Chapter 3: Second Seed Breeze

Note: Welcome back! In this chapter we are starting to see some of Marina's traits and backstory slowly being revealed. This part might be recognizable to those who know the plot of the game. Enjoy!

The winding mountain roads were easy enough to navigate, I had been traveling on them for years. It wasn't always the safest route, clans of bandits were notorious to wander close to the roads, watching for unsuspecting victims. They weren't any concern of mine, the caravan had had plenty of encounters with thieves, most of the time it ended in trading and business. Anyone struggling to make a living could speak that language.

Today was peaceful. The month of the Second Seed always brought soft warm winds and blooming wildflowers. Playful foxes chased one another through the trees by the road, and birds sang with joy at the first signs of summer. I couldn't help the smile that spread over my lips, almost grateful for the Imperial rags that covered me. They allowed the fresh breeze to cool me as I kept up the pace to Riverwood, which I knew wasn't far away at all.

I hadn't been to Riverwood in months, right before I had left Skyrim for Elsweyr. We had stopped on the outskirts to rest and buy supplies for the rest of the journey, the last stop we wanted to make before we crossed the border. Stepping lightly, I crossed a bridge over a bubbling river that led me into Riverwood.

It was a logging village, known for the sawmill by the river that flowed past it. Wandering up into the hustling town, children, animals and adults all went about their business, nodding their heads to me in greeting. Some even said "Good afternoon," which seemed so foreign to me, as most of Skyrim's people could be as cold and harsh as the winters. Seeing the sign for blacksmith, I looked down at my rags and grimaced. I had no money to pay for any of the things I needed, when I had been captured the Imperial soldiers had taken everything. Hoping the Imperial I had befriended was good on his word, I came up along the house to the forge, knocking my grimy hand on the wood as I approached the blacksmith.

"Any friend of Hadvar's is a friend of mine," Alvor the blacksmith kept repeating with a hardy chuckle. He was a brawny man, no doubt from years of working in the forges. His forehead was covered in beads of sweat but he had a smile that took any intimidation from his build away. Though I appreciated his kindness, I just wanted to get what I needed to survive and go. I still had business to attend to, the reason I had come back to Skyrim in the first place.

"He certainly came through for me," I called over my shoulder, tying up the last of the basic leather armor Alvor had given me. I moved my braid over my shoulder and started to fasten the armor to behind my neck. "I don't know what I would have done if he hadn't helped me escape the city. Probably burn to death." I tried to joke, but the burning bodies flashed in my mind and I shivered. Eventually, I stepped out from behind the house with the armor fully secured. It hugged my figure, but offered me the mobility to dash and jump and jab, the three things I excelled at in a scrap. My hair, though dirty and matted was still pulled back in the braid that fell to the middle of my back, brushing the leather when I moved.

"I still…can't really believe it." he didn't look up when I walked over, focused on what was in his large hands. "I saw what I thought was a phoenix! Something too big to be a regular bird." as he spoke, he pulled up a leather belt and pack, shoving some daggers and coin into them. I raised a hand, a guilty pit forming in my stomach. I knew better than anyone what kindness could cost a person, even a well-off person, in these hard times.

"I…I don't need the coin," I tried to insist, but he grunted and reached to shover some dried meat and berries into the pack. It only made me flush with embarrassment, and I shifted my weight uncomfortably between my feet, encased in thick leather boots.

"It's a hard world out there, lass." he said seriously, his jolly face falling a touch. "I'm not about to send you on your way without essentials…though, I would ask you a favor."

His words made me flinch and I braced myself, wondering what he might ask of me. Noticing me tense up, he started waving his hands and saying gruffly;

"No..no no, I have a wife, kids…no.." I couldn't help but smile, at his surprise and in relief.

"What is it, then?"

"Well, the Jarl of Whiterun..I doubt he has any idea about all this dragon business.." he paused, as if trying to choose his words carefully, then continued. "The guards here..they won't believe what you told me. Hell, I barely believe it." I giggled at his words, moving a hand to cover my mouth to hide my smile. It was rare that I laughed in front of anyone but the caravan.

"But, he needs to know. Not just for Riverwood's sake, but everyone's. Can you take the message to him? Something tells me you'll be better able to convince him than anyone else. You can keep the coin and more if you do."

At the mention of Whiterun, my blood ran cold. The warm summer day suddenly felt as cold and dark as a winter's night. I hadn't been inside the gates of Whiterun in years. Automatically, I started to back up, my hip bumping into the sharpening stone.

"Alvor..I'm in a hurry. I have my own affairs to settle...I can't be expected to run messages like a courier." the blacksmith barked out a laugh at my defiance, but grew serious as he started to settle down.

"Marina, these are troubled times we live in. You know it as well as I do, it's in your eyes. I have a feeling in my bones, things aren't going to get better. They are going to get worse. There's a storm coming, you can feel it in the air. We all best be prepared when it comes." I found myself shaking my head and groaning. His words, though dramatic, were true. And with each sentence he swayed me more.

"Fine, I can make a stop in Whiterun." he started to grin, so I quickly interjected. "But! I want an extra pair of iron gauntlets and some of those apples over there." I jabbed my thumb in the direction of a basket laying on the front of his porch. Alvor's laugh roared as he tossed me the gauntlets and apples, both of which I caught in the pack he had given me.

Note: Shorter than usual! I am trying to cut down the lengths of my chapters a little bit, just so that there isn't too much in one chapter that should be saved for another. Wonder who the caravan she keeps talking about are? Why is was she so messed up when Alvor mentioned Whiterun? Next chapter, all will be revealed! Thank you as always for reading and reviewing, it is so appreciated. It helps me shape the story how I want it and how you all would like. Thanks so much!