Marudil: Blood And Arrows Ch. 2

• Posted by MarkusMasterThief September 1, 2014 - 772 views

  

  Their trip to the dense forests of Valenwood seemed to stretch onward for an eternity's time. All the while, Marudil kept an intense and wary mood about him, making sure to keep his hood over his face as their carriage carried them across the border.

  "Do they know of this?" Marudil asked Sevria.

  "They?"

  "The others... do they know of my return?"

  "No... not except for a few."

  "My brother does not know."

  "No... he would have been quick to anger. He would not have understood immediately."

  "Yet we are to attempt a partnership with him and his tribe?"

  "Your --" Sevria sighed angrily. "Yes... his tribe. But they were once your people as well, Marudil... perhaps they will see reason where your brother does not. It was your leadership that kept us out of the hands of the Thalmor for so many years."

  "And under his guidance, the tribe was destroyed?"

  "It...." A sad look came over Sevria's face, and she fell silent.

  "It what?"

  Sevria sat quietly for a moment before confessing the gravity of the situation. "They were not destroyed, Marudil... they were joined."

  Marudil's eyes widened. "What...?"

  "Your brother... after becoming chief, he swore to put an end to the violence between their people and his -- something he felt you were unable to accomplish after 9 years of war. He sought out the Aldmeri Dominion's embassy in Valenwood and offered to make peace... henceforth, our people have been subjugated by the will of the Thalmor, in exchange for peace. But it is peace that has been tainted by the evil of the Dominion... and many of our people have been led astray by their wickedness."

  "... I see... and those soldiers that had pursued you?"

  "I was forbidden to leave Valenwood behind... they had assigned me to be a justicar in the wilderness. For what purpose, I dare not even try to imagine... all I knew was that it had to end. And it could only end with your words guiding our swords."

  "What makes you so certain of me? I kept the Thalmor at bay, yes... but you are asking me to destroy them. As glad as I would be to carry out such a task... it seems fantastical."

  "Because we were ill-prepared. We knew nothing of their forces or their plans. Now we know of both."

  "And what of my brother?"

  "I have seen it in his eyes... he questions his choice. We may be able to reason with him."

  "Your word is trusted above mine. Though I am no liar, my voice is sure to be nonetheless ignored by his ears."

  "Too true... but we shall see. You are our last hope, Marudil... even he shall see that. He must see that..."

  The hour drew late as the coachman finally arrived at Silvenar, the city where Marudil's old tribe had chosen to settle. It was just as Marudil had remembered it: the plants were dense and lush, and the trees seemed to touch the sky itself. All around him he could see subtle indications of homes and villages, hidden from sight by the expansive wilderness. But something was different... something was not right. For just ahead, he could see a very distinct and prominent city that had been constructed in the distance. It seemed out of place to him; rather, such a place would be right at home in the Imperial City, or... the Summerset Isles...

  "The Thalmor built that place." Sevria stated, recognizing Marudil's confusion. "They felt our wilderness was not 'proper' enough for the Dominion. Many of the Bosmeri people consider it an eyesore... though the Imga certainly haven't complained."

  "Nor would they." Marudil rolled his eyes. "I would expect for them to find this turnabout to be well in their favor. ... Where is the tribe?"

  "Just outside of Silvendar... at one of our last remaining shrines of worship. We... lost many of them during our final battles with the Thalmor."

  "They've banned Bosmeri religion too?"

  "No... it was meant to deliver a message of superiority and domination. As you can see... it worked."

  "Yes..."

  Marudil followed Sevria's lead, and observed the elves around him. His face was obscured by his hood, but he could feel their collective gaze as they slowly began to suspect and even recognize him. Of course, these were not the people he had betrayed; they had simply heard of his tale, and knew of what he had done. At his presence many backed away, while others retreated to their homes altogether. The Bosmeri guards kept their weapons at the ready, and the whole of the city seemed to divert its attention to the returning warrior, its spurned chief. Marudil expected these commoners to leave him be... but as for his old associates? He could not be sure.

  Finally Sevria led Marudil to the last remaining members of his tribe. The sun had begun to set beneath the horizon, giving the forest a grim and ominous atmosphere. The tribe's encampment was small, far smaller than it had been when Marudil had last seen it; where once more than 30 elven warriors populated it, now merely 10 -- including its chief. Sevria stood before the chief and prepared to introduce him to her plan.

  "Chief Rudinor..." She said. "I come bearing the key to our freedom from the Dominion."

  Rudinor looked up at Sevria and acknowledged her. His face was worn and beaten, like old and filthy leather; his long black hair flowed down his back; his headdress was built of hawk feathers and bones, and his clothes were sown from fur and hide.

  "What have you brought us, child of the forest?" He asked.

  "He is the warrior without a master..... be it mortal or divine. His wisdom guided our people to glory for many years before fate drove him from our land..... you will curse his name, but his leadership is what will save us from the Thalmor. ...... I have brought him, Rudinor. I have brought Marudil."

  Rudinor's eyes widened as his brow furrowed with dismay. "Let me see him." He said.

  Marudil approached from behind Sevria, putting his hood back to reveal his face.

  "Marudil...." Rudinor said, "Our daughter returns you to us. You stand accused of blasphemy and betrayal of your people--"

  "And you stand accused of cowardice and betrayal of your people." Marudil growled.

  "Cowardice...? Betrayal...? I did what you could not -- I ended our war with the Thalmor!"

  "By giving them what they wanted: your allegiance. You knelt before them and their warriors at the tip of an Aldmeri sword and condemned your fallen allies to a fate far worse than simple death; for as their cause has fallen, they have died for nothing."

  "And what do you say must be done? We are no longer at war, and our people can live in peace!"

  "Your people? What people were left in the wake of your foolish strategies? Do you not see what your ways have cost them?"

  "You accuse me alone of this? The throne has only been in my possession since you chose to forsake it... and your people with it! You stand before me, a heretic and a blasphemer... you have even dyed your Bosmeri armor with the blood of the forest you were sworn to protect..."

  Sevria interrupted. "Enough! Rudinor..." She turned to the chief. "With Marudil's leadership we may yet have the advantage we need to sever the Dominion's ties to Valenwood once and for all."

  "What makes you think he is worthy to lead?" Rudinor replied, "He has dishonored our traditions and spat in the face of the most gracious of divines. He has betrayed his people and chosen to live as a ruthless vagabond... he does not deserve to lead us."

  "Then we rid ourselves of the strategist that kept the Thalmor at bay for so long? With what we know now, we could--"

  "No. He is unworthy."

  Marudil glared at his brother. "I have returned to your people because our common enemy has gained a foothold in our province. I do not seek redemption... what I seek is their destruction. And something tells me that this is what you seek as well. You and your people."

  Rudinor gave Marudil a suspicious look. "... I will think on this." He said, "The elves of the Dominion have controlled us for many, many years... but all the same, you are no less free of guilt than they, brother. You put a knife to our back when you burned your sister's body... don't think we have forgotten."

  "I would expect no less of you, nor anyone of the tribe."

  Rudinor nodded, and resumed his silent thoughts. Sevria led Marudil to an empty hut situated at the northernmost end of the encampment.

  "This once belonged to a great Bosmeri warrior..." Sevria said, "Now its keeper has passed on. It is yours."

  "Thank you." He said simply, putting his arrows aside. Sevria left him to his own devices, and Marudil sat brooding on the bed. Had he made a mistake coming back? Could he even trust his brother not to kill him in his sleep? Something within him, he felt, told him that his brother could very well be trusted. That look in his eyes suggested genuine thought... perhaps even a shred of acceptance. But he knew also that his brother had relinquished his people to the enemy... and anyone under the command of the Aldmeri Dominion, he knew for a fact, was liable to turn at any time if the Thalmor wished...