One Night with the Emperor

Chapter Nine – One Chance

I opened my eyes. Lifted my head off of the edge of the stone basin. Looked at myself in the mirror. My red eyes, my blue-purple skin, my high cheekbones and pointed ears.

I thought about the way I felt with Martin. My desire to be near him. To stand by him when things got tough. Make him laugh when he couldn't smile. The way he looked at me and smiled sometimes. I would take my sword and shield up to defend him so no hell-spawned nightmare could touch him. But I would also put them down forever for him.

Somebody banged on the door. "You're not done yet?" It was Caroline. "Abiyomi! You're going to prune!"

I smiled. "I'll be out in two seconds."

"I have an outfit for you, but it's blue velvet so you need to dress out here. And be completely dry." She called back. "Don't worry, I cleared the place out. Nobody else is in any of the other wash chambers and I barricaded the door so nobody can walk in."

For the next hour or two, Caroline and I struggled. The dress itself was easy. Towel myself off several times, slide into it, tighten the laces. I imagine it would be harder if I had thirteen layers of underthings on like a proper lady, but I didn't.

Hair and makeup on the other hand… Caroline and I are warriors. We gave up on makeup and left my hair loose down my back after several failed attempts. It would look prettier if my hair curled some, but nope. Straight as a board ending halfway down my back.

Once we finished, Caroline left to go find Martin. I paced the room that connected all three bathing chambers together. Nervousness descended upon me again. I felt strange. Vulnerable. No armor. No shield. No weapon. My hair even hung loose from its normal ponytail.

Caroline yanked the door open. I jumped. A huge smile decorated her face.

"Martin's in his room!" She grabbed my arm. "Come on!"

I stood in front of Martin's door. My heart pounded in my chest. Captain Steffan smiled and nodded at me. I lifted my hand to knock on the door. My hand shook.

Knock, Abiyomi. It's only a door. You can overcome a door.

My hand continued to hang in the air and shake. I took a deep, calming breath and let it out. Didn't help.

Captain Steffan reached over and knocked on the door for me.

"Yes?" Martin's muffled voice called from inside.

"Ah-" My voice cracked. I cleared my throat. "Sorry to bother you, Martin. May I come in?"

"Of course you can, Abiyomi."

Before I could think through my actions, I opened the door and stepped inside, closing it behind me. Martin stood with his back to me, shuffling papers on a table against the far wall. He hadn't seen me yet.

"Sorry about the mess," he apologized, stacking a few things up before turning to face me. "With all this going–"

His eyes fell on me. He froze, mouth open to continue his sentence, eyes wide. The goofy expression on his face helped me relax a little.

I took a step toward him. He stayed frozen in shock. Another step. Still frozen.

"Martin," I said, taking a third step.

He jumped back at the sound of his name, knocking into the table. A few papers fluttered to the ground. Desire stronger than I ever experienced joined the nervousness inside of me. One more step and I would be to him. I took it.

"Martin," I said again, my voice a whisper.

One of my hands slowly rose. It still shook. I touched a fingertip to his cheek. He leaned back, away from my touch.

"I-is this r-really a good idea?" He asked, voice shaking.

Everything inside of me came crashing down. My world spun. I took a step back. Pulled my hand to my chest. Took another step back. I couldn't look at him.

"I-I'm sorry, Martin." I could hear the tremble in my own voice, as if I detached from myself somehow. "I assumed that because I feel so strongly for you that you'd– and I've already defied death four times and don't know how long my luck'll last and… and… I'm sorry. When this is all done and over with, you'll be Emperor and find a nice Imperial lady and have a bundle of human heirs and you'll never see me again so everybody'll be happy. I-I should go now."

I turned toward the door. I needed to get out of here. To flee. Before the tears came.

"Abiyomi, wait!" Martin grabbed my wrist, his thumb pressing into my palm. He pulled me to face him. "You were right to assume, because I feel strongly for you too. And everybody is going to have to deal with the fact that my heirs will be Dunmer!" My world stopped spinning. I looked up into his eyes. His desire matched mine, and he only barely held it back. "I'm sorry, I just– I needed to make sure–"

"Shut up, Martin."

I pressed my lips hungrily to his, cutting him off. He returned my passion. Crushed my body to his. My heart sang.

I love you Abiyomi.

I love you too, Martin.