Fate and Titus Meade II

      Fate and Titus Meade II

     The ship creaks and moans, protesting as it shifts with the shifting waters of the bay around Solitude. The Kateriah, sits silent as a ghost, her crew dead, only one passenger still alive, and he maybe not for too much longer. The Dark Brotherhood has sent their best assassin, one who has risen up the ranks like a lightning bolt. What drove this person to accept the invitation and test the Dark Brotherhood gave to her. Does she even truly know what part she is to play in this ongoing drama?

     The assassin slowly turns the handle of the door to the Emperor's quarters. Silently she slips in to see him gazing out over the water, even as he speaks to her.

     Titus Meade II: "Please come in, I have been expecting you. It seems we have business with each other."

     The assassin pads forward but says nothing.

     Titus Meade II: "I know, how can he be so calm about what is to happen? Truth be told I have known of it for some time. I told my Captain of the Guard that he could not stop you if you were determined to do this. You see, I have had visions of this meeting, and so I look upon you as an old friend."

     Assassin: "Then why come here?"

     Titus Meade II: "Because I know what is at stake, I know that my death is the only way to save the Empire. It has been my burden to know the mistakes I made, not just made but had to make, to bring us to this point, to this meeting. I have no preconceptions of what history will say about me, it is enough for me to know that the Empire and Nirn will survive through my death."

     The assassin sheaths her dagger and settles to listen to what he has to say. Never has she experienced such, but then it is not everyday you must kill an Emperor.

     Titus Meade II: "You are not at all what I expected. You are not the cold, calloused killer I thought they would send. I would ask, would you tell me your name? I feel as if I know you so well already, we might as well be on a first name basis."

     Assassin: "My name is Iriisii, once called Darkstar, but I answer to that name no more."

     Titus Meade II: "Darkstar, I have heard whispers of that name for some time, but I respect your wish to lay that name to rest. Iriisii then, a pleasure to know you at last."

     Iriisii: "How could you know of me?"

     Titus Meade II: "Those who sent me their dreams, told me much through them. Even so, I have said nothing to anyone else of what I was shown. A small price to pay for the knowledge I was given. It was you was it not, who defeated the New World Order's army in Skyrim, while I took care of their Southern Army in Cyrodiil?"

     Iriisii: "Not alone, but yes, it was me."

     Titus Meade II: "What was it they called you, Guardian General, was it not? A very apt title for what you accomplished. I do want to thank you for convincing Rigmor to come back to Cyrodiil and accept becoming Countess of Bruma. It had to be a very difficult decision."

     Iriisii: "More than you could know."

     Titus Meade II: "Of that I am certain, even Lord Blackwell respects her and his respect is a very difficult thing to earn. I know the question on your mind right now, 'Why tell me all of this?' Because I want to impress upon you that I know what will happen, moreover why it has to happen, and I have made my peace with it. Akatosh must be very proud of you indeed for all that you have accomplished. I have no misconceptions that he does not have a hand in this right now. And I know that you are the last hope for my Empire to survive.

     No, more than just survive. If you will kill me and move forward, events will take place to guide you along your destiny. One stop along the way will be the Ruby Throne. You will be the only one capable of rebuilding it, making it stronger, better than even what it was when Alessia founded it. I think even she would be proud of you for what you will do."

     Iriisii hangs her head, tears falling to the deck boards.

     Titus Meade II: "You truly are a most unusual person. You stand before me, my life in your hands and you can shed tears over what you feel you must do. You honor me."

     Iriisii: "I feel the innocence in you, you wanted to do so many things different, but you cared more for the future of Tamriel and its people than you felt for how history would judge you for the actions you took. I once had to take innocent lives, it almost destroyed me, and yet it also freed me from a most insidious prison."

     Titus Meade II: "And so your new life began. And sorry to say we have had to meet under these circumstances."

     Iriisii: "I...I do not know if I can take another innocent life."

     Titus Meade II: "But you must, my dear, so very much rides on what you do this day. You can begin to turn Nirn into the greatest garden of paradise to ever exist, or let it slip into darkness as the undead claim it for their own. I have made my choice in this, and now you must make yours. I have nothing but the utmost respect for you, what you have accomplished, what you will one day accomplish, and where your feet will take you on your journey into the future. But if you will, would you do one last thing for me?"

     Iriisii: "Anything! Just ask."

     Titus Meade II: "Thank you for hearing me out. Something like assassinating an Emperor does not happen without someone setting it into motion. It would grieve me to think that the one who did this should profit by it. So when the deed is done, and you collect your fee, would you see that the one who paid for this is repaid in kind?"

     Iriisii: "As you will it, so shall it be."

     Titus Meade II: "Thank you, and I appreciate the thought you give 'her' words. It must have been an intense experience fighting her champions to learn where Rigmor was herself to be killed. I thank you for saving her life, now on to business."

     Titus Meade II rises from his chair and moves to look out over the bay once more, at peace with himself and what must happen. Iriisii quietly walks to him and using all the skill she can muster, gives him as painless and quick a death as she can. As he drops to the deck, she lays him out in a respectful pose, prays over his body, asking Arkay to claim his soul. Then leans over him and gently places a kiss and several tears on his forehead, before standing and leaving the Kateriah to return to the Dark Brotherhood.