“She said she'd only let us in if we could do some Summoning spell,” Vilkas sighed. “Well, neither my brother nor I are natural mages, let's put it that way. Fortunately we found one in the inn who could help... but I don't think he'll talk to either of us now, not since we took Azura's Star back here.”
Not encouraging, but Elisif knew a few spells that Eola had taught her, and if need be, she could get Erandur to pose as a student while she acted the part of bodyguard... but Erandur was a bit old to be an apprentice.
“Forgive me, but you're taking these three to the College of Winterhold?” Aranea interrupted. “I assumed you'd take Erandur and get him to take the entry test.”
“Is that going to be a problem?” Elisif asked warily. Aranea just shook her head, leaning back against the altar.
“You take that lot anywhere near Winterhold, people will know something's up. Four heavily armed warriors who definitely aren't mages go to the College? That will attract attention.”
“Well, do you have a better idea?” Elisif asked, feeling a little harassed. Aranea seemed friendly enough, but Elisif had only just met her. She didn't entirely trust her yet.
“Yes, actually. Azura sent me another vision to give to you. You have a more important task ahead of you. A small squad of Ulfric's people are making a move on a Nord ruin called Korvanjund. They're looking for something you'll find of interest. Never mind your Elder Scroll, you need to leave and go there now, make sure you get to it first. Otherwise your chances of winning the war just got smaller.”
“But the dragons-” Elisif cried, trying not to think of the charred ruins of Kynesgrove. “I need to find that Scroll!”
“Yes you do, but this is more urgent,” said Aranea. “Look, why don't I go and ask at the College for you. Erandur can come with me, two Dunmer mages arriving to do some research at the College's famed library won't raise any eyebrows at all. Meanwhile, you and your warrior friends here can go and explore Korvanjund. I'm sure they've been down plenty of Nord ruins.”
Elisif was dubious about this, but Erandur had vouched for Aranea's trustworthiness, and Ria and the twins all seemed in agreement. It was just Erandur looking worried.
“I'm really not sure this is a good idea...” he began. Aranea sighed and threw up her hands.
“For the love of Azura, Cas- Erandur, I'm not going to molest you. This is just a little research trip, that's all.”
Erandur didn't look convinced, but he did at length agree to it.
“Fine. But only because this is in service to a higher cause,” he grumbled. With that settled, everyone gathered their things and got ready to go, all promising to meet at the Nightgate Inn afterwards with their findings. Elisif stopped to say goodbye to Erandur before they left.
“Are you sure you're going to be all right?” Elisif asked. “What exactly happened with you two? You said you were friends!”
“We were,” Erandur said uncomfortably. “Are. But, well, we spent extended time alone together, and I was very lonely and vulnerable after losing everyone I cared about in Nightcaller Temple. She helped counsel me and I – I took shameful advantage of that generosity. She didn't hold it against me and in fact seemed to enjoy the experience – but she was and still is a lot younger than me by Dunmer standards, and I can't offer her the relationship that she deserves and that Mara would expect of me. So obviously I can't lie with her again, it would be unworthy and unforgivable to lead her on.”
“Only you still fancy her,” Elisif said knowingly, having seen the way he'd been looking at her. Aranea was rather pretty, to Elisif's eyes anyway, who knew what Dunmer standards of beauty were like. Erandur sighed, staring at his feet.
“Is it that obvious,” he said wearily. Elisif nodded.
“I'm afraid so,” she said. Aranea was standing some way away, but even so, perhaps some discretion was advised. “Look, she's a priestess, she's hardly the materialistic type if she's been living up here all this time. She won't care you're not wealthy. You might serve different gods but you have a lot in common. If you really care about her, if there's feelings on both sides, why not go for it?”
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 20.9
Date: 2014-01-02 09:31 pm (UTC)Not encouraging, but Elisif knew a few spells that Eola had taught her, and if need be, she could get Erandur to pose as a student while she acted the part of bodyguard... but Erandur was a bit old to be an apprentice.
“Forgive me, but you're taking these three to the College of Winterhold?” Aranea interrupted. “I assumed you'd take Erandur and get him to take the entry test.”
“Is that going to be a problem?” Elisif asked warily. Aranea just shook her head, leaning back against the altar.
“You take that lot anywhere near Winterhold, people will know something's up. Four heavily armed warriors who definitely aren't mages go to the College? That will attract attention.”
“Well, do you have a better idea?” Elisif asked, feeling a little harassed. Aranea seemed friendly enough, but Elisif had only just met her. She didn't entirely trust her yet.
“Yes, actually. Azura sent me another vision to give to you. You have a more important task ahead of you. A small squad of Ulfric's people are making a move on a Nord ruin called Korvanjund. They're looking for something you'll find of interest. Never mind your Elder Scroll, you need to leave and go there now, make sure you get to it first. Otherwise your chances of winning the war just got smaller.”
“But the dragons-” Elisif cried, trying not to think of the charred ruins of Kynesgrove. “I need to find that Scroll!”
“Yes you do, but this is more urgent,” said Aranea. “Look, why don't I go and ask at the College for you. Erandur can come with me, two Dunmer mages arriving to do some research at the College's famed library won't raise any eyebrows at all. Meanwhile, you and your warrior friends here can go and explore Korvanjund. I'm sure they've been down plenty of Nord ruins.”
Elisif was dubious about this, but Erandur had vouched for Aranea's trustworthiness, and Ria and the twins all seemed in agreement. It was just Erandur looking worried.
“I'm really not sure this is a good idea...” he began. Aranea sighed and threw up her hands.
“For the love of Azura, Cas- Erandur, I'm not going to molest you. This is just a little research trip, that's all.”
Erandur didn't look convinced, but he did at length agree to it.
“Fine. But only because this is in service to a higher cause,” he grumbled. With that settled, everyone gathered their things and got ready to go, all promising to meet at the Nightgate Inn afterwards with their findings. Elisif stopped to say goodbye to Erandur before they left.
“Are you sure you're going to be all right?” Elisif asked. “What exactly happened with you two? You said you were friends!”
“We were,” Erandur said uncomfortably. “Are. But, well, we spent extended time alone together, and I was very lonely and vulnerable after losing everyone I cared about in Nightcaller Temple. She helped counsel me and I – I took shameful advantage of that generosity. She didn't hold it against me and in fact seemed to enjoy the experience – but she was and still is a lot younger than me by Dunmer standards, and I can't offer her the relationship that she deserves and that Mara would expect of me. So obviously I can't lie with her again, it would be unworthy and unforgivable to lead her on.”
“Only you still fancy her,” Elisif said knowingly, having seen the way he'd been looking at her. Aranea was rather pretty, to Elisif's eyes anyway, who knew what Dunmer standards of beauty were like. Erandur sighed, staring at his feet.
“Is it that obvious,” he said wearily. Elisif nodded.
“I'm afraid so,” she said. Aranea was standing some way away, but even so, perhaps some discretion was advised. “Look, she's a priestess, she's hardly the materialistic type if she's been living up here all this time. She won't care you're not wealthy. You might serve different gods but you have a lot in common. If you really care about her, if there's feelings on both sides, why not go for it?”