***Chapter 38***

*The next two months passed by quickly, Rowley was picking up the skills easily however he still has much to learn. A week earlier Jensine had left so now Adonato, Lilina, Lydia, Fasrin and Rowley were sitting outside as a courier approaches. Adonato talks to him out of earshot from the others before frantically packing his saddle bag*

Lilina: "What's wrong Adonato?"

Adonato: "You know how I went to see my Orc friend?"

Lilina: "Yes."

Adonato: "They have been forced out of their stronghold."

Lilina: "What? Why?"

Adonato: "I don't know, he couldn't say."

Lilina: "Well do you need my help?"

Adonato: "Subtly is needed, we might have, to house the family here a while."

Lilina: "I can be subtle sometimes."

Adonato: "Not as subtle as me."

Lilina: "Well just hurry then, we don't want something bad to happen to them, especially to the baby."

*Adonato mounts his horse and rides away, leaving the others to wonder what was going on*

*Five hours later, Adonato finds Gorgo, his wife and daughter walking along the road to the south of the stronghold*

Gorgo: "Adonato! Thank the gods."

Adonato: "Are any of you hurt?"

Gorgo: "No but my wife is getting tired of walking."

Adonato: "Let's get her on my horse."

*Adonato dismounts then helps Gorgo's wife mount up*

Gorgo's wife: "Thank you Adonato, my name is Borba by the way."

Adonato: "Nice to meet you, now do you have anywhere to go?"

Gorgo: "No, we were hoping you could help us."

Adonato: Alright, we have to get your family to my house, then we can make arrangements on a town near here."

Gorgo: "Thank you Adonato."

*Adonato takes a deep breath and holds his hand out, within seconds Arvak appears*

Gorgo: "What is that thing?"

Adonato: "It's a horse."

Gorgo: "But it's a skeleton on fire."

Adonato: "It's not as uncomfortable as it seems."

Gorgo: "I hope not."

Adonato: "We will go to my house, spend the night, then you and I will help your family find a home."

Gorgo: "We can't thank you enough for helping us Adonato."

Adonato: "Let's get a move on."

*Adonato helps Gorgo onto Arvak, then mounts Arvak himself, riding off while leading his other horse*

*just before sundown the four arrive to be greeted by Lilina*

Lilina: "Is everyone alright?"

*she helps Borba off Adonato's horse, Adonato and Gorgo dismount Arvak before he then disappears*

Adonato: "Yeah, they just have to stay here for a bit."

Lilina: "Well you're welcome to stay as long as you need."

Borba: "Thank you."

Adonato: "Let's get you settled in and meeting everyone."

Gorgo: "We're eager to meet them."

*all five walk inside and sit at the main table, while Adonato gets Gorgo and Borba something to eat, Rowley, Lydia and Fasrin introduce themselves*

Rowley: "Hello, I am Rowley, Lydia's student."

Lydia: "I'm Lydia, I am Lilina's housecarl."

Fasrin: "I am Fasrin, Lilina's apprentice."

Gorgo: "My name is Gorgo, and this is my wife Borba and our daughter Lokra."

Fasrin: "Pleasure to meet you all."

Gorgo: "I noticed that you're the only one here without a weapon on hand Fasrin."

Fasrin: "Ah, I'm a mage; I can summon a weapon if I want."

Gorgo: "A Khajiit mage? That's uncommon isn't it?"

Fasrin: "It is quite uncommon."

Gorgo: "You don't sound like a Khajiit either."

Adonato: "She grew up in Skyrim so she didn't take on their normal speech pattern."

Lilina: "May I ask why you were driven out of your stronghold?"

Gorgo: "Well my younger brother challenged me to become chieftain, I didn't want to but I had to, I won but refused to strike him down. Because of this my people saw me as weak and planned to kill my family and I to avoid our bloodline becoming soft, I was warned by one of the few Orcs still on my side and we fled, my brother Burguk has taken control of the stronghold now."

Borba: "Gorgo thought that Adonato could help us because they are close friends."

Adonato: "I'll find a more permanent place for them."

Lilina: "How long have you two known each other?"

Adonato: "I met him soon after I moved up here, so has to be at least three years."

Gorgo: "We helped each other out."

Adonato: "And now we are here, hey Gorgo, did you remember to bring the dagger?"

Gorgo: "Of course, it's right here."

Adonato: "Ok, just making sure, Lilina is getting sick of making them for me."

Lilina: "Dragons aren't exactly easy to kill."

Adonato: "Yeah yeah."

Lilina: "Don't yeah yeah me, if you keep that up I won't make them for you ever again.

Adonato: "Don't be like that."

Rowley: "Speaking of Dragonbone stuff, any word on my sword and armour? I want to be able to get used to them."

Lilina: "Oh those, yeah the sword is done, but the armour still has a bit to be done, Lydia's design is harder to make."

Rowley: "May I see the sword? I've been in anticipation for months."

Lilina: "Of course, let me just go get it."

*Lilina goes to the cellar to retrieve Rowley's new sword, everyone waits until Lilina returns with the sabre in a scabbard. Rowley draws the sword while Lilina holds the scabbard, smiling as he feels the balance*

Lilina: "Do you like it?"

Rowley: "Of course."

Lilina: "Well that's good, because it's yours forever now."

Rowley: "Thank you so much."

Lilina: "You are welcome Rowley."

Gorgo: "Interesting design."

Lilina: "Lydia actually has the original one."

Rowley: "Lilina, please help me clip this to my belt."

Lilina: "Alright Rowley."

*Lilina helps Rowley attach his scabbard to his belt*

Rowley: "Thank you."

Adonato: "Now that is sorted, let's call it a night; it's been a long day."

Lilina: "Where will our guests be sleeping?"

Adonato: "Lilina and I can use the emergency beds upstairs; Gorgo's family can take our room."

Lilina: "Alright."

Adonato: "Goodnight everyone, we will leave early in the morning Gorgo, so be ready for that."

Gorgo: "Alright, just don't wake up Lokra, or else."

Adonato: "I'll try not to, goodnight everyone, tomorrow will be busy."

[The universe and characters of Skyrim belong to Bethesda and associate corporations, the only things owned by my girlfriend and I are the non-lore friendly characters, equipment, and actions that are required for the story to make sense.]

{Celebrating 3 years together}