"Well, lookie here-"
Before the Ratway residents could get another word out, Elana had cut them down. She growled to herself and walked on, showing her bloodied blade to any who tried to stop her or thought of attacking. There would be nothing less than annoyance for those who tried to call her friend.
It was a tangled web of sewers and ruffians that led her to the bar in the sewer. She snarled her way past the bouncer and the balding man that rose to block her way. The blonde was the only one who did not move away in shock. She continued resting against the wall, casting only the barest of disinterested glances at the intruding warrior.
Elana slammed her fist on the bar. Staring the barkeep in the eye, she intoned as Elan, "Tell me where Esbern is."
The barkeep pointed at another door and she stalked towards it.
"Careful, there are Thalmor running around down there as well!" the balding man call after her in a strange lilt.
A familiar voice called out from the corner where he'd rested unseen. "Aye, but the lass can take care of herself, can't you?"
"Too busy for your flirting, Brynolf!"
As she passed through the door, ever the picture of a warring dovahkiin, there were two shocked questions behind her: "That's a girl?" "You know her, Brynolf?"
When I get out of here, I am killing every last Thalmor agent, provided I can't get them to give up their golden robes.
"Admirable quest, hatchling. It will be tedious."
Shut up.
One powerful fist hit a metal door, rapping forcefully. "Open up!"
The slit in the door slid open. "Go away!"
"Esbern? Open the door! I'm a friend."
"What? No! That's not me. I'm not Esbern. I don't know what you're talking about."
Elana sighed angrily. "It's okay. Delphine sent me."
"Delphine? How do you… so you've finally found her, and she led you to me. And here I am, caught like a rat in a trap."
"She said to remember the 30th of Frostfall."
Before he could slam the opening shut, Esbern's face changed drastically. "Ah. Yes. I do remember. Delphine really is alive then? You'd better come in and tell me how you found me and what you want. This will just take a moment." There were clicks as he unlocked his multitude of locks. "This one always sticks. There we go. Only a couple more. There we are. Come in, come in, make yourself at home." He swung the door open on a sparse room covered in books. "That's better. Now we can talk." He turned to her. "So. Delphine keeps up the fight, after all these years. I thought she'd realize it was hopeless by now. I tried to tell her, years ago…"
"What do you mean, 'it's hopeless?'"
"Haven't you figured it out yet? What more needs to happen before you all wake up and see what's going on? Alduin has returned, just like the prophecy said! The Dragon from the dawn of time, who devours the souls of the dead! No one can escape his hunger, here or in the afterlife! Alduin will devour all things and the world will end. Nothing can stop him!"
"That's a bit dramatic. But true."
"I tried to tell them. They wouldn't listen. Fools. It's all come true… all I could do was watch our doom approach…"
Elana leaned forward. "Just to confirm, you said Alduin? The dragon that's been bringing the others back?"
"Yes! Yes! You see, but you refuse to understand."
"I'm trying to-" She broke off in frustration. "You're talking about the literal end of the world?"
"Oh yes, it's all been foretold. The end has begun. Alduin has returned. Only a Dragonborn can stop him, but no Dragonborn has been known for centuries. It seems as though the gods have grown tired of us. They've left us to our fate, as the plaything of Alduin, the World-Eater." He seemed to collapse under the weight of his sorrow.
Elana smiled faintly. "It's not hopeless, Esbern. I'm Dragonborn."
"What? You're…can it really be true? Dragonborn? Then…there is hope! The gods have no abandoned us. We must…we must…we must go quickly, now. Take me to Delphine. We have much to discuss. But give me a moment. I need to collect a few things."
As he wandered about the room, gathering documents, Elana turned to the door and listened.
Do you think there will still be Thalmor out there?
"Undoubtedly. As you've discovered, they do not stop. They will not be pleased when agents return without a report and will presently discover the dead bodies. So they'll know they've found the right place."
Elana sighed, just as Esbern came to rest behind her. "I'm ready."
"There will be Thalmor agents out there. Just as a warning."
"You don't get to be an old Blade like me without picking up a few tricks."
"Well, let's see what you've got." And they slipped out of Esbern's hiding place, her sword unsheathed and his hands sparkling with violet energy.
It had been a great experience, fighting next to a competent warrior after so long alone. She could take more risks now that there was an ally at her back. She could zero in on one foe and didn't need to Shout to stay alive.
Elana led Esbern back through the Ragged Flagon, just because she could, laughing all the way. Each of the patrons of the pub stared. Brynjolf, from his corner, chuckled quietly to himself.