Listen To THe Sound Of The Ashlands, Chapter 1->The Return Options

[Fiach]

Note: This is my first bit of serious fan-fiction, so please be patient with me xD
I would really appreciate it if whoever reads this give me their opinion on the story, as well as any ways that I can improve, which is something that I'm very passionate about.
But without any delay, let's begin.

Prologue

“So you’re planning to go through with it?” Sul-Matuul asked.

“Yes”

The old Ashlander sighed, his hand moving slowly against his withered face.
For a moment I began to pity the old mer. Age had paled his dark skin to the point that it was nearly like that of a imperial, his red eyes turning blank with his years.

He was sitting near the centre of his yurt, his body in its squatted form somewhat resembling an old flower. But he still held his staff proudly, and carried his head high with grace. Well at least he did before I entered his yurt this cold Last seed morning.

“I would like you to reconsider” Sul-Matuul said. With a groan I sat down beside him, my fingers playing with the dusty floor. “I don’t think I can this time my friend” I whispered, “I’ve been here for nearly 5 years, I’ve done a lot here but Morrowind....it just doesn’t need me anymore..”

Sul-Matuul slammed his fist against the ground, but I tried not to flinch, “don’t be foolish Lord Nerevarine” he growled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. “You have so much more to do here, Morrowind is your home, and it’s where you’re destined to be!”

Sadly, I shook my head. “Everything will be ok Sul, I mean with you, Vivec....”
“Vivec is a traitor and a fool” He spat, “He should have had the decency to kill himself the day the others fell.”
I shook my head and rose from the ground. “He has the best interests of Morrowind in mind Sul.” I whispered. “The boat to Akavir will be leaving tomorrow... I have to be on my way.”
“Nerevarine!” Sul-Matuul growled, “Morrowind needs you, please don’t abandon her.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but then I noticed droplets of water against the dusty floor. The old mer was crying.

My courage failed and without another word, I turned around and opened up the small yurt skin door, into the world beyond.
As I travelled along the coastline I began to feel the thud of my heartbeat against my throat, a feeling that had escaped me for so long, Excitement and adventure.
I suppose I should tell you a little of myself before I begin my true story, although most of it I’m sure you already know.

My real name is Furan Saris, and I was born in Highrock, according to the local priests there, my mother was an ashlander who fled morrowind, but since she died when I was born, I guess I can’t really be sure. I was taken in by the local chapel of the nine divines, an experience that thankfully, I’ll never go through again. I learned to read and write, but at the cost of my dignity. I was trapped there, at least until he came to see me.
A man arrived at our village one foggy morning, he was a mage, but one that was not connected to any of the local guilds. It was safe to say that he caused a bit of a commotion in the town. He used his magic to entertain, summoning ponies and warriors that arrived in a plume of fire, his mana stirring and creating wonders before my very eyes. I spent days begging him to take me on as an apprentice, as a means to escape this life. The old man, who saw my mana levels agreed.

We left, I learned what I needed to learn, but after less than 4 years my master caught a chill and died. Magic stopped being an idle fancy and more of a means to survive, I was skilled at illusion and acrobatics, which helped me pilfer items from some of highrocks finest. But one night I tried to steal from a mage and I was caught.
Beginning my journey to Morrowind, which started the story every dunmer child grows up learning, the tale of the battle of the red mountain.

To foreigners of our shores this is where the story of the Nerevarine ends, the oblivion crisis set in and people forgot about the land of the dunmer people.
But I think that it is time that I continued the story.

The story of when the Nerevarine returned.

This post has been edited by Fiach: Feb 26 2010, 11:14 PM

[Fiach]

The sands crunched softly beneath my toes when I jumped out of the boat. The Bosmer boatmaster smiled and pointed toward some hills,
"about 5 minutes walking and you'll find your 'Sadrith Mora'" he whispered.
I nodded and the boat master cackled, his Bosmer voice following the boat while it steered away from land and back into the fog.

Evo sighed and pulled up his robes to stop them from getting wet,

"I'm making my way to Cyrodiil.... this is your last chance at life friend."
I shook my head head with a smile and placed my hand on Evo's shoulder,
"It was a pleasure" I muttered, giving him the ceremonial bow of the Telvanni. right arm lifted and head bowed lower then your superior.

Evo laughed and stopped me with his hand.

"The pleasure was all mine Ser Saris, I'll see you in another life." Haeil shook his hand and handed him a few cold pieces and Without another word we went our seperate ways.

The hills seeming to move beneath my feet as I followed Haeil up along the grassy plains, Sadrith Mora was a good town, it should have some traders, invaders or no invaders.

Haeil sighed at the top of the hill, and I didn't notice why until I reached that point myself.
Sadrith Mora was gone... well, not gone, the ground was covered in ash and soot with burnt structures pointing out of the black soil. Nothin grew along the ground showing that the attacklers put salt into the soil after they burnt it... the argonians really hated the Telvanni by the looks of things.

"Do you have a second plan?" Haeil mumbled, staring at the ruins of the once proud wolverine hall. It seemed to have been attacked and then pillaged for stone with the entire front facing the sea gone.

I opened my mouth tpo say something before I saw a shape move along the plains, "Do you see that?" I whispered, squinting my eyes as if it would somehow give me a better look. It was a person, no bigger then a boy and he was running away from us.

Haeil nodded to the boy and began to move.

Stones cracked beneath my feet as I ran behind Haeil, who could move pretty fast for something without a pair of legs. The boy began to scream, his body meeting and then vanishing behind some forest land, we leapt through the bushes.

And were greeted by 8 hooded men, each of them holding a net as they threw them on us. I grinned for a trap it was pretty well set up, so much so that they couldn't be just bandits...

An arrow whistled past my ear before one of them jumped on me, he smelt like an orc.... I suppose there's something wrong you when you can recognize that smell.

The last thing I felt was the sound of my body hitting the floor with an unpleasent crack.
the last thing I heard was Haeil shouting, the sound of his blades being unsheated.

Darkness crowded around me like an unwanted guest and the cold gripped me.
But I could see her face again in my minds eye.

"Abigail." I murmered with a smile, I didn't know what was going to happen to me...but as long as I saw her as I did now with her unbound brown hair and emerald eyes, her right hand that moved softly against my cheek.
I would not care.

Here ends Chapter One

This post has been edited by Fiach: Mar 28 2010, 12:52 PM