It was early in the morning when I finally returned to Cloud Ruler Temple. The sky was just beginning to lighten at the horizon and the stars began to fade away. There was still snow on the peaks of the Jeralls, but the ground down below barely had any frost. The air was chill, and I could see my breath every time I exhaled.

Arcturus let me into the fortress, giving me a tired look. I quickly led my horse into the stables and crept into the barracks. As expected, everyone inside was asleep on their mats. I slipped past them and up the stairs at the far side of the room. Some of the stairs creaked, so I took it slow.

When I reached the top of the landing and peered around the corner, I saw Baurus standing guard outside Martin's door. He caught sight of me and grinned.

"New armor, huh?" He whispered. "Nice. How many of them did you manage to convince?"

"All of them except Ocato," I told him, rolling my eyes. "He mentioned something about General Warhaft telling him the troops are all otherwise occupied at the moment."

Baurus sighed. "I'm sure she's got her hands full right now."

"You know her?"

"Oh yes," he told me, rolling his dark eyes. "My mother's just as stubborn as you are, but if she says she can't spare anyone she means it."

I cocked an eyebrow at that bit of information. His mother, hmm? "At any rate, Bruma's packed right now."

"Thank Talos," he said with a sigh of relief. "We were starting to get worried about how much longer they could hold out."

"How many Gates?" I asked.

"Three. Burd lost a few men in the last one. From what I heard, it was brutal."

I winced. "At least they've got more of a chance now. How are you all holding up here?"

"We're all right. This place is safe, Mar," he reassured me. "It's been standing since Reman Cyrodiil was Emperor. The Blades have always been here, and always will be."

"And Martin?"

"He's fine. Worried about you, but fine."

"Good."

He nodded toward the door. "You came all the way up here to see him didn't you?"

"... Yes."

Baurus winked at me. I shot him a glare in response. He shook his head and smiled. "Go on. I won't say anything."

"Thanks, Baurus," I murmured as I pulled open the door.

The room was just the same as it was the last time I was there. The set of windows looking out onto the courtyard let in a soft blue-gray light as dawn approached. Books with plain and dyed leather covers still filled the shelves of the bookcase on the other side of the room, a bookcase I knew was smaller than he'd like. Martin was asleep, lying on his back with one of his hands tangled up in his mussed chestnut hair. I listened to the sound of his slow, deep breathing for a few moments after I slid the panel shut behind me. Then with careful, quiet steps I walked across the room to stand over him. Bending over, I brushed a tendril of hair behind my ear and gently kissed his cheek. His eyelids twitched.

"Mara?" He murmured. "Is that you, or am I just dreaming?"

"What do you think?" I asked him.

He slowly opened his eyes and gazed up at me. A smile broke across his face.

"You came back."

"I said I always would, didn't I?"

He chuckled softly. "You did."

I looked down at him, watching the lines on his face soften as he stared back at me. All the worry there seemed to melt away. His blue eyes twinkled.

Before I knew what was happening, Martin had reached up, wrapped his arms around me, and crushed his lips against mine. When he suddenly pulled me down onto the bed, I let out a small shriek of surprise against his mouth. A moment later I found myself lying on my back beside him. He propped himself up on one elbow and smirked down at me.

Flustered, I only managed to point an accusing finger at him and gasp, "You."

"Yes?" He kissed my fingertip.

A small, outraged sound escaped me. "You. Are. Dreadful."

He cocked one dark eyebrow. "Am I?"

I rolled onto my side, put my arms around his neck, and kissed him firmly.

"Completely."

"Good to know," he murmured.

He captured my lips again. I wound my fingers in his hair and he hummed in contentment.

"May I ask why you're wearing a uniform from Kvatch?" He finally asked in a quiet voice.

"You noticed?"

"Mm."

I shrugged. "It was a gift."

"Was it?"

"Yes."

"Should I be worried about you running off with Matius?" He asked with a laugh.

"Oh, how could you have ever guessed?" I said, rolling my eyes. "I'm going to abandon you for Kvatch's Captain of the Guard. Of course. That makes so much sense."

When I looked up Martin was grinning at me. I swatted him on the shoulder and crawled off the bed.

"Everyone but the Chancellor sent reinforcements to Bruma. You don't need to worry yourself anymore."

I walked over to stand by the window and crossed my arms. The first rays of the sun were breaking in the eastern sky, turning the horizon a rosy pink color. Behind me the sheets rustled as Martin got up as well.

"I'll always worry as long as you're out there and I'm in here," I heard him say in a soft voice.

I glanced over my shoulder to see the solemn look on his face. His blue eyes were filled with bitterness. I knew what he was thinking. I would be off again soon enough in search of another item for the ritual, and he would be the one to send me. His furrowed brow told me just how heavily this weighed upon him. But what choice did we have?

"So will I," I replied, just as quiet.

Martin shook his head slowly and ran a hand through his hair. Padding over to the wardrobe, he stripped off his nightshirt and pulled out his robe. The corner of my mouth twitched up slightly. Had he been training again? It certainly looked like it. He glanced over at me for a moment and chuckled quietly as he pulled his robe on.

"Later," he whispered in my ear as he walked past to grab his shoes.

"Has anyone ever told you what an absolute mood-killer you are?"

"Too often to name."

When he made for the door, I tugged him back by his elbow and combed out his tangled hair with my fingers.

"Honestly, Martin," I muttered, "you're going to be the Emperor. Can't you at least try to pull yourself together?"

"I could, but where would the fun be in that?" When I gave an agitated sigh he laughed and kissed my cheek. Sliding open the door panel, he gestured to the hall beyond. "Shall we go, then?"

"Please."

We walked down together towards the west wing's door into the Great Hall. As we passed the barracks, I heard the sounds of the Blades talking and the clanking of metal as they donned on their armor. Baurus was down there as well. He glanced up at us and gave me a knowing grin. I narrowed my eyes and gave him a warning gesture. He smirked and I could see him trying to suppress a laugh. Grumbling, I pushed open the door.

Upon glimpsing the floor, I abruptly stopped. Some kind of design was rendered on the flagstones in front of the fireplace in dark red paint. At least I hoped it was paint.

"Umm, Martin? What is that for, exactly?"

He glanced over. "Oh, that. It's for the ritual."

"I can't imagine Jauffre's pleased," I said, examining it. It was of some kind of stylized triangle surrounded by lines and spirals. I could see a few words in daedric script here and there.

"He's not."

I chuckled softly. Straightening, I pointed at one of the words and called, "That's spelled wrong."

"What?"

I heard the sound of several books dropping and hurried footsteps as Martin rushed over. His blue eyes were huge as he frantically looked over the design.

"I was kidding," I told him with a laugh.

He frowned at me. "This is serious."

"I know, love. I know."

I leaned against his shoulder. It struck me just how real it all was. We were so close to getting the Amulet back.

"While you were gone, I made some progress in deciphering the Mysterium Xarxes ritual," he said, gazing down on the markings with a faraway look. "The third item we need is a Great Welkynd stone."

"Which would be?"

"They are a powerful type of crystal, the pinnacle of Ayleid magic. Once every Ayleid city had its Great Stone, but they've all been plundered over the centuries due to their great value to mages and occultists. All but one. The Great Stone of Miscarcand is reputed still to shine in the deep darkness of its ruined halls. But no one has ever done more than glimpse it from a distance."

"So it's a long shot at best."

"Yes, unfortunately," he sighed. "But nothing else will do."

I didn't like the odds, but it wasn't any worse than others we'd been up against. "And just how far do I have to go to get to… what was it called?"

"Miscarcand, one of the most extensive Ayleid ruins in Cyrodiil. It sits halfway between Skingrad and Kvatch."

I rolled my eyes. If only I'd known what I was looking for when I was there.

"It was the capital of one of the ancient Ayleid kingdoms which flourished in Cyrodiil before the rise of men," Martin continued. It is said that the ruins are still haunted by the vengeful spirit of its last king. True or not, Miscarcand is not a place to enter lightly. Be careful."

"I will. Don't worry."

"I know you have braved many dangers already, but–"

I put a finger to his lips, silencing him.

"Now," I said, "instead of worrying over what might happen, is there anything I should know about those ruins before I go in there?"

He took my hand and nodded slowly. "You might find "Glories and Laments Among the Ayleid Ruins" useful. I have the library's copy over here if you need it."

I wrinkled my nose and he laughed.

"Come now, it's not that terrible."

"It will be if you don't help me sift through it," I grumbled.

He smiled. "You know I'm always glad to."

"Good."

Miscarcand was little more than a crumbling ruin. Fragmented marble walls, broken arches, and tumbled columns worn through the centuries covered the landscape. I passed a massive statue of bird covered with tangled moss and vines. It was sad, and more than a little eerie.

As I passed through the ruins, I heard a grunt and I ducked behind a pillar to avoid being seen. Peering around after a few moments, I spotted a goblin sniffing air. I nocked an arrow, took a deep breath, and aimed. When it looked around, I shot it through its left eye. It let out a squeal as it went down. I winced and dashed toward the center of the ruin, hoping to avoid any more confrontations.

In the very middle was a marble citadel. I climbed its stairs cautiously, trying my best to avoid being seen by anything else that might be lurking about. At the very top was another set of stairs, this time leading down in a spiral to a slab door. I pushed it, and it swung open on unseen hinges. A blast of cold, musty air hit me. I shuddered and slipped inside.

The dark stone halls were sparingly lit with blue crystals that rested in sconces along the walls or in wrought cages that hung down from the ceiling. Everything in there was damp and murky. An unearthly chill hung in the air. It had the kind of feeling that Sancre Tor did, only far older and more forbidding. The blood on floor certainly didn't help. Dark read streaks and smears covered the marble, sometimes even extending up onto the walls. I avoided slipping in it as best I could. Rusted weapons were scattered all around, discarded after battle. Ahead I could hear horrible, unearthly groans and the pained shrieks of injured goblins. The sounds sent chills down my spine, and I readied my bow.

The hall led out onto a balcony overlooking a large chamber. Below I could see a horde of zombies attacking a group of goblins. Or, what was left of them. The hulking undead tore the creatures apart with angered roars. I winced and looked away, careful to stay in the shadows as I crept past.

I walked into another hall. Just as I was about to go down the stairs, there was a furious roar and the sound of something hitting metal. I spun around. A wrought-iron gate blocked off the other end of the hall. There was a zombie on the other side, scrabbling at the filigree. The metal suddenly gave way, and the creature crashed through and lunged at me. Without thinking I shot. My arrow punched right through its forehead and I heard it clatter away. The corpse fell at my feet and I stared at it, breathing hard.

The ruin was long and winding, every hall filled with yet more undead to avoid. I only attacked when I had no other choice. Otherwise I kept to the shadows as much as I could.

At the very bottom of the ruin was a large chamber. A walkway led out to the center of the room, the chamber floor on either side disappearing into shadow. At the end was a dais capped in a ring of iron spikes that supported a brilliant, blue-white light. I squinted as I approached, not used to the brightness after being in the dark for so long.

The source of the light was a crystal spike that was nearly as long as my arm. It hummed and pulsed with energy that made my fingers tingle. There was no doubt in my mind that it was the stone I was looking for.

No sooner had my fingertips touched the stone than a bolt of green fire shot past my head and exploded on the far wall. I whipped my head to face its source.

An emaciated figure dressed in red and clutching a staff was waiting for me on the other side of the walkway. Its skeletal face leered at me from beneath a helm-like golden crown. It fired at me again, and I leapt aside. Below I heard the groans of zombies. Hands reached up over the ledges as they pulled themselves up onto the platform. I shot one and kicked off another that tried to grab for my ankle. If I stayed, I'd be overwhelmed in moments. I grabbed the stone, which dimmed when pulled from its pedestal, and ran back down the strip of marble towards the lich.

Before I could race past, a blast of green fire caught the stone in my arms and sent it spinning away down the hall to the side. The lich grabbed me by my overtunic and dragged me forward. Its eyes glowed sickly green and it roaring at me in a language I didn't understand. I wrenched myself out of its grip and kicked one of its knees out. It stumbled, giving me enough time to stagger back and draw my sword. Raising my sword above my head, I screamed and brought it down to cleave the decayed mer in two. When it fell, there was no more than dust, old robes, and a battered crown left on the floor.