"…If you can head them off all the better." Tullius finished blissfully unaware of what had occurred.

"Very well. We have much ground to cover before going to battle." Larren gave one last glance to Azriel. "Until we meet again, Dragonborn."

He led his men through the doors and the entire room relaxed.

Tullius looked back down at the map, thinking. He looked up at Azriel, his thoughts traveling the young Dragonborn as she watched him emotionlessly. He needed her on his side. That much was certain. He had given long consideration to how he was going to achieve gaining her to his cause once and for all. He needed to set his plan in motion. "So, will you finally join us?" He let his eyes focus on Azriel. "We could use your help there too."

Azriel let out a snort of laughter. "There isn't a chance in Oblivion that I will ever join the Legion while that coward sits on the Throne of Tamriel."

Tullius bit his tongue. Just what I thought her answer would be… she never makes things easy.

Elisif closed her eyes waiting for the explosion.

Tullius turned his back and started to pace. "Legate Rikke, will you deliver the dispatches to the Tribune for dissemination. I want you to personally see those cut throats to the gates as well."

Legate Rikke saluted and disappeared through doors. She had no desire to watch the two fight again.

Tullius stopped pacing and let his head hang, his back was still to Azriel. "This must never leave this room. Do I have everyone's word?"

Everyone gave their agreement.

"Dragonborn, I have given a lot of thought as too why you never join our cause. For millennia, the Empire was ruled by Dragonborn Emperors and Empresses. Each meeting their own end as the Gods saw fit."

He paused to think. "I was present when the Elder Scroll of the Dragon was read for the Emperor twenty years ago. I remember his reaction when he was told that another Dragonborn was destined to appear."

Azriel remained silent as did everyone else.

"I was in the Great War… I saw how Titus Mede failed the Empire he is sworn to protect and lead. The loss of Hammerfell to the Dominion was a huge blow. It was Skyrim and the Nords that saved us from the crushing defeat Dominion was ready to hand us. It will be Skyrim that decides our fate again. It's why I took this post."

Tullius turned around to look at her. "You are Dragonborn…" He stepped closer to the table. "Twice in my life I heard the call for the Dovahkiin. Both times they called you, Dragonborn, blessed by the Gods themselves. It is your Divine right to rule all of Tamriel..." For a moment the two looked at each other. "It doesn't escape me what you are and your destiny. I've heard watching you fight is inspiring. Men follow natural leaders, Dragonborn. You were born to lead, yet you refuse. Why?"

"The Empire is crumbling, Tullius. It's been crumbling since the last Dragonborn died to protect it." Azriel replied mildly. "I never had it in my heart to help Ulfric. I've seen what he does to 'his people'. I've also seen what Titus Mede doesn't do for his. Neither commands my respect… I will not fight for either. I've thought I had made that perfectly clear."

"I know the empire is faltering! Skyrim needs a leader! The Empire needs…" What he was about to propose was treason and he knew it. Tullius gripped the table top in front of him. "They need you and the Empire needs you more."

"Elisif has been Jarl for four years and shared the Throne with High King Torygg for ten. You have done nothing but disrespect her. Of all the Jarls, she is the only one I have faith in as High Queen of Skyrim. Your Empire squanders its chances by pushing her aside. She is their leader, not I."

Tullius stared at Azriel. "I am trying to win this war! The Dominion places spies among us as Emissaries, they take people on a whim. I'm not blind. I see their desires as plain as I can see the sun in the sky!"

"Then stop fighting Elisif!" Azriel growled, leaning forward. "Let her rule her people. The Empire will fall to dust without Skyrim. She can lead them!"

Tullius rubbed his hands on his face out of frustration. "You're missing my point…"

Aela looked at the quiet Jarl and back at Azriel. Is she insane? The woman doesn't have a bone in her body! "Azriel… he's right. I have no love for his Empire either, but you were born to lead. Kodlak saw that in you as do I, Harbinger."

Azriel turned and looked at the pair. She let a wolfish grin cross her face and smiled at them. "I will not swear allegiance to an Emperor I passionately hate. I will not swear allegiance to any mortal. You swear your allegiance to me, Tullius. I am the Dragonborn and I will lead, only if you…" Azriel stopped.

Aela and Serana had heard the person running down the hallway as well.

The sudden banging on the door, made Elisif jump.

Before anyone had time to move, Elisif's court mage Sybille ripped open the door. She opened her mouth and looked right at Azriel. "They're coming! I tried to stall them… but somehow they knew."

"Who is coming, Sybille?" Elisif made her way around the table.

Sybille didn't shift her frightened look from Azriel. "The Emissary. She's coming for you, Azriel!"

Elisif slammed the door shut.

"Leave it." Azriel said calmly watching her fumble with the lock. "You already know why they're here, Elisif."

"What have you done this time?" Tullius sounded exasperated and it made Azriel's smile widen.

Azriel looked behind her at her companions. "Remember, do nothing."

Aela and Serana could feel the ambience that shrouded Azriel growing thunderously. The voracity of their own feelings drew them both closer to her made them wonder what she was planning.

Sybille looked behind Azriel, her eyes growing wide with fear as they landed on Serana.

Serana lifted her hooded face to the woman and held her finger to her lips, quieting her worry.

Boots marched down the hallway and came to a stop at their door. "Open up!"

Everyone in the room was looking at Azriel. "Well? Open it. We don't want to keep the Ambassador waiting."

Elisif opened her mouth and Azriel shook her head at her.

Tullius walked to the door, opening it himself. "General Tullius, we understand Azriel the Dragonborn is in a meeting with you and Jarl Elisif. Under the White-Gold Concordat, she is a suspected worshiper of Talos. Let us in."

Tullius pulled open the door and looked at Azriel. Aela watched the confused look on his face mingle with fury at the interruption.

Azriel smiled at him and motioned for him to open the door.

Aela and Serana drew closer to the center of the room as the Thalmor soldiers swept inside.

As the last of the Thalmor entered the room, Elenwen closed the door behind them. She turned facing the room with a sneer directed at Azriel. "So, girl. It seems as if this time, not even the good General can save your mangy hide. I knew eventually the truth about you would come out."

The Thalmor soldiers surrounded Azriel, crowding out Aela and Serana.

Azriel shot them a look of warning to do nothing.

Aela glanced at Azriel's hand as she signed for them to stay back. She found Serana's hand and gently pulled her back.

Elenwen let an amulet of Talos dangle from her fingers as she held her hand high. "Recognize this?"

Azriel smirked. "It's an amulet of the God Talos."

Elenwen's face contorted with rage. "Blasphemer, Talos is not a God!"

"The shrines and amulets work, so I beg to differ." Azriel goaded her. "Though, I must say, it surprises me you'd have one. I thought the Dominion snubbed its nose at Dragonborns, especially ones that are Divines."

Elenwen let herself relax a little. She reminded herself that she was completely in control of the situation and Azriel was outnumbered. "It's all fun and games for you, isn't it, girl?"

"I suppose this is where you tell your guards to arrest me and spend the better part of the time boring me to death by talking." Azriel made sure to sound as uninterested as possible. "Oops. Too late, I'm already bored."

"When I have so much planned to entertain us with? It will be anything but boring, I can readily assure you." Elenwen laughed wickedly, thoroughly please with herself.

Azriel could feel Aela and Serana tensing behind her, readying for a fight. Their hatred of the woman in front of her was unanimous with her own.

"Ambassador, arresting the Dragonborn will hand Ulfric Stormcloak a victory." Elisif was blushing again, but Aela noted a quiet restraint to her voice. She already knew this was coming…

"Jarl Elisif, I could honestly care less for your opinion. Guards!" On her order the guards grabbed Elisif and pulled her next to Azriel.

"What is the meaning of this?" Elisif was furious as they pushed her toward Azriel. She stumbled slightly and Azriel caught her.

The air was rapidly growing colder around them, but Elenwen paid it no mind. "You also are suspected of worshiping Talos, Elisif. General Tullius, would you be kind enough to find a suitable replacement for her? Perhaps another worthless Nord to fill her puppet position..."

Aela growled low in warning under her breath, exhaling steam. She could feel Azriel's fury and Serana's wrath building. Her wolf howled in warning. Azriel's wolf answered, biting back at it in restraint.

"First Emissary, you cannot arrest a Jarl for the worship of Talos without proof. That necklace in your hand proves nothing." Tullius tried to keep his voice calm, but everything was rapidly spiraling out of his control.

"Especially, a necklace you stole." Azriel added forcefully.

Elenwen's laughter was like glass breaking to everyone's ears. "Stole? And from whom did I steal?"

Azriel glanced at Theron. "The boy you left for dead in my home when you took my housecarl Jordis."

Elisif stole a quick glance at Azriel. She had known this was coming, but Azriel unusually calm disposition was off-putting. Her own anger fueled the ever deepening blush in her cheeks.

Azriel pulled a chair next to her. "Jarl Elisif, you're not looking well. Would you enjoy sitting, you look so flush."

Elisif looked back at her. This is a ploy… it has to be.

Aela watched the exchange between the two as Elisif caught Azriel's look and slipped into the chair. She's getting the Jarl out of the way…

"Thank you…" Elisif forced herself to answer weakly..

"How very touching." She looked at Theron and one of the guards pulled him in the center. Elenwen scowled at him. "Boy, what say you? Is this your amulet?"

Azriel looked at Theron and gave a small nod.

Theron watched Azriel carefully as he spoke. "It's mine."

Azriel smiled widely at his admission.

"Well then, the boy will be coming with us now won't he?" Elenwen smiled triumphantly watching Azriel smile grow larger.

"The boy is a child and protected under the law of the Empire. As an orphan, he cannot be held. Since he admitted it was his necklace, it seems both the Jarl and myself are not accompanying you anywhere, Elf."

Elenwen glowered at Azriel. The scowl she wore was accentuated by the anger in her eyes. "To the Void with that… you'll all be held for questioning."

Serana smirked under her hood. She could feel the weight of the room pressing in on them, pushing the Thalmor. Unconsciously, they moved closer to Azriel. Their closing circle now only contained Azriel and the other vampire. The Jarl and Theron were outside of the group. Azriel is going somewhere with all this…

Azriel wore a wicked grin. "Sybille, I believe the Jarl is not feeling well. Would you mind…"

Sybille moved quickly to join the Jarl. She positioned herself behind the woman's chair protectively.

"She's not going anywhere except with us, girl." Elenwen countered furiously watching the mage move.

"And where do you think you'll be taking us?" Azriel asked defiantly. "To a torture room to whip a confession out of us like you did with Jordis?"

Elenwen tried to ignore her outburst, but she relished the idea of scaring Azriel. "Why the Embassy of course." Elenwen's dry retort was filled malignance. "It will give us a chance… to get to know one another better."

"Hmmm. That's going to be a problem for you, your Firstness."

Aela grinned at Azriel cheek. She glanced at Serana who was already ready to strike.

"Whatever would be the problem? Too far of a walk for you, girl?" Elenwen's assuredness was absolute and radiated in her tone.

"Well, the problem is… I might have leveled it last night when I went to go find my housecarl."

The entire room went silent.

Aela blinked. You did what?

Aela exchanged a look with Serana.

Azriel twiddled her thumbs, waiting for a reaction.

Elenwen laughed. "That's not possible."

"I had a little help."

Elenwen's laughter died in her throat with a choke.

This time it was Tullius that spoke. "You destroyed the Thalmor Embassy?"

"I did. I was a little… angry. The state I found my housecarl in… well let's just say the fifty or so men and women that your Embassy held didn't make it out alive. In fact, most of them I fed to the dragons that accompanied me. It was satisfying to watch them as they chewed. Though, I do remember one making a comment on how bland your men tasted."

Azriel's wicked grin drained the color from Elisif's face. Elisif sank into her chair farther.

Tullius gawked at her, shaking.

"If I were to let you walk out that door, you would find the smoking remnants of glass and charcoal. But, see that's just not going to happen. You're never going to leave here alive, Ambassador." Azriel voice was far to calm and Aela wondered what she had planned. "And neither will your men."

Aela chuckled quietly behind the Thalmor Justiciar standing in front of her, he had wet himself.

Elenwen recoiled like a snake. She looked around the room for the first time taking it in. Twenty of her personal guard stood in stilled incredulity, waiting on her. Each had returned her gaze with terror.

Azriel sneered at her. "After finding my housecarl beaten almost to death, I realized something last night. Care for me to share?"

Elenwen looked at her, the face of a woman in control, no longer present as ice grew on the walls.

Serana licked her lips. This is going to be good...

"You're out numbered and out classed, little girl. What makes you think you stand a chance…"

"I bested fifty of your men and women, Elf." Azriel narrowed her eyes which were already beginning to glow. She reached into her bag pulling a dossier filled with papers and threw it on the table. "Zu'u Dovahkiin, Zu'u yin hi wah helt zey."

The room grew darker, absorbing the light that the torches provided.

Serana let a dark fanged smile appear on her face. She could feel what was coming and savored it. She enjoyed the power Azriel possessed, feeling the changes in her, knowing the dragon was about to strike.

Elenwen's stared at the book as did Tullius.

"Guards…" Elenwen could barely choke out the word.

"TIID KLO UI!"

Azriel turned to look at the twenty Mer that surrounded her. They had walked directly into her trap and their smugness sealed their fate.

The dragon roared within her as Azriel drew her swords.

Aela blinked and Azriel stood in front of them, covered in blood. She was holding a Justiciar out for Serana. The woman was bloody and unconscious. Serana pulled her close and Aela couldn't help the small growl as the vampire sunk her fangs into the woman's skin.

Elisif shrieked as she realized what happened around her. Her mage gripped her from behind calming her with hushed tones and lifting her effortlessly from her chair.

Tullius eyes bulged from his head as he surveyed the room filled with headless corpses. When he looked back up he watched helpless as Serana crushed the Altmer to her, drinking from the woman. "A Vampire… here?" His words fell from his lips as the grating sound of metal being drawn filled the oppressive room.

"Hold your sword, Tullius!" Aela growled at him. "She is our sister. You'll do best to stay your ground."

Tullius let the sword slip back into his scabbard.

Azriel moved quickly, catching Elenwen before she reached the door. She slammed the woman's body into the table and transferred her grip to her throat. "I told you already… you're not going to leave here alive." Azriel's snarl tore from her throat as she crushed the woman's air way. "Before you die, you miserable wench. I'm going to tell you a little story."

Shadows played on the dim walls of the room.

Elenwen struggled, clawing at Azriel's hand. Azriel let out a dark cluck of disapproval. She pinned the woman's wrist down with one hand and punched her in her face with the other. She pulled Elenwen's hands together above her head and pulled her dagger from her belt. "This is going to hurt."

She thrust the dagger into Elenwen's palms, pinning her to the table. Elenwen screamed and Azriel gagged her with her hand. "You deserve so much more… but I want you to know something before I kill you. Listen closely… all of you. Because, I'll never repeat this again."

Azriel leaned closer to Elenwen.

Serana dropped the drained body of the Justiciar and focused her attention on Azriel with the rest of the occupants of the room.

Azriel was keenly aware of all the eyes in the room on her. "I am Ahziial… once a slave to the former Emissary to Cyrodiil, Kalallon. I am the Grand Champion of the Arena and Dragonborn. I was the one to kill him and destroy the Arena after years of imprisonment there."

Tullius took a ragged breath, trying to free his voice from the confines of his throat.

"You, First Emissary Elenwen, deserve so much more pain than what I am going to bring you." Azriel hissed every word with calculated venom as Elenwen's eyes protruded from her head. "I hate everything about you and I have run my course with this. I tire of your games and of the Dominion's goals of conquest and annihilation. I know of your Dominion's plans… and I want you to know I will stop them. The races of men will thrive and the Towers will stand. I will march my army to your Dominion's doorstep and pull the walls of your cities down. Your race will never achieve the godhood that it seeks. You will never see Aetherius, Elenwen, because I will usher your soul to the darkness. I will enjoy the suffering you find there."

Aela shivered at the dread she felt. The coldness that filled the room held a sinister obscurity. As if the light of the room had been drawn into the frigidness itself, the room was almost pitch black. She watched as Azriel leaned forward and pulled her hand free of the cowering woman's face.

Their lips almost touching, Azriel whispered to her one last time. "To the Dread Father… I commend your soul and may the Nine watch as I deliver it."

Aela shivered at Azriel's deadly words, she had no idea that Azriel had worshiped Sithis.

"Slen nev viiz." The words floated from Azriel's lips as a chilling song.

Aela glanced at the vampire next to her, watching her eyes grow wider, she looked back at Elenwen.

The woman's face contorted with pain and began to shrivel. The moisture rapidly left her body in a tangible vapor just above her. Her exposed skin, wrinkling with each passing second. The withering of her flesh brought the overpowering stench of decay as Elenwen desiccated. It was obvious she was trying to scream as her mouth opened and closed repeatedly. But, the only sound that came from Elenwen was a slight crackle of her bones breaking apart.

No one in the room moved or even breathed as they watched.

Aela lifted her eyes to the unlit face of the Dragonborn. She was sneering at the dying woman's pain, enjoying it with a satisfaction Aela had never seen. For a moment her form almost flickered. For a blink, Aela swore she saw a black dragon standing in Azriel's place.

Aela looked back at the Thalmor. She could barely tear her eyes from the emaciated woman on the table. She looked to the vampire on her right, watching as Serana licked her lips. The anticipation was written on her covetous face and Aela glanced around the room.

Shadows frolicked in the darkness of the room, dimensional with shape and tangible. The overwhelming foreboding pressed in on each of the people in the room, crushing them in a weighted blackness that sucked away their hope. The shades hovered around Azriel and Elenwen, pacing and changing. Theron clung to the chair in terror as he watched what was left of Elenwen feebly move. The shriveling remains twitched as the room watched the macabre display. Elisif face was cradled by her vampire mage. The woman had an odd peace to her. It was as if she had accepted what was happening. The vampire that hovered over her was obscured from view by her hood. Tullius stared down at the table as Elewen subdued. He neither moved nor blinked. He simply stared at what remained of the husk that was once a proud Dominion Agent.

For several minutes after Elenwen stopped moving, no one made a sound or tried to move.

Azriel reach forward and pulled her dagger free of the woman's palms and table. Elenwen's body crumbled to dust.

"If I what… Dragonborn?" Tullius found his voice, but his eyes didn't leave the dust pile that lingered on his map.

"My true name, never leaves this room." Azriel watched him carefully as he nodded to her.

"You said I needed to do something to gain your aid, Azriel." His voice was barely a whisper.

"I meant every word of what I said to her, Tullius. You swear your allegiance to me, joor. I am Dragonborn. The Mede Dynasty will end when the Emperor dies. He has no legitimate heir. When he does, I will return to Cyrodiil to claim the throne as Dragonborn. I will lead the Empire as Empress of Tamriel."

It took every bit of his willpower to pull his eyes from Elenwen's ashes to look at her face. He found his looked returned by her detached expression. Her eyes were still glowing.

"It is mine by birthright as the daughter of Akatosh." Azriel statement carried the weight of finality to it.

Tullius found himself riveted in place under her unrelenting stare. Nothing in her expression snared him as the petulant young woman he was used to. Everything about her was ferocious. He felt the fear in himself as he tried to speak. Even her name frightened him. It was ridiculous how he felt. "I need to think…"

"No, Tullius. You need to answer. I will help you win this war. In turn, you will vouch for me under the White-Gold Tower when I make my claim."

Tullius swallowed at looked around the room. His eyes landed on Aela and Serana. "That woman… she ate a Justiciar."

"Serana is only a threat to you if you choose poorly. I will not let anyone leave this room that isn't on my side."

Elisif cleared her throat weakly.

"You have nothing to fear, my Jarl. But, the time is now for you to act. If the General is to continue to serve the failing Empire, I need to know where his true loyalty lies."

"I… I serve the Empire." Tullius knew he was stalling.

"And I am the rightful Empress of Tamriel. You know this. You were the one to point it out." Azriel added impatiently.

Tullius wiped his sweating face. He could feel his hands shaking. "I'll vouch for you. I swear it, Dragonborn."

Azriel let the cold smile reclaim her face. "You chose well. Now… There is much to discuss. And you all need to listen."

Elisif glanced at the headless corpses around her. Everywhere she looked there was blood.

"Azriel, we should move this someplace less bloody." Serana offered gently.

Tullius looked at the dead on the ground. "We could throw them over the cliff through the secret passage."

Elisif let herself out of Sybille's arms. She smoothed down her dress and cleared her throat commanding everyone's attention. "No, General. Sybille, get Falk to have the guards to hang their bodies from the walls and mount their heads to the front gate. Send word to Balgruuf, Idgrod, Siddgeir, and Igmund that Thalmor are to be killed on sight. We are breaking the Concordat and we are fighting for our rights. The Empire needs us, General and we will beat Ulfric Stormcloak at his own game. But, the People of Skyrim will worship who we please and in doing so we will unite the Province, not just for Nords, but for everyone."

Aela let a small grin play on her lips. Maybe she does have a spine after all...

This is it for a short period. So enjoy it.

I've been writing like crazy and I need to do more lore research to plan the next few chapters out. The wait shouldn't be long though. In the mean time, if you have ideas or comments leave me a review or shoot me a pm. I'll get back to you. If you log in as a guest, that's cool too, but I can't respond to you. Thanks for reading and definitely for reviewing. It makes me giddy.

Lastly, if you're jonesing for a good read, I've updated my profile page. I think the six stories I have listed are pretty freaking awesome and a must to read. They are the only stories on here that are currently being updated and have either Aela or Serana in them that are well written (Well, femslash anyway). Oh, and if you find a new one let me know...

Feel free to catch up with me elsewhere as well. Like I said, check out my profile and you can find my other bad habits out.