As I pulled the sleeping tree along. I decided I couldn't just refer to it as the Sleeping Tree. So I asked for its name. "What do I call you?"
It echoed, "No clue. I've been asleep and alone. I never gave myself a name and I never had a caretaker so I never got a name."
I thought for a moment. "How about Aurora."
The tree shuddered in disgust. "What do you take me for? One of those disgusting female versions of you. I am not something for..."
I shouted, "Alright that's enough. It's the name of a woman who falls asleep into a near eternal sleep. Only to be waken up rather rudely in my opinion."
The Sleeping Tree huffed, "Fair I guess. Fitting for me. However I'd prefer something more gender neutral. As I don't want any of your twisted ideas. There is a reason why the Hist only talk to the argonians. Most man species try to fuck anything. I'd like to say anything that moves or have a pulse. However history says otherwise."
Right... I sighed and thought about a better name for the damn talking tree. "How about Odine, I can't really remember the story behind it. However it does have a nice ring. O-dine would be more masculine, O-dean would be more feminine."
The tree sighed, "Fine. O-dine it is. Odine, actually sounds like a name for a nymph."
I shrugged, "Just remember the name not much else. Anyway we are almost at Morthal. That is it up ahead. Before you say something about seeing, shut the fuck up. Second I won't be able to talk to you directly after all I'd rather not look any more crazy than I already look.
Odine scoffed, "Fine. Just remember at any point you stop hear my thoughts its due to the lack of my sap in your digestion. You eat my sap, you hear me. That simple, beware though Hist sap is addictive for most species other than argonians. So avoid that, eventually once we are on the move again I will tell you how to fix it so you may always listen without the need for the sap. I'd refer you not a raving addict."
I'd prefer that too. I didn't respond though as I dragged the tree slowly into Morthal. A guard stopped me. "Wh-What is happening here."
I looked at the guard with the most serious and annoyed face in my life. "What does it look like! I was robbed! A bunch of fucking bandits robbed me! Not only of my god damn carriage. Of even the clothes on my back! Thought it was funny. Now unless you have clothes to spare, I am freezing my literal ass cheeks off."
The guard stumbled, "Right! I suppose that makes sense. Could you wait till we get you some clothes? There isn't many kids in Morthal. However that number still isn't zero and well...."
I nodded, "I understand. Now Please clothes now! Just because I understand, doesn't mean I am not still freezing."
A guard down the path ran away to get the clothes I assume. The other guard stuck with me. "Might I ask about the tree? You were robbed, so..."
I sighed, "It was being transported by carriage. However I no longer have a carriage, Before you ask anymore about the tree. Just know it is both incredible valuable and incredible unvaluable at the same time. It is just a tree after all, the only special thing about it is the origins."
Odine rumbled, "Hey, don't disgrace me!"
I ignored it and followed up. "Thus it is important for certain people. While being just a tree to others."
The guarded nodded, "Alright... Do you mind covering yourself some?"
I frowned and raised my hands. "How?"
The guard looked away, "Never mind."
I did feel bad for being a little more aggressive. However I needed them not to question anything about my story. A good way to prevent that is to make them embarrassed to look at me directly. The other guard ran back over.
The guard held out the clothes. "Here you go!"
I took them and swiftly put on the underwear. They were a little rough. However I couldn't complain much. Once I was fully dressed, I asked. "Where can I buy a carriage or... some kind of transport of this damn tree? I obviously can't pay with gold so, I'd prefer some alternative payment methods."
The guards nodded, "We have a lumber mill. No carriage services here in Morthal. So You will need to get on built."
They paused, "If you help some people around Morthal in the meantime. We can explain the situation to Gorm. he would be happy to pay for your expenses. After all he just wants the Jarl to have less on her plate to deal with."
I nodded, "Yeah. I can do that."
I stopped, "Where should I leave my cargo? I don't think near the mills would be safe."
The guard, "Just leave it near the Jarl's home. We will explain the situation to Gorm."
I nodded, "Any ideas where to start?"
The second guard who gave me the clothes nodded, "Benor is always itching for a fight. Falion is a weirdo and people would like some trust with him. Finally the tragedy at Hroggar's residence. The guards hadn't much time to investigate however some have reported ghosts there."
I nodded once more and begun dragging the tree. Odine spoke in my head, "You know, I sense a vampire around these parts."
I whispered, "I know, its a woman named Alva."
Odine huffed, "How would you know that?"
I wouldn't explain this to Odine I just shrugged as I leaned it against the Jarl's home. I whispered, "I'll be eavesdropping. Run along and if you need help to kill the filthier vampiric creatures ask. I know some magic."
The guard wandered into the the jarl's home. I looked around, Morthal was still rather small. I can't imagine why anyone would want to live here. I checked my quests. I got the laid to rest quest. Thankfully it seems I didn't have to go talk to the jarl to begin the investigation,
I closed my journal and walked over to Hroggar's old home. Stepping into the burned building I looked around. No sign of anything. "Helgi?"
A ghostly child's voice asked, "Are you a stranger?"
I called out, "I'm a friend. Your Father is bewitched by a vampire. He is being hurt and controlled by them. Can you help me?"
The ghost of Helgi appeared. "You know about that? I've been watching, he seems so different."
I nodded, "You can help me then?"
Helgi shook her head, "No, not really. Not unless you find me after dark. I can help you then. Good luck!"
She vanished and I sighed. I tried to phrase my words to prevent needing to find the girl's coffin. I guess I am killing a creep in vampire form. I cursed, "Fucking after dark my ass."
I had a whole damn day ahead of me. I guess I was helping the rest of Morthal and staying at the Inn for some sleep. Actually I'll take that nap now. Thanks to using Hircine's ring I wasn't bale to get a restful nights sleep.