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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
- 16
- 17
- 18
Chapter
17: Baladas Demnevanni
The next day, the Ald�ruhn Mages
Guild was in a buzz.� It seemed that no one really noticed Alyssa�s late night
arrival, and after all she was home safe now.� But Edwinna was terribly excited
for another reason.� It seemed that one of her academic contacts had heard
rumors of a scholarly wizard in Gnisis who had cracked the Dwemeri language and
could read the ancient writing of the Dwarves with some fluency.� Little more
was known about him, aside from the fact that he was somewhat secretive and had
a number of extensively detailed theories on various aspects of Dwemer society,
which he had drawn up based on many years of solitary research.� Naturally,
Edwinna was dying to meet him.� When Alyssa awoke, her sister nearly pounced on
her.
�Alyssa!� How would you like
another mission?� she asked, �I promise it won�t be as dangerous as your last
one, but it�s every bit as important!� More so, perhaps.�� Alyssa smiled.� It
was nice to see her sister in such pleasant spirits.
�What would you like me to do?� she
asked, pleased that she had proven herself trustworthy in such matters.
�I�ve heard rumors of a wizard in
Gnisis who has cracked the Dwemeri language.� I would simply love to meet him.�
I�m sure you can imagine.� Anyway, I would like you to go to Gnisis � the silt
strider here can take you directly there � and find out whatever you can about
this man.� Do please deliver my message for him, in any way you can, and don�t
take �no� for an answer!� she exclaimed, her face aglow.� Alyssa giggled.
�Do you know who he is, or where he
can be found in Gnisis?� asked Alyssa.
�Well, no.� That�s why I need
someone to go there and investigate themselves.� I�m sure if you ask around,
someone will know something.� It�s a very small town.� The only descriptive
thing I�ve heard so far is that he seems to be very secretive.� You can get so
much more work done in solitude, you see,� she explained, a hint of jealousy in
her voice.
�Alright.� I�ll go straight away,�
said Alyssa.� To be honest, she could use a little time away to sort out her
thoughts.
�Oh thank you!� You�re the best
sister anyone could ask for!� exclaimed Edwinna excitedly.� She reached out to
hug her sister and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.� Alyssa laughed.� She
gathered what things she needed from the guild and headed out to the silt
strider bound for Gnisis.
~*~
The silt strider docked on the edge
of a steep cliff.� Alyssa quickly dismounted under the reed awning, the steep
height making her dizzy.� Ahead of her she could see a sprinkling of Redoran
style buildings.� There were a few shops set up outside with merchants standing
behind tables to peddle their wares.� She approached a young Bosmer woman with
two young children in tow as she sat behind a table laden with baskets and pottery.
�Hello!� I�m new in town, and I was
wondering if you knew anything about a wizard in the area � a scholar of the
ancient Dwemer race,� she asked politely.� The woman shrugged.
�We have one wizard in town that I
know of, but I don�t know anyone who�s ever seen him.� Some people say he�s
always been there.� Others say he just showed up one day and made himself at
home.� I guess he doesn�t bother anyone though.� I have no idea whether he
studies anything at all.� I never did understand wizards,� she replied.� Alyssa
smiled.� This sounded like a good lead.
�Do you know where he lives?� she
asked.� The woman scoffed.
�How should I know?� He�s certainly
never invited me over for dinner,� she replied curtly, grabbing one of her
children as she started to wander off and pulling her into her lap.
�Oh, you�re talking about Baladas
Demnevanni,� said another voice.� Alyssa turned to see a young Redguard woman
behind another stall.
�Most of the locals consider him a
nuisance, but he certainly does his part around here to keep the town safe.� I
can�t complain, even if he isn�t the most social neighbor we�ve ever had.� I�ve
never seen him myself, but I hear he lives just up in that cave over there,�
she pointed to a door cut in the rock, less than fifty yards off.� The Bosmer
rolled her eyes.
�Wizards,� she complained, shaking
her head.� Alyssa was excited.� So far this was easier than she had expected.�
She thanked both of the women, and handed them each a few coins for their
trouble.� Heading up the hill, she could see a sign over the door that read, �Arvs-Drelen.��
She knocked cautiously.� When she did not hear an answer, she tried opening the
door.� It opened easily and she stepped inside.
The entryway was plain and small,
lit only with torches.� She noticed another door, and opened it, stepping into
a dim hallway.� She could hear noises coming from further down the hall and
followed them until she came to a large summoning room.� She gasped and jumped
back as a large metallic golden sphere rolled towards her.� It opened into a
robotic Dwemer centurion sphere and she braced herself for an attack.� But the
automaton simply rolled past her, curling back into a ball and moving about the
room.� Alyssa�s heart raced in her chest.� Why hadn�t the creature attacked
her?� Just then a guttural reptilian growl sounded and she looked up to see
another strange sight.� A huge Daedroth was watching her from the back of the
room where it prowled, its monstrously huge reptilian jaws open to expose rows
of sharp teeth.� But the creature only watched; it did nothing to attack.�
Alyssa knew she could not handle fighting both the beasts at once, so prayed
that they would remain calm.� She spotted a staircase leading up from the
summoning room, and scurried quickly to reach it, feeling the burning gaze of
the Daedroth as it watched her.� She ascended the stairs quickly.
Before her was a spacious room
filled with bookshelves, desks, and a bed.� Seated at one of the desks was a
Dunmer with long red hair shocked white. He looked to be about middle
age, although she admitted she was never very good at guessing the true ages of
mer, and appeared very engrossed in the books he was reading.� He did not look
up when Alyssa approached, his long red hair falling onto the pages of his
studies as he reached for a quill to jot down some notes.
�Yes?� What do you want?� he asked,
without looking up.� So, he had noticed her.� Alyssa gulped, unsure where to
begin.
�Are you Baladas Demnevanni?� she
asked.
�I am.� Hurry up please, I�m very
busy,� he replied, finishing his notes and setting down the quill as he turned
the page in the book in front of him to study it.
�My name is Alyssa Elbert.� I heard
that you are a scholar of the ancient Dwemer race, is that true?� she asked.
�It is,� he replied, still not looking
up.� Alyssa was elated.� She had found the man her sister was looking for, and
very quickly at that.
�And is it true that you�ve cracked
the ancient Dwemeri language and can read and translate the ancient texts?�
asked Alyssa.
�Hmm.� That depends.� Who wants to
know?� he said, picking up his quill again.
�Well, I do.� Or rather, my sister
does.� My sister is Edwinna Elbert, the Imperial Guildmaster of Ald�ruhn.� She
is also a scholar of the ancient Dwemer, one of the best from what I�ve heard.�
She has been collecting several books over the years written in the old
language which she is dying to have translated.� She has proposed a research
collaboration with you, provided that you are interested,� said Alyssa
politely.
�Edwinna.� Hmm.� Yes, I�ve heard of
her.� She�s led some fascinating archaeological expeditions over the years from
what I recall.� I make a point of obtaining copies of all the expedition
reports I can get a hold of pertaining to the Dwemer.� I�m sure she�s collected
a number of interesting artifacts over the years,� he mused, pausing in his
work to look up.� His red eyes glowed, and he studied the young mage in front
of him.� Despite his impersonal reactions, he seemed friendly enough.
�But is it true that you can read Dwemeris?�
she asked.
�Yes and no.� I am nowhere near
fluent.� But there are several books and records dating back from the old age,
and I�ve managed to get a working knowledge of the language from them.� I can
do a rough translation at best.� What do you have that you want translated?� he
asked.
�I don�t have the books with me,�
she confessed, �I was only told to arrange a meeting between you and Edwinna.�
She has everything with her.�
�I see.� Well, I�m very busy.� I
rarely leave � if I do I find I�m overrun by thieves and adventurers who want
to loot my tower for Dwemer artifacts to sell on the black market.� Or attack
my pets,� he said.
�Your pets?� You mean the centurion
sphere and daedroth?� she asked incredulously, her eyes widening.� It was a
good thing she hadn�t attacked them herself.
�Yes.� I�m getting a little tired
of repairing my Dwemer friend down there � I simply have too many other things
to do,� he explained, �If your sister wishes to visit with me, then tell her
that she is more than welcome to come here herself.�� He folded his arms across
his chest as he stared into her eyes.� Alyssa started to protest, knowing how
busy Edwinna also was, but then thought better of it.� He had, after all,
invited Edwinna to his home.� From the looks of things, he did not often
entertain guests.
�Alright, I�m sure she will be
honored by your invitation,� said Alyssa slowly, biting her lower lip.� Baladas
smiled.� He appeared pleased with the arrangement.
�Good.� I do not often allow
visitors to my tower.� Fortunately, my pets deter the bulk of them.� I can get
so much more done in solitude.� But for a fellow scholar I will make an
exception.� Tell your sister that I will make sure she is very comfortable.�
But please remind her to bring her books.� I cannot translate Dwemeris from
thin air,� he said.� Alyssa smiled.� Edwinna should be pleased as well.� She
turned to leave.
�Oh, and if you could ask her to
bring copies of her latest reports and findings, I should very much like to
look them over for comparison with my own findings.� Do you know if she has any
theories of her own regarding the disappearance of the dwarves?� he asked.�
Alyssa paused.
�I couldn�t say,� she confessed.
�Ah well.� I will ask her myself
when she gets here.� Hurry along now.� I�ll have to finish with this book
before she gets here, and I hate being distracted,� he said, returning to his
studies.� Alyssa smiled, thanking him again as she turned to leave.� He did
remind her of Edwinna in many ways.
~*~
�Wonderful!� Simply wonderful!�
said Edwinna when Alyssa returned home with the good news.� Once again Alyssa
felt proud that her mission had been a success.
�I�ll have to make arrangements to
leave the guild for a while, of course.� Does everyone have enough tasks to
keep them busy while I�m away?� Edwinna asked loudly of the room.� Hearing the
groans that followed, she laughed.
�I�ve given them a number of things
to keep busy already.� Let�s see� I�ll have to talk to Heem-La in a little more
detail before I go, but otherwise everyone else should be fine as they are.�
Since he�s the next highest ranking member of the guild, it is logical that he
should be in charge while I�m gone.� And I�ll need to pack!� Do you mind if I
borrow a few dresses from you Alyssa?� I don�t want to show up at a great
wizard�s tower looking like I just stepped out of the ashlands� even though I
have, I suppose.� It just doesn�t seem proper,� Edwinna mused.� Alyssa laughed.
�Of course you can.� Borrow
anything you like.� I have plenty of dresses,� she offered.
�Oh thank you!� I�m going to start
packing right away!� Heem-La!� Come here, I need to speak with you in private,�
she gushed, running up the stairs as the Argonian slinked down from his
quarters to follow her.
~*~
�Did you see how Edwinna was
dressed?� asked Erranil after Edwinna ran out the door for Gnisis, wearing one
of Alyssa�s ornate figure-flattering deep purple dresses.� The exquisite amulet
that graced her plunging neckline glistened with every step she took.
�I�ll say I did!� I can�t say I
would mind seeing her dressed like that more often,� laughed Anarenen, �You
should dress her every day, Alyssa,� he winked.� Alyssa smiled.� Edwinna did
look good all dressed up.� She wondered vaguely if Edwinna was going to give
Baladas a heart attack when he laid eyes on his new research collaborator, but
trusted that her sister knew what she was doing.
�Yes, well, that�s the point.� She
doesn�t dress like that for you, Anarenen.� Aren�t you the slightest bit
jealous?� Erranil asked haughtily.
�No, she�s just excited about a new
research prospect.� She didn�t even know who this Baladas was until just a few
hours ago,� he replied with a shrug.
�Well, she knows about him now.�
And she�s staying at his tower alone for the next few days� dressed like she
is.� I�m thinking that there is going to be more than Dwemer research going on
in that tower,� Erranil mused, crossing her arms at Anarenen, who sighed deeply
even as he chuckled.
�There isn�t a whole lot I can do
about it, Erranil.� If she wants to go off on her own, I�m certainly in no
position to stop her,� he confessed.
�That�s the point though.� You should
be in a position to stop her.� Otherwise you should not be in a �position� with
her at all.� I�m tired of watching her walk all over you, Anarenen.� She may be
my guildmaster, and I respect her deeply as a fellow mage and a human being,
but I can�t just watch her toy with one of my own people like that.� It isn�t
right, and you know it,� Erranil complained.� Anarenen smiled sadly.
�Edwinna is not as bad to me as you
make her out to be,� he said, �She�s actually very sweet and kind.� You don�t
see her alone like I do.� She just isn�t sure of her own emotions, much less
how to express them � in public or in private.� And the truth of the matter is
I am nowhere near her social or academic equal.�
�If that is all Edwinna cares
about, then you are lost to her already.� She�s out at this very moment
cavorting with a Telvanni mage in his immense Velothi tower alone, clearly
dressed to impress,� she insisted.� Alyssa gasped.
�Baladas is Telvanni?� she asked.�
So she�d finally met one of them face to face, and hadn�t even known it.� How
strange.
�Of course he is.� A lone wizard in
a Velothi tower conducting esoteric research who doesn�t speak to anyone at all
in the village he�s a part of?� Sounds Telvanni to me.� And I don�t need to
remind you, Anarenen, that the Telvanni have much less rigid codes of conduct
than we do here in the Imperial Mages Guild.� Of course it�s not like Edwinna�s
never broken a single rule of conduct herself � you�re living proof of that.�
If this Baladas takes a fancy to her, she just may never return.� At any rate,
I�m sure they�ll have no shortage of conversation, considering the fact that
Baladas is, in fact, her �social and academic equal.�� And he likely actually
cares about her silly Dwemer pet projects � he won�t be just humoring her like
you and I do.� So tell me again why this doesn�t bother you, Anarenen?� she
asked fiercely.
�Well, why should she settle
for me?� I�m no scholar; I�m just a simple alchemist.� You know that as well as
I do, Erranil,� he replied angrily.
�Listen to yourself!� You�re better
than �just a simple alchemist.�� You deserve better than someone who drags you
around to do her every bidding, then leaves you whenever it�s convenient.� What
do you think is going to happen if you two ever put a stop to your little
�arrangement?�� You don�t even have your own quarters in the guild anymore!� If
she gets tired of you, you�re going to be out of a job, out of a home, and out
on the streets!� she retorted angrily.� Anarenen looked pained.
�I really don�t think that is going
to happen,� he said quietly.
�Yes, that much is clear, or you�d
never have gotten yourself into this mess.� But what do you think is
going to happen?� Is Edwina suddenly going to come to her senses and are you
two going to be married and live happily ever after in her tiny guild quarters
in Ald�ruhn, with all of us here wondering how best to reach you when your
services are needed for actual work around the guild?� Anarenen looked away, saying
nothing, his eyes fixed on the floor.� Erranil lowered her voice.
�Anarenen, think about it.� Even if
your ideal scenario did happen, you know how our people feel about mixing
bloodlines.� If you two ever had any children together, they wouldn�t be welcome
in Summerset.� You know that.� They would be considered an abomination to the
purity of our race.� What would your family think of you settling down to a
life with a Breton woman?� Do they even know?� Erranil asked quietly, moving
forward to touch Anarenen�s arm.
�They do not.� But I can�t see them
objecting to someone as renown as Edwinna.� Even if they do object, I don�t
care.� After all, don�t Bretons and Altmer share a distant bloodline already?�
he asked, �The so-called purity of our race is a joke as it is.�
�They do, but the Bretons were the
result of illegitimate pairings with Nedic slaves, and the resulting offspring
were banished long ago from mainstream Altmer society.� Their magical abilities
are all that is left of that distant pairing with mer, as their blood has been
so diluted with that of man,� she replied.� Anarenen sighed deeply.
�Besides, where would you raise
your abominable mixed-race children?� In this tiny guildhall in the middle of
the ashlands?� Are the rest of us going to have to work double shifts as
babysitters?� Erranil continued, �Even if you do not have children together,
how are you going to feel when your wife grows old and dies?� We Altmer can
live a thousand years � the races of men are lucky if they reach one hundred.�
She won�t stay beautiful forever, Anarenen.� How are you going to feel about
her when she is old and grey while you yourself haven�t aged so much as a day?�
she asked.� Anarenen bit his lip, unable to return her gaze.
�She is beautiful.� But I find her
inner beauty to be even more provocative.� I doubt that part will ever fade.�
If I can only have her in my life for a few more decades, then I would choose
to be by her side throughout them all, if she will have me.� The fragility of
the short lived species has a tragic beauty all of its own, Erranil.� It�s
different than ours, but no less dear.� Men are like flowering plants that only
bloom for a short while, while we are like the evergreens that never fade.� But
evergreens never see colors such as lavender and fuchsia.� Are the vibrant
colors of the blossoms any less precious just because they are short lived?� he
asked.� Erranil was silent.
Alyssa couldn�t believe her ears.�
Tears came to her eyes and she gazed up at the pair of Altmer before her.� She
knew that Anarenen was in love with her sister, but she didn�t realize how
deeply, or how much he was giving up by being with her.� She just hadn�t
thought about it.� She wondered if Edwinna had.
�I�m only worried about you,
Anarenen.� Things would be so much easier for you if you chose another path,�
suggested Erranil quietly.
�I know it.� And I thank you for
your concern.� But I�ll be alright.� You�ll see,� he smiled at her.� Their eyes
met, and she smiled back.
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Fall from High Rock