I made it to Whiterun by late afternoon. My legs felt like two iron ingots. All the equipment I salvaged from the Bandits, Bears and wolves on the way had weighed me down. I took advantage of the fat purses of the Merchant's at such a late hour. Feeling much lighter on my feet I found Ysolda in the usual place. I had started to become accustomed to the regular faces in this hub of trading and Ysolda was always walking the stalls looking for someone to invest and help her open her own shop.
Her face lit up as she recognised me through the afternoon throng of shoppers "Ah you've returned with payment for the ring you borrowed." I frowned "No I was coming to ask you if you knew anything about a Sam and his staff?". Her demeanour changed instantly, placing her hands on her hips "You came here last night and told me a wonderful tale of love and romance. How you had found your true love under the tallest tree, surrounded by the torch bugs of Witchmist Grove and you needed a ring to propose to her but didn't have the money. I was so enthralled by your story I let you borrow it so where's my money?"
I stood dumbfounded. What in the name of the Empire did Sam get me into last night? "Well!" She demanded. "I'm sorry Ysolda but I have no memory of anything from last night. Sam has stole something from me and need to find him?" My expression conveyed the truth also as she relaxed "You did mention something but I'm not saying anything until you pay me or get my ring back from your beloved.""Fine, anything I'm too confused and hung over to try to figure this out. Where did you say I found my beloved?" "Witchmist Grove it's out near Windhelm leading up to the Rift." I nodded "I apologize about all this, I really have no clue what went on I just need to get that Letter back." With that I headed to the Bannered Mare and an early night I still hadn't managed to shift that hangover.
It took me thirty minutes to get my pants on the next morning. My legs were cramped and stiff. I managed to get mobile but I wasn't going anywhere far. I ate and made it out of town. The carriage was just finishing loading as I hobbled up. I got the attention of the driver and asked if there was room for one more. The ride to Windhelm was much easier in fact I slept most the way. I missed Drago but I couldn't sleep and travel even on that stallions back. He was good but not that good. One things for sure Drago is faster, with my late rise and the casual approach of the driver it was nearly dark by the time I got to Windhelm. Reticently I spent the night at Candlehearth Hall again I still wasn't comfortable being in Stormcloak territory.
The next morning I was feeling much better, my legs where less stiff and my head felt almost clear. Whatever Sam put in that Mead had taken a serious effect on me. The road from Windhelm led up over the ridge towards Kynesgrove and the Rift. Not long after I passed the Tavern in Kynesgrove the landscape started to change quite dramatically. The trees stood on the borders of a huge geyser field. Green pools filled of mineral rich water bubbled up in jets and steam across the pocked earth. The smell was quite sulphurous and stung my eyes. Not far from the edge of the of this ancient landscape a small hill rose up out of the steam and moisture. Covered in dense forest the smoke from a fire whispered around the tops of the trees indicating where I would find my beloved to be.
I drew my bow as I entered the tree line. For a moment I thought I heard that sound again of the winged lizards but with the noise of the geysers and trees blowing in the wind my hearing was compromised. The tree's restricted my vision until I reached a small clearing in the middle of the dense wood. To one side stood a small wooden shack surrounded by a fence of wooden pikes pointing outwards. Walking through the gap in the pikes my arrow flew as a ragged old Hagraven greeted me from the shack. Narrowly missing her head she shrieked "It's meeee my beloved. Have you returned to consummate our Loveeee?" Â
My heart was in my mouth. I couldn't believe what I'd got myself into "I'm sorry but I'm already spoken for" holding up my wedding band that had sat on my finger for the best part of 40 years. "I just need the ring back there has been a terrible mistake, I'm sorry". The Hagraven didn't take kindly to my new feelings. Hissing and spitting she snarled through her fangs "If I'm not to be yours no one can have you!" With that she lunged forward clawed fingers slicing for my flesh. I let the drawn arrow go striking her to the chest giving me the chance to draw my sword. I let her have a taste of my "FUS". Shrieking in confusion I spun on my foot bringing the blade round to slice her head from her shoulders.Â
Rummaging through her corpse I found the ring. But before I could comprehend what was happening, how I'd ended up here proposing to this hag I definitely heard the trumpeting challenge of a Dragon. The commotion of my fight with the Hagraven must have attracted it. This time neither of us had anywhere to go. The Beast landed into the clearing blocking my exit which meant it couldn't fly away to easily. A toe to toe encounter ensued. I ducked and dived the jaws of the reptile slicing and thrusting my blade at its snarling face. The feeling of pure hate was tangible. They actually hated me and wanted to get rid of me? I couldn't grasp the emotions I was feeling towards these Mythical creatures but I was going to have to find out. Even if it only stopped these random encounters that would be enough.  The beast took advantage of my distraction and unleashed a full breath of flame. I dived for cover behind a tree as the heat seared it into charcoal. I steeled myself and charged from cover, letting my shout go with all my force, I lunged as the Dragon opened its mouth to release another jet of flame. The blade stuck out of the back of its skull as the flame was redirected and blasted through the new hole. I yanked out my sword as the light and visions rushed into me once more.
I stumbled out of Witchmist Grove knocking the ash from the chinks in my armour across the emerald pools of steam and warmth until I found Mix Water Mill on the main road. I managed to flag a carriage down as it rumbled passed letting me out at the gates to Whiterun.
Once more I found Ysolda in the midst of the afternoon shoppers. Tapping her on the shoulder she turned and her face painted a picture. "Here Ysolda I got your ring back." "By the nines man where did you go to get it?" I looked down at my soot covered armour and shook some more ash free shrugging "Lets just say I found more than my beloved at Witchmist Grove." Ysolda laughed "Indeed well seeing as you have returned it, you mentioned that you had travelled from Morvunskar." "I've never heard of it" I said looking more perplexed than ever "It's a fort I think off the main road near Windhelm. Here let me mark it on your map for you." With that I thanked her apologizing for the trouble and headed back out onto the road to Windhelm.
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