Chapter Seven: The journey starts.

I stared into my reflection. It has been some time since I had seen a river, especially the river that flows next to my Uncle's house. A lot had changed since then. A dragon, a dragon had destroyed Helgen, and me and Erith barely made it out alive. Despite the cut in my chest I had escaped without harm. But she took the worst of it, damn Ralof, even though I wished she hadn't gone in first I knew that if it hadn't been like that I would surely be dead.

I took my mind of those thoughts that repeatedly kept coming into my mind. I took a walk alongside the river, and looked to the mill. Hod was currently running it and cutting some logs, I hadn't ever talked much with Hod, I knew him and his wife started this town, but not much else.

Feandal was there helping too, a wood elf. He was chopping wood near some logs. He was a good person, had a bit of a problem with Sven about Camila, but other from that he didn't have any relations with people in this town at all.

It had been a day, one day since Valferith had lost consciousness. Thanks to Sigrid it seemed she was in the way to recovery, but I'd be slow, and painful once she would wake up. The sword had missed her spine, but it had cut through three ribs which had to be segmented back together. Sigrid knew a bit of healing magic, what she had inherited from her mother, it was pretty basic but it had been enough to repair her lung and muscle that was cut.

I crossed the bridge that led back into the town and then I sat on some steps in front of Alvor's house. He was in the forge, as always, working on an armor I was going to need. I wanted to do something, I couldn't stand waiting as a friend got washed away. Maybe Lucan had something I could get.

I don't have much money, but maybe he'll be generous I thought

Generous, Hah, Lucan was never generous, if he could rip off every customer he had, he would. The more money he made by a deal, the better for him. But taking those thoughts aside I got up and walked straight ahead, into his store.

I noticed that him and his sister were arguing the moment I walked in. He didn't seem to notice me so I just stood there with the door open listening to what was going on.

-I said no! No theatrics, no adventures and no thief chasing!

-So what are you going to do then? Let's hear it -Said his sister-

-I am done talking about this! -He shouted but then he looked at me- Oh Hadvar, sorry you had to hear that.

Was that about the break in they had, must be I thought

-Well, the Riverwood trader is still open and that's all that matters. -He said with a fake smile-

-I guess so -I replied-

-So Hadvar, my boy, what were you looking for?

I stepped up to the counter, which was wooden and full of stuff, and I told him what I wanted, which was potions and healing herbs. He turned around and looked in some shelves, and he started to pick out everything that could be useful, until the counter was full of stuff.

-So what do you want from here? -He asked with a sparkle in his eyes-

-Only the best. -I said-

-That leaves us with these two and those herbs. -He continued- The potions, well, two hundred and fifty one septims each. And you can take the herbs for Fifteen septims a handful.

I knew I wouldn't have had enough to pay for it, but five hundred septims! For me I thought he was ripping me off, but they were supposed to be the best, so they would be worth it. Now I just needed to change his opinion with the fact that Eri was almost dead.

-Well Lucan. -I started- They're not for me, its for the girl I brought in, she's dying and these potions would make her recover.

Lucan looked at me for a second, and then his face changed as he realized where I was going.

-You mean you don't have money to buy them? -Lucan said trying to sound intimidating-

-I do, just not now. I'll pay you back later, but I need those potions for her. Or would you rather keep your money and let someone die out of greediness? -I said calmly -

Lucan thought for a moment, he walked behind the counter and then came back.

-I'm terribly sorry -He said, my words had touched him- But business is business. I'm afraid I cant lend them to you.

-You disgraceful shi - I tried to say but Lucan interrupted me-

-But! There is something you can do for me. -He said-

-Hmph, go ahead. -I replied with resentfulness-

-As you know, I've had a break in. They didn't steal much, but what they did steal was an Ornament, in the shape of a dragons claw. They're probably hiding in bleak falls barrow, up in the mountain. If you could get that Ornament for me, I'll give you the potions and the healing herbs.

Bleak falls barrow, that was a dangerous place, filled with the draugr of ancient nords. It was probably most likely that if I went in there alone I wouldn't come back, but then I thought of Eri. I had already lost her once, and now she had come again. I couldn't lose her again and if her fate was in my hands, I'd try my hardest to succeed.

-Deal, you better keep your word, understood? -I said while I grabbed the counter and got closer and stared at him-

He backed off a bit, and then nodded and said:

-Yes yes, don't worry, I will.

I looked at Camila, she had been silent this whole time but when I looked at her all I got from her a shoulder shrug, as if she was okay with whatever happened.

-I'll be back, with the claw. -I said as I walked away and headed back into the street-

I closed the door behind me and then I thought what I'd do first, after some thinking I walked towards my Uncles forge, he was there and I called him, I said I needed to talk to them inside, he left what he was doing and followed me. We went inside and I told little Dorthe that she had to go outside because we were going to have a talk. She went outside without a problem.

-Well Hadvar whats the matter? -Alvor asked me-

-Yes, whats going on? -Sigrid said too-

-Lets sit, down its going to be a talk.

We sat down at the table, I hadn't told them yet what had happened in Helgen neither where I found Eri or what she reminded of, so I had to tell them all of that before I left to Bleak Falls Barrow. I grabbed an ale from the table and took a sip, just to calm the nerves.

-Lets start with the beginning, I haven't told you yet what happened in Helgen.

-Yes, you haven't. -He replied-

-You know I was assigned to General Tullius's guard, well the ambush had gone perfectly, we captured Ulfric and his bodyguards, and before that we had also captured two other people, one of them was a Horse thief. And the other one was Valferith, she was trying to cross the border.

Alvor's look then changed and he looked to the end of the Stone house, where Eri was laying on a bed.

-What are we doing helping her then?! She should've been hung. -He said harshly-

-Calm down now, you still don't know the rest of the story.

Alvor then nodded and also took the ale, but this time he finished it in few seconds.

-So we stopped at Helgen, why I don't know, but General Tullius wanted to finish it off. We stopped there, when we were attacked… By a dragon.

-A Dragon? -Alvor asked with incredibility- That's ridiculous, you aren't drunk, are you?

-Husband, let him tell his story -Sigrid said-

-Yes, a dragon. It came in and wrecked the whole place, mass confusion, I doubt I would've made it alive without Valferith's help. But there is where she got wounded. And at the end it was a confusion that she was in the cart to be killed, her name wasn't in the List even.

Alvor seemed to see reason now, but he still kept looking at Erith every few seconds, like fearing she would get up and attack us.

-Sigrid, you know her state is bad, even with your healing there is a high possibility she will die, so I've decided I'm going to go to Bleak Falls Barrow.

-That's it! -Alvor shouted as he got up and slammed the table- End it with this madness! You're going to kill yourself there!

-Alvor! -I Replied while I got up as well- It's the only way Lucan will let me have his potions!

-Calm down you two! Now! -Sigrid shouted even higher than our voices-

We looked at her and then we sat down and tried to keep calm.

-Hadvar, I see why you're doing this, but there is something more, isn't there?

I looked at her, she knew what was going on, I decided I would keep it a secret, so I told them.

-Yes… She reminds me of Erin.

-Oh Hadvar… -Sigrid said while she held my hand- I understand, its your honor.

Alvor, who seemed to have understood too now was more calm. He spoke to me in a soft voice.

-I don't think it's the best idea, but I see why. Do it if you have too.

-Thanks uncle. -I said- You have my armor, don't you?

He nodded and then got up and went downstairs after saying he would go get it. Sigrid was still holding my hand and she asked if I wanted to see how Eri was doing. I said yes and got up and walked to her bed. She was lying here as pale as the snow, still unconscious and with her clothes full of blood. Her chest was partly open to be able to show where the cut was, but small enough to let her some privacy.

-Here, I've got your armor. - Alvor said as he came back up-

-Thanks, I'll put it on now.

I looked at Eri, and thinking of Erin I swore I wouldn't let her die. Then I walked up to the door and held the handle. I got It together, mind and body and opened the door. Outside there was the world, and out there somewhere Erin lied. I took a step out and with decision of coming back alive I took the first steps towards Bleak Falls Barrow.

Another chapter. Im really sorry for the delay, I was on the east of my country and I forgot to bring the story with me. Enjoy the chapter and tell me what you think of swapping narrative with Hadvar and Eri.