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SPOILER INFO
This fanfic novel is largely based on the events that occurred in an actual game of Skyrim I played. Therefore, it's inevitably a spoiler.
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previous day
4-201-09-18 08:47
Coldwind Mine, Haafingar, Skyrim
Throughout the previous week, I haven't had a good chance to talk to Rayya about that Redguard sailor Fadeel in Solitud. It's actually not right to be in such a hurry all the time that you have no time or are too tired to talk, is it?
Well, I think this is a suitable moment.
"How many times did Fadeel do it?" I ask Rayya while we're getting dressed.
"Six or seven," says Rayya. Seeing our astonished looks, she explains: "That's including the next day, so it's not all that spectacular... for a Redguard."
"From what I know, they don't last very long," says Lydia.
"No," confirms Rayya. "They can come incredibly often, but from what I kept hearing when I was growing up, it's usually just a few minutes. But I know how to..." She fells silent embarrasedly. "Lydia, did you notice that Fadeel wanted to swap partners after we'd done it once?" Clearly she wants to change the subject.
Lydia shakes her head.
"I didn't let him," says Rayya.
"Yeah, I wouldn't have been too keen either," say Lydia. "Being in the same room with another couple was already... I would have never done it sober. Although, in a way, it was an interesting experience."
"Redguard men don't like to do it several times in a row with the same woman," explains Rayya. "That's why we have so much polygamy in Hammerfell."
"And so much fighting," adds Jenassa.
"Exactly."
That figures. When men have more than one wife, most men will obviously have to go without wives, and naturally they won't put up with it.
We've finished dressing. Let's go. Big deeds await us.
We're well-rested and the weather is fine. Actually, we're a little above our carrying capacity, but I take a carryweight potion and with its help we manage to bring everything to Dragonbridge.
I first go to the inn to apologize for ordering food and then leaving last night. Faida insists it's all right and doesn't want any money.
To my utter dismay, Athragar is in the taproom. He walks up to me with a bright smile and says: "Hi, Laura! Glad to see you. I'll be in my shop if you need anything."
He leaves. I'm fuming. There's no way I'll follow him, so I chat a little more with Faida. When I feel enough time has passed, I go to do my smithing. Afterwards, I'm somewhat annoyed to see that the general store is still closed. I can only sell some of the stuff to the blacksmith Marcus, but he doesn't have much money.
Headed for the marketplace, I meet a farmer woman called Aesa walking in the other direction. I have never talked to her, but I've seen her so many times on the streets that I greet her without a second thought. She smiles when she greets me back. I suddenly feel so happy. I stand on the main street and look at the people going about their daily business. Even though I know that not all of them are necessarily happy at this moment, the sight of their peaceful routine fills me with tranquility and joy.
The general store being closed, I decide to visit the alchemy shop after all, but I take the girls with me. Thanks to that, Athragar remains decent, almost. He only greets us with "Glad to see you all," and sees me off with "It's always a pleasure," accompanied by a wink my girls aren't able to see.
Lydia seems to suspect something. "Is he always like that?" she asks when we're outside.
"No," I reply truthfully. "He's much worse."
We have three options now. I hadn't planned on going to Solitud, but it's very near and we have much loot to sell and I've been feeling I'd like to pay Elisif a visit and see how she's holding up. She really needs support from someone who has no interest in local power games.
Or we could take the road east and travel to Dånstar to deliver those two items we've retrieved. If we go by road, we are likely to discover a town called Morthal which has to be somewhere between Dragonbridge and Dånstar. It's bound to have shops and there might be interesting things to do.
The third possibility is to go to Hviterun and check out Outcast Valley.
After some, er, collective reflection, I choose Solitud.
Our short trip is completely eventless. In the southwestern suburb, we step into the Jana's Flaggon inn where Lydia and Rayya spent an interesting night the last time we were here. In the taproom is a female sellsword Celcai who is like an astrological twin of Jenassa – they talk so similarly. There's also a trader Bojena who has a lot of money. An amazing place, as well as amusing.
A pouring rain starts. Market traders near the main square can't afford to be bothered:
I'm all drenched when I arrive in the palace. Elisif is overjoyed to see me and tells me she'll appoint me thane if I buy a house in the city. I'm quite eager to use the opportunity before she might change her mind, but unfortunately I haven't got enough money. I hope she won't change her mind. It's clear she trusts me. I can see that Falk is not too happy with the idea. I must find a way to convince him that I have no interest in sticking my nose into other people's business, unless something truly evil is happening.
I drop by the Bards' College – mainly just to get some shelter from the rain – and have a chat with a number of advanced and less advanced students. When the rain ceases, I stroll to the fortress hoping to meet my boyfriend Hadvar. When I can't see him anywhere, I approach an officer and ask him if they have a soldier named Hadvar Bandorsson from Riverwood here. He asks what makes me think he's any worse. I retort with something unladylike and leave quickly.
I go to check out the ships in the harbor, something I've been postponing all the time.
I fail to find anything interesting, and it's already getting dark and I'm tired. When I fall into the water from a gangway, I realize it's time to call it a day. I go to The Winking Skeever to get a good night's sleep.
next awakening
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