Dragonfires
Chapter 1
"Martin no! You can't!" I started to scream at him while Martin Septim looked at me with sadness on his face.
"Lyra, I must. I must light the dragon fires to save Tamriel." He outstretched his arm to keep me back. "Mehrunes Dagon will be here at any moment to stop me! I must do this now!" I stood with my back against the wall of the Temple. I wanted to run into his arms and give him one last hug, but my fear had me frozen to the spot. I watched with tears in my eyes as Mehrunes Dagon burst through the temple wall. Martin looked at me one last time and I noticed he had his amulet in his hand.
When did he take that off? I wondered. In an instant, Martin mouthed three words to me. I understood. Then a flash of light and Martin was gone. In his place, stood a giant dragon wreathed in flames. Akatosh! I was in awe. I was standing in the presence of a great God. The fight was over quickly. Mehrunes Dagon was banished forever into his realm. The great dragon stood next to me, breathing heavily. I knew he was worn. He let out a wall shaking roar before turning to stone.
I slipped to the ground, not even trying to stop the tears and noise coming from myself. My Martin was gone. I don't know how long I was sitting there. My head was pounding and no more tears came. I could barely breathe. High Chancellor Ocato rushed into the now ruined temple and kneeled beside me.
"Martin is gone." I spoke first.
"What do you mean, gone? We saw the Temple dome explode, the avatar of Akatosh appear... that was Martin?" Ocato looked shocked and confused.
"Yes. He shattered the Amulet..."
"The joined blood of kings and gods. The Amulet of Kings. The divine power of Akatosh."
"...and Martin's blood, too..."
"Then Martin is gone..." he said.
"But the gates are sealed."
"Yes. Sealed forever. Mehrunes Dagon and his ilk can never threaten Tamriel again. Martin is dead. But he died an emperor, and a hero to rival Tiber Septim."
"What about the Empire?"
"This victory is not without cost. We've lost Martin Septim. What an emperor he might have made. His sacrifice was necessary, but it leaves the Empire without an emperor. I don't know what happens now. There are troubled times ahead for the Empire. But now is not the time to worry about the future. Let's just give thanks that we're alive."
Ocato stood and helped me to my feet. We started for the door and heard a small noise. I kept going, thinking it was a small animal who had somehow escaped the battle alive.
"Lyra…" Ocato grabbed my arm and I turned. My heart stopped. Theres no way this could be happening. I started to do what I did best. I started to run.