Morrowind belongs to Bethesda. Burntsierra, you're not going to miss these characters half as much as I will. -D

Winterbell was not surprised when Marayan failed to show up for breakfast the next day. Winterbell spent the morning shopping and making some discreet enquiries about the Dren plantation.

Pelagiad was an Imperial town, and so she wasn't surprised to learn that the southern plantations and their owners were spoken of rather disparagingly by the locals. Here slavery was considered a barbaric practice, even by the Dunmer, who were keen to keep imperial gold flowing.

Most of the produce here was grown on small farms; the goods from the plantations were usually taken to Suran, by river barge or by guar train. Despite the lack of contact most people had something to say about the Dren Plantation, and none of it was nice.

The general consensus was that if the Duke really wanted to convince people that he was progressive and Imperial he should make an example of his brother. When Winterbell asked about the anti-Imperial sentiment that was fermenting in the older towns it was usually dismissed as merely a reactionary response from people who hadn't yet received the benefits of the new Empire-driven economy.

Winterbells eyes glazed over as the trader started talking about 'investment in infrastructure', 'economic shift away from primary industries' and 'guild-regulated fair trade'. By mid morning Winterbell decided that she hadn't really learned anything she didn't already know, but she could now make it sound much better. She'd also bought a new skirt.

Winterbell half-expected Marayan to stand her up, considering the condition he had been in the night before. She still wasn't really sure why she had accepted his invitation, and she was even less sure why she spent fifteen minutes combing her hair beforehand.

Winterbell had already found a seat at a table near the window when Marayan walked downstairs, only a few minutes after noon. Winterbell asked him if he felt all right.
"I feel fine." He winked at her with a grin.
"That's quite an achievement, considering."
"It's one of the few things I'm glad I inherited from my father. Although it's not a talent I have a lot of use for."
"Glad to hear it."
He motioned to the serving girl. "Anyway, I don't want to talk or think about my family today."
"Fair enough."
"In fact, I'd be more interested to know what you've been up to recently, Winterbell."
"What do you mean?"
"You're house is packed- oh, are you ready to order?"

After the serving girl had left with their orders Marayan continued, "I've never seen such a cluttered house. You've obviously been traveling far and wide."
"I try to keep it tidy, really. I sell what I don't think I'll have any use for- but there are so many things that might come in handy."
"That attitude seems to be shared by most alchemists. Speaking of which…this might not be my business, but did you and Sharn have a fight?"
Winterbell sighed, and quickly assembled a plausible answer, "You know Sharn has 'other projects' right? Well, I happened to meet her when I was traveling through the Gnisis area."
"And you saw something you weren't meant to?"
"Something like that. She knows I'm not about to turn her in, but she resents knowing that I could."
"She should know better," he smiled. "You're the last person to worry about the letter of the law."

Marayan seemed more than happy to listen to her talk about her travels. He asked about the strange places she'd seen with an almost wistful air.
"You're not going to take off and become an adventurer are you?" she asked finally, as she dissected a local dish of comberries and scrib jelly with her spoon.
"I'm beginning to think I'd like to."
"Most of the time it isn't that much fun, you know. There's the weather, and cliff racers, and lousy inns, and getting lost-"
"I know all that. I wasn't being serious, really. I have a life I'm tied to here- responsibilities with the Guild and with, well, you know about them."
"Responsibilities, huh? Rather you than me."
"Well, if you're really planning on challenging Trebonius…"
"Oh yes, that."
"You've changed your mind?"
"No. No, I'm going through with it. I just think it will be a temporary job."
"What do you mean?"
"You know my reasons. I want to get rid of that fatheaded fool in Vivec- I'm not keen on the job myself. So I go in, instigate a régime change and get out again."
He frowned, "Have you really thought this through?"
"Not yet." She pushed her plate away, "Look, I've made a few enemies on my travels, and I owe some people quite a lot-"
"If you need any-"
"Not money. Favours, deeds. I just want to even the score."
"And you pity me for my responsibilities. Yours sound a lot more complicated."
"But far more fun," she smirked.

After lunch he suggested that they go and look at the lake, since it came so highly recommended. Winterbell had in fact seen it before more than once on her travels, but as little more that an obstacle between here and there.

"This weather is perfect." Marayan threw his head back and stretched, "I spend too much time indoors."
"You live in Balmora, so I think you have a reasonable excuse."
"Oh come on, everyone laughs about it, but it doesn't rain that much." Winterbell raised an eyebrow. Marayan looked around at the clouds, so white they dazzled and at the sun-drenched spring grass and sighed.
"Okay, maybe it does rain that much."
Winterbell pointed to the east, "Red Mountain generates a lot of weather, not just ash storms. The clouds build up over the interior, and then get funneled west by the Foyada Mamaea range of mountains. So all the rain clouds end up over Balmora."
Marayan's jaw dropped, "How do you know all that?" he asked incredulously.
"I made it up," Winterbell deadpanned.
"Wha-? Winterbell!" His mock-indignation dissolved into laughter and she joined in.

Still chuckling, they arrived at the edge of the lake. Winterbell fought her instinct to start collecting ingredients. She didn't have her bag on her, and she reminded herself sternly that she was on holiday, dammit, and wasn't going to do any work.

"You said you'd traveled around these parts before, didn't you?"
"Yeah, but for some reason I never made it back to Pelagiad."
"Show me the diamond mine then," he said eagerly, unthinkingly reaching over and taking her hand.
Winterbell shook her head, "We aren't really equipped for diving. If the mine was accessible it would have already been mined."
Well," he thought back over the stories she had told over lunch, "what about the mineral springs then?"
"Okay, that shouldn't be too difficult." He released her hand and she started heading off along the lakeshore.

Winterbell led Marayan to a jumbled pile of stones on the edge of the lake. Inset into them was a wooden door, its timbers buckled and weathered. The door was held closed by the simplest of latches, and Winterbell propped it open with a stone.
"In there?" Marayan asked, peering into the gloom. A breeze blew across the surface of the lake, making the cavern whistle hollowly.
"There used to be bandits in there," Winterbell said. "But it's empty now. The springs are quite close to the entrance, don't worry."
Marayan cast light on his shoes, and the shadows danced with every step as they ventured into the cave.

"When I was in the Cammona Tong," Marayan began, "there were these rumors of a crazy old lady who attacked bandit bases and robbed everyone blind."
"You said yourself that my house is quite cluttered," Winterbell replied cryptically. "But I'm not the only one around who does this kind of stuff; I'm just the most memorable."
"You are that."

Winterbell led them to a shallow pool in a little cavern of its own. The water bubbled gently, and the air smelt of minerals.
"Here we are," Winterbell said, pulling off her shoes.
Marayan sat down and started rolling up his trousers, "Is it hot?"
"Nope, not at all." Winterbell flinched as her toes hit the water. "The bubbles tickle though."
"Is it drinkable?" asked Marayan, glancing at a bucket the floated on the mineralized waters.
She shrugged, "You tell me."
Marayan cautiously dipped a finger in the water and licked it. "It's…interesting," he said, pulling a face.
"The lake is salty, so they might not have had a choice. The nearest well is in Pelagiad."

They waded around for a while, and then padded back out into the afternoon sunshine, leaving damp footprints on the stone floor. They sat halfway up a hill that overlooked the northern half of the lake and watched the afternoon go by; talking about nothing in particular.

"…and so that is why Ald'ruhn is the absolute worse place to visit. Even Seyda Neen has more interesting scenery. Honestly Dren, 'go to Ald'ruhn' was the worst piece of advice I've ever been given."
"Winterbell." She looked over in surprise at his irritated tone. "Why do you never call me by my name? You're the one who's so keen on not being defined by your family and yet you always refer to me by my family name."
"Maybe I'm trying to make a point."
"Well don't! If you want to make a point just say it. We're supposed to be friends, so I think the least you could do is call me by my name."
"Hmm…" Winterbell looked noncommittal.
Marayan leaned over, refusing to let the point go, "Ma-ray-an. It's only three syllables; it's not that difficult, is it?"
"Uhh…Marayan," she said softly, almost shyly.

He just looked at her for a few moments and then a delighted grin spread across his face, lighting up his eyes.
"See? That was easy, wasn't it?"
"Humph." Winterbell very deliberately turned her attention to the lake and the setting sun. Unbothered by her bad humour, Marayan flopped back onto the grass, still smiling.

"Hey Winterbell," he broke the silence thoughtfully. "Do you remember that time with that stuff?"
"Hmm?"
"The Telvanni stuff."
Winterbell looked at him sharply, "Telvanni?"
"The bug musk."
"Do you have to remind me?" She winced, "I've apologized once already-"
"No, now I have something to confess to." He took a deep breath, "I suppose by now you know quite well how obsessive and odd my family can be-"
"I thought you weren't going to talk about them today?"
"Will you be quiet for one minute? This isn't about them." He sat up and glared at her irritably. When she didn't respond he continued, "Like I said, my father went to extraordinary lengths to make sure we all succeeded in the occupations we were assigned. We were to be the best diplomats, leaders, etcetera. Anyway." He sighed, "The point is, did you really think we weren't shown what Telvanni bug musk was like? It was a technique from the Imperial court; we were taught to resist the musk's effects."
"Then I'm extremely grateful that such techniques haven't found their way too far east. I had enough trouble dealing with those idiot Redorans as it was."
"As usual, Winterbell, my point sails over your head. Look, I know it was kind of cowardly, but you're not exactly the most approachable person in the world."
Winterbell regarded him with a stubborn look. He shook his head, "What I mean is, everything I said…I meant it. I really-"
"No, no, no." Winterbell shook her head and got to her feet. "I don't want to hear this." She started backing away.
"Winterbell- hey!" He scrambled to his feet, "Why are you running away again? Why are you afraid?"
"I'm not afraid; I just don't need to hear this." Her face was set into a mulish frown.
"I can't imagine it's for my benefit." He kept walking towards her, "You're not one to spare other's feelings. I think I've got you finally figured out, Winterbell, I think I know why you're doing this." He stopped about a foot in front of her, his gaze thoughtful, and just a bit calculating.
"I think," he tilted his head and smiled, "I think you don't want me to ask, because you don't want to say no."
"That's-!"
"Not true?" He stepped closer, "So you've got a better explanation? I don't think so, because I can see you trying to dredge one up."
"You should go on holiday more often. It seems to supply you with bottomless reserves of courage," she said acidly.
He actually laughed then; a single exhalation of amusement. "Do you actually think I'm afraid of you?"
"Well, yes."
He rested his hand on her shoulder, his fingers half an inch away from the base of her neck. "Now what kind of friendship would that be?" he murmured. Despite his words Winterbell sensed him nerve himself up before he bent his head to hers.

A scream of pure terror echoed across the lake.