Arc 3—Uncivil War—Chapter 12:

An hour after after dark, Idgrod slipped out of the Bannered Mare and took a roundabout way through the backstreets to Breezehome. She said that when she moved around to the front of the house and tapped on the door, it opened immediately and hands pulled her inside.

Lucia gave her a big hug, barely controlling her urge to yell out her name in greeting. Idgrod, who'd always been responsible for caring for her little brother since he was a baby, said this was the first time she'd ever almost felt like a mother. She'd grown to care for the little girl and, on seeing see Lucia respond to her like that, Idgrod said it brought tears of joy to her eyes.

After locking and barring the door, Lydia watched, smiling, before giving a polite nod. "Greetings, Idgrod, and welcome. I understand you've met Vilkas." She pointed to the Companion, leaning against the wall a few feet behind them, watching all that went on. "Vilkas has thought about it and says he's come up with a good way to get us out of the city."

"One where, if we watch ourselves, we won't even be seen."

"Really? That's great!"

"But it will have to be our secret," said Vilkas. "You can never tell anyone how we did it. Agreed?"

Idgrod said she looked to Lydia and Lucia, who both nodded. "On our lives," she agreed. "But wait...you said 'we.' Are you coming with us?"

Vilkas nodded. "Wouldn't do much good if I dumped you outside and left you on your own, would it? Gather your things and we'll be off when you're ready, but I warn you, sooner is better than later."

Lydia and Lucia had already packed and had filled a small backpack with some additional items for Idgrod. Lydia also dug in my chest and pulled out a better knife and a walking staff for her. Lucia had a small pack, plus her ebony dagger, a light Elven shortbow, and quiver of arrows that I'd made for her. Before she picked up her backpack, she reached in and pulled out her little doll. "Kady, I'm sorry, but you'll be safer here," she said.

Idgrod said she could barely keep from smiling as she watched Lucia take the doll into her bedroom and tuck her in her bed.

When they came back in the main room, Lydia said there was a look of determination on my little girl's face. "Let's go find my pa."

~ESV~

They would never have been able to tell me exactly how they got out of Whiterun undetected since Vilkas gave them blindfolds, made them hold hands, and then took them on a walk in the dark through part of the city before finally taking them somewhere within a cave or a mine.

I solved the mystery some months later, but that in itself is a different tale. Because of that, Idgrod was able to tell me a little more without betraying her trust. She said they'd gone a good way into the cave, shuffling their feet and taking short steps to avoid falling, when Vilkas lit a torch and told them, "You can remove your blindfolds but don't go back. The hidden secrets of my circle must be preserved, even if I do violate the intent in bringing you here."

Idgrod said Lydia looked into his eyes and said, "Vilkas, our word is our bond. We won't betray you or your secret."

She told me that Vilkas, a rather dour man most of the time, had the closest thing to a smile that she saw him have that night when Lydia said that. He kissed Lydia's hand lightly and said, "Come."

Through the tunnel they went, escaping outside the city. With the torch extinguished, Idgrod had no idea where they came out as Vilkas helped them drop down from a high ledge to the outside world. Lydia and Vilkas led the way and, by sometime after midnight, they'd found our camp south of the city. Lucia was so excited that I was afraid she would squeal and give our location away, but she did a remarkable job controlling herself. There were hugs and kisses with the girls before I turned to Vilkas.

"Based on the note, it sounded dangerous for the women," he told me, "so I brought them out by a...a different route...so no one would see us."

"Thank you, Companion. You've done all I have asked and more," I told him in reply. "I won't forget what you've done for us. Best wishes, my friend."

He cocked his head a bit and looked at me under the stars. "The danger is over then?"

"Not by a long shot, unfortunately, but you've done more than I had a right to ask. We'll take if from here."

Vilkas shook his heavy mane. "Companion, you're still very junior in our ranks. When you sought membership, I encouraged Kodlak to deny you, thinking you only sought glory for yourself rather than the bond that unites true Companions. I've come to realize that I was wrong about you, that you try to do the right thing even when no one else will know, but there is much you still don't know about us. One big thing you have to learn before Kodlak allows you to advance into the Circle is that when the Companions take a job, we take it until it's finished. I'll be coming with you as long as the women are in danger."

I grasped his forearm and he mine and we were united in friendship and our common cause. Turning back to the women, I said, "It's time to go while we can. Gather everything up and let's head out. Oh, and Vilkas will be coming with us, too."

We started hiking to the south, heading up into the foothills and then the mountain range south of Whiterun. Lydia and Vilkas dropped back behind us a little way, trying to sweep out our footprints when we were traveling through areas where they might be visible. Lucia became more and more tired as we walked, and I finally picked her up and carried her, asleep with her head on my shoulder, as we found and then followed the winding trail toward Bleak Falls Barrow. Serana and Idgrod smiled and carried Lucia's equipment.

Exhausted, we stopped and hid before daybreak, bedding down for some much needed rest.

~ESV~

"Pa? Where are we going?" asked Lucia late that afternoon as we prepared to go.

"Somewhere safe, Sweetheart. Don't worry about where, okay? Right now, we have to be very quiet and keep from being seen as we get there."

"O-kay, Pa," she replied with a sigh. "You're not staying with us when we get there, are you?"

I shook my head. "I have to take care of some things so you and Idgrod will be safe in the future. You'll have to help take care of her when we get there, just like she's going to help take care of you. Deal?"

She smiled at me. "Pa, you're silly. That's what families always do."

I hugged her tight to me, thinking of how lucky I was to have found her, but also how that was only because her own aunt and uncle, the only family she had left, hadn't cared enough about her to take care of her. As tough as it had been on her, I knew that was probably for the best since she would have died just like them when a dragon attacked the farms in their area. I kissed the top of her head and silently thanked the Divines for their wisdom and for allowing her in my life.

"Listen up, everyone," I said quietly. "It's almost sunset, so we're going single file, as quietly and inconspicuously as we can past the old barrow just a little further up the mountain. There's a good chance that someone, or some thing, is using it, and if I have my guess, whoever or whatever it is probably isn't friendly. Soon after we get past it, we'll be going by a tower keep as we head down the trail toward Riverwood. The Brasden gang was using that tower as a hideout a little while back."

Vilkas shook his head. "I've heard of them. Scum of the first order."

"Yeah," I agreed. "Their specialty is bushwacking people on this trail or on the road between Riverwood and Whiterun. Again, quiet and inconspicuous is our watchword." We went over our battle plan, in case it might be needed, all the while hoping it wouldn't be.

I led the way with Serana right behind me, with Idgrod and Lucia tucked into the middle of our party. With twilight upon us, we made it past the barrow as if we were part of the long shadows of the evening, but the Brasdens were keeping better watch when we neared their stronghold a little after dark.

"Didn't see that string, did 'ja?" called a male voice. "We'll be relieving ya' of your goods if you plan to pass us. 'Course, if you don't wanna' give'em up, we'll take'em off your dead bodies. We'll give ya' a minute to talk 'mongst yourselves, but not a second longer."

"Lydia, go," I whispered, looking back to her as Serana moved over the side to set up our battle line. With a nod, Lydia touched Idgrod and Lucia on their shoulder, motioning them to back up with her, out of what we figured would be the primary line of fire. Vilkas also dropped back with them, but stayed between us and the ladies, so he could join the fight wherever he was needed most.

When the minute was almost up, I called out, "You with the Brasden gang, or did you guys wipe out those wimps?"

"Wimps?" shouted another male voice, a deeper, angrier voice, off to the left. Serana nodded to me as she quietly moved a few more paces in that direction, using her eyesight and the moonlight to help her see.

"Shut up!" called the one I assumed to be the leader. "You lot, throw down your stuff if you're planning to or prepare to die."

"So it is still the wimpy Brasden gang," I replied, ignoring his challenge. "Sure do hate to kill all you guys; the jarl's only offering 100 septims for the whole lot of you. Personally, I was hoping to wait a few more months where you'd be worth my time."

Dressed in heavy armor, the guy on their left was huffing and puffing as he came running at me. The leader made his move, not quite as quickly, at the same time. I was disappointed that I hadn't drawn out the third member of their gang, so I could only hope that some other group had already taken care of him.

Serana wanted the location of the third person, too, in case it was a wizard, but with two coming at me and not being sure if there was a third, she fired a lighting bolt at Deep Voice as he drew near. The lightning lit him up and shook him in place for a moment as I moved in on the leader.

"Aaay!" I shouted out as white blur hit me in the side. The cold penetrated through my armor as if it was nothing, causing me to move sluggishly as I engaged the leader, who'd wisely held back for a moment until the spell had passed. Fortunately for me, my natural Nord resistance to cold saved me from the worst of the effect. Serana was far enough away that she avoided the area effect spell.

That was what Vilkas had been waiting for. With his bow already drawn, he took aim at the source of the spell and fired, hitting the wizard as Serana loosed another blast at Deep Voice. The leader, I could now see, was wearing so-called "carved" Nordic armor, with its raised relief of various sybols and creatures, and carrying a greatsword. Despite my sluggishness, I somehow blocked his first blow and then shouted, "Fo!" catching him (and, I hoped, the wizard) in the "cone" of my dragonfrost breath.

The leader was apparently protected by the same Nordic blood as myself, but my dragon shout still had the effect of slowing him somewhat. A slowed longsword that I was using is a lot faster than a slowed two-handed sword, so I took advantage to slash his leg near his knee, where the armor was weakest. He buckled sideways as a result and his sword cut wildly through the air, missing everything.

I would have finished him off then but the wizard wasn't through, this time firing a lightning strike at me. While my spellcasting ability, with the exception of restoration spells, was generally weak, my enchanting ability had increased greatly over the past year; my shield had been enchanted with as much fire protection as I could give it, and my boots were similarly enchanted versus shock. Therefore, it felt as if part of the current bled off into the ground instead of passing through me; still, it was bad enough as I shook and held onto my sword and dagger for dear life.

Serana was hitting Deep Voice with another spell; confused, I didn't see what, but I noticed that Leader was back up and getting ready to take another swing at me as the bolt dissipated. Knowing that I would be the target for Wizard again in a moment, I wasn't liking how this fight was developing considering that Lydia and Vilkas protecting my ladies was the most important thing in all of Nirn to me.

The strange feeling that I call a cool-down period was almost over, which would allow me to use another dragon shout, but I could see it wasn't going to be soon enough. That was when a red streak from back up the trail zoomed in on Wizard, leading to a great blast and ball of fire. Wizard screamed (or Wizardess, I now suspected), most likely losing a spell, causing Leader to be distracted for just a moment. That allowed me to parry Leader's blow and, as that mystic power returned to me, I shouted, "Fus Ro Dah!" The leader went flying backward into the darkness, probably off the path and down the mountainside, never to be seen by us again.

At that point, I turned and ran at Wizard as another streak came zipping in and exploding on top of her. I hesitated for a moment, just outside of the blast zone, before moving in and cutting her down.

"Clear!" I called, hoping to hold off another blast.

"Clear!" called Serana from her battle with Deep Voice.

Seeing no other enemies, I ran the short distance back up the trail to find Idgrod and Lydia a few feet apart and Vilkas and Lucia some distance back on the other side.'

"What was that?" I demanded of Lydia as I came running up, only then noticing the bow she held in her hand. I hadn't even seen her fire any arrows but she held up three fingers, indicating that she'd been busy, before cocking her head toward Idgrod, who was holding her walking stick up in front of her with both hands.

On realizing what she'd done, I wasn't pleased. "Idgrod! What on Nirn were you thinking? You gave away your position and could have been killed if that wizardess had had just a few seconds more. Sweetheart, why?"

She moved the staff in her left hand, jabbing it down onto the ground, and firmly planted her right hand on her hip. Speaking in a very low, very angry voice, she said, "Aerik Dovahkiin, don't you fuss at me. I won't stand idly by and watch you be killed if there's anything in my power to do something about it, and I sure won't allow Lucia to see it. I may not be much of a sorceress myself, but if I have a magic staff in my hands, you can be sure I'll figure out how to use it to help, and use it I damn sure will. Now, you hush your complaining, put a big smile on your face, and go hug that little girl."

She turned and practically stomped off. Before I moved on to Lucia, I glanced at Lydia. She was holding her sides and covering her mouth, doing her best to avoid bursting out laughing.

~ESV~

I finally got to apologize to Idgrod before we made it to the west end of the Riverwood Bridge over the White River. She was trying to keep from smiling as I whispered my apology. She looked at me for a few seconds before giving me a very quick kiss on the lips.

"You better get going."

I stripped off my armor and clothes, wearing my undershorts and taking only my dagger with me as I moved down to the riverbank. From there, I could hear people on the east bank talking.

"Have you seen anything else?" asked one.

"Not since those blasts. It's been over an hour since that last one. Guess whatever it was is over," replied another.

"It's Daedra, I tell you," said a woman. "Like the gates of old. Divines help us."

"Shut up, Hilde. You'd make us believe you were there with the Oblivion gates 200 years ago if you could!"

"I don't know, Faendal. She might be old enough."

The old woman screeched at the speaker as laughter erupted. Moments later, the voices were receding, making me believe the watchers were heading home.

Based on the time reference and what they seemed to be discussing, I suspected they were looking up the mountain where we'd eliminated the Brasden gang a little while before. I waited for a few more minutes before entering the water and then swimming upstream to Riverwood Island. I made my way to the little dock and found the dory that I remembered seeing there on past visits. I quietly untied it, pushed off, and then floated downstream with it.

Once near the bridge, I swam for the west bank, pulling the little boat with me. We put Lydia and Idgrod in it and I fought my way upstream with them. We couldn't risk being seen going through Riverwood, but we also couldn't move down the west bank of the river because of the cliffs that ran almost all the way down into the water and the rapids and areas of deeper water upstream. When we were just past Riverwood, I was almost exhausted, so Lydia took to the oars and pulled for the east bank, where they got out.

Idgrod gave me a little kiss and then said, "Get in. Float back, using the oar to steer."

I gently rubbed a finger against her cheek and got in, doing as she said, before she covered me with a blanket to warm me on my way. A little later, I was back at the west bank, where Serana and Lucia got in the boat. Vilkas had joined me in removing his armor, so we put our things in the boat with the ladies and worked together to move the boat back upstream.

As tired and cold as I was, I realize now that it's doubtful that I would have made it on my own, but with his help, we made it past the island, at which point Serana took to the oars like Lydia had done earlier. After reaching the east bank and emptying the boat, Vilkas whispered to me, "I'll take it back." He climbed in and was gone, while Idgrod and Lucia dried me and wrapped me in blankets to try to warm me. I wasn't even dressed when Vilkas returned a short time later. I had no clue at the time how he could have done it so quickly, but he just gave me an odd grin.

We went a few more miles and made camp. Though I'd dried off and warmed myself as much as I could, I was still quite cold from my time in the chilly river, so Idgrod and Lucia cuddled up against me to keep me warm. Serana took the first watch, while Vilkas and Lydia apparently took a walk together into the forest.

~ESV~

We resumed our journey around noon that day, traveling along the road on the south side of Lake Ilinalta for a while before climbing up the bluff so we could head south.

Idgrod was looking out over the lake when she called to me. "This is one of the most beautiful spots I've ever seen," she said.

I nodded. "I've been this way before and said the same thing. I'd like to build a house here someday," I told her.

She took my arm and gave it a squeeze as we continued on our way, making our way to a nice camp area near Falkreath before nightfall. At sundown, we left Lydia and Vilkas behind when we entered town and took a room at the Dead Man's Drink Tavern. Valga, the tavernkeeper gave me a strange look as I checked in with two women and my daughter, but I told her, "They're my family and our guardian."

"Sure, Dragonborn. Whatever you say," she said with a laugh, leading Idgrod and Serana to stare daggers at her and me to want to smack her. Still, she was part of my plan, so I let it pass.

"Get us some extra straw ticks, please," I told her as I gave her a few extra septims. She nodded with a smile, but realized I was telling the truth when she returned with them. Idgrod and Lucia were already sound asleep in the bed. Serana and I barred the door and set a chair in front of it, and then I fell into a fitful sleep.

Morning came all too early, but we had to be off and make the most of it. I approached Valga as the women dressed. "Have you heard anything about the condition of the south pass to Cyrodiil? What about the one to Hammerfell?" I asked in a furtive whisper. "I have to get my family out of Skyrim, before it's too late."

She looked at me skeptically. "Dragonborn, are you serious?"

"Deathly so," I replied. "Is the pass open? And are the guards manning the barricades?"

"A caravan came through from Hammerfell a week ago, so I'd guess it's still open. The jarl hasn't had the guards to man that barrier since sometime last year; gate's supposedly wide open and anybody can walk right in...or out."

"Thanks, Valga. We'll be needing some supplies for the trip, too."

I made a few purchases and gave her a nice tip as I said, "Now, our conversation is just between the two of us okay. Don't tell anyone else."

Knowing how she gossiped, word of our plans would be all over Falkreath before we could get out of town.

~ESV~

We made good time as if heading for the pass, but cut off into the woods a short distance from the barricade. I slipped south and found the barricade deserted as Valga had said. After closing the gate, I walked backward for a way until I found a good stone. Once there, I turned around, aimed for the woods, and used my Become Ethereal shout (as softly as I could) to cross the area leaving no footprints. Once well into the woods, I backtracked to the others and we camped in a quiet, hidden copse until nightfall.

When evening came, we made our way back to Vilkas and Lydia, and then started a long climb into the mountains. Because of the danger of trying to climb in the darkness (even with the available moonlight), we finally camped and continued our journey at first light.

Around noon, we came around a bend and saw a cabin. A woman splitting wood put down her axe and picked up the bow next to her. In the smoothest motion imaginable, she had an arrow nocked and drawn.

Telling the others to wait, I walked forward with my hands raised.

"Aerik?" she said on recognizing me. "What the hell are you doing here? And bringing people here with you? You swore you'd tell no one."

"I didn't tell them," I replied. "And I apologize to you for bringing them without telling them where we were going. They're my family, they're in danger, and I have nowhere else to turn. Please help us."

She looked at me for several seconds before rolling her eyes, calling me a vile name, and then saying, "Well, don't make them stand around all day. Bring them on in."

~ESV~

I was looking in the direction of the city of Falkreath when Angi came out to join me that evening. After satisfying herself that there was no danger nearby, she sat down on the ledge next to me, though she still kept her bow close at hand in case of hidden danger.

"So is she the reason..." She trailed off, not finishing the rest of her question, but I knew what she meant.

"Yeah. I met her shortly after coming back to Skyrim."

"And been smitten by her charms ever since, eh? Well, I guess I can see why, but it doesn't do much for a woman's self-confidence when she can't even borrow a guy's attention for a little while."

"You're a beautiful woman, Angi. And believe me, you definitely had my attention, but my affection...well, you know. Someday you'll meet the right guy who'll give you his attention and his love for as long as you wish."

"If I ever get off this mountain, you mean? Remember, I have a bounty on my head. I'll never get off this mountain alive."

I patted her arm gently for a moment. "You know, I meant to talk to you about that. I've checked all of the bounty posters in the area since we had our conversation last time I was here. Neither your name nor anything close to your resemblance is on any of them. When this war ends, I think you'll be able to 'come home' and start your life again."

"Bull. If Ulfric wins, the Stormcloaks will wonder why I wasn't there to help them. If the Empire comes out on top, they'll want to know more about me, and when they put my family together with those two soldiers...no, I don't ever see coming off this mountain."

"Ulfric's betrayed the ideals that the people of Skyrim hold dear; he hasn't protected his people, all of his people, as a true jarl should. By his actions and his own voice, he's proven that he doesn't deserve to lead Skyrim, Angi. That's why I'm here. He's seeking me, or my family to use as leverage against me, to force me to serve him, so I'm going to see to it that neither of those happen and that he doesn't win."

"That's really why you brought them here?" she asked quietly.

"I needed somewhere safe, with someone I could trust. They'll be kidnapped, or possibly dead, if Ulfric's men get their hands on them."

"Maybe. What about the Empire? You think they're a bit better? Look what they did to my family, or at what they'll do to me if they ever catch me."

"Help me with this and I'll get you a clean slate. See, the Empire wants me, too, but the difference in them and Ulfric is they're a little closer to my ideals—"

"Bullshit. Ulfric's a snake in the grass but they're a viper in a pit, far more dangerous, if you ask me."

"True," I agreed, "but I have a little more leverage on the Imperial side, and a few less scores to settle. I'll require a pardon for you as part of the condition of my service."

"Get the spurned girl a pardon instead of wealth and power for yourself? Yeah, like I believe that."

"Angi, it's me, remember? The guy who wouldn't betray the girl he loved, even though he didn't know if she loved him back, even for a night of carnal bliss with you?"

"I offered you a whole week, you asshole, not a night," she said with a laugh. Becoming more serious, she added, "But I guess when you put it that way, maybe I do believe you."

Putting my hand over my mouth to hide my smile, I asked, "So they can stay? And you'll help protect them?"

She gave a long sigh in response. "Yeah. And yeah, I'll help protect them, too."

"Thanks, Angi. I knew I could count on you. And, say, did I mention that Lucia's been learning to use a bow? She's gotten to be pretty good but I'll bet she'd love some lessons."

~ESV~