Evening was starting to settle over Winterhold when I reached the base of the great bridge. Fortunately, the wind had largely subsided and while the air still held a chill it was entirely bearable. As I climbed the smooth ramp at the foot of the bridge, and elven woman stepped from the shadows to confront me.

 

"Cross the bridge at your own peril," she intoned. "The way is dangerous and the gate will not open. You shall not enter." Her words had a ritual character to them, as if she'd repeated this declaration many times.

 

 

"You must be Faralda. I'm told that you can open the way," I challenged.

 

"Perhaps," she replied, golden pupils examining me carefully. "But what do you seek within the walls of the College?" 

 

I wondered for a second how to respond. I strongly suspected that 'I want to visit your library' wouldn't meet her standards for admission. So I thought... how would a wizard put the question? After a moment, I answered, "I want to unravel a mystery of magical influence and hidden powers."

 

"Ah... Oblivion and its minions. Even with its gates shut, the Daedra still influence Mundus. You delve into perilous... but greatly rewarding, mysteries. It would seem that the college has what you seek. Now the question is: what can you offer the College?"

 

As she asked this question, fluffy snow started to drift down from above and the horizon started to glow with imminent dusk. I also realized that the source of the red light bathing this vestibule was not merely from the arcane lanterns surrounding the entrance, but a small brass cube, pulsing with power. My little bauble seemed to be avoiding it, fluttering away with a buzz of its wings whenever the cube drew close.

 

 

"Do I understand correctly that I must pass a test of magic?"

 

The elf maid nodded to me. "Not just anyone is allowed inside. If you wish to enter, you must demonstrate a skill that has value us - either in furthering our pursuits or furthering our research."

 

As she said this, I could feel the golden footwraps growing arm against my skin. I wondered, did they carry Nelacar's charm magic that he'd demonstrated when I first met him? I decided to try. Mustering my best confidence, I said, "I think we both know I'll succeede here."

 

The mage seemed wholly unimpressed. "No," she countered immediately, "I'm afraid I don't know anything of the sort."

 

Well, I supposed if confidence didn't work then maybe seduction would. "I'm a Sister of the Temple of Dibella," I offered. "I have skills that some would say are magical."

 

She squinted, examining me in minute detail. "Intriguing," she conceded. "Care to show me?"

 

 

"It would be my pleasure... but let's adjourn to somewhere a little warmer. By one of your watchfires perhaps?"

 

"Surely you don't think something as trifling as the cold bothers me. Impress me first, then we can talk about you proceeding further." 

 

"Well... if you're sure," I said. "Better get undressed. This could get... messy. By the way... what do I call you?"

 

The elven woman started loosening the laces at the neck of her robe. Then, pulling it over her head, she answered, "Faralda. Guardian of the Gate and Master Destructor. And you?"

 

I'd already shed my cloak by then and I was loosening the straps on my breastplate. "I'm Kirstia Bjissen. Sister of Dibella, Daughter of the Black Thane, and Avatar of Hrokkibeg."

 

"An impressive claim," she said cooly. "Now show me if your Dibellan arts live up to your claims."

 

I'd finished removing my armor, setting it down out of the way. As I retrieved Mother's godemiche from my travel pack, I bade Faralda to face the wall. As soon as I had secured the straps against my waist, I gently massaged Faralda's vulva from behind. Pleasantly surprised to find her already well moistened, I gently started to lift her left leg, fully exposing her to me. She turned, wrapping an arm around my neck and peering into my eyes. A High Elf, she was a rare woman noticeably taller than me, and despite her lean I had to crane my neck to hold her gaze.

 

 

I started to gently slide the tip of my phallus back and forth across her moist folds, pulling and guiding her leg further and further until the back of her knee was resting against my shoulder. This forced her head back, and I gently raised her chin with my hand to keep her in eye contact. With her spread wide open, I gave a gentle push and then a hard shove, gliding deep into her and starting a languid rhythm of thrusts.

 

Faralda was already starting to pant, but she looked at me with challenging eyes. "I... ah... so far you... hah... haven't shown me anything I... ah... haven't seen... before."

 

 

I pushed her back against the wall then, pinning her and forcing her to wrap her legs around me lest she fall. I pounded her hard, watching her cheeks flush and feeling her legs twitch against me until with a gasp she stiffened, relaxed, and tightened a few more times, her eyes going half closed and a slow smile spreading over her face.

 

"Oh, you're good... and you're fast. You know just where a girl likes to be tickled, don't you? But... you still haven't shown me anything I can't get from a common harlot. Where is your priestly magic?"

 

I stared into her hooded eyes and I smiled. "Aha, surely you didn't think I was done. This is just the appetizer before the main course."

 

 

"Now," I said, easing her to the ground and then holding her steady with my hands in her hair, "on your knees." 

 

She obeyed, and I leaned back against the wall, pulling her close. When I could feel her breath on my pussy I tightened my grip and drew her the rest of the way between my legs.

 

"Lick," I ordered, "I want to feel your tongue from top to bottom."

 

After a moment's hesitation, I felt Faralda's tongue start to slide up and down my slit, starting at the mouth of my vagina, along my inner slips, and over and around the hood of my clitoris, and then back. Her technique was actually rather good, but I wasn't doing this for enjoyment's sake. Instead, I was gauging the position of her tongue.

 

 

"Yes," I whispered. "Now hold, wait, and swallow everything." 

 

After I was certain she was held fast in my hands, I relaxed my bladder and allowed its contents to drain into Faralda's mouth. She coughed and choked, then tried to pull away, and I had to wrap my fingers into her hair to keep her under control. I brought her in tighter, mashing her nose against my mound, and cutting off her alternative to swallowing. She resisted for a while yet, but soon the need to breath got the better of her and I could feel her throat flex as she swallowed once, then twice, then a third time yet. By now I had drained myself fully, and dribbles of piss were running out the side of her mouth as she tried to swallow enough so she could take a breath.

 

When her struggles subsided and she was breathing easily again, I rocked Faralda back, holding her in a gentle embrace. I whispered into her ear, "do you feel the power now?" 

 

 

"Yes..." she said, still seeming a little out of breath, "you possess an incredible reserve of power. Raw power, carnal and bestial, but magical power for certain. You have much to teach the College, I suspect. Follow me, night descends on us, but in the morning you may begin the pursuit of your mysteries."

 

She led the way across the bridge and I followed close behind her. As promised, the gates swung open before us, and soon we were standing in a great stone courtyard beneath an impressive tower. At its center was a statue, illuminated with magical light.

 

"Shalidor," Faralda whispered. "It is said his power was so great, that he built all of Winterhold with a mere whisper. But there is time to learn these things later. For now, I can see the fatigue in your eyes. Rest."

 

 

Faralda led me to an ornate glass door in the outer ring of the courtyard. "This is the Hall of Attainment," she explained. "Having been admitted to the College, you may rest here at any time. A bed has already been prepared for me."

 

"How...?" I asked.

 

"Surely you did not think we were unwatched. It was known immediately when you passed my test, and our staff is efficient in its works. Now, no more questions. To bed."

 

A moment later, I was standing alone in a well-appointed bedroom. Well... not entirely alone. I sensed that not only was Faralda's cube following me, but also another, a sphere. I wondered if they were being kept invisible with magic, and if I was meant to be ignorant of them. Lest I give up the game, I pretended they weren't there as I undressed for bed.

 

 

When I was bare, I knelt and offered a prayer to Dibella. Some time had passed since I'd last heard her gentle voice, and I hoped she would speak to me now. However, I was met only with silence. Indeed, I had an uncanny sense that my prayers were going unheard. After half a minute, I heard a different voice... the voice of The Teacher.

 

As long as you stay bound by the Snow Elves' toys, your Queen will not hear your prayers. And do not pretend you were not forewarned.

 

 

"And you, Teacher, do you have any advice for me?" 

 

My guts cramped almost as soon as the words left my mouth. I could feel tiny legs moving down from my deep innards to congregate in my rectum, and them push their way out my back passage as if the golden plug wasn't even there. 

 

 

They climbed up my body, swarming over me until I felt chitinous legs against my ears. And then I heard other voices.

 

"Is she the one the Graybeards have spoken of?" one spider whispered, in an unknown man's voice. 

 

"If she is," the other spider spoke in Faralda's voice, "then we must prepare. The Graybeards warned that when the truth dawns, it will dawn in fire."

 

"We must understand the power that dwells within her," the man answered. "We must know if she is the... wait, do you sense a presence?"

 

"I see..." Faralda said. "I see, spider webs. And shadows. We are not alone."

 

The conversation abruptly ended, and The Teacher spoke once more.

 

Forces greater than yourself begin to awaken to your power. Free yourself soon, lest you be enslaved.

 

Before I could fully process what The Teacher had said, her children were already retreating into my body once more. While most of them entered me from below, the two who had whispered to me climbed into my mouth and I obligingly swallowed them. 

 

"Thank you, Teacher," I whispered before rising from my meditative crouch. 

 

I took advantage of the washbasin in the room to sponge myself down, then settled into bed. Despite the feeling that I was still being watched, I managed to calm myself enough to drift into a pleasant sleep. The following morning, I proceeded with some haste to the Arcanaeum, the library housed within the College's main tower. Upon reaching the lobby, I found myself facing a robed orc. Either he was so lost in his book that he didn't notice me, or he just felt I was below his notice. 

 

Clearing my throat, I offered a quiet, "excuse me?"

 

 

Without looking up from his book, he growled. "You are now in the Arcanaeum, of which I am in charge. It might as well be my own little plane of Oblivion. Disrupt it, and I will have you torn apart by angry atronachs."

 

"This is quite an impressive library," I conceded. "I take it then that you're the head librarian?"

 

"A mage is only as good as what he knows. I try to make sure as much knowledge is available as possible."

 

"Then maybe you can help me. I hear you recently hosted a scholar named Millonce Curio. I'm trying to find her."

 

"Millonce... Curio," he said flatly. "Where did you hear that name?" As he spoke, he closed his book and rose to his full height.

 

"Nelacar, at the Frozen Hearth, told me I might find out her whereabouts from you."

 

 

"Hmph," he grunted, "an honest thief at least, but not a very good one. I know what you're really here for - those degenerate books. What exactly did you intend to do with them, huh? They're locked away for a reason."

 

"I'm looking for information about unusual artifacts."

 

"Ah, so not a common thief but a 'treasure hunter' then? You should learn to leave other peoples' things alone." With a wave of his hand, my breastplate loosened and fell away, and he grasped my suddenly bare arm in his firm grip. With a jerk, he pulled me towards him as he returned to his chair. Laying me across his lap, I almost immediately felt the sting of his hand slapping my rump, hard. 

 

 

He continued this for what seemed like ages before finally releasing me from his grip.

 

"Now, let's try this again. Why do you want Curio's books?

 

I groaned in frustration. "I told you the truth the first time, I want to find Millonce Curio. I don't care about your books."

 

"I should have guessed. You freaks never give her a moment's rest. It's bad enough that the Synod is stifling her research. What do you want with her?"

 

"Sweet Divines, I already told you. I'm researching these damn artifacts," I waved the wrist cuffs in front of him.

 

"Uh, fine, I'm starting to see that. But part of me still wants to just give Millonce her privacy. What's so special about you?"

 

"Besides the fact that I have more of these 'toys' than I can count on two hands hanging off my body? The first and main reason I'm looking for her is actually because I hear she has some insight into ancient magical influences. I've been touched by magic - old and powerful Reach magic - and I need to understand it better so I can control it."

 

 

"Well... she did mention she needed a test subject. And you seem like the kind who'd enjoy it. Give me your map and I'll show you the way to her camp."

 

I unrolled the map for him and he showed me the campsite's location, then explained the safest route to reach it by. 

 

"Before you go, I need you to do something for me."

 

"Oh?" I asked, skeptically.

 

"Millonce will need all the toys she can get for her project. I found an interesting pair of gloves while cleaning out an old storage room. Try them on."

 

He retrieved the gloves and offered to me. They were impressive, long gloves that went most of the way up the arm. I would have guessed that they'd be terribly stiff based on their tough materials, but they were actually quite flexible and comfortable. After trying them out a bit longer, I went to remove them and found they were stuck fast.

 

 

"Why can't I take them off?" I asked, annoyed.

 

"Strange... they didn't react that way before."

 

Then I thought about some of the previous experiences I'd had with drained or latent magic items and groaned. "I think I might know the problem. Apparently I'm a magical reservoir, and it bleeds into things around me."

 

"Ha," he Orc chuffed, "You're just full of surprises. Personally, I think they just like perverts and thieves. Either way, Millonce can help you get them off when you find her. I'll send word ahead so you aren't hassled."

 

When I didn't immediately turn and flee, he added, "now get out of my Arcanaeum before I set the atronachs on you!"

 

Behind The Scenes

While I was doing the Winterhold Library scene, I found that a number of relevant items were floating in mid-air. Before my next major build I will need to move them to the new location of the librarian's desk (UCOW moves it).