AN: I began writing this some time ago...no guarantees I won't take it down again, no guarantees for updates. Seeker and the Mysterious Woman are mine, everything else is Bethesda's, we know.

The Waters of Oblivion

Chapter One: An Argonian at the Shore

The Felsaad Tern soared over the coast of Solstheim in the rising dawn. Under them, the waves lapped ceaseless on the ashen beach. But something on the shoreline disturbed the water.

A bold bird dived down through the air and landed next to the body. It was clad in threadbare mage's robes, hood draw over the scaly face, and leather boots and gauntlets with the tips cut off so the green claws were exposed. A long, scaled tail floated behind the body on the water.

The bird hopped nearer and nearer. When the Argonian didn't react, it tried to peck at a scale. But the dark green was too hard, and the Felsaad Tern chirped furiously. It tried again, on the softer, brighter skin between the scales, and was rewarded with a startled noise from the man.

The animal decided it had had enough trouble, and flew away in a flurry of white wings.

The man stayed on the earth, but moved now. He crawled fully on the beach on his hands and knees. Only when he was out of the water, he allowed his drained body to collapse again on the ash. The lids over his amber eyes closed as he gathered his strength. A few minutes later, he rose again on hands and knees, but this time, he settled in an upright, sitting position.

His head ached.

Although it seemed a rather trivial matter, the Argonian wasn't able to think properly. To muster out where he was, for example. What he was doing in the water. Or who he was.

A pained hiss escaped the man's mouth when the last question formed in his mind. Who was he, indeed? An Argonian. A man. With bright green skin and darker scales, a tail and a head crowned with two long, straight horns that peeked through two holes in the fabric of his hood.

This was not an answer, so the Argonian tried to force his brain to work. The soft skin unused to hard work on the inside of his hands and his clothes indicated that he was a mage. At the same time, he was obviously a fighter, for he wore parts of armour that fitted him like a second skin.

A quick search through the pockets produced some Septims as well as a heavy bottle. It was an unusual designed potion vial, carefully sealed and with a description engraved in the enchanted glass: 'When the thirst is unbearable.'

For a moment the Argonian wondered about the strange red liquid, but the sea had washed the scents from it and he didn't dare to break the seal. He was thirsty, he realised now, but it definitely wasn't life-threatening.

With a sigh he stood up. Although he felt better, he wanted to seek shelter somewhere. The sun shone down - probably the reason for this skull-splitting headache – and combined with the heat he didn't feel comfortable.

Heat? Ash? The sea? Suddenly he knew where he was – Solstheim, a small island near Skyrim. The pain was forgotten immediately; there were a few settlements on the coast and he would be able to reach one in not more than half a day.

He walked next to the coast, all the while searching in his mind for more information. It was hopeless. The man could have written an essay about the digestion system of the netch, but he couldn't even remember his favourite colour. Or his name. He would need a name – what if nobody in the settlements knew it either?

This let him pause in his brisk walk. A simple name, easy to remember… Walks-the-Coast? No. It didn't sound good. He blinked at the annoying sun. It was near noon and he had to go south all the time so the bright rays permanently hit his eyes. Seeks-the-Sun. Perhaps, if he couldn't find out his real name, it would be enough.

A small smile curling around his mouth, he continued to walk. Finally he saw a road that would surely lead him to Raven Rock, a Dunmeri city. He knew it had a port from which a ship sailed to Windhelm in Skyrim. If he didn't find answers on Solstheim, he would have to go there.

After half an hour he reached the outskirts of the tiny settlement. It had been a source for ebony ore once, but the mines ran dry for more than half a century now. Many inhabitants didn't have the money to move to other Dunmeri cities, so they had no choice but to stay.

It was near dusk and the sun was thankfully hidden behind the thick ash clouds in the sky. Seeks-the-Sun's headache was nearly gone and he was in a good mood when he walked on the main square. The people were staring at him, but he entered the small inn nonetheless. Retching Netch, he thought amused.

Inside, he saw a few Dunmer, an Orc and a human – Breton maybe, although with big muscles. Glover Mallory, smith, his mind informed him. Seeks-the-Sun ignored all the stares people gave him and walked over to the innkeeper. Geldis Sadri.

"Pardon me, muthsera", the Argonian said. "I know this might sound strange, but do you know anything about me?"

The Dunmer's jaw fell. "What?"

He sighed. "I woke in the morning on a shore north of here, and I have obviously lost my memory. Can you remember anything about me? Maybe I came in the inn when I arrived…"

Sadri seemed confused. "No, I'm sorry. I don't know you. There are not many visitors here, especially Argonians. I would remember."

Seeks-the-Sun sighed again. "Thank you anyway."

"Ask Second Councilor Arano – he often welcomes the ship in the harbour. Glover Mallory, Fethis Alor and Milore and Garyn Ienth are merchants…"

"Did I just hear my name?", a voice behind Seeks-the-Sun asked. The Argonian turned around.

The blacksmith stood behind him, muscular arms crossed in front of his broad chest. His glare was definitely threatening.

"Glover! Did you see this man last time the Northern Maiden arrived?"

"Is this a weird kind of joke? Why do you want to know this?"

I have to be careful with this one. "I have lost my memory. Maybe you have seen my arrival at Solstheim…?"

"Oh." The man relaxed a little bit. "No, sorry. The ship arrived nearly two weeks ago, but the only strangers were two pretty weird women. No liz- Argonians."

Seeks-the-Sun sighed for the third time. "Thank you anyway. When does the ship arrive again?"

Geldis shrugged. "Not in the next two or three months, I would guess. One of the crew told me the captain was afraid of the strange passengers. The women had to pay double fee to convince him to a last trip."

"Thank you for your help. Do you know any healers in Raven Rock?"

"The priests in the temple won't even let you in", said Glover. "Milore sells potions, but I don't know if she can cure amnesia. Apathia Velothi, maybe. And the Skaal have shamans…"

"What about Kena Neloth?", asked Geldis.

The human's brow furrowed. "Neloth is more likely to use him as a test subject for one of his weird experiments; he gets only few Argonians."

"Who are you talking about?" Seeks-the-Sun was interested. The name had awoken something inside him; the source of his knowledge knew this Neloth.

"Kena Neloth, from House Telvanni, is a powerful mage who lives nearby in Tel Mithryn. It's a fungi city he grew himself. If he can't help you, nobody can," said Geldis.

"Well, it cannot get worse, can it? I will go to this Neloth."

"Do you need a room?"

"No, thanks. I will do this trip overnight; the sun gives me headaches."

Glover seemed worried. "Then go next night. You ought to sleep a little bit. I'm not very familiar with Argonians, but you look pretty exhausted and these headache you mentioned…maybe you got a bump on the head or something. If you pass out on the way to Neloth, the ash-spawn will get you."

"Yes, stay here. Half price, and a meal on the house, okay?"

The Argonian smiled at the men. "If you insist. Thank you again for your support, you are good people."

The blacksmith sat down. "We were never properly introduced. Glover Mallory."

"Geldis Sadri. Did you forget your name as well?"

"Yes, but I have chosen a new one until I find out my real: Seeks-the-Sun."

Glover laughed. "Well, Seeker, good luck to you! May Neloth not examine your guts!"

The other men grinned wide.