Jenassa awoke still feeling sore from yesterday's bandit slaughter. She felt groggy, but was happy to take a day off from work. She might go see how Athis is doing with the Companions today. Gods know he must feel out of place there. You can only take so much each day when you constantly deal with drunk, hot-headed Nords. Even if she had tough competition with them, people don't always hire them for jobs. Sometimes employers give jobs that aren't all honor or glory like the Companions preach. Sometimes you have to do things that are both dull and boring, or challenge your morals. Jenassa always tried to have a simple and pragmatic outlook on things when she could. Things like faith, honor, and loyalty can blind you to logical reasoning and simple ethics. The civil war, for example, is total nonsense and will only make Skyrim weaker in the long run. How in the world it started is even more ridiculous. Ulfric Stormcloak, using the Shout, stabbing a downed king in the back, proclaiming it was an ancient tradition to claim the throne. Pure hogwash is what it is. He merely tried to justify the murder of his fellow kinsman to attain the throne. How their god Talos would allow such thing is something she can't understand. Jenassa put on a common set of clothes and brought her leather armor downstairs.
"Good morning, Jenassa, sleep well?" greeted Elrindir from behind his counter.
"Good morning, I am feeling well, thank you. I want you to repair my armor today, maybe take the day off and enjoy the weather."
"I would be more than happy to, you deserve a break." Elrindir took the bundle of armor from Jenassa and put them on the workbench behind him before telling, "Morenwen has been waiting for you for a while now." He pointed to her corner of the building and saw Morenwen sitting next to her usual chair, looking at them both silently.
Jenassa nodded and walked towards her chair. She sat down and got comfortable before striking up conversation. "How did you sleep?"
"Enough."
"Uh huh…well what are your plans for today?"
"What are yours?"
"Taking the day off, shop around the market, maybe see an acquaintance."
"Then I shall follow."
"You really don't have to, you could do what you want today."
"Following you is what I want to do."
"You have no other plans or errands?"
"As of this moment, no."
"Fine, if you insist. Maybe we can get some custom clothes tailored for you today. I'm assuming there aren't any in your size."
"My armor suits me."
"Do you ever take it off?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"One can never be too careful."
"You need to relax. You must be burdened by wearing that for so long."
"I've managed this far."
"Again, if you insist. At least leave your weapons here. Nothing dangerous happens behind these walls and the guards respond pretty quickly. People also don't take well to people armed to the teeth talking to them."
Morenwen nodded and went to deposit her weapons with Elrindir, who heaved the bundle of great swords to his workbench.
Jenassa got up and walked out the door with Morenwen following behind. They both went out in the morning sun and walked down the cobbled street to the stall vendors. All the merchants were hocking their wares to residents and travelers. Fresh fruit and vegetables picked that morning gleamed in the morning light with the early dew shimmering on them. Fresh venison hunted the night before hung on racks behind the meat vendor Anoriath, who was also the brother of Elrindir. Anoriath cut off a few strips of meat, skewered them on a stick, and grilled them over a small fire to sell for the breakfast hour. Silver trinkets were on display by an elderly woman that looked to be forged by a skilled jewel smith.
"Let's get some breakfast at the stalls before we head up to see my acquaintance Athis," said Jenassa. Morenwen followed Jenassa up to the food vendor Carlotta and was looking over her stock. Morenwen didn't feel like fruits and veggies today, still sated from yesterday. She also didn't think Carlotta's daughter cared to see her again as she was hiding behind the stall, an awful attempt as Morenwen was tall enough to see her over the counter. As Jenassa was asking about how much the apples were Morenwen's eyes wandered around the marketplace. She took saw that blond Nord leaning against a post. There's the guard in the corner looking over the marketplace, hands on his hip, keeping a steady vigil. Her eyes wandered to Anoriath's stall and the smell that was wafting from his collection of skewered meats. Deer, elk, and rabbit were there along with the rarer stuff like cave bear and mammoth snout. She'll have to try mammoth sometime. As she continued to look around her eyes fell upon a lone child in the middle of the market, sitting on the ground leaning next to the well in the center of the marketplace. The little girl's clothes looked worn and dirty from sleeping outside so much. She looked downtrodden and thin, probably hasn't had a decent meal in a while.
The poor sweet girl. She's so thin. Such a sweet girl shouldn't look so thin. She needs to eat. Morenwen grabbed a sweet roll from Carlotta's stall and started to make her way to the lone girl.
"HEY! You have to pay for that," yelled Carlotta from behind her. She paused midstride and then pulled a few coins from her coin purse. She placed them on the stall gently and continued to make her way to the lone little girl.
Lucia spent another day in the middle of the market, asking for handouts. She was tired of it though. Tired of sleeping outside. Tired of eating the scraps the vendors throw out. Tired of being tired. After her aunt and uncle kicked her off her late mother's farm, things have been less than stellar. No one seemed to care about her, supposedly because they didn't want to give her hope that they'd take her in. Not many have the time or resources to take care of a child in a war-torn country. Brenuin cared at least. He saw someone in the same boat as him and gave her the idea to beg for coin from others. It's been keeping her going, but it's a slow process. She uses most of her gold to eat, and she can't seem to save enough to rent a room at the Bannered Mare. Her stomach growled. She didn't eat breakfast yet, guess she'd have to skip it yet again. She was thinking about her late mother's scrambled eggs when she suddenly saw a delicious, freshly baked sweet roll in front of her. Am I dreaming? A gauntlet held the deliciousness. Her eyes wandered from the gauntlet, to the arm, and to the arm to some tall hooded figure.
"Here."
Lucia looked to the sweet roll, then back to the hooded face. She was hesitant to listen to this person.
"It's okay little one," cooed the person, but Lucia felt like something was off about the situation.
"…I-I don't even know you."
The hood tilted to the side, possible confused, then looked to be struck with a sudden understanding. The person moved a hand to move their hood down. When their hood was down it revealed to be a High elf. Lucia could tell from the ears and the golden hue of their skin, but they appeared scarier than they should. Their hair was dirty blonde and messy, the length just barely past the neck in the back and longer in the front. Her left eye was covered with a dirty bandage stuck with gauze, and seemed to be late for a change. Small scars imperceptibly crossed her face, but one jagged scar traveled from her right ear to her cheek. The covered eye had burn scars originating from the eye and traveled out a bit. Her face looked weathered from adventuring and abuse. Lucia heard that High elves were renowned for their golden beauty and elegant poise, but this person greatly contrasted to what she was told. The tall elf gave her a warm smile behind the scars and spoke, "I'm Morenwen."
Lucia felt a bit better knowing the stranger's name. "I-I'm Lucia."
"Lucia…what a sweet name. Here, eat. You must be hungry." Morenwen gestured to the sweet roll awaiting in her hand. Lucia's hunger was starting to get at her and gingerly took the pastry.
"Thank you…" she said softly, and took a bite. It was the sweetest, most delicious thing she has had in a while. She was happy that moment. Happy that someone brought her something like that instead of a coin or bread crust like usual. Happy that this person Morenwen was a nice person, and not as scary as she thought. Happy that she was happy. For the first time in a long time, she smiled.
She suddenly felt a huge hand on top of her head, gently petting her. She looked up and saw Morenwen was doing it, looking down at her. The hand drifted towards her shoulder and squeezed oh so gently. Lucia felt that her personal space was invaded, but she didn't care. She had a sweet roll.
Morenwen stared down at the lone girl. She's so sweet. She like sweet rolls too. Just like her. They were her favorite. Always begging for a sweet treat….I should go back to Jenassa…
The hand traveled to Morenwen's coin purse and placed a single coin on Lucia's lap. Morenwen silently got up and walked back to Jenassa next to the meat stall.
"Thank you! Thank you very much." Lucia had to that her. She felt she had to for making her day better. She couldn't wait to tell Mila about Morenwen!
Morenwen met up with Jenassa and Anoriath.
"Well, so that's what you look like without the hood," quipped Jenassa.
"I sometimes forget that I have it on most of the time."
"Keep it down, I feel it suits you better."
"As you say."
"Ah, hello again friend. I thought you were the person my brother has been speaking about. My name is Anoriath, the local hunter. I believe we've met when you bought the last of my veal."
"Good to meet you again. Your products are very delicious."
"You honor me, my friend. How about some skewered cave bear? Gamey, but dripping with flavor from the fats this bear was packing."
"I'll take a few." A handful of coins clattered onto the stall counter.
"Thank you thank you! Come by again sometime, I'll try to talk to some local farmers into selling their veal. Just for you."
"I await with eager anticipation."
"Come, let us go see Athis," told her. They both walked up the steps to the residential Wind district of Whiterun. "Jorrvaskr is over there to the right, come." Morenwen walked behind Jenassa, demolishing the skewers and tossing the sticks away. They passed by that dying tree in the center of town and ignored the screeching heretic before they reached the front of Jorrvaskr after climbing several steps. Morenwen didn't understand why they used an old upside down boat as a roof. From the outside it was worn and had holes in it. She assumed this had to do with more Nordic tradition stuff.
"Here's Jorrvaskr. Athis is usually lounging in the mead hall behind these doors. You should see him immediately, he's the only elf in the group. Hope he's doing okay, I know how rowdy these Companions can be." Jenassa opened the door and was greeted with a bloody brawl between Athis and the Nord woman Njada. Athis was currently losing, pretty badly she might add.
"Oh come now, Athis. What did you do this time…?" Jenassa sighed dejectedly.
"They seem to be engaged in altercation," stated Morenwen.
"Every day almost, this should be over soon."
The fight was one-sided. Athis wasn't blocking properly and seemed to have taken a few hits beforehand, and Njada's wild swings kept connecting, inflicting accumulating damage. Njada seemed to be tiring out, but kept up the barrage
"They have poor form."
"Oh? You noticed?" Jenassa said. "Which one is doing worse then?"
"The woman, her blows are wild and have decent strength, but sap her energy and could easily be dodged if your friend Athis knew how to properly block and dodge. She's blocking his punches aimed at her head pretty well, but she seems to be blocking as if she had a shield in her hand. If he didn't get worn down by her initial onslaught, he could counter with a few well aimed hits when she got winded."
"You are correct. Nords fight with much determination and zeal, pressing the attack until the enemy falls from their battering assault. The only problem is if their attacks don't hit or they cannot finish the fight quickly. They only waste their energy swiping at air, while their nimble or magic wielding opponent can finish them off when they are tired and sluggish. When they tire out they usually stay on guard for most of the fight until their energy returns. I like to call it 'turtling' sometimes."
"I hope they all don't fight as poorly as her."
Njada heard the insult from across the room and finished the bloody and tired Athis with a hook to his side, knocking the breath out of him and bringing him to his knees. "You wanna run that by me again?!"
"Oh, wonderful…" Jenassa really didn't want to get involved so she walked around towards Athis to help him up. She didn't want to get involved, but she couldn't deny excited she was as to how this will turn out.