Nikolaus glanced to his right, taking in his cousin's ecstatic look - which was odd, considering the blizzard they were trudging through.
"How are you so happy right now?" Nikolaus asked grumpily, his voice muffled both by the mask covering the lower half his face, and the harsh winds. His cousin - Leonidas - turned to him, Nikolaus' comment issuing forth a wider grin.
"Because we're going to see legends of old! The Greybeards! Just think what secrets they have hidden away in that monastery of theirs - oh, and the MONASTERY! Gods, I can hardly wait to see it! All I've heard about it is spectacular!" He announced brightly, laughing as he picked up his pace in anticipation of seeing High Hrothgar and it's denizens. "Cheer up, Niko! Just think of the fires that are up there, that'll keep you going."
Nikolaus shook his head and gave a begrudging grin of fondness as his younger cousin - who was more of a brother - gallivanted ahead. This was their third week away from Markarth, and despite his dark demeanor, Nikolaus was enjoying it immensely. He'd been getting so... bored, for a word, stuck in the city all the time, especially with Dragons flying about. To be honest, he was a wee bit disappointed about the journey up the mountain. People had stated how it was treacherous climb, filled with Frost Trolls, Ice Wraiths, Wolves, etc. They hadn't seen so much as a fox. Nikolaus supposed the others had gone some time before they had reached Ivarstead (They hadn't stayed there too long - Leo had began flirting with a pretty Nord Maid with a rather unsavoury-looking man with her, while Nikolaus had purchased supplies - he dragged Leo out before the husband lost his temper.) so they had probably wiped out all of the wild opponents on their way. Wondering idly how many would be there, his musings came to a halt as they reached the final station, and the towering structure of High Hrothgar came into their view, a vast guardian of stone that stood out against the bleak snowfall. 
Naturally, Leo positively exploded.
[b]"Niko, do you see this?! Can you imagine how long it must have taken to build it in these conditions?! And not to mention the transportation of materials! They must have lost a few lives on the way up; a perfectly noble cause, in my opinion..."[/b] Leo babbled on like that until the pair reached the front doors, Niko pushing them open and sighed in relief as a wave of warm air and the scent of food rushed towards him. Leo continued babbling about the interior ([i]"By the Gods Niko, look at the designs on that brazier! AMAZING!"[/i]), as they removed their outer cloaks and face gear, to be welcomed by the Greybeards, and a woman wearing curious looking armour. With a thrill of surprise, Niko quickly realized it was of Akaviri design - she must have been a Blade. Leo noticed this too and switched on his dimpled grin, waggling his eyebrows at her. Shaking his head, Niko stood in front of Leo, blocking his view of the Blade - he was unsure whether Leo was drawn by her armour, or her looks. Probably both, knowing his friend.
After being directed into the dining hall - and dragging Leo away from the woman - the pair entered to see a group of people already in there. And they certainly weren't what Niko was expecting. What looked like an Argonian Mage, a pale looking man stood and obscured in the shadows, another pale looking Breton conversing with a Khajiit, an Orc, a young Breton girl... and a cat?
"I hope this was worth the journey, Leo... Leo?" Niko glanced at his cousin, who was openly staring at the pale Breton - well, more at his armour, to be honest. Niko clipped him around the ear, and Leo winced, glaring at his cousin. "NO. Stop it."
"Hey, don't talk to me like some sorta misbehaving dog!"
"Quit eye-stalking people and their armour then! It's rude!"
"But it looks SO FABULOUS."
"NO."
Their quiet conversation continued for a few moments, ending in Leo sat at one of the stone seats, drumming his fingers against the tabletop impatiently and his eyes listing around the room, and Niko leaning against the chair, glancing at the other occupants of the room. He wondered when the meeting would begin.