Maybe I don't 'got this.'

I stood with my shield above my head, blocking the rain at the beginning of the path to Bleak Falls Barrow. The trip had been uneventful, but it had started to rain as the sun lowered in the sky.

I had learned a lot with the Companions, but I had second thoughts. What if I get overwhelmed? Or an arrow in the head?

I need help.

I crossed the bridge and entered Riverwood. There were now Whiterun guards with torches patrolling the streets. Irileth's detachment.

I turned at the inn and headed to Hod and Gerdur's house. I knocked on the door, and there was no noise. Then, I heard Gerdur's muffled voice from behind the door, "Who's there?"

"It's me, Guy!" I called back.

Gerdur unlocked and opened the door, calling back into the house, "It's Guy! He's back from Whiterun!"

I entered and quickly brought my cold ass to the fireplace. Ralof came from around the corner, placing his axes back on his belt. He wore some casual clothes and was out of his Stormcloak attire. "Well met, friend! We were starting to think you weren't coming back. How was your journey?"

"Not horrible," I replied. "Whiterun is all barricaded, and I see the detachment of guards you asked for arrived." Gerdur handed me a warm mug of mead. I nodded in gratitude, took a sip, and looked at Ralof. "I take it that's why you're so jumpy?"

"Yeah, that and you came in the dead of night," he sighed. "A small problem in hindsight. Whiterun is still neutral, but there are still people here that support the Empire and would have me drug out of town." He sat and picked up a half-eaten piece of bread. "It's boring just sitting around, though. No news of Jarl Ulfric has passed through. I'm starting to doubt your Sight, friend." He smirked, but his smile faded as his eyes settled on my shield. He placed back his bread and leaned towards me in his chair, squinting his eyes to get a closer look. He then sat back in his chair, "How in Oblivion did you get your hands on one of Eorlund Gray-Mane's works?"

At the mention of this, Gerdur came around me to see for herself. She looked at it, to me, and back to it.

"I trained with the Companions for a bit. That's why I was delayed." I took another sip of mead.

"Wow, that's a great honor!" Gerdur gasped.

"Speaking of which, Ralof, just how bored are you?" I smirked around the lip of my mug.

Ralof paused, processing what I had just said. "So not only do you have Skyforge Steel on your arm, but you have a job from them? You got in? I heard they were taking in non-Nords but…." Ralof slowly shook his head in disbelief. "It would be an honor to assist the Companions. What is it?"

"You know the bandits that hit Lucan?" I swirled my cup. "He hired the Companions to take out the bandits up at Bleak Falls."

"He had the money for that after the robbery?" Ralof finally took a bite of his bread.

Gerdur piped up, "Well, from what I heard, Lucan said they didn't take much. In fact, the store was hardly missing anything."

"Then why did he want them dead? Did they…do something to Camilla?" Ralof asked after chewing.

"No, thank the gods," Gerdur picked up her broom.

"They took the Golden Claw from him," I said. "It's the key to the Bleak Falls Hall of Stories. He doesn't know that, but he still wants it back."

Ralof and Gerdur turned their heads to me and stared for a few moments. Ralof chuckled and put back down his bread. "Can you say that again, friend? I don't believe I heard you right."

"The Golden Claw." I repeated.

"No, no, the other part," Ralof put his elbows on the table and rubbed his eyes.

"The key to the Bleak Falls Hall of Stories?" I took a swig.

Ralof turned to me with a gaping smile, turned to Gerdur, and then back to me.

"So those bandits… they're after old artifacts." Ralof shook his head once again in disbelief. "You know it's always when you're around that I hear things like this."

"That's what I'm here for," I smiled. "As well as one of those artifacts. The Jarl gave me this armor as a reward…and to task me with retrieving the Dragonstone."

"And it just keeps coming." Ralof chuckled as he took a bite of his bread. He looked at the fire for a few moments as he chewed, then back to me. "You know what, I'm in. I'm getting sick of looking at these walls, and this sounds like a great adventure." He stood and outstretched his arm.

I went for a regular handshake, but he grabbed my forearm and shook it. "When are we going?"

"Well," I replied, "I still need to meet with Lucan and discuss everything. I also have an idea for another member of our party. I'm thinking, either way, tomorrow night."

"Another member?" Ralof tilted his head and squinted. "As long as it's not someone who will reveal me."

"I'm thinking Faendal. If I can borrow him, of course, Gerdur?" I looked at her, and she nodded.

"Why Faendal? He doesn't have combat experience." Ralof let go of my arm and sat down. "I mean, he's a good hunter, but…why would he even help us?"

"I have a plan," I smiled.


The morning sun cast a beautiful glow on Riverwood. The sounds of wildlife, Alvor's hammering in the forge, and the roar of the river filled the air. I crossed the bridge on the south end of the forge and came upon a Wood Elf chopping wood.

I approached slowly, taking a casual nature to it. It soon became clear he was upset. He placed a log on the chopping block. He lifted his axe and chopped down with a grunt. "Damn you, Sven." I heard as I came closer behind him.

I passed by his side, "A beautiful morning, wouldn't you agree?"

Faendal looked up. He straightened up his stance and removed the axe from the wood of the block. "...It would seem so."

I turned my shield side to him, "So…who is this Sven fellow? Has he been causing problems for you?"

"So you heard that. Right." Faendal leaned on his axe, looking off into the river. "He's a bard…so he says. Occasionally, he finds time to do his job here at the mill. Thinks his ballads and sonnets are going to convince Camilla Valerius to marry him. As if she would say 'yes,'" he scoffed. "An intelligent, beautiful woman like her wouldn't fall for that nonsense." He looked down and paused in thought, "I hope."

"Ah, you like the same girl," I gave an exaggerated sigh and looked off the same way he did. "Classic." I paused and turned. "Valerius, you said? Related to a Lucan Valerius?"

"Yes, that would be her brother," Faendal looked at me. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm with the Companions, I've been hired by him to take care of some bandits. Do you know where he lives?" I asked, even though I walked by the shop earlier.

"Yes, he owns the Riverwood Trader," Faendal swung his Woodcutters Axe to his shoulder, walked near the wooden bridge, and pointed. "That shop there."

"Ah, thank you…uh…I don't believe I got your name friend," I offered my hand.

"Faendal. Glad to help," he smiled and shook my hand.

I returned his smile, "Guy."

I let go of his hand and took a step in the direction of the shop but stopped. I turned back to Faendal. "You know, if you really want to get into Camilla's good graces, maybe you could come with me. Doing this for her would certainly make any idea of that other boy disappear." I smiled, "What do you say?"

"And leave her to get with Sven while I'm gone? Not a chance." Faendal scoffed.

I narrowed my eyes. Maybe not as easy as I thought. "What's stopping her now while you are busy chopping wood?"

"Because I'm still alive," Faendal scoffed. "If I go out to fight bandits with you, she may consider me as good as dead."

"Well, if you're not open to it…I suppose I'll leave you with that problem," I turned and started to walk away, hoping Faendal would change his mind or offer me his quest.

After a few steps, my hopes were answered, "Wait!" Faendal jogged up to me. "I think there is one way we could make this work. Before we go I need her to see Sven for what he really is."

YES! "What do you mean?" I turned to Faendal.

"Well… I've written a letter…." Faendal whispered. "could you…could you give it to her and say Sven gave it to you after showing you to the Riverwood Trader? I think I've matched that Nord's lack of cleverness perfectly."

"Very well," I nodded and offered my hand out.

"Oh…I don't have it on me, let me hurry to my house and get it." Faendal tossed his Woodcutters Axe back towards the block and ran across the street.

I followed him a bit, just to get out of view of the main street. Faendal entered his house, and after a bit, emerged once again with the letter in hand.

"Here it is, let me know what happens! And thank you, thank you so much," Faendal shook my hand again and gave a friendly slap to my arm before practically prancing back to work.

I walked behind the houses to reposition myself like I was coming from the north side of town. I walked to the Riverwood Trader and opened the door.

It was a lovely small shop. Behind the counter, an Imperial man with short dark hair called out to me, "Welcome to the Riverwood Trader! I don't know what you've heard, but we're still open, feel free to shop."

In a chair by the fireplace, an Imperial woman in a yellow dress and long black hair perked her head up, studying me up and down. After a moment, she stood, "Are you with the Companions?"

Before I could respond, Lucan rolled his eyes and turned to his sister, "Camilla, you need to stop asking every new customer that walks in here that. I sent that letter only days ago. They'll get here when they get here."

"No need to worry. I am with the Companions. It took me a bit to find this place, a fellow by the name of...Sven sang my ear off as he showed me the way," I chuckled. "In fact, you are Camilla, yes? Charmed to meet you, milady" I gave a slight bow. Camilla Valerius curtsied with a smile.

I pulled the letter from my shield hand. "The bard asked to give this to you since I was a...new face." Camilla giggled and took the letter. "Another poem, I bet," She opened the envelope and pulled out the note within. "He does know how to make a girl blush." She gave a little dance as she turned away and started reading.

I turned to Lucan. "So what's the job?"

"Well, uh, we had a bit of a -" Lucan began but was cut off by Camilla, "What in Oblivion is this?" We both turned to her.

Camilla started tearing up the letter and throwing the pieces in the fire. "If that OAF thinks all I'm going to do is stay in that filthy house of his and clean, I'll…AAAAAAA." she screamed and kicked the chair.

Lucan and I looked at each other then back to her. She then came up to me, causing me to very "bravely" back myself up against the counter for dear life, "When you see Sven, you can tell him he already has a mother. I'm not speaking to him ANYMORE." Camilla then angrily stormed upstairs.

I turned back to Lucan, who shook his head. "My apologies, Companion."

I leaned against the counter, looked at the stairs then back to Lucan. "...Back to business?"

"Oh yeah, so we had a bit of a break-in. Funny thing, the robbers were only after one thing." Lucan leaned forward and rubbed his hands together. "An ornament, solid gold, in the shape of a dragon's claw."

I nodded, "From what I've been told, they're hiding in the Barrow?"

"Exactly right," Lucan nodded. "As I discussed in my letter, the coin from my last shipment goes to your organization if you bring my claw back."

"Excellent, I'll head up there this evening." I stepped away from the counter.

"Before you go…." Lucan's voice sang over my shoulder, "If you need any warm clothes for the trip, I have some cloaks in stock."

I stopped. Damn, I hadn't even thought about the cold. I turned back to Lucan, "What do you have?"

He started digging around behind his counter. "How about this fur cloak? 200 septims normally. I'll charge you 150 since I need this done." He placed a hooded Fur Cloak made with dark fur on the counter.

I sighed and opened my sad purse. One gold septim…2 silver…a few coppers. Damn, I'm broke as fuck.

"How about…" I paused, thinking of a good number. "120? That's a bit expensive for fur." I think?

"If you can find this quality for that cheap with supply lines cut by the war, I'd love to know where!" Lucan laughed and leaned against the counter. "But seriously, 150 is the lowest I can go. I'm sending you out there, after all."

Fine. I pinched out my Gold Septim and a Silver. Lucan looked down and then looked at me in anticipation. We met eyes, and after a pause, he firmly said, "...I said 150."

I paused and looked at the coins on the counter. I have no idea how much that is. It was just one gold for one septim in-game.

"How much…do I have?" I bit my lip.

Lucan raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"I…I don't remember how much the gold and silver ones are," I looked at the table, embarrassed.

Lucan just stared at me with his lips pursed. "...100…and 25."

I looked back at my purse. I sighed and begrudgingly presented Lucan with my last Silver Septim.

Lucan scooped up the coins, weighed each one with his scale, then placed them to the side. He presented me with my cloak while I took my extra equipment off to put it on.

Immediately felt much warmer with it draped across my shoulders and flowing down my back and sides. The hood was snug and warm. I pulled it down for now and reequipped my pack.

"What do you think?" Lucan returned behind the counter, where he began writing in his ledger.

"Better than I thought to be honest. Thank you, Lucan," I replied.

"No, thank you for doing business with the Riverwood Trader," Lucan smiled and looked up. "Another thank you when you bring back my claw."

"On it." I turned to the door and exited to find Faendal. Luckily he was where I left him. I approached him as another log split from his blow.

He turned as I approached. "Hey! Nice cloak. So…how did it go with Camilla?"

I tilted my head and extended my hands to the side. "Where to start? First, she screamed, 'what in Oblivion is this!' then she ripped it up and threw it in the fire, then she said she is - ahem - 'not speaking to him ANYMORE' and ran upstairs."

An open smile grew on Faendal's face as I told the story. "Haha!" Faendal exclaimed, "That's even better than I thought!"

"So?" I stood and extended my hand. "What do you say we seal the deal…hero?"

Faendal's face slowly lost the smile. "Right." He looked at the ground then leaned on his axe. "What's the plan?"

I turned and started walking away, "Meet us at the start of the path up the mountain at sundown. Bring some warm clothes and whatever gear you need."

"Us?" Faendal's voice floated past me, but I didn't respond.