The Story of Iriisii Dovahkiin - Chapter Ten

The Story of Iriisii Dovahkiin

                                                       Chapter Ten

     Later, Rigmor sits alone with Lucia and asks about her and the Dragonborn.

     Rigmor: "Lucia, do you have some time to talk?"

     Lucia: "Of course, your Majesty."

     Rigmor: "Please, we are family, just Rigmor or Mom, since you call the Dragonborn 'Mama', at least in private. Save the Majesty crap for court functions."

     Lucia: "Ok Mom, what do you wish to know?"

     Rigmor: "Let's start with you, tell me about how you came to be adopted?"

     Lucia: "Well, there really isn't much to tell, My father was killed in the 'Great War' and my birth mother died of a plague that swept through Whiterun afterward. I was selling flowers to make enough money to eat, sleeping wherever I could find a warm place, sometimes some of the women in town would find me a warm corner in their home or shop. This went on until one day I spotted the Dragonborn walking through the garden area between the shops and the castle keep.

     She looked like she had money because of the fancy armor and weapons she had. So I went up to her and asked if she would like to buy some flowers. She bought everything I had left and then asked me where my parents were. I told her just what I told you and she asked if I would like for her to adopt me as her daughter. I said yes, of course, but then I remembered to ask if she had a house for us to live in.

     Sometimes people ask to adopt me but don't have any place to live and that would hurt so bad. She said that she had a house right here in Whiterun and that made me so happy. She took me right there and introduced me to Lydia. She said Lydia was her housecarl and Lydia said that the Jarl had made Mama his Thane for killing that dragon outside of town. She then sat down with me in a chair next to the warm firepit and told me some things about herself. She said that sometimes she would have to be away doing jobs for the Jarl and others who needed her, but that Lydia would always be there so I would not be alone.

     She also told me she wanted me to grow up to be whatever I wanted to be and asked if I had thought about it. I said I wanted to be like her, to wear armor and weapons, and help people who needed help, like she was helping me. I thought it was a little strange when I saw some tears run down her face so I asked her if I had said something wrong. She smiled at me, gave me a great big hug, and said, no, that everything was just fine. She also said that she would start training me to be a warrior like her and that when I was ready she would make me a set of armor and forge whatever weapons I wanted, then she would let me go with her on some adventures, just the two of us.

     She said I would need to work hard and that she would get Lydia to help when she had to be away. Then she gave me 50 Septims, all for me, and took me shopping for new clothes and everything. That pretty much sums up how we met and how she came to adopt me."

     Rigmor: "I knew the Dragonborn had a big heart, I just never imagined how big it was. And somehow I think we have only seen just a small part of how truly big it really is. Tell me something, please, sometimes the Dragonborn has some very bad nightmares. So bad that I cannot wake her up and it takes myself, Cerys, and sometimes even a guard or two to hold her down until she quiets and goes back to resting peacefully. Have you ever heard her say or know of what may have happened to cause these nightmares?"

     Lucia stands up and moves over to the warm fireplace. Rigmor noticing she is trembling, gets up and draws her into her arms, just holding her gently until the tremors stop.

     Lucia: "She came back one day after being gone for about 4 months. I took one look at her and saw a wickedly haunted look in her eyes. When she spoke, I could tell something truly terrible had happened to her. I got her into the hot pool and let her soak the physical aches, while I went and got the school healer to come and look at her. After looking Mama over, she took me aside and told me that Mama did not have anything physical wrong except for exhaustion, but that something had happened to Mama or she saw something that struck her deep into her heart.

     The healer told me that only time and the gods' grace would help her deal with it and get over it. She did give me some herbs and said that when the time came, I would know when to give them to her. She said I would need to be stronger than I had ever been before to help Mama get over this. She said that the herbs would 'open the door' to whatever she was keeping trapped inside her and that once she opened up and spoke about it, all of it would come pouring out. 

     She said I would have to be there to hold on to her and keep her talking until it was all out. Then she might finally be able to heal. One night was really bad, she was screaming in her sleep and I could not wake her. The healer heard her screams from the school next door and came running in. She prepared the herbs and helped me give them to her. It took a little time but they started working. She started mumbling and the healer said for me to start asking her questions about the nightmares, that even though she was asleep, she could hear me and answer my questions. To this day, I wish I could forget what she told me that night."

     Rigmor: "Lucia, I know this must be terribly difficult for you to speak of, but I must know what happened if I am to be able to understand and help her. If it was not for what we know is coming, I would say we would just take our time and work with her as she gets more able to let it go, but we do not have that luxury now. The fate of all of Nirn depends on her leadership against the coming invasion and we cannot fight that battle for her while she is fighting inside her own mind."

     Lucia: "I know, just give me a minute to gather my thoughts, but remember that once this demon is let loose, there will be no capturing it again. I can only give you the story in general, the details are so horrific that I had to have a mage put a mind block on some of it in order for me to be able to keep from losing my own mind."

     Rigmor: "That is ok, I do not want you to endanger yourself on this. Just tell me what you can without going too deep."

     Lucia: "It started in Whiterun when Mama met an acolyte of Mara along with a bodyguard. The acolyte got Mama's attention and then Mara took control of her voice and spoke to Mama directly. She asked Mama to find a trader at Markarth who was going into the western Reach part of High Rock. She said that things had gotten out of control there and she was asking Mama to go and try to set things right again.

     Mara could not directly intervene without utter devastation occurring and too many of the innocent would die. So Mama agreed to go and Mara said she would help her as much as she could. This was Mama's first encounter with the 'Witchmen' before she even got to the first settlement called 'The Bridge". Mama said it was too easy to compare them to the 'Forsworn' but that it would be a deadly mistake to do that as the Forsworn are like little children playing compared to the Witchmen.

     In her encounters with them, she swore they were possessed by something. Something that drove them to horrendous acts against anyone who did not blindly follow them. Things like ... cannibalism...sadistic torture...dark magic, they would coat their weapons in the vilest poisons they could make. And it only got worse from there. She said she actually found and killed a Sload in the mountains."

     Rigmor gasps and then whispers, "A Sload? A real live Sload? Thank all the gods, she killed it!"

     Lucia: "Yes, but that is not the worst. She had to enter Oblivion again, three... times..she went in. Once was deep in a Dwemer ruin where they had been researching Oblivion realms themselves. The second time was in the town of Arnima when the Lord there was in league with Namira. A gate was opened to Namira's realm of 'Scuttling Void' and Mama went in to close it and get the people that had already been sucked in, out of there.

     She said if it had not been for a man named Rados fighting with her, she would have been lucky to get herself out much less anyone else. The third time, she met Mara at the bottom of an ancient ruin filled with dead Witchmen killed by Ayleid spectres. Mara led her through safely and told her she needed to go back to 'Scuttling Void' and talk to an entity she would meet there.

     Then she would have a better understanding of what was going on and what she needed to do. She would not say what she found out, only that it raised more questions than it answered. She did say that she was trapped in an alternate reality that was destroying itself. I don't know what that means but it did not sound good to me. She said that Mara came and got her out, then she found herself in Evermore, with the whole town burning down around her.

     She got out and met a young girl named Aurora at the gates. Her father was killed at a tavern he ran in Arnima and that her mother had her escape down a tunnel under the tavern. She said her mother was supposed to be following her out but that she had not seen her. Mama told her that 'The Bridge' was the only safe place at that time and that Mama would see that she got there safely.

     Mama said she did manage to get Aurora there and give her over to her aunt, who lived there. And then she left and came back to Skyrim. She said as soon as she crossed the border, she stopped and 'Shouted' her thanks to Kyne. Mama said she felt better afterward, that she felt a warm breeze follow her back to Dragon's Nest. There was a lot I left out, but only because it was too horrible to even think about because it involved a lot of innocent children and something the Orcs were going to do. She did say she managed to convince them not to do what they had planned but that she had to kill a couple that would not change their minds."

     Rigmor: "Shhh, that is enough for me to get a feeling for what happened, thank you. And I thought I had problems with what happened to me!" 

     Lucia: "There was something else that happened, but I don't think it is a part of the nightmares. I did hear her sometimes cursing the Psijic Order? About bringing people to the future to fix problems when they are not even able to survive much less correct the problem!"

     Rigmor: "Why would she be cursing the Order, I wonder? By the Gods, the future!! Did she say how far into the future they brought her? And you did say they brought her and not sent her?"

     Lucia: "Yes, I am sure she said that they 'brought' her. I think she mentioned something about the far end of the Fifth Era and also that they brought her twice, not just once. I remember her saying how she found the bodies of the ones they brought before her, and that they had left notes about how it was the Psijic Order who asked them to come."

     Rigmor: "Hmmm, well I will ask her later about that once things settle down a bit, is there anything else you remember that seriously affected her?"

     Lucia: "There is one more incident, but I don't know much at all about it. You will need to talk to Lilith about it. They were together when it happened, something about a town that was hit with a poison bomb and everyone but Mama died. I think Lilith and someone else went in and pulled Mama out in time, but there was another who didn't make it out and it seriously messed Mama up for a while. I have heard Lilith talk to Mama about someone called Kasia Pinder and how it wasn't Mama's fault for what happened, that Mama shouldn't blame herself.

     Anyway, the only other thing about it that I know, and Mama doesn't know that I followed her once when I knew she was going to go to a place near where it happened. I saw her gather up a whole bunch of flowers and weave them into a wreath. It took several days to get to where she was going. It was called the 'Euphoria Palace', but she did not go in, she went around the side to where there were some grave markers.

     She put the wreath on one of the graves and sat there for hours talking and crying. Some of the ladies there came out and tried to get Mama to go inside, but she wouldn't go and they finally left her alone after Lilith came out and told them to stop and to leave Mama alone to grieve. She told them they had better pray to the gods that they never have to face for themselves what Mama had to face that day!

     Lilith then went to Mama and said she was sorry, she hadn't stopped them sooner and that she would see to it they would all leave Mama alone. Mama put out her hand and stopped Lilith from going, then asked her to stay for a little while. I quietly left and made my way back home, Mama showed up the next day, went out to the back garden, and drank until she could barely stand up. I helped her back inside and into her bed. That's all I know about that. if you want to know more, you will have to ask Lilith. There is something that may help but I need to ask you a question."

     Rigmor: "Ok"

     Lucia: "Did Mama ever tell you about how she is not a Nord, but something else?"

     Rigmor: "I remember asking her about it some time ago. She told me she was Aasimar but I really don't know more than that."

     Lucia: "She told me the same, so I went into the school library. Mama filled it with every book she could lay her hands on for all of the children. Anyway, the librarian helped me find a couple that mentioned the Aasimar. What they had to say could be very helpful in finding something to help Mama's nightmares. It seems that the Aasimar are known as 'God Touched' and are made up of three parts, the "Protectors". the "Scourge", and the "Fallen". Mama is among the "Scourge". They are known for their overwhelming inborn need to fight and destroy any evil they come across."

     Rigmor: "Well that certainly explains a lot that now makes sense."

     Lucia: "The books said that sometimes the "Scourge" go so deep into fighting evil that they lose sight of just what they are doing and become what they are fighting against, thus becoming "Fallen". I think the things Mama saw and did while in the West Reach have made her fear she may be "falling" and if that were to happen, she would lose everything she loves and has fought so hard for, you, me, Kintyra, the others, maybe even her own soul!"

     Rigmor: "By the Gods, that would be enough to bring on the most horrible of nightmares."

     Lucia: "There is one more thing that the books said about the Aasimar. They have wings."

     Rigmor: "WHAT!!!, Wings!!!, for real!! But I have never seen the Dragonborn with wings, ever."

     Lucia: "The books said that the 'Protectors" and the "Fallen" have them but not the "Scourge", so from that we can say that Mama has not yet fallen, but what if because she is 'Dragonborn' and 'Aasimar' the possibility exists that she may have a different form of wings from what the other Aasimar have.

     Rigmor: "What do you mean?"

     Lucia: "I have seen her go out on the back terrace and when I sometimes go look for her, she is gone and there is no other way to leave from there but to fly! There is only one door no other way in or out but that door! And since none of us have ever seen her with wings, it makes sense that maybe she can 'call' them like with a spell or 'dragon power', something like that!"

     Rigmor: "You just may be right on that. I will try and ask her about it. Thanks, Lucia, it really means a lot to me that you told me all of this. I just hope we can help your Mama deal with all of it. I think I am going to need you to do me a favor. I am going to write to a couple of friends, one, Sethri, is a priest of Azura, and the other, Malesam, is a priest of Boethia.

     Your Mama and I have known both of them for several years now and they are very good friends. I am going to ask them to talk to their 'Mistresses' and see if they will give us any help."

     Lucia: "Why Azura and Boethia, why not any of the 'Nine'?"

     Rigmor: "You may not know this but your Mama is the declared 'Champion of Azura, Boethia, and Meridia.' And since it was Mara who sent her into that quagmire that started this, I am going to see if she will help as well. It looks like we need all of the help we can get from almost any source that we can. Anyway, when I get the letters written, I need you to get them to a courier and have them delivered to the Imperial Palace in Cyrodiil, can you do this for me?"

     Lucia: "Of course, I owe Mama for everything since she adopted me as her own and I love her even more. I would do anything to help her, you only need to ask!"

     Rigmor: "Thank you, I will get the letters to you once they are done, then I am going to find Lilith and see what she can tell me."

                                              *

     The Dragonborn's nightmares only got worse as time passed. Everyone in the Citadel prayed each and every day for the Dragonborn's recovery and for their own peace of mind as well. Hearing those blood-curdling screams ringing out in the darkest parts of the night, it was a miracle anyone was still holding on to their sanity. The group still did all they could to help each other keep it together. Then after a particularly gruesome night, when the  Dragonborn begged in her sleep for someone to end the terror, Rigmor came to a truly frightening conclusion.

     Rigmor: "She knows what is going on!! She may be asleep but somehow she is aware of what is happening! By the Gods! Dragonborn, if you can hear me hold on, we are not going to give up. I will not give up on you. There is a way to free you and we will find it!!"

     Serana: "Be assured, Dragonborn, Iriisii, we are leaving no stone unturned, we are looking for any clue to whatever we can do to stop this."

     Both Rigmor and Serana, each holding one of the Dragonborn's hands, feels that hand gently squeeze theirs. Both in tears, looking at each other, Rigmor whispers, "She hears us."

     Rigmor: "Thank all the Gods,...she hears us!"

     Serana: "Indeed, now if the Gods would only give us a clue to help her."

     At just that moment, voices could be heard out in the hallway. A guard's voice is heard.

     Guard: "You cannot go in, no one is allowed inside without permission of the High Queen!"

     In response a different voice can be heard, "You must let me enter, I have what they need to hear. I know what transpires and I must give them the words they need, as Mara is my witness!!"

     Rigmor and Serana, still looking at each other as the words coming from the outer hall register on them.

     Serana: "Rigmor, go let him in, I will stay with the Iriisii. This may be what we are waiting for."

     Rigmor lets go of the Iriisii's hand, clammy and wet with sweat and tears, and whispers, "Thank you."

     Rigmor goes to the door, opens it, steps outside, and sees a figure hooded in priest's robes, struggling with the guard.

     Rigmor: "Stop! Let him go! What are these words you say we must hear if priest you really are!"

     Priest: "My name is Erandur, I am a priest of Mara, come from Dawnstar at the behest of Mara, to give you the answer you seek!"

     Rigmor: "Well, spit it out, priest. My heart's love screams every night until her voice goes raw. You had better say what you came to say quickly or.."

     Erandur: "Vaermina!"

     Rigmor staggering, feels a dark cold taloned hand clutches her heart.

     Guard: "What did you just do to the High Queen?!"

     Rigmor recovers and motions the guard to return to his post.

     Rigmor: "Now it all starts to make sense. Dawnstar. Vaermina. You were the priest that the Dragonborn helped banish the nightmares that were plaguing the entire town some years ago."

     Erandur: "Yes, Lady Mara informed me that I needed to travel to the Imperial City, that the Dragonborn needed my help to fight Vaermina again. She said that this time, somehow Vaermina has reached into the Dragonborn's dreams. The Dragonborn imbibed a potion called the Dreamstride."

     Rigmor: "Why did she do that?... Oh, it must have been the only way to do something important to stopping the nightmares back then!"

     Erandur: "Yes it was, she was able to use the Dreamstride induced by the potion to travel through a mystical energy barrier and shut it off. Allowing me to start the process of clearing the place of the Vaermina's Torpor mist that was released when a force of Orcs attacked years before.

     More importantly, she stood by my side as I chanted a spell given to me by Mara to dispel and banish a Daedric relic called the "Skull of Corruption". It had grown surprisingly powerful over time, leaching parts of the peoples' dreams before sending them on to Vaermina, allowing it to almost develop a mind of its own. It took both of us, combining our mental strength and channeling it through the spell to send it back to Oblivion. Mara thinks that somehow the 'Skull' established a link with the Dragonborn and Vaermina is now using that link to attack the Dragonborn through her dreams."

     Rigmor: "By the Gods, how much worse can it get. How are we to get into her dreams to help her fight this!"

     Erandur: "There is only one way at this time and it is in its own way just as dangerous as anything the Dragonborn has faced up to now."

     Rigmor: "I do not care how dangerous it may be. I cannot live like this while the 'love of my life' lies in that bed, screaming night after night until she has no more voice to scream with! What will it take to stop this, please tell me!

     Erandur: "Not what, but who. A priest of a race thought dead before the First Era even began. A race both beautiful and monstrous that disappeared from Nirn back in the 'Dawn times' of history."

     Rigmor: "I don't care, just tell me who they are and how we contact them!!"

     Erandur: "They are called 'Illithid'.

     Rigmor: "I have never heard that name before, who, what??"

     Serana: "Mind Flayers!! My lady Rigmor, he is talking about Mind Flayers!!"

                                              *

     Rigmor: "Mind Flayers? I still have no idea what the two of you are talking about."

     Serana: "The Illithid are a race, for lack of a better description, that could also be called, "Mind Vampires. The term is both figurative and literal."

     Rigmor: "What do you mean? Oh no, no no no, you are not letting anything like that anywhere near the Dragonborn!"

     Erandur: "I understand your trepidation and fears, My Lady, but there is no time for any other approach. The Dragonborn is close to her last hours, her strength is fading as we speak, soon she will have nothing left to fight off Vaermina, and when that happens..."

     Serana: "Priest, you do not have to continue, I know what will happen to the Dragonborn. Lady Rigmor, I do not lightly say this, nor do I take any perverse pleasure from it as my father would have, no doubt, but for the feelings I have come to have for the Dragonborn since she first released me from Dimhollow Crypt.

     And for the fact that she has been nothing but a good and caring friend, a fighter and protector, and never, ever, sought to take personal advantage of me in all of the time we have been together. I ask you to consider what the priest has said and allow him to send for the Illithid, we must do whatever we can to help the Dragonborn fight this, win against Vaermina, and recover from the travails she has suffered to this point. You do not want to see what will become of your Dragonborn if we fail, I promise you, you don't."

     Rigmor: "I hear what you say Serana, and I hear the truth in your words. If there were any other way, I would say no, but there is no other way but this way. Priest do what you must to get this started. Serana, I would like to have some time alone with my Dragonborn. please see that there are no interruptions."

     Serana: "Of course, your Majesty, as you wish. Priest, if you will follow me, please. Guards, absolutely no one interrupts her Majesty and the Dragonborn until I return to relieve you. Better yet, one of you escort the Priest to the Lord Chancellor and tell him to assist in whatever the Priest needs, I will stay here by the door. Whichever of you is still here, go and find Lilith, tell her I need her here. Don't just stand there like a tree stump, get moving or do I have to mention this to the Lord Chancellor!"

     Rigmor: "Dragonborn, Iriisii, I know you can hear and understand me, we have gotten some information from Mara. We know what is going on now. We know that it is Vaermina that is doing this to you, using the horrible things you have seen in the last few years to torment you. That priest of Mara that you helped in Dawnstar, Mara sent him to us to tell us what was happening. He also told us how we can fight this. I just need you to hold on for a little longer, don't give in, help is coming, please know how much I love you, how much Kintyra loves you. I remember when you told me of those tasks that the priestess of Mara in Riften had you do to help her.

     The one that really stayed with me was the last one, you know, the one about the two lost spirits. It told me that love can be strong enough that it can even defeat death itself. I want you to know that is the kind of love I have for you, the kind that is strong enough to defy death. I know you feel the same for me, you have shown that to me time and time again, even though it sometimes looked like I was not watching, I assure you that I was and that I remember.

     There is no one else for me but you. I know you have feelings for Serana, but that is ok because you did not act on them. You came home to me, came to see if our love was gone or just sleeping. And when it awoke and started burning again. You fanned the flames until I could see the fire in your eyes, and then I knew all the way down to the bottom of my heart that you were the one I was meant to love.

     When you fought your way back from death to fight by my side all the way to the bridge to the Imperial City. You proved your love to me, you did not have to do anything more, but you kept proving yourself to me more and more. Now I know why and I don't mind that it was because of Serana. Because you chose to stay with me, to become Empress and sit beside me on the throne, to marry me, and have a child with me. Now I need you to live for me, don't leave me now, please not now!"

     Rimor starts sobbing uncontrollably, after a few moments, she feels a shaky hand rise up along her arm and gently cup fingers along the side of her face. Still sobbing she places her hand around the Dragonborn's hand and kisses her palm. A very soft whisper, so low she almost did not hear it, as Iriisii said to her, "I love you, my Queen." And fell into a deep relaxed sleep.

                                                                 *

     When the Illithid Priest shows up and is escorted into the private bedchamber of Iriisii and Rigmor, Rigmor cannot see why there is so much trepidation at the mention of his race. For he looks not much different from any other human of Nirn.

     Uzi'raah: "Your Highness, I came under the guise of a glamour so as not to cause an uproar. My natural form is such that most races find it repulsive to view."

     Rigmor: "If you think it will not affect what we need to do, then you may keep it up. Right now I am far more concerned about my love, the Empress."

     Uzi'raah: "As you will, Your Highness, if I may see to the Empress?"

     Rigmor: "Please do, we will answer any questions you may have as we are able."

     The Illithid Priest goes to one side of Iriisii, leaning over her, he gently places his fingertips against her brow. After a few minutes, he pulls back and walks away from her, gesturing Rigmor to come to him.

     Uzi'raah: "Please tell me all you can about her past encounters with Vaermina."

     Rigmor gestures for Erandur to join them.

     Rigmor: "Erandur is a priest of Mara and was there when they encountered and sent Vaermina's Skull of Corruption back into the Void."

     Uzi'raah: "Please tell me all that you know Erandur, it is vital that I know how deep this goes."

     Erandur spends the next few hours reciting the chain of events surrounding their adventure at the Nightcaller Temple outside of Dawnstar.

     Uzi'raah: "There has been no recurrence in Dawnstar of the previous nightmares?"

     Erandur: "No, all has been quiet, until Mara sent me here."

     Uzi'raah: "It is good that she did so, I will need your assistance."

     Erandur: "Whatever I can do, you need but ask."

     Uzi'raah: "I tell you all this will be exceedingly dangerous, for there is little that can be done effectively from here."

     Rigmor: "Where then, where must we go to help her?"

     Uzi'raah: "Quagmire. The Skull of Corruption must be physically destroyed. It is being used as a pathway to her dreams. Until it is destroyed, that pathway cannot be closed. My Goddess has asked others she knows whom Vaermina has transgressed against to create a path for us to enter Quagmire through."

     Rigmor: "Why such a roundabout route, why not just tear down the gates to her realm!"

     Uzi'raah: "In her realm, she is the greatest power. Only one of darker, more extensive experiences, can stand against her in her place. Most who could do this would stand with her and not against her."

     Rigmor: "Then how can we hope to do this. If those we can call on for help would rather help her than us?"

     Uzi'raah: "My Goddess says there is such a one that would help us, but this one would need to be summoned from within Quagmire, and until that time must remain nameless. For it is not wise to call upon her unless the one calling has the proper motivation to stir her interest. Even then you take your chances, she will bargain, but the question is whether you will pay the price she asks."

     Rigmor: "I will pay any price to free my love from Vaermina's claws."

     Uzi'raah: "Pray it does not come to that, but it will be as the High Ones desire it. Now you must decide who will come with us."

     Rigmor: "You are coming as well?"

     Uzi'raah: "So my Goddess commands, so will I do."

     Lilith looks around at everyone, gauging their resolve.

     Lilith: "Looks to me like we are all ready to go."

     Rigmor: "We are ready then, you may begin."

     Uzi'raah clasps his hands together, weaving his fingers into a complex construct. He then lowers his head into a praying position, brings the finger construct to his lips, and begins to whisper into it. After a minute or so, Rigmor notices a shimmering, hazy mist rising from the floor, swirling into a vortex with them in the center. Slowly it rises, gaining solidity, before it blocks visibility into the room, the door opens and Rose enters. Rigmor immediately shouts to her.

     Rigmor: "Rose! Stay with Iriisii, we are going to help her in Quagmire!"

     Rose does not hesitate to go to Iriisii's side. She sits in a chair next to her. Then takes her closest hand in both of hers, quietly speaking to her to let her know she is not alone. The vortex rises until all visibility is cut off, then she gets a sense of movement that continues until the vortex lowers itself to the ground and fades away.

     The view is strange and mystifying. A jumble of different types of plants, the road they are on seems to twist over and over itself, and waterfalls vanish into thin air. As they move along toward a city of some kind far into the distance, they pass whole areas that stretch their imaginations of what could be. And some cause physical pain simply from looking at them they are so different.

     As they continue to move forward, from out of some form of brush, an armed figure lunges toward them screaming in some unintelligible language. Lilith draws and cuts the figure down before it could get close enough to be a threat. As she examines it, she thinks it was female. But if it is native to Quamire, or someone trapped here and changed over time, she could not tell.

     Rigmor: "Everyone be more alert, if there is one there is likely a hundred more lurking about."

     Uzi'raah: "Perhaps I may be of assistance. Here in this corner of the Lands of Dream, I can extend my glamour to all of us, thus hiding us from the inhabitants. They will see only what they expect to see, nothing more."

     Rigmor: "All right, let us give it a try then, if it works it should make traveling easier and quieter."

     Uzi'raah concentrates his mind-clouding abilities to extend a cloaking field around them all.

     Uzi'raah: "It is done, stay close but not right on top of each other, when meeting any others, stay to the side of them and do not interact in any way. They should then ignore you."

     Their traveling goes much smoother now, stepping to the side when meeting groups or single beings, they pass by with no issues. A few times, just a very few will rise their heads and sniff the air, looking around, but they lower their heads and move on when they cannot find anything. Soon enough they approach within sight of the largest city within this realm, and Vaermina's Castle can be seen deep within by the aura of power it displays.

     Moving into the city was not a problem, but they were soon forced to move to less traveled side streets. Luckily all streets lead to the Castle, and they had no trouble making their way to that ever-changing place. It seemed the main gate was the only place that stayed the same, every other part could change, morph, and redirect itself according to whatever whim was powerful enough to affect it. Keeping a neutral mind to avoid detection, they slip past Vaermina's adherents guarding the main gate.

     Once inside, they are forced to try door after door to find ones that enter into rooms with more doors branching out. Slowly they make their way to the central hall, noting Vaermina's decorations. Some of the walls sport dreams like a painting hanging, others the occupants of the room are in fact the decoration itself. And the activities portrayed only sometimes are recognizable, most are bizarre beyond their imagination, from the almost perfectly sublime to the most horrible of sights. Some none could truly tell the difference between them.

     The last door they come to opens to a vast hall filled with dream scenes being acted out in excruciating detail. Try as they might, it is hard to just pass by without feeling some emotion. So that the tiniest ripple caused by their passage is noticed by Vaermina sitting on her chair made of the living flesh and bones of those who displeased her. She shows no sign of their passing until they reach a point of her desiring.

     Vaermina: "Will those who entertain me in these dreams please welcome my newest guests? I do so wish these actors trying so hard are meeting your expectations?"

     Rigmor steps forward even as Lilith tries to pull her back, "You know why we are here, so release her, and we will leave you to your," looking around at the dreams still being acted out, "whatever pleasures you find in this."

     Vaermina: "You can never know what I find in these, for you are and will always be mortal, while I am Daedra, immortal."

     Rigmor: "Yeah, well if you are what it is to be immortal, I will stay as a mortal then."

     Vaermina: "I would ask you why you have chosen to invade my home, but I am already aware of why. Rather I will ask what do you intend to do about it? Here in my place of power, you have nothing to challenge me with."

     Rigmor: "Where is Iriisii, what have you done with her?"

     Vaermina: "Ah yes, Akatosh's little toy, playing at being the big bad dragonborn. It did not take long to bring her down, oh my the things in her past, such verdant fields to wander through, so much enjoyment to be had forcing her to relive her most terrifing moments. Let me show you my latest effort, I know it will prove most enlightening as to who she really is."

     Vaermina directs their attention to an area where her 'toys' are moving out of the way, giving them a good view of Iriisii's worst nightmare. As the details become apparent, Rigmor cannot keep back the tears, even as her rage spills over and rips through her. None are spared tears being shed for the scene before them.

     The area is dark as night, a childs bedroom, the child asleep in his bed. Iriisii sneaking up to him, placing a sharp dagger blade to the young boy's throat. Rigmor knows this is where the moonlight shines in from the window waking the boy and saving his life. But then she remembers this is Vaermina's realm, and there is no moonlight shining in the window. The realization of what is going to happen hits her, and she screams at the top of her lungs.

     Rigmor: "IRIISII, MY LOVE, NO, DO NOT DO IT!"

     Iriisii shows no hint she heard Rigmor shout to her, then she remembers who it is that is holding the dagger.

     Rigmor: "DARKSTAR!! DO NOT DO IT! WAKE UP! YOU ARE DREAMING!"

     This time Iriisii stops as Darkstar hears Rigmor and something peels back the layers of what has been happening. She pulls back from the boy, and tosses the dagger aside. Then turning to Vaermina, she makes a sudden leap toward her. Vaermina sweeps her hand across and Iriisii/Darkstar is hurtled across the floor toward Rigmor, who stops her headlong flight and holds her in her arms.

     Iriisii waking and whispers, "Rigmor, wha...? where...?"

     Rigmor: "You are in Vaermina's Dream Realm. You were trapped where she made you relive your worst nightmares, only she did not allow them to complete as they did in reality."

     Iriisii stands and looks at the scene she had been torn from, recognizing it, and then the meaning of what Rigmor said sunk in. Every part of her became enflamed with rage, at first, white hot, then it turned cold, then it went 'black', as even her eyes, normally 'golden' turned black. She raised her fists, screamed her anger at Vaermina, then her wings manifested, normally a clean lambet blue, they turn blood red. She spreads them out, and they begin to glow with a black edge. Vaermina begins to feel her Daedric essence being pulled from her body. She, in desperation, uses the 'Skull of Corruption to raise a shield, keeping her essence from being complete drained and consumed.

     Vaermina: "I told you this was my 'seat of power', nothing happens her that I do not allow."

     Iriisii growls in a gutteral voice, a voice that drips with vitriolic venom, "We shall see about that!"

     Then she incants a summons, "Ia Ia Hastur Yvulgtlagln Yuln Ystell'bsna N'ghft Nog Desidarius Cthugha Ai Ai"

     Rigmor and the others cannot withstand the effect Iriisii's summoning has on them as they cover their ears, trying to block out the words. But this is not an ordinary summons, it is not in Tamrielic, nor even Dovahzul, but is instead from a language that goes beyond mere words to include thoughts, emotions, physical expressions and gestures, all layered together. It rips through Vaermina's realm seeking the one it was directed to. Onward it goes, through Oblivion, through the Void, through the Abyss, until it finds the one it seeks, deep in the Hells of Deepest Darkness, standing before the 'Walls of Unforgiving Darkness' reading the list of names carved thereon. She just finds the name she is seeking when the summoms hits her. She reacts with anger, which then melts into pleasure upon listening to the summons. As she recognizes who cast it, she seeks to know what happened to awaken the force within her that allowed her to use this language to reach out to her. She knows she will accept the summoning, and woe to whoever brought her 'sister' to the brink that this had to be done to reach her. She turns back to the name upon the wall, one she had never met but whose legend has stretched forth as one from time immemorial who will be remembered for all time. She then turns and allows the summons to guide her to her 'sister' who has called upon her once more.

     In Vaermina's Hall, the floor, the walls and pillars begin to shake. A bolt of black lightning shatters the roof and strikes the floor near Iriisii. The floor where the bolt strikes cracks, crumbles and falls inward to a pit that for all anyone can tell is bottomless. From the darkness of that pit, Desidarius rises, sees her 'sister' Iriisii and notices the state she is in.

     Desidarius: "Never before have I seen the rage that now encompasses you. It threatens to completely consume you, yet is held in check by one I knew dwelled within but thought still sleeping. Shivista, I was reading your name and exploits carved into the 'Walls of Unforgiving Darkness' as they sit within the light from the unending lava flows that surround them as the Moons of Escoria still float shattered and in pieces above that legend of a world where you earned the name of 'Destroyer of Worlds'."

     Inside Iriisii, the smoky form of Shivista bows in recognition of Desidarius' awareness of her, who she once was, and who she will one day be again.

     Desidarius: "Now my 'sister', who is responsible for bringing you to this brink of raging madness?"

     Vaermina: "Desidarius! You have no place here, I command you to leave at once!"

     Desidarius turns and looks at Vaermina as if she were a toothless hag in a decrepit bordello, servicing the dregs or any who could pay a penny for her. Then her attention is caught by the dream scene that Iriisii was being forced to relive even as the fate of the boy was changed from reality.

     Desidarius: "You have gone too far Vaermina, this time you have stepped over the line. You know full well the bane warning I set out against any who would harm my 'sister'. Yet you would challenge that warning by what I see before me."

     Vaermina: "This is my realm of dreams, here you have not the power to interfere or interdict. You are banned from joining with Iriisii who was touched by the Elder Gods. The one called Lilith is still marked by the 'Void Child' called Salaquine and thus untouchable by you. The one called Erander, who was once one of mine before renouncing me and taking up with Mara, thus he is barred from your touch. And Iriisii's mate Rigmor is held within the hands of the 'Nine', and beyond your reach. You cannot step from your portal into my Realm without one here free and unencumbered, thus you can do nothing to help your 'sister'."

     Lucia: "I am free and unencumbered. Iriisii is my adopted mother, so I share her name but not her blood. I will stand and be ridden by Desidarius, so that she may punish you for what you have inflicted on my mother!"

     Rigmor: "Lucia! No, there must be another way. you do not know what the cost to you will be from this. Please do not do this."

     Desidarius: "This child is daughter to my 'sister'. There will be no harm or cost that she will be called to bear, I give my word on this."

     Vaermina: "And what is your word worth, Desidarius? Who would accept it knowing who and what you are, who caused your creation and then abandoned you!"

     Lucia: "I accept it, that is enough for me."

     Desidarius: "I am sorry Lucia, by the Laws of Kanly there must be another not bound to either side to judge the merit of this High Duel."

     From the swirling clouds visible through the shattered roof above, a giant winged form flies down and lands away from both parties. A dragon, ancient and powerful beyond any other known, sometimes called the 'First' but he will say he is not the first one, perhaps within this Existence he may be, but there are others older still. Yet among them he is the only one still known and remembered, for he is Ragnarok, harbinger and judge of the Ending of Realms.

     Ragnarok: "I will stand as witness to that which calls out to transpire this day. I will see that the Laws of Kanly be obeyed in this matter. If the child called Lucia, desires to be ridden by Desidarius in defense of her mother this will be allowed so as to balance the Celestial Scales. As I have judged let it be done!"

     Desidarius: "Lucia, if you will take my hand, we shall bring judgment and punishment upon she who seeks to destroy your mother and my 'sister'."

     Lucia walks to Desidarius and accepts her proffered hand. As they touch, Desidarius form turns into smoke that is absorbed into Lucia. Immediately the change is apparent. But this is not one in control of the other, this is a partnership with both taking and sharing responsibilities for the battle ahead.

     Vaermina grasps the Skull of Corruption, drawing its strength into her, and sets it across her seat as she lowers her shield and prepares for the battle of wills to come.

     Desidarius: 'Vaermina will fight on multiple levels at once, your mother taught you well how to fight with weapons, you will deal with her on that level. I will fight with her on the magical front. She will use dream illusions which I will dispell, just keep the physical attack moving. That will serve us well to keep her unbalanced.

     With that pronouncement they begin their battle before Vaermina has any more time to prepare. True to Desidarius words, Vaermina fights on multiple levels. Her dream illusions are both captivating and dangerous, being drawn from who knows how many victims over how long a period of time. Yet, Desidarius draws to herself the attention Vaermina has assigned to those attacks, leaving Lucia to deal with the physical attackers. Lucia, thanks to her mother's and Lydia's training is well equipped to handle this. Her confidence in her skills is beyond excellent, such that no matter how many enemies gather she knows she can handle them, for it has been so long since Vaermina has had to conduct a fight like this that she has forgotten more than she remembers, not so her opponents.

     Still the battle is a hard one, for this is the seat of her power, where she is strongest. Her mother is confident in her daughters abilities, and keeps quietly reminding those with her not to shout suggestions and unneeded warnings, so as not to distract Lucia and creating a vulnerability where none exists. Desidarius, having lived through being exiled into the Hells of Deepest Darkness, thousands of years ago and lived through the experience. There is nothing Vaermina can throw at her that she has not seen far worse and much more deadly.

     Finally a break occurs and Desidarius urges Lucia to strike in concert with her, both dealing damage at the same time. Vaermina is distracted trying to defend from both while orchestrating a new attack pattern and falls to their strikes. Ragnarok calls the battle over, and declares Desidarius and Lucia the victors. He looks toward Vaermina and declares his judgment.

     Ragnarok: "Vaermina, you have been granted your existence to continue by the victors. They have relented from consuming your essence. So in recompense of this, your punishment is this, you are no longer allowed to forage from dreams of those who live on Nirn. You will withdraw all contact and support from any and all followers you have on Nirn. You will not seek, plan, or plot any vengeance against those here today or their descendants for all time. Break any one of these strictures and you will be locked away within a Mantella, and it will be your perpetual prison until the coming of this Realm's next Kalpa. And may then your existence within that Kalpa be as a mortal and not a Daedra. I have spoken and my judgment is rendered."

     Ragnarok turns to the victors, "Desidarius, you have surprised all who have watched your actions from afar. We will stay our hand from judging you, and see where you go from here. Lucia Dovahkiir, for a mortal, you have shown exceedingly great courage, and even greater sword skills. You have earned your victory this day many times over. Although as you have said, you do not share your mother's blood, you share her heart and soul. If you choose to continue along this path, it is possible you will find yourself walking in your mother's footsteps. I wish you well along that path or any other you desire to tread."

     With that, Ragnarok spreads his wings and leaps aloft, back the way he arrived. Desidarius and Lucia having separated, Lucia goes to Iriisii, who has returned to her normal form and let go of the dark rage that had enfolded her.

     Lucia: "Momma, what did he mean when he said I might find myself walking in your footsteps?"

     Iriisii: "I think that is a conversation that should wait until we are back home, do you not think so?"

     Lucia: "Yes, momma. I will wait until then."

     Rigmor: "Come here with me for just a moment."

     As Lucia and Rigmor walk a little apart, Rigmor bgins whispering in Lucia's ear.

     Lilith: "What is Rigmor whispering to her about?"

     Iriisii: "Knowing Rigmor, it could be about any story she has heard that concerns my future. There are so many floating around that I do not pay attention to them anymore."

     Lilith: "I know many are unbelievable, but a few seem to ring with at least some truth to what they say."

     Iriisii: "What do you think then? Your opinion would carry a lot more weight than nearly all the others I have heard."

     

     Rigmor whispering to Lucia, "I know what he was talking about. And you must understand that your mother cannot know just yet what he meant. If she found out too soon, she might decide to run and avoid the possiblity."

     Lucia: "But why would she run? She is not afraid of anything."

     Rigmor: "It is not that she would be afraid, but that she felt she was not worthy to take up the responsibility, that there should be someone else better able to deal with it. But we both know that is just how she thinks of herself. She is far more, far stronger than even she believes she is."

     Lucia: "But what other resposibility is greater than being Empress of the Empire?"

     Rigmor: "Give it some thought and I am sure you will find the answer. When you do, come and ask me if you are right, just do not say anything to your mother about it. If she says nothing when we go back home, let it go and do not worry about it. I will talk with you more about this when you wish to speak more about it."

     Lucia: "Ok, I will do that, thank you Mama Rigmor."

     Rigmor smiles, "If I am right, you will do just fine, just fine indeed."