Disclaimer: Morrowind is owned by Bethesda Inc., not me. *sob* You just gotta rub it in, dontcha?

A/N: "Azura's Star" has been revamped! Hooray! ^.^

Chapter 1: A Fateful Discovery

A swift wind blew through the tiny village on the edge of what the cultured Dunmer called "Ald Redaynia", bringing with it dust and dirt that stung at the eyes and cheeks of the villagers. Near this village sat a young, blue-skinned, black-haired, Dunmer woman. Though she was on the coast, past the hills, the rough wind still bit at her face. She didn't mind, though- she'd much rather be here than stuck in her musty, cramped hut back at the Urshilaku camp.

The woman shrugged the blanket that was wrapped tightly about her body further up her neck, her only defense against the biting-cold wind. Then, something caught her eye. Gazing out into the dark sea, she saw it was the small, naked body of a female Dunmer child.

Alarmed, the woman dashed into the incoming tide, seafoam playing about her legs, ready to retrieve the child.

She hurried back to the village, the young girl in her arms. She wondered if the girl was dead for a moment... but no, her chest was rising and falling. She had almost reached the door of her yurt when a stern voice stopped her dead in her tracks.

"Golena," it said simply.

The woman hesitated. "Yes...?" she mumbled so softly that her words were whisked away by the wind.

The Ashkhan arched a brow, peering at the small body Golena held. "What do you think you're doing, bringing another into our clan? We are suffering as it is. You think we can afford to feed and clothe a child?" He demanded.

"I... I don't know," Golena said meekly. She could barely meet the Ashkhan's eyes. "I found her on the beach. She... she would have drowned, had I not saved her. She lowered her eyes to stare at the dirt.

The Ashkhan shook his head. "You know we can not take care of her. She cannot stay here."

"But she will die otherwise!"

For a moment, the two Dunmer gazed harshly into each other's cold, red eyes, as if silently matching wits.

"The well-being of this child is not our concern," the Ashkhan sighed finally. "Now get her out of my sight."

"Wait," commanded yet another voice, this one old and feeble, yet with strength and potency; the voice of Nefara, the village wisewoman. "Foolish Ukerdu," she chuckled, half-mockingly. "So quick to judge."

"Get to the point, old woman. I have no patience for you," muttered the Ashkhan, tight-lipped and obviously struggling to control his anger.

"This child... I see in her great potential," Nefara replied, ignoring him. "I do not know what exactly, but... I feel she will aide us in some way. I advise you to let her remain in the village, Ukerdu."

Ukerdu was a great warrior in his prime, and not all too fond of seers- a skeptical sort. But he was not a stupid man- he knew that he must listen to the wisewoman and take into consideration the superstitions of the people, lest he might lose his beloved position as Ashkhan.

And so was the reason he replied, albeit reluctantly, "Fine. She may stay."

"A wise decision," replied the wisewoman, closing her eyes thoughtfully. "One you will not regret."

Golena bowed in thanks to both the wisewoman and the Ashkhan, but even then she was not able to control the smile that insisted on spreading across her windblown face.