Skyrim(c) Bethesda.
Forgotten Paladin, Chapter X: Restoration of the Order.
Kaylee stared. "Are you asking whether I want the throne? I don't." He threw his back and laughed. "No, but I am saying that I should be killed, and if there is no other replacement for me, then I wish for you take the throne." She shook her head. "I'm sorry sire; I can't be a replacement for you. My duties as Dragonborn and Paladin take up most of my time."
"Very well, but I will list you as someone who is a last minute emergency replacement." She nodded. Being a last minute replacement she could handle. "So unto to your rewards. General Tullius, you have served me well, and I offer you retirement. Don't worry; there is another upcoming General I can hand Skyrim to. There is no need to answer me now. You have five days to decide." He gaze returned to Kaylee. "Now what could I give to Skyrim and all of Tamerial's savior?"
"I'm not sure. I would have to think about it." Mede smiled softly. "Very well then. You two are dismissed.
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The light burned their eyes when they came out. She glanced over to Tullius. "I'm curious to know whether you will be taking Mede's offer." He frowned. "Honestly, military life has all I have known." He chuckled slightly. "I don't think I would know what to with myself. I suppose I could help Elisif." Kaylee laughed. "Maybe you would go insane instead and meet Sheogorath." Tullius couldn't keep himself from laughing.
"Maybe I would." She stretched her back. "Well, for starters, you could come have a drink in Proudspire Manor with me." A warm breeze picked up as Tullius pondered it. "When did you get that?" "Jarl Elisif gave to me after I fought Potema the first time." "I see." Their hands brushed together once as they meandered to Proudspire. Out the corner of her eyes, she saw Tullius fight down a blush. A fox like grin appeared on her face.
After informing Jodris that she had the day off, Kaylee brought Tullius and her some wine. Leaning back in her chair, she caught Tullius staring at her. "See something you like?" He grunted. "No, there was a fly on your face." Kaylee giggled at his dry response. "Not even drunk yet and here you are losing it." He chuckled after drinking his wine.
"Perhaps I shouldn't retire." She rolled her eyes. "No, I don't think Skyrim could handle you that long." Resting her chin in her hand, she awaited his response. He leaned forward to point where their faces where almost touching. "They'll have to deal with it then." She bit her cheek. "Are you sure you aren't drunk?" Tullius cleared his throat before speaking. "Are you trying to get me drunk?"
"And if I were?" "Then I would have to do this." A hand reached out and pushed their faces together. Her eyes widened. One her hands reached up to grab the back the back of his neck while the other rested on his leg. She used the free hand to push him against his chair while she sat on his lap. He let out a small moan, before breaking the kiss. "Perhaps we should take this somewhere else?" he breathlessly spoke. She nodded.
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Her room greeted her that morning. Something heavy lay next to her, and arms were wrapped around her. Memories of last night rushed back, and she found herself blushing deeply. She had not excepted Tullius to be such a passionate lover. At the same time he was also a rough lover. Turning around she found him to be awake, looking at her. "Morning." She greets lazily. "Morning."
He moves to lie on his back, and she rests her head against his chest. A hand lazily combs through her hair. "I think I might retire after all." Kaylee breaks into laughter. "Change your mind?" Lifting her head to gaze at him, he continues quietly, "How would I stay with you otherwise?" She can feel her jaw drop as realization hits her. Tullius chuckles before lifting his right hand to close her mouth.
"You truly are interested in me, aren't you?" "Would it surprise you even more if I was?" She shook her head. "Good." Silence descended on the pair.
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There was a knowing smile on the Emperor's face the two walked to him. Both bowed and waited for the Emperor to speak. "So, have you made your decisions?" They nodded, and Tullius spoke first. "I do feel that it is time for me to retire from the Legion." Mede turned to Kaylee. "And you, my dear?" "I still can't think of anything. May I hold onto this?" "Yes."
Five months later…
"So this is the place?" Kaylee mused. Agnar nods, eyes filled with anticipation despite being next to Tullius. "Yes ma'am, it is." Tullius looked around. "How'd the Thalmor find this, it's well hidden." Scratching her neck, Kaylee glanced at him. "I don't think they did. Look." Pointing down, the group noticed tracks.
"They look new." A new voice murmurs. Turning his gaze to their fourth companion, a female Nord, Agnar comments, "Are you sure, Eydis?" "Yes. I would be a horrible hunter if I couldn't tell whether they were new or not." Agnar rolls his eyes and huffs loudly. Kaylee turned to the both of them. "Enough. We're going to head in now." The two Nords nod and Eydis takes one last look to make sure they were not followed.
Grabbing a torch, Tullius and the other two follow her into the cave. A long stone wall stretches across the cave. It displays its Cyrodilic roots. "Stay on your guard. Something doesn't feel right." Tullius whispers. An arrow whizzes by his foot. "Halt! Identify yourselves!" There is a helmeted head staring at them with two archers, whose bows were aimed at the party.
"I am Kaylee Whitestrake, daughter of Rudin and Syloria Whitestrake! With me are my companions, whom you shall not harm!" The archers gaze at the leader. "She's says she related to Rudin! And to Syloria!" One of the archers barks out. "Lies! Shoot them!" The archers went to notch their arrows until an older voice calls out.
"I will be the judge of that." An older Imperial walks through an archway. His eyes are a very pale blue and his hair has white replacing some the black. The three watch guards bow, the helmeted one removes his helmet, and auburn hair bounces out. "Master Clagius. You're awake when you should be resting." "And you, Leonde, should know when you see a Paladin." Leonde flinches slight at Clagius' tone. "Of course, sir." "Now open the gate."
"I never would have thought to see a Cyrodilic fort in Skyrim." Eydis breathes out. Clagius laughs briefly before coughing heavily. "Are you alright, Master? Do I need to fetch a healer?" Leonde asks, worry evident in his voice. "No, my boy. I will be fine." "As you wish."
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Clagius settles slowly at long wooden table. He motions to the group to sit and for Leonde to get them some drinks. "So, you are the one whom Rudin spoke about. This mystery child of his." "If he did, then yes." Clagius waits for them to take a sip of wine. "He did, but I must admit, he never did once say that you were a girl, nor did he say were a boy either."
"I see." Kaylee strokes the wood before meeting Clagius' eyes. "I must admit something as well, I did not expect there to be people here. Everyone was told that the Order had been wiped out." He hums before answering, "We had that rumor spread after the destruction of the Blades. Our scribes figured it was only a matter of time before the Thalmor came looking for us." A slight pause presents itself as the group drinks and eats.
"Anyways, once the news of the Blades' defeat reached our ears, we needed a way to remain hidden. Out of reach from them for as long as possible. What better way than to create a false base and make it look like we had been found and killed. I do not know whom the Thalmor hates more, us or the Blades."
Tullius speaks up. "A smart decision considering the outcome of the Great War." Clagius studies him briefly. "Yes, and whom are your companions, if I may ask, Kaylee?" The person in question blushes slightly. "Ah yes, sorry. The older Imperial whom just spoke is retired Imperial General Tullius, and my future husband." She points to other two. "The female is Elytis and he is Agnar. All three have done Arkay's Trial and passed, as you can see by their eyes."
"Indeed." Clagius studies Tullius again. "Future husband, eh?" The two nod firmly. They had made their choice. "Very well. And when will you marry?" "We're not sure. A date still needs to be picked." The Master Paladin twirled the end of his tunic carefully. "I imagine you have traveled far and wish to rest. Leonde will show you to the master quarters and your companions to the barracks. We will speak more in the morning."
A yawn escapes from Tullius as he begins to shake off sleep. Noticing that Kaylee is still asleep, he gets up carefully. His feet carry him to the mirror. The traditional eyes of Paladin stare back at him. They make him seem older than he really, where as they make Kaylee seem younger. Unless, he thinks, she is absorbing a dragon's soul. Then, they look creepy, almost murderous even.
Arms wrap around his waist. "You'll get used in time. In fact, you'll hardly notice them so long as you aren't thinking about them of course." Turning around, he catches her into a kiss. "I hope so." He mutters against her lips. "Come. Clagius will be waiting for us. I don't want to make him wait, not in his condition."
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The first thing he notices the moment they traverse into the dining hall is that about a hundred pale eyes are staring at him. Not including the twenty Paladins on watch. The older ones must have passed on; many of the Paladins here are very young. Most don't even look they have been into adulthood for that long. Kaylee guides him to the head table where Clagius awaits them with an older Altmer.
Tullius finds interesting that they would allow it, considering the history, but he must have done something to impress the Paladins. He can see that Kaylee thinks the same thing. "Ah, there they are." Clagius beckons them forward. "This is Sinyail, and yes, I know that he is an Altmer. I'm not blind yet!"
Sinyail smiles to them and bows his head as the two take their seats. "Agnar and Elytis have been given patrol, so they will not join us." The two are allowed to eat some the food before them, before Kaylee speaks. "Master, I have another question if you don't mind me asking." Clagius smiles. "Of course my daughter, what troubles you?" Wetting her mouth, she ponders how to ask the question.
"What ails you?" Lips raise into a smile. "An old wound I sustained a long time ago. I was stricken by a Minotaur in Cyrodiil during the Great War." Kaylee gives him a puzzled look. "We thought we had gotten most of them, but it would seem we hadn't." Patting the wound gently, he continues. "This of course, is where Sinyail comes in. Sinyail, perhaps you would like to continue?"
Said Altmer grinned gently. "Of course Master Clagius. I was out on patrol, looking for Imperial ambushes. My squad and I eventually heard this strange sound. And the crushing of steel armor." He took a sip of wine. "We came across a man and Minotaur dueling. Of course, we let it play it out and waited to see who would come out on top. Most of us, and myself included, where hoping that it would the Paladin so that we could kill him."
"Since almost nothing ever quite works out as planned, the Paladin came out on top, just barely. Which we thought was strange. Most Paladins could hold out on their own, yet this didn't." Clagius chuckled and picked up the rest of the story. "I had been heavily in the chest, and was barely able to stand, more or less fight. Footsteps approached me and I found myself in front a patrol of four Altmer, whom stared at me with disbelief."
"I half expected to die right then and there, but Sinyail stopped them doing so. He pointed out that they reason that they wanted to kill me was because they thought it was truly necessary. And to my surprise once more, the patrol agreed. One of them healed me and they let me go. It would be later when we would meet again, and they expressed honest desire to leave the Thalmor. Since they spared me, I sent a note ahead, they were Trialed and passed."
Sinyail nods contently. "We have been here even since. The other three are also on patrol and you will meet them later. Their names are: Aldaril, Culumani, and Nalcarum." Kaylee thumbed the edge of the table. "I take that the wound did not heal correctly and that is why you are in this state." "Indeed."