A/N: Slight timeskip from the previous chapter - mainly skipping over the mission to save Abnur Tharn from Mannimarco's grip.
Aneril jerked awake with a strangled gasp, throat working painfully as she tried to catch her breath. Her head swam in a post-dream fog, unable to comprehend even the ceiling of her room, as she stared up through the darkness of night. She clutched at her chest, the fabric of her shirt crumpling under her tight, trembling grip. The phantom impact of the dagger plunging through her heart was slowly fading, and Aneril became aware of the near-painful pounding in her chest – disconcerting, but reassuring at the same time.
She was alive. Still alive.
"You alright?"
She started at the voice, and turned her head to find Vareysa sitting by the table, under the dim glow of two lit candles…eating a piece of cake? So late into the night?
That revelation somehow rubbed her the wrong way, but she shook off the irritation before it could take root. Aneril rolled over to face the wall, unconsciously curling up tighter beneath the covers. Vareysa's unintentional prodding had helped, though – provided her something solid to focus on, a reminder of where she was, and where she was not.
They were still in Vulkhel Guard, lodged in a rented room at the Mara's Kiss Public House, where Aneril would leave her two companions behind while she tended to some…private business. This time, she had just returned from yet another venture into Coldharbour, domain of Molag Bal, and the one place she dearly wished never to set foot in again.
Her first time in Coldharbour, she had woken up cold and alone, a prisoner with her soul ripped away by Mannimarco, the King of Worms. It was with the help of the Prophet and Lyris Titanborn that she'd managed to escape that desolate plane of Oblivion, but they'd had to leave Lyris behind in exchange for their freedom.
The second time, she had charged into Coldharbour willingly at the Prophet's behest, to save the very one who had sacrificed her own freedom for theirs. Aneril cast off that nauseating fear to share her strength with Lyris, giving heart to the indomitable Nord warrior as they fought their way through the prison, and vanquished the manifestation of Lyris's terror that had kept her shackled to Molag Bal's realm.
The third time – this time – they had gone to rescue Abnur Tharn, who sought asylum from the manipulations of Mannimarco. With Lyris at her side, Aneril tasted little of the previous fear she had carried, though she felt uneasy about their mission to save a man who served the enemy. Nonetheless, they faced down the horrors in their path, and emerged victorious without severe wounds on their being. At least, not physically.
Being in Coldharbour, facing the twisted abominations in dark hallways, walking along the dank stone floors, breathing in the lifeless, frigid air… It never failed to dredge up that memory of being chained to the bloodied altar, watching helplessly as Mannimarco held a black soul gem over her, then drove that dagger into–
"Keep tossing about like that, and I'm gonna get seasick."
Aneril tried and failed to bite back a frustrated growl, and she opened her eyes again to find Vareysa standing by her bed. The Dunmer regarded her with a slight tilt of the head, then tapped a finger on the cup she held.
"Come on. You won't get any sleep at the rate you're going."
Aneril frowned, glaring up at Vareysa…until she realised the elf was right. Her mind was too sharp, too agitated to fall right back to sleep. So she sat up with a sigh, and accepted the cup of tea wordlessly, breathing in the distinct fragrance of jasmine. She took a small sip, the drop of warmth diffusing through her body, loosening her tense muscles. Aneril smiled faintly when the tiger cub leapt onto the bed, and laid its head in her lap, tail curled over its body as it settled back to sleep.
"Nightmare?"
She grunted at Vareysa's question, taking a longer draught of tea.
"Wanna talk about it?"
"No."
"Is it the same one you've had all those other times?" Vareysa smiled when Aneril's gaze cut towards her. "So it is. You always grab at your boobs like someone's trying to steal them."
Aneril made the unfortunate decision to drink more tea right then, because she snorted, and the beverage went down the wrong pipe, leaving her coughing and hacking for air. The cub was roused by her spasms, and prodded its muzzle at her jaw in worry, until her coughing fit had subsided.
"Fuck you," Aneril uttered, breathing through her nose as she scratched at the cub's ears, and tried to ignore her companion's quiet laugh.
"So…is it just me, or do you always have these nightmares after your jaunts outside Vulkhel Guard?"
"Just you."
"Sure. And I assume you just 'fell over', right? That's why you need all those bandages? For the…nasty little bruises."
"None of your business," Aneril said curtly, restraining the urge to cover said bandages on her arms with the blanket.
"Of course it isn't."
Aneril narrowed her eyes at Vareysa's tone – one that she'd heard many times before. "Trust me, you don't want it to be your business."
A smile was Vareysa's only reply.
"I swear," Lyris growled, clenching her fists in frustration. "I will strangle him with my own two hands, one day soon."
"Not too soon," Aneril replied with a bemused smile. "We still need Tharn's help."
"Soon after that, then." A grin parts Lyris's lips as she claps Aneril on the shoulder, the two walking out of their safe haven – the Harborage – together, leaving Tharn and Varen to converse in private.
Aneril was just checking on her acquaintances – friends? – in their hidden cave, located by a quiet coast near Vulkhel Guard's docks. She made supply runs there as often as she could, since a blind man and a half-giant warrior could hardly walk into town without attracting some attention – and revealing their location to Mannimarco ahead of time. And now, after Tharn had joined the motley group, Aneril stopped by just to ensure that Lyris hadn't introduced her fist to Tharn's face…again.
Though Varen had assured Aneril that she needn't visit so often, now that Tharn was here, Lyris seemed grateful for her presence, and often used Aneril as an excuse to spend some time away from Tharn. Not that Aneril minded – the two warriors had quickly found a certain kinship with each other, and she was happy enough sparring with Lyris, or listening to the Nord vent her frustrations and bitterness over their current situation.
On this night, they'd decided to hunt for some fresh meat in the wilderness, instead of losing precious gold to the local butcher. They were discussing specific hunting spots as they walked out of the cave entrance, when a blur of white darted across the coastal sands, and bounded right into Aneril's legs. She'd frozen with one hand on her sword hilt, when she realised it was just the tiger cub, gazing up at her with no small amount of excitement in its eyes.
"Cub?" Aneril said in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
"I think it missed you a lot."
Aneril and Lyris looked up in surprise, to find Vareysa lounging on the rocks above the cave mouth. The Dunmer smiled, then leapt off from her perch, landing effortlessly on both feet before them. As she straightened herself, Lyris held an arm before Aneril, one hand already gripping the hilt of the greatsword strapped to her back.
"Who are you?" Lyris asked, though her question might as well have gone unheard.
"Oh, Three preserve me." Vareysa raked her eyes slowly over the well-built, statuesque warrior, who stood half a head taller than Aneril – who was already quite tall by Altmer standards. "Another one. You didn't tell me you had a…Nord twin."
Aneril rolled her eyes when Vareysa winked at her, and she pulled down Lyris's arm, which was still held protectively before her. "Just what are you doing here? I told you to stay out of my business."
"Curiosity killed the cat, as they say," Vareysa drawled, looking Lyris over again. "Oh, but let me tell you, satisfaction did more than just bring her back."
"Gods above," Aneril groaned under her breath, as Lyris frowned at her.
"Aneril, who is she?"
"She's my…traveling companion."
"Ah." Lyris peered closer at Vareysa, with more curiosity this time. "You never mentioned her."
"You never mentioned me?" Vareysa gasped in mock hurt. "After all that we've been through together?"
Before Aneril could give a biting rejoinder, Lyris asked, "Can she be trusted?"
"Debatable," Aneril said.
"No argument here."
Lyris wore a lop-sided smile at Vareysa's flippant affirmation. "Those daggers," she said, nodding at the weapons on Vareysa's belt. "Can you use them well?"
"Like a master artist wields a paintbrush, yes. I believe Aneril can attest to my skill."
"She's effective with them," Aneril said when Lyris's gaze turned to her. "And…she's helped a great deal in my missions for the Queen as well." She had to stifle a long-suffering sigh, when Vareysa beamed at her admission. "But why do you want to know?"
Lyris crossed her arms, regarding Vareysa thoughtfully. "Since she's helped you so, I assume she can be trusted to some degree. I'm thinking she might be able to help us, as well."
"What!" Aneril took a step forward so she and Lyris were face-to-face. "You're not thinking of bringing her into this. It's… She is not involved in this."
"My friend," Lyris sighed. "In this, no one is uninvolved. The Planemeld, the Dark Anchors, the Daedra… Molag Bal sets his eyes on all who lives on Nirn. It's just a matter of who is willing to stand and fight against this darkness…" She huffed in laughter as her voice trailed off towards the end. "I'm starting to sound like Varen."
Lyris shook her head, then looked back at Vareysa. "I shall spare you the lengthy speeches. Instead, I would ask for your help. If you've been working with Aneril, then you already know the threat that Tamriel faces. Will you aid us?"
Aneril turned around, catching Vareysa's quiet gaze. She waited for the longest moment, holding Vareysa's placid stare, until a smile curved the Dunmer's lips.
"I don't fully understand what's going on here, I'm afraid."
"Then we will explain." Lyris exchanged a glance with Aneril, then gestured at the cave. "Shall we?"
To her credit, Vareysa's composure never cracked throughout the impossible tale. She listened calmly as the blind prophet revealed himself to be the fallen Emperor of Cyrodiil, Varen Aquilarios, and told of how Mannimarco had corrupted the Amulet of Kings, then tricked him into using it in a modified coronation ritual – thus sundering the veil between Nirn and Oblivion, and setting the Planemeld in motion. He recounted his and Aneril's initial escape from Coldharbour, Aneril's rescue of Lyris soon after, and how they helped Tharn escape Mannimarco's grip.
All were exploits in the dread realm of Molag Bal, and Varen made it very clear that they would return to Coldharbour again – first to rescue their last comrade, Sai Sahan, then on future missions to undermine the Daedric Prince's schemes. He asked if Vareysa was willing to risk her own life, to face whatever dangers and horrors lay in wait.
Her gaze drifted towards Aneril's stoic countenance and, after a moment's thought, she smirked. "Why not?"
Aneril breathed yet another sigh at the memory, as she trekked back to the city with the sleepy tiger cub in her arms, and Vareysa walking quietly at her side. But of course, her companion wouldn't be quiet for too long.
"So, were you never going to tell me about this?" Vareysa asked. "That you're trying to stop this whole Planemeld thing? Not even the fact that you don't have your own soul?"
"Like I said," Aneril uttered quietly, as they climbed the wooden steps up to the empty docks. "It's none of your business."
"A Daedric Prince is trying to bring the whole of Nirn into Oblivion and steal all our souls, and you really think it's none of my business? I like having my soul, you know. Come to think of it, is that why you're so prickly all the time–?"
Aneril halted in her tracks, looking coolly back at the Dunmer. "Have you ever stepped foot into Coldharbour?"
Vareysa cocked her head. "No."
"No one should have the misfortune to experience it. To feel the coldness, the desolation, the hopelessness. I wouldn't wish it on anyone, not even you."
"Aw, I knew you cared."
"And here you are, agreeing to this–, this suicide mission like you're accepting an invitation to dinner–"
"Aneril," Vareysa cut in, tone so cold and hard, it distracted Aneril from her would-be rant. "I have a mother. She's the only family I have. And I would charge into Coldharbour every single fucking day, just so she wouldn't have to see that place you hate so much. So yes, I'm accepting this invitation to dinner, and I'm cleaning off every damned plate I see!"
Aneril drew a sharp breath, but what passed her lips next wasn't an argument. She barked a laugh, surprising even herself when she couldn't stop. Aneril hugged the cub closer to her chest when it was woken by her sudden outburst, and it glanced over at Vareysa when she joined in as well.
"You're…horrible," Aneril gasped as she began to calm down.
"Hey." Vareysa shrugged with an unapologetic smile. "It's part of my charm."
Since that night, they hadn't been called back to the Harborage by Varen, as Tharn needed more time to uncover Sai Sahan's location within Coldharbour. But that worked out well for Aneril, because events within the Dominion had escalated quickly, and much of her time was spent working tirelessly in the Queen's service.
Under Razum-dar's instruction, Aneril had infiltrated the Veiled Heritance's ranks, and learnt that the 'Veiled Queen' who plotted Queen Ayrenn's downfall, was none other than Prince Naemon's wife – High Kinlady Estre. Aneril had hurried back to inform the Queen of Estre's identity, only to have the Kinlady disappear from under their noses. And so started their chase after the Veiled Queen.
Ayrenn sent Aneril and Vareysa ahead to investigate Dawnbreak, and the Queen's suspicion that Estre had fled there was confirmed, when they found the town being overrun by daedra. Leaving the tiger cub behind with a civilian outside the town, they aided the First Auridon Marines in pushing back their foes and rescuing the citizens trapped within. They tracked the source of the daedra to an abandoned mine outside of town, shut down the infernal portal, and learnt of Estre's true target: Firsthold.
Borrowing two horses from the Marines, they made quick time towards the major city in the north, only to find out they were too late – Firsthold was already under attack. Estre had erected a magical barrier around the castle and her Oblivion portals, protecting herself and the gates which countless daedra marched through.
Again, they left the tiger cub behind – with an injured Khajiit marine, this time – and set about stopping Estre's madness. With help from a Guild mage, they were able to destroy the wards holding up Estre's barrier, then proceeded to shatter the sigil stones within each Oblivion portal, shutting them for good.
With the Daedric threat ended, they entered Castle Firsthold with Razum-dar and a few Marines, and found one last Oblivion portal standing in Estre's place. They plunged headfirst through the portal and entered a volcanic landscape, standing on an island surrounded by lava. The sweltering heat made Aneril sweat profusely in her armour, which had felt progressively heavier through their battle in Firsthold. Despite feeling a touch lighter in the head, she nodded when Vareysa laid a hand on her pauldron, and they marched forth to face Estre herself.
The Kinlady fought ferociously for her very life, and she summoned a handful of flame atronachs to her aid. It made the battle trickier, as they had to split their attention between Estre and the fiery daedra, and the distraction proved to be Vareysa's downfall – or it would've been, if not for Aneril's intervention.
Vareysa had been occupied with an atronach herself, fending off the swipes of rocky hands with her daggers, when Estre sent a cutting gust of magic in her direction. Aneril had lunged for Vareysa then, knocking the assassin out of the spell's path. But she suffered the brunt of the magic, which rent right through her steel armour and left deep gashes running down her sword arm. The pain was blinding, and Aneril fell to her knees as her sword dropped from her fingers. But before Estre could finish Aneril off, Vareysa vanquished the atronach and pounced on Estre, taking the Kinlady by surprise as Vareysa drove a dagger deep into her heart.
Vareysa kicked the staff from Estre's hand, when she tried to fight back even in the throes of death. They watched as she collapsed to the ground, her dream dying along with the spark of life in her eyes. After retrieving her dagger, Vareysa hurried back to Aneril's side, picking her sword from the ground and helping her up, as Razum-dar destroyed the sigil stone.
In the blink of an eye, the hellish landscape folded in on itself, and they stood in the great hall of Castle Firsthold once again, though riddled with more wounds than before. Aneril was leaning heavily on Vareysa, as she tried to heal the deep wounds on her arm, and they trudged towards the exit after Razum-dar urged them to find a healer.
When they emerged from the castle, however, they were given pause when they found Queen Ayrenn waiting just before the castle doors. The Queen's eyes widened at Aneril's bleeding arm, and she hastened forward, waving away Aneril's attempted salute. She clasped the soldier's elbow carefully in one hand, and wove a powerful healing spell that twined around Aneril's arm, golden light washing over the gashes that started to close under her attention.
"My friend," Ayrenn said. "It is good to see you still stand, even under these circumstances. If you are here, then I assume…"
"Kinlady Estre is dead, Your Majesty," Aneril breathed.
"It's a sad day when good news is delivered in such grim words," Ayrenn sighed quietly, lifting her gaze to Aneril and Vareysa. "But I thank you for all the hard work you have done. You truly are a valuable asset to the Dominion."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Aneril's voice was weak, and Ayrenn frowned in concern, but her attention is quickly snatched away by the arrival of her brother. At the Queen's urging, Vareysa led Aneril away to find a healer who could finish mending her wounds.
Luckily, a mage found and guided them towards the Mages Guild hall, where the healers were hard at work patching up soldiers and unfortunate citizens wounded in the conflict. Vareysa walked Aneril to an empty bedroll in the corner and set her down. They didn't have to wait long before a mage bustled over to them, working his magic on Aneril's wounds first, then Vareysa's minor scrapes. Noting their exhausted state, he instructed them to rest, and was given no protest. The two women slumped against the wall behind them, closing their eyes gratefully.
Though she wasn't bleeding anymore, Aneril's head still felt light, and the world sometimes spun around her. But she was alive… Still alive.
"Hey. Thanks for taking the hit back there."
"Mm."
"Is Coldharbour anything like this?" Vareysa asked.
Aneril snorted. "No. I told you, Coldharbour's…cold. Quiet. Depressing. This was hot. Angry. And hot."
"You said 'hot' twice."
"Because it was really bloody hot," Aneril deadpanned, then joined in Vareysa's chuckle.
She took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly – only to have the rest of her breath knocked clean from her lungs when something barreled right into her chest. Even before she turned her gaze upon the frantic ball of white fur rubbing up against her, Aneril already recognised the cub from its worried chuffs. She smiled and hugged the cub tight, pressing a kiss to the top of its head, before it slinked over to Vareysa, where it was given the same greeting.
"The little one's really attached to you, isn't it?"
Aneril looked over at the Khajiit marine who came to crouch by her. "Ah, yes. Thanks for taking care of it."
"No problem! This one was more than happy to help," the Khajiit said with a smile. He watched the cub rub its head against Vareysa's face, then asked, "Pardon this one's curiosity, but where did you get the cub?"
"We found it in a cage at a bandit's camp. We freed it, but we don't know what to do with it… Couldn't find anyone willing to take it in."
"Ah, so that's it. This one thought the cub was a little young to be without its mother. Turns out it was stolen. Hm." The Khajiit tilted his head thoughtfully. "Do you plan to keep it, or are you still looking for a family for the cub?"
"We're keeping it around for now. But I think if we find a suitable home for it, we'll have to give it away. We can't really let it tag along for dangerous–" Aneril was cut off when the cub clambered back into her lap, and began frantically pawing at her shoulders, fixing her with a pleading gaze. The cub mewled pitifully, then threw its front paws around her neck, where Aneril could feel the harmless dig of its claws into her skin.
"Looks like it doesn't want to be given away," the Khajiit mused, scratching behind the cub's ears.
"Can it understand what we're saying?" Vareysa leaned over to join the conversation. "It seems really intelligent for just a senche-tiger. Are you sure it's not one of your senche-rahts?"
"Of course this one is sure," the Khajiit laughed. "It is difficult to tell sometimes, because there are many senche-tigers like this little one, who display intelligence very close to ours. But rest assured, this is one of our wild cousins." He patted the cub fondly. "And a very smart boy, at that."
"So if he doesn't want to leave, then…" Aneril exchanged a glance with Vareysa. "It might make things complicated."
"Because you'll be fighting a lot, eh?" He smiled when the two elves nodded. "Well, this cub may be small now, but with proper training, it can be a fearsome partner when it grows up. You just need to find someone who can teach it…" He tapped a finger at his lip. "How about this? This one knows a few people at the Khajiit trading posts in Valenwood. He can direct you to some friends, who can teach this cub to be a true tiger."
Aneril raised a brow and glanced down at the cub, who was now nestled snugly against her chest. She ran a hand down its back, getting a contented growl in return. It fixed her with a loving blue gaze, and the deal was sealed.
"Sure. Tell me."
A/N: Massive exposition blorb here, because this fic started out in a direction totally different from what I'm writing now. (Neither of them were to be the Vestige.) So I quickened the plot in Auridon to catch things up. Will slow down from here...mostly.