The journey back was thankfully uneventful. There had been enough surprises and revelations over the last twenty-four hours. He was not looking to invite anything as altering as having to defend against three bullies just to get back property that didn’t belong to them anyway.
When he got back to the campsite, he found it empty. He thought he spotted Rigmor up the hill crouched over as if looking for something. He went to her, and she turned her head towards him. He then asked, “What are you doing Rigmor?”. She responded quizzically, “Picking flowers. I’m sorry, did you find Rose?
The adventurer responded, “You’d better come back to the campsite and take a seat. “She stood up without saying anything and walked back down the hill to the campsite and sat on the stump that Rose normally sat on.
He mused to himself, “Funny, there are two stumps and yet she picked the same one Rose sat on. I wonder why, am I missing something?” He sat down on the other stump.
Both sat there with the song of the morning woodlands rising around them. You could hear the small footsteps of animals gathering food or moving through the debris that laid heavy on the forest floor.
He took a moment more then began to tell her of his journey back to Riverwood to get Rose. He started by telling her, “Rose has been captured by the Thalmor!” Rigmor immediately replied, “What! How did that happen, and do you know where they took her?”
He responded, “Hedren, Rose’s friend who works with Alvor the smithy said they had taken her to some fort located near the border of the southern city of Falkreath.”
Falkreath, a city deep within the boreal forest near the border with both Cyrodiil and Hammerfell. In the past, it was considered a part of Cyrodiil, but now sites firmly within the borders of Skyrim. The city was known as the “Heroes’ graveyard”, as many great battles took place here for centuries. Countless warriors were buried in its hallowed grounds.
Rigmor replied, “I know where that place is, it is called Fort Black. I was planning on traveling there from Angie’s place. The adventure asked, “Angie’s place, who’s that and why were you there?”
Rigmor stood up then and said, “I was injured after a different fight with Thalmor. She found me and nursed me back to health. She lives in a cabin high above in the mountains around Falkreath.”
Rigmor paused then said, “I figure maybe we could use that boat and make our way south to the lumber mill across the lake. From there we can make our way to Falkreath and then up to Angie’s place. That is of course if you want to. I don’t think I can make that trip right now on my own.”
Rigmor thought a moment then said, “Of course I’ll need my armor back and a weapon if you have one to spare. Thalmor took my two-handed sword. That’s why I want to go to Fort Black, to get back that sword.”
The adventurer gave her what she needed and Rigmor went to the woods and changed into the armor and strapped on the shield, bow, quiver, and two-handed sword he gave her.
The adventurer then said, “I have some things I need to do first. Can we travel to Riverwood? There is something I need to do for the trader there, Lucan. There’s a golden dragon claw that was stolen, I promised I would get it back for him and his sister.
Rigmor responded, “What about Rose, shouldn’t we go after her first?” The adventurer surprised her when he said, “Rose is a tough girl, my sense is she’ll be fine until we get there. Anyway, I need you to follow me now, is that okay?”
Rigmor replied, “What are you my guardian angel or something?” The guardian replied, “let’s go with that, are you ready to go. We can still take the boat and then make our way to a place north of where Riverwood is nestled along the White River.”
Rigmor chuckled then said, “Okay guardian, let’s get going then, we need to finish with your commitments so we can go and rescue Rose and get my sword back.”