Elae

Chapter Two

The Bosmer was more than happy to let Elae stay for the next few days, to figure out a plan and regain her strength from the long boat trip. After three days had packed, the elf said goodbye and packed the camp away, walking southwards with the pup trotting at her heels.

This left the Breton highly confused, and almost convinced that it was a joke. Sure, Riefi hadn't said more than a few words to her in the short time they'd known each other, but she'd grown a connection to her savior. So, gathering up her things, she followed the elf.

One could just make out the miserable little shape of Winterhold in the distance when Riefi stopped and glanced back.

"I hope you are only following me because I'm going in your direction."

"Um…" she sniffed in, wiping the wetness from her nose. "No?"

"Be on your way then."

The Breton didn't move, but neither did the Bosmer. "I wanted to stay around a little longer," Elae admitted. "Because, you know, I owe you something. You saved my life and-"

"No." Riefi's amber eyes flashed clearly through the blowing snow. "You owe me nothing. You can follow me to Winterhold, but that is it."

Elae didn't argue after that. She'd seen the elf's prowess with, oddly enough, two-handed weapons, and didn't want a steel axe head in her brain. She skipped forward so she was only a couple of paces behind the Bosmer and they pushed through the wind to Winterhold. Riefi showed her one last kindness by paying for her room and food, then left to the opposite side of the inn.

With a sad sigh, the Breton ate her fill of the meat and bread, along with a bit of really bad-tasting Nord mead, then relaxed a bit by the fire, watching the Bosmer in hopes she would turn around and say, "Gotcha! You're comin' with me!"

Nothing of the sort happened, so she was forced to go to the room rented for her. Burrowing under the furs on her side, Elae thought of the best way to gain someone was a companion, if only to stay alive.

The next morning, she rose with a great idea. She would just lie. Duh, as if it hadn't been that obvious before. Riefi wouldn't mind her if she insisted they were heading in the same direction, right?

She did exactly that. Once the Bosmer had fed herself with bread and water and the pup with dried venison, she followed her out into the cold sunlight.

"What in Oblivion do you think you're doing?"

"Oh, we're headed to the same area," said the girl with complete confidence. "I think it will be easier to just travel together."

"Ah, to the same area." The elf threw her a look that concealed anger with curiosity. "And which area is that?"

Gods damn me.

"Oh… the uh…" Elae fumbled for an answer, searching the crevices of her mind for a memory of Riefi's destined location."

After thirty seconds with no voiced answer, only a vague southward gesture, Riefi sent her a sharp glare.

"Don't follow me. Stay here, find work as a maid at the inn or something. Hey… the College is here. Join them, Bretons are good at magic. We are not friends."

They might have gone their separate ways if Elae wasn't so stupidly stubborn. She had no one else in the freezing land who seemed like they cared, and she enjoyed Riefi's company. She was quiet, polite, and rather talented at both two-handed weapons and archery. The elf was someone who could keep her alive, and that was all she needed.

Elae did have some special quirks about her. She used shadows to her advantage and kept close to Riefi, all the way down to Windhelm. She hesitated before the icy water for a full half-hour, before forcing herself to cross using ice blocks. It was surprising when she saw Riefi waiting at the top of the hill, but continuing once Elae ducked between some rocks. After that, the Breton was much more careful about where she placed her feet.

All that time, they'd come across several small wolf packs and a larger group of bandits, all of which Riefi dispatched with skill Elae envied. She got a nice hunting bow and some really crude iron arrows, though, making her happy. Her parents were both damn good shots, and she had inherited a little of that talent.

She got a nice hunting bow and some really crude iron arrows, making her happy enough. Her parents were both damn good shots, and she had inherited a little of that talent.

They didn't spend the night at Windhelm, instead moving on. The elf didn't give the place a second glance as she rounded the hill, Elae following the whole way. They traveled without much interruption until nightfall.

Riefi headed into the woods, while Elae made an amateur mistake of setting camp near the road. She was eating her last bite of bread and meat when the bandits showed up.

It was strange to her, how these bandits did it. It was simply a "one moment, she was alone, next not" kind of deal.

"Hey there girlie," one cooed at her as she leapt to her feet, tensed up.

"Aww, she's not very pretty. At all," his friend complained, a crackling iron sword at his belt. "What a bore."

She was backing up now, but hit the naked chest of a bulky Orc. Leaping back to her previous spot, she reached for her sword and dagger…

Only to realize that they lay carelessly in the snow a few feet away.

"C'mon honey."

"Get bent," she snapped, drawing her bow instead. "I'll kill you if you touch me!"

There was a small bit of silence in which her hopes rose, and she actually thought she'd been scary. That was completely dashed out when the group began laughing, loud and grossly.

"Grab her," chuckled the Nord with the lighting-enchanted iron sword, before taking an arrow to his eyeball.

Elae would've been proud of herself if she'd been the one to loose the arrow, but it was a fine-quality steal one and she hadn't moved her bow.

"What the-"

The Orc behind her was next, and she ducked out of the way as Riefi charged in, bow left behind and battle axe in full, furious swing. The next two bandits were taken out in four blows, after which Riefi sheathed her weapon and glanced at the Breton with an unamused expression.

"Thank you," mumbled Elae, looking down at her feet. "I'm um… guessing you knew I was there the whole time?"

"You're not as good of a sneak as you like to think you are."

The Breton prepared to get scolded, feeling ashamed of herself. She knew the advice she was going to get: go live in Windhelm, get proper training and money, and then try her luck.

"You're as stubborn as a mule." The elf sighed, glancing towards Windhelm's figure. "Well, I can't stand this city, but they won't bother you too badly. Let's get you back there, Girl. You're not ready for Skyrim yet."

It's almost two A.M.

I have school tomorrow and I'm writing fanfiction.

God dammit, not again.

So, um, yeah. Elae and Riefi. Riefi and Elae. One's dumb, the other one has experience, and it doesn't seem like their relationship will work out... or will it? Next chapter we go, then