Author's note:

First of all, a big thank you to reddevil47, Zero121, msyendor and beccalli96 for their reviews! I'm very happy to know that you're enjoying my fanfic. Also, your reviews reminded me to put a warning at the beginning of the previous chapter. Of course, a big thank you also goes to all those who are reading / following / favouriting this story.

Now, after the heaviness of the previous chapter, I think it's time for a (slightly) funnier shorty. It's not the longest chapter I've written so far, but I'll make up for it over the next few days.

Enjoy!

10th of Evening Star, 4E 201

It took a few days before Agda's throat eventually recovered from the traumas it had endured. Nevertheless, the girl's nightmares didn't stop for much longer. No matter what she did or what potions she drank - every night Agda would dream of Steinarius' grip on her throat, of the hatred in his eyes and of the spasms that had wracked her body as she had desperately gasped for air. Therefore, the girl often woke up with tears running down her face and a layer of sweat all over her body.

A week after the assault, Agda decided to lock herself in her room and leave that comfortable shelter only once a day. She was tired of Sigrid's curious questions, of Sven's bad jokes, of Delphine's indifference - but most of all, she was upset by Steinarius' constant presence at the inn.

After his outburst of rage, the man had left Riverwood together with Delphine, then had returned to the Sleeping Giant about a week later. Ever since then, the Imperial had developed a deep love for the little tavern and, although Camilla Valerius claimed she had something to do with it, Agda could tell that it wasn't true.

Steinarius usually reached the inn shortly past dawn and always spent the first minutes of his visit knocking on Agda's door. Although the girl never answered him, the Imperial didn't give up - he wanted to explain her the reasons for his rudeness and was determined to obtain her forgiveness. Unfortunately for him, Agda was equally determined to ignore him.

Every day Steinarius admitted his defeat with a sigh, hid in one of the rooms together with Delphine and left the tavern shortly afterwards. Agda always welcomed his departure with a relieved sigh and took advantage of that moment to sneak out of her shelter and bring some food inside her room.

The whole village had noticed how deeply the girl had changed: she had become detached and untrusty, had stopped visiting Sigrid for her daily dose of gossiping, had even stopped brewing her beloved potions. Everyone in Riverwood was wondering what happened to the once merry innkeeper, but the only ones who could provide an answer were Agda, Steinarius and Delphine; and whereas the latter didn't care at all about the matter, the others were still too shocked (and, in the Imperials's case, ashamed) to talk about it.

Agda let out a very loud sigh. It was well past midnight, but she was still reading in the main hall of the inn. The place was completely empty, therefore the girl had abandoned her room and stretched her legs over the border of the fireplace. When the first waves of tiredness washed over her, however, the young Nord stood up and took a walk around the tavern. She was determined not to fall asleep, so that she could have some peace from her usual nightmares.

All of a sudden, the door to the tavern burst open and Steinarius Crepusculus stepped in. As she saw him, Agda couldn't help but let out a surprised yell.

Over the previous two weeks, the Imperial had behaved very strangely – his visits in Riverwood had lasted longer than usual and on one terrible occasion he had even slept at the inn. Then, a few days earlier, he had suddenly disappeared. Agda had overheard him talking to Delphine about an embassy, an invitation and fine woolen clothes, but hadn't felt the slightest interest for the matter. The moment Steinarius walked in, however, things immediately changed.

The Imperial was wearing expensive clothes that made him look even more handsome than usual. There was a wonderful sword strapped to his waist together with an impressive set of ebony daggers. Steinarius also had an expensive golden amulet around his neck and many shiny rings on his long fingers. Unfortunately, the whole outfit was ruined by the blood that marred his shirt and his weapons and his face.

By the time Agda overcame her surprise, it was already too late: the captain had casted her an agonizing glance, then had collapsed on the floor of the inn.

Disturbed by the terrified screams coming from the hall, Orgnar and Delphine immediately woke up. The man grabbed Steinarius by the shoulders and unceremoniously dragged him towards one of the bedrooms, whereas Delphine put a pillow under his head and forced a weird potion down his throat. The effects were immediate.

Steinarius came to with a terrified intake of air. His grey eyes stopped on Agda, but Delphine grabbed him by the collar before he could talk to the girl.

"Tell me what you've found".

As the man muttered something, Delphine shook him with violence.

"You've passed out because you were tired, not because you were injured", she said in what she probably considered a very reassuring hiss. "Tell me. What. You've. Found".

Steinarius seemed to gasp for air for a few seconds. His face was a mask of white pallor and crimson blood, whereas his chest was heaving painfully fast. Agda recognized the typical effects that potions of enhanced stamina had on people who were too exhausted even to keep their eyes open.

"The Thalmor don't know anything about the dragons", Steinarius grimaced as soon as he found the strength to speak.

As Agda heard those words, she frowned.

Why should the Thalmor know anything about the dragons?

Orgnar seemed as clueless as her, whereas Delphine let out an angry snort.

"Did you carry out a thorough research or…"

Before the woman's hands could start shaking him again, Steinarius spoke.

"I only found a few books", he uttered between his ragged breaths. "I forgot to give Malborn a knapsack, therefore I hid them under my shirt".

To Agda's shock, Delphine tore Steinarius's attire apart with her bare hands, thus revealing three red books and the scarred chest of the man. Agda wondered where her employer had learned that move, but soon realized that she didn't actually want to know.

"They're the Thalmor dossiers about you, Ulfric and someone named Esbern", Steinarius explained as Delphine started flipping the pages.

He was still breathing heavily, as after a long run.

Shocked by the last name pronounced by the captain, the Breton immediately grabbed him by the neck. At that moment, something inside Agda's mind clapped its hands in enthusiasm.

Sweet, sweet revenge.

"What do you know about Esbern?", Delphine asked as she laid her hands on Steinarius' throat.

The man was both shocked and confused, but seemed unable to protest against that rough treatment.

"Not much", he gasped before Delphine could start shaking him again. "A prisoner said something about the Ratway in Riften, but that's all I know".

Agda listened to the dialogue with a lot of attention, but found herself in a very weird situation – although she perfectly understood the words, she couldn't make out their meaning in that context.

Unlike her, Delphine immediately realized the importance of Steinarius' discoveries.

"You need to get to Riften as soon as possible. Stand up and leave, fast!".

Steinarius' eyes widened in protest. He tried to remind Delphine that he had just passed out because of the exhaustion, but the Breton didn't seem to care.

Moved by the dark circles under the captain's eyes and by the ragged breaths that were leaving his lungs, Agda did something completely irrational – she took his defense.

"He needs to sleep, Delphine. He's awake just because of the potion you gave him. The way he's breathing is a clear sign of…"

"He can sleep while he rides", Delphine interrupted her. "I'm sure that the Thalmors are already in Riften, therefore we cannot afford to waste our time for useless activities such as sleeping".

Agda snorted. Delphine had just used the pronoun we, but didn't seem keen on joinining Steinarius in his adventure. Yet, when even Orgnar took the man's defense, the Breton eventually gave up.

She rolled her eyes in defeat, then made for the door.

"I'll give you one hour", she threatened Steinarius. "If you're not ready to leave by then… "

Delphine didn't need to end the sentence: as the effect of the stamina potion wore out, Steinarius' head fell on the pillow with a soft thump. Worried by the way his body went limp, Agda immediately crouched beside him and readied the strongest healing spell she knew. Nonetheless, she never got to cast it.

Delphine was right: Steinarius wasn't hurt - as his loud snores suggested, he had simply fallen asleep.