FRIENDSHIP. Friendship is held to be the severest test of character. It is easy, we think, to be loyal to a family and clan, whose blood is in your own veins.
A million emotions fell upon my heart but the most prevalent was horror. How could I have been so easily lured into the den of an enemy spy? The Thalmor were the reason I left Valenwood and now I find myself taking refuge in the home of one their agents!
I began to panic, fearing that I had just walked into what was for certain going to be my undoing. I stepped back in horror and began looking for an escape route.
“Calm yourself Lolindir.” He spoke softly. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
My fear and horror quickly grew to anger and courage. I clinched my fist, stiffened my back and bowed out my chest.
“I grow tired of these games, spy.” I said with a rather condescending tone.
“Games?” he asked. “Lolindir, I play no games.”
“Then tell me why you brought me here!” I lashed out. “Tell me why I could not mourn the death of my parents because your people forced me from my home! Tell me why I cannot enjoy the fellowship of my brothers because they have labeled me a traitor!”
When I had finished my rant Ulundil told his wife and daughter to leave us and to keep watch for guards that may be going door to door asking questions about the two slain prison guards. He must be a good spy, for I had not mentioned anything regarding the incident at the prison.
Once they had left, Ulundil sat at the large table that was in the center of the room.
“Lolindir,” he began. “What did your parents tell you about how you came to be?”
“They told me I was their child and that I was born in Valenwood.”
“Do you believe this?” his asked
I was no fool. I knew I was a High Elf being raised among Bosmer. I inquired several times about my true identity but they would never answer me with the truth. When I asked why I was so much taller than anyone else in our clan they would respond “Because you are favored by the gods.”
“No Ulundil. A cardinal cannot bore a falcon, despite the two being birds. Neither can one elven kind bore the child of another.” I replied.
He nodded his head and then smiled as he said. “You are wise Lolindir.” He shifted in his seat and drew a deep breath. “The truth about who you are has been hidden from you, but it will soon be revealed.”
My ears perked up as I walked over and stood opposite of the table where he was sitting. I placed both hands on the wooden tabled and leaned in towards him. I gazed into his yellow eyes and could see that they were filled with sadness and despair. “You know who I am.” I stated as the realization that the Thalmor had been watching me for quite some time sank in.
The Altmer threw his head back and let out a small laugh. “My dear boy, every Thalmor agent from here to High Rock knows who you are.”
I took a step back. I am confused-lost. I don’t understand. Why do the Thalmor want me? They sent agents to take me from my home and now apparently they are tracking me across all of Tamriel.
“I don’t understand; what does the Thalmor want with me?”
He paused and looked around a bit, avoiding the question. After surveying the cluttered room he looked back at me and finally spoke. “I don’t really know. I’m just a spy. I report in, not get reported to.”
I let out a sigh before hanging my head. I wait a few moments then raise it again to speak. “You must know something.” I pleaded.
The old Altmer drew a long breath, gazed off into the distance, shifted in his chair then finally spoke. “Listen, I don’t know what they want with you, but I think I know someone who does.”
He stood to his feet and walked over to the largest bookshelf on the western wall. He reached high above is head, placed his hand on the very top shelf and grabbed a large book. The book’s cover was dusty; so dusty that it made it hard to distinguish the actual color of the cover. Once he had the book in hand, he returned and plopped it down in the middle of the large worn, wooden table. Dust filled the air and the dull glow from the lit candles produced an almost serene atmosphere.
Ulundil cracked open the book, revealing two of the many hand-written pages. He stifled through it for a moment, carefully turning each page as so it would not rip the frail pieces of paper.
“The Thalmor have a number spies posted in nearly every providence all across Tamriel.” He said finally stopping on a page. “Each has their own assignments and these assignments are ranked 1-5 based on their level of importance. I am one such spy. My assignment here in Windhelm is ranked at a priority 4; meaning only a priority 5 assignment can be addressed before mine.”
“What does this have to do with me?” I asked curiously.
“We had a spy posted in Woodhearth so that he may smuggle goods that aid the army in and out of the port there. A few months back he had sent in his monthly report as always. In this report he spoke of a High Elf he had been observing for quite some time. He suggested that the young Aldmeri did not know his true identity and believed himself a Bosmer. When the report made it back to Alinor, it caught the eye of one of the commanding officers who seemed to take a rather peculiar interest in the matter. He immediately labeled the issue a priority 5 and assembled a team of Alinor’s finest Justiciars and wizards and sent them to Woodhearth in search of this High Elf. What they found, was you.”
In disbelief, I walked over to where he had put down the book and began to read the pages lay before me. The hand written notes discussed, in great detail, the activities, habits, and routine of the Aldmeri living near Woodhearth. It did not take long for me to correctly conclude that the boy mentioned in the report, was me. But how could this be true? Who was the spy? I had a lot of questions that no one seemed to have an answer to. I flipped through more pages but the rest of the dusty book just seemed to be ramblings and incoherent notes on a variety of subjects; ranging from land mapping to assault tactics.
“Why did you run Lolindir?” Ulundil asked after a while.
I paused and pondered the question. What was I supposed to do? A group of Thalmor officials show up on my doorstep on the day of my parents’ funeral and instruct me that they need to take me back to Alinor. I am labeled an Aldmeri spy and a traitor to the clan. What would any of us have done? I couldn’t have stayed or I may have been killed by one of my own. Going with the Thalmor certainly wasn’t an option, for all I knew I was hauled off to some distant land to await execution.
“You said you know someone that can help me discover why the Thalmor are after me.” I said completely avoiding the question.
“Ah, yes.” Ulundil said getting up from his chair. “When you slipped away from the Thalmor team sent to recover you, they did not return to the Summerset Isle. No, instead they came here; to Skyrim. They made two stops during their time here; one in Falkreath, and then one at the Thalmor Embassy in Haafingar.”
It took a moment for Ulundli’s words to sink it. But when they did, I laughed to myself. Seriously, what are the odds that both the Thalmor team and I would end up coming to the same place? Just my luck.
“How do you know all this?” I asked.
The old Altmer slowly started grinning. “A spy that cannot spy on his employers without being discovered is no spy at all.”
“Well,” I began “I can’t imagine you’re sending me into the heart of the Thalmor in Skyrim; the Embassy. So what’s in Falkreath?”
“The group of Thalmor that stopped there reported into one man-one elf rather. His name is Runil. He is a priest of Arkay and tends to the Hall of the Dead there in Falkreath.”
“Another spy of yours? I inquired. With a sad face Ulundil slowly shook his head.
“No. I’m afraid not. He spent his youth as a Battlemage in the ranks of the Aldmeri Dominion but has long since renounced his title and rarely has any contact with anyone associated with the Thalmor. So you can imagine my surprise when I learned of their visit to him.”
Ulundil and I both stood puzzled for a moment before finally speaking. “You need to go there.” He said breaking the silence. “Find out what the Thalmor wanted with Runil. If you do this, I suspect you will find answers as to why they have been tracking you.”
He had a point. It was my best bet if I wanted to get the Thalmor off my trail. Maybe this Runil knows something after all. But one questioned still remained unanswered.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked Ulundil. “Why are you helping me? And how am I supposed to know that you aren’t trying to deceive me?”
Ulundil walked around to the other side of the table and sat down. “Lolindir,” he started. “I grow tired and my body is becoming frail. I have served the Thalmor for many years. I am tired of lying to everyone I know, I am tired of gathering intelligence on a war that is not mine to fight. I am envious of you; your youth, your strength- your freedom.” I locked eyes with the old Altmer and his eyes seem to have glanced so deep, I felt as if he were staring into my very soul.
“I do not wish to turn you in to my superiors, nor do I wish to tell them of your location. If the Thalmor catch up to you, your life will become like mine; empty. No, I suspect that the gods have much bigger plans for you.” His words made me uneasy and all of focus was on him now.
“If they ever find you, you will be filed into their ranks and will never know what it is like to live and love. The rest of your life will be filled with bloodshed, heartache, hatred, and loneliness. I know this because it is my life as well.”
“But you have a family; a wife and a daughter.” I objected.
“Aye, that I do. And I am very thankful for them and their health. But I have failed them as both a father, and a husband. I know nothing of my own family. I spend all my time sneaking about and trying to conceal myself. I do not wish this life on anyone.”
He rose from his seat and walked over to where I was sitting. He knelt down beside me and put his arm around me.
“Lolindir, this life is not for you. And there is a way that you can stop it. You are special; I can see something inside of you, everyone can. I suspect that the Thalmor have seen it too. And what they see- it frightens them.”
“I am no one special.” I protested. “I am a mere elf, nothing more.”
“Perhaps, but perhaps not. It matters not. What does matter is that you make haste to Falkreath. Seek out Runil, gain his trust. Then he will tell you what it is you seek. Come child; let us get you ready to travel.”
Ulundil rose to his feet then crossed the room to a large gear chest and proceeded to open it. He reached inside and pulled out an armful of clothing and instructed to put them on. The garb consisted of mainly earth colors so that the wearer would blend in with nearly every outdoor environment. Brown leather boots, much like that of the Imperial legion, black trousers, a grey laced up shirt and brown leather bracers that were consistent with the boots. To top it off I was given an olive green, hooded cloak to further conceal me from anyone wishing me harm.
“Look at you.” Ulundil said admiring me after I had equipped the gear he gave me. “You remind me of myself when I was but a young ranger with no home.”
I cracked a smile as I watched the Altmer man go to the other side of the room. He reached up to one of the weapon racks and pulled down a bow. He turned and faced me but had his eyes still fixed on the fine bow.
It was dark brown in color; presuming made of oak. Silver ran through the wood like a vein runs through one’s arm; visible only in certain places and disappearing at other parts. The bow was long in length; longer than most bows I’ve seen. It was truly a sight to behold.
“This bow has served me for a great many of years Lolindir.” Ulundil said once he had finished admiring the weapon. “Take it. May it serve you as it had once served me.”
“Thank you Ulundil, but I can’t accept this.” I opposed.
“I’ve have gotten my uses out of it. If I keep it, it will just sit in this room and collect dust. It will do you more good than it will me.”
I extended my arms and took grasp of the bow. “Thank you.” I said slightly bowing my head in appreciation. Ulundil then grabbed several bundles of arrows and proceeded to stuff them into a quiver.
“You shouldn’t stall any longer. Get on the road to Falkreath.”
I thanked him several more times before embracing him as brothers do. I continued up the narrow stair case and back into the main part of the house. I was met by Arivanya who had already prepared a pack full of food and various other supplies for me. I received the supplies from her and thanked her for her generosity. I didn’t want to tread in places I did not belong but no matter where I searched I could not find Venassa. I had hoped to bid her farewell before departing. I suppose love is just not in my stars.
I headed towards the door and proceeded to open it. “Lolindir, wait.” I hear called from behind me. I swirled around to find Ulundil standing with his wife. “Here” He said extending his hand. “Take this gold. It’s not much, but it should be enough to get you to Falkreath.” I received his gift and thanked them both once more.
“One more thing” He said once again stopping me from continuing out the door. “I want you to take my horse- Agea.”
Feeling as if I had already accepted too many gifts from the kind Altmer family, I protested.
“Ulundil, you know I cannot pay you for this.” I rebelled.
“You can pay me when you see me again Lolindir.”
We both smiled and after a while I nodded my head in agreement. We both knew that we’d probably never see each other again. Without another word I turned and headed out the door.
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