Fionghall Silversword barely stirs in his cot on the floor but to sneeze and roll over. He does not notice the soft, quiet movements of the man-curious young woman he had met just a few days ago, but more would certainly be revealed in the morning. Ah well, he only "needed" her to get this far... he continues to dream about his youth and decades-old adventures.
Lavanthia awakens the next morning, sitting up with a yawn and stretching her arms up over her shoulders. After a moment, she takes a good look around... Ah... the inn. The memories flood back. The village. The evacuation. The old man... Speaking of, she leans over to look down and see if he's still there.
Fionghall would be downstairs in the main hall, speaking with the Innkeeper about his own business. Before getting up and leaving the young woman, he had draped his blanket across her shoulders, wrapping her in the warmth of the rough Homespun cloth. His deep, old voice could probably be heard in the early morning, clear to her keen Mer ears.
Lavanthia takes the blanket and keeps it wrapped around her shoulders like a cloak, taking care to not let it drag across the floor as she steps out of the room. Ears perk up as she listens to the conversation below...
"I'll pay for the girl's lodging last night as well, Madame. I'm not sure how soon I'll be leaving myself, but I will enjoy the breakfast you've made before I do."
The little elf turns around to quickly place the blanket on the bed and descend down the steps to join up with Fio by his side! Just as timid as last night with her head lowered, red hair shielding her face from view, and staying close by the taller man.
Fionghall smiles kindly as the timid girl sits beside him, letting her grab some biscuits or sausages if she would like, as he drinks from his morning mug of ale.
She takes a sausage and starts eating it, looking up to Fio with a nervous question, "H...Have you decided on what's next, mister Fionghall?"
"Don't get juice on your chin dear." With a rag in hand, he dabs her face, drinking the rest of his alcohol with his other hand.
Lavanthia giggles when he dabbed her chin, "Thank you, Fio! I won't make a mess!" She pipes up before taking another bite, only this time being more careful with her food.
After eating, Fionghall sighs and gets up from his seat, feeling his way around the place with his heat senses and his hands. His chilly aura stretches out a bit as he places a hand on the girl's shoulder to pivot away and turn to go. Luckily, not many people were awake this early in the morning so he didn't bump into anyone on his way up the stairs.
Lavanthia gets back up and quickly takes his arm to help guide him back to their room. Yes, she might not have needed to, but every fiber in her being urged her to help him, so she's doing it.
The older man nods at her help as she keeps him from colliding with the stair rails, his hand keeping them safely at arm's length from him as well.
Lavanthia guides him to the bed, gently places his hand there, and stops. Eyes look up to him in concern, "Fio...?"
The old Nord looks down at her with a kind smile as she helps him up the stairs. He really needs a walking stick... "I appreciate the help, dear. But I'm not weak."
"No... you're not weak, but I felt like it's the right thing to help you." She explains, voice sounding smaller with shyness in full swing, but she knows he can hear her. Then proceeds to snuggle up to his side, gripping his shirt in both hands like a frightened child.
Fionghall sits heavily on the small bed, dwarfing it with his size as he digs through the rough cloth of his thick, warm tunic. Pulling out a bar of chocolate, he hands the candy to the girl. The old man seems to have surprisingly warmed up to her in the past few days since they left Bleakrock together, escaping the Daggerfall Covenant forces. "So, did you make any friends last night after I went to sleep?"
Lavanthia's face brightens up at the sight of candy and takes it, munching on it gratefully after giving a cheerful, "Thank you, Fio!" After a couple of bites and a swallow, she pauses to think, "Actually... there is this one guy, a Dunmer, whose name is Reyne Taale from House Indoril. Kind of... strange."
"Oh? Tell me more about him." The old Nord has heard tales about the Dunmer Houses for decades, especially the Indoril who rule over this part of Morrowind, and their treacherous politics.
"Well... he seems... gentlemanly enough, invited me to his table for tea and offered a tour. But he keeps on giving me strange looks and his scent... when he got close one point he smelled of nature rather than ash. At one point, his scent completely... vanished. Is that natural?"
"It's called perfume, dear. I suppose the Bosmer have no need for it, but sometimes people rub things on their skin that smell nice, like flowers or fruits." Fionghall chuckles softly, his strong chest bouncing up and down in time with his laughter and his shaking beard.
"Oh... is it normal for the smell to just go away like that? If so, that's kind of silly..." she giggles along with him, taking another bite of the chocolate, which naturally smeared some of it on her puffy cheeks.
"Well, you can only smell it if you're very close to a person. This Reyne must like you and wants to be close to you. I say you should find him..."
"Well... He did offer me a tour of Davon's Watch. Should I accept his offer..?" She shuffles in her spot, unsure of this.
"Go ahead, Lavanthia. I might not be here for very long anyways, so you should go have fun."
She pauses and looks up to him with concerned, saddened eyes, "Why? Where are you going?"
Fionghall scratches his beard, thinking for a moment before he replies. "I have no reason to stay here permanently. I suppose my goal is to get back to Skyrim, maybe find a home in Eastmarch to live."
"Could I come with you?" She asks with her green eyes shimmering with hope.
"We will see if I'm even here at the Inn when you get back. Now, go find that young man, because not many your age would find a Bosmer very attractive around here." Fionghall pats the girl on the top of her head, ruffling her thick scarlet red hair, before pushing her gently on the shoulder to go downstairs and find that Reyne fellow.
She nods up at Fio and goes to run down the stairs, but not before calling back, "See ya, Fio! Please don't leave so soon!" Then descends down to the lobby, pausing to look around, chocolate still covering her cheeks which add to the child look.