A Dwarf To Remember
Chapter 2: Showdown in the palace of Vivec
Somehow, after so many years of sitting in pitch black, I knew my way around this ever-changed land. But of course, my new target was Vivec himself. Following the many roads, twists and turns and constant run-ins with city guards. Eventually, Vivec appeared on the signs and I happily followed them. Soon I realized, the guards of Vivec might be combing the streets for me. Then again, they may not expect to see the face of a presumed extinct race? Stepping onto a small bridge leading up to the Foreign Quarter, I treaded down the cobblestone holy streets, boldly. My footsteps echoed, it seemed, but I ceased to go inside any of the cantons. And in the absence of Ordinators and guards, rain wept from the gray skies. Grasping onto my cheeks, my brown hair seemed to hide my face in it's drenching. But soon enough, an Ordinator came into view. He was clad in Indoril armor, holding his mighty club at his side. When he laid his Dunmer eyes upon my Dwarven face, he immediately knew. "You cannot escape, the righteous!" He shouted from beneath his mask, charging me in all his glory. His armor shook upon him, nearly slipping off due to the substantial amount of rain. As he drew near, I unsheathed Aldo, and ran toward him as he did to unto me. But, I was the one whom would trot away. For the cruel and merciless end of my blade pierced through his armor, simply, and dug through his abdomen, and out of his back. Thick, red blood spilled out from the mouth part of his Indoril mask. "Fetcher! ...Goddamn Fetcher!" He gurgled in aguish. Holding my Dai-Katana in him, I began to question the poor and down trotted Dark Elf. "Tell me, Indoril mer, do you wish for me to give you mercy?" I pondered out loud, smiling a wicked and clearly visible smile. "Go to Hell! I would rather die than see you fetching Dwarves succeed!" He exclaimed. And with his statement, I brutally ripped the sword from him and stroked it across his neck--ending his life.
Now the Ordinators WERE looking for me. And their screams for mercy were heard as I crossed the bridge onto the Temple Canton. "DO NOT LET HIM REACH VIVEC!" They shouted behind me, charging at my backside as I began to walk the stairs upward to Vivec's palace. Yet, when the Priest-Soldiers did reach me, I simplistically cut them aside into the canal, their corpses floating on into the river. About ten Ordinators were struck down until I reached the locked door of the God's palace. "Vivec! Open!" I knocked upon the door once, yet I found no answer. It was then I lifted Aldo, and shoved it into the wooden door. Again and again I impaled the blockade, before the splintery piece of wood formally known as a door fell onto the ground. Suddenly, there he was, basking in his solitude. Vivec. He resembled a cross between an Altmer and a Dunmer, but bore a mighty voice. "So, it is you. Finally, awaking from your unrest. And here to slay me, I presume. Do not mock me if I think that this is truly an act of comedy. But you are a lone Dwarven grunt." He soon stopped meditating, and his feet landed back upon the triangular seat he was in. "Do you believe that murdering me will liberate your people from Oblivion?" He queried again, giving a leveled gaze. I smirked, and held Aldo's handle extremely tightly in my grasp. "I will kill you, I will kill Almalexia and I will kill Sotha Sil." My voice echoed throughout his holy citadel. Scowling, I began to approach the defying God. "You'll be happy to know that during Nerevar's great return to Mournhold, Almalexia was imprisoned by Helseth and Sotha Sil killed." He said with a devious laugh. A look of shock was soon plastered onto my face. "Helseth?" I questioned, stopping in my tracks. "The King of Morrowind, the oldest King to date. He surpassed Emperor Uriel Septim." Again Vivec sent waves of disbelief throughout my body. But like all those times, I quickly coped with the truth. "Where is Almalexia being held?" Hopefully he would give me in the intelligence I desired to know. Letting out a solitary breath, Vivec spoke again. "She still resides in her chambers, with one Hand as her bodyguard, and has been stripped of all her power except healing. For nearly 90 years ago she went power-mad and nearly destroyed Mournhold," Vivec explained. "But, tell me. How did you manage to survive for 90 years? Did you not die of old age?" Crossing his slightly bony arms, Vivec grinned. "I waited every day. But I did not die. And I do not know why this is." I confessed, glaring at him with my pitch black eyes. Smirking deviously, Vivec calmly moved toward me. "No, matter. Since I know I will be the victor in this combat, I will allow to keep your sword. And I will use a simplistic Silver Long sword." He slowly unsheathed the simple blade from his side. I stood in disbelief, within the candle lit dome-room, the triangular standing point in the middle, and a podium behind him. "So be it, but I will not lose." Again I unsheathed Aldo, and lifted it high. Grinning miraculously, I gripped the handle of my weapon with both hands.
Vivec simply held his rather poorly crafted weapon in one hand, and moved toward me gracefully. "May I ask you something, before you die?" The God continued to circle me, as if though in a fencing stance. "Anything." I grinned. By that time, the rain was pouring through the destroyed frame. Ordinators were outside, watching, but fearing to creep inside as they tended to their dead or dying comrades. Thunder rocked the area, like a band playing in a million sour notes. "Why are you doing this?" Vivec asked, a serious look came plastered upon his face. "Why? You helped destroy my people! You were the cause of them being sent to Oblivion!" I shouted in anger, again feeling the Dwemer rage filling me. "You think it was I who sent me? Me, Almalexia and Sotha Sil? You are--" When the "e" in "are" was said, I swung. My blade mercilessly smashed against Vivec's blade, sparks raising upward from the force of the blow. Vivec cringed and finally began to realize this was going to be a challenge. But he was a grand sword fighter. His blade cut off my right pauldron, and dug madly into my shoulder. A bit of blood seeped out and leaked onto my armor. That was, of course, before I lifted my enormous Dwarven boot and allowed it to collide with his stomach. Screaming a bit in pain, Vivec leaped back toward the broken door, the Ordinators outside preparing to draw their clubs. Alas, I held my Dai-Katana with one hand. It was exceptionally heavy, but I managed. Once more I swung, the side of my blade colliding yet another time with Vivec's sword, but there were no sparks for we ended up within the vicinity of the rain. "Do no attack, loyal Ordinators! For I will settle this matter." Vivec shouted between swings, as he and I began to move downward on the rather magnificent staircase. Lighting continued to boom across the sky, and with each blow I delivered unto Vivec's sword, it seemed to get worse.
Another five or so minutes passed as we up the stairs and down the stairs. But, I delivered my most powerful blow yet. And it cut directly through Vivec's sword. The chunks of his blade flew into the canal, spewing out into the natural river. Thus, swung Aldo across Vivec's chest and stomach several times, and he dropped to his knees. "You have beaten me...how is this?" He asked, a tear of streams moving with the rain down his face. I didn't give him the answer he sought. Simple enough, I rammed the Dai-Katana into him, and pulled out just as quick--allowing his limp corpse to tumble down the stairs. A small stream of his crimson liquid followed him down the stairs. "Lord Vivec!" The Ordinators shouted in a panic. A look of pure satisfaction came onto my bearded face. Soon the Priest-Soldiers were dead as well, I would cut them down as they ran to their fallen God. In time, I would make my way to Ebonheart--where I would meet the mage to take me to my final destination--Mournhold.