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.

38. Aftermath of Echoes

Chapter 38: Aftermath of Echoes

Our journey to Leyawiin was free of incident. The night we had entered into had been warm and thick with a heavy, eerie fog, dense enough to feel wetness from it on my exposed face and hands. It had felt as though we rode through a dream; only ourselves, and a small segment of road visible to us at any point in time.

But I did not regret our decision to leave Bravil immediately. While the temperature was moderate and the humidity high, I would have rather endured a thunderstorm raining sleet, than to have remained in Count Terentius and his son's presence a moment longer. But the ride in the shrouded, quiet night helped to diffuse my anger, and I resolved to put what had happened behind me; we were free of Bravil, and moving on.

While I would have liked to have stopped somewhere outside of Leyawiin city to rest and prepare before approaching the Caro's domain, the fog made it impossible to tell whether or not we were passing by an Inn that might have been able to accommodate us. Caroline and I had decided to push on, eventually, and we made a slightly faster pace once we were resolved to reach the city.

I could no longer feel anger radiating from her, as had been her state of being for the past four days. Obviously the Captain's allusion had greatly cheered her. I was relieved to know that my friendly, steady companion would soon be back to her old self; Bravil had not benefited her personality, or mine, for that matter.

Greatly calmed by her reversion, I practically slept in the saddle, ever-grateful of Caroline's seemingly boundless energy and dedication to watch over me, so that I didn't have to pay that much attention to our surrounds.

Many hours after departing Bravil, fog still as heavy as when we had left, Caroline and I arrived at the Leyawiin stable yard, called Five Riders.

A weary-looking Khahiit woman exited the stables to meet us as we arrived. I was glad; I had worried that we would have to wake somebody to take care of Ebony and Ilaria. It was still very dark, though by now it must have been early morning.

"You wish to stable horseflesh?" she asked Caroline, without introducing herself, in a voice that sent a chill down my spine.

Caroline dismounted, taking her backpack from where it was tied to Ebony, and nodded to the woman as she passed several Septims into her paw. "Yes, if you have room for them," Caroline flicked me a swift glance, and nodded for me to dismount. I hurriedly did as she bade, then shouldered my own pack.

"There is always room," the stable hand replied in a droll manner, then immediately took Ebony and Ilaria's reigns and began leading them away. "You talk to Cat Face when you collect, and pay him."

I watched the woman leave, wondering at her few words and general disinterest in us, and hoped that the horses would be safe in her care. Surely, her indifference couldn't extend to the horses. But she had been the least chatty stablehand I had ever encountered; usually they were eager to talk.

"Cat Face?" Caroline echoed in an undertone, though the question wasn't directed at the retreating woman. She turned to me, shaking her head as though to dismiss the odd stablehand from her mind. "How would you like to proceed, my Lady?" she asked me, straight to business. "The hour will be on our side, should you wish to enter the city now. The guards won't be able to make our presence known to the Count and Countess until breakfast."

I nodded, tearing my eyes away from the horses and Khajiit woman as they disappeared into the fog. "Yes. Let's go in now," I turned and started for the gate, and exit, to Five Stables, and Caroline walked beside me.

I considered the Caro's as we turned along the roadway that lead from the stables to the main city gate, biting my bottom lip as I considered our options. "I don't think we should approach the castle, looking as we are," I mused aloud to her.

I didn't need to elaborate; Caroline knew as well as I that every detail of our arrival within castle grounds, including the state we were in when we presented ourselves, would be relayed precisely to Countess Caro by her bodyguard. Both Caroline and I were damp from the humid ride, dressed in our armour, and overall, fairly dishevelled. While I had been happy to arrive directly at the other county's castles looking as we were, and preparing once we'd been admitted, the same would not do for Leyawiin and its inhabitants. If I was to gain anything for Bruma here, I had to ensure that the very sight of me didn't offend the prim and proper Caro's.

While Gellius Terentius' remarks about them had been incredibly rude, he was somewhat correct, even if his words had been fuelled by drink and poorly chosen. The Count and Countess believed propriety should be maintained at all times, and there were no exceptions to this expectation. As it was, I doubted that I would win favour with them when I offered to close Oblivion gates, but with nothing else to offer them in exchange for soldiers, I couldn't see any alternative.

The entry gate to Leyawiin city was heavily guarded, considering the hour. Six guards, all wearing the standard white cuirass emblazoned with the Leyawiin shield – a white horse on a green backing – seemed to materialise out of the fog, as we stepped up. Caroline was a step in front of me now, and once I noticed the guards, though I was tired and unkempt, I kept my head held high and my expression neutral, as would be expected of me here.

"What's this? Who approaches Leyawiin at such an hour?" one guard, with a thin face and brown hair, asked in a commanding voice, stepping forward to speak for her company.

Caroline offered her a nod in greeting. "Good morning, Captain. I am Caroline, a Blade in service to the Emperor of Tamriel, and I travel with Lady Passero, the Hero of Kvatch," she made a gesture toward me and I was careful to maintain a mask of calm mildness as the woman – Captain, Caroline had called her - swung her head to regard me, her eyes flickering over me first in assessment, then quickly, recognition.

"Ah," the guard relaxed a little, then addressed me, sweeping down into a bow. "Caelia Draconis, Captain of the Leyawiin Guard, my Lady," she rose, and continued. "You are fortunate, to have arrived a day too late. There was quite a fracas, at the close, and the Countess will be relieved that you at least were spared any embarrassment." she added in a dry tone.

I looked to Caroline, hoping she would be able to explain what the guard was talking about, but she looked as confused as I felt. I turned back to face the guard.

"Was I expected?" I queried carefully.

Captain Draconis crossed her brows. "You travelled to Leyawiin for the Countess' dinner party, didn't you?" she asked me, then looked at Caroline. "Why else would you be here?"

Caroline took control of the situation then. "My Lady travels on behalf of the Emperor, with an entreaty for the Count, or the Countess – whoever might be available to speak with first."

"Ah," the Captain said again, though there was an uneasiness to her voice now, and she shook her head. "I'm afraid that it may be a while before either are prepared to hold court again."

My wish had never been to attend on them in court, but to arrange private audience, and I interjected now, still confused. It felt as though we were conducting two seperate conversations. "Captain," I said clearly. "What has happened? You mentioned a fracas. Are the Count and Countess all right?"

The Captain looked slightly taken aback. "They are perfectly well in body, I assure you," she said hesitantly.

"We are grateful that they are not ill," Caroline said in a measured tone. Then added, with barely a pause, "Will you let us into Leyawiin? Perhaps you might recommend an Inn where Lady Passero might refresh herself?"

I glanced at Caroline, wondering why she didn't want to press the guards for more information about this apparent fracas. It could have been the Mythic Dawn causing it, for all we knew.

"All right," Captain Draconis stepped aside, still full of uncertainty. She nodded to one of her accompanying guards to unlock the gates. "I suppose it can't do any harm to let you into the city. Make for the Three Sisters' Inn, if you're after a bed," she told Caroline then, and gave her some directions to the Chapel district, where the Inn was located.

And then we were within Leyawiin's walls, and the gates were being closed and relocked behind us.

"Caroline!" I hissed to her, once we were free of the guards. "Didn't you want to find out more about what happened up at the castle?"

Caroline shook her head as she surveyed our surrounds, though she couldn't have seen much as the fog was thick within the city as well. She answered me in a lowered tone. "Not from the guards," she then looked down to me, and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, my Lady. If it was a serious matter, the Count would have forbidden anyone access to the city."

I frowned a little as Caroline set off, and I hurried to keep close to her. "But..." I pressed, casting a glance around Leyawiin for myself. The sound of our boots on the cobbles was strangely muted, and the fog made the wattle and daub houses with their steeply-pitched, thatched roofs look insubstantial and ghostly. With a shudder, I turned back to talk to Caroline in a hush."Aren't you curious? Anything could have happened."

"I suppose I am a little," she admitted, casting me a sideways glance and a smirk. "But we are likely to hear all about it from the Inn keeper," she shrugged. "I am sorry for rushing us through, if you wanted to question them further, my Lady," she sighed. "I thought only to gain entry to Leyawiin so that we might prepare for your audience with the Count and Countess Caro. If one is obtainable," Caroline finished wryly.

"I will take care of that," I replied swiftly. I was confident that I would be able to gain audience at the castle, despite whatever had happened there. And if not, I knew enough about Alessia Caro that I would be able to devise a way for us to cross paths.

We stepped up to the Three Sisters' Inn, and I liked it as soon as we stepped inside. It felt the opposite to the world outside; warm and comfortable, with dark, high-quality wooden furniture. The common room was empty, except for the proprietor; a Khajiit woman. Upon seeing her, I remembered from my lessons that Leyawiin was largely populated by Khajiit owing to Elsweyr gaining control of the Trans-Niben region in the second era. Inwardly, I grimaced as the memory of Leyawiin's history lead me to recall Countess Caro's quite public abhorrence of Khajiit and Argonian people.

I needed to be accepted by the Countess, but I made a mental note to direct discussion away from topics that we would disagree over.

The proprietor, whose name was Shuravi, was quite direct with us, and at the back of my mind I wondered if she, and the woman at the stables, had taken an instant dislike to me because I was an Imperial? Perhaps a prejudice, owing to the Countess' opinion, now existed between Imperials and Khajiit in the whole county?

Caroline must have sensed something, too, because instead of making small-talk with the proprietor, and finding out more about what had happened at Castle Leyawiin, she instead launched straight into the task of obtaining our accommodation.

Whatever the reason for Shuravi's bluntness, our Septims were still as good as any one else's, and in practically no time at all, Caroline and I were shown to a large, well-furnished room on the second floor.

Caroline had asked for food, water, and clothing to be delivered, and had paid the woman well. I lay down on top of the soft bed with a blissful sigh, closing my eyes as my head touched the pillow, as soon as Shuravi had gone.

"Can we not rest a few hours, Caroline?" I asked her quietly.

I felt, rather than heard, Caroline sit on the bed next to me. "I wish we could, my Lady, but we had better tidy ourselves up, first. Let's see what the hour is once we are clean. You will feel a little better, after some food - you'll see," she added, in a cheery tone edged with a fatigue than I wasn't used to hearing from her.

It took all my remaining willpower to sit up, but I did it so that I wouldn't risk falling asleep, and opened my eyes. Caroline was frowning and gripping the edge of the bed, staring at the closed door, but it looked as though her mind was far away.

I frowned now, too. "Are you all right?"

Caroline turned her head so she faced me, and smiled. "I am fine," she promised, sounding lighter. "The anger that built up inside me during our stay in Bravil is enough to sustain me for days!"

I knew my bodyguard well enough to know that her mind was occupied, despite her assurances, but I would never press her to tell me something she did not wish me to know. I smiled, laughing at her reply despite the likelihood of her being somewhat serious, as I remembered Caroline's breed of white-hot rage. The Count had been lucky that Caroline's oaths and honour would have never allowed her to challenge him, unless he openly committed treason.

"Then you had better rest now," I told her, in jest, "and save that energy for Oblivion."

Caroline's smile faltered slightly, and she sighed. "You do realise that the Count and Countess will not think it proper; you, offering yourself up to Oblivion in exchange for soldiers?"

I nodded, also sobering somewhat. "Yes."

"Do you have a plan?" she asked me quietly.

Now I sighed. "I don't know," I told her, truthfully. "We have been so caught up in Bravil's nonsense that I have barely spared a thought for how to manage Leyawiin. Do you have any ideas?" I asked her.

Caroline considered for a moment, but when she opened her mouth to reply we were interrupted by the arrival of the water, food and clothes, delivered by two Khajit women, who said they were Shuravi's sisters, but not much else, as they unloaded their burdens then held out their paws. Caroline glared at them, before she handed over a few Septims to make them leave. Apparently, we were to be fleeced during our stay.

So be it, I thought, dismissing the women; there were truly more important things than money, and we would not be staying at the Three Sisters' for long. Once we were prepared, and presented ourselves to Castle Leyawiin, we would be given an apartment there to use for the duration of our stay, as was the privilege of being a member of the Cyrodiil aristocracy.

Once they had gone, Caroline and I ate quickly and sorted through the small selection of clothing that had been delivered. There was a tan-coloured cotton dress with embroidered detail on the neck, cuffs, and hemline that would suit my station well enough and appease the Countess' love of modesty, and a sea-green dress that Caroline could wear underneath her armour to achieve the look of a high-born lady's bodyguard.

While we washed ourselves, I longed for a proper bath, remembering the enormous stone walk-in bathing rooms in Castle Bruma.

Soon, you will be back in Bruma, I told myself, calculating that if we were delayed for no more than a day in Leyawiin and Cheydinhal each, we could be in Bruma in under a week.

Once I was as clean as I could be made with a pail of warm water and a washcloth, I sat in a towel at the table in our room, sipping tea and feeling much better than I had when we had first entered the room.

Caroline was dressing, and during her adjustment of the laces down the sides of the green garment, she suddenly stopped, mid-tie, and looked up to me with wide eyes.

I caught her movement in the corner of my eye, and swiftly turned to look at her. "What's wrong?" I asked hurriedly.

She shook her head and held her hand up. "Nothing, my Lady," she assured me. "I am having a thought, is all," she resumed her adjustments.

"About what?" I asked, after a moment's silence.

Caroline joined me at the table, then, sitting opposite me, and I could now see that her eyes were bright with realisation, not fear. "Your entreaty to the Count and Countess," she began. "There might be a way to secure their Guard and maintain the stature expected of you."

"How?" I prompted.

She held her hand out to indicate me. "You are here, now, because of a request made to you by the late Emperor," she explained in a rush, lowering her hand. "And an Emperor rules Tamriel by the will of Akatosh," she continued, smiling widely. "What do the Caro's love more than their own propriety?"

"The Nine Divines," I answered, as I realised where she was leading us. I felt my own eyes widen at her proposal. "Caroline, are you suggesting that I tell them that I've been instructed to go through Oblivion by Akatosh?!"

"No, of course not - not directly," Caroline waved her hand in dismissal. "But there is much you could achieve using implication," she said pointedly. "And you know that the Count and Countess are too subtle and righteous to question matters concerning the Divines."

I took a deep, steadying breath, as I considered what she'd said. Yes, I had used the Emperor's final words to our advantage on occasion. Yes, the Caro's might accept my part in this, if they believed I was on a quest at the behest of one of the Divines.

It did not take me long to weigh the options. The simple truth was that we needed soldiers for Bruma, and after my failure in Bravil, I needed to do this by any means possible, and as quickly as possible. Yes, I realised; I could word a request to the Count and Countess Caro that implied this. It might even work in my favour, as they would respect my rising to meet the will of the Divines, despite my being horrendously unqualified for such a task.

I nodded to Caroline, finally, smiling. "Thank you. You have given me more to work with than I had figured out for myself."

Caroline looked triumphant, as though we had already gained assistance. "Don't thank me, my Lady. I am happy to have finally been of some use to you in your addresses."

I burst out laughing at this. "Caroline, you jest," I shook my head, tears in my eyes as I beheld my somewhat confused bodyguard. "When have you ever not been of use, to me or to all of Cyrodiil, for that matter?" I explained. "I would have destroyed our hopes of obtaining an army for Bruma if it weren't for you."

"I very much doubt that, my Lady," she seemed slightly embarrassed, then nodded to the dress that we'd selected earlier, clearing her throat a little. "Come, let's get you dressed before you catch a cold," she changed the topic. "We can't have you battling daedra with a snuffly nose, can we?" she smirked, rising.

"I'm not planning on battling daedra in a dress," I replied with a raised eyebrow, also rising and moving to her side. "Particularly this one," I fingered the embroidery on one of the sleeves.

"All right, battle Counts and Countesses," Caroline added with amusement. Then; "Arms up," she didn't wait for a reply, unwrapping my towel, and I did as she commanded. The slightly cool, stiff cotton fell down around me, covering me from neck to toe. I stared down at the dress, as I felt Caroline start to tighten the ties at the back, and adjusted my balance so I wouldn't pitch over. The cut was demure; the skirt was so full that it fell into waves of pleats, and the waistline was higher than most modern dresses, sitting on my actual waist, rather than at my hips, which made the dress appear longer than it otherwise would have.

These dresses, these outfits and preparations that I was constantly making to address the nobility, I realised, were a sort of armour, and my audiences were a sort of battle. Once again, likely because Caroline had recently mentioned them, I reflected upon the late Emperor's final words to me, though they didn't bring me pain, for once.

"And I am sorry, but you must close them now, my child. You must close the jaws of Oblivion."

What had the Emperor foreseen I would achieve, exactly, I wondered? Was it possible that he had seen that they would need not somebody who was born and raised to fight, but rather somebody who could talk, and be listened to?

I dismissed my thoughts swiftly with a shake of my head, realising that they would only lead me to further pointless speculation about prophecies and the Elder Scroll that Ruma Camoran had told us of, which named one chosen by the Septims. I had promised to not become obsessed with that riddle again, and so I had to vigilantly catch my musings before I allowed my mind to run away with itself.

–

By the time Caroline and I had departed the Three Sisters' Inn and entered the Castle Leyawiin grounds, the sun had risen, and the fog had all but dispersed. We were admitted by the guards on duty at the entrance without hesitation, though as Captain Draconis had told us, we were advised that court had been cancelled, indefinitely.

The steward that met us inside the entry hall was Argonian, and seemed more professional, though just as tight-lipped, as the Khajit women we had encountered since arriving in Leyawiin.

"Lady Passero, you are a day late for the dinner party, I am afraid," she told me, after introducing herself as On-Staya Sundew.

"I am not here for the party," I said again, and shook my head. "Captain Draconis told us that we are fortunate not to have been present for it," I added, wondering if On-Staya would be willing to share what had happened.

"You are correct on that account, my Lady," she indicated that we follow her, but didn't elaborate.

I sighed as we were lead through the castle toward a guest chamber, and told myself that it didn't matter what had happened; I needed to concentrate on gaining audience and fulfilling our quest.

"Do you know if the Count or Countess are available for breakfast?" I asked her simply, keeping my tone unaffected. "I have an important matter to discuss with them, on behalf of the Emperor."

On-Staya flickered me an uncertain glance. "I shall make your request known to them, Lady Passero. I can promise you no more than that."

"They must have had quite the fright, to be so withdrawn now," Caroline mused idly.

"That tends to happen when one is ridiculed at their own dinner table," On-Staya said dryly, stopping in front of a door and opening it, motioning for us to move inside.

"Ridiculed?" I asked, aghast, swivelling to face On-Staya. The Count and Countess Caro were more formal than the other nobles, but they didn't deserve to be made fun of, particularly in their own home.

"Who would dare do such a thing?" Caroline asked at the same moment, ushering me into the room, since I had stopped in the doorway.

On-Staya followed us into the room. "Do not trouble yourselves with what is past. Hlidara Mothril is leading enquiries into the incident personally. They will be found and justice will be served. Now," On-Staya changed the topic, "you should find everything that you need for your stay here but should you require anything else, don't hesitate to ask any of the servants..."

I suppressed a shudder, as On-Staya continued on about the facilities of the room and the location of the servants quarters. Hlidara had been the Countess' governess when she was younger, and since Alessia had married, her position in the Caro household had become that of chaplain and advisor to the Countess. I had met the terrifying Altmer woman at Alessia's wedding, and for a moment pitied whoever had made fun of the Caro's, for there was no doubt in my mind that if they were found, they would be punished severely.

Once On-Staya had left, Caroline confirmed that the room was secure, and locked the door.

I sat on the bed, my eyes following her movements. "I don't think we should enquire about the Count or Countess' availability directly again," I told her. "It will only make them suspicious."

Caroline agreed with me, nodding as she returned to my side and sat down next to me. "No, I don't think that would be wise," she turned to look down at me. "Why don't you sleep?"

I was glad for the suggestion, and gladder that Caroline hadn't become frustrated by yet another delay. I nodded, shifting so that I was lying down, without bothering to change. I doubted the Caro's would call on me if they weren't accepting any visitors, and we would find something fresh for me to wear when I woke. Caroline shifted, standing over me to raise the covers.

"Thank you," I told her, yawning a little now that I was allowing myself to properly feel my own fatigue. "Will you sleep too?" I asked her.

Caroline hesitated. "I suppose I could," she considered, as though the thought actually hadn't occurred to her. "You won't mind?"

"Of course not!"

"Even though we are in a foreign castle, the night after a 'fracas'?" she asked calmly. I regarded her, and saw that she was smiling. "The Emperor would have my head," she sighed as she leaned over me again, to adjust the covers a little.

"No he wouldn't. Go to bed, Caroline," I mumbled, waving her away.

"If you insist, my Lady."

–

When I woke, close to noon, Caroline was still asleep on a single bed close to the locked door. I rose quietly, tip-toeing to the bathroom to refresh myself, feeling greatly restored and determined.

I knew for certain that I would have no luck in simply requesting a meeting with the Caro's; not today, and perhaps not even a week from now, as they recovered from whatever injury had been done to their pride. But, as Caroline had said earlier, there was one thing the Caro's loved more than their propriety: The Divines. And I could use this information to ensure that we crossed paths.

Caroline woke soon after, and once I'd outlined the basics of my plan to her, we hurriedly prepared and made for the Great Chapel of Zenithar. I cast a small prayer to the winds and promised to endure, asking that the God lend me some luck.

–

I spent several hours in the dimly-lit, cavernous Chapel, kneeling on a cushion in front of an altar to the God of Work and Commerce, Zenithar. Many had come and gone over the course of those hours, all casting me curious glances, but I had remained as I was, eyes turned down, hands clasped in front of me. I had dressed in a modest dress of light blue and white before we had set out, intending to present a picture of humility. Caroline stood a respectful distance from me, leaning on one of the pillars, ever-watchful of all who came and went in the Chapel.

While I waited, I went over again and again in my head what I would say to the Countess, should she arrive to pray, as I assumed she would. Alessia Caro, who was only four years my senior, was devout in her studies and worship of Zenithar. One as pious as the Countess was likely to visit the Chapel on a daily basis, regardless of what had happened the previous night (or perhaps because of it). All I needed to do was endure.

And of course, she did visit the Chapel. I had thought that I would be alerted to the presence of the Countess when she knelt to pray by the alter, but I was made aware of her arrival in a surprising manner, when I heard someone enquiring after me.

"Has the Lady Passero been in attendance at the Chapel the entire day, Kantav?" I heard a regal voice asking in a hushed tone.

I closed my eyes when I heard the voice, but strained my hearing to catch more of the conversation.

"Very nearly, Countess," I heard the Primate confirm in a hush. "Her unwavering serenity speaks volumes of her devotion to Zenithar."

I inwardly cheered. Not only was the Countess here, but the Primate of the Chapel was speaking in my favour.

"So it would seem," was the Countess' reply.

They spoke no more, but I kept my eyes closed and my head lowered, as I heard movement close by me; the sounds of a cushion being laid down; the rustling of folds of material as somebody knelt beside me.

A focused congregant would not be disturbed by the addition of another, I thought, and I told myself sternly not to move. She was aware of my being here - she was knelt beside me! - so now I only had to wait for her to address me. I was certain she would.

Kantav spoke again, close by us, and I heard him making the same prayers to Zenithar on behalf of the Countess that he had for me when I had first arrived. But soon he left, and I steadied myself and told myself; patience.

It was perhaps another half an hour before the Countess said anything.

"I am rather pleased to see you, Lady Passero," Countess Caro said in her measured tones. "I was told that you were in Leyawiin, but I didn't expect to find you here," she added, in a musing, somewhat suspicious tone.

I opened my eyes, lifting my head to look upon the altar for a moment, and could see her Altmer advisor, Hlidara, standing close by us, in the corner of my eye. I ignored the glaring woman, and focussed entirely on the alter, keeping my voice respectfully low.

"My path these past weeks has been taxing, and there has been little time for matters of the soul," I told her, since her tone had suggested that she knew, very likely from similar studies about me throughout her childhood to those I'd had concerning her, that I was not as devout as she was.

"Yes," she sounded somewhat disapproving, "the papers spin all manner of strangeness regarding your activities."

I turned to face her now, presenting her with a composed smile. The Countess' hair was tied back in a severe bun, and she was staring at me with her wide, brown eyes, which at that moment were calculating, with no hint of amusement in her expression. I noted that she seemed thinner than she had been at her wedding, and again wondered what had happened to her and the Count, the previous night.

"The papers will say anything they wish if they believe it will sell more papers," I inclined my head, then looked back up, determined to create an amiable air between us. "I am certain their reports of me are full of exaggeration and hearsay."

"Hmm," she considered for a moment, her eyes still somewhat wary. "They would have us believe that you are venturing into Oblivion gates personally, though they say not why," she watched me closely for reaction.

I sighed and unclasped my hands, resting them in my lap. "In that regard, I may confirm what they have reported; as is the nature of my oath to the late Emperor."

The Countess was wide-eyed. "Why ever would the later Emperor request such a thing of you?"

I didn't miss how she emphasised the 'you', but smoothed down the hackles that rose at her presumption that I was so incredibly useless. She hadn't laid eyes on me since her wedding, when I had been fourteen, and she was a product of her upbringing. She and I were in not so dissimilar positions at one point in our lives, when my purpose had been simply to wed Ebel and bear him children. Her husband had been present at the Elder Council meeting that I had addressed, so she had only his account, and likely her mother's, of the changes I had undergone.

But then, if I had been told that she was fighting her way through Oblivion and was part of a prophecy to save Tamriel, I would have laughed, so it was little wonder she had difficulty in believing it with regards to my involvement.

"I didn't think it my place to deny the will of my Emperor, or question the word a dragonborn, who have been guided by their Gifts and the grace of the Divines since the time of Saint Alessia," I told her quietly, as her exclamation had attracted the attention of several other worshippers in the Chapel.

"No, of course not," the Countess checked herself, smoothing her hands down her skirts, and then motioning to Hlidara that she wished to rise. The harsh Altmer was by her side in an instant, and I made an effort not to shrink back from her intense gaze.

"Walk with me a moment, Sarina," the Countess bade.

"It would be my honour."

Before I could motion for her, Caroline was next to me and lending me her arm so I could rise more gracefully. My knees and legs felt a little stiff after sitting still for so long, but I ignored the ache as Caroline smoothed out my skirt. I was relieved that I had not been immediately dismissed by the Countess.

Countess Caro held out an elbow to me, then we linked arms, as she began to walk slowly down the long aisle of the Chapel, toward the exit.

"Might I presume," the Countess asked, "that your visit to our realm is connected to these oaths you have made?"

"It is," I admitted, waiting for further leave from her before explaining.

The Countess nodded. "I thought as much. For, why else would you be in Leyawiin?"

I wasn't certain what kind of reply was expected of me, so replied with a generic, "I am determined to do my duty to the Emperor."

"You're a good girl," she told me, and it was all I could do to stop myself from laughing at her. She spoke to me as though she was her mother's age, not mine. "And you serve your Empire well. What is it that you need of county Leyawiin?"

I managed to keep myself from stumbling, unable to believe my luck; with so direct a question, I was free to launch into my plea for soldiers, to defend Bruma from the Mythic Dawn's looming attack. I relayed it as simply as possible, since we were nearing the exit to the Chapel, and when I finished, the Countess turned to me and frowned.

"I am sorry, Sarina, but Leyawiin is surrounded by enemies – and infiltrated by those who would do us harm and besmirch our noble way of life," her voice was elevated by a zealousness that somewhat put me on alert. "Countess Carvain might hope to apply to the better natures of those loyal to Imperial Cyrodiil, but you cannot expect me to leave our borders defenceless and unpatrolled in the name of her people."

"I understand," I lowered my head in acceptance, as I felt the eyes of Alessia's formidable Altmer shadow boring into me again. I wondered what the woman was searching for, but remained focused only on the Countess when I raised my eyes. "It is not my wish to leave your people defenceless. The final part of my plea will, I hope, assure Leyawiin's security for a time."

The Countess hesitated, as we reached the doors that lead out of the Chapel, then said quietly. "All right. I am still listening. What do you propose?"

"It is my solemn duty to close any Oblivion gate within your lands that concern you, as foreseen by the late Emperor," I spoke clearly. Now that we were at the doors to the Chapel, there was a chance that passers-by might hear our discussion, which might persuade the Countess to pledge assistance, for fear of seeming callous or disloyal to the Empire. "In exchange for the removal of any immediate threat to your lands, all I would request is that you loan those soldiers who would have been sent into Oblivion in my place be forwarded to Bruma to assist in the defence of the city, and protect the Emperor."

Countess Caro seemed unaffected by my speech, and didn't respond right away, but I recognised training when I saw it; she had schooled her expression to remain neutral, now that we were within range of the public. Hlidara leaned forward at that moment, and put her hand on the Countess' arm.

"My Lady, your appointment with Master Mahei?" she drawled.

"Yes, I remember," she all but hissed at Hlidara, then finally responded to me. "Sarina, I am like you in that I will neither question the will of the Emperor nor my duty to the Empire, and what you propose will be told to my husband," she flicked Hlidara a glance and a nod, then continued.

"If you would dine with us tonight, we will deliver you a decision," she held her arms up slightly, and Hlidara slipped a long, flowing cloak over her arms.

I eyed the cloak wonderingly; it was too warm in Leyawiin for it, and there was a strange, blue hue emanating from it, meaning that it was under some sort of enchantment. Caroline was close enough to nudge me without the Countess perceiving it, and I looked up quickly and thanked her, with all the polite formalities I could manage.

Seemingly satisfied, the Countess said her farewells and she and her advisor left the Chapel.

I watched their departure from the doorway of the Chapel, and once they had turned the corner of the immense building, I turned to Caroline and grabbed her forearms excitedly, exhaling a breath I hadn't realised I had been holding. "It worked!" I celebrated quietly.

Caroline smiled down at me, and I noticed pride in her expression, and her tone, when she replied, "That was beautiful, my Lady. But we have not secured their alliance yet," she cautioned me.

"A trivial matter," I let go of her arms, and waved her concern away. We had experienced so little success of late that even this small victory made me feel more hopeful than I had felt in days. I practically bounced down the stairs of the Chapel, while Caroline hurried after me, laughing.

"My Lady," she caught up to me, "I do not wonder that the Septims did choose you to be their champion," she said in an undertone. "I doubt anyone in all of Tamriel could have had the success that you have had in raising an army so swiftly."

I felt a little discomfort at the way she worded her praise, but did not want to lose my feeling of delight yet, so shrugged it off; and, her remark had reminded me that our quest for allies would soon be over. It was probable that we would be back at Cloud Ruler Temple within a week.

"I should write another letter to Martin, when we get back to the castle," I told her as we walked. "It has been a while since I have sent him anything," I slowed my pace down to a walk, remembering that it would not do for me to be seen frolicking in the streets.

Caroline agreed with me, but her reply was accompanied by a smirk. "Yes, I am sure that he Emperor would love to hear from you. And once that is done, we can take our time preparing for dinner tonight with the Count and Countess."

I rolled my eyes at her smirk, but nodded at the latter remark, and we continued on to Castle Leyawiin in high spirits.

Perhaps the time I had spent praying at Zenithar's altar had won me some of the God's trademark luck.

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A/n: Oh! Deplaisance I was so pleased to see that you're still reading and thanks to everyone who reviewed and sent messages about the Bravil chapter :)