Laessa stood outside the Palace of the Kings with a sack of gold in her hand. She paused as as soon as she walked out, prompting Amalee to bump into her from the sudden stop.
"Hnf… I'm adopting her." The Breton suddenly announced.
"What?" The reply came from both of her travelling companions.
"That small girl, I'm taking her in and becoming her mother. Whiterun is much nicer and I can get her some shoes. She has no shoes Valdimar!" She exclaims as she looks to her thane.
"I agree with your sentiment and reasoning but are you sure my Thane?" The Nord man looks to his lead.
"Go for it! A child should have the chance to blossom under a mother's warmth!" Amalee threw her arms into the air, her breath visible from the sheer cold in Eastmarch.
"It's settled then. And I am sure, Lydia is a good woman, and I've schmoozed around Whiterun enough for those to like me and therefore, any little one that I take in." She thumps her chest in pride.
"As you say my Thane, I trust your decision making." The sorcerer Nord bows his head as Amalee suppresses her more instinctual nature to squeal in delight.
She made headway to the east gate of Windhelm, the one that led to the docks. A determined woman with an aura of intensity that made those in the Gray Quarter look over for a moment, a double take for some thinking the Breton had somehow mimicked the Dunmer art of calling upon their Ancestors.
It did not take long till she spotted the girl, standing by the gate in ragged shoes, nor did it take long to slow her pace and gently approach the girl holding the empty basket and counting the coin that Laessa last gave her for the flowers the little girl had picked.
"Dear… What is your name?" The woman asked, causing the girl to become startled for a moment.
"A-ah! Oh, hello again ma'am. My name is Sofie." The little blonde replied.
"Well, good to meet you Sofie. I am Laessa Dalont. Adventurer supreme and the best weapon master to step in Skyrim this age." The Breton gives a grin and a wink.
"Oh wow! And adventurer! I wish dad just did that… But he went to be a Stormcloak… And mama died when I was little so I never knew her well…" The girl pouts as she looks to the cold stone.
Laessa crouched down, patted the girl's head in consolation for the child's sorrow.
"Nothing makes me wish more than to reunite you with family, but even that is beyond my ability… But!" The Breton gently took the girl's hands into her own, holding the basket together.
"I can do the next best thing, and give you a new family." She smiled wide.
The girl could only look up, tears in her eyes as she met the Breton eye to eye.
"C-can you… A-are you…?" She was beside herself, hope is the feeling she thought she lost.
"Of course little flower, it is okay to say it." She gently brought a finger to wipe away those tears.
"Mama…" The little girl hugged the woman, a warmth she hasn't felt in a long time.
The two shared their moment, the two travelling companions watching from a distance.
"It's so beautiful…." Amalee openly fought her own tears of joy for the girl.
"Aye, she has a way with her words and fire beneath her feet. I keep finding more reasons why the Jarl assigned me to her as her Housecarl." Valdimar had a smile on his face, though he fought it too for duty's sake.
Laessa gave the girl the sack of gold and led her to purchase new clothes and have a new chance to feel what family is like once more.
Always adopt the small children, they deserve a better life.
Sofie is my must protect in all of Skyrim. Can't just leave that little girl out in the cold of Windhelm. My heart always goes out to her.
Any who, another good day to you good readers.
~ Makmix