Disclaimer: I own no part of TES franchise; all plots and NPCs belong to Bethesda Softworks.

Our clandestine meeting never came to be. Three days passed before I was well enough to complete my healing with magicka and by then Martin was once again immersed in his studies. I never found him but in the great hall of Cloud Ruler and whenever I tried to go near his quarters, a guard was posted outside.

It was frustrating, to say the least. Disheartening, to say the most, though I could see in his eyes how sorry he was. It seemed that ever since our meeting in his chamber that night someone was constantly watching one or both of us. I suspected Jauffre of interfering, but I could not truly blame him. The last thing he needed now, as head of the Blades, was to compromise the next emperor and his one chance at salvation for the empire with foolish vows of love. Never mind that both of us were only flesh and blood, with the desires and needs of any normal person.

Then again, neither of us was exactly normal.

I approached him quietly, tentatively. Peering over my shoulder, I could see Baurus sitting with another Blade near the front of the hall. Far enough away that they could not overhear Martin's words to me, but close enough that even a stray touch of the hand would be evident. Martin looked up at me as I approached and gestured tiredly at the seat before him.

"Katherine," he murmured. His eyes also glanced over at our company and he winced. "I am sorry about-"

I shook my head. "Please, don't think of it. It was foolish of me to propose such a thing. And now we are spied upon in friendly territory. Also my fault, I fear."

He smiled ruefully. "The fault is mine. Have you not wondered who informed Jauffre of our…affection?"

I looked at him curiously while flipping idly through the pages of a book. We had to make the meeting appear casual and above board.

"I believe Baragon overheard some of our conversation that day. Indeed, if I had not come across so strongly when I found you two…" his voice trailed off and I looked down at the pages of the tome. A twin flush spread across our cheeks at the same time and some moments passed before Martin spoke again.

"I do not like to send you out again when you have only just revived yourself, but there is another item of great value we require."

I looked up at him, eager for a mission- anything to keep myself busy and from thinking of what might have been. "Tell me, please."

I listened in earnest as he described the Great Welkynd Stone and where it might be found. I was familiar with the glowing blue baubles- I had collected several in my travels across Cyrodiil. Taking the maps and books he offered as aid, I thanked him. He held onto the items longer than necessary and I raised my eyes to his, questioning.

"Martin?"

He smiled grimly. "I promise, when you return I will make this up to you. Jauffre serves me, not the other way round. We will be together, Katherine," he finished in a heated whisper that sent shivers up my spine. I managed to nod and took the papers firmly from his grasp. "Please be safe," he repeated a dozen times as I took my leave and raced from the hall.

I could not bear to be so near him and not give myself away. And the longer I stayed, the harder it would be to go back into the face of danger.

Still, it was gratifying to know that he was beginning to feel the same way about myself. That thought alone would ensure my safe and hasty return to Cloud Ruler.

I left immediately after meeting with Martin. I packed my bag quickly and ran down the steps of the temple, eager to get to Lore and begin our second journey south and towards Miscarcand. My path in the last two weeks had taken me near the ruined city, but not directly across it. I was a little apprehensive, but after my last escape from death, I assumed the feeling was normal. I'd avoided the burrows on Solstheim, after all, hadn't I? I knew when to stop putting my hand in the fire…except when it came to Martin and saving the lives of millions.

Then I kept coming back for more. More what? Punishment? I chided myself. Though Martin and I had expressed our feelings to one another, he had never promised me a life with him and I had never guaranteed my fidelity in anything but the mission. Unless we pushed our relationship forward somehow, we could remain at an impasse for ages, waiting for one person or the other to make a move- defy Jauffre, duty, honor…

As for my injuries, though I did resent Martin whilst they were being inflicted, I had to be honest with myself: I would gladly endure them all over again if it meant his safety, if it meant pleasing him.

I was a fool.

But I would return to him as swiftly as possible anyway and this time neither of us would take no for an answer. He had said as much, hadn't he? He wanted me. He wanted me. I could still feel his lips upon mine and it made my cheeks flush as they had not since I was in my girlhood. Beneath me, Lore grew unsettled and pranced about on the road a bit. It drew my mind back to the present and I shushed him gently, stroking his neck.

"What is it, boy?" I whispered. His ears flattened back across his head and he snorted a few times. So, there was danger ahead. No surprises there. I looked from my horse and back into the woods where I could distantly see the ruined towers of the city rising above the treetops. Dismounting, I drew Lore a little ways into the woods and tied him to a tree once again, as I had just a week ago. Had it truly only been a week since my encounter at Sancre Tor? It seemed like years. I shuddered and Lore dipped his head to my shoulder, nuzzling me. I patted his neck again and smiled. Clearly he felt some anxiety as well.

"I'll be alright, Lore. Just don't move. The last thing I need is for you to be stolen by bandits because you don't know how to stay put." He whuffed some and I drew a carrot from my pocket, letting him lip at it and then crunch it into his mouth quickly. "Now be good and I will be back soon. I promise," I admonished him again before I left.

The setting sun drew close over the tops of the ruins as I approached, setting the white stones ablaze. I shielded my eyes from the glare and fell into an easy crouch. There were rarely any unusual disturbances around the outsides of such ruins, so I wasn't too concerned about Lore's defensive behavior. I assumed it was just another mountain lion- maybe a minotaur. It was the reason I wasn't prepared for what happened next.

Moving forward, I casually drew out my sword and looked around, keeping to my crouch. I noticed what looked like the remains of a fire to my right and up ahead, what looked like some kind of makeshift tent. Was it bandits? Was that what had spooked my horse?

Without warning, a sickly green figure ran out from behind some stones to my left and I barely managed to put my sword up in time. I thrust forward with my shield and immediately began a counter attack. Within seconds, it was over and I lowered my shield to take a good look at what had ambushed me.

Bandits? I scoffed at myself. No, it was worse.

Goblins.

Out of all the creatures I have battled, even my ire for the undead do not compare to my hatred for goblins. They are foul, loathsome, and they never die when they should. No, they leap back and forth, taking hit after excruciating hit before they ever breathe their last. I despise goblins. At least the undead have the decency to die when you cut off their limbs. Goblins just keep biting and snarling.

I quickly gathered my thoughts and turned back to the ruins. So. I had unwittingly disturbed a camp of the beasts. Not easily dealt with, but I could manage. I moved forward towards the entrance to Miscarcand and soon encountered four more, each as disgusting as the last. The third especially had trouble going down, but he met his end as I sliced into his skull. My sword pulled free of his shattered bones with a sucking noise and I grimaced at his corpse just before I swung at the last creature, who'd bounded out of the woods a moment before.

When they were all dead and finished their twitching, I looted their corpses and continued on to the entrance. I paused at the top of the steps, looking around for any other nasty surprises I may have missed. Not seeing any, I shrugged and made my way down to the stone door and went inside, keeping my shield and sword at the ready this time.

Although it was one of the largest ancient Ayelid cities, it did not appear too daunting to myself. Aside from the fact that it was larger and I hated plundering dungeons and ruins.

Nords generally prefer to be above ground, except in death. The few caves which I'd seen some of my brethren call home were shallow and close to the surface and typically surrounded by trees and other greenery. Yes, we liked to be close to the earth, but we loved the sky.

I started hearing sounds almost as soon I was inside and kept to my crouch as I moved amidst the shadows, peering through the dim light. I could see in a well below me that there were more of the goblins inside the place and from the sound of it, they were angry and fighting. Some familiar cries reached my ears and I knew then that Martin had not been joking about the other creatures who now inhabited the place. He'd told me that the last king of the city still reigned over its ruins with his minions, keeping out intruders and terrorizing travelers. History assumed it was because the spirit of the king hoped his people would rise again someday and have need of the Great Welkynd Stone. I figured he was just a nasty, selfish bugger who didn't want to die. Well, he'd die when he met me. I shied away no longer from sending the undeparted to their final rest.

I decided to let the goblins and the lichs tear one another to pieces before I ventured further. So, I paused in a shadow and rifled through my knapsack as quietly as possible. I was wearing the best armor I owned, which was not saying much, but I wanted to be very certain that I returned to Martin in one piece, this time. I pulled out an enchanted cloak which would help supplement my health and magicka as needed and hastily slipped it on over my armor. I'd had it enchanted in Cheydinhal when I was there a few weeks back, searching out the Mythic Dawn base nearby. It was finicky and didn't always do what it was supposed to; but I'd run out of my last coin having it enchanted and so I fully intended to get some use out of it.

After I'd tied the belt and lifted the hood over my head, I sheathed my sword and began counting the arrows that hung at my back. Ayelid ruins were the perfect place to utilize my marksman skills, though they were few. I slung my bow off my shoulder and replaced it with my shield and then I was ready for action. Sneaking back up to the side of the ledge, I could see the goblins had finished off the lichs and were now arguing about something else. Hefting the bow in my hands, I notched an arrow and drew the string back slowly, taking aim at a spot just above one of the goblin's heads. When shooting downwards, it was easy to fall short of the mark and I wasn't about to start wasting my arrows.

I let the arrow fly forward, through the cracks of the railing and a split second later the goblin squawked and fell dead. My arrows always had more power behind them when I had time to aim properly, as I did then. Crouching further, I waited for them to stop running about in confusion before I notched another arrow and took down another goblin.

The best way to kill a goblin was to take it by surprise from a distance. Close combat was when one began to make mistakes- it grew harder to hit them properly and prepare for full-bodied attacks. If I could manage to take them unawares, I always took to the nearest tree to pick them off.

Yech. Goblins.

I shivered a little and then started creeping around the pit, keeping them confused and easier to kill. When I'd successfully shot the last one, I ventured further along the corridor. It was best to keep moving once inside the ruins. There was no time for looting bodies in such a dangerous setting.

I hurried along through the next passage once I'd depressed the stone in the wall. Another problem with the ruins was how confusing they could be. Occasionally I'd end up doubling back on my own path simply because I couldn't remember which stone to push or if I had pushed one in the first place. Doors didn't always open where one expected and sometimes there was no door at all. It could be frightening if it was unexpected. This time, however, I was prepared and made it into the next level of the ruins with no trouble. I kept an arrow notched in my bow and held it out before me, ready to fire, in an effort to take the creatures by surprise again. They all died before they got near me, so my focus must have been near perfect, for once. I chalked it up to my desire to be back at Cloud Ruler as soon as possible.

Well…Martin, really. But he was at Cloud Ruler, so it amounted to the same thing. Something rustled behind me and I whipped about and let fly a few of my enchanted arrows. A zombie fell to the ground and I stepped back, disturbed. Clearly, my focus was a little farther from perfect than I thought. Oh well.

I met several more goblins, zombies and lichs before I managed to crawl, wriggle, and leap my way through the corridors, gates, and traps that stood between me and the inner sanctum: Morimath. It was here I would find the Great Stone and its mythic protector, the last great king of the damned place itself. I stilled my muscles as the threatened to tremble from excitement. I encountered a few beasts as I made my way up the stairs and towards the lengthy pier, the end of which held the treasure I was after.

I could see its glow lighting up the entire pier and most of the ceiling; it was a large stone, indeed. Martin had told the truth of it attraction. I was surprised it was still here, at all, but thought back to what Martin had warned me of: the last king of Miscarcand still guarded it. I glanced about myself uneasily for a moment as I approached the pedestal. I didn't see any more creatures right away, but that didn't mean anything. As I well knew, lichs were especially skilled at hiding themselves from plain sight.

I shivered lightly and paused to take a deep breath before I shouldered my bow and reached up to take the stone. My hands touched its gleaming surface. I waited a moment to see if I had triggered anything. When nothing happened, I let my breath out, smiled a little, and pulled the stone from its place.

My second and greatest mistake of the day. The first had been losing my focus. This one would cost me more than precious minutes of the day.

No sooner had I tucked the stone into my bag, than I felt the icy presence of a lich behind me. Its stench filled my nostrils and I heard, rather than saw, the staircases that rose from the pit of Morimath to meet the pier upon which I was standing. A clatter came from all sides as zombie guardians ran up the gauntlets to attack me.

"Kill her!" screeched the last king of Miscarcand.

Only then was I spurred to action. It was too late to use my bow and I deftly drew my sword from its sheath, thankful I had packed it. I caught the first zombie that charged at me with a broad blow across its ribs and it tumbled to the ground in a heap.

I found myself saying a prayer to the Nine for its swift demise just as a second guardian came at me. Swinging my blade high, I blocked the thing and pushed against it brutally with my shield, sending it off balance long enough to detach its sword arm from its body. It went down soon after, but the short battle left the third and final warrior hacking away at my unprotected back.

I could feel a rusty blade pierce my cloak and tear it away. I was so enraged at the waste of my well earned and foolishly spent gold that I completely ignored the burning sensation that was searing its way down my back and whirled about to confront the beast. It grinned nakedly at me and lunged at me again, but I was ready for it this time and slashed it to pieces before it could lift its sword in riposte.

Nearby, I could hear the enraged howls of the long dead king and the sensations coming from my back finally broke through to me. I had been wounded. How badly? I couldn't tell and there was no time to check before the king was also coming for me, his staff raised high and his face full of murder.

Perhaps it was my thoughtless prayer, but I had only begun to lift my sword again when the king was upon me…and impaled himself upon my raised weapon. He seemed to stare at me in horror as the life drained from him, his arms still bring his staff down about my shoulders weakly. I knew the shock at my good luck must have shown upon my face, for he snarled at me and I was suddenly brought back to reality. I drew my sword from his gut- as much as he had one- and slashed at him a few more times, for good measure.

The last king of Miscarcand. Huh, I sniffed with some disdain. Bloody bastard. But even as I was thinking the words, I felt a small amount of sadness descend upon me. With the loss of Miscarcand's Great Stone, the era of the Ayelid elves had truly ended. The age of mystery and reason was gone and only the empire of greed and thievery remained.

I hoped that the king's spirit would rest for good now. It could not have been easy, living all those years only to protect something you knew was already gone, only to see the things you loved best dying a cruel, cruel death.

I surprised myself by saying another spontaneous prayer. Then I began to step over the bodies and make my way back down the pier. As I lifted my feet, I felt the burning in my back begin again. I finally, warily, lifted a hand to my back to feel the damage. My hand met blood and the jagged edges of pierced armor. I cringed and probed the wounds. Fortunately, they weren't so deep, but I knew that even these shallow wounds would take their toll on me. After everything I'd been through recently, my body was not responding the way it had when I'd first begun.

I stumbled a bit and leaned against a nearby pillar while I cast a healing spell. After another feel that told me the healing was good enough, I made my way from the ruins and hoped I never had to see another wrecked Ayelid city again. I was so intent on making my way from the space that the dull ache coming from my back did not register as a separate injury. Nor did I notice the blood seeping from between my legs and staining the ties of my greaves.

This was unfortuante for myself, as it was what attracted the horde of zombie guardians in the hidden exit to me.

Normally, I am glad to bleed, as it is what assures me I will not be a mother this season. This time, it nearly spelled my death. I did not miss the irony of the situation.

AN: Cliffhanger? Nah, we all know she'll make it out okay. Oops, I hope I didn't just ruin it for you. :)