» Tue May 17, 2011 12:06 am
Chapter 32: Meet The Dragon
"Arise my child, let me look at you." Uriel Septim said, his voice was kind and gentle, yet sounded old and tired as well.
I stayed on my knees, too nervous to do otherwise. The Emperor cupped my chin in his hand and raised my face up so he could see it.
His face was pale, as if looking at a ghost when he saw me. Had I forgotten to wash? No, I was sure I had.
"Sire, I am not fit to be in your presence. I have only come that I may pray you intercede on behalf of two which are more worthy than I. I beg your forgiveness for this disturbance, Sire. I crave your indulgence, as this matter is most urgent." I paused for breath.
He released my chin. "You may proceed."
I continued, still looking into his eyes, that he may see the honesty of my words.
"I am here on behalf of my friends, which were in prison for my murder. As you can see Sire, I am not dead. I have come to you on their behalf, hoping you will find it in your heart to use your power to give them pardon for a crime which they did not commit." I hesitated...
Should I tell all? Yes, I guess I should.
"I have removed them from the Prison myself, and hold them in safety while I beg your indulgence in this matter - Sire, they did not wish to escape and fought me every step of the way. That is the truth Sire. I forced them to come away with me. I will gladly take any punishment on myself for their leaving the prison. I hope you will not hold it against them that they went against their own wishes, and at my insistence."
"Child, I had already written their pardons before you helped them away. I will make sure that no penalty is incurred for their leaving without the benefit of the paperwork required. You see I know of whom you speak, and I ordered their releases because I knew you yet lived."
"You knew I lived Sire? How? How is it then that my friends were placed in confinement if you knew me to be alive?"
"Your friends' predicament was only brought to my attention after their arrest. I immediately signed their pardons the day the news was revealed to me. Sit down child."
Uriel Septim signaled the Altmer in red to come. The man scurried up to him obsequiously.
"Leave us Ocato."
I gasped. That hateful man was High Chancellor Ocato? Well, if I ever found a likeness of that man there would be much more than a moustache and beard drawn on!
I stood up carefully that my head not rise above the Emperor's, but as it turned out, my worries were groundless. He was well taller than me.
I studied Uriel Septim as he lowered himself into one of the high backed chairs. He looked so tired, as if the weight of the world pressed on him. His voice was kind, and with a softness that matched his eyes, but not his build, which appeared powerful, belying his age.
His hair was more silver than gray, one wisp refusing to lay with the rest marred the perfection of his face by falling down the middle of his forehead. How beautiful a man he was, and yet again this lacked perfection by an obvious inner turmoil that reflected in the tension of his visage.
The aroma he gave off was just a pleasant scent, that of a clean man without the use of perfumed bathwaters. The robe he wore was plain of adornments, unlike Fathis's, and yet his very presence spoke of his position.
There was not a hint of hauteur, nor did he carry himself overtly with pride - yet an innate pride could be detected that went beyond a superficial attitude. His bearing was that of someone who held the responsibility of many, yet was facing his own mortality.
I wondered if his age created the illusion of mortality, but on looking into his eyes I knew this was not the reason. His eyes held exhaustion, wisdom, duty, and a mortal fear.
Fear? Why? I looked deeper into his eyes. Yes, the man was in fear for his life. From what, me? Did he think I meant him harm?
"Sire, I would throw myself on my own sword before I would see harm come to you, there is no cause to fear me. Sire." I tried to reassure him, but the dread did not leave his eyes.
"I know my doom child, and you are not it. The Dragon blood that runs through the veins of every Septim gives us the power to see things other men cannot. The stars guide our paths, and the wisdom of the Gods is given us. I have seen your face in my dreams."
"My face?Sire?"
"In your face I behold the sun's companion, the dawn of Akatosh's bright glory. You may be the one to banish the coming darkness. With such hope, and with the promise of your aid, my heart must be satisfied. Do I have your promise?"
"I do not understand Sire."
"I have seen your life in my dreams child, the good and the bad; I have seen your past, and I have seen your future."
"M-me Sire? Are you sure it was me?"
A quick run down of all my ill deeds filled my mind and my face flushed deeper as they added up. My last thoughts were of Rufio and the Dark Brotherhood. I hung my head, and tears began burning the edges of my eyes, threatening to spill over.
"I won't explain it all now, for this is not the time or place. We will meet again, child. Until that time I want you to remember my words and heed them. There is a larger purpose for your life than the idleness that has taken you down the wrong paths. The pains you have suffered were great, but you must not let them steer your future. One day a task will be given you that is greater than everything you find important in your life at this time. You must prepare yourself. You must not continue down the paths you have been following into the darkness, for one day Cyrodiil will need you."
My mouth was gaped, I tried to close it but couldn't. Was this man like Alix? Had he ferreted out all my secrets? How could he know these things about me?
Well, then again; this could be just a line he told all teenagers to keep them from crime. I mean how could Cyrodiil ever need me? They never even wanted me except when I was winning in the Arena. A tear rolled down my cheek, followed by another.
"Sire, I, you are right Sire. I have done some terrible things. If you wish to see me locked up I will gladly submit since you were so good to save my friends. I have no further use for my freedom Sire."
"You cannot see what is in the stars for you, as I have. You will continue following your own heart until your true purpose is made clear."
I was tempted to ask if he saw Fathis as my husband in my future, but held my tongue.
"Your family has prayed to Akatosh, and he has heard their prayers. Akatosh has seen the path your life has crossed, and where you have yet to walk. Your future is no longer in your hands, but in the hands of the Gods. You will be asked to perform a service that will effect all of Cyrodiil one day soon."
So, Alix and S'Jirra are behind this? They prayed to the Gods, and the Gods spied on me and told the Emperor all? It is not bad enough my parents find my every move when I am home, but now they must call on the Gods to spy when I am from their sight? I felt an anger mixing with the shame I was feeling.
What life is this then, where a person does not have the privacy of their own secrets? And now the Gods were going to put me to work? Doing what, fixing the roads of Cyrodiil? Oh, why must Alix and S'Jirra intervene on my behalf with the Gods? Well they were going to get an earful from me when I next came home!
"We will meet again child, and when we do you must be ready. Remember my words as you go, for the time is almost upon you."
The interview with the Emperor had begun to feel like standing in Arch Mage Traven's quarters while he lectured me for my ill deeds. Well, except the Emperor did not berate me. Instead his eyes held mine as he spoke, and I could read the censure within. This was not how I had envisioned our meeting would go.
"Sire, my winnings from the Grand Championship match are being held as evidence. Can you see they are given to Owyn and that guard as my compensation to them that their lives suffered in my name?"
Uriel Septim continued to look deeply into my eyes, as if searching for an answer. Then motioned, and the guard at the door stepped out and brought in Chancellor Ocato.
"Bring me the pardons for Owyn and the guard and their compensation awards. Also, bring the Grand Champion her winnings." When the door closed behind the man, Uriel Septim began to speak again.
"This task would normally only be given to an Imperial guard, but as your friends may not welcome the sight of a guard till they know their pardons have been secured I trust you will make sure they are compensated and brought safely back to the Imperial City."
"You have my word Sire. I would give them all I possess for what they have suffered on my behalf."
I didn't know if I should hold up my right hand, or offer to spit on my hand and shake his, so I waited to see what he would do. If he spat in his hand I would stick my hand out. He didn't.
"Child," Uriel began; he appeared to be searching for words.
"Yes Sire?"
"You must realize that your destiny is out of your hands by now, have you not felt this already?"
I nodded, tears streaming down my face.
The Gods have chosen you. It is not up to us to question the motives or wisdom of the Gods. If they have selected you then there is a reason for it."
"Do you mean as a punishment for the murders I committed Sire? Because only one of them was from anger, the other was through ignorance; and I have well stood already the punishment for that one in my own heart, Sire."
"No child. Your destiny was mapped out for you before you were born, just as mine was."
"But I thought you said Alix and S'Jirra caused this with their prayers? Sire, I lack the wisdom of even an Orc; but have courage in abundance. I lack any skills other than those needed for fighting. The Gods may find me useless for the task they have in mind. Is there not another way I can be punished for my ill deeds?"
"This is not a punishment, but an honor detail. Do you understand what I have said?"
He was talking the language of a warrior. Yes, I understood that. I would have to consider it an honor that I was chosen for the task, whatever it would be. I hoped it would not have to do with roadwork in Cyrodiil.
"Then I give you my word Sire. I will act when commanded, and hope I perform my duties in a manner that befits the honor given me in being chosen. You have my promise."
"Good child. I hope you will remember my words and prepare. We have little time before this will befall us."
"Sire, since I have given my vow, can the Gods stop watching me now? I will be available when they are ready, but until then?it feels uncomfortable knowing all I do will be reported to you. Sire."
He put his hands on either side of my face, holding it just firmly enough that I could not turn away. Looking into my eyes his expression was not of anger or impatience with me, but of a seriousness that came from his very soul.
"Maxical. Do not tarry. Prepare. There is no more time for you to follow the errors of your past. You must not take this lightly. If you would be ashamed of me knowing of an action, than I suggest you do not commit the action."
I cried then. No one in my life had ever given me cause to think of an action before doing it. I felt for all the world like an errant child. This went beyond the Chapel sermon which seems to pinpoint you in the midst of many. All the spankings I had out-run S'Jirra to avoid - I would take them all before the punishment of knowing my Emperor was so sorely disappointed in me.
I wept hard, yet he did not seek to comfort me. Instead he spoke. For once in my life I shut up and listened.
"For 64 years I've ruled as Tamriel's Emperor. But for all these years I've never been the ruler of my own dreams. Things will be shown me. I cannot stop this any more than you can." His voice reflected how hard it had been to be forced to see the paths I had followed.
He was a good man, and due to me had to endure the visions of my murders, my evil paths. I have never felt more ashamed in my life.
I hung my head. "Sire, I won't make a promise I may not keep, but I will try, this I vow." My voice reflected the shame I felt.
"Thank you Sire. And thank you more than anything for your assistance to my friends. I vow to you that they will receive the awards you so generously bestowed on them."
Chancellor Ocato returned with the sacks of Septims for Owyn and the guard, and my winnings, plus two fancy scrolls. He handed the scrolls to the Emperor who opened each and scribbled the pardon for the escape from Prison onto the bottom of each and then used his seal of hot wax next to the addition at the bottom.
My winnings were handed to me while the Emperor rolled up the scrolls that held their pardons and placed them in a small leather case along with their awards. He handed me the leather case and showed me how to strap it on under my cuirass so it could not be detected by bandits should I be attacked.
"You are now an envoy of the Emperor for this task. Do not take your duty lightly, but proceed with all haste to deliver." He said. His eyes searched mine.
"Sire, I am sorry from the bottom of my heart."
He placed his hand gently on my shoulder, but did not speak. Then he left, looking pale and tired, as if a new burden had been added to his shoulders by our interview.
