<div class="floatleft">(http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff406/Cal_Eternal_Blade/Characters%20Female/Art%20Female/1280x908_6863_Fantasy_Knight_2d_character_fantasy_knight_girl_woman_portrait_picture_image_digital_art_zps9cf5afb6.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Lucretia<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Whiterun: Gates, Main Thoroughfare, and the Bannered Mare.<br/><strong>Time:</strong>Mid Morning<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Open<br/>Lucretia came out of the wind with her now tattered cloak curling back around her knees, the walls of Whiterun's towers now providing shelter from the far cooler whether than her memory seemed to recall from years past.<em>Is it getting colder up here, or am I just too use to the Jungles of Valenwood?</em>She thought even as he made her way to the gate, moving at a travelers pace. Her leather armor was on under the cloak, but her recognizable gear was in the pack on her back.<br/><br/>Her Akaviri Katana wrapped carefully and strapped to the side of her pack, and her Blades Armor likewise wrapped and placed in the bottom of her pack. She knew she'd have problems here eventually, that she'd be recognized at some point, and then her former brothers and sisters in arms would come looking for her. Right now she had to get through the gate of Whterun, it being in the center of Skyrim had much to do with this being her first stop, rather than resting at one of the border cities or towns closer to Cyrodil.<br/><br/>As she approached her height, and who knows what else put the guards on edge.<strong>"Halt! State your business."</strong>One of them demanded, causing her to look up from the hood of her cloak. From their expressions they weren't so much hostile to Imperials as just wary, which was better than she'd feared. It meant things with the Empire weren't as bad as some rumors had indicated, if Whiterun, a center of commerce had been hostile, then she didn't have much of a chance of getting in anywhere else.<br/><br/><strong>"I'm simply looking for a place to rest and spend a few septims."</strong>Lucretia explained in neutral tones, but some of her weariness crept into her voice. She was just glad they weren't demanding names, that would have been problematic, but then Nords didn't often demand names. Unlike Imperials they weren't as interested in keeping a list of the people visiting the city.<br/><br/>The guard smiled at her mention of septims, and she returned the gesture, knowing she'd used the right wording.<strong>"Then welcome to Whiterun, but make sure to stay out of trouble, Imperial."</strong>She nodded to the demand and the welcome, knowing she'd have likely had to have a charter in Cyrodil to get into one of the major cities.<br/><br/>The gate opened shortly thereafter, and she ventured on into the streets of Whiterun. The shops decorating the sides of the streets marked this as the trade hub it was, and she noticed the Kajiht were still doing business here, which was also a good sign. She hadn't been able to get any news on her trip from Cyroldil, travelers had been wary, and that had led her to believe that perhaps Skyrim was gearing up for a war. Truthfully she probably should have stopped somewhere along the way just to see what she could learn about Skyrims situation, she'd been too long from this land, and didn't know how the politics were turning.<br/><br/><em>Has it really been three years? Whiterun doesn't really look any different...</em>It was in the middle of that thought that she seen the smith making a large order of weapons, all looking the same, which was a sure sign someone was building an army.<em>Maybe not as peaceful as it looks...</em>The thought rolled through her mind along with the sights of those travelers avoiding her like she had the plague.<br/><br/>She pushed on to the Bannered Mare, opening the taverns doors to the smells and sounds of the fire-lit space. Several people gathered on benches, some at tables, and even a couple at the bar itself.<em>Never too early for a drink in Skyrim, I guess.</em>She thought with the same amusement she felt when she'd been on her long assignments here those years ago, and now that she wasn't serving the Empire she might as well enjoy it as well.<br/><br/>With a shrug she made her way to the bar, and sat down upon a stool.<strong>"I'll have some mead."</strong>She said popping down a couple of coins, before looking the bartender in the eyes to find the woman glaring.<strong>"What would your milk drinker of a mother think about that, lass?"</strong>The woman asked harshly, and Lucretia laughed.<strong>"Actually she was more fond of fruits, Grapes in particular, and she'd likely curse me to Oblivion if she knew. So about that drink?"</strong>Lucretia asked with a smile, and found the woman smirking at her before filling her a tankard of the bitter sweet Nord favorite.<br/><br/>After taking a few sips of her drink, Lucretia decided the woman might be willing to give over a bit of information if she asked nicely.<strong>"So, why's it look like Whiterun is preparing for war?"</strong>She asked in a soft voice only to find the Bannered Mare quieting as others took in her question, and even the bartenders smirk disappeared as her expression closed off.<em>GODS BLOOD! What's going on?</em>She thought, making sure to keep her nerves from her own expression, and pasting on a pleasant but neutral smile.