A/N 12-21-20 - By the Nine, I never thought I'd have another chapter ready for submission in less than a month! (lol) My Writer's Block is back so it's been nice to have the quiet time to work on story writing and get some ideas put in place! :D

Anywho, enjoy the next chapter! Yeah, this one might feel like another filler, but like I said in the last chapter, I'm tying loose ends. I also wanted to take a tiny bit of lore from other games and throw in some headcannon in between with names and ranks. And I'm putting some details into side characters while also laying out events that will be relevant in the future. ;) So have fun!

...


Tala slowly awoke at ten in the morning, this time without tears running down her face or the feeling of her heart pounding out of her chest. She looked out the small window and listened as the snowy winds of the Jerall Mountains howled while its waves of crystals twisted and darted past. As she lay there, Tala reflected on her dream. For the first time in a long time, she wanted to remain in her dream world. If what Martin said was correct, then her nightmares were no more. Now all she wanted was to remain in that moment with him for every dream to come. Though she really didn't expect that to actually happen. It sounded like from now on, she would only see him if she needed him. And when she would need him would probably depend on the situation. But at least she didn't have to relive her trauma every night. In a sense... she finally got her much needed closure.

In the midst of her thoughts, a sudden wave of aching started in her back and she had to slowly sit up in the bed to lessen the discomfort. She gently put her hand on her swollen belly for a moment, just simply feeling the baby move about inside. The wave of mild throbbing only lasted for a couple of seconds; when it subsided, she turned to grab the leather pouch under her pillow and reached inside. She then pulled out a strip of dark blue cloth and unraveled it to reveal the Shard of the Amulet of Kings. Tala admired it for a moment before she smiled softly and let a few tears leak from her eyes. She missed Martin... and she would until the end of her days... but it was a small comfort to know that he was at peace. And thanks to him, she felt at peace as well.

She had to take her time getting dressed since the baby was putting more pressure on her lower back than it normally did, but once she was in her mage's apprentice's robes, she carefully walked down the stairs and into the Great Hall. Upon entering, she noticed Eyja and the Jemane twins sitting at the closest table. Fortis and Pelagius were also sitting towards the main doors; it looked as if the two Blades had returned to the Great Hall from a sparing practice, since their swords were resting on their table and they were pouring pitchers of wine into their cups while they slumped over onto the wooden surface.

"Hey, she's awake!" Eyja happily greeted as Tala approached. "You slept all through the night and almost through the morning. That's a good sign."

"It is." Tala affirmed. "Jauffre's idea worked after all."

Guilbert quickly sat up out of his seat and let Tala slowly ease into it before he took the chair next to her. "That's good to hear. The better sleep you get, the better your health."

"Yes... and I think I'll be getting better sleep from hereon in." Tala said.

His eyes lit up as he leaned in closer. "You mean... no more potions or scrolls?"

"No more potions and scrolls. My nightmares are finally over."

Guilbert gave her a delighted grin. By the looks of his reaction, she was pretty sure that he was happier to hear that news more than she.

"Ah, Tala, you're awake." Came the sound of Jauffre's voice as he stood in the entranceway of the East Wing. "Did my idea help?"

Tala nodded. "You were right. And it worked... just like you said."

Jauffre simply smiled. He had also wondered if the Amulet of Kings behaved like a soul gem and if Martin's soul was trying to reach her, which was why he gave her the coinpurse back for the night. He wanted to see if having the Amulet's shard in closer proximity would give Martin the chance to speak to her in her dreams. And he was right.

"Now that you are awake, I have something to show you. Stay there." He then turned to head back into the wing for a quick second before he reentered the Great Hall with a rather large painting. Its back was facing towards her, and the only thing she could tell was that its dimensions were five feet high by four feet wide.

"What's that?" Tala asked.

"Early this morning, we received this from Rythe Lythandas."

Tala's eyes lit up. "Rythe? I haven't seen him since he came to Bruma. He wanted to paint something for Martin and give it to him as a gift. Is... is that what you're holding?"

Jauffre nodded. "He told us that after he heard the news of Martin's death, he held onto the painting until he decided on whom he should give it to. Apparently, he decided the Emperor's Champion deserved to have it. He heard you were staying in Cloud Ruler Temple and came here to present it to you in person. However, since you were still asleep, we felt it best to let you rest and told him that you were under the weather. So he left it here with us. Would you like to see it?"

Tala turned to look at Eyja and the twins. "Have you seen it?" She asked.

While Eyja and Reynald looked nervously at each other, Guilbert held his attention on Tala while his happy smile faded to something a little more half-hearted. "I think it's a lovely piece of art... but I know how much you hurt anytime you think of Martin. We're a little worried that it'll upset you, especially since you've now gotten the best un-medicated sleep in months."

Tala continued to stare at Guilbert for a couple of seconds before she eventually looked back at Jauffre and said, "I think I'll be alright this time. I'd like to see it."

When Jauffre flipped the painting around, Tala lost her breath. Rythe's painting was not just of Martin... it was of the both of them. He had used a simple background of blended gold and maroon, and he placed her sitting proper in a fancy wooden chair while Martin stood beside her with a hand on her shoulder. He was wearing his emperor's robes with the Amulet around his neck, and she had been wearing her blue velvet dress- the same outfit she wore on the day they married and departed for the Imperial City. He even put an added touch of a simple gold and emerald circlet across her forehead and a gold necklace with emerald florals around her neck, which she found very charming. What had surprised her was that the likeness of them both was spot on- even though all he got was sketches from observing them from afar that day in Bruma. He must've had other people do the modeling during the actual painting. And the detail in his work looked so realistic; he had everything down, right down to Martin's gentle smile and how Tala's eyes looked like sparkling waters on a sunny day. She couldn't help but slowly cover her mouth and suppress the urge to cry.

"Well... what do you think?" Jauffre cautiously said.

"I... I think Rythe really is a remarkable painter." Tala softly replied with a smile. Her expression then slowly wavered as she warily added, "Do... do you think he figured out that Martin and I were...?"

"I'm not sure. The portrait would suggest that he had an idea, but we didn't dare lead him to believe so upon receiving the painting."

Then she drew a shuddered breath and let it out slowly before her smile returned, wider than before. "What a beautiful piece of work. I'm so elated that Rythe choose for us to have it!"

"It is meant for you, Tala."

"I know. But I feel it deserves to be here, in Cloud Ruler Temple. It's meant to be for all of us, not just me. Unless... unless you think it will offend everyone if I don't take it with me?"

Jauffre shook his head. "A lot of us were astounded by the painting. Some felt it bittersweet. Others found it a stunning tribute to the both of you and all you have accomplished. We would be honored to keep it safe here if you choose to share it with us."

Tala simply nodded. "I do wish to leave it here, with my brethren. This is where it all began, him and I. It only makes sense to me to hang it upon these walls. And it couldn't have arrived at a more perfect time. I mean, tomorrow is Martin's birthday, after all."

"Wait, that's tomorrow?!" Eyja surprisingly blurted.

Tala chuckled and nodded. "I've been keeping track of the days... leading up to this..." Tala mumbled. She held her smile, but her eyes displayed the sadness in the thought that he wasn't here for this. Though, the thought no longer depressed her the way it used to. It was then that she suddenly had an idea. "You know, I think we need to use this day to commemorate the memory of our Emperor and friend. Perhaps we could bring out the drinks and food and let loose a little while we celebrate?"

Jauffre's eyes grew wide. "Are you certain about this? Celebrating Martin won't cause you anguish?"

Tala shook her head. "I miss him dreadfully. But after last night, I've gotten the chance to get some much-needed closure. And... I think it's time we memorialize his life, rather than mourn his death."

Jauffre held his surprise for a little while longer before he eventually let a subtle smile reach the corners of his mouth and nodded once in agreement. "Perhaps you're right. It's time we do just that. Tomorrow, we shall celebrate in honor of Martin. With your permission, I'd like to have the painting displayed above the fireplace for this special occasion."

"I think it's a great place to put it." She replied.

As Jauffre turned and asked Baragon to hang it, Guilbert got her attention by placing a hand on her back. "So you got closure?" He quietly asked. When she nodded, he added, "What was your dream about, if I may ask?"

She gave it some thought before she replied, "Let's just say I now have a little divine intervention to protect me from my nightmares."

His eyes lit up a little again. "Are you saying it's true?" He practically whispered. "The Amulet's shard held his soul?" Again, she nodded. "So he is with you? That's comforting to know."

"You think it is?" Tala curiously asked.

"Yeah. It lets me know you and the baby will be safe." Guilbert said with a soft smile.

Tala merely simpered and nodded in agreement once again.

"Tomorrow is Martin's birthday?" She heard Baurus say as he stood next to Jauffre. "Huh. I knew his sign was The Lover, but I had no idea what day it actually was."

"Yes. And Tala would like for us to make it a day of celebration to honor Martin's memory as our friend."

"You mean another party?" Ferrum shouted from the East Wing. "I'll get the spirits from the cellar!"

Jauffre then let out an enervated sigh. "Baurus, see to it that Ferrum doesn't start the festivities too early? I get that there isn't much to do around here lately, but we are still Blades. We mustn't let ourselves get carried away in our attempts to entertain our boredom."

As Baurus agreed and briskly walked into the East Wing, Tala and Eyja couldn't help but look at each other and laugh. "Look what you did." Eyja joked.

As Tala held her smile, she merely shrugged. "I still think it will be good to do this. For everyone's sake, really. We all could use the distraction and-" Her sentence was cut short when she felt another wave of aching hit her lower back, causing her attention to focus on it. She then held her breath and wrapped her hand around to gently apply pressure to the area, hoping to settle the discomfort again.

"Are you alright?" Guilbert asked.

"Yeah. The baby is just being restless." She exasperatingly replied. "As I was saying... we could use a little fun." The pain once again dissipated as quickly as it arrived and she then shifted back to a normal sitting position before adding, "Eyja, why don't we gather up Pelagius and Fortis and let's get some meals prepped for the day?"

"Sounds good, but take it easy, okay?" Eyja said. "If you get tired, just say so." She then walked over to the two men resting at the other table and sternly clapped her hands twice. "Alright boys, Tala and I need your help in the kitchen!"

"Give us five minutes to finish our drinks!" Pelagius groaned.

"Nope! It's almost time for lunch and we need to prep for dinner's meals. And as you heard, we're starting another celebration. Let's dig out the last of the food Reynald and Guilbert brought with them and get it thawed for tomorrow."

"Ball buster." Tala heard Fortis groan under his breath, which made her stifle a laugh.

"Can I help you with meal preps?" Reynald asked as he got out of his chair.

"Sure." Tala replied. "Although you sure you don't want to be doing something less boring?"

He shook his head. "Nah, it'll give me something to do."

"Alright, if you insist." She gave his suggestion some thought before adding, "I think we could use your help with prepping and cleaning. That'll free us up to focus on cooking. Come on, let me show you where to start."

She then sat up out of the chair with a little help from Guilbert and slowly made her way towards the kitchen to show Reynald where to fetch pots and utensils. Once Eyja got the resident chefs out of their seats and dragging their heels in behind them, Guilbert felt it safe to leave them to their work and help with the cleanup out in the Great Hall.

"This is going to be really great!" Fortis happily commented as he brought the last of the frozen mutton from the cellar. "We normally eat venison around here, so it's always great when we get the mutton or boar meat. I'm going to enjoy it for dinner tomorrow, but I'm also going to be sad when it's gone."

Reynald chuckled as he grabbed a knife and cutting board. "Well I can always bring up more from time to time."

"You planning on visiting more?" Pelagius asked in a doubting manner.

"Well, you guys have been generous to Guilbert and I... and Tala... and I overall like the lot of you in general. I don't see why we couldn't visit you more often and bring supplies to keep you well stocked from time to time."

"Well if you wanted, you could become a permanent member here." Fortis said.

Reynald stopped in mid motion from grabbing an onion and setting it on the cutting board. "You... you'd offer me a place among the Blades?"

"Why not? I've seen how you handle yourself in a sparring match. You're very quick and graceful with a sword. We could use another fighter amongst the ranks."

His eyes fell down to the onion in his hand as he thought long and hard about it. "I would be extremely honored to be a Blade. I really would. But... I think I might have to decline. I'm just finally settling down into the homestead my father made for Guilbert and I... and I'd like to continue my work as a farmer there. This is an amazing opportunity... but I think I feel more at home at Weatherleah."

Fortis and Pelagius gave each other a brief look before smirking and shrugging. "Alright. But if you ever change your mind, I'm sure the Grandmaster would be happy to have you join us." Fortis concluded.

While Reynald didn't notice the quick and silent exchange between the two Blades, Tala had. She raised a curious eyebrow at them and asked, "Hey, what was that look you two gave each other?"

As Fortis softly snickered, Pelagius answered, "Oh nothing. I mean, while we find it honorable that Reynald here is loyal to his family roots, we would have thought for sure he'd want to stick around here... especially since we see how he looks at Jena."

While both Tala and Reynald stared at them with wide and surprised eyes, Eyja quickly spun around from her spot at the stove with a beaming grin and blurted, "Ha! I knew I wasn't the only one who thought something was happening between you two!"

"There isn't anything happening between us!" Reynald quickly replied. "We talk and we spar... sometimes we flirt, but that's all."

"But do you like her?" Tala asked curiously.

"Well... yeah..." He admitted with a hint of blush on his cheeks. "I am a little smitten, but she seems like she isn't interested in anything more."

"That's because she seems to think a guy wouldn't understand her loyalty to the Blades. She doesn't want a man to make an issue of it and make her give it all up."

Reynald gave Tala a twisted, befuddled frown. "I understand her perfectly... and I wouldn't ask her to stop her life as a Blade."

"Have you told her that?" Eyja asked.

"No, but to be fair, the topic never came up."

"Then maybe if you told her, she'd be more open to something more." Tala encouraged.

"Maybe, but don't feel too bad if she shoots you down the first time, lover boy." Pelagius commented with a smirk as he rested his elbow on the island counter. "I've known Jena for ten years. We were both recruited around the same time. She may come off as calm and wise sometimes, but she's very stubborn when it comes to her loyalty to the Blades. She won't let your words sway her. You'll have to show her that you won't make her choose between us and you."

Reynald tilted his head a little as he gave Pelagius's words some thought before subtly nodding, though what he nodded about exactly was a little unsure.

As they continued their preparations, the room grew a little quiet for several minutes before Tala decided to start another conversation. "By the way, Reynald." She started. "Speaking of fighting skills, I've been meaning to ask you... who taught you how to fight?"

As Reynald finished emptying the diced vegetation into a pot and went to clean off the board, he causally answered back, "The head of Weynon Priory, before Jauffre. His name was Father Vaukelin."

"Wait, did you say Vaukelin?" Pelagius suddenly asked. When Reynald nodded with a raised eyebrow, both Blades stood up straighter.

"You know of that name?" Tala asked.

"He was a previous Grandmaster many decades ago." Fortis replied. "The hand was passed to Briseus, then he retired and passed it to Jauffre right around the time I was recruited... which was... oh Gods, I think fifteen years ago."

"You've been here fifteen years?" Eyja simply responded, to which she got a nod from Fortis. "Aren't you two the same age? That means you were recruited as a kid."

Fortis merely chuckled. "I'm actually three years older than Pelagius, but yeah I joined the Blades at barely twenty years of age."

"Yeah and now you're almost as seasoned as Captain Steffan." Pelagius commented. "Hell, you could possibly make rank of Blademaster if Jauffre saw it fit."

"That'd be nice." The sandy-blonde Blade murmured under his breath.

"Is Blademaster different than Grandmaster?" Eyja asked curiously.

Fortis nodded. "Yeah. It's the third highest rank you can earn within the Blades. The second being Captain, which is what Steffan is. And of course, there's the Grandmaster- the highest rank- that Jauffre holds. Well, there is also the Grand Spymaster, but that rank is pretty much up there with Grandmaster, so it doesn't really count."

"Grand Spymaster? Who holds that title?"

"Caius Cosades. You don't know him. He's been stationed in Morrowind for the last several years." He then turned to look at Pelagius as his eyes slightly narrowed and his brow scrunched in thought. "Come to think of it, I think he was assigned to be there by the Emperor a few years back. I wonder now that Uriel is gone, where does that leave him?"

"Or all the other sub-factions in other provinces, for that matter." The redheaded Blade added.

While the conversation took it's organic detour, Tala stood by the stove chopping tomatoes while she crunched some numbers regarding the original topic. "So Vaukelin was a previous Grandmaster who retired to Weynon Priory? Is that common?"

"Yeah. Weynon Priory is a monastery where most older members retire as monks dedicated to the Order of Talos." Pelagius answered.

"So you mean Prior Maborel... Piner... Eronor... they're all...?"

"Well Eronor doesn't ring a bell, but Maborel and Piner were once Captains. At least they were when I was recruited. They choose to retire around that same time."

"Eronor has been the stable hand at Weynon Priory for years." Reynald commented. "He'd been tending to the horses there since I was young."

"Oh. I see." Tala responded as she took the pot of chopped veggies from Reynald and put them on the stove.

"So a previous Grandmaster taught you how to fight? No wonder you're good." Fortis commented to Reynald. "I heard that Vaukelin's father was an Altmer swordsman and was said to be a very skilled fighter, that he could practically dance with a blade."

"That's exactly what I thought the first time I saw Reynald fight!" Tala said. "It reminded me a lot of elven battle tactics."

Reynald nodded. "He claimed to be a Breton, but he did say his father as an Altmer." He then turned to Fortis and asked, "So you said Vaukelin was the previous Grandmaster before Jauffre?"

"No, he was Grandmaster back during the era of Emperor Pelagius the Forth. He gave the title to Briseus when Uriel the Seventh was crowned, and then Jauffre took the role fifteen years ago." Fortis summarized.

"Briseus? I've never heard that name." Tala commented.

"Mostly everyone knows him by his title as The Great Knight."

"Oh! I've heard of that name!" Eyja happily exclaimed.

Fortis nodded with a smirk. "Yeah I thought you would."

"That's really amazing, Reynald." Pelagius suddenly said as he stared at the Breton in question with a look of excitement. "I... I had no idea you knew Grandmaster Vaukelin and that he trained you in swordsmanship."

As Reynald set a potato down and started chopping, Tala watched as a sadness passed in his eyes. "He was old when I came to live at the Priory after my mother died, but he was the one who decided to let me stay, rather than ship me off to an orphanage. When I was eight and just learning how to hold a sword, Father Vaukelin taught me the basics for learning balance, concentration, and awareness before even teaching me the actual skills with a blade. I learned so much from him. Since I didn't remember my actual father much, he sort of assumed that role in my life. I owed him a lot... which was why his passing was hard on me. He died about nine years ago. I started drinking after rather heavily after that, and never put down the bottle until Tala helped me."

Tala gave him a soft and sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry, Reynald. I know how that feels to loose someone that meant the world to you."

"I know you do. It's why I can understand how much you hurt over loosing Martin. Our pain is sort of similar. Although, unlike me, it's a good thing you didn't take up drinking to numb your pain." Reynald said with a soft chuckle at the end.

"No, I just stuffed my emotions down and shut myself in the dark and barely touched any food or drink. I don't know if that was any better." Tala replied with a soft laugh.

As the kitchen filled with the group's half-hearted laughs, Tala felt another wave of discomfort hit her again, this time completely wrapping around her abdomen, causing her to flinch and lean against the counter. Instead of reaching for her lower back like she did earlier, for this one she felt herself holding her stomach as she sucked in a sharp breath through clenched teeth. And then she heard the laughter stop and the room get eerily quiet.

"Tala, are you alright?" Fortis cautiously asked.

"Yes... but I think I need to sit." She tightly replied.

As Reynald grabbed a chair from the corner of the room and placed it beside her, Tala slowly eased down into it and waited for the pain to let up. This one took a few seconds longer to fade than the last one, but once it was done, she was able to exhale and breathe normally.

"You're not going into labor, are you?" Eyja nervously asked.

"No." Tala quickly replied. "No, it couldn't be. I remember my mother telling me that the labor pains are very constricting and frequent... and that there's constant pressure. I get a mild discomfort in my back every now and then and that's no different than what I've been feeling any other day. And there's no pressure other than that of the baby pressing on my back. The pain lets up really fast and then once it was done, it was as if it never happened. And obviously the dead giveaway is if my water breaks and I don't feel anything wet. So... no, I don't think its labor. I think the baby's just extremely active. I... I suppose it could be pre-labor pains. In which case that means it won't be time for another few days. I think I just need to be off my feet, that's all."

There were exchanges of worried looks around the room before Pelagius decided to speak up. "Alright, if you say so. But if you're having trouble, don't push it, okay?"

"I won't. I promise." Tala replied with a reassuring smile. "Now, um... I guess since I'm going to be sitting here for a little while, does anyone want to hand me something simple? Maybe someone can get me all of the dirty cups and plates from breakfast that are sitting in that tray over there in the corner?"

As Eyja took some boiling water off of the stove and poured it in a bucket beside her with soap, Reynald handed Tala a rag and the tub full of dirty dishes that were sitting in the corner of the room. As she sat there cleaning them up and listening to everyone go on about their conversations, the worry slowly began to creep into her mind.

Please don't let this be labor. Just let this be the baby's movements or even pre-labor. Just hold on a few more days. After tomorrow, then it can be time.