A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Adventures, The Truth Behind The Oblivion Crisis Options

[Acadian]

’Ocato and Captain Renault had all their meals at the Palace, coming back belching like sows afterward in front of men whose stomachs groaned for decent food.’
Captain Renault is a fool - and worse. I can imagine how she attained her rank, but it was most clearly not based on her leadership merit.

’A half hearted cheer went up till I started making promises. They doubted my ability to bring change, and no wonder. A Khajiit they didn’t know other than a cheater in a fight, they couldn’t believe any promise would be delivered on. I felt ashamed of taking these men down on a cheat. Captain Renault was one thing, these men were totally different.’
I love this humble self-assessment by Maxical.

“For the Empire!” I raised my sword in tribute to the men, coming after Eyja’s promise it got a hearty response and cheer.‘
When preceded by her list-gathering, promises to the soldiers, humility and insistence that they be taught more unconventional tactics, this shows that, although she doesn’t yet realize it, Maxical is growing into a leader – and champion.

“Instead of waiting for him to yell at me, I’ll walk in and rip up at him for the conditions his troops are in and these Blades he is relying on for protection.”
Bravo, Maxical. I think this is a superb plan of attack.

What a wonderful episode. Despite Maxical’s passionate doubts regarding Akatosh, her anger seems to be serving her well. I saw her grow a great deal here.

[Zalphon]

Maxical the Daedric Devotee--I like it. *Smiles and claps* I can't wait for further chapters.

[mALX]

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@ King Coin - You are right that Maxical needs to stop bartering with the gods/Daedric Lords, this is the second time she has sworn herself away over Gils. But Ocato - he is drawn toward young males rather than women, I guess my hints on that weren’t clear enough, lol. Thank you so much KC !!!

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@ Darkness Eternal - Yeah, Maxical feels Akatosh tricked her, and if he did she won’t trust him again. Uriel has def earned her loyalty, though. She will still serve him at least.

It means a lot to me to hear you could visualize Maxical’s rage in that scene - Thank you so very much Darkness !!!

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@ Grits - I’m with you, I so miss Rachel and her story! I’ve made a couple references to Rachel’s Jauffre (piking heads and killing the cook) in my story (and also used Dokada as the Adoring Fan) in her honor.

I was going through my first story today and found some tribute poems to Maxical that Rachel wrote, and she also made some great artwork for this story. She is so Awesome!

Thank you so much for your kind words, Grits !!!

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@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian !!! I am so glad you pointed this out:

although she doesn't yet realize it, Maxical is growing into a leader - and champion.

Yes, she def showed some growth and budding leadership ability in that chapter in spite of her temper fit at Akatosh - maybe a little bit because of it, since she thinks better when angry. So glad you caught that! Thanks again Acadian !!!



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@ Zalphon - Aha! Like the girl turning to the dark side, huh? Lol, Thank you so much Zalphon !!!


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[mALX]

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** The screenshot of Gils is actually an elf modded and captured on film by the Awesome Victoria. I keep screens of my characters on hand as inspiration when I'm writing their roles. Since I saw this screen on Victoria's thread I have used it as Gils when writing his parts, it hangs over my desk next to Colin Firth's (the model for Jakben Imbel). She has a lot of inspiring characters she has modded, and her talent for taking screens is unsurpassed.

You can find more of her wonderful photo work and gorgeous mods at this link:


Victoria's Screenshot Thread


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Chapter 160: Assassinations, Murder, And Theft


I cast frost on two towels, pressing one to my cheek and handing the other to Eyja. “Use this to get the swelling down.“

“Uriel is going to rage at you, Maxical. You went about this all wrong, it was sloppy. You should have come and gone like the wind, stealthily. Just taken her down, no one else should even know you’ve been here.”

“I just wanted to beat her, not murder her. And I had a legitimate claim and legal standing to challenge her.”

“You know a lot about the law?” Eyja looked surprised.

“Yeah. I‘ve had to defend myself a lot, I’m always getting into trouble. Uriel has a file on my misdeeds thicker than the length of Baurus‘s sword.” I held my hands up and showed her.

“BWAAHAA! If it was me I’d have just crept in and killed her, or probably both of them. They might suspect you, but they couldn’t prove it.”

“They don't need proof against Khajiit, and we don't fare well in prisons. Besides, I couldn’t stand the thought of Gils being dead. But if I did, there are legal ways to do it.”

“How?”

“Dunmer law. Request Divayth Fyr do an investigation into Gils’ activities with Captain Renault. As Gils’ first wife, I’m the only one he can share his mysteries with. So if he is bedding anyone else and I‘m alive, that’s all the proof they’d need that he’s sharing his mysteries with another. That is breaking tenets, it is punishable by death to both Gils and Captain Renault.”

“Maxical! That is evil genius!”

“No, it is just using the law to your benefit. Keeps the Dark Brotherhood from visiting you in your sleep.”

Eyja looked away with flushed cheeks. “I know all about that visit.”

“You? I thought everything you did was for Sir Damien?”

“Foxy got me away from them when I was younger than you, that’s when I met your father. I’m still a member, it is not an organization you can quit.”

“Oh.” I dropped off into an uncomfortable silence, not wanting to push her into talking about it.






***


“Maxical, where did you disappear to earlier? And why did you come back through that side door like you were being chased.”

“I was searching for Gils.”

“And? Even with your eyes swollen and blackened I can see you aren’t telling the whole story. You were gone hours, now what happened?”

“Malan was out there. I’m in trouble, it‘s complicated…GAAAAAH! What are you doing?”

Eyja nearly dragged me into the storage room. “Now you tell me exactly what is going on! What happened with Malan?”

“Remember what I just said about using the law against Dunmer?”

“Yeah.”

“Malan is doing that, but against me and Gils. I’m not stupid, I know he does it for my blood. He’s tied my hands by it. Malan says he’s the new Arbiter of Dunmer law now that Fathis is dead.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“It means he’s the law over the Dunmer mysteries. By Dunmer law if I breed anyone but Gils or the Arbiter it proves our marriage was a sham and Gils broke tenets. Malan kills us both. If I breed Gils, Malan still kills us both.“

“What? Why?“

“Because Fathis married me after my marriage to Gils, invalidating my first marriage. Since Fathis was Arbiter, I was still within law to stay alive but Gils would be killed. Fathis let Gils know he was coming after him right there at our wedding ceremony.”

“But Fathis died!”

“Right, within the first day. He never consummated the marriage or gave me even one mystery, so now my marriage to Gils could be made legal if the Arbiter agrees. But Malan is the Arbiter, and he wants my blood. If I breed anyone but him, he will kill both me and Gils.”






***


“What are you going to do?”

“Nothing till I have time to think. I won’t endanger Gils, I’ve already lost one husband.”

“But you’ll have to do something! Uriel said he ordered you to because Malan has been in the Palace, he thinks your virgin blood drew him in.”

“I think Uriel’s throne drew Malan in, and I just happen to be a tasty treat to eat while he sits on it. These ancients are territorial over their feeding grounds, and Malan is moving on the Palace. I’m virgin blood he’s spotted in his territory.”

“But you’ll die if Malan drinks your blood!”

“Not if he mates with me first. According to Sir Damien, Malan hasn’t killed a virgin in centuries. He breeds them first. Nissy and those Khajiit women were all virgins he took. I really need advice from someone a lot smarter than me to figure out what to do.”

“We need to talk to Foxy about this, he’ll know what to do.”

“None of this may matter now, I might have made Malan really mad. I kind of escaped from him.”

“You did what? How?“

“I kind of put a spell on him and ran.”

“Good gods, Maxical. We need to talk to Foxy right away.”

“Okay, but can you tell him? He makes me nervous.”

“Yeah, no problem. Boy, knowing you sure isn’t boring! It’s been less than a day, we just wiped out two of Uriel’s major defenses and you escaped a legendary vampire!”

“We only wiped out one of Uriel’s defenses. Those Blades have no business even being considered one. We are his other major defense. I just hope he knows that.”






***


I chilled the towels again with the frost spell and we leaned against a stack of crates, holding them against our faces.

“I’m scared, Eyja. Did you hear what they said about those men working the sewers coming back like Gils did tonight? Ranting and screaming like that, then just disappearing? What could be going on out there?”

“Owyn said some crazy Orc that is related to Gils attacked him. He said it was a miracle Gils lived through it, then Captain Renault insisted she be the one to treat him.”

Images of Lord Lovidicus and that performing bear in shreds came forcefully to mind with a sickening lurch in my stomach. I lowered the towel and gaped at Eyja. “Owyn didn‘t heal Gils? Renault can’t even heal herself!”

“I know. Owyn was in a rage over it but had no say, she’s the commander of this outpost.”

“Dear gods, Agronak? It really is a miracle Gils is alive. I’ll bet he’s taken Gils’jewelry then. The first time he attacked Gils he tried to get it. That‘s how I got in this mess with Akatosh to begin with.”

“What?”

“I gave Gils 30,000 Septims worth of jewelry, and every bit of it is gone. I want to know what happened to it.”

“Are you going to take it back?”

I gaped at her. “No, I bought it for him to keep. Haven’t you ever been around Khajiit before?”

“No, why?”

“Khajiit have to know. Curiosity, you know? Anything that is a mystery will drive us till we find the secrets.”

Eyja raised her eyebrows. “I need to write this down.”






***


“What’s with all this writing down?”

“I keep a dossier on everyone I meet. Personality traits or quirks, any weaknesses and strengths, all financial assets and any secrets they hold over themselves or others.”

“Why?”

“Just in case the day comes when I need to take them down.”

"Wow, you’ve made a science out of killing!"

"It has always been a science for assassins, that’s what sets them apart from murderers. I almost never get blood on my hands, just usually use poison in my own special recipe of Shepherd‘s Pie or homebrew of Rosethorn Mead. Don’t ever eat or drink anything you find among my personal things."

I gaped at Eyja. “Dear gods, thanks for the warning! I‘m going to look for that jewelry, you coming?”

Eyja followed me back into the bathing room. Captain Renault was still laying prostrate on the floor. It had been too long, she had to be faking. Probably biding her time till I left.

“What are you doing with that mirror?”

“Looking for that jewelry. Gils keeps his important stuff in here…GAAAAH!” The alcove was totally empty!

“Eyja, I was just in here not hours ago and all Gils’ stuff was here! Gils couldn’t have gotten them, he barely set foot in here and had to be carried out. Someone else has been in here besides Gils.” I pointed at Captain Renault.

Eyja searched her, but found nothing. When she finished, Eyja gave her a good kick.

“You can quit faking still being knocked out, she didn’t hit you that hard. Count yourself lucky it wasn’t me whose man you were whoring with, you wouldn’t have gotten off this easy.“

I lifted up all the mattresses and dug through all the packs in the bathing room, Gils’ stuff was gone.

“Well now we have a mystery, and it isn’t a Dunmer one! Who would steal his dirty books in the middle of a melee fight?”

“SKREEEK! BWAAHAA!”






***


Baurus was the only one who didn’t look like he’d fought. I signaled Eyja out of the bathing room.

“Eyja, get those sultry eyes of yours healed up. I want you to question Baurus about why he was not seen fighting or injured in that battle, then ask him about Gils’ missing stuff.”

She nodded. “I’ll do it, but it will have to wait a little while. Captain Renault and I are going to have a long talk. You make sure you stay in plain sight of plenty of witnesses.”

“I’ll be with Gils in the storeroom, here comes Owyn with him now.” I hurried ahead of Owyn to open the storage room door, then helped undress Gils the rest of the way.

“Dear gods, Owyn! His stomach looks like it was ripped out, his tattoo is completely gone! I know every inch of this man’s body, what are all these horrible scars? These weren’t even healed! What on Nirn happened to him out there?”


Gils:


http://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images0...9a4cd2b0a/l.jpg





“Agronak did that days ago, Captain Renault was supposed to have healed it! He‘s eat up with internal injuries and disease. She‘s botched the healing bad, and he‘s too bad off for me to fix it without Traven‘s help. He’s not right in the head either, Maxical.”

“Owyn, how could you let anyone else heal him? You’ve never let anyone but Hannibal touch your fighters! And you had to know she couldn’t heal, I’ve been here just hours and know she’s got no magic!”

“She’s the command around here, Maxical. They took over the Bloodworks, I’ve got no more say here than Pork Chop till they leave. Now you listen to me, I know you want privacy in here but I need to be near to keep an eye on him. Eyja and I will stay on the other side of those crates, no one will get by us. I‘ve put him heavily under, he‘ll sleep. You let him sleep as long as he can, you hear?”

“I will, don’t worry. Did he talk at all when you were healing him? Can he be moved tomorrow? Will you help me carry him to the Palace at daybreak? I’m getting him away from here, but will need your help to do it.”

“I have orders to fight in the Arena days, Maxical.”

“Uriel Septim’s orders supersede any other’s, and he ordered Gils to the Palace. He will commission you to do this, Eyja will verify it if you don‘t trust my word. I was telling the truth when I said I was his emissary.”

“Maxical, you’re like a buzzing gnat.”

“Gils was in perfect health not two weeks ago, Owyn. Captain Renault has done this to him, I hold her responsible for the condition he is in now.”

“You’re doing it again, shut up so I can think.”

“Sorry. My mind races when I‘m enraged.”



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This post has been edited by mALX: Jul 31 2012, 03:12 AM

[King Coin]

Cold towels, perfect for the bruises. Eyja is right, Uriel’s going to ream Maxical, but I’m glad she did it her way instead of Eyja’s way. Still, Uriel’s not going to give a damn about Maxical’s claim when his city is under siege and Malan’s around doing who knows what.

“We only wiped out one of Uriel’s defenses. Those Blades have no business even being considered one. We are his other major defense. I just hope he knows that.”

Be very afraid Uriel!

“Why?”
“Just in case the day comes when I need to take them down.”
"Wow, you’ve made a science out of killing!"

Wow, and she’s writing that down about you! You two might be buddies now, but she’s an assassin! I wouldn’t be cozy about an assassin writing anything down about me!

She knows every inch of his body and is still a virgin? how did she manage that? I know I read it a while back but it still baffles me!

[Acadian]

“You know a lot about the law?” Eyja looked surprised.
“Yeah. I‘ve had to defend myself a lot, I’m always getting into trouble.”
Yup, that's our Maxical!

Loved the bit about Eyja keeping dossiers on everyone.

And Agronak resurfaces. Yikes!

“I just happen to be a tasty treat to eat while he sits on it.”
I still think old Malan is gonna get outsmarted by the enraged tasty treat.

“Maxical, you’re like a buzzing gnat.”

[Grits]

Maxical’s explanations to Eyja also reminded me how things work. She is really in a tough spot!

“Not if he mates with me first. According to Sir Damien, Malan hasn’t killed a virgin in centuries. He breeds them first. Nissy and those Khajiit women were all virgins he took. I really need advice from someone a lot smarter than me to figure out what to do.”

Uh oh, for a second I thought that Maxical might consider giving it up to Malan in some kind of bargain for Gils, since she’s already bargained herself away to Akatosh and C. Vile. And now they're going to ask the fake Foxy for advice!

“Khajiit have to know. Curiosity, you know? Anything that is a mystery will drive us till we find the secrets.”

Eyja raised her eyebrows. “I need to write this down.”

Maxical and Eyja together are pure fun. I love how they both get a cheap shot in on Captain Renault whenever they can.

“You’re doing it again, shut up so I can think.”

I just love Owyn! Scary that Agronak is back, and what a state Gils is in! And where is his stuff?! I’m glad Eyja has Maxical’s back in this situation!! I feel like I'm right there in the Bloodworks trying to figure it out!

[ghastley]

I thought Maxical had given Agronak a good 'sploding a while back (accidentally of course).

I’m still a member, it is not an organization you can quit. except in a box, and I'm sure they have Necromancers for that eventuality.

Everyone thinks that Fathis is dead by now, so I'd guess he's about to reappear - after all, if Agronak can...

[Darkness Eternal]

Gils is . . . no comment, but I love that picture of him, even thought I've seen it before. .

Cold towels=icy hot. And it appears that Maxical's sneak skill did not improve. Eyja's scolding came with good reason.

"Owyn said some crazy Orc that is related to Gils attacked him. He said it was a miracle Gils lived through it, then Captain Renault insisted she be the one to treat him.”

Agronak is back!

“But you’ll die if Malan drinks your blood!”

“Not if he mates with me first."

Woah, wait, huh? So Max and Malan are going to ?

[Zalphon]

Heh, I really liked your comment on how Khajiit are treated It makes the world feel more real...sorry, the little things are awesome.

[mALX]

She knows every inch of his body and is still a virgin? how did she manage that? I know I read it a while back but it still baffles me!

They have [censored], [censored], and [censored] - stuff like that. They haven’t [censored]. (insert Owyn’s graphic hand gesture).

This post has been edited by mALX: Jul 27 2012, 08:09 PM

[McBadgere]

They what?... ... ... ... ...Oooohhhhh... ...

Excellent stuff!!...

Loved it...

Owyn makes me laugh... ...

Oooh, is Eyja going to be the one to work out that it's not Foxy?...Ooooh...Can't be long now... ...

What was that Baurus?...No? Nevermind...

Aaaamywho...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

[mALX]

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@ King Coin - Thank you so much KC! You are so right, Eyja isn't someone you can fully trust as a friend, lol. I'd be nervous if an assassin said that to me while taking notes on me too, ROFL !! Thanks again, KC!

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@ Acadian - Thank you so very much Acadian! I probably told you this on the first version of Maxical's story - Eyja takes over the keyboard, lol. She writes her own parts, and I love them! Thanks again, Acadian!

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@ Grits - Thank you so very much Grits! It started off with just that gauntlet slap from Maxical, but somehow kept growing, ROFL !! I love Owyn in game even. Because he is such a strong character in game, it means a lot to hear you like him in the story too - very kind words from you, Thank You Grits!

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@ Ghastley - No, Agronak crawled out of those sewers within hours of the explosion (frightening Vicente when he did, lol). "Except in a box" - that had me rolling, lol. Thank you so much Ghastley!

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@ Darkness Eternal - Yes, that screen is one of Victoria's wonderful modding work and photography - I fell in love with it on her thread and hung it over my desk to inspire me when writing Gils' parts. Victoria does AWESOME work! Will Malan and Max ? ROFL !!! I spewed my coffee everywhere when I saw that! Thank you so much Darkness!

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@ Zalphon - I'm glad you liked that, Zalphon! Yeah, in my story Khajiit are suspected and assumed guilty by virtue of their tails and fur - and do NOT fare well in prisons, either. Thank you so much Z!

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@ McBadgere - ROFL !! I am glad to see you coming back to us, McB! Thank you so much!


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[mALX]

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Chapter 161: Akatosh Responds To Getting Cursed Out



Owyn’s eyes were a myriad of conflicting emotions, but what caught my attention more than any of them was fear and an angry pain that had nothing to do with his physical injuries. Worse, his aura was giving off helplessness…or hopelessness.

Hopeless? Owyn was nearly as good a healer as Hannibal, but how many times had he cranked that fount? I had lost count, but it was more times than I’d ever heard it flushing on one person before. But hopeless?

With a sickening jolt it suddenly struck me that Owyn didn’t think Gils may make it till Hannibal could get here. Dear gods, did Owyn think Gils was dying?

“Whatever you’re thinking, Owyn…stop it! He was perfectly healthy just two weeks ago. He has amazing strength and willpower, Gils will overcome the odds against him just like he did the last time.” Owyn is wrong…he has to be, Gils couldn’t really be dying.

Owyn‘s expression was bleak, something I‘d never seen before. “You better get ready, Maxical. You’ve got nothing to bargain with this time, your life already belongs to Akatosh.”

“Akatosh owns my life, not my soul. If he’ll save Gils, I just vowed it to Clavicus Vile.”

“VILE! Are you crazy?”

“The Arcane taught that Vile just craves entertainment. According to Sir Damien, there is nothing more entertaining than Khajiit. I should be okay, I guess. And I vowed away enough children to fill the Arena. Akatosh only gets my firstborn. We Khajiit can sometimes pop out more than one baby in the same pregnancy.”

“TO VILE?”

“No, to any of the gods whose names popped into my head. Well, maybe to some of the Daedric Lords too, but the nicer ones like Azura. I was kind of tapping every resource. Gils has to live, Owyn. He will. Just look how quickly Akatosh swooped in to grab me and my firstborn when he saved Gils two months ago. Surely one of the other gods will jump on it too.”

“You better hope you don’t live to regret this, Maxical.”

“I won’t. Akatosh’s task will kill me next year before I have time to even squeeze out the firstborn child I promised him. My life span is down to months now, I'm promising children they will never get.”

Owyn stared hard at me without speaking, from the look in his eyes and for the first time since I’d met him I don‘t think he could speak. As tough as Owyn acted, he really cared about his fighters. There was no doubt he was hurting over Gils and my news shocked him.

“It could have happened any time in that Arena, Owyn. At least it will be for Gils and Uriel, not just Septims.”






***


I turned back to Gils and eased the sheet down, carefully inspecting the horrible scarring on Gils’ stomach…nearly vomiting when I realized how Gils must have suffered. His tattoo was completely gone, as if it was a patch someone had ripped off a shirt. The skin twisted grotesquely into an indentation over his left kidney that looked deep enough to reach his back.

A sudden thought stunned me. How could Gils have been attacked and my seal from Azura not instantly burned me alive? It should have been excruciating, and Azura should have appeared immediately when the attack started so she could guide me to his aid! She is supposed to name his attacker to me so I can hunt them down, why didn‘t she come to me?

I sat up, going over the last few days in my mind. The vampire juices only dulled the pain and burning, they wouldn’t have stopped Azura from coming to me. What could have interfered with the seal to the extent that Azura didn’t warn me Gils was being harmed and by who? Something wasn’t right about this.

Maybe for the first time the words Owyn had said began to sink into my consciousness. Agronak attacked him. Agronak. Days ago. Gils was eat up with disease…Renault was only giving them tablespoons of Cure Disease. Oh dear gods. Panic welled up inside me like vomit rising to my throat, I felt myself scrambling up from Gils‘ side without even knowing I was moving.

“How many days has it been, Owyn? I’ll run to the Palace and get Cure Disease right now, I’ll risk it! Please, put him back on the fount, Owyn!”

Owyn was shaking his head no, I saw his mouth moving but couldn’t hear the words. Instead the rushing sound of the void filled my ears like it had when Akatosh stopped time to warn Uriel.

Instead of the blackness of the void filling the room, I found myself inside a castle with fire all around me and the stench of dead and undead filling the air sickeningly. Arcs of blood and pieces of shredded flesh painted the sides of the walls as high as I could see…Crowhaven! Why was I here?

Agronak’s roar filled the air, chilling the blood in my veins into a gel. Suddenly I saw Gils running toward the balcony and scrambling over the railing, Agronak chasing right behind him roaring. Gils was dangling till Agronak smashed his hand. I heard Gils scream and his ankles shattering as he landed after falling from such a height. Somehow he stayed conscious through the pain, somehow.

Behind Gils the flames rose into an impenetrable wall of fire, keeping Agronak from following Gils as he dragged himself out of the chamber by crawling on his knees and elbows. One of his hands was dangling wrongly from the wrist, the fingers twisted and bent in odd angles. I ran after Gils calling his name, but he couldn’t hear me.






***


Outside Crowhaven Gils aimed toward the western cliffs, probably knew Agronak would search for him in the direction of Anvil. Gils sent himself into a tumble down the cliffside, then went airborne and landed in the river below.

I saw him go under, then suddenly I was below water with him; watching him struggling to try and reach the surface. With fractured ankles and a broken hand he had no hope to survive it. I screamed and screamed, watching him drowning in front of me and unable to stop what was happening to him. Then I heard my own voice begging Akatosh to save him…but wait! I hadn’t done that till days later, not till Gils came back to the Bloodworks!

There was no doubt Gils was dead, his body had sunk to the floor of the river and lay without movement…but Gils didn’t die in the river, he came back to the Bloodworks!

Suddenly a dragon larger than I’d ever imagined them to be came out of nowhere, swooping down in a nosedive through the deep water. It grasped Gils in one claw that completely engulfed him, and then suddenly I was on the banks of the river and watching as the dragon deposited Gils on the shore near me. It hovered over Gils, blowing a white cloud over him that looked like steam coming forcefully from his nostrils. I could feel its coolness in the air, healing magic of extraordinary power.

Water bubbled out of Gils’ mouth as if forced out, and then with a choking gasp he was struggling to breath again. Then the dragon turned his head toward me, his eyes glittering frighteningly as if he would devour me.

A man was running along the shoreline towards us, and when I looked around the dragon was gone. And then suddenly I was in the void, looking down into the Bloodworks and seeing a series of tiny glimpses of that month after Gils returned from Anvil…the month I spent rejecting Gils to try and work it out with Fathis. The last glimpse was at the music festival, me swearing marriage vows with Fathis in front of witnesses…invalidating my marriage to Gils.

Akatosh couldn’t have said it more clearly, he did save Gils like he promised. Gils died in that river. Somehow Akatosh fulfilled my promise before I made it. The dragon god of time, he knew it would happen before it did. But my rejection of Gils and marriage to Fathis brought an end to Akatosh’s share of the vow. I bought Gils two months of life and wasted it pushing him away. I felt sick to my stomach.

But Akatosh considered me still bound by my half of the vow, that was clear too. In a blink I found myself in some ancient crypt-like place with marble walls and floors. It reeked of stale air as if it hadn’t been opened for ages.

In front of me Uriel Septim stood alone, dear gods what was he doing alone in a place like this? Where was his guard? I hurried forward calling his name, but before I could reach him a panel moved in the wall behind him and men in crimson armor poured through it. I screamed, but Uriel didn’t hear.

His expression showed surprise a second before the tip of a blade poked through his robe just over the heart. A cough of blood spurted out of Uriel’s mouth followed by a slow pulsing stream of it, choking and strangling his last rasping breaths.

He crumpled in slow motion, the hilt of a long dagger plunged deeply beneath his left shoulder blade stuck out of his back. By the time I reached him he was dead, dying alone in this horrid place. They had struck him from behind, not even giving him a chance to defend himself!

“COWARDS!” I screamed, but the assassins didn’t hear me. I felt the same sickening helplessness that Owyn had given off looking at Gils, not being able to stop what was happening.






***


Uriel would die alone if I wasn’t there, no doubt. But what about Gils, was he dying again now, while I stood by helpless?

Inside me was a frailty I’d never known before today when I was kneeling over the crusted bloodstain where Fathis lay dying while Malan stripped him, a weakness that would consume me if I lost Gils now too. I could feel it shaking the foundation of every part of me already, just from the fear I might be losing Gils. How could I be there for Uriel if Gils died?

“Dear gods please don’t take Gils from me too. Please save him again, Akatosh! Please! I won‘t survive it if you don‘t.” I whispered into the void.

There was no answer from Akatosh, instead I heard Uriel saying the words he’d spoken to me right after Akatosh froze time the night before.

“Every bit of rage and pain you have inside is a resource, tap it at will to push you beyond your own strength and do whatever is needed. Funnel that rage and pain into thought and action.”

“I can’t, Uriel…Akatosh, I can’t do it. Not with the pain, I just can’t do it.“

Even as the words were leaving my mouth a feeling of numbness began creeping over my mind, encasing it like a shield. It felt like going into shock.

The rushing sound of the void receded as quickly as it came, and I was back in the Bloodworks storage room sitting beside Gils. I could hear Owyn and Eyja whispering on the other side of the crates. What just happened? Was it all a dream?

I felt weak, sore and tired. I hadn’t healed since the melee, my face and arms felt like they‘d been through a masher. I curled on the floor so I could feel Gils’ breath on my face and immediately had to move. For the first time since I’d met him Gils’ breath reeked. It was putrid, like decaying flesh.

Instead I squirmed carefully up against his back, casting Eyja’s spell to remove my clothes so I could feel him against me. It was the first time since Gils started me that I was able to lay curled up against him and taste the moonsugar so sweet on my tongue. It was a greater pleasure than I’ve ever known, Azura’s seal blessing our marriage.

My purring from being close to Gils deepened and got louder as the moonsugar filled my mouth. I could feel the tension in Gils body relaxing from it, but not his mind. There was an intangible feeling that an impenetrable barrier was between us in his mind, like he was locked away somewhere in there…or locking me out.

None of this made sense. I know what his goals were just two weeks ago. He was healthy and strong, happy and in love with me. There was no doubt in my mind what we had was truth, love. Two weeks couldn’t change him this much…but it had.


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 1 2012, 09:12 PM

[King Coin]

Love the chapter title!

I’m with Owyn, Maxical how can even you be so foolish? I hope she hasn’t damned herself for eternity.

Wow! Maxical’s realization that she was never burned by the seal was stunning! What does this mean for her? Where they never bound? Is this not Gils? Is Malan doing something? Gils couldn’t have been turned into a vampire without her knowing it could he?

So Akatosh saved Gils from the water, way back in Anvil. And then Maxical sees Uriel’s end!

What a sad but sweet (sorry) ending.

[Acadian]

‘Owyn’s eyes were a myriad of conflicting emotions, but what caught my attention more than any of them was fear and an angry pain that had nothing to do with his physical injuries.’
What a magnificent opening line!

I love Maxical’s ‘bargaining’ with the gods. It was quite humorous until you turned it deadly serious again with this:
“I won’t. Akatosh’s task will kill me next year before I have time to even squeeze out the firstborn child I promised him. My life span is down to months now, I'm promising children they will never get.”

Her vision was cool as can be! And so mysterious! I loved the nod to the game’s future as Maxical watched Uriel cut down by assassins. One thought that strikes me is that perhaps Gils has been turned to vampirism – between Agronak and all the other bloodsuckers down there. I’ll just have to see though.

[Grits]

Awesome title!

Owyn‘s expression was bleak, something I‘d never seen before. “You better get ready, Maxical. You’ve got nothing to bargain with this time, your life already belongs to Akatosh.”

This is especially grim, given that Owyn has pretty much seen it all. Maxical’s reasoning tugs the heart, she’s promising away the future she doesn’t even hope to have. Also a beautiful example of Maxical thinking.

Wow, Akatosh came through with a powerful vision! Eyja’s spell was handy but a lot less fun than it would have been with a healthy Gils. Like Acadian, I suspect some vampire/undead issue might be interfering with Azura’s seal, but I'll have to wait and see!

The ending was both sweet and sad with Maxical and Gils curled up together as they should be and yet still so terribly apart.

[ghastley]

None of this made sense.

When Maxical starts thinking this, you know I have no chance!

[McBadgere]

Wow... ...

That was amazing stuff...

Sooo sad and intimate and heartbreaking and stuff, yet epic and huge and Divinely stunning at the same time...

Your writing is amazing...I am most definately in awe...*Bows down*...

Erm...

My life span is down to months now

Whut?!! ...

Nooooooo!!!...

And on that bombshell...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

[Darkness Eternal]

So just when Maxical thought she would go Vile, Akatosh paid her a visit. The mystery of the seal is a good twist.

There was no doubt Gils was dead, his body had sunk to the floor of the river and lay without movement…but Gils didn’t die in the river, he came back to the Bloodworks!

WOAH! Gils is a vampire!? Or not. But it is heavily implied here. Death, bloodworks?

He crumpled in slow motion, the hilt of a long dagger plunged deeply beneath his left shoulder blade stuck out of his back. By the time I reached him he was dead, dying alone in this horrid place. They had struck him from behind, not even giving him a chance to defend himself!

Ah, the well-known fate of Uriel Septim! Good work here and what better than a Divine-given dream?

Like Acadian and Grits, I do believe we may be seeing a vampiric Gils! Maxical has no choice but to convert now! Hahaha!

Joking.

Nits:

"The Arcane taught that Vile just craves entertainment. According to Sir Damien, there is nothing more entertaining than Khajiit."

I might be wrong, but there should be an "a" in between "than" and "Khajiit".