Boethiah & The Bridge [ADDED]

[El Scumbago]

Boethiah & The Bridge
Unknown


Many are the legends of Morrowind that involve the actions of both major and minor gods and spirits. Good or evil, whatever their intentions were, they kept involving with the business of mortals for unexplained yet reasons.
Some say it was because of the mercy or anger they felt for the inhabitants of Morrowind, some say what they did was simply out of boredom.
What is for sure is that all kinds of spirits have taken their place in both myth and history. This story of old is no exception.

Countless years ago, when the great Dunmer prophet Veloth had just led his people to this Promised Land, he found out that every single piece of it was inhabited by its own spirit and the daedra lords and ladies considered themselves as the unquestionable rulers of certain territories.
Before the Dunmer began to systematically worship them in order to be in their favor, these powerful spirits appeared often to remind the settlers who their masters were.
Not always were their intentions good and quite often it was that our ancestors were tortured, metaphorically and literally.

The story takes place in Vvardenfell, in the southeast part of the great island.
It was at that time that two young lovers had built their houses next to the Odai River, each on a different side of it.
When they got to meet and know each other, they instantly fell in love, and soon they realized they should find or make the means to cross the river easily, than walking around it every single time they wanted to meet.

The solution was simple; a bridge. So the two of them alone, since there were no other settlers in the area at that time, begun the construction.
But no matter how good the bases were, no matter what materials they used, and how much attention they paid to their construction, the bridge was falling apart every night.
Every day the young lovers would painstakingly raise it, only to find out the next morning that all the effort they put into it was in vain.

Finally, one cloudy morning the young man walked his way around the river and went to speak with his desperate lady.

â€Â￾It is no good,â€Â￾ he said. “No matter how hard we try, the bridge will not hold, not even for a single night. It seems that one of our Daedra lords is unhappy with us.â€Â￾

â€Â￾Oh, I would give anything to meet with him and learn a way to make him happy so that he would allow this bridge to stand,â€Â￾ she replied.

It was at that moment that the Daedra lord Boethiah appeared to them.
And while they were still trembling with fear, he said:

â€Â￾You want your construction to stand, but you are in my domain, and all this time you did not do a single effort to please me and gain my sympathy. No building shall stand in the shores of my river until I get the offers I deserve.â€Â￾

â€Â￾What is it that you want my lord?â€Â￾ The young man asked, bowing his head at the same time.
â€Â￾I want a sacrifice worthy of my majesty and power,â€Â￾ Boethiah replied. “Not any sacrifice will do though. I want something personal of yours, something that either one or the other holds dear, a beloved soul.â€Â￾

The young woman’s eyes shined as she asked;

â€Â￾And supposing a beloved soul is sacrificed in your name, will you allow any building to stand in this place from now on?â€Â￾
â€Â￾So be it,â€Â￾ Boethiah said. “Satisfy me, and I shall satisfy not only you but anyone who desires to settle here, as well as the coming generations that will exist after you and them.â€Â￾

And after saying these words, the Daedra lord disappeared as suddenly as he appeared.
The male Dunmer was petrified, he was certain that his lover would sacrifice him to the evil spirit, but the girl spoke first.

â€Â￾Do not fear my love, for none of us will be harmed. Boethiah asked for the soul of someone that at least one of us holds dear.â€Â￾

â€Â￾So? I love you and you love me, we have no family or friends here, we are all alone.â€Â￾

The young Dunmer girl stood up and went to her bedroom to return with tears in her eyes and a small furry kitty in her arms.

â€Â￾This is Balmora, she said. I take care of her since the day she was born. I love her nearly as much as I love you. Oh, look at her, she’s so cute and unprotected, I feel so horrible... I was supposed to look after her, make sure she would never be harmed, and now... But I could never harm you, and my I want to live by your side.â€Â￾

And saying these words, she rushed out before the pain swallowed her, casting her unable to do anything, stared deep in the eyes of the little creature for one last time, and with tears flowing she threw Balmora into the wild river of Odai, which was much larger and deep at that time.
They both kept staring at it until it was lost under the surface, drawn deep down by the power of its streams.

At that time, Boethiah appeared in front of them, full of anger, for he was sure that only one of the lovers could be the victim of the sacrifice.

â€Â￾You treacherous mortals, you deceived me!â€Â￾ he shouted.

â€Â￾We did not,â€Â￾ the girl answered, “we knew you intended to take one of us, but you never said it. Your words were only speaking of a soul beloved, did they not my lord?â€Â￾

Boethiah stood still for a moment and then talked.

â€Â￾You are clever, little girl. Perhaps too clever for a mortal, but you are right. According to my own words, you have satisfied my will, and as a god I must fulfill my promise. From this moment, and for all time, the shores and surrounding areas of the Odai River are open for all.â€Â￾

Boethiah disappeared again, and this time for good.

The young lovers built their bridge and let others know that they could now live near the river with the permission of its lord. And it was done.
The shores of the river welcomed many people and soon a city was built that exists and grows up to this day.
Boethiah never forgot the wits of the young girl and to show his admiration, he made Odai a peaceful and quite river.
As for the citizens of the city, they never forgot the sacrifice of the innocent animal that brought them happiness and prosperity, and named the city after the kitty that the Dunmer girl loved so much; Balmora.

[Arthmodeus]

4.B.MW