The Story of Iriisii Dovahkiin - Book Two Chapter One

                                         The Story of Iriisii Dovahkiin - Book Two

                                                              Chapter One 

     All of the Dragonborn's companions, Legion Generals and advisors, Rigmor and company, are all huddled around a large table arguing about what they needed to do next in the Dragonborn Empress' absence. Rigmor has finally had enough of the back-and-forth.

     Rigmor: "ENOUGH!!!", slamming a tankard down on the table to emphasize her displeasure.

     Rigmor: "I know Iriisii has been gone longer than we had planned for, but that is no indication that anything has happened to her or the babies! We all know that she was the only one qualified and capable of undertaking this. She left, trusting us, to deal with the situation until she could accomplish what she went to do then get back and all that has been done is to argue about who is to do what, while absolutely nothing gets done! I for one am sick of this and if it goes on for much longer, I will order the dungeons opened up for some new residents."

     The door behind Rigmor opens, and staggering footsteps are heard approaching the table, Rigmor feels an icy hand clutch at her heart, and fearing the worst, she turns just in time to see Iriisii toss two of the most exquisitely forged 'moon katanas' she has ever seen on the table. The Dragonborn's mission, to acquire the Blades of the First Blade Dancer, lost for nearly five thousand years now found again.

     Iriisii: "No one touch these blades, your very souls would be in peril if you do."

     Then silently she continues on to her vacant seat at the head of the table. She sits down, with everyone looking at her, wondering just what the hell happened to her, while on her mission. She quietly drops her head down to the table surface and covers the top of her head with interlocked fingers. Rigmor hears the quiet sobbing and immediately goes to her, wrapping her arm around her back, and holding her close.

     Lucia sees the sobbing continue even with Rigmor holding her, gets up and moves to the other side of her adopted mother, and holds her closely along with Rigmor. No one even breathes a word as Iriisii's head slowly raises from the tabletop, tears streaming down a face ripped by extreme emotional pain.

     Iriisii: "First the babies are just fine. Second...", Iriisii turns her head to look at her grandmother, "Sharra, grandmother, I know you had no idea what those blades truly are, there was no way in the heavens, you or anyone alive could have known. But I pray to Akatosh and any other God or Daedra who can hear my voice, I pray that the cost of these blades is worth the price that will have to be paid!

     I do not know, nor do I wish to know, what was going through the mind of the 'Founder' who commissioned them, when she made the pact that resulted in these blades being forged. Everyone here at his table must hear, understand, and comply with what I will say here tonight. Nothing I say must leave this room. I must have each person's vow before I will continue. Lord Chancellor Blackwell, will you please make certain we are secure in here, that there are no unwanted ears listening in. You have my express permission to deal with any you find with the utmost ruthlessness, and before anyone objects, if you feel you cannot be a party to this action, then I will excuse you and request that you stay in your quarters until this is settled." 

     Blackwell: "With your permission, Empress, I will see to our security as you have requested."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, Lord Blackwell, you may proceed. And may all the Gods have mercy on us!"

     After things have been secured to Blackwell's standards, Iriisii calls things to order.

     Iriisii: "I will go into what happened later when I have had some time to digest it all, but I feel the need to explain why I am so concerned about those blades. It is not written anywhere that I have been able to find or even 'scry' for information. What I am about to tell you came from direct contact and if not for the current state of affairs, I would wish I had never touched them!"

     Rigmor: "That bad, huh?"

     Iriisii: "Rigmor my love, pray you never find out. Ok, I am going to give it to you all, straight up first and then details as I think we need them. I know this is not at all satisfactory with most of you, but STUFF IT, I know far more than I ever want to know about those...things! And to give you the first shot across the bow, those blades are ALIVE!!! And not just alive, they are sentient!!

     In all of our recorded history, there have been nearly one thousand two hundred forty-one Blade Dancers who went in search of them for one reason or another. And all of their...may the Gods forgive me...souls, now reside in those blades! Can you understand just what that means, if not then maybe you can understand this, those blades are soul stealers! And unless certain actions are performed with those blades, those souls will never be released, never!

     No one, not even the blackest murderer deserves that fate, we are talking about the best, most driven of the Order of Blade Dancers that have ever been trained, and their souls are trapped in there, possibly for all time. Now do you see why I am in such a state, if I had not been able to overpower those blades, to the point where they now accept me as their mistress, my soul and the souls of the two babies I carry inside of me would be trapped in those hellish blades."

     Sharra: "Granddaughter!", softer, "Iriisii, I would take from you the burden of knowledge that has been foisted upon you if I could, but even I did not know of the blades' continued existence before you announced that you were going in search of them. I and the others before me thought them lost in the mists of time, even so like Alduin was when he was banished through the use of an Elder Scroll. It may be that when he returned, the blades returned with him. If they were close enough to him when he broached the timestream, they might have followed in his wake. Even so, that is a matter of discussion for another day, I have something of more importance to share."

     Iriisii: "Please continue, Grandmother."

     Sharra: "First, all must know somewhat of our past, such as we know it, we are primarily an order of warrior women, but not exclusively women. Some men came to us as well, and they proved to be among our strongest warriors, mages, and tacticians. Alas, they would never stay back and command from the rear, to a man they insisted their place was at the front, never asking any member of the Order to do what they themselves would not do. And so none remain to this day. 

     I am sure you all know the story of Morgan, beloved daughter of Titus Meade the First, and that upon his death, Titus' son, Attrebus, sought vengeance against Morgan out of jealousy. Morgan escaped with her daughter, Morgana, to the College of Winterhold, but lost her husband to Attrebus' hands. She stayed for some time at the College, but then one day disappeared, never to resurface."

     Rigmor: "What are you saying, that you know where she went to?!"

     Sharra: "Yes granddaughter, that is exactly what I am saying. Morgan contacted one of our most powerful mages and asked for sanctuary for her and Morganna, saying that only we were strong enough and powerful enough that even Emperor Attrebus Meade could not touch her or her daughter if she were under our protection. Under the advisement of our one remaining soothsayer, we granted them both sanctuary. Sometime later, Morgan asked of us, if we would train Morgana in our ways and if she should prove capable, to induct her into our Order."

     Rigmor: "You mean, could they still be alive?!"

     Sharra: "Morgan passed of a broken heart over the death of her husband, after seeing Morgana inducted into the Order. I think that was what she was waiting for, to know Morgana was safely enfolded into the family of our Order. Morgana rose through the ranks to become our Archmage and resides in our enclave accessible only by keyed portal. It was she who asked me to receive the Celestial child of Alessia and Talos when your grandfather came to us and asked us to be the ones to complete your training. I was to adopt you into my family and train you in our ways using the ancient techniques that embedded our skills into your very bones and muscles so that they would remain with and usable by you, even if you lost her memory! I think to this day that Morgana foresaw this coming and prepared for it as best she could."

     General Tullius: "I for one am sorry, but do you really expect us to believe all of this nonsense!!"

     Sharra: "General Tullius, you were there at the Imperial City when the dragons came, you saw and heard Talos himself, appear and formally acknowledge your Empress as his and Alessia's daughter! You know that the Gods had to intervene not once but twice, first to give Empress Iriisii and High Queen Rigmor their firstborn daughter. Kintyra, now heir to the Ruby Throne, and second to give Iriisii to bear not one but two dragonborn children, a boy and a girl, twins no less. Never in all of recorded history has there been Dragonborn twins!"

     General Tullius: "I....I...am sorry, your majesty, I did not intend"

     Iriisii: "It is alright General, it is just as difficult for me to wrap my thoughts around all of this myself. And after all of the things I have seen and experienced firsthand, you would think I would be an old hand at this by now. But please, do not change yourself, General, you are a strong pillar of sanity in an insane world, and I need that more than ever right now."

     General Tullius nods his head in appreciation for her words.

     Sharra: "Indeed, for there is one more thing I must tell you, my daughter, you must steel yourself, for this will not be easy for you to hear. Rigmor will you stand by her, please? Serana please stand to the other side of her. Thank you both, now Iriisii my beloved daughter, it falls to me to be the one who must tell you that the last soul taken into the 'Moon Blades' was that of your brother."

     Iriisii leaps to her feet, "NO! It cannot be, I have no brother!"

     Sharra: "You have no memory of a brother, but you did indeed have a brother. A brother who loved you and the very steps you trod. A brother who knew you would one day face Alduin, sensed his return through a wound in the timestream. A brother who also felt the moon blades return as well and thought that with them in hand, he could change fate and defeat Alduin before you were to face him. A brother who failed the Challenge of the Blades, where you overcame that same challenge. A brother whose soul waits for his beloved sister to free him."

     The room seems to shake as the sounds of distant rumbling can be heard and felt. Then a cloud of smoke and ash from the glowing fireplace erupts to take shape in front of it. The firelight reflects from the dusky woman who steps from the smoky cloud.

     Desidarius: "You know some of the stories behind those blades, but you need to know the rest before you can use them for the purpose for which they were forged. The Founder of your order released the story that she had commissioned those blades, not true."

     Sharra: "How dare you call the Founder a liar!!"

     Desidarius: "SILENCE! I know because it was I who commissioned those blades, who gave my blood, my power, my soul, and the fruit of my womb to empower them into what they are."

     Iriisii: "Then answer me why! Why did you do it?!"

     Desidarius: "Ah, my delectable Dragonborn, for you I will answer, and you will know the truth. I was not always as you see me now. Your Aasimar gifts tell you I am one of the 'Fallen', what they do not tell you is that I am the first and greatest of the 'Fallen'. I am Desidarius."

     Iriisii: "I know that name, but why escapes me."

     Desidarius: "I have watched you for many years. I watched as the 'Mother' of the 'Seven' trained you to one day take her place as 'Mother' of the 'Sinister Seven'. I had nothing to do with her coming for you and what she and hers did to you. Rather it was that event that first drew you to my attention. I saw what was done that freed you from the yoke of the 'Black Lotus'.

     What the 'Mother' did to the 'Killing Frost' for causing your release and subsequent freedom, her screams still echo in the empty halls that were their lair. I watched as you stood fearless, confident, in front of Mephala's best Morag Tong assassin as he attempted to establish a lair on your island home, and heard you tell him that the Morag Tong was not welcome. I still see his surprise when he learned that his Mistress favored you over him. She warned him of what would happen if he crossed your path a second time. A pity he did not heed those words."

     Iriisii: "The Mute, you speak of the Mute, don't you?"

     Desidarius: "Yes, I do. He should never have accepted that 'Grey Writ' for your daughter Kintyra. He knew he would have to face you once more. But he felt he could win, just as I knew he would not. As to who commissioned the 'Writ', I do not have that information, but you will find them and exact your payment from them."

     Iriisii: 'The blades, tell me why!"

     Desidarius: "Yes, the 'Moon Blades of Desidarius'. I forged them with the help of one within the Courts of Chaos, under the unholy light of the 'Moons of Perpetual Darkness'. The less you know of those moons, the better for your sanity. But you wish to know why I went to the effort to have them made. For perhaps the oldest reason in Creation itself, revenge! Cold, dark, unreasoning revenge against he who caused the 'falling' that created me.

     Have you ever wondered how a 'parent' could give birth to a child and then immediately abandon that child without a single qualm? What must flow through that child's mind as she stands before he who made her and knows he does not care, does not wish to know her. Just casts her aside like you cast out your garbage. My desire for revenge is hotter than the stars, more profound than the abyss. And the only way I will have that revenge is through those blades."

     Iriisii: "And why should I care for your revenge against someone you have not even named?"

     Desidarius: "I do not have to name him, he will find you soon enough. You make waves that travel the Void and beyond. He will feel them and follow them until he finds you. And then you had best have my 'Blades' in hand, for without them he will consume your soul. But use them against him, and when they take him within, they will release all others that they now hold, for they were made to take and hold one specific soul, all others they care not for to keep.

     We will see each other again, remember my name as your ancestors have done since my beginning. As you summoned me to the cave where those blades were placed to hide them millennia ago, as Darius picked them up to help defend you from the Killing Frost and Brutus, the Father. As you did what you had no choice to do, but to seal the portal closed once more, his body joining all those others who also sought them and failed, as you did not.

     But know this, Darius is not your brother! He is far closer to you than that. You will find out later exactly who he is to you when you use my blades to kill and soultrap my 'father'. Darius' soul will be released and then he can tell you himself, for you would not believe the words of anyone else. I will be waiting for your call."

     Desidarius dissipates as does the smoke from the burning fireplace. Chaos erupts in the room as everyone tries to speak to what just occurred.

     Iriisii looks to Sharra, seeing her pale face as the blood fled from it from shock.

     Iriisii: "QUIET!" and as the room quiets, "Grandmother do you know who this Desidarius is?"

     Sharra: "Yes, there are books and even older scrolls that mention her. Fewer of the 'Dark' has a reputation as dark as hers, but this they all agree upon, she never lies. And so I believe every word she said. A few of the events she spoke about we had heard of, the enclave of the Morag Tong was one. We sent a large group to force them from our shores. When they got there, the Tong were gone. Their lair was a burnt-out ruin, with bodies and charred bones everywhere. Someone had set off a 'Flame curse' larger than any we knew could be made. There were footprints in the dust on a ledge overlooking the lair, but we could tell nothing about who they belonged to.

     When you disappeared after you went in search of Darius, we finally tracked you to that cave. We saw signs of a fight but nothing else to tell us what happened. Not until word reached us of your reappearance in Skyrim, but that was years later and we could not determine how you got there, now I think I know.

     Iriisii: "Tell me what you think."

     Sharra: "I think you summoned Desidarius and entered into a bargain for your escape."

     Iriisii: "What could I have given her in payment?"

     Sharra: "That I have no idea of. Neither what she would want from you or why she would want it. But I do think it wise to do what she suggested and keep the blades close."

     Rigmor: "Not on your life!"

     Iriisii: "Rigmor, if what she said is truth and all writings concerning her say she never lies, then at some time I will encounter the one who 'made' her. And she said those blades were made for the purpose of killing him and trapping his soul. If by doing this, I can free the other souls being held in those blades, and free Darius. Then find out his true relation to me, it is something that I have to do. But not until later, first we have an invasion to repel so let us return to that task now."

                                                                        *

     Out on the veranda, watching the sunset, Iriisii is trying to make sense of all the turmoil that has been going on during the day. Somehow she needs to be in three places at the same time, provided the Thalmor diplomatic corp doesn't suddenly make an appearance. Rigmor comes out looking for her, mainly just to make sure she is all right, and then to spend some quality time with her mate.

     Rigmor: "There you are, I have been searching everywhere for you! Are you ok, my love?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, I am ok, just trying to make some sense of all that has happened as well as what is likely to happen in the next few days. But come sit for a while, I need and would enjoy your company. I don't get to see as much of you as I want."

     Rigmor: "But you sleep with me nearly every night you can, surely that counts for something, doesn't it?"

     Iriisii: "Darling, you know it does, you make my heart sing every time I hold you. But I also like to sit and talk with you, share the day with you and Kintyra."

     Rigmor: "Well, what is stopping you. You can just tell everybody to clear out and come find us."

     Iriisii: "I really wish it was that simple, my love. I really do. There is just so much that needs tending to and everyone looks to me and if I don't step up and take care of it, who do you think is next in line?"

     Rigmor: "Well, when you put it like that, I have to really appreciate the effort you make. Anyway, there is something I would like to talk to you about."

     Iriisii: "You know you can ask me anything, love, I have nothing to hide from you."

     Rigmor: "You know that I have spoken to Lilith about the things that went on when you were working together with the Sirens. She said that there were some things that if I really wanted to know that I would have to ask you."

     Iriisii: "Ok, what question or questions did you want to ask me."

     Rigmor: "It was about what happened after you were pulled out of Jonestead after the poison device was set off."

     Iriisii: "Whew, you go right for the jugular vein, don't you."

     Rigmor: "If you really don't want to talk about it I will understand."

     Iriisii: "No, I said you could ask anything and I meant it, I have nothing to hide. But I know what you wish to talk about and you need to know that time...was not the first time it happened."

     Rigmor: "What do you mean?"

     Iriisii: "Let me start from the first time, so you have a better picture of the second time when I tell you about it."

     Rigmor: "Ok, go on then."

     Iriisii: "It was when I had to let you go back to Bruma. You know that I really wanted to keep you with me. But I gave my word to Malesam that I would tell you about your past and tell you about Emperor Titus Mead II's offer to you. Before you get riled up about that, please hear me out.

     I forced him to let me decide when to tell you because I knew you were in no shape to understand what it all meant. He wanted to tell you when we were at the College of Winterhold, but I finally made him see reason about delaying telling you, but only after he in turn forced me to give him my word of honor, that I would tell you when the time was right. You really wanted to go back to Bruma, and I would not stand in your way of that. So that was why I told you about it on your way back home."

     Rigmor: "I did wonder why you went through all of that. I could see it was tearing you up inside and I was hurting as well at seeing you in such pain. That is why I said I would stay with you in Skyrim. I knew you loved me, but I could not understand why you were sending me away. Now it does make some sense, especially with all that has happened since."

     Iriisii: "Please know that I am not proud of myself for what I did, but I really did feel that it was the best thing for you at that time. The things that happened to me afterward, just proved it to me time and time again. Anyway, I stood there at the campsite for hours, hoping against all hope that I would see you come back to me. I cried until I had no tears left inside of me, the pain and agony kept building until I gave in to it. I only remember falling to my knees in the snow, raising my head to the sky, and screaming out my pain. Then I blacked out.

     I only remember coming to and seeing a circle around me where the snow had completely melted. In fact, the ground was dry underneath me. There was an old hunter sitting by the fire, watching me. When he noticed I was looking at him, he came over to me and told me his name was Froki. 

     He was a hunter of the old ways, an adherent of Kyne before people changed her name. Anyway if I remember right, he said Kyne told him to find and watch over me while I voiced my grief. He said Kyne heard me when I started screaming out and was concerned that my pain might cause a rift if my dragonsoul joined my human half. He said he thought that was indeed what happened because he saw a circle of blue soulfire surrounding me reaching up into the sky. He said he saw snow, and debris around me get sucked up into the column of fire, and my screams were bouncing between the sides of the mountains on each side of me causing an avalanche.

     He said he saw the snow and rocks from the avalanche get pulled up into the soulfire column and that none of it touched me. He then told me that Kyne was sending someone to help stop it from spreading and told Froki to stay back or he would get pulled into it as well. This is where it gets very, very strange, my love. Froki told me that a huge black dragon came and landed close to me. The dragon asked Froki if he had heard me speak a word in my screams. Froki replied that he did not know if what he heard was indeed a word since it made no sense to him, but he tried to repeat it for the dragon. He got one syllable out of his mouth when the dragon told him to stop.

     He said he did not know what the dragon did or spoke but that the column of fire suddenly shut off and I fell over onto my side. Froki started to come over to move me, but the dragon said not to touch me. That he was to wait until I woke, then give me anything I needed to drink or eat, and to sit with me until I looked like I could make my own way on my own two feet. He also told Froki to tell me that I needed to do my best not to repeat the episode again, that if it did happen again it would only get stronger and more difficult to stop.

     He also said that this was something that had never happened before but it was known that it could and that it was dangerous if not stopped in time."

     Rigmor: "By the Gods, if I had known you were in that much pain, I would never have gone back! I would have told everyone that I was staying with you! You have to believe me, I would never hurt you like that!"

     Iriisii pulled Rigmor into her lap, put her arms around Rigmor, and cradled her.

     Iriisii: "I know you would have, love. I believe you."

     Rigmor: "When did you know you loved me? I mean really loved me?"

     Iriisii: "When I fought Boethia's champions in her Oblivion realm arena."

     Rigmor: "WHAT!? When did you...why?"

     Iriisii: "I retrieved Scourge from its resting place above Markarth and took it to her shrine. She took it from me, after which I asked her where you were being kept before you were to be sacrificed.

     It seemed for whatever reason she wanted to know whether or not I truly loved you before she would tell me. She said that if I loved you, I would go to any length to save you. That was when she suggested I fight her champions in her arena. After I defeated them all. She appeared and started asking me questions about whether or not I really loved you. She kept at it until I almost shouted to her face that I loved you and would even give my own life to save yours!

     That is when I knew beyond all doubt that I was in love with you. For whatever reason she had, she made me realize that I was hopelessly in love with you. She told me where you were being kept, I went and took care of those who held you, faced down Malacath, closed his gate, and brought you back to Sethri's farmhouse."

     Rigmor: "Oh my love, I can never thank you enough for what you went through for me! But what did you do when I told you I did not know you? I did not realize it then but later after my memories came back, I recall you just standing there like a statue."

     Iriisii: "Your mother suggested I go get some sleep, that I must have been very tired from bringing you all the way from Dawnstar. So I went down into the cellar to the bedroll I was using, but I did not go because I was tired, but rather to hide the fact that I was close to breaking down. I did not know what I was going to do with myself if I could not restore your memories.

     To be honest, I thought about finding a tavern somewhere and drinking until I passed out, then getting up and doing it again, until I either forgot you or I drank myself to death. Probably the latter, since I do not think I could ever forget you. That is when I fell asleep. I got up the next day and things seemed to be clearer to me. And you know what happened from there."

     Rigmor: "I am so very sorry, my love! I did not mean to hurt you like that, but I really had lost all my memories. I really am sorry I said those things to you!"

     Iriisii: "Shhh, it is alright, my love. We worked through it all, isn't that what true lovers are supposed to do. We do not just give up, we keep trying until we find a way to work things out. That is how I know I love you because I will do whatever it takes to keep you happy and close to me!

     Just remember this, no matter what happens to me, what hole I get dumped into, I will find a way to get back to you, even death itself will not stop me from coming back to you."

     Rigmor: "Oh, you silly Dragonborn! I love you too!"

                                                                             *

     Iriisii: "Ok, you now know what I know of the first time it happened. We are going to need to find Lilith to get the whole story of the second time since she knows what happened after I blacked out."

     Rigmor: "Alright then, let us go find her. I think she is watching Kintyra right now. You can visit with your daughter while we get the whole story. I know you don't see her as much as you would like."

     Iriisii: "You took the words right out of my mouth, and this time you didn't even have to kiss me."

     Rigmor: "Who said I don't have to kiss you? I will have you know that I have to kiss you every chance I ....mmmph"

     Rigmor gets interrupted as Iriisii closes the gap between them with a long, gentle, yet passion-filled kiss.

     Rigmor: "Come on, let us find Lilith, but keep that kiss in mind for later. That one has inspired me to try something I think you will like."

     Iriisii: "Just who have you been talking to and what have you been talking about?"

     Rigmor replies with a simply devilish smile, "Let us just say that someone learned more about what went on in the Euphoria Palace than what you thought they did!"

     Iriisii: "I am in so much trouble, and if I ever find out who told you, they are going to be in even more trouble."

     Rigmor: "You are going to leave them alone! They have become a treasure trove of advice on these kinds of matters. Besides, I haven't heard you complaining in the middle of the night when you wake up to whatever I happen to be doing to you, hmmmm? By the gods, you're blushing!! Yes!! I got it right, I so hoped I was doing it right!"

     Iriisii: "Let us go find Lilith before I find out more that I am not sure I want to know about."

     Rigmor giggles mischievously as she gets up out of Iriisii's lap, "Come on, let us go, the sooner we find her and get the whole story, the sooner we can get down to more pleasurable pursuits."

     Iriisii: "I am really in trouble now, Mara, I need your help! Or maybe I should be asking Dibella."

     The Dragonborn and Rigmor find Lilith in Kintyra's playroom. As soon as Kintyra senses Iriisii is in the room, she immediately starts waving her arms, wanting Iriisii to hold her and play with her. Irrisii tells Lilith to give Rigmor the whole story of what happened at Jonestead while she takes Kintyra in her arms and starts talking to her, sneaking in whispers of dragon speech when she thinks she can get away with it.

     Rigmor: "Let's sit down and get comfortable before you begin."

     Lilith: "Of course, Milady. I honestly never thought to see the Dragonborn playing with a baby. She is enjoying this so very much. I have never seen her so contented. It is truly a miracle of the Gods to see this!"

     Rigmor: "I know, before Kintyra was born, I worried so much about how they would get along. But seeing them now, it just...I'm sorry, there are just no words to describe what I feel when I see them like this. I just wish there were more times when they could be together like this. But I digress, please tell me what happened after you and...who was it...Freya? pulled the Dragonborn out of Jonestead?"

     Suddenly the room became deathly quiet, even Kintyra stopped making any sounds as Iriisii looked over to Rigmor and spat out Freya's name like it was poison in her mouth. "FREYA, that unholy bitch!!! If I ever set eyes on her again, I swear by all the Gods, her suffering will be legendary, EVEN IN HELL!!"

     Rigmor and Lilith are stunned at this outburst. Neither have any idea what caused it. Rigmor looks over to Lilith, who shakes her head and says, "I really have no idea. I knew Freya could be a psychotic bitch at times, but never have I seen this reaction about her!". 

     Rigmor gets up and moves over to Iriisii, meaning to take Kintyra from Iriisii, but stops as she sees the tears streaming down her face. Then she notices, Kintyra is not crying after such a loud sudden outburst but rather is holding on to Iriisii's hands as if she is trying to comfort her Dragonborn mother.

     Slowly, Iriisii calms down under the tender touches of Rigmor and Kintyra.

     Iriisii: "I am sorry, truly sorry you had to witness that. I guess an explanation is in order."

     Rigmor: "Iriisii, love, it can wait if you need some time."

     Iriisii: "No, I need to get this out. It has been festering for far too long already. Lilith knows some of what I know about Freya but not all."

     Lilith: "I am not sure I want to know, based upon your reaction to her name but I think I need to know anyway. Milady, I am sorry for what I am about to say, but please withhold judgment until you have heard everything."

     Rigmor: "Ok, I can see the seriousness of this matter with this ...Freya..., so I will not interrupt and will listen intently to what each of you has to say."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, my love. Everything will become clear when we have it all out in the light of day. Lilith, continue with your thought, please."

     Lilith: "Dragonborn, does this have any relation to what Freya attempted with you while you were at the Euphoria Palace?"

     Iriisii: "Lilith, I thank you for your discretion, but Lady Rigmor needs to hear the unvarnished truth. My love, Freya tried to seduce me while at the Palace."

     Rigmor sat stunned at the admission for a few seconds as she took it in and carefully looked at exactly what Iriisii said. At first, she couldn't believe what she had heard, then she feverishly latched on to the one word her lover had said that could be a 'rope thrown to a drowning man' for her.

     Rigmor: "You said 'tried' didn't you?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, my love, she tried but was unsuccessful in her efforts."

     Lilith: "If I may interject?"

     Iriisii: "Go ahead, I value your thoughts."

     Lilith: "I know about her attempted seduction of you, as I am sure you recall, I warned you she would try it since she seemed to make it a game to see how many of the people there she could sleep with, but that does not warrant such a vehement reaction, so there must be more to it, that I am not aware of?"

     Iriisii pauses a moment gathering her resolve to speak, "I know none of you really knew much about her. But I found out who, no, what she really was, at 'Sky's Divide', just before I faced off with Matari's Golden Maidens. Freya is not human! She is Daedra! And not just any Daedra, she is a Daedric Seducer!!"

     Lilith sat stunned this time, Rigmor has no idea of what Iriisii has said so she remains quiet, listening intently to learn what could evoke such pure hatred from her lover.

     Lilith: "Now it all makes sense. I had never even considered the possibility. I am so very sorry, your Majesty, I should have known, should have seen through her glamour, the clues were all there, I just did not see. It was my failure!"

     Iriisii: "No Lilith, if I could not see with all of the experience I have with the Daedra, there is no way you could have. She was too experienced in what she was doing, that was probably why Matari hired her. She was a 'go-between', an emissary between Matari and the Daedric Lords. I just praise and thank the Gods that I did not fall to her wiles and that Matari is dead! I just pray that Salaquine stays back in the void! Oh, but what a tangled weave the Fates have wrought! You know that Matari was Kasia's mother?"

     Lilith suddenly goes pale with the revelation, "No!, please say it wasn't so, please... Gods...No! Please tell me that at least she did not know."

     Iriisii: "That at least is some small comfort. No, she did not know. But it explains why Kasia was allowed to join so quickly. I just wonder how much of Matari was really left by then and how much was Salaquine! My love, I know there is much of what has been said that you have no frame of reference or experience with to truly understand. I am not so certain but maybe that is a good thing, because of the burden that knowledge places on those who do know.

     I would that beings of that ilk could be forever barred from Nirn, but that would also close the door to the Gods. And we still need them so desperately. I have realized that we as a people have not sufficiently grown and matured enough to leave the Gods behind us. And so we must deal with the darkness as much as we strive toward the light."

     Iriisii looks toward Rigmor with the most serious gaze she has ever used with anyone and says to Rigmor, "What Salaquine intended was nothing less than remaking the world to suit her desires. By 'remaking', I mean destroying it and literally turning back time to remake it! And to accomplish this she needed a new, powerful avatar since the 'Matari' avatar was dying."

     It then dawns on Rigmor just what Iriisii is saying and she feels her stomach drop to the floor. Rigmor moves to look Iriisii dead in her eyes, "She did not succeed, did she?"

     Iriisii: "No my love, she did not. I belong to you and to you alone! My love for you has been the strength that I needed to thwart many of the plots and deceptions that have been thrown my way! If not for you, I shudder to think what could have happened to me!"

     Rigmor with tears running down her face looks at her love and the tears streaming down her love's face as well. Then she sees what she hoped to see in Iriisii's eyes, no stranger looking out at her with her lover's eyes. Only the Dragonborn, she has come to love and depend on with all of her heart and soul sits behind those eyes. Rigmor wraps her arms around Iriisii, their tears mingling on each other's bodies. Kintyra sensing all is well with her mothers, gently drifts off for a nap.

                                                                         *

     Iriisii is holding a sleeping Kintyra in her arms. She has eyes only for the sleeping daughter she is holding, a smile of pure contentment on her face. Rigmor looks at the pair of them, glances over at Lilith, and says, "I so do wish Iriisii had more moments like this with Kintyra. I know the needs of the Empire must be taken care of, but this shows me how much Iriisii needs time with her daughter. For Kintyra is as much hers as she is mine."

     Lilith: "Seeing her Majesty like this, I honestly don't know why she doesn't just take you and Kintyra and run for the most private, hidden place she can find. I know that if anyone deserves a quiet, private life away from all of the demands on her, it is Her Majesty."

     Rigmor: "I agree, but that is not who she is. In her role as Empress, she cares as much for each and every citizen of the Empire as much as she does for Kintyra and me. It took someone with a heart as big as hers, to look past all the crap I put her through right after I met her, and then to have her fall in love with me. Sometimes I still have to pinch myself to  make sure it is not a dream, but I know she is exactly the kind of person we need, to steer the Empire in the direction it needs to go in, to be the best it can be for everybody and not just for a few at the top."

     Lilith: "I agree, never have I met someone as equally capable on the battlefield as well as in a home setting as her Majesty is. She always follows what her heart tells her is right, no matter what anyone else says or thinks. Now if we only had more people like her in positions of power, this world would be a much better place."

     Rigmor: "From your lips to the Gods' ears. She told me about a king by the name of Sigmayne in Evermore, and what she found out about what he was doing. There are no words strong enough to describe how despicable he was. She said he actually thought that since he and others like him were in positions of power, the Gods had put them there. So they could do whatever they wanted and it would be sanctioned by the Gods because the Gods had put them in those positions.

     It defies belief, anyway, Mara is the chief deity they look and pray to, and believe it or not, it was Mara who contacted Iriisii and asked her to go there and do what she could to salvage the kingdom. Unfortunately, it was very far gone, and will be some time before things settle down there. The loss of life is simply horrendous, but there is nothing more that Iriisii can do, without wiping the slate clean and starting over.

     She said that there was no way that she could do it without practically putting the entire nobility in chains, locking them up, throwing away the keys, and forgetting about them! For her to say that, tells me that things are far worse than bad over there, she also said that Namira was the one pulling the strings, that got it in such shape. Anyway, enough about that, we can't do anything about it so we should move on. Tell me about what happened at Jonestead."

     Lilith: "As I said, when her Majesty let loose about, you know who, her Majesty was the only one still alive that we were able to find and get out of there. And even she was in a bad way. Once we got her into fresh air, she started breathing better. I think her Dragonblood helped pull her through, she seems to have a very strong constitution. Even so, it was a few hours before she started stirring, and a few more before she became aware of where she was. Once she could sit up, she looked around and asked about Kasia."

     Lilith turns her head and drops it down for a moment before resuming the story.

     Lilith: "I was the one who had to tell her about Kasia. I knew it was going to be bad, but I had no idea just how bad it was going to be. I think Freya could tell it was going to get very nasty, very quick because she just up and disappeared. Once I got the words out, it took a moment for it to affect Her Majesty.

     She jerked herself to her feet, staggered into the forest path, stopped, and then screamed out Kasia's name. I swear that I have never heard so much grief and agony in her voice and pray I never hear it again! She dropped to her knees and I started to go to her to help her back up to her feet, but before I could reach her.

     She raised her head to the skies, I could see her eyes rolling back into her head with just the white showing and then she screamed. It was not a normal scream although I cannot put a finger on what made it different. I did hear two words in the scream, but for the life of me I did not recognize them and even now cannot remember them.

     I saw a circle of bright blue fire surround her but it had no heat to it. I remember talking to one of our mages about it later and she said it sounded like soulfire to her. She said she had never seen it herself just heard it described when she was at the College of Winterhold. She said the teachers themselves had never seen it, but that it was described in some of the oldest books they had in the library.

     Anyway as I watched it, it rose up in a circle to the sky until I could not determine how high it went. Then I got scared, very very scared! I saw first leaves, then little twigs get pulled into the soulfire and shot upwards. As I continued to stare in shock, I saw the very trees on either side of her start to lean in toward her. I did not know what to do or if there was anything I could do, I mean if I touched the soul flame, I was sure it would drag me up with it!

     That was when I heard the sound of large wings flapping behind me. I turned and saw the biggest black dragon I could ever imagine landing behind me. I thought I was going to be his dinner, but instead, he asked me how long this had been going on. I told him everything that had happened up to when I turned and saw him behind me. Then he asked me if I had heard anything that sounded like words when she started screaming.

     I told him that I thought I had heard two words but I could not remember what they were. He said that first he had to stop this, then he had a favor to ask of me. He moved behind her Majesty and said something in Dragonspeech. I know it was Dragonspeech because I could feel the raw power rolling off of his words like it was a physical force. He had to repeat himself because the first time did not have any effect. On the second try, it seemed to reach her Majesty, because her voice faltered, and she suddenly went silent, falling backward to the path.

     I looked for the stuff drawn up to come back down but it didn't. Then the dragon took me aside but still where we could see her Majesty and he explained what had happened. He said that her dual nature usually stays separate except in extreme circumstances and then it never stays joined for as long as it did with Her Majesty. When it does stay joined, it draws uncontrolled power directly from Aetherius.

     And that I could see the results of it. He said that there were three Dragonspeech words that opened that power conduit, and so far only two were the most that her majesty had used. He said she does not have conscious knowledge of those words, but that her Dragonsoul does and that is where the words came from that I had heard in her scream. If it should happen again for a third time and her Dragonsoul uttered all three of the words, there would be no stopping it then.

     It would continue until it had consumed the entire world and even then it would not stop. It would just continue to grow until the entire, I think the word he used was 'Kalpa', would come unraveled and fade away into the void, never to be reborn, the cycle of rebirth would be broken. He then told me that I must stay close to her from now on, and if it ever occurred for a third time, I was to put a blade through her heart, as that would be the only way to stop it. Also, I was not to breathe a word of this to anyone, too many people would try to control her and use her as a weapon.

     The only thing they would accomplish is the destruction of everything. I am telling you all of this because I cannot live with myself, holding this inside any longer. I will understand if you want me to leave and go far away." 

     Rigmor rises from her chair, goes to Lilith, kneels down beside her, takes her hands in her own, and quietly says, "No, I do not want you to leave, and I know Iriisii would not want that either. You are too important to us both to treat you in such a way as that. I thank you for the trust in me that you have shown by telling me everything. I will talk to Iriisii about it later and we will see if there is something that we can do to prevent another occurrence now that we know what triggers it."

     Lilith: "There is just one more thing I need to get off of my chest. It may be nothing or it may be of vital importance."

     Rigmor: "Go ahead, take your time, I trust you to tell me straight up what you know. I can take it, I promise."

     Lilith: "After the dragon finished speaking to me, he was about to leave, when he started sniffing the air. He then followed some scent trail only he could smell and it went straight to her Majesty. He asked me if I would carefully move her onto her side and see if there was anything her body was hiding. I did as he asked and I found something about the size of a newborn piglet, but covered by a hard shell.

     I carefully brought it to him and I swear I sensed he was in awe of it. He told me that we could not leave it unprotected and that it had to be hidden or there would be no stopping the search for it if it was discovered to exist. I looked at him somewhat confused, I swear he chuckled, and said I was holding a dragon egg.

     And not just any egg but the egg of a female. He had no idea how this occurred or that it was even possible. Just that the flow of Aetherian magic through her Majesty had somehow brought it into being. He said it must be hidden away until her Majesty could come claim and hatch it. He said he knew of a place where it would be safe until Her Majesty could do that, and he told me where it was. He was right in that no one would be able to reach the hiding place unless they could fly.

     He said that in the mountains behind Skuldafn, there is an ancient caldera. Inside the caldera is a temple carved from the very rock walls inside, out of view from any angle but directly above. He said that just to enter the temple from the front, there would be an inlaid walk of a different color from the rest of the floor. Just follow it till it ends and it would lead Her Majesty directly to the egg. The doors and chambers are too small for a dragon to pass and since it is so remote that a human or elf would need to fly to even get there, it would be the safest place for the egg to rest.

     It is also warm all year round inside. He said the way it was made allowed for the inner heat down deep below to be used to heat the upper chambers. He then asked me to carefully place the egg in his mouth and under his tongue so it would be protected as he flew there. I asked him how he would get the egg to its resting place if he could not fit through the doors. He said that the temple was dedicated to Kyne and that she had servants who still took care of it.

     They would care for the egg until it was properly claimed. I thought to ask him his name, but he said he could not reveal it. If her Majesty truly wished to know his name, she would have to ask Kyne herself, and then he took off."

     Rigmor: "By the Gods, if I had not already seen impossible things, I would be worried about you. But I do not doubt you in the least. I will take this up with Iriisii when she wakes up from her nap with Kintyra later. For now, we must absolutely say nothing to anyone else about this. It may be a while before we can see to it, and there are certainly some who should not even have a hint that anything like this has happened. Thank you so very much for telling me. By the Gods, we just may have a true dragonchild sister for Kintyra, Ragnar, and Kathea!

     Rigmor looks over at the small bed on the opposite side of the room where Iriisii lay with Kintyra snuggled asleep next to her and thinks to herself, "Even after everything that has happened in our lives, I am so blessed by the Gods to have these two in my life."

                                                                                    *

     Later on in the night, Iriisii is asleep, and Rigmor is just returning to bed after Kintyra's midnight feeding. She notices Iriisii starting to thrash back and forth in the bed, so she goes over to wake her. Just as she touches her, she collapses on top of Iriisii and joins her in her dream but just as an observer, not as a participant.

    Rigmor first notices that she is traveling across Cyrodiil at a fast rate of speed, then slowing as she sees a huge gathering of people. As she gets closer, she can make out the sea in the distance and the people are soldiers, Legion, and others. She comes to a halt above a platform built on top of a boulder and watches with rapt trepidation as Iriisii walks up the steps and to the edge facing the soldiers.

     Iriisii: "Legionnaires of the Empire!, Soldiers of Skyrim, Elswher, Sommerset Isles, Valenwood, High Rock, Orsinium, and Morrowind, We are here for one united purpose. And that purpose is WAR! WAR never changes, it brings death, pestilence, and poverty, in its wake. We did not ask for this war! But it is upon us nonetheless. So why are we here? Because those that come against us do not want what we have, they want to use us as food. We, our husbands, our wives, our children, and I say NO! We will not go out into the deep darkness without a fight!

     I for one, will not lead you into battle from the rear, for I like you, have a mate and children to protect. So I will be on the front lines with you, fighting with every drop of my dragonblood, every muscle, and sinew in my body, every beat of my heart! For if we fail, our loved ones pay the price. AND I WILL NOT SEE THAT HAPPEN!

     Look at your fellow soldier, have you ever gone into battle with better armor and weapons than what you have now?" The soldiers yell back a resounding NO! 

     Iriisii: "I did this for you! You cannot win with battered armor and dull blades! I have

rounded up every named blade and piece of armor from wherever I could find it. Learned how to repeat the enchantments on them and put them on yours! For we must win this WAR, here and now, for this war is for our very survival!

     When the battle starts, I know many of you will fall, but take heart in our preparations. You each have 3 potion flasks, at the start of the fighting, drink one. It will protect you from the sleeping malaise of their attacks, use the other two on your blades, arrows, and bolts, for to the Tsaesci, it is the deadliest of poisons, bringing them near instant death!

     I have brought every mage healer from every province of the Empire. They will be ready to begin healing your wounds as soon as you can be reached. And for those who pass before being healed, I have been assured by the Gods that each one of you will be met in Sovngarde, at the Whalebone Bridge by Tsun himself, and escorted to a place at the tables within Shor's Hall!

     And when you get there, raise the roof with your stories and songs of bravery! Also, do not worry about the loved ones you leave behind for I will see to it that they will lack for nothing they need. For your sacrifice, the Empire owes you a debt that will never be discharged. Your body will be brought back to your family to be buried according to your instructions and for those with no family. I am having a temple built to house your bodies. There will be a wall inside with all of your names inscribed as true heroes and heroines of Tamriel.

     So future generations will come and know who paid the ultimate price for their lives and freedom. Those who survive the battle will receive a generous lifetime pension to aid them and their families when they return home. I have already placed the septims needed for all of this to be done with the Lord Chancellor, so there will be no added taxes to pay for all of this. I took it upon myself to pay the cost so you and your families will not have to bear that burden. 

     I and my Sirens will be the tip of the Spear of the Empire that will pierce the dark heart of the Tsaesci army. When we have fought through them and split their forces in two, then I have a surprise for them. Yngol Stormblade will hit them on both sides with Nord berserkers, while we fight from the middle outwards.

     I will send half of my Sirens to devastate their High Command from the ground while our dragons will hit them from the air! And then we will kill them all until no Tsaesci lives to breathe clean Tamrielic air! ARE YOU WITH ME?!!!

     The roar that erupts from the Empire troops rolls out like a blast from a giant war horn. They are ready to fight, ready to die if they must, ready to cleave Tsaesci's bodies into pieces to feed to the bonfires. Iriisii drops down off the platform and walks proudly through the massed warriors. Her Sirens took their place behind her. The soldiers look on with awe as their Warrior Empress takes her place at the very front of the battle lines. Their pride in her actions as well as her words, strengthen their resolve to do or die, for their homes, for their families, for their Dragonborn Empress!

     As the Tsaesci come into sight, Iriisii concentrates and releases a devastating Dragon Shout. The skies darken and roil, flames streak across the clouds like firey lightening, and then as the fireballs start raining down upon the Tsaesci, the Empress calls out, "FOR THE EMPIRE, MY WARRIORS, ATTACK!"

                                                                                  *

     The dream scene fades to the sounds of epic battle, Rigmor wonders at the purpose of the dream and whether or not it is finished. Then the darkness lightens until the scene opens with the war over and the signs of ultimate carnage everywhere. She overhears a conversation between a wounded soldier and the healer tending to his wounds.

     Soldier: "I still do not believe the things I saw our Dragonborn, no, Warrior Empress do out there. I think if it had been anyone else, we would be lizard food right now. It is still amazing to have seen the things I saw her do to the Tsaesci. Blades flickering left and right, bodies and limbs flying, and the rest of her Sirens were almost as good as she was. They cut through those lines like it was no effort at all.

     And that Blade Dancer called Sharra, standing side by side with the Empress, the two of them fighting like they were one person!"

     Healer: "You know that Sharra is our Empress' grandmother?"

     Soldier: "That explains it then, how they could seem to know where each other's blades would be and not get crossed or tangled, still amazing to see! But there were so many of them, it was looking grim for a few minutes. And then, it was like a...I don't know how to describe it. The Sirens she sent on to the Tsaesci High Command must have hit them at that moment. I remember the dragons roaring, and the Tsaesci stopped, dropped their weapons, turned tail, and ran for their ships!"

     Healer: "That must have been a huge relief to all of you!"

     Soldier: "Don't you know it was."  

     Healer: "Yeah I know, but I look at our Empress out on the battlefield and she still has not stopped. You may not have noticed but we healers started running out of magicka and stamina hours ago."

     Soldier: "What?...Then how?"

     Healer: "How can we keep healing the wounded? Because she has been going around to any healer whose strength is flagging, and using magic or dragonshout, I don't know which, but she is sharing her own reserves with us, keeping us going! I have no idea where she is getting her own reserves from. It seems she has almost bottomless amounts of stamina and magicka. I don't really care at this point because the number of lives we have saved because of her efforts is nothing less than staggering."

     Soldier: "Then I guess you can count me in that number. I swear to the Gods this day, if ever she calls again to enter the battlefield, I will be there for her, no questions asked!"

     Healer: "It is truly remarkable because I know I have treated hundreds so far and each has made the same vow. And to be honest, I feel the same way. For some unknown reason, I look at the carnage and devastation here and think if it will ever recover or if it will forever be a barren reminder of why war never changes."

     The soldier tries to laugh at a thought that had just gone through his mind at that moment.

     Soldier: "OUCH!"

     Healer: "Don't you dare undo what I just did! Just calm down and lie still, I mean it!"

     Soldier: "Ok, I'm sorry, I mean, really, I mean it."

     Healer: "Now if you can tell me what you were going to say without laughing, you can try again."

     Soldier: "I think so. I had just thought of those lizards running back to the safety of their ships and I had overheard of a surprise that the dragons had for them if they tried it."

     Healer: "Ok, go ahead and tell me."

     Soldier: "The lizards thought they were going to escape back to Akavir in those ships. You see, the dragons did not destroy them. They placed themselves amidship, so they could not be seen, and as the Tsaesci got close, they rose up over the bow and gave them a blast of dragonfire!

     It is said that it looked like a wall of fire, hundreds of feet wide, and just rolled across the top of the water and engulfed the jollyboats the Tsaesci were in. The ones still on shore did not know what to do, since they had already dropped their weapons. General Tullius said that the Empress just looked at them, sheathed her swords, looked at General Tullius, and said that she had had enough killing this day.

     Then she looked at her Sirens and said and I quote, "Finish them off, leave not one of them standing. They came here to take us as food, let them eat our steel!". Then she turned, walked back to the wounded, and started helping the healers.

     After the slaughter was done, General Tullius stared at where he could see her taking care of the wounded for a few minutes and someone heard him say, "I knew her when she joined the Legion all those years ago. She almost single-handedly put down the Stormcloak Rebellion. I knew then that the Gods had selected her for greatness. I just could not imagine how great she would become. And somehow I feel this is far from the end for her, but rather just the beginning."

     The soldier looks up at the healer and asks her name, so he would know who to ask the Gods' blessing for when he prayed in the temple.

     Healer: "My name is Cassie, and yours?"

     Soldier: "I am Artus Tiberson."

     Cassie: "By chance, are your parents still living in Applewatch?"

     Artus: "Why, yes, they are. Do you know them?"

     Cassie: "Yes, I do. I know them to be good, upright folk."

     Artus: "Indeed they are, and I miss them sorely. I haven't seen them in some time."

     Cassie: "I see that the apple did not fall far from the tree. Tell you what, I want you to come and see me at my apothecary shop in the merchants quarter in a month, just to see how you are doing. If you would, we could talk about old memories over one of Tessio's Special Brews at the Foaming Flask."

     Artus: "Ok, I would like that, a month it is then."

     Cassie gets up to move to another wounded soldier and hears Artus murmur, "One month hell, two weeks if I have anything to say about it!"

     Cassie just shyly smiles and moves to the next soldier.

     Rigmor, witnessing the entire scene, thinks to herself, "If this is a real future, then I will make sure he finds you, Cassie. For it must be by the grace of the Gods, that two people can find love amidst all of the chaos, carnage, and destruction on this battlefield." And then she gives voice to the thought that just entered her mind, "Just like Iriisii and I found our love!"

     The dream moves Rigmor forward in time about 2 weeks, and she finds herself standing in the Foaming Flask, near the table with Artus and Cassie. Sitting and talking, telling stories from their pasts. Cassie stands and asks Artus if he would escort her home. She says that she has a long day tomorrow, but she really enjoyed the time she spent with him. Artus stands and takes her hand, then asks if he could see her again sometime. She shyly looks at him and says that she would very much like that.

     As they walk out of Tessio's, Cassie asks, "Artus do you remember anything about what happened several years ago when the night sky was moonless, just like it is tonight?"

     Artus: "As a matter of fact, I was on guard duty that night. I remember that everywhere I could see, there were couples swaying and dancing in the streets all night long as if they were the only ones there. Many said they could hear music on the soft warm breeze that blew in from the lake.

     Still others said that they heard a soft slow song being sung that touched their hearts. No one ever found out what caused it or why it happened. I do know that it happened twice, once and then again about a week later it happened again, but not since then."

     Cassie: "Yes, I remember that as well. I also remember that about nine months later, we had quite a few new citizens added to the Imperial City's population."

     Cassie looks up at the starry night sky and remarks, "You know, the stars look like a thousand eyes in the night sky gazing down upon us right now."

     She then turns to Artus, with the soft, sweet notes of a song starting to play in her ears, she feels an overwhelming urge come over her as she puts her arms up, over, and around Artus' neck, whispering to him, "will you sway and dance with me tonight?"

     And the thousand eyes of the stars in the night sky watch over the two soon-to-be lovers as they sway to the music only they could hear.