First I need to tell you about my childhood. Yes, we Daedra are immortal, as we can return from the waters of oblivion and resume our lives, but everything has a beginning, even if it has no end. I do not remember if I was born, or created, but I remember being a child.

Nor can I tell you anything about returning from death, as I have never done so myself. Most male Dremora return because they are called back by Dagon, to fight his endless wars. There may be other ways to return, but I have no knowledge of them. But back to my growing up.

Females live to serve the males. If a young girl shows competence at any trade, she may be set to doing that for the rest of her existence. If she's good at smithing, she may be set to making armor and weapons. Or with other skills, she could be a cook, or a healer, or a fletcher. I was a bit more intelligent than the rest of my class, and conspired to hide my abilities until I could choose my own vocation. I learned a little of every skill I could, in case it could help me later, but I was careful not to shine in anything.

It almost worked. When I was grown enough, they made me a "reward for valor". Well, I was good at that, and I might have chosen it anyway.

I think it was because I wasn't as submissive as the others. I could take the initiative, and be a partner instead of a chattel. True heros appreciate that, and I was serving the best. Kothet was a hero when he was presented me as a permanent reward for the victory at Ganoneh. I was happy to belong to him, at first.

But Kvatch was retaken and Kothet fell from Dagon's favor. He started to mistreat me, and I started to hate him. I learned spells and weapon skills in secret, hoping for the day I could free myself from Kothet.

The chance came when a Gate was opened outside Bravil. Kothet was chosen to defend the Tower island, and I managed to travel there too. When he took up his post near the flaming arch, I killed him and stepped through it into Tamriel.

I needed someone's help to close the Gate, so I could stay in this world and leave Kothet behind. I was sure that Dagon wouldn't restore him in any haste, especially as he'd been killed by a mere woman. However, I needed the Gate closed so he couldn't reach me later.

The man who helped me is the owner of this Lodge. I was being chased by Scamps near the Gate when he came to my assistance, and healed my wounds. He has such cool, gentle hands!

He asked me what my name was. I didn't understand what he meant. A Dremora woman doesn't have a name of her own. She's "Rynaz' daughter" or "Kothet's woman" or just "the cook". He decided I needed a name and called me "Prizna". Wow! I was just like the Kyn themselves now, with a Name of my own!

I put away my fears and followed him back into the Gate. I needed to confirm that Kothet was still dead. I also was determined to help close the Gate, or die trying. I wanted to deserve having a Name!

We found Kothet's body inside near the Gate, and he was as dead as I'd left him. We could see the Sigil Tower from there, but there was a locked war gate between us and the entrance, so we couldn't go that way.

There was also a Daedroth charging towards us. I dropped back and cast a shock spell, while my hero stepped forward with his sword and shield. He must have had an enchantment on that sword, as the creature didn't last long, and I heard a soul gem fill as it died.

We set off to the East past a small tower, where we ran into a couple of Dremora. I cast my shock spell again and one of them was hit. So he charged after me while his colleague engaged my partner. I backed up, casting my spell again, but he was getting very close. He swung his sword at me and opened a huge gash in my arm. I went down on my knees, and was sure I was going to die, when he fell dead on top of me. The Hero pulled his sword from the Churl's back and put it back in its scabbard.

He took a look at my arm and laid his hands on my breasts to cast his healing spell again. I asked why he hadn't put his hands on my arm instead.

"If I touched the wound, that would hurt you, wouldn't it? Until the healing is complete, the pain won't go away. I need to cast the spell as close to your heart as I can, so it works as quickly as possible. ... And it also helps remind me why you're worth saving."

That got a laugh that made me feel better. Taking the Churl's longsword made me feel better too, as I now had something to block with.

We made our way further and crossed a bridge over to another island in the lava. We appeared to be circling the Sigil Tower amd not getting any closer. A doorway in the rocks ahead of us looked as if it might lead into a cave or tunnel. If the tunnel was in the same direction as the door, it might take us closer to the Tower, so we went in.

By the time we emerged at the other end, I had a shield to go with the sword. Our tactics remained the same. I'd stay back and use spells, while the Hero got in close with his sword. If anyone attacked me I would block until help arrived. and continue to cast shock when I could. Then we'd stop, repair our equipment, and heal. I was enjoying the way he healed me, even if I didn't like it being needed.

We'd come out into a tower, from which a bridge led across to the central island where the Sigil Tower stood. An archer stood on the bridge and fired as soon as we came through the door. I blocked the arrow with my shield and fired a bolt of shock back. But then I had to turn my attention to a Clannfear who'd run over the bridge toward us. I knew that Clannfear reflect damage, so I didn't use the longsword, just blocking with the shield and casting shock when he recoiled. I didn't notice that I had my back to the archer until an arrow caught me in ... a certain large muscle involved in sitting down.

I looked back, to see the archer nock another arrow. As he let fly, I stepped sideways and the arrow flew past me into the Clannfear, finishing him off. That let me hurl another bolt of shock at the archer, and end his career, too.

My partner had also been busy. A Daedroth and a Markynaz lay on the edge of the bridge. He pushed them off into the lava with his foot, and came over to me.

"That arrow's got to come out before I can heal the wound" he told me. "You know they use barbed arrows, so this is going to hurt"

He made me lie face-down on the ground, so the muscle would be relaxed. I heard him cast a spell, but I couldn't see what type of spell it was. It can't have been healing, my breasts were beneath me.

When he started to pull out the arrow, I knew what spell it was - Paralysis! I couldn't scream, even though I wanted to. But it must have made removing the arrow easier, as the pain soon ended. I felt the healing spell flowing through me again, and I hadn't even noticed where he put his hands this time.

A few seconds later, the paralysis went away and I could stand up. I saw the huge door to the Sigil Tower ahead and I knew that's where we were going next. I didn't know what to expect inside, but I knew that whatever was in there kept the Gate open.

That's when I started to get worried. I wanted Kothet to be trapped here, but I wanted to escape. I knew that the mortals that closed Gates were transported back to Tamriel when the Gate closed. Kothet had mentioned that when he told me about the Gate at Kvatch.

But would I go with him? I had to take the risk. And by that point, I'd have followed my hero anywhere.

The forces guarding the interior of the Tower were much the same as outside. The good news was there weren't any archers, the bad news was more of everything else. By the time we reached the Sigil Chamber, I'd needed a lot of healing, and my hero had had to replenish his magicka from the wells several times to do that.

I'd had the opportunity to take a suit of armor from one of the dead, but it was too uncomfortable, and hampered my spell-casting too much. I just can't do anything properly if I'm covered up. I think I was also concerned it might hold me back in Dagon's realm if I wore it.

We climbed up the ramp to the platform at the top of the Tower. I saw the Sigil Stone balanced on top of the pillar of fire. That was apparently the key to closing the Gate.

"You take it" he said. "The stone always leaves with me when a Gate closes, and it should take you with it"

"But what if that's how you get out?" I asked. "I wouldn't want you left behind."

"I don't belong here," he reassured me. "And you don't either. So take the Stone and let's go back to Tamriel" I noticed that he put his arm around me, just in case. At least I think that's why he did it.

As soon as we re-appeared outside Bravil I gave him the Stone. I didn't want anything to do with Dagon or his realm any more.

However, I knew nothing about the world I'd chosen. Was there a need for someone like me in Tamriel? What would I do here? How would I survive? Who did I belong to?

He answered the last question first. I had my own Name now, so I didn't have to belong to anybody else. Not even him, even though I knew he deserved it more than Kothet ever had.

And he also knew just what I should do in Tamriel. What I did best, of course. And Tsarrina would help me learn the customs of this land, and how to make the most of my skills.

She never did get me to wear clothes, though. I still don't understand why anyone thinks they're a good idea. They tickle and chafe, which makes me too aware of my own body, and then I can't concentrate on my customers.

And it's not like I have anything special to hide. Every Dremora woman has a body just like this one. If you can't see our faces, you can't tell us apart. And you can only tell me from a Mazken or an Aureal by color. We're all the same size and shape. Well, maybe my skin's warmer, too, but that's all.