{The Biggest TES Collab EVER: Brought to you by - [@Frizan][@MiddleEarthRoze][@LeidenSchaft][@MacabreFox] } Only seconds after pushing Leif’s head into his bowl of stew, did Sevine hear her name being called. She was uncertain of the voice who called to her but when her eyes landed on the man that addressed the two of them, Sevine felt he was the same man that cheered for her back on the walls in the redoubt. On closer inspection, she could tell he had the markings of an Imperial despite his black hair that covered a pair of striking, green eyes. Sevine did recognize him however as being a part of the company. “Hello there lad, take a seat, won’t you?” Sevine asked with a smile as she pushed a chair out to him with the toe of her boot. “You know this scrawny fellow?” “Him? Yeah, he’s in the company. Weren’t you the one cheering me on at the walls?” She gestured for the Imperial to sit down, and join them. Mead always made Sevine a friendlier, and more approachable person, it made her smile more than she could help it. As she eyed the man carefully, Sevine couldn’t help but notice how thin as a twig he was, she made a mental note to order him up a bowl of stew as well once the tavern-girl came back ‘round. Breathing a quiet sigh of relief, Sagax was pleased with Sevine's reception of his intrusion. He'd hate to come off as annoying to one of the few people he knew by name in the company. He could almost feel Sevine's bewilderment at his size. It was the same kind of look his mother and sister would give him when he skimped on meals to leave more to them. He was used to it though and paid the glances no mind. "Oh, thank you." Sagax responded, as he took the chair and adjusted it in a way that he would be facing his company properly when seated. Smiling at Sevine's question, he nodded and said "Ah, yes, that was me. I thought you could have used a bit of encouragement." He took a seat with Sevine and her friend. "My father once served in the Imperial Legion, you see, and among the things he taught me, he stressed battlefield morale. If your soldiers feel as though the battle is lost, nine out of ten times, it is." Fidgetting with his half-cloak, Sagax looked back up. He knew people in Skyrim weren't particularly warm to the Empire, especially not in Windhelm. "Uh...you don't have an issue with that, do you? My family line having served in the Legion?" Leif spat angrily on the ground upon hearing the man’s words about his family being Imperials, but Sevine silenced him with a deadly look filled with venom. The blonde man only glowered at Sagax in fuming stillness, as he sat with his arms crossed. Leif found it hard to forgive the Imperials for trying to rule Skyrim, and take away their worship of Talos. “Not at all, when you fight in battle as long as we have, it matters no more who your enemy is, but what does matters, is that you make it home. So to answer your question, no. Your father sounded like a wise man, morale is essential in every fight no matter who you face.” Sevine replied with a nod of her head. The tavern girl finally made her way upstairs, and headed over to the table, where she stopped to check on her guests needs. “Is there anything I can get you?” Her voice was sweet, and reminded Leif of apple orchards in the springtime. “Aye, three more bottles of mead, and another bowl of stew for him.” She said as she hooked her thumb at Sagax. The girl merely nodded, and then disappeared below. “What did you say your name was?” Sevine asked as she realized she still hadn’t learned his name yet. Sagax tensed up at Leif's reaction. "Should have kept my big mouth shut..." he thought to himself. Thankfully Sevine came to his aid and silenced the man with a look hard enough to shatter the very walls of the White-Gold Tower. "Y-yeah. My father spent quite a few years in the Legion before he came back to the Imperial City and joined the Watch." He eased up again, knowing that Sevine's friend would listen to her if no one else. "My mother works as an alchemist in the Imperial City, but apparently they met during a campaign near Falkreath. Her family moved from...Anvil, I think it was, and..." He stopped himself and chuckled sheepishly. "Sorry, I'm getting sidetracked. I do that sometimes." "Anyway, yeah, I'm glad that you don't have a problem with that. I'm not a very...confrontational person, and I'd sure hate to be on your bad side!" Sagax smiled jokingly. He was suprised to hear Sevine order a stew for him. They had just met, and she was already making friendly gestures. "Well, I guess that means I've made a new friend." He thought. The more the merrier, the saying goes, and Sevine certainly was one of the merrier women he'd met. "Me? Oh, well, I'm Sagax. Sagax Speculatus. A pleasure to meet you...formally, anyway!" Sagax stood back up and held out his hand. A habit he picked up from his mother when greeting people. "Remember your posture!" She'd always say. As Sagax spoke of his family, and how his mother and father met, Sevine listened on quietly, in a respectful manner with her eyes focused on him. Leif even eased up, and relaxed in his chair as the tavern girl made her way back to the table, and set the three bottles of Nord mead on the table, along with the bowl of stew for Sagax. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of, your folks obviously raised you well.” With that Sevine rose from her chair, and grasped Sagax’s hand in her own, shaking it firmly. She didn’t believe in weak handshakes, those were for ninnies. “Well met, Sagax Speculatus, I am Sevine Varg-t’uk, and this here is my old war mate, Leif Raven-Stone. We used to fight alongside each other in the war. If you ever want to learn how to woo a woman, incorrectly, and horribly, Leif is the man to look to.” She joked as she released his hand and returned to her seat. Leif cracked a wicked grin at her comment and only chuckled to himself. “Horribly, and incorrectly you say?” “Aye. I don’t know any man who could write sappier poems than you. Where is your skill? The grace for love’s sake, Leif?” Sevine teased openly as she lifted the bottle to her lips, and again drank from the brown glass bottle. “Those sappy poems have won me many hearts now!” Leif thundered with a grin. “And how many women have actually stuck by your side?” “Well that depends? Are we talking about my wife in Solitude? Or my wife Whiterun?” “Oh you fiend. Please tell me you don’t.” “Of course not, I couldn’t have all those misses waiting for me, there wouldn’t be enough to go around.” Leif winked at Sagax, if Sevine was kind enough to order him mead, and stew, he was alright in his eyes at least; Imperial or not. “So are you looking for work?” “You mean mercenary-type?” “Aye. I think you ought to sign up, it’ll be like old times.” “Then I’ve beat you to it.” “You already did?” “Aye. As soon as I caught wind that helped was needed, I signed up when your company leader, Ashav I believe, posted the first set of fliers here. The pay sounds good. How has the company treated you so far, Sagax?” Leif asked as he took another sip from his bottle. He couldn't help but laugh along. "Well then, if my mission ever becomes 'woo the fair ladies of Skyrim' I will certainly be sure to look you up, Leif. I'm no bard, so I'd need all the help I could get!" Sagax said as he popped open the mead Sevine was nice enough to order for him. He took a drink and found the brew much to his liking. "I had heard nordic mead was good stuff, but simple word of mouth doesn't seem to do it much justice." He never had mead before, always just sticking to the water in his canteen. Now he knew why everyone loved the stuff. "It's all wine and brandy back home, not much in the way of ale or mead. I never really took to that stuff, but mead? Hehe, maybe I'll keep a bottle on hand for occasions." Sagax set his bottle down and look toward Leif when asked how he fared within the company. "Well, it was a rough start, to be sure. Was green as a Cyrodillic leaf in summer. Still am, honestly, though I've got some actual experience under my belt now, even if it is little." Sagax left out the part about his first kill. He saw no need to sullen the merry atmosphere, and no good would come from dwelling on the event. "Got a lot of insults thrown my way. The prominent one was milk-drinker. Not quite sure what that means, though, but I'm guessing it has something to do with being a weakling." Sagax chuckled and said "Well, I can't really argue with that if that's the case." The Imperial rolled his shoulders. They were a bit sore on the account of the not-to-comfortable wagon ride to the city. "But now, I think I've at the very least garnered the approval of the rest of the company." He ended and took another drink from his bottle. He'd definitely need to order another one for later occasions in the future. Sevine grinned at Sagax’s taste for the Nord mead, most Nord’s brewed their own mead, and ale, there were distinct flavors, meaning the mead from Riften, tasted slightly different than the ones brewed in Solitude. It was Nord mead nonetheless. “I prefer wine, Alto Wine is delectable, but there are others that I have tried. If you ever get the chance, try some Black-Briar Mead, or some Honning Brew, both are especially delicious.” Sevine commented as she raised her bottle to her lips again and took a heavy draught. Leif could only laugh aloud at Sagax’s contemplative words about being a milk-drinker. She had to admit, Sagax appeared older than her, even if by a few years, so she couldn’t call him a boy by any means. “Being a milk-drinker, is like being a greenhorn. It does mean you’re a weakling, but in the sense that you’re new to the ways of battle, and you’re more likely to get scared, and unable to fight because of what’s going on around you. They’ll stop calling you that once they see your true colors, people mainly pick on the new recruits, because they’re not sure if you’ll make it through the battle. But if you’ve survived a Forsworn battle, then I’d say you’re a pretty lucky fellow. I used to sail the Sea of Ghosts back in my hey-days as a young man. I’ll tell you one thing, Sagax, I was damned scared when a ship with black flags tried to overtake our ship. That was my first encounter with pirates of course, and I was more than happy to run a blade through them, than to submit to death.” Leif stood up suddenly, his chair slid back against the floor as he stood. He locked his sky-blue eyes on the huntress and said, “I’m going downstairs to grab another round.” “Don’t get lost wooing women, Leif.” Sevine cautioned with a teasing smile as she watched her companion leave for the down stairs below. She then turned her attention back to Sagax. “So you said your parents met in Falkreath? I’m from there originally. What did you do before joining the company?” --- In the meantime, downstairs, Leif had already ordered a next round of three bottles of mead, and slipped the bar-keep coin for payment across the wooden countertop. A curious woman, who reminded him a lot of Sevine by her scowling face, caught his eye as she entered Candlehearth Hall. She looked fierce in her Stormcloak blue outfit, and bear fur draped across her shoulders. His eyes lit up at the sight of her, she was a strikingly beautiful woman, with fiery red hair. Leif left the mead bottles on the table, gesturing to the bar-keep to hold onto them, and he made his way over to the red-haired woman. “Well hello there, the name’s Leif. I saw you from across the room, and I thought you looked a bit lonely. Can I buy you a drink?” Leif's words were encouraging, in a strange way. Like Tsleeixth said, everyone starts somewhere, and Sagax's start was here, in Ashav's company. He was certainly scared during the assault on the redoubt, but he took a bit of pride in overcoming the urge to just run away from the fight. He stuck with it, thick and thin. He'd learn to ignore the fear eventually. If not, then Dumhuvud would be sure to beat it out of him. So he certainly had a good incentive to overcome it personally. When Leif got up to go downstairs for more drink, Sagax turned back to Sevine. "Yeah, I've heard of Black-Briar and Honning Brew. They're partnered I think, which is a fairly good move I'd say. Mead is clearly a big business here in Skyrim, lots of gold to be made. It'd be a waste of time to quarrel for a monopoly." Such quarrels were thankfully uncommon in the Imperial City, as most of the merchants all took part in some sort of trader's pact. Everything was fair, whoever got the customers got them because they had the goods which were more desired, not because of some underhanded pricing tactics. "As for my parents, yeah, it was a kind of chance meeting I suppose you could say. At the time my mother was a caravan ringleader based in the area. She had a great eye for detail, so she oversaw every good that went in and out. My father, while being a normal footsoldier, a Praefect if I remember right, he also doubled as quartermaster. The Legion contracted my mother, and so they naturally spent a lot of time with each other, coordinating shipments and such. Apparently they took such a liking to one another that when the campaign ended, they got together and moved to the Imperial city. I don't know every bit though, so please excuse any holes. For instance, I don't really know what became of that caravan ring. Mother never told me much about them." Sagax drank more from his bottle and raised his eyebrows at Sevine's question about his former employment. "Me? Oh, well...I was...an errand boy. Just ran packages and things like that for the local merchants." "Probably wouldn't do well to elaborate on my thieving..." He thought to himself. "Hallo Sevine - I hope you saved a drink for me." Roze announced herself as she approached the table, throwing herself into one of the spare chairs beside her friend, and a man that she had yet to know. It seemed she had interrupted a story from the small Imperial, and as such she offered up an apologetic smile. "Do excuse me - I've just grown sick and tired of staying in that awful warehouse they've set us up in. I've slept in stables nicer than that place." she said, then paused, chuckling lightly. "And I've dealt with trolls with better manners than some of the men in there." She added in after-thought. Now that most of the men had grown accustumed to her small stature, and decided that she wasn't going to be a Forsworn-in-disguise, the flirtation had never stopped. With Farid on the road, it had been compaionable and even amusing - but locked in a warehouse with dozens of men looking for a good time was simply too damn annoying for her to deal with. Deciding that it would be better for her to vacate the premises rather than threaten castration, she had made her way to Candlehearth Hall, wherein she knew Sevine and Jorwen would perhaps like a drink. "Rozalia Éathliel, at your service." She introduced herself to the man, offering up her trademark mischevious smile. The huntress smiled in delight as her tent-mate showed up at the table, she wasn’t expecting to see the woman at any time this night, but she was glad nonetheless. She gestured for her to take Leif’s seat as she sat, and grinned wider. The raven-haired woman was a pleasant sight for tired eyes. “That’s exactly what I thought. I would have stayed behind and toughed it out, but Edith offered to share her room with me. I’m not sure that you know, but her and I go way back. We’re childhood friends to put it lightly. If you’ve got the coin Roze, I’d suggest booking a room while you can here. That blasted warehouse is a shithole. Let the men keep it. We’ve earned a hot meal, a drink of mead, wine or ale, and a warm bed. Not some damned freezing warehouse.” She shook her head in dismay. Thankfully, the tavern-girl came round again, and brought them the bottles Leif had ordered. She set the bottles down on the table and looked at Sevine. “Is there anything else you need ma’am?” With that, Sevine looked to Roze and raised her brows as if to say [i]”Well?”[/i] Sevine was a generous person in nature, as she didn’t mind treating her friends. Who else was she supposed to spend her coin on? Her family? That only now consisted of Liliana, and her new husband, and they were miles away in Falkreath. “If you’re hungry, order something. It’s my treat tonight.” Sevine said with a nod of her head. Roze raised her eyebrows in slight surprise - she still wasn't used to other people spending money on her. That just wasn't the way she was brought up. However, she inclined her head in thanks towards Sevine. "Most generous of you, my friend. I'll take some rabbit stew, if you have any." She said to the tavern-girl, who immediately went to retrieve some from the kitchens. Sagax smiled at the new arrival. He had seen her before at the camp, talking to Sevine. It was nice to know her name finally. "Well met, Rozalia. I'm Sagax Speculatus." Looking at her shoulder, Sagax could see that her wound was healing nicely. Or at least he assumed. Hard to see through the woman's armor, but she wasn't showing any signs of discomfort. "That was a nasty hit you took during the assault. Nice to see that you aren't having any complications with the healing. I would have helped but I had to get a ladder to the walls." He continued playing with his half-cloak absentmindedly. He wished he wasn't so damned fidgetty, but he couldn't help it. It was just a force of habit for him. "And I saw you got a very...warm welcome from Dumhuvud back at the camp. Good job keeping your cool. Though I think Sevine..." He smiled and nodded at the huntress. "Was about to make Cat-Kicker eat his words, served up on her axe blade." Sagax laughed as he spoke, imagining Dumhuvud's face if Sevine had confronted him the way she wanted to. A sight to behold, truly. "Ah, don't worry about it. Despite the injury, it was quite amusing seeing you cheering Sevine on." Roze chuckled. As for her wounds, they were indeed, healing up nicely. Following the end of the battle, Roze had been patche dup alongside Sevine - although thanks to the extra cut on her arm, had recieved far more stitches. She'd been forced to leave it in a sling for a good while - the thing irritating her along the road from Karkarth to Windhelm. It was only when she saw the city in her sights that she abandoned the damned thing - her arm had healed up fine anyway. The shoulder still ached slightly when she drew her bow, but that was some muscle stiffness that she'd have to work through. She'd be damned before giving up her bow. -- Solveig had come back to the Candlehearth to be alone. Either this fool was blind to the puffiness of tears underneath her eyes or she'd cleaned up well. She looked him up and down with a curious set to her eyes before speaking, "And who are you, Leif?" She said, sticking her thumbs into her belt. "I've not heard of you before." To his surprise, instead of dismissing him with a groan, the woman seemed to know his name already. Leif grinned like a sly skeever, trying to bite an unsuspecting person in the sewers. Her eyes were red, probably from crying, but that mattered not to him, she was still beautiful in his eyes. “Yes, I’m Leif, Leif Raven-Stone to be exact. I couldn’t help but to notice how beautiful you are. A woman like you shouldn’t spend her evenings alone. So is that a yes for the drink? Anything you like, wine, mead, ale?” Leif shifted his weight so that he stood closer to the woman. Most women would simply laugh, and blush at his word’s though he could tell that this Nord woman could put him in his place if he weren’t careful. "You're a forward man, Leif." Solveig said, resting a hand on the counter, "I've met a lot of men like you. But I met them years ago, when they were young and still yet to grow from it. You look a worldly man, yet your name's not whispered in fear by your enemies or praised in the halls." Solveig tugged on the short sleeve of her blue tunic, "My father and men like him earned names with this cloth, Red-Bear, Wolf-Tooth, White-Eye, but I've never heard of Leif Raven-Stone. Until the songs of your deeds are on my tongue long before I've set my eyes on your face, we've nothing between us." Solveig put her hands on her hips and took a step forward, her foot next to Leif's own as she brought herself close enough for her breath to tickle at his ear, "Besides, Leif. I fancy women." She stepped back with a smirk and slid forward a few coins, "Whiskey, if you have it. Mead if you don't." Solveig watched Leif's face for his reaction. In truth, Solveig was never keen on narrowing her options for lovers or company, a fact held close until men like Leif came trundling along. But usually they were seasoned adventurers or proven housecarls, a few she'd beaten in the circle. --- Sevine noticed the shock on her friend’s face at her offer to buy her food and drink. If she had the coin, which she did, Sevine didn’t mind sharing at all. She picked up the habit from the war, as she was more careful with her money than most other soldiers. “We’re were just talking about his parents, and how they met. They’re Imperial’s who worked closely together. It’s a very sweet, romantic story.” “Ah, yes. Cat-Kicker. The man is a sore in my mouth. I don’t care for his brutish attitude. If he tries anything again, I’ll be more than happy to put him in his place.” Sevine grumbled darkly. With fresh bottles of Nord mead, and a bowl of rabbit stew, Sevine raised the dark, brown glass bottle up as if in a toast to Roze and Sagax. “Well here, to our first battle, and making it through alive.” She said as she extended the bottle towards her companions. She wondered what was keeping Leif, though the huntress merely assumed that a woman had caught his eye, and that was the reason for his delay to rejoin their table. "I'll toast to that." Roze said cheerily, mood instantly picking up at the prospect of mead and food. As for Dumhuvud... well, the less said about the ''Cat-Kicker'', the better. "I have a feeling he'll find some other source of entertainment - when I entered, I noticed we've received out very first Khajiit recruit. A big one, at that." She said with a chuckle, supping her cool mead and sighing contently. "So, sharing love stories then?" She asked, looking at Sagax. "I find that true love often stems between good friends. Happened with my parents as well." She threw in her opinion on the matter - and true it was. Not only good friends, her parents had been a great team when it came to fighting. The huntress couldn’t help but to chuckle darkly at Roze’s words as she clinked her bottle with hers and Sagax’s in response. She ran a hand through her crimson tresses with a sigh as she gazed at her companions. “Some men would do well to learn that lesson. I wish the same could be said for me, but if I die an old maid, then so be it, at least I have fought well in my days. Love is a fickle thing. Mara bless and guide me, if I ever do find it.” Sagax raised his own bottle in a toast. "To long life to us all." He said with a cheerful grin. "Hopefully no one will be taking any more arrows, Mara willing!" Drinking deeply, Sagax put the nearly-finished bottle down and laughed quietly at Roze's comment about love. "That's the truth, if my parents taught me anything. It may seem like love can just happen, but it's very rarely the case." He began thinking about Piper. Maybe he'd end up coming home to see his sister with someone she can say she loves. That'd be the day, not many men worthy of a woman like her would be able to put up with her attitude! "Ha...I wonder how many lechers my sister has bloodied? Maybe none of them are dumb enough to try, but gods know the men in the Imperial City all think themselves handsome and cultured." He shook his head and rolled his eyes. Sagax was glad he was raised to treat people with respect, and that he had grown to have enough sense to leave people be when they aren't looking for company. Sagax shrugged at Sevine's response to Roze. "Don't worry about that, Sevine. There's someone out there, I'm sure. But if there isn't, I'd say it would be better to go out alone but happy and with no regrets than to die with a heavy heart and someone you don't love." Sevine smiled at Sagax, again, she really liked how well spoken he was. "You are right,if I do not find love, at least I have lived a happy, meaningful life." --- “Ah, a forward man, I may be, but I am ever confident in my abilities. Surely a woman such as yourself, hasn’t cast away all hopes of falling in love with a man.” Leif said in return as he reached out to tuck a stray strand of red hair behind her ear. He liked her spunky attitude, and it would not deter him in the slightest. His smile was soft, and his sky-blue eyes twinkled with mischevious thoughts. It mattered not to him, if she preferred women over men, he still desired to hold her in his arms, and kiss her forehead tenderly. “I have never met a woman like you. Your eyes remind me of the northern sky over the Sea of Ghosts when it is but a clear day, or more rather, the blue that is the color of the frozen ice.” He murmured quietly in return as she whispered in his ear, truth be told, her breath in his ear forced goosebumps to rise in its wake along the nape of his neck. “I haven’t earned my name, really, it’s more of a family name. I fought in the Civil War, but I’ve done more sailing, which probably explains why you haven’t heard of me. Though I do know a woman upstairs whom you’ve probably heard of. But enough of that. I haven’t caught your name, love.” "Do you now?" She grabbed up the cup of whiskey and nodded to the keep, if her eyes were mesmerizing sea-ice before, she made them into the blue of stormy seas as she spoke to him, "And if you ever touch my hair like that again, you'll be short a few fingers. A warning for a forward man." Before the silence could become uncomfortable, though she doubted Leif would be perturbed by it, she nodded to the stairs, "Take me to this woman." --- She leaned forward, cupping her chin in the palm of her hand and smiled lopsidedly, at Roze and Sagax. Their company lifted her tired, battle-worn spirits, and she was glad to have them close for companions. “What of you, Sagax? Has any lucky woman claimed your heart?” Sevine asked coolly, she had to admit, Sagax wasn’t all that bad-looking in appearance, he was actually quite attractive despite his thin, skeletal body frame. --- Leif’s brows arched up in surprise at her words, but only grinned even wider. He really did like this woman, and her attitude. It didn’t matter if she wanted to meet Sevine or not, he could still woo her up the stairs. “Come now, I wouldn’t hurt a fly, much less you. I would treat you like a garden of roses. I would tend to your body with care, and ever with gentleness, I would be the bee to collect your sweet nectar, and to pollinate your flower. But enough of that, come on then. I’ll take you to her.” Leif nodded with his head for her to follow him up the stairs to the second floor, where Sevine and the others waited. With quick steps, he ascended the stairs and returned to his table, where he saw another beautiful woman seated with his friend, and Sagax. “Sevine, there is someone that wishes to meet you.” She looked up in surprise at Leif’s sudden return, and mention of someone that wanted to meet her. “Is that so?” Sevine asked as she rose up from her chair, and looked past Leif, down the stair well, where Solveig emerged. “Mmmhmmm.” He said as he fetched two more chairs, dragging them over from another table without any occupants and placed them around their table to accommodate the more guests that joined them. "This one says he'd pollinate my flower." Solveig nodded at Leif as she sat down in the chair he provided. She paused with her cup of whiskey half way to her lips as her eyes went about the table and rested on Sevine, "Sevine? The Huntress, the Wolf-Tooth?" She swallowed and stood. How many times had she heard stories of the warriors who brought victory and fought with bravery in the Great War, her father and the Wolf-Tooth among them? And now she was sitting so close to a woman she could only hope to become like, fierce in battle and gentle in peace-time. Though, gentle was something Solveig was never too good at. Either way, she bowed her head and stuck her hand out. If there was one woman she'd met that made her feel nerve for the first time in a long while, it was this one, "I've heard stories, Wolf-Tooth. In my own endeavors, I only hoped they would be as great as yours." Her voice had lowered to a respectful volume as she looked to Sevine from under her red brows. Had she come off too sycophantic? Would the Wolf-Tooth even give her her time? Although interested to hear Sagax's response - she knew quite a few fellow Thieves at the guild that would be over him like and bees and honey - but with the arrival of two more, the answer would have to wait. Despite the lack of introductions, Roze could not stop herself from laughing at the firey-headed woman's words about the Nord; he was a handsome one - but he looked the cocky type you often saw in the Bard's College at Solitude. Leif took his seat next to Roze and smiled at her. Damn it all, he was handsome. Sevine knew that too well, it was something with the way he pulled back his hair, that much she knew. He admired the petite woman, and especially her long, black curls. She looked innocent, but Leif knew better to judge on appearances solely. He wasn’t any rag-tag sailor in Windhelm, no, he lived there, and took good care of his body, and mind. “I haven’t seen you around here before. Are you travelling with Sevine?” --- Much to Sevine’s surprise, a woman, close to her in age, appeared behind Leif. The flame-haired maiden seemed ever respectful at meeting Sevine, which made her feel confused. Sure, she had a nickname during the war, but never had she met anyone who felt honored to meet her. The huntress rose from her chair and extended her hand toward the maiden in a welcoming gesture. “I’m surprised you know who I am. Then again, I’m proud to have served Skyrim, and the Stormcloak’s. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for my people. I’m sorry if my friend pestered you, he’s annoyingly good at that. We served in the war together, this man, saved my life countless times, and I his.” In the back of her mind, Sevine felt as if she recognized Solveig, well not her personally, but her features… The hair, the tallness, the serious face… “I am, Sevine Varg-t’uk. Who might you be?” Sevine asked with a friendly smile. Obviously, anyone who had heard about Sevine’s deeds in the civil war, was a friend of hers. Sagax was, to understate things, taken off guard by Sevine's question. "Me? Oh, no. In fact, I've never really thought about it." His list of friends was short enough, yet his list of potential partners was even shorter, if existant at all. He was about to continue when Leif arrived with a fierce-looking, red-haired woman. "Well, that didn't take long at all." Much to Sevine's apparent surprise, this woman knew of her, and looked almost pathetic when greeting the huntress. Who was Sagax to judge though? Everyone has people they look up to, and it's only natural that they would pay their idols the greatest respect. Sagax barely stopped himself from laughing out loud when the newcomer mentioned Leif's intentions of "pollinating her flower". How in the world that man hasn't ended up in a ditch somewhere was a great mystery to the snickering Imperial. Finishing off his mead, Sagax sat quietly while Sevine greeted their new guest. Roze regarded Leif with a shrewd look, still amused at the comment by Solveig. "Yes, I'm here with our friend Sevine - we killed some Forsworn togther. Y'know, typical bonding time." She said with a chuckle. "As for Windhelm... well, it's not my first time here. I'm usually visiting on business though." Technically, she wasn't lying - she still did a lot of work for the Guild despite having left it with her mother, and quite a few of her contracts had let her to the stony city of Windhelm. She sat down again, clearing her throat and knocking back her whiskey to regain her edge. The look she got from that little Imperial lad was not lost on her, any more like it and he'd earn his place on the floor. She looked back to Sevine, "My name is Solveig. I'm a warrior that's fought thirteen duels in my time holding the spear." She cast a glance at Leif and Sagax with that, "Frithjolf Iron-Arm and his fighting band yielded to me in the circle one by one, and by the end of it, I'd earned six victories from them. The other seven were hard men, all of them their blood my spear licked and victory I'd gotten drunk on." She sat back in her seat and sighed quietly, turning her cup round and round with her fingertips. Even in the joyous applause of the circle or the red joy in a challenge answered, it was never lost on her why she'd gotten into the business. Her thoughts went back to her father, hoping he'd talked to her mother and at least made an effort to fix things. She shook her head and put a fierce smile on her face, "I'm no stranger to the thrill of battle. Or at least a duel." She admitted, "I wish I was with my father in the Reach, him and his just returned from the bloody business. Do you know him?" “Oh so you’ve fought with Sevine as well? As did I. She is a valiant warrior, no? Be careful not to look like the enemy if you’re on her side. When she gets whipped into a frenzy, it’s hard to stop her. What did you say your name was?” Leif asked smoothly, his voice sounded like that of cool water breaking over rocks, smooth and dangerous. He turned his attention back to Sevine, and Solveig, as the two began discussing matters of greater importance. "I didn't say what my name was." Roze replied smoothly, downing the remainder of her drink before continuing. "But since you asked, it's Rozalia. And no - I'm not interested in your pollination either." She added with a chuckle. "Pollination? No, I have never uttered such words. Besides, you are far too beautiful, to be addressed so lewdly. If anything, yough ought to be treated like a sovereign queen, lavished with roses, exquisite foods, and the finest wines." Leif returned with a surprised raise of his eye brows. If there was anything Leif wanted to do, it was certainly to cuddle the Breton woman against the bareness of his chest, and run his fingers along her jawbone, or to run his fingers through her hair. The Nord man sounded smooth, and eloquent in his words; he sounded as suave as silk speaking, if it could talk.. Yet if anyone were to witness what he had said below to Solveig, and then to see him now, sweet-talking Roze and he did, they would know exactly what kind of man he was. This did not make Leif a hero by any means, bu rather a man who forgot himself, and was so deeply moved by a woman and her beauty. And as he saw it, there was no harm in flirting with women, especially if they turned him down. If anything, it strengthened his persistence. Eventually, in the back of his mind,he would find someone to settle down with and call a special place home. "You are as beautiful as a rose. Very eloquent, but I iamgine also very deadly, with your thorns. I can tell you are not one to be trifled with." --- “Your father?” Sevine asked in a bewildered tone. It finally clicked in her mind, as she remembered who the woman before her reminded her of. She was rather impressed with Solveig and her record of fighting. The woman sounded like Sevine herself, as she was equally valiant in battle, and duels, as she was. “You’re not related to a Jorwen Red-Bear by any chance are you? If you are, you look just like your father now that I think of it, and I’ve fought alongside him, many times, and as of recent in the redoubt. Damned good tailor as well.” She grinned broadly, there was not a doubt in her mind as to who Solveig resembled. The realization broke over her like an early spring morning, shattering the last of winter’s grip on the land. The woman before her held the same stance, and body posture as her father. It dawned on her what Jorwen had last said to her, how mournfully he spoke of his daughter, as if he had not seen his beloved family in years. "I hope you have had the chance to speak with him, I could tell he missed you sorely when we rescued a group of wee babes, now that I think of it, there was a red lass that looked as fierce as you that he doted on. Beasts they were, but children we made them," Sevine hoped that whatever sadness Jorwen felt could be expressed throw her words. "So he spoke of me?" Solveig tried her best not to let a smile dominate her face. "And aye, the man's my father. Haven't seen him often even in my twenty-eight years. I hoped to catch him soon and I did." Solveig smiled at her empty cup, "So you know him? Fought with him? What's he like out there, in battle and in camp?" She didn't see her father emerge from the stairs enough for his torso to show, his big arms crossed behind Solveig. Sevine watched without telling Solveig,that her father was behind her with a flick of her eyes and leaned in on her elbows. "Your father? He is one helluva a man. Jorwen Red-Bear is one of the most bravest men in all of Skyrim. He has saved my life twice, did you know that? Once in the war, and just now in the redoubt. Both times, had he not come in like the big red hairy beast of a man he is, I would have died back in the war. He is a kind man, a man who loves with an easy gentleness. But he is frustrated in war, like he is missing something deeply in his life. And now that I have met you, I know what it is. He missed you. He fought to stay alive for you, killed countless men in the face of death, in the very maws of hell. I am not aware if your mother is still alive, but if she is, then your father is one passionate man. He is truly, a Red Bear. And I know that he loves his family." The huntress had met her gaze dead on while she spoke, and did not avert her gaze to address the man standing behind her.