Elda Early-Dawn sighed in exasperation as that woman and her dogs walked into the Candlehearth Hall. Candles, books, and furniture went flying as her shaggy ruffians woofed their way after her. An eye twitching, Elda called after Susanna to go clean up the mess.
“If she weren’t the Dragonborn, I swear.” She muttered to herself.
“Dragonborn?” Captain Lonely-Gale questioned, sounding a little excited. He had just stepped into the hall, missing her entrance.
“Probably off looking for Ralof. I told her, he’s not been in for a week, but she and those darn dogs went on up anyway.”
Taking the stairs two at a time, Captain Lonely-Gale left Elda muttering to herself.
Finding her at a table, no Ralof around, his heart leapt. Walking towards her, he slowed down, wondering what he was doing.
Before he could chicken out and turn around, she looked up at him and smiled.
“Captain, how are you, come sit with me.” she said joyfully, taking in his well kempt appearance. His long dark hair, combed and tied at his neck, his clothes fine and clean.
He sat down awkwardly, patting Meeko then Barbas on the head. Meeko gave a happy woof and Barbas just stared at him reprovingly. Pulling his hand back, he saw her looking at him, amused.
“Ralof not here yet?” He asked, kicking himself, making his knowledge of her patterns so obvious. Looking around, he saw Viola narrowing her eyes at him and he quickly turned back, missing her glare she shot at his companion.
“No, Ulfric told me he sent him away with his troops. Looks like I’m at a loss for companionship tonight.” She laughed. “Thankfully, you have come to regale me of your seafaring days.”
His deep blue eyes, crinkled, thinking about the storms and pirates that he and his crew had weathered. Then his smile fell and his eyes saddened, thinking about his lost family.
She placed her smaller, warm hand comfortingly on his, turning his sad eyes back to her and from the past. She gave him a gentle smile and he slowly returned it.
“I’m sure you have at least one story out of a lifetime at sea.” She said encouragingly.
Smiling, the light coming back to his eyes, he launched into a tale about when his ship drifted to close to a herd of Horkers in springtime. She laughed as he told her how they barely made it away from the angry beasts of blubber, the ship limping its way back to Windhelm only for the wind to push them all the way to Solstheim.
Her eyes widened and she gasped, when he told her how they almost beached themselves on that foreboding island. Susanna came and left two ales of mead as Luaffyn began playing the flute. Drinking slowly, she asked questions here and there as he described their escape from raiders and Rieklings.
The fire popped and crackled as they enjoyed the night, trading adventuring stories. A mug of mead in her hand and a smile on her face she listening to Captain Lonely-Gale start another tale. Finally relaxed with a pair of beautiful blue eyes to stare into and a lulling voice, Ralof’s absence was completely forgotten.
