My love,

I am sorry that I must leave on such short notice, but there is somewhere else I must be. You know what they say about opportunity: it only knocks once, and then slips away forever. This is one opportunity I refuse to permit to slip by.

I shall let you know how it works out, and will have your share ready upon my return. Do keep yourself safe; I've noticed the people of Whiterun hate you, and don't envy your position of 'Regent'.

Your loving husband

The Embassy was quiet, eerily so. Masser and Secunda were both dark in the sky - a perfect night for a theft, or kidnapping, or other heinous crime. The guards on duty were acutely aware of the risky setting, and were on high alert, as they'd always been. The faintest sound drew their attention to the source, and they would scour the area with aid of lanterns or the brilliant Magelight spell until their fears were put to rest.

The front gate wasn't really any better. Both guards on duty were on edge; one had his hand at the hilt of his blade, ready to draw it at a moment's notice... the other had her hands ready to cast a spell.

Elenwen had never really felt so anxious before. It had been a month since her letter had come from En'zhar, and almost three weeks since she'd managed to sneak her response out of the Embassy back to him. He'd written her again, taking care to deliver the response when she was again scheduled to watch the gate alone:

When the twins are dark, we will visit.

Elenwen knew exactly what 'twins' En'zhar had been referring to; he'd used them in code once before, to arrange a secret meeting with Elenwen. As Masser and Secunda were both dark, she knew tonight was the night. She had no idea who 'we' was, however, and to be honest... she was more than a little scared. Not for the first time, she had no idea what to expect from En'zhar, but this time was... different.

The sound of a twig snapping in the distance brought a surge of magicka flowing through Elenwen's hands, a dual-casted Ice Lance spell slowly coming together as she brought her hands together. She heard the blade draw almost instantly next to her, and could have almost sworn she'd seen the flash of the blade as it drew. "You heard it too?" she whispered softly, but loud enough for her partner to hear.

"I did." His tone was just as low, and he cast a brief glance at her. "Can you light it up?"

She hesitated briefly, but eventually nodded. She clenched her hands and extinguished the spell, then concentrated to launch a Magelight outside the gate. It struck the nearest tree, adhering to it - and illuminating the 'dire threat' they'd heard...

Elenwen let out an exhausted sigh as the Magelight illuminated a fox, and she heard her partner's sword sheathe slowly. "Just... just a... a fox."

They both jumped as a wolf lunged from the shadows of a nearby bush, fangs bared at the fox. The smaller canine wasn't nearly fast enough to move, and fell as the wolf's fangs sank into its neck. Elenwen tore her gaze away a few seconds after the wolf pinned the fox's body down and violently shook its neck from side to side; she wasn't accustomed to such violent displays, and didn't want to start getting so accustomed.

The sound of her partner's blade being slowly drawn drew the wolf's attention to the two mer behind the gate. It stared at them, holding the now-dead fox in its fangs... then slipped back into the bushes, away from the two mer behind the gate. Elenwen watched her partner lower the blade back into its sheath. "Thanks," she murmured. "That was... disturbing..."

"I'd say 'you get used to it', but... you really don't..." Her partner's hand, while relaxed, was still at the hilt of his sword. "Still... haven't you witnessed executions, Elenwen?"

"That's another matter," she replied, shaking her head lightly. "Those are planned. Those are... those aren't... barbaric, aren't... savage." She watched as her Magelight winked out.

Thunk.

Again, her partner's sword was drawn swiftly, and a dual-casted Ice Lance was prepared once more. The sound was close... too close. It almost sounded like an arrow struck the gate's frame...

"Elenwen. Light," her partner hissed silently.

She knew the suspected arrow was definitely not natural, and that if she illuminated the area, she risked giving away whatever En'zhar - and his 'we' - may be planning... but what if the arrow didn't come from En'zhar or his companions...? She decided to take the risk, and after a brief moment's pause, cast another Magelight into the distance. It stuck to the same tree as before, much to her surprise; she could have sworn she'd changed the angle-

She and her partner both watched, horrified, as the tree moved toward the gate a little. She heard her partner's sword draw rapidly. "Halt!" he commanded fiercely, trying to override the fear and horror bubbling within him; Elenwen was far less keen on switching back to her dual-casted Ice Lance, but she did so anyway. "State-"

She heard a whistling sound, then heard the gurgling sound of her partner. Her gaze snapped to her partner - to find an arrow piercing his throat. His eyes, wide, turned toward her; his hand dropped the blade, and he stumbled backward uneasily. Her gaze turned to the arrow piercing his throat... iron, she thought, gaze shifting to the shabby fletching at the other end. Bandits getting bold, or...?

She decided not to take a chance either way, and ducked behind the gate's frame. "We're under attack!" she shouted as loudly as she could, hoping to get the attention of the rest of the Embassy. "Need reinforcements at the front gate!"

Another arrow flew through the gate, this one lodging itself in the lock of the Embassy's front door. She watched it fly... she blinked. Such a shot requires... a master's accuracy... but why the door's lock...?

She then saw roughly six more guards come from the back of the Embassy. At first, they looked dubious... but then they saw the felled guard, the arrow piercing his throat. Swords and spells were readied, and all eyes were on Elenwen. "From where?"

"Over... over there." She pointed over her shoulder, hoping she was aiming at the moving tree... or the general vicinity of the arrow's point of origin.

"We can't get there unless the gate's open..." One of the guards turned his attention toward the Embassy's front door, and almost immediately, Elenwen understood the intent behind the arrow in the lock... to keep the guards outside from getting back inside... to keep us from getting reinforcements quickly. "I'm going to ask Saarie if we should get out there to..." He stared at the arrow in the lock. "Wh-what in Oblivion-"

Another arrow sailed through the air and pierced his back, pinning him to the door. Elenwen, though genuinely scared now, couldn't help but admire the lethal accuracy of the mystery archer outside the gate.

The other five guards moved to hide behind the wall, where no arrow could strike them. "Dammit!" one guard hissed angrily. "What's going..."

"Everyone, just calm down!" It was the guard that had delivered the letter from Runael to Elenwen; he'd since become something of a favorite of Saarie. "We can still get in through the back! Elenwen, you go and-"

"I don't think that's a good idea," another guard murmured. "We know how she and Saarie interact... no, Elenwen's more likely to kill Saarie than ask her for help."

Thaaank you, Elenwen mused to herself; she'd been dreading the thought of going after Saarie herself... especially if this was En'zhar's crew. She needed to be out here... near the gate.

"No, you're right." Saarie's favorite was nodding now. "You, go in the back. Saarie needs to be contacted." He was pointing at... Elenwen couldn't remember her name. She realized just how... little she knew about the Embassy's guards anymore... how little she'd known to begin with. "Elenwen, you watch the gate. No... better yet, try to get the front door free. No sense dragging this out longer than necessary."

Elenwen didn't like the idea, but at the same time-

The flames illuminating the Embassy suddenly died, causing every weapon and every spell available to become readied. The Embassy was deathly silent, no one daring to move.

Then the gate creaked open, and a low, feral growl sounded. The growl died, and a moment later, Elenwen heard a shrill scream from very nearby. She heard the sound of more blades being drawn, and soft footfalls dashing through the gate. She could almost swear she felt someone brushing against her as they moved by.

She heard the clashing of blades suddenly. A Magelight attached to the top of the gate - and threw the battle into view.

Khajiit were everywhere, most wearing dark leathers to blend into the darkness. A few wielded daggers, a couple swung one-handed swords at the Embassy guards. Mixed in... Elenwen didn't dare believe her eyes, but there were saber cats attacking the Embassy guards, as well... as if they'd been tamed by the Khajiit.

The Embassy was not the site of a battle... it was looking to be the site of a massacre. Elenwen was in the middle of it, and as a member of the Dominion, she was suddenly unsure of whether or not she'd survive the night. Not even En'zhar could pull off taming saber cats, she thought.

She tried moving, but her muscles were paralyzed. She tried to bring a spell, any spell, even the basic Flames spell, to her hand, but her mind was simply too chaotic, too unfocused. She could only watch as her fellow guards, one by one, were cut down.

"Elenwen!" she heard Saarie's favorite yell. "Stop standing around like the useless bitch you are and help-" An arrow silenced him, piercing his throat and sending him flying into another guard. And through it all, Elenwen could only watch.

Soon, the last guard had fallen. Elenwen was alone, standing among the Khajiiti assailants and the tamed saber cats. All blades, fangs and claws were suddenly turned in her direction. She tried to speak, but words failed her repeatedly.

One Khajiit, a female clad in midnight-blue leathers, stepped toward her, twin ebony daggers crossing against Elenwen's throat. The high elf wanted to move, but couldn't, her body still paralyzed in fear. "Your voice may well save your life," the Khajiit purred, as if she was quite enjoying the moment of terror. "Choose your words carefully, elf... they may be your last."

She shivered in place, and felt the sharp edges of both daggers press against her neck... then felt them begin to slide very, very slowly. She was sure there was blood drawn now. "Wh-when the twins are dark, we will visit," she blurted, thinking only of the last letter En'zhar had sent her.

The daggers stopped moving. "She's the one," the female Khajiit murmured. She pulled her daggers away from Elenwen's throat, and jerked her head toward the Altmer. "Take her away, Khajiit. He will be most... pleased with our success."

Elenwen let out the sigh she'd been holding back, and it came out sounding relieved. "Thank-" Her statement was silenced suddenly from a sharp, blunt impact to the back of the head. Her head swam, and she staggered uncertainly... then collapsed to the ground, crumpling into a heap.

"You could have been gentler," the female Khajiit said, sounding as though she were amused.

"If we were gentler, she would be complaining of the pain to the head," another Khajiit responded with a chuckle.

The female chuckled in turn. "True. Alright then... let's move out." She lifted her hand and extended a finger skyward, then wove a trio of circles through the air... then pointed outside the Embassy gates.

One by one, the Khajiit slipped out of the Embassy, their saber cats following closely. Elenwen was carried out by two young men, neither of whom seemed to have any complaints with the task of lugging an unconscious mer between them.

Only the female Khajiit remained in the Embassy now, and she glanced about slowly. Her gaze rested on the Magelight, and she frowned. Surely it should have gone out by-

She heard the drawing of a blade, and chuckled softly to herself. "Ah. Of course. It wouldn't go out if someone else timed a new one at a very precise moment..." She turned her attention toward the back areas of the Embassy - and toward the woman clad in elven armor, one hand holding an elven blade, the other readying another Magelight spell.

"You're with En'zhar." The mer wasn't asking a question.

"I have no idea who you're talking about," the Khajiit replied coolly.

"You're taking Elenwen away. She's been in touch with him."

"I still have no idea who you're talking about."

The mer took another step toward the Khajiit. "Tell me where I can find him, or you will find your shoulders no longer bear the weight of your head."

The female Khajiit grinned and readied her twin daggers. "I would die for him, so if you're talented enough, that works out," she teased.

The Magelight winked out, and a new one was ignited nearer to the mer.

Almost immediately after the new light appeared, the Khajiit was in mid-air; one arm was cocked back, ready to swing forward in a vicious frontal arc, while the other was angled behind her, as if to prepare a second strike should the first fail.

The mer was no slouch, and had her blade ready for what she'd interpreted to be a surprise attack in the brief moment of darkness. Her elven sword connected with the dagger and held it at bay, the ringing noise making quite a commotion. She planted her feet upon the ground, then tried to force the Khajiit's dagger back.

The Khajiit's second dagger flew through the air, largely unnoticed by the mer. It wasn't until the tip was a couple feet from piercing her leg that the mer finally noticed, but she couldn't make up her mind fast enough: the tip of the dagger sank into her thigh, causing her to hiss loudly in pain. The Khajiit withdrew the dagger from the mer's leg, taking a few steps back and readying herself for another attack.

The mer shifted her weight so that she was resting on her good leg more so than the injured one, and affixed the Khajiit with as stern a glare as she could muster. "Last chance to talk."

"I've no words for one who bleeds so easily," was the only reply the mer received.

Unexpectedly, the Magelight winked out again. It took a few seconds longer for the mer to cast the spell once more, and she'd been sure she was going to be attacked again.

Instead, no one was standing before her. In the brief seconds she'd been allowed the cover of darkness, the Khajiit had escaped... leaving the mer wounded. While she'd slipped out of the Embassy, though, she was still close enough to be in view of the mer she'd stabbed in the thigh.

"I know you're still nearby," the mer growled. "You have made a grave enemy this day, Khajiit... mark my words, I, Saarie, will not rest until I find your little ringleader and ship his severed head back to Alinor."

"You'd need to find him first," the female Khajiit called out. With the taunt given, she followed in the footsteps of her fellow Khajiit, slipping away from the Embassy.

The sun's rays peeked through the tent, lighting Elenwen's face and causing her to squint, even though her eyes were closed. She shifted to drape an arm over her eyes, groaning wearily. Where am I...? Why does my head hurt...?

All at once, everything came back to her. The attack on the Embassy. The female Khajiit's daggers against her throat. Being hit in the back of the-

"You're awake." The voice was familiar, though Elenwen wasn't sure she liked it. It was the voice of the female Khajiit, who'd had her daggers to the mer's neck. "I'll let him know." Soft footfalls moved away from Elenwen, leaving her alone.

She took the opportunity to sit up and crack an eye open. What she saw made her gasp in wonder.

It looked much like a Khajiit caravan had set up, but there were... far too many tents for it to be a normal caravan, like those found outside of Skyrim's cities. They were... Elenwen tried to get her bearings. She didn't recognize the immediate area, but the chill was undeniably that of Skyrim, of that she was certain.

She felt something shift next to her, and cast a panicked glance at the source. What appeared to be a saber kitten was curled up next to her, the snow-white coat seeming to shimmer in the morning light.

"We're not sure why, but she likes you. We saw no reason to deny her the right to stay with you the evening." Another familiar voice, but this one, Elenwen trusted... to an extent. Her one-eyed gaze turned to face the male Khajiit she'd once known exclusively as 'E', and then been told was named 'En'zhar'. "I dare say she's grown fond of you, and all you did was simply lay there unconscious."

"As if that was by choice." Elenwen's gaze turned back to the sleeping saber kitten, and although she knew it would grow to become a dangerous animal, she couldn't admit the younger stages were too adorable. She felt a smile creep to her lips as she watched the young saber cat sleep.

"I do apologize for their rough treatment of you the other night." En'zhar sat down outside of Elenwen's tent, allowing a two-handed blade to rest against his shoulder... a blade Elenwen didn't recognize. "Najati in particular can be... unforgiving at times."

"Do not speak of me as if I am not here," the female Khajiit seemed to purr. She sat at En'zhar's side. She was no longer clad in her midnight-blue leathers, but rather the clothing of a middle-class citizen, perhaps... a blue dress, one that looked like something a shopkeeper would wear.

"You could have killed Elenwen in the darkness," En'zhar chided. "If you'd done so-"

"But we didn't, and that is all that matters, yes?" Najati smiled at En'zhar, then looked at Elenwen. "I do not apologize often, but when I do, I mean it. That being said, I am sorry for your neck. You will be fine, though, rest assured." She stood slowly, looking over her shoulder at the sunrise. "Breakfast is cooking. Make your conversation short, my love; I'd hate for you to miss a good meal."

En'zhar smiled lightly. "There will be time to speak with Elenwen as the day wears on. I'll be along shortly."

Najati nodded, then departed their company.

"Who-"

"Someone very dear to me," En'zhar replied, glancing over his shoulder at the female Khajiit. "A former assassin for the Dark Brotherhood, left them behind for more lucrative opportunities. A former thief for the Guild, left them when their luck ran dry. Najati, the one to whom I would pledge my heart."

Elenwen gave a slow nod. "Where-"

"The Reach," En'zhar said, again predicting the question. "Near the western border of Skyrim and High Rock, quite a ways north from Markarth."

"The Embassy-"

"Was left as Najati chose to leave it. She wounded First Ambassador Saarie, if the mer in question was to be believed after her scuffle with Najati. What became of it after the attack... I cannot say. Perhaps Saarie has managed to regain control."

Elenwen's eyes went to the sword. "That's..."

"The Ebony Blade," he said, noting where she was looking. "The Regent was quite reluctant to part with it, but some skillful bluffing and exploiting of weaknesses saw me through to acquisition. She burned your note, by the way; you may want... ah, but you are no longer in charge..." he added with a frown. "Shame... but unavoidable."

Elenwen heaved a weary sigh and collapsed on her bedroll, arm over her eyes once more. "Where will I be going?"

"That is your choice," En'zhar stated. "Wherever you wish; you hired us to get you out of the Embassy, after all. I assumed you had a location in mind... somewhere safe for you."

Elenwen laughed bitterly. "No. I just knew I needed to get out... to get away from the Dominion, away from... from Saarie." She shivered lightly. "I... have no idea where I can go..."

En'zhar appeared thoughtful for several long moments. "You can stay with us, for a time," he finally offered. "Until you can sort your thoughts and make a decision. Don't worry about our activities," he added, noting how she shifted her arm to regard him with suspicious eyes, "on the surface, we are simply another caravan... a large one, at that. Unlike the others, however, we make our home here, in the Reach. Not entirely hospitable, thanks to the threat of Forsworn attacks, but we've not lost a Khajiit to their attacks on our camp yet."

Elenwen felt a warm 'ball' of fur nuzzle against her, and turned her gaze to the saber kitten; her tail was swishing back and forth as she nuzzled the mer. "Saber cats."

"Bandits tame wolves for pit fighting, if you can call it that. We tame saber cats from birth to serve us in a variety of ways. Pets, hunting companions, comrades in battle... it only seemed natural for us to unite one 'feline' with another."

She reached out to scratch the cute saber kitten behind the ear, and smiled as it purred at the affectionate gesture. "It's hard to believe this little one will grow into a vicious killer..." she murmured. "So adorable when young..."

"Mm, but such is life. She's practically a newborn, though, so she'll be small and adorable for quite some time yet." He nodded at Elenwen. "I see no harm in letting you keep her for yourself, as long as you understand that taming a saber kitten is not exactly easy. You want to keep her from hurting others, you'll need to tame her to follow your commands."

Elenwen looked at the kitten, then nodded. "I think I could do that." She glanced back at En'zhar. "If you were me, my friend, what would you do now?"

"I'd find someone who can provide a place of refuge for you, somewhere you'll be safe from the Dominion. No doubt Saarie knows you've been taken alive."

"She also knows I've been working with you. If she can find your camp here, she has plans to drag both you and I back to Alinor for punishment. Khajiit attacked the Embassy, and took me away a month after you contacted me via courier. Saarie's not stupid; she'll make the connection."

"Then, as of this moment, you seem to be... well, no longer with the Dominion."

Elenwen felt the weight of his words sink in, and she nodded very slowly. "No... I suppose not. It... feels... liberating, somehow... I didn't think..."

En'zhar gave a small smile, then stood slowly. "Breakfast? Eggs, fresh beef and milk, if my nose is accurate."

Elenwen felt her stomach growl at the mere mention of the food En'zhar described, and she nodded. "I'd like that." A thought crossed her mind suddenly, and her expression became one of determination. "I've also decided on where I want to go. I know it's far, but..." She cleared her throat. "I'd like you to take me to the College of Winterhold. There's... there's someone I want... someone I need to see again."

En'zhar laughed softly, and much to her relief, he nodded. "I suspected the College would be your destination of choice." He gestured toward a horse-drawn carriage, manned by a Khajiit. "We can have a small convoy ready to depart for Winterhold as early as midday."

For the first time in a long time, Elenwen felt truly relaxed. "En'zhar... thank you, and... sorry I've... dragged you into this mess."

He waved it off. "No harm done, my friend. What's one more crime to add to my record with the Thalmor?"

"I don't trust her," Najati growled quietly, eyes upon Elenwen's figure. The mer was rubbing the belly of the saber kitten that had taken a liking to her. "You should have let me-"

"Who you distrust is your business, my dear," En'zhar responded quietly. "Who I get paid to keep safe is mine."

"She should be dead."

"Who's to say it can't happen?" he replied softly. "I've agreed to bring her to Winterhold, where she'll be visiting the College. That doesn't mean she won't, say... run afoul of a certain Khajiit's twin daggers, or perhaps a brief loan of the Ebony Blade, shortly after she sets foot out of the College..."

Najati gave a sinister smile to En'zhar, then rested her head upon his shoulder. "I can think of no one who would miss her, but I will remain patient for my opportunity."

Mia,

I've gone to Windhelm to retrieve supplies for your lessons.

I also took the liberty of cooking, for a change. I'm not anywhere near as skilled as you, but I do think I've done a good job with my first-ever beef stew.

I should be back by nightfall. If I'm not back, it's possible I simply got delayed, and am on my way back.

Your friend,

Adalla

P.S. - Just realized the 'beef' was not quite beef; we've still got our full stock. I hope you don't mind horse...

A.N. - This. To me, THIS is a chapter. One of the biggest developments in the story yet. I had possibly more fun than I expected when I was writing this. I did have a few moments where I had to stop and think 'hold on, that can be better', but otherwise, it flowed... pretty well. I thought watching Leverage while writing last night would be a problem, but apparently not.

I don't watch a lot of TV anymore. I work nights, I sleep days, and there's basically nothing good on late at night; on my days off, if I'm not writing or gaming, I'm sleeping. Sunday nights, though, I watch Leverage. For those who aren't familiar, Leverage is essentially this: 'sometimes, bad guys make the best good guys'. Modern-day Robin Hoods. That sort of thing. It's all great fun for me to watch, as I've always had a thing for 'evil' - and if that 'evil' happens to be playing 'good guy', it's even more entertaining for me. (It should come as no surprise, then, that Robin Hood was a big favorite of mine when I was younger.)

I don't watch a lot of movies anymore, either, but last Thursday, I watched Frozen in my local theater. That movie was amazing, and I worry that if I say too much, I'll spoil it. I want to watch Muppets: Most Wanted, but I don't think it's at my local theater. Infuriating, but I'll see if something changes come Friday.

Anyway, this is as good a place as any to end the Author's Note for now.

-Spiritslayer