“I think - I think I need to go home,” Elisif whispered. “I'm sorry, Ambassador, I didn't mean to ruin your party, I'm so sorry...”
“Oh hush child, you didn't ruin it, that oaf Razelan did. Again,” Elenwen sighed. She motioned to her guards and within seconds one was bringing Elisif's fur cape and wrapping it round her shoulders and the other was motioning for her to follow them.
“Now you go home, have a bath and a nice early night,” Elenwen said, sounding oddly matronly considering Elisif knew for a fact Elenwen had never either married or had children. “You'll feel so much better in the morning.”
Elisif nodded and let herself be bundled out of the door to her carriage. She'd feel no such thing, in fact she wouldn't feel comfortable or safe until she heard news of how the break-in had gone and if she'd be even remotely linked to any of it. And as for humiliating poor Razelan like that... she wasn't sure she'd ever feel all right about that at all.
~~~~~~~~~~
Half past nine by the time she got back to the Blue Palace. Falk had been up still, surprised to see her back so early and a little worried.
“Is everything all right, my Jarl?” He took a closer look and saw she'd been crying. “Elisif? Are you... were you crying?” In a few moments he was there, arms round her, rubbing her back, decidedly unstewardly conduct but welcome for all that.
“No!” Elisif wept. “No, I'm not all right, I was lonely and scared and I missed Torygg and...” She closed her eyes, bawling her eyes out on Falk's shoulder. For a few minutes neither moved, him just holding her and her sobbing on his shoulder, feeling worse for having Falk there comforting her because she didn't deserve it, she definitely didn't, she was the worst person in the world, first for getting an innocent man in trouble and now for manipulating another man into comforting her over it when he didn't even know what he was comforting her over.
“You know, I'm sure Elenwen would understand if you skipped the next one due to still not feeling up to socialising,” Falk began and Elisif just nodded.
“I might do that,” Elisif whispered. Not because she wasn't ready, but because she wasn't sure she could face Elenwen again after how sympathetic she'd been, and Elisif definitely couldn't face Razelan for a long while. “Falk, I – I think I might go to bed if it's all the same to you.”
“Of course, Jarl,” said Falk gently. “Do you need me to send anything up for you? Food? Drink?”
“No I don't think so,” Elisif whispered. “I just – just need to be alone. Thank you, Falk.”
Falk let her go as she headed back to her bedroom. Privacy, a good cry, a good night's sleep in her own bed, that was what she needed.
She went inside, closed the doors behind her, took a deep breath and leaned her head against the wood. Tonight had been horrible, but at least Delphine's insane burglary plan had worked. She likely wouldn't know the result for a few days, maybe not even a few weeks. Delphine had said to sit tight in Solitude for a few weeks until they could get hold of her. It would look suspicious otherwise. And Delphine was right, absolutely right but it still looked likely to be a nervewracking time.
Elisif stepped away for the door, heading for the bed. All the lights were out, which was odd now Elisif thought about it, but maybe the maids just hadn't expected her back early. Never mind. Just meant a chance to practice her magic. Elisif cast Candlelight, smiling as the light flared into view. She glanced at her reflection in her mirror as she did so. It probably saved her life.
She looked into the mirror and saw herself in her party gear, light hovering at her shoulder... and reflecting it back in the mirror were two eyes in the gloom beyond. Elisif screamed and darted out of the way just in time to avoid the knife thrust intended to kill her, throwing her fur cape at the intruder as she dodged.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 8.7
“Oh hush child, you didn't ruin it, that oaf Razelan did. Again,” Elenwen sighed. She motioned to her guards and within seconds one was bringing Elisif's fur cape and wrapping it round her shoulders and the other was motioning for her to follow them.
“Now you go home, have a bath and a nice early night,” Elenwen said, sounding oddly matronly considering Elisif knew for a fact Elenwen had never either married or had children. “You'll feel so much better in the morning.”
Elisif nodded and let herself be bundled out of the door to her carriage. She'd feel no such thing, in fact she wouldn't feel comfortable or safe until she heard news of how the break-in had gone and if she'd be even remotely linked to any of it. And as for humiliating poor Razelan like that... she wasn't sure she'd ever feel all right about that at all.
~~~~~~~~~~
Half past nine by the time she got back to the Blue Palace. Falk had been up still, surprised to see her back so early and a little worried.
“Is everything all right, my Jarl?” He took a closer look and saw she'd been crying. “Elisif? Are you... were you crying?” In a few moments he was there, arms round her, rubbing her back, decidedly unstewardly conduct but welcome for all that.
“No!” Elisif wept. “No, I'm not all right, I was lonely and scared and I missed Torygg and...” She closed her eyes, bawling her eyes out on Falk's shoulder. For a few minutes neither moved, him just holding her and her sobbing on his shoulder, feeling worse for having Falk there comforting her because she didn't deserve it, she definitely didn't, she was the worst person in the world, first for getting an innocent man in trouble and now for manipulating another man into comforting her over it when he didn't even know what he was comforting her over.
“You know, I'm sure Elenwen would understand if you skipped the next one due to still not feeling up to socialising,” Falk began and Elisif just nodded.
“I might do that,” Elisif whispered. Not because she wasn't ready, but because she wasn't sure she could face Elenwen again after how sympathetic she'd been, and Elisif definitely couldn't face Razelan for a long while. “Falk, I – I think I might go to bed if it's all the same to you.”
“Of course, Jarl,” said Falk gently. “Do you need me to send anything up for you? Food? Drink?”
“No I don't think so,” Elisif whispered. “I just – just need to be alone. Thank you, Falk.”
Falk let her go as she headed back to her bedroom. Privacy, a good cry, a good night's sleep in her own bed, that was what she needed.
She went inside, closed the doors behind her, took a deep breath and leaned her head against the wood. Tonight had been horrible, but at least Delphine's insane burglary plan had worked. She likely wouldn't know the result for a few days, maybe not even a few weeks. Delphine had said to sit tight in Solitude for a few weeks until they could get hold of her. It would look suspicious otherwise. And Delphine was right, absolutely right but it still looked likely to be a nervewracking time.
Elisif stepped away for the door, heading for the bed. All the lights were out, which was odd now Elisif thought about it, but maybe the maids just hadn't expected her back early. Never mind. Just meant a chance to practice her magic. Elisif cast Candlelight, smiling as the light flared into view. She glanced at her reflection in her mirror as she did so. It probably saved her life.
She looked into the mirror and saw herself in her party gear, light hovering at her shoulder... and reflecting it back in the mirror were two eyes in the gloom beyond. Elisif screamed and darted out of the way just in time to avoid the knife thrust intended to kill her, throwing her fur cape at the intruder as she dodged.