I woke with a start. Blinking, I took in my surroundings...where in Oblivion was I? Then I remembered.
A slight ache in my left shoulder was what brought it all back to me. The carriage ride to Helgen, the line-up for execution and the gigantic black dragon attacking the fort! In the madness that followed, I tried to run for safety but was thrown to the ground, my left shoulder injured badly. I had managed to crawl into a nearby tower before curling up on the stone floor...

I sat up in bed. Hearing light snoring, I turned my head and looked down at the man sleeping beside me. Darius, the man who saved my life. He was the only one who even noticed the wounded Redgaurd woman bleeding on the floor. According to the rest, it was every man for himself! He had hoisted me up and got me moving. With the help of a good spirited Stormcloak named Ralof, we escaped down into the Keep and out into the mountains.
I am Zaina Cresent Moon. A Redguard, native of Hammerfell.
That morning I found myself waking up in Ralof's sister, Gerdur's house. She had been kind enough to offer us the shelter of her home for the night and had asked that we travel to Whitrun to tell the Jarl about what has happened. To ask if he would send aid to Riverwood in case of another dragon attack.
Of course, we agreed.

I got up and pulled on the sturdy leather boots that Gerdur had provided, walked over to a basin to wash my face with cold water. Now I felt wide awake...and hungry. It seemed that Hod and Gerdur have already left to work at their lumber mill. The house was empty. I huddled up close to the fire for a few minutes, just staring into the embers, enjoying the warmth. After a while, I roused myself, added a few logs to the fire and stood up to investigate the savoury smells coming from the cooking pot. Hunting around, I found a clean wooden bowl and helped myself to some stew and bread. It was possibly the best thing I had tasted in weeks! After a quick breakfast, I gathered a few things and made my way down to the river for a proper bath. I walked a little down stream so I could have a little privacy and set to work. I scrubbed my hair and nails clean from all the dirt and grime of the journey, then I had a good swim. I loved the feeling of the water around me. It comforted me somehow.
My mind drifted back to the day before, when we had finally found a way out of the catacombs below the Keep. Darius asked me if I wanted to go my own way or travel with him to Riverwood. I had already decided. I told him that i would stay with him. He had saved my life and there was no other place for me but by his side until i had repaid the blood debt. It was the way of my people. I owed him, simple as that. He must have sensed my determination because he didn't argue, merely nodded and took me with him.
I planned to stand by my promise. Others had left me for dead, but this Nord took the time to rescue an unknown Redguard woman. Risking his own life to save someone elses. There weren't many men like that left in the world.

I got out of the water and sat on the bank, allowing my hair to dry a little in the golden morning sunlight. I never cared if people called me a wild woman, I loved my long, black hair. I was proud of the carved metal and bone-pipe beads that adorned the thick braids and dreadlocks that dangled around my hips. It was a symbol of my standing in my tribe. I crushed some sweet-smelling flowers and after sprinkling them through my hair, I carefully combed them out, leaving behind their lovely scent. It was a trick my grandmother had taught me when I was a girl. As I dressed, noticed the wound had healed nicely. The healing spell and potion I drank had worked well but the bruising would fade with time. Healing has a process that it must go through, even with the aid of potions and spells.
I gathered my things up and headed back to Gerdur's house.
When I opened the door, I found Darius, sitting at the table enjoying some warm bread and stew, as well as his second bottle of mead. This man loved his ale and mead, just like any true Nord.
I smiled at him as I took a seat at the table. He smiled back, his mouth full of bread. After a while he said.

" Your looking better this morning! " as he cast me an appreciative look.
"How's your shoulder?"
" Much better" I replied.
" Listen, I was thinking, We could trade some of the loot we collected here in Riverwood before we leave today. We don't need all this stuff and I'm sure we can make enough gold to buy better gear when we get to Whiterun. What do you say?"
He nodded in agreement.
" Sounds good to me."

After his breakfast, Darius washed up and then we sorted through the various weapons, pieces of armor and other goods and decided what to keep and what to sell. I chose to keep the bow and arrows I had collected, a nice, sharp sword, a few of the books, potions and other small things. Darius selected a sword, shield, a dagger, and a decent pair of boots. Gurder had given him a pair of Hod's leather pants and a white cotton shirt. Together with me in my pale blue day-dress and soft brown leather corset, we looked like simple everyday people, not escaped prisoners who survived a dragon attack only a day earlier!

First, we visited the Blacksmith, a man by the name of Alvor. He was quick and to the point, no messing around with this guy. He took our un wanted weapons and armor for a decent price and nodded towards the pelts.

" 10 gold for those wolf pelts and ...lets say 30 for the bear." he says.
I had hoped for more but I agree to the trade.
Next we walked over to a shop with a wooden sign hanging out front which read RIVERWOOD TRADER.

" This is the place Gerdur told me about" I told Darius.
We walked in to find the store owner in the middle of a heated discussion with a woman I assumed to be his daughter.

Lucan Valerious explained that he had recently been robbed of an ancient family heirloom. A Golden Dragons Claw.
My eyebrows rose with interest.
" We could help you find it...if you wish?" stated Darius, echoing my own thoughts.
" Would you? Oh, that would be wonderful. I have a bit of coin coming in from my next shipment, I'll be glad to pay you for your efforts."
Darius cast me a smile and a wink. I hid my own smile and started the task of trading by showing a few of the items we had to sell. When all had been bought and sold, Darius and I left the shop with considerably heavier coin pouches and satisfied smiles.

I suggested that we pay a visit to Hod and Gerdur before we leave for Whiterun.

"Please, take it." I asked Gerdur. She was stubbornly refusing the offer of money and two small gemstones for the kindness of her hospitality.
"No need for that, my friend. You are welcome anytime."
"Any friends of Ralof's, are friends of ours" added Hod.
I could see that were not going to accept the coin, so I relented the offer.
"You really are very good people. May the Divines smile on you always." I quoted the common Nord blessing as I embraced the tall blond woman in farewell.
Darius and I shouldered our much lighter packs and moved off down the road towards Whiterun.