As their caravan grew closer to the town the guards stopped and asked for paperwork for each merchant. Although all the paperwork seemed to be the same, somehow they could tell a fake from a real one. They arrested two men from the back and took them in. “These goods belong…” The guard started to say. “To the merchant guild.” Il piped in. 

“These goods were purchased by the caravan and mostly me, Ilthallan. I would see it as robbery if you and yours stole what I rightfully purchased. Those men worked for me but they will probably deny it. I hired them under the assumption those guild marks were legitimate. Unlike you and yours I cannot identify counterfeits.” Ilthallan explained as he got into his pack. He had drawn up contracts for each person on the caravan and made sure that they were legitimate. 

According to the ledgers he displayed he was actually the caravan lead or master or whatever the caravans called them. Another man in the lead, a Nord, walked up and took the papers. He handed them to the guards and Ilthallan sat back down. “Most of these goods were purchased by that Altmer.” He admitted bitterly but was acting as lead of the caravan because Nords were better reviewed in these lands. 

Ilthallan had done this exchange in the past but last time he lied through his teeth and convinced the people that the caravan was indeed his. After that point he went into the merchants’ guild and got the required permits. Taking over the caravan was simple and saddened him because a lot of his friends died. It was one of the reasons he didn’t want to get close to Zenotha or the others. He didn’t even know their names until he overheard the guards calling them out.

“You actually work for this… Elf.” The guard emphasized on the word elf like it left a bad taste in his mouth. “Sadly I do.” Replied the man as he handed the papers back to Ilthallan. Zenotha took them and placed them back in his bag. “Too many of your kind in this area if you ask me.” The guard said to Ilthallan but he ignored him making it look like he was talking to his “second” The Nord man. The guards face became reddened as he started to say something else but stopped himself. With a hand he waved the caravan through and Ilthallan only smiled as Zenotha snuggled next to him. 

Something felt off about Zenotha, like she didn’t belong. He didn’t know why he thought that but would keep her close. If she thought that he would stay with her and keep her happy… then he would act like it. It felt as though she was hiding something life altering and he didn’t like when people endangered his life. If she was hiding something from him he would figure it out. But for now he would enjoy her warmth. The carts weren’t allowed to actually enter the city but had to circle the outer gates. 

For what seemed like hours the caravan sat and bartered with the townsfolk. Ilthallan left the bartering to the folk that resembled the people of the province they were in. He walked through the town with Zenotha on his arm. She was extremely clingy and it kind of looked as if they were a married couple. He wouldn’t fight against those thoughts. In fact most people responded better to a married couple than single people. Perhaps it was because they found someone and trusted them. He looked around the town and pulled out some coins. He handed them to Zenotha and asked her to order them some food in the tavern. She looked at him confused but didn’t ask questions and did it. 

After she left he walked around a corner and stood there for a while. He was observing the people walking around the town and eventually blended into the building he was standing next to. People wouldn’t notice him standing there unless they bumped into him. His eyes still watching the townsfolk, how they walk, how they spoke, even the way they breathed in and out. After about an hour of this observation he walked around a corner and noticed someone following him. He was to place his magical ring on before they round the corner though. When they did they saw a massive Nord man standing in their way. “Get out of the way Elf…” He said as he walked off. “Always walking around like they own the streets.” 

He recognized that elf… it was Zenotha. Perhaps she was worried and looking for him, he did send her for food hours ago. Although the way she found him and how quickly she was there was terrifying to him. It was as if she was following him for some time. Lucky for him this ring changed the appearance of his clothing as well. Although it wasn’t a quick change… he had to study the race and form a person in his mind. It took years for him to train himself to take on another person’s form, even longer when he could make up his own. 

“Ey there how are things going around here?” He asked in the thick accent of this area. 

“Aye? The damn Stormcloaks sent a messenger with something about the war. Looks like the Imperials are all moving out. Although I have lived in this town all my life. So I decided to retire from the Imperial armies. Even though it was a pain in my ass to join. Know how hard it was for me?” He asked. 

“Probably cost you, your first unborn.” Ilthallan joked. The man responded with a slight smile and started to walk. Ilthallan didn’t hear him say to stop and followed him. He found himself at the tavern. He and this man entered the tavern and started to drink some mead. After about a half hour Ilthallan thanked his new friend and left. “Wiffshhh gooinn taa kiillll meh.” Ilthallan said as he stumbled out of the tavern. In truth he wasn’t drunk but knew how to act like he was. 

He stumbled down the stairs and passed by Zenotha on his way down the stairs… head first. She ended up catching him with surprising strength and speed. “Thankssshh ifsh there weren’t four of you I would have hit the groundd…” He said as she helped him to his feet. He patted himself down and belched loudly. She looked at him a bit disgusted and entered the tavern. After that he made his way to an area where people weren’t looking at him. 

He focused on his form in his mind knowing what he looked like. His form melted a little and his hair resumed the same looked he had before he turned into the Nord. He had that feeling that someone was looking for him again and he laid on the ground. His eyes closed and he waited… the steps got closer and sounded like they were from someone big. 

“Elf get off the ground. If you want to sleep go back to the Shimmering Isles.” A guard said and Zenotha came running up behind him. “E-eexcuse me!” She exclaimed as she ran past the man. Ilthallan looked at her with a smile. “Oh no she found me again!” Ilthallan said playing with her. The guard looked somewhat confused for a moment. “I thought for sure I would get some rest being here… sadly that won’t ever happen.” He said and the guard rolled his eyes. “Get off the ground and take your tramp with you!” The guard said yelling loud enough for everyone in the area to hear. 

“Tramp? Is that an insult?” Ilthallan asked as he looked at the guard. Ilthallan started to get on his feet, smile still across his face. “You don’t look like a guard for this town. Most wear the town’s insigna on their uniform, or somewhere. So you work for a powerful family?” He asked as he did the man’s face filled with anger. “If you attack me now I have witnesses that will vouch for me… when I kill you.” He whispered the last part so that only the man could hear it. 

In a rage the man flew at Ilthallan who cast a spell he had been holding. In that instant he vanished from sight. The man’s fist hit air and Ilthallan sidestepped him. As he did he could see that Zenotha was behind the man with what looked like a club? In that instant she smashed it over his head denting the helmet he was wearing and knocking the man down. “When did she move?!” Ilthallan asked himself. “She also knew exactly where to hit him. Perhaps she was an assassin sent to kill me?” He thought asking himself as his spell wavered. Though he tripped and fell onto his face after it did. 

“Oh my Ilthallan!” She shrieked as she dropped the club and helped him up. “See how much you need me now?” She asked as she poked his nose. “Yeah…” He replied and walked out of the space between a home and the wall. “What’s going on here?” asked an actual town guard. After a few moments he asked the townspeople who were there to tell him what they saw. Then after that they took the man to the prison. “No harm was done.” Ilthallan said but the guard said that the man needed to sit in a cell for at least a day, to cool off. 

Soon the Caravan master… the one under Ilthallan walked up to them. “Well we packed up everything and even hired a few guards to watch the supplies. We will start commerce again in the morning.” And with that he left him and Zenotha… alone. “Would you like to join me?” Ilthallan asked her as he held out an arm. She was shocked but took his arm and walked leaning against him. “So are we…” She trailed off. “We are going to sleep together yes… but only sleep. It is hard for me to trust people.” He said pausing as they walked. “I want to trust you and will by sleeping with you tonight.” He admitted as they walked. They paid for a room and moved into the bed.