29-30 Mid-Year, 4E202 - Lena is back in Cheydinhal

Lena walked into the Cheydinhal Sanctuary.

"Oh - you are back!" - Antoinetta Marie ran up to her. "We were so worried!" She hugged her warmly. "You are not angry with me, are you? For before?" She looked at Lena with a troubled expression.

"No, I am not angry with you" - Lena laughed. "Good to see you!"

"Lucien is not here" - Antoinetta said apologetically. "But Ocheeva will want to speak with you... I assume" - she added and winked.

Lena went to see Ocheeva, shaking her head.

...

"So there's still no news, and Lucien has got work to do" - Ocheeva was saying matter-of-factly. "He won't sit still, you know him" - she smiled. "At least he agreed to stay here for now."

"Yeah..." - Lena nodded. "Let me leave him a note."

I am back - I miss you.

She folded the parchment and left it on Lucien's bed.

"I'll be upstairs" - she smiled at Ocheeva.

...

"You have very interesting friends" - Lucien dispelled his cloak finding Lena nodding off over her book, a wine glass in her hand. "Careful, you'll spill that" - he steadied her hand.

She raised her eyes to meet his. "Sanguine?"

Lucien nodded. "That was... unexpected."

"He saved me" - she rubbed her eyes, the book sliding off her lap. "I would have died there without his help. That assassin is clever."

"Sshhh..." - Lucien kissed her, raising her from her chair. "It's late, let's get you to bed, we'll talk tomorrow."

"But..." - Lena grabbed his arm.

"I am not leaving" - he said, smiling. "No need to venture into the Void just yet."


They were still asleep when there was a knock on the basement door. Lucien woke up first, reaching for his dagger under the pillow. He wasn't used to sleeping in Lena's house.

Before there was another knock, he was on his feet, casting chameleon instead of bothering with clothes. Lena woke up too.

"It's from the basement - someone from the Sanctuary" - she said, shaking off her sleep. "May be there's news."

They heard the door creak and a voice calling into the house: "Hello!"

"Up here!" - Lena shouted, then hastened to add: "Just a minute! Give us a moment to... Oh, hello Antoinetta."

Antoinetta's grinning head appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Good morning!" - she said. "Don't mind me... Oh!" Lucien's chameleon ran out just as he was clipping his dagger belt - before any clothing.

"What news, Antoinetta?" - he asked completely unphased, picking up the other weapon belts.

"Teinaava returned during the night" - she said, watching Lucien with rapt attention. "They caught an intruder."

"Then it's time to go" - he turned to Lena. "Let's speak with Teinaava first, then you ride to Leyawiin and I shall gather the others and follow." He finished with the belts. "You can tell Telaendril" - he looked at Antoinetta - "that you've seen more than she, and perhaps she'll return your septim" - he winked. "May I get dressed now?"

The time for waiting was over, it was now time to act.

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Mar 26 2024, 06:24 PM

30 Mid-Year, 4E202 - Teinaava's report - Lena at the Leyawiin Sanctuary

Teinaava confirmed that the intruder to the Leyawiin Sanctuary was Rayenna.

"We heard someone approach - sound carries under water" - he grinned. "There were some splashes, but no one entered. Then we knew they were looking for another way in. I stood in the hall with my back to the hatch, while Fenris crouched in the shadow. He is very capable, you know" - he looked at Lucien - "very stealthy, very controlled. Anyway..." - Teinaava stretched uneasily, wincing somewhat. "Then someone entered, and before I knew it, they were upon me. Remarkable! She is a Silencer, all right."

"So she attacked first?" - Lucien didn't sound surprised.

"Indeed" - Teinaava confirmed, bowing slightly. "Of course, she had to - she was intruding. Fenris paralysed her while I was keeping her busy, then..." - Teinaava looked at Vicente who was listening from a short distance away. "I've never witnessed a vampire attack, and I count myself lucky that I didn't have to fight one like Fenris."

Vicente smiled. "Impressive, isn't it? I take it he was hungry?"

"He was" - Teinaava nodded. "But you will find him well fed now - he's been keeping Rayenna subdued."

"He must take a lot of her blood each time for it to work" - Vicente came closer. "She hasn't got long to live this way."

"We aim to resolve it swiftly" - Lucien turned to him. "Will she live a few more days?"

"A week at most" - Vicente confirmed. "If Fenris is careful."

"We don't need a week" - Lucien was satisfied. "We leave now."

...

Lena was the first to arrive at the Sanctuary, late at night. She entered to the sound of groans coming from the cells. She tiptoed down the stairs.

Rayenna was sleeping in her cell, groaning in her sleep. She looked pale but not sickly. Lena turned back and went upstairs, looking for Fenris.

"Mistress!" - he greeted her in the dining hall. "I have done as you asked, but too much blood has dulled my senses. I didn't hear you come in." He looked guilty.

"It will pass, do not worry" - Lena smiled. "Thank you!"

"I found this in her pocket" - he handed Lena a packet. "Documents."

"Bait" - Lena smiled. "You read them?"

Fenris looked down. "I should not have... I deserve punishment." He kneeled.

"Well, it is not a problem" - Lena unwrapped the packet. "We didn't tell you not to read them." She scanned the papers. "I see Lucien was thorough. But these are copies - not the originals."

"But they suggest..." - Fenris looked up at Lena. "They suggest that you supported the traitor."

"They do, don't they?" - Lena chuckled. "Clever Lucien to select these. Mathieu Bellamont and I exchanged those letters when I was still just an Assassin - before the Black Hand decided to Purify Cheydinhal. And of course I did not suspect his involvement until much later. He never contacted me after that - because I refused to perform Purification throwing his plans in disarray. And by the time I figured him out, I had other priorities." She lifted Fenris by the shoulders. "I had to choose which promise to break, and he stood no chance."

"Why?" - Fenris looked into her eyes. "He was your family."

"So was Lucien, Ocheeva and the others - not all family ties come from blood, and Mathieu Bellamont was a very distant cousin. We never even met until I discovered him."

"And then?"

"And then I told him that he had lost me." Lena returned Fenris' gaze. "Family ties can be broken."

"Yeah, I know." He nodded and turned away.

Lena felt uneasy - she touched a nerve, but there was no other way to put it. She left Fenris alone for a while and went into the cells to return the packet of documents to Rayenna's pocket.

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Mar 26 2024, 06:27 PM

1 Sun's Height, 4E202 - Rayenna's interview

"What now, Rayenna? Sa'sinar is most disappointed" - the Khajiit stood outside Rayenna's cell at the Leyawiin Sanctuary.

"I..." - Rayenna heard her name and tried to open her eyes. She felt drowsy, her body didn't obey her. She wasn't paralysed exactly, but she had no strength to move. She tried to remember what happened. "I... found a traitor" - she finally managed to speak. Why was she so sluggish? "She plotted against the Brotherhood... Her Great-Uncle and her Cousin were both traitors!"

"And whom do you mean?" - Sa'sinar bared his fangs. This wasn't a smile.

"Lena Wolf, of course!" - Rayenna was awake now.

"What proof do you have?" - Sa'sinar's face was impassable now.

"Letters... notes... and a will!" - Rayenna fumbled with her robes, retrieving a packet. "Here - see for yourself!" She passed it to Sa'sinar through the bars. He took it.

"And what were you doing here?" - he asked, without unwrapping the packet.

"Why, this is her Great-Uncle's Sanctuary!" - Rayenna tried to shake off her tiredness, but her body was hurting too much. "I came looking for more proof of her deception! I wanted to know what she was planning, but..." - she broke off, massaging her neck.

"But?" - Sa'sinar was still impenetrable.

"I was attacked" - Rayenna looked up at him.

"Attacked?" - a faint smile touched Sa'sinar's lips. "But you were trespassing. And were you not the first to attack?"

"How do you..?" - she started, then saw Teinaava's figure appear behind Sa'sinar. "There! He's behind you!" - she cried, pointing at him.

"That" - Sa'sinar turned, pointing at Teinaava - "is your Brother from Cheydinhal, do you not recognise the armour?"

Colour drained from Rayenna's already pale face, making her look more like a ghost of herself. Yes, she did recognise the armour. She recognised it the moment she entered, seeing Teinaava in the hall with his back to her. But prevention was better than cure, she always used to say, and so she attacked. No one would know how it went once he was dead. But then... as Teinaava responded in kind and they were locked in combat, someone else stabbed her, and she fell, paralysed. Then something happened. She felt a sharp pain in her neck and everything went black.

She woke up in a cell, she tried the door - it was locked. She found her lockpick, but her fingers were so clumsy and sluggish, she could not work the lock. She tried a spell - if fizzled out. She was tired, so tired. Perhaps if she slept a bit, her strength would return.

"Sa'sinar wonders" - his ears turned to the sides, as if to listen to every sound from every direction. "Why did Rayenna suspect Wolf in the first place?"

This was a trick question. He knew exactly what started this, but he was giving her a chance for a neutral explanation. She hadn't prepared for a question like that.

"I... felt it" - she finally managed. "A woman's intuition, you know" - she smiled brightly, it was worth a try.

"Intuition..." - Sa'sinar turned his ears forward, facing her, now listening to everything she had to say. "And does Rayenna's intuition tell her where Wolf might be now?"

"Oh, is she missing?" - Rayenna's delight brought some colour to her cheeks. "I really wouldn't know where she'd be..." She was grinning ear to ear.

"It seems she received a letter" - Sa'sinar suggested.

"From a friend? That must be it!" - Rayenna nodded as vigorously as her painful neck would allow. "Abandoned all her responsibilities and took off after her friend - I told you she was not to be trusted!"

"Yes, we found a letter" - Sa'sinar reached inside his robes. "This one" - he handed a blood-stained note to Rayenna through the bars.

"Oh my - Boethia's Realm!" - Rayenna beamed. "No one returns from there" - she passed the note back to Sa'sinar with satisfaction.

"Really?" - he turned one ear to the side. "I didn't find it that hard myself." He touched the hilt of his sword - a one-handed katana, burning with a fire enchantment.

"Goldbrand!" - Rayenna paled. "I've never seen you carry it..." - she raised her eyes at Sa'sinar.

"Sa'sinar is not vain" - he answered simply. "But he is not the only one to carry it - the sword is not unique. Sa'sinar still wonders, however..." - he fixed Rayenna with his gaze. "Why does the handwriting in that letter resemble Rayenna's handwriting so closely? Sa'sinar compared it to Rayenna's reports... One could almost say they were written by the same hand."

"Almost, but not exactly!" - Rayenna cried in indignation. "I am being framed!"

"Rayenna thinks so?" - Sa'sinar turned his ears to the sides again. "Sa'sinar hears other opinions as well."

What was the point of these questions? Sa'sinar was Rayenna's Speaker, surely he was on her side? She'd just given him the proof that Lena Wolf was a traitor... or at least that her great-uncle and cousin were traitors, making her untrustworthy. Rayenna couldn't find out anything about Lena's mother, and assumed that she died young - she did hear rumours that Lena had been brought up by her grandmother. An Argonian grandmother? It was hard to believe, but stranger things had happened. The one thing that Rayenna still couldn't understand, was Lena's age. She couldn't have been in her twenties, not if it was indeed one and the same Lena Wolf as that mentioned in the will and in the letters. When Rayenna came to this Sanctuary, she was hoping to find proof that this Lena Wolf was a different person, an imposter, hijacking a long-dead assassin for... what, exactly? Who knows, this wasn't important! The important thing was to get her removed, by whatever means necessary, Boethia's Tournament included. But Sa'sinar was now asking her all these questions... not looking at the proof she'd given him... not releasing her from the cell... What did it all mean?

Suddenly Rayenna understood it: he was waiting for a confession. He did not mention that evening when he caught Rayenna spying on Lucien Lachance's fort, but he knew of course that it was the root of it all. What was she to do?

"I am very tired now" - Rayenna said, half-closing her eyes. "My body hurts, and my neck hurts even more for some reason. My mind is in a fog, too, and I don't even know what I am saying. Please - can we continue this later?"

"Rayenna does not have a 'later'" - Sa'sinar looked straight at her. "The vampire that has been feeding on her, will finish her next time he feeds."

"No! You cannot allow it!" - she cried, jumping up from the floor with newly found force.

"Sa'sinar cannot afford to have a Silencer who allows her passion to cloud her mind, to send her Sister to a certain death, to get caught, and then not to have the courage to tell her Speaker about it!" - Sa'sinar's face was perfectly still - he was boiling with cold rage. "This" - he threw Rayenna's packet back into her cell - "was bait. Placed in Rayenna's home by Lucien Lachance for Rayenna to find."

Rayenna was lost for words. She was finished, this was the end. Her plan failed. Yet she still had a glimmer of hope - if Lena was dead, she could not defend herself.

"I should have told you" - she sat down, keeping her gaze to the ground and slumping her shoulders. Perhaps Sa'sinar would forgive her, one more time. "But those documents - do they not show that Wolf was a traitor?" - she looked at Sa'sinar with hope in her eyes. "At least the traitor is dead now, isn't she?"

"It is all true - these are copies of real documents from the Archives of the Dark Brotherhood" - Sa'sinar nodded. "But who do you think Wolf really is? Do you really think that Lachance would make just anyone his Silencer? After he was without one for two centuries?" He shook his head in disappointment. "Rayenna will wait for the Night Mother's judgement. The vampire will not touch her until then."

He turned around and left - he'd heard enough. They have all heard enough - Ungolim, Lucien and Lena were standing just out of sight, they had decided that Sa'sinar should conduct the interview on his own. Ungolim would consult the Night Mother, but no one expected her forgiveness.

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Mar 26 2024, 06:28 PM

3 Sun's Height, 4E202 - Rayenna's sentence

Ungolim returned from Bravil, ready to deliver the Night Mother's judgement on Rayenna. He and Sa'sinar went down to Rayenna's cell in the Leyawiin Sanctuary. It has been two days since Sa'sinar's interview with her, and as he promised, Fenris was not feeding on Rayenna since then. She regained a little strength and was sitting on her bedroll awake. She did not try to escape as she knew it was pointless.

"You have broken the Brotherhood's tenets" - Ungolim addressed Rayenna through the bars. "You have attempted to get your Sister killed. You have broken into her property and attempted to murder your Brother. You have not had to courage to confess. The Night Mother made her judgement. Are you ready to hear it?"

"'Attempted'?" - Rayenna was surprised. "So she still lives?" - she asked, not trying to conceal her disappointment.

"Indeed she does" - Ungolim confirmed. "Which is why your punishment is not death."

He waited for her to ask another question, but Rayenna just sat there, looking at Ungolim and Sa'sinar in turn. Sa'sinar spoke.

"Rayenna is no longer a member of the Black Hand. She will return her robes. She is no longer Sa'sinar's Silencer. Rayenna's rank has been dropped to Murderer."

"Initiate rank" - Rayenna murmured. If this was all, it was a most merciful sentence indeed.

"You will be exiled" - Ungolim's gaze was hard on Rayenna. "Every time you sleep, you will face the Wrath of Sithis in the very place where you sent your Sister to die - Boethia's Arena. You will fight for your life, and if you die there, Sithis will devour your soul."

Mercy was not in the Night Mother's nature.

"For how long?" - Rayenna asked, her lips barely moving.

"Indefinitely."

Her life was forfeit.

...

Rayenna stood on the shore of the Topal Sea. She wore plain black robes, having left her Black Hand robes behind. The faces of Ungolim and Sa'sinar were fresh in her memory, with their closed and disappointed expressions. The Wrath of Sithis would certainly be deadly, and she deserved it, she thought. Deserved it for failing. The image of Lucien's hard and cold eyes on her would haunt her dreams far more than Sithis. She lost her prize. He was there, watching her leave, his hand around Lena's waist. And Lena... no, she wasn't in her twenties, she was at his side and it was where she belonged.

Rayenna looked around, considering what to do. Her horse should still be at the stables, she would go home to Anvil, and then... time would tell.

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Mar 26 2024, 06:28 PM

A life time of not so pleasant dreams.

Indeed. But the wraith would only attack her once every night. So defeat the wraith, then sleep peacefully.

This is based on the original punishment if you break one of the tenets. In the game you only have to fight the wraith once, and you are forgiven. You can can break a tenet three times, and the wraith becomes stronger each time. When you defeat it the third time, you are kicked out of the Dark Brotherhood. However, this treatment is reserved exclusively for the player. If you talk to the other members, some will tell you here and there that the wraith would be attacking you in your sleep for as long as your exile lasts, and it is never as short as one night. And there's no such thing as quitting the DB - if you offend them more then once, your next sentence is death. But of course it would have been too harsh for the player... Or would it? Anyway, I used that to come up with a suitable punishment for Rayenna for her betrayal of the Brotherhood.

3-5 Sun's Height, 4E202 - Holidays on the Topal Sea

"You should take some time to rest" - Ungolim was saying to Lena and Lucien. "This was a most unpleasant business." He shook his head. "But I hope we won't hear from Rayenna for a while - you both know what she's facing." He gave them a long look, then smiled, as if shaking off a memory, and continued, turning to Lena: "This Sanctuary is beautiful. And your... err... associate... Fenris - he is most impressive."

"He is" - Lena nodded. "But he is not ready to join us yet. It's too soon." She looked straight at Ungolim. "He has not freed himself yet."

Ungolim returned her gaze.

"I see" - he finally nodded. "So be it." He turned to leave. "Don't rush back."

Rayenna was to face a wraith every time she slept - the Wrath of Sithis. Yes, both Lena and Lucien knew exactly what was awaiting her as they had each been exiled for a long period of time while Mathieu Bellamont was ravaging the Brotherhood. Lena was also being hunted for perceived treason. The assassins could not follow her to the Shivering Isles, but the Wrath of Sithis found her anywhere. The exile and the hunt were called off when she finally managed to unmask the real traitor - with Lucien's help, and in the nick of time, as the assassins were circling around him too. When it all came to light... It wasn't so much the wrath of Sithis that some of the other Speakers had to face, but the wrath of the Night Mother - for being careless, for jumping to conclusions, for making it possible for the traitor to progress so far. She didn't haunt them in their sleep - she killed them where they stood.

Rayenna would lie low for a while... but she was too strong willed to let the wraith take her. They all felt certain she would be back, one way or the other. But for now they could relax.

...

Fenris stood in a far corner of the hall, his keen hearing allowed him to follow the conversation. He was flattered by Ungolim's praise, but he felt uneasy about the suggestion that he might join the Dark Brotherhood. It was like Lena put it - he did not feel that he belonged to himself yet, and he liked his Mistress. He would take his time - after all, he was immortal.

...

Lena and Lucien took Ungolim's advice and stayed at the Sanctuary for two more days. Fenris was doing all the chores, and they had no excuse not to rest. They walked along the shore of the Topal Sea, watched the moons cross the starry sky and spent a lot of time doing "nothing" in the most inventive ways.

"Such heavy breathing will attract trolls" - Lucien pulled away from Lena letting her catch her breath. He smiled in amazement, watching her. "Where do you hide all that passion?"

She pressed his hand to her chest, her heart racing. "In here" - she smiled. "It's been locked up for too long."

"Sanguine was right - your Nord blood runs hot."

"Sanguine?" - Lena laughed. "What else did he say about me?"

"Nothing that I haven't discovered for myself" - Lucien took her into his arms. "Look" - he pointed up - "the Apprentice is ruling the skies this month. It's your birthday soon, but you have no age."

"Well..." Lena considered the stars above them for a while. "Perhaps it's for the best. This way I am never too old for anything."

She jumped up, pulling Lucien on his feet with her.

"...such as a midnight swim" - he thought, following her into the warm waters of the Topal Sea, casting waterbreathing just before diving. Their clothes stayed on the shore, but Lucien quickly grabbed his dagger belt - slaughterfish were never far away. "She didn't bring any weapons" - he noticed. "Mages."

The waters were warm but murky, and Lucien quickly lost sight of Lena. He wasn't a mage really, and couldn't cast a life detection spell. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his leg - a slaughterfish bite. He twisted, spun upside down and stabbed the space where the fish would have been. The water was now not just murky, but also red. The pain in his leg was gone - someone touched it with a healing spell. Lena. He felt her arms around him, her hands sliding along his body searching for more wounds... "Mmm..." - he closed his eyes for a moment. She tugged him to follow her out of the cloud of red mist.

They were quite a distance from the shore, and the water was almost clear there. They came up for air, their heads bobbing on the waves.

"We can swim in peace now" - Lena said, kissing him and covering them both with a cloud of waterbreathing. The other slaughterfish would swim to the blood, so as long as they stayed away from it, the fish would leave them alone.

They couldn't speak under water, but there was no need for that. Lucien never considered using waterbreathing for anything other than to cross submerged passages, but Lena showed him a whole new application. She kept renewing the spell, and he felt unexpected appreciation for the Argonian ways. Their bodies felt almost weightless in the water, and movement was slow and fluid, possible in every direction, not constrained by gravity, not requiring a solid foundation below. A few twists, and the notions of "up" and "down" lost their meaning.

The moons were sinking into the horizon when Lena and Lucien finally came ashore, exhausted. Several slaughterfish were floating on the water, dead.

"Look, they got into a fight with each other trying to eat that first one that bit you" - Lena pointed at them. "We should bring them to Fenris to cook for dinner."

Lucien nodded. "Serves them right." His dagger was digging into his side, so he unclipped the belt. "You swim under water like an Argonian."

"I was raised by an Argonian, remember?" - Lena laughed. "I used to wear a waterbreathing ring at first, but by now the spell is like second nature."

"You should teach our children that" - Lucien looked at her, smiling.

"If they come..." - Lena stretched out to touch him. "I think my past vampirism had destroyed all that."

"But the Mazken Wellspring would have restored you" - he sounded certain. "You might be with child already."

"But then..." - she sat up, looking worried and alarmed. "I mean... I can't be sure..."

"I know" - he stroked her face, smoothing out her frown. "The child will be ours, regardless."

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Mar 26 2024, 06:29 PM

7 Sun's Height, 4E202 - Preparations for Nenalata

"Hauk, are you in?" - Lena opened the door to Hauk's house in the Imperial City after he didn't answer the knock. She heard some rumbling from below, it sounded like he was training. She went to the basement.

Hauk was attacking a training dummy with a sword in his right hand and a spell in his left - shock on touch, she noticed.

"I didn't think you needed to train any more" - she said after a while. "Surely, you've done this often enough already!"

"I have" - he nodded, putting down the sword. "But it never hurts to keep it fresh. It's good to see you" - he whispered into her hair as her embrace knocked the air out of him.

"I missed you!" - Lena declared, releasing him so he could catch a breath. "That dreadful assassin business is over, it's time for an adventure!" She poured them mead from the keg and dropped onto the bench under the minotaur head. "Umm, I hope that head isn't going to fall on me" - she looked up - "like on that poor Bosmer in Bruma."

"It's not" - Hauk laughed, settling down next to her. "As long as you don't cut the strings" - he winked.


"How did you..?" - she started, her eyes growing wide. She never told him about that job. She got no answer though - Hauk just laughed into his mead.

"So, what's that about an adventure?" - he asked, grinning.

"Mr. Umbacano wants me to accompany him to Nenalata."

Hauk looked at Lena with suspicion. "And this bothers you - why?"

"Well, I got him an Ayleid crown..." - Lena was staring into her mead. "I actually had to steal it from another collector." She shot Hauk a glance. "And you know how much I like stealing."

"But?"

"Well, I did it because that collector suggested I present Mr. Umbacano with another Ayleid crown instead, and that somehow seemed even worse."

Lena fell silent, still studying her mead.

"And?" - Hauk prompted her. "Come on, let's hear it! It's me you're talking to, remember?"

Lena looked at him, gathering her thoughts.

"That other collector claimed that Umbacano wanted her crown in order to awaken some ancient Ayleid power, something dreadful that would destroy us all. I thought she was exaggerating, but now that he asked me to take him to Nenalata, I'm not so sure. You remember it, don't you?"

"I do" - Hauk said heavily. "Near Fort Grief. Lots and lots of high level undead, very angry, lots of traps too, and we couldn't get through to the last chamber."

"Yeah..." - Lena nodded. "Garrus nearly died several times, and I had to hide from their spells." She shuddered. "But it's not that which worries me."

Hauk looked at her with understanding. "If that was just the welcoming committee, then what is hiding in the locked chamber? And why does Umbacano want to go there, now that he's got that crown?"

"The Crown of Nenalata" - Lena nodded. "Exactly."

They sat drinking their mead in silence for a while.

"So, when are we leaving?" - asked Hauk, grinning.

Lena leapt onto his lap, her arms around him again. "Not before we're done here... I missed you - didn't I say?"

...

"Does Lucien know?" - Hauk surveyed heaps of clothing thrown off in a hurry around his basement. "What you're doing to me?" He kissed her again, rolling her over onto her back on the thick rug.

"Well, I never told him directly" - Lena blushed a bit. "But I never denied anything either, and he knows you're more than a friend. You didn't send me away" - she looked at him with a smile.

"It's between the two of you, of course" - he was serious now, sitting up and stroking her cheek. "But I still want to stay your friend - and his, too. So if you don't tell him, I will. Or we never do it again."

"You know we can't promise that" - she kneeled behind him, running her fingertips over the tops of his shoulders and watching his body respond as it always had. "We share too much."

"I'll talk to him" - he closed his eyes with a moan, falling back onto her. "Later..."

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Mar 26 2024, 06:30 PM

7 Sun's Height, 4E202 - Hauk and Lucien

Hauk knocked on the trapdoor to Lucien's fort but there was no answer. He lifted the door and peered inside, and not seeing anyone, he entered and left a note on the table.

We need to talk. I'll be waiting as usual. Hauk.

He walked to the main door to the fort, entered and settled down to wait by the entrance, far enough from the guardians roaming the fort. It could be a long wait.

...

"Hauk" - someone touched his shoulder, awaking him from his slumber. Lucien. "Come on."

They walked over to Lucien's trapdoor and went in.

"So, what's on your mind?" - asked Lucien, putting wine and mead on the table.

"Lena."

"Ah" - Lucien didn't look surprised. "Well, I know about you two - it's not exactly news."

"Yes, but things have changed between you and her."

"Yes and no" - Lucien was watching Hauk and sipping his wine. "She and I go too far back to feel threatened by our attachments to other people. You mean too much to her to just give you up. That would cause a great wound, and I love her too much to allow it."

"I always wondered about that side of you" - Hauk returned Lucien's gaze.

"What side?"

"Compassion."

Lucien laughed. "I am an assassin, I haven't got any."

"I recall different" - Hauk's eyes became hard with a memory. "Those times that we met during the Great War... I would have continued, but you insisted they'd suffered enough."

"They told you all they knew" - Lucien's eyes were hard too.

"I had to be sure."

"I was sent after them for that very reason."

"Why send you? A novice could have killed them at that point."

"Not with you around. Would you have let a novice disturb you?"

"No, that's true" - Hauk smirked. "I would have locked him up until I was done - in the best case."

"Exactly" - Lucien nodded. "The target wasn't the challenge - you were."

They sat watching each other in silence for a while, each reliving the same memories. Then Lucien got up to turn the spit - the roast was ready, he took it off and started carving it. Hauk silently passed him the plates, dressed the table, sliced up the tomatoes - this wasn't the first time they shared a meal.

"I understand it was you who prompted Lena to have me come to Skyrim with her" - said Lucien, returning to the present.

"Not in those words, but yes" - Hauk studied his mead. "I always felt her heart had been taken long before we met. She had to face it."

"Still not comfortable with uncertainties, are you?" - Lucien smiled.

"Can't say I am" - Hauk grinned at him. "Must be my Nord directness. Which is why I'm here. She would leave it untold but I couldn't, especially since she's been to the Wellspring again."

"Don't worry about that" - Lucien was quite serious. "The child will be either yours or mine, even if it isn't clear which for some years. We both have dark eyes and dark hair, and Lena's father was a Nord, so unless the child has sanguine eyes, we won't know."

"Does your father still live?"

"He does, I think. But he stays away for obvious reasons."

Hauk nodded. "Rayenna may have had Mephala's help."

Lucien looked up. "Deepscorn Hollow?"

"We think so. As a reward for starting the feud in Bleaker's Way."

"Then things are more serious than we thought" - Lucien looked into the distance, thinking. "It won't be immediate, but she could become a major threat, if she joins Mephala."

"I can take a message if you like" - Hauk looked straight at Lucien.

"You know how to find him?"

Hauk nodded. "We maintain contacts in Morrowind as well, I'll find out."

"Then do it."

It wouldn't be the first time that a Legion operative took a message to a Morag Tong assassin. All Hauk needed to know was whether Azarath Salvel was alive at least until recently. He would either find the man himself, or learn of his death. He'd have to prepare things first, but they felt there was no immediate rush - Mephala would certainly let Rayenna get a good taste of the Wrath of Sithis.

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Mar 26 2024, 06:31 PM

8 Sun's Height, 4E202 - Vindasel - Sardavar Leed

"Wake up and let's go!" - Lena was tugging on Hauk trying to wake him up. She'd been to Chorrol the day before to arrange for the month's supplies to the Battlehorn Castle, she got up before the first light and returned to the Imperial City when most people were just about waking up. Most people except Hauk who was still asleep, not being an early riser.

How do you wake up a Nord who probably had had too much mead last night? Was there such a thing as too much mead in a Nord's eyes? A bucket of cold water would have done the trick for a Breton, but Lena was pretty sure that Hauk wouldn't even notice. But fire... he was sensitive to fire, born under the Lord. But burning him would be cruel, no she wouldn't do that. Well, may be just a little...

Lena readied a beginner's fire spell - it wouldn't even leave burn marks, it was more of a warm touch. She turned it onto herself - she was now smouldering all over. "It feels like being back in Oblivion deadlands" - she thought. "No, that isn't a nice way to wake up" - she dispelled the fire, changing her mind. May be she'd just let Hauk sleep until he woke up on his own.

"Is it morning already?" - a sleepy voice came from the bed. It was impossible to tell the time in a room without windows. "Why is your face so red?"

"Good morning!" - Lena exclaimed, startled. "I was thinking of ways to wake you up."

"And it made you blush like that?" - Hauk was grinning. "I'm not quite awake yet, so go on!" But Lena just shot him one of those glances, and Hauk gave up with a sigh. "Ok, what's the rush?"

"It's time to get going towards Nenalata" - Lena was pouring over a map. "Mr. Umbacano will be expecting us in two days. It won't take us that long to get there, but I thought perhaps we could take a detour some place nice."

"Such as?" - Hauk looked up.

"There are four Ayleid ruins, six forts and two caves directly along the way" - she grinned at him. "Take your pick."

...

Vindasel greeted them with two storm atronachs by the entrance.

"Have we been here before?" - Lena asked, looking around.

"No" - grinned Hauk.

They went in.

The ruin was empty. There were traps and Welkynd stones, rats and mudcrabs, but nothing of significance. A far chamber was set up as a camp site. A woman in full ebony armour was pacing it, her hand on the hilt of her sword. Lena and Hauk stood on the gallery watching her.

"Friend or foe?" - Lena wispered to Hauk.

"Foe" - he wispered firmly.

Lena nodded, knocking a poisoned arrow and crouching. Shadowhunt sent a silent shot. The woman jerked, cursed and ran towards them with a... cry of joy? Bandits were getting stranger by the day.

The fight would have been fierce if Lena's poison hadn't worked, but it had. The woman got sluggish and slow, and even though her sword strikes were still strong enough to paralyse a daedroth, she couldn't do it also to a battlemage and a clannfear at the same time. Lena had an arrow at the ready for another shot, but the hulking daedroth completely blocked the corridor in front of her. Ten seconds later it was all over.

"Huh... That was quick" - Lena kneeled over the woman. "All ebony... Oh! And look at that sword!"

She took the sword that shimmered with an enchantment. "Umbra" was engraved on the blade.

"Clavicus Vile's sword" - she showed it to Hauk. "It eats souls."

"It sends life energy of a defeated enemy into a soul gem" - Hauk corrected her.

"That too. But it also eats souls" - Lena passed the sword to Hauk. "Feel for yourself."

The sword hummed in Hauk's hand.

"It's like the Dawnfang. I think I like your Honorblade better" - he looked at Lena, returning Umbra to her.

"Agreed." She dropped the sword. "Clavicus can come and fetch it himself."

"Thank you..." - the woman wispered, touching the blade. Her hand was bleeding now, and a shimmer of magic covered her body. She closed her eyes and let out her last breath. Umbra took her soul.

...

"Remind me never to enter this place again!" - Lena said with a shudder when they stood outside. Hauk didn't argue.


They continued on the Ring Road East to the next Ayleid ruin - Sardavar Leed. A spider daedra and a storm atronachs greeted them by the entrance, so they went in. The layout inside was complicated, with a conjurer or a daedra waiting around every corner. Lena and Hauk got separated and had trouble finding each other again, and although they often could see each other, it was on different levels without a clear path from one level to another.

It was past 11 p.m. when they finally got together, having cleared the main section. They found the conjurers' living quarters as well as a door leading deeper into the ruin. They knew they couldn't sleep not knowing what was waiting for them further on, so they stopped for a short break and continued.

Sardavar Leed Lattasel turned out to be a small chamber with a huge poison trap - as you stepped into the central section, walls rose around you and noxious gas started pouring into the sealed chamber. As soon as they entered, a daedroth ran to greet them, setting off the trap. The walls stayed up long enough to fill the chamber with gas, then dropped briefly, only to rise again. The daedroth died of poisoning, and a conjurer shared its fate. Even Hauk got caught in the trap for a short time, but he escaped when the walls dropped again.


"This is one dangerous trap" - he cursed, casting healing spells. "That gas is extremely potent... Hey!!" - he spun around when a clannfear rammed him in the back.

"That's not mine!" - Lena cried, summoning her own clannfear.

A conjurer behind a grate swore they would die on the spot - "And now you die!"

"I'll send your bloody soul straight to Sovngarde!" - Hauk replied in kind summoning a daedroth while Lena was frantically searching for the button that lowered the grate.

The conjurer fell even before the grate was fully lowered - one swipe of Hauk's daedroth was enough.

"Don't make promises you can't keep" - said Hauk to the dead conjurer.

"The same goes for you, Hauk" - Lena felt she had to defend the dead man's honor. "He wasn't a Nord."

"I was speaking metaphorically" - Hauk objected. "There must be some other place where his people's souls go..." He kneeled to look into the conjurer's face. "Breton. Where do Breton souls go?" Hauk looked up at Lena.

"Don't ask me - I have no idea!" - she shrugged. "I guess we'll see."

"You are going to Sovngarde, of course" - Hauk said firmly. "You are half-Nord and you are Dragonborn."

"Uriel Septim was Dragonborn, and he was an Imperial" - Lena objected. Were they really discussing life after death?

"Then he's gone to Sovngarde too, he must have done."

"Let's not rush to find out, shall we?" - Lena took Hauk's arm. "What we need in this life now is food and sleep. Come on."

They returned to the main section of the ruin and eventually found a way to the conjurers' living quarters. It was past 2 a.m. and a high time for a meal and a rest.

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Mar 26 2024, 06:31 PM

9 Sun's Height, 4E202 - Culotte

"Well, where next?" - Lena and Hauk were walking on the surface of the Upper Niben. "We have all day - Mr. Umbacano won't be expecting us until tomorrow." Lena surveyed the shores.

"There - that submerged ruin" - Hauk pointed East. "Culotte, I think."

They entered. A foul stench greeted them.

"Ugh, zombies" - Hauk grimaced, readying his fire. "Best to burn them from a distance."

Culotte was a crypt. Rows of sarcophagi filled a large hall, and that was it. Zombies were roaming between them.


"This isn't what I'd call an adventure" - Lena turned to Hauk, wrinkling her nose.

"No, more like a civic duty" - Hauk nodded. "Come on - now that we are here, we ought to put them down. They will rise again of course, but still..."

It took several hours but eventually the crypt of Culotte was quiet once again. It was early evening when they stood outside inhaling deeply, trying to clear their lungs of the stench of decomposing flesh.

"We should spend the night in Bravil - we are out of provisions" - Lena pulled last two bottles of mead out of her pack. "Of course we have some food at Fort Grief, but it's only what keeps..."

"Yeah, I could use a good meal" - Hauk nodded. They had to get ready for Nenalata tomorrow.

They were crossing the Niben when Hauk decided to do some fishing battlemage style.


"See - you don't just get the fish, it comes seared already!" - he grinned.

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Mar 26 2024, 06:32 PM

10 Sun's Height, 4E202 - Nenalata

The morning started out rainy. Lena and Hauk crossed the Niben feeling wet from above as well as from below. Mr. Umbacano was waiting for them near the entrance to Nenalata.

"It's best if we scout ahead first" - Lena told him. "There bound to be undead inside."

"By all means!" - Umbacano looked relieved. "I'll wait here until it's safe!"

Lena and Hauk went in.

"Something tells me that Umbacano can defend himself perfectly well" - she turned to Hauk. "But I didn't want him under our feet."

"Indeed" - Hauk nodded. "Did you bring your Spellbreaker? It will look better on your arm than in your pack" - he winked.

"Right" - Lena fumbled with it. "I'm not used to carrying a shield, but I'll need it, I fear. And this" - she put on an elven helm.

"This looks old!" - Hauk whistled. "Is that the other Ayleid crown? No wonder you didn't want Umbacano around."

"Yes, that's the one - it has strong magic resistance."

...

"Phew" - Lena dropped onto a sarcophagus half way through Nenalata Wendesel. "How many wraiths and liches was that so far? A dozen?"

"Probably, not counting their summons" - Hauk dropped next to her. "I lost count, I admit."

"Six portions of ectoplasm and seven handfuls of bonemeal, and I haven't collected them all" - Lena looked in her pack.

"That'll be plus seven never ending skeleton hero summons" - Hauk was examining a large dent in his armour. "With dwarven battleaxes!"

"Yeah, my armour is completely shattered" - Lena observed, stripping. "I'll need to mend it first..."

"You can't mend such damage here" - Hauk pointed out, picking up her grieves. "Better change into something else, or wear it for the sake of the enchantment."

"I know" - Lena pulled out a fancy blue dress. "My raiment of Arden-Sul! Trust the Manics to come up with a battle dress like that... All silk and lace and gold thread embroidery. Crab sandwich?"


With the attire sorted, it was high time to have lunch.

"At least you didn't get knocked out by the wraiths this time" - Hauk noted, making short work of the stack of crab sandwiches. "Although..." - he looked into Lena's face by the light of his torch. "It might be the light, but you do look pale."

"Yeah... I'm cold, too" - Lena admitted. "But there might be an advantage to that" - she said, smiling. "Remember Malada?"

"Your vampirism got triggered" - Hauk nodded. "It was useful against the living, but we are expecting more undead."

"If it really kicks in, it will make me much stronger... for a time" - she smiled at him. "I want to try it."

"Or you might collapse in the worst possible moment" - Hauk shook his head. "But I suppose you have to experiment..."

...

"So, this is it" - they stood in the final hall, having cleared another half a dozen of wraiths and liches. "Umbacano will have the key for that." Lena ran her fingers along the carving. "Wait... this looks familiar."

"The stone tablet from Malada" - Hauk nodded. "I bet that's the key. But we haven't got it, so let's go bring him here and see what happens."

...

"Oh yes, this is it!" - Umbacano stood in the final hall. He pressed the tablet from Malada into the socket on the wall and chanted an incantation. The tablet was important, but it wasn't all.

The wall opened and they entered the throne room of the Ayleid King of Nenalata.

"Finally!" - Umbacano was jubilant. "It falls to me to restore our glorious Empire!" He sat on the throne wearing the Crown of Nenalata.

"Somehow I don't think he means the Empire of Tamriel" - Hauk said in Lena's ear. "He must be a descendent of the last King of Nenalata. He is a High Elf."

Lena nodded. "Prepare for battle."

Umbacano's incantation caused more wall panels to slide open releasing six nether liches. The throne room swarmed with a dozen undead - some of the liches summoned wraiths rather than skeletons. Umbacano himself became hostile and joined the attack. He might have summoned something as well, it was hard to tell.

Lena and Hauk got separated, and Lena got battered by the skeletons. She tried to ignore them and get to the liches, but she couldn't heal fast enough, not with the liches and wraiths shooting spells at her as well. It was all she could do but to keep her summons going in between the knock-outs.

"Dessos" - she thought. "We need better help."

Dessos was less effective than a clannfear against the skeletons but more effective against the liches and wraiths. The skeletons kept banishing him though.

"Right, here we go" - Lena though. "A sacrifice is required."

She swallowed a potion to fortify her already very considerable magicka reserve and summoned Dessos with long term binding. Then she hit four skeletons in succession with a ranged fire spell and ran into the adjacent chamber. The skeletons followed, with a wraith joining them as well. She wasn't going to fight them - she wanted to lead them away. She went down repeatedly over and over again, but the skeletons stayed with her, hitting her every time she regained consciousness. She was going to have a lot of broken bones... and she was growing colder with every hit of the frost spell from the wraith.

"So much for all that spell absorption" - she thought. Although it would have been a lot worse without it.

She heard Hauk cursing from the next room, and Dessos roaring, at least they were still there, fighting. She would get up to her feet as soon as those damned skeletons were banished... But the liches had summoned them with long term binding too, they would not be banished until they were defeated...

"The Royal Guard" - she thought. Those were no ordinary undead.

One by one the wraiths and skeletons were banished as Hauk and Dessos defeated the liches. But even a single skeleton was enough to keep Lena down. The fighting in the main chamber continued. Lena heard a scream - was that Umbacano? Then - "Your life is forfeit, mortal!" followed by a loud slam of metal against stone. Another frost spell hit her and everything went permanently dark.

...

"She is not waking up" - Lena heard a deep and hoarse voice far away. "But I'm still here..."

"Then she's still alive" - another deep voice answered.

Everything inside her hurt... Every bit of skin hurt too. Every bone seemed to be broken. Again.

"Let it go and rise a pure-blood" - a powerful voice spoke in her head. "Leave your mortal life behind."

"Molag Bal?" - Lena thought she knew the voice.

"I shall raise you above the half-breed you once were. You will know the true power of a pure-blood."

"'You might be with child already'" - Lucien's voice sounded in Lena's memory.

"And my child?" - she asked.

"You will bare a pure-blood" - the voice answered. "And nothing will desecrate my gift - there is no 'cure' for a pure-blood!" The voice sounded triumphant. "Your pain will seize. Rise and take your place of power! Or die as cattle."

Lena's body wanted to say yes - the pain was intense, her head was spinning, she needed blood. She wasn't a proper mortal anyway, so why bother with the pretence...

"Exactly" - the voice answered her thoughts.

"So why haven't you taken me already?" - she wondered. It wasn't like Molag Bal to ask for permission.

"He needs consent" - another familiar voice sounded in Lena's head. "Ironic, isn't it? We can all devour mortal souls for breakfast, but we cannot own them without consent. Not any more, that is."

"She will still serve you, Sheogorath" - Molag Bal snapped irritably. "Get out of my way!"

"Typical" - Sheogorath mused. "I am not in your way - we're both in her head! Which is mad, if you ask me!"

A treacle of warmth was spreading through Lena's body. Where was it coming from?

"She needs more, let me" - a deep hoarse voice sounded far away.

"Bloody liches, I wish I didn't lose so much blood fighting them" - a familiar deep voice cursed.

"You mortals have less blood to begin with" - the hoarse voice was familiar, too.

"Well, I guess I won't be dying today, Molag Bal" - Lena said in her head defiantly. "A mortal and a dremora are trying to bring me back."

"Then suffer your mortal pain, you fool! But remember my offer."

...

Everything in Lena's body was hurting. She felt the cold of the stone floor she was lying on. She opened her eyes and saw Hauk's pale face above her. He was sitting with his back against the wall, Lena's head resting on his lap. He was asleep and he looked exhausted.

Lena raised her head and saw Dessos sitting against the other wall by her feet. He was covered in burns and cuts, but bruises were not showing on his dark skin. Steel and daedric armour was lying further in the chamber. Swords, staffs and battleaxes were piled up in the corner.

Dessos must have heard Lena move because he opened his eyes and looked around.

"It worked" - he said and smiled.

Hauk woke up too.

"You gave us a fright" - he said, stroking her hair.

"But you two prevailed" - Lena smiled, looking at them in turn.

"How did you survive? Those skeletons and wraiths were relentless" - Hauk shot Dessos a glance, still looking at Lena. Dessos nodded.

"Molag Bal" - Lena stretched, preparing to sit up. "He wanted to raise me as a pure-blood, but Sheogorath interfered."

"Pure-blood what?"

"Pure-blood vampire." Lena sat up and turned to prop herself against the wall. "Then your blood brought me back."

"Ironic" - Dessos smirked. "Molag Bal's own curse turned against him."

"How is it that you are still here?" - Lena turned to Dessos, realising that she had summoned him in what felt like a previous lifetime.

"Long term binding" - Dessos reminded her. "I cannot leave until you release me, or my body dies."

"Oh" - Lena blushed. "Right." She tried to scramble to her feet.

"There's no rush" - Dessos stopped her. "I'll go when you two are both able to walk. Lord Sanguine would be displeased with anything less. You might still need my blood."

They spent a few more hours in that chamber next to the throne room of the last King of Nenalata. Healing potions flowed as freely as mead, and everyone was glad that Lena had stuffed her pack full with provisions before setting out in the morning. They slept some more, and eventually they were able to walk. Dessos accompanied Lena and Hauk to Fort Grief and only agreed to leave after they cleared out the rats. Lord Sanguine would have been displeased with anything less, of course. But Lena wondered whether it was Sanguine's will that Dessos was following, or his own.
______________________

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Mar 26 2024, 06:33 PM

11 Sun's Height, 4E202 - Cheydinhal home

"Gods, that was something else!" - the events of the day before were still fresh in their memory. "I could use a rest now" - Lena was nibbling on her cheese sandwich.

"Cheydinhal?" - asked Hauk, watching her face. "I'll be staying at the Mages Guild there from now on." Lena squeezed his hand in thanks.

...

They got to Cheydinhal in late afternoon, stopping at Fort Farragut first to leave a note for Lucien. He wasn't in, and Lena briefly considered staying at his fort to wait for him, but then she changed her mind. The Wolf Sanctuary was a better home.

I'm back - will you join me? Wolf.

It was a bit awkward... They both were so used to living independent lives. They were still independent of course, but Lena wanted to see Lucien more often than just once an eternity. She hoped things would fall into place somehow.

...

Lucien returned to his fort in the middle of the night, bleeding - his target had put up quite a fight. But no matter, it wasn't the first time. He was looking for frost salts to press to the wound, when he noticed a note on the table. Lena was back.

What Lucien would normally do with a wound like that, was to stop the bleeding with a healing compress, take a cold bath to cool the fever, and then sleep it off. But now Lena was back, and he knew that she'd come to check on him in the morning. Normally he would just cast chameleon because he wouldn't want her to see him... But somehow none of what used to be normal applied any more. He wanted to see her even though he knew she'd start fussing over his wound. He'd have to change his habits, well, at least some of them. He put a healing compress to stop the bleeding, packed some of his spare clothes and stepped on the ladder to leave.

"Better move some of the blades as well" - he thought, making another pack. "Then I'll be able to leave straight from her place..." Things started to change.

...

Lena woke up to the sound of the front door clicking shut. Someone used a key to enter. She heard light footsteps on the stairs, her hand closing on the Sufferthorn under her pillow. She could see the top of the stairs from the bed. Lucien.

She was next to him in a split second.

"I missed you too" - he laughed, reciprocating her embrace. "Ouch."

"You are hurt!" - Lena pulled back, looking him over.

"Yes, but it's no longer bleeding" - he said dismissively. "And you had your bones broken again, and worse!" Now Lucien was looking Lena over.

"Yes, but it's mended" - she smiled. "Bath?"

"Let's."

Evidently, they both knew what to do.

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Mar 26 2024, 06:33 PM

12-13 Sun's Height, 4E202 - Mages Guild politics

Lena walked into the Cheydinhal Mages Guild looking for Hauk.

"Good morning, Warlock" - Deetsan greeted her. "If I could have a word?"

"Of course!" - Lena smiled warmly.

"Not here - walk with me" - Deetsan hissed - Argonians weren't good at whispering.

She went out the door and Lena followed.

"I've heard what happened in Bruma" - said Deetsan when they were behind the Mages Guild Hall. "This is most distressing, but not surprising. You should know that Traven was very displeased with you not eliminating them all, although of course he couldn't very well order an execution. He wrote to all Guild Hall heads to warn about you as a potential Necromancy sympathiser - we are to report anything suspicious. Don't worry, I am not about to report anything, and besides there isn't anything to report, but if eventually there is, then, well, it won't be reported..." - she broke off, with what looked like a blush on her cheeks. Did Argonians blush? Must have been the wind.

"Thank you" - Lena smiled. "These are turbulent times. Not all necromancers are out to murder people..."

"Of course not!" - Deetsan breathed with relief. "We are quite safe here with Alteration, I think, but other Guild Halls don't fare as well. Traven has now banned summoning any undead as well as spells that absorb life energies."

"But Summon Skeleton is the only novice summon!" - cried Lena. "How is anyone to learn Conjuration without it?"

"I wouldn't be surprised if he banned the whole of Conjuration" - Deetsan's eyes narrowed. "Be careful what you say around Trayvond though - with his views..."

"Yes, I remember" - Lena nodded. "He wouldn't practice Illusion, Conjuration or... Necromancy. Yeah, I remember him saying that."

"Anyway, we should get back before the others start getting suspicious" - Deetsan started walking towards the hall. "Do what you have to do and let's hope not everyone will be dead by the time Traven and Mannimarco settle their little dispute."

...

Back at the Mages Guild Lena found Hauk in the basement tending to his armour in old Falcar's room - none of the mages wanted to use it, so they converted it to guest quarters. A couple of letters lay on the desk.

"Letters from Iver and Jowan" - Hauk nodded towards them. "Both asking to meet" - he shot Lena a glance. "Iver specifically asked for you, something must be going on."

"I think I know" - Lena sat down with a sigh. "Nenyond Twyll. Those battlemages that perished there, had no idea what to expect. Kud-Ei mentioned it wasn't the first time either."

"May be" - Hauk didn't seem convinced. "It's not like Iver to get involved in politics though. I suppose we should just go and see. When you're ready to leave" - he smiled at her.

"Tomorrow? Imperial City first, then we can go to Bruma from there" - she nodded. "I suppose it was Volanaro who wanted a word, rather than Jowan. But it will be good to see them both." She fell silent for a while, thinking of something. "Hauk - why don't you join us for dinner tonight?"

"'Us'? Lucien's getting used to being seen around town, is he?" - Hauk laughed. "Of course I will come."

"Lucien is getting used to the idea that people know him in this town" - Lena nodded with a wink. "Even if most of them are smart enough not to say so in his face."


Iver was shooting shock spells at a training screen with obvious anger.

"Oh hello!" - he saw Hauk come in. "Wolf not with you?"

"Plundering the alchemy garden" - Hauk grinned. "Lunch?"

"Yes, better not here."

They picked up Lena on the University grounds and walked into the City.

"The King and Queen tavern" - Iver insisted. "It will be busy but not rowdy, and less chance to bump into someone we know."

Lena and Hauk exchanged glances, but followed.

"So, what's going on?" - Hauk fixed his brother with a steady gaze when they finally had their plates full of food in front of them at the King and Queen tavern.

"Traven is dropping battlemages" - Iver said angrily. "We are being moved to the Legion."

"Oh?" - Hauk raised an eyebrow. "I didn't receive any communications like that."

"You wouldn't, he practically dismissed you already years ago" - Iver rolled his eyes. "He's getting rid of us in groups, I haven't had the notice yet either, but some others already had theirs."

"So what do you want me to do?" - asked Lena unsure.

"Contact me if he sends you on a mission with battlemages" - Iver looked straight at Lena, just as Hauk would have done. They still looked nearly identical, having aged in the same way. "None returned from Nenyond Twyll, or from three other missions since then. And I for one don't want to be sacrificed."

"More Ayleid ruins?" - asked Hauk.

"Some" - Iver nodded. "But it's not the ruins that worries me, it's how he phrases the assignment. He wants a frontal assault..."

"...and this is not how you survive a battle" - finished Hauk. "I see."

"But why?" - Lena looked at them in turn. "Why would Traven want to hunt down battlemages?"

"Not all of us" - Iver shook his head. "Like I said - some are being transferred to the Legion, mostly the young ones who joined only recently. But those of us who've been around for a while... I think he is afraid we'd refuse to fight old friends who joined Mannimarco."

"Or even worse - join your friends and Mannimarco" - Lena nodded slowly.

"You could leave until this is over" - suggested Hauk without conviction.

"No" - Iver shot him a glance. "It's not as bad as it was for you then. I just need to survive until I get transferred to the Legion. With you out and about, the Legion will keep me in the Imperial City and in full view."

"And no one will be certain which Serck-Hanssen they've seen strolling around" - Hauk smirked. "Yeah, that's an old trick, Optio." They laughed and turned their full attention to the food on the table.

...

Lena and Hauk left the Imperial City after lunch heading North to Bruma. To save the time, they crossed Lake Rumare behind the Imperial Prison, coming out immediately at the start of the Silver Road. The trip was uneventful, bar the usual bandits, ogres and minotaers stalking the roads. It was past midnight when they arrived in Bruma.

"There you are, Optio!" - a boy with a Skyrim accent greeted Hauk as soon as they came in through the gates. He looked around searching for something. "Olav has been expecting you! He did say you'd have a wolf with you though..."

"I am Wolf" - said Lena laughing. "What's going on?"

"Someone is waiting for you!" - the boy shouted, running off.

The public room at Olav's was filled with people drinking, most of whom had already had more than enough to make the conversation slow and repetitive. Olav was standing in the corner surveying his guests, undoubtedly watching for the signs when it was time to throw the next one out.

"Optio, Wolf" - he greeted Hauk and Lena as they came in. "I've kept your room free for you, you'll find a package on the bed. Unless you wanted supper first?"

"Supper first" - said Hauk, taking a seat. "Unless..." - he looked at Lena, impatience written all over her face. "Go see what's in that package, it can't be such a great secret if they left it on the bed in an inn!"

Lena dashed to the room - her curiosity got ahead of her supper.

"We are to go to the Cloud Ruler Temple" - she handed Hauk a note that she found on the bed. "I recognise the handwriting" - she grimaced.

"We'll see tomorrow" - Hauk nodded. "She can wait."

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Mar 26 2024, 06:34 PM

14 Sun's Height, 4E202 - Cloud Ruler Temple

"I thought the Cloud Ruler Temple was ravaged by the Thalmor" - Lena turned to Hauk as they walked out of Bruma's North gate.

"They made a big fuss about it but in truth there was nothing to do here - the Blades had been gone for a long time already. This unit didn't survive the Oblivion Crisis" - Hauk explained, making long strides towards the Temple. "The next Emperor didn't trust them to protect his person" - he smirked.

"So the Blades are really disbanded, are they?" - Lena looked into the distance where the Temple outline appeared in the fog.

"I didn't say that" - Hauk winked. "I only said they were gone from here."

"Ah."

A leather-clad figure came onto the road from behind a rock, facing them.

"Optio, Champion" - she greeted them. "Thank you for coming."

"Delphine" - they nodded a greeting.

"I apologise for my poor information earlier - I do know now who you both are. And you are right" - she turned to Lena - "you have nothing to prove to me, Champion."

"Please call me Wolf or Warlock" - Lena grimaced. "Champion is a title from another lifetime."

"As you wish" - she bowed her head slightly. "But you are also Dragonborn, I'm sure the Greybeards are right, and so the Blades need your help again."

"And I won't be joining you again" - Lena said, looking straight at her. "'Honorary Knight Sister' is not my idea of an honour."

"Well... All right, I won't say I wasn't going to offer it" - Delphine smiled. "But I have something better for you: help us and I shall tell you about your father."

Lena went pale.

"This is blackmail, Delphine" - she said quietly.

"This is a fair trade" - Delphine answered. "I have information that you want, and you have the skills that I seek."

"To put towards achieving goals that I do not care for" - Lena objected.

"Well, if you are not interested" - Delphine raised an eyebrow - "then I'm sure someone in Morrowind would get a writ for a certain Speaker and his Silencer."

"Like I said - a blackmail" - Lena smiled, her eyes cold. "I shall help you, Delphine, but I want your information and proof upfront, so that the extent of my help could be weighed against your payment. And Morag Tong... that's just a hazard of my trade."

Delphine had overplayed her hand - there was nothing left but to agree.

"Olav has the documents" - she said with a sigh. "I trust to see you both in Riverwood soon."

She disappeared behind the rock.

"Why did she want you here as well?" - Lena wondered aloud.

"She thought I'd support her" - Hauk smirked. "But it doesn't work that way - wrong unit."

He turned around and started walking towards Bruma. Lena sprinted to catch up.

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Mar 26 2024, 06:34 PM

14 Sun's Height, 4E202 - Wolf Asgarsen

Lena's heart was racing with anticipation as she and Hauk entered Olav's Tap and Tack. Olav had the documents revealing the identity of Lena's father - or so Delphine had said. Olav smiled in greeting and pointed to their room. A package was lying on the bed.

"This is it" - Lena breathed, unwrapping it. "Let's see..."

The package contained an old scroll and two letters with broken seals. Lena started with the scroll.

To the Commander of the Second Legion Wolf Asgarsen -

Imperial Legion order of 27 Second Seed, 3E396

In view of recent unrest throughout the Empire, your Legion is permanently assigned to maintain peace in the Southern and Western reaches of Skyrim, and in particular the Pale Pass area, both in Skyrim and Cyrodiil. You are to eliminate any and all potential threats before they arise. Your base is to be the Pale Pass Fortress.

Wolf Asgarsen... The name was certainly suggestive, but the date was more than twenty years before Lena's birth. Besides, just because there was a Legion Commander by that name, it did not yet prove anything at all.

"Do not succumb to wishful thinking" - Lena told herself, putting the scroll aside.

She opened one of the letters. It had no date or signature.

The Commander has undesirable connections. His lover is a Dark Brotherhood assassin, which, as I am sure you agree, presents danger to the Empire. Neither our secrets nor our troops may be safe, should Asgarsen's loyalty to his lover prove higher than that to our cause. I propose the elimination of both - Wolf Asgarsen and Lilian Delacour.

The second letter looked similar - the same kind of parchment, the same simple wax seal without a mark, the same signs of ageing.

We have performed the Black Sacrament, and the money has changed hands. Ordering a killing of a Dark Brotherhood assassin by another Dark Brotherhood assassin was a stroke of genius, my friend! The contract has been accepted, now we wait. Asgarsen hasn't got long to live!

The letters fitted with what Lucien had told Lena and Geralt already. It was something, certainly, but it wasn't a definite proof. Lena decided that these clues would buy Delphine some of her services, but no loyalty.

"At least the parchment is the actual Legion issue" - Hauk noted, having examined them as well. "They might well be genuine, or else someone simply had genuine Legion parchment at hand."

"They are clues, not proof" - agreed Lena. "I suppose I'll need to investigate this in Skyrim somehow."

"The Second Legion had links with Falkreath" - said Hauk. "You might find something in the archives there, if any archives were kept at all. Not about this Dark Brotherhood business - this is clearly clandestine - but about the Commander himself."

"Yes..." - Lena mused, lost in thought. "If I can find out more about him, it might answer a few questions."

She folded the letters and the scroll and stashed them in her pack.

"That Imperial order also said that the Second Legion would be stationed at the Pale Pass Fortress" - she looked at Hauk, puzzled. "But we've been there looking for that necklace for the Countess, and all we found were ancient ghosts, remember? From the time well before that order. How could the Legion have been stationed there then?"

"It couldn't have been" - agreed Hauk. "Not where we have been, anyway. Perhaps there is another fortress somewhere around there? May be closer to the modern crossing into Skyrim? We do still call it the Pale Pass, even though it isn't the same trail."

"And also" - Lena continued - "assuming this is all true, then would it not suggest that my mother had lived in Bruma or nearby?"

"Do you not remember?" - Hauk looked at her searching.

"No, I was too little" - Lena shook her head. "My mother died when I was four, and I don't remember her at all. I grew up on the Niben. But I was born elsewhere, gran did mention that..." - she strained to remember. "But she didn't say where exactly. Only that I should go to Skyrim to learn about my father."

"Then that's where you should start - in Falkreath" - Hauk said firmly. "There are too many unknowns this side of the border."

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Mar 26 2024, 06:35 PM

14 Sun's Height, 4E202 - Bruma Mages Guild

"Good to see you!" - Volanaro greeted Lena and Hauk as they entered the Mages Guild in Bruma. "So you got my note."

"Yes, we figured it was from you" - grinned Hauk. "How are things?"

"Fine, quiet for now" - Volanaro smiled. "Jowan is here somewhere - he's been showing J'skar some of his spells. The same effects, different technique - very interesting." He wanted to say more, but restrained himself - the two mages before him were no academics. "I just wanted to fill you in on what we've done and heard around here."

"Gladly" - Lena nodded. They walked to the dining room - a conversation always went better with wine on the table.

"Since we no longer report to the Arch Mage" - Volanaro started - "we've reinstated our enchanting and spellmaking altars - they are in the alchemy hall, if you need them. Selena now also sells poisons, not just potions" - he smiled. "She will gladly buy any suitable ingredients from you, for more money than you'd normally get elsewhere. You would not believe the demand on poisons that we are seeing! It's almost nearing the demand for mead."

"How is Jeanne holding up?" - asked Lena, grinning to the memory of the pranks they played on her.

"She's her usual self" - Volanaro chuckled. "Still working on that scamp. But truth be told, her Illusions are far better than you would expect. She must have been holding back because Traven considers that school 'evil'. And..." - he looked around, then lowered his voice - "she can levitate."

"Oh!" - Lena and Hauk exclaimed in surprise.

"There isn't much known about her past" - Volanaro continued in a low voice. "But it would appear she spent time in Morrowind. So..."

"...what else can she do?" - Hauk finished his sentence with a chuckle. "Oh Jeanne!"

They chatted about other mages they knew, then Lena thought of her assignment from Traven to retrieve two missing artefacts.

"I suppose you've heard that the Council of Mages fell apart and Caranya and Irlav Jarol left the Imperial City, taking each an important artefact" - she started, looking at Volanaro. "Traven wants me to retrieve those items, but I don't think it will be that straightforward. Any thoughts?"

"Caranya is a necromancer" - Volanaro answered after a moment's pause. "She used to come here often enough - we had common projects. But I would not have thought she'd join Mannimarco fully, she's too independent."

"So you don't think she took the Necromancer's Amulet for Mannimarco?" - Lena asked with hope in her voice.

"No, I don't" - Volanaro smiled slyly. "She will probably say it, but I am pretty sure she'll keep the amulet for herself. Unless she plans to use it to weaken Mannimarco instead."

"How so?"

"That amulet raises your magical abilities, true, but it also significantly drains your life forces. Caranya might use it in the most unpredictable ways." He laughed softly. "I would not be so sure whose side she is on."

"And Irlav?"

"He isn't a necromancer, I don't think so" - Volanaro scratched his head in doubt. "A conjurer, rather. What did he take?"

"The Bloodworm Helm."

"Oh, yes, that makes sense" - Volanaro nodded. "It fortifies your summoning ability, while allowing you to absorb life energies from others. Akin Blood Magic, I would say. And I bet he has no plans to bring it to Mannimarco."

"Just using the crisis for his own ends, then" - Lena nodded.

"Conjuration has suffered a lot from Traven's bans too" - Volanaro agreed. "Irlav had to give up all his studies on long term binding. He mostly worked with daedra, but he can summon undead, too - hence his interest in Ayleid ruins. He won't be giving up that helm easily though."

"Well, may be he doesn't have to" - Lena mused. "My personal goal here is to minimise bloodshed, not to help Traven wage his war."

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Mar 26 2024, 06:36 PM

Ha, I know this guy. Skyrim has a bunch of little clever moments like this. Seems like Lena and Hauk didn't fall for this ruse.

Another thing. You have beautiful sunny weather in your game apparently, all the way to Riften. I only am noticing this because on Xbox, this is what I have noticed too. The sun shines a lot in the Rift, definitely more than 50%. But I've heard a couple gamers who play this game on PC often see much more overcast weather. And that's without any weather mods added. One of my friends has claimed "the sun never shines in my Riften". Odd.

I am enjoying this whole segment into Riften, by the way. First she gets accosted by the guards, yet she makes more money from defeating Nilheim. I love that you add NPC dialog into these chapters. Even the scene where Maul seems as he's about to confront Lena, but then he walks off without doing anything. Adds a bit of edge. Skyrim has a lot of edgy stuff going on when it comes to ordinary townspeople, just like TES 4 has a lot of goofy, nonsensical stuff going on. It's good that you've captured this.

The Rift is usually sunny on PS4! It's often foggy in the morning, but then the fog clears. I have no weather mods, so this is just as it comes.

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

A note to faithful followers of the story: Lena has been arguing with Roach lately, and it is never a good idea to argue with your horse. So she's stuck in Bruma for a few days until Roach cools off - Roach is jealous of Luna (Hauk's horse) who is apparently younger, prettier and has bigger... you know what. But once this is sorted, they'll be off again.

This post has been edited by Lena Wolf: Aug 9 2021, 09:29 AM

Har har.

Interesting how Geralt is the one who went into the temple near Dawnstar. See, Lena can't get to everything. A lot of us approach these games in the same way. One character won't do every quest, and so on.

I am up to post 31

This post has been edited by Renee: Aug 17 2021, 01:00 PM