Chapter 10- Restoration
Calvus awoke to two elven faces looking down at him. One was Aranwen, the other Areldur. Calvus realised his position, he was lying down on the stone floor of the Chorrol chapel, unable to move from the curses effect.
"He's awake! Calvus are you alright?" Aranwen asked with utmost concern.
"No…" Calvus said in a weak voice.
"Stay there Sir Knight, I'll get something to help you!" Areldur said, running into the chapel hall.
"Well what else is he going to do?" Aranwen called after him. "Don't worry you'll be okay." she said to Calvus, turning her attention back to him.
Calvus had never really had the chance to look at Aranwen's face for an extended period of time. Back in the Fighters Guild he would only look at her briefly at her face from across the dining table, then turn away when he knew she had caught his glance. It was stupid really but hey, it made him get out of bed. But now, lying down on the floor unable to move he had an opportunity to study her face further. 'Study' wasn't the right word, more like 'Admire'. Her face was slim, but not gaunt, and her skin was a nice shade of light pink. She had deep brown eyes, eyes in which he could see concern and love. Her long brown hair went down to just below her shoulders, but was always tied up when she was on a contract. The Guild seemed such a long time ago…
"Why are you staring at me?" Aranwen asked.
"Err …I wasn't." Calvus mumbled.
"What were you thinking?" she demanded, narrowing her eyes.
"Well, actually I was thinking how beautiful you are." stuttered Calvus.
"Oh..." she said as a bright pink flush rose up her neck to her cheeks "I think that curse must be affecting your brain."
Calvus was about to dispute this but at that moment Areldur returned, so he decided to quit while he was ahead. The High elf was carrying a small purple phial in his hands. He popped the cork off with his thumb, and put the bottle to Calvus's lips. Calvus had no choice but to drink it. The potion tasted quite fruity, he could detect apple and orange as part of the ingredients. He then felt the potions effect, he felt not as tired or as weak. In fact after about twenty seconds, he felt normal. Areldur then offered him a hand, which Calvus took gladly. He was surprised at the Altmers strength as he pulled him up, he was wearing heavy armour after all.
"Thank you.." Calvus said. "What was that potion by the way?"
"One that fortifies fatigue," Areldur said, carefully placing the empty phial on a wooden bench. "It lasts for about a day Sir Knight, and I am afraid that is the only one I have. Once the affect wears off, you will tire considerably quickly."
"Damn! That means I need something to keep my fatigue fortified for a long time." Calvus said.
"I just might have an idea.." Aranwen chipped in, eyeing Sir Amiels ring on Calvus's finger.
Contumeliorus Florius was an Imperial in the Mages Guild, and was just about to go for lunch at the Oak and Crosier, when he heard somebody knocking on the door of the Guild Hall. He hadn't been outside today, despite the other townsfolk talking about this so called 'Divine Crusader'. Well if he did bump into this 'Crusader' he would have a thing or two to say to him! He had killed a few bandits, so what? The Legion guards who patrolled the roads did that and much more, and they didn't get all this attention! He opened the door and almost fainted.
"Good day citizen! I am the Divine Crusader and I was wondering if you could be of a service to me?" The figure at the door said.
Contumeliorus stepped back, his mouth open. This 'Crusader' guy may be something to shout about after all, just look at his armour!, he thought. But then he remembered his previous thoughts about the Crusader only a few moments earlier, and prepared an offensive.
"Your nothing but a stuck up bastard who does so called 'good deeds' while wearing shiny armour! There's nothing special about you at all!" he said.
But even as he said these words, he was questioning himself of their truthfulness, or why he was actually saying them. This guy did not only look impressive but dangerous. He had a silver shortsword, and was holding its hilt. Well he had done it now, he was going to be killed by this Knight in shining armour. However, to the mages surprise, the Crusader said:
"Oh I agree with you wholeheartedly my good man! But what we can we few do against so many?"
He stepped aside to reveal a large group of Chorrols inhabitants looking at the Crusader and what he was up to. Some people were even waving at him and shouting compliments. Contumeliorus had just been bested spectacularly. He begrudgingly let the Crusader in, and closed the door behind him.
"Well what do you want?" he asked
"You work with enchanted items?" the Crusader asked.
"I enchant 'em and recharge 'em" he said
"Then could you do me a small favour? Could you enchant this ring to fortify the wearers fatigue?" the Crusader said, placing a golden ring with a red diamond shaped stone on a wooden counter. Contumeliorus said: 'Tthhhh' It was one of those noises that traders and blacksmiths made when something was going to be expensive.
"Let me see, its harder to enchant it when its gold, then there's the soul gems, the souls aren't as good as they were you know. The Magetallow candles are going to need replacing on the alters and-" he began.
"Could you just tell me how much please?" The Crusader interrupted.
"2000 gold" The mage said.
"Could I persuade you to go lower?"
"It would require some great persuasion I'm afraid"
"Okay okay, 250 gold!" Contumeliorus said half an hour later.
"Done!" Calvus said beaming.
"And you won't tell anyone?"
"Not a soul.."
It wasn't blackmail, Calvus decided later, he was just extremely good at persuasion. He shook the mages hand, who took the ring, placed it on an alter with a soul gem, and set to work. Calvus leaned against a wooden table and watched him with interest. It was at that point Aranwen and Areldur entered the Guild hall. Contumeliorus ignored them, but Calvus greeted them with a smile.
"Hi! I see your making use of my idea then!" Aranwen said to him.
"Well it was a good idea!" Calvus said.
He then noticed Areldur standing a few feet away from him, looking quite sheepish.
"Something up?" he asked.
"Well it's this, Sir Knight" Areldur replied with honesty. "I could not take on the curse for Kellen because of my own cowardice. Yet you took it on without hesitation, willing to sacrifice your health for someone else. It is because of this I am beginning to question my own position as a priest. I now realise I need time to think, Sir Knight, think about my position and my future. I need some time alone, so if you will excuse me, I will take my leave. I hope we may meet again."
"So do I." Calvus replied.
With that, Areldur nodded at him, then went out of the door.
"What a nice person!" Calvus said after the door closed.
After about twenty minutes Contumeliorus finished. Calvus handed over 250 gold and put the ring on. The curse he had inherited was almost swallowed up by the feeling of energy he got from the ring. He then said his farewells as he and Aranwen went out the door of the Mages Guild.
"Well where are you going now? Now you've seen me and got the Gauntlets?" Aranwen asked.
"Probably back to the Priory of the Nine in the West Weald." Calvus replied. "Want to come?"
He could see genuine excitement in Aranwen's face.
"Of course I do!" she said beaming.
He took her hand and led her through the streets of Chorrol. When they were nearing the main gate he encountered someone he had been hoping not to meet.
"Aranwen! What are you doing with this…Oh my…" Modryn Oreyn said.
Calvus turned his head quickly so Modryn couldn't see it was him through the Helm. Calvus would have preferred to meet anybody, including Umaril himself, rather then Modryn Oreyn. Umaril could just kill you. Modryn would browse the Fighters Guild charter for hours, and would probably find a rule that would say: 'Thou shalt not become a Holy Knight without Guildmaster's consent.' or something similar. He would then punish Calvus accordingly, meaning 100 push ups in the morning for a week and a temporary demotion, and would generally shout at him until he was fit for promotion again.
Luckily, Modryn didn't recognise him through the Helm, and instead said to him:
"Are you the Divine Crusader?"
"Er…yes!" Calvus replied, trying to disguise his voice.
"And where are you taking one of my men?"
"To my priory in the country. She needs a break." Calvus said with his disguised voice.
Modryn then looked at Aranwen, who nodded quickly.
"Fine, we have no contracts anyway." he said.
Inside, Calvus sighed in relief, but his fear was restored when Modryn said:
"Just one more thing Crusader!"
Bugger! He knows!, Calvus thought, preparing himself for the worst.
"Could I have an autograph?" Modryn asked, producing a piece of parchment and a quill.
Calvus took the quill hesitantly, then signed the piece of paper and gave it back.
"Thanks!" Modryn said, then walked off.
Calvus and Aranwen waited until they were outside the gate before they burst out laughing.