The ride to Ivrastead was surprisingly quiet all the way there. We managed to avoid a few bandits and a few bears that were crossing the road in front of us. Lucia handled it all very well which I was impressed by it, praising her for handling being outside the city better than I'd expected of a child her age. She beamed at the compliment.

A little before noon we arrived at the small town of Ivrastead. It was smaller than I had expected. Two small farms by a wood mill by the river and a decent sized inn across from a burrow. The driver pulled up beside the inn where the horses could be tied for the stay. He climbed down from his seat to get a bucket of water to give to his horse as we climbed out of the back. I gave the driver an extra coin as a tip.

"Thank you for the lift."

"Any time, my lady," he gave a small bow, "If you're still around in a couple of days I can give you a ride back to Whiterun."

"I'll keep that in mind," I nodded back to him.

"What now," Lucia asked.

"Lets stop by the inn for some lunch and get some information before we head up the mountain," I replied, "I haven't been here before so I kind of want to have an idea of what we should be expecting along the way."

"Reasonable," Lydia nodded back.

We went into the inn, where there were several others inside drinking and eating their lunches before going back to their work. The smell of simmering stew on the central hearth wrapped around us as we entered

"Welcome, how can I help you," a Nord woman greeted us, "We're having beef and vegetable stew for lunch if you're hungry."

"Yes please," we spoke in unison. She nodded back to us going to get us each a bowl. Lydia helped her carry the third while Lucia and I found seats for us. After we sat down to eat I looked around the inn. There were others sitting around the hearth fire for lunch taking amongst themselves.

After serving us the woman went to the front grabbing a lute from the front desk and began to play as we ate. Not long after we had finished eating, I went up to the innkeeper to learn more about the trek up the 7,000 steps, while Lydia got more information from the other patrons. Luicia followed beside me.

"Welcome, how can I help you," the keeper, a male Nord greeted me as we stepped up to the desk, "Need room, some drink? We don't get many visitors through here, unless their heads up to High Hrothgar."

"Actually that's where we are heading to," I replied, "I was wondering if there was anything you could tell me about the trek up there."

"You'll want to be careful further up the trail, gets pretty icy from the snow and it's a long way down," he replied as he wiped down a tanker.

"Does it take long to get up there?"

"Mm about an hour up and an hour back. Though longer if you go about looking for the emblems on the way up. It's pretty peaceful up there so you won't have much to be worried about. Except the cold and height."

"Thanks for the information," I nodded back to him, "How much do I owe you for the food?"

"5 gold," he replied. I set the coins on the counter.

"What are the Grey Beards like," Lucia asked standing on her tip toes to see over the counter. The keeper looked down at her with a shrug, "Not sure. They generally keep to themselves in the monastery. I don't go up there too often so I haven't met any of them though Klimmek makes deliveries of food for them. They aren't really that social."

"Thanks again," I gave a nod back before guiding Lucia back to where Lydia was speaking with a Nord male, "You ready to head up, Lydia?"

Lydia looked back to me with a nod, then back to the man, "Thank you for the information Klimmek."

"You're welcome and thanks for taking the delivery for me," Klimmek replied.

"The keeper mentioned you made deliveries for the Greybeards," I commented.

"What kind of food," Lucia asked him.

"Mostly food supplies like dried fish and salted meats," Klimmek answered, "Stuff that stays fresh long."

"I don't like dried fish," Lucia stuck out her tongue, "It's too tough."

I chuckled at her, patting her head. Klimmek gave a small chuckle at her too, "I like it fresh to be honest. But the Greybeards tend to not get out much so it's kind of a understanding between us. Won't feel right charging them for some preserved food."

Lucia gave a nod back to him now losing interest in the conversation with him. I gave him a small nod waving fair well as I guided her out of the inn with Lydia following us before we headed through the town and up to the start of the passage.

As we headed up the mountain we met up with a few other pilgrims, giving small greetings before continuing on our way up the mountain. It got colder the higher up we went. Thankfully Lydia had gotten us all fur cloaks. Lucia held my hand the entire way up as she tried to stay as covered as possible in her cloak.

"You doing okay baby girl," I asked.

"I-I'm g-go-good mmamma," she shivered up at me. I picked her up, tucking her between me and my own cloak to give her some more warmth.

"Just a little further," Lydia said taking the lead, "Just over this bend as we'll e there."

"Here that, Lucia," I encouraged her, "We're almost there."

She gave an excited shiver as we kept walking on. As we climbed higher I began to hear something breathing harsley with loud heavy steps ahead of us.

Lydia let out a gasp before pushing us off the trail behind a large rock cluster, "Stay down!"

"What is it," I asked dusting snow from my face.

"There's a frost troll on the path just ahead of us," Lydia whispered back, peering around the rocks. Lucia was still shivering in my arms, though I wasn't sure if it was from the cold or fear now.

"Think we can go around," I asked trying to comfort my daughter.

"Doesn't look like it," Lydia shook her head, "Sheer rock wall on either side and a drop off behind those."

"Shit," I muttered, "Guess we'll have to fight it."

"Seems so. What's your plan, Sif?"

I moved Lucia off my lap, "Stay hidden, baby girl."

"No mama," she held onto my arm. I gave her a hug and a kiss on her head, "Hey it's okay. Me and Lydia are going to take care of it. Maybe we can scare it off."

She looked up at me with tears welling in her eyes. I gave her another kiss before turning back to Lydia, "I ca blast it with fire to keep him back if you shot at him."

She nodded back to me as she readied her bow. I drew my ax from my belt as I summoned my familiar to guard Lucia. She immediately clung to the ghostly wolf as we charged at the troll. It roared at us as soon as it saw us, stomping to meet our charge.

I blasted it with my fire spell as Lydia began repeat shooting it. It roared in pain as it swiped at me with its large claws. I had to stop my spell to dodge away from it, cutting it's thigh as I did before continuing my magic. It roared in pain before it was cut short as Lydia got it in on of it's eyes. It fell to it's knees and with a great swing of my ax I just about decapitated it. That final blow it fell on it's face dead.

I wiped the sweat from my brow, "Damn, was starting to run low there for a second. Nice shot, Lydia."

"Thank you," she replied.

Lucia poked her head out, "Is it dead?"

I gave a nod as I burned the rest of the body to be just sure, "Yup."

She then rushed to me, wrapping her arms around me. I smiled down at her, stroking her head, "See, told you it'd be okay. Your mama has killed a dragon. Trolls are nothing."

"Weren't you scared?"

"Beyond scared, for both," I replied picking her up, "But I was more scared of if anything would happen to you. Or even Lydia."

"Really, but you still charged at it."

"Being brave doesn't mean you are fearless, young Lucia," Lydia said as we continued to walk the path, "It means you are not stopped by fear."

"Exactly," I nodded, "And I won't let anything hurt you."

Lucia nodded back to me as she held me tighter. I held her close as we continued to the monastery and just as Lydia had said it was just around the corner.