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30th of Last Seed, 427 3E
Another day, another hunt, and another daily payment. At this point I no longer worry and loose sleep, wondering what's going to happen to me or how I'm going to survive. As long as I continue to be diligent about doing my job, I'll be able to support myself and afford anything I might need. A few hundred septims a day is a lot more than many of the commoners make, and I have only myself to support. It would be much harder to save my earnings if I had a family to support. I was reminded of that today when I went to Seyda Neen to sell the day's quota of crab meat.
As always, I managed to get quite a few crabs in the wilderness surrounding the village. There is a small rotted row-boat that has been tied to a root along the shore, apparently abandoned. Each day when I walk past the boat I have debated with myself about checking to see what was inside a small wooden chest that has so far sat undisturbed within the boat.
Today I stood near the boat, warily glancing around, fearing that if I looked in the containers, that this would be the day that the boat's owner would finally return and catch me going through his or her belongings. Finally I took a deep breath and looked inside the chest and found that it contained a small assortment of enchanted scrolls, which included Intervention and Slowfall. Following another moment of hesitation, I took the scrolls and placed them in my satchel. If the boat's owner is dead, then the scrolls won't do anyone any good sitting in a rotting chest.
Feeling guilty and silently scolding myself for possibly becoming a thief after all, I left headed into Seyda Neen with the day's catch. I had just sold the crab meat to Jine and was heading out of the village when I almost bumped into a tired looking lady Altmer. Stepping out of her way, I said respectfully, "I beg your paron, sera."
She seemed surprised at my words. I'm not sure if it was because of my using a Dunmer honorific, or simply the fact that I was being respectful. Whatever the case, she raised her thin brows slightly before replying, "That is quite all right. I've seen you coming and going through here over the past few days. It's not often that people return to Seyda Neen after leaving it."
I explained, "I hunt mud crabs and sell the meat to a cooking guild agent who is posted here."
The Altmer nodded in understanding as she replied, "Ah, yes. You work for Jine. Good for you for finding a way to make an honest living." Smoothing her long white hair with her hand, she continued, "My name is Eldafire, a seamstress."
I replied politely, "I'm Aeronwen. A pleasure to meet you, muthsera."
Smiling a bit, Eldafire responded, "Likewise. I confess that I've been curious about you, but didn't want to intrude since you always seem to keep to yourself."
Concerned that I had come across as stand-offish or a snob, I explained, "It's not that I don't wish to speak to anyone. It's just that I've been trying to learn the area, and of course working to sell enough crab meat to earn a living."
She quickly assured me, "Oh, I understand completely. Life can be difficult for us. We have to work hard to make ends meet."
Prior to my banishment, I'm sure more money had been spent on me in one month than this Altmer earns in a year. Wanting to steer the topic of conversation away from myself, I inquired, "So what made you settle in Seyda Neen?"
Eldafire immediately appeared uncomfortable and a little surprised as she answered, "You would like to know more about me? I don't know. It's not a subject I'm very comfortable discussing."
The last thing I had wanted to do was make her feel uncomfortable. I immediately responded with, "Forgive me. I didn't mean to pry. We can talk about something else if you would prefer."
Another small, appreciative smile appeared on her tired looking face as she said, "That is very thoughtful of you. Perhaps I would feel better if I spoke about this with someone. I am married and have two children; my son Vindely, and my daughter Vildafire."
As we were speaking, I noticed a small Altmer girl standing nearby. She appeared to be around six years old and was staring at me curiously. Smiling at her, I said softly, "It's nice to meet you, Vildafire."
The child smiled a bit, but said nothing as she stood a short distance behind her mother. Eldafire smiled at her daughter before saying as she returned her attention to me, "My husband was...did not have regular employment. It has always been difficult for Altmer living in Morrowind. Terinde proposed coming to Vvardenfell to take advantage of the opportunities available to people willing to settle in this wild land."
Already this situation didn't sound good at all. I'm certainly no first hand expert on Vvardenfell, but I learned about it during my studies and have read that much of this island is an ashy wasteland. There really are not a lot of places for a family to comfortably settle.
Eldafire's face had a wistful expression as she continued, "We arrived in Seyda Neen full of expectations, but clearly we had been misled about the vigorous growth of the town. Terinde did not want to drag a wife and two children all over the island so he left us to wait for him here as he traveled to other settlements looking for a permanent work. He wrote letters, but the report was always the same: nothing suitable. At first I lived on the hope of his most recent letter, but after some weeks that was no longer enough and I was forced to accept a job of my own."
I commented, "That had to be hard for you."
She responded, "It was, but I had to do what was best for my children. As time passed, my husband's letters became less frequent and our circumstances more desperate. Eventually Terinde wrote about joining a couple other mer to explore some remote location. It sounded reckless to me and I urged him not to attempt it. I do not know if he received my plea; It was the last letter I received from him."
No matter how bad you think your own situation is, there is always someone who has it worse than you do. My own situation is hard, but, as I mentioned near the start of this entry, I have only myself to worry about. I could only imagine how frightened Eldafire must have been with two children who depended on her to provide food and a home for them.
Following a weary sigh, Eldafire continued, "Now I am stranded here with my children, not knowing if Terinde is dead or alive. I cannot leave him behind and I cannot go looking for him. You do not live in Seyda Neen. I wonder if in your travels you have heard anything about my husband Any news would be welcome."
Wishing there was something I could do to help her, I replied, "I'm afraid I haven't really seen much of Vvardenfell, and right now I mainly just go back and forth between here and Pelagiad." After a moment, I continued hesitantly, "I have also had relatives come to Vvardenfell and go missing; my grandfather and my uncle."
She replied sympathetically, "Oh, you poor dear. Please be careful on your travels. I'd hate for the same thing to happen to you."
Before I could reply, I became aware of a teenage Altmer boy who was tossing corn to a small flock of chickens. Gesturing toward the boy, I asked Eldafire, "Is that your son?"
She nodded and answered with pride in her soft voice, "He is my strength. I know I can endure anything for his and Vildafire's sake. Vindely looks like his father. Sometimes I look into his eyes and remember what first attracted me to Terinde. However Vindely has ambition. In that respect he is nothing like his father."
I inquired, "So he gets that from his mother?"
Eldafire laughed a bit before replying, "I have never been described as ambitious, but I have always been willing to apply myself. Vindely is, too. He has been such a help to me since his father left, but I hope I have not robbed him of some of his childhood. I am very proud of him and the mer he will grow into one day."
After a moment, I inquired, "So you haven't been to any other part of Vvardenfell?"
Following a brief shake of her head, she answered, "No, I haven't. All I know of other settlements are the accounts through my husband's letters, and I regret those were not very detailed. He traveled first to Balmora because it was easily reached by silt strider and it is a large town that promised the most opportunities."
I nodded briefly before saying, "Yes, it's a fair sized place and seems to be thriving."
Many of Balmora's residents were in fact quite rude, but I saw no reason to burden Eldafire with that. Pushing a lock of my hair away from my eyes, I inquired, "Did your husband happen to say where he was headed when he left Balmora?"
Eldafire's brow furrowed as she answered, "I know he spent a little time in Caldera; I believe it is north of Balmora, but he did not stay long. Apparently is a mining town and Terinde had no experience in that trade. My last letters came from Ald'ruhn, a large Redoran settlement located in the wastes in the middle of the island. All I really know about that town is that the weather is worse than it is here in Seyda Neen."
The last known location of my grandfather and my uncle was also somewhere around Ald'ruhn. It's beginning to sound as though the Ashlands swallow up any newcomer who attempts to venture there. But again, I saw no reason to add to Eldafire's worries by voicing my own thoughts on the subject.
I was spared from trying to come up with a way to change the subject when Eldafire said, "Well, it's truly been a pleasure speaking with you Aeronwen, but I need to get back to work."
I replied, "Yes, and I should start heading back to Pelagiad. I don't like to be out walking around after dark."
"Smart girl," Eldafire replied. Nodding at the tradehouse, she continued, "Arrille has been a good friend and very supportive throughout my ordeal. He is also the proprietor of the Tradehouse, the only source of general goods in this town so he is a good friend to have. Before I married Terinde I was a seamstress. I made all of my own clothing, and after I had a family my husband's and son's clothing as well. I might have established myself as a clothing maker, but Seyda Neen is not so large or prosperous a town to require a clothier. Instead I perform alterations and repairs. Arrille has been very kind and allows me to sell a few items through his tradehouse."
We wished each other a good evening before going out separate ways. When I entered the tradehouse, I browsed the basic wares that were available before bartering for a few dozen chiton arrows. I also looked over the selection of clothing and selected a skirt and a matching blouse as well as a couple of summery dresses.
Standing at the counter, I asked Arrille, "By any chance were these made by Eldafire?"
Wrapping my purchases, Arrille answered, "Yes, as a matter of fact they were. Her life has been a difficult one, and not one that she deserves. She married a mer who gave her nothing except two charming children. He was otherwise useless and aimless. He built up her hopes about starting a life in Vvardenfell when it was opened for expansion. He spoke of fresh opportunities, but one needs greater ambition than he possessed to pursue such dreams."
"That's what I heard," I replied, noticing the soft anger in the Altmer's voice.
As I paid for the items I was purchasing, Arrille continued, "Eldafire and her children followed Terinde to Vvardenfell and waited here for him to establish a trade. The last I heard the fool was investigating some ruin up north and disappeared. Whether he is alive or dead does not really matter; he abandoned his family here in Seyda Neen, and here Eldafire waits anxiously for any news about her worthless husband."
Gathering up the clothes and arrows I had purchased, I commented, "I can tell that she works very hard to support herself and her children."
Smiling slightly, Arrille stated, "It's good of you to purchase some of her clothing. Every little bit helps her."
Also smiling a bit, I told him, "I in fact need another set of clothes, so I suppose she and I are helping in other. Thank you for your time, muthsera."
As I left Seyda Neen and followed the road back to Pelagiad, I felt bad that I had no information to offer Eldafire about her missing husband, nor do I expect to ever find any. I'm not an adventurer. I'm a freelance hunter and an artist. I probably won't see much more of Vvardenfell than I have already. I'll leave the explorations of ruins and caves to those who willing to take the risks that are a part of that sort of life.
*~*~*
Another day, another hunt, and another daily payment. At this point I no longer worry and loose sleep, wondering what's going to happen to me or how I'm going to survive. As long as I continue to be diligent about doing my job, I'll be able to support myself and afford anything I might need. A few hundred septims a day is a lot more than many of the commoners make, and I have only myself to support. It would be much harder to save my earnings if I had a family to support. I was reminded of that today when I went to Seyda Neen to sell the day's quota of crab meat.
As always, I managed to get quite a few crabs in the wilderness surrounding the village. There is a small rotted row-boat that has been tied to a root along the shore, apparently abandoned. Each day when I walk past the boat I have debated with myself about checking to see what was inside a small wooden chest that has so far sat undisturbed within the boat.
Today I stood near the boat, warily glancing around, fearing that if I looked in the containers, that this would be the day that the boat's owner would finally return and catch me going through his or her belongings. Finally I took a deep breath and looked inside the chest and found that it contained a small assortment of enchanted scrolls, which included Intervention and Slowfall. Following another moment of hesitation, I took the scrolls and placed them in my satchel. If the boat's owner is dead, then the scrolls won't do anyone any good sitting in a rotting chest.
Feeling guilty and silently scolding myself for possibly becoming a thief after all, I left headed into Seyda Neen with the day's catch. I had just sold the crab meat to Jine and was heading out of the village when I almost bumped into a tired looking lady Altmer. Stepping out of her way, I said respectfully, "I beg your paron, sera."
She seemed surprised at my words. I'm not sure if it was because of my using a Dunmer honorific, or simply the fact that I was being respectful. Whatever the case, she raised her thin brows slightly before replying, "That is quite all right. I've seen you coming and going through here over the past few days. It's not often that people return to Seyda Neen after leaving it."
I explained, "I hunt mud crabs and sell the meat to a cooking guild agent who is posted here."
The Altmer nodded in understanding as she replied, "Ah, yes. You work for Jine. Good for you for finding a way to make an honest living." Smoothing her long white hair with her hand, she continued, "My name is Eldafire, a seamstress."
I replied politely, "I'm Aeronwen. A pleasure to meet you, muthsera."
Smiling a bit, Eldafire responded, "Likewise. I confess that I've been curious about you, but didn't want to intrude since you always seem to keep to yourself."
Concerned that I had come across as stand-offish or a snob, I explained, "It's not that I don't wish to speak to anyone. It's just that I've been trying to learn the area, and of course working to sell enough crab meat to earn a living."
She quickly assured me, "Oh, I understand completely. Life can be difficult for us. We have to work hard to make ends meet."
Prior to my banishment, I'm sure more money had been spent on me in one month than this Altmer earns in a year. Wanting to steer the topic of conversation away from myself, I inquired, "So what made you settle in Seyda Neen?"
Eldafire immediately appeared uncomfortable and a little surprised as she answered, "You would like to know more about me? I don't know. It's not a subject I'm very comfortable discussing."
The last thing I had wanted to do was make her feel uncomfortable. I immediately responded with, "Forgive me. I didn't mean to pry. We can talk about something else if you would prefer."
Another small, appreciative smile appeared on her tired looking face as she said, "That is very thoughtful of you. Perhaps I would feel better if I spoke about this with someone. I am married and have two children; my son Vindely, and my daughter Vildafire."
As we were speaking, I noticed a small Altmer girl standing nearby. She appeared to be around six years old and was staring at me curiously. Smiling at her, I said softly, "It's nice to meet you, Vildafire."
The child smiled a bit, but said nothing as she stood a short distance behind her mother. Eldafire smiled at her daughter before saying as she returned her attention to me, "My husband was...did not have regular employment. It has always been difficult for Altmer living in Morrowind. Terinde proposed coming to Vvardenfell to take advantage of the opportunities available to people willing to settle in this wild land."
Already this situation didn't sound good at all. I'm certainly no first hand expert on Vvardenfell, but I learned about it during my studies and have read that much of this island is an ashy wasteland. There really are not a lot of places for a family to comfortably settle.
Eldafire's face had a wistful expression as she continued, "We arrived in Seyda Neen full of expectations, but clearly we had been misled about the vigorous growth of the town. Terinde did not want to drag a wife and two children all over the island so he left us to wait for him here as he traveled to other settlements looking for a permanent work. He wrote letters, but the report was always the same: nothing suitable. At first I lived on the hope of his most recent letter, but after some weeks that was no longer enough and I was forced to accept a job of my own."
I commented, "That had to be hard for you."
She responded, "It was, but I had to do what was best for my children. As time passed, my husband's letters became less frequent and our circumstances more desperate. Eventually Terinde wrote about joining a couple other mer to explore some remote location. It sounded reckless to me and I urged him not to attempt it. I do not know if he received my plea; It was the last letter I received from him."
No matter how bad you think your own situation is, there is always someone who has it worse than you do. My own situation is hard, but, as I mentioned near the start of this entry, I have only myself to worry about. I could only imagine how frightened Eldafire must have been with two children who depended on her to provide food and a home for them.
Following a weary sigh, Eldafire continued, "Now I am stranded here with my children, not knowing if Terinde is dead or alive. I cannot leave him behind and I cannot go looking for him. You do not live in Seyda Neen. I wonder if in your travels you have heard anything about my husband Any news would be welcome."
Wishing there was something I could do to help her, I replied, "I'm afraid I haven't really seen much of Vvardenfell, and right now I mainly just go back and forth between here and Pelagiad." After a moment, I continued hesitantly, "I have also had relatives come to Vvardenfell and go missing; my grandfather and my uncle."
She replied sympathetically, "Oh, you poor dear. Please be careful on your travels. I'd hate for the same thing to happen to you."
Before I could reply, I became aware of a teenage Altmer boy who was tossing corn to a small flock of chickens. Gesturing toward the boy, I asked Eldafire, "Is that your son?"
She nodded and answered with pride in her soft voice, "He is my strength. I know I can endure anything for his and Vildafire's sake. Vindely looks like his father. Sometimes I look into his eyes and remember what first attracted me to Terinde. However Vindely has ambition. In that respect he is nothing like his father."
I inquired, "So he gets that from his mother?"
Eldafire laughed a bit before replying, "I have never been described as ambitious, but I have always been willing to apply myself. Vindely is, too. He has been such a help to me since his father left, but I hope I have not robbed him of some of his childhood. I am very proud of him and the mer he will grow into one day."
After a moment, I inquired, "So you haven't been to any other part of Vvardenfell?"
Following a brief shake of her head, she answered, "No, I haven't. All I know of other settlements are the accounts through my husband's letters, and I regret those were not very detailed. He traveled first to Balmora because it was easily reached by silt strider and it is a large town that promised the most opportunities."
I nodded briefly before saying, "Yes, it's a fair sized place and seems to be thriving."
Many of Balmora's residents were in fact quite rude, but I saw no reason to burden Eldafire with that. Pushing a lock of my hair away from my eyes, I inquired, "Did your husband happen to say where he was headed when he left Balmora?"
Eldafire's brow furrowed as she answered, "I know he spent a little time in Caldera; I believe it is north of Balmora, but he did not stay long. Apparently is a mining town and Terinde had no experience in that trade. My last letters came from Ald'ruhn, a large Redoran settlement located in the wastes in the middle of the island. All I really know about that town is that the weather is worse than it is here in Seyda Neen."
The last known location of my grandfather and my uncle was also somewhere around Ald'ruhn. It's beginning to sound as though the Ashlands swallow up any newcomer who attempts to venture there. But again, I saw no reason to add to Eldafire's worries by voicing my own thoughts on the subject.
I was spared from trying to come up with a way to change the subject when Eldafire said, "Well, it's truly been a pleasure speaking with you Aeronwen, but I need to get back to work."
I replied, "Yes, and I should start heading back to Pelagiad. I don't like to be out walking around after dark."
"Smart girl," Eldafire replied. Nodding at the tradehouse, she continued, "Arrille has been a good friend and very supportive throughout my ordeal. He is also the proprietor of the Tradehouse, the only source of general goods in this town so he is a good friend to have. Before I married Terinde I was a seamstress. I made all of my own clothing, and after I had a family my husband's and son's clothing as well. I might have established myself as a clothing maker, but Seyda Neen is not so large or prosperous a town to require a clothier. Instead I perform alterations and repairs. Arrille has been very kind and allows me to sell a few items through his tradehouse."
We wished each other a good evening before going out separate ways. When I entered the tradehouse, I browsed the basic wares that were available before bartering for a few dozen chiton arrows. I also looked over the selection of clothing and selected a skirt and a matching blouse as well as a couple of summery dresses.
Standing at the counter, I asked Arrille, "By any chance were these made by Eldafire?"
Wrapping my purchases, Arrille answered, "Yes, as a matter of fact they were. Her life has been a difficult one, and not one that she deserves. She married a mer who gave her nothing except two charming children. He was otherwise useless and aimless. He built up her hopes about starting a life in Vvardenfell when it was opened for expansion. He spoke of fresh opportunities, but one needs greater ambition than he possessed to pursue such dreams."
"That's what I heard," I replied, noticing the soft anger in the Altmer's voice.
As I paid for the items I was purchasing, Arrille continued, "Eldafire and her children followed Terinde to Vvardenfell and waited here for him to establish a trade. The last I heard the fool was investigating some ruin up north and disappeared. Whether he is alive or dead does not really matter; he abandoned his family here in Seyda Neen, and here Eldafire waits anxiously for any news about her worthless husband."
Gathering up the clothes and arrows I had purchased, I commented, "I can tell that she works very hard to support herself and her children."
Smiling slightly, Arrille stated, "It's good of you to purchase some of her clothing. Every little bit helps her."
Also smiling a bit, I told him, "I in fact need another set of clothes, so I suppose she and I are helping in other. Thank you for your time, muthsera."
As I left Seyda Neen and followed the road back to Pelagiad, I felt bad that I had no information to offer Eldafire about her missing husband, nor do I expect to ever find any. I'm not an adventurer. I'm a freelance hunter and an artist. I probably won't see much more of Vvardenfell than I have already. I'll leave the explorations of ruins and caves to those who willing to take the risks that are a part of that sort of life.
