Snowstorm (Farkas)

 “It’s snowing again. Why is it always snowing?!” Anna complains, watching the snow continue to fall steadily outside the window, no different than it’s been doing the past couple of hours. “Because it’s Skyrim and more importantly it’s Windhelm, the snowiest city in an already cold country.” I tell her calmly, not looking up from my work. There’s been an influx of requests for The Companions to deal with issues that fall under my realm of dividing up. Usually those who need to settle arguments, less than savory characters who need reform, and those who need just a bit of intimidation…and in some cases a good punch to the gut. “When will it stop?” Anna asks about the snow sounding almost slightly distressed. That’s enough to cause me to put down the pen and get up to join her at the window and assess the current state of the snowstorm. There’s a decent amount of snow already on the ground, and more comes down heavily as the wind swirls it around and hits against the windows. “Probably by the end of the day tomorrow.” I estimate based on the current conditions and Anna turns to stare at me silently, visibly unhappy and looking as if she might possibly cry. “It’s not that bad, we’re at least inside and have a working heating system.” I point out the slowly dying fire and Anna agrees with my point there, at least we’re not in the Grey Quarter on the other side of the city, but she’s still not happy about things.

Going back to the desk and a seemingly never ending pile of papers I attempt to get back to work. Anna still stares silently out the window watching the snow continue to pile up. Every so often I glance over to find her more or less in the same spot in an almost trance-like state, until once I look up and she’s gone without a trace. Turning to look at where she had been standing I fail to notice someone on my other side. That is, until my right arm is lifted away from where it had been resting on the desk and I register a familiar weight in my lap and the feeling of soft layers of fabric. Turning my head back I’m met with two large silver eyes looking back at me. “Hello.” Anna says with a smile, and seems happy with herself having gotten away with ambushing me. “Hi.” Anna looks at me for a second longer before flopping against me as if she lost all muscle tone in her body, her head resting against my shoulder as she toys with some peeling pieces of paint and wood on the back of the chair. “It’s cold. And snowing. It should stop snowing.” Anna remarks while remaining occupied with the chipping paint. “So you’ve said.” I have a feeling she will continue to remark on the weather until this snowstorm is over. My hypothesis seems to be correct so far, the only breaks occur when I ask her for a bit of help with what I’m trying to do, or when asked to list all potential ways she can think of to make herself warmer.

After a number of hours the paper pile is conquered at last, with just enough time to have a quick meal and go to bed. With the last candle blown out climbing into the soft bed is something I’d been looking forward to since I left it this morning, especially in this weather. While appreciative of the warm softness Anna seems intent on not sleeping, or at least not immediately, and reminds me of a few ideas from her earlier list. Unsurprisingly being confined to relatively boring tasks for long periods of time can bring out her more mischievous side, particularly at night. Most of her moods and emotions are more intense at night. I’m very glad I lack the physical need for sleep, and there are worse ways to spend a snowstorm.