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skyrimkinkmemeANNOUNCEMENTS: UPDATED 12/16/2017
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The Wolf Queen Awakens 8.1
Date: 2013-10-18 09:37 pm (UTC)Summary: Thanks to Elisif already being known to the Thalmor, Delphine's had to hit up Skyrim's underworld for assistance. But while she gets what she came for, the price may be more than she's prepared to pay and not just in coin either. Meanwhile, Elisif's attending her first party since Torygg died and she's not coping well...
Riften. City of sin. Well. Not so much that, nothing so interesting. City of crime then. City of various monetary acts of wrongdoing, with that same down to earth grubby charm it had always had. A city that was welcoming to all as all it cared about was your coin. Technically Stormcloak and that at least meant no Thalmor. But in reality, it belonged to the Black-Briars and Thieves Guild and always had done, and that was precisely why Delphine was here.
“Make love like a sabre cat! Grow back that missing limb! Learn a new language in seconds, all thanks to my genuine Falmer blood elixir!”
And there he was. Her old friend Brynjolf at his market stall, selling his usual wares. A few passers-by stopped to have a look, but most of Riften's citizens knew Brynjolf all too well.
She stopped by the stall, glancing up at him from under her hood.
“Hello there lass, can I interest you in my genuine Falmer blood elixir? Only twenty septims-” He stopped, seeing first the hood of a fellow Guildmate, then under the hood, someone he'd likely not thought he'd see again.
Delphine wasn't proud of her Thieves Guild years. But she'd been on the run after the war, was running out of hiding places and in desperation had ended up hiding out in Riften's Ratway, paying the Guild to bring her food. Most had just brought the food, taken the coin and gone on their merry way without asking questions. Not so Brynjolf. He'd brought the food, taken the coin and started chatting. First asking questions but when she'd shut the door and ignored him, he'd stopped expecting an answer and started monologuing. Despite trying to block him out, he had a way of making the mundane sound interesting – and he'd been a useful source of information. One day he'd mentioned something about Thalmor agents in town and she'd opened the door to ask more without even thinking. He'd just stopped and grinned, knowing he had her and then proceeded to start asking a price.
The sexual favours he'd initially suggested had been met with a right hook to the jaw. He'd taken the hint and the following day, he'd revised his price. Not coin, no, but her joining the Guild, helping them out. So after a bit of thought, she'd said yes and there had followed six, nearly seven years of thieving all over Skyrim, her espionage skills being put to a use her trainers had never anticipated. During that time, she and Brynjolf had become friends, partners in crime – until she'd been spotted by a Thalmor agent while on a job, killed to protect her identity and been forced to leave the Guild. She'd taken in more than enough coin to buy the Sleeping Giant by that point though, and retiring to Riverwood had proved to be a good option. Ten years she'd been there now and the Thalmor hadn't found her yet. Talos willing, they never would.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 8.2
Date: 2013-10-18 09:38 pm (UTC)Brynjolf stared at her, not able to believe his eyes. “Del? Is that you? Now you're a sight for sore eyes, lass. You haven't changed a bit.”
“Nor have you if you think I'll fall for your usual flattery,” Delphine remarked, but part of her was pleased by the genuine pleasure in his eyes on seeing her. Not often she got that reaction. “It's good to see you, Bryn.”
“And you,” Brynjolf replied, actually grinning. “So what brings you to Riften? Business? Pleasure? Something else? Something I could help with perhaps?” His eyes lingered on her a little longer than they should and Delphine could only sigh wearily. While Brynjolf could hardly be said to be pining for her and certainly hadn't been saving himself for her or anyone else, he'd never made any secret of the fact he found her attractive either. It was a little unsettling if Delphine was honest, but Brynjolf had never pushed the matter and for that at least she was relieved.
“As a matter of fact, yes,” Delphine said, hoping he actually could because if the Guild couldn't help, she was frankly stuffed. “I'm planning a job – a big one. A dangerous one, with a lot riding on it, and I'm going to need an extra pair of hands. I need a Guild thief, Bryn, a good one. Can you help?”
“Not here,” said Brynjolf softly, lowering his voice. “Meet me tonight in the Flagon, yeah?”
Which was exactly the response she'd been hoping for. Handing twenty septims over for a bottle of spurious elixir so their conversation at least looked a little bit legitimate, Delphine slipped away.
~~~~~~~~~~
Later that evening, and Delphine was feeling a little nervous as she walked back into the Flagon. She didn't recognise the doorman, who glanced at her armour and waved her on through with just a warning to cause no trouble. She vaguely recognised the blonde Imperial woman as someone who'd only just joined the Guild when she left – Vex, was it? But Vekel, Tonilia, Delvin – they were older but they all knew her.
“Delphine love, about time you showed up again,” Delvin laughed as he got up to greet her with the typical Breton cheek-kiss. “Welcome back, this place has been going downhill ever since you left.”
“Delvin,” Delphine laughed. “Good to see you, how've you been?”
All the better for seeing her, apparently – Vekel had mead sent over and Tonilia joined them and it became apparent the Guild was not doing well. It had been in gentle decline when she'd been part of it – another reason to get out while she had her coin still – but it seemed things had only got worse. Not a brilliant sign, if she was honest.
Then Brynjolf walked in, dressed in the same black Guild armour Delvin and Vex had and that was something, to find out Brynjolf was the second in command these days.
“You're going up in the world, Bryn,” she laughed. Brynjolf just grimaced.
“Aye, I just wish the same could be said about the Guild. But never mind that, lass. You said you had a job for me.” He led her over to a quiet table in the corner and the rest of the Guild had the presence of mind to leave them to it.
“So what is it?” he asked quietly. “Shill job, heist job, numbers job, good old-fashioned burglary, what?”
“A difficult one, is what it is,” Delphine sighed. “This place is locked up tighter than a miser's purse. I mean, I've worked out a way to get someone into the place, got a distraction all lined up, but I need someone to actually get in there and get out with what I need.”
“And what do you need, Delphine?” Brynjolf asked, so far not fazed. “As long as we're not robbing anyone the Guild works with, I'm all ears.”
“You may change your mind when I tell you,” Delphine told him. “Let's just say it's not their valuables I'm after – your man or woman can keep anything not nailed down as far as I'm concerned. What I'm after is their information, their secret files.”
Brynjolf just grinned. “Lass, information is the most valuable thing of all in this business. So we break into this place, raid their office, take their top secret documents and get out without being fingered. Sounds easy enough. Who's the mark?”
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 8.3
Date: 2013-10-18 09:39 pm (UTC)“The Thalmor Embassy,” Delphine admitted. Brynjolf stared at her, open-mouthed, then the colour returned to his cheeks as he swept out of his chair.
“No,” he snapped. “Are you actually fucking insane? Break into that place? You'll get us all killed!”
“Bryn, wait!” Delphine cried, grabbing his arm, hoping he'd sit down and shut up before the rest of the Guild all got in on the act. Dirge was already glaring at her and both Tonilia and Delvin were looking their way too.
“Look, I got this all planned out,” Delphine whispered, gently nudging him back into the chair. Anyone else, that would never have worked, but Brynjolf did at least sit down again, although he still looked wary. “I've got a man on the inside and a distraction good to go. I've got all the arrangements in place. I just need someone to do the job.”
“What in Shor's name do you need top secret Thalmor files for anyway?” Brynjolf murmured. “Listen Delphine, if they've taken someone you care about, don't bother. Whoever it is is dead, or will be soon. Mourn 'em, move on.”
If only it were that easy.
“That's not why I'm doing this,” Delphine whispered. “It's information on the dragons we need.”
“Dragons??” Brynjolf scratched his head, thoroughly confused by this point... and then Delphine could see the pieces clicking together.
“Would this job have anything to do with a certain notable personage who may or may not apparently be Dragonborn, by any chance?”
Damn him. Brynjolf always had been too smart for his own good.
“That's none of your concern,” Delphine snapped. “Just... look, all you need to know is that I'm offering good money for this information and have a job all good to go. I need someone charming and persuasive but not too memorable, who can attend a party at the Embassy and when the distraction goes down, slip off, raid the Ambassador's offices and get out. I can get them a legitimate invitation, I can get them an outfit, I can get their gear smuggled in. I just need a name off you, Brynjolf.”
Brynjolf didn't say anything, clearly thinking it over. “I imagine there'll be a serious amount of coin involved here, lass.”
“Two thousand,” said Delphine, an absurdly low figure for the risk involved and Brynjolf knew it too.
“Ten,” he said firmly. Delphine shook her head, going over her own finances. Healthy, but ten thousand was almost her entire life savings.
“Five,” she offered. Brynjolf smiled faintly.
“Seven,” was the response. Delphine threw up her hands.
“Do you think I'm made of money?” she sighed, frustrated. “Six and that's my final offer.”
“Six thousand septims it is,” Brynjolf said, smirking as he offered his hand. Delphine took it, feeling her shoulders sag as the relief hit her. He'd agreed. Of course he had, he was a risk-taker by nature and profession, he'd not be able to resist this.
“Six thousand and whatever you can steal inside,” Delphine promised. “I just want the files. I don't even care if you have to kill people on this one, once your thief's away from the party, they can kill anyone who gets in their way.”
Brynjolf nodded, but his eyes gave nothing away. “So you want someone who can schmooze with the best of them but not stand out too much, someone who can move quietly but who's prepared to kill if they have to and who's willing to risk their life in the Thalmor Embassy for you.”
“Pretty much, yeah,” Delphine admitted. “I know it might take you a few days to find someone but...”
“No need,” Brynjolf said calmly, refilling her mead tankard. “I've got a name for you.”
“What, already?” Well, Brynjolf knew his Guild, she supposed. “Who is it?”
“Brynjolf,” he said, grin flickering on his lips as he glanced up, clearly amused by the shock on her face. “What, you think I'm risking anyone else's neck on this? No fear, lass. I'm taking this one.”
“You... what?” Delphine whispered, hardly able to breathe... and yet at the same time, she found herself perversely pleased by the idea of working with Brynjolf again. That and the fewer people in on it, the better. “You'll really do it?”
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 8.4
Date: 2013-10-18 09:40 pm (UTC)Delphine had to smile at that. He still remembered one of their favourite pastimes. Truth be told, she had missed this. Being with the Guild had felt almost like having her Blades brothers and sisters back – at least until she'd had to run again. She'd missed them all, Brynjolf in particular, but she couldn't have stayed. Not with the risk of someone realising who she was and calling the Thalmor in. So she'd left them all behind and gone to ground. Now here she was again, learning how to work with other people once more. It was going to take some getting used to – but Brynjolf's smile had a way of reassuring her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elisif fingered her wine glass nervously, forcing a smile as Erikur told some seriously unfunny joke at someone else's expense. Gods, but she wasn't keen on these affairs at the best of times, but they'd got worse since Torygg died. At least with him she'd had someone to hold her hand, and more importantly, someone to talk to on the carriage home about how terrible it had been and laugh together about the other guests. Then he'd died and parties had been the last thing on her mind. Now here she was at her first one since he'd died and she could feel it, all the pitying looks, everyone secretly watching her, talking about her – widowed, you know, Ulfric killed her husband, such a tragedy, so young – and that was bad enough. Then there were the other comments – going to be High Queen, not if Ulfric gets his way, would that be so bad? Slip of a girl doesn't look up to it – and those really did get to her, not least because they might be right. Mostly though they just made her want to kill things and breathe fire – dragons could breathe fire, could she? She certainly wouldn't say no. Only it did sound dangerous...
But she didn't know how and that meant she was stuck here, pretending to be interested and pretending to be having a good time. Honestly, Idgrod was about the only person here who was actually remotely genuine, and she was half-crazy at best. But Elisif would take sincere but strange over insincere and untrustworthy any day.
Movement and then Elenwen was at her shoulder.
“Good evening, Jarl Elisif. Having a good time?”
Elisif nearly jumped out of her skin. She'd not even heard the Thalmor Ambassador approaching. She sipped her wine and tried not to think about the fact that someone would be breaking in to her Embassy tonight.
“Oh yes, Ambassador, very much so!” Elisif said brightly. “You always throw such good parties.”
“I'm glad you enjoy them,” Elenwen said, that odd little smirk of hers in place. “It's always a pleasure to see you here, Jarl. I wasn't sure I'd see you tonight though – you've not been in Solitude much lately, have you? I heard you were off visiting these... Greybeards. Something about dragons?”
Elenwen clearly knew about the entire Dragonborn situation and had probably heard every single story going. It was probably just a matter of sifting truth from fantasy. Once, Elisif might have confided in her, but something about the woman was setting her hackles on edge, her inner dragon starting to growl. Certainly given associates of Elisif's were going to be raiding the Embassy tonight, it was probably best to give Elenwen as little to work with as possible.
“There've been an awful lot of very unlikely stories springing up, Ambassador,” said Elisif demurely. “Most of them are quite exaggerated.”
“But are they untrue?” Elenwen asked, affecting a casual air but Elisif was not fooled. The Thalmor Ambassador was interested, very interested indeed and her intentions were hardly benevolent.
“Madam Ambassador, the dragons are a menace to the whole of Skyrim regardless of politics and as the rightful High Queen, I see it as my solemn duty to do whatever I can to help deal with the problem,” Elisif replied, wishing Elenwen would go away. Honestly, Delphine's agent was supposed to be here, making contact, and they'd hardly do that with the Ambassador right here, would they?
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 8.5
Date: 2013-10-18 09:42 pm (UTC)“They were very specific in their summons,” Elisif said, deciding not to mention the exact nature of said summons. “It's hard to explain to a non-Nord, but if the Greybeards want to see you, you have to go. It's considered very bad form to refuse. No Nord is going to think I'm fit to rule if I'm seen to be disregarding the Greybeards.”
Not entirely true, there were at least two Nords in this very room who wouldn't have cared in the slightest, but Elisif also knew Erikur and Maven would jump on the political capital from a refusal on her part anyway.
“Quite,” Elenwen said, moving on to other topics, for which Elisif was grateful. The Altmer nodded in Maven's direction, to where Maven was having a rather hushed conversation with a new arrival, a red-haired Nord that Elisif hadn't seen before. For some reason, Maven seemed rather angry with him.
“Do you know that man, by any chance? He's on the guest list but I'm afraid he's a mystery to me,” Elenwen said calmly. “He says he's from High Rock – I know you grew up there, I was wondering if you'd met him. He says his name's Ragnar.”
As in the song perhaps? Thanks to that tune, the name Ragnar had been out of favour for years, especially for a red-haired family, but the Thalmor wouldn't know that. Elisif began to wonder if that was Delphine's man.
“I don't think so,” Elisif said cautiously. “But we didn't move in terribly exalted circles in Wayrest, so we could easily have never been introduced. That's if he's from there – if he's from anywhere else, we'd never have known him.”
“Indeed. A pity,” Elenwen sighed. “I was hoping someone might know him. Thus far he's a mystery. I'm not even sure how he got on the list, but I imagine he's a man of influence somewhere. I'll see if Idgrod knows him. Thank you for your time, Jarl Elisif. Please, have a good evening.” Elenwen moved on and Elisif breathed a sigh of relief. Ragnar, although she was sure that wasn't his real name, had left Maven by this point, and was soon making his way over to her, drink in hand.
“Now this is a sight to lift the heart, a young woman here with no father or husband to scare men off,” he said, grinning roguishly at her. “I don't believe we've been introduced, lass. I'm Ragnar, a jewel merchant from Daggerfall, here in Skyrim on business with the East Empire Company. Who do I have the pleasure of talking to?”
Elisif was fairly certain he'd never done a day's work for the East Empire Company in his life, although had she checked their records, she'd actually have found his name among them, courtesy of the Thieves Guild's contacts there.
“Elisif, Jarl of Solitude,” she said tersely. “And for your information, I'm a widow. My husband only died five months ago, I'm still in mourning. So no, I am not in need of male company, not now or in the foreseeable future.”
“Now that is a shame,” Ragnar replied, and there was actually genuine sympathy there to Elisif's surprise. “Well, not to worry, my intentions are entirely honourable. Should you change your mind and want someone to provide some entirely above-board company of an evening, or even buy some fine pieces of jewellery, you just come find me. I'm staying at the Winking Skeever until my ship leaves on the 30th of Frostfall.”
A flicker of his eyelids as he said the date, and Elisif knew that was him, must be, it was Delphine's man, needing her to create a distraction so he could get away from the party.
“Well, I will think about it,” said Elisif, relenting slightly. “But only to possibly order some new jewellery, nothing else so don't get any ideas. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to mingle with the other guests and you're distracting me.” She emphasised the word distracting slightly, and a slight nod from him told her he'd understood.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 8.6
Date: 2013-10-18 09:43 pm (UTC)Razelan glanced up, raising an eyebrow on seeing the Jarl herself approaching.
“I'm very sorry,” Elisif whispered guiltily. “Please forgive me. It's in a good cause?” Before Razelan could ask what it was about, Elisif had turned her back, eyes scanning the room, Razelan sitting right behind her. She noticed Ragnar striking up a conversation with one of the Thalmor, took a deep breath, counted to quietly to five and then shrieked as loudly as she could manage. Everyone's head turned as one to see why Jarl Elisif was screaming and Elisif wasted no time in spinning around and slapping Razelan as hard as she could.
“You disgusting man!” she cried, trying to sound as furious and offended as possible. “How dare you! I am a Jarl of Skyrim AND a grieving widow, my husband hasn't even been dead six months, what is wrong with you??”
Guards approaching, Elenwen approaching, the entire room silent and Elisif didn't know if Ragnar was making the most of this or not but she couldn't afford to look. She just kept staring at the hapless Razelan who was rubbing his cheek, shocked.
“Lady, I don't know what I did to upset you, but...” Razelan began, but Elisif breathed deeply, reminding herself: grieving widow, just been non-consensually groped, angry, tearful, upset, don't feel sorry for him, DON'T feel sorry for him...
“DON'T TOUCH ME!” Elisif yelled, feeling actual tears in her eyes. “Don't even look at me, stay away from me, stay AWAY!” She put her hands over her eyes, unable to face looking at poor Razelan as someone put an arm around her and led her away.
“There, there, Elisif,” and that was Elenwen of all people. “Don't worry, I'll make sure this gets dealt with. Razelan! I distinctly recall from the last party you attended telling you that if you managed to cause a scene again, you'd be out, and here you are assaulting the High Queen of Skyrim? Shame on you, Razelan, shame on you.”
“But I didn't-!” Razelan protested, and then his eyes hardened as they fell on Elisif. “You know what, I don't even care. So throw me out. Not like I'm missing anything here.”
“Oh,” Elisif whispered, guilt stabbing at her. “Ambassador, please don't be too hard on him, I'm sure he'd just had a bit to drink and didn't mean anything by it...”
Elenwen didn't answer, just glaring at Razelan.
“Guards, show Razelan to his carriage and make sure he leaves immediately,” Elenwen said sternly. The Thalmor guards were quick to oblige, ushering Razelan out the door with commendable speed. Elisif looked away, tears in her eyes for real at this point. She was just lucky Razelan was too high-profile to arrest. She made a mental note to ask Falk to ensure he was given special treatment at their end in whatever business dealings he was doing.
“Ambassador, you don't have to do that, I was probably standing too close to him in the first place,” Elisif began, but Elenwen stopped her, actually looking kind and sympathetic, genuinely this time.
“Elisif,” said Elenwen gently. “It was not your fault. You have done nothing wrong, and if he can't keep his hands to himself, that is his fault and not yours. You shouldn't blame yourself.”
Elisif nodded tearfully, because if she started arguing the point she'd end up crying on the Thalmor Ambassador's shoulder and that was just embarrassing.
“Now are you all right?” Elenwen asked gently. Elisif looked away then shook her head. She had to get out of here, not least because when Elenwen found out her Embassy's security had been compromised, Elisif wanted to be far away from here.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 8.7
Date: 2013-10-18 09:44 pm (UTC)“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 8.8
Date: 2013-10-18 09:46 pm (UTC)“FUS RO DAH!” she Shouted at him, sending the Argonian flying. Dawnbreaker was gleaming away on its weapon plaque above her bed and Elisif grabbed it, casting the one mage armour spell she knew and moving in for the kill. The Argonian barely had the chance to move before Dawnbreaker stabbed down and skewered him. Then the doors burst open and Falk was there with Bolgeir and half a dozen guards at his back.
“Elisif!” he gasped, seeing the dead man on the floor in a pool of blood, and Elisif standing there with a sword in her hands looking like she was about to faint.
“Falk,” Elisif whispered, feeling like she was going to be sick any second now – her room, oh gods, her own bedroom and someone had tried to – tried to... She sank on to the bed before she actually did collapse.
“Elisif,” and Falk was there, sitting next to her, arms around her while Bolgeir started going over the rest of the room to make sure no one else was hiding anywhere, and the guards picked the body up and carried it away. “My gods, Elisif, what happened, are you all right?”
Elisif shook her head, shaking all over. Someone tried to kill me. They tried to kill me in my own palace!
“I was going to go to bed, but it was dark,” she whispered. “The lamps were out, so I cast a magelight, and then I saw him in the mirror and he went for me with a sword and... and I Shouted and grabbed Dawnbreaker and killed him...”
“We heard the Shout and came running,” Falk said grimly. “Gods, Elisif, if he'd killed you...”
Elisif didn't reply. She couldn't say anything, she was too choked to speak. An assassin, here, in Solitude. Dressed in red and black. She knew which group of assassins were said to wear that.
Dark Brotherhood. Someone took out a contract with the Dark Brotherhood. Oh gods. Everyone knew of the Dark Brotherhood, the feared guild of assassins who struck without warning and always killed the target eventually. Who never gave up, who could always find you, who didn't stop until you were dead. And now someone was paying them to kill her. She didn't know who, had no idea. Someone with money, that was for sure. Someone who might profit from it. Quite possibly someone in her own court, in fact the more she thought about it, the more she thought it had to be someone in Solitude. She'd come back from High Hrothgar different, Falk had said. Different? Not afraid any more, was how she'd come back. Less willing to be bossed around, told what to do, treated like a child. Could be someone thought this new Elisif was a liability. An inconvenience. An obstacle. Especially since the whole Meridia situation when she'd been swept into the sky in front of Captain Aldis and half the guard, deposited back outside and had to explain the situation away quickly. She'd just said it was a sign the gods were pleased with her and they'd given her the sword to help wipe out all Skyrim's foes and make Skyrim a freer, happier, better place. They'd all responded with cheers and the story had started going around that she'd been given a divine mission to heal Skyrim and purge it of corruption. She'd not minded that at all at the time... only it was beginning to occur to her not all the corruption was on Ulfric's side.
“Falk,” she whispered. “Falk, when Bolgeir's finished checking the room, could I have a bit of time alone in here? I – I need to think, need to gather my wits. Suppose I need to get my things together too, I can hardly sleep in here now.”
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 8.9
Date: 2013-10-18 09:47 pm (UTC)Elisif nodded, smiling weakly as Bolgeir announced the room clear and everyone else filed out. Her smile faded as soon as the door closed, and she immediately grabbed her armour off the mannequin, swiftly getting changed. Next her weapons, then her pack of potions, coin purse, never mind food, she'd eaten at the Embassy and she could buy food anywhere. She scribbled a note to Falk, telling him she was sorry but she didn't know who to trust and needed to be somewhere safe for a bit. She truly was sorry to do this to him, the poor man would likely be worried, but for all she knew he was in on it. At least she'd sent Erandur home prior to the party, so he'd be safe, but on the other hand, she could have used the company. Never mind. It wasn't like she didn't have friends elsewhere. Delphine would likely not be pleased at her fleeing the city in terror, but it wasn't like she had much choice.
Prising the window open, Elisif climbed into the window frame, sitting awkwardly in it with her legs over the side.
“FEIM!” she cried, turning ethereal and then she was falling to the courtyard, gasping as she landed but unharmed. Guards were turning to look, drawing weapons and that was no good at all, probably they were just doing their job but what if some of them were Brotherhood agents? It was a risk she couldn't afford to take. Fortunately she had an invisibility potion on her. Knocking it back, she faded from view and fled into the night, racing for the side gate to the docks. Time to get out of Solitude before this city claimed her life as well as Torygg's.
~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: And there's a bit of a cliffhanger, hmm? I needed a reason for Elisif to leave Solitude and then I remembered the Dark Brotherhood assassins that attack you on the road after Dragon Rising and thought 'bingo!'
Poor Razelan, I do feel very sorry for him, but he'll be all right. Especially after he hears about the break-in and realises it was part of a set-up, at which point he's too impressed to hold it against Elisif for long.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 8.9
Date: 2013-10-19 12:10 am (UTC)*Ahem* anyway, great chapter as always. That kind caring facade of Elenwen's seems especially chilling in retrospect of that ending. I have a feeling she may have been the one to hire the brotherhood. If Elisif can find her courage again then wiping them out will be another great boost for her popularity in Skyrim (god knows the guards in the game never shut up about it after that quest!)
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 8.9
Date: 2013-10-19 12:07 pm (UTC)I wouldn't say Elisif has lost her courage exactly - but she does need help and she's a sitting duck in Solitude. Hence the fleeing into the night. But she'll be doing a few brave things next chapter.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 8.9
Date: 2013-10-22 03:20 am (UTC)Jorvasker is too public and Sky Haven Temple isn't available yet. So I am of course speaking of Fort Dawngaurd. Get some use out of Dawnbreaker. And show me the DB operative with the balls to risk getting in range of Isran, who himself would probably happy as hell to have Jarl Elisif helping the cause, and perfectly willing to grant her some cover.
That and Serana would be a just outright *mean* suckerpunch for Elisif to pull on her enemies.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 8.9
Date: 2013-10-22 07:36 am (UTC)Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 8.9
Date: 2013-10-26 02:22 pm (UTC)Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 8.9
Date: 2013-10-19 12:17 am (UTC)As a side note, your characterization struck me as especially good in this chapter. Brynjolf, Falk, and Elenwen are all standouts, especially the latter. She creeps me out anyway, but something about First Emissary "interrogation-isn't-actually-my-job-anymore-but-I-like-to-watch-for-kicks-and-giggles" Elenwen being all motherly and understanding just makes my skin CRAWL.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 8.9
Date: 2013-10-19 12:16 pm (UTC)I've not really written a lot of Elenwen before so I'm glad her characterisation worked! At first I just thought it would be amusing to have Elenwen of all people comforting Elisif, but when you realise Elenwen developed those motherly and understanding and empathic characteristics not from raising kids but from interrogating her victims, it does get really rather creepy.