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On the morning of the 11th day in Riverwood I did not go to work at the mill. With both Faendal and I to help out, Hod and Gerdur were caught up on their orders and I had been taking the last couple afternoons to help Alvor, the local smith.
Smiths were a secretive and honored group of men back in my world and I was not one of their number. I knew very little more than how to keep a blade sharp when it came to working metal. Imagine my surprise to learn that anyone could take up smithing in this land!
I was already quite skilled at leather work and agreed to trade for lessons in metalworking if I would help with Alvor's backlog of leatherworking orders. I told Hod that I would spend the next few days helping at the smithy.
It wasn't a lie... mostly. I did help Alvor with the leatherwork each morning for the next two days. But in the afternoons I set to work on the armor I had taken from the poacher. I added a leather cuirass, a few iron reinforcements, and a great many iron studs. It wasn't quite what I wanted, yet, but it would do for what I had next in mind.
On the morning of my 13th day in Riverwood I had my bow with me and made Alvor understand that I was going to go hunting for more pelts as his leather supplies were running low. That was true, they were.
I wished to buy some things before I went. I picked out some boots with steel greaves and, buried under some of his other wares, a steel helmet with a noseguard and chain coif I had stashed away the day before so no one else would buy it. Alvor wanted to know why I needed such heavy armor for hunting, but I just gave him my best toothy smile, tossed him a bag of coins I'd made working at the mill, and said, "Bandits," before walking away with my new gear.
There are advantages to not being able to explain things well.
I walked out of town on the south road, and quickly came to where I had stashed my armor, sword, and shield. I changed quickly, and began climbing switchbacks. By noon I had come to the place where a small path left the road to climb yet another switchback. I guessed that the bandit overlook must be up that path, checked my gear one final time, and began hiking upward. I kept to the base of the rising side, to minimize the chance of being seen from above, and when I could smell a cooking fire I began sneaking along as quietly as I knew how, bow drawn. Very sneaky, us vikingrs.
Soon, the brigands came into sight and... 
... and the Sagas spoke of shieldmaidens, of course, and I myself was with Freydís Eiríksdóttir when she took up the sword, but I had assumed I would be fighting men... or maybe alfar. For a moment I faltered, and I must have made some noise or sudden movement, for I was noticed and the one with the spiky hair charged at me while her companion put an arrow to her bow.
My resolve hardened, battle was battle whomever the foe was, and these foes had been hurting the livelihoods of people I had come to care about. They would receive no quarter.
My first arrow flew wide. My second took Spiky-hair in the chest, but she kept coming, battle-rage driving her on. I grabbed my shield and drew my sword just in time to deflect her first swing, it was a strong one, but she had over-committed and stumbled. I drew back to deliver a might cleaving blow and suddenly my vision was obscured and my head felt like the mountain had come down on it. Blood trickled down into my left eye.
Somehow I still managed to bring my sword down accurately, with my whole world spinning, and Spiky-hair went down and stayed down.
I bellowed a battle cry to Odin and charged the bow-woman, my vision still swimming. Her next arrow harmlessly struck my shield when I bashed her bow off true. She drew a knife, but it was harmless against my armor and I made short work of her when she backed into the cave wall and could go no further.
I spent the next two hours waiting for my head to stop pounding, working the arrow out of the chains of my coif, and thanking Thor for my helmet purchase.
I also reflected on my nickname: Gaefumathr - Lucky Man. This wasn't the first close call I'd had. I was known for them. Or had been known for them, when there were people who knew me.
After I got the arrow out and my head settled down a bit, I ate whatever animal the bandits had been cooking along with a hard roll. It tasted a bit like chicken.
I then gathered up some loot and walked back to Riverwood. When I arrived, I told Gerdur and Ralof that the bandit problem on the south road was taken care of and after she cleaned up the cut from the arrow above my eye, Gerdur suggested we go to the inn and let everyone know the good news.
We didn't have inns back home. Everyone drank at the Jarl's mead hall or their own homes. I have to say, though, after everyone fought to buy me drinks and food that night, I decided that I liked inns. Sven, the local skald, began composing a song about my adventure.
I enjoyed the attention, and felt proud of myself. Granted, I had fought more impressive battles in my time. Still, it was a start in these lands, and for the first time since coming here I didn't feel useless. Skyrim seemed to be a bit of a lawless land, with everything going on. Splitting heads was a better use of my talents than splitting logs and if I could help the common folk at the same time... and get immortalized in song... why not? Of course, I wouldn't stop looking for a way home, but one must pass the time somehow.
After most of the townspeople had gone to their beds, Alvor came and sat with me. He said that if I felt the need for more violent adventure, he might just have a couple more things I could take care of. If I was interested, that was...
Oh yes, I was interested.
