Part 3: Sunlight

Chapter 24: Crashing a Party

"Stop being a child," the woman growled at Veri as she pulled the laces of the corset tighter.

"Why can't you do this if you're so smart, Delphine?" Veri grumbled.

"We'll, several reasons. First and foremost, the Thalmor know my face," Delphine answered, "second of all, you came to me saying that you wanted to help."

Veri grimaced. She had met Delphine and the Blades a month or so after going to High Hrothgar. After hearing her proposal, Veri was frightened. She returned to the Graybeards without ever giving the Blades a straight answer. Now she turned up quite a long time later and offered her services in any way possible. She hadn't expected, though, to have to go to a formal dinner party. It wasn't something she was comfortable with. She was an Imperial, but she was raised like a Nord and preferred the drunken mead hall songs to the light chatter of a sophisticated soirée.

"Remember, they don't know who you are. The news of the Dragonborn was short lived and they probably hardly know your name," Delphine said as she began to work on Veri's hair. They had gotten her into a green and gold gown with gold ribbon hanging from the sleeves and bordering the collar. It was certainly a Cyrodiilian look, but that was probably what they were going for. Veri was an Imperial, after all, and it would be expected that she wear a corset. The green and gold was a way to tone down the otherwise flashy dress. The crinoline cage underneath the dress was heavier than Veri wanted, but, if all went well, she wouldn't have to do any fighting.

She did look rather nice, she supposed, but she didn't look like herself. As far as Delphine was concerned, that was a good thing.

Before she left the inn in Solitude to catch her carriage, Veri kissed Vilkas goodbye.

"Good luck, my star," he bid her before she left.

"I think I'll need more than luck for this," she replied.

The carriage ride was longer and lonelier than she expected. She dozed off in the middle of it, but was awoken by the driver when they arrived. Stepping out of the carriage, a sudden wave of fear moved through her. She realized that she hadn't the slightest idea how to act or speak or even breathe. The pressure of the whole event was eased when she came across a young Redguard who seemed to be a bit drunk.

"I don't believe I've seen you at these puppet show parties before, miss...?" the Redguard asked, looking at her with drunken interest.

"Nocturne. Veri Nocturne. And it's the first time I've been to one of these," she replied with a shaky voice.

"You seem nervous. No need to be. Just dress nice, stand up straight, and act like you're the gods damned high queen!" He threw his head back and laughed.

Veri sighed, just wanting to get by him. She was almost a Stormcloak at one point and couldn't deny that she was still partial to that side. She knew that if anyone knew her relationship with Ulfric, she could be in danger. Still, no one really knew about that. But she had to be careful. She did not know Elenwen, but had hear enough from Delphine to know that she had been an interrogator during the Great War. Doing a little research, Veri had discovered that she was the one who had been responsible for torturing Ulfric and making him confess the information that led to the Aldmiri Dominion winning the war (at least that was what Ulfric said. Even at this time, Veri couldn't bring herself to believe that Ulfric was fully responsible for the fall of the White Gold Tower).

Veri's attempts to collect herself before entering may not have been fully successful. She was immediately confronted by the hostess. Simply knowing what she knew was enough to make her want to avoid eye contact with the woman. She forced herself to look into those white-less eyes of the Altmer and smile.

"I don't believe I've seen you here before. Who are you?" Elenwen asked with some suspicion.

"I'm Veri Nocturne. Elenwen, I assume?" Veri replied.

"Indeed," her eyes looked over Veri from her shining up-do that was decorated with a jade and gold comb to her mossy green dress with all the gold lace. "I think I remember you name from the guest list-"

"Well, I may have been under my full name, which is why you may have not-" Veri said a bit too quickly.

"Veri," someone interrupted at the perfect time. They came up behind her and placed their hand on her waist, pulling her in to kiss the top of her head. She recognized him by his voice immediately.

"Jarl Balgruuf, you know this young lady?" Elenwen asked.

"Of course I do. Miss Nocturne here is a shrewd politician and one highly committed to our cause. She may not have a place in this war yet, but I intend to find one for her in my own court. That is, if the Jarl of Solitude doesn't whisk her away first! I'm surprised you haven't heard of her. She's quite famous throughout Whiterun hold," Balgruuf answered.

"I'm afraid that the only news from the east that we hear is that about the Stormcloaks," Elenwen replied apologetically, "I'm sorry for any inconvenience, Miss Nocturne. Please, enjoy the party."

"Thank you," Balgruuf replied for her and led her away. When they were out of earshot, Balgruuf glanced over his shoulder and then leaned in to whisper to her, "Now, you know and I know that you're more of a Stormcloak than an Imperial. But, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and hope I don't regret it later. What are you doing here, Veri? I hope not spying on things for the Stormcloaks."

"I haven't spoken to that man since Markarth, I assure you, I haven't decided to join him," Veri replied.

"I received several summons from the Jarl of Windhelm, you know, for you. Right after they attacked us. Him being an enemy now, you can understand why I didn't allow them to reach you."

"I understand perfectly. I wouldn't have answered them, so you've done me a favor. I only worry about the day when I will have to return to him. As of now, though, I don't know what the reason for that meeting will be. I'm here because I've finally decided to be the Dragonborn and I have duties."

"You duties certainly require you to dress nicely."

"Not for long. I'll tell you all about this over a bottle of mead when I can. As for now, I don't suppose you would be willing to give me a hand with something?"

"For the Dragonborn? Anything. Name it."

"I need a distraction as soon as I'm over by the bar."

"Give me a nod and you've got it. There certainly is something I've been meaning to say to someone in particular here."

"Thank you, Balgruuf," Veri said and kissed his cheek. She then spun to scurry away. Minutes later, she was over with the wood elf by the bar and gave a nod to Balgruuf who confronted the drunken Redguard about the his allegiance to Ulfric Stormcloak. The scene was rather long and everyone watched with hungry curiosity. It would be a good bit of gossip to tell over tea or at the next party.

Veri was able to slip away without anyone noticing. She reclaimed her items that had been smuggled in including sever potions, some lock picks, her silver sword, her sky forge steel sword, a bow, and thirteen steel arrow. She also changed into some light armor that was reinforced with a magical spell. She pulled up a hood to hide her face.

"If you can get some Thalmor armor-" the elf began, but she shook her head.

"I won't pass for an elf. My best strategy is to sneak in or kill silently," she replied.

"I knew this was a bad idea," he moaned, "we'll be killed for sure!"

"Malborn, don't worry. I have this," she said it with a confident smile, but she wasn't all that sure herself.

She took a breath and then slipped into the back. She leaned silently against the wall and listened. She heard three different footsteps inside the room. She used her sword and tried to get a reflection of the room, but it was difficult to see anything without giving away that she was there. In the end, she rushed into the room and took down all three wizards in a moment, leaving them dead on the ground before hurrying onto the next room. Once outside, it was a matter of using the rooftops to sneak over to the door where she was able to get into without too much trouble. Although, that was due to the fact that a frost dragon decided to fly by overhead at that moment. Once there, she eavesdropped for a short while and then listened to the brief conversation until one of the elves left. Veri then killed the guards and pocketed a key.

Before entering the chamber, she rummaged through a chest and fount the dossiers she was looking for on Esbern and Delphine. However, there was one more that interested Veri. The name "Ulfric Stormcloak" was written on it clearly. She grabbed it and shoved it into her pocket. She had no time to read it, but curiosity was eating her alive.

It's amazing how easily Veri picked up companions. Not only did she rescue a prisoner, but had to also save Malborn who was, to put it lightly, less than grateful. When it was all over, the only thing she feared was that Balgruuf would be in danger because of her. She sent a courier to Vilkas, requesting that he check on Balgruuf for her to make sure he returned unharmed, adding in that she "will gladly cut the ears off any damned elf or man who even breathes a word against our noble Jarl." It was a line that would give both men a good laugh. When she returned to Riverwood the next day, she was glad to hear that Balgruuf was fine, but requested that she buy him a drink, simply for the possibility that he could have been harmed. It was not long before Delphine sent her and Vilkas on their next quest, which was to find Esbern who resided in the Ratway in Riften.

Before leaving, Veri found herself back home lying awake in her bed. She had a single candle lit and in her hands was the dossier on Ulfric. Despite her attempts and her desire to be able to put it down and forget about him, every bit of him, she could not. She needed to hold onto him, even just a small little bit of him. She opened the small book and began to read. Although most of it she had know, the dossier revealed something that brought her to tears so she could not read anymore. She needed to tell him, but she didn't know how to do so. She wasn't simply going to walk up to his door, knock, and tell him about this after what had happened. She needed to come up with a plan.

What she did know was that Ulfric's guilt for the war was created by the Thalmor. He was being used by them. And that infuriated Veri.