Agents of the Queen Part 26: An Elder Scrolls Online tale

  • A Night Out

     

     

     

    Ian S. McClure

     

     

     

    I hugged my sister, overjoyed. “Lili! You're alright!” I said.

     

     

     

    She hugged back, smiling. “Yeah! My leg is all fixed up. Bit sore still, but other than that I'm fine.” She smiled wider. “And I hear you whacked Estre! How'd that go?”

     

     

     

    “It was difficult, I'll admit. But no one got hurt.” I paused. “Erm, except me. But a soul gem fixed me right up.”

     

     

     

    Lilinastre rolled her eyes. “Well, glad to see you've kept busy. Any further tasks from Her Majesty?”

     

     

     

    I thought back to my last meeting with the Queen, after our arrival at Skywatch some days ago. “She wants us to go to Grahtwood next.” I said, returning to the present. “There's some kind of unrest there, apparently.”

     

     

     

    Lili's eyes lit up. “Valenwood!? I am so coming with you! I'll finally leave the Isles!” she said, giddy.

     

     

     

    “Well, we aren't leaving just yet.” I explained. “We're going on the Prowler, and Captain Jimila still has business to sort out here.”

     

     

     

    “Alright! Maybe I'll run into Masten again.” Lili replied cheerily.

     

     

     

    I sighed. “Lili, last time you were together with Mastengwe, you ended up as a small dog.” I said.

     

     

     

    “You say that, dear brother, like it's a bad thing.” Lili said with a smirk. “It's really exciting to transform! You get to be something you'd never be otherwise. Also, dogs have great hearing, I learned.”

     

     

     

    “There is really no stopping you.” I said, rubbing my brow.

     

     

     

    “Besides, if I recall, back during Jester's Day she gave you a potion that… Enhanced, Elereth. And I remember you liking it.” she added with a wink.

     

     

     

     

    I turned slightly red. “That was a one-time prank, Lili! I only did it because of the occasion. It's not—it's not good, to go slipping potions in people's drinks. Especially that one.”

     

     

     

    Lili snorted. “Eh, your loss.” she said, shrugging.

     

     

     

    I cleared my throat. “If you're done being devious, Elereth and Suhr are at the Barbed Hook with some other friends. A little welcome-back celebration, if you will.”

     

     

     

    “Great! Let's get hammered! That'll help me forget about my leg.” she said before running off.

     

     

    “Wait—Lilinastre, gods damn it!” I called after her, to no avail. I sighed, and went to follow.

     

     

     

     

    Some hours and many more drinks later, Elereth giggled, swigging her rotmeth. “And that, my friends, is how I stole and ate my aunt's horse.” she said with pride.

     

     

     

    I raised a brow, being seemingly the only sober one there, except maybe for Suhr. Besides my companions, Jimila, Mastengwe and Virkvild were there, all in various stages of drunkenness. “Why in Mara's bouncy chest did you eat it, though?” Virkvild asked. “That's a waste of a good horse.”

     

     

     

    Elereth snorted. “I am a proud child of the Green!” she said. “And in the Green, we don't pass up a good meal!”

     

     

     

    “How'd… How'd you eat a whole one by yourself, though?” Mastengwe mumbled. She had somehow matched Lilinastre drink for drink, and both were nearly passing out.

     

     

     

    “Well, I imagine her Wood Elf friends helped.” Jimila said thoughtfully, sipping her jagga—an unusual drink for a Khajiit, but she clearly liked it.

     

     

     

    “Yeah.” Elereth said, sounding nostalgic. She raised her glass. “This one's for you, Tharilil!” she cried, before downing the rest of her drink.

     

     

     

    “Yaaaay!” Lili cheered, sloppily taking a large gulp of her rum. “For—for friends...” she mumbled, returning to her stupor as she drank deeply.

     

     

     

    “Oy, Ardolan, Suhr.” Virkvild said, eying us suspiciously. “You two aren't nearly drunk enough!”

     

     

     

    “Ah, this one is fine.” Suhr said airily. I noticed him blatantly staring at another patron, a Khajiiti man, but I made no comment.

     

     

     

    “I don't really feel the need to get drunk tonight.” I explained.

     

     

     

    “Bah. Last time you got drunk was aaaall the way back in Vulkhel Guard!” Elereth told me.

     

     

     

    “Well, you two were nagging me, you and Lili.” I said. I lowered my voice, adding, “Besides, my tolerance when female isn't as good as when I'm normal.”

     

     

     

    “Then put on the ring, dumbass!” Elereth replied, louder.

     

     

     

    “Stars, no.” I told her.

     

     

     

    “Ah, probably for the best.” Jimila piped in. “I don't trust that Daedric business, anyhow.”

     

     

     

    “But where's the fun, ah?” Masten slurred.

     

     

     

    Virkvild snorted. “Well, seein' as how I was a statue, and Suhr became a crab, I see where the captain's coming from.” He chuckled. “Though I wouldn't necessarily mind what Ardolan went through. Imagine the view!”

     

     

     

    “You are such a dog.” Elereth said, taking another swig.

     

     

     

    “Right. I'm headed outside for some fresh air. Be right back.” I said, quickly walking outside.

     

     

     

     

    Outside, I leisurely walked about, greeting the scarce nighttime passerby I encountered. Away from the Barbed Hook, Skywatch was actually peaceful. It gave me the chance to look back at what happened, during my time on the island. We became Eyes of the Queen, Elereth became a vampire before curing herself, Lilinastre got injured, and we eliminated a major threat to Queen Ayrenn's Dominion. It had certainly been eventful.

     

     

     

    I was roused from my thoughts, however, by a figure coming towards me, somewhat unsteadily. “Elereth?” I asked. “What is it?”

     

     

     

    “You seen Suhr anywhere?” she asked in return.

     

     

     

    “You lost him?” I asked, somewhat surprised. “Well, I'm sure he'll turn up at some point.”

     

     

     

    “He was hitting on some other Khajiit bloke, but got shot down.” she said. “He vanished after that, and we're a bit worried.”

     

     

     

    “Suhr isn't the brooding type. He'll be fine.” I said.

     

     

     

    Elereth hummed, then shrugged. “You've got a point. Anyways, are you coming back?”

     

     

     

    I chuckled at her enthusiasm. “Yes, I suppose I will.”

     

     

     

    Upon returning, the first thing I saw was Lilinastre, completely red in the face, passionately kissing Virkvild. I sighed, and walked over. “Enough, Lili. I think you should get some rest. Go lay down or something” I said, more tired than anything else.

     

     

     

    She giggled. “Imma lay down, that's for damn sure!” she said with a hiccup, before resuming her kissing of Virkvild, who didn't seem very bothered by the turn of events.

     

     

     

    I physically dragged her away from the Nord man, as she shot me a resentful look. “Ah, Ardolan. She's young! Let her have her fun.” Virkvild said.

     

     

     

    “She's just turned seventeen.” I explained simply. “I don't think she's ready. Also, she's not really rational right now, on account of all the rum.”

     

     

     

    Virkvild grunted. “Fair enough 'bout the rum. But you have to let her live her life at some point.”

     

     

     

    I hummed, but found nothing to really say to that. “Oy, where's Jimila gotten off to?” Elereth said, sitting down.

     

     

     

    “She went to go do stuff… Lightweight.” Masten mumbled.

     

     

     

    “No sign of Suhr, then?” Virkvild asked, swigging him rum.

     

     

     

    I looked around the tavern, now mostly empty. Only a Breton and a Khajiit woman were there, besides us. I frowned, for the woman seemed familiar, somehow. I then realized—it was probably Suhr, using the ring!

     

     

    Until he walked in the tavern as himself, of course. “Ah! Speak o' the Daedra!” Virkvild said, as I shuffled a bit. “Where have you been?”

     

     

     

    “This one had to meet with Quartermaster Oblan for… Something.” Suhr replied cryptically.

     

     

     

    “Heeeeey!” Lili and Mastengwe said in unison.

     

     

     

    Suhr raised a brow. “Perhaps it is time for you to return to the Prowler, Masten?” he asked.

     

     

     

    Masten opened her mouth, closed it, and then sighed. “Yeah, you're right. I'm already going to be massively hungover tomorrow...” Virkvild helped her stand up. “Bye, guys! I'll see you… Sometime.” she mumbled, already half-asleep.

     

     

     

    Lilinastre pouted. “Aw… Crap.” she managed to say, before promptly passing out, her head flopping onto the table with a thud.

     

     

     

    Elereth lightly nudged her, then shrugged. “She's gone.” she said simply. She then waved at someone. “Hi, Jimila!”

     

     

     

     

    Captain Jimila was indeed there, looking a bit more sober. “Sorry about that. Had to do some things on the ship. Damn Altmeri security. All sorted, now.” she said.

     

     

     

    Lili snored a bit as I asked: “When do we leave for Grahtwood?”

     

     

     

    “Two days.” Jimila replied. “The trip'll take… Oh, five days or so, if everything goes well on the sea.”

     

     

     

    I nodded. “Good, good. I'll admit I'm eager to see Elden Root. Never been in a city within a tree before!”

     

     

     

    “Oh, you'll love it, it's great.” Elereth told me. “Hey, Jimila. You gonna finish your jagga?”

     

     

     

    “Honestly, I fear Mastengwe experimented on it while I was away.” she replied, somewhat fearfully.

     

     

     

    “Fair enough.” Elereth said, eying the drink suspiciously.

     

     

     

    Suhr chuckled suddenly. “Elereth, this one proposes a quick bet, hrm? Suhr will give you five drakes if the drink is… Unaltered.”

     

     

     

    “And how much do I owe you if it is altered?” Elereth asked, clearly intrigued.

     

     

     

    “Honestly, whatever in Oblivion Mastengwe can do is punishment enough.” he replied.

     

     

     

    I groaned as she grinned. “Eh, why not.” she said, before drinking the remainder of the beverage. She blinked, smacking her lips. “I… Think she did do something to it...” she said slowly.

     

     

     

    “Oh gods, here we go.” I said resignedly.

     

     

     

    “Hey, Ardolan, you really need to stop—“ Elereth began, before blushing as her posterior grew noticeably!

     

     

     

    “Alright, that had to have been intentional.” Jimila said, deadpan.

     

     

     

    “Remind me to steal one of her potions and slip it to her on the trip.” Elereth said, sounding annoyed.

     

     

     

    Suhr smirked, as I stood up. “Right! Time for bed, wouldn't you say?” I said, hoping to avoid any more mishaps.

     

     

     

    “Oh, my ass is that exciting now, huh?” Elereth asked seductively.

     

     

     

    “What—I didn't—How could—I would never—What?” I stammered,.

     

     

     

    Suhr picked up the still-out Lilinastre, his smirk wider now. “Have fun!” Jimila said merrily, walking off.

     

     

     

    “Wait! I didn't mean it like that!” I said, embarrassed.

     

     

     

    As Suhr walked off as well, carrying Lili away to a room, Elereth giggled. “It's so easy to get you red.” she teased.

     

     

     

    I sighed. “Yes, I am rather easy to fluster.” I admitted.

     

     

     

    She snorted, and then stood up, frowning a bit. “Well, my behind's pretty big now. Kind of uncomfortable, really.” she said. “But I know you like it.” she added with a wink. “We could go and… Explore it, if you like?”

     

     

     

    “We don't have to sleep together all the time, you know!” I said quickly. “Maybe we can go stargazing, or watch a play, or maybe—“

     

     

     

    She quickly kissed me, then stared at me with her damnably-gorgeous golden eyes. “You are… Very persuasive.” I sighed, defeated, as I walked towards another room with her.

     

     

     

    And, I believe that will do for this entry. I will write again when we've reached the port of Haven, in Grahtwood. Until then…

     

     

     

    -Ardolan Larethbinder

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Comments

2 Comments   |   Sotek likes this.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  July 7, 2017
    Girls and their sultry ways....... 
    • Tenebrous
      Tenebrous
      Sotek
      Sotek
      Sotek
      Girls and their sultry ways....... 
        ·  July 10, 2017
      "Girls" mostly meaning Elereth... Thanks for reading!