Seras little snippet thread

I awoke the next morning having leveled up in my sleep. My Mana had skyrocketed when I put another five points into intelligence.

72 Mana was a lot compared to what I had before.

The jump to 65 Destruction skill had also left me with another benefit. At level 50 I got a second perk for completing my Apprentice tier and going into adept.

Spell Combination. I could combine Spell Seeds now. Well when I had additional spells. It had also mentioned something about creating spells with multiple effects. So I guess spell creation was a thing.

I got dressed and was just about to put on my Iron Helm when I knocked some of the stuff over in my Armoire and noticed something important.

"I forgot the Novice Hood!" I gasped, I had been wearing the Iron Helm, but the Novice Hood was so much better!

I quickly left the Helm and connected the hood onto my robes, throwing the fluffy thing over my head.

And instantly my Mana felt so much stronger. 30 additional Mana was a lot after all.

For a moment I stood there, letting the power flow through me, and I realized that I was actually powerful.

I had more than a hundred mana. That was five times what I had started with. My mana regeneration was stronger, and on top of that, I knew ways to twist spells, to make them more powerful, yet cheaper.

Also mental experience, muscle memory to cast spells quickly and in a rush.

I nodded ready.

Time to clear a group of bandits.

The brisk air of Skyrim was nice as I stepped out. I retrieved my key, and when I opened the door to the Mine it was quiet inside. I stalked forward. Spell Seeds ready. I walked down a long hall, and it was all quiet, not a surprise considering the time of night. Very carefully I avoided the obvious tripwire on the ground…

Well it was obvious under the blue light of the electricity arcing in my hands, I had almost stepped right through it. Avoiding it I turned a corner into a much larger room. I could hear water flowing a bit as I approached, and as I peaked around a corner I saw my first bandits inside the mine. Both were sitting around a fire below. Serving food and simply warming themselves.

Once I attacked there was no way I wouldn't attract more attention.

I pushed my hands together, honed the spell correctly, rose up and fired. The noise of the spell crackling had attracted their attention and both men had been looking around when the lightning struck.

It arced and wrapped them both in tendrils instantly, lightning jumping to each over and over as they both shrieked and spasmed.

And then finally they both slumped.

I had used a good bit of mana but I was still ready for more. I turned towards the drawbridge already hearing shouts coming from that way, and I tucked myself in the corner to hide. An ambush would be to my advantage.

"Find out who it is! Some fucking mage! Kill them!" The voice roared out and I could hear metal shifting, the drawbridge was lowered,

I leapt out before it was even finished dropping, honing the spell empowering it, I launched it.

The arc of electricity streamed out slamming into a bandit and sending him crumpling to the ground.

But I didn't hold it on him, One blast, then another against the other Bandit. He was shocked so much he fell down into the water below.

Perfect.

Saving mana I charged, The first man just starting to get up, I shocked him again with only one hand while drawing my Axe in the other. As he crumpled, I laid into him.

No Helmet.

Axe struck through bone even if it took a second strike.

I looked up. No one else was there yet. I turned and looked towards water boy.

He was still alive swimming towards land struggling with his armor, but seemingly making headway.

I shocked him as well. Just a brief one. But it worked amazingly, he spasmed, and dropped into the water. Started to struggle again, but I just sent another one second shock in and that somehow actually worked.

He twitched bubbles shot out of his throat, under the water.

Drowning.

I backed away from where the two had come from.

The clank of metal on stone and dirt charging down. A lot of metal and steel.

I wasn't empty of mana, but I wasn't anywhere near full either… I felt myself shivering from adrenaline. From the fight that had just come, and from the one that was coming.

It felt terrifying and amazing.

I waited. In the end I was lucky I had chosen to retreat, the first bandit that rounded the corner did so with a hunting bow drawn.

I yelped and ducked back as he fired practically instantly the arrow just chipping the rough stone I was hiding behind.

"Just one!" He yelled out.

A scout?

"Charge then!" A deeper voice roared and a man wearing real armor came out.

The armor was an eclectic mix, but I noticed some Imperial markings hidden under the furs.

Of course I noticed that because he was charging at me full tilt, with a shield and sword.

I attacked fully focused on ending that one threat. I blasted him with everything I had. The impact sent him stumbling but to my horror the shield was actually protecting him!
He held it in front of him and was slowly stepping into the burst of electricity I was launching at him…

I was running out of mana.

He had more than one guy and he wasn't stopping.

I turned and ran.

"What? Hey! Don't run! You wanted this!" He roared behind me, but I was not sticking around. I fled in a panic, turning back to the rising hallway that led out, I flubbed and leapt landing painfully as I had just avoided the tripwire…

The tripwire that led to a bunch of rocks…

I pulled out my axe, and as the mans sparking boots turned the corner I thunked the axe through the tripwire, while blasting him with just a trickle of electricity, just enough to keep him still.

"What? No!" He managed to cry out, unable to escape under my onslaught, just as multiple stones crashed down from above. One of them landed on his upraised shield crushing him down to the ground, and another then landed on his head…

He was dead.

I had done it.

Coughing from the dust that was kicked up I was just making it back to my feet when another bandit turned the corner.

I blasted him with everything I had left. Every drop of mana sent him recoiling back and slamming into the dirt, but he was still very much alive. I got up and ran.

Straight towards the entrance, my hands fumbling with the key as I jammed it in, opened the door into my room and fell tumbling onto my stone floor. I slammed the Armoire shut and pulled the key free.

Then I was there. Crouching in front of the armoire staring at it, like a monster was going to come through.

Nothing did.

I opened it just to make sure.

Just my Armoire…

I sat back uncaring of the cold stone and then just lay there for a while.

—--

"Victoria? You're not hungry?" Papa asked as he noticed me just pushing around my bread. I had headed out to break my fast with my family and had been lost in my head entirely.

"Oh no." I assured him, quickly biting into the meal. After chewing it down and swallowing I actually replied. "Just distracted Papa. Nothing to worry about."
He nodded even as he frowned at my continued use of the cutesy Papa, instead of Lord Father.

I had decided to get some food while I was still waiting for my Mana to recover, but I was still hyper focused on the battle I had fled from.

With my Mana recovered I knew I could finish it. I could. I wouldn't be afraid. Running away like I had was a tactical retreat! I mean, I couldn't save Skyrim from Alduin if I died to bandits!

Nodding at my thoughts I looked up and noticed that Papa was talking to Uncle Aurane.

"You'll handle it?"

"Aye. An easy trip. I'll keep my head down, worry not brother. I'm well aware of the King's temper. Besides, I'm just a bastard. He's unlikely to want to see me."

"Good." Papa added and I realized that Uncle was going to King's Landing!

"You are going to King's Landing Uncle?" I asked, and he sent me a smirk.

"Oh? Maybe it's a secret." He replied and I scoffed. Just because I hadn't told him about the sunken ship yet! Rude!

"Aurane is making a delivery to Kings Landing. It's the first shipment, and I want to make sure it goes well." Papa answered and Uncle Aurane actually sent him a pouting look at foiling his teasing.

I of course gave Papa a big smile for telling me, and let that smile turn into a smirk at Uncle.

Hehehe!

"I guess I won't bring my niece anything from Kings Landing then." He replied and I crinkled my nose.

"Kings Landing is kinda gross. I'm not sure I want anything from there."

Uncle snorted looking amused at Papa who was trying to hide a smile as well.

"I want to go!" Monty cheered from beside me. "Can I go? I want to see the knights!"

"Sorry nephew. There won't be any Knight viewing on this trip."

"Besides Monty, the only knight worth seeing is Ser Barristan and he is busy with the king." I told him, getting a firm nod from my little brother.

"When I grow up, I'll be a Knight like Ser Barristan too!" he told me, and I smiled even if I really wanted to hug and protect him from even trying.

Thankfully he was seven. It would be a few years long after all the nonsense with the War of the Five Kings before he got involved in it.

—--

Suited up I was ready. I stretched, making sure I was limber, and then opened the path back to Skyrim. I stopped only for a second, just long enough to take the key from the door and then started running.

I had left the archer zapped, but if he recovered enough he could shoot me!

I raced down the path, and found him rising up, with two other bandits both readying to chase after me.

"SHOCK!" I yelled, using the yell to startle the men as I let it all out.

Lightning crackled over all of them, zapping and striking. Their furs burned, with the men inside as the lightning slammed into them,

Then I let it go. Still charging and raised my Axe.

The three men were on the ground twitching and trembling from the power I had sent through them.

The Axe fell and I hissed as I yanked it out moving to the next one.

Killing was messy work.

The feel of bone giving under my axe. The jolt of it going up my arm. The knowledge of what a mans skull felt like giving in.

The twitch they had as their body died.

I did it until they were dead.

I had done it.

"Dead! The Boss is dead!" A voice yelped out, and I realized that another had turned the corner, my hand raised and lightning sparked off the stone as I sent him tumbling.

I charged in.

My Axe tasted another.

I moved on. This place wasn't empty, but I had cleared enough of them now. I crossed the drawbridge and through the prison cells.

Why did a Mine have prison cells? I realized a moment later, I didn't want confirmation, and I decided to pretend it wasn't a thing.

I moved on, and into a large room, with an actual forge.

"The hell!? Intruder!" A man cried out as he charged me. I bolted him as well, and he stumbled and screamed as he fell off the ledge we were on and tumbling into the area with the forge. It wasn't a large drop, but it was still lethal for the guy, landing badly while being electrocuted.

There were still more. Looking shocked. Heh. At my appearance.

"Hey!" I yelled out hand crackling. "Come and die already! I'm sick of hunting you fucks!" I yelled out, and instead of charging me, they charged away.

That's right. There was a rear entrance.

I gave chase, a few light blasts of electricity was enough to send them stumbling. The first died as I jumped on his back, gripping my axe in both hands I sunk it deep into the back of his spine.

The second raced ahead, and then as I made it to the rear entrance it was ajar.

He had escaped.

I looked around into the darkness for a while trying to see him or even hear where he went, but didn't see anything. I closed the door behind me as I turned to head back inside.

I would have to be careful in case he came back…

But the mine was clear.

Holy shit. I realized, as I looked around. I had done it.

"Yes!" I roared arms raised as I had done some fucking awesome adventure shit!

I could even feel the tingle in my soul, that told me I had leveled up again.

Hurrying back through the mine I reached the leader that I had crushed and started looting.

As I expected, he had a key, which I pushed into a pocket, but he also had some septims hidden away in a coin pouch.

So I started looting from there. Gathering anything I think could be valuable, including a second Steel Axe in a pile near one of the prison doors. I had checked, and with the Golden Dragon Key, it had in fact opened back to my Armoire.

So with that situated I looted everything I could get my grubby hands on.

The Bandit bosses key opened a small store room that had a big chest of loot, but more importantly there was a magic book on the table!

Grabbing it I looked it over and couldn't help but laugh.

It was Clairvoyance. I guess I wouldn't need to buy it from the Riverwood trader after all!

—---

I now had a coin pouch full of septims, and gems. A stack of Iron ingots, I had no idea what I was going to deal with, and plenty of weapons and some armor, even a book on Tamriel Light armor crafting, including information on Glass crafting!

All of which I was hiding in my room, which was guaranteed to get found considering how much stuff I had now trying and failing to hide it away.

I would have to find a place to store stuff in Skyrim, and soon.

Which… Probably meant it was time to head to Whiterun… To think. I might actually have to face a dragon…

It scared me. The idea honestly terrified me, and yet it excited me too.

I wanted it. To kill it. To see what it felt like to take in a Dragon Soul.

But for now I had finished looting the Embershard mine, even finding the hidden chest behind the waterfall.

I had much more gold to work with now.

Leaving the mine behind I hit the road and headed back towards Riverwood. It was late here, but I felt wide awake. I had only been up for a couple hours at this point.

The Skyrim night was… Wonderful. Ethereal, crisp and cold, and so very alive.

I now had a good shield on my back, and two Steel Axes on my hips. My Novice Robes were nice, but it did make me feel a bit too squishy. I might have to get some better armor soon.

I had switched out the shitty leather gloves for a set of actual Iron Gauntlets.

They were heavy, considering my low strength I should probably pick something else, but…

The Dragon Born was supposed to wear the Iron armor set…

Plus I liked the feeling of the armor on my arms.

Walking into Riverwood in the middle of the night wasn't too difficult, the guards inspected me as I passed, but I had gone out not long before, and so I wasn't stopped.

Instead of waking Alvors family, I simply headed to the Inn and settled in once more by the fire.

But this time with a new spell book.

I was practically grinning as I settled into a chair, paid a few septims to Orgnar the bartender as Delphine wasn't around, likely asleep, and started reading.

Clairvoyance was a much more difficult read for me.

For one it was far less direct. This wasn't a spell about forming some sort of energy out of mana and then launching it around. It involved the future, and the past, and the casters' desires, and it wouldn't work on things that were hidden, by some easy magics, and all sorts of other things.

I had a feeling I would struggle to cast the spell regardless until I leveled up my Illusion casting.

But, I read through the whole thing, and in the end, I was able to form the Spell Seed in my hand.

It fizzled more than half the time, even asking it to lead me to my cup that I set on the table in front of me, but it worked.

I hadn't quite reached another level, or else I would go to sleep. So instead since the book was read, I put it back in my Knapsack and thought about what to do next while staring into the fire.

I felt more confident, I could take out bandits now…

I finished my drink, and nodded to Orgnar as I headed back out into the night.

I cast Clairvoyance a few times, happy at least that the light from the spell was unseen from anyone but me. It only affected the caster once the spell was cast.

Turning I followed the light out of Riverwood, down the path I had been attacked by wolves before.

Towards Bleak Falls Barrow.

—--

There were no more wolf attacks thankfully. As I stomped farther and farther up the mountain I cursed Todd Howard.

"This isn't a short mountain path you fucking prick." The winding path up to the Barrow wasn't just one twist up the mountain, it was like six. And I was tired as fuck hiking even up the path…

Wait… I looked off, and even in the middle of the night the massive shape blocked out the northern lights…

The Throat of the World… Where the Greybeards lived… Wasn't it supposed to be the tallest mountain in Tamriel?

Was I going to have to climb the equivalent of Mt. Fucking EVEREST!?

"Fuck you. Fuck Skyrim. Fuckity fuck fuck." I cursed as I continued stomping looking away from that journey that I wasn't looking forward too. It was supposed to be cold as fuck too.

7000 steps right? Wasn't it only like 700 in the game?

Aw man. That sounded like a lot of fucking steps… Also that was only to High Hrothgar and the actual throat went higher…

Being an Adventurer kinda sucked sometimes huh?

I continued my hike trying to remember if there were any doors along the path to High Hrothgar. Taking breaks in my room would be nice…

I don't think there were.

My irritation was put on hold as I turned a corner up the path and saw light ahead.

That's right. The watchtower. I quieted my steps as best I could as I continued to approach, but then stopped.

My legs were tired. I was still stomping on each step.

Should I stop? Rest first? I breathed in and out in the quiet night for a few moments. No, no long rests. I took a minute on the side of the road to stretch my legs and be more comfortable, but I was doing this now.

Then I was ready and I continued walking. I was quieter, but still not quiet as I approached, and I wasn't surprised to hear a call come out.

"Hey! That you Harknir? It's late as fuck you twit what are you-" The door opened as I approached, the lamp fire revealed inside the little tower, and the Nord man at the door blinking in surprise at the sight of me.

He got launched back with a full force blast, and I charged in. The first section was empty besides him, and I raced up the stairs, nothing on that level, but I could hear shouts from above. The next section was a really treacherous ledge of wood hanging out over nothing.

Not even a railing to save yourself from falls. Osha will remember this.

I turned up as a Bandit in his small clothes came rushing out with an large Axe.

A full blast of electricity sent him tumbling right down the wooden slats, and then rolling off the edge.

I didn't have to look over the ledge to see where he went. He was dead.

"Bjorn!" A voice called out as another bandit, this one wearing armor cried out and turned to glare at me.

I blasted him, but once again a shield was raised. Electricity sparked and popped all around the man as he held it off, and I stopped wasting my mana as soon as I realized it wasn't working.

"Fucking Mage! I'm going to tear your legs off for that!"

"Come down here and say that to my face!" I yelled back, as confidently as I could portray. I should run. I should run, I should survive!

And then the perfect chance happened. A man stepped out behind shield guy.

It all came together, I sent a second blast of electricity stopping the shielded bandit in his tracks as he went to defend, but the electricity curved striking the other bandit behind him for a moment.

He jerked and spasmed, lost his footing, and tumbled forward, right into the back of Shield guy.

I let everything out. Right at shield guy as his footing was broken as his shield was no longer in position, and both men, screamed and jerked as they went right over the ledge…

This time I took a second to peek.

Watching as they fell… And fell… And fell.. Then landed.

Yeah they were dead.

I looked back up and waited. Was there another? I didn't hear anything and slowly I allowed myself to creep up the wooden slats, wincing every time they creaked. Old wood over an unfathomable drop wasn't where I wanted to be. I continued on into the sleeping area? Living area? It was a large section, with a few in a corner to keep them warm, barrels full of some food and things and no one else.

I continued carefully up until I reached the very tip of the watch tower.

Empty.

I had done it.

I headed back down into the living area and flopped down next to the fire. The warmth of the flame calmed my nerves.

That… That had been crazy,

—---

I still felt okay to continue and so after a while sitting around and waiting for my mana to return, I continued up the mountain. Higher I went, the snow crunching under my feet, although I noticed there were footsteps in the snow.

I wasn't the only person who had traveled this path, which of course wasn't a surprise.

I continued on, mana recovered, and ready for battle. Upwards I went until I came over a rise, and saw it. Bleak Falls Barrow. I rose out of the snow like the corpse of an ancient beast. But it was the fires lit around the entrance that held my attention. I ducked down, despite being right out in the open, with the falling moon lighting me, I waited to look before rushing for cover.

I didn't see any shadows around the place. I could only hope that it was cold enough, any guards would hang around the fires for warmth.

I worked out one of my Axes and slunk forward. Wincing at the noise my feet made in the snow. I managed to reach the steps and hunkered down, listening for noises.

This early on, there wasn't any chatter, and as I climbed up I could see just two people outside the Barrow. Both near the entrance hugging close to a Brazier.

The night watch…

I rose up and stalked closer, trying to remain silent, but honestly? I needed a new pair of boots these were fucking busted. I felt like every step I made scratched the ground or caught on something.

It wasn't a surprise to me that before I made it to the second arch they had heard something.

So instead I rushed them.

Shock in one hand, and Axe in the other. I had learned some tricks to this spell by now. Keeping it to one casting still sent people into fits as if they were being tazed, and I rushed them both ignoring their grunted shouts.

One man took my Axe directly to the throat, and as I pulled I found it stuck.

Keeping up Shock in the other, I let the Axe go, and grabbed my second Axe and thunked it solidly into the skull of the second sentry.

Then I pulled both weapons free as quickly as I could and ran into the shadows behind the pillars.

I had barely gotten myself hidden, when the door opened, and a Bandit came out.

Then another..

And more.

Fuck.

Four. Three looked rather ill equipped, but one had a good Steel Axe just like mine, and seemed to be giving orders.

I charged.

They would find me eventually, and if they were split up, there was danger that they could pull a bow or just harry me until I was out of mana. Instead as I charged out of the shadows one hand shooting lightning they all got struck, two of them took most of it, leaving the others flinching and jerking from the electricity, but that was all I needed.

My bloodied Axe slammed into the shoulder of one of the bandits which I ripped out even as I shifted my Shock spell trying to keep the Bandits away.

"Mage! Don't let him cast!" Roared the boss guy and he made to do just that. Charging straight at me right through the lightning.

I yelped, as he swung, desperately trying to put my axe in between his axe and my squishy insides. I managed it, but couldn't hope to stop the blow. My wrist twisted painfully and the side of my axe slammed into my chest, but at least the blade didn't cut me.

But that didn't mean it didn't hurt. I was sent rolling backwards on the hard stone and nearly falling off the drop into the snow below.

But my Shock spell had cut out as I was thrown away, my concentration squashed.

"Kill her! Don't let her get away!" The leader roared urging his men on, and I realized I was in deep shit.

One of the men charged me, and I reacted by throwing out a Shock. The move was instinct, I didn't even think of it. The electricity came as a surprise to him as well. It caused him to spasm and lose his footing as he charged forward.

He went flying off the edge past me, and I heard him curse as he landed in the snow below.

The other two charged, and I turned and jumped.

My move must have shocked them, because a moment later when I hit the snow, I was able to get up and look to see both men looked down on me. I looked around finding the other bandit already rising up, and I instantly shocked him realizing I lost my first axe in the fall. I grabbed the second but fumbled it.

My wrist was fucked.

I canceled the spell and grabbed the axe with my left hand and slammed it down onto the twitching man. Then again.

Looking up the bandits were gone.

I struggled with the pouches on my hips, finally pulling a health potion free and chugging it down.

Instantly I felt better. My right hand flexing a bit to test it out. Good to go.

Healing magic was the best thing ever, and I needed to learn Restoration right away.

But I was in battle, and I couldn't stand here I charged. I could hear the stomping of boots above and ahead, and I readied my spell, this time dual casting it.

As the boss came down the stairs and saw me. I blasted him.

This time he didn't just charge through it. The Imperial man screamed as he rode the lightning.

Then everything spun, and I blinked, staring down into the snow.

What?

Pain. Pain. Pain!

I gasped, feeling faint as I rose up and stared at the arrow in my chest.

Oh.

Ooooh.

Ow. Ow ow!

"Got the bitch! Hah!" The second bandit had done exactly what I feared.

Arrows hurt. This is important information for me to process and study later. They really really really hurt.

I gathered what I could and sent a second Dual cast into the Archer he screamed and dropped out of sight on the landing above me.

Struggling with weakening fingers I grasped at my pouch for another potion, I needed! I needed!

"Not so fast." A voice harsh and sinister spoke as hands rough and calloused grabbed my hands. The bandit leader grinned down at me.

I readied to cast, but a moment later I was screaming. He had grabbed the arrow and twisted!

HURT PAIN OW!

"You sure caused me a lot of trouble." He rumbled, and I could see his face looked a little charred from the lightning. "I'm going to enjoy this. You won't though." He told me. And I considered what I could do here.

The Bandit noticed my eyes trying to think of something, and then his fist was cocked back.

—---

I blinked. I was sleeping.

The Constellations blinked down at me. I was asleep? Oh no. I had to wake up now!

I realized I had leveled up though. No time to think. Everything into Intelligence. Everything into Destruction… No, I don't have time for perk selection!

Spell Surge. Sure, great! I picked it and completed it. Wake up!

—--

I gasped, I was being dragged by my hands,they were tied together painfully, and everything hurt for a moment. My face, my body, my shoulder most of all.

"Awake? Heh, tough little mage are we-"

Then it didn't hurt. I had leveled. I could feel my wounds stop hurting. The pain fading away as I healed.

My shoulder still ached, with the arrow still stuck in it.

My hands were tied and being held as I was dragged by the rope between them.

My hands. Were tied. Together.

I let it all out. My mana felt fuller than ever before and I pumped everything I could into the Spell Seeds that instantly grew between my palms.

The Bandit dragging me had a single moment to shriek before he was blown away by the force of the lightning striking him.

I felt my mana drop precipitously.

Spell Surge I knew. I knew how to do it, and I had. It was exactly what it sounded like. Pour more mana in, and while it wasn't efficient you could enhance the power of spells.

I hit the ground on my back and tried to rise, but my feet were bound as well.

"Fuck! Again? That's it! I'll kill you this time!" A man roared ahead.

The Bandit boss.

I turned and he was charging. Axe gleaming in the moonlight.

He hadn't seen what I had done. How much power I had pumped out.

The boss thought he could charge through whatever spell I hit him with. Thought his toughness would see him through, and a Health potion after would have him right as rain.

The lance of electricity was more Lightning Bolt than Shock as I dumped everything I had left into the spell.

He stopped charging. Stopped moving forward at all. In fact I watched as he went very much in reverse.

The spell didn't last long. My mana burned out within moments, but that was it. I was left breathing gasping for air as I stared and hoped and maybe prayed to both the Seven, and the Nine.

But as I slowly realized he wasn't moving. I crawled forward painfully, desperately trying to get something to cut my ropes. The first Bandit had my stuff on him, and with a bit of struggle my hands were freed. I didn't bother with my feet. I had more important worries.

An arrow. In me. Inside. Sticking out.

IT HURT.

I fumbled the potion bottle three times before managing it and as I brought it up to my lips I grabbed the arrow and pulled.

"FUC-GHUGH!" I screamed, choking on the potion as I cursed.

Laying on the freezing stone I lay there for a while. Just breathing, because breathing meant I was alive.

Slowly I managed to get up. I walked over to the corpse of the boss and just started kicking the corpse over and over until finally I was too tired to do it anymore.

That… That had sucked.

—--

I looted the bodies despite feeling like I should be worse off than I was, my body felt strong and sure.

Healing potions were a hell of a drug.

Plenty of coin patches, and weapons were gathered up and I brought them to the entrance to the Barrow. The stupid door didn't have a keyhole, so I could use it to go home. I checked inside, and the small camp the Bandits had made was empty.

It also had a chest. A big wooden one. It was locked, but the leader had a key so I popped it open, snapping up more gold, another healing potion, and a Steel Ingot for some reason. Once it was empty I closed it, pushed the key inside and slipped through back to my room.

Space went a bit curvy, but I landed on my feet outside the Armoire, and then shut it tight pulling the golden key out.

I stared at my room, that seemed for a moment completely foreign to me.

Feeling off, I dropped my gear, only just managing to push it all into a corner to hide it, and I slipped into bed. It might have been just after breakfast, but I was tired. Too tired for this shit.

—--

Thankfully no one reacted to my nap. It was odd enough to sleep in my room during the day, that the maids hadn't even come to find me in my room, thinking I was hiding somewhere else.

I would have to remember I could hide in my room to avoid them.

Waking up before the sun set, I headed for the hall to eat dinner. Of course having skipped all my lessons for the day I was questioned.

"Victoria. You were missing today."

"I was resting in my room Papa." I answered truthfully. "I wasn't feeling very well, I had bad dreams, so I took a nap… I feel better now." I explained as I was served food, and I dug in.

"If you're sick, Niece, you should see the Maester." Uncle Aurane offered, but I shook my head.

"I'm okay!" I would have to be more careful from now on. I didn't want anyone to know what I was up to.

"Hmm. Perhaps a trip will suit you?" Papa asked as I had my mouth full of yummy bread and I paused nearly choking on it, as I looked over.

Papa was of course not pleased with my manners, so I hastily swallowed and cleared my throat.

"A trip?"

"Aurane is going to Kings Landing, like I told you this morning.. You'll join him for the trip." Papa explained and I gaped.

What? Why!?

"Yes Papa."

"Good." Papa said, happy at my acceptance. It was expected after all, but I wouldn't be me without pushing.

"Can I ask why you want me to go?"

Papa looked me over before smiling like he had a surprise for me. "There is a meeting with house Florent regarding a betrothal. You will be meeting the family to see if they wish to go through with it."

I went very still.

It had been a year since the last time Papa had it in his head to try and marry me off, and it hadn't gone well.

"Papa…" I trailed off, knowing that arguing about it directly was pointless. "Who?"

"Merrel Florren. A squire at the moment. Serving Ser Hobber of House Redwyne if memory serves. He's a year older than you." I didn't want this, but Papa continued without noticing. "He'll have strong ties to the Arbor, a good connection for us to have for obvious reasons."

"The Redwyne's fleet."

"Indeed. And Lord Stannis's wife, Selyse is a Florrent. Gaining a familiar connection will increase our standing. I've heard good things about Merrell. Aurane will be there to ensure he is suitable." Papa offered, and I wanted to both yell and at least be relieved.

Papa could have just not cared whether Merrell was a good person or not…

Either way it was gross. I didn't want to marry some random guy.

My decision was made right in that moment. I wouldn't allow this Betrothal to go through…

But at least I had enough respect for Papa to bring it to his attention first.

"I don't… I don't know if this will work Papa." I explained and he nodded.

"I am aware you are headstrong. But you need to marry eventually. I'll do my best to find you a good noble lord. Victoria, do not attempt to disrupt the meeting. Aurane will ensure you do not." I winced as Uncle Aurane smirked at me.

It sucked when in Westerosi culture making sure I was married was considered a good thing, even if it wasn't something I wanted. I remained quiet. I don't know if I could accept that order. If I did, at least I would have access to gold and my own path.

I would go to King's Landing. I would go to this meeting, but I would tell the Florents outright that I had no interest in this betrothal if I had to.

A bastard refusing a betrothal to a lord? The insult would instantly end the offer and cause no end of trouble I knew.

Stannis, our liege lord, would likely hear no end of it from his wife.

This whole thing was going to be a disaster. This I knew, but I couldn't just roll over and accept it.

At least there was one good thing about this. Going to King's Landing was something I wanted. There might be a Valyrian Steel Sword in the old Dragonpit.

And I had Clairvoyance. If nothing else, finding it, whether I kept it or not would be enough to blunt any anger over me refusing a betrothal.

"We leave tomorrow niece. Pack well." Uncle Aurane ordered and I nodded. The maids would help, but mostly it would be up to me.

But, there was a problem. I needed a place to hide my stuff in Skyrim, before I could leave, otherwise someone might go into my room to clean and find everything.

So before morning rises over Driftmark I needed a place to stay in Skyrim.

I finished my meal in silence, likely taken as sullen silence by everyone, but that was fine. Better they think that than realize the truth.

Plotting and planning.