A Wood Elf in Windhelm, Stranger in a Strange Land? Options

[haute ecole rider]

Welp it has been a few years (yikes, almost EIGHT??) since I last posted anything in the Fan Fiction forum. I've taken up writing once again now that I have a couple of voices talking in my head once again. I hope y'all enjoy this one . . .

Sundas 17 Last Seed - Candlehearth Hall

“Child!� Lili turned her gaze toward the source of the voice. “Get that mangy mutt out of here! And go home to your parents!�

Here we go again. Lili lowered her hood to show her face, lean, sharp featured and highlighted by slanted eyes. She lowered her hand to touch the dog’s ears, just as pointed as her own. “Forgive me, ma’am,� she kept her voice soft, pitched to carry across the room to the Nord innkeeper behind her counter. “I’ve traveled from across the sea. This dog followed me from the docks. I seek food, a bath, and a bed for both of us. And I assure you Star has been cleansed of any fleas or lice or other vermin. But if you wish,� she half turned to the door behind her, “I’ll go seek lodging somewhere else.�

“Wait!� The woman stepped from behind the counter and approached Lili, gesturing her to step into the pool of light from a nearby sconce. “Forgive me, given your size I thought . . .�

“I take it you don’t see many Bosmer here in Windhelm,� Lili countered softly. “It’s an honest mistake, ma’am.� She looked down at Star’s bright blue eyes. “I can pay for both of us, but I also have a pair of fat salmon -� she held up two fish from beneath her cloak “- I fished up off the docks this afternoon. If you’ll let me use your kitchen for a little while, I can cook it up for us.�

“Salmon?� The woman exclaimed. “Nonsense! Nils!� She called over her shoulder down the hallway extending to the rear of the inn. “My name’s Elda Early-Dawn, I run this inn.� She glanced warily at the black and white dog. “We typically don’t serve dogs in here . . .�

“I’m Lilisfina. That’s why I offered to cook for the both of us,� Lili assured her. “I did clean him up before we came up from the docks.�

“Wait, isn’t he the stray dog the Argonians feed from time to time?� Elda put her hands on her hips. “He’s not filthy, is he?�

“Not anymore,� Lili smiled at him and ruffled his scruff. “I made sure of it.�

Elda narrowed her eyes at the slight Bosmer. “How?� She leaned down slightly and sniffed audibly. “He doesn’t smell fishy, or wet.�

Lili sent a faint wave of restoration magic down his body. Elda gasped and hastily stepped back. Her hand crept to her throat and grasped a small amulet.

“I’ve been traveling all over Tamriel as healer,� Lili explained softly. “And learning as much as I can from fellow healers and mages.�

“Magic?� Elda exclaimed. “Goodness! Not here, nothing dangerous like that! That’s all best kept up at the College of Winterhold.�

Lili pulled the coin purse from her belt. “May I pay for a room, a bath, and the use of your kitchen, ma’am?�

A scruffy man appeared at Elda’s shoulder. “You called, ma’am?�

“Give Nils the salmon,� Elda took a deep breath and met Lili’s gaze. “You can have your choice from our menu, if you want to give that dog something other than fish. We’ll put the salmon on our menu for tonight, or you can have it prepared your way for yourself.� Lili turned to the wizened older man and held the fish to him. “As for the room and the bath, it would be ten drakes for the room and three for the bath.� Her gaze flickered to the dog. “It’d be extra if you bathe the dog too.�

Nils hefted the fish thoughtfully, then grinned in satisfaction at their weight. Lili smiled back, then turned to Elda. “The dog won’t appreciate the bath, but if you have a nice mutton bone left over from that stew I smell cooking he wouldn’t mind that.�

“That’s nice salmon, mind,� Nils exclaimed softly as he met Lili’s gaze. “Salmon my way, salmon your way, or our mutton stew?�

“Let me try the stew,� Lili answered. “I’ve had nothing but smoked fish on the way here.� She counted out the drakes and handed them to Elda. “And here’s three for the bath, and twenty for two nights in the room. Would that be acceptable?�

“Of course,� Elda exclaimed, palming the coins into the purse at her waist. Here’s a woman who knows the value of a good coin. “Follow me, ma’am.� She turned and followed Nils into the back hallway. While he continued down to the rear of the structure, Elda stopped at the first door on the left. She drew a key from her pocket, unlocked it and swung it open. “Does this suit you and your dog?�

“He’s not really my dog,� Lili remarked as she stepped in. “But he decided to follow me.�

“Likely because you fed him,� Elda muttered as Star followed after Lili, his white tipped tail waving over his back as he explored the room with his nose. “Well, do you want your bath first, or eat first?�

“It’s cold outside,� Lili set her pack onto the bed, “and it will take time to get a hot bath ready. I think I’ll eat that stew first.�

“And what would you like to drink?�

“Mead?� Lili asked. “I’ve heard so much about it, and I’d like to try some.�

“Mead it is!� Elda nodded emphatically. “Mind you, be careful with it until you get used to it.�

“I’m Bosmer,� Lili smiled. “Grew up on jagga and rotmeth.� Elda pulled a face. She’s actually tasted jagga or rotmeth?

“Head upstairs, and I’ll have Susanna bring you your meal,� she nodded at Star, “and a bone for that dog. He’d better behave himself!�

“Thank you very much, ma’am,� Lili cast a lock spell on her bag, then followed the Nord innkeeper out. At the taller woman’s gesture, she headed up the wide stairs to the main hall above.

The large space, tucked beneath the high steep roof, took up the entire length of the inn. A large flagstone hearth, its chimney holding up the centerline of the roof, took up the center of the room. The part of the room adjacent to the open stairway held three tables, all three occupied. Chairs were placed along the walls and around the fireplace. On the other side, to the rear, a slender Dunmer plucked at a lute, a plaintive melody drifting from her long fingers.

“Hello!� Another Nord woman, this one a bit younger, her abundant curves highlighted by a rather lightweight outfit, approached Lili. “I’m Susanna the Wicked. Have you already ordered something to eat or drink, ma’am?�

“Elda will be sending something up shortly,� Lili replied. “I’m Lilisfina. You don’t seem very wicked to me, Susanna.�

“Are you new to Skyrim, ma’am?� Susanna tucked her tray beneath one arm. At Lili’s nod, she leaned down slightly to speak softly. “Here in Skyrim, nicknames are meant to be ironic. They call Elda Early-Dawn because, well, she sleeps late most days.� She nodded at a slouched Nord, his winter cap askew over his ears. “And Rolff Stone-Fist, because he has a glass hand. Jaw, too, to tell the truth.� She touched the side of her nose with her finger. “I didn’t tell you that.�

Lili smiled back at her and mirrored her gesture. “Tell me what?� She looked around the room again.

“You’ll have to share a table with one of those men,� Susanna straightened up. She eyed Lili thoughtfully.

“Which one do you suggest?� Lili asked. “I don’t want to inconvenience anyone.�

“Hmm, the black beard nearest us is Captain Lonely-Gale. He’s nice enough, but he’s being - aggressively - pursued by a certain spinster. That makes him cranky when she’s been on him, and she should be coming in here soon.� She shook her head warningly. “Not good company then.� Her gaze shifted to the front wall. “The older gentleman in the left corner behind the stairwell is Adonato Leotelli. He’s a writer, and when he’s writing . . .�

Lili took in the bent head, the quivering quill and the sheets of parchment scattered across the table. “Resents any distraction?�

“And did Elda say you could bring your dog here?� Susanna tipped her head at the Skyrim Husky, who regarded the room from his seated position at Lili’s side. “Because Leotelli will complain about misbehaving dogs, barking and panting and breaking up his concentration.�

“He’s not my dog,� Lili corrected. “But I understand what you mean. I definitely wouldn’t want to interrupt the creative process.�

Susanna snorted softly. “Now that big one with the shaved head and fierce face,� she indicated the man in the opposite corner, scratched iron glimmering in the candlelight with each slow breath, “Stenvar’s a sellsword. Strongest sword arm in the North, if you believe him.� She regarded him with a fond expression. “He’s rough, and looks like an absolute brute, but I assure you, he’s a good man to know. He won’t mind your - the dog, either. If he’s got a temper, I haven’t seen it yet.�

“How would he feel about sharing a table with an Elf?� Lili asked. Susanna glanced sharply at her. “Oh, I heard Rolff Stone-Fist and one other man giving a Dunmer lady a hard time before I came in. Sounded like there’s a fair bit of resentment about them here in Windhelm.�

Susanna laid a finger on her lips. “We can talk about that another time, Lilisfina.� She waved toward the mercenary’s table. “Go on, sit there. I’ll bring you your meal right away!�

Lili and Star wove their way between the chairs toward the indicated table. She noticed the round shield and war axe leaning against a chair at the side of the table, then the hilt of a zwei-hander over the sellsword’s shoulder. He raised his blue gaze from his mug as she stopped beside the chair opposite him.

“May I?� Lili rested her hand on the back of the chair in question.

“Of course,� Stenvar straightened his shoulders slightly and waved his free hand in open invitation. As she took her seat, he clenched his hand and tapped his iron cuirass in greeting. “I’m Stenvar.�

“Lilisfina,� she put her palms together in front of her own chest and nodded once. “My pleasure.�

“Are you certain?� Stenvar’s voice rumbled softly, his eyes glinting with good humor. “I’d argue the pleasure is mine. It’s not often I get a beautiful lass ask to sit at my table.�

Lili regarded him thoughtfully. “Somehow I get the feeling plenty of beautiful ladies do more than just sit with you, sir.� She kept her tone light and soft, and lifted her right brow in challenge.

Stenvar grinned, then shook his head with a chuckle. “Not as many as you’d think, ma’am.�

[haute ecole rider]

@Acadian: Yes, Lili and Sten will eventually progress to "I'll show you mine if you show me yours!" I remember your dissertation of Bosmer fertility and reproduction in previous Buffy books. However, I found in the Lore that Bosmer are the most prolific of the Elven races when it comes to offspring - it is not uncommon to have as many as 12 - 15 children! As I see it, life in the forest is hard, and the survival rate is relatively low, so few children actually survive to reproductive age. Between the senche, the carnivorous plants, and the (occasional) Wild Hunts, I suspect Valenwood can support only so many at a time. And yes, the trio is prepared for camping should they be caught out! Though actual camping won't happen for a while.

@SageRose: I spent a bit of time thinking how they would bond, and realized swapping childhood stories would be a good start for the two. It's a way to highlight how different their early experiences were, yet how similar. More bonding of a different nature coming up! Though not quite what you may think . . .

@Grits: It's interesting that you would point out that the toddler stage is prolonged in the Bosmer world, and that it would take more than just two 'rents to keep an eye on them. I've always pictured those smaller settlements we come across in ESO Valenwood as "family" units - they're all related to each other in one way or another, and all take part in child rearing duties. After all, it takes a village graht-oak . . .

@Renee: Yes, Lili has a feather spell! That, along with her little flame spell and healing touch, are part of her mage's repertoire. As she grows her skills, we'll see that spell list expand over time. As we've come to see, Lili hardly goes anywhere without that fur cloak . . .

And now we enter a cave - or is it a cave?

***********************************

Middas 20 Last Seed - Into the Forsaken

It was an interesting walk from Windhelm up to Forsaken Cave. Boss told a funny tale about pulling a big cat’s tail when she was a kid, and I told her about trying to ride Thistle. Lots of laughter - she has a sense of humor unlike most mages I’ve met. Almost like the Khajiit. We got to the cave without any problems, and even though the weather was threatening to storm, we had good luck with it and got inside before snow started flying.

Wolf howls and barks greeted them as soon as they entered the cave proper. The ice passage twisted to the right out of sight. So that’s where that wolf pack went. Sten shrugged his backpack to the ground beside the entrance and silently drew his zwei-hander. Lilisfina slid ahead of him toward the crook in the corridor, where a ramshackle cart rested. She knelt beside the cart and turned her face deeper into the cavern. Star stood stiffly at her side, silently bristling. Sten eased up to the corner, his eyes on the Wood Elf. She had that distant gaze he had noticed before on the reavers’ wreck. Her hands came up to lower her hood to her shoulders, and he caught the flash of fire in her left palm.

Those brilliant green eyes flickered up at him. She held up four fingers and pointed down the passageway. Four wolves. Sounds about right. He started to move around the corner, but Lilisfina flung her right hand out at him. Sten regarded her curiously, and she held up two fingers, then indicated a small size. Young. They have young. She motioned for him to wait with Star, and moved down the passageway out of his sight.

After a moment the barking and yipping stopped, and Star stepped forward warily. Sten peered around the corner to see her waving him up. Her left hand, empty of fire, motioned silence. Sten moved to join her, and peered into the cave.

Off to the right, gathered around a pile of fresh bones, two wolves, black against the ice, stood tensely watching the Wood Elf. Behind them two smaller forms - cubs, really - hunched against the far wall. Lilisfina waved Stenvar and Star to move behind her deeper into the cave at the left. The hairs on Sten’s nape rose when he realized Lilisfina had used the same calm spell on them as she had on the horkers. She won’t kill animals? Got to ask her about that - the Green Pact is all about eating meat! Later.

He moved westward through the cave, and spotted two immense carved stone columns familiar to him from Yngol’s Tomb. This is more than just a cave. Did she know that? As if his thoughts summoned her, she materialized at his side, already looking further into the depths of the cave. As they moved between the stone columns, Star nosed the large burial urns stacked around the chamber ahead.

They came to an iron door, cast in the ancient Nord style similar to those of the Halls of the Dead. Lilisfina paused before the door, her gaze traveling over the half hidden Nordic facade before them. Sten saw that look of discomfort on her features.

“Looks like a crypt,� he spoke softly. “It’s very old. They say ruins like these are filled with treasure. Of course, they’re filled with traps, too.�

That lopsided smile flickered across her face as she nodded silently. Sten watched a swallow move down her throat and her lips thin. She looked at him.

“Stennvar, let me go first, look for traps. If I find any enemies in there, I’ll let you know. You can fight them all, but
you must let me lead the way.�

“Like we did on The Winter War?� Sten asked. She nodded. “Duck behind me if you see anything.�

“Of course,� Lilisfina reached for the door and eased it open. Loud creaks and groans echoed around the cavern, and they heard yipping behind them, but the wolf family did not follow. Sten pushed the iron panel far enough to admit his bulk, and they slipped into the darkness.

After a moment’s pause, Lilisfina cast a ball of green light ahead of them. It floated a short way ahead, pushing the ancient darkness back. A few steps into the corridor brought them to a rickety wooden spiral stair that ran downwards. Lilisfina peered past the planks, then followed the mage light to the bottom of the stairs. She waited while Sten cautiously tested each creaky step behind her. When he reached her side, they glanced back up to see Star tentatively work his way down to join them. Just then, the mage light vanished. Sten bit down on a gasp and Star whined shortly, but Lilisfina refreshed it easily and sent it down the corridor that stretched away from the stairs. They followed the mage light through the twisting corridor. Lilisfina indicated a floor tile that was slightly more ornate than the rest. Trigger plate. Sten looked past her to see a carved statue at the end of the corridor, small holes barely visible in the crevices. Likely a dart trap. Poison, too. Might still be active after all these years. Even Star avoided it as they worked their way along the wall toward the bend in the hallway.

Lilisfina paused before they reached the bend. Again, Sten saw that distant look on her face, then she gagged and turned away. He watched in alarm as she retched into the nook between two carved stone wall ribs. “Are you all right?� he whispered, touching her shoulder briefly.

She fumbled out a small vial from her belt purse and gulped the contents down. After a moment, she took a deep breath and straightened up to face Sten. Her face didn’t look so discomfited. “There’s undead just up there,� she murmured softly. “Not moving, but I can still smell them, feel them.�

“Show me,� Sten moved back to the bend in the corridor. Lilisfina held up one finger, then pointed to the right. Then she gestured a greater distance away, and pointed to the left.

“I’m going to sneak as close as I can get,� Lilisfina whispered into Sten’s ear as he crouched down. “Let me hit them with my flare first, that will weaken them for you.�

At his nod she refreshed the mage light and sent it around the corner. She slid after it, still moving silently. After a few steps, they heard the sound of a stone slab clattering to the floor, then steps approaching them. Lilisfina slid to the wall opposite Sten and Star as the skeletal form of a draugr appeared beneath the green glow of the mage light. She was nearly within touching distance when she sent a flash of fire into the shambling undead.

Before it could turn toward her, she had skipped back behind Sten, who was already rising to strike an overhead blow with his zwei-hander. As his blade sank into the draugr’s left shoulder, Star dashed forward and seized the undead’s right leg in his jaws. His forward momentum spun the draugr off balance, and Sten made quick work of the burning corpse. Star returned to Lilisfina as the flames flickered out, leaving a charred form on the floor. Sten nudged it with his foot, his blade ready for any last movement. That worked well. Setting it on fire makes it easier for me to see it in the dark. But both Star and I have to be careful not to catch fire ourselves!

Off in the distance they heard another stone slab crash into the floor, followed a few breaths later by more footsteps. The mage light moved forward as Lilisfina passed him into a large open space. Its dim green light showed signs of collapsed stone berths and cracked sarcophagi around the area before it went out again. Sten froze in the darkness, listening as the steps drew closer. He held his breath, and heard nothing from his companions.

Again fire outlined the shape of another draugr, and again he was able to use its light to attack and destroy the undead being before it could find something to hit. Again, Star leaped in and assisted in his own unique way.

As the flames died down, Lilisfina sent up another mage light, and turned toward Sten and Star. “Are you all right?� she whispered, touching Star’s ears as he sat beside her.

“Yes, I’m good,� Sten responded. “You?�

“I’m as well as can be expected,� Lilisfina’s voice caught briefly. “I just hope this potion holds up long enough - my gut and experience is telling me this is only going to get worse the further we go.�

“Hmm, you’re probably right,� Sten responded. “This place hasn’t seen any activity in years, if not centuries.�

“Nurelion did say this Curalmil is a crafty one, even in death,� Lilisfina responded. “That makes me think we’ll need to get past him to find the White Phial.�

“And he won’t be alone, either,� Sten could hear the grimness in his voice. “Well, taken alone, these draugr aren’t so fearsome. They are far more dangerous in numbers.�

“Then we’ll have to try and take them on separately,� Lilisfina declared softly.