38.

"Moving Heaven and Earth"

Alessia regained some of her pluck after finding out she was with child, knowing that she still had a part of him with her. Gods, the plans they had made…for children, for what they would do, the places they would take them. She still intended to honor the dreams they shared for their sons and daughters. But for now, her only goal was to take care of herself…to see to it nothing interfered with her pregnancy. She knew many women of the age had difficulties carrying a baby in the early months. Fiercely maternal now, she would do whatever it took to protect the welfare of this baby. She would have this child and she would do anything to protect it.

Now, she sat in the Great Hall listening to the daily reports from the Elder Council. Thank the Nine she no longer felt sick all the time. She found her mind wandering as it did sometimes to her unborn child. She smiled and surreptitiously touched her abdomen as if to say hello to the baby. Suddenly, her reverie was interrupted.

"Your Highness! Empress!" a breathless man shouted, rushing into the chamber. "Forgive me…but…it is he! He returns! He is back! The Ch..." his words were cut off as the doors behind him were flung open.

Then she saw him. Alessia leapt up from her throne. Her heart fairly stopped dead in her breast before it began to thud wildly. He strode in forcefully, pushing past astonished faces that could only gawk in amazement, heading straight for her. His eyes did not stray from her face as he purposefully made his way towards the seat of Imperial power and the woman who claimed it.

The Empress stood rooted to the ground, trembling violently, mesmerized by the mirage approaching her with such determination, too shocked to move or speak.

"Alessia…" he said softly when he neared, his eyes shining with love and joy at the sight of her. But instead of falling into his arms as he expected, she bristled, her spine stiffening.

Had she been a mild-mannered woman, she might have fainted at this most stunning of developments. But she was not. Alessia was a Septim, strong of will and stubborn of heart. And this…this was not possible. She took a deep breath, recovering herself and shaking her head in disbelief. No…it was not Torin. It was a horrible trick, surely. She had been there. She had witnessed his lifeless body. In spite of what her eyes told her, this was a lie. It had been weeks since she had laid him to rest, and only now was she coming to grips with his loss. She could not bear to be dragged down like that again. She could not stand the bitter disappointment if he should prove false. And surely he would prove false…her beloved Torin was dead. No. She would not believe…and she would see this malicious monster paid for his heartless deed. "Who are you, cruel stranger?! What manner of foul sorcery is this that you to come to me with his appearance?" Alessia cried, her voice shaking with indignant anger. Then her voice broke as she struggled with the pain all over again…as she tried to find reason in so merciless a hoax, "Do not come to me with his face…his voice. He lies in state at the Priory of the Nine Divines. He is perished…vanished from my life forever. What purpose could it serve to torment me so?" she lamented, trying to keep the tears at bay.

"I will end the vile perpetrator, my Empress," a Blade said, moving toward Torin menacingly.

"No," she ordered, waving her young defender off, "If he does not produce an explanation quickly, I will kill him myself for dishonoring Torin's memory so...for daring to approach me in such guise," Alessia said, her teeth clenched in fury, her reason fled in the face of this outrage. She drew a dagger and stepped to him, her hand trembling.

When she was nearly upon him, Torin whipped out his own knife so quickly that none could react. All in the room gasped, thinking he meant to harm her. But he flipped the dagger hilt towards her, offering it to her with a tip of his head. "Don't you usually use two?" he said, a small smile tugging at the corner of this mouth.

Alessia blinked, startled. So he would not defend himself? And he knew she wielded two daggers when she fought. She struggled for words.

Torin could see her consternation, feel her agony. He tried to reach out to her. "My Empress, I…have been in a different time and space. I do not grasp it fully, but I could not come to you before now. I have only just now regained consciousness, and came to you as soon as I could. It is…complicated, what I understand of it. But I ask that you give me a chance to explain, Less," Torin pleaded sincerely.

Again, Alessia was taken aback. His familiarity...but wait! This imposter had made a fatal mistake. The man standing before her was not afflicted, as her husband had been by his selfless act of rescuing another. He was vibrant perfection…the image of the man she once knew. "You are strong and healthy, but my Torin was consumed by a curse. You have no rings beneath your eyes, there is no struggle in your step. You would know this if you were truly him," she said skeptically, casting a wary glance at him. She thought she had trapped him, but he only smiled brilliantly at her…the smile she loved so well.

"But that is what I wanted to tell you…I am cured! The curse is lifted! Dibella herself assured me it was so in a vision before I regained awareness. When I cast the Blessing of Talos on myself to follow Umaril, my strength was restored to me," Torin said happily. "We can be together again, my love!" he exclaimed taking a step towards her.

But Alessia recoiled fearfully, unwilling to believe…to trust again...the risk too great. She could not take losing him a second time. And she could not take a chance with her unborn child's welfare.

Torin's face fell in disappointment, but he understood. As far as she was concerned, he had been dead for nearly two months. The improbability…nay, the impossibility of his return made it impossible for her to accept. She was only protecting herself, shielding her emotions as he would have done. But then, much had happened to them that he would have deemed impossible in his younger days. He would make her believe.

Alessia could hardly take it all in. He seemed to have an answer for everything. But her heart was guarded. She had to be certain. "But…I saw him…he was…dead," she insisted, less sure of herself this time. She found herself praying she was wrong...that somehow…perhaps…the Gods had answered her prayers after all.

"Did I not tell you I would never leave you behind…that I would always come back for you?" he asked softly.

Alessia swallowed hard.

"There are a thousand things I could tell you now that only you and I know. Yet I know also there are a thousand ways you could dismiss them in your current state…a thousand ways you would find not to heed my claims. And I understand. After all you must have been through, I understand. But…Less…if you cannot believe my words…" he said, stepping toward her suddenly, grabbing her wrists swiftly and pinning them behind her to protect himself from her weapons. He pulled her close.

A vivid memory of another time he had disarmed her so easily flashed through her mind.

"Maybe you will believe this," he whispered. He kissed her passionately.

She struggled at first, in surprise, in denial. Then she stopped…and she found herself unwillingly responding as though her body recognized him even if she could not. Was it possible? She wavered.

When he felt her quit fighting him, he released her wrists and his hands went to her waist familiarly.

Alessia gasped and pulled away, overwrought. "But…how can you be here? I saw…" she started uncertainly.

"Our lives together are not yet fully writ, Alessia. I am here because the Nine are merciful, indeed…to you, and to me. I am here because I promised I would never let you go again…because I vowed to be at your side, even if it meant moving heaven and earth to do so. You think it not humanly possible I stand here before you. But I am here because the Gods themselves took pity on my hapless soul and made it possible," he said softly, a gentle smile spreading over his face.

She knew then. In her heart, she knew. Alessia dropped the daggers in her hands with a sob and launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck, gripping him tightly. "My Grayrider…" she murmured rapturously, the tears of joy rolling freely down her face.

His strong arms slid about her still slender waist and he clutched her in return. They held each other, oblivious to the cheers that rose up around them when the onlookers realized their Empress had recognized the man as her husband, as their hero. The Empress and her Champion embraced emotionally, indifferent to the mass exodus of the throne room as people scurried out to give them privacy and spread the joyous news. The Champion of Cyrodiil lived!

They stood there a long time, Alessia hardly able to believe she was in his arms again and Torin murmuring soft, soothing affirmations of love in her ear as he stroked her silken hair. "Sssh…it's alright, my darling, I'm here. It's over. I'll never leave your side again, I swear it!" he vowed, "I love you, I love you so…don't cry…don't cry…"

But she could not help it. Relief and tension and hormones and joy conspired together to keep her tears flowing. She laughed at last through them. "Oh Gods, I can't stop crying. I've become such a pathetically weepy creature since…" she stopped, and her face grew serious with remembered pain.

Torin grimaced at the anguish he saw in her features as she recalled her grief thinking he was dead. "I'm so sorry, Less," he said. "If I could take away your hurt…" he said compassionately.

She was able to smile a little then. "But you have, my love. You have come back to me," she said, her eyes shining. Alessia's fingers entwined themselves in his thick hair and she clutched him to her almost desperately. "If this is not real, let me live the rest of my days in fantasy. If it is but a dream, never let me awaken. If you are not who you pretend, never tell me," she whispered earnestly.

"Alessia…I am really here…" he murmured in reply.

Everything thing about him was the same. She knew every muscular inch of his body…every scar, every dimple, every rippling sinew. His mannerisms, his speech, his smile, the way he touched her…it was all as she remembered it. Surely it must be true. Had she not see the Gods perform miracles before? Had she not been one of them…her own life given back to her? She gazed at him a moment then touched his face gently, running her finger along that beloved scar on his jaw. Then she nodded, studying his face as though she never wanted to forget it. "Tell me everything…so that I may understand with my mind and not just with my soul," she said at last.

And he did, explaining all that had happened to him since he had last seen her at his side as he broke the orb.

Alessia shook her head in wonder. It was all so fantastical. As if she suddenly remembered what he had told her, her eyes grew wide, and she blurted out, "The curse is gone? You are well again?"

He smiled tenderly. "I am healed. I know no fatigue past that of a normal man and our children will not know their father's affliction," he promised.

Her radiant smile took his breath away as it always had…from the first moment he laid eyes on her at the orphanage when she had taken off her helm and her gorgeous black tresses had fallen casually about her perfectly sculpted face, framing those mesmerizing green eyes. He had thought then he was looking at a Goddess. He smiled to himself realizing he thought that now, too. But…there was something about her at this moment…he couldn't define it…a glow…was it possible she was even more beautiful now than when he had last seen her? "But what of you? I know it must have been terrible for you…" Torin said tenderly.

She looked at him, a flash of pain crossing her face as she remembered. "It…was. No…I do not wish to speak of it. It is over and you are here, and I never have to think on it again," she said, trying to banish the dark cloud that had descended on her. But then, her face brightened as she remembered the one glorious thing that had happened while he was away.

The drastic change in her demeanor puzzled Torin. "What?" he asked, smiling in confusion.

She gazed at him with such love in her eyes. They shone brightly with tears of joy. "There was one thing…one wondrous and marvelous thing….that saved me in my darkest hour when I was sure there was nothing that could. I found out…he told me…Torin…I am with child! In but seven months, you are to be a father, my love!" she burst out excitedly.

Torin's face registered complete shock. How was it possible? Seven months. They told him he had been gone almost five weeks. It must have been one of their last nights together, before the curse struck him down, and he had cut himself off from her. By the Nine! A baby! His baby! With Alessia! After everything that had happened, he had doubted it could ever be! But the Gods' mystery would never be known to him…and they had rewarded his and Alessia's faithfulness with a child! Torin recovered himself, and grinned like an idiot reaching out to touch her belly. "Our child…" he murmured in wonder.

She smiled at his boyish reaction and placed her hand over his as he caressed her abdomen. "The child does not move much yet, but the physician assures me all is well. I have done all that I could to care for him, to see that he is healthy," she promised him.

Torin looked up at her, his own eyes welling, raw emotion blocking his throat so that he could barely speak. "Less…I…" he managed weakly.

"I know," she whispered emotionally, taking his face in her hands and drawing his head to hers, nuzzling him. "I feared it would never happen, too. But the Gods have shown us grace. They have allowed your child to take hold in my womb, and they have given you back to me. I am whole again, my love, I am restored," she murmured in complete and utter happiness.

Her choice of words stunned him. It was exactly what Dibella had told him he must do for her. Then he smiled in realization. He had returned to her…he had made her believe. And it was all she had needed. He kissed Alessia tenderly, his hand touching her stomach lightly. Then he gazed at her meaningfully, "If it is a boy, we'll call him Martin," Torin said softly.

Alessia's lips parted in surprise and she half-sobbed. Then she nodded, "I'd like that. I think…my brother would like that."

Torin took his wife and his unborn child in his arms gently. "Everything will be alright now, my Empress, my wife. I will let it be no other way. You will see, Less…" Torin said with conviction, clutching her to him.

Alessia smiled at his choice of words, remembering her own spoken to her physician when she had discovered she was with child. "Yes, my love," she answered, a contented sigh escaping her lips, "Everything will be alright."

THE END

Author's note: Hope you found the tale entertaining!