For All of Skyrim

Chapter 12:

It was difficult for Mathis to not ask questions. The Jarl of Solitude rode beside him, her eyes were darting around and scanning the road constantly. It was true that the wilds of Skyrim were harsh and were teaming with deadly creatures, but her paranoia seemed excessive. He refrained from speaking though. He didn't think asking would remedy her fear, so instead he tried to exude a calm demeanor. They were not far from Dragon Bridge, where they agreed to stop and gather more supplies and food for the journey. He would have done so at the Solitude markets before they left, but Elisif seemed anxious to leave. Far be it from him to deny the wishes of the future High Queen of Skyrim. He glanced sidelong at her, still in disbelief that she chose him as her travel companion. Most women feared him for one reason or another: his size, his race, his reputation as the Dragonborn. But when Elisif looked him in the eyes that morning she regarded him as her equal, and that rattled him. Something within him warned to not screw up the connection building between them. It wasn't often someone cared about him in any capacity, and he didn't want to let that feeling go.

He stiffened when her gaze met his. Shor's beard she was breathtaking. She was surprised to find him staring at her too, and for what seemed like an eternity to Mathis, she silently returned his stare and studied him.

He cleared his throat to dispel the awkwardness, and looked away from her and back to the road.

"We're almost to Dragon Bridge." He declared flatly.

"Solitude is our home, we know where Dragon bridge is." Legate Rikke replied gruffly her eyes unmoving from the road ahead. Elisif looked at Mathis apologetically.

Mathis didn't bother saying anything, and allowed Rikke's obvious distaste for him hang in the air. He wouldn't get her to like him by arguing and bickering constantly, and he needed her to at least tolerate him if he wanted the journey to not be miserable for everyone.

The stone bridge with a carved dragon head looming over it came into view, along with a small village that lay just before it. Mathis didn't travel this way often. He was more likely to travel across streams and mountain paths to get to where he aimed to go. He took shortcuts that albeit were more treacherous but significantly faster. He needed to be fast, he needed to be thorough.

He eyed the carved dragon head, it symbolized his motivation for everything he had done so far. The true threat to every living being in Skyrim. He watched as the villagers milled about in the street before them. No, they were his motivation, he thought just as a young girl of no more than six scurried past them. He had to protect them. That pressure, that hadn't even been there until a few months before, weighed heavily on him.

Before Helgen, before he found out who he was and what blood resided in his veins, would he have cared about the safety of these people? He was ashamed to admit that he would have probably run as far as he could, with pockets lined from boxing bets and lifting purses. You care now, you're fighting for them now, he reminded himself.

Mathis dismounted and tied Nightweaver to a post. Elisif and Rikke soon followed, and set off in search of provisions for the journey ahead. Before they were out of earshot, Rikke joked about Elisif needing a lot of pastries to sustain her on the journey, earning an elbow to the ribs from her embarrassed friend. Mathis couldn't help but smile seeing them banter so comfortably. It was a side to Elisif he didn't think many got to see, so he tucked the image of her laughing and joking away in his mind for safe keeping. He bid them a quick good luck and went on his own search for bed rolls, furs, and more survival tools than what he already had for himself. It was unlikely, but if anything happened to him he wanted Elisif and Rikke to be able to find their own way to High Horothgar, or at least to safety.

A bell chimed as Mathis entered a rustic shop. The elderly Breton shopkeeper immediately clocked the huge Dark Elf. His wrinkled hands gripped the front counter as though that would protect him from such an intimidating presence.

"Erm- can I help you?" The man asked, his cloudy eyes tracking Mathis' every movement.

"I need two sets of fire starters, two tents, two bed rolls, a compass, six yards of rope, and all of the fur blankets you can spare." Mathis said finally looking the little man in the eyes after scanning the displays on the shop's shelves.

"That's quite a tall order." The man said unable to keep the nervous warble out of his voice. At that point, Mathis was so used to the judgement and fear of others that he hardly noticed the man eyeing the iron dagger on his counter. He hardly noticed the way the man flinched when he made eye contact with him. He hardly noticed the man's trembling shoulders. He was numb to it all really, but perhaps deep down it affected him. To be seen as a dangerous weapon by all who laid eyes on him took its toll. He couldn't deny that.

He suddenly felt a gentle hand rest on his forearm, and it was his turn to feel startled.

"Sir?" It was the little girl they had passed as they entered Dragon Bridge. The child looked up at him with large pitch black eyes, she was a Wood Elf with tawny hair and spindly limbs.

"Yes?" He asked. He felt like a Cave Bear having a conversation with a mouse, it felt absurd but at the same time he didn't want to spook the small creature away.

"My mama says that you are the Dragonborn. Is that true sir?" He couldn't hold back a smile at how she stood on her toes so that he may hear her better. He knelt to her level to give her a break. "I am."

"I made this, it's my good luck charm." She held out a tiny clay fox with stars carved into its sides so that light may pass through it. It was painted black, and surprisingly detailed and refined.

"It's beautiful." He nodded to her creation without a hint of sarcasm. "You are talented."

"I want you to have it. It will keep you safe." The girl held the fox with a serious look on her face. Mathis might have fought her on it, he knew it was special to her, but something in her expression told him that she was resolute in giving it to him. He carefully took her offering, wrapped it in a small piece of leather and placed it in a pocket.

"This is a wonderful gift, thank you My Lady." He bowed his head to her, and she giggled.

"I'm not a lady silly." She corrected him.

"Maybe not now, but you may be someday."

He dug in his coin purse and pulled out a sapphire, "It's nothing compared to what you have given me, but may it bring you luck as well." The little girl grinned a toothy grin and accepted the gem happily.

Just as Mathis stood to check on what the shopkeeper was able to find for him, shouts rang out from outside. Mathis spun around to look through the front windows. People ran down the street, panicked and screaming. "Not here." He growled, "Not now." Just as a villager pointed skyward, a rumbling cry thundered from above, shaking the very foundation of the shop Mathis stood in.

"Give me the supplies, and get this girl to safety." Mathis barked at the elderly man slamming a handful of coins down on the counter. "Hide under the bridge, in the shallow water, do not run but be quick." The man nodded as though in a trance, it took the little girl tugging on his arm to get him to start moving for the back door. Mathis hauled the supplies under an arm and gritted his teeth. Day one of protecting the Jarl wasn't shaping up well at all. Just as he turned to rush out the front door, flames from the sky rained down on a group of screaming villagers outside, engulfing them instantly.