Seyda Neen

[Arkfeller]

It was Turdas, 16th of Evening Star.
Endiroth stepped down from the Silt Strider and, best as he could, surveyed the tiny town of Seyda Neen through the fog. To the left was the Cencus and Excise Office. To the right was Arrille's Tradehouse. He could barely make out the fire burning at the top of the lighthouse, but he didn't need to worry about that anyway. Endiroth started in the direction of the tradehouse, and sighed heavily when the warmth inside engulfed him as he opened the door.
Endiroth ignored Arrille completely and listened to the chatter from upstairs.
"... How do you like Helseth?"
"I'll bet yer anythin' tha' Hilseth, or whatev'r the name he's got, would want tha' guy, the... ah, yea, Nerevarine drive us Imperials out."
Another voice rang out, this one deeper and more mature.
"Nonsense... We would bail out before the Nerevarine got near."
Endiroth rushed up the stairs, unable to take any more. He emerged in a crowd of Imperial guards who had finished their night shift; he thought he saw one of the guards quickly hide a skooma bottle.
"Guards."
"Endiroth, how good to see you again." It was Amadus Telvyn, a friend and fellow traveller. Endiroth had barely noticed Amadus with his helmet on.
"Helseth is conspiring?" asked Endiroth. He was desparate to find out the details. When the guards looked at him as if he had did something terribly wrong, he turned around and left the tradehouse, ignoring Arrille again.

Sprinting back to the Silt Strider operator, all the while trying to pretend to be deaf to the guard's cries behind him, he screamed "To Vivec!" and stuffed a handful of Drakes into the bemused operator's hand. The guards fell back and gave up.

[Arkfeller]

{Back to Seyda Neen! Sorry if there are inaccuracies in this post, I haven't touched Morrowind for ages.}

Now that Endiroth looked back on it, coming back to Seyda Neen was a bad idea. He had completely forgotten that there was a bounty on his head, and if the guards caught him now with a mangled leg, it would not be pretty.

They set up camp at dusk on the extreme outskirts of the town, next to a large tree. Once Linnus had (with difficulty) started the fire, Endiroth collapsed next to it, exhausted.
"Linnus, you'd better leave me here now. I'll be fine."
The Imperial frowned and shook his head.
"What in the name of Azura are you thinking? Look at that leg of yours. And you say you'll be fine? Over my dead body!" He ended the exclamation with a snort.
Endiroth persisted.
"I was probably bitten by a werewolf, and if you're lucky, you'll get away without being cursed too."
Linnus ignored this.
"Sleep now. You're going to need it. And don't you dare complain."
The Bosmer was suddenly reminded of his mother, but didn't want to prolong an argument when he was in such a weakened condition.

{A good 3 hours later.}

Endiroth was shaken awake once again by Linnus, but this time the Imperial had worry etched into his face.
"Do you know these people?" He pointed toward a small contingent of guards, swords drawn.
"Uh. Yes." Endiroth replied, getting up.
One of them walked forward and pointed the sword at him.
"You're the one who spoke badly of Helseth a few months ago in front of a gathering of guards, were you not?"
Endiroth nodded. "Actually," he said, "it was a few weeks ago, if I'm not mistaken. I still have a bounty, right?"
"Oh yes," said the guard. "It's the gold, or you'll pay with your blood."
For a moment, the guard looked bent on launching straight into a violent confrontation, as with his silent colleagues behind him. Endiroth limped over to his bag and pulled out his steel sword and a pouch full of gold. He could tell that the guards were yearning for some battle, but he wasn't going to give it to them.
"Here you go. 40 gold pieces. Now get out of here."