Thawing a Thalmor
By Daedric Scribe

Chapter Two: The Plan

Solitude was bustling with merchants and people with coin. Eris Wulfgar had made her fair share here fencing stolen merchandise and accepting a brotherhood contract or two. Though she grew up in a very small town in Eastmarch, she felt still felt at ease, knowing that everyone here was trying hustle her as much as she had tried to scam them.

She stepped into her least favorite business. The Radiant Raiment had 500 gold coins of her invested in it. The return of this investment had been well worth it, but for dealing with Endarie.

"Oh, look," the high elf said, catching sight of the dusty of traveler. "My life is complete. I've seen every sort of wretched customer today. You were the snowberry on top of it all." She raised a haughty chin and her eyes raked over Eris' clothes.

Today, she wore the uniform of the Nightingales. It was good to be protected and light on her feet while she was on the road.

"I really do not recommend an ensemble that is all black," Endarie said. "Especially not with the Nord lack of pallor."

Just then, the curious Taarie her sister emerged from the other room. "Oh, sister," she said. "And here I thought you were exaggerating."

"Well, then, ladies," Eris offered. "I'm in the right place. I'm looking for clothes to wear to the Blue Palace."

Taarie's face lit up. "I have the perfect outfit."

"Oh, no, sister," Endarie said, not bothering to cover an eye roll. "I don't really think that our dear friend Eris—" Endarie forced a broad smile. "Would care to represent the Radiant Raiment before Jarl Elisif. She's much too busy doing…whatever it is the dragonborn do."

Taarie reappeared with a bright green and buttercup outfit, that she gingerly carried in her arms. "The green will bring out your eyes."

"So will a dull dagger," Endarie added snidely.

Taarie shook her head. "Now, sister. I think it's positively brilliant that the Dragonborn will present herself to the court of the next high queen in one of our pieces—" Taarie, being slightly more considerate than her sister, stopped mid-word. "You will wear this to see Elisif, won't you, Eris? If we make more coin, it means more for you."

Eris glanced at the outfit, fingering the gold trip at the cuff and neckline. "It's very beautiful," she said. "Do you think it will fit me?"

"We're professionals, Eris," Endarie said. "We'll make it fit, despite your weight gain around the middle."

Eris touched her stomach and, right on cue, it growled. She hardly ever ate anything and so she took Endarie's jab as it was meant. "What I mean is…" she cleared her throat.

"For the love of the nine, spit it out!" Endarie hissed.

Eris colored slightly.

Taarie shared a look with her sister. She wrapped an arm around the Dragonborn's shoulders and gently led her to the fitting room. "We are a full service business, mistress," she said. "We will not only fit this lovely ensemble to your lithe, elegant frame, but we will ensure a total a complete makeover—"

"Starting with a bath," Endarie added from the other room.

"Don't mind my sister's tart tongue," Taarie said, leaving Eris in the middle of the room. She hastened to the door separating the parlor from the main commercial area. "When we are done, you would ready for a trip to Cyrodiil herself."

"Or Obli—"

Taarie shut the door in time to muffle Endarie's parting remarks. "Now where were we? Oh, yes. The bath."

X X X X

Taarie stepped back to behold her masterpiece. Eris Wulfgar had the green war paint scrubbed from across her face. Her flame hair was combed and styled pleasantly. The new green and gold clothing accentuated the woman's curves and lightened her face.

Endarie folded her arm across her chest. "You look like you are trying to sneak past a sellsword guarding a chest of priceless gems," she said.

The comment caught Eris by surprise. "What does that mean?"

Taarie whirled on her sister. The endless amounts of praise of the woman's natural beauty had done wonders to lighten the Dragonborn's features. In two seconds, Endarie had unraveled it all. "Well, sister?"

Endarie gestured to the woman with a hand toss. "She's hunched, I suppose. As if some weight were boring down."

"The burden of Skyrim, perhaps?" Taarie asked pointedly.

Endarie opened her mouth and closed it.

"Of the safety of every Nord and Mer in Skyrim?" Taarie gestured at the walls surrounding them. "Or of our only source of income? Do you think the Dragonborn could be burdened by that?"

Endarie seemed at a loss for words.

Taarie took a cleansing breath. "Now then, Eris," she said. "What if we pretend there is a string pulling up your head and your entire body."

"Like a marionette?"

"Yes, exactly. You are light as a feather," she said. "Try it."

Eris lifted her chin and tried to not feel the weight of Dragon at her side or the Nightingale bow at her back. Or feel the chill of a barrow infested with draugrs. Or Alduin waiting to consume her. She shivered.

Taarie touched the woman's arm and she jumped. "Eris," she whispered.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm just thinking about…" Eris shied away from speaking of the next quest.

Endarie's voice made the pair both jump. She'd left the odious counter that seemed to intensify her sarcasm. "Tell me, Eris," she said. "To what function are you going at the Blue Palace? Maybe we can help you."

Taarie gave her sister an approving look. It was met with a sarcastic curl of Endarie's lip as she turned her attention to the customer.

"There is no actual party, if that is what you are asking."

"I wondered myself," Taarie said. "I hadn't heard and thought perhaps my sister and I were losing favor."

"So the occasion is you want to spend 200 gold coins to wait for an audience with the Jarl of Solitude because you enjoy her sitting room and the delightful conversation of her knavish guards?"

Eris actually chuckled. "I heard the Thalmor Ambassador was in town."

"The Thalmor Ambassador—you mean Elenwen?!"

Eris nodded, but looked away. The mere thought of the woman made her color rakishly.

Endarie turned a surprise look on Taarie. "What are the odds?"

Taarie lifted her own neatly sculpted eyebrows. "I'd say this was sorcery, except…" She turned to the Dragonborn.

"What are you two talking about?" Eris asked.

"It so happens we will be visiting our dear friend Elenwen tomorrow night in her private apartments in the Blue Palace," Taarie said.

"You know her?" Eris asked in awe.

Endarie snorted. "We know enough to blackmail her and her entire clan," she said. "We grew up together on Summerset Isle."

"I think you should come with us," Taarie added hastily before her sister could object.

"Tomorrow night?!"

For the first time in years, Eris smiled.