DISCLAIMER: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remains the property of Bethesda Game Studios.

Story (c) Me.

Author's Note: I had a random urge the other night to do a piece on Oblivion. I failed to come up with something completely original, so I settled for an in-between. I know there are other Oblivion FFs on this site, and there may be some similarities, as the game only has one plot, but oh well. This story is mine. Either read it or don't. This is my take on the Main Quest and sub quests, told from the point of view of my character as events unfold in-game.

CHAPTER I

IMPRISONED

When I awoke, curled up in a tight ball against the cold brick wall of my cell, I had no idea where I was. I opened my eyes hesitantly, peeking between narrowed slits. I was lying on my side with my head cradled in the crook of my arm in such a way that the first thing I saw upon waking was the shaft of sunlight that snaked in through the bars of the miniscule window high above. I put my hand up before my face, shielding my eyes from the blazing light, and flipped onto my back, looking around.

The dingy prison cell was empty except for a small wooden stool that was seated before a matching table. The table held a ceramic water pitcher and cup. Both were empty, I discovered upon checking. Chains with iron wristbands were bolted against the wall and ceiling and hung down menacingly, clinking against one another. There was a small alcove to my right, perhaps big enough for a person to fit in. The only other furnishing the room had was a torch cast in an iron bracket that gave the cell an eerie glow.

I took my first steps towards the cell door, grasping the rusted metal bars with my blue-skinned fingers. Blue. I was a dark elf. Well, that was something, I thought.

There was a narrow expanse of hall separating my cell from the one opposite mine. A staircase off to the side rose to some unknown place.

Taking a closer look in the cell across from me, I noticed that it, too, was occupied by a dark elf. He was very old and wrinkled, and sneered in my general direction when he noticed me looking at him.

"Hey there!" He hissed at me. "You! Kinsman! I haven't seen another Dunmer in here in I don't know how long. Where you from, huh? Vvardenfell?"

I was a bit taken aback by his abruptness. "I-I don't know where or who I am," I replied.

He continued as if he had not heard me. "You got a wife back home? Tell you what, I'm getting out of here in a couple of weeks. When I get back to Morrowind, I'll look her up."

The man was clearly deranged, and quickly grating on my nerves. "She must be so lonely. Don't you worry, eh? I'll take care of her long after you're dead. Oh, that's right. You're going to die in here!"

I was about ready to break out of my cage and strangle the bastard. My temper exploded. "What the bloody hell is your problem, man? You're really starting to piss me off." At this, my fingertips glowed orange briefly, sparkling with fire. So, I was skilled in the use of arcane magic. That was interesting.

The old man across the room took no notice of me or my flaming hands. He ranted on. "Hey, you hear that? The guards are coming…for you!" He trailed off, cackling madly.

Before I had the chance to respond, I heard a door open somewhere overhead, and then several pairs of footsteps descending the stairs. They sounded rushed, and I was able to make out snatches of conversation.

The first voice to speak was a woman with a tone of authority. "Baurus! Lock that door behind us!"

"Yes, ma'am," I heard dimly in response.

A third voice spoke, timid with sadness. "My sons…they're dead, aren't they?"

The commanding woman answered him. "We don't know that, Sire. The messenger only said they were attacked."

"No, they're dead. I know it." The 'Sire' stated miserably.

"My job right now is to get you to safety," the woman said simply.

The group had reached my cell. There were three covered head to foot in chain mail armour, all carrying weapons. The fourth was an old man with grizzled white hair who looked to be from the Imperial City. He wore the royal robes of the bloodline. Lines etched his face and crinkled the corners of his grey eyes.

The woman spoke again. "What's this prisoner doing here? This cell is supposed to be off-limits."

The third guard spoke for the first time. He sounded like he was the dolt of the three. "Usual mix-up with the Watch, I…"

He trailed off, unable to come up with a suitable excuse. I felt a small smile curve up at the end of my lips, but I held my tongue. They were heavily armed, after all.

"Never mind," the woman said absently. "Get that gate open. Stand back, prisoner. We won't hesitate to kill you if you get in our way."

I couldn't believe it. They were coming into my cell, for whatever reason. Maybe this was my chance to get out and find out what the hell was going on.

The genius of the group decided to throw orders at me. "You! Prisoner! Stand aside. Over by the window. Stay out of the way and you won't get hurt."

If it had been any other time, I would have reached through the bars, grabbed him by the back of his head, and smashed his face into the cool steel, but I desperately wanted out of this cell. I complied without a word, seating myself on the stool against the wall. The guards and the old man they were escorting entered the room, eyeing me warily.

It took me a moment to realize that the old Imperial was not looking at me with fear, but with genuine curiosity. He stepped closer to me, gazing into my eyes. "You…I've seen you…" He whispered. I didn't know what to say to this. "Let me see your face. You are the one from my dreams…Then the stars were right, and this is the day. Gods give me strength."

I shifted my eyes around nervously before asking, "What's going on?"

The man looked as if he couldn't believe I didn't know, but his tone was sombre enough. "Assassins attacked my sons, and I'm next. My Blades are leading me out of the city along a secret escape route. By chance, the entrance to that escape route leads through your cell."

The Blades. They had protected the Emperor of Tamriel for generations. Looking closer, I noticed that the old man was wearing the Amulet of Kings. This was starting to make me a little uncomfortable.

"Who are you?" I inquired, dreading the answer.

"I am your emperor, Uriel Septim. By the grace of the Gods, I serve Tamriel as her ruler." I had been expecting him to say as much, but this didn't stop me from being floored completely. He went on. "You are a citizen of Tamriel, and you, too, shall serve her in your own way."

I decided to ask the question that had been at the back of my mind for the longest time. "Why am I in jail?"

The Emperor shrugged nonchalantly. "Perhaps the Gods have placed you here so that we may meet." I didn't think that was likely. "As for what you have done, it does not matter. That is not what you will be remembered for."

Now he had lost me completely. He was trying to make it sound as if I was some messiah, destined for greatness. I shook my head in rejection. "I go my own way," I said.

The Emperor smiled sadly. "So do us all. But what path can be avoided whose end is fixed by the almighty Gods?"

The woman broke in before I could respond. "Please, Sire, we must keep moving." As if that were a cue, the inner wall of the alcove melted away and a subterranean tunnel was revealed, extending far into the darkness. She entered the tunnel without hesitation, saying, "Better not close this one. There's no way to open it from the other side." The Emperor and the third guard followed her, but the one called Baurus remained behind. He glanced at me with eyes that glinted furiously in the sunlight.

"Looks like this is your lucky day," he spat. "Just stay out of our way." Then he, too, disappeared inside the tunnel.

It didn't take me long before I had made my decision. I hurried after.

Author's Note: Please leave me your feedback, and be honest. I really would like to continue this, if it is worth doing so.

If you are enjoying this story, please be sure to check out Frozen Shadows of Azeroth, my World of Warcraft FF.