Starry Night in Solitude

I couldn't help but smile a little, as Brelyna gazed up in awe of the city of Solitude from below. It was an awesome sight, seeing those large buildings standing atop the natural stone arch formation. Almost like the city itself had grown out of the rock of the cliff, overlooking the sea.

I remember that I too was astonished when I first saw it. That had been when I was attending the party at the Thalmor embassy, and I didn't stay in the city itself for very long. Just long enough to meet Delphine's contact, and to witness an execution. All in all, not a brilliant start.

Now this time, I hoped, I would be able to have a better look around, which would be even more pleasant with my girlfriend with me. I still got a warm feeling in my chest whenever I thought of her that way now. I'd never known anything like it before. I was glad to have her with me, and that she'd decided to come. I smiled broadly whenever I remembered she was too.

"So, Brelyna, do you regret your decision at all?"

"Not one bit," she replied, giving me that smile that made my heart race.

"Really?" I gave her a cheeky grin. "You don't regret leaving behind your studies, to go off with a dashing, handsome hero on a dangerous quest?"

"Dashing, handsome hero? Where? Behind you?"

"Hey! Say something else like that and I may just drop you back off at the College missy!"

"Relax, I'm only joking."

"So was I, but I'm better at it."

"That's debatable." She giggled and kissed me on the cheek. "I don't regret it, not one little bit."

"Neither do I," I said gratefully. "Now then, I think you'll find that Solitude is much more impressive on the inside than down here."

"Then let's go and have a look."

We rode our two horses up to the stables, where we left them in the care of the good people. I offered Brelyna my hand, which she took gently as she leapt down beside me. Her arm looping through mine, I led the way up the path, under the fine stone arch and up to the great gates of Solitude, where Roggvir had left them open for Ulfric Stormcloak. The guard there nodded as he recognised me, to which I gave a saluting wave.

I explained to my companion what I knew about the city. In the grand scheme of events known as the Civil War, it was under Imperial control. The first time I arrived here, I witnessed the execution of Roggvir, the man who left the city gates open for Ulfric, after he murdered the High King Torygg. The whole city had turned out to witness it, booing and jeering the man. The Empire had no room for traitors and rebels under its rule, even passive ones.

Apart from that, Solitude had a few unique locations. It had the Imperial recruiting office which, I steered well clear of, and was also home to the Temple of the Divines, the famous Bard's College and the majestic Blue Palace, home to Jarl Elisif the Fair, the widow of High King Torygg, and her court.

There was a pleasant glow to the city from the light of sundown as we entered. To the right was the chopping block, where I had been reminded what resistance against the Empire meant. It was strange when I remembered that I had almost shared the same fate as Torygg, though I had never comitted any crime. Unless telling a few bad jokes under Imperial rule was now punishable by death.

The stalls and markets were in the middle of closing, but that didn't stop Brelyna and myself from having a little look around first. We stopped off at the apothercary before it shut, to stock up on healing and magicka potions, before proceeding to have a wander around the great city.

I noticed that, in places, there were streamers hung up and the courtyard before the Temple of the Divines had benches and a pair of thrones set up in it. I mentioned to Brelyna that, apparantly, there was a big wedding going on for the Emperor's cousin. I'd met a few guests on the road as they were traveling to Solitude, laden with gifts for the happy couple. Most seemed to be just waiting for it to be over.

"Want to have a look inside?" I asked her, inclining my head to the Temple of the Divines.

"Why not?" I grinned at her, holding open the door for her.

I'd never been in the Temple of the Divines before, I didn't have the time on my first visit. I immediately felt like we had stepped into another world. Everything seemed to so peaceful in here, like I was in the company of the gods themselves. The glow of sunset streamed in through the windows, giving the place a very natural, welcoming feel, combined with the growing shrubs and flowers around the place.

Along the aisles of wooden benches, at the very end and where the sun was brightest, were stone plinths with various idols placed on them. Those, I guessed, were the different shrines to each of the gods. They certainly knew how to highlight them and how to make the mighty Aedra stand out.

A priestess approached us, inclining her head. "Blessings of the Eight Divines be upon you. I am Freir. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Your welcome is most gracious," I replied, returning her inclanation. There was a time and place for jokes and this wasn't it. "Thank you, but my companion and I are just visiting. We're new here."

"Very well," she said understandingly. "Welcome to Solitude, to both of you. Any and all are welcome here. Feel free to worship at any of the shrines, if you wish."

"We'll be sure to take the time to," Brelyna said. "Thank you again."

We walked up the aisles to the shrines, looking around at them all. Each one was different, assinged to each god. Some were the god's face in a star, others, like Julianos, were simply a pyramid. I hadn't noticed that she'd said 'eight' instead of 'nine', and that there was one of the shrines missing, in between Stendarr and Zenithar. Brelyna pointed this out, so I explained.

"This must be where Talos was," I said, looking at the empty plinth. "The Empire banned his worship in Skyrim, in accordance with the White-Gold Concordat with the Aldmeri Dominion. It's one of the reasons the Stormcloaks have rebelled against the Empire here."

"Yes well, I think you and I both know that the Thalmor have Skyrim's best interests at heart," she said sarcastically, referring to our once mutual enemy at the College, earning a chuckle from me. "It makes you almost sympathesize with the Stormcloak's cause."

"Almost?" I asked her.

"You saw what conditions were like for our people in Windhelm," she said bitterly. "Sure, they could help more, to earn better living places but it's no excuse. They make them live in slums and ignore the plights of all other races, other than Nords."

"I know what you mean," I agreed. "Add to that the Empire almost cut off my head, for no reason mind, and the fact they... you know..." She nodded, knowing what I was referring to. "Well, I don't have much reason to join either side in this war."

"Like Suvaris Atheron said, it's not our fight," she concluded.

I was rather glad that she sided with me in this and she understood my reasons why, mainly because we shared them. We stood in silence for a few minutes, siliently fuming about the Civil War and the two sides that were fighting it, before Brelyna spoke up again. Quietly of course, we were in a Temple

"This topic is making us both foul-tempered," she noted. "Want to have a look around the rest of Solitude?"

"Hold on a sec, I just want to do one thing..."I approached the Shrine of Mara, the goddess of love and compassion.

I knew just what to pray for. I knelt on on knee and bowed my head. In my head, I offered my wishes to her, that the love between Brelyna and I be a long and happy one, to last until, and beyond, the day that the dragons would be gone from this land. That we would be happy, caring and always looking out for each other.

While I did hold some worship for Azura, as did most Dunmer, that didn't stop me from praying to the Aedra. They at least were honest and good. Besides, I was incredibly wary of most of the other Daedra, especially the likes of Mehrunes Dagon and Molag-Bol. I wanted nothing to do with any of them.

"Done?" Brelyna asked as I stood up, and returned to her.

"Ready to go," I replied, smiling. She leaned up and kissed my cheek.

"If you prayed for what I think you did, that was sweet of you." She looped her arm back through mine and let me lead us off and out.

When we returned outside, I took us higher up the city, up past the huge manor houses and by the Bard's College. I guessed it was, due to some people standing outside, either singing or playing instruments, like drums, lutes and flutes. They were getting good and it was pleasant to listen to as we walked by.

It was quite humbling, seeing the colassal houses and buildings towering above us. It just reminded me as to how great we could be and what we could hope to accomplish, if we tried. Especially in the case of the Blue Palace, all of the architecture was magnificent. Too grand for my tastes though. I heard that there was a house up for sale, but even if I could, I wouldn't buy it. It seemed impractical to have so much room for one person.

"What can I say?" I shrugged to Brelyna as I said this, "I'm a man of simple tastes. Well, except in your case of course, my love."

"What do you mean?" she asked unsurely.

"Well, I still don't quite know how such a simple man was able to win the love of such a majestic, wonderful and enchanting lady such as yourself. For me, it's the equivalent of being chosen to be High King and Emperor on the same day."

She stopped and stared at me. For a moment, I dreaded that she had been offended by what I had said, or just thought it was the most ridiculous thing that she had ever heard. Then, she flung her arms around me and planted a kiss on my lips, her eyes shining as bright as the stars.

"Sometimes, I wonder I was able to win the love of the sweetest, most romantic man in all of Morrowind."

"Come on Brelyna," I mumbled, feeling my face grow hot, "don't make fun. I was being serious."

"So was I." She smiled in that way she did, gracing my lips with another kiss.

I relaxed into it, still quite unable to believe that this was actually happening to me. I expected to wake up at any second, from the wonderful dream that I was having, returning to my days of shyly smiling and staring at Brelyna at the College, still not quite understanding what it was I felt for her. It was simply too perfect to be real.

But it was real. This was actually happening. The most wonderful woman I had ever met was embracing me, kissing me. She didn't care what her family thought, what they would do. She had chosen to stay with me, travel by side and watch my back in battle. She loved me and I her.

"Hey! Get a room, you two!" We broke apart to see the guard yelling at us. We just laughed, linked arms again and walked off again.

"Clearly, that man is well versed in the romantic arts," I remarked to her.

"Indeed," she giggled. "How is it he's unspoken for? Shall we take him up on his advice and get a room for the night?"

"Actually, there's something I want to see first." I led her up a set of stairs near the castle by the Temple of the Divines, to the walls of the city, looking out across the land.

What awaited us was a spectacular view of the sparkling deep-blue sea, kissed with an orange glow as the sun descended from the sky. As it set beyond the horizon, the stars above began to shine against the colours of the night, a dark black mixed with a deep blue, with the twin moons hanging the sky. Outlines of the great mountains of Skyrim could be seen, outlined on the sky, like the teeth of some great beast. Fearsome, but still beautiful.

"Wow..." she gasped, "That's... breathtaking."

"Indeed it is," I replied, looking at her.

"Hmmm..."

"I wasn't talking about the view," I told her, winking.

"Oh you..." she sighed, relaxing into my embrace, kissing me on my cheek.

I placed my arm around Brelyna's shoulder, as she leaned aganst my shoulder. We watched the gradual transition from dusk to night, merely content to be in each other's company, in silience, watching this beautiful sight unfold. Before long, I heard Brelyna stifle a yawn and my own stomach grumble. Time, I thought, to get some food and rest. Rather reluctantly, we made our way down from the wall to the inn of the Winking Skeever.

Opening the door for her, we stepped into the warm and inviting atmosphere of the inn. The pleasant setting was added to by the orange glow of the fire, the nice touches of rustic furnishings and well-made carpets, and the enriching smell of lavender and cooking food. Though it was juxtaposed a little by the mounted animal heads on the walls. Well, to each his own I guess.

Brelyna left to find us a table, while I payed for our room for the night, along with a hot meal and some Alto Wine. It was certainly nice to be here at the inn now as a guest, rather than use it as a meeting place for a shady informant. It certainly seemed a lot more pleasant at least.

Handing over the money, I bought the bottle, chalices and bowels of beef stew over to Brelyna, who had removed her hood. She did her hair up in a formal fashion, with two short ponytails pointed upwards. She was running her hand over one of them, looking lost in her thoughts.

Before I could ask her about it, she beat me to it. "Why is this place called the 'Winking Skeever'?"

I blinked at the supposed randomness of the question. "Well, the owner once had a skeever for a pet... and it winked."

"Oh. That makes sense, I guess." She looked at me questioningly. "As a pet?"

"They were smaller back then, apparantly," I explained simply. That was what he had told me

"Oh. Interesting..." She resumed running her hand over her hair, looking distracted.

"Something wrong Brel?" I'd been trying to come up with a nickname for her, but shortening her name in anyway just sounded silly.

She raised an eyebrow at me. "No matter how many times you say that, it's not going to catch on... Ronny."

"Okay, okay," I said, flushing a little, "maybe we should just stick to our full names."

"I don't know," she teased, "I think your's is quite good."

"Are you serious? Who in their right mind would want to be called 'Ronny'? Sounds like a name for a silly double act."

"'Brel' doesn't sound much better. I think your's sounds cute."

"I beg to differ. At least I use the first part of your name." I let her giggle at my blushing, before returning to my original question. "So, what's wrong? Do you have something in your hair?"

"Well..." She ran her fingers back over her hair. "It was always my parents who made me do my hair like this. They wanted me to look prim and proper. I never really cared for it much, but I just got into a habit of doing it. I kept thinking they burst in on me at any second." A smile graced her lips. "But now, I think..."

She raised her hands to her head, undoing the bands that held her hair in place and letting it fall to her neck. She shook her head to let it out more, then checked her reflection. She smied satisfactorily, then turned to me winking a little.

Though it would be rude for me to say so, I didn't care for her other hairstyle. It didn't really suit her. This new one, simply and literally letting her hair down, was like a metaphor for her new sense of freedom, I felt. Plus, it did look a lot better.

"There, what do you think?"

"I'd say it's a definite improvement," I agreed, pouring some wine into her chalice. "You look wonderful, but you manage that no matter what your hairstyle is."

"Thank you, my sweet Sauron." She blushed a little, picking up a spoon. "Now, this stew looks delicious and it's getting cold."

I grabbed my own spoon, sipping my own stew. She was certainly right, it was delicious and it really helped to warm you up from the cold. It was the perfect thing to eat after a long day of adventuring and dragon-slaying.

I explained to Brelyna that I could cook a little. The best I could do was roast a lump of meat, and I wasn't much good at anything else. I tried to make stew at one point, but ended up with some kind of thick, bad-smelling sludge that my spoon got stuck in when I tried to eat some.

After she finished laughing at the image of this, she told me she was well versed in most of the culinary arts. To an extent anyway, she was still a master of the arcane arts regardless. Though she did warn me not to expect her to start cooking for me, that she would at least teach me a little better, so I could make something more edible.

"Fair enough, I would like to learn more." I agreed. "Just because you're because you're my girlfriend doesn't mean I want you to cook for me. It's not like we're married, or something..."

"Yes, sorry. I should know by now, you're not that kind of man." She laughed a little. "Bit early to be talking about marriage, isn't it?"

"Yeah..." I said, laughing a little nervously. "I didn't mean... I mean, I wasn't... well... you know..."

"It's okay, I know what you mean," she assured me gently, reaching across the table and taking my hand. "I know you weren't presuming anything. I'm happy as we are, for now. We'll see what the future holds."

Smiling gratefully at her, I returned to my stew, but that sent my thoughts in a whirl. I had heard in Skyrim how, because life was short and harsh, people got married as quickly as possible at the Temple of Mara in the city of Riften. All they had to do was wear an Amulet of Mara around their neck, find someone interested in them and that was that.

Did Brelyna expect me to marry her at some point? It seemed only like the sensible thing to do, provided nothing happened. I'd never really thought about settling down with anyone, starting a family. My mother told me not to rush into decisions like that. I had to know that the woman I married was one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, to raise my children with.

I decided not to dwell on it for now. Like Brelyna said, see what happens. We Dunmer lived significantly longer than Nords did, a maximum of eight hundred years, and I didn't want some kind of rushed marriage in Riften with Brelyna. We would wait and see what happened, but one day maybe... one day...

I happened to glance around the inn, then something caught my eye. A figure in a long, hooded robe was at the counter, bowed low in conversation with Corpulus Vinius. She, I think it was a she, handed him some gold, which he pocketed and gestured to show her to a room. As she followed, her movements were graceful, almost like a dancer and her feet barely made a sound.

I continued to watch until she disappeared up the stairs. I didn't know what it was, but I felt like I knew her somehow. She just felt familiar, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I don't think it was in a bad way either.

"Sauron? Sauron? Are you going to make a habit of staring at other women?" I snapped back to Brelyna. She didn't look angry, but worried. "What's wrong love? Did you think she looked suspicious?"

"Well, sort of." I told her about the weird feeling I got from her. "I don't know why, I just feel I do..."

"It's probably nothing," she dismissed. "Maybe you just felt wary because of how she dressed. I know I did. But, it's not our business."

"Yeah, you're right," I agreed. "It's nothing." I still couldn't quite shake it off, but I ignored it. Chances were I'd never see her again.

We finished off the remainder of our meal and drink. Tired from the travelling, our bellies full of stew and mead, we had Corpulus show us to our room. He led us up the stairs to the second floor, where the hooded figure had come up.

"So where you two off to after this? Staying in Solitude?" he asked us as we ascended.

"We'll be gone in the morning," I informed him. "We're exploring the ruins of Folgunther, just outside of Solitude."

"Yes, I know it." He unlocked the door and opened it. "Well, good luck to you with your exploring. Have a good rest. Need anything, just let me know."

"We will, thank you." Brelyna stepped in, followed by me and shutting the door.

It was a pleasant enough to look at, complete with a comfortable double bed. Nice of them to anticipate our needs. We gave each other our privacy, as we undressed for bed and climbed in together. Brelyna snuggled up to me, kissing me on my lips.

"Sleep well, my beautiful Brelyna," I wished her quietly.

"Good-night, Sauron." She rested her head and almost immdiately drifted off to sleep.

I wasn't too far behind, my eyelids growing heavy, my drowsiness increasing. As I fell into a peaceful sleep, my thoughts were still on that figure. Did I really know her? And why did I get the feeling that I would see her again?