Author's Note: If you haven't read Yssha's Tale I: Dovahkiin, you might want to read that one first, since this is a direct continuation of it. The only reason it's a separate volume is that the first was becoming unwieldy.

Oh, and an oops ... I somehow missed a change of Jarls in Winterhold when the Imperials took it over. My bad; I am fixing it now and in future chapters.

Chapter 1 - Resurrections

For the next couple of months, Yssha's main task was reviving dragons killed outside Skyrim. She was surprised at how many there were. Somehow, she'd gotten the impression that dragons were rare outside the icy, mostly-mountainous province, but that proved not to be the case. As she worked, she discovered they seemed to have a fairly consistent distribution, depending on the terrain.

In high mountain country, they were more numerous; in lower or wet country, they were fewer to none. She found a couple of additional blue ones, but never another red; Odahviing seemed to be the only one with that color. For some reason, that pleased her. He was her first vahriin, and it seemed appropriate for him to be easily identifiable.

In the brief times between carrying out resurrections, she was able to get into a few Dwemer ruins and restore their populations of Falmer to their new identity as Odmer. She much preferred both to killing, though she still had no hesitation in the few cases when that became necessary.

Much to her relief, she was no longer asked to take part in large-scale battles, since the Skyguard and Legion were far more qualified for those. She had observed a couple of them, though, and it was good to see how well the two forces fought together.

And Nevan's suggestions about indoor plumbing and sanitary systems had been adopted with glee in the time since his accidental summoning. She smiled the day she received an invitation to King Balgruuf's ceremonial opening of Whiterun's magic-powered sewer treatment plant.

She grinned at him when she showed him the invitation. "And Danica says she is having to treat far fewer illnesses at the Temple."

Nevan shrugged, but grinned. "Sure. Sanitation and health go together. It'll smell better, too, with all the black water going through treatment."

Yssha grimaced. "That will be wonderful, at least for those of us with sensitive noses."

The sewage plant opening, another couple of weeks later, was impressive. Balgruuf was in his best robes, wearing the Jagged Crown, his courtiers and guests in their best as well, Thanes wearing coronets and furs. Yssha was in her Radiant Raiment gown, wearing the Stormcrown, and dragons circled overhead while Balgruuf made his speech, had Nevan officially open the plant, and then led his invited guests up toDragonsreach.

Yssha was delighted for Nevan, who was rightfully proud of what he'd brought to Skyrim. She watched him circulate, accepting congratulations modestly, giving much of the credit to Farengar and the College mages for the actual work.

She was chatting with Grams when she gasped as she felt a blade enter her back and find her heart.

Grams was startled to see Yssha collapse with a dagger in her back, but not startled enough to keep her from casting a paralysis spell on the Altmer assassin. She knelt beside the body as guards hurried up to check on the commotion. She indicated the paralyzed Altmer. "Keep him alive for questioning."

The guards bound the assassin and took him away. Then, even though Grams had seen more than enough dead bodies to know it was useless, she checked Yssha for pulse and breathing, then removed the bloody dagger and checked it over. "Divines, they weren't taking any chances, were they?" she muttered.

"What do you mean?" Balgruuf had come up while she was distracted. "Is she - ?"

"Dead? Yes." Grams stood, showing him the dagger. "Enchanted and poisoned both, in case the wound itself wasn't enough."

Marcurio pushed his way through the crowd, followed by Nevan and Serana. He stooped, picking up his wife's body. "Well, now we know. Too bad this had to happen in public, but I guess it would've gotten out eventually. I'll get her to our apartment and clean her up."

"And I'll go to Lakeview, get her some clean smalls and everyone's armor," Grams said.

Balgruuf stared at the two of them in shock and confusion. "But she should go to the Hall of the Dead!"

Grams shook her head. "That might make it more difficult for her, especially if the priest tries embalming." She grinned at the look of bewilderment on the High King's face, then took pity on him. "On my honor as the Divine Crusader, I assure you she'll be back. Akatosh asked a great sacrifice of her, and she took it on."

"And what is that great sacrifice?"

"She gave up eternity in Aetherius to keep another Alduin from possibly arising. Shortly after she recovered from that illness, He gave her a choice of divinity, or immortality to keep leading dov."

"That doesn't sound like much of a sacrifice to me," someone behind her said.

Marcurio snarled, looking past Grams to the speaker. "How would you like to outlive all your loved ones knowing you'll never join them in the afterlife?"

The reply was almost inaudible. "I ... I wouldn't."

Yssha knew she was in Aetherius, but this certainly wasn't Sovngarde, or any of the other realms she'd heard described. This was almost like an idealized Forgotten Vale, and there was a familiar-looking house at the end of a graveled path.

She met no one on her way, though she did see a dragon soaring in the distance. Yes, the house was a perfected Lakeview Manor, and someone was standing in the doorway. It was Talos, she realized when she got close enough to recognize him.

"Welcome, briinah," he said, smiling. "Are you aware you're dead?"

"Since I felt a blade enter my heart, I supposed so," Yssha replied drily. "But what am I doing here? I thought Aetherius denied me forever when I chose immortality."

He chuckled. "Permanent residence, yes, but you have to go somewhere while your body regenerates enough to hold your soul again, so you get occasional visits. This is Stormhaven, since it's a better fit for you than Sovngarde. Though you can go there whenever you want to, of course."

"It is equally beautiful, but seems empty." She indicated the landscape. "Except for one dragon I saw, far away."

"That's because it's new, briinah. You chose immortality over divinity, but that doesn't mean you won't be worshipped." He grimaced. "It's human nature, you know, especially once you return alive to Mundus. So Bormahu provided a place for them, and I took the liberty of adding a copy of your home for while you're here."

"For which I thank you, zeymah."

"My pleasure." He smiled. "I think your friend is coming."

He was right; seconds later, an Elder dragon landed in her clearing. "Drem yol lok, thuri. zu'u Ahhunkein. When your laas returns, I ask vokriivon. Dovgrahaak knows where my body lies."

"It will be done, vahriini. With pleasure." Yes, she would resurrect him ... un-dead-ing seemed an awkward construction in Common, but graceful in Dovahzul.

"My thanks, thuri. I return to your glorious skies. Lok, Thu'um." He took off.

"By the way, good luck on the symbol your worshippers choose." Talos winced. "Mine chose a really odd mix of sword and double-bitted axe. I never used an axe, unless it was the only thing I could find when I lost my sword."

Yssha felt a tugging. "Thank you, but it seems I must go." And Stormhaven vanished, replaced by her familiar Dragonsreach apartment. She sighed, sitting up in her bed. "Marcurio? Someone?"

It was Marcurio who answered her call, kissing her. "Welcome back, love. You've been out ... a day and a half. You were killed about midday Fredas, and this is Sundas morning."

"So long? It felt like far less, only an hour or so."

"Plenty of time to clean you off and have Grams bring us all our armor and weapons. We've been taking turns waiting for you to wake up."

Yssha felt normal, so she got up. Marcurio pointed to what had been a large closet. "Bathroom's over there. Clean smalls in the wall cabinet."

"I am glad." Yssha found and used everything she needed for her morning clean-up routine, then returned to the bedroom. "Now - since the closet is now a bathroom, where are our clothes?"

He indicated a new wardrobe. "In there, for regular; armor's on stands in the living room and hall. Regular's safe now."

Yssha selected something she could wear under armor in case she needed to, instead of a gown. As she dressed, she asked, "Were you able to find out who, ah, killed me?"

"Easily. A Thalmor, as you probably guessed. He didn't even try to resist interrogation. He was proud of what he'd done." Marcurio grinned at his wife. "Grams borrowed your Amulet of Articulation to question everyone in Dragonsreach. He had two backups among the guests, a Bosmer and a Khajiit, but everyone else is clear."

"And those three?"

"Are heads on pikes over the city gates," Marcurio said with considerable satisfaction. "King Balgruuf took care of it as soon as Grams was satisfied she'd gotten everything possible from them. He gave one each to Nevan, Serana, and me." He chuckled. "I beheaded the Altmer, Nevan made the Khajiit fight him, and Serana ... let's just say it's the first time I've seen a vampire cheered for feeding."

Yssha laughed. "I wish I could have seen that. Did she go Vampire Lord?"

"No; she thought that would be a little more than the people would tolerate, even from a family member avenging you."

"She was probably wise," Yssha admitted. The Vampire Lord form was impressive, but revolting at the same time. "Where are the rest?"

"At breakfast. Shall we join them?"

Yssha's stomach replied for her, growling at the thought of food, and she followed him downstairs.

Balgruuf called her to sit beside him, and Proventus rose hastily, moving to another chair, taking his plate and goblet. Yssha took his place, and as soon as she was served, Balgruuf spoke. "It's good to see you up and around, Ysmir. Despite the Divine Crusader's assurances, it was hard to believe you'd actually live again."

"It is ... strange," Yssha said. It wasn't the first time she'd had a blade through her heart - that had been Mercer Frey's sword - but her recovery from that had had a perfectly normal explanation. This time didn't. "I can almost regret the assassins did not live to see this and report to their superiors that it is now impossible to kill me permanently."

"They'll find out soon enough. Everyone will - there were so many witnesses that word of your death spread widely almost immediately. Word of your return will spread almost as fast. In your place, I'd report it to the Emperor myself."

"Wise as always, my King," Yssha said with a smile. "I shall do so. I am glad you are still willing to give me your advice."

Balgruuf chuckled. "Any time you wish it, Ysmir."

"I have a feeling that will be often," she said. "You and Greats-Grandmother both. Let me see. That, and restore Ahhunkein, and ask Jarl Kraldar to accept Odmer into Winterhold ... killing Miraak and dying myself does not seem to have simplified my life at all."

Balgruuf patted her hand in an awkward attempt at comfort. "You haven't the temperament to become a Greybeard, so I'm afraid you finished the 'simple' part of your life when you began your adventuring year."

"I fear you are correct again, my King. But I have the consolation of being able to help people, sometimes in ways others cannot. I shall take comfort in that."

"If I may give one more bit of advice, wear your armor any time you're not in Skyrim. You're probably safe enough around Nords, as one of our legends and a daughter of Akatosh, but I wouldn't bet on anyone else not being subverted."

Yssha gave him a seated bow. "Yes, my King. I shall visit His Majesty as soon as I finish breakfast." Her stomach growled again. "It seems even a dead body regenerating demands food when it is finished. I am starving."

Balgruuf chuckled. "I shouldn't have interrupted, then. Eat, my young friend."