REMNANTS OF SKYRIM
Ch 2: Riverwood in danger
The two warriors stared at each other. Jaune had no idea what to say. "Closest town from here is Riverwood." Hadvar finally broke the silence, "My uncle's the blacksmith there. I'm sure he'll help you out."
A blacksmith. Jaune gave him a small grin, thinking of Ruby. He wondered the differences there were between Skyrim and Hylian blacksmithing. Perhaps he would be able to learn and teach what he learned to Ruby! "Follow me." Hadvar said, guiding Jaune down a dirt trail surrounded by forest, "I'll lead you there. Thank you, I probably wouldn't have made it without your help." With that, the two stopped for a moment as Hadvar looked thoughtful.
"Listen, you should go to Solitude and join up with the Imperial Legion. We could really use someone like you." Hadvar said, somewhat pleading with his expression, "And if the Rebels have themselves a dragon, General Tullius is the only one who can stop them."
"Wait." Jaune said with disbelief in his expression, "You REALLY think I should join the Legion?!"
"Of course!" Hadvar said, before sighing. "Look, I know today wasn't the best introduction, I hope you can give us another chance... but we could really use someone like you. Especially now."
"General Tullius ordered my execution." Jaune said flatly, crossing his arms.
"I don't blame you for being angry about it, I would be too in your shoes." Hadvar admitted, "It is tough from nearly being executed to fighting for the legion. I'm sure you'll make the choice you feel is right. If I get to Solitude before you, I'll be sure to vouch for you."
The dirt path soon lead to a few cobblestones as the stopped on a hill overlooking a river. In the distance, on a mountain, was an ornate ruin. "See that ruin up there? Bleak Falls Barrow. When I was a boy, that place used to always give me nightmares." Hadvar said, pointing out the ruins. "Draugr creeping down the mountain to crawl through my window at night, that kind of thing. I admit, I still don't like the look of it." The two kept running after that, stopping at three stone with carvings in them at the bottom of the hill.
One had a carving of a man in a cloak holding the dagger, another a man in robes holding a staff, the last a man in armor with a sword and shield.
"These are the Guardian Stones." Hadvar explained, "Three of thirteen ancient standing stones across Skyrim. They are said to give certain blessings; but only one at a time. Go ahead, try it out." Jaune placed his hand on the stone with the armored figure and it lit up glowing dots on the design like a constellation. Jaune felt a rush entering him...and then the knowledge that his abilities in combat would improve faster filled him as he gazed at the stone in wonder and surprise. "Warrior. Good." Hadvar said with a smile, "I knew you shouldn't have been in the cart the moment I laid eyes on you! Come on, Riverwood is not too far away."
The two ran along the path, Jaune drawing his sword and shield. "As far as I'm concerned, you've already earned your pardon, but until we get that cleared with General Tullius, it would be best if you avoid Imperial patrols or let me do the talking." Jaune looked back at the soldier and nodded to him, as he sheathed his blade and held the shield in his left hand.
Soon, a stone walkway came into view as wooden buildings along the path and river were just seen behind it, with a water wheel turning in the river powering a sawmill. On the first building, there was a stone forge and a metal sign with an anvil on it. A tall, soot-covered man in black boots, brown pants, and a red shirt behind a black leather apron was pounding metal on an iron table of some kind, his long blonde hair trailing down his face as his blue eyes were hardened with focus.
"Uncle Alvor! Hello!" Hadvar shouted, making the man pull away from his work.
"Hadvar!" The man spoke with the Nordic accent found in this region softly, in disbelief, "Are you on leave from..." Alvor trailed off seeing the rips in their armor and expression on their faces, "Shor's bones, what happened to you boy?!"
"Shh... Uncle. Keep your voice down." Hadvar pleaded, "I'm fine, but we should get inside to talk."
"What's going on? And who's this?" Alvor asked, gazing at Jaune.
"He's a friend. Saved my life in fact." Hadvar said, and Jaune blinked in surprise. A...friend? Hadvar thought of him as a friend? Hadvar guided him into the building where a woman with auburn hair and a young girl whose hair looked like a mixture of both Hadvar and the woman's colors guided him to a table. Jaune gazed at his hands as the woman went to a cooking pot and Hadvar started explaining what happened at Helgen, the young girl exitedly asking for details about the dragon. From his right hand, Jaune saw the Triforce of Courage glow momentarily.
Alvor smiled as he handed Jaune a couple bottles of a drink called "Honningbrew Mead", a ring enchanted to help conjuration magic, an iron ingot, and a civilian Skyrim tunic. "I'm glad to help in any way I can...but we need your help too. We need to get word to Jarl Balgruuf in Whiterun to send any troops he can. Riverwood is defenseless! If you can do that, I will be in your debt."
"I will do so." Jaune said, "but can you teach me about smithing?" At this, Alvor puffed his chest out proudly, guiding Jaune to his forge. Under the blacksmith's watchful eyes and tutelage, Jaune crafted a simple iron dagger and a helmet made out of deer hide. Not only did Alvor let him keep his first creations, but gave him about 20 gold coins, bringing the amount Jaune had to 119. He also gave Jaune 5 spare steel ingots and 5 spare iron ingots. That would be enough to make a simple start.
The sun was starting to set as Jaune stepped across a stone bridge on the path to Whiterun as a courrier in a green tunic stopped him, handing him a package, saying it was from a strange man in a robe claiming to be a "friend". Opening it as the man ran off, Jaune saw what looked like a Sheikah slate with that strange portal design that showed a realistic map. In black with white outlines were numerous logos in different locations with different designs. The one with a horse he was heading to was labeled "Whiterun". In white with black outlines were house symbols labeled "Helgen" and "Riverwood". Finally, Jaune let out a sigh of relief as he spotted his engagement ring and slipped it on and put his fur gauntlet over it.
He sliced into a wolf that attacked him, gathering the pelt and slid down a hill to a farm where a few people were fighting what could only be described as a giant. It was two, maybe three times the height Jaune was and only let out unintelligible grunts as it swung with a wood and bone club. It swung and killed a cow, as a man in steel armor lept back and Jaune ran forward and stabbed the iron sword into the giant's let as the man in armor swung his long steel greatsword and ripped into the giant's chest and killed it.
A redhead with blue claw mark warpaint over her face and fur and iron armor approached him. "You handle yourself well. You may make a decent shield-brother." At Jaune's confused expression, the woman chuckled, "An outsider eh? Never heard of the Companions? Come to Jorrvaskr if you are interested in joining and speak to Kodlak Whitemane. He has a six sense for determining a person's worth."
Upon reaching the gates with the warriors he helped, he was stopped by what looked like a man in a yellow version of what the Stormcloaks wore with Imperial style light boots and a yellow, brown and gray helmet that covered his whole head. IN his hand was an iron and wood shield with yellow paint and that horse head logo Jaune saw on the map. "Halt! City's closed due to the dragon buisiness."
"Riverwood calls for the Jarl's aid." Jaune said as the other warriors looked at each other.
"Riverwood is in danger too?!" The guard said, "Better head inside. Talk to the Jarl up in Dragonsreach, at the top of the hill." The guard turned and inserted a key into the large wooden doors in the stone walls and pushed it open. Inside the walls as the moons rose-and that was a shock to Jaune-TWO intact moons-the feeling the city gave, even at night, could only be described as "homely". He saw a man in Imperial Light armor with blonde hair speaking to a tanned woman blacksmith with dirty blonde hair. A wooden homes with yellow roofs were around the path leading to a stone circular area with market stalls set up in front of an inn. Near one was a sign on a building labelled "General Goods", another one nearby labeled "Apothecary".
A well sat in the middle of the marketplace, with the sound of flowing water coming from the stairway as a sloped waterway sat on each side of the stairs leading to benches around a dead tree with more buildings on the higher level.
A man in yellow and orange robes stood in front of a statue of a man piercing a dragon's tail with a dagger-shaped pedestal in front of it, shouting about a "Talos" to everyone in the area. On the way to the stone stair leading to an imposing wooden and stone castle, Jaune heard a young girl in a tattered green dress and brown hair muttering to herself about being hungry and gave her a few of the found gold coins.
After a short jog, Jaune stared at the intricate carved doors of Dragonsreach. His fists clenched as he focused his gaze. "The people of Riverwood need me." He said to himself. With an exhale, he shoved the doors open.