A Brighter Future?, The story of Tara Willow. Options

[Tábrasa]

Hello! I'll start by introducing myself.

My name is Tábrasa and I'm new to the forums. I've been silently looking at some of the stories on the forums and have felt truly inspired.
Therefore I have decided to start the story of my Breton Wiccan, Tara Willow, who I've been travelling with for the past year. Below is an introduction to Tara, which will soon be followed by the Prologue...

INTRODUCTION TO TARA WILLOW

Tara Willow is a 20 year old female Breton born on the 14th of Rain's Hand, 3E 413.

She is primarily a Conjurer but also dabbles in Destruction and Illusion. She is also handy with a blade in certain situations.

Her father died when she was a teenager and her mother resides somewhere in Cyrodiil, under a new name following events in High Rock that led her to abandon Tara as an infant.

Tara's father was a man obsessed with the art of Mysticism; but in the wrong kind of way. He wanted to experiment the thought of finding a way to turn the human body itself into a soul gem; an experment not only ridiculed, but dangerous.

One day, however, he managed to succeed in his experiment; using a teenage Tara as his unwilling test subject. He managed to trap a spirit withing Tara's body, leaving her in an unusual state.

Tara now has to permanantly live with an extra spirit inside her, who she named Willow, after her surname.
Willow is able to communicate with Tara and take control of her body for brief periods; but only when Tara desperatly need's her assistance. However, Willow's possesions are almost NEVER a good thing.

Currently Tara is on a mission to find her mother, mainly for her own piece of mind. All she knows is that she is in Cyrodiil, but nothing else. The only thing she has to offer any aid in her quest is the memory of her mothers face...

This post has been edited by Tábrasa: Dec 12 2011, 01:17 AM

[Tábrasa]

Acadian: I'm so glad that you waited so patiently for an update! I too agree with the hope that Tara's encounter being able to help find her mother, but didn't mother always tell you not to talk to strangers? haha

McBadgere: I'm glad you enjoyed the description of Cyrodiil! I'm sure anyone would be dissapointed to learn that what they've researched wasn't exactly meant to be

mALX: Awwww thank you mALX!

SubRosa: Haha thank you! I was surprised to learn that Cyrodiil was meant to be a jungle! I'm sure tara was equally as surprised to learn it wasn't

Grits: Hehe thanks! I had to give SOME mention to those ninja birdies

King Coin: Your theories on Willow intreague me! I'm so happy my story can provoke so much thought!

Author Note: I am still catching up with everyones stories. my lack of internet for a month left me dangerously behind! haha.

***

2.2 ~ Lessons

It took Tara and the stranger almost half a day to travel to his shop. Conversation was kept to a minimal, with the stranger making idle chatter involving mud crabs. He did, however, reveal his name as Argenor, which she was grateful for as calling him ‘Stranger’ was verging to the point of rude.

Tara stood outside the shop whilst Argenor fumbled for his keys. The shop was located by a large river, and it was out in the open. Not as isolated as I thought...

She stood awkwardly, looking around at her surrounding. The shop, which the sign insisted was called ‘All things Alchemical’ was large, easily three floors tall. It was surrounded by unique trees that she hadn’t seen before, which made her smile and Cyrodiil was surprising her more every second. It was quiet, beautifully quiet... but also slightly eerily.

Eventually Argenor managed to find his keys and he went to unlock the door, looking around as he did so, which Tara found odd. Once the door was open he beckoned Tara inside, but she was hesitant.

“Are you coming in?” Argenor smiled. Tara remained hesitant, but the grin on Argenor’s face slowly eased her nerves. She took small steps until she was stood by the door. She looked behind her at the road leading to the shop, her reasons why uncertain to her.

Tara walked into the shop, followed by Argenor who closed the door behind her. That’s strange. Why is he using his key to close the door? Maybe the door is broken.

Once Argenor had closed the door he walked over to Tara, leading her to a seat. The shop was rather bland, empty even. Apart from a table and chairs and a few books scattered around, the place looked abandoned.

Tara assumed that this was part of what made the place so secluded, after all you didn’t need much equipment to tell someone their fortune. But there would be something like a crystal ball at least.

Tara stopped thinking so hard and sat down as Argenor headed upstairs, calling down whether she would like a glass of water or not. Tara accepted and not before long Argenor came back down the stairs with a glass of water. He handed it to her and smiled before he sat down.

Tara waited for him to do or say something, but no, he just looked at her. She saw his eyes slowly examine her face before he began to chuckle.

“Oh I’m sorry! You must think I’m so rude!”

Tara smiled nervously and shook her head, “N-no, not at all.” She took a sip of her water, eagerly observed by Argenor.

“It’s just you look so much like you’re mother, it’s astonishing!”

“You’ve met my mother?” Tara smiles.

“No, dear, but i have seen her face in my visions. A beautiful woman; much like yourself, in fact.”

Tara laughed awkwardly, taking another sip of the water, which tasted odd. Must be water from the river.

“So... are you going to tell me more about my mother?” Tara eventually asked after a short silence.
“Indeed.” Argenor replied as he continued to scan Tara with his beady eyes.

She couldn’t help but feel that something was up. He was creeping her out on an epic scale. He defiantly had something other than fortune telling on his mind, but she couldn’t figure out what. All she knew was that even though she’d only been there for five minutes, she needed to get out. She gulped down the rest of her water and stood up.

“I’m sorry, sir, but i really have to go. I can’t be here to long.”

Argenor ignored her, continued to leer over her. She took this as her que to leave. She headed to the door, only to discover to her horror that it was locked. She turned to Argenor; subtle panic in her voice.

“Can you unlock the door please?” She asked. Argenor continued to ignore her. She could feel anger and panic welling up inside her.

She also felt something else. Something unusual. Her legs began to fall weak, her head faint. Her whole body began to turn cold. She stumbled to the door again, desperate to escape. Suddly her legs gave and she lost control of them, collapsing to the floor, still with a firm grip on the door knob. She began to let out a tired scream as her eyesight began to go. Her surroundings began to turn black and her grip started to loosen at an alarming rate. Before she knew it she had blacked out.

***

Tara woke, still groggy and unable to mover her arms or legs, but this time due to the fact that they were bound to a chair. Her mouth was gagged with a cloth. She was unable to speak. She was unable to do anything.

She could see Argenor sat opposite her, doing something to himself with his hands that she could barely make out. She didn’t want to think about it. All she wanted was freedom.

“Oh, you’re awake!” Argenor said as he slowly rose from his seat. “That’s good; I would have felt uncomfortable if you were asleep during our time together.”

He began to walk over to Tara. Someone who was once a kind old man had now become a threat. She struggled for freedom with muffled screams and she tried to set herself free, but it was a failed effort.

Argenor finally reached her and began to stroke her face with his wrinkled hand. She screamed again, tears of fright welling up behind her eyes.

“You’re so beautiful...” He informed her. He put his face close to hers and kissed her left cheek. His hands began to touch her inappropriately. They started on her shoulders, slowly removing part of her shirt to reveal bare skin. He then moved his lips from her cheek to her neck; and act which caused her to scream and revolt with more passion.

She looked to her right to avoid seeing what the old man was doing to her, when to her surprise she saw something. Something which made her smile inside.

Willow.

There was a mirror to the right of her, Willow in her misty goodness staring at her.

“Tara, relax. You have to relax.” Willow ordered.

Tara shook her head, confused and still frightened. Willow repeated herself again, but this time had aggression in her voice.

“Listen to me you NEED to RELAX! Trust me Tara, okay?”

Tara didn’t understand but decided to take Willows advice. She closed her eyes and thought of calm things, all the while still aware of what Argenor was doing to her.

She continued to think of happy things, Farron. Aleksander. Karliah. Kittens. Flowers, Clothes. Mildred’s mystery stew. Farron. Aleksander. Karliah. Kittens. Flowers, Clothes. Mildred’s mystery stew. Farron. Aleksander. Karliah. Kittens. Flowers, Clothes. Mildred’s mystery stew.

She opened her eyes. She was outside. Her hands and feet were unbound. She smiled with elation as she rose to her feet. She checked her body for damage, which there was none of. She bagan to laugh in relief, but then collapsed to the floor again in shock. She didn’t understand what had happed, but she was glad that Willow had done something. Whatever it was- wait, what’s that smell?

Tara turned her head and looked behind her, staring in shock at what the source of the smell was. Argenor’s shop up in flames. The roaring fire that was at least 100 feet high was releasing a cloud of deathly looking black smoke.

She stood and backed away from the fire, still in utter shock about what had happened. First she was tied up and gagged, about to get attacked by Argenor, and the next she was free and outside the burning Alchemy shop.

What is happening?

“WHAT’S GOING ON!” She screamed as she watched the shop burn.

This post has been edited by Tábrasa: Apr 4 2012, 12:50 AM