Minot had been right – after Aventus discovered that Leola wasn't with Alesan, he had come straight to Minot's house to find her. He hadn't been happy to find her there, saying that he'd been in a panic when Alesan told him that he hadn't seen the two of them at all. Minot and Leola both apologized, and after a few minutes of discussion, Aventus agreed that Leola could stay with Minot for the night. He said that he would stop by in the morning to get her, they would deliver Ulfric's package to the Jarl, and they would make their way to Azura's shrine. When Minot had asked to come along, Aventus agreed, which excited the two new friends. With Leola safe and accounted for, Aventus had decided to spend the night in the Dark Brotherhood's sanctuary, so he headed off and left the two girls in Minot's home.
"So will I be taking the bench?" Leola asked, glancing around and wondering where she would be sleeping.
"No, don't be silly," Minot said. "There's a perfectly good bed. You'll need to be well-rested for tomorrow."
"Then where will you sleep?" Leola asked.
"The bed's plenty big enough for two," Minot replied with a grin, and Leola felt a warmth in her cheeks. Perhaps this wasn't the best idea.
"So you're suggesting we share?" asked Leola, and Minot nodded.
"Of course," she said. "Have you never shared a bed before?"
"With my mother, when I was little," said Leola softly. "…And with Erith."
"Ah, yes, the girlfriend?" Minot asked with a grin, and the blonde gave a quick nod.
"Yes," Leola said in a soft voice.
"Well," said Minot, reaching out and putting a gentle hand on Leola's arm, "you don't have to worry about me. I respect the fact that you're in a relationship already, don't worry at all."
Leola smiled, reassured by Minot's words, and gave a nod. "Thank you," she said softly.
"It's not a problem," Minot said, grinning. "Of course, if that doesn't work out, you always know where to find me."
A furious blush came across Leola's cheeks and she quickly glanced away for a moment. "Of course," she said in a soft voice, and Minot laughed.
"Let's get to sleep. You'll need to be well-rested for tomorrow – another Daedra encounter," Minot said.
"You're right," Leola said with a nod. She followed Minot to the small bedroom and lay down on one side of the double bed, while Minot lay on the other side with her back to Leola. The blonde bit her lip nervously as Minot reached down and pulled the warm blanket up over the two of them. She felt uneasy sharing a bed with the other woman, but strangely comfortable at the same time.
It took Leola what felt like hours to fall asleep, but once she was, her sleep was deep and peaceful. She rested until finding herself awoken by the gentle sensation of Aventus shaking her shoulders lightly.
"Leola," murmured Aventus's voice as the blonde's eyelids fluttered open, and she gazed up into his dark eyes, blinking a few times before remembering where she was.
"Aventus..?" Leola mumbled, pulling herself up into a sitting position.
Aventus grinned, taking her hand and helping her rise to her feet. "It's time to get going," he said in a light, teasing voice. Minot appeared in the doorway as Leola balled up her fists and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, the assassin clad in her black and red robes and a staff strapped across her back. She looked stunning as usual, her hair smooth and shiny and her light eyes shining.
"Right, yes," Leola said, smoothing out the dress she'd been wearing when she fell asleep. "Azura. Let's go."
"The Jarl first," Aventus reminded her as the trio began towards the door of Minot's little house.
"Yes. The Jarl. Then Azura," said Leola sleepily, covering her mouth as she let out a yawn. Aventus and Minot both laughed as they stepped out into the street, the sun beaming down on the snow-covered town.
"It's barely a minute's walk from here, you'd best wake up sooner than later," Minot said to Leola with a musical laugh.
"I doubt the Jarl will mind if the High Princess is a bit sleepy," Aventus replied with a laugh. "Even if he does, he'd best keep it to himself if he hopes to retain his position when she's High Queen."
"I suppose you're right," Minot responded, laughing slightly as they approached the White Hall. "Now, Aventus, I want you on your best behaviour," she said in a joking voice.
"Yes, mother," Aventus replied teasingly, the two both laughing only shortly before opening the doors.
Leola followed them in, gazing around. It wasn't anywhere near as beautiful as her father's palace, but it was still lovely enough – much quainter, more like a home, even. A pair of thrones sat at the front of the room, and one the thrones were a couple, presumably the Jarl and his wife. He was a bulky Nord with dirty blond hair and a weathered complexion, while she was youthful and beautiful with blonde hair so light it looked almost fake, as though she wore a wig.
As the trio approached the thrones, the Jarl rose to his feet, a grin coming across his lips.
"You must be Princess Leola," he said in a deep voice, outstretching his arms as though for her to come and embrace him. Leola glanced at Aventus momentarily, and the assassin nodded. She moved towards the Jarl, who gently gripped her by the arms and gazed down at her, rather than embracing her as she had thought.
"Hello," she said in a soft voice.
"You're certainly your mother's daughter," he said with a grin before gently clapping her on the shoulder. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess. My name is Jarl Banner-Torn. This is my wife, Abelone."
The woman with the false-looking blonde hair smiled towards Leola. "The Dragonborn's daughter?" she asked, and Leola nodded.
"That I am," she said.
"I can tell," said Abelone gently. "Your mother was a good woman. I was sorry to hear of her passing."
Leola nodded slightly, uncertain how to answer but appreciative of the sentiment. "Thank you," she said awkwardly.
"I've been meaning to journey to Windhelm and meet with you – your father is a good friend and leader, I had been looking forward to meeting his daughter, but business here has kept me occupied and unable to make the journey," said Jarl Banner-Torn, still grinning widely. "But it seems that you've instead come to me – to what do I owe this honour?"
"I had business here in town," Leola said softly, reaching into her pack and rifling around for the pouch that her father had given her. "My father asked me to stop by and deliver this to you."
A grin came to the Jarl's lips as he took the pouch from Leola, turning it over in his hands before drawing open the top. From within, he pulled out a small toy doll, neatly stitched together with yellow yarn hair and a lacy pink dress.
"Oh, it's lovely," exclaimed the Jarl, a grin coming to his lips as he looked towards Abelone. "You should fetch Yelva, darling, she'll love it."
"Love what, papa?" came a voice from a doorway off to one side, and all heads turned as a young girl walked in. She had big blue eyes and long, silky straight blonde hair. Leola could tell immediately that this was the Jarl's daughter.
"King Ulfric has sent a gift for your sister," Abelone replied, rising to her feet.
"And not for my brother or I?" asked the girl, smoothing out the skirt of her red dress and taking a step forward.
"Now, Sera, you already have one, sent to you from the King when you were born," said the Jarl, outstretching a hand to his daughter. The girl, Sera, walked over and gently took his hand.
"Hello," she said to Leola, as if only just noticing her presence.
"Hello," Leola said, smiling down at her.
"My name is Sera," said the young girl. "Who are you..?"
"I'm Leola," answered the Princess, her smile warm as she looked at the little girl. There was something about this younger girl that reminded her of herself – despite the obvious differences, with this being the daughter of a Jarl and Leola being raised in a remote manor by only her mother.
"This is King Ulfric's daughter," said the Jarl to his daughter. Behind him, his wife rose from her throne and began to walk away.
"I thought King Ulfric didn't have any children?" Sera said, looking up at him. "She's too big to play with me."
Leola, Aventus, Minot and the Jarl all began to laugh at the same moment, which brought a confused look to the young girl's face.
"I'm not too big to play," Leola said to her, smiling.
"Really?" asked Sera, and Leola nodded.
"Of course," she said. "I love to play just as much as I'm sure any of your friends or siblings do."
Sera looked up at her father with a grin. "Can Princess Leola stay and play, papa? Please?" she asked.
"Actually, we were just stopping here to drop that off – we've elsewhere to be," Aventus interjected quickly, before the Jarl had a chance to speak.
"Perhaps another time," Leola agreed with a nod.