Elisif POV:
When I wake up I quickly dress, eat a small chunk of cheese, and wake the mercenary. Her eyes are red, her pelt is brighter, and her fangs seem to be growing longer. I tell myself it's all in my mind, then ask the Khajiit, "Are you still up for training?". She nods and rises to get ready. While she dresses I wait in my room. As soon as she gets out I rush over and pull my great sword from the wall, barely able to hold the gigantic sword up. The mercenary nods and walks outside, her gigantic war hammer strapped to her back. When the sunlight hits her the mercenary recoils, but attempts to hide it and keep going. Anticipation swells inside my stomach as I follow the Khajiit, her pelt almost blinding in the sun. The mercenary quickly leads me to a secluded corner of the training ground.
When we're settled the mercenary hands me the rocks, then begins sparing with a stuffed dummy. As I hold up the gigantic weights I can't help noticing the mercenary's movements are slower and she seems to be panting, as if sparring is draining her energy. I'm about to say something when Nataba runs up, I almost mistake the small Khajiit as a regular cat. She meows and scratches at the mercenary's leg, impatient. The mercenary puts her hammer up, picks the Alfig Khajiit up, and begins talking in a hushed whisper right beside her ear. After a short amount of time she turns her head, allowing the smaller Khajiit to stick her muzzle in her ear. The bigger Khajiit quickly drops the smaller one and turns to me. "Emergency leaders meeting.". I nod and watch the Khajiit quickly rush away, but keep holding the rocks. I need to grow stronger to hold my weapon. So I keep training, the sun beating down on me.
Mercenary POV:
Nataba and I begin walking towards the meeting, but the small Khajiit quickly scales my leg and forces me to carry her. I chuckle and pet the Alfig Khajiit, my only friend hissing when I begin making cooing noises. "Who's a good kitty?". I nearly lose my eye as Nataba hisses and scratches at my face. I once again chuckle and ask her, "Do you want to sit by me during the meeting?". She quickly shakes her head no and I tell her, "You bitch.". Nataba smiles, then purrs and rubs her head against my neck. She'll sit by me, she always does. If I'm lucky I'll get to sit at the end, so the only leader sitting near me is Nataba. When we walk in I can tell I'm late, all of the leaders and representatives are already gathered. Thankfully, two seats near the end are open. I quickly claim one and dump Nataba in the other.
Husir instantly stands, makes sure the room's secure, and starts the meeting by saying, "I still say we go back to Ulfric.". Arguments begin breaking out until Saar tells him, "You know we can't go back!". Husir snarls and says, "We can with the queen's head!". I sigh and tune out, the meeting is always the same. After an hour of arguing, we come to a conclusion that we'll stay on the same track. I rise and open my arms for Nataba, the Alfig Khajiit leaping in my arms. Everyone quickly leaves, but I hang back so I don't have to be around them. I'm leaving when Husir grabs me and yanks me back into the room, Nataba falling from my arms. My friend turns and attempts to leap after me, but Husir slams the door in her face before she can enter the room.
Husir quickly corners me so I can't make a break for the door. I shuffle from foot to foot and ask him, "What do you want?". Husir hisses and tells me, "I want your help. For once I'm willing to look past your freakish hues, but don't get any big ideas. I've seen mudcrabs I'd rather team up with, mate with, or become friends with. Now, listen carefully! Elisif seems to enjoy your companionship. I couldn't care less what the queen wants you as. Protector, concubine, pet. I truly couldn't care less, but I want you to do something for me.". His fangs gleam as he tells me, "Slip a poison in Elisif's drink.". He pushes a vile in my hand and keeps talking. "If you do this, then I'll make sure you're free of punishment, rewarded, and I know a woman in Riften who can change your freakish pelt.".
He doesn't wait for an answer, he simply opens the door, avoids Nataba running in, and leaves. Nataba crawls up my leg and sits on my shoulder, examining my head as I leave the room. When we reach my friend's room she meows, smacks my ear, and rushes into her room. I chuckle and make my way out to the yard, Elisif still holding the weights. "You've been holding those for a full hour?". I ask her. She drops the rocks and tells me, "No, I stopped a few minutes after you left, then picked them up when I saw you walking out.". I chuckle and ask her, "Want to hunt?". Elisif happily nods and quickly rushes back inside. Once we're ready we head down to the stables to get horses, the sun practically cooking me alive as we walk.
Elisif POV:
We're deep in the woods when the mercenary turns to me, a vile in her hand. "What's that?". I ask as I bat away a hound that's attempting to steal my horse meat. The mercenary's face darkens as she tells me, "Poison. After the meeting Husir cornered me, and told me to slip it in your drink. Can I kill him now?". The knowledge is shocking and it takes me a few seconds before I tell her, "I'll have to talk to Falk and Sybille, but be prepared to fight. When would you two fight if you challenged him?". She considers it, then tells me, "If I challenged him tomorrow I'd fight him tomorrow night, right before dusk. As per tradition.". I nod, then ask her, "Do you want to keep hunting before heading back?". She thinks about it, then says, "I see no reason not to.". I nod and ride on.
My falcon returns with a rabbit in his talons. I reward him and put the rabbit in my hunting sack, the hounds yapping when they smell the blood. We keep riding until the mercenary's eagle returns, a cat in his beak. I can't help chuckling as the mercenary rewards him and sends him out. She examines the body before throwing it to the hounds. "You know that same fate could befall one of our smaller leaders. Nataba has even told me her fears of being carried away by a bird.". I briefly try to imagine living in fear of eagles carrying me away, but it seems to absurd and I can't do it. As I think the mercenary loads her crossbow and rides a few feet away, fires, and whoops in triumph when a fox yowls in pain. Within a few seconds the hounds finish it.
She stuffs the corpse in her bag and keeps riding. "Another good catch.". She says. It suddenly strikes me out of nowhere, the mercenary lacks the accent of her fellow Elsweyr Khajiits. I've heard the other leaders shed their accents effortlessly when it pleases them, but I've never heard the mercenary utter a word in her natural accent. I can't help asking her, "Why don't you speak in your normal accent?". She looks startled and tells me, "This is my normal accent.". My cheeks turn red and I tell her, "I'm sorry, I just assumed since you were in The Beast that you grew up in Elsweyr.". She chuckles and tells me, "I joined them in Elsweyr, but I was raised in the Imperial City.". I can't stop myself from continuing to question her. "What district did you grow up in?".
She looks at me like she's surprised I care, but tells me, "Waterfront district.". I only know a little about the districts in the Imperial City, but I know the waterfront is the poorest, dirtiest, and most dangerous district in all the city. Why on earth would someone raise a child there? I always assumed only beggars and addicts lived there. I can't help asking her, "Why did your parents live there?". I know the answer in the way her shoulders slump and her ears slightly flatten, but I'm still surprised when she tells me, "I didn't have any parents. The waterfront district was the only place I could curl up under someone's porch, and they wouldn't chase me away with a broom.". I feel shame fill my stomach. I probably just dug up a thousand painful memories for the mercenary.
"I'm sorry.". I'm not sure what I'm apologizing for, but I don't want the mercenary to be depressed. She sadly chuckles and tells me, "It's fine, sorry won't give me a parent. Now come on, we need to talk to Falk and Sybille about Husir.". I nod and follow her back, our horse's hooves striking the ground. All the while the sun relentlessly beats down upon us, the mercenary's pelt shining all the while.
Sybille POV:
When the mercenary, Falk, and I are seated Elisif clears her throat and tells us what's going on. Falk instantly snarls, "Treason! Cut off his head!". I calmly tell Elisif, "Poison him and don't leave a trail.". The mercenary pipes in by saying, "I'll slit his throat in your name, just give me the chance!". Elisif shakes her head and tells Falk, "The other leaders will rebel.". She turns to me and says, "It'll be obvious who did it.". She turns to the mercenary and says, "In due time, if he tries to poison me.". In answer the mercenary shows her the vile, obviously unhappy. We all argue our reasons and try to convince Elisif to use our plan, but in the end dinner is ready before we come to a agreement. We all rise and leave, all of us unhappy.
Elisif POV:
When we're all seated the meal is served, a simple dinner of cheese, bread, beef, and beer. I see Sybille slip the mercenary some different meat and a strange bottle, but don't question it. As we eat I glance over at Husir, paranoid. I'm about to eat a bit of frog soup when the mercenary grabs it, smiles, and leans in to whisper to me, "I'm telling you a funny joke, pretend to laugh. I saw Husir standing by the soup earlier, and nobody besides you has any. Probably because that soup's disgusting.". I ignore her telling me my favorite soup and listen as she says, "Offer some to that hunting hound over there.". I nod and whistle for the dog to come over. I look over and see Husir standing, a look of panic on his face. I know the answer to the mercenary's fears before the dog begins choking.
As the hound falls dead Husir charges, claws extended. Instantly, the mercenary puts herself between me and my would be assassin. They tussle for a few seconds before Moar stands and roars, then the two break apart. He snarls and asks Husir, "What's the meaning of this? We swore our alliance to the queen.". Husir snarls and says, "I spit on our alliance.". Before he can literally spit the mercenary once again leaps at him, but Moar puts himself between them. Before I can say anything the mercenary roars, "I challenge Husir to combat! I demand he fight me! Right now!". Moar looks stunned, but asks, "On what charges?". The gigantic Khajiit answers, "Attempting to assassinate the woman I swore my alliance to!".
Moar sighs and says, "That'll do it.". He turns to me and ask, "Do we have your leave to use your training yard?". I blink and tell him, "Yes, but-". He turns and leaves, all of the other leaders, representatives, and hostages following him. I grab Falk and Sybille and quickly rush to the yard, the mercenaries making a gigantic circle around Husir and the Khajiit of a thousand hues. Before I can do anything they're both dressing in their armor and choosing their weapons, the sun sitting in the background. I manage to push my way through, but Moar quickly stops me before I can stop the fight. "You'll humiliate her and Husir will escape justice for trying to assassinate you.". He tells me. I feel fear rise in my gut as I watch the two Khajiits circle one another, their weapons gleaming.
Mercenary POV:
Husir charges, snarling. I knock aside his mace and bring my hammer down, the weapon skirting off his shield. We exchange blows a few times, but eventually his oak shield shatters and he's defenseless. I laugh and bring my hammer down again, but he dodges. He's wearing leather armor and I'm wearing my mismatched armor, so he can easily move faster than me. I feel three blows hit me before I manage to face him, my hammer coming down. It hits his shoulder and I hear his bone crack, but Husir screams and flips away. I roar and charge after him, but don't manage to stop in time. I try to stop myself from crashing into the wall, but manage to slip in the process. I barley remain standing, but Husir knocks my legs out from under me. I moan in pain when I land on my hammer, Husir still coming with his mace held high.
The sun is draining my energy, but I try to stand. Husir knocks me over the head with his mace and I feel my horn break. As he raises his mace again the sun goes down, covering us in total darkness. I feel my hunger return, but a different feeling washes over me. It's as if the night has embraced me like a lover. I feel my fangs begin to grow, my vision becomes clearer, and I can see my pelt becoming even brighter. I snarl, grab Husir's mace, and slowly rise. I can tell from his gasp I must look different, but I don't know why I would look different. I open my mouth to speak, but I roar comes out of my mouth. The entire crowd gasps, but I ignore them as my hunger grows. I can't help wondering how to satisfy it. When I see Husir's throat I have my answer.
Sybille POV:
It usually takes three or four days for the virus to turn the victim into a vampire, but it's not unheard of for the virus to turn a person sooner. However, it's still extremely early for the mercenary to change. But she has, and her fellow leader is desperately batting her away from his jugular vein. The other leaders whisper among themselves, but don't stop the fight. I can see Elisif jumping up and down in anticipation, but the fight's over soon enough. Within a few seconds of her turning the Khajiit has claimed her first victim. Husir spasms as his blood is drained, but soon enough his body is drained and the mercenary is filled. Elisif looks like she wants to congratulate the mercenary, but soon enough she's walking over. With blood on her face and a powerful hunger in her eyes.