Aela woke to the sound of pages turning. Serana sat quietly, dressed in a deep crimson mage's robes and matching trousers, trimmed in gold. She turned the page, engrossed in her book and seemingly oblivious to Aela's stirring.
"You're wrong, you know," Serana said softly without lifting her eyes from the pages.
"Am I?" Aela kicked her legs over the side of the bed, throwing the light blanket from her body.
Serana looked up and watched Aela rise, stretching before walking to the armchairs next to the bookshelf. She watched Aela smile and walk to the chairs where she was sitting. But, instead of dropping into the open chair next to her, Aela stood directly in front of Serana.
Aela bent down, placing her hands on the armrests, trapping Serana. Serana didn't flinch and she was proud of that fact. But Aela's proximity to her was distracting.
Aela searched her eyes and then let her gaze travel over the vampire's unemotional face. It amused her to watch Serana begin to squirm. Aela looked back up to the vampire's eyes, noting the vampire's ochre eyes traveled to Aela as well.
The glimmering necklace dangling around Aela's neck drew her eyes to her bosom as it swayed. Serana looked back up. She found herself staring into her eyes and then letting her vision travel to the woman's mouth.
Aela let the corner of her lips curl into a satisfied smile. She was enjoying the game. "Then prove me wrong, because I know you can't even answer for your desires truthfully."
The door to the Arch Mage's quarters opened and Gwynn lead Azriel through the door. "We'll just get you into bed, Arch Mage."
Serana pushed Aela back gently and stood.
Azriel growled weakly. "I'm fine, Gwynn. But thanks for your help."
The mage sighed and smiled at the two women standing next to each other. She helped Azriel to bed and fluffed her pillows. "Alright… there you be, Arch Mage." Azriel groaned at the use of the title. "She's all yours, ladies."
Both women stared at the Dragonborn as Gwynn left. Azriel's eyes were bandaged and there were two black stains on the white wraps. She wore light blue robes with healing runes on them. Her left hand was wrapped, with only her fingertips exposed. Her right arm was in a sling. The pained expression on Azriel's lower face showed as she settled into the pillows. It was obvious Azriel was uncomfortable. Azriel moaned as she leaned back on the pillows waiting for the door to close. When she heard the door quietly shut, she forced herself up and extended her hand.
"I feel like a Draugr. Can one of you unwrap me?"
"Not a chance in Oblivion," Aela growled at her.
"Oh, come on! I want out of this, and we need to go." Azriel whined loudly.
Serana chuckled and sat down next to her. "The only place you are going is to sleep. You haven't taken any time for yourself in days. I haven't seen you so much as swallow a bite of real food since Whiterun."
"Okay, seriously. When did you two kiss and make up?" Azriel whimpered. "You're supposed to be on my side. Both of you!"
"I am on your side, Azriel. But you haven't done a single thing for yourself in… in… Well, I haven't seen you do anything for yourself yet." Serana set her book down next to Azriel's hand and pulled the blankets up around her.
"Serana is right. You haven't done anything for yourself." Aela grabbed the cuirass and dropped it on the bed. "You want to explain this?"
"Explain what, Aela? I can't see what you're dropping on me." Azriel coughed as she spoke.
"Aela, now isn't the time." Serana threw a disapproving glance at Aela.
"Now is the perfect time. She can't weasel her way out of an answer or disappear for months on end. You haven't taken care of your armor or yourself."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Azriel growled at her. She coughed again, this time deeper.
"Aela…" Serana started to speak, but Aela cut her off.
"You know exactly what it means, Dragonborn. You get angry and just disappear. Why aren't you taking care of yourself? Your armor is falling apart, you barely eat, and I know you're not sleeping…"
"Please don't tell me that all you plan to do is nag me while I'm stuck here mummified." Azriel tried to make her tone as condescending as possible.
Both women could feel the stress in Azriel as she hacked.
"Aela, this isn't helping."
"Serana, I showed you her armor. She's tempting fate with this armor…"
"So what? You barely wear anything at all!" Azriel scarcely got the words out before she started a new coughing fit.
Aela's temper was as hot and quick as Azriel's. "I wear the armor of my ancestors, Imperial! What of your history? Where is the pride you have in your people?"
Her words cut Azriel to the bone. Azriel's throat felt impossibly dry as she tried to tell Aela off.
"That's not fair, Aela. Now stop it, you're making things worse." Serana stood on the opposite side of the bed from Aela.
"Oh, and how would I know…? Azriel hasn't tried to tell me about herself as she has you." Aela growled the words out, her jealousy lashing out. "Maybe she'd like to explain who Eamal is and why she carries these!" Aela threw the mementos onto the blankets covering Azriel's chest.
Serana shook her head at Aela. "You're impossible, you know that?" She went to the table and grabbed the water bottle, chilling it in her hand. She walked back to the bed and sat next to Azriel. "Here, I brought you water."
Azriel knocked the bottle from her hand, still coughing. "It wasn't for you to share my life with other people. I didn't want her to know."
"In case you've forgotten, Dragonborn. I'm standing right here. You can talk to me." Aela's voice filled with resentment.
"She found mementos sewn into your cuirass, Azriel." Serana retrieved another bottle of water. "Now, drink the damn water."
Azriel removed her hand as the fit passed, her bandages and mouth were covered in blood. Serana carefully tipped the water into her mouth and Azriel was silently thankful for how cold it was.
"Are you going to tell me or not?" Aela was still staring at the blood on her bandages.
"I told you a long time ago, there is nothing in my past worth mentioning. Nothing about your Nordic pride would let you understand my lack of history." A second wave of coughing shook Azriel's body for over a minute.
"I see. So, you can mention your life to Serana, but not me?" Aela leaned down, moving Azriel's hand from her face. Blood dripped from Azriel's mouth as she coughed. "Serana, we need to go find that mage." Aela grabbed a towel from the table and pressed it to Azriel's lips.
The words had no more left Aela when the door opened to their chambers.
"How are you feeling… goodness me!" Tolfdir quickly sat on the bed next to Azriel. "Lady Aela, would you be so kind as to fetch Colette from the Arcanaeum?" Aela quickly left as requested.
"Lady Serana, I suspect you've dabbled with potions?"
"I have… why?"
"Would you mind handing me that healing elixir from the table?" Tolfdir's hands were already glowing as he rearranged himself over Azriel. His hands worked the magic through Azriel, locating her issues.
"Her lung has collapsed. The puncture was reopened, and her other lung is filling with blood. Help me turn her on her side." Serana gave him the bottle and carefully moved Azriel. "Arch Mage, I need you to drink this as quickly as you can."
Azriel whimpered as he held the bottle to her bloodied lips. "Don't worry, the effects will be immediate." Azriel tried not to gag as the thick fluid flowed over her tongue. The heat of the mixture spread pleasantly through her body and Azriel laid her head on the pillow, promptly falling asleep.
Serana sat quietly on the bed, reading. Azriel was asleep in the center of the large bed. Aela had finally given in to her own exhaustion, falling asleep next to Azriel on her right. Serana turned the page of the new book and glanced down at Azriel. She had so many questions for her dragon, but the biggest question in her mind had grown in a moment of Aela's jealousy. Why hadn't she told Aela of her past? It was obvious they were close friends. But it was also obvious that outside of their shared time together, Aela knew very little about Azriel.
Azriel moved in her sleep, curling up closer to Serana.
It made her smile feeling Azriel's body so close to hers the last few hours. Serana stole a glance at the sleeping woman next to Azriel. Her hand was on Azriel's back, and the cloth of Azriel's robe curled into her grip.
For whatever reason, it didn't bother Serana that Aela was touching Azriel. The Nord looked different when she was sleeping. It was the only time Aela seemed at peace, even if she was twitching in her sleep. Serana caught herself smiling at the pair and shook her head at her own thoughts. She took a drink of the blood potion and swirled the bottle, downing the last few drops. She closed her book and slid down the bed so that her head rested on the pillows. She turned so that she faced Azriel and gently started stroking her cheek. I missed this so much…
Azriel's lips curled into a soft smile and Serana stopped. "Don't stop," Azriel whispered.
Serana smirked and resumed stroking her cheek. "Do you forgive me for being such a jealous bitch?"
"Only if you forgive me for not telling you," Azriel whispered back.
Serana let a sad smile grow on her face. "Yeah, I do. But don't ever withhold your feelings from me again. Or anything else for that matter."
"I won't, I promise." Azriel's voice was lazy with sleep.
"Azriel, I think you should tell her about yourself. She has the right to know." Serana kept her tone easy and encouraging.
Azriel gave a slight shake of her head. "You don't understand. Aela is really strongly opinionated and can be very judgmental. It's why I never told her in the first place."
"Is that what you think of me, sister?" Aela said softly, the edge of the whisper sounding wounded.
Serana removed her fingers from Azriel's cheek as Aela rolled to her back.
Azriel sighed. "You are judgmental. I didn't think you'd ever understand."
Aela tucked her arm under her head and scoffed. "Try me."
Azriel groaned, frustrated.
"I don't know where to start. Your opinions mirror every other Nord's. It makes it hard to even want to start somewhere." Azriel's voice held only sadness.
Serana rubbed her arm for support and decided to make a suggestion. "I have a book here; you could start with that."
"If I wasn't wearing these stupid bandages, you could see me roll my eyes at you. That book is terrible." Azriel wasn't pleased that Serana had found that particular book out of the dozens in the room.
Aela leaned over Azriel inquisitively. "What book?"
Azriel sat up with a pained moan at Aela's weight as it pressed into her.
Serana dangled it out of Aela's reach with a smile. "This book. Azriel is in it." Aela made to reach for it and Serana snatched it away from her.
"You both are going to drive me to an early grave." Azriel groaned. "Fine, but I need something to drink. My throat is killing me."
Aela got up and picked up a new bottle of wine. She poured three goblets and brought them back to the bed, handing them out.
"Okay seriously, enough with the Draugr look." Azriel let her left-hand catch fire, burning off the bandages.
"You better not even think to remove the one on your eyes, Azriel. The old man wants you to leave them on until you are finished healing. I will not get my backside chewed over you again." Aela growled at her, finally handing her wine.
Azriel winced as she took the cup. Her left hand still ached. She took a long pull from the cup, savoring the flavor of the wine in her mouth. "I really think Shadowbanish Wine was made to ensure you never drink anything else..."
"I still prefer mead."
Azriel made a retching noise at Aela's comment. "Damn Nord, you need new taste buds. Mead is disgusting. I'd rather lick dirt."
Serana smiled at her and placed the book on her legs.
Aela smirked, knowing Azriel's extreme dislike for the drink. "I believe you were about to spill your guts."
Azriel took another drink, finishing the wine. "I grew up in an orphanage in Cyrodiil. I don't have a past or history, Aela. I can't trace my roots like you can. I have no idea who I came from or honestly where. I just knew that hateful place until I was five."
"When I turned five, I was sold to ranking Thalmor with other children. It was the middle of the night when we were taken from the room where we slept. They made us drink a potion and when I woke, I was in a small cage."
Azriel handed the goblet to Serana and tugged down her robes. "The crescent scars on my shoulders and these scars on my neck are from my collar. I wore it every day and every night for nine years, it never came off unless I was whipped." Azriel pulled the robes back up as both women sat in stunned silence, listening. "The scars on my wrists and ankles are from the manacles I wore. The only time they were removed was for a fight, otherwise, I always wore them. When I was beaten, they'd hang me by them."
Azriel cleared her throat, the emotions she felt were painful. "We did tasks which were unfit for small children, but we did them to be fed or not to be beaten. I remember seeing other children being eaten or killed cleaning animal and beast cages. Sometimes, worse things than that happened." Azriel cringed, remembering the horrors of the unground tunnels. "The cages children lived in were small and cramped. We were chained by our necks inside of them. They were too small to stretch out in and too short to stand in. Most of the time I laid on my side curled up on the dirt."
Azriel talked as though she were only speaking to herself. "Leftover slop and stale bread were all children were fed if we were fed at all. There were plenty of times that the food was thrown on the ground and we had to drink the mess up from the hard dirty floor with old bread. If they didn't give us bread, I'd lick it off the ground. If there wasn't food, I'd eat bugs when I was lucky."
Aela rubbed her head in disgust. Serana remained silent, trying not to let her face express the different ways she was envisioning killing Thalmor.
"When I was eight, I was put to work on the forge with an Orsimer. I was given to him to use as an apprentice after his died. When I was ten, I saw daylight for the first time in five years when I was shoved out into my first fight in the Arena as punishment for breaking a guard's nose. After that, when I wasn't fighting, I was working as a smith with Marduk at the forge." Azriel drained her goblet to soothe her raw throat.
Aela refilled it along with the other two.
"When I was fourteen, I killed the only two people that had ever shown me any humanity. They were the closest and the farthest thing you could imagine to parents. They were Dark Brotherhood assassins that had been captured in a Thalmor trap. I… I didn't…" Azriel took a breath to calm herself. "I'll never forgive myself for what I did to them. Nor will I ever understand why they let me do it. Now, someone just read the damn book. I don't feel like talking anymore."
Serana opened the book and began to read it out loud.
The Last Great Battle of the Arena
Fourth Era 200 year
Ishachus Vicinus
Grand Imperial Scribe
Written under expressed permission of Emperor Titus Mede II
~ Prelude ~
The Fourth Era 200 year was host to one of the greatest and certainly the grandest battle in the Arena before the Great Fire occurred. From sea battles to Minotaur Lords, the day was packed with adventure and the exchange of the most gold on record in over one hundred years. But the best surprise of all was the winner of the title 'Grand Champion of the Arena'. It marked the youngest winner on record to ever win the prestigious title.
For spectators, the 9th of Sun's Height was most certainly an adventurous day at the Arena. With great pride, this humble scribe can say for certain, the day was without a doubt, the grandest day for an epic series of battles to take place. In the end, the most unlikely champion would rise and truly earn their place at the White-Gold Tower as one of the emperor's personal guards in its staggering height.
I shall endeavor to capture the last great battle of the Arena as entrusted to me by His Eminence, Emperor Titus Mede II.
Let it be known that both free men and women fought with vigilance and tenacity against the dregs of society in this final battle. To the victor, the spoils of war brought either a true warrior's title or freedom paid for with blood.
In the words of Emperor Titus Mede II… "Let there be blood!"
~ Chapter I – Sea Battle at Dawn ~
As spectators entered the Arena, they were greeted with the sight of the floor of the Arena flooded and two scaled replicas of the Imperial Crown Ships, the Kestrel and Anemoi, respectively. Mage lights sparkled over the twilight scene, for the true beginning of the battle was scheduled to start at first light.
Let us begin this exciting story with the sea battle at the rise of dawn. The first and last battle of its kind, sadly. The sea battle was intended to be one of the grandest events at the Arena to date.
The morning started with the battle of the two scaled ships armed and ready for battle. On the Kestrel, twenty-five warriors and mages hoping to make a name for themselves prepared to fight the Anemoi. The Anemoi was loaded with twenty-five prisoners fighting for freedom on the slave ship.
Captain of the Kestrel was Asgald Wind-Worthy, leading the warriors and Battle Mages. On the Anemoi, Marduk gro-Essek, an Orsimer assassin captured by the intrepid Thalmor, captained the all-prisoner ship.
At dawn, with spectators readied and gold already exchanged, the battle began with the sounding of a battle horn.
The two ships circled one another on the small sea casting flame and arrows. Magical barriers kept spectators enthralled as fireballs and arrows bounded harmlessly away. Grapples and rope were used to draw the two ships together as the burning Anemoi, armed with much less affluent mages, hurried to put out their flames.
It was Marduk gro-Essek that lead the prisoners across from the sinking and burning ship. Swinging on ropes with swords drawn, the battle raged as the prisoners of the Anemoi hurled themselves across the flaming bridge to fight the true warriors of the Kestrel.
One of the biggest surprises of the battle was the female Nightblade Tabithah, a Dumner that struck and killed the great Battle Mage Edwyval Greencroft, another favored contender. The three-hour event culminated with the glorious kill of Asgald Wind-Worthy by Marduk gro-Essek and the simultaneous capture of the Kestrel flag by the upstart, Ahziial the Lion.
A one-hour reprieve was announced for general betting and draining of the Arena. While most searched for bookmakers and refreshments, others were treated to the comical sight of Pernclentus Olivine's hilarious distress as the only contestant actually thrown from a ship alive as he was washed under by the whirlpool.
~ Chapter 2 – Fall of the Flag ~
The fifth hour brought the next wave of heavy betting with the thirty remaining contestants. Two teams of fifteen contestants were placed on opposing ends of the Arena. Each side displayed a beautiful emblem of the Empire. One flag was adorned with the symbol of the Emperor's House. The other was decorated with the image of the Red Dragon Crown.
Walls from the floor of the Arena were raised to serve as blockades. A large maze of corridors was designed for hand-to-hand combat within its confines. At the center of the Arena was the symbol of the Empire. To secure victory between each warring party, contestants were required to capture the flag and bring it to the center of the Arena.
The two opposing teams were captained by Marduk gro-Essek and the renowned Dallius Amori. The well-regarded warriors and mages were adorned with the highest quality of arms available. While the prisoners were armed in steel. With the odds against the prisoners and the battle scene painted… The war began at the sound of the horn!
Leading the charge of Dallius' team of warriors through the maze was Dalluis himself. He left two of his warriors to guard the Emperor's House flag and he took the other thirteen remaining warriors and mages with him. The walls quickly divided his men and women up, leaving parties of two or three as they raced for the center.
In a stroke of pure genius tactics, Marduk led his prisoner riffraff to climb the walls of the maze and they ran on the tops towards the center. He left a single woman, Tabithah the Nightblade to guard his Red Dragon Crown flag.
The crowd went wild as Marduk's band of slaves and prisoners leaped across the wall tops. Each was armed only with a sword, and all had discarded their shields in favor of light-footedness.
Marduk's band reached the center first and charged the walls of the opposing team. Once again, they climbed the high walls. Soon it became clear their purpose. By avoiding the maze altogether, they could drop down on the unsuspecting warriors.
The crowd was drunk on blood as Marduk gro-Essek and his group cut down the highly favored warriors. As each splinter group was encountered, a prisoner would call out their numbers. The wall walkers would swarm them and return to the tops of the walls, continuing on.
It was fantastic how quickly they moved, as if from the Empire's own Legion. The wayward men and women hacked and slashed their way through the superior warriors.
Very quickly, Marduk's brave band of nine reached the last wall and two guards. The two were an impressive sight. The clever Altmer Mage Keal Gaeus and the Orsimer berserker, former Legion Tribune Grogan gro-Mor Khazgur.
In the second most impressive move of the battle, Marduk and the Colovian prisoner Inga the Steeled threw the smallest warrior in their party over the heads of the two defenders. The two then jumped into the fray, leaving the young Ahziial to capture the flag.
Ahziial, in an amazing feat of acrobatics, dodged and leaped her to the wall. She scrambled quickly through the fight, seeing an opportunity to gain gold favor. As Inga drove her blade into the Keal, she lifted the Altmer high. Ahziial bounded from the short wall onto his back, leaping onto the high walls, and racing for the center. Ahziial the Lion was cheered as she dropped to the center of the Arena holding her flag high.
Another hour of reprieve was announced, and the battle stage reset. Just like that, the seven remaining prisoners came to the final round of battle.
~ Chapter 3 – The Seven Heroes of the Arena ~
The seven who entered the Beast round of the event, known as the Final Seven Heroes, included:
Marduk gro-Essek, an Orsimer Prisoner
Inga the Steeled, a Colovian Prisoner
Tabithah the Nightblade, a Dunmer Prisoner
Ahziial the Lion, a Nibenean Slave
Tristean Haweyed, a Breton Slave
Peria Feather-Tail, an Argonian Slave
Hecien Entolius, an Imperial Legion Deserter
Each of these brave men and women had fought well and earned much gold for the spectators. As bets were placed, the Seven Heroes were led to the Red Room to refresh themselves for the final battle.
~ Chapter 4 – Beast Wars ~
The Arena was reopened as a cleared battleground. The seven warriors were clad in the armor or weapons of their choosing. Other weapons were scattered in small holds around the Arena. The final battle was set to fight against the beasts of Tamriel in twelve rounds.
As a note – after speaking with the Blademaster, I was assured that the contestants were not told in advance of each round of what they would be facing. That would of course, be unsporting.
At the sound of the battle horn, four boars were released into the ring. The Seven went to work, herding and attacking the boars with a renewed zest. The preliminary round lasted only approximately fifteen minutes for the seven great warriors to dispatch the four boars with only minor injuries.
The second round was trumpeted to begin, and ten Goblin berserkers hastily met the combatants in battle. Inga the Steeled was injured by an axe to the leg and Tristean Haweyed fell in combat with two of the Goblins.
The third round brought brown and black bears to the Arena floor. Drawn by the smell of blood on the remaining Six, the three bears immediately attacked. Inga the Steeled fell to the jaws of the black bear which was killed by Hecien Entolius only moments later.
The battle horn sounded again, and mountain lions entered the ring. Ahziial the Lion was true to her name as she single-handedly killed one of the six lions by choking it to death. Marduk gro-Essek and Tabithah the Nightblade killed three lions themselves, while the last two were cut down by Hecien Entolius and Peria Feather-Tail.
The three Spriggans of round five were burned alive whilst they attacked Hecien Entolius and Marduk gro-Essek. The magical fires of Peria Feather-Tail, Tabithah the Nightblade, and Ahziial the Lion besting them.
In round six the action picked up greatly and the five constants struggled. Hecien Entolius was accidentally crushed to death under the belly of the Ogre as it fell.
Once again in round seven, the magical fires of the remaining three female contestants were required to best two trolls. The round ended too quickly for the cheering crowd.
The Flame Atronach of round eight was the harbinger of death for Peria Feather-Tail. She fought valiantly, truly deserving the title of Hero of the Arena. In a blaze of glory, Peria rushed forward, clutching onto the Atronach and killing it with her frozen touch spells.
Ahziial the Lion was injured in round nine but managed to keep on her feet, by a large Frost Spider. The two other warriors managed to down the beast before she suffered too much damage from its poison.
Round ten was a crowd-pleaser and completely unexpected. At the sound of the battle horn, three men entered the Arena. Each held a red cloth covering a long object. The men were each dressed in simple linen trousers. They walked forward and presented the red cloth swaddled bundle to the last remaining Heroes.
The three Heroes seemed to be confounded as to what to do. Finally, the three men backed away from them… waiting. The three unwrapped their gifts and the gleam of silver took the crowd's breath away. The horn sounded once more, and the three men transformed into Werewolves.
The crowd roared with excitement. I can remember looking at the royal seating area and seeing the emperor on his feet cheering with the crowd.
Each wolf had chosen its intended combatant and squared off. Bets were placed on the first to fall, who would win, and whether or not the three wolves would be killed or victorious. A fair amount of side-betting took place. In the end, all three wolves were dispatched, and our three Heroes were each suffered their own injuries.
The last two rounds didn't fail to please the crowd of fine spectators on that sunny day either.
The first major injury was in round eleven to Marduk gro-Essek. The Centaur was quick with its bow and faster with its hooves. Marduk found out quickly what a hoof kick to the face felt like. In the end, the Centaur was vanquished by a combination of brute strength and breaking its legs.
The final round was against the Minotaur Lord and was indeed fanciful. As the last battle horn sounded, the gate opened to reveal the Minotaur. The crowd at first was silent. Simply watching the three Heroes dodge and fight their way around the great hulking beast.
I watched with surprise as the three Heroes banded together one last time to net the Minotaur and impale it with spears. The Minotaur surely seemed finished, but then ripped off the net and bellowed.
The freighting sound hushed the crowd as the youngest Hero ran and jumped to the Minotaur's back. She drove the Minotaur by its horns into the walls. Ahziial held onto the Minotaur as Tabithah the Nightblade and Marduk gro-Essek worked to finish the animal. For her part, the young slave snapped its mighty horn, stabbing it in the neck with vigor.
~ Chapter 5 – Mortal Combat ~
When it was over, the crowd roared with excitement. Cheers for the Champions were roared into the air. Whilst exalting their accomplishments in the Arena their names were chanted like a mantra.
But there was one surprise yet to unfold that great day.
The crowd quieted as the emperor himself stood, commanding even the eyes of the Champions up to him. The emperor, in all his glory, raised his hands and spoke.
"Today, this Ninth of Sun's Height… is a great day indeed. Today, we have seen greatness from three of the most unlikely of people in the Empire. Standing before you, blanketed in the blood of their advisories are the Champions of the Arena!"
The crowd was wild with joy. Never had such epic battles played out. Never had such tactics been employed.
"But… my dearest friends… there can be only one grand champion! There can be only one true warrior to leave the Arena this day!"
The spectators became fanatics. They were lost in a frenzy of blood lust and the desire to see only one Grand Champion crowned. I looked at the three warriors and was touched deeply.
For the Three Champions, as they shall be called, embraced one last time.
The emperor watched as I did, knowing he was making the most excellent and righteous decision! There could only be one Grand Champion.
The favored of the three was Marduk gro-Essek. His size, and his berserker strength… led many to place gold on him winning.
The Dumner Assassin and Nightblade was also a high pick. Her speed and powerful magic made her near equal in odds for winning against the other two.
The longshot with the worst odds of course was the Nibenean slave, Ahziial the Lion. Though obviously quick on her feet, she didn't command the magical capabilities of the Dumner or the brute strength and size of the Orsimer. She was but a child and the smallest on the battlefield.
After the lots were cast, the final horn sounded.
Alas, brute strength cannot compete with speed. The injuries that Marduk gro-Essek had sustained from previous fights most certainly led to his quick demise. The two lighter and faster women sprang quickly to and fro, their swords picking and slicing at him faster than he could block. In the end, the agile and acrobatic capabilities of the Nibenean slave and the Dumner assassin won. The death blow of the sword through his stomach from the young hands of Ahziial the Lion and the quick strikes leading to it from Tabithah the Nightblade finished him in minutes.
The last two champions faced each other, and the crowd held its breath.
At that moment, the words of two people were exchanged, not knowing which was going to meet certain death.
The hush of the crowd, the calm of the wind, in silence they exchanged their goodbyes. Simple and heartfelt after such a long day of fighting.
The Dumner looked at the crowd and back to the young Lion. "Azura bless you child and guide you always."
Ahziial the Lion raised her sword as a salute and the battle commenced.
The fight was short and sweet. Very traditional in the way it could be described. The two women locked in combat with swords, exchanging blows, until one was finally fatigued, and the Dumner's sword was knocked away. With a battle cry no less frightening than that of Marduk gro-Essek, Ahziial the Lion plunged her blade into the heart of Tabithah the Nightblade.
The crowd was on its feet cheering wildly for the underling of the battle. Beyond impossible odds and the greatest challenges, Ahziial the Lion was emblazoned on the records of the time as the youngest Grand Champion of the Arena to ever have lived.
~ Epilogue ~
To the victor, freedom was granted, paid with blood as decreed by Emperor Titus Mede II. Gold and prestige did not hold as much weight as any of the seven of that I can assure you, dear reader.
But, to the Grand Champion, the highest honor was given. An esteemed position within the Penitus Oculatus was her final prize, as a member of the Emperor's Personal Guard, within the fabled White-Gold Tower. The position was granted by His Eminence himself along with her freedom.
On the 5th of Last Seed in the Fourth Era 200 years, a massive fire broke out in the Undercroft beneath the Bloodworks. No one knows what caused the fire, but dozens of animals, beasts, men, and mer lost their lives in the blaze. The fire caused a collapse of some of the tunnels and to the date of this writing, many of the passages are still blocked or under excavation.
Serana closed the book, looking up at the two women.
"I really hate that book." Azriel sounded exhausted to her own ears. "I know you both have questions, so ask them."
"I knew your name sounded familiar when you told me. But I couldn't remember where I had heard it before." Aela's voice was barely above a whisper.
Serana set the book on the nightstand. "Why did it say you were in the White-Gold Tower as a guard?"
"Marduk once told me that the prisoners always disappeared. They never let us go, I later found out. But they had to make the Empire and the Emperor look good. It's the reason I can't stand the Empire. They lie about everything." Azriel's words were flagrant with her disgust.
"Then why are we helping them?" Aela couldn't help asking the question.
Azriel let out a long breath. Finding the wording for her thoughts was proving to be more difficult than she thought it would be.
"All of my life I have been plagued by nightmares. The Empire is crumbling, and it isn't a secret. It's collapsing faster than the remains of an old building. It's very long and complicated to explain. I don't think I ever could explain my dreams to anyone. But the purpose of the Dominion is to wipe out the races of men. The only chance we have to stand up to them is the Empire. The cession of Skyrim would trigger the collapse of the Empire and the Dominion will march."
Aela shook her head, but Serana held up her hand, motioning for Aela to be patient.
"Azriel, what happened to your back? You said the Thalmor did that to you…"
Azriel cleared her throat again, hating how raw it felt and how raw she felt. "After my victory… and that fucking parade… I was returned to the Undercroft. As I said, my master wasn't pleased that I killed the two members of the Dark Brotherhood and lived through fights where he had lost so much gold."
Azriel coughed and Serana handed her another goblet of wine.
"I was stripped and tortured for weeks. Each night a Priest would come to heal me so I could endure another day." Azriel let out a dark bark of a laugh. "They told me it would end when I screamed. He was a sick fuck. He wanted to know how much a child could take. I was his experiment."
Aela and Serana shared a long look. "He wanted you to scream?" Aela asked delicately.
"I never spoke. They thought I was mute." Azriel paused only long enough to take a sip. "Speaking got you unwanted attention in the Orphanage and I never said a word. I only wanted to disappear. I figured I'd die never speaking, so I didn't bother when I became a slave. Only Marduk and Tabithah knew I could speak, and they told me to remain silent." Azriel adjusted herself on the pillow with help from the two women.
"Anyways, the night of the fire I had been thrown into The Pit. It was a place they threw all the bodies of the prisoners, anyone, not worth mentioning. It was an underground mountain of corpses in various states of decay. Insects and rats would eat the dead." Azriel coughed, the rawness of her throat feeling worse than ever. "A Priest helped me and gave me my amulet of Akatosh. I climbed the bodies of the dead to escape from the pit." Azriel took another drink of her wine.
The two women remained silent with their own thoughts. Neither of them spoke, only occasionally catching the other's eyes in a quick glance.
"You wanted to know about Eamal, Aela?" Azriel finally spoke after several minutes.
"You don't have to say anything else if…" Aela had already regretted her comment about Azriel's past from earlier, a thousand times over.
"No, I want you to know. I can't tell half a story." Azriel's voice was hoarse as she laughed quietly at her own words. "Eamal was a vampire. She found me in a shallow pond someplace North of the Imperial City. I would have drowned or died from the illnesses I had contracted from eating bad rabbit along with everything else. She took me in and took care of me for no reason. She saved my life and taught me a little bit about the world around me."
Azriel cleared her throat again. Her voice was very hoarse. "I spent a few weeks with her. Those things you found, I stitched into my armor to remind me…" Azriel coughed again, this time she fell silent.
"Remind you of what?" Aela prodded gently.
Azriel took a quick drink, fiddling with the goblet. "That anyone is capable of compassion." She took a deep breath to steady her voice. "It reminded me that world wasn't such a lonely place and that I wasn't alone anymore." Serana shivered with Azriel's heartfelt words. Her questions had been answered.