Survivor (A Skyrim Fan-Fiction)

Chapter Fifteen

The sky was a brilliant aura of oranges, pinks and blues, and Solitude was still asleep as the sun raised. I was armed and armored mounted on Rain's back, ready to go back out on an adventure on my own. A dull adventure it may be, discovering whatever happened to Maven Black-Briar, yet I was still going out into the wilderness nonetheless. 

"Be careful," Ulfric said whilst holding my hand outside of the city gates. "I do not like this, but I shall tolerate it if I must. You know I will constantly be worrying about you, Aemilia."

"Of course I know, but you must understand that I've done this a thousand times before. I know what I'm doing. I'll be back soon - and with answers."

My fiancée grimaced and nodded, tightening his grip on my hand.

"If you're not back in two days' time, I'm sending a host of men to find you and bring you back to me."

"Ulfric, you don't need to-"

"I'm doing it because I love you. I don't want to lose you."

His green eyes expressed genuine concern and his mouth pulled into a tight frown, his mind brimming with a thousand thoughts of how I could come to a gruesome end on this quest.

"I love you too," I whispered whilst leaning down to kiss him. He surprised me by grabbing either side of my face and pressing his lips passionately against mine, a deep kiss which I happily returned.

"I will be back."

And with a reluctant spur of my horse, I galloped down the winding road back to Windhelm to find out whatever happened to this devil-woman.

***

The Palace of the Kings came into view by midday, and I was at the bridge no more than five minutes later. Travelling across Skyrim was much quicker on your own and not sticking to the roads, unlike how Ulfric and the rest of us travelled only a week ago.

The first thing to do was ask questions, though I doubt they will provide much more knowledge than what I already know.

A stable-boy tending to the horses caught my eye, and I thought he would be best to ask first. He would have seen them leaving after all.

"Boy, I need some questions answered," I called, dismounting Rain.

He stared wide-eyed and shaking like a leaf in the wind, like I had just told him I was about to brutally slaughter him.

"Don't worry, it's nothing sinister," Well not yet anyway. "I'm willing to pay for any information you can provide me."

The boy instantly stopped quivering and trembling as much, but he was still cautious in his speech and looked anywhere other than my stare.

"Do you recall seeing an entourage several weeks past, made of about twenty men headed for Riften? Or maybe the name Maven Black-Briar rings a bell?"

"Oh y-yes, I d-do remember such a company. But I b-believe they went on the west road r-rather than th-th-the south."

That's odd. The west road goes the complete opposite direction to Riften, but leads to Winterhold or Dawnstar instead.

"Thank you. Is there anything else?"

The apple in his throat bobbed up and down as he swallowed nervously and he nodded quickly. I lifted my brow expectantly as he wrung his hands around each other and whimpered pathetically.

"I overheard s-some of the men talk about how much they hate long ship j-journeys a-and that they'll have to get new horses at the other end. I-I'm sorry, that's all I know."