CHAPTER 16: THE GIFT OF CHARITY
Annals of the Dragonguard.
A man traced his thumb over a book's cover and read the title again and again in the campfire's dim light. The memory of his ancestors held written in those pages, a truth the world had forgotten long ago, finally in his hand. For a lifetime he had chased the last remnants of his legacy, and this discovery brought him one step closer to finding it. And it had almost cost him his life, only to plunge him deeper into despair.
The prophecies were coming true, the signs were clear. There was no doubt of it. Not anymore.
He raised his gaze to the night sky. The stars were hidden behind storm clouds as black as the Dragon had been. Even a mere thought of it made shivers run down his spine, and his nerves lit in tearing pain. The final portent of the End of Days, the Dragon from the dawn of time who'd devour the souls of the living and the dead – it had surely been there. As if it had sensed he had found the keys to its defeat, it had been there waiting for him when he returned to Skyrim, ready to tear him into pieces.
It had all happened so quickly. The Dragon ambushed him in the dark, its black scales and horns invisible against the night. Before he even saw it, his body had been ripped apart by talons like sharpened scythes. The Dragon had flown back to the mountains, leaving him to die. But arrogancy was the frailty of the dragonkind – they miscalculated a human's ability to survive against the most hopeless odds.
He looked down at the book held in his remaining hand. It hadn't stopped trembling, and probably never would. Was losing the half of himself a worthy sacrifice? The lost blood would be replaced with new, but how to restore a lost hope? All he could do was watch the doom approach, slowly.
He fought against the urge to toss the book into the fire. His ancestors did not fight against the dragons, they protected the ones with the dragon blood. Why did he still hold on to that ancient honour? Only a Dragonborn could stop the Dragon, and there hadn't been one known in centuries. The age of heroes was gone. He had absolutely no purpose left, so why'd he still keep on the fight?
Maybe the gods had grown tired of the humankind, and left them to their fate, as a plaything for the World-Eater. If the Dragon would win, man would be gone from this world, lost in the shadow of the black wings unfurled.
Right before his fingers loosened the grip on the book he held above the flames, the most powerful thunder rumbled all across the world. The mountains shook and the earth quaked, and as he felt it in his bones he knew it wasn't thunder.
"Dovahkiin."
He could barely believe his ears. It was the call of the Greybeards, steadfast as winter. Could it be true? Could another Dragonborn have surfaced in this turning of age, during this terrible time? He pulled the book of his ancestors back and pressed it against his chest.
Then there was hope, after all.
The gods hadn't abandoned them just yet.
After the potions had lulled her to sleep, Lucy dreamt of home.
She stood behind the counter, counting the coins in the cash register, like she did every evening. Lucy raised her eyes from the gold and looked at Mother, the woman putting books into the shelf. Her fair hair was tied in a bun, and her yellow dress brought out the golden brown in her eyes. Everyone said Lucy was an exact copy of her mother, and she understood why. Sometimes it felt like looking in the mirror when she looked at her.
Mother was absorbed into her work, smiling and humming some unknown song. Lucy had heard it many times, but never knew the words. Only the melody. Mother looked so happy, content as if she didn't need anything else. Did she ever read those books, dream of living another life?
Lucy couldn't help but wonder how did a caged bird learn to sing.
Lucy envied her for that, lowering her gaze back to the golden coins. While Mother had chosen a merchant's life when she married Father, Lucy had no choice. She couldn't choose anything, not even the person she'd marry one day. Father would choose a suitable man for her, probably some merchant's lastborn son. She'd have sons of her own who'd inherit the store, fixing the fault in its history of being owned by a woman.
She cringed at the thought but swallowed her bitterness. She raised her head again, and her heart sunk to the bottom of her body. The books had fallen to the floor, and Mother was gone.
Startled out of her wits, Lucy left the desk and ran upstairs to check her parent's sleeping chamber, but Mother wasn't there. She slammed the door shut, crossed the living hall to the room of her own, but mother wasn't there either. Her heart raced rapidly in her chest, pain spreading all over her body. Had Mother gone outside? She didn't remember hearing the front door creaking, or the wind bells chiming.
Lucy ran back downstairs. She opened the front door and stepped over the threshold, but there was nothing to land her foot on. The porch was gone, the city street too. There was only blank, endless whiteness. She swayed forward, reeling down as she fell into the mist. Mother's song echoed in the distance, ever fading, and she knew she's never learn the words now. Her home disappeared from her sight, and as the gushing air pressured against her body, she realised why Mother never dreamt of an escape.
The coins in the register were the only safe thing in the world, ever unchanging, always the same cold gold.
Lucy woke up to the feeling of her body thumping to the ground. Her tense limbs relaxed as the pain did not come, when her fingers clutched into soft woollen blanket instead of stone. Slowly, she opened her eyes to see the ceiling. The shadows which had danced there when she'd fallen asleep were now missing, driven away by daylight flooding from a window.
Lucy pushed herself up and held her head. Even though her aches had melted away, it still felt heavy to move. With weary movement, she looked around. Her chest tightened when she found the chamber empty.
There was no notion except for two unmade beds, and the wistfulness in her twisted into mild anger. Why'd they never wake her up when she slept for too long? Why did they always have to go on their things without her? Deep down, she knew they wouldn't be far, but waking up alone made her feel so left behind.
Especially now, after that dream.
She sat on the edge of the bed and pressed her feet to the cold, wooden floor. Her legs would carry now, but she didn't feel like she could use magic. Could she ever conjure that bow again? Could she speak like a dragon again? Thinking about it made her head spin. She had too many questions on her mind, but maybe the Greybeards would have the answers. Or maybe all of it had been just a mistake, and the monks would laugh her to death.
Lucy wiped her hair from her face and looked down to see her backpack resting aside her bed. Surprised, she picked it up and went through it. Her journal, spellbooks and the herbs were still there. The guards must have returned it while she had slept, and her assumption was proved true when she noticed Natsu's and Erza's bags in the corner of the room. The tension in her chest eased – they'd come back for their things, at least. She'd just have to wait.
She picked up her journal and turned the pages until she found the next empty one. There was no entry for yesterday, but that could be forgiven. With shivering fingers, she took the quill, dipped it in the ink and begun to write.
25th of Last Seed, E4 201
Dear Mom,
I don't know what to write to you. I don't know anything anymore.
Lucy took in a deep breath as she held back the tears. She wouldn't let them fall. The letters came out messy and untidy – Mother would scold her for writing so poorly. She forced her fingers to calm down before she continued.
I dreamt of you last night. You were humming the same song as always, the song I know by heart from hearing it so many times. I keep wondering if there are words in your song, but I guess I'll never know.
I feel so lost now. Please, give me some courage. Show me the words of the song which kept you so happy. Send me a sign and tell me I can find my way.
Because yesterday, I killed a dr-
Lucy dropped the quill and spilt the ink on paper when the door was kicked open.
"Breakfast's here!" Natsu shouted as he rushed into the room, showing her a basket full of bread and fruit. Lucy held her hand on her chest, trying to calm her startled heart. The mage laid the food next to her, picked an apple and sat down in his bed.
"Calm down, idiot", Erza said from the door before walking in. "Remember what Wuunferth said about letting your arm rest?"
"Damn that old fart to Oblivion, I've never felt better", he answered, taking a bite from the fruit. "Come on, Lucy, eat up."
Lucy lifted the inkpot, unfortunately unable to save her journal from the black liquid spreading on the pages. She sighed as she put the cork in the bottle and closed the book. Maybe some of her writings would be readable through the mess once it'd dry. She wiped her hands in her black robes before taking a piece of bread.
"How are you feeling, Lucy?" the warrior asked and seated next to Lucy. "Did the potions help?"
"I'm okay, now… I guess", she answered. She had drunk five of them last night. The blue, empty bottles were laid on the floor, a frail smell of mountain flowers lingering in the room. "Where were you?"
"Getting him patched up." Erza pointed at the mage who raised his legs on the foot of the bed. "He woke up all feverish and pale as milk –"
"I didn't –"
"Yes you did", she silenced him and turned back to Lucy. "He didn't clean his wound yesterday, and so it started to infect. I dragged him to see the court wizard, and now he should be fine. Make sure he'll keep that clean, and doesn't strain it too much."
Lucy nodded. The mage looked pale indeed, but considering how much blood he had lost yesterday, he seemed okay. He was dressed in new, dark-blue robes. Lucy inferred he had bought them from the court wizard, for his old ones had ripped and stained in blood. Now only the rusty marks in his white scarf and his bandaged arm showed what had happened to him.
Lucy found it adorable how Erza had started to care about Natsu. At first, it had looked like those two couldn't stand each other, but now they seemed like siblings. It was easy to imagine Erza as a strict older sister, and the mage as a mischievous little brother. Had he been like that with his real brother, wild and uncontrollable? Or had losing his brother made him like that?
"I'll try, if he'll listen", Lucy said and peeked over her shoulder to smirk at the mage.
Natsu answered by raising his brows, giving her a nonchalant look as he munched the apple. "It's nothing, really -"
"Yell at him if he doesn't", Erza interrupted sharply, landing her deathstare on the mage. It took Lucy a moment to understand why she'd have to yell at him. If she had shouted a bear into submission, maybe the mage could be tamed with a little bit rougher tongue.
"Okay, okay, I'll take care of it", Natsu shrieked and raised his hands in surrender. "Just don't yell at me."
"That's right. Do not let him get you into trouble", Erza said and turned to him. "And you, do not get her into trouble, or I will personally scold you when we meet again."
Lucy smiled shortly, though it seemed to her Erza was saying goodbyes. And in fact, she was – Lucy had forgotten Erza would go back to Whiterun today. Lucy would've liked to invite her to their team, but didn't dare. There was so much more she'd like to share and experience with Erza. She had already hoped for another day to spend with her, and fate had delivered. When she'd learn to stop hoping for anything?
It was such a pity their group would break apart.
"So, where are we heading next?" Natsu asked, having finished the apple. "Do you want to answer the summons right ahead or will we stop at Winterhold first?"
Lucy fell silent for a moment. She didn't know how long it would take to reach the High Hrothgar. The monastery was seated in the slopes of the Throat of the World, and they would have to head back to Ivarstead, where the steps to the top began. They were so close to Winterhold it would be a shame to turn back now, even if they had more important business waiting for them elsewhere.
"I'd like to visit the College first. Maybe the monks would accept that", Lucy said. "I know it's selfish, but we're so close, maybe a day or two wouldn't make them mad."
"Well, if we leave today, we'll be in Winterhold tomorrow. It's not a long way."
"I think you should join the College before going to the monastery", Erza commented. "It's your choice to answer the summons, after all. The Greybeards can wait. They'll only guide you in the Voice, not in the magic."
"So it's decided. Winterhold it is", Natsu said and rose from the bed, stretching his limbs before grabbing his bag. "Shall we get going?"
Lucy nodded and ate the last bit of the bread. The ink on her journal had tried enough now, and she put it into her backpack. She got up, her legs still numb, but after a few steps, she felt steady again. She swung the backpack on her shoulder, and sadness crept into her heart as she remembered her hunting bow was gone. Lucy waited while Natsu packed their food, and then the warrior opened the door, leading them to the hallway.
"I wonder what's the reward the Jarl promised for you", Natsu said as they walked down the narrow aisle, towards the stairs. "And if they found my glass dagger, it would be nice. I don't wanna get my hopes up, but I've been missing it. I had it for years."
Father had once told her how glass weapons weren't actually made of glass like windows and ornaments, but of malachite and moonstone. Though they appeared glass-like, the green material was strong and fine.
"Glass weapons are quite expensive", Lucy answered, ignoring the mage's first question. She didn't want to think any reward for herself, because she still didn't feel like she'd deserve any. "I remember some of them have passed through our store, and they always fetched a high price. Did you buy yours or find it somewhere?"
"I actually got it from one of the older mages from the College. Gildarts was the wizard's name. He gave it to me before he left for a mission, but it has been years. I haven't seen him since."
Lucy's interest peaked every time the mage spoke about his fellow wizards of the College. He didn't do that too often. "He still isn't back? Do all of your missions last for years?"
"Not often, but this man always has some epic journeys. He's quite a nomad, rarely around."
"I bet he has many epic stories to tell. I'd like to hear some of them."
"He does", Natsu said, a strange grin on his face. "But believe me, his stories are sometimes really nasty. There was a time when he –"
"Please, don't tell her"; Erza's command stopped him. "She doesn't need to know."
The mage turned to look at the warrior walking behind them. "Did I tell you?"
"Your friend Igneel told me after you had passed out, and it still burns my ears to remember it."
"Are you sure we're talking about the same story?" Natsu asked, brows furrowing.
"I'm sure Lucy doesn't want to know any of those stories."
Natsu shrugged, rolling his eyes. "I can tell you later when she's gone", he whispered to Lucy, and she answered with a sneer. She had heard many nasty stories before, mostly from Loke and Haming. Both of the lumberjack's sons had a mouth full of dirt, but sometimes those stories had made her laugh. Harder than she'd like to admit.
"Speaking of when I'm gone", Erza started, making Lucy flinch. "I have to report my discoveries to Whiterun's court wizard, but I won't tell him about you, Lucy. The Dragonborn's identity should be classified information. No-one else than us shall know."
"I agree", the mage answered, his tone now serious. "There are a lot of weird cults out there, and who knows what they're about. Some of them might still worship the dragons, and they could hurt the one who can slay them."
Lucy raised her shoulders, staring down and keeping her voice low. "Nobody would believe it's me anyway."
"What do people even think the Dragonborn looks like?" Natsu wondered aloud. "Some big blond Nord guy with a horned helm and an iron sword?"
She glanced at the mage and frowned. "That's how you thought they'd be?"
"Actually I had no idea. But Lucy, it's good you don't quite look like the one who can kill the dragons. Nobody can suspect it's you. You have a good cover."
Lucy let the silence fall as they reached the end of the stairs. Erza opened the door which led to the Great Hall, and let them step in before her. Lucy looked at the throne, seeing Jarl Ulfric seated there, with his men standing by his side.
The time had come for their paths to separate.
"I think this is it, brats", Erza sighed and turned towards them, wistfully smiling. "Come meet me in Whiterun one day. I'll let the Companions know that the Jorrvaskr is open to you."
Lucy answered her smile. "Thank you. For everything", she said quietly, trying to hide the sadness in her voice. Then she swung at the armoured woman, wrapping her arms around Erza's neck and pressing her cheek against the plate of steel. Lucy wanted to cling at her for a moment longer, but Erza gave her two pats on the back before letting her go.
"Goodbye for now, then", Erza said and nodded at Natsu. Lucy glanced at him, and though he wouldn't hug her, he didn't seem to be at ease with the departure either. Lucy wasn't sure if it was real or if she imagined it, but the warrior's eyes watered.
"Goodbye, Scarlet", the mage said, waving his hand as she turned to leave.
"Don't call me that."
"Is Beast better?"
"Yes", Erza said, wiping her eyes. "Beast is better."
Natsu smiled, but it died down when Erza walked to the main entrance of the palace. The guards opened the great doors, and then the armoured woman was gone. Lucy felt her heart sinking as she realised how attached she had grown to Erza in this short time they had known. She had become her friend, and she'd never forget her. Maybe they would meet again, someday.
"Come on, the Jarl's waiting", Natsu said. Lucy glanced into his eyes, shades of sadness dwelling in the greens. He had to feel the same. It brought comfort to Lucy – at least she could miss her with him, even though he'd never admit it.
But, there was no place for such things in this world, not now.
Lucy walked across the hall with the mage by her side. Despite wanting to run after Erza, she knew this was more important. Ulfric must have been running out of patience, and making him angry was the last thing Lucy wanted.
Lucy stopped before the Jarl's throne and made a curtsey, while Natsu didn't even bow. Was this the beginning of their downward spiral after Erza leaving their company? She'd scold him for not respecting the Jarl, but gladly the man didn't seem to care. Ignoring the mage's lack of manners, Ulfric went straight into the business at hand.
"You've done a great deed for me and my city, Lucy Heartfilia", he started, his loud voice filling the entire hall like thunder. "You have my eternal gratitude. If there's ever anything you need, don't hesitate to come to me. And please, accept this gift from my personal armoury."
One of the soldiers brought her a bow made from black wood, and a quiver full of arrows. Speechless, she received it, feeling its weight in her hands. It's beauty rivalled with the ethereal bow she had summoned, and suddenly it didn't even matter if she'd ever be able to cast it again. Her heart filled with pride like never before.
"It's a supple bow of the ancient Nords, enchanted with the spell of paralysis", Ulfric explained while she admired the bow. "May it bring down your foes and aid you in the battle against the evil."
Lucy raised her eyes from the weapon and looked straight at the Jarl. "Thank you."
"And you, a mage from Dragonbridge, we found your dagger. Here, have it back with a little bit of gold. It's meant for you both."
The guard gave a gleaming green dagger to Natsu, and tossed a bag of clinking coins to him. The amount seemed ridiculous to Lucy. That was a little? They could live like the noblemen for a month with that money. With widened eyes, Natsu stared at the blade to get sure it was really his. As he showed no signs of refusing, it seemed it was.
"You're going to answer the Greybeard's summons?" Ulfric asked while Lucy secured the bow in her back. "Is there anything else I can do to help you forward on your journey? "
"I will after I've visited the College of Winterhold", she answered with a faked confidence. "And this gold is more than enough to –"
"You shouldn't waste time travelling", Ulfric interrupted sternly. "I'll lend you my fastest horses and arrange the carriage to leave in an hour, so you'll arrive tonight."
"What?" Natsu exclaimed and spread his arms in refusal. "Fuck no –"
Though Lucy remembered what Natsu had said about travelling in a carriage, she agreed with the Jarl. The faster they could travel, the better. She felt still weak, the magic deficiency draining her strength. She couldn't walk to Winterhold.
"Natsu, I don't think we have a choice", Lucy hissed at him to make him shut up. She turned towards the Jarl again and said, "Thank you. We'll be at the stables in an hour."
The Jarl's nodded. "Talos guide you, Dragonborn", he greeted, sending them off.
Natsu stared at Lucy with a dagger in his other hand and a bag of gold in the other, frozen and mute. The dread of their upcoming journey was clear on his pale face, every cell of him in a state of perfect resistance. But he had promised to protect her, and so that promise was put on a test.
"Seriously, I'd rather die than –" Natsu muttered, his voice fading as Lucy walked past him.
"You can walk", she said. "But I will not."
Mumbling silent curses to himself, Natsu followed her across the hall. Lucy knew he'd come with her, but even if he wouldn't, she'd be fine. She wouldn't let anything bring her down. With the bow of her ancestors in her back, Lucy felt like a hero.
The light hurt Natsu's eyes as they walked down the streets of Windhelm, the day dawning cold and bright. He felt worse than he dared to admit, his arm still throbbing and head pounding from the lack of sleep. The pain had kept him awake to the wee hours of the night, and Erza had dragged him out of bed too early. Her strict schedule was one of the things he wouldn't miss.
A freezing wind blew through the alleys, forcing Natsu to wrap himself into his fur cloak. While he had spent a while in warmer regions of Skyrim, his bones hadn't forgotten the cold he had grown used to. Winterhold was always cold, possibly the coldest place in the country. The College wasn't any warmer, the winds of the Sea of Ghost blasting through the creaks in the stone walls. Natsu had at least five fur blankets in his bed and he still shivered every night.
His mind struggled to understand he'd sleep there again tonight. To his surprise, it upset him. He had considered the College his home, but it didn't feel the same without Igneel. This was the first time he returned from a journey without him. Would the halls be quiet now, all laughter gone? How would the others take the news of his death?
At least Lucy would be there, but how would she settle in? Would she make her home there, as he had?
"Hey, wanna go check the marketplace?" Natsu asked her. He needed a distraction from the pain, his thoughts, pretty much everything. His mind had fallen out of the wagon a while ago, and he needed time to get back on track. Besides, he wanted to forget he'd have to climb into a cart soon. He understood the urgency of their situation, yes, but it didn't make him want to die any less.
Lucy didn't answer, but Natsu noticed her eyes landing on the beggars begging on the sides of the street. They leaned against the stone wall with empty cups in their bare, frost-bitten hands. Some of them were former, wounded soldiers, some of them were skooma addicts, and Natsu knew any amount of gold wouldn't help them. He wanted to move on, feeling uneasy watching how the men and women shivered in the cold.
"Lady, would you buy some flowers?" a quiet voice said behind them. "Please?"
Both of them turned around, their eyes widening at the sight. A young girl stood there with a basket full of flowers, smiling a smile which hit like a dagger in Natsu's chest. She looked so broken, dressed in ripped rags and an oversized cloak. She couldn't be much older than ten.
"Who are you?" Lucy asked, concern resonating through her words. "Where are your parents?"
"They… They're dead", the girl answered, keeping her eyes locked in Lucy's. "My Mama died when I was little. I… I don't remember her very well. My father was a Stormcloak soldier. One day he left and… didn't come back. I'm all alone. I try to sell flowers so I can buy food. It's not much, but what else can I do?"
Lucy's lips started to quiver, and she pulled Natsu back from his sleeve. He felt ill in his stomach, and it wasn't from the journey ahead of them. The fates of beggars rarely interested him, but orphaned children living on the street were personal. He had once been almost like that girl, young and homeless while on his way to the College.
He remembered it too well how scary it was to be all alone in the cold world.
"Natsu, how much did we get from the Jarl?" Lucy whispered to him while they were out of earshot, behind a corner of a stone wall.
"Around a thousand gold, maybe."
"Give her a hundred."
"Are you sure it's a good idea?" Natsu asked. "Skooma addicts threaten orphans to beg for them, and the money they get goes straight into the drugs."
That's what they had said when Natsu had asked for money. One elderly woman had given him fresh bread, but no coin. Otherwise, he had to earn the gold he needed to survive. He had chopped wood for the most of it. It had been familiar work, but exhausting. Even to this day, he dreaded axes and chopping blocks. For many reasons.
"I don't want to believe that. She needs to be helped. She's just a kid."
Natsu sighed, not wanting to argue with her. She meant well, and they had more gold now than they could spend. He had a hundred gold of his own money in a smaller bag. It would be a lot less suspicious to give it to her in secret instead of separating the coins from the bigger bag. He didn't want to gain any unwanted attention to them. Tension in Lucy's eyes eased when she saw him approving her intention.
Natsu gestured at the girl, urging her to come to them.
"What's your name?" he asked when she appeared.
"It's… Sofie", the girl answered. Natsu didn't feel like she was lying. Her voice was meek and shivering, and Natsu didn't even want to know what she had been through. The streets were rough for homeless little girls.
"Well, Sofie, take this", Natsu said, offering her a small bag of gold. "Use it to hire a carriage to Riften. There's an orphanage there. I know it's not the nicest place, but it's far better than being a beggar here. Someone could adopt you from there, get you in a real family if you're just patient."
The girl stared at him under her brows, both confusion and fear mixing on her face. Then she shook her head.
"I've… I've heard about that orphanage", she whispered. "My friend, Aventus, he… His mother died a while back, and he was sent to Riften. There's a rumour that he returned. They said that the place was horrible, and the headmistress evil and cruel. Some even say that he's... he's..."
Lucy leaned closer to the girl. "He's what?"
"He's performing the Black Sacrament."
Shock shot through Natsu's spine, yet he struggled not to show it. How could a little runt be performing the Black Sacrament? Summoning a Dark Brotherhood to assassinate the orphanage's keeper? The ritual itself was too grotesque for a child to commit. If it was true, it had to be a bad place. It was dangerous such information was spreading across the city.
"Aventus lives here?" Lucy asked.
"Yes, in the Stone Quarters, in his family's old home. Aretino is the name."
Natsu glanced at Lucy but failed to read her thoughts through her expression. For a moment, she fell into her mind, trying to decide what to do.
"Don't worry about it, we will figure it out", she said then. "You don't have to go to the orphanage before it gets better out there. But you need food and shelter, or you're not going to see the flowers of the next summer. So please, accept this gold. Buy yourself food and warm clothes."
Hesitantly, Sofie looked at the coin purse, as if it was too good to be true. A trap. Maybe someone had trapped her before. She took long, deep glances in Lucy's eyes, then at Natsu's. Finally confirmed of their sincerity, she took the purse. "Thank you, lady… and mister!"
"And there's this thing", Lucy continued, "I'm friends with Jarl Ulfric. Go to him, and say Lucy Heartfilia asks him to help you out."
"Really? Can't be… Just, wow", the girl said, sparkling pure joy. "Thanks… Thanks for talking to me. The Divines bless your kind hearts!"
The girl bowed to them, and the wind blew off some flowers from her basket. She didn't bother to pick them up as she left running to the Palace of Kings, nervously shaking from excitement. Natsu hadn't seen happiness so pure in many years. If the gods did exist, maybe they could grant them a blessing for the good deed of the day.
Strangely, with Erza gone, different colours started to shine through Lucy. The shy girl Natsu had found in Helgen's ruins was coming out of her shell, taking the space she deserved.
"What are you going to do now?" Natsu asked when the little girl was gone. "Shall we go to the marketplace now?"
"Going to talk to that boy", she answered. "We still have some time left."
Natsu crossed his arms on his chest, sighing. "We really shouldn't mess with the Brotherhood's territory..."
"Let's just talk to him and see if there's anything we can do about it. Orphans have suffered enough when they lost their parents! They don't have to suffer more."
Natsu didn't agree with her, but she had a point. It didn't sit right with him if the children really were mistreated in the orphanage, so maybe it was better to talk to that boy. Then they could figure out what to do if they'd do anything. But the Black Sacrament thing, that had to be only a rumour. No child could really be doing it. Without saying anything, Natsu set forth into the Stone Quarters, Lucy following by his side. If checking out for the boy made Lucy happy, Natsu would go along.
They walked in silence through the snowy streets. They passed the Candleheart Hall and the main gates of the city, soon reaching the Aretino residence. Their name was carved into the side of the house. As Natsu had expected, the door was locked. No-one answered when he knocked. "No-one's there. Let's head to the -"
"Let's see about this one..." Lucy said, glancing over her shoulder to make sure there were no guards in sight. She pulled a lockpick from her pocket and crouched in front of the door. Natsu's brows raised so high he was sure they hit his hairline.
"Are you seriously going to –", Natsu whispered, but then the door creaked open. Lucy gave him a wicked grin. "How did you learn to pick locks?"
Lucy rose up and pat his back, urging him to sneak in before anyone caught them. "This is the stupidest thing in the world. The boy's probably in Riften anyway, and we're not supposed to be here", Natsu mumbled as he pulled the door closed after stepping in.
They arrived in a stairway which led to the upper floor of the building. Staying silent, they listened for suspicious noises, and Natsu's heart begun to race as he heard muffled chanting coming from the upstairs, accompanied by a knocking sound. As if someone repeatedly stabbed the floor.
'Sweet Mother, Sweet Mother, send your child onto me...'
"Do you hear that?" Lucy asked, and Natsu answered with a nod.
'… for the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in blood and fear.'
A/N: Hi guys, it's been a while! What did you think of this chapter? I introduced a new character in the beginning, who do you think he was? He's a character from Fairy Tail who'll replace a few Skyrim characters, lore wise.
I had some struggles while writing this chapter. This was a difficult one because writing transition chapters is quite hard – the previous part of the story comes to an end, while the next one has to be established. Natsu and Lucy are on their own now with Erza out of the picture, and it will change the dynamics between them.
I've also been really stressed out in my personal life and I wasn't in a mood to write until now. I made some changes in this chapter and made things more interesting for me. I'm inspired again! Originally, I planned they'd just go shopping in the marketplace, but my brain didn't agree with that. I'm not really into filler content, and I want everything to be relevant to the story at hand. There's going to be one-chapter mini arc before they finally go to the College.
