She was trying to sleep in. And by that she meant actually sleep in. Her rest had been tranquil and dreamless and she wanted to hold onto it just a little while longer. Except that Teldryn was awake, and his mind was chewing on something so hard she could practically hear it. It was more that she could feel it. His fingers fidgeted almost rhythmically under hers, tickling her stomach and every so often his chest would swell so deeply it actually moved her body a little bit. A few strands of her hair had been migrating over her neck from all his sighing.

He started to inhale again and she gripped his hand, turning her head. "Alright, what is it?"

"Hm?"

She turned toward him a little more. "You've been huffing and puffing into my hair for like half an hour."

He raised himself up on one elbow, running his restless hand over her shoulder and down her arm. "Maybe I like the way you smell."

And maybe that was true, but she wouldn't be charmed off the trail. "How'd it go last night?", she asked, looking him in the eyes. "Took you a while."

He let out the other half of the sigh he had started. "Was a little rough, to be honest."

"Really?" She reached up to caress the side of his face. "Rough like...you made Dreyla cry..." It was a weak attempt at a joke, but she tried anyway. "or like...rough rough."

"Make her cry?" he said with half-hearted outrage. His brief grin was still sharp, and he knew better than to deny the intent of his wrath. "I didn't even see her." He leaned into her hand, repeating her expression, "Rough rough. Modyn was still up and had a lot on his mind." He cupped her hand against his cheek, rubbing it along the short stubble that had already grown. "The Council is putting a lot of pressure on him over Northshore. He's trying to come up with answers but information is scarce. I've told him all that I know but...it's not enough. Hopefully the argonians bring back something helpful."

His tone was too somber, his whole demeanor. Even his eyes, like a light had gone out. She may not be wise in the politics and factions of this world, but there had been a recent war not too far from these shores, and even if the invasion at Northshore had been repelled, she knew that couldn't be the end of it. "Teldryn, what's happening?"

"I wish I could say for certain." His breath warmed her palm. "There is concern that Roggir is involved somehow."

She pulled her hand away. "But he's not, right?" He couldn't be. He couldn't be because...he just couldn't. He couldn't be because that would mean Teldryn would be tied up into it. More than he already was.

"I don't know."

How could he not know? That's what it was, what had faded in his eyes. Teldryn was nothing if not self-assured. She envied it, admired it, the way he could be so certain of of himself even when he was dead wrong. She shivered, her breaths hitching in her throat. If there was something that could shake him like this, she didn't want to know. She'd find out when it broke her apart.

"Hey, hey," he soothed, pulling her into his embrace. "Don't let your mind be troubled over it. I don't know for sure, alright? Personally, I don't believe he is behind it. It's just that my personal belief is not proof. No matter what happens, I will make sure you are safe."

She ought to slap him for making a promise like that. When he'd told her to her face he wouldn't always be around. She had no doubt that he'd try his best so long as he was here, but she wouldn't allow herself the stupidity of believing his own life wouldn't continue on without her. His life that constantly hung in the balance with each job, creating a map of his travels with his scars. She raised her hand to his face again, running her thumb over the one that cut across his chin. "My mind is not troubled for only me"

He grasped her hand, kissing her fingers. "Mine is."

She still didn't understand why. What it was that made him devote so much of himself to her, before they had even known each other. From the very beginning. "Thank you," she said, willing away the tears. "For caring."

"You have the strangest manners, Khes,yi," he said with a chuckle, pulling her closer. Always closer. "You give apologies when you are owed one, you thank me for caring as if..." He paused, furrowing his brow. "Do you think you are undeserving?"

She stared at him, stifled by the question. Or maybe it was that he was so near they breathed the same air. "I...I don't know what to think most of the time." Shaping words around the truth was difficult when she could hardly parse what she believed versus what was real. How was she supposed to know what she deserved? "Ever since I...ehm...started existing here there's been a lot taken from me." He laid his head down and she shifted to face him fully. She toyed with his collar as he ran his hand lightly over her back. "It was instant. I'm not even really sure what happened. When I woke up out there in the forest, I couldn't even comprehend where I was, let alone everything I'd lost. Had I any idea, I might have thought there was nothing more to lose. But the Reavers, they...they found what was left." Even if she'd never talked of it with him, he knew. He'd been the first to know, without a word needing to be said. His eyes showed it now, that look he gave her when he was imagining murder. As crazy as it felt, she wanted to laugh. Because he must regret that he'd already killed them all while he was ignorant of just how much they deserved it. "I didn't even know what you were when we met," she said, trying to redirect him before he could get up to pace like a caged leopard. "Do you remember?"

It seemed to work as the wildness in his eyes receded, though she didn't quite like what was left either. "You feared me," he said with an appalling look of guilt. As if it had been him who'd hollowed her out until nothing but fear remained.

"That's your memory of it? Of course, I feared you. But far less than you think." On that day, he might have been moody and not the gentlest with his words, but now that she thought back on those first couple of hours with him, it was with shades of fondness that lifted a smile to her face. "I'll take a crabby elf over Reavers any day."

He almost returned the smile, but it passed quickly. "How I wish it had been me who found you first."

She tried to imagine it. Would Roggir have kicked her to wake her up? Would Erik and Teldryn have pulled her to her feet? After finding her in pretty fair condition, would they have sent her on her way without a second glance? She probably wouldn't have been pitiful enough for Teldryn to bring her to town and give her one hundred septims. She'd probably be dead and long forgotten.

The thought came unbidden that she wished he would've found her first, too. But he hadn't, and here they were. "What did you think of me when you did?"

"Er.." He propped himself back up on his elbow, resting his head in his hand. "Truthfully, I thought you were afraid." The simple answer made her laugh, drawing a sheepish grin from him. She shouldn't have expected anything else. He raised his other hand and brushed her hair away from her face as he added, "I wanted to help you."

"Why?"

The question left her mouth before she had a chance to swallow it. She waited uneasily as he continued raking gently through her hair, looking as if he were searching for the answer. He seemed to settle on one as his eyes rested on her. "Because I knew that I could. I admit that I was very concerned at first that I had endangered my employment with Roggir, but he is not unreasonable."

She marveled at him, and at her own fortune for knowing what incredible sweetness lurked around his actions. "I've been trouble from the start, huh?" she said, only partially joking.

He made a satisfied sound that vibrated her body as the warmth of his hand slid behind her neck. "If by that you mean to ask if you've been on my mind, then yes."

His lips caressed along her cheek, down to her ear and she raised her hands to his chest by reflex. She wouldn't push him away so she curled his shirt into her fists. "You do too much for me."

"I've only done what I wanted," he replied, pulling away to look her in the face. Maybe she'd been mistaken earlier. His eyes lacked no confidence now. "For my entire life, Vanya, I've done only what I deemed right without considering my effect on anyone. And then I met you and my wants shifted without me even realizing." His voice surrounded her like a whirlpool, rushing over her skin, consuming her thoughts. She tightened her grip on his shirt as he cradled her head in his hands, as if the undertow would suck her away. "But each day that I see you, I discover those wants. I find all these new things in me that I didn't know were there. And it is so good. I don't want to stop."

She raised her chin to ghost her lips against his. "I don't want you to stop."

It wasn't gentle as he closed the distance to take the kiss she offered, all the energy behind his tender words bursting forth as he claimed her mouth. Just like the first time- every time-she welcomed him, matching the fierce and desperate urgency. It stirred her differently as he pressed her body to him and she wrapped her arms around his back. He'd found pleasure in others in his past, no doubt. And so had she, in a distant and almost foreign life. They'd found plenty of pleasure in each other. This was something more, more than him knowing to tug at the back of her hair or her knowing how nipping his bottom lip made him growl. It was intangible, a pulsing heat sparked only between them, felt only by them.

He broke the kiss, breathless as she was. "So now that I know what you don't want," he said against he ear. "Tell me something you do."

She tried to gather her thoughts as he trailed down her chin to her neck, each nerve in her body vying for the attentions of his mouth. She felt him grinning against her skin because he knew exactly what he was doing. If she could, she would roll over on top of him and watch that smug expression morph into feverish need as she showed him precisely what she wanted. But she couldn't, not with the way the nerves in her leg and back fired off when she bent at certain angles. Honestly, she wasn't sure yet what restrictions they'd have for not causing her pain.

Well, stupid reality had just dissipated the haze of lust in a hurry.

"Breakfast," she demanded instead. He laughed. "Bug-free. I don't care what the kitchen wants to make." She squealed as he moved back up to pinch her earlobe between his teeth. She did push him away now, and he propped his head back up on his hand. He only looked at her with an arched brow- thankfully not seeming bothered by the change in trajectory- so she continued, "And I'd also like to know whether I'm expected at the advent. And also what I'm supposed to wear? I think you were the man with a plan on that one."

He smiled fully. "If I wasn't, I am now. Shall I take notes, Khes'yi?"

"Well, you wanted to know."

"I did. I do." He leaned down to place one more quick peck on her lips, then made to get up. " And yes, you are expected at the advent. I accomplished that much. But first, breakfast," he said, straightening his clothes as he headed for his things piled on the chest at the foot of the bed. He picked up his dagger and strapped it onto his waist. "Get dressed, because after that we'll go and see Alma."

She sat up, eyes still on the dagger as he headed for the door. "Do you need that to go to the kitchen?"

He paused and glanced back. The shadow from before resettled. "There are many strangers here."

As he left the room, what he'd said registered and her anxiety flared even more.

She was going to meet his mother.

Teldryn walked leisurely beside her with her arm comfortably linked in his, letting her set the pace as they made their way across the market. He was fully dressed in his chitin armor and she had put on her nicest pants and tunic, though to the refined eye it probably made no difference. There was the occasional mainlander who cast them a bewildered or disapproving look and Vanya searched for the place that used to care, but it must have sunk to the bottom of her well of giving a shit.

Still, her breakfast sat uneasily in her stomach. She did care about the opinion of who they were going to see and the pretext of the meeting didn't help much. As they neared Morvayn Manor, it seemed to loom taller than usual. She tugged at Teldryn's arm, bringing them to a stop just at the entrance. "Are you sure your mother will be okay with this?"

Teldryn squinted as he considered. "She will be polite," he said finally. "At worst, I will bear the brunt of her wrath later. You have nothing to worry about."

Abusing someone's propriety definitely felt like something to worry about. She tugged at him again as he tried to continue. "How about not pissing her off in the first place? I mean, is that even an option?"

He looked down at her for a long moment, as if he were actually contemplating that for the first time. "That is a good question."

The resignation in his voice disarmed her. She wasn't really sure what to do when he just accepted her badgering. She nudged him lightly as he led her inside, trying to lighten his mood. "And you say that my manners are strange."

Upon entering, she wasn't surprised to see the manor's customary decor was in the process of receiving an upgrade. Bright new Redoran banners replaced the faded and threadbare ones, and the spaces of wall in between were filled with remarkably tasteful arrangements of foliage, small sprays of white flowers that topped a mixture of greens cascading over the edges of golden macramé hangers. The increased lighting from the addition of several oil lamps and stands holding red and gold paper lanterns made the main hall appear so much more open. Come to think of it, she had never even tried to see the ceiling before and she would bet there had been an impressive amount of cobwebs up there in the corners. A few servants milled around adjusting things, too absorbed in their work to pay mind to visitors.

"It's lovely in here," Vanya commented as they crossed the room toward the hallway.

Teldryn glanced back over his shoulder. "The brightness is pleasant."

"I was kind of expecting it to look like Dreyla's house." Vanya said as they started down the more shadowed corridor that was obviously not complete yet. She whispered up to him, "Or worse."

He squeezed her arm as the corner of his mouth twitched. "That is Modyn's mother's taste, and unfortunately prominent among those who wish to uphold a certain appearance."

"Yeah," she replied, leaning in. "On Earth we'd call that 'Keeping up with the Joneses'."

"Keeping up with the Joneses," he repeated with a playful lilt, chuckling. "Works for me." The amusement drained from his face as he came to a stop in front of a door. He blinked at it a couple of times, then raised his fist to knock. If Vanya could justify it she would've grabbed his hand and stopped him but as the sound echoed in the hallway she simply hugged his arm. This was his mother, and he said there was nothing to worry about.

The door opened and- Oh God- she was gorgeous and terrifying. His mother stood there somehow looking down on her son from underneath and Vanya searched her face for the resemblance she had expected. The gray of her skin was softer, exuding a violet tone that seemed to glow against the black linen lounge robe she wore. She almost looked like a hooded figure with the matching curtain of black hair that draped over her shoulders, except for coarse strands of gray interspersed throughout. Her lips were fuller, slightly lined with age, and the irises of her red eyes were flecked with gold. If there was a standard of beauty for the Dunmer, Vanya thought she must be it. His mother's gaze cut to her, hitting like a physical affliction that made her skin burn, before returning to Teldryn.

"Ku'ilm edur as neihnghin." Her voice was low and sharp and it didn't sound like a welcoming greeting.

"May we come in?" Teldryn replied, in Cyrodiilic and completely unfazed.

She replied again in Dunmeri, curt and demanding.

"Alma, you breakfasted with Dayn correct?" he replied impatiently. "Don't pretend as if you don't know."

She narrowed her eyes at him, pursing her lips and Vanya saw it then, instantly. The face she knew superimposed over different features. Familiar as it might be, it wasn't exactly a comforting expression. But a moment later his mother stepped back, and Vanya found herself inside the room absolutely sure that if she weren't hanging onto Teldryn she'd sweat herself into a puddle right on the lovely rug spread out on the floor. And what a shame that would be, she almost didn't want to stand on it. Where Dreyla's rugs were new and expensive, this one looked old and priceless. The rest of the small room gave her a similarly oppressive feeling to what she'd had in Dreyla's house, but for entirely different reasons. This space that was most likely extremely sparse before his mother's arrival, now felt as if a mystic had inhabited it for at least a hundred years. The air was a little hazy, imbued with the aroma of soil and herbs.

His mother continued speaking in Dunmeri, which Vanya thought was not particularly polite, especially since the subject was clearly her. Teldryn gave his replies in Cyrodiilic, short answers to the affirmative or negative to his mother's inquiries and since he didn't seem very agitated about it all, she figured at least his mother wasn't saying anything insulting.

Honestly, she was glad to be left out at the moment because she was absolutely enthralled with the display of plants behind the elder woman. A long table against the wall supported two tiers of flowers and shrubs in various stages of growth and above them all floated little lights that looked similar to the one that Teldryn could create, only a little warmer in color. There were accordion style divider screens on each side that could be spread out to contain the light when she wanted to darken the room. Ingenious. Vanya wondered immediately if Teeba-Ei could learn that spell.

The sudden silence got her attention and she realized they were both watching her expectantly. "Um..." She looked to Teldryn for help with what she'd missed.

"Vanya," his mother said smoothly. "Well met."

Jesus Christ. Her eyes were like lasers. "Well met," Vanya mirrored the greeting, canvassing her mind for a name she'd never been given.

"Nalami," his mother supplied, then addressed Teldryn. "You still need to work on your introductions." Teldryn responded with a 'hmph', which Nalami ignored as she brought her focus back to Vanya. "I'm afraid that the only seat I have to offer is the bed, which you are welcome to if you would like to get off your feet."

"Oh- no," Vanya said quickly, throwing a glance toward the bed that was made up with a plush duvet and several decorative pillows. "Uh, no thank you. I spend too much time sitting around as it is. Really, it's fine."

Nalami's expression didn't change and Vanya really hoped she hadn't just offended her. It would just be too weird to sit on her bed. It was weird enough already standing in the middle of her room staring at each other.

"Alma, we won't stay long," Teldryn said, much to her relief. "The reason we've come is that I intend to bring her to the advent."

"You certainly don't need my permission," his mother sniped.

Teldryn huffed irritably. "I was hoping you might help in lending something for her to wear."

Nalami raised her brow, tilting her head as she took a step toward him. "Presumptive. When was it you started caring for decorum?"

"I would much prefer that the event were not so formal," he said tightly. "But since it is, I don't want her to be uncomfortable."

Vanya watched the exchange, melting like a candle under a blowtorch. No need for a dress, thanks. Just scoop her into a potato sack.

Nalami's keen eyes slid to her and the woman smirked. "I believe that is unavoidable, Daelkhun'yi."

His jaw twitched as he looked between them. "What is your answer?"

She held his gaze, her amusement trickling away behind the unreadable veil. After a few moments, she walked around them to a structure against the wall covered in heavy, navy colored curtains. She made a movement as if she were throwing open a set of windows and the fabric flew apart, revealing a very full and neatly arranged clothesrack.

Vanya didn't realized her mouth was hanging open until she felt Teldryn's finger push up on the bottom of her chin. The only sound in the room was the scraping of the hangers on the wooden rack as Nalami sifted through her clothing and Vanya tried to plead with her eyes for him to just end this now. His confusion was evident as he indicated toward his mother's actions. Ugh. So what if she was giving in? That wasn't the point! This was a big mistake and Vanya wanted out. She almost made a cutting motion across her neck but thought better of it. Knowing him, the only interpretation for a symbol like that was literal.

Teldryn waved away her silent protests with a flick of his hand and she rolled her eyes just as Nalami said, "Ah, this one." The gown floated from the rack, following her hand as she turned around and brought it to rest in air between them. It was a wonderfully simple silhouette, fitted through the top with long sleeves in a lustrous shade of deep burgundy. A matching capelet rested over the shoulders, the only added detail being red flowers with green vines embroidered along the front edge. Vanya's eyes drowned in the color and she started to recant her thoughts from the minute before.

"Alma, thank you", Teldryn said.

"It's a bit short as it is," Nalami said directly to Vanya, giving him no acknowledgment. "Wear it without the underskirt to give it more length. It will be passable."

"Passable?" Vanya said in disbelief. She reached out to touch the edge of a sleeve, a little apprehensive with the way the gown was standing there as if it had a life of its own. The fabric was just as smooth as it looked. "It's so beautiful. And that magic is incredible." She turned to Teldryn. "Can you do that?"

He shook his head. "That is not a spell I learned."

"Hah, indeed," Nalami interjected. She pushed the dress toward him. "Take this." He grasped the hanger as her magic released, then she raised a folded cloth from inside her makeshift armoire. "Use this to cover the garment." With a whip of her hand, she tossed the cloth to him and Vanya had to let go of his arm for him to catch it.

Teldryn studied the items in his hands, then dutifully started to follow his mother's instructions. Nalami had disappeared behind one of the folding screens and by the sound of it, she was rifling through some small items. Vanya was left in the middle of the tense silence with that strange feeling again that she'd intruded on a private conversation. Not a single subject came to mind to casually take the edge off, as anything could be a landmine. She took a couple of steps toward the clothing rack, deciding to occupy herself by admiring a little closer. The Khajiit carried beautiful fabrics with them, though none were so richly dyed, embroidered and beaded. Her eyes caught on one item that was different than the others. A man's set of clothing that starkly reminded her of a suit with the dark gray, almost black color. The jacket was smooth and plain, high necked with small black buttons offset to the right. All the hems were finished with very subtle embroidery in dark red with a fine gold thread worked in so that it peeked out every few stitches.

"Oh, is this yours?" She asked, looking to Teldryn.

His eyes shifted to the garment, then back to the one in his hand as he finished situating the cover. "For all intents and purposes, yes."

Okay, now she was getting excited. "It's so nice. You will look so nice."

"I'm not wearing it," he said matter-of-factly, draping the stowed gown over his arm as he looked at her.

"But...," she brushed her fingers along the delicate edging of the jacket. "It will match." She didn't mean to sound whiney about it, but these outfits would seriously fit well together. "What are going to wear then?" She motioned at his armor as he approached. "That?"

"It doesn't matter what I'm wearing."

She put a hand on her hip. "But it matters what I'm wearing?"

"Khes'yi," he said under his breath, with an air of scolding. "I know you would rather wear this."

"You're right," she conceded. She definitely wanted to be dressed appropriately even if she would never have gone about it this way. Teldryn had insisted though, and if he was so adamant to give her what she wanted then she figured she was in the right to make a demand. She raised her chin, tugging at his formals. "And I would rather you wear this."

There was the look, what she now could identify as the patented Sero Squint. The only difference this time was as the seconds wore on he seemed to be fighting to keep from laughing. "Alright," he said as a smile won. "As you wish."

Just then, Nalami reappeared beside them holding a small box. There was no way she hadn't overheard them, nor was there any way to tell what she thought about it. All Vanya could tell was that the touch of her eyes was softer. "I'm not sure what you plan to do with your hair," she said, pulling the box open to reveal a gold and ruby comb in the shape of a flower similar to the ones on the dress. "If you'd like you may borrow this. I very much doubt any of my shoes will fit you, but with your injury I imagine you'd rather wear your own."

Vanya dropped her eyes from the jeweled comb to her sandals. She hadn't even thought about shoes.

"It matters not," Nalami continued, closing the lid. "It's not as if we're on the mainland and besides that, I believe your shoes will be the smallest matter of inquiry regarding you." The box floated gently from her hand, coming to a stop in front of Vanya.

"Nalami," Vanya said quietly as she grasped the box from the air. Any words she could say paled in comparison to her gratitude. Still, she offered them. "Thank you."

The only response the elder woman gave was a slight flutter of her eyelashes right before her gaze flashed to Teldryn, who'd just picked up the hanger that carried his outfit.

"Leave that, Teldryn," she barked and he dropped the hanger onto the rack, recoiling his hand as if it had burned him. He turned a very perturbed frown on his mother as she crossed her arms. "You will return here to dress."

It was apparent there were many arguments forming in his mind. He voiced none of them, only running his tongue over his teeth. And if Vanya had ever seen a 'We need to talk' look, Nalami was giving it now.

His eyes gave in first, followed by his shoulders sagging as he sighed yet again. He bowed his head with his answer. "Yes, Alma."

They quickly bid Nalami farewell after that, as Teldryn seemed quite ready to go once things started to go sideways for him. Strangely enough, Vanya wouldn't have minded so much if he'd left her there. Getting to know his mother would probably be much different without him around, she would bet on it. Maybe another day, she thought to herself as they emerged from the manor with the dress and jeweled comb in tow. For now, her plans were set.

She had to get ready.