Gwynolda's Daily life(7/)
Previous parts:
https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/17913-gwynoldas-daily-life1/
https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/18005-gwynoldas-daily-life2/
https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/18183-gwynoldas-daily-life3/
https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/18500-gwynoldas-daily-life4/
https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/18618-gwynoldas-daily-life5/
https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/18877-gwynoldas-daily-life6/
Gwynolda's story
Act I
Gwynolda's Daily life(7/)
Chapter 7
The next day comes
We are ready to soon start our journey to Old Hroldan
I will miss this old tower, we spent a long time here.
I wonder if it was used for something in the past, it looks like it was.
It used to be an outpost of Markarth, before it pulled back it's military.
It's been abandoned for years, I used it as my refuge many many times if I wanted to hide from the Temple.
I wanted to ask for a while, but how did you get here in the Reach?
I headed north from Anvil to the Pale Pass
Did you go to Falkreath or Whiterun from there? Both ways led to the Reach
Falkreath
I spent a few days in Helgen, to get some supplies and few warm night, before heading to south.
Did you know Falkreath was once part of Cyrodiil?
I did hear about it, but that was before the Empire united Tamriel.
It is a big city down in the south.
It is, sturdy, simple, yet a large calm city, quite charming on it's way.
It is the center of Arkay worship in Skyrim, it also referred as Skyrim's graveyard nowadays, at least from here in the Reach.
Indeed
I spent a week in the city
Getting more supplies for my travels to Markarth
Paying my respect to Arkay
And to simply rest, crossing the pale pass was exhausting.
I have to admit
This region in south Skyrim was certainly beautiful
Reminded me of Cyrodiil, felt like home.
Of course the weather was nothing like that.
Storms, rain, cold winds
I quickly realised it was Skyrim after all.
I took refugee in the old abandoned temples on my way to the Reach against the storms.
After few long weeks
I reached Markarth
It was impressive
I only read about, but seeing the Great Gates of Markarth, was certainly an experience.
So how did you found me?
How did you track me down to this old tower in the middle of nowhere?
I been wondering for a while
You could just ask it anytime, since we meet dear
That is true..
I expected the question much earlier, but I'm glad you trust me
To answer to your question.
At first, I just wanted get my bearings.
Explore a bit, and think how to proceed next
After all, I was all alone,
in a different province,
in a very different city
from everything I experienced before
I decided to rest and wait a few days before acting.
I disguised myself as a mere pilgrim of Our Lady, to avoid suspicion.
My main goal is to investigate the Temple and its leadership, avoiding the eye of Hamal and her allies was a priority.
I had no idea, who she was allied to, or what is the political climate of the city and region, I knew nothing.
I remembered there was an application from someone here, you
A help, and someone who can guide me in the Reach, what I needed desperately for my mission.
I stopped by Lady Dibella's statue, gave a prayer.
Hoping for any guidance, sign or help
After the prayer, I realized, how much massive of a city is Markarth truly.
In that moment, I thought, it may take days or weeks, even months to find a girl who is our recruit.
Markarth is one of Skyrim's largest city, no wonder you felt lost.
Few hundred years ago, it was just a small fort, that the Empire founded
Now, it is one of the biggest sprawling cities in all of Skyrim
From the ground to the Sky.
Despite all the might, few decade ago it was taken by the tribes of the Reach, nobody knows how.
I'm sorry, I got taken away, please continue Jeanne.
Ohhh, don't worry dear, I would love to hear more about the Reach, but you are right, let us continue.
As I said, I started to pray
Our order has a few ways to ask guidance from our goddess
Sadly without the Sybill, we serve and protect
It is only a blessing
It did helped me to calm down and concentrate
I started ask people about you and get any information about your whereabouts and who you are.
From beggars to the
Innkeepers and patrons.
I had my way to get the information, that I needed
Within few days of hardwork, I got a location where you may been.
I spent 2 week in the city
I have to admit, the stone beds were rather uncomfortable, and cuisine was interesting, not something I got used to in Anvil.
I got used to the stone beds, but most travelers find it rather horrible, I'm not surprised you don't like it.
How did you got the information that easily?
I have my past experience dear, don't worry, I know how to make tongues loose.
And finally, I had everything to locate your little tower to find you.
The description of your look as well.
Everything was ready to find you
Now you to have your answer, took me a week to get to this location, and I'm not slow when it comes to travelling.
I do admit, I was surprised when you turned out in the tower.
What made you trust me when you saw me?
You are not a nord.
Ohh..
That is?
An orc stronghold, Markarth relies them lately as border defense and garrison.
Looks like they have been building up in the past month, and the stronghold looks much more expanded, I guess Markarth probably withdraw more military and rely on orc strongholds and the military of its noble houses lately.
It's been a thing for a while.
They mostly keep things for themselves, but I bought some food from there, while we where here.
I see
I noticed you don't wear the roses anymore, where did you get them?
From a shopkeeper
I was there to get some supplies for my travel to the Tower
He was a bit unusual
I didn't think about it a lot as people in Markarth were a little odd.
He offered me a rose crown, along with a few roses
At first, I declined it, but I saw everyone else wearing it, so I thought, I just take it.
Why not, can surprise you with.
He said it is an Markarth holiday.
After all, flowers belong to Dibella, even the Rose, regardless Sanguine.
It can be Markarth's version of Dibella worship.
There is no such holiday in Markarth, I never heard about roses and people wearing them.
Ohhh, is that so, how strange.
Maybe we should talk to him, once we are in the city again.
Either way, let us move on.
So how did you ended up as a knight in the order?
I was one of the few recruits for the Knights of Lily, from many others, I was deemed to be a good candidate. Unlike in the current case, they had much more choice, than one applicant like in your case.
Were you a priestess?
No.
I came from a very different background, unlike the rest of the knights.
Military or clergy background is much more common in the order, as expected.
I was born in Anvil, and as you know the city of Anvil is the centre of our Lady's worship in Cyrodiil.
Like Markarth in Skyrim, it was the home of the Sybills, as well the main base in the province of our lady's House.
It is also the home of the knights in the province.
Markarth is supposed to be a home for the knight as well?
Yes
I was chosen along with a few more recruits. one was a very committed knight of faith, the other was a priestess, and the last one was me
As you expected, along with the rest of the city, Lady Dibella always was my matron.
I was and I am a devout worshiper of our Lady
I always wanted to serve her and be a priestess of her, but sadly that position has a lot of.. applicants.
It is a great honour in Anvil.
I know you may feel indifferent due to how Hamal's temple treated you, but the truth is being a priestess of Dibella is a great privilege and honour, and many wishes to be one.
I was from the lowest of class in Anvil, a beggar, sometimes much worse or desperate.
It wasn't uncommon to lose your parents, or simply just have no home.
Most of the City got destroyed in the Great War.
I did lose my parents, and spent most of my life in the street, begging, and stealing before.. I got a job.
That job was an improvement over begging, but it had its downsides, but I had a home, instead of living in ruined houses.
What was the job?
Ahhh, curious are we?
Do you wanna get know me more my dear?
Of course.. you are my sister in arms.
I can see the sparks in your eyes, but I will tell you a bit of my past to satisfy your curiosity.
Where shall I start?
I was a tavern wench or prostitute if you prefer use that word.
In a rundown little brothel of Anvil's great harbor
Serving the patrons, drink, food and..
Satisfy their needs, if they had more coin of course
Sometimes orally
Sometimes simply just giving a dance to their table, like the other girls did.
Not all of them were that desperate as me.
If they paid enough, they could had their way with me.
Lot of wine and sex,
serving the scum of the city.
It was my daily life, what I did to survive in the city.
It was addictive in a way, at least the wine made me sometimes forget about my life that time.
So you were just a tavern wench?
Not the perfect Dibellan ideal you expected?
....
Not that I had much choice, I wasn't skilled that time, in magic, nor in combat, nor.. people wanted employ a dirty girl from the street.
I simply just wanted to survive.
Hmmmmfp..
But still selling your body and love for surviving, you really had no other way? That is.. just
You.. could been anything, but a wench
I would find myself in the prison cells quite fast.. where surviving wouldn't be too different from what I had done before. City guards weren't too merciful for anyone they caught at that time.
Hmmmm..
Don't be that moody dear, it wasn't that horrible, had some up sides, even if the downsides were more numerous sometimes.
I often joined to ships and sailors, to see and explore the world.
After all, those men needed my services.
It got me money, and travelling.
For a price of being their toy during the sails, and giving your love and body for a few coin and sights.
You can't buy love for coins few my dear, I thought you know that at least as priestess.
....
I entertained them with music, I learned to play with a lute along with many other things during my time on the seas.
And I learned how to sing.
Of course Music and dancing wasn't always alone.
Sometimes they needed the carnal pleasures to keep up the moral and entertainment.
Don't put up that grumpy face to me dear, sometimes you can idealize a person too much, but once you get know them, it may shatter.
I'm sorry..
Ohhh dear, you don't wanna know how many of the sisters came from brothel to the temple (chuckles).
I honestly rather don't.
Alright, now let me finish the tale my dear
To make the tale better, let me share the brighter side a bit.
I become the favorite of the pirate captain, and things turned quickly different.
As he didn't wanted share me with the crew anymore.
I had a bit peace during the sails.
It wasn't bad, I could learn new things, improve my singing and skills with lute, and only had to please one person.
But, I suspect it didn't lasted long, you ended up as a knight after all.
So what happened?
During my time on the ship, as well in the brothel, I got addicted to few thing.
Namely sex, and alcohol.
He brought me to Hammerfell, showing me a new world of exotic and pleasures.
He dressed me up as a new exotic pleasure toy
And he brought much more refined partners outside himself.
I become his way to get hooks on powerful figures in Hammerfell.
Offering them a trained, well-behaved girl for pleasure and entertainment.
I was addicted to the life style
Every part of it, from sex to drugs to the exotic pleasures.
I couldn't stop it, I did loved it, a lot
But, I couldn't handle it.
My body was on its own limits.
Constant barrage of Alcohol, drugs.. and orgies, I wanted more and more stronger
He eventually turned dissatisfied with me, I was barely of use anymore.
I was simply discarded, cause I broke.
What happened next?
He simply delegated me to his underlings, I simply became their toy of pleasure. And as an addicted girl losing her mind in.. withdrawal.
So he kept me one of his brothels near Anvil.
Only thing, I can recall from that period.. I was on the brink of death
Ready to be disposed like the other girls, who couldn't handle.
Then one day, the end came
The knights of the Lily, raided the brother, and saved me, along with the other girls.
It turned out, the pirate captain, and his bunch, was linked to a Sanguine cult.
Thus the knight investigated it.
And rest is just the past, they patched me up, offered a place.
And I became a knight.
For someone who lived this past, you seems rather unaffected by it now.
I have a feeling that you not told me everything.
In due my dear, allow me to keep some mystery about myself, you will have plenty of time to get know more of me.
First work on your prejudices my dear, especially as a knight, you need less of them.
Fine, I try it Jeanne.
It's fine being disappointed a bit of my past, but remember, you have to work together with me.
So please don't be unresonable toward me Gwynolda
Forgive me Jeanne.
May I ask one last question?
Did you ever visited Solitude in those years when you had that life?
Yes, I did a few times
Can you tell me a little bit of the city?
It is the biggest port of the North, and current capital of the imperial administration in Skyrim, the center of the Nine divine's houses in the province as well.
Ruled by Elizabeth.
Unlike with Hammerfell and Anvil, I didn't lived there, sadly outside basics you already know, I cannot tell you more my dear.
Sadly, this don't tell me a lot, in the end I have to ask my father about my life in Solitude.
And ask him about my mother.
It's been years since I saw my father
I didn't even think of that.
I wonder how is he nowadays
End
Author's notes
Ohhh dear, this was a hefty chapter to make and write.
Pacing definetly was my biggest enemy as I went overboard with my pictures again, but its done and ready.
I had a lot bad sleep and bad nights due the heat in summer, so hopefully my half-dead brain didn't write a lot stupid thing.
I hope you all enjoyed
ps, I can't fix the broken spoiler of the previous chapters for somereason.
Edited by Resdayn
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