A/N and Disclaimer: Hey everybody! This is Heart and Stone, the sequel to Fire and Ash (if you haven't read that, I'd advise it, as spoilers abound/there's a lot of background in it). I should point out that I have made more significant changes to the main quest of Tribunal than I did to the main quest of Morrowind. Just pointing that out if it is/isn't your cup of tea. Updates will hopefully be bi-weekly. As before, in the event that fanfiction is ever down, the story can also be found at heartandstonefiction on blogspot. As always, I do not own The Elder Scrolls III: Tribunal (Bethesda Softworks does) and I do not own Julan Kaushibael (Kateri does). Llovesi is mine, and so is this interpretation of the story.

Prologue

Sometimes, celebrity's star will fade. It grows ever dimmer on the horizon of popular consciousness until it slips quietly into the dark.

This is not the case if you are the apparent reincarnation of a long-dead war-hero.

For Llovesi, Nerevarine, Hortator, and Protector of Morrowind, this was the surprise–not the fame, but its longevity. It seemed that every where she went, even after all these months, people would fall at her feet asking for her blessing, and offering their thanks, until she longed for the solitude she had once known.

But it was too late.

Her long-lasting celebrity had brought many gifts, but it would reserve some surprises yet.

Someone always has their eye on the brightest stars.

Llovesi thought she'd seen it all. She'd seen nothing yet.

For important decisions, King Hlaalu Helseth disposed of a council of private advisors, none of whom he trusted but all of who could at least be counted on to give wise and informed decisions.

Their lives often counted on it.

But there were some decisions which he would only entrust to one man. Himself.

So King Helseth sat in his royal chamber, and he schemed.

At first he'd thought she might be a threat. Then months had gone by and–nothing. The destruction of the Heart of Lorkhan, now that had been a definitive act, an act sure to bring change. So why the long silence, after all these months?

He would have to force her hand.

And as for the other one... perhaps there was a way to kill two birds with one stone.

Figuratively speaking of course.

King Helseth allowed himself a rare smile, lent over his desk, and set quill to parchment decisively.

There was a knock at the door. Karrod crossed to it and raised an eyebrow.

Helseth nodded, then settled his face into a neutral expression, and straightened up.

There was no point in even hiding the paper. To do so would look suspicious, and the only people with access to his chambers at this time were a few palace servants and...

Queen Barenziah came softy through the door and Karrod shut it behind her. She was not yet dressed for bed, still in her ornate green day dress, her long silver hair curly softly about her shoulders under her crown.

"Mother." Helseth stood to offer her his chair, but she waved him away with a slender hand.

"I won't occupy you long, my son."

"To what do I owe the pleasure of this... late visit, then?"

Barenziah did not reply, instead striding over to the desk and gently moving Helseth's hand from the parchment.

"You are resolved in this matter?" she asked.

Helseth merely raised an eyebrow in response.

"Do not play coy with me, Helseth. You may be able to pull the wool over the eyes of your counsellors, and very well I might add, for this is not an admonition, but I am your mother."

She looked carefully into his eyes.

"You have been King only a few short months Helseth–"

"–And you believe my talent for scheming has lessened in that time?"

Barenziah sighed heavily.

"No," she said, after a time, "but you must realise that this plan has the potential for great destruction. Perhaps greater than we have ever seen."

Helseth laced his fingers together.

"I believe Morrowind is on the cusp of great change. I intend to be the one to lead it. Whether the change slips in, or whether there is a good deal of kicking and screaming remains to be seen. Change never goes down well. But I am accustomed enough to it. I know what I am doing."

There was an even longer pause. Barenziah finally spoke: "I believe you. At least, I believe that you believe in your plan. Very well. I will help, but you must let me do so in my own way."

Helseth merely nodded, and turned back to the note as Barenziah left the chamber as serenely as she had come.

The contract remains unfulfilled.

I do not tolerate failure.

You have one remaining chance.

Let us hope that it will be third time lucky.

No more sneaking through the night, or ambushes on the road-side.

I want it big, and I want it public.

Do not disappoint me.

H.

Fedris Hler was also working late that night, scanning over countless letters, missives and reports in his private room in the Temple. He paused every now and again to stamp letters with a single 'H'. Read and approved by the Steward of Almalexia.

But his mind wandered far away and elsewhere, back to his last private meeting with the Goddess.

She had said only one thing, and offered no explanation.

Fedris Hler twisted the phrase over and over in his mind, but it was so obscure, so vague that even his brilliance could not decipher it. So he put it to one side, but still it burned on in his mind, infuriatingly distracting.

He is coming.

A/N: Next update Saturday!