It has been several weeks since you last entered the Hold of Skyrim known as The Rift, and even longer since you entered the Hold Capital of Riften. In fact, as you think back, the last time you were in this city was when you came here with the express purpose of murdering the matron of the orphanage, a cruel and sadistic woman with the ironic moniker of "Grelod the Kind".
As you think about that time and smile at how easily the woman crumpled under the blow of your mace, another thought enters your mind unbidden. How are the children coping now that their wicked matron is dead? An in particular, you find yourself most concerned about young Runa Fair-shield, the only girl in the orphanage.
Your thoughts are suddenly interrupted by a man thrusting a flyer into your face. Taking it, you see that it's about adoption.
"Why are you handing me this?" You ask the man.
"Because the new woman in charge at the orphanage asked me to hand them out to anyone I see." He replies.
Tucking the flyer away in a pouch at your belt, you decide to head over to Honorhall orphanage and talk to Constance Michelle about what it takes to be suitable for adopting one of the children.
As the door to Honorhall opens and the familiar sights wash over you, you notice that nothing much has changed, in regards to the place's appearance. But you can immediately feel that the amount has changed. Gone is the cruel and oppressive nature of an authority figure mad with power, and gone is the gloom and depression of those forced to live under such a person's rules.
Instead, the place feels bright, filled with the hope and laughter of children living as well as they can, considering that all of them are here because they were orphaned or abandoned. You could almost say, it feels like a happy place now. Almost.
"Can I help you?" A woman asks, interrupting your train of thought.
Turning to face the speaker, you realise that it's Constance Michelle, the new matron of Honorhall. Pulling out the flyer from your pouch, you make a bit of a show of searching for her name on the piece of parchment, to make it look as though you're unfamiliarity with who she is.
"Constance Michelle, I presume?" You ask, "I was given this flyer by a man in the streets. I was wondering, what does it take to be... eligible to adopt?"
"Oh how wonderful! It's great that you're considering adoption, there are so many children who have been affected by the war and are in need of a good home. It doesn't matter if you're married or single, all I ask is that you have a home suitable to raise the child or children that you plan to adopt and that you have the means to support them." Constance replies. "I'm sorry, but I didn't catch your name."
"Oh right, I'm Xavier." You tell her.
"Well Xavier, I just have a few simple questions. Firstly, do you have a property that is suitable for raising a child in?"
"Yes, I have a house in Windhelm that has a bedroom suitable for children." You reply.
"That's wonderful. And, what do you do for work?" Constance asks.
"Well... I'm what you might call a... 'sword for hire'..." you reply. Then, seeing Constance Michelle's expression darken slightly, you add, "but when I'm out on job, my Housecarl will be able to care for the child until I return."
"Ah, well that sounds like an arrangement that I can agree to then." Constance Michelle says. "Would you like to come through to the living area and see the children?"
With a nod, you follow Constance into the main part of the orphanage, looking over the children that are present. As you remember, there are four children at the orphanage. Three of them are boys; Samuel, Hroar and Francois. The last child, and the one who you came to see, is a girl named Runa Fair-shield.
"Now children, listen up. This Nord wants to meet you all." Constance Michelle tells them.
"Why's that?" Samuel asks.
"Is he... here to adopt one of us?" Runa asks hopefully.
"If you are, sir, you're better off picking one of the others instead of me." Francois says, "my parents said they're coming back for me someday."
"Now now, children, don't get your hopes up just yet. Xavier hasn't said that he wants to adopt anyone yet, he just wants to meet you first." Constance tells them, then she turns her attention to you. "Who would you like to talk to first?"
"How about the girl?" You ask, trying to sound casual.
Hearing this, Runa steps forward eagerly. You can see that, despite Constance Michelle's warning to the children about not getting their hopes up, Runa is already excited at the prospect of being adopted and getting out of this orphanage.
"Hi, my name is Runa Fair-shield." She says as she introduces herself. "Please adopt me, I'll be the best daughter and I can do any chores you might have for me."
"Runa, I told you, Xavier hasn't made a decision yet on if he will adopt." Constance replies once more.
"No, no, it's okay." You say in response, seeing that the matron's words are at risk of upsetting the child. "She's confident and enthusiastic. Those are good qualities and she'll do well with them when she does get adopted. Now, who's the boy next to Runa?"
"That's me!" The boy says, then blushes as he realises that he hasn't introduced himself properly. "I'm Hroar. I was named after the sound a lion makes!"
You smile at Hroar, then turn your attention to the next boy.
"My name is Francois. My parents dropped me off about a year ago, but they said they're coming back for me. I just know they will." He says.
You smile sadly to yourself, not sure who the boy is trying harder to convince, you or himself. Then you turn your attention to the last boy.
"My name is Samuel." He tells you. "I never knew my parents, my mother died giving birth to me, but I'm told she worked here in the orphanage."
You nod at his words and smile. Although you've already make a point of looking over all four of the children. Then, once satisfied that you've done enough to make it seem like you've made an informed and carefully considered decision. Gesturing to Constance Michelle that you're ready, you follow her into the entrance hall of the orphanage.
"Have you made your decision Xavier?" Constance asks you.
"Yes, I believe have made my choice. I want to adopt Runa Fair-shield." You tell the matron of the orphanage.
After giving you a grateful smile Constance Michelle goes back into the orphanage's living area to tell Runa the good news. A moment later, you hear a loud squeal of joy, then you feel rather than see the young Nord girl run into the entrance hall and press her body against yours as she embraces you.
"Thank you for adopting me Mr. ... um... Papa." Runa says to you.
Placing a hand on the top of her head, you ruffle her hair affectionately before picking her up and returning her embrace.
"Come on Runa, let's get you to Freezehome, which is your new home." You tell her, as you carry her out of Honorhall orphanage for the last time.
***
Arriving at Freezehome, you give Runa some time to settle in while you prepare a meal for the pair of you. After both of you have eaten and Runa has washed up the plates and cutlery, as she insisted that she should, you take your daughter to her bedroom and tuck her in for the night. Just as you're leaving her room, you hear her pushing the covers back down enough to sit up.
"What's the matter, Runa?" You ask the young Nord girl. "Do you need me to read you a story before you go to sleep?"
"I... I wouldn't mind a story, Papa." Runa replies with a slight hint of confusion in her voice. "But I thought... you'd want me to... you know..."
Her cheeks blush slightly as she struggles with the words. It's clear to you that she knows what she wants to say, but is too embarrassed to actually sat it to you after you adopted her.
"That I'd want you to do what, Runa? It's okay, you can ask me anything. You know that right? Because I'm your Papa now."
The child smiles at your reassuring words, then takes a deep breath as she gets her thoughts in order and builds up the courage to say what she intends to.
"Papa, you know that I was the only girl at Honorhall." She begins. "Well, I told you how they made me do all the chores because I was the only girl. But I didn't tell you everything."
"Aww, Runa." You reply, already knowing where this is going. "I'm sorry you went through that. I won't let anyone hurt you or use you like that again, I promise."
"No Papa, they didn't hurt me. I enjoyed sucking them off. And well... now that you're my Papa, I was wondering... if you wanted me to do the same for you at night?" Runa says with a mischievous smile.