Author's Note: The very first quest that Gabrielle took in Riverwood and how she met up with Faendal. I've been thinking about this recently and decided to write it up for ya'll.

As always, I hope you enjoy reading this. Also, big thank you to those who've taken the time to review this. It means a lot to me.

Prompt: Famous Last Words

When Gabrielle had first run into Riverwood beside Hadvar, she'd been exhausted beyond belief and could've slept for days. But before she could follow the Imperial soldier over to the house of Alvor, the local blacksmith, she ran straight into a Nord bard by the name of Sven. Somehow, without even meaning to, Gabrielle was volunteered to help the man resolve a love triangle.

It was not the exact kind of adventure the Redguard was expecting, but it would certainly be a start.

But that slow building of excitement took a nosedive when she realized just what kind of letter the bard wanted her to deliver. It was terrible and she couldn't help but be truthful to Camilla when she handed over the letter.

"Sven wrote this? How awful," Camilla had said and Gabrielle couldn't help but agree.

It wasn't until the end of her first day in Riverwood that Gabrielle actually met Faendal the Bosmer. She was drinking away her disappointment when he sat down beside her and immediately thanked her.

"I know we've never met and you didn't have a reason to help me either way, but I wanted to show you my gratitude in any way possible. If you ever need something, don't hesitate to ask," he said, grinning from ear to pointy ear.

She couldn't help but smile back and hand him a bottle of wine.

"Join me in a few drinks. These past few days have not been at all what I've expected and I could use the company."

They began to talk, about Skyrim and Riverwood, about the civil war going on between the Imperials and the Stormcloaks, about anything and everything that came to mind. Faendal, after getting drunk on three bottles of wine, admitted that he was not completely innocent in the love triangle and showed her his own forged letter. The punch he got on the arm was well-deserved and she had half a mind to tell Camilla about his own attempt at deceiving her.

"I will do anything you ask, if you promise not to tell her. Please," he said, almost hanging off of her arm, "I know you must think I'm terrible. But I was desperate. No one but Camilla has been so kind to me since I arrived here."

Gabrielle didn't know what possessed her next, but she quickly pulled him up and off of her and forced him to look her in the eye.

"Alright, but I have one condition."

"Anything!"

"You have to come adventuring with me, all the way to Whiterun."

He faltered for a moment, his alcohol-addled mind taking it's time catching up to the conversation.

"What?" he asked, completely shocked and slowly becoming terrified.

"You swore I could ask you for anything. This is what I want. To make up for being a scoundrel, you will accompany me in my travels through Skyrim," she gestured outside, "all the way to Whiterun. It'll be a long, perilous adventure, but maybe it'll do you some good. Make you more honourable."

She nodded to herself and took a long drink from her fourth cup of mead. When she finally set the empty cup down, she turned to see Faendal doing his best impression of a fish. It was a look she never would've expected any elf to make and she laughed until she almost fell off her chair.

It took both of them a long time to recover but after a few more minutes of contemplation and two or three more drinks, Faendal looked to Gabrielle and agreed.

"I will follow you until you have no more need of my services," he finally said and raised his bottle to her.

"That, my friend, is a promise I intend to see you keep," Gabrielle smiled fiercely and they toasted to this new and strange partnership that was developing before their very eyes.

But that was for another day and for the next adventure.