I own nothing in Skyrim, except for my characters. Bethesda owns Skyrim and the Elder Scrolls series.
Dralera woke early in the morning when the sun had only just risen. She yawned, stretching out a bit. She sighed as she stood, straightening her dress and pushing the doors open. Upon walking downstairs, Hulda gave her a cheerful smile. "Morning. I went to look in your room last night to see if you needed anything and you were already fast asleep. If I may ask, where did you travel from?" She asked.
"Windhelm." Dralera replied, sitting near the fire.
"So far! No wonder you were tired. I hear the cold is bitter up there." Hulda said.
"It is better then Winterhold. It never stops snowing up there, and when it does, it is only for a bit." Dralera said, and upon seeing Hulda's question forming, she went on talking. "I went to Winterhold once or twice. Never really enjoyed the trips."
Hulda nodded. "What do you plan to do in Whiterun?" She asked.
Dralera took a moment to think about her response. "Whatever I can, I suppose. I only seek to make an honest living here."
Hulda gave a bright smile. "You should try the Companions. I'm sure they would accept you."
Dralera pushed the response she had ready aside, simply nodding. "Right...I'll take a look." She said with a carefully neutral tone. She walked over to the counter and set a bit of gold down. "I'll be needing the room for another night, thank you." And then she walked out of the Bannered Mare.
The sounds of blade hitting blade met her ears and she turned her head to up the stairs. Walking up into the courtyard, she tried to block out the priest screaming about Talos. "Talos the mighty!".
'Gods, shut up!' Her mind screamed at him, the words she imagined most of the people in Whiterun wanted to shout at him. 'No one here cares about Talos. Not since the Thalmor took over Skyrim.'
She walked up the stairs to the boat-like building and walked around it, stopping and watching. Gwen was currently sparring with a man who was also using a two-handed sword. Gwen became distracted when she saw Dralera, which resulted in a heavy whack that would most likely leave a bruise.
"Ow...Dralera! Hello!" Gwen called cheerfully, hurrying over.
"You remember my name. I'm honored." She said dryly, glancing at the man she assumed was a Companion. "So are you one of them yet?" She asked with a bored look.
"Oh, no, not yet. I still have much to learn. Right, Vilkas?" Gwen asked, looking back at the man, Vilkas, who was currently wiping his sword off.
"Yes. Such as not being distracted during training, whelp." He said, then turned his attention to the Dark Elf. The way she held herself and spoke showed she had pride, but the way she seemed to dismiss the Companions so easily bothered him.
"Dralera, this is Vilkas. He's a member of the Circle in the Companions." Gwen said, looking at Vilkas with an adoring look.
Dralera fought back the urge to gag at the look on Gwen's face. "Yes. Hello, nice to meet you...or whatever. So, is this what you do? Bruise 'whelps', as you called her?" Dralera asked. 'Yes, irritate the man with a sword that could cut you in half, brilliant idea.' She thought to herself.
"It isn't 'bruising', as you put it, Elf. It is training." Vilkas replied, feeling a twinge of irritation at this girl.
"Again with the 'Elf' as an insult. Yes, I'm an Elf. Tragedy to a Nord, I know. Kindly deal with it, Nord." She practically spat the word 'Nord' as an insult before stalking off.
"I…" Gwen started, then cleared her throat. "She's like that." Dralera heard Gwen hesitantly say to Vilkas, but she didn't care.
'I'm not going to apologize to that idiot. Why is 'Elf' an insult to these Nords? Damn the Empire, damn the Stormcloaks, and damn Skyrim itself!' She silently ranted in her mind. She walked down the steps and back into the market area. Glancing at the Bannered Mare, she dismissed her idea of just sulking in her rented room for the entire day. 'That won't make septims, or anything productive.' She thought. She turned her gaze to the two buildings, which as she read the signs, were Arcadia's Cauldron and Belethor's General Goods. 'Gods forbid I ever work at a...general store.' She winced.
She gathered up what courage she had, pushing the door to Arcadia's Cauldron open and stepping inside.
"Welcome! I have something for every aspiring Alchemist, just let me know if you need anything!" A woman at the counter said cheerfully.
"Are you Arcadia, miss?" Dralera asked as she walked over to the counter.
"Why, yes I am. What can I help you with today?" Arcadia asked.
"Well…" Dralera sighed, then gave her most charming smile. "I was hoping I could be your assistant here, miss." Dralera said, but her hope died when she saw Arcadia frown.
"I'm afraid I don't need an assistant. However, I still have a reasonable amount of ingredients should you wish to purchase any…" Arcadia said with an apologetic smile.
"No, thank you though." Dralera said, turning and just walking out of the store. She completely ignored Belethor's General Goods, walking down the path until she reached the Blacksmith.
"Looking to buy something?" A woman with a blacksmith's apron asked her, and Dralera blinked, not having realized she was staring.
"Oh, no. I was just...observing, I guess?" Dralera said, knowing how stupid she sounded.
"Not a thief, are you?" The woman asked with a half joking tone, and half serious.
"No! Gods forbid, no. I prefer to make an honest living, ma'am." Dralera replied, smiling.
"New to town?" The woman asked as she sat down at the grindstone, starting to sharpen a blade.
"Yes. I'm Dralera, I came from Windhelm." Dralera nodded as she introduced herself. "Do you own this store?"
"Yes. I'm Adrianne. My father is the steward up at Dragonsreach." Adrianne replied.
"Do you need any help around the forge?" Dralera asked.
"Yes, actually. Would you take this sword up to my father at Dragonsreach? I made it for the Jarl, Balgruuf the Greater. It's meant to be a surprise and I don't know if he'll actually accept it." Adrianne said, looking nervous and hopeful at the same time.
"I'd be happy to deliver it." Dralera replied.
"Thank you." Adrianne stood, grabbing a greatsword that was leaning against the building and held it out to Dralera.
She took it, carefully at first, and managed to keep a steady grip on it and not drop it on the ground. "Would you mind if I came back after I deliver it? Maybe I could help out around the forge a bit?" Dralera asked.
Adrianne was quiet for a moment. "Very well, I don't see why not. I'll be glad of the company."
Dralera nodded, then turned and headed up the path for Dragonsreach. Which, she of course, assumed was the large building on the hill. 'Amazing. No one here seems to care that I'm not a Nord. This place is so different from Windhelm.' She thought, heading up the stairs through the market and then up the stairs again, ignoring the sight of Jorrvaskr. She headed up the stairs for Dragonsreach next, ignoring the pain from carrying the blade. 'I hope Felmera can join me here soon.' She pushed the doors open, ignoring the looks the guards were giving her. She headed up yet another flight of stairs, pausing and taking in the sight of the Jarl on his throne. But what caught her eye even more was that the woman near the throne was a Dunmer like she was.
The Dunmer woman watched Dralera with careful eyes, and Dralera could feel a bit of embarrassment at the possibility of the Jarl looking at her. She approached the man that she assumed was steward.
"Sir?" She asked, looking even more awkward.
"Yes, what is it?" The man asked, looking at Dralera with a slightly irritated expression.
"Are you the steward?" She asked.
"Yes, Proventus Avenicci. How may I help you?" He asked, though she highly doubted he was sincere about it.
"I have a sword from your daughter for the Jarl." Dralera said, holding the sword out. She was glad to be rid of the thing, it weighed a ton.
"From Adrianne? Ah, this must be that weapon for the Jarl. Poor girl, so eager to prove herself. I'll present it to Balgruuf when his mood is...agreeable." He said as he took the sword. "Thank you. Please, take these few coins for services rendered." He said, handing her a small coin pouch.
Dralera cast another look at the Dunmer woman near the throne, feeling curiosity rise within her. She shook her head, trying to shake the curiosity off as she all but practically fled from Dragonsreach. She walked to the edge of the stairs, glancing over at Jorrvaskr. From her position, she could see Gwen laughing with a small group of people. 'At least the Nord is happy.' Dralera thought, mentally sighing and heading down the stairs. She headed for Adrianne's shop, stopping and silently watching as the woman worked the forge.
"How long have you been forging?" Dralera asked suddenly.
Adrianne cursed at the sudden voice, glancing at Dralera. "Sorry." The Elf apologized, smiling sheepishly.
"For a while. The shop is called Warmaiden's. A nickname my father gave me. I was messing with blades even back then." Adrianne answered. "How did the delivery go?"
"Your father thanked me. Can I ask a question?" Dralera asked, leaning against the wall.
"You just did. But of course, ask away." Adrianne said.
"Who is the Dunmer in Dragonsreach?" Dralera asked.
"That's Irileth. She's the Jarl's housecarl." Adrianne answered, picking the sword she was currently forging and dipping it in the water to cool it.
"A Dunmer housecarl?" Dralera asked, the surprise clear in her voice.
"Yes. But to be fair, I think there's a Dunmer member of the Companions." Adrianne said.
"Really? So...they accept anyone, even if they aren't a Nord?" Dralera asked, a slight frown on her lips.
"Aye." Adrianne said.
"I should be going. Thank you, Adrianne." Dralera said, turning and walking back to the Bannered Mare in thought.