Authors note: I am fascinated by the dunmer veiw of death and family. I think there are a lot of stories to be told there.
Standard disclaimer: I do not own Morrowind, or any of the other wondrous creations of Bethesda Softworks, however I certainly lay claim to misspellings, mistakes, tweaks, spells and characters of my own creation.
The silver-haired dunmer sat cross-legged on the edge of the circle of ancestors. Slowly she reached a hand out over the ashes. The arm was graceful, but thin. The sun-and-fire-petal colored ceremonial robes that had been carefully tailored to emphasize the curves of her form hung loosely now. The once full hair was now a singly silver braid coiled carefully atop her head. Even so, a few wisps escaped.
Carefully crumbling the aromatic herbs, she let them fall into the ashes. flakes of dried leaves and petals landed silently, instantly lost among the grey layers of those who had gone before.
"Hello my family." She murmured.
Faint sounds of hissing came to her sensitive ears as the tiny crumbles of the incense she'd offered crisped against the hidden coals. Wisps of fragrant smoke rose.
Slowly the smoke took shape. Red eyes regarded her. A faint gleam of polished bonemold shimmered in the air. A length of darkness; the memory of an ebony blade. For a moment a golden helm was visible at the spirit's feet.
"Daughter of my daughter." Affection and sorrow were in that voice. "Coda flower is usually a funeral gift."
"So it is."
Spirit and descendant regarded each other in silence for a time.
Eventually the spirit said. "You intend to join us?"
The sitting dunmer raised a thin hand to curl a tendril of loose hair back behind one ear. "My grand daughters are well-intentioned, but hasty. They will not listen now. Perhaps a decade or two hence they will be curious to hear the tales they are not yet ready to understand." She paused, and then added. "I was not ready when I was young."
A dry laugh came from the barely visible shape. "You were stubborn, I recall." Musingly, the spirit added. "You had quite a temper."
"So you told me."
Another silence, longer this time.
"You are sure?" The spirit's voice had a testing quality.
A long sigh, and then. "I love them. I do. But this body is old. I am tired, and wearing it I long for nothing but sleep. It is time for me to serve in another way."
Slowly, she reached into a pocket and drew forth a small winged amulet. A silver chain trailed from it. "I did have a temper, you are right. And I was quick to fight, but I am slow now." She set the amulet on the circle of ancestry.
"Interesting choice."
"I have always liked adventure."
~~Some Time Later~~
"What an interesting looking necklace."
"Be careful. It might be enchanted."