The High Elf was tall. Almost threateningly so.
She wore the tell-tale black and gold robes of a Thalmor, as well as the lightly armoured and naturally arcane greaves and gloves that all the Thalmor wore. For many in Skyrim the sight of those robes inspired fear and unwarranted respect, but for Ti'laan the sight of those robes simply made him… nervous…
The she-elf had sharp and regal features, much like most of her kind. Like other Altmer she had a faint golden complexion of the skin, along with a tall and thin frame and long, dextrous fingers that Ti'laan didn't doubt could cast the magic that could well end his life.
He'd already come to the decision to speak intentionally vaguely until the High Elf made her intentions clear. That way he wouldn't reveal his plans, and he'd have time to act if she tried anything sneaky.
The she-elf looked up as a shirtless and slightly battered Ti'laan made his way deeper into the room. She stood from the chair she was sitting – his chair – and took some steps forward, bowing curtly.
"You must be the infamous Bandit King I've heard so much about," the elf said properly.
"That is yet to be seen," Ti'laan said, matching her tone.
"I don't wish to overstay my, uh… welcome, so I'll get straight to the point," she said before clearing her throat. "I am Elenwen, Thalmor Ambassador for Skyrim. It has come to the Empire's attention over the last few months that a bandit kingdom has risen at Skyrim's centre. It has also come to the Empire's attention that you are keeping some of Whiterun's most powerful people prisoner in their own castle. I'm sure you're aware that the only reason the forces of the Empire haven't marched on Whiterun yet is your threat to kill these people."
"If you're here to negotiate for their lives, then I'm afraid you're wasting your time," Ti'laan said evenly, crossing his arms casually.
Elenwen laughed lightly. "Oh, no, you do not understand, Your Highness. I am not here to negotiate with the lives on anyone be they man, mer, or beast. I simply come with a proposal, which I duly hope you will consider."
Ti'laan's interest was piqued, but he was disciplined enough to not let it show. Instead he spoke with a lazy, almost rude tone that hinted he had better things to do.
"What might that be?" He asked.
Elenwen's eyes sparked, obviously she wasn't used to being treated so lowly.
"I respectfully ask that you regard me with some degree of reverence and formality," she said forcefully.
Ti'laan's slit his eyes and they flashed orange. "I'll remind you, Ambassador, that you are within the walls of my kingdom. I respectfully command that you do not treat me with such blind insolence. Now, tell me of this proposal of yours, or you may leave and hope that my men do not kill you," he finished darkly.
The High Elf seemed to have shrunk at the threat, and the dark and unwavering tone that Ti'laan had taken on her.
She swallowed heavily. "Of – of course, Your Highness," she began. "As you no doubt know, the Empire and the Thalmor hold no favours with each other. Our activities have been debilitating to the Empire, to say the least, but their failure to at all prove that the Thalmor have been involved are what keeps this miserable continent from descending into anarchy and all out war."
"Then what do you want with my kingdom?" Ti'laan asked slowly.
"I understand you have trouble gathering food supplies to support all your men?"
Ti'laan nodded. "The only caravans that pass are those of the Khajiit traders, and they hardly sell conventional food."
Elenwen tried – and failed – for a warm smile. "The Thalmor offer you a chance to grow and to survive," she said. "The Aldmeri Dominion can work in secret to provide your kingdom with enough food to prosper. Not only that, but we will give you a chance to grow."
"How so?"
"Let's just say it would be awfully unfortunate if Riften had an accident that required Imperial soldiers to be pulled from Falkreath."
Ti'laan thought about it. "I refuse to take Falkreath," he said. "It's too close to the border. I won't risk my men to fight the Legion that would undoubtedly come."
"Then isn't it convenient that under a new agreement, a troop of Thalmor control the Pale Pass?"
Ti'laan sat in silence.
"But we offer you more than just Food and Falkreath," Elenwen continued. "We have ways of obtaining information and causing disturbances. In cooperation with us, you could rule over the entirety of Skyrim. Think about that, Your Highness."
And Ti'laan did. A Bandit Kingdom the size of a province? The idea was tempting, but the execution of it was unlikely at the very most. Unlikely alone, but perhaps with allies with the strength of the Thalmor…
"And what do you want in return?" Ti'laan asked.
"Nothing at all," Elenwen said quietly. "All we ask is that you don't reveal our allegiance, and that when the time comes for the Aldmeri Dominion to take its rightful place at the head of the Empire you support us should we need it."
Ti'laan sighed. The likeliness of the Aldmeri Dominion rising against the Empire and retaking the throne of Tamriel was nigh on impossible. But Ti'laan was a vampire – immortal! – and empires had risen and fallen in his time.
"Do you drink?" the Bandit King asked.
"On occasion," Elenwen said, sitting back down in Ti'laan's chair, much to his displeasure.
The Argonian walked to a cabinet, and from it withdrew a bottle of Argonian Bloodwine and two glasses.
He pulled up a chair and a table near Elenwen and placed the two glasses down, pouring the alcoholic beverage into the glass closest to the she-elf.
He then went to a glass display case and, opening it, took a shining dagger with a golden hilt. He placed the dagger on the table, the hilt facing Elenwen.
"A ceremonial blade," Ti'laan said, gesturing towards it.
"What is it needed for?" Elenwen asked, though her voice hinted that she knew the answer.
"I'd be willing to bet my throne that the Thalmor of all organisations are aware of my affliction," Ti'laan said, the corners of his mouth curving upwards slightly. "As a show of good faith between my kingdom and the power of which you represent I propose you bleed into the glass."
Elenwen hesitated, but then took the dagger. She held her thin, golden arms over Ti'laan's glass and looked at him.
"Never been a fan of alcohol?" She said.
"Not today."
Elenwen slid the blade across her skin and Ti'laan registered the soft sound of splitting skin. He tried to control his hunger as the Altmer's blood dripped into the cup, slowly filling it.
"That's enough," Ti'laan said when the blood in the cup matched the level of wine in the other.
Elenwen dropped the blade and her fingers immediately began their dance of healing. Golden tongues of light drifted from her hands and landed softly on the cut in her arm, mending the injury.
Ti'laan lifted his glass, and Elenwen followed suit.
"Bound by blood, may our allegiance prove prosperous for us both," Ti'laan said formally.
Their glasses touched, and the two drank.
A/N: Hey guys, I know I said these would be few and far between but I have some things to say.
1) I'm sorry this chapter is another filler, but it's necessary and I wrote it during my legal studies class, so I think some of that reflects in the chapter.
2) I wrote this chapter at school because I actually care that much, so there's that.
3) I've seen mention of the Dawnguard and the whole subject of how public Ti'laan's vampirism is, and while I completely agree that the Dawnguard and/or the Volkihar Clan would really be excellent for the story, it's not an arc I have planned. I haven't ruled out the possibility by any means, but right now it's not on the to-do list.
That's all from me guys, and I'll see you for chapter ten. (Double digits! Woo!)
