Dear Farkas,
Well, I've been here for a couple weeks, and I must say, I love it. When I approached the college, there was a high elf woman standing at the bridge so she could administer a test to keep out those who have no skill. When I told her my name, she said she recognized me. She had heard of the girl from the Arcane University who had been publishing alchemical theses since she was a girl. But I still cast a lightning rune for her. Her name is Faralda and we've actually sort of become friends. At least we've been working together a lot. She's very experienced in destruction magic and she's been teaching me to master cloak spells. She was surprised that I never bothered to learn them before, as it is especially useful to battle-mages.
You know, I've just realized, since I've come to Skyrim, I've befriended everyone whose names begin with Fa. You, Fastred, Faralda. How odd is that?
And don't worry, I haven't neglected my mission. Even though I've been working with Faralda on my own stuff, I've still been spending plenty of time in the Arcaneum so I can try to find a cure. Although, I must admit, it's not going as well as I would have hoped. I keep hoping there will be an alchemical cure, but it's starting to look like that's not the right way to go about it.
I also love how beautiful this place is. The college sits over the frozen ocean, and I absolutely love watching the sun rise and set over the frozen crystals shining over the water. Although I have to admit, as beautiful as it is, being this far north, especially at the end of Sun's Dusk, is difficult. How I envy your thick Nord blood.
Hope to hear back soon!
Yours,
Aurelia
P.S. How are Ria, Athis and Torvar doing? I feel guilty that I didn't say hello to them when I returned. I just really didn't feel like seeing anyone, you know why.
Farkas was relieved for two reasons when he received her letter. For one, it was starting to look like she was doing something besides beating herself up for what happened in Apocrypha. Second, he was afraid she would be too embarrassed to write him after their last conversation. He found himself thinking about what she let slip out to him quite often, even though she said she meant nothing by it. He was in love with her. He had been thinking about it for awhile, but he decided this for sure on Solsteim. How could these feelings be anything else? No one had ever made him feel the way she did. She was smart, the smartest woman he'd ever met, and yet she didn't think he was dumb. In fact, he felt smarter when he was with her, and it was a good feeling. And she was strong. He felt that if she was by his side, they could conquer the world. Not that she'd want to. No, she would be content to simply explore it. That was another thing he loved about her. She made the world feel so big and exciting. He was happiest when he was with her and loneliest when she was gone. And her little slip made him feel like maybe she thought about him in the same way.
But he never got around to telling her how he felt. Partly because he wasn't sure he had a chance with her. He always thought she would prefer someone on the same level of intelligence, probably another mage, like that high elf she was with years ago. Just because he felt smarter when he was with her, didn't mean he actually was. Still, maybe he had a chance. So he decided he was going to tell her.
He put aside her letter and took out a sheet of parchment and ink so he could write his own. But he found he was just staring at the page. He really thought that since the thoughts came so easily, the words would too. He wrote several drafts before he decided he'd rather tell her in person. It would be better that way anyway.
/
"Are you sure there's nothing I can help with?" Urag gro Shub's voice was clearly impatient.
"I'm fine." Aurelia said as she stared intently at the bookshelf with a hand on her chin. She reached up and began pulling a book off the shelf.
"You've read 'Physicalities of Werewolves' three times already. I'm pretty sure it doesn't have what you're looking for."
"I'm not looking for anything in particular," Aurelia said as she nonchalantly shoved the book back into place, because that was, in fact, the book she grabbed. "I just find werewolves fascinating."
"Hmph." This girl was so obviously looking for something in particular, it was painful. Although he didn't know why she was trying to be so discreet about it. There were few subjects that were taboo at this college, and lycanthropy wasn't one of them. "You know, if you're so fascinated with werewolves, maybe you should spend some time researching the source of lycanthropy."
"The source?"
"I mean the Daedric Princes. You do know that lycanthropy comes from Hircine, right?"
"Right! Of course!" she clapped her hands together "That would indeed make for some interesting reading. Would you be so kind as to direct me to the section on daedric matters?"
"Over there." He said as he pointed.
"Right, thanks."
Aurelia's eyes roamed the bookshelf. There were so many she didn't know where to start. But one tome caught her eye, so she picked it up. On Daedric Curses by Eloise Lalune. This looked promising. She took it to a table and began reading. It was written in a way that even those who weren't well-versed in conjuration magic could understand it, which she was immeasurably grateful for. But she had only read a few pages when a voice interrupted her.
"Aurelia! I thought I'd find you here."
"Oh, hi Onmund."
"Tolfdir is beginning a lecture soon, are you coming?"
"Yeah, sure."
She put the book back on the shelf. She would find time to read it later. She followed Onmund to the Hall of Elements where J'zargo, Brelyna and Tolfdir were already waiting.
"Welcome! Welcome! We were just beginning, please stay and listen." Tolfdir said. "So, as I was saying, the first thing to understand is that magic is, by its very nature, volatile and dangerous. Unless you can control it, it can and will destroy you.
"Sir, I think we all understand that fairly well. We wouldn't be here if we couldn't control magic." Brelyna said.
"Of course, my dear, of course. You all certainly possess some inherent natural ability. That much is not being questioned. What I'm talking about it true control, mastery of magic. It takes years, if not decades of practice and study." Tolfdir said.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get started!" J'zargo said.
"Please, please, this is exactly what I'm talking about. Eagerness must be tempered with caution, or else disaster is inevitable." Tolfdir said.
"But we've only just arrived here, you've no idea what any of us are capable of. Why not give us a chance to show you what we can do?" Onmund said.
"Aurelia, you've been quiet so far, what do you think we should do?"
"Well, needless to say, caution is important. I could tell you many a tale in which a disregard for it has led to death. However, one does not take great leaps without taking risks. If we alchemists had kept our tongues in our mouths, we would not have made any discoveries at all. So, I guess…"
"We're all pretty new at this, right?" Onmund said when Aurelia didn't finish her sentence "Let's just give it a chance. What's the worse that could happen?"
"Well, there are a lot of ways I could answer that question, but yes, we should try something" Aurelia said.
"All right, let's settle down, I suppose we could try something practical. In continuing with our theme of safety, we'll start with wards. Wards are protective spells that block magic."
"Ah yes, wards have saved my life many times. Like most recently, during a trip to Solsteim…" But she stopped as the memory clamped painfully on her brain. "Er, I mean. I've used them many times. A very good place to start. Good thinking, Tolfdir."
"Well, if you're familiar with them, would you mind demonstrating?"
"Certainly."
Aurelia easily blocked the firebolt that Tolfdir sent her way.
"Well, I think this is an excellent start. I'd like you all to continue practicing with wards please. I think we're ready to begin exploring some of the various applications of magic throughout history. The college has undertaken a fascinating excavation in the ruins of Saarthal nearby. It's an excellent learning opportunity. I suggest we meet there in a few hours, and see what awaits us inside. That's all for now, thank you."
The four of them practiced with wards for about a half hour before heading out to the courtyard. Aurelia was immediately approached by a courier.
"I've been looking for you, got something I'm supposed to deliver, your hands only. Let's see here. Ah, a letter from Farkas of the Companions. Looks like that's it. Got to go."
Butterflies erupted in her stomach as she look the letter. She had opted to stay completely casual in her letter to him, she prayed to the Divines that he would too.
"Ah, that's right, you're a Companion too! Do you think they want you back on urgent business?" Onmund said.
"Doubt it. This member and I simply like to correspond."
"Is… Is he a lover?"
"Nope, but we're very close." Aurelia tried to sound nonchalant.
"Oh, okay." Was it just her, or did he sound a little relieved?
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm getting a snack before we head out to Saarthal." Brelyna said.
"I think I'll join you." Aurelia said.
/
Dear Aurelia,
Yeah, Ria, Athis and Torvar were disappointed when you didn't see them. But I told them you were on an urgent, private mission from Kodlak. They understood. So I wouldn't worry about it.
Vilkas and I are spending more time together. I like it. We used to fight about you a lot. But I think he likes you more now, after he heard about what you're doing for Kodlak, even if he won't say it out loud.
Listen, when you get back, there's something important I want to talk to you about. I don't want to say it over a letter, I want this to be in person.
I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. I hope you come back with lots of stories.
Yours,
Farkas
Aurelia's face blistered and her stomach roiled. She was almost certain it had to do with her stupid slip up the last time they were together. Damn it all. She just wanted to pretend that nothing happened, and they could just move on. Apparently, Farkas wasn't going to let that happen. He was a very straightforward man, and if he actually had romantic feelings for her, he probably would have told her by now. This important thing he wanted to talk about was probably just going to be him rejecting her. He was blunt, but he was also kind. At least he would probably let her down gently. It was getting increasingly difficult to pretend she wasn't falling in love with him and that his rejection wouldn't hurt, even if he was gentle about it. But there were some things he said, or sometimes the way he said them, that made her think she might have a chance. And yet, a familiar fear gripped her heart at the thought that a romance with him would be possible. The last time she felt like this about someone, she ended up humiliated. The fear tightened at the realization that this was nothing like her relationship with Rovindel. The relationship she had with him felt like a puddle compared to what she had with Farkas. There was so much more to lose…
"I thought you said he wasn't a lover." Brelyna's voice jerked her out of her thoughts.
"He's not!" She laid the letter aside and returned to the bowl of stew that sat before her.
"If that's true, why are you blushing so much?"
"I'm not blushing." Aurelia said, feeling stupid as the words came out.
"Right." Brelyna muttered sarcastically "Onmund's going to be heartbroken, you know."
"What are you talking about?"
"You really haven't noticed that he's infatuated with you?"
"Oh, that. He'll get over that once he realizes he only likes me because he's lonely. He's been surrounded by Nord girls who wanted nothing to do with him because he practices magic, and now all of sudden he's surrounded by women who practice magic, so he thinks he has a chance."
"So does he have a chance with you then?"
"Of course not. I mean he's sweet and handsome, and I like him as a person, but he's not…"
"Him." Brelyna finished for her "Whoever this man you're writing to is."
Aurelia blushed "We really should get to Saarthal now."
/
Aurelia's trek back to the college was accompanied by relentless snow and relentless darkness. She had lost track of the other apprentices and Tolfdir decided to stay to investigate… actually, she had no idea what they found. What began as an innocent field trip led to the discovery of a large orb that radiated magicka, which was preceded by fighting through draugr (nothing she wasn't used to) but more strangely, some phantom from some long forgotten society called the Psijic Order appeared before her (but not Tolfdir for some reason) and informed her that something dangerous was going to happen because of their actions here, and that he believed she would overcome them. Or something to that effect. Normally, she would have been thrilled at such a discovery, but right now all she could think was that it was a distraction from her research. Nevertheless, she would report their findings to the Archmage in the morning and see this through to the end.
She had just entered the still streets of Winterhold when she saw a figure coming towards her. Her left hand glowed with magicka-fueled fire, but when she saw that is was just a courier, she relaxed.
"You're Aurelia Ventus, right? I've got a letter for you."
Aurelia furrowed her brow, but took the letter. She had just received a letter from Farkas today, she didn't know who else would be writing her. When she returned to her quarters, she read the letter.
Aurelia,
I've figured out how we're going to get you into the Thalmor Embassy! The Thalmor ambassador, Elenwen, regularly throws parties where the rich and connected cozy up to the Thalmor. I can get you into one of those parties. Specifically the New Life party on the first of Morning Star. Once you're inside the Embassy, you get away and find Elenwen's secret files. I have a contact inside the Embassy. He's not up for this kind of high-risk mission, but he can help you. His name's Malborn. Wood elf, plenty of reason to hate the Thalmor. You can trust him. I'll get word for him to meet you in Solitude, at the Winking Skeever on the day of the party. In the meantime, I'll work on getting you an invitation to Elenwen's little party. Meet me at the Solitude stables after you've arranged things with Malborn. If you have any questions, I'm still at the Sleeping Giant Inn.
-Delphine
Aurelia had so much on her mind the past couple weeks that she completely forgot about Delphine and their mission. Well, she had about a month before the first of Morning Star. Whatever was going on at the College of Winterhold, surely it wasn't so big that they wouldn't solve it by the end of Evening Star, right?