Influence

Arthur groaned in frustration as he searched through the whole building for a strangely behaving child, which proved to be difficult if you couldn't talk to any of them without giving up your invisibility. And he was sure Molag Bal was watching him while being anything but

pleased… he once again positioned himself in front of the whole room as he scanned it for any clue. The Jarl was sitting on his throne while talking to a Breton, two guards on either side. In the right room was the wizard, upstairs was nothing important and on the left side led a way downstairs towards a… what?

This really went unnoticed by him… he sneaked his way over to the staircase, only a single door on the left was leading somewhere. He could hear voices from behind…

He quickly made sure nobody would want to go down here for now before facing the old door and tried to open it. It didn't make much noise but the instant he opened the door the little child in there turned around before Arthur quickly covered his mouth as his actions were leaving him visible again. The boy looked at him with narrowed eyes, surprising Arthur as he could clearly see his face.

"Hush, little one!", Arthur whispered before he carefully closed the door again while not letting the boy go. He turned around and released him from his grip as the boy quickly made a step back. It was then he realized a blade which lay on an old table behind the kid, though it just looked like it was only placed there a little time ago.

"Who are you? I don't fear anything, you fool. Or are you just the next assassin who wants to kill my father. I wouldn't have a problem with that either.", Arthur looked at the boy with an intense stare, analyzing him as a small grin krept up his face.

"You sure are confident, young one. You don't seem to like your father?", his gaze didn't left the boy as he turned around to face the blade on the table once again.

"I know everything about him, every fear he has. I know even much more…"

"And might I ask what blade that is?", he viewed the sharp looking blade on the table as he took a step forward, leaving the boy behind.

"This blade belongs to me, dear one.", Arthur immediately turned around around as the doors closed itself and they were surely not just going to open again. The child was gone, to which he assumed there was something entirely else involved in that kids behavior. Again the voice spoke up, it was clear that it was female and the emotions which it held weren't a secret either.

"This child truly was not a bad pawn but still too vulnerable. You on the other hand…"

Arthur narrowed his eyes, a Daedric prince. And that is not his Lord.

"I know very well who you are, I'm surprised Molag Bal could choose somebody like you as her champion. She seems to have a much better taste in that than I thought… or he… or whatever this thing is, I'm never entirely sure when I look at her form.", Arthur growled at that, the mocking tone was not to overhear.

"You don't like it if I talk about your Daedric Lord like that, do you? I guess it's normal for somebody like me who hasn't got much in common with another fellow one. She has already proven once how foolish she can be, being bested by a mortal. Once tried to stand up for her title and dominate this land, and never tried it again after she failed. But you hold so much more potential… your skills and determination… you could be so much more for me instead of her. I am Mephala, Daedric prince of secrecy and obfuscation. And you, would be an excellent champion…"

Arthur gritted his teeth while slowly pulling out his Mace, looking at the blade in front of him before he broke it into pieces with a mighty hit, demonstrating the might which has been granted to him. It was silent for some time until the voice slowly spoke again…

"I see… destroying my going-to-be gift in order to please your Daedric Lord. How loyal, if only you would realize that you're a mere tool which has been granted a bit of power so that you obey everything. In my case, you could have become something entirely else… farewell, I will see you again, precious one."

With that, Arthur felt the presence leave him as he looked at his Mace. Or rather the face made to decorate every side of it as green energy surged through it. This has been everything his parents had wanted from him. Serving her… this was his purpose, what he wanted. And she granted him what he desired… but… to be thrown away in the end? Or…

Suddenly the door burst open, revealing two guards standing in front of the entrance as the boy from before pointed at him, no doubt many more guards waiting outside.

"There! This man is doing something with Daedra!", the guards gasped as they looked at his Mace, and his face wasn't covered either. One of the guards pointed his sword at Arthur, though careful in what he was doing as he still eyed his Mace.

"You! In the name of the Jarl, you're under arrest for threatening his child!", Arthur held no emotion as he stood without fear in front of the guards.

"Just dare it and come at me.", he whispered but the instant it left his mouth the guards charged at him.

"You will pay with your blood, scum!", one of the guards tried to block the incoming hit of Arthur's Mace but it gave him no protection as he lay dead on the ground a moment later, his companion soon following with a strike onto his helmet, breaking through it. He would kill those who would try to harm him or stay in his way, but this child was not somebody he would harm. He could hear the rest of the guards coming down the stairs as he was trapped in the room, the only way out was the staircase which had to be full with guards by now. This left him only seconds to think of a new plan, he already failed his mistress…

Suddenly he could hear slaughter from outside, some guards screaming in pain as one even fell down the stairs and onto the floor. He didn't had time to react as a dark blue Portal opened right in front of him, an image of a dark room forming on the other side as his Mace started to pull slightly into its direction. He immediately obeyed and stepped through it to which it vanished again as quickly as it appeared.

"Face your death, mortal.", the guard was pierced through his chest as the Dremora pulled his sword out again without mercy before striking the next one at his knees and ending him by cutting of his head. The Jarl was protected by many nearby guards as the Dremora turned his attention to them.

"I smell weakness!", he charged at them right away as three guards attacked him at the same time, one of them not being lucky as he got a clean cut across his chest without having the opportunity to dodge before the other two guards both pierced their sword through the Dremora to which he fell to the ground before disappearing in a blue light again. Just like that it happened in the rest of the building as the guards managed to slowly push the many Dremora back until none of them was left anymore, only the dead guards on the ground reminding them of the battle which had been taking place here.

"My Jarl, are you alright?", Balgruuf just nodded as he looked at the many corpses in his own hall, tightening the hilt of his sword as the first guards started to clean up the mess. However his expression soon turned softer as he saw his child among the guards, still alive and unharmed.

XxxxxxxX

Arthur looked around the room, blue light served to see the surroundings as no sun was shining outside, the room itself not being in the best shape as it reminded him of how a Daedric Realm would look like. But his thoughts came to a stop as he saw Molag Bal standing in her true demonic Form at the end of the small room, where you could perfectly look outside, the sky was mixed in many kinds of blue, most of it dark and the land outside seemed familiar to him… only in a dead and darker version of it.

"My champion…", her voice was just like before, surprisingly more… different than somebody would expect from a Daedric prince which was considered as the most evil being among only a few others. He held his head low as he looked at the ground, there is no excuse, he had failed his very own first task together with his new powers…

His eyes widened as a clawed hand suddenly touched his chin and pulled his face upwards to look at her face, her two horns looking deadly while her blue eyes were glowing with the emotions she represented, her claws could easily tear him apart if she desired.

"Do you see this land outside?", she stepped aside to allow him seeing the dead and cold landscape outside.

"This is what I desire, what I represent with myself… my realm. That is how I wish to see the contrary part of my own land. And you are of great importance to me, to give me what I desire. Domination. Know, that I am watching you achieving this, wherever you currently are. And that you have my support for that…"

Suddenly an image of himself appeared in front of him as he was still in Whiter until with the guards rushing to get him before many Dremora appeared in a dark blue light, charging at those who tried to get to him, before the image disappeared again. He didn't notice as Molag Bal ran a single clawed finger under his chin before she tightened her other hand and moved away again as the image disappeared in front of her champion.

"I will not fail for a second time, I will-"

"No.", Arthur blinked for a moment at the sudden interruption before he looked at her with a curious and confused expression while she seemed to look at him from head to toe, not really sure since her eyes only seemed to be the blue light.

"I… have a new task for you, my champion. A priest, forgotten by his mistress and captured in the land. I want him to give me his soul by his own free will. Bring him to me.", her tone became dark at the end and Arthur didn't had in mind to ask her any more things, as another portal opened behind him before wasting no time to give Molag Bal what she wants.

She gazed at him as he disappeared into the land again, one of her clawed hands tightening.

She would shame her with any means necessary, to get revenge as she was filled with anger inside, her eyes reflecting it as they were glowing in an even darker blue. Her plans could wait until this is done… by her champion…