Three months had passed since Eris had found her way to the College of Winterhold. The Arch-Mage Savos had heard her story and granted her permission to stay and study as an apprentice. She had focused her spare time to experiment on enchantments to help keep people warm in the harsh cold of Skyrim.

She happened to be working on a complex formula when J'zargo popped his head around her doorframe.

"J'zargo is going to the Inn for drinks if Eris would care to join him." He said in his thickly accented voice.

"I can't leave this enchantment right now or it could blow up." She said not taking her eyes off of the amulet in front of her.

She heard him murmur something and moved away from her door and down the steps. Breathing deeply, she finished melding the black soulgem and enchantment as sweat began to form on her brow. She looked over her work and smiled, this would either set her on fire or keep her warm.

Moving out onto the roof she made sure she was alone before placing the amulet on. Shivering she waited while pacing the roof. A slow warmth begins to creep over her until her body was warm against the cold. Grinning she did a little victory dance and quickly went to find Tolfdir.

Tolfdir, being her teacher, had encouraged her experiments for a warmth enchantment and helped her keep her focus when she was discouraged.

She found him in the Hall of Elements talking to Ancano. Both men seemed to be upset so Eris waited by the entrance, it didn't take long for Ancano to begin storming towards the door.

Eris looked at her feet. She had learned that the tall Altmer had no use for lesser species and they were below him. He constantly talked about being a Thalmor and he was only there to advise the Arch-Mage. Eris thought that was a bunch of shit. He always made her feel uneasy with his intense stare from his golden eyes. He stood at least six feet tall so he towered over her by almost a foot.

She had asked him once if all Altmer had white hair and he just sneered at her and walked away. She hadn't meant it as an insult but since she asked she'd tried to keep her distance from the man.

"Eris." She looked up when he said her name. He was watching her with a raised eyebrow. "How goes your experiments?" He asked

"I think I've made progress but I was going to ask Tolfdir if he could look at my work before dinner." She answered looking down again.

"You should look at your superior when they talk to you." He sneered and she obediently looked up at him. "If you have the time, I can look over your work." He said surprising her.

"Oh well… That's alright. Tolfdir has been working close with me so he already knows the properties of my work." She said side stepping him. "Have a good night Ancano."

She quickly walked over to Tolfdir who had been watching them. Ancano watched her and well and she could've sworn the men were having a stare down over her head.

"If you change your mind, you can come find me at any time." He called before leaving the Hall of Elements.

She shivered and Tolfdir chuckled. "How are you progressing?" He asked after a moment. She held up the amulet and smiled.

"I've done it!" He seemed surprised and took the amulet to examine it.

"This is fine work. How did you do it this time?"

"I used a black soulgem." She said sheepishly. "The other soulgems didn't seem to hold up with the enchantment so I tried a stronger gem. It worked." Excitement filled the air between them.

"This is remarkable. I'll bring it to Savos and tell him of your accomplishment. Go and eat, you look like you haven't eaten or slept in a few days."

She snorted. "That's the truth though. Thank you for believing in me." She added as she turned to leave the hall. She gave him a quick wave and headed to the village to get a hot meal and a lot of drinks.

She felt higher than a kite. She'd managed to do something that no one else could and in a very short time. Given she'd sacrificed a lot in the process but it still made her happy.

When she walked into the inn she noticed a lot of the students were there drinking already. She walked over to them smiling. "Got room for one more?" She asked hopefully. When she had first gotten there she secluded herself and the other students eventually gave up inviting her out, all except J'zargo.

"Eris is welcome to join us. J'zargo knew you would break eventually." They all smiled and laughed as she sat with them.

"finally able to take a break?" Brelyna asked. Eris regarded the Dunmer and smiled.

"Tolfdir said if I don't take a break he'd put me on suspension. Plus, I've finally had a successful experiment so I thought I might celebrate." She said taking a tinkered from the table and sniffing it.

"Just mead Eris." Onmund said laughing.

"Never know with you guys." She said laughing also before taking a drink.

"J'zargo is curious about your experiments. Would you care do give us a brief description of how things have been progressing?" J'zargo leaned on the table and gave her what she could guess was a smile. Nodding she explained the bases for her work and some of what she'd done. All of them looked at her in admiration before J'zargo ordered them a round of drinks to toast her success.

They made small talk for awhile and talked about their experiments. Brelyna asked if Eris wanted to join them after class tomorrow for dinner. Eris agreed smiling, she didn't realize her classmates were so much fun.

She watched her new friends leave together, still talking about today's lesson. She smiled and drank from her tinkered before asking Haran for a couple more drinks.

Leaning back in her chair she smiled watching the fire in the middle of the room. She could feel her head getting more and more fuzzy with every sip she took. She could feel her cheeks red and hot weather from the alcohol or the heat she didn't know but she figured it was time to head home and crash before tomorrow's lessons.

The cold wind whipped around her as she stumbled toward the crumbling bridge that lead to the college. She made it up the ramp to before she leaned against the wall to stop herself from stumbling. This bridge was damaged and if she slipped then she'd fall and die.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. A warm hand wrapped around her arm startling her.

Ancano's golden eyes stared down at her. She opened her mouth to say something but it was lost when an unusually strong gust of wind blew through the small shelter.

"Well Eris, I never took you for the drinking type. You always keep yourself locked up in your room." His voice was soft and it scared her. He was never nice. She recalled Faralda once mentioning that if Ancano didn't have a stick shoved up his ass that he'd probably be a nice person.

"I.. I normally don't drink." She whispered. He chuckled a little which was a very odd sound.

"Tell me what were you working on so hard, for so long." He asked quietly

"Enchantments. I wanted to help with the cold. I hate the cold." She whispered.

"Is that all." He asked calmly. "Would you tell me if there was more?" His voice seemed lined with honey as he spoke to her and his eyes stared down at her intently.

"That'll all." She said nodding. "Nothing exciting. Nothing illegal." She said laughing lightly

He smiled a little. "It's my job to keep an eye on the students and their experiments. If you ever need help with anything, let me know."

"Actually." She said smiling a little. "I could use help getting across the bridge." She admitted looking down. "I drank more than I should have and my feet aren't listening to me."

"Of course." He pulled her closer to him and wrapped an arm around her back to help steady her.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" She asked suddenly.

"I've been watching your progress and find that out of every mage in the college, I find you would be the best to converse with."

"Not drunk. I have no wit or composure when I'm drunk." She said giggling.

They had made it to the Hall of Countenance in a few short minutes and Eris sighed in relief when they walked inside to find it unusually warm.

Ancano softly put a finger to his lips and at Eris' raised eyebrow he tugged her up the stairs toward her room. She figured everyone was sleeping but that wasn't the case.

As they walked into her room, Ancano guided her to her bed when they heard the soft moaning coming from J'zargos room. Both stopped instantly turning their heads toward the noise.

Eris covered her mouth and turned a deep shade of red while Ancano seemed to sneer with disgust. She was curious who that cat had brought to bed but was in no condition to sneak and find out.

Sitting down on her bed she kicked off her boots and pulled her robes over her head, leaving her in her tunic. She eyed Ancano taking in the sight of her bare legs before she quickly pulled the covers over herself. She looked in the direction of J'zargos room and chewed her lip. The sounds were becoming louder which made her try to stifle a giggle.

Ancano waved his hand over her door and turned to her. "A muffle spell, something they should have thought of using." He said with the sneer still placed on his face.

"Maybe you could tell them that tomorrow?"

"I'll speak with Mirabelle in the morning."

"Do them having sex really bother you?" She tilted her head and smiled. "Can you blame them for wanting to stay warm on a cold night?"

He gave a harsh laughter. "It's rather warm in here and I don't want this place to reek anymore than it does."

She lost it then and couldn't help laughing at him. Everything about him was off. "I don't think I've ever thought I'd see a semi sociable side of you." She admitted.

"Don't get used to it. I'm feeling in a generous mood tonight."

"I thank you for that." She said looking at him from head to toe. It was hard to know if he was muscled or thin under his robes but she found herself wondering.

"No need to thank me. It would be bad if you died on college ground." He said waving her off.

"Well if that's how you feel." She laughed and laid down. "I'll see you tomorrow. I need to sleep before I wake up with a hangover."

"Of course." He said nodding walking towards her door. "Goodnight Eris."

She waved and rolled over smiling into her pillow when the muffle spell was removed to reveal the continued sounds from J'zargos room.

- oOo -

Eris went through class the next day, wishing she could be in back in her room. She wasn't sure she would run into Ancano. Which was silly because the college wasn't as big as it could be and she was bound to run into him. When she closed her eyes she could see his intense golden eyes and then she would feel a knot form in her stomach. What game was he playing with her? She sucked at conversations so it couldn't really be that.

"Eris if you please, get your head out of the clouds and come back to our lesson." Tolfdirs voice pulled her from the beginning of a very vivid fantasy making her cheeks turn red.

"I'm sorry." She said looking down.

"That's quite alright. I do have an announcement though, tomorrow we are going to be exploring the ruins of Saarthal. Now this will be an advanced excavation so bring your best and I'll see you all in the morning."

With that he dismissed everyone for the day and walked over to Eris.

"I spoke with Savos and showed him you finished work." He said smiling. "He wants to speak with you about it."

"I'm not in trouble am I?" She asked shifting her weight and looking at the floor.

"Oh heavens no. He was very pleased. Now off you go. I told him to expect you today after class." She smiled like that and quickly made her way to the Arch-Mage's quarters.

She was about to knock when Ancano opened the door and nearly bumped into her. "Eris, what business do you have with the Arch-Mage?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"I was told I was expected." She said quietly before looking at the floor.

"It's alright Ancano, I told Tolfdir that I would speak with her after class." Savos' voice called from inside his chamber.

Without another word Ancano moved to the side to let her pass, as she did he lightly touched her back before closing the door behind her and leaving her alone with Savos.

"So you've come a long way since you showed up half frozen on our doorstep." He said laughing. He motioned for her to take a seat.

"I've been working hard to learn what I can." She said sitting down at his little table. He nodded and sat across from her, pulling her amulet out to inspect it again.

"If you have the time, would you care to show me how to create the heating enchantment?" He asked smiling.

"Of course!" She said grinning. "It's not everyday that the Arch-Mage asks to be taught." She joked.

They worked together until well after dark until she was sure Savos understood the workings of her enchantment. They were both pleased that they were able to enchant various items with the heating enchantment.

"Well I'm not sure about you, but I am out of energy." Eris said wiping the sweat from her brow.

"I am also. I would like to continue this tomorrow." Savos moved away from their work and went to sit down, pouring wine into two tankards.

"I have to go to the ruins for class." She said raising her eyebrows.

"I'll tell Tolfdir that you need to be excused. Please sit, I have some food so you won't go to bed hungry."

"I don't want people to think you're playing favorites with me." She said sitting down and picking up the tinkered.

Savos waved his hand and drank from his own tinkered. "You've been praised by all of your teachers. You're excelling better than some of our seasoned students and you still managed to experiment which turned out to be a success." He smiled at her and pushed a plate of cheese and bread toward her. "I think I have a right to play favorites."

She laughed and ate a little bit of cheese. "I don't like being in the spotlight." She said shyly.

Savos shrugged. "Well I think you have potential and I want to help train you to master your own way of magic." He said drinking the rest of his wine.

"I appreciate it but I'm just starting to get along with my classmates. If I start getting special treatment, then I'll lose that." She stared at the wine in her cup and frowned.

"Look I-" A knock of the door brought both of their heads towards the door. "Enter." Savos called refilling his tinkered.

Mirabelle walked in and with a deep frown on her face. "I must speak to you about recent matters involving the Jarl if you have a moment?"

Eris took the hint and stood up, "I was just on my way out. Thank you for speaking with me." She nodded to Mirabelle before leaving the room and gently closing the door behind her.

- oOo -

When she got to her room she wanted nothing more than to fall face first into her pillow and sleep. The only problem was, Ancano was laying on her bed reading a very familiar leather book. Her journal with all the information on her studies and with bits of information from home. She took a deep breath before walking into her room clearing her throat.

"May I ask why you're here? In my bed no less." She snapped through gritted teeth.

"I was thinking that maybe we could talk." He said as he continued to flip through her journal. "This is fascinating work by the way. I never would've thought that you were capable of such wonder."

"Put my stuff down and leave my room, I am tired and I need to sleep. You can interrogate me about whatever you want only after I get sleep." She moved to her wardrobe and began to pull her robes off, it wasn't anything he hadn't seen anyway.

He set her journal down and walked over to her. "I think we should talk. I read an interesting passage about the Dragonborn in the beginning of your journal."

"What of him? He's an arrogant prick with a stick shoved up his ass too." She said crossing her arms over her chest.

He looked at her from head to toe. He noticed she was a head shorter then him, something he failed to notice last night. Her brown hair was pulled into a loose braid and her bright blue eyes looked like the cold had frozen them over. He couldn't help but smile, he had no idea why. She seemed to grab his attention from the moment she arrived and she seemed to be too perfect. Even if she wasn't an Altmer and normally they didn't mingle with any of the lower species, so why was this quiet, curvy, intelligent woman had caught his attention.

"Well?" She asked moving to her pick up her journal and tuck it into her side table.

"You no nothing of his recent wear about then?" He asked

She raised an eyebrow and sat down. "Not since he got it in his mind that the title of Dragonborn gave him right to sneer at anyone who was…." She tailed off quietly.

He raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "Out with it."

"He told me I'd just weigh him down and the Greybeards told me to leave him to his destiny."

"So he left you?"

"I left him. Up on the mountain with the Greybeards. Before I came here. I didn't tell him I was leaving because he already made it clear he wanted nothing from me even after he promised to help me."

She gave him a level stare before looking down. Laying back and pulled her covers over her head clearly ending their conversation.

She listened to him move from her room and let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Taking a shaky breath, she curled into a ball and fell into an uneasy sleep.