Chapter 7- Bleak Falls Barrow

I was woken to a gentle moving beneath me, I quickly became very aware I was resting my head on a moving body, I peeked a look to see that I was resting on Mithra's chest, he was looking to the floor leaning as he was trying to reach something. I lifted my head and propped up on my side as I became aware the reason I was so close to Mithra is because Davron has spread across the bed nearly pushing us off.

Now able to lean further Mithra picked up what he wanted which turned out to be a health potion, "sorry to wake you, just wanted this" he said in a hush tone and popped the bottle to take a swig.

"No, it's okay, erm... sorry for you know" I started to stutter feeling a blush, Mithra raised an eyebrow at me, "your bruises? Do they still hurt?" Quickly changing the subject and trying to gain so composure.

"Yeah..." Mithras answer seemed to be far away as he looked to the end of the room.

"Can I help? I know those potions taste foul and don't do much... I could grab some herbs and mix something?" I tried to offer with a smile, "though I'm going to need to know what's hurting?"

Mithra didn't respond at first, I was starting to think he hadn't heard until he swung his legs off the bed and sat on the edge. He pulled his top off in one motion to reveal his golden back, this skin is a fair tone with a pale golden glow and his back was well toned, though I had to pull my thoughts away from those thoughts and to the cuts and deep bruises he wore. His left shoulder seemed to have the worst bruise that covered most of the skin to the shoulder blade, he also had a few slashed that the potions he has been drinking have part closed.

I traced my hand gently on the cuts and as softly as I could I ghosted the bruise on his shoulder.

"It was dislocated when I was captured, roughly put back when I was bound" Mithra commented, as if to answer a question I hadn't asked. "The others bruises and cuts where to get me to talk"

"Oh, these simple potions won't do much for you, can I leave you and Davron to collect our stuff and I will mix what I can for you?" I said as I drew my hand away and started to move to get off the bed.

I threw on a cloak and my boots, and made my way to the door, I slung a belt on and hilted a dagger. I noted Mithra hadn't answered, he looked like he wanted to say something but was stuck with some inner thoughts.

I just smiled and slipped out of the room.

Hulda was not around, it must be early.

Quietly I made my way out and to the cold morning. The sky was still dark with on a slight hint of dawn in the sky. I made my way through the town to the main gate, the cold air seemed to freeze my breath, wrapping my cloak tightly I started to think about what I was going to need some wheat and blue mountain flowers, I could get those from roads just outside. But with the state Mithra is in Blisterwort is needed, commonly found in caves I would have to quickly search. I should have picked up more than a dagger.

Now in front of the gate the guard on duty looked at me, his open helm showed a tired face of an older Nord.

"Morning" I smiled as sweetly as I could

"morning bit early though" he eyed me up but seems to ease slightly, guess I am not intimidating.

"I know" I say with a slight chuckle "I need to pick some mushrooms for dinner tonight, is there a cave nearby?" I ask as innocently as possible.

"Erm a few" and with the guards' directions I was heading to some caves that ran to the other side of the river. As I passed the stables, I noted the farms where currently empty but wheat and other crops where growing, I hopped the fence to the closest farm and grabbed a handful of wheat and slipped it into my pocket and was on the road before anyone could see. Not like I had to be too careful as there was no one else out this early.

I passed Honningbrew Meadery and crossed the bridge other the river, the first cave to my right was a no go, bandits camped there but if I followed the path around for 30 minutes, I would come across another small cave, apparently that is. So, following the path and directions I walked only to stop and collect some healthy blue mountain flowers. Finally, I came across the cave the guard referred me too. It was small and I crouched to enter, I could not be sure if anything was in the cave but blundering in with only a knife was not a good idea. Thankfully Blisterwort grows near entrances and with only a few paces in I saw some. I grabbed as many as I could and holding them in my shirt I tip toed out. As I started to head back to Whiterun the first bit of day was breaking through the night and the sky was quickly lightening. I would have enjoyed the view of a sunrise over the plains of Whiterun but a howl of a wolf cut the peace and caused my heart to leap. The howl sounded close and with another that followed I could only guess that the wolves where very close. My heart started to race, and I quickly jogged to the bridge and closer to the city. I tried to be quiet, but I could only hear my heart hammering in my ears. As I crossed the bridge by the Meadery I stopped jogging but quickly walked past the farms and stables to the city gates.

The same guard who let me out was still at the gate. He looked tired, must be the end of a shift soon.

Feeling slightly skittish with a racing heart I made my way to the market centre. By the Bannered Mare is an alchemy shop, there has to be a table I could borrow.

After a few hours of waiting for the shop to open and asking to use the alchemy table, I had mixed up a few health potions, it took a while but I tried to get the flavour bearable with the most benefit to the potion, it cost a couple of coins to buy some bottles, need to remember to reuse them.

It was well into the morning when I left the shop. I could see Mithra and Davron I the middle of the market with what looked like our new stuff. I made my way to them.

"Ah there you are! where did you go?" Davron grinned at me "got all our stuff!" As he held out a pack in front of him

"Sorry I erm was getting some last-minute supplies" I held out the bottles as an explanation.

"Must have cost a pretty penny?" Darron said as we turned to the tavern.

"Nah mixed it myself and grabbed the ingredients from the wild" we crossed the threshold.

"Alchemist then?" Mithra stated.

"Just a hobby" my answer came out very short and stopped the flow of conversation.

When we got to the room Mithra took a bottle from me and Davron opened our orders and supplies.

"Better get going right?" Mithra said as he popped my potion and drank it.

With that we got into our new armour and packed our stuff into our bags.

My breastplate fitted wonderfully, and the boots and braces sat snug and though the leather felt somewhat soft the quality was high.

Davron looked like he could battle anything, and the armour would bounce any attack off.

Mithra kept the hood down on his robes, the dark blue of the fabric suited him well.

Once we were all ready, we made our way out. Hulda wished us luck and gave directions as well as lunch for the road.

We promised to be back soon.

It took a couple of hours to be at the path the crossed the river back to Riverwood. As advised instead of crossing the river we turned right and off the main road onto a track leading to the barrow, the path became icy and wind bit into us, but the sun kept the worst chill away. Following the winding path up past an old tower guard post half in ruins we could finally see the ancient ruin.

We slowed our pace and crouched down to view the barrow, from our position I could count two people.

"Can see two people, can't tell it there is more" I whispered to the others,

"Battle plan, I will walk up the stairs no weapon out, might be friendly and Mithra will stay by the wall as hidden as you can ready with some spells, Elyzabyth can you be ready from a distance with your bow?"

"Yeah, can you get a line of sight from there?" Mithra pointed towards some bushes off to the left of the path.

"I could but it restricts to the left, good potential for an ambush spot" assessing the area from our spot below was hard but if I took the suggested location and Mithra just on the steps, Davron could walk up and if needed draw any enemies down the stairs to spells and arrows.

It was as if the other heard my thoughts, and before I knew it, we had done exactly that too 4 bandits. All lay dead on the cold ground as we simply walked past and into the barrow.