CHAPTER NINE
The next day started off too quick for me to recall any detailed information, other than Jauffre, Baurus and I set off towards Leyawiin with our twenty-five hundred troops, led by Itius. Three hundred archers, seven hundred spearmen and fifteen hundred swordsmen made up our small army. Leyawiin had a little over fifteen hundred men, and I wanted to make sure we had more, but not too many. I had to make sure the Imperial City was still heavily protected during our leave.
According to Jauffre, the Empire as a whole consists of roughly fifteen thousand Imperial soldiers, at least in Cyrodiil that is. The Empire's influence is spread across all of Tamriel, in places such as Morrowind, but in Cyrodiil our numbers are weakened, thanks to the Oblivion crisis. We'll of course have to recruit more men if we want the Empire to get back where it used to be, but that's a subject that I'll look into later.
"What are you planning exactly, Lukas?" Jauffre said.
"When we arrive at the city everyone, except for Itius, you and Baurus, will wait outside the gates. The four of us will enter the city and order Alessia's surrender of the throne."
"That's a terrible idea, unless you want to die I suppose. Did you ever think about what would happen if Alessia doesn't go peacefully? Then what will you do with fifteen hundred Leyawiin soldiers surrounding us with our own men outside, unable to do anything?"
"Well, Jauffre, I never thought of that. What would you suppose we do?" I said while rolling my eyes.
"Bring all of the men with us when we enter the city. It is only for your safety. And besides, you are the Emperor. What is Alessia going to do, throw you out of her city?"
It sounded like a good enough idea, and actually I was a bit surprised I hadn't though of it in the first place. I had to be careful, just as Jauffre had suggested, because she wouldn't be too happy when she finds out what Jauffre and I found below her castle last night.
But when we arrived at Leyawiin, some four to five hours later, it appeared that she had already learned of our discovery. Soldiers dressed in green, gold and white armor were lined up outside the city gates, with officers in the front. Archers were stationed atop the walls and were also situated in the towers as well. Their army had been waiting for us the entire time.
"Well would you look at that! Somebody must've snitched on us. I wonder who that could've been," Baurus said sarcastically.
Baurus seemed to be right in insinuating that Caelia told Alessia about our plans, because the gates to the city opened and out rode five figures on horseback. They rode towards where I was standing, but I feared not for my life.
When the figures came close enough for me to see their faces, I realized it was Alessia and Caelia, along with three officers. I was very surprised to see that Alessia knew how to ride a horse, simply because she was a girl, or woman to be politically correct.
The five dismounted from their respective horses and neared me, where my soldiers around me unsheathed their weapons, but only until I signaled for them to conceal their edges.
"Lukas Septim, what do you think you are doing in my territory with an army the size of this?"
She pointed and talked loudly towards the sweaty, anxious faces of my men; the faces of soldiers who wanted nothing more than to slit the throats of the enemy this very instant.
"It is not wise to taunt my men when they are so eager to kill, Alessia. And you can cease with the sarcasm. You know why I am here, thanks to your bodyguard, Caelia," I said defiantly.
"Yes, my loyal officer told me all about your conniving scheme to overthrow me and my army. Ha! Such an idea is preposterous and I dearly hope you reconsider that idea of suicide, because that is exactly what it is…suicide."
She had wide, evil grin spread across her face. I didn't want to have to wipe that smile off by force if it was not needed, but unfortunately it looked as if I had no other choice.
"You were a fool for trusting Caelia, Lukas. Her allegiance lies to me, and I alone; although I am extremely dissatisfied with her plea for your help. Oh yes, she told me all about that as well. While I am disappointed with that, I am glad she came to me. It was the smartest decision she could make."
Caelia stood behind her master, cowering at the presence of Jauffre and me. Her eyes were full of tears and her entire body was shaking, just as she had been back in the body chamber. She knew very well how foolish she looked. She could have saved her people and her fellow soldiers. I just didn't understand why she caved in to Alessia. It just didn't make any sense.
"You are wrong, Alessia. Whatever I do, it will not be an act of suicide. I will give you one final chance to surrender. If you do not take heed of my warning, I will be forced to crush you and your army. I'll do whatever it takes to protect my people, and I am not afraid to do it.
My defiance was not very well liked by Alessia, and she made her feelings on that subject very clear.
"You are brave, Lukas, no one can deny you that aspect, but it is a foolish bravery I'm afraid; one that will most definitely bring the death of your troops, and ultimately you as well. I will not back down to your commands, for I am not afraid either. I will now show you the skill of my soldiers."
She turned around and started walking back to her horse.
"That would help if your soldiers actually liked you," I said, trying to bring the haughty countess to the edge. It appeared that I had succeeded in that attempt.
She quickly turned around and walked right up to me, her face mere inches away from mine. I could smell her breath, and I have to say it wasn't a very pleasant scent.
"My men are as loyal as can be, "Emperor" Septim. I heard about your debut in the Imperial City. It didn't go too well, did it, Lukas?"
Again she had the same malevolent grin as before, but just as quick as it came, it was erased in the same swift fashion. Before I even knew what had happened a blade came through the stomach of Alessia. Blood immediately spouted from her mouth and splashed me in the face. Her smile changed to a look of complete shock. She then fell forward into me, knocking me down to the ground, with her body falling on mine.
Blood from her opened mouth continued to seep out, hitting me in the face because I was unable to move from my prone-position. When I was able to move my arms I wiped the sticky red liquid from my eyes, only the see Caelia smiling insanely, and holding a red-stained sword in her right hand.
Caelia began laughing wildly, and I knew then we had lost her. Her mind had wondered to who knows where, and Alessia was dead.
"Ha ha ha! I killed her! She cannot abuse me anymore! NO MORE I SAY!"
Jauffre pulled Alessia's limp body off of me, and as quick as possible I jumped up and got away from Caelia, not knowing whether she would go after me next.
She then started dancing around maniacally, waving her blade through the air like it was some sort of ritual-relic or something. It was very strange seeing all this. I was still trying to put all the pieces together when one of Alessia's officers asked: "So it is now over? There will be no war?"
I looked at the soldier, not able to give him an immediate answer. I looked at Caelia, who was now being driven to the ground by some of my men, attempting to tie her hands and feet together. Then I looked over to Alessia, whose eyes were still open and filled with shock. She was dead, and the threat to Leyawiin was seemingly over. I walked over and shut her eyes with my hand, and then I looked up at the Leyawiin officer.
"No…there will be no war between countrymen today…."
