-1The Jaws of Oblivion
Chapter Thirty-Five - Imperial Dragonfires
A massive fire filled his vision, which was blurry at best. Aldric slowly began to recall that Mankar Camoran's Paradise had collapsed and he had blacked out. He mentally remarked on how tiresome blacking out had become but gradually his vision began to focus.
"Are you alright?" Martin asked, leaning Aldric up slowly. He started applying healing magic to his body in case he had been injured.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you," Aldric replied. He held up his right hand, the Amulet of Kings gleaming brightly in the fireplace's light. "And I have the Amulet."
A loud roar of cheers and joyful cries broke out amongst the assembled group of Blades, congratulating Aldric on his success.
"Thanks, guys," he said with a smile. "But let's remember what we need to do."
"Right," Jauffre put in. "In your absence, we contacted Imperial Battlemage Ocato and he has agreed to officially recognize Martin as the Emperor, as well as bestow his blessing."
"That's good!" the Redguard said enthusiastically.
"Now that you're back," Martin interjected, "we can get going to the Imperial City. So let's go everyone."
Everybody ran off to their quarters or posts to retrieve what would be needed for the journey to the Imperial City Palace. Uvani and Aldric were waiting by the doors to the Main Hall, feeling it necessary for them to stay out of the way of the Blades.
"So how did you do?" the Nerevarine asked.
"Stabbed him in the neck," Aldric replied. "It wasn't easy, though. Bastard had a staff that shot lightning out of the end."
"But in the end, he is slain and Tamriel is safe once more." The Dark Elf patted him on the shoulder. "You did well, Aldric. You've saved the Empire."
Aldric smiled. "I guess I have."
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Compared to his entrance before the Battle of Bruma, Martin's entrance when he arrived at Green Emperor Way was more quiet. The excitement felt by all was just under the surface, but before any celebrations could occur, the official coronation process had to take place.
Even so, Martin Septim proudly displayed the Amulet of Kings around his neck. The robe he was wearing caused Aldric to recall the fact that Uriel Septim had worn the exact same type of outfit on the day that he died. That day seems so long ago, Aldric thought absently.
As the small procession of Martin, Uvani, Caius, Aldric, Baurus, and Jauffre entered the Imperial Palace, the guards greeted them warmly.
"Hail, Dragonblood," the guardsmen flanking the Chamber entrance said in unison.
Martin smiled and nodded back as he proceeded into the Elder Council Chamber where Ocato stood, the guards closing the doors behind them.
"We have been expecting you," Ocato said to the group. "The full Council has already considered the matter of Martin's claim to the Imperial Throne in detail."
The aged High Elf approached Martin and lay a hand on his head. "Martin Septim, on behalf of the Elder Council, I accept your claim to the Imperial Throne. We should arrange the coronation ceremony as soon as--"
The doors suddenly burst open, surprising the guards standing next to it and causing everyone's head to turn in that direction. A man dressed in the Imperial Legion armor staggered into the Chamber, clutching his stomach to keep from bleeding out.
"Chancellor Ocato! Chancellor Ocato!" he screamed, running toward the group and collapsing to one knee. "Chancellor Ocato! The city is under attack! Oblivion Gates have opened, and Daedra are inside the walls! The guard is overwhelmed!"
"No…" Jauffre said with disbelief.
It can't be! I destroyed Mankar Camoran! Aldric's mind screamed.
"Courage, soldier," Ocato said calmly. "We have an Emperor again."
"Your Highness, what are your orders? Shall the Guard fall back to the Palace?" the bloody Legionnaire asked.
"No," Martin said firmly and Aldric was stunned at the man's demeanor. Gone was the timid, shy man he had first met. Here before him was the Emperor of Tamriel. "If we let ourselves get besieged in the Palace, we're doomed. We must get to the Temple of the One immediately."
"As you command, sire. Protect the Emperor!" Ocato ordered, but the group that had come with Martin didn't need such orders. The Blades knew what needed to be done.
At the moment, four Dremora warriors stormed through the front door and slaughtered the guardsmen outside before barging into the Council Chamber. The two guards stationed by the door decapitated two of the Dremora but were knocked back by the second pair. Caius nocked an arrow in his bow and shot one through the eye and Jauffre cut down the last. Blood stained the outer corridor as well as the entrance to the Chamber.
"Let's move!" Jauffre ordered as the group closed toward the front door and emerged outside, with Ocato in tow. The two guards stationed in the Palace Chamber were tending to the wounded soldier inside.
Outside, the sky was crimson red--the undeniable tell-tale of an Oblivion invasion.
By the Nine! What will become of the citizens?! Aldric thought. He concentrated sending waves of frost magicka at a few Fire Atronachs and lopping off the legs of a strange spider-type of daedra he had never seen before. It was chaos all across the perimeter of the Green Emperor Way.
He heard a groan off to his right, and to his horror Aldric saw Baurus taking hits from a Storm Atronach. He was furiously trying to back away on his butt and legs, but to no avail. The Daedra sent a bolt of lightning at the Redguard and crushed him with his chest for good measure. The Atronach subsequently crumbled when Caius shot an arrow at its rocky face, falling to the ground in various pieces.
"NO!" Aldric cried, and ran over to his friend, ignoring the combat alll around. The Redguard hugged his fellow countryman tight, unable to accept the death of his friend.
"Aldric," Baurus rasped weakly. He was still alive!
"What is it, friend?" Aldric asked, trying not to choke up.
"Get Martin…to the Temple…of the One." A stream of blood streamed from the corner of his mouth. "Thank you for saving my life back in the sewers. But I'm afraid you can't…"
"Baurus? Baurus! Come on man! Don't die on me now!"
It was futile, for Baurus was truly gone this time. Aldric wanted to scream, to yell, and to cry all at once. There had been too much pain on this journey, but he had come a long way through it all. He had seen so much death, and he felt he was ready to snap. But he couldn't…not now. He had to keep himself in check just a little bit longer.
He looked to the skys, which were still red, but he could see smoke rising up in the various parts of the Imperial City. The capital was burning.
"Alright!" Jauffre called out. "Report! Any casualties?"
"Just Baurus…" Aldric said quietly.
"By the dear Nine!" Jauffre cried out and rushed to his body, as did the rest of the group. "Aldric…I know how close you and him were…but I need you, Uvani, and Caius to get Martin to the Temple. We'll stay here to protect the Palace."
"Will do," Uvani said confidently, nodding. "Hey Caius, can you still use a blade?"
The elder Imperial dropped his bow and pulled out a short-sword from his waist. "Of course, Nerevar-Reborn. I'm not that old yet."
"Alright, let's go," Aldric said. "Come on Martin!"
The four charged for the gates that led to the Temple District, who were being closely guarded by four Imperial soldiers. "Do we get reinforcements?" Uvani asked them.
"No. Everybody else is cut off!" one yelled back. "If its just you four, that's all you'll get!"
Here goes nothing, the Redguard thought as the guards cracked the gates just enough to let the four slip by before quickly closing them again.
All around them the various houses and apartments in the Temple District were either burnt to the ground or still burning, yet the Temple of the One stood strong. However, the group's journey immediately came to a halt as the wreckage of a building blocked access from the left side. However, a group of soldiers seemed to viciously howling off to the right.
"Let's see if we can help them," Caius said.
But as they turned the corner, the sight before them was jaw-dropping indeed. On the right side of the Temple of the One was a group of about ten soldiers fighting a massive red-skinned, four-armed beast wielding an axe. It was Mehrunes Dagon himself.
"By the Gods…it's useless!" Aldric cried. "Forgetting containing Oblivion! It's already fucking here!"
"No!" Martin shouted. "There is another way!"
The three looked at the young Emperor, waiting for his answer. "Lighting the Dragonfires is now a useless endeavour because Dagon is already here. He is immortal, but if he can be hurt by mortal weapons. If you three do enough damage, you might be able to stagger him and we can race past."
"It's the only option we got," Uvani Lloros said grimly. "It could just work. Martin, stay close enough to us that we can run past. Caius, Aldric…CHARGE!"
The three men raised their swords above their heads and charged toward the massive sight of Mehrunes Dagon. The giant Daedric god didn't seem to notice them as they rapidly approached his feet and simultaneously slashed deep into the giant's legs.
A loud shrill cry of pain could be heard for miles emitted from the giant Prince of Destruction, causing him to stumble back and make craters with his large feet.
"GO! Get into the Temple, NOW!" Martin screamed at the top of his lungs, nearly on the heels of Uvani, Caius, and Aldric. They sprinted as fast as possible past the reeling giant and Aldric cocked his leg back and kicked in the door to the Temple of the One, quickly closing it behind them.
"Aldric. Caius. Uvani." The young Imperial man looked at each man as he said their names. "I've had a vision. I know now what I was born to."
Caius and Uvani seemed confused by the words, but they chilled Aldric to the core. For he recalled the same words from the man's father in the bowel of the Imperial Prison. He knew he was going to die today, and he had accepted it.
"No…" Aldric whispered sadly, too quiet for any of them to pick up amongst the noise outside, which had become deafening.
"I'm sorry I won't be around to help rebuild Tamriel. It's been nice knowing you. And Aldric…you are a hero to the people of Tamriel."
With that the young Emperor walked calmly to the Dragonfire bowl, ripping the Amulet of Kings off of his neck. Just as he approached the altar, the roof of the Temple of the One was unceremoniously ripped off by Mehrunes Dagon. The force of the roof's removal was like a shockwave, throwing Aldric, Caius and Uvani into the wall. Yet Martin was still standing, staring up at the demonic god utterly fearless.
"You want to mess with my people?! My Empire?!" Martin Septim, illegitimate son of Uriel Septim VII, screamed with furious rage. He sat the Amulet of Kings on the altar and smashed it with his fist. "You'll have to get through a Dragonblood!"
A great gout of fire seemed to engulf the entire room, but Martin was no more. Instead, a striking sight--a flaming beast with wings--appeared in the sky. It was an avatar of Akatosh, the God of Time!
By the Nine…he transformed into Akatosh! Aldric cried. He started laughing. "Hell yeah! Get him! Kick his ass back into Oblivion!"
Mehrunes Dagon and the avatar of Akatosh began meleeing in the middle of the Temple District, exchanging punches and claw swipes, battling for the fate of Cyrodiil. It was a marvelous sight to behold and Aldric knew he was watching history in the making.
The intense spectacle ended when Akatosh buried its jaws into Dagon's neck, wounding him, and breathing a holy breath of fire. Mehrunes Dagon stumbled, blood gushing from his neck (and effectively creating bloody rain), and fell to the ground with a large BOOM that shook the entire city. A massive cloud of dust swallowed the whole Temple and when the dust finally settled, the avatar of Akatosh was gone.
But in place of the Temple of the One stood a massive stone statue of Akatosh in a striking pose. The Oblivion Crisis was over.
But at the cost of another Emperor--for Martin, too, was gone.