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Anonymous
Chapter 2:
Reunion at Firsthold
. . . . Edward woke to a red sky. The sun was just peeking over the western mountains. They were
nearing a glittering tower, fire flashing from every facet. The dragon veered to fly nearer
and shot a long blast of flame. A light flashed several times from the tower's top as they
dropped suddenly. Edward's stomach felt very peculiar. He sighed and stirred and felt Moraelyn
shift so that his right arm now held Edward. He stretched and yawned.
. . . . "Not much longer now. It's several days by horse from the Crystal Tower to Firsthold but I
judge that Akatosh will have us there within the hour."
. . . . "We're not stopping at the Tower? I'ric---"
. . . . "Do not use that name so lightly, not even to me. The ArchMagister will not return for days
yet. Unicorns are brothers to the wind and travel as fast, even burdened, but not as fast as
dragons fly. You see the Elven homeland at dawn from the back of a dragon. Count yourself
fortunate among men."
. . . . Edward's gaze roamed the deep green woods and rugged hills. There was no sign of habitation.
"It's lovely," he said politely, "but not so beautiful as High Rock," he added out of loyalty
and truth. "Are there no towns or villages or farms?"
. . . . "The Firstborn live nestled deep in the trees. And they do not tear up the earth and plant
anew, but take gladly what Auriel offers ... and make return. Ahhh, the green smell of
growing things."
. . . . Indeed, the air was as heady as the wine Edward used to sip from his father's cup, before
... "I'm hungry."
. . . . "I expect so." A bit of shifting and Moraelyn's left hand produced a small leaf-wrapped
package. The dusky hand was large and strong and looked neither human nor animal. Edward
stared at it with revulsion, then took the package gingerly so as not to touch the hand.
He felt Moraelyn stiffen and the hand that held Edward relaxed its grasp a bit. Edward felt
ashamed of his reaction. It was neither kind nor wise to give offense in the circumstances.
Moraelyn could quite easily drop him overboard. "I need to bathe, but so do you," he said
stiffly. Moraelyn was deliberately misinterpreting the reaction, Edward knew. "Yes, I'm
very dirty," Edward bit into the cake which proved much better than it looked. "My lady
mother's used to seeing me like this--at least she used to be. But perhaps I should bathe
first?"
. . . . "I think you will not be offered that choice. Ah, at last!" The dragon spread his wings, sent
a huge gout of flame soaring skyward and dropped to earth in a large clearing. The landing
was abrupt and jarring. Elves appeared quite suddenly and arms reached up to take him and
Shag, who woke at last, ran frantically in circles, and then sat panting at Edward's feet.
. . . . A tall elf with fiery hair like copper greeted them formally. "Greetings, my lord King.
Your lady wife awaits you. Prince Edward, I welcome you to the land of the Firstborn on
behalf of all its people. May your stay here prove pleasant and productive."
. . . . Moraelyn nodded deferentially. "Thank you, my host. My Queen has waited long enough; we
will go to her now." Moraelyn's hand on his shoulder steered Edward toward the largest tree
he'd ever seen. The trunk was hollow; steps inside led up; openings gave out onto more steps
and bridges along and among the mighty branches. They proceeded along these until they reached
a large canopied platform, furnished with seats and chests as if it were a room. A golden
skinned woman smiled at them and waved them in, then left. A tall slender, pale-skinned,
dark-haired human woman paced toward them, her eyes on Edward. Only Edward.
. . . . "Why did you leave us!" The cry came from deep inside, ringing through him. It stopped her
several paces from him. Now her eyes lifted to Moraelyn, who said in a harsher tone than
Edward had yet heard from him. "Thou wilt address thy Mother with respect, cub!" A glancing
blow made his eyes water.
. . . . Aliera crossed quickly to Moraelyn and placed her hands on his chest. "Greeting, my husband.
All praise to Notorgo for bringing you and my son safely to me."
. . . . "Thank also the Lord of the Dragons and the Bandit, who could not have lifted the boy more
neatly himself. The ArchMagister had somewhat to do with it as well." Moraelyn's dusky hands
came up to hold her bare arms lightly and tenderly. He laughed, looking relaxed and happy.
But the hands against his chest formed a barrier as much as a caress.
. . . . "I am blessed indeed. But it has been long since my son and I have spoken. We may find
words more easily if we seek them alone together."
. . . . Moraelyn's smile vanished instantly. "Are words then a thing which two can find more
easily than three? Well. Perhaps. At times. Wife." He turned on his heel and left. The
bridge swung and creaked, but his feet made no sound at all.
. . . . Aliera watched after him, but he did not look back. Edward felt again the curious mix of
satisfaction and regret that came with giving pain to his enemy. "Edward, my son, come
and sit by me."
. . . . Edward stood where he was, "Madam mother, I have waited many years and travelled many
leagues to have an answer. I will wait no longer, nor go one step further."
. . . . "What have you been told?"
. . . . "That you were most treacherously kidnapped by night with the aid of magic, while my
father slept, trusting in the honor of his guest."
. . . . "Your father told you that. And Moraelyn?"
. . . . "Said that you came full willing. I would hear what you say."
. . . . "Would you hear why I left your father or why I did not take you with me, having chosen
to go."
. . . . Edward paused, thinking, "Madam, I would hear the truth, therefore I must give the
truth. I would hear why you left me behind. The other, I think I know, as much as I can
or would know, unless you wish to tell me more or other."
. . . . "The truth? Truth is not a single thing existing apart from those who apprehend it. But
I will tell you my truth and perhaps then you may arrive at your truth.
. . . . Aliera walked back to a softly pillowed chair and composed herself. Nearby a small ruby
colored bird settled on a branch and trilled an accompaniment to her soft voice.
. . . . "My parents arranged my marriage as is the custom of our homeland. I did not love Corcyr,
but in the beginning I respected him and tried to be a good wife. He did not care for me,
nor did he take care. And so he lost my respect and I died a little each day, withering
like an untended plant. I was happy only with you, but Corcyr thought I was making you
too soft. "Womanish," he said, and so, after your third birthday I was allowed to spend
only an hour each day with you. I listened to your cries and sat weeping, without heart
for anything. Finally, you ceased crying and asking for me, and my heart was left empty.
I formed the habit of walking and riding much of the time, alone save for a guard or two.
Then Moraelyn came. He wanted to mine for ebony in the Wrothgarian Mountains. The land he
wanted to use was part of my dowry. He was willing to train our people in the arts of its
use and even to give them weapons of Dark Elf making. In return our people were to aid him
in keeping the goblins away, and allow him to form a colony of his people in High Rock.
Corcyr had no use for the land and he wanted the weapons very much indeed -- there are
none better -- so he favored the proposal. There were many details to be discussed and
arranged and it fell to me to conduct these negotiations. Corcyr despises Dark Elves and
he was jealous of Moraelyn, who was already famed as the finest fighter in all Tamriel.
. . . . "But Moraelyn is more than a skilled fighter; he's well-read and interested in everything
under the sun. He sang and played as if taught by Jeh Free and Jhim Sei both. He was a
companion such as I'd only dreamed of ... that and no more, I swear. We both love to be
outside, so our discussions took place while riding and walking, but always accompanied by
his men and Corcyr's. When all was arranged, Corcyr gave a great feast to celebrate the treaty.
All of High Rock nobility came and many from other provinces. At the end Corcyr was deep in
his cups and let fall an insult that could only be washed out in blood. I had long since
retired with the other ladies so I know not what it was, but I'd heard enough in private
to know that Corcyr had a store of such to choose from. Moraelyn gave the challenge and
gave Corcyr until noon, that he might recover such wits as he had.
. . . . "Then Moraelyn came to me, alone in my chamber, and told me what had befallen. 'Milady,
I think he will choose your brother as his champion; in any case there will be a river
of blood between us that may not be crossed in this life or any other. I can live
without your love, but I would not have your enmity. Come with me now, as wife or
honored guest, as you choose. And you shall serve as blood price in stead of your kith
or kin.'
. . . . "And there, in the moonlight, in my terror, with my ladies sleeping about me, I knew I
loved him. Doubted that I could live without him. And yet, I loved you more! 'My son,'
I whispered. 'I can't--'. 'Milady, you must choose. I am sorry.' You see, don't you,
Edward? If I stayed, it meant my brother's death -- his innocent young blood. Or your
father's! Or possibly that of the man I loved, though I counted that most unlikely.
Moraelyn's fighting skills alone were supreme, and in an affair of this sort he would
be entitled to call on magic aid as well. 'We could take him with us.' But Moraelyn
shook his head sadly, 'That I will not do. It would go against my honor to part father
and son.'
. . . . "Leaving love alone, I am trained to duty", Aliera said proudly. "Should I have robbed
you of your father or your loving uncle? And I thought it likely that Corcyr, should he
survive, would somehow blame me for the affair and use it as an excuse to put me away.
I thought that Corcyr would be pleased to have me gone. I knew he wanted the weapons
very much. I could trade them for time with you, I thought." All this passed through my
mind while Moraelyn stood waiting, not looking at me.
. . . . "Lady Mara, help me to choose wisely, I prayed. 'You truly want me as wife? I--I
could bring you nothing but trouble.'
. . . . "Aliera, I would have you to wife. And I want nothing but yourself." He shed his cloak
and wrapped it round my body, pulling the bedclothes away.
. . . . "Moraelyn, wait--is this right, what I do?"
"Milady, if I thought this wrong, I should not be standing here! Of the choices you are
given, this one seems to me most right." He swung me up in his arms and carried me to his
horse. And so I left your father's house, clad only in his cloak and riding before him.
And wild joy mixed with my sorrow, so that I scarce knew how I felt. That is my truth."
. . . . Edward said quietly, "But he has parted my father and me in the end."
. . . . "With great reluctance. And only becaue the dragon says that you and your father were in
truth already parted in heart. It is only a matter of more leagues. Which provide a measure
of safety for you. Moraelyn insisted that you should freely consent to come. You are as
free to return any time you wish."
. . . . "Moraelyn would have just taken me! It was I'r--I mean, the ArchMagister, who insisted that
I must consent."
. . . . "He's not a patient man by nature. And he is anxious to do Corcyr no harm. Doubtless he felt
the discussion could be carried on as well elsewhere."
. . . . "He called him King of the Small Cock. And laughed. Why? Are Daggerfall cockerels smaller
than Ebonheart birds? And what does it matter, anyway? My father was very angry; I think
he would have liked to fight. But it's true he hates me. I knew that, but I didn't want
to know, so I pretended not to. I don't suppose Moraelyn would do that."
. . . . "No."
. . . . "He'd lie, though. He thought about telling me he was my father. I could see it."
Aliera threw back her head and laughed her pretty rippling laugh; he remembered it from long
ago, and it sent shivers down his back. "He must have wanted to claim it very badly indeed
if he let you see it; he's usually quicker than that. And he does not lie under oath, or
to hurt those he loves."
. . . . "He doesn't love me; he doesn't even like me."
. . . . "But I do, my dear son. You--" Edward thought she was going to say he'd grown; adults
always remarked on his growth, even if he'd just seen them a week ago. Very strange,
since he was small for his age. Instead she said, "You're just as I thought you'd be,"
with deep maternal satisfaction.
. . . . "And he loves you. But he said he was no one's errand boy. Yet you dismissed him as if
he were."
. . . . Aliera's face and neck burned a deep crimson.
. . . . "Nay, though I am reduced to serving man, it seems." Moraelyn had entered silently,
bearing a huge tray piled high with food. "Get me a stool, boy, you can play page if I
can play server. You must be famished and I thought I'd best return before my wife gets
round to the rest of my faults. Could take her most of the day listing them." He'd shed
the mail and bathed and dressed in fresh black jerkin and hose with a silvery sash tied
round his narrow waist. But the black sword still swung by his side.
. . . . "Mara help us, you've enough food for a small army. And I've broken my fast." Aliera's
small hand reached for the elf's arm, slid down it caressingly, then clasped his hand and
squeezed it, lifting it to her still hot cheek, brushing it with her lips. Edward looked
away quickly, discomforted by the sight of his dusky skin against her fairness.
. . . . "This's for me, and a bit for the boy. But pray join us, my dear. You've grown thin.
Pining for me, no doubt." He wrapped a lock of her dark curly hair around a finger and
tugged at it, grinning, then fell on the food like a starving wolf, attacking it with
small silvery weapons instead of eating with his fingers as humans did. The food was
-- wonderful. Edward ate until he could eat no more.
. . . . "Eavesdropping," he murmured thoughtfully. He'd been mulling over a list of Moraelyn's
faults while he ate, and realized too late that he'd spoken aloud.
. . . . "By Zenithar, boy, if you humans will shout your privy conversation all over the tree,
d'ye expect me to shut my ears with wool?" He tapped one of his large pointed ears. Edward
hurriedly tried to remember what they'd said. What he'd said. Lying. Oh dear. Maybe he hadn't
heard.
. . . . "So I'm a liar, am I, boy?" Vir Gil help him, Edward felt he was drowning. Could the Elf
read minds? He hoped that wasn't the insult his father had used! "I -- I meant I thought
that you were thinking about it. You did hesitate," Edward gulped. He was making matters
worse.
. . . . "Possibly, I was trying to remember ... " the sardonic tone was back.
. . . . "You don't even like me!" Edward burst out.
. . . . "That doesn't seem to have stopped your true father from claiming you."
. . . . "Moraelyn! Don't!" Aliera interrupted, but the Elf held up his hand to quiet her.
. . . . "I'm not so sure." Edward flashed.
. . . . "Why do you say that?"
. . . . "I don't know--Roane says--things--and I'm not at all like him. Everyone remarks on it.
And then stops talking."
. . . . "What--things? Speak, boy!"
. . . . "About how fond Mother was of her brother when they were young. How sad and angry he
was when she was carried off. More like a lover, she said, than a brother. She says it
very sweetly, but like she means something by it. Something too dirty to say. Other times
she talks about how elfin I look. And how quickly after marriage I came. Not as quickly
as her first son, though."
. . . . Moraelyn leaped up. "By the Avenger, I will go back and wring the vixen's neck! The
human--", he bit off the insult, but his red eyes flamed rage; his muscles swelled and
his hair stood on end. "You do not look half-elven. I never met your mother until
four years after your conception. Roane, it seems, cannot decide which lie she wishes
to use. But incest! May Kel strike her down if I may not." The tall elf paced furiously
about the room, lithe as a Khajiit, hand fondling his sword hilt. The platform swayed
and dipped.
. . . . "She's ambitious for her sons, at Edward's expense. The question is, how many will
believe her. Not enough if she was planning to have him killed instead." Aliera's
smooth brow wrinkled a bit. "I never disliked her, you know. Nor she me. She wanted
my place and I was glad enough to let her have it save for Edward."
. . . . "You want me to be king so I'll let you have the ebon mines." Edward had just worked
out the puzzle.
. . . . "Oh, devil take the ebon, which he probably will. I've a better chance of getting
co-operation from Roane's boys once your father's dead. They'd have reason for
gratitude and the bargain's a good one. Although the chances they could keep a
civil tongue long enough to sign a contract seem poor, given their parentage."
. . . . "Then why? You don't even like me."
. . . . "Mara, help me! 'Liking' a person is a human concept. One day they like you, the
next day they don't. On Tirdas they're back to liking you again. My own wife does
this to me, but claims to love me even when she doesn't like me. Except of course
on the days when she doesn't do either, and talks about joining the Order of Riana.
Fortunately that only happens once a year or so. I go hunting until she comes to her
senses."
. . . . "You exaggerate; that only happened once, and well you know it."
. . . . "I remember enjoying the recovery period. Maybe it should happen more often." They
grinned at each other.
. . . . "But why do you want me to be King?" Edward persisted.
. . . . "I told you; it's Akatosh's notion. And the ArchMagister's. I just came along for the
ride. Ask them."
. . . . "I shall ask the ArchMagister when I see him."
. . . . "An excellent plan. You'll spend a few weeks at the Tower before heading north with us."
. . . . "Only that?"
. . . . "Does the prospect of spending the winter with your mother and me displease you so much?"
. . . . "No ... no, sir. But I agreed to go with I'ric." Not you. The words hung unsaid between them.
. . . . "You will, in time. A few weeks there now will fit you to begin your training in magic; I can
teach you spells. But you need hardening; your body must catch up to your mind. It is the
ArchMagister's will."
. . . . "Fighting magic? I want to learn other things. How to call beasts. How to heal. And float..."
. . . . "You'll learn that, I doubt not. And d'ye think a fighter can't Heal? It's the first spell
you'll learn. But a King must know how to fight."
. . . . "I'm not good at it."
. . . . "Dragon's Teeth, boy! Exactly why you must learn!"
. . . . "If I cannot?"
. . . . "You've courage and a clear head and the potential to learn magic; that's more than most
people ever have. I can teach you the rest."
. . . . Edward's head whirled with the unaccustomed praise. "I do? I have? You can?"
. . . . "D'ye think any of your father's fool court would stand naked before a dragon, a unicorn,
the ArchMagister, and the Champion of Tamriel and demand justice of them? Justice! Faced
with such, they might have managed to beg for mercy, if they could speak at all, which
is doubtful."
. . . . "I did that? I did, didn't I?" Edward was astonished; he wanted to add that he hadn't known,
hadn't thought about it ...
. . . . "Aye, you did. And it's a deed that shall be sung from here to Morrowwind; I'll compose
the ballad myself--as soon as I have a nap. I don't sleep as sound as some on dragon's backs."
. . . . "You enchanted me and Shag asleep!"
. . . . "And the rest of the castle, with the help of my friends."
. . . . "Ooooohhhh. Can you levitate? Will you show me?"
. . . . "Not so fast. I kept a holding spell on us all night to keep us on the dragon's back. Until
I'm rested I couldn't light a candle with the aid of a match."
. . . . "Oh. Well, I'd still rather be like the ArchMagister than be a fighter."
. . . . "Hah! It'll be news to the ArchMagister that he cannot fight! I hope he'll find time to
show you how to wield a staff. No better weapon for early training. And no better trainer.
Now, of the four you saw before you, which would you say could best the others?"
. . . . Edward thought carefully for several minutes. "Sir, my judgement is poor indeed, but if you
would still have my answer, it would seem that the one who claims the title Champion of
Tamriel must be the best. Yet must not the ArchMagister be your master in magic? And trained
to arms as well, it seems. So which should prevail? Could any mortal stand against the
dragon's fire and claws and teeth? And I know naught of the unicorn, save that it is
fleet and has a very sharp horn, and hooves as well. So I will guess the unicorn; it had the
mildest manner. And since you asked the question it seems the unlikely answer may be correct."
. . . . "Well answered, youngling! The unicorn would win easily in any single close combat. No mortal
or even dragon can move quickly enough to land a blow and it cannot be burned or touched by
any magic or elemental power. It's hooves are deadly and a single touch of its horn will
kill any enemy, although the horn itself will burn away. The most powerful can regenerate
it within moments, however.
. . . . "And of the four the Champion of Tamriel would probably be the loser against any of
the others, although the title is no idle boast! Moraelyn is not accustomed to being
so outclassed. My manners may have suffered in consequence."
. . . . "Milord King, I am most deeply in your debt. You have done me great honor and service. If
ever I can repay you, I will. Forgive my brash words and ill manners. I have dwelt among
the rude and boorish. And it seems I have no father, unless I may call you so?" The elf
held his hands out to the boy, who placed his own in them. Edward's feeling of distaste
was quite gone...as if by magic...the thought drifted through his mind ... and then he
released his hands and clasped Moraelyn about his waist. The elf's hands stroked the dark
hair and clasped the thin shoulders.
. . . . "I thank you, my wife. After only five years of marriage, you have presented me with a
fine son, nine years of age. Remarkable. In fact...magical."
Continue with King Edward, Chapter III...
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