Corpus Tamrielicum - The Imperial Library

98 2. THE ELDER SCROLLS CHAPTER 2: DAGGERFALL
[30.2] King Edward II
King Edward, Part II
by Anonymous
Chapter 2: Reunion at Firsthold
Edward woke to a red sky. The sun was just peeking over the western mountains. They were
nearing a glittering tower, fire flashing from every facet. The dragon veered to fly nearer and
shot a long blast of flame. A light flashed several times from the tower's top as they dropped
suddenly. Edward's stomach felt very peculiar. He sighed and stirred and felt Moraelyn shift
so that his right arm now held Edward. He stretched and yawned.
"Not much longer now. It's several days by horse from the Crystal Tower to Firsthold but I
judge that Akatosh will have us there within the hour."
"We're not stopping at the Tower? I'ric..."
"Do not use that name so lightly, not even to me. The ArchMagister will not return for days
yet. Unicorns are brothers to the wind and travel as fast, even burdened, but not as fast as
dragons fly. You see the Elven homeland at dawn from the back of a dragon. Count yourself
fortunate among men."
Edward's gaze roamed the deep green woods and rugged hills. There was no sign of
habitation. "It's lovely," he said politely, "but not so beautiful as High Rock," he added out of
loyalty and truth. "Are there no towns or villages or farms?"
"The Firstborn live nestled deep in the trees. And they do not tear up the earth and plant anew,
but take gladly what Auriel offers, and make return. Ahhh, the green smell of growing
things."
Indeed, the air was as heady as the wine Edward used to sip from his father's cup, before...
"I'm hungry."
"I expect so." A bit of shifting and Moraelyn's left hand produced a small leaf-wrapped
package. The dusky hand was large and strong and looked neither human nor animal. Edward
stared at it with revulsion, then took the package gingerly so as not to touch the hand. He felt
Moraelyn stiffen and the hand that held Edward relaxed its grasp a bit. Edward felt ashamed
of his reaction. It was neither kind nor wise to give offense in the circumstances. Moraelyn
could quite easily drop him overboard. "I need to bathe, but so do you," he said stiffly.
Moraelyn was deliberately misinterpreting the reaction, Edward knew. "Yes, I'm very dirty,"
Edward bit into the cake which proved much better than it looked. "My lady mother's used to
seeing me like this, at least she used to be. But perhaps I should bathe first?"
"I think you will not be offered that choice. Ah, at last!" The dragon spread his wings, sent a
huge gout of flame soaring skyward and dropped to earth in a large clearing. The landing was