Fate's Games
(A/N: Came from the bug where you can spare Estormo. Sheath your weapon, he supposedly stops attacking. Not that my character has any loyalty to the Thalmor, but they always seem to appear in situations that are romance gold. Not that this particular oneshot is as romantic or sad as some of the others, but there is a lot that could be done with the moment you meet him.)
Life and Death
She staggered towards the lever and pulled it down. The gate opened and weakly she went through. She hoped her power would regenerate soon. Finally she could get out of here. The door ahead suddenly opened up, though, and she paused, looking at the figure that entered. A high elf, a Thalmor, and for a moment she thought it was Ancano. She shivered. Oh gods, she despised that one.
"So, you made it out of there alive. Ancano was right. You are dangerous," he said in an amused and impressed tone. She listened cautiously. The fact his hands were lit with shock spells wasn't reassuring her. "I'm afraid I'll have to take that staff from you, now. Ancano wants it kept safe. Oh, and he wants you dead. Nothing personal."
"I have no quarrel with you," she replied softly, sighing. She didn't want a fight. She just wanted this all to end.
"I'm afraid it's not that simple," he replied.
"Get out of my way," she warned.
"You fool. You don't stand a chance," he replied.
"I fought off Morokei, I have battled dragons. You will fall if you face me. Like all of them," she answered.
He chuckled darkly then scowled, letting the spells go. They struck her and she cried out in pain. She staggered up and pulled out the staff of Magnus. Immediately she shot him with it. If they were to fight, it would be a fair one. He was startled to find his magic gone. Then she drew her weapon. She was through with playing. This would end, and if he wasn't prepared, it was his loss.
ES
She had a fire burning within her, he sensed. It was as plain as day to him the moment he entered the room. He was impressed, very much so. Unfortunately, that wouldn't save her. Or perhaps he was putting too much faith in his abilities. Humph, it didn't matter. This would end quickly. He was amused by her resistance to a fight, then even more so when she flat out told him to get out of her way. He was cautious when he drained her magic and she pulled out the staff draining his in return. He was alarmed when she pulled out her weapon and he had nothing. Now he was desperate.
He drew an elven dagger, but he knew it would stand no chance against her blade. He would have to be quicker. He blocked her attack then sliced at her. She pulled back quickly and spun, cutting at him. He blocked it and came to within centimeters of her face. Startled they both paused. Oh by the divines, no. He would not be disarmed by her proximity. She suddenly pulled back and stabbed. He managed to parry but the dagger flew from his hand and the next thing he knew he was leaning against a table, her blade at his throat.
"I am tired of you and your kind. I have had all I can take of the Thalmor and their tyranny. You will die, young man, you will die painfully," she hissed.
"Death is only the beginning," he replied, but it wasn't said with a sneer. It was said with approval. She started. Approval? She almost shivered at the realization. If a Thalmor approved of her actions… Perhaps they weren't the actions she should take?
"It will end for you, Estormo," she answered, casting soul trap on him. He cringed and moaned at the slight discomfort of the spell entering his body. "You will never see the light again."
"I suppose not. A pity. It will be one of the few things I'll miss," he answered.
ES
She started and looked at him a long moment. He would miss the light? "You have only ever dealt in darkness," she said coldly. "How can you miss that which you never saw?"
"What I never saw? Lady, we are all living creatures. We all see the light, we all feel pain, we all have emotions, we are all living souls. Just, some hide it better than others," he answered. "End it, now. I've never cared much for life or death anyway." She did nothing a long moment for she knew… She knew that if she killed him, he'd won. He would die here with no regrets, inwardly laughing at her until his dying breath. She didn't see the man's hand light with a destruction spell. Finally she pulled the blade away, though, and walked from the cave.
For a moment he thought to attack again. Until it dawned on him that his life had just been spared. He started, shocked. She couldn't bring herself to end him? Why? What fun was that? What kind of game would it be if the stakes weren't high? What fun was it if she didn't care whether he lived or died? Why was he so desperately trying to answer all these questions and more that suddenly he found himself having about her? Perhaps one day he would confront her again. Maybe then she would play the game his way. Maybe then his questions would be answered.
