I'm presented with a few options when I realize it's Danica that I'm going to pass on my way up to Jorrvaskr, and none of them are amazing options. I could always stop the woman and talk with her to see if she recognizes me or has a hunch of my relationship to the "farmer" and his wife who live in the cabin in the middle of nowhere. It's tempting to try to gauge how aware the woman is of the true connection between us; sadly, the more rational part of my mind tells me to act as if everything is normal and just try to see if Skjor or Vilkas or Farkas know why Danica was here. So, I offer Danica a nod like I normally would any other civilian leaving Jorrvaskr and get a polite nod in return with the woman showing no more recognition than someone who knows me in passing.
I cast a glance behind me after I've passed her and the woman neither changes her pace of walk nor spares me another glance. I turn my attention back to Jorrvaskr and chew on how much longer I have until Danica returns to the home of the farmer and his raped wife. She wanted to do a follow-up about a month after the incident and only a few days have passed since she treated the Khajiit; still, I need to prepare for what I'm going to do about Danica once she returns. After all, she's the only woman in all of Skyrim who could connect the farmer's raped wife to the newest member of the Companions if the Khajiit were ever to return to Whiterun.
I finish climbing the steps and push my way into Jorrvaskr as I contemplate my options. The simplest solution would be for Danica to die and her corpse to be hidden or consumed, but that raises even more issues. The only other options are to convince her the two snowy Khajiit women who look exactly alike aren't the same person, or that I just happened to find and romance some farmer's wife with the farmer conspicuously dying or disappearing. Again, neither are great options.
I'll have to come up with a better plan or cover story before Danica arrives. I've let my mind wander too much and find Vilkas, who was seated at the dining table upon my entrance, pushing himself up to come meet me. I force myself into reality and offer him a raise of my fingers as I meet him halfway. The first words out of his mouth are already setting me on edge.
"Where's the cat? Danica just came in with a contract I thought she might be interested in.". I force my face to remain neutral and so easily spread the lie I've been thinking of the entire trip to Whiterun.
"She's back at camp, we're set up near the border to Winterhold doing some training and hunting. We were supposed to come back together for supplies, but she wanted to rest for the day. What's the contract about?". Vilkas passes the paper to me, and a shiver goes up my spine as I read over it. Per Danica, some bandits in the upper eastern region of Whiterun are getting braver in their pillaging and raping. Danica doesn't go as far as to name the cabin's exact location or acknowledge the existence of the "farmer" and his wife; still, she gives a close enough area that someone could easily stumble upon our little slice of paradise while on the hunt for nonexistent bandits. I slide the contract into my pouch and "accept" the contract.
"The Khajiit and I are close enough we can clean up the bandits while we're out and about.". Vilkas shrugs like he doesn't care, most likely because he doesn't, and moves the conversation on to more personal issues.
"How's the Khajiit holding up? She gave me more bruises than I'd care to admit, and I'm itching to pay her back in-kind during training.". I take the opportunity to make my way over to the dining table. Vilkas follows and sighs as I start raiding the table of bread, fruit, and sweets for the trip back home to my love.
"She's doing well enough with her training. Seems to have taken a shine to me, though. Can hardly get rid of her it seems.". Vilkas offers me a deep laugh and nudges his shoulder against mine.
"Just try to let her down gently, I'd hate to have a lovesick kitten moping around here.". We spare a few more pleasantries and I finish stealing enough food for a few meals before going our separate ways. I thank my luck for stealing Danica's contract and make a mental note to inform my lover of the good news in the hopes of her seeing even the Divines want us to be together.
I've checked in on the Companions as I wanted and have decided against checking in on Danica, so all that's left to do is see about getting some property here in Whiteurn before getting some supplies to take back to my home where my love is no doubt still sleeping. The Jarl himself isn't present when I enter Dragonsreach and I'm forced to hunt down his steward, Proventus Avenicci, who's busy sipping a goblet of wine and reading over some missives from other Jarls and Thanes at one of the dining tables in the main hall. Proventus has the courtesy to put away his readings and finish his drink before motioning for me to speak.
"I'm interested in purchasing some property here in town, what do you have for me?". The man pulls a single contract from one of his pockets and passes it to me.
"Breezehome, a small home near the entrance of the city. It's going for 5,000 gold unfurnished and 6,550 gold with everything included. We usually don't just let anyone purchase property within city limits until they've proven themselves, but for a member of the Companions I'm sure that can be ignored.". We discuss the finer points of ownership and gold transfer for the better part of an hour before Proventus hands me a provisional deed to the home while he'll spend the next few days contacting the bank in Whiterun to get a loan approved that'll allow me to get the full deed within a week. Once the home is mine, Proventus will be able to have his workers move the furnishings in and get the place cleaned up. I'll have to make the first payment on the loan in roughly two months per the contract given to me.
I have the full amount to pay the loan back in my account in Solitude, but going all the way to Solitude and back to get the amount will take more time than I have before my lover wakes from her forced slumber. Hopefully, I'll be able to go to Solitude with my future wife in tow once she's come to her senses and calmed down about the whole "abduction" process. I'm sure the woman can only stay angry with me for so long and, once she's calmer and has accepted she won't be getting rid of me anytime soon, she'll be more than willing to give me a chance to prove myself as her mate. We'll be able to spend a nice vacation in Solitude together to celebrate our wedding and I can get the money to pay the loan back while we're up there. As it stands, however, I need to focus on the present.
The present involves going down to Belethor's General Goods with about half of the last bit of my gold ready to be spent on supplies. My pack is full of food stolen from Jorrvaskr, but I'll need more than what I can carry to sustain the Khajiit and I for the few weeks we'll be isolated before Danica arrives.
For that, I have Belethor fill a crate to the brim with enough food to offer variety throughout our stay: heavily salted meat from rabbits, deer, cow, and chicken; pickled carrots, radishes, and beets swimming in a vinegar brine; alcoholic drinks of varying strengths and flavors; a bag of sweets for treat purposes; and some herbs and spices to add to the meat and vegetables. I have enough bread, cheese, and fruit in my personal bag that I don't need to purchase any from Belethor. However, I still need another purchase to make.
After the food is all packed away, I inquire about a dog cage, some chains, and a collar. Belethor takes down the details and promises to send the request to Warmaiden and have the items waiting for me at the stables within the next few hours along with the crate of food to save me the trouble of lugging it around. I thank Belethor for his help and exit out the back of his shop to make a final stop I've just thought of: Ysolda's home.
I rap my knuckles on her door and catch a glimpse of the woman's eye before she's trying to close it in my face. My foot firmly wedged in the way and my shoulder shoving against the door brings me fully inside Ysolda's home with the woman glaring daggers at me. She opens her mouth to no doubt complain and I toss the rest of my gold at her to silence her. Ysolda has the brains enough to pocket my gold before finally speaking.
"What do you want?". Ysolda is a known drug smuggler and has been known to have some less than savory products for sale. We're all well aware of her reputation and both Vilkas and Farkas have been sent to hound the woman before in an attempt to find some dirt on her or evidence of her crimes without success. I'm sure to her it seems like I've been sent on a sting operation of some sort, so I make sure to choose my next words carefully.
"I need you to not ask a lot of questions and I need you to tell anyone who asks that I came here to shake you down like the others do. I also need some Skooma, Sleeping Tree Sapp, Joy-Snow, and Incense of Mara.". I let the words hang in the air as Ysolda gives me an unblinking stare for much, much longer than I'd like. Both of us are well aware of the implications of everything I've just ordered and how they're commonly used. Skooma and Sleeping Tree Sapp I might be able to claim I'm using by myself, but Joy-Snow and Incense of Mara in combination are only ever used to gain advantage of someone else.
I'm almost tempted to try coming up with some excuse about why I would need the two drugs without needing to take advantage of someone if it weren't for the fact I doubt she'd believe me. Finally, after what seems like forever, Ysolda disappears into her bedroom and returns a few minutes later with a sack of clinking bottles in her hand. Silently, she passes the bag to me and motions for me to leave. I give Ysolda a nod in thanks before making my exit as quickly as possible. The sack is slung over my back as I make my way down to the stables to find the supplies that I've purchased loaded up on a cart with a horse that the Companions own tied to it.
I had intended on taking Smiler and just returning him before Danica was supposed to use him to visit the "farmer", but I decide taking the one already tied will work better. Besides, I don't see the stable workers and don't feel like wrestling Smiler out by myself. I give the frail filly a taste of the reins and settle back with my box of food, sack of drugs, and dog cage full of chains and a collar all jingling together in an unholy harmony. The sun is dipping below the horizon as I feel a comfortable smile work its way onto my face.