Part 18 Here
Chapter List Here
WARNING: ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM SPOILERS!
Hearth, Home and Hert
The Civil War was over and alone I took a slow walk towards the gates of Solitude. The streets were empty, the buildings were burned. Roads that once had children running about them playing were now free of such innocence.
The only life I saw as I strode was a solitary glowbug. It seemed at home among the flames.
Without the ongoing conflict to focus on, and the threat of the dragon Alduin long passed, I was free to live a more peaceful existence. I decided it was time to take up the opportunity to buy the land that had been offered me in Falkreath.
I began my journey south.
I passed Meeko’s shack again and was reminded of my old companion.
I read the diary again, saddened at the fate of the loyal hound.
I moved on. The journey was relatively uneventful. A thief attempted to mug me at knifepoint.
I don’t know what it was, perhaps I had had my fill of bloodshed, but I convinced the crook that I carried nothing of worth and he sped off.
Other than the usual wolves and spiders, I was assaulted by a further pair of more aggressive bandits but they proved no trouble.
I came upon Falkreath.
Tekla, now steward, was the person I had to meet. I bought the land offered for a sum of 5000. It seemed a reasonable offer.
The building would be named Lakeview Manor.
I greeted the Jarl as I left, who renamed me Thane and awarded me the Blade of Falkreath, as well as a new housecarl, Rayya. No doubt she would be useful in my new home.
It was a short walk to the plot, although I did take a shortcut up a rough cliffside rather than a traditional path.
I don’t know what I expected, but what was found on the site was merely a few worktables and some construction resources.
Underneath the carpentry bench was a guide on how to get started.
I placed it aside and started work.
Gradually, piece by piece, the building, my new home, started to take shape.
I even set up a small garden area for growing my own crops. I yet needed seeds to plant though.
By the time it came to construct the Main Hall of the home though, my supplies had depleted.
Rayya and I decided to see what I had left at my other houses. First stop would be Whiterun.
On the way, we met an orc who seemed to have been busy killing.
I found it curious that he did not immediately turn on us in bloodlust, but instead we spoke. He told me of how he wished for an honourable Orc warriors death and was searching for a worthy opponent to give it to him.
I wondered how many more would fall to his blade in the name of his honour and offered to challenge him myself. He was pleased to accept.
The battle was short, but I hope the Old Orc was satisfied.
One of his victims had been a treasure hunter who carried with him a note.
It sounded interesting and perhaps worth looking into later, but the idea of heading into another Dwarven mine was not incredibly appealing.
Approaching Whiterun, I noticed that Louis Letrush seemed to have finished his experimenting here.
It seemed that I had previously cleared out anything of use from Breezehome, so we moved on to Riften. While there I found plenty of materials and even took the time to forge a new set of enchanted armour for Rayya.
I delivered the materials back to Lakeview, but found I was still in need of lumber. We visited the nearby Half-Moon sawmill.
I began helping myself.
Despite having cut a few logs, the owner Hert would not allow me to take any away without paying her.
As I approached her, I chose to use a sprint shout to get close faster. Strangely, but a moment later, the courier arrived with a message for me.
I wonder who this ‘friend’ was who was nearby and fast enough to send this message. Perhaps the courier himself?
I bought some lumber, sold Hert some firewood and returned to Lakeview to plant some seeds and continue work.
The lumber I had purchased was not nearly enough to finish though and I had to make my way back to the mill.
On arrival, a new problem appeared.
I had never seen a dragon of the like.
I fought it, but the beast seemed to prefer easier targets.
Hert was dead.
Using the power of my Thu’um, I forced the dragon to ground, once there I jumped upon it and took revenge against the monster.
The revered dragon was defeated and as usual, I absorbed the power of its soul.
As I pondered how I was to acquire lumber now, the courier arrived with a new message.
I had no idea that Hert had taken such a liking to me. I was touched that someone I had known for such a short time had thought of me in this way.
I moved her lifeless body from the road and placed it in a more respectful place.
I returned to Lakeview, to find that some of my plants had begun to grow. Nightshade and Deathbells… how fitting.
Part 20 ‘Prep, Prizes and Priests’ Here
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