Chapter 2
Sorry about the long wait guys . The chapters are going to be coming out later for a bit because I am extremely busy!
I woke in the morning to the sweet scent of fresh bread cooking in the hearth. I sat up pulling back the furs, As I stood up Ralof noticed I was awake and walked over to me.
"Ira! Your finally awake! Gerdur thought it'd be best to let you sleep as long as you need." he said handing me a plate of warm bread and a mug of milk. I took the plate from him gratefully.
"Thank you Ralof." I said getting slightly choked up "I can't even begin to tell you how much this all means to me. This is the first time anyone has ever showed this much kindness to me. I don't know how I'll ever be able to repay you."
With that I set the plate aside and threw my arms around Ralofs neck, he was surprised by this but he didn't object. He returned my embrace by allowing his arms to in circle me. I wasn't quite sure but I thought I saw Gerdur smiling to herself over the cooking pot.
After what seemed like forever we finally let go of each other. I could sense the reluctantness of Ralof but he quickly unfolded his arms from my neck.
"Ira… A courier arrived this morning, he had a letter addressed to me from Ulfric." his voice was tinged with pain and disappointment "He's asked for me to meet him in Windhelm as soon as possible, he needs my help in the war."
"Oh." I tried to keep my tone neutral. "So I guess I'll be heading to Whiterun alone then." I stood up taking my plate over and throwing the scraps in the fire. I was trying not to sound so upset, I didn't even have reason to be upset I'd just met this man and what had I expected to happen he's a soldier.
"Ira I'm sorry I would have come with you but its my job as a soldier to come when called." As he spoke I knew he was sorry I could feel it in his voice, but for some unknown reason I was still rather upset.
"No its fine." I snapped "I have Aziel and Celia, we don't need help anyway." I knew my words had hurt him, I hadn't meant to snap at him.
I could see the hurt look in his eyes, part of me wanted to stomp out of the house but the other part wanted to run up and hug Ralof. This is why I so often avoided talking to people too long, my emotions were always so split.
"Well I better head out theres a carriage waiting for me." His voice was heavy. He hugged Gerdur and left without a single word to me.
As soon as the door closed behind him I heard a soft voice behind me.
"You'll need to be heading to Whiterun." It was Gerdur "If that dragons headed that way the Jarl needs to know about it"
"You right" I said pushing my feelings aside. "Ill need to go to the blacksmith, that if i'm going to be traveling that far I will need some good armor."
"Alvor is the blacksmith of the town. Hs across the road from the Riverwood trader. Tell him I sent you he owes me any way he should give you a good deal."
"Thank you Gerdur, for everything. You'll never know how much your kindness actually means to me." with these few words I rushed over to Gerdur hugging her tightly. Yet again I found myself looking at someone who looked like me but wasn't entirely the same. Just a week ago I was avoiding all contact with people, especially strangers, and here I was hugging a woman I'd just met. I'm beginning to think that this place was a new beginning for a new me, and I liked it.
After I left Gerdur's I headed straight to the Blacksmith, receiving quite a few sideways glances from people as I passed. When I had arrived it was dark and the only people out and about had been a small wood elf and Gerdur working at the mill. Once I approached the forge the man working at the grindstone looked up noticing me. He set the blade aside and came to greet me.
"Hello, I haven't seen you round before stranger. Names Alvor." He held his hand out to me. I took it and noticed how rough his hands were, must come with the lifestyle.
"Iravine, but call me Ira." I looked around at his forge. "Quite the forge you got here. You wouldn't happen to have anything that would fit me would you?"
Alvor let out a deep soft laugh
"What could a beautiful young lady such as yourself have need of armor?" He said looking at me obviously sizing me up.
What's with these nords and assuming i'm helpless.
"I'm heading to Whiterun. I escaped helgen and the Jarl needs to know about the dragon attack, Im sure you've heard of it by now?" i tried not to allow my annoyance seep into my voice, yet another reason I tended to avoid long conversations.
His face turned steel "Yes I have, I can whip up some iron armor in a few hours time."
"Oh. Do you have something else? Maybe leather?" I hated sounding picky but heavy armor isn't my specialty.
"Um." his brow furrowed in thought. "I'd love to whip up some leather armor but I'm afraid I'm out of leather and fur, even if I did have some hides we wouldn't have the time it would take to tan."
I thought for a moment.
"Wait. If I got you some furs could you fashion some fur armor?" I asked
"What!?" his voice had a hurt tone to it. "Are you joking, I could craft that in my sleep! Thats childs play young lady!"
Typical Nord confidence. I smiled at the thought. "Okay then that settles it, im going to go hunting. Ill bring you the pelts then you can get to work on that armor."
"Ira" He said as turned away "If i were you i'd head to the mill and ask for faendal, hes the towns huntsman he can give you pointers on the best places to find game."
"Thanks" I was about to turn away when I remembered "Oh and Alvor, I was supposed to tell you that Gerdur sent me!"
"Ah Gerdur" he said smiling "She's a good woman, she helped my family when we were in need. I think I may be able to cut you a deal on that armor." He returned to the grindstone whistling while he worked.
When I found Faendal he directed me across the small stream and between the two mountains. As I walked the trails I came across an old woman in a small cabin.
"Excuse me ma'am but have you perhaps seen any deer or foxes around here?" I asked as I neared her. She appeared to be a mage or an alchemist as she had a small garden and was wearing long blue robes.
"Oh yes, there has been a group of about 5 wolves just up the hill a bit. I'd be most thankful if you took care of them for me." she said in a haggard old voice. "Surely someone of your talents would be able to handle them quickly Summoner."
What did she just call me? Summoner? How could she possibly know who I was unless shes a-
Witch
I turned my attention to the woman in front of me, I walked towards her at an even pace and hoped my face didn't give away what I now knew about her.
"You must be pretty lonely all by yourself in the woods." I said looking her over quickly. She doesn't seem like much of a witch, I need to eliminate her before she can cause any harm to people around her. I have no doubt that the people of Riverwood are her targets and I cannot let her harm them.
"Oh no." Her voice was shaky "I have my garden to keep me company."
"How did you know I was a conjurer?" I casually asked her. "We've never met and no one in Riverwood mentioned you."
"Oh I have my ways, but dont mind me I'm just a poor old woman" She said as she slowly reached her hand behind her back. I heard the slight crackling sound that I recognized as a summoning spell.
Quicker than I could think I shouted out. "Aziel! Celia!" calling my friends to me. I concentrated reaching out in front of me pulling my bow from the plains of oblivion. As soon as I grasped the handle I reached to my side grabbing an arrow and notching it in place aiming the tip at the woman's throat.
She herself had summoned a familiar, but not fast enough. Aziel had the other familiar pinned to the ground his teeth pinned against its throat.
"Aziel no!" I commanded "Don't kill it. Its bound to her it does what she commands. Its not evil."
"Foolish girl." The old woman spat "You know not what you could become with my help!"
"No I don't." I let my arrow fly pinning it in the woman's throat. Filthy hag, I thought to myself.
I called Aziel off of the poor familiar. The creature was scared and breathing heavily eyes wide with terror. I spoke to her softly reaching my hand out to pet her softly.
"Shh it's ok, your gonna be okay." I stroked the creatures back.
Even though familiars are summoned creatures they can still be harmed in oblivion and the mortal world. This creature had long scars across its back, the kind that were made by a whip. So thats how the old bitch had bound her, she'd whipped her into submission.
The creature seemed to calm down a bit but she was still shaking, her eyes darting around rapidly. Damnit! She won't be able to survive on his own, she needs to be bound to be taken care of.
"Shh honey, I need to bind you to me. I can take care of you, please trust me I'm not like that horrible woman I won't hurt you." I kept my voice soft and kind trying to calm her but at the mention of being bound she became frantic.
"Aziel! Tell her!" I commanded. I never understood how Aziel and Celia understood me but they somehow always knew what I was saying.
Aziel gave me a small nod and turned to the small female familiar. I looked at her she seemed to be very thin and probably hadn't eaten ever. Familiars didn't ne food but if you feed them meat they will become stronger and happier.
"Celia watch them please Im going to find some food for the poor thing." I said as I called my bow again.
I scouted around the area and it wasn't long before I found a large stag. The stag was massive compared to my tiny Breton stature. I climbed between 2 large rocks down wind from the large beast so he wouldn't catch my scent. I notched an arrow aiming for the creatures heart, I let the arrow fly quickly notching yet another arrow letting it whip through the air after the first.
The first arrow missed its target by just hair but the second one lodged itself cleanly in the heart sending the stag tumbling to the ground. Yes! I trotted over to the carcass as carefully as I could hoping that no predators had caught wind of my kill. I grabbed the elk by the antlers and gave an experimental tug. Damn! Just as I thought it was too heavy for me to transport alone.
I hated to do it but I called Celia to my side and a moment later she was carrying the giant stag in her fiery arms.
"Celia." I said turning to the Fiery atronach standing next to me "Im sorry for having you do this, you know i hate using you guys for petty reasons but I really appreciate it."
She turned to me nodding, I might be wrong but I think I saw a slight smile on her burning face.
When we arrived at the small cabin Aziel and the female familiar had gone inside and were laying on the floor. The female was fast asleep on the floor while Aziel stood over her watching over her with concern.
I smiled at the site. "Good boy Aziel." I said as I softly rubbed his head.
I took a few hours but I had finally got the stag cleaned and skinned. I went down to the stream and scrubbed the pelt clean of blood and dirt before I laid it out to dry. By the time I had done all this the sun had set and we decided to spend the night in the cabin.
"Aziel would you like some venison?" I said holding out a piece of raw meat to him. He walked over and gently took the meat from my hand eating it gratefully. I stood up walking over to the pile of hay where the now unbound familiar had laid down. She lifted her head as she heard my footsteps approach. I sat down next to her trying not to startle her, she backed away slightly still unsure of me.
"Here." I said offering her the meat in my hand. "Eat this, It will help you gain your strength. You're going to need your strength if I'm to bind you. That is if you want to be bound."
She looked at me with a wary gaze but took the meat and ate it ravenously. It was clear to me that the old woman had never even consider feeding this poor familiar.
"You should get some sleep. I'll be sleeping on the bed and Celia and Aziel will keep watch." I said throwing her another piece of meat.
"Good night girl. You'll be safe with me I promise." I whispered as my eyes fell closed and the exhaustion of the day washed away.