Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 12

• Posted by Idesto June 12, 2015 - 1,125 views

  I'm now nearly ready to go. There's just one more thing before I leave Riverwood.

  Hadvar.

  Where is that crazy Nord?

  I find him back in Alvor's house. Thankfully, I don't see Sigrid there.

  What I'm about to do goes against my every instinct, everything I've believed for most of my life. 

  "So, Hadvar," I start, "I'm heading off now. Why, why don't... why don't you, ah, come with me? We fought well together in the Keep. And you know the terrain."

  "You want my company, Dark Elf? Me, a Nord? How do you know I won't try to chop your ears off while you sleep?"

  He's laughing. I should have known he'd lay it on thick!

  "Not funny, Hadvar!

  "Look: do you want to come or not?"

  "Shinbira, you're used to living on the road & by your wits, am I right? I am a soldier, but my duties are mostly administrative. I am still quite tired from our adventures with the dragon and Helgen, so I plan to rest up here for a while before going to Solitude. That's why we need you to go to Whiterun to warn the Jarl."

  "You fight well for a administrator, Hadvar!

  It really really hurts to compliment a Nord, even this one who I've come to grudgingly respect!

  "You know you might even be able to convince me to join the Legion while we're journeying."

  "Right...

  "Since you put it that way..."

  Very soon we're both standing outside the house where Camilla joins us, smiling and giggling as usual.

  "Made a new friend have we, Shin?" Hadvar whispers in my ear.

  "Shut up and walk!" I hiss

  Camilla is chatting away. We reach the bridge that leads out of town, where she stops, pointing at our destination and giving me directions.

  "Wait: where are we going, Shinbira?" Hadvar asks.

  "Oh, Bleak Falls Barrow. Didn't I tell you?"

  A pause...

  "You know, I am actually very tired. And I've still got that wound in my left leg, and it hurts a lot! And Alvor needs me to help out in the forge  - "a special order", I think he said. I'm pretty sure it's for the Legion - and I've got to do my bit, right?! Sorry, my friend, but I have to go!"

  And with that he's gone, hobbling away quickly. Limping on his right leg...

  "I'm going to Whiterun first....!" I call back after him. I don't think he heard me.

  Camilla giggles.

  Meanwhile, I still feel that I need a travelling companion. I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself - of course; I have done for years! - but I don't know this area at all. And I don't like the sound of this Bleak Falls Barrow. Besides, in the Keep and Riverwood I've found so much loot that I couldn't carry it all: it would be nice to have someone else to lug it around! 

  And wouldn't it be good if that someone was a brother Elf?

  Camilla and I head back to the mill...

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