I don't pick sides [Open]

[Bard]

Bard entered Windhelm, and what he saw made him cringe. He saw a younger Dunmer woman, and two Nordic men were cornering her. He came closer to hear what the men were saying.
"...and we know you're an Imperial spy. We have ways of finding out, you know. We could come to your house, spy, and force it out of you," one Nord man said, and the other one laughed. Bard looked at the Dunmer woman. She was beautiful. He walked over to the men.
"I think you should leave. Now," he said, looking coldly at the men. They turned to face him, and scoffed.
"You're out of your element here, Imperial. You really believe we'll let you leave this city, to go back to the other Imperials and tell them what we're up to? Not only are you an Imperial bastard, but you're a Grey-skin lover. That's disgusting," one of the Nordic men stated, spitting on Bard's face.
The vein on Bard's temple stuck out as he wiped the spit from his face. He stared at the man for a second, then calmly said, "Try something like that again, and I will hurt you."
The Nord that spat on him laughed, turned to the other Nord, then attempted to punch Bard in the face. But Bard was quicker. He had already drawn his sword and he heard a small thud as the man's fist hit the ground, blood pouring out of the stump of his hand. The Nord man screamed in agony as Bard sheathed his weapon. He coldly looked at the other man.
"Take your friend, and leave...before I lose my temper," he said flatly. The friend picked up the Nordic man and hurried off, constantly looking back to make sure Bard wasn't following them.

[sievan]

[/i], he thought. He would not involve himself, nor would he reveal that he was watching. He did not want to get involved as it was more trouble than it was worth, and the Imperial seemed more than capable of handling himself. The Nord fool had it coming for him, but it was best the man not linger here or he might find himself in the dungeons, as the enforcement of the law here swayed towards the Nords.

An Imperial...the Blade wondered if he was an Imperial spy. Even if he was, it didn't matter. He no longer served the Empire, as there was no Dragonborn Emperor to protect and the Blades had been eliminated by the Thalmor, the rest disbanded as per the terms of the White-Gold Concordat.

When the Nords were gone, the Dunmer emerged from the narrow passageway he'd hidden in. "Not quite the 'welcome' you were expecting?" the Dunmer said; while it was sarcastic, it was not rude, and he meant it as a way of friendly greeting.

"I am Arethan. If you'd prefer a more friendly crowd and better ale, traveller, I'd suggest the New Gnisis Cornerclub. Candlehearth is full of his ilk." He motioned in the direction the Nords had gone. Hair down, wearing the clothes of a civilian, and with a dagger at his belt, Trevyn hoped he looked the part of a Dunmer civilian, rather than a trained agent of the Blades. If not, though, he would mention being in the Morag Tong. For all he knew, this man could be working with the Thalmor. Trevyn would not trust him, but that didn't keep him from being nice.[/ul]

[Bard]

"As long as the other crowd does not treat me like I am a criminal, I would gladly join you. My name is Bard," he said, extending his hand.

Finally, someone friendly in this town, he thought to himself. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the Dunmer girl was gone. Damn. I didn't get her name...

[sievan]

[/b]" he replied. "Ambarys Rendar runs it. As long as you don't insult the Dunmer, he is welcoming to any and all. It is this way, in the 'Gray Quarter'." It was disgusting how the Nords had renamed it that, and forced them to live there in the squalor. He didn't complain, but Ambarys always did.

He turned and started towards the Gray Quarter, looking behind him to assure that Bard was following. "I'm curious about your name," he said, adding no assumptions, so as not to offend.[/ul]

[Bard]

Bard followed the Dunmer gladly. He was ready to go somewhere warmer. "My name is Bard, however; I am not a warrior poet. It's merely a name," he said lightly, sort of chuckling at the last part. "The Gray Quarter? What is that?" he asked, still following Arethan.