The Ghost of Valenwood
1. The Ghost (Inspired by "Death Came Early That Year" TSFH)
Eren relived the moment over and over again. The voice of the Nightwood called to him across the forest. He tore through the treetops to the sound of the combat, but Eren only felt farther and farther away with each ringing clash. An arrow was already notched and ready. The clearing was only just in sight when Eren heard the first cry. He pumped his legs even faster, but not fast enough. He broke the canopy just too late. She was pinned on either side by Dominion soldiers. Her companions behind struggled against their captors to no avail. In the center of it all was her own twin sister, bringing down an axe in slow motion. He heard the pained scream as the axe cleaved the right arm from her body. Only the oozing blood and the burning rage remained. He had not been fast enough.
"Eren." Whispered a soft voice.
The wood elf opened his eyes. Eren perched high in the trees above the path to Velyn Harbor. The sun shone high in the noon sky, but the canopy kept the green wood in twilight. The overgrown road was quiet and still. Even so his Nightwood bow was notched and ready in hand, his eyes wary of even the slightest movement. Eren was wound so tight he nearly shot off at the touch on his shoulder. Only a moment's caution kept him from leaping from his vigil.
"Eren," His companion repeated, "They're near."
Eren merely nodded to his friend. She floating quietly beside him. Her gracile form was outlined by swirling orange leaves. Very few could make out the fine features of the spirit of the Nightwood tree, her long flowing hair, the elvish lines of her face, even her slender fingers, but Eren had known her a long time. He could even make out the concern on her face.
"The memory haunts you, doesn't it?" She said.
"Yes," Eren sighed.
"You did what you could." She said comfortingly.
"Not enough," Eren replied grimly.
"You can't blame yourel…" She began.
Eren raised a hand. He strained his pointed ears and listened again for the noise. Booted feet stomped toward them from the north. Glinting armor gave away the soldiers' position even before they stomped into full view. Eren counted ten Aldmeri Dominion High Elf soldiers making their way through across Valenwood. He checked his quiver. Fifteen arrows were ready. Eren observed as they approached. The insignias on their breastplates marked them as Thalmor Justiciars, the judge, jury and executioners of Thalmor law. The column marched behind an imposingly tall commanding officer. Their discipline was evident in their heavy tread, but the slow pace gave away their unease on the terrain. Eren had the advantage. His companion's form dispersed into the wind. Eren crouched low and waited. He held stock still until the last one passed beneath him. Then he let out one long breath, drew back, and struck.
The two Justiciars in the rear were dead in an instant. Arrows pierced their necks. Their yelps spurred the others to action. They shouted and pointed to the treetops, but Eren now padded along the forest floor. From the bushes he loosed a quick arrow into a Justiciar's armpit. The seven left showed no concern for their fellow and gathered, shields raised, in a tight group faced against their hidden foe. Eren bolted unseen across the road. He counted a dozen arrows. He had plenty. With two more Eren hit one Justiciar in the back and another in the leg. The rest began to panic. They circled up and frantically eyed all directions. Eren notched two arrows and took a deep breath.
"Where are they!?" One Justiciar screeched.
Eren let the two fly, threw aside his bow, and sprinted straight at the formation. One of the arrows found its mark in a Justiciar's eye and the other slammed in his neighbor's shield. Eren flicked out twin daggers and leapt on the neighbor's shield launching himself into the air. The Justiciar fell back into his injured friend and drove the arrow even deeper into the other's leg. The scream of pain attracted the attention of the others away from the Bosmer over their heads. Eren crashed down on a stunned Justiciar and sank his daggers right between the armor plates. He tumbled heavily to the ground with the dying Altmer. The Justiciars were onto him now. Two charged him while the commander held back. The last one nursed his pierced leg. Eren's small stature worked to his advantage. The Justiciars had to move their shields aside to see him and that is when he struck the killing blow. Two fell quickly
At last Eren faced down the commander. He tossed his shield aside and swiped furiously with his sword. Eren dodged blow after blow and the commander grew angrier and angrier. A fireball welled in his hands and he hurled it for all he was worth. Eren merely sidestepped. The spell hit the Altmer still struggling with the leg arrow and incinerated him on the spot. Eren threw one of his daggers and hit the commander square in the chest. He gasped and fell to his knees.
"Gah! You little...Uhn!... animal!" The commander groaned.
Eren said nothing and brought his dagger to the commander's throat.
"Go to Oblivion, you filthy bastard!" the commander spat.
Eren drove in his blade with one slicing motion to ensure the job was done. Satisfied with the heavy thud of the commander, he meticulously checked the others for signs of life. Eren plunged his dagger in a few that were twitching, but most remained motionless and the ash pile showed no sign of reanimating. The Nightwood would call the to the forest to remove the corpses. He retrieved his bow and checked for damage fortunately finding none. Looking around, Eren noticed she had not reappeared as she usually would. He began to worry.
Eren finally breathed when orange leaves swirled into the form of his friend. Her expression warned of trouble. He cocked his head to the side inquisitively.
"Down the path," The Nightwood pointed, "You need to see."
She drifted east in a swirling eddy and Eren followed silently in the underbrush. Just before a small Bosmer village the eddy of leaves dissipated into the wind. Eren peered through the undergrowth. Five black with gold-trimmed robed Thalmor officers on horseback surrounded a diminutive rider. Their face was obscured under a dark hood. The Altmer officers, however, proudly displayed their scowling faces at the lone traveler. They leaned forward in their saddles and one waved his hands angrily. Eren slunk closer into earshot.
"…one travels this way alone," The Thalmor growled, "Now tell the truth, what are you doing out here?"
"I told you, I'm visiting my mother in Velyn Harbor. I came from Silvenar." The traveler answered.
"Watch your tone, girl!" Another Thalmor snapped, "You are addressing an Agent of the Thalmor."
The traveler said nothing to this.
"Lovely weapon you have there. A little much for one hand." A third agent pointed to the bone great axe slung on the traveler's back.
The traveler drew back her right arm cradled in a sling, "I hadn't planned to…break my arm when I set out."
"That hesitation I hear?" The first Thalmor spoke again.
"I think she doesn't quite have her story straight yet." The fourth agent smiled.
"A little time in a cell should do wonders for her memory." The last agent said as he took hold of the traveler's reins.
Eren fired one of his remaining ten arrows, but not before the traveler slugged the agent right in the face. He tumbled off his horse and Eren's shot went whizzing by. This saved the traveler from a face full of spells for the horses panicked at the whizz of the arrow and threw two more agents to the ground. Eren made short work of them. Seven arrows were left in the quiver. The traveler hopped off her horse and kicked the first dismounted officer in the head. One still mounted welled a spike of ice in his hand, but Eren put an arrow in his back before he could throw it. The first Thalmor officer wheeled her horse around to find him walking out of cover with daggers drawn. This was her last mistake. A bone axe caught her from behind and wretched her from the saddle. The traveler stood smugly over her.
"One hand does me just fine." She brought the axe down with all her might and split the Thalmor's skull straight through to the dirt.
The traveler's hood fell back. Eren recognized her in and instant from her brown hair right down to her bright eyes.
"Tara?" He asked in disbelief.
"Eren!" Tara left her axe in the ground and rushed him in a hug he did not have time to avoid. Eren had no choice but to reciprocate. The Nightwood swirled into existence behind Tara, but Eren waved her away before Tara could see her.
"What are you doing here?" Eren asked.
"Looking for you." Tara answered happily.
"Why?" Eren raised an eyebrow.
"Because I missed you!" Tara pulled away angrily, "Do I need a good reason to see you?"
"No," Eren raised his hands in surrender, "But the last time you needed to help your friends."
"I helped them," Tara crossed her arms, "I helped save Ariq and left him with Kenarthi and the others in Bruma."
"Ariq Greyfur?" Eren asked.
"Yeah, the one I mentioned the last time we met." Tara nodded.
"No, I've met him," Eren said, "We didn't talk about him last time."
"Good to know you listen." Tara frowned.
"I had my mind on other things." Eren nodded to her slung arm.
"Oh," Tara looked at the ground, "Um, let's get out of here. Then you can tell me all about you meeting Ariq."
Thankfully, Tara's horse had not run far and she only had to call once for the beast to return. She hoisted herself into the saddle and Eren took hold of the reins. Tara gave him a dirty look.
"It looks more believable with your arm sling." Eren stated.
"You can save it for when we get to Velyn Harbor though. I can ride perfectly on my own." Tara slung her axe back into its sheath on her back. The movement shifted her balance too far to the left and she nearly tumbled off her mount. Eren stood there and watched straight faced.
"You're allowed to laugh, you know." Tara crossed her arm.
"I know it's funny." Eren shrugged.
"Just go," Tara sighed, "And regale me with the tale of how you met Ariq."
Eren goaded the horse forward, "There's not much to tell. He worked with the Hollow Moon in Redfur Trading Post. I met him hunting down Thalmor officers. One was harassing merchants there and me and him took the officer down."
There was a moment of silence as Tara waited for Eren to elaborate.
"That's it?" Tara asked disappointed.
"Our methods differed, but we eliminated the threat," Eren shrugged.
"There's nothing more to that story? No crazy hijinks? No passionate romances? No tragic deaths? No drama at all?" Tara asked.
Eren just looked back at her.
"Oh, you two must have gotten along so well," Tara palmed her face.
"We did," Eren shrugged.
"You're so boring" Tara sighed.
"They were quite an interesting pair." The Nightwood floated along next to them.
"Hey, Nightwood." Tara said in a low voice.
Eren tensed. Tara was never happy when the Nightwood was around.
"Ariq was always unnerved by my presence," The Nightwood continued, "His fur stood on end, and his tail twitched,"
Eren thought the Nightwood was trying to lighten the mood. Ariq had hardly reacted at all to the Nightwood.
"He's had plenty of experience with spirit presences. He had one in his head for a while," Tara said.
"That's a story you'll have to tell," Eren said quickly to change the subject.
"Better than you, but it's a long one," Tara smiled eager to begin.
"It's a long way to Velyn Harbor." Eren nodded.
"It starts in a ruin in Hammerfell…" Tara began.