Night fell over the province of Cyrodiil, and the coachman driving Marudil and Sevria had become very tired. And so it was agreed that the three of them would take a break at a local inn, where their appetites would be sated and their energy restored. In the early hours of the morning, Marudil felt the urge to hunt for a little bit, just outside of the inn. He set himself in position, spotted a healthy-looking deer, drew his arrow back... but put it away. A presence had emerged behind him.
"Y'ffre..." Marudil said with a growl.
"So, you still recognize the approach of your creator."
"What do you want, 'god of wisdom'?"
"I want to extend my gratitude to you for your selfless heroism... and my sincerest apologies for the fate of your people."
"You would pester me just to apologize for a battle you just happened to look away from?"
"Your anger is justified. But the last stand of the Silvenar was your responsibility, henceforth I--"
"Turned your back on your people when they needed you most. I expected as much."
Y'ffre remained silent.
"But surely condolences are not what you've really come here for, are they?" Marudil asked.
"No... no, in fact I sought to extend a proposition."
"Proposition?"
"There is a good and noble heart in you, Marudil... you risked everything for your people in spite of the odds. Thereby I would like to propose a return to your homeland... as well as a full pardon for your transgressions against me and the Pact."
"A pardon? Are you mocking me?"
"Why would I mock you, my child?"
"Do not belittle me with that title; I am not your child. I owe no allegiance to any deity, be it the pantheon of man or mer. Your ways have done nothing but impede the progress of our people, turning us into savage cannibals. If you had your way, I'd have been forced to devour my sister's body so long ago, all over an ancient pact that has governed our people with an iron fist!"
"I'm afraid that is the way of things... it is the way it must be so as to preserve order."
Marudil turned around to face the god of wisdom. "Why, Y'ffre? Tell me why I could not just bury her as I'd wanted to."
"It is the way of the forest. You'll find that many animals in Valenwood will do the same."
"You would compare your devoted people to lowly animals?"
"No, I would compare their natural preservation of order to my vision of Valenwood. Before the days of the Pact, the Bosmer were untamed and undisciplined; less than animals. If I had not introduced the Pact, your people would have torn themselves apart."
"So let the others follow the Pact as they see fit. What is the harm in allowing one Bosmer to live differently?"
"You were no ordinary Bosmer, and you know that. You were chief of the Silvenar tribe, once... your example would have encouraged others to--"
"I have no time for this." Marudil put away his bow and arrows, and began walking away in frustration.
"Hold there!" Y'ffre said, "Do you not remember what I promised you? Your pardon?"
Marudil turned his head back and glared. "I need no pardon from a god that I no longer serve."
"You will forsake me, then?"
"I will do nothing. You already forsook me many long years ago."
"I did nothing of the sort. It was your people who rejected you, not me. You turned your back on my grace yourself."
"You speak of forgiveness, yet you would damn my soul to the bowels of the Ooze for refusing to feed upon my sister?"
"Or another, lesser punishment... you know I could not simply let you go, Marudil. Like it or not, you were a sinner then and you are a sinner now. In order to preserve order in Valenwood, I was obliged to--"
Marudil glared and spoke between gritted teeth. ".... That word again.... order?" He growled as his temper rose, "Is that really what you call it? The abuse of your own people??"
"What do you mean by--?"
"Tell me, was it to preserve order that you allowed the Thalmor to overtake Valenwood? ... To command the Bosmer into carrying out their will?! Was it to preserve order that you condemned the Silvenar to die at their hands?!"
"Marudil, I--"
"You were supposed to guide and protect them! They worshiped you! Adored you! But what did you do for them, eh? Can you tell me that, oh gracious Y'ffre?!"
"You dare to--"
"And what of Sevria, hmph? Have you cursed her as well, for breaking your laws?! She prayed countless times to you -- she opened herself up to your guidance, begging you to show her the way, yet you remained silent! My brother, too, sought you out many times! You heard them! But where were you to guide them, eh?! You could have told them something... anything! You could have saved their lives, but you didn't! You did nothing!"
"... ... I am sorry, Marudil... if only you could see the bigger picture."
"Then enlighten me, if you will... or do you not see this 'bigger picture' of yours?"
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that you're not really standing here with me... nor am I really hunting. ... This is a dream. And you? You're more than likely just that: a dream. A face without a soul. But whether or not you truly are the god of wisdom makes little difference to me; I owe you nothing. And so I shall give you nothing."
"... Then it's decided... you have turned your back to me, never to return."
"It is my choice, Y'ffre... whether you like it or not."
"You know what this means, of course... that in time, when you breathe your last on Nirn, your soul will--"
"My soul where go where I tell it to! You don't have any power over me, 'god of wisdom'... not anymore. Your ways are a blight on our kind -- irrelevant ramblings from a false god of oppression! But as I told Sevria, a new day is dawning. And like it or not... you will not be a part of it any longer!"
"As you wish... may wisdom guide your path."
Y'ffre's form faded away from sight, and the world around Marudil began to shift and distort. Before he knew it he found himself back at the inn, waking from an otherwise peaceful rest.
"Did you sleep well?" Sevria asked, sitting at a nearby table with a mug of mead.
"Yes... yes, I did."
"You look a bit heated... is something the matter?"
"No, Sevria..." Marudil said as they boarded the coach. "Not anymore."
