Maya, the memoirs of a Dunmer amnesiac Options

[Linara]

Just giving this writing thing a try, anybody who reads, tell me what you think!
Nell

Chapter One-Part One
In which a Dunmer girl awakes in a cell, and is very confused.

I awoke with a splitting headache. I was cold, lying on a hard bench, in a dank room. I did not stir, experience told me it was wiser to stay still. I lay, shivering now and then, for a while. Minutes passed, then a question floated by in my head. Who was I? I pondered this lazily, and then shock hit me. I had no idea. The questions now came hard and fast: What was I? Where was I? Was this a prison? Am I a criminal?

I shifted my head the slightest bit, and looked at my arm lying on the bench. It was a dark blue, pale as the skin went higher. My hand was small and limp, and an iron shackle encircled my wrist. I felt a bolt of fear, of vulnerability. I was defenseless, and alone. I was unnamed.

For hours I kept my eyes shut, not moving, numb to all but my headache and the pressing loneliness. Several times I drifted off into oblivion, only to hear some phantom noise and start awake. Finally I felt enough was enough. I sat up, wincing as the world spun around me, and waited until the dizziness and pain in my head quieted to a dull growl.

As I peered around my cell- for what else could it be? - I heard a crooning voice.

“I must surely be dead, and in the halls of Azura to look upon such a vision. You are so beautiful, my dear Dunmer maiden...”

I craned my head, trying to make out the voices carrier. The speaker seemed to be like me, a- what had the person said? A Dunmer…- with skin much darker and greyer then mine. The figure was unmistakably male.

The Dunmer continued speaking, and I shuddered as I heard his words.

“ One of the guards owes me a favor, you know. I could get us put in the same cell. Would you like that? You should have some fun before the end. “

What end was he speaking of? Would the authorities of this place kill me for a crime that I could not remember committing?

The Dunmer’s voice grew louder and shriller, echoing in my aching head.

“Yeah, you heard me. No matter what the law says. No matter what they told you. You're going to die in here! You're going to die!”

I shivered again, and pressed myself against the wall, trying to get out of the madman’s sight. I realized that no guard lingered below to keep the prisoners in their cells, that if this Dunmer wished to do so, he could croon these foul things at me all night. My horrible predicament just became worse.

In that moment, I heard a clang of metal, and creaking. Was someone coming? Torchlight flickered against the walls and shadows rose up. Shadows of men.

The Dunmer across from me cackled, muttering something about how I would die now. As the people came into view, four of them, one thrust his elbow into the Dunmer’s cell and hit him squarely in the face.

“Shut up Dreth,” he muttered. “This will be hard enough without your insanity.”

I moved in front of the door, hoping to plead my case, and perhaps they would let me go. Instead, all four stopped the door of my cell, and one man took out keys. I realized that one of the people was a woman, in armor and with a helm on her head when she shouted; “What is this prisoner doing here? This cell was supposed to be off limits!”

One of the men, also in armor, stammered, trying to explain to the woman; “the usual mix-up at the Watch, I-I-I,”

The woman sighed, and said wearily “Excuses Glenroy, more excuses”
She looked like she wanted to say more, but thought better of it.

“Prisoner, stand over by the window!” the guard who it seemed was named Glenroy barked.

The guards didn’t seem to notice that I was barely capable of standing, let alone attack them, but I backed away, and fell on the cold stone bench with a thump.

The man who had elbowed Dreth gave me a strange look, one made of pity and curiosity, but it only lasted for a moment, then he looked away. The woman unlocked the cell door, and stepped forward. It was then that I noticed the fourth person, an old man, wearing a fine robe and a strange red jewel around his neck.

As the guards moved towards the right wall of the cell, the old man peered at me, head cocked at an angle as if he couldn’t see very well.

“You…” he breathed, “I’ve seen you, in my dreams.”

I looked at him in simple surprise, then asked in a small voice, “Do you know who I am?”

[Linara]

SubRosa:Thanks for catching those nits, Rosa. Yes, it was true that I had not decided what the U.D.G. would be doing next. I don't usually do a past present switch, but I thought that in this case it worked pretty well.

Acadian: Thank you for your advice Acadian! As you will see below, advice was followed.

Destri Melarg:Spoken like a true historian and writer of a bigger picture, Destri! Thank you for your advice!

Treydog: Thank you for your advice treydog, it was very helpful.

All: So it finally happened. The U.D.G. is finally leaving the sewers. I'll admit, it was tempting to send her off to discover her identity. Then I read what everyone was saying, and so, I asked Maya. Her answer was very clear, so a different course of action is being taken. Thank you everyone for your advice, and your comments through this!
It took research and determination to get through this chapter, but I'm glad I did.

(On a research side note: Has anyone else thought that the people on the Imperial Library forums are a bit...rude? Beg pardon if anyone is on there, but I've never read the words of a less welcoming TES fan.)

And now: The end of the tutorial dungeon, and a new direction.

Chapter Six
In which we step through a grate

Baurus and I stepped through the open sewer grate, and thus ended a living nightmare that had seemed days long. We had made it through the sewers in relatively short order. Neither of us spoke during that time, except to alert each other to the numerous goblins that would throw themselves against us in a suicidal manner.

I covered my eyes as we exited, and cowered beneath a sun I could not remember shining. Baurus waited until I could stand the light, then we both seated ourselves on the ground and avoided looking at each other. I took stock of our surroundings, my eyes watering as I gazed in wonder.

There was a river near us, and a dock that led into it. Across the river were trees and hills, and perhaps a stone ruin, but I could not tell for sure. My eyes were enchanted with the color of the place, and I rejoiced in the cool breeze that ran across my skin.

It was when I touched the sword at my side that I remembered. The drying goblin blood painted my fingers a greenish yellow, which I knew would stain my clothing should I try to wipe it off.

The blood jolted me back to the present, a place I did not particularly want to be. In the present, Baurus was planning to abandon me as soon as we reached the Imperial City, and go gallivanting off to Kvatch.

As soon as I thought it, I knew that I was being unfair. Baurus wasn’t gallivanting anywhere, merely going to save the Emperor’s son, and the heir to the throne. The only problem with that was the fact that he planned to do it alone, and something in me said I should come with him.

After all, the Emperor had told me to take the amulet, but that was only because Baurus had been fighting off assassins. He would have said the same to Baurus if I hadn’t been there, wouldn’t he? But still, I needed to come, and I needed to convince Baurus of that. I looked up at him, and said,

“I’m coming with you.”

Instead of the numerous objections I had thought he would make to my statement, he only nodded.

“I know,” he replied, as my eyes widened in surprise. “I was thinking about it the whole time we were going through the sewers, and I realized that it wouldn’t be safe to leave you in the city. It’s a dangerous place, and without any memory, you might be hurt, or worse. Besides, I’ll need back-up,” he said, grinning slightly, for he had seen how indignant I was becoming at his statements.

“I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” I cried, but there was no anger in my voice, and we both smiled.

“So, on to Kvatch?” I asked. Baurus chewed at his lip for a moment, then shook his head.

“I’d like to get to Kvatch as soon as possible, but that’s not an option right now. You need food, some new clothes, and sleep. Much as I hate to admit it, I need rest as well. I’ve never fought so many enemies before, and my arms feel like they’re on fire. So, we’re going to the city, renting a room at an inn, and heading out tomorrow morning.”

With that, we set off, heading uphill towards the city.