Dawn had broken over the dark alleyways of Windhelm. Stretching languidly in her bed Elsa blinked a few times as she gained her senses. Her mouth felt dry and fuzzy, though her head didn't ache. Sitting up she ran her fingers through hair that had come loose while she slept and she began to refasten and strap her leathers back into place. This, she thought, is why she hated sleeping in her armour. Once satisfied that her bodice, greaves and bracers were secure and straightened she heard a knock at the door. Frowning she grabbed one of her daggers she had stowed away under her pillow and held it back as she opened the door. Seeing it was Elda she smiled and slipped the dagger into the back of her leather trousers.
Nodding a good morning Elda set a tray of food down on the table beside the bed. Oddly there was a flower in some water on her tray. A flower Elsa had never set eyes on before, it was certainly not one of the flora found locally. Elda must have noticed the focus of her attention as she gave a short laugh and wiped her hands on her apron. "From the Khajit. He insisted." Winking at Elsa as she left, Elda let out another giggle, firmly shutting the door behind her.
"The khajit?"
Picking up the bloom in her hand she looked at it with curiosity, lifting it to her nose to smell. In the dim light the flower seemed to glow, it's presence almost ethereal. Even the fragrance was completely unknown to her. She twirled the stalk between her fingers, once, twice, before returning the flower to it's small vase of water. Why Zhar would have thought to send her a flower was not entirely unknown to her. She was far from naive. Still it did give her pause for thought. Between Zhar, Sander and that nord who'd kept looking her way last night Elsa realised that this job was to be very different to those she'd done in the past. "I might be in over my head here papa."
Ignoring the flower for now she set upon enjoying the meal, quickly remembering to remove the dagger from the back of her trousers before sitting, wondering if she should offer her coins to Zhar for payment. She would ask later, though if the flower was anything to go by she didn't expect him to accept her payment. Once her tray was clear Elsa sighed, brushing through her hair with her fingers and quickly braiding it to hopefully keep it from her face. It was a hopeless cause as she knew that sooner of later strands would free themselves as they always did. Arming herself once more with her daggers she fastened her cloak around her shoulders before crouching to pull her pack from under the floorboards once more. Ensuring the plank of wood was back in place she checked through her belongings, wasting no time in slinging her quiver over her shoulder. Ulfvindr had lain beside her pack and now she tok time to check it for any scratches or damage it may have taken. Once certain her most prized possession was unscathed she attached it to the quiver on her back, smiling softly at the reassuring weight at her back. Looking once more at the flower on her tray she wondered what to do with it. Without it's water surely it would wilt and fade, but she frowned at the idea of leaving it behind at the tavern. Picking it from it's water she resolved to simply take it with her. Before leaving her room she lifted her father's amulet of Talos from under her bodice, gripping the metal firmly till the blunt metal bit into her palm. "May Talos guide me, may shadow hide me." It was a sort prayer, an offering to both dive and daedric, but she never left for a job without softly uttering the words.
Checking the room for any left behind belongings she pushed open the heavy wood door and strode into the main entrance, her pack secure around her torso. Handing the key to the room to Elda she sat upon a stool by the bar, waiting for signs from her newest companions, the blossom twirling between her fingers.