Interlude A
Faralda
The discussion with Archmage Savos had been exhausting and disheartening. The headmaster was entirely willing to settle this matter by having their newest student risk her life in a trial by combat. He displayed none of the misgivings that she felt sending her pupil into battle against the Jarl's champion. While Winterhold's city watch was small compared to other holds, the Jarl still had thanes. After Daenerys proved herself capable of taking out three of his guards, he would no doubt send his best warrior, and equip him with armor enchanted to resist fire if he could. Daenery's Shout of Yol was lethally strong. She knew, because she had tested the girl's ability thoroughly, but Daenerys was by no means assured victory. Her range was short. If she Shouted too soon, her opponent might survive. If she waited too long, he would run her through before she could Shout. It wasn't right to put this burden on her. However, it was the girl's choice. She was an adult and it was her decision. She would back Daenerys, but it was infuriating. Not only was the girl risking her own life, but the greatest magical discovery of the era might be lost all because a stupid jarl couldn't let go of his father's grudges. The College should not be relying on a mere apprentice to fight its battles.
Faralda took deep calming breaths as she marched through the College to check on her new apprentice. While she had urged patience on Daenerys time and again, Faralda was fast losing all of hers. In fact, she was approaching the conclusion that it was time to leave. The College wasn't what it had once been.
The Archmage was a puissant mage, gifted in all the magical arts save Alchemy, but he didn't tolerate fools and considered anyone less brilliant than himself to be a fool. He also had no patience for the political aspects of his job. Enrollments had fallen off dramatically under his tenure. He made no effort at all to encourage the holds of Skyrim to send the magically talented to the College to be trained. He had left the post of Master of Alchemy vacant for almost a decade. The White Star 'incident' was only the latest in a series of cover-ups. Relations with the city of Winterhold had only worsened under his time in office. Worst of all, he had allowed the accursed Thalmor to place a spy amongst their number.
Using the understanding of a Shout to replace a Seeming was a major magical breakthrough. One that could change the way they did magic forever, but because of the thrice-damned spy, she couldn't bring her colleagues in to help her. Although in truth, it appeared there wasn't much more they could do here. There was the suicidal method of allowing oneself to be Shouted at directly. The other alternatives were seeking out a word wall, or going to the Greybeards. She hadn't informed Daenerys yet, but unless something turned up by spring, that she would take a sabbatical and the two of them could seek out word walls in Nord barrows or other places in Skyrim.
Faralda brought herself to a halt in front of the dormitory room belonging to Daenerys and Breylna. She took a moment to calm her thoughts and then knocked softly on the door.
A moment later Breylna Maryon opened the door a crack. The Dunmer held a finger to her lips, stepped out into the hallway, and quietly closed the door behind her. She stood with her back to the door as if to bar anyone from entering. "Good evening, Master Wizard Faralda, how can I help you?"
"How is she?" asked Faralda.
Breylna sighed. "She's exhausted. She's sleeping now. She told me everything. I don't know why she isn't a quivering wreck right now."
"Good." It wasn't good that she was exhausted, but at least she was resting. "When she wakes, tell her she is excused from classes tomorrow."
"I will, Master Wizard." She paused. "Ma'am she said that you have taken her as an apprentice. I'll help her pack as well. Do you know which room she'll be moving to?"
"None. She's still be rooming with you. She'll also still be supervising the novitiates. Until a new senior novitiate joins or one of the novitiates is promoted to senior novitiate."
"That's… unusual."
"The circumstances are unusual," agreed Faralda. Apprentices had other duties. That's why they even had a senior novitiate position. They also weren't likely to get any new students for some time. Travel to Winterhold in the winter months was just too difficult. The oldest female novitiate was Sofija and she would not make a good senior novitiate. This basically kept Daenerys in the position until Spring at least. While the archmagi had cited the unfair burden on Breylna, Faralda wonder how much of it was out of pettiness that she hadn't consulted with him before she took Daenerys as an apprentice.
"Will there be anything else, Master Wizard?"
"No… Wait, yes. Let her know that I would like to speak with her in my office. Not tomorrow, the day after, once she's rested."
"I'll let her know."
"Thank you." Faralda left as Breylna slipped quietly back into the room she shared with Daenerys. Yes, she had a great deal to discuss with her new apprentice. Decisions had to be made.
So, I decided to try a Worm style interlude where I told the story from a different PoV, but it just wasn't going that well. If I was writing for publication, this little interlude would have probably just been cut from the final version altogether. Since I am not writing for publication, I decided to go ahead and post it, even if it isn't up to my usual quality.
No Beta for this one, so all errors are mine.
