Disclaimer: I don't own Oblivion and Gladiator.
A/N: Guys, I'm so sorry if it took a long time to update this story. I will try to update more regularly. I hope you like the story, and as always, point me any crappy mistakes, okay? Enjoy!
Chapter 4: Weynon Priory
Walking down the street of Imperial City, Maximus never dropped his guard. He suspected anyone would recognize him and had the guards arrest him. He visited The Fighting Chance for a brand new weapon. Previously, he returned Renault's katana to Baurus and his own weapons were confiscated by the legion. He carefully look for a perfect choice among the swords, bow, and axes, and he finally purchased a steel shortsword and a leather shield. Then he proceed to Best Defense to buy some armor, and he chose leather armor from Maro Rufus. He always prefer light armor to heavy armor for agility, and also the money he had from Baurus was limited, so the fancy items were not the options right now.
As he walked to the city gate, leading out of Imperial City, he looked at the map once again to see his destination. "Weynon Priory. I've never visited the place, but I passed it several times. It should be an easy journey." When he was about to open the gate, he heard someone called his name.
"General Maximus, is that you? Is that really you?" He turned around and saw an Imperial man, shorter than him in blue & green outfit. He scanned the man for a few seconds, trying to get a name, then his eyes recognized him, the only person that always use honorific to him.
"Wait, Cicero? Is that you?" he asked with excited tone.
"Yes, General, it's me. Oh gods, I thought I'll never see you again. Where have you been?" Cicero grabbed Maximus' arm with such enthusiasm. Meeting his master again after all this time surely brought enormous joy to his heart.
"I am with the Fighter Guild with Juba and Hagen. Well, was. What happened to you? Are you well?" Maximus asked Cicero, slightly worried about him.
"As you can see, I am very well, General. When we arrived in this world, I was separated from the rest of you. But if I may, what are you doing in Imperial City?"
"We can discuss that later, but right now, I need to get out of the city." Maximus knew the sooner he was out of the city, the less likely the guards would catch him.
"Let me come with you, General. Travelling with a companion is always better than travelling alone. Please wait at the stable outside, I'll pick up some provision." Cicero quickly headed back to his house in Elven Garden District, taking everything for the road. He packed his things in a bag, then continued heading to the gate to meet Maximus.
"Alright, I've got everything we need. Shall we get going now?" Cicero asked the general.
"Sure, let's go." Then they started walking past Weye, towards Chorrol. The road to the Priory was ascending and normally, it took several hours to get to Chorrol from Imperial City. After 5 years, it was understandable if Maximus was curious about what happened to his friend. Did he have a trouble living in Tamriel? What did he do for a living? Did he have a family?
"Cicero, I must tell you how happy I am to see you again. I just hope it's in a better circumstances. So, tell me again what happened after you arrived in Tamriel." He asked his best friend for information.
"Well, I got separated from the rest of you and Pluto seemed to drop me near Aleswell. I asked the innkeeper there, and he told me everything I need to know. Then I went to the city, trying to find a bed for my head. Luckily, I had some money so I could stay in Merchant's Inn." He explained with a small smile. "After that, I asked the people there to find you and apparently, they had no idea what I was talking about. So I thought it was a good idea to get some information from the news. I kept watching for 5 months for nothing. Then I heard about the Mages Guild, so I walked over there and applied to become their member."
Martin was amazed about his story, he knew Cicero was never a fighter like him, but to be a mage was something he never thought about.
"Did they accept you?" he asked his friend.
Cicero shook his head a little, "Only after I completed all recommendation from all other cities. I needed 8 months to go back and forth across Cyrodiil. And now I have the rank of Conjurer."
Maximus nodded at Cicero's achievement. Travelling across a province was no small feat. It took stamina as well as physical strength and survival skill, considering the bandits out there.
"I just want you to know that I'm happy to see you alive and well. We have been lokking for you across Cyrodiil, but none of us could find you anywhere. Perhaps you were exploring caves, mines, and whatnot." Maximus said with a smile on his face, definitely happy to see a friendly face around him.
"As I am, General. I didn't know what I would do, if I lost you. Seeing you again already makes me feel like we're home, on Earth." Cicero replied with the same relieved feeling. "By the way, where are you going, General? What happened that makes you in such a hurry?" He asked after they were quite far from Imperial City where no one was around them.
Hearing the question really made Maximus stopped from walking, he knew that was a serious thing that need a full attention. He didn't know how Cicero will take his answer, but he saw no other way to explain this.
"Listen, Cicero, do you trust me?"
"Of course, Maximus, what?"
"Okay, I was in prison the other day. But it was a mistake, I'm innocent. The guard took me, rather than the actual criminal." He tried to explained his condition, hoping his friend would believe him. "So I was there in the prison. And, in know this will sound crazy but the emperor himself came to my cell to escape from his attacker, whoever they are. I followed them through an underground cave, from which I got some gears, and I tried to help the emperor and his guards, but we failed, he was killed. Before he died, told me that I must help Tamriel with something, I think it's has something to do with the mission Pluto gave me, you remember?" Maximus asked the Imperial friend after explaining further.
"Yes, he said you must help saving Tamriel. But that didn't answer my question yet, where are you going?" Cicero said as he put up his hands, definitely confused.
"I must get out of the city immediately, because I don't want the guards to notice me as one of the prisoner. I don't know if they know about my escape, but I can't take that risk. As for my destination,-" Maximus paused a little bit and looking their surrounding, making sure no one will see what he would do next.
"The emperor gave me this," he pulled out the Amulet of Kings from his bag and showed it to Cicero who instantly put his hands on his mouth.
"By the Nine, is that the Amulet of Kings?! What the Oblivion?" Cicero couldn't contain his shocked and shouting in the wild would not help the situation. So Maximus quickly put his hand over Cicero's mouth to shut him up.
"Be quiet! He told me to bring this to Weynon Priory, to someone named Jauffre and to find his secret son, his last heir since his other children were killed during the attack. Now, I need you to trust me on this. I did not steal it, nor did I kill the emperor. I just have to bring it there, this Jauffre better know what to do. Now, can you calm yourself down?"
Cicero nodded slowly and he tried to digest everything Maximus just said. His former general was there when the emperor was assassinated. He was a witness, and he couldn't let someone that important to go on his own, not with the precious cargo. What if some bandits found the amulet and decided to sell it? What if it fall in the wrong hands?
Not wanting to know the outcome of the what-ifs, he decided to accompanied Maximus to the priory and see from there. "You are in great danger, General. You can't go alone like this. I think I will stick with you to meet this Jauffre. We can't waste more time, we must reach the priory before dark. It would be safer that way."
Then they continued walking again, be vigilant to any noise and movement. But the luck was on their side for there were no bandits along the way, only deers and some wolves that were no match for the two. After two more hours, finally they saw the priory stood out from the forest. They came closer to the yard and met a Dunmer herder with the horses and sheeps. When he saw our companion, he greeted them first, "Hello, Traveller. I'm the shepherd here, Eronor's the name and this is Weynon Priory."
"Thank you, I need to see Jaufrre. Do you know where he is?" Maximus asked straight to the point.
"If he's not sleeping or eating, he'll be fussing with his books, I reckon, over in the Priory House." Eronor replied with a smile.
"Thank you again. Come on, Cicero." Maximus opened the door and walked inside. It was a comfy place with a table and foods on it, then he saw a monk standing in the hallway.
"Excuse me, are you Jauffre?"
"No, I'm Brother Piner. It's nice to meet you. But if you seek Jauffre, he is upstairs, reading his books," said the man.
Maximus thanked him and soon went upstairs. There he saw a Breton man, sitting behind the desk with his head down on some books. "He must be Jauffre. Finally, I can give him the amulet. It's been a great burden to protext this thing."
"Um, hello, sir? My name is Maximus, and this is Cicero, my friend. I'm looking for Jauffre. I was told I can find him here in Weynon Priory." He politely asked the monk.
"I'm Brother Jauffre. What do you want?" Jauffre spat at him. This guy surely didn't want to have some chit-chat.
"I'm here to deliver this amulet to you," Maximus put down the amulet on the table and when Jauffre saw it, he felt so shocked on how the symbol of the Septim bloodline could end up in the hands of a random man before him. Could he possibly steal the amulet, or even murder the emperor?
He examined the amulet carefully, "Yes, this is the Amulet of Kings. How did you get it?"
Maximus soon explained on how he met the emperor in prison and how he joined the Blades to protect the emperor from the group that murdered him and his sons. Jauffre struggled to believe this man who was in prison, but earned the emperor's trust.
"As strange as your story are, I believe you. If the emperor trusted you with this amulet, I see no reason not to. Thank you for bringing the amulet here. We'll keep it safe. You may see us as monks here, but actually we are all Blades, living here to fulfill our duty in secret. You can leave now," he told Maximus.
Then Maximus went on to the next matter, "There is another thing, the emperor wanted me to find his last heir, do you know about him?"
"Yes, I do. Only a few people know about his existence. His name is Martin, and he lives as a priest of Akatosh in Kvatch. You should bring him here, so we can restore him to the throne," Jauffre explained as he stood up.
After getting the explanation, Cicero had his own question, "Excuse me, Brother Jauffre. If I may, can you explain to us why must his identity be kept secret? Is he in some sort of danger?"
Maximus nodded in agreement with him, it was a good question. They needed to know everything about this Martin fellow if they were to find him there. It would allow them to prepare to any possible situation they might encounter.
Jauffre started to walk around the room with his hands behind his back, realizing this was a very serious question. "I was with Blades that served close to the emperor. But a few years ago, I was moved to this station. Then one night, the emperor came to me and brought a basket with him. He told me to protect what's inside no matter what. After he left, I opened it and saw a baby child inside. He didn't tell me, but I knew he was his son. We gave him up for adoption to a family, and they report to us regularly about his condition," he finished his story with a sigh while looking at Maximus in his eyes.
Slowly, Maximus tried to accept this information. It looked like they got an illegitimate heir to protect. The emperor must had known this would happen, so he brought him here. "What a clever bastard!", he thought to himself.
"He also told me about closing shut the jaws of Oblivion. What does it mean? Do you know that?" Maximus asked Jauffre again, because this prophetic dream really didn't make any sense to him.
"Ah, that phrase refers to Mehrunes Dagon, the Daedric Prince of Destruction, one of the rulers of the realm of Oblivion. He must had foresaw it."
"Foreseeing through a dream? How can that even possible? Asked Cicero, intrigued about this. Divination was something rare even in the mages community. How could a person that has never had trainings in magicka performed such a feat?
" It is the blood of the kings, I think. The coronation of each new Emperor is sealed when he uses the Amulet of Kings to light the Dragonfires in the Temple of the One. The Dragonfires of Akatosh remain lit until the death of the Emperor. His successor then lights them anew upon ascending to the throne. With Emperor Uriel dead and no successor crowned, the Temple of the One will be dark for the first time in centuries," Jauffre gave them the explanation, certainly he didn't know the details.
"But enough talk, waste no time. You must bring Martin here before the enemy does. I keep a few things here in my chest to resupply traveling Blades. Help yourself to whatever you need. Prior Maborel and Brother Piner may also be able to help. You should speak to them about it if you haven't already. May Talos guide you." he urged them to leave while showing a chest next to his table.
Inside, Maximus found an additional sword and Cicero took the bow and arrows, as well as a dagger with him. He trained his marksman skill, just in case his magic failed him. He never thought that day would come now. After saying goodbye to Jauffre and had some lunch, they went downstairs and outside the priory. But just when they passed the stable, a voice called them, it was Piner.
"Wait a minute!" Maximus and Cicero stopped and turned their head to said voice. "Brother Jauffre told me that you can use Prior Maborel's horse, here he is. The faster you can go, the greater the chance to bring Martin alive," he said while handing the reins to Maximus.
"Thank you so much, Brother. We really appreciate your help. I'll make sure he come back safely." Cicero really could use this horse now. If his feet could talk, they would scream by now. He immediately joined Maximus up on the saddle and in less than a minute, they were galloping towards Kvatch where the future emperor lied, unknowing about his destiny.
Meanwhile, inside a cave near Lake Arius, two red-robbed figures approached a high dais where a man stood on it. "Master, we managed to kill the emperor and his sons. But we failed to retrieved the amulet." One of them said to the man.
"But our spies have found something today, Master. Two stranger came to Weynon Priory this noon, they are not like any strangers for one of them is heavily armored, and the other wore a mage robe. They left the priory towards Kvatch later in the afternoon." The other one informed the man that appeared to be their leader.
He said nothing for a few second while walking to the giant statue of four-armed monster on the dais. He looked to the statue with his eyes closed, then he turned around to his followers.
"You two, go to Kvatch with haste. Open a great gate there, as the lord Dagon said to me. Let the city burn in fire and brimstone, leave none alive. Walk with our lord Dagon."
"Praise be." The two followers answered their leader before heading out of the cave.
Dun dun duuuuunnn, who is that? I bet you already know the guy. So the next chapter will be about Find the Heir and Breaking The Siege of Kvatch quest. It may be a bit long, so be patient with me, please. Do you like it? Please give me lots of reviews.
Haljordan123 is out.