The journey back was relatively quick and uneventful. The robber's nest they passed on their way to Morthal seemed to be abandoned and the smell coming from the tops of the cliffs made them run quickly through. They stopped by Rorikstead so Erik could show off his new armor and equipment and to give his father a quick summary of his adventures so far. Jerien was worried that Mralki was going to faint when he heard that his one and only son jumped on the back of a dragon as if it were a horse, but somehow he kept his composure. They continued on to Whiterun and were thankfully not attacked by any rogue bandits or beset upon by any roaming beasts.
Jerien wanted to make the trip to Riverwood alone and Erik protested until he heard of a merchant that needed an adventurer to find a sword that had been stolen. It was a family heirloom and the man was willing to pay dearly for its safe return. She loaned Erik her map so he wouldn't get lost and they decided to meet back at the Bannered Mare in three days' time. A note would be left there if something came up or if their reunion had to be postponed. They also agreed that if one did not return within a day of their agreed upon time span, or there was no communication, the other would take the most direct route to the missing ones destination. They wished each other luck and left Whiterun going opposite directions.
Jerien reached Riverwood by early afternoon and went straight to The Sleeping Giant Inn. She asked the dark haired man tending the bar to rent the attic room and he gave her a perplexed look. He called over a hard looking slender Nord woman with blue eyes and dark blonde hair. Jerien repeated her request. "Attic room? Does it look like this place has an attic room?" She crossed her arms and looked Jerien up and down before saying, "Tell you what, I'll take a couple septims off one of our cheaper rooms for you. You seem to need to rest and get your wits back." She accepted the eight coins and led Jerien to a room in the back. "Make yourself at home." She said as she lit a two tiered candelabra before she left. Something about the woman was familiar, but Jerien couldn't place it. She let it go as she surveyed the little room.
There was a short two drawer dresser, a tiny table with one chair, a small wardrobe that butted against a bed that looked barely big enough for a child and a short shelf that hung slightly crooked above the headboard. There were four shabby books that occupied the shelf: Lost Legends, Cats of Skyrim, The Red Book of Riddles and a copy of The Lusty Argonian Maid. Jerien chuckled to herself thinking that it must be a very popular book. She leafed through all of the volumes but saw nothing of importance. The wardrobe was empty other than a spider web and some dust and the only things in the chest of drawers were some charcoal and a few scraps of paper.
She waited in the room for almost an hour when she decided to go and visit Gerdur and Hod. They were quite happy to see her and hear of her continued adventures. She asked if they had seen any strangers in town or hanging around but neither had seen anyone. They chatted for most of the afternoon about dragons, of Ralof (Jerien learned an embarrassing story of him as a boy, naked, chasing a rabbit through the mud that she would definitely ask him about the next time she saw him), and of what they thought the future of Skyrim would bring. Gerdur rubbed her stomach as she said a silent prayer. She looked up at Jerien and smiled guiltily.
"By the Nine! You're pregnant aren't you?" Jerien said. "Congratulations!" Gerdur nodded as Hod put his arm around her and pulled her close. She saw a tear slowly sneak out of Gerdurs left eye. The woman quickly wiped it away and smiled, but it was clear that she was terribly worried. "Don't worry, I will get to the bottom of this and find out why these beasts have returned. I promise you, your baby will grow up in a Skyrim safe from dragons." She reached over and squeezed Gerdur's hand.
The woman sniffed back another tear and stood. "Well, that's enough of that. You must stay for dinner. Hod caught a slaughterfish this morning and we shall dine on the fillets!"
Jerien ate seared slaughterfish with grilled onions and potatoes while she listened to the tale of 'Hod the Horrible and the Feisty Fish'. It was a grand story and she snorted more than once as he showed her the bandage on his bottom where the fish latched on and wouldn't let go. "It was a miraculous battle but in the end, just like your story, teamwork is what took the mighty beast down." He said triumphantly.
Gerdur leaned over and said, "What he means to say is that he ran from the river over to his faithful wife and screamed while she took an oar and smacked it off his bum!"
Jerien was still drying tears of laughter from her eyes as she hugged her friends goodnight. They kept insisting that she stay with them instead of the inn, but she finally and firmly told them there was a task she still needed to complete and she needed solace to get it done. "It's a Dragonborn thing, I really can't explain further." They accepted her excuse and finally bid her goodnight.
To be honest, Jerien still had no idea if the 'friend' was still here or how long she would have to stay. She walked as slowly as she could through the town, hoping that maybe this person was watching her and would just come up to her. After walking down and around the mill and blacksmiths' twice, she decided that wasn't going to happen so she returned to the inn.
She ordered a bottle of cheap wine and sat at a table all alone. The inn wasn't very busy and she was able to study the other patrons from where she sat. A handsome blonde bard was entertaining the evening crowd. He seemed to only know three songs on the lute he was playing, which he happily sang over and over. He looked to be sweet on a beautiful Imperial woman with brown braids who blushed every time he leaned towards her as he walked by. A slim wood elf with gray hair and wearing green and brown clothing sat at the table with the Imperial and scowled at the bard every time the singer winked at the woman. There seemed to be no love lost between the two men as the bard 'accidently' bumped the elf on the shoulder with his lute as he passed by again.
A dirty looking man with a dark unkempt beard was arguing with the bartender about having to pay for a drink. He lost the battle and walked over to where a very pretty red headed Nord woman was sitting. "Care to have a drink with me, sweet Sigrid?" He asked her as he leaned on the table and reached for her hand.
"Drunk again Embry? Don't let Alvor hear you talking to me that way. He'll stick your head in his forge." She said as she smacked his hand away. The door to the tavern opened and the blacksmith walked in. He was quite handsome with light brown hair and soft brown eyes. He had the same stout physique as Hadvar and it was evident to Jerien that they were related. He smiled when he saw the red head but his face turned hard when he saw the scruffy looking man that was hitting on her. The drunk took the hint and quickly scurried back to the bar.
Jerien watched this all with a smile on her face. She called the bartender over and ordered an ale for the defeated man. The drunk smiled at her and nodded his head and he took a swig of his free drink and began to walk over to where his new benefactor was sitting. Jerien shook her head no and gave him a hard stare. He stopped and nodded again and headed back to the bar.
After a couple of hours, the patrons began to thin out and soon everyone had left but Jerien. The bartender asked her if she would like another bottle before he was done for the night but she declined. She headed back to her room and shut the door. Jerien turned the only chair in the room towards the door and sat down. She waited for another couple of hours leafing through the four books and began to regret not ordering another bottle of wine. But decided it was best because she wanted to make sure she was awake and sober for whoever she was going to meet, if they showed at all.
Jerien finally had enough waiting so she stood and stretched. She leaned over the table and was about to blow the candles out when she heard the door to her room creak open. She immediately unsheathed her sword of ice and readied a fireball as a figure walked into the room. It was the hard looking Nord woman that rented her the room.
"So you're the Dragonborn that I've been hearing so much about. You don't look like much." She crossed her arms in front of her and looked Jerien up and down again. "Relax, you're safe here. You've no need for your weapons." Jerien made no move to let go of her fireball or lower her sword. "Here, I think this will help." She reached into a leather satchel and pulled out a curled dark metal horn and offered it to the defensive woman.
"Is that the horn of Jurgen Windcaller?" Jerien asked. The woman nodded. "How did you get it? Why did you take it? Why did you want to meet with me?" She asked as she extinguished her fire and took the horn. She left her sword unsheathed but lowered it.
"I'll answer all of your questions, but not here. Follow me." The woman walked out of the room and across the inn to the room directly across from Jeriens. She closed and locked the door behind them and went over to an upright wardrobe in the far corner. She pulled out another key and unlocked it. Jerien could see that the closet was empty as the woman reached up to the right corner and pushed. She heard a click and the back slid open revealing a dark stone stairwell that led down. The woman grabbed a candle and descended down the stairs. Jerien waited a few seconds before following. She conjured up a fireball so she could see where she was being led and to make sure she was ready for any impending ambush. Luckily none came.
The woman walked around to several tall iron candelabras and lit them so that a soft glow began to fill the chamber. Jerien could see the room clearly once they were all lit and let go of her flame and sheathed her sword. A matching set of tables and chairs were on each side of the entrance. Two large chests were along the left wall while two sets of full weapon racks were along the right side of the room. An alter with strange markings and symbols carved on it was in the far left corner. It had a skull from an animal Jerien couldn't identify on it and the table glowed with an eerie blue-green light. An alchemy table was in the far right corner with several barrels and sacks surrounding it. On the far wall were two tall bookshelves that looked to be full of fresh and dried ingredients and several potion bottles. The center of the room was dominated by a large square wooden table. Upon it was a huge map of Skyrim. The woman stood behind the table and said, "Now we can talk."
"Who are you?" Jerien asked.
"My name is Delphine. I am part of an ancient order that had been looking for you, for a Dragonborn."
"Why? What for?" Jerien took a step back and summoned another fireball.
"Whoa, whoa, watch the majik! It's … it's nothing nefarious, I promise you." Delphine said taking a step back herself. "We're an ancient order of dragon slayers. I promise, we're on the same side. We want the dragons gone just as much as you and the greybeards do. I'm not here to trick you."
"Then why'd you take the horn? And how did you know about it in the first place?" Jerien asked as she held onto her fire.
"Farengar, has been aiding us. He got word to me that you were headed to Ustengrav to find it. I was planning on meeting you there but there was a group of mages camped out at the entrance to the tomb. They chased me off so I watched from a distance until you arrived, but you weren't alone. I didn't know who your companion was so I chose to get in through a different entrance."
"Different entrance? What are you talking about?" Jerien cursed that damn wizard. She would have words with him the next time she saw him.
"The artifact that you overheard Farangar and I talking about is tied to all of this. It's an ancient tablet called the Dragonstone. It's a map of all the dragon burial mounds and a blueprint of Jurgen Windcaller's tomb." That's why she sounded familiar! She was the woman in the dark leather armor! "I couldn't take the chance that your friend was a Thalmar conspirator so I got in through a secret back entrance, took the horn and left the note."
"Thalmor. I've met…I've heard about them. Who are they?" Jerien almost let slip her interaction with the white haired inquisitor. She wasn't sure she should share that bit of information just yet.
"There's no worse enemy to humankind in Tamriel than the Thalmor. They're the faction that rules the Aldmeri Dominion. They're the ones who almost destroyed the Empire during the Great War, thirty years ago. The Empire barely survived the war, and only did so by signing the White Gold Concordat, which heavily favored the High Elves but didn't give them everything they wanted. I have a feeling that they're going after that now."
"How did you know I would even reach the burial chamber and get your note?" She finally lowered her guard and released her spell.
"Well, you wouldn't be a very good Dragonborn then, would you?" Delphine could see that Jerien didn't like her little joke so she added, "Look, I'm not your enemy. We share a common goal, to rid Skyrim of dragons. We thought it was accomplished thousands of years ago, but apparently we were wrong, because they're back."
"What's with all the cloak and dagger then? Why didn't you just come up to me when we left the tomb? We could've avoided all this subterfuge and it would be easier for me to trust you." Jerien looked the woman, still unsure if she believed her words.
"Because I can't be too careful, their spies are everywhere. When you showed up at the tomb with a stranger, I was suspicious. I needed to make sure it wasn't a Thalmor trap. Look, I gave you the horn, didn't I? I'm trying to help you. I just need you to hear me out." Delphine pleaded with her.
"Go on then, I'm listening but you'd better start explaining fast…I don't have time for this. I need to get back to the Greybeards. At least they've been forthcoming with me." Jerien said.
"I understand your skepticism. But I have many reasons for being so secretive. The Thalmor have hunted us at every opportunity. Their operatives are everywhere and can be any race, not just high elves. You'd be surprised how many Nords would sell out their own kinsmen for septims." Delphine looked down at the map of Skyrim, took a deep breath and then stared Jerien directly in the eyes. "I'm one of the last remaining members of an ancient organization called the Blades. For thousands of years, we were dragon slayers and we aided Tamirels' greatest dragon slayer of all, the Dragonborn. When the dragons disappeared, we served the dragon emperors, the Septims. When their line ended two hundred years ago, we were cast aside and thought as useless. Now that dragons are coming back, our purpose is clear again. We are again charged with stopping them, and we need your help. You are the Dragonborn, the ultimate dragon slayer. You're the only one that can kill a dragon permanently by devouring its soul. I know that you can, because words of your deeds from Whiterun and Morthal are already making its way across Tamirel. You're the hero we're looking for."
"So why are the Thalmor after you? Why do you have to hide?" She inquired.
"We're very old enemies. The Blades fought for the Empire and for freedom of oppression, be it against dragons or tyranny, for as long as we can remember. We learned too late that the Thalmor were our greatest adversary. They were devious and were very successful in convincing most of the Empire that the Blades were the cause of all the strife the realm had been suffering. It was amazing how quickly the people turned against us and helped the Thalmor capture every Blade within range. All that were caught were put to death and the rest were forced to go into hiding. There are so few of us left now. But it's hard to train new recruits when you're trying to convince all of Tamirel that you don't exist anymore." Delphine got quiet and looked back down at the map. She cleared her throat and shook her head. "Now do you understand why I fight from the shadows? Why I hide under the guise of a simple innkeeper?"
It took a moment for Delphine's speech to sink in. Words circulated around her head: Thalmor, Blades, Septim, Dragonborn. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in. Again, Martin Septim and Mother are controlling her life. Will she ever be able to escape their grasp? Or should she admit the fact that no matter how far she runs or no matter what she does, her life is not her own? Jerien opened her eyes and looked at the woman standing before her.
"So what do we do? How do we defeat them?" She asked as she accepted the fact that she would need to pay for the sins of others before she could breathe the free air. She didn't hate them for the price she was destined to pay, she envied them because they already paid their price, and now it was her turn.
"We need to find out how the Thalmor are involved with all of this. I find it hard to believe that they're not a part of the dragons returning. Think about it…the Empire had Ulfric captured and was about to dispose of him, the war was basically over. Skyrim would have been at peace and showing a united front. Then a dragon attacks Helgen, Ulfric escapes and the war is back on. And now the dragons are attacking everywhere, Imperial and Stormcloak holds alike. Skyrim is weakened and thus, the Empire is weakened. Who else gains but the Thalmor?" Jerien nodded, it made sense.
"Do you have any evidence? Something other than suspicions?" Jerien asked.
"Nothing solid, but that's where you come in. I have a plan. If we could get someone inside the Thalmor Embassy, their headquarters, that someone could snoop around and find the evidence we need…"
"Whoa, wait." Jerien interrupted her. "What do you mean, that's where I come in? You want me to do this? Why don't you do it?"
"That would be a bad idea. I've kept a low profile, but I think they're starting to be suspicious of me. I'd be too likely to attract the wrong kind of attention. But they don't know you at all, yet." Delphine smiled.
"But I'm the Dragonborn, people are starting to recognize me. You said so yourself that you've already heard about my deeds from Morthal and Whiterun." Jerien argued. "If they're behind this, there not going to welcome a dragon slayer into the heart of their operation with open arms."
"Yes, you're right about that. It's likely that they know that the Dragonborn has returned, but I doubt they know what you look like. And you're not going to kick the doors in and announce who you are. We're going to use a little more cunning than that. I told you I have a plan. I've been fine tuning it and I know it will work." Dephine turned and took a book and some rolled up parchments off the shelf behind her. "Here's a blueprint of their embassy. Every room documented and detailed. I've been able to get intel about guard numbers, their rotations and patrol frequency, even when they eat their meals. The good thing is that they run that place like a military camp with precision so you will be able to sneak around the guards schedules."
"And the bad thing?" Jerien said as she looked over the diagram.
"I don't know exactly what you should be looking for but I'm pretty sure it's going to be here." Delphine indicated to an inner building that was surrounded by a courtyard. "My moles have never been allowed in very often and never farther than the front room. They've documented it to the best of their memory, but it's still sparse. There's a second floor and a lower level but Malborn has never been allowed very far in."
"Malborn? Who's he?" Jerien inquired.
"He's my main inside man. He's been working for them for over two years now and he has earned, how do I say this … less … of their distrust. He's the one that has gathered most of this information." The Nord woman said as she unrolled another parchment. "Here's what he could provide."
Jerien looked at the new paper and frowned. "That's not very detailed."
"Like I said, it's the best he could do. The Thalmor are just as paranoid, or more so, than I am. He's the only non-high elf they have ever let into that inner structure. He did his best to see what he could all while keeping his head down so as not to look suspicious. He's been extremely invaluable to us."
"So what's your plan?" Jerien asked, her skepticism starting to fade.
"The Thalmor Ambassador is going to have a gathering for a dozen influential businessmen in five days. Malborn is going to procure you an invitation to this party. As the guests are leaving at the end of the evening, he will help you slip away. You will wait until everyone has gone to sleep and then sneak through the compound and get inside that central building. It should be easier because only a smattering of guards will be on duty then. You get in, find those files and meet me back here."
"So that's it, get in, find these secret files that may or may not exist and get out without getting killed. That's your strategy? Please tell me that you have more details for me." Jerien questioned. Delphine smiled because she knew that her new friend was in.