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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
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Chapter
2: A New Life
Alyssa awoke with
a start.� The boat had stopped.� Were they in Vvardenfell already?� �Already,�
she thought with a smirk, �Already indeed � it�s been absolutely forever!��
Indeed, it had been weeks since she first set foot on the ship sailing east.�
Alyssa looked out her window and to her surprise saw buildings � well, shacks
really.� But they were on dry land!
�Finally!� she
thought with a mixture of relief tinged with excitement.� The boat ride had
been dreadfully dreary.� Her only comfort had been the love note she had hidden
in her bodice from Aaron, a relatively well thought out love note, considering
the entire university, including herself, had no real warning before the guards
had come to escort her from her room in the middle of the night to take her
away from that life forever.
Dearest Alyssa,
My heart is
breaking as you leave tonight.� I pray only that you find happiness in your new
life, wherever it may lead you.� Think of me fondly from time to time, as there
will never be a moment when I will not be thinking lovingly of you.� You will
live forever in my heart, mind, and soul, and if the gods will it I will find
you again so that we may once again find comfort in one another�s arms.� I wish
only that I could go with you, but as that is impossible at the moment, I take
comfort in the knowledge that you already possess more wisdom and inner
strength than any other woman I have ever known.� I am certain that I shall
never again know anyone as lovely and charming as you.� I know you will find
success and happiness wherever you are lead and I hope one day to join you
again.� Please write me as soon as you are able and I will be sure to join
you.� I hold nothing in this life dearer than I hold you, and I would gladly
give it all up for just one more day of your blessed company.� I will wait each
day for news of your travels until the day that we may once again be together.
�� With
love and affection,
�� Aaron
Alyssa sighed.� She wondered if she
would ever again see Aaron, or any of her other friends for that matter.� It
did not seem likely.� Furthermore, no one was supposed to know where she was.�
She had been ushered off of the mainland with extreme secrecy and haste and
forbidden from telling so much as another soul where she was going.� The Dark
Brotherhood has a way of finding out if there are any witnesses, they told
her.� Even the Imperial records had been altered so as not to disclose her true
location.� Her trip back to Daggerfall had been under armed guard, and, aside
from attending the funeral ceremony, she had not been allowed to speak to
anyone.� Alyssa sighed.� Wouldn�t her sister�s guild be on the top list of
places to look for her anyway?� But then, if no one had attacked Ald�ruhn so
far, perhaps it wasn�t the daughters that the Brotherhood was after, only the
parents.� In which case, she had been dragged away from her life for no
reason.� The thought angered her, and she tried to brush it away.� But then,
since Edwinna had not been attacked, it may have been that the family was only
wanted gone from the mainland.� Or perhaps Vvardenfell was so far out of
Brotherhood territory that it was difficult to mount an attack there.� Whatever
the reason, here she was.
Alyssa picked out a simple blue
traveler�s robe for her first day on Vvardenfell.� She did not want to appear
too gaudy and inviting to bandits.� Still, the fabric was intricately woven
with gold and blue embroidery and the cut was flattering though modest.� She
tightened a leather belt across her small waist, sighing when it wasn�t quite
tight enough and sat lopsided on her hips.� Ah well.� She needed to carry coin
with her if she expected to get anywhere around the island.� She started to put
on her shimmering blue heeled slippers, but then thought better.� Her brown
leather slippers had a thicker heel and would be less problematic walking over
uneven terrain.� She matched her ensemble with shimmering blue lace gloves and
draped a brown travelers cloak over her shoulders, bucking the gold clasp at
her neck.
�That should do -
presentable, but not over the top.� I should blend right in,� she thought with
a smile.� She had purposefully hidden away her amulets and rings, unsure what
sort of people awaited her.� A knock sounded at her door and she startled.
�Come in,� she
said pleasantly.� The captain entered and announced the obvious � they were
docked in Khuul and she could depart at her leisure.� She thanked him and
handed him a few coins from her purse with a smile.� Unlike the imperial
guards, he took them eagerly and smiled in gratitude for the extra payment.� In
fact, he rather liked the quiet, proper young Breton woman who currently
occupied his ship�s best quarters.� She was easy on the eyes with her young
stately curvaceous figure.� He loved her auburn brown hair flowing in waves
across her high cheekbones where it fell down over her full breasts and slender
waist down past her round hips.� If only he were many years younger� he shook
his head with a sigh.� He was not.� And from what he had heard, Breton women
were not nearly as easy to seduce as Dunmer women.� Her luscious red lips
parted in a sweet smile as her big innocent dark eyes looked up at him, making
him feel guilty for so much as entertaining the thought.� He shook it from his
mind and offered her his hand to lead her to the docks.� The delicate little
gloved hand felt like it would break in his own large, rough palm.
Another imperial guard was at the
docks waiting to meet her.� �Come right this way,� he said simply as he turned
and headed towards a large building.� The Dunmer ship captain brought Alyssa�s
gloved hand gently to his lips and kissed it, savoring the elegant perfume she
wore.
�Be careful.�
Watch your back,� the old Dunmer warned in his deep gruff voice.
�Oh indeed I
will,� Alyssa said warmly.� The old Dunmer was certain the young girl had no
idea what she was in store for and he felt suddenly protective.� She smiled up
at him pleasantly and then turned to follow the guard into the nearby building,
leaving the old man standing at the docks.
~*~
No paperwork was
necessary for the young Breton to complete, as records could be confiscated and
it was desirable for her to be made to disappear entirely.� Alyssa was ready to
depart and eager to be on her way.� She wondered what manner of Mages Guild her
sister ran.� Naturally, it wouldn�t be as elegant as the one in Daggerfall, or
anywhere near as huge as the University, but Mages Guilds had always felt like
home to her.� To be honest, she was in a bit of a hurry to get out of Khuul.�
The town was sparse �� just a little fishing village, really � and most of the
buildings looked as though they were about to collapse.�� Since there was no
Mages Guild in the town - �Little wonder why,� she thought � she would have to
take the silt strider to Ald�ruhn.� The guard directed her to Seldus Nerendus,
the silt strider driver.� She had no idea that insects could get to be larger
than buildings.� Her initial reaction was revulsion.� She was especially
appalled at the way the strider had been opened up to expose the insect�s
organs for manipulation as a means of locomotion.� Yet the cooing the giant
silt strider made sounded wistful and mournful and had a kind of exotic beauty
to it.� Perhaps once the land became less foreign to her she would appreciate
it more.� But for now, she shuddered in disgust.
�Do send my
belongings on to the Mages Guild in Ald�ruhn, if you please,� Alyssa requested
of Seldus, the Dunmer silt strider driver.� She prepared to board the bug,
disliking the squishy crunching feel of the insect as she stepped into its
excavated husk.
�Ald�ruhn?�
laughed the Dunmer heartily, his red eyes glowing, �Pardon me for saying so,
but I hope for your sake that you�re planning a very short trip.�
�And why is that?�
Alyssa asked, trying to adjust herself to minimize discomfort to the insect she
was riding while cringing at the crunches it made under her weight.
�It can�t feel
you,� laughed Seldus, �But judging by your reaction to Khuul you don�t strike
me as the type to fare well in Ald�ruhn.� Khuul may not be paradise, but it is
bliss compared to Ald�ruhn.� Ash storms, blighted creatures wandering in from Red
Mountain, very little water� few outlanders travel there on purpose.�� The
look of horror on Alyssa�s face seemed comical to the Dunmer, and he laughed
heartily again.
�Sure you want to
brave it?� he asked the young Breton, �Balmora is much nicer this time of
year.�
�Thank you for
your advice, but I don�t see as how I have much choice at this point,�
responded Alyssa hotly, with a touch of disdain in her voice.� It was clear
that the Dunmer man thought of her as weak and foolish and she became aware of
the scene she was conveying: dressed as properly as she was tiptoeing around
the silt strider with a look of disgust on her face.� She sat down quickly, trying
to ignore the squishy crunch of the insect�s husk, and glared off into the
horizon.� Her change in temperament just made Seldus laugh more.� His laugh
sounded evil to Alyssa.� With a few twists of levers he started the silt
strider off to Ald�ruhn saying merrily, �Well then, have it your way, but don�t
say I didn�t warn you.�� Alyssa pursed her lips together in annoyance, without
looking at the red eyed man.
~*~
Unfortunately, Seldus�
description of Ald�ruhn appeared to have been entirely accurate.� Alyssa could
barely keep her eyes open.� She covered her face with her hand and nearly ran
down the silt strider port, tripping over her less-than-sensible shoes and
landing in a heap at the base.� A man in ash-pink colored armor helped her to
her feet, identifying himself loudly over the ash storm as a guard of Great
House Redoran.� She could tell by his deep gruff voice that he was Dunmer
although his mask obscured his face.
�I�m looking for the Imperial Mages
Guild,� Alyssa shouted, finding it difficult to hear herself over the storm.�
The guard drew his sword.� Alyssa drew back in shock.� This had not been the
reaction she had been anticipating.
�Cliff racers!� he shouted angrily
as he shoved Alyssa behind him.� A screech sounded from above.� Two more guards,
dressed similarly, ran over to attack the monstrous reptilian bird-beast from
above.� The guards made short work of it, although one of them sustained a
minor injury in the attack.� The cliff racer fell to the ground, its huge wing
brushing against Alyssa�s thigh.
�Diseased,� one of
the guards said, nudging the corpse.
�You�d best seek
out aid at the temple,� he commented to his wounded companion, who grumbled in
agreement and disappeared off into the storm.
�You�d best get
inside ma�am,� the guard remarked to Alyssa as she stood stunned, still
fighting to keep her cloak over her face and eyes.� �The Mages Guild is this
way, come with me.�� Alyssa coughed, unable to vocalize with the hot ash
pouring down her throat, burning at her mouth, nose, and eyes.� Before she
could really see what was happening a door was opened and she was shoved
inside, tripping on the short flight on stairs leading down.� Quickly, she
regained her balance by grasping onto a nearby table.
�Oh my!� Are you
alright young lady?� asked a male voice, which Alyssa recognized immediately as
Breton.� He sounded genuinely concerned.
�I�ll be fine,
thank you,� Alyssa replied as politely as possible, still coughing from the
ash.� As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw two faces in front of her:
the Breton man she heard earlier and a male Argonian with his large decorative
fins standing alert.� When she straightened and managed a smile they both
relaxed a little.� After dusting herself off she held out her hand in greeting.
�Hello friend, and
welcome to the Ald�ruhn branch of the Imperial Mages Guild.� My name is Orrent Geontene.�
If there is *anything* you need, just ask,� the Breton said cheerily.� He
reached out his hand to take hers, raising it to his lips with a smile.� Alyssa
was suddenly aware of the ash which had been trapped by her lace gloves and was
embarrassed.� She tried to draw her hand away from his grasp.� He laughed.
�Oh the ash is
something we�re all used to around here.� No worries there,� he smiled
pleasantly.
�Yess.� It iss sso
dry here, not like the sswampss of home,� hissed the Argonian.� �I am Heem-la.�
�Given the choice
between mud and ash, I can�t say which I would prefer.� Well, probably mud,
you�re right Heem-la.� At least it wouldn�t burn like ash.� But it does make a
dreadful mess none-the-less.� Ash can generally be swept or bathed away but mud
has a tendency to stick around,� Orrent replied, crossing his arms.� The
Argonian laughed � at least, he made a hissing sound which Alyssa assumed to be
laughter.� Alyssa wondered how the amphibious lizard was able to survive in the
ashlands.� It must be dreadful for him to be so far from water.� Her own heart
longed for the green mountains High Rock.
�I ssuggesst you sstudy
up on your sshield sspellss. I make ssuch sspellss here,� Heem-la hissed.
�And I sell them!�
Orrent interrupted happily, �But tell me, young lady, what brings your pretty
young face clear out here to the dusty old city of Ald�ruhn?� Though I must
say, it�s a welcome surprise!�� He smiled pleasantly.� Alyssa couldn�t help but
giggle.
�I�m looking for
Edwinna Elbert,� she said with a smile.
�Oh, Edwinna is
downstairs as usual, but she�s in a dreadful mood as of late.� I�m not entirely
certain what set her off, but she�s been positively vile for the past few
weeks, and she can be such a difficult woman to live with as it is.� Of course,
she runs this place better than anyone else ever has, and she�s an absolute gem
to the world of magical research.� So of course we�re all glad to have her.�
But really, unless you need something very specific I suggest you leave her to
her research.� It seems the only thing that makes her truly happy.� Of course,
if you�ve come to discuss dwarves, I�m sure she�ll be all ears!� Orrent smiled
cheerfully.� Alyssa couldn�t help but giggle.� It was clear that they had no
idea who she was.� On the other hand, it also meant that Edwinna had not
bothered to mention her arrival to the rest of the guild.� She found that to be
more than a bit insulting.� But perhaps she could turn the tables.
�Oh I have no
interest in dwarves at all, but I�m sure Edwinna will be more than happy to see
me.� I think she needs a good, *long* break from her research to catch up on
the latest political goings-on of Cyrodiil and High Rock.� I�ve brought with me
all the latest fashions.� We can make a night of it!� Why don�t you help me
find her?� Alyssa replied.� She resisted a giggle as their faces turned white.�
Edwinna�s lack of interest in politics and fashion was well known, as was her
distaste for being interrupted from her research, especially for what she
considered to be frivolous minutia.
�Oh dear.� Are you
absolutely sure that one of us here cannot help you?� We�ve plenty of other
capable mages here at the guild, and I for one would love to catch up on the
politics of the mainland.� We rarely get visitors from so far away out here!�
Orrent replied with a touch of worry to his tone.� Heem-la hissed in
disapproval.
�I musst retire to
my sstudiess,� he whispered as he excused himself hurriedly, slinking off to
his quarters just adjacent to the guild entrance.� Alyssa could not resist a
smirk.
�Oh don�t be
silly.� Come on!� she insisted gleefully to Orrent as she headed down the
stairs.� She noticed that he was not as quick to follow her and ignored the
warning of �Wait!� that inevitably followed.
Downstairs were
several more people of many different races.� Edwinna herself was easy enough
to spot.� She was standing facing a wall, her auburn brown hair frazzled and
wild.� She had a scroll in one hand and was twirling a quill in the other,
seemingly lost in thought.� Alyssa crept up behind her.� Orrent placed a hand
on her shoulder to guide her away placing his finger to his lips as though to
quiet her.� She tugged away from his grasp and immediately embraced Edwinna in
a hug, nearly knocking her off balance and causing her to drop the scroll and
quill she was carrying.� Orrent gasped and the room fell silent.� Edwinna
turned immediately with a look of shock and anger on her face, which quickly
melted into surprise and delight as she recognized her sister and returned the
embrace.� Alyssa could feel the questioning eyes on her, but for now, she
didn�t care.� It felt good to be in the arms of a family member again, and it
had been years since she had seen her older sister.
�I didn�t think I
would see you again,� Edwinna said softly, with tears in her eyes.� �After I
got the message about Mother and Father, and the threat on our family name, I
felt certain that you would be next.� I had so little faith that the Imperials
would bring you here alive, and less when no further messages arrived from the Imperial
City.�� So that was why Edwinna had not bothered to tell her guild of her
arrival.� Her rescue had been only an attempt, not a certainty.� For a moment,
Alyssa shuddered, wondering just how close her brush with death had really
been.� And why?� What harm could Alyssa do?
�Well, no need to
worry, you�re safe now,� Edwinna replied, straightening and pulling Alyssa away
from her as she dried her eyes on the sleeve of her robe � a far less noble
robe than Alyssa had been expecting her guildmaster sister to be wearing.� It
was in fact only common sackcloth, discolored in places and tied with a simple
rope.� Edwinna had never been much to care about her appearance but Alyssa
couldn�t help but think that she looked little different than a common pauper,
not the great mage everyone back home spoke so highly of.� But for the moment,
this was the last thing Alyssa cared about.� She was home.� She had her beloved
sister again.� The nightmare was just now ending.
�Everyone, if I
may have your attention, I would like to introduce you to someone very dear to
me.� This is my younger sister Alyssa � the only surviving member of my
family.� She has come a long way from the mainland to take refuge with us after
our parents, and in fact the entire Elbert family castle and Daggerfall Mages
Guild, were brutally murdered by the Dark Brotherhood.� You are to give her the
same respect you show me.� Most of all, make her feel at home.� After all, this
*is* her home now,� Edwinna smiled.� The looks of shock from the guildmembers
faded as the situation started to make a bit more sense.� Now that they were
aware of the relation, it was painfully obvious that the two women were indeed
sisters.� They had the same wild wavy auburn brown hair, were of similar height
and build, and had many of the same facial features, although Alyssa�s lips
were fuller and her eyes darker.� Furthermore, Alyssa was dressed as a
noblewoman, while Edwinna, with her wild unkempt hair and simplistic fashion
sense, seemed more the mad scientist.� Edwinna herself had never spoken of her
family, not even their recent murder.� In fact, Edwinna rarely spoke of
anything aside from her research.� But knowing the history of recent events
made plain to the guild the reason behind Edwinna�s foul mood as of late.�
Given the circumstances, most agreed amongst themselves that she had handled
the news remarkably well.
�Here, I�ve
switched to guest quarters for the time being so you can have my old room,�
Edwinna stated as she took Alyssa back up the stairs and around a balcony.
�But�� Alyssa
started to protest.� Guildmaster�s quarters?� For her?
�Oh don�t be
silly.� I�m rarely in my room as it is and you need someplace to settle down. �Besides,
my room isn�t particularly fancy as I don�t have time for decorating.� I have a
desk, a closet, a trunk for storage, and a nice large bed with handmade sheets
that I�m sure you�ll find to your liking.� I do hope that you haven�t brought
too many personal belongings with you,� Edwinna said with a raised eyebrow.�
Alyssa sighed.
�Just clothes, a
few books� I didn�t have time to gather much else,� Alyssa replied sadly.
�Good.� We don�t
have a lot of room for storage, although if you need any magical equipment we
have that in abundance.� Feel free to borrow what you need.� You are more than
welcome to have the run of the place and come and go as you please � I suggest
you go around and meet the other guild members as they may have more time on
their hands than I do.� I�m not entirely certain what one does for
entertainment around here in Redoran territory.� Ah well,� Edwinna sighed,
�I�ll leave you to get settled in.� If you are here, then your bags must not be
far behind.� Although in this ash storm, it�s a little difficult to tell.�
�I�m quite sure I
need a bath,� Alyssa said with a grimace as she removed a soiled glove from her
hand, noting the ring of ash left around her wrist where the skin was bare.�
With a shock, she realized what her face and hair must look like and set about
trying to dust herself off.� Edwinna laughed.
�Water is scarce
around here, but the ash dusts off easily enough.� You might not want to wear
your best clothes out in an ash storm � just a little advice,� Edwinna said
with a wink, �If it really bothers you, you can have Erranil transport you to
Balmora so you can visit their public bathhouses.� Making use of the guild
guide might not be such a bad idea � I hear Balmora is a lovely city for young
people looking for a bit of fun, and after all you�ve been through you
certainly need to relax.� Also,� her voice became stern, �You may want to think
about furthering your education as much as possible on the island.� We have no
universities here, but we do have a number of apprentices who work hard to rise
through the ranks by studying under their superiors.� I myself hand out chores
on occasion for those interested in the research end of magical study, but I�m
afraid you are not quite up to performing such tasks as I have to offer at this
particular moment in time.� Some of the other guild masters and members at
other guilds may have more suitable tasks for your skills.� Perhaps even some
of the members around here may have a thing or two to teach you if you are
willing to learn.� Increasing one�s knowledge is the one true goal of life.�
I�m sure you will see to that sooner or later.� But for now, rest, and if you
need anything, don�t hesitate to find me.�� Edwinna smiled warmly as she closed
the door behind her, leaving Alyssa alone in her room.� It may have been the
largest room in this guild, but it was still small by her standards.
�Apparently, my
standards will have to change,� she thought as she removed her other glove and
dusted herself off as best she could.� She picked up a brush to fix her hair,
which by this point was almost as wild an unruly as Edwinna�s.
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Fall from High Rock