I push past the Dunmer and storm into the main hall. I'd planned on leaving the building, but I accidentally left my luggage in my room. I don't want to face Irileth again, so I decide to make a detour until I can manage to get my possessions back. The kitchen is bustling when I enter it, every cook working on making sweets for some reason. I shrug and walk over to a empty table, yanking some dough and flour towards me. I'm kneeing it when I feel someone come up beside me. I begin to pound the dough harder without looking at the elf. Irileth sighs and begins, "I'm-".

I raise the dough above my head and slam it against the table, the thunk of the dough hitting the wood drowning out the woman's words. The Dark Elf sighs again and repeats, "I'm sorry if I offended you.". I ignore her and start throwing the dough from one hand to the other. The Jarl's bodyguard allows me to pout for a few moments, then starts again, "I'm truly sorry. Can I ask why my kiss upset you so much?". I grab some flour and sprinkle it on the dough, tears blurring my vision as I work. I feel a gentle hand come to rest on my shoulder as I pound the dough. In an instant I recoil, dragging the food with me and working on it a small distance away from the Dunmer. I begin tossing the dough back and forth when a dark hand lashes out, snatching the ball from the air.

I turn and see Irileth looking at me, the gunk hanging from her hand. Tears begin rolling down my cheeks and I turn to leave, but a wall stops me from escaping. I can practically hear the elf swelling up with confidence and pride, but I refuse to turn around. The woman allows me to glare at the wall for a few moments before resuming her useless speech. "I'm sorry if I've misinterpreted your feelings. I thought you liked me, and I just wanted to show you I felt the same way before you quit your job or went back to Hammerfell.". I feel a deep anger boil in my stomach as I flip around to face the woman. "THAT'S NOT FUNNY!".

Irileth jumps a little at the sudden burst of emotion, but once I'm silent she squints in confusion and asks, "What in oblivion are you talking about?". I straighten my back and practically snarl, "I'm not sure how you found out, but you and I both know I didn't leave my home at my own choice.". She looks further confused and assures me, "I have no idea what you're talking about.". I feel my anger burning as I growl, "My damned bitch of a mother kicked me out when she found me in bed with another woman. You know that, and you decided to spit in my face by reminding me that!". The elf's red eyes seem to visibly soften as she whispers, "I didn't-". I push by her again, using her distraction to my advantage.

I have no idea where I want to go, but I end up on Dragonsreach's Great Porch. I sit down on the edge, sticking my legs between the bars and allowing the wind to play with my limbs. Someone sits down beside me and I purposely turn me head to the side so I don't have to see Irileth. The elf is silent for a few moments, then whispers, "I really didn't know.". I scoff. "I don't believe that for a second.". I feel a bottle being pushed into my hands, and look down to see some Black-Briar Mead in my palm. I throw the bottle off the porch, watching it descend all the way to the ground below. Irileth sighs and mumbles, "That comes out of my paycheck.".

I suddenly realize I can probably go get my luggage and be gone before Irileth can catch up to me. When I begin struggling to get up the Dunmer quickly tells me, "No, please! I really didn't know! The file never said anything about you leaving your farm! Please, let me explain!". I freeze up and slowly lower myself back to the ground. I don't look at the Jarl's bodyguard as I tell her, "You may explain.". Irileth swallows a little before launching into her tale. "I'm not exactly sure how I feel about you, but I'm certain this is about the most romantic I've ever felt. I'm not bothered with lowering my guard around you, and I don't even think you're an assassin in disguise.".

"I don't know much about you, but I'd like to learn. That's more than I can say about most people. I had no idea you even preferred woman to men, or that you were exiled from your home because of it. I just like you, and wanted to show you it. If I had any idea what you'd been through, then I would have just told you how I feel.". I slowly allow some tension to leave my shoulders and turn to look at the woman. Her eyes are gentler than I've ever seen them, and her facial expression is one of understanding and a little pity. It's an odd look that I've never seen on the Dunmer's face, and one I know I'll never get use to. However, it tells me her words and genuine. I shift on the uncomfortable stone and honestly tell her, "I'm not sure how I feel about that.". The elf pulls her legs up and scoots closer to me.

"Well, what do you think you feel?". I take a deep breath and close my eyes, looking inside myself and trying to disentangle my feelings for the woman. She seems kind enough (at least to me), I don't mind spending time with her, and her personality seems pleasing. She's also attractive, but that's just an added bonus. Like adding extra icing to an already decent sweetroll. I open my eyes and honestly answer the woman, "I'm not entirely sure how to feel right now, but I think I enjoy you well enough.".

The woman's face seems to light up and she asks, "Does this mean you forgive me for what I did?". I flick my ears down to my skull and consider how to answer. "I suppose it does, although I'm still hurt.". The Dunmer nods and promises, "I'll make it up to you somehow. Some nice wine or some flowers.". Something changes in her scarlet eyes as she questions, "Do you wish for me to begin courting you, or am I still misinterpreting your desires?". I offer her a small chuckle before confirming, "I would love for you to begin courting me. Now, can we please go back to talking like a normal people? We've been talking like stuck up royalty since you kissed me.".

The Dunmer smiles and promises, "I'll stop talking like 'stuck up royalty'. I was just making sure I didn't say something to make the situation even worse.". She suddenly remembers something and says, "It's a good thing you agreed to let me court you.". I raise an eyebrow and go, "Oh? And why is that?". Irileth calmly explains, "You got every single cook's attention back in the kitchen, and they were able to piece together what happened. There were already whispers of us being quarreling lovers when I left.". I groan and question, "Is that going to mess anything up?". The elf shrugs and admits, "I wouldn't think so, but I can't say for certain.". A sudden gust of wind hits us, biting us to the bones.

I shiver and Irileth moves to sit beside me, leaning in so our warmth is shared. We both fall silent and I realize the sun is beginning to set off in the distance, the gigantic red orb slowly dipping beneath the far-off mountains. I suddenly whisper, "Have you ever been there before?". The elf questions, "The mountains?". I nod and admit, "I always wanted to climb one, but I never got the change. Is it high on the top? What does it feel like to conquer one?". The Dunmer leans her head against my shoulder and whispers back, "How do you explain color to a blind man? I've climbed plenty of mountains, but the first time is always the best.".

"Being lightheaded, frozen, and exhausted is somehow exhilarating when you reach the top. The air is hard to breathe, the sun is shining in your eyes, and your entire body is numb because of the cold. But when you stand on top of that mountain and see the world sprawled out before you like a map, it's all worth it. Then, the entire universe seems to awaken. The cold air begins to stir your hair, the sunlight suddenly tones down and allows you to see for miles, and everything falls silent as you seem to watch the entire world come to a standstill. But my favorite part is looking up at the night sky. The only thing separating you from eternity is a few clouds and the moon.".

"The infinite universe is stretching on forever right in front of your eyes, the cosmic dance of the cosmos desperately trying to get you to join in before you die. Purples and blacks mingle and swirl around the distant points of white light, the illuminating moon shinning down upon our mortal plane. The entire sky seems to twist and writhe right before your eyes, the occasional cloud twirling and becoming a wispy partner of some ghostly unseen dancer that inhabits the sky. It's like looking into the eyes of god as he slowly grasps our reality, changing it to better suit his needs.".

I fall silent for a few moments, then tell her, "You have quite a way with words. If I didn't know better I'd think some poet said that.". The Dunmer chuckles and swears, "All the words are mine, although I can understand the confusion. I can be quite the poet if I want to be, but I rarely want to be. However, I think I'll make an exception for you and spin the quilt of words for you more often than for most.". I keep looking at the mountains and confide in her, "I think I'd like to climb a mountain one day, and look into the eyes of god like you speak of.". I feel the woman's arm slowly wrap around my waist. "I promise one day I'll take you to the highest point of the highest mountain in all of Tamriel, and show you what it's like to look at the cosmos of our universe.".

I can't help chuckling and explaining, "We've known each other for a few days and you've only been courting me a few minutes, but you've already promised me the impossible.". The elf twines her fingers with mine and mumbles, "It's not impossible.". I nod and assure her, "It's impossible.". Her hand tightens and she insist, "It's not impossible, nothing truly is. You never know what will happen in life, or where our paths will take us in this strange world. Besides, I've always wanted to see the highest point in the world. Taking you would give me a real reason to go instead of sitting on my ass and complaining.". I scoot a little closer and tell her, "We'll see.". We fall silent and watch the sun slowly get swallowed up by the horizon, the infinite cosmos beginning to stretch out in front of us.