Words Will Remain

by Fainting In Coils

The chronicling of the life of Mara, a Bosmeri elf running from her homeland. A woman who will one day come to be known as The Dragonborn. Though she may be charged with saving Skyrim from both dragons and itself, she cares most about the words that will keep record of the truth of her actions forever.

4. Foolish Bandits

Tirdas, 19th of Last Seed, 4E201

This morning Dorthe asked me if I had been to the nearby Standing Stones, as she had always wanted to see them but never been allowed. I went to look for them, armed with paper and charcoal to draw the child a picture, but was quickly sidetracked when I stumbled upon Embershard Mine, though I'd been warned away from it by the villagers of Riverwood.

There was a single sentry posted, a Khajiit male who was too busy muttering to himself to notice my approach. I took him out with two arrows, and decided that I would do my hosts the favor of dispatching the rest of his ne'er-do-well crew while I was in the area. Their attempts at security and craftiness were pathetic, and I made my way through the caves picking them off one by one. The last two, great brawny creatures with too much faith in their muscles and swords, nearly caused me a bit of trouble, but I outpaced them and, as with the rest, picked them off with my bow. Their armor fetched me a decent sum at Alvor's smithy, and Sigrid used the stash of snowberries I found to make a pie that delighted us all, though Dorthe the most. Tomorrow I will set forth again, and this time the child will get her sketch. There will be no further chance for it, otherwise, as I think I have found my in with Faendal. The village 'bard'-a pompous man named Sven who is too full of his own looks—has asked me to frame the elf with a damning letter, thus securing Camilla's heart as his own. I plan instead to tell the woman of his treachery. Not only is it just what the man deserves, but I expect Faendal will be so grateful, he will come along and aid me with no argument.

My stomach still turns at Sven's hostility towards Faendal, and even moreso at the superiority he feels based only on his race. How could he be so dim as to think I would not take insult at the way he insults the race of a fellow Bosmer? The fool is stupid, and beyond stupid, and I cannot wait to see the look upon his face as Camilla confronts him. It will do my heart a great deal of good.