By Faronon Star Wolf
Author's Note: Well, this chapter was fun to write. Short, because this is how much felt like it could stand alone as a chapter, but still. Anyway. Once again, no estimate on when the next chapter will be out. Review or prod me over AIM if you think it's taking too long to be written.
It hadn't been even one minute before a movement out of the corner of my eye alerted me, too late, that someone was approaching. I stared into manically wide eyes that were a mere five inches away from mine and wondered if there was any chance that I could get away with murder.
"You!" Fargoth nearly shrieked. "You were on the boat, you talked to those damn soldiers! What did they tell you about my ring?"
I gave him a look that people had described as making me look like I was trying to decide the best place to start slicing, regarding the pockmarks that covered his narrow face. That most certainly wasn't visible in the game. Yuck. He smells like he hasn't bathed in a week.
"If you have a question for me, you will ask it in a calm voice, and politely," I replied, pushing past him. I couldn't help grinning at his indignant sputtering, but any amusement I felt fell away when he grabbed my shoulder. I moved so fast even I didn't know what was going on until Fargoth lay on the ground, clutching his jaw, and I discretely rubbed my sore knuckles. "And don't touch me." I spun on my heel and came face to face with an Imperial Guard who was trying his hardest to keep a stern face. I sighed and reached for my bag, but a cough caused me to look up at him.
"Ah, miss, as it seems you've just arrived here, I think it would be fair to waive the fee for this once. Besides," he continued in a conspiratorial whisper, a grin on his face, "you've just done what everyone here has been wishing to do!"
"I... thank you." I blinked, before remembering the ring that I had slipped into one of the pouches attached to my belt. Having dug through all but one, I finally pulled it out and asked Fargoth if this was the ring he was talking about.
"Yes! My ring! Please, return it to me... It is precious, so very precious..." he began, and I stared in disbelief as what he said sounded more like Gollum with every word.
To cut off any more babbling, I threw the ring and watched with amusement as it bounced off his head, and he scrabbled to get it before it rolled into the water. I turned to the guard as the Bosmer kneeled, whimpering over the dirt on his ring, and spoke. "I suppose that was Fargoth," I asked dryly.
"Indeed it was, lady," he replied with a charming smile and a twinkle in his eye. "So. How may I help you find your way around town?"
"I need to buy a weapon," I started, thinking, and then continued with a bright smile. "And perhaps a strong drink." I have no clue what the drinking age is here, but even if I can't buy anything, I can always raid the bases of bandits! The question is, will I like it?
The guard gave me a dubious look before answering. "The drinks we have probably aren't up to your tastes, miss, but you can find both at Arrille's Tradehouse..."
I thanked him and left, humming, as I went in search of weapons and drinks.
Carting my new longbow and arrows, I couldn't stop smiling as I looked for a place to sit down and drink the bottle of Shein I bought. Finally I decided to sit on the bridge, and I uncorked the bottle with anticipation...
Only to jump in surprise when a hand dropped onto my shoulder.
"For the love of crap!" I shrieked, knocking the bottle over, causing it to roll into the stream and empty its contents into the water. I watched in dismay at the growing dark stain in the water, and then turned with an evil glare to the person who surprised me. A tall Nord cringed at the fury that must have been in my eyes, and he cleared his throat nervously. Yeah, you'd better be afraid. Bastard.
"You... came in on the boat, did you not...?" he finally spoke, not growing anymore confident with my irate nod. "I have a job for you, if you are interested..."
I sighed, and with one more mournful look at the bottle in the stream, stood, where I came to the realization that, compared to him, I was short. I hate tall people.
"Fargoth has a hiding place somewhere in town, I want you to find it. He hasn't been paying me the...fines that he owes," he began quietly. "I know he wanders the town at night, so if you go to the lighthouse you should have a good view of the town. Find it, take everything, then return to me. I'll be upstairs in Arrille's Tradehouse."
He left as quietly as he arrived, and I stared blankly at his back before shaking my head and turning to leave. A glance at the sun revealed that it was about noon. I cursed under my breath and started for the exit of the town, thinking to pass time by slaughtering the poor, defenseless, monsters. Yeah right.
I walked north along the path, humming ceaselessly, then sighed. "Damn. It's been..." Glancing at the sun again, I hazarded a guess, "thirty minutes. Half an hour and I miss my CD player. Damn it. It's been half an hour and I don't know how I'll survive without a watch. And what the hell is up with this? I'm actually here, in Morrowind, and I end up spilling some legally bought Shein. One could think that there's some force out there that's against me drinking. Sure, if it had been stolen, perhaps, but it was just one bottle, it couldn't have been that bad—" A scream interrupted my monologue, and, looking up, my mouth dropped open in surprise. A book hit me squarely on the forehead, and I fell like a brick.