Here's Chapter Five of The Vestige!
Days after Alva and Lyris returned from Coldharbour, Alva is almost fully recovered. She was unconscious for the first three days, but after she woke up and ate plenty and slept even more, she quickly got better. Now she can walk on her own again and she doesn't feel like every single bone in her body's broken. Alva still has some spectacular bruises, but the Prophet says that with a bit more rest she will be as good as new. And he was right, because soon after that, the Altmer is already making some sweet rolls again. Even more than last time since there is an extra mouth to feed.
"Aren't you supposed to rest?" Lyris asks, hovering over Alva like a worried mother.
"I've had plenty of time to rest." Alva replies, waving her hand dismissively before she continues kneading the dough. "Besides, I'm feeling just fine."
"Hmm." Lyris responds, not entirely convinced about it. "Are you sure?" Alva gives her a look and the Nord holds up her hands in mocking surrender. "Okay, okay. It's just..." Lyris sighs and sits down on a chair next to the fire. "It's not every day someone voluntarily goes back to Coldharbour for me to search for a way out, help me overcome my fears—fight my fears for me, successfully escapes and gets to live."
"And I would gladly do it all over again if I have to." The Elf replies flatly, not even looking up from her work.
Lyris looks over at the Prophet, who's gaze is also turned into Lyris's direction. They both bare the same half stunned, half touched expression on their faces. "I... I wouldn't be so sure about that." Lyris manages to say after a moment of silence.
"And why is that?" Alva asks.
"Why would you go through so much trouble, go to such great lengths, for me. You don't even truly know me."
"I do know you, you're Lyris Titanborn."
"That's not what I meant."
"I know." Alva replies, and the women smile at each other, knowing well enough they might have had the same conversation back in Coldharbour.
Later that day, when Alva finally managed to assure Lyris she's completely fine, she exits the Harborage. She's been inside for over a week now, it's about time to get some fresh air. The Elf finds herself walking towards Vulkhel Guard, but she stops short when she sees an Elven Watch Captain standing beside the stairs. She completely forgot! Razum-Dar asked her to report to Watch Captain Astanya, so she in turn can send word to Queen Ayrenn. Alva quickly smooths down her hair, and wipes of the dirt from her armor before she confidently strides over towards the Captain...
Why is it, that whenever Alva is set up with the task to talk with someone, she ends up in a cell? She's laying down, her back pressed against the cold ground. With a pained grunt she rubs the back of her head, while blinking away the blur in front of her eyes.
What has happened now for her to end up in this situation? She spoke with Captain Astanya, this she remembers. Then, she went to help Advisor Norion and found deployment plans for the speech the Queen is planning to make. Next, she helped Steward Eminwe with checking the warehouses for any infected food. Alva was minding her own business checking the crates when a soldier suddenly started attacking her. She definitely didn't expect this to happen, so when she turned around, she might have received a kick in her stomach which left her breathless for a second, but in the end, she got the upper hand and managed to get rid him.
Hmm, then what? Frowning deeply, and hurting her head by doing so, Alva then remembers she returned to Astanya, but she had cut her short. Rude. Anyway, she was directed towards a new development. A wanted Altmer with valuable information had walled himself inside a house, threatening to kill himself should anyone approach. After some negotiation and persuasion, the Altmer let Alva in, and so allowed the guard to sneak in behind her. The information she received from that High Elf— his name was Fasion, Alva now remembers— was kind of unsettling; Captain Astanya was the danger to the queen, not him. He said she's part of a group called the Veiled Herritance, and bribed guards to help with her plot to assassinate the queen—
Alva gives a start and sits up immediately. Astanya arrested her! That's why she's in this cell. All this time Alva was holding on to the secret documents and the poisoned meat, which was 'evidence' to prove the others she was up to no good. Watch Captain Astanya then knocked her out and arrested her. Oh, that little piece of—
"Raz must admit." Alva hears suddenly, and when she turns, Razum-Dar stands outside the prison door. "Even he did not think we'd be seeing each other again so soon. How are you my friend?"
"Raz!" Alva breathes and hurries to get back on her feet, she stumbles forward but she catches herself on the bars of her door. Her head is pounding and the world is spinning, but the delight she feels due to seeing a friendly face, she quickly forgets about it. "What are you doing here?"
"He is here to help, as always!" He replies. "You may have noticed your new friend Fasion lies dead on the ground behind you. Raz knew Fasion well. As he thought he did Astanya."
In fact, Alva didn't notice... not until the cat mentioned it. "What happened to him?" She asks.
"The captain happened. Fasion and Raz worked together, as agents of the Queen. Fasion was not willing to give up secrets. And so now Fasion is dead."
"I'm sorry, Raz." Alva says, frowning in a saddened fashion.
"Now, Raz will let you free. But on this island, he must ask your aid again. You must warn the Queen, and her Battlereeve." Alva freezes and takes a step back. She shakes her head and starts fidgeting her hands nervously, earning a strange look from the Khajiit. "I— I can't." She says. "I can't warn the Queen."
"And why is that?"
"The Queen and I..." Alva rubs her face tiredly; the feeling of shame flushes her cheeks. Many, many years ago Alva met Queen Ayrenn at the ceremony where she was going to be pronounced as a Divine Prosecutor. It was the moment she was about to prove her worth to her parents, but at the very last second, Alva backed out of it. She brought shame upon her family and denied the Queen. She denied the Queen! In front of the whole court! Elves have an outstanding memory; the Queen will surely remember her face and the disrespect she showed her.
"That's what you're worried about?" Razum-Dar asks.
"Yes!" Alva replies.
"Watch Captain Astanya will attempt to murder the Queen at the temple. The Queen truly has other matters to worry about besides the fact you told her no so many years ago."
Alva sags her shoulders; she knows he his right though. She rests her forehead against a bar of the door, she closes her eyes and sighs. "Tell me what to do."
"You must get past the Captain's men. Seek another of our lady's agents, Eshaba . She stands watch in the marketplace, peddling her wares. Ask her for a souvenir of the First Marines, and she will set you on your path."
Okay, this part was easy. Soon after Razum-Dar freed her from the cell, Alva went straight to the market and acquired the souvenir he was talking about. It turned out to be a First Marines armor. An exact copy of the ones from the First Auridon Marines. This way Alva is able to slip past the guards unnoticed. Alva's heart rate quickens when she sees the Queen and her guards standing there.
As the Elf approaches, she makes a beeline for the Battlereeve, turning her head a little so the Queen won't be able to get a clear look at her face. Hearing approaching footsteps, the Battlereeve turns towards Alva. He narrows his eyes at her. "Explain yourself. What are you doing here?"
Alva glances nervously at the Queen before she answers. "Keep your voice down, Battlereeve. Razum-Dar send me."
"Razum-Dar." The Battlereeve repeats. "Yes, I know the name. You haven't answered my question, though."
Alva takes a step closer and she lowers her voice while turning away from the Queen just a little more. "There is a plot brewing to kill the Queen, Battlereeve."
If Battlereeve Urcelmo was shocked by the news, he sure as hell doesn't express it. "Hmph. We've taken every precaution; the whole area is locked down. Watch Captain Astanya assured me."
"The Captain is the one behind it." Alva replies. "She's planning an ambush in the Temple."
"The Guard Captain? Absurd!"
"A moment, Urcelmo." The Queen says as she steps forward. "I would like to hear what this one has to say."
"Queen Ayrenn, I fear for your safety. Please, disregard what was said—"
"Razum-Dar was mentioned." The Queen interrupts. "He acts on my behalf. If you won't investigate, I will."
"Apologies, my Queen. As you will." Urcelmo replies. "You are a capable woman, but you must be wary." Then he turns towards Alva. "You. Come with me."
Alva and Battlereeve Urcelmo head for the temple, and when they step inside, Steward Eminwe lays down on the ground, bleeding. Not hesitating one moment, Alva hurries to her side and kneels down next to her. Alva cradles the Stewards' head gently in her hand while she uses the other to stop bleeding on her abdomen. Alva breathes in deeply, the palm of her hand, as well the area around where she's pressing her hand on Eminwe's stomach lights up in a golden glow.
Steward Eminwe's eyes flutter open at the sudden contact. "You..." She breathes as she looks up at Alva.
"It's okay." Alva says in a soothing tone of voice. "You're going to be okay."
"I'm sorry. I was wrong. I tried to stop them..." The steward struggles to reply. "Watch out, on... on the balcony— it's Astanya. I-it's a trap!" The Altmer's face twitches in pain before her eyes widen, with all the strength she can muster, she pushes Alva away from her, before she gets hit in the chest with a flaming arrow.
Alva falls on her back with a grunt and looks on in terror at the flaming dead Altmer in front of her, so many thoughts race through her mind, but Astanya's voice snaps her out of it. "Urcelmo, I see you have met my latest toy." She smiles menacingly, as she looks down on them from the balcony.
"Astanya. Traitor!" The Battlereeve replies. "Come down here and face me."
"Our 'Queen' has betrayed us. I wanted her head, but I'll settle for yours." Astanya says. "Kill them!" With that said, assassins walk out of the shadows and starts attacking them. Alva immediately reaches for her sword, and together with Battlereeve Urcelmo, she manages to fight them off, until Astanya herself jumps down to join the fight. "I'll have to take care of you myself."
A whole new battle erupts. The sound of clanging metal and grunts fill the temple. Although Alva might almost be fully recovered from her beating in the Foundry of Woe, she finds herself having trouble keeping up with the Watch Captain. She's fast and she definitely knows how to use a sword. Urcelmo's just as good, but not as fast. When he recovers from a blow, Astanya's already dealing out another one which knocks him to the ground.
The Captain raises her sword, readying herself to kill the Battlereeve when Alva attacks her with a fire blast. The Elf is exhausted, and her muscles strain from the fight, but she can't stop now. Astanya turns towards her angrily, swinging her sword wildly at Alva, who in turn dodges or parries the blows. The Elves their swords clash loudly against each other, until Astanya miscalculated a move and ends up getting blasted against one of the Temple's pillars. Before she gets the chance to get up again, Urcelmo uses his sword to pierce right through her chest. Watch Captain Astanya breathes in sharply, her eyes widen for a moment before her eyelids droop shut.
With a shaking hand Alva wipes off the blood that's running over her chin from her split lip. She exchanges a look with Urcelmo before the two of them exit the tower again, leaving Astanya's dead body on the ground. As they approach the Queen, Urcelmo nods his head in her direction, silently telling Alva she's the one who needs to tell the Queen what happened. Panic rises in her chest, she's still shaking because of what happened, but when she locks eyes with the Queen, all her doubts seem to vanish and she steps forward confidently.
"Well?" Ayrenn says. "What did my protectors find?"
"The plot was real." Alva replies. "We fought Astanya and her assassins, and won."
"I can see that." The Queen says with the smallest hint of a smile on her face as she looks at Alva's lip where now another bruise is starting to form. "But, Astanya? I can't believe it. No doubt Urcelmo will triple his watch. She truly was an agent of the Veiled Herritance?"
"Yes, my Queen." Alva says. "She said you had betrayed us."
"Betrayal? She turns against her people, after years of service? And she spoke of betrayal? She, obviously, could not be trusted. But you have proven your worth. What is your name?"
"Alva Solaris, Your Majesty." The Elf replies hesitantly, now lowering her eyes to the ground, waiting for the moment the Queen will realize who she is.
"You know, Alva, the marines are blunt instruments." Ayrenn continues, not even batting an eye at her name. "A Queen must have a lighter touch. You've met Razum-Dar, first in the Eyes of the Queen. Would you join him? You know, since becoming a Divine Prosecutor didn't turn out for you, maybe you can try being an Eye of the Queen."
Alva's head snaps up, causing the Queen to laugh quietly. Ayrenn's eyes soften when they meet Alva's again. "Despite your attempts of hiding your face from me, I knew who you were from the moment you approached us."
Alva grimaces. "You did?"
The Queen laughs again, and puts her hand on Alva's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "After you left, the court was in complete chaos. The Divine Prosecution was furious, and not to speak of your parents, and the Proxy Queen? Her jaw fell to the floor." Noticing the embarrassment on Alva's face, the Queen smiles reassuringly at her. "It was a rather funny sight, if you ask me."
"So... you're not angry with me?" Alva asks, not sure what to make of Ayrenn's reaction. "Or offended by the way I acted toward you?"
"Offended?" The Queen repeats, her brows knit in confusion. "Not in the slightest. You were withdrawn and truly uncomfortable, I saw how miserable you were that day. If I can be completely honest with you, I'm rather glad you denied to become a Prosecutor."
"You are?" Alva asks, trying to hold back tears. That day is truly a memory she had been suppressing for so long. The hurt and embarrassment she saw in her parent's eyes before she left Alinor Castle is a vision that still haunts her dreams. It's also the last she saw from her parents. Ever.
"Becoming part of the Divine Prosecution was a decision forced upon you, it's not what you wanted. I saw that. But in the end, you made your own decision, and I believe it takes real courage to stand up for yourself like that. So, no. I'm not angry and you did not offend me." The Queen smiles. Alva releases a breath she didn't know she was holding in; she smiles in return although it wobbles a bit at the edges. "So, what do you say? Will you become an elite agent, for the good of the Dominion?"
Alva bows her head, now beaming. "I will. I accept your offer, my Queen."
"Excellent! By the power I hold, I name you an agent in my employ. You are now an Eye of the Queen, bonded to my service. Auri-El keep you safe, and Xarxes guard your words." The Queen says.
And after that, Alva heads back towards the Harborage. What a day... When she left the Harborage this morning, there was no way she would ever imagine she would return to it as an Eye of the Queen. Alva breathes out slowly as she's strolling down the beach. Now that all the adrenaline of the day left her body, she feels the pulsing pain of her lip and the soreness in her muscles. Astanya really did a number on her, though, but at least she's the one who's still breathing.
Alva runs a hand through her hair, she's feeling rather satisfied, though. And she feels as if a weight has been lifted from her shoulders. The Elf smiles softly at herself as she pushes open the door to the Harborage.
Lyris and the Prophet look up at the sound of her. Lyris is smiling, but that smile fades quickly when she sees the blood on her face and the tired look in her eyes. "Alva! What happened?"
Alva sits down with a grunt, her back leaning against a boulder. She rests her head against it and she closes her eyes. "I stopped an assassination attempt on Queen Ayrenn." She replies as if it's the most normal thing in the world.
"You did what?" Lyris asks in disbelief, already kneeling down next to her to wipe off the blood from her chin.
"Queen Ayrenn?" The Prophet asks next. "The Queen of the Aldmeri Dominion?"
"That's the one." Alva replies. Her face twitches in pain by Lyris's touch, then she shuffles to sit in a more comfortable position. "I also became an Eye of the Queen."
"Alva!" Lyris enters a fit of gibbering as she doesn't know how to process this information. "This morning you said you were going out to get some fresh air, and you return as an Eye of the Queen?" The Vesitge merely shrugs, and after exchanging a look, they share a laugh. Lyris shakes her head, but she's still smiling. "You are the most peculiar little thing; do you know that?"
Alva makes a face and then she sticks out her tongue at Lyris, causing her to laugh again. The Nord continues to tend to her wounds while Alva explains to the two of them what exactly has happened that day...
Thank you for taking your time and hopefully I will see you next time!