Caroline didn't like guard duty, especially the dawn shift from midnight to eight in the morning. The wind, which was always cold and biting, seemed to blow even harsher during these hours. The bleak landscape and the lack of interesting events was mind-numbing. She had never been good at staying alert, and every few minutes she would find herself thinking of the warmth only a mere dozen steps away, in the Great Hall. But Captain Steffan would skin the Breton alive if he caught her inside during during her watch, especially now, with the heir staying at Cloud Ruler Temple.
Speaking of which...here came the future emperor's assistant, or rather, his errand boy. None of the Blades felt comfortable around the odd Dark Elf who was always armed and armoured, never slept, just kept his mouth shut and smiled, smiled, smiled.
The weirdest thing about him was something else, though. Caroline doubted anyone but her had noticed, and only because it was more interesting than mountains and snow. Whenever he was at the Temple around dawn, he would stand at the left sentry tower next to Caroline but ignoring her, facing east. He would watch unblinking until the sun had fully risen and then leave without a second glance on another 'quest', as he called it.
Caroline shifted a bit, made enough room for the slim Dark Elf who was coming nearer. He didn't seem to notice the favour, just placed himself next to her and began to stare east. The Breton kept watching their surroundings but occasionally cast a glance from the corner of her eyes at the Dunmer. She took in his mismatched armour: Blades' helmet, greaves and gauntlets, a light enchanted harness of the Kvatch City Guard, a pair of steel boots. She looked at his weapons: the bow, shield and claymore scavenged from dead Dremora, as rumour had it, and the short ebony dagger that never left his side. She stared at his face, surrounded by white strands of hair, his thin lips that weren't smiling for once, the small nose, the red eyes that surely must be hurting after leaving them open for minutes. Wouldn't you go blind from looking at the sun for so long?
As if he had heard her question, his head whipped around. He stared at her, and she quickly went back to watching the empty hills. But then she blurted out: "Why?"
"Why what?"
She hesitated, then turned towards him. "Why do you always watch the sun?"
"I don't watch the sun. I watch the dawn."
When he didn't elaborate, Caroline sighed. "Why do you watch the dawn, then?"
The Dunmer clicked with his tongue. "Am I the only one in all of Cyrodiil who can think? Mythic Dawn. I have to watch them...to stop them."
The Breton kept silent and the Dunmer obviously didn't feel like talking anymore, so both of them continued their duties.
"See?", asked the man and Caroline looked at him. He was pointing at the sun, which had risen over the mountains. "Another dawn, no attacks. But someday...someday soon...they will be here. In the dawn. Remember my words." He abruptly turned around and marched back to the building.
Caroline turned her gaze towards the mountains again.
Dawn.
A shiver ran down her spine, and she wasn't sure if it was from the cold alone.