I thought we'd be in Ivarstead tonight, but we're back at the Bee and Barb.

  I don't mind it, though. Watching Erandur and Maramal try not to kill each other was good entertainment!

  Even if I did agree to more work, but whatever. You know I'm always up for alchemy and romantic meddling!

  And I did kill Grelod the Kind, so that's a big win for Skyrim. I don't care if the guards come at me for that. It was worth it!

  So, this morning we got up, had breakfast, then headed out into the Riften market. After a bit of wandering, I left the others to sell the goods we'd picked up on the way while I slipped off to Honorhall Orphanage.

  I had to bribe Septim with a bit of chicken, but he eventually stayed put.

  The orphanage is a drab building on the edge of town. I didn't look around too much, though. I wanted to get in and out before anyone really noticed.

  I crept inside to a dining area, and could hear Grelod scolding the children in the next room. She said that anyone shirking their duties would get an extra beating, and that she was sick of hearing about adoptions. No one was getting adopted. She told the children they weren't needed or wanted. They'd just stay there until they were old enough to be kicked out!

  I was so angry, it took everything I had in me to not march around that corner and just slit her throat right there.

  Oh, and it got worse! She asked them, "Now what do you say?" and the children answered back, "We love you Grelod. Thank you for your kindness."

  How WRONG is that? That's downright Daedric! I can't believe people just let her treat those kids like that!

  I am not ashamed to admit that I was so mad I had to wipe away a tear before I went into the next room. I almost ran right into a woman about my age who I assume was Constance. She looked worried, and said that I should leave. Grelod wasn't allowing any adoptions, and she didn't want my presence to get the kids' hopes up.

  I told her not to worry. My business was with Grelod.

  A little girl overheard this, and said that she was afraid of Grelod. She told me that when Aventus left, Grelod was so mad that she gave her double the beatings that day.

  I asked if Constance ever beat them, and the little girl said that no, she would never! Constance didn't think it was right, and she was the reason they only got beat "a little" every day.

  Grelod was right there, yelling at the kids to get out. She said they were lucky she was kind enough to let them play outside for a bit on such a nice day. Constance was at the dining table, cleaning up a very sparse-looking breakfast.

  I walked up to Grelod and tapped her on the shoulder before she could go out to watch over the kids. I had my other hand on my dagger.

  I can count on one hand the times I've physically felt nervousness leave my body, and that was one of them. All the jitters I'd been feeling just melted away. The children were outside, so I didn't have to worry about them, and Constance had taken the dishes off to some other room.

  It was just me and the bitch.

  Grelod turned around and demanded to know what I wanted, then called me a piece of gutter trash before I jammed my dagger under her ribs. She fell, dead, and I ducked out of there before anyone saw me.

  I could hear Constance screaming and the children laughing as I walked away. They're in good hands, now.

  I wiped off my dagger and blotted the new bloodstains on the front of my robes so they didn't look too fresh. Luckily they blend in with the old ones pretty good.

  I joined up with the others in the market just as the guards were running towards the orphanage. I told them the job was done, and we milled around for a bit before we headed towards the temple of Mara. We didn't want to disappear too quickly; it might look suspicious.

  Besides, Erandur said he didn't want to go in there with his head full of thoughts of murder. I reassured him that anyone who knew what was happening there wouldn't call it that. I told him what she'd said to the children, and what the little girl told me.

  He was disgusted, and agreed that I had done everyone a favor.

  We made our way to the Temple of Mara, and went into the little courtyard out front. The temple grounds are separated from the rest of the town by a tall stone wall, with a small courtyard planted with young birch trees and some flowers. The temple itself is a big, beautiful hall, hung with banners and up a flight of stone steps, with large lit braziers flanking the doors.

  Erandur paused before we went up to fuss with his hair and his armor a bit. He said that if he'd known we were coming, he'd have brought his robes to change into. Valdimar pointed out that at least there's no blood on his armor, and they all cast me a look.

  I just groaned and muttered how I can't be expected to wash my robes every time they get blood on them! I'd spend half my life scrubbing!

  Divines, I keep being reminded how different my life is now compared to before! I can't remember all the times Dru and I passed over secondhand clothes because they had a little blood spot on them. Then again, that would've been bad for business, but still… We would be disgusted to be out and about in stained dresses! I've got bloodstains on my robes, and I'm just sitting here, drinking my wine like it's normal, because for me it is, and while I've gotten a few sideways looks about it here and there, most people don't seem to even notice.

  Anyway, once we reassured Erandur that he looked presentable enough, we climbed the steps and went in. Inside, there's two rows of benches, with a statue of Mara and a shrine at the far end. There's a few side rooms and some steps going down that probably lead to a basement. There's also a door that leads to the Temple of Arkay, and I learned that it's practically under the Temple of Mara!

  That's certainly an… Interesting combination, but given how the whole town seems like it's made of buildings stacked on top of one another, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

  Well, when we walked in, I looked over and saw that Erandur had that warm smile he gets as he looked around. There wasn't anyone else in the sanctuary with us, but it didn't feel empty, if you know what I mean. He thanked us for coming with him, and was asking us if we'd like a blessing at the altar when a Redguard priest came out from a side room to welcome us.

  He stopped when he saw Erandur.

  I swear by the Nine, I will figure out how they just Know. Even with Erandur dressed in armor and a fur hood, and with his back to him, Maramal Knew. He looked surprised, and said, "Brother?"

  I recognized his voice, and so did Erandur. Luckily, he's had lots of practice putting on his Priest Face, and he quickly went from a scowl to a smile as he turned around and greeted his "brother".

  And I thought Dawnstar was cold! You could practically see the frost forming on the windows with how chilly Maramal's smile was when he realized who it was.

  After a few little jabs about not recognizing him in armor and whatnot, and with Erandur quoting specific teachings back at him saying armor was okay, Maramal finally decided to acknowledge the rest of us. He wanted to know if Erandur was bringing new acolytes or perhaps coming by to say that he's leaving the Order?

  He sounded awfully hopeful at that, but rather than set him on fire, like I wanted to, Erandur just laughed him off. Silly man, he would never leave the Order! How could he, when he was so busy spreading the Light of Mara all over Skyrim with the Dragonborn?

  At this, he gestured to me, and I was suddenly very self-conscious about the blood on my robes. All I could do was wave and introduce myself. Lydia and Valdimar piped up about me being a Thane, too.

  A Dunmer priestess came out of nowhere, it seemed, and asked if I was looking to add Agent of Mara to my list of titles.

  I was about to ask her what exactly that meant, when Erandur said, "An excellent idea, Sister…?"

  Maramal apologized for not saying anything sooner, and rather smugly introduced us to Dinya Balu, his wife.

  Erandur almost cracked, but he held it together. He congratulated them both and gave them a hug, then said something in Dunmeri to Dinya. Valdimar cleared his throat a bit, and I saw her eyes go wide. They exchanged a few more words, and Erandur nodded before continuing in Cyrodilic that he'd just do a quick prayer before we went to the market.

  Dinya said that Maramal would be out to see us shortly, and the priest looked as confused about everything as I was. I looked past Erandur to Valdimar, who was trying very hard to pretend that he didn't know what they were talking about.

  So, Erandur went to the altar up front, did his thing, then hustled us all out.

  We found a quiet corner so he could explain. Turns out, Dinya's pregnant, and Maramal didn't know! No one did! Valdimar said it was a good thing Erandur gave her some traditional Dunmer words about the baby. Maramal clearly doesn't speak the language at all, and he was angry enough that Erandur was even in the Temple.

  Lydia was just confused that Dinya's own husband couldn't tell. It was obvious to her, but Valdimar and I didn't have a clue.

  Oh, well. Some people can just tell.

  Anyway, I decided to browse what was on offer while we waited for Maramal. I spoke with Marise, a Dunmer woman selling meats and vegetables. I overheard a man praising her for the freshness of her goods, and she said that was a trade secret of hers. You know I can't resist a secret, so I went to buy some meat and see what I could learn.

  Marise's secret is crushed Ice Wraith Teeth. She knows of a way to prepare them so they keep things fresh longer. She learned it in Hammerfell, which makes sense. She said she's running low and I agreed to keep my eye out for more for her.

  Lydia leaned in and asked why I was volunteering us to find yet more alchemy ingredients? I asked what she meant, and she said that while I was busy at the orphanage, Erandur agreed to get fire salts for Balimund, the blacksmith. Apparently they're the secret to his forge's intense heat.

  Good to know!

  I mean, I've got a looong list of things to find, now, but hopefully it'll be worth it.

  Maramal joined us after that, with a huge smile on his face. We congratulated him, and I made a mental note to drop a few extra septims in the offering box at the Temple. I mean, he's annoying as hell and I really don't like him, but I'm honestly glad for the two of them, and for Riften. Maybe running around after a little one will teach him some things. It should at least keep him too busy to badger people about drinking mead in a town known for making amazing mead.

  The priest was in a better mood, but he was no less sharp towards Erandur as we walked around the town center. Apparently Dinya wanted some time to pen a letter to family in Morrowind before she joined us outside. She said walking around would be good for the baby, and she wanted to meet us all properly.

  So, until she joined us, we followed the priests like a small flock of very dangerous ducklings. Seriously, I didn't know what else to do! I knew Erandur could keep his temper, but I wasn't sure about Maramal. He had more than a few choice words for him, on everything from "abandoning" his shrine in Dawnstar, to the swords in his belt.

  Erandur, for his part, pointed out that his shrine was fine without him, because all it needed was love, and "Dawnstar has a warm heart, despite the weather." Besides, he said, no one ever came to the shrine. They had that much in common, it seemed, given the empty benches he saw here.

  The three of us looked at each other. We didn't know Erandur could cut with his words like that!

  Maramal's head whipped towards Erandur. I couldn't see his face in his hood, but he went all self-important as he pointed out that at least people knew they could trust him. He admonished Erandur for not even having a symbol of his devotion to Mara on him. How were people supposed to be able to tell?

  They were interrupted by a beggar asking for coins. I went to hand him a septim when Maramal spoke up. He called me "my lady," and told me to stop! He spoke with the man, named Snilf, and said that he knew begging wasn't the answer. He expected to see the man at the Temple later; they'd take care of him there.

  THAT had me seeing red! Priest or not, I was ready to lay him out, but Erandur put his hand out to stop me. He then turned his palm up, and gestured for me to hand him the coin I was going to give to Snilf. I did, and he added a few from his own pouch before giving them to the beggar.

  Before we walked away, Erandur put his hand on the man's shoulder and said, "Mara's Mercy be with you." I could tell from the expression on the man's face that Erandur was doing that Thing he does. You know, with the warmth and the "everything looks brighter somehow" thing.

  I wish I knew what to call it.

  Maramal was about to say something as we walked away, but Erandur said, very pointedly, that Lady Mara doesn't care how you look or what you're wearing. Actions speak the loudest.

  Maramal countered that he knew that. In fact, he prayed every day for the beggars and "drunkards" here to see the Light of Mara. He said they rarely left his mind!

  Then Erandur said something that I hope I'm getting right, because it was brilliant and I wish I had these words back in the Capital. I saw so many priests with gold rings, silk robes, and fine leather shoes refuse to give coins to beggars - my friends, mind you - and instead offer to pray for them. Makes my blood boil every time I remember it. Dru and I, all of us, we shared whatever we had, even if it was just half a loaf of stale bread! They couldn't spare a coin!

  I'm not ashamed to admit that the first heist we pulled was me asking a priest to pray for my "sick baby sister" while Dru snatched her purse.

  Anyway, Erandur said, "Thoughts and prayers don't feed people, Brother. They only shield you from your guilt."

  Maramal huffed and grumbled that the man was probably just going to buy skooma, which made Erandur laugh. He said it took a lot more than four septims to buy skooma!

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  Maramal straightened up at this, and asked, in that "I'm better than you" tone he has, how exactly Erandur knew the price of skooma?

  Erandur shrugged and said that you learn things when you talk with people instead of preaching at them.

  Thank Mara that Dinya walked up just then! I'm almost certain they would have lunged at each other!

  We were all properly introduced this time, and during that Dinya recognized Valdimar's name and asked if he was Thora's big brother. He said that he was, and the four of them all started talking about her and putting together the bits of news they had about her in Hammerfell.

  While they talked, I went to pet Septim and saw him staring to the side with his ears back. I looked to see what had got his attention, and saw the red-headed man watching us. The man asked if I had reconsidered his offer, and Septim shifted to get between us, even though the man was a distance away. I said no, and then he asked if I'd like to buy some of his "Genuine Falmerblood Elixir."

  Like he's ever even seen a Falmer.

  I just rolled my eyes at him and another merchant, a Dunmer named Brand-Shei, told me not to listen to Brynjolf. Said he's always flogging some form of netch oil or another and it's a miracle that his fake potions haven't killed anyone yet!

  I decided to talk with him for a bit, and when he introduced himself I said I was usually the one with the strange name! He agreed that Bronwen is a strange name for an Imperial, but no more than Brand-Shei is for a Dunmer! Turns out he was raised by Argonians in Black Marsh.

  The others were still talking, so I asked him for his story. Brand-Shei told me that he doesn't know how he ended up in Black Marsh. His Argonian father found him wrapped in a blanket with a symbol of House Telvanni on it. Since then, the most he's been able to find out is that a Telvanni matron booked passage on a ship called "The Pride of Tel Vos" to escape the Accession War. What happened after that is anyone's guess. He's been looking for that ship for years.

  I said that if I came across it, I'd let him know what I found out. He thanked me, and I bought a few soul gems before Lydia and I went back to the group.

  Valdimar was telling the couple all about how Erandur saved his family. He had them and even a few of the passers-by under his spell (he's a really good story-teller!) so I knew no one was going anywhere for a while. Lydia whispered that she noticed there was an alchemy shop on the canal level if I wanted to head down, and I nodded. I said we'd be right back, and followed her down.

  The lower level of Riften reminds me of the more run-down part of the docks back in the Capital. To be honest, it feels a bit like home down there, or would, if it weren't so cold.

  -/-/-/-/-/-

  Oh, these drinks are good! Talen-Jei offered us samples of some specials that he's come up with, and they're all amazing. It's a hard choice, but I'm going with the White-Gold Tower (obviously), Lydia's having a Velvet LaChance, and Erandur and Valdimar are both having Cliff Racers.

  Talen-Jei said he heard that Erandur's a priest of Mara, and asked for help proposing to Keerava. Maramal's willing to do the ceremony with traditional Argonian vows and everything, so Talen-Jei wants to propose properly, with a traditional Argonian ring. He's got the gold for it, but he needs three flawless amethysts to complete it.

  I told him that wouldn't be a problem. I know I've got some back home; I'll grab them next time we're there.

  -/-/-/-/-/-

  Anyway, the alchemist's, Elgrim's Elixirs, is at the end of the row, by the lake. Inside, we met Master Elgrim, his wife, Hafjorg, and Ingun Black-Briar, his apprentice. Lydia took off her helm when she saw Ingun, which surprised me at first, but then she called her by name.

  Turns out, since Ingun is a noblewoman like Lydia, they "know each other", which is Lydia-talk for "friends". They talked while I chatted with Elgrim and browsed his supplies. He's the grumpy type, but not bad. He told me that Ingun's a natural, and very "eager" to run experiments. Unfortunately, her mistakes tend to be expensive; she's cost him a fortune in ingredients, but she learns quick and "makes the best poisons this side of Skyrim."

  After I bought a few things, I went to join Lydia and Ingun by the fireplace. Ingun was thanking Lydia for something, and Lydia said that she owed her at least that much. Apparently Ingun had a new potion on her at one of those fancy parties they were both forced to attend, so she tested it out on some suitors that couldn't take a hint.

  She laughed and told me she had to tell Lydia not to stab her test subjects!

  See, this is why I think they're friends. Lydia actually listened and didn't stab anyone!

  Ingun thanked us again before we left, and we went back up to the market. On the way, Lydia admitted that she'd volunteered us to gather some ingredients for Ingun so she can repay Elgrim for all the stuff she's wasted. I had to tease her about it, given how she always complains when I or Erandur do it.

  Of course, the one time she agrees to help, it's not that simple. No, we need to find Nirnroot, Deathbells, and Nightshade. Not very hard to find; Deathbells and Nightshade are all over near the house, but we need to find twenty of each!

  Yes, I'm going to make her carry them. Her pack's going to look like a traveling flower shop!

  Anyway, we joined up with the others, who were now buying food in the market. Dinya's presence seems to calm down her husband. Maramal didn't say a thing when she gave a gold piece to a lady beggar who approached her. Erandur said that Dinya wanted to speak with me about becoming an Agent of Mara, so I walked with her for a bit while she explained.

  She said that they were looking for people to help them spread Mara's Light throughout Skyrim. Erandur was already doing a fine job of it. They'd heard how "the evil" in Dawnstar had been banished, and about Old Hroldan. Apparently, the goddess has some more direct action in mind, and gave Dinya a vision.

  She saw a young woman in Ivarstead, named Fastred, who's been been causing a bit of trouble. Prayers to Mara about her have been heard, and relayed here. Obviously, Dinya and Maramal can't go talk to Fastred about her boy problems, what with the dragons and now the baby. They actually have an acolyte named Briehl at the Temple - I didn't see him - but according to Dinya he's not ready for this sort of thing.

  Of course, I jumped at the chance! Goddess-approved romantic shenanigans? How could I say no?! I normally don't like getting so involved, but it was too good to pass up! Lydia's excited, too. Besides, we're headed to Ivarstead tomorrow to give the Greybeards the horn. We can have this handled by nightfall if we get there fast enough.

  Dinya was very happy to hear that I wanted to help, so we went back to join the others and let them know what was going on before we went our separate ways.

  By then, it was almost time for dinner and I realized I hadn't told Shadr that he was off the hook for his debt to Sapphire. We found him at the stables and he was relieved to know that he was in the clear. As thanks, he gave me a potion of invisibility that he had just in case Sapphire came for him!

  Smart man.

  Anyway, we were on our way back to the gate when a dragon attacked! Luckily it was a small one, but it was fast so it took a while to kill, even with the help of the guards.

  Once that was done with, we came back inside. The gate guards didn't try to extort us this time; I think seeing me absorb a dragon's soul after I Shouted a blast of ice at it helped.

  We came here for dinner and to get rooms for the night, and I started writing.

  The guys shared with us that Maramal might start easing up on Erandur, if only a little. Apparently he's the reason Maramal met his wife, if only in a roundabout way. Dinya's giving him partial credit for the "miracle" that is their baby. According to the Healers, they shouldn't have been able to have a kid, but since it's obviously Mara's will that they be together, the baby should've been expected.

  Here's what happened: Dinya's an Ashlander from Morrowind, and she met Thora while Thora was on pilgrimage there two years ago. Dinya "saw Mara's Light" and came back here with Thora to join the Order, where she met Maramal, they fell in love, all that.

  Dinya's certain that if Erandur hadn't joined the Order, Valdimar's family wouldn't have made it, and Thora would've been sent off to live somewhere else. Valdimar and Brother Rallis (who was old) probably wouldn't have survived the wolf attack on the way back to the farm. The chances of Thora becoming a priestess after that are very slim. Valdimar said that Thora wanted to be a priestess of Mara since the day she got home from Morthal! Mara was added to the family's altar because of Erandur, and Thora took over tending it as soon as she was able, "to practice," she said.

  Whether or not Maramal agrees with Dinya's logic is one thing, but it's definitely given him something to think about.

  Ah, well. Erandur wants to go back to the Temple for a real visit before we head for Ivarstead, so we'll see what happens in the morning.

  We barely made it out of Riften before we ran into trouble, so I'm on watch again. We're spending the night in a good-sized keep called Faldar's Tooth, and I'm dead tired!

  This morning we got up a bit later than usual and had a nice, leisurely breakfast. Ivarstead isn't that far, especially if you just follow the water's edge, so I didn't think we had to hurry.

  Erandur wanted to pray a bit more at the Temple before we left, and Lydia reminded me about that bounty we needed to look into for taking care of those bandits at the Dwarven ruin.

  I'd forgotten about that, so Lydia and I went to the Jarl's keep while Valdimar and Erandur went to the Temple.

  Mistveil Keep is an impressive stone building with high walls and up several flights of steps. Inside is no less impressive, with a huge great hall with a fire in the center, surrounded by tables. It has a high ceiling, with about a half dozen long Riften banners hanging from the rafters. At the far end, on a dais in the more well-lit part, is Jarl Laila Law-Giver's throne.

  It's not as grand as Dragonsreach, but it's still really nice.

  Before we went in, Lydia told me that the Black-Briars are the ones who really control Riften. Laila considers Maven Black-Briar, the head of the family, to be a close personal friend and so important to the city that she'd bend over backwards to keep her happy.

  I'll keep that in mind if I ever run into Maven.

  We went in, and a guard directed us to a Bosmer woman, Laila's steward. Her name is Anuriel, and I explained how we killed most of the bandits, but another group got their leader. She said that since we were the first ones to inquire, we were entitled to the bounty. Besides, the first group had plenty of time to collect!

  We walked out 500 gold richer, and went to the Temple to find the others.

  Erandur and Valdimar were at the bottom of the steps with Maramal, and Dinya was up top, just going back inside. Maramal gave us a little nod, smiling, but once the door was closed and his wife was out of view, he glared at Erandur.

  He said that while he's thankful Mara sent one of her own to help them deal with the troubled romance in Ivarstead, he still wished that Erandur looked like a priest. "At least wear an amulet on your belt," he said.

  "What, next to the swords?" Erandur quipped, which only made Maramal angrier.

  He got mean after that. I've heard people make insults like what he said, and until the others explained to me how courtship here worked, I didn't understand them, but it was low. He sneered and said, "Like you could ever hope to wear one around your neck."

  Erandur just flinched, but I could tell it cut deep. He was about to say something (probably something he'd regret) when Valdimar cut in. He pointed out that not once had anyone ever doubted Erandur's priesthood. They hadn't even blinked, it was that obvious. He said he didn't need all that.

  He was right, but Maramal was clearly unconvinced. He stared to say something more when Erandur cursed under his breath and pulled off his gauntlets. I had a good idea what he was doing, and I was right! Valdimar took the armor from him, and Erandur pulled up his cuff just enough to show Maramal the love knot tattoo on his arm.

  "She reminds me to never move my hand in anger," he said, then he pulled off his scarf. He just held it out and I took it without a word.

  He unhooked the high collar of his shirt, and managed to pull the front of his armor down just enough so that he could show him the amulet over his heart. I saw the gold of it and the surrounding flames reflect a bit on Maramal's face.

  Maramal looked shocked, and Erandur said, "I carry Her with me, every hour of every day."

  As he got his gear back on, he said that he might not wear a sign of his priesthood where everyone could see, or hold services, or preach in the streets, but he knew his deeds were enough.

  Maramal quickly got back on his high horse and said that he hoped Temple funds didn't pay for Erandur's scribe-metal tattoos.

  Erandur smirked and asked, as he pulled his hood back up, how exactly did Maramal know the price of scribe-metal tattoos?

  We all laughed as we set off, and left Maramal seething at the foot of the steps.

  We followed the water's edge towards Ivarstead once we were out of Riften, and passed through a small farm and some trees before we found a road.

  The weather was beautiful, and we chatted as we walked. Not far along the road there was a keep with four towers, two of which are half-ruined. As we passed by, a loud voice called out to "Give 'em the dogs!" or something like that, and the front gate opened up and let loose two wolves!

  They weren't hard to fight off at all, but there were bandits all over the walls and the towers of the keep, and they were doing their best to turn us into pincushions with their arrows!

  Of course, I put a Flame Atronach up on the walls with them, and that was a good enough distraction that the others could pick them off with arrows and magic while I made sure they didn't take too much damage.

  When things quieted down, we took a moment to pull the arrows out of each other.

  Gods, I'll never get used to that feeling! Erandur has some potions that dull the pain, but the sensation of the arrowheads being worked out of my skin… Ugh, it gives me the shivers thinking about it!

  At least we have plenty of spells and potions to close the wounds.

  We decided to see what else the place had to offer, and could see that there was more movement in the remaining towers, including a flash of armor at the very top of the tallest one.

  So, I took what I could find off the dead bandits that fell off the walls, and started to look for a way up. I knew there had to be one, because Septim had somehow gotten up there, and was barking down at us!

  There was a door to the inside of the keep in the small courtyard, but that couldn't have been it. We decided to circle the building, and soon enough we found an archway that led into a little store room, with a stairway going up.

  Septim came down the steps to greet us, and I gave him a bit of meat while I healed his cuts. He'd clearly done just as good a job at distracting the archers as the Flame Atronach.

  He's such a good boy! I know I'll miss having him around, but he deserves to be snoring by a warm fire and playing Fetch, not roughing it out here and getting cut up every other day.

  I'll have to ask Lydia later if we have enough gold for Proudspire. She keeps better track of it than I do.

  Anyway, I did some more looting while the others looked around, and they found a door leading into the shorter of the two towers. It looked like if we went up the steps inside, we could reach the tallest level to get into the big tower in the back.

  Of course, there were more bandits hiding in there, and once we were past those, we made our way to the big tower.

  The big tower is a bit ruined, with a wooden cabin partially built into the topmost level in place of a wall. It's sort of like a separate apartment! There we found a big man dressed in fine Nordic armor, obviously their leader.

  I'm not afraid to admit he did a number on me before the others got there. He was as big as Valdimar!

  Once he was taken care of, we took a minute to loot what was obviously his quarters. I found some gold and useful potions, and his armor should fetch a good price, too.

  It was past noon at this point, and we were all feeling a bit hungry. The man had a table and some chairs up there on the landing that looked out over the landscape, so we set up there to eat. As we enjoyed our late lunch, I learned that the islands in the middle of the lake are home to the Goldenglow Estate, the beekeepers who supply the honey for Black-Briar Mead.

  On the other side of the lake I could see what looked like another keep, and some ruins farther up the mountainside.

  It was actually really nice up there. The guy had a good spot!

  As much as I wanted to keep going on to Ivarstead, as we talked it became obvious that we wouldn't make it there before nightfall. It was already mid-afternoon by the time we got up from our meal, so we decided to go into the keep and see what we could find.

  By the NINE! It's so much bigger that it looks! I'm sure it's partially dug into the hillside, it has to be.

  Anyway, we found a door to the inside, and almost immediately ran into trouble. There were bandits, and cages with wolves in them. As we worked our way through the passages, we kept coming up on more caged wolves. It felt bad to kill them with them trapped in here, but what else could we do? There was no way to release them outside, and if we let them be, they'd starve.

  It didn't take long to see why the bandits had so many of them. We came upon a circular room, an arena, with a fighting pit in the center. There were bandits there, betting on the wolf fight happening in the pit. They were distracted enough that they didn't see us come in behind them.

  Just like with the skeever fights at Fort Dunstad, the whole thing just makes me sick. Knowing what was going on here, I'm glad we decided to clear the place out.

  Once we'd cleared out the arena and the cashier's cage - THAT was a HAUL! - we kept going to see what else we could find. We found a few other rooms, including some that were semi-flooded, and past that, the kitchen.

  There was a cook in there and a helper, but the cook was armed just as heavily as the rest of them, and swung at us like we were next on the menu!

  I found the man's journal, and he complained that all the people there ever wanted was meat, despite his best efforts. It looks like he was solving that problem by serving up dog.

  The dining area was next, with yet more bandits, and past that, a sleeping quarters.

  I figured we had to be done, but there was even more after that! We found another room that looked like a general living area (with some bandits) then more corridors that led to a smithy (also with bandits). Past that was a strange, half-flooded area with (surprise!) a bandit in it, checking the bear traps he'd set to catch the skeevers that ran at us.

  Guess how I knew he was checking traps.

  In all, the place wasn't much different from other forts we've cleared out, but it was a chore getting through it all! It's just really big and there were so many of them. That's before you take into account the wolves and skeevers, too! I think we found at least a dozen people in here? I know I stopped counting before we got to the kitchen.

  Anyway, it was well past nightfall by the time we finished up, and we came here to the dining room to eat before bed.

  It was my turn to make dinner, and luckily I found plenty to cook that wasn't dog meat.

  The door was open, and I heard Erandur complain that it was too late to wash up. Valdimar offered to help him if he was too tired, and Erandur must have made a face or something because Lydia cackled so hard she snorted!

  Even though it was late, we took our time with dinner. We mostly talked about Maramal and Dinya, and wondered what in Oblivion she saw in him. She seems really devout herself, but not in that peachy way he is.

  I told them how I'd noticed that people actually smiled and talked with her while we were walking around, as opposed to how they reacted seeing Maramal. They were polite, but they just nodded and gave him those tight, "polite" smiles you give people you're not happy to see. You know the ones.

  They're all in bed now, and it's just me and Septim. He's been thrilled with all the bones in here, and made himself a little pile. He'll have to pick one to take with him tomorrow.

  I found a book on archery while we were wandering around, so I'm going to read that until it's time to wake Lydia.

  I'm so glad for fanfic, because it lets me connect characters that logically SHOULD know each other together, but who act like total strangers in the game, like Maramal and Erandur. Making them hate each other is just icing on the cake! I figured that Lydia, being a noble in my story, would know Ingun, especially since Ingun is a bit of a black sheep herself.

  And yes, I'm using Erandur to voice my opinion on the "thoughts and prayers" crowd who could absolutely do more in a bad situation, but who use the phrase as sort of a Indulgence against Guilt, or a way to trick themselves into thinking they actually did something useful.

  I also love how Erandur joining the Temple when he did had effects that no one could've forseen. It's just headcanons, but there's one I'm sitting on that's backed up with A LOT of canon lore and I can't WAIT to tell it!