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1st of Heartfire, 427 3E
Apparently it's not uncommon to meet with travelers on the road when strolling around the Ascadian Isles. I say that because it happened to Rey and I two days in a row. Yesterday we met the pilgrim who was looking for the Fields of Kummu and today we met a Breton noblewoman whom had met with a bandit a short distance from Pelagiad.
Today was the second half of the weekend and the first day of the month of Heartfire. The flowers won't be blooming much longer so after I had spent some time practicing at the archery range, Rey and I decided to go for a short walk and enjoy the sight and smells of the Ascadian Isles flowers. Needless to say we avoided the area where the thylacine had been devouring the cow carcass since it was likely still guarding its feast.
We were heading back toward Pelagiad when I heard a female voice calling out, "Where did you go? Come back! Please come back! I'm not angry, I promise!" As Rey and I went further along the road I saw that the voice belonged to a young Breton woman who was clad in the fine clothes of a noble. Seeing us, she waved her hand and called out, "Excuse me! Have you seen a bandit nearby? I must find him!"
Puzzled, I asked, "You want to find a bandit?"
The Breton quickly explained, "Not just any bandit. I was walking along here, minding my own business. Suddenly, a bandit jumped at me from behind. He was a Dark Elf." Here she sighed wistfully before continuing in a softer tone, "A strong...dashing Dark Elf. He didn't harm me in any way, although he did take my jewels. He was quite gentle and he talked to me for what seemed like forever."
As she stood there with a dreamy expression on her face, I said, "It's unfortunate that he stole your jewels. Were they heirlooms?"
Blinking in surprise, the woman asked, "What's that? Oh, never mind the jewels! I just want to find that bandit again! He was charming, and funny, and I simply must see him again!"
Raising an eyebrow, I stated slowly, "So...you are smitten with a mer who robbed you just because he...was polite and said some flattering words to you when he stole your jewels?"
"Oh, you weren't there! "I must find him! Can you not see that this must be true love?" she replied sharply. Briefly closing her eyes, she clasped her hands over her heart as she continued, "Though it may take years, I'm certain we will be reunited one day. He said his name was Nelos. Nelos Onmar; a name that will stay on my lips for all eternity."
I couldn't stop myself from laughing as I replied, "Oh, him. I've met him. Quite the character, that one."
Saying that was a mistake, for the woman nearly pounced on me as she responded in a shrill, excited tone, "You know him?! You need to find him for me! Please! I cannot live without knowing if he could ever love me. I have nothing to offer you in return, but could you not help me for the sake of love?"
Quickly taking a few steps back from her, I answered, "Eh...I suppose I could talk to him for you. I have a good idea where he is and I'll be heading that way.
The woman quickly pulled off her left glove and handed it to me as she replied, "Thank you! Give this glove to him and tell him that this is a token of Maurrie's love. I'm certain he'll want to find me again."
Staring at her and she stood there on the path, practically bouncing on her heels, I said, "I will...pass this along to him for you."
She responded happily, "Yes, yes, do that. And please hurry!"
Watching her warily, I asked, "Are you sure you want me to do this? The mer robbed you!"
"Nobody is perfect!" Maurrie snapped in response.
Leaving her where she stood, smiling brightly and bouncing on her heels like an idiot, Rey and I continued down the road to Pelagiad. Not at all comfortable with this, I went to the Halfway Tavern and found Nelos standing in his usual spot at the bar. Seeing me, he said as I approached, "Ah, Aeronwen. It's a pleasure to see the fair lady who has made the Ascadian Isles a little brighter."
Unable to keep from smirking, I asked, "Is that along the lines of what you said to a certain Breton woman who you met on the road?"
Giving me an exaggerated look of surprise, Nelos blinked a few times as he asked in mock-innocence, "Breton? What Breton?"
Offering the glove that Maurrie had given me, I explained, "The one who demanded that I bring this to you. It appears that you have been busy. When you took Maurrie's jewels, it seems that you also stole her heart. Or her senses. I'm not sure which."
Nelos laughed softly, taking my words in the humor that was intended. Picking up the glove, he studied it a moment before saying softly, "How odd. She really is a lovely young woman. What would she want with a rogue like me?"
I shrugged and answered, "Well, you did describe yourself as a 'dazzling specimen of the Dunmer race'. From what I understand, many females of the human races consider male Dunmers to be exotic. Compared to the males of her own race, you are different and exciting to a woman like Maurrie."
Picking up a nearby spoon so he could admire his reflection in it, he replied, "That is a good point. What about you, Aeronwen? Do you think I'm exotic?"
Leaning against the bar, I looked at Nelos and answered, "Me? No, but I'm a native. Therefore your red eyes, gray skin, and gravely voice; all common as dirt to me."
Nelos made a show of placing his hand over the center of his chest and responding dramatically, "Ah, you wound me." A smirk appeared on his face as he added cheerfully, "Wait right here. I'll be back."
Before I could ask what he was up to, Nelos dashed toward the staircase that led to the tavern's upper floor. Drelasa, who was filling mugs and goblets with ale and wine, muttered, "Damn rogue."
Nelos came back downstairs a few minutes later. Giving me a folded sheet of paper, he said, "Give this note to Maurrie. I'm sure she'll be happy with it. She really seemed sweet. For the first time in my life I actually felt a little remorse for robbing someone."
Smirking at him, I asked, "But not enough to return her jewels, right?"
Nelos raises his eyes to the ceiling and pretended to ponder deeply before he once again grinned and replied, "No, not that much, I'm afraid."
Shaking my head in amusement, I left Pelagiad and headed back up the road to where we had met Maurrie. Sure enough, she was still there pacing and looking around impatiently. When she noticed me, she nearly tripped over her long skirt as she dashed forward and demanded, "Did you find him? Did you give him my glove? Do you think he could love me?"
Holding out the sheet of paper that Nelos had given me, I answered, "He asked me to deliver this to you."
Maurrie snatched the note from my fingers and quickly began to read. Her facial expression became one of joy as she exclaimed shrilly, "This is wonderful! Thank you so much! You're clearly a wonderful person!"
The Breton began twirling around on the road, giggling and happily talking to herself. Greatly doubting that this affair will end well for her, I replied, "Best of luck to you." Turning away I added under my breath as I raised my fingers to my temples, "From what I know of Nelos, you're going to need it."
*~*~*
Apparently it's not uncommon to meet with travelers on the road when strolling around the Ascadian Isles. I say that because it happened to Rey and I two days in a row. Yesterday we met the pilgrim who was looking for the Fields of Kummu and today we met a Breton noblewoman whom had met with a bandit a short distance from Pelagiad.
Today was the second half of the weekend and the first day of the month of Heartfire. The flowers won't be blooming much longer so after I had spent some time practicing at the archery range, Rey and I decided to go for a short walk and enjoy the sight and smells of the Ascadian Isles flowers. Needless to say we avoided the area where the thylacine had been devouring the cow carcass since it was likely still guarding its feast.
We were heading back toward Pelagiad when I heard a female voice calling out, "Where did you go? Come back! Please come back! I'm not angry, I promise!" As Rey and I went further along the road I saw that the voice belonged to a young Breton woman who was clad in the fine clothes of a noble. Seeing us, she waved her hand and called out, "Excuse me! Have you seen a bandit nearby? I must find him!"
Puzzled, I asked, "You want to find a bandit?"
The Breton quickly explained, "Not just any bandit. I was walking along here, minding my own business. Suddenly, a bandit jumped at me from behind. He was a Dark Elf." Here she sighed wistfully before continuing in a softer tone, "A strong...dashing Dark Elf. He didn't harm me in any way, although he did take my jewels. He was quite gentle and he talked to me for what seemed like forever."
As she stood there with a dreamy expression on her face, I said, "It's unfortunate that he stole your jewels. Were they heirlooms?"
Blinking in surprise, the woman asked, "What's that? Oh, never mind the jewels! I just want to find that bandit again! He was charming, and funny, and I simply must see him again!"
Raising an eyebrow, I stated slowly, "So...you are smitten with a mer who robbed you just because he...was polite and said some flattering words to you when he stole your jewels?"
"Oh, you weren't there! "I must find him! Can you not see that this must be true love?" she replied sharply. Briefly closing her eyes, she clasped her hands over her heart as she continued, "Though it may take years, I'm certain we will be reunited one day. He said his name was Nelos. Nelos Onmar; a name that will stay on my lips for all eternity."
I couldn't stop myself from laughing as I replied, "Oh, him. I've met him. Quite the character, that one."
Saying that was a mistake, for the woman nearly pounced on me as she responded in a shrill, excited tone, "You know him?! You need to find him for me! Please! I cannot live without knowing if he could ever love me. I have nothing to offer you in return, but could you not help me for the sake of love?"
Quickly taking a few steps back from her, I answered, "Eh...I suppose I could talk to him for you. I have a good idea where he is and I'll be heading that way.
The woman quickly pulled off her left glove and handed it to me as she replied, "Thank you! Give this glove to him and tell him that this is a token of Maurrie's love. I'm certain he'll want to find me again."
Staring at her and she stood there on the path, practically bouncing on her heels, I said, "I will...pass this along to him for you."
She responded happily, "Yes, yes, do that. And please hurry!"
Watching her warily, I asked, "Are you sure you want me to do this? The mer robbed you!"
"Nobody is perfect!" Maurrie snapped in response.
Leaving her where she stood, smiling brightly and bouncing on her heels like an idiot, Rey and I continued down the road to Pelagiad. Not at all comfortable with this, I went to the Halfway Tavern and found Nelos standing in his usual spot at the bar. Seeing me, he said as I approached, "Ah, Aeronwen. It's a pleasure to see the fair lady who has made the Ascadian Isles a little brighter."
Unable to keep from smirking, I asked, "Is that along the lines of what you said to a certain Breton woman who you met on the road?"
Giving me an exaggerated look of surprise, Nelos blinked a few times as he asked in mock-innocence, "Breton? What Breton?"
Offering the glove that Maurrie had given me, I explained, "The one who demanded that I bring this to you. It appears that you have been busy. When you took Maurrie's jewels, it seems that you also stole her heart. Or her senses. I'm not sure which."
Nelos laughed softly, taking my words in the humor that was intended. Picking up the glove, he studied it a moment before saying softly, "How odd. She really is a lovely young woman. What would she want with a rogue like me?"
I shrugged and answered, "Well, you did describe yourself as a 'dazzling specimen of the Dunmer race'. From what I understand, many females of the human races consider male Dunmers to be exotic. Compared to the males of her own race, you are different and exciting to a woman like Maurrie."
Picking up a nearby spoon so he could admire his reflection in it, he replied, "That is a good point. What about you, Aeronwen? Do you think I'm exotic?"
Leaning against the bar, I looked at Nelos and answered, "Me? No, but I'm a native. Therefore your red eyes, gray skin, and gravely voice; all common as dirt to me."
Nelos made a show of placing his hand over the center of his chest and responding dramatically, "Ah, you wound me." A smirk appeared on his face as he added cheerfully, "Wait right here. I'll be back."
Before I could ask what he was up to, Nelos dashed toward the staircase that led to the tavern's upper floor. Drelasa, who was filling mugs and goblets with ale and wine, muttered, "Damn rogue."
Nelos came back downstairs a few minutes later. Giving me a folded sheet of paper, he said, "Give this note to Maurrie. I'm sure she'll be happy with it. She really seemed sweet. For the first time in my life I actually felt a little remorse for robbing someone."
Smirking at him, I asked, "But not enough to return her jewels, right?"
Nelos raises his eyes to the ceiling and pretended to ponder deeply before he once again grinned and replied, "No, not that much, I'm afraid."
Shaking my head in amusement, I left Pelagiad and headed back up the road to where we had met Maurrie. Sure enough, she was still there pacing and looking around impatiently. When she noticed me, she nearly tripped over her long skirt as she dashed forward and demanded, "Did you find him? Did you give him my glove? Do you think he could love me?"
Holding out the sheet of paper that Nelos had given me, I answered, "He asked me to deliver this to you."
Maurrie snatched the note from my fingers and quickly began to read. Her facial expression became one of joy as she exclaimed shrilly, "This is wonderful! Thank you so much! You're clearly a wonderful person!"
The Breton began twirling around on the road, giggling and happily talking to herself. Greatly doubting that this affair will end well for her, I replied, "Best of luck to you." Turning away I added under my breath as I raised my fingers to my temples, "From what I know of Nelos, you're going to need it."
