One Night with the Emperor

Chapter Fourteen – Cave of Nightmares

The next area was made of pure nightmares. If the Oblivion gates had an underground, this would be it. Caves lit up red with heat and fire. Pools and rivers of flowing lava. Horrible machines with a cage on each end and a person in each cage. Pull the lever and one cage descends into the lava while the other arises from the lava. The screams of the tortured filled the air. It didn't take much to ignore Camoran talking in my head.

I killed the daedra and the Mythic Dawn members who worked the machines. All of the rooms and halls looked the same. Where was I going? Where had I been? I don't know anymore.

Pausing in an arch between two rooms, I looked around and tried to catch my breath. Another person in Mythic Dawn robes approached me. He raised his hands in surrender. I let him approach, but stayed wary. Would this be another thing like the daedra outside?

Turns out he, Eldamil, was at Kvatch and was killed soon after. By now, he had several months, no, almost a year, to think over all he did in life. Think, and regret.

"You can't leave the Forbidden Grotto with the Bands of the Chosen on." He informed me. "I can get them off for you, but my dremora overlord is coming to check on me soon. If you play along, afterwards we can find a safe spot and get those bands off of you. How does that sound?"

Could this be a trap? I stayed silent for a moment, studying him. Yes, it could be a trap. But in his eyes, his spirit looked haggard and tortured. Maybe he can help me get out of here.

"Okay."

"I'm glad." He smiled, but still looked tired. "Oh, here he comes! Just pretend to be a prisoner. And don't worry. You can trust me."

Pretend to be a prisoner? I'm armed to the teeth! How am I supposed to pretend to be a prisoner?

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a dremora approach. I quickly slid my katana into its sheath. Hung my head. Hunched my shoulders. Lowered my center of balance. Let my limbs sag. Touched my wrists together. Held them out in front of me as if chained. Anything to look weak and defeated.

I followed Eldamil. We went into the next room, toward the dremora. I dragged my feet against the rock floor. A machine with cages hung over another chasm. One of the cages hung empty, a side extended down to this side of the cliff. I didn't have to look down the chasm to know a lava river flowed through it.

The dremora approached us. I did my best to tremble and make it look natural. It didn't take much. I only barely held back this nightmare inside of me. Therapy would be something to look into once this was over.

Eldamil and the dremora talked in low tones. If I listened, I could have heard what they said. But I didn't. I didn't want to know how bad of an actor Eldamil is. Instead, I focused on my own acting, and watched. Visual cues can tell more than words anyway.

The dremora nodded and Eldamil turned to me. "Prisoner! Get into the cage!"

Turning, I obeyed. Slowly shuffled toward the cage.

"Hurry up!" Eldamil barked.

I sped up my shuffling slightly. Up into the cage. It closed behind me. I turned back to face them, trying to keep my own face hidden.

Eldamil pulled the lever. My cage began sinking toward the lava river. I sank from their view. Fear rose in me. Had it been a mistake to trust Eldamil? My cage continued to sink toward the lava. I closed my eyes.

I'm so sorry, Martin. I've failed you. You, Baurus, Jauffre, and all of Tamriel. The gods chose wrong for their Hero.

Almost to the lava. As a Dunmer, I am resistant to some of fire's affects. Just not that much fire. This would hurt. Quite a bit.

Only a few inches to the lava. My cage ground to a stop. Started rising. I sighed a quiet breath of relief.

"What are you doing?!" A dremora's voice roared.

"I'll distract them for as long as I can!" Eldamil shouted. "Camoran's resurrection has some use! I'll meet you later on! Turn right and run!"

My cage crested the top of the chasm. I watched Eldamil and the dremora overlord exchange magic. Dremora Overlord sliced through Eldamil with his sword. An iron clang! echoed behind me. The dremora ran for the lever. I leapt out of the open back of my cage. He roared his rage at me.

Popping up to my feet, I turned right and ran. More halls and rooms passed by me. Another door with glowing runes like the one I used to get into this place. I slapped my hands against it and pushed. The bands and runes glowed red.

Eldamil waited for me on the other side. "Good, you made it. I was beginning to worry. Here, let me get those bands off of you." He pulled a key out of his robes and unlocked the wristbands. "There."

It felt beautiful. I rubbed my wrists in an attempt to get the tight feeling to go away. Pulled my gauntlets back on.

"Well done, Champion."

Oh no, not again.

"Your progress is swift and sure."

Do everybody a favor, Camoran, and shut up.

"Let me come with you to kill Mankar Camoran."

Wait, what? I looked up at Eldamil. Did he say that? If he didn't, I may be going crazy.

"I'm not without power." Eldamil pleaded. "Please. I want out of here. I want to get all those I tortured out of this hell. I don't care if I cease to exist. Ceasing to exist is better than this."

I sent up a brief prayer for all the souls here, especially Eldamil's.

"Alright," I sighed, but smiled a little. "I can use all the help I can get."

"Thank you." He smiled. Resolve replaced some of the tired in his eyes. "If I was actually alive and things took a different course, I would court you."

My smile disappeared. "I'm a taken woman."

He cleared his throat. "Yes, yes, of course. I apologize. That was completely inappropriate. Here, the way out is this way."

He led me through the tunnels. So many of these rooms and halls looked identical to the ones in the last chamber. We passed through so many torture rooms. Killed more daedra. I tried to ignore the screams. They didn't tune out as easily as Camoran did.

Sometime later, I lost my concept of time long ago, we entered into a tunnel. The screams left us behind and no more waited for us. Did we near the end of this nightmare?

We emerged into a large room. A canyon, with no lava and us at the bottom. Rough stairs climbed the cliff wall facing us.

"I haven't been past here." Eldamil whispered to me. "Beyond waits Medrike, a Xivilai and guardian of the exit. Not many have made it past him and to the garden beyond."

A Xivilai? I've defeated all kinds of daedra and never even heard of that before. What would we encounter?

I took the lead. Eldamil didn't complain. We walked up the stairs. Nothing but a natural cave archway to our right. So we turned right.

A huge, grey-ish humanoid waited for us. He didn't wear any armor, but his skin looked to be thicker than normal skin. This might actually be fun. I could use a vent for my emotions.

He charged for us. I charged for him. His sword swung at me. Lightning shot over my head. I dove. The massive sword cracked stone.

I jumped forward. Angled my sword. Slashed the inside of his leg. Landed on my feet. Just as I thought. Thick skin.

He roared. Blood trickled down his leg. His sword swung sideways. Hit my shield. Knocked me off my feet.

I landed on my back. Hit my head on the stone. Saw stars. Quick healing spell.

His sword aimed for me. I rolled away. Stone cleaved. Ice magic hit him. He turned to look at Eldamil. I jumped to my feet. Ran behind Medrike.

"Your strongest spell at his chest!" I shouted. Sliced the back of his knees. He roared.

I spun. Saw Eldamil charge a spell. Darted behind Medrike again. Lightening and ice slammed into his chest. I sliced the back of his ankles.

His roars intensified He lost his balance. Fell backwards. Hit the stone.

I leapt on his chest. Drove my katana into his neck. He swatted me. I flew. Let my body go limp. Crashed into stone.

His roars gurgled. Quieted. Stopped.

I sighed and groaned at the same time. It hurt. A lot.

Eldamil hurried over to me, panicking. "Are you okay?! I don't know any restoration magic! Or have any healing potions!"

"It's okay," I grunted, casting healing over myself. Martin saved my life, again. "I do."

For a moment, I relaxed. Closed my eyes. Kept casting healing over myself. Remembered how Martin's hands felt as they radiated healing magic into me.

My magicka ran out. I sighed and opened my eyes. Eldamil knelt next to me. He held a potion in one hand.

"Magicka potion?" He offered it to me.

I sat up and took it from him. "Thanks."

It wasn't a strong potion, but I didn't have much magicka. Standing, I looked toward the fallen Xivilai. My katana still stuck out of his neck.

I walked over and yanked my sword out of his neck. No damage. Good. I still need this thing.

A door that fit better in Ayleid ruins than in these caves waited for us. We had to duck to get through. Were the Ayleids short or something?

Another garden, just as empty as the first. Actually, it was emptier than the first. As we walked, we didn't encounter any daedra or people.

The garden opened up to a large, intact Ayleid building. In front of the building stood a pavilion or gazebo, or something like that minus a roof. Front porch? Patio? Whatever. On that whatever stood two elves. Were they… twins? Oh, wow. I've never seen twin elves before. Conception rates for elves are super low considering that we can live to be a thousand, so twins are a rarity, as are more than three children.

The female elf approached me. "You did not expect to see me again, did you?"

She did look familiar. Where did I see her before? Oh, right. She was the elf lady at the Shrine of Dagon. The first one I killed. How did she get so far in this place so fast?

"You have no grasp of the power my father has at his command."

Father? Oh, man. They probably had no childhood. I wanted to apologize, but that would only piss her off. Maybe I should just because it would.

"You think you can stop us? Soon Mehrunes Dagon will walk upon Tamriel for the first time since the Mythic Age, and our victory will be complete. Come, my father is waiting to welcome you to Carac Agaialor."

Bless you.

She turned and walked back up the steps, completely ignoring Eldamil's presence. Well, that was rather rude. The male elf said nothing. Simply turned with his sister and led us to the entrance of Camoran's palace.

We entered behind the twins. Mankar Camoran himself sat at the end of the hall on his throne, a staff strapped to his back. A staircase lined each side of the room, leading up over our heads to rooms I couldn't see.

The twins led us right up to Camoran. They split apart, one going to each side of the dais. Mankar Camoran stood.

"I have waited a long time for you, Champion of Old Tamriel."

Here we go again.

"You are the last gasp of a dying age."

I tuned him out for the, hopefully, last time. Studied him as he spoke. A mage, as are his children, and as I expected. Most of those in the Mythic Dawn are mages. Why is that? Is it a requirement of joining? Or could only mages figure out where to go? I mean, I did it, but it was with assistance. I bet Martin could, if he had to. He's the most intelligent person I know. And the most attractive.

I miss him. Can this be done now? I want to go home and sleep for a week. Curled up in his arms. Put the world on hold for a long while.

Mankar Camoran sat back down on his throne. "Let us see who has proved the stronger!"

He motioned with his hands. His kids stepped forward. Really? You're going to send your kids to die while you watch? Even if you know they'll resurrect, that's still pretty heartless.

The boy raised his hand above his head. Summoning armor. I stepped toward him. Slashed with my sword. Cut him down before the armor could materialize.

You would think they would learn by now.

I spun. The girl focused on Eldamil. Their magic met between them. Built. I flung a fireball at her. Hit the side of her face. She grunted. Turned slightly. Lost focus. The built magic rocketed toward her. Crashed into her. Instant kill.

Well, that was easy.

Mankar Camoran stood. One blast from his staff sent Eldamil flying down the hall. I slashed at Camoran. He blocked with his staff. Sent a fireball into my gut. I punched with my shield. Hit his arm. Cracked bone.

Lightning hit my chest. My muscles stuttered. His staff touched my forehead. Blasted me. Knocked me unconscious.

I woke. The world spun. I crashed into the wall. Tasted blood. Slid to the floor.

Eldamil bled from his mouth and nose. He pushed himself up. Breathing ragged. Leaned against the wall. Shot a fireball from his fingertips.

Camoran caught it. Spun it around his staff. It grew. He swung his staff. Fireball flew back. Left a smoking hole in Eldamil's chest. Camoran laughed.

I drained my magicka as quickly as possible in healing. Slowly stood. Pretended to be weak. Balanced myself against the wall. Wiped blood from my face.

Charged. His laughter stopped. Threw lightning at me. I leapt sideways. Kept running. He jabbed his staff. Sent another blast.

I threw my sword. The blast hit my chest. Threw me back. My sword spun end over end. Split Camoran's forehead.

The world began to shake. Collapse. I scrambled to my feet. Ran to Camoran's body. Yanked my katana from his skull. Slipped the Amulet over his head. Clutched it to my chest. Closed my eyes.

The world dropped out from under me. I fell, suspended in nothing. My feet hit something. Wind roared in my ears. Pushed out from me. Silence.