(A/N: This was intended to happen much later in my Death's Kiss story, but as I don't think I'll ever finish it, I decided to write this up. Might not make sense if you didn't bother with the Morrowind plotline.
Disclaimer: I'm not Bethesda.)
Poison
Dear Almalexia. Skin so golden, lips so sweet, legs so supple.
"Serpent!" Almalexia greets with a saccharine smile, suspended despite gravity as though on an unseen throne. The named Argonian crosses the threshold, coming closer the goddess. Near seven feet tall, muscles strong and taut, scales hard and scarred, the jaundice yellow lizard-creature is a brute to look upon. Her tail wavers tensely, gills gasping for water that isn't there, reptilian pupils reverting to slits as she nears her goddess.
"It is fortunate you've come by," Almalexia continues, uncaring of all but her own concerns. "I suspect there's been a coup among some of the guards, and - " But Serpent's cold gaze unsettles and stalls even her. "Nerevarine... why do you stare at me so?"
"You know my name," the monstrous reptile says in her hiss of a voice. "You know my title. And yet, you never seem to acknowledge what it means."
"It means you are the reincarnation of Nerevar," Almalexia states matter-of-factly, growing increasingly at unease; at her signal, her Hands move closer about her, hold their weapons tighter.
"Your HUSBAND," the Serpent clarifies, dripping venom from the jaws in her upset. The Almalexia freezes.
Your eyes green as the greenest plant, hair red as the reddest flesh.
"That... that is true," Almalexia admits slowly. A mortal poses no threat to her, but even a god is perturbed by the Serpent's gaze.
I love you as I have loved none other. And so, once, did you love me.
"But he is alive no longer," Almalexia affirms, stiffening. "Carrying on NOW, about the dissension - " The Serpent lunges forward, too sharply; the Hands lunge with her. But her claws find a soft spot in every suit of armor, rend a jugular in every throat, and the beautiful Almalexia is surrounded by her dying guards, drowning in their spouting blood.
You could not live without me, you told me.
And even the great Almalexia is fearful as the monster approaches, claws stained with scarlet.
I am your beloved, your one, and you are mine. For I am Nerevar, and I swear
The Serpent's claws sink into the smooth golden shoulders.
that I will never leave you...
And slitted pupils meet greenest green eyes.
You tried to leave me...
"I got rid of you," Almalexia hissed.
Thrice betrayed by my dearest wife, my closest friends. Almalexia, Sotha Sil, Vivec...
"I am last of the Tribunal! You cannot harm me!" But the claws stuck in her flesh prove her arrogance wrong.
You three poisoned the candles, the robes, the invocations...
The Serpent's mouth parts slightly, still coated with venomous ichor.
And I carry the poison in my heart and mouth still.
A forced kiss, and the god-killer's poison flows into the goddess's throat.
You tried to leave me, but I love you too much to allow that.
"I... have always DESPISED you..." Almalexia chokes, gravity reclaiming her body as she spirals into death...
You are mine,
Strong, scaly arms catch the fresh corpse.
forever, and ever.
The Argonian cradles an earlier life's love.
Ever.
Azura's will is done. The false gods are felled by the one they betrayed. Balance is restored, all is as it should be...
...and only the betrayed is left to suffer.
For though my head may be made to hate, my heart can only love. I love you, Almalexia, moreso than I loved Sotha Sil and Vivec.
You are all gone now... but my love for you remains.
Soon, I will be gone as well.
Guards flood the temple and spear the hapless lizard to death.
But I have confidence I will see you again. Perhaps that poisonous hate will at last be out of the way then, and we can only love.
...Damn you, Azura. Grant me that.
Grant me that...