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Fall from High Rock	By : mistressarachnia Category: +A through F > Elder Scrolls - Morrowind Views: 4940 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The Elder Scrolls universe belongs to Bethesda. Alyssa Elbert belongs to me. I make no money from writing about her adventures.

Chapter List
- 9
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- 11
Chapter
10: Secret Romance
A surge of electricity coursed from
Alyssa�s fingertips.� She fought to control it even as the screech sounded from
overhead: cliff racers.� It had been months since her first outing with Ajira,
and now she was confident in finding her own ingredients.
Anarenen had been surprised by her
quick mind, and she was excelling at her alchemical studies.� The high elf
positively radiated with pride the first day she came in carrying a sack full
of racer plumes and trama root.� He ran to show Edwinna, who barely looked up
from her work, but when she finally noticed Alyssa caught the glint of a smile
as she eyed her sister�s accomplishments.� Survival in the ashlands was not
easy, and hunting cliff racers was something Alyssa could never have forseen
herself doing, even when the ash storms were still.� After hunting wild guar
and nixhounds outside of Balmora with her new trainer Estirdalin from the
Balmora Mages Guild, she quickly made herself ready for the challenge.� Still,
there were bigger challenges to come.
The ear-shattering screech became
louder as the wounded racer plummeted down for the kill.� Alyssa stood ready,
bracing herself with a shield spell.� She cast just a little too late and
stumbled back as the creature gashed her arm.� She tried not to let it faze her
and concentrated all of her energy into unleashing a single fireball.� Her
fingers became warm and in an instant the flames burst up into the sky, hitting
the creature dead on.� The cliff racer uttered one last horrid shriek as it
plunged to the ground and died.� Alyssa had to run to get out of the beast�s
way so she would not be crushed under its weight.� She had won the fight, but
still her arm gushed blood.� She opened one of the potions she had prepared and
poured a bit of the contents over her gaping wound and watched it begin to
heal.� She sipped a bit more, just to be sure, then put the bottle back into
her pack.� With all of the practice she had been getting, her alchemical
potions had become much stronger and more potent.� A little went a long way.�
Anarenen was a good teacher.
She smiled as she thought of the
latest lessons he had given her.� He was very patient, and his patience had
paid off.� She could now summon scamps at will, and even had skeleton warriors
and ancestral ghosts at her beck and call.� She wondered for a moment why the
Dunmer, with their hatred of necromancy, allowed such practices, but it was no
matter.� They had served their purpose on more than one occasion when Alyssa
had gotten in over her head in her early destruction training.� Now she rarely
needed them, but she was curious to resume her studies just the same.� The
daedra had always held a certain fascination for her, and she remembered the
awe she had felt when Edwinna had so effortlessly summoned a Dremora from
Oblivion to assist in her fight against the Dark Brotherhood assassin all those
months ago.� Perhaps she wasn�t yet up to summoning Dremora, but Alyssa was
looking forward to her next lesson nonetheless.� Anarenen had promised to help her
work on controlling her energies even further to summon a clanfear.� As soon as
she returned with the ingredients he requested, she would get to try her hand
in at controlling this new type of daedra.
A change in the wind signaled her
to look up at the sky.� It wasn�t another cliff racer, but the sky darkened
nonetheless.� An ash storm was brewing.� Alyssa hurried to collect the racer
plumes.� As she headed back to town, she noticed a bit of scathecraw growing on
the hills, and picked it as well.� It could be manipulated to create a cure for
poison, and she never knew when she might need it.
~*~
Alyssa returned to the guild just
as the storm was beginning to pick up in intensity.� It was good timing.� She
sincerely hoped that she would never find herself lost in an ashstorm.� She had
heard tales of people dying from being stranded out in the ashlands during a
storm, and this looked like a big one.� As she hurried to her room to put away
her ingredients and grab a change of clothes, she stopped dead in her tracks.�
Her bed was covered in sweet smelling heather, dotted with sprigs of blue stoneflower
and gold kanet.� On the desk and dresser were hundreds of glowing coda flowers
bundled together in vases in full bloom, giving the room a beautiful but eerie
glow.� A well-crafted earthenware pot by her bed held juicy ripe comberries and
ash yams.� Someone had gone through a lot of trouble to collect these flowers
and berries, but what were they doing in her room?� As she walked in, the sweet
fragrance that filled her nostrils brought a smile to her lips.� Who had done
this?� She placed her sack of racer plumes on the ground and took an ash yam
from the ornately glazed pot.� Ash yams always made her feel more alert, but comberries
made her sleepy.� She would have to try a few before she went to bed tonight.�
Then she spied a bundle of dark violet cloth on the bed.� She picked it up and
gasped.� It was an ornate exquisite gown, perfectly fitted to her size.� She
laid it out on the bed, and noticed that it was covering something else: a
blade.� Why was there a blade hidden in this dress?� Come to think of it, what
was this dress doing here?� She would have to ask around the guild.� She
couldn�t think of who would have gone through all of this trouble on her
behalf, or why.� Gathering up the dress and blade, she headed downstairs.�
Pausing, she remembered her own racer plumes, and turned around to gather those
up as well.
�Oh good!� You�re back.� The storm
outside looks like it�s going to be pretty deadly, so I�m glad you arrived when
you did,� smiled Anarenen, �Did you vanquish any cliff racers today?�
�I did,� she replied proudly as she
tossed him the sack, which he examined with a pleased expression, �However,
when I returned my room had been decorated in such a way that� I don�t know.�
I�m very flattered, but it seems like a lot of trouble to go through for
whoever did it.� I suppose you know?� asked Alyssa.
�Decorated?� How so?� asked
Anarenen, clearly confused.
�There are flowers all over my bed
and desk, some of the coda flowers in vases.� It smells great, and I�ve never
seen so many coda flowers in one place before.� It gives the room a beautiful
glow,� answered Alyssa.
�Huh.� Really?� he asked, drawing a
blank expression.
�Yes.� There are comberries and ash
yams in an ornate earthenware pot next to my bed, plus someone left this
exquisite gown on my bed.� I almost missed it with all the flowers surrounding
it.� Also, it had this blade folded up in it�� Alyssa paused as she held up the
dress and handed Anarenen the blade.� A surprised look crossed his face.
�My Devil Tanto!� What in Oblivion
is this doing here?� I�ve been looking all over for it!� exclaimed Anarenen.�
Alyssa�s eyes narrowed in surprise.� What was going on?� She heard running from
upstairs as someone hurried to join them.
�Alyssa�s room is absolutely filled
with flowering plants!� exclaimed Orrent as he hurried downstairs.
�They don�t know who did this?� How
could that be?� thought Alyssa suspiciously.� If they didn�t know, then it had
to be someone from outside the guild.� She just couldn�t think of whom.
�And what is the meaning of this?�
asked Edwinna, wandering over to join the others carrying a stack of papers
with her.
�Well, it seems Alyssa�s found my
blade.� I don�t know what the rest of this is about though,� said Anarenen,
�You didn�t see anyone come in?�
�I didn�t, and I�ve been hanging
out in the front room all day.� The few customers we did have this morning only
wanted a few scrolls.� They left without ever leaving the entryway.� I don�t see
how anyone could have gotten by me.� I�ll ask Heem-La.� He might have seen
something, although I doubt it.� He�s been in his room praying all day.� It�s
some Argonian holiday or somesuch - something about the Hist mother.� I don�t
know.� He asked me to deal with all of his customers today.�
�It sounds to me like you have a
secret admirer,� smiled Vala, joining the crowd as she clutched a book to her
chest dreamily.
�It sounds that way to me too, but
why would your secret admirer have Anarenen�s dagger?� asked Orrent.� Edwinna�s
eyes narrowed.
�Erranil!� Has anyone come through
via guild guide today?� shouted Edwinna.� Erranil came running to the balcony.
�Only a Dunmer woman with her young
son from Caldera,� she answered from above, leaning over the handrail.
�I wonder who it could be�� mused Vala
dreamily.
�I just don�t understand how
someone could have snuck by me without my noticing it.� I suppose they could
have used an invisibility or chameleon spell.� Or perhaps they are just really
good at sneaking through the shadows.� But I don�t even recall the door being
opened, except when a customer was entering.� I suppose they could have entered
at the same time, but� with all of those goods?� wondered Orrent, clearly
confused.� Edwinna�s eyes narrowed further.
�Yes, it seems more likely that
Alyssa�s admirer is within the guild.� Given that the gifts were primarily
alchemical ingredients, and judging by the presence of Anarenen�s Devil Tanto,
and the fact that the two have been spending quite a bit of time together as of
late� Anarenen, please come upstairs.� I need to have a word with you in
private,� said Edwinna, turning on her heels.� Anarenen�s eyes widened as his
face paled.
�Wait, you can�t think�� he
started.
�Unless you have a better
explanation, please follow me� Now,� said Edwinna, halfway up the stairs.�
Anarenen took a deep breath and followed her, avoiding eye contact with any of
the other guild members.
�Somehow I think there is another
easy explanation,� said Vala doubtfully as the door slammed from upstairs.
�I agree.� Making a move on Alyssa
would be a sure way for Anarenen to get himself fired from the guild,� said
Orrent, �He�s not that stupid.�
�I� haven�t gotten anything like
that from him� I don�t think,� said Alyssa cautiously, examining the gown once
more.� It was gorgeous, no matter who gave it to her.� She wondered where, or
if, she would have a chance to wear it.
�Well, there aren�t any rules
against it,� said Erranil, heading down the stairs, �He�s free to romance
whomever he likes.� Besides, Edwinna has been leading him around for years.�
�I must say, I don�t envy his
position one bit.� I can�t imagine having my job security linked so intimately
with my boss�s� ah� satisfaction,� said Orrent.
�I don�t think it�s about job
security,� said Vala, �I do believe that he�s in love with Edwinna.�
�I agree.� Of course, I don�t think
Edwinna is ever going to give him the time of day.� She�ll just keep leading
him on indefinitely.� He�s just her toy.� And now accusing him of this� it
isn�t fair,� said Erranil, lowering her voice to a whisper.
�Oh, I think Edwinna has feelings
for him too,� said Vala, �She just doesn�t know how to express them.�� Erranil
laughed bitterly.
�I think you are sweet, but a bit
overly romantic,� said Erranil, �Have you ever heard her say anything to that
end, Alyssa?�
�No, no I can�t say I have,� mused
Alyssa, deep in thought, �Although she does praise his abilities as a teacher
and alchemist.� I think the only thing she�s ever said to me regarding their
personal relations was that they were �mutually beneficial at times.�� Orrent
and Erranil laughed out loud.
�Well, he certainly isn�t getting nothing
out of the deal,� smiled Orrent.� Alyssa blushed.� She found the entire
situation uncomfortable.
�Yes, it does seem to be enough to
keep him around,� said Erranil.
�I really don�t think Edwinna
realizes how deeply Anarenen loves her.� I think that once she realizes it,
she�ll come around,� said Vala.
�Wouldn�t that be the day,� smiled
Erranil, �But I wouldn�t start planning their wedding just yet.� If he has
switched his attentions, I can�t really say I blame him.� And if Edwinna fires
him for it, I, for one, will object.� Why should he stay here as her pet?� He
can do better than that.� He told me once that he hadn�t planned on staying
this long in any guildhall � he just wanted to open an alchemy shop in a small
town somewhere scenic along the coast, somewhere without ash storms blowing in
from all directions.� He still could.� Find a nice girl who doesn�t toy with
his emotions, settle down, why not?�
�Well I wouldn�t start planning his
farewell party either,� said Vala, �If he�d wanted to leave, he would have done
so by now.� You don�t know what�s being said up there.�
�Neither do you.� But I guess we�ll
find out sooner or later,� said Erranil as she started back up the stairs to
her post, �By the way Alyssa, that dress is absolutely stunning!� It would take
me months to save up for such a thing.� You�re a lucky girl.�� She winked, a
sly smile crossing her face.
Alyssa blushed.� She wasn�t sure
what to think.� She didn�t have any admirers that she knew of.� The implication
that Anarenen had exchanged her sister for her made her deeply uncomfortable,
although she doubted that it was true.� She liked Anarenen.� He was kind and attractive
and she loved spending time with him but� he belonged to her sister.� She
didn�t want to compete with Edwinna.� She loved Edwinna.� Sure, she had
initially found his smooth golden skin, strong arms, and easy smile to be
intoxicating� but she had quickly banished such thoughts from her mind.� Over
the past few months she had come to think of her mentor more as a brother.� He
was caring, he was sweet, he was intelligent� she secretly hoped that Edwinna
would come to her senses and settle down with him.� But they seemed content
enough with their arrangement, and who was she to interfere?� Alyssa often
spied the two of them talking quietly together, the high elf stooping down to
whisper in her ear.� The faraway expression on Edwinna�s face when he was near
spelled pure contentment.� But they always stopped their conversation as soon
as Alyssa entered the room; both of them looking up to smile at her as they
continued their separate duties.� She had even seen them leave together on a
few occasions; she wondered where they went.� As for their nighttime
activities, they were surprisingly discrete, considering that Alyssa occupied
the adjacent room.� They did make a pleasant couple, despite their odd
relationship.� Alyssa had felt a tinge of jealousy on more than one occasion,
but always brushed it off quickly.� How could Edwinna possibly accuse Anarenen
of this?� Alyssa didn�t believe it but the thought itself was troubling, in
more ways than one.
After about an hour, Edwinna�s door
reopened and she walked quickly over to Orrent, who was pacing just outside
their door, clearly trying to overhear what was going on inside as he signaled
to Erranil across the hall frequently.
�I am sorry about the ash storm,
but I need you to run over to Ald-skar immediately,� Edwinna said, �I have an
offer for Tanar Llervi, the new enchanter we hired.� Tell her that she and her
husband can share Anarenen�s old quarters downstairs, and I will raise her
pay.� She�s already gone home for the day.� The quarters are adjacent to her forge
in the back of the guildhall.� She and her husband can have a bit more privacy
here.� Besides, we could use a Redoran guard around to help deter thieves,�
Edwinna said.� Erranil gasped.� Anarenen stood at the entry of Edwinna�s room,
his hands braced against either side of the doorframe, and he did not look up.
�But, what about�� Orrent started,
looking over at Anarenen with wide eyes as he took the letter.� Edwinna crossed
her arms.� Not waiting for an answer, he quickly threw on a cloak and hurried
to obey.� As he opened the door, a gush of ash blew into the guild, nearly
knocking him off his feet.� He put up his hand to shield his eyes and braced
himself as he disappeared into the storm, letting the door slam shut behind
him.� The guild was silent.� Edwinna turned to walk downstairs.
�You can�t just fire Anarenen like
that!� It isn�t right!� shouted Erranil suddenly.� Edwinna and Anarenen both
looked at her in surprise.
�Who said anything about firing
anyone?� asked Edwinna sternly.� Anarenen smiled, returning his gaze to the
floor.
�Alyssa, I�m going to need you to
help me move your things � once again I�m going to switch rooms with you.� This
serves two purposes.� For one, if whomever so decorated your room returns, they
will presumably return to the same room and we should better be able to
determine who it is that is so fond of you.� I�m sure it�s just a harmless
admirer, but what concerns me is the presence of Anarenen�s stolen dagger and
the fact that no one saw this individual enter or exit the building.� You are
more than welcome to take a lover, but I would prefer to know who it is that my
sister is seeing.� I promise that no harm will come to them; I would just like
to make formal introductions.� Secondly,� she paused, �Your current quarters are
much larger, and I cannot possibly fit both Anarenen�s and my things into my
current quarters.�
Vala laughed triumphantly, shooting
a pleased smile at Erranil, who stood with a dropped jaw fixated on the pair.�
Anarenen chuckled, the small smile on his face growing larger even as he fought
to hide it.� Still he did not look up, fixating his gaze on the floor in front
of him as he leaned nervously on the doorframe.
�Hurry along, you two.� I want to
get all of this packing done before nightfall.� If we have time, perhaps Alyssa
can still get in some practice in conjuration.� Just make sure you control that
clanfear carefully so it isn�t a distraction to the rest of us,� Edwinna said
as she started gathering papers from downstairs.� Alyssa let out a relieved laugh.�
This was an interesting turn of events.
�Alright, but what am I supposed to
do with this dress?� And all of these flowers?� asked Alyssa.
�Keep them, I suppose.� They were
obviously meant as a gift for you, and I see no harm in accepting them.� I don�t
suppose you have any idea who you could return them to, at any rate.� But if
you get any more mysterious gifts, please let me know.� I dislike secrets,�
said Edwinna.
�Perhaps once you meet him you can
all have a double wedding.� I�d be more than happy to officiate the ceremony,�
joked Vala with a laugh, her red hair highlighting her rosy cheeks as she
beamed happily at the pair.
�Who said anything about that?�
Given recent events, I would simply prefer to have a permanent Redoran presence
here to deter sneaks and thieves.� Anarenen was simply kind enough to volunteer
to give up his quarters to Tanar and her husband as they are located
immediately adjacent to her forge in the back.� Since I am rarely in my
quarters, it seemed logical that he should move in with me,� Edwinna replied
curtly.� This time Erranil laughed.� Vala rolled her eyes with a sigh, still
beaming.� Even Alyssa had to smile as she looked up at Anarenen, who had closed
his eyes completely and was now biting his lips to hold back his laughter.
�Well,� thought Alyssa as she
hurried to start moving her belongings, �This is an interesting change of
pace.� Still, I wonder who my mysterious admirer is.� I wouldn�t mind meeting
him.�
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Fall from High Rock