One Night with the Emperor

Chapter Sixteen – Mehrunes Dagon

Jauffre led us out to where three horses waited impatiently. Martin held my hand tightly in his as we descended the steps from Cloud Ruler Temple. When would we see this place again? Somberness settled into my bones.

Our line for the ride was as it had been on our way to Bruma so many months ago. I in the lead, Martin in the middle, and Jauffre bringing up the rear. I don't know about Jauffre, but Martin and I are completely different people. From Brother Martin to Emperor Martin. From prisoner Abiyomi to Martin's Champion. And so much stronger together.

The ride was hard, even with the swiftness potions. We avoided the multiple Oblivion gates that opened along the road and the daedra that wandered near them. Many times we had to pause so Martin could cast healing spells and spells of muffle sound so we could pass by undetected. Invisibility was too risky when we couldn't lose each other.

I'm glad more Blades didn't come. This would be significantly harder with even one more person. I don't even want to imagine what leading an entire battalion out here would be like.

We arrived in the little fishing village of Weye an hour or two later than planned, but still early morning. Before most people woke for the day. As we crossed the bridge to The Imperial City, everything seemed normal. It didn't stop the unease growing inside of me.

The guards posted outside the main gate greeted us with warm welcomes. Inside the walls, the Talos Plaza district stood peaceful, only the guards and a beggar awake. We crossed it, moving toward the center of the city, to Green Emperor Way and The White Gold Tower– Martin's palace. Our future palace? Man, that's a weird thought.

I jogged ahead, up the stairs to the Palace. Somebody had to introduce Martin to the Elder Council, or at least to High Chancellor Ocato. Except, Baurus stood near the doors. He walked over and clapped my shoulder.

"I knew you'd be able to kill Mankar Camoran." He told me. "And I'm glad you took the Mythic Dawn out. My only regret is that I wasn't there with you."

"Thanks, and it's good to see you too, but what–"

"Oh, Martin had me bring a message to Chancellor Ocato soon after you left. Speaking of which–"

I could hear footsteps on the stone steps behind me. Martin and Jauffre approached.

"–Martin, Chancellor Ocato expects you."

"Good," Martin took the lead. "Let's get this over with."

All three of us followed him up the stairs and into the Palace. The unease inside of me grew. I couldn't even imagine how Martin felt.

We walked through the hall and into the Elder Council chambers. Chancellor Ocato waited for us inside. Martin paused a few feet in front of him.

I walked the rest of the distance to Ocato. "High Chancellor Ocato, I present to you Martin Septim, Heir of Emperor Uriel Septim."

Ocato nodded. "I've been expecting you. The full Council has already considered the matter of Martin's claim to the throne ion detail." He turned and knelt in front of Martin. "Martin Septim, I accept your claim to the Imperial Dragon Throne. We should arrange the coro–"

The doors slammed open as Ocato stood. "Chancellor Ocato! Chancellor Ocato! Chancellor Ocato, the city is under attack! Oblivion gates have opened and daedra are inside the walls! The guard is overwhelmed!"

Well, that explained my unease.

Ocato raised his hand to calm the guard. "Courage, soldier. We have an Emperor again. Your Highness, what are your orders? Shall the guard fall back to the palace?"

"No! If we let ourselves get sieged in the palace, we're doomed. We must get to the Temple of the One. Immediately." Martin replied, his voice full of command.

Chancellor Ocato nodded. "As you command, Sire. Guards! Form up and protect the Emperor! To the Temple of the One!"

Familiar dremora calls echoed in the halls outside. I drew my sword. Felt Martin fall in behind me. Ran for the door. Met two head on. They didn't expect it. One ran into my sword. The other exploded from Martin's magic.

I kept point. Martin stayed directly behind me. We ran outside. Daedra and guards fighting filled the area. I hacked. Slashed. Stabbed. Blocked. Magic of all kinds whizzed past my ears. Not once touching me. All the way to the doors to the Temple District. I shoved them open.

Two Oblivion gates opened on either side of the Temple. One completely blocked the road. Daedra filled the streets. We fought for each step.

An ear-splitting roar filled the air. Something magical and unseen shattered in the air around us. From nothing in front of the Temple stepped Mehrunes Dagon himself.

Martin grabbed my arm. Pulled me into his circle of guards. They closed around us. Fear screamed in his eyes.

"We're too late! Mehrunes Dagon is here!" He shouted over the din. "Lighting the Dragonfires will no longer save us… The barriers that protected us from Oblivion are gone…"

"Can we cast him back into Oblivion?" I shouted back.

"I don't see how. Now that he is here, mortal weapons will hurt him, but none are powerful enough to actually destroy him."

I glanced down at the necklace around his chest. The artifact with enough power to seal all Oblivion away from Tamriel. "What about the Amulet of Kings?"

A ray of hope entered his eyes. "Wait. Yes. The Amulet was given to mortals by Akatosh. It contains His Divine Power. But how do we use this power against Dagon? The Amulet was not intended as a weapon… I have an idea. One last hope. I must reach the Dragonfires in the Temple of the One."

"But you said the fires were no use!"

"You'll just have to trust me. I now know what I was born to do. But I need your help. I have to get past Mehrunes Dagon somehow."

"I'll get you to the temple."

"Then I'll do the rest. Lead on, Abiyomi."

I grabbed his hand. "Jauffre! Baurus! Cover us! Guards! Disperse and attack!"

"Do not lose hope!" Martin shouted to them.

The circle around us broke. Chaos exploded. I pulled Martin through it. Jauffre and Baurus ran past us. Toward Dagon.

Dagon roared. Swung his massive axe. Broke pavement. Jauffre slashed at his ankle. Baurus stabbed his other foot. He roared again.

I pulled Martin along the wall. Please don't see us, please don't see us, please don't– Crap.

The massive axe swung for us. Faster than should be possible. I shoved Martin away. Brought my shield up as a reflex. It wouldn't do any good.

"No!"

Solidified ice magic crashed into my chest. Slammed the air out of my lungs. Knocked me off my feet. Dagon's axe dug into the pavement below my feet.

The axe rose. Martin appeared at my side. He hoisted me to my feet. Wave after wave of healing magic soaked into me.

Dagon roared. Swung his axe. For us again.

I hooked an arm around Martin's waist. Spun us away. It hit the ground behind me.

Who needs dancing lessons when you can fight Mehrunes Dagon?

Dagon swung again. We leapt backwards. He roared in frustration. Oh, what's wrong, big guy? Having a hard time hitting the quick, little ants?

I stepped toward Dagon's arm. Raised my sword high. Martin threw lightning, ice, and fire. They danced along my sword. I chopped down.

My blade severed his wrist. Black blood spurted. Dagon roared. His skin began to knit back together. Martin pulled me into the temple.

The stone walls of the temple blocked some of the noise. Dagon knew we were in here. We didn't have long. Martin pulled me around the iron fence blocking the front of the altar to the side wall.

He stopped. Turned to me. Cupped my face in his hand. "I do what I must do. I cannot stay to rebuild Tamriel. That task falls to others."

"Wh–" he cut me off with a short kiss.

"Farewell. You're more than I could ever ask for in the short time I've known you. I love you so much. But now I must go. The Dragon waits."

Fear grabbed my body. I couldn't speak. Couldn't move.

He let me go. Ran to the Dragonfire's altar. Stepped inside the bowl.

The temple shuddered. The wall and ceiling cracked and fell. Mehrunes Dagon stepped inside. Roared.

Martin shattered the Amulet. Light emitted from it. He floated into the air. Blinding light exploded from him. Knocked down the rest of the ceiling. Destroyed the altar. I covered my eyes purely by reflex.

I lowered my arm slightly. Martin's form turned to fire. Shot into the sky. Formed a fiery dragon. Sliced through Mehrunes Dagon. Perched on the ruins of the altar.

He's the Avatar of Akatosh.

Mehrunes roared defiance. Chopped with his axe. Stabbed with his claw knives. Drew boiling blood. The dragon blew fire in his face. Dagon raised an arm to block. Stabbed again. Teeth chomped down on Mehrunes neck.

Again Mehrunes roared, but this time in pure agony. The dragon spread its wings. Engulfed Mehrunes in fire. Lights exploded from Mehrunes. His form dissolved. Gone.

The dragon lowered its head. Looked at me. I know those eyes. Martin.

It threw its head back. Stretched out its wings. Roared victory.

And turned to stone.

No. I'm dreaming. This can't be real.

I looked up at the stone dragon. The statue of the Avatar of Akatosh. Of Martin. Inside of me felt empty. I'm the warrior. I'm his Champion. I should have been the one that died. Not him.

"The Amulet is shattered." Martin's voice filled my head, my heart. "Dagon is defeated."

I could almost feel him next to me. Holding me. I closed my eyes. Images filled my mind with his voice. Images of closed Oblivion gates. Of a land that can heal.

Of a land without Martin.

"With the Dragon's blood, and the Amulet of Kings, we have sealed the gates of Oblivion… forever. The last of the Septim Emperors passes now into history. I go gladly, for I know my sacrifice is not in vain. I take my place with my father, and my father's fathers. The Third Age has ended, and a new age dawns. When the next Elder Scroll is written, you shall be its scribe. The shape of the future, the fate of the Empire, these things now belong to you.

"And… I will always watch over you."

The images faded. I could see only the blackness of my eyelids. Silence rang in my ears.

"What happened?"

I opened my eyes. High Chancellor Ocato, Baurus, and Jauffre entered the ruins of the Temple of the One. Jauffre looked up to the dragon statue.

"Where's Martin?" Ocato asked. "I must congratulate him! Mehrunes Dagon is defeated! Cast back into Oblivion!"

I looked to the dragon statue. "Martin is gone." Even my voice felt numb.

"What do you mean, gone?"

I kept my eyes on the statue.

"We saw the temple dome explode, the Avatar of Akatosh appear… That was Martin?"

"Yes." My voice wavered. "He… he shattered the Amulet…" I couldn't continue. The words wouldn't come.

Ocato looked up at the statue. "The joined blood of kings and gods. The Amulet of Kings. The divine power of Akatosh."

Something trailed down my cheek. "And… and Martin's blood, too…"

Chancellor Ocato looked down. "Then Martin is gone…"

Tears streamed down my face. I couldn't stop them. "But the gates are sealed."

"Yes," Ocato nodded. "Sealed forever. Mehrunes Dagon and his ilk can never threaten Tamriel again. Martin is dead. But he died an emperor, and a hero to rival Tiber Septim."

His words broke me. My sword fell from my numb fingers. My chest felt as if Dagon stepped on me. I couldn't breathe.

"Wh-what about th-the Empire?" I stuttered through the tears.

Ocato grimaced. "This victory is not without cost. We've lost Martin Septim. What an emperor he might have made."

Another slice to my heart. My legs wobbled with sudden weakness. I sank to the floor.

"His sacrifice was necessary," Ocato continued, oblivious to me. "But it leaves the Empire without an emperor. I don't know what happens now. There are troubled times ahead for the Empire." A smile broke across his face. "But now is not the time to worry about the future! Let's just give thanks that we're alive! The dragon will stand forever as a memorial of what you and Martin did for all of Tamriel. The people will want a celebration. So, in about two weeks I will send for you. Name you Champion of Cyrodiil, the highest rank possible in the Order of the Dragon, the illustrious order of Imperial knights founded by Tiber Septim himself. It is a high honor. Only six other Champions have been awarded in the history of the Empire."

I nodded. Stared at the floor. High Chancellor Ocato hummed to himself and left.

"He truly was the Dragonborn…" Jauffre said. "The last and perhaps the greatest of all the Septims."

Baurus and Jauffre walked over to me. I ignored them. Looked up at the statue.

"I know this sounds cheesy, but don't feel like you're alone. Wherever you go, you carry my heart with you. So be careful."

"B-but Martin," I whispered. "You carry my heart with you. And now you're gone."

The floodgates opened. Sobs racked my body. Baurus knelt next to me and took me into his arms. I pushed him away. Crawled to the foot of the dragon statue. Curled up next to it.

My heart is gone.

I wept.