Chapter 9 – The Divine Avenger
Lando slowly turned his head to see the source of the voice. A tall Redguard man stood, looking at Lando with concern. However, what struck Lando the most was what the man was wearing. He had seen the Redguard's armor in paintings of the Battle of Bruma… being worn by Emperor Martin Septim. It was widely known that there was now only one person in Cyrodiil in possession of Imperial Dragon armor.
"You cannot be…" Lando said, standing up and bowing before the Redguard.
"Yes, I am the Champion of Cyrodiil" he replied. "At least, I was, until I returned from a long journey to find what had happened to Cyrodiil. What sort of hero would let something of that sort occur?"
"It must be difficult seeing what you risked your life for crumbling like this" Lando said. The Redguard nodded.
"I'm Lando, by the way"
The Redguard shook Lando's hand. "I'm The Divine Avenger"
"Quite a name" Lando remarked.
"That's what they called me back in Cyrodiil. I've been away from civilisation for so long I cannot even remember my real name"
"Where have you been? The Oblivion crisis was over ten years ago!"
"Yes. After that I left the cities. I wanted to see more of Tamriel. I've lived in the wilderness for ten years, become one with it. I have explored the ruins of the Ayleids and learnt enormous amounts about them. I have learnt everything there is to know about the Daedra, the Divines and the Mythic Times… Ha, you have my old sword!"
Lando looked down at Goldbrand in its sheath. He remembered Raminus saying it used to belong to the Champion of Cyrodiil.
"Take it back" Lando said, offering Goldbrand to The Divine Avenger. "I have no need for it anymore"
"Everybody has need for a weapon, Lando, whether they like it or not" the Redguard said. "And this sword has served me well for all the time I have had it"
The Divine Avenger drew a sword from his belt – jet-black but possessed of a pale blue glow.
"Daedric?" Lando asked, admiring the blade.
"Aedric, even rarer" The Divine Avenger replied. "I am confident that there isn't another sword like this in all Tamriel. Anyway, Lando. You have heard my story. What is yours?"
They both sat down in the snow as Lando told The Divine Avenger the story of his life, from his participation in the Oblivion crisis, fighting to protect the Emperor in both Bruma and the Imperial City, being kidnapped and taken to Morrowind, thwarting the terrorist group the Meric Liberation Front, and everything that had happened since his return to Cyrodiil.
"An amazing tale, Lando. Where are you travelling to now?"
"I do not know" Lando replied. "Nor do I care. I am simply journeying south until I can journey south no further"
"If you have come from Chorrol like you said you are quite far off course" The Divine Avenger said. "Come on, eat with me. You could use some rest"
Just outside Bravil, the previous night
Alaina walked briskly, her hood covering her head and her bow in her hand, constantly watching for danger.
She saw a pale glow in front of her. She froze in fear as she saw a ghostly form moving towards her. There was nothing she could do to fight it – her Elven bow would have no effect and she was without the silver dagger she used to always keep with her. She turned and ran.
"Alaina! Stop!" a disembodied voice called. It sounded like it had come from the ghost. Alaina froze.
"Who are you?" she called into the darkness.
"You do not recognise my voice?" the voice replied.
Alaina did recognise the voice. She had never felt so relieved in all her life.
"Swordsman! Is it really you?" Alaina raced towards the ghost. As she got closer, she could see the Dunmer's features in the ghost – his long, greying hair and his neat beard.
"It's wonderful to see you, dear girl" the ghost said. "It is a shame I am not truly alive"
"What are you doing here?" Alaina asked.
"I cannot die as I have a debt to pay" Swordsman's ghost said. "Lando helped me restore peace to my homeland, I must do the same to him"
"Lando" Alaina sighed. "I presume you know what has happened in Cyrodiil, then?"
"Yes, I do know. Word reached Morrowind quickly, through all of my kinsmen forced back there out of Cyrodiil"
"Lando promised me safety, and instead I have ended up here"
"Lando did not willingly put you in danger" Swordsman said. "Alaina, I believe soon there will be a large assault on the Imperial City by the people of Cyrodiil. I intend to join the fight against Emperor Avidius. I only ask that you do the same. Not for Lando, but for me"
"Of course I will" Alaina said. "After all, I would not be able to fight at all if it weren't for you!"
"Excellent. Bravil is no more than an abandoned ruin. We must make for Leyawiin and pledge our allegiance to them!"
Somewhere in County Kvatch, the present day
The Divine Avenger led Lando up a steep hill to a campsite he had made. A large metal trapdoor, crudely fashioned from pieces of scrap metal and locked with a large padlock, lay sunken into the ground. The Redguard knelt down and opened the padlock with a key on his belt.
"It's a weapons cache. I've got a few scattered around these parts. Take anything you need. There is a battle ahead"
"A battle? How do you know?" Lando asked. The Divine Avenger pointed to the southeast. It was a clear day and Lando could clearly see the road which led from Anvil all the way to the Imperial City.
There were many figures walking along the road, all in the direction of the Imperial City. A large temporary campsite was also visible in the fields surrounding Skingrad. Lando noticed something about the soldiers – they were all wearing town guard armour. There were the brick-red uniforms of Skingrad, the silver uniforms of Kvatch and the brown uniforms of Anvil.
"It seems the people of Cyrodiil are finally making a stand" The Divine Avenger said.
"But how will they attack the Imperial City? The only access is along the bridge from Weye!"
"Are you sure about that? You told me you left the Arcane University by walking across the frozen lake…"
"Of course!" Lando exclaimed. "The water around the City is frozen solid! They can attack the City from all directions!"
"Precisely. There are points like the prison and the Arcane University which are guarded a lot less heavily than the bridge"
The Divine Avenger drew his sword. "Lando, I am going to join the attack against the Imperial City. Are you?"
Lando deliberated for a long time, then nodded. "I still have a duty and I shall fulfil it"
"We must make for the road to the south and join the army there"
"No, we will return to Chorrol. I will fight alongside my old allies!"
Chorrol, The Great Oak
The north gate of Chorrol swung open and two weary-looking figures ran into town.
"Captain Armitage! You have returned just in time!" a guard said. "You must find Raminus Polus, he was placed in command in your absence!"
Lando saw Raminus by the Great Oak, talking to Arch-Mage Traven. Lando ran over to him.
"Lando! I can't tell you how worried I have been…" Raminus said.
"My apologies, Raminus. I had given up all hope. Then I came across The Champion of Cyrodiil, The Divine Avenger. He persuaded me that there is still hope. We can launch an assault on the Imperial City and be victorious!"
"We know we are going to battle but you are the first to sound positive that we can win…" Raminus said dubiously.
"Raminus, the ice! We can attack the Imperial City from all directions! Us and Bruma from the North. Cheydinhal from the East. Leyawiin from the South. Anvil, Kvatch and Skingrad can storm the bridge!"
"So the Nords did create the snowstorm to help us after all…"
"The armies of the West are already on the move, Raminus" The Divine Avenger said. "We should depart soon"
"You two both arrived just in time. We are preparing to ride out as we speak" Raminus said.
Half an hour later, every able-bodied fighter in Chorrol left the city gates on the road to the Imperial City. At the front of the army were Lando, The Divine Avenger, Raminus and Arch-Mage Traven.
"You're sure you can still cope with battle, old man?" Raminus said jokingly to Arch-Mage Traven.
"Ask me that again when I've slain twice as many Legion soldiers as you are likely to, young man!" Traven replied.
The Chorrol force was made up of the entire Town Guard, every member of the Fighters' Guild and two other people. Rufus Mendius, the father of Carius, and Lucius Armitage. The army had planned to meet and join the armies from the West Weald on the western shores of the lake, out of sight of the City.
Throughout the night, three armies marched towards the Imperial City. The alliance of Chorrol, Skingrad, Kvatch and Anvil, led by Lando and Arch-Mage Traven. The combined forces of Leyawiin and the Order of the White Stallion, commanded by Mazoga the Orc and the ghost of Swordsman. The men of Bruma and Cheydinhal, led by Jauffre and Captain Burd, By dawn, the Imperial City was surrounded.