"Ellie dear, I have a surprise for you." Ellie Melvoy heard her mother call out, she rushed into the room. She loved surprises. She ran into the lounge room and hopped up on the couch, "What is it ma?" She asked, Ellie's curious eyes looking into her mothers. Her mother stood up and faced Ellie, face lighting up. "I'm going to be a Jarl! My brother is still the count of Leyawin so this will be two areas that our family controls! We're reaching out, out of Cyrodil and into Skyrim! But Ellie, remember how you hate that Skyrim weather? It's on a whole new land, and the Jarls of Skyrim have chosen me to rule a hold in this new land, I told you moving to Skyrim would be a good idea! I'm just bursting with joy!" Jessica finally finished, lacking breath, her daughter Ellie jumped up off the couch and hugged her mother. "I'll be a jarls daughter!" She proclaimed. "Come on, get some rest Ellie we head for Solitude in the morning." Jessica said, Ellie moaned. "Aw mum how am I suppose to sleep now?" She said as she headed to bed.
The next morning everyone got up early, Jessica and her housecarl Drake awoke at 6 AM with Emily waking at 6:30. They left early, Drake taking the reins of a carriage. They say their goodbyes to Balgruf, and Ellie says goodbye mostly to his kids. It takes hours to get there from Dragonsreach in Whiterun, but they get there by nightfall. Drake stays with the carriage for the meantime, Ellie stays with Drake. Jessica heads up to the castle, excited to meet the others. She knew there would be others, it was in the letter the messenger sent her. She walked into the Blue Palace, Castle of solitude, and approached the throne.
Meanwhile, Ellie walks by the stables while Drake tends to the horses, Ellie sees a boy. He couldn't be much older than her, she approaches him, he turns when he hears her footsteps. "Hey.." She says, he gives her silence. "Uh... What are you doing out here?" She asks. "You're a noble. I can tell by those silk white clothes, what are you doing here?" He asks. He was an imperial, short brown hair and yellow eyes. "I'm here because my mother is going to he Jarl." Young Lady Ellie says, the boy didn't look phased. "Oh really, and how's she gonna do that? Murder the queen?" The boys asks sarcastically. "No." Ellie says, gritting her teeth, "She was chosen. We're going to an island."
"Oh yeah, meanwhile I sleep in the stables." He says.
"What..? Where's your parents?" Ellie asks.
"Father left when I was about 6 and a half, mother died last year. I've been staying in caves and behind inns, slept in these stables last night. I'll probably stay one more night and go, it's how it works. We never had money, and people like you wouldn't help us." The boy seemed mature for his age, and a little independent. Ellie couldn't imagine a life like the, she wouldn't know what to do without a parent or guardian. She wouldn't even know what to do without a brush.
"How old are you..?" Ellie asked, "I don't... I don't understand."
"Sixteen, I think. I think I just turned 16 but I'm not one hundred percent on when my birthday is, you must think I'm stupid huh?" He folded his arms, emotion not on his face nor in his tone.
"No no, it's not that, I think you're wonderful." Ellie tried smiling, but she couldn't help but feeling guilty.
"No you don't, you think I'm just a poor little boy who shouldn't have to look after himself. You think I'll probably grow up to be a bandit if I'm not helped, you think I'm going to rebel."
"Are you happy?" She asked him, this seemed to surprise him.
"Uhh... Yeah?" He said, slowly.
"No you're not." Ellie said, "you can't be."
"I know, but I know I once was. Once I was better than ok, life was amazing. I used to think it sucked, but I had friends and I had family. I had my mother. I thought it sucked, we were poor and mother worked selling fruit and flowers. I worked by uh, stealing. Mother hated it, she punished me. I had friends who helped me, and I had a mother who looked after me. But I wished for what you've got. Now that I'm here, I know what I once had. But I only know because its gone. So now I've got my life, my clothes and a world to explore. In a sense I have nothing to lose, but then again I do. I have less to lose I guess, which can be good of you view it in the right light. I could never fill your shoes, there's just too much to lose."
Ellie just stood there, surprised. "Come with me." She said.
"What?" He said in surprise.
"Come with me, I'll keep you." Ellie said, she was smiling.
"You'll what?" He said, very confused. He had no idea what was happening.
"You can come with us, you'll be on this new land. We can explore it together, I'll look after you. You'll have a home, a family!" Ellie grabbed his hand, and led him away.
He just followed, in silence. Drake caught up with her as she headed to the castle, "Ellie!" He called out.
"Wait here." Hushed Emily. "Drake!" She called out, skipping towards him. The boy couldn't here her, but he watched the mans face change from curious to serious. The man nodded, looked to the boy, and nodded again.
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"What's your name?"
"What?" The boy said, he hadn't heard. He was taken aback.
"What's your name?" The girl asked.
"Oh uhm, Derek." I said, the girl smiled.
"Thats a nice name, I'm Ellie." She was still smiling, she had a very welcoming smile.
"If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?" I ask, still unsure. She was very beautiful, I feel like an idiot. I'm muddy, I smell, I can't remember the last time I washed myself. It rained yesterday, but that doesn't count.
"I'm 15." She said, her smile faded a little. "We're going up to the castle, don't worry about your clothes. I'll buy you some new ones." She offered, I immediately refused. "Hell no."
"Alright Derek, but you're gonna stand out. My mums name is Jessica by the way, and our last name is Melvoy." She said as we headed up to the castle. When they finally made it they discovered Jessica and Drake were already there, Drake somehow got there first. Derek knew. Derek knew he could take full advantage of Ellie's nature, but he knew he never would. He thought, is this really happening? Why? A thousands questions rushed through his mind, and he had no answers. Dressed in dirty clothes soaked in mud, he felt like an outcast, Ellie stuck close to him so he wouldn't be kicked out. Derek could smell her, she smelt good. She was wearing something to give her this scent, he didn't even try to ask.
Derek stood by Ellie, not knowing how to act or what to say. She nudged him, "Ease up, it's gonna be alright." She said, he released a breath and loosened up his stance. Ellie and Derek stood a few feet behind Jessica, as Jessica was about to speak with the ones sent for her.