Chapter 77 An Unwelcome Ambassador
Astrid had personally delivered invitations to every major leader of Skyrim's warring factions the Stormcloaks and the Imperials summoning them to neutral ground under the authority of the Greybeards. Now, within the ancient and sacred walls of High Hrothgar, they had all gathered.
Ulfric Stormcloak, the self-proclaimed High King of Skyrim and leader of the Stormcloaks, stood at the head of his side of the hall. His imposing presence was impossible to ignore broad-shouldered, clad in bear-fur and steel, his piercing gaze carried the weight of rebellion and unyielding pride. . Behind him stood Vignar Gray-Mane, his expression stern and unflinching, and Galmar Stone-Fist, whose battle-hardened glare radiated barely restrained aggression, ready to erupt at the slightest provocation.
Opposite them sat General Tullius of the Imperial Legion, his posture rigid and disciplined, his expression cold and calculating like a seasoned tactician who had seen countless battlefields. Every movement he made was precise, controlled befitting a man who carried the authority of the Empire on his shoulders.
Nearby was Jarl Balgruuf the Greater, seated uneasily between both powers. His brow was furrowed in concern, his fingers resting heavily on the arms of his chair as though weighing every word yet to be spoken
Elisif the Fair sat with composed dignity, her pale hands folded tightly in her lap. Though she wore the grace of a queen, sorrow lingered in her eyes the quiet grief of a widow whose husband, High King Torygg, had been slain by the very man sitting across from her. Her gaze flickered briefly toward Ulfric, then away, her lips pressed into a thin line.
At the far end of the Imperial side sat Elenwen, the Thalmor Ambassador. Draped in elegant Altmeri robes, she carried herself with effortless arrogance, chin lifted, eyes sharp and disdainful as if the entire gathering were beneath her. A faint, knowing smile played on her lips one that suggested she believed herself to be the true power in the room.
The grand hall of High Hrothgar was silent but heavy with tension. Ancient stone pillars rose toward the vaulted ceiling, their surfaces worn smooth by centuries of prayer and wind. A long, cold stone table stretched through the center of the chamber like a blade, physically and symbolically dividing the Stormcloaks from the Imperials. No one crossed that invisible line.
Delphine and Esbern stood slightly apart from the others, watchful and alert. As representatives of the Blades, they carried themselves like shadows of a forgotten order hands near their weapons, eyes constantly scanning the room for danger.
And at the heart of it all Astrid.
The Dragonborn.
She sat at the end of table her presence commanding despite her silence. The faint hum of power seemed to cling to her, as though the very air acknowledged her authority. Her gaze moved calmly from one leader to the next, unshaken by their status or hatred. In this sacred place, amid ancient stone and simmering hostility, she was the one figure capable of holding them all together or tearing everything apart.
Arngeir, the eldest of the Greybeards, sat at the far end of the long stone table, directly facing the Dragonborn. His back was straight despite his age, his weathered hands resting calmly atop the stone surface as if drawing strength from the mountain itself. The faint echo of the wind outside High Hrothgar hummed through the hall, a reminder that this place answered to no king or empire.
He inhaled slowly, his voice deep and measured as he began to speak.
"I hope that we have all come here in the spirit "
The words had barely left his mouth when Ulfric Stormcloak slammed his fist against the stone table.
"No," Ulfric snapped, rising slightly from his seat. His blue eyes burned with fury as he pointed a gloved finger across the table. "You insult us by bringing her to this negotiation."
His gaze locked onto Elenwen, sharp and unyielding.
"Your chief Talos hunter."
A brief, cutting sound escaped Elisif's lips a restrained sneer that barely concealed her bitterness.
"That didn't take long."
Elenwen did not flinch. She adjusted her posture with elegant composure, her expression cool and disdainful as she responded.
"I have every right to be at this negotiation," she said smoothly. "I am here to ensure that nothing agreed upon violates the terms of the White-Gold Concordat."
Before Ulfric could retort, General Tullius leaned forward, his armored gauntlets resting firmly on the table.
"She is part of the Imperial delegation," he said in a clipped, authoritative tone. "You do not get to dictate who attends this council."
The tension thickened, the air in the hall seeming to grow heavier with every exchanged glare.
Arngeir slowly raised both hands, palms outward, his movements deliberate and calming.
"Please," he said evenly. "If we must negotiate the terms of the negotiation itself, we will never reach understanding."
His eyes then shifted toward Astrid.
"Perhaps," Arngeir continued, his tone softening, "this would be a good time to hear the Dragonborn's thoughts on this matter."
Ulfric turned his head sharply, his fierce gaze boring into Astrid.
"By Ysmir's beard," he growled, his voice low but thunderous, "the nerve of those Imperial bastards to believe we would sit at the same table as that foul Thalmor witch."
He straightened fully now, towering with righteous fury.
"I say she walks," Ulfric declared, "or we walk."
Astrid remained silent for a moment. Her eyes moved to Elenwen, taking in the Altmer's smug poise, the quiet contempt she held for everyone in the room. Then Astrid turned back to Ulfric, her expression calm but resolute.
"You're right," she said at last. "The Thalmor have no business being here."
Ulfric exhaled heavily, some of the tension draining from his shoulders.
"I'm glad we agree on that."
The silence that followed was sharp and brittle.
Elenwen rose slowly from her seat, the chair scraping softly against the stone floor. Fury flashed across her flawless features, no longer concealed behind diplomacy.
"Very well, Ulfric," she said coldly. "Enjoy your petty victory."
She straightened, looking down upon the gathered leaders as though passing judgment.
"The Thalmor will deal with whatever government rules Skyrim. We would never dream of interfering in your… civil war."
Elenwen left the chamber without another word her departure echoing through the ancient hall.
As Elenwen swept out of the council hall, the sharp click of her boots echoed against the ancient stone corridor. Her posture was tall and rigid, chin lifted in practiced superiority, though the tightness in her shoulders betrayed her simmering fury. The dim torchlight cast long shadows across the walls as she turned a corner
and nearly collided with Alex.
She halted abruptly, eyes narrowing as they raked over him from head to toe. Her lips curled in open disdain, and she let out a sharp, derisive snort.
"Typical," she muttered, voice dripping with contempt.
"A shallow-minded Nord."
Alex blinked, taken slightly off guard. He glanced behind himself for a moment, as if checking whether she was addressing someone else, before returning his gaze to her. One brow rose faintly, his expression calm almost puzzled.
"Oh," he said lightly, a polite smile tugging at his lips. "I'm sorry. Did I do something to deserve being insulted out of nowhere?"
Elenwen's sneer deepened. She stepped closer, invading his space, her eyes cold and cutting.
"You were born a Nord," she hissed. "That alone is a mistake. And breathing the same air as me only makes it worse."
A flicker of irritation stirred in Alex's chest. His jaw tightened for just a heartbeat but he let it go. Instead, he straightened slightly and smiled again, slow and controlled, as though her words amused him more than they angered him.
"Well," he replied calmly, "forgive me for being born a Nord something entirely beyond my control."
Then his smile shifted.
The warmth drained from it, replaced by something sharper, more deliberate. His eyes narrowed as he tilted his head, studying her as if she were a curiosity.
"Hm," he continued coolly. "So this is the nature of the Altmer, is it? Perhaps being born a Nord is a blessing… not a mistake."
Elenwen stiffened as though struck. Her hands curled into fists at her sides, her breath growing shallow as rage flared across her flawless features.
"Do not dare insult the Altmer!" she snapped. "We are the highest and most noble race blessed by the god Auri-El himself! Our honor is beyond measure!"
Alex let out a soft, mocking chuckle. He clasped his hands behind his back, leaning forward slightly as though examining a child throwing a tantrum.
"Ah, yes," he said, his voice heavy with sarcasm. "Truly noble. You represent the Altmer perfectly arrogant, conceited, and eager to trample every other race beneath your feet."
He smiled wider.
"Truly… honorable."
Elenwen's eyes burned with fury. She glared at him, teeth clenched.
"Watch your tongue, boy."
Alex didn't flinch.
Unbothered, unafraid, he met her glare head-on. Power alien and unnatural rested quietly beneath his calm expression. Having stolen knowledge and strength from Hermaeus Mora, he no longer feared the mental backlash of wielding telekinesis.
He looked down at her with a cold, dismissive smile.
"Or what?" he asked softly.
"Do you want to prove that Altmer is cold blooded to?"
That was the final spark.
With a sharp cry of fury, Elenwen thrust her hand forward, arcane energy erupting from her palm as she unleashed a spell straight at Alex.
But before the magic could reach him, Alex moved.
Invisible force snapped into place. With a flick of his wrist, telekinesis seized the spell mid-air and violently twisted its trajectory.
The blast roared upward
and slammed into the ceiling of High Hrothgar with a deafening explosion.
Stone cracked. Dust and debris rained down as the thunderous sound echoed through the ancient halls, shaking the mountain itself.
The confrontation had crossed the line.
The thunderous impact echoed through the grand hall of High Hrothgar, rolling across the ancient stone like a roar from the mountain itself. Dust drifted down from the ceiling as the sound reverberated, rattling the long table and sending a tense shiver through everyone present.
Astrid's head snapped up instantly.
Around her, the assembled leaders stiffened. Elisif's eyes widened in alarm, her hands tightening against the arms of her chair. General Tullius straightened at once, instinctively alert, one hand hovering near the hilt of his sword. Even the Greybeards stirred.
Ulfric scowled deeply, his brows knitting together as he leaned forward.
"What was that sound?" he demanded, his voice rough and suspicious.
Jarl Balgruuf turned his head toward Arngeir, concern etched across his face.
"Are you certain this place is safe?" he asked gravely.
Delphine snorted, folding her arms across her chest with an unimpressed glare.
"Hah. Anyone foolish enough to attack the Greybeards would have to be a complete idiot."
Astrid rose from her seat, the legs of her chair scraping softly against the stone floor. Her expression was focused, a faint sense of unease flickering in her eyes.
"I'd better check the source of that noise," she said firmly.
Just as she stepped away from the table
The massive doors of the hall creaked open.
Alex walked in.
He moved with disarming casualness, hands in his pockets as if nothing unusual had happened. Behind him, suspended in midair by invisible force, floated Elenwen's unconscious body. Her arms and legs hung limply, her elegant robes swaying gently as she bobbed in the air like an oversized balloon.
Alex glanced around and spoke in an innocent, almost cheerful tone.
"Oh my. Who invited this rude Altmer here, anyway?"
A heavy silence fell over the hall.
Then Alex finally noticed the scene the long table, the divided factions, the stares of Skyrim's most powerful figures fixed squarely on him.
He froze mid-step.
"Whoops," he said slowly. "Looks like I came at a bad time. I should probably "
Before he could finish, Astrid bolted forward.
She crossed the distance in seconds and threw her arms around him, gripping his cloak tightly as if afraid he might disappear.
"I was worried about you!" she exclaimed, her voice tight with relief. "You weren't waking up I thought something had happened!"
Alex blinked, surprised, then let out a small chuckle. He gently placed a hand on her back and patted her reassuringly.
"Hey," he said softly. "Calm down. I'm fine. Really."
Astrid didn't let go right away. She stayed there for a moment longer, her shoulders finally relaxing.
An exaggerated clearing of a throat echoed through the hall.
"Ahem."
Ulfric leaned back in his chair, one brow raised, lips twitching with amusement.
"So," he said dryly, "shall we continue the meeting?"
Astrid stiffened.
Realization hit her all at once.
She pulled away from Alex in a hurry, her face instantly turning bright red.
"O-oh! Right! Yes of course!"
She avoided everyone's gaze, painfully aware of the dozens of eyes watching her. Alex, on the other hand, remained utterly unfazed, as if hugging the Dragonborn in front of Skyrim's leaders was the most natural thing in the world.
Then Ulfric noticed Elenwen.
Still floating.
Still unconscious.
For a heartbeat, he stared.
Then he threw his head back and burst into loud, booming laughter.
"Hahaha! Galmar, look at this!" he roared. "By Shor, I'll never forget this sight!"
Galmar doubled over, laughing along with him, pounding his fist against the table in delight.
The laughter rippled outward, cutting through the tension like a blade.
And just like that, the suffocating weight in the room lifted if only a little.
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