To the Last Septim

by gabbicav

From the safety of an arranged marriage within the Cyrodiil aristocracy, to a battle to protect all she holds dear. Sarina Passero is cast into a war she doesn't understand, pit against mysterious assassins and daedric forces, and tasked with an impossible quest; to close the jaws of Oblivion, and to find and save Tamriel's only hope: the last Septim. An Oblivion novelisation.

25. Bruma

Chapter 25: Bruma

As was customary for all Chapels serving any of the Nine Divines, the door was always open. I stepped into the cavernous building, my eyes drifting up as I stood and waited in the entrance for the priest on duty to notice me. I suddenly felt very small; the stone walls reaching ever upward and disappearing into blackness in the minimal evening light. A cold breeze fluttered through the open doorway and ruffled my dress against my legs, and I shivered, realising how icy it was, now that the sun had set. I turned as I heard the approach of shuffling footsteps to see a priest hurrying toward me.

He was Redguard, and while his hair had been cut and his head shaved on top in the manner of a priest, he wore loose, common clothes instead of a monk's robe.

He came to a halt and bowed. "Praise the Nine and greetings to you, soldier."

I was confused for a moment, then remembered that I was wearing the armour of a Bruma guard.

"I am Cirroc," he continued, and I noticed a stiffness to his demeanour, as he continued formally. "What service do you seek of the Chapel? I can offer you healing or counsel, in return for a meagre donation."

I returned the conventional bow in greeting, and smiled, wondering why the man seemed to be on edge, though he tried to hide it. "Greetings, Brother. I require neither, actually. I am hoping you can help me locate my companion," I hesitated, wondering whether to describe Caroline as the Nord she would have been when she arrived, or the Breton she now must be. "She would have come to you seeking healing," I left it at that, still unsure about how much time had passed while I'd been in Oblivion with the Captain.

Cirroc nodded, and motioned for me to walk before him. "Many come in need of healing, though few would admit it," he replied obliquely, indicating that we move toward the central alter.

I tried not to sigh at the priest's round-about way of replying to me. "She had been shot, several times, and had lost a lot of blood," I said bluntly. "I gave her what potions I had on hand, but she needed deeper healing than potions would give her."

Cirroc's eyes widened, and his unease seemed to double. "None have sought the Chapel with battle injuries for days," he began, his eyes roving over my appearance, with more uncertainty than was comfortable. I stopped walking with him, hanging back, wondering if I should run.

"However," he added slowly, "I did treat a Nord woman with such injuries earlier today, from the city dungeons," he offered somewhat reluctantly.

What?

"What did she look like?" I asked hurriedly. "Why was she in the dungeons, what was her crime?"

"She was..." he hesitated, then seemed to reconsider. "She assaulted one of the city guards, I believe," he took a step back from me.

What?

It took me a moment to realise that Cirroc was uneasy because he worried that I would attack him. I wanted to laugh at the prospect, but concern over Caroline's imprisonment – assaulted a city guard? - kept the laughter at bay. What had happened?

I breathed deeply and focussed on that, reigning in my worries and placing them behind a mask of what I hoped was gratitude. I smiled, and bowed my head to the priest in farewell.

"Thank you, Brother Cirroc, for healing my friend," I turned to leave.

"Talos guide you," he called after me, relief evident in his voice.

Relief that you're leaving, I told myself.

I dismissed the absurdity of anyone being wary of me, and shook my head as I stormed back along the road and up to the Castle, my mind reeling. There had to be some mistake.

Only then, while I was walking, did I notice that the winding roads and alleyways of Bruma were silent and empty of other people. Night had fallen, but it was not that late. A chill rippled through me as I stuck to the shadows and doubled my pace.

–

I had hoped that I would enter Castle Bruma the following morning with Caroline, preferably after bathing, sleeping a while, and dressing in something befitting my status. Instead, I was approaching the gates still reeking of Mehrunes Dagon's deadlands, in ill-fitting armour and common clothing that was charred and splattered with blackened blood. My hair was oily and full of grime and sweat, and my face was streaked with soot. But there was nothing for it.

I stopped at the entrance to the Castle courtyard, standing tall and reminding myself that, despite appearances, I was Lady Passero, and I needed to muster all the aristocratic glamour I could to retrieve Caroline without causing further trouble or delays.

The guard on duty at the entrance gave me a cautious glance and I smiled widely at him.

"Good evening to you," I dipped into a small curtsy, the kind of which I would have used to greet an Imperial Legion Captain. "My apologies for calling on the Castle at such an hour," I rose.

"You're not one of the Bruma guard," the gate guard told me warily, the lilting accent drawing out his words.

I shook my head, wondering with a little frustration why first Burd and now this guard seemed fixated on such a thing.

"I did not mean to deceive you, soldier, but I have come from battle and only borrowed the armour out of great need," I said in what I hoped was a humble voice.

The guard's eyes narrowed a little. "Who are you?" he asked in a low voice.

Damn. Why were they all so wary of me? Were the people always like this? I knew that the chiefly-Nord inhabitants of Bruma were a superstitious lot but this was verging on irrational.

I looked at him squarely, which was a feat because the Nord was several heads taller than I. "I am Lady Passero," I told him, and hoped that this guard would not see fit to advertise my presence to his comrades later, but I could not think of an alternative name to give him. Recognition flared in his eyes at my name, though when the rest of his expression didn't alter I wondered if I should feel cheered or not.

"I have been lead to believe that you have my bodyguard in custody?" I continued. "I am here to pay her bounty and retrieve her," I added, hoping that was all this guard needed to know. I didn't want to have to explain about the Oblivion gate, or that I was visiting the Countess later.

If only you'd come up to the Castle with Captain Burd, you wouldn't have had to go through all of this, I chastised myself. But how could I have known what had happened to Caroline?

While the guard was still gruff as ever, he stepped aside. "Of course, my Lady," he said, with some awkwardness. "This way. You had best leave the armour with us, so that you are not bothered by others you encounter."

He motioned that I enter the guardhouse door, just inside the gateway.

"If you believe it to be best," I said calmly, though my heart hammered in my chest as I entered the guardhouse. The guard fell into step directly behind me.

It was lighter in here, and there were two more Bruma guards inside, sitting at a small table. A female Nord was writing a letter, and the other, an Imperial man, was eating his dinner. Both sat up to attention as I was brought in, their eyes immediately hard, and trained on me.

Realising that I hadn't eaten since that morning in Jauffre's office at Cloud Ruler Temple, I turned away from the sight of food to try and ignore both it and my stomach's protests, and began shrugging out of the armour.

The guard who had lead me into the room spoke up pointedly, directing one of the guards to escort me to the dungeons to retrieve my bodyguard. He said my name in such a way that I knew at once that he didn't believe me, and I suddenly wondered if I was being taken prisoner?

Rallying my courage, and telling myself that I had to stand tall and act as though all was well for as long as possible, I placed the armour I'd borrowed on a bench by the door and followed the Imperial guard who'd risen, smoothing my dress down as I walked with all the grace I had. At least the dress wasn't as filthy on top as the armour was, and I felt much lighter now that I wasn't wearing chainmail.

Rather than leading me back out into the courtyard and through the front doors of the castle, as I had expected him to, the guard lead me through another door in the guardhouse which lead to a windowless brick tunnel. Pools of golden light lit it at intervals; lanterns hanging from iron hooks set into the wall.

The guard who was escorting me didn't speak, and my anxiety grew as we walked. What would I do if they threw me into a cell? I had nothing but my word to identify me as who I was.

We stopped at another doorway finally, and I was lead down a stone flight of steps into what was unmistakably a dungeon. The entry to the dungeons was brightly lit by permanent sconces on the wall and there was a small table in the middle of the room, behind which sat another Bruma guard, the jailor, who was eating his dinner as well.

He sat up as we entered, but only watched us as the guard escorting me turned and lead me to an antechamber. With relief, I saw that the door wasn't barred.

"Wait here," the guard told me.

I nodded demurely, thanking the guard for bringing me, and he flicked me a confused look as he left. I turned and surveyed the room properly; it was an interview chamber. There was a table and a few chairs in the room. On the table rested a menacing-looking set of tongs.

I made myself move further into the room and sit, as I heard the two guards out in the entrance talking in low voices. Frustratingly, I couldn't hear what they were saying. After a moment, the talking ceased, and I heard the sound of a chair being drawn back across the flagstones, and then approaching boots.

Sitting tall and pretending to inspect a speck of something on the table top, I turned up and smiled at the jailor in the doorway.

"You're friends with the Nord woman who assaulted our gate guard earlier today?" he asked bluntly.

I pretended to be taken aback, fluttering my eyelashes. "Am I to be interrogated like a common prisoner?" I asked him.

"Just answer the question," he rolled his eyes. "The Captain is already on his way. If you won't tell me, he'll make you tell us who you really are."

Thank the Nine, I thought, relief flooding me. Captain Burd would settle the matter. All I had to do was wait.

"Good," I turned my eyes away from the guard, and it didn't take much effort to sound affronted. "I will answer only to the Captain," I told him.

"Suit yourself," the guard muttered, shaking his head and closing the door to the interview room behind him. I heard a loud, almost pointed click as he locked me in.

What was going on in Bruma? Since when were the streets empty of an evening and the Guard so heavy-handed? I suddenly didn't doubt Caroline had hit one of them, if she'd had half the reception that I had.

I fumed as I waited, the minutes ticking by silently. It was not long until I heard the frantic clatter of boots descending stairs, and then Burd's voice echoed around the small entranceway.

"What have you idiots done?" he cried out.

I sighed with relief as I heard the jailor defend himself, saying something about following orders, as I heard their approach.

The lock clicked and the door was opened, and there stood Captain Burd, his armour still streaked with the dust and blood from our journey through Oblivion, though his face and hands were cleaner. The jailor stood behind him; peered over his shoulder.

I blinked up at him, from my seat behind the interview table. "Good evening, Captain," I murmured, unimpressed.

He shook his head at the jailor and shoved the key to the room toward the man. "Release the Lady's bodyguard immediately," he instructed.

I hid as smirk as I saw the look of apprehension cross the jailor's features. "Captain Burd, she was given a sleep draught, she won't wake until morning-"

"Then you carry her!" Captain Burd snarled, cutting the man off.

The jailor left us and I stood, my expression calm, as Captain Burd hurried into the room.

"My apologies for the over-zealousness of the Guard, my Lady," he offered his hand to me.

I stared at it and didn't take it. "Captain Burd, explain to me why the Bruma guard were so eager to lock me up?" I turned up to look at him. "I committed no crime."

"It's those damned spies," Burd said explosively, shaking his head and lowering his hand. "The Blades swept into Bruma and exposed two Mythic Dawn spies that had infiltrated our ranks, then left us to clean up the mess they made."

I couldn't help but narrow my eyes at him, though it explained what had happened in Bruma to make everybody so suspicious. "Are you telling me that the spies uncovered were posing as Bruma guards?"

"They were," he said wearily. "And, I am grateful for the Blade's assistance. Of course I'm grateful, we all are," he added. "It is just...that we failed to realise, for so long," he offered. "Many of the Guard have not yet recovered from the embarrassment," he admitted, with a grimace.

"What's done is done," I stepped around the table, making for the door, which Captain Burd stepped aside and held open to allow me through. I scanned the dungeon entry, but the jailor had not returned with Caroline yet.

I turned back to the Captain. He looked to be stuck somewhere between mortified, and furious.

I frowned. He was a good man, a good Captain. We had fought side by side. After the day he'd had – losing a significantly sized unit to the daedra, nearly dying in Oblivion, fighting his way out with only me and a handful of arrows to help him, and now this? Bad day was an understatement.

"I meant what I said," I told him, in a kinder voice. "I shall not dwell on it, if you don't. What's done is done."

"That it is," he muttered.

He opened his mouth to speak again but we were interrupted by the sounds of a crash. We both turned towards it in time to hear a curse from the jailor, and another crashing sound.

Captain Burd excused himself and muttered a curse of his own as he walked toward the cells.

Hoping that the jailor had not dropped Caroline into something, I waited. Soon enough the Captain and the jailor emerged from a cell, carrying Caroline upright between them.

"-you not recognise this woman as one of the Blades who was in the city mere days ago, man?" Burd was asking him, strain in his voice.

"She did not look like herself when she was brought in," the jailor replied, wheezing.

I hurried forward, taking the jailor's place and resting Caroline's arm around my shoulder. "Thank you, we can manage her from here," I told him curtly.

"My Lady-" the jailor stuttered, moving forward.

"She said to leave it," Captain Burd cut him off. "Now, go open the door for us."

The jailor nodded, and stumbled off. I gave Captain Burd a withering look, but he just shook his head helplessly, and said that a room was being prepared for us, up in the castle.

I glanced up at Caroline's ashen face. Her hair fell forward, obscuring most of her features but she looked to be all in one piece, and she no longer wore the blood-soaked clothing I'd last seen her in. Instead, she was wearing the rough, fitted tunic and leggings of a prisoner. I turned away from her as, with a jolt, I remembered her handing me similar clothing, on the day the Emperor and his sons had been murdered. It felt like such a long time ago, now. So much had happened, had changed forever, since that day.

We walked slowly, Caroline's arms draped around our shoulders, her feet dragging on the flagstones. I could feel that Burd was taking most of her weight on his shoulders, and was glad for it, particularly when we passed the red-faced and silent jailor at the doorway.

"I will see you when you finish your shift," the Captain told him sternly, as we shuffled past.

I didn't look for the jailor's reaction, concentrating on keeping my grip on Caroline, but after the door had closed behind us and we were in the long, windowless hallway again, Captain Burd spoke.

"If you would permit it, my Lady, I can carry her from here," he stopped, shuffling Caroline between us.

I nodded and thanked him, and eased Caroline into Captain Burd's arms, realising that I had probably been more of a hinderance, than a help. In a moment, he had lifted her up in front of him, his arms supporting her knees and her upper back.

With the weight off my shoulders, I realised how weary I was, and that Captain Burd must feel this way too, for he hadn't rested since Oblivion either. As we walked, faster now, I asked the Captain if he had relayed my message to the Countess.

"I did," he replied, casting me a glance. "I am sorry I didn't realise who you were, in the deadlands, when you told me your name. And, In truth, I though the tales of a noble lass being the Hero of Kvatch a myth," his eyes shone a little, as he added. "But, I have seen you storm through Oblivion with my own eyes now, and will never doubt you again, my Lady."

My cheeks flushed, and I felt cheered, but mildly embarrassed, by his praise. I waved his apology away; I'd only given him my first name, and I had looked like a Nord – how was he supposed to have known who I was?

"Stop apologising, Captain," I said with a smile. "Caroline and I meant to not be recoginsed."

"Caroline," the Captain glanced down at the Blade in his arms now, with another frown. "I do not want to be anywhere near your room when she wakes," he muttered, with a shake to his head.

I didn't doubt that Caroline would be furious when she woke, but Burd couldn't change what had happened and was hardly to blame. And despite anything that had occurred at the Bruma entry gate, I wanted to know why she had resorted to assaulting a guard. I figured that questioning her about a course of action which could have only lead to her arrest might mollify her.

I opened a door at the end of the hallway, and we entered a grand hall. Enormous stone columns rose on square plinths, flanked by tall yellow banners bearing the black bird of Bruma, stretching up to the heavily carved and arching grey stone roof. The flagstones on the floor were polished so they shined, and a lavish yellow rug, edged in deep red, ran down the centre of the enormous room. At the end of it, as we passed over the rug, I could see a stone staircase, leading up to a throne that was empty and largely in shadow. Arched doorways encircled the room, which showed an inner hallway and more doorways, that lead deeper into the castle's many rooms, I figured. Burd headed toward one of these, still cradling Caroline as though she was his bride.

I fell into step beside him again, as I heard the quick patter of approaching, heeled foot steps. As we turned through one of the stone archways, I saw a flicker of torchlight, then saw a stern-looking Breton woman perhaps in her late-forties hurrying to meet us. She was clad in a beautiful but simple green velvet dress, and her auburn hair was curled but pinned back severely, which made the angles of her face sharper than they would have otherwise been.

"Lady Passero, it is my pleasure to greet you, and welcome to Castle Bruma," she curtsied as she reached us, and Burd and I drew to a halt.

I nodded back the required curtsy, and she raised her head, her eyes flickering over my appearance with a hint of concern. "I am Yvara, the Countess' private steward, and she bade me attend on you this evening, while your handmaiden is otherwise..." she trailed off, looking even more uncertain as she stared at the unconscious Caroline in the Captain's arms.

"Yvara, thank you," I broke in after a pregnant silence. "Please, lead on," I indicated that we continue. The woman faltered for only a moment longer, before smiling hesitantly and turning to one of the many doors in the open hallway.

She drew a key out of her pocket and unlocked the door. "The Countess is eager to meet with you and discuss your message from the Grandmaster of the Blades," she spoke. "However it is late, and from what Captain Burd told us of your adventures today," she opened the door, and held her hand out for us to proceed before her, "you could use some rest."

"Thank you," I stepped past her, into yet another hallway. Castle Bruma was a labyrinth. I sighed, then covered the sigh with a smile. "Yes, it has been a very long day."

"I can only imagine," Yvara replied courteously, and took the lead again. We passed a number of doorways that all looked the same, before she spoke up again.

"Here we are," she stopped, turning a door handle and I was grateful to see that this door wasn't locked. I didn't much feel like being locked into anywhere again. Not that I could wander off, exactly; I was likely to get lost in the sameness of the castle corridors.

I stepped into a room that was about the size of Martin's room at Cloud Ruler Temple, only this room was very grey, with little adornment. The walls were hung with some cheap-looking tapestries; a long table and single chair were at the far side of the room, next to a low dresser. The main bed was in the middle of the room, but pushed to the wall, and tall, black candelabras with thin white candles provided the only light. Another smaller bed had been set up, closer to the door we had entered through, and Captain Burd proceeded to lay Caroline down on it.

A bleak room, in a bleak castle, I thought miserably, then wanted to pinch myself for being such a snob, and reasoned that it was my fatigue making me so dismal.

"Please thank the Countess for accommodating us so beautifully," I smiled at Yvara, the muscles in my face aching from all of the enforced smiling I had been doing. "Could I trouble you for some food, and water to bathe?" I indicated my sorry state.

Yvara seemed more amiable now, and indicated a door on the far side of the room, which I hadn't noticed during my brief inspection. "There is a bathing chamber through that door, and the water is always ready," she must have noticed how my eyes lit up, for the corner of her lip curled up in the first attempt I had seen at a smile from the woman. "And I will see that something is brought from the kitchens at once, if there is nothing else?"

I shook my head, dismissing her. "No, thank you."

She bowed politely and left.

Captain Burd turned back to me. "You will be safe in the Castle, even with Caroline unconscious," he assured me.

I shook my head, looking down at my poor bodyguard, not wanting to remind him that only days ago, it wouldn't have been safe here, what with Mythic Dawn agents in their ranks. "What did they give her?" I asked.

"I don't know," Captain Burd said gruffly, clearly frustrated at his Guard.

I sighed, longing to retreat to the bathing chamber. "Get some rest, Captain," I told him. "You have earned it," I smiled wearily at him.

The Captain said good bye, and that he would question his guards further on the morrow about what had happened with Caroline, before he left.

Closing the door behind him, my gaze returned to Caroline's sleeping form, and I shook my head at the alarming, terrifying day. I wished that I could crash into bed and sleep, but I could smell myself in the stark cleanliness of the room.

I hastened to the bathing chamber, opening the door wide. A damp steam from within wafted over me, and I stepped into the room, revelling in the warmth.

There was a stone pool set into the floor, full of steaming water, though I couldn't see any pipes or taps leading into the room. Perhaps it was being fed by a thermal hot spring, under the castle?

I stripped off my layers, noticing towels and soaps lying on a shelf built into the wall. Without ceremony, I eased myself into bath, wincing as the hot and slightly salty liquid immediately found every cut and graze on my body. I closed my eyes as I ducked under, weathering the stinging sensation by telling myself that the hot water would help me heal. After I had grown used to the heat, I scrubbed myself pink and washed my hair several times.

And then I lingered. I sat back in the water, splaying my hands across the top of it and flexing my fingers through the warmth as my muscles unknotted aches I hadn't realised were there until I had stopped for long enough.

I couldn't help but smile now that we were both safe, as the water eased me, at the predicament my bodyguard had found herself in when she had tried to call the Bruma guard to action. The disguises that had been cast to protect us had worked against her, and it must have been infuriating, considering that she had just watched me walk into the jaws of Oblivion. So much could have gone wrong when we had departed Cloud Ruler Temple that morning, and we had not anticipated any of what had eventuated. It made me want to laugh out loud, at the sheer madness of the day, and that we were both still alive.

I lay back, looking to the vaulted ceiling of the bathing chamber, but not really seeing it, as I let my thoughts drift and wander where they would, grateful for this moment of blissful down time and determined not to waste it worrying about the future, or mulling over what had already passed. For a moment, I allowed myself to think about Martin; what he might be doing now, whether he had had any more luck with the final portion of the Xarxes translation that we needed. With a pang I realised that we hadn't been separated for even a day. We had been spending every day together, for weeks now, decoding the Xarxes and training with Caroline. It was an odd thing, I thought in the idleness of the bathing chamber, to be together in a routine for so long, and then so swiftly separated. A memory of the blazing kiss he had given me that morning rose in my thoughts, sending a thrill through me. Again I wondered; if I had stayed, not only in his room, but in his arms - what might have happened?

Nothing, I told myself with some sternness. He would not have kissed that way if you hadn't told him you were leaving. He was trying to make you stay with him.

I steadied myself, knowing that despite the endearment we felt for one another, I was right. Martin was too measured; he wasn't the sort of man to rush into anything, unless he felt he had been backed into a corner. At least, that was what I had seen of him, in the time we had gotten to know one another.

Which isn't long enough to be having such thoughts, I reminded myself. I pushed the memory of Martin's kiss - and my own response to his fierce embrace - away resolutely and focused on something - anything - else, to distract me.

Roses. I could smell roses. The soaps I had used earlier had been rose-scented, and the smell reminded me of the brambles that grew on the walls of Rosethorn Hall. Thinking of my family estate, for it had not truly felt like my home for a long time, I reminded myself to track down Eyja, if there was time, as her mother lived in Bruma and I'd instructed her to wait here for word that it was safe for her to return. Surely it would be safe for her to do so now, since the Mythic Dawn believed me to be at Cloud Ruler Temple.

Inevitably, my thoughts sobered at the memory of the letter Captain Steffan had retrieved detailing the Mythic Dawn's plans. I sat up, squeezing the water out of my hair and turning my eyes up to the high, open window in the bathing chamber. Too high for anybody to climb in through. What would the Mythic Dawn do if they knew I was here, now; alone, unarmed, and undefended? Ruma Camoran's letter had suggested that they wanted to retrieve me, not kill me. But her father...Mankar Camoran, he had suggested...

"Even as you strive to hinder us you do His work and seal the priest's fate."

The memory of his words during my ascent from Oblivion wove through me again, and I bit my bottom lip, wondering what he could have meant, as I lowered my gaze to the steam rising off the pool of water.

Had he been truthful? How could he have been? It didn't make any sense; why did the Dawn want to capture me, if I was apparently doing what Mehrunes Dagon wanted me to anyway?

I didn't have the answer, and the joyful serenity of the bath seeped out of me as I sighed. I rose, towelled myself off then wrapped the towel around me, leaving the dirty clothing in the corner of the room.

Caroline was still soundly asleep when I entered our room, closing the door behind me and smiling gratefully at the tray of food on the long table close to the bathing chamber door.

I dressed in a long, warm woollen night dress I found in the dresser, wondering when I would next get to wear my own clothes. I had noticed, as I had searched through the dresser, that there were several other finer garments in it, that I resolved to investigate later. I didn't doubt that there would be something suitable within to address the Countess in tomorrow.

Tomorrow, I thought, wearily, with a sigh, as I sat at the table and ate the meal that had been brought for me. The soup was thick and hearty, and the bread soft and springy, and while it was delicious, I ate automatically, and in silence; my mind on the task ahead of me.

I had no doubts in my mind that the Countess would agree with Jauffre's request that she ask the other counties for aid. With the devastation that had taken place outside of the gate today, and the recent uncovering of spies in their ranks, it was clear that the Bruma guard could use all the help it could get. But how would the Countess request armies from all over Cyrodiil without attracting attention, and even if she managed to, how could Bruma accommodate such a force without arousing further suspicion?

I shook my head, finishing my meal, unable to see a way. As soon as the Mythic Dawn realised that the reason so many troops were rallying was to prevent them from opening the Great Gate, I feared Bruma would be inundated with lesser gates.

She will find a way, I told myself in an attempt to settle my anxiety, as I rose from the table and went to bed. While I was desperate to sleep, I was gnawing on the problem, and I knew it wouldn't let me rest until I resolved it. Your task is to deliver the message, not facilitate it.

I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew, it was day, and I was being woken by Caroline.