Third Tale: The House of Troubles
"The Tribunal? Ha! Foolish little mortals grasping at Godhood. Powerful ants, but ants none the less..."
-Mehrunes Dagon, on the subject of the Tribunal of Morrowind-
To the people of her nation she was Almalexia, the merciful healing mother. She was a light in the darkness and pain of their homeland. She was one of the three becons of hope that were the Tribunal. And for the first time in a very long time Almalexia was truly confused.
The Goddess of Morrowind sat alone in her temple chamber, watching the flicker of the torches in the corners of the stone room intently. She had sent away her many followers and atendants for the day, even banishing her gaurds to the outer halls. This had been a day of many such firsts for her, starting with a visit from the representative of one of the very Daedric Princes.
"I do not have a name and my time is short," The figure in black robes had told her pointedly apon arrival. How he had passed by her gaurds without notice was beyond her, much less how she had failed to sense his arrival.
"Why have you come?"
"My lord, your patron, has sent me..."
"Boethiah?" Her voice was a whisper in the crowded chamber. With a gesture she sent the followers away and faced the stranger alone. Her powers gleaned little from him, aside from the fact that he was not of this world.
"Lord Boethiah has sent me with a request," The man went on once they were alone. "He would have you enterain a guest on his behalf today."
"A guest?" She frowned, not liking where this was going.
"Yes, a guest." He looked on the verge of rephrasing but halted and glanced at the floor for a moment. "A very important guest who will be paying a visit with my lord's blessing."
"And what is expected of me?"
"Merely talk with her for a time, I have been told that her visits tend to be brief." Her? So then she knew the gender of the mysterious visitor if nothing else.
"That is all?" She asked incredulously, any matter involving the Princes was never so simple.
"That is all," He confirmed with a bow. Almalexia simply noded, which brought a smile from what she could see of his face under the cowl. The man turned to leave but halted at the door.
"And one more thing," He sounded nervous. "I have been told that her company can be... unsettling at first. So, be ready." Then he left her to her thoughts. That had been an hour ago.
Her thoughts were interupted suddenly by the sharp groan of the door opening. She began to stand but froze when she saw the pair entering. One was clearly a Dremora, adorned in black gleaming armor and resting a casual hand on the wicked looking mace at his hip. The other was of a race unknown to her, a female of golden skin an yellow eyes. She wore gilded golden armor and had a set of elegant swords strapped across her back.
The two were silent, neither showing much interest in her as they took up places at either side of the doorway in much the same fashion as her own gaurds stood while she was meditating. Before she could study the pair further the golden clad woman gave the room a cursory glance and spoke a single word.
"Clear," At her word an older looking human in black clothing walked in. He strode to her and bowed before speaking.
"Lady Almalexia, I thank you for your time." The man was politely spoken, reserved and calm.
"My name is Haskill and I give you Urzkar of the Dremora clan Urdock and former Kynmarcher of Lord Mehrunes Dagon," He said with a nod at the Dremora, who said nothing in return though his eyes narrowed at the word "former".
"And Darcy," Now the golden woman. "Pelaurig of the Aureals and former servant of my creator the Madgod Sheogorath." Almalexia didn't know what to say so after a moment the man simply continued.
"We have come with our mistress Vanessa Alperidion, who wished to speak with you." As he spoke Almalexia noticed the open doorway now led to a completely unfamiliar courtyard, through which a little girl was now walking. "Ah yes, here she is," He added, seeing the girl enter.
"Hello there!" She chirped happily, waving at her. Almalexia's powers failed her completely when it came to reading the girl, she was like a blank slate standing before her.
"I..." The Goddess found herself once more at a lose for words. The little Altmer girl was smiling and taking in the room with open wonder. She couldn't be older than twelve by her guess, wearing a white bell dress and pushing a mop of blonde hair from her eyes.
"Your room sure is dark," She noted sagely. "My name's Nessa!" The girl took Almalexia's legs in a hug. At no single point in her very long life had the Goddess been more confused and unsettled than at that very moment.
"Young Mistress," Haskill interupted the girl's hug, which was a blessing. "I believe you had a question for Lady Almalexia. Nessa gasped and jumped away with a grin.
"Oh ya!" She became somber. "Aunt Meri told me a story that had icky mudcrabs in it!"
"Aunt Meri?" She was totally lost.
"She speaks of Meridia, who is along with the other Daedric Princes, her family." Haskill told her with an annoyed sigh. Almalexia's eyes widened in shock. "It is as they say, a long story..." He added.
"Mr. Haskill tell her about the mudcrabs!" Nessa yanked at his pant leg. The man merely grimaced and obliged.
"In any case my young mistress was recently told the tale of Akavir's invasion of Morrowind by a house guest, which at some point made breif mention of the mudcrabs." The girl shuddered at the mention of the creatures.
"They're gross!" She cried. "Uncle Pery summoned one for me but it was scary and Miss Darcy squished it for me..." The Aureal gave a nod at the mention.
"The young mistress became infatuated with the things none the less," Haskill went on. "Which led her to the need to ask a question of you, whom she has also taken quite an interest in."
"Which is?" She asked, wanting this whole thing to be over with more and more.
"Do they scare you too?" Nessa asked with wide eyes, her hands clasped behind her back.
"The mudcrabs?" Of all the idiotic... Almalexia was beginning to get the first headache she had had since her ascent to Godhood. "No, of course not." She struggled to keep her voice level.
"But they're so slimey and they have big claws!"
"They are no smarter or more powerful than rats," This was getting to be too much for her.
"Oooh," Nessa whispered. "What's a rat?"
"Oh dear," Haskill murmered. "Here we go again,"
The Goddess and the girl continued to talk for a while longer, mostly the girl just asked questions so childish Almalexia was forced to take deep breaths to mantain her calm. But before long Nessa's head began to lul with sleepiness and Haskil took her into his arms, where she fell into a deep sleep almost instantly.
"I thank you for your time my lady," He bowed stiffly with the girl in his arms. And when they were gone she sat dazed and wondered what in Oblivion had just happened.
Members of the temple were not allowed back in for nearly a week.
Writer's note: Thank you to all of those who have read thus far, and whom I hope will continue to walk with me on these strange roads. A bit of clarification: While Haskill and Darcy are gifts from Sheogorath it is worth noting that Nessa has been given at least one gift from each of the Princes. Misthaven Manor itself was made by Vaermina, to keep Nessa out of harms reach by any mortals who may descover her connection to the Princes.