Dance of the ja-Kha'jay.
By Lakyan.
Authors note: A scene change occurs when the dates and locations appear.
Chapter 10 – Return to Red Mountain.
Year4E2 9th of First Seed. Ra'jissan's Chambers, Imperial Palace, Cyrodiil.
A bright flash of yellow light woke Ra'jissan from his sleep. He blinked awake, night vision serving him well. He picked up his speaking stone, and saw Raminus Polus in it.
"Have you arrived Arch-Mage?" Ra'jissan asked.
"We have High Chancellor." Raminus confirmed.
"Good. I shall be there as soon as I can." Ra'jissan told him, and broke contact.
"Must you go now?" A heavily pregnant Ahnassi asked.
"Yes, my sweet. The sooner I go, the sooner I can return." Ra'jissan kissed her lovingly.
"Ok." Ahnassi agreed, watching Ra'jissan cast Mark near the bed.
Ra'jissan left the room and tried to go into his sister's room, only to find it locked.
He knocked loudly. There was a grumble from inside, and Ocato opened the door.
"Raminus has called me to Red Mountain. I thought I should tell you before I left." Ra'jissan told the near naked Altmer.
"Good luck." Ocato wished him.
Ra'jissan continued on to Mazoga's door. He knocked loudly again. There was a loud groan from inside. The door swung open quickly, and Mazoga grabbed him by the throat.
"Arggh, Magh-Zogh-Gah!" Ra'jissan choked.
"Sorry High Chancellor." She released him.
"We are heading out, get your gear."
Mazoga quickly gathered her armour and weapons. Ri'rassi wandered into the room, obviously half asleep.
"Good luck Ra'jissan." She bade him.
He nodded at her, and grasped Mazoga's arm. He slipped a ring onto his finger and he and Mazoga vanished.
"It seems my brother has loads of useful possessions." Ri'rassi commented to Ocato on returning to her room.
"Indeed he does. Spells too." Ocato answered from his couch, where he was still sleeping after many months.
Ri'rassi came over and took his hands. She pulled hi to his feet, and embraced him. She barely came up to his shoulders.
"I think maybe it's time for you to stop sleeping on the sofa." Ri'rassi said, tail wrapped around the High Elf's waist.
"It is starting to hurt my back." Ocato joked.
Ri'rassi smiled at him, and kissed him. Ocato ran his fingers through her hair and held her close. Ri'rassi pulled away, and took him by the hand. She led him to the bed, and pushed him onto it.
"Ri'rassi?" Ocato asked questioningly.
Ri'rassi put a finger to his lips then kissed him. Ocato got the idea and joined in the fun.
Year4E2 9th of First Seed. Vivec, Morrowind.
Ra'jissan and Mazoga appeared by the Tribunal Temple in Vivec.
"That's some magic ring you have there." Mazoga commented, unused to the less conventional means of transportation.
"Follow me. And don't talk to the Ordinators. They don't like outlanders." Ra'jissan told her.
He led her across the cantons of Vivec, unseen in the night. He led her out of the city and into a little nook off the side of the road.
"Right. Here should do." The Khajiit said, and he started stripping off his clothes.
Mazoga was shocked. "What are you doing?" She hissed.
"Getting us to where we need to go faster. Now don't panic." He pulled on his loose waistcoat with the Imperial Dragon sewn onto it. He tied the rest of his clothes into a tight bundle, and gave them to Mazoga. Ra'jissan rammed the Ring of Hircine onto his finger. Mazoga watched in horror as he warped and twisted into his werewolf form. Once done he lay on the ground.
"What do you want me to do? I can't do that!" Mazoga growled, not understanding.
The wolfen Khajiit pointed at her then pointed to his back, indicating for her to get on.
She obliged, unsure of riding a werewolf. Once she was on properly and had a tight enough grip, Ra'jissan shot off. He bounded along the roads at an amazing speed, passing Pelagaid in minutes. They continued along this road, before they turned into a row of hills. They emerged into the Foyada Mamaea, which was dimly lit in the moonlight. They turned north and followed the Foyada. Mazoga had never seen such a ruined landscape. Scorched trees lined the crude road and piles of ash lay everywhere. After passing a few ruins, Ra'jissan slowed his pace and stopped. He motioned for Mazoga to hold on even tighter. She obeyed, and was glad so did, when Ra'jissan leapt unbelievably high into the air, over Raminus' army and landed next to Raminus himself. Raminus jumped at the sudden arrival. Mazoga got off Ra'jissan and started to kiss the ground. Ra'jissan pulled off his ring and reverted back to his usual self.
"Orcs do not fly." Mazoga growled at the Khajiit, once he had some pants on.
"Sorry Mazoga." Ra'jissan apologised.
"That's Sir Mazoga." She answered, none the worse for wear after her fright.
"That was quick." Raminus commented.
"I know. The werewolf has it's uses. Unfortunately it's also more likely to get shot at." Ra'jissan joked.
"We aren't going to be able to get the Siege Crawler up the mountain." Raminus told the Khajiit.
"I know. That's why I'm going in first. I want to check out Helseth's defences." Ra'jissan told the Arch-Mage.
"Right." Raminus agreed.
"Sir Mazoga. Stay here until I return." Ra'jissan told her.
"Ok." The Orc said.
Ra'jissan walked up and opened the Ghostgate. He went through and shut it behind him. He removed his pants again and put the Ring of Hircine on. In his wolfen form he carefully went up the mountain path, sniffing the ground for any sign of Helseth.
A few men had marched this way, which was good. Dagoth-Ur is not very well defended with so few men. Ra'jissan paused as he heard a sound. A dunmer watchman was taking a leak on a dead bush. Ra'jissan stalked him quietly, and was standing right behind him when the dunmer turned around. He didn't see anything but a blur of teeth and fur and motion. The werewolf caught the falling body, careful not to make too louder sound. He laid the body behind the dead bush, and continued up the path.
He found another watchman, asleep this time, and made sure that the mer would never wake up. He hunted down and killed every mer he could find before he approached the crater. He crested the lip, and gazed down into the crater. The dwemer spires of Dagoth-Ur rose up from a lower level. A few watchmen lingered outside the door, easily a number the werewolf could handle, but the Khajiit inside preferred a less obvious solution. He looked around for a large rock, one big enough to crush the mer, but still small enough for him to push. He spotted one, and bounded over to it. He calculated the path it would take and found it suitable. He gave a push on the rock, but it didn't budge. Ra'jissan slammed his fist into the rock in annoyance. He found a log, and wedged in under the boulder. He jumped out to the end of the log, and missed. However his waistcoat caught on the log, and his weight was enough to pull down on it. The boulder shifted, but didn't roll down the hill. Ra'jissan cursed the waistcoat and wriggled out of it, catching the log in one clawed hand before he fell. He started bouncing the log, and the boulder moved. It rolled down the hill. Ra'jissan grabbed his waist coat and jumped onto the crater edge, as soon as he felt the boulder move. The huge stone rolled down the hill, crashing through charred vegetation and crushing the remaining watchmen underneath. Ra'jissan snorted in satisfaction and went back down the mountain. He went through the Ghostgate, changing back to his normal self, before approaching the army.
"How goes it?" Raminus asked as soon as Ra'jissan appeared.
"I have taken care of Helseth's defences. Let me put on my armour, then we'll march up the mountain." Ra'jissan went into Raminus' tent, where he knew the Arch-Mage had been keeping an eye on his battle gear since he became High Chancellor.
"We should leave some men here, to guard the Siege Crawler." Mazoga told Raminus while they were waiting.
"I was thinking along those lines." Raminus told the Orc woman.
Ra'jissan came out of the tent just as the sun was beginning to rise.
"Alright, let's move out." Ra'jissan opened the Ghostgate.
"You lot, stay here and let no one near the Siege Crawler." Raminus shouted, sounding a lot more authoritive than he did when they took Almalexia.
The rest of the army followed Ra'jissan up the mountain, many stumbling on the steep slope that the Khajiit climbed with ease. They climbed into the Foyada leading into the crater, many of them marvelling at the Dwemer statues which greeted them. Ra'jissan led them to the entrance of Dagoth Ur. Raminus and Mazoga saw the boulder which Ra'jissan had used to crush the watchmen and were amazed at his strength.
"Alright lads. Somewhere in this fortress is King Helseth. We will search every room, and every passage until we find him. I you do find him, shout, and I will be there shortly to deal with him myself. Is that clear?" Ra'jissan shouted to the gathered army.
A shout was returned, and Ra'jissan turned a crank. The doors of Dagoth-Ur opened slowly, and the army poured inside. Ra'jissan waited until everyone was inside and joined them. He marched down corridors, seeing men searching everywhere for Helseth. A few of Helseth's men remained, and these were swiftly disposed of. Ra'jissan marched right into the Heart Chamber, where Mazoga and Raminus followed. Helseth was there, sitting in a crude throne carved from stone.
"Welcome Traitor." Helseth addressed Ra'jissan.
"Traitor? I think you are mistaken." The High Chancellor growled, laying his ears back.
"No, you are a traitor Nerevarine. You have betrayed the Dunmer people by siding with the Imperial N'wahs." Helseth accused.
"I have not betrayed them. I came to give them peace and stability. They have not seen that under you rule. If anyone here is a traitor, it is you Helseth." The Nerevarine challenged.
"Hold your tongue, swit!" Helseth barked. "You have betrayed us, by siding with the so-called Empress Regent, and her half breed son."
"The Empress Regent was one of the people responsible for stopping the Oblivion Crisis. Or have you forgotten the destruction of Ald'ruhn? As for her half-breed son, he really is of Septim blood, and if you contest that, then you are a bigger fool than I imagined." Ra'jissan told him.
"Well the, if you want Morrowind incorporated back into the Empire, you will have to take it from my cold, dead hands." Helseth rose, drawing his sword.
"That suits me perfectly fine." Ra'jissan shot back, drawing Trueflame. The fire blade flickered in the dim light.
Helseth charged at the Khajiit. Ra'jissan dodged, drawing his sword along Helseth's arm. Helseth's sleeve tore open, revealing blue flesh and red blood underneath.
"You swit!" Helseth spat as he whirled around and swung his sword, trimming Ra'jissan's beard with the very near miss.
Mazoga and Raminus edged forward, raising their own weapons.
"No! This is between him and me!" Ra'jissan paralysed them with a spell.
Helseth took the distraction, sweeping his sword across Ra'jissan's chest. It made a clanging sound against the armour. Ra'jissan recoiled, then charged in, landing a blow on Helseth's back, igniting his clothes.
"Argh!" Helseth screamed as he threw himself to the ground, rolling over and over to douse the flames.
Ra'jissan threw a shock spell at the King, who twitched in agony. Helseth picked himself up and raised his sword unsteadily. He looked for any weakness at all on the Khajiit. He stopped one and charged. Ra'jissan raised his shield to block, but Helseth darted underneath it, stabbing Ra'jissan in his clawed foot.
"Rarrgh!" Ra'jissan roared.
He jumped back, and brought his sword down on Helseth's head, cleaving it. Helseth's dead body slumped to the ground. Ra'jissan sat abruptly, exhausted from the swordfight. The spell on Mazoga and Raminus wore off. They dropped to the ground.
"Ra'jissan?" Raminus asked.
"Yes?" He answered quietly.
"How is your foot?" He asked.
"Bloody sore." The Khajiit answered.
"Here." Raminus placed a hand on Ra'jissan's foot, and cast a healing spell.
"Thank you." Ra'jissan stood up.
"Shall we get out of here?" Mazoga asked.
"Yes, let's."
"Alright Lads! Morrowind is ours!" Ra'jissan yelled.
A rejoice went up from the men.
"Mazoga, you and Raminus make your way back to Cyrodiil. Make sure to leave some men behind at the Legion Forts. They will make sure Morrowind stays under our control. The sun should only just be rising in Cyrodiil." Ra'jissan ordered.
"Yes sir." Raminus and Mazoga answered in unison.
"Right, I'll see you as soon as you get back. Safe travels." Ra'jissan used recall and vanished.
Year4E2 9th of First Seed. Almalexia, Morrowind.
Barenziah jerked awake. Somehow she knew her first son was dead. She also knew she should call Morgiah to take Helseth's place.
Year4E2 9th of First Seed. The Empress Regent's Chambers, Cyrodiil.
Ja-Kha'jay, who could now walk, talk and even had his own room, ran to his mother's door. He pushed it open, and closed it again. He ran up to the bed, and jumped onto it.
"Mama!" He shouted gleefully when Ri'rassi woke in a fright, hackles raised.
"You scared me." She told her child, who only knew about four words.
"Mama." Ja-Kha'jay beamed, crawling into bed beside her. He found someone else there too.
"Oooh, you're cold Ja-Kha'jay." Ocato squirmed.
"Dada." He cuddled the mer.
Ocato looked at Ri'rassi.
"Not Dada. Ocato." Ri'rassi told her son.
"Dada." Ja-Kha'jay was adamant.
"Father, Martin." Ri'rassi pointed to the portrait near the far end of the room.
"Papa Maaarrrtin. Dada Ocato." Ja-Kha'jay told them.
"Well he seems to know I'm not his real father." Ocato said.
"Well it's a start." Ri'rassi agreed.
"I just can't get over how fast he's growing. Certainly faster than a human." Ocato noted.
"Yes, Khajiit grow fast. Most Khajiit are fully adult by fifteen." Ri'rassi said.
They heard a loud thud from the room next door.
"I think Ra'jissan might be back, and Ahnassi is pleased." Ocato smiled.
"Ra'jissan will tell us the outcome of Red Mountain is his own time. Meanwhile we have a prince that needs tickling!" Ri'rassi said.
Ja-Kha'jay's wormed down to the end of the bed to escape his mother. He tickled both his mother's and Ocato's feet. Their giggles echoed through the room.
Year4E2 9th of First Seed. Elder Council Chambers, Cyrodiil.
"Morrowind is ours!" Ri'rassi announced to the Council.
An excited murmur sounded from each and ever council member.
"King Helseth was killed at Red Mountain, which left Morrowind to us. Raminus Polus and Sir Mazoga are making their way back to the Imperial City. They will take a few months to get the Siege Crawler back to the City. We will have to build extra stables for the guars, but we have plenty of time for that." Ra'jissan, who had a crutch under one arm.
"I think this calls for a celebration. Wouldn't you agree High Chancellor?" Word-Weaver asked.
"Indeed it does. Let everyone celebrate the acquisition of Morrowind, by free drinks in every tavern in the Empire." Ra'jissan told the Council. Someone ran off to spread the word of the festivities.