Between the Breaths

The sun had not yet risen when Omalia shook her awake.

“Come on. If we’re to steal a boat, it needs to be before everyone wakes up.”

Arqeya blinked hard, not sure what was going on. “Steal… what?”

“A boat,” Omalia repeated. “Remember? Mainland Tamriel? Come on.”

“But… we’re both still injured.”

“Yes, but these woods also have lions in them, apparently,” Omalia said. “I really think that we should leave. Now.”

Omalia had already gathered all of the books, and they had their pack on. The last thing was the small bedroll itself, and they would be off. Arqeya sat up and collected her book and staff as Omalia rolled up the bedroll. Shortly after, they were trekking through the forest, keeping as quiet as possible. There was birdsong around them, even though it was still before dawn. They had to hurry. The guards would be starting their morning patrol soon.

When they made it to town proper, they kept to the shadows and headed down to the beach. At the edge of all the market stalls sat a few dinghies.

“There,” Omalia said excitedly, taking off down the hill. Arqeya had no choice but to follow them. All of the market tents were closed, the vendors still asleep. Not a soul was around, but she still felt nervous as they pushed one of the boats into the water and secured oars. Somehow, they managed to seamlessly get into the water without a single person noticing. Arqeya still didn’t feel like they were in the clear, though, until the island was out of sight.

“How do you know we’re going in the right direction?” she asked, paddling along with Omalia as the shore got further and further away from view. “We don’t even have a map.”

Omalia laughed. “Arqeya, I spent years learning to read the stars and travel the sea. I know exactly where we’re going. It might just take us a moment to get there.”

Arqeya said nothing. She trusted the other elf, for one reason or another. Omalia made her feel safe, assured, unlike anything she had ever experienced. She had been on her own more or less her entire life, her parents never having been much of a support system. Omalia didn’t judge her passions and dreams, and was even encouraging them. This Maormer was the reason she felt confident enough to steal a dinghy and run away from her home to an unknown land of which she knew nothing about. But, she thought to herself, as long as they stuck together she had a sense that everything was going to work out.

She studied the back of her companion as they paddled. Her short, dark hair whipped around in the sea breeze, the muscles in their back working as they paddled. She was lithe, and slender, and there was something so alluring about her pale blue skin. It contrasted her own yellow hue in such a beautiful way. She wanted to run her hands over it. The thought made her cheeks warm.

After about an hour, Omalia turned so they were facing each other, paddling backwards to ensure they still moved forward. “So, what’s that book you brought along?”

“Oh, this is a manuscript I’ve been working on. It’s about magic, and the things I’ve learned while studying and teaching it. Kind of an ‘Idiots Guide to Magic’ if you will.”

Omalia nodded slowly. “Interesting.”

“Do you use magic at all?” Arqeya asked.

The Sea Elf shook her head. “No. Never really tried. I was only taught to use blades, really.”

“I’ve not seen you wield a blade,” Arqeya noted.

Omalia pulled a dagger out of her boot, a sly smile on their face. “Good, you’re not supposed to know that I have any.”

Arqeya laughed. “That’s incredible,” she said, genuinely impressed. She set her paddle down for a moment. “My arms are getting tired.”

“No matter,” Omalia said, continuing her paddling. “Take a rest. Tell me about yourself, in the meantime,” she suggested.

“Where do I begin,” Arqeya mused. She started with her childhood, as Omalia had the day prior while they ate together. She talked about how her parents were cold, but not cruel, and as a result she did not have as much of a relationship with them. That, combined with her wanting to study magic, is what drove her to move south to Vekhel Guard and join the Mages Guild.

Omalia watched her intently as she spoke, occasionally nodding or reacting as appropriate. After a while, she took a break at paddling and Arqeya started again.

“So,” Omalia asked, looking out at the sunrise. “At what point did you realize you’re not into males?”

Arqeya felt nervous. “Uh, I’m not sure. I was fairly young.”

Omalia nodded sagely, then turned to look at her. “I was thirteen. One of my childhood best friends…” she trailed off, her face flushing. “Well. It didn’t work out.”

“Wait,” Arqeya said, pausing in her paddling. “You as well?”

“Well, yes, although I do still find men attractive. I suppose what matters more to me is their personality, you know?”

“I see,” Arqeya said, feeling much more at ease, and if she was being honest with herself, a little excited. The light was hitting Omalia’s face quite nicely, and she found herself flushing, feeling relieved that she wouldn’t be judged for her feelings. Or, well, at least not for having feelings for another female. She still wasn’t sure if Omalia felt the same way about her.

XXX

By the time they made it to mainland Tamriel, they were definitely thirsty. They had angled intentionally away from Valenwood and finally docked in Cyrodiil. When the town of Anvil came on the horizon, Arqeya breathed a sigh of relief. Her legs were starting to cramp from sitting for so long, and she was ready to be back on solid ground.

Anvil was an interesting town, with architecture like nothing Arqeya had ever seen. It was quite different from where she had grown up, and she felt a surge of excitement when they hit the soft sand of the shore.

“You’re not going to dock the boat?” Arqeya asked as Omalia jumped into the shallow water and pulled the boat the rest of the way onto dry land.

“No,” they said, gathering her pack and holding out a hand for Arqeya to take. “I don’t plan on needing it anymore.”

Arqeya smiled and took her outstretched hand, electricity shooting up her fingers as she did so. Omalia’s eyes were locked on her as she stepped delicately out of the boat, clutching her book to her chest. She felt her cheeks flushing, and their hands remained together for just a beat too long. Arqeya finally pulled away to brush her hair out of her face. “Well,” she said, her voice shaky. “Where to next?”

“To be honest, I’m not super familiar with Cyrodiil outside of Anvil, since this is a port town. We should visit the local merchant and see if they can sell us a map of the province.”

“Oh,” Arqeya said, moving to open her satchel. “I’m not exactly rich, I–”

“Don’t worry about it,” Omalia said, putting her hand on Arqeya’s arm. “I have plenty. One of the perks of being a pirate I guess.”

“Okay,” Arqeya said. “Thank you.”

They walked together up the docks, where smaller houses and shops sat modestly along the docks, sailors and citizens walking around and going about their days. Arqeya was surprised to see that none of them paid the two of them any mind, despite the fact that they belonged to two races that were at war with each other. It made her less anxious that nobody seemed to pay them any mind, and it occurred to her that maybe the Maormer and Altmer’s issues with each other were continued to them alone, and their slice of Tamriel. Other races might not even be aware that such a conflict exists, since it largely takes place off of the mainland.

Anvil was surrounded by large walls, something Arqeya had not seen before, and there was a large door at the end of the dock that they proceeded into. The town was beautiful, with cobbled streets and large buildings. She recognized the banner of the Mages Guild, and was excited to see a Guild hall other than her own. She knew, however, that the Arcane University was going to be even bigger, and more exciting. She could only hope that her expertise was enough to get her a position among them, as a teacher or student, she didn’t mind either way.

Omalia and Arqeya wandered the town for a bit before coming into the main general store, run by a bored looking Imperial. He sold them some fresh fruit and cheese, as well as a map of Cyrodiil, complete with all of the major cities and routes circled and drawn in. It was going to make their travel much easier.

“So,” Omalia said as they headed out of town, the opposite side from which they came in. “The Imperial City, where the Arcane University sits, is in the middle of the province. It’s going to take us a few days to get there. But, there are other towns on the way, if you’d like to stop and stay the night in an inn.”

“That sounds lovely,” Arqeya said, biting into an apple and chewing slowly, appreciating the flavor.

“What a gorgeous province,” Omalia said, looking around at all of the large trees. They were larger than those on Auridon, with thick trunks and cascading branches that cast shadows over the path they were on.

“It is beautiful,” Arqeya agreed. “I’d love to know what kind of foods I could make with the ingredients here.”

“Much more than you’re probably used to,” Omalia mused. “This is a large continent, bigger than the Summerset Isles, with more variation in the flora and fauna.”

Arqeya grinned. “That sounds so perfect. I can't wait to start experimenting with new dishes.”

“Do I get to try them?” Omalia asked playfully, elbowing Arqeya as they walked together.

“Well, of course, if you’d like to,” Arqeya said, her cheeks warm.

“The moment I tried your chicken, I was hooked. You have a gift.”

Arqeya waved them off. “I just have a lot of experience. I was cooking for myself from a young age so I just picked it up.”

They nodded, and the two of them fell silent, just taking in the surroundings. It was still midafternoon, and according to the map they should be able to make it to a town called Kvatch and rest before continuing to The Imperial City.

Kvatch was another large town surrounded by a wall, and at the top of a hill no less. The trek was more exhausting than it likely usually would have been because of how long they’d been traveling. Arqeya was more than ready to fall into a soft bed. They located an inn and purchased some of what the innkeeper was making for dinner while they were at it, as well as extra provisions for their travels.

“Not as good as yours,” Omalia said under her breath around a mouthful. Arqeya laughed, her chest warm.

They retired to their rooms, but Arqeya found she was too wired to sleep. Her body was exhausted, sure, but her mind was reeling. She couldn’t believe that she had done it — she left her homeland. She made it to Tamriel. Away from her parents and their suitor. The fear of the unknown was so much smaller than the relief of being away.

By the time morning came, Arqeya wasn’t sure if she had slept or not. Her mind had raced all night, and she had probably caught some winks here and there, but as soon as the sun began to rise she was up, dressed, and packed, ready to go. She quietly crept out of her room, not wanting to wake the innkeeper or any other guests who were still sleeping, and tried the door to the room she knew Omalia was in. It opened, to her surprise, and Omalia was sleeping soundly inside, the room quiet aside from her soft breaths.

Arqeya crept forward slowly, her heart in her throat. Omalia looked so breathtaking. The morning light was coming in through the window, bathing their face in soft light. Her eyes were closed, a peaceful expression on her face, and Arqeya felt a surge of emotion she couldn’t quite describe. She wanted to… protect Omalia. Make sure she felt no harm. It was similar to how she felt to her beloved Mage’s Guild, but stronger. She knew that she was in the beginning stage of harboring an intense crush on her knew traveling companion, but it was incredibly hard to tamp down when she was looking directly at them in a moment such as this one. Omalia stirred, turning towards Arqeya, her eyes fluttering open. She rubbed them, then blinked, propping herself up on her elbow.

“Are you watching me sleep?” They said playfully, a hint of a smile on their lips.

“N-no,” Arqeya stammered, feeling her cheeks redden. “I just... Wanted to make sure we headed out as early as possible.”

Omalia sat up properly, smoothing down her hair, which had poofed up considerably overnight. “All right then, give me a moment and we’ll be off.”

True to her word, she was ready to leave in a short few minutes, and they were out the door before the innkeeper was even awake. They walked down the path towards the Imperial City, the morning air fresh and slightly cold on Arqeya’s face.

Later into the day, they crested a hill, and the Imperial City was finally within view. The White-Gold Tower was massive, literally towering over the province, stretching high into the sky. A lake surrounded the city, which was incredibly massive in size, causing Arqeya’s jaw to drop open. She had never seen anything like it. The fact that it was built by the ancient Heartland High Elves, years and years ago as she had read in a book, only made it more impressive. Her fingers itched with anticipation as she imagined the Arcane University, and how majestic it likely was, especially when compared to the rather modest Mages Guild Hall she was used to back at home.

Well. If it could even be called home anymore.

“Nearly there,” Omalia said, with a grin, stretching her hand out for Arqeya to take. “Let’s go.”

Arqeya took her hand, trying her best to not show the fact she was rather excited over the contact. They linked fingers as they walked, and within an hour they were crossing one of the large cobble bridges into the city.

It was a massive place, stretching far beyond where Arqeya could see. People walked in all directions, carrying out their tasks for the day. They were dressed in rags, normal clothes, fancy tunics embroidered with gems. It was a melting pot of all kinds of different folk.

“Come on,” Omalia said, waving at Arqeya to hurry up. “We still have enough time to catch an Arena match.”

“A what?” Arqeya asked, but the Maormer ignored her, only speeding up, so Arqeya quickened her own pace to keep up.

The Arena, apparently, was a large structure with its own district in the city, and was filled with so many people that Arqeya could hear the crowd before they were even properly inside. The Bosmer at the gate informed them that they had made it just in time for the last match of the evening, and asked which team they’d like to bet on – Yellow or Blue.

Ironic, thought Arqeya. Like the colors of our skin.

“Yellow,” Omalia said, then turned to look at Arqeya with a glint in her eye that the Altmer couldn’t quite interpret.

The Bosmer took their money and motioned them inside. They found a seat just as the announcer began speaking, and the combatants were released into the fighting area. It was so loud, so different from anything Arqeya had experienced before. Omalia shouted her support for the Yellow Team combatant, then leaned close, her shoulder against Arqeya’s. Their hands twined as they watched the battle commence, the Yellow combatant clearly much more skilled than the Blue. The battle was over quickly, and just like that, they had won the bet.

“Yes!” Omalia shouted. “Easy money.”

“Gambling isn’t something we should make a habit of,” Arqeya said. Omalia turned to look at her, their face falling. “At least until we have the extra money to do so,” Arqeya amended quickly, causing Omalia to perk up again.

They filed out of the Arena behind the crowd, collecting their winnings from the worker at the gate before setting back off into town. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows on the streets.

“Where to now?” Arqeya asked. They walked side by side, their fingers occasionally brushing, but the idea of trying to reach out and grab her hand again made her nervous.

“I guess we’ll stay at an inn,” Omalia said. “Then try to get jobs.”

Arqeya nodded. “Makes sense to me.”

In the Talos Plaza District, they came upon a modest inn by the name of The Foaming Flask. It was bustling with guests eating supper, every table taken and even a few folk sitting on benches on the sidelines for a table to open. There was a Breton man behind the counter making drinks, his face haggard but pleasant.

“Excuse us,” Omalia said, walking up to the counter. “Do you have any rooms available?”

“That I do,” The Breton responded, handing a drink to one of the patrons at the bar before turning to them. “10 Gold a night.”

Omalia nodded. “We’ll rent one. Here’s a few days worth,” they said, handing him over a coinpurse.

“Thank you. First door on your left upstairs. Name’s Ernest. Give me a holler if you need anything.”

“Thank you very much!” Omalia responded, then grabbed Arqeya’s hand, pulling her behind them towards the stairs, through the busy tables.

“Only one room?” Arqeya asked, fully having expected to step up after her and purchase her own lodging before Omalia began pulling her away.

“Cheaper that way, we don’t have jobs yet,” Omalia replied matter-of-factly, not even turning around. Arqeya deflated slightly. She supposed that made sense.

The room was a relatively decent size, with a large double bed, a bookshelf with a few tomes, a chest, and a desk. Both mer set their satchels down on the desk and slipped off their boots. Arqeya stretched, her arms above her head. “Wow, now that we are finally here, I can feel the exhaustion in my bones.”

“Agreed,” Omalia said, flopping onto the bed and looking up at Arqeya with her ever-unreadable white eyes.

Arqeya crawled into bed on the other side, keeping nearly to the edge to try to give the Maormer space. She supposed this was fine, sharing a room, a bed. It made sense; they were new in town, only had each other, and didn’t have a source of income just yet. It only made sense to save money by only renting one room, and also staying close so they could look out for each other. At least until they got their roots planted. Arqeya was excited to see the Arcane University, and hoped that she would be able to gain entrance, either as a student or a teacher. Though, as a student, she’d still need to find a source of income.

“Tomorrow, I’m going to go to the guard offices and see if I can get a job,” Omalia said, staring up at the ceiling. “This city is huge. My guess is they can always use more guards.”

“That sounds like a plan,” Arqeya agreed.

“And you’ll be visiting the Arcane University, correct?”

Arqeya smiled. “Absolutely. I cannot wait to see what kind of knowledge they have there.”