Chapter 1:
"My lady, we will be docking into the port of Alinor within the hour, is there anything you shall be needing before we make our arrival?", enquired the Captain of the Aldmeri longship, The Alqintimus.
"No Captain, thank you for informing me", replied Elenwen.
As the ship's captain exited her cabin, Elenwen leant back in her armchair and breathed a sigh of relief. The journey from the port of Solitude in Skyrim had been long and dull, apart for a brief stopover for supplies in the seaside city of Daggerfall in the province of High Rock; The Alqintimus had spent nearly two months on the sea whilst travelling to Alinor. Elenwen would be glad to return to her homeland, away from the bitter cold of Skyrim that had been her home for the past eight years. As First Emissary to the province of Skyrim in representing the Aldmeri Dominion she had been required to make her living in Skyrim and was allowed for little opportunity to venture out of the province during her tenure as First Emissary.
Elenwen entered onto the deck of the ship and looked out towards the South, seeing for the first time in over eight years the majestic capital of the Aldmeri regime. Alinor was a city like no other within Tamriel; its buildings were comprised of great crystal and coral towers that spiralled up into the sky, reaching up nearly into the clouds. These skyscrapers as they had been dubbed had existed for thousands of years and were among the oldest and most revered structures in all of Tamriel. It was a fitting location for the capital of the greatest political regime that had existed since the formation of Nirn. Elenwen was indeed most glad to leave the crude stone cities of Skyrim that had befitted her home for the past eight years; however she held a degree of trepidation on returning to her homeland. Elenwen had not at all forsaken her position as First Emissary to Skyrim and not once had she been recalled by the Ruling Council to Alinor in her eight years in the role. As the name suggests, the Ruling Council were the governing body that controlled the Aldmeri Empire. The Ruling Council was comprised of seven members and led by the High Castellan who served in the role for a life long tenure in which he is elected by the people of the Aldmeri Dominion to rule with an iron fist. The current High Castellan was Ulin Atraxes who had been in the role for over seventy years and notably led the Aldmeri to war with the Empire in the Great War thirty years previously. Since the conclusion of the war, Atraxes had entered into a state of reclusion in the public eye and instead left the day to day running of the Aldmeri regime in the hands of his deputy, Viceroy Esdorin Sandalar. With the exception of the High Castellan, Elenwen had met with all of the current Ruling Council members but never since she was first appointed in the role as First Emissary had she been recalled by the Council. What was so important to them that they could not send by courier message as they usually did? It was true Skyrim was currently in more turmoil than it had ever been in, the civil war between the Imperials and Stormcloaks, the return of the dragons and the recent assassination of Emperor Titus Mede II by the Dark Brotherhood had enabled Skyrim to become the most turbulent province in all of Tamriel.
All of these thoughts had been rushing through Elenwen's head as she disembarked from The Alqintimus and stepped down upon the Alinor port. According to the captain of The Alqintimus transport had been arranged for her to enter Allemaigne's Point. Allemaigne's Point was the tallest of the Alinor skyscrapers and reached up well into the heights of the clouds. Not only this it was also the centre of government for the Aldmeri Dominion and the highest levels were the residence of the High Castellan. Elenwen did not have long to wait, not long after she had disembarked her ship a golden horse-drawn carriage trotted up towards The Alqintimus. There was no mistaking this was her transport, as befitted her rank the golden carriage had an escort of Thalmor cavalrymen posted adjacent to each side of the carriage. As the carriage pulled up a male mer exited from within. He was dressed in the black hooded robes that befitted an Aldmeri Inquisitor but as well as this he was lightly armoured in the golden dress of a Thalmor soldier. Elenwen made the assumption that he was an Aldmeri battle mage. Whilst his hood had been drawn up over his face, as was typically done by Aldmeri Inquisitors to conceal themselves from the public eye, Elenwen was able to identify him as a young and attractive bosmer male.
"Emissary Elenwen, it is my pleasure to welcome you home to the grand city of Alinor", said the young Inquisitor with a bow and a devilish grin on his face.
"Indeed, and who do I have here as the pleasure as my host?" enquired Elenwen.
"Palanane Paxaius, Senior Commandant of the Aldmeri Inquisitors at your service", replied the Inquisitor. "I do suggest we continue this conversation within the carriage, the Council is waiting on your arrival and as I am sure you are aware, keeping the Council waiting can be most unwise".
There was something in Paxaius's tone that Elenwen disliked; it felt more as if it was a demand than a request, as First Emissary she was only outranked by the Council members and to be pushed around by a mere Commandant was not something she was about to approve of.
"Mind your place boy; I am more aware than you on the expectations of the Ruling Council!"
Elenwen barged her way past Palanane and into the carriage. Shortly after Palanane himself entered the carriage it began to pull away towards the direction of Allemaigne's Point.
"My apologies Emissary, I meant nothing by it" replied Palanane once he had entered the carriage.
The carriage was indeed very comely and luxurious; Elenwen made her way to one of the couches and sat down. Palanane made his way towards a cupboard and began retrieving a tray of alcohol and spirits.
"Would milady like something to drink, perhaps some of the Aridian Ale from the shores of Dusk or the golden wine from my homeland in Elden Root?" enquired Palanane.
"No Commandant, I do not require refreshment" replied Elenwen.
Palanane shrugged, "Very well milady means more for me then" chuckling away as he cracked open a bottle of the Aridian Ale.
Elenwen pursed her lips; she did not at all like the continuing casual tone that the young Inquisitor had adopted towards her. Whilst she disliked the man she remained rather intrigued by him. Palanane Paxaius was a name she had heard before. If she remembered correctly Paxaius was the youngest Inquisitor in known Altmeri history to achieve a senior officer rank. As an Inquisitor he had fought against the Thalmor rebellion in Hammerfell to terrible effect. He had been described as a highly gifted battle commander and spell caster. As well as this, he had also served in the Parliament of the Thalmor prior to joining the Inquisitors and held certain diplomatic and political skills as well. Despite being his superior, Elenwen remained rather apprehensive towards him. Elenwen had always been described as a hard and cold woman with little fear yet although she never showed it, she always felt nervous around the Inquisitors. The Inquisitors were among the most powerful and accomplished spell casters and warriors within Tamriel. They served as the Aldmeri Dominion's Intelligence branch and the purpose and aims of the Inquisitors has never been fully understood as their organisation has always remained deeply shrouded in secrecy. In fact this made Elenwen curious, why was an Inquisitor here to escort her to her meeting with the Ruling Council.
"Tell me Commandant, why are you, a member of the Aldmeri Inquisitors here to receive me?"
Palanane was not quick to answer; instead he continued to sip on his Aridian Ale before eventually turning towards Elenwen, smiled and said "I am sure you will find out soon enough".
This cryptic answer did not please Elenwen in the slightest.
"That answer does not at all help me Commandant, I asked a question I expect a proper answer" Elenwen angrily enquired.
Palanane was not at all fazed by Elenwen's aggression. Instead he chuckled once again and said "Well I am afraid you will have to ask E'sarch Euonlin when we arrive."
"E'sarch Euonlin?!", Elenwen was most shocked to hear this revelation. E'sarch was the Grand Inquisitor, head of the Altmeri Inquisitors and one of the seven members to sit upon the Ruling Council
"Yes indeed, in fact Grand Inquisitor Euonlin was the one to recall you back to Alinor for this… meeting as you would call it". Palanane's head had sunk back into the depths of his hood shrouding his face but Elenwen could sense that Palanane was smiling underneath the hood.
"But what purpose does the Grand Inquisitor have for recalling me to Alinor?", Elenwen was beginning to feel deeply troubled.
"Well to that I don't rightly know but I can't imagine he was too impressed on hearing what happened to his dear friend Ancano" replied Palanane.
"Ancano?" blurted Elenwen. "E'sarch is blaming me for the death of Ancano?!"
Ancano was the Inquisitor left in charge within Skyrim. He had been posted within the College of Winterhold as an advisor to the Arch-Mage. When the College made a major magical discovery with the Eye of Magnus, Ancano had attempted to seize control of the Eye for the possession of the Thalmor. Ancano's attempt had been valiant but he had gotten himself killed along with the Arch-Mage and many others in his attempt. The new Arch-Mage and the rest of the College remained firmly opposed to the Thalmor and the Aldmeri Dominion. It was no doubt a failure for the Thalmor but in Elenwen's view anything but her fault.
"Well it certainly seems that way" replied Palanane. "The rest of the Council seems only too pleased to tag along with this notion. It is no secret that Thalmor influence within Skyrim is diminishing with all the recent problems the Thalmor has encountered….. I guess they need someone to blame for all of its issues". Palanane continued to chuckle away.
Elenwen was feeling highly infuriated by now. "You think that's funny boy, you dare to call me an incompetent leader! By the Eight, the nerve you have you little bastard! I have heard of you before boy and I know of your reputation in the Hammerfell Wars! But I am telling you know that is nothing, NOTHING! I fought in the Great War, I killed hundreds of Imperial troops, many of them boys not much older than you and some of them much more accomplished than you! Don't think your accomplishment in fighting in the petty peasant wars of Hammerfell means anything, you arrogant little ass! When I meet with the Grand Inquisitor, I will not leave until I see you court marshalled! No your place boy you are nothing in comparison to Elenwen, First Emissary to Skyrim!"
During Elenwen's rant, Palanane remained completely calm and unfazed. His head remained bowed within his hood staring down towards the floor as Elenwen raved and shouted at him. When she had finished Palanane looked up and for the first time Elenwen was able to get a clear look on her adversaries face. The chuckling casual boy that she had briefly got to know whilst in the carriage trip had all but disappeared. Elenwen was staring into the face of one wizened way beyond his years of living, a face that was deadly cold and angered, a face that demonstrated why this man was feared by so many of the Redguard Rebels. His icy blue eyes seemed to pierce through Elenwen's skull. This boy was definitely not "nothing" as Elenwen had stated, for the first time she began to fear this young man. The only response Palanane had to outrage was, "We shall see Emissary, we shall see".
Palanane then turned to look out the window of the carriage. "It seems we have arrived at our destination", he said as the caravan ground to a halt.
Palanane opened the door to the caravan and got out, Elenwen followed him out shortly after. The two looked up and upon Allemaigne's Point. It was the tallest structure in all of Alinor and seemed to be forged in a rock that displayed many different colours. The colours on the enormous skyscraper seemed to change constantly depending on the Sun's angle. It was an immensely beautiful structure. Palanane turned to Elenwen and almost mockingly stated "come, the Council is waiting".