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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
- 32
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Chapter
33: To Bribe a Spy
Alyssa was fuming.� She was still
intoxicated from the sujamma and was furious to discover that her sister was
nowhere to be found.� She stormed through the Ald�ruhn guildhall.� She grabbed
onto a table for support, surveying the main floor of the Guild.� Vala wasn�t
there, but there were two young Dunmer seated at her podium with open books.�
When they caught her eye she shot them a menacing glare.� They turned back to
their studies quickly. Bracing herself, she opened the downstairs door to Tanar�s
forge.� Tanar looked up in surprise, a glistening green blade in her hand.�
Alyssa shut the door quickly.� Where was Edwinna?� She ran upstairs, nearly
tripping on her long gown.� She caught the neck of it to keep it up.� The guildmembers
shot her confused stares as she threw open her sister�s bedroom door, falling
against the side of the doorframe as she stumbled inside.� In a few moments she
reemerged, catching onto the banister as he fought to keep her balance.� She
spied Orrent watching her from further up the stairs.
�Where is Edwinna?� she said,
narrowing her eyes.
�She just left,� he replied calmly,
crossing his arms.
�Let me guess� Gnisis, right?� she
nearly spat, collapsing against the side of the stairwell.� She sat, leaning her
back against the railing and clutching her head in her hand, glaring off into
space at no one in particular.
�Obviously,� replied Orrent, �Is
something wrong?�� She looked at him, about to respond.� Suddenly she realized
how ridiculous it would all sound.� Her sister couldn�t seem to keep her legs
shut, so now Alyssa was being forced to follow suit.� It was ironic, really.�
She burst out in hysterical laughter, nearly falling over where she sat.� Anarenen
walked up the stairs and crouched beside her.
�Alyssa, what�s going on?� he
asked.� Alyssa couldn�t stop laughing.� She looked up at him and burst into a
new round of laughter.� It seemed everywhere she looked she found her sister�s
lovers.� She fell against the floor, the straps of her dress falling from her
shoulders.� Anarenen and Orrent shot one another confused glances.
�Well, she�s clearly drunk,� said Orrent.
�It�s barely into the early
afternoon,� replied Anarenen, reaching out to feel her forehead.� She tore
herself away from him, crawling along the side of the banister.� If he hadn�t
seduced Edwinna, maybe none of this would have ever happened.� She shot him an
evil glare.
�Skooma?� asked Orrent, �Or just
plain moonsugar, perhaps?�
�No,� replied Alyssa, her laughter
ceasing as she brought her knees in close to her chest, �Sujamma.�� She
smirked.
�Ah, well� that would do it then,�
said Anarenen, standing up, �Come here, let me help you to your sister�s
quarters so you can lie down until it wears off.�� Alyssa glared at him.
�No,� she replied.
�Well, where do you think you�re
going then?� he asked, crossing his arms in frustration.
�I suppose I have to go off to Gnisis
now, since my sister is such a selfish little whore,� she replied.� Anarenen
and Orrent both stared at her in shock.
�Don�t you start with that talk,�
said Anarenen, �We�ve got enough problems keeping this guild together as it is.�
Tanar is having to work double shifts as the guild guide and enchanter until we
get a replacement for Erranil.� We don�t need any more drama around here.�
�Tell that to Edwinna,� she spat
angrily.� Orrent laughed, but quickly stopped himself and cleared his throat.�
He smiled in amusement.
�Alright� come on Alyssa, let�s get
you lying down so you don�t hurt yourself and then you can tell me all about
whatever it is that�s going on,� Anarenen said, reaching down to pick her up.�
She tried to protest, but he had her in his arms before she could even react.�
Suddenly, she burst into tears.� Anarenen brought her into her sister�s room
and laid her out on the bed.� He left for a moment and returned with a pitcher
and goblet of water.� Alyssa took it quickly, spilling some of it on the bed as
she brought it to her lips.
�Alright, what�s going on?� asked Anarenen,
sitting beside her.� She glared at him.
�If you really want to help me,
just take me over to the silt strider.� Maybe I can still catch her there,�
said Alyssa.� Anarenen shook his head.
�I�m not letting you run off to Gnisis
in this condition,� he replied.� Alyssa stared up at him.
�I have to talk to Edwinna. �It�s
personal,� she replied.� Anarenen sighed.
�You�d still be drunk by the time
you showed up in Gnisis.� It isn�t a very long ride.� You�d probably say
something you would regret later.� Trust me.� Just lie down and rest.� You�ll
see Edwinna soon enough,� he assured her.� She coughed, rolling over on the bed
angrily.
�Would you care to tell me what�s
bothering you?� he asked finally.� Alyssa sighed.� Her head was still
spinning.� She wiped the tears from her cheeks.
�Erranil reported Edwinna as a Telvanni
spy earlier today.� The report didn�t look good.� Not at all.� And now she�s
off in Gnisis again,� she explained, �Probably doing everything that report
says she�s doing too.� And then some,� she added with a smirk.� Baladas wasn�t
bad looking, and a powerful mage at that.� She bet he had all sorts of tricks
up his sleeve.� Anarenen sighed.
�I figured something like this was
going to happen eventually,� he said.
�Edwinna keeps pretending that
there is nothing in life that is important except her research.� But it isn�t
true.� There�s a balance.� She�s messing everything up because she thinks she�s
found that balance, and she�s wrong,� glared Alyssa.� Anarenen took a deep
breath.
�I agree with you there,� he said
quietly.� Alyssa looked at him.� He agreed with her?� He smiled at her
sympathetically, taking her goblet from the table and refilling it.� He had
nice copper eyes, Alyssa thought.� They seemed almost to glow, as did the rest
of his body, with his golden skin and copper hair tied back in a golden clasp.�
She sighed.� Edwinna had it better than she did, and she didn�t even appreciate
it.� She had Anarenen and Baladas.� And Alyssa had Malcus � whom she now loved,
but had first raped her, and now wasn�t sure she would ever see again � and she
had given herself to Tiram.� It wasn�t fair.� She probably wouldn�t even have Malcus
after this, even if he lived.� He was already angry with her for joining Great
House Telvanni, and now that he was gone on a dangerous mission she had gone
off and slept with the archmage�s chief advisor.� Tears filled her eyes and she
began to cry.� How could anyone want her?
�Hush now.� I�m sure nothing will
come of it.� As soon as you�re sober you can go to Gnisis and warn Edwinna.� It
does seem the right thing to do,� he agreed. �Alyssa grimaced.
�I don�t need to warn Edwinna.�
I�ve already taken care of it,� she replied coldly, �When I see Edwinna I�m
going to slap her as hard as I can.�
�No you won�t.� But if it�s taken
care of then it seems there is no need for panic.� Give it a bit of time.� Edwinna
should be back in just a few days.� Maybe things will have settled down by
then,� he told her.
�Right,� she replied bitterly,
turning away.
�I have a feeling you aren�t
telling me the whole story,� he coaxed.� Her eyes narrowed.
�I�m not,� she replied coolly.
�Alright then.� What is it that�s
tearing you apart?� he asked her gently.� She sighed.
�I slept with Tiram to bail Edwinna
out,� she spat, covering her face with her hands as she burst into tears.� Anarenen
stared at her for a moment, then glanced back at the doorway.� Orrent smiled at
him, clearly entertained.� Anarenen glared back, standing to shut the door.� He
returned quickly, and then turned his attentions back to Alyssa.
�Okay� now tell me EXACTLY what
happened,� he said coolly, seating himself on the bed next to Alyssa.� Alyssa
looked up, with tears in her eyes.� Perhaps she shouldn�t have said anything,
but it was too late now.� He held out his arms, and she fell into them, still
crying as she tried to explain what had happened.� When she had finished, for a
moment they both were silent.
�Please don�t tell anyone,� she
sobbed.
�I won�t,� he replied, �I am only
sorry for you.� And ashamed of Tiram for doing this to you.� I believed before
now that I respected him.� But this is the second time you have come back to
the Guild in tears because of the actions of men.� I only hope this Malcus
character you are seeing is worthy of you, or I worry you will never be able to
enjoy the comforts of love as they were intended.�� Alyssa sobbed.
�I don�t know if I will ever see
him again,� she finally replied, �And if I do, I�m quite sure he won�t want me
after this.�
�I wouldn�t be so sure about that.�
Your intentions were good.� If he can�t see that, then he isn�t worth your
while.� Remember that, alright?� he said, handing her a damp cloth to cool her
forehead.� She took it, gazing up at him.� She wondered vaguely how the Altmer
were in love.� Anarenen had always seemed so pleasant to her, and he treated
her with such tenderness.� They were an attractive race.� He smiled at her.�
She blinked, turning away.� No, now was not the time for such thoughts.� She
was still warm from her encounter with Tiram.� Her cheeks flushed and she
turned away.
�Listen.� Not all of your
experiences with the male sex will be unpleasant, ok?� They won�t all do this
to you.� But don�t rush it.� You�re young.� You have plenty of other things to
live for,� he said with a smile.� He leaned in closer, and she had a sudden
desire to kiss him.� She blinked, trying to shake off the urge.
�I know.� Thank you.� Thank you for
listening to me,� she whispered, trying to calm the racing of her heart.
~*~
Alyssa�s head was killing her.� She
clutched her head in her hands, trying to ignore the swaying motion of the silt
strider.� She had waited a day to travel, on Anarenen�s suggestion, and she did
feel a bit better already.� But her head�� She closed her eyes, trying another
restoration spell.� She breathed a sigh of relief when it appeared to work.�
She wasn�t sure that she wanted to confront her sister in front of Baladas, but
even Anarenen agreed that the situation was probably important enough to merit
her immediate visit.� Still, she felt a bit embarrassed.� She didn�t want to
upset the former councilor after all he had done to help her.� And something
told her that he wasn�t likely to react well to this sort of drama.� She would
have to try to keep things as calm and formal as possible.� It was a good thing
she hadn�t tried to confront Edwinna intoxicated � Baladas may very well have
set his daedroth on her.� Or worse.� She laughed softly to herself.� Whatever
happened today, it wasn�t likely to be pretty.� She grimaced.
She found her sister and Baladas in
their usual places upstairs in the Velothi tower above the summoning room.� The
weather was lovely outside, and the sun shown brightly through the emerald
windows above the tower.� Edwinna was seated on the bed, sorting through some
papers.� There were several bags at her feet.� Baladas was at his desk reading
quietly.� He looked up when he saw her and smiled.� She took a deep breath.
�Hello Baladas,� she said.� He
nodded in response.� Edwinna looked up, startled.
��Alyssa!� I didn�t expect to see
you here again so soon,� she said.� Alyssa bit her tongue, taking a deep breath
before she responded with a hostile remark.
�I have some things to discuss with
you,� she said finally.� Baladas had returned to his reading and was paying
them little mind.
�Alright.� I was just gathering my
things together,� she said, sighing deeply, �I�m going back to Ald�ruhn
tonight.� I guess I� well� I probably won�t be back here for a while.�� Alyssa
stared at her in shock.
�What do you mean?� she asked
coldly, crossing her arms.
�Well, the Guild is becoming so
unraveled as of late that I worry they are going to fall apart completely if I
leave them alone any longer.� So� it seems that Baladas and I will have to
conduct our research through messages from now on.� At least for a while.� Ah
well,� she replied.� Alyssa glanced at Baladas in confusion. �He seemed
uninterested, turning a page in his book idly.
�But� aren�t you and Baladas�?�
Alyssa started, feeling her face begin to flush.� Edwinna laughed.
�Oh Baladas and I are quite good
friends.� We understand one another perfectly on such matters.� Our hearts are
in our research,� she replied.� Baladas looked up and smiled.� He stood and
walked to his bookshelf, looking over the tomes until he found what he was
looking for.� He pulled out two tomes and walked over to Edwinna, handing them
to her.
�I should return your copy of Chronicles
of Nchuleft,� he explained politely, �And I now seem to possess two copies
of Nchunack�s Fire and Faith, so you may keep one of them.�� Edwinna
smiled gratefully.
�Why thank you!� she exclaimed
happily, taking the copy of Fire and Faith Baladas offered her, �I
enjoyed reading this while I was here.� But you can keep Chronicles.�
I�ve taken what I want from it, and if I need another copy later I can just
send one of the apprentices to fetch one.� It will be my gift to you.�� Baladas
nodded.
�Thank you,� he replied politely,
taking the book back over to the shelf and setting it aside neatly before
returning to his desk.� Alyssa stared in confusion.� Baladas smiled at her.
�You might be pleased to know that
I have pinpointed the exact location of the forge of Dahrk Mezalf.� It is in
the ancient Dwemer village of Bthungthumz.� I believe there may be an artifact
of great power residing there: an ancient summoning ring,� Baladas continued,
smiling pleasantly at the young mage before him.� Alyssa blinked.
�That is wonderful!� she finally
replied, trying to sound enthusiastic.� She remembered vaguely that he had been
searching for it.� Baladas appeared pleased with her response.� He took out a
fresh sheet of parchment and dipped his quill into a nearby inkwell.
�I shall write down the location
for you,� he said, �I would very much like to study this artifact, should you
would be willing to make the journey.� Perhaps if you find yourself traveling
to the north it would not be too much trouble to look for it.�� He smiled,
handing her the parchment.� Alyssa looked at it.
�I will try to recover it for you,�
she replied sincerely.� He nodded, smiling pleasantly as he returned to his
studies.� His long braid fell over his shoulder as he worked and Alyssa found
herself staring at him.� He definitely had a strange beauty to him, she
decided.� But then, her sister seemed to have strange taste in men.
�And what was it you wanted to talk
to me about, Alyssa?� asked Edwinna, glancing back at Baladas wistfully as he
worked.� Alyssa snapped out of her daydream and took a deep breath to calm
herself.� Her mission here was far less pleasant.� She closed her eyes, unsure
how to begin.
�Erranil reported you to Archmage Trebonius
for immoral conduct and collaborating with the Telvanni.� She made you out in
her report to be a Telvanni spy.� Between your� research partnership� with Baladas
and my dual affiliations, it didn�t look very good,� she explained quickly.� Edwinna
sighed, bringing her hand to her forehead.� Alyssa bit her lip.
�Well then it sounds like I�m going
to have to make a trip to Vivec before I return to Ald�ruhn,� she said
finally.� Alyssa glared.� Why wasn�t she more concerned?
�Fortunately Anarenen isn�t the one
making the accusations, or this would be even more difficult.� I think I can
handle it though,� she replied pleasantly.
�I already took care of it,� Alyssa
said finally.� Edwinna stared at her, looking perplexed.
�You?� she asked, clearly confused.
�Yes me.� I went to Tiram Gadar after
I overheard Erranil talking to Trebonius and asked for his help,� she replied.
�Alright� well, I know Tiram is
sympathetic to Great House Telvanni at least,� Edwinna replied.� Alyssa glared
at her.
�He doesn�t give help for free,
apparently,� she continued.� Edwinna just stared at her in confusion.� Suddenly
Alyssa was very embarrassed.� Her face flushed and she turned to look at Baladas.�
He still appeared engrossed in his studies.� Finally she took a deep breath.
�I had to bribe him,� she said.� Edwinna
raised her eyebrow.
�That isn�t going to help our
case.� Now I suppose I�ll have to explain why my little sister is acting as
though I�m already guilty.� Unless he really went for it?� Tiram has a lot of
influence.� How much did you give him?� she replied.� Alyssa glared.
�I didn�t pay him in gold,� she
finally spat.� Edwinna stared at her.� She finally shook her head, bringing her
palm to her forehead.
�Alyssa, you should have spoken to
me first,� she replied, �I know how much you�ve already been through.� I could
have taken care of it myself.�
�Of course.� You don�t even
appreciate the fact that I just had sex with Tiram to bail you out of being
accused of acting as a Telvanni spy!� she hissed.� Suddenly, soft laughter
erupted from behind them.� Both women turned around.� Baladas looked thoroughly
amused.� He crossed his arms, smiling at them from behind his desk.
�I don�t see what�s so funny about
this,� said Edwinna.
�Tiram would not have accused you
of being a spy.� He would have settled things down long beforehand, with or
without your or Alyssa�s help.� It is clearly in his best interests to do so,�
he replied.� Alyssa�s jaw dropped.� Baladas smiled, glancing at Alyssa with an
amused but not unfriendly smirk.
�I do sincerely hope that you
enjoyed yourself, at least,� he said.� Alyssa narrowed her eyes.� How could he
say such a thing?� Of course she didn�t enjoy it!
�I would be rather more sorry to
hear that you did not,� he continued.� Edwinna glared at him.� He sighed,
picking up a quill and parchment and returning to his work.
�What are you talking about?� asked
Edwinna.� Baladas looked back up.
��You know Tiram Gadar?� Alyssa
finally asked.� She had a sinking feeling about this.� She remembered that Aryon
had mentioned Tiram as well.� Baladas shrugged.
�Not particularly well.� I met him
once.� But I do happen to know that his job involves keeping the Mages Guild
and Great House Telvanni from war.� He protects the interests of the Great
House so we are not swallowed by the Empire.� Along with a few other details,�
he smiled.� Alyssa blinked.
�And what is that supposed to
mean?� asked Edwinna.� Baladas shrugged.
�It�s in both of your best
interests to keep quiet about his position, for obvious reasons.� Tiram can and
will soothe things over quickly for both of you.� He is Master Aryon�s spy.� I
am only amused because you bribed a real spy to keep from being falsely accused
of spying.� It is ironic,� he replied with a grin.� Alyssa�s jaw dropped.
�No,� she whispered, shaking her
head.� Baladas shrugged.
�I cannot defend Tiram�s actions in
this matter as they have clearly upset you.� And for that I am sorry.� He was
likely only looking for a good time, and it seems you gave him one.� I see
nothing wrong with your own actions in this,� Baladas continued, �I am only
stating the facts.� I did not mean to upset you further.�
�You should have let me handle
this,� replied Edwinna crossly.� Alyssa backed away.
�I should kill him,� she finally
whispered, her face burning with embarrassment.
�I wouldn�t advise that on any
account.� For one, it admits your guilt.� You cannot simply say that you bribed
someone and then regretted it afterwards.� Secondly, I hear Tiram is doing a
wonderful job at keeping our two factions from destroying one another.� Since
you are a member of both, it would be a pity if you found yourself having to
choose sides,� Baladas advised, �There are more important things you could be
doing with your life.� Trust me, wars are a waste of both time and resources.�
�I agree with you, Baladas.� But I
can see where Alyssa is coming from.� She�s been through a lot already.� Tiram
had no right to take advantage of her like that.� You should have told me!� she
said, taking Alyssa in her arms.� Alyssa tried to pull away, but couldn�t
prevent the tears from building in her eyes.� She fell into her sister�s arms
sobbing.� Baladas looked uncomfortable, returning to his work quietly.� He
tapped his quill for a moment, then looked up.
�It is probably good to keep in
mind while you are in Morrowind that the Dunmer people are far more casual
regarding matters of the flesh than most outlander civilizations tend to be,�
he finally said, �It does not have the same negative connotations for us.� Sex
is merely pleasure shared between two people.�� Edwinna nodded, a sad look
crossing her eyes.� She sighed.
�Come on, Alyssa,� Edwinna said,
�Let me gather my things.� We can go back to Ald�ruhn and start setting things
right again, ok?�
�Alright,� she whispered, wiping
the tears from her eyes.� She picked up one of Edwinna�s bags.� She had never
felt so foolish in her life.� She hurried towards the stairs.
�Goodbye, Baladas,� said Edwinna
softly, looking back at her host.� He looked up and smiled.
�Farewell,� he replied, �Good luck
to both of you.� I hope that our paths will soon cross again.� I shall be here
if you need me.�� With that, he resigned himself once more to his studies.� Edwinna
took a deep breath, clutching her sister in her arms as the two made their way
down the stairwell.
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