Fate's Games
(A/N: Third up today.)
Innocent Angel
He was using her. She knew he was using her. He read her weakness, spotted the way she watched him; intrigued, curious, inquisitive. He'd read her weakness… He'd played off of it. What else was to be expected of a Thalmor? They showed no mercy to their enemies, they used all they had against them. She hated them. She hated all but him…
She knew she should despise him, she knew he was heartless. She knew he would turn on her. Still, part of her had hope… Hope that one day he would return all she felt for him. What did she feel? She sometimes wondered herself. She couldn't forget him, not his appearance, not his clothing, not his voice. He consumed her mind and she wondered; was it a trap of his or her own foolishness that let him so close?
ES
"Are you quite sure we need to be speaking?" he vaguely asked, uninterested in what the young woman had to say to him, or why she was trying to read over his shoulder.
She started and blushed. Apparently she hadn't thought he'd noticed. Typical mage. "I'd like to know more about the Thalmor," she suddenly said, and he paused in the midst of his reading, shocked. She didn't know? Slowly he had turned to face her looking incredulous.
"You're joking," he replied. She blinked naively. Mere child, hah! Stupid little girl. How did she not know? And even those who knew never bothered to ask to learn more. However, who was he to miss an opportunity to brag? Proudly he rose and answered her questions curtly. He tried to leave her, but her curious appetite was far from satisfied.
"Your robes… they're very unique. I like them," she murmured, examining his garb.
He scoffed. "If you're looking to be killed, go ahead and take them," he answered disdainfully. "Now if you'll excuse me I have many important things on my mind. Your concerns are not among them."
"There's a rumor that you're spying for the Thalmor," she remarked, eyes becoming excited as she asked, thrilled at the idea of a spy.
He had become furious, eyes glittering. She'd become fearful. Quickly he replied, "What? Preposterous! And just the sort of thing I would expect from Mages who have nothing better to do with their time. I have made it quite clear that my only role here is as an advisor to the arch mage. I would suggest that you not further spread this rumor."
She blushed deeply and looked down, embarrassed. "I'm sorry," she quietly apologized. How pathetic, weak, helpless. Stupid, annoying child, who knew how many years his junior. But wait… that look in her eyes… His eyes lit up in realization as she quickly hurried away. Interest. Fury was overtaken by amusement as a plan formed. She was interested in him, was she? Intriguing.
ES
She neared the Auger's door and a voice spoke, saying, "Your perseverance will only lead you to disappointment." She refused to leave, trying once more to enter. "Still you persist? Very well, you may enter," the ghostly voice declared.
She obeyed and her eyes widened, lips parting as she gazed at the majestic orb. She shivered in fear and amazement then said, "So you're the Auger of Dunlain?"
"I am that, which you have been seeking. Your efforts are in vain. It has already begun. But those who have sent you have not told you what they seek. What you seek," he answered.
She cringed. He was right. "And what is it I'm seeking?" she wondered.
ES
He kept a cautious eye on her, ever watching, ever waiting for opportunity to strike. He even allowed her access to his chambers. She was suspicious, yes, but suspicion was overwhelmed by happiness, and oh how he saw it in her. Excitement, desire, amazement. A little girl's idea of love. Hah! Love was for the weak. He let her sit at his feet by the fireplace, let her place her hands daintily on his lap as he read to her from various volumes. He would give her this much, she was studious, inquisitive, highly intelligent yet so emotionally and socially undeveloped. The heart of a child…
The stories genuinely interested her, the lessons she soaked up like a sponge. He had quickly become her favored tutor. How precious. How naïve. How easy. It was almost a shame how simple she made it. Until, that is, he confronted her about Saarthal. Her intelligence sprang up then, her suspicion, her true senses, and he had been infuriated. Infuriated but highly impressed. He thought he was farther along with her than that. Apparently she was more aware than he'd given her credit for. He'd tried to make her feel foolish, put her down, but she would have none of it. She gave him virtually nothing then walked away head high and proud. He still wondered… why hadn't he taken his eyes from off of her until she was long out of sight?
ES
"I was told to find you," she said to the Auger of Dunlain.
"Indeed, so you have come looking though you do not know why. Like others before you, you blindly follow a path to your own destruction. The Thalmor came seeking answers as well, unaware they will be his undoing. Your path now follows his, though you will arrive too late," he stated.
She felt her skin become pale, felt the blood drain away. The Thalmor? Ancano… Now she shook in fear, unable to believe what she had heard. His undoing? You will arrive too late? What did he mean? Why did it so frighten her to hear it? A childish thought… she didn't want to be too late.
ES
He watched her in the courtyard as she fought against the dragon, he alone at her back. No one else was near, only them. They attacked with everything they had until finally the beast collapsed. He watched in awe as the soul was absorbed into this child's delicate and fragile body; so thin, so weak, no hint of muscle at all. Yet she had taken this beast down almost on her own. He had done precious little, perhaps a quarter of the damage compared to her.
She gasped and nearly collapsed. Swiftly he caught her out of reflex, looking annoyed the moment he realized what he'd done. She was near fainting, apparently still new at the sensation. Oh what he wouldn't give to have the power she held in her. Stupid little angel child, she didn't even realize. With a huff he picked her up in his arms and carried her back to her chamber, laying her gently on the bed and leaving. Now what to do with that dragon's remains? Just what he needed now, more inconveniences.
ES
"Thalmor? What Thalmor?" she asked, playing dumb.
"The one who calls himself Ancano. He seeks information about the Eye, but what he will find shall be quite different. His path will cross yours in time, but first you must find that which you need," the thing answered.
His path would cross hers… oh how she had longed to hear those words, but judging by the way he spoke, this path was not the path she wanted to cross. "What do I need?" she asked, hoping that somehow, someway, it would save everyone. Him included. Especially him… She didn't want him to die. Despite the cruelty, despite the wickedness, she didn't want him to die…
ES
He had her pinned beneath him, her body warm against his, helpless, fragile, soft. He hissed and shivered. He took her lips yet again. She returned eagerly, fearfully, he couldn't tell which emotion it was, or if it were a mix. She was shaking yet didn't let him pull away. Delicate as a crystal flower, a leaf trembling in the powerful wind that determined to carry her from her protection, her safety, yet as bold and determined as any warrior would be. He felt her every movement. Oh divines! If anyone saw them it would be Oblivion to pay.
She was the porcelain angel of all Winterhold. She was a little sister to the apprentices, a beloved niece of the teachers, a daughter to Savos and Mirabelle, a grandchild to Tolfdir and that orc librarian whose name he'd never bothered to remember. Urag, perhaps? She was the embodiment of goodness and everything perfect and beautiful and right in the world. He was the ebony demon, the despised one, enemy of all. He was the incarnation of cruelty and hatred, of everything frightful and dangerous that had ever existed. And he held their angelic child in his merciless grasp, writhing beneath him as together they took a piece of the purity that had been hers.
She gasped at a motion. He took her lips and she moaned. She was nothing but a means to an end, a tool to manipulate, to use. She knew she was. He saw that she knew. She wasn't blind. Foolish little girl, to let him treat her in such a way. With one word she could have the whole of the college after him. With one word she could end everything. With one word he would leave and never return. Wait, that wasn't right. No, he wouldn't leave, he wouldn't flee. Not when he was so close. Oh gods, with one word he feared he would forget the very reason he were here…
ES
"You, and those aiding you, wish to know more about the Eye of Magnus. You wish to avoid the disaster of which you are not yet aware. To see through Magnus' eye without being blinded, you require his staff. Events now spiral quickly toward the inevitable center, so you must act with haste. Take this knowledge to your Arch-Mage," the Auger replied to her. With that it vanished, and she was left to herself.
Lost in her thoughts she returned to the courtyard and went up to the high balcony of the college, not even acknowledging the words others spoke to her. She stood on the terrace gazing out over the sea, tears in her eye. The memory of that night was clear in mind. Oh divines, what had she done…? What had she done to herself? What had she allowed him to do? She wrapped her arms tightly and protectively around her body and sobbed, looking miserably down.
"There you are. Ancano has been looking for you," Faralda suddenly said, finding her. She shivered at the thought and turned, trying to hide her tears, trying to be brave.
"Thank you," she replied.
"What's wrong?" Faralda concernedly asked, immediately alarmed at the young ones expression.
"Nothing," she answered, quickly walking by.
ES
Ancano shook off the dazed feeling. Why did he feel as though he'd missed something important? "You asked to see a student of the college, here she is," he testily said to Quinitar, the Psyjic Monk. Humph, he was hiding something. He was hiding something, and his porcelain angel knew what it was. He almost couldn't identify the feeling that shot through him. When he did… jealousy. Jealousy then anger when she left, not even looking at him; and he knew that things were drawing to a close. He had to move quickly now.
He summoned one of his associates to him. Quickly he ensured they were not disturbed and he ordered the angel's execution. Even if she made it to Labyrinthian, she would never leave that place alive. He watched silently as his companion bowed then left. He watched, and for a moment he almost forgot himself. For a moment he almost called his fellow back. For a moment he would have done anything to erase everything he had ordered. But he didn't. After all, why did her wellbeing concern him anyway?
ES
She wasn't surprised when the Thalmor man faced her, blocking her exit from Labyrinthian. She wasn't shocked in any way. She had expected a treachery to happen far sooner than now. The high elf wouldn't be reasoned with. She had no choice. She killed him and left quickly, never wanting to look back.
She wasn't surprised when she learned of Mirabelle's death. Just another body to add to the death toll surrounding the Thalmor waiting inside. She wasn't surprised to see him there, attacking the orb with his full power, drawing power from it unlike any she had ever believed could exist. She wasn't surprised when the paralysis spell hit, knocking all but her to the ground and leaving the battle to only them.
ES
She watched silently, tears in her eyes. He told her she would never stop him. She said nothing, just watched in misery. Did you feel nothing for me, Ancano? Of course you didn't. I knew you didn't. Hope and fact were completely different things. Oh how I wish you could have felt something, though. Anything. "Stop this," she suddenly pled.
He laughed coldly and replied as he pulled away, powers peaked and ready to put to the test, "Stupid child, it is too late to stop this now."
"Please," she begged, and he glared at her furiously, his spells prepared to launch. Divines only knew how he hated that word. "I don't want to kill you," she suddenly added, and for a moment his guard dropped.
"I'm afraid it won't be me joining Savos and Mirabelle," he answered haughtily, quickly recovering.
"Don't make me kill you," she begged; but she knew it was too late for pleas. He attacked, and she had no more choices.
ES
He staggered away from her behind a pillar, gasping for breath and trying to heal himself. He was exhausted, though, his magic drained by the Staff of Magnus. All at once she was there glaring coldly at him, eyes filled with anger and hatred; but there was misery there, and sadness, and regret and… and love… Tears shone in the angel's eyes as she gazed upon him. "Beg me to spare you," she pled with him. "Pray for forgiveness and mercy, and I shall show it."
He didn't look up at her. Her words spun around in his head at a blinding speed killing any other thought that had been in his mind. All at once his will to fight was gone. All at once power seemed so meaningless. All at once death seemed more terrifying to him than ever before, and yet more comforting than he could have ever imagined it to feel. Pity? Mercy? Hah! Only from the embodiment of kindness. Only from her. Shaking with hatred and anger and fear he gazed up at her, eyes glittering, teeth clenched, and replied, "Death comes to all."
He wouldn't admit it to himself, he wouldn't admit it to her. He couldn't. To do so would mean the end. To do so would mean to be wrong, to be helpless, to be a slave. He knew exactly what he wouldn't admit. He never would, not with his dying breath, not with his eyes. She would never know that she had enraptured a monster. She would never know that she had won what she'd so desired. She would never know she held his heart and soul bound forever to hers. She would never know how much he had come to love her…
"Finish it," he hissed with passionate hatred. He had lost the war, but he would take one victory from her, hold one battle. "Finish me," he challenged again.
She sobbed and nearly backed down, but it was too late for that. Far too late. Looking up once more at him she whispered, as she charged up her final spell, "I loved you." His eyes widened as she let it go. The pain of the finishing blow never began to compare with the anguish he felt as his heart finally broke. My crystal angel, one moment more and I would have broken, I would have pled and been yours. Innocent seraph, if one last breath could have departed from my lips, you would have known… You would have known how passionately I loved you…
(A/N: Quest References: Eye of Magnus? It was somewhere around that part of the Mage's College quest line.)