I am sorry for how long this took to get out. I have begun moving and will be starting school back up in a few weeks, so my posts will be slowing down. But I hope you still enjoy reading! This is kind of a short, but important chapter. I hope you like it!
Chapter 5- Rise of House Rendar
"And why should the Dark Elves help the Nords?" Said a raspy voice.
"You won't just be helping the Nords, you will be helping to restore the Empire." Legate Rikke answered.
"What is in for us? Wouldn't it be better for us to have Mer in charge?" The raspy voice asked. A gray-blue hand lowered a tankard of mead. The hour was late, and the fire was low. The inn was dark and cascaded with shadows. The owner of the voice took a puff on his tobacco roll, the burning end simmering and getting brighter as he inhaled. The smoke he blew out swirled around his glowing red eyes. The scene looked rather sinister.
"You know as well as I do that the Altmer will not treat you any better than the humans. Look at how they treat the Bosmer. They are only looking to empower themselves. Not unlike Ulfric Stormcloak." Rikke smirked at herself. She know saying that name would spark some emotion in the Dunmer that sat in front of her.
"I see. But why come to me?"
"The Dunmer look up to you, Ambarys. You are their leader here in Windhelm. And I know you have connections with Dunmer groups through out the province of Skyrim. We need you and your people, and I know you can unite them." This made the man lean forward in his chair, and brought his face into a ray of light. His face was a dark, smokey gray. He was clean cut, and had a particularly smooth face for a Dark Elf. His eyes were the eerie red that was typical of Dark Elves. He did not look like a leader, but he had his hand in most Dunmer dealing through out the land.
"Your flatter is welcome. And I suppose we do owe the Empire some gratitude. Things here in Windhelm have gotten better. We even have some of our kind in the upper districts. And Malthyr is even in the court. He is Brunwulf's steward." He said, more to himself than to Rikke. She already knew, of course. "But we will need to... Make a few conditions to form an allegiance."
"Yes, of course Ambarys. We would not expect you to commit your people so easily. We can provide what you want. With in reason." Legate Rikke said. She was wary of what he would request, but this was not unexpected.
"First off, we need help rebuilding our home. Red Mountain killed many of my kind, and left our land in ruin. It has been a decade. Our lands are habitable once more, but we are too few to rebuild ourselves. We need Empire funds and workers. And we want our way of lives back. The Empire left us alone for the most part in the days of old. We would like that again." He said with a sigh. Rikke wasn't sure if this was all he wanted, but she understood. After the eruption, the Dark Elves not only lost their home, but their ways of life. She remembered when the dragons first returned She had been so afraid that Skyrim would burn, and she would never be able to return.
"I can not make promises on my own, but I will try with all I have to help you and your people return home, Ambarys. You have my word." The Dark Elf smiled at this. He extended his hand to shake in respect to the Nord. Rikke returned. "Now, how much for a bed? It is late, and I am weary."
"For you? Nothing. Just go on up, my dear." Ambarys said with a smile. He had a new hope for he and his people, and it was showing.
"Have you gotten word from any of the tribes yet?" Rikke asked with frustration. It had been nearly a month, and no word from any of the Dark Elves outside of Windhelm. The good feelings they had felt that night was all but dissolved. Burz had united the Breton tribes, and secured an alliance with the dragons, and was currently speaking with the Al'akir. Was Tullius right in making her his successor? She had to shake these feelings. She could accomplish this. Post was just moving slow these days.
"I have gotten nothing yet. I do not know what is taking so long. Maybe our promises have fallen on deaf ears," Ambarys said. His tone was cold. He could see his dreams of return were fading. He had been to Refugees' Rest almost weekly to pay his respects, and on a rare clear day, he could see Morrowind.
"Has the Currier been today?" Rikke asked in desperation.
"No, not yet," Ambarys said with an edge of hope. But as the days passed, he lost more and more.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Ambarys got up to go answer while Rikke headed to another room. She couldn't be caught here by Thalmor. Ambarys opened the door once Rikke was out of sight, and met with the Currier. "Hello, what do you have for me today?" He asked.
"Sir, you have quite a bit! I came here first to get rid of it all! Are you planning a party or something?" He laughed as he reached into his bag and pulled out a few letters and handed them to Ambarys. 'This is it?' he thought. Then the Currier reached in and grabbed more. He did this a few times until he had handed the Dark Elf hundreds of small envelopes. Ambarys stood in disbelief as he watched the Currier walk away. His hope began to bubble back up as he let out a yell to the Legate. Together they began tearing through paper and reading the responses. It was an overwhelming hour or so. They had managed to unite the Dark Elves and create a powerful ally. Ambarys would once again see his home.