Operative Runael,

I have received your report on Heimskr of Whiterun, and can assure you that corrective action will be taken. Another agent will be along soon to inquire as to why the Jarl of Whiterun permitted such blatant violation of the White-Gold Concordat, and depending on his response, there may be a new Jarl of Whiterun before long.

I inform you of another agent because, as you may have surmised by now, you will not be inquiring. I have a different task for you now, seeing whereas you've proven yourself reliable in the past. In five days' time, you are to report to Ancano in the College of Winterhold and assist him however you are able. While I have faith in his ability to complete the task, his recent lack of any results is troubling; I am in hopes that sending you along will expedite his own mission.

Do be careful in Winterhold, Operative. According to prior reports Ancano has sent, the winds are far colder than anything you've experienced thus far in Whiterun, or I've endured here at the Embassy. If the frigid winds are of no concern to you, then the even colder attitudes of the local Nords may be. Ancano is of a mind that the Jarl suspects the Dominion had a hand in the Great Collapse, and distrusts and despises all Altmer as such; while I respect his opinions, I do think Ancano is a touch... suspicious of the poor Jarl - the man's Hold did fall into the sea, after all, and he may simply be seeking someone to blame. Still, I urge you to exercise caution in Winterhold.

I trust you've heard about events in Helgen by now, Operative. I am sorry to inform you that the news is true: while I departed Helgen prior to the attack, I was able to hear the unmistakable roars of what I can only presume to be the dragon the people of Skyrim are claiming it to be. While I personally do not believe dragons are appearing, we are still looking into the matter ourselves. Whether it's true or not, however, I strongly urge you to be careful on your way to Winterhold: if dragons are indeed appearing again, it could make your journey a very dangerous one; if they are not, then I suspect I do not need to remind you that Skyrim is filled with dangers all its own outside of dragons.

As to your request, I am sorry to inform you that I must decline. I have my duties, Operative, as do you; I cannot forsake mine, and strongly discourage you from doing the same with yours. I do not decline your request without regret, as the very thought is tempting. I do hope to see you again sometime, Operative; I will confess the Embassy does feel rather lonely without you here. Once Ancano's task is complete, perhaps you shall return to the Embassy for a time?

Good luck, Operative, and please stay safe - if not for your sake, then for mine.

Yours,

First Ambassador Elenwen

P.S. - Please do something about the courier who brought your report to me, and delivered this letter to you. He had some choice words for the Dominion on the whole, but said and did nothing we can officially punish him for. Do as you see fit, Operative.

A chill wind blew through the Thalmor Embassy, and made the Altmer standing guard within the gates shiver. He had felt many like it by now, but it still didn't make it any more bearable. He found himself longing for the much more comfortable warmth of Alinor again, where he could spend his time freely with his family.

He supposed he was partly to blame for his discomfort: his elven armor, while lined with furs specifically for the cold, was not the perfect attire for standing guard. He wondered idly if the robes the wizards of the Dominion wore were any more comfortable, considering they were cloth and not metal. He then wondered if there was really a difference in Skyrim, where the frigid temperatures seemed to seep through all manner of attire and chill those less acclimated to the bone.

His attention was claimed by a figure approaching the Embassy, and he frowned a little; the figure wore not the robes or armor of the Dominion, so surely they must be aiming to intrude... or to cause trouble? He wondered how well he would fight, cold as he was feeling, but also welcomed the opportunity to move and warm his body with strenuous movements. As the figure stepped closer, he took in their attire: a remarkably dull blue robe that made the guard wonder if it warded the cold. The figure had a hood of a similar color up, hiding their face from view.

This changed when the figure reached up and threw the hood back lightly. The Altmer guard inhaled sharply at the sight that greeted him: a rather beautiful Altmer, such as himself, was who was striding toward the gate. Her hair, a pale blonde, was pulled back; he presumed it was either a ponytail he couldn't see or a bun. As she drew nearer, he could almost swear her emerald-colored eyes sparkled in the light of the day, perhaps even glowed. He allowed himself the briefest of glances at her figure; while it was mostly hidden by the robe she wore, he presumed she was lovely to behold... and to hold.

The thought prompted him to remember his family back in Alinor, and he shook the distracting thoughts pertaining to the mysterious Altmer's beauty from his mind. Pretty or not, he still had a duty to keep her out... or at least learn her business with the Embassy. "Halt!" he commanded as strongly as he could; hours of no vocal use caused his voice to crack, and he cleared his throat before continuing. "You are trespassing upon Dominion grounds. State your business, or remove yourself from our domain."

The woman chuckled softly, the sound of her voice only adding to his appreciation of her beauty. "I am not trespassing." She reached into a small satchel at her waist and pulled out a letter. "I have something for the fair Madame Ambassador."

The guard blinked. "First Ambassador Elenwen?" He shook his head briefly. "Who are you, then, and what is the letter you-"

"Operative Runael," she interrupted. "I will admit, I don't recognize you. Did you arrive at the Embassy but recently?"

His jaw fell open. He'd heard of Runael, of course; one of the most efficient agents, or Operatives as Elenwen referred to them within Skyrim, that the Dominion was fortunate enough to have. It had been she who identified brazen defiance of the White-Gold Concordat in Whiterun, and in turn had played an indirect part in placing the Jarl of Whiterun under house arrest for permitting it. He recalled seeing a man being pulled off the ship when it docked in Alinor, shouting some nonsense or the other about Talos. It had been clear, then, why the Nord was there. The Altmer guard had departed not long after, and didn't know what became of the Nord... though he had his suspicions.

She cleared her throat, and brought his mind back to reality. "Ah, s-sorry, Operative!" he exclaimed. "I-I just... I've heard stories about you here, and it's an honor to meet-"

She laughed it off. "Please, just call me Runael. 'Operative' is just my title, after all." She extended the letter toward him. "In any event, I have a report for the fair Madame Ambassador."

'Fair'... he thought. He acknowledged Elenwen was pretty in her own right, but he couldn't deny that Runael possessed beauty greater still. "So, it's... true, then? What I've heard whispered about you and the Madame Ambassador?"

She quirked a brow at this. "One cannot always believe what one hears. What is it you've heard about us?"

He considered saying it aloud, but the thought... it embarrassed him to say such things and risk being scoffed at. The whispers suggested that Runael and Elenwen were remarkably close, akin to a couple... that in the past, Runael had been glimpsed leaving Elenwen's solar one evening, when the majority of the Embassy was fast asleep. Then there were the tales of how they spoke with one another in front of others: official, yet still somehow with traces of affection for the other. The very thoughts made the mer's face turn red.

She sighed softly. "Ah, of course. Those rumors and whispers."

He glanced over his shoulder, as if afraid to be overheard. "Are they true?" he whispered. "I won't tell anyone, I promise."

She stared at him, looking quite amused. "That would be giving away the fun," she said with a smile. "Believe what you wish; she and I know the truth of the matter." She waved the letter lightly at him. "Could you see to it that she gets this?"

"I don't see why you can't deliver it yourself," he commented. "It's no secret that your presence in the Embassy is quite welcome for everyone."

She offered a shrug at this, and crossed her arms. "True as that may be, I have business elsewhere that sadly requires my attention. As much as I'd like to stay, I cannot."

"I see." He reached out past the gate and waited for Runael to hand him the letter. "I'll see to it that the Madame Ambassador gets your letter, then."

She nodded and placed it in his trembling hand. "Cold?" she asked. "You'll get used to it with time. I've found the best way to keep warm while on watch is to patrol, and not just stand in one place. Even if it's just from one end of the gate to the other, you'll find the movement does wonders." She chuckled lightly. "It also makes the time go by just a little faster, and means you'll be back inside before you know it."

He blinked at her advice, and smiled. "Thank you. I shall keep that in mind. I'm still not used to guard duty..."

She seemed to stare at him for a moment, as if searching for something. The scrutiny made him shift uncomfortably, and he was fairly certain his cheeks were turning red again. "You're a new recruit to the Dominion, then?" she finally asked.

"I... yes. How did you-"

"Guard duty's pretty common for most of us," she stated simply. "Even I, whose duties generally take her outside the Embassy, have stood watch around the Embassy as you are. You'll learn the little tricks to make it much easier on you as time passes, trust me." She smiled and glanced toward the Embassy itself. He couldn't help but notice a feeling of... regret?

"Surely your business can wait," he offered. "I can see the longing in your eyes; you want to step inside again." He leaned closer and grinned. "You want to see her again."

She flashed him a quick wink and a smile. "Possibly, but again, that would be telling." She released the letter, leaving it in his hand, then stepped back. "Regrettably, I must be off. Recent events demand my attention, and I cannot partake in the comfortable pleasures I once did." She gave the Embassy one last look of longing and regret, then turned away from him. He noted that her hair was actually a mix of both his suspicions: it was pulled into a ponytail, but the tail was bunched in the back. He didn't have too long to look at it, though: the hood came back up and covered her head from the elements.

"'Recent events'?" he echoed.

"It's in the letter." She started to walk away. "To put it simply, the College of Winterhold has a new Arch-Mage, and she cannot stay at the Embassy - no matter how much she wishes to."

His eyes widened. Runael is the Arch-Mage of the College? he thought to himself. He then realized that perhaps he was just jumping to conclusions... but the way she said it seemed to suggest that she was indeed what he suspected. But... I thought-

She waved a hand over her shoulder. "Take care of yourself," she said with a light tone. "Perhaps we'll meet again some day." Without another look over her shoulder, she strode away from the Embassy, leaving the Altmer guard looking rather dazed and confused. A wind threatened to pull the letter out of his hand, and reminded him of the... favor? He supposed that that's what Runael had asked of him. He withdrew his hand behind the gate again... and realized, belatedly, that he'd be unable to deliver the letter for a few hours yet.

He was the only guard currently watching the gate, after all.

Knocking on her door was not what the First Ambassador was expecting to hear. "Yes?" she said with a weary sigh, more than eager to welcome any sort of distraction from the papers, letters and forms that had piled on her once-tidy desk.

The aftermath of the Embassy being infiltrated under Elenwen's very nose had not gone over smoothly for her. Missives had come and gone to and from Alinor, as had letters demanding explanations, outraged cries for her to be removed from her position, and other such drama she did not wish to face. It had been five months since that day, but the Dominion kept treating it as though it had happened mere hours ago. Of course they would, she thought bitterly. They're back in Alinor, a good month and a half's sail from Solitude.

"...Madame Ambassador?" came a voice from the other side of her door.

"Yes? What is it?" she responded, her patience worn thin.

"I was just saying that I had a letter for you," the voice replied. "From Operative Runael."

Runael. The name made Elenwen's eyes light up, and she attempted to tidy up her desk somewhat. "Come in, then. Is she with you?" she asked, hoping to see a very familiar and very friendly face for a change.

She felt her heart plummet, as well as her spirits, when the male guard walked into her solar alone, shaking his head. "No, Madame Ambassador. She informed me she wished to stay, but had duties elsewhere that demanded her attention."

Elenwen stared at him. "What 'duties elsewhere' could she possibly have? Surely she's not 'playing courier'," she said incredulously.

"I cannot say for certain, as she didn't say it outright..." The mer paused for a moment. "...But to me, she alluded that she may be the Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold."

This made Elenwen blink several times. Runael, Arch-Mage? "That's... absurd," she said slowly. "If it's true, then perhaps it's better than Ancano being Arch-Mage, but when I sent her to Winterhold, it was to help..." She frowned. I haven't heard from Ancano in a few months, but I just presumed he was making too much headway with Runael there.

The guard handed her the letter. "I may have misunderstood her wording, Madame Ambassador, but she did say something about how the new Arch-Mage wishes to stay at the Embassy, and yet cannot. I just presumed that she meant-"

Elenwen shot him a fierce look. "You do not 'presume' such things and assume them to be fact," she said sharply.

"I didn't," he protested. "I told you, Madame Ambassador, that she seemed to allude to it!"

She thought for a moment, and rested her head in her hands. "...I'm sorry," she muttered. "I'm just... exhausted, what with everything that's happened here..." She lifted her head and reached out to take the letter. "I'm disappointed she chose not to stay, but I suppose such is the way things go." She nestled her finger beneath the familiar seal and gingerly lifted it from the paper, then unfolded the letter and began to read.

While her eyes lit up at first, and she appeared to be on the border of concerned and ecstatic, her expression slowly contorted to one of confusion, then of betrayal and fury. While she read, she rested her head in one hand, thrumming her fingers upon the table with the other; as she read, her free hand lifted into the air and began to channel a small, blazing spell within her palm. By the time she finished reading, she looked absolutely furious, and the fire in her hands was almost the size of a gourd.

"Madame Ambassador!" the guard seemed to snap, as if he'd been trying to get her attention for quite some time now. "You're going to set something ablaze at that rate!"

She blinked at his words, realizing what she'd created within her hand. She let the flames die down, then snuffed out the small embers that remained within her hand. Her expression of fury slowly faded, and she cleared her throat. All at once, she was the very image of calm - if outwardly. "I... apologize." While she tried to sound sincere, she couldn't bring herself to actually feel sorry.

The guard stared at her for a moment. "...If... I may, what's...?"

"Nothing." She forced as convincing a smile as she could. "It's nothing major, at any rate. I... thank you for bringing this to me." She returned to thrumming her fingers upon the desk. "Tell me, when was Runael here?"

"A few hours ago, Madame Ambassador," he replied. "I wasn't able to leave my post because I'd been at the gate, and..." His voice trailed. "I did wish to get this to you as soon as possible, though."

So she's well beyond my reach now, Elenwen thought bitterly. "I see. You may go now."

"Madame Ambassador, what's happened?" the guard asked.

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with." She reached into her desk and pulled out a small pouch filled with coin. "Here. For your trouble. Why don't you get yourself a drink and relax? You are off-duty, correct?"

He eyed the pouch, then looked up at her. "I am, yes. I... suppose, if you insist, then..."

"Oh, I absolutely do insist." She gave him another smile. "You, at least, have perfomed your duties to the letter."

This was all the guard needed to hear, apparently, for he picked up the pouch, gave the letter a quick glance, then departed without another word. He also had the foresight to close the door behind him, for which Elenwen was quite grateful.

Her facade melted away the second the door clicked shut, and she was once again furious outwardly. Her gaze dropped to the paper once more, and her hands clenched into fists. She silently fumed to herself; now she had another problem to deal with. Now she had to send yet another letter to Alinor, this time not to explain herself, but rather to inform the Dominion of what had transpired.

Her furious expression slowly turned to one of pure and utter betrayal. She felt her shoulders shake, and could feel her eyes watering. She reached up to wipe her eyes briefly, and sighed wearily. "Why...?" she whispered. "Why, Runael...?"

She gave the letter another read, as if hoping to find something she overlooked, or as if to find that she'd been mistaken in her initial judgment. The writing is undeniably hers, so it's certainly from Runael... Elenwen thought.

Before she knew it, Elenwen had read Runael's letter a dozen times, and could almost swear she knew the letter's contents by heart. As much as she wished to burn it, she knew better than to destroy what would become a key piece of evidence. Even despite that, she wanted to destroy it... she wanted to spare Runael from what would come of it.

Elenwen considered, then and there, just forgetting she ever received the letter, and pretending nothing had happened. The Dominion doesn't need to know about this, she thought to herself. They're a month and a half away in Alinor. They-

Her thoughts were interrupted by another knock on the door. Who in blazes... at this hour...? she thought, glancing outside; the sun had set a few hours ago. "Enter," she said, collecting herself rather quickly. I'm becoming far too good at it... she mused bitterly.

The door opened, and another guard stepped inside. "Madame Ambassador." She set a letter upon the already cluttered desk, with the seal facing upward. "More correspondence from Alinor."

Wonderful. "Thank you. If there's nothing else...?"

The guard shook her head. "No." She bowed respectfully to Elenwen before departing, closing the door behind her.

At this point, Elenwen desired a distraction in any form; even berating from the Dominion would be welcome. Anything to forget the sting of... Her thoughts trailed as she broke the seal, opened the letter, and lazily scanned the lettering.

First Ambassador Elenwen,

You are hereby ordered to prepare the Embassy of Skyrim for guests. I no longer trust your ability to maintain Dominion presence in Skyrim, and will arrive in Skyrim in two months' time. I shall stay until I can decide what to do with you.

We are through waiting.

Sincerely,

Vindicator Thellias

Her eyes widened. The Vindicators are... She'd heard about them in the past, but hadn't thought them a real sect within the Dominion. They were said to be among the Dominion's most elite representatives, and exceptionally good at solving problems, no matter the nature. For a Vindicator to be coming here...

She pushed the letter away, then glanced at Runael's. "I'm so sorry, Runael..." she whispered to herself. I can no longer hide this, no matter how much I wish to. If I don't inform them myself, this Vindicator will find out on his own... and the situation will become far more severe. It was with no small amount of guilt that she began to write another letter destined for Alinor, this one to inform the Dominion of what had transpired.

The letter that Runael had written sat at the corner of Elenwen's desk while she wrote, the candlelight illuminating the words written upon it.

First Ambassador Elenwen,

First and foremost, I apologize for not replying to you sooner. Things had been nothing short of chaotic here at the College, and only now can I find the time to actually sit, think, and write.

I was quite flattered by your last letter, and felt more than a little humbled by your request. It is with a heavy heart, though, and even heavier regret, that I must turn you down. The chaos at the College is simply too great, and my current role in the College mandates my attention until such a time that things are quiet again.

The College of Winterhold has a new Arch-Mage. This has not come without quite a price, however, nor is the Arch-Mage the one you wished to usher into the position. The price the College paid was: one Arch-Mage, one Master Wizard, and two representatives of the Aldmeri Dominion... though I presume the College does not particularly mind the latter cost; public opinion of Ancano was rather poor.

To make a long story short, we found an object of immense power within a ruin. As we tried to learn more about it, we learned from outside sources that this object was not only immensely powerful, but extremely dangerous as a result, and that we - that is, I - had to destroy it before it could be abused. Ancano had designs of his own for it, however, and abused it - killing the late Arch-Mage Savos Aren in the process. We are still uncertain as to what exactly happened, but we knew that Ancano's reckless misuse of the object endangered Winterhold - possibly Skyrim, and possibly even Tamriel. I was tasked with finding the one item that could and would save us all from Ancano's antics - I use 'antics' because there is no other term for it.

Does the name Estormo sound familiar to you? Whether it does or not, I will tell you this: Estormo approached me shortly after I located the aforementioned item, and attempted to kill me. He was there on Ancano's orders, and was part of the Dominion besides. When faced with life or death, I obviously chose life - at the expense of Estormo's. When I returned to the College, I was able to confront Ancano directly and pleaded with him to stop his nonsense before he tore everything apart. He then tried to kill me himself - and again, I chose life over death, again at the expense of another member of the Dominion.

The dangerous object in question has since been nullified, and I have been named the new Arch-Mage for my instrumental role in subduing the chaos.

I realize this means that your wish to have a member of the Aldmeri Dominion ascend to the position of Arch-Mage of the College has been fulfilled. I know you tasked me with helping Ancano ascend that position, but he had other things in mind. I also know that you now expect me to hand the College of Winterhold, and all the knowledge contained within, to the Aldmeri Dominion, as you had instructed Ancano to do once he was the new Arch-Mage.

I am sorry to inform you that I do not plan to follow through with your wishes, Madame Ambassador.

I have seen a side of the College I never would have seen prior to joining them. Within these walls rests more than knowledge: within these walls is a desire to learn more about magic and acquire deeper mastery of it. I have never seen such dedication to magic anywhere else, not even Alinor. Although I tried not to get too attached to everyone else at the College, I gradually did. They became my friends and my confidants - or at least, a couple became the latter.

I have also seen that handing the College of Winterhold over to the Dominion would, without a doubt, undo the dedication my peers demonstrate within these walls. I cannot and will not deny my peers and friends the right to study magic simply because the Aldmeri Dominion wants the knowledge contained within. While I realize that Ancano and Estormo do not define the Aldmeri Dominion, I also realize that their actions could possibly reflect on what the Dominion would do with the College in its grasp.

I cannot and will not allow such upon Tamriel. As long as I am Arch-Mage of the College, I refuse the Dominion permission to set foot within the College - and the College itself will comply. I have already informed my peers that I was formerly of the Dominion, and of the reason why I was initially at the College; I have also promised them that I will never follow through.

I am sorry, Elenwen, but this is how it must be. Just as Tamriel was not ready for the object I mentioned, the Aldmeri Dominion is not ready for the College of Winterhold. I do not trust anyone within the Dominion - unfortunately including you - to treat the College as it ought to be; I'd sooner expect to see the Dominion abuse the College for their own ends. As long as this is the case, I will no longer have anything to do with the Thalmor. By extension, I can no longer have anything to do with my former colleagues at the Embassy... or with you.

This is likely the last time you and I will ever be in touch with each other, so I wanted to let you know that you meant everything to me. I did not make the decision to defect from the Thalmor lightly, or on a whim; this took much thought on my end. In the end, I believe my decision is what's best for the College and for the Dominion. If that means sacrificing everything I had with you, then so be it. Such is a price I must pay for my peers and friends within the College. Such is the price I am willing to pay. I know it will be worth it in the long run.

Formerly yours,

Runael

Ex-Operative of the Thalmor

Current Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold in Skyrim

A.N. - So yes. A belated 'Merry Christmas' and a mildly belated 'Happy New Year' to people.

I've always wanted to do an Elder Scrolls fic, and contemplated an Oblivion one a few years back. Then Skyrim came out. It's taken me a little while to think of a story idea I wholeheartedly approved of, and one that doesn't make my head spin trying to put words unto paper (or fingers to keyboard) when trying to make it a reality.

I think it goes without saying, but the Elder Scrolls series is not mine. The vast majority of content in this fanfiction is property of Bethesda, with exceptions to the characters Runael and Thellias, whom I created.

Now...

I cannot be the only one who's ever felt even slightly sorry for Elenwen, especially after you infiltrate the Thalmor Embassy during the game... and during one of the parties you were given an invitation to, no less. To me, it's always seemed as though there would be fierce backlash for allowing such infiltration to occur, and failing to apprehend the infiltrator; who would suffer the bulk of it? Elenwen, of course.

For those who are even mildly confused as to the 'timeline' of this chapter, I will clarify: the first letter, to Runael, was sent before the quest First Lessons, in which you get into the College. Everything after that takes place a little while after you become the Arch-Mage after defeating Ancano.

Review if it pleases you. Feedback is always welcome.

-Spiritslayer