Discussion

When Camilla and I returned, we were greeted with the delectable scent of freshly roasted, perfectly seasoned venison chops, served alongside a few loaves of baked bread and steamed vegetables.

Sitting down to dinner, we all dug in after thanking Hulda for the meal, which made Gerdur cough slightly as she glared at all of us.

Scratching her cheek, Hulda glanced at the blonde beside her as she said "Gerdur made the dough for the bread and steamed the vegetables, so some of the thanks should go to her..."

We all chuckled as we thanked her, watching the woman proudly accept the praise before she began to cut into the venison, her mouth watering as the juices leaked from the cut meat.

Following Gerdur's example, I picked up the knife and began to slice my chop into strips, the scent of the roasted venison making me let out a low moan of appreciation.

The herb crusted outside was charred just enough to add a hint of smokey flavor that only accentuated the various spices that Hulda had used, whilst the meat itself was cooked perfectly, the entire inside a beautiful pink color.

Taking a bite of a strip, I nodded as the juices from the meat warmed my tongue, before the burst of flavor from the herbs spread next, the slight kick and savory taste flooding my mouth.

Chewing on the meat for a few moments, I washed it down with a sip of wine, before I grinned at Hulda and said "This is fuckin' good!"

Aela nodded, her lips already smeared with juices and herbs as she devoured her plate, before she grabbed a slice of bread and began to tear into that.

The rest of us ate like normal people, before I refilled my goblet of wine and began to drink, the warmth of the alcohol mixing quite well with the atmosphere.

Giving everyone a few more moments to eat, I leaned back and asked "So, I'm rather curious. What are you four going to be doing here? Ysolda and Aela are returning to Whiterun and Nenya will be at Falkreath. So how are you going to keep yourselves... well, occupied and sane? After all, I won't always be around..."

Silence descended over the table, and Gerdur, Camilla, and Hulda looked between one another, whilst Viaka shrugged.

"Well... how much land do you own?"

Gerdur was the one to ask me that, and everyone turned towards me, whilst I turned to Nenya.

"How much do I own again?"

Rolling her eyes at me, the Altmer said "You have a hundred feet on either side of this house, the hill behind you, and a hundred feet on the front that ends at the road.

Nodding, I smiled at Gerdur as I gestured at Nenya, which made the blonde roll her eyes.

"Alright, well are we free to use the land as we please then? Any restrictions to what we can and can't do?"

This time, Gerdur was asking Nenya directly, and the Altmer Jarl replied after thinking for a few moments.

"You can't drastically alter the geography of the land, nor can you open a quarry or mine inside the mountain without express permission from me and the rest of Falkreath. But... as long as you aren't destroying the land or anything like that, you should be free to do as you please?"

"So I could start a small farm? Or chop down a few trees and harvest them?"

Nenya nodded, and we all looked at Gerdur as she turned her gaze towards the ceiling.

"I imagine we could distract ourselves with some gardening and or farming. Then we could have Viaka chop down a tree and use the wood to carve things to pass the time. Maybe we can get creative and set up a stall inside Falkreath? Besides that, if we get some more books, we could read as well. Maybe learn some magics? Basic ones, but still learn something to help out with the housework or something?"

Everyone pursed their lips as we all ponded her suggestions, before Camilla nodded as she said "That wouldn't be bad, setting up a stall at the market. It would help pass the time as we socialize and barter. Though, we would need to make something that would warrant a market stall..."

"You would need to make something that the people of Falkreath would want; it's much more laid back and relaxed here. So... maybe jewelry? Charms and pendents carved from wood? Then if you get some scented flowers, you could make perfumes and incense? The Hall of the Dead would always need incense, and many people here burn incense to ward away evil spirits; y'know, that old Nord Folktale..."

Glancing at Ysolda, I smirked slightly as she let her business acumen shine through, before Nenya took the reins of the discussion and continued it.

Sitting back, I listened on as idea after idea were tossed around, each one rather good.

Eventually, they settled on doing a mix of everything to start, before picking whatever the people loved the most.

Viaka suggested crude jewelry that would be cheap, her main suggestion being around using animal bones as well to create unique items.

Camilla agreed with the perfumes, and I could tell she wanted to create them recreationally now too, as she glanced at me 'secretly' multiple times, making me smirk.

Gerdur and Hulda seemed rather excited about the suggestion to sell baked goods, something that could be made easily at home and transported into Falkreath and not lose its flavor.

Something not too sweet so that adults wouldn't eat it, but not to bland that kids wouldn't eat it.

With that discussion over, we kissed Viaka goodnight as she made her way to her room, the Giantess tired and wanting to sleep, before we all made our way to my room to indulge before bed.