Briefing or mission suicide

After countless hours (it seemed like that to him) they reached the destination. The dunmer and his diverse companions dismounted and were waiting on him. The altmer mage got off the horse's back and turned to the group. "What now?"

"Shh. You'll scare away our man!" The dunmer clamped a hand over his mouth and he shook it off, glaring, but said nothing more.

After a minute, they heard rustling behind the Lover Stone and a shadowy figure emerged, bathed in the moonlight. "H- hello?" A fearful greeting escaped their supposed collaborator's mouth when he eyed the group. "Aye, I see you got him on our side. Good. I was wondering if he'd accept."

"Come on, stop being so damn jumpy. You already told us about Elenwen's assassination plan, might as well share the very good part – like where she is right now." The dunmer – okay, Glorfindel (Ondolemar corrected himself in his mind) said, approaching the mousy figure, pulling down the hood. The figure protested, but let him drag it down, coyly gazing at Ondolemar. Well, isn't this a surprise. Their informant was none other than agent Lorcalin, member of Thalmor.

"Lorcalin, I didn't expect to see you masquerading as the informer."

The agent sighed. "Times have changed, Commander. I have no fool notion that Elenwen is strictly looking out for the interests of Aldmeri Dominion. She wants to kill off all factions, all guilds that there are in Skyrim and in the process, she'll put every officer in needless danger. She is an extremist, intend on keeping her luxurious position and she cares not if all agents perish because of her ambitions. But you... you're different. Your men always speak highly of you and so... half a year ago when I went back to report to our superiors, I found Elenwen and Ancano locked in her room in palace, whispering. Curiosity got better of me and I overheard that the king back in Alinor wants you to take her place – demand of popularity both home and in Skyrim – Elenwen decided you had to die. And I'll not stand by and watch – she wouldn't stop at you – if we start killing each other, we're no better than mindless barbarians. But Ambassador is a vice, a viper. Dragonborn and his friends contacted me near my post where I waited and I mistook them for targets, we tussled and when we spoke, we learned we had a common enemy. I am the source from inside and I am doing it for better of Skyrim, for better of us all. Regardless of origin, we all have to pick what is right. Elenwen is crazy, deluded. I am done serving under someone like her. You'll do much better, Commander."

Ondolemar didn't know so many agents back in Alinor and stationed in Skyrim looked up to him. It was flattering. He did remember the names of all his soldiers and mages and they talked regularly. They were people, like him, not tools. They had families, friends.

"Look pretty boy, just tell us where that confounded woman is and we'll take care of the rest." Arnbjorn was growing impatient by the lack of action.

The Thalmor agent didn't reply back something stupid, which was good. They had really no time to petty quarrels.

Agent known as Lorcalin unfolded a wide paper on the platform of Lover Stone and it captured everyone's interest – they waded closer, kneeling beside the agent who … drew a detailed map of the Reach and the lushing forests and it contained several...

"Coaches with horses? What's this tomfoolery, Lorcalin? You like to doodle, I get it, but I asked for a map of her location." Glorfindel angrily proclaimed and the Blades pierced the agent through and through with their suspecting, doubtful glare. "Just listen. Tomorrow morning, she'll go through the forest – to avoid detection from guards. Seven coaches driven by horses will be en – route to Markarth, where presumably Commander still is. She decided to take the matter into her own hands finally. That's where you people get in – you ambush the coaches, find her coach and kill her."

Woah. Crazy plan. With many holes. NO way this can work out. "So she decided to play the deception angle on us? Not gonna pass. Karliah and me will handle the coaches in the back. Infiltrating is our specialty." The dunmer offered and his friend/colleague in arms agreed. "We're best suited...as we are... rogues, agile and fast enough. We'll jump from horses, from coach to coach. Stealth is in our blood, they won't notice what hit 'em. We'll work our way to the last coaches in the back. If she's not in either one ahead, then the plan's a bust or trap. And if IS a trap..." Karliah's violet eyes glazed at the agent who raised arms as in self – defense. "I swear she's gonna be in one!"

"Swearing won't do us any good... for now, let's say Elenwen isn't on either coach. What then?" Aela prodded, and Enthir, Arnbjorn, Esbern and Delphine all turned to look at Glorfindel as if he was the brains of operation. Wait. He was. He brought them together.

"Hm... I don't think our friend here is lying to us. He's risking his position, not to mention life if that bitch finds out he's conspiring against her with us. I'll trust his words. Now, look at those woods... perfect for ambushes... Arn, Aela, can I count on you to block off the paths? You have your ways."

Aela, the Nord woman with red hair was seemingly lost in thought, eying the assassin. "I... guess it'll work."

Arn stayed quiet, only nodded.

Only Glorfindel knew their common secret and he's not gonna betray their trust until they want to tell it.

"What about me?" Enthir spoke up and it tore the delicate thread of the dunmer's thoughts, snapping him back to briefing/planning in one. "Oh. You and Commander will stand here -" He pointed at a red cross, where the map ended by a huge landmark rock " - ready to attack any coach that approaches – or suspicious figures. You're both skilled mages, I wager, but in case, I'll send Delphine and Esbern with you as backup if things get hairy. We'll all meet up at the red cross with the four standing by. If neither group has intercepted and killed our target, we pull back. IMMEDIATELY." He stressed out the last word to the whole group – some grunted with disdain, some moped (Arn) and some stayed ever poker faced (Karliah).

No protests came, so Glorfindel clasped hands. "Okay! That concludes the briefing, we're camping here the night and as soon the dusk approaches, we move out."

A collection of affirmative mumblings sounded through the hollow clearing. "Oh, I nearly forgot. Lorcalin, you'll be on team with me and Karliah. You're trained in stealth, aren't you?"

The agent's eyes widened. "What?! You want ME to participate in the mission?"

"Sure, you're our accomplice, like it or not. We want confirmation that we're not walking straight into an ambush set up by Elenwen. If we won't find you in our camp by dusk, we'll abort the mission altogether. We'll get more chances to dispose of her."

Lorcalin let out a heavily felt sigh. "I get your point. I'll prove to you that I am on your side, I'll take on my part in the mission."

The dunmer's eyes narrowed in slight suspicion by the easy persuasion – since the agent didn't want to actively participate at first, his fast acceptance was... suspicious at least. "Great. Are we done? I have to go now. I'll be back later." Arn spoke, arms folded.

Oh, his little woolly problem...

Aela eyed the beefcake of Nord, but said nothing, watching him as rest of group as he left. "So... where did our giant mountain of muscles go?" Enthir asked and the dunmer swallowed down, averting gaze. "Well, we should get the fire started. K, will you help me?"

The she – dunmer warily gazed at others. She didn't need personal history from anyone she worked with and she knew her friend and Guild Master didn't want anyone scooping into personal problems of others. They had more than enough on their plate.

"Sure. Let's gather some wood."

Shady. That's what other thought about how their appointed team leader dispelled the given question. With three gone, Esbern and Delphine took it on themselves to set up the camp while the two are gathering pieces of flammable wood (it rained the other day, so it's gonna be a bit hard to find some dry), avoiding glances from Enthir, Commander, Aela and the agent Lorcalin who stepped from leg to leg, unsure of what to do or say. Enthir and Aela couldn't handle it. "Hey, agent. Help us with bedrolls, will you?" Aela asked politely and the altmer agent nearly jumped out of his skin. "Wha- yes, I'll help!" He hurried to them, wary of Commander's eyes on him.

Ondolemar still couldn't comprehend what happened. Elenwen is out to get him, strangers from all possible guilds want to help him kill her in exchange for favors, of course. And notably, an inside source of information from Thalmor helping them set up and ambush. What's the world come to?

"Commander, you must be quite hungry. We've stolen you and a long time passed since you've lastly eaten. We don't want you expiring on us from lack of energy." Aela offered him a place by one of the empty bedrolls sprawled on the ground.

He only now registered he's hungry. His stomach growled and the woman giggled, patting the empty bedroll. "Come, I promise I don't bite." She jested and the Commander threw away his caution. If they wanted to kill him, they would have done so. They had plenty of chances and yet he's alive.

Soon, others joined in the brisk of their humble campsite without fire. Where were the two rogues? Run into some trouble? Packs of wolves, maybe?

All ate around the altmer mage and he bit into the offered baked potatoes and meat gingerly at first to taste it for poison. It was void of any foul taste. At least they're truthful so far.

The conversation picked off in a weird direction – the dunmer mage talked about a time a student set his robe on fire on accident while practicing wards and since then, he sticked to being the College's...supplier of magical goods. He hinted at something more, but he didn't elaborate, so they changed topic to the woman with red hair and her contracts – last she was involved in a week ago – a client had trouble with a giant on his farm, so she and several others of her Companions killed the terrorizing giant.

She was very descriptive and it captured mostly all who preferred brute force over magic almost instantly. Ondolemar, Enthir and Esbern, who used conjuration magic marginally weren't as interested and the old Blade looked to the place the duo of rogues vanished.

He stood up. "I am sorry, lads, but I am worried. They have been gone awfully long. I'll go and take a look." He made a few steps towards the forest and the two emerged, hands full with wood. "There you are!" Esbern scolded the Dragonborn who rolled eyes. "Sorry. The wood all over the place is soaked. We had to venture pretty deep to find some."

"I am just glad you're safe. To lose our charge would be the final nail in the coffin for Blades."

Karliah and Glorfindel brought the firewood and with some skill, they lit a fire over the group, now illuminated in crimson light. They took the places on the two of three vacant bedrolls, eating.

Then, Glorfindel looked up as if he just heard right. He gaped from his food at old Blade, who caught his gaze. "Woah, Esbern. Did I hear right? I am the charge of Blades?"

"Oh, don't forget who you are – great things are coming and we, the Blades will stand with you in your noble fight."

The elf choked and Enthir handed him a skin of water. He quaffed down, sighing and massaging his throat. "Mephala help me, Esbern. NO. I don't want to talk about it. Most of all not HERE."

Delphine joined to stand with her friend. "Dragonborn, you have a role, a prophecy. We saw Alduin together, he's reviving his long dead lieutenants, his kin to wreck havoc in Skyrim while lords and ladies who have power do nothing, do not believe us. They think we're shouting out to prove our lost glory, but they're wrong. Your prophecy -"

"Delphine. No."

"Stop being so stubborn, we will help you!"

"It's not about that..." Glorfindel sighed heavily, avoiding the eyes of the group who now looked from him to Delphine as if they exchanged blows. "I... I am not a Nord. It cannot be me." He muttered.

"It doesn't matter if you're elf, human, you have come when we need you and I believe you're the only one who can stop Alduin. We may win this fight and gain our former status as Blades, but what then? If Alduin is left alone, he'll destroy Skyrim, then head to other provinces. Do you want that to happen?"

"No, but -"

Esbern waved in protest. "No buts, Dragonborn. We'll do our best to support you and together, we'll slay the black dragon."

The elf scoffed. "Easier said than done. You haven't been at Helgen. The dragon destroyed the village under a minute, burned down homes with families, spared not a single kid. I barely escaped with help of Stormcloaks."

Others were rightly confused as none knew what he talked about – maybe the Blades knew, but they too had quite perplexed looks. The group exchanged a few looks.

A rustle form behind the bushes alerted everyone from their banter, reaching for weapons or readying magic. "Whoa. Quite the welcome. It's me, Arnbjorn." The gruff voice could belong only to the beefcake Nord. With sheer relief, they watched as the Nord came into the light. He caught Glorfindel's and Aela's gazes and shortly nodded – it eased their minds. He sat/laid down on the last left bedroll. "What's with the grim faces? I believe that's the specialty of my guild."

Esbern narrowed eyes at their appointed leader of remove Elenwen mission. "Nothing really. Just a friendly chat between a charge and protector."

"That so? Okay then. Now, I'll take the first watch. Who'll take the second?" Arn volunteered, fresh from his feeding and either way he won't get a peaceful sleep – neither the Nord woman.

No one spoke up, so the Commander said he'll take over the second watch when the Nord is sleepy. They all should get some rest.

"Then, I'll take the third." Glorfindel said and others confirmed.

"Me and Esbern will take the fourth watch. I don't feel safe at this... Lover Stone. Why didn't we choose an abandoned cave?"

"Because caves are rarely abandoned. Filth like bears and Forsworn are teeming in the area. At least we're in open space, not trapped like rats."

"I am inclined to agree with our friend. I'll take the fifth watch." Aela added herself and she expectantly looked at the three left. "I'll take over then, Aela." Karliah said in her voice void of emotions.

"Then I'll steal the second last spot." Enthir added.

And the agent nodded. "Good. Then, I'll take the last watch of night." Lorcalin said and all acknowledged the watch rotation. Everyone should get some rest.

It looked like the whole group thought the same, because all turned to either side, wrapping themselves in thin blankets. All expect Arnbjorn who'll take the first watch of night.

He went to the Standing Stone, gazing at the surrounding area.

All drifted to sleep at some point.

XxXXxx

Someone shook him and Glorfindel mumbled. "No, Vex. I am done stealing smalls from Bryn and Delvin as our sport. It was bloody awkward..." He mumbled some more and the Commander held back the urge to laugh and wake everyone.

The altmer mage shook him until he woke up, sleepy. "Huh? Oh, it's my turn." He whispered, getting up from his bedroll. He went to stand over the Lover Stone and to his surprise, Commander joined him, standing beside him.

It was clear he wanted to discuss something. "I know that look. You have something on your mind. Hit me with it."

"Why did you help me escape from Markarth?"

"Oh, it was a spur of moment. I like to play the hero and K couldn't say no to her friend." He whispered and the altmer saw the fire in the red eyes – he was joking to ease the situation.

"Tell me why. You want a deal forged with Thalmor, like all guilds. That's why you're helping me."

Now the dunmer was positively avoiding his gaze, cheeks burning. "Well, that's partly true."

"What are you after, then?"

Surely the altmer noticed his advances at ball. He didn't call him the best looking guy just to get a distraction. "You remember our conversation from the ball?" Glorfindel asked cautiously, searching for an answer written on the Commander's face.

"Of course I remember. It deprived me of sleep for weeks."

With hope, Glorfindel gazed at Commander who continued. " – Elenwen wanted you found and I felt like you used me, so I remember our conversation still. Why ask?"

Deflated, his face fell to mimic Karliah's poker face. "Nothing. It's okay. Well, shouldn't you go and get some rest?" The dunmer thief abruptly interrupted the chat they had ongoing, Ondolemar raised a brow, suddenly wary that maybe he has struck an accord. "Right. Good night."

The dunmer's eyes followed the back of altmer until he crawled into a bedroll.

Glorfindel, master thief and Dragnborn, looked up at Secunda on the sky, wishing the oblivious altmer would notice him more. A star sparkled high above him and the thief smirked. He just wished upon a shooting star. Maybe it will come true. If not, at least he's content knowing Commander will be safe once they dispose of eyesore called Elenwen.

He shook head, snapping out from his enamored state of mind. Sweet Mephala, he's on watch and he's not some boy scout who does things half – heartedly. The dunmer thief shifted his gaze to all directions, eyes peeled for anything out of ordinary.

Nothing happened during his watch and his mind wandered to the sleeping form of Commander, wondering if they'd ever...

He pranced to wake up Esbern and Delphine who certainly had some things to talk about between themselves, mostly concerning him. He wasn't up for midnight quarrels, so he went to sleep – which didn't come as soon as he hoped, nervous about tomorrow, his role and meaning of being Dragonborn, unwanted leadership over Thieves Guild, possible one sided crush on the altmer mage who may or not secretly hate him for using him at the damned ball.

Glorfindel gritted teeth in mid -sleep. Dammit. Sleep. Don't think.

Hour later, slumber won over his worries, unknowing that a certain altmer mage was watching him the whole time, pretending to be asleep with a mixed expression.

TO BE CONTINUED