The Legends Of Skyrim {SANDERS SIDES}

Companions

After a few minutes of conversation, the guard returned with a taller companion. Roman glanced from the Jarl to the new guard and stood up calmly, trying to seem taller himself.

"Ah," Balgruuf stood up, joints creaking and back arching slowly. "Logan, you're here. This is Roman Wolf, as I'm sure you knew. Roman, Logan Lorilella."

The guard removed his helmet and locked Roman in a grass-green gaze. Logan was an elf, with a triangular face and black, cropped hair. He had a Thalmor look to him, with a bored expression. "It as an honour to meet one with such high claims, Wolf," Logan greeted emotionlessly, with a bow. "I am incredibly excited to take this quest with you."

Roman, thoroughly taken aback, accidentally asked, "Do you know how to smile?" Before covering his mouth, embarrassed. "I did not mean to say that."

Thankfully, Logan didn't take offence. "I don't have much of a sense of humour. Your reaction is quite regular."

Jarl Balgruuf shook his head at the two young ones but took hold of the situation before Roman could worsen it. "Well, I shall leave you two to begin your travel. The sooner you bring back our mage, the better. Would you like a guard escort out?"

"I'm sure we can manage," Roman refused politely. He turned to Logan. "Let's get going, then."

There was still a massive crowd of people outside when the two left Dragonsreach. Roman was, once again, swarmed and Logan often had to tear people off of him. The pair managed to push through the horde of citizens and were only just out of the market square when an old wood elf, with a Nord woman around the same age, stepped forwards.

"Hello, boys," Grunted the wood elf, looking at the both of them with judging brown eyes. "You're heading up to Winterhold, are you not?"

Roman nodded. "Uh, yes?"

"Visiting the College?"

Roman began to answer, but Logan elbowed him gently and took the lead. "We are, Thane Idneo."

The wood elf, Idneo, sniffed and whipped out a black mace with glowing red sigils across the surface from her belt before handing it to Logan. "You're gonna want this, then, in case you run into some thugs, boy. And I got something I want you to deliver-"

"Please," Coughed the woman on her arm gently.

Idneo looked at her. "But-"

"Say 'please', love. It's polite."

"Fine, Ysolda, I'll say please." Idneo turned back to them. "Please may you deliver this slab to the Grand Mage at the college? Old friend of mine." She handed out a small stone slab with carvings scratched into it's' surface. It was unreadable.

Logan bowed his head respectfully. "Yes, Thane Idneo, we shall. How's retirement working out for you?"

Idneo gasped loudly. "Are you declaring I'm old? I thought a man as polite as you wouldn't dare say such a thing to a lady! Ysolda, Ysolda, he's saying I'm old!"

"No, he isn't, my love, he is simply asking how doing nothing is working out for you," Soothed the Nord.

"Oh." The wood elf looked back at Logan. "It's going fine. I'm getting hit way less and no one is arresting me when I steal things because I'm a fragile old woman. I didn't mean to say that. Whoops."

Roman blinked at her. "You just... admitted you were old..."

Ysolda sighed and began to drag Idneo away. "Have a nice trip," She wished, before attempting to rush the Thane inside a house.

"Take care of her now!" Idneo yelled over her shoulder. "Flamebreaker is a beautiful relic! Don't break her! Break people with her! Don't break my mace, dammit!"

Roman stared after the couple as they eventually retreated inside a nice-looking house. "Who was that?"

Logan shrugged, beginning to trudge along once more. "That was Idneo Fuoco. She was- I mean, is the Thane of Whiterun. Honestly, she's just a pyromaniac with a mace and an important title, who manages to set fire to the right people. Most of the time."

"Most of the time?" Echoed Roman incredulously. "What about the rest of the time?"

"She, uh," Logan thought for a moment. "She sets fire to the wrong people. And goes to jail. And has to pay her fine. But, usually, the Dawnguard gets her out."

Roman tilted his head. "The Dawnguard's still a thing?"

Logan nodded. "Apparently so. It's far less impressive as it used to be, mostly filled with old people who still want to punch things. Like Idneo."

"Do you mean hit things?" Roman corrected.

The guard made eye contact with him. "I mean what I say."

Roman was about to answer, hesitated, thought for a moment, confused himself and then sighed "Fair enough."

The two wandered out of the hold, beginning to stroll through the farmland when Roman stiffened up, standing still.

"Wolf?" Logan frowned. "What is it?"

Roman shushed him harshly, all senses on high alert. He focused intently, listening hard before pinpointing what had disturbed him. In one fluid movement, he crossed the path, drew his broadsword and held it up to a bush threateningly in a blink of an eye. "Out," He snarled dangerously and there was a fearful, cowering whimper from inside.

"What-?" Logan stepped forwards. "Wolf, what is this-"

"I said," Roman interrupted, keeping his attention on the bush. "Out."

Slowly the bush rustled, someone standing up, and Roman kept the point of his broadsword pinned to their neck. "You've been watching us from here since we left the walls. What do you want?"

A small, round, freckled wood elf whimpered fearfully. His features were less sharp than most elves, and seemed far softer and comforting. His clothes were casual, but made up of dim colours and he had a grey hood around his neck. Big, frightened blue eyes stared down at the broadsword and he barely managed to make a coherent word, stammering in terror.

Logan frowned. "Patton? What are you doing?"

Roman turned to Logan. "You know him?"

"I-I'm so sorry!" Wailed the elf. "I just wanted to come an adventure too!"

"Patton, it's okay, I- Wolf, put that sword away!"

Roman huffed but sheathed his weapon and the wood elfs' knees nearly gave out with relief. "Patton, I thought you'd be working today," Logan said sternly. "What are you doing?"

"W-Well, I wanted to go on an adventure too," Patton stammered shyly and awkwardly. "Since I got my record clean, it's been kinda boring... A-And I wanna help!"

"Pat, we're not gonna need help. This is literally an escort mission. The most trouble we'll run into is a pack of wolves and Wolf and I can handle that."

Patton seemed disheartened and he bowed his head. "I... just..."

Roman looked at the upset wood elf and cleared his throat. "Well, if the mission is gonna be as simple as an escort mission, this should be fine, right? He won't get hurt and it'll be fun to have someone you know there, right, Logan?"

Logan glared at Roman then sighed. "Fine, Patton. You can come. Just, if you get hurt, don't blame me."

Patton lit up like the sun with a happy beam on his face and he hugged Logan tightly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! You won't regret it!"

With a small laugh and a tiny smile, Logan nodded. "I know, I know, I know. Just keep out of trouble."