The party was in full swing by the time they arrived at Understone Keep, finely-dressed citizens and courtiers milling about, drinking wine, and buzzing with gossip and news. The usually-dim entryway was bright with braziers and cleverly-placed mirrors, and the additional light and cheerful music playing in the ballroom elevated the keep from its usual gloom.

With the shadows lifted, Gilly could see all the way up to the Mournful Throne, where Jarl Igmund sat, suddenly straightening out of his usual lethargic loll and looking their way.

"Remember our discussion regarding the jarl, my Thane," Argis whispered from his position behind her left shoulder.


They lay in bed in the morning's small hours, her arms wrapped around his torso, her head resting on his shoulder. "Did you notice anything…did you notice how the jarl spoke to you today?"

"Nothing strange, I don't think. Honestly, I was just so ready to get back here, I didn't notice much." She kissed his chest and snuggled even closer. "Why?"

Argis shifted. "He…was flirting with you. Pretty hard, I'd say. Asking about your date for the party, requesting a dance…" He rolled his eyes and scowled. "And think about the gifts he's sent you while you've been here. Flowers, that jeweled necklace last week…those are not things a jarl does for a thane. Usually, it's the other way around."

"No…" Gillian sat up and looked at him, her eyes wary. "No, no…there's no... Shit. I didn't think about it that way. Because of the whole dragonborn thing, I get gifts sometimes. I just thought..." she swallowed. "Did you catch where he seemed to question keeping you as my housecarl? I cut him off, but that looked like where he was going."

Argis had caught it, and had taken it as a warning. He'd not done such a good job keeping his expressions neutral, and when the jarl started flirting with Gilly, he was sure it had been noticeable. Not that the jarl would ever assume his hardened expression was due to his own interest in Gillian; he was too oblivious for that. He probably chalked it up to being an overzealous bodyguard. Argis nodded. "We don't have much longer, Gill. But remember, courtship in Skyrim is brief. If you don't look closely, you might miss it. I just…"

She frowned. "You don't think I'm interes-"

Argis pulled her back down to his chest and held her close. "No. Not for a minute, but…your agreement with the queen…I just don't want the jarl to put you in danger. Just…keep your eyes open, that's all.


Gilly nodded, trying to stay serene despite the stares pointed in their direction. People had started to notice them, and mouths dropped open, eyes widened. Her gown and Argis's armor were items of living legend; as Argis had said a month ago, he'd thought most of the stories about the Breton dragonborn were bard's tales, and it took bard's tales coming to life to provoke the wealthy and powerful to exhibit this much awe and curiosity.

As they made their way through the crowd to pay their respects to the jarl, Gilly could feel beads of nervous sweat start to form under the stiff bodice of her gown. "I hope Aela takes full advantage of this. It better be worth it," she said, under her breath. She heard Argis grunt in response, and sneaked a look back at him.

He looked at her with such fierce pride. His smile was almost smug and satisfied, and his eyes crinkled with the joy of a man in the company of the most beautiful woman in the room. Which she wasn't, Gillian thought, but oh…how he made her feel that way.


Gillian stretched, arching her back and lifting her arms above her head. She laughed as Argis caught her hands and held them gently, his other hand tracing a feather-light line down her jaw and neck as his mouth followed his fingers on the other side of her torso. He sat up and let her arms go, but she kept them just like that, her body on display for Argis to see. His eyes devoured her, his hands caressed her soft curves. He positioned himself above her, his eyes never leaving hers. "I will never get tired of seeing you like this," he purred, backing up as his lips found her belly and teased it with kisses.

"A naked woman?" Gillian smirked. "Stop the presses, you don't say."

He moved further down, his eyes roaming over her skin. "Naked for me, stretched out for me…" He slid his hands underneath her back, his fingers squeezing her as they moved down to cup her buttocks. Gillian moaned as he kissed her inner thigh, and he grinned up at her. "That makes all the difference in the world."


Argis fought to keep his expression impassive as party-goers closing in behind them gasped in morbid fascination at Gillian's back. Their gazes followed them, the crowd's reactions growing from an interested buzz to an incredulous cacophony as they reached the steps leading to the throne. The jarl had anticipated them, and in an unheard-of move, got up to walk halfway down to meet Gillian in the middle of the reception line, offering her his hand.

"My Thane, you are incomparable this evening," he said, his lips grazing her fingers. "Such a unique gown…from High Rock, maybe?" It would have been indecent to stare overlong at her bodice, so the jarl kept sneaking glances, Argis noticed, although he couldn't tell what fascinated the jarl more – the scales, or Gillian herself.

"Partly. The dragon scales are all Skyrim, my Jarl," she said, smiling. "I thought it fitting, as I'm partial to both cultures."

"Indeed," Igmund smiled at her, looking behind her to nod at Argis, his forehead furrowing as he noticed the new armor. "Would you do me the honor of a dance, Gillian?"

It took all her concentration not to look back at Argis, and she could feel his gaze on her back. "Of course, it would be my pleasure," she said, a polite smile pasted on her lips.


Gillian lay on her belly and sighed as Argis rubbed her shoulders, his strong hands easing her muscles. Hours into the evening, her body was still a little stiff from riding horseback and meeting with the jarl. She felt his gaze on her back, and smiled as he leaned down and kissed her scars once again. Her stomach growled.

"We did miss dinner…want me to go-" Argis motioned to the kitchen. He was a little hungry as well. Not enough to leave the bed, but if Gilly wanted him to, he would.

"No…" she smiled, rolling over to face him. She sat up and moved to straddle his hips, feeling him move under her, growing harder as she slid back and forth, teasing him. "I have other things you can do for me first, if you don't mind."

"It would be my pleasure," Argis said, lifting his chin to kiss her smiling mouth.


Gillian blushed from her forehead to her neckline as she struggled to keep her attention in the present. Just a few more secrets, she thought, just a little longer.

"Let me remove my cloak, I won't be a minute," he said, and skipped up the steps. When he returned to her side and took her hand in his, she turned away from the party to face him once again. Her face froze, and she felt her blood racing as two angry blotches of red painted her cheeks.

Jarl Igmund was wearing an Amulet of Mara.