Two years had passed since the day mother was taken from her...but she never forgot it...one day Commodore Ohmanil will pay for what he's done, she will find him again. Much has happened since then, so not to anger things further Ary'ia ended up submitting to them in order to keep her sister alive she didn't much care about herself...but Kess’ia she wasn't about to lose her as well.
They were sold to a local group looking for mercenaries that worked closely with the sea vipers, the Veiled Heritance.
The Heritance were a group of radical high elves that opposed Queen Ayrenn’s idea about bringing the Bosmer, and the Khajiit into the fold and uniting all of the Dominion... Ary'ia had issues being here with them, being one of the Khajiiti people herself she was abused by those she worked for daily...though they knew better than to physically do anything to her because one tried and realized her skill with a blade...so now she's just left with hurtful words instead.
She was made personal guard to one of High Kinlady Estre’s units...of course not her closest one in fear she would assassinate her...but close enough in case they wanted to use her against Queen Ayrenn to show the Khajiit could not be trusted and aligned with.
Her sister was taken somewhere she would not be told about, so she could remain obedient to them if they continued to threaten her life, and they would bring Kess’ia to see her on occasion just to affirm she still lived.
But every year on the day her mother was taken from her, no matter where she found herself at, she goes to the beach to reflect and meditate and to talk to her mother...and to leave a wreath of flowers to mourn what she's lost...and so today marks the third year of her passing and it doesn't seem to get any easier, and she feels bad for all she's taken for granted or the times she neglected to do as she was asked, “I wish I could of been a better daughter for you mother...I'm sorry I wasn't stronger...I'm sorry I never listened..” Ary'ia looked down at the white and pink flowers she woven together and toyed with it some in her hands, and as she always did laid it out to sea, “I promise to do better,” then knelt and prayed.
It was soothing this time..she felt more at peace...but there seemed to be another presence around her….she was not alone...guarded she slowly placed her hand on her hilt, she could hear the being approaching, she could almost smell them now...correction, smell him now..and just as he was about to touch her she spun on her heels placing her readied dagger to his throat, “how can this one be of service?”
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“Apologies, I didn't mean to startle you.” The man had his hands up showing no signs of aggression.
“Who are you?” What do you want?” Ary'ia was very defensive.
“Again I apologize, you just looked like someone I knew, but I obviously was mistaken, I'm Erikk.” He lowered one of his hands to her, she eyeballed it cautiously then lowered her dagger.
“Ary'ia,” and accepted his outreached hand.
“Ary’ia..that's a very pretty name,” the Nord smiled at her still holding her hand.
“Yes well this one usually only gets called by it when she's being yelled at or instructed to do something...so it suits her I guess.” She shrugged as she shyly took her hand back trying not to stutter more over her words than she already has.
Erikk walked over by her, “what do your friends call you? Your family and such?”
Ary'ia looked at this man, something about him made her want to tell him everything...for now she'd settle with her name, “Ary,”
“Well Ary, if you would be so kind I am in need of assistance...you see I was traveling down the road and was meaning to meet up with a caravan to take me to Marbuk, but I seemed to have lost my way. Would you be willing to point me in the right direction?” He looked at her in a pathetic pouty way but it seemed annoyingly cute as well..and he was polite, unusal for a Nord.
“I suppose this one could be troubled with your mishaps and take you where it is you need to go...it doesn't seem far from here,” she looked at the map he provided and wondered how he lost his way in the first place but she wasn't about to ask that right now.
They set forth for the moonhenge shrine in hopes his ride was still there, “so Ary.. if I may ask, why were you at the beach today praying with flowers?”
She was silent a moment then answered, “mourning my mother,” she didn't bother looking at him. She toyed with her fingers then let her hands drop and sighed, “Sea Vipers killed her three years ago, then sold me and my sister to the veiled heritance high elves.” She said it with an angered tone.
Erikk also picked up the tone but wasn't going to go into that now, “where is your sister?”
“Ary doesn't know, they keep her hidden from me so to make sure I stay obedient to them, because they damn sure know I'm not loyal,” she chuckled as she brushed a passing bush.
Erikk knew the type high elves were, Shor’s Bones did he, they thought their kind were better than anyone, they reigned supreme no one got in their way to power and glory. They looked down on the lesser races. He could only imagine what those Renrij put her through, it angered him to think those milk drinkers were still up to their tricks...but not for long.
“Erikk? Are you alright?” Ary’ia looked back at him with concern he stood gripping his sword, stopped in the middle of the road, she rested her hand on her dagger yet again maybe she did have reason to be cautious with this one after all.
“Yes, I'm just reminded of my past and what pain they've caused me, I hate seeing others go through the same.” He sheathed the sword and fell in stride beside her.
She looked him over yet again, releasing her hand and then followed suit, “if this one can inquire, what happened in the past?”
“I'd rather not talk about it right now,” he looked at her with a smile, “buy me a drink next time we meet and maybe I'll reconsider.” He sounded so sure of himself, with such confidence, Ary’ia chuckled and with that they walked the rest of the way in silence…