Tales of a Dunmer
Chapter One: Beginnings
4E 125
Pain. That was the first thing Aravenu Araleth felt when she came to, along with the sense of laying on something soft. She opened purple eyes, seeing what looked like another Dunmer lean down and place a vial between her lips, helping her drink the liquid within. "You do know you're helping a member of the Morag Tong right?" a voice asked from nearby. "You're playing with fire Feran."
The young woman tried to sit up, holding her head and staring at the second dark elf, this one with red hair, who had entered, trying to fix him with a withering look and failing. "Despite the armor, I am not Tong." She explained weakly, smirking. "My parents, on the other hand, are. I was born on the Island."
"The Island of Vounoura?! We've got to..."
"Garan, calm yourself." The one named Feran said, gently easing his patient back down. "She needs rest, not hysterics. The Lord wishes her healed." He looked down at her. "I am Feran Sadri and my hysterical friend here is Garan Marethi." He chuckled at the affronted huff he got from his words. "Might I ask your name?"
I am Aravenu Araleth, daughter of Toraasi and Arelris." She looked at Garan, who had raised an eyebrow at the name and thought for a moment. "Marethi...you are a member of House Dres, if I remember my lessons correctly. Am I back in Morrowind?"
"Former member of House Dres," came the reply as he gave her a smile, watching her eyes widen slightly when she spotted what he was revealing. "For our Lord's sake, I have to ask about your training Aravenu."
"Please, call me Ven." She said. "And from the look you gave me when I mentioned my surname as well as the names of my parents, you should already have a very good idea of my level of training." She gave a predatory grin of her own. "How does a member of a Great House end up a vampire?" There, she threw down the gauntlet, taking back what little control she had of what was going on. From what she had been taught Dres Members gave straight answers.
"I grew tired of the life there," he smirked. "I know of your family Ara...er Ven," he looked slightly uncomfortable at the knowledge. "It was a Dres-sanctioned assassination that had them sent to the island-your parents were the best. As for where you are, you're still in Skyrim. Feran found you injured and brought you here. As to your fate? Now that we know exactly who you are, you will most likely be staying with us for a while."
"For what reason?" Aravenu was wary; sure these two were Dunmer and Feran had saved her life, but her sixth sense was starting to act up.
"Infiltration, if I know my Lord. I must go report to him. If you will excuse me, Lady Ven?" he bowed his head before moving off, Feran chuckling as he checked her wounds, wrapping them quite effectively. "Don't think I've heard him talk that much in a long time." He sat down in a chair next to the bed, looking into her eyes. "Such an unusual shade," he said, lifting up another vial of his healing potion and helping her drink. "And he's never used the term 'Lady' like that, save to our Lord's wife."
"He was showing respect-my parents hold such titles which were gifts. The plantation I grew up on was large." She leaned back after finishing the potion. "I wanted to see what was beyond the horizon however and they got me out. As for how you must have found me? Was hunting and the rock I was standing on gave way under me." She looked down. "Thank you for rescuing me Feran."
The Dunmer smiled at the faint blush he saw, brushing his black hair behind his shoulder. "You are quite different-the fact you were still alive intrigued me, so I brought you back to the castle. The Lord wasn't pleased, but Garan saw your armor-we thought you were an assassin coming after us-so he ordered you healed so you could reveal what you knew."
"Any assassin would have to be insane to come...into a castle full of vampires..."
"Rest Ven," he said softly, watching her fall asleep before looking up as a Nord male with long black hair came in, looking at the form on the bed. "Is what Garan says true?" he asked.
"She is Tong-trained and a Lady in her own right, Lord Harkon." Came the reply. "Her parents even I have heard of. She needs to heal before anything else however-must have been her training that kept her alive until I came upon her."
"She cannot be more than 20 winters-25 at the most. When she is fully healed I will send her on a test-she handles it, she will be brought into the family." Harkon smirked. "Plus, it will be interesting to watch you and Garan vie for her-more so if Vingalmo gets involved."
"We'd be more liable to get stabbed if we tried anything my Lord." Feran managed to get out. "I am not sure what is with her, but she's been hurt before, it's in her eyes."
~Timeskip~
It took two months before Aravenu was ready for action, having sparred daily with Fura Bloodmouth to get her strength and speed back to where it belonged. Now she was on the road to Solitude, having been given a target to take out. 'Sending me after an agent of the Thalmor,' she thought, shaking her head as she pulled her cloak around the borrowed armor she had been given-she preferred her mother's armor but the leathers she was given would serve just as well. The Dunmer opened a pouch at her belt, taking out a couple vials and looking at the meticulously-written labels. 'Essence of nightshade and deathbell or the mix of nirnroot and red mountain flower?' she put the second one away, slipping the first one into a pouch on her chest as she entered the city, finding the agent at the inn. She sat down in a shadowed corner for an hour, watching the Thalmor grow drunker and more vulgar before getting up and sliding into the shadows like she had been taught, casting an invisibility spell. Ven waited until he had been served another drink before slipping the poison into it, going back to her seat and acting like she'd always been there as the spell wore off, counting silently and watching the agent fall face-first on the table. One of the patrons nudged him. "About time the loud-mouth passed out." He looked at the innkeeper. "Want him hauled to his room?"
"I'll help," the dark elf said, getting up and helping the man drag the body upstairs, waiting until the one who had helped her left before snagging the blade everyone had heard would never be taken and hide it under her cloak, glad of the cold weather that had everyone bundling up. She slipped out into the night, quickly making her way from the city but turning back once to look at it one last time, smiling to herself before hurrying to the castle. To say Harkon was surprised she made it back was an understatement, but the reverence she showed offering the weapon to him was clear to all, not flinching in the slightest when that blade was swung within an inch of her neck. "Five nights from now when the moons are full you shall be brought into the family." He said, lowering the blade and watching her move off. She found what she thought was an unseen corner, dropping down and exhaling as she shook, staring at the floor and not hearing footsteps before a hand touched her shoulder, looking up in surprise as Garan watched her. "Bravery run out?" he asked gently, watching her try to get up. "I believe the adrenaline is wearing off Garan," a voice explained, Feran coming over with a stamina potion and helping her drink, Ven watching them. "Why aren't you fighting over me?" she asked in confusion, the red-haired Dunmer smirking. "My 'feelings' for you are more of a brotherly nature, since my former House made use of your parents' great skill. For their action-and in their memory, I will watch over you." He held out a satchel. "Ink, quill and a blank journal-might help to write down what you're thinking."
The black-haired elf checked her over. "I'll go make something for you to eat." He opened a door to a room with a desk and bed. "You may use this room while you are here."
The female Dunmer blushed, heading into the room and sitting down before unpacking the bag, staring at the leather-bound book before opening it and the ink jar, lifting the quill and beginning to write.
9 Evening Star, 4E 125
Where to start? Let's go with being in a vampire lord's castle and about to be turned in a few days' time? If I am honest with myself, it doesn't bother me all that much. Garan Marethi and Faren Sadri have been kind to me-the former seeing me as a sister and the latter making sure I am staying healthy. The lord of the castle is called Harkon, and has taken an interest in me due to my training. This place is different. It's not as cold or drafty as one might think, it's just...I can't explain it. I feel like I'm home for some reason. Leaving the Island 5 years ago...there was nothing for me there. Garan told me it was an assassination done by his former House, House Dres, which had them sent there-then again, they were the best. I'll close for now, but I'll have more later.
Ven wiped off the nib of the quill and put the cover back on the jar, closing her new journal as Faren came in with some fruit and meat, watching her take it. "Thank you Faren," she said before digging in, hearing him chuckle.
"Tell me," he began. "What do you know of alchemy?"
She looked at him over the apple in her hand before taking out a few of her vials, handing them over. "A fair bit," came the reply as he studied what she had given him, holding them to the light to check their color. "I'm always seeking to learn more, plus my stock of poisons is getting a bit low."
The other elf handed the vials back. "Perfect color and viscosity." He said, watching her put them away before taking her hand. "I wish to show you something."
The female Dunmer blinked but got up, following him to a small room, the walls lined with ingredients. "I keep a wide stock on hand," he explained, watching her look around in awe, recognizing several off-hand. "My mother had quite the garden back home," she mused. "I learned a lot-sometimes it's better to use a poison than a blade-more silent."
Faren touched her arm, watching her flinch slightly before looking away. "Can I ask what happened?" he inquired softly, watching her turn and shut the door behind them, locking it before unbuckling her armor, letting it fall and glaring at the floor, hearing him inhale; her body had scars along her sides, her back, her stomach, legs, arms, even one down her breastbone. He reached out, watching her look up at him with fear in her eyes as he leaned in, kissing her forehead before taking out the gift he had brought-a silk gown for her to wear. "Here..." he said, helping her slip it on. "What happened to you?"
"I...I wasn't hunting and slipped before you found me." She admitted softly, turning her head as the door unlocked and opened, Garan standing there. "They tortured me..."
"Who hurt you sister?" the red-haired elf asked, watching her turn to him. "Thalmor...I fled the embassy in Solitude." She blinked as he hurried off, the black-haired elf leading her over to an Altmer vampire and watching her fairly recoil. "Vingalmo, could you watch over her as she sleeps?" he asked. "I'll give her a potion, but there's something I need to handle."
Vingalmo watched her. "I heard," he said. "Not hard when you're sitting above that room. My dear, while I once was with the Thalmor, even I cannot condone what they did-I heard about an escape from there but thought nothing of it until now." He watched the other elf come over and help her drink a sleeping draught before helping bring her to her room, laying her down and covering her. "I know what you and Garan are planning and how he views her," he added without turning, hearing the other come in. "Go, I will watch over her."
The Altmer gently brushed a lock of her hair back as they left, noticing the top of the jagged scar and gently lowered the top of her dress, taking a salve and gently applying it, a Nord vampire with red hair barging in. "Well, well..." he said. "Look what I've found out."
"Now is not the time Orthjolf." Vingalmo snapped, watching the scar begin to fade and knowing the other saw it too. "I don't think she was harmed any other way, but she definitely has a fear of Thalmor. I'll have to make more of the salve later-I was just doing her a kindness." He moved her top back into position, the Nord walking over and looking at her before leaving the room. Ven woke later, getting up and grabbing her pack, digging around and finding the netch leather she'd been saving, heading for the forge. The Nord woman there looked up as she set it down, working with the leather and some oil to make it make more supple. "Do you need anything?" she asked, watching her smile. "An old style of armor from Morrowind made of netch leather." She took out a dagger, cutting some of the leather into strips. "I'm Ven, by the way."
"Hestla," came the reply, watching her avidly as the female Dunmer cut out the armor and stitched it together. "Very impressive."
The two worked together, chatting a bit before Ven went and slipped it on, moving her body to test out the joints. "Thank you for your help Hestla," she said, bowing her head and feeling her set one hand on her shoulder.
~Timeskip~
The day of the turning arrived, Ven wearing the dress Feran had given her and feeling more confident. She had poured out her fears to Vingalmo, the former Thalmor helping her overcome them. Now she stood in front of Harkon, the Nord vampire eyeing her. "You have come far, Aravenu," he said. "Tell me-do you accept the Gift I offer?"
"I accept your Gift, my lord, in front of all present." Came the reply, Harkon coming over in his Vampire Lord form and biting her, catching her as she passed out and passing her to the two Dunmer. "Watch over her," he ordered, the pair carrying her to her room and gently laying her on her bed. Garan took her hand gently, the other elf leaving for a moment before returning with a potion of blood and setting it on the table. The two sat there, chatting quietly for several hours before they heard a groan and looked over, red eyes fluttering open as Ven came to, wincing a little before spotting the potion and reaching for it. The black-haired elf took it, opening it and carefully helping her drink. "Harkon will need to explain about your new powers, but you need to regain your strength first."
She tried to sit up, her limbs shaky as she managed to push herself back against the pillows, finding she could see perfectly in the dim room despite the fire being low before staring up at Vingalmo, the Altmer vampire smiling gently. "Welcome to the other side, so to speak," he intoned, setting down the same outfit the vampires wore with gloves and a hood. I hope you will find these comfortable for if you are out of your armor."
Ven chuckled weakly, leaning back and smiling at the workmanship. "I...thank you my friend." She said. "To be honest I prefer armor to dresses, though the one Feran gave me is lovely."
~Timeskip~
4E 200
Aravenu grew strong over the decades, but over the last few years she had grown wary of Harkon. The ritual he had asked her to go through had been…strange but she had dealt with it, the immersion in an ancient blood pool had caused her to stay in a bath and scrub for hours once she was allowed to. But that was nothing compared to the fact she had just found out he meant to sacrifice her! Thank Azura he hadn't found out she had managed to listen in on his conversation and now she sought out Garan and Feran, meeting them in one of the disused towers. "I have to get out of here." She said in a low voice, shaking a little. "I will disappear on my next mission-and I'm..."
"Hush..." The red-haired Dunmer said softly, touching her shoulder. "We'll get a pack of things ready for you to take-I have one that works like a small pocket dimension that will hold everything." He watched as she nodded, hugging them both before leaving to get ready.
The day came, Aravenu lifting her pack and putting it on before heading off. She planned to make it look like she was killed by those she was after and took the boat out, praying to anyone who would listen that her 'brothers' would be safe. Once she had reached the location it had been almost too easy to set up, seeing how she had been injured. She burned the body, leaving enough of her energy there to make them think it was her before cleaning herself up and disappearing into the mountains.
(A.N. And we have the first chapter of my new story)