*CHANTRY OF AURI-EL*
THE FORGOTTEN VALE
HIGH ROCK

"Pruzah wundunne, Miraak."

The massive figure of Durnehviir faded away, slowly sinking back down into the snow-covered ground. Miraak brought a hand to his chest, bowing his head mournfully.

"My thanks, old friend. If there is a way to end your imprisonment, I shall strive to find it. I swear it."

We most certainly will, but let's focus on the situation at hand.

Miraak sighed deeply, and hefted his sword, testing the weight in his hand.

"My limbs have yet to remember their old strength," he stated softly. "If we can avoid a pitched battle with this Snow Elf you've told me of, it would be the best course of action.

That's why you have ME, Miraak, Tala answered cheekily. I'll protect you from the mean Snow Elf, not to worry.

"What I meant was," Miraak hissed, "that several of our goals align with his. There is no need for a battle unless he proves truly stubborn."

Of course.

The former Dragon Priest ducked his head low, entering the ice- and snow-covered temple that once was the Chantry of Akatosh, or Auri-El in the Ancient Falmer tongue. Scattered throughout the chamber were several frozen figures: the hunched, eyeless forms of the Falmer, and here and there the smooth, black figure of a frozen Chaurus could be seen.

Careful, those frozen Falmer will –

"I was actually paying attention when we went over this," Miraak cut her off, and then drew a deep breath. "GOL! HAH! DOV!"

The wave of energy struck the frozen figures in the room, shattering their icy prisons and causing the whole room to shake. The frozen figures shook themselves free of the remnants of snow and ice, and then slowly crouched down silently as Miraak advanced, bowing low to the mysterious figure.

"Clever, little mortal. Clever."

Miraak spun towards the source of the voice, which was revealed to be a white-armored figure seated upon a throne of ice.

"Did you really come here expecting to claim the Bow of Auri-?"

"No, Arch-Curate Vyrthur, I did not."

The Ancient Snow Elf paused mid-monologue, clearly taken off-guard.

"So you know who I am…" he murmured. "Did my pathetic excuse for a brother Gelebor send-"

"I am not here to claim the Bow of Auri-El for myself," Tala cut him off again, forcing her way to the control of Miraak's form. "I am here to ask you if you would have your revenge upon the one who betrayed you."

If Vyrthur was startled by either the sight of Miraak's eyes glowing green, Tala's disembodied voice, or her knowledge of his past, he did not show it.

"Akatosh, or Auri-El, as you call him, betrayed us both," Miraak added. "I was defeated upon Solstheim all those centuries ago, because Akatosh would not aid me against His precious firstborn: Alduin. Just as He would not aid YOU when the Fallen invaded His own Chantry."

"I know YOU wrote the prophecy of the Tyranny of the Sun," Tala continued. "I know you're a vampire. And I know that for the past few thousand years, you've been accumulating and freezing an army of vampiric Falmer, held under your sway and command."

"And who exactly ARE you, to know these things?"

The thin frame straightened, and a strength came into its Voice, lending fire to the words and to the body speaking them.

"I am Dragon Priest of Akatosh.

I was named Guide of Allegiance to the Dovah.

I am the Highest, First, and True Dragonborn.

I am Miraak, MUL of the QAH of the DIIV!"

As the Ancient dov words rolled off his tongue, the Dragon Aspect licked around the formerly unimpressive form, flickering and washing over Miraak like a warm blanket, or a favorite cloak.

"And I have come for my Vengeance."

Then the eyes flicked emerald green.

"And I am Tala Niwot, Queen of the Reach, Lady of the Forsworn, Keeper of the Mournful Throne, and High Mother of the Vodahmin. Knowledge-Daughter of Hermaeus Mora, Keeper of Knowledge and Scryer of the Tides of Fate."

Vyrthur slowly sat forward, curling his figure tips together in thought.

"So… it comes about," he stated slowly, "Exactly as the Daedra foresaw… These are names that are not unknown, even in my long solitude on the far side of the world."

He looked past Miraak onto the balcony upon which they had landed with Durnehviir.

"Did you bring the Daughter of Coldharbour, then, that her blood may fulfill this prophecy?"

"Not with us," Tala admitted. "But we know where two of them are. Come with us: leave this prison of ice you have built for yourself, and take your vengeance upon this world. The Betrayed answer to you. You can move by secret ways, forgotten by even the eldest of all the other Races."

Vyrthur cast his eyes upon the figure before him, and the red orbs narrowed.

"And why, Queen Tala," he hissed, "Should more Falmer die, for the ambitions of a Human?"

"Because I can restore your people unto you."

That prompted a visceral reaction from the ancient Snow Elf, and he leapt to his feet, his face inches away from the green glowing eyes.

"That. Is. Impossible," he hissed.

"NOT for the Lord of Secrets," Tala answered unflinchingly. "Not for the Keeper of Forbidden Knowledge."

"You want your revenge, OLD MER?" Miraak sneered, seizing control from the woman from Wyoming. "Or will you skulk here for another few millennia, bemoaning the fact that the Gods are so High Above us?"

He strode forward, actually causing the Ancient Falmer to fall back a step, then another, and another.

"Will you sit here, in this wretched ruin, bemoaning the Fate Auri-El wrote for you upon the Stars of Aetherius, or will you SPIT IN THE FACE OF FATE, and seize control of your people's Destiny? TAKE CONTROL, VYRTHUR OF THE FALMER! TAKE YOUR REVENGE!"

With an inhuman snarl, Arch-Curate Vyrthur seemingly exploded in a red cloud of dark magic, blasting the human figure back off the raised dais.

"REVENGE?!" the snarl formed into words. "I'LL SHOW YOU REVENGE!"

Two large wings, crimson as the setting sun, sprouted from Falmer. The white-skinned figure twisted and contorted to take the form of the impossibly-ancient Vampiric Lord that he was.

"AEDRA!" Vyrthur cried again, "YOUR TIME HAS COME! GATHER UNTO ME, MY BRETHEN!"

And with that cry, more icy figures emerged from the very walls themselves: Twisted, Repulsive figures, shades of the Arch-Curate's race, clad in the shells of the black insects that they hunted, rode, and shepherded.

Miraak's startled surprise was ended as Tala retook her place, the eyes flashing green once again as her voice lifted above the screeches and cries of the fast-gathering crowd before her.

"You who were driven, now is the time to Drive!

You who were betrayed, your hour of vengeance has come!

You who were abandoned, let our enemies despair!

You who were Vodahmin, who were forgotten, gather unto me!

HEAR ME, YE AEDRA! To the last, I grapple with thee; From Oblivion's heart, I stab at thee; For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee!"

Behind her, Vyrthur stretched out his arms and lifted them in a savage motion. Stones creaked and shifted, lifting the ancient copula from its hiding place. Just inside, floated the legendary weapon: The Bow of Auri-El, forged from Starlight itself against the forces of Lorkhan during the Ehlnofey Wars of the Dawn Era. Vyrthur stretched out his hand and seized the weapon, smoke arising from between his corrupted fingers. He lifted the weapon above his head, and the assembled Falmer went wild with screeches and the cries of their insectoid mounts.

"WE MARCH TO WAR!"

Author's Note:

I am not dead. There are times when raising an infant that it feels like it, but I am still here. It's not a long chapter, I know, but I want to thank you all for your patience. Aedra and Daedra willing, the chapters should come more regularly now.

Another faction in this Great War enters, with more legendary leaders at their head. What comes next?

Fire. Fire and Blood.

-Tusken1602

Reviewer Responses:

Leblanc23 - I'm also hyped up for the battles ahead!

Guest, JimmyHall24 - The Dragonborn's meeting with Serana will be... interesting, to say the least.

NotRevan - It's not gonna be simple, that's for sure.

rc48177 - Yes, sad, isn't it? *evil chuckle* And in Real Life, there is no Rage Quitting.

InsidiousAgent - Well, we know she's absorbed the Steed Stone, the Lords Stone, and the Lovers Stone. As far as the rest of them go, it's gonna be fun!

jdboss1 - Well, on the one hand, Potema's moved from an army of "for now" allies into absolutely loyal undead reinforcements for her troops. And the troops she loses killing the Aldmeri forces... just get resurrected.

Guest, revantaylor - Nope, not dead.

gruntsbreeder - Thanks!