Worked Out - Yarti/Snakestone/Fanar-Child/Fannah-Child/Modra

We didn’t sleep last night. A few hours enjoying each others company at first, then we just sat on the edge of the bed and talked. About us, the new house. Then more immediate things, our route, how long we thought it would take, whether the kids would be ok alone for that long, if it was even worth the trip. A tiny strip of sun soon peeked through the rafters, illuminating the empty planter beside our bed. Time to go.

Silence now as I stripped, hung my dress in the wardrobe and helped Snake out of his casual clothes. Wrestled my boots from under the bed and sat them aside. Lugged my padded hauberk from the shelf and strapped it on, followed by the boots. Ran a gentle hand across Snake’s side as I nestled up beside him. Resting a head on his shoulder. It said more than words ever could. Fully geared, he turned and gave me an assuring glance. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and stepped into the kitchen and on to the kids room. It was smaller than their old room. Cramped but they finally had a door and the comfort of not hearing our racket throughout the night. With the presence of the guards and friends around, we felt a little more comfortable about letting the kids roam. They spend far less time in their room than they did back at Pinegrove. They visit with other local kids sometimes and have their own little adventures in the fields. I keep a watchful eye on them, sometimes trailing them when they go on their trips to town. Just to be safe. Fanar takes good care of his sister. The newfound freedom seemed to help a lot with his attachment issue. He’s growing tougher and more independent by the day.

Fanar was awake. “Leaving already, Mama?” he chimed, rising to greet us. He hadn’t slept either. He looked so tired and sad. I patted his head and held him for a bit. A kiss on the forehead as I stood and moved on to Fannah. Snake knelt in front of him and wrapped his arms around him. Fanar gave him a little peck on the jaw and whispered something to him, giving him a chuckle. Little Fannah was completely out. I touched her cheek and kissed her goodbye before helping Fanar back into bed. “We’ll be back by tomorrow morning” felt like a lie but I hoped it brought him some comfort. I had no doubt he’d protect his sister, but the worry of not coming home was there. Its always there.

It was still dark. A sliver of sunlight, red and orange, streaked over the mountains and across the landscape, struggling to pierce the foggy blue. Snake turned to lock the door. He fumbled, dropping the keys with a curse. A touch on the side calmed him. His frown perked up as our eyes met. With a flash, I gave him some Candlelight. With the door locked, we made our way Northeast.

We should have taken the road but it was faster to go cross country. I regretted it. We should have hired a guard to watch the house, or asked someone to babysit so we could be gone longer than 2 days. It was a stupid decision but it was far too late now.

We had to creep past a Giant camp an hour or so into our journey.  I can still see the silhouette of the house on the horizon. Three females and one armored male. Giants supposedly mind their business but they are far too close. It’ll be just like the Falmer and Necromancers back at Pinegrove. Part of me hopes that we’ll get a bounty on them soon. I would feel less bad about it that way.

We were attacked by all manner of beasts as we waded through the waist high grass. We went around as often as possible but sometimes a fight is just unavoidable. We made good time regardless. By the first night, the ruins were visible in the distance. Exhausted, starved and needy, I suggested we make camp before the sun went down. We needed some time to relax after all. Snake gathered firewood and I set it alight. In the end, we had a good night. My thoughts were on the kids as I drifted off.

The next part was uneventful. The shuffling of weeds and clanging of our equipment interrupt the quiet morning. I stepped up onto the ruined platform, placing my hand on his shoulder as we peered down into the pit. A half open doorway sat on the far end. I lit our torches and let Snake take the lead. I could already hear them but saw nothing. We progressed slowly. My hand never left his arm for the first hour.

A sharp corner, luckily I turned it with a Spectral Missile at the ready. A Draugr bowman fired, the arrow bounced off my shield, splintering over my head. My missile tore through its chest plate, leaving a loud rattle of bones and sizzle of flesh as it collapsed on itself. The creeping persistent shuffling that had accompanied us thus far ended, replaced with their alerted groans and clatter of weapons. They came at us from all sides. Snilla-Nilyn’s glow lead me to the female. The last one on my side sliced a dagger across my left thigh as I divided her from head to groin. Snake swung wide, taking 3 at once while I circled the bigger one. Hilde mowed through them, one after another until only one remained. Snake distracted it with a torch while I struck at its legs. I eventually found my mark, severing the back of its right leg, it fell to its knees. Hilde gleamed and it was over. The draugr head rolled to a stop just out of range of the torchlight. All was quiet again. I healed our wounds and we began rummaging through containers.

None of the Draugr carried it. Nothing interesting in the barrels or ruined boxes. We came to the final room, a grand chest at the end of the hall. Snake brought out his lockpicks and set to work while I stood by, anxious. Worried about the kids. Worried that we had wasted our time.

But there it was. An old worn glaive. Akaviri I suppose. I offered to carry the shaft but Snake decided to keep it. He tucked HIlde into his pack and picked up a few pieces of their armor to bring to the market later. I double checked him for injuries as we walked. What a beautiful sunset. A shame it was too far to see the house, it would have been so warming to see the sun set behind its silhouette.

We walked straight West for hours. I kept ahold of his arm as we fought off the horrors of the night. We eventually neared the giant camp from before. The sun would soon be up. The giants slept loudly in a pile across from their bonfire. I thought about dropping a Curse Rune, letting them go peacefully in their sleep but I was too tired to cast it. Snake promised we’d do something about it soon. We quietly weaved through their camp and stumbled up the embankment. Some of my worries subsided as the roof came into view.

I ran onto the porch, giddy, unable to control myself. Hopping in place as Snake unlocked the door. I dashed past him, throwing my pack to the floor, kicking off my boots, my heavy gloves plummeting down the stairs. Snake followed me at nearly the same pace. Through the kitchen I saw my babies sitting in the dining room floor playing. With outstretched arms we met.

The kids looked like they had been caught red handed. Fannah was terrible at hiding things, just like her mama. I asked what was the matter and she said too much and had to give us the whole story. Shortly after we had left the house, Fannah woke up and unlocked the front door with a spell. They went to the stream and killed a mudcrab, took its shell to town and sold it. With a handful of coins they bought “two RARE imported plants from Morrowind” according to the shopkeep. Fanar overheard me saying that I was homesick and wanted to make me happy. We put the kids to bed and went into the bedroom. At the corner of the bed sat a plate with a Trama Root and some Scathecraw. Just weeds really but so thoughtful. My heart melted just looking at them. We need to have a long talk about sneaking out of the house but they really know how to get me emotional. We hadn’t started a garden here yet, but that changed today. I nestled them into the planter beside our bed and sprinkled some water on them. They probably won’t grow but I’m certainly going to try.

Mooooorning. We set out after breakfast. Our client wanted to meet in a newly opened tavern around the back of Whiterun. A shady or downtrodden area in appearance but so far the people seem decent. We took our time. Enjoyed the morning air while it was cool and crisp. It looked to be a hot day but it was fantastic at the moment. After the last few days, it felt good to go for a walk without armor.

An hour or so of walking and we were there. Clanging of tankards, idle chatter boomed as I opened the door. A thick mead haze filled the dark room. A figure leaning against the back wall motioned toward us.

The figure seemed familiar but I couldn’t put my finger on it. She spoke quietly, a hiss against the background clatter. “Let us step outside”. She pushed past the the crowded tables and lead us out the door.

Stepping out into the sunlight, she wrapped her gloved hands around her hood and with some hesitation, pulled it down. At this point I noticed her sword and ponytail. Both familiar but I was unsure. Then she turned. It was Modra. She helped us on a foreign job some time ago. I suppose we’re friends of sorts by now. We talked until mid day. Her family glaive in hand, she waved goodbye to us.

The day had grown hot. I recalled a secluded river we walked past earlier and ushered Snake toward it. It couldn’t hurt to cool off before heading home.

It all worked out in the end.