When Stars Are Weeping

"Lady Ashwyn, you have arrived! And none too worse for wear, I hope?" Queen Barenziah, former queen of both Mournhold and Wayrest, stood in the palace reception room, dressed in a black and purple recieving gown. She smiled brightly at the Altmer woman.

Lady Nevara Ashwyn, priestess of Dibella and faithful member of the Blades, smiled at Queen Barenziah with a curtsy. "T'was a long trip, my Lady, but was well worth it. I saw much of the countryside, and that was a journey in and of itself. I trust all is well?"

Barenziah took Nevara's arm and guided her towards the hallway. Nevara's retainers scurried along. "All has been well here, Lady Ashwyn. The people were quite happy to see myself and my son return to Mournhold, despite the foul circumstances of our arrival."

Nevara nodded sadly and patted Barenziah's hand. "We all certainly heard about that. But, one cruel turn deserves another, from what I hear. King Gothryd and King Lhotun have pulled their support of Elysana and indeed the entire country of Wayrest. The Emperor has taken note of her cruel treatment of you and the Prince and there are mutters along the courtiers that he may pull all troops out of Wayrest and leave them to whatever may happen.' She smiled sadly. 'I daresay Emperor Septim thinks that were Elysana left to her own devices in Wayrest, there would be a coup. Bloodless or bloody, none can say, but I think everything should be alright."

Barenziah sighed, her face falling just a tad. "Oh, I know Elysana is a cruel creature, but... I raised her the best she would let me, and I cannot help but feel somewhat sad that this would happen."

"I understand, my Lady, but remember, her father-"

Barenziah looked quickly at Nevara. "Lady Ashwyn, you do forget your place."
Nevara nodded. "I apologize, my Lady, I meant no offense."
"None taken, Lady Ashwyn. But, now, let us hear of happier things. I hear you have been betrothed?" Barenziah's face grew bright with a smile.
Nevara blushed pink and smiled. "Yes, I have. His name is Lord Kethren Amnasi. He is a Breton from Betony. A minor lordling, to be sure, but my father certainly approves of him, despite the fact that he is not Altmer."

The Queen smiled, giving Revara a knowing look. "You speak as though it is a simple change of mind. Your father has always disliked the humans, and your work with them in Cyrodil. It is amazing that he has given his favor to a Breton boy."
"Well, at this point, Father is more concerned with finding a man who will deal with his headstrong daughter's ways.' Nevara lips twisted into a wry grin. 'That is something many of the local Altmer boys couldn't do, most certainly."
"But really, Nevara, a human. You could do just as well with a Dunmer. Perhaps even my son." Barenziah's eyes twinkled micheviously.

Nevara could only laugh merrily. "My Lady Barenziah, you tease me so. Some would think it cruel. My intentions for your son are only those that you have brought me here for: to groom him for Court and teach him whatever else he needs to know.'
She frowned a tad. 'My Lady, I understand that you do not follow the Tribunal... but do not you think it a bit worrisome that I should be openly teaching Prince Helseth the ways of the Empire Gods? Especially in the city Almalexia herself resides in... it could cause trouble with the Ordinators, or possibly even the Hands of Almalexia themselves. I only worry that my teaching the Prince may be cause to call heresy or treason upon him, which is something I most definitely would not wish to do to your family."

Barenziah could only sigh. "I understand your worries, Lady Ashwyn, but I fear naught the wrath of Almalexia. She hides herself away in her chapel and no longer comes out to see her faithful. She is simply not on my mind at this time, and I wish that you would not worry about her either. Ah, and here is my dear Helseth!"


The two women walked into the parlor, where tea and sujamma were being served alongside biscuits and trays of tiny delicacies: crab and shirred kwama egg on wickwheat bread, scuttle paste served with fried slices of hypha facia mushrooms, and steamed scrib cabbage. On one of the settees sat Prince Helseth, his pointed ears poking out from shoulder-length black hair, his long bangs parted in the middle. He drank from a tankard of sujamma, but set it down and stood as his mother and Nevara entered the room.

Helseth kissed his mother on the cheek lovingly. The woman smiled. "Helseth, dear, this is Lady Nevara Ashwyn, just recently arrived from Cyrodil. She will be your tutor in the way of courtly manners. She is a regular of the Emperor's court, so she knows what she is doing." Nevara drew a perfect curtsy, nodding to the handsome prince. "Well met, my Lord. I am at your service."

Helseth looked slightly amused, but took her hand and placed a kiss upon her golden skin. "And well met to you as well, Lady Ashwyn. I daresay that your lessons will benefit me greatly. They'd better, what with how many Septims we're paying."
"Helseth! You embarrass me." Barenziah looked aghast, and Helseth chuckled. "No offense meant in the least, Lady Ashwyn, of course."
Nevara's smile turned wry yet again. "None taken, my Lord. Though I can assure you the money is quite well spent; now that I've met you, it appears I have my work cut out for me."
Helseth immediately begin to laugh heartily. "Oh, I do like you. You're not one of those fading flowers who hang about here, thinking about every word they speak ten times over to make sure nothing could be taken wrong by one of us royals."
"Well, I am quite glad, Prince Helseth. It makes my job easier if we get along." Nevara smiled at him brightly, and Helseth smiled back at her.

Barenziah nodded, smiling. "Well, I will leave you two be. I have some business to attend to."
"Oh, but Mother, will you not take tea with us?" Helseth looked a bit sad, but Barenziah waved him off. "Now, now Helseth, I am a busy woman. I will see you both at dinner." With that, Barenziah left the room.

Helseth heaved a sigh and turned to Nevara. "Please, have a seat. Will you have some sujamma? It's quite good."
Nevara shook her head. "Oh, no thank you. I am really no good with alcohol, and the local brews tend to be a little too strong for me. Tea will be fine, thank you, my Lord." She sat down gently on the settee, leaning back, putting her folded hands on her knee.
Helseth poured her a cup of tea, and shook the sujamma bottle. "Are you sure I can't tempt you? Just a spot in your tea?"
"No thank you, really. I doubt it would do me well to arrive at dinner completely out of my wits drunk." Nevara answered with a laugh.
The prince poured himself another glass of sujamma and sat next to Nevara, occasionally munching on a scuttle mushroom. "So, how was the trip? I heard you had your first trip on a silt strider here. Did you enjoy it?"
Nevara nodded. "Well, we readied my items in Blacklight, and I teleported there. From there, we took a ship to Gnisis and took the silt strider to Vivec, then another ship to Ebonheart, and a carriage here. It was quite interesting. I had never seen such huge mushrooms like trees."

Helseth nodded. "It was surprising to me as well. I barely remembered Morrowind, I had been in High Rock for so long. Tell me... I have never been to Summurset Isle. What is it like?"
"Oh, I find it lovely. I lived in Shimerene, but I did some work for the Emperor in Firsthold and had the luxury of meeting your sister Morgiah. Firsthold is actually on an island off the shore of the main island. It's lovely, lots of elm forests. Shimerene is built from a rock that glitters in the sun, so it sparkles like gemstones during sunset. It would be lovely to show it to you... it has been a long time since I have been home." Nevara sighed longingly, and Helseth smiled at her. "It sounds lovely, Lady Ashwyn. What is it you do for the Emperor, exactly?"

Nevara smiled, with just a hint of apprehension, and waved her hand. "Oh, nothing very important. I simply act in my capacity as a priestess if one is needed. Although Mara and Kynereth are more widely worshipped, there are quite a few provinces that worship Dibella, and of course, Altmer respond more kindly to fellow Altmer, so I am almost always sent on assignments to my home isle, though I have been in Cyrodiil for a very long time.' She frowned. 'Though I must admit, as I did to her Ladyship Barenziah, I am worried about what people may infer about my prescence here as your tutor."

Helseth frowned. "What do you mean? Because you are Altmer? There are plent of your people here."
The High Elf shook her head. "No. Because I am a member of the clergy for the Imperial Cult, and this city is the place of Almalexia of the Tribunal. You were so recently displaced from Wayrest, I would not want my presence to infer any disloyalty or treason on the part of your family. I know very little of Almalexia herself, or her temperament; however, I am aware that the Tribunal and their clergy are very... stringent... when it comes to those who would oppose them in any way."

Helseth shrugged. "I care not what Almalexia would think about your presence here. You are not here to convert me along with the entire city to the ways of Dibella. You are here to teach me the ways of court, and the fact that you are a priestess of Dibella is just that: a fact. It holds no sway over your reasons for being here, Lady Ashwyn.' His face grew dark with a glower. 'In fact, I care very little for or about Almalexia at all."

Nevara grabbed his hand and hissed softly. She lowered her voice to a soft murmur. "Rule one, my Lord. Watch your words everywhere but with your honor guard, and perhaps not even then. There are ears everywhere, and tongues may be loosened by lesser things than gold. Treason is one thing, but saying such things could be considered heresy as well. There are very few places where you can be candid. Think before you speak, and be aware of your surroundings." She released his hand, and the young man sighed.

"And so it begins, eh, Lady Ashwyn? Things are never safe, and I must be wary of people in the shadows, memorizing my every word to use against me and my family." Helseth laughed bitterly, his handsome face darkening.
"You must always be wary, my prince, especially if you ever intend to be more than just a simple courtier in Mournhold. But I must say no more on this" She stood, dropping another curtsy. "If you will excuse me, my Lord. I must attend to my refreshment before we dine. It has been been a long journey, and I am afraid I am a bit worse for wear." She nodded to the man and exited, her maidservent and retainers hurrying along.

Helseth stayed seated upon the settee, grabbing his tankard of sujamma. "Lady Nevara Ashwyn, hmm? Nevara." He took a drink from his tankard before setting it back down, and smiled. "Let the games begin."