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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
- 30
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- 32
Chapter
31: Guild Wars
As soon as she arrived, Alyssa
wasn�t sure the Ald�ruhn guildhall was going to be less dangerous than Aryon�s
dungeon after all.� She could hear the screaming before she even fully
materialized.� Suddenly, she found herself in the midst of what appeared to be
a guild brawl.
�Alyssa!� said Edwinna, �Would you
mind going to the Ald-skar inn and fetching us some� oh, I don�t know�
parchment� or shein� or� um��
�No!� Alyssa, you stay right here!�
ordered Erranil angrily.� Alyssa blinked, trying to duck out of the argument
she had materialized in the middle of.
�Don�t you dare drag her into this
Erranil!� shouted Edwinna.� Erranil smirked.
�So, would you care to tell us
what�s going on in Gnisis, Alyssa?� asked Erranil angrily, grabbing Alyssa by
the shoulder as she tried to leave.� All eyes stared at her.
�Nothing much,� she replied
finally, glancing at Edwinna in confusion.
�Right!� And we�re all supposed to
believe that Edwinna�s been sneaking out on us for weeks to do �nothing much?��
Erranil asked angrily.� Alyssa bit her lip, looking up at Anarenen for help.�
He was watching them all with a look of pure horror on his face.
�Stop it!� he finally yelled, �All
of you!� It doesn�t matter anyway!�� Both women glared at him menacingly.
�The fact that we�re now working
for the Telvanni means nothing to you, does it?� asked Erranil, �Well it
certainly matters to the rest of us!� I didn�t sign on for this guarshit!�
�Well, you can sign off then, for
all I care,� spat Edwinna.� Erranil smirked.
�Yes, why don�t you fire the whole
Guild while you�re at it?� We�re just standing in the way of you and Baladas
anyway,� she replied coolly.
�It doesn�t matter what Edwinna is
or isn�t doing with Baladas Demnevanni,� Anarenen told her, �Just� forget about
it.� For all of our sakes.� Look, I don�t care � why should you?�
�You should care, Anarenen!�
Erranil spat, �Our guildmistress is a Telvanni whore who can�t close her legs
for long enough to manage her own guildmembers!�
�How DARE you!� shouted Edwinna,
her hands crackling with electrical energy.
�Everyone knows its true� isn�t
that right Alyssa?� Or are you going to lie and claim that her little research
collaboration is purely platonic, and we�re giving away all of our hard earned
research secrets to the Telvanni for some reason other than to satisfy your
blind, misplaced, demented lust for a centuries old Telvanni necromancer?� Can
you imagine what he looks like without all that sick, twisted magic in place?�
Erranil smirked.
�I told you once and I won�t tell
you again: don�t you dare drag my sister into this or I�ll kill you where you
stand!� Edwinna shouted, the energy from her palms growing stronger.
�Yeah, kill me and you�ll not only
lose your position in the Guild, but you�ll spend the rest of your life in an
Imperial prison.� You can�t touch me, you� necrophiliac!� yelled Erranil.
�Get out.� Now,� said Edwinna
coldly.
�You�re going to regret this,� said
Erranil.
�Get out, before you can no longer
walk,� replied Edwinna.
�For gods sakes!� Stop it, both of
you!� cried Anarenen.
�You�re a fool,� Erranil told him,
turning and walking away, �Someday, you�re going to realize that.�
�He�s a fool?� I�ll see to it that
no one ever hires you,� yelled Edwinna.� Erranil turned and glared, then
stepped haughtily out of the guildhall, slamming the door behind her as the ash
blew into the entryway.� Orrent, who had been watching from the banisters,
turned and ran back up the stairs.
�Edwinna, she�s just upset,� said
Anarenen, �You don�t have a guild guide now.�
�I can replace her easily,� said
Edwinna, �You�re all expendable.� Even you.�� She turned, stepping past Alyssa
into her quarters.� Anarenen just stared after her.� Alyssa stood frozen.
�This isn�t going to end well,� he
finally said, looking down at Alyssa.� She nodded.
�I didn�t realize things had gotten
this out of control,� she finally whispered, �I feel guilty that I asked
Edwinna to come back here.�
�It isn�t your fault,� Anarenen
replied, �It�s my fault more than yours.�
�No, you didn�t do anything wrong.�
It�s just a bad situation, that�s all.� I don�t think it�s anyone�s fault,
really,� replied Alyssa.� Anarenen smiled at her.
�That�s probably a wise judgment.�
But it�s everyone�s fault, as well as no one�s.� Well, everyone but yours, that
is.� You didn�t do anything wrong,� he told her.
�I came here to Vvardenfell,� she
said quietly.
�Your family died.� Where else were
you going to go?� And besides, we�ve all been better off since you�ve arrived,�
Anarenen assured her.� Alyssa sighed.
�I have to go to Gnisis now,� she
said quietly.� Anarenen looked surprised.
�But Edwinna is here,� he said
skeptically.� She smiled, clutching Aryon�s book to her chest.
�Yes, I know.� I don�t need to see
Edwinna.� It looks like I should give her some time to cool off anyway. �I just
have some quick business with Baladas,� she replied.� Anarenen looked confused.
�He used to be on the Telvanni
council,� Alyssa explained, �So, when he discovered I was a new member of House
Telvanni, well� now I�m running errands for him, whether I like it or not.�
�If you don�t want to, then don�t
do it.� I�m sure there are other councilors you could be performing chores
for,� Anarenen offered.� Alyssa laughed.
�No, they�re worse.� Well, accept
for Aryon.� I think?� I�m not really sure anymore.� But he seemed very polite
and well-spoken when we met,� Alyssa replied.� Anarenen only stared.� Alyssa
smiled.
�I had to give him my daedra skin
though.� I was hoping that you might want to come with me to collect some
more?� she asked hopefully.� Anarenen relaxed a bit.
�Of course.� Anytime,� he said with
a grin.
�I hoped you would.� It would be
lonely trekking through those daedric ruins alone,� she confessed.
�Well, we can go as soon as you get
back from Gnisis.� Assuming Baladas lets you leave a little sooner than he
seems to be keeping Edwinna,� he said with a smirk.
�No, no, nothing like that.� I just
have to give him a book.� He asked me to bring him three earlier,� Alyssa
replied.
�Just, you know� be on guard,�
Anarenen replied, �Usually if your instincts are telling you something, then
there is a reason for it.� But honestly, Edwinna doesn�t seem to be any worse
for the wear.�� He laughed.� Alyssa smiled.
�He�s not so bad, really,� she
said, �Just a little eccentric.� It�s kind of difficult to explain.�
�I figured he must not be too
horrible, considering your sister likes him so well,� he smiled, �It�s probably
just my natural male jealousy talking.�
�You�re still not over her, are
you?� asked Alyssa quietly.� Anarenen smiled.
�Oh don�t worry.� I�ve long since
moved on.� It isn�t my concern anymore,� he said with a wink.� Alyssa smiled.
�I�m not sure I believe you,� she
confessed.� Anarenen laughed out loud.
�Oh believe it.� You�ll learn these
things one day.� But for now, go have fun in Gnisis.� Deliver your book.� We
can talk all you want when you come back,� he assured her with a grin.
~*~
Alyssa found Baladas seated on the
floor of his upper tower when she arrived.� The emerald light shone down on his
dark glistening robes with their red embroidery. �She stood, watching him for a
moment, wondering what to say.� He had some sort of tool in his hand and
appeared to be making some adjustment to the large centurion sphere which idled
peacefully as he worked.� The little centurion spider crawled about behind him.
�Yes?� he finally asked, without
looking up.� He always seemed to sense her presence, but as far as Alyssa could
tell, he didn�t seem to be paying it much mind.
�I visited with some of the
councilors as you suggested,� she replied, feeling suddenly nervous.� Baladas
made no reply, but continued to work.� Alyssa cleared her throat.
�Aryon asked me to return this book
to you,� she finally said.� Baladas looked up, turning to face her.
�Oh?� he asked.� Alyssa walked up,
handing him the copy of Fire and Faith she had been carrying.
�Hmm,� he said, looking at it
thoughtfully, �So that�s where it went.� Ah well.� Now I have two copies, I
suppose.� Would you set it back on the bookshelf, please?�� He handed the book
back to her and went back to tinkering with his automaton.� Alyssa walked over
to the bookshelf and set it down next to his other copy, hoping it was where he
wanted it.� He struck her as the type to be concerned over exactly where his
things were placed.� Ah well, he could move it later, she supposed.
�Aryon told me why you left the
council,� she said finally, turning back around to watch him work.
�Did he now?� Baladas replied,
seemingly uninterested.� Finally the robot sparked and seemed to come alive,
curling into a ball as it rolled down the stairs.� Alyssa could hear his
daedroth from down below.� Baladas set his tools aside in a chest nearby and
stood up, brushing himself off as he returned to his desk.� He sat, looking up
at the young mage quizzically.
�Is there something I can do for
you?� he asked finally.� Alyssa�s face flushed.� Perhaps she should have waited
for Edwinna.
�I guess I just� I wanted to know
if what Aryon told me was true or not.� I mean, he seemed like a very
intelligent and well learned man.� And he was so polite.� I was surprised, he
seems so much younger than the other Telvanni councilors I met.� And infinitely
nicer.� He even invited me up to his chambers for dinner.� We had roast venison
and potatoes� I haven�t had those things in years!� I wonder where he got
them�� Oh, and there were Imperials around his tower, and a whole Imperial
museum.� The plate exhibit was a bit much though.� And a Dwemer museum too!�
With a working steam centurion!� At least� I think it was working�� said
Alyssa, suddenly feeling puzzled.� Baladas smiled.
�Well, so you met one of the
councilors at least,� he finally replied.
�He told me that he would be happy
to have you come and visit to do research on his exhibits,� Alyssa replied
politely.� Baladas looked amused.
�I am well aware of Aryon�s little
Dwemer museum.� His centurion is one of my own which was destroyed a number of
years back � he wasn�t able to fully fix it and to tell the truth, it can�t be
repaired.� Someday I�ll build another,� he said simply.
�Oh.� I�m sorry.� I didn�t know,�
Alyssa replied, feeling suddenly embarrassed.� Baladas shrugged.
�From his descriptions, it sounds
like a pleasant set-up.� Not very private though.� Aryon has people coming and
going at all hours of the day and night.� Personally, I find I get more done in
solitude,� he said.
�You work with Edwinna,� Alyssa
suggested.� Baladas smiled but made no reply.� Alyssa glanced around
nervously.� What was she doing here anyway?� She had already given Baladas the
book.� She took a few steps back.� Baladas merely watched her.
�Alright.� I suppose I should leave
you to your research then�� she said, inching away.� To her surprise, Baladas
stood, gesturing to the seat.� He walked over and pulled up another chair,
placing it beside the first at his desk.� Alyssa scratched her head in
confusion, then slowly walked over to take a seat beside him.� Baladas smiled.
�Your meeting with Aryon seems to
have gone well enough.� Did you see anyone else?� he asked.
�Neloth and Gothren,� she replied.�
Baladas nodded.
�How did that go?� he asked.
�Well, Neloth told me to get out.�
When I tried to apologize he cast a soul trap spell on me,� Alyssa said, �I was
lucky I got out in time.�� Baladas� eyes widened and he looked away.
�I�m sorry,� he said softly.� For a
moment, they were both silent.
�And Gothren� well, he just gave me
the creeps.� It was like� like he wasn�t even present in his own body.� And
those two dremora he keeps as his guards looked like they wanted to eat me.� I
don�t know.� It�s hard to explain.� But it gave me the chills,� Alyssa
continued.
�Your impressions sound typical of
both councilors,� Baladas replied, �I find it difficult to explain either of
their idiosyncrasies to someone who has not met them for themselves.�� Alyssa
nodded.
�I mentioned your name to Gothren
and he suddenly seemed almost responsive though,� said Alyssa.� Baladas� eyes
narrowed.
�How so?� he asked.
�Well, he gave me this strange
request.� He told me to ask you about the Dwarves.� About anything related to
them really: their disappearance, language, artifacts� he said it didn�t
matter.� And it didn�t matter if you answered or not either,� she told him.�
Baladas looked perplexed.
�About the dwarves?� I wonder what
that�s about.� He�s probably just trying to determine if I�m still doing
research or not.� He must know that I�m still alive.� Strange,� he replied,
looking thoughtful.
�It was awful.� He had this
horrible glowing amulet around his neck.� I don�t know.� It seemed really
sinister for some reason.� But I have to admit, everything seemed completely
wrong with him.� You�re right.� I don�t even know how to explain it,� Alyssa
admitted.� Baladas looked at her closely.
�I believe that the amulet you�re
referring to is a daedric artifact.� It somewhat resembles a sapphire.� Is this
correct?� asked Baladas.
�Yes, I think so,� she answered.�
Baladas nodded.
�Gothren received it from Hermaeus
Mora many centuries ago.� It has a very strong and permanent soul trap effect,�
he explained, �It can trap the souls of man, mer, and beast as well as any
powerful daedrea.�� Alyssa shivered, remembering the tingling feeling of
Neloth�s soul trap spell.� But being around Gothren had felt somehow�
different.
�It was glowing,� she replied.�
Baladas smiled grimly.
�That means it is filled,� he told
her plainly.� Alyssa breathed a sigh of relief.
�Well, I didn�t have time to visit
Dratha, and I was told not to bother with Therana,� she confessed.� Baladas
laughed.
�You should meet Therana at some
point in your travels, but I�m sure that sooner or later your two paths will
cross.� There is no need to rush things,� he said with an amused gleam in his
eye.
�But Aryon� not to change the
subject, but he told me a few things about you and I wanted to know if they
were true or not,� Alyssa asked.� Baladas sat quietly for a moment, his red
eyes unreadable.
�Alright,� he finally replied.�
Alyssa took a deep breath.
�Aryon told me that you left the
council because you were framed by Gothren and the former Archmagister�
whatever his name was�� Alyssa started.
�Soryn Uvirith,� Baladas said with
a smile.
�Yes.� He said that those two
presented evidence claiming that you were an Imperial spy who had betrayed the
council to the Empire,� Alyssa continued, �But that it was fabricated.� Is this
true?�� Baladas leaned back, crossing his arms across his chest.
�Perhaps,� he said.� Alyssa looked
puzzled.
�What does that mean?� she asked.�
Baladas shrugged.
�It�s true enough, although it
doesn�t matter really.� The outcome was the same regardless,� he answered.
�What outcome?� asked Alyssa.
�The war with the Empire.� They
won, after all.� The council was too disjointed to even mount much of an attack
against them.� They all refused to compromise.� So the Empire simply decided to
work around them.� And here we are,� he said with a grin.
�Aryon feels that the council is
still a mess.� After meeting with Neloth and Gothren I tend to agree.� He seems
to believe that you can help him fix it,� Alyssa suggested.� Baladas laughed,
shaking his head.
�Aryon was always far too
idealistic,� he said with a smile.
�He told me you used to be the same
way,� she replied.� Baladas looked amused.
�I don�t think I was ever as
idealistic as Aryon.� Not that I remember anyway.� It�s true that I did try to
help, but I�ve come to learn that the only thing one can count on in life is
oneself.� You�re young, but you will learn these things soon enough.� So I left
and returned to my research.� The council� is dead to me,� he replied.
�But Aryon said that in order to
preserve our individuality, including the freedom to do research, the council
would have to unite.� There isn�t any strength in solitude, but there are
strengths in numbers,� Alyssa insisted, suddenly surprised at herself.� Why was
she trying to convince him?� Baladas laughed.
�Yes, I see you have most certainly
been talking to Aryon.� You sound a bit like him.� I should probably tell you
that he has sent several people to talk to me over the past couple of years
since he has become a councilor, all with the promise of promotion if they
succeeded in convincing me.� But you� you�re telling the truth.� You genuinely
believe what you are saying, just like Aryon does,� Baladas said with a smile,
�Ah, the innocence of youth!�� Alyssa looked perplexed.
�Would it really take so much away
from your studies for you to rejoin the council?� You could choose a mouth to
perform your duties,� she insisted.� Baladas smiled.
�I have my reasons for keeping my
distance.� My research is one of them.� But if it pleases you, I will keep your
words in mind,� he said with a smile.� Alyssa sighed, feeling disappointed.�
Baladas had to be one of the most confusing mer she had ever met.
�Don�t worry.� You may yet convince
me to join the council.� But for now, I have a lot of work to do,� he told her,
picking up a stack of papers from his desk.� In a few moments, he was lost in
the pages.� Alyssa stood to leave, quietly bringing her chair back over to the
table where it belonged.� As she turned to leave, she looked back at Baladas at
his desk.� He was watching her.� He smiled when he caught her eye, then
returned to his studies.
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Fall from High Rock