Disclaimer: Don't own and never will.

AN: I only started playing Skyrim on the Xbox 360 this year just gone, so no, I don't know the end game here.

With practised care, Karita quietly opened the door to the tavern and slipped in. Keeping her footsteps light, she moved through the tavern making barely a sound. Not so much as a creak rose from the wooden stairs as she climbed up them. She had just reached her bed when suddenly a voice came from behind her.

"Finally back I see," a man's voice said and Karita suddenly tensed.

"Father! I didn't-"

"See me. Yes, I guessed," he said as he looked at her with an inscrutable look on his face.

"I-" she began, not entirely sure what she was going to say, but he cut her off before she could continue.

"I know that you've been gone since we closed up for the night and went to bed," he said firmly. "And I know that you're warming the Jarl's bed at night."

"Father, I-"

"You don't normally hide your affairs," he continued with a sigh. "What are you worried about?"

"Jarl Felgeif doesn't want anyone to know that I'm his mistress," Karita said with a shake of her head, before adding bitterly. "He doesn't want to be seen shagging a woman of 'lesser' stature."

"Lesser stature my arse," Thoring growled, clenching his fist. "How dare he demean you so!"

"Father-"

"No Karita. You deserve better than that! You're the greatest bard in all of Skyrim," Karita snorted slightly at this. "He should appreciate what he has!"

"Father, he was talking about taking the Windpeak Inn before I started this!" Karita cut in and Thoring suddenly stopped.

"He wants all the local businesses to announce their loyalty to the Stormcloaks," she continued and a scowl crossed Thoring's face. "He says that when the Stormcloaks win, true Nords, Nords who fought for the freedom of Skyrim from the Empire should be rewarded with the properties of those who supported the Empire or stayed out of the war."

"The war isn't over yet," Thoring said, shaking his head. "And the Windpeak has always been a place of neutrality in Skyrim!"

"The Empire is stretched thin father and the Stormcloaks know that," she paused and looked away. "If this keeps us safe...or at least safe until the Empire wins, then I'm willing to do it."

"But…" his words drifted away, his face looking almost stricken.

"Besides," Karita said with a slight smile. "The Jarl knows how to please a woman in the bedroom. It's not the worst burden in the world."

And with that, she walked downstairs to prepare the inn for the day ahead.