Lost and Found

❝ You look like someone who can hold their liquor. How about a friendly contest? ❞ ❝ I’d love to help you, truly, but I’m too busy cleaning up your mess! ❞ ❝ You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here. What do you have to say for yourself? ❞ ❝ You really don’t remember stealing a goat and selling her to a Giant? Are you thick? ❞ ❝ Look, I’ve been patient, but you still owe me. ❞ ❝ Darling! I’ve been waiting for you to return…so we can consummate our love! ❞ ❝ Sorry it didn’t work out between you and ____. I know you were excited for the wedding. ❞ ❝ You’re here! I was beginning to think you weren’t going to make it! ❞ ❝ I haven’t been so entertained in years! ❞ ❝ Get a hold of yourself! I promise you, they’re just dreams. ❞ ❝ We’re in serious danger, but there’s so little that I can do about it… ❞ ❝ I’ve said too much. If anyone overhears what I’m saying, it could start a panic. ❞ ❝ I won’t lie to you, there is risk involved in this… ❞ ❝ I swear I’ll do everything in my power to prevent harm from befalling you. ❞ ❝ We must remain here and guard this place…with our lives, if necessary. ❞ ❝ You’re a traitor. You left me here to die. ❞ ❝ Is this punishment for my past? Is it your will to torment me so? ❞ ❝ One day, I’ll tear your face apart so that you leave me alone. ❞ ❝ I’ve been waiting for someone as fit as you to carry out my will. ❞ ❝ Your world is admirably steeped in lies and inclinations. ❞ ❝ Sometimes the world can only be cleansed by disease. ❞ ❝ I have been watching you for quite some time. The decisions you make intrigue me. ❞   ❝ I will not stand for betrayal. I want you to kill ____ , in my name.❞ ❝ Your betrayal will be punished, and your obedience will be rewarded. ❞ ❝ An empty pocket is better than a full grave. We should leave. ❞ ❝ I feel the hunger inside you. Gnawing at you. ❞ ❝ It’s alright. I will not shun you for what you are. ❞ ❝ You’ve found a friend who understands you. You can let go of your guilt. ❞ ❝ Why don’t you lay down and rest while I get the meal ready? ❞ ❝ I knew when you walked into this place that you were special. ❞ ❝ Follow me and keep your eyes open. You never know what we might find. ❞ ❝ Fool! Did you think I would so easily reward you? ❞ ❝ I want you to bend your knee and give me your soul. ❞ ❝ Are you here to kill me? To slay me, while I sit here tired and helpless? ❞ ❝ Ah, you mortals and your frail, limp, pathetic bodies. ❞ ❝ When your enemies lie broken and bloodied before you, know that I will be watching. ❞ ❝ Who sent you? Was it ____? We agreed there would be no more questions. ❞ ❝ You are nothing. An empty vapour dispersed by the slightest breeze. ❞ ❝ You have caught my attention. That is most unwise… ❞ ❝ You have proven the strength of your will and your tongue’s gift for lies. ❞   ❝ Are you able to cast aside your honour and strike with the hidden blade? ❞ ❝ I will not give you the dignity of defending yourself. ❞ ❝ You have earned my respect, a feat few manage and live to tell about. ❞   ❝ Why don’t you come in? I have a job you’d be perfect for! ❞ ❝ I don’t declare a winner whilst there is still a pawn on the board. ❞ ❝ You’ve been a worthy tool. Fill the world with destruction in my name. ❞ ❝ What’s your heart’s desire? What kind of deal can we strike? ❞ ❝ It seems a shame to give away a weapon like this, doesn’t it? ❞ ❝ You forget how nice supreme power feels when you’ve been stuck in a cave for years. ❞ ❝ It’s a shame you wished for something so dull…A lack of imagination on your part. ❞ ❝ A lack of ambition like yours really should be punished. ❞   ❝ Your free will is an illusion. ❞ ❝ We cannot carry on this way! We’re doomed if we don’t do something! ❞ ❝ I have no wish to depend upon a stranger, but I have no choice. ❞ ❝ You’re weak, you’re small, and you’re an embarrassment. ❞ ❝ You’re always trying to scheme yourself out of responsibility. ❞ ❝ Your deceitful ways have cost everyone dearly. ❞ ❝ A new day is dawning…and you shall be its herald. ❞ ❝ This wasn’t anything I intended to do, believe me, I just…lost control. ❞ ❝ There’s no purpose in keeping secrets if we’re going to die here anyway. ❞ ❝ I feel the animal inside me, stronger than ever. ❞ ❝ Why does everyone ignore me? Why will no-one help me? ❞   ❝ You are far too hard on yourself, my dear. ❞ ❝ What would people do without you? Dance? Sing? Smile? ❞ ❝ Have you any idea where you are? Where you truly are? ❞ ❝ I’m finally ready to love myself…and continue hating everyone else. ❞ ❝ I find everyone being out to get you so terribly entertaining. ❞ ❝ You wield fear like a cleaver. ❞ ❝ The trouble you can get into while I’m gone simply boggles my mind. ❞

‘‘M not touching it. ‘S your turn now.’

‘Huh. Thought that might get us somewhere. D’you see anything that’s changed?’

Then she pulled out a small flask from her bag and took a long swig, wincing as she swallowed it down. She held it out to Frithjofr. “Want a swig? It’s Rotmeth, very hard to come by here. Just don’t drink too much… it’ll warm your insides up but it will muddle your head too.”

‘What is Rotmeth, anyway? Apart from a Bosmer thing.’ He paused, considering the bottle and the general reputation of Valenwood’s cuisine. The aftermath of something simultaneously sweet, spiced and exceedingly strong burned on his tongue. After a moment he added, ‘Uh. Is it safe for Nords?

“Hmm.. you may trust a feeling only if that feeling comes from a Bosmer.” She flashed a teasing grin at him. “We are skilled hunters you know… and besides, I have a map!” A light chuckle, as she pulled out a rolled parchment and opened it, then her eyes scanned the horizon. She pointed. “See that bit of smoke? The tower rising up? Winterhold is over that way. It seems a bit far off, I don’t think the driver dropped us where he was supposed to… but, if we follow in this direction, past this mine…” her finger traced along the map as she spoke “I think we will be in the right area. It’ll take a while though. Probably need to camp out before too long.”

‘Bosmer might be good at feelings, but Nords’re good at snow,’ he said. ‘‘S more important, when you think about it. Being lost doesn’t matter, but dying of cold does. This’ll keep you warm, though. Don’t worry. ‘S only got a few chicken feathers in it.’

“Ah, excuse me sir?” Nor calls out, the Argonian features shifting into a light smile. He knew well how easily his face could show his irritation, so no sense making the other think he was angry with them. “Perhaps you could help me. I’m meeting a person in a particular spot, but I am having some difficulties locating said spot. Are you any good with directions, by chance?”

‘Kind of depends what you mean by “good”,’ he said cautiously. ‘Me and directions’ve got a funny sort of relationship. I like ‘em, and I’ve heard a lot of ‘em, but they never seem to work for me.’

Before heading to the road, Luth stopped by her house to get more supplies. She packed light, bringing only essentials like armor, her bow, a canteen of water, several poisons in small little bottles. All the things she normally took on trips. It was all carefully arranged in her lightweight satchel, and her bow slung across her back. She adjusted it as she made her way out of the city towards the wagon.

‘Which way now, d’you think? I’m thinking that way.’ He poked a finger towards a frosty bush. ‘I got a good feeling about that way, ‘n you can always trust a feeling.’

A moment of hesitation followed as she worried that her compliment might encourage him to rush into danger under the impression that a suit of armor would replace years of training. She gave him a serious look, brow furrowed, hands on her hips. “But I still want you to be extra careful, and don’t get into any fight that can be avoided. Understand?”

'Now let's go. We got a shrine to find.'