After getting the broken Star of Azura, there was officially nothing for us to do in Falkreath anymore. We returned to the town, packed our things, and took the road back to Helgen.
The ride was not really that bad! We camped once near 'Pinewatch' which looked like a small farm from the outside but from the inside, it was a massive bandit hideout. I didn't mention a thing about that to Jull or Nefertiti because I am sure they will go on a rampage again once they sniff the possibility of killing something.
I need to put those two bad girls in some serious mental trauma as soon as possible, else, I will be the one suffering for their actions from now onward.
After feasting on a hare, we returned to the road again and continued until we reached Helgen. The people were surprised to see us but we said we are only staying for the night.
The next morning we traveled on the road east to Helgen, this road was empty and clear, no one usually passes through here. I could travel full speed safely once again.
"Jon, look at that?" Jull pointed towards the mountain to our northeast. It was a mountain that its peak preached the clouds above and looked as majestic as the word 'majestic' can get.
"This is the 'Throat of the World'. The tallest mountain in the world. Us Nords believe that Men were formed there when the goddess 'Kyne' breathed onto the land. Hence, the 'Song of Return' refers not only to 'Ysgramor's return' to Tamriel after the destruction of Saarthal, but to the 'return of Men' to what we believe to be the cradle of humanity. That is why this land is called 'Skyrim'. That's why we Nords are 'Children of the Sky'."
"Says the guy who thinks of everything Nords do as Nord nonsense!"
"I only took the good points of being a Nord, you know."
"Racism, thickheadedness, Sovngarde this, Sovngarde that!"
"Don't forget the looks, the builds, and the frost tolerance! Also, I am not racists."
"Really?"
"Try me!"
"Bretons?"
"Hobbits."
"Argonians?"
"Lizards."
"Redguards?"
"Curved Swords!"
"Elves?"
"Bastards."
"Imperials?"
"Don't like them. No particular reason."
"Khajiit?"
"Fluffs."
"Orcs?"
"FOR THE HORDE!"
"See?"
"Well, you only mentioned the ones I don't like."
"Yeah, yeah! I know."
She went silent then asked again.
"So, why are we going to Ivarstead?"
"To visit an old friend."
"Who's that?"
"Someone who used to take care of me in the orphanage."
"Will we have enough time to go back to Windhelm if you decided to laze around in Ivarstead?"
"Oh! About that… When we head to Windhelm, we will reach it in less than a day."
"Less than a day?"
"If my calculations are correct."
"What are the chances for your calculations to kill us with no place of burial?"
"Pretty high!"
"Sign me up."
***
We continued to travel and now we are taking the road that goes through the mountain pass south to the 'Throat of the World'. I traveled this pass once before when I first arrived in Skyrim. Probably I wasn't in the body of Jon yet but that was the time when Hilda was escaping from the Thalmor and was forced to not go in Helgen.
After sixteen years, I am traveling this pass once again with my woman and my cat. I think Hilda would be proud of me.
Anyway, there was a cave I wanted to visit called 'Haemar's Shame'. The cave is related to a Daedric Prince and in the game, players could get one badass looking helmet by communing with that Daedric Prince but now, I didn't feel any Magicka reactions from the cave. I don't think I can start the quest right now anyway. I will come back later in my next training journey.
It was still not dark and I wasn't planning to camp here in the wild or in the woods after this point in 'the Rift' hold.
After we finished the pass between on the mountain roads we arrived at the woods of the Rift. Snow was taking its toll on the place here too.
We, however, could once again travel at full speed and could reach Ivarstead by nightfall.
I always followed the words of a certain Wiseman that said: "Don't take your freaking Flame Atronach Horse into a town full of Nords unless you are ready to be chased out by pitchforks." And so we entered the town on foot.
Ivarstead is a fairly medium sized town located at the eastern base of the Throat of the World, on the western edge of the Rift and the western shore of Lake Geir.
Pilgrims and travelers often pass through, as the town is located at the beginning of the 'Seven Thousand Steps' to High Hrothgar.
It used to be a good-sized town that had a good farming and lumber business but in recent years, many townspeople have been leaving for Riften, and business in the town has been suffering.
Anyway, after we got inspected by the guards, we got the permission to pass the bridge to the town.
I knew a bit about the place and I went straight to the inn, the Vilemyr Inn.
That inn is the only tavern in town so it was the place where townsfolk will gather every night. Before I go in, I read the 'Notice Board' in front of the inn and could tell that the town is peaceful from the looks of it.
After I went in, my appearance got all the attention and everyone kept staring at me. Also, Jull was not minding her half-elven appearance and went in with no hood.
Some looks gave out some of the normal Nordic hostility towards strangers but I really didn't mind it at all. I mean, I was looking at them with an equal amount of hostility too.
"Welcome to Vilemyr Inn, need a drink, or maybe something to eat?"
"A room, for two."
"H, How long will you be staying?"
"Not sure. I'll pay for a week."
"Are you by any chance visiting the town on a pilgrim."
"Haven't decided yet."
"Oh! I see."
The innkeep is a man called Wilhelm. I was talking to him coldly because of a reason I had in mind. I just don't like the guy.
The man guided me to a room and I bought the drinks and the food we needed for the stay, then I went out again to sit in the inn's hall.
Before I decide where to sit, I kept looking around for a bit until I saw a familiar face.
I went to his direction and sat in front of him.
"Long time no see!" I said.
"Wh, Who are you?"
"Come on, don't break my heart like that. Look at my face closely! Don't you know who am I?"
"Don't know, Narfi doesn't know you!"
"Hey, you are scaring Narfi!" Some guy came shouted at me from the side.
"Piss off!" I glared at him and released a bit of 'Aura' that caused everyone in the inn to get choked on their drinks. Of course, I avoided Narfi.
"You are Jon!" Narfi jumped up from his place and looked happy.
"Yeah, Narfi! It has been five years. How did you recognize me?"
"Jon always curses people. Reyda says not to listen to Jon a lot."
Pffft!
My reputation! It stinks!
Narfi used to be an orphan in the Honorhall with us but he was much older. I guess he is twenty years old now. He is a kind guy with a bit of an 'Intellectual disability' but he is completely harmless.
Narfi has an older sister called Reyda who used to be Nurina's helper I do. Narfi has spent some time with me in the orphanage and Reyda took care of me many times. I had no way of contacting them up until now.
Narfi is attached to his sister since they were children and does nothing without her consent. Maybe he developed a complete dependence on her after their parents died.
I sat with Narfi and started asking him about things. He was as honest as ever and was very happy to see me.
He used to carve a lot of wood and Nurina encouraged him on that talent but Reyda was always overprotective over him and tried to make him do less dangerous things.
"Where is Reyda by the way?"
"She is home! Narfi was helping Reyda gather mushrooms this morning and Reyda twisted her ankle. Wilhelm said he will ask for the alchemist in the woods to help Reyda."
Wilhelm did? I looked at that man coldly again.
"Fine Narfi, let's go see Reyda!"
Narfi agreed and was about to go out with me but someone popped up.
"Set down Narfi, I still haven't gone to call the alchemist. And Customer, please, don't bother sick people!"
The man Wilhelm was holding on Narfi's shoulder and smiling at me.
"I can do healing!" I said as I conjured a Lightning Magic spell and made it chirp.
I could hear Jullanar giggling behind me. Wilhelm's face, on the other hand, changed color.
The people in the inn noticed too. Yep, I am a mage. Fuck you very much!
***
"I feel really insulted! Can't you recognize this handsome face at all."
"Well, somehow I felt irritated when I looked at you. You really look familiar!"
"Come on! How could you forget about the most handsome young man in the world?"
"Wait! Most handsome and red hair? Don't tell… How did you get this tall?"
"Hehe! I overdosed myself with awesomeness."
"You never change, don't you Jon?"
"HA! Never."
Reyda, on the other hand, has changed. A lot!
She looked thinner, somewhat sickly, and a seemed as if she doesn't eat enough.
What is going on with her?
I talked with her for a while and she was asking about Nurina and how is she doing.
"But to think you went to live with her!"
"Well, Winterhold isn't that bad and I have a lot of good business going around there."
"Seems you struck it rich!"
"I did. Want to come to Winterhold? I can take care of you guys there. You'll find a job and a better place to live for sure."
"No! It is too far. No one will tend to our parents' graves if we left Ivarstead. And a lot of young people are leaving the town already, who will live in this town if every young person leaves?"
"Anyway, my door will always be open for you if you ever decided to come. I am sure Nurina will be pleased to see you guys there. Here, your foot is all healed like this."
"Woah! Narfi remembers, headmistress always healed Narfi like that."
"Yeah! I remember too. Thank you, Jon."
"Hehe, it is nothing guys. Whatever it is, don't ever hesitate to ask for help. This is my token, if you carry it to a ship in Windhelm or take it anywhere in Winterhold, you guys will get help from my people over there."
"Thank you, Jon."
"Alright, I am taking my leave."
"What? Stay for the night, we stil…"
"I am sorry but I am traveling with a companion and we will be on our way at first light so I am sorry. Another time."
I bid farewell to the siblings and went out of their home.
Narfi and Reyda, a bit of a tragedy in the game, more like Wulfur and Svidi. One of them also died before the game started and the other got into a streak of a very bad luck.
This time it was Reyda who died and Narfi's condition has gotten a lot worse.
In the game, Reyda's remains were found in the river north of town as if she has drowned but I am more suspicious.
I think she was killed and the killer is the one who guides the player to the remains location.
I walked away from Reyda's house and used 'Scan'.
"Pssst! This way."
I could hear someone calling for me, it was Jullanar.
"What happened?"
"It was as you said, he came after you."
"Where is he?"
"This way."
I followed her to some place secluded west of the town where no one comes.
As I arrived! I saw Nefertiti in her normal form lazing around while a man, gagged and tied, was squirming beside her.
This was the innkeeper, Wilhelm.
"Did he came after me?"
"Yes! He was trying to snoop around while you were in there."
"Did you search the inn as I told you?"
"Yes! I found this strange ornament, it is the same thing you described it would be."
Hmmm! The Sapphire Dragon Claw. A key to an ancient Nordic ruin. I knew he had it.
"What else did you find?"
"Look at this journal!"
I took a journal from Jullanar and kept used 'Night Vision' to read it in the dark.
This is…
… exactly what I thought.
This guy is a stalker.
He was stalking Reyda.
It was never mentioned in the game but it is a solid evidence to me.
"Hehe! This is bad for you Wilhelm."
I know that after he kills Reyda for whatever reason. Narfi's condition will worsen and will cause some suspicions around Wilhelm. That is why Wilhelm will make a contract with the dark brotherhood to kill Narfi too.
Scum!
Lower than scum!
"Nefertiti!"
"Hooman!"
"He is all yours."