Disclaimer: I own nothing, with the possible exception of my idea

Sunrise at Bruma

I keep running, finally reaching the top of the tower. I burst through the door, my blade unsheathed, cutting down dremora after dremora. I stop, gasping for breath, and look around before reaching out and taking the sigil stone, the final thing needed for Martin to open the portal to Paradise. I feel the flames erupt around me and send up a silent prayer to the divines that I'm not too late.

I open my eyes to the twilight heavens above Bruma and look around the battlefield, my heart racing. I feel the rush of success as I see the siege engine ploughed into the snow. Almost done. Only one thing remaining. Got the last key, just need to open the door.

I get to my feet and start scouting around for Martin. Out of the corner of my eye I see the familiar blue of the Chorrol guard. Well, at least some survived. The battlefield seems almost devoid of life. So many dead. At least they know their deaths aren't in vain. I falter when I stumble across Jauffre's corpse, his once sharp eyes misted over. I didn't think there was anything tough enough to finally take him down. After I left it must have gotten real bad real fast.

I stumble on, starting to become desperate now. I limp from corpse to corpse, my desperation sapping away at my earlier confidence. When I find him, I fall to my knees in shock, unable to tear my eyes from his motionless face. How could this happen? After everything that's been done? When we're so close, only to have victory snatched away?

I jerk myself away from Martin's lifeless visage, shocked and distraught, with the same thought running through my mind over and over. We've lost. In spite of everything, we've lost. The Gods truly have forsaken us.

I lie sprawled on the ground, the sunrise filling my vision. I can't help myself; I feel the laughter swelling up inside me. Cries of humourless mirth burst forth, filling the air as the rays of golden light illuminate the battlefield.

Dawn is breaking. Greet the new day.

Author's note: Just a sudden thought that struck me. How do you know Martin will survive after you pass through the gate?