Authors note: I love Oblivion, it's an amazing game. So I wanted to write a fan fiction, introducing The Tale of a Hero, our story follows a man who is twenty-five years of age, by the name of Aeragorn Cousland, unoriginal but I'm bad with names. Anyways Aeragorn has recently returned to Cyrodiil after training to be a Paladin. He is now in the Imperial Prison, why? Read on and discover.

Chapter 1: The final hours of a great man

"An Imperial in the Imperial Prison? How ironic, your own kinsmen think that you're human trash. Tell me, do the guards give you special treatment before the end? Oh that's right, you're going to die in here Imperial, you're going to DIE!" The Dunmer paused as he heard a noise, "You hear that? The guards are coming, for you! Nye-ha-ha-ha-ha…"

Aeragorn just sat there leaning against the cold stone of his cell, the sun light coming from the small window shining on his jet black long hair, he scratched his beard as he heard a voice,

"Baurus, lock that door behind us!" He heard a woman exclaim,

"My sons, their dead aren't they?" He heard an older, calm voice ask.

"We don't know that sire, the messenger only said they were attacked."

"No they're dead, I know it."

"My job right now is to get you to safety." The woman stopped at the cell Aeragorn was in, she was with an older man dressed in extravagant robes, and another Imperial man who like her was wearing Akaviri armor,

"What's this prisoner doing here? This cell is supposed to be off limits!" The woman exclaimed in an annoyed tone, she then looked toward the Imperial man,

"A usual mix up at the watch I…."

"Never mind," The woman interrupted, "Get this cell open." The woman then looked at Aeragorn, "Stand back prisoner! We won't hesitate to kill you if you if you get in our way!"

Aeragorn chuckled, he knew he could take all three of them if he had to, but he knew he would never do such a thing. He got up and walked towards the window on the other side of his cell, as he propped himself against the wall the Imperial man unlocked the door and walked toward him,

"Stay put prisoner!" The man exclaimed sternly, Aeragorn nodded, as a Redguard walked to the woman,

"No sign of pursuit sir."

"Good, let's go, we're not out of this yet." The woman sighed. The old man then looked at Aeragorn with a shocked look,

"You, I've seen you!" He then walked toward Aeragorn, "Let me see your face." Aeragorn lifted his head up, revealing his face, "You are the one from my dreams!" He paused shortly and then looked down, "Then the stars are right, and this is the day." He then looked up, "Gods give me strength!"

"I don't mean to be rude sir, but I'm not sure whether to be flattered, or disturbed." Aeragorn said with a smirk. The old man then replied,

"Assassins attacked my sons, and I am next. The Blades are leading me out of the city through a secret tunnel, that by chance, leads through your cell."

"What should I do?" Aeragorn asked, the man was about to reply but he was interrupted by the Imperial woman,

"Sire, I'd hate to rush you but we need to move on, they could be here any minute!"

"You're right." The man replied, "Come with us, you have a bigger part than you think in all of this." He said looking at Aeragorn,

"Of course, but first, who are you?"

"I am your Emperor, Uriel Septim."

"I thought so." Aeragorn then looked over at the Imperial woman who had pressed a button on the wall, revealing a secret passage.

"Come sire, we must hurry." the woman said as she went into the passage, she was followed by the Imperial man, who the Emperor walked behind. The Redguard then glared at Aeragorn,

"You'd best not get in the way Imperial. You so much as breath wrong and you're dead! Are we clear?" Aeragorn nodded, the Redguard then followed behind the Emperor, as did Aeragorn. They were walking down a small, cramped tunnel when they suddenly entered a large room, the woman stopped for a second and looked around, when all of the sudden a lightning bolt came from nowhere and struck her in the face,

"GAH!" She exclaimed as she fell over,

"Captain's down!" the Redguard yelled as he pulled out his katana. Then two men in strange armor came from nowhere and drew maces,

"Stay here sire! Baurus, you're with me!" The Imperial exclaimed as he ran to fight the attackers. Aeragorn acting quickly ran and picked up the woman's katana.

"Stay behind me sire!" He exclaimed to the Emperor, he scanned the area and saw another slip past the two Blades, the man then charged Aeragorn, but he was no challenge, as Aeragorn quickly blocked his attack, and then stabbed him in the throat. He then looked and saw that the Imperial and Baurus had killed the other two,

"All clear sire," Baurus said, sounding relieved,

"Captain Renold?" The Emperor said as he looked at the body of the woman,

"She's dead sir." Baurus said sadly, "We need to keep moving."

"Of course." Uriel replied with sadness in his voice,

"How could they be waiting for us here?" The Imperial said,

"Don't know, but it's too late to go back now." Baurus replied as he then looked at the Emperor, "Don't worry sire, we will get you out of here."

"They won't be the first to underestimate the Blades!" The Imperial man exclaimed,

"This is where we must part ways." Uriel said looking at Aeragorn.

"What? Why?" Aeragorn asked shocked,

"Do not worry, if I am right then we will meet again." The Emperor then walked away with the two Blades, as he was walking Aeragorn stood there and thought,

'But what if he's wrong?' Then he heard a noise as he turned to see the wall beside him crumble, and something leap through.

He readied himself for whatever it was, but he looked and saw two rats standing there, he chuckled at the sight, but they started hissing at him, one fireball later he was on his merry way.

Aeragorn continued through the caverns under the prison, looting various containers he had seen along the way, then he saw a strange sight, more rats, but they looked like they were running away from something, he then heard a horrifying moan as he saw a zombie come around the corner.

"Die foul horror!" Aeragorn exclaimed as he charged the undead, and with a quick slash, defeated the creature.

He hated the undead, and necromancy, even before he had become a Paladin.

He then continued on through the ruins, looting chests and slaying rats, until he came across hanging skulls.

He knew that no rats or undead could do something like this,

'Goblins!' He thought, it wasn't long before he discovered he was right, as one ambushed him, he quickly managed to kill it and proceeded.

After using the traps that goblins had set against them he found himself in a large cavern, inhabited by at least four more, he looked on the other side and saw the leader, a goblin witch holding a staff, the witch let out a blood curling scream as she fired a bolt of lighting at Aeragorn.

Acting quickly he ducked the bolt and drew his sword, and quickly disposed of the two lesser goblins.

But he saw another beside the witch, a berserker!

It charged at him like a madman, Aeragorn barely managed to dodge his attack, then he answered with one of his own, which the berserker managed to block, Aeragorn however was crafty, he had charged up a fireball in his spare hand, then proceeded to slam into the goblins stomach, dropping it to its knees, he then finished off with a final swipe before looking at the witch.

She let out a scream and began to charge a spell, but before she could Aeragorn answered with a fireball of his own.

He proceeded to look around the area, and found a full suit of rusty iron armor, an iron long sword and shield, and a few repair hammers.

He proceeded through the tunnels, and soon came to a wall with a large hole in it, he climbed through, and heard a familiar voice,

"We should find a defensible spot and protect the Emperor until help arrives." "Help? What makes you think help will get here before more of those bastards? We need to get the emperor out of here!"

Then another assassin jumped from a ledge across the room from Aeragorn's, he was quickly defeated by the two Blades.

Aeragorn then jumped down from the ledge and heard the Imperial yell,

"Damn it! It's that prisoner again! Kill him! He may be working with the assassins!" Aeragorn quickly drew his weapon, ready to defend himself, he then looked at the man and said,

"Think twice before you accuse someone of being a traitor!"

"No!" Uriel quickly exclaimed, "Do not fight, he can help us! He must help us!"

"As you wish sire." The Imperial sighed as he sheathed his blade.

The Emperor then began walking toward Aeragorn. "They cannot understand why I trust you, they have not seen what I have seen. How can I explain?" The Emperor paused and thought for a moment, "Listen, you know of the Nine? How they guide our fates with an invisible hand?"

"I have spent the last five years training to be a Paladin, I know much about the Nine." Aeragorn replied.

"I have served the Nine all my days, and I chart my course by the cycles of the heavens. The skies are marked with numberless sparks, each with a fire, and every one a sign." Uriel paused for a moment, "I know these stars well, and I wonder, which marked your birth?"

"The Warrior sire." Aeragorn replied,

"The signs I read show the end of my path. My death, a necessary end, will come when it will come." Uriel replied in an accepting tone,

"But what of me?" Aeragorn asked.

"Your stars are not mine. Today the Warrior shall protect you on the road to destiny." Uriel replied smiling.

"Can you see my fate?" Aeragorn asked,

"No, I can only see to the end of my journey, not yours." Aeragorn sighed, "But I can see in your face the sun's companion. The dawn of Akatosh's bright glory may banish the coming darkness."

"But aren't you afraid too die?"

"No, I have lived a long, good life, and my ghost will rest easy. Men are only flesh and blood, they know they will die, but not the hour. I feel blessed to see the hour of my death." Uriel replied smiling,

"Where are we going now?" Aeragorn asked,

"I go to my grave, you will follow, but after I fall then we must part ways." Aeragorn then nodded as the Emperor walked away.

Baurus then walked up to Aeragorn and pulled out a torch, "If you're coming with us you might as well make yourself useful, carry this and stick close." He said as he handed Aeragorn the torch.

Aeragorn and the others continued through the ruins, fighting assassins along the way, until they came to a rather large room.

"Hold up! I don't like this, let me take a look." the Imperial man, who Aeragorn had discovered name was Glenroy said walking down the stairs into the middle of the room.

He then looked around before motioning the others to come down,

"Come on, we're almost through to the sewers." He said walking towards a gate, he reached to open it, but it wouldn't budge,

"Dammit! The gate is barred from the other side, a trap!" He exclaimed,

"What about that side passage over there?" Aeragorn said pointing at a small passage,

"Worth a try let's go!" They proceeded to walk to the side passage,

"Dead end." Baurus sighed looking at Glenroy, "What's your call sir?"

"I don't know, I don't see any good options here!" They then heard a noise,

"They're behind us!" Glenroy exclaimed, "Wait here sire."

Baurus then turned to Aeragorn, "Wait here with the Emperor, guard him with your life!" Baurus and Glenroy then looked at each other and nodded before unsheathing their swords, "For the Emperor!" The exclaimed simultaneously before running to fight the assassins.

Aeragorn then drew his katana, and watched as the two blades fought off the assassins, then he felt Uriel tap him on the shoulder,

"I can go no further." He said sadly,

"Sire what are you saying?" Aeragorn asked horrified,

"You must stand against the Prince of Destruction and his mortal servants." the Emperor stopped and took off the amulet he was wearing and handed it to Aeragorn,

"Sir, is this the Amulet of Kings?"

"It is, they must not get it!"

"But what do I do with it?" Aeragorn asked still in shock,

"Take it, and give it to Jauffre in Chorrol, he alone knows where to find my last son." He then paused, "Find him, and close shut the jaws, of Oblivion."

Right as he said that, an assassin appeared from nowhere, and stabbed the Emperor, Uriel let out his final breathe, and then fell to the floor, dead.

Aeragorn looked in horror, the Emperor had just been killed in front of him, and he couldn't stop it. He let out a battle cry and glared at the assassin,

"You picked a bad day to ally yourself with the Septims." The assassin hissed, Aeragorn was ready to fight him, but before he could strike a figure came from the same place as the assassin, and with a quick movement, decapitated the assassin.

Aeragorn looked closely at the figure, it was a man wearing leather armor, wielding two iron short swords, with short brown hair and a bandana, he looked at Aeragorn and said, "Aeragorn."

"Gerich!" Aeragorn quickly exclaimed to the Imperial man.

AN: Well that was exciting wasn't it? There were rats, goblins, and assassins, oh my! And who is this Gerich fellow? Is he friendly? Is he hostile? Is he a useless, generic NPC that has nothing to do with the story? Find out next time on The Tale of a Hero, good night, and good fight! *Disappears in cloud of smoke*