A/N: The first half might be quite expositional for I am writing this before I close the poll. Almost to 2000 views! In other news, I have finished my first modded playthrough of Skyrim's main quest line since I bought the game three years ago! Just finally did it after all this months of wanting to playthrough the main quest line with mods. Now the count stands at about 10 full unmodded playthroughs and 1 modded playthroughs.
All characters, place settings and other items belong to their respective copyright holders, Bethesda Games Studios/Bethesda Softworks LLC./ZeniMax Media Inc.. Characters that does not appear in the original content of The Elder Scrolls (OC, or original character) that bears, but not limited to, a name similar to other popular story character names and/or character behaviour and attitude are purely coincidental.
Chapter 12: The Talos Reveal
[Arena Battlefield, narrator POV]
The battle of Janice and Sheogorath had ended with Janice winning both rounds that the Daedric Prince, A.K.A Champion of Cyrodiil back in 3E 433, had challenged her in. The old hero did not catch up with current technologies and had fallen behind the younger hero from the land up north.
As Janice claimed victory and declare that Sheogorath serve under her till she dies, a figure that was hiding in the shadows of the Arena battlefield revealed himself.
[Arena Battlefield, 11:30 a.m.. Janice third-person POV]
"As expected, the daughter of Akatosh would not fall so easily to a Daedra Lord, even if he was a great hero back in his day." The clapping figure said, before the crowds could properly react.
"Talos! What are you doing here? If the Thalmor finds out, they will attack the Empire!" Janice exclaimed in worry as Sheogorath fades away, back to his plane of Oblivion.
"I thought it was the worship that was banned?" Talos asked the Empress.
"They don't believe you became a god after your death! They probably have spies in this very arena, probably on their way to the exit by now!" Janice exclaimed, not realising that what she said was true.
Meanwhile, the crowd were staring in shock at the exchange, not knowing what they should be doing as if they start worshipping Talos like the old days, they will be caught by the Thalmor, but if they stand there, Talos might become angry and use his god powers to smite them.
"I guess I better defuse the looks on the spectators," Talos started. "Everyone! I know the Thalmor bans my worship, so you don't have to worry whether I am angry about it! I am definitely angry at the Thalmor, that is for sure, but I have no quarrels with anyone who wants to worship me but couldn't!" Talos shouted to the crowd which collectively sighed in relief as most of them made their way out.
"So, what does my biological great-grandfather want?" Janice asked as she checks for visible injuries on everyone she brought into the fight.
"I want to talk with you, your family, the Elder Council and that High Elf you were so angry about, there are somethings I want to clear up. I suspect your family may also want to talk with you longer." Talos answered.
"How do you know I was angry about High Chancellor Nirrne? Oh, wait, you are probably watching me, I forget that sometimes. So, you want to join us for lunch?" Janice asked.
"I am just a spirit, I can't eat. Though I guess I can watch you eat, thinking of how… good the food… would taste… like..." Talos said, sadness permeating his voice at the knowledge that he can no longer taste real food.
"Great, now I have to take care of my great-grandfather who just realizes that he can't eat real food in addition to my duties as Empress." Janice stated to no one in particular.
"I will take care of him, no need to worry!" A voice sounded from the stands.
"Thanks mom!" Janice shouted back.
"He is my great-grandfather too you know!" Jane shouted back.
"I'm good, I just lose it sometimes when I remember the joys of mortality." Talos said, holding back another sob.
"So, you are real?" Calder exclaimed as he recovered from the shock. "Ulfric was right! Take that, Imperial lover!"
"I support the Imperials just because the Empire needs me, I don't care who I can or cannot worship." Jordis huffed at the overly excited man as he poke Talos' spectral form.
"No love for the divines?" Talos, Alduin and Janice spoke in unison, a slight tone of annoyance and anger permeating their voices.
"What?! No, no… I… I just don't mind who dictates who I can worship..." Jordis nervously explained as she backed away, hands in front in a defensive position.
"Coward!" The four other housecarls exclaimed in unison.
"Stop it already!" Derkeethus said, trying to defuse the situation.
"SHUT UP, LIZARD/HUSBAND!" The housecarls/dragon/Dragonborn/god exclaimed.
"Alright, alright! I will take my leave." Derkeethus said, his hands in a surrender position as he knows he is probably the weakest person in the group, even with vampire powers.
"I don't need a coward on my team!" Calder exclaimed.
"I won't dismiss her, Calder! She is one of the best warriors Skyrim has, even if she doesn't want to oppose the governments to support a certain viewpoint! Besides, it isn't even your choice who I choose to protect me." Janice exclaimed as she saw Talos fidgeting with impatience.
"Fine! But you better not back down from a fight on my watch!" Calder warned Jordis.
"Can we go now? There is a lot of talking to do and I need to be back by 12 midnight!" Talos exclaimed.
"Well, luckily for you, the Thalmor's High Chancellor is still staying in the Imperial City, Talos." Janice said as the group walk out of the Arena, not caring if passer-bys are gaping at the spectral man in disbelief.
"Well, I better get myself checked with the healers today, I think I am seeing things!" A man exclaimed.
[Outside White-Gold Tower entrance]
"What is the meaning of this! Is this just some conjuration magic?!" Nirrne exclaimed as she came running up to the group with a small Thalmor contingent, the housecarls immediately getting into their battle stance seeing the soldiers.
"Hello, Nirrne. I am not just some conjuration experiment, I am the real deal. The great Tiber Septim, otherwise known as the god, Talos!" Talos announced as he stepped in front of Janice and Alduin.
"No! It can't be… No mortal ever gets promoted to godship! This must be a trick! Speak Janice, or I will have your head." Nirrne warned dangerously, the soldiers getting ready to fight.
"If I was just a projection, then can I do this?" Talos said as he used his powers to send Nirrne's guards to sleep with a flick of his fingers, silencing Janice with the other.
"I still don't believe it! You must have executed the magic!" Nirrne pointed accusingly at Janice. "You are the daughter of a god! You must of these kinds of powers!"
"Okay, time for a more drastic show of power," Talos started. "I will turn my own great-granddaughter into a sword!"
"What?! Noooooo…" Janice screamed as she was transformed into an elven sword.
"If I am a projection, would I turn on my master?" Talos said as he examined his great-granddaughter.
"Still not believing, I know that Janice could transform herself since she can turn into a dragon at will." Nirrne said.
"Umm… Your Majesty?" Lydia asked the elven sword that was thrown into her hands by Talos.
"Alright then! Derkeethus!" Talos exclaimed as a certain green lizard materialised in front of him.
"Huh, wha…?" Derkeethus said as his surroundings changed; he was in his underwear, apparently ready to bathe.
"How about I change your sex?" Talos said as he flipped Derkeethus' gender without his permission.
"Ahhh!" The green Argonian woman exclaimed, covering herself. "Change me back!"
"Alright, does this prove my point now?" Talos said to the now bewildered High Elf as he changed Derkeethus and send him back.
"Umm… Talos, could you change Her Majesty back?" Lydia asked as she humbly present the elven sword to Talos.
"I like it better this way." Alduin said mischievously as she snatched up the sword in her claws and flew away.
"Hey! Come back here with Her Majesty!" The housecarls called out, chasing after Alduin.
"Umm… Yes, it does…" Nirrne nervously told the god.
"Right, get yourself together and meet us later in the dining hall, I need to chase a dragon." Talos said as he ran off.
[Imperial Palace Dining Hall, 1 p.m. Lunch had not been served at this point in time]
"So, when are you releasing my wife from her form?" Derkeethus asked Talos who was sitting across from him. "Why can't she change back herself anyway?"
"I will release her when you stop cuddling her like you missed her for years! She can't change back because I locked her powers." Talos explained.
"Oh, sorry Janice." Derkeethus said to the sword as he gently place it on the adjacent from him.
"I really hope that was true love there," Janice purred sexually to Derkeethus as she regained her form, face blushing.
"Umm… What did I touch?" Derkeethus asked as he sink into his chair.
"That would be for tonight. Now, where is the food? I am hungry!" Janice demanded.
"It would be served after everyone gets here, Your Majesty." The steward inside the hall answered. Quite immature, though I expected that for someone 20 years of age. The steward thought secretly.
"Alright. So what do you want to talk to me about, Talos?" Janice asked.
"Just one thing. You must reunify the continent, take back the lands from the Thalmor!" Talos answered.
"I know that, I was working a plan that involves people that I transform the looks of to spy for me." Janice told the spectral man.
"Alright then, I have nothing to say to you anymore." Talos said.
Soon, the three of them found themselves staring into space, Janice playing with her size changing and transformative powers to entertain herself.
"So, how is the weather in Aetherius?" Derkeethus asked, trying to ignore the fact that Janice is now a werewolf/vampire lord hybrid who is as big as the mugs on the table.
"You know that Aetherius does not have any weather." Janice answered as she changed back.
"I was just trying to break the ice!" Derkeethus exclaimed.
"Ice, right…" Janice said before transforming Derkeethus into a block of ice and gave herself a hammer and a chisel.
"That looks like it will hurt." Talos said as he observed Janice carve out a sculpture of Derkeethus into the giant block of ice rather quickly.
"Stay in that form for the rest of the day!" Janice said as she put the equipment away, observing the ice lizard move his arms.
A few minutes later, J'Zhar, Jane, Cocceius and Nirrne entered the room and stared in shock at the ice blue lizard. "She did this to me!" Derkeethus' voice sounded from within the moving sculpture though his mouth was not carved to be separable.
"I am out of this hall! My daughter is too scary for me! See you later!" J'Zhar quickly shouted as he ran away, before falling over when Jane used Ice Form.
"You are going to stay!" Jane said as she picked up the frozen form of her husband and placed him into a chair before sitting across from the shivering man as he thaw out.
"Is this normal?" Nirrne, who had finally recovered from her shock, asked Cocceius.
"Mostly." Cocceius told his counterpart, having already gotten over the shock that Talos was sitting at the dining table as he was briefed earlier by Lydia on the matter.
"Why are you so late?" Janice said, nearly raising her voice in frustration.
"You know, shocked beyond belief by Talos being here." The four latecomers said. "And I have to drag J'Zhar here away from some racists that he nearly went into a fight with." Jane continued.
"Right, anyway, Talos wants to talk to you all." Janice said as she stares at her extra big bowl of venison stew hungrily when it was placed in front of her.
"First of all, I have to say thank you for allowing me your ears, especially you, Nirrne. It was very hard for me to come to Mundus because Akatosh wouldn't allow it. I have to convince him that I will be back by 12 midnight tonight or he will never let me go." Talos started. "To my other great-granddaughter, I would like to say thank you for taking care of the last Dragonborn this world will ever see. Cocceius, I want you to help her in taking care of the Empire. Nirrne, I really wish that you could convince your colleagues to repeal your decision in banning my worship."
"That's it?" Janice said, jerking her head up from the stew at the lack of voices after a few minutes. "You went to all this trouble of convincing my father to allow you to come here just so you can dedicate a few sentences to each of the people you wanted to meet?"
Before Talos could answer, Nirrne interjected, "you know that I can't! I will still not accept you, and Talos worship will still be banned! The Thalmor will see to it that you cannot spread your influence, there will be no recourse for those that rebel!" With that, she stormed out of the hall.
"I… Umm… Want to come back to Nirn?" Talos said uncertainly. "She is certainly stubborn though."
"Right, and it is best that you go back right now, I have some politics to handle just because of you." Janice said skeptically.
"No need for that, by the time I go back, all who I didn't want to meet will forget all about me. Besides, there is more I wanted to talk about, I just can't do it with that Aldmer here." Talos said after making sure Nirrne was out of earshot.
"Then speak your mind, great-grandfather." Jane told the translucent man.
"Before that, would the rest of you please leave?" Janice said to the servants and steward in the hall.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" They said in unison, not seeing that Janice is stuffing herself like an animal.
"I so wish I could eat like that right now…" Talos mumbled as he saw Janice stuffing herself. "What? Oh, right. Cocceius, since Janice is quite young and relatively inexperienced, I think you should help her in managing the Empire's less important affairs like minor bandit raids and small food shortages. She should be the one who decides on what needs to be done, like development and other things, the more important ones. Help her train the army would you? Her housecarls cannot do it themselves, they have more important things to do." Talos said.
"I can make decisions!" Janice complained. "I have a family you know!"
"And they are being taken care of by the servants. I also doubt that you were taking care of them back in Skyrim." Jane told Janice off.
"I hold more leadership positions than anyone in the province?" Janice tried to reason.
"You didn't serve your Jarl often enough and you always assigned a right hand-man to do your work." Jane rebutted again.
"Anyway, I will be glad to help. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go back to stopping the news going out of the Imperial City." Cocceius said as he finished his meal and leave.
"Okay, now is the time for questions." Talos said. "For me, I mean. Being a god meant that I could spy on you guys any time I liked."
"So, what happened when my father sent me back to Mundus? Didn't you know?" Janice asked the once mortal Emperor.
"I was busy then, he didn't tell me anything till you were summoned into Aetherius." Talos explained.
"I was looking everywhere for you," Alduin's voice called out from the hallway.
"Alice? You know you aren't allowed in this hall." Janice quickly said.
"The dragon got a nickname?" Talos asked in surprise.
"Nickname? What do you mean?" Janice's parents asked.
"Alice is Alduin's cover name." Janice quickly whispered, ignoring the half melted face of Derkeethus who had tried to eat the hot stew.
"You need a bucket, Derkeethus. Don't want to lose you now." Janice said as a big bucket materialises under the chair, just in time too, for Janice had used her Flames spell to melt Derkeethus fully.
"Turn me back already!" Derkeethus' voice yelled out from the bucket.
"No way. Anyway, what do you want Alice?" Janice spoke to the black dragoness who had flew into the hall and landed on Janice's chair.
"Nothing, I just want to be here." Alduin said.
"Right." Janice told Alduin. "So how did you become a god?"
"Akatosh got hold of me before I went into Sovngarde and offered me a choice between godhood and afterlife. Naturally I chose godhood. You never saw me in Shor's hall, did you?" Talos explained.
"How did you know I went into Sovngarde?" Janice asked in surprise. "I thought that plane of Aetherius is separate from where you divines are?"
"Akatosh was watching you, we all were. Apparently he had waited for that moment to turn your own sister into your pet. I still don't know how that is working out since you discovered your true roots. While I might be able to spy, I can't read your feelings." Talos said.
"We are treating each other better since I got the other dragon form. We are much closer now that I know who I am." Janice told Talos as she brought Alduin down to stroke her back.
"Good, you two have been oddly quiet so far, anything you want to say?" Talos asked the Khajiit couple wearing fine grade clothing.
"Nothing, in fact, I want to check out the emptied Mages Guild building, I want to see what is left behind." J'Zhar said as he got up.
"No you don't, you didn't cared for magic back in the College. I taught you how to use those spells in case Janice wanted you to tag along with her." Jane said as she grabbed the Khajiit by his collar.
"Going with her to find trouble that is lethal? I would rather stay at home!" J'Zhar complained.
"What do you mean by lethal?" Janice asked as she pushed the big empty bowl away.
"'What do you mean by lethal?' Are you kidding me! You always went into some dungeon that contains a Dragon Priest or-or a Draugr Deathlord or you go and hunt some powerful looking dragons. You don't consider them hazardous to your life?" J'Zhar retorted angrily.
"There are more powerful enemies than those. Like Sheogorath this morning. He actually put on a good battle, just that his armour was hampering his skills." Janice rebutted calmly. "And mom put on a very challenging battle. I was nearly defeated if not for the mistake with the arrows."
"Stop getting yourself into trouble already!" J'Zhar said protectively.
"Oh, I think your daughter will be fine." Talos assured the slightly over-reacting Khajiit.
"Stop trying to be over-protective, dad. I will be fine. Then again, who saved your life in the College?" Janice said.
"Right, okay fine…" J'Zhar grunted. "But I really do want to visit the Mages Guild. Maybe they have something there to give me some demigod powers."
"You know the Synod probably confiscated everything, didn't you?" Jane told the man.
"I don't care, I need something to protect myself!" J'Zhar yelled as he ran off.
"Protect himself from what?" Alduin asked.
"From us probably." Janice said.
"Don't forget about me, father-in-law!" Derkeethus sounded from the bucket. "And can someone get this chair out of me?"
"Right. Anything else? I got to go after him to make sure he doesn't get into trouble." Jane asked as she lifted the chair out of the bucket.
"No, that will be all." Talos said. "Let's go for a tour in the Palace. I haven't been here for a long time."
"Sure, just let me transform Derkeethus into something more... portable." Janice said as she pop Alduin on her shoulder and transformed the water that is Derkeethus into a quill.
"Is trying to converse really such a bad thing?" Derkeethus chirped as Janice picks him up.
"You could have picked a better conversation starter." Talos said to the bird.
"You could have turned me into something less… delectable to a dragon." Derkeethus said, looking at the black dragoness on Janice's shoulder in fear.
"At least you can fly now." Janice told the bird as they got out of the incredibly large dining hall. "Cats love to eat birds too, you know…"
"Why do you so enjoy tormenting your husband?" Talos asked.
"No reason. I just like to see him being frightened out of his wits." Janice replied.
"You are a very sadistic wife." Derkeethus said as Janice popped him onto her other shoulder. The group proceeded to tour the Palace in silence.
"Hey, it has been really quiet from you guys." Alduin tried to communicate through the link that Janice's absorbed dragonsouls had set up for her.
"We aren't in a mood for talking. We are trying to talk to Haassotkul." Some of the souls replied.
"The soul? She doesn't remember anything. Besides, weren't you surprised?" Alduin tried to talk back.
"Of course we are! We had thought it was just a generic soul, but apparently something so pure could only be from something of legend." Younger sounding souls replied, having not seen Haassotkul before.
"You certainly have much to learn, little ones, even though you can't do anything anymore." Alduin said.
"Is there a problem?" Janice interrupted.
"Who are you talking too?" Talos said in surprise.
"She is able to sense the conversation that we are having now, I suppose." Alduin said.
"The souls aren't that discreet in trying to reach me." Janice said.
"Oh, continue then, I won't interrupt you." Talos said.
"So, how is it going?" Alduin asked.
"Nothing, it is just that it is good to be able to feel free even if we are in here." The souls replied.
"Good to know, wouldn't want it feeling like a prison." Janice's draconic voice echoed in the connection.
"Haassotkul? It is good to finally hear your voice again. It has been too long." Some of the older ones said.
"Why do you align yourself to her anyway? Paarthurnax certainly knew that following her is bad given the atrocities she had committed before the Dragon War." Haassotkul's voice sounded, Janice mouthing the words as they went along the stairs leading to the upper levels.
"How did you get in here?" Alduin asked.
"Souls can communicate with other souls, though I have to use an incredible amount of concentration to do it since I was never allowed in in the first place. Besides, it is boring since Talos here isn't up to talking about how the Palace have or have not changed since he was here." Haassotkul said. "My question is still left hanging you know."
"Right, it was because she was the only one who could command us since we were young then. She had tried to restrict her nature of destruction because of sorrow, but she lost control when it comes to Nirn, or more, precisely, the doom of Skyrim. Instead of just destroying when it is time, she wanted to conquer and enslave instead of waiting. She took on Father Akatosh's image just to gain the Nords' trust. We didn't try to rebel for we weren't experienced." The souls said. "Paarthurnax was very brave, but it was just because of Kyne."
"Right, luckily for him, Felldir had an Elder Scroll or they would never have won." Haassotkul said, remembering the vision she saw through the Elder Scroll in the Time Wound on the mountain.
"If it hasn't been for the Elder Scroll, I would have reigned supreme!" Alduin said.
"You really have to give up the ruler mentality, remember that you are my pet, even if you are my sister." Haassotkul said. "The only way to get your full powers back is to get yourself back to your former self, appreciate what this world have to offer. Anyway, I will be seeing you, I feel tired."
"But we haven't talked!" Whined the younger dragons.
"Shut it! She isn't going to go anywhere. Also, couldn't you guys tell me about what she is doing when I am not around?" Alduin said.
"Okay." The souls said in unison.
[3 P.M.]
"So, this our quarters," Janice announced tiredly when they finished the tour, ending in the bedroom. "If you will excuse me, I want to bathe."
"Sure. just leave me here with your husband and Alduin, I don't mind." Talos said dejectedly.
"You sound lonely." Janice said as she took out her clothes.
"Being trapped in Aetherius with only eight others to talk to will make you feel that. Luckily I am busy most of the time." Talos said.
"Why did you bring so many weapons to fight in the Arena?" Talos asked in surprise when Janice emptied herself of her weapons.
"You don't want me to use my fists."Janice said as she put her other items down and went into the bathroom.
"Don't ask her what that means, you might not want to know." Derkeethus said from where Janice had left him on the table.
"That sounds like a challenge! I am very good at hand to hand combat." Talos said.
"So, how is it like coming back?" Alduin asked.
"It is alright, finally being able to talk to people again, actual people, not just spirits and gods." Talos answered. "I have to be back by 12 midnight though."
"Right." Alduin said.
"I'm bored!" Alduin said from her bed after half an hour of silence. Talos had sat at the table across the room with Derkeethus, who was sleeping. "When does she finish?"
"She likes to be very thorough with her cleaning routine." Derkeethus answered, awakening from his sleep. "I am hungry, I didn't eat. Could one of you give me an apple?"
"Here." Talos said as he handed the quill an apple.
"So, what shall we do now?" Janice announced when she stepped out of the bathroom an hour later wearing her emperor robes.
"Huh? Oh, its you. We were bored without you." Alduin said groggily, coming out of her sleep.
"I want to challenge you to hand to hand combat!" Talos exclaimed from his chair before Janice could answer Alduin.
"I can't possibly defeat you, a god, now can I?" Janice said, slightly shocked that he wanted a challenge. "Especially if we both are titled Ysmir."
"But you are the most powerful mortal, are you not?" Talos said, shaking the once Argonian quill.
"Why must I marry someone so powerful? I probably would not be stuck as a quill if I had found another partner" Derkeethus complained softly.
"So were you, Talos." Janice said, ignoring Derkeethus' remarks.
"Not really, I used a giant automaton for my wars after I unite Skyrim." Talos admitted. (A/N: Dug deeper, found that Talos used a machine to unite Tamriel. Remember, I don't know any lore well from before Oblivion.) "You probably don't need help with that."
"I accept than, on one condition," Janice started. "I want you to help me if I win."
"Do you have the need to enslave everyone that challenge you?" Derkeethus remarked.
"I was joking. I just want you to use what you have before you became a god. So, no god powers from the both of us." Janice told Talos before he explode in anger from the crude joke.
"That would be fine." Talos said, trying to sound calm while his anger subside. "But why do you want Sheogorath in your pocket? That man is very unpredictable." Talos asked.
"I have a feeling that he will be able to help me in my conquest. Nothing like letting him turn those cheese coloured elves into cheese." Janice said, laughing.
"You know that could go both ways." Derkeethus said.
"I find it very uncomfortable to communicate with a quill, how about I just turn you back, I have enough fun today." Janice said as Derkeethus change.
"That's better." Derkeethus said as he jumped off the table.
"Anyway, if we head to the Arena now, we can hopefully have a sizable audience for our match." Janice said. "We need to be quick though, I have things I want to do tonight."
"Like killing a bunch of people secretly because of the Night Mother?" Talos said.
"Night Mother?!" Derkeethus exclaimed. "The Dark Brotherhood? You are its leader, aren't you? Is it something to do behind that door in Dawnstar? The one that you don't allow anyone in? You killed Emperor Titus Mede II and all those other important people, didn't you? Don't lie! You are too powerful not to have joined only the Companions and the College and save everyone thrice over."
"Yes, I did all that." Janice confessed, seeing there isn't a way out. "But I was just in it for the fun, how would I know that it will lead to the Emperor's death?"
"I won't tell the others because I am your husband, but please don't get more blood on your hands." Derkeethus said in concern.
"Since when did you care about slaying innocents?" Alduin asked. "You always seem to be able to kill bandits that had done nothing wrong yet when I spied on the both of you."
"Whatever! I am just going to hand over contract information to my second man, I am not going to kill anyone." Janice said. Luckily for her, no one was outside the room since she had requested that guards weren't necessary.
"Huh, such wise wisdom from someone who now knows who she is." Talos said.
"Like I have a choice. Akatosh probably already know, though if I am still standing here, that probably means he is okay with it." Janice said.
"Anyway, can we get on it? I have some important matters that I want to do tonight, something to do with spies and a letter to Saadia in Whiterun." Janice said, a little impatient.
"If you are so impatient, why are you even accepting a challenge?" Talos asked as he got up. "How about we just arm wrestle here if you really want to get your things done?"
"What makes you think our fight will be long? Let's just get it over with, I need to set my plans into motion." Janice said as she changed into her Daedric armour.
"Fine, if you are going to be like that, I will make sure you can't walk for the next few days!" Talos exclaimed angrily.
"Whatever, just get yourself ready. Alduin, Derkeethus, stay here if you want." Janice said dismissively.
[An angry storm of feet down the stairs and through the streets later]
"Me and Talos want to fight, is there a slot?" Janice asked Armrod, the Arena's gatekeeper.
"Ta-Talos?! You want to fight a god, Your Majesty?" Armrod asked nervously, sweat pouring from his forehead and eyes wide at the spectral man behind Janice.
"He challenged me, besides, you know that your Empress is skilled." Janice explained.
"Right away, Your Majesty." Armrod said quickly, not wanting to anger two powerful beings, even if he is good at combat.
[Arena Battlefield]
"Talos, or Tiber Septim has issued a challenge to our Empress, Janice Septim! Who will win? There is only one way to find out!" The announcer said as a translucent figure stepped onto the battlefield and a white figure from the opposite side.
"Begin!" The announcer said.
"Come on, you can run faster!" Janice taunted Talos as he ran slowly up to Janice.
"You said you want it to be fair, so I locked my powers for now. This is my pace during the war." Talos said with an expression of panting on his face, though he doesn't breathe of course.
"I thought you were fitter?" Janice said as she jogged around the Arena, ignoring the puzzled looks on the spectators.
"I am a general, I am not someone who was at the frontlines." Talos said.
"Generals are supposed to be fit." Janice said as she stopped and threw a punch at Talos.
"Of course I am, I was just toying with you. Now prepare for this!" Talos said after deflecting the punch.
Before Janice could respond, Talos kicked Janice over. Losing her balance, Janice quickly dodged the barrage of punches that flew her way by rolling.
"Still a bit slow." Janice taunted as she got up and ready herself.
Not replying, Talos quickly sent a powerful punch towards Janice. Blocking, she felt the impact through the heavily fortified armour, hairline cracks visible on the gauntlets after many months of abuse. "That is more like it!" Janice exclaimed in excitement.
What? Talos thought in surprise. How could she be enjoy- Before Talos could finish that thought, Janice swung her right fist into Talos' face, sending him onto his back. "That hurts a lot," Talos managed to say as he got up.
Not saying a word, Janice quickly kicked the recovering ghost over and used her claws to scratch the man's face, inflicting deep wounds; well, if Talos was still alive that is. Ignoring the pain, Talos used his free right hand that was not pinned to push the Khajiit away.
"That would have left some heavy scars," Talos said as he got up, having quickly pinned Janice down.
"That would be bad…" Janice said as she lifted Talos off of her using her strength.
"Yes, it would be." Talos said as he quickly kicked Janice away.
"Oof," Janice exclaimed as she landed on her stomach. "That was hard…"
"Come on, stop dilly-dallying, you needed to do something don't you?" Talos said as he forced Janice down under his boots.
"Alright. Fine then." Janice said as she threw Talos backwards from the force of her getting up.
Dashing quickly, she punches the god in the face for it was the least armoured, stunning him. Quickly, she puts the former Emperor into a tight headlock.
"You really need to practice."Janice taunted, before exerting more force. "Ready to give in?"
"Not quite," Talos croaked.
With a quick heave, Talos managed to barely free himself from the Khajiit before swinging his fists down on the armoured boots, injuring Janice.
"Ow…" Janice winced from the pain.
Grabbing her legs, Talos tossed her into a wall. "Are YOU ready to give up?"
"Never!" Janice said as she quickly got out and tackled the spectre into the ground, making sure both his arms are pinned this time.
"Looks like the Arena really needs to be repaired!" The announcer joked. "Looks like the Empress got herself into a good position this time, would this be the end of the fight?"
"Finish this!" Talos yelled, trying to get free.
Not taking her chances this time, Janice quickly issued a series of furious punches, the cracks in the gauntlets getting bigger. After several more seconds, her gauntlets split so much that it just slips off, no longer being able to be worn. "Shit…" Janice muttered softly.
The figuratively bruised man-god heaved off the slightly tired and very shocked Khajiit and got up unsteadily. Wiping a figurative blood drop from his mouth, he quickly kicked the Empress away and collapsed out of tiredness since he made himself as weak as a ghost instead of being the almighty divine he is supposed to be.
Meanwhile, Janice had nearly fainted from the impact with one of the pillars in the middle which had collapsed when she crashed into it. Getting up very slowly, she managed to crawl towards the translucent body of Talos, picking up the pieces of her gauntlets as she went along. "Come on, it is time to declare a winner, get your butt off the ground. I can't fight any longer, I am tired, you know. Having beaten a Daedric Lord in the same day will do that to you." Janice said tiredly.
"I think you put on a fair fight, let's declare a draw." Talos said as he unlocked his powers again, healing himself. "It is a draw!" Talos shouted.
"It is a draw!" The announcer repeated, "our Empress have the skills to match a god in battle!"
"She is a god, idiot!" A spectator shouted above the cheers.
There was a quick flash of golden trimmed boots stomping out of the Arena, unnoticed by Janice and Talos from their line of sight. How can I prepare my army for such a strong enemy? Nirrne thought. She had came here after the people inside the Tiber Septim Lodge, where she was staying, shouted about something going on in the Arena concerning Janice and Talos and should quickly head there. If she finds out that I have been doing slave trading of captured Empire citizens with the Khajiits and Argonians, I will be dead! She thought. Oh wait, this new 'asset' of mine could be interesting, She thought in remembrance as she unfolded a piece of paper from her pocket. Feynsesot (A/N: English: Bane of White. I did have some fun with literal dragon names like what Bethesda did with most of the dragon names. Janice's dragon name is Haassotkul, which means Health White Son... Whoops, ah well. Akatosh considers the dragon his 'sons' anyway, even if they are female.)… If I am right, it should come to me when I shout out it's name, like when Janice shouted another dragon's name in Dragonsreach, or so I have been told. Even if I am not Dragonborn, it should work, it is just a name after all. Nirrne thought as she went out of the main Arena entrance. Janice did good when she killed those two Blades, Elenwen just had to walk through to that Esbern's library without anybody hindering her after she found out about Delphine not returning to Sleeping Giant Inn after a few days when she was due to go back to check on Orgnar. She had found the hideout Delphine was using apparently, the book on the table pointed her to Sky Haven Temple. I wondered what was her motivations to kill them though? Wasn't she working with them?
On the battlefield, Janice had just collapsed when the announcer announced the draw. Seeing this, Talos quickly brought her back to her room using teleportation, not bothering to walk all the way back through the streets full of workers going home.
"Strange exit, anyway, on to the next battle!" The announcer commented.
[Empress quarters, 5:30 p.m.]
"Huh? Oh you are back. How did it… go?" Derkeethus said as he looked up from a book before spotting Janice's limped body.
"What happened?" Derkeethus said in concern as he rushed to Janice's side when the god place her on the bed.
"She put up a good fight, she was just too tired to continue. It ended in a draw." Talos explained.
"Where is her gauntlets? And why do you show no signs of having your ass kicked?" Derkeethus asked.
"It broke under the force of the punches she threw at me and I had re-enabled my powers to restore myself after the battle." Talos explained again.
"So, how do we wake her up?" Derkeethus asked.
"I thought you didn't like her?" Talos asked.
"She is MY WIFE!" Derkeethus screamed at Talos.
"From the way you complain about her, I wouldn't have guess it." Talos defensively said, not that he has to be afraid. "I will just heal her."
"Right, thank you." Derkeethus said.
"No problem." Talos said as Janice slowly opened her eyes.
"What…? Oh, hey Talos, Derkeethus. Where is Alduin?" Janice asked weakly.
"She is flying outside. Do you want me to bring in dinner for you?" Derkeethus offered.
"Sure, I need to rest even with healing. I am tired from battling Daedric Princes and a legendary warrior in one day." Janice requested.
"Let me get you out of your armour first," Derkeethus offered.
"Woah! I don't need to see my great-granddaughter naked! I will be leaving for Aetherius in a few minutes." Talos said as he opens a portal.
"I am wearing underwear under the armour, Talos!" Janice said tiredly, blushing as much as a tired woman could.
"Still, I see no need for me to stay anymore, so goodbye!" Talos said as he stepped into the portal which closed behind him immediately.
"Give me a potion of blood Derkeethus, it should help me more." Janice asked.
"Sure, just where do you get more though?" Derkeethus asked as he took two bottles out of the small barrel Janice had labelled as her 'special tomato sauce'.
"From the blood of my enemies." Janice said as she drank the potion with Derkeethus.
"Alright. Just get changed and rest, I will ask the servants to bring the food up." Derkeethus said.
[After dinner, 7 p.m.]
"I feel much better now." Janice said as the servant brought out the cutlery.
"Good, the souls told me you almost lost." Alduin said she entered the room.
"It was a draw." Janice corrected Alduin.
"Well, you fainted." Alduin retorted.
"Whatever, you need to practice being an Argonian." Janice said as she transforms Alduin into the same black scaled Argonian; falling over as usual as she does not know how to walk bipedally.
"Can you give me those clothes you mortals wear?" Alduin asked as she flail her limbs about.
"Here." Janice said, fishing out a set of Dragonscale armour. "And stop staring at her, Derkeethus! You want me to make you a doll for the kids?"
"Hmm… What? No!" Derkeethus said defensively as he got out of the room and went towards the balcony.
"You expect me to wear that?" Alduin spat.
"It is the strongest light armour in all of Tamriel. Couldn't get my sister injured on a spying mission, now can I?" Janice said. "I made this from the remains that I have obtained before, I didn't hunt again if you wanted to know." Janice continued, a little saddened, but otherwise not really caring.
"How can you look so uncaring?" Alduin said, getting tired from lifting her head up to look Janice in the face.
"I got over it. Besides, they are dead already, what can I do?" Janice told Alduin.
"Alright, just teach me everything I need to know." Alduin said, accepting that she has to wear the glorified remains of her kin.
"That would take years, I am just going to try the Greybeards' way of imparting knowledge." Janice said as she glowed like how the Greybeards had when they teach her new words.
"What the? Woah…" Alduin said in surprise as the knowledge entered her brain.
"Neat trick, the Greybeards could have taught this to everyone so that learning isn't so difficult. But noooooo, they have to keep it secret." Janice complained as she saw Alduin got up, instantly covering herself.
"Pass me the armour." Alduin requested.
"Here, you need an Argonian name so that the Thalmor won't know that you aren't a spy." Janice said as the black scaled Argonian put on the armour.
"Derkeethus!" Janice called out of the door.
"Coming!" Derkeethus called out as he ran to the door, the cold outside not encouraging prolonged visits at night.
"Can you give Alice here an Argonian name?" Janice asked, not too sure if she should use Alduin's real name outside of the bedroom's door.
"Let's see, coming up with a name is hard you know." Derkeethus said as he came inside the room, Janice shutting the door immediately.
"I got it! How about Beehaz?" Derkeethus said after a few minutes.
"Sure, I don't care." Alduin, or Beehaz in her Argonian form said.
"Let me see your sneaking skills," Janice commanded.
"How would I have the knowledge of sneaking?" Beehaz started, "Oh, wait. Alright."
"Where did she go?" Derkeethus asked as Beehaz literally disappeared when she crouched.
"She is checking out your pocket." Janice told Derkeethus; being a master at sneaking meant that she know how to detect others who are doing the same.
"What? Get out of there!" Derkeethus screamed, not knowing where to hit since he don't know where Beehaz is.
"Umm, What are you doing, Beehaz?" Janice said as she noticed Derkeethus being undressed without him knowing.
"This pickpocketing skill is really handy." Beehaz said as she got up with Derkeethus' clothes in one hand.
"Wait… Is that my clothes? Ahh!" Derkeethus yelled as he looked at the pile in Beehaz's hands before grabbing it and running into the bathroom.
"Is fully undressing him really necessary?" Janice asked Beehaz.
"Yes it is, you aren't the only sadist in this family you know." Beehaz said.
"Right, I want to sleep now, tomorrow is going to be a long day. But before that…" Janice trailed off as she took out the crystal she needs to use to communicate with her Dark Brotherhood 'family' as well as turning Beehaz back into Alduin.
"Goodnight," Alduin yawned as she made her way to bed.
Before Janice could activate the magic on the crystal, Derkeethus came out and went into bed. "Goodnight, dear. Don't stay up too long, you need to have a good rest."
"Right, you too." Janice replied before turning back to the crystal.
[Dawnstar Sanctuary]
"Hey! Is this thing working?" Janice's voice called out, the crystal inside the Night Mother's coffin shining brightly with her face in it.
"Hello, my Listener." The Night Mother replied.
"Hello Night Mother, is there any contracts?" Janice asked.
"A few, here is what you need to know." The Night Mother replied and proceeded to tell her all the information.
"Hail Sithis!" Janice said as the Night Mother finishes.
"Hey! Nazir! Babette! You there? There are some new contracts from the Night Mother!" Janice's voice rung out from the crystal.
"Hmm? What? What trickery is this!" The voice of Cicero sounded.
"Shut it Cicero!" Babette said, sounding further away than Cicero.
"Cicero! Step away from the coffin now! I have things that I need to do." Janice commanded.
"Anything for the Listener." Cicero said respectfully as he went away.
"Hello Listener, or should I say, Haassotkul?" Nazir said as he looked into the crystal.
"The Thieves Guild sharing my information again?" Janice groaned.
"Yes, so what do you need, Your Majesty?" Nazir asked.
"Here is what the Night Mother assigned us." Janice said before relaying all the information.
"Is there anything else, great dragon?" Nazir asked.
"Just call me Listener, Nazir. It is better for one of both of us if it is kept that way. Just because I am the Dragon of Good Morals does not mean I can't kill when I like. Akatosh entrusted me with deciding whose end it is." Janice said.
"Ye-yes," Nazir hesitantly replied.
"Anyway, there is another thing, send this message to Saadia in Whiterun for me." Janice said.
"Hold on, let me get a piece of paper." Nazir said.
"Alright, what is it you want to send to the traitor Iman?" Nazir said stoically when he came back.
"You need to chill, I am planning on how to defeat the Thalmor." Janice said, "I need her on my team."
"You know that Hammerfell is an independant nation now, why should they join your conquest?" Nazir angrily screamed into the crystal.
"Alright, alright, fine. I don't need her if I am not going to Hammerfell then." Janice said defensively.
"Good. Anything else, Listener?" Nazir said after calming down.
"Nothing, goodnight." Janice said as she cuts communication.
[Empress quarters]
Damn, if I am never going to Hammerfell, how do I claim Tamriel as mine? Oh wait, I could always make a well conditioned treaty. Janice thought as she laid down on the bed after stowing the crystal away.
[10 a.m. the next day.]
"Wake up Janice!" Derkeethus yelled as he rocked Janice's sleeping form.
"Huh? What?" Janice said groggily when she stirred.
"You just missed breakfast, you sleeping baby!" Derkeethus said.
"I was very tired alright? Just call the housecarls and Alduin in and give me some blood." Janice said as she sat up.
"Alright, here you go." Derkeethus said as he gave Janice a potion of blood.
"Hey Alice! Janice wants to see you!" Derkeethus shouted to the black dragoness on the balcony. "I am going down to get the housecarls. Do you really not want a chamberlain, Janice?"
"No I don't!" Janice called out.
"What is it sister?" Alduin said when she entered the room.
"You are going to meet my housecarls, as Beehaz." Janice said as she transforms Alduin. "I also want to discuss spying options."
"Those nord warriors that aren't racist?" Beehaz asked.
"Why are you so stereotypical?" Janice shot back as she changed into her Daedric armour, without her gauntlets and helmet.
"I kind of hate that Ulfric, but I didn't have time to eat him before you came." Beehaz replied.
"It was like two months after I killed him, you had all that time. And you based all that on a single person?" Janice asked.
"Well, he spread it!" Beehaz said defensively.
"Okay, fine. Get yourself ready, they are here." Janice said as she heard footsteps near the door.
A/N: This took up my entire day. I'm tired, so there may or may not be an update tomorrow. Probably going to do some shorter chapters from now. 8292 words, new longest chapter, also the second longest piece of writing I had ever done in a single document. Anyway, (Spoilers Alert!) next chapter is a proper description of Beehaz, Alduin's humanoid form given to her by Janice.