Chapter 6: A Day in Riverwood
"Why do you guys think I will be doing this?" I asked.
Hadvar turned to me, his expression firm. "Because you're the only one who can."
I narrowed my eyes. "Oh? And what about you?" I asked, though I was already planning to go to Whiterun as soon as I arrived in Riverwood. My eyes wandered to Sigrid, but that has changed
"I'm heading to Solitude," he answered without hesitation. "Someone has to warn High King Elisif about the dragon—and about General Tulius." His jaw tightened. "For all we know, he's dead."
Sonia turned back to face me. "I'm going with him. We don't have time to waste."
I turned to look at Lokir, who was busy eating shamelessly.
I tilted my head slightly, watching them. "And if I say no?"
Elenwen's pointy ears perked, curious. Sigrid, holding Dorthe close, looked at me with pleading eyes. "You won't, will you?"
I looked away. "Tch," I clicked my tongue, looking at the screen in front of me.
Systep prompt: [Quest] Unbound: Completed
Added: 30 Attribute Points
Systep prompt: [Quest] Before the Storm: In-progress
I exhaled through my nose. "Fine," I said.
Elenwen sighed, 'He's too easy,' she thought, mistaking my willingness to go to Whiterun as being because of my attraction to Sigrid.
Alvor heaved a sigh of relief. "Get some rest and eat well. Tomorrow morning, I'll get you what I can—maybe even a decent sword. Then you can head to Whiterun."
I exhaled. I thought I needed to leave now, I nodded my head to Alvor.
Hadvar heaved with satisfaction, "Good. One less thing to worry about."
Sonia, sitting across from Hadvar, smirked. "So, you get a night in a warm bed while we're off running to Solitude? Lucky bastard."
Lokir finally spoke with a scoff. "I'll trade places with him."
Hadvar shot him a look. "You wouldn't step foot in Whiterun even if you were paid to."
Lokir grunted but said nothing, leaning back in his chair.
Elenwen, who had been silent for most of the exchange, spoke. "This is all touching," she said dryly, "but do not expect Jarl Balgruuf to be… receptive."
I sighed again. There she goes again with the plotting. I could guess why she would say that. Balgruuf was on neither side. He was on the side of Whiterun's citizens, and it was highly likely that they would choose the side of Stormcloaks. Well, according to the elves, that is.
"Why?" Sonia asked Elenwen. She's too gullible, I thought.
Elenwen smirked, "Because men like him see danger only when it's at their doorstep. And him, my dear, is just another traveler with a wild story." She said, glancing at me.
I held my gaze on her for a moment before looking away. "It doesn't matter," I paused, "I won't be the only storyteller there," I said.
The dragon would go to even more places, wreaking havoc, more witnesses, more storytellers.
***
It was late afternoon when they finally departed. Elenwen left, along with Hadvar and Sonia—dragging Lokir along with them. He was still a prisoner, after all.
Hadvar had promised to save him from execution. Lokir, though unwilling, ultimately followed. Travelling with trained soldiers was still safer than going alone anywhere.
While I roamed around Riverwood, I first went to the Inn to gather information about this place, make plans for the future, and drink away this sudden impulse that had taken hold of me.
I stepped into the Sleeping Giant Inn, drawing a few glances before the patrons lost interest and turned back to their drinks. Travelers came and went through Riverwood, and one more face in the crowd wasn't worth remembering.
Making my way to the bar, I took a seat on the worn wooden stool. Behind the counter stood Orgnar, with neck-length black hair that slicked back, his clean-shaven face making his Nord features even sharper. He barely glanced at me before speaking in his usual dull tone.
"What can I get you? We've got rooms and food. Drinks, too."
I didn't respond right away. My attention was elsewhere—on the man sitting beside me.
A rugged face, donning a horseshoe mustache, and pale-blonde long hair, tied into a pony tale.
He wore a white shirt and simple brown trousers, with roughspun boots.
Hod.
Gerdur's husband. His name floated in front of me like all the others.
I turned back to Orgnar. "Ale."
He grunted, poured the drink, and set the tankard in front of me. I took it without a word.
Hod, oblivious to my presence until now, finally turned his head. His breath reeked of mead. "Aye. A new face. What made you come to Riverwood?" His words slurred slightly.
"Just passing through," I simply said, gulping down the Ale.
Hod let out a short chuckle. "Not much of a talker, huh?" He took another swig of his drink before setting the tankard down with a heavy thud. "So, you one of those Helgen folk everyone's whispering about?"
I glanced at him, swirling the remaining ale in my cup. "Yeah."
His brows pulled together. "Then maybe you can clear something up." He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering. "Gerdur said she saw a dragon."
I raised an eyebrow. "You don't believe her?"
Hod scoffed, shaking his head. "It's not that—it's just… No one else saw a damn thing. Just some smoke, maybe. Sven's old grandma's been ranting about it too, but she's half-crazy anyway." He waved a hand dismissively. "People talk, you know?"
I took another sip before setting my tankard down. "She's not wrong. I saw it myself."
Hod narrowed his eyes at me. "You actually saw a dragon?"
"Saw it. Heard it. Nearly got roasted alive by it." I exhaled. "It's real."
Hod's expression flickered, but he masked it with a chuckle. "Heh. That so?" He leaned back and took another gulp. "And here I thought the Imperials burned the place down themselves."
I gave him a look. "You think the Empire's capable of something like that?"
He shrugged. "Wouldn't put it past them."
I let the silence settle before speaking again. "Maybe you should listen to your wife."
Hod snorted, puzzled. "Who?" he asked.
I was confused. Too much mead, he forgot his wife. I shook my head. "Gerdur," I said.
Hod chuckled, "Gerdur ain't my wife."
That made me pause. "Huh."
"She runs the mill. That's all." His tone was flat, but there was something in the way he said it—something bitter.
I studied him for a moment, then smirked, lifting my ale. "Guess I was mistaken."
Hod grunted but didn't push further. He drained the rest of his drink, slamming the empty cup onto the counter. His attention drifted away, back to Camilla, who was talking with people like a curious cat.
And for some reason, I hated the way he looked at her.
I shook my head. I've been like this ever since I arrived here. I finished my ale, placed the coin down, and stood up. "See you around, Hod."
As I turned to leave, Hod asked from behind, "How'd you know my name?" his eyes squinting.
Shit.
I faked a smile. "You just told me," I lied. Seeing his drunken state, he would believe me.
"Oh," Hod muttered. "Well, see you around, too."
System Prompt: Speech 22 -> 23
***
It was past 2 PM when I stepped out of the Inn, I cursed my luck though the changes were small, they could fuck me over in the long run
When I returned to Alvor's house, I saw a woman in her mid-20s standing next to Alvor, her back facing me, her golden-brown hair loose at the start then twisted and turned into braids near the end.
Gerdur.
The name hovered before my eyes as the gears in my brain turned. Finally—something to feast on
***
I stayed where I was, letting their conversation play out.
Gerdur stood with her arms crossed, fingers drumming against her sleeve. "The mill's falling apart. I need new saw blades. clamps—gods, even the axe is duller than an old horker tusk." Her voice was firm but not unkind.
Alvor exhaled sharply, sweat beading at his brows. "And I'm telling you, I'm working as fast as I can." His hammer struck the glowing metal with a heavy clang. "Unless you want something brittle and useless, you'll give me the damn time to do it right."
Gerdur sighed, shifting her weight. "I know, I know… Just—work fast, will you? The last thing I need is the damn logs jamming up again."
Alvor grunted, hammering the iron with another sharp clang. "You want fast? Go to Whiterun. I'm sure the Companions can spare a few old blades."
Gerdur rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath. Then she turned slightly, and for the first time, I got a proper look at her.
A smirk made its way to my lips, and what do you know? I no longer mind the little changes
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