Blue Palace, Solitude, 9th of Last Seed

The young woman downheartedly walked through the main doors to the palace. She stood for a moment and looked up in the ceiling, from which curtains hung. Up until a few days ago, they bore the colours of Haafingar and its previous Jarl – now, the Kingdom of Skyrim's hung in their place.

Olfina had realised that her and the Jarl's relationship would change as Aurora ascended the Haafingar throne, yet it hurt more than she imagined. She felt that her friend, whom she considered almost a sister, did not realise the full extent of her problem. These were probably the most important months of Olfina's life – where her fate would be decided, and Aurora did nothing to help.

It had been slightly naïve to hope that she would get the Stewardess position, however, there were still things Aurora could do to help out. At first, Olfina had felt nothing but resentment towards Nilsine, but the latest week had showed that she was a competent woman with a temper that balanced Aurora's fiery nature rather well. Nilsine was skilled in controlling the finances and diplomatically handle important guests. Olfina understood that this was exactly what the new Jarl needed help with, and that Aurora had her reasons not to employ Olfina.

There was another aspect to it as well. If Aurora would employ her, it would be to openly oppose Vignar if he had not expressed this to be his wishes. This was the main reason to why the woman did not dare to ask Aurora to recommend her to the High King. Ulfric would most certainly write to Vignar, who in turn would be furious with Olfina.

She was but a tool. She could of course try to find a position that was deemed indecent for a noblewoman – a governess or a shopkeeper's assistant, but that would mean that she shunned her family, and Olfina was not ready to do so.

This was the only way she could be with Jon, though, and this frightened her. Breaking all contact with her family was a huge step, especially since she would compromise on the House of Grey-Mane's honour publicly by doing so. This was also a reason to Olfina's disappointment with her friend. Aurora was only a poor merchant's daughter. No one but her family cared that she run away. Had Olfina done the same, everyone would look down on her House…

It frustrated her that Jon took no steps towards resolving this matter. When she asked him about his plans on attending the Bards College, he replied that he wished to, but perhaps in the future. Olfina understood that the trouble in his life was his family too. It was not decent for a nobleman to study music and work as a bard at some godsforsaken inn.

This took her to another issue, though. There was no point in breaking with his family in order to be with her if he did not plan to attend the Bards College. If he would make up concrete plans for his future with her, they would include ideas for where he could work in order to support them, but the harrowing truth was that he simply did not appear to dare.

Olfina was awfully troubled and barely noticed what occurred around her. It was only when she felt a hand on her shoulder that she raised her gaze and saw a familiar face.

"Idgrod!" Olfina exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

Idgrod the Younger, the heir to Morthal stood in front of her. The young woman smiled shyly at Olfina, who hurried to embrace her.

"My mother sent me here, it's not like I wanted..."

"Welcome to the club, lady," Olfina muttered. "But hey, we're neighbours now!"

"There are so many people here... and so many tents..." Idgrod began.

Olfina took a good look at her and realised that Idgrod seemed awfully tired. Her usually palce complexion did not make the bags underneath her eyes appear less prudent, and her droopy eyelids would look better with some eye shadow painted on them.

"The town is a mess. We can't cope with everyone moving here," Olfina said.

"Yes, and the roads are clogged... It took me five days to get to Solitude from Morthal."

"Really?"

"Yes, it's horrible!" she said in disgust.

The women were standing at the beginning of the staircase leading up to the Jarl's cabinet. Even though Olfina had forgiven Nilsine for taking the Stewardess position and accepted her as a superior candidate for the job, she still found some aspects of her slightly creepy. One of these was that she seemed to turn up behind every corner, bookshelf and wall at the palace. This day was no exception, and both Olfina and Idgrod looked up in shock as they heard:

"Idgrod the Younger?"

The women looked upwards. Idgrod clumsily made a curtsey before replying "Yes" and turning around.

"I am the Stewardess. The Jarl has asked me to escort you to your apartment. Please follow me," Nilsine spoke from above with a rather stern tone.

Nilsine walked ahead of the two women as she led them towards the eastern wing. Both Idgrod and Olfina paid attention to the fact that Nilsine was rather short – she must have been half a head shorter than Idgrod, meaning that the Stewardess barely reached the shoulders of the Jarl, as Aurora was rather tall for being a woman. Olfina, who was more to the muscular side was considerably wider than Nilsine, who appeared childlike when standing next to her.

"How are you?" Idgrod asked Olfina in a low tone. "I haven't heard from you in a year."

"Well, you know… the war."

"Yes, Avulstein wrote to me," Idgrod said. "But how are you now?"

"Well…" Olfina began. "I'm doing the best of what I can."

"I heard you were close to the Jarl."

"We fought together," Olfina began, thinking whether Nilsine was listening to what she and her childhood friend were talking about. "However," she continued. "No, it's nothing. We're great."

The women had reached about half way through the corridor when Nilsine began to slow down and check the numbers above the doors leading to the different apartments of the palace. Idgrod, who was the embodiment of the expression one can take the girl out of the village, but one cannot take the village out of the girl, continued the discussion at the worst possible timing.

"I shall be most humble towards her. Convincing the High King to allow my mother return to the throne, even though our position in the Civil War…"

"Yeah, isn't Aurora great?" Olfina asked, hoping that her sarcasm was not too obvious, and that it would shut Idgrod up until they were on their own again.

Nilsine opened the door to apartment number 8, handed Idgrod the keys and walked away with the same, stern expression she had welcomed her. Olfina and Idgrod walked into the half-empty and unusually small apartment, which only consisted of one chamber with a small water closet with a bathtub.

Idgrod admired the chamber, which had been prepared in all haste after Olfina and the rest of the group of friends had cleared the wing. A few carpets had been hung on the walls to hide the awful finishing touches – the stones that were the walls were uneven and of different sizes.

Olfina sat down on the bed as there were no seating arrangements – no sofas or armchairs. Idgrod happily jumped onto it too. "I thought there would be more young heirs here," she spoke.

"Why?" Olfina asked, wrinkling her face.

"Well… Because it's Solitude!"

"Harrald of the Reach is here because of the army being stationed here, but there is no reason for any other heirs being in Solitude when the High King lives in Windhelm and the Emperor in the Imperial City."

"Oh," Idgrod said. "I didn't consider that."

Idgrod's village idiocy annoyed Olfina. It was too obvious that Idgrod came from the poorest and smallest, perhaps also least important capital of Skyrim. Morthal did not even have a wall protecting it from wild animals, not to mention bandits or potential enemies. Idgrod had no one who could teach her more advanced manners or show her the fine things on Nirn.

"It's basic, but I like it," Idgrod said as she looked around the chamber.

"You're supposed to place your own furniture here," she sighed.

"I live two apartments away, let's go there."

Olfina jumped down from the bed but felt Idgrod grab her arm. She turned around and saw her friend lie on the bed with her arms out, grinning widely.

"I heard that lord Goldwine is coming," she smiled.

Olfina wrinkled her forehead. "Which one?"

Idgrod made a surprised expression. "Are there more than one?"

"There are two."

"Oh," Idgrod said, blushing.

Olfina could not help but to feel how the anger began to boil inside of her. She remembered when the Northern Alliance army walked into Chorrol before going to battle outside of the Imperial City, and seeing the Count of Kvatch hiding at his distant cousin's town instead of protecting his own.

"Are you sure a Goldwine brother is coming?" she asked.

"My mother was informed a week ago."

"Why would he?" Olfina asked.

"I don't know," Idgrod spoke, observing Olfina. "It doesn't sound like you are happy."

"Do you know why I am not happy?" Olfina angrily exclaimed. "Because whilst I was fighting in the war, I met the Count of Kvatch. In Chorrol! Hiding!"

Olfina tore her arm out of Idgrod's grip and stormed out of the chamber.

Aurora had her head buried in parchment rolls as she heard confident, neat footsteps outside of her cabinet. She looked up the moment Vittoria Vici opened the door and allowed herself into the Jarl's office.

"We've got some issues to solve," she said.

Aurora was sitting by her table and saw the woman from below, something she did not like. There was something with Vittoria that got under her skin and annoyed her greatly. That moment, she acted as if she was the chief around town and could do whatever she pleased – including storming into the Jarl's cabinet.

"Return tomorrow. Book a time with my Stewardess," Aurora said, not even trying to hide her resentment towards Vittoria's actions.

Vittoria looked at Aurora for two seconds before raising her head even more and slowly, in a provoking manner, placing her hands on Aurora's table. She stood with her arms placed wide apart, leaning over the Jarl. Aurora was ready to stand up and teach the woman a lesson, but Vittoria quickly continued:

"I don't think you've understood," she spoke as if she was trying to hide her own resentment.

The women's gazes met. Aurora had wrinkled her forehead instinctively. Vittoria, however, stood in front of her as if she was ready to give orders to her subordinates.

"I know we've met before," Vittoria began.

"Two days ago," Aurora interrupted angrily.

Vittoria silenced and looked at the other woman for a few seconds before her expression grew wrinkled too.

"Perhaps I should remind you of who I am," she spoke and raised her tone slightly. "I may be the Emperor's cousin, however, it is not his interests I am protecting right now. My cousin may be week up in his tower, but the East Empire Trading Company still has wind in its sails."

As she finished the sentence, she straightened her back and provocatively began to inspect Aurora's new cabinet. With slow steps and her hands on her back, she took a few steps to the right.

"Have you seen your roads? How do you expect us to deliver goods for the inland trade?" she spoke with her back against Aurora. "This is bad for business. For us both," she continued and turned her head towards the Jarl.

"I have more urgent concerns than the roads," Aurora spoke in a slow, but loud tone.

"Sure, and that's why I so kindly helped you with the theatre. You are obliged to give us is decent roads," Vittoria answered, this time openly expressing her disdain. "Every septim I make leaves a little coin to you."

With that, the woman smiled incincerely and turned around. She walked out through the door confidently, as if she had made a successful attack in battle. Aurora did not even have time to understand what happened.

Vittoria had spoken about obligations. What obligations? Aurora thought. Two days prior, Vittoria had kindly offered to sponsor the theatre, which Aurora deemed necessary to build, especially after the price hike in grain that had taken place three weeks ago and made the lower and middle classes upset.

Aurora was staggered by the woman's arrogance, but began to realise that it was due to the price hike that Vittoria could pay for the theatre. Now she demanded new roads, but she did not wish to pay for them herself. Aurora began to realise that she had entered into a devil's agreement.

"Nilsine! Why did you let her in?" Aurora exclaimed angrily and hit her hand against the table. "Now she's talking about obligations!"

"I wish I had the option of not letting her in, my Jarl," Nilsine said, sticking her head into the cabinet.

"Two days ago everything was great and we were making the city pretty. And now this. What a bitch!" she exclaimed and leaned back in her chair, bringing her right knuckle to her mouth.

Nilsine carefully walked into the cabinet but remained close to the door, which she shut behind her.

"I can almost guarantee that she sponsored the theatre directly with the price hike in wheat which occurred a fortnight ago," Nilsine began.

"Aargh!" Aurora yelled. "Bitch! I can imagine her coming in two days offering to 'kindly' finance the roads as well. In exchange for something more…"

Aurora looked to the side, lost in her own thoughts. She did not fully notice Nilsine had not said everything she wished to. Instead, the Imperial thought of how different the role of Jarl was in reality compared to what she had imagined. It was not as much a supervisional job, as it was a balancing act. The Jarl may have the last word in everything that concerns the hold's matter, however, other factors may prohibit her from uttering what she wished to. Aurora understood that Vittoria was in fact threatening her. Trade was flexible, but Haafingar lay where it did, and if Aurora did something too upsetting towards Vittoria or the East Empire Trading Company, they could simply redirect the trade somewhere else. It would not be practical, however, it was fully possible. Aurora, on the other hand, was stuck where she was.

"It's surprising how little power one actually possesses as Jarl," Aurora muttered towards the floor.

"There's an elf who wants to see you, my Jarl," Nilsine spoke carefully.

"Tell him to come tomorrow, I'm pissed right now," Aurora hissed.

Nilsine remained by the door a few seconds before uttering "He is very persistent."

"Oh now what?" Aurora complained.

Nilsine looked at Aurora with a gaze that could only mean forgive me before opening the door and taking a step to the side. Aurora felt like stabbing Vittoria or someone else of the arrogant nobles as a blond Altmer man walked in.

He had a long face, but unusually strong, square jaws for being an Altmer, a straight nose with a pointy tip which was sightly bent upwards and rather plump lips. His hair was almost very bright – bordering white, and reached halfway down his upper arms. The man wore a richly decorated, brown, textile coat which was sewn in small squares. Underneath it, a white cravat with golden seams was tied around his slim neck. The man was tall, almost like Aurora remembered Vecheslav Umbranox to be.

He also had the same, superior expression on his face which Aurora hated on Vittoria. With his chin raised, he walked into the room with a painfully straight back and placed himself in a small angle towards the Jarl, standing with one foot perpendicularly in front of the other in a very pompous manner.

"Can I help you?" Aurora asked sarcastically.

"Yes, you can. Here," he spoke with a tone to match his superficial pompousness.

He handed Nilsine a letter. Skyrim was considered to be the countryside in the Imperial City and most parts of Cyrodiil, as even the Jarls did not fully request the official protocol and manners to be upheld. Most Jarls did, in fact, accept letters personally, and it had become practice, especially for Aurora.

Nilsine did not lose her face, though, as she quickly realised what was happening and made a quick curtsey for the man, taking his letter. She then walked up to Aurora's side and placed it in front of her.

Aurora threw an annoyed gaze at the man before unrolling the parchment roll. She read it and grew even more irritated as it, in twelve or thirteen long sentences only stated that the man's name was Dante and requested the man to be given an apartment to rent at the palace.

"You are Altmer so ask the embassy. I don't have many apartments to rent out," Aurora said and threw the letter back to the table before leaning back in her chair.

"I want to live at the palace," the man calmly spoke.

"Everyone wants to live at the palace, but that cannot be arranged. You are an Altmer, and I am sure that the Thalmor will help one of their kin, so just go to the embassy," Aurora answered and gestured with her hand for him to leave.

"That is not possible," the man answered, as calmly as always.

"Why?" Aurora asked, showing her irritation with her entire facial expression.

"Because I want to live at the palace."

The man opened his coat and exposed the mark of the royal family on the left side of his vest. Aurora sighed and reached after a parchment roll and a set of keys from the far left of her table.

"Here's a contract. Apartment number 14, the keys, my Stewardess will collect the rent each month. Sign here."

Aurora threw a quill to the other side of her table and loudly placed an ink container next to it. At that moment, she felt like giving up. Being Jarl was not fun anymore.

"Nilsine?" Aurora asked after the man signed.

"Oh, right. Please follow me, milord," she said and threw Aurora a surprised expression.

The woman turned around and walked through the door. As she reached the stairs, she saw that the entrance hall was filled with furniture, and three elven servants continued to carry more things into the palace.

As Nilsine and the Altmer man reached the wing, she saw the ladies Grey-Mane and Ravencrone emerge. Olfina stared at the new tenant in an incredibly rude manner, which Nilsine hoped he did not notice.

"Did you see that?" Olfina whispered to Idgrod.

"An elf!" Idgrod said.

"Altmer!" Olfina exclaimed, raging with anger.

Aurora worked until the time she agreed on having dinner with Olfina and Harrald and then, still thinking of the power structure in Solitude, she walked into the hall. Olfina and Harrald were already sitting by the table and well into the main course as the Jarl approached.

"Oh, Aurora," Harrald said whilst chewing. "I secured the position of Officer," he added as he swallowed the food. "I'll be positioned in Castle Dour."

"That's great, Harrald! I'm very proud of you," Aurora said and sat down next to Olfina.

The Nord woman looked very downhearted. Aurora did not notice this, though, as she was wondering how to finance the damn roads. The road to Dragons Bridge had the worst capacity issues, but the norther route that passed the forts would have to be improved too as it turned out that Vittoria wished to export products to Hammerfell. At least this had been Aurora's thanes' opinion.

"It's not fair," Olfina sighed.

"If someone deserves this, it's you..." Harrald said.

The young heir to the Rift had a soft spot for the woman. He had admired her during the entire war, and the only one who had not noticed this was the subject of his emotions herself.

"Why don't you bugger off to your little friends at Castle Dour?" Olfina hissed at him with an angry gaze.

Aurora woke up from her thoughts as she heard Olfina curse at Harrald.

"Olfina?" Harrald asked.

Aurora grew increasingly annoyed with Olfina. The woman did not seem to understand that life was tough. It was as if she expected everything to be served on a plate for her simply because she had participated in war.

"Well, you're the only one of us who can do what you want for a living," Olfina said. "It also means that I won't be able to support myself."

"You are always welcome, Olfina..." Aurora began.

"It's not about that! My father has already arranged everything, but I'll remained bound by his will," she complained before looking at Aurora. "Can't you give me work?"

"That's corruption, Olfina."

"I can't believe Skyrim is filling up with these artists whilst our best warriors are left to fend for themselves."

Aurora looked angrily at her friend. "I think it's great to have new people here. The most talented artists, writers, bards, poets and painters are gathering here."

"Well, look at the patron of arts," Olfina spoke sarcastically.

"Well, at least I have a job," Aurora said.

It was meant as a joke, but Olfina felt her anger boil. She was speechless.

"Talking about that, I have to go. I have some arrangements to make," Aurora said and walked away.

She decided to speak to Nilsine about how much the roadwork would cost. Hopefully, most of it could be covered by the gold from the Empire, otherwise, she would be forced to take a loan somewhere. The woman did not realise what a difficult atmosphere she left Harrald in, though.

Proudspire Manor was too costly, and Aurora had decided to rent it out, however, as it turned out, no one could afford it. Instead, she decided to put in a few walls and thereby dividing the cost between more people. The Goldwines, who were moving to Solitude for a short period of time had asked her to find them a place – and Aurora planned on adapting Proudspire for this purpose. This would help the situation with the roads a little…

"Morthal! Hey, what are you doing here?" Aurora asked as she walked straight into Idgrod.

"I paid a visit to Ingun. Sent my brother some medicine," the woman answered.

"Ah, how is he?"

"Not too well, but the medicine helps him."

Aurora looked at Idgrod and immediately felt sorry for her. The woman was dressed in an ordinary, brown dress without any decorations or fine details, compared to the Haafingar nobility, which walked around in expensive fur costumes. She also appeared worn out. The Jarl did not know if this was due to her recent move, or due to the fact that she had been thrown out of Morthal for almost a year prior to the last month.

"You look tired," Aurora said.

"Well… I am not completely used to being in a big city. The artists are very eccentric, Harrald can't stop talking about his new job and Olfina doesn't stop complaining about her life," the woman answered and looked to the side.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I just don't understand the fuss about being in Solitude. I have a clean, spacious chamber at home. What do I have here? Paper thin walls, no furniture to speak of, no family... They simply sent me here to find a husband and make sure everyone knows of Morthal," Idgrod began before stopping in the middle of the sentence, probably horrified by the fact that she was openly expressing it to the Jarl. "Oh, please, don't take me wrong. I am most thankful…"

"Idgrod, I'm happy to have you here. Let me know if you need help with anything," Aurora said and took a few steps forwards.

"I guess things could be worse. I wouldn't change shoes with either Olfina nor Harrald."

"True that!" she laughed and turned her head to Idgrod.

"Hey, Aurora," Idgrod said. "I am very thankful for convincing the High King to… you know. Had it not been for you…"

Aurora stopped and turned towards Idgrod again. "Don't think about it," she said. "After Sorli's early departure, there was no one else who could take over Morthal."

"My mother asked me to tell you that we will make you proud," the woman spoke.

"I don't doubt your loyalty," Aurora winked.