Song of the Dragon and the Bear

Chapter 46

A/N Yes, this chapter is a day late. Are you really surprised anymore? You shouldn't be. I do, however, have two excuses as to why it is late, and you can be the judge on whether they are of any merit. One: It was General Conference weekend this weekend, so the time I normally devote to writing was occupied with church services. Two: I spent the week considering the different comments that I had received in the last chapter, and they caused me to rethink some of my plans. So, yeah. Here's the chapter. I'd say enjoy, but...

. . .

Vara woke slowly. Her back and shoulders ached, and as she gradually became aware of where she was, she realized that she had fallen asleep on the floor in front of the chair she had sat in the night before. Rising slowly to her knees, Vara looked down at the ground around her, illuminated by torches that were almost burned out. There at her side was the letter from Delphine, although it hardly resembled a letter anymore. Her tears had caused the parchment to tear in several places, and she had crumpled and uncrumpled the paper so many times throughout the night that most of the words had been smudged beyond all recognition. But she didn't need to be able to see the words. No, the contents of that letter had been seared into her brain letter for letter, word for word. She felt tears begin to pool in her eyes, but she blinked them away. If she started crying now, she would never leave. And she had to leave.

Standing, Vara made her way to her room. She ignited the torches there, the flickering light catching the edge of her metal mask that she had shoved under her bed weeks ago. Now, she pulled it out, and for several moments, she simply held it in her hands, staring at the engraving. With a heavy sigh, she placed it on the floor next to her and pulled out the rest of the supplies she would need, her armor, bag, and several potions. She changed into the armor; it wasn't so conspicuous as to draw attention or look out of place in the city, and placed her mask in the bag, slinging it over her shoulder.

She still needed the potion that Delphine had given her the recipe for. She didn't have the skill or the resources to make something that complex, she knew, which meant she had to go to the Palace. A bolt of fear ran through her. She couldn't face Ulfric. If she spoke to him, if she told him the truth, he would forbid her from leaving, and she would obey the order. She knew that like she knew her own name. She had realized that she couldn't tell him the full truth of what she was doing late last night, and so she had written him yet another letter. He would hate her for leaving, she knew, but hopefully, the letter would be enough to convince him not to go after her. If Ulfric decided to storm the Thalmor Embassy in search of her, all of the careful planning Delphine had done would be wasted. With her mind made up, Vara walked back down the stairs and carefully picked up the letter she had written to Ulfric, placing it in her bag and stepped into the still-dark city, leaving her home for what might be the last time to find Wuunferth. Hopefully, the wizard would help her.

. . .

"No!" Wuunferth bellowed loudly enough to make Vara's ears twitch at the sound. "There is no way in Oblivion that I will help you throw your life away, Varaduilwe! This plan is madness, surely you can see that!"

Vara let out a heavy sigh. "I have to do this, Wuunferth. We need information on the dragons, and if Delphine says that the only way to get that information is through the Thalmor, then I believe her. She's a Blade, Wuunferth, this is what she's been doing for all her life."

"And some of Ulfric's councilmembers have been in politics for all of their lives; that doesn't make them good at it!" Wuunferth retorted. "I will not let you be tortured by those fiends for weeks on end with the barest hope of finding what you need." His voice was quieter now, but each word was heavy with concerned anger. "There has to be a better way."