"Hello, child." An elderly man dressed in monkish attire said. Haelia faintly noticed that she herself wasn't dressed in the right cloth for the occasion. She slept with only bare briefs, and they didn't cover her thighs.
"Ahh!" She cried. The elder man removed his robe and gave it to Haelia. "Thank you." She said.
"What is your name? And what is the problem that brought you here so late?"
"Haelia Dhur, and the problem is this," she said, as she reached absently for her gem. Her gem! She must have left it back in the bar, along with the rest of her cloth. "I can't find it." But then, she felt an odd warm object tucked away between her breasts and her bra. She felt somewhat foolish as she reached for it.
Out came the object, glowing bright red. It was warm. The gem was shaped like a red ruby, but it glowed. "Here it is." She said. She handed it to the priest. The priest didn't respond. She noticed something about the priest – the holy man was blushing.
For a long time, the priest held the object to his face. "It is a soul gem," he said, "It contains a very lively soul. It can be used to enchant a weapon, or any article of clothing. Do you wish anything to be enchanted?" He said.
"Oh, no, no," Haelia said. "I just wished to know what it is. Thank you!" She grabbed it and began leaving. She stopped, "Here's your robe…"
"You can keep it, child."
"Thank you!" She said, smiling. As she neared the door, several figures clad in black stood, their silhouettes waiting for her. Haelia Dhur turned around, "Ah, father?"
"Yes?"
"Hide me!" She said. She thought of her business, and she thought of whether or not she could fight them. Perhaps, she thought, but then one against four, she didn't stand a chance. She was more of a merchant. And the priest appeared too old.
The older man stared at the dark characters in the shadows outside. His eyes were compassionate. He was quick to learn. "Come!" He said. They ran through the dark candlelit temple. They passed several dark halls. "Come here!" He said. He showed her into a room at the far side of the hall. After she entered, he locked the door.
Haelia Dhur could hear faint footsteps outside. "They're coming in," she said. Haelia could hear them throttling the door, wondering why its locked.
"Quick!" Said Haelia, "Enchant something!"
The older man looked puzzled. What do you mean? His expression said.
"Enchant something with the gem!"
The old man understood. Perhaps the power within the gem could save them from the dark shadows crawling outside. "Okay," he said, "I'm not too sure it'll work. I've never done this without preparation."
"But you have done it, right?" her voice wavered.
"Many times," he assured her. She handed him the gem. He looked puzzled. "What do you want to enchant?"
She looked around; she didn't have an article of clothing on her. "Enchant me."
He began a series of incantations. He spoke something in daedric. The gem stopped glowing.
"Well?"
"I don't know. Nothing is different." Said Haelia Dhur. Just then, the door broke loose and several dark figures stood in the doorway. They grabbed onto Haelia's slender shoulders. "Do not intefere," they said to the priest.