Chapter 11

Inside the castle dining hall, everything was set up for the treaty signing. There were ceremonial flags hanging from the walls representing the three provinces of Summerset Isle, Valenwood, and Cyrodill. Loac was surprised that the flags were all the same size, as if the High Wizard of Skywatch didn't want to use this oppourtunity to display superiority. She knew that if her father were in charge of this meeting, the Summerset Isle flag would have been five times the size of the other flags. Loac looked across the dining hall and noticed the Chieftain of Greenheart and his attendants were already seated and enjoying the luxurious banquet placed out for the guests.

"Ambassador Falinir! Good to see you. Please, come and join us!" said Greenheart's Chieftain with a jolly grin. The Chieftain was vastly overweight, and combined with his short stature, it made him look round. He wasn't dressed superiorly to his attendants, and he talked to them like they were simply good friends enjoying food and drink together.

"Chieftain Thellin, it's truely an honor to be here," said Falinir as he walked over to the table.

"Ah, Falinir, living with the Altmer all these years has made you too formal. There's no need for such formality with me. Come and eat some boar with us!" said Chieftain Thellin handing him a plate.

Soon Falinir was filling his plate and talking and laughing with the other Bosmer like they were the best of friends. The idea of Falinir being "too formal" was funny to Loac. In her life, he was the least formal person she knew. As Loac and Falinir ate the overly fancy food, they noticed a small group of Imperial humans enter the hall. Millona Umbranox, the Countess of the city of Anvil was at the front of the group.

"That's the Countess of Anvil. She must be the one representing Cyrodill. It makes sense since her city is on the coast and the closest to Summerset Isle," whispered Falinir to Loac.

Finally, last to arrive was High Wizard Canato. He called everyone to his attention and opened a scroll. Loac put down her plate of food and began taking notes while everyone discussed the treaty. Just as Falinir had said, the treaty was to prevent forces from crossing sea borders while pursuing pirates. After a few small details were worked out, everyone signed it, including the Countess of Anvil. The treaty was now interprovincial law. After handshakes and farewells, the guests left the castle and walked to their inns for the night. The sky was a dark blue and the evening air felt refreshing to Loac, as she walked with Falinir back to their inn.

Falinir pointed at a door they passed and said, "That's the restaurant I wanted to take you to, only I didn't know the High Wizard was going to provide dinner for us at his castle."

"Perhaps we can go there for lunch tomorrow before we leave," said Loac.

"It's a shame we'll have to go back so soon. To be honest, I was hoping the treaty signing would take days," said Falinir.

"Me too," replied Loac, "I really love being here with you."

Falinir looked around and saw the street was empty, then softly kissed Loac's hand.

They entered the inn and walked up the wooden stairs to their rooms. Loac reached for her key and unlocked the door to her room.

"Well... goodnight," said Loac.

"Goodnight," said Falinir as he stood in front of his door. Then in a faint whisper he added, "I love you."

"I love you too," whispered Loac.

Falinir softly closed his door behind him. He changed into his nightshirt and closed the curtains on his window. In his thoughts, he had somewhat hoped that Loac would spend the night with him, but he knew that Altmer women always waited until marriage for such a thing. He was content just to be able to kiss her, and would never dare ask her for anything more. He layed down alone in his bed and got under the woolen blankets. The yellow candle on the table beside his bed still flickered, and he leaned over to blow it out when he heard a soft knocking on the door. Falinir opened the door, and saw Loac standing outside his room wearing a silk white nightgown. The fabric on her nightgown was so thin and light it showed off all of the curves of her body. He could see her nipples like little bumps under the fabric.

"Oh my," said Falinir at the sight of her.

Loac came into the room and immediately began passionately kissing him. Falinir noticed she was touching him in places she had never touched before. In the heat of their passionate kiss, she walked over and layed on his bed with a submissive shy look in her eyes. Falinir followed her to the bed and layed on top of her, kissing along her arm and neck.

Loac knew this was probably her only chance to spend the night with Falinir, and she wanted to be with him more than anything. She could feel he was growing aroused as well. She pulled off her nightgown revealing her slender body to him. He gasped at the sight, then quickly pulled off his nightshirt as well.

Loac didn't keep track of how many times they made love that night. After five or six times she stopped counting. Falinir had stamina she never imagined. It seemed to her that he also knew this would be their only chance to make love, perhaps for a very long time. When it was almost morning, they finally fell asleep with their nude bodies intertwined in a lover's embrace.

A few hours later, the sun was begining to light up the sky, and Falinir woke up. He looked at the sleeping face of the beautiful woman next to him. He wished he could wake up next to Loac every morning. He ran his fingers through her long brown hair, and fantasized about them running off to Valenwood together, never to return to Alinor. He knew that was the only way they could ever marry and live together, but he also knew a privileged noblewoman like Loac could never be happy living in a backward place like Valenwood. He wanted her to be happy. Their relationship would have to remain a secret in Alinor. Loac fluttered her eyes a bit and awoke. She looked into his face.

"Good morning, my love," said Falinir with a smile.

Loac kissed him again, in pure bliss.

"You were wonderful last night. I never even knew such pleasure existed," said Loac.

Falinir smiled bashfully, "Really? To be honest, it was my first time. I'd always intended to wait until marriage before making love, but I know that isn't really possible with us."

Loac looked sad at his words. Falinir noticed her expression and held her hands to his heart.

"Loac, you know I would marry you right this instant if I could. I love you. It's only that law against interracial relationships that won't let me. Even if we can't marry, you're the one I want to be with for the rest of my life," said Falinir.

The smile returned to Loac's face.

Falinir got dressed in his clothes for the day, and Loac put her night gown back on. He opened the door and carefully looked outside at the hall to make sure it was empty. When Falinir saw no one was there, Loac quickly walked to her room and went inside to get properly dressed. When she was almost ready, there was a knock on her door.

Falinir stood in her doorway and said, "The only temple to Y'ffre in Summerset Isle is here in Skywatch. I hope you don't mind if I go there this morning to pray? I'll be back within the hour."

"Oh that's fine. I'm still tired from last night, and I think I'll sleep a little longer. Just wake me when you return," said Loac with a yawn.

Falinir briskly walked to the nearby temple of Y'ffre. It was a massive stone building with high pointed towers, like most of the temples in Summerset Isle. The main difference that set it apart from the surrounding buildings was not just it's large size, but the large conifer trees that had been planted all around it. It was fitting to have trees near a temple to the forest god.

Falinir knelt at the altar and said a brief prayer. Within a minute he stood up and left the temple, walking towards the market district of town. There was something he wanted to buy for Loac.