Chapter 13: Back to Riverwood
Irileth and I began to walk back up from the dungeon. I had changed into the armor; it was heavy, but I'll get used to it. Irileth walked beside me, her eyes flickering to me every now and then.
"What is it?" I said, finally looking at her.
She turned away, "Nothing." I shook my head with a knowing smirk on my face. What is this? The halo effect, I chuckled inwardly, and glanced back at her twitching pointy ears, I'm not complaining
We soon got to the court, Irileth told Balgruuf what I had chosen, but he could already see it. She didn't tell him that she had given me a sword.
I stood in front of Balgruuf, next to him was Irileth, back to her duty, "I was thinking, since you're going to that ruin, might as well go with the detachment, I assigned to Riverwood, it will be safer to travel." Balgruuf said.
I nodded, "I agree, and thank you for the gift, I'll cherish it with my life," I said, my fingers curled into a fist resting at my chest, my eyes flickering to Irileth, who avoided my gaze.
Balgruuf laughed, "Haha! I hope the steel cherishes you more. Now go on, son. The soldiers are right outside, waiting for you," he said.
I simply nodded and, with a final glance at Irileth, I turned and began to walk away from the court hall.
I was at the door when I heard a voice from behind me, "H-hey," i turned around to see Irileth.
"Miss me already?"
***
The heavy doors of Dragonsreach opened as I stepped outside. The bright sunlight was jarring after the dim torches and stone walls below. A cool wind cut across the wooden bridge outside the main gate, reminding me that I was here.
The soldiers were gathered near the main gates, wearing scaly armor under the dark yellow cloth that wrapped around them, some still wore the helmet that covered the whole face, while others held them under their armpits, getting the fresh air of the morning.
One stood out, as he gave me a nod when I approached them.
"You're the one the Jarl mentioned?" he asked.
I nodded. "I'll be joining you for Riverwood."
He didn't question it—just gestured for me to fall in. As we descended the stairs to the cloud district and then to the marketplace.
I stopped for a little shopping as the soldiers went ahead toward the gate.
"Hey there," I said to the distracted Carlotta, busy rearranging the items on her stall, as half of it was already sold.
She turned to me, not remembering where she had seen me before, "I hope you are looking at me like that because you want to buy something," she said in a tired voice.
"Why else would I be here?" I said, feigning innocene, she studied me a little longer before sighing, "What would you like to buy?" she asked, fully turning to me.
"Do you have any spoiled apples?" I said.
She raised a brow, confused at first, then her face lit up with recognition, followed quickly by a slight roll of her eyes.
"Oh. You," she muttered. "The blind guy."
I smirked. "But I remember you falling for me."
Her brows furrowed for a second and then relaxed, she folded her arm across her chest and cocked her hip slightly. "You're not as charming as you think. And I should call you lucky. Most people don't get away with bumping into me and then teasing me about my fruits."
"I guess I'm the exception."
"Barely," she said.
I chuckled, and a small, reluctant smile crept onto her lips before she buried it beneath her usual market-weary expression.
"That's enough for now," I winked at her.
Carlotta shook her head and returned to rearranging her remaining goods. "What do you want?"
"The apples," I said. She turned to me, Is she pouting? Cute!
"I'm serious," I said to her.
She looked surprised for a moment, but nodded and went behind her stall and pulled out the untouched basket.
"I usually don't sell spoiled items, but if you insist." She said, putting the basket in front, Phew! I can at least get some money back from these, instead of just complaints from customers, she thought.
"How much?" I asked.
"It's 3 septim for one—" she paused, calculating, while I picked up one of the apples, Aren't they a little expensive? I checked with the system's prompt. Yep, 3 septims.
"I'll give you everything for 20 gold, there are 10 apples." Her voice pulled me back from my thoughts.
"Why are they so expensive?" I asked her. "The war," she said with a sigh. "And the new Jarl of Falkreath, He thinks he can charge whatever he wants." I nodded, seeing the clear frustration in her voice.
I gave her a coin purse and took the basket, making it disappear with a shimmer. "Scholar?" she muttered and grabbed the purse from my hand as the basket vanished.
"I'm everything," I said over my shoulder with a wink and walked away.
As I disappeared down the road, Carlotta watched for a moment, brows pinched slightly—not in annoyance, but in something quieter. Thoughtful.
"Ma!" a small voice called. Her daughter, Mila, ran up to the stall, arms flailing with the excitement only a child could carry, especially in times like these. "Who was that man?"
Carlotta blinked, then looked down at her daughter with a faint smile. "Just a stranger," she said softly, eyes flicking once more to the fading figure of Darius in the distance. "But a kind one."
Her hand holding the coin purse firmly, "he gave me thirty," she murmured, half to herself. "I asked for twenty."
Mila's face lit up. "Can we get Honey Nut treats?"
Carlotta chuckled. "Maybe. Let's sell the rest of the tomatoes first."
***
As I made my way through the market, the rhythmic clanging of a hammer against steel guided me. Adrianne was back at her forge, the heat of the flames licking the air behind her.
Her face, now free of soot, revealed a warm bronze glow kissed by sun and sweat—cheekbones sharp, lips set in confident focus. Her chestnut hair was tied in a loose braid resting on her shoulder
Her apron wrapped around her frame in all the right places.
Adrianne's Image
She noticed me as I approached, setting her hammer down with a clink. "Well, look who it is," she said with a grin, her eyes flickering to the armor I was wearing. "Thought you'd run off with my sword."
I smirked, "I was about to—but then I thought it wasn't worth the effort."
She folded her arms, one brow rising, "Was it that bad?"
I gave her a lazy grin. "No, it was too good. I'd feel bad keeping something made by such pretty hands."
Adrianne rolled her eyes, though the corner of her mouth tugged upward. "Flattery doesn't sharpen tools, you know."
"I know one tool it can sharpen."
Adrianne tilted her head lightly, confused. "And what tool is that?" I shook my head at her obliviousness, "I'll show you someday," I said, my smirk widening, she nodded her curiosity visible on her face, I was about to burst into laughter but controlled myself.
"So what did my father say? When will he present it to Jarl Balgruuf?" she asked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"He'll present it to him when the time is appropriate, the Jarl is busy with politics and other dangers," I said with a straight face. Not technically a lie… she didn't ask if I handed it to him directly. I pictured the poor steward sulking in the shadows of his chambers after being bodied by the Jarl in front of soldiers and a stranger. Irileth was a better choice anyway.
Adrianne narrowed her eyes slightly, sensing something, but let it go. "You remember what you promised?" I asked her.
"How could I forget? But I reckon you've somewhere else to be?" she asked, glancing at the soldiers stopped at the main gate
Meanwhile
At the Whiterun's gates, the soldiers were beginning to gather in formation. The sun had lifted higher now, spreading a mellow warmth over the city's walls. The detachment bound for Riverwood stood shoulder to shoulder, sharing farewells with friends, family, and comrades.
One soldier, broad-chested with a scar on his cheek, embraced a smaller woman—his sister, maybe. Another clasped forearms with a fellow guard, murmuring something low and serious. There was war outside the walls of Skyrim's holds, even a short travel could be a forever goodbye.
"Look at him," one of the guards with a weird nose muttered, arms crossed as he nodded toward the forge. "That's the second woman today. Every time I blink, I see him wrapped around a woman. Who's this guy?"
Another laughed under his breath, his voice hoarse. "Must be something in that face. Charmed half the town before breakfast."
"Think he's gonna win her over?" the younger guard asked, jerking his chin toward Adrianne.
The first soldier scoffed and shut the other up with a single sentence: "She is to marry that Nord—Ulberth was it?"
The youngest guard blinked. "Seriously?"
"Yep."
A silence fell between them until the youngest spoke again, a little softer.
"What of that woman at the Marketplace?"
The other two turned to look at him, a scared look in their eyes, remembering the curses she spouted when they tried to approach her, "Y-yeah, that wouldn't happen."
They turned back to Darius, watching a little longer as he spoke with Adrianne, then returned to checking their gear, the usual pre-departure, though with a bit more uncertainty than before, with dragons about and conflict between Stormcloaks and the Imperials.