Disclaimer: I don't own Gladiator or Elder Scrolls. Gladiator belongs to Dreamworks/Universal and Elder Scrolls belongs to Bethesda.

A/N: Hi, guys! I'm back with next chapter of this story. I wrote this chapter just 2 days after the first one, because I'm on vacation so I have plenty of time.

Big thanks to dissatisfieduser for the review. Yes, I did think about which race Maximus and his friends are, even before I wrote the story. At first I wanted to make Cicero as Bosmer, maybe he could deal with Adoring Fan at some point, hahaha *just kidding*.

Anyway, enough talking and off we go!

Chapter 2: Cyrodiil

3E428

It was a strange journey he had, one he wished he would never experience again. He felt he had been contorted and twisted inside out when he was inside the portal. He fell to his knees and groaned because of the unnatural pain. Then he opened his eyes to see for the first time the place the gods had sent him. He saw landscape that looked like a forest and stony soil beneath his hands. Lifting his face, he could see the stone formed a pattern that he soon recognized as a road. After spending his time in Elysium, he had never seen a scenery like this again because in there, there was only plain grassland as far as the eye can see. The only artificial structures they had were their wooden houses that seemed to be standing there, waiting for them when they died. They never had to build anything, really.

Then suddenly, another thing popped in his mind, Maximus looked around to see where his family and friends were. He found Claudia and Octavius not far from him, just a few feet behind him, but no signs of his 3 loyal companions. The portal was no longer there, and he tried to call them, but after hollering for a minute or so, he knew they were not there. He silently cursed Pluto for scattering them in the middle of nowhere. But perhaps he was partly guilty for not asking about that. Although they were warriors, no one could tell the dangers they might face when they landed here. Maybe some natives saw them as demons and killed them on the spot, plus the fact that they had no weapons with them.

Weapons! Maximus started to search if he and his family had any belongings and found out that they had some clothes and other things in their sacks. Sack? He didn't remember carrying a sack from Elysium. Claudia tried to open her sack to see what was in there. There were cups, goblets, plates, bowls, cloths, and in Octavius's sack, he found apples, bread, pears, and strawberries. At least they had some food to survive for a few days ahead. Claudia then grabbed a small sack and when she reached the inside, she let out a gasp that caught Maximus' attention. "What is it, my dear?" He asked his wife. And lo and behold, in her hands are gold coins, lots of them. Maximus couldn't believe what he saw. Not only they could survive in the wild with the foods, but they also had a chance to do so in the future. They remembered what Pluto said prior their departure that he would provide them what they needed, and apparently he was true to his words. Perhaps he was not so bad after all.

Octavius then said to his father, "Dad, we can't stay here. We're in the middle of the road. If this world is inhabited, maybe there are robbers too. We can't take that risk."

"You're right, let's get going until we find a settlement of some sort. We can count the money later. Let's go," he told his wife and son.

And with that they started walking to any direction since they had no idea where to go. After three-hour trip, they reached a building that stood out in the forest. It's almost dark, so they decided to go inside and tried to have a rest. Maximus told his son and wife to wait outside, just in case. He opened the door, it wasn't locked and it's quite dark inside. He scanned the room and found a man with the fair skin and long, blonde hair. He wore a brown apron and stood behind the counter.

"Well I be a spotted snow bear, a customer! Welcome, sir, please come in." He greeted the ex-general.

"Thank you, Sir. My family and I are travelling merchants from afar and we got lost. Could we have a night here, please?" Maximus asked the man.

"Of course, what else this place for? This place isn't called Inn of Ill Omen for no reason."

Maximus frowned at the name, thinking about leaving the place. "What kind of name is that?" He asked the innkeeper.

" It's a horrible name for an inn, I know. But I just can't bring myself to change it. Besides, I like the sign," as he explained to the Spaniard. "Anyway, we got plenty of rooms if you want one. Ain't nobody here 'cept old Rufio."

Maximus didn't have time to think who this Rufio was, he just wanted his family to be safe. "Right, I'll take the room. How much is it?"

"Only 10 septims per person, Sir. Business is bad in here these days," the innkeeper answered Maximus.

"Um, wait here, please," Maximus said as he went out to meet his family. "This place is an inn, we can rest here for the night," he said to his family. They felt a wave of joy upon hearing this. Finally they could rest in a proper place for the first time since coming to this world.

"How much do they want, Honey? Claudia asked her husband. "Only 10 septims per person, he said. Just bring me the money," Maximus said as he gave his hand. Claudia gave him the money sack. After that, they went into the inn together and met the innkeeper once again.

"Ah, so this is your family. You have a nice one, Imperial. I still can't get myself a nice girl, hehehe," said the innkeeper.

Maximus was confused by his word, "Excuse me, what did you call me?"

"An Imperial, that's what you are. I didn't mean insult, you know."

"What is Imperial, by the way?" Maximus ask him again.

"It's your race, for the gods' sake. Are you high on skooma or something?"

Maximus exchanged looks with his family, apparently their race is called Imperial in this place. He wondered what do they call Juba, Hagen, and Cicero. His train of thought was interrupted by the voice of the innkeeper.

"So, I see you have a wife and a son with you. That makes it 30 septims."

"Oh, right, here's the money. I am familiar with this kind of money, please count it for me. And by the way, my name's Maximus, what is yours?" Maximus asked as he put the money sack on he counter.

"My name is Manheim Maulhand, I came all the way from Skyrim in the north. But even there, we know what a septim is. You folks are really strange fellows."

That night, after the payment was done, the little family had a rest for 2 hours. Then they start examining their belongings. They learned that they had around 500 septims, which was the currency of that land. They also bought some more food from Manheim for the tomorrow's trip. With the logistics secured, they closed their eyes and had a sleep after 15 years in the afterlife.

The next morning, they continued their trip to the south. Previously Maximus asked Manheim where the nearest settlement lied. The innkeeper pointed him Bravil, south from the inn. When they arrived at the city, they found the place to be the dirtiest place they'd ever seen in their previous life. The wooden buildings were stacked upon each other and there are some drunkards walking around and saying nonsense. Maximus asked a guard about where he and his family could stay in the city. The guard told them that there was an inn if they wanted one, but if they wanted a more permanent house, they should go the the count.

With the money they had at the moment, they decided to live as a travelling merchants until they had enough money to buy a house there, which was priced at 4000 septims according to the count. Claudia spent the next day selling her goods in the city streets with Octavius helping her. Meanwhile, Maximus found another job at the Fighters Guild because he knew next to nothing when it came to trading. The family soon realized this land was called Cyrodiil, a province of an empire that ruled across Tamriel and there is a lot of races in this strange new world. The people with fair skin is called Nord like Manheim, the men with the brownish skin were called Imperial, like themselves, the people with black skin were called Redguard, and the people with innate magical abilities were called Breton, that last part confused the family greatly. They thought only the gods could use the magic. The other races sent awe and shock to the family as they saw talking beasts and people with pointed ears. The pointed ear people with yellow skin were called Altmer or high elves, the ones with brownish skin were called Bosmer or wood elves, the ones with dark, grey skin were called Dunmer or dark elves, and the green skinned people were called Orsimer or orcs. The beast people consisted of two types, Khajiit, which was the cat people, and Argonian, which was the lizard people.

3E433

Maximus and his family had already lived for 5 years now, in Cyrodiil. Finally they managed to buy a permanent house in Bravil, using he money from trading and Maximus' fighting skill in Fighters Guild. He did a lot of assignments from fighting bandits, escorting people, or exterminating wild animals. Sometimes he helped his family by escorting them while they moved to another cities. Octavius continued to help his mother until they lived permanently. Then he followed his father footsteps by joining the guild. At the time, he was able to reach the rank Associate, while his father was a Defender. During their journey across Cyrodiil, they visited a lot of cities and settlements, but one city in particular attracted Maximus, it was Anvil. Its location and environment resembled his hometown is Hispania with the harbor and sailors from all over the world. Sometimes he thought to move his family from Bravil to Anvil so they could have a better life, away from the skooma addicts (eventually he knew the name of the booze).

During his time with the guild, Maximus was finally reunited with his friends. Hagen was currently living in Bruma, Pluto apparently made him a Nord, strong people who could resist the cold air of the mountain. He met Juba when he was at Chorrol as a Redguard, one of the best fighter in the world, not a new fact for him, really. Juba was one of the toughest gladiator Maximus ever knew. Both Hagen and Juba worked in Fighters Guild, that was how Maximus met them, during one of his missions when he rested in their respective hall. But there was one person he hadn't managed to meet yet, Cicero. Maximus travelled far and wide, but to no avail. Sometimes he feared for his safety, knowing he was never a fighter. He even tried to ask all the guild branches in Cyrodiil, but no one ever heard his name. Well, perhaps he became something else, Maximus thought, after all, he always live his life with his brain, not his muscle. He quit his day dreaming, when he heard Mordreyn Oreyn in Chorrol called him.

"Maximus, come here. I need you to do something. There are wealthy merchants from Morrowind and they need to go to Imperial City. But you know how many bandits out there, letting them go alone is like giving those bastards free money. So this is what you need to do, I want you to escort them to Imperial City where they will be selling their expensive goods. I have no doubt that you will succeed, with you as a Defender. As incentive, when you return to me, you will be promoted to Warder. The rank surely will give you more money for your lovely wife and handsome son. Good luck," Mordreyn explained the contract to Maximus.

Maximus gave him a nod as he went through the door. Later in the evening, he led the group of merchants along the Black Road to Imperial City. After 3 hours of walking, Maximus heard something in the bush. He readied his sword, trying to protect the rich Dunmers. From behind the bush, a Khajiit emerged," Give me all you possession if you value your lives." After saying that, his fellow bandits showed themselves from behind the trees, with swords, bow and arrow, and hammer. Maximus only gave him a smirk and said, "I would rather die than give you these people for you to rob."

The Khajiit said," If that's what you want, then that's what you get." And with that, the chaos ensued. Maximus quickly dispatched the Khajiit with the slash of his steel sword, then he ran up the hill to meet an archer bandit, Maximus thrusted his blade through the archer's chest, killing him instantly. Then he felt a blow on his back, this time a Redguard attacked him with a large iron hammer. Maximus winced from the pain and the dodged the second blow, making his opponent losing his balance. Seeing the opportunity, he disarmed the Redguard when he kicked his hands. At that time, an Imperial guard rushed to the scene, he knew there was a robbery, and he attempted to stop it.

"Stop, put down your weapons and surrender yourself!" The guard stopped the fight between Maximus and the bandit. The bandit, seeing no chance of winning by keep fighting, quickly told the guard," Yes, arrest him, Sir. He attacked my clients here and tried to murder them as well. Help us!"

Maximus suddenly retorted the bandit," No, don't listen to him, I'm the escort. I'm from the Fighters Guild to escort these merchants. He is the bandit. Arrest him!"

The guard, not knowing who to believe, asked the merchants, "Sir, Madam, which one is your escort and which one is your bandit?"

The Dunmers was trying to answer the guard's question, but fear seemed to get the best of them and in the darkness of the night, their response shocked Maximus to his core. "He is our escort," while pointing to the Redguard, "and he is the bandit," pointing to Maximus.

The guard quickly arrested Maximus as three more guards came to the place. "No! You don't understand! I'm the escort, here, see my badge from the guild. You have to believe me!" Maximus shouted to the guards.

The guards saw the badge and snorted, "Oh, you maybe took this from the a member of the guild after you killed him, didn't you, asshole?"

"No-" before he could say anything, a guard hit the back his head with the hilt of his sword, knocking him out. "Take him to the Imperial City, let him have a taste of justice there," said one of the guard.

So, there you have it. Our gladiator spends 5 years in Tamriel to gather knowledge about the world he lives in. The next chapter will be at the start of the game. Oooh, I'm so excited about this. But for now, let me give you this closing music.

*cue Now We Are Free*

haljordan123 signing out!