Chapter 5

Fredas, the 1th of Second Seed, Year 202 of the 4th Era

Daenerys remembered Riverwood fondly, but it felt strange to be back. She couldn't remember ever really having a home. She remembered growing up on the streets with Viserys, but before that she only had vague memories of a house with a red door, a place where she was safe and warm. For a brief while Riverwood had started to feel like home to her. The people had been open and kind to a traumatized outlander who didn't even speak their language. She had felt almost like a child again, not even able to make her simplest wants and needs known. To be honest her second childhood had been much more pleasant than her first. Of course, childhood doesn't last, and she had been forced to leave before she had been truly ready. Once she left Riverwood, she got caught up in a current of events that swept her away. By going with the flow instead of fighting it, she felt like she had achieved some control over her life. She had loyal followers now to help her as well. Yet, the currents had only grown stronger and deeper. She couldn't leave the path she was on. If she tried, she would be swept away. She wasn't coming home to Riverwood. In truth this place had never been home. Even back then she had been a little too large for Riverwood, but it had been a good place to rest and heal. Despite the bustle of the town it was still a calm backwater compared to the rest of Skyrim.

Winter was now well past, the grass was green again, flowers bloomed, and the loud buzz of the lumber mill in full operation could be heard before she even reached the walls of Riverwood. The horses were already proving their worth as they arrived at Riverwood in the late afternoon. She should be able to get her business done and be back in Whiterun by tomorrow. However, instead of seeking out the two people she had come to Riverwood to recruit, she went straight to the lumber mill.

The mill was as busy as an anthill. The river was full from the spring rains and overflowing the banks. Lumberjacks were busy fishing logs from the river and wrestling them into place to be cut by the mill. Hod was running back and forth shouting. The reactions to her presence varied. Some of the men were so focused on their work, they didn't even notice her arrival. Some bowed or even knelt to her. Others merely waved as if she had never left Riverwood and was still the tavern wench at the Sleeping Giant Inn.

Hod briefly paused when he spotted her. "Well, look who's back! Too busy to talk right now, but I expect it's Gerdur you want. She's at the other end, dealing with the wagoneers buying this load."

"Thanks, Hod, for everything you did for me. I'll go talk to her."

Daenerys found Gerdur at the other end. As soon as she saw Gerdur, Daenerys almost rushed forward to hug her, but Gerdur was busy haggling with wagoneer. While Gerdur was not her mother, she might be the closest thing that Daenerys had ever had to one. She had been lost, confused, and traumatized by her death, rebirth, almost execution, and the violent escape that followed it. Gerdur had fed her, clothed her, comforted her, taught her how to speak the language, and gently explained about the world she found herself in. However, Gerdur was busy haggling. Daenerys just watched and waited.

"Sold," finalized Gerdur and coins exchanged hands. "Now get your wagon loaded up."

The men started loading their wagon while Gerdur kept an eye on them, probably to make certain they didn't load up more sewn logs than they'd paid for.

"Gerdur!" shouted Daenerys as soon as they were done.

"What? Who? Daenerys?! By the gods, is that really you?" Gerdur rushed forward and hugged her, not that she could feel the embrace inside her armor. "Look at you. You left to go learn magic, and you come back wearing armor with a bracer on your arm and a mace on your hip." She shook her head in disbelief. "And I've heard that you killed dragons."

"Just the one, Gerdur, and I had a lot of help. To tell the truth I spent the battle taunting it." Daenerys turned and gestured to her housecarl. "Sofija here is the one who struck the mortal blow."

Sofija crossed her arms. "My thane is being too generous. I was one sword among many. It was Lady Targaryen who hatched the plan, who stood and faced dragonfire again and again so that we could strike at the dragon."

"Well now," replied Gerdur. "You'll both have to tell me the full story, and I'll judge the truth of it, but it will need to be later. We're busy of late now that the wagoneers aren't so skittish. You will stay the night with us, won't you? I'll make that fish chowder you like so much."

Daenerys had vaguely planned to stay at the Sleeping Giant Inn, but she accepted immediately. "Yes, of course we'll stay, Gerdur." While Gerdur did make a good fish chowder, it was talking that Daenerys craved. She wouldn't be able to tell Gerdur everything, but she had learned from Brelyna that sharing her burdens lightened them. There really wasn't anyone else she could just talk with. To the Companions she was an equal, but a warrior maid in training. Faralda was talking again, but she was focused on magic and Shouting to the exclusion of almost everything else. To almost everyone else she was some hero out of legend. "I'll leave you be. I have business to attend to while I'm here, but I'll be back for dinner."

"Off with you then." Gerdur made a shooing gesture. "We'll exchange stories tonight."

Daenerys left with a spring in her step. Gerdur and Hod didn't figure into her plans in any way, but just that short talk with Gerdur made her feel better. The whole business with Lucia's family had left a sour taste in her mouth. The simple kindness of Gerdur and Hod, their charity to strangers, and their willingness to roll up their sleeves and work hard – restored her hope. At their worst Nords were loud, opinionated, bigoted, drunkards. However, they were also about family, honor, tradition, hard work, and community. She never really fit in this town, but they had welcomed her anyway. With a sigh she turned away from the mill. "We'll come back later. Time to track down the people we came to meet."

She led Sofija and Lydia to the Sleeping Giant Inn. It was still a nice little inn. The walls were solid wood and the thatch roof kept out the rain. The floors needed sweeping, but there were no rats in the walls, and no dogs allowed. The food was simple, but filling. Yet, it seemed much smaller than she remembered it. Probably, it was just because it was the middle of the day. Only a few people were present. Business didn't really pick up until the lumber mill closed. She headed straight for the bar.

"Hey Orgnar, I see the place still hasn't burned down."

"Daenerys, you're back! About time. The place could use a good sweeping. Broom's in the back."

She burst out laughing, then trailed off. Was he serious?

Orgnar gave her a sly wink. "I'm slow, but I'm not that slow. I know who you are now. Half the men in town have been bragging how they once grabbed the Dragonborn's ass. Even the ones who never dared. Are you here for a room, or looking for Delphine?"

She let the comment about her ass slide. That was Nord humor. The proper response would involve bragging and insults, but it didn't come naturally to her, so she simply answered the comment. "I'm here for Delphine, is she about?"

"Sorry, I can't help you. She took off four days ago. Said she might be gone a few weeks."

"Weeks." Hmm, that seemed to kill her theory that Delphine was a Blade. According to Fultheim the Blades had been founded to kill dragons and protect the Dragonborn. Obviously, rumors about her had reached Riverwood. She had half-expected for Delphine to turn up in Whiterun before now. However, four days was more than enough time to get to Whiterun, and the entire city had known she was staying with the Companions. Instead of seeking her out Delphine had run off somewhere on another one of her mysterious journeys. While Delphine certainly had something going on, she apparently wasn't a Blade. She had known that was a possibility. Fultheim was correct. It took more than an Akaviri sword to be a Blade, but she had hoped to add another Blade to her followers. Daenerys was still a bit curious about her mysterious former employer, but she had far too much on her plate already to worry about Delphine's secrets.

"Thanks, Orgnar. I'm only going to be in town one day. Tomorrow, I'm heading back to Whiterun, but I'm recruiting." She smiled as she finally thought of a good reply to the men bragging about grabbing her ass. "I need good warriors and archers, men who can also follow orders and are brave enough to fight a dragon. If any man who bragged about grabbing my ass wants to man up, tell them to come to Whiterun. They can apply to Fultheim the Fearless."

Orgnar laughed. "I better bring up another keg. There is going to be a lot of bragging tonight. It's possible a few of them might even apply when they sober up."

Daenerys laughed and waved. "Take care, Orgnar." She took one last look around the main room and walked out the door.

Outside she crossed the street and entered the Riverwood Trader. They still had the same miscellaneous goods for sale, but someone, most likely Camilla, had rearranged everything. Food and other dry goods were now on the shelves where weapons were formerly displayed. The weapons had been mounted on the wall and in racks. Cloaks were prominently displayed, and the once stolen Golden Claw was now secured to the wall above the fireplace mantel.

Lucan Valerius, the owner, stood behind the counter leaning forward on his elbows. He kept his hair cropped short and his beard neatly trimmed in the Imperial style. He stood up straight when Daenerys entered followed by her housecarls. "Well, well, well, look who just walked in! Daenerys the Unburnt, I heard you were in town. What can I do for you today? We still owe you for getting the claw back. I can make you a good deal. We have the best prices in town."

"Daenerys?" came a voice from upstairs. The pounding of feet on the stairwell preceded the arrival of Camilla Valerius, Lucan's sister. She greatly resembled her brother. They had the same eyes and the same beaked nose, but Lucan was more rugged while Camilla had a feminine softness. "Why, it is you! Hilde said you were in town, but I thought she was making up stories. Why would anyone come back to Riverwood? Especially you!"

"Camilla!" Lucan sighed. "Please excuse my sister. She doesn't mean to be rude. She just gets excited easily, as you well know. What can we do for you today?"

Daenerys was amused by the interplay between Camilla and Lucan. It was very much obvious that Lucan was the older sibling. In many ways he treated Camilla more like his daughter than his sister. He probably wasn't going to like her proposal, but it really wasn't up to him. "Actually, I'm here for you, Camilla."

"Me?!" she backed away. "I've done nothing wrong."

Daenerys laughed. "No, you misunderstand. I want to hire you, Camilla. I've been steadily recruiting followers since I've arrived in Whiterun. I have more than two dozen now. I'm basically running my own little army. All those men need to eat, they need to be paid and armed. I'm raiding Nord barrows and looting them for income. Everything has to be sold and turned into gold. I have a ledger but keeping up with the day to day buying and selling takes up a big chunk of my time. I need to delegate. I need someone to handle that for me. Here in Tamriel it would be a Steward if I owned land, but I don't, so you would have to settle for being my Master of Coin."

"Daenerys, with all due respect for your achievements, you've come to the wrong place," said Lucan. "My sister is not for sale. Try Belethor in Whiterun. It might be best for you to go now."

Daenerys turned to Lucan with a frown. "I believe your sister is old enough to make her own decisions."

"M-me? You want me?" asked Camilla. But, why?"

"That's a good question," agreed Lucan. "Camilla knows how to haggle, but she's a bit of a scatterbrain at times. You should hear some of her crazy ideas." He laughed derisively.

Daenerys kept her focus on Camilla. "I have heard your ideas. That is why I am here. You have big ideas, much too big for Riverwood. I need someone who can think big. I need someone open to new ideas and not just doing things the way they've always been done, but can also handle a ledger, numbers, and haggling. I also need someone who is open to traveling and not being tied down to one little town. I've heard your ideas. You want more than Riverwood. You're also honest. Why did you turn down both Faendal and Sven?"

"Because they were both lying bastards sneaking around behind my back and making up stories!"

"Exactly," agreed Daenerys. "Honest, good with money, thinks big, willing to travel. That says Camilla Valerius to me."

"Leave Riverwood? Yes! Gods yes. I want to be your Mistress of Coin. Where do I sign? What do I sign?"

"Camilla! Wait. You never think things through. She's working you. I've told you over and over how to make a sale. She's doing it perfectly. She talks about all the good things, like any good haggler, but she left out the downside – dragons. Those men she is gathering, they're for fighting dragons, and she's not talking about leaving you in town. You'll be out there with her. You won't even make a full meal for a dragon. Chomp. Chomp. Swallow. No, more Camilla. Riverwood might be boring, but it's safe!"

Daenerys didn't even try to argue with Lucan. She kept her eyes fixed on Camilla. "He does have a point. It's not entirely safe. I have other non-combatants in my followers: wagoneers, a cook, and even a handmaiden. I would keep all of you out of fights as much as possible. I'm also having tower shields built for my civilian followers. You could lie down on the ground and cover yourself. Obviously, I cannot guarantee it as safe, but you would be protected. It's like anything in life, you can't achieve big things without taking some risks, but it's your life."

"Camilla – "

"No, Lucan. Not this time. I want this. You love the Riverwood Trader. It's your life, but it was never going to be mine. I was always going to get married and move away someday."

"That's not necessarily true. If you'd settled down with Sven or Faendal, then you could keep working here. You would have even inherit. I'm never going to have children."

Camilla sighed and walked over to him. "Lucan, brother. You raised me. I'll always love you, but I want to see the world. I know, dragons are dangerous, but she kills dragons. She's the Dragonborn. That's what she does. Maybe, I'll be one of the unlucky ones, but I'd rather grab my dream than let it pass me by and spend my life regretting what might have been."

"Camilla…"

"No, Lucan. I'm taking this chance with both hands. Be happy for me."

Lucan dipped his head. "If you're set on it, I won't stop you. Just be careful."

Camilla threw her arms around her brother and hugged him.

Lucan held her but he glared at Daenerys as he hugged his sister. "You better not get her killed."

"I will protect your sister, Lucan, as best I can. I'm not sending her against a dragon and she's of no use to me dead, but…" She sighed. "Valar morghulis."

Lucan frowned. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It's a saying, from my home. One of the two certainties in this world. All men must die."

"Lucan, I'll be fine," insisted Camilla. She looked to Daenerys. "I guess, I'll go pack my things."

"Take your time, Camilla. I'm staying the night. We'll leave for Whiterun a little after dawn. Have a last meal with your brother, pack only what you can carry. You'll be riding behind me on my horse. I'll be staying with Gerdur and Hod at the mill. You can meet us there."

Camilla nodded. "Very well, tomorrow then when the sun rises."

As they were leaving the Riverwood Trader Sofija asked, "My thane, you said death was one of the two certainties of the world. What is the other one?"

"Valar dohaeris, all men must serve."