Adult-FanFiction.org : Games

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
- 34
- 35
- 36
Chapter
35: Anarenen
�I�m not sure if I want to go visit
another Telvanni master�� Alyssa complained, walking quickly across the red
earth and leaving footprints in the newly fallen ash.� She and Anarenen had
found several hungers wandering around the ruins of Ramimilk and had made quick
work of them.� It was always more pleasant out hunting with the high elven
alchemist by her side.
�Hmm� well I don�t see why there is
any great need.� If you don�t want to go, then don�t do it.� If your heart
isn�t in it, you�ll regret your decision no matter where it leads you,� Anarenen
advised, stooping down suddenly to gather some trama root along their path.
�Do you have another ingredient bag
handy?� We shouldn�t mix these herbs with the deadra skins until they dry completely,�
he said, pulling up a handful and examining it closely.
�I think so� oh yes, here it is,�
Alyssa replied, taking out a folded sack and letting it billow out in the
breeze, �I generally really prefer picking herbs to hunting, but, well, I
always manage to prick myself on trauma root.�� Still, she had to admit that
hunting daedra was quite a sport.� Besides the challenge of actually slaying
the hungers, the pair had to work quickly to remove the beasts� skin and
hearts, before their bodies vanished back into the voids of Oblivion where they
were resurrected.� How strange it must be to be immortal!� Anarenen laughed.
�I find that difficult to believe,
considering how much trauma root you�ve managed to collect over the past year
or so.� The spines are rather distinctive from the rest of the plant, unless
you�re gathering in the dark.� And even then� just run your fingers along the
tips carefully until you feel yourself coming to a knot�� he said, taking her
small hand in his and guiding it along the root, �There� now just snap it off.�
The spines don�t grow on the fresh shoots stemming from the apical meristems at
the tips of the roots, remember?� You won�t see any secondary growth for a
while yet � so it�s safe to pick, even in total darkness.�� Alyssa sighed,
feeling a little foolish.� She should have remembered this lesson better.�
Where was her mind nowadays?
�Anyway, since the ash just cleared
I doubt we�ll see any cliff racers for� well� actually they should be leaving
their nests right about now.� They tend to get lost and disoriented in the ashstorms
and will attack anything they see until they find a place to rest.� But now
that the ash is clear they�ll be flocking out in great numbers to find food
before the storms hit again,� Anarenen mused, �With a few racer feathers we can
set you up with some nice levitation potions to use when you�re flying around
those mushroom towers� provided you ever decide you want to go back, that is.�
�I don�t know� It�s just, I mean��
After Tiram I�� Alyssa suddenly closed her mouth, remembering the words of Baladas.�
It was in her best interests to keep quiet about his position in House Telvanni,
he had warned, or she could find herself in the midst of a war.� She looked up
at Anarenen, her eyes welling with tears.
�I guess I�m just� embarrassed��
she finally whispered, tearing her eyes away from his golden face.
�Don�t be,� Anarenen replied
soothingly, �We all make foolish mistakes that we regret later.� It�s a part of
life.� I don�t think any of us can avoid it.�
�Yes but� Tiram!� she shuddered.� Anarenen
laughed.
�Listen, I�ve done one or two
stupid things while drunk myself, and woken up beside someone absolutely
horrid,� he winked, �Although I can�t say that they weren�t thinking exactly
the same thing in the morning!�� Alyssa giggled.
�I doubt it,� she replied with a
coy smile.� Anarenen smiled down at the young mage.
�We all have our secrets.� We all
have our mistakes.� It�s part of what makes us who we are.� And in your case �
I think you�ve got it a lot better than the rest of us.� You did what you did
out of love � love for your sister, that is.� Most of us just go about life
living only for ourselves.� Most people wouldn�t do what you did � but that�s
what makes you special.� You�re one of the few people in this world who
genuinely cares.� You have a good heart.� That appears to be a rare trait
nowadays,� Anarenen said.� Alyssa smiled, looking up at him with tear stained
eyes.� But the silence was broken when a screech sounded from overhead.
�Get down!� Anarenen shouted,
summoning a storm atronach as he cast a lightning bolt into the sky, �There are
three racers closing in from the north!�
�And one from the south-west!� I�ll
take care of it!� exclaimed Alyssa, hurling a fireball at the creature as it
flew rapidly towards her.� The battle was short, and soon four dead cliff
racers lay at their feet.
�Well� here�s our racer plumes, at
any rate,� smiled Anarenen as he stooped to pluck some feathers from the
animal.
�And racer down too!� replied
Alyssa happily as she placed the feathers in her sack.� Anarenen walked over,
adding his feathers to her own.� He smiled down at her kindly.� She stared back
into his copper eyes, feeling her pulse quicken.� Suddenly she felt nervous.
�We� should� probably get back to Ald�ruhn
before the next storm hits?� she suggested, feeling her face start to flush.� Anarenen
laughed softly.
�We�re right outside the city
gates.� See?� There�s Fort Buckmoth, and the silt strider port is just beyond
it,� he replied with a wink, �Besides, the skies look clear � at least for the
time being.� You can never tell in the ashlands.�� Once again Alyssa felt
foolish.� She followed him silently through the stone archway that lead into
the town.� The Mages Guild was just beyond it.� She sighed.
�Are you feeling alright?� asked Anarenen,
turning to question her before he opened the door to the guild.� Alyssa nodded.
�Yes, thank you� I just� I�ll get
over it, I suppose,� she replied with a sigh.� Anarenen gazed at her
apologetically.
�You will indeed, but there�s no
need to bottle your emotions.� Let them out: it�s healthier that way.� And� you
know I�ll be here for you whenever you need it,� he smiled.� Alyssa giggled,
feeling her face flush.
�Thank you.� You�re always so kind
to me,� she replied.
�And you�re always so kind to
everyone,� he answered, opening the door to the Guild, �Just be sure to use
some of that energy to take care of yourself, too, alright?�� The guildhall was
dark, but Alyssa could see Heem-La and Orrent talking quietly in the entryway.�
She smiled at them when they saw her.
�Speaking of kindness, that new calcinator
you brought back for me is great!� If you want to mix anything up right now,
I�d love to show it off.� It might be good for you to get a bit of experience
with equipment of differing qualities � you�ve only used journeyman grade
before now, so why not feel the difference a grandmaster�s apparatus can make?�
After all: you�re the one who got it for me in the first place,� Anarenen
winked.� Alyssa giggled.
�I would most certainly enjoy that,
but� do you know if Edwinna is back yet?� she asked curiously.
�Hmm�� Anarenen mused, glancing
around the guildhall, �Orrent?� Do you know where Edwinna is?�
�She�s still in Vivec, I believe,�
replied Orrent, shooting Alyssa a knowing smile which caused her to blush
crimson.� Thanks to Alyssa�s drunken outburst yesterday, surely they all knew
why she was there.� She should learn to keep her mouth shut better, she
supposed, feeling the heat rise to her face.
�Ah well� I�m sure she�ll be back
soon,� Anarenen assured her, �In the meantime, let�s stretch these skins out to
dry.�� Alyssa followed him sheepishly, trying to ignore the stares she felt
from the other guildmembers as Anarenen took out his alchemical equipment along
with some wooden frames.� Alyssa set to stretching one of the skins, unsure
whether she liked or disliked the smooth slippery texture.� It was a bit
courser and softer when it was dry.
�Careful!� Make sure you get the
tension even or you�ll get an uneven surface texture on the leather,� Anarenen
told her, watching her work carefully.� She sighed, glancing over at a young Dunmer
girl who sat in a corner intently reading a book: one of Vala�s students, most
likely� although she couldn�t remember if she recognized this girl before.� She
hoped she hadn�t been witness to her drunken entrance yesterday.� She glanced
back down at her work, threading the skin across the frame slowly and
deliberately.
�That�s the idea!� Anarenen
exclaimed encouragingly.� The little Dunmer girl in the corner looked up,
giggling at the sight.� Alyssa heard her laughter.� She probably had seen her
little drama fest the day before.� They all had.� Her eyes welled with tears,
but she fought to keep her attention on the skin before her.
�Hmm� I�m not sure where I�m going
to set up my alchemical equipment� We�ve brought back a lot of skins and they
are going to need to air out a bit,� Anarenen mused, looking around for a place
to store them.
�Everyone�s watching me here,�
Alyssa whispered, letting her dark hair drape over her face.� For some reason,
it always made her feel more invisible than she really was.� Anarenen sighed.
�Well, I�d invite you to my
quarters, but I don�t really have any anymore,� he replied apologetically.�
Alyssa shook her head.
�That still isn�t right,� she
complained, �I�ll have to talk to Edwinna about it when she comes back.�
�Don�t you worry about it.� Edwinna
offered to give me my old quarters back but really� it would just be too
awkward.� I don�t mind staying with Orrent � he�s rarely home anyway,� Anarenen
chuckled.
�Well, I don�t want to stay here,�
Alyssa replied, keeping her voice to a low whisper, �I just wish I hadn�t made
such a fool of myself yesterday.� I can barely look anyone in the eye anymore.�
Could we go to Edwinna�s quarters, since she isn�t here anyway?�� Anarenen
shrugged.
�If you would like.� Otherwise I
can just stand these frames up in my little closet of a shop here� I won�t be
able to get to much, but it would be alright,� he replied helpfully.� Alyssa giggled,
standing to gather her ingredient sack and taking the mortar and pestle from
the table as she hurried upstairs.� Anarenen followed her, catching Orrent�s
eye as he spied him watching the pair from the upper stairwell.� Orrent
shrugged innocently, shaking his head as his eyes wandered to Alyssa�s
curvaceous and elegantly dressed form.� He raised his eyebrows, glancing back
up at Anarenen with an amused but knowing smirk.� Anarenen�s copper eyes glared
menacingly back, and he closed the door quickly to Edwinna�s chambers with a
sigh.� Alyssa was already setting up the equipment on her sister�s desk.
�This is much better,� she replied
pleasantly.
�Good, then,� Anarenen replied,
seating himself at the desk and quietly adjusting the equipment to calibrate it
to the correct temperature and pressure for the ingredients they were using.�
Alyssa glanced around nervously, noting that he was suddenly much quieter.
�Does it bother you, being in this
room?� she asked.� Anarenen look up in surprise.
�No.� Well, I suppose it brings
back memories, but it�s alright.� Memories can�t be helped.� They are what they
are,� he replied softly.� Alyssa stepped closer.
�Are we just going to make
levitation potions, then?� she asked.
�Well� did you have something else
in mind?� I have some saltrice here� we could make some restorative potions if
you would prefer, and save the feathers for later,� he replied.� Alyssa shook
her head, looking contemplative.
�Well� I�ve been getting rather
good at levitating on my own, but I guess it�s nice to have a few spares just
incase I�m feeling drained.� Or if I have a guest.� When Malcus came to visit
me he didn�t know the slightest thing about levitation,� she giggled.� Anarenen
smiled.
�Well, if he was willing to brave a
Telvanni tower without knowing how to levitate, then he�s either a fool� or
madly in love with you,� he replied with a wink.� Alyssa sighed, her features
falling suddenly grim as she recalled their last meeting.
�He wasn�t� he hated the towers,�
she replied sadly, �And he�s furious with me for joining the Great House.�
�I don�t see how it makes a
difference.� You�re still you.� I haven�t noticed a huge change in your
personality since you�ve joined Great House Telvanni.� And those towers are
amazing, any way you look at it!� Anarenen replied with a laugh.
�I think so too.� The people are
strange though� I don�t think I was prepared for that,� she mused, �I mean, no
one is as friendly as they are here.� I can�t even tell what they want most of
the time.� Even Baladas� I mean, he seems nice enough, but I just can�t tell
what he�s thinking most of the time.� I get the impression that he�s a good mer,
just really� REALLY� eccentric, you know?� I mean, who drinks flin for
breakfast?� And I don�t think he ever leaves that one room at the top of his
tower.� At least, not when he can avoid it,� she mused.� Anarenen nearly
dropped the pestle he was holding when he burst out laughing.
�Baladas drinks flin for
breakfast?!� he asked incredulously, �I�m surprised.� Edwinna hates that
stuff.� She told me once that it should be banished from the island
altogether.�� Alyssa giggled.
�Well, I recall her having some of
it with her own dinner while I was there,� she replied with a smile, �I didn�t
know she was opposed to alcohol.�� Anarenen looked surprised.
�Edwinna?� Drinking?� Wow,
something�s changed in that woman,� he replied, shaking his head with a smile,
�Who knows?� Maybe he�s good for her.� She needed to loosen up and live a
little.�
�I don�t see how much fun they
could have locked away in that silly tower of his,� Alyssa complained.� Anarenen
laughed out loud.
�It is probably in my best
interests not to comment on that,� he said with a grin.
�I noticed he also had skooma on
one of the shelves,� Alyssa remarked.� Baladas� eyes widened.
�Skooma?� You know that stuff�s
illegal right?� I can�t even imagine Edwinna on the sugar.� I can barely
imagine her staying in the same room with the substance.� Oh my� it�s an
amusing thought though!� he laughed, shaking his head in amusement, �I guess
after however many centuries, the rules just don�t apply to you anymore.�
�He�s a good cook though.� Did you
know that you can cook with a calcinator?� she asked.� Anarenen shook his head.
�I don�t see how.� It would
concentrate the ingredients too much.� A calcinator isn�t like a normal cooking
pot,� he replied.� Alyssa smiled knowingly.
�He doesn�t cook directly with the calcinator.�
He puts a metal plate or bowl over it and uses it like a griddle,� she
explained.
�Hmm,� said Anarenen, looking
contemplative, �Well, I guess that makes sense� you could adjust the heat from
the calcinator quite precisely, and most metals are conductive enough to
transfer the heat so� hmm� that�s a pretty good idea, actually.� I�ll have to
try it sometime.�
�First though, let�s make some
potions!� replied Alyssa happily, leaning over the table across Anarenen to
collect the mortar and pestle.� Just then, the door opened.� Alyssa stood up,
feeling startled.
�Edwinna!� she exclaimed excitedly,
feeling a little flustered.� She wasn�t sure why her face was flushing, and
glanced at Anarenen for support.
�We were just about to mix some
potions,� Anarenen explained.� Edwinna stared at them for a moment, then
nodded.
�Fine.� But why aren�t you
downstairs?� she asked.
�Well, we collected some daedra
skins and they were taking up a lot of room while they dried�� Anarenen
started, his voice trailing off slowly.
�I asked him to come up here,
because I wasn�t feeling particularly comfortable in front of the rest of the
Guild,� Alyssa explained, placing her hands on her hips.� Edwinna smiled coyly.
�Fine.� Suit yourselves.� I have a
lot of reports to go over anyway.� But Alyssa� I was just going to tell you��
she started, glancing at Anarenen suspiciously, �I probably shouldn�t say this
in front of anyone else.�� She crossed her arms, waiting for the alchemist to
leave.� He sighed, standing up as he left the room.� Edwinna closed the door
behind him.
�I spoke to Tiram,� Edwinna
continued.� Alyssa�s eyes widened and she backed up, finding her way to the bed
so she could sit down.� Edwinna sighed.
�He was true to his word at least�
and I suppose I have you to thank for that,� she said grimly.� Alyssa�s face
flushed and she shook her head.
�If he would have cleared it up
anyway then I don�t see what my sleeping with him helped at all,� she
whispered, casting her eyes downwards, �I�ll get over it, I suppose.� I just
hope Malcus can forgive me if� I mean, when� he comes back.�
�Listen, Tiram turned Erranil�s
report inside out.� She�s been accused of spying for the Telvanni now, while my
own name has been cleared.� Since she�s already been expelled from one
Guildhall� well, honestly I�m still not sure how he managed to pull that one
off.� The evidence was flimsy at best, but Archmage Trebonius appeared quite
satisfied.� So I let Tiram live� but only for now.� And he now knows what we
know about his� position� in the Guild.� I hope that, combined with the threat
of death, will be enough to dissuade him from any future� encounters� with
you,� Edwinna replied.� Alyssa nodded solemnly.� Edwinna sighed, gesturing
towards the door.
�You are leading him on, you know,�
she said quietly.� Alyssa pursed her lips.
�I am not,� she replied curtly, �I
would never toy with anyone�s feelings like that.� I just happen to think that Anarenen
is a very nice mer.� And I enjoy spending time with him.� He�s sweet, he�s
attractive� and he actually listens to me.�� Edwinna smiled.
�Listen� all of that might be true,
but you aren�t ready for it.� Neither one of you, really.� You�ve been through
a lot, especially with men.� And I admit I wasn�t the kindest to him.� At least
he had enough sense to stay away from Erranil� that bitch,� Edwinna scowled,
her eyes narrowing.
�You already had your chance with
him and you blew it!� Alyssa retorted.� Edwinna�s eyes widened.� She opened her
mouth to speak, but then she laughed.
�Oh, Alyssa.� I�m not jealous.� You
two might very well be suited for one another.� But you�re both very vulnerable
right now.� You�ve both had your hearts broken.� Give them both some time to
mend, alright?� she replied with a smile, �Now, I really do have some reports
to read over.� I�ll send Anarenen back up here so you can finish your potions,
alright?� But� leave the door open, ok?�� Alyssa glared after Edwinna as she
left the room.� What was she thinking, anyway?� She didn�t know for sure that Malcus
was dead � or if he wasn�t that he would leave her after learning of her
escapades with Tiram.� And she didn�t even know if Anarenen had feelings for
her.� Well, of course he did � but what if those feelings were purely platonic?
When Anarenen reappeared in her
sister�s chambers, Alyssa could hardly look at him.� He gave her a friendly
wink and returned to calibrating the calcinator.� His shimmering golden-brown
hair was pulled back in yet another ornate golden clip.� It seemed everything
about him glowed.� She sighed dreamily, walking back up to the desk to take the
mortar and pestle so she could begin grinding the two ingredients.� Quickly,
she closed the door, returning to settle on the bed.� Anarenen looked back at
her.
�Your sister told me to leave the
doors open,� he told her plainly.� Alyssa shook her head.
�I�m not comfortable like that,�
she replied, �If Edwinna complains, I�ll tell her so myself.�� Anarenen sighed
deeply, shaking his head.� Alyssa bit her lip.� What was she thinking anyway?�
She didn�t care.� She wasn�t planning anything indecent.� And so what if she
was?� What business was it of Edwinna�s?� She just didn�t want to be told what
to do � and she didn�t want everyone to watch her.
�Ok, everything is ready,� Anarenen
said, standing up and gesturing for Alyssa to take a seat at the desk.
�I�m sorry.� I don�t want to get
you in trouble.� I can open the door again� I guess I just wasn�t thinking very
clearly,� Alyssa replied, feeling a bit guilty.� Anarenen chuckled softly.
�That�s alright.� If you�re more
comfortable like this, then so am I.� It�s a little easier now that Erranil
isn�t here, as terrible as I feel for saying that.� But Orrent can be nearly as
much of a pain sometimes.� And I have to live with him!� he exclaimed with a
laugh.� Alyssa giggled.
�Alright then.� I think I�ve
crushed these ingredients � what do you think?� she asked hopefully.
�Hmm� I think it looks great!� Anarenen
replied, sifting through the finely ground mixture, �Now, what are you going to
do next?�� Alyssa giggled.
�I suppose you have the calcinator
set up already?� she asked.� Anarenen nodded.
�Yes, but you might want to check
the calibration first.� I�m going to watch, and I�ll let you know how you�re
doing, alright?� he said.� Alyssa smiled.� She placed the ingredients in the
apparatus and then glanced down at the knobs that adjusted the temperature
controls.� She blinked.
�Isn�t this a few degrees off?� she
asked, feeling a little confused.� Perhaps it was just because of the higher
quality of the equipment.
�Ah!� Very good!� I was hoping you
would catch that,� he said with a smile, watching as she readjusted the
settings, �Excellent.� Now go ahead.� It�s not as finicky as the other, but you
still want to watch to make sure it doesn�t burn.� Just concentrate the mixture
as much as possible first � it�s fine line between heavy concentration and
burning.�� Alyssa obeyed, feeling slightly giddy.� It reminded her of her first
lesson in alchemy with Anarenen.� It had been fun.� But then, it was always
fun.� She sighed, remembering her confession of earlier.
�Careful!� warned Anarenen.�
Quickly, Alyssa removed the mixture, slightly surprised that she hadn�t burned
it.� This apparatus worked much more quickly than she had expected it to, but
that wasn�t the problem.� Her mind had clearly been elsewhere.� She set the
mixture down, placing her head in her hands.
�Alyssa?� Are you alright?� asked Anarenen,
kneeling down beside her.
�Yes.� Well, no.� I mean� I don�t
know,� she sobbed.
�Hmm� well we can let this potion
go.� We�ve got plenty of ingredients to work with, and besides � it�ll already
be quite strong, even without refining and purifying its effects in the
retort,� he replied soothingly.� Alyssa shook her head, taking a big gulp as
she reached out and set the bulb of the retort down on the stand, firing it up
and watching it bubble.� Anarenen was silent as he watched her work, pouring
the thick mixture into the neck of the glass bulb.� They watched it bubble in
silence for a moment before starting to boil off, its vapors condensing quickly
in the neck above and draining out into the collection pan.� Sighing, she took
the mixture off of the stand.
�Wait!� It isn�t done yet!� Anarenen
warned.� Alyssa blinked, quickly replacing the mixture as some of it spilled
out onto the floor.� The small remainder boiled quickly and she could only
stare in horror as it evaporated entirely, leaving a sticky dark residue.� In
an instant Anarenen removed it, leaning down to clean what was left of the
potion from Edwinna�s floor.� Alyssa burst into tears.
�It�s alright!� Really!� Even I
burn a few potions � it�s all about learning.� You never stop learning,
really,� he said soothingly.� But Alyssa kept crying.� He leaned over, pulling
her close into his arms and holding her tightly as she wept.
�It isn�t the potion, is it?� he
asked softly.� Alyssa shook her head.
�It�s everything.� Oh Anarenen!� I
just� I feel so alone,� she cried.
�You�re not alone,� he replied
softly, running his fingertips through her hair and causing her to shiver.
�No one is ever as nice to me as
you are.� I still say that Edwinna didn�t know what a good thing she had when
she had it!� Alyssa cried.� Anarenen laughed softly, bending over to pick up the
last of the alchemical ingredients.
�Come here.� We can finish this
lesson in a little while when you�re feeling better.� And you will feel better,
I promise,� Anarenen smiled.� Alyssa stood, sitting beside him on the bed and
leaning into him.� He was so warm, and his skin felt like silk.� She breathed
deeply, allowing his fingers to caress her head gently.
�And those other girls you
mentioned� well, they were fools too.� I can�t imagine what any of them was
thinking.� Why does it seem everyone takes advantage of both of us?� I mean,
you�re kind� and talented� and attractive�� Alyssa mused.
�Alyssa� you are one of the kindest
and most beautiful people I have ever met.� And you are so strong, too.� It�s a
rare combination.� You�ve been through more than anyone else I know, but you�ve
managed to keep your heart and soul pure in the process.� I can�t help but
admire you.� And if anyone is telling you otherwise, just forget them, okay?� Anarenen
replied softly.� Alyssa looked up into his copper eyes wistfully. �For a
moment, they only staring, holding one another�s gaze.
�It would seem strange, wouldn�t it�
I mean, with Edwinna?� Alyssa asked sadly.� Anarenen smiled.
�You are more beautiful and kind
than your sister could ever hope to be.� You are everything I hoped she would
become.� But� last I checked you had a boyfriend, didn�t you?� Anarenen replied
quietly, �I would never want to make things more complicated for you.�� Alyssa
felt her heart suddenly skip a beat.� Yes� yes she did.� And� she wanted him
back too.� What was wrong with her?� Malcus might have been able to forgive her
for Tiram, since at least she had some sort of explanation for her behavior�
but she was neither intoxicated nor coerced now.� But was she ever going to see
Malcus again?� The thought of being alone�
�I don�t know if he�s alive or
dead,� she confessed, �And I don�t know how long I should wait to find out.�
�But� assuming he is alive� you
would still want him?� Anarenen asked.� Alyssa bit her lip.� Her mind was
spinning.
�I don�t know what I want,� she
finally confessed.� Anarenen nodded.
�It�s alright,� he replied, pulling
her tighter, �You should never try to change your heart�s desires.� You are so
very young.� How could you know what you wanted, really?� You have so much to
live for � so much to learn about yourself still.�� Alyssa sighed, gazing up at
his golden features.� She reached her hand up, playing with his silky golden
brown hair in her fingertips.� Everything about him was so soft and radiant� it
was almost� inhuman.� But then, he was an Altmer, was he not?� She just had not
imagined they would be so breathtakingly lovely up close.� She could feel her
body catching fire already.� And, actually� she HAD imagined it�
In one quick motion she pulled his
head down towards her lips, moaning softly as his supple flesh touched her
own.� Oh, but it was too much!� She fell against him, her breath quickening as
she felt his fingers run gently across her face.� He was slow and leisurely,
returning her kiss softly but not pressing her any further.� But this denial
only served to heighten her passions further.� Finally he pulled away, his own
breathing heavy as he gazed down at her.
�Alyssa, I don�t want to take
advantage of you,� he breathed, �I don�t want to become another of the men in your
life that violated your trust.�� Leaning forward, Alyssa kissed him again, but
he pulled away, a slight tear forming in his eye.
�Wait,� he said softly, �I need
some kind of assurance that you know what you are doing.�� Alyssa moaned
softly, turning her body towards him and pressing her chest against his as she
slipped her hands behind his head.
�I won�t regret it in the morning,
if that�s what you�re asking,� she replied breathlessly.� Anarenen chuckled
softly.
�Ah, but just what is it you are
not going to regret?� he said with a wink.� Letting out a deep sigh, Alyssa
gazed intently into his eyes, fixing her own dark orbs on his.
�Being with someone like you,� she
breathed, once again pressing her lips against his.� He made no move to resist
her, his pulse quickening as she pressed her body fervently against his own.�
The straps of her dress fell about her shoulders, and she moaned again, sending
vibrations through their lips.� He opened his mouth slightly, causing her to
gasp with delight as she felt his soft tongue between her lips.� She didn�t
care what happened after this, so long as her heart beat with every breath they
took.
Suddenly the door swung open and
the dream was shattered. Alyssa gasped, pulling away from the high elven
alchemist, who sat now with a dazed expression on his face.� Edwinna stood in
the doorway, her eyes wide and her jaw open.� For a moment, all three were
silent.� Edwinna was the first to shake herself out of it.
�I asked you to keep the door
open.� These are my quarters, you know,� she said finally.� Alyssa�s face
flushed crimson.� Edwinna stepped inside, closing the door behind her.� She sat
down at the desk, ignoring the mess left by the spoiled potion and scattered
equipment.
�Anarenen� you know perfectly well
all that Alyssa has been through.� How could you?� she glared.� Anarenen was
silent, his breath still rapid as he gazed at the floor.
�And Alyssa� come now� it isn�t
fair to you or Anarenen to do this now.� Don�t make the same mistake I did.�
The Altmer seem to have a racial tendency towards forming strong attachments � Anarenen
in particular � and you are too young, too inexperienced, and too confused
right now to make that kind of decision.� Anarenen might be older than you, but
he will surely outlive you.� I didn�t realize this at the time we got together,
although I suppose I should have.� I�d been living on an island of Dunmer for
so long, I just sort of assumed that all elves were as casual in their
sexuality as the Dunmer.� I had been watching him while he worked and found him
to be quite attractive� I never thought there was more to it than that.� I
didn�t realize how attached Anarenen had gotten to me until it was too late and
then I had no choice but to hurt him.� I mean, I couldn�t stay with him forever
� I couldn�t make that kind of decision for anyone with my limited experience.�
And I knew he would outlive me.� So it was either stay on for life, or else it
had to end sometime� and sooner seemed better than later.� I�m sorry Anarenen.�
I really do like and respect you, but I just wasn�t ready for that kind of
commitment,� Edwinna continued.� Anarenen only stared, feeling his face flush.�
Alyssa sighed, moving away from him.
�Why didn�t you tell me?� he
finally asked.� Edwinna sighed.
�I should have� I just didn�t know
how,� she replied simply, �I suppose I was sort of hoping that you would get
together with Erranil and forget about me so I wouldn�t have to hurt you.� But
honestly, that woman drove me crazy.�� Anarenen smiled grimly.
�She wasn�t my type,� he replied
with a smirk.
�And Baladas?� Alyssa asked
curiously.
�Baladas is Dunmer,� Edwinna
smiled, �In retrospect, I doubt very much that he would have cared if I had
continued my relations with Anarenen� or anyone else for that matter.� And
while I find him� mmm, fascinating, shall we say... in the end it works out
better for us both this way.� We both have our lives, we both have our
research, and� well, the Dunmer have a beautiful way of not complicating
matters of the flesh.�
�Alyssa� I�m sorry� I�m so terribly
sorry�� breathed Anarenen.
�No.� It was me.� I wasn�t
thinking.� Yet again,� sighed Alyssa, �It should be me who is apologizing to
you.�
�Well perhaps in time you two will
find your way back together... after both of your hearts are free.� But in the meantime�
that island with no men is starting to sound like a very good retreat for you,
Alyssa,� mused Edwinna with a smirk.
�Tel Mora?� she asked, glancing at Anarenen,
who nodded softly.
�We�ll all still be here for you
when you get back, but in the meantime, it might be good for you to have a
little time out to think things over, alright?� he offered.� Alyssa bit her
lip, trying to fight back her tears.
�I�ll always be your friend
Alyssa.� Nothing is going to change that.� And oftentimes, friends are worth
more than lovers,� Anarenen said with a wink.� Edwinna nodded in agreement.
�Anarenen is a good person, and so
are you,� Edwinna offered, �But that isn�t all it takes to make a romance work
� especially cross-culturally.� I just don�t want to see either of you hurt any
more than you already have been.�
�Alright.� I was going to head over
there eventually, but I guess a change of scenery will do me some good.� I�ll
leave for Tel Mora in the morning,� she offered, still feeling skeptical.� But
she could see it was the best thing for everyone involved.� It was probably
good that her sister had interrupted them when she did.� Edwinna stood, opening
the door slowly.� Slowly she turned around, as though remembering something.
�Oh, and while you�re in Telvanni country�
I have a few things I wouldn�t mind you asking around about a bit for me�� she
said, her eyes narrowing.
�Such as?� asked Alyssa.
�I�m still getting strange reports
from the ruins at Nchuleftingth.�
I have my suspicions, but I�d just like you to keep your eyes and ears open.�
The Telvanni would seem to know that area better than most, perhaps if there
are any hidden bases or such in the area.� Caves, ruins, tombs� anything else
suspicious?� Edwinna replied hopefully.� Alyssa blinked, trying to remember if
she had heard anything matching that description.
�Perhaps it�s just vampires and I�m
paranoid, who knows?� But I don�t want to prejudice the search.� Just let me
know if you find out anything, alright?� Edwinna winked, turning to leave the
room.� Alyssa looked up, gazing once more into Anarenen�s copper eyes.� He
smiled down at her.
�Don�t worry.� You�ll come back
soon enough.� And with a little luck, things will be much better when you do,�
he added with a wink.
- 34
- 35
- 36
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Fall from High Rock