It had been two weeks since Freyja left Windhelm, and while yes, she did miss everyone back home (some more than others), the woman knows that the journey and lessons learned have been worth it so far. She found that Solstheim grew on her slightly, but maybe that was because of the fact she could take the time and think on what she wanted, plus work on her smithing skills. Glover, despite his rather amusing attempts to get her into bed with him, continued to be a very big help on improving the Nord's knowledge.

Unfortunately, the blonde couldn't keep the Breton pinned down forever, and he left two days prior to go off to Talos knows where- possibly to the Skaal village, or that group living in Frostmoon Crag- leaving her to her own devices and to tend to his forge and shop while he was away. While it was interesting to see a different side of life, having spent most of her own training and fighting, the soldier knew such an... idyllic lifestyle was not for her. Little did Freyja know, the peace and quiet she had was going to disappear, and rather soon... Like now.

"You're not Glover... Unless he's gone and angered a Daedric Prince somehow..."

Metallic spheres glance up from the worktable, a wry smirk gracing the woman's face. "It's possible, but you'll never know, will you?" She laughs at the rather incredulous look on the newcomer's face, then decides to pity him. "No, I'm not Glover- he had some business to tend to outside of the settlement, for some reason trusted me enough to tend the forge and handle any business until he came back." Freyja puts the hammer down and gives the black leathered garbed male a look over as he leans against a support column. "You must be the brother he mentioned a few times- the one from Riften. Delvin, was it? The name's Skadi." The lie, she realized, became easier to tell the more times she told it.

"A pleasure. You should be honored- Glover doesn't usually have confidence in anyone to leave them alone at his forge for a day, let alone a week." An exact replica of the blacksmith's smile appears on his features and she knew she had it right. "Nice to know he hasn't completely forgotten his family altogether since coming here. Do you have any idea of when he will be back?"

A flaxen haired head shakes in the negative, flecks of ash flying off the tightly bound strands. "He left two days ago, so I'm hoping by the end of the week. Any longer, and by the Nine I'll go looking for the bastard myself. I only came here for the Stalhrim and the forge, not to apprentice in shop keeping." Feeling a second pair of eyes on her, she glances to her right over towards the Ienth's farm where Garyn was tending to his ash-grown crops. Though the woman couldn't see anything out of the ordinary, Freyja could not shake the feeling of being watched.

"Is there a problem?" the Breton goes, his voice betraying his curiosity- And was that just a hint of fear I heard as well? Delvin watches as silver orbs slowly move forward, her attentions back on him.

"No, just an odd sensation. I suppose you can take the soldier out of the war, but can never take the war out of the solder. There are too many memories and habits to let go of cleanly, I'm afraid." The blonde Nord gives him a slight smile and continues "Will you be staying in Raven Rock until you see your brother? Or will you be returning to Riften and your... acquisition business?"

Oh I like you."I'm waiting on a friend to join me. For some reason I don't understand, he only trusts my brother to mend his gear."

"Why doesn't this make sense to you?"

"He and I both have access to two of the best smiths in Skyrim- one of them being Glover's mentor." Mallory goes silent for a moment, lost in thought, then adds "Perhaps if you are still disposed to learn more on forging when we leave, you'll consider a visit to Riften. Who knows, maybe you'll want to try your hand at what I do. Pays good money, and there's never a dull moment- much like the battlefield."

"I think this is a first- a job offer from someone I've only spoken to for five minutes or so. Did your brother know you were on your way here? If not, then this is a chance arrangement and meeting, wouldn't you agree?"

The man just chuckles, and reaches out to take Freyja's hand in his. "Just think on it. Excitement is a drug, and people whose lives are filled with violence are always wondering where the next fix is coming from... Perhaps you need a different sort of excitement to get addicted too, hmm? Our sort of rush might just be to your liking." As he releases his hold on her, Delvin adds as an afterthought "My friend and I will be staying during our time here over at Severin Manor- a colleague of ours happens to own it and offered it to us while in Raven Rock. Dinner, say seven?"

Before she could respond, the bald Breton was off and moving towards the Winking Skeever. Possibly to see if the person he was waiting for arrived, the woman thinks to herself as she turns back towards the workbench. Galmar would be laughing hysterically at this predicament if he were here now. But...perhaps it's the sort of distraction I need to stop dwelling on... "This chest piece won't get done if you keep letting yourself get distracted, Strong-Heart," Freyja mutters, grasping at the tool once more, each hit lessening the sad emotions caused by things that would never be.

"Who was that at Glover's forge? You seemed rather cozy with her there at the end."

"Seems my brother has taken on a protégée of sorts," Delvin goes, coming to a stop next to a broad, auburn haired male. "But there's more to her than a love of forging I think."

Brynjolf glances at the Sneak Trainer, then back towards the woman in question. "She's definitely a looker, I'll say that much. Wouldn't mind a tumble with her beneath some furs before we leave."

"Skadi knew you were watching us...well, knew someone was keeping an eye on us. I'm not sure how you managed to avoid being seen, but I'm not asking again. When I asked about her suspicions, however, she just claimed it was old habits dying hard. The lady, it appears, is a soldier on leave."

The Nord's brows furrow in thought. "Could she be the Lass Gisele had asked some of us to find for the Stormcloak?"

"Possibly," Mallory goes, his topaz eyes not straying from the workbench or the woman hammering away at some oddly colored gear. "But unless we have definite information, one cannot be sure. I certainly won't waste the Guild Master's time sending a letter with things that are false. We'll just have to watch, wait... and pray that Nocturnal gives us enough patience and luck to figure it out. Though, we might be able to start tonight- I invited her for dinner around seven." He looks at his friend and adds, "Now that I think of it, if she does happen to be the one we're looking for... Don't try to bed her, Bryn."

"What sort of man do you take me for Del?" The Second tries to put an affronted look on his face and fails miserably. The two start to laugh- yes, the Breton knew the other man all too well. It was no secret within the Guild that Brynjolf had a habit of sweet talking women to sleep with him.

Delvin snorts softly after the pair collect themselves, then goes "I will admit though, I certainly hope Skadi's not the one we need to find. Say that to the Boss though and I'll deny it."

"Why not? It isn't every day we have a Jarl indebted to us." When a sheepish expression appears on his colleague's face, emerald orbs widen just a touch. "What did you do Delvin?"

"I...might have told her to consider finding us down in Riften if the boredom got to her..."

A/N: Leave it to Brynjolf to think with the wrong head first, and Delvin to think of the coffers.

Alright, first things first. "Excitement is a drug, and people whose lives are filled with violence are always wondering where the next fix is coming from" is a quote by Maya Angelou. I thought it was rather fitting considering Freyja, who spent practically her entire life as a solider, is starting to feel a bit restless with the temporary peace. What does a warrior, who knows nothing else, do with themselves?

Regarding the name Freyja chooses to go by while on Solstheim: Skadi, a giantess and goddess in Norse mythology, is said to live in the highest reaches of the mountains where the snow never melts. Now, granted, there are other places in Skyrim where she could hail from (Dawnstar and Winterhold), Windhelm is claimed to be the snowiest city in the province. So I thought it rather...fitting, in a way.

Upcoming plans for this story: What can two thieves and a soldier talk about over dinner? Will Bryn keep his hands to himself? What is Ulfric doing during all this (besides kicking himself on the ass)? I don't even know yet myself. Let's find out together!