Serene of Cyrodiil, chapter 5, Home is where your Heart is... Options

[minque]

Family isn't about whose blood you have. It's about who you care about

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, South Park, Cat Orgy, 1999


Chapter 5, Home is where your heart is

Before I continue with the story of the upcoming events in Ald´Ruhn, I think I want to say a few words about Intervention-scrolls, and spells for that matter!

It seems so utterly easy and convenient; you speak an incantation, either written on a piece of parchment, or you know it by heart, then all of a sudden you are somewhere else, just like that...

Of course it’s not that easy, all who have used this kind of transportation know what I´m talking about. You actually decompose yourself, your physical body, into its building-stones, and then you put them all together somewhere else, all magically of course. Now that has to affect you somehow and it surely affected me, when I suddenly found myself in the courtyard of the Ald´Ruhn Temple that rainy morning.....

The actual travel, or intervention, feels like you’re totally weightless, flowing in the void, whirling like an autumn-leaf. You have no idea what’s up and down, your intestines are all spinning around, or at least it feels like they are. Darkness and pain engulf you, the very air around you is filled with the most terrible screams from poor souls that never reached their destination.... and you are certain you will never get out of it alive. But of course you do, that is if you don’t happen to meet anything hostile where you end up.

The Almsivi-Intervention brings you directly to the nearest Tribunal Temple, so as I mentioned, I ended up outside the Ald´Ruhn Temple. I was shaken and nauseous, and it took a while before I could compose myself enough to gather my scattered belongings, check that all was there and head off to a well-known place, at least for me; the Mage’s Guild!

Ironically, I always seemed to be in a mess when visiting this Guild house, so it was no wonder Edwinna Elbert laughed when she greeted me.

“Serene! How wonderful to see you again.....but you look like you need to use our washing-facilities- as usual- I’d say!”

After a hot and invigorating bath I sat down in Edwinna´s office, wrapped in a worn but warm robe, telling her of my adventures with the Ashlanders.

“You need to go and see Neminda,” Edwinna advised me when I told her about my last encounter with Azura. “You belong to House Redoran, and they will most certainly take care of you, my child.”

So later that afternoon I went to Under Skar, to the Redoran Council-hall, once again dressed up by the generous Mages of Ald´Ruhn, to meet with Neminda.

She was pleased to see me but commented on how thin and wiry I’d become since the last time we met; it was no wonder though after living almost a year among the Ashlanders. When I told her about my time in the Ahemmusa Camp she listened carefully without a word until I came to the part about the Outlander who was asking to be named the Nerevarine, then she interrupted my telling;

“Ah, I know that man, he’s adopted into House Redoran, and he has a very good reputation within the Great House. He is a Breton as far as I know, from High Rock....He doesn’t speak so much about himself…” Neminda smiled, “But forgive my interruption, Serene, continue please.”

After I finished my story and also told her about Azura´s prophecy about “claiming my family,” Neminda sat silent for a while, in deep thoughts. Finally, she spoke:

“ Serene, I think I know the meaning of the words of The Divine. Leave now, and go to the Temple and talk to Lloros Sarano. He is a wise man and I think you may find it useful to talk to him.”

The Temple of Ald´Ruhn was rather small, just a few rooms on the ground-level, and then a bigger area downstairs. A rather friendly-looking Dunmer approached me upon my entering the premises and introduced himself as Lloros Sarano. It turned out he was a temple-servant, specialised in mental illnesses and healing, which made him utterly interesting to talk to. There were not many healers around Ald´Ruhn at the moment so he was happy to meet me so he could discuss his latest experiences in the noble art of healing. Or at least that was how I explained his questions regarding my own experiences with healing and restorative magic.

I spent the night in the Mage’s Guild, and the next morning I paid another visit to Neminda.

“Serene, it so happens that Serjo Athyn Sarethi, one of our councillors, may be able to help you out....he is a friend of my father and has had a lot of sad things happening to him and his family lately.” Neminda sighed and continued: “First his son was kidnapped, then he was the victim of an assassination-attempt, then he is almost certain his wife is betraying him, and above all his son was charged with murder.”

I gasped, thinking that there was no end to this poor man’s misfortunes, but also wondering where I fit into this? I couldn´t see the connections....not at all.

“Athyn is most of all concerned about his son, Varvur. He is back home, and his name is cleared, but he is in a very bad shape, he has lost his will to keep on living, he’s just lying on his bed, staring into the air, not talking to anyone, not eating....he seems to be determined to die. Athyn is at his wit’s end, he doesn’t know what to do, now when Trey’s gone and all.” Neminda sighed once more and blew her nose.

“Trey?” I asked, “Is he that outlander I met?”

He was, and since he also was the saviour of both Athyn´s and Varvur´s lives and honour, according to Neminda, I could very well understand the loss the old councillor felt.

“Words spread fast in these surroundings,” Neminda smiled, “Serjo Sarethi knows about you, Serene, and he knows you’re back!....So go to Sarethi Manor and talk to him..”

Sarethi Manor didn’t look very fancy from outside, just another door in the wall, but inside was a completely different thing. A spacious hallway, with ornaments on the walls and a thick red carpet on the floor, sloped slowly downwards, leading to a huge room, with austere furnishings....

The man that approached me was at least double my age, tall, with black, grey-streaked hair, dark-red very sad eyes and a face that showed he had had his share of life and it had not been all pleasant. Yet it was a fascinating face, pointed cheekbones, straight nose and a strangely sensitive mouth. I couldn´t take my eyes off him.....

“Serene was it, right?” His dark voice had this magnetism that affected me more deeply than I then realized!

“Y-yes” I stuttered, “Neminda sent me, she thought maybe you could have some use for me.”

Athyn Sarethi smiled, led me to a chair and bade me sit down. The fate of young Varvur Sarethi was sad. The young man had been kidnapped by the Archmaster of House Redoran, Bolvyn Venim, accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Although it was actually more complicated- he probably HAD fought with the other young man, but had been under the influence of malign magic at the time. It was a well-understood point of Dunmeri (as well as Imperial) law that a person was not responsible for their actions if they where bespelled. He had been rescued from Venim Manor by the outlander known as Trey of High Rock; as Athyn mentioned the young Breton, his face brightened, almost glowing. I understood this man was very dear to him. Still, Varvur was accused of the murder of his best friend, Bralen Carvaren, so not only did he loose his friend, he was suspected to have taken his life! The whole thing sounded absurd to me but I kept my mouth shut.

Trey again acted and cleared Varvur from the accusations, but Varvur was mentally in a very bad shape ever after. As he spoke of his son’s worsening condition, the animation left Athyn’s face and he clasped his hands before him so tightly that I could see the knuckles whiten. He gave me a long, searching look before he spoke-

“Serene, it is my understanding that you are a healer of great skill- perhaps even greater than you know yourself. I have spoken with Lloros Sarano- I asked him to determine whether the stories of your skill are accurate…forgive me if that seems intrusive, but I had a pressing need….”

He then made his request- my task was to cure Varvur...one way or another, and the worst thing was....I had not the faintest idea how to do it!

[minque]

So, wishing you all a joyful Christmas, I hereby submit the ending of chapter 5!

............................................................................................................................................................
I had to stop writing for a moment; the unborn child in my womb was tossing and turning and I walked about the room to ease the discomfort.

How do you describe a funeral? And to a child….not wanting to upset it, but yet still depict the odd feelings I had regarding the funeral of Domesea, the legal wife of the man I was deeply in love with. I had no idea how to continue the story. Nevertheless I made myself remember the event and how I felt about it because I regarded it as essential for her to fully understand why things turned out as they did. And then I suddenly knew how to go on…

I put my hands on my belly and stroked it gently;

“Hey little one, you’re with me, and soon you’ll meet your father and the rest of your family, and everything will be alright.”


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

I was halfway out the door of Sarethi Manor when Salyn called for me, wanting me to come at once. I didn’t understand why until I saw Athyn lying on his bed, apparently not feeling well. He was pale and his face covered with cold sweat, and he was panting heavily.

I sat down beside him, and the healer in me took over, for which I indeed was grateful, and put my hand on his forehead. He’d had a shock; apparently seeing his younger son again, combined with the stress of Domesea´s death had been enough to cause this near-collapse.

“What’s the matter with Father?” Salyn asked, sounding really worried, “He just went pale and fell back on the bed.”

“Shock,” I said “It’s just been too much for him lately, but be calm. I’ll help him.”

I looked at the man I loved, seeing grief, fear and…something else… in his eyes, so I gently stroked his chin, and focussed…

After a few minutes the color slowly returned to his face and he fell into a normal invigorating sleep. That was good, just what he needed. I put a woven blanket over him and went into the living room together with Salyn.

“He’ll sleep it through,” I said, “We need to make arrangements for your mother’s funeral now; her body is in the Temple, being properly prepared, so….”

“The tradition says she should be buried in Sarethi Ancestral Tomb,” Salyn sighed, “I don’t really like my mother being put there- it’s haunted!”

I understood him, ancestral Tombs are spooky, somehow the inhabitants don’t sleep in peace, they kind of float around in there….I also didn’t really like the idea, but who was I to go against Redoran traditions and rules? Then too, I hoped that the spirits would recognize that we were not intruders, but family…. That thought sent a sharp pang through me- after all, Athyn and his sons were family, but what about me? Was I not an intruder- in more ways than one?
That evening there were quite a lot of people gathered in Sarethi Manor. Athyn felt a lot better after a couple of hour’s sleep, and Salyn managed to get the other Councillors to come over as well. We decided not to tell about Domesea´s last words, and so preserve her honor…

Brara Morvayn was really an asset in this, having recently buried her husband. Her suggestions about the ceremony and above all the feast afterwards were invaluable.

“I’ve got some bottles of the finest Cyrodiilic Brandy left…”she said, “I’ll be glad to share them.”

“Amazing that is, considering your habits,” Miner Arobar smirked, but Brara just gave him a hearty smile back. That woman was one of a kind, but as I later understood she regarded herself as above the smug remarks from any of the other councillors.

The Tomb was situated on the island of Dagon Fel, far north-east of Vvardenfell. I roughly knew the place; it wasn’t that far from the Ahemmusa Camp where I’d spent over a year before coming to Ald´Ruhn. The easiest way to get there was to take the Siltstrider to Khuul, then go by ship to Dagon Fel. From there you had to walk…The Siltstrider driver, Navam Veran, was indeed honoured to transport a funeral procession, something he never had done before. For the occasion he decorated the Strider with dark purple fabric on the sides., It looked amazing and I was really touched.

A big procession followed Domesea Sarethi on her last journey, including Athyn, Salyn, Varvur and myself plus all the Councillors, their wives and children, and even the Archmaster…I found it outrageous that he had the nerve but then realised it would have seemed odd if he hadn’t, due to Redoran honor.

Six Redoran nobles carried the coffin, Salyn, Varvur, Hlaren Ramoran, Miner Arobar, Garisa Llethri…and Sethyas Velas. I hadn’t meet him at the time he escorted Varvur to Fort Buckmoth and I didn’t actually meet him now either, but I could see Athyn was pleased to have him around, and that was all that mattered to me.

I sat beside Athyn in the Strider. We didn’t talk, there was simply nothing to say; I just took his hand now and then and he rewarded me with a smile or a quick glance.

The boat to take us to the island of Dagon Fel was specially ordered just for us. It, too, was decorated with dark purple fabric, which made it rather spectacular, but not as spectacular as the arrival of Lloros Sarano, the official from Ald´Ruhn Temple, who would lead the ceremony at the Tomb…

We were standing outside the door when a sharp light suddenly was visible and out of it he just materialized. I didn’t ask which kind of intervention-spell he used, but I suspected it was custom-made.

The ceremony itself was breath-taking, speeches by every one of the Councillors, telling about Domesea´s virtues, blessings from Lloros Sarano…and a touching, sad speech from Athyn. He stayed calm and composed; not a tear fell from his eyes, which was more than could be said about me. Through a flood of tears I saw Bolvyn Venim smirk at Athyn, and it filled me with a burning rage. I’d had about enough of his evil schemes; he’d done nothing but hurt the Sarethi family and now he had the guts to look at Athyn as if it was his fault that Domesea died.

When he turned his hooded glance to me, I could see the hatred in his eyes, and I then knew I’d made a very powerful enemy, who I, by no means, was prepared to stand up to…yet.
It was then I decided it was time for me to leave the Sarethi family, hopefully not for ever but at least for the time being.

After the ceremony, when the coffin was to be put inside the tomb, I made my move. I slipped out quietly as I could and ran down the path leading to the narrow bay that separated the peninsula on which the Tomb was situated from the main island. I ran into the water and swam across the bay, not considering the possibility of any kind of water-living beasts...

Two hours later I knocked on Anja Swift-Sailer´s door in the village of Dagon Fel, wet through, and desperately sobbing-

“Please, Anja, will you take me to the Ahemmusa Camp?”


Here ends chapter 5