Chapter Text
The thing about sawmills, which Lydia had underestimated, is they are terribly loud. The few times she'd been to Riverwood before, she hadn't gone past the front gates, let alone gotten so close to the damn thing. Kirste's claims of still hearing the mill in her dreams now seemed entirely plausible. Lydia only let herself enjoy the memory for a moment, then dismissed it before it could turn sour. At the foot of the mill, just across a small wooden bridge, a familiar wood elf was hard at work. He set his axe aside to wipe his brow, and Verza took that moment to make her presence known.
"Scare off many dragons with that axe?" she called, startling the man. At the sight of the orc woman approaching, a wide smile split across his face.
"Hardly," Faendal called back. "This old thing can barely split a log, let alone anything that grand!"
Once Verza (and Lydia, shortly behind) crossed the small bridge, Faendal abandoned his work to greet her. They clasped forearms, then pulled into a short hug, much like they did the night they parted back in Whiterun. When they parted, Faendal was still smiling, but with a confused look in his eyes.
"What brings you back to Riverwood, my friend? Surely this isn't a social visit," he said. Verza shrugged.
"Don't see why it can't be that, too. But you're right, we're just passing through on the way to Ivarstead."
At the word "we", Faendal seemed to finally notice Lydia standing a few steps behind Verza. He raised a hand to her in greeting.
"Yes, the Housecarl. Lydia, was it?" Lydia nodded curtly. "I- wait, Ivarstead ? You're going to see the Greybeards?" Faendal turned back to Verza in surprise. Verza stepped back with a nervous chuckle.
"Yeah, figured I've kept them waiting long enough, might as well see what they want," she said. "Anyway! I'd hate to keep you from your work for too long, want to catch up over dinner?"
Faendal smiled at the invitation. "Of course, my friend. I should be finished here in an hour or so."
Lydia turned back to observe the small town while her Thane and Faendal hashed out the finer details of their evening plans. In the afternoon light, it all felt a bit nostalgic. Two children and a dog chased each other down the central road through town and disappeared behind well-worn buildings. A few other residents made their way through town, finishing up their work for the day or preparing for evening chores. Life here was slower than in the city, idyllic almost. It was everything she'd left behind to begin training in Whiterun.
She glanced back just as Faendal returned to his work. Verza started back down the bridge, falling in line to walk side by side with Lydia.
As soon as they entered the Riverwood Trader, the Imperial man behind the counter called out in greeting. The counter before him was cluttered with merchandise, and most conspicuously placed was what appeared to be a golden statue of a clawed paw.
"Verza! What brings you back 'round here? Heard you got a fancy title-"
The woman sweeping in the corner rushed to take up the spotlight of Verza's attention, cutting off the man speaking in the process.
"Verza, how wonderful to see you again! Is it true the Jarl made you a Thane?"
Verza smiled warmly at the two shopkeepers. "Hey Camilla. Lucan. Yeah, the Thane thing is true, but it still feels weird to think about," she laughed.
The woman, presumably Camilla, pulled Verza out of the doorway and deeper into the small store.
"Fancy title or no, you'll always be welcome here," Lucan said. He glared at Camilla as he spoke, but she was too focused on Verza to notice.
"Yes, you can come visit us any time," Camilla said. "Would you like a drink? It feels like ages since you left for the city-"
Verza gently shook out of Camilla's grip and shifted towards Lucan and the counter. "Thanks, but we can't stay for long. I just wanted to see if you had something, then we need to go."
At the first mention of "we", both Lucan and Camilla finally noticed Lydia standing silently by the front door. Verza spoke quietly with Lucan, describing what she was looking for. Lydia felt curiosity bubble up at the apparent secrecy her Thane suddenly adopted, but couldn't linger on the feeling for long as Camilla breezed over.
"You traveled here with Verza?" she asked, and Lydia nodded curtly. Camilla crossed her arms and observed her critically. "What are you, some kind of servant?"
Lydia pursed her lips, but didn't rise to the bait otherwise. She bowed her head slightly, then replied "I am the Housecarl Lydia, sworn to Thane Verza's service when she received her title." Lydia glanced at the counter where her Thane and Lucan still spoke. Lucan had a few tomes laid out on the counter, but Verza shook her head at all of them.
Camilla seemed to relax a bit at Lydia's explanation. "I see, so you are a servant."
Lydia smiled coldly at the woman. "It would be more accurate to say I am a bodyguard of sorts, though I couldn't expect an Imperial to understand all the minutiae of my position."
Camilla huffed, but Lucan and Verza's conversation suddenly picked up in volume.
"I'm sorry we didn't have what you wanted today," Lucan said. "I'll keep an eye out for it, though. Check back in if you're ever in town again. Who knows, maybe I'll get my hands on one for you."
Verza reached over the counter to shake Lucan's hand. "Don't put yourself out for my sake, I'm sure one'll turn up somewhere." Verza turned to Lydia. "Ready to head out? I'm starving."
Lydia nodded. Camilla clapped her hands together. "Why not stay here and have dinner with us? I have some delicious rabbit stew warming upstairs-"
"Now Camilla you know we have more work to do down here. Don't go leaving it all to me just so you can play innkeep."
Camilla's cheeks flushed an angry red. "That is not what I was doing and you know it!"
Verza silently ushered Lydia out the front door while the siblings continued bickering.
"Don't mind them, you know how siblings can be," Verza chuckled once they were outside. Lydia hummed noncommittally. She didn't have much personal experience with having siblings, so she could neither agree nor disagree.
"They both seem to like you," she said instead. Verza laughed more openly at that.
"Yeah, I guess so. Did you see that golden claw on the counter with Lucan?"
Lydia snorted. "It was hard to miss."
"Hah, well, it got stolen sometime before I came to Riverwood. Faendal and I got that back for them a while back." Verza glanced over her shoulder as they walked, an amused glint in her eye. "It's a long story, though. Probably best told over drinks or dinner."
"I will have to take your word for it, then."
The rest of the evening passed in relative peace. Faendal caught up with them as they ordered dinner, and Lydia was content to leave her Thane and the wood elf to their conversation. As the evening dragged on, and the conversation turned to Verza's mission, Faendal's mood sobered.
"Be careful passing by Helgen," he warned. Verza tensed minutely at his words. "Some bandits took over the town's ruins after I returned from Whiterun. They haven't bothered us in town yet, but I saw them while hunting a few days ago."
Lydia broke her self-imposed silence. "Have you sent word to the Jarl?"
Faendal waved his hand in assent. "Of course, but I don't think there's much he can do. We're too close to the border."
Lydia nodded in understanding, but her Thane scowled into her drink.
"I'll never understand all of that border and politics stuff, it's too complicated. If there's a problem, just fix it. Who cares what the other Jarls think?"
Faendal sighed and reached out to pat her on the arm. "If only it were that simple, my friend. Regardless, take care out there."
Verza nodded, staring solemnly into her drink. Soon after, Faendal excused himself for the night and wished them safe travels once again. With her own meal finished as well, Lydia made to turn in for the night. As she stood, her Thane suddenly downed the last of her drink and stood.
"Lydia," she said, "I want to clear out those bandits."
Lydia blinked, not surprised by her Thane's desire but the rather abrupt manner in which she stated it. Verza stared down at her own clenched fists, another oddity in her behavior. As far as Lydia had seen, her Thane faced each challenge with an almost arrogant determination. If she didn't know better, she'd say Verza looked a bit nervous.
"I understand, my Thane, truly," Lydia said. "However, we have very little information on their numbers or strength, and any group that can take over an entire ruined town, even a small one, are sure to have one or both on their side. Without reinforcements, it would be near suicide to take them all on."
Verza nodded along as Lydia spoke. For a moment, Lydia thought her Thane might actually make the wise decision to perform reconnaissance (or the even wiser decision to leave the bandit camp to the Jarls). Alas, Verza's face broke into an excited grin that Lydia recognized from their first outing a fortnight ago.
"Oh, I have a great idea!"
Lydia wasn't sure who to be more concerned for, themselves or the bandits.