The Scroll, the Priest and the Angry Imperial, Formerly known as, 'Dawn of a New Era' Options

[redsrock]

CHAPTER EIGHT


I went straight to bed as soon as she left. I was so angry, but I was also confused at the same time. Rachel was wrong in this matter, and I just wish she would realize that. Sure, maybe I could have listened to her a little more than I did, but either way it doesn’t matter. I make the decisions, not here. I ask her for her suggestions all the time, but in the end the final verdicts fall on me and me alone.

But then again, as I lay here thinking about it more and more, perhaps I was at wrong. I mean, I really do believe in what I’ve said about the priest and Cheydinhal, but maybe I should have paid more attention to Rachel. After all, she is my wife.

At that moment I immediately get up from my bed and dressed myself into a dark-blue outfit, with a small cape attached to the back. I then left the castle and headed into the streets. I knew of a certain location Rachel liked to visit every day, and it was the Chapel of Julianos.

Because it was late at night, the only ones present on the street were my patrol guards. Other than that, the wind was my only companion. And as I made my way closer and closer to the Chapel, the wind started to pick up. Soon a long streak of lightening lit up the sky, followed by booming thunder. Within seconds rain began tumbling from the sky, and a storm replaced what was a calm and soothing night. Thankfully I was only a few minutes from the chapel, and I was able to get inside without getting too wet.

Inside, Rachel was nowhere to be found. So I walked back outside and walked over to the first guard I saw. “Have you seen Mrs. Vero?”

“Yes, sir. When I saw her she was exiting the city.”

And then it all made sense. We have a small cabin hidden about one mile northwest of the city. The cabin is well disguised because on the outside it looks very rundown and dirty. But inside it is neat and clean, with plenty of books and other things to keep us busy. We use it during the summer to offer a nice, cool shade from the hot sun.

“Thank you,” I said, and then exited the city myself.

The rain was still pouring, and I could just barely see the broken down carriage in the middle of the paved road. Five guards were standing beside the wreckage, and beside the actual carriage was a bloodied body. The Dunmer driver of the carriage was standing with the guards, with his hat clenched tight in his left hand. One horse was lying on the ground, flopping around from an apparent injury. The other was nowhere to be seen, and I assumed it had escaped and ran away.

As I neared the wreckage I noticed that the body on the ground was wearing a blue robe, though it was hard to tell from all the blood. Within seconds I was able to get a good look at the face, and the terrible truth was learned. My wife was on the ground, dead. I was in immediate shock from the horrific scene. Her face was flattened and blood was all over her body. Also her legs seemingly broken and it looked as if her right elbow had been knocked out of place.

I don’t know what happened after that, but the next thing I do remember is lying in my bed at the castle.

Shh….he’s waking up, keep quiet!

I heard the whispers of Maxillius, and my eyes began to open, but everything was a blur. I saw all three advisors standing around my bed, and I also saw my honor-guards, and Dion and Danus as well.

Hurry, Torlin, get the healer. Maxillius whispered loudly. Then my vision blurred even more and soon I drifted back to sleep again against my will.

[redsrock]

CHAPTER NINE


“Wake up….wake up, Louis!”

Suddenly my eyes opened and Rachel was staring into my eyes, looking rather angry I should add.

“What…? I swear you were…”

I was of course totally confused by what was going on. It must have all been a dream because I was now sitting at my throne and Rachel was shaking my arms forcefully. I was so relieved to see her alive I immediately took hold of her face and kissed her forcefully.

“Louis, what’s gotten into you?” She asked, smiling a bit from the aggressive kiss, but still embarrassed by me falling asleep.

“I, I had a dream, Rachel. I dreamt that you were killed in an accident outside the city. We had been arguing about Millona and the operation, and you got angry with me for not listening to you. Then you ran outside and got ran over by a horse carriage.”

She looked at me crazily and said, “Well thankfully it was a dream, but that still doesn’t excuse you for falling asleep.”

“I blame it on too much wine at breakfast,” I joked, but she wasn’t in the mood for such antics.

“Come on, Louis, act like you’re a Count and not some drunken street bum,” she said while waving one of the towns’ folk that was visiting the castle.

It was two o’clock in the afternoon, and I was still surprised that I had fallen asleep at the throne. It wasn’t like me to do something like that, but I can’t really explain why it happened. Honestly, I only had one glass of wine during breakfast, so it couldn’t have been alcohol.

The rest of the day was spent sitting at the throne, and meeting with several of my own people. The advisors had settled in for the day, and my men were busy [patrolling the streets. Such a day was normal for me in these times, and was actually quite boring now that I think about it. The only exciting part was dinner I suppose, and that’s exactly where Rachel and I were headed at around six o’clock that evening.

Now, normally a Count and his wife will dine at their own personal rooms in the castle, but as you’ve probably already figured out, I’m not exactly ‘normal’ compared to other rulers. Rather than eating at the castle, I took Rachel to the “Succulent Saloon”, a nice and expensive restaurant/bar on the southern side of the city. The owner and chef, Bozwic the Bosmer, was a very friendly elf and prepares the most delicious fish fillets I’ve ever tasted.

“Louis, Rachel! It’s been a longtime, too long!” Bozwic had personally greeted us, for he knew earlier that we were stopping by. But to be honest, we were just there last week.

Bozwic was certainly the eccentric little elf, with his tall red Mohawk and his gold ear-rings. He was extremely energetic, and always trying to get a laugh out of everyone. He only had two other people working for him, for he rarely trusted anyone else to prepare the food. With him everything had to be perfect, and the prices definitely reflected that.

We only had to wait about twenty minutes for our meals, (we both were eating the filleted fish), and while we passed the time one of Bozwic’s workers brought us a tray of mixed fruits and vegetables, picked from the finest gardens and vineyards. Soon the meal was ready and we started to eat.

After we began eating Rachel said, “I hate to bring up a sour subject during dinner, but I still don’t like Millona’s plan.”

I took a drink from my wine glass and responded, “I know, I know, but we’ll just have to see. Who knows, maybe we’ll find out a lot of stuff from this mission. I’ll admit, it does sound a little….fishy!” Rachel really liked my fish joke, and she actually laughed for the first time in several days. And of course that was an excellent sign.

After finishing the meal and then talking with Bozwic for a few minutes, Rahcle and I retired for the night and went straight for our balcony. It seemed as if this was becoming a ritual nowadays. I poured us both a glass of brandy and a maid brought up a slice of carrot cake for each of us.

“I like coming out here and talking to you, Rachel. I really mean that,” I said, watching the clouds move by, making way for the bright moon and it children.

She leaned over and kissed me gently on the left cheek. “So do I, Louis. And for once I am not even going to try and argue with you, about anything. I just want to drink my wine and eat my cake, and talk to you about anything but politics.”

I could tell something was on her mind, so I asked, “What’s up, Rachel? Is something bothering you?”

She placed her cake and wine glass on the table and said, “No, nothing is bothering me. I’m actually happier now than I have been in a very long time. Louis…I’m pregnant.”

[Steve]

Oh, this added a change to the story!
What happened? I'm sorry but, I don't think it was just a "dream".
I sense CONSPIRACY!!!!

This story continues to intrigue! lol.
Pregnant? That's an interesting addition to the story!!!

[cliff-blade104]

when u sed it takes place after the oblivion crisis r u talkin about the rayden version or the normal one ?



p.s.-i haven't started reading it yet so i just want to know because in my opinion, TAoR is the best fan-fic so far

[redsrock]

I was talking about the normal one. But I wouldn't read this if I were you, because I quit this one two. I used to do that a lot...