I am not using my mother tongue so I apologize for any errors/mistakes. Hope you enjoy!
If you wish to visit my DA page for any fanart, my username is "artemide68"
Chapter 8: The Mountain Beast
I sat in front of the campfire trying to warm up while Faendal handed me a couple of sheets he had stored in his tent. I gave him an ugly look and he just laughed again
"You should have seen your face!"
"That is nothing funny, Gerdur is going to kill me for ruining her dress!"
" … still funny!"
Faendal's bright mood seemed to lighten mine too… how can you be angry at the guy? I thought by myself.
"How come you sleep here anyways, I thought you had a house in Riverwood!"
"Oh… you mean that place.. I never use it. I was hunting, and in any case, I am a wood elf, remember? The forest is my true home!"
I stared at Faendal with a puzzled look. He seemed amused.
"I bet you scared me down at the river! You're just like a wild animal, I didn't even hear you coming!"
Faendal smiled, he probably took that as a compliment.
"Well I guess it's good for me, I had to be looking for you soon anyways if I wanted you to teach me about archery…"
"Oh yes, Good timing! I just had some plans for you!" He paused...
" You want to hunt? Come with me! I'll teach you about stealth, archery, about finding footprints…. all that stuff! But, in exchange, you have to help me catch the mountain beast!"
I considered carefully the offer. Last time I met Skyrim's wildlife, I almost died of poisoning. Still, if I wanted to learn anything about defending myself, risks had to be taken. And Faendal was with me, he wouldn't have let me die... I hoped... But what was the mountain beast?
Faendal turned on his serious face
"For now, I'll show you the basics. Once you are ready, you can help me take down the beast. I think I found its lair, but I won't dare head alone, and Riverwood offers no help. The beast has been decimating the wildlife in this area. No one has seen what it looks like, but I have seen the tracks it leaves. A foul thing, the likes I have never seen before... "
"Isn't it a bit risky though?"
"I don't know, but I have been tracking its movements for weeks now. I am a hunter, and hunters have their pride. I must have its head. If things turn out for the worst, we can always escape."
I thought it out and decided I had to face a challenge sooner or later anyways. I accepted Faendal's offer.
Next thing I knew, I was shooting arrows at a target while the sun was making its first appearance into the sky. Faendal explained me how to hold the arrow still and apply most of my strength to keep the bow tense. It was hard, but at least, my aim was all right.
I kept training with him until midday. Then I headed back to Gerdur's house. Raelof greeted me angrily.
"Where the hell have you been! We thought you had left since you even took with you most of your stuff! And what happened to you! Your dress is dirty of mud and your hair has leaves in it!"
I attempted to explain Raelof that I couldn't sleep without mentioning the reason was his hugging. Then I told him all the rest, excluding that I had to probably risk my life with Faendal later on. He was already mad enough to hear that one too.
"Fine, I'll ask Gertrude to wash your clothes. Don't ever leave without warning though, ever again! Got it?"
"Understood" I said while giving him the puppy eyes.
The rest of the day passed quietly as I helped out Alvor with his smiting tasks. I enjoyed molding and smelting things. Alvor was a man of short words, but he seemed quite impressed by the dagger and helmet I had crafted.
"You sure enjoy doing works of precision. You could be an excellent craftsman, I am glad I hired you!"
I smiled at him, glad that I was doing something right, even if in fantasy-land, and continued my work.
The same routine went on for three days. I woke up very early in the morning and went off to train with Faendal (after warning Raelof the night before, of course). In the afternoon I was smithing, and in the evening I just practiced a little my swordsman skills before crumbling into the haystack bed. I was proud of my progresses and of my hard work. The more independent I was , the easier I could have travelled through Skyrim. And I had to travel if I ever wished to gather clues about how to return to my former world.
Then on the morning of the third day Raelof announced:
"I am going to leave Riverwood in tomorrow"
