Poor Teresa, she must feel extremely embarrassed, she gets interrupted by no one other than Buffy!
Really bad timing! Haha, and you perfectly described the scene like always of course

"I don't know what to say," the knight breathed. "Except that I will not forget what you have done today. Or that you are my friends. Whenever you have need of it, you shall have my bow. And my discretion of course."

Teresa found herself looking at Tadrose, and saw the other elf was looking back at her. Teresa was gratified that at least she was not the only one blushing.

I rather like this part, can't really place my finger on it, but it just makes me smile.

Quite the part... starting off with them getting rather close in the post battle rush. They did pick the most romantic place, but then the best is often impulsive. The practical issues of trying to get intimate in armour amused me too.

Then an interruption from Buffy of all people. That I didn't see coming, it was very neatly done though, not forced and it removed the need for a trip to Leyawin and dealing with the artefacts and leaves them free to carry on enjoying the wilds.

As ever the characters were excellently written. Teresa overthinking things wildly, she just doesn't see that Buffy sees her as an equal and potential friend and assumes the worst. Her embarrassment at being caught was very her too, I can't imagine Teresa taking the 'yes that is exactly what we were doing - so what' attitude. I also wonder how much Tadrose was flushed from embarrassment and how much might have had other causes...

I'm going to call this a cliff hanger too - I want to know what they do next. If they have any sense it will involve finding a pleasant glade in the forest

Teresa finally got what she’s been dreaming of… and maybe Tadrose is as well! For a second I thought they were on the upper deck doing this in full view of the villagers. I went back and saw this was before they exited the ship.

BUFFY! Too bad everyone’s romance is getting interrupted these days though. Still nice to see Buffy!

When the bliss wore off poor Teresa just wanted to dig a hole and jump in and pull it in after her.
Buffy with her usual grace set both of them at ease thought!

I really like how you combined the mages guild mission with this one. I think this is one of my favorite chapters. Great end to it as well. Maybe they’ll take some extra time going back to Bravil eh?

liliandra nadiar: You know Teresa and Tadrose so well. Unfortunately for our stringy wood elf, you are right on all counts.


McBadgere: I take it that as male confirmation that Girl on Girl Is Hot?


Acadian: That last episode was much nicer than the one today. Even with the interruption, Buffy's presence was a welcome sight, as she was able to explain who Kalthar was, and why he was in such a hurry to get away from Leyawiin. Not to mention she took that nasty helmet off their hands, and spared T&T that extra trip.


Grits: No one ever expects the Spanish Inquisition Buffy. I am sure she has comfy chairs and fluffy pillows too. That tree-singer remark is something that I did not plan, but rather just rolled out of Buffy's mouth. Far be it from me to argue with her (after all, I am not the boss of her! ), so I kept it in. I liked it because it also reinforces Buffy's own understanding of wood elf culture.


mALX: I am glad to see that Buffy was such a big surprise. I was hoping she would be a happy inclusion for all. Unfortunately for Teresa, this chapter is not over yet. She will not be happy when it does.


Fawkes: Hey, it's that guy Fawkes! (sorry, I could not resist ). Tadrose blushing is not a sight one often sees. It helps show that she is just as human elven as the rest of us.


Olen: The armor issue helped insure that scene did not go too far, even without the intrusion of Buffy. You cannot get very busy in armor. As you noted, Buffy was in there to explain the rest of the backstory of who Kalthar was and why he was in a hurry, as well as wrap up the loose ends after his death.


King Coin: Even with the post-battle euphoria, I don't think Teresa would be willing to get it on in full view of the village! It would be bad enough if they just heard it all through the tent. Thankfully for T&T it was Buffy, and not someone like Sir Mazoga trailing Kalthar. Now that would have really been awkward!


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: Out last episode found Teresa and Tadorse - overcome by passion after the battle - fall into each others arms and start furiously making out. However, an interruption by none other than Buffy cut things short. The bosmer bowgirl put the two embarrassed elves at ease with her tact, and explained that she was pursuing Kalthar from Leyawiin. He had stolen the Bloodworm Helm from the Mages Guild, as well as a medallion from the guild head. T&T returned both to Buffy, and asked her to see that the reward for Kalthar's capture was given to Grantham's widow. Next, in our final episode of this chapter, Teresa has a chance to talk to Tadrose alone.


Chapter 41.11 – Nothing is Trivial

After gathering up the ectoplasm left behind by the wraiths, Teresa led the way down to the shore. They found that the villagers had moved closer to the wreck. She also noted a ship out in the bay, and a longboat pulled up to the strand nearby. She imagined that had to be Dame Buffy's transportation. Then Tadrose was coming down the broken mast behind her, and Teresa turned to lend her a hand. Although she had to admit it was less because the Dunmer needed help, as it was an excuse to touch the other woman.

Tadrose avoided Teresa's gaze however, and did not stop to say anything. Instead she made her way directly to the villagers, and told them what had happened. Many exclaimed that they had seen the battle on the top deck, and cheered and clapped for the two mercenaries. The farmers promised to bury the dead, and Teresa imagined that the broken hull of the ship would provide them with firewood for the winter. The vessel was clearly never going to float again.

She did not see the Leyawiin knight. Teresa imagined that Buffy had indeed gone down into the ship to insure that Kalthar was well and truly dead. The forester did not blame the other wood elf for being thorough. Not when she had sworn to bring him in.

Teresa was glad when they finally extricated themselves from the farmers, and made their way up the bluff. Again, Tadrose avoided her gaze, and Teresa wondered what might be wrong? Was she still embarrassed about being seen by Dame Buffy? Or was it the presence of the villagers that made the other woman so shy?

It took every ounce of her willpower to keep her hand from taking the Dunmer's as they followed the path up the cliff side. But Teresa controlled herself, this time, and vowed that once they were alone things would change. That moment finally came as they crossed the now-deserted fields. Teresa darted ahead of Tadrose, so that the armorer could not avoid facing her.

"Tadrose," she grinned. Teresa reached out and took the dark elf's hand in her own. "Don't you have anything to say?"

"Teresa I…" the armorer stammered. She pulled her hand away from Teresa, and looked away. "I am sorry. I do not know what came over me. I should not have behaved so poorly. I know there is no excuse."

"What are you talking about?" Teresa blinked.

"I know about you and Ancondil," Tadrose finally did meet her eyes. "I would never come between you two. I never meant to… I never-"

"What are you talking about?" Teresa interrupted. "Between Ancondil and me? What do you? You don't think that he and I are…" Teresa felt her eyes grow to the size of saucers. She wanted to laugh out loud. But she could see that Tadrose was deadly serious.

"I won't get in the way," the Dunmer continued, seemingly oblivious to Teresa's consternation. "I think its best we pretend nothing ever happened. He is a good man, and good for you. I can see how happy he makes you."

"Tadrose, are you daft?" Teresa cried. She stepped closer, and grabbed hold of Tadrose's upper arms. "Ancondil's just a friend of mine. I'm not sleeping with him. For Dibella's sake, he's a man!"

Tadrose blinked, and stared back in confusion. "But… you spend hours alone in his room. You talk about how he reads you poetry. He takes you to the theater every week. You even make dinner just for him."

"I like his poetry, and his music, but that doesn't mean I want to fetch him!" Teresa insisted. Now her hands fell to her hips. "We go to The Globe together because you always turn me down. He only goes with me so I don't have to go alone. And I make dinner because he works late contracts sometimes. I need the practice if I'm ever going to live on my own some day. Besides, who else will eat my vegetarian meals?"

"Tadrose," the wood elf's voice softened. Her hands reached out to gently take those of the other woman. "You are the only person I have ever wanted. I have been dying to hold your hand since I first met you. To kiss you, well that has been more than I could ever dream of. You are all I want. You and no one else."

"Teresa, I…"

"What is wrong Tadrose?" Teresa felt herself biting her lip. "These past few weeks - these past few days - I thought that we really did have something special. Isn't that why you came? This time we've been together, it's the happiest I've ever been."

"Teresa…"

"What damn it?" The wood elf felt her heart pounding in her chest. What was happening? What had gone so wrong? How had Tadrose gone from being her lover to a stranger in the span of moments? "Talk to me? Don't you feel anything for me?"

"I…" Tadrose shook her head. Teresa reached out and gently cupped her cheek in one hand. She turned the dark elf's face back to her own, and stared intently into her crimson eyes. She did not know what to make of what she saw there. Was it love? Or dread? The wood elf said nothing, and simply waited for the other woman to find her words.

"I can't do this," Tadrose finally whispered. "Not again. Not with anyone."

"Why?" It took all of Teresa's willpower to keep her voice from rising. To stop herself from screaming. Instead, her voice was as soft and gentle as a spring breeze. "Is it because of what happened in Morrowind? Because of that man?"

Tadrose nodded, and the wood elf now saw tears forming in her eyes. "I fell in love once Teresa," she said in a quavering voice, "and it destroyed me. I cannot go through that again."

"Tadrose, I don't know what happened." Teresa picked her words carefully. She felt as if she was standing upon the brink of a great precipice, and that the tiniest false step would doom her relationship with Tadrose forever. "I don't know what he did to you. But if you tell me, we can face it together. I'm never going to hurt you Tadrose. I lo-"

Now Teresa turned her head away. Oh Dibella, she had almost said it! Almost said she loved Tadrose. Did she? Did she really? Could she bear to say it, if Tadrose was just going to reject her anyway?

"Sometimes you have to roll the hard six," she remembered Pappy once saying. Granted, it had been about fighting, not love. But at the moment, Teresa saw little difference between the two.

"I love you Tadrose," she said resolutely, looking Tadrose directly in the eyes. "I want to be with you, and I'll do whatever it takes. If whatever happened is something you're ashamed of, don't be. Even if I don't understand, I know I won't love you any less. No matter what happened to you, or what you had to do."

Now the tears rolled freely down the dark elf's cheeks. Teresa felt her own vision blur as the same water built up in her eyes. "I am sorry Teresa," Tadrose said. "I just cannot be who you want me to be."

"I only want you to be you!" Teresa insisted. "Just like you are now."

"You do not know me Teresa," Tadrose stared down at her feet. "You do not know what it was like. I saw my dau-" She looked up at Teresa again, and spoke in a stronger voice. "I cannot be your lover, I cannot be anyone's."

"Then who was kissing me in there!" Now Teresa could not contain the shout that escaped her lips. "Who picked me up and laid me over a crate! Damn it Tadrose, if you don't feel anything for me, just say so. I'll never bother you again. Just tell me!"

"Teresa, I…" The dark elf stared at Teresa. The Bosmer felt her heart break like a pane of glass under a hammer. "I am sorry I hurt you. I did not mean to lead you on, or to lose control. It will not happen again."

The Dunmer stepped past Teresa, and began walking to the road. Teresa did not turn to look. Instead she found herself falling to her knees in the mud. She stared down at her hands. No matter how hard she tried, she could not stop the tears from spilling down her face.

Tadrose had slipped through her fingers.

...

Poor Teresa, I didn't see that coming at all. Looks like she has more work to do, if it's not hopeless. Tadrose's reaction makes me wonder though, she didn't kill it off completely which makes me think she does want it on some levels at least. It also suggests there might be hope, though Teresa would probably have an easier time elsewhere. Certainly she's in an unpleasant place.

Brilliantly written dialogue. You caught the awkwardness on both sides and the slightly angry edge to Teresa's dismay and disappointment. In fact the emotion of this piece was spot on.

I am very interested to see where this leads in chapter 42. The fallout will be significant I suspect. They are exceptionally strong characters to drive the piece so well.

Nits:
but that doesn't mean I want to fetch him - from the way 'fetcher', the only form of the word found in game, is used I wouldn't think it meant that. It's certainly an insult (UESP suggests 'thief') but that doesn't quite fit. Equally I don't think there is a certain translation so yours is as valid as any.

who else will eat my vegetarian meals?" // "Tadrose," - As Teresa continues speaking I believe it would be normal to omit the bolded inverted comma before the paragraph break. I could be wrong or both may be correct though.

Well isn't that a kick in the gut? On the plus side, Teresa (should) now know that Tadrose dose care for her in some form that beyond friendship. On the minus, the smith stated that she's going to play 'hard to get, Tamriel style'. Now the question remains, after the bout of depression this is bound to cause her, how will Teresa go about beating some sense into Tadrose.

Also what her reaction will be to finding out about Tadrose's daughter.

Nit:The forester did the blame the other wood elf for being thorough. Concidering the context around it, did you mean 'did not blame'?

*Nods vigorously*...Yes, yes it is...And I'm a simple man with simple tastes... ...

Athough I have to disagree with the commentator in that piece...Most men quite simply don't think that deeply about it... ...

Aaamywho...

Excellent chapter...Brilliantly written, and a complete contrast to the previous...Delights...

I'm loving the way you can jump from one state to another with each chapter...Really does keep us on our toes... ...

Soooo sad, I really do hope this works out for her... ...

Nice one... ...Well, from a certain point of view anyways... ...

Oh jeez I thought that Teresa made it clear that she wasn’t into men!

Damn! I did not see this coming at all, even though it makes complete sense; I thought they had finally broken through that. I was so happy for the two of them too.

I guess Tadrose is not ready for a relationship. The past still weighs heavily on her mind. I’m very curious about this daughter of hers and what has become/became of her. You may have mentioned this before and I missed it, but how long ago did all this happen with the forbidden lover?

Oh no. How heartbreaking for both of them. As Olen said, the dialog and emotion throughout were exactly right. I can't imagine that they'll both give up, but I can't guess if Teresa will persist or Tadrose will relent. What a great episode!

How delightful of you to make several references that gently move Dame Buffy toward her exit in the first half of this episode. You are a gracious host indeed.

And so Teresa is drenched by a bucket of surprise.

Somehow I get the impression that Tadrose knew perfectly well that Teresa and Ancondil were not rolling in orcishly carnal splendor. The Dunmer is far too sharp for that. Rather, it seems Tadrose was using Ancondil as an excuse to avoid discussing aspects of her own past.

The fact that this was as painful to read as broken glass drawn across skin is testimony to your skill with the raw emotions pouring from this pair of elves.

’Teresa felt her eyes grow to the size of saucers.’
This delightful bit of imagery was most welcome when you provided it.

So now what, Teresa? Tadrose sounded pretty fatalistic, but something tells me we may not have seen the end of T&T yet. When things seem their darkest and all that. . . .

For KC, I’m sure SubRosa will have more to say on this when she pops back up, but in the meantime, you can review Tadrose’s thoughts on her daughter in Chapter 37.3 (Post #1511).

Life is so full of surprises, isn't it? As Chuck Yeager writes so well in his autobiography "We had conquered the unknown only to be bitten in the boat by the unexpected".

There's a reason why love is complicated - it just is. Just as there's a reason the old saying "the path of true love never runs smooth" arose.

Rosa, the passages -

She felt as if she was standing upon the brink of a great precipice, and that the tiniest false step would doom her relationship with Tadrose forever

and -

"Sometimes you have to roll the hard six,"

... are true. Very true. In war. In Love. In Everything.

One final cliche - which is true, for all that it's a cliche -

"It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all"

Olen: Teresa certainly could have picked an easier person to fall in love with! But then, so could have John Crichton. I suppose that is what they get for going after a character played by Claudia Black.

I have always imagined that Fetcher was a replacement for a four letter English word that also starts with F. Like Farscape has Frell. So that is how I have always used it. I am going to leave that comma in, because it is preceding a speech tag. I suppose I could take the speech tag itself out, but I wanted to keep it in, as it comes before a break in the dialogue where we see some physical action.


liliandra nadiar: Thank you for wrangling up my stray not. I will need it, since the next few episodes will definitely not be pleasant for Teresa. Starting with that depression you predicted. I laughed at your remark about beating sense into Tadrose. You will see why in a few weeks.


McBadgere: I am a little surprised at how many people are surprised. I am following the standard romance movie playbook with this little arc. Two people meet, are crazy for one another, then halfway or three-quarters through something happens to break them apart. But it all wraps up with happily ever after (usually - in the glbt movies someone tends to die instead). I guess not many people watch chick flicks around here.


King Coin: Tadrose is indeed not ready to be with someone else. She does not have issues, she has a subscription! To be honest, I was half expecting to find people calling for her head. I guess I did a decent job of showing her own emotions through all of the breakup.

Acadian ninja'd me by a few days with the forbidden lover info. Back in 37.3 Tadrose mused this:

Then in 37.4 she thought this:



Grits: I have been through this scene myself more then once. I am sure many others can say the same. So I channeled the memory of those feelings to try to make Teresa and Tadrose come alive. Not only the despair, but the anger and the guilt. Next chapter will all about that persistence and relentation, and will wrap things between T&T for once and all.


Acadian: It is more that Tadrose was using Ancondil as a reason to keep from getting involved with Teresa. That made her safe, not an option for romance. Unfortunately for Tadrose her house of cards had to eventually come tumbling down.

Painful a read is what I was hoping for. I am afraid the next few posts will be no better.


D.Foxy: I love the Chuck Yeager quote. So true in so many aspects of life. I've stood on that precipice before, and rolled the dice. Like I am sure many of us have. All too often I have gotten bitten that area the forum filters out. Like you said, that is just amore. To have the good times, you have to suffer through the bad ones as well. I wanted to show that in these two chapters.


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: In our last episode, Teresa finally had a quiet moment to talk to Tadrose. Things did not work out as she hoped, and instead of declaring her love, Tadrose told Teresa that she could not be her lover. She admitted that she had been in love once, and that it had destroyed her. None of Teresa protestations would sway the dark elf, and in the end she walked off, leaving Teresa alone in the mud. Next chapter finds Teresa back in the Fighters Guild a week later, playing backgammon with Ancondil.


Chapter 42.1 – What Do You Want?

20th - 21st Sun's Dusk, 3E433

Teresa looked away from the backgammon board as Ancondil moved the last of his chips off of it. The forester stared across the sitting room, and her eyes rested upon the window to the street outside. Droplets of rain splattered its surface, and Silver Avenue beyond was shrouded in twilight.

The wood elf frowned. It had rained the day she and Tadrose had left go hunting trolls. Had that been only a week ago? It seemed like a lifetime. A lifetime since Tadrose had told her that she did not want her. A lifetime since her future had been burned to ashes by the Dunmer's rejection.

"Well that dragon has the most lovely shade of pink scales I have ever seen," Ancondil declared behind her. "Why, I would have to say the lace on its feathers is even more delicate than that on our commander's underwear as well. Would you not agree?"

"Hmm?" Teresa murmured. She turned to look back at the Orisimer. As usual, he was dressed to the Nine. This time it was in red velvet decorated with purple silk and shining brass buttons. He stared at her earnestly, and the wood elf fumbled for something to say in reply. "Yes, of course."

The elegant orc shook his head. "Teresa, you have not been listening to a thing I have said, have you?"

"Of course I have," the forester lied. "I just, well-"

An uproar from across the room rescued her. Along with Ancondil, Teresa looked to where Chance, Morghak, and Vincent were throwing dice against the back wall. They had cleared away several tables to give themselves plenty of space. Even the rugs had been pulled back so they could play on the hardwood floor.

"Dragon eyes!" the Breton hooted. "Pass those bones over here!"

Morghak shook her head, and tossed the dice to Vincent. The smaller man deftly caught both in mid-air, and grinned back at the orc. "Hey, don't feel bad, the Lucky Lady is with me today," he said. "That reminds me, I heard a great one this morning. Why was the werewolf arrested in the butcher's shop?"

The others shook their heads and stared at the Breton.

"He was chop-lifting!"

Chance and Morghak groaned, and Teresa stared back at the window. But once again Ancondil's words cut through the fog that gripped her mind.

"So how is your armor?" he asked. "Did Tadrose repair it yet?"

"No." The sound of the Dunmer's name felt like a troll's claw twisting in Teresa's stomach. "The burned leaves grew back on their own. They just needed some sun and water, and a bit of magical healing."

"Remarkable!" the Orisimer declared. "I have heard of such things, but had never truly believed in a living suit of armor."

The forester shrugged, and continued to stare at the window.

"Teresa, there you are." The wood elf felt her heart leap into her throat at the sound of Tadrose's voice. "I thought I might have missed you again."

Teresa turned her head to the armorer, who stood in the doorway to the foyer. The dark elf wore her usual smithing clothes: worn leather pants and a soot-stained flax shirt. But Teresa noted that her hands were clean, as was her face. She must have just finished in the forge, the wood elf thought, and washed up with a spell.

"If you have the time, I thought I might show you how to use your magicka to recharge Ravenfeeder."

"Oh, there is no need to bother," Teresa found herself saying. "Henantier said he can teach me how to do it."

"Are you sure?" Tadrose asked. "I have the time. We could do it right now."

"That is alright." The words came unbidden to Teresa's lips once more. She felt as if someone else was talking through her, and she was just sitting and watching it all happen. "I know you have other things to do."

Tadrose sighed heavily, and shook her head as she faded from the room.

Teresa stared down at the game board - still filled with her white pieces - and swallowed hard around the lump in her throat. Her blood roared in her ears, and she felt as if she had just survived a battle. It took every ounce of her willpower to keep from shaking. Damn, she silently cursed, why did the dark elf do that to her?

"Teresa," Ancondil's voice slipped into her ears like a silken whisper. "What is amiss between Tadrose and yourself?"

"Nothing." Teresa again found herself speaking without conscious thought. "There is nothing between her and I."

Ancondil glanced back at the trio throwing dice in the corner. They appeared to be completely absorbed in their game. Then he turned back to the forester, and went on in a quiet tone. "Teresa, everyone has noticed. Even Morghak. Tadrose walks on eggshells whenever she is around you, and you have been giving her that same frosty shoulder since you two returned last week. What transpired out there? Why did the two of you return after only two days?"

"Nothing," Teresa frowned. "Nothing at all."

"Then what is amiss?" Ancondil slid a hand across the table and laid it next to her own. "It seems you cannot pay attention to anything. You are stumbling into the rest of us at practice, and Commander Vitellus flattened you twice just this morning in hand to hand. You cannot even play a game of backgammon without drifting away."

"Well maybe I don't want to play this stupid game!" Teresa could not contain the anger that exploded from her. She watched in horror as her fingers swept across the board, flinging her white checkers into the air. The wooden pieces clattered loudly against the table, and scattered across the floor beyond.

Teresa found herself on her feet. Her face was as hot as Red Mountain, and she felt her lower lip begin to tremble. The dice game went silent as Chance, Vincent, and Morghak all turned to stare at her with befuddled faces. Ancondil too, looked up from the table. His face was a mask of serenity, yet somehow that only made Teresa more furious.

"Why can't you people just leave me alone!"

She turned to the door, and stumbled against her chair. Pain shot through her legs as she nearly lost her feet. Cursing, she grabbed its sturdy wooden back and hurled it out of the way with a clatter. Finally storming from the room unhindered, she made her way to the front door and stalked out into the rain.

What a nice picture of evening at the FG. Dice game, a groaner from Vincent, Ancondil's pleasant company that Teresa is ignoring, and of course Tadrose is still working. Teresa's armor re-growing is really neat!

Teresa certainly seems depressed and angry, and clumsily storming out in front of most of the guild won't make a happy memory. Yikes. I can't imagine Pappy will let it go if her work is suffering. Rough times for Teresa.

I love Ancondil as the epitome of elegance and strength. Dressed to the Nine indeed. His blathering about dragons and lace to ‘test’ Teresa’s presence was both hilarious and clever as can be; I can just imagine how much fun you had writing it! And of course this so very very Ancondil passage:
"Teresa," Ancondil's voice slipped into her ears like a silken whisper. "What is amiss between Tadrose and yourself?"

I join Grits in applauding Teresa’s living armor that favors sunlight and a sip of water to a repair hammer and forge. I hope the Dunmeri forgemistress realizes that perhaps the wounded wood elf needs the same treatment as her armor to once again restore that faint smile.

Poor Teresa. Filled with hormonally charged emotions that she doesn’t fully understand. The way you portray her words and actions as almost out of her control is spot on. Well done!

Nit: ’He face was as hot as Red Mountain, and she felt her lower lip begin to tremble.’
You meant ‘Her’ or course.

In a sense...Been there...Done that...And I mean, in a sense... ...

Most excellent...

Sooo sad...

Gut wrenching in fact...Aaand I've just thought about...*sigh*...



*Nods*...Yup...Been there...Still happens in fact...And I've been with the wife...*thinks*...Many years...

Brilliant write as ever...

Nice one... ...

Thank you for those quotes.

Sounds like a perfect end to an uneventful day at the Fighters Guild Bravil Chapter.

The wood elf felt her heart leap into her throat at the sound of Tadrose's voice.
This line strikes me as very sad now.

Her temper has returned in force! I remember what almost happened in the Imperial City when her friends rejected her. I wonder if Pappy's going to intervene here. She certainly can't go on a job like that.

And from a state of listless disinterest in the outside world to a volcanic explosion of undirected anger. Yep, Teresa's pretty firmly in a state of rejected love sickness. At least she hasn't done another tour of the bars. Yet anyways, I do hope her destination is somewhere more... healthy, like the Mage's Guild to see a friend or two hopfully.

I've got bets on who will be saying the chapter title, I'm all but certain on how it'll be asked, as well as the rough situation, now to find out who.

Short bit but pretty charged in emotion.

You've certainly hammered home the point about Teresa being in the angry/ depressed stage. Lots of emotion boiling there, you also got the overspill onto the other characters. That Ancondil tried to sort it out, in spite of the likely result, suggests that she's trying his patience along with the rest of the guild.

I also liked the 'everyone has noticed. Even Morghak' line. It characterises her well, and carries on the slightly gossipy edge Ancondil has.

Tadrose doesn't seem to know what to do. She seems to be in the pretending nothing happened and it can all go back as it was stage, which tends not to work, and certainly won't in this case. That she isn't doing anything to sort it out, or going for the ignoring option does suggest that she isn't so sure she made the right decision. My bet is now that if they do get together it will be Tadrose relenting as much as Teresa persisting, saying that I'm not exactly an expert in romance plotting...

Now what will Teresa do? I do wonder if there might be some brief fling with someone else soon... perhaps a visit to a certain island...

Grits: Teresa's armor re-growing was an idea I got from several people commenting that they liked how the miran-talurn armor was in essence a living suit of armor. Of course watching Farscape - with a living ship - also helps.

Pappy will be poking his head into things in a few more episodes, although perhaps not in a way people might expect. He is in an uncomfortable position in all of this, because he did encourage Teresa to go for it. Not to mention the fact that he is used to being the one humping and dumping the 18 year old girl...


Acadian: Ancondil's line about the lace dragon underwear was pure joy to write. I just had to keep laying it on to make it sound more ridiculous.

Out of control is just what I wanted to portray with Teresa. One of the things I loved best about the original Die Hard film was at the very beginning, where John meets his wife for the first time in six months, and gets in an argument with her. She leaves, and he literally bangs his head against the wall for being such a schmuck. But he still couldn't help doing it in the first place.


McBadgere: Being around the ex after a bad breakup is sheer misery. That is why I made a rule to never date people I work with. Once down that road was enough for a lifetime. It is much better when you never see them again after that.


King Coin: It did sound like a nice night. Right up until Teresa blew her stack! You are quite right, she cannot do a job with her head the way it is now. We will be seeing more about that in a few episodes.


liliandra nadiar: No tours of the bars in Teresa's future. Rather one of the stable soon. I would not bet against you on who says the words in the title! That will be in the final segment, a few weeks from now.


Olen: Teresa has a habit of trying other people's patience. She is definitely high maintenance. Hopefully she is worth it. You pretty much have Tadrose figured out to a tee. Trying to be friends and pretend nothing ever happened is a common female response, and never works well in the end.


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: Out last episode caught up with Teresa a week after her breakup with Tadrose. She was distracted, depressed, and eventually lost her temper when Ancondil tried to get her to talk about what was going on between her and Tadrose. Next, we take a look at what her nights have now become.


Chapter 42.2 – What Do You Want?


The night pressed in around Teresa, cold and clammy as a wet zombie. She pushed her way through the darkness, toward the flickering, amber light ahead. It swung gently in the breeze, and after a moment she realized that it was the lantern hanging in front of the Wawnet Inn. A moment later the two story building loomed out of the darkness before her eyes, and her feet took her unerringly to the door.

She let herself in, and glanced at the common room down the steps to her right. So usually filled with Weye's boisterous townsfolk, it now stood bare and silent. Her gaze moved to her left, along the stairs that curled up the corner of the building. She thought she heard something from that direction, and made her way up to the second floor.

She stared down the corridor that ran the length of the upper floor. Unlike the other doors that lined the hallway, the one to Nerussa's room stood open. A wash of golden light spilled out from the open doorway and into the corridor, pulling Teresa's feet like a lodestone.

Teresa heard voices coming from the room. Stepping to the door, she gaped in horror at what she saw within. Standing in the center of the bedchamber were Nerussa and Tadrose, both naked as the days they were born. Their hands roved over one another, as did their lips. It was not the awkward and uncertain fondling of new lovers, discovering one another's bodies for the first time. Rather it was the smooth caresses of long-time mates, familiar with every inch of the other's flesh.

The two pulled their lips from one another long enough to turn and look at Teresa. Then a long trill of laughter trumpeted from Nerussa's throat. Tadrose joined in a moment later, and pointed one finger at the gaping wood elf.

"Look at the freak!" the Dunmer taunted.

"Abomination!" Nerussa chimed in. "Is it even an elf?"

"No one will ever love a corpse-skinned failure like you!" Tadrose spat.

"You aren't good enough for a real woman," Nerussa added. "We all have standards. Run back to the gutter that spawned you. That's where you belong, with the other worms."

Teresa did turn and run then. But the hallway stretched out before her, seeming to go on for miles. Her legs pumped with all the speed she could muster, yet still the sound of the two women's laughter filled her ears. She felt her skin flush with heat, and had to swallow hard around the lump that had lodged itself in her throat. She did not look back however, instead she kept her eyes locked on the hallway before her.

After what seemed like an eternity, the corridor dissolved away into mist. She found herself racing through a stone arcade. One shop after another flashed by to her right, while a wide courtyard stretched out into the darkness beyond the curving archways to the left. Then before her she saw the sign for Jensine's New and Used Merchandise. She stopped before the door, and it yawned open at her barest touch.

She saw Jensine standing at the counter inside. Teresa's heart slowed, and she felt relief flood through her at the sight of the familiar Nord. The red-haired shopkeeper's back was to her, and she did not turn, not even when Teresa called out her name. Finally, the wood elf stepped up behind the Nord, and laid a hand upon her shoulder.

"Jensinse," Teresa said. "Is my mother here?"

"You don't have a mother, do you freak?" Jensine whirled to face her. But it was not Jensine. It was Tadrose. Her eyes glowed a brilliant red in the suddenly dark shop, and her fingers seemed to twist into claws. "No one knows what you are! Not even a skooma-sucking beggar would take you in, would they?"

"No," Teresa moaned. "This isn't real. This isn't happening. Where's Simplicia?"

"Simplicia's not here anymore," Tadrose grinned like a wolf sizing up a baby elk. "She's gone. She said she didn't want to ever see you again. That's why she left. She can't stand the sight of you. You whining little brat!"

Teresa shook her head, and backed away. This was all wrong. All of it. She knew it was a dream. All she had to do was wake up, and it would all be over. But try as she might, she could not break loose from the nightmare's grip. So as the sound of Tadrose's laughter scourged her, the wood elf fled once more into the dark.

The flickering light of a torch lit the way ahead. Again Teresa found herself in a familiar place. It was a prison cell. The same cell that she had been locked in after she had been arrested. Standing there in the middle of the room was a man. He wore a robe of purple and red brocade, decorated with ermine fur that grew around his neck like a lion's mane. His face was hidden in darkness, and as Teresa approached him, he began to speak.

"You have no idea what you can do." While soft, it was a voice that could level mountains with its intensity. Teresa's breath caught in her throat. Only one man in the world had ever spoken in such a way. Uriel Septim, the Emperor of Tamriel.

"But I know what you are." Now his voice changed. It became harsh, like razorblades, and distinctly feminine. A pair of glowing red eyes burst to life in the darkness shrouding his head. Then the rest of his features came to light in that terrible glow. It was Tadrose again, sneering back at her.

"Prole!" she hissed. "You're nothing but an orphan from the gutter. Your real mother didn't want you, did she? No one wants you. She left you in the trash, where you belong. You're just a mistake of nature. You aren't a Bosmer, or an Ayleid. You're just a filthy mongrel. You aren't good enough for me. You never were, and you never could be.

"Stop it Tadrose!" Teresa cried, "Stop!"

"Oh poor baby," the dark elf taunted. "Go ahead and cry. I only pretended to love you. I was just playing with you, so I could have a good laugh when I threw you back in the sewer. Look at you, tramp. How did you think I could ever love you? I'm an aristocrat! You're just a prole. A thief who can't even steal a sweet roll without getting caught. You disgust me!"

"No!" Teresa's eyes flew open, and she sat bolt upright in her bed. Her white skin was beaded with sweat, and her breath came in ragged gasps. She felt her stomach churn violently, and clamped one hand over her mouth in fear that she would throw up. Wincing down the bile that burned in her throat, she sat there in the dark, shaking like leaf.

"That is not Tadrose!" she whispered to the darkness around her. "That is not Tadrose..."

There's a lot of emotion in this part. The dream shows how conflicted she is - she still wants Tadrose but hates her for the rejection. With all this emotion I do rather wonder what will happen next.

Along with the more obvious cause I also noticed that Tadrose's rejection has opened another wound along with it. Her feeling of inferiority was back in the dream, and so probably in the subconsious too. Her worry that she's below others certainly won't help things. And now she seems to be having the parents issues too, I think this is the most explicit worry on her part that we've seen about who (and what race) her parents might have been.

It all looks like a rather explosive combination for the Bravil guild.

This is a wonderful tale to read. Teresa is a fully believable character, so conflicted, and so much more sure of her failures than of her successes.

Found a nit:
'"Prole!" she hissed. "You're nothing but an orphan from the gutter. You're real mother didn't want you, did she?' Them ol' "your-you're blues" hit us all from time to time.

Oh, what a terrible dream. I'm glad that Teresa is already thinking, that is not Tadrose. I also wonder what she will do next.

I'm going to go with... "ouch".

Had those moments/dreams where someone you respect/care for belittles you. Really not fun. ;_;

I won’t say I enjoyed it any more than Teresa did, but this dream was superbly written. Easy to follow (that is good), clearly and directly relates to what we know is going on with her, yet full of wonder, mystery and awash with a dreamlike feel. It is a hard balance to achieve, and you nailed it.

’Tadrose grinned like a wolf sizing up a baby elk. ‘
Even in her dreams, Teresa sees her world through the eyes of wood elf.

’Then a long trill of laughter trumpeted from Nerussa's throat.’
"You don't have a mother, do you freak?"
’I'm an aristocrat! You're just a prole. ‘
These are just three of many passages where all Teresa’s insecurities and doubts about her self-worth erupt to the surface.

I’m just so thankful she didn’t encounter a red-eyed Simplicia. . . oh dear Mara.

Bloody hell... ...

There were several confusing emotions and stuff brought forth from this chapter...Mostly summed up by the word "Neyaaargh!"...

Creepy, scary...Horny... ...And several other dwarves... ...Wow...

Sooooo good...So goooood!!!...

*Applauds*...

Nice one!!... ...

Good heavens! I think my New Years Resolution will be to stop falling behind in this wonderful story.

-ahem-

41.2

"Oh this isn't cold," Teresa breathed the slightly chilled air deeply into her lungs. "Just a crisp autumn morning."

"So says the wood elf," Tadrose shivered. "My people are made for warmer climes. I never saw snow until I came here. In Vvardenfell the mountains are bone dry year round."

And this is what I have to tell Wrothken. He loves it cold. Most of my lineage hails from the tropics. I can't stand anything below 80 degrees.


"Nasty pieces of work, those clannfears," Tadrose murmured.

Oh don't even get Lilitu started on the clannfear

"Never let religion enslave you Teresa," Tadrose said quietly. "Learn from my people's mistakes."

And don't get Lilitu started on this either!


41.3

Tadrose opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again a moment later. Her eyes moved from Teresa's, then down to her lips. Teresa felt the Dunmer's arms fold around her, and pull her even closer. Tadrose's lips hovered over her own, and her head tilted slightly to the side to prevent their noses from colliding. Teresa closed her eyes, and leaned her head forward ever so slightly to meet the dark elf's.

Yes...yes!

"Teresa!" A male voice rang out in the chill morning air.

No! -grumble, grumble-

"You did not know?" Tadrose laughed. "Catullus was the most - vigorous - of Cyrodiil's erotic poets. Just the thing to keep a man up in the coming winter nights."

Oops. Oh no, poor man! That's just not fair!


41.9

Unlike the others, his flesh still stood of its own accord. But his skin had turned bone white, and was already rotting off in many places. It appeared as if he had been dead for weeks rather than hours. Teresa saw small things wiggling within his chest, and realized that they were maggots when one fell out and crawled across the deck.

Oh my. When Clarissa "evolves" to that state she'll be lots of fun to describe!

Flames burst around him, and a sound issued from his rotting throat that made Teresa's teeth ache.


Ah, so I'm not alone in having my teeth get very offended at certain sounds!


41.10

Teresa's arms found their way across Tadrose's back and held her tightly. She leaned her head forward, and closed her eyes as Tadrose did the same. She felt the other woman's lips press firmly into her own. They were soft as the finest Akaviri silk, and filled Teresa's blood with rapture.

YES!!!! Finally!!!!

"Ahem." The sound of a female voice loudly clearing her throat cut through Teresa's ecstasy like a Daedric blade.

Oh.


41.11

"What damn it?" The wood elf felt her heart pounding in her chest. What was happening? What had gone so wrong? How had Tadrose gone from being her lover to a stranger in the span of moments? "Talk to me? Don't you feel anything for me?"

"I can't do this," Tadrose finally whispered. "Not again. Not with anyone."

...
.....
.......WHAT?! No, no, no!!



I knew it was too easy! Poor Teresa, maybe she'll come around! -sniff. sniff-


Edit: I was listening to this and it reminded me of Tadrose's possible point of view. -sniff, sniff-

Olen: I would say it is a little too early to say that Teresa hates Tadrose for being rejected. Although that will happen if things go on as they are now for long enough. You are spot in that being rejected did unleash all of her other insecurities. She still has not dealt with them, and like the Shadow always does, it waits for the most inconvenient moment to pop out and make itself known.


Glargg: You just described Teresa so well: full of conflict and always more sure of her failings then her successes.

Maybe I should just say "Yer" in the future.


Grits: I am glad someone homed in on that final paragraph, as I thought it was the most important part of that scene when I wrote it. Teresa has consciously acknowledged that her rampant insecurities are wrong. Now as you said, what is she going to do about it?


liliandra nadiar: Teresa says ouch too! I am glad her experience is something people can identify with, as I want Teresa to be a character we can relate to. A long time ago I said to Thomas Kaira that Teresa's time in Bravil would be the best of times, and the worst of times. This is what I meant.


Acadian: That baby elk line was one I worked on for exactly what you cited. That even in her dreams, Teresa is a creature of the forest. Even if an unhappy one right now.


McBadgere: "Neyaaargh!" is right. That sums up Teresa's feelings after that dream. Still, maybe it will act as a kick in the pants to get her moving in the right direction again?


Jacki Dice: Hi Jacki! I have Northern European genes, and I am getting tired of the winters now as well. That little bit of Tadrose complaining about the cold was a little bit of world-building. We know that Dunmer have a resistance to fire, so it made me reason that Morrowind is a hot place, like India. Taking someone used to that and putting them into a Midwestern winter is just brutal.

Too easy was right. But as Princess Leia said after they escaped from the Death Star "It's not over yet!"


Previously On Teresa of the Faint Smile: Our last episode found Teresa in the throes of a nightmare, where all of her insecurities about her race, being an orphan, and Tadrose's love, all came out to torment her. However, she awoke with the certainty that the woman in her nightmares was not Tadrose. Next, we find her musing over the experience the following afternoon.


Chapter 42.3 – What Do You Want?

Teresa walked along the back corridor of the guild hall with her head down. She did not notice the wanted posters that plastered either side of the hallway. Nor did she see the glowstones firmly planted in their sconces in the walls. All she saw were the toes of her shoes below her.

Had that just been an ordinary nightmare, she wondered, or had there been more to it? Was Raven - or one of the other spirit guides - trying to tell her something through the images? She knew that Tadrose was not like the woman in her dream. She knew it.

Or did she?

Teresa bit her lip. Could anyone truly love her? She was a nothing from the street, who did not even know her real parents, let alone her real race. She felt a lump form in her throat, and in spite of how much she resisted, she could not prevent her eyes from welling up with water.

"You're a damn fool, that's what you are." The muffled sound of Pappy's voice came to Teresa's ears. She stopped and looked around. He must have been talking to her after all. Then she noticed the door to the armory just a few feet away, and realized that the Colovian's voice was wafting through its wooden surface.

"You're throwing away the best thing in your life."

"You are no one to talk, chasing women - no girls - that are not even half your age." Teresa instantly recognized Tadrose's strident voice, and her heart doubled its pace. "Then you cast them aside once they bore you. Are you trying to convince yourself that you are still nineteen?"

"At least I'm not the one who kicks them to the street after falling in love with them," Pappy's voice increased in timbre. "And I'm sure not dumb enough to feel sorry for myself afterward!"

"It is none of your damn business!" Tadrose's voice grew even louder. "Stay out of my fetching life!"

"It's my business when it affects the guild." Pappy's voice lowered slightly, and became more of a rumble then a shout. "I just had to give a contract to Storm-Tail that by all rights should have been Teresa's. But I can't give it to her because she'll come back in a pine box. The same with you. You've both got your heads so far up your butts that you have to pull your pants down to eat."

"Don't tell me, tell her!" Tadrose cried.

"She's just a kid!" the guild commander insisted. "Of course she mooning over her broken heart. Nothing I say to her is gonna change that. But you've got no excuse. You're supposed to know better. Akatosh's balls, these kids look up to you! You get your head on straight and settle this. Because I'm not going to bury either one of you in the yard of that church!"

The sound of booted feet rose from behind the doorway. He was coming this way! Teresa realized that he would be at the door in moments. She turned her head and scuttled down the hallway toward the front of the building. The forester stopped short after just a few steps however, when she realized that Storm-Tail was standing directly in front of her.

The young Argonian wore his elven armor, and his father's Akaviri sword was strapped to his hip. He stared at Teresa with inscrutable orange eyes. Did he realize that she had been eavesdropping? How much had he heard himself? Had Ancondil been right, did everyone in the guild already know?

The sound of Pappy's feet shattered Teresa's indecision. Feeling her face flush with heat, she sped down the hallway past Storm-Tail. All the while she tried to not look like she was fleeing. She did not say a word to the Argonian. She was relieved when he said nothing in return. In fact, the young fighter stood so still that he might have been a statue.

Walking as fast as she could, Teresa swept down the front corridor to the foyer. Mounting the stairs, she made her way up toward the second floor. She met Chance on his way down. He was dressed in fine burgundy linen, and his hair was freshly trimmed and styled in the rows that the Redguards favored. The wood elf's nose even detected the scent of sandalwood cologne wafting from his dark, red-tinged skin.

"Have you seen Ancondil?" she asked, biting her lip. She knew that she owed the Orisimer an apology for how she had lost her temper the other night. The last thing she wanted was for him to be angry with her as well.

"I think he and Valerius are out riding." Chance thoughtfully ran one hand across his chin.

"Oh," Teresa breathed. She lowered her eyes to the steps.

The Redguard's feet moved down to the same step, and his voice became softer. "Teresa, I…" The wood elf looked up at him, praying that he was not going to say something about her and Tadrose. As if he had read her mind, the Redguard sighed. "Um, nothing. Sorry, I have to go meet Eutropia."

Then Chance was on his way, and Teresa turned to watch him trundle down the stairs. Damn, he did know. It was true. They all knew. What a fool they must think she was! How could she have let this happen? How did it happen? One moment Tadrose had been closer to her than ever before. Then the next she had become a total stranger. How had she botched things so badly?

"At least I'm not the one who kicks them to the street after falling in love with them" Pappy's words rose up in her memory. "And I'm sure not dumb enough to feel sorry for myself afterward!"

Was he right? Had Tadrose fallen in love with her? But then why had the Dunmer rejected her? Was Tadrose really sad because of it? Did she just feel guilty over what she had done? Or was it something else?

Teresa bit her lip, looking up the stairway, then back down again. None of it made any sense, and it was damn well time she changed that. She still remembered the Emperor's words to her: "Your choices lie ahead of you, starting this night. You will have to live with them for the rest of your days. So make them wisely."

It was time to make a choice, but how would she know the right one to make?

So, we gain some limited and tantalizing perspectives from Pappy and Tadrose. This is difficult to pull off while staying in Teresa’s POV without coming across as gimmicky, but you pulled it off superbly in a totally natural manner. Still more questions than answers, but we learn that at least Pappy thinks that big T fell in love with little T. And I’ll put my septims on the guild commander. Fabulous how he revealed reassigning contracts based on the T&T. . . situation. I can imagine that Pappy is wishing his guild was an estrogen-free zone.

Speaking of Pappy, you’ve carefully crafted him, replete with beautiful flaws that make him as memorable as Volsinius or Ancondil. All three of these fellows just leap out of the page to grab your heart.

More questions than answers here, but I get the impression from Teresa that she is about to buck up and do something.

It was great to hear Pappy’s take on matters! Eavesdropping was the perfect way for Teresa to get an earful of Pappy’s opinion. When faced head-on with people, Teresa seems to easily come to the wrong conclusion. This way she was too busy listening to Pappy and Tadrose to hear her own self-defeating thoughts. At least for a moment, anyway.

Memories of the Emperor have given her courage in the past. I’m hopeful for Teresa's choice!

These are the chapters where I always have this image of Lilitu sitting there with a bowl of ice cream for them to share. Teresa can go on about Tadrose and Lilitu can go on about Vivica.

I loved the conversation between Pappy and Tadrose. It flowed perfectly.

Ah, after a couple of lengthy and intense ones, a quickie... ...

Brilliantly done...As ever... ...

Looking forward to seeing where's next...

*Applauds*...

Nice one... ...

Short, but I suspect one of the more important parts. You've done her moping around very well, the impression is certainly there enough to empathise but it hasn't had a chance to get stale as such sections can. Now I sense that she has realised that yes there is a problem but it won't solve itself. Whether it's Tadrose she speaks to, or a good facing of her shadow I'm not sure though I suspect both may be necessary for the other.

That she asked about Ancondil makes me wonder if she wants to talk to him. I suspect his advice might help her in making the right decision.

Excellent to see Pappy working away behind the scenes. He's too good a commander not to have known what was happening and to see how to sort it, both for them and for the guild.

I'm still not sure who's going to say the chapter title line though... can't wait to find out.

I’m finally back from a trip to visit family and I can now sit back and enjoy Teresa without interruption.

42.2
Ugh, that first sentence really sets the scene like no other.

What a horrible nightmare! Every fear she has is formed into a terrible image of Tadrose taunting her. The last line brings me some relief though.

42.3
Ok, I know this is a serious chapter but…
You've both got your heads so far up your butts that you have to pull your pants down to eat.
You channel sergeant Hartman with that line!

Teresa seems to be improving though. Apologizing to Ancondil is a start. I’m sure the rest of the guild will be happy when they can stop tiptoeing around Teresa.

Teresa has spent enough time running, now it’s decision time! What will she do?

New mod just turned up on the Nexus - interesting title.

Lol, looks like an awesome mod, too !!! But what is "SNECK" ????

Presumably an activity that doesn't Assist in the treatment with magical.

I wondered if you clicked on that would she do a snorting type laugh, lol.

Acadian: Big T and Little T, I like that. I might start using it in the fic as well. It sounds like something people would say. Like you said, I wanted to give us a glimpse at what was going on in Pappyland, and Tadroseville. Overhearing an argument between the two seemed like the best way to do that, and keep it believable. I am sure Pappy is wishing his guild was an all Greek affair about now!


Grits: Teresa ain't been dropping no eaves! Honest Mr. Frodo! That was a very thoughtful observation on how Teresa's insecurities have a tendency to take over when she is face to face with people. You are right, when it is personal, her inner daedra like to rear their ugly heads. But when she is taken out of the picture, and made a bystander then it becomes impersonal.

And of course the Emperor has always been her guiding star. As you noted, his memory always gives her strength. We will see Teresa drawing upon his words again later in this chapter.


Jacki Dice: If it was not for Tadrose, Teresa might like to do more than just sit and eat ice cream with Lilitu!


McBadgere: When I think of a quickie, it is usually something a bit more pleasant!


Olen: As you suspected, Ancondil is next up on Teresa's agenda. Also as you thought, she is hoping he might help her sort things out, and decide what to do next.


King Coin: Of course I wanted to use a word other than butts in Pappy's tirade about where T&Ts head were. But the forum would not let me. One of the fun things about writing Pappy is that I can call up visions of R. Lee Ermey, and put his excellent saying to use.


ghastley & mALX: Neat! The same person released a Beth and Alicia mod just a little while ago too. There's a much older Claymore mod floating around out there too, that lets you use their armor and swords. I think they had them with the symbols of Teresa, Alicia, and Helen. And maybe "sneck" is a typo of "sneak"?


Previously on Teresa of the Faint Smile: In our last episode, Teresa overheard an argument between Pappy and Tadrose. The guild commander was berating Tadrose for falling in love with Teresa and then rejecting her, and told her to sort it out. Teresa fled the scene when she heard Pappy coming her way, but was seen by Storm-Tail, who said nothing. Later, she came across Chance, who also was plainly aware that there was something going on between Teresa and Tadrose. Next, she goes to find Ancondil.


Chapter 42.4 – What Do You Want?

Teresa stared at the wooden boards under her feet as she walked across the Larsius bridge. At one time Marius would have been there to greet her at the far end. But she would never be seeing him again. Except as a bloody rag doll in her nightmares. She glanced up to see who was there in his place, but did not recognize the Imperial. He must have known her though, given the sneer that crested the man's face before he looked away.

The fences and buildings of Bay Roan Stables rose up to the wood elf's left. She saw grooms of several races walking horses back and forth there, and the tapping of a smith's hammer came to her long ears. Other horses ambled lazily about the fenced-in pastures that surrounded the livery. The stallions stepped high and snorted loudly in their enclosures. The mares in the other pastures simply turned their heads, unimpressed with such antics.

Turning her gaze to her right, Teresa looked out across the long parade ground that stretched to Niben Bay. Folk of all races rode equally diverse horses in a circuit around its outer edges. Teresa's eyes picked through the herd of chestnuts, greys, blacks, and paints for the blue roan that she knew belonged to Ancondil.

After long moments she picked him out on the far side of the parade ground, with his emerald rider perched comfortably on the saddle above. The Orisimer was clad in high black boots, cream colored trousers, and an indigo doublet. Beside him Teresa noted Valerius in similar attire. The patrician rode the same black steed with feathered ankles she had first seen at the Wawnet Inn. The gelding's feet stepped high, and he bore himself with a grace and dignity few of the other horses could match.

Teresa waited, and watched the two men as they circled around the long field. So far as her uninitiated eye could see, both men seemed to be accomplished riders. At the very least she could tell that they were fully at ease on the backs of their respective mounts, and had no difficulty in steering the great animals around the field.

As the two men approached, she could see them chatting amiably with one another. Then Valerius pointed to where Teresa stood, and a bright smile lit upon the Nibenean knight's features. The forester was afraid of what she might see upon Ancondil's face, given her explosive loss of temper the other night. But the elegant orc appeared to be just as glad to see her as Valerius, and the two men brought their mounts to a halt before her.

"How does Magnus greet you this fine afternoon goodwoman?" Valerius asked in good cheer. Teresa had to resist the urge to blink. While he bore the same polished manners as Ancondil, he was always even more formal in public. She knew that was due to his being a patrician. Once she had envied the nobility for their wealth and station, as everyone did. But living so closely to Valerius had shown her the very real constraints that their birth placed upon patricians - how it forced them to live forever separated from everyone else in the world. She knew that she would suffocate under such rigid codes of behavior, and for once was thankful for being born a nobody.

"Indeed, it is a pleasant surprise to find you here Teresa." Ancondil followed the other man's greeting with his own. Then stretched down an open hand to her. "Would you care to join us for a circuit about the field? I assure you Glacier would be most appreciative of the company."

As if the reinforce his master's words, the blue gelding bobbed his head, and sniffed at Teresa's bodice. She put out one hand so that the horse could better get her scent, and the blue roan buried his muzzle in her fingers. After he had plenty of time to grow accustomed to her touch, she reached up and gently stroked the dark hairs that covered the side of his head.

"I don't think this is the best time for something like that," Teresa murmured. "Not that I do not appreciate the offer of course, or the company. I was kind of hoping we might have a moment to talk?"

"Why it should be my delight," Ancondil said. The Orisimer swung his massive frame from the saddle, and stepped lightly to the ground. He took the lead of his horse in one hand, and gestured to the livery across the road from them. Now Teresa noted that the brown leather of his saddle was engraved with flowing vines and blooming flowers. When he and Glacier stepped forward, she felt the strong pulse of magicka emanating from within it, and wondered what manner of enchantment the saddle might hold?

"I believe Fidelis and I shall take a few more turns about the field," Valerius said. "The exercise shall be good for our constitutions." The knight leaned down to whisper something into the ear of his black gelding. A moment later the powerful horse reared back, and lifted his forelegs from the ground and kicked out before him. Valerius let out a whoop of delight, and the pair took off down the field at a trot.

"Knights and their warhorses," Ancondil shook his head with a smile. "They just cannot help but to show off when a lady is around."

"But I thought both your horses were geldings?" Teresa wondered aloud as Ancondil led them to the stable.

"They are, but Fidelis and his master were both trained at the Anvil High Riding School," Ancondil explained. When Teresa stared back at him with a blank expression, the orc continued. "It is the finest riding school in Cyrodiil, reserved for training patricians and their steeds for war. Yet even if he had not been taught there, Fidelis is a Falkreathian. They are a proud breed. The ancestors of their line were Nordic forest horses bred with Alik'r desert steeds, the hottest-blooded of all horses. They have the strength of a draft horse, and the speed and intelligence of an Alik'r. Along with the Colovian warmbloods like the Morganus, they are the favored mounts of the knights and the legion."

"What about your Glacier?" Teresa asked. Taking a closer look at the horse, she noted that along with his head, mane, and tail, three of his lower legs were nearly coal black. But his rear right leg bore a bright splash of white. So did a single spot in the center of his forehead, just above his eyes. The rest of his coat was a grey so deep as to be nearly blue, with what seemed like tiny flecks of white speckled here and there.

"Why he is a Brumese Quarter Horse," Ancondil said as the blue roan's hooves clopped across the stones of the road. "His ancestors were an eclectic mixture of Barbs from the badlands of Elsweyr and riding horses from here in Cyrodiil. Though there was a Alik'r stud named Julianos who added his pepper to the mix a few centuries ago as well. Glacier is not quite as strong as a Falkreathian, but he is just as smart, and far more nimble. He also has a cow sense Fidelis and his brothers lack."

"Why is he a Quarter Horse?" Teresa asked through fuzzed brows. "He seems like a full horse to me?"

Ancondil chuckled. "That my dear, is because there are no faster horses in a quarter mile than my Glacier and his kin. Not even the Alik'rs can match them in a sprint. In Bruma the Quarter Horses work the cattle all week, and race on the weekends. They are a stockman's right arm."

"He seems a little, well, small for you," Teresa noted, comparing the horse to the massive frame of the Orisimer beside her. As she watched, the horse lowered his head, and rubbed one cheek against Ancondil's shoulder. With his free hand, the orc reached up to pat the affectionate steed upon the side of his head. "How can he carry you? I would think you would need one of those big horses like the farmers use."

"A Shire or a Percheron?" Ancondil said with a raised eyebrow. "I did indeed learn to ride upon a Vanner in Cheydinhal. She was a retired driving horse, and was a good teacher for a fumbling student such as myself. It was my father who acquired Glacier for me years later. He has a friend in the Bruma Mages Guild who aided him in the transaction. In fact, it was also my father who enchanted the saddle for me."

"So it is magic," Teresa said. "I thought so. What does it do?"

"Why it is a feather enchantment of course," Ancondil said. "Many saddles are enchanted so, including all those the legion and knights use. Mine removes four hundred pounds from the weight it carries. So you and I both could leap upon Glacier in full armor, and he would scarcely even notice."

Teresa whistled softly, staring back at the stock horse walking amiably beside them. His scent was strong in her nostrils. Like that of Barenziah, and all animals, it was a deep and pungent odor that instantly set Teresa at ease. It reminded her of the forest and its tall trees, meadows bursting with flowers, and the wild Larsius tumbling down the mountains. Reaching out with one hand, she stroked Glacier lightly along his withers.

I like the idea of the feather enchantment on the saddle. It's these "everyday magic" touches that make the story complete, like using glowstones to avoid fires in the hayloft. Of course folk would do that if they could. The hard part is justifying why they do anything else.

A very horsey part. I'm impressed with the background the TF world has, it's hardly a surprise it has more or less supplanted the game one in my mind. The feather enchantment on a saddle makes perfect sense too.

Interesting that Valerius appears at this juncture. I supect Teresa won't be as delighted to see him, but he had the sense to carry on riding and let her speak with Ancondil. I do look forward to reading that conversation though.

Cool!!...Likes the horsey chapter!!...

Most excellent...

Loads of simple, elegant and brilliant stuff throughout...

*Applauds*...

How nice that Valerius and Ancondil were so pleased to see Teresa. An interesting train of thought about patricians that didn’t quite lead to Tadrose, yet.

Lots of fun, horsey details here! It was good to see that Teresa has an affinity to all natural animals, wild and domestic, as well as some of the magical beings. Has she seen a will-o-the-wisp yet? I’m curious which Oblivion creatures will go the way of the troll, and which will be more like the spriggans.

I also enjoyed the mention of Ancondil’s father. I hadn’t thought of it, but he is a perfect friend to help Teresa deal with her feelings about parents and race. I do hope we’ll get to see more of these two together, especially now that it is out in the open that Ancondil is not the one Teresa has been slamming doors over.

A wonderful taste of Bravil outside the gate! Wonderful flavor and scale you give to the stable, riders and horses.

"I believe Fidelis and I shall take a few more turns about the field," Valerius said.’
Why, thank you for such a perfect choice in naming Valerius’ faithful steed! And Glacier is equally suitable for Ancondil’s blue roan.

Enchanting a saddle with feather is a natural choice, especially for those larger or steel-wearing riders. Superian’s saddle pad is enchanted with resist frost – harmless when warm and handy when cold.

Now, I did miss a brief mention of the mighty shire, Button. Perhaps in a future episode? After all, she is legendary, thanks to Teresa.

Teresa spends so much time looking at her feet, it’s a wonder she doesn’t run into people!

I’m with Teresa when it comes to horses. Glacier looks like a whole horse to me too.

The feather enchantment sounds handy. I’m sure the horse appreciates it hauling a big orc around.

ghastley: I always have trouble with how "low tech" some things are in the game. Like the Emperor carrying a torch to see. This is the Emperor of all Tamriel, and the only thing he can afford is a burning stick? Magical consumer goods would be a huge cash cow for business like the Mages Guild. The world ought to be packed with little magical items made to make day to day life easier.


Olen: Teresa is not really uncomfortable around Valerius. One of the advantages to having Nerussa as a first lover is that she learned from the best. So being around former lovers like him or Aela do not bother her at all.


McBadgere: A little more horsey stuff this episode, though not as much as last time.


Grits: No Will-O-The-Wisps for Teresa yet. I doubt they will come up in the TF. At least not in the foreseeable future. Ancondil, otoh, was always meant to be a friend/supportive character for Teresa. Not just because of his easy-going manner, but precisely for the reason you said. He is from a multi-racial family, and had to deal with a lot of difficult issues because of it. That gives Teresa and him a strong common bond.


Acadian: I thought you would like Fidelis! You know how I hate coming up with names. Those for horses are even more difficult then two-legged folk. I wanted something Latin for Valerius' horse, and when looking through Latin words it just leapt out. It struck me as the perfect name for an Imperial warhorse. Likewise Glacier came to me after looking at pictures of blue roans. I had a pic that I was going to post last episode, but could not find it. Now it finally turned up.

Sadly, no Buttons this chapter. I never thought of including her to be honest. But I wanted this chapter to be tightly focused on T&T anyhow.


King Coin: Have you seen Babylon 5? What you said about looking at her feet, and running into people, was in that. Twice in fact! So true of Teresa as well!


Previously On Teresa Of The Faint Smile: In our last episode, Teresa journeyed to the riding grounds outside Bravil's main gate. There she met Ancondil and Valerius, who were exercising their horses. Sensing that Teresa wanted some privacy, Valerius left her and Ancondil to talk alone. Next we find the pair on their way to the stable.


Chapter 42.5 – What Do You Want?

"I do not mean to sound forward," Ancondil said, "But I must admit I harbor a suspicion that you did not truly join me to discuss equestrian matters."

"Indeed not goodman." Teresa did not know what brought out the formal reply from her. Perhaps it was simply the combined influence of both Ancondil and Valerius? "I owe you an apology for how I acted last night. I should not have lost my temper with you like that. You did not deserve it, and I am sorry."

"Apology gladly accepted goodwoman Teresa," Ancondil executed a half-bow before the wood elf. "I understand that you have been distressed since your return from your expedition with our vice-commander last week."

"I was hoping we might talk about that," Teresa bit her lip as Ancondil led them into one of the stables. One of the grooms - a blond-haired boy - ran up to take the Orisimer's horse. But Ancondil waved him away, and instead led the blue roan directly to his stall. There he set to work removing the horse's saddle and tack.

Screenshot

"I should be honored to offer whatever assistance I am able tender," the orc said generously.

Teresa felt her face grow warm as she told Ancondil what happened on her journey with Tadrose the week before, including the post-battle events in the hold of the broken ship. The only thing she left out were the details she knew Tadrose wanted kept secret, such as her nobility. The Orisimer listened patiently, and gave no sign of scorn or amusement at the wood elf's romantic straits. While she explained, Ancondil brushed down Glacier's blue-grey hide, much to the horse's delight. Then he offered the blue roan the chopped-up pieces of a carrot, which Glacier happily devoured.

"Well, I have noticed that the vice-commander has been out of sorts since the two of you returned," Ancondil said when Teresa finished her tale. After giving the Quarter Horse's massive neck an affectionate hug, he led Teresa from the stables and back out into the sunlight. "In fact, I was peppering her with right hand leads all morning while we boxed."

The forester was not sure what a right hand lead was, but she imagined that it meant that the dark elf had not been paying attention. "I just don't know what to think," Teresa said, "or what to do."

"Well, here is a question," Ancondil said as the approached the bridge spanning the Larsius. "Do you believe that she was being honest with you, when she was opening herself up to you on the road?"

"I do," Teresa nodded. "That is what makes this so hard. I thought she really lo-, cared for me."

The orc made no sign of noticing the word which Teresa had stumbled upon, and continued.

"Do you think she meant what she said about having been in love before, and it ending badly?"

Teresa nodded again. She had not related the full details of that to the Orisimer. She would never divulge a word unless Tadrose did so first. Rather she had only told Ancondil that Tadrose had been in love, and that something terrible had happened because of it.

"When the two of you were - intimate - do you think she was simply using you?" Ancondil said in a voice too low to carry. "Or did it feel like she was acting from the heart?"

"Of course she meant it!" Teresa declared in a much louder tone. That caused the guardsman at the end of the bridge to turn his head and stare at the pair of mer as they walked by. Teresa sheepishly turned her head away from the Imperial, and lowered her voice. "I mean, I think she did. I don't think she would not. I mean-"

Ancondil's raised hand cut her blessedly short. Something Teresa was grateful for, as she imagined that she was redder than Masser as it was. "When you asked her if she loved you, did she say that she did not?"

"Yes," Teresa replied. "Well, no. Not exactly." The wood elf replayed the scene in her memory for the thousandth time. "I cannot be your lover, I cannot be anyone's." The words cut through the forester's heart like a razor. "She said she could not be with me."

"But not that she did not want to?" Ancondil observed.

"What is the difference?" Teresa's shoulders slumped. She stopped in the center of the bridge, and leaned over the handrail. Staring down at the water lazily rolling past below, she fought the lump forming in her throat. "It comes down to the same thing."

"I disagree," Ancondil insisted. He stepped beside Teresa, and the wooden rail creaked in protest as he added his weight to it. "It implies that she feels hindered from acting on her feelings, rather than not possessing them in the first place."

"You do not know me Teresa," Tadrose stared down at her feet. "You do not know what it was like. I saw my dau-"

What would prevent Tadrose from being with her? Was it because of her being a noble? Because of being an Indoril? She said that the man she had loved had been from the wrong House. Did that mean they were enemies, rather than simply being disliked by her parents? What had they done to Tadrose?

"You do not know what it was like. I saw my dau-"

Why was it that she had taken to Mara after coming to Bravil? What was it about the goddess that Tadrose suddenly felt she could identify with, after following Azura all of her life? Surely it was not due to Mara being an agricultural deity. It had to be because she was also a mother goddess.

"I saw my dau-"

Tadrose had a daughter! Teresa felt her eyes grow to the size Magnus above. She had a daughter, by the man from the wrong House. Mother Mara, what had they done to her daughter? Had Tadrose's family killed her? Was that why she left Morrowind, and changed her name? Was that why she pretended that she was not a noble? Was that why she was afraid to ever love again?

Seemingly oblivious to Teresa's inner monologue, Ancondil continued to speak. "So what you are saying is that Tadrose confided things in you that she never has with anyone else. She showed you a tenderness that she reserves for no other. She told you that she was wounded in love, and appears to be afraid to love again?"

"Yes," Teresa said. She struggled to hold her own epiphany in her head, alongside with Ancondil's observations. It was all she could do to keep from shouting it out to the tall orc. It was not just a bad love affair, the forester lamented, she had lost her daughter as well!

"So what are you going to do about it?" Ancondil asked. "If you will forgive my directness. Do you intend to keep giving her the Skyrim shoulder? Or shall you fight for her heart?"

"I tried that, and look where it got the both of us." Teresa bit her lip. "I should have just left well enough alone."

"Nonsense," Ancondil said. "Should Dibella have left well enough alone when she planted these feelings in your hearts? Of course not. If a Divine has given you a gift, I suggest you not take it for granted."

"But how can I fight for her?" Teresa frowned. "It's over."

"If that were so, then she would not be walking around in a funk," Ancondil said. "She knows how she feels about you. By Oblivion's fire, you have won her heart already, without really trying! Talk to her. Be honest with her. Simply be yourself: that same wonderful, compassionate, quirky mer we all know and adore, and she will come around."

"If that fails, you may borrow my war hammer and strike her over the head with it." Ancondil winked. "Persuader has successfully concluded many negotiations."

*Applauds heartily*...

Loved it...In a sombre, heartbreaking, but still YAY!! way... ...



*Applauds*...Cleverrrr... ...



LOL!!... ...

*Applauds heartily once more*...

Love this story...Sooo cool... ...

Nice one... ...

I can’t help but grin at Teresa’s imitation of the men’s formal manner of speaking.

That was funny when Teresa finally noticed that Tadrose has a daughter.

Ancondil has some great advice. He will be the hero of the guild hall when the other members notice a change in her behavior.

Hopefully the hammer won’t be necessary but it was kind of him to offer it.

A wiser person than I once said that the reason men and women get divorced is that men expect women to remain the same forever, but they change, while women expect to be able to change their men, and they can't.

Is Ancondil just seeing things from the conventional male perspective?

Delightful! Some horse stuff, a revelation and wonderful advice from a wonderful orc.

’That caused the guardsman at the end of the bridge to turn his head and stare at the pair of mer as they walked by.’
I like that you and Teresa so comfortably refer to orcs as the mer that they are.

Wonderful lead up to the revelation of Big T’s dau-. By allowing it to zoom over Little T’s head the first few times, you beautifully display her youth, naiveté and a very endearing degree of cranial density.

Finally, I loved that you ended with such a clever touch of Ancondil humor.

Nit: "Well, I have noticed that the vice-commander has been out of sorts since the two of you returned," Ancondil said after she finished. After giving the Quarter Horse's massive neck an affectionate hug,’
Two observations here: First, unless I read the context wrong, it seems the ‘she’ is referring to Ancondil and should be ‘he’? Secondly, while considering this passage anyway, you may want to take a peek at avoiding the double use of ‘after’ in such close proximity?

Chapter 41.11 - URK !!! What Teresa dreaded so long in exposing her feelings! Aw, that is heartbreaking for Teresa.

Chapter 42.1 - Ancondil unleashed the dragon within now. That may have been needed for Teresa to heal, but I just hope everyone has some sturdy armor for the short run.

Chapter 42.2 - Not sure if that nightmare was in the nature of a pity-party, too much pizza before bed, or a witches spell to bring her back home ... (I noticed Aela was no where to be found in the nightmare...)

Chapter 42.3 - Oh, most def a pity party. Really glad to see Teresa beginning to come to her senses by the end of the chapter. It is like her younger self to storm off without finding out why, but not the Teresa she has become.

Chapter 42.4, 42.5 - Ancondil as the matchmaker is priceless. He does a great job of putting things in perspective for Teresa, what a great friend to have!

Awesome Write, All !!