Ghost

Aila woke, sitting up and stretching out her arms. A few moments later she heard, "Oh good, you're awake. Let's do something."

Aila yawned. "Huh?"

"Let's do something," Kathryn said again. "I can't take sitting around any longer. I need to move."

Aila shook her head. "You need to rest."

"I have rested!" Kathryn insisted. "If I rest anymore I'm going to explode!"

"That doesn't even make sense."

"You know what I mean! There was a bunch of commotion last night, and I want to know what it was."

"What sort of commotion?" Aila asked.

"I don't know, that's why I want to go check. Come on, I promise I'll be careful."

"Alright, alright. As long as you're careful."

"Yes!" Kathryn exclaimed. She stood from bed, grunting in pain as she did so.

Aila sighed and shook her head.

They both left the inn in search for whatever might have caused the disturbance that Kathryn heard last night. It didn't take too long to find. There was a house at the edge of the small lake in the middle of the city. It was nearly burned to the ground. Ashes covered the ground around it and the walls crumbled, wooden beams still sticking out ruined building. There was a single guard standing in front of the entrance. Kathryn called out to her. "Excuse me!"

The guard looked their way. "Yes? What is it?"

"Could you tell me what happened here? What happened to this house? It wasn't like this yesterday. At least, I don't think it was."

"No, it wasn't," the guard answered. "House caught fire last night. Caused Hroggar his wife and daughter. Poor sod. Unless you believe the rumors."

"Rumors? What rumors?"

"That Hroggar set the fire himself."

"What?!" both Kathryn and Aila exclaimed in unison.

"Why would someone set fire to his own home?" Aila asked. "Especially if his family was inside!"

The guard shrugged. "That's just what they say. Don't believe them myself. Makes no sense to me."

"Of course not! I don't know who this Hroggar is, but there's no way anyone could be that heartless."

The guard merely shrugged once more. "Maybe, maybe not. Either way I've got to stay here to make sure no one enters the crime scene without permission, so unless there's anything else, you two had best be on your way."

"I guess not," Kathryn said. "Let's go, Aila."

"Wait, just one last thing," Aila said. "Where is Hroggar now?"

The guard thought for a moment. "Working over by the mill, I suppose."

"Okay, thanks." Aila headed out toward the mill with Kathryn trailing behind her.

Suddenly the guard called out to them. "Oh, and the Jarl asked for volunteers to look into the case. Go to her if your interested."

"We'll think about it."

As they walked, Kathryn started a healing spell and held it over her chest. "Does it hurt?" Aila asked.

"Yeah," Kathryn responded. "Not as much as it did, though. But why do you want to go see Hroggar? We're not really going to investigate, are we? I just wanted to know what happened last night, that was it. I don't want to get caught up in anything."

"No, of course not. I just want to see why anyone would want to spread rumors like that. I just can't believe anyone would try to kill his own family."

"I completely agree, that's horrible. But you don't know for sure. Those rumors are probably false, and even if they are true that doesn't mean he wanted to kill his family. Maybe he's just some pyromaniac who got a little too carried away."

"Maybe, but there's just one more thing bothering me."

"What's that?"

"Well, I don't know about you, but if my house was burned to the ground and my family killed I would be too distraught to even think about working."

Kathryn was silent for a moment. "You've got a point, there."

"Come on," Aila said, taking Kathryn's hand.

Nearing the mill, a man came up to them. "Yes? Can I help you?"

"Is Hroggar here?" Aila asked.

The man's face darkened with a look of enmity. "Yes, he is."

Aila had a pretty good idea of what that look meant. "You think he set the fire."

"Of course he did! I go to him and say 'So sorry about your loss, no need for you to work tomorrow,' my heart's not made of stone, you know, but he comes anyway looking none the worse for wear. 'I'm fine,' he says, 'Alva takes care of me now.' Fucking whore."

Aila ignored his vulgarity. "Alva? Who's that?"

The man waved off the question. "Ah, no matter. I'm sick of fretting over it. You wanted to see Hroggar, he's over there, chopping wood," he said before walking off.

Aila and Kathryn went of over to the man chopping wood. "Hroggar?" Aila said.

The man looked up. "Yes?"

"I heard about what happened. I just came over to offer my condolences."

Hroggar looked at her with a strange, distant look in his eye. He paused for a moment, like he was not sure what she was talking about. Then he said in an emotionless tone, "Ah, yes, the fire. That was a shame."

Aila was stunned. Of all the different ways she imagined him to act, this was definitely not one of them. And his tone irritated her. "A shame? Your family is killed and all you have to say is that it was 'a shame?'"

"Aila..." Kathryn said softly.

Hroggar just looked at them passively. "I have Alva now. She takes care of me."

"Alva again!" Aila exclaimed. "Who in Oblivion is Alva?"

Kathryn suddenly started to pull Aila away. "Come on Aila, let's just leave him be."

"What? But..."

Kathryn ignored her protests and dragged her along.

Once they were out of earshot, Aila said. "Look, I'm sorry I started yelling, but you heard him! How else was I supposed to act?"

"Oh no, I'm with you utterly. If I had to hear him speak much longer I would've started wailing on him myself."

"Oh. Then why did you pull me away?"

"You were crushing my hand. Still are, actually."

"Huh?" Aila looked down at they're entwined hands. In her growing anger, she had tightened her grip to the point that her knuckles had gone white. "Oh! Sorry!" She exclaimed, letting go.

Kathryn breathed a sigh of relief as she rubbed her hand. "That's better. Seriously, when did you get so strong?"

Aila let out a halfhearted laugh. "Yeah right. Well, come on," she said, and started walking.

Kathryn followed obediently behind her. "Um... where are we going now?"

"To the Longhouse."

"The... Jarl's Longhouse? Why are we... Oh no, you said we wouldn't get involved!"

"That was before we met him."

Kathryn let out a reluctant sigh. "Oh well. At least its something to do."

After a few moments of walking, Kathryn spoke up suddenly. "This feels weird."

Aila looked back at her quizzically. "What does?"

"I don't know just... this. Me, following you. Usually it's the other way around."

Aila frowned at her. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

Kathryn shook her head. "No, not at all! I'm just not used to it."

Aila looked at her for a moment. "Okay..."

They continued walking in silence. Aila still wasn't really sure what she meant, be she let the matter drop.

Aila pushed open the doors of the Longhouse and saw several people straighten at the sight of a visitor. She headed for the the throne at the far end of the room where an old woman sat, but was stopped halfway by a rather burly Nord.

"Halt," he said. "What business do you have with the Jarl?"

Aila looked up at him. "Who ever said I wanted to speak with the Jarl? I mean, you're right, but you really shouldn't assume." She heard Kathryn stifle a laugh.

The Nord scowled down at her. "Do you know who you are speaking to?"

The old woman on the throne called out. "Enough, Gorm. Let her pass."

The Nord, Gorm, bowed slightly. "As you wish."

Aila and Kathryn walked past him and stood in front of the old lady. "Hello, uh..." Aila suddenly realized that she didn't actually know the woman's name. So she went with simply, "Jarl."

"That's 'my Jarl', girl." Gorm said from behind her. She ignored him.

"Hello, indeed." The old lady said. "So, life had brought you to Morthal, and to me. What purpose this serves, we shall no doubt see. Welcome."

Aila wasn't really sure how to respond to that, other than, "That rhymed."

The old lady smirked at her. "So it did. Now, what can this old woman do for you?"

I like her, Aila thought. She's very easy-going. "I want to help investigate the fire."

"Hroggar's house fire? He lost his wife and daughter in the blaze."

"Yes, I know. I want to know why. Is there anything you can tell me?"

"Not without first searching the ruins of the crime scene."

"You mean you haven't done that already?" Aila asked. "Why not?"

"My people believe it to be cursed now. Who am I to gainsay them?"

Kathryn stepped in. "Well, what does Hroggar say happened?"

"He blames his wife for spilling bear fat in the fire. Many think he set the fire himself."

Aila clenched her fists. "So I've heard. But why would he do that? I don't understand."

The old Jarl shook her head sadly. "Lust can make a man do the unthinkable. The ashes were still warm when he pledged himself to Alva."

"Alva... so that's who she is." Aila was liking this story less and less. "Let me get this straight. Hroggar's house burns to the ground, killing his wife and child. Immediately after, he goes to some woman, which in itself raises plenty of suspicion, and then there's the fact that I saw him just moments ago and he seems perfectly content knowing his family's dead. Tell me again why he's not in jail already?"

The Jarl gave her a look that suggested she wasn't entirely pleased with the situation either. "Arrest a man on rumor and gossip? No. But you, strangers, might find the truth. Sift through the ashes others are too fearful to touch. See what they tell you. Should you prove Hroggar guilty or innocent, I shall reward you."

Aila nodded. "Let's go, Kat."

They exited the building and headed back to the ruins. The guard there greeted them. "You two again. What brings you back here?"

"We talked to the Jarl, like you suggested. She told us to search the ruins."

The guard nodded and stepped out of the way. "Go right ahead then."

They went in and began to look around. Neither was quite sure what to look for, but they assumed they would know when they saw it. Aila began searching trough the ashes while Kathryn looked for signs of any kind magickal tampering. A few minutes later, Aila said, "I don't think this caused by bear fat."

"What makes you say that?" Kathryn asked, running her hands along on of the walls.

"If it was, then there would be burnt fat in the fireplace, but there isn't. There's nothing but ash."

"Then what caused it? I'm certainly no expert, but I can't detect any magick in here, so either we're missing something, or-" she cut off suddenly.

"Or what?"

No response.

"Kathryn?" she turned to look at her. She was staring wide-eyed at the corner of the room, unmoving. Aila followed her gaze and nearly stumbled in surprise. A few months ago, had she seen what she was seeing now, she might have screamed in fright, but now she was simply very startled.

"Who are you?" the ghost girl said. "What are you doing in my house?"

Aila gulped, unsure what to do. She looked at Kathryn, but she was as lost as she was. Aila thought for a short moment and decided to take a chance. She went over to the girl, who backed away in response, looking frightened. "I-It's okay," Aila reassured her, when she really wanted to reassure herself. "We're not going to hurt you."

The ghost looked at her doubtfully.

"What's your name, sweetie?" Aila asked. She wasn't sure why she added 'sweetie', but it felt necessary.

"H... Helgi," the ghost girl said hesitantly. Then she rushed out, "But I'm not supposed to talk to strangers."

Aila shook her head and knelt down in front of the ghost girl. "We're not strangers. We're friends. I'm Aila, and this is Kathryn."

"Aila..." Helgi repeated. "That's a pretty name."

Aila smiled at her comment. "Thank you very much." She glanced at Kathryn, who was also smiling, and then back to the girl. "Helgi... do you know what happened to your house?"

Helgi looked as if she was struggling to remember for a moment. "I... I woke up... and there was lots of smoke and fire. It was so hot. I was scared. And then... then it got cold."

Aila suddenly became aware of tears in her eyes. She wiped them away quickly before any of them fell. She was trying to stay strong but... this was just an innocent girl. There was no reason for her to die like this. It made her unbearably sad.

"I'm not scared anymore," Helgi continued. "But I'm lonely. Will you play with me?" she asked with a hopeful glint in her pale eyes.

Aila nodded and subconsciously reached out to the girl's cheek, surprised when she actually made contact. She was so cold. "Of course. What would you like to play?"

"Hide and seek!" she exclaimed excitedly. "You can try and find me. But we have to wait until night, though. The other one is playing too, and she can't come out during the day."

Aila's brow furrowed. "Other one? What other one?"

Little Helgi shook her head, suddenly looking frightened again, which worried Aila. "I can't tell you, she might hear me. She's so close."

"What do you mean?" asked Aila. "Who is?"

Helgi simply grabbed her hand and said, "Please, come and find me," before fading away.

"Helgi?" Aila said, vainly looking around for the ghost girl, but she had disappeared. She sighed sadly and stood, staring glumly at the spot where Helgi was just moments before. She became aware of Kathryn's presence just behind her as a pair of warm, comforting arms wrapped themselves around her waist.

"That was..." Kathryn started. "strange."

Aila merely nodded in agreement.

"So now we find Helgi. She could be anywhere."

Aila shook her head. "No. Not anywhere."

"You have an idea?"

Aila nodded. "Where does anyone go to find the dead? A graveyard."