-Ch. 11-
"And was this Camilla impressed to find out you were the Dragonborn, too?" Idgrod snidely asked Ozgar. He had been explaining more of his quests in Riverwood as the two shivered in the back of a carriage, heading up the mountains to the Thalmor Embassy.
"I swear, nothing happened." Oz assured Idgrod, for what felt like the hundredth time.
She never really suspected Oz slept with Camilla. But she enjoyed the attention and making him squirm.
"If you insist, Ozgar." She playfully reprimanded. "I'm sure you're a noble hero, not just using a poor Jarl's daughter to break into the Thalmor Embassy." She feigned ennui, careful not to let the carriage driver hear.
"...Have you been fucking with me this whole time?" Oz asked, a smile slowly creeping across his face.
Igrod gasped. "Ozgar Gro-Shugurz! I am appalled!" She continued to tease.
The two giggled and flirted as the snow began to fall thicker. They arrived at the Thalmor Embassy, high in the Mountains. Oz helped Igrod down from the carriage.
The two seemed to be the last few stragglers to arrive, Idgrod's mother even having arrived a day prior. Luckily, Idgrod provided the perfect cover for Oz to infiltrate the embassy.
"Ah! Fellow latecomers to Elenwen's little soiree. And arriving by carriage, no less! I salute you, lord and lady!" A man sitting in the snow greeted Ozgar and Idgrod. "My lateness is due more to getting lost on the way up this gods forsaken mountain than to any desire to actually arrive late. I prefer to arrive early. Often the day before the party. So as not to miss out on any of the drinking. There's not enough drinking in the world today, wouldn't you agree?"
"Certainly, friend." Oz said curtly, gently and slowly putting an arm around Idgrod.
"Ah, I like the way you think, friend. Clearly you've a good head on your shoulders with such a gorgeous creature on your arm." The man gestured to Idgrod with his flask hand.
"I will just... rest here a moment." He continued. "Although it is damnable cold out here. I don't look forward to the trip back down... Perhaps we might share a carriage after the party? I know, I know - we've just met. But think, by the time the party is over we'll all no doubt be fast friends. I look forward to it. I'll go after you. Although these fellows know me. I never miss one of Elenwen's parties, you see."
"See you inside, friend." Idgrod said hasility as she began leading Oz towards the door inside.
The two step inside the stately embassy, immediately offering respite from the raging snow outside. Most of the guests were already inside, but the pair were greeted by an Altmer woman.
"Welcome. I don't believe we've met." The tall elf said, looking down at the two. "I am Elenwen, the Thalmor Ambassador to Skyrim. And you are?"
"Idgrod Ravencrone the Younger." Idgrod said pleasantly, bowing her head to Elenwen. "Pleased to meet you."
"Ah yes, I remember your name from the guest list. Your mother has already arrived." She smiled, insincerely. She then looked Ozgar up and down. "And your…orsimer… companion?"
"Ozgar Gro-Shugurz." Oz said, bowing his head.
"Charmed." Elenwen responded "Please, tell me more about yourself. What brings you to this…" She paused looking the two up and down. "To Skyrim?" She finished, with her same fake smile.
"I'm from Markarth." Oz said plainly. "And Thane to Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun." The two mer stared each other down silently for a moment.
"Madame Ambassador!" Suddenly, Malborn, Delphine and Ozgar's contact, called out. "I'm so sorry ot interrupt…"
Elenwen rolled her eyes and turned to the Bosimer. "What is it Malborn?"
As the two conversed, Oz glazed at Idgrod, giving her a look of reassurance.
The Jarl's daughter was no stranger to royal affairs. But the espionage involved here was causing her pale skin to slowly turn red. She smiled at Oz, giving him a nod.
"I've told you not to bother me with such trifles." Elenwen said sternly, turning her attention to Malborn.
"Yes, Madame Ambassador." He said, shooting Ozgar a glance before shuffling away.
"Thank you, Madame Ambassador," Idgrod said cheerfully, leading Oz by the hand into the party hall. "We're just going to find my mother."
"Of course." Elenwen said. "The hospitality of the Thalmor Embassy is at your service." She dropped her fake smile and looked directly at Oz before saying, "I trust that this is just the beginning of a long and mutually beneficial relationship."
Oz smiled and nodded, his silver-tusk glinting in the candle light. "Of course, Madame Ambassador."
"Ah, my beautiful daughter." Jarl Idgrod cooed as Oz and Idgrod entered the main party hall. She used this as an excuse to leave her present conversation with an Imperial general Oz recognized from Helgen.
"Hello, mother." Idgrod greeted. The two women kissed each other on the cheek, keeping the facade of Skyrim royalty.
Jarl Idgrod then leaned in and whispered to the pair, "Be mindful, for you walk among adders." She warned.
Ozgar nodded. "I actually could use your help, Jarl." He replied in a hushed tone, the three blanding in as chatting party goers.
"My ears are always open to a friend." The old Jarl smiled.
Oz and Idgrod the Younger smiled back. A faint blush broke out across Idgrod's cheeks.
"I need you to cause a scene. Get everyone's attention for a few minutes." Oz whispered. He glanced over his shoulder, Malborn watched him impatiently from the bar.
A mischievous smirk slowly spread across Jarl Idgrod's lips. "Nothing would please me more." She winked, beginning to scan the room for her victim. "We'll keep their eyes away while you do what you came here for."
Oz bowed to Jarl Idgrod, and gave Idgrod the Younger a squeeze of the hand before working his way through the crowd to the bar.
"An old woman can get away with almost anything." She smirked to her daughter, playfully nudging her in the ribs.
Idgrod the Younger softly smiled at her mother, trying not to stare at Ozgar as he waited for his moment at the bar.
"Is everything alright, daughter?" Jarl Idgrod whispered to Idgrod the Younger, whose face was twisting into more and more fear and concern.
Something was wrong. Idgrod spun around the room. Slowly, the inhabitants all shifted; The fair faces of the high lords and ladies of Skyrim twisted into cruel visages of bears, dragons, gargoyles, and horrible otherworldly creatures Idgrod didn't have words for. They all stared hungrily at Idgrod and Oz, slowly approaching.
"Daughter?" Idgrod Ravencrone grabbed her daughter's shoulders, as she continued to shift her gaze around the room. Her hazel eyes were glazed over. "Oh, no." Jarl Idgrod whispered. "You there!" The jarl shouted at the drunkard Ozgar and Idgrod had met outside. "Move aside, my daughter requires your seat!"
Ozgar and Malborn watched the scene unfold from the bar.
"Let's go, let's go! Before anyone notices us!" Malborn whispered, ushering Ozgar through the back door to the kitchen.
Oz attempted to watch what was happening, unsure if Idgrod was acting, but Malborn quickly shut the door behind them.
—
Idgrod the Younger slowly opened her eyes. Her mother breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh, child, you scared me half to death!" She chidded, hugging her daughter who laid in a Thalmor Embassy infirmary bed.
"What happened?" Idgrod asked meekly.
"You had a vision." Her mother answered, proudly, but concerned. "The first few are always overwhelming."
Idgrod's heart picked up, recalling now all the horrible creatures. "So, those monsters -"
"Whatever you saw wasn't real." The Jarl assured. "But the divines are sending you some kind of message."
Idgrod shook her head in disbelief. She thought occasionally seeing ghosts and having to watch after Joric would be the worst of her share of the Ravencrone 'gift.'
"Ah, Jarl Idgrod." Elenwen said pleasantly, hurrying into the room. "I'm so sorry I've been unavailable. There was some sort of…" She turned her gaze to the Jarl's daughter. "Disturbance. Official business, I'm sure you know how that is." She said with her signature, insincere smile.
"Of course." Jarl Idgrod said, never taking her eyes off the Thalmor.
"Tell me, Idgrod." Elenwen said, addressing the Jarl's daughter. "Where is your orsimer friend? The Thane of Whiterun."
Idgrod looked concernedly at her mother, then back at Elenwen.
"By the eight, woman!" Her mother spoke up. 'The girl's only just woken up. These things take a toll." She shook her head, subtly winking at Idgrod.
"I - of course, Jarl. I meant no disrespect." Elenwen responded, almost through her teeth.
"In any event, I believe Ozgar was assisting some drunkard down the mountain. Razelan, I think his name was." Jarl Idgrod said back, disgruntled.
Elenwen pinched the bridge of her nose. "Ah, Razelan." She sighed. "Apologies, and thank you for your assistance. He can prove a handful at these events." She said, slowly walking back towards the door. "Well, do let us know if there's anything the Thalmor can do to aid your recovery…"