Horn of Jurgen Windcaller begins


After that I left the burrow, finding Lydia and Lucia playing with each other on the grassy hill. As soon as Lucia saw me, she ran over and hugged me, "Mama, glad you're back."

I chuckled at her hugging her back, "Did you have fun with Lydia?"

"Yup," she smiled back, "We played tag, hide and seek, and she showed me how to use a bow."

"Wow," I smiled looking over at Lydia, "Thanks for that."

"Of course, my thane," she nodded with a smile, "Lucia was a delight. Were you able to find the ghost?"

"Yup," I nodded showing her Wyndelius's journal, "And I was right about it being a trick."

"Really," Lydia said as she read over the journal, cringing a little as she got to the end, "Well I'm glad you were able to handle him, though I wish I could have helped."

"Oh, you helped plenty keeping an eye on this one," I smiled, picking up Lucia and setting her on my shoulder, making her giggle as I did. Then we went back to the inn to let the keeper know I had solved his ghost issue.

"So, he was the cause of it all," Wihdlem growled as he looked over the journal, "It makes so much sense now. Thank you for this."

"Glad I could help," I nodded back, taking a drink of ale, "Hope those two weren't much trouble while I was gone."

"Not at all," he chuckled back to me setting the journal aside, "Spent the whole time outside on the hills."

I smiled looking over at Lucia as she read with Lydia beside the hearth. Lydia helped her when she came to words, she had a tough time with. With that we spent the rest of the day in the inn, till the next morning when our ride arrived back at the small town. Before we left the keeper came up to me.

"Here this is for you," he gave me a small bag, "If you won't accept it as payment then consider it a gift,"

I peeked into the bag seeing a dragon claw, the one for the burrow. I looked back at him, unsure what to say, "When...where...thank you."

He smiled back at me before heading back into the inn, while I climbed into the cart beside Lydia.

"What did he give you," she asked as I sat down. I gave her the bag and she looked inside, "For the puzzle door?"

"Yup or at least, I think so," I nodded back, "We'll have to check it out when we get back. And this time a bit more preparations for the exploration."

"Indeed," Lydia nodded before putting the claw in my pack.

"Can I come when you do," Lucia asked.

I looked back at Lydia before looking at Lucia, "As long as you listen to us in Morthal and we'll see how you handle it. All right?"

"I will," she nodded eagerly.

"And I'll teach you a few spells I know to help you when we get to Whiterun."

"Really," Lucia eyes brightened at that.

"Of course, I won't have any child of mine lacking in knowledge or experince," I nodded to her.

"And I'll show you more one-handed skills," Lydia smiled back, "Though I hope you never have to use them."

"Better safe than sorry," I said.

"Thank you thank you," Lucia cheered hugging us both. We hugged her back as the cart bean to move.

The ride back to Whiterun through the mountains path was uneventful besides meeting a few hunters that joined us on our way back to the city, arriving there around mid-day. As the carriage stopped by the stables, I noticed a Kajhit caravan camping just outside the outer wall gate.

"What luck," I smiled as I hoped out of the carriage.

"What is, mama," Lucia asked as I reached up to help her down.

"A caravan being here the same time as us," I said lifting her out and onto the ground, "I've had some good luck with them in the past. Usually have some good wares. Decent with trades."

"If not questionable," Lydia quietly remarked as she jumped to the ground.

"I prefer not to judge," I remarked, "Sides they are a lot friendlier than the guy in town. Let's see if they have anything for us."

Lucia happily nodded, holding my hand as we walked up to the camp. I greeted the male sitting outside the main tent with different goods on display on a rug in front of him and others hanging around the tent, "Good afternoon."

"Welcome," he smiled back at me as I kneeled to look at the wares on his rug. Lucia did the same as Lydia stood behind us looking at the items hanging up on the tent.

"If I cannot serve you, I am sure that one of my other trades can do so," he gave a small gesture to the other tents and merchants of their camp.

"I hope so," I gave a small chuckled as I took off my pack, setting it beside me, "Got anything child size?"

He thought for a moment before giving a nod as he reached behind him into his tent taking out a bundle of clothes, then unfolding them onto the rug to display them, "Take a look."

I looked over the clothes he presented me. Two tunic shirts, a dress, and a couple of pants. I held up the two shirts to Lucia seeing if they were a good fit. One green and one blue.

"Looks to fit," I nodded to her. Lucia was smiling ear to ear as she excitedly watched me.

"Which do you like best?"

"Blue one," she cheered.

I smiled at her with a nod, folding the other one up and handing it back to the merchant. He took it setting it back in his tent. I then held up the pants looking them over, before handing them to her, "Let us see if these fit. Just slip them on under your skirt okay."

"Okay, mama," Lucia nodded taking the pants. Lydia helped her balance as she slipped into the pants.

"How do they feel," I asked checking the waist and how far the legs were on her.

"Loose but comfortable," she replied. The waist was a bit loose, but a good belt would fix that as she grew and gained a bit more weight now that she was getting food in her regularly. We would have to roll her pant legs up so she did not walk on the hems, but any boots would fix that.

I looked back at the merchant, "Got any boots too?"

"I shall see," he crawled deeper into his tent, rearranging things as he searched. While he did, I looked over his other goods. There was a dark leather belt that looked like it'd fit her as I looked it over. Lydia looked at a set of steel gauntlets beside the belt.

"Ha ha, here we are," the merchant laughed coming back out of his tent with several pairs of child size boots in hand, "Try these."

Lucia slipped out of the pants before looking at the different boots. I moved my legs, sitting down, so she could sit in my lap as she tried them on. As she found a pair to her liking Lydia pinched the toes, "Can you wiggle your toes in them? Toes do not feel trapped or pinching?''

She did with a happy nod, "Yup. No pinching."

"Good," I smiled kissing her head, "Means they'll fit you for a time till you grow out of them."

"You like," the merchant gave a soft purr.

I gave a nod back, taking from my pack a few of the furs from the trip and some other goods I had on me, "What is your price for the clothes, boots, and belt?"

He looked over the goods I had to offer before speaking up, "A trade, furs, and salts for clothes. 3 gold for boots."

I was silent for a moment, thinking over the offer, "Deal."

With a nod, we exchanged goods. Lucia was bouncing excitedly as I gave her the clothes, "Thank you mama!"

I smiled at her, kissing her head, "Anything for you, babygirl."

I turned back to the merchant, "Thank you for your business."

"And to you," he nodded back, "May your roads lead you to warm sands."

"And your's as well," I gave a nod in return before we went back into the city and to the blacksmiths to sharpen our blades and for me to craft Lucia a knife for herself.