Chapter 14: Murder?
The road stretched long and winding ahead of us, the distant outline of mountains breaking the horizon like jagged teeth. Birds called from the pines, the wind stirred the grass, and boots crunched against gravel and dirt as the 11 of us marched on toward Riverwood.
I had expected silence—grim, focused soldiers bracing for duty. What I got instead were three of the chattiest bastards I'd ever met.
"So," said the one with a crooked nose—Grofi, "How many women does it take to keep your attention, traveler?"
The other, a red-haired Nord, barely eighteen, named Varn, laughed. "Don't ask him that. He probably keeps a scroll just to track names."
The third, the oldest of the three, and the quietest one—Derven—snorted. "Or maybe he's just friendly."
I shrugged, not bothered in the slightest. "Depends. Are you jealous because you can't talk to them, or because they don't talk back?"
"Touché," Varn muttered, biting into an apple I'd handed him.
"Oh, so now you're charming and generous," Grofi said as he caught the apple I tossed next. "What's the occasion?"
"Ten soldiers, ten apples. Seemed poetic," I said, handing out the rest from the basket Carlotta had sold me. Derven's eyes narrowed, looking at the apple.
Hmmm, "Why would someone buy something so expensive just to hand them out to some common guards?" he asked suspiciously. I turned and looked at him, both of us silent.
"Is that your way of trying to charm Carlotta?" He burst into laughter.
Grofi joined in the laughter, leaving Varn and me confused. We glanced at each other and then at them.
"What is it?" I asked.
They finally stopped and looked at me, "Don't you think someone tried that before?"
They finally had my full attention. "Who?" I asked, they noticed my tone shift and chuckled to themselves, "Mikael," Derven said like it was a punchline.
"The Bard at Bannered Mare." Gorfi scoffed, remembering the incident.
"One day, when he had collected enough money from his songs, he thought it'd be a good idea to impress her," Grofi paused for effect, "And bought everything on her stall. She agreed, and just as he gave her the coin purse…" Grofi paused again, but Derven intervened, not letting the suspense build up.
"She left with the coin purse, telling him to clean up and wrap everything himself." Grofi turned to Derven, upset, "Oi! That was my part to tell, you weren't even there," he scoffed as Derven shrugged with a small smile on his face.
The others chuckled, even a couple of the quieter soldiers in the back who had been eavesdropping.
"Mikael was too embarrassed to return the stuff, so he started giving it away to anyone passing by. Even me." Grofi completed his story laughing sheepishly.
They all turned to me, Derven asking, "So what do you think?"
I shrugged my shoulders, "A woman bought with money isn't worth chasing." Though there are exceptions.
Derven nodded, approving of my stance, while Varn, the youngest, looked in the distance, thinking.
Grofi looked at me with a smug look, "What, you're now a philosopher?"
I chuckled, shaking my head, and we continued onwards.
***
As the bridge leading to Riverwood came into view, I removed the heavy armor and replaced it with a plain tunic and pants.
The trio noticed it but didn't question me, just themselves.
By the time the thatched rooftops of Riverwood came into view, the silence between us wasn't awkward anymore. It was easy. Smoke curled lazily from chimneys, and the golden rays of midday gave the small village a gentle glow, like it had been dipped in honey.
A familiar and sweet voice called out.
"Darius!"
I turned as a figure rushed toward us, skirts gathered in one hand, the other raised in recognition.
"Gerdur," her name escaped my mouth involuntarily.
Before I could blink, she threw her arms around my neck, burying her face in my chest, with a sigh, leaving her full lips, she snuggled further, trying to crush me.
Damn she's strong, I need to train at the mill as well I chuckled to myself, before wrapping my arms around her.
"You're back," she breathed, tipping her head to look up at me. "I couldn't let you be alone for another second."
"Gods. He's wrapped around another one." Grofi from the side sighed.
"This time literally," Varn added, deadpan.
Derven, with a serious look on his face, muttered, "he's cursed… cursed by Dibella herself."
I gently loosened Gerdur's hold, though her arms lingered a moment longer. Her eyes searched my face, relief and worry written plain across them. But before either of us could speak, the 'captain' of the detachment stepped forward, clearing his throat.
"Gerdur of Riverwood?"
She turned toward him, quickly regaining her composure. "Aye. You must be the men the Jarl sent."
He nodded. "We're here to reinforce the town, as instructed. The Jarl mentioned you were the one to speak to."
Gerdur gave a grim nod, then hesitated. Her expression darkened, and she glanced toward me. "Before we talk… there's been an accident."
The shift in her voice turned every soldier alert.
As Alvor and Sigrid walked up to us, my eyes flickered to Sigrid now and then, as hers to me.
"Lucan Valerius," she said tightly. "The Riverwood Trader. He was found dead this morning. His throat slit in his shop."
A wave of silence swept through the group like a cold wind.
I knew I was in an AU
"And Camilla?" I asked, already knowing the answer floating in front of me.
"Gone," Sigrid said from the side, her voice strained. "No one's seen her since this morning. Hod and Faendal went looking for her. Thought maybe the bandits at Embershard mine took her." She paused.
System Prompt: [Quest] Rescue Camilla Valerius from Bleak Falls Barrow: In-progress
Time limit: 1 day
I have a time limit for this? Goddamn it!
"I'm going to the Bleak Fall Barrow." My voice cut through the silence, gentle but unmoving.
Gerdur stepped toward me, her face close to mine, her expression pained, but she didn't say anything; she knew I wouldn't stop.
Sigrid stepped forward now too, voice soft but firm, "You just got back. Let someone else—"
"I have to go, it's just not because of her, I have a mission of great importance to the Jarl," I said, trying to calm them down and make them understand.
"You're not going alone, are you?" Gerdur from the side said, her voice low.
I opened my mouth to say something, but a voice stopped me: "I'll go with you." I looked to the source.
Varn stepped forward, turning every soldier's head.
"You sure?" I asked him, raising an eyebrow, seeing the fear on his face.
He gave a lopsided grin, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Every tale worth telling starts with a little madness. Besides… someone's gotta make sure you don't seduce any draugr."
That earned a small laugh from the others, even Alvor.
Gerdur didn't look pleased, but she stepped back, resigned. She slowly began walking to her house. I tried to call her back, but she didn't listen. Sigrid nodded to me and went toward her home. I told Alvor to inform all the guards of their resting places and duties, while Varn and I headed toward the Bleak Falls Barrow. Time was running out.
As for Gerdur, the best thing I could do for her was return alive.
My attention went to my unlikely companion, "You ready for your first tale, hero?"
He flashed a cocky grin. "Lead the way."