#balgrruf x irileth

[willwritesfic]

originally requested by @sleepyspoonie​: balgruuf/irileth, prompt: worry

“Irileth,” he calls out as she moves toward the palace doors, and she stops, turning to face him.

He’s standing on the stairs to the second floor, the shadows on his face thrown into sharp relief by the torchlight, and even from across the hall she can clearly see the worry written into his furrowed brow and the downturned corners of his mouth.

“Don’t go with them,” he says. “Not this time.”

“My Jarl,” she says, surprised.

He walks with heavy footsteps down the last few stairs to stand by the brazier, only a few steps above her. “Legate Rikke will be sufficient to lead our men,” he says. “Not, of course, because I have more faith in her than I have in you. But -”

She swallows hard as he hesitates, closing his eyes and bowing his head.

“If they should breach our walls,” he says, “we will be here, as the last line of defense for my city. But until that time -”

He steps down to stand but one step higher than she is, and when their eyes meet she finds fear there. She reaches out to rest her hand on his arm.

“It is my wish that you would stay by my side instead,” he says. “To protect the palace.”

“Of course, my Jarl,” she says, and cups the side of his face in her other hand as she nods. “Of course.”