King Edward , Book II Summary . This book is part of a twelve - part series on King Edward , as follows : Content . 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 . Unicorn s 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 abrupt and jarring . Elves appeared quite suddenly and arms reached up to take him and Shag , who woke at last , ran frantically in circles , and then sat panting at Edward ' s feet . A tall elf with fiery hair like copper greeted them formally . " Greetings , my lord King . Your lady wife awaits you . Prince Edward , I welcome you to the land of the Firstborn on behalf of all its people . May your stay here prove pleasant and productive . " Moraelyn nodded deferentially . " Thank you , my host . My Queen has waited long enough ; we will go to her now . " Moraelyn ' s hand on his shoulder steered Edward toward the largest tree he ' d ever seen . The trunk was hollow ; steps inside led up ; openings gave out onto more steps and bridges along and among the mighty branches . They proceeded along these until they reached a large canopied platform , furnished with seats and chests as if it were a room . A golden skinned woman smiled at them and waved them in , then left . A tall slender , pale - skinned , dark - haired human woman paced toward them , her eyes on Edward . Only Edward . " Why did you leave us ! " The cry came from deep inside , ringing through him . It stopped her several paces from him . Now her eyes lifted to Moraelyn , who said in a harsher tone than Edward had yet heard from him . " Thou wilt address thy Mother with respect , cub ! " A glancing blow made his eyes water . Aliera crossed quickly to Moraelyn and placed her hands on his chest . " Greeting , my husband . All praise to Notorgo for bringing you and my son safely to me . " " Thank also the Lord of the Dragons and the Bandit , who could not have lifted the boy more neatly himself . The Archmagister had somewhat to do with it as well . " Moraelyn ' s dusky hands came up to hold her bare arms lightly and tenderly . He laughed , looking relaxed and happy . But the hands against his chest formed a barrier as much as a caress . " I am blessed indeed . But it has been long since my son and I have spoken . We may find words more easily if we seek them alone together . " Moraelyn ' s smile vanished instantly . " Are words then a thing which two can find more easily than three ? Well . Perhaps . At times . Wife . " He turned on his heel and left . The bridge swung and creaked , but his feet made no sound at all . Aliera watched after him , but he did not look back . Edward felt again the curious mix of satisfaction and regret that came with giving pain to his enemy . " Edward , my son , come and sit by me . " Edward stood where he was , " Madam mother , I have waited many years and travelled many leagues to have an answer . I will wait no longer , nor go one step further . " " What have you been told ? " " That you were most treacherously kidnapped by night with the aid of magic , while my father slept , trusting in the honor of his guest . " " Your father told you that . And Moraelyn ? " " Said that you came full willing . I would hear what you say . " " Would you hear why I left your father or why I did not take you with me , having chosen to go . " Edward paused , thinking , " Madam , I would hear the truth , therefore I must give the truth . I would hear why you left me behind . The other , I think I know , as much as I can or would know , unless you wish to tell me more or other . " " The truth ? Truth is not a single thing existing apart from those who apprehend it . But I will tell you my truth and perhaps then you may arrive at your truth . Aliera walked back to a softly pillowed chair and composed herself . Nearby a small ruby colored bird settled on a branch and trilled an accompaniment to her soft voice . " My parents arranged my marriage as is the custom of our homeland . I did not love Corcyr , but in the beginning I respected him and tried to be a good wife . He did not care for me , nor did he take care . And so he lost my respect and I died a little each day , withering like an untended plant . I was happy only with you , but Corcyr thought I was making you too soft . " Womanish , " he said , and so , after your third birthday I was allowed to spend only an hour each day with you . I listened to your cries and sat weeping , without heart for anything . Finally , you ceased crying and asking for me , and my heart was left empty . I formed the habit of walking and riding much of the time , alone save for a guard or two . Then Moraelyn came . He wanted to mine for ebony in the Wrothgarian Mountains . The land he wanted to use was part of my dowry . He was willing to train our people in the arts of its use and even to give them weapons of Dark Elf making . In return our people were to aid him in keeping the goblins away , and allow him to form a colony of his people in High Rock . Corcyr had no use for the land and he wanted the weapons very much indeed - - there are none better - - so he favored the proposal . There were many details to be discussed and arranged and it fell to me to conduct these negotiations . Corcyr despises Dark Elves and he was jealous of Moraelyn , who was already famed as the finest fighter in all Tamriel . " But Moraelyn is more than a skilled fighter ; he ' s well - read and interested in everything under the sun . He sang and played as if taught by Jeh Free and Jhim Sei both . He was a companion such as I ' d only dreamed of . . . that and no more , I swear . We both love to be outside , so our discussions took place while riding and walking , but always accompanied by his men and Corcyr ' s . When all was arranged , Corcyr gave a great feast to celebrate the treaty . All of High Rock nobility came and many from other provinces . At the end Corcyr was deep in his cups and let fall an insult that could only be washed out in blood . I had long since retired with the other ladies so I know not what it was , but I ' d heard enough in private to know that Corcyr had a store of such to choose from . Moraelyn gave the challenge and gave Corcyr until noon , that he might recover such wits as he had . " Then Moraelyn came to me , alone in my chamber , and told me what had befallen . ' Milady , I think he will choose your brother as his champion ; in any case there will be a river of blood between us that may not be crossed in this life or any other . I can live without your love , but I would not have your enmity . Come with me now , as wife or honored guest , as you choose . And you shall serve as blood price in stead of your kith or kin . ' " And there , in the moonlight , in my terror , with my ladies sleeping about me , I knew I loved him . Doubted that I could live without him . And yet , I loved you more ! ' My son , ' I whispered . ' I can ' t ' . ' Milady , you must choose . I am sorry . ' You see , don ' t you , Edward ? If I stayed , it meant my brother ' s death his innocent young blood . Or your father ' s ! Or possibly that of the man I loved , though I counted that most unlikely . Moraelyn ' s fighting skills alone were supreme , and in an affair of this sort he would be entitled to call on magic aid as well . ' We could take him with us . ' But Moraelyn shook his head sadly , ' That I will not do . It would go against my honor to part father and son . ' " " Leaving love alone , I am trained to duty " , Aliera said proudly . " Should I have robbed you of your father or your loving uncle ? And I thought it likely that Corcyr , should he survive , would somehow blame me for the affair and use it as an excuse to put me away . I thought that Corcyr would be pleased to have me gone . I knew he wanted the weapons very much . I could trade them for time with you , I thought . " All this passed through my mind while Moraelyn stood waiting , not looking at me . " Lady Mara , help me to choose wisely , I prayed . ' You truly want me as wife ? I could bring you nothing but trouble . ' " " ' Aliera , I would have you to wife . And I want nothing but yourself . ' He shed his cloak and wrapped it round my body , pulling the bedclothes away . " " ' Moraelyn , wait , is this right , what I do ? ' " " ' Milady , if I thought this wrong , I should not be standing here ! Of the choices you are given , this one seems to me most right . ' He swung me up in his arms and carried me to his horse . And so I left your father ' s house , clad only in his cloak and riding before him . And wild joy mixed with my sorrow , so that I scarce knew how I felt . That is my truth . " Edward said quietly , " But he has parted my father and me in the end . " " With great reluctance . And only because the dragon says that you and your father were in truth already parted in heart . It is only a matter of more leagues . Which provide a measure of safety for you . Moraelyn insisted that you should freely consent to come . You are as free to return any time you wish . " " Moraelyn would have just taken me ! It was I ' r . . . I mean , the Archmagister , who insisted that I must consent . " " He ' s not a patient man by nature . And he is anxious to do Corcyr no harm . Doubtless he felt the discussion could be carried on as well elsewhere . " " He called him King of the Small Cock . And laughed . Why ? Are Daggerfall cockerels smaller than Ebonheart birds ? And what does it matter , anyway ? My father was very angry ; I think he would have liked to fight . But it ' s true he hates me . I knew that , but I didn ' t want to know , so I pretended not to . I don ' t suppose Moraelyn would do that . " " No . " " He ' d lie , though . He thought about telling me he was my father . I could see it . " Aliera threw back her head and laughed her pretty rippling laugh ; he remembered it from long ago , and it sent shivers down his back . " He must have wanted to claim it very badly indeed if he let you see it ; he ' s usually quicker than that . And he does not lie under oath , or to hurt those he loves . " " He doesn ' t love me ; he doesn ' t even like me . " " But I do , my dear son . You . . . " Edward thought she was going to say he ' d grown ; adults always remarked on his growth , even if he ' d just seen them a week ago . Very strange , since he was small for his age . Instead she said , " You ' re just as I thought you ' d be , " with deep maternal satisfaction . " And he loves you . But he said he was no one ' s errand boy . Yet you dismissed him as if he were . " Aliera ' s face and neck burned a deep crimson . " Nay , though I am reduced to serving man , it seems . " Moraelyn had entered silently , bearing a huge tray piled high with food . " Get me a stool , boy , you can play page if I can play server . You must be famished and I thought I ' d best return before my wife gets round to the rest of my faults . Could take her most of the day listing them . " He ' d shed the mail and bathed and dressed in fresh black jerkin and hose with a silvery sash tied round his narrow waist . But the black sword still swung by his side . " Mara help us , you ' ve enough food for a small army . And I ' ve broken my fast . " Aliera ' s small hand reached for the elf ' s arm , slid down it caressingly , then clasped his hand and squeezed it , lifting it to her still hot cheek , brushing it with her lips . Edward looked away quickly , discomforted by the sight of his dusky skin against her fairness . " This ' s for me , and a bit for the boy . But pray join us , my dear . You ' ve grown thin . Pining for me , no doubt . " He wrapped a lock of her dark curly hair around a finger and tugged at it , grinning , then fell on the food like a starving wolf , attacking it with small silvery weapons instead of eating with his fingers as humans did . The food was wonderful . Edward ate until he could eat no more . " Eavesdropping , " he murmured thoughtfully . He ' d been mulling over a list of Moraelyn ' s faults while he ate , and realized too late that he ' d spoken aloud . " By Zenithar , boy , if you humans will shout your privy conversation all over the tree , d ' ye expect me to shut my ears with wool ? " He tapped one of his large pointed ears . Edward hurriedly tried to remember what they ' d said . What he ' d said . Lying . Oh dear . Maybe he hadn ' t heard . " So I ' m a liar , am I , boy ? " Vir Gil help him , Edward felt he was drowning . Could the Elf read minds ? He hoped that wasn ' t the insult his father had used ! " I . . . I meant I thought that you were thinking about it . You did hesitate , " Edward gulped . He was making matters worse . " Possibly , I was trying to remember . " the sardonic tone was back . " You don ' t even like me ! " Edward burst out . " That doesn ' t seem to have stopped your true father from claiming you . " " Moraelyn ! Don ' t ! " Aliera interrupted , but the Elf held up his hand to quiet her . " I ' m not so sure . " Edward flashed . " Why do you say that ? " " I don ' t know . . . Roane says . . . things . . . and I ' m not at all like him . Everyone remarks on it . And then stops talking . " " What things ? Speak , boy ! " " About how fond Mother was of her brother when they were young . How sad and angry he was when she was carried off . More like a lover , she said , than a brother . She says it very sweetly , but like she means something by it . Something too dirty to say . Other times she talks about how elfin I look . And how quickly after marriage I came . Not as quickly as her first son , though . " Moraelyn leaped up . " By the Avenger , I will go back and wring the vixen ' s neck ! The human " , he bit off the insult , but his red eyes flamed rage ; his muscles swelled and his hair stood on end . " You do not look half - elven . I never met your mother until four years after your conception . Roane , it seems , cannot decide which lie she wishes to use . But incest ! May Kel strike her down if I may not . " The tall elf paced furiously about the room , lithe as a Khajiit , hand fondling his sword hilt . The platform swayed and dipped . " She ' s ambitious for her sons , at Edward ' s expense . The question is , how many will believe her . Not enough if she was planning to have him killed instead . " Aliera ' s smooth brow wrinkled a bit . " I never disliked her , you know . Nor she me . She wanted my place and I was glad enough to let her have it save for Edward . " " You want me to be king so I ' ll let you have the ebon mines . " Edward had just worked out the puzzle . " Oh , devil take the ebon , which he probably will . I ' ve a better chance of getting co - operation from Roane ' s boys once your father ' s dead . They ' d have reason for gratitude and the bargain ' s a good one . Although the chances they could keep a civil tongue long enough to sign a contract seem poor , given their parentage . " " Then why ? You don ' t even like me . " " Mara , help me ! ' Liking ' a person is a human concept . One day they like you , the next day they don ' t . On Tirdas they ' re back to liking you again . My own wife does this to me , but claims to love me even when she doesn ' t like me . Except of course on the days when she doesn ' t do either , and talks about joining the Order of Riana . Fortunately that only happens once a year or so . I go hunting until she comes to her senses . " " You exaggerate ; that only happened once , and well you know it . " " I remember enjoying the recovery period . Maybe it should happen more often . " They grinned at each other . " But why do you want me to be King ? " Edward persisted . " I told you ; it ' s Akatosh ' s notion . And the Archmagister ' s . I just came along for the ride . Ask them . " " I shall ask the Archmagister when I see him . " " An excellent plan . You ' ll spend a few weeks at the Tower before heading north with us . " " Only that ? " " Does the prospect of spending the winter with your mother and me displease you so much ? " " No . . . no , sir . But I agreed to go with I ' ric . " Not you . The words hung unsaid between them . " You will , in time . A few weeks there now will fit you to begin your training in magic ; I can teach you spells . But you need hardening ; your body must catch up to your mind . It is the Archmagister ' s will . " " Fighting magic ? I want to learn other things . How to call beasts . How to heal . And float . . . " " You ' ll learn that , I doubt not . And d ' ye think a fighter can ' t Heal ? It ' s the first spell you ' ll learn . But a King must know how to fight . " " I ' m not good at it . " " Dragons Teeth , boy ! Exactly why you must learn ! " " If I cannot ? " " You ' ve courage and a clear head and the potential to learn magic ; that ' s more than most people ever have . I can teach you the rest . " Edward ' s head whirled with the unaccustomed praise . " I do ? I have ? You can ? " " D ' ye think any of your father ' s fool court would stand naked before a dragon , a unicorn , the Archmagister , and the Champion of Tamriel and demand justice of them ? Justice ! Faced with such , they might have managed to beg for mercy , if they could speak at all , which is doubtful . " " I did that ? I did , didn ' t I ? " Edward was astonished ; he wanted to add that he hadn ' t known , hadn ' t thought about it . " Aye , you did . And it ' s a deed that shall be sung from here to Morrowind ; I ' ll compose the ballad myself - - as soon as I have a nap . I don ' t sleep as sound as some on dragon ' s backs . " " You enchanted me and Shag asleep ! " " And the rest of the castle , with the help of my friends . " " Ooooohhhh . Can you levitate ? Will you show me ? " " Not so fast . I kept a holding spell on us all night to keep us on the dragon ' s back . Until I ' m rested I couldn ' t light a candle with the aid of a match . " " Oh . Well , I ' d still rather be like the Archmagister than be a fighter . " " Hah ! It ' ll be news to the Archmagister that he cannot fight ! I hope he ' ll find time to show you how to wield a staff . No better weapon for early training . And no better trainer . Now , of the four you saw before you , which would you say could best the others ? " Edward thought carefully for several minutes . " Sir , my judgement is poor indeed , but if you would still have my answer , it would seem that the one who claims the title Champion of Tamriel must be the best . Yet must not the Archmagister be your master in magic ? And trained to arms as well , it seems . So which should prevail ? Could any mortal stand against the dragon ' s fire and claws and teeth ? And I know naught of the unicorn , save that it is fleet and has a very sharp horn , and hooves as well . So I will guess the unicorn ; it had the mildest manner . And since you asked the question it seems the unlikely answer may be correct . " " Well answered , youngling ! The unicorn would win easily in any single close combat . No mortal or even dragon can move quickly enough to land a blow and it cannot be burned or touched by any magic or elemental power . It ' s hooves are deadly and a single touch of its horn will kill any enemy , although the horn itself will burn away . The most powerful can regenerate it within moments , however . " " And of the four the Champion of Tamriel would probably be the loser against any of the others , although the title is no idle boast ! " Moraelyn is not accustomed to being so outclassed . " My manners may have suffered in consequence . " " Milord King , I am most deeply in your debt . You have done me great honor and service . If ever I can repay you , I will . Forgive my brash words and ill manners . I have dwelt among the rude and boorish . And it seems I have no father , unless I may call you so ? " The elf held his hands out to the boy , who placed his own in them . Edward ' s feeling of distaste was quite gone as if by magic the thought drifted through his mind and then he released his hands and clasped Moraelyn about his waist . The elf ' s hands stroked the dark hair and clasped the thin shoulders . " I thank you , my wife . After only five years of marriage , you have presented me with a fine son , nine years of age . Remarkable . In fact . . . magical . "