When she calmed her father brushed the hair back from her face and then taking the hem of his sleeve he dried her tears he whispered
"there…now come and sit with me and tell me what happened with Jaucen in Kvatch."
He pulled her to sit down at the chair facing his before the fire place he glanced to her helm and it soon lifted and was moved to rest at her feet. She gave a weak smile then folding her hands she began to tell her father everything from her time in the Imperial Prison and to meeting the Emperor and his death to the destruction of Kvatch and the Oblivion Gate she wiped at her eyes the recounting almost sent her to weeping again. she recited Jaucen's vision he told her he would have her write it down since he had passed it to her before his death into the book of truths. She nodded slightly he said
"Jaucen died with honor and he did his duty to Akatosh to defend who he could Aleria. Never forget this my daughter do not let your sorrow ever overshadow this fact."
"i won't father."
"good. But I can still see you weep for him silently. Tell me?"
she glanced away half ashamed and whispered
"i…I loved him father."
"you knew it was forbidden for several reasons but you let your heart open to him anyways"
"yes"
he nodded leaning back saying
"to find it but have it denied. The curse of our bloodline of Senna's direct desenats for disobeying the will of Akatosh."
"thus the curse of the Dragon's dawn which will always haunt the Golden One…I know the tales father more so than you."
"I would have never put such a weight on your shoulders Aleria"
"…that was not yours to decide father."
"still I would not wish your fate upon anyone of this village least of all you my only daughter. Btu this was done at Akatosh's will just as he let you love Jaucen just as he called Jaucen away shortly after he became a fully grown man. Sweet is the taste of love…"
"and bitter is its loss."
"jaucen died as a man he did not fear his death, at least Jaucan will find some peace in that. Go get ready for the Funeral rights that must be preformed before sundown. And have out guest dress as well."
"Lainn's clothing should fit him."
"go on Aleria find your mask before you have to go before his parents you know you can not reveal the love you two shared."
She rose gathering her helm and nodded her head part in answer to her father's words and part in respect as she left his room. She went to her own down the hall to change.
000
he stood in the shadows he had listened to the conversation she had shared with her father. He was finding himself with more questions than answers about this strange woman and her equally strange village. He had no idea this place was here or hidden so well. He had cast a chamelon spell as he heard her leaving she walked right past him, he heard a voice saying
"you may enter now. Aleria's gone to prepare for the Funeral Rights that must be preformed on Jaucen."
He let his spell drop and entered the room, a man sat he had the same green eyes as Aleria his hair was black like ebony with silver threaded in it. he looked no older than fifty at the most but the man smiled saying
"you'll forgive me if I don't stand up to greet you, I'm getting on in the years and the recent damp weather has made my joints stiff. I welcome you son of Akatosh to Lair our village, I am Alaron Dragoon the leader of the village. You have met my daughter Aleria her two brothers are currently away at this moment having left after she returned to make sure the others who are on their journey are alright. They are Liann Marshtel and Alron Dragoon."
"thank you, it's a beautiful village"
"we thank you for the compliment, we are grateful that the father has gratned us this place to be safe and happy away from the outside world where we can find peace."
"why is this village hidden away? I don't understand"
"we are not so easily accepted by others. Aleria will explain everything to you later and answer your questions she was sent to be your guide in the days ahead and know now you will need her before the end of things."
he was confussed he heard a soft noise behind him he turned and felt his mouth hang open slightly. In her armor Aleria had made a strong almost imtimidating figure but now…she was a beautiful and noble women. He had seen a book once it was about the Akaviri people it had had descriptions of their garb and hers reminded him of the Nobility of Akavir. The gown had no sleeves it was trimmed in gold and hung down to her feet it was pulled tightly around her waist it opened right past the neck line in a diamond shape when she walked he noticed the gown was slipt on both sides. Her hair was pulled up from her face and left to hang down straight her back jet black against the velvet of her gown, as she came closer he noticed around her upper left arm was a silver band fashioned into a dragon with shappire eyes the only ornamentation that didn't fit with the golden jewelry she wore. She bowed her head slightly and said
"everything's ready father"
"very good fetch my robe for me I'll perform the rights this night over the departed."
She nodded and went over to a wardrobe opening he saw a elaborate robe that hung so ti wouldn't wrinkle she carefully pulled it free and brought it over to her father helping him dress she then turned away and opened something she set the key aside and opened a small chest that sat on a table she reached into it and pulled a clear vial out he couldn't see what it was but the liquid inside seemed to shimmer she set it aside and closed the chest then put the key away she gave a slight glance as she walked past him Alaron motioned and he assumed he was to follow her. he did so her father followed behind him a few others were waiting for them some were small children who cling to their parents all dressed in a dark shade of blue only Aleria and alaron wore black he wondered why that was? They entered a cave a few held lanters Aleria led the way holding the vial and now a larger lantern that gave off a soft glow. It opened into a large cavern he saw several carved effigies of men and women all clasped swords to their breasts carved dragons sat on their hands. they came to a smaller cavern on a stone slab laid the man that had saved his life he believed they called him Jaucen. He found a place to sit Aleria walked up and blew the lantern she held out saying
"from the Father we come to this land to do his will and when our task is done to him we shall return. Your duties are complete and from your toils you now find rest Jaucen son of Akatosh. Though we mourn your loss we will shall not weep for your death was honorable defending that which would destroy and we shall find peace in the embrace of our father and those who remain here to toil still. may your soul go without hinderance to the Father and may you watch over us from his side. The path of light shall lead your soul to the greatness of Aetherius and may you find your rewards in the halls of the Dragons Blood."
She opened the vial she had carried and a sweet scent began to fill the air something like honey and it was flowery. She then passed it to her father bowing and drew back standing in the shadowy corner, he watched the rights being preformed with intrest they weren't like the ones he ahd preformed the one time he had done so for the dead her father was praying to Akatosh and the other divines to bring peace and comfort to the family of Jaucen and those who had been close to them as he carefully put the liquid in the vial into the young teens hair and brushed it over the visible skin. When he looked to Aleria he found she was gone, he glanced around for her and caught a figure slipping out of the entrance to this chamber. Silently he rose and moved to the entrance but he couldn't find her in the darkness, he wondered where she was going and why she would leave? He knew she had cared for this man so why would she leave?
000
she kenw if she lingered she wouldn't be able to hide her tears she silently slipped out no one would dare stop her she was the Golden one. No one would mess with the Father's choosen for fear of risking either her or His wrath. She often wished she wasn't choosen for this but one might say her family line was doomed to walk this path always as a reminder of the greatest failure, of the disobedience of her ancestor. She sighed as she camed to an ornately carved entrance way this led to the Shrine and the Tomb of her ancestor according to the records it was carved by Tiber Septim himself for her ancestor. She stood running her hand over the dragons that wrapped around the entrance the four elements were also represented as three dragons perched one in the mantle of the arch the other two winding our around the carved posts. She always stood here a moment in reverance to the work done it was beautiful and truly represented the savageness yet beauty of her kind. she sighed letting her hand fall to her side and entered the passage way that led to the shrine not many carvings just dragons that had fire that burned in their clawed hands. she entered the shrine sighing, she always felt here she oculd escape her reality and just find peace. she had first spoken to Akatosh here in this Shrine learned of her fate to be the Choosen she picked up a taper from the small dish and blew fire instantly sparked on the thin reed greedily licking it devouring it in his glutoness manner. She lit the candles that were on the alter revealing a crysal bowl with water she reached behind her ear and into her hair she winced in pain as she pulled out a golden scale that dripped with red blood. She placed it into the crystal bowl the clear water began to turn dark she knelt before the alter on a cushion she had placed here to make the long hours a tad easier to endure and folding her hands she said
"Father, hear my pleas. I know Jaucen's death was in accordance with your will and plans. I find no peace knowing he stands at your side now please help me to find peace. help me to find acceptance if your will and peace with his death. I have always done my best to live in accordance with your teachings and your will and shall strive to do so in the coming troubled days. the war has begun as you showed me in the past a war that will shake the foundations of the empire and all of this realm. Talos give me the strength and the courage to fight with honor, may mara lend me the grace to be kind and Juilianos help me to be just when dealing with my enemies. Let Kyneriath help me to be respectful of the earth and sky and beast even in war and Zenithar to help me to be honest when others are not. Stendarr grant me the ability to be merciful to those who ask for it, Dibella do not let me forget that even in war I should not shun those who care for me Akray let me preserve life when I can and not send men to die needlessly. I ask the Nine grant me their favors and help me to endure the coming days when the darkest of the night resides over Cyrodiil and all others loose hope to see the coming of the sunrise. This I pray to you father as the Golden one."
000
he found where she had gone her father had pointed him to a very ornately carved entrace that was well lit as he said
"that is the Shrine of the Dragon which is also the tomb of our ancestor. You will find her there either meditating or praying it would be wise to not disturbe her if she is engaged in either."
He found the shrine to be beautiful it was decorated with carvings some of dragons others of battles being fought. There was an alter Aleria knelt before it above the alter was a huge carving of a dragon holding an hourglass he supposed it was to represent Akatosh below it was another coffin it was different he did recall Alaron saying this also served as a tomb for her ancestor. He stood there listening to her praying to the divines she looked up to the statue as she closed her prayer. He decided his questions could wait until the morning he'd give her the privacy she had obiviously sought out. As quietly as he could he turned to leave when a loose stone skittered across the ground he heard a sigh and her voice said
"you may as well enter, I have known you were there since you arrived."
He turned back around and entered she rose from where she knelt she leaned over blowing the flame out on a large candle she reached into the crystal bowl before her and pulled something gold that shimmered in the light from the water. She set it aside then turned facing him her arms were folded on her stomach her poster reminded him of some of the nobility who often considered themselves above his station as a priest. She seemed to be waiting for him to speak first so he studied the shrine and asked
"Is this Shrine to Akatosh?"
"in part it also serves as a tomb and memorial of my ancestor only those who are favored are granted access to the shrine, my borhters have never seen beyond the carved entrance my father has been here once briefly"
"and before you?"
"maybe no more than five including myself have ever seen the inside of this shrine. You would make six something you may find intresting this was all done by your ancestor."
"what do you mean?"
she raised a brow then shook her head saying
"so like father, of course he would think it is my duty to explain everything when he knows I'd rather spend tonight in private."
"it can wait until morning I didn't mean to disturb you and your prayer"
she sighed shaking her head lifting her gaze up whispering
"it matters not, he has decided upon silence at this moment. The Father will only speak when he his ready until then I must wait."
"I've only heard of primates and paladins ever hearing the voices of the gods, occasionally seers will speak with them as well."
She turned her green eyes upon him a faint smile of amusement upon her lips, she said
"the gods speak to us all, but most don't understand them their ways are subtle only those who have learned and mastered the art may hear them speaking to us."
"have you?"
she shrugged saying
"I don't cliam to have mastered anything, I am well versed in many things but a master of none but I do hear the Father my patron."
"Father…Akatosh, I do not hear him revered to as Father."
"in Lair we call him the Father we believe he is the Father of my ancestor from who the five major bloodlines of the village have come from mine being the one of direct destances."
He was confussed it must have shown for she waved him closer lifting the golden object on the alter up she had removed from the crystal bowl she walked around the small alter to a coffin that was decorated in the first era style. The top was the effigy of a woman that looked almost exactly like Aleria, she held a Claymore in her hands and a carved helm that was much like her own was resting beside her a shield with the image of a dragon holding an hourglass was resting on top of the claymore the woman held she wore armor. Aleria laid her hand over the shield and said
"here lies Seena Dragoon. Mother of all Dragonblood daught of Akatosh, the Golden Dragon and compaion of Tiber Septim. She is my ancestor."
"Senna Dragoon? Oh you mean the Dragon of Akatosh who aided Tiber in forming the First Empire? This is his…her tomb?"
she looked to him nodding and bowing her head said
"I am her decendant the fourth Golden Dragon…all women of my father's bloodline are cursed with this fate, a reminder of her failure to fulfill the pact she had made with Tiber Septim…with your ancestor."
"I'm not a desendant of Tiber Septim. I'm the son of a farmer and only a priest of Akatosh."
She smiled but it wasn't out of joy or amusement, shaking her head saying
"no, your father was Uriel Septim. I was with the Emperor at his death to me he handed the Amulet of Kings and told me to find you Martin."
"your lying you have to be, there's no way the emperor could be my father."
She chuckled saying
"I havel all the proof I need. This Shrine has a barrier there are only two people in the world who can enter it."
"who?"
"the Golden Dragon…and those of Septim Blood."
He stared at her she honestly believed he was the son of the Emperor. he found it hard to believe but if what she said about their being a barrier that prevented others but them from entering…then the implications were staggering. He looked at her she glanced away to the Dragon that was carved into the wall its clawed wings holding an hour glass she sighing
"I have no reason to lie to you Martin."
And there was that she gained nothing by lying to him. after all it was a known fact only those of Septim blood can wear the amulet of kings. She tilted her head up one ear tilted her eyes had closed she nodded saying
"yes I understand I'll see to this matter at once."
"is something wrong?"
she opened her eyes he noticed a faint golden band around them, it made the green much more vivid. She said nothing but moved towards the passage way that led to this shrine he followed behind her he saw a man that looked much like Aleria with his hand up against what seemed an invisible barrier she smiled slightly taking his hand he pulled her close saying
"I know Jaucen and you were close. I'm sorry sister"
she rested her head on his chest still holding his hand she said
"I'll be fine soon, Thank you Liann tell me the others are alright?"
"yes their all fine, the Master of the Knights of the Dragon has them at the main house."
"good they'll be safe there. I'll send word to him here in the morning, I'm not sure if I want to have them return here or not."
"it might be for the best if they return home. We might need them here."
"yes and that is something I worry over their not ready."
"war doesn't care if yoru ready or not Aleria."
"yes…I know Liann. Liann this is Martin, Martin this is Liann my adoptive older brother."
The man let go of Aleria and held out his hand in the Imperial fashion he grasped it shaking it. he saw Liann's eyes get bigger then said
"it is an Honor to meet you."
"no the honor is mine."
He saw his lips smile then he wrapped an arm around Aleria saying
"come on you could use some rest you'll see everything will look better under the dawn of the new day."
He followed behind them back to their home Aleria went upstairs after handing the gold item to her brother he held it smiling slightly then passed it to him saying
"a Scale from the chosen of Akatosh his golden dragon. May it make clear that which is not and guide you to the answers you seek."
He was confussed how this little thing he now saw was indeed a large scale could do that but he held it. Liann said
"you'll need each other before the end Martin so please take care of her she'll listen to you when she won't listen to anyone else."
"why is that?"
Liann smiled and said
"here this book will explain it Father wanted you to have it, in truth it belongs to your Bloodline but somehow its come into our care but by rights it should be in your hands."
he took the book that was held out to him on the cover was two sytalized dragons one in gold the other in red it had the words the Pact of Akatosh's Dragons in gold. It was very old the styling like the old tomes he had had the good fortune to see that came from the first era. He went up to the guest room Aleria had said was his to use while he was a guest of Liar. He sat on the bed pening the book and began to read over it from what Liann had said it had answers to some of his questions. He began to search for the answers to his questions there was secretes here buried deep in the past and it was time they came to light.