The Claim
A large group was assembling at the entrance to the long bridge connecting City Isle to the rest of Cyrodiil. In the front were five ornately dressed individuals carrying fanfare trumpets. Behind them, were five horses. On the middle horse sat Dragonborn, wearing an ornate dragonbone armor. The armor itself was lined with gold along the rims and was polished so finally that it appeared to glow as it reflected the mid-morning sun.
On either side of the Dragonborn were Lydia and Esbern to his left, with Mjoll and Aldis to his right. Behind the horses a small troupe of soldiers, wearing their new Blades Armor. It took a few minutes to get everyone in line and ready. While they were lining up, Mjoll leaned over and asked, "Where did you get these trumpets and players?"
"I have my connections," Dragonborn replied with a smile. Then, when everyone was lined up and ready, he gave the signal.
The trumpeters played a fanfare befitting a royal entourage and the group started moving forward, across the bridge and into the Imperial city. The noise and commotion attracted a crowd, most of whom wondered what was going on. Though nearly all of them were caught up in the excitement of the music.
The group continued through the city until they reached the Imperial Palace, the White Gold Tower. The trumpeters finished their fanfare with a flourish. Dragonborn dismounted, as did the other four and made their way up the steps to the entrance of the Palace. They were stop by imperial guardsman.
"State your business," one of them ordered.
"I am the last Dragonborn and I have come to stake my claim to the throne of Tamriel."
The guards both nodded. The leader provided instructions. "Your soldiers will remain outside. You are permitted your personal guard only. Do not stray for your assigned route. You will be watched."
"Security cautions will be followed. I believe we are expected. If you will let us pass," Dragonborn replied.
The guards moved aside while Dragonborn and his closest advisors, aka his security detail, moved into the Imperial Palace. Dragonborn made his way to the council chamber under the watchful eye of the Imperial Guard. He was met by Counselor Ocato, grandson of the High Chancellor who oversaw the Oblivion Crisis.
"Welcome Dragonborn, the counsel is assembled to hear your claim."
Dragonborn nodded and then began, his booming voice echoing throughout the chamber. "Centuries ago, the Lore of which forgotten to time, this Empire's first Dragonborn a general by the name of Tiber Septim, united the Empire. He captured the impenetrable Sancre Tor, won over his enemies, and then went on to conquer Tamriel, through might and diplomacy. He established his dynasty, which ruled Tamriel, until the last Dragonborn, Martin Septim, sacrificed his life to save the Empire."
"High Chancellor Ocato courageously took the helm and fought to keep the empire together, until Colovian warlords broke away. One of whom, Titus Mede, captured imperial city and sought to establish his own dynasty, one lacking the dragonblood that kept Tamriel safe for centuries. The Mede dynasty brought Tamriel to the brink of ruin. I, the last Dragonborn stand before you, ready to show proof of my claim, and accept the crown of Emperor, so that Tamriel may be restored to its former glory."
Counselor Ocato looked around the table, then stood. "Dragonborn, claimant to the throne of Tamriel. You have made bold claims, I now ask that you show proof of these claims."
Dragonborn smiled. He was expecting this. He leaned back, pointed his face towards the ceiling and let loose with the dragon tongue. Yol…Toor…SHUL! A stream of fire going all the way to high ceilings lit up the room. All the counselors, even the ones expecting proof, leaned back in fear. One, however, was not impressed.
An Elf by the name of Zeno Mor was not impressed. "You'll have to do more than parlor tricks such as this to impress me," he said.
Dragonborn looked over at Counselor Ocato, who nodded.
"Very well, Counselor…Fus…Ro…DAH! The Zeno Mor flew backwards, tumbling end over end. The Imperial Guards rush forward to detain the Dragonborn, but Counselor Ocato held up his hands and they stopped in place.
"Fellow counselors," Ocato began, "Apologies for what happened to Zeno Mor. I had previously told Dragon Born that some of you may require more tangible proof and I permitted the display you just witnessed. I believe Dragonborn has proven his claim and the only thing bruised is Zeno Mor's ego. I move we accept his claim and allow him to be crowned Emperor of Tamriel."
The council erupted. They discussed the Dragonborn as if he wasn't even there. Most supported his claim, however, some did not. Many questioned this relatively unknown man, coming seemingly out of nowhere. Others questioned the need for an emperor all together. Some counselors feared he would pull out of the White Gold Treaty, while others feared he would uphold it. Some feared he would lead the empire to further decline, while others hoped he would lead it back to prosperity.
Dragonborn had enough. "Mul...Qah…DIIV!" The shout got the attention of the counsel, and when they saw the ghostly form around him, they were in awe. No further proof was needed. He was Dragonborn. The counselors voted unanimously to accept his claim. Most of them were quite pleased. However, two of them, in spite of voting in the affirmative, were not pleased at all.
Coronation Day
The sun was barely over the horizon and the Imperial City was already bustling with activity. Once word got out about crowning a new emperor, the population of the city swelled. Merchants were opening their shoppes early to take advantage of the excitement. Taverns, already booked solid were serving breakfast far earlier than normal. Even the Arena was taking advantage, scheduling matches as soon as the sun rose that were being watched by a packed house. The excitement was tangible in the city.
Inside the Imperial Palace, the exciting was just as palpable. Inside the royal guest chambers, Ocato was schooling the Dragonborn on the pomp and circumstance associated with the ceremony. They had been going at it since well before sunrise and were finally nearing the end of the instruction.
"Finally," Ocato was saying, "we need a name to announce to the people. Some have used their own names, some have taken the names of famous predecessors. How you proceed is up to you."
Dragonborn thought out loud, "Famous predecessors. Tiber Septim would tie in nicely with the Dragonborn, but that seems almost sacrilegious. Uriel was another, but there were too many of them. Pelagius? He was rumored to be mad. Maybe Martin? Yes, Martin Septim II."
"Excellent!" Ocato exclaimed. "Tie in to the dragon and the savior of the Oblivion Crisis. Yes, that will go over nicely. Tying this into history will go over very well with the people and help mood of the empire greatly."
"All we need is High Chancellor Ocato," Dragonborn replied with a smile.
"Oh not hardly." Ocato said. "I'm happy to serve, but there are many more counselors senior to me."
"That may be, but you've shown you can be objective, put the good of the empire before your own personal whims. That is a rare trait on the counsel."
Ocato was taken aback by that last comment. "What are you saying?"
"There is a reason I needed my claim and coronation to be legitimate. It's no secret I could have taken the empire by force, but what the people need is restoration, not more strife. I don't know who I can trust on the counsel, and I am about to take a big risk. I hope it is not my undoing," Dragonborn explained.
"I am loyal to the empire and as you are legitimately being crowned emperor, I am loyal to you, my (soon to be) sovereign." Ocato said.
Dragonborn nodded, smiled slightly and reached his hand into his cloak. When he pulled it out, it was hold a very rare jeweled amulet.
Ocato was taken aback. "This, this is an amulet of the counsel. Please, may I see it?"
Dragonborn handed it over and Ocato examined it closely. "This…this…this can't be…it belongs to Amaund Mottierre. How did you get ahold of this?"
"I've been around Skyrim a long time. I've done a lot of favors for a lot of people. I have connections in every hold. Most of them are quite above board. Some…not so much. This came for a reliable source who also indicated that it was payment to the Dark Brotherhood for the Emperor's Assassination."
"What?! Surely not!"
"I'm afraid so." Dragonborn was very matter of fact. "And now you know the full reason for my quest of legitimacy. I aim to unmask the remaining conspirators."
"But then…" Ocato began before being cut off.
"My life is also in danger. Yes." Dragonborn said ominously.
The Coronation
The crowd was gathered in the heart of Imperial City. Every inch of available standing room was packed. Balconies were lined with spectators. The Imperial Legion was augmenting the Imperial guard to maintain order. The noise from the crown was higher than it had been in years. A coronation by itself is exciting enough, but this was not just any normal coronation. For the first time in centuries, Tamriel would have a dragonblood emperor!
The ceremony was being overseen by a high priest from the Temple of Akatosh. Fitting, given the occasion.
"On behalf of the Eight Divines, Akatosh and all of Tamriel, I bid you welcome, to this, most glorious occasion. Many of you have travelled a great distance to witness history in the making. The restoration of the Dragonblood to the Ruby Throne!"
The crowd went wild. It took a few minutes to quiet them enough so that they could continue with the ceremony.
"Akatosh, we beseech thee, hear our prayer, and those of your servant. Look in high splendor, with serene gaze, upon this, your faithful son, heir to the blood of dragons, master of their thu'um. For far too long, empire has lived without your guidance. We ask you now, for your restoration and for your blessing. We beseech thee, Akatosh, hear our prayer."
In unison, the crown repeated, "Akatosh, hear our prayer."
The High Priest of Akatosh lit a brazier. The Dragonborn reached his hand out over it and the High Priest drew a ceremonial dagger, slicing open his hand. Dragonborn's blood dripped into the flame and the flames jumped.
"Akatosh, approves!" The High Priest said.
The other High Priests lit their braziers in turn, each one burned brightly. The High Priests each announced their Divine's approval.
Ocato and The Imperial Battlemage carried an ornate pillow, which held the ceremonial crown of the emperor. They carried it to the front and the High Priest of Akatosh took it. He stood behind the Dragonborn, placed the crown on his head and said, "By the approval of Akatosh and the Eight, I hereby crown thee, Martin Septim II, Emperor of Tamriel!"
Again, the crown went wild. It was some time before newly crowned Martin Septim was able to speak, but finally, the crowd quieted and he began his speech.
"I pray Akatosh gives me the strength, Julianos the wisdom and Mara the compassion to serve Tamriel and to restore this land to the greatness and richness that it deserves. I am blessed to be honored by the Eight Divines, but there is one Divine who has blessed me above all. A Divine who was touched by Akatosh himself. A Divine who rose and was accepted by the Eight. Worshipped for centuries by the people of Tamriel, mere mention of him has been outlawed by the previous emperor, may Akatosh guide him."
The excitement was building. Many in the crowd had hoped, with the dragonblood being restored to the throne their Divine would be restore, others were trepidatious, fearing it could lead to war. A few were downright offended, choosing to belief in the Arcturian Heresy rather than in the true Divines. Martin Septim II, didn't care for any of their opinions. Having been crowned emperor, he was going to do what he deemed was right and true for all Tamriel.
"With the dragonblood restored to the Ruby Throne, it is only right we honor the one Divine who united all of Tamriel before rising up and taking his place amoung the Eight. Today, as my first act as Emperor, I declare that Talos is one of the Nine Divines, free to be worshipped by all who choose to do so. I also declare that Esbern, will be High Priest of Talos. May Talos guide us and bless us alongside the other Divines as one of the Nine!"
The crowd erupted once more and started chanting, LONG LIVE EMPEROR MARTIN SEMPTIM! LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR! LONG LIVE EMPEROR MARTIN SEPTIM! LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR!
The cheering and the chanting rose to such a fevered pitch that Emperor Martin Septim II was unable to finish his prepared remarks. None of the officials standing alongside him minded. It was good to see the population in such good spirits again, and the population was in good spirits. They were looking forward to a new era, an era of prosperity not seen since the previous Septim Dynasty.
Diplomatic Maneuvering
The only thing that was more boisterous than the coronation was the Coronation Ball held in the evening. It turned into a party that lasted into the wee hours of the morning. Martin, as the dragonborn was now called, enjoyed every moment of it, and he was paying for it now. A quick restoration spell helped fend of the worst of it. Now that he was officially crowned emperor he had work to do.
Diplomacy was first on the list. If he was going to restore the empire, he needed allies. He believed that some provinces would come into the fold through diplomacy, but had no illusions about others. Some would need to be conquered again. Still, diplomacy was the first step regardless of which path was necessary. His first meeting was with the Thalmor Ambassador. The Thalmor were not pleased and planned on lodging a protest, for all the good it would do. Martin was ready for them though.
Martin and his advisors were still getting settled in, so there were not yet any offices or meeting rooms for them. Martin chose an ornate hall on one of the middle levels to conduct his business for now. There was a long table, with ornate chairs going down either side. Columns lined the room and a long purple rug, with gold lining ran the length of the room.
Martin was sitting at a random chair when the Thalmor Ambassador was announced. Martin rose in greeting. "Ahh, Mr. Zenl, welcome!" Martin said with more enthusiasm then he felt.
Zenl bowed his head and gave a curt, but polite reply. Martin motioned to a chair next to his and Mr. Zenl sat. "Forgive me, Emperor Semptim, but this is a little less formal than I am used to," he said.
"My apologies, Mr. Ambassador. My advisors and I are still getting settled in. I pray this will not make you uncomfortable?" The Emperor replied.
"Not at all. If I may begin?"
Martin nodded.
Zenl began his prepared remarks. "Most High Emperor, the Thalmor are pleased to welcome and congratulate you on your coronation. We look forward to a peaceful and prosperous relationship with the empire. A relation to be continued from your predecessor. It is our hope that you will continue to honor the White Gold Concordat and continue the peace between our two peoples. With that in mind, there is a small concern that I hope you will permit me to address. During your coronation, you announced that Talos was one of the Nine Divines. You may not be aware, but worship of Talos was outlawed, in line with the treaty between our two people."
"Hmmm…would you be referring to the treaty that the Thalmor violated when they invaded Skyrim?" Martin asked.
That caught the Thalmor Ambassador off guard. "Invaded is a rather strong word."
"I see. What would you call it then, when Thalmor troops attack an Imperial Legion Company? Word is that the only reason the Imperial Legion survived is because a Dragon intervened and just happened to like Thalmor more than Imperial Soldiers."
"Emperor Septim, you are new to diplomacy, so I will forgive your bluntness, but I urge you to consider your words carefully. The Imperial Legion were no match for the Thalmor in the Great War, and by your own admission, it took the intervention of a dragon to defeat them in Skyrim. Consider the impact your words would have on the fragile peace between us."
"You talk of peace, but you now threaten war? Are the Thalmor gearing up for war with the Emprire now? You admit to the invasion of Skyrim, was that a prelude to a full scale invasion of the Empire?"
Once again, the Thalmor Ambassador was caught off guard. "What? Certainly not. The Aldmeri Dominion have no desire for war. We seek to exist peacefully, we simply request you honor the treaty signed by your predessor."
"And the invasion of Skyrim? Sure that act destroyed the treaty?" Martin countered.
"That was no invasion, it was merely a…misunderstanding. One I hope you will overlook in the interest of peace," The Ambassador claimed.
"Interesting. Very well. Kindly extend an invitation to your leaders to visit Imperial City, so we may clear up any and all misunderstandings."
"And what about Talos?" the Ambassador persisted.
"I will gladly discuss Talos with your leaders while we work towards clearing up your 'misunderstanding,' in the interest of peace of course. Please head to your home and extend my warmest invitation."
The Ambassador was clearly disappointed. He rose, gave a curt nod and exited the room.
Once the Thalmor Ambassador had left, Martin turned to Lydia and his Imperial Battlemage, Lornus Corelius. "So, what do you think?"
Lornus answered. "My lord, I fear the Thalmor will not be willing to adjust the terms of the treaty. They will deny the Battle of Skyhaven Temple, or worse, twist it in order to blame the Empire. I fear mere mention of modifying the treaty may lead to war."
The Emperor nodded thoughtfully. "Very well. Assemble the Generals of the Legion. If talks fail and the Thalmor aim to start a war, we must be ready and not let history repeat itself."
Lornus bowed his head and left. Martin may have been imagining things, but the Battlemage seemed to walk with a purprose…more so than usual. Martin hoped to avoid war with the Thalmor, but if that was what they wanted then he, and the Empire, would be ready.
Author Note: I'm taking a few liberties at this point, but trying to stay true to the Elder Scrolls Lore. If you notice anything amiss, or if there is something you disagree with, please feel free to message me. Constructive Criticism is always welcome.
On that note, I am still looking for a beta reader for this story. If you are interested, please message me. Thanks!