Elessar's Story, My first fiction Options

[Elidor]

OKay this is my first attempt at a fan fiction so be gentle

Prologue

I was not in a good mood. My luck really wasnt that bad, usually in a night I could at least pull off one successful excursion into a local shop for a meal. But tonight it was most unfortunate the owner of the nearest tavern had decided now was the day to install a set of bars to his window.

"Hmm must have caught on to the fact he was constantly robbed blind by yours truly through that opening every other week" I mused to myself, strolling through the damp, well-trodden cobblestone streets.

I recounted in my head the, now I thought about it, quite strange fact my favorite target,the local tavern, slowly receeding into the darkness of the failing moons, had finally had the the crumbling lower corner of its storeroom outback fixed too.

Ohwell another cold, hungry night I thought, sidling through the crack of a rundown shack I had claimed as my own. The now lit, small guttering light of the only candle in my room gently revealed an old inch thick matress on the floor beside a pile of crumbled clothing. There wasnt much room beacuase of the half caved-in wall but it was something of a sanctuary for me, safe from prying eyes and other hopeful thieves.

Lying back on my matress I slowly allowed sleep to come, uttering a small prayer to any god that helped poor thieves, blowing out the candle and closing my eyes.

~~~

Sunlight beamed in through the opening of my little haunt and brought me slowly to my senses.
Yawning lightly and getting up, I pulled on my cleanest set of clothes (pilfered from a commoners house, stupidly unlocked and unfortunately devoid of anything more useful) and hid my knife in the sole of my shoe.

As I emerged into the street, passed by folks of the less pleasant sort, I stopped to decide on what to do. Hunger was again gnawing at me and food seemed a great idea.

So decided, I padded off after the tavern, folks at the Green Tunic were hardly as watchful as they should have been and many the unguarded purse was easily accessible; upon slipping into the dank old building I carefully looked around, drunks and haughty nobles were easy, especially the latter as they considered themselves above the menial complication of being robbed and rarely expected it for some reason.

Peering through the gloom with the ease an altmers eyes provided, I spotted the ideal prey: an unshaven, glum looking merchant sitting next to a large tankard of sujamma.

Now, his drink was something of a kicker and by the looks of him he was rather entoxicated. I made my move.
Sneaking over and sitting beside him quitely, I casually eyed his plump black moneybag with something of astonishment, this man had quite a purse half hidden at the edge of his waist. Sidling closer still the drunken git barely noticed anyhing letalone my careful advance.
Reaching down as I stared ahead, I casually removed my boot-knife and easily cut the purse open at the seams filling my own leather satchel as the unlucky fellow downed a mouthful more of sujamma.

Getting up and moving too soon was my terrible mistake, the fellow noticed this movement and turned around, squinting suspiciously
"wsho rre yooh?" he said, slurring his words horribly,
"Why I am merely a fellow come for a drink." I replied cautiosly. He looked at my satchel of money and began something which I drowned out, thinking quickly,
"Might I night drunk, black as blue and filled with guars?"

He stopped, and tried to comprehend my words as I took off barely containing my mirth to the door of the tavern warranting some suspicious stares from other patrons, eyes on my back as I raced away.

Back in the street I sped around a few buildings and along a lane. I then found the place I was looking for, a ladder leading up to the top of an old closed apocathary, in amongst the damp squalid slums of the city.

Once safely hidden behind the chimney on the roof I caught my breath and let out the contents of my now bulging purse.
"Three hundered septims!" I burst out, unable to stop myself as the fat gold coins tumbled into my lap, laying there glittering serenely.

Oh now this was more like my customary luck! I almost cried with joy, there was enough for a hot meal, new clothes, even a few books to keep me interested during every other night plus spare!

Then came the clattering of the ladder I just climbed and the angry grunting noises as someone ran to the climb the ladder I had raced up previously. I decided now was not a good time to celebrate and jumped up, leaping and racing over the rooftops.

Glancing back I saw something truly frightening. A fast Khajitti bounding after me, dagger drawn and staring hungrily at my purse which was jumping around at my thighs and jangling loudly.

Apparently someone had heard my foolish exclamation.

~~~

Thats it for now, please comment as id love to know what you think of the start of my story.

cheers, elidor.

This post has been edited by Elidor: Feb 7 2006, 12:12 PM

[Elidor]

This one will be relatively short as its the end of the prologue, please comment on what you percieved from my intro to the story.

~~~

"Wake up already!"
I groaned, sitting up groggily
"You were dreaming, come on, up!"

Imediately my eyes flew around the room, rapidly taking in the scene and the scarred Dunmer. Walls curved away from me and all around were baskets and crates stacked up high, a lantern sat on top of a precariously lilting pile. It shed light around the ark interior lighting up a kindly but frightening face.

"Im Juib" The Dunmer offered as he helped me up. "Who are you?"
"E-Elessar" I managed as my surroundings groaned and swayed.

Must be the drugs I thought, thinking back to the freaky black-robed men abducting me from the jail.
"Well near as I can tell we're heading for Morrowind" He said sitting back on a lumpy sack.
"Heading? M-Morrowind? Wait, what???" I stuttered, glaring suspiciously at the possible prankster.
"Yes, the ship will dock very soon, in M o r r o w i n d" He replied, saying the last word slowly as if he were talking to a five-yearold. Suddenly the swaying world made sense.

"Wheres my money?" I thought painfully reminded of the happy day spent in the near past.
"You have nothing but the clothes on your back my friend" Said Juib noncomitally. Rage-inducing irony was made very apparent to my seesawing mood, just like my seesawing luck I thought.

"Quiet, here comes the guard"
Heavy boots came pounding up to the cabin and the now apparent Imperial pointed at me and said gruffly,
"Hurry up your stop is here."
I shrugged, anywhere was almost better than the unforgiving streets of Cyrodiil, and followed him up the unfamiliar galleon and uptop to find a friendly brown face smiling at me from underneath wild dreadlocks, quite out of place in his neat and tidy Imperial uniform of studded leather.

"Head on down to the deck and a guard will take you to the excise office." Came his rumbling voice.

Nodding to him and hitching on a smile to ease my dirty looking appearance, I strolled down to the next fellow who promptly adressed me.
"Ah this will be over soon" he said seeing my slightly wary smile, "Now where do you hail from?"
"Er, Summerset Isles actually thats the one one the far top-"
"Just need to know the province thanks, please follow me up to the office and the good man will give you you'r release papers."

Ah finally some good news, release papers were just what the doctor ordered I thought happily.
Upon entering the large but cozy building of stone and thatch I was immediately confronted by a blithe and slightly irate old Imperial with a quill jumping over papers clutched by his thick veined hands.

"Name and proffession?" He snapped without looking.
"Elessar Somerandiil" I replied quickly and gave a moments hesitation. Class?

What do I want to be thought of in this entirely new place? Perhaps it wasnt important at all, why what if...
"Cat-burglar" I said confidently and giving him a cheeky grin.
The Imperials eyebrows soared like hairy white caterpillars and he gave me a thoroughly intense glare. A moment passed and he still stared, I did not break my gaze, so quite suddenly and very uncharactaristically, the old man gave a thin chuckle and scribbled down the class.
"Whatever you want stranger."
Glad to see I had some charm at hand I watched him continue scribbling.
" I am informed you were born under a specific sign?" Came the voice now buried in the task of re-reading the previously written lines.
"Why yes, the Shadow actually." It impressed me greatly of the old mans knowledge, he must know someone very well connected because I couldnt recall telling many people of that particular detail.
"Very well, continue through to Sellus Gravius to have your papers signed and receve your release fee."
Release fee? Excellent I thought, sounds just fine to me.

Collecting my scroll I set a jaunty stroll into the next room to find a pleasant surprise. Expensive silverware and food sat on the table alongside a rusty dagger that looked newly sharpend.

Stuffing it all into a sack from the cellar beneath, I took it out into the small courtyard beyond the oaken doors.
Slipping it over the fence proved not to be difficult and if anyone thought a bag of home decor jumping over the Excise courtyard wall odd, there was no sign of it.

Searching the barrel next to the door yeilded even more goods to my delight! A plain almost clumsily made ring that glowed with inner illumination came up with a grey gem I had no idea the origins of.

Slipping both into my pockets and imagining what more good luck could come of this sudden and come to think about it incredibly strange turn of events, maybe a good idea would be to ask about it from this Sellum Gaves person, Gellus Sarvius or something or other.

The knight within proved very pompous and my meeting with him was short. But even more happily noted as upon leaving the front door with a bag of ninety golden coins and some reletively useless order with accompanying package ringing in my ears.

My forune really was looking up!

End of Prologue