Diamond hurries along the poorly shoveled sidewalk of the Cloud District. Libby's house is already in sight, her black gates contrasting with the snow decorating the rest of the city. Her bodyguards are nowhere in sight, so Diamond easily climbs the wrought-iron bars and drops down the other side. She walks her way up the path to the front doors, where she finds the guards. They take one look at Diamond in her pink cloak and opens the door. With a nod of her head, Diamond enters.
The warmth of Libby's mansion nearly makes Diamond sigh, but it also stings her raw cheeks and makes her nose run. A servant gives her a friendly smile as she takes Diamond's cloak. "Welcome madam." She greets.
Diamond is about to reply when she is surprised to see the woman is Argonian. Quickly clearing her throat, she asks. "Do you know where Libby is?"
"She should be down shortly." The Argonian woman answers with a smile. She then disappears behind a pillar.
Awkwardly left in the cavernous entryway, Diamond nervously pulls at her clothes, trying to look busy. Thankfully another servant, Sazami – the Khajiit – comes walking out with a wicker basket of laundry. She notices Diamond and smiles. "Oh, welcome Diamond. It is a wonder to see you again."
"Thank you." Diamond says with a polite nod of her head. "Um, is Libby coming downstairs soon? I wish to speak with her."
"If you'd like you could go upstairs." Sazami says, then she rolls her eyes. "The child has been confined in that place for most of the evening after returning from Dragonsreach."
Diamond giggles. "Are you sure? I just feel odd standing here."
"Sure, go look around. You're welcome here anytime." She smiles and then without another word turns and heads towards her intended destination – another servant door leading down into their quarters no doubt.
Diamond rubs her hands together and starts to walk towards the massive grand staircase. Sazami had said she could look around, and while Diamond knew most of this house from previous visitations in the past, it still makes her feel so small. Libby had to have renovated the place, unless Diamond just got shorter.
Walking up the stairs, her hand gliding along the perfectly polished wood, she had to give Libby's servants grand credit. It felt like no cold was in even the smallest inch of the entire house. Everything was clean, not a speck of dust – to the point that Diamond just didn't want to touch anything it looked so expensive.
She had Libby's room memorized: second floor, a turn left and a long walk until she reaches the seventh door on her right. The plush carpet is soft beneath her feet, hall furniture offering from comfy couches and seats to tables and chairs and paintings of distant lands.
Libby's door comes up and while Diamond assumes Libby knew she is already here, she still pauses as she stares at the polished mahogany door. After a couple of nervous heartbeats, she reaches up her gloved hand to knock on the door, but it suddenly swings open. Diamond can't stop her squeak of surprise, but there's Libby behind the door, a small gathering of papers in her arm. She looks like she was heading out judging from the loose tunic and comfortable looking pants. Her brown leather boots surprisingly gleaming despite the salt that litters the pavements to help melt the snow.
Her glittering emerald eyes are wide with surprise as she says, "Diamond. What are you doing here?"
Feeling her cheeks flush pink, Diamond takes a step back, clearing her throat. "I needed to talk to you." She says by a way of greeting.
Libby leans her head over the threshold to peer into the hallway. She looks left and right before asking Diamond, "I'm assuming Sazami let you in?"
"No, it was an Argonian. Sazami told me it was okay to come upstairs to look for you. She said you've been locked up in your room all day." Diamond explains, though she tries to keep her eyes off of the stack of papers in Libby's arms.
Still, Libby lowers her arms to rest the papers against her hips. "Well, it's been a while since you've, visited. I wish you would've told me ahead of time."
Diamond shrugs. "It was a bit of a spur the moment."
Nodding her head, Libby steps aside and motions Diamond inside her room. Diamond accepts.
Stepping inside the chamber, Diamond is immediately swarmed with the smell of Libby. The room itself just smelled like her; from the sheets of her bed, to the cushions of her couch and chair, to the papers that are sloppily scattered across her desk. The smell has become so foreign, and yet is still so familiar to her. It didn't occur to her much back when they were, closer. But now, being back in her rooms, it's like relearning the smell again, the atmosphere.
Diamond sits down onto the couch, sinking into the plush cushions as Libby walks over to her desk and sets the stack of paper down. While curiosity is tugging at her like an annoying string, Diamond makes herself comfortable as Libby comes over. But she doesn't sit down; obviously, this is going to be a quick visit.
"I sure hope you're not going anywhere." Diamond says.
"And why is that?"
Diamond folds her lips and then takes a deep inhale, exhaling through her nose. "I just wanted to talk to you."
That makes Libby raise her eyebrows, a couple of blinks and a swallow. "About what?" as Libby speaks she takes a seat on the couch, but it's still a small set of space between them. It's rather upsetting, to think that they have grown so apart that Libby thinks Diamond is going to attack her at any moment. But yet, she still doesn't look afraid.
How is supposed to start this? While her intuition doesn't want her to apologize until Libby says is first, after her argument with Kodlak, she needed to grow up. So she'll have to swallow her pride. Diamond takes a deep breath.
"I wanted to apologize, for my behavior. I know I've been rather aloof with you, and I know you understand why; but I just wanted to apologize because I know you've at least been trying." Libby slowly nods her head. "Now this doesn't mean that I forgive you –"
"I don't expect you to." Diamond's eyebrows rise at Libby's voice. So soft spoken and timid. "I know I don't deserve it."
Diamond blinks and takes another deep breath. "– But I've come to terms now to believe that it's in the past now. And despite my better judgement, I can't punish you for that now."
Libby nods again, a sad smile on her face.
"But still, I don't know if I can ever trust you again." Diamond forewarns. Her heart is pounding in her chest, her blood rumbling to her ears. She focuses on keeping her voice steady. "How that will affect our future, I don't know. I honestly don't. Maybe we'll recover, maybe we won't; but I will admit that there are some things that I have missed. But I still need to recover."
"I understand." Libby says, folding in his lips. "But if I can ask, what brought this on so suddenly?"
Diamond tries to hide her smirk, and fails. "You don't really believe I've grown up over the past years?"
"I do. I've seen it. But this is just so sudden that I feel like something must've happened."
"Even so, it's none of your business anyway." Diamond says by way of answer.
She watches Libby deflate, or more rather retract fearfully, worried she's crossed a line that will jeopardize their new beginning.
Quickly Diamond adds, "But I appreciate the concern."
As Libby gives a nod and a reassuring smile, she timidly says. "And you know I am sorry too, about what happened those years ago."
"Well I do now."
"I know you were waiting for me to apologize, and believe me I've had every intention of doing so, it's just –"
"I wasn't giving you the opportunity." Diamond finishes, trying not to roll her eyes as she repeats the very same words that Kodlak had said to her.
"Not just that, but I've been getting swamped with work and such, things I need to work on myself, and I just, I felt bad. And I didn't think you wanted to talk to me after our little, battles." says Libby.
"Those did contribute ins some manner." Diamond nods. The two girls share a small chuckle. And as Diamond watches Libby get up from her seat to go over to her desk, she has to admit, she did feel relatively lighter than when she first walked into the manor.
Still, now with her curiosity replacing her long-held anger, she suddenly wants to ask Libby so many questions. What did you tell Kodlak? What personal hell drove you to join up with the Faceless? What ever happened on your birthday when your parents died? But still, Diamond knew it still wasn't her place, especially after she told Libby she can't fully trust her.
Diamond sighs. It's a start, and with one step at a time, perhaps they could recreate what they had lost.
"If I may," Libby asks, and Diamond looks to her. "I need to be somewhere, so I need us to leave." She says.
"Oh, right." Diamond says. It was too bad, judging from the smell coming from the kitchen, it would seem one of her servants has made something enticingly mouthwatering. But she knew Libby was on her way somewhere from the moment she knocked on her door, and she doesn't want to overstay her welcome since it's obvious Libby isn't going to let her be alone here.
Rising form her seat, Diamond rubs her arms as Libby gathers her things. Once she's ready, she motions a hand to Diamond and she's the first to head towards the door, and leave. Libby follows, closing the door behind her.
The two walk together down the long hallway, Diamond admiring the giant oil paintings, the polished hallway furniture and careful not to knock into any expensive looking potted plants.
As they walk, Libby speaks up, "I really appreciate you coming here, Diamond."
Diamond looks to the assassin, and she can see Libby's eyes gleaming. "Thank you for having me. I know it was sudden and all, but still . . ."
"Of course. Of course." Libby says with assurance.
"If I may, what is it exactly you were doing?"
Diamond watches as Libby's face remains skillfully neutral, but her arms slightly fidget to grip the papers tighter. She watches Libby's eyes switch between the need to lie, or to tell the truth after their, compromising talk.
"Do you want the truth?" Libby asks, but it's the seriousness in her tone that made Diamond's spine tingle. Is she really going to tell her? And if so, it's probably something important.
They make it down to the first floor, the cavernous entry hall making their footsteps echo against the marble floors. They stop just at the base of the stairs, Libby on the last step. Diamond looks to her, her hand on the railing post. "I mean," she says with an indecisive shrug. "Sure. But if it's too confidential . . ."
No, she really wants to know now. If there's one thing Diamond can't control, it's her love and need to know of secrets. She steps closer to Libby as she looks around the mansion. "Then we're going to have to go back upstairs."
Diamond's shoulders slouch. But she hears Libby laugh.
"I'm just kidding, but come on, follow me."
Diamond does, and they go back towards one of Libby's many formal living rooms. Diamond sits down, patting her thighs with childish excitement. But she suddenly pauses when she sees Libby closing all of the drapes, and double checking the perimeter of the room – just as she does when she's about to talk about something important. And the expression on her face didn't help at all either.
She was completely serious, perhaps even looking a little worried as she looks around one more time before sitting down next to Diamond. "Now look, what I'm about to tell you, I don't need your judgement, I don't need your opinion; I just need you to listen and to understand. This isn't for me, Diamond. At least, I don't think it is for me."
"What –?"
"Also understand that this information is very sensitive, alright. So you do not go about speaking this to anyone. I need you to show me you're as mature as I think you are."
Diamond gulps. Libby's tone is so serious, so cold. Whatever this is, it sounds like it has the possibility to change the world. Libby stares her dead on, waiting for a response. So Diamond blinks and gives a nod of her head.
Libby then leans back and turns her attention to the stack of papers she was carrying. She shifts aside a small portion of the top until she comes to a map. A map of Skyrim, if Diamond has to guess. When Libby lays it out, she's a little baffled to find it marked with a variety of red X's. Some of them are gathered together like ants, then others are spread across each hold and are much more secluded.
"This is a map of the rebels camps who support Erelia Glendeylin." Libby speaks.
Silence. Diamond's heart nearly explodes before sinking into her stomach and out her asshole.
"I had bought it off of Dabiyrrya before shooting at her from the battlements." Libby adds. "I've been studying it for days now, and I have almost all of it memorized right down to the very stone."
"Wha–? What? How did –? Why did you?" Diamond is speechless. All she can do is stutter. This is more than what she had thought. This is practically mind boggling. Here is a map of the real rebel camps in support of Erelia Glendeylin! This is more than something powerful. This has the capability to change the course of the war!
"I didn't know what to do with it, so I've decided to gather the information for Nassari." Libby adds.
Diamond's chest compresses, a pressure that is being added on every time Libby opens up her mouth. Diamond is even worried she'll fall into cardiac arrest.
Libby has information on the rebels and their camps, and now she's giving it all the Princess Nassari of Elsweyr. If the Stormcloaks or the Imperials get their hands on this map . . .
Does this mean she supports Erelia too? Has she chosen her side of the war? She looks up to Libby, whose eyes are as bright as a green wildfire.
"So what does this mean for you?" Diamond asks.
"Frankly I don't think it means anything for me." Libby says shaking her head. "I'm just gathering the information for Nassari." She turns away to stare at the brewing fireplace. "I'm not in support of anyone in the war. Not even Erelia." As she says her name, Libby's voice hitches slightly. "I'm just gathering information."
Diamond's spine tingles. The way Libby is saying it, it's like she's telling herself more than she's telling Diamond.
"Now you can't tell anyone about this. Do you understand?" Libby commands.
"Does Farkas know?"
"No. I'm too afraid to tell him. I don't know how he'll react."
Diamond nods. "I understand."
"Listen, what I've told you, it could put your life in danger. I almost denied speaking about it because I was worried for you, but after what we had talked about . . ."
"And I can take care of myself." Diamond adds. She swallows as she connects Libby's words to what Kodlak had said. How she almost lied to Diamond again to keep her safe. Could it really have been the same subject when she was in the Faceless? As Libby gathers papers, she can see small points of the scars on Libby's back. "But this is . . . this is all just, astonishing. I can't believe that there's actual proof of the existence of the rebels."
"And remember, you have to take this to your grave. If either side finds out –"
Diamond nods again. "I understand. You have my word. So, are you headed to Dragonsreach?"
"Yes, I've pinpointed a couple of camps close to Whiterun that Nassari can go to."
"She's going to the camps?!"
"Of course she is." Libby sighs. "Believe me I had the same reaction. But it's Nassari, with the rumors going around, when they see her, they'll practically kiss her furry toes."
"So the rumors are true?"
"They will be. She hasn't had any contact with them, until now."
"I'm assuming you're going with her?" Diamond asks, peering closer to the map. It's still so fascinating.
"Yes." Libby says quietly. "I'm only going as a guard. I don't plan on saying anything. Which is what we agreed on."
"How are you going to explain that to Kodalk?"
"I've got something in mind. I'm more worried about how she's going to convince Jarl Balgruuf to let her go. She'll be gone for at least, a handful of days. The trip alone will take a majority of one, and if she's going to work out negotiations, that could take another two, or three."
"Are you going to be alright?" Diamond asks. Because she can see the nervousness in Libby's emerald eyes as she was speaking about the rebels. Diamond hasn't seen her that scared since she had talked about Mercer Frey.
"I guess so. I'm just going there to protect her, at least along the trip." Libby sighs. She begins to fold up the map and holds it away in the inside pocket of her cloak. She begins to gather the papers. "I just hope that once we meet, they'll send members out to escort Nassari from further on."
"You don't like being just the bodyguard to Her Highness?" Diamond chuckles.
"No, I just don't like being around people whose mere existence could cost me my life."
"Are you going to ask about Erelia?" Diamond almost bites her tongue when she sees Libby stiffen.
"No, I don't plan to. I just said I'm there for decoration, practically." Libby sighs.
"Well, the best of luck to you." Diamond grants. She rises with Libby and they head for the archway and towards the front entry hall. "And, stay safe."
Libby looks over her shoulder to the Companion and smiles. "Thank you."
"When will you leave?"
"I don't know. I'm still gathering information. It was funny, she said she almost wanted to thank me. Now I'm finally giving her something to do, she claimed." Libby says with a nervous chuckle.
"And you'll be coming back, right?" Diamond asks.
Libby looks to her, and while she smiles, there's still a small uneasiness. "Don't you know who I am?" Before letting Diamond answer, she turns away saying, "But I really should be going. I'll try and see you before I leave, if not, I'm sorry."
"And if so, then be safe. And also –!" Diamond follows. Libby turns. "Don't forget out trip to Glenmoril Coven."
Libby's shoulders sag. She swears softly as she leans against a console table. "That's right. I was rather hoping Kodlak had found a better solution."
Diamond chuckles. "Will you be back in time?"
"It depends on how long Kodalk will grant me a delay. I know he might not be happy."
Diamond shrugs. "I mean, he's pretty patient. Hey, he held up with me for some years."
The girls chuckle and Libby adjusts her papers. "Alright. I've got to get going."
"Right, right. Sorry I keep distracting you." Diamond says as she follows Libby to the doors. She grabs her pink cloak, throwing it around her shoulders.
The two leave, Libby locking the house behind her. The two girls simply let the crunching snow be their music as they walk down the path of Libby's house. When they get to the gates, Libby pulls her hood up over her head.
"I'll see you around Diamond. And, thank you for stopping by."
"Thank you, for having me." Diamond smiles.
The girls share a smile before Libby is the first to turn away and continue on her path towards Dragonsreach. Diamond stares at her for a moment, an odd kernel of jealousy burrowing into her chest as she thinks about Libby and Princess Nassari spending time together; talking about important things, serious things. She wishes she could join, and now that Libby's told her what she's up to, there's really no reason as to why she can't.
But then again, she's not one to get politically involved – especially when she has little to no idea on how the political system works. Also because she's not one to epically change the fate of Skyrim and her people.
Still, to be able to have the chance to see Erelia Glendeylin in person . . . A living heir of the Snow Elves. Diamond starts to make her walk back towards Jorrvaskr. She's confusing even herself; while she doesn't want to get involved in the dangers and divisions of politics, a part of her does believe that Skyrim could use someone like Erelia on the throne. She's just going off of what she has been told about the Snow Elves and their race, but still, all the information is the same: a prosperous race that got exterminated by the Nords for land. Though many state that the elves were here before the Nords.
It's all confusing, but still, when Diamond thinks of the battles she would have to do if she openly supported Erelia, it doesn't scare her as much as she thought it would. Could that be a good thing . . . ?
Huddling herself into her cloak, Diamond huffs a breath as she makes her way to the hall. If could just be her, but she could've sworn the flurries of snow followed her.