Nothing. No movement at all.

Endric studied the woman with curiosity as she slept restlessly in his bed. Her face was speckled with blood and her raven hair was littered with snowflakes. He didn't often see Dark Elves roaming around Skyrim, but she didn't look like a foreigner. She wore a tattered dress with puffy white sleeves that fell off her shoulders, and a corset with straps overlaying it. Typical for a tavern girl he supposed. She was covered in dirt as well, with matted hair down to her waist, with her face rested on the pillow, pale and constricted. She was clearly in pain or suffering, but from what he didn't know.

If Endric had to guess, she was a farmer, or perhaps a peasant. But what she was doing out in the snow was a mystery. He didn't make a habit of plucking strangers off the ground in throwing them into his bed, but he just didn't feel right leaving her there to freeze. Unfortunately, the girl was exhausted. He had sat by her side patiently for hours, but her eyes remained closed. He couldn't sit and wait forever.

Dropping his sword onto the floor and unstrapping the majority of his armor, Endric returned to the bar, ordering a drink with the flick of his hand. Kjeld, the innkeeper and one of the few occupants of Kynesgrove, lazily filled a tankard and slid it down the bar. Eyeing the cup, he sniffed the content wearily.

Stale mead. Disgusting.

He drank anyways, grimacing as he downed what had to be the foulest content in all of Skyrim. Kjeld scratched his beard, blatantly staring down his room where the young woman slept. He hadn't been exactly pleased to see Endric carrying her through the door of his inn, but he let the girl sleep, so long as he paid for the extra day in the room.

Pulling a dirty rag from his belt, he wiped the bar with sluggish movements. "That girl still asleep?"

"Mhm."

"Where'd you say you found 'er again?"

Endric pushed his mug away, now empty. "I was on my way to Winterhold to browse the market. Needed some supplies for the road. Found her on the way there, just lying in the snow. Looks like she collapsed."

"Well I don't know why you brought her here, because she can't stay without coin. As soon as she opens her eyes, she leaves."

Endric narrowed his eyes. "You're just going to toss her out? Because she doesn't have a few septims? What if all that blood was caused by an attack? She could be hurt."

"And she could be dead." Kjeld shook his head, refilling his tankard generously. "Look, we're both Nords, so I'll explain. I ain't got nothing against that elf in there, but times are hard. And my wife and I can't spare anything, even for her. We have to look out for our own kin."

"So you won't help her?"

"You're the one who brought her here. And I didn't say that." He leaned over the bar, peering into his room. "I'd hate to see someone die in my own establishment, so i'll give her a few necessities. But from then on she's on her own. If she wakes."

He grabbed Endric's empty cup and turned the other way, becoming preoccupied with other things. Endric took it as a sign to end the conversation, leaving the bar and heading back to his room. If the woman really did have an injury, he shouldn't move her around.

Guess I'll be sleeping on the floor tonight.

But as he opened the door and approached the bed, he stopped. The bed was empty, the blanket pulled back showing that it's inhabitant had crawled out of it. Endric blinked, shocked to see the Dark Elf missing.

"What? Where did she-"

Before he realized she was even there, pain slammed into the back of his head. Shouting in pain, Endric fell to his knees, his hands holding his new bruise. As a string of curse words left his lips, he turned, his eyes resting on his assailant.

The woman was definitely awake, her crimson red eyes glaring down at Endric with both hatred and fear, a large and heavy book held high in her hands. Knocking him on the back of the head was clearly not an accident.

"Why the hell did you hit me? I helped-"

But he couldn't finish his sentence; the elf swung again, aiming for his jaw. He had just enough time to jump back before she went for another blow. But this time, Endric caught the book, and grabbed her wrist in the process. He smiled, eyeing the girl humorously.

Got you.

The book dropped from her hand, pages splaying around the room. Just when he was convinced he'd won, she twisted her arm, breaking free of his hold. He raised his arms in defense, ready for another assault with the book, but instead she went for something else.

Damn it!

Endric cursed as she grabbed his sword from beside the bed, pointing it right at his neck. She snarled at him, ready it kill if it was necessary. With no other choice, he raised his hands above his head.

"Hey, hey, there's no need for that! Please, just put my sword down."

She only raised it higher, tilting her chin up with hatred burning in her eyes. He didn't understand why she had become so hostile, and at this point he didn't care. He only wanted for her to drop the weapon and explain her story.

"I'm not going to try anything, so will you just please just put it down?"

Neither one of them moved, eyeing each other suspiciously. Finally, after what seemed like forever, she slowly lowered his sword, watching Endric the entire time with narrowed eyes. He breathed a sigh of relief, thankful to see she was somewhat reasonable.

"HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME, PLEASE!"

Or not.

Are you kidding me? This girl is ruthless!

The door to his room was slammed open by Kjeld, alarmed and ready to fight. He glared at Endric, then gawked at the girl in surprise. Apparently he hadn't heard the prior commotion when Endric was in need of help. But he jumped to his feet to protect the elf.

"What? What's going on?"

"Kjeld, wait! She's-"

It was too late, and the girl bolted out the door, and out of the inn. Both Endric and Kjeld stared blankly, neither of them understanding.

"She woke up?"

"Oh yeah, she's awake. She tried to beat the living hell out of me with a book."

"Don't be so harsh, she was scared."

Endric glared at the innkeeper. He couldn't disagree less.

"Kjeld, did you see her? She wasn't scared, she was trying to kill me." He jabbed his thumb in her direction. "That girl's got fire burning in her eyes, she doesn't want our help. She ran as soon as she had the chance!"

He sighed wearily. "Well it's too late now. She's probably long gone." With an irritated huff, Kjeld made his way back to the bar. "If all this business with the Dark Elf is over with, I'd like to run my inn again. Unless you plan to stay another night?"

Endric shook his head, his eyes still on the door where she had fled. "No, I'll take my leave now. I need to get to Riften as soon as possible."

He produced a small satchel of coin, twice the pay of the room, and tossed it into Kjeld's waiting hands. Retrieving his things from his room, Endric made his way towards his horse, loading his things into the saddle bags. The business with the Dark Elf was done and over with; he had no reason to stay and dawdle. If she wanted to run off into the wilds, then that was her decision. Endric had his own work to do.

With his things packed, and his debt paid, he was ready to leave. With a snap of his reins, the horse reared and began its track towards Riften, leaving the inn behind. But even after he galloped away from Kynesgrove, Endric still kept his eyes open for a Dark Elf through the snow.