Fate's Games
(A/N: Fourth up today.)
Azura's Star
Find a mage who can turn the whitest of stars as black as night. Long after the Dragonborn had left those words rang in her head. Could any man truly be so powerful? Of course she didn't believe it meant the literal stars. She knew it meant Azura's. Still… Who was this man, she wondered. And finally curiosity got the best of her. Soon after the Dragonborn left, so did she. She went seeking this mage who claimed such power. To only see him would be the greatest honor of all.
She knew he was to be her rival. She knew the Dragonborn could just as easily have betrayed her as him. She wasn't even sure what he would do to her when he saw the one the Dragonborn had chosen over him. She neared Winterhold, though, and there was no going back. She reached the inn and silently entered. She looked around then went to the counter. "Can I help you?" the man asked.
"I'm looking for a mage," she replied.
"You're kidding, right?" he asked.
"No, no, not just any mage… This one does not attend the college. This one may even be a stranger in these parts. And he keeps to himself," she said.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but…" the man began.
"I believe she is talking about me," a voice said from the side, and quickly she turned and caught her breath. A high elf! His eyes fell on her, smouldering and cold. "I had a feeling you would come," he remarked.
ES
He summed up the Dark Elf woman, waiting for her to respond. When she could only stare, he said, "So this is Azura's prophetess. This is the woman the Dragonborn chose to return the star to. No wonder. I will not hesitate to admit you are quite lovely; nothing like what I expected. This is the one who serves the wicked Daedra."
"I serve only Azura," she replied.
"Is there a difference?" he asked.
"You know the answer," she replied.
"That she is not inherently evil? Please. You actually believe that?" he replied, unimpressed.
"You do not?" she asked.
He smirked, amused, but quickly the smirk fell. "Why have you come here? You do not know if I will let you leave alive. You do not know if I have already killed you. Is there a reason you came to the one who rivalled you?" he asked.
"I wanted only to see you," she answered.
"For what purpose?" he asked.
"I wondered very much at what kind of man could turn the whitest of stars black as night," she answered.
ES
He was silent a long moment. Finally he said, "Are you satisfied with what you see?"
"Very much so, though I expected someone… much older," she answered.
"Do you believe I will kill you?" he asked.
"I will not be surprised either way," she answered. "But killing me will not get the star back."
"But it would be oh so satisfying," he answered.
"Have I hurt your high elf pride so deeply?" she asked.
"Very much so," he answered.
"Do I impress you?" she asked.
He was silent. Finally he answered, "With your questions and answers both."
"Do you know my name?" she wondered.
Another silence, and then he replied, "Aranea."
"How long have you known?" she asked.
"As long as you have known my own name," he answered.
"Nelacar…" she breathed.
He was silent, reading her, judging her, and finally he asked, "Do you believe Azura's Star is the only one I can turn?"
"Show me otherwise," she replied
ES
He turned his head slightly then walked outside. She followed him. Looking up into the sky he raised his hand towards the brightest star. Clenching his fist and muttering a chant, or a prayer, the star disappeared. She caught her breath. Unclenching his fist the star reappeared.
"How, young man, did you come to have such power?" she wondered.
"Not by means of the Daedra," he answered. "But the Divines."
"Light and darkness," she murmured. He glanced over at her. After a long moment he took her wrist and lifted her hand. Gently he placed his light palm against her dark one.
"I suppose," he muttered. She felt warm, he felt himself shiver, and soon they linked their fingers through one another.
"Do you believe in destiny and fate?" she wondered.
"I believe in destiny and fate, but also logic and control. Fate can be changed, destiny can be rewritten, but it takes a very special type to do so," he replied.
"Do you wish to rewrite the future we both see?" she asked.
"No… For once I will let fate guide me," he answered.
"Why?" she wondered, though they both knew the answer.
"Because it is unimaginable that you will not be in it," he replied. She gazed up at him in wonder. Gently he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Destiny will lead us to one another again. We will be brought together as one, and from there… From there it is blank. From there we will make our own future."
"And I will await until the time you come to me arrives," she replied. Bowing her head to him she kissed his own hand, then they pulled apart and returned to their domains.
(A/N: Quest Referenced-Azura's Star.)