Journal Entry Two, Whiterun
So the morning was interesting enough. I stretched and found a sheered slaughter-fish and a piece of bread to eat before I took a cup and drank a little Alto Wine. Don't ask me why I drank it, I was thirsty. That's the closest to the truth that I can come and I won't tell you anything more than that, only because there isn't anything else to tell you. After I had awoken and felt a little bit more rejuvenated I realized that I was not the only one awake in the house—-no, in fact everyone had already been awake for some time. I had slept for such a very long time, so what was I to expect? It must have been around nine or ten in the morning and the sun was just beginning to grow closer to the center of the sky—-yes, I should have been awake before now.
I pulled my fur boots over my legs and made my way through the house again, in search of Gerdur. She had a mission for me, but I had let it slip in the night. Once we spoke, she told me that she would like for me to travel to Whiterun to speak to Jarl Balgruuf about the dragon attack at Helgen and see if he would send help to Riverwood, considering it was pretty much defenseless. At least it was against a dragon. I talked to Gerdur for a little while about the war in Syrim and she told me that the High King/Emperor was a fool, and so was his wife, who had taken his place since he was killed by Ulfric. Gerdur's position is obvious, and understandable—considering that her brother, Ralof, is a Stormcloak. She Told me the Elisif, King Torig's wife, was the claiming to be the High Queen of Skyrim and she told me that it was a grave mistake on her part, I wondered what all that could be about. Then, she told me to take whatever supplies I needed from her home within reason that I would need on my journey.
I went around the house, and in my pouch I put a couple loafs of bread, a cheese wheel, a few bottles of wine, and about 56 gold. All together I probably had about 190 gold to carry around with me. I heard some rummaging around in the dining area of the small house and when I turned around I saw Ralof walking toward the dining table to finish his wine. I watched the tall, rugged Nord walk slowly to the table, and I couldn't help the sad feeling I had, knowing I'd be leaving his side for good in a few moments, and only Talos knew if I'd ever lay eyes on him again. So, I figured it wouldn't hurt me or the Aedra if I sat with him for a moment.
So, I went to Ralof and began to talk to Ralof for a moment or two. He was still very pleased that Gerdur chose to assist us, and seemed very pleased to remind me of how he predicted she would to begin with. He reminded me that he would still be in Riverwood for a few days before he headed up to Windhelm to meet up with Ulfric and the others, if they were still alive. I suddenly worried for him.
"Will you be safe, traveling alone?" I asked him.
Ralof took a chunk out of Elder cheese, and then stared at me for a long while—chewing the cheese.
I was beginning to think he wouldn't respond when he smiled a big chubby grin, (the cheese was still stuck in his face), "Don't worry for me, Ophelia, " he began, swallowing the rest of the dairy, "Just come to Windhelm after you have gotten back on your feet, and join the fight! Us Nords were meant to live strong and alone—if the need be." he suggested, looking at me with reassurance in his eyes.
I wanted to object, but something in his eyes told me he didn't want to discuss things like that, and I didn't either, by default. I nodded and bid him farewell. I left the house, and walked through Riverwood for a moment. I turned the corner once I came to the end, and heard the loud clanking of what sounded like a blacksmiths forge. I was interested in the weapons that might be held there, and I went in that direction.
There was a younger child named Dorthe standing outside, who informed me that he father, Alvor, was the blacksmith—and that she too would someday become a smith like her parents. Then, she proceeded to telling me that her father suggested she was too friendly with strangers. That, I can believe. I turned again and was faced with a man nearly a foot taller than me with shaggy hair and a blacksmiths robe wrapped around his waist. Alvor was his name, he said as he introduced himself, even though I already knew his name.
"Do you need anything special, friend?" he asked me.
I shook my head, and instead asked him, "Do you need any help around the forge, Sir?"
In which, he added that he could use some help creating a small set of weapons for a friends son to wear. A simple hide helmet and iron dagger. I began to work. It took me a good three hours, if I was being quick, to craft it all. When I brought the weapons back to him, Alvor said that I was rather good at it, and if I kept it up, I would be a good smith one day as well. I figured he was just pulling my strings. Afterwards, I bought a few leather straps and pieces of leather from Alvor and asked him if I may use his workbench to improve the quality of my Cuirass. The Cuirass that Ralof had given me in the very beginning. The Cuirass that belonged to Gunjar.
Once I was done there, I turned and took some cabbage from the vendor outside of the inn. No one came out to take my gold, so I just left. Reminding myself to ask about it later, when I returned to the small town. I had business to take care of now. On my way toward the mill is when I realized that I had no more coin—save about 32 septims. I needed to get a little money, and after a while of asking I found that I could chop some wood for Hod and he would give me coin for it, so I spent a good hour or so chopping firewood for the mill—and received a decent 200 septim for it. That would get me some food, and drink later if the need be.
I adjusted the straps on my armor and made sure my axe was tight on, and headed out. I kept my head straight and walked out of Riverwood; thoughts of Ralof and Helgen in my mind the whole way through the countryside. It was a strange reality, being on my own, but I was not afraid. I began to wonder about my life before—-if I could remember it, it would be much easier to ponder on actually—and hoped that I would soon begin to remember something about my past. It began to rain a little, and then a lot. I shivered, this cuirass was not much for blocking rain on your arms and I realized that I would need to get me some bracers, or grieves every soon. My fur boots were already soaked and frozen on the soles by the time I saw the tall point of Dragonsreach in the skyline as I made my way through the small farm outside of Whiterun. I also realized that I would have to invest in some steel boots. Maybe that would keep my toes from falling off in this weather.
I ran into a bunch attacking a giant inside of that quaint little farm outside of Whiterun, and I didn't get there fast enough to draw my axe to help them, and a very rude woman came to me who told me her name was Aela—and she said she was part of a group called the companions. I wrote that name down in the back of my journal on a lone page where I've written all of the other clues to places I needed to go and topics I needed to focus on throughout my journey…My journey to where? I have no idea…it's just a journey with no purpose I believe. But I wrote that down, anyway. As I walked to the entrance of Whiterun, a guard stopped me and addressed me as if I was some commoner. Even though it was very obvious, I was. I still don't even remember who I was—or am.
He told me that the Jarl was not allowing anyone into the city because of a dragon attack and I made him aware that not only Whiterun was being attacked, that Riverwood was going to be in danger soon. He let me in under urgency. I walked up the stairs towards Dragonsreach, ignoring a conversation between a man named Idalof Battle-Born and a sword-smith whose name I have forggoten arguing over a family fued. I decided that I would probably not be picking sides on that—and thought it unimportant to linger on.
I finally reached the top of the stairs, and was let it by the guards by giving them the same explanation as before. I walked inside the huge hall and stared ahead with determination—-for some reason, this cuirass made me feel important. I began to think maybe it was because I wore it as I escaped Helgen, or something simple like that. As I approached the Jarl, a woman who looked to be an elf of some kind, came up to me in a rush spitting venom out of her mouth about how I was intruding and the Jarl was not accepting visitors.
"Look, ma'am! I came from Riverwood, and I have a message for the Jarl that requires HIS expertise." I said, trying to sound as pleased to meet her as possible.
She let me passed with a look of disgust on her face, and then the Jarl spoke with me. For a long while he talked with me and he talked with Irileth, the ugly elf woman and Proventus—who seemed to be his advisor of sorts. I listened to them argue about the plan of action that would be important, and Irileth seemed to be the only one at the moment that was willing to send troops to Riverwood. I began to not dislike her as much. The Jarl decided to send troops and Proventus, whom I really disliked at this point, resumed to his regular duties. The Jarl told me thank you and said that when I had something to eat and a little bit of a rest from my journey, to return to him for another favor he had of me. Something about visiting his mage Farengar. I told him I would be gone for about an hour and then return. I was a little tired—-so I wanted to go take a break for a while.
And this, is me sitting on a bench in front of a giant tree at the base of the stairs leading to Dragonsreach. I made it down the stairs again before I realized that I was too tired to move for a bit—-this day has been a long one.
Will definitely write later,
Ophelia
