A/N: Here is Chapter 2. :) please review. i took the advice that i was given in the reviews and used it in this chapter and in the revision of the first chapter. again review and let me know what you think. Thanx!

Ps: a new character is introduced in this chapter, not to terribly much is said about her... but don't worry you'll get all that juicy goodness (info) in the future. :P

Chapter 2: Insight

Lletharin stared up at Masser and Secunda as they slowly inched their way across the sky. He sat perched in a tree with his bow at the ready, for any would be threats. He had learned the technique from his family's Bosmer house maid as a child. He had read and re read the orders he had retrieved from the Thalmor captain's person. He could recount them word for word now without even unraveling the parchment.

General Gladroon Elethas,

Your orders are as follows: your Son and former comrade Battle-General Taarum Elethas and his son and sergeant Lletharin Elethas are currently on a reconnaissance mission in the Silver Wood just outside of Dusk. You and your company of Justicars are to engage them in the wood and make sure they DO NOT leave there alive. Failure is not an option! We have received intelligence that The Alinorian Empire plans to strike Dusk, if they succeed in driving us from the city then they will move on First Hold and remove us completely from our Ancient homeland.

-Queen Regent Eilenwin Sarthas

Lletharin still couldn't fully believe what he had discovered. First of all the assumed captain was a Thalmor General and on top of that it was his Grandfather of all people. His mind was reeling with the information, his father still slept under the tree in which he was perched. Therefore he couldn't present him with any of the millions of questions that he had. Like why he had been lied to for his entire life, his father in one of the few moments where he actually showed some semblance of emotion, had told Lletharin that his grandfather had been killed during the Oblivion Crisis along with his grandmother. So if that had been the case then why had he just planted an arrow through a formerly dead man's head. It just didn't make any since. And if his grandfather had been a general of the Thalmor then what of his grandmother.

Lletharin let out a deep sigh and glanced around from his perch watching the sun slowly begin to make its appearance in the Eastern sky while listening to the forest wildlife wake to the new morning. Taking one more good look around to make sure that there were no threats near their campsite Lletharin began his decent from the tree.

Upon reaching the ground he turned to look at his father, and watched his sleeping form shift slightly at the sound of his approach. Lletharin watched as he opened his eyes to see nothing but empty air. Taarum immediately sat up rigid and alert. Lletharin removed his ring of invisibility and materialized in front of his father. Taarum looked up at his son in confusion. "Wh-what happened? The last thing I remember was ordering you to finish the captain." Lletharin looked down at his father, attempting to stop the sarcastic retort that threatened to fly from his mouth. He really did try, but couldn't help himself. After years of obedient subservience to his father he was fed up with it. The incident from last night was the final straw. He settled his weight on one foot and crossed his arms over his chest, ready for whatever the result would be. " Oh you mean before you ordered me to kill my grandfather?" "Oh I don't know I kept you alive for one, sat watch over you for the majority of the night. Ohhhh and I managed to find this on good ol' grandpa's corpse." He said throwing the orders down to his father. He was more than a little surprised at himself for even thinking of speaking to his father and commanding general like that, much less actually doing it.

A few beats past with his father glaring up at him with righteous anger. Then… "HOW DARE YOU! You insolent little cur, I should have you strung up for speaking to me like that! You WILL curb your tongue when you speak to me or ill have it ripped from your mouth! Am I understood?! I am not only your father, but the battle-general of the great Alinorian Empire, and your commanding officer!" Taarum backhanded Lletharin knocking him to his knees. He tasted copper in his mouth where the inside of his jaw had been split, and felt the throb on his cheek bone, there would definitely be a bruise in a moment. "Now climb your happy ass back into that tree and keep watch while I ready myself for our trip back to the capital." Nodding in defeat and humiliation while keeping his eyes obediently focused on the ground before him. He gave a quiet "Yes sir." Lletharin rose to his feet, having to steady himself as his vision began to swim, and began his asent into the tree.

As Lletharin watched his father read and reread the orders he had tossed at him. Lletharin was in deep thought. He knew good and well that he shouldn't have been so disrespectful to his father. And had been way out of line. Yeah, Taarum had ordered him to "kill his grandfather" but Gladroon had been a General of the Thalmor, and would have killed them both if given the chance. Lletharin may have had to kill his grandfather, but Taarum was forced to watch his only son kill the man who had brought him into this world. Lletharin realized to late, as all do when they speak out of misplaced anger, that he had wounded his father far deeper then he had ever intended. What he felt while in the moment was a rightful release of pent up frustration, had added even more distance to the strained relationship that he shared with his father. He knew he could never undo what he had just done, but he would do everything he could to make up for it.

"Lletharin, come down here." Lletharin slowly began his descent feeling overwhelmed with guilt and wondering if he could some how make a time wound like the ancient nords of skyrim did when defeating the dragon Alduin, in order to go back and unsay the things he had said. Not the most logical of thoughts, and he wasn't even sure if it would allow him to 'undo' the past, but at this point he would happily take his chances. Upon reaching the ground he faced his father, who had his back turned to him. "We will deal with the personal aspects of last night once we return home. As for now we are military mer in the field and must act accordingly. Know this Sergeant, I will accept nothing less than you following my orders without question, or hesitation. Is that understood?" "Yes sir, General."… "Good, now first of all the implications of this letter are very dire. Not only did the Thalmor know of our location, but knew why we were here and our plans for Dusk. They know far to much. The only people, yourself not included, who knew of our current mission and our future plans are the members of the High King's war council. Also the Thalmor knew that you were accompanying me on this mission, and the only people who knew of that were me and the High King himself. Which leads me to believe that for one, someone in the council is a mole, and secondly that someone in our household is under the moles employ. If the servant is indeed employed by the mole then we must make for home in the utmost haste, for your mother is in grave danger."

Lletharin felt his heart skip a beat, and his stomach fall to the forest floor. His mind racing a mile a minute. Was his mother safe or had something happened to her. If something of consequence had happened at his family's manor did the security handle the situation. He and his father had been away on their mission for over a week now. Anything could have happened. "Sergeant?" By Auri-El and all the ancestors, he hated when his father used his "strictly military" talk. "Yes, Sorry sir. I was just thinking of the quickest route home" he lied. "Never mind that. We will split up, you will head to Shimmerene and use our Psyjic order contact there to have yourself transported back to Alinor." A few beats passed. "And you Father?" His father looked sideways at him as if debating whether or not to reprimand his son in the break in etiquette. "I have to speak with an old contact of mine in Holly Falls. I will write up a report for you to deliver directly to the High King himself and no one else. Understand Lletharin, no one else. If anyone gets their hands on this it could undo everything we have worked for. You must guard this with your life..." Taarum nodded signifying that he was finished for the moment, and turned to begin writing the report for the High King.

Lletharin turned and scanned the trees while he waited for his father to finish with the report. He saw a small fox sniffing out a rabbit who had hidden itself in a hollowed out log on the far edge of the clearing. The breeze picked up and blew the gathered leaves up into a whirlwind, distracting the fox just enough for the rabbit to dart from the log making its escape. The fox looked around for a moment in confusion sniffing at the air then ran off in search of its pray.

Taarum cleared his throat bringing Lletharin out of his daze. Lletharin turned to his father who held out a folded piece of parchment sealed with his family crest. "Take these and guard them with your life." Lletharin slowly reached forward and grabbed the parchment. "Yes sir." "Make haste son, these need to reach the High King as soon as possible. Immediately after handling your business with the High King make your way to our home and make sure your mother is safe." Lletharin nodded his head, feeling his heart skip a beat when his father mentioned the situation with his mother. "I will father." Lletharin took the orders and placed them in the secret section of his elven armor hidden on his greaves. "Go son, and if all goes well I will be back in Alinor by the dawn or Loredas." again Lletharin nodded his head and the two began to part ways. With Lletharin headed North to Shimmerene and Taarum headed West to Holly Falls. Just before Lletharin exited the clearing he took a deep breath to steady himself. "And Father… I apologize for what I said concerning your …" as he turned to look over his shoulder he saw no sign of his father. He had already disappeared into the thick trees of Silver wood. "…Father." he finished speaking the last word to the surrounding trees. With another breath, as if to prepare himself for the journey ahead,. He started off into the trees headed for Shimmerene and from there, home. Lletharin didn't know what awaited him there but he prayed to Mara that his mother and dearest friend Borwen would be safe.