Chapter 26

“Loac. So nice to see you again,” said Henantil with a smirk as he stepped from the shadows. He pointed his sword up at Galinil and said sternly, “Be gone, Imga.”

Lord Galinil’s eyes filled with fear at the look of the blade and he swiftly leapt away. He assumed that Henantil was the fiance Loac had spoken about and felt satisfied about reuniting them again. He couldn’t wait to tell his friends in Falinesti of his noble deed.

“Cowardly Imga. They try so hard to be like us Altmer, but no matter how hard a moth tries it can never be a butterfly,” laughed Henantil, “What were you doing with him anyway, and where is Falinir? Was Falinir not lowly enough for you? You left him for a beast?”

"He's dead. A vampire killed him. The Imga was just helping me," said Loac. Her eyes welled with tears at the thought that Falinir’s death was probably a fact.

Henantil thought to himself for a moment. This time, it seemed like Loac could in fact be telling the truth. He had discovered her from a distance and she was definitely alone. Plus, there was the coven of vampires he had encountered while trailing Falinir's footprints. If Falinir were dead already, that was a serious problem for Henantil's plan. He'd have to find another way to convince Loac to return home. He obviously couldn't threaten to kill Falinir, since he was already dead. Dragging Loac home against her will wasn't an option either, as she'd continue to act insane in order to return to Valenwood. She had to willingly want to go home. Henantil would have to choose his words carefully. This was his only chance to save himself from a life of permanent exile.

“If Falinir is dead, then there’s nothing left for you here. Look at your tattered clothes. Let me help bring you back to the comforts of your home. Your Father misses you terribly. You don’t want to spend the rest of your life alone in a hovel here,” said Henantil with a feigned look of kindness.

“I would rather live a thousand years in poverty than let any harm come to my child,” said Loac, “Besides I’m in exile. I announced my illegal pregnancy through the streets. Why do you even bother to try to bring me back?”

“You can claim you were under a spell and act normal again. Your father’s reputation is at stake. Do you want him to lose his throne?” asked Henantil.

“I do care about my father, but answer is still no, and nothing you say will convince me otherwise,” said Loac, “Tell him I’m sorry for any pain my actions have caused him, but I can’t go back.”

Loac still loved her father despite all that had transpired. She felt guilty for embarassing him, but it was the only way to save her child. She hoped he could forgive her someday.

Henantil’s anger finally broke through and he raised his sword at her, “You’ll come back with me or I’ll kill your child!”

“My baby would be killed anyway, if I returned,” said Loac.

“Then I’ll kill you, if you don’t come back!” shouted Henantil.

Loac held up her arms defensively and said, “I don’t think that my father would be too pleased with you if you did that.”

He lowered his sword. She was right. Killing her would not work. He was running out of options. He ran his hand through his windswept hair nervously and looked at her with both anguish and desperation. Finally, he reached out and held her hand. His voice wavered and he seemed close to tears as he pleaded with her, “Loac. I’m begging you. Your father will exile me forever if I don’t bring you back. Please. Don’t ruin my life. Don’t ruin both of our lives. Come back to Summerset Isle with me. You’ve made a mess of things, but it’s not too late to set it right.”

“You think I’d be willing to sacrifice my child’s life to save you from exile? Now I see why you’re so desperate to bring me back. You aren’t concerned about me or my father at all. You care only for yourself,” replied Loac.

In the distance Falinir could hear the faint sound of a conversation. He turned himself invisible and silently went toward the source of the voices. He was dismayed to see Henantil had found Loac. He remained invisible in the distance and listened in on their conversation. Falinir had the element of surprise on his side, and would use it to save Loac at the right moment.

“Don’t do this to me, Loac,” begged Henantil. He winced as he felt the vampire’s disease continuing to infect his body, “Falinir is dead. You don’t want to raise a honoured user child all on your own. You can have another child later with a proper Altmeri nobleman, and you won’t even miss this one. A culler can carry out the act, and you need not even look upon the dead baby. Imagine going back to your life of priviledge and wealth like this pregnancy never happened at all. Imagine relaxing in your beautiful manor again, eating the finest foods and being attended by servants day and night.”

“I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I killed an innocent baby for the convenience of gaining a more comfortable wealthy life. To do so would be just as selfish and evil as a murderer who kills in order to rob someone to gain wealth. It’s killing an innocent person in order to have more money. Don’t you see how evil that is? How such a thing ever became a part of our society I will never understand. I’ve never agreed with the practice of culling, and I never will,” said Loac, “I love my child, and I’d die to protect him or her.”

Henantil realized that nothing was going to convince Loac to return with him. She was obviously mentally ill beyond help. Why was Loac so against culling? Killing people was as natural to Henantil as eating or sleeping. He had killed so many people in his life he had lost count, and he didn’t understand why Loac would be willing to destroy her status to save the life of another. It went against all that Henantil knew and understood about life. Yet her selfless words somehow touched him. He felt pity for her. This desperate woman willing to do anything to save her child, was something he had never seen before.

Henantil sighed and hung his head low. He had failed. He was doomed to live among unsophisticated churls for the rest of his life. A look of anger filled his eyes. He would not live like that. There was only one thing left he could do, to save himself from such a life.

“My life is ruined and it is all your fault,” he said angrily.

Loac did not reply.

Henantil then raised his hand and charged a powerful spell. His hand glowed with the most powerful destruction spell Loac had ever seen. Her eyes filled with fear and she defensively covered her pregnant belly with her arms. Falinir began running towards Henantil, hoping to stop him before he attacked.

Henantil stepped back a few paces, and said, "Goodbye Loac."

He held his hand up and released the spell at his own head, ending his life. His lifeless body fell to the grassy ground just a few feet in front of both Loac and Falinir, and a dark cloud of smoke twirled upward from his charred head. Loac stared at the body in wide-eyed shock.

"This is all my fault. If I hadn't broken the law..." said Loac to herself.

"It's not your fault Loac," said Falinir as he became visible again, "It was Henantil's own racism that killed him. He'd rather die than live with those he considered inferior."

"Falinir!" shouted Loac excitedly, "Oh, I've missed you so! I was afraid that vampire had killed you!"

"I've been worried about you too. I've been trying to find you since yesterday," said Falinir.

Loac looked down at Henantil’s body. She felt sorry for him despite all he had done. Only guilt outweighed her sadness. Looking upon his charred face was too much for her to bear. She began crying. Falinir held her close. She truely was the kindest person he had ever met, to shed tears for the man who had caused them so much suffering. Falinir couldn’t believe that Henantil had used his last words as a means of making such a selfless and innocent woman feel guilty over his death.

When Loac stopped crying, Falinir knelt down and dug through Henantil's pockets. He then turned Henantil's body over to get to his woolen bag. After untying the string, he opened the bag and looked inside it.

"Are you looting his body?" asked Loac in shock. She knew it was the practical thing to do, but something about digging through a corpse’s pockets filled her with disgust.

"We need supplies," said Falinir matter-of-factly, "By the Nine Divines! I don't believe it!"

He pulled two ruby necklaces out of the bag and showed them to Loac.

"Our engagement necklaces! But how?" said Loac excitedly.

"He must have encountered the Cathay-Raht as well," said Falinir as he pulled out another item from the sack, "My shoes!"

"Why in the world did Henantil have your shoes with him?" asked Loac.

"I haven't the slightest idea," said Falinir as he put the shoes on his feet, "Oh, this is going to make the rest of the walk so much easier."

What Falinir wanted to find most of all was something to eat. He had been without food for days, and didn’t have the strength to continue without it. Henantil’s body would make a delicious meal for him normally, but Loac looked stricken enough from having witnessed Henantil’s suicide. Falinir didn’t want to upset her further by consuming Henantil in front of her.

“Ah, yes!” said Falinir as he retrieved a large cheese wedge from Henantil’s sack and began eating it. After being without food for so long it was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted.

“Forgive me,” said Falinir, “Would you like some?”

“I’m not hungry at the moment,” said Loac, still overwhelmed by what had just happened.

“It’s late and we still have a long path ahead of us. We should rest,” said Falinir.

They silently walked away from Henantil’s body until it was out of view, and found a soft pile of freshly fallen leaves to sleep on. Loac held Falinir close, never wanting to lose him again. And for the first time in days Falinir slept without fear. Henantil was dead, and could never harm them again.

Chapter 27

Loac and Falinir awoke late in the morning and continued onward after eating the last of the food from Henantil's sack. The rain had stopped during the night, and the wet foliage sparkled in the morning sun. The remainder of their trek through the forest was uneventful now that Henantil was no longer on their trail. By evening they reached the great tree city of Falinesti without incident.

The massive tree was the most incredible thing Loac had ever seen. When it first appeared within her view, she stood still in contemplation and awe of its beauty. The tree's top boughs stretched nearly a mile into the sky, and its enormous gnarled roots spread across the ground sprawling over the surrounding rivers like bridges. It was a dark silhouette in the blue evening sky, except for the hundreds of lights coming from the candlelit houses built throughout the canopy. Wooden platforms criss-crossed over the branches connecting them with precarious narrow streets. Baskets hanging from thick vines and ropes were being pulled by up and down the large trunk to transport people to and from the treetop city.

"What do you think of it?" asked Falinir with a smile.

"It's like something out of a fairytale. It's breathtaking," said Loac, "Even when you described it to me, I never imagined it would be so enormous."

They crossed the surrounding creeks over the tree root bridges. Falinir helped Loac across so she didn't lose her footing on the round uneven roots. As they approached the trunk, Loac walked past several homeless Bosmeri sitting in the refuse piled up on the ground. She had never seen a homeless person while living in Alinor. They were gathered around a fire eagerly roasting a small rat. Their thin bodies looked malnourished and she knew that rat wouldn't be able to feed all of them sufficiently. When the beggars noticed her, they stared as if they had never seen an Altmer before.

"Kind lady, can you spare a bit of gold so I can git me a pair of shoes?" asked one of the beggars.

"Please, I'm only asking for enough to feed my children," asked another.

"I'm sorry," said Loac walking past them, "But I honestly have no gold at the moment."

Falinir helped Loac into a table-sized basket and said to the men holding the pulley vine, "Middle bough, if you please. I need to get to the chieftain's palace."

The muscle-bound men pulled hard on the vine, and hoisted the basket swiftly into the air. Loac watched the ground below get smaller and smaller as they travelled up the trunk of the enormous tree. When they started passing the houses on the lower branches Loac could see the roofs were made out of a carpet of bright green moss. It stretched out like a web across a whole cluster of residences. The people walking along the treetop walkways were dressed strangely to her. They were clad entirely in leather, bones, and fur. Some of them had colorful feathers sewn into their clothing as well. Many of the native Bosmer were dancing to fast lively music, and some were loafing in front of houses smoking green glass pipes. Loac found it interesting that all of the Bosmeri women seemed to be almost a foot taller than the men. Among her own race, men were usually taller than women.

The basket slowed to a stop in the middle of the canopy where the tree's thick trunk split into two large branches. In the space between the two branches was the palace. It was not as large as her own manor, only about half the size, but Loac thought it looked charming nonetheless. It was built out of wood instead of stone, and lacked the symmetry and rigid perfection of the buildings she'd seen all her life in Alinor. Every building in Falinesti seemed as natural and unpredictable as the tree itself.

"I can't wait for you to meet my family," said Falinir as he led Loac up the wooden steps to the front door of the palace. He attempted to open the large wooden door, and a guard stepped in front of him.

"Sorry, the chieftain is done for the day," said the leather-clad guardsman, "Unless it's an emergency, you'll have to have an audience with him in the morning."

"You must not recognize me," said Falinir, "I'm the chieftain's son, Falinir."

The guardsman eyed Falinir's tattered filthy clothing with surprise and said, "I'm so sorry, Prince Falinir. I didn't recognize you. Please accept my apologies."

"Don't worry yourself about it," said Falinir. He opened the door for Loac, and stepped inside after her. The entry hall looked just as it did eleven years earlier when he left for Summetset Isle. A Bosmer clad in fine intricately woven leather bounded down the stairs to see who the late visitor was.

"Thamir!" shouted Falinir with a grin to his elder brother.

"Falinir? Is that really you? By Y'ffre, what happened to you?" asked Thamir with concern.

"It's a long story," said Falinir, "But first, allow me to introduce my bride-to-be. Her name is Loac."

Thamir glanced up at Loac, and seemed amused by her tall height.

"Loac is it? A pleasure to meet you" said Thamir heartily, "Congratulations, brother!"

"Thank you," said Falinir with a nod of his head.

"Haha! What's this?" said Thamir as he rubbed the top of Falinir's head, where Falinir had the beginnings of a bald spot, "Looks like you'll be as bald as Father in a few years!"

"Hopefully not that soon!" laughed Falinir.

A door opened across the hall and an older Bosmeri man and woman entered. The woman wore a dress made of fine pale blue silk, and the man wore an imported tunic and brown leather pants. On his head was a crown made of gold and feathers. He looked like Falinir, only older and balding on top.

The woman gasped, "Falinir?!"

"Mother! Father!" said Falinir, "I've missed you so."

"What a great surprise! You didn't tell us you were planning to visit!", said Chieftain Ghenorn, "It seems like you've had a rough journey though from the looks of your clothing."

"I'll tell you all about it, but first I need to sit and have a bite to eat. We've walked all the way from Anvil on foot," said Falinir.

"On foot?! My Gods, what have you been through? Come, sit down in the dining hall. We're still in the middle of supper," said Falinir's mother.

They sat around the large dinner table, and a servant immediately placed fresh grilled fish and roast mutton on their silver plates.

"Mmm.. I've missed the taste of grellerfish. They don't have it in Summerset Isle," said Falinir.

"Who is your lady friend?" asked Falinir's mother.

"Mother, Father, allow me to introduce Loac, my fiancee," said Falinir.

Loac blushed and said, "Nice to meet you."

"Fiancee? Falinir, as a prince you are supposed to..." began his father.

"Loac is a princess," said Falinir, "She's the daughter of High Wizard Warundil, the ruler of Alinor."

"Is that so?" said Chieftain Ghenorn with a proud smile, "Well, congratulations and welcome to the family Loac! Falinir, you must really have made a good impression upon the High Wizard for him to let you wed his daughter. Attitudes must be changing in Summerset Isle these days."

"We didn't exactly have his blessing," said Falinir sheepishly.

"Oh Falinir, don't tell me you've run off with the High Wizard's daughter," said his mother.

"She is with child," replied Falinir.

Thamir laughed and said, "Falinir, you dog! Couldn't wait till the marriage?"

Chieftain Grenorn wore a serious expression, and Falinir's brother quieted his laughter.

"Let me explain everything," said Falinir, and he recounted the whole tale of how he met Loac, how Warundil intended to kill him and their child, his escape from the torture chamber, the pirate attack, their journey through the forest, and Henantil's suicide. As Falinir finished, his father sat back in his chair with a look of contemplation.

"You've ruined your career, you know," said Ghenorn, "The silvenar will never let you work for him again."

"I know," said Falinir.

"But despite all of that, I'm happy to have you home. Although I was proud of you for your ambassadorship, I've always missed having you here and hoped you would return home one day," said Ghenorn, "When would you like the wedding to take place?"

"As soon as possible," said Falinir.

---------------

After dinner, Loac and Falinir stood alone on the high balcony of the palace, and looked out at the magnificent city.

"My parents are disappointed in me," said Falinir with a heavy sigh, "I know they wouldn't ever say it, but I could see it in their faces. I was always the well-behaved one, studious and hard-working. I've given them quite a shock tonight."

"They seemed happy to have you home," said Loac, "I don't think they're disappointed at all, just surprised."

"I don't know. Perhaps you're right," said Falinir, "I should get some rest. I'll see you in the morning, my love. Tomorrow I'll show you the rest of the city."

Falinir held Loac's head and kissed her lips softly. He stroked her cheek as their lips parted.

"Goodnight," said Loac with a smile as she continued to gaze in awe at the foreign and beautiful city around her.




Chapter 28

Loac awoke to the sound of a flock of large noisy birds outside the wooden palace window. She was laying in the oversized bed of a large room intended for foreign guests. While the local Bosmeri mostly slept in leather woven hammocks, she was glad that they provided a comfortable normal bed for guests like herself. A new Altmer-sized orange dress hung on a hook in an open closet that hadn’t been there when she fell asleep. No doubt the chieftain had ordered a servant to sew it for her during the night.
She washed herself with cold water from a bucket and slipped on the new dress. The clean silk felt comfortable against her freshly washed skin. She put her old blue dress in a colorful basket which she assumed was for laundry.
When she stepped down to the dining hall, she saw Falinir already seated and enjoying a meal with his mother. His clothes were new as well, and in the traditional Bosmeri style of soft leather and furs. He seemed so relaxed and comfortable to be in his native clothing once more.

“Come Loac, please join us,” said his mother, as she gestured toward an empty chair.

Loac seated herself and perused the food laid out before her. There were a variety of bird eggs, an unfamiliar meat, and some sort of milk pudding arranged across the middle of the table. She helped herself to the food, heaping it on her plate. The eggs were a bit undercooked for her liking, but they still tasted fine. The “pudding” was unsweetened, and reminded her more of cheese or cream than a dessert. The meat tasted like wild game bird. The food in Valenwood was edible, but not exactly good. Loac only ate about half of what she had served herself.

“Do you like the food?” asked Falinir as he greedily filled his plate with a second helping.

“It’s different, but good,” said Loac politely as she ate another bite.

“That’s great! I knew you’d love rat once you tasted it,” said Falinir.

“What?!” said Loac looking suspiciously at her meat.

“I’m joking,” laughed Falinir, “It’s rhana bird.”

Loac smirked back at him, “Very funny.”

“Would you like to see the rest of the city today?” asked Falinir.

“I’d love to,” replied Loac.

“When you return, I’ll have the seamstress meet with you to discuss your wedding dress”, said Falinir’s mother, “I can’t wait to see how lovely you two will look in your wedding clothes.”

Loac smiled, and said “I look forward to it,” as she wiped her hands and followed Falinir to the door.

Falinir lead her across dozens of wooden walkways showing her every inch of the unique tree city. The city was wild, unplanned, and had walkways criss-crossing in every direction. Everywhere she went the Bosmeri people stared at her like she was something they’d never seen. The only other races that seemed to reside in the city were a few Orcs and Imga. The local Imga population didn’t own houses, but prefered the branches of the tree itself as their home. As they walked under a branch covered with seated Imga, a familiar face swung down to greet Loac.

“Lady Loac! I’m so happy to see you arrived here safely. But where is that fiance of yours?” asked Lord Galinil, “You haven’t lost him again I hope?”

“He’s right here,” said Loac, and she reached out to grab Falinir’s hand.

“What?! Oh, you joke with me! Where is the handsome Altmer you were with in the forest?” asked Galinil.

“That was man not my fiance,” said Loac frowning.

Galinil looked at Falinir with an expression of shock, and said, “Surely a lady of your superior race deserves better than him. Why I would gladly slay a thousand beasts to be with a woman like you.”

Galinil bowed low to the ground before Loac, and laid his cape before her feet.

“I really don’t think my race makes me superior to anyone. Good day,” said Loac as she walked away leaving Lord Galinil with a confused look on his face.

“When did you meet an Imga?” asked Falinir, “You know, I think they consider Altmer to be almost gods. That’s why they take on Altmeri names.”

Loac sighed and said, “I wish they would stop staring at me.”

Their walk around the city lasted a few hours. Loac delighted in seeing all of the differences between Falinesti and her homeland. It seemed that everywhere she glanced there was something new and amazing she had never seen before. Her feet ached but she was enjoying the city so fully that she didn’t mind. The hot afternoon sun baked the treetop in a humid heat, and small insects buzzed around in the sticky air.

“It’s getting quite hot,” said Falinir, “Let’s head on back to the palace for a drink, my love.”

Loac agreed and they walked back along the rickety wooden walkways to the Chieftain’s palace. After a glass of cool water and a bite to eat, Falinir’s mother had wisked Loac upstairs to have her fitted for a wedding gown.

The seamstress was standing next to a variety of folded cloth and dress patterns in a brightly lit room. She held a long leather strap with cut lines in it used for measuring. Loac stood still as the seamstress measured her from head to toe, writing down measurements with a quill. Loac was used to dress fittings back in Alinor.

“So, what did you have in mind? A nice silk imported pattern?” asked the seamstress.

“We can import dress material from the Summerset Isles if you wish,” added Falinir’s mother.

“What about that?” asked Loac, pointing to a drawn pattern for a traditional Bosmeri wedding dress with ornate colorful furs and jewels.

“You want a Bosmer wedding dress?” asked the seamstress with a look of surprise and delight.

“I think it’s beautiful,” said Loac, “So colorful and different.”

Falinir’s mother smiled at the decision of her soon-to-be daughter.

Less than a month later the wedding went forward as planned. The ceremony was held in the palace instead of the temple. Loac had wanted the ceremony to be held in the beautiful temple, but the priests and priestesses had to sadly deny her request. At the temple of Y’ffre only those who have sworn to follow the Green Pact and have dutifully followed it for at least two years are permitted to enter the temple or be wed there. As much as Loac wanted to fit in, she still couldn’t quite commit to living without eating any plant produce for the rest of her life by following the Green Pact.

The ceremony was attended by nearly every one in the city, not just because it was a royal wedding, but also because they wanted to see with their own eyes a wedding between a Bosmer and an Altmer. Loac’s face was practically glowing with delight. She had finally married the man she loved. Not only was it legal, but the crowds cheered for them. It was the most wonderful day of Loac’s life.

Falinir looked at Loac’s happy face and felt happy as well. It seemed that she would adjust to living in Falinesti just fine. He looked forward to spending the years with her, not having to hide his affection. Perhaps they might even bear more children in the future and travel to all of the most beautiful places in Valenwood together. The future seemed brighter than ever that day.

After their wedding, Loac and Falinir moved into a large home near the palace. They placed two bow-carrying guards on the roof above the door for protection, though their fears were less now that Henentil was dead. Falinir began his work on the elder council of the city, and they lived comfortably, enjoying married life. Loac’s belly grew larger with each passing month. She was excited to know the birth of their child would happen in only a few weeks. A midwife stayed at her side and attended to her needs as the days grew nearer.

-------------

Down in the lower section of the town a very tall Altmeri man dressed all in black sat down at a tavern. He quietly ordered a drink and began talking to the bartender. After he got the information he seeked, he headed to the basket that would take him to the mid-section of town near the palace.

Loac reclined on her bed as she read a book. The stars were begining to shine outside and she could see their twinkling lights through the window and leaves. Falinir was at a late meeting of the elder council and she was waiting for him to return home. She had grown accustomed to sleeping next to him, and now couldn’t fall asleep without him by her side.

Suddenly she heard a noise outside. She looked out her second storey window and was suddenly face-to-face with a strange Altmer man dressed in black. Her scream startled him and he jumped down from the tree limb he had been perched on. Within a second, he had disappeared down a small back street leading behind the palace.

Falinir was just arriving home when he heard Loac’s scream. He flung open the door and ran upstairs to Loac’s bedroom. The midwife was already by Loac’s side consoling her.

“What happened?” asked Falinir.

“There was a man outside my window. I think it was Henantil!” said Loac.

Falinir ran to the window and looked outside. He saw nothing but dark branches and stars.

This post has been edited by drakkenfan: Oct 6 2010, 02:34 AM

I love this! I hope you continue with it♥

I second that. I started reading it today, and still have quite a bit to go, but already I like Loac quite a bit, and love your observations on both Altmer and Bosmer culture.

This little exchange gave me quite a smile:


This post has been edited by SubRosa: Jun 13 2010, 12:59 AM

Your storyline is great, and I love your attention to Lore! More more!

Chapter 29

“Henantil is dead. It must have been someone else,” said Falinir.

“But who?” said Loac.

“I don’t know,” said Falinir, “I don't believe there are any Altmeri living in the city. I’ll go on up and ask the guards if they saw anything.”

Falinir tugged at the knotted cord that released the ladder to the roof. The startled guards put down their bottles of liquor and stood to greet Falinir.

"Evenin' Sirrrr," said one of the guards in a drunken slur. His breath stunk of cheap rotmeth.

Falinir grimaced, "Did either of you see an intruder just now? An Altmer, perhaps?"

The guards' eyes widened with surprise and they looked around, bows in hand. Falinir sighed at the stupidity of the guards and said, "He's already gone. Next time, skip the liquor and stick to your post. Don't force me to hire new guards."

"My apologies, Sir," said one of the guards, "It won't 'appen again."

As Falinir stepped back down the into the house he muttered under his breath. He hung his coat on a hook and joined Loac's side. For the first time since Henantil's death she looked afraid.

"You have nothing to worry about. Whomever it was has run away. If he were here to harm you, he would have done so," said Falinir as he stroked Loac's hair calmly.

He walked to the window, and closed the shutters, latching them tightly. Falinir then slipped into his nightclothes, and joined Loac for sleep.

The next day, Falinir inquired around the city to find out if anyone else had seen an Altmeri man dressed in black. It wasn't long before he found out that the man did in fact exist. Yet, strangely, he disappeared from the city as quickly as he had come. There was no trace of him other than the words of a few people who had seen him the day before. It was enough to bring fear to Falinir's heart. He wondered if perhaps Loac's father had sent another assassin after him or his unborn child. The man could be waiting in hiding until their child's birth. The thought of it sent a chill down Falinir's spine.

Several days went by without any sign of the mysterious Altmer, and while the concerns about that man stayed in the back of Falinir's thoughts at all times, at the front of his mind now was the upcoming birth of his first child. Loac was full term, and could go into labor at any moment. She spent most of her time relaxing in a comfortable chair and reading local literature, while the midwife tended to her needs. Loac enjoyed the refreshing literary style of the Bosmeri authors. The stories were very different than the books she had read back in Alinor. It was a great way to pass the time and keep off of her feet.

Though she loved her new home in Falinesti, from time to time she did reminisce about the city of her birth. She wondered what had become of her father. She often felt a pang of guilt, knowing that he'd lost his dignity and possibly his throne due to her indiscretions. She hoped that someday he could forgive her.

As she turned the page of her latest book suddenly she felt a strong dull pain in her abdomen. It lasted for a short time then went away. As the pain returned again and again, growing in intensity, she realized the day had finally come. She was going to see her child for the first time.

"Annagil!" called Loac to her midwife, "I think I have the pains of labor."

The stout pale Bosmeri woman rushed to Loac's side and said, "Shall I go bring your husband? He just left for the Elder Council not a moment ago."

The pain of a new contraction caused Loac's voice to waver as she grunted, "Yes."

Annagil bounded down the stairs and out the door to catch Falinir before he could reach the council chambers. She finally caught up with him outside the large council door, sipping from a warmed rhana eggshell and talking to a few other members of the Elder Council. From the look of urgency on her face, Falinir immediately knew what it meant.

"Sir, it's time for the baby to be born," said the midwife, slightly out of breath from her run.

A smile crossed Falinir's face as the fellow council members patted him on the back and congratulated him. He walked briskly with the midwife up along the wooden plank trail that stretched hundreds of feet above the ground below. The trail curved around the massive trunk and passed over a large mossy branch. As it curved around another protruding branch they were suddenly faced by a tall elegantly dressed man. Looking up into the man's face, Falinir saw it was none other than Warundil, Loac's father. Falinir nearly fell back from the shock.

"Ambassador Falinir," said Warundil calmly, "The wretch who destroyed my life."

"I've done nothing of the sort," said Falinir.

"You cost me my throne, you little runt," said Warundil, "I'd hardly call that nothing! Where is Loac in this hovel of a city? Has the child been born yet? My spy said she was living near here."

"What are you planning to do?" said Falinir, "She's a grown woman, free to live her own life. Just let us raise our child in peace. We've never meant you any harm. Just leave, and you'll never have to see us or hear from us again."

Warundil stared down at Falinir with a lip curled in disgust and said, "Oh, I'll make sure I never have to see you again."

Swift as a whip, Warundil's hand shot out from under his long silken robe and emitted a spell knocking Falinir backwards. The fire spell didn't harm him due to his amulet, but it was so powerful it pushed him back like a hard punch. The midwife screamed and ran off toward the house as Falinir was struck again and pushed over the edge of the perilous treetop walkway. The wind whipped through his long black hair as he tumbled headfirst through the sky's thick morning fog. Falinir stretched out his arms, desperate for anything to latch onto to save himself from the death that was certain to come. With sheer luck his hand reached a thick rope of one of the lower level lifts, and he skidded slowly down to the basket at the bottom, landing between two elderly Bosmeri women. One of the women was gasped with fright and covered her face.

"Pardon me, ladies", said Falinir with a nod, as he looked down at the reddish rope burn on his hand. The lift slowly pulled him up to the lower level of the city, and he ran as fast as his short legs would carry him to the next lift that would bring him to the level of his home. Unfortunately, it was on the other side of the city.

Meanwhile, Warundil followed the midwife as she foolishly led him straight to the house while fleeing. Warundil calmly fired magic from both of his hands simultaneously, killing the two half-asleep guards before they even saw him coming. With another blast he struck down the midwife as her hand reached for the door handle. He pulled her charred dead hand off the door handle and entered the house, closing the door behind him.

"Falinir, is that you?" called Loac from upstairs when she heard the door close.

"Hello, Loac," replied her father.

"What?!" shouted Loac, "Father?!"

Despite the pain of labor she pulled herself out of bed and trudged down the steps.

"What... what are you doing here?" she asked.

"I see you're about to give birth. That certainly brings back memories. Did I ever tell you the story of your name?" asked Warundil with a smile.

Loac looked confused by her father's odd words and slowly replied, "My name means thirty in the old Altmer tongue. It's an ancient custom to use a number as a name. I've known that since I was a child."

"Ah, but do you know why your mother and I named you 'thirty' in particular?" asked Warundil with a cold stare.

Loac whispered, "No," as she sat in a chair and began breathing through another painful contraction, "What is all this about?"

"You see, as High Wizard and High Wizardress, we sought to have the perfect child. I know there are laws in effect to protect our race from imperfection by culling those babies that don't live up to Altmeri standards. Those standards are a bit weak in my opinion. Your mother and I wanted our heir to live up to higher standards, and so we tried and tried again. Although the cullers said the babies were good enough to keep, we killed them by our own hands. We didn't want 'good enough'. We wanted perfection for our heir. Finally, your mother was pregnant with her 30th child, but there were complications with the birth. She began bleeding badly, and didn't survive the delivery. You were born the moment I lost the one true love of my life," said Warundil.

"You mean I had twenty-nine brothers and sisters, and you killed them all? That's horrible!" said Loac with shock.

"I'm sure you can understand it was the right thing to do, rather than to bring an imperfect heir to the throne," said Warundil calmly.

Loac replied angrily, "So I was the only perfect one in your eyes? And they all had to die so you could have me as the heir?!"

Warundil laughed and said, "The culler told me you were barely good enough to keep by typical Altmeri standards. You were nowhere near the perfection I wanted in an heir. However, when I looked into your eyes as I was about to cull you, I was reminded of your mother, and in a moment of weakness I decided to keep you. It was a foolish sentimental mistake. Now I'm going to do what I should have done the day you were born!"

Warundil raised his hand in anger and said, "Goodbye, Loac."

"Father, no!" shouted Loac.

The extremely powerful fire spell knocked Loac back and burned the large chair to ashes. She clambored to her feet and shuffled out the door, screaming for help. Warundil assumed his spell had struck the chair by mistake and he followed Loac outside and down the walkway. He walked calmly toward her, chuckling to himself to see her struggling and limping away while in labor. He raised his hand and she gasped and ducked out of the way. The spell struck the walkway ahead of Loac and burnt away her only means of escape. There was no way to jump over the burnt gaping hole. Warundil walked up to the edge of the walkway where Loac stood defenseless. He looked down at his daughter and raised his hand. Suddenly, they heard a crackling sound, as the damaged walkway broke under their weight. Loac grabbed onto a wood plank, wrapping her arm around it, and Warundil slid off the edge screaming as he fell. His body shattered lifeless on the earth below. Within moments his body was surrounded by the starving beggars. Smiles and cheers erupted from them as they hoisted him up and started a large cooking fire.

Up above, Loac felt her thin arm slipping. The weight of her nine-month pregnant body was too much to pull up on her own. She screamed for help as her arm slipped more, and suddenly felt the warm grip of a hand around her wrist. Another hand grabbed her and began pulling her up. Falinir and another Bosmeri man pulled with all their might, and slowly brought Loac back onto the walkway. She fell into Falinir's arms in tears. Looking down at her dead father far below, she said a prayer and asked the gods to forgive him. Falinir wrapped his arm around her waist, and helped her walk slowly back to the house and onto her bed. Loac's labor lasted throughout the rest of the day. Falinir stayed by her side constantly and comforted her through the pain. As the sun set in the pale sky, she began to push.

Late that warm clear evening, a baby girl was born; half-Altmer and half-Bosmer, never judged or measured by a culler, and completely loved by her parents just the way she was.

The End.

I liked the dark meaning you gave to her name although I felt the end was a bit abrupt.

A dramatic and satisfying end to a wonderful story. But surely "the end" only applies to this story? You will be writing more (insert sad puppy-dog eyes), won't you?

YaaY! Loac and Falinir are back! Like treydog, I hope not for the last time. I had such a good time reading Forbidden Love! It is refreshing to read a fan fic that is centered on romance, rather than saving the world and other nonsense.

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Oct 10 2010, 05:55 PM

THIS !!!


I don't know how you slipped this chapter in without me seeing it for 5 days!

Yes, please write more! Your ending was riveting, intense! (and then ended too quickly afterwards with the hurried wrap-up, I would be very pleased to see you delete the words "The End" off it and add more chapters !!!!)

You have a knack for putting in just the right amount of detail, your storyline is very interesting as are your characters - excellent characters, deep - even the evil ones have a lot of depth! Awesome write !!!