I suppose. Meet by chance, perform a favor, then take on a few draugr and a dragon together." He watched Lydia carefully as he spoke, trying to gauge her reaction. At her disinterested hum, he continued. "Then again, I can't speak for her view of me. Perhaps to her, I am merely a distraction that, in trying to repay a debt, nearly tripled it instead." He shrugged and breathed a small sigh. "Either way, I'm glad to have known her, even for just a short while."
Lydia hummed again, less disinterested this time and more out of lack of anything better to contribute. Before much longer Verza returned from her conversation with Proventus.
"Good news for you, my friend! The Jarl has arranged a meal and room for you at the Bannered Mare tonight if you want it."
Faendal smiled at her. "I would be happy to accept, the journey home will be a long one after this. I should give the Jarl my thanks before I leave, then. I'd like to head out early tomorrow morning, so I'm afraid this is goodbye for now."
Verza grabbed him by the arm and pulled him in for a quick but tight hug. "No worries. Are you sure you don't want company back to Riverwood?" she asked as they pulled away. Faendal shook his head.
“No, my friend, you've done plenty for me. Be safe out there. You can call on me again anytime.” He raised a hand in farewell, then walked away to relay his thanks. Verza waved as well, and Lydia mumbled a "safe journey" after him.
Verza glanced back at Lydia and grimaced for a moment. "Proventus actually pulled me aside to give me the Jarl's invitation to stay for a meal and some rest, but when I asked for my friend, he seemed confused. I guess in all the mayhem they didn't realize he had come with me and wasn't one of the city guards."
Lydia looked over, just a little surprised. It was unlike the Jarl to make a mistake like that, she thought. Well, on a normal day at least. But today hadn't been normal in the least, so she could hardly blame him.
"I am glad we were able to offer him something in return for helping us in all this, then," she said. Verza nodded, but she had a glint of mischief in her eyes that gave Lydia reason to pause.
"Anyway," Verza said, cutting off her thoughts. "I was told that, as my housecarl, you'd also be joining us for dinner. If it's not too much trouble, would you mind explaining some of this to me?"
For the first time that night, Lydia managed a small, albeit slightly strained smile. "As you will, my Thane."