In the morning I dressed myself and wandered about the house for just a few minutes, trying to familiarize myself with its layout. Once finished with this, I grabbed the single crate that I had shoved into the spare bedroom the night before, the one filled with items that had belonged to my parents. Not all of their items, just those that I didn't wish to keep. Taking the crate downstairs and outside, I made my way towards the General Goods store up the street. Many people smiled and nodded to me as the passed by, and with each one the morning grew slightly better.

A bell rang as I opened the door, and a dirty, sleazy looking Breton stood behind the counter, a smile as wide as his face showing his teeth. Though it didn't look sincere, but greedy. "Why, hello there, I'm Belethor, the owner of the store. What can I do for you today?" he said to me as he leaned closer, each word feeling like syrup; too sweet and slow to come out.

"Um, I'm actually here to sell a few things," I said to the man, walking up and setting the crate on the counter.

"Ah, yes, you're the new girl-"

"Woman," I corrected, interrupting his sentence.

The corner of his lips turned up. "Woman, that has moved into town. I trust you're settling in fine?"

I nodded to him. "Yes, I am, thank you."

Belethor turned to the crate. "So, onto business! What is it that you're looking to sell to me?"

I took off the lid and began placing the contents onto the counter. "Just some old things of my parents," I told him, taking out the last item. For the first, and more likely last, time, I saw a look of concern on the Breton's face..

"It must me hard. I lost both of my parents before coming here, as well."

I bit my lip. "Oh, um, I'm sorry to hear that."

He nodded. "The past is the past, I've learned to live on. So, are you sure you wish to part with their things so quickly?" he asked, picking up a plate that had belonged to my mother's mother.

"Um, yes, I have no use for them, and I've already gone through and picked out a few things that I would like to keep," I told him, looking down at the counter. "How much could you give me for everything here?" I asked him.

"Hm. Well, normally, I'd pay about . . . 100 Septims for everything here." He looked up and smiled. "Though, for you," he said softly. "I'll cut you a hell of a deal. Today, I'll buy everything for 150."

I blinked at him. "50 more? Are you sure?"

He nodded. "I'll bet you my entire store that things are a little rough for you right now. I'd like to help if I could. 150 Septims," he repeated, placing the items back into the crate.

I smiled and laughed a little out of disbelief. "Alright, you've got a deal," I told Belethor, handing him the lid to the crate. After shutting it, he opened the register, and gave me 150 Septims worth of gold. "Um, I was also wondering if you'd be interested in purchasing a bed?" I asked him. He raised his eyes and smirked at the question.

"A bed, huh? What size?"

"Normal, one adult."

He nodded. "Alright, if you can get it down here by the time the store closes, I'll give you 500 Septims. After that, it'll be 300. But it's up to you to get it down here, alright?"

I nodded, dumbfounded. That was way more than I was expecting to get. "Alright, deal. I'll have it down as soon as I can.

"Good luck settling in," he told me as I put the money into my coin purse. I nodded, and started to walk out. "I get new shipments every other day." He smirked again as I put away the coin purse. "I'll see you tonight. After that, do come back," I heard in the syrup-voice as I walked out into the street.

Asking around for help had been no small feat. While many people had been more than happy to offer me their help the day before, very few were willing to help with physical labor, and the ones that were were busy with work. I bumped into Jon on his way from the Bannered Mare, and he smiled sadly at my request.

"Aldiina, I'd really like to help you, but I'm busy helping my mother with a few things today." I smiled and nodded, telling him that I understood. "Though, if I were you, I'd find my little brother, Lars. I'd bet he and his wife would be willing to help. Do you want me to send them over to your house?"

I smiled and sighed a relief. "Yes, thank you, I would appreciate that," I told Jon. He nodded and went home, as did I, waiting on my promised help.

Minutes later, a young couple just a few years older than I knocked on my door, introducing themselves as Lars and Mila. I got my first dose of Whiterun being a small world when Mila turned out to be Carlotta's daughter.

"So, what do you think is the best way to get it out?" Lars asked as I showed them the way to the spare bedroom.

"I was thinking that we could do it in pieces rather than trying to carry the entire bed?" I offering, not really having thought up a plan. Though it got a nod from both Mila and Lars, and thus we began to strip the bed.

"How about two of us get the mattress, then come back for the frame?" Lars suggested as we realized how much carrying we would have to do. And so I took the pillow and bedding while they got the mattress. Taking it down to the store, Vilkas saw the three of us.

"Aldiina, what in Ysmir's name are you doing?" he asked, walking over.

I smiled and blushed lightly. Now that I was being asked about it, it did seem like an idiotic task. "Removing a bed that I don't need," I told him. "I'm selling it to Belethor." He said.

"Would you like an extra pair of helping hands?" He offered. I smiled and nearly burst into tears.

"Oh, yes, please." And with that, Vilkas was helping the three of us remove the wooden frame and move it to the store.

"Ah, why, Aldiina, long time no see!" Belethor exclaimed as I walked in, and I was a bit startled that he knew what my name was. At least I didn't remember giving it to him. "Well, well, well, that is a fine piece of craftsmanship," he said, looking over the disassembled bed. Opening the register again, he began to count. "Well, 500, as promised," he said to me. I smiled and walked out, again hearing "do come back," as I walked through the door.

There outside were Lars, Mila and Vilkas. "Here, for your help," I said to Lars and Mila as I handed them 100 Septims. Their eyes widened at the gold.

"Aldiina, are you sure?" Mila asked, looking at the gold in my hand. I smiled at her.

"Yes I'm sure! Really, thank you, I could not have done it without your help." They smiled and accepted the gold before making their way back to their home. I turned to Vilkas, and tried to offer him some as well.

"No, really, I couldn't," he said, holding up his hand in protest.

"Please, Vilkas, let me repay you for your help."

He smiled, and again it reached his bright, yellow eyes. "Your gold is no good for me," he said, his accent coming out. "But, if you really want to reward me, then you will let me buy you dinner. At the Bannered Mare." I felt my cheeks flush. A Date? A date. Why in Tamriel would Vilkas offer to buy me dinner?

"Um, alright?" I said with a laugh, and he led me up the near-by steps to the inn. With every step I tried to not dwell on the fact that once again I had to require the assistance of others.