The Argonian Maid?...Nope!

When i woke it was to someone knocking at the door which, i realised now, was more or less only leaning against the frame, with the trunk against it.
I sit up and chuckle tiredly, shaking my head about the feelings which have thrown me into such a turmoil.


“We are reaching the city in a bit more than an hour, thought you wanted to get up and eat something to freshen yourself up?” It´s the orc, at least someone I know no matter how briefly.
“Yes, thanks, I´ll get up” throwing the blanket to the side and still only staring at my feet as I sit there, my claws making scarping sounds on the floor boards.
Seems I would have forgotten about the offer by my orcish friend if my stomach wouldn´t have growled so fiercely at that moment.
Now I feel the pain in my side, I really should not sleep with my belongings in the same bed, or at least not still tied to my belt. But that would have really been worse if I would not have my magical item.
Me, resting on my belongings like a dragon on its pile of gold.

As I scuffle up the stairs my eyes fall on the high elf and the orc, sitting at a table while sunlight streams through the windows, talking to each other in a quite familiar manner.
“Morning” I mumble, taking a seat and grabbing the bowl with fruits which makes the altmer look strange at me.
“What?”
“Well, you eat fruits, not the raw meat?” pointing to the plate at the side with the fresh meat, or as fresh as it can be when we were shipnapped. But maybe it is salted, that would not change its state of rawness “I thought argonians have a rather high liking of …well..like bosmer. Bosmer eat mostly prey and even their enemys”
I shudder, maybe even turning slightly green around my snout “No, I never liked raw meat..and I think most other argonians are rather mixed eater than only hunters”
“Well, more for me” the orc growls happily and stabbing a slab of meat with his knife, chomping it down.
The altmer seems to like me a bit more now because of our similar diet and we share bread and fruits.
“I never got to thank you properly for our rescue. It was a lucky fluke that you were on the ship..if not I fear we would now bob up and down somewhere in the sea and never be seen again..and my ship..” his face displays that he is replaying the events.

“Ah that was nice but I have to go back and make sure that we reach the harbour save” and with these parting words Graman is gone.
“Graman does not take that well, you know…that we got kidnapped and nearly died on his watch. He´s a really good guy, that´s why I have him here.
A breton, a redguard or even an imperial I could never trust wholly, but if an orc sees you as friend they stand by you no matter what.” He smiles fondly, refilling my cup with tea as we talk.
“I never thought I would meet an altmer who would call someone like an orc his friend..but maybe I am just prejudged” sipping a bit of the hot liquid and savouring the sweet taste. I think I like sweet things…
“Well…” he looked thoughtfull “..it is true that most people try to avoid orcs and other beast races..and especially elves are wary of orcs. It may be because orcs and elves have been the same centuries ago. But because of the foul play of a god, the orcs turned into that what they are today and like most of my race look with a frown at the Dunmer, most of us dispise orcs because they are a blemish to all elves”
“Ah…that explains some things. I should read it up..there are surely books which discribe everything more clearly?”
“Yes in the marcet district is a good marketeer for books. Just say what you want and he can tell which books suit your taste and needs”
“Maybe that is too much to ask, but how came that an altmer and an orc became friends? And that you made a ship into ..an…a…” I smile nervously while he chuckles.
“Well I did not have the typical life of an altmer. I traveled a lot, but I was not very good with weapons and sometimes that is the only thing which can save you.
I meet him,we traveled together even when I first just wanted a bodyguard for a short time. But we grew on each other, became friends..with the money we made we bought the ship.
Unfortunately I realised that I do not well with longer journeys on sea..and then he meet that orc woman. Long story short, we ended our journey here and until we got kidnapped, we never set sail again. He married that orc girl and after our last adventure I just wanted some peace”
This is what he explained to me, and it sounds good. I just hope that I can nag some details out of both of them later.
“If you do not need me I would like to look for Graman and ask him something which was one my mind since last night” I excuse myself and after he nods I am on my way, looking for my orcish friend, even when I do not know for sure if I can call him friend so fast.

The sun is shining, the wind is filling the sails while we are on our journey up the river.
Relishing the fresh breeze I startle as I hear a dark laugh, craning my neck.
But luckely it is only Graman and I pout, bristling my feathers for a short time.
With small steps I inch myself near him, watching how he works..except there is not much to do…nothing that I can see, just a wheel..sort of.

“Hey Graman..what I wanted to ask you. How came that they got you caught and…when I freed you…that you did trust me? Did it not occur to you that I could have been one of the pirates?” I ask him, turning my head to the side in an asking manner like a parrot would dowhen he watches something interesting.
“Well Scrawnie, I thought if you were dumg enough to open the door and beeing a pirate, I could have crushed your skull or broke your neck and then tried to save my friend by myself. Simple, or not?” a reasonable answer, but one that makes my mood drop to the river bed

“Oh..yeah..seems…yeah..” looking over the water which stretches in front of us..it will be a nice journey to the city…but do I want to go back there.
“Sorry, I think the answer was the truth, but not very nice of me”
“No, it´s ok..but… have to go to an other city. Can you stop at an other harbour..maybe?” hopefully I look up at him..he does pity me, does he not? Does he look sad or is it my imagination.
“I do not know…it would be a bit…difficult with the big ship and the other harbour at Bravil is a bit small..an then we have no allowance to stop there..they are a bit strange with such things”
“Oh..ok…” I just step aside, try to catch a glimpse of the city but we are not near enough, or maybe the trees and small hills are obscuring my sight too much..or I do not want, do not care.

Until I get an idea and rush inside.

“I wanted to thank you for the breakfast..and the nice bed…and..I wanted to say good bye because I need to go.Just….if someone ask you can say..I am well but I had to go…ok?”
Maybe one from the thieves guild may ask, the one beggar who seems to have taken a liking to me, or one of the Khajit brothers…but I hope they won´t.

Ormil looks puzzled, but then he nods, giving me some coins …because I saved them.
“Can I borrow a rope and..I think a plank from the destroyed door will do if you allow”
“Sure?” but before he can ask what I intend to do I am down the steps and drag the board up with me, and also the rope with which I go outside.
“Graman, you do not have to stop at the next harbour, I just take my leave when we are near enough..could you do me the favour and steer as near at possible to the city?”
My hopefull face is enough for him to say yes, so I just tie the rope to the rail, check that everything I own is stored away for good, fastened properly and then I dare to hug the green brute “Take care of you you two”
“You too..and visit if you are near, ok? We will keep fond memories of you” and friendly he closes his arms around me.
“Me too…bye” I smile at him for the last time when Ormil comes through the door and I wave to him, hugging the board to me before I jump over board.

It is my only chance to do it right, or I have to swim, but the simple minded have the blessings of the gods it seems, so I land right in a way in which I can stand on the board, sink my claws into the wood and hold with both hands onto the rope.

The board is slant, turning nearly vertical as the rope pulls taut. I fear my heart or some other internal organ may jump out of my body, but I hold on, stand slightly sideway on the board and then I am riding the water.
It has to look strange for any bystander, but somehow I know that feeling, how to ride on the waves and I remember a time when I did not ride the waves behind a ship, but with the help of some big creature, dragging me across the waters.

I whoop and shout, warble in wavering tunes and for some minutes it all seems so natural to me.
And I laugh as I jump with the board, jump and fly through the air for some joyfull moments before I hit the water again, control the movements, steering left and right and left and right…oh by the grand dragon…I feel so free like flying.
That was worth the fight with the pirates, the unwilling journey and when I look up I see Ormil standing there, looking at me, looking both disbelieving and nearly silly with amusement.

Then he tries to tell me something, but through the rough water, splashing all around me I can not hear him, but his handsigns show me that we near the city and then I see it as we enter Niben Bay.
The wind is strong and so is my joy..even when I am a little bit sad that my ride will soon be over.

Without a last goodbye I let the rope go in the right moment, only a slight move from the ship to the left is enough to change my way so I will ride the waters in the direction of the city.
Cowering on the board, using also my tail to steer I near the city.
But where can I land?

Damn…there is really no harbour where the Float could have stopped for me. And also the water level is too low..and before I can go further to see the gates which keep unwelcomed people out of the city I have lost so much speed that I drop and have to swim the rest of my way.
But the ride was worth it.

The question is, what to do in Bravil? Sounds similar to Bruma but still the wrong city.
So I climb up the riverside but nothing seems simple or the people have a slight paranoia.
Or there is something really expensive there…ah no..maybe just because it is directly at the river and pirates would otherwise have an easy game with such a city.

Now I stand in front of the bridge with the guard in front of it. Seems to me as if the ruler here likes his people, or at least to keep them and his belongings save.
The guard looks sour, face scrunched up and looking down at me.Maybe because I have been in the water and the water is not exactly clean near the shore?
Or because I am an argonian..another one he is mumbling, when there are more than enough than tolerable in the city.

The guardsman having only a bad day?
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If I had known how the city really was behind the high and mighty looking city walls…I would have walked to Bruma instead.
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It is short, but I had this idea with surfing to my destiny and wanted to post it