Darling Lewis,
We have two massive armies squaring off with one another. There is no reason for so many to die.
I will be at Lund's Hut, on the outskirts of Rorikstead, tomorrow at sundown.
You know who will be there, and you know who to bring.
Potema Septim
Queen of the Mournful Throne
Mother of the Vodahmin
Rightful Empress of the Ruby Throne
*IMPERIAL ARMY CAMP*
RORIKSTEAD
WHITERUN HOLD
SKYRIM
"You can't be serious."
Sarai Gellarus set down the scrap of parchment, staring incredulously at Llewellyn Hereon, High King of Skyrim.
"Can you think of a better way to end this war in one fell swoop?" he grinned, leaning forward.
"Best case scenario: we banish Potema back to the Soul Cairn, kill Harkon, and the Vodahmin tear themselves apart in the aftermath. Worst case scenario: I get killed, and all of Skyrim goes to war under the leadership of General Tullius to avenge me."
"You're leaving out the part where you're dead, you idiot," Sarai hissed. "Do you think for a moment that the Wolf Queen wants to actually talk? This is absolutely, no questions about it, one million percent, a trap."
"Ahh, but you see, that's just it," Lewis countered, "We have the advantage of knowing that it's going to be a trap, and we can be prepared."
"Only to get our asses handed to us because she knew that we knew it was a trap," Sarai quipped back. "She says 'sundown' right? That means vampires, and quite a few of them."
"We have two of those of our own, if you remember," Lewis continued. "And besides, sundown means more than just vampires."
"Like what?"
"Shadows," Lewis grinned.
*LUND'S HUT*
OUTSIDE RORIKSTEAD
"Well my, my, my… looks like the gang's all here."
The two parties squared off in the small field as the yellow sun began to sink beneath the western mountains. On the one side stood the Dragonborn, the Arch-Mage, along with three other figures: Isran, Serana, and Valerica. Isran glowered darkly at being on the same side as not one, but two elder vampires.
On the other side of the field stood Tala Niwot's body, with the blue eyes of Potema Septim blazing. Beside her stood the red-armored figure of Harkon, Lord of Volkihar. Off to one side stood Skoberth Black-Song and Movarth Piquine, with the wolf-form of Helmmir War-Raed standing beside them.
"What have you done with Tala?" Serana hissed, shoving herself forward.
"My dear daughter," Lord Harkon smiled, stepping forwards towards her.
"Father…"
Serana took an involuntary step back, and her mother pulled her back behind her.
"Harkon."
A look of unmasked fury crossed the Vampire Lord's expression for an instant, replaced with the placid smiling mask.
"Beloved," he purred. "I… owe you much for keeping our daughter from me for so long…"
Valerica met his gaze unflinchingly.
"I protected her from your madness."
"UNGRATEFUL BITCH! I'LL RIP YOUR – "
"I hate to interrupt a loving family reunion," Potema spoke, touching a shoulder to Harkon, "but we are here on other matters."
"You wanted us here to talk," nodded Lewis, "Now talk."
"It's simple, BOY," grinned the Wolf Queen, "Kneel and swear fealty to me as Empress of Cyrodiil, and I will let you live. I'll even let you keep that ridiculous crown if you really want it."
"And what claim do you have on the Ruby Throne, Undead bitch?" scoffed Llewellyn Dragonborn.
Now it was Potema's turn to twist her face in raw fury.
"I HAVE THE ONLY CLAIM."
"You are nothing but a spirit in a stolen body," Sarai Gellarus stated, charging a spell in both hands. "And we will send you back to Oblivion where you belong."
Potema grinned like the wolf of her name, and placed a hand on her chest, undoing a button to reveal just a little more cleavage.
"Even if that means killing this body, little Sarah?"
"For the sake of Tamriel and the future of Nirn?" Sarai Gellarus scowled, but there was a sorrow in her eyes. "Yes."
"You see, Serana?" Potema crooned, turning back to the vampiress. "They care nothing about anyone other than themselves. Come back to us and leave these fools to their own devices."
Valerica held out a hand, but Serana gently pushed it aside as she stepped towards the Wolf Queen.
"Your Majesty," she asked, casting her eyes at the ground. "Where is Tala?"
"She is gone, little one," Potema stated gently, reaching out a hand to stroke Serana's cheek. "There is only ME now."
Serana looked up, and her eyes blazed scarlet fire. Both of her fist came up, striking Potema Septim squarely in the chest, knocking her back to land on her back in a very unqueenly fashion.
"I'LL KILL YOU FOR THAT, WOLF-BITCH!"
"Serana, no!" came the shout from the other members of the party. Isran on the other hand, merely unshouldered his war-hammer from his back.
"That didn't take long," he mumbled, before coming on at a run.
Twin blades appeared in Serana's hands, and she leapt towards the still-prostrate figure of the Queen, only to be tackled by the red-armored figure of her father. The Arch Mage fired off a spell, and the ghostly figure of a Sabre-cat appeared beside her.
"Get away from her, you MONSTER!" Valerica hissed, and with matching roars, two winged figures locked fang and claw in combat above their daughter.
Dark figures could now be seen running through the tall grass towards the combat field. Suddenly, more figures arose from their hiding places, locking blades with the incoming figures.
Llewellyn drew Dawnbreaker and drove to strike at Harkon's back, only for two wings to lash out, knocking the High King of Skyrim back onto his ass. Winded, he rolled up to a kneeling position, looking up at a figure in Nightingale armor beside him.
"Get up lad," Brynjolf grinned. "This is no time to take a nap."
Arrows began to ply from the shadows, and Helmmir roared in pain.
"Karliah is having all the fun without us," Brynjolf smiled, offering a hand to the Dragonborn, pulling him to his feet.
The leader of the Queen's Pack came at Sarai Gellarus at a run, but before the Arch-Mage could fire off a spell, another wolf came through the tall grass, tackling Helmmir around the waist and throwing him back.
"Well struck, Aela!" crowed Farkas, pulling his axe out of a Volkihar vampire.
"We are with you, sister!" Vilkas grunted.
Potema Septim looked around at the combat ensuing all around her, and extended the Rose of sanguine to its full length, sending out an orb, from which sprang the fully-armed figure of Teryn'garwch, drawing his Daedric Greatsword and leaping to engage the High King of Skyrim in combat yet again.
She grinned at the dremora's shout of unadulterated pleasure, then turned to find the Arch-Mage of Winterhold calmly walking towards her.
"Potema Septim," she said in a low, even voice. "Time to put an end to this madness."
The Wolf Queen only smiled and then stepped back and launched a Fireball towards the Arch-Mage.
"An End?" she crowed, "Foolish girl, why in all the Planes of Oblivion would I want ALL THIS FUN TO END?"
But before Sarai could finish charging her own counter-spell, the earth beneath them began to rumble and shake, knocking many of the combatants off their feet.
"What trickery is this?" Both women asked in unison, then tensed as they realized this was not part of either of their plans.
In the field behind them, a group of charging vampires suddenly found the ground beneath them collapsing, vanishing into the sinkhole that had suddenly appeared beneath their feet. From the opening, Falmer poured out in droves, led by a figure on a spectral horse.
"NO," breathed Potema Septim. "Impossible…"
Another figure appeared, this one astride an antlered Vale deer.
"Arise, Falmer!" he called, holding a glowing bow high, "Strike with me, Brethren!"
"Gods," gasped Sarai Gellarus, "That weapon…"
"MINE," Harkon snarled, disengaging from his struggle with his wife, and throwing himself towards the white-armored figure. "With ME, VOLKIHAR! BRING. ME. THAT. BOW!"
The mounted figure seemed to scoff, and then launched himself into the air, firing left, right and left again, each arrow turning the nearest attacking vampires into dust. A glowing arrow lashed out, striking the Volkihar lord in the shoulder, causing the Vampire Lord to screech at the pain.
"You DARE!?" he roared. "You DARE keep me from my destiny!?"
"Harkon…" Vyrthur sighed. "I was a servant of Molag Bol long before your grandsires were even born. I wrote that Elder Scroll you bear. Do not speak to me of Destiny."
The spectral steed disappearing into the ground beneath them, a robed and hooded figure threw itself between Sarai and Potema, throwing up a Ward Wall to defend against an icy blast from the Wolf Queen.
"Hello, Buffy."
The figure was masked, but that voice still caused the Arch-Mage to do a double-take.
"T-T-Tala? Wh-what the…"
"Disembodied spirit, no time to explain: Keep the bitch distracted," the masked figure spoke. "And TRY not to damage my body too badly!"
Tala dropped the ward, rolling forward to cross swords with the Mace of Molag Bal and the Rose Potema wielded. The Wolf Queen took a deep breath:
"FUS RO DAH!"
Tala's… other body was blasted back, landing beside the Arch-Mage, who had erected a defensive barrier against the power of the Voice.
"Ok… new plan," Tala's voice groaned. "I'm going to need as much magicka energy as you can give me."
"Tala…" Sarai hesitated, "They don't call me Arch-Mage ironically: you won't be able to handle that much power."
"Neither will she," Tala stood to her feet, and then a man's voice spoke:
"WULD NAH KEST!"
"Form a square!" called Delphine, drawing her round shield from her back. "Protect the King, but do not engage the Wolf Queen."
"On your word, Commander!" Derkeethus Dark-Water screeched. He and Eric the Slayer locked shields with the massive figure of Uthgerd the Unbroken. Just behind them, Marcurio of Riften charged a Lightning Spell, casting the energy forward to act like a shield as the Blades regrouped.
Our oath prevents us from fighting you directly, Wolf Queen, the Blade thought grimly as she cut down a vampire appearing out of the growing darkness. But that doesn't mean we can't fight your minions….
"Strike as one!" She called aloud. "Advance!"
"Jarl?" Lydia questioned, astride her steed, looking down at the combat below. "Who do we attack?"
Balgruuf looked down at the hordes of Falmer pouring out of the ground, coming at both groups at a run.
"Lydia," he said finally, making a tactical decision. "Lead your ala right: cut off the Falmer from the King's party. Irileth, follow my banner down the center. We will relieve the pressure on the Blades."
The Jarl of Whiterun's housecarl drew her helmet down over her face, and gripped her lance.
"With you, my jarl."
Balgruuf drew his sword, and gestured at the ranks of horsemen behind him.
"Charge! For Sovngarde!"
"Icando?" Lady Kaie breathed, looking down at the chaos below. "This was not in the plan…"
"No," nodded the Hand of the Queen, "Hordes of Falmer coming out the ground was not in any of our contingency plans, I must admit."
"What do we do?" the Foresworn woman asked.
"Order the ranks forward," Icando stated after a moment's hesitation. "The Falmer are attacking the Nords and the Queen's party both. We will make no move against the Nords until ordered to do so by the Queen. Move against the Falmer, and keep them from reaching the Queen."
"As the Hand commands," Borkul the Beast nodded, the massive orc lifting his warhammer. "VODAHMIN!"
Ranks of pikemen came to attention, supported by crossbowmen behind.
"FORWARD!"
"HUN KAAL ZOOR!"
Llewellyn stepped back from the massive pillar of light that descended from Sovngarde, smiling at the figure stepping from the portal.
"Hail, Dragonborn!" the spectral figure of Gormlaith Golden-Hilt laughed. "A glorious battle indeed!"
"So it is," Llewellyn grinned. "Shall we get star…"
"DUR NEH VIIR!"
The Dragonborn and Ancient Hero spun towards the source of the Shout, seeing the figure of a massive Undead Dragon arise from the very ground itself. Gormlaith threw her head back and laughed.
"I always wanted to fight HIM! DURNEHVIIR!" she bellowed out in challenge, "FACE ME, you undead Wyrm!"
The two charged forward, cutting their way through rabid Falmer.
Potema grunted, holding up the Ward against the UNNATURAL amount of magical energy Sarai channeled towards the Wolf-Queen. Even with Spellbreaker in hand and the blessings of the Lord's Stone on Tala's body, Potema found herself hard-pressed to withstand the sheer amount of magicka being hurled her direction.
"How in all the Daedra's names…" she whispered, and then suddenly felt an iron fist close around her shoulder.
"Potema Septim," Tala's green eyes flashed, through an unfamiliar face. "I BANISH YOU BACK to whence you came."
Potema's eyes went wide in wild panic.
"Tala."
The Ward collapsed, and the wave of magicka struck both figures full-on. Tala's host figure pulled, and the spectral figure of the Wolf Queen suddenly was pulled from the chest of Tala's body.
"TALA!" Potema screeched, raw panic in her voice. "WAIT! Don't do this! I'm SORRY! I'm sorry… We can still work together, darling! WE CAN HAVE EVERYTHING! WE can STILL…"
The spectral figure suddenly was seized between the jaws of Durnehviir, her words cut off in an unearthly scream as dragon and body disappeared back beneath the ground.
Sarai ended her spell just in time to see another ghostly figure exit the masked warrior's body and enter the figure of Tala Niwot. She ran over, vaguely aware of another figure joining her, kneeling beside Tala's body, even in the midst of the melee around them.
"Tala?!" Serana whispered, and green eyes fluttered open to meet her crimson ones. "Is that…"
Tala reached up and pulled Serana to her, locking her lips in a passionate kiss. Serana's eyes went wide, and then closed as she leaned into the embrace and kiss.
"Um… I'm going to take that as a 'Yes,'" Sarai stated, clearly very uncomfortable at the public display of affection. "But the real question is: What now?"
Tala ended the kiss with Serana, both women panting breathlessly, and then turned to the Arch-Mage.
"Now we prevent a war," Tala answered.
"Sounds like a plan," Serana nodded, "What's the first step?"
"I'm on it," Tala said, slowly getting to her feet, and hefting the Mace of Molag Bal in her hand. "Gods, it's good to back in my own body."
She turned to the masked and hooded figure in whom she had hitched a ride.
"You know what to do."
The figure nodded wordlessly, and then sprinted left, just as Tala went right, followed by Serana and Sarai.
Harkon and Vyrthur were still locked in a desperate struggle, both grappling for the unearthly bow in the Snow Elf's grasp. Suddenly, two wings sprouted from Vyrthur's back, driving up and under the sternum of the Lord of Volkihar. Harkon gasped in pain, and then the Snow Elf sank his fangs into his neck.
"My…. Destiny…" moaned the Lord of Vokihar. Just then, Isran charged a Stendarr's Aura spell between his hands, channeling the energy into his enchanted warhammer.
"Stendarr, grant me aid," the human breathed, and then struck with all his might at the wounded Vampire Lord. The figure of Harkon crumbled to ash and dust. Vyrthur stepped back, squaring off with the Dawnguard commander. The Bow of Auri-El gleamed menacingly in his hand.
"Mortal," he scoffed. "Do you really think you can stand against me?"
"Don't need to," Isran grunted. "He'll do that just fine."
A look of puzzlement crossed the Snow Elf's Face, and then suddenly it twisted in pain as a blade sprouted from his chest. Miraak stepped back, leaving the spectral blade in place as the Snow Elf stumbled to his knee, looking up at the figure standing before him.
"You… treacherous…. Bitch," he hissed, as black blood bubbled between his lips.
"You have done well, Vyrthur of the Falmer," Tala breathed. "I thank you, and your people."
The Mace of Molag Bal twitched in her hand.
"But your Soul belongs to Molag Bal, and He has come to claim His debt."
The Mace swung once, twice, three times, each time cracking bone and shattering limbs beneath.
"Auri-El," came the hoarse whisper as the Mace raised again, "Forgive me…"
It descended again, and rose no more.
The Falmer surrounding the glen and locked in combat with the various figures suddenly stumbled, and then looked around, as if realizing where they were for the first time. In that moment, ranks of horsemen came over the hill, riding down the subterranean creatures and their Chaurus mounts. Most turned and fled, only to run headlong into ranks of pikemen, and deadly crossbow bolts twanged, sending barbed death forward. Few indeed made it back to the tunnel from which they had appeared.
"REGROUP!" Llewellyn Dragonborn called out, pulling Dragonbane out of a Falmer Shaman.
"TO ME, VOLKIHAR!" Valerica called out, yanking a dagger out of the neck of Orthjolf and stepping over the smoking corpse of Vingalmo. "BY RIGHT OF BLADE AND BLOOD, I CLAIM YOUR ALLEGIANCE! RALLY TO ME!"
The various undead creatures paused in their struggles, breaking off to gather in ordered ranks before their new Mistress. Taking advantage of the respite, the Dawnguard, Blades, and Companions sprinted towards the High King, spells and weapons prepped. In the distance, Balgruuf drew up the ranks of horsemen just out of bow-shot of the ordered ranks of Vodahmin pikes. For a single, dreadful moment, the two armies squared off, waiting only for the word of their rulers to reengage.
"HOLD!"
Tala Niwot's voice, her actual voice, rose in startling clarity over the ruined field. Llewellyn looked over to see his lover standing beside Tala, and lowered Dragonbane slowly.
"High King," Tala stated in a respectful tone, replacing the Mace and the shortened Rose of Sanguine in their places on her belt.
"Queen Tala," Lewis stated in greeting, replacing both of his swords in their scabbards as well.
There was a moment of awkward silence as the two Travlers stood facing one another.
"Well," Tala said finally, "Shall we have that talk?"
*SOME TIME LATER*
King Llewellyn, General Tullius, Arch-Mage Sarai, and Jarl Balgruuf all sat down in the small tent that had been pitched between the two armies. Sitting opposite them were Queen Tala, Lady Valerica, Icando Damn-Rune, and King Anorak Septim. While several more of rank awaited outside, the tent wasn't large enough to accommodate all of them.
"In answer to your question general, "Tala stated slowly, "Potema Septim… has been returned to the afterlife."
She cast a wary glance to the other faces at her table.
"I… am the sole commander of the Vodahmin now."
The three Daggerfall Covenant figures shared a look, and then nodded. Tala blinked slowly, trying not to show open relief: Technically speaking, Icando and the rest of the vampires had sworn allegiance to Potema Septim, and Anorak had come to the aid of this (long-dead) kin. In a single gesture, they had acknowledged that they would continue to follow and support Tala Niwot, with or without her royal cohabiter.
"The Daggerfall Covenant will fight alongside the Empire," Tala continued, "but we will not bend the knee to Titus Mede, or any other who sits upon the Ruby Throne."
"And we're supposed to just… trust that you won't use this army against us once we march south?" Tullius stated skeptically.
"Well, for one thing, General," Tala answered. "We won't be here when you march south. We have a long voyage ahead of us."
Llewellyn arched an eyebrow, as did the rest of the Imperial contingent.
"To where?"
Tala nodded to Icando, who waved his hands in a complicated spell. A glowing map of Tamriel spread out in the space between the two tables, shifting to focus on a particular set of islands.
"As you so wisely said, Arch-Mage," Tala continued. "I have an army of vampires and undead that need to feed on living blood. Keeping them in High Rock is not an option, and equally distasteful to me is the thought of unleashing them on Skyrim and the North. So…" she gestured to the map.
"You're… you're…" stammered Sarai Gellarus, "Invading the Summerset Isles?"
"I have the combined fleets of High Rock, Hammerfell, the Corsairs of Wayrest, and a captured Aldmeri Fleet at my disposal," Tala continued. "That should prove sufficient to bear this army across the Abecean Sea. The Thalmor are busy dispatching armies to Valenwood and Elswyr to counter the Imperial and Argonian invasions of those regions. They will believe their home islands safe."
Anorak Septim chuckled. "They will be proven wrong."
"And after?"
Icando raised an eyebrow at the Arch-Mage.
"Let us follow this train of thought," Sarai Gellarus gestured to the map. "You take the Summerset Isles. General Tullius and the Imperials take Valenwood, and Elswyr crumbles with them. What happens after?"
"We take three or four generations' worth of Altmer chattel," Lady Valerica spoke up. "Altmer are not like humans, Arch-Mage. Properly tended to, Altmer blood-chattel can serve to supply the vampires of the Vodahmin with hundreds of years' worth of blood. The innocents of High Rock and Skyrim will be quite safe."
"You're asking us… to allow you to enslave generations of Altmer…" Llewellyn said slowly.
"Otherwise, we would just kill them," Tala shrugged. "And that would be a waste for everyone." Isran and the rest of his hypocrites don't really care about vampires, if they keep from preying on the innocents."
"The Bow of Auri-El," Sarai cut in. "What do you intend on doing with it?"
Tala turned to the Lady Valerica, who unstrung the magical weapon from her back and handed it to her Queen. Tala turned and tossed the glowing bow the length of the tent, the High King catching the weapon deftly.
"Just like that?" he asked disbelievingly.
"Just like that," Tala answered. "If any vampire crosses the line and breaks the Code of the Vodahmin, you also have the power to end them."
"The alternatives, High King, are fighting a battle here and now, wasting thousands of lives," Icando stated tactfully. "Or allowing us to sail against your enemies. If we fail, then your vampire problem is solved, and your enemies are weakened. If we succeed, then your vampire problem is solved, and your enemies are utterly destroyed."
"I'm sold," Tullius stated, looking over at the rest of the table. "I'm no politician, Your Majesties. I'm a simple soldier. This is a prime solution to all of our problems today. As to the future of this… Daggerfall Covenant and the Empire, those are problems for the future, and will be addressed in the future. After all," he nodded respectfully towards the other table, "I think it was the High King who once told this old man: In the long run…we are all dead."
The tent shared a chuckle, and then Llewellyn Dragonborn stood to his feet, the rest of the tent following his example. He stared for a long time at the Bow of Auri-El, feeling the weight in his hands, testing the tension of the magical bowstring, before laying it down on the table in front of the Arch-Mage.
"I am not High King of Summerset Isle," he said slowly. "I am not the Emperor or ruler of Cyrodiil. I am High King of Skyrim, and I must act for her highest good. And there is nothing to be gained in our two armies slaughtering one another here, today."
Very slowly, he walked around his table and stretched out a hand towards Tala Niwot.
"I would never have trusted the Wolf Queen to keep her word," he admitted. "But… let this be the first day of friendship between our two peoples… Tala Niwot."
Tala Niwot looked down at the hand, and then slowly took it in her own, gripped wrist to wrist in a warrior's salute.
"The Wolf Queen has been banished," she repeated. "There is no need for us to be enemies anymore."
Sarai Gellarus stood between the two figures, and a magical chain wound itself around the arms of both rulers.
"Llewellyn Dragonborn, High King of Skyrim," the Arch-Mage intoned. "Will you swear, as far as it rests with you, to rule in peace with the Daggerfall Covenant, before the gods that Are, that Were, and Are To Be?"
"I swear," the High King swore. "As far as it rests with me."
"Tala Niwot, Queen of Markarth and the Vodahmin," she continued, ""Will you swear, as far as it rests with you, to rule in peace with the Empire of Cyrodiil, before the gods that Are, that Were, and Are To Be?"
"I swear," Tala nodded. "As far as it rests with me."
"So witness Earth, so witness Sky," the Arch Mage chanted, locking the oath into a powerful spell. "If this oath be broken, the one who breaks faith, may the Sky fall upon thee, may the Sea drown thee, may the Earth rise up and swallow thee whole."
The magical chain faded, and the two rulers released their grip as the rest of the tent's occupants nodded solemnly in witness to the oath.
"Leave us," Llewellyn said after another moment. "I would speak to the High Mother alone."
Tala shared a nod with her entourage, who left the tent and began sharing the results of the negotiations with those who had been waiting outside, an example which the Imperials also followed. Sarai Gellarus lifted an eyebrow to Lewis meaningfully before taking the Bow of Auri-El with her as she left. Once they were alone, Lewis Heron turned to Tala Niwot with a sheepish grin.
"I… may have been hasty," he managed, "in condemning you for changing the timeline."
Tala Niwot of Wyoming cocked her head to the side with a sly grin.
"Is that an apology?" she teased. "From the High King of Skyrim? The Dragonborn Hero himself, himself?"
"It is me saying that recent events have influenced my perspective," Lewis replied with a pained expression.
"Like becoming High King?" Tala continued to tease, and then her own face fell. "And on the subject of apologies… You… may have been right… about trusting the Wolf Queen."
Lewis groaned.
"Gods, that was even worse that my apology," he chuckled.
"Aha!" Tala crowed. "So you admit it was an apology!"
"Alright, alright, I'm SORRY," Lewis chuckled, throwing up his hands in defeat, and then furrowing his brows. "So… how did you escape Potema's trap? Who was that who you… um…"
"Rode back to my body?" Tala offered, and then shrugged. "Nobody special. In fact… I kinda hijacked his body. Very much against his will. Not my brightest moment."
"Well," Lewis said after a moment, "We do what we have to, in order to survive. Can't blame you for that. Durnehviir was a surprise, though."
"It's the only Shout I can do," Tala admitted, "I defeated him when we were rescuing Valerica from the Soul Cairn."
"Well, Tala," Lewis said after a moment. "This is awkward, isn't it?"
"I think it's going to be for a long time," Tala grinned back. "Will… will you be going with General Tullius, when they march south?"
"Just the Blades and myself," Lewis answered, glad to for an easier subject of conversation. "Maybe a 'Volunteer Company' or something of the sort as well. The bulk of the Nords will want to stay here, with their homes, and farms, and families. They're not up for a prolonged campaign in faraway lands."
"How very practical of them," Tala stated approvingly. "Well, I suppose it's back to ruling with us. I know I have quite a bit to catch up on for these past few weeks, and a campaign to plan."
"Of course," Lewis answered hurriedly. "I…. I wish you good fortune in the war to come, Lady Tala."
"Game of Thrones? Seriously?" Tala laughed. "Honestly, Lewis, come up with your own stuff."
"I'll see what I can do," Lewis Heron called back as he left the tent.
Alone at last, Tala spun back toward the corner, waving a hand to extinguish all the torches and candles in the room.
"Are you there?" she whispered in a low voice. "Are you alright?"
With a sudden rush, the eyes shifted from green to ice-blue.
"Oh TALA," Potema said, her grin spreading across Tala's face. "I'D SAY THAT OUR LITTLE PLAN WORKED… PERFECTLY."
Author's Note:
In the words of the Immortal Jeff Goldblum, "Well there it is…"
Please leave your thoughts/suggestions/constructive criticisms in the reviews below! They are the fuel that keep this forest fire of a story moving forward!
ROCK ON, my friends!
-Tusken1602
Reviewer Responses:
Not Revan – Right now I have no plans for them to return to our world… but that's certainly an idea.
rc48177 - ;)
JimmyHall24 – The chuckle, explained.
SIDoragon, Guest – AND THE PLOT THICKENS MOAR…
coduss, Tech Warrior Ender – Hey, it's hard being the Perfect Lawful Good all the time… have a heart (SARCASM drips off phrase).
Guest, FallingTurtle – Glad you could join us! Hope you'll stick around and comment on what you see!
Linkan201 – Nope. Have no idea what you're talking about. LOL I loved that game.
confused – I will often post little short chapters in-between the longer ones, just to let everyone know that the story is not dead. I am not the fastest writer, but I want to have a way of letting the readers/reviewers know I appreciate them. The mini-chapters are my way of doing that.
EE-RAH!