Delphine immediately shifts into a battle stance when we spot the two wolves dashing towards us, her experience showing itself again.
I react slower her, I was only just able to draw my dagger before the wolves were upon us.
Unfortunately for me, it seems that both the wolves had intended to attack me first.
I don't know if they perceived that I was less skilled than Delphine, or if it simply was because her blade was three times longer than mine!
Lucky for me Delphine was able to save my ass, just when the first wolf was about to leap at me, she stepped in with a swing of her blade.
She didn't get close enough to hit it, but that wasn't the point of the swing either, she did it to demand it's attention, and thankfully, it worked.
But the second wolf did charge at me.
I waited until it was close enough, and when I thought I had the timing right, I swung my dagger at it in a broad arc. But the wolf was more cunning than I expected- it dodged the strike and, before I could prepare another, lunged at my forearm, sinking its teeth in and locking onto my sword arm.
"Oouch! Shit, let go of me!" I cry out, while trying to kick the wolf away.
The wolf ignores my kicks and pulls hard at my arm, trying to make me lose my balance while sinking it's teeth in deeper, drawing blood.
I press on towards it, and I grab my dagger from my right hand with my left.
Before it can react I push the blade into the wolf's neck. The blade sinks in smoothly, and it barely needed any force to do so, Alvor had done an amazing job at sharpening it!
With a whimper, the wolf finally lets go of my forearm and collapse onto the ground, quickly drawing it's last breath.
I withdraw my dagger from it's neck and quickly turn to check on Delphine, wondering if she needs my help.
What I see makes my eyes go wide.
"Are you fricking kidding me?!" I yell at her.
The second wolf lies dead behind her, and she is standing with her arms crossed, she had watched me fight it out.
"What? I thought you could use some combat experience." She says nonchalantly.
"Could use some combat experience?!" I snap back at her.
"Look at my arm!" I lift up my arm, showing her how much it bleeds.
"Aye, that doesn't look good at all, you might actually bleed out from that one. Did you buy that healing potion like I told you? Or do you need one of mine?" She calmly responds.
I realize that I actually bleed more than I first had thought, the adrenaline rushing through my body had numbed the pain.
"Oh crap!" I say as I quickly start searching through my backpack.
I grab my minor health potion, uncork it and chug the entire content.
With my heart pumping heavily, I turn my attention to the wound on my forearm, wondering if it will have any effect.
And surely enough, the wound is closing fast enough to be able see it.
"Wow... That's really effective..." I say, staring in wonder at the healing properties of the potion.
"And that's why you always carry a potion" Delphine comments with a smug smile.
"Well, I wouldn't have had to waste it if you had helped me!" I retort, still offended at her.
She approach me while chuckling.
"Oh stop it, you were already bitten when I finished my wolf. And besides, I am serious, you need combat experience."
She puts her hand into her backpack and pull out another minor healing potion, before planting it in my hand.
"Here, take one of mine. Now you're one experience richer, and without any losses, so no complaining."
I stare at it for a brief moment and sigh.
"Fine... I guess..."
I put the potion into my backpack, replacing the one that I had to use.
Delphine chuckles again, seeing that I'm still pouting.
"If it makes you feel any better, I would have helped you, had you needed it."
I look at her, her expression actually seem genuine, I can't help but sigh.
"Fine... thanks..."
With a smile Delphine gestures that we continue our journey towards Whiterun.
"You're welcome. Now, shall we continue?"
We get on with our journey, following the road decending from the mountains.
From here on and until we will reach the gates of Whiterun, it all seems to be just farmland as far as I can see.
Seeing that it would still be a while until we're there, I try to lighten up the walk with make some smalltalk.
"So... You're quite skilled with a sword, huh Delphine? Not bad for an innkeeper at her best age."
She glances over her shoulder with a faint smirk. "Careful, Ragnar. Calling a woman 'in her best age', just might earn you a black eye. And yes, I am skilled for an innkeeper."
She's not budging, holding on to her secret, but I press on.
"Any particular reason why you're so skilled?..."
"Maybe" she answers shortly.
I try one last time.
"If you answer me, then I'll answer your questions."
Without answering, she changes the subject again.
"We're there soon, why don't we run the rest of the way."
Without waiting for my response, she starts to speed up.
I sigh, before complaining again
"Oh, come on..."
Looking at her go, I see that it's not really running, it's more like jogging.
And I shouldn't lose to a woman in her fifties... Right?
I jog after her, it would be delightful if I can make her stop to catch her breath before I do.
After a little while I realize that she won't stop, heck she doesn't even seem tired!
I refuse to stop myself, even though I'm spent, not wanting to be humiliated.
So we run until we're at the base of Whiterun, gasping for air I stop and lean against it's outer walls, trying not to throw up.
Delphine chuckles at the sight of me.
"Good job, that was probably 15 minutes of running!"
note to self: Stamina potions seem useful now!
"Alright, Ragnar, let's get going.. we'll walk the rest of the way" she says while patting my back.
This time, without a hint of sarcasm, I thank her.
We head up the road towards the inner walls, approaching the two guards guarding the gates.
"Halt!" One of them says.
"Non-residents are obligated by the law to pay a toll to enter, 10 septims each."
He holds out a hand, palm up.
Delphine's eyes turn intense with fury.
"We're here on business for the Jarl himself. You want to explain to Balgruuf why you kept his messengers out for a coin purse?" She says sharply.
The guard shifts slightly, his body language suggesting that a nervous expression is hiding underneath his helmet.
"Umm... Well, I suppose you can head on in then..."
The second guard wastes no time in opening up the gates for us.
Delphine doesn't even look at them as she strides through the gates, I follow right behind her.
After entering the gates, I stop and stare at the city, the sight strikes me with both nostalgia and excitement.
The city streets are much more populated than compared to the game.
The market in the distance is packed, there are loud chattering, people shouting out bargains from behind their stalls and the air is filled with the scent of various foods.
"Hey, snap out of it! You can explore the city later, we need to see the Jarl first! Informing him about the necromancers is of outmost importance!" Delphine retorts.
"You're right, let's go." I respond, we continue making our way up through the city.
On our way, Delphine explains how the city is designed.
"Whiterun is divided up into three districts, the first one, the one we pass now is the plains district.
This area holds the marketplace, the inn and the city gates."
I can't help but notice a sign that reads:
"Arcadia's Cauldron." The potion shop!
I should go there when I have some money!
A few poisons and health potions would absolutely be useful in battle, should I have to fight alone!
Even the two wolves we took down might have killed me if I had traveled alone, especially if I didn't have my health potion!
We reach the next district, and Delphine again describes the area.
"This is the wind district, which is the main residential area, here are the temple of Kynareth, and Jorrvaskr, the hall of the companions."
As we pass the temple, I can't help but thinking that I really want to go there!
I have questions, and maybe a priest could give me insight to who or what had spoken to me when I was summoned to Skyrim... Was it really one of the deities of Skyrim? The nine... or eight divines? Depending on who one might ask.
We reach the platou of the city, Delphine stops to catch her breath here, not wanting to be short of breath when speaking with the Jarl.
She use our small pause to describe the district.
"Finally, this is the cloud district, which is the highest district, where the Jarl's Palace is, also called Dragonsreach.
This is it, Ragnar. Now, when being in the presence of the Jarl, speak only when spoken to, and show respect.
Do as I do, but let me do the talking."
I nod. "Alright, let's go inside!"
The huge doors creak as we open them, we head inside, ready to meet the Jarl and to inform him of the plot of the necromancers.