M'irra woke, struggling to get her bearings as her head swam. It felt like her head had been slammed by a giant's club.
"Good Morning." A voice said in the ether. Her vision finally cleared. There stood Dovah, standing above her in his studded armor. She looked around, and saw she was chained in a dungeon. She was also in the company of an Argonian and a Breton.
"Alright, talk!" Delpine smacked M'irra across the face. "We know you are working for the Thalmor!"
"Really?" M'irra hissed. "What makes you think that?"
Delphine then got out something from her pocket. It was M'irra's Thalmor Crest!
"Does this look familiar?" Delphine asked with a deadpan. "It should, because it was on your person during the attempted assassination."
"Plus, you were wearing Thalmor armor. That was a dead giveaway." Dovah interjected.
M'irra sighed. "If you are going to kill me, just get it over with. I won't say anything."
"May I try something?" Kalur asked.
"What did you have in mind?" Delphine asked. Kalur went over and whispered something in her ear.
"Go for it." Delphine said. She motioned Dovah to step out of the cell with her. "Don't worry, he's got this."
Kalur then walked up to M'irra and placed his hand reassuringly on her shoulder. She suddenly felt like she could trust him, she felt comfortable around him as if she had known this Argonian her entire life.
"Don't worry. The Thalmor hired me to act as your confidant." Kalur said, his words like honey. "Soon, we shall make an escape, but I need to know who to send my report to afterwards. I also need to know if there are any more agents in the castle, for their safety."
M'irra, completely unaware of the charm spell Kalur had put on her, proceeded to spill out all her secrets. She had been sent by Elenwen, of the Thalmor. As for the agents in the castle, there was one Alfiq agent in the castle, a "pet" of one of the guards.
Kalur then relinquished his spell and stepped out. It was then that she realized her error!
"Wait a minute…? What happened?! What sorcery was that?!" She yelled at the Argonian in the doorway in the cell.
"Sorcery indeed." Kalur smiled. "Just a bit of a… charming touch." He let out a raspy laugh as he closed the door and walked down the dungeon's hall, leaving M'irra screaming and thrashing against her chains. Kalur couldn't make it all out as he walked down the hall, but he could swear she said something about skinning him and using his hide to make boots.
# # # # #
A few hours later, they had caught the Alfiq spy. Ta'liq walked back into the dungeon and saw that next to M'irra was a small cage with the Alfiq spy.
"Really, how could that guard not believe that the so-called 'nice little kitty' couldn't have been a Thalmor spy?" Ta'liq grumbled. He looked over at M'irra. She was still seething from Kalur's sorcery and deception. Despite her being the enemy of the Empire, Ta'liq felt sorry for her.
"How can a face so young bear such terrible burdens?" He asked.
"What does this one care?!" M'irra snapped, pointing at Ta'liq with a chained hand. "This one is a traitor! Who serves the Dragonborn emperor!"
"Khajiit may ally with the Dragonborn Emperor, but Khajiit still cares for his people." Ta'liq said calmly. "After all, how could the Thalmor have cured the moons if they weren't the ones who caused their illness in the first place?" He asked, referring to the Void Nights.
For the first time, M'irra didn't know how to respond. She stammered as she struggled to come up with a response. "Wha… well, uh… Stop! You try to poison Khajiit's thoughts! Do not try to poison Khajiit's thoughts! This one will not succeed! Khajiit will never betray the saviors!"
Ta'liq just shook his head, sighing. "Is that what this one call them? Foolish kitten..."
M'irra let out a loud hiss, turning her head away from him. "Khajiit will not speak with this one anymore!"
"Perhaps not right now." Ta'liq said. "But maybe later on, this one will have a change of heart. The truth can be bitter to swallow, but once done, it will set this one free..."
Ta'liq then left M'irra with those thoughts.
# # # # #
Meanwhile, Kalur was studying with Dulian on how to enchant some of his items better. He was learning a lot from her about enchanting.
"See? That's the way." Dulian complimented. "Just remember to focus the energy from the soul gem into the item you are trying to enchant."
"Thanks for the tip." Kalur said.
Dulian then put her hand on Kalur's. "Kalur… Can we talk?"
Kalur looked at her in the eyes. He could feel his face warming up, a clear indication he was blushing. "...What do um… what do you want to talk about?"
"Well, we've only known each other for a short amount of time. You saved my life, and I've returned the favor by healing you. But it's more than that… Whenever I'm around you I feel safe. I feel like I can trust you."
"Well, I can definitely say that feeling is mutual…" Kalur replied.
"Would you care to go for a stroll around town?" Dulian asked.
Kalur grinned, realizing what was going on. "I would be happy to."
# # # # #
It was early night when Kalur and Dulian set out for a walk near the Bards' College. The prospecting students were quietly practicing the songs they would need to learn to become Bards. Around them, the local houses were lit up with candle and firelight, a sight to behold.
"So, Kalur..." Dulian asked, giving him a hinting look. "Have you ever thought about pursuing romantic interests?"
"...I have thought about it." Kalur replied sheepishly. "I just fear for her safety, due to my gift of the dragon blood… People have chased me for this gift, as you know."
"I see." Dulian said. "Say she could defend herself if such a thing happened. Would you welcome her?" She said, walking up to him.
Kalur looked into her eyes, now realizing what was going on. "...Nothing would make me happier."
With that, he touched the edge of his nose to hers as they embraced each other, his lips eventually meeting hers.