Excerpt from 'Through A Looking Glass Darkly'

 Excerpt from 'Through A Looking Glass Darkly'

They resume the shows within the 'States' before attempting to go across the ocean. The Government still has not said anything or taken any action since her appearance before the 'Appellate Court' in Saint Louis. The building is still sealed off, yet the news is dying down, no doubt to pressure from the Government. 

     The show in Denver is rollicking along, word is the rest of the 'US' dates are sold out and the venues are clamoring for extending Iriisii's appearances. She takes a few seconds to breathe, then walks back out on stage.

     Iriisii: "I have a new song for you tonight, Denver!"

     The noise level in the arena reaches outside and can be heard even in the nearby mountains. 

     Iriisii: "Have you ever really had someone you loved? And then had to send them away from you? You have no idea if you will ever see them again. If perhaps when you do, will they even want to see you, be with you, hold you in their arms?

     I have been there, and this song is what I heard on the winds of my adopted homeland as I gazed at the gates where I let her go through, four years before. You say why did I not find someone else? Why not try and forget in the arms of another? 

     Truth be told I did try. But I could not get her out of my mind. She was always there, no matter what I did, where I went, or who I was with. I went adventuring, like the old heroes of legend did. And found someone along the way. She stayed with me, knowing my history, knowing the memories that burdened me. We never took our relationship to that next level because of those memories. And then I heard one day that someone was looking for me.

     So I did as many would do and went to my favorite tavern to sit, drink, listen to the music, and let fate find me. It did as an old friend sat across from me at the table I had chosen. He greeted me, then slipped me a letter. I have to admit, my hands were shaking as I opened it and read it. 

     It was not from the one I left four years ago, had it been, who knows what my reaction would have been. It was from her mother, trouble had come, and found my first love. Her mother could not help her, only I could do that. So she asked me to come and help her daughter against the trouble that had found her. Now, how was I to go and tell the one waiting for me at home that I needed to go and help the one from my past?

     But that is what I had to do and be able to live with myself. Fortunately, she understood me better than I knew myself. She sent me onward, telling me that if things did not work out, she would be waiting for me. And if they did, then it was not meant to be for us. So as I stood at the top of a pass in the snowy mountains, looking down at the gates as four long years ago, I sent my Rigmor to her home to follow her destiny, and I stayed going back north to my own destiny. But this time I went on south, and as I went down that snow covered track, I heard this song on the winds.

 (Momma, I'm Coming Home)

     As the speakers blast forth the music, Iriisii's voice carries home the lyrics, and scenes from her memories of Rigmor play across the giant video screens. Scenes as she carried Rigmor to Rose's camp in her arms, fought Thalmor as they went into Fort Black in search of Rose, finding instead a little girl locked in a prison cell. As Iriisii ravaged her way through the acolytes within that mine north of Dawnstar to stop the sacrifice of Rigmor on that altar. To watch as Iriisii carries her through the town of Dawnstar holding Rigmor in her arms. To the final tower where she leaves Rigmor sitting on the stone floor to go up and confront Tylar Adriath. And at last, as she leaves her once more to go back to Bruma, alone. As the last of the song fades, Iriisii looks at the crowd, as they silently wait for the rest of the story.

     Iriisii: "Do you want to know what happened after?"

     The crowd makes their desire known with a resounding 'YES'!!

     Iriisii turns to offstage and extends her hand, "then help me welcome..."

     Rigmor in a flowing gown of Elihal's design is caught by the video screens running to Iriisii with tears flowing. She runs straight into her arms and begins a kiss that seems to ignite fires everywhere between other couples in the arena. As the crowd shifts their view from the stage to the video screens, they can see enough of Rigmor's face to know this is not an actress playing a part. This young woman is the very same one they watched in the videos. And the passion, emotion, the fiery heat of this kiss is real. When they slip apart, Iriisii looks back to the crowd.

     Iriisii: "I want you to meet the one I married after what you saw on the screens and a great deal more that happened, this is Rigmor Ragnarsdottir, of the House of Ragnar, High Queen of Cyrodiil, my first mate and mother of our first child. 

     I know what question you have next, but all I can say to that is that the answer is Divine Intervention. Your next question is, do I have more than one mate? The answer is, yes. How can I get away with that? The laws of our homeland allow for it, so long as we can take care of our needs. And whether you count my wealth with gold and gems, or with my mates, I am rich beyond all the dreams of avarice."

     Iriisii looks back at Rigmor and kisses her once again as the crowd roars its approval. Once they are done, Iriisii shouts to the arena, "Good Night, Denver! And may you dream of what your lives could be like if you believe strongly enough."

     The lights come up as Iriisii and Rigmor exit the stage. 

     Rigmor: "Where did you learn to do that? Not at the Bards College back home that is for sure."

     Tricia: "Yeah, I want to know too. If we could bottle and market it, we could make several fortunes!"

     Jean Claude: "Tricia, something like that cannot be bottled like wine. It is something learned by living life, the good and the bad. And then learning how to show others what you learned."

     Iriisii: "Indeed, many of these people will never experience anything like the lives that we have led. In fact, they would likely never survive those experiences, but we can give them a glimpse if only for a fleeting few minutes, and show them what could be."

     Jean Claude looks up at another standing in the shadows, concern on his face. Tricia looks like she wants to start swearing. Iriisii looks and knows who is there. She walks up to him and simply says his name.

     Iriisii: "Asher."