The First Council
Most people had never seen anything other than the bottom floor of the palace; and for good reason. Not only were the palace guards, the Imperial battlemages and the royal family in residence here, but the palace contained a great many artifacts. Such as an Elder Scroll.
Or it used to. Nevano remembered hearing that some sort of major heist had happened long ago. Undoubtedly there was still an Elder Scroll here. Just probably not the same one.
They were guided through several opulent halls and chambers, before ending in a room, large enough for all of them, but almost spartan in comparison in the chambers that surrounded them. There were a few chairs, but most of the seating in the room was benches, and it was dominated by cluttered bookshelves, and a desk that, at first glance, had almost disappeared beneath mountains of paper and scattered books.
Once they were inside, Titus turned to Ahmetia and hugged her tightly again, this time pulling Rellino and Larifa in as well. "Divines above. I didn't believe I would ever see any of you again. This is...this is almost unbelievable."
Nevano made sure to hold Serana to his side, finally relaxing a tiny bit.
"As much as I don't want to disrupt your reunion, this almost wasn't to be." Drelasa said after giving them a moment or two. "Unfortunately, the odd retinue before you has been assembled under rather dire circumstances."
"Oh, I believe it." The Emperor finally released his family and sat at his desk, facing them. This did not have so much an air of intimidation or even authority, as it did someone getting comfortable and bracing himself for bad news. "The re-emerged Nerevarine joining forces with the Dragonborn and her nearest and dearest? Not to mention the stories coming out of Chorrol and Skingrad about dragons and repentant Thalmor...or the sudden assembling of armies in both Morrowind and Skyrim. Glad as I am to have found my family again, well...I'm tempted to ask the Moth Priests what they might have discovered in the Scrolls that might tell what world-shattering event this is building up to."
"That desk won't be near enough support in about two seconds." Nevano said. "Let's put it this way...what Mehrunes Dagon did here is looking like a child's picnic by the lake in comparison. Molag Bal is playing for more than just Tamriel. He's going for all of Mundus, Aetherius, Wheel and all."
To his credit, the Emperor did not appear disbelieving, or even overly shocked. His hands clenched and his face paled, but he nodded. "That...would be sufficient cause to mobilize half the Empire. Or the full Empire...which I suspect you've come to do."
Drelasa ground an elbow into Nevano's ribs before he could say anything else flippant.
"There is more to it than just that. That is...the shortened version," Ravenlight said, ignoring Nevano's grunt of pain. "The longer version includes every vampire clan at war, every Daedra Lord and Divine getting involved, Molag Bal emptying his Vile Lab and...something that has caused quite a bit of personal offence and responsibility on Morrowind's part...but the cursed children of Vivec and Molag Bal. So...if we can pull the entirety of Tamriel together to fight this then, yes, that is precisely what we are hoping to accomplish."
He leaned back in his chair. "Understood. It'll take some delicate maneuvering to get around some in my court whose vision does not extend beyond the walls of the Imperial City; but I've been secretly building up the Legion-yes, in rather blatant defiance of some of the terms of the White-Gold Concordat, which I never really expected to hold as long as it has-and I can have several companies mobilized at once, with others soon to follow."
"We promise not to eat your cavalry this time." Nevano could not help himself.
"I might let the Card'vel eat you. Hush." Drelasa hissed at him.
"Considering we will be traveling through Cyrodiil and High Rock, rather than Morrowind, I doubt the straits dire enough to need that will come up," Titus deadpanned.
Drelasa still gave Nevano a look that promised his tongue would be scrubbed smooth with the harshest soap she could find once they left. Nevano was completely unrepentant. This, in his mind, was a small bit of payback on a two hundred and fifty year grudge.
"Ignore him, please." Drelasa sighed. "I am sure we can have both Morrowind's military as well as the Legion work together nicely. I can arrange to have Generals Relas and Garil brought here to discuss terms, if that will ease things."
"It will ease things greatly." Titus leaned back slightly, gesturing to them to sit as well. "Now, if you don't mind, I think I'd like all the details of this. It will be easier to know what to tell my generals when I bring them up to speak with you and yours."
Drelasa took over then, telling everything, start to finish, before Nevano could get creative with it. Ravenlight and Gyrmallion assisted in the places Drelasa couldn't tell. A few places Drelasa found she simply couldn't tell. Not yet.
Gyrmallion found that he could not speak of what had happened the previous night, either, though he was willing to tell of the Thalmor in Skyrim who had surrendered to the Blades, and their encounter with the patrol in Bruma. He was even able to explain that the unfortunate man who'd been taken to hold the conjuration circle open had been his cousin.
Drelasa had been highly reluctant to even say what had happened to her son; but managed to find a way that made it sound far less...traumatic. Jorun she mentioned not at all. She was far too raw on the matter; the souls involved too vulnerable. If the matter was brought up at all, Mephala was merely upset at the horrid shrine.
When they finished, Titus II leaned back in his chair and exhaled. "That is...were a bard to sing such a tale, I suspect folk would claim he had invented most, if not all of it. It's more than a little terrifying to know that it's all true."
"Especially considering I fear we are not even halfway through this adventure." Drelasa said.
"Indeed." He stood, starting to pace absently. "So...you're undoubtedly here to retrieve the Legions, and I will send them to High Rock once we've had the chance to meet with these two Morrowind generals; I can count on Tullius to alert the others to Skyrim's intentions fairly quickly. But I suspect this will not be the last place you travel to raise troops. Where else are you going?"
Ravenlight took a deep breath. "Valenwood," she said. "The Rangers there will be more than helpful for this."
"We are going to every avenue we know." Drelasa said. "We'd go to Hammerfell but I don't think we have any truly familiar contacts there."
"No...probably not." Titus considered. "I do have Legions in the area...it's contested still, but I'll send messengers detailing what I've learned today-especially that delightful little bit of news that one of the three heads of the High Council has promised the Altmer to Molag Bal. I can guarantee that will set the rumor mill spinning faster than anything else."
"'Fairness' is not a term that is ever considered in war but what has been done...every other god is disgusted by it." Drelasa said. "Most squabbles have been put aside in favor of turning attention to this."
"My goodness. Yes, I'll be sure they mention that as well. I have a few devout priests in the ranks who can commune with their gods and confirm this." He circled around and came to the front. "I'll send for the generals now; they're not all in the city, but they'll be here in a few days. In the meantime, is there anything you'll need? Lodgings, equipment, supplies for the road when it comes time?"
Ravenlight considered. "We have lodging; we all took rooms at an inn down in the city before we brought Ahmetia and her children back up here. But...I could use the name of the city's best blacksmith. We've got some members of the group who need new armor, something that can hold up to what we're currently fighting." She looked around. "What else?"
"Other than the use of a temple, I can't think of anything at this time." Drelasa said.
"Use of a temple?" One eyebrow arched. "I can certainly find a way to arrange that...but may I ask what for?"
Drelasa smiled broadly. The tips of Nevusa's ears turned red.
Ahmetia smiled. "This young lady is wanting to get married to the man she loves-rather than the one her family, the Hlervus, picked out to seal an alliance. And she would, understandably, not want them to be able to claim her wedding was somehow...invalid."
"The Hlervus?" Titus grimaced. "Dear child, my sincerest sympathies. And...ah, I think I see what you're getting at, Ahmetia. Not just the use of a temple, then...will you need assistance getting everything together? And would you rather have it before the generals arrive, or as a bright spot after?"
"Another reason I wish to bring them in. General Garil is, technically, Nevusa's commanding officer." Drelasa grinned wider. "Not to mention having a Morrowind official or two here to fully validate it...which these two will happily do."
Nevusa shrugged a bit, gripping Farkas' hand tighter. "My mother is the only one who is...well, the only one you can even talk to, really. She'd be the only one to even begin to see what I see in Farkas."
"Understood. I've dealt with the Hlervus before...and yes, I can see what you mean." Titus nodded with a smirk. "So...should I have them prepare it for, say, a week from now?"
Nevusa stammered a bit, taken a bit off guard.
"That sounds wonderful, thank you so very much, your majesty." Drelasa smiled. "That's plenty of time. As well as enough time to find a dress that even this wild child will agree to."
"Oh," Ahmetia smirked, "leave that to me. Once it's discovered that the Princess has returned, half the dressmakers and designers in the city will arrive, wanting to offer their services. A week isn't quite enough time to completely make a dress...but it'll be enough time to take one and make it something a warrior won't mind being seen in." She smiled at Drelasa and Ravenlight. "I'm sure I can convince them to make something for you two as well, with little persuasion."
Nevusa really started stammering. The dress. Gods above and below…
Ravenlight laughed. "As long as I've got enough time to show that master smith the designs for the Chii Chare armor, so that we can get the rest of our group properly outfitted, and get something for Zak, I'll be happy to let them dress me up." Her expression turned flat as she remembered something. "As long as they understand that I don't do slinky or revealing."
Nevano gave Serana's hand a small squeeze and a quick glance that said he might have a hard time controlling himself seeing Serana in a pretty outfit a second time.
"Well, it's been twenty years since I was in on the latest fashions," Ahmetia said, "but judging by what I've seen so far, slinky and revealing isn't it." She smiled broadly. "Oh...this will be a great deal of fun. I'm looking forward to this!"
Drelasa shot a look at Nevusa. "You will be dressed nicely. But, it will reflect your taste. Won't be something you hate, darling."
Farkas squeezed her hand and grinned at her in anticipation. She grinned back. For him...yes. Any dress would be worth it for him. Besides! There would be mounting anticipation with complicated ties and buckles later on.
"The way rumors work in the city-or at least the way they used to work-we'll have a small horde of them up here by tomorrow, about noon or so." Ahmetia glanced over at Larifa and Rellino. "They'll be wanting to meet you, too."
Ravenlight held back a laugh at the interest on Larifa's face and the dismay on Rellino's.
Nevano winced in sympathy for Rellino. New clothes were one thing but new fancy clothes itched and pinched and just...were too much.
"Well." Titus glanced out the window. "It's getting quite late, and while the palace will be up for a while yet, we haven't been traveling all day; I would imagine the lot of you are extremely tired. Would you prefer a room up here for the night, or would you rather return to wherever the rest of you are staying?"
"It would be best to return." Drelasa said. "Keep the rest of our companions out of trouble. Especially since two of them are extremely young, very wild and have never been around crowds like this or walls." Drelasa nearly sighed. "Almost tempted to tell them they have to hold hands with someone."
"A good idea in that case..." Titus chuckled. "Where are you staying? If needed, I could send an escort to get you back."
"No need." Nevano spoke up. "I can take them back. Probably better that way. Fewer guards means less attention to where we are staying."
"That would be better," Ravenlight agreed. "But if you want to find us tomorrow morning, we're staying at the All-Saint's Inn."
Nevano ran his thumb over Serana's hand. They were almost through here.
"Not too far away...yes. If you'd prefer, I'll have you shown to a more private exit and you can make your way back on your own. Either way, I'll send a messenger to the inn about mid-morning tomorrow." Titus chuckled. "Mostly for the women, then...we will be overrun with dressmakers."
"How to make the men suddenly become scarce in two seconds." Nevano gave a wry smile.
"Works beautifully," Serana quipped.
"Food brings you back wonderfully." Drelasa added.
"Yes. Yes, it does." This was, surprisingly, Gyrmallion, his hand dropping lightly to the lantern at his side.
Nevano laughed, humor finally sparking in his eyes. "Won't deny that. Can't really..."
"No. Not at all. Now we should be off. Make sure the others haven't set a city to riot." Drelasa stood. She looked at Ahmetia and her children, her eyes warm. "I'm so happy we could bring you home safely."
Ahmetia stepped forward to embrace her, her eyes equally warm. "And I thank all of you for helping." She didn't hug all of them-but she did go to the ones who'd been there to stop the Thalmor and the daedra on the island. "It is...I came to greatly enjoy my life on the island. But I am...more than glad to finally be home."
"We understand completely." Drelasa gave her a tight hug back and murmured in her ear. "I don't think I have to warn you to be careful here at court but do keep an eye out."
Ahmetia nodded. "Oh, believe me, I will. I saw some expressions that were not at all happy that we've turned up again." A nasty little smile tugged at the side of her lips. "I might have to demonstrate a few things I learned from Ko'Haryla...she was a very good teacher."
Drelasa gave her a smile that had a touch of wicked glee in it. "Give them hell, darling."
"Would it be wrong of me to say I intend to very much enjoy watching this?" Titus murmured, putting his arm around his daughter's shoulder. "There are a number of vipers here I haven't been able to tread on...perhaps this will give us the opportunity."
Drelasa's smile definitely had a touch of malice in it. "Give me three days." Was all she said.
"Dear lady, you may have all the time you need." Titus chuckled.
"I'd love to keep you all here and discuss various plans," said Ahmetia, "but-while I've no doubt you're all stronger than I am-I'm going to guess that most of you are at least as tired as I am after traveling all day, and I did not have to do any fighting."
"Ah yes, we've said this three times already. Now it must be so." Drelasa shooed, mostly, Nevano, towards the door.
Ravenlight paused and bowed slightly before she left. "I look forward to discussing this in more detail with you later, Majesty."
He smiled back-and gave her a similar bow in return. "And I with you, Dragon Queen."
Nevano looked over his shoulder before he went out the door. His eyes flashed briefly and he nodded, seemingly very pleased, before leaving.