I grunted as I managed to knock over yet another piece of equipment. My forge room had recently become over crowd with supplies and broken weapons. The store room was full with Gods know what, so for some reason the overflow ended up here. And it was increasingly obvious that accomplishing any work in this condition was not going to happen. I tried my best to push material to the side and in piles. But this only succeeded in causing more problems then it solved. Weapons were falling over, ingots were all over the floor. I wanted this gone, now.

"Woah, someone needs to get a jump start on their spring cleaning."

"Still here?" I was surprised to see Nelcara was still in the city. She got here last week, and usually she only stayed a few days before she left again.

"I leave the day after next. I wanted to take care of some things." she explained. "Speaking of which, how do you plan on taking care of...all this? She gestured to the mess around us.

I let out an aggravated grunt. "I don't know. I shouldn't have to take care of it in the first place." It was then a pile of leather toppled over onto my feet. "Urgh". Furthered angered, I kicked the pile across the room.

Nelcara sided step the piles and clutter, and managed to actually make it into the room without falling. She stood next to me rubbing my neck. I might have enjoyed it more if I wasn't already so irritated. "Alright, take it easy. You can store this mess at my place."

"Really? Would it even fit?" At this point I didn't even care. I'd chunk it in the road.

"Yeah, we can just shove it in the extra bedroom. And I'll give you a key so you can get back in.".

That might actually work. Her house wasn't too far from here. It was going to take all day to move everything but that would be a small price to pay for my sanity.

"Okay." I said as I began picking up piles off the floor. Nelcara bent down picking up a few ingots as she sighed "The day I decide to wear a dress". She was usually in mages' robes with pants, but not today I suddenly noticed. She wore a long red dress. With any luck, she wouldn't trip going up the stairs.

It was after dark before we got everything moved and put away. As I closed the door to the room Nelcara sunk to the floor, and braced herself against the wall. "Well, that was a work out".

I was tired myself and beginning to get very hungry as my stomach was now letting me know.

Nelcara laughed. "Sounds like your stomach's trying to eat itself. Hope you like soup. It's all I know how to make." She got up from the floor and walked to the next room, leaving me there wondering what was going on. Did she just invite me to dinner? Well, more like telling me I was eating dinner. It was just easier to submit. She'd just argue me into staying anyway. Or worse, give me that pleading look with her eyes. That, I was defenseless against. It always gave me a weird knot feeling inside.

Unsure of what to do, I followed her into the next room. I stood in the middle, taking notice of everything. I hadn't been too keen on observing décor on the way up here. "Need help?" I called out as I looked around the room.

"Nah, I got it." she said as she threw a concoction of items into a cooking pot.

She had a large collection of things on the selves and counters around the house. Sitting on one counter was a mask with intricate carvings. As, I walked over to get a closer look I recognized it as a dragon priest mask. As I picked it up I remembered her telling me about it. She had gone to some old ruin for the College after they had unearthed some ancient magic. I put the mask back down next to several more like it and a pile of jeweled dragon claws. How many caves and ruins had she been in? She told me stories about having to go to some of these places but I didn't think it had been that many. No wonder she was rarely home. I continued, finding four large bookshelves that were almost full.

"You know, all those years in the Legion must have made you a good fighter. You should travel with me some time." she said from the pot.

"Can't." I said, looking at the shelves. "Too much work here"

"Amazing, the things you find in caves and ruins" she said walking up beside me. "The soups done. But feel free to continue staring if you like" she teased.

I turned to follow her to the table when my foot knocked against something. Looking down, I saw I had managed to kick over a bag and spill out its contents. Nelcara must have heard because she quickly turned around.

"Ugh...don't worry about that" she walked back over pushing things back in. "My travel bag" she explained. "I have a bad habit of leaving it in the middle of the floor."

I bent down to help, picking up scrolls and potions and handing them back, when suddenly I felt something slightly heavier in the pile. I glanced down to what was in my hands and had to look again. It was an amulet. I had to study it a moment longer before I was sure. But yes, it was definitely an amulet...an amulet of Mara.

Nelcara quickly took it from me and stuffed it in the bag.

It wasn't any of my business. If Nelcara had an interest in someone then good for her. I hoped they were deserving of her. But I couldn't help but ask, "Was that an amulet of Mara?"

"That was just—it wasn't—I" she stammered, looking away as she pushed the bag aside. She let out a sigh as her face turned red "Yes. Now come eat."

We sat at the table eating for a few moments in silence. And I don't now what compelled me to say, "Did you have someone in mind?" I instantly regretted that. I didn't want to know. So, why did I ask? Her only response was a sad look as she continued to eat. "You're strong and capable. You should have no trouble."

She looked back up a smile forming onto her face. "I don't think most men are worried about a strong woman." she chuckled. And then more seriously she said, "They usually want someone more comely...and pretty."

And before I could think about it I said, "Well, that shouldn't be a problem either." Should I have said that? She was pretty. Beautiful even, if my opinion mattered for anything. She had a smile that lit up her whole face. Her eyes were this big almond shape and the deepest shade of green. The way she moved was elegant and flowing, when she wasn't tripping or falling. If this man didn't admire her strength, then he didn't deserve her beauty.

She blushed as she let out a nervous laugh. "Thank you" she said as she managed to look me in the face again. The longer I looked at her, the more I wanted to reach over and kiss her. I started to move my hand across the table but stopped myself. She was obviously in love with someone else. That wouldn't be fair of me to...but she was looking at me with those eyes. Was it possible to smile with your eyes? But then, she wasn't looking at me anymore. She was looking past me, her eyes growing wide.

"Argis?" she said, with a confused look. "Where have you been?"

I turned around in my chair to see her housecarl standing in the middle of the hallway. "I've been here" he said before walking off into another room. I looked back to see Nelcara shaking her head. And then she looked at me, her eyebrows scrunched up.

"Moth, are you okay?" she said reaching for my arm. Was I okay? Had I left some type of expression on my face. I didn't know. But I shook my head as I pulled my arm back. I pushed back in my chair, standing myself up. "It's late. I've got work in the morning. Thanks for the help" And I headed straight for the door. I was short, perhaps too cold in the way I had said that. But I couldn't stay here much longer.

"Moth." she called out as she ran up behind me. I forced myself to stop. "You're gonna need this" she said, pressing the key into my hand. I nodded and went out the door. I knew she wouldn't be staying much longer.