Disclaimer: I do not own Martin or Jauffre, or any of the other characters you recognize in this FanFic; they are owned / created by the creators of the game The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. I also do not own the song "You Can Still Be Free"; it was written and beautifully performed by Savage Garden; I simply borrowed them for my story.

Freedom in Memories

Cool breeze and autumn leaves
Slow motion daylight
A lone pair of watchful eyes
Oversee the living

Lily stared blankly at the stone dragon, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. It had been three days since the Oblivion Crisis had been averted, three days since the battle in the Imperial City; three days since Martin had sacrificed himself to save the world from Mehrunes Dagon. Lily was unsure if he was actually dead, as he had become the Avatar of Akatosh and had been petrified into a statue of The Dragon. She knew he was gone, though, whether dead or simply... not there; it was not as if the Dragon Statue could actually feel her presence.

Feel the presence all around
A tortured soul
A wound unhealing
No regrets or promises
The past is gone
But you can still be free
If time will set you free

Lily sighed softly as she rose from her position on the Temple floor; she walked slowly around the great stone legs of the Dragon, the memories of her all-too-brief time with Martin racing through her head. She left the Temple, and with her head down and her heart closed off, she walked toward her small cabin on the Waterfront. She could almost imagine where Martin was now; he was the last Emperor of Tamriel, and was likely in Aetherium with his father and brothers; she wondered if he could see her now; would he miss her as she missed him?


Time now to spread your wings
To take to flight
The life endeavour
Aim for the burning sun
You're trapped inside
But you can still be free
If time will set you free
But it's a long long way to go

As Lily lay on her bed and stared at the blank wall in her cabin, she let the memories wash over her; the day she met Martin, she had been covered in blood and ashes from her trip through Oblivion; she had just closed the Gate that had destroyed Kvatch and was trying to convince him that he was the last heir to the Emperor; he had not believed her at first. Lily closed her eyes as she remembered - the day she and Martin arrived at Weynon Priory, only to find Prior Maborel and Brother Piner slain, and Jauffre telling them the Amulet of Kings had been stolen. Their arrival at Cloud Ruler Temple, the look in Martin's eyes as it truly sunk in that he was no longer a simple priest.


Keep moving way up high
You see the light
It shines forever
Sail through the crimson skies
The purest light
The light that sets you free
If time will set you free

Lily touched her fingers to her lips, muffling a sob as a few tears escaped; she recalled the night Martin had first kissed her; she had just returned from Sancre Tor with the Armor of Tiber Septim; she was badly beaten and her left arm had been broken; she had barely escaped with her life. Martin had told her that night that he loved her.


Sail through the wind and rain tonight
You're free to fly tonight
And you can still be free
If time will set you free

With the memory of his love in her heart, she drifted to sleep. She dreamed of Martin, she could see him now on the hill; he was wearing the same blue-grey robes he'd worn that first night in Kvatch, only now they were clean and whole, no sign of the holes and ashes caused by the attacks that night. He opened his arms to her, a gentle smile on his face as he welcomed her; she was with her Love now; all was once again well with the world.


And going higher than the mountain tops
And go high like the wind, don't stop
And go high
Free to fly tonight...