Chapter 3 Mocked from Above
Faun stood in front of Ancano in silence as the two waited for the other two say something, it was a about two minutes before faun was about to say something when cicero decides to say something to break off the tense silence. "Cicero has heard of Ancano though Faun never mentioned that he is a bit shorter than you." The jester looked at other high elves and noticed his friend is three inches shorter, yet seems tall compared to his own height.
"indeed I am taller, makes things more easier to keep books out of Faun's reach" Ancano said with much pride in himself, not paying any attention to the jester when Faun narrowed his eyes and started to feel intimated by him. "Well I have no trouble passing doors without heading my head or walking into walls each time, but I am not here to gloat about whom is taller." He stayed calm when he spoke and with that, he could not resist but gloat in his mind when he saw Ancano's eye twitch. "If you wish to play that game, I will play." Ancano crossed his arms across his chest and learned down a bit to come face to face with his an 'opponent', "I for one, do not waste my time playing in snow like a child" his words were sarcastic and cold, just as Faun expected to be since he was always picked on for being short among the other Mers.
"I guess that means this dagger you gave me is a reminder that I cannot out rank you." Faun held onto his pride, keeping his eyes on Ancano when he reached for the dagger tied to his side and held it up to the other High elf. Ancano glanced down at the dagger for a moment and straighten his back, a bit surprised to see that Faun still had the dagger but he kept his serious face.
"Indeed, I am pleased to see you kept that reminder or did you think I would be grateful to see you out rank me." Keeping his cold voice, he watched faun's expression chance from mean to angry. "Oh I see, so our little chat we had back at the embassy was nothing but mocking words." The high elf was starting to feel his temper flare up when he decided to throw the dagger down at the other's foot, missing it by an inch. "I am tired of being picked on, used as a test subject and mocked by you!" his calm voice was now rising to a growling tone, even Cicero took two steps back from Faun to mind his own business until the intense air cooled off.
"Ever since I arrived in Skyrim, I thought that pathetic dagger was a sign that maybe… JUST maybe we could have been friends. I guess I was wrong and I hope your pride is your undoing!" and with that, Faun turned to leave. On his way out, Faun goes to grab Cicero out of the tree and carried him off on his shoulder which at this point. He did not care if anyone saw him carrying his companion like a fresh kill; he was deep in his own thoughts to notice annoying anymore.
"Um, Faun… Cicero has notice that you have been carrying him since Winterhold, and now it seems that we are close to Marthal." Cicero tried to get himself off his friend's shoulder but each time he moved, Faun's hold on him would tighten which made it harder for the poor jester to breath or feel comfortable.
The high elf shaped out of his thoughts and halted when he heard Cicero's voice, "Oh, sorry… I forgot I was carrying you" his voice was low and calm but the jester knew what was bothering his friend. He was just unsure if it was the best time to bring the subject up so soon, after Faun put his friend down on his feet. The high elf kneeled down to fix his friend's suit. Cicero at this point felt like Faun was treating him like a child by getting his suit fixed, so he took this to the point of bringing up the events that happened at WinterHold.
"That Ancano fellow was no friend if he used poor Faun as a test subject, Cicero is Faun's friend and he does not use him for testing deadly berries" the jester slightly giggled at the thought, trying to hold back his laughter when he saw his friend look up at him with a grin.
"Cicero, you tricked me when you brought that berry. I remember because I was the one that ate it." Faun chuckled and stood up to pull Cicero's hat in front of his eyes. "I spent two days in bed because of that one miserable little berry" he gave the jester a smile and they both started to laugh, the gloom Faun carried was filled by laughter. Cicero had a grand time making his friend laughter when he gotten a sudden hug from him, his hat tilling to one side.
"Thank you, Cicero… for reminding me that I made a better and livelier friend than a friend that mocks and puts me down" Faun spoke the truth and he was happy, though Cicero never thought the high elf would actually hug him since he is a Thalmor. He knew Faun was known not to show any emotion expect pride for his Race and no other emotion but this was new, is Sweet Cicero finally getting through this high elf and being the first to see a Thalmor Smile as he watched his friend let go of him.
"Let's go my friend. I still have other places to go before my job is done." The high elf spoke happily with a smile on his face as the two started to make their way down the path to Markarth.