Location: Grey Quarter, Windhelm
7th of Sun's Dawn
The howling wind continued to blow through Windhelm when Miravelle exited the Palace of the Kings to head for the New Gnisis Cornerclub. It was like the sky was always grey for this city, but she did know that it was getting close to the evening. She was only half protected from the cold with her Nord blood.
Heading to the Grey Quarter, she had hoped to spend the night at the New Gnisis Cornerclub, where she knew the presence of civilians there would be sparse, and she could be alone.
That was when she spotted the brown-haired Nord, with a flower basket in her hand.
"Hello there," Miravelle put on her best smile.
Miravelle could have sworn that the little girl's face brightened up instantaneously. "Hi, miss. Would you like to buy some flowers?"
She peeked into her basket and found a small assortment of varied mountain flowers and ingredients. "Those are pretty. Did you pick those yourself?"
"Yes!" She nodded, seemingly hopeful that the female stranger would buy something from her.
Miravelle need to understand why a little girl like her would be standing out here, in Windhelm's bitter cold, Nord blood or not. "But why are you selling flowers? Aren't your parents working?"
That when when she averted her gaze to the floor. "They're… gone. My mother died when I was little and my papa was a Stormcloak soldier. One day he left and didn't come back. So… I'm all alone."
"So, you sell flowers. To survive," Miravelle could tell that it was not going well. The child's face was pale, like she had not eaten properly in days. "When did you last eat, child?"
"S-sometimes, Suvaris brings me something to eat."
"Don't you have a home, darling?"
The girl's silence was all Miravelle needed.
"Come on. Let's go to the New Gnisis Cornerclub. We can get something to eat and spend the night there, before I have to leave Windhelm tomorrow."
"Oh, um… Ambarys Rendar, the innkeeper, doesn't like Nords."
Miravelle was not aware of that. "You don't have to worry about that. I'm sure he'll listen to my Dunmer half."
"N-no, miss," She shook her head. "I really don't want to cause any trouble."
Children are not trouble. Never to me. "Then that's fine, love. We'll go to Candlehearth Hall. What's your name?"
"Sofie. And… you really don't have to do this, miss."
As a mother, Miravelle most definitely had to do this. "My name is Miravelle Rolain, dear Sofie. And I would like to do this for you. After I purchase some flowers from you, of course."
Location: Candlehearth Hall, Windhelm
Night had finally fallen. After Miravelle rented a room for the night, she and Sofie had their dinner and headed up to the top floor and sit next to the candle that had been lit for decades. Miravelle tried to calm her mind, calm her heart…
"It must be scary," Sofie spoke. "Being the Dragonborn."
Miravelle's gaze was fixed upon the fire. "My mother was a warrior, and she began training me in sword-fighting when I was 11. It is scary, but it isn't really, since I can defend myself."
"Was your father a warrior too?"
No doubt the mention of her father caused her face to fall, but Miravelle answered her anyway. "He was a mage. A highly talented one, one of the best graduates from the College of Winterhold," She saw Sofie nod from the corner of her eye and could not help be continue. "He died. Dragon attack. It hasn't even been a week."
"I'm sorry, Lady Rolain."
Miravelle stifled a laugh at that. "Come on, Sofie. I told you: you may call me Miravelle. I do not mind at all."
"Yes, Miravelle." She giggled at that. "So… you understand how I feel?"
"Without a doubt."
Behind her, Miravelle heard chairs shuffle and caught sight of two figures hurrying down the stairs. She glanced around and realized that Rolff Stone-Fist and Angrenor Once-Honored not among them.
That worried the Dragonborn.
"Sofie, darling," Miravelle stood up, taking the Nord girl's hand. "Will you please stay in the room? There is something I have to check."
Location: Grey Quarter, Windhelm
"Go back to Morrowind, Dark Elf maggots! You're not welcome here!"
"Gods, I knew it!" Miravelle mumbled to herself as she jogged over to the location of that horrible taunt. This was followed by the sounds of bottles breaking. It was coming from somewhere near the Atheron Residence. True enough, she found the two Nord there, flinging bottles.
"You like living in this filthy slum, dark elves? Maybe you should go back to Morrowind, where you belong!"
"Hey!" She bellowed.
"Shit! I'm out of here, Rolff!" Angrenor Once-Honored dropped his last bottle of mead like a hot potato and took off.
"Coward!" Rolff screamed as his friend ran in the opposite direction.
"Apparently, you need to get hit in the face more than once to understand my message. Leave the Dunmer alone." Miravelle growled at her last word.
The door to the Atheron Residence opened up slightly and Suvaris peeked her head out. "Miravelle, don't! It's not worth it, please!"
"Get out of here, half-breed!" With his last bottle of mead, he drunkenly broke it across the nearby wall and pointed it at Miravelle, who had not moved.
Suvaris exited her room, much to the protest of her brothers. "Miravelle is more Nord than you will ever be, Rolff! Why won't you leave us alone?"
"Not until we figure out what these spies are really up to!"
"Ugh, this again?! Is it going to be like this every time I come to this city?" Miravelle walked up to him, determined to get that broken bottle away from Suvaris and at her instead. "You seriously need to find something else to fill up your time with. Preferably something where you keep quiet."
"All of you can just go to Oblivion! You and your foul father!"
It was like there was glass somewhere in Miravelle's mind, and now it had cracked upon Rolff's last sentence. The first fist she threw happened as if she had no control of her own body.
"I'M to go to Oblivion?! FOR WHAT?! For being a mixed-bred bitch?!" She threw a second punch, which resulted in the older Nord going down. "Let me tell you something, you uncivilized heathen! Oblivion is filled will people like you! You'll feel right at home!" The punches kept on coming. "You and everybody else who have done shit for this country, but expect everything!" She could not stop herself and kept on going, even though her hands started to bleed, as did his face. "One more time! Let me find you doing this one more time! And I will shout you to PIECES!"
As soon as she had shrieked the last word, thunder cracked and spread across the sky. Rain followed soon after.
"Miravelle! Miravelle, stop! You'll kill him!" Suvaris hurried over and attempted to pull her away by her shoulders.
"Miravelle, please stop!"
And she did – only after that innocent voice called her name. She craned her neck to find Sofie standing there, getting soaked in the rain.
Miravelle dropped her fists.
Location: Candlehearth Hall, Windhelm
"Dear Gods, what have I done?"
"Only something that should have been done a long time ago." Suvaris replied, as she dried off Miravelle's long black hair with a towel. The two women and Sofie were in their rented room for the night.
"The Jarl will be absolutely furious. His second-in-command's brother. He will have my head for sure this time!"
"I don't think Rolff would like it if people found out that he got hit by a girl." Sofie coined as she brought Miravelle a goblet of wine.
"No, he won't, will he?" She accepted it with a smile. "You are rather smart for your age,"
The little girl could only give a forlorn smile for that. "My papa used to say that all the time."
"And how right he was, sweet girl." Suvaris added to the conversation with a smile of her own.
"Sofie, darling," Miravelle took one of her hands. "Tomorrow we leave for Falkreath. After which, I will bring you to the Honorhall Orphanage. It is run by a wonderful lady named Constance. You will have food. You will have a bed. No longer will you have to endure the chills of Windhelm. You will be safe at last."
Miravelle did not see that hug coming, but she was more than delighted to return it.