Chapter Text
How long have I been here? Just hours, or maybe days, ago I had been running the forest bordering Cyrodiil and Valenwood, enjoying the feel of the earth under my feet and the sun on my back when I was ambushed by imperial soldiers. I had been able to take down three before one lucky soldier pierced my leather armor blow the ribs. Fortunately for me it was a shallow wound, but in the moment I was impaired the men were able to take me down.
Somewhere far off I could hear the steady drip of water, the shuffle of heavy metal boots upon the floor, and the sound of labored breathing. A cold chill settled over me, snapping my sapphire eyes open quickly. A window? Where am I? I sat up slowly stretching and feeling for anything amiss. I was in a prison cell. Shackles hung from the wall to my left. A old table and chair and a moldy bed roll where the only objects in the room. I glanced through the cell door. A dark elf stood clutching his cell door. When he noticed me studying him that’s when he spoke. “Well now, a pretty little Wood Elf. You're a little far from the forest, huh? Looks like your days of woodland frolicking have come to a tragic end. To go from the glided realm of Valenwood to a rat-infested hole like this... how very sad. Those walls must feel like they're closing in on you. Pretty soon you'll go mad, and the guards will cut your throat just to stop the ranting. That's right. You're going to die in here, Wood Elf! Die!” His voice was smooth and confidant sending a chill down my spine. Suddenly a door slammed closed in the distance, voices started filling the halls. The prisoner a crossed the hall from me look straight at me. A wicked grin blooming across is gray face. “Hey, you hear that! The guards are coming... for you!” His crazy laugh was the last thing I heard from him before he faded into the darkness of his cell.
“My sons...they’re dead, aren’t they?” The old voice, so full of grief and sorrow my heart tightened.
“We don’t know that, Sire.” Sire? Someone important is coming. “The messenger only said they were attacked.” The women insisted, her voice was gentle yet there is a trace of authority. A friend of his? A bodyguard?
“No. They are dead...I know it.”
“My job right now is to get you to safety.” So she was his guard. What is she trying to keep him safe from though? Who is he? I quickly backed away from the cell door when a tall imperial man stepped in front of it. He wasn’t an imperial soldier, his armor was more form fitting and decorative and he used a katana instead of a short sword. To his right came a smaller women in the same armor. “ What’s this prisoner doing in here?! This cell is suppose to be off-limits.” Oops. She was definitely a guard of a high ranking official. The older man came into view. He had beautiful long robes on of the finest fabrics. A giant diamond shaped bloodstone resting from his neck. His long white hair rested easy on his shoulders, while his striking blue eyes filled with grief rested on me.
“Usual mix up with the watch...I…” The tall man stammered out.
“Never mind get that gate open.” Wow, what? “Stand back, prisoner. We won’t hesitate to kill you if you get in our way.” I quickly started backing away since I didn’t see any other choice in the matter.
“You! Prisoner! Stand aside! Over by the window. Stay out of the way, and you won’t get hurt.” Looks like tall guy grew a pair in the last two seconds. I leaned against the back wall, focused completely on the tall man walking into the jail cell. The others were talking amongst themselves. He wanted me dead, I could see it in his dark eyes. The captain walked straight back to the wall beside me, reaching out to the wall when suddenly the old man spoke up.
“Pale skin, elven blood, deep blue eyes, and hair as deep and dark as shadow. I know you. I’ve seen you.” He approached me quickly, his eyes searching my face. “Let me see your face…. You are the one from my dreams...Then the stars are right, and today is the day. Gods give me strength!” I stared at him for a moment. Before I asked the first and only question my mind could form.
“What is going on?!” My voice lowered to a whisper. I almost didn’t want to know his answer.
“Assassins attacked my sons, and I am next. My Blades are leading me out of the city along a secret escape route. By chance, that route leads directly through your cell.” Lucky me!
“Why am I in prison?”
“ Perhaps the Gods have placed you here so that we may meet.” I was not buying that. If the “Gods” truly put me here just to meet this old man then they must be pretty messed up. “As for what you have done...it does not matter. That is not what you will be remembered for.” Wait. How does he know who I am? Who is this man?
“Who are you?”
“I am your emperor, Uriel Septim.” Shit. “By the grace of the Gods, I serve Tamriel as her ruler. You are a citizen of Tamriel, and you, too, shall serve her in your own way.”
“I go my own way.” That had to be said. I won’t and never have followed anyone. Be them man or god.
“So do we all, But what path can be avoided whose end is fixed by the almighty Gods?”
“Please, Sire, we must keep moving.” The Captain stated, pushing a piece of brick back into the wall. Suddenly the moldy bedroll lowered towards the ground. Stone grinding on stone could be vibrated through the room. Part of the wall came sliding down, disappearing into the floor. “Better not close this one. There’s no way to open it from the other side. As the emperor and captain walked through the now opened entrance, the youngest of the group spoke up. “Looks like this is your lucky day. Just stay out of our way.”
If this is my lucky day, why am I feeling like I just made a big mistake?