Chapter 10: Journey to Whiterun:
4E 201
18th of Last Seed, Morndas
6:07 AM
The orange glow of the early sun cut through the gaps in the wooden shutters, landing across the bed like a silent intruder.
Gerdur lay nestled beneath the furs, her body tucked into mine, skin flushed with sleep and warmth. Her hair, usually braided with discipline, now spilled over her shoulder in soft, messy strands. I could feel the slow rise and fall of her chest against me, her breath light and steady.
Her hand was still on my chest, fingers curled near my collarbone.
She shifted slightly, stirring from slumber. Her eyes blinked open slowly, dazed at first. Then, memory returned—and with it, color flooded her cheeks.
"Hnnn…" she exhaled, pulling the furs higher, burying her face against my side.
"You're finally awake," I murmured, chuckling internally at my words as I ran my fingers through her hair.
"I didn't think I'd fall asleep…" her voice was hoarse, as though sheltered with shame. "After that."
I smirked faintly, getting on top of her. I placed my lips on hers, reminding her of the night. I had promised to make her forget.
She kissed me back, shy at first, then with growing certainty. Her hands came up to my back, hesitant fingertips mapping now familiar territory.
Her breath hitched when I pulled back just enough to look at her. She shouldn't meet my gaze.
"Was it too much?" I asked, brushing her cheek with the back of my hand.
She shook her head quickly. "No. It's just…" She glanced down at the space between us. "I didn't know it could feel like that. I thought it would hurt the whole time."
My eyes softened slightly. "I'm glad you enjoyed it as well," I said.
She gave a quiet laugh, then winced slightly as she adjusted her leg under the covers. "Well, I definitely feel it now."
I chuckled softly, and leaning into her neck, I began kissing and biting it.
She shuddered, feeling my teeth on her neck, going down to her collarbone.
I backed up as I remembered I needed to leave. I sighed, pulling back from her again.
"I need to head to Whiterun."
Gerdur didn't move.
"Riverwood needs protection," I added. "Jarl Balgruuf might have gotten the news, but I need to the make the case myself and convince him to send guards."
Finally, she nodded. "I know."
I sat up and put on my armor with the System's help. Gerdur's eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the armor on my body but soon relaxed.
I stood up from the bed. "Um…" I heard Gerdur murmur from behind, I turned to her.
I raised an eyebrow. "My clothes?" she said. Then it clicked: I had stored her clothes in my inventory as well.
As I was about to give them back, a grin flashed across my face, as the cloth materialized in my hand with yellow light.
"These?" I teased, holding her tunic just out of reach.
She narrowed her eyes, cheeks still flushed from everything we'd done last night. "Darius…"
I let out a low chuckle. "Say please."
She stared at me, lips parting in surprise. I could almost see the war in her mind—her pride clashing with whatever I'd awoken in her last night. Then, after a long second.
"...Please."
It came out. Quiet. Obedient.
I handed the tunic over without another word, my smirk widening. As she stood and slipped it over her head, wincing again with soreness in her thighs, I stepped in and helped fasten the sides of her tunic.
She didn't say anything as I did, looking away from me—avoiding, maybe.
I leaned into her neck from behind, my arms wrapped around her waist, a low moan escaping her lips.
"I like this obedient side of yours," I murmured, my hand sliding up to her bosom as I grabbed one of her tits, making her moan.
My other hand went to her chin, making her look at me, as I stole one last kiss before I left.
***
6:39 AM
I stepped out of Gerdur's house just as the morning light touched the treetops. The path toward the entrance of Riverwood was empty. Riverwood was still mostly asleep. Chickens clucked, and a few doors creaked.
As I passed the bridge, Hod, who was returning from the woods, gave me a look—cold suspicion. I ignored him. Whatever was between him and Gerdur was none of my concern unless he decided to do something stupid.
Past the bridge. A signpost pointed to different directions: Riften, Windhelm, Helgen, Ivarstead, and finally, toward Whiterun.
I began my journey north from Riverwood, and the world beyond the small village opened up like a painting. The road out of Riverwood was a narrow valley lined with murmuring pines. The cobblestones were slick from the dew, and every sound seemed magnified in the hush—the distant cries of hawks, the rustle of foxes giving chase to rabbits through underbrush.
I kept a steady pace, one hand resting on my sword's hilt. The road wasn't empty.
Not an hour into the journey, I spotted movement in the distance, a trio of wolves, tracking something I couldn't see. I stayed still, drawing my sword.
The sound of the steel brushing the sheath got the pack's attention. They all lunged at me at the same time. I used the [Flame] spell to spray fire at the ground and scare them, then threw the sword like a shuriken at one wolf, killing it.
Another weapon materialized in my hand in the blink of an eye, a warhammer, which I swung at the one in the middle, bashing its skull, its brain matter spilled on the path.
And before the third one could run away, I used the [Flame] spell again to set it on fire.
I touched the first wolf, which opened the System's inventory panel.
+1 Wolf Pelt
I could take the pelt of the wolf without a knife or need of skinning it; the only difference from the game was that, instead of leaving the wolf's corpse whole, it was left skinless and bloodied.
I pushed the body to the side after pulling out my sword, I couldn't extract the pelt from the wolf that was burned to a crisp.
+1 Wolf Pelt
As I stepped out from the shadowed, tree-covered path, my eyes finally fell on Whiterun—and it was nothing like the game. The city wasn't just a few clustered buildings behind a stone wall: it was massive. From this distance, I could see the stretch of the city, expanding more than two kilometers (~1.2 miles) wide, the towering walls, thick and weather-worn.
Dragonsreach, the quaint hall in my memory, now loomed above everything like a true fortress keep, regal, immense, and perched at the city's highest point.
The whole of Whiterun was surrounded by green plains and shielded by mountains in the distance. Just outside of the thick walls of Whiterun were a couple of windmills, their fantails revolving ever so slowly with the wind.
The right side plains of the Hold were covered with golden wheat fields, the rays of the early sun gleaming off of them.
I exhaled slowly, letting the weight of it all settle in, and began my descent toward a group of buildings at the foot of the hill I stood on, which I could only assume was the Honningbrew Meadery
Back in Riverwood:
Gerdur sat on the edge of the her bed, the tunic wrapped around her. Her fingers traced the pattern of the wood grain absently, her mind elsewhere.
She could still feel the imprint of his hands on her body, the rough gentleness of his voice, the way he looked at her like she was something worth touching with care.
Part of her wanted to believe it would be more than just a night. The other part, the ranger, the realist—knew better.
She stood slowly, grimacing slightly as soreness shot through her thighs. Her hand found the wall to steady herself. A ghost of a smile touched her lips.
"Idiot," she muttered under her breath, not sure if it was meant for him… or for herself.
Her thoughts were soon interrupted by a knock on her door.
Knock! Knock!
She straightened herself, trying to walk properly. She reached the door and opened it. Outside stood a red-haired woman she had known for a few years now.
"Sigrid."
***
Sitting at the table, across from each other, Gerdur had invited Sigrid inside, but now she was thinking she shouldn't have. The house, having no walls or separated rooms, still had the musky smell of love lingering about.
With a flushed face, Gerdur looked at Sigrid. "So he just left?" Sigrid asked, confusion visible on her face.
Gerdur nodded. "'Riverwood needs protection.' He said that and left as soon as he woke up."
Sigrid exhaled and inhaled heavily, and suddenly her nose was hit with a musky smell, but she chose not to ask any questions.
Back to Darius
I walked past the Honningbrew Meadery and reached the Pelagia Farm, and just a few steps ahead were the stables.
I exhaled, Finally, I stopped in front of the broken cobblestone gate, admiring the fact that I was in a game; it filled me with anxiety for some reason. I shook my head of those thoughts and headed inside, walking past the wooden watchtowers with archers and guards standing above.
I crossed the drawbridge, and in front of the giant gates of Whiterun stood two guards.
"Halt!"
.
.
.