Why I Am the Way I Am (Partially) - [Itertilar's Backstory]
It had been almost a year since Bauril had come into his life, and Itertilar had been wanting to celebrate with a little surprise party for the Bosmer woman that he'd been dating. With a smile he recalled his own discovery of the feelings he'd grown for her, having nearly been shocked out of his golden-colored skin that day. That day Iter had discovered that the heart can overrule the body at any given time - he'd fallen for Bauril despite his own sexuality and personality. Who would've imagined that a homosexual Altmer could fall so emotionally in love with a little Bosmer woman?
"How much for the Domica Redwort scented candles, Volanare?" Iter turned to the elderly Altmer, who smiled wryly at him. "More than you can normally afford, young one - but I know today's a special day for you. How about 150 septims for the two, and then you bring me some firewood later." At 900 years, any elf could see the signs of young love in the atmosphere - and it was a good day to see it, too. A cloudless sky over this part of Cyrodiil, and perfect for what the young elf surely had planned. "Thank you Volnare! I'll have your firewood by tomorrow!" The excited young man tossed a bag of coins to his elder, then stuffed the candles in his pack and dashed off - he had many things to prepare for his date tonight.
The last place Itertilar visited before going to find his lovely lady was Oriton Fauseius' small farm. He strode up happily to the Imperial man and pulled out a small piece of paper, "I think she'll agree! I think she'll say yes, and then in a few months maybe we'll both be ready for the big step!" The beared man in front of him chuckled in his deep tone, "That's wonderful Itertilar! I trust you've gotten everything ready for your big date?" Oriton put his hoe to the side and faced the tall boy - even at his young age Itertilar was nearly taller than him. "Yes, everything's in place! I've just got to actually find her now - I swear some day's she's invisible!" The gold-eyed boy found himself laughing along with his friend, thinking of all the times he'd ended up chasing his own tail around town. "Ah, how's your wife? Has the baby been kicking still?" "At that remark Oriton stood proudly and smiled wide, "Maesaia's wonderful, and the child is sure to come soon! Hopefully I'll have a strong young boy to help around with all of this farmwork - not that he could replace the help you've given me, now. You've done a lot for us, and for your own mother and father. That swordsmanship you have is a gift, Itertilar - never forget that." His tone had grown a bit more serious, but was truly sincere in the praise that he gave. His farm might've failed under the threat of wolves that lived near their small town, but the brave young Altmer had gathered two of his friends and faced the pack. They said he'd done most of the fighting, with them finishing the beasts off. Itertilar felt himself blush a bit under the complements and sincerety, "Thank you Oriton...ah, the sun! I need to get going before I make myself late! I'll see you afterwards!" Dashing off quicker than he had arrived, Itertilar moved about to his secluded spot near the creek. He set the picnic materials down, and then checked to make sure that what he needed was hidden exactly where it was supposed to be - in the hollow of a tree where he'd cleared out a small spider's web.
Itertilar strolled through the town, headed towards his home - Bauril was usually with his mother at this time of the day, discussing different methods of keeping pests away, or helping with housework, or even training on a straw dummy that he and his father had set up for her. His girl was a warrior, no doubts there at all. However he was so lost in his reverie that he failed to notice the strangely clothed Altmer group strolling in to town until they opened an attack upon the people - they began by setting fire to Volnare's shop.
At first the town guards and a few mercenaries tried to stop them, but it was no use - no one could win, no one in town had any training that could combat their sheer skill and might with magic. Even with mere daggers their skills were nigh unmatched, and many were forced to try and run or hide. It did no good however, and they were slaughtered left and right and in front of Itertilar as he too ran when he realized that he could not win. Finding Bauril was his first priority, his only priority, his one goal - and yet upon finding one spot that might have hidden her had he only been able to reach there he was struck down. A single, long and frozen ice spike pierced him through, barely leaving him time to activate a slow, long-term healing spell as he collapsed.
When he awoke he was in a cave, alive but still deeply in pain - there was no Bauril and though he wasn't bleeding through a gaping hole in his guts there was a massive scar and residual pain from the healing. Within moments a somewhat short Dunmer man was by his side, telling him to calm down and that he was safe where he was so long as he didn't try to kill him. As Itertilar's vision straightened up a bit, and his pain lessened, the Dunmer introduced himself - Dalnor, from Morrowind. He'd found Itertilar in the middle of town, somehow still alive from the attack by the Thalmor - which was apparently what the group that had slaughtered his hometown was a part of. Itertilar introduced himself and asked about Bauril, to which the Dunmer handed him a piece of paper that he claimed a young boy had given to him - a letter.
The contents were simple, painful, and clear - the boy had seen Bauril, and seen Itertilar. He'd watched as he fled past her, seen her watch him, seen her not once move to help him or warn him as he walked right into the path of the Thalmor brute. The boy had seen her preserve her own life, without even the slightest movement to preserve his. She'd stayed hidden for the time that he was running and hiding himself, and fled as soon as she could.
It was all he could do not to cry in front of Dalnor.