Lydia enters through the large gates to Whiterun town, returning to the court of Dragonsreach. She's just wearing simple peasant garb, a dress with laces at the chest, slightly open from the walk, her Nord heritage making her not feel the cold as much as most. The guard standing at the rampart's stairway straightens up when her sees her.
"You look tired, friend. Speak to Hulda at the Bannered Mare..." he recites in his thick Nord accent.
"Ivan? It's me, Lydia. You know it's me. I come through here nearly every day."
"Yea... but... I likes to keep it up and anyways, the Jarl's insisted. So when it's actually someone visiting, we got our patter down. And anyways... it's always nice talking to you, Lydia."
"Hmm." Lydia says, unable to see his eyes properly due to his masked helmet but she's pretty sure where he's looking then she folds her arms to protect her modesty.
"Anyway, Lyd. What's going on today?"
"Jarl wants to see me. Something about being made housecarl to some adventurer. Make a nice change to get out there for some adventure, maybe make some coin."
"I used to be an adventurer like you then..."
"No you didn't, Ivan."
"Sorry. It's just one of the visitor lines we have to say, you know, start friendly conversation and the like?"
"Hm. Yea. I know. But Veronica started that particular one."
"Yea. The Jarls all liked it, so it went into the rotation of greetings."
"At least Veronica did actually used to be an adventurer, but that arrow line? I reckon she was making that up, just so she could go on light duties."
"Veronica's nice..."
"Ugh, see you later, Ivan."
"Kinsman."
"Woman. I thought you'd noticed that already but... whatever!"
Lydia continues on her way, stopping briefly when she reaches Breezehome, a small but pleasant house yet to be occupied in the city. She places her hand on the large wooden front door, feeling its grain.
"If I get some coin from all this? You're mine, Breezehome." she gives the door a little tap with her palm then continues on towards the market, taking the scenic route. To have a home of her own would be wonderful to Lydia, currently having had to rely on the Jarl for a bed at Dragonsreach. Having a bed at Dragonsreach is much better than a lot of the folk in Skyrim have to endure in this harsh region but she would still like a space to call her own.
She passes through the market, the same old faces selling the same old wares. Prior to taking up the life of a warrior, Lydia had considered the life of the merchant, the coin being the allure but she wasn't so sure it would be exciting enough for her. Not that she's had much excitement in the last few years. After leaving the Legion, Lydia had wanted to return to her home of Skyrim and was lucky enough to have joined the court of Jarl Baalgruf; he welcomed a hardened Legionary to act as one of his protectors. Though there's little for her to do when he has his own personal housecarl, Irileth, a strong and powerful Dunmer warrior he has known for a long time. With his wife long dead, Lydia had wondered if the bonds between the Jarl and Irileth were stronger than the court should know but aware it is best not to gossip.
"Hey, Lydia!" Ysolda calls over.
"Hi, Ysolda! How's the business venture going? Any closer to buying up the Bannered Mare?"
"Not really... but I took your advice and spoke with the Khajiit. They said they'll trade with me and show me the ropes, but I need a mammoth tusk to get the ball rolling."
"Well don't look at me! Have you seen the size of those things?"
"Oh. No. I wasn't suggesting you go and get one for me. Just... they're so expensive. It'd clear me out and well... I can't take the chance as much faith as I have in the cat people. Hopefully I'll get the sleeping tree sap from Ulag, that'd really get things going then."
"May the Nine guide you well. See you around, Ysolda."
"See you, Lyd."
Lydia makes her way up the large stone stairs up to the Wind District and past the sad, old looking Gildergreen tree. A few townsfolk and visiting adventurers are seated on the benches around the tree.
"It's a shame isn't it?" the Priestess of Kynareth, Danica, says at her, as though continuing on from some imaginary conversation.
"Sorry, are you speaking to me?" Lydia has to ask, the randomness of the question catching her off-guard.
"The Gildergreen, it's a shame." Danica continues.
"Ummm... yes, I suppose it is."
"It was planted in the... oh... rude woman!"
Lydia has already continued on her way, looking up to Jorrvaskr, home of the warrior clan, the Companions. She had considered joining the Companions but they seem too full of themselves, overly-confident and brash, particularly Aela, who for some reason grates on her. But Lydia is a housecarl now and that will bring its own adventures. She hopes at least anyway. Lydia hopes that she has not been assigned to some milk-drinker of a lord with shining armour and a weapon that has never been unsheathed.
On Lydia continues to the final leg of steps, up to the castle of Dragonsreach itself. Nazeem, the effeminate well-to-do Redguard, passes her on the stairs, no doubt coming from another session of cringing and fawning to the Jarl.
"Lydia. How nice to see you. Are you well?" he says, with his typical veiled snear.
"Nazeem. Fine, thanks." she acknowledges but doesn't stop for pleasantries.
The guard at the top of the stairs clears his throat,"You look tired, friend. You see..."
"Gah! Do you guys have to? I've just had this with Ivan."
"Oh... sorry, Lyd. Jarl's orders. Where was I? Oh, yea. You look tired, friend. You see Hulda at the... hey! I hadn't finished!"
Lydia wonders if she should have a complex that the guards keep stating her tired look. She hopes it's just the banter that the Jarls have enforced on the guards rather than her age showing. Life is hard in Skyrim and weathered faces happen to the youngest of souls but Lydia, so she thinks, has kept a relatively youthful complexion, something she is proud of.
She opens one of the huge doors that front the castle and enters.
"Heard about your honeyed words..."
"What? What's that one now? Gah, how did that get into the rotation?"
"Sorry, Lyd."
"Ugh, never mind."
Though Lydia is a little more impressed that this one was actually somewhat flattering. She waits in the large greeting area, the Jarl speaking with his court and a stranger she hasn't seen before. The stranger wears a swirling patterned black cloak with hood so she can't see who her potential new master is. Their business seemingly concluded the figure moves towards the doors and Lydia. The Jarl stands and gesticulates to Lydia this is indeed who she will serve.
Lydia prepares herself. She has studied the role of the housecarl and clears her throat in preparation for their first meeting.
"The Jarl has appointed me as your housecarl. It's an honour to..."
"Yes, he informed me. I am Luxuria, wizard and sometimes more... So what do you do?" this person says with a hissing voice but quite human, Lydia barely able to see her face due to the hood.
"The Jarl has recognised you as a person of great importance in the hold. A hero."
"Hm. Well. Don't be so officious in future. I have no need of you right now. And get some armour. You look pathetic."
And her mistress moves towards the door.
"I do have steel armour but... I was... Oh... er... okay... 'bye then! I'll be back here if you have need of... oh..."
Luxuria is gone.
Lydia stands a moment, unsure what just happened and stunned by her charge's short and dismissive tone. She hopes it wasn't something she said, she doesn't think she said anything to offend but Lydia wants the opportunity to get out there, see the darker areas of Skyrim and the wealth that might lie within, and finally, hopefully, find her own home in Whiterun. Eventually, Lydia walks up the stairs to the court and sits alone at one of the long tables, a little deflated by her experience.
"Not going with the Dragonborn, Lyd?" a guard asks.
"No." the disappointment present in her voice. "Apparently, she 'has no need of me right now'."
"I wouldn't worry. From what I just heard, she'll be heading to High Hrothgar and the Greybeards to make sense of all that stuff that happened over by the western tower. I'm sure there'll be plenty of opportunity to make some coin."
"High Hrothgar? But... I've always wanted to walk the seven thousand steps! Gah! This day gets better and better."
"I'm going to the Bannered Mare after my rotation, Lyd."
"Oh. That's nice." Lydia responds, uninterested and already in thought about her curious meeting.
"Wanna come? We can get real drunk and..."
"Not today, Igor, thanks."
There is a moment of silence, apart from just the crackle of the large central fire.
"Need a weapon? You see..."
"Agh! By the Nine, do you people never just shut the hell up?"
"Eight."
"What?"
"By the Eight. And you better watch that, Lyd. I'd hate to see a beauty like you end up in the dungeon."
"Don't any of you guards have spouses?"
"Aw, Lydia! Don't be like that! You can't blame an old guard for appreciating a pretty girl. Your skin looks as soft as the fresh snow of Dawnstar."
"Hm. Go on..."