Let me start at the beginning....
After finishing last night's journal entry, I headed back out into Solitude in search of the blacksmith. The innkeeper's directions were good and I arrived just before he closed.
The owner of the blacksmith shop was Beirand, a nice man with enough muscles to lift the forge over his head, if he wanted to. I introduced myself and said that I needed some armor and weaponry. After much discussion about how much septums I could afford and where I was going, I finally decided on some simple leather goods. Beirand advised that these would be good until I "stumbled" across something better, whatever that meant.
Of course, if my mother ever saw me in this outfit, she'd KILL me!
I couldn't find any weapons that I really liked so I decided to stay with the old sword Pa sent with me. It wasn't much but it would be good in protecting me for now.
As I settled into my bed at the inn, I wondered what sort of interesting adventures I would get into on Day 2 of my new life.
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I was up and out of the inn by 5:30 the next morning. The innkeeper waved as I passed by, "Have a good trip, miss. Should we expect you back tonight?"
"Probably not," I replied.
"Well, just remembered - you're always welcomed back at the Winking Skreever."
As I walked towards the city gate, I couldn't help but marvel at the number of people up at such an early hour. What do all of these people do this early in the morning?
The city guard tipped his hat as I approached his spot next to the gate, "Morning, ma'am. Heading out?"
"Yes, I am."
"Stay safe," he said as he opened the gate for me, "There are all sorts of dangerous people out there."
His words would weigh heavily on my mind for the rest of the day.
As I exited the gate, I noticed a traveling caravan sitting just outside. Three Khajiit stood around the fire, discussing sales and soldiers. At first I was going to walk on by, but then I decided to stop and see what they had in the way of weaponry. The blacksmith had had a horrible inventory. I could only home that the traders had something better.
They went silent as I approached. After the usual greetings, we got down to business, discussing their wares. After a few minutes of thought, I finally decided on a two-handed warhammer that I could pick up and swing easily. Though my father taught me how to use a sword, it was the neighbor's boy, Huey, that taught me how to swing a large hammer so hard, it would make even the largest elm tree shudder. I paid for the hammer and headed off, following the signs towards Dragon Bridge.
Ten minutes later, just as I was beginning to see the rooftops of the town peeking up through the greenery, a bosmer stepped out of the trees.
"Good morning," he greeted me, "You look weary. I have something to help you relax, if you're interested."
I took a step back, not sure what was going on, "What?"
He glanced around to make sure we were alone and then pulled a handful of bags out of his pocket, "The finest skooma, the sweetest moon sugar. At a fair price, of course."
I stared at his hands and then back at his face. I had heard of skooma before but had never been approached by anyone selling it. I was surprised he was so brazen.
"This doesn't sound so legal...." I started to reply.
"Ah, a snitch, eh? Can't have you running to any guards now, can I?"
And then he attacked me!
This guy had to be higher than a kite because he dropped everything in his hands and started waling on me with his fist, and let me tell you, he could hit hard. I had no other choice than to defend myself. I pulled my warhammer off of my back and swung at him.
It took a couple good hits before he slumped to the ground. I checked his pulse - he was dead.
I hadn't been off of the boat for even 24 hours and I had already killed something! But he attacked me! I had no choice...it was either him or me...right?
I quickly stripped his body of anything useful, tossed his supply of skooma into the forest, and rolled his body off into the bushes. I could only hope that a bear or another scavenger would come along and "take care" of him. Once things were taken care of, I turned and ran down the road towards Dragon Bridge, hoping to leave that mess far far behind.
So, here I sit in Dragon Bridge's one tavern, Four Shields Tavern, drinking a glass of ale and trying to get my hands to stop shaking. Breath, Patrycia, breath....it's going to be okay. It was self defense. Anyway - no one was around. You'll be fine.
And still, I can't help but wonder what in the hell am I doing? Is becoming a bard so important that I forget who I really am?!!??!
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