Hi, hi! It's been so long since I've posted anything up here. This is just a rough out of an idea I had. I love games and fanfiction, so the two often meet and meld in my mind. This is a Skyrim/Faberry amalgamation that I hope you enjoy! I've an edited version on my tumblr: /incandescentconscious - for anyone who's interested. I'd be updating there right now if my computer would let me.

Anyhow, please tell me what you think! I've got a day off work and I'm blissing out 3 - It's been too long since I've written properly.

Quinn pulled the thin, skeever-bitten blanket up tightly under her chin. Grelod had kept her and the rest of the children awake by beating Aventus again. His cries could be heard from inside the hated cupboard even as the rest of the children had succumbed to sleep. Not Quinn though. She kept her eyes wide open.

Constance paced between the rows of beds, her footsteps light and careful so as not to wake the exhausted children. Grelod was asleep or at least she hoped so but Constance couldn't bring herself to lay down, much less relax enough to fall asleep. She listened intently for any sound that might indicate that the mistress of the orphanage was awake.

When she heard nothing she tread lightly to the back door, opening it without a sound and slipping outside. There she drew water from the well with a small pail. Carrying it carefully so as not to spill it's contents Constance disappeared back inside with the pail. She opened the cupboard with trepidation, scared for a moment that Grelod might have gone too far. But Aventus lifted his head, looking at her blearily though a black eye and one gummed by snatched sleep. She tried to smile but she felt it die on her face as she knelt to place the pail down before him. Dipping her fingers into the cool water she brought them to his battered face, soothing them softly over his eyes. He winced but made no noise.

After wiping her hands on her apron she picked the bucket up once again and brought it to his lips. He drank greedily. Water ran down his chin, cheeks and neck, soaking his filthy vest and shirt. Eventually he tore his mouth away and Constance righted the pail in her hands.

"Thank you, Miss Constance." He whispered, his chin falling onto his damp chest as he became too exhausted to hold his head up. Constance touched the crown of his head lightly, the fingers of one hand closing around the rim of the pail and picking it up. She reluctantly closed the doors behind her and went to replace the pail.

Quinn watched all of this happen from across the room. Miss Constance was much, much kinder than Grelod. And Aventus was much, much braver than Quinn.

Quinn had been in the Honorhall orphanage for as long as she could remember. She had quickly learnt to keep her head down and do her work quickly and well. That didn't save her from the regular beatings that all the children received but because she never caused any trouble Grelod never paid much attention to her.

Since he had arrived Aventus had been fighting against Grelod, challenging her at every turn. But then, he'd only been in for a few months. She'd seen similar behaviour from some of the other children but it wasn't long before they fell into line. Aventus had held out for the longest. He still held out, shackled inside the cupboard and bearing the marks of his insolence.

Quinn's ears perked up, she thought she'd heard something outside. But after a few minutes of listening to nothing but silence she relaxed. Eventually she couldn't keep her eyes open any more so she slipped into a fitful sleep.

The next morning dawned gray. Quinn was woken by a rough hand dragging through her hair and yanking her upright. She grit her teeth against the cry that threatened to escape her.

"Chores!" The voice she loathed most in the world ground out.

But then she was gone and Quinn was folding up her meager bedding, tugging on her shoes in a hurry and racing across the room to the back door.

It was her turn to chop wood. Hefting the heavy axe from its place beside the well she stumbled to the chopping block. Lack of sleep made her clumsy and she stopped for a moment to open her eyes wide in an attempt to wake up fully. A sharp clip landed on the back of her head. She didn't need any more encouragement. Resting the axe against the chopping block she hauled the first log into position. Getting a tight grip on the well worn handle of the axe Quinn lifted it up and behind her head, forcing all the strength in her tiny body into the blow. The log was cleaved in two, the halves falling to either side of the block. Quinn struggled to free the axe, grunting with the effort. She finally tugged it loose and set it down, lining up the next log.

And so it went until breakfast; a watery cabbage soup.

Quinn's hands were red and blistered, and her back and shoulders ached. Chopping wood was her least favourite chore. Not that she had a favourite, they were all decidedly arduous. Across the yard a child worked the small garden with a hoe and trowel. Another washed in the open laundry, the harsh soap stinging his eyes and the cracks in his small hands. Another ferried water from the well in large pails. Aventus she knew was scrubbing the floors today. And a small girl, a more recent arrival than Aventus, she had what was probably the easiest job physically, but the hardest mentally. She was cleaning Grelod's quarters.

At their midday repast that same girl grasped her hands under the table, pressing strips of cloth into Quinn's fingers. Quinn glanced up fearfully to where Grelod sat, relieved to see that the old woman wasn't looking. She looked back at the other girl for some sort of explanation.

"Rachel." the smaller girl said softly so as not to draw attention, drawing her chin back to indicate to herself. "For your hands, the cloth."

Quinn tightened her grip and looked down. Her blood was already soaking through the material laying across her palms. Her blisters had been quick to form, and even quicker to rupture and bleed. Quinn smiled a small smile at the other girl, grateful as she wound the rags around her sore, bloody hands. When they stood from the table to return to their work Grelod screeched and pointed a bony finger at Rachel.

"Ruining the clothes I put on your back, child? I'll teach you to be grateful for what you get."

She moved with agility that didn't quite fit with her appearance (unless one was to believe Tanis, who maintained that the old hag was part hagraven), bridging the gap between her and Rachel and seizing the little girl by the arm. Turning her steely gaze on the remaining children Grelod croaked, "Get back to work!"

Quinn's grip around the axe was tight as she tried not to listen to the muffled cries that rang around the walled courtyard. As Grelod had dragged Rachel away Quinn had seen the strips missing from her apron. And now she was paying for that small kindness. At dinner Quinn flinched glancing at Rachel and Aventus, who sat side by side across the table from her. Rachel's face was slightly swollen, a nasty bruise was forming on one cheek and she gingerly opened her mouth whenever she brought food to it. Aventus' black eye was darker and if possible even more swollen.

There was a knock at the door and as Constance rose to answer Grelod cut her down with a look. The younger woman resumed her seat, glancing out of the corner of her eye as the headmistress stalked off. Quinn felt it was the perfect opportunity. Taking the bowl of broth she had barely touched she pushed it across the table towards the other two children. Both of their eyes (well, only one in Aventus' case) widened.

"Take it." Quinn said, harshly. Rachel looked at her and she felt herself soften. "Please, you both need it more than me."

Unable to contain his eagerness Aventus swallowed half the contents of the bowl, eyes darting around to check for the return of their cruel headmistress. When he was finished he pushed the soup into Rachel's hands. She cautiously brought the bowl to her mouth and sipped it in one long, continuous draught. By the time Grelod returned Quinn's bowl stood empty before her.

Constance for her part said nothing.

As Quinn lay awake that night with hunger gnawing at her insides, she smiled up at the gloomy ceiling all the same.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it :) - There's more where this came from, too. I just need time to edit and tweak. And interest doesn't hurt either!