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]

Wow! Thanks again everyone for your kind words! it is great that I have so much support and I appreciate each and every reader that stumbles across my little tale.

I've been super busy this week and I really hope it didn't affect my writing. It wasn't rushed or anything as I've spent the best part of two weeks writing the whole chapter, It's just my mind has been so frazzled getting the words onto the page has been a challenge. none the less I hope you enjoy reading it

Chapter 2.1 - A tale of two paupers and a city

I stood outside the main gate to the Imperial City, still wondering whether or not accepting whether going to the Waterside District was the best option for Mya and I.

Mya was more than willing to go, claiming that she didn’t care where they stayed as long as she was with me and although I felt the same I was still in two minds as to whether or not it was really the best course of action.

I ceased my thoughts and looked over to the horse stables where Mya was admiring the equestrian beasts. I sighed at my thoughts and headed over the stables, plastering a smile on my face as I approached Mya and her new friend.

“Well who do we have here?” I asked Mya as she turned to me, the biggest grin on her face.

“This is Valerie. Restita let me name her.”

I looked over at the Breton woman who smiled at me. I assumed this was the woman Mya was speaking of.

“Right, are you ready to go?” I asked Mya.

“Aww why! It’s not like we actually have anywhere we need to be.”

I smiled at her comment. She was right, we didn’t, but the truth was horses had always made me nervous ever since I was nearly trampled by one in the Cheydinhal stables when I was little.

But despite my wariness I gave in. I knew that Mya didn’t have anything to look forward to or be excited about once we move on, so I decided to let her have some time with Valerie.

“Okay, ten more minutes, okay?” I said. I kissed Mya on the head as she giggled with glee. I smiled and walked over to the barn to take seat. Once I was sat down Restita approached and sat next to me.

“Hello there!” She said.

“Hi.” I replied.

“You’re sister seems to love that horse over there.” She smiled. I was thrilled that she didn’t assume she was my daughter.

“Yes, she loves all animals. It’s hard to tear her away from them most of the time.”

“Well you make sure to let her know she is welcome here anytime. She is a delightful child.”

I smiled at the compliment. “Thank you.”

We both turned to look at Mya who was trying her best to jump on the horses back. She was unsuccessful.

“Although…” Restita started as I turned to look at her. “I cannot promise you that Valerie will be there after today.”

“Oh?” I said with wonder in my tone. “Has somebody bought her?”

Restita laughed as if I made the most ridiculous assumption she had ever heard.

“Oh no, quite the opposite! The horses have been going missing recently.”

I really couldn't care less due to my distaste for the creatures, but I thought I'd show some form of compassion for Resitia's predicament.

“Oh that’s a shame. Where have they gone?”

She looked at me with disbelief.

“If I knew that they wouldn’t be missing would they?”

Awkwardness ensued after this comment, so I decided the best thing to do was return to Mya. I stood up, bid farewell to Restita and headed over to Mya. However while I was walking I was stopped by an orc who appeared as if from nowhere.

“Are you interested in buying one of the horses?”

“What? Oh, no, we are just simply admiring them. They are beautiful.” I told her. Her next comment seemed to be a though said out loud.

“That they are, and they’re tasty too…”

“Excuse me?” I asked, confused and a little bit shocked.

“Add a bit of onion and…” She suddenly looked at me, realising what she was saying. “Oh, what? Eat the horses? That’s disgusting.”

“Um… I don’t mean to speak out of place but… did you eat the horses?”

“NO! Of course not! I told you that is disgusting!”

I smiled sheepishly and slowly backed away towards Mya, waving at the orc as I did so.

Once I reached Mya I grabbed her hand and began to lead her off. In reality I was slightly unnerved by the orc’s subtle confession.

“Okay, come on honey, we have to go now.”

“Aww, okay…” Mya sulked. She patted the horse one last time and kissed it’s neck. “BYE!”

We walked out of the stables, Mya waving to Restita as we left.
We walked until we were out of sight before sitting beside a tree near the main entrance to the city. I pulled out two apples that I had salvaged on our walk to the city and handed one to Mya. As she tucked into it I spoke to her.

“Now… are you sure you want to go to the Waterfront district? I’m sure we continue to travel someone will take heed of our situation and offer us a place to stay?”

“Stop being so queenie.” She ordered me, using a word I had never heard before in my life.

“Queenie?”

“You’re so snooty about everything.”

“No I’m not; I just… don’t trust the poor.”

“See! Snooty!” She laughed.

She then leaned the front of her body over my legs and raised hers in the air.

“We’re poor now Jessika. Beggars can’t be choosers.”

Her statement shocked me. She was so grown up and opinionated. For a moment I felt like the little sister.

“I’m sure the people who live there aren’t that bad. They’re probably in the same boat as us.” Mya continued.

“I guess so…”

“A free house is a free house isn’t it?”

“Okay, okay, you’ve made you’re point!” I laughed. “I just worry for you.”

She looked at me, a baffled look on her face.

“Why?” She asked.

“Because…” I started, not wanting to be to direct in my reason. “We don’t know that we can trust those that are living there, and I don’t want to get involved in anything that might land us in trouble.”

“Like what? Getting arrested because we have no money?”

“No…” I said. I wanted to say more, but I didn’t. There was obviously more on my mind than what she said, but I didn’t want to scare her.

“Besides, I’m sure that we won’t be there forever. I trust you and I think you’ll get a good job and we will be back home before you know it.”

“You think so?” I smiled.

“I know so. Anyway, I’m going there whether you like it or not, so It’s up to you whether or not you want to come with me.”

I laughed. She was a tough cookie, my sister. She refused to take no for an answer. She reminded me of my mother at that point. She was always a strong lady, always willingn to look on the brightside and never back down. She always used to say 'If you don't stand for anything, you'll fall for nothing'. I just wish I could have heeded those inspiring words.

I looked at her a for a moment before standing up. Mya stood with me.

“Right, how about we explore the city for a little while before we go to the Waterfront?”

“Stop stalling Jessika!”

“I’m not stalling,” I lied. “I just want to explore the city.”

Mya had a look of disbelief in her eyes.

“Okaaaay.” She said.

“Okay?”

“Yeah.”

I grabbed her hand as we walked to the main gate of the Imperial city. The truth was I hoped that taking a walk through the city would give us some kind of plausible reason to not go to the Waterfront.

But knowing my luck, all I could do was hope.

This post has been edited by Andrea: May 29 2012, 06:10 PM

[Lady Saga]

“That they are, and they’re tasty too…”

“Excuse me?” I asked, confused and a little bit shocked.

“Add a bit of onion and…” She suddenly looked at me, realising what she was saying. “Oh, what? Eat the horses? That’s disgusting.”

“Um… I don’t mean to speak out of place but… did you eat the horses?”

“NO! Of course not! I told you that is disgusting!”

*chuckles* I really think it's possible to do an entire chapter or two just on the Chestnut Handy Stables. It's such an predicament those horses find themselves in.

I grabbed her hand as we walked to the main gate of the Imperial city. The truth was I hoped that taking a walk through the city would give us some kind of plausible reason to not go to the Waterfront.

Uh oh....I can't even imagine why this would be?