When Ria woke, she felt uncomfortably exposed. This wasn't the first time she'd done anything of the sort, but it was the first time she'd done anything like this with someone so close to her, let alone Lod. It was one thing to be at the inn, but to be sitting like this, naked and in his bed, felt wrong somehow, as though its fundamental nature broke some unspoken rule.

He slept soundly beside her, not touching her. Without waking him, she slithered away from the bed and picked up her clothes lying on the floor. She dressed, silently and shamefully and twinging internally all the while.

And then she left, without saying a word.

It was too early to go by and grab a bottle of contraceptive potion from Zaria, so instead Ria simply headed home. Maybe, if she was lucky, her parents would be back this morning. Or, if she was luckier still, they would be back in the evening, and she'd have a chance to dispose of the potion first.

Ria sat about the cabin for a couple of hours, unable to really focus on anything. The only thing on her mind was the question of why she had done it, why she had gone ahead and bedded him when it wasn't really something she'd wanted. She'd wanted company, sure, and she'd told him she'd wanted his, but she had never once thought of him in that way before. Why had she said she'd wanted him? Why had she kissed him, and not once protested when he took her to his bed?

It was no use wondering. She knew why she did it. She did it because he'd said that he loved her, and she thought it might make her love him back.

It didn't.

It wasn't that she didn't love him at all. She loved him very much, in a way. He was a friend, possibly the best friend she had in town. By all means, he was as good as family. He was there for her after Nereus' death, and he was there for her as she'd grown up. He'd been a best friend to her, and almost like a son to her own parents, and she felt a kinship to him like no other.

And maybe that was it. He was her family, the brother who replaced the one that was taken from her. She loved her parents, but she wouldn't much care to marry either of them if she'd had the choice. She loved Mathies and Indara and even Valdr in the same way she loved Lod, but she would never have taken the chance to go to any of their beds.

She'd wallowed in thought for nearly two hours before she realized that Grave Concoctions was likely open already. She changed her clothes into something else, something that didn't remind her of the night before. Though there would be no mistaking what had taken place when she made her purchase, she could still at least try to protect her dignity.

The exchange was quiet, and Ria appreciated that, just this once, Zaria didn't ask questions. Ria could simply make her purchase and step outside to down it in a single gulp before tossing the bottle to the bushes and disposing of it forever

The sour flavor of the potion stuck around in her mouth for a few minutes after she'd finished it. The temptation of sweet mead to mask the taste and idle conversation to distract her mind almost drew her towards Dead Man's Drink, but it would likely be a mistake. If she spoke to Narri, the whole town would know in a matter of minutes, and Ria found she would rather be alone for the time being.

But evidently, time alone was not going to happen today, as someone was already calling her name.

"Ria!"

She spun around as she searched for the voice that had just called for her. Valdr ran toward her from the path leading towards her house. A look of panic was plastered on the archer's face. Panic and... was that pity? Ria couldn't quite tell.

"Ria," Valdr said as he reached her. His breath came out in heavy pants. "Ria, I've got bad news."

Panic flooded her own heart. "What?"

He really did look worn down. It was all part of his trade, she supposed. Hauling back animals, day in and day out, was hard work even with a team. But the weariness on his face now didn't look like typical fatigue. It was worried, and almost mournful. It terrified her to think what could have caused him to search her out now.

She only had a minute to think about what he would say as he caught his breath. It was difficult to theorize much beyond just feeling sorry for him, as he wheezed and panted. That was odd, Ria noted. He was a fairly athletic sort, being a hunter. How far had he run that he was bent over like this?

"It's your parents," he managed between pants. "We've found them."

"Where are they? Are they hurt?"

If there was any question what Valdr was feeling, it was quickly answered. Only pity and grief were on his face now as he looked at her. Pity and grief were things she'd never much cared to see. Somehow, she knew what was coming next. "Oh, gods. Ria..."

He didn't finish the thought. He didn't have to.

Whatever emotions had been flitting through Ria earlier completely disappeared, replaced only by shock. She'd be crying her eyes out later, she knew that much, but tears wouldn't even start in her eyes as she processed Valdr's words. All she knew now was that her parents were dead, and she was alone.

"Where did you find them?"

"A couple miles off, east-ways. The other boys are fixing 'em up to take back to Runil."

"Take me there."

Valdr's eyes widened in surprised. "I don't think that's such a good idea," he stammered. "They're an awful sight. It's hard to tell just how long they've been there. And..." The normally brutish man softened as his voice trailed off, and Ria was almost afraid of what he was going to say. "I don't think bandits got 'em first, but they got there before we did. Stripped 'em of everything."

"I don't care," she said, almost indignantly. "They're my parents." The archer's face seemed uncertain. "Please. Just... I don't want to wait until they've been buried in the ground."

The Nord gave her a concerned look for a moment more before shrugging his shoulders. "So be it, then."

The walk to the spot didn't take as long as it might have, not with Ria's insistence that they get there as quickly as possible. Valdr silently complied with her urgency, and for that she was glad, even if she could slowly feel her world crumbling around her.

The tears didn't come until she finally saw their bodies.

They were pathetic, and disgusting, and hardly resembled her parents at all. They'd begun to bloat, just enough to look puffy, but even that was difficult to see. They certainly hadn't been there since they'd left, at least; they were too whole for that. Whatever attacked them had gotten them on their way home, after they'd passed through Ivarstead. They were covered by dirt, and some smaller animals had already begun to make meals of them.

They were stripped of nearly everything but their smallclothes. Damned bandits couldn't walk away from an easy target, apparently. The product her father had been so excited about was all gone, the materials they'd planned on purchasing were missing, and their coin purses had been lifted altogether.

It was all Ria could do to just stay standing. Valdr stood uncomfortably next to her, watching her sob and passing silent nods to the other hunters, who were wrapping the bodies in cloth to take back to the Hall of the Dead.

Ria wiped some of the tears away with a swipe of her wrist and pivoted on the spot. She strode back down the path, quickening her pace with each step.

"Ria, wait." Valdr jogged after her. "Dammit. I knew this was a bad idea."

"No." She barely choked the word out. "No, I asked to go. Thank you for taking me to them."

"I shouldn't have. No one ought to see their parents like that-"

"I got through seeing my brother torn apart by slaughterfish." She tensed a bit as she tried to collect herself. At least she could save the rest of the tears until she was home. "I'll be fine. I mean, I plan on slicing my way through every damned bandit in the hold, and then move on to the ones in the Rift, but I'll be fine."

"Careful, Ria." Valdr caught up with her and grabbed her arm. There was no hiding now. "You're a smart girl. Don't go and do something stupid. Go have a drink with Narri. If Valga won't give it to you on the house, tell her I'll cover it. Just go home, give yourself time to grieve."

Ria relaxed in his grip a bit. "I'll do my best. Thank you, really." She gave a halfhearted smile as he let go. "I should go home. I guess I've got a funeral to get ready for. Your friends... they'll get them to Runil?"

"Aye." Valdr still looked worried. "I'll make sure of it." He clapped a hand on her back as he continued down the trail. "I'll see you back to town."

"Really, I'll be fine-"

"With those tears, you'd be downright lucky not to trip, knock yourself unconscious, and end up eaten. We're not adding another to the funeral."

She didn't protest the rest of the way home. She hardly even spoke a word as her tears began to subside to mere sniffles. Valdr simply walked in silence alongside her, and for that she was grateful. Had he tried to make conversation, she doubted her voice would hold up.

Somehow, the walk home felt longer than the walk out. Shouldn't it have been the other way around? Her father had always told her that, when a person went out on the road, the walk home would always pass faster because their loved ones were pulling them home. Perhaps that was why this walk felt so long now. She had no one left to bring her back.

By the time they got back to town, the tears had stopped altogether, though her eyes still stung and her cheeks still burned. She bid Valdr a short "thank you" before heading back towards that little cabin that was now hers alone.

She ignored most of the people as she made her way through town. Not that there many people to ignore, in a town this small. The occasional guard strolled past, and she might want to steer clear of Dead Man's Drink, but-

"Ri!"

Ria stopped dead in her tracks as she heard Lod's voice calling from the smithy. That was the one person in town she couldn't ignore, not when he truly was the closest thing to family she had left.

"Lod," she said gently as she turned around to face him. For someone she'd snuck out on this morning, he looked remarkably pleasant. "About this morning, I-"

"Don't mention it. Figured you'd need to see Zaria." He smiled at her as he gestured for her to come join him on the porch.

She moved to him reluctantly. "You seem well."

"Never been better in my life." Lod grinned as he moved to take her hands. If he saw how bloodshot her eyes almost certainly were, he at least didn't mention it. "I've something I need to ask you. 'Bout the conversation we had last night."

"Oh?"

"I told know I mentioned I could go up to Helgen for the day to tell a friend to keep an eye out for your parents." At the last word, Ria felt a rush of emotion, and she fought desperately to fight it back. But Lod didn't seem to notice, and carried on cheerfully."I was going to wait till tomorrow, but there's no use delaying it. Might as well head out now. You can come with me. Make a day trip out of it, eh?"

"There's no need," she mumbled. The tears were coming back now, and she was powerless to stop them.

"Why not?" Lod's hands ran over her arms. She didn't dare lift her glance to meet his eyes, not when she was on the verge of weeping once again, but she could imagine the look on his face, how sad and concerned he must look. "Ri, what's wrong?"

The tears broke forth, spilling down her reddened cheeks and stinging her eyes once again. A cry escaped her as she lurched forward and clung to him. Whether she'd moved out of shame or to just feel some semblance of comfort, she wasn't entirely sure, but he didn't back away. He never would have.

"They're dead," she sobbed, unable to keep her voice from cracking. Oh, damn it. "They're dead, and bandits found them before Valdr did. Bandits!"

Lod wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close so that her face was pressed to his shoulder. He let her sob, patting her back reassuringly. She was sure her tears were staining his shirt, but he didn't say anything to stop her; if anything, he hugged her harder. He'd been the first to comfort her after Nereus' death all those years ago, and he was the one here for her now.

When Ria's weeping subsided enough for her to form coherent thoughts, she pulled away a bit. "Damn bandits," she choked out, running the heel of her hand across her cheek to catch the last of her tears. "Couldn't even leave the dead with their dignity. I swear, when I see Siddgeir, I'll-"

"Don't do anything rash, Ri," Lod interrupted. "Don't need to be bailing you out of jail."

"He's soft on bandits, and you know it!" Grief mixed with anger as she seethed. "They bring him extra money, and for it he lets them attack his own people!"

"I know," Lod said gently, "but calm down a bit before you storm into the longhouse and get beaten down by guards."

"I can't just sit by quietly!" She was quickly growing furious. "The people of this hold are in danger because the damned Jarl cares more about his mead and money than their safety. I won't stand for it, Lod. I won't."

"I'm not asking you to. I'm just asking you to reign it in a bit until the funeral's over."

Ria let out an exasperated sigh as his arms tightened around her again. "Fine."

"Are you gonna be alright tonight?" he asked cautiously.

"No," she answered, and truthfully at that, "but I'll survive."

"You don't have to be alone tonight, you know." Lod's voice was quiet, barely more than a whisper. "If you're not going to be okay, that is. I'm here for you."

Oh, no.

In the frenzy that today had brought, she'd almost forgotten about what the previous evening meant for their relationship. Lod clearly hadn't. A flash of panic flooded her mind, washing away the fury that had filled her only moments before.

"Not tonight, Lod," she said, feeling her throat go dry. "I need... I need to think. And I've got to get ready for the funeral."

"You take all the time you need to. When's the funeral?"

"Tomorrow, I imagine. I... I don't actually know. I suppose I'll talk to Runil."

"Do you need me to do that?"

"I can do it. They're my parents." For whatever it was worth, he'd let his earlier suggestion go, and Ria breathed a sigh of relief. "Really, Lod. I'll manage. I'll talk to Runil, and then to Mathies and Indara, and then to Narri for a while. And I promise I'll tell you what what Runil says, though if I tell Narri first, you'll find out in five minutes anyways."

"I'm sure." He gave her a light peck on the lips, and it was all she could do not to turn away. "Do what you need to. I'm here if you need me."

"Thank you."

And with that, Ria was on her way again. As much as she'd hoped for a few minutes to herself, she really had no choice now but to go down to the hall of the dead. It wouldn't do to put it off. Gods, it wasn't even midday yet and it already felt like the longest day of her life.

The arrangements with Runil went by quickly. Her parents would be buried in the morning, once Valdr's men brought them back. Ria would have enough time to make announcements of sorts to anyone affected by it. Not that there were many people she'd be telling, of course. Lod. Narri. Mathies and Indara. Valdr would find out as soon as he got back again.

By the time that was finished, all she could think to do was go home once again. That little cabin on the edge of town felt smaller somehow, foreign and lonely. As she looked around it, she saw memories and ghosts, shades of the life she'd been leading.

Not the life she'd lead anymore.

That night, as she curled up and cried herself to sleep, Ria began to plan. One thing was absolutely certain: she would not be staying there much longer.