Ena spares her a glance, but it's hard to read her face beneath the full hood she has pulled up and forwards. The woman's probably pale, probably dark haired, so either a Nord or a paler Imperial, but it's a bit hard to tell given every inch of her skin except her face is covered in thick cloth and leather. She has cylinder - possibly a scroll or map case - on her back, but no other apparent baggage.

"Well, not by me," Lianda comments, crossing her arms. "What're you doing out here, Ena? And that couldn't wait on a letter, or for me to return to Solitude?"

...Ena is strongly regretting getting caught, and still doesn't want to explain what she's been doing with her life, so she hedges. "I became aware of a credible threat against your life, that probably would've outstripped a courier. I was planning on checking on you, to make sure you were okay."

"There are a lot of threats against my life," Lianda says, voice wry. "You didn't visit over the dragons, let alone the myriad of people I've angered by not taking their side."

"This one was a bit closer to home." Ena keeps her voice soft, lets a hint of vulnerability leak in. "And I think is more credible - you're strong, enough to make facing you in battle inherently risky, but you're not immune to a knife in the back, or to poison."

Lianda raises an eyebrow, clearly not believing her. "So you came out here, to warn me of an imminent threat, against your usual ways?"

Ena keeps her expression earnest and doesn't scowl, even though she wants to. "Someone's taken out a contract on you with the Dark Brotherhood. Rumors don't have them what they used to be, but there's been high profile killings. You're terrible at subterfuge."

Her sister shrugs. "I'll admit it's not my strong point, and not something I'm interested in." She stops, stares at Ena for a few long moments. "Thank you for the warning, though. You're welcome to return to Solitude with us; I need to consult with Malielle about something."

Ena nods, thinks, and figures she needs to be there to head off Babette. "The offer's appreciated. I might leave before we get there, once we're on the main roads. Places to be, you understand." Like 'lurking around Lianda.' Her sister must have gotten lucky with seeing her that first time. "Let me get my horse."

Lianda smiles, though it's not a particularly friendly expression. "We'll walk with you, how about."

"Oh, of course," Ena says, not bothering to fake a smile. She leads the way back, and, voice deceptively idle, asks, "So, who's your friend?"

Lianda glances over at the strange woman, quirks an eyebrow.

The woman makes a little gesture, probably a dismissal. "Serana. Otherwise it's not really all that important. Lianda agreed to accompany me somewhere, after a detour or two."

Lianda's lips go a bit thin.

Interesting, usually Lianda would outright argue if someone claims she'll do something she hasn't agreed to, but Ena can't pinpoint any other part of Serana's statement Lianda could be objecting to.

Ena smiles, probably obviously fakely but not insultingly so. "My pleasure. I'm Ena, Lianda's older sister. Lianda's a helpful person like that."

Serana makes an amused noise.

They reach the horse, and Lianda tilts her head. "Have you given him a name yet?" she asks Ena.

Ena blinks. "No. Absolutely not. You are not naming my horse."

"...If this is about the cat, Swiftclaw Shadow-slayer was a great name," Lianda responds, clearly amused. "You never name animals. They need good names. Names they can be proud of. Like, Grand Aurora Racer, Proud Star Hoof..."

"No, no, no, and no, and no to your next twenty suggestions too." Ena gestures quite broadly. "The horse doesn't need a name!"

"That's rather unfair to your horse," Serana says, clearly laughing inside. "Perhaps Gloamstrider."

"That's barely any better," Ena says, shaking her head. "It's my horse, anyways."

"Greatly Shining Mane," Lianda continues, apparently completely ignoring Ena. "The Duke of the Open Road."

"Mister Stampy," Serana adds.

"I'm going to stab you both, why did I think this was anything approaching a good idea..." Ena mutters.