Caught in the Rain

I was exhausted by the time I made my way back to my home in Riften. Still, I tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep no matter what position I slept in. I kept dreaming of skooma addicts and dead Dunmer and an assassin running her blade through me.

Finally I sat up with a frustrated noise. I padded across the wooden floor to the wardrobe and pulled out some light clothing, a pink sundress. I'd never worn it - I barely remembered the last time I'd gone out without my armor. It felt like I'd been fighting forever instead of the last few months.

When I got outside it was just after dawn and there was a light mist over the town coming from the water. It was cloudy, as per usual for Riften, and despite the summery season I felt chilled. I took a deep breath and began to walk, feeling oddly naked without any armor or weapons on me (well, other than a dagger I had strapped to my thigh).

I wandered until late morning. The sun had begun to peek through the clouds and finally start to warm the earth. I now found myself outside the city walls, sitting on the bank of the water, sandals off and feet buried in the sand. With a deep breath I laid back.

And gasped.

"Bryjolf!" I said, sitting up suddenly.

"Aye lass," Bryjolf said. "Did you forget you were supposed to speak to Mercer?"

"Maybe I just wanted to procrastinate it," I said.

In all honesty, I hadn't thought about it. But Mercer hadn't struck me as a morning person.

"Better get it over with," Bryjolf said. "Or the man will be mad."

"He's always mad," I said.

Bryjolf laughed and sat down beside me. I expected him to start chattering, to flirt, to convince me to go back to Riften with him right then. Any noise really. But instead he just sat in silence with me as we both stared out over the lapping water.

"He wants you to do a job in Whiterun. A simple… borrowing from the tavern there," Bryjolf said.

"He called me all the way here for that?" I asked. "I was in Whiterun. Couldn't he have delivered a message?"

"He likes to make sure you're his," Bryjolf said.

"I am not his," I said vehemently.

"I know, lass," Bryjolf said quietly. "You know when we met, I never thought you'd be stuck between us and the Companions. I doubted you'd join us at all."

"You didn't act like you doubted that."

"Aye."

He didn't elaborate and I chanced a glance at him. In the tiny amount of sunlight his hair seemed even brighter. His skin was pale, obviously not getting as much sun as his "job" as a merchant would require. Or perhaps he didn't tan at all. I had seen few darker skinned Nords in this northern country.

We were silent again for some time and I laid back, watching the growing clouds drift over the sky. I sighed, thinking of warmer, dryer Cyrodiil. I loved the rain but sometimes it was nice to just enjoy a cool, rain-free day.

"You need to take care of yourself, lass," Bryjolf said.

I laughed a little at that. Between the three guilds I was juggling, it seemed I had no time for that. It was constant fighting and peacemaking. It felt like a long time since I'd been able to just do what I wanted, what made me feel good. My mind drifted back to my first days in the Companions, to my fight with Vilkas. For a brief time I had felt so alive. I shut my eyes.

And felt a few drops of rain hit my face.

I sighed and sat up, ready to stand. Bryjolf caught my wrist.

"Stay for a moment," he said.

I looked up at the growing dark clouds.

"We'll get wet," I said.

"So we will. It'll pass."

I looked at him and took a quick breath in. I understood what he was saying and I couldn't fight the instinct to just lean into his side and rest my head on his shoulders.

I whispered, "I hope so."