It still felt wrong to think about her that way; today had been the first day he had seen the blond girl outside the orphanage. There had been so much to think about during the last few weeks, so many things that had required his full concentration, all the battles and sieges and skirmishes, he had completely forgotten about the fact that he had adopted a child.
He hadn't wanted to visit her and Romlyn this time, hadn't even thought about them: The only reason he had returned to Whiterun at all was that he needed to stock up on supplies; a short detour to Belethor's shop should have taken care of that problem.
But when he had seen her playing near the market with Braith and Lars, shouting and giggling and chasing the other children across the plaza he had remembered, and he had felt a strange bout of possessiveness, an overwhelming sense of mine he had not been prepared for.
He had a daughter now: A smart, capable young Nord girl who fit into this town so naturally. Who looked like she belonged here, and had been smiling so brightly at her friends.
He had waved his hand at her in greeting, even though she hadn't looked his way and couldn't even see the gesture. He hadn't intended to drag her away from her new friends; but then things had escalated a little, the way they always did around the Dragonborn.
Serano sighed. He finally made up his mind and slid his tankard across the table back in Hulda's direction. He had wasted enough time here already; if he stayed any longer someone might walk up to him and try to strike up a conversation. Somewhat reluctantly he pushed his chair back and nodded at Uthgerd before he headed towards the door to return home.
The marketplace looked the same as it always did around this time of day: Most of Whiterun's citizens lurked around the stalls and tried to bargain with the various vendors, who in turn attempted to raise the price as much as possible without driving their potential customers away. Serano had never quite understood why everyone indulged in that particular folly. When Romlyn had suggested that he try and man his store for a few hours he had been honest and straight-forward: He had presented the items they sold and had stated their price, and if people considered them too expensive, well, then they didn't have to buy anything. He didn't bargain, he had no intention of playing their stupid games, and whenever they insisted on wasting his time he had shown them the door. Romlyn hadn't been too pleased.
He cast a glance at the little, barely noticeable blood stains on the ground in front of Carlotta's stall. One had to know that they were there, otherwise they were hardly noticeable. He wondered who had taken Braith home; someone would have had to, since she hadn't looked as if she had been in any condition to walk. Her parents hadn't been around as he far as he remembered...
Gods, it had been his first act as a parent and already he had managed to make two little girls cry, one of them being his own daughter.
When he opened his front door he was surprised to find the dunmer already waiting for him. He stood in front of the fireplace and greeted Serano happily, before his expression turned into a wary frown.
He had obviously gotten the letter and the money Serano had sent him a few days ago: Some of the furniture had been replaced, new books lined the shelves, and a lonely doll sat on the chair near the front door. A cursory glance revealed that a young girl lived here.
Runa told me what happened.”
Romlyn raised his hands as if he intended to cross his arms in front of his chest or assume some other confrontational posture, before he reconsidered and dropped them awkwardly again.
Serano didn't acknowledge that comment with a response. He didn't like being criticized. He remembered establishing this basic rule for their relationship as well.
"I would like to know why you charged at her friends and nearly killed Amrem's daughter."
Alone (M!DB/Romlyn) (34/?)
He hadn't wanted to visit her and Romlyn this time, hadn't even thought about them: The only reason he had returned to Whiterun at all was that he needed to stock up on supplies; a short detour to Belethor's shop should have taken care of that problem.
But when he had seen her playing near the market with Braith and Lars, shouting and giggling and chasing the other children across the plaza he had remembered, and he had felt a strange bout of possessiveness, an overwhelming sense of mine he had not been prepared for.
He had a daughter now: A smart, capable young Nord girl who fit into this town so naturally. Who looked like she belonged here, and had been smiling so brightly at her friends.
He had waved his hand at her in greeting, even though she hadn't looked his way and couldn't even see the gesture. He hadn't intended to drag her away from her new friends; but then things had escalated a little, the way they always did around the Dragonborn.
Serano sighed. He finally made up his mind and slid his tankard across the table back in Hulda's direction. He had wasted enough time here already; if he stayed any longer someone might walk up to him and try to strike up a conversation. Somewhat reluctantly he pushed his chair back and nodded at Uthgerd before he headed towards the door to return home.
The marketplace looked the same as it always did around this time of day: Most of Whiterun's citizens lurked around the stalls and tried to bargain with the various vendors, who in turn attempted to raise the price as much as possible without driving their potential customers away. Serano had never quite understood why everyone indulged in that particular folly. When Romlyn had suggested that he try and man his store for a few hours he had been honest and straight-forward: He had presented the items they sold and had stated their price, and if people considered them too expensive, well, then they didn't have to buy anything. He didn't bargain, he had no intention of playing their stupid games, and whenever they insisted on wasting his time he had shown them the door. Romlyn hadn't been too pleased.
He cast a glance at the little, barely noticeable blood stains on the ground in front of Carlotta's stall. One had to know that they were there, otherwise they were hardly noticeable. He wondered who had taken Braith home; someone would have had to, since she hadn't looked as if she had been in any condition to walk. Her parents hadn't been around as he far as he remembered...
Gods, it had been his first act as a parent and already he had managed to make two little girls cry, one of them being his own daughter.
When he opened his front door he was surprised to find the dunmer already waiting for him. He stood in front of the fireplace and greeted Serano happily, before his expression turned into a wary frown.
He had obviously gotten the letter and the money Serano had sent him a few days ago: Some of the furniture had been replaced, new books lined the shelves, and a lonely doll sat on the chair near the front door. A cursory glance revealed that a young girl lived here.
Runa told me what happened.”
Romlyn raised his hands as if he intended to cross his arms in front of his chest or assume some other confrontational posture, before he reconsidered and dropped them awkwardly again.
Serano didn't acknowledge that comment with a response. He didn't like being criticized. He remembered establishing this basic rule for their relationship as well.
"I would like to know why you charged at her friends and nearly killed Amrem's daughter."