Jon took after some provisions as he walked down the river bank; Some cheese and bread, a few swigs of water. Grey-Brown crabs of a decent size crawled around in the mud of the river, and even made way for him before he backed away from them further up the embankment. He left them their turf, not needing to supplement his rations at the moment. Spying some alchemy ingredients, he picked various mountain flowers or the red and purple variety. He also took after some of the fungus growing on the tree stumps. A few deer trotted past as he did.
Jon finally came back to the Imperial road that would lead into Riverwood. The sturdy construction simply ended as it trailed into the mountain path that would take him back up to the barrow. He wondered if it was part of a planned expansion project that was put on hold due to the civil war. Maybe another town along the bank, or simply another route to another place. Jon arrived at the gates as twilight just made its first appearances. The Guardsman that first greeted him was manning the post.
Jon said, "Hail, Guardsman, may I enter?"
The Guard-Sargent said, "Of course, wizard. I hear we have you to thank for getting us reinforcement against the dragons. So I thank you."
Jon said, "In all honesty I was, and still am, trying to make my way to the College, and would have just passed though. Show your favor to the Valerius family. They set me on the task for your fair town."
The Guard-Sargent smiled under his distinctive helmet. He said, "I have shown my favor by assigning a few more guards to their shipments, now that I can spare them. You still carried the word right after being attacked by the beast. Stop by the inn for a mug of mead on me."
"Thank you guardsman. The watchtower up the hill has also been cleared of bandits. So has the barrow. They'll be good vantages to watch for dragons." Jon said with a short bow.
The Guard-Sargent nodded as Jon walked though and into the town. He would put a couple guards at those posts with signal scrolls to secure the town's outer perimeter. They could watch for things other than dragons down in the valley as well. This Divines-damned civil war had made the perfect conditions for bandits to stake their claims. Monsters too now that no one can spare the guard to go after them, relying instead on adventures and sell swords. They either weren't reliable, died on the job, or just weren't in enough abundance to hire. Waiting on warriors and wizards to wander into problems didn't a safe Riverwood make.
Jon walked into the Sleeping Giant inn for his mug of mead, and some more food. The place was about the size of the first floor of the Bannered Mare. There was no second floor on the humble inn. However, rooms sill lined the walls, tables in-between the doors, and a warm fire went in the center. He didn't know if he needed a room yet, so he would hold off on reserving one. The big Nord behind the bar was obviously the man to speak to about any matters of the inn.
Jon walked up, and the man said, "Hail, wizard. Name's Orgnar. We got rooms and food. Drink too. I cook. Ain't much else to tell. What can I get you?"
Jon said, "Name's Jon. Got any stew going?"
Orgnar said, "Always. Venison, with potatoes and leeks tonight."
Jon said, "Take a bowl of that, and a wheel of cheese."
Orgnar said, "The whole wheel?"
Jon nodded. Orgnar said, "Alright. I got Eidar cheese, sturdy Whiterun heifers its from. Ten for the stew, eighteen for the Cheese."
Jon said, "Sold, the Guardsman at the gate also said to get a mug of mead on him."
Orgnar said, "Yeah the Guard-Sargent does that. Have a seat. I'll put the mead on his tab, and get you the rest of your fare."
Jon paid the man, and waited patiently for the food to arrive. The mead was set down first, and he gently sipped the brew. The mead really was good warm. He quickly ate his food, and drank the mead down as fast once the fare had arrived. Half of the delicious cheese wheel went into his provision sack.
Thanking Orgnar, he got up and entered the streets of Riverwood once again. He made his way to the Riverwood Trader, and as he did he spied the Lady of Riverwood buying the last of the days fresh produce at a stand, probably for tonight's dinner, probably at discount.
Jon smiled and said, "Lady Camilla!"
She returned the wide smile, "Lord Jon! You've returned from adventures grand!"
He walked up and took a knee in front of her, playing up the part. He said, "Through dungeons deep I've crept, most foul undead I've slain. Returned to you, I have, with treasure that befits only your singular beauty!"
Jon held the golden claw up in front of her, and she happily took it with Jon's hand, laughing all the while. A small crowd around them gave a few laughs and cheers at the display, over the top and whimsical even by their standards. Jon and the Lady of Riverwood walked arm-in-arm back towards the Trader to deliver Lucian's claw to him. They chuckled and whispered all the while. What might have been the gossip of a couple nights, a traveling wizard publicly wooing a fair lady before moving on, became the topic of weeks that traveled to the court of Whiterun.
"En garde, Wizard. I challenge thee fair, for the hand of Lady Camilla." Jon heard steel behind him.
Jon and Camilla turned around. Camilla had a confused expression and her cheeks were bright. She said, "Sven? Wha-What are you doing?"
Sven, in a fencing form, said, "I love you, Lady Camilla. I have since the first day I laid eyes upon your beauty. If a public display is what it takes to show you that, then that is what I will do. Do you accept my challenge, wizard?"
Jon said, "I would speak to the lady in question, first."
Sven nodded, lowering his sword. Jon and Camilla turned away. She whispered, "Jon, I'm sorry. I didn't know he would do this. He's been trying to court me, and I've accepted the flattery, but I didn…"
Jon said, "It's okay. I hold nothing against you, since I was basically going to womanize you before moving on. I should probably apologize since you're the one in a crossfire I never meant for. My arrogance is the cause of this."
Camilla said, "I was fine with letting you womanize me. A handsome wizard, literally on a grand adventure? I knew you couldn't stay. But I never made any commitments to Sven, either. Jon, you made it though that dungeon against all those bandits and Draugr by yourself. You cant do this, he doesn't stand a chance. I don't want anyone hurt over me."
Jon eyed the man's stance and determination, "Don't think so little of either of us, milady. I have to take this challenge. I'm known at court, and I'm feuding with a rival house. It would be used against me if I declined."
Camilla had to fight the laugh that almost came. She said "You're feuding? You weren't in the city a full day."
Jon shrugged. He said, "This is a challenge made fair, for a lady worth fighting for. Who would I be in Skyrim if I didn't accept it? Who would he be if he didn't issue it?"
Camilla conceded. She said, "Nothing. In fact, worse than nothing. You would be cowards. Even if no one else knew, you would."
Jon nodded. He turned to Sven and said, "I accept this challenge. I am Jon, of house Noonien-Singh. Who issues it?"
Sven said, "I am Sven, the Bard of Riverwood."
Jon said, "Who stands as witness?"
The Guard-Sargent said, "Aye. Keep it clean."
Jon gave a flourish of a standard US Army sword salute. Sven returned his own Nordic one. The crowed of the town had gathered around the intersection to the southern gate. Bets were being taken, naturally, and the odds actually favored Sven. He was a known fencer, practiced in the southern art. He always extolled it; 'combat as an art, perfectly befitting a Nordic bard.' The Guards were also known to spar with anyone that asked. It was good training for them and the townsfolk.
The two men approached each other. Jon's reach advantage was only slight. Nords are just big on average. The challenger also had what looked like a perfect stance. Jon had so far been relying on natural speed, strength, and reaction times to work his sword. That wouldn't do in this situation. Jon had his spell hand behind his back, and used only what was necessary for the honor duel.
Sven leapt in with his practiced sword work, and Jon did everything he could to avoid and parry the blows without simply breaking the man's guard and then break him. Sven was swinging left, then right, then a faint to the other side before stabbing towards Jon's shoulder. Jon hit the blows away, and kept moving to keep his opponent off balance.
Sven didn't fall for that, as his footwork was perfect. He matched every motion from the wizard, and kept up the attack to force his opponent into the defensive. What he did fall for, was the wizard luring him into a familiar pattern of assault. As Sven made his stab, Jon turned fully to the side and drove the flat of his blade against the bard's near the hilt. The motion drove the sword into the dirt, and Jon followed though with an elbow to Sven's chin. Jon took a purposeful step back. The crowd gasped and cheered.
Sven spit some blood out, and wiped his chin. He said, "First blood to you, sir."
Sven took a more free form, swashbuckling, stance. He had learned his lesson now. Even if his opponent didn't know how to use a sword, the wizard could still overpower him if he predicted his patterns. Sven once again leapt in and continued his attack.
The slashes and stabs were wild, erratic, but the small smile and look in the bard's eyes told Jon it was still well practiced all the same. He once again did what he could to fairly counter the assault, but this time it was more difficult. It was a deficiency Jon noticed, that every one of his sword-fights were ended in a single stroke on his part, except the one. Now he was in a battle he couldn't just end, and it also stood to reason that there were foes out there that could match him in speed and strength in this dangerous land. He would have to properly learn how to use a sword.
This time Jon fell for the trap. He blocked in an expected way, pushing the stab to the side. Sven used the momentum of it, and forward body motion, to push the tip of his blade across the Augments left bicep. The crowd once again gasped and cheered, and Sven took his own step back.
The wound bled for a moment before clotting. Jon said, "Second blood to you, sir."
Sven said, "Third is for the hand of the Lady of Riverwood, sir."
Camilla honestly didn't care who won at this point. At first she was so nervous about what could happen, but now she held no fear. Two warriors were meeting in battle in front of her, for her, and she finally understood Nordic women and their preferences. The prowess and honor on display was simply erotic. If Jon won, she would see him and warm him every time he made his way back to Riverwood, even if it was years between visits. If Sven won, she would commit to his beautiful soul, and beautiful voice. He wasn't as handsome and exotic as Jon, but he still was fair all the same with his boyish smile and strong chin.
Sven advanced for a renewed assault, but was caught slightly off balance by Jon making his own. The swings were sloppy compared to Sven's practiced movements, but they were fast enough that he had to spend more time defending than he was attacking. But he was still attacking. There was something about this duel, however. The way that the wizard moved told the experienced fencer that he was holding a lot back. It was as if the wizard could have ended the duel at any time on speed alone.
Sven fell for the final trap. He counterattacked in an expected way, and Jon used his parry to swipe the tip of Sven's sword across his cheek. It even looked like Sven had intended the move, given his previous cunning. Sven knew however, and he gave his opponent a suspicious look as the man's blood landed in the dirt. The crowd went wild, and more than a couple were disheartened at the loss of their coin.
Jon said with a salute, "I yield, sir. You have bested me Sven, the Bard of Riverwood. The hand of the Lady of Riverwood is yours."
Jon walked up to the nearly crying Camilla. She would have cried over the loss of either of them. She handed him back the claw, and Jon kissed her hand before saying, "Lady Camilla, it was an honor to have courted you so."
He began walking away, but not without some final words to his honorable opponent. He said, "Grand adventure, Sven, the Bard of Riverwood. Grand adventure."
Camilla walked over to Sven and tearfully took his hand. After giving his muse a kiss, Sven said, "Only the grandest of adventures for you, Lady Camilla."
The gossip about the duel was nonstop for weeks, being the most exciting thing to happen in Riverwood that wasn't a bandit raid. The new couple were both treated like the Lord and Lady of the town for a while, and any who traveled through got word of the time Riverwood's native son made it proud. The Bard and the Lady would eventually leave Riverwood, off to their own adventures.
Their first stop was at the temple of Mara for an official wedding. Afterwords, Camilla would travel to negotiate deals for the Valerius family holdings, and Sven would ply his trade at any court or inn nearby. She would pick up an instrument as well, and they would both be welcome guests at any court or hall in Tamriel. She would also pick up a sword. The shrewd businesswoman and her gallivanting bard would get themselves into, and out of, trouble every so often. On their first adventure, Sven was accused of stealing a sweet-roll by corrupt Riften guards and arrested during the wedding; A ploy to get a famous bard free for a Black-briar birthday, and a distribution contract for their mead.
After certain revelations came during that adventure, Sven would boast for the rest of his days, especially to kids and grand-kids, about the time he bested the Dragonborn in a duel for the fairest maiden that ever lived, and went on the grandest adventure there ever was with her.
Jon walked dejectedly back towards the Riverwood Trader. His arrogance really had caused that situation, and put Camilla on the spot in a way she shouldn't have been. He walked into a town, within hours of being transported to Skyrim, and womanized the second one he saw there, without any mind as to how that might affect her or the society of the small tight-knit village. Maybe he was continuing to be arrogant, thinking as he was. Jon didn't know.
He walked into the Trader and saw Lucian going over a ledger. Lucian said, "Oh, you're back. Get the claw?"
Jon pulled the claw out of a pouch and set it on the counter in front of the man. Lucian cried a happy cheer and said, "There it is! You found it! Looks a little smaller than I remember. Funny, huh? I'm going to keep this better secured from now on. I'll never forget what you've done for the Valerius family. The shipment came this morning. Here's your gold, friend. By the way, what was that ruckus outside about?"
Jon took the roughly six measure of coin and said, "I just lost a duel for the hand of your sister."
Lucian paled and yelled, "What!? That bard dueled you!? And you dueled him!? For Camilla!? My sister!?"
Jon winced. He said, "Yeah. Sorry. I don't really have a defense. By the way, the court wizard is interested in inspecting your claw. I suspect he'll make a trip out here if you don't go to him. You may be able to negotiate personal favor with the Jarl if you grant him the right."
Lucian's Imperial blood warmed his face, making him forget what he just heard. He said, "I would have a better bargaining position if I took the initiative. I may be able to wrestle a title out of it. Thanks for the counsel."
Jon nodded with a smile and extricated himself from the shop. His next stop was to Avor the blacksmith. The sturdy man was just banging out his last tasks for the day. He was in leather pants, apron, with a red shirt. His boots and gloves were also armored to save those extremities from any hot drops bigger than sparks. A fresh iron dagger is a hot knife though simple leather and flesh.
Jon introduced himself to the big blacksmith. He said, "Hail, Avor of Riverwood. I am Jon."
Avor looked up from his work and said, "Hail, Jon. You were the one that helped Hadvar out of that mess in Helgan. Good duel by the way. He said you were a decent, honorable, man."
Jon nodded with a smile. He said, "A challenge fair, a fair duel. And Hadvar helped me in more than equal measure. I would have stumbled into Riverwood with no direction, purpose, or even known the name of this fair place. Did he get away alright, this morning?"
Avor nodded and said, "Aye. He made it on the road to his command aright. It's a tall tale he has though. Dragons returning after all this time. Won't have word about how it went for a while, but he mentioned that he wasn't the only legionnaire to survive. Plus with Jarl Bulgruuf officially recognizing the threat, they can't exactly call him a liar."
Jon said, "Good. There was some question, given the sensitive nature of the timing of it all. I was dubbed a spy for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I've never known any place to openly call themselves an Empire and treat people fairly. The torture room in Helgan didn't convince me otherwise."
Alvor's face took a scowl, but not at Jon. He spit, "Damn civil war. Damn Thalmor. That's what they've turned us into. The Empire is more than fair and just when it doesn't have to cater to Dominion whims. And when that bastard Ulfric isn't stirring up trouble for the sake of it. We all had our little shrines to Talos. We all knew that the peace was temporary, and we would reclaim the right to worship our god-emperor. But now he's set us back who knows how far in terms of preparing for it, and the Thalmor are more aggressively enforcing the treaty in Skyrim."
Jon took a solemn look. He had heard and seen a few things that he didn't like about this place. He said, "I'm sorry, this is obviously a sensitive issue. Perhaps I spoke out of place."
Alvor shook his head. He said, "No. You speak in exactly the right place, after what they did to you. Executing a man who did not even know of the crimes he was accused of at a glance. It was wrong. I'm glad you didn't hold it against Hadvar personally, son. Thank you for getting him out of there. After his parents died, he became more than my nephew. I promised I would take care of him if something happened to them. It's because of you that I don't have to tell their graves I failed. My home is open to you, Jon, of house Noonien-Singh."
Jon said, "Thank you Alvor of Riverwood. I do have a couple things I need. First, a set of steel armor I want to sell."
Jon pulled the armor out of his enchanted pack. It was a full set, with broadsword. Alvor said, "Aye. That's a fine set. Well looked after, well used. Mind if I ask its providence? I mean no offense."
Jon said, "None taken. I pulled it off a bandit chief that made his home in the watchtower leading up to Bleak-Falls."
Alvor nodded. He said, "That's what I reckoned. Orsimer right?"
Jon assumed that meant Orc and said, "Yes sir. Did you make this set?"
Alvor said, "No, but people that can afford a full set of steel armor maintain it, but don't use it this much. People that use it this much don't tend to maintain it nearly as well. For an Orsimer that's taken to banditry, especially a chief, its a culture. The old ways, they call it."
Jon said, "Interesting. I take it not every Orsimer is a bandit obviously."
Alvor said, "Oh no. They're a sturdy and dependable people, if you give a little grace to their ways. They tend to stick to their strongholds, leaving others alone, wanting to be left alone. I'll tell you though, their forge-wives are some of the best in Tamriel. The make solid armor, and sharp weapons if you gain their trust to trade with them. The ones that take to life outside of the strongholds are no different than you or I."
Jon said, "Good to know, thank you. How much will you give me for it?"
Alvor said, "I can sell this, with the broadsword, for about ten measure. Ill give you eight. More certainly then you'll get anywhere else from a merchant."
Jon nodded and said, "Sold. I'll also need my blades honed. I've put them though a lot of sinew and bone since getting them. If you have a travel stone, then I'll buy one."
Alvor said, "The hone and stone is on me. Also, head inside for some supper. It'll take me about a half hour."
Jon gave the man a nod, then gave the man his blades. He entered the Blacksmith's home. It was humble, attached to his work and storage areas, and even had a basement under it. Jon was met by Alvor's gracious family, his wife Sigrid and daughter Dorthe. He was given another bowl of the Riverwood stew, Venison potatoes and leeks. It seemed everyone in town favored the fare, or that was simply the ingredients they had in abundance. Probably a bit of both.
He spent Twenty minutes of eating and showing Dorthe the spells he knew, but never once casting them in Alvor's home. The blacksmith gave Jon back his blades, and he said his goodbyes to them before leaving towards the guardian stones. Perhaps the council would have words for him with how he would proceed.
Jon was walking down the open road at a leisurely stroll, taking in the night presences of Skyrim when he wasn't half mad from exhaustion, hunger, and pain. It was as calm and soothing as any on Earth. The sky was well lit from the two moons, and Jon observed the slow motions of the constellations to try and pinpoint a rough northern direction. At some point he would have to inquire about a compass, or simply invent one if they didn't exist already. He wouldn't be a Middle-Eastern Yankee in Jarl Bulgruuf's court, but simple inventions they might already be on the cusp of themselves were still on the table; They would also secure his financial position in the long term.
Jon's internal musings were rudely broken by the dredges of Tamrielic society. They said, "You picked a bad time to get lost, friend."
Jon the Butcher simply laughed as he pulled steel and made note of the two bandits behind him, the allies lurking in the forest as well. He said, "A good wizard is never lost. He always arrives precisely where he means too."
The bandits took offense to this, but the two behind Jon never got the chance to make it known. The wolves of Riverwood ambushed and killed them quickly. The bandit in front of him had already taken to a mad charge, expecting his backup to match him. Jon sidestepped the downward swing and snapped his sharpened sword though the man's neck.
The She-Wolf trotted up with her tongue out, and tail wagging. Jon gave her a smile, as well as a pet. She huffed a bit while looking up a small path, and then at Jon expectantly. The Bandits had sullied her realm for too long, and were now assaulting protected travelers along her road. No more would their stench offend her. Jon took up the mantel as her Champion to purge infestation.
He made his way up to the entrance of the place, and found a small camp site there with three rolls. Once again the bandits displayed a total lack of tactical awareness. They should have left one behind to warn the rest that their raiding party failed. Ideally, they shouldn't have made the trip to the road at all. It only gave away the position of their fortifications, and Jon doubted any competent leader would give the order to attack random passersbys. At least not directly in front of the path that leads there. Jon picked up the wood-axe he found there and continued into the cave. These bandits were too stupid to live, he thought.
As he descended into the mine, he picked several samples of a fungus that was growing in various bits of soil to be had there. Jon stepped over a pitiful wire trap that triggered some falling logs. It was easily avoidable, but at least they had the spark of intelligent life. So did the She-Wolf stepping behind him. She would not let her Champion go alone.
The passage opened up to a wider cavern with small waterfall and pool at the end of it. On the right side, stairs and platforms to another area of the mine; On the left a perfect vantage to assault the two bandits, once again talking without any mind to their post. Because of the incompetence of their friends, they did not see their doom approach.
The one said, "The crew outside said they were going to take a score from the road. Chief even let them since we haven't raided in a while."
The other said, "Yeah, Just picking these gems out of the iron. Never had more coin in our lives, but you still need a real score every once in a while, yah know?"
Jon cut off their thoughts with two well shot arrows, both in his hand before he fired. He would still need a sturdier bow, but he had adapted to the plain one in his hands. No alarm had been raised, and his infiltration was still unnoticed. Jon and the She-wolf came down from their vantage and worked their way up the wooden steps. They kept low and made little noise.
On the platform the bandits were sitting at Jon picked up their gold and lock-picks. They did have a decent amount of coin on them, about a measure each. Also some of the precious gems. He crossed the bridge that went over the pool and entered the second section of the mine. There were several cages there with people inside. The bandits were of course not picking the gems themselves. They looked emaciated and haggard, dirty to the bone as well. Jon just kept being offended at the maliciousness and stupidity of these bandits. Of all bandits really.
The She-Wolf growled a bit herself at the sight. One of the women shot up at the noise with fear in her eyes. They saw a wolf-dog and hooded wizard with his fingers to his lips. She calmed herself somewhat. Someone had finally come to rescue them. A fuck-off big wizard with a bow in his hand, and all she had to do to taste freedom once again was to be quiet. It was something she was used to. The bandits didn't like it when the workers talked. If he had made it this far, then most of the bandits were already dead. She signaled with her hand diverging paths, and also which one to go down. She also pointed to one of the empty cages. Total relief finally washed over her when she saw the look of murder in the wizard's eyes. Divines bless him, they truly were saved.
Jon and the She-Wolf went down the prisoner's suggested path and entered a small barracks room. It had half a dozen beds, with two empty, and four occupied by sleeping bandits. One by one, Jon put his dagger though their eyes, twisting the blade to instantly ensure the kills. He heard the sounds of rape coming from further back, no doubt were their chief was.
Sneaking into the room and seeing the depravity, he gave a single click of his tongue. The She-Wolf leapt into action, biting down on the back of the man's just as he flinched from the sound. He screamed, suffered, for a second or two as he futility tried to get the big wolf off his back. The wolfs maw of teeth ended his attempt. While a wolf on Earth could kill a man quick, they didn't have the bite strength to deliberately crush a spine. The She-Wolf wasn't even the only one Jon had seen do it. He would have to be careful with other packs in Skyrim.
Jon eyed the broken and bloody Elve on the chief's bed. Her tan form was curled up in the fetal position now that her assault was over. She didn't even acknowledge her rescue or Jon's presence.
Jon softly said to her, "I'm not going to ask if you're okay, because I know you're not. I'm going to go get your friends. The She-Wolf will stay with you. Then I'm going to take you all to Riverwood. You're safe now."
Jon heard her whimpers as he walked away, and the She-Wolf's attempts to calm her. He walked back down to the slave pen where all of its captives were awake now. They were looking expectantly at their rescuer, still not speaking due to the months of conditioning at the hands of their masters. While he didn't have a key in his hand, he could no doubt pick the lock.
The wizard surprised them all. Jon contemptuously, ragefuly, ripped the door off of every cage with his gloved hands and threw them off to the side. So many of the Tyrants had openly taken to the vile practice. The old ways are superior, they said. Indentured servitude was a contract, Khan said. Slavery is the definition of a doomed society, Jon said. If it didn't fail itself, due to itself, like so many times in history, Jon would end it wherever he found it.
He spoke to the sobbing woman that had directed him to the rest of the bandits. He said, "Your friend is in a bad way. I don't know healing magic. I have some potions, but I cant read the labels. I'm a foreigner. Don't know the letters yet."
The woman collected herself as her bothers and sisters in binds continued to cry. She said, "Show me what you have. We need to get to her."
Jon showed her his potions, and the woman cried again when she saw her friend curled up to the She-Wolf. The woman gently woke the Elve, and they both cried into each others arms. She gave her friend a red potion, followed by one of the green ones. Jon saw a small burst of energy surrounding the Elve as she consumed the brews. He didn't know if anyone else could see it. The Elve was certainly more alert and active than she was.
The woman turned to Jon while cradling her friend. She said, "Thank you, kind stranger. Every Divine and god bless you. We were here for months and had given up hope. Who are you?"
Jon said, "Jon. I'm something of a friendly neighborhood wizard. Where are you from?"
The woman, and even the Elve, chuckled at the levity. "She was taken and traded from bandit to bandit all the way from Valenwood. She's been a slave for a couple years. The rest of us were taken a couple months ago. A small unnamed hamlet outside of the city Falkreath, and just outside the guards protection thanks to this damn civil war. They came in the night. Killed half of us, and took the rest. We've been mining the gems ever since."
The Elve spoke up. She whispered, "The key. It's in the nightstand. You can take all of the treasure."
Jon nodded. He said, "Get your people outside. There will probably be wolves there, but they're friendly. The She-Wolf is their leader. Take some food, but not too much. You've all been starved, and eating to much to soon will make you sick, possibly kill you. In the meantime I'm going to rob these assholes for everything they own, then escort you all to Riverwood. I don't know how far away Falkreath is, but I know you wont make the trip."
The woman nodded, and the three walked back to the other former slaves and took to Jon's orders. He grabbed the key, along with several gems and coin from the nightstand. He also helped himself to the chief's personal food stock. Entering the treasure room, he took a quick look around for any traps. None presented themselves, to he took the bandit hoard.
A spell tome and a few sacks of coin. Lock-boxes filled with more gems and coins. Chests filled with a selection of arms and armor, sacks of coin and gems. Barrels with alchemy and cooking ingredients. The last thing in the last chest was a large gem. It was striking white, with a soft blue undertone too it. The spherical object had rough edges cut at irregular places along its surface. It called to Jon in the way the claw did. He wondered if there was a relation.
He put his hand on the gem, and it cried out from the very depths of the Augment's mind, "A NEW HAND TOUCHES THE BEACON!"
Jon took several steps back, looking around the room in a fury. He tried to throw the gem away, but it would not leave his hand. He said, "What the fuck!? Who are you? Where are you? Reveal yourself!"
The beacon cried again, assaulting Jon's very synapses "I AM MERIDIA, THE DAEDRIC PRINCE OF LIFE AND LADY OF INFINITE ENERGY! YOU WILL HERE ME AND OBEY!"
The Augment's nose began bleeding. He thrust every ounce of his force of will against the invader in his mind. He said, "I AM JON, OF HOUSE NOONIEN-SINGH. YOU WILL SPEAK TO ME IN A NORMAL TONE OR YOU! WILL! SHUT! THE! FUCK! UP!"
The Prince of life was only slightly taken aback by the strength of it. The beacon willingly modulated its tone. It said, "You impress me mortal. Usually one would already jump to my every word and command."
Jon spat, "Of fucking course a dark god takes others against their will. Kill me if you must, but I am not your fucking slave, vile Prince. If you do, then you only write you own doom. I have accepted my death on multiple occasions. As recently as yesterday morning. Have you?"
The beacon yelled, "VILE!? WHAT IS VILE IS THE UNDEAD CURRENTLY VIOLATING MY TEMPLE!"
Jon simply stared at the beacon. He said, "What. Will one temple matter when the eldritch power of the returning dragons is turned against you?"
The beacon yelled again, "DRAGONS!? ALDUIN HAS RETURNED!? THE WORLD EATER COMETH!?"
Jon yelled, "SPEAK NORMALLY!"
Meridia did something she had never done in her long existence. The will of this mortal was singular. She said, "My apologies. The dragons really have returned? Yes, I can feel the truth on your mind."
Jon cut in, lest she start a monologue and draw him into her power. He monologued, "Yes! And right now only me, a court wizard, and a Jarl are the only three people coordinating any kind of substantive response! We now have more intelligence about the enemy than what has been collected since the time of myth, and it is imperative that I deliver it! Then, I must attend the College to learn magic so I have even a chance of stopping them! So as you can see, clearing out a temple in the middle of Divines knows where is pretty fucking far down on my list of priorities!"
Meridia once again done something she had never done. A faint, merry, laugh was heard in the distance. She bargained, "Alduin must be stopped. He is the antitheses of my domain! I assure you, mortal, the reward for becoming my champion will aid you on your quest. It is the Dawnbreaker! A powerful sword in its own right, and capable of smiting foul undead like the legions of Draugr you will face. All you must do is return my beacon to my shrine, and purge the necromancy contained within!"
Jon continued his labors. He pulled out his map and asked, "Where is your shrine?"
A faint glow shot from the beacon to the map and Jon memorized its location. Meridia said, "It is near solitude, the capital of this realm."
Jon had a rough idea where he was going by the position of rivers and mountains, but asked anyway, "And where are we?" The beacon glowed again.
"And where is Winterhold." The beacon marked the map.
Meridia asked, "Can you not read this map?"
Jon said, "I can't fucking read."
Meridia pushed the knowledge into his mind, and the map made perfect sense to Jon. She also saw things there as well, most terrible, but still in service to life. She said, "It is no wonder you are so strong of will. You are a superior specimen, as they say. Yes, a fine instrument of my will you will be. You have also come a long way."
Jon growled, "And what would you know about how I got here?"
Meridia said, "Nothing. Truly. Divine and Princely interaction with Mundus has been servery curtailed since the Oblivion Crisis. Our damned brother Dagon ruined for the rest of us when his invasions forced a permanent barrier against us taking mortal forms. The Divines almost never took forms, but for us Princes it was a delight. You morals are actually...fun to be around. Interesting toys to play with, so full of life and energy despite your fleeting nature. I will smite you if you ever repeat that, Champion."
Jon said, "I have agreed to nothing, Prince. My priorities have not changed. I imagine that my journeys will take me to the capital, at least to try and recruit allies against the dragons. When I make my way west, I will clear your temple, and claim your prize first thing. The fact is that I can kill Draugr without Dawnbreaker. I will not be able to kill dragons without the power of magic. Now either accept this deal as fair, or kill me now and wait for a new hand to touch this beacon."
Meridia said one final thing before the beacon died of light. She contemptuously said, "Fine."
Jon took a shuttered breath. Having his mind invaded so, while being unable to do anything to stop it, was not a pleasant experience. He took up the last bits of treasure in the room, a good haul all-in-all, and made way back to the entrance of the mine. He wondered if he would be able to claim it for himself. Iron isn't rare, but it is important. The gems are a bonus. The mine was in the Falkreath hold, so he would need to inquire with it's Jarl. Helping some of his/her people would surly gain Jon favor. He found the freed slaves nibbling on small bits of food like he told them too, and they all took off on the walk to Riverwood.
The Guard-Sargent spied a wolf tentatively walking towards the gate. It didn't look hurt or sick, and it gave a healthy howl to get the rest of the guards attention.
One of the new guards from the city beside him said, "Wolf. Probably sick. Ill take care of it." He pulled out his bow.
The Guard-Sargent, "Nay, Guardsman. Hold steady."
The guard said, "Sir? It could be dangerous if it's sick. Its just a wolf anyway."
Typical city attitudes. Instead of following orders, or even asking why he was stayed, the man just argued his ignorant point again. The Guard-Sargent said, "The wolves of Riverwood are different guardsman. The leader of their pack is a Wolf-dog, and she's popular with the children. You'll see that if you keep your post for more than a night. If that wolf is here, its because there's something wrong and it wants our attention."
The guard nodded and said, "Yes sir. Your orders?"
The Guard-Sargent spoke down to the post at the foot of the gate, a Riverwood native, and said, "Put together a small patrol with some of the boys. Make sure a couple of the new guys go with you so they see how things work around here. Find out what has that wolf bothered. It's probably nothing good. Use a signal scroll if it isn't."
The guardswoman nodded and took to her Sargent's orders. A couple Riverwood natives and a couple city guard marched down the Imperial road, wary eyes in all direction. The wolf trotted along in front of them, looking back every so often to make sure his charges were keeping up. The procession finally came into view of the cause for the wolf's visit. In front, the big wizard from the duel. At the rear, the She-Wolf of Riverwood Forest. In between them, half a dozen haggard looking folk.
The guardswoman said, "Hail, wizard. What happened? Who are these people?"
Jon said, "Slaves, formally. Bandits had them at Embershard Mine. They're from Falkreath, but Riverwood is closer and I knew you fair folks would help them."
The guardswoman said, "Aye, we will. Guards! Escort formation!"
Jon left the procession back towards the Guardian stones where he originally planned to camp for the night. Before he did, he gave the group a few sacks of gold and gems he picked up from the bandits. It was most of the monetary haul, but he still had the decent weapons and armor he could sell, as well as the food and alchemy ingredients. It wasn't a bad take, overall.
At or around 0000 hours, he set his camp fire on the bank near the stones. The mage he got the pack from had a tent roll, and a decent mess kit. The wizard, the poor bastard, was big enough for Jon to fit in his robes, so he could carry a lot it seemed.
Using his flame spell and river water to sanitize his implements, he made himself a small stew with some of his vegetables and fresh rabbits hunted by the wolf pack. When he went to sleep later, the She-Wolf crawled under the tent beside her champion wizard, warming his roll while the pack kept watch. Such was the prerogative of the Queen of Riverwood Forest.