Riverside Shack, early morning

Everyone had finally settled down to slumber. Elderin rest his ancient bones on the ground with but a saber cat pelt to keep him warm. Taela was sleeping near Hyaril's tent, and Sakii was leaning on the wall of the shack. Vulstag had got up for a early drink of mead, and he was swinging his tankard around as he took drinks from it. The sun had not risen yet, but Masser and Secunda were starting to sink down. He had not a care in the world.

He had no idea of what was going to happen.

As he drank, five figures came towards. Two were in elven armor, three in robes.
Thalmor Robes.

Vulstag had seen the black robes, and drew his sword. He ran towards the closest Thalmor solider, ready to swing.
He never got the chance to swing.

A spike of ice flew right towards his throat, killing him within seconds. One of the mages walked forward. Taking off his hood, one could see his features. Golden skin. Blonde Hair. Orange eyes.

Alanin.

"Oh my my! It looks as if someone decided to try and start something!" said Alanin. His tone was full of cheer, but suddenly switching to a serious voice. "And he has failed."

Moving into the shack, Alanin looked around. He saw everyone tight in slumber.

"Let's see, a Redguard, Bosmer, Khajiit..."

Turning his gaze to Elderin, the Atlmer slowly smiled.

"And my favorite prey."

He clapped his hands, and the other mages came in.

"Are we all ready for the Recall back to Northwatch Keep?" he said. The other mages seemed nervous at the request.

"But sir, that magic has not been used in a very long time....it could have fatal side eff-"

Alanin grabbed the mage by the collar of his robe, his smile twisting into a snarl.

"I said to Recall. As I am your commander, you shall listen to my commands. Am I clear?"

The mage gulped, and nodded his head. Alanin moved all of the sleepers into the center of circle. He joined the other Thalmor soilders and mages in hands.
Purple light began to fill the circle as all the elves spoke in old tongues of Morrowind. A burst of light went through the shack.
And then it was empty.

In a flash, the group re-appeared at the stone keep. Alanin smiled, and called over many soilders. They locked up Elderin, Taela, Hyaril, and Sakii in shackles. Weapons were searched and taken, and mages kept them all asleep.

When everything was ready, Alanin spoke in a soft tone.

"Good Morning, my oh so lucky guests. Did you have a nice trip?

A dazed Taela awoke to the loud clack of shackles around her wrists. And before she knew it, they were in a new area.

Taela: What manner of purpose is this? You dare lock up a priestess of Mara? A bard? A hunter? You wear those silly robes as if they mean something. Now tell Khajiit this instant why she is being held against her will!

The khajiit said defiantly.

[censored]. This was the first thought that came Hyaril's head as soon as he became conscious. The situation was familiar, chained up in a small cell surrounded by guards. Prison. He'd been caught, he knew it. Escaping Blackrose prison, breaking free from his bonds there had apparently caused him to get wound up in all this mess. He panicked. Where was he? Who were these people? The punishment for breaking out of blackrose prison is very severe, add that to his previous offences and he could have a death penalty.

He saw Thalmor and began to sweat. Imperial agents, Imperial prison, Imperial punishment! He was doomed, he knew it, they knew it. Everyone knew it!

He turned around and saw Taela, the Khajiit also chained and began to get puzzled. His mind slowed allowing him to think. Why would they capture him? How could they know he was Hyaril? Why would they even be hunting for him in Skyrim. He'd lost the trail of his hunters, changed his name, hell, he had to practically give birth to a knew version of himself just to live a free life.

He was going to be fine. Or just about. If he had escape Blackrose, he could escape this. "Good morning Taela, how was your sleep?" he asked, hoping to keep her spirits high. He'd been in this situation before and while scared, he was able to control it. The last thing he needed was a crazy woman behind him screaming for help.

Alanin saw that the Khajiit had awoken. Almost instantly, she began to yell, demanding answers to why she was here. The elf could not help but laugh. To him, it was always of great humor when one is trapped in a situation with no forseeable escape. And to see their reaction? Pure gold, in terms of his twisted comedy. A bosmer next to her began to wake, and seemed very nonchalant about the whole situation. Alanin smiled, and spoke in his typical sing-song tone.

"Oh sweet kitty, are you angry over your new cage? And in reply to your insult about these robes of mine, I have to say only this."

Alanin walked closer, and pointed to her robes of Elswyer. He pulled on the robe, the simple fabric, and looked it over.

"You wear this as a sign of your people. I do the same, but with a much more...appealing..set of clothing. And if you were wise, you would realize that the Thalmor are the best hope for your land. After all, we did return the corpse of Lorkhan during the Void Nights. We knew how much our...distant family...needed this moons. And because our actions, part of your land, Anequina and Pelletine, has become some of the lands in the mighty second Aldmeri Dominion."

Moving closer to the Khajiit, he smiled as she had her knees on the ground. He crouched, and looked at her with curious eyes, and a sly grin.

"And as for why you are captured? It's all quite simple, really. You were helping this foe of Dominion" he said as he point towards Elderin.

The old Atlmer was still asleep, yet his body moved in various fits, as if Vaermina had cursed his dreams.

"You helped this terrorist. I mean, why else would you stay and the others stay with the flithly old man in that run down shack.?" he said. Titling his head, he started to laugh and the Khajiit. In a mocking voice, he spoke.

"Was he feeding you dinner? Did the kiity want food? Oh yes, the kitty loves Salmon!"

Standing up, he twisted his view towards Hyaril.

"Oh, fellow mer. I am sorry to see that you have been caught up with this defiant cat, rebel disgrace of a Atlmer, and this Yokudan who has not awoken. I shall make sure that my comrades do not treat you with harshness."

Laughing to himself, Alanin said something under his breath.

"Well, not to harsh..."

The Khajiit scoffed at the Altmer's words. She was one of the few desert walkers who believed the Thalmor played no part in the disappearance of Jode and Jone. As soon as Alanin finished speaking to Hyaril, she spoke up again.

Taela: Do you think this one believes such Thalmor lies? You did not bring back the moons. Taela is inclined to believe you made them disappear in the first place, but even then you're not powerful enough to do such things. This one does not know much about Elderin, but he is nothing but a good mer!

The Khajjit began to speak as soon as Alanin stopped conversation with Hyaril.

"Do you think this one believes such Thalmor lies? You did not bring back the moons. Taela is inclined to believe you made them disappear in the first place, but even then you're not powerful enough to do such things. This one does not know much about Elderin, but he is nothing but a good mer!"

Turning around, his grin turned to a scowl, and he stompted over to the cat.

"A good mer? That is what you think that rotting flesh bag Elderin is? Do you know the truth about him? Do you believe him to be a simple spell sword, one who is ripe with age? Oh, how foolish you are, my sweet kitty!"

Gathering his thoughts for a momment, he smiled.

"And from your speech, you have just told me both your name, and the fact that you know Elderin. Silly cats always use 'This one' or their names when speaking to themslves. So Taela, you do know this old man, do you not? But you do not realize his crimes. Has he told you of me?" the Mer said. His devilish smile returned, and he stared at the Khajiit with a mix of malice and respect.

"I am Alanin, noble Justicar of the Thalmor, loyal follower of the second great Aldmeri Dominion."

Hyaril began to understand why Elderin was obsessed with this Alanin elf. He had a weird ego which Hyaril was trying to comprehend. It was a mix of confidence and stupidity. Hyaril was going to play on both. "You're Alanin?" Hyaril inquired, "Taela, you should curb your tongue. We are messing with no mere Thalmor." He lied, but Hyaril was a good liar - His father wasn't too pleased with it but he always had been.

"Yes, I know of you Alanin, I once played a ballard to the count of Cheydinhal a few months back. He was talking about the Thalmor and his pride of you." This was also a lie, in fact - The only interaction he had had with the count was his daughter and that had led to a few unfortunate incidents somewhat familiar to this current one. He did, however - Know he was a true believer in Thalmor tradition.

"I must confess I thought I would never truly see someone as cruel, intelligent and powerful as yourself. I know it might sound foolish, but I was wondering if I would be able to entertain your halls one day?" He was being allowed to speak, whether as part of Alanin's game or not Hyaril wasn't sure. "And, with your permission, write a song about your triumphs." He looked to Elderin and shrugged.

"I don't know anything about this High Elf, he has rambled about you and apparently you cause him great pain. I do not care for him either way. I was travelling to the bard college. Surely I would be put to better use entertaining your men and yourself? If not, I do not want to be confined to a cell and would prefer to die now." He bluffed. Hyaril would've hated to die now. He'd prefer a prolonged death, he didn't like the idea of dying, it scared him. What was beyond this living plane? What was waiting for him?

Alanin was suprised to here the Bosmer speak.

"You're Alanin?" Hyaril inquired, "Taela, you should curb your tongue. We are messing with no mere Thalmor."

What? How does this Bosmer know who I am? Perhaps that senile old man Elderin told them...

"Yes, I know of you Alanin, I once played a ballard to the count of Cheydinhal a few months back. He was talking about the Thalmor and his pride of you." Hyaril continued. Alanin had no idea that the all the words from the wood elf were lies. He smiled, but no his demonic smile. No, this one was of joy, sweet joy! Many considered Alanin a fool because of his odd personality. The High elf may have been a fine hunter of Talos worshippers, but more often than not, he let his captures lose only so he could pursue them again.

"I must confess I thought I would never truly see someone as cruel, intelligent and powerful as yourself. I know it might sound foolish, but I was wondering if I would be able to entertain your halls one day?" the wood elf said. Each word gave Alanin a boost in his impressive ego.

"And, with your permission, write a song about your triumphs." He looked to Elderin and shrugged.

What is going to say next? Could he know Elderin? Or is simply a bystander, caught up in a dangerous game? the Atlmer thought.

"I don't know anything about this High Elf, he has rambled about you and apparently you cause him great pain. I do not care for him either way. I was travelling to the bard college. Surely I would be put to better use entertaining your men and yourself? If not, I do not want to be confined to a cell and would prefer to die now." Hyaril finished.

Alanin began to laugh to himself, but covered his mouth, with his gloved hand. Words could not begin to describe the happiness in his heart!

"Oh Bosmer, you make me so happy! To think that count in Cheydinhal realizes I am such a assest to the glourious alliance between the empire and the Dominion!" He said with glee. Part of this was lie though. Alanin knew that the empire was a foe to be dealt with. But he had to but on a act, lest he worry his prisoners. The joy? That was all real.

"And it would be a pleasure for you to play in the grand halls! Oh, what victory's you could sing of! How I fought at Cheydinhal? No, how I strike fear into the heart of Talos worshippers! Or perhaps...."

His tone transformed from glee to morbid indulgence as he looked at the still slumbering Elderin.

"How I ruined this monsters life? Oh believe you me, this elf that you do not know has been quite busy for the last sixty or so years. Did you know he lived in Cheydinhal? Oh yes, it was QUITE a long time ago. What was it? 200 years I believe? Oh none the matter anyways. I shall interogate all of you at one point. But you, Bosmer? I have a feeling that you shall be let free. You do not seem the type to be with such....undesirable company. The redguard may perhaps be innoncent as well. But the old man and the cat?"

Alanin leaned towars Taela, his eyes seemingly burning.

"You are likely to stay for a long, long, time."

In a instant, his cheery ways returned.

"Oh yes, and the Bosmer! I shall make sure the guards treat you well during your stay. Not a hand shall be lain upon you!"

Taela closed her eyes and was meditating, Alanin's words faded into the blackness of her thoughts. In her mind she was preparing the Eye of Fear ability all Khajiit's posses. However, she needed to look Alanin in the eyes at the right time. For the moment, she kept them shut.