Bagrak notices him as she is re-shoeing the black mare. He looks to be just staring at the stars. He sees Bagark, and gives a small smile. Bagrak nods.
Has Nin seen him? Of all the bad luck! This trip really couldn’t get any worse. She scans the area looking for Nin. Spotting her, she finishes the shoe and goes to her friend.
“Nin, come here.” Bagrak motions at the edge of the vegetable bins.
“What is it Bagark?”
“I wanted to tell you before you see him.”
“See who, what?”
“Ulfric Stormcloak”
Did she hear that right, Ulfric Stormcloak is here! A steam of emotion washes over her… Anger, grief, hate, pain, and again anger, a deep burning spreads through her body.
“Easy, Nin, easy. We need their help right now.” Bagrak rubs Nin’s arms and slowly the anger dissipates. But her eyes are pained.
“Bagrak, are the Devines having a big laugh at me?” “For the love of Mara, this is crazy, all I have done is dream of getting close to him, what I would say as I pierced his heart with my blade, and now it turns out I can’t say anything, do anything.” A sob escapes… Her shoulders slump, she feels defeated and she is not sure what she feels defeated from.
“Nin, no one is having a laugh. Remember what Codell has taught you, your enemies are sometimes your ally know when this has to be and know when it doesn’t. Right now we need him, these Stormcloaks, we need them.”
She knows Bagrak is right; it is just hard to swallow... “I have to get back so do you.”
Ralof can’t wait for his shift to end. He keeps looking over at the redhead and smiling. He has never seen a woman so beautiful before, her red hair so fiery; her blue eyes the bluest he has ever seen. He keeps saying her name Ingoknin he has never heard so beautiful a name, he cannot call her Nin, she said her friends do, but no Ingoknin suites her.
Finally, 8 PM his shift over, Damenian his relief walks over. He removes his helmet, runs his fingers through his hair, and tries to smooth down his tunic covering his chain mail.
“Better hurry lover boy”
“Hey quite Snorrlak” But he is smiling, and he knows his friend is just teasing. He gets a rush of excitement and butterflies as he approaches her. She is humming softly a tune he doesn’t recognize.
“Hi, Ingoknin”
She didn’t hear him coming and is startled, she trips.
He catches her as she trips, and he starts to apologies for startling her. “Ingoknin, I am sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
His hands are calloused and strong but her heart seems not to be in tune with her head as it starts to pound a little too much. Trying to right herself “No, it’s OK, I was just thinking about home.” Her face turning pink and she feels flustered.
“Dragon’s Bridge? I’m from Riverwood.”
“No, I’m from Kynesgrove.”
“Oh, I have never been there, it’s by Windhlem right? Why are you going to Dragon’s Bridge, it’s very dangerous to be out traveling now, with the War you never know where the Thamor or Imperials might be. Not to mention bandits like you came across.”
Unsure why she is reacting like she is, she stammers… “Yes, um home, um, is not too far from Windhelm. We had… ah, well… you see…had to get some important information to a friend of my Poppa. It’s a long story.”
Smiling he says, “I don’t mind listening, I have all night.”
Nin looks at this man, his smile is so endearing, but he wears the crest of the bear, he is fighting for the rebellion, he could have been part of the raid that killed her family. The iron enters her veins.
Her voice hardens, “Ralof, I am sorry, but I, well, I have (thinking to herself as she is talking to him…remember Nin, he is helping you right now just stay calm don’t blow it) just been though an awful lot, I just, I’m sorry.” She turns half walking, half running away.
Ralof smile fades, sensing her sadness. “Well, if you change your mind and want a friend to talk to, I’ll be in the tent next to the rocks on the left.” He calls out to her back.
He walks away this time he doesn’t look back. His chest feels heavy, she is so pretty, but her eyes are so sad, what happened to her.
Nin dug through all the gear, nothing that doesn’t have that damn, bear on it. She digs some more finding some hide boots and armor close to her size. Going towards the tent they were offered she sees him. Ulfric Stormcloak. This is the man her mother loved. She cannot help but stare; does he even think about her or even remember my mother? Trying not to attract attention, she goes into the tent and puts the armor on so she is ready for the morning. Not wanting the seal of The Bear to touch her skin she leaves on the tunic underneath.
He needed some air, fresh air to be exact. Meeting with the Redguards proved to be beneficial, although they do not want to throw in yet completely with him, not until Skyrim is under his leadership. He had already known that would be their stand, still it was good to have allies already lined up. Next he meets with a fraction ex-warriors from Cyrodiil they will met right outside of Riften later next month.
As he is taking in the cool night air he sees her, and his breathing seems to stop. Sigrid! But this woman appears too young; it was just her hair, that red hair. He looks again as she adjusts her armor, the way she moves is so eerily similar to Sigrid. He keeps his eyes on her, and she looks in his direction, he is taken aback, quickly looking away. Sigrid, he still had an ache in his heart when he thought of her, she was beautiful. Memories from what feels like a lifetime ago creep up, he chances another glace. It cannot be Sigrid he knows he had heard of her death, and this young woman is no ghost. He is looking at Sigrid’s daughter; the one she said was his child.. his daughter? He shakes his head, he never thought about that last meeting when he did think of her, it was too painful, he watches the young woman a little bit more.
Ulfric gets up and calls for his two commanders Istar and Thorygg. He needs someone he can trust to go on a fact finding mission, nothing to do with the war.
Comments
I've noticed you seem to be posting chapters in small parts. You last post was about half the length of this one, while the chapter as a whole is below 2000 words overall.
This is a fair length for a single blog post. Perhaps ins... more