Lydia and I looked at each other for a brief minute, unsure of what to say to each other.
"So…I'm a Thane now," I gave a weak chuckle, "What does that mean exactly?"
"The Jarl has recognized you as a person of great importance in the hold. A hero. The title of Thane is an honor, a gift for your service. Guards will know to look the other way, if you let them know who you are."
"Okay, so I'm a noble basically now," I gave a small shrug, "And what does a housecarl do?"
"As my Thane, I'm sworn to your service," Lydia replied, "I'll guard you, and all you own, with my life."
"Well I don't have a lot anyway so that won't be needed," I said as two servants brought me the chest I borrowed before leaving.
"Um could you help me carry this stuff to the blacksmiths to sell and trade," I asked, giving the servants a small nod in thanks.
"I am sworn to carry your burdens," she nodded as I opened the chest. I took what I could carry while Lydia took the rest. With a quick trip to the markets our burdens were greatly lightened, and purse felt a little heavier. By then the sun was setting and the day was starting to weigh on me.
"Well I got a room reserved at the inn for the night," I yawned stretching my back.
"I'll join you," Lydia said.
"You are sure," I asked, "I'm sure it won't be the most comfortable sleeping arguments."
"I am your sword and shield; I'll be alright my Thane."
"You can just call me Sif. I'm not really used to having a title just yet."
Lydia opened her mouth to respond but stopped and simply gave a nod in return. With that we made our way to the Banner Mare where Lucia was waiting for me. As we entered the inn she was listening to the bard in the main room.
She immediately ran to me as I came in, "Mama!"
I bent over picking her up into my arms for a hug, "Hey sweetheart."
"What happened, I heard the guards talking about an attack and could hear roars," Lucia asked me as she leaned back to see my face, "And you smell like smoke. And what were those loud thundering voices?"
I gave a weak chuckle at her barrage of questions, "I'll tell you everything once I get settled with a bath and a good meal. But first I should introduce you to...my Housecarl, I guess."
Lucia's face lite up in shock as I set her down and moved so Lydia could kneel and greet her.
"Hello little one, my name is Lydia," she introduced herself, "It's an honor to meet you."
Lucia gave a small bow before nervously holding onto my leg. I smiled stroking her hair. The owner of the inn then came over and led us to our room.
"We don't have a bath available tonight, but I can bring up a kettle of water for you with some soup and bread if you'd like," she offered as we got to the room above the main hall. It even had a small balcony overlooking the hall. Lucia giggled as she went to the balcony.
"That'll be fine," I replied, "If I can at least get the ash off my face, and hair, I'll be alright."
The woman nodded back giving a small smile as she left the room. After she left, I started to take off my boots and armor.
"I didn't expect you to have a daughter," Lydia quietly mentioned as I took off my armor.
"It's kind of new for me too," I gave a small smile, "I found her on my way to the palace. I was an orphan for most of my adolescence, so I know that struggle."
"That's very noble of you," Lydia gave me a smile. I gave a smile back. Not much later the owner returned with a kettle of warm water and a few towels draped over her arm, while a Redguard woman followed behind her with a tray of bowls of soup and loafs of bread for us.
"Let me know if you need anything else," the keeper said.
"Thank you," I replied. They gave a small bow before leaving the room.
"Would you like any help, my- Sif," Lydia asked as I began to undress.
"I would actually, I doubt I'd be able to get my back," I nodded back.
She nodded in return then helped me undress before picking up one of the towels from the kettle scrubbing my back. While I got my front.
"Can I braid your hair, mama," Lucia asked coming back into the room.
"Sure," I nodded. She gave an excited squeal before jumping onto the bed sitting on the edge as she waited for me to finish cleaning up. Afterwards I sat on the floor in front of her as Lydia passed me my bowl of soup. Lucia did a simple three strand braid in my hair before taking her own bowl to eat. Lydia sat beside me as we ate. Lucia waited for us to finish eating before her questioning started up again.
"What was your business with the Jarl? Why did you come back so ruffed up, did you get into a fight with someone? Who's this she wasn't with you when you came into the city well not from when I saw you, and why did she call you Thane?"
I couldn't help but chuckle at her storm of questions till she was gasping for air. I let her catch her breath before I told her my tale. From Helgen, my adventure through Bleak Falls Burrow, the reason I came to Whiterun, and finally being named as Thane.
"And now I've been summoned by the Greybeards," I said. Lucia looked at me in aw though still seemed to be processing all I had told her, "I know. A lot for a few days huh."
"So that's what that loud thundering sound was," Lucia gasped, but then her head fell, "Does this mean you're leaving me now?"
What no of course not," I shook my head at her picking her up into my lap, "I'm going to take you with me. If you want to come that is?"
"Really," Lucia smiled up at me.
"Of course," I smiled back, "What kind of mother if I was just to leave you here all by yourself. Sides it'll give you a chance to see the world outside the city walls."
Lucia cheered bouncing in place, "Thank you thank you. You're the best mother ever."
Lydia chuckled a at her excitement as did I.
"When are we going to leave," Lucia asked.
"Tomorrow morning," I explained.
"We'll travel through Riverwood, and take a side path to avoid Helgen for the time being," Lydia explained, "After that it'll be pretty much a straight shot to Ivarstead."
"Are going to walk or take a carriage," Lucia asked.
"Still been figuring out that part," I replied as I pulled out my coin purse, "Lydia any idea how much a horse is worth?"
"Last I checked about a 1,000 septumis," Lydia replied.
"We'll take a carriage," I said looking over the contents of my purse, I had just over a 1,000 gold but it wouldn't be worth it using it all so soon. Lydia and I talked for a bit more. As we spoke over travel plans, Lucia sat on the bed listening to us talk. After a while she began to nod off as she watched us.
"Looks like it's bed time," I smiled to her before tucking her under the covers. She yawned as she cuddled up against the pillow, "Sleep well."
"Do you want the bed as well," I asked Lydia.
"No I'll be fine at the front of the bed, my-Sif," she nodded back to me. I was a little hesitant at the offer at first but could see that it'd be a waste to argue with her. With a sigh I nodded back to her climbing into bed beside Lucia. She immediately cuddled up to me. I smiled kissing her head as we fell asleep.
The next day we woke early in the morning to get ready for our journey. Lucia was slow to rise as I got redressed in my armor while Lydia set out to reserve the carriage for us.
"Come on sweety," I encouraged Lucia up, "Time to get ready to leave."
"Why so early," she yawned as she got out of bed.
"So we can get there before dark," I replied leading her to the rooms balcony for some fruit, cheese and a sweetroll for breakfast. She tiredly ate while I brushed her hair, giving her two small braids to keep her hair out of her face.
Once she was finished I helped her get dressed then we went to meet Lydia at the carriage by the stables. Lucia held my hand as we walked through the market square of the city. The vendors were preparing to open their stalls for the day. As we pasted a fruit stand I got some apples and carrots for the trip, placing them into my bag as we continued to the stables out side the city walls.
"Dragonborn," several city guards bowed their heads to me as we walked by them. I gave them small bows in return.
"Wow, is this going to happen every time a guard sees you walking by," Lucia asked me.
I chuckled giving a shrug back, " I have no clue. This is new to me as well."
"I think it's kind of neat," she smiled back, "My mama's a Thane and the Dragonborn of legends the bards sing about."
I chuckled back pulling her into a small hug before we continued to the carriage. Lydia waved to us as we arrived.
"All set, Sif," she gestured to the driver, "He's willing to stop by Iverstead on his way to Riften but if we want a ride back we'll have to wait a few days for him to make the return trip.
"That'll work perfectly," I nodded back, "I'm not sure how long we'll be so that'll work perfectly."
"Climb in back when you're ready to head off," the driver called back to us. I helped Lucia into the back of the carriage before climbing in myself then Lydia.
"All set," I told the driver as we settled in out seats. He snapped the rains, signaling to the horse to start moving down the road.