Jess of Valor, The Diary of Jessika Andrea #1 Options

[Andrea]

Hello All!

I'm Andrea and fairly new to Chorrol, so hey!

I wasn't going to post anything too soon, but Jessika insisted I at least give a teaser of her story, so i've decided to post an Introduction. But first, I shall introduce you all to Jessika.

Jessika is a 21 year old nord who was born and raised in Cheydinhal, Cyrodill. She excells in Blade, Heavy armour and Light armour (which she is convinced makes her 'unique')

Five yeare before our story starts her parents died, leaving her to raise her little sister, Mya, on her own.

Now, that's enough of that Here is the introduction to our tale:



INTRODUCTION


“Jessika, where are we going?” My baby sister, Mya, asked me. Her youthful eyes delicate. So innocent. She had no idea what had happened. No idea at all.

I wasn’t sure whether to tell her the truth or not, so I decided to lie.

“The basement has been infested with mudcrabs, baby, so we had to leave. Don’t worry, though. We will find somewhere else to live.”

What I told her was partially true. Our house did have an invasion of mudcrabs, although those mudcrabs could also be called ‘debt collectors’.

Money was tight. Too tight. Not enough was coming in and what money was coming in was spent quicker than you could say septim. Our gorgeous home in Cheydinhal had soon become another broken memory

That was the last thing Mother and Father left to us… now it’s gone.

I didn’t know where we were going to go. Ever since our parents died that house was the only thing we had to our name. We managed to stay there for five years; now we had nothing.

As we headed out of the city we were stopped. My good friend Shelley shouted my name and beckoned me over as she stood outside the Bridge Inn.

“Wait here.” I instructed Mya as I kissed her on the forehead. I walked over to Shelley, a forced smile etched across my lips.

“Are you okay?” She asked. A sheet of concern covering her face.

“Yeah…” I lied. A lie that was given away instantly as my eyes began to flood with tears. I wouldn’t let Shelly hug me, as Mya would know something was wrong, so I shook my head gently at Shelly to halt her advance.

“We got thrown out of our house. I just couldn’t keep up with the payments.”

“Oh, honey…” Shelley replied, genuine care in her voice.

“I just don’t know what I’m going to do…” I sobbed. “It’s Mya’s tenth birthday in two days and we have nowhere to go.”

“Why don’t you come stay with me in the inn?” She invited. “I’m sure Mariana will understand-“

I immediately cut her off. Her offer was generous, but preposterous. I simply couldn’t bear to have anyone in the city know I was broke; even though chances were that the news of my eviction would spread like wildfire anyway.

Despite that inevitability, I couldn’t let it happen. I had my pride and my family name to respect. If I was to be the source of embarrassment in my city, I at least wanted to hold my head high.

“Thank you for the offer, Shelley, but I really can’t.”

I didn’t have to say another word as Shelley’s expression seemed to suggest she knew what I was thinking.

“Well at least let me give you-“she started as she reached into her coin purse.

“Shelley, please.” I said, rejecting her offer.

“Okay,” she said softly. “You do what you have to do. But you HAVE to promise me that you will let me know when you find somewhere to go okay? If you don’t I will have no choice but to hunt you down and kick your behind for making me worry, okay?”

I laughed, wiping my tears away. “I promise.”

Shelley looked at me for another second before forcing me into a gentle embrace- an embrace in which I reciprocated. Once we let go I smiled at Shelley, nodded and then headed back to Mya. My eyes met hers and she smiled. I grabbed her hand gently and squeezed it as we headed to the city exit. The large gate signifying the end of an era for us.

I knew we weren’t going to be back for a while, but I also knew that I wasn’t about to let me and my baby sister go homeless.

I was willing to do whatever it took. Mya needed me and I wasn’t going to let her down.

As the guards opened the gate I turned my head to Mya, smiled and did a small hand gesture, a hand gesture that she repeated back to me. A hand gesture that my sister and I had invented.

It meant ‘I love you.’


*

This post has been edited by Andrea: Apr 12 2012, 12:38 AM

[Andrea]

Here it is! The next instalment of the story.

First of all I want to that you all on your kind and heartwarming comments on the introduction! I didn't ever thing it would garner such incredible Critique, so thank you!!

Anywho, on with Jessika's tale...

Chapter 1.1 - Decisions

It was night time. The stars shone their almighty glow and the two moons stared at us with their enormity. Mya and I were laying on the grass, the gentle breeze sweeping over us with its silent song whistling through the trees.

We’d always had such shelter in our lives, such protection; it was easy to forget that we were actually rather small, miniscule, even. We really are nothing but the size of insects. But that was what made the world beautiful. The simple fact that we were so insignificant was amazing to me.

I turned my head and looked at my sister. As I looked at her gazing at the sky in awe I remembered that the world was still too big for her. There were things outside our secured lives before that I didn’t want her to see just yet. The world may be beautiful, but it’s also violent, cruel and unforgiving. She didn’t know how to take care of herself in a world like that.

I pondered that thought, frowning to myself - What had I done to her? So young and precious. She’s lost so much- too much. We may have both lost the same things, but it was different when it came to Mya. She was five when our parents died and I was 16. I had my chance to get to know them, laugh with them and love them. Mya didn’t… and she never will.

I stared at Mya for longer. A small smile formed on my lips as I saw her beam a toothy grin.

“WOW! A shooting star!” She cried with glee. She then closed her eyes tightly.

I looked where she was looking and laughed.

“Hon, that’s not a shooting star, that’s a firefly.”

“Oh…” She sighed, opening her eyes. “Does that mean my wish won’t come true?”

“Wish?” I wondered.

“Yeah… I guess I can tell you, it’s not going to come true anyway…” She said.

“What did you wish for?” I asked. I thought it might have been something silly like a new pony or an amazing birthday present.

“I wished that we could be together forever and ever. Never leave each others side. That means that when I get married and you’re old, you can come and live with me.”

I laughed at her remark and then smiled at her wish. I grabbed her hand and held it softly, looking back up at the sky. I closed my eyes, memories of the day swamping my thoughts and I struggled to drift off to sleep.

Then I felt Mya come closer to me as she snuggled in my arms as she began to fall asleep. I smiled, slowly kissed her head and then tried to drift off again, the memories suddenly starting to melt away.

*

“….mmr…. ummm….”

I could hear someone speaking as I tried to open my eyes. The words were indecipherable. I sat up and rubbed them, looking toward the direction of the sound as my eyes began to adjust to the sunlight.

“We’ve been here all night, sir.” I heard Mya speak.

“And why is that, little girl?” I heard a man reply.

I immediately shot up, my vision hastily returning to normal as I subtly charged over to my sister. She was sat on a bench just outside the Roxey Inn of which we slept on the grass opposite.

I approached Mya and the man, a Redguard and smiled at my sister.

“I didn’t hear you wake up?” I said to her, standing close and looking closely at the man. He looked harmless, but I couldn’t be sure.

“Pranal was just telling me about his days as an adventurer. Did you know that there are actually REAL trolls in some Ayleid ruins?” Mya informed me with such amazement.

“No, I didn’t.” I lied, smiling again.

“I’m sorry.” Pranal started before standing and offering his hand to a handshake, of which I obliged. “I came outside for some fresh air and your daughter was stroking that there horse and-“

“She’s my sister.” I corrected him, slightly insulted. He looked horrified at his mistake.

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean… I mean you look great, not old! Oh no…um…”

I scowled playfully at him whilst Mya laughed.

“It’s fine,” I assured him. “Simple mistake to make.”- Not really.

“I’m so sorry.” He blushed with embarrassment. At least I assumed it was with embarrassment.

“Let’s start over. I’m Jessika, and this is my little sister, Mya.”

“Pranal. Good to meet you.” He nodded, before offering me a seat.

We all sat on the bench, although Mya sat on my lap.

“So you slept outside last night?”

“Um… yes. We did.”

“Jessika wanted to show me what it was like to sleep under the stars.” Mya stated.

That was another lie I had told her. The truth was that I had gone into the Roxey Inn and tried begging for some kind of deal on a room, but I was refused. I could have tried harder, but I wasn’t willing to beg any more than necessary.

Pranal looked at me with concern in his eyes. He then looked at Mya.

“Mya, why don’t you go and play with the horse? I think he misses you.”

Mya looked at Pranal, then me and then back at Pranal.

“Okay…” She sighed, before jumping off my lap and trotting off toward the horse. Once Mya was out of earshot, Pranal turned back to speak with me, edging closer.

“I think you need to go to the Imperial City.”

I looked at him with confusion at the random demand, “Why?”

“The waterfront district. It’s where all the homeless people go. It might provide a roof over yours and little Mya’s head.”

I took immediate offence to his offer, horrified that he would just assume that we were homeless. Although we were, that was besides the point.

Who did he think he was? Sitting there all high and mighty, passing judgement on other people who he has only just met. It wasn’t like his opinion mattered, anyway. I mean, he lived in a shabby little in for the love of Arkay!

“How dare you assume such things about me? You know nothing about me!” I scolded.

Pranal put in hands up in apology, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”

I stood up and headed toward Mya, who was open armed hugging the side of the horse. I grabbed her hand and led her back to the road.

“Jessika, where are we going?”

I ignored her. I didn’t mean to, but I was furious as Pranal’s comment and I didn’t want to take the chance of accidentally letting my anger out on Mya.

“Bye Pranal! I’ll see you soon!” Mya waved as I led her to the road.

*

We continued to walk along the road, crossing a surprisingly empty looking village as we walked. Empty, eh? If it’s abandoned maybe we can stay there the night? Maybe for a while…

I knocked the ridiculously idiotic thought out of my head almost immediately. It was one thing that I was homeless, but now I was willing to turn into a criminal? Breaking and entering wasn’t my thing.

No, I was going to find something and I was adamant about that. Looking at Mya as she walked by my side, singing, I realised what I had to do.

I thought that maybe I should have heeded Pranal’s words. If there is free accommodation in The Imperial City then I needed to think about making that my next stop.

However, once again, my pride wouldn’t let me. That annoying, vicious thing that refused to allow any kind of common sense sinks in due to the fact that it might make me appear weak and petty. But If I didn’t have my pride, what would I have? I could have easily given up by now, easily could have taken Shelley up on her offer and easily could have broken into the abandoned inn in the village for a place to stay. But that just wasn’t me.

I knew what I had to do. This wasn’t just my decision anymore and I needed to accept that.

I stopped. Mya continued walking a few paces ahead not realising. Once she did, she turned and walked over to me.

“Are you okay, Jessika? Did you step on something?”

I chuckled to myself.

“No,” I started before kneeling down to be at her level. “Look…”

I looked at her face. Her angelic features made it almost impossible for me to want to tell her the truth. Almost.

“There’s something I haven’t been completely honest with you about…” I began, still wondering if telling Mya the truth was the right thing to do.

This post has been edited by Andrea: Apr 21 2012, 12:56 AM