. I

Tread

"Shh, moment of silence if you may" Farengar spoke,
Silencing me promptly as I watched him delicately grind the substance to powder,
Not even looking up to see if it was at its approving state.
I stared for a good while before furrowing my
Brows in annoyance and placing the note from the Jarl between his book and eyes.
"I have a letter from the Jarl addressed for you to aid me, your grinder has already done it's job"
I huffed and watched as his eyes blinked and read through the neatly written request-
And then meet mine,

"Ah I see, well Pardon.  I believe I do have a spare book lying around that can be of use,"
He swiftly departed into his quarters and returning with a lightly yellow colored book with an insignia resembling a falcon on the top and placing it down in my hands without care.
"Your effort is appreciated." I grumbled and stared at the book, tracing my fingers over the soft texture of the cover- resembling leather,
Before looking back up and seeing the wizard return to his pointless work,

I scoffed and turned back to the main hall where I sat and began my reading.
Using the rest of my day to learn the spell.

Sundown arrived fairly quickly, my eyes fixated upon the words inside the book as I turned to the final
Page and ended my session, alright, it seemed easy enough, much less complicated than I would have thought,
I'm sure other spells can't compare.
I shut the book and slowly ascended to where my room was held and packed a small satchel of necessities,
Bread, a water container, and juniper berries all given to me by Ivanna as she smiled and hugged me farewell,
"Before you leave, I want you to meet someone. My eldest daughter is around your age and I believe she'll enjoy having a new acquaintance, come my home is just outside dragons reach"
She requested kindly- and I blinked but nodded,
Ivanna had done me nothing but good deeds and I saw the woman as a mother figure of my own, walking down with her as she lent me a shoulder and helped me exit the Hold,

Extravagant colors met my eyes as I stepped out into the open world for the first time in a week, you would think the white snow would dull out the colors of a city but not here.
The snow complimented the beige color scheme and the center point of a beautiful Cherry blossom Tree that brought the whole town together.
The structures were built neatly with love and care and the citizens of WhiteRun proceeded on with their daily lives, selling and purchasing goods and keeping the spirit of this Hold alive,
I couldn't help but feel a warmth, though freezing cold my chest felt delighted to see joy in times such as these,
Children playing and thriving in the
Freshly fallen snow with smiles no sword could break.

This

Was something I knew had never experienced.

Ivanna led me to her home across from the wonderful tree centerpiece and opened her roof to me- a stranger she had met no more than six days prior, I entered and was greeted by the ruckus of four children yelling and laughing around the table with the eldest daughter of the four trying to keep them held down as to not make a mess.
"Mum, You're Home!" The elder Child smiled, a thick Scottish accent just like her mothers as she approached and hugged her mother besides me

And then locked eye contact with my own,
She was around my height with shortly cut dirty blonde hair and narrowed Brown eyes,
"Who's this?" She asked cautiously,
Eyeing me up and down as if I were a threat to mankind.
I brushed it off and returned her gaze "My name is Faust, your mother intended to make a friendship between the two of us, it's a pleasure to meet you" I spoke and gave a small
Nod of my head in respect,
"Yeah.. how about it Mum?" She asked warily and Ivanna smiled in return

"Faust is of the same age, and I know you're cooped up in the house all the time, Igrid"
The older woman smiled at her daughter and then at Me-
Whilst Igrid huffed and crossed her arms
"I /have/ friends, I'd just rather be here instead of out there" the obvious demeanor was this girl had no company,
I could see the truth in her eyes,
"I, do not" I returned.
"I am a foreigner to this hold and have no one to call my friend other than your mother," Igrid looked at me as if I said something beyond bizarre with a look of confusion.
"Obviously you're not from here, I don't recall seeing a blue haired orange eyed twat amongst the folks of Whiterun"

"I see you're not fond of friendship, forgive me Ivanna. You've been kind to me my entire stay but now it's time I depart for Ivarstead"
I thanked her as Ivanna sighed but gave me one final hug as a farewell. Igrid- however, lit up
"Ivarstead? You're traveling outside of Whiterun?" Her eyes lit up with curiosity and suddenly taking into my offer "why are you going to Ivarstead?"
She asked, "personal reasons" was my response.
Treat me poorly and you will receive the same attitude.
Equivalent exchange