The Dwemer agreed to shelter them, but at a high cost: the Snow Elves were forced to eat a toxic fungus, which rendered them completely blind. This was an extremely unsavory choice in the eyes of many of the Snow Elves, but those who sought alternatives to the deal were either killed (by the Dwemer or others), relented, or simply vanished. In time, the now-blinded Falmer became slaves to their Dwemer protectors.