Gia made it a point to stay away for several days. If anything, just to give him a chance to cool off. Those bolts of electricity had gotten just a tad too close to her for comfort. She had no false sense of security either; he was entirely capable of causing her serious bodily harm should she push him too far.

Still though, the fact that he had exercised restraint gave her a bit of a rush. If she didn't know any better, she'd think that he was actually enjoying this little war of theirs... Even if he admitted it or not. It wasn't everyday that a high elf would lower him(or her)self down to a human's level.

Gia thought of the piles of snow he'd dumped on her and giggled. And he was right, she WAS lucky he'd decided to be lenient on her. She best stop now while she was ahead. Yes. That was the only logical thing to do.

So why was she headed right back towards his bedchamber? And why did she have a necklace of extreme stamina clasped in her fist? It certainly was a beauty. She'd found it in a ruin over in Markarth, when she'd agreed to take care of that huge frickin' spider for Calcelmo. After, she'd given it to him to see what the enchantment was.

Calcelmo had held it up in front of him with a bored expression, "Stamina perk... My, my. Fifty fold. Strong enchantment but I've no use for it. Go ahead and keep it, girl. With my thanks. Here, you may go into the museum now."

Gia grinned up at him and took the little key with obvious delight. She'd headed towards the museum immediately, only to be distracted by the sight of another figure pacing back and forth in front of the Jarl's chambers. The robes he wore were only too familiar. Curiosity piqued, she watched another male Altmer and his guards conversing quietly amongst themselves. Perhaps sensing her stare, the one in the Thalmor robes twitched a bit, then glanced over his shoulder, catching sight of the little Breton girl.

"You there. Breton. Is there something you wanted?" He snapped his fingers at her.

"Hello," Gia said politely. This Thalmor was unfamiliar. She would do well to be careful. He might not be as tolerant as Ancano apparently was. "Just admiring your robes." In a way it was true. They were snappy dressers indeed. "Didn't mean to interrupt."

"You have the honor of addressing a member of the Thalmor. Bask in it," he replied, upper lip lifting in a haughty sneer.

Gia briefly wondered if that was his way of returning her greeting before she gave him a slight nod, "Oh, I do. I find your people to be very enjoyable."

At this, the high elf lifted a surprised brow. Not the reaction he'd been expecting, that was for sure. "It is refreshing to find at least one soul in this decayed, filthy city that knows privilege when she sees it. I am Ondolemar, Commander of the Thalmor here in Markarth. And you are?"

"I'm Gia. Gia Blackblood. I usually stay over at the College, but I wanted to visit Markarth," ever charming, she offered him a little curtsy.

"Why would you ever want to do a thing like that?" Ondolemar seemed genuinely puzzled. "Visitors are usually not treated kindly here. The people are... suspicious of them. To put it kindly."

Gia shrugged and sauntered over, "I got a note from Calcelmo. He'd heard that I'd gotten hold of a dwarven arrow and he wanted to buy it from me. Besides, I love Dwemmer ruins. They're fascinating. So uh, I take it you're not from here."

He scoffed quite openly, "As if this craggy, wretch of a city could give birth to a superiorly bred Mer such as myself. No, I'm not from Markarth."

Gia blinked, "No, I guess not. Forgive my ignorance."

Ondolemar flapped a hand at her in dismissal, "Think nothing of it. I've come to terms with humans and their tendency to state the obvious. You said you were from the college, yes? Tell me, have you met my associate stationed there? Ancano is his name."

She gave a noncommital shrug, "Yes. He's there as an adviser to the arch mage, Savos."

"Indeed. I wonder if you would do me a favor?" Ondolemar folded his arms across his chest and peered down his nose at her. He seemed to be quite confident that she'd agree.

"I don't see why not. What's the favor?"

He seemed quite satisfied with her response, "The next time you make your way there, would you deliver this missive to Ancano? As you can see, I've sealed it and I'll expect that it will remain that way until you give it to him." He tossed her a meaningful look as he produced a rolled scroll from the depths of his robes.

"Sounds simple enough. Sure," Gia said, taking the parchment with a sweet smile.

"Good girl," Ondolemar said, patting her head like one would a trained pet. "And if you should see fit to ever revisit this pigsty, do come see me for payment. Perhaps I'll have another job for you as well... If, of course, you carry this one out to my satisfaction."

Gia put up with the head pat, gritting her teeth all the while, but nodded in agreement. It would do her well to have friends in powerful positions, "It'll be done soon. Gives me an excuse to talk to him again anyhow."

"Oh?" The Altmer seemed intrigued, "How is that?"

Whoops. Gia glanced up at him with a cautious stare, "Well, Ancano and I aren't really on the best of terms."

"No? Tell me why," he demanded.

"Wellll," she drawled, "I kind of, sorta, maybe played a couple of jokes on him."

"Jokes? What sort of jokes?"

Reluctantly, Gia told him about putting the stamina potions in his room and hiding his clothing on the rook. She left out the part about finding his amulet, though.

Ondolemar appeared rather taken aback for a moment, before snorting some distinctly unrefined laughter, "Did you really? You have some nerve, girl. I have to say that I'm rather surprised that you're still in one piece. Ancano isn't known for his patients. Especially where humans are concerned."

The Breton pouted again, "He dumped a bunch of ice on me. Right in the library. And then he told Urag that I was the one who got all his books wet. Then Urag made me alphabetize the entire library. Took me ages."

Again, Ondolemar chuckled. He liked this little human. She was quite amusing. "Some advice then, girl. Tread lightly. Ancano has quite the temper."

With that, he snapped his fingers at the guards and beckoned them. Without another word, he left her standing there. Apparently, the conversation was over.

And so here she was again. In his room with something to antagonize him. She thought to leave Ondolemar's message on the haystacks by his bed, but thought better of it. The Commander had specifically told her to deliver directly to him. She ought to find him and do just that. But first...

Gia carefully laid the amulet of extreme stamina on his pillow, making a careful loop with the chain. There now. Surely he would love it. It was so shiny!

"Why is it that every time I retire, I find you in my room?" A voice behind her queried.

Gia spun around and saw Ancano leaning against the door frame, looking distinctly put-out.

"Ondolemar wanted me to deliver this to you," she replied, holding the missive out towards him.

At that, Ancano raised a brow and took the offered message, "Did he. And when, pray-tell, did you talk to him?"

If she didn't know any better (and she surely did not), it almost sounded like he was a little jealous, "I traveled to Markarth last week and met him when I visited the Dwemer museum."

"As far as I've been informed, that museum has been closed to the public for some time now. How did you manage to gain access?" He asked, still blocking her escape.

"I killed a giant spider," she beamed up at him.

Ancano rolled his eyes, then caught sight of the amulet on his pillow, "That had better not be what I think it is."

Gia snickered, "Well, I guess that all depends on what you think it is."

Ancano flicked a finger towards her and Gia found herself held against the wall by an unseen force. Helplessly, she watched as he held the pendant up and examined it, "Stamina perk. A strong one at that. Why am I not surprised?" He glared over at the little irritant and began to walk towards her, "My stamina likely far exceeds your own, Breton. Must I prove it to you?"

"You are the hardest person to shop for," she sniffled before the implications of what he'd said hit her. "Let me go."

"No."

She widened her eyes, "W-why not?"

"Oh, so now you fear me. Why now? Because you're in a compromising position? Where was that fear, I wonder, when you stole from me? Or when you deliberately sparked my ire?"

"I'll scream."

Finally, he smiled and waved a hand towards his doorway. Gia saw a slight bluish mist waver, then take hold. As it settled, it seemed to pulse and throb with a strange power.

"It's a ward," he supplied, seeing her confused expression. "Sound-proof and impenetrable. From the outside, it will simply look like my room is empty. So please, scream all you like. I'd rather enjoy it, really."

Gia closed her mouth with a shocked snap.

"Nothing to say? Honestly? I find that a tad disappointing. Usually, I can't shut you up to save my life. Perhaps you need some encouragement?"

Gia was shocked, "Seriously? You can't take a joke?! See? This, THIS is why people don't like you."

Ancano stopped just before the tip of his nose touched her own. Still stuck up on the wall, Gia couldn't even shrink back, "What makes you assume that I give damn about what the other mediocre mages here think of me?"

So far, the girl hadn't really considered who and what he was. Ancano had this strange way of being aloof and snooty, without seeming like too much of a threat. At most, he was merely annoying. Problem was, he WAS quite the threat. Gia had been privvy to a plethora of gruesome tales concerning the Thalmor. And, until recently, she hadn't even known Ancano existed. He was almost a complete stranger to her... So, in reality, she honestly had no idea what he might be capable of, or what he'd done in the past.

The teasing him had been something to do when she was bored. She hadn't thought about the ramifications. If what he said was true, he could very well do whatever he wished to her right now without anyone being the wiser; no witnesses made it a simple thing. Then it would be her word against his, and the Thalmor were often above the law in Skyrim.

Suddenly very frightened, she shot him a worried glance, "Are you going to hurt me?"

She was scared. No doubt about it. Good. Finally. Anything to wipe that smug little smirk off of her face. But at her wavering query, something in his stomach clenched slightly.

"No," he replied, surprised at himself. "Not currently. This is just a warning. And I want you to take me at my word, girl," here, his orangey eyes flared and bored into her blues ones. "Set foot in my room again, and the next time I have you on the wall won't be a pleasant experience for you. Get out."

With a snap of his fingers, Gia slid to the floor and landed unceremoniously on her arse. Not waiting for an answer, Ancano left her to her own thoughts.

* * *

Feeling satisfied with his display of power, Ancano was at ease for the rest of the evening. The contentedness lasted all the way until sundown the next night, when he discovered the wall of pies and sweetrolls, stacked just outside the doorway to his bedchamber.