Tolfdir sat next to Elarie, running some spells over her. The Master Wizard of the College of Winterhold had come quickly at Tobias' request, bringing some notes from Urag Gro-Shub's library collection.

"According to Urag's findings," the old wizard said in his lecture voice, "Arudil Stormal was poisoned by a very rare type of plant called jarrin root. Apparently the only known source of the root is linked to the Dark Brotherhood."

He paused his hand near Elarie's stomach. "There's no known cure for jarrin root poisoning. I believe a tiny fragment of the root was used here. You say she was vomiting and casting some spells before she collapsed?"

Sigrid nodded. "But nothing came out."

Tolfdir nodded, and patted Elarie's hand. "Brave girl. She knew what was happening and tried something theoretical."

Both Teldryn and Tobias waited for the explanation. Tolfdir continued to concentrate over Elarie.

"Without a cure, it was speculated that if the piece of root could somehow be expelled from the body, it couldn't affect you. You would deal with the remnants and hope that didn't kill you." Tolfdir's hand paused just above Elarie's stomach.

"I think something's here. Elarie must have partially succeeded, moving the root piece out from her stomach. If she hadn't kept her head and managed that, she'd be dead right now." Tobias saw Teldryn's hands clench. "Jarrin root works by attacking the stomach lining. No potion then would be able to help as it acts too quickly. With the piece lodged here, it's been a constant drip of poisoning, countered by the potions and herbs you've been giving her, then circling back again."

"Elarie is a very skilled and intelligent mage," Tolfdir continued. His hand lit up on the restless Mer. "However, one spell she had trouble with was Telekinesis. I think she must have tried using it on the root when the vomiting alone failed. She of course knows how her father died."

Tolfdir closed his eyes and concentrated. Elarie started to whimper, then convulsed. Teldryn immediately moved to hold her, trying to hold her still at the master wizard's request, while he continued to concentrate. Tobias held down her legs to keep them from thrashing. He saw the mercenary's hardened visage crack when tears fell from Ellie's eyes, before he'd schooled his expression again.

"The poison is going through everywhere the root passes," Tolfdir said. "But I've almost got it. She'll need a health potion immediately." Sigrid hurried to open one. "Sero, please help keep her mouth open."

The mercenary put a knee on Elarie's arm to hold it steady while he held her mouth open. His own stomach churned. He remembered the stray thoughts he'd had of Elarie lying beneath him in pleasure, but holding her down like this made him sick. The little Altmer was fighting for her life, her soundless suffering and tears were cutting him to his core. Tobias, always full of feeling, already had tears on his face watching Elarie weakly struggle.

"Elarie, just a little longer," Teldryn told her. "You've held on all this time, just a bit more."

"Got it!" The wizard was triumphant, a minuscule splinter of wood popping out from Elarie's mouth. "Quickly, the health potion."

The diminutive mage's body relaxed, dropping like a rag doll into the bed. Tobias released her ankles and Teldryn moved back to her side. Sigrid gave her three potions.

When Elarie opened her eyes, her first view was of the Dunmer mercenary. He had seen her eyelids flutter and had taken her hand and was looking at her intently, willing her to wake. Gods, was her first thought. He was so devastatingly handsome when he looked like he cared. If she wasn't so tired she would've turned to jelly.

"Little Altmer," he said quietly. "Thank the Divines." He kissed her hand. "Rescuing you is becoming a habit." The mage mentally corrected herself. Make that melted jelly.

•••••

Alvor, Sigrid and the rest of Riverwood rejoiced at Elarie's recovery. The mage had helped saved them from the dragons threatening their village and they were relieved that she'd made it through. Even Delphine had seemed pleased, before she left the village on some errands. She and Tobias seemed to dislike each other intensely but they'd been speaking to each other and parted with some sort of new understanding.

Elarie was starting to move about the home on her own, and Tolfdir was about to take his leave. He'd been pleased with his patient's recovery, carefully packing away the splinter that had caused her so much pain. It would be a good chance for alchemists to study the properties of the root. Tolfdir had stressed that Elarie was only alive by her quick thinking and skills, he doubted if anyone else could have realized what was happening and acted so quickly to prevent death. She was most likely the only person to have ever recovered from jarrin root poisoning. Teldryn's prompt arrival with bags of potions and ingredients had also contributed to her survival, she'd needed every single bit of it to fight the splinter's effect in her system.

"Simply fascinating," the scholar had said when examining the splinter. "I'll get a new paper out of this." His kindly eyes alighted on the mercenary who'd just finished packing his saddle bags. "She'll be indebted to you for your service. You are Savos' old friend?"

At Teldryn's nod, the wizard continued. "He would've been grateful for your help," he said. "Elarie meant a lot to him."

"I know," the mercenary responded. "She told me why she went to the College in the first place."

Tolfdir nodded. "Ah, yes. A great shame. We all did, at first, rejoice in that he was finally getting married. Elarie is such a skilled mage and we thought they'd make a good match. Aren needed someone like her in his life, so lively and full of energy." Tolfdir paused in his memories. "When they had the argument – that was when we all knew the marriage wouldn't happen."

Teldryn's head snapped up. "They argued?" He couldn't picture Savos working up enough energy to argue.

"It was quite a surprise to us too," Tolfdir went on. "Nearly the whole building could hear it. It was the first and only time we'd heard him raise his voice since he was named Arch-Mage.

"Savos told me all about it afterward. His emotions had gotten the better of him and he'd felt terrible for the things that he'd said." The master wizard looked thoughtful.

"What was the argument about?" Teldryn asked.

"Elarie had been asked by the Dragonborn to go to Whiterun. She knew that the city was under threat by the Stormcloaks and wanted to help. The College's official position was neutral. As a potential bride to the Arch-Mage, he expected her to stay neutral as well. She'd argued that she was not a member of the College yet and free to choose. If he didn't agree with her then he could send her back to Cyrodiil when she returned. Savos still forbade her to go.

"Elarie wanted to help Whiterun stand. She said the Thalmor were playing the civil war, getting Nords to fight each other, weakening Skyrim. She and her father thought the Thalmor were planning a long-game takeover of Tamriel. Her father had been poisoned and she believed it was because of his ideas.

"Savos still forbade her participation in any battle. He said he was protecting the college. She said if she didn't go, there might not be a college. She was furious with him, and she'd drawn out his emotions in a most unexpected way – he told her to leave and not come back. He said that she was an ungrateful child, after all he'd done to protect her. He'd been willing to sacrifice himself to marry her and prevent any assassination attempt and she was throwing all that in his face."

The master wizard paused, saddened. "She left that very day for Whiterun. After she'd gone, he locked himself in his quarters. It wasn't until the next day that he'd found a letter she had left for him, telling him that she'd always be grateful for bringing her to Skyrim and his assistance and love for her father. But she believed that bringing the civil war to an end with Skyrim still in the Empire was the best result, in the event of a war with the Thalmor. With the Dragonborn of legend being a former Legionnaire and firmly on the side of the Empire but not the Thalmor, she also believed that he was another sign that her father was right.

"She returned later with the Dragonborn. The two kept their distance while she accompanied her friend on the quests for the Eye of Magnus. I don't know exactly when it was, but Savos said he'd offered again to marry her, but he'd been turned down in no uncertain terms. He was downcast about it, but said at least they remained friends. She'd told him that they were too different to match. She would always love and care for him, but that he needed a partner who would love him unconditionally. He conceded that she was right, and never brought up the subject again.

"When Savos and Mirabelle Ervine died, she nearly fell apart. She mourned their loss and grieved Savos' passing like a widow. He'd been the last link between her old life and the new life he'd given her. I think she was remorseful that she'd rejected him, but not regretful." The wizard sighed. "In the end, Savos was proud of her and her choices, and felt that he'd had a hand in shaping her. He was first and foremost a scholar and teacher, and teachers are happiest when a student surpasses them." He paused and ran a hand over his head. "We wish that she would visit more. She's a wonderful teacher herself, but I'm not sure she'd ever want to set foot in the college again."

Tolfdir bowed his head. "I'd better get back in and let her know I'm leaving. I appreciate your packing the bags for me."

"We are in your debt." The mercenary bowed. The aged wizard had given him much to think about.