A couple of days have passed since they left Skyrim and set the course to the land of dunmer. Rialyn wasn't exactly the most knowledgeable in sailing, but he tried to at least show appreciation for the sailors; there aren't many who'd agree to this mission. The feeling of being in the open sea enamored Rialyn.
He didn't even count the time; it went quickly as he spent hours on the deck, looking around him and catching the sea's breeze. Perhaps in another life, he could have been a great sailor; the smell of salt, distant echoes of seagulls, and the boundless horizons ahead of you held a lot of appeals. Now all that was left was to wait until they arrived at Vivec. Their ship was already between Vvardenfell and Morrowind mainland, closing in on their course, on Rialyn's dream…
"Appreciating the view?"-He could hear Nerius's voice behind as the argonian stood beside him.
"The open seas certainly have something about them. Or maybe I'm just happy to leave Skyrim for good."
"I like it too. Seeing the waters is like a cold rain upon my scales; I've enjoyed helping others with the sails…Do you think you'll ever be back?"
"I don't know, but it's only for some friends I left behind, if I will. That won't happen soon, but hopefully, I still have a long life to live."
"Ah, yes…Mer share long lifespans with us."
And not just that, but Rialyn didn't want to disclose that, at least now. The hunger has not troubled him throughout the journey, and the Dragonborn hoped it would remain this way.
"If I may…"-Nerius said with curiosity in his voice. "If you never visited Morrowind, where do you hail from?"
"Cheydinhal, I was born there and spent a few childhood years."
"Ah, from the imperial province…Years ago, its citizens would be considered lucky, not so much after Thalmor invasion."
"My youth came just around that time."
"And did you know your parents?"-He asked personal questions, but Rialyn didn't catch any malice in his voice.
"No, they left when I was very young…Or died. I know that they were refugees from Morrowind who fled to Cheydinhal as it's the city with most Dunmer influence. Then I got taken in by one kind man to Bruma and lived there, relatively peacefully."
"Until you came to Skyrim. Tales say that you arrived in the prisoner's carriage; is it true?"
"Yes, saved by a fateful reappearance of dragons."
"Why did you cross the border?"
"Out of necessity…."
"Really, what happened?"
Rialyn did not wish to talk about it, he looked at Nerius sternly, and his eyes said everything.
"Sorry, I do not mean to pry; it's interesting to learn the history of the most recent hero…."
"I understand, but I think that's enough for one day; we both have a business to attend to."
"Yes, yes…I'll be going. Others need my help."-Nerius backed away and left Rialyn. Perhaps he will tell more if their travels would keep them together for a while in time. However, it was true that there were important matters to attend to. It wasn't long before they arrived, and by that time, he needed some letters to send at the first opportunity.
Rialyn descended into his cabin where his mace and the Auriel's bow. He needed to warn Serana about what was to come. Now that he was discovered by Thalmor, they are likely to send assassins to castle Volkihar. Vampires should be able to deal with them, but Rialyn had doubts whether these letters would reach them before the first Thalmor attacks, but he still needed to try.
Then there was whether they would actually remain in secret and not be intercepted by those who couldn't be trusted. Tullius didn't even send a direct letter to the castle…Well, no point in overthinking. Rialyn took the quill and paper and began writing, trying to be as cryptic as possible.
If only he hadn't given mercy to that goddamn nord, much of it could be avoided. The Dragonborn must have known that Tordver would do anything to get out of the situation he found himself in and learn nothing from it; it was no surprise. He still fell for it because he knew it was to be at the mercy of another, to carry out foolish actions due to desperation…The most he could do now is make sure this mistake won't be repeated again.
And so, he wrote one after the other until he felt an urge to sleep. Vampires had no need for it, but Rialyn still hasn't fully adapted to the new lifestyle. Sleeping would make the time pass quicker and allow him to feel comfortable for a short while. Yes…Some rest before arrival when he'll be done would do the Dragonborn good.
…
The winds of Bruma have long become a relaxing feeling for Rialyn. He spent many years in this city, and the cold didn't bother him anymore. Many across Cyrodiil brumans would be seen as reclusive and unwelcome, but that wasn't the case. They were hardened people, wary of the danger outsiders could bring, especially after Thalmor.
During his life here, Rialyn managed to perfect his skill of blacksmithing and forging, any armor or weapon could be made out of metal and steel, and his mentor and adoptive father told him exactly why. He was a talented and wise nord by the name of Erstenn Grey-Hammer, and he taught Rialyn everything he knew. Despite the dunmer being past his coming of age, he still continued to help his mentor, still unsure of what he wants to do in the future…Today Erstenn woke up early and didn't hesitate to approach his student and help him awake.
"Still slumbering, eh? It's been long past the sunrise!"
The dark elf woke up and yawned; he needed some time to accumulate before beginning his new day.
"I had a strange dream…"-The dark elf said.
"Anything important?"
"No, not really…."
"Great, then! We have a new day ahead of us."
"Any customers already?"
"They'll come soon enough. What matters is that today I'll travel to the nearby village to trade, and I want you to look over the forge while I'm away."
Rialyn smiled a little, he enjoyed the independence and opportunity, but it almost disappeared.
"Damn, old man…You could've told me a few days in advance."
"Life won't be the one to give a warning like that, so you'd better get used to it if you want to run your own forge later."-Erstenn said while packing his things.
"Yes, about that…"-Rialyn continued as he was preparing for the coming day.
"Yes?"
"I want to try soon, maybe in a year, but it's time."
"And what are your plans?"
"I'll open my store in Cheydinhal. It's been a while since I've been there, and people could definitely use some northern strength there."
"Good thinking, lad, I'm sure you'll be fortunate in it. Don't think too far, though; let's focus on today."
"Yes, of course. I'll take care of our shop."
"Knew I could count on you."
It wasn't long before Erstenn went away on his endeavors, and Rialyn was left in charge. He was ready for this task and had done a lot of training; most frequent clients of the forge were familiar with him. They came and made their inquiries, buying repair hammers, occasionally weapons, and some armor. Some guardsmen walked in. They definitely needed a steady supply. Some justiciars passed by without entering…They always looked suspicious to Rialyn, as if they were purposefully seeking someone to punish.
There was one client, however, that he was pleased to see. There weren't many dunmer in Bruma, and a few who lived here kept in touch. Rialyn couldn't hide the smile on his face as the young dunmer woman entered the forge. She wore a set of light leather armor and carried a bow behind her back.
"Welcome to the forge…Do you need anything?"-Rialyn said the standard greeting for a customer but couldn't help but add the playful undertone. The woman caught up on it and looked him in the eyes. Rialyn loved looking at her beautiful face and ruby eyes, but he had to avoid distractions.
"Is that what you say to every visitor, or are you more reserved with others?"-She said jokingly and smiled at him. "Glad to see you, Rialyn."
"Me too, Inaaru. Not going to lie; I definitely need someone to brighten up my day, so your presence here is bliss."-He and Inaaru had known each other since childhood and shared many happy memories together; the similarity of their situations made them close. Both were among the few dunmer living in Bruma and have gotten used to the climate. They became close friends in a community that didn't offer many opportunities for it, and Rialyn wanted them to become something more. One day he'll be brave enough to tell her about his feelings…
"I'm glad to make you happy, but I wanted to buy something."-She said warmly.
"Ah, yes, of course. What do you need?"-Rialyn said in a much more official tone of voice.
"I'd like some arrows, please."
"Your lucky day!"-The smith responded. As he was looking for the arrows and bringing them to Inaaru, he carried on talking. "Planning something?"
"I'll go hunting this evening; my father promised to teach me to use a bow properly."
"Isn't it dangerous out there?"-Rialyn wondered.
"Well, in some ways, yes, but I think that adds to the thrill!"-Inaaru responded with excitement.
"You always were quite the thrill-seeker…."
"Maybe you should join us; I'm sure father wouldn't mind."
"Sorry, not today. The old man left me in charge of this forge for one day, and I wouldn't risk leaving it."
"Maybe another time…Well done, by the way. Your clients seem pleased, and the smith trusts you enough to leave you in charge."-Inaaru congratulated Rialyn.
"Thanks, I'm doing my best. All in preparation for having my own forge."
"Oh, really? I'd love to shop there one day. Do you want it to be here or…"?
"In Cheydinhal, Bruma has more than enough, and I haven't been there for a while. I wonder if much has changed."
"Well, after these damn Thal…Okay, maybe we shouldn't go there. It's nice to have an ambition; some of my friends still don't know what they want to do for life."
"And what about yours? Maybe you'll find something in Cheydinhal as well; from what I remember, the weather is lovely there."
"Maybe…I had some other ideas in mind, though."
"Care to tell me?"-Rialyn asked.
"It'll sound silly…But it is my dream."
"Hey, I won't judge."
"Alright. When I am prepared, I want to travel beyond Cyrodiil…."
"High Rock? Elsweyr?"
"Morrowind."
"Really?"-Rialyn was quite surprised. He didn't expect this answer, even though it seemed obvious now.
"Yeah, surely you expected it?"
"Not really; why?"
"It's the homeland of our people, where your parents and my grandparents came from. Don't you want to see how they lived? What happened to our home now?"
"I never really knew my parents and thus don't consider Morrowind a home…And besides, it's in a horrendous state now, haven't you heard?"
"Of course, I did, but it doesn't mean I shouldn't go. Imagine the people we could help there, the history we could uncover…."
"We'd be strangers there, and that's it."
"Have you heard of Nerevarine? He was a stranger there too, despite being a dunmer, and everyone knows how he turned out."
"That's just wishful thinking; Nerevarine is one case out of hundreds. We can't expect to be just like him."
"But we can still try."
"I guess…Just not for me. But I suppose I promised not to judge."
"I think you'll see it the way I do one day."
"I just don't appreciate the risks."
"They're worth it, worth knowing your ancestry, you know."
"One day maybe, but not now."
"Shame…Well, at least you might appreciate my new necklace…."
"What do you have?"
Inaaru took out the necklace with Morrowind symbolic, and it was precisely this moment when Rialyn began to fall asleep again…
…
"No, no!"-The dunmer shouted as he woke up. Not now, it was too soon…
Rialyn did not expect a rude awakening. It happened swiftly as he was swiped off his bed to the wooden floor. The surface beneath him moved violently, much more notable than the standard ship floating. Something was happening outside; it seemed like it was tearing the boat apart…As Rialyn got up, he saw Nerius swiftly rushing into the room.
"Thank the hist you're awake! We are having trouble!"
The Dragonborn quickly picked up his weapons, no time to put on the armor.
"What's going on?"
"We got caught up in a violent storm…"-Nerius couldn't finish before their ship trembled again; the argonian barely held his balance. "It began quickly. We couldn't even prepare…First a few clouds and a rising wind bringing some ash here, and then…."
"No time; we need to get on deck," Rialyn said, and both rushed upstairs. Soon they were on deck, and the Dragonborn realized the severity of their situation. The ship was utterly lost in a gruesome whirlwind of ash and rain. The waves beneath them trembled violently, steering their boat to the sides. The water was getting inside, making small halls in the ship's bottom. It seemed like it wasn't exactly the newest…
"Commander, you're here!"-One of the mercenaries noticed Rialyn. "What are your orders?"
"Do everything you can to maintain our stability; I'll come and…"-Before Rialyn could finish the sentence, he saw one of the sail holders being violently pushed off the deck and disappearing beneath the dark waves.
"We need someone on there!"-Nerius shouted.
"I'll take it; return to your old position!"-Rialyn commanded.
"At once."-the argonian returned to his duties, and Rialyn took the place of a deceased sailor. It wasn't easy to keep the ship balanced, but Dovahkiin's strength was formidable. The ship continued to stir, soon to be sunk, as the water spang all around it. Rialyn heard it violently pushing the boat, with the lower parts cracking.
There was no way to continue sailing, but the voyage could not end, so pathetically, Rialyn wouldn't allow it. He had a dark thought cross his mind; there was a way to quickly boost his physical strength with the vampire powers. But there was not enough time to transform. A few more seconds, and the ship will be swayed by rising waters.
"Incoming!"-A loud voice echoed through the boat; Rialyn looked to the side and noticed a rapidly rising wave as it approached them. It was too late. Others kneeled and hid anywhere they could as if it could be helpful in any way.
The Dragonborn saw sailors being tossed into the open sea before his own eyes. The vampire looked away and held tight. He felt the ship steering to one side and screams echoing throughout the storm. In a moment, they would sink beneath these depths; there was no point in holding on.
Rialyn let go, grabbing his two weapons tightly as the ship trimmed, and he fell off the deck. The dark elf dropped into the sea. In a single moment, he was beneath the waves, with a wall of water blocking him from the sky. With every second, he sunk deeper and lost his strength to resist. The accursed mace and bow dragged him down to the dark oblivion.
However, his will to fight did not wane at all. Rialyn swam upwards, surrounded by ship's remnants and corpses. He could barely breathe at this point, but he needed to reach the surface. The vampire could feel suffocation approaching him, the sky above him becoming murky…But all changed once he could finally grasp some fresh air into his lungs.
When Rialyn was floating, he breathed as much as possible to return to stability. He tried to keep his balance; the waves pushed him upwards as swiftly as they dragged him to the depths. Rialyn swam forward, away from this storm. All the crew diss appeared; perhaps they were all dead. The weapons still weakened Rialyn, but he couldn't let go of such powerful artifacts.
In a few minutes of struggle, the Dragonborn was released to finally witness his salvation. In the distance, barely visible, there was land…A shore, so close and yet behind myriad obstacles, Rialyn needed to get there at all costs, but his strength wasn't enough. But he still had some tricks up his sleeve.
"D…Drago…"-He noticed Nerius swimming near him, desperately trying to get close and reach him. The argonian swam underwater towards the Dovahkiin; the dark elf was surprised by his own relief of seeing Nerius alive. He swam towards the argonian, with them soon reaching out very closely.
"Wha…T…"-Nerius tried to speak, but it was hard as he struggled to survive in this storm. It was now when Rialyn realized how helpful it was for argonians to breathe underwater; otherwise, he would likely be dead. They needed to develop a plan quickly, and Rialyn knew the only way to reach the ground, but he needed to go Nerius.
Eventually, after passing through shipwreck and wooden planks, Rialyn finally grasped the argonian's hand. Afterward, he looked directly in the ground's direction.
"H…Hold…"-Rialyn tried to speak.
"Wait, w…"
"WULD NAH KEST!"
This was one of the loudest shouts Rialyn even let out; the two flew forward like a whirlwind, the water's pushback pained them, but the pure ppl were of the voice prevailed. Nerius held tight, still in awe of Dragonborn's abilities. They landed just in front of the shore; the water still dragged the two back.
"Swim!"-Rialyn shouted and rushed to the shore; Nerius followed him. It was them against nature, but eventually, the adventurers prevailed. They reached the beach and fell down on the sand. Both were highly drained and could fall unconscious at any moment.
"By the Hist…"-Nerius whispered as he looked back; Rialyn turned in the same direction soon as well. The ship was tripped over and consumed by the waves right before their eyes. There was nothing left; all of these people died on their voyage. The same goes for Rialyn's equipment, apart from two weapons and all of the letters he's written.
"Damn it…"-The dark elf said. This wasn't the journey he had planned at all.
"You saved my life there…Again. Thank you."-Nerius said with gratitude.
"Not a big deal."
"It is. I just hope that I will be able to repay you one day."
"Don't think about it, and just look out for yourself."
"I guess…So, where are we?"
Rialyn looked over the grey shores. Ahead of them laid vast land overtaken by dark colors with no living soul in sight. It looked charred and abandoned, as if a raging war had destroyed everything it was. He didn't know whether it was the mainland or the isle, but one thing was clear…
They were in Morrowind.