Unfamiliar Faces

Chapter 5

Ten riders kept close together as they traversed the snow covered peaks of the Jerall Mountains that made up the border between Skyrim and Cyrodiil. Their journey began in Solitude several days ago, making their way to Whiterun, where they picked up the rest of their party, and restocked their supplies. Mikkel took this moment to change out his dragonbone bow for Auriel's bow, which he had stowed away in a display case. That done, they continued their way to Cyrodiil.

"Look over there," Delphine said, pointing to a ruin to the west, "That's all that remains of Cloud Ruler Temple. It was once a stronghold of the Blades."

"Jauffre mentioned it in his journal," Mikkel replied, "That's where they protected Martin Septim during the Oblivion Crisis. If we're at Cloud Ruler, then we're not far from Bruma. Welcome to Cyrodiil, my friends."

The group rode for another couple of hours, before coming to the walled city of Bruma. They paid the stablehand to take care of their horses, and entered through the city gates. After getting directions to the nearest inn, the large party finally made their way there. A long discussion with the innkeeper saw all rooms booked by the group. They sat in comfortable silence, listening to the bard play. That is, until she started singing a song about the battle against Ulfric. It's at this time that Mikkel and Rikke close their eyes, as if remembering something.

The sounds of heated battle could be heard all over Windhelm, as three entered the Palace of the Kings. These 3 are General Tullius, Legate Rikke, and the Dragonborn, Mikkel. Rikke had already secured the door and the three warriors of the Imperial Legion advanced toward Ulfric's throne.

"Ulfric Stormcloak," Tullius called out, "You are guilty of Insurrection, Murder of Imperial Citizens, the assassination of King Torygg, and High Treason against the Empire. It's over!"

It's at this time that Mikkel tuned out the talk between the two career soldiers, and the renegade Jarl. He was closely watching Ulfric's right hand man, Galmar Stone-Fist. Just when Galmar was poised to attack Rikke, Mikkel shouted, "FUS RO DAH!" sending a blast of concussive force that had Galmar flying through a solid stone wall. He quickly followed up on this attack by stabbing Galmar through the heart, before returning to the fray.

"FUS RO!" Ulfric shouted, sending Tullius and RIkke flying across the throne room.

"WULD NA KEST!" Mikkel shouted catching up to Ulfric, and shoulder charging him to the floor, before he had a chance to harm his compatriots. "Rikke," he told the Legate, "See to General Tullius. Leave Ulfric to me." Rikke nodded as Mikkel turned to Ulfric. "Let's see just how powerful you are," the Dovahkiin mused, "The Dov themselves have acknowledge the power of my thu'um. You're about to see why. MUL QA DIIV!"

A draconic energy aura surrounded Mikkel as the two clashed swords. A solid kick from Mikkel's armored boot sent Ulfric reeling across the floor. Ulfric picked himself up off the floor and shouted, "WULD!" before sprinting right toward the Dragonborn, but Mikkel was able to read his moves easily, and stabbed the rogue Jarl through the chest, before slicing off the Stormcloak leader's head.

"You disappoint me," Mikkel stated, "Your Thuum was pathetic. Hin thu'um mii shalo. Hi lost vobalaan krizey."

A strange voice shocked the group. "Excuse me," a young man in the uniform of the Penitus Oculatus, said, "You came from Skyrim, right? You wouldn't happen to be Mikkel and party, would you?"

"Who are you?" Rikke asked, removing her hood and finally revealing her identity.

"It's ok," Mikkel stated, "We're familiar with the Penitus Oculatus. Yes, I'm Mikkel. You are?"

"I'm Lieutenant Denton," the younger soldier answered, "I was tasked to accompany you to the Castle of the Nine. Other members will meet you there, along with Supreme Commander Marius."

Mikkel took a moment to size this kid up. He couldn't me older than 20, and stood about 5'9". He was obviously a Breton. The features that stood out most, though, were his auburn hair, cut down to almost stubble, and green eyes. The Dovahkiin nodded and introduced the rest of the party: Lydia, Jordis, Iona, Farkas, Vilkas, Delphine, Rikke, Hadvar and Riala. The group welcomed the younger man into their numbers, and soon they were all turning in for the night, looking to get an early start in the morning.

While everyone else slept, Riala tossed and turned in her slumber, until Mikkel gave her a reassuring squeeze, as he held her. She turned around, giving him an appreciative smile, before bringing her lips in to meet his. Mikkel brought one arm up to rub up and down her back as she rolled over on top of him. Two pair of lips once again came together as two bodies met in the throes of passion.

The next morning, all eleven were once again in the saddle, riding south from Bruma. They rode through the morning and into the afternoon. Denton noticed the shadow above them, to which Mikkel explained that Odahviing and Paarthurnax , as well as multiple dovah were following them, to help once they made it to the Temple of the One.

Late in the afternoon, the group finally made it to the Castle of the Nine, where they dismounted from their horses, and were met by an older man in armor similar to Denton's, "Mikkel," the man said, "I'm supreme commander Marius. Caro told me you were coming. It's comforting to know that the Septim line still lives."

Much like he did with Denton, Mikkel sized up Supreme Commander Marius. He was a tall, muscular, man, standing 6'2", with a lean, muscular build, Dark hair down to his shoulders, and a moustache. His stature seemed to scream out "warrior", and he had an air of authority about him. He shook the man's hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Commander," the Dovahkiin replied then introduced his party again, "My party and I will be going in to retrieve the Crusader's relics, and to restore the Knights of the Nine. From there, we'll go to the Imperial City where I will announce the covenant and my lineage from the Temple of the One."

Marius nodded. "This place is protected by wards since the death of the last Crusader," the Commander explained, "The Thalmor tried to destroy it, but the protective spells kept them from succeeding."

"I can get in," the Dragonborn responded, "I'm a descendant of the last Crusader." Marius just nodded again as Denton took his place with the Penitus Oculatus, and Mikkel walked over to the mmain gate into the castle grounds. He took out his dragonbone dagger and sliced his hand open, putting his blood on the gate. A blinding light shone for a few seconds, then, after it died down, the gate opened, allowing everyone to enter the castle's courtyard.

They searched the entire castle, before finding the armory and training room. Multiple suitsw of armor sit on shelves as well as an ornate set with a sword, mace and shield on an armor rack at the far end of the room. Mikkel stepped forward, walking toward the armor, when a spectral woman in a suit of heavy armor appeared in front of him.

"So, the need has arisen for a new Divine Crusader," she began, "And one of my descendants has answered the call. Come closer, and let me look upon you." Mikkel did as instructed, and the spectral figure reached up and touched his face. "Yes," she continued, "You have the same eyes as my son, Uriel, just like Martin, that same undeniable strength behind them. Hmm?" She touched the amulet of Akatosh on his chest. "There's Divine power in this amulet. You've met Akatosh himself." Mikkel just gave a nod. "That alone makes you worthy of wielding the Crusader's relics. Go ahead and claim them, Crusader, but first, tell me your name."

"Mikkel," he answered, "MIkkel Septim."

"Then claim your birthright, Mikkel Septim, and use that power to protect Tamriel, and her people," the former Crusader told her descendant. Mikkel extended a hand to Riala, who joined him in approaching the armor. He discarded the Nordic suit he wore all the way from Solitude, and Riala assisted him in donning the Armor of the Divine Crusader. He then strapped the sword and mace to his belt and grabbed the quiver of elven arrows and Auriel's Bow from his old armor.

Mikkel then turned around and addressed the others. "My friends," he said, walking over to a shelf filled with armor, "Step forward and become the inner circle of the Knights of the Nine. Rikke, you first." Rikke walked up to Mikkel and knelt. "Rikke, Warrior at heart, You are the Knight of Talos," the Divine Crusader stated, touching her shoulders with the Sword of the Crusader, then handing her a suit of heavy armor. He then proceeded to knight the rest of the party in a similar fashion.

"Hadvar, a soldier, brave and merciful, you are the Knight of Stendarr."

"Lydia, as deadly as you are beautiful, you are the Knight of Dibella."

"Jordis, your ferocity in battle shows a great love for your fellow man, in your desire to protect the weak. You are the Knight of Mara."

"Iona, you dedication to your duty makes you ideal tobe the Knight of Zenithar."

"Farkas, as deadly as any shield-brother as I've had the honor to fight beside, you are the Knight of Arkay."

"Vilkas, wisest of the Companions, my shield-brother, you are the Knight of Julianos."

"Delphine, You are the Knight of Kynareth."

"Riala, Dragonborn, Dii Sil Liin, You are to be the Knight of Akatosh."

When all nine had been knighted, they drew swords, extending them to meet in the center of their circle, and MIkkel finished, by stating, "Now, till Arkay takes us, we are the Knights of the Nine, Defenders of the Divines' creation. All hail the Knights of the Nine."

"All Hail," The others answered in unison.

It was early morning as the Elder Council was deliberating the status of the Empire, as a member of the Legion came in to the room. "Honored Councilors," he said, "Dragons are circling the Temple of the One."

"Dragons, you say?" the High Chancellor asked.

"Yes, my lord," the soldier answered, "They're just circling, and doing nothing else. The people are puzzled as to what's going on."

The chancellor had no chance to ask another question, as many booming voices outside the white gold tower shouted, "DOVAHKIIN DAAL!"

Then, a single voice rang out through the city after that. "ZU'U LOS DOVAHKIIN. VOS KUN DO DAAR REVAK DOVAH YAL KOS UNAHZAAL SIINDAH DO DAAL DO TIIDNAVIR DO DOVAHRO SOS, AHRK YUN RAHVARIIN VOTH FAAL STAHDIM, BORMAH!"

The multiple voices rang out, "DOVAHKIIN DAAL!"

The one voice continued, "DOVAHRO SOS FEN VOKRII TAAZOKAAN NOL VOLVAR DO FAHLIILEN SULEYKSEJUN!"

"DOVAKIIN DAAL!"

A second soldier ran into the council chamber, "That shouting is coming from the temple of the one. The dragons are circling around the temple and are responding to someone shouting inside."

"JUL AHRK DOVAH LOS ZEYMAHZIN. JUL AHRK DOVHA LOS FAHDON."

"DOVAHKIIN AHRK DOV LOS ZEYMAH!"

The council ran out of the chamber and straight to the Temple of the one, where they found the Dragonfires once again lit, and a man standing among them, wearing the relics of the Divine Crusader, and a strange amulet around his neck.

"Who are you?" The high chancellor asked of the strange man, who walked up to the group, once he noticed them.

He removed his helmet, and answered, plainly, "Mikkel Septim, heir to Martin Septim."

Chapter 5 End.

Next Chapter: Crisis Comes Back to Tamriel.

Dovahzul translations.

ZU'U LOS DOVAHKIIN. VOS KUN DO DAAR REVAK DOVAH YAL KOS UNAHZAAL SIINDAH DO DAAL DO TIIDNAVIR DO DOVAHRO SOS, AHRK YUN RAHVARIIN VOTH FAAL STAHDIM, BORMAH!

"I am Dragonborn. Let the lighting of this sacred dragon fire be a symbol of the return of the lineage of the Dragon's blood, and a new covenant with the Divine, Akatosh."

DOVAHRO SOS FEN VOKRII TAAZOKAAN NOL VOLVAR DO FAHLIILEN SULEYKSEJUN!

"The Dragon's blood will restore Tamriel from the chaos of the elven dominion."

JUL AHRK DOVAH LOS ZEYMAHZIN. JUL AHRK DOVHA LOS FAHDON

"Man and Dragon are companions, Man and Dragon are friends."

DOVAHKIIN AHRK DOV LOS ZEYMAH!

"Dragonborn and Dragonkind are brothers."

DOVAHKIIN DAAL

"Dragonborn Returns."