Finally. Back at Riverwood. After I spend the night here (or what is left of it at any rate) I am headed to my home. I haven't seen Lucia in ages, and I miss her. I picked up a new dress for her from Belethor when I came into town, hopefully she'll like it.
The Thalmor. Yes, I hated them before. My repulsion for them has grown tenfold however in the last two days. After I met with the wood elf I went out to the stables to speak with Delphine. She had somehow managed to obtain an invitation for a formal party that the representative of the Thalmor in Skyrim, Elenwen, throws every once and awhile. She fitted me out in the gaudiest, most offensive, most uncomfortable outfit I have ever worn, wrapped a silky scarf around my head which draped just low enough to cover my eyes for an appearance of 'timid modesty' as she said, and pointed me in the direction of the carriage I can actually admit that I was a bit nervous. Cloak and dagger has never been something that I have dabbled in. I'm the woman who runs in, spells at the ready, and kills everything, and then brings it back to life and kills more things...I don't sneak around dressed up like a peacock. So yes, I was nervous I had the carriage driver drop Erandur off about half a mile away from the embassy. We had decided ahead of time that it would be best if he tried to scan the perimeter of the embassy for any alternative method of getting in. We were both positive that being the paranoid Altmer with too much time on their hands that they were, there must be a secret exit out of the building. Erandur was going to find it, get in, and help me get out once I had learned all I could.
Everything actually went amazingly smoothly. There were many faces which I recognized at the party, and most were either in my debt, or, in the case of Jarl Elisif the Fair, simply glad to see someone they recognized. There was one interesting character there whom I had never met, and yet have heard mentioned many times. Maven Black-Briar. I have heard she is a woman of much power. A woman who has her fingers in many different cauldrons. She knew at once that I did not belong at the party, and quietly told me so. However she mad no move to blow my cover. I sense that she has no love for the Thalmor and was only their because her position demanded she be there. I actually got that impression from many of the guests there. There were a few, like Erikur, that pompous windbag, who seemed to be enjoying themselves. But otherwise, I do believe most of them wish the Thalmor would perish in Oblivion.
I ran into Victoria Vicci, from the East Empire Company as well. She is greatly in my debt after I vanquished a small army of pirates who were robbing her shipments outside of Windhelm. On a whim I asked her if she would do me a favor and cause a small scene so that I could get away. She was more willing to help than I had anticipated. She hates the Thalmor quite a bit, and without even asking what my intentions were, began bitching loudly, catching everyone's attention. I made my move and left the room.
It was not as difficult as I had though, sneaking through the embassy. I found that I have a skill for stealth, in fact, I believe being blind renders me an even better sneak as I rely on my sense of hearing more than ever to guide me. Even the subtle vibrations in the floor boards of someone shifting positions several rooms down the hall is audible to me.
I finally made it to Elenwen's Solar. I found her office and took everything I could find which seemed may be of importance. It was difficult to tell what all I was grabbing, and I did find out later, when I showed my catch to Delphine that among the various important papers and manuscripts I had also taken a map of Solitude and a Children's Version of the Annuad.
After taking all I thought was of importance I headed to the basement. I had overheard a brief conversation upon entering the Solar about a certain prisoner whom was being questioned in the basement, and I figured he may be able to provide me with more information. Plus it seemed likely that a secret exit would also be found in the lowest level. My guess proved right on both accounts.
Upon entering the basement I found my path blocked by an unaware Thalmor Soldier. Summoning all my courage I did something which I have never attempted before because of the sheer implausibility of it. I crept up behind her and slit her throat. The stealth kill worked perfectly, the soldier uttered not a sound as her blood pooled up in a dark corner. I discovered it is not so hard. It was easy enough for me to judge her size, knowing what type of armor the Thalmor soldiers wear helped as well. The moment my hands grasped her I could feel every pumping artery in her body easily, and my knife found its mark instantly. I am glad I asked the Bosmer to smuggle me in a dagger, I almost decided against it. There was something very satisfying about slaying the Altmer with my own hands, feeling the life leave her body. This is a skill I will have to perfect. Perhaps I will clear out a bandit camp in this manner. That would be excellent practice with no real risk of failure.
There was one other Thalmor in the basement, the interrogator himself. He was seated at a desk, studying some paperwork of some variety. An easy stealth kill. I took his paperwork as well before approaching the prisoner. The man was already very near death, and willingly told me whatever I asked him. He did not know much. The Thalmor did not know anything about the dragons, that much I had already ascertained from a few conversations I had overheard, they did however at least seem to know someone who did know more. His name is Esbern, a former member of the Blades as well. According to the prisoner he is holed up somewhere in Riften, probably in the Ratways.
Just as I finished interrogating the prisoner two Thalmor Soldiers entered the room on the upper level. They had the Bosmer with them and were shouting down to me that they would kill him if I did not reveal myself. Well they asked for it.
I whispered the dragon words, 'dov mey gut' towards the stair way landing. As I had hoped one approached the noise, thinking that it was me walking upwards. Instead I summoned a chain of lightening which instantly disintegrated him and leapt to his startled companion. The elf tried to run, but I leapt after him, driving my dagger into his back.
The Bosmer was relieved, but wasted no time in grabbing a key off one of the Thalmor and running downstairs. He knew of the location of the trapdoor which I had suspected, unlocked it, and escorted both me and the Nord prisoner out. Erandur was waiting for us in the small cave below. He had killed the frost troll which the Thalmor apparently fed with the corpses of their prisoners.
Upon exiting the small cave we were ambushed by a blood dragon. Erandur and I told the Bosmer and Nord to run, they willingly did so, the two of us brought the dragon down quickly thereafter.
And that about sums up my adventures of the last two days. I'll probably spend the night at Lakeview Manor tomorrow night, and then head to Riften to find this mysterious Esbern who knows so much about dragons in the morning. I do hope that he knows something useful. The vampire attacks have been getting worse and worse and I fear that they are becoming almost as big a threat as the damned dragons. I arrived in Whiterun yesterday on my way to Riverwood only to discover that the smithy, the stewards daughter, had been found dead at her forge from a vampire bite. It seems the girl took her own life when she found she was infected. A very brave act and one that doubtless saved the citizens of Whiterun much trouble. It also means that they are without a functioning blacksmith however now.
I can only hope that Esbern can help me solve the conundrum of the returning dragons so that I can deal with this other crisis.
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