Act X: No Escape
4E, Thirteenth of Second Seed, Tirdas
Neloth and Frea were still looking at me in utter horror. "It means…" Neloth said. "Starting at this moment, Miraak can see what you see…" Tears began falling down my face. As a princess, my emotions tend to be hidden. But not this time. "Is there anyway we can reverse what Miraak did?" Frea asked. Neloth rushed over to his books and began to look for a solution like an elf possessed, Frea following after him.
I was on the cot with my head buried in my hands. Why did I let that bastard priest touch me? What had gotten into me? Was this what they called 'fatal attraction'? I surely hope not, for hate is the only thing I feel after witnessing what he did to my people. My eyes then fell on a short, silver dagger on Neloth's desk. Its silver gleam danced in my eyes. And then, an idea hit me. What if I blinded myself? Perhaps Miraak may not be able to track our movements then. But it will hurt greatly. I looked back, and saw Neloth and Miraak hitting the books, literally burying themselves in books of magic and occult.
After almost half an hour of searching, none of them found a way to reverse Miraak's curse. I was without hope. But the dagger that gleamed maliciously on my mentor's desk tempted me to take it and stab my eyes out, but Frea would not approve of it, I am sure. So I resisted the urge to take it and blind myself and sat still. I barely had any appetite to eat, and I was greatly disheartened. Frea placed an assuring hand on my shoulder as Neloth went downstairs to get some breakfast done by the steward.
"It will be alright." Frea said. "We will find a way. I am not sure what, but we will not give up." "I actually have a plan." I said. "If Miraak uses my eyes to see this world, then I shall blind myself so he would also be blind to the world." Frea's crystalline eyes widened. "You? Blind yourself? That's a preposterous idea!" she exclaimed. "By the All-Maker, the pain you'll endure will be great. The inability to see the beauty of this world will be a lifelong torment." I smiled sadly. Looking at the situation I had gotten myself into, I knew I was a toy to the darkness. "Let's get help from Storn." I proposed. "Being a shaman, perhaps he is familiar with these enchantments." "Not without breakfast, I fear." came Neloth's voice. He and his steward came in the room and brought a tray of netch stew, cannis root tea, and sweet rolls.
"A hearty breakfast, I might say." Frea said as she took a sweet roll. I followed suit, and Neloth did so as well. "Master," I spoke to him. "This enchantment Miraak has placed on me, are you familiar with this?" Neloth stroked his pointed beard. "It could be a modified version of the ancient spell that Hermaeus Mora would use on his chosen one." he said. "But I'm afraid, there is no known way to break its hold."
I felt like my heart and my insides just wanted to burst out. More and more, I kept thinking. I am a princess, sent by House Redoran to oversee how our Dunmer brethren were doing, and then this predicament. But I was too late, and my slow actions caused this effect. With all the despair, I grabbed the dagger on the table. I realized that Frea and Neloth tried to hold me back, but I was quicker. And without a moment's hesitation, I pointed the knife's tip to my face. And the next thing I remember is that everything went pitch black.
Then the sensation of a tentacle wrapping around my leg as I was getting dragged down in darkness. As I came to, I found myself again at the summit of Apocrypha, with Miraak standing. From beneath that awful mask, I can sense him smirking in triumph.
"Well, how did the blinding go, fahliil?" he said as he helped me to my feet with just one hand. "Impossible!" I screamed at him. My mind went frantic, my heartbeat was erratic, like it would burst out of me. "There…there has to be a way…" I just found myself on my knees, tears streaming down my face. Never in my life have I been in such despair. "Stop..please…" I begged, my words choked from the sobbing. Miraak bent down to my level and tilted my chin up to meet his face, or mask. "There's no escape from this." he said. "The moment you involved yourself in my plan… You will not get away. Think of it as…being condemned." I shook my head, refusing to believe any of the words he said. I will not be condemned to this damned fate. There must be a way out of it. Sweet Azura, guide me, for I am straying into the darkness.
"Even if you blind your eyes," Miraak said. "That does not stop me from seeing through you. You can never hurt yourself in such a degree, anyway, so why bother? Accept your destiny, and you will be sweetly rewarded." His hand was glowing with a fire red, and he clamped it down hard on my bare arm, making me scream my throat hoarse. "Now take that message of mine and show it to all of the people you see… My return will come soon." My flesh was singed and burned, as I cringed on the floor, writhing in pain. Apparently, Miraak loved the sight as he picked me up by the hair and pushed me back against one of the pillars.
"Aren't you honored by this, Almeria?" he said, now gripping my arm and my neck. "I know I am. Such a powerful soul you have. How long can it stand against the storm before it breaks? I'd like to see that…" He took off his mask, revealing that chiseled, handsome face, and that animalistic smile playing on his lips. "And now will be the time to see…" He kissed me on the lips once more. There was nothing gentle about his act, as his lips crushed into mine, his tongue slithering and dominating my own. The man's sheer muscle was hard for me to resist, and to make sure I don't wriggle free, he gripped both of my arms close to my side tightly.
A low moan of satisfaction escaped the Dragon Priest's lips as he pulled away. "I'll habve all of you to myself soon." He said as he wore his mask once more. He waved his hands over my face, making me fall unconscious. "Go back to your world for now. And tell them my coming is nigh." I had that falling feeling again, and the next moment, I found myself strapped onto Master Neloth's table.
"By Azura, what happened to you?!" Neloth exclaimed, his voice filling the room. "You were lashing out! What has gotten into you?" My head was fuzzy. All I remembered was grabbing the knife and trying to gouge my eyes out, but apparently, that was not the case, as Frea was on the chair, her sleeves ripped and scars, freshly opened, adorned it. "Did I slash her like that?" I asked. "Yes, you did." Neloth answered. "It seemed you were in Miraak's control. This is far worse than I-what's that on your arm?" He gently took out my arm, and saw letters burnt into my flesh. But he could not read them, for they were written in the Nordic alphabet. "Frea." he called out. The Skaal warrior walked slowly towards me with worry on her face. "Are you alright?" she asked, the fear imminent in her voice. I nodded, and I was trying to form an apology for her. I didn't know I would be controlled in such a deadly fashion. "Frea, I… I'm sorry…" I said, tears welling up in my eyes. "I…didn't know you…I..." I buried my face in my hands, sobbing as Frea embraced me gently. "It will be alright…" she whispered to me. "Come, let us return to our village. We'll see what my father can do." I nodded, and after offering me breakfast, Frea and I left Tel Mithryn to return once more to the Skaal Village.
Almeria! No! Our fierce Dark Elf has now fallen to the brink of despair, but whatever she does, she can't escape? What'll happen next? Chapters coming up soon! I'm sorry for the delay :(