An unexpected visit

When Vulkwasten finally began to settle into a comfortable pace as the evening went on and the golden disk of sun had disappeared beyond the towering, ever green treetops, a lone figure remained on the improvised balcony located just beneath the Fighters Guild Hall. The slender silhouette of a young Breton mage remained still as the last rays of light escaped trough the foliage, coloring the darkened wood into a warm, welcoming shade of bronze. While she would never admit it, there was an odd comfort in small moments like that. No obligations, no troubles that besiege her waking hours - just her, the distant sunset, and as much freedom of thought as she could grasp. As the time went by Bethany grew accustomed to solitude - even found an odd solace in the peace and quiet of the fleeting moment. One may say that it is an odd thing, even vain for someone as sociable as herself to seek comfort far away from her companions - but she liked to think of it as more than an idle pass-time. It was a way to clear one's thoughts, collect herself so as not to loose it all to the madness that seemed to accompany her whenever she went. Even a staunch optimist such as herself needs a moment of respite from the worry of the world...

As her thoughts drifted around the day's events, she nearly failed to notice that the balcony may have had another silent visitor as the twilight settled in. Registering the familiar aura, the mage had relaxed her previously stiff and rigid posture - a force of habit, an instinct really. When one ventures far away from the well-traveled roads, danger always tend to lurk close by, when you least expecting it. A hard-learned habit that remained even after all the time she spent within the safety of Vulkwasten borders. Glancing over the shoulder, she offered a brief nod of acknowledgement to the towering masked figure as he stood silently by her. - "I should be used to this by now, and yet he always manages to surprise me every time..." - the mage thought distantly, returning her attention to the sleepy town beneath them. Bethany remained silent, content to enjoy the moment of respite from the day's events. She knew all too well that if the mer wanted to say something, he simply will. After all, he was - despite his constant arguments against it, - a creature of habit. To intrude upon her evening routine, the mer must truly had a reason to be here. Patiently, she continued to glance over the darkening landscape, awaiting for the figure to speak...

Elros had quietly shadow jumped down to the balcony. He had been enjoying the wind from the height of the surrounding trees. The altmer had seen the breton trying to enjoy the peace. Dropping down to enjoy the sunset too, Elros stood in silence at first. He swayed gently on his feet to the breeze then as it winded down, he spoke. "Do you pray at dusk?"

He brought his his hands together to pray to the daedric prince, Lady Azura. Humming in a low tone he prayed his allegiance and loyalty to the goddess. He did not look over to Bethany, instead focusing on his daily prayer. Once he finished he blinked a few times. He then looked over to Bethany in silent inquiry.

- "You may say that..." - the mage replied calmly, her gaze fixed firmly on the horizon, catching the fleeting glimpses of the sun. - "Though a 'prayer' may not be the right term for it. A... meditation is what I prefer to call it." - she turned around, studying the mer for along while as his hands were clasped in an obvious gesture of prayer. Not willing to interrupt the sacred rite, she patiently remained silent till the mer's focus was brought back to her. - "I sense that you did not simply came here to debate the finer points of our belief, or to admire the sunset however splendid it may be... Speak freely, Elros, for none will intrude on us this hour. Why do you seek me?" - Bethany's tone was calm, - soothing even. Yet the Breton mage was a cautious creature, and despite her seemingly relaxed posture she did not lowered her guard down, keeping a keen eye on the surrounding landscape...

Elros put his hands on the railing and leaned on it, blank eyes still on the setting sun. After a few moments he spoke again.

"I am here to ask if you are willing to join me in an endeavor to keep the Dominion safe." He looked over to her again. "That is assuming you are interested in such things. My ways won't necessarily abide with the laws of the land, but what I will do will be for the greater good."

The altmer pushed off the railings. "I have seen much, been through much in my life. Ever since coming to the Dominion, I have been trying to find a place to belong. To do something right and make a difference. I may never be able to do what you do Bethany, head a chapter of the Mage's Guild, or be a Treethane like Elsynia or a Clan Lord like Krynn-Ra. What I can do is this: I can bring together people I think can help me in my goal to further the Dominion's interests. So, Bethany, what do you say?"

He put his hands out and with a flicker of magic, a long wrapped object appeared in his hand. It was covered in a dark silken cloth with elegant designs. He came closer to the breton and offered her the gift.

The Breton battlemage remained silent for a while, her gaze focused on the sleepy town beneath them. - "You realize what you ask of me, do you not?" - her reply was calm, yet there was a certain strain hidden beneath her well-polished facade. - "I am a senior member of the Mages Guild. That alone prevents me from taking any active part in the Dominion's political agenda. Not to mention that I detest the pointless bloodshed that stained the soil of Cyrodiil with blood of men and mer..." - Bethany looked back, studying the hooded mer as if gauging his reaction. After what seemed like an eternity of silence she finally let out a heavy sigh. - "I cannot, and will not use my magic to do any battle but that of my own choosing."

Her mind raced furiously as the silence between them lasted longer than she would expect. - "For the grace of Azura..." - she thought to self with a mental sigh. - "He knows all too well that I cannot do what he asks of me. True, I bear witness to the corruption within the nobility of my homeland, but would the Aldmeri and their pride be any different? Not in a thousand years. Still... I may not carry favor for the Dominion, but I do care for the people under the Eagle's wings. Elsy, Krynger... even Elros himself. The greatest chink in my armor, nay?" - she let out another sigh, before turning around to address the mer.

- "I cannot join you in any act of aggression - especially not on behalf of one of the warring factions. But... my arcane is not the only power at my disposal. As a Magister of the Guild, I may walk freely where few others could. The halls of power is my battleground, and words and wit are my weapons of choice. Not every battle is settled with blood and death, my dear friend - a fact that you well know of." - she sighed. - "Should you require aid - be it information, or a difficult negotiation with a particularly stubborn party - I am at your disposal... After all, I do look after my own" - she finished quieter, as if speaking the last words to herself.

Elros nodded slowly at her first question. He knew full well that he asked her to break the neutrality of the Mage's Guild. But he had a reason in asking her.

"I will tell you something that I haven't told anyone else yet. The Onei has further goals then simply protecting Dominion interests. The intention is to gather objects that could be harmful in the wrong hands. Safeguard them from the current war and find a way to beat back the daedric prince's minions. I'm sure you can agree to fight on those terms. I promise to not ask you fight should it be a matter of the Alliances."

The altmer paced a little before stopping to look down at the dark evening below. "I would welcome whatever help I can get honestly. As official as I make it look, I'm merely trying to look out for my friends." Elros then came closer, offering her the gift again.

The Breton mage listened intently, hey amber eyes following mer as he paced around the balcony. - "In such a case... I believe we may be on the same page after all" - she offered a graceful nod, and something suspiciously resembling a smile of relief - albeit a veiled one. - "The war in the Heartland is pointless, now more than ever as the Daedra keep invading the realm of Nirn by the thousands. I did my best to find a way to deal with the menace, as well as keeping the dangerous relics of the past away from prying eyes of those who will misuse them without as much as a second thought... Doing so is a hard work, and I gladly welcome the assistance of those few I could truly trust" - the Breton mage walked around the mer, her hands clasped as her mind raced to process the information. - "If what you spoke to me is true... that my goals shall align with those of the Onei, messere Elros. You aren't the only one who does his best to look out for his own..." - the woman added, somewhat cryptically. - "I accept the offer."

Elros smiled under his helm when the mage accepted. He held out the gift to her. Within it, there was an elegant voidsteel sword. It was a slim weapon with little weight, making it perfect for the mage's stature.

"I'm glad you accepted. What I say is true. I have no other intentions. What I do will be for the greater good and also for my friends."

The mer stepped back and let the mage examine his gift to her. Eventually, if nothing else was said Elros would quietly leave the breton to her quiet evening and get back to his duty.