AN: Instead of studying for a test on the entire play of Hamlet, I'm writing this. I wanted to put this up yesterday, but I didn't have the urge to write, and I downloaded the Dawnguard expansion pack for Skyrim. If you can, you should download it. I play on PC, so I waited for a Steam sale and got it for ten dollars, instead of the usual twenty. It's fun, but short. I finished the main story line (there are still other quests though)!
On another note, I've been on a Kate Bush binge again, and Oh to Be in Love (from her first album) has been stuck in my head all week. If you haven't listened to any of her stuff, you definitely should. As a matter of fact, this chapter was written while I listened to it and some of her other songs on repeat.
Sorry for the long AN! On to the chapter!
When we arrived back in Falkreath, it was still early morning. Vilkas and I still had a room rented at the inn, along with my parents. Before the attack on the farm, my mother managed to grab most of their savings before going into the cellar. My parents were both adventurous people; in their youth, both of them traveled a lot, so they weren't really worried about having to leave Falkreath. They had enough savings to stay in the inn for a couple of nights before figuring out where to go.
As we arrived back at our room, the awkward tension was still thickening the air. I told Vilkas that I needed to wash the dried blood and dirt off of me before I could even think about sleeping. He nodded as I turned to walk out of the room.
I walked outside into the darkness. The cool crisp air filled my lungs as I breathed in the pine scented air. There was a slight breeze, causing the trees to sway back and forth. Focusing on the crunch of the gravel underneath my shoes, I began to walk towards the small river that powered the wood mill. As I looked up at the starry sky, I began to think.
I've saved up a good bit of money, and I know that they worry for me. Maybe I can talk them into moving to Whiterun.This could be my way of repaying my parents for everything they've done for me throughout the years I thought.
I began to systematically remove my clothes and made a neat pile on the side of the river bank. Not wanting to step into the cold water, I channeled the magicka flowing through my veins to warm my body up. As I lowered myself into the water, my body hissed as steam filled the air.
Oh the perks of being a mage! I thought in ecstasy.
I began to scrub the caked-on blood from my arms and torso, thinking of how different my life had became. Only a few months ago, and I was just a farm girl who occasionally killed bears and wolves; now I'm a well off Companion hired and paid to do what I already had to do for my family!
I began to happily hum a tune in a high soprano voice. Compared to the Nordic women voices of Skyrim, my high Breton voice was always a shock to anyone that heard it.
This is the first time I've had any time to myself in a while I thought pathetically. Thinking back, I couldn't remember the last time that I had taken my time to do anything. Usually I was in such a rush in everything like eating, bathing, or traveling that I didn't really "stop to smell the roses" as my mother would say.
Next came my long brown hair. There was dried flecks of blood and mud entwined in it. I began to carefully pull apart the tangles, being sure not to pull it too hard. I really need to take better care of my hair. How did I let it get like this? I thought in disgust.
Seeing how dirty my hair was, I turned back to look at my clothes on the bank to check them out. Sure enough, they needed washing badly. Deciding I could dry them with a fire spell, I pulled them into the river with me.
Wow. I can't believe no one said anything about how dirty I was! I thought in embarrassment. Well, I guess hygiene isn't really everyone's top priority when you're just trying to make it by.
After thirty more minutes of scrubbing clothes, body parts, and hair, I decided I was clean enough. Not wanting to stand stark naked, I cast a large fireball at the water, causing a thick fog to rise up. I quickly got out of the water and slipped on the sopping wet clothes and began to heat my body up. The water began to steam out of the clothes until I was left standing in dry clothes and a small puddle.
Thoroughly enjoying the relaxation time, I began to head back to the inn. I need at least a bit of sleep if I want to function tomorrow I thought as I saw the first few rays of morning sunlight begin to peak over the mountain range to the east.
Surprisingly, I was the first to wake up in the morning. Maybe it was from never entering a deep slumber, or from the excitement of heading back home. Either way, I went into the main room of the inn and headed over to the inn keeper, a dark skinned Imperial woman named Valga.
"What do you have to eat? My friend and I need to be off soon." I said politely.
"Your friend? I thought he was your husband." The woman said bluntly.
My face burned as I replied, "No, just a friend."
"Well, we have some venison that we can cook up real quick. Let me get on that." she said while walking away to, I assume, cook the food.
I sat down at one of the tables against the wall and wondered if everyone that saw Vilkas and I together, thought that we were in a relationship. At least he wasn't here to hear that. I don't think I could stand anymore of the awkwardness.
As I pitied myself, I didn't hear Vilkas walk up behind me. Consequently, when he spoke, I hit the table with my knees as I jumped. While he was laughing, I turned to give him a death stare.
Disgruntled, I asked ,"What do you want?"
"I was going to find you so we could get our payment from the Jarl and head back. Making you maul yourself with an inanimate object was just an added bonus." he said in that smug voice of his.
"I hate you, do you realize that?" I said jokingly.
He opened his mouth to reply, when Valga walked back in with the food I ordered. She sat it down in front of me, and I gave her the gold to pay for it.
"Thank you!" I said in a kind voice.
"Thank you. We don't get very much business here, and you've been staying here for a while now." she said as she walked back to her counter.
I told Vilkas to sit down and eat. We ate in silence, until I saw my parents' room open and my father emerged. I greeted him as he made his way to Valga to buy some of the food that she cooked.
After getting the food, I told my father that I wanted to speak with them after Vilkas and I returned from the Jarl's longhouse. He agreed and took the food back to the bedroom.
Vilkas broke the silence that settled between us. "Let's finish this, and go ahead to the Jarl. It's a decent enough hour by now."
I nodded and followed Vilkas out into the warm and moist air of the morning. As we headed for the longhouse, I decided to tell Vilkas of my plan to buy a house in or near Whiterun for my parents.
"I think that is a fine idea." he said simply.
"Do you think they'll like it though? They're used to the solitude of the forest, not town." I said, still unsure.
"I think they'll be happy because they would get to be close to you. From the sound of it, your parents have been worried about you. It will give them some peace of mind to know you're okay." he told me.
I decided he was right and followed him inside of the large building in the center of town. The Jarl was seated on a high back chair at the end of the entry hall.
As we got close to him, he immediately cut to the chase.
"You've gotten rid of the bandits then?" he said in an authoritative voice.
Vilkas replied, "Every last one of them. They were holed up in Cracked Tusk Keep, to the west of here."
"Good. They were a major threat to my hold. Here is the reward that was promised." he said while giving both of us leather money pouches holding five hundred gold each.
We thanked him, and as we turned to leave the Jarl called out, "I'll put in a good word for the Companions with the other Jarls."
"I need to restock on supplies before we return to Whiterun." Vilkas told me as we neared the inn.
"Alright. Take your time, as I still need to talk to my parents." I replied.
"Good luck." he said then turned and began walking towards the general goods store.
I went inside and knocked on the door of my parents' room and entered when I was told.
My mother happily greeted me with a good morning, and my father did the same. After exchanging greetings, I sat down on a chair next to the wall and began speaking.
"Now that you two are going to start looking for houses, maybe you could come live closer to Whiterun. You could probably even start a farm or a store," I stopped to take a breath, "It will be great, you would both live closer to me. I would know that you guys were safe, and you would both know that I was safe. We wouldn't have to rely on letters to speak with each other anymore!"
By the looks on their faces, I could tell that they were genuinely considering Whiterun as an option. My excitement began to grow, and I jumped from the chair to hug both of them when they agreed.
"This is great! I won't have to worry about bandits or bears attacking you two while I'm gone anymore!"
After chatting with them about what they would do when we returned to Whiterun, I went back to mine and Vilkas' shared room to gather up my things. I began to pick up all of my potions and scrolls that I spread across the small table in the room and sorted them into my bag. I came across the ice atronach conjuration tome again and decided that I would practice the spell when we returned to Whiterun.
As I finished collecting my things, Vilkas returned with a bag full of health and stamina potions and a newly sharpened sword.
"Get everything you needed?" I asked.
"Yes. I'm ready to head out; are you?" he asked absently while checking through his things one last time.
"My parents are coming with us. They agreed to move to Whiterun!" I told him excitedly.
He just nodded and slung his bag over his shoulder. I followed him into the main hall, and saw my parents ready to leave as well.
We paid Valga, headed out of Falkreath, and began to make our way north on our way back to Whiterun.
AN: Whew! I'm glad to be done with that chapter. It was pretty boring, but I promise there will be more action soon! Thanks for reading!