The Story of Iriisii Dovahkiin- Chapter Five

 Iriisii's Story

                                                                  Chapter Five

     As she walks back into camp, she sees Rose tending to Rigmor. Sitting herself on a stump, she waits for Rose to finish.

     Rose: "You are back! Did you find any treasure?"

     Iriisii: "Sure did! Here is your share." 

     Iriisii hands over 2500 gold pieces to Rose. The sight of her eyes as they take in the staggering amount of gold makes Iriisii feel like she is flying among the clouds.

     Rose: "I do not know how to thank you enough for this. To be honest, I expected to not see you again, but I am so very thankful you came back."

     Rose's face takes on a thoughtful look as something crosses her mind.

     Iriisii: "You do not owe me anything, I did it because I believe you deserve a chance at a new life."

     Rose blushes deeply and makes a decision that is going to have world-shaking ramifications later. She gets up and paces to Iriisii, carefully sits herself in Iriisii's lap, taking a free hand and cupping her face. As she brings herself close to Iriisii's lips she whispers, "This is because I want to do this, no other reason", and gently kisses her. When they break apart, Rose whispers once more, "If you want me tonight, kiss me and show me."

     Iriisii looks deep into Rose's eyes, deep enough for Rose to see the fire raging its way through Iriisii's soul, just as Iriisii places a hand at the back of Rose's head and guides her into a kiss hot enough to make them both start sweating. Iriisii then sweeps Rose into her arms as she stands and takes over to the bedrolls in the tent.

     Later as they both begin falling asleep in each other's arms, Rose's only thought is what did she do to deserve finding Iriisii, and how can she make sure this night never ends for the both of them. Iriisii's thoughts are close to Rose's, but what she wants to know is how can she keep Rose safe as she must go about the Gods' business. For if she can then she will give Rose her heart, freely and without reservation. The last thing she thinks before dropping into sleep is to ask the Gods what they want her to do.

     Before sunrise, Rose is up checking on Rigmor, who is sleeping soundly at the moment. She decides she should check on Rigmor's cuirass, Hedren should have it repaired by now and there are a few more things she needs from the trader. As she gathers what she needs to take, Rigmor begins to stir.

     Rose: "Stay there a bit longer but if you do get up, take it easy. You still need time to heal."

     Rigmor: "You are not leaving me alone are you?"

     Rose: "No, another who helped me bring you here and take care of you is still sleeping. You can wake her if you need anything. I should not be gone for long, just going to Riverwood across the lake and down the road a bit. Just lie back and rest some more."

     Rigmor slips back into sleep and Rose heads across the lake to Hedren's fishing camp. Once there she asks the other fisherman to take the boat back to her camp for the others there to use if they need, she would take the long way back if they do not come looking for her.

     A few hours later, Iriisii is awakened by Rigmor's voice calling out for her. As she rouses herself she cannot help but feel something is not right. As she approaches Rigmor to ask what she needs, she feels that she cannot put her finger on what is wrong and a knot of worry begins to twist and turn inside her.

     Iriisii: "What do you need?"

     Rigmor: "Where is my stuff?!"

     Iriisii: "Your stuff as you call it is safe, your cuirass is in Riverwood being repaired. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

     Rigmor: "No...I am sorry for...my conversational skills are somewhat lacking."

     Iriisii: "It is all right, you have been through a lot. It is understandable. Do you know where Rose is?"

     Rigmor: "Is that what her name is? She said she was going to Riverwood for a few errands."

     Iriisii: "How long ago was that?"

     Rigmor: "A few hours, I woke before she left and she told me to go back to sleep and rest, that she would not be long. Is something wrong?"

     Iriisii: "I do not know for sure, but I should go and see if something has happened."

     Rigmor: "What about me?! I cannot get around much at all. If something happens to you that you do not come back, I will likely die out here!"

     Iriisii: "I will be just fine, but sometimes you must risk everything to do what is right. I could not pass you by at the foot of the tree, whose branches you fell through and hung yourself on, without helping to see you safe. And I cannot sit idly by if Rose may be in trouble."

     Rigmor: "I understand, but please be careful."

     Iriisii smiling, "I will return, I promise you this, and I keep my promises."

     Iriisii raises up from the lean-to sheltering Rigmor and walks to the bank where the boat rests. She notices it is not in the same position where she left it last she used it. Funny how she can take notice of such details without a second's thought. Pushing it from the bank, she jumps in and takes the oars, beginning the rhythmic movements that have before soothed her rambling thoughts, but not this time.

     Walking into Riverwood she sees Hedren working at the blacksmith's forge, a few people are walking the street going about their business. She notices no one she has not seen before as she walks up the steps to speak to Hedren. As he looks up and notices her, his brow furrows.

     Iriisii: "Have you seen or spoken to Rose this morning?"

     Hedren: "She came by, and talked about how she had finally met that 'someone special' she has been dreaming of. I take that to mean you then. She picked up the cuirass earlier this morning and also said she needed to stop by the Riverwood Trader. You haven't seen her then?"

     Iriisii: "No, I have not, what did she say about me?"

     Hedren: "I know that she has been wanting to meet someone who she could settle down with for quite some time now. Occasionally she would go to the small Chapel in Whiterun to pray, but until now there has not been a sign that the Gods even cared. She had a spring in her step I have not seen in her in years, her voice was happy, and there was a sparkling in her eyes.

     Listen, I have seen the Yarl of Falkreath's nephew, Morion, along with a few of his cronies wandering about pestering the women. Maybe he is the reason she is delayed, you should look for him."

     Iriisii: "And if you are her friend why have you not done so anyway?"

     Hedren: "I am not a fighter, I can repair blades but I cannot use one."

     Iriisii: "I understand, not everyone is suited for the warrior's life. There is no shame in living within your limits."

     Hedren: "I begin to see what she sees in you. Very few others see things as you do. But please look for Morion, there have been rumors of him speaking to the Thalmor. And if they have Rose, just find him, please."

     Iriisii: "I will, do not worry. And if the Thalmor has her, I will get her out of their hands, safe and whole, I promise you this. If they harm a hair on her head, what I leave behind will make them think twice before ever doing so again!"

     Hederen shivers at the pure, not malice, but closer to vengeance in her voice as she speaks of the Thalmor, and prays he never finds himself athwart this side of her.

     Iriisii goes in search of Morian. She finds him in the local inn/tavern called 'The Sleeping Giant', sitting at a table swilling ale with his friends. She immediately notices he is wearing Rigmor's cuirass. As she walks toward him, one of his cronies elbows him to look toward Iriisii. The innkeeper seems to know something is going to happen as she moves to head off  Iriisii.

     Innkeeper: "I do not want trouble in my Inn, take it outside."

     Iriisii: "My trouble is not outside, but sitting at that table."

     Innkeeper: "I don't care where he is sitting, inside or out."

     Iriisii hands the Innkeeper a stack of gold coins, "If the damage exceeds that, I will pay more."

     Innkeeper: "It's three against one, what if you don't survive."

     Iriisii: "His buddies are trash and he is not much better. Besides the place will smell better once he is out in the trash heap where he belongs."

     Innkeeper: "You know who he is?"

     Iriisii: "Yes and I do not care. Riverwood is beholden to Whiterun not Falkreath, not your fault if he steps on the wrong toes outside of his uncle's hold", lowering her voice to a whisper, "he gave the one I love to the Thalmor, now he is going to pay, one way or another."

     Innkeeper: "The Thalmor, huh? Give me a moment to get everyone else out and do what you will."

     The Innkeeper starts to go to the patrons and warn them to leave for a while, then returns to Iriisii.

     Innkeeper: "What are you going to do when he is dead? Are you going after the one you love?"

     Iriisii: "Somehow, some way, I will find out where she is, and then every last Thalmor between me and her is going to die."

     Innkeeper: "After you take care of him, come see me. I hear things in this job and I would help you if I can."

     Iriisii nods her head, then turns to confront Morion.

     Morion: "Well, well, what do we have here? I think that if you do not wish to join that skank Rose in a Thalmor dungeon cell you should give me a gift, say a hundred gold?"

     Iriisii notices he is wearing Rigmor's cuirass.

     Iriisii: "Even if I was disposed to do so, I just cannot do it."

     Morion: "Did you hear that boys, she doesn't have the gold. Bet she spent too much drinking the mead last night and couldn't convince the menfolk here to spread her legs for them to earn some of that gold she drank up."

     Delphine listening to the exchange takes a hard look at Iriisii, wondering what is she going to do in the face of such provocation.

     Iriisii: "I am certain you are going to assist me by handing over that cuirass that does not belong to you."

     Morion: "And here I was just getting used to it. I think the price just went to a thousand gold. What do you say to that?"

     Iriisii: "I say that you are not in Falkreath hold anymore but in Whiterun hold."

     Morion: "What does that have to do with anything?"

     Iriisii: "The people here do not have to worry about what happens to your sorry excuse for an ass. If anyone comes asking they will just say they should talk to the Thalmor since you are so cozy with them. They have quite a reputation for burying traitors when they do not need them anymore. Not that I intend to give them the chance."

     Morion tries to yell while drawing his sword, but nothing comes out of his mouth with Iriisii's sword through the middle of his throat. As she pulls it out, he begins to drown in his own blood. And the heads of his cronies fall to the floor just as he collapses.

     Delphine swears she never saw the blade get drawn. It just magically appeared in Morion's throat. As Iriisii turns and hands her a stack of gold coins to pay for the cleanup and disposal of the bodies, Delphine asks.

     Delphine: "Where did you learn to do that?!"

     Iriisii: "I was taught at the Temple of the Ancient Order of the Blade Dancers."

     Delphine: "The 'Blade Dancers'! I thought they were all gone just after the Great War."

     Iriisii: "They are not in Tamriel, but where I am from, they are known even as they do not come out much. That could change though with all that has happened and is likely to happen in the near future."

     Delphine's barkeep asks her what to do with the bodies.

     Iriisii: "About two hours east on horseback you will find about three frost trolls. I am sure they will make short work of the bodies, if you strip them first, they will not be recognizable after a day."

     Delphine: "You heard her, feed them to the frost trolls. They will eat practically anything that won't eat them first."

     Iriisii: "Have you heard where the Thalmor may have taken Rose?"

     Delphine: "They only have one place in the area, somewhere to the south, up in the mountains. I do not know what it is called."

     ‏Iriisii: "That will be enough to get started with."

     Delphine: "If you need any help?"

     Iriisii: "I have it under control, besides there is less risk to the town if none of you are involved. And I am very much capable of tearing that place apart to find Rose."

     Delphine: "I am sure you are capable, but..."

     Iriisii: "The less you know the better for everyone here to be able to deny involvement. Time for me to get started on this."

     Iriisii returns to Rose's campsite to find Rigmor picking flowers. At first, she cannot reconcile someone the Thalmor wants so badly with someone who enjoys picking flowers. But as she watches, she begins to consider that everyone needs something totally different from their normal, in order to find their balance. And she begins to feel the importance of what Rigmor is inadvertently teaching her.

     Iriisii: "What are you doing?"

     Rigmor: "Picking...flowers? I am sorry...I should not be doing this."

     Iriisii: "No, it is perfectly alright."

     Rigmor: "No it is not!"

     Iriisii gently grabs her by the arms to get her attention.

     Iriisii: "Yes...it...is...alright. Just because people feel a Nord warrior should not be picking flowers, does not mean they are right, or know everything there is to know of what it means to be balanced. To be balanced can be far more important to a warrior than so many realize. You may not believe this, but I once read of a very strong, powerful warrior, deadly with a blade in his hands. And yet he enjoyed taking picked flowers and arranging them. He said the 'Art' of doing so helped him balance his life between 'death' and 'life'. When he died, it was not at the end of a blade, but rather looking at a flower arrangement he had just completed for the woman he loved. He made the arrangement and placed it on her grave, to honor her for the years she spent living with him. Ever since then, I have secretly wished I could find someone who could love me like that with that kind of strength."

     Rigmor: "You mean Rose, don't you. Did you...last night, I mean? I would not blame you if you did, she is very beautiful."

     Iriisii: "We shared the night together, but as to whether we will share more is up to the Gods to decide."

     Rigmor: "Why is that?"

     Iriisii: "They have things for me to do for them. As I lay almost asleep, I prayed to them."

     Rigmor: "What did you pray for?"

     Iriisii: "That if I could protect her while I do as they ask of me, that we could live our lives together. Now I am not so certain that I should have asked that."

     Rigmor: "Why?"

     Iriisii: "Morion turned her into the Thalmor. They have taken her to some place of theirs to the south, in the mountains."

     Rigmor: "I know that place! Fort Black! I made a map to it, it is at Angi's camp. If you take us there, we can go get her out."

     Iriisii turns her head, cocking it to the side and upward.

     Iriisii: "Get to the leanto, now! Cover yourself with the furs and do not make a sound whatever you hear. Go! Now!"

     Rigmor startled by the total command in her voice, does as Iriisii asks. Iriisii listens for how many approaches and where they place themselves.

     Iriisii thinks, 'These are minions, the trash they hired as fodder from some decrepit dive. But with enough numbers, even trash can get lucky.'

     The last thing Rigmor sees is Iriisii crouching and blending into the brush and foliage. One second there, the next vanishing into thin air. Iriisii draws a dagger she took from Helgen. The first falls as the blade pierces a back, driving into a liver, before twisting. The pain silences the minion with agony as she slashes the femoral artery in the minion's thigh, bleeding out in seconds.

    She moves to the next closest, driving the dagger up into the back of the neck, sliding up under the skull, and burying itself in the brain. One by one she silently moves toward them, taking each out in a different way, the remainder none the wiser. She saves the assassin for last, even the rawest of the acolytes of the Seven would have no trouble taking these out, their only advantage being numbers, but against Iriisii not much of an advantage.

     Iriisii: "It is ok to come out now."

     Rigmor crawls out and looks around at the bodies scattered about.

     Rigmor: "How many...did you...?"

     Iriisii: "Ten, bunch of trash really. I think you would call them 'wannabes', but soon the dangerous ones will come, these are just to warm things up."

     Rigmor: "Who will be coming?"

     Iriisii: "The Sinister Seven."

     Rigmor: "Never heard of them."

     Iriisii: "You are lucky then, let me tell you a true story about them. Quite a few years ago, the Morag Tong set up an outpost to expand from, near the sea edge among the cliffs of a rather large island nation beyond Akavir. The leader of the 'Seven' called the 'Mother' sent the newest appointed member of the 'Seven' to clear out the outpost, alone.

     The member was to bring back the head of the outpost leader, who was 'second' to the Mute', the Morag Tong's greatest assassin. She scouted the outpost, made her plans, and executed them that night. She took out each and every one of the guards and sentries, then moved inside, killing everyone she came across. Saving the 'second' until the very last, she hit him with a paralyzing dart, then tied him to a torture table.

     When he awoke, she started to set up a warning surprise for the 'Mute' who would know when his 'second' died and would come to investigate. Surprisingly Mephala sensed what was going on and sat down to watch the show. She ultimately had the 'Seven' assassin kill the 'second', disgusted with how easily he had been caught, and allowing all the others to be killed without raising the alarm.

     She was so impressed with the 'Seven' assassin, that Mephala promised if she and any of the Morag Tong, even the 'Mute', crossed paths again, she could kill them without retaliation.

And this 'Seven' assassin was the lowest ranking of the 'Seven', having just passed the trials to move up. And still enslaved to them by the use of Black Lotus pollen."

     Rigmor: "You have got to be kidding me. You are not kidding, are you? Wait! You were that member of the 'Seven'! Just how many of the Morag Tong was there?"

     Iriisii: "Just over a hundred."

     Rigmor is shocked into silence. She knows nothing of the 'Sinister Seven', but the Morag Tong is a different matter and anyone who could face down and kill a hundred of them. And she was the least of the 'Seven' then.

     Rigmor: "What happened then?"

     Iriisii: "Later, I escaped. Maybe I will finish the story sometime, it is not easy to remember even after so long."

     Rigmor sees tears forming in her eyes, and a few begin to make tracks down her face. She goes to Iriisii and draws her into a hug, wrapping her arms around her as Iriisii lays her head, wet with tears on Rigmor's shoulder.

     Rigmor thinks to herself, 'Gods, it had to be bad to cause someone that can do what she just did to be brought to tears by the memory. Now I am not so sure I want to know what happened after.'

     After Iriisii seems to regain control of herself, Rigmor notices a distinct change in her voice.

     Iriisii/Dragon: "You now need to know more of what is coming, for you and her."

     Rigmor: "Who are you to be speaking in her voice?"

     Iriisii/Dragon: "I am her Dragonsoul, I have been a part of her since her second birth."

     Rigmor: "Wait, you said 'second' birth, explain what you mean by that."

     Iriisii/Dragon: "First you need to understand she literally has no memories of much of what she has told you of her past. I and another within have provided you with that information. She traded those memories for escape from her homeland to the oldest of the Aasimar 'Fallen', She whom is called Desidarius. She will be important in the future for you both. But Iriisii has indeed been born twice, first to Aetherial parents here on Nirn and you will learn who later. She was raised until her eighteenth birth year when as a result of a bargain Akatosh made with another Goddess outside of Mundus, one very much more powerful, who needed an Agent to act for her as she is now acting for Akatosh.

     The bargain was simple after Akatosh's plans for Iriisii are done, the other will then take responsibility for her. But in recompense for waiting, she was allowed to begin her own training of Iriisii to be ready when Akatosh releases her. It was she, who took Iriisii when she reached eighteen and regressed her body until she could implant it within another woman to be carried and reborn. This time on the other side of the world. And it was done in such a way as to occur at the same time, in other words, her second conception and birth occurred at the same time as the first. Akatosh took responsibility for merging the timelines once more after the actual birth took place.

     The first Dragonsoul given to her by Akatosh was replaced with me. I am far older and more powerful, my bargain to be used in this manner would allow me to once again experience life if but through the senses of another. And I am to use my power and knowledge to aid Iriisii whenever it is needed. There is more but that will come later as time progresses.

     There is also another who resides within as I do, you will find out her name when the proper time comes. She is to act as a balance to Iriisii, to enable her to rise above being 'Scourge' and begin her climb into the Celestial heights. How far she will go, and subsequently you as well, cannot be determined. The possibilities are nigh infinite in scope, depending on exactly what she endures and learns from the experiences that will come to you both. Try and be patient with her as you travel from here. You both have so much to learn from each other and the rewards will eventually be greater than the travails."

     Rigmor: "I guess it is no use to ask her about any of this if you say she has no memories of it."

     Iriisii/Dragon: "Indeed, that and the Gods have placed a block on what we have given you. If you try to talk to her or anyone of any of it she does not already know of, you will find yourself unable to speak. This was done to protect you and the rest of Nirn from what could happen if she learned too soon. But it was decided that you needed to know so that you could help guide her along the way."

     Rigmor: "I guess I do not have much of a choice then, but what about Iriisii and Rose? What is going to come of them?"

     Iriisii/Dragon: "First you should be concerned about you and her, Rose may or may not reenter the picture, depending on her own decisions. But nothing will happen for quite some time, your own relationship with her will be settled before Rose will ever return."

     Rigmor: "Our relationship? We do not have a relationship. She is in love with Rose, deeply, madly in love with her. And truth be told I do not blame her."

     Iriisii/Dragon: "And if Rose is not in the picture going forward? What do you think then? If the two of you could 'fall in love', would you want that?"

     Rigmor: "I...I...do not know. I do not know if it would be real or manipulation by the Gods. I would not want her if it was not real for us both."

     Iriisii/Dragon: "It can be real for the both of you. The timeline exists for that even as the Gods watch closely to see what choices you make. She would need to grieve for the loss of Rose, only then could she rise from that and see other possibilities. But know this, she does need you, even if she cannot see it yet, and that 'need' will also draw you to her. And for the record books, Rose knows nothing of any of this. If it was not for what the Gods need her for, she would have been happy to spend her life with Rose. But the Gods, the people of Nirn, the peoples and races of all the worlds, in all of the Realms, in all of the Existences, now depend on what Iriisii does and decides. It is too terrible a burden to endure alone and so you were chosen to accompany her onward when Akatosh is done with her. Yet you do have the choice to let her go on without you when the time comes."

     Rigmor: "No! If we are to find ourselves together and 'in love', I will not desert her, not now, not then, not ever! And I never want to hear of that again!"

     Iriisii/Dragon: "So be it, the direction of the path is chosen. The timelines realign with this decision. The future will determine if this was a good decision or not, now go, you will share in her forgetfulness. When events bring awareness of what we have spoken of then you will remember."

     Rigmor: "Did you say something to me?"

     Iriisii: "I asked if you would point the way to Angi's camp."

     Rigmor: "That way and south of Falkreath, in the mountains."

     The journey does not take too long despite the foul weather they encounter most of the way. Heading into winter is like that in Skyrim and worse as you approach the mountains. In Iriisii's homeland, the mountains block off most of the rough weather, and the warm ocean currents keep the winters from getting as cold as what Skyrim endures. As they walk up to Angi's camp, it seems as though the weather is a perfect match for Angi's attitude.

     She first tries to imply that Iriisii is in the wrong place and when she will not budge, even with Rigmor trying to explain who Iriisii is, she becomes threatening. Iriisii prepares to defend herself if needed, hoping it will not be. Right now anyway she does not want to put Rigmor in the position of having to choose between her and Angi.

     Rigmor has to walk back and put herself between them before Angi will listen. She grudgingly gives in when she sees how stubborn Rigmor is ready to be in defending Iriisii, having no idea that Rigmor is trying more to keep her safe than Iriisii. She then tells Iriisii she has a spare bedroll in her tent she can use and asks her to follow. When they settle down, she explains why Angi is so fiercely protective of her.

     As she hears the story and how eerily similar to what happened between her and Rigmor, she wonders what is going on. She knows Rigmor can be headstrong to a fault, but it is like someone is watching over her shoulder, orchestrating help when Rigmor gets in too deep to save herself. All that she can say to herself is that likely soon enough they will find out just who it is, if this keeps going in the direction Iriisii thinks it is. They settle down and get some sleep. Iriisii notes several times Angi peeks into the tent to make sure nothing is going on.

     They get up the next morning and go look at the map Rigmor had drawn of the way to Fort Black. Iriisii is not familiar with the area but she does think she could find it from the map. They discuss the best way to approach, whether to use horses or go on foot and after some hot food, they set out.

      Walking in a gathering blizzard, Iriisii asked Rigmor to stay close and if visibility got too low to sing out. They slowed their pace to not stumble upon any wolves, bears, or anything else hostile out wandering around. Iriisii began wondering if this could turn into something she had heard about back home, something called a 'whiteout', where the snow was so thick along with low laying clouds that everything looked white.

     As luck would have it, they avoided the possibility by climbing above the cloud layer. Looking out at the tops of the clouds with the sunlight reflecting back, they stopped to admire the view with just mountain tops showing above the clouds trying so hard to imitate the ground. They see the tops of a keep and it takes a moment or two to realize it was Bloodlet Throne.

     They reach the base of the mines and are halted by a man demanding two hundred gold to allow them to pass. Iriisii convinces him that two hundred gold is a small value to place on his life. It does not take him long to step aside and let them pass while mumbling to himself about it being time to find a different job.

     On up to the mines, about halfway was a branch in the scaffolding that leads up to the mountain peak. Rigmor expressed a desire to turn that way and see what it looked like from the peak. Iriisii thought it a good idea for it is not often that an opportunity like this comes your way. While standing there admiring the distance they could see from their vantage point, Iriisii spots a knapsack with a journal inside. She reads it and finds it an interesting tale, especially when she finds one entry where one of the females was with child by the man they met at the base. She found herself agreeing with him about his desire to make 'an honest woman' out of her by marrying her. She hoped he would indeed ask her, then change his direction and look for more honest work.

     After standing for a bit, the winds begin to make themselves known bringing the cold from the north. Iriisii feels more snow coming and they need to be down off the mountain before it arrives. She gets Rigmor's attention and says they need to be moving on. The trip down is faster than the trip up, as they turn from where they diverted upward Rigmor tells Iriisii not to worry, that they will find Rose and get her out of Thalmor hands. Iriisii having already seen what they can do when she crashed the Embassy party hosted by Elenwen, feels a shiver run down her back and has to steel herself to keep from moving faster.

     They start to see miners and prospectors ahead of where they are on the scaffolding when one quickly moves to intercept them as they are seen. The conversation is not going well when the man she is talking to recognizes Rigmor from the 'Wanted Posters' and raises the 'alarm' even as Iriisii's blade ends his life. She knows she must end this quickly for there are too many scattered all about the levels of scaffolding and one slip means a long way down.

     Thinking of Rigmor's impulsive nature when it comes to fighting, she does not bother to run along the planking, but rather gives over to her training, finding the small groups of armed prospectors and leaping into their midst, sword swinging constantly. Flesh is sliced, and doing her best to deflect arrows, yet she does get creased by a few.

     When all the enemies were killed, Rigmor comes up behind Iriisii, noticing the arrow protruding from her lower back.

     Rigmor: "You have an arrow in your back! Don't move or you will cause more damage!"

     Iriisii: "Listen to me carefully, now. Pull it out straight as it went in, do it quickly not slowly."

     Rigmor: "But I may do even more damage!"

     Iriisii: "You must take it out now, if you wait it will be even more difficult, I will be fine, now do it!"

     Rigmor grits her teeth and places her hands around the shaft next to the skin of her back. She then takes a deep breath and steadily but quickly pulls the arrow out. As she throws it aside and looks at the wound, she sees the blood flow slow and stop. Looking at Iriisii, she does not see a sign of pain in her face, but rather deep concentration like meditation but different.

     Rigmor: "What in the Gods' name is going on?"

     Iriisii in the gravely voice she has heard before, "She is too deep in a 'Battle Trance' to hear you. She is controlling the blood loss from the wound until it can be bandaged and repaired. I am dealing with the repair even now as it has been for her entire life from the time we were joined."

     Rigmor now notices the wound closing up into a scar.

     Iriisii/Dragon: "The scar will fade in a short time leaving no trace of a wound."

     Rigmor: "How?"

     Iriisii/Dragon: "Your Dragonborn dragon souls have always been powerful enough to do this, but I am capable of doing much more for her and will do so when she calls upon me."

     Rigmor: "Just what do you know about what is happening and why?"

     Iriisii/Dragon: "You ask a question that the answer would take years to completely answer and that is only to relate what is currently known. There are many more possibilities in the future that have not yet been looked at. They change with each decision you and Iriisii make in your lives. And that does not take into account the nudging from your Gods."

     Rigmor: "The nudging from our Gods? You mean the 'Nine Divines?"

     Iriisii\Dragon: "Among others as well, many outside of Nirn observe what is happening. Considering if the two of you could be helpful in solving some of their problems."

     Rigmor: "What do you mean, 'outside of Nirn'?"

     Iriisii/Dragon: "We do not have the time for a lesson in Cosmology. Nirn and Mundus are not the beginning of everything, they are in fact 'latecomers' to Creation. Having been created well after all else in this Existence. The other Creations, their Realms, and the worlds within them were well-established long before Mundus was created. And Mundus has been destroyed and recreated many times before its present incarnation.

     But remember this if nothing else, there is a problem that affects all, not just Mundus. And that problem is what you and Iriisii have been chosen to take care of. You will have help from others of other Realms, but the two of you are the primary driving force. Without the two of you, Existence itself and all within will fall, and Mundus with it."

     Rigmor starts to ask another question when Iriisii comes back to herself, as She tries to ask if Iriisii knows anything of what her dragonsoul told her, she finds strangely to be at a loss for words. As hard as she tries no words come to mind to say. Frustrated she just gives up, for now anyway. She just follows Iriisii as they come into view of the mine entrance.

     They enter the darkness and they both feel the silence completely pervading the mine that should be echoing with the sound of pickaxes striking rock, miners talking about how good or bad the ore is that is coming out. They only hear the silence and the darkness reaching up their spines with chilling fingers.

     Iriisii: "Let me get us some light."

     Iriisii casts 'Candlelight' and a globe of light forms above her head illuminating the area around them. No reason for the lack of miners is able to be seen as they start making their way inside. Soon an extremely noxious stench rises up to their noses. Rigmor asks about what smells so bad, and Iriisii's memory reaches back to a time long past.

     *She and a group of other acolytes have been taken on a training mission from the Seven's mountain lair. Three of the 'Seven', 'The Thunderer', 'The Volcano', and 'The Drowning Tide' are in charge of this group. They made camp after traveling for a day and a half. As the acolytes are told to sleep, since they would be up at dawn to be on the move once more, they did not question the order but settled down and went to sleep. Aided by the narcotic drug slipped into the water given to all of them after they had pitched camp, they all fell into a deep sleep, all except for Iriisii. 

     Because she was already drugged with Black Lotus, there was no need of giving her anything else. Her complete cooperation was not in question. After a few hours passed, she was woken and ordered to tie up the others. She did as she was ordered, quickly and effectively, without hesitation. Once done she was told to take the bound acolytes and place them in a pit that had been dug a week prior, then hid from sight.

     Inside the pit were the bodies of those who had dug the pit, some worn-out slaves ready to be replaced, and some failed acolytes. The bodies had been dumped in and enough water was added to make a foul soup of things when the bodies got to rotting with a little alchemical help. She picked up each of the others, slung them over her shoulder, carried them to the pit, and just let them slide in, as she was ordered to.

     When the last one was slid into the noxious soup, she was told to jump in herself and sit in the center. She was then told to make sure no one got out until someone from the 'Seven' came to release them. No specific time or day was told to her as to when they would be back.

     Unknown to her, one higher-level acolyte was assigned to watch from a distance and report on how Iriisii followed orders and the other acolytes' reaction to her as she coldly executed those orders.*

     As the memory thunders through her mind ravaging her emotions as the stench reaches her senses, she stumbles. Rigmor sees her start to go down and stops her from hitting the mine floor. She sees the emotions flashing across Iriisii's face and figures something has been triggered, so she tries to get them back up closer to the entrance and cleaner air. Once the stench recedes, she asks what happened to her. Iriisii recounts the memory that crawled back up from that sewer pit. Once she had reached the point when Rigmor interrupted it, Rigmor asks a question.

     Rigmor: "What happened after that?"

     Iriisii looks at her and continues the story.

     Iriisii: "It was four days we were left in the pit. Four days and nights, I sat in the center as they awoke, and worked themselves out of their bindings. And then when they tried to climb out, I would grab them and pull them back inside."

     Rigmor: "You are kidding me, are you not? You are not kidding are you?"

     Iriisii: "No. It happened. I...I had no choice in what I did. Out of twenty acolytes, including me, twelve survived. The stench only got worse, as the others vomited into the mix, then they could no longer control their own bowels and added their own shite and piss as well to the soup of rotting dead bodies."

     Rigmor: "Did you...you know?"

     Iriisii: "No, I had been specifically given a purge potion before I jumped in. It forced me to empty myself so that I would not have anything to add. It also made it look like I was complicit in it. Which was part of the entire exercise, they wanted to see how the acolytes would react, and to what lengths I would go to make sure the orders that were given to me would be obeyed."

     Rigmor: "So eight died in that pit?"

     Iriisii: "Yes."

     Rigmor: "How many by the conditions in it?"

     Iriisii: "One drowned before ever waking up, three others opened their veins and bled out."

     Rigmor: "What about the other four, I mean..."

     Iriisii: "I know what you meant, yes, I killed them."

     Rigmor: "By the Gods! But they were just..."

     Rigmor sees the torment on Iriisii's face as she relives each moment, each death at her hands, and knows she has to get the rest of it out of her or it will fester and poison her mind and soul.

     Rigmor: "What happened after all of you were pulled out of there?"

     Iriisii: "Afterward? Afterward, over the next two years, the survivors tried to kill me both in the arena and out of it. I lived and they did not."

     Rigmor: "That was not the only time something like that happened to you was it?"

     Iriisii, barely able to speak now, "No, other things were set up and were used as tests for us. I cannot speak of those things right now. What we smelled further in, was almost exactly like what I smelled back then. So what you will see when we go further, will be similar to what I just told you. When we have to cross through the water, I want you to climb onto my back and I will carry you across."

     Rigmor: "No you will not! I am fully capable of walking through that mess on my own two feet!"

     Iriisii: "I said, I would carry you. It is not a suggestion, it is an order. You have no idea how pestilent that water is. A single scratch will get infected and before I can get you to a healer, I will have to take off a foot and maybe half a leg to save your life!

     Rigmor starts to strenuously object but then thinks of how that arrow wound healed up so fast. She then made the connection that the same would also work if some scratch or cut got infected. Iriiisii would be better able to heal herself than Rigmor would in that situation. So she relents and agrees to let Iriisii carry her across that deadly soup.

     When they reach the beginning of the fouled water, Iriisii asks her to wait while she clears any vermin who might be lurking around drawn to the burnt, dead bodies in a pile on the other side of the water next to the stair up. As Iriisii walks slowly through the water, using her feet to check for any obstacles that might trip someone up and seriously cut them while under the water. Then a horde of skeevers come down the stairs. She hits them with a strong 'Fus Ro Dah'. The skeevers go flying in all directions, targeting the closest with her sword blade knocking them out of the air. The few that get past her Rigmor deals with handily.

     When Iriisii goes back to pick Rigmor up and carry her across, Rigmor insists she waits and allows her lower legs to be checked for bites and scratches. Finding none they cross the water and head quickly up the stair and on until the air clears close to another door.

     No other encounters like that one come until they walk out the last door of the mines and step onto a narrow ledge. Rigmor gives her warning to be careful, even as Iriisii smiles at her concern. This ledge was no more dangerous for her than if it were six feet wide, her training gave her the ability to walk or run surefooted on a narrow strip no more than an inch wide, fighting with single or dual blades the entire length. Her teachers imbued her with the understanding that it was all within her mind. The width made no difference, it was how she perceived it that determined whether or not she could do it. From that time on, even the mountain goats were wary of her, for they knew she could match and exceed their skills in leaping from rock to rock with no mishaps.

     Onward they go threading the mountain paths of snow-covered ravines, the sounds of frost trolls echoing from the higher elevations. Then they reach the path upward to Fort Black. Rigmor's face is a mixture of conflicting emotions while Iriisii is serene, despite her knowing she will find Rose inside, but feeling something different entirely will be the reality. But she feels drawn here anyway, someone inside needs her help, and whether it be Rose or someone else, she will not abandon them.

     Rigmor gives her the lead and she leaps upward as fast and sure as only she can. Knowing that the Thalmor have the advantage of the heights and she is determined to erase that advantage. Running up the cutback stairs, she kills every Thalmor she meets. Not trying to be flashy with her strikes but quick and concise. There are two perched archers on top of the Fort front with the mountain base behind. Moving around to the side seeking the way up, she takes out one, then chases the other to where she has no more room to run. One last arrow fired and Iriisii catches it in her left hand, closing with the archer she drives it into her eye and into the back of her skull. She lets the body fall off the Fort ledge and it hits the rock close to the door with a thunk of finality.

     She drops to the rock and stands by the door giving Rigmor final instructions.

     Iriisii: "We go in and kill everyone we see in Thalmor armor or robes. No survivors for they would not show us mercy. We do this not just for Rose or anyone else here. We do this for all those who have been taken, tortured, and killed by these maniacs. It will be just the beginning, for we are the Hand of the Gods and we bring their judgment with our swords."

     She feels an upswelling of something from deep within that desires release and she gives voice to what calls for her to speak, "Fah mu los faal haal se Rahhe ahrk mu drun nun nahkriin voth un zahkrii!!" The snow is quiet and still, but the words of Dovahzul ring and echo everywhere giving terrible voice to the task Iriisii has accepted. The Gods look down from Aetherius at her voice echoing in their ears.

     Akatosh: "As she has spoken, so shall it be. She has taken up the task to be my 'Right Hand', let all know even if they be mortal, King, demon, Aedra, Daedra, or Void Child, that this is her will and that I accept. Those that she slays, that oppose my Golden Age, their souls will be given over to me to judge. This is my Daughter, and by her action this day, she pleases me. Her words have reached my ears, and I give her what she has asked for."

     All of the other Gods and their Aspects place a hand over their hearts and bow to Akatosh's pronouncement, pledging their support to his wishes. Down at the door into Fort Black, Rigmor hears a rumbling growl from deep beyond the skies and sees a shining aura surround Iriisii.

     Rigmor: "Wha...?"

     Iriisii/Dragon: "Lord Akatosh has heard Iriisii's desire and given his answer to all within Aetherius and Mundus to hear. He has declared her to be his Daughter and whoever opposes his will, when they face and die to his Daughter's blade, he will take their soul and they will face his judgment. So she has said he will make it be."

     Rigmor solemnly bows to Iriisii in acceptance of what has happened. And Iriisii draws her blade and opens the door. She proceeds quietly to the next door, hearing voices beyond. This time rather than just open the door she shouts, "Fus Ro Dah", as the door is blown off its hinges, striking and killing two Thalmor soldiers with the impact, narrowly missing the waitress as she throws the platter of drinks to the floor and takes cover behind the bar. The bartender joins her in a flash, then sees a Thalmor head roll across the floor in front of him. The waitress sees another head drop down from the mezzanine above and roll to her, its eyes still open and searching, its mouth trying to sound the alarm.

     The duo continues through door after door, killing every enemy they find. along the way they find signs, in the form of the bodies of those captured nearby and tortured to find out if they were there to spy on them.

     Iriisii: "Look at this! They kill and torture with impunity, for the flimsiest of excuses. And these are so drunk on hubris to think they should be Gods, ruling over mortalkind. They know not the first thing of what it means to be a true God! I may not know what are the laws that even Gods must follow, but I do know these know nothing of them.

     I do not judge all Altmer for the sins of a few, but these few must be made to pay for their sins indeed. And if I be the Right Hand of the Gods wielding the Judgment of Akatosh then I...WILL...SEE...THEM...PAY...FOR...THEIR...SINS! Iriisii's gauntleted hands pounding on the wooden table where the body of an Alik'r warrior lay dead, emphasizing each word, until at last the table could take no more and it collapses to the floor with a clatter in pieces.

     Rigmor thinks to herself, 'Finally someone besides me sees them for who and what they are! Not only sees them but is ready to do something. And furthermore, it seems she has the backing of the 'Nine'. Did my cries and prayers in that filthy cell finally reach their ears? Draw their attention to what they were doing in their name?"

     Rigmor looks at Iriisii's face and into her eyes. The eyes are the windows into the soul are they not? And Rigmor swears she sees the red flickering glow of deep fires in hers. The fires of the purest rage, she feels the reverberations of some kind of deep bells that she can barely hear, but Gods can she feel them in her bones. Where are they coming from?"

     A whisper comes to her inner ears, 'They come from a place called, 'Seoyl Platohol', a purgatory that is being built for those whom your Iriisii will kill. A place to hold their souls in punishment until the next Kalpa begins, but even those beyond Mundus will be held here as well. Their souls will remain until she decides they are worthy of redemption. When she is strong enough, even the souls of Gods will be held here.'

     Rigmor: 'Where is this place?'

     Whisper: 'Outside of Existence itself. No other place could begin to do what needs to be done to fulfill the promises she will make.'

     Rigmor: 'What truly is it, some private 'Land of the Dead', a new afterlife?'

     Whisper: "No, that has already been taken care of by those who look after the 'Great Beyond'. This will be a place of punishment and holding, those who will be kept here and accept redemption from her, will pass through the Final Gate into the Great Beyond."

     Rigmor: "Who are you to know this?"

     Whisper: 'One day, many, many years from now, we will meet. On that day you will know who I am, but not until that day comes. Now you have a future to build with Iriisii Dovahkiin, Alessia's 'Dovah Kiir'. If you want to know what that future will be like, read all that is written about Alessia, then carry it forward. Think of all that is known only scratches the surface of who she was, who she could have been had she lived a full span of life. And know that her 'Dovah Kiir' will surpass her in all things, will become what Alessia was only a dream of a shadow of."

     Iriisii turns to Rigmor, "Hey, are you ready? This is not the time to be daydreaming."

     Rigmor shakes her head to clear the smoke and cobwebs, "Okay, let's go do it! Let's find Rose and get out of here."

     They burst through a door and find several Thalmor huddled around a table looking at maps and documents, arguing about how to move forward. Iriisii and Rigmor have the drop on them and take full advantage, both taking opposite sides and clearing the Thalmor as quickly as they can. Once the last body falls and is pushed out of the way. Iriisii and Rigmor look over the battle planning scattered over the table.

     Talking with each other about what they see and are reading, they decide it's best to give these papers over to Baa'Ren-Dar. Iriisii says to look for anything they might have missed or could use going forward. While searching, ‏Iriisii comes across a journal of the Fort Commander. She begins reading and cannot stop until she is finished. Her fingers are shaking so bad she can hardly hold onto the journal. With so many tears flowing from her eyes, she is blind. Her throat has gone so tight she cannot speak and barely breathes.

     Rigmor senses something and looks over at her, seeing the extreme condition she is in she rushes over to her. As she asks what the matter is, Iriisii can only hold out the journal, pages flapping in her shaking hands. Rigmor takes it and begins reading. Soon enough she knows the answer to what is happening. Raising her head and looking into Iriisii, feeling the pain of her broken heart.

     Instinctively she wraps her arms around Iriisii, speaking low and gently. 

     Rigmor: "Look, Rose is still alive, she is not dead. She managed to escape on her own and was seen crossing the border into Cyrodiil. We can go and follow her, find her!"

     Iriisii: "No, I cannot leave Skyrim. I am here for a reason, to do the Gods' bidding. I prayed for an answer, and now I have it. They have spoken their will to me and I must obey."

     Rigmor shouts to both Iriisii and the Gods, "No, you can go get her, we can put her somewhere safe. She can stay at Baa'Ren-Dar's Torval Embassy Home, she will be safe there, I promise you she will be safe!"

     Iriisii: "I thank you for what you are saying to me, but it is not to be. Too much is riding on me to do my duty to the Gods' will. They have given all of this power to me, and now I must use it for what it was intended. Could you leave me be for a few minutes, please?"

     Rigmor has a moment of future trueseeing, "I wish I could, I truly do. But if I do you are going to do something incredibly stupid. I know how bad you feel right now, but you must realize it is not the end. As long as Rose lives it will not be the end, and so you have to stay alive. What do you think she will do if she hears you gave up on finding her now, when she hears you knew she had escaped, but you gave up on everything.

     I feel the pain in your heart and soul, I do. You are prepared to die for her, will you not live for her instead? Is that not what she would ask you to do?"

     Iriisii withdraws deep within the recesses of her mind, and Shivista steps forward to keep things moving forward. Rigmor feels the difference in her.

     Rigmor: "Who are you? Where is Iriisii? "

     Iriisii/Shivista: "She is trying to see where she goes from here. She knows Rose is alive, but the life they dreamed of having is dead, and that must be mourned if she is to be able to go forward. There is still work that needs to be done here, and it cannot wait for Iriisii to sort herself out."

     Rigmor: "Okay, what is next, then?"

     Iriisii/Shivista: "We go down into the dungeons looking for anyone still alive down there. Ready?"

     Rigmor: "Let us go then, once that is done I can take her back to Angi's to heal."

     They move on through the corridors and down more stairs to the door to the dungeon cells. Bursting through they catch the torturer unaware and he dies with one sword in his gut and a second cutting through his throat. A Thalmor mage across the narrow hall manages to get off a lightning spell that Iriisii/Shivista dodges then plants her sword in his throat to stop a second try.

     As she steps out into the corridor, she hears Rigmor cry out. Running like the wind, she gets next to her in just a few seconds. Rigmor points out a young child in one of the dungeon cells.

     Iriisii/Shivista: "Give me a moment and I will have her out."

     The door swings open as the young child wakes, wondering who these two are and what happened to the others and her parents. Quickly Rigmor explains and comforts the child. When she asks about her parents, Iriisii/Shivista tells her that they were killed when some of the scaffolding they were assigned to work on collapsed and fell off of the mountainside.

     Rigmor tells her that she can come with them to Angi's until they can find a new home for her. The child then agrees to show them a different way out. Rigmor asks her name and she replies Sorella as she races through a narrow side passage then jumps down off of a ledge. Still following her they come to a door to the outside. Stepping through they see the sunlight and feel its warmth on their skin. A welcome change from the coldness of the dungeons of Fort Black.