A/N: Hello everyone! Thanks for the follows/fav/reviews and thanks to all who stop in to read. Here's chapter three. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 3: Disgusted

Astrid wiped the sleep from her eyes as invading sunlight traveled through a nearby window, waking her from her restless slumber. She stepped out of bed, gazing out the window at the beautiful landscape below. This really was a nice dwelling, she thought to herself. Perhaps if Reiner wasn't such a rude creep, this place would be halfway enjoyable.

Quickly, she dressed herself, pondering over the reasons why her uncle hadn't come to bang on her door at the crack of dawn like he'd previously threatened to. Warily, she unlocked the door to her room, stepping out into the hallway. She looked about herself as she travelled down to the first floor, where she remembered the kitchen to be. For the first time in quite a while, the pang of hunger was fierce enough for her to sate it.

Searching various drawers and a nearby pantry, she managed to get hold of a dried piece of beef and a stale loaf of bread. It wasn't much, nor was it very satisfying to the taste, but it was food, and she ate it furiously. Finding something to drink proved more of a challenge, for the only liquid available in the house was of the alcoholic persuasion.

Stepping out the front door, Astrid squinted from the brightness of the sun on her face. It felt so good to feel warm for once, as the climate near Riften seemed to be one of the more temperate areas of Skyrim. Thank the Divines, or Deadra, or whatever. Astrid walked along a short stone path that seemed to lead to an old well.

Finding a handle connected to a bucket on a rope, Astrid cranked it, lowering said bucket and hoping to find some cold, clear water to quench her thirst. However, upon bringing it up, she found herself disappointed by the stagnant, murky water within. She huffed irritably, letting loose of the handle as the bucket plummeted back into darkness, creating a muffled splash at the bottom. Astrid then reasoned that Ale would be better than a parched throat.

...

"Ugh...What are you doing?" Reiner's strained voice caused Astrid to lower the bottle of Ale from her lips. He stood with a confused look on his features, scratching his head and stretching.

Astrid set the bottle on the kitchen table, straightening under his quizzical gaze. "I couldn't find clean water, and I was thirsty," she stated matter-of-factly. "Your well looks like it hasn't been touched in a hundred years."

"And it won't be touched for a hundred more," Reiner replied. He lazily seated himself at the table across from her, smirking. "Only here one night and you've already turned into a sot," he laughed.

Astrid scowled, not amused with his attempt at humor. "The well outside was disgusting. What do you expect me to do?"

"I expect you to do as I say," Reiner's tone grew dark. "I guess if you're to be working, you'll need some water. It'll keep you from drinking my stuff, anyway..." he grumbled. "I'll go to the river and fetch us some clean water. Meanwhile, I want you to start cleaning this place while I'm gone. It could use a woman's touch. I'm going to Riften today for supplies, so I'll get the water on the way. When I get back, I want to see some of this gods-forsaken house cleaned."

"Yes uncle..." Astrid scoffed. "How come you didn't wake me up at daybreak, dear uncle?" she asked, her voice thick with sarcasm from her frustration with him.

"Hold your tongue, girl. It's my house, and I'll wake when I damn well please!" he growled, raising his voice. "If I want to drink until I sleep for forty days, I'll do it! Understand?!" he yelled, slamming a clenched fist on the table and startling Astrid.

Glaring at him, Astrid silently nodded.

Astrid staggered, collapsing on an old chair as dust flitted into the air. She'd labored well into the night, exhausted and slightly drunk from having nothing but alcoholic beverages to consume throughout the day. The lower level of the large farmhouse looked considerably better, but there was far too much filth for her to successfully clean the whole place in just one day.

Taking another drink of ale from a nearby bottle, she pondered on when Reiner would actually return with some supplies. Apparently, the small bit of food she'd scavenged that morning was the last to be found around that blasted place. She held her stomach, listening to the grumbling noises emitted from within.

Suddenly, the sound of galloping outside alerted her to see if Reiner had returned. Standing on wobbly, slightly off-balance legs, Astrid made her way to the front door. She clumsily walked out into the night, seeing her uncle's carriage not far from the farmhouse. She squinted, trying to catch a glimpse of him, only to hear him speaking in the distance. She wondered if the fool had become so drunken that he was carrying a conversation with himself at that point.

Trying not to be noticed, Astrid crept toward the carriage, noting that Reiner had not actually gone mad. There was a lady about his age speaking with him. The things they were discussing were lewd to say the least, causing Astrid to internally cringe and back away. Suddenly, Reiner dismounted the carriage, pulling the giggling woman down and into his arms. Astrid turned away when she saw where his hands were trailing on the woman's body.

Unfortunately, being slightly tipsy herself, Astrid tripped over a rock in the path, falling on her bottom and alerting the mystery woman.

"Reiner, what was that?!" the woman gasped, her voice tense and breathy in ways that caused Astrid to wince. Who knew a woman could actually be attracted to that nasty man?

Unwilling to be spotted, Astrid scrambled away to the back end of the house. She hid behind a thicket, watching Reiner's small herd of cattle bedding down for the night.

"Look, woman, I don't know what that blasted noise was!" she heard her uncle rasp in an irritated manner. "Just come inside. The little brat is probably sleeping by now, anyway..."

Astrid rolled her eyes at Reiner's comment, hearing the lady reply. "Are you sure it's not that beast that took off from Whiterun? I hear talk they've spotted it near Riften again, you know..."

"Look, I told you that was a damned coincidence! I haven't lost any livestock since...Probably a bloody pack of wolves, anyway..." her uncle stated, exasperated as he shut the door, muffling their voices past her comprehension.

Astrid sighed, wrapping her arms around her knees and propping her back against the wall of the house. "Now what...?" she mumbled to herself, frustrated. There was no way she was going back in that house knowing what her uncle and his little friend were likely up to. It was quite a disgusting thought, really. Maybe she'd just wait it out until she figured them to be asleep. Then again, maybe she'd just take her chances of being eaten and stay outside for the night. After thinking about what Reiner was actually doing in there, the latter seemed the far better option.

...

Astrid gasped, jolted awake by the distressed bellowing of Reiner's cattle in the distance. How long had she been out? She examined the sky, which was still black with night. She edged herself off the ground and back behind the thicket, watching warily to examine the noise. There was a bit of quick movement bounding away from the cattle, but it was far too quick to make out what the being actually was.

Feeling suddenly fearful, she quickly bolted to the front of the farmhouse, clammering inside. She tiptoed throughout each room, hoping to make it to her room unnoticed by her uncle. Walking by his bedroom, she breathed a sigh of relief, hearing complete silence. Upon entering her room, she clutched her stomach, still hungry from the lack of food throughout the day. She huffed, flopping carelessly onto her bed and throwing her blankets over her. Maybe her stupid uncle had enough sense to bring food home, anyway. Of course, if he did it would still be on that blasted wagon, and she didn't dare step foot outside again.

The loud, abrupt banging on her door caused Astrid to nearly jump out of bed, startled awake from her dreams.

"Astrid! I brought food and water home last night! Come start breakfast for us! Come on now, we haven't got all day to wait for your lazy arse!" Reiner's brash voice boomed from the other side of the door, causing Astrid to seethe.

"Hold on a minute! Let me get dressed, for gods sake!" she yelled, angry and irritable from being bothered by his attitude so early in the morning. Did he just say us? Ugh, he probably had that desperate woman with him, too.

"Fine. If you're not down here soon, I'll come in there and drag you out! I'm bloody hungry as all of Nirn here..." she heard him growl on the side.

...

Astrid paced downstairs, not amused with the current situation at all. At least she would get to eat, she thought miserably to herself. Upon entering the dining area, she noticed that the older woman sat huddled up to Reiner's arm, grinning widely. The lady was dressed in a low-cut, revealing tavern dress and had long ringlets of curly, ginger hair. She seemed to smile broadly and giggle a lot, occasionally kissing Reiner affectionately. It was enough to, quite frankly, turn Astrid's stomach inside out.

"Hello there!" the lady chimed in a feigned, cheerful voice.

"...Hi..." Astrid muttered, averting her gaze away from the two of them. "So, where's the food? What am I to be preparing?" she asked, getting right down to business. Maybe she could eat outside, away from their sickening displays of affection.

"I don't give a damn...Just fix something. I'm starving." Reiner complained. Astrid opened a cupboard, quickly grabbing some meat and vegetables to work into a simple stew.

As Astrid built a fire under the nearby cooking pot and prepared the ingredients, she couldn't help but stifle a gag as Reiner began to pour his affections on the ginger-haired woman right in front of her. Trying to divert her attention from the two lovebirds was futile, for neither cared if what they participated in was private or not. The more she tried to ignore them, the more shameless they became.

Astrid, who'd been stirring the soup furiously to take her mind off the repulsive situation, finally threw her ladle on the table, fuming. "Really, uncle?! Isn't there somewhere else you can do...that?! I'd leave, but seeing as this is the only place I can prepare a meal, I have little choice in the matter!" Astrid seethed between clenched teeth.

"Oh?" Reiner asked, feigning a look of surprise. "And since when do you get off telling me what to do in my own house? You don't tell me what to do, understand? You stand there and you cook. I don't care if I'm romping with a depraved Falmer in here! You don't like it? Then don't eat, you little wench!" Reiner stood, pushing the woman away from him. He pointed a finger toward the front door, his eyes fierce and glaring. "Out."

"Really?" Astrid huffed, hands now on her hips. "Well, then your highness, who will prepare your meal for you? Hm?"

"GET OUT!" he spat, lunging at her and causing her to bolt out the door. Astrid ran outside, turning to see her violent, red-faced uncle leering at her from the doorway. "When you learn to keep your damned mouth shut, you can eat. Until then, stay out."

Astrid sat with her back against a nearby tree, secretly fuming inside. How in Nirn could that lecherous bastard have been related to her mother? He was beyond repulsive. Perhaps she'd be better off leaving. If it wasn't for that warm, comfortable shelter over her head, that vile man would be nothing but a memory by now. Of course, she didn't have the luxury of leaving to something better. She had very few skills, and even fewer bouts of luck.

Suddenly, a high-pitched shriek caught Astrid's attention, as the front door to the farmhouse flew open. Reiner, red-faced and full of hot rage, held his former lover by her red locks, dragging her out of his home.

"PLEASE! I WAS ONLY LOOKING AT IT!" the woman wailed, as he violently slapped her square in the face. She screamed, now sobbing, as Reiner threw her to the ground, leaving her and slamming the door shut behind him.

The pitiful woman weeped uncontrollably, scrambling to her feet and stumbling about aimlessly. Feeling both disturbed and sympathetic, Astrid slowly approached the woman.

"Are you alright?" Astrid asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes...I-I'm leaving...Riften's not too far from here, anyway..." the woman gasped and sniffled, trying to steady herself. She had a large, red handprint on her right cheek, and her neck seemed match it. The slimy bastard had attempted to strangle her, apparently.

"What in Oblivion happened?" Astrid asked, her tone hushed.

"I-It was a mistake! Listen, you shouldn't be around him. You'd better leave! He's a dangerous bastard!" the lady wept, shaking from fear.

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay?" Astrid asked, skeptically, as the front door flew open once more.

"Astrid, get in here! NOW!" Reiner shouted, pacing toward the two of them furiously.

The ginger-haired woman screamed, running down the path as Astrid felt a forceful hand grip her upper-arm. "You don't need to be around that lying bitch..." he growled, leading Astrid inside.