Nothing had attacked the trio. Absolutely nothing. They had stumbled upon some deer roaming wild, and Leola had accidentally startled a little red fox as she walked along, but nothing more had come near them. The stronghold, Narzulbur, was visible ahead of them, and Leola could already make out the forms of men and women guarding the fort. Some stood atop the walls and battlements, and she bit her lip nervously.
"Hello?" called out Erith as they came within earshot, presumably so that the Orcs wouldn't attack them upon sight. The greenish beings turned their heads, looking towards the trio as Leola saw Aventus cringe out of the corner of her eye.
"Who are you?" growled one of the Orcs, a light green-skinned woman clad fully in armour, with dark hair drawn back from her face.
"Look, my name is Erith, and these are my friends Leola and Aventus," said the Breton. "We've come to ask something important of you."
"Beat it," grunted one of the male Orcs. "Your kind aren't welcome here. Orsimer only."
"Leola here is the daughter of the Dragonborn," Erith said, and the female Orc's harsh expression softened.
"Is she?" she asked, and the male Orc shot her a glare.
"That doesn't change anything," he said.
"It's important," said Erith. "We need to somehow communicate with Malacath."
"Open the gate," said the female Orc sharply, looking down at someone behind the wall who, presumably, had that ability.
"Don't," snarled the male.
"Mol, this is important," said the female. "I know you never met the Dragonborn, but I did. We need to see what these humans need."
The male, Mol, grunted again and looked away, though Leola was certain she spotted a dramatic roll of his eyes. The gates swung open and the female Orc disappeared from sight, appearing a moment later beside the gates.
"My apologies," she said as the trio approached. "Mol is very hostile towards outsiders – and he never met your mother." The woman gave Leola a somewhat fanged smile with the large, sharp teeth protruding from her underbite, and Leola shyly smiled back.
"Thank you," said Erith. "This is very important."
"I'm sure it is," came a male voice from behind the woman. The three looked up and saw a male Orc approaching. This one's skin was more of a brownish colour, and he wore leather armour. "If it wasn't, you wouldn't have come here."
"This is our Chief, Dushnamub," said the woman with a smile.
"Thank you, Ulumpha, I can take these three from here," said Dushnamub, and the woman, Ulumpha, nodded before returning to her place atop the wall.
"Chief Dushnamub, thank you for letting us speak with you," said Erith.
"What do you want?" he asked, and Leola was amazed by how bluntly the Orcs spoke.
"As I'm sure you heard, the Dragonborn recently passed away," said Erith.
"Yes, I heard," said Dushnamub, and then looked at Leola. "My condolences. Your mother was an excellent woman."
"You knew her?" Leola asked softly, and the Chief nodded.
"Yes, I did," he replied. "She did a great favour for our brothers and sisters near Riften, and for that she was known among our kind as an honorary Orsimer, as well as our Lord Malacath's champion."
"That's what we're here about," Aventus said quickly. "Leola has inherited her mother's estate and belongings, and with it, the artifacts bestowed upon her by the Daedric princes."
"We're looking to speak with them and see what they would have us do with their items, and we came here hoping you could allow us to speak with Malacath," Erith finished, smirking slightly over at Aventus.
A surprised look came across Dushnamub's hideous face at hearing what the two said. "You have Volendrung?"
"Yes," answered Erith softly.
The Chief paused, clearly thinking for a moment, before turning. "Come," he said, heading towards a house. The trio followed him, all able to sense the suspicious looks being shot their way by the various Orcs who went about their business all around.
"Ignore them," Aventus whispered in Leola's ear gently.
The Orc opened a door and motioned for the three to enter. Erith went first, followed by Leola and then Aventus, who was then in turn followed by the Chief. Sitting by a fireplace inside was an elderly Orsimer woman, with brownish-green skin, very little white hair atop her head, and a simple blue dress. Her face was covered in wrinkles and she barely looked able to move, settled comfortably in her chair and gazing into the flickering flames.
"This is my great-aunt, Bolar," said Dushnamub. At hearing his words, the woman turned her head, looking curiously at the trio.
"More outsiders," she murmured thoughtfully.
"Bolar, these are Erith, Leola, and Aventus," said the Chief, and Leola had to admit that she was impressed with his ability to remember the names they had shouted up to the woman, Ulumpha, before. "Leola is the daughter of the Dragonborn, and they possess Volendrung and wish to know what our Father would have them do with it."
"Ah," said Bolar, but she said nothing further. Dushnamub was silent, looking expectantly towards his great-aunt for a few long moments before glancing curiously towards the humans. Erith shrugged slightly.
"Do you know what we should do?" the Chief asked the elderly woman.
"They must take the hammer to Largashbur in a fortnight," Bolar said, a certain sternness in her voice. "Gularzob will take it to Malacath's shrine in the Rift."
Dushnamub shifted his gaze towards the trio, and Erith nodded.
"We can do that," she said softly. "We can do that…is that what Malacath wants?"
"It is what Malacath will want," answered Bolar. "It must be kept safe in his grasps until a new champion is found."
"Thank you," Leola said in a soft voice. The elderly woman looked towards the blonde, smiling as warmly as she could with her large teeth sticking out from her underbite.
"You are lovely, Leola," she said kindly. "You are certainly your mother's daughter."
A flush came to the Nord's cheeks and she smiled back. "Thank you," she said softly.
"Would you excuse us a moment?" Bolar asked, looking towards the Chief and then to Leola's companions.
Dushnamub didn't hesitate to obey, simply nodded and opened the door. His gaze fell upon Erith and Aventus, clearly waiting for them to follow after him.
"It's okay," Leola said to the two, both of whom were giving her a concerned look.
"Alright," Erith said as Aventus turned and headed for the door. "We'll be outside." With that, she followed, and within moments, Leola was alone by the fire with the elderly Orc.
"I need you to listen well, love," said Bolar, reaching out and gently grasping Leola's hand. The Orc woman's skin was surprisingly warm for a green creature. "You must not resent your mother for all the things she left unsaid. She was a good woman. She helped people, she protected people, and she saved people. Anything she neglected to tell you was meant to protect you."
"I know," Leola mumbled.
"Stop digging," Bolar said sternly. "If you keep searching for the truth, you will only end up finding trouble. Remember your mother for her goodness and her heart, and search not for her flaws and mistakes."
The blonde hung her head slightly, a handful of loose blonde curls falling in her face. "I know," she said in a soft voice.
"Good," said the elderly Orc, smiling up at her. "Now, go back with your friends. Our kind do not take kindly to outsiders and I am sure that your presence is making our people twitch in their armour."
Leola giggled a bit, nodding. "Okay," she said softly. "Thank you."
With that, the Nord turned and left the small house, leaving behind the elderly woman seated in front of the fire.