Far From Home

[DrTrollinski]

(1x1 RP between myself and RoleplayChiQ)

 

[DrTrollinski]

Loredas, 21st day of The Last Seed, 4E201 (August 21st)





"Blatantly not as simple as you thought, Erik." Alexander laughed and fell onto his back from his sitting position so that he could stare up at the summer sky. He was happy really, because this place only ever got snow in the later months, whereas in some places, the snow was just redundant and the sharp and crisp flakes of ice fell all day, every day, causing you to need a thick fur coat if you wanted to do so much as stay out in the cold for more than five minutes. Of course, Nords had a strong resistance to the cold. They could survive a simple-clothed walk in the snow, they could swim for twice as long in icy waters before dying, and cold-based spells did hardly anything, providing that they weren't too strong.


The current situation, however, was the one with the eldest two brothers. Erik had been trying his hand at spear-fishing the salmon that traveled up-stream in the river behind Riverwood. The water was warm this time of year, but still, the salmon didn't really care about that, did they? He was trying to catch them off guard before they hit the rapids, just by spearing into the water. Right now, though, Alexander was looking at one pissed off and soaking wet Erik - He'd fallen over, straight into the gentle part of the river, drifted down it for a few feet, but then clambered out of it like a cat that had just been thrown into a tub. Alexander couldn't help but laugh, only because Erik acted like such a tough-guy, so this was ego-crushing to him, and that was the most hilarious thing that he'd seen in weeks.


"Fuck you." Erik murmured under his breath as he did his best to flick some of the water off of himself, then ripped off his long-sleeved tunic and quickly ringed the water out of it. Erik was quite muscular, then again, so were most of the boys in town. A lot of the kids were very physically fit because they'd hunt and fish for their fathers who had been injured or were getting too old to fight, but Erik and Alexander were actually the heroes of the family. They hunted and got food simply because they were capable of doing so.


Well. Sort of.


They hunted for their whole family, but mostly in thought of their younger brothers. Their younger brothers - 13, 12, and 8. Yes, two of them may have been deemed old enough to hunt, but they didn't want that. They deserved to be treated like kings, and they simply weren't strong enough to go out and hunt. Jon, the thirteen-year-old, was going through the usual teenager stuff so there wasn't much he could do for anyone right now. Christoffer, the twelve-year-old, was still being trained in combat by his father. He was as skinny as a post, but also the luckiest. He'd had illnesses hit him that had caused him to be vomiting all night, causing his bowels to swell and empty at the worst times, and yet, he was still alive. Not everyone survived illnesses like that, and he, right next to Karl, the youngest, whom of which had grown with his father's strength. He was the normal weight and height of an eight-year-old boy, but he wanted to be a great warrior and a protector, but he didn't want to join the legion.


The family didn't have a stand on the war, because they didn't care.


"Come on, don't be like that." Alex said. "You messed up. We can go again." He said, but Erik instantly drove his spear into the ground and shook his head.


"No."


"Erik..." He hopped up and walked over to him, setting a hand on his shoulder. Erik had shaggy hair, too, but not hair that was anywhere near as long as his. He wanted his cut, actually, but not yet. Maybe sometime soon, but he looked good with this look. "Swim across to the other side and walk up with me. You're soaking wet enough as it is." He laughed and patted his back, and Erik followed in his lead, diving into the water and quickly swimming across to the other side, climbing up onto the riverbank once he was done. He walked up-stream and stopped when Alex stopped, which happened to be right beside one of the rapids. Alex reached under a hollow tree trunk and pulled out a net which was weaved from rope and leather, followed by pulling off two ropes from it and throwing it across the river to Erik.


"Sometimes it's better to cheat and catch them this way!" He yelled, holding his two ropes, too. "Pull on the ropes!" He said. One rope on each side worked to angle the net which them stretched out, and from there, the salmon started jumping out of the water and landing right in it, causing Erik to burst into laughter of relief. After they'd caught at least a dozen salmon, one rope from each side was pulled which caused the net to come together and bundle at the top, therefore stopping any from escaping. The net nicely slid down the ropes so that Alex could grab it, and then he grinned across at Erik, whom of which grinned back.


Erik wouldn't be able to live without his brother.


But soon enough, he was going to have to.


Gabriel was sitting at his store by the forge, waiting for customers. His son, Christoffer, was still practicing on the punching-dummy that Gabriel had set up for him. He wasn't doing too bad, but he wasn't doing too great either. The dummy was right next to the store so that Gabriel could always have his eyes on him.

 

[RoleplayChiQ]

Loredas, 21st day of the Last Seed, 4E201, August 1st...


Golharr Inn...


Annia woke up hearing loud clatters of metal from below, chatters escaping from nearly half a dozen lips, their voices were deep and scary. Men, probably kingsguard from somewhere around here. Or perhaps even further than that. "Annina, darling come down here and help!" she heard her mother call from below. She found it annoying how early this men came here, of all the towns, of all the inns why here?! Dawn was nearly breaking and this barbarians came here like they own the place. Well they're not really barbarians but, to Annia men like these are. Most of the times. "Coming!" she called out before rolling her eyes and standing up from her bed. She walked over towards a bucket filled with warm water and gently soaked her face, feeling the warm wetness sooth her and wake her senses. She wiped her face with a clean cloth from her desk, put on one of her daily dresses and braided her red hair before making her way downstairs where she saw that she wasn't mistaken.


Men in armor, nine of them to be exact sat upon the long wooden table in the middle of the room, a seat fitted for two dozen people. But who would dare take the seat from this men? Surely no one. They were all very muscular, scary and strong looking. No ordinary villager would dare, surely not. On their table was nearly a feast with fresh fruit, meat, and bottles of the realms best ale. Most of which were already empty. Annia couldn't help but wonder what time this men got here, it has to be somewhere near earlier for her parents and the inns servants to prepare that much food and drinks.


Annia walked over towards her mother who was moving around fast in the kitchen. Picking up an object after the other, chopping this and that. By the gods it was a mess in here that much was clearly. "Who are those men? You and father never serve like this unless for someone important." Annia asked before picking up a rag and wiped it across her mother's now sweaty forehead. Emilda gave her daughter a quick smile before answering. "Men of the High King love. Now I do not know why they came upon here, probably on a journey somewhere but came to rest. But those men have gold, lots of it. Now better they spend it here than the Sleeping giant now, aye?" a wide smile came upon Emilda's lips. A true beauty despite her age and wrinkles. "Oh how Orgnar and Delphine will hate us for this." She chuckled before handing Annia a silver tray filled with pastries and sweets so famishing Annia wanted a bite, but the girl knew better. "Bring that to those men and hurry back. Mother's gonna need your help cooking."


Annia walked outside of the kitchen and made her way towards the men of the highking, the silver tray dangling in her arms. At the sight of the girl the men smiled, Annia hoped it was because of the sweets she brought. "My, my look at this one. Isn't she lovely?" one of them spoke as she placed the tray gently on the table. "Aye, she is. Are you looking for a husband to wed beautiful?" another one teased. Annia clenched her jaw in annoyance with their disrespectful way of talking. Seeing women as nothing more than entertainment and bed warmers. Fuckers. "Are you really men of the Highking? Such a dissapointment men like you help protect a king. If you came for women there are nearly hundreds of brothels out there with women who are more than willing to suck your prick." Annia answered with rage, her hands tight on a knuckle. For a while the men fell silent, then laughter errupted from them and they started cheering and toasting their glasses like she wasn't even there. With a deep breath the girl turned around and went back to the kitchen where her mother waited. "The girl is right though mate." then louder laughters echoed the walls of the Golharr's inn.


... The woods near Riverwood Stronghold


Its been hours long before dawn did Godrik arrive here and started hunting yet all there was too hunt were rabbits and ducks. Where the bloody fuck are those deers and wolves? Godrik thought feeling rather pissed about how his hunting went. In his hands were three dead rabbit, all three had the same arrow wound near their necks. One duck and chicken. The young lad hoped for a stag of some sorr but unfortunately this was what the god's sparred him today. Perhaps tomorrow would be better.


The sun was rising beyond the mountains, the air getting warmer and warmer. Godrik always loved the weather here at Riverwood, often more warm than the cold, how he hated the cold. Slinged over his shoulder was a wooden bow, his sheath carrying one dozen arrows. As the young man walked he saw a glistening object near the ground as the sun shined through it. He squinted his eyes as the rays hit him directly. Walking towards the object he bent down to reach it only to find out it was a necklace. A silver necklace with a round pendant, on the pendant was a swirling embroided pattern. A smirk came on his lips. "Annia would love this." he spoke before he continued back to town. Perhaps maybe his hunt didn't fare well for he was meant to pick up such an exquisite item. The Gods can be fair at times

 

[DrTrollinski]

They'd walked back to the blacksmith together with smiles on their faces. Just over a dozen salmon caught easily with a single net. They just needed their next instruction now, and their father would know what to do with it all. Don't get me wrong, they were a big family, but they only kept what they needed. They had over a dozen salmon, and they could roughly get the good cuts of one salmon between two people for dinner tonight. Basically, they'd need enough for the family, and enough to share around tomorrow if the hunting didn't go well. Worst case scenario, they'd go out and catch a bird or two, maybe raid a bird's nest, and get what they could from that. For now, though, they had enough to feed the family, and that was important. Sure, there were vegetables growing in the garden for them in the house, but they wanted the younger kids to get some kind of protein from eating fish or meat. They needed it more than anyone.


As they got back to the blacksmith's, they walked up the small set of stone steps to get into his forge area and smiled at him, both of them looking proud. Gabriel looked up at them both and grinned when he saw the huge net of salmon over Alexander's shoulder. Alex was the smarter one of the boys. He thought in a more practical sense rather than an aggressive one. As opposed to spear-fishing, which could only catch a couple of fish maybe every ten minutes, whereas with the net that Alex had made, they could catch two dozen in just a couple of minutes. It was very nice indeed, and Gabriel knew that it was his eldest son that came up with the plan.


"Very nice, boys." He nodded and walked over to them, patting them both on the shoulder. "Which one of you made the net?" He asked. That's when Erik went a little sheepish and looked down at the floor. Alex looked at him and sighed.


"I made it, but I couldn't have done it without Erik. It's a two-man job, and a difficult one at that. He did well, and we probably wouldn't have caught anything if he didn't agree to swim to the other side of the riverbank." He explained, and finally, Erik perked up and smiled at him, and Alex just simply discreetly winked back at him. Gabriel nodded a few more times and scratched his chin, of which was growing a light stubble but wasn't grown at all. His hair was long, too, long and dark. He looked pretty cool, to be honest, and his appearance alongside his training in combat was a reason that a lot of bandits decided not to rob his establishment.


"Well done." He said, walking forward and placing both hands on Erik's shoulders. "You'll be a fine hunter one day, son. I would have loved to be able to do something like this when I was your age. You're off to a flying start, so don't give up." He smiled, and Erik smiled back and nodded. "Now... Run home and change your clothes. You'll get sick if you stay in those soaked ones for too long, and we don't need that. The deer are in season, so we just need to know where to look. That's the best part of hunting, son, trust me." He explained, then bowed over and kissed his head.


"I can't hunt deer, dad..." He said, shrugging, but still smiling due to his father's words.


"Oh, nonsense." He laughed. "It's easy..." He said, walking over to a weapon rack and picking up a wooden hunting bow, tipped with steel on either end, alongside a quiver of arrows. Erik was used to using a longbow, so this was something new to him, without a doubt. "I want you to have this, son. You've been practicing with a longbow since you were six years old, and Alex has told me that you're ready for something a little better than that." He winked at him and held the bow and quiver out to him. Erik had the most massive grin on his face as he slowly reached out and took it. He stared at it for a moment before pulling out one of the iron arrows from the quiver. Obviously they were all that was really needed for hunting, providing you could hit the right place.


"Why don't you try and hit that large tree over there across the river?" He asked, pointing out over the small barricade that went around the smith's platform, and across the river, there was indeed a large tree, one that could easily be older than the town itself. Erik smiled as he walked up to the barricade and lifted the arrow to the bow, followed by pulling it back against the string and right back to his ear. He took a few moments to line up his shot, then he let the arrow fly, and of course, he hit the tree, and was greeted by nothing but smiles.


--


Twenty minutes later, Erik was changed into some new clothes, and on the word of their father, Alex had stored nine of the fresh salmon in the cooler room they had in their house. A spell-caster who came by made that for them. The brick walls of that individual room were coated in a fine layer of ice, of which was extremely hard to melt. It kept all of the food they put in there fresh so that they could make it last longer. These nine salmon would be enough for the whole family for at least 3 days, perhaps four. They didn't struggle with food, but still, they had five left - Erik was sent off to the nearby inn so he could sell to them. They may have had their own hunters, but that didn't always make them successful. Fresh salmon? What more could you want?


Even if he couldn't sell here, the other place always took what he had to offer, but he preferred this place overall.


When he got there with the burlap sack that held the fish in it, he noticed that some of the king's men were sat at one of the back tables. He didn't pay any notice to them, however, and just walked to the bar and smiled up at whoever may have been there. Erik had came in to sell any extra produce they had since he was about nine years old, so he'd been coming here for quite some time now. He was the one that did the delivery jobs because his brothers were too young or too scared to do it, and Alex was always busy helping his father.


"Hey there." He greeted, lifting the bag onto the counter. "I've got five freshly-caught salmon here. Full, they haven't been cut or anything, so we haven't done anything to them to make them look bigger or anything." He smiled softly. "I can sell them to you cheaper than usual today because we had a big catch. I could give you these for twenty septims." He offered. Like I said, this was his priority place to sell to, but he'd never stopped for conversation. They knew his name, and they knew his father, and that was about it. They were the only two that ever really came in here.

 

[RoleplayChiQ]

The sun has completely risen when the troops of the Kingsmen decided to call it a night, or a day now perhaps. They all paid rooms for themselves, which means nine rooms were currently taken at the Golharr inn out of the fifteen. Now that is a lot of money for the business. But more guest could only mean more work for the servants and since Annia's the youngest daughter, her too. She was wiping the long table where the Kingsmen feasted when the Van Vold boy entered the inn. It was the oldest one, Alexander if she isn't mistaken thought often called by his surname Alex. She knows him, not very well but she knows the Van Vold. Their smith shop isn't exactly far from the inn, just nearly two blocks and this boy comes here often bringing any extras from their hunting for a few coins. She always wondered how they fare such luck, while Godrik often returns with some tiny little creature. Annia wondered what the boy's selling now.


"Well, well you must have a lot to spare to be selling this much." The Golharr's patriarch spoke from behind the counter, a smile on his face as he took the salmons from him and handed it to one of the inn's servants.


"Put it on the ice chamber for me esmer." The girl nodded in return and walked away.


Var Golharr took out the coins Alex wanted in return and handed it to him with a satisfied smile on his face. Good bargain, if he bought this at the towns market it would've surely cost more.


"How old are you boy? Have you met my daughter?" Var glanced over to where Annia was, minding her own business when he called for her. "Annia! Annia, Darling c'mere."


She quickly stopped from what she was doing and walked over towards her father and the Van Vold boy. She never stood this closely to him, he was taller, much taller than her. And now up close can she really tell how fine of a young man he is. Strong jawline, expressive eyes, high cheekbones. Now Annia understood all the girls who fancied him, swooning at his feet. She remembered one of her childhood friends Ruviina who came down at the Van Vold's shop only to ask Gabriel Van Vold for his son's hand when they grow up, asking him to wed him to her. She didn't know if Alex ever found out about that, or even how he reacted.


"Yes, father?" she glanced towards Var as she stood beside alex, her forehead slightly sweaty, strands of hair falling on her face.


"This young lad is the Van Vold boy. Have you been properly introduced? This-" Var gestured a hand towards Annia. She gave Alex a glance and a little smile. "is my youngest daughter, Annia."


"i know him father, well not like friends. I see him often around town. Even here at times which is quite funny as to why you only though about introducing us now." Annia teased making her old man chuckle slightly.


"Annia." She held out a hand to him.


------


Godrik decided to stop by at the best Blacksmith shop at riverwood, the Van Vold. He knew the man quite well for he comes here almost everyday of the week, if not everyday then every other. He do so for only one reason, a sword. One of which Gabriel Van Vold forged himself. It was one of the best sword Godrik has ever laid eyes on and soon enough he'll have enough to actually afford it.


"Good morning Mr. Van vold." Godrik spoke in his deep scruffy voice and went over to where the man stood. "can I see him today?" Godrik said refering to the sword whom he named 'Slayer'. Every good swordsman are often known to name their sword.


"i'll be able to buy Slayer soon... Hopefully."

 

[DrTrollinski]

"Ah, but you don't always see me here." He chuckled as he reached out and shook her hand with a smile, looking her up and down as he spoke back to her. "Alexander Van Cold. Eldest of five brothers." He smirked and nodded a few times before releasing her hand. He'd been to school with this girl, but conversation with her was never really something that had interested him, mostly because he was far too shy in some of his younger years. He didn't speak to many people when he was just a kid. Hard to understand really, but you know. He spoke a lot now.


"It's usually my younger brother Erik that comes in here to sell whatever we have leftover. Apologies if it's an inconvenience. I know that he usually likes to start conversation, but sometimes he doesn't shut up." He laughed. "He actually got his own hunting bow given to him today, so he's off getting used to that for now. I imagine in a few days time it'll be him doing the delivery again, but..." He paused as he pocketed the gold and smiled. ".. You just never know, do you?" He chuckled, then looked towards the door and sighed.


"I don't intend to be rude, but I need to get going. The morning is the best time to hunt deer, and they're in season, so if I can feed the family of six that we have, I'm going to take the first chance I get." He smiled at them both. "Very nice to see you again," He nodded to the man. "And Annia, lovely to officially meet you." He quickly winked at her and spun on one foot, but after getting a couple of steps away, he turned back and smiled. "I might bring my younger brother by here later on for one of your sweet rolls, so have one ready just in case I do stop by." He smiled and then turned around again, quickly making his way out of the store.


The Van Vold Family used to be regulars before the mother of the boys passed away during childbirth. The boys that were old enough to understand the situation were heartbroken by the death, and after that, their visits to the inn stopped. It was mostly because the mother was capable of bringing so much joy to those around her, and that was one of the things that she did here. Once she passed, there was a phase where this place was a lot more depressing than it had ever been.


--


"Ah, hello." Gabriel smiled. He stopped watching his second youngest son practice on the training dummy and instead rose up so that he could assist the young man that had walked to him. He'd watch the boy and his sister grow up right alongside his own children, so I suppose you could say he was rather friendly with them at times.


"Of course you can see it." He smiled and walked over to the weapon rack where he kept all of his forged weapons and picked up the nicest-looking one there. Slayer, as it was named by the townsfolk, only because it was made of Damascus steel. A combination of steel and iron all merged into one. The blade was long and fine, and had a beautiful shine to it. Its handle was steel wrapped with strong leather for comfort and grip.


It had taken two weeks to temper and sharpen, but finally, it was ready to be sold. Just as soon as the money was given to him, someone could take it off his hands.


He spun it around for a moment and gently set it down in the boys hands. "My finest work this season, boy. People have got their eyes on it, so I'd hurry if I were you." He smiled and patted the young man's shoulder.