A/N: This is sort of a sequal to my other Oblivion fic. For those watching for my other stories, I have not abandoned them. As always, I am only borrowing Tamirel and it's characters.
Summer in Anvil was Teslina's favorite time of year. This year, the people of Cyrodiil seemed to be celebrating with fervor. The previous ten months had been rife with fear. First the assassination of the Emperor and his sons by the pawns of Dagon, then the destruction of Kvatch, made people think the world was ending. Then, a ray of hope. Rumors of a surviving heir flitted through the cities. Talk of the Hero of Kvatch traveling the countryside gaining support for Bruma to face the Deadra, and how the woman became the Arch Mage of the Mages Guild flew through the country. Teslina grinned as she thought of her friend, Karis. She still remembered when Karis had used Teslina and her sister Verity as guinea pigs for her alchemy potions. The side effects had turned their hair different colors. Teslina sidestepped a group of dancers as she made her way to the castle. Just two months before, she had made this same trip, only with the mission of returning to the Countess a ring from the Grey Fox. That day, the curse on the Grey Cowl had been broken, and Corvus Umbranox had been able to return to his wife's side. At that moment, Teslina had become the head of the Thieves Guild. The difference now was that she could exist in the public eye separate from the Grey Fox. As she approached the castle gates, she grinned inwardly. The countess had not recognized her when she had been there before, but she would know her this time. She walked into the audience hall and bowed before the count and countess.
"Teslina Ormanius, milord and lady. Welcome home, milord." She said, grinning at the pair. Corvus smiled and gave her a hidden wink. Millona's eyes lit up with recognition.
"You and your sister used to sneak into the palace! Corvus and I found several secret passages we didn't know existed thanks to you two. I was very saddened to hear of your parents death, and your sister's disappearance." The countess said. Teslina bowed her head, willing the sadness in her heart to leave.
"My sister has been seen in Bravil and Cheydinhal, milady. I have hope that I will see her again soon. My work takes me all over Cyrodiil." She replied. Verity was her twin, but the pair had different hues in their hair. Teslina's hair had never faded from the purple of Karis' potion, and she always wove blue feathers in her curls. Verity's hair had turned blue black. Shaking herself from her musings, Teslina grinned at the pair.
"I am glad to see you home sir, but I must be off. I wish to say hello to some friends before I return to my duties." She said. Millona bowed her head slightly, while Corvus smiled warmly.
"Oh, did you know, child? The Dibella's Grace is set to arrive in Anvil tomorrow. Will your friend Karis be arriving?" he asked. Teslina's eyes widened in excitement.
"I'll see to it she does!" she cried, turning on her heel and speeding out of the castle. The young woman ran at full speed through the streets, skidding around a turn in the road and bursting into the Mages Guild, coming to a halt panting before Carahil, the Altmer leader of the guildhall.
"Need-message-Grace-home-hurry!" she gasped out at the Altmer woman.
"Teslina, you're running pell-mell around the city again. Felen, Teslina is here! She needs a Restore Fatigue potion again!" Carahil called. The Dunmer alchemist entered the foyer with a smile on his face, potion in hand.
"I thought I heard a familiar slamming of the front door. What is she trying to say this time?" he asked, as Teslina chugged the potion.
"The Dibella's Grace is coming into port tomorrow, and I need to get a message to Karis." She gasped out. Felen brightened at the news, and Carahil immediately penned the note. It was a matter of pride for them that Karis was the new Arch Mage.
"I think she was going to be in the area this week, so she should arrive in time. I promise this will get to her." Carahil said, the note vanishing in a puff of pink smoke. Teslina waved to the mages and bounded out of the guildhall, slamming straight into a solid body, and falling on her rear end.
"OW!" she cried out, letting loose a string of Breton curses.
"I haven't heard those curses since right after the battle for Bruma." A rich voice said. Teslina looked up, rubbing her hip, and took in the Redgaurd man there. He wore a green shirt and brown pants, with leather boots. Strapped to his waist was an Akaviri Katana. Teslina bounced up and grabbed at the star sapphire he wore around his neck.
"Where did you get this? I gave this gem to my best friend when she headed out to join the Arcane University." She demanded. The Redgaurd smiled.
"You must be Teslina then."
"How do you know my name? You were at the Battle of Bruma? Did you get to meet Martin Septim? Did he really turn in a dragon to defeat Dagon? And you still haven't told me where you got my friend's necklace!" Teslina fired the questions faster than she could string her bow. The man blinked for a moment, stunned.
"Baurus, did you get in trouble already?" another voice called, and Teslina swiveled her head to face this new person. He was an Imperial, like her, with dark brown hair cut short and dark blue eyes. He wore a similar outfit to Baurus, except his shirt was red.
"It's fine, Cyrus. I think we just ran into Karis' friend Teslina. Remember, the one with purple hair?" Baurus replied. Teslina's eyes got even bigger.
"You know Karis? That would explain why you have that necklace. How is she? I haven't seen her in almost a year, thought I hope to see her tomorrow when her father gets into port." Teslina said. Baurus grinned at her.
"Karis was the one who brought Martin to our temple near Bruma. I actually came here to meet with her. We have not spoken since the battle in the Imperial City." He said.
"So, do you have any stories about Karis?" Cyrus asked. Teslina's smile grew even bigger.
"For that, we need food. And drinks. Come with me gents. Dinner is my treat!" she said, linking arms with both men and leading them to the nearby inn.
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"She didn't tell us that she had put alocasia fruit in the mix. It changed our hair color permanently!" Teslina giggled. She, Cyrus, and Baurus had been enjoying a fine meal and wine for a few hours while she regaled the two men with tales of her childhood adventures with the red headed Breton. They had also told Teslina of some of Karis' doings at Cloud Ruler Temple.
"I told you she must have done something insane as a student to get that good." Cyrus joked.
"As my teacher said, 'only through experimentation and experience can we become masters'" a feminine voice said behind Teslina. The young Imperial jumped up with a squeal and threw her arms around her old friend.
"Karis! I've missed you!" she cried. The red headed mage laughed and returned her dear friends hug.
"I have missed you as well. I see you have met my fellow Blades." Karis said, clapping a hand to Cyrus' shoulder. Baurus stood and enveloped the Breton woman in his arms, meeting her lips in a passionate kiss. Teslina's eyebrows nearly went into her hairline at the sight.
"Don't be surprised. They have not seen each other in four months." Cyrus said, his eyes twinkling merrily at the sight of the two lovers. Teslina smiled at him.
"It does my heart good to know that she is happy." She replied. Meanwhile, the pair had broken off their kiss to breathe.
"I missed you. The temple isn't the same without you there. Jauffre even misses the smell of your alchemy experiments." Baurus said. Karis held him close, feeling a tear slip down her face.
"I missed you as well. I do not want to be apart from you again." She whispered. Baurus kissed her again, and they sat at the table. Teslina was grinning like a Khajiit on moonsugar.
"What wonderful timing this is. First the Count's return to Millona's side, then you're return home, and tomorrow you're father's ship arrives. I'm sure he will be pleased to hear how you have been. Although, you might want to leave out the part where you were in jail." Teslina said, grinning at the way Baurus' face paled slightly at the mention of Karis' father.
"Don't worry about Father, Baurus. He is an honorable man, and being in service to the Empire will automatically put you into his good graces." Karis said, putting him at ease. After another hour, Karis pulled Teslina off to the side for a private conversation.
"I would like to get a message to the Grey Fox." She said. Teslina froze for a second.
"The Grey Fox is a myth, Karis. Something created by the Imperial Watch." She replied flippantly. Karis calmly held up a blue feather.
"You left this behind when you stole Hromomir's Icestaff. Will you just give him the message that I need to see him? Tomorrow at midnight, in Smuggler's Cove." She said. Teslina's shoulder's sagged in defeat.
"Your meeting will take place." She promised. No need to reveal everything at once.
A/N: Well, I hope you want to hear more. This is kind of my attempt at tying the different quest lines together. Next will be the Fighter's Guild and the Dark Brotherhood. That is of course, if I have any interest