A/N - Thanks for everyone who has read/reviewed the story so far! The story starts to pick up with Chapter 1. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1 – Running again

Life away from home was hard.

I'd lost all my possessions - including the little coin I'd been able to save - on the way to Whiterun, and while the locals were nice enough, they weren't interested in giving away their hard earned septims to beggars or young boys. No coin meant no bed, so I spent the first few nights sleeping in the cold around the great tree that stood near the temple of Kynareth. I tried to get work from some of the locals with no success; I was young, unskilled, and weaponless. As I shivered at night, hungry and alone, I thought of home and my family. I wiped hot tears from my cheeks as I wondered if I'd made a mistake by leaving, if I'd die in a strange place, anonymous and alone.

Cold and hunger led me to the Bannered Mare on my third day in Whiterun. I hadn't eaten since I'd left home, and it was getting hard to ignore the aching hunger in my gut. Several merchants had set up stalls outside the Inn filled with fruits and vegetables. I went from stall to stall asking if they could spare any extra food, but they each just shooed me away. Stealing food had never occurred to me; I had never stolen anything in my life, and, hungry as I was, I didn't want to start now. I wandered into the Inn, wanting to warm up and hoping I could convince the publican to give me a bit of stale bread. It was much like the Sleeping Giant Inn in Riverwood, with a large, open common area warmed by a fire that burned day and night in a central pit, and doors off to each side leading to small, comfortable rooms.

Unlike the Sleeping Giant Inn, the Bannered Mare was bustling with activity. The publican hurried back and forth with plates of food and drink in between arranging rooms for guests, and a bard sang softly from a table in the back while visitors and locals shared meals and swapped stories. I stood close to the fire and warmed my hands. After spending several nights in the cold, I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever get warm again. When I saw the publican stop behind a small bar, I headed over.

"Hello, my name is Hulda," she greeted me cheerfully. "What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering…um, I was hoping you had some stale bread. To spare." Begging still wasn't something I was used to, and it made me uncomfortable.

She looked me over with a stern gaze. I was still dirty from the road and sleeping out in the cold had made my back and legs stiff, making it hard to stand up straight. In that moment, I knew I looked as much the beggar as I felt. "For free?" She shook her head. "I don't give anything away for free."

I nodded stiffly, trying to ignore my hunger pains and the tears I could feel threatening to fall. I mumbled my thanks and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Hulda called out. I turned to look at her and could see pity in her eyes. "I don't give anything away for free, but we might be able to come to an arrangement. There's some firewood that needs chopping. You finish that, and I'll get you a plate."

I nodded my thanks and set to work.

I had a standing arrangement with Hulda and worked for her every day after that, chopping wood, cleaning up after guests, and generally keeping the place tidy. Not exactly what I had in mind when I left home, I thought as I cleaned one of the messier guest rooms, but food and a place to stay is better than starving and sleeping out in the cold.

I'd been working for Hulda for a few months when a stranger visited the Bannered Mare one night just after dark. He was tall, with a dark traveling cloak covering his face and much of his figure. The Bannered Mare was exceptionally busy, as a group of travelers heading to Markarth had stopped for a few days respite the night before. More guests meant Hulda was running around more than usual, and her temper was short. Afraid of catching her wrath for not working fast enough, I kept my eyes on my sweeping and didn't pay him much mind as he paused to look around, scrutinizing the crowd before spotting Hulda and heading over. Just another travelling merchant, I thought, stifling a yawn. I'd been up since dawn and was trying to finish the last of my chores so Hulda would allow me to eat and then collapse into my bed for the night.

He spoke in a low voice to Hulda, who greeted him less cheerfully than normal and asked if he wanted a bed and some food. "A boy?" she sounded annoyed. "We get many people in here, it's impossible to remember them all." She turned to move away, bottles of ale for the Markarth-bound guests in each hand. The stranger grabbed hold of her arm, forcing her to look at him. "I told you, we get a lot of –" she started, shaking free of his grip, but he cut her off. He pulled a coin purse from beneath his cloak and placed it on the bar in front of him. He was gesturing and speaking more urgently now, but the noise in the common room made it hard to hear what he was saying. I finished my sweeping and returned the broom to the back room. They were still speaking when I returned, but Hulda no longer looked annoyed. She was nodding to the stranger now, and looking out over the crowd. She spotted me and gestured for me to come over to the bar.

I thought she wanted me to get some food for the new guest, but instead she pointed to me and said, "Anerys. He's the newest here in town." The stranger turned to look at me and lowered his hood. I gasped in shock. He was streaked with dirt from travel, and despite the cold sweat stuck his sandy hair to his forehead. He was thinner than I remembered, but those gray eyes were the same. This was a face I knew from Riverwood, a face I'd grown up with – my uncle. He thanked Hulda and smiled at me. "I've been looking for you. It's time to come home, Anerys."

My mind was racing. I spent the first few weeks in Whiterun constantly checking over my shoulder, trying to stay out of sight of guests as much as possible in fear that someone would recognize me. No one had. I was just a local boy working to earn his supper. I became comfortable, and I dropped my guard. I lingered in the common room without a thought, and even talked with several of the guests that came through. Now I was panicking. I knew couldn't stay here, that was for sure – if I did, he'd have me on the road to Riverwood by morning.

I did the only thing I made sense. I ran.

I knew my uncle would chase me so I darted to the right and ran down a dark path that snaked behind several shops. I was hoping the dark would conceal me a bit as I made my way to the gates, stopping only briefly to collect a bag I'd stashed in a forgotten barrel. I'd started putting things away shortly after I started working at the Inn – a small sword I'd saved up to buy from doing extra work for some of the local merchants, food I'd saved from my daily meals – in case I needed to run. I hadn't saved anything for several weeks now, but I figured I had enough food to survive for several days if necessary.

I hesitated when I reached Warmaiden's. I was close to the gates now, but I knew my uncle would search the city for me. If he got to one of the guards, they would alert the others and I'd be trapped inside. Sticking to the shadows for cover, I crept around side of the building. I could hear commotion further up the street, and I knew my uncle had enlisted others to help find me.

As usual, two guards stood on either side of the gate that served as the only way in and out of Whiterun. They usually didn't bother people leaving at night, but with the commotion up the street I didn't want to take any chances. If they thought a crime had taken place, it was possible they'd keep everyone inside.

Someone I recognized as a local trotted up to the gate and spoke quickly to both guards. He turned and pointed back toward the Bannered Mare before running off again, followed closely by the guard furthest from me. Now is my chance. If I waited any longer, I was going to be stuck inside and my uncle was going to find me. I sprinted for the gate and pushed my way through, ignoring the shouts of the guard behind me. The road wasn't going to be safe, I knew, so I ran as fast as I could into the darkness, the city getting smaller and smaller behind me.

When I could no longer see Whiterun in the distance I collapsed to the ground, gasping for air and clutching a cramp in my side. I held by breath and waited, but the only sound I could hear was the grass stirring in a light breeze. For now, it seemed, I'd outrun them. I felt for my bag, thanking the Divines that I had enough sense to save some things. I fished out some bread and took a large bite, wondering where I'd go from here.

Without a map, I had no idea where I was headed. Sunrise was still hours away, and I decided it was best to put as much ground between me and Whiterun as I could. I stood and brushed the dirt from my legs. I hadn't expected to be running again so soon, but there was nothing I could do about that now. I would figure out where I was going when the sun came up; for now, I'd just walk.