Returning Home 5

 Returning Home 5

     Darkstar slowly smiles, "Thank you, I did not know that I could ever feel like I do right now." She takes Rigmor's hands in hers, brings them up to kiss  them, then draws her into a deep hug, arms wrapped around her. As Rigmor wraps her own around Darkstar, Darkstar kisses the top of Rigmor's head, and whispers, "Thank you."

     As they separate, Darkstar says, "One last part to look at, her quarters. They are just down the corridor from the 'Pit'." As they make their way onward, Rose asks, "Are there any likely surprises waiting for us there?"

     Darkstar thinks and replies, "No I do not believe so, at least not of the variety we have so far encountered. There may be more mundane things, paperwork, orna..., shite, I almost forgot."

     Rose: "Forgot what?"

     Darkstar: "The Mute's second-in-command's skull. She said she was going to mount it on one of the bedposts as her trophy. She wanted to look at it when she went to sleep and when she woke, to remind herself of her victory over the 'Morag Tong'."

     Rose: "Do you intend to leave it there?"

     Darkstar: "No, I do not think so."

     Rose: "May I ask why?"

     Darkstar: "Now that Iriisii is Mephala's Champion, and the Morag Tong is hers to watch over in Mephala's name, I do not know what they do concerning their fallen, but I think his skull should be returned to them in any case. It would be the proper thing to do. They can bury it, throw it away, whatever they want, but it should be their choice. Leaving it here, would be an empty gesture, do you disagree?"

     Rose: "No, I am in agreement. In fact, I can see where Rigmor's statement about you is already having an effect."

     Darkstar: "How so?"

     Rose: "The 'old' Darkstar, would think nothing of leaving the skull right where it is. Returning it to the Morag Tong..., they will likely see it as a gesture of respect and will think better of you for it."

     Darkstar: "You may be right, about both. We will see what happens. The quarters are just ahead."

     They all walk into the personal quarters of the now deceased 'Mother'. It shows how much she allowed herself above everyone else. Shafts in the walls and ceiling provides ventilation and light. The light is spread around by catching it onto shiny metal discs then aiming them so they spread it all around the room. They see her bed, a large four poster, with the 'skull' mounted on one corner at the foot of the bed. A large ornate desk at one end of the room, with writing supplies. Rose checks the ink pots but they are dry as a bone in the desert.

     Looking around, Darkstar finds the key to a small room behind a tapestry filled with boxes of papers and scrolls. Business ledgers, order sheets, receipts, everything imaginable to run and stock this lair is there, including details on the children. What areas they were procured from, the circumstances of acquiring them, which were bought, which were stolen, from orphanages, country farms with too many mouths to feed, some even from prisons where they were caught pickpocketing, or 'grab and run' jobs. The heartlessness with which she gathered them struck all of them.

     Rigmor: "This is beyond anything I could have thought possible!"

     Even Olaf is having trouble containing his rage, his arms trembling with the effort. He has seen a lot of things in his life, experienced even more personally, but this...this went way over the top. But now his respect for Darkstar and Iriisii, has reached stellar levels. That they could experience this, and come through it as sane and balanced as they have. He realizes that the Gods of this world had to have a great part in this. He sees how they nudged events to bring this operation to a halt and at the same time use it to train their Dragonborn to be able to take on all the problems that needed to be dealt with to clear the field for Akatosh's great plan to go forward. A plan that when he understood what it was to do, to change. He was solidly for it, for how his own life could have been, had something like it could have come about on his own world. But then he might not have found the life that he has, and so counts himself among the luckiest of men alive.

     Rose: "What are you going to do with all of these records?"

     Darkstar: "Take them to Lord Moramal. See what he might find in them that he can use to correct some of these wrongs. I know for the most part there is nothing, but there has to be some that could implicate some City Council members that have been thorns in his side. This could give him what he needs to send them away into self-exile."

     Rigmor: "Did you ever...?"

     Darkstar: "Assassinate someone for him? No, he never asked or contracted for me to do that. He contracted me to find 'death threats' for him and take care of them, letting me decide how to do it. Only in the most extreme cases did I kill, those who could not be convinced to leave him be. And I never told him if I killed or not. The threats were dealt with and that was what he wanted. He was and still is a 'good' man, one I...one I wish..."

     Rose: "One you wish had been your father?"

     Darkstar: "Yes. Come on, let us get these boxes to the wagon, I do not want to stay any longer than I have to."

     Rigmor: Hear, hear, I can agree with that! Rose, grab the other end of that and let us get it out of here. The sooner this is done the sooner we are out of here!"

     They clear the boxes out, finding some things they carry out to look at later. Once the last box is on the way out the door, Darkstar stops and looks around silently. Olaf feels the mixed emotions in her and understands completely what she is feeling.

     Olaf: "For all that happened here, it still has memories for you. Lessons learned, limits broken and scattered. It is never easy leaving behind places like this in your life, even if they are so filled with pain, grief, and remorse, for those emotions have a place within us as do all the other more pleasurable ones do. The best I can offer is this, remember what happened here, and see to it that it does not happen again, not to you or anyone else."

     Darkstar: "Most people do not see the dark wisdom that you have learned the hard way. I do, for that is something we share. When we escaped this place once before, I never thought I would be coming back, even willingly. But I see the need for it now. And I can put down those demons that haunted me in my nightmares of this place. My deep fears gave them power over me, but now I have control once more. And they will never more haunt me. Come there is one last thing to be done before we leave this place forever."

     Olaf follows her as they walk back out, stopping by the pinned down shadow as it plaintively called out to her.

     Shadow: "The 'Mother' left us here, all alone. And now you would do the same as she? We only do not want to be lonely again. Will you not stay with us?"

     Darkstar: "I cannot, but there may be something I can do for you nonetheless."

     Shadow: "Tell us, may it assuage the loneliness."

     Darkstar: "My Iriisii, will one day in the future be called to take away the insanity of the Great Old Ones. Then take that insanity and place it on a world of its own to live upon and do what it wills. I am certain she would take the insanity from all of you as well. And place it on that world. Then for you, she will have Lord Death take you to the Final Gate and escort you all through it to the Great Beyond on the other side. There you will have new bodies, new lives, and you choose your destiny. This to give back to you what was taken from you by the 'Mother'. You would no longer be lonely, this I can promise, for there will be many she gave the opportunity to go there, and they will greet you as brothers and sisters, until the day when she herself crosses over, never to return to this Existence."

     Darkstar then kneels down next to the shadow, bows her head, and prays to the 'Nine' to help these sealed in here until she and Iriisii can free them from their insanity and send them into the Great Beyond. Olaf is startled to see a cone of light appear from the stone ceiling above and encompass Darkstar and the shadow. The shadow seems to calm down in the light's presence.

      Akatosh: "Once again, Darkstar, our daughter, you have shown what you have learned from Iriisii. And taken it into your heart to live by those tenets. They have and will continue to serve you well, of that we have no doubts. We will do as you ask and provide company for those sealed there until you and Iriisii can give them a more permanent solution. They are true innocents, caught up in decisions of adults that should have known better. Mara is sending an aspect of herself to care for them in your absence, so they will now always have someone to be with them."

      An 'Aspect of Mara' appears and walks to the shadow, kneels and places her Aetherial hand against the shadow's face, softly speaking to it. "There now, I am a part of the Divine called Mara, I will be here with you to keep you all company. Now you do not have to worry about being alone here in the darkness. For I will bring you the Aetherial light to guide your path. Would you like for me to tell you a story?" The shadow nods its head.

      Akatosh: "You may reclaim your dagger now, the shadow will no longer be a problem. It has served its purpose, and may yet serve you well again later, for you will find the Hist fear it. Leave when you are ready and know we will watch over you and help as much as we can. Walk in our grace, daughter, and know no fear."

      Darkstar: "Let us go, our work here is done. At least for the foreseeable future."

     They stop in whatever town is close to them and take a little time to relax. Iriisii/Darkstar will usually sit at the bar and listen to the stories of what is going on, ask the innkeeper about rumors and recent events. She hears nothing of any interest until the fifth town they visit, going closer to their goal with each stop. Here, in this town, she hears something that perks her interest. Rather than interrupt the storyteller, she asks the Innkeeper about it.

     Iriisii: "Innkeeper, what can you tell me about the story that is being told about Mountainview?"

     Innkeeper: "Aye, that is a sad tale to be told. Are you certain you want to hear it?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, I am. I knew some of the people that lived there in times past. Have not been back in quite a while."

     Innkeeper: "Then you probably do not know of what happened. It was some years ago, somewhere about twenty or so, I remember a large group of travelers came through asking about where it was. I did not think anything of it and gave them directions. They did not stay here long and went on their way. Some time later, another smaller group, polite folk for sure, asked about the village. But the questions they asked concerned me greatly."

     Iriisii: "What questions were they asking?"

     Innkeeper: "If anyone had heard from them? Had there been any signs of a battle? Those kinds of questions. I knew they were concerned about the answers I gave them. I asked if they had heard anything, but they just said they were looking for someone that they were supposed to have met earlier and no one showed up for the meeting.

     They came back a few days later and told me of what they had found. The entire village slaughtered to the last man, woman, and child. The entire place burned to the ground. I ask you, who would do such a thing? They never harmed a soul in their lives! Sure they pretty much kept to themselves, came to trade from time to time for things they could not make for themselves, but they were always polite and helpful. Never had a cross word, always paid their trading debts. Good and honest folk they were."

     Iriisii: "Yes, that is also how I remember them."

     Innkeeper: "I asked if they found the one they were looking for, but they said one they did but not the other. They said they had been looking for one of the old men and his granddaughter. They were to take the granddaughter and put her in a training school her grandfather had arranged to place her in. Him they found, but not her. They seemed very distraught about it, that she had a bright future ahead of her if they could but find her."

     Iriisii: "That is a sad story indeed. To think that such things happen in this day and age. No one is safe it seems."

     She takes a pull from her mug of ale, and hangs her head. The Innkeeper notices and asks.

     Innkeeper: "You knew of the old man and his granddaughter, didn't you?"

     Iriisii head still down until she raises it to answer. The Innkeeper sees the tears welling up in her eyes as she tells him.

     Iriisii: "Yes, I knew them both. They were well liked and respected. I thought of the old man as if he were my own father and his granddaughter like she was my younger sister. They treated me like family, and now my family is gone."

     Innkeeper: "Aye, I see the pain in your eyes. I remember one winter, my wife took sick. The village Sage came and stayed with us a few days taking care of her. Brought her through it just fine. Good, solid folk, all of them. But there was something that happened just a few weeks ago. We heard a rumbling up there. Thought it was a ground shaker, but a few said they saw a flash of light from that direction. No one wanted to go and see what it was, afraid I guess, there have been tall tales told of those mountains for as long as people have lived here. Nothing about monsters or such, just peoples imaginations running away with them, I guess."

     Iriisii: "Aye, there are a lot of areas like that, some are just tales told to scare the children by a campfire, but others, others have some truth to them. If you do not know which are true and which are just tales, best to stay safe. Let those trained to deal with trouble go and look."

     Innkeeper: "You speak from experience. I can tell. Your companions are strong ones, know their way around a sword. If you are heading that way, take a look, if there is something there, take care of it. They deserve to rest in peace."

     Iriisii: "Aye, I will. As you say, they deserve no less."

     Innkeeper: "Then may the Gods bless you and watch over you. Come back and tell me what you found."

     Iriisii: "I will, I promise."

     A few hours later finds them within first sight of the mountain pass that they must get through to enter the region where Mountainview resides.

     Iriisii: "Ok, if we can keep up this pace, we will be within sight of Mountainview by sunset. It will unfortunately be full dark before we get there, so be prepared to pitch camp in the dark."

     Iriisii can feel something ahead, something that has her nerves on edge. The gut twisting will start later, once she gets closer. Olaf, sensitive to what affects her, makes sure he is ready to defend her no matter what happens. He was told before being sent that there were several possibilities that could happen, which one..., there was no telling. Just that the remerging of the timelines would begin and continue for some years before completed. The event that started it she does not remember, she only knows that Akatosh told her that it was done without the Jills' help. Whether, she did it herself, or some other agency, even he has not been able to pierce the veil laid over that area for a time period of a month.

     Iriisii looks to Olaf: "You know something of this? Tell me."

     Olaf: "The only thing I know for certain, is that the remerging of the time lines begins here. It is clouded for about a month, and that Akatosh himself has not been able to pierce the fog veil over that time period in this place. So he does not know who or how the remerging was started. Only that it took several years to accomplish, and his Jills' had nothing to do with it."

     Iriisii: "The Jills' had nothing to do with the remerging! Are you certain of that?"

     Olaf: "Yes, He said it was a source of great consternation to them. After it was done, they took one good, long, look at it, and almost left Mundus for good. All that they would say, was that they could not even come close to doing what was done. That there was someone or something able to do what was done, frightened them into a panic."

     Iriisii as she looked at the tied up blanket in the back of the wagon, "Interesting."

     Olaf: "You think..."

     Iriisii: "I do not know anything for certain. Just possibilities right now. We will have to wait and see what happens. If my future self has no idea, nor Akatosh, the only thing we can be certain of is that I will have no memory of what happens. Maybe that is a conscious decision, maybe not, again we must wait and see."

     Olaf: "Yeah, waiting like that is the hardest thing we can do."

     Iriisii: "Agreed. But if it is going to take a month here, we do what we must, slow and easy, no rush. We must be certain of what we do before we do it."

     Olaf: "Understood."

     The light of the sun begins to fade as it drops behind the mountain peaks in the distance. The heat of the day begins to fade and the air begins to cool. They have entered the pass and can see the region beyond where Mountainview lies. As yet there is no indication of anything strange or different about the area. Iriisii urges the horses a little faster to try and arrive at the remains of Mountainview before the last light of sunset is gone.

     As they get closer and the setting sun dims even more, a mental pressure begins to grow in her mind. She feels the 'Spark of Divinity' waiting for her to lay claim to it, and it is even more powerful than she had thought it would be. Her thoughts run toward what will this do to her when she claims and absorbs this 'Spark'. She even thinks of turning around and leaving it to lie there. But she knows she cannot do that. Her task as the last Aasimar on Nirn, the last of her people, is to take the 'Spark' within herself and help the restless spirits to find peace.

     Getting closer, she can almost hear the sounds from her memories of what happened that night as they return to her in anticipation of closure. Now she can see a glow forming where she had dug the mass grave and laid the bones of the dead with the blades set to defend their resting place until she could enact the ritual she is now here to perform. The last ray of the setting sun rests on the mass gravesite, as she sees it once more. And the full weight of what happened so long ago comes upon her. Olaf notices her reaction.

     Olaf: "Are you all right?"

     Iriisii: "No. It is all coming back to me, what happened as the first arrow in the night took my Grandfather from me. As I raced home to get my blades, climbed out through an unpatched hole in the thatch roof. How I proceeded to find every assassin I could lay my blades into their bodies, bringing them down, as the other families, men, women, children burned in their homes. The few who managed to get out, cut down without mercy. I resolved to do to the assassins what they were doing to my village. Kill them without mercy, send as many to the burning hells as I could before I arrived to claim them as my servants. How I saw the Sage, captured, questioned, then killed before my eyes. I went mad with bloodlust and rage. I thought that if I was to become one of the 'Fallen' that night then I would make such a name for myself that all would fear me."

     Olaf: "Like Desidarius did."

     Iriisii: "Yes, like Desidarius did. Somehow I felt she would be waiting for me, to welcome me into her arms. That together we would take on the Hells and the Abyss by bloodstorm. That we would make them ours and rule over them for eternity."

     Olaf: "And then the Mother' drugged and captured you."

     Iriisii: "And all my dreams came crashing down into darkness. Yet, even as I lay teetering on the edge of that darkness, I called out to Desidarius."

     Olaf: "And she answered you."

     Rigmor and Rose had been rapt and silent while this was going on. Some Rigmor knew but much of this she did not. Rose had no idea any of this had happened to her before she met Iriisii by the road into Riverwood that day that Rigmor fell from the tree while escaping from the Thalmor.

     Iriisii: "Yes, she answered me. She spoke to me, calmly, quietly, I felt the desire in her for me even then. How she wanted to take me away from what was happening, and grieving that she could not. For only by my free will could I go to her, go with her, and the Black Lotus was already claiming me for itself. I felt myself slipping into its grasp as she did as well. I started to speak her name, to cry out to the Heavens and the Hells for the power to throw off the Black Lotus long enough for Desidarius to claim me. But she stopped me, she said they did not deserve to know her name, that only I was worthy to know her. But I did not have the control over myself needed to give myself to her, and she only wanted me if it was by the decision of my free will."

     Olaf: "What did she do then?"

     Iriisii: "She turned to the 'Mother', and told her to take good care of me. To teach me all that she could, and to see that I live or she would wake in the night some time and find Desidarius staring down upon her. She told us both that from that moment on she would be watching, and that someday she would come back for me. And if I had been harmed, the 'Mother' would pay dearly for it. I heard her whisper words into my mind, of our previous meetings. And how from the very first, she had fallen in love with me. That there would be more meetings between us, until the one that would come about when we would be together. And that she would hold herself apart, letting nothing come between us. Then when we would become one, we would be together for eternity. She told me then to sleep, to do whatever the 'Mother' told me to do. To do whatever I had to do to stay alive. Learn all that I could be taught, and know that she would be watching over me."

     Rigmor: "That was the first time anyone, except for her Grandfather, told her they loved her. Damn, I thought I was the first. But she did not know that when we met, so in some way I was first."

     Olaf: "And then the 'Mother' took you from this place, and began training you, preparing you for when your feet would find the path you are now on."

     Iriisii: "Yes, it is why I have come to feel of her as I have. To know that she too was nudged by the Gods."

     Rigmor gasps, and Rose forms the most incredulous look on her face.

     Olaf: "Why do you think she was nudged by the Gods?"

     Iriisii: "Because her orders were to kill me, not capture me. She saw how I could fight, was willing to kill everyone that night. She told Brutus, the 'Father', to watch how I was 'dancing with Death himself' that night at my side. How my every move, every step was perfectly balanced. How I never wavered, my blades always found a victim. She said I was 'magnificent' and that she wanted me for herself."

     Rigmor looks to Rose and whispers, "Now I see it, how it all comes together. The Gods did nudge the 'Mother' to save Iriisii's life. And they nudged Desidarius as well, for from her we reclaimed Illyria. The question is how much more is to happen before they are done with her. And what is to happen after that. But we still do not know who ordered her dead and why."

     Olaf: "And in our future time, we are close to finding out."

     Rigmor: "WHAT! WHO?"

     Olaf: "We do not know just yet, but soon. They made mistakes, mistakes that they covered very well and very deep. It took time for them to surface and for word to reach us. But they did, and we are hot on the trail."

     Rigmor: "What mistakes were made?"

     Olaf: "The Crimson Hand were hired to deal with the Sinister Seven when it was discovered Iriisii was still alive."

     Rigmor: "Only by then she had already dealt with the Sinister Seven herself."

     Olaf: "Yes."

     Rigmor: "Any other mistakes?"

     Olaf: "Yes, whoever it was, also paid for the Grey Writ against Kintyra. It was the only means that could be found to get to Iriisii. To put her out of the way of whatever their plans were. She as Aasimar, was critical to be sidelined, and their plans to go forward. And now they will soon be found out and pay for their actions against you all. But what is about to happen here, is of far greater importance."

     Rose beats Rigmor to the question that is asked next.

     Rose: "What is to happen now?"

     Olaf: "I know only that I am to help her in some way to begin merging the timelines of this Dragonbreak that we are in right now. It goes back more than twenty years in real time, our time."

     Rigmor: "How is that? Is the start not equal in all of the ones involved?"

     Olaf: "I do not understand the depths of this, even my Vi..., even the one I am 'bound' to, does not understand. And is frightened by the implications of that. But some things she does know, took me aside, and told me what she did know. That Iriisii once undertook a dream quest, no, that is not accurate, but it is as close as we can understand of what happened. She was searching for how her forebears first became Aasimar. And completely unexpectedly was drawn into the path to that answer when Sharra handed her a metal page that they had acquired not long after their beginning and kept in their archives. It took her deep into Nirn's history, during the 'God Wars'. She experienced what happened that began the Aasimar, but it also looks like that same event, also occurred in at least one parallel timeline, although with somewhat different results."

     Rigmor: "What differences?"

     Olaf: "I cannot say because the differences are beyond my understanding, not only because of how it could happen, but what did happen in both that timeline and this one. This is where it really goes beyond the understanding of all of us. In our time, Iriisii remembers her past in a single coherent series of memories. But not all of those memories occurred in this timeline, some occurred in a second one, and some in a third. There are some memories that seem to conflict, two somewhat different memories of the same event but both able to be proven to have happened. This led us to the discovery of this 'Dragonbreak' and its merger back into a single timeline. And then she learned that Akatosh's 'Jills' did not effect the repair of this 'Dragonbreak'."

     Rigmor: "Then how did it come to be repaired...? This is what we are doing here! She was led here to both, lay the spirits of her people to rest, and to repair this Dragonbreak. Is there a connection between the two?"

     Olaf: "We believe it is what must happen when she absorbs the 'Spark of Divinity' that awaits her down among the bones she buried all those years ago. It contains within itself all that happened from its beginning until now, of the entirety of the Dragonbreak. That when she takes it into herself, repairing the 'break' will let her settle the course of history so that it becomes what she remembers."

     Rose: "But what of the other timelines? What happens to them?"

     Olaf: "That is where it gets 'into the weeds' so to speak. Usually when the 'Jills' repair a Dragonbreak, they knit bits and pieces into a coherent whole, the rest is discarded. The discarded will eventually dissipate as time moves on. But we believe this will somehow be a true merging, there will be no discarded pieces, everything will be merged together. What happens to the different parts that are not chosen to become a part of the main timeline, we do not know for certain. But they remain valid and continue on, somewhere. There will be traces remaining in this timeline, as there will be traces of this one in the others. We think the others will be similarly repaired and allowed to exist to progress on their own. At least that is our hope."

     Rigmor: "For you to have been told all of this, that must mean that your 'significant other' is a D..."

     Olaf: "Say no more! That cannot be known yet! You risk it never coming to be if you speak it aloud now, under the current circumstances."

     Rigmor: "You mean it could be dragged into the merger of the timelines and change what happens later to bring it about?"

     Olaf: "Yes, since a great deal of my knowledge of this came from that source, if it does not happen..."

     Rigmor: "One Oblivion size paradox could be birthed."

     Olaf: "One that would ensure the complete destruction of all of Existence, every Realm, every universe, gone in the blink of an eye."

     Rose: "How does this begin? I mean does she know how to start the merger?"

     Iriisii: "I must experience the other timelines, the events that circle me in them. For that is the 'Crux' of all of this. For this to be a true merger, those other aspects of me must be merged with me."

     Rigmor: "And how are you going to experience their lives if you cannot enter into their timeline without destroying it?"

     Iriisii: "I will do as I did when I watched the events that gave birth to my kind. As I rode the mind of Kthanid and participated in the great battle with him against his half-brother. In the end, the three of 'me' must become 'one', and then there will be 'one' of 'me' in this timeline and in the others as well. Only in this way can all three survive and go forward to their own destinies. And the remaining two must survive, for I do not have the right to choose life or death, existence or obliteration for them, and I refuse to take that 'right' and 'decision' into my own hands."

     Rigmor in a quiet voice, "What is this going to do to you?"

     Iriisii: "I will still be the Iriisii you both fell in love with, that will never change. The memories that I remember of my past will be clear and set into history. I will have a foundation for my future to rest upon. I will know and remember what happened in the other timelines but I will know that they are not my personal memories, but those of what might have been. Just as the other two will look upon their memories likewise. How this will playout in future history will only be known as it happens. There will be no way to look ahead and separate our lives. They will evolve and become separate as they are experienced."

     Rigmor: "So any other looking forward at your timeline will not know what is yours and what belongs to the others. Only as each experiences their life will that life be set in that timeline."

     Iriisii: "Precisely, that is the way it must be and that is my intention."

     Rose: "You truly do not do anything by half measures, do you?"

     Iriisii: "No, and it is that above all else that has built each of us the life that we have together. And I would not have it any other way. Now we must get what rest we can, there is nothing more to be done tonight. We will be here the better part of a month. And above all, when I start this, there must be no interruptions, it is critical to this going as I feel it should."

     As Rose reaches into the wagon for the spare blankets, she glances at the object wrapped in one of the blankets. As her eyes pass over it, she can see a deep glow leaking from a few of the folds of the blanket, and then feels a waft of power flow by her.

     Rose: "I think this 'thing' in the wagon is waking up."

     Iriisii: "Back away from it, slowly, and watch where you put your hands."

     Rose: "I cannot seem to move my feet!"

     Olaf then quickly moves to Rose's side. Gently taking her hands in his and removing them from the wagon's sideboard, he then tells her he is going to pick her up so as not to surprise her. He moves one arm down to the back of her knees, using the other he places one of her arms around his thick neck, then moving that arm to the small of her back. He asks her if she is ready, and she gives him her assent. In the space of just a second, he effortlessly has her cradled in his arms and is moving away from the wagon. He brings her to where Iriisii and Rigmor were standing in a patch of low growing grass some twenty feet or so from the wagon. He then returns her to her feet.

     Rose: "I do not know just who your 'other half' is but she is one hell of a lucky woman to have you."

     Olaf just grins and says, "I will be sure to tell her you said that when I see her again. She likes to hear others say things like that about me."

     Rose: "I bet she does. Damn but I wish...no, Rose don't go there."

     Olaf: "It is alright, as Iriisii grows into the power that she will acquire, she will be able to do such things for you that you will speak of her like you wanted to speak of me."

     Rose: "Really?"

     Olaf: "Yes. I have no reason to exaggerate or lie to you about that or anything else either."

     Iriisii: "That is all well and good, but we need to get some sleep. The nights are cool here at this time of the year, and daybreak comes early before things warm up. Olaf, there should be plenty of dead wood around. If you will gather some, I will start a fire in the firepit. That will keep the chill at bay until morning."

     The next morning arrives cool, almost cold, and crisp. Throwing more wood in the firepit, it catches and the flames relieve some of the cold they feel. The eat a sparse breakfast, and get themselves ready for the trial to begin. Iriisii kneels before the mass grave and draws upon her training to fill herself with peace and calm. Once her mind is still and receptive, her soul at peace with past and present, she tentatively reaches out to the gathered power buried within the grave.

     She almost cannot believe the intensity of the 'Spark' that has been waiting for her to come. But she has no choice but to accept it and what it will bring to and awaken in her, not if she intends to remain true to herself and her heritage. Never would she turn her back on who she is, the life she has led, and the responsibilities that she bears. She feels the awesome weight of that responsibility but she also now feels that along with that is something more. She realizes in her heart that being an Aasimar is but a stage in her life, in the life of all who came before her. She has no idea of what she will become, where it will lead her, what will be the things she will do. For a moment she is back at High Hrothgar as she announced to Arngeir and the other Greybeards about the fate of Alduin.

     Arngeir: "I can see it in your eyes. You have seen the 'Land of the Gods' and returned. Does this mean... it is done... is Alduin truly defeated?"

     Iriisii: "Yes. I went to Sovngarde and killed Alduin there."

     Arngeir: "At last. It is over. Perhaps it was all worth it in the end. You have shown yourself mighty in both Voice and deed. In order to defeat Alduin you have gained mastery of dreadful weapons. Now it is up to you to decide what to do with your power and skill. Will you be a hero, whose name will be remembered in song throughout the ages, or will your name be a curse to future generations. Or will you merely fade from history, unremembered. Let the 'Way of the Voice' be your guide, and the path of wisdom will be clear to you. Breath and focus Dragonborn, your future lies before you. Kynareth has placed the voice of wisdom within you, all you need do is listen to it, and your way will be clear."

     She stills herself, remembering how and what she felt when he spoke those words to her. And so she speaks from her soul to Kynareth or Kyne as she was known of old.

     Iriisii: "Kynareth, Kyne, you who have guided my steps since I was awakened as a Dragonborn. You, who have helped me to learn, use, and deal with the powers once given to the warriors of old. But as they strayed from the path set for them, whether it was by the power of the gifts they were given, their own weakness in letting their own desires guide them, I do not know. I only ask that your words keep me on the path I am to follow. I stand to gain even more power than any child of Nirn has ever taken upon themselves. I now know that I will never fade away, unremembered into the mists of forgetfulness, that fate has been spared me. It tells me that there is much more for me to do, tasks that require me to use ever greater power, skill, and strength to accomplish. But I need your wisdom to balance all within me, to keep me on the path ahead. Let the words you have given me stay strong within me. Let them guide me on my way that I may never stray away from your wisdom."

     Kyne: "My beloved 'Child of Thunder', soon enough you will be called to those who stand above us all. But do not fear or despair the path you must walk. No matter the trial, no matter the battle ahead, you have only to trust in yourself. You will have the guidance of those who you will bring to your side. Listen to them, take their words within you, then look to the balance within you. When your thoughts, desires, and needs are in balance within, then the way forward will be shown to you. Stride forth fearlessly, then you will prevail, and all will be as it was meant to be. We, the 'Nine Divines' cannot see the full direction you will follow, so we have committed to give you tools that you can carry with you, that will aid you in whatever you find along your path. It begins here in what was once your 'home' and now is but a memory of grief. Bring peace to the souls that lie here in restless sleep, then look within yourself and do what you see and feel is right. Then continue on your path, and know our blessings will be with you all the way of your journey."

     Iriisii raises her head and to Olaf, Rigmor, and Rose standing near her, awaiting if she needed their help.

     Iriisii: "It is time to begin. I know not how long this will take. If, once started, it must be continued till it is complete, or if it can be paused to allow me to reflect and understand what I must do next. It may be that it will be my decision as to how this will proceed. I will just have to go forward and see what may be. I want to thank you all for how much help you have been, and pray that such will continue onward. First, I must absorb the 'Spark of Divinity' before I do anything else. Once that is done and I have full command of what it gives me, then we will approach the most dangerous and daunting part of this, the 'merging'. If you feel you must intervene, be very careful. If I lose control and any of you are touching me, I cannot say what will happen. So please, be careful, I do not want any of you injured or worse."

     She sees the agreement in the expressions on their faces and so turns back to the mass grave. She then rises and walks to the center, feeling the power of the 'Spark' below her she kneels and quiets her mind. Once that is done, she opens her senses and tentatively reaches out for the 'Spark'. Once it realizes there is a open path into her it rushes to fill her. She puts everything she can into channeling it into a reservoir until she can integrate it more slowly. The 'Spark' does not care for this, but has no choice. It must obey her dictates, if it is to add itself to her. Then she begins to see the 'three' timelines that have bound themselves together. They are still separate, but are inexplicably twisting around each other, forming a braid of some kind. She realizes she must make a choice, separate them and then go through the merging process, or do it as they are. If she does it as they are braided, can she create one timeline out of them or somehow keep them apart, seal them to maintain their integrity, then see where this leads.

     Remembering what Kyne told her, she delves into her heart and soul to find the answer that she seeks. Once there she sees her other selves in the other timelines and reaches out to them. Her intent is to ride them silently while she flows up and down their timeline, looking at the events in them and how they differ from what she remembers in hers. She goes back and finds her conception and birth to Alessia and Talos to be a common event, and breathes a silent breath of relief. A solid starting point to begin from.

     She relives the first span of eighteen years of her life through the eyes of each of the two others, noting almost no differences between her memories and the events she is reliving. The effect of this pageant of her past on her is touching as almost nothing else in her life has been up to now. So many of her own memories come back as she watches these two. She feels that they could become identical triplets, each feeling what the others are. And that thought slowly begins unfolding something she never imagined could happen.

     Timeline*2

     Their Iriisii is about ten years old.

     Alessia: "She is finally asleep. Come outside with me, I need to speak with you about something."

     Both Alessia and Talos rise and quietly step outside the cottage to look at Roscrea's night sky.

     Alessia: "I hope to never forget what this sky looks like from here. With just you and our daughter to experience it."

     Talos: "I agree with you, but that is not what you wanted to talk about."

     Alessia sighs, "Yes, you are right. There is something about her that is different. I have seen it almost since she was born, but I have no idea what it is. It is not harming her in the least. It just seems to be watching her. And sometimes I get the slightest sense of longing from it."

     Talos: "I know, I have felt it as well."

     Alessia: "You know! And you have said nothing about it?"

     Talos: "As you said, it was not harming her, just watching. And I too have felt a longing from it. For me, it feels like the longing from one sibling for another, like you find in some twins."

     Alessia: "Yes, that is it exactly. But what could it mean, where did it come from?"

     Talos: "I really do not know, and I also do not know who we could ask about this."

     Alessia: "I do."

     Talos: "No! It is too dangerous to go and ask 'THEM'! If 'THEY' are somehow involved..."

     Alessia: "Hush! You will wake her up."

     Talos lowers his voice, "You know what I am talking about. Even WE must tread carefully where 'THEY' are concerned."

     Alessia: "I know, but this is our daughter, we are speaking of."

     Talos: "And that makes me even less inclined to 'rock the boat'. It is already bad enough that Akatosh made his request of us, do you think it may be somehow related?"

     Alessia: "Possible, but I think it is not with his knowledge or permission. And if that is the case..."

     Talos: "I know, whoever it is that is involved would have to be much more powerful than he is. But what does that mean for Iriisii? Damn it all to Oblivion, I feel so helpless!"

     Alessia: "Then let me ask 'THEM'. If 'THEY' do know something or are involved, they will say nothing unless they want to. And if they are not involved, should they not want to be, all things considered?"

     Talos: "You are right. If 'THEY' are in this, then 'THEY' will either tell us to forget about it, or tell us what is going on. And if they are not in it, 'THEY' will want to know. Come, we will need to be farther away before asking one of 'THEM' to come to us."

     They walk deep into the woods surrounding their cottage. They can hear the lowing of the deer watching them from a distance. Soon they come upon a clearing, a small stream runs through it, and a slight foggy mist rises from the running water. The moon appears from behind a cloud and its light illuminates the foggy mist. Alessia walks to the mist, and speaks to it.

     Alessia: "Guardians of the Kel, hear my prayer. I ask for guidance concerning our daughter. Of what events are occurring that 'someone' has been watching her from within since just after her birth. If this is your doing, we ask only to be informed of what you are willing to tell us. That we can better prepare her for what lies ahead of her."

     The foggy mist begins to rise and coalesce. It takes a familiar shape, that of a scroll made of the foggy mist.

     Kell: "We are aware of that which you speak of. We are not the ones who put this into motion. But rest assured the 'watcher' means no harm. In fact, the 'watcher' would rather she herself be harmed than any come to your daughter. As to what is happening, that is dangerous territory to be treading, even for us. But we do have faith in the 'watcher', that she will follow her instincts, and do what is best for all concerned. As to exactly what is going on, the less anyone else knows..., too much knowledge can be more deadly than not enough. That is where all of this is now treading into."

     Alessia: "How can we help?"

     Kell: "It is not for us to help in this, but rather for the 'watcher' to find that which she looks for. Once she has done that she can then make her decision."

     Alessia: "Who is this 'watcher' that you tread so carefully around?"

     Kell: "She is one who our brothers will help to attain her destiny, even now she reaches for power set aside for her from her distant racial past, as she performs a grievous task that only she can do. For she is the last Aasimar of her homeworld in her timeline. The 'Spark of Divinity' once shared with her ancestors and carried down untold generations is hers to claim, as she lays to rest the restless spirits of her people. She will take into herself the power that they held while living, and now will relinquish to her. Now that they are dead and she has given them vengeance against those who took their lives. She will take that power and begin the arduous task of repairing a Dragonbreak that will occur in about ten years from now. How she repairs the 'break', will determine her future and the future of this timeline as well as another."

     Alessia: "This 'break' will occur in ten years?"

     Kell: "It will."

     Alessia: "How long will it last?"

     Kell: "For about fourteen years."

     Alessia: "...Fourteen years...? And Akatosh's Jills have not attempted to repair it?"

     Kell: "It is not for them to repair, for it is beyond their capabilities. The 'break' was in some ways deliberate. It was created to allow a certain action to take place at the eighth year time point. Exactly what occurs is different for each of the timelines, and the 'watcher' must see the other two. There will be other things that will be seen as well, terrible things. But they must be endured if help is to be found to deal with the consequences of those events."

     Alessia: "I am sorry, but you make no sense."

     Kell: "We have spoken in a way to answer your questions without endangering what must come. For all our sakes, nothing must impede the 'watcher'."

     The misty shape of the scroll fades and the foggy mist is just a foggy mist once more.

     Alessia looks to Talos, "What do you think of this? Should we believe him or not?"

     Talos: "Disbelieve a Kel at your own risk, I will not do it. But as Iriisii is deeply asleep enough, perhaps we may speak with this 'Watcher' through her."

     Alessia: "That is actually a good idea, not like using that Numinidium."

     Talos: "You know how I got tricked into that. Damn near used me to power that thing. Come on let us see how deep our daughter is sleeping, if she is dreaming, that would be even better."

     Alessia: "How is that?"

     Talos: "I can ask a friend to take her down the 'Ten Thousand Steps of Deeper Dreaming', then we will have plenty of time to talk to this 'Watcher' before Iriisii wakes."

     Alessia: "Yes, indeed one of your better ideas."

     Talos: "And sending Pelinal Whitestrake out to fight for you was a good idea?"

     Alessia: "You were not there, so shut up about it. Would you rather I have courted Umaril?"

     Talos: "You were interested in HIM?!"

     Alessia: "No, but keeping him as far from me as possible was why I used Pelinal. I knew they would fight each other one day and I hoped that Pelinal would be the one to survive. Uuggh, the very thought of Umaril touching me, gives me the shudders."

     Talos: "Come here, let me hold you."

     Alessia: "You did that on purpose!"

     Talos: "Can you blame me?"

     Alessia: "Honestly, no."

     The pair of ascendants go back to the cottage and look in on their daughter, deep asleep and dreaming.

     Alessia: "She is definitely dreaming, let us see if the 'Watcher' inside her will speak with us."

     Alessia drags a chair up to Iriisii's bed and gently lays a hand on her, cupping her face.

     Alessia: "Will the 'Watcher' riding our daughter's mind speak with us?"

     Iriisii's voice comes through as though solemnly echoing across the timelines and dimensions.

     Iriisii: "I will speak as to what I can, some things are not allowed by the circumstances all of us are now involved in."

     Alessia: "First, just who are you?"

     Iriisii: "Bear with me and listen before disbelief swallows you whole. I am your daughter, Iriisii. I am an older version from an adjacent timeline. This is because of a 'Dragonbreak' within my own timeline that I am looking into the best means of either merging them together and repairing the 'break' or sealing them apart and allow them to progress into the future."

     Alessia: "Wait, is the 'break' in your timeline only?"

     Iriisii: "No, the nature of this 'break' is that it occurred at the same point in all three of the timelines involved. I am the only one of the three capable of mending this, and it must be done. If it is not, the threats that can be crossed over from one to another will threaten all with paradox destruction if they are not either mended or separated."

     Alessia: "You say there are differences in them, can you describe them?"

     Iriisii: "I cannot go into them save to say that they start from the event that caused the Dragonbreak. There are different pasts that erupted from the 'Dragonbreak'. How this came about is not certain, but it is why a 'simple' mending will not fix the problem, and why I am doing this and not Akatosh's Jills. I believe I know why or what the event is that caused the Dragonbreak. I hope to find that out for certain as I move along the timeline. Then evaluate what can be done that is best for all concerned. I would not destroy your timeline and the other involved by merging them with mine if there is another way."

     Alessia: "You say our 'past' erupted from the 'Dragonbreak'. How could this be?"

     Iriisii: "I believe it is due to 'who' initiated the Dragonbreak. And why they felt it was needed. It had to be from a deity beyond any we know, outside of Mundus. There is no other within our Realm that is powerful enough to do this, even Magnus could not do it. But what frightens me more is the question of 'Why'. And if it was one truly one deity, or the one and its reflections in the two other timelines created by the 'Dragonbreak'.

     I know I am delving into very esoteric metaphysics in this, with very little to backup what I say, but it fits with what I have so far observed. I believe the entity had no prior experience with a 'Dragonbreak', and so set in motion the event that not only created this one, but caused yours and the other to create an entire past. These three timelines are entwined together, barely touching at various points, the bleed through creating the alternate pasts. Your daughter is set to experience 'her' past and although similar to my own experience is different in some very important events and decisions that went in different directions. I am sorry that I cannot relate them to you for it could cause even more problems if I did. Save to say, it is a very tangled mess that came about and now it must be 'cleaned up' or it could destroy Existence itself."

     Alessia: "I was thinking, is it possible..."

     Iriisii: "The answer you are looking for is 'yes'."

     Alessia feels tears back up in her eyes. Talos notices and asks.

     Talos: "What question was in your mind?"

     Alessia: "Who were her parents in her timeline."

     Talos reaches up and catches a tear beginning its lonesome trek down her face.

     Talos: "I think I can guess what her answer was."

     Looking toward his daughter, "They must be very proud of what you have accomplished."

     Iriisii: "I currently am Empress of Tamriel, soon to be of all of Nirn. When I accept the 'Calling', I will hand the throne to my and my mate's daughter, Kintyra III. I pray this time, the curse of that name will be broken. And before you ask it was my mate's choice. Soon I must move forward down the timeline, but I will share this with you. There is a possibility, I and your daughter will share an appellation that will be given to us. I have seen a glimpse of when it will be given to me, and I will pray that your daughter shares it with me."

     Alessia: "What is it?"

     Iriisii: "As you are known to be the 'Mother of All Minotaur', so will I, and I pray your daughter, come to be known as the 'Mother of All Dragons'. This is important as dragons live in nearly every Realm of Existence, not solely on Nirn. And their history goes back to the very beginning of Existence."

     Alessia: "And do you know what you have to do to earn that name?"

     Iriisii: "Give rebirth to the very first Dragon Gods of Existence, the Draconic Divines."

     Both Alessia and Talos are in shock to their aethereal cores.

     Iriisii: "I can understand your disbelief and consternation, but it is possible. Not by any means easy, simple, or any other similar pejorative. It will require the completion of many tasks and quests to build the power level needed to accomplish this. It will also require enabling certain abilities currently locked within the three of us. I cannot go into detail about this. I just know it can be done and to restore balance to Existence as a whole and thus Mundus as well, it will have to be done. It will also propel 'us' toward Celestial power levels unheard of in Existence, and unlock knowledge about 'who' we are that would otherwise remain hidden."

     Alessia: "You know far more than you are revealing, don't you."

     Talos: "Allie, don't."

     Alessia: "All right, when you call me 'Allie' I know you mean business. I apologize for my comment."

     Iriisii: "No offense was meant, none will be taken. It is not that I 'know' what I am speaking to you about. At least in my current 'age' in this timeline. My 'Elder' self knows all that I am mentioning. It is only because of the effects of being in a different timeline, absorbing the 'Spark of Divinity' from the mass grave where I buried the bones of my people, combined with certain things my 'Elder' self has done that 'memories' of these things are being projected to me here in my past. Besides being the 'Mother of All Dragons', she first ascended from Aasimar Scourge, which I am now, to Aasimar Guardian, and taking on the 'Mantle of the First Horseman of the Apocalypse'. In the future, they will call her 'War'. That started her on what 'she' calls our 'doom driven destiny'. I cannot yet understand where that will lead 'us'. It will be filled with many trials of pain, anguish, personal loss, but I am assured in the end the rewards far outweigh the price paid. I have seen glimpses of beauty so great, no mere words can describe it, and 'we' will walk paths so terrible even demons and gods alike will fear to tread upon them. Yet 'we' must do these things so that all others do not have to. My 'Elder' says these words regarding these things, "For if not 'us', then 'who'. If not 'now' then 'when'. For with great power, comes great responsibility and so these things I must do"."

     Alessia: "I have no more questions, those words say everything about 'who' you will become. There can be no higher 'calling' among those who call themselves 'Gods' that that which those words represent. I now know that you will do what is best for all involved in this Dragonbreak. And then go on to become something we should all aspire to. This is a humbling experience for me, but also a source of great pride for one of mine to reach for and one day touch upon. Thank you for sharing this with us. For you who is our daughter as much as this little one sleeping before us is, know we both love you with all our hearts and wish you well on your journey."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, mother, father. Your teachings in raising me, even though forgotten in memory because of future events, has nonetheless stayed with me in my soul, and in my soul they will never be forgotten. I love you both more than you will ever know. Please try to not be so harsh with Father Akatosh, he has tried to do the best he can in dealing with powers much greater than he is. And has nonetheless supported me in all that he has had to do that concerned me. He did right in choosing me to be his Dragonborn, even if he will never truly know just how 'right' he was."

     Alessia and Talos feel this Iriisii leave their daughter and sit watching her for a few minutes still.

     Talos: "I do not know what to think of what is going on that brings this to our knowledge, but to know that this is one step of the path our daughter is on, I truly do not know what thoughts are going through my mind right now.:

     Alessia: "A agree with you on this, but I take comfort in knowing our teaching of her will bloom and bring forth such fruit as she displays. This is far, far more than we envisioned. To know she that we created, shaped by our love for her, our teaching of all that we learned in our own mortal lives, will rise so high, take on so much power and responsibility, and remember why she must use it wisely. I say that the future fate of Existence could not be in better hands."

     Alessia then leans over and gives her Iriisii a gentle kiss on her forehead and stands, as Talos moves next to her, and places an arm around her waist drawing her close to him as they stand and watch their child dream of marvelous things and wonderful places that will await her in the Dreamlands.

     Iriisii feels a deep 'need?' has been met, something that had been plaguing her for years under the surface of her life. Now a sense of satisfaction and a settling of unknown debts has left her more at peace than she has been in a long time. Time to go forward and see what happened when she vanished from Roscrea, much to the pain and distress of her Celestial parents. She releases her desire to move forward and feels herself free from the temporal anchor that held her at that specific time point. The life of her ...sister?... flashes by her, almost all echoing her own memories. Then she slows and finds herself in this 'Iriisii' at her newly acquired age of eighteen. She is wandering in the northwest forest near to the cave that serves as the home of Dave, the werewolf. Her own senses tell her he is hiding well away from them, not desiring to draw the attention of Alessia and Talos.

     The younger Iriisii mutters to herself, 'I wish he would come out and at least talk to me. I mean I have known he was here since the time I first started wandering the island. And sometimes a new face, a new voice, would be welcome. I guess he fears mom and dad, cannot say I blame him there. They are protective of me even if they give me the run of the island. But they will not tell me of what those strange signs are that I have come across from time to time. They just say to stay away from them and if I see anything strange to hide and return home quickly. Oh well, it is still a nice day go on a walk.' She continues on her walk-about, then feels a cooling as a cloud passes over and hides the sunlight. Then she notices the shadow from the cloud, but this is not normal. It is darker, almost like a storm, but she does not feel the energy in the sky when a storm is forming.

     The younger Iriisii feels the need to yawn, then a sense of sleepiness falls over her. She starts to slump, and a strong pair of arms catches her and safely cradles her. The older Iriisii extends her senses to 'see' what is going on and feels shock streak its way through her. It is a 'Soulhound' that holds her 'sister' now. An Elder Soulhound at that, the ones with a double set of wings. The wildlife in the area are silent as the grave. Nothing moves or makes a sound in the presence of this Elder Power. Now it begins to make a sort of sense to her. This is an agent of the 'Power' that took her from Roscrea, who it represents she cannot find that information in what her elder self has gifted her with. Maybe when she sees 'it' when the Soulhound takes her to 'it' for whatever purpose 'it' has, will she find out 'why' this is happening.

     She sees the image in her mind of the island vanish, and what replaces it is beyond anything she thought she might see. She swears she can see all the different worlds within Mundus, and a tracery of energy that connects each one to another. The energy web is sparkling with tiny little arcs. She has no idea of what they represent, their colors are every one that she can see with her eyes, and many more that she must use other senses to 'see'. Then she sees a female figure, clothed in sheer robes that cover her from her neck to the floor, but seemingly hide nothing while covering everything. As she approaches, Iriisii cannot identify what race she belongs to. She seems to share some aspects with several, the result is a balance of features that enhance each other. When she speaks to the Soulhound, her voice sounds as if it is coming from more than just this dimension.

     'Mother of the Cosmos': "You have her? Yes, I see. She is unharmed, this is good. It will make what I must do easier. Bring her and follow me."

     As they walk, the 'Mother of the Cosmos' speaks to the Iriisii riding inside.

     'Mother of the Cosmos': "To you riding this child, your presence is noted. I thought something like that might happen because of the Dragonbreak. I want you to know that I wished this could be done without the complication, but I was not able to be as careful as I wanted to be. There are those working to thwart that which I wish to do. They are so shortsighted, but they would not believe me no matter what I said and proved. You, I think, will see the truth of this when your feet are set firmly on the path ahead. I do wish there had been another way, but the previous attempts failed disastrously. Now I do not have time to waste trying again from the beginning. You already have a path set for you by Akatosh, that will not change. What will change is what happens afterward. I do not know if you are aware, but when a Dragonborn is no longer needed, they fade back into Aetherius. This does take some time to occur.

     I have bargained with him for your services after your tasks for him are complete. Essentially, I need you for the same general purpose as he does, just on a far larger stage. You will need more knowledge, and power, than what he will provide you, to do what I need. So I will provide what you will need when the time comes. Please know that what things will happen to you to prepare you for your tasks as a Dragonborn are not of my choosing. But I cannot say that they will not adequately prepare you for your future. What I can do is provide rewards for you that I believe will balance the price of what you will need to learn. This is part of our bargain, for he cannot provide for you the rewards that I can. And that I believe you will more than earn. I will have to ask that just as I do what I must, so you must skip ahead a year or so. What you will see will be slightly different than what you remember that happened in your own life.

     These timelines will seek their own paths to reach the future and it is best to allow that to happen. Thus each of you will have some differences in how your life progresses to reach the same 'crux' points. Just watch and remember what happens, it may be possible, once you decide what path to take to repair this Dragonbreak that will happen, well, that I will leave to you to decide. You will do what you feel is best and that is all that any of us can expect. Once it is repaired, much of what you will learn will be buried. Your dragonsoul will have the keys to those memories. He will know when you need to recover them. This is to protect all three timelines from unintentional interference until their paths are set. And now we are ready to begin."