Daniel
"I'm old... But i wasn't even in skyrim when that happened. That was in 122... I'm sure someone like Venasu saw it... The Telvanni merchant you'll see at the port."

*She adjusted her stance to be morr comfortable. She tended to always be "Ready", but she got more comfortable.*

"What's your story? You already know everything about me..."
Mary
"Fair," She answered with a small chuckle, looking up at the top of the castle.

"I was born in the Imperial City, in 119," She began. "My parents had fled Summerset after the Thalmor takeover and landed there, and eventually had me. Went through basic education and studied at the Arcane University for a few years. Once I graduated, I started wandering." 

She stood with her hands in her pockets, weight casually shifted to one leg. "Wanted to see what the University couldn't or wouldn't teach me. Learn as much as I could through direct physical experience, that sort of thing."

She let out a small sigh as she looked again to Ayemnivi. "Once the Great War started, my parents knew the Imperial City was gonna be a target and left to Falkreath. I was in Black Marsh at the time, so I went through Eastern Cyrodiil to meet them. Never got caught up in the war, thankfully, but... I think I should've done more to help my friends and the University, at least. I haven't even seen what the city's like after the war."

Her voice was soaked in guilt. The choice had been far from easy. It was either protect her parents or her friends. The Thalmor hunting refugees wasn't unprecedented; the Night of Green Fire was proof they wanted to minimize the amount of exiles from Summerset who could speak about what life had been like there.

She knew her decision wasn't evil, but it still felt like just as much of a stain on her soul.

"But we eventually ended up here. Seemed to be the safest place. Sturdy, defensible. But... We'll see if this civil war reaches it"
Daniel
"Surprised you missed Leyawiin then... Going through eastern cyrodiil... I was there for the entire war. Myself and another Dunmer captain. He retired to Solstheim after the concordat. It's an all too familiar tale... I had to make choices i wasn't ready for... The choice of one life over another. You aren't alone in your choices."

*She sighed. Looking down before looking back up at her.*

"But Solitude is the legion base in the region... Its the one city the stormcloaks will have to take."
Mary
She appreciated Ayemnivi's words. It was good to know she wasn't alone in that struggle.

"Yeah. It's not looking good, but my parents are convinced everything will work out before it comes to that. I think they're tired of having to flee their home and are just trying to convince themselves they won't have to ever again."

A somber look spread across her face. "Consequences of having such a long life, I suppose. First they lived through the Oblivion Crisis, then the Great War, and now this. They don't deserve to have gone through it all.
Daniel
"Well... It's a testament to their own strength, their resilience, that they're still here. Despite everything, you're still here."

*She smiled. Her view of things was that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.*

"They make it through all that... You make it through all that, then everything else will be easy. Thats how i see it anyway."
Mary
"For some things, maybe. But I don't think having to abandon everything and run from your home would ever get easier."

She truly felt terrible for her parents. She willingly chose the life of a wanderer, but even she had a home she could return to. To have one and be torn from it twice must have been devastating. 

"I do miss Cyrodiil though," She said. "Skyrim's nice, but... It's damn cold. And there's no tobacco."