Metal mugs clinked on the wooden counter as mead sloshed over the brim, a fire crackled in the hearth, faces flushed from the popular drink and joyous conversation blanketing the dulcet tones of the lute filled the air of the Bannered Mare as Jasper cupped his mug of ale in his hand and lifted it to his lips, sipping the bitter liquid and tasting the faint hint of snow berries as he glanced around the inn.
Cymbeline sat next to him, several empty mugs scattered around her with her still keeping sober, to her right was Onmund already hammered on Honningbrew mead and leaning his head on Cymbeline's shoulder whispering to her with slurred speech, ever so often she'd whisper back and press a kiss on his lips. Past Cymbeline and Onmund were the usual visitors to the Bannered Mare, guardsmen off duty and enjoying a drink, a handful of warriors and regular day to day citizens. At the very back were two of the three Thalmor Agents from earlier in the day dressed down from their elven armor, their leader no where in sight.
The two high elves sat in the corner, engaging in little conversation and glancing around the room every few sips, Jasper returned his attention to Cymbeline and Onmund, the Mage now passed out on her shoulder.
"Those high elves in back." Jasper whispered to Cymbeline as she sipped at her ninth mug of mead that evening, her head turned as she glanced back and frowned slightly.
"What sabout them dearie?" She cooed, her sentence slurred as she swayed slightly, brushing against Jasper's arm as he frowned, while the imperial could hold her liquor better than most nords, a drunk Cymbeline meant a rather friendly Cymbeline.
"Never mind. You're drunk.", Jasper sighed as he slammed the remainder of the ale, the bitter taste becoming almost overpowering, set a small bag of coin on the counter and stood up. Cymbeline glanced over at Onmund and giggled, her checks flushed a light shade of pink as Jasper rolled his eyes and draped Onmund's arm over his shoulder and wrapped another arm around his waist, hauling him out the door and into the cool air of the night.
The sky was ablaze with stars that twinkled in the black veil, the two moons danced overhead as the choir of insects and wind filled the empty streets. Few guards were out and about, mainly returning to the barracks or heading out to their night watch, Jasper carried Onmund, with Cymbeline's help, back to Breezehome and let the couple in, leaving them to be taken care of by Lydia.
With a sigh, Jasper waited for a moment making sure that everything would be alright with the thane and her husband before he trekked back to the barracks.
Entering the dungeons of Dragonsreach, Jasper instantly noticed the Thalmor Justiciar and her Stormcloak prisoner, the nord was behind bars muttering angrily as the Justiciar whom was in the middle of reading a hastily scrawled letter at a small round table that she had pulled up. He could see a wooden plate filled with a hardly touched half loaf of bread and salmon steak, an unopened bottle of mead sat near the plate on the table. Closest to the Altmer was the courier's satchel, which was open and had many folded letters and notes spilling out of it already.
Carefully Jasper walked around the Thalmor to the door of the barracks and nudged it open, looking back he saw the Justiciar fold the letter and heard her sigh as she set it down on a growing pile of letters and held up another, unfolding it and beginning to read.
Turning away he slipped into the barracks and closed the door behind him, exhausted, he slunk towards his bed and crawled beneath the covers, letting sleep claim him for the night.
Meanwhile, outside the barracks, the Justiciar had just received a letter from a courier that entered moments after the Whiterun Guard left the room. She read it over again and balled her free hand into a fist, relaxing her hand she folded the note and slipped it into her own satchel before standing up, taking hold of the hardly touched plate of food and sliding it through the bars at the nord and turning on her heel, leaving the dungeons and exiting Dragonsreach. She entered the Bannered Mare minutes later and sat herself down across the table from her partners, dug out the letter and handed it to them.
"I'm going to bed, wake me if another courier appears." She informed in their native language as she stood back up and headed up the nearby staircase, opening the doors to their room she closed it behind her and collapsed into the bed, letting her exhausted body rest for a while.
After all, they'd be in Whiterun for a while.
Well hello again readers! I'm sorry if this chapter seems boring, but we've finally started to hit the main plot. Reviews and constructive criticism is appreciated. I'll see you next time readers.
