A/N: Hello again! Who's ready for a Bank Holiday Weekend? At least, we have a long weekend here in the UK. Well, hope everyone has a wonderful weekend regardless of the presence or not of public holidays. Thanks again to you readers and you reviewers - you know who you are but, CampsMcCamper, krikanalo and Ozymandeos! CampsMcCamper - this is my favourite part of the DLC as well (I remember when Tribunal and it's ilk were called expansion packs, hah!) Which actually made it all the more difficult to write, because I wanted to do it justice while making my own story from it. But thanks for what you said about Julan. I think the relationship between him and Llovesi get's strained and difficult in Mournhold and it was tricky trying to balance that at times. Ozymandeos - yup! I do so love having my characters make blundering errors :p Even aside from all the dumb stuff your character has to do in Tribunal... hopefully Llovesi will start making amends soon.

Chapter 10: A Greater Threat

The first splatters of rain stained the courtyard as Llovesi and Julan sprinted to Plaza Brindisi Dorom, along with a contingent of Royal Guards.

When they arrived, there was more than rain staining the cobblestones.

Everywhere they looked, destruction and death reigned. The great fountain was in ruins, both Almalexia and Mehrunes Dagon had been beheaded–and more besides. Stone limbs had carved paths of destruction: splintered cobblestones showed the routes they had taken to reach their new resting places. And from the great crack in the statue creatures spewed forth, like the ash from Red Mountain.

They were like nothing Llovesi had ever seen before. Great, hulking reptiles, some slim and silvery, others flatter and reddish, ran after the citizens of Mournhold, attacking without mercy.

The Plaza was in chaos. People were running everywhere, all trying to fit through the gates at once, tripping over rubble and pushing wildly in their attempts to escape. Many had already fallen, their faces now set in permanent expressions of terror. Blood pooled in the fountain water, blood splashed onto the stones.

Llovesi and Julan stood, momentarily dumbfounded, as High Ordinators and Royal Guards alike jumped into the slaughter.

"Attack the creatures!" they yelled. "Take arms! We must defend the city!"

Llovesi shook herself, and drew her spears, running into battle. She caught one of the slim, silver reptiles in its soft underbelly and stabbed into it, throwing it to the ground and allowing the sobbing woman it was pursing to escape.

Julan was firing arrows left and right. Some clattered harmlessly off the creatures thick scales, but others found their mark–in throats and soft bellies.

Llovesi sent a silent prayer of thanks to Azura for the weather as the clouds burst with even more ferocity, and the rain began to fall in vicious earnest. The summer storm meant the Plaza had been less full than usual, there were fewer people to fall victim to this sudden crisis.

A creature jumped onto her back suddenly, knocking her down, and she felt metal claws raking her cuirass. Metal... ? But the creature couldn't punch through, and she felt it fall from her back. One of Julan's arrows had claimed its throat.

Llovesi got to her feet, and surveyed the Plaza. All of the creatures appeared to be dead now, defeated by the city's guards. She kicked over the one that had attacked her last. It was large, with a long neck and a small head, topped by a single horn. Spines like knives grew from its arched back, but that was not the strangest thing about it. The claws it had tried to rake her back with, and its legs and tail, were all fashioned from metal. Try as she might, Llovesi could not see the joins between flesh and steel. What was more, it was secreting a thick, white, oily substance from its mouth. Probably saliva, but like no saliva she had ever seen before.

She turned to the other type of creature, the hulking, red one. If she'd ever had to imagine a dragon, this creature might have come to mind, although it was obviously smaller. A great frill of red spines fanned around its fanged mouth, it's bright red scales faded to dull brown on its forelegs. Like the other creature, its back legs and its tail were not organic, but some strange metal. It was also secreting an unidentifiable liquid from its mouth.

What were they? Could they be of Dwemer-make? She had never seen a joining of flesh and metal in such a way. No wait, she had, but Yagrum Bagarn was worlds away from this. These creatures looked perfectly engineered, a far cry from the rusted and aged centurions that prowled Dwemer ruins on Vvardenfell, and that the Last Living Dwarf had appropriated into a mode of transport.

Llovesi straightened up. Horrified onlookers were still sobbing; being moved along by guards as other recovered the bodies–people and creatures alike. The rain was slowly washing away the blood.

Julan joined her, sheathing his bow, his hair plastered to his neck by the rain, although something else was obviously preoccupying his mind.

"This can't be a coincidence," he said.

Llovesi nodded in agreement. "We should find out where they came from," she said, already having some idea.

They approached the statue. A great crack had rent it in half, splitting it completely asunder. She kicked aside what had once been the stone head of Almalexia, and waded through the fountain water to pull herself up. There was a deep hole gaping between the stone combatants, threatening to swallow what was left of the statues up.

"You up there!"

She turned. A Royal Guard was calling up to them.

"You're the ones who've been visiting court, aren't you?" the guard shouted up. "This attack must be reported to Tienius Delitian!"

"I'll tell him!" Llovesi called back, "but not with half a report! We're going down here to see where the creatures came from!"

Julan cast a small light spell, and the orb bobbed softly around their heads as they lowered themselves into the passageway beneath the fountain. They didn't have far to climb down before they hit the bottom. A small stream trickled nearby, no doubt part of the fountain's source waters. Some of the debris had even made it down here. Llovesi carefully stepped over one of Mehrunes Dagon's axe-wielding arms, and rounded the corner of the passage. She could hear a frantic clash of metal on stone in the distance.

The passageway cut off abruptly, and Julan had to throw out an arm to stop her falling.

"Azura's star!" he breathed. "Would you look at that?"

The rocky passageway had opened up into a grand Dwemer hall, possibly the largest Llovesi had ever seen. Easily two stories tall, large pillars spanned its length, and remarkably well-preserved House Dwemer Banners hung on the walls. And on the ground, a battle was taking place.

Dwemer centurions, obviously larger than the ones they had seen on Vvardenfell, were fighting more of the strange creatures that had attacked the city above.

Llovesi and Julan dropped onto their stomachs to watch the action unfold. The bipedal centurions swung at the lizards with their mace-like arms, steam billowing furiously from their valves. Archer centurions were firing bolts into the fray. But the invaders were using their metal appendages to rent great holes into the Dwemer creations defending their hall. At the moment, there was no clear winner.

"Those things can't be Dwemer then," Julan said, his eyes fixed on the hall below.

Llovesi crawled backwards. "We've seen enough," she said. "Let's leave before they realise we're up here."

She examined the passageway as they returned to the hole that would take them back into the Plaza. It looked new, almost recently carved. As Julan had said, it all added up almost too well.

"Why attack the city, though?" she said aloud. "I can imagine Almalexia using that ring to fetch them from some plane of Oblivion, and carving out a passageway. But why would she attack her own city?"

"Because she's completely insane," Julan said pointedly, as they climbed back out of the passageway into the rain.

The guard was waiting for them as they emerged. "What did you find?" he asked.

"A Dwemer ruin," Llovesi replied. "And the centurions were fighting off more of those creatures."

The guard removed his helm, and ran an anxious hand through his hair. "As I said, you should take this news to Tienius Delitian. He should know. We'll stay here, and guard against further attacks. Go now."

Tienius Delitian was patrolling the courtyard, and his normal cool demeanour had disappeared. In fact, he looked almost agitated.

"Llovesi! Julan!" he barked as he caught sight of them. "I understand you helped in the defence of Mournhold against those... creatures?"

"We did," Julan said. "And we believe you should know what we've discovered."

All animosity between the three of them seemed to have been temporarily forgotten. Despite what he had done in the name of his King, it was clear Delitian truly cared about the fate of his city.

"You've investigated the disturbance?" he asked. "And what did you discover? I've already had reports that the creatures came from beneath the city, and were at least partly mechanical in nature. I know Dwemer ruins lie beneath the city, and were sunken with the rest of Old Mournhold in the First Era, for the Dwemer and Chimer were once briefly united. Perhaps these creatures are Dwemer in origin?"

"Impossible," Llovesi said, shaking her head. "We did find part of a Dwemer ruin below the Plaza, but the centurions were fighting the creatures. They were defending their home. The creatures cannot be Dwemer."

Delitian breathed out hard. "Interesting. I thank you for telling me this. You didn't have to, I realise I've given you no reason to remain loyal to the Palace..."

Llovesi thought back to the High Ordinators fighting alongside the Royal Guards, to her experiences on Vvardenfell, and to the brief alliance between the Chimer and Dwemer to which Delitian had just alluded.

"When a greater threat comes, enemies may often ally," she said.

Delitian nodded briefly. "Indeed. I think the King himself should hear what you have to say. He would like to speak to you. Follow me."

Llovesi bit her lip. Here she was, talking of allying, and now they were going to meet the one who'd been their main antagonist since arriving in Mournhold. But was now the time to bring it all up, when something more dangerous was threatening the city?

She remained silent, as did Julan, as Delitian led them back through the Palace's entrance hall and through the many winding corridors to the throne room.

The throne was occupied now.

King Hlaalu Helseth was smaller than she'd imagined, short and slim, though he swathed his frame in rich and impressive robes–a deep purple, with red panels, gold embroidery and trimmed with fur, despite the heat. A slim golden circlet, rather than a crown, kept his dark hair from his forehead, revealing clipped ears tipped with jewelled cuffs. His was an intelligent face, even in spite of what Llovesi knew about him. A thin, straight nose, a mouth that seemed naturally down-turned, a neatly trimmed beard, and narrowed, heavily lidded eyes that were watching her with some undeterminable expression.

All he's missing is the sly smile, Llovesi thought, as she and Julan stood in the room's entrance, dripping rainwater all over the green stone floor.

Helseth stood up, slowly, every movement a consideration. Oh, there it is. A smile befitting a Daedroth.

"Ah... so you must be Llovesi and Julan. The ones Tienius has been telling us about."

The plural affectation was a surprise, but the Wayrest accent was not. Still it was disconcerting to hear a Breton's voice come from the Dunmer King's mouth. Neither of them replied, and Helseth approached, his expression still completely unreadable.

"The Queen Mother has spoken of you as well."

He stopped just shy of them, his hands behind his back. Llovesi suspected he didn't come any closer to avoid revealing he only came up to her shoulders.

"We understand you played a part in defending our city just now. You'll tell us what you learnt?" His voice rose slightly, sure, but it wasn't really a question. Llovesi recounted everything she had told Delitian.

"Interesting," Helseth said, although his tone of voice did not change. "You'll have to forgive us for the slight inconvenience earlier. We understand you were visited by some Dark Brotherhood assassins. A regrettable occurrence. They are usually a very effective group. Not always, though, we have recently learnt. We believe you might have presented a threat to our monarchy."

At this barefaced lie, Llovesi could no longer contain herself. "What?" she shouted.

Helseth's eyes darted like a reptile's.

"It is never easy for one to assume the throne, especially after the unfortunate set of circumstances that led to our beloved King Llethan's death," he continued. "There are those who would seek to profit from such events, to take the opportunity to create unrest among the people. There are those, even, who would wish to see us dead."

Llovesi couldn't even speak. Instead her eyebrows shot up her forehead.

"Does this surprise you?" Helseth asked, and she wondered if he was enjoying some game, or if he was truly as paranoid as people said.

"Even now, there are those that would see our head on a pike. What better way to achieve one's goals than to have others remove those that would oppose you? Surely you have some understanding of this? In fact, some of my informants have learned of a possible assassination plot against our royal person. I would like more information on this. However, I do not want to compromise the safety of my guards or of my informant. I believe, however, you would be suitable for this matter."

Enough was enough.

"Cut the guarshit, Helseth," Llovesi said.

The King stopped, his eyebrows still slightly raised.

"We know why we're really here. Delitian and your mother have told us as much, and we're not idiots. We're not going to run around the city on your fake errands while a real danger is out there."

Delitian was slowly turning an interesting shade of purple. All around, the Royal Guards were openly staring. You could have cut the atmosphere with a spoon.

"I see," Helseth said slowly, and the change in his use of pronouns was just as marked as the shifting atmosphere in the room. "Very well. Follow me."

He walked past them, apparently with the intent to lead them from the throne room. Delitian made to walk over, but Helseth simply raised a hand and he stopped. Was he leading them to their execution now? Llovesi slightly regretted her foot-in-mouth syndrome, but only slightly this time. She was still furious. Julan looked like he wanted to hit something.

Helseth took them to a nearby door, and opened it. It was another set of lavishly furnished apartments. Much like Barenziah's, except Helseth's room was occupied with desks, desks covered in papers, maps, books, quills and ink pots. The King made a gesture to the guards in the room.

"Leave us," he said.

Two of them turned to go, but the third, a thickset Redguard man with a shaved head, stayed where he was by one of the desks. This didn't seem to bother Helseth, for he turned to face them again.

But before he could open his mouth, Julan stepped forward and punched him hard in the jaw.

"My mother, you n'wah bastard!" he shouted.

Helseth fell to the ground, and there was a blur of red. Julan was pinned against the wall by the Redguard, a curious looking scimitar against his throat. The Redguard turned to look at Helseth, who was getting gingerly to his feet. The King shook his head.

The Redguard lowered the sword, letting Julan drop to the ground in shock, and stepped back to the King's side. Llovesi ran to Julan, helping him to his feet.

"Yes, I can understand that," Helseth said, rubbing his bearded jaw and wincing. "And now you've met Karrod. I met him many years ago myself, a deaf and dumb child wandering the streets of Wayrest. The boy actually had the audacity to try and rob my stepsister, Elysana. I marvelled at his courage, and took him into my employ. When a dog has been beaten, Julan, it will lick the hand of one who feeds it even the most meagre of scraps. Now he is my most loyal of servants, and one of my most deadly."

He paused, letting the words take effect in the strange ceasefire.

"So," he said. "We'll just forget that happened, and you'll remember that I am your King. You believe there is something I'm not telling you?"

Llovesi handed him her special copy of 'The Common Tongue'. "Just read this, your majesty," she said, shaking with ill-concealed fury.

Helseth read the broadsheet quickly, his eyes flicking over the print.

"I see," he said again. "This is... interesting. Perhaps it is time that I was honest with you. Enjoy it, because it's a rare occurrence."

He flashed her another smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Firstly, I am truly sorry about your loss. A regrettable accident I didn't anticipate. I wasn't lying when I said I initially believed you to be a threat. I didn't get to the throne of Morrowind by becoming lax over potential political opponents. But after your victory at Red Mountain, I began to wonder if perhaps you might even be willing to work with me on a problem. Hence why I... persuaded you to come over here. But I'll get to that.

"This... broadsheet." He waved it at them, before placing it on his desk. "A clever idea. I assume it's not the only copy. Perhaps you intend to blackmail me?"

"Why shouldn't I?" Llovesi asked roughly. "You blackmailed us! We've had enough."

Helseth strange smile didn't waver. "Words. Just words. And I've been watching you two. You never made an attempt to leave the city–"

"–Because we thought you'd kill us!" Julan interrupted angrily, but Helseth held up a hand and the simple gesture silenced Julan immediately.

"–You never made an attempt to leave the city. You didn't even try. And I think you wanted to find out more about the place, yes? I gave you the opportunity to do so. And now I think, even though you may leave, there is something keeping you here."

His smile became satisfied. "I understand my mother told you I was testing you. Tienius may have let something slip in that regard as well. I knew about 'The Common Tongue'–although I did not know its author. I knew about the Temple's feelings towards me, I knew about Ivulen Irano–poor fool–and I knew about the Hlaalu nobles' conspiracy. In fact, I even asked Tienius to hold off slightly on the executions to see what you would do. And you showed you have an element of mercy. Everything you found while 'investigating' corroborated what I already knew.

"So, you proved yourself to me. You've learnt about me. Now, you need to decide if you will help me."

"Help… you?" Julan snarled. "Why should we help you? You are an underhand murderer! You've had us playing your stupid games! You manipulated us into being here!"

Helseth said nothing, again staring at Julan until the latter looked mildly uncomfortable. "I... beg your pardon my King," he muttered finally.

"Everything I have done, I have done for good reason," Helseth said. "As I've said, Llovesi, I know all about you and the prophecies. And I know the Temple's position on the matter. My policy is to avoid involving the government in Temple matters wherever possible. But here, I see no other options.

"I have no great love for Almalexia, her Ordinators, or the Tribunal of which she is a part. In light of recent events, I believe it is time to take action.

"The attack on Mournhold was as unexpected to me as it was destructive to the city. And I make it my business to remain forewarned of this sort of event. Many believed the attacking creatures to have been Dwemer constructs, but we know now that this is not the case. These creatures were beyond anything dreamt of by the Dwarves, creatures it would take the power of a god to create.

"I believe that the only person who might shed more light on this situation is Almalexia herself. All indications are that these creatures must be the constructs of Sotha Sil, and only Almalexia is likely to have information about him. I wish for you to speak to her, learn what she knows about the creatures, and report to me. It is my hope that Julan will assist you in this, despite his animosity towards me."

"I do not hold you in any high regard either, your majesty," Llovesi said. "And this is just the latest in a long line of people asking me to do things for the good of the people. Almalexia manipulated me. But so have you. You're the only reason we were here in the first place. How do I know you're not just another player, in it for the power?"

"I cannot assure you of that," Helseth said simply. "You have to trust me."

Llovesi hesitated, and looked at Julan. She felt her ring, felt his thoughts. Helseth was no friend of theirs, but neither was he an enemy exactly–not in light of what they now knew. Almalexia–Almalexia was the true menace here. Right? She certainly couldn't trust him, but he'd got one thing right. She did want to get to the bottom of Mournhold's ills.

"I don't know why you think my position as Nerevarine will help," Llovesi said finally. "The Temple isn't exactly my biggest fan. But I do care about the people of Morrowind. You think these creatures are Sotha Sil's creatures? We have our suspicions that the attack was Almalexia's fault." And she told him what the Goddess had bid them do, how she had felt charmed into helping her.

Helseth frowned slightly. "If what you say is true, then we only have more reason to investigate her. But yes, I am quite sure these fabricants are Sotha Sil's creations. He is known for his Clockwork City, his experiments in fusing flesh and machine into enchanted abominations. None have seen the Tinkerer in centuries, from what I understand. I distrust these man-gods, especially ones I cannot find. Perhaps he and Almalexia are conspiring together in some madness. You can do something about this."

So it came down to madgods, and the mortals who faced them. Llovesi squeezed Julan's hand for comfort. Helseth's smile was dangerous as he watched them, as intelligent as his eyes, Llovesi realised. Because she would help. It was one of her many weaknesses.

"We will go once more to Almalexia," she said. "But we want no more heartless games, no more dishonesty."

"Of course. We have an agreement, then. But I do think it would be best if you did not return to the Palace until the matter is concluded. Almalexia has no reason to believe we may be allied. Do not give her one. And, Llovesi, I will now formally remove the restrictions keeping you both from leaving this city. But I think we all know you're staying."

Llovesi nodded, her heart cold, and turned to leave with Julan. Once more to the Temple then, and from one Daedroth's mouth into another.

Helseth held up a hand. "Before you go, Llovesi, I wish to give you a token of our good faith."

He went to his desk and opened a drawer, retrieving a small wooden case with a carved design. He undid the latch, and held it open before her. Laying in a groove within the red velvet inlay, was a ceremonial glass dagger with a custom sheath that matched the pattern on its box.

"This was Symmachus's, my father's, ceremonial dagger. I assure you it is as deadly as it is beautiful. Use it in this defence of my city if you have the need, but do not disgrace his memory."

Llovesi nodded, knowing it would perhaps not be wise to refuse this particular gift, and lifted the dagger gently from its box, before tying it to her belt next to the Fang of Haynekhtnamet.

Helseth waited a while after they had gone, Karrod silent by his side. Then the King turned, and spoke:

"You can come out now."

Barenziah stepped from behind a screen, smiling. "I told you the plot idea was a foolish one. But that went better than expected, all things considered. You have done well my son."

A/N: I don't know if anyone is following this story on my blog (probably not if you're reading it here)but if you have already read this chapter (the story being a little further along there) I'd just like to say sorry for all the changes - mainly dialogue and Helseth related. Everything I upload to the blog is very much beta - which is why there hasn't been a new update for a while. I've been editing, and re-editing, and pulling my hair out over chapters 10-14. So. Many. Changes. Trying to decide what I want to put in and leave out, how subtle I want to be, getting the tone and relationships right, what dialogue I want to occur... needless to say there've been a lot of headaches over this chapter and the ones that will follow. But, as they go up here on FFnet, they reach their final version and one I'm more-or-less happy with. So yeah, sorry for all the editing if you've read this before, I promise I'll leave it alone now. And I hope Helseth and the direction of the plot live up to your expectations!