I hope you all enjoy the story and as always please leave feedback or a word of wisdom. I'm always looking for help and suggestions.



The Last Heir

CHAPTER ONE

The goblins were rushing in through the barn door, but they had no clue I was sitting up above on a rickety plank, ready to jump down and slay the evil beasts.

With my trusty spear in hand I dove down from above and struck one of the monstrous creatures to the floor. The others shrieked loudly as they charged me, but it was of no use. My skills in battle were envied by all and matched by no one.

One by one I sliced my way through the goblin horde until only the chieftain stood before me. He held his magical battle axe in hand with a furious expression, but I knew his intimidating stature was unreal. He was truly afraid of me and wanted nothing more than to run back to his smelly cave, but alas I was guarding the only exit out of my barn.

Slowly I walked towards the monster and as I inched closer and closer I began to see the sweat dripping from the chieftain’s face. His hands that were clutched tightly around the axe were shaking wildly. He stood no chance.

“Lukas, have you finished cleaning the barn yet? Supper is almost ready!”

At the sounds of my mothers shrill voice the battle ended and suddenly I was unfortunately sucked back into boring reality.

“Not yet mother, give me another ten minutes or so…”

I quickly took the broom I was holding and started sweeping the floor because I knew it was only a matter of seconds until my mother came to see what the matter was. She told me to clean the place an hour ago but of course like usual I had dazed off into my own fantasy land.

“LUKAS! Will you please clean things up quickly? Supper is just a few minutes from being ready and you’ve barely even started! What have you been doing in here all this time?”

Sure enough she entered the barn with the same stern expression she gave me every time I angered her, which seemed to be often.

“I was fightin’ the goblins mama, I had to protect our barn from the enemy,” I said with a sly smile about me.

My mother hated it when I pretended to be a knight or a warrior, or whatever... For some odd reason she becomes very infuriated whenever I did so.

“Lukas, you’re fifteen years old! When are you going to grow up?” She said with her arms folding firmly across her chest.

“Fine, fine, I’ll clean the barn, it shouldn’t take too long!”

“The next time I catch your mind wandering about when you’re supposed to be doing chores you’ll get a whipping you’ve never imagined before.”

I simply rolled my eyes as she walked away. But of course she wasn’t yet finished with her tirade. “And stop pretending my broom is some kind of weapon!”

“I can’t help it mama, I’m gonna be a knight some day!” I chuckled back.

She grunted loudly and finally ended the argument with a threat I’ve heard millions of times before, “You break my broom and I’ll break your legs!”

I always laughed loudly at that one, for my mother wasn’t abusive as some kids’ mothers were. She would never lay a finger on me, besides my constant spankings of course.

Come to think of it, I’d hate to see what she would do if someone ever did laid their hands on me. It sure wouldn’t be pretty, I know that for sure. My mom is extremely protective of me.

I think that’s why I am home-schooled. She probably doesn’t want to even think about me being whipped by the school’s headmaster, which I am almost positive would be a daily activity. She’d rather do that herself…


Two hours later I finished sweeping the floors and bundling all the hay. It took me longer than I expected and mother wasn’t too thrilled about the delay.

“Sorry mama, it took me a bit long than I thought it would. Mama…?”

I yelled a bit more but was never given a response. My immediate answer to the silence was that she was most likely outside watering our garden and picking any already ripe vegetables.

So I threw off my work clothes and bundled into a pair of comfortable pants and an unbuttoned shirt. I went into the kitchen to see two plates resting on the table. One was full of cold food and the other was almost entirely eaten.

I walked over to the front door and poked my head out to see where mother was. I saw her standing just a few feet away from the porch. That’s when I saw two men in shiny silver armor standing next to her.

I walked outside to greet the men and I noticed she was sobbing.

“Who are these people mama, and why are you crying?”

Without giving me an answer she threw her arms around me and began to cry even more than before.

“Mama, what’s wrong?”

One of the men in armor spoke up with a deep and serious voice.

“Son, follow us into your house. There are some matters that need to be discussed.”

I was speechless. I didn’t know what to say. My mom took me by the hand and led me and the other two men into the house, where we all sat down at the kitchen table after she cleaned it.

“Lukas, do you have any idea who your father was?”

“Umm…no sir, I do not. Mama told me he passed away when I was still a baby.”

The man looked over to mother and she started crying again, this time thankfully a little quieter than before. I hated seeing her cry; it pained me more than anything else.

“You father was Martin Septim, son of Uriel Septim. Do you know who any of those two men are?” The man asked with a sterner tone.

“No sir, I’ve never heard the names before,” I said sheepishly.

Again the man looked over to my mother, this time with sheer anger. I was almost afraid he was going to yell at her but he turned his attention back to me.

“Your father and grandfather were rulers of the Empire Lukas. Surely you’ve of the Empire, haven’t you?”

I nodded. Who didn’t know about the Empire? Even we, on this small island hundreds of miles from anyone else, know about them. But was this man serious about my father, and apparently my grandfather, once being rulers of the Empire?

“Martin and Uriel were both recently slain recently. Your grandfather was assassinated by the culprits and Martin sacrificed himself to save Cyrodiil. You, Lukas, are the heir to the throne.”

I was stunned beyond belief. Surely I was dreaming right? Perhaps I had fainted from the barn’s heat and I was imagining all of this? Surely I had to be, there’s just no way in the world any of this could really be happening.

“I’m sorry sir, but what are you talking about? I think you have the wrong person. I’ve lived here all my life and I highly doubt it’s possible that I would be related to any Imperial Kings.”

“Ah, but it is Lukas, what your mother has apparently forgotten to mention to you is that she was once a caretaker for the Chapel in the city that was once Kvatch. She happened to have a “small” mishap with Martin and that brought you into this world. Your mother fled the country and brought you here. And since you’re Martin’s only heir that makes you’re the rightful king of Cyrodiil.”

I looked over to my mother and she was able to nod her head slowly. I was the King of Cyrodiil? How could this be? I’m only fifteen years old!

“We’ll give you about an hour to get your stuff together and then we set sail for Cyrodiil where you will take your place at the throne, though it won’t be as glamorous as you might think. A war has just been won, but don’t worry, I’ll explain everything on the way.”

Things were happening so fast I didn’t know what to think. I was looking back and forth between the two men and my mother, then the next thing I knew I was toppling face first towards the table, and then everything went dark.

I must say it is an interesting start that caught me off-guard. Most (well, pretty much all) stories here involve heroes or wannabe-heroes who get involved with the Empire one way or another, but none of them actually had the main character being a Septim! So the potential of this thing is great. I kinda enjoyed the daydream. At first I was wondering how come the best warrior in the land was stuck fighting a horde of goblins in a barn. The dream explains it nicely.

Ok, time for the critiscisms I guess. First, I think that sometimes your paragraphs are too short, especially those that are only one line long. On the other hand, I notice that a large scene change left open two lines. Maybe it is just that when you press enter, it skips a line?

Second is something in the second paragraph. You said that the goblin was struck to the floor. With a spear however, I envision that 'stuck the goblin to the floor' is a better choice. Spears are rarely used for striking.

The third is the biggest, though it also depends on how long you want your story to be. Right here in the first chapter, we've gone from dreamy knight-wannabe to king with personal bodyguards. I think you're going just a tad too fast here. We haven't gotten time to relate to the character yet. This problem becomes bigger as the story grows in size.

Don't worry about it too much though. Learning is a constant progress and you'll improve by leaps and bounds. If I look back at my early work today, I would never get done critiscizing it.

What an unusual revelation and a very original set up regarding the Septim heir - and hey, the title makes perfectly sense.

It will be fun to see how you will develop Lukas and his destiny since this is wide open for interpretation after the ending of the Oblivion crisis. E.g. what will Ocato do about this new heir, who will be Lukas' friends and enemies in the powerstruggle of an empire?

Wow, this is neat.

First, I began to think that you were writing the goblins kind of oddly (do goblins sweat, btw?)... then I realized that you were writing them as imagined by a child who had not even met one. Well done!

When the mother didn't come in, I feared that it would be plot #17, where Bandits Slay The Parents Of The Hero And He Then Sets Forth On ... etc.

Nice twist, making him the king (or is that emperor?) of Cyrodiil! Did not see that coming. Nice!

Thanks everyone, I have some studying to do but hopefully I can start on the 2nd chapter tonight...

I agree with many of the others about the refreshing nature of this beginning. I'd like to emphasize Lucidarius' and jack's point about developing your character, which will definitely be a pivotal thing to take care of as this story progresses. So far, there hasn't really been anything glaring that deserves any major fixing. Oftentimes there's always something that can be improved upon like awkward sentences and such, but I can't really point out things like that.

I look forward to seeing how Lukas' mother handles her son's actual departure.

An interesting start. I'm curious to see where you will take this.

My little brother has a football game that should be over at about 7:30ish. When I get home I'll start the second chapter, so it will be up by tonight, I'm just not sure when. Also, I live in the US and my timezone is Eastern Standard time, if that helps anyone......

This story does live up to its name, the concept is fresh and new, I personally look forward to your next update, redsrock. Thanks for joining our community, most of the new people are here just for the mods threads and such (they hardly have any posts to their credit).

Take the others' advice, I don't tend to post much in other story topics (lack of my comments does not in anyway reflect on how good your story is) because I don't have much of a skill for giving advice. I just leave it to the vets and opinionated sorts (jk) to offer critism most of the time.

See you around!

That's no problem Revan. Many times I find it hard to read and comment on others' stories simply because I am too busy writing my own!

Hm, a truly interesting start to your tale. I especially liked the banter between Lukas and his mother and how you described the man talking to Lukas during their conversation. I must say, out of all the TES stories here this one has one of the more original premises. As was said before, most of them are about various people who either A) play a part in the plots of one of the games, Morrowind or Oblivion or play a part in a fictional story which takes place in the Elder Scrolls world, like my own character Arthago does (though I do fancy his tale as a "dramatic" way of telling the history of Hammerfell after the Dragon Break) and in which the Septims have little to no importance to the actual story.

I await your next update. You should know another thing which will surely make you proud, when I first posted my story, I never received so many posts regarding my first update alone and if I did receive some posts they were pretty short, not as long as these ones. That's not to say however that the people here aren't nice. Quite the contrary. Just know that your story has a lot of potential and it may just become the next "big thing" around here. Good luck!

Thanks a lot Griff, that really does mean a lot to me. I hope this story will be the next "big thing" if there ever was such a title. I want this story to be good and above all I wanted EVERYONE to like it, which I know of course is impossibile, but heh, what's wrong with shooting for high goals?

Nothing. After all, without ideals, where would man be? (Yeah, I just got philosophical.)

Philosphy is always a good thing Jack Cloudy.....




CHAPTER TWO

I woke up some time later with a wetted rag placed on top of my head. Once my vision had refocused I saw mother talking to the two men. I guess it wasn’t a dream after all…

“He has to come with us Bella. His rightful place is in the Imperial City. I know this and you do as well. There’s nothing you can do for him now,” said the same man who had told me of my apparent future.

“But he’s just a little boy, how in the world do you think he can run a whole country, let alone the Empire!”

My mother wasn’t exactly thrilled about what was going on, and I was feeling the same way. I suppose none of them ever thought of asking me what I wanted.

“What about me? Don’t you want to know what I want?” I asked the man with a slight hint of rudeness. I never have had a smart mouth on me, but I’ll admit I was now started to get a bit agitated. The man in armor looked at his partner and then back to my mom, who was thankfully not crying anymore, just a little teary-eyed and red in the face.

“Of course I respect what you have to say Lukas, but I’m afraid that doesn’t really matter. You are the heir to the throne, whether you like it or not. You should be proud right now…” said the man.

“But my mother is right. I’m fifteen years old! How am I supposed to run a whole country?”

“I’ll be your personal assistant. I’m to help you and advise you on all of your decisions. Nobody is saying this will be easy, but after some teachings you’ll become a fine leader. I’m sure of it.”

This was all happening to fast. It was just too unreal at the moment. The man was clearly telling the truth, and I’m not exactly sure if I’m happy or unhappy. I mean, sure, it would definitely be an honor being named Emperor of Cyrodiil, but at the same time I don’t want to leave my mother here alone.

“What about mother? What will happen to her if I go?”

I looked over at here and she smiled that same gleaming smile she always gave me. Tears were slowly streaming down her face, but something told me they were tears of pride and joy.

“Honey, I cannot go back to where I used to leave. That life was left behind a long time ago, and I plan to keep it that way. Come here…”

I walked over to her and she put her arms around me. Her cold tears touched my face and I actually started choking up a bit. I was beginning to realize this was probably one of the last times I’d ever get to hug her.

“He is right, whether I want to come to senses or not. You are Martin Septim’s son. I’m so sorry I never told you this before, but I thought maybe I had gotten away from what I left behind. Go get your stuff, it’s time to leave.”

“But mama, I don’t wanna leave you. I just can’t.”

I was now crying just as my mother had been before I fainted. I wasn’t embarrassed; I cared nothing about what the men thought. Leaving my mother was a thought that had never crossed my mind. All of this was so confusing.

“Lukas, you need to gather your things. It is time to leave,” The man said.

I gave him an irritated look and then I hugged my mother once more. There was no need for packing; the only thing I wanted to take with me was of course some clothing, but above us was a small portrait of my mother when she was around my age. I had always kept it put away in one of my chests, but now I had the sudden urge of taking it with me. It would be my only reminder of her.

“I don’t need anything other than the portrait of you mama,” I said to her as she smiled brightly.

A couple minutes later I had the portrait in hand and was only a mere few seconds away from leaving the only place I had ever called home. Mother gave me one last hug and then gave me her final goodbyes.

“Be brave Lukas. You will make a wonderful leader. I’ve raised you up to be the best that I could get you, even if you don’t mind me every now and then,” she said with a wink. “I’ll let you leave with one last word: No matter how hard things get just remember that you are a Septim. I know that doesn’t hold any meaning to you right now, but soon you will understand…”

And at that I gave her one last hug and that was it. That was the last time I would ever see my mother.


“How long will it take us to get to Cyrodiil?”

“I’m not too sure, it all depends on how rough the waves are I suppose, probably no more than two days, maybe even shorter depending on the weather. I know the ship doesn’t look it, but it sure is fast,” he said with a wide grin spread across his wrinkled face.

His short gray hair told of his old age, but he didn’t act like an elder. He was joyous and talked with great enthusiasm. As far as I was concerned he could live another hundred years or so.

“Excuse me sir, but I don’t think you’ve told me your name.”

He smiled,” My name is Jauffre, Grandmaster of the Blades.”

Blades? What was that? It appeared that Jauffre could see the confusion on my face.

“Don’t worry Lukas, I’ll explain everything…”




And about seven or so hours later I had been given the information of everything that had occurred in Cyrodiil for the past couple of years. I was told about Uriel Septim, my father Martin Septim, the Oblivion Crisis and the Mythic Dawn, the current Chancellor Ocato, the Blades, and much more. It was certainly a lot of things to take in at once, but I listened carefully and absorbed everything Jauffre had to say.

“So what do we do when we finally get to the Imperial City?” I was awfully curious as to what was coming in the near future.

“First thing is that you need to meet with Ocato. He wasn’t too happy when I told him of your existence, and he said something along the lines of “The Council will never let a mere boy lead the Empire!” but it was all hot air. The Council cannot do a thing. You are a Septim and there’s nothing they can do about it.”


Silence was the word to describe the next hour or so, and during this time I reflected on what had just happened. It was all so amazing, yet it was saddening as well. Right now it was so hard for me to get my mother out of my head, but of course that would take some getting used to.

“You’re thinking about your mother aren’t you Lukas?”

Was he some kind of mind-reader or something?

“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to not seeing her anymore. I know it’s tough but you’ll get through it…” This time the advice came from not Jauffre, but from an agile-looking Redguard who introduced himself as Baurus. He was the other man I saw back at my house, but he too had failed to inform me of his name.

“Jauffre and I are the only Blades left. The others died at the Battle of Bruma. I know all of this is sudden and surely you’re still letting everything sink in, but the two of us are here to help you. Granted I’ll be playing more of a spy-type of role in the coming days, but I’m always here if you need me kid.”

Baurus playfully rubbed my head, something that both irritated me and made a little happier, knowing that I wasn’t going to have to run the country by myself. But if I was to be Emperor, I don’t think calling me kid is the way to help. I guess that doesn’t really matter.
“I’m sure you have some questions for us Lukas, but I think it would be best if you get some sleep. A child such as you shouldn’t go this long without rest,” Jauffre said with a sort of motherly tone to his voice.

Oh great, I was just reminded of my mother. I was trying my hardest to put her aside even though I really didn’t want to. The painting will be my only reminder of her, but there will always be a place in my heart for her. No matter what I will never forget here, no matter how hard I tried.

I got up from the wooden bench I was seated on and Baurus showed me to my room, which was a lot more cramped than I had imagined. I figured the Blades would’ve traveled in a more luxurious vessel than this, but who was I to know, I’m only a kid. Ha, that’s very ironic…..

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I woke up to the sounds of waves splashing against the side of the ship. Apparently I was on the edge of the vessel, for the waves were rather loud and was probably the reason I woke up in the first place.

Outside Jauffre and Baurus were nowhere to be seen, but after spotting a nearby ladder I climbed up it and found myself on the deck, where sure enough the two of them were talking with one another.

“Lukas, you’re awake! How do you feel?”

“I feel okay Jauffre, but my head hurts a little bit, but not too bad I suppose…”, I said while rubbing my forehead with the palm of my hand.

“Well we’re about to make landfall, we’re only about an hour or so away. I told you it wouldn’t take that long didn’t I?”

Thankfully Jauffre was right about making landfall soon, I was suddenly feeling woozy. It was most likely caused by the ride on this ship. This was the first time I had ever sailed the sea, and up to this point I haven’t really enjoyed myself.

“Wait, an hour away? Have I really slept that long?”

“Yes you have Lukas. I thought about waking you up but I then decided you needed all the rest you could get. We’ll be very busy once we arrive at the Imperial City,” Jauffre said.

A pit in my stomach formed, reminding me of what was to soon come. I would come face to face with this Ocato person, and according to Jauffre he didn’t like me too much. For some reason I had a bad feeling no one would like me too much. I guess I can’t blame them. I would be critical as well if suddenly a fifteen year-old boy was announced Emperor of my land. And after a major war as well! I definitely wasn’t expecting a warm welcome.

“Ah, will you look at that? Home at last…”

Baurus had pointed out to sea and when I looked I saw what at first appeared to be a bunch of large rocks, but as I looked harder I realized it was a dock, and behind that a city.

“What city is that Baurus?”

“Anvil. It’s the only dock in Cyrodiil, and it’s gotten to be run-down the past couple of years, and if you ask me it’s quite boring as well. But don’t worry; we’ll be leaving as soon as we land.”

Soon the ship arrived at the docks and we exited the ship. Jauffre explained that the ship was actually a personal vessel of some pub-owner outside the city. He said the owner owed Jauffre a lot and instead of gold the two decided that any of the Blades could borrow the ship whenever they wanted.

Once we walked through a set of large gates I was met with something I had never been exposed to before: a crowd. Back home there weren’t many people and everyone seemed to know each other. But here there were people everywhere, some running into me like I was invisible or something.

“Out of the way you little runt!” Yelled one Imperial man wearing an expensive outfit.

I saw Baurus grit his teeth and Jauffre quickly intervened. “Hold your breath Baurus, he isn’t worth it. Let’s get out of this place before I vomit from the horrible stench. This place is really going down hill.”

“Jauffre, I’ve never seen such a crowd like this. Is the Imperial City going to be the same way?” I asked.

Jauffre and Baurus both laughed out loud. “Ha, my boy the Imperial City is five times as bad as this! You haven’t seen anything yet….”

This story continues to be interesting. I'll try to keep an eye on it.

Great, I would appreciate that. Look for the next chapter to be up either tonight or tomorrow night, but probably the latter of the two...

Nice installment.

It's just too bad his mother didn't go with him. Maybe this is best for her safety though. I presume that only the blades know of her location.

I never really meant for the mother to be a huge part of the story, but yes you are correct in thinking that the Blades are the only ones that know of her location...

Hm, very interesting update. I must say, I'm a sucker for these initiation stories where someone with no previous knowledge of something is introduced into his role. The misshaps that derive from this learning experience are always very entertaining. I can't wait to see what he does once he reaches the IC.

Things are developing nicely. I can't wait to see the transition Lukas will have to make, as well as the possible politics and intrigue the council could provide.

I'm looking forward to it.

CHAPTER THREE

Outside the city stood a magnificent wooden carriage accompanied by five black horses. The scene was truly beautiful in every possible fashion. The design of the carriage was breath taking, and the horses were just as gorgeous.

“Wow, this sure is a major upgrade from that rickety ship we just got off of. I might actually feel safe this time,” I said teasingly.

“What can we say? Only the best for the Emperor!” Baurus said while the three of us loaded into the carriage.

A neat looking Dunmer male was steering the fantastic wagon, and this was a definite first, for me at least. Back where I came from, Dunmer were for the most part dirt poor, and usually fairly dirty in its literal sense.

“So how long from here Jauffre?”

“Just slow down Lukas; there are things we need to talk about before we do anything. Ocato will not be an easy person to convince, even though it doesn’t even matter what he thinks or wants. What it comes to is that we need to stay away from angering Ocato. I know you probably don’t think much of him right now, and neither do I, but it would be the safest bet to keep him as happy as possible.”

“Then what are you suggesting, let him boss me around?”

“No, that’s not what I am saying Lukas, I’m simply implying that we do not want to get a smart mouth with the Altmer. Whether I like it or not he does have connections, and that could be deadly to our cause.”

“Which is?” I asked.

“That we uphold the Septim blood-line and bring Cyrodiil back to its former glory of course. We shall do it how your grandfather did, the right way. We just need to persuade Ocato and the Council that you are the answer for the country.”

It sounded like a nice plan, but I highly doubted it would work. It was easy to believe in such an idea, but it would be a struggle getting Ocato out of our hair. I feared it just might result in us forcing him out of the city, which was the next thing I wanted to ask Jauffre about.

“What happens if Ocato doesn’t listen and we have to use force in order to get him to leave? That certainly wouldn’t bode well with the Council. I don’t want my first impression to end like that…”

“Don’t even think about it Lukas; if it comes to that then we’ll worry about it then. Right now we need to decide on what you will say to Ocato.”

“What do you mean me? Why aren’t you speaking with him?”

“Because I am not the Emperor Lukas. That position falls to you. I believe if you are the one to speak with Ocato he just might think more highly of you. Even if he does it won’t be much, but it’s better than nothing.”

He was probably right; any kind of praise we could get out of Ocato would be great, if any at all that is. The way he’s been described to me I wouldn’t be surprised if he attacked me on sight. I really hope the soldiers think well of me. It’ll be strange fighting for someone so young, but if the army is as loyal as I’ve heard I have absolutely nothing to fear.

“Try not to think about everything at once Lukas. Right now is the time to focus on what you should say to the Chancellor. I believe you should try and act as confident as you possibly can, and hold your ground when he starts pounding you with questions, because he surely will, and don’t forget to…..”

The rest of the trip was spent strategizing for the upcoming meeting, and the closer we got to the city the queasier I was feeling. I wanted desperately to rid myself of the hundreds of butterflies that were seemingly floating around in my belly, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t get them out.

“Here we are Lukas, follow Baurus and I while we lead you to the Palace.”

We walked through the iron gates and I realized Jauffre was right; the city was filled with people. It was so mesmerizing Baurus had to knock me out of my wondrous trance. It was so unbelievable that so many people could fit in one place.

Unfortunately, just as in Anvil, the people were for the most part rude and immature. Many were rustling about looking rather drunk. Baurus said that since the war ended there really hadn’t been a lot of rules that were enforced, leading the citizens for the most part to do whatever they pleased.

Through the first section we went and after finding our way through the crowd we entered another sector, where we came face to face with a beautifully crafted structure that Jauffre explained was the palace.

“Alright Lukas, this is the palace. Follow me inside.”

As Jauffre started towards the palace Baurus stood in his place with his arms crossed, accompanied by an annoyed expression on his face.

“What about Baurus? Why isn’t he coming with us as well?”

“Because Baurus has a bit of a……problem with Ocato. The two don’t exactly get along with each other and I think having him with us brings too much of a potentially dangerous situation for your cause. It is in our best interests if he stays here. Isn’t that right Baurus?” Jauffre said with his eyebrows raised.

“Whatever you say boss…” Baurus replied with a sneer.

I followed Jauffre into the building and inside two guards dressed in silver armor were guarding the entrance, and I took it they were the palace guards. It was sort of awkward knowing that they were literally working for me. So strange it will be for them to work for someone so much younger than themselves.

We walked straight past the guards and then through an open entrance to a room with a humongous table with many chairs lined around it. In the chair nearest to the room’s entrance was a menacing Altmer with his arms crossed, almost identical to Baurus. He even had the same sneer, although this Altmer’s seemed more evil in a way…

“Hello Chancellor, it’s been a while since we last spoke,” said Jauffre cheerfully, but it seemed a warm welcome was of no use.

“It hasn’t been long enough. Is this who I’ve heard about?” Ocato said pointing at me.

“Yes Chancellor, this is Lukas Septim, son of Martin Septim and grandson of…”

“Enough Jauffre, you do not have to go on. I get the point. Before you go on with your speech that I am sure you have previously planned, I want you to know that I spoke with the Council just the other day about this very subject. The Council does not and will not recognize the boy as Emperor.”

“But you have no choice in this matter Chancellor, and neither does the Council. He is a Septim and he is also the only Septim. Whether or not you agree, the boy will be Emperor. There is no other way and you know this.”

Jauffre seemed to have put up a good argument, but now I was wondering what happened to our strategy of me talking and Jauffre keeping quiet, but then suddenly it seemed as if I had spoken a little too soon.

“Let me talk to the boy myself. So, Lukas, how do you suppose you’ll go about running the most prestigious and most hated country in all of Tamriel?”

I opened my mouth to speak but I was quickly cut off by Ocato’s harsh words.

“How will you deal with the situation in Solstheim, or have you even heard of the place to begin with?”

“Well, I…umm…”

“And what about Vvardenfell in the Morrowind province, what shall become of our soldiers over there?”

“I…”

“What about our county itself? How will you keep the other cities from civil war?”

“Enough! I will not stand for this any longer. The boy is young, there is no questioning that, but he will be an excellent leader, I assure you of that.” Jauffre’s words were full of both pride and anger. I had never seen him get mad, and at this point he appeared on the verge of attacking Ocato. His eyes were full of rage and his hands were shaking.

But nonetheless Ocato did not appear fazed one bit. He simply smiled an evil grin and gave us his last words. “I will no longer waste my time with the likes of you. I’ll leave this country now, along with the support of the Council. As long as the boy remains Emperor the Council will have nothing to do with the Empire.”

And at that Ocato walked swiftly out of the palace, slamming the doors as he went.

“That didn’t go as smoothly as I wanted it to…”

“I’m sorry Jauffre, I didn’t mean to sound so stupid…”

“It’s not your fault Lukas; I knew he was going to do that. I’m not surprised at all, but now things will change, and I’m not sure if it’s for the better or worse. Sure, it’s good that we will no longer have the Council breathing down our necks, but now the other provinces will be able to at least think about attacking us without the worry of sanctions from the Council.”

I was about to reply to his statements, but we suddenly heard guards running in the hallway and out of the palace. Jauffre and I hurried outside to see what the matter was, and we saw several soldiers holding back Baurus, who was yelling and cursing at the top of his lungs. No more than ten feet away was Ocato, walking away smiling that same malicious grin…

And now things get a little messy, and crazy, and possibly dangerous. I'm eagerly anticipating how these problems will get looked after. Continue whenever you can.

Are you saying that you're not eagerly anticipating the problems because you didn't like the chapter? Just wondering, I'm a little confused at the moment...

I have no idea why that "not" is there. I liked the update. I have to admit though, it's been awile since I played Oblivion but I don't quite remember Ocato being a prick. Of course, it depends on how long after the Oblivion Crisis this takes place. If it has been long enough for Ocato to become a bit power hungry I can understand his greedy ways, but if the Crisis just finished, I don't quite seeing Ocato acting this way.

That's just my way of thinking.

The bad thing about Oblivion is that not many of the characters had much personality....and unfortunately we didn't get to speak with Ocato much at all. And you have to think in his shoes: how would you feel if a mere 15 year-old was claiming to be the Emperor? lol

Hm, this is starting to get interesting. Ocato acted just like anyone who had been getting a taste for power would have acted. It'll be interesting to see how Lukas will deal with these problems. It's also good to know that my fan fic isn't the only one to deal with politics excesively. Keep up the good work!

Thanks to everyone out there who's following my story. Your comments are greatly appreciated...

Is the basis for Ocato's change in personality founded on how the last Imperial Battlemage (Jagar Tharn, I believe) acted when he got a shot at power.

I don't quite see how a post-war environment is a time of great luxury and enjoyment for the person who has to pick up the pieces and put it all together again.
That's just me, and Ocato could feel angry to have the empire he's been slaving to keep together handed over to a fifteen-year-old who knows near to nothing about leading/healing an ailing nation.

You have a good play between the different characters. Jauffre, Ocateo, Baurus. They're all good. Lukas is at the moment more forced into observing, but he also has his moments.


Now to continue the Ocato discussion. I think he's either worried about losing power. (And damn well he should be. Jauffre literally tells him to be a good boy and do as he's told, right in his face!) Either that, or he's worried about seeing a fiftheen years old farmboy on the throne. At Lukas' age, a true heir raised at court would know a thousand times more about politics than he does.

And while we're at the subject, there's something that has always bothered me about Jagar Tharn. He is the best of the best, the right hand of the Emperor, and he casts the guy into another dimension just so he can rule the Empire? He was already practically in charge before he did that. Not only that, but wouldn't it have been easier to just turn old Uriel into a puppet rather than quest for the supreme artefact of Obliviongating?

And then this. All sources say that he mismanaged the Empire and turned it into a mess. Why? You can't become advisor of the Emperor while being a complete brain-starved moron. If anything, Jagar Tharn has to be a better than average ruler capability-wise just because he's managed to climb so high during his career! (before he took the throne for himself) It just doesn't make any sense and that's why I think that Tharn had different reasons than powerhunger for doing what he did.

Hopefully I can get the next chapter out by tonight, because I am now on Fall Break!!! No more school for 4 straight days!!!

CHAPTER FOUR

Before I knew it Jauffre was running from where I was standing, and made his way over to where Baurus was being restrained by the soldiers. I heard him yell a few words at Baurus, who said something in return, resulting in a heated display of words that lasted at least twenty minutes. The two argued about several things, while the main was Baurus criticizing Jauffre for bossing him around. Jauffre shot back that he was the Grandmaster of the Blades, and that opened up a whole new argument in which Baurus claimed Jauffre was abusing his powers.

When everything settled Baurus marched off angrily, while Jauffre came back to me. All of the soldiers had stood the entire time, watching the two argue just incase things got out of hand.

“Come inside with me Lukas and then we’ll come back here where we’ll make formal statement to the city regarding your new role as Emperor. We need to prepare a very small speech”

His face was bright read and drenched with sweat. He seemed even angrier than when he Ocato spoke just a while ago. I was actually almost afraid of Jauffre at the moment. He was showing a side that I had not yet seen.

“What about Baurus? Where is he going?”

“I couldn’t care less about him right now. Obviously he needs a few hours to let himself cool down, and if he doesn’t want to cool down then maybe he should think about his future with the Blades…”

Jauffre said the last part loud, loud enough for Baurus to hear just as he left the area, slamming the doors behind him. Jauffre told a nearby guard to gather up all of the citizens and bring here to the outside part of the palace.

“I know who you are, but you’re not going to boss me around.” The guard was very rude and I couldn’t wait for Jauffre to hand it to him.

“I’ll have you know that standing to my left is the heir to the throne, Lukas Septim.”

The guard looked at me and laughed unsurprisingly.

“Ha, that little boy? He’s younger than my son.”

I looked around and the other soldiers were laughing as well. I was beginning to feel smaller than I actually was. Jauffre ushered me into the palace as the soldiers continued their laughter.






“You’ll have to remain calm throughout this event Lukas; you cannot act as you did with Ocato. I know you’re young but you have to be strong and show the people they can trust you,” said Jauffre.

The thing that kept bugging was how in the world Jauffre knew about me in the first place.

“Jauffre, how did you know my existence and where I lived?”

“Martin told me just before battling Mehrunes Dagon. He told me where you lived and your name as well. It was a sad time; I really do think your father wanted to see you, but alas he never made the journey to where you and your mother lived. He said he wanted to countless times, but could never gather enough strength to go. Despite what your mother told you, Martin was the only person she told of where she was taking you. She thought, and thought correctly, that the father should know where the son was. I have to say that if it were me I would have traveled to see you, but Martin made his decision. But of course that does not make him a bad person Lukas; he really did care about you, even if he never laid eyes upon you.”

That was an answer I suppose I could live off of. I don’t know, all of this is just so weird. My father an Emperor, and my grandfather one as well, and I would’ve never guessed in a million years if it were not for Jauffre and Baurus.

“The first thing you need to do is stay strong out there when you are talking to the people. If you can muster up enough courage to face the crowd they will be a bit less critical I think, but how much I do not know. I am afraid this will not go well with the citizens of the Imperial City, but it’s something that must be done. If you are to Emperor you must talk to the people and get them on your side.”

“But Jauffre, they aren’t going to like being ruled by a fifteen year old teenager. This will be a disaster and you know it.”

“As much as I wanted to deny that accusation, you are more than likely correct. That is why I invited someone to join our little speech; someone who I am sure will help sway the public on our side.”

“And just who might be?”

“Remember when I told if it were not for the brave acts of a certain person, Cyrodiil would have surely fallen?”
“Yes, that sounds familiar. Didn’t he go by ‘The Hero of Kvatch’, or something like that?”

“Yes Lukas, the Champion of Cyrodiil is who I am talking about. Your father played important role in securing Cyrodiil from the enemy, there is no doubt in that; but the Champion of Cyrodiil played the most important role during the struggle. Before departing to find you and your mother I visited with the Hero.”

“Wait, I thought you said he had left the country to live alone?”

“That is what we told the people. In fact, he traveled deep in the Jerall Mountains, to a small cave where I thankfully found him. He was badly injured during the final battle here in the Imperial City.”

“What happened to him?”

“Well, he was burned severely during the struggle, resulting in his skin being mutated and burnt. He now resembles something of what nobody can even begin to describe, but it is beyond the injury that has caused that. It was because of his horrid figure that the Counts and Countesses shunned him away after the war, even after he saved them from sure destruction.”

“The people of Cyrodiil never did this however, and to this day they still talk of his heroic efforts and wish to someday see him walk the streets again. They were heartbroken to see him leave, but their sorrows were nothing compared to the Champion’s heart after what Counts and Countesses said to him. He ultimately decided to depart from the public, never to be seen again. Baurus and I did our best to get him to change his mind, but it was of no use. He had made his decision and that was the end of it.”

“But Jauffre, how did you get him to come here and help us now?”

“Like I said, I traveled to the north and was somehow able to find him. There I told him of what was going on. At first he was not the least bit sympathetic for our cause, but with a little bit of persuasion I got him to help us. He now believes, just as I do, that in order to get the people’s good judgment he must be by your side. I think with his presence the people will be more likely to be in favor of our cause.”

“And what if your plan does not work Jauffre?”

“Then we will have to resort to another plan, but for now we must hope for the best. Now, it is time for you to meet the Champion of Cyrodiil…”




Out from the shadows behind Jauffre came a figure that had been standing there for apparently the entire time. I had never noticed the man, or thing. An extremely bad odor came from him. It was the Champion of Cyrodiil.

He was wearing a golden mask that hid his face from view, even his eyes it seemed. He was also donning silver cloak, accompanied by matching silver boots. Its breathing was wheezy and it appeared that it was having a terribly hard time breathing in the first place.

Then it spoke a raspy tone that chilled me to the bone. The injury must have affected is speech somehow, for I could barely make out his words. Truthfully I wanted to run away from the horrid monster, but as I thought of that I thought how awful the Champion must feel.

“Lukas, I am the Champion of Cyrodiil. I am very pleased to finally meet you.”

He brought out his hand to shake mine. As I extended my own hand I noticed his was shaking uncontrollably.

“What is wrong child, are you afraid of me?” The Champion asked after we greeted.

I was unable to say a word. Heck, I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I didn’t know what to say.

“It is alright to say so child, I will hold nothing against you. In fact, I would be surprised if you weren’t afraid of my presence.”

Again I said nothing, but simply stood firm in front of both he and Jauffre. The Champion was staring into my eyes with his own black pupils that were almost hidden behind his mask.

“You are a mere boy yet you stand here like a man. I respect that young Lukas, son of Martin, a once good friend of mine. Back when the war was going on your father and I spent a lot of time together. He was a great man indeed, and he will be proud to know that his own son will take his place at the throne.”

I smiled at the last sentence because it really wasn’t something I had thought about before. I never knew my father, yet knowing I was doing him a proud favor made me feel good about myself.

Then, I think, the Champion smiled back, though it was almost impossible to tell because of the mask. At that exact moment I realized there was nothing to fear from the man, no matter how disfigured and mutated he was. I knew then that he was one of the few allies I had at the moment and that was certainly something to be glad for.

“I am sure Jauffre told you about my disfiguration, and unfortunately it has gotten worse within the recent months. I have contracted several diseases during my stay in the mountains, though none are contagious, I can assure you that. The people of Cyrodiil must realize that you are the answer for the Empire, and I am here to help you in that quest. With my presence the people will be reminded that there is still hope for the Empire, not matter the Council and their puppet Ocato says. The Council is something that I feel very strongly about, but that is a subject for another day. For now I need rest before your speech. Then we will showcase you, my young Emperor, to the people.”




The Champion limped out of the room and somewhere to the right, where I guessed he would find a room to rest in. Jauffre put his hand on my shoulder and told me how brave I was, which was fine and all, but I still had some questions to be answered…

“Jauffre, do you mind if I ask some questions?”

“And would I be correct in assuming those questions pertain to the Champion?”

I nodded and then Jauffre closed the door.

“Well ask your questions Lukas and I’ll answer them as best as I can; although there are several things which I cannot tell you. The Champion made swear long ago not to divulge that information to anyone.”

“First off, what race was the Champion before his injury?”

Jauffre seemed to ponder over the question for some time, almost as if he had forgotten. It appeared that I was right.

“To be honest with you Lukas, I cannot remember what he looked like before the war, which happened almost two years ago. The only thing I can tell you is that he was not of the beast race.”

“Alright, my next question is what exactly happened to him specifically?”

“During the battle here in the city he was doused with a cloud of fire, which was cast by an unknown assailant, but most likely, by a Dremora. The injury he sustained caused him great pain and agony, and also resulted in his disfiguration. But I’ll also tell you this: his current mutation is far worse than what it was two years ago. His diseases have taken a toll on his body, and I am afraid his condition is getting worse by the day. It is best not to talk about that when he’s around, for I am not sure if he would take offense to it. What else can I answer for you Lukas?”

“Nothing, that’ll be it, thanks Jauffre.”

“You’re quite welcome Lukas. Now…..preparations for your speech.”

I like the adition of the champion. It is obvious that they require some means of gaining popular leverage with the people and what's better than a hero? I also like how you dodged most of the identity issues. Sure, you ruled out a gender and two races, but that still leaves a lot more than if you went into total specifics. It sounds like something Bethesda would do in TES V. They did it before, with the eternal champion, the mysterious agent, the Nerevarine.

Truth be told, when you began with the golden mask, I was wondering if the champion was actually Dagoth Ur!

I do wonder what has caused the disfigurement though. Just fire wouldn't cause a continueing transformation like that, nor do normal diseases.

Well, since a Dremora is a servant of Lord Mehrunes Dagon, it could have had special affects or something, possible a curse mized in. Anyway, I'm still rooted to this tale, keep on going redsrock.

Thanks, I was real worried on how you all would percieve my descriptions of the Champion. I never once thought about actuall giving him a race, because.....welll....you know.....I didn't want any hate-mail!

Yes you handled the Hero of Kvatch situation quite well. I have a hunch though that the man might not be around for very long. That could prove to be a problem...

Solid update once again redsrock. You still provide a wonderful sense of overwhelming for Lukas.

I'm new to this forum and well, I've actually never read fan fiction until a few weeks ago and I've read a few so far. I like this one alot and I can't wait to see the end!

Thanks a bunch! I'm not really sure when the next update will come. I'm real busy at the moment so we'll just have to see.

I hope it's soon!

I'm very glad to hear that!

It seems that Lukas is up against impossible odds, and somehow I feel that even the Hero of Kvatch will not be able to change that. I'm looking forward to seeing how the speech goes and how the crowd reacts to the champion's presence.

I've read this quite a while ago but forgot to comment. I must say I liked the idea to use the Champion of Cyrodiil as political back-up. I also liked how you evaded the issue of the Champion's identity and of his facial features. Using the mask and the raspy breathing also reminded me a little of Darth Vader or, in a smaller measure, of King Baldwin from Kingdom of Heaven. All in all a solid update as usual. I now eagerly expect to see how the speech goes. I have high hopes for Lukas to become a good and earnest ruler.

Btw, did you know that king Mithridates of Pontus ruled from the age of 15? The same age as Lukas if I'm not mistaken. Perhaps you should check out his story, it might give you a few ideas. Anyway, good luck!

I will certainly check that out Griff. Thanks for the comments, I should have my next update sometime Wednsday...


I can't spell Wednsday....

Sorry for the delay, but unfortunately school has to come first!


CHAPTER FIVE

Jauffre and I spent the next hour or so deciding on what exactly I should say to the people. This was a most delicate subject because it was key for us to gain the popularity of the people, and if we get them on our side things will be much easier from there on out.

For a second I thought about letting Jauffre speak for me, but he quickly shoved the idea out of the way, claiming that it would show fear. “Lukas, you have to speak this time. You have to show the people that they really can trust you.”

“Well then what am I supposed to do if I get up there and they start yelling? What do I do then?”

“That is why the Champion will speak first. You will start your speech after the Champion has a few words himself. He’ll be able to bring their spirits up and that’s when you’ll come and stand right next to him when you speak.”

“So are we going to wait here inside while the Champion makes his own little speech first?”

“That is exactly what we will do. Whatever happens it doesn’t matter, remember that Lukas. You will still be in charge, but let me repeat myself one more time…you really need the people’s trust. I promise it will make things easier for you.”

After that the door opened and in stepped the Champion, who looked rested up after his short nap. “Are we ready yet Jauffre? I am whenever you two are…”

“Yes, Lukas and I will wait here while you make your entrance. When shall we know when you are finished?”

“I will say….let me think….when I say ‘our future leader is in dire need of our all of our assistance’ you two can come out. I know that doesn’t sound very strong, but trust me, you want the people to be sympathetic as well as supportive.”

The Champion left the room and exited the palace. While the doors were opened I peered out into the crowd. There were hundreds of people everywhere, all crowded together to see me. Of course they didn’t exactly know who they were waiting for, but it was still a good feeling knowing that I was so important. Though I couldn’t let it get to my head. I had to stay firm and have an open mind. I couldn’t let all this new popularity clog my brain up. But of course I guess I couldn’t really call myself popular just yet…




Cheers roared into the skies at the appearance of the Champion. Jauffre and I stood close to the doors from the inside, so that we could still hear what was going on outside. It must’ve been at least five minutes before the noise died down and the Champion finally began his speech.

“I come to you today not for my own sake of attention, but instead for a dream of a future Empire, one that is free from politics and favoritism…”

The crowd died down to hear what the Champion had to say. Though his voice was still raspy, he still echoed throughout the entire area, even soaking through the doors where Jauffre and I could plainly hear him. He was a great speaker indeed.

“But who will lead us through this dark time? The Elder Council wishes against what is best for the Empire, for they would rather run everything themselves. Their thirst for power has gone long enough and now the time comes for a new ruler, but of the same bloodline as before.”

At the last sentence the crowd began to get loud again. The queasy feeling was returning because I knew it was only a matter of seconds until I would be called to the stage, to face the hundreds of citizens and the soldiers. All eyes would be set solely on me and me alone. My hands were shaking. My face was drenched with sweat. It was time for judgment.

“Join me and help our new leader take the throne and lead us back into our former glory. Our future leader is in dire need of our all of our assistance.”

Jauffre opened the door and both of us stepped out into the cold evening, surrounded by hundreds of cheering citizens. Their eyes were full of joy and happiness. It had seemed as if I had already won their allegiance, but I was terribly wrong.

“Jauffre, our Emperor!”

Those cheers came from the mouths of the citizens who thought he, Jauffre, was the emperor. I immediately knew it was not me they were cheering for. They had no clue that it was I would lead them, not Jauffre.

The Champion quickly calmed the crowd down and he had a difficult time of doing so. The crowd was very energetic and it took nearly ten minutes to get them silent.

“Here is your new leader, Lukas Septim!”

Jauffre pushed up to where the Champion was standing, and then he took his place back beside me. The Champion put his arm around and I didn’t know what to do.

I could clearly hear the soldiers’ quiet snickering through the dead silent crowd. The people looked at me and then back at Baurus as if he were joking.

“What is this, some kind of joke?” yelled a confused Dunmer.

“Joke? This is not prank; you are looking at the future leader of the Empire!”

Suddenly the place filled with loud whispers and pointing figures, all aimed towards my shaking body. I had never been so nervous in my life.

“Quiet, quiet!”

“Let the Emperor speak!”

Jauffre’s and the Champion’s pleas were of no use. The people had already made their views and it seemed as if I had no chance of gaining their respect. Maybe all of this was a mistake…

“You’ve got to speak before things get out of control. Hurry and say something before the crowd gets too agitated!” screamed Jauffre over the loud angry crowd.

I didn’t know what to do but Jauffre still pushed me up to the front, where I began shaking even wilder than before. I looked out into the crowd and saw not one happy expression on a single face. I was a sitting target up in front of all these people. They didn’t want to listen to what a little boy had to say.

Just as I was about to speak I could sense something running towards me from the side. I turned to my right and saw a drunken Nord running towards me furiously. Rather than run away I stood there, frozen in time, unable to make a move. The bulky body was gaining ground on me and in only a matter of seconds he would crush me into a hundred pieces.

Then, to my left a body rushed by and I saw the Champion unsheathe a long silver blade from its holder. The blade was swung upwards swiftly and suddenly the Nord threat was over as he body fell limp to the cold stone floor, with blood pouring from a wound to the right side of his stomach.

Immediately an uproar came from the crowd and people started yelling and getting closer to where I was standing. That’s when the soldiers finally stepped in. They all hustled in front of me and blocked me from any further attacks. Boos towards the Champion were heard loudest and right then I knew the speech was a total failure, but then again I really can’t call it a speech since I never said a word.

Then I was twisted around from behind and their stood a man dressed as an Imperial palace guard, but something was different about this coat of arms. The man looked to be an officer of some sort.

“You three come with me before anything else happens. We have to get the Emperor out of here before someone tries to attack Lukas again,” the man said to Jauffre.

So the Champion, Jauffre and I followed the man into the palace while the other soldiers did their best to quiet down the people of the Imperial City. I wasn’t very lucky when it came to first impressions…




Inside the palace we went to the room with all the chairs lined up around the humongous table. The doors were closed and it was only Jauffre, the Champion and I alone, along with the man in shiny armor.

“Well that didn’t go very well now did it? Obviously the people aren’t going to look at this situation in a positive way, but you’ll have to be patient. We’ll have to hope to win their hearts slowly I suppose,” the man said.

Then he looked at me and smiled, and outstretched his hand towards mine. “My name is Hieronymus Lex. What we need to do now is have an emergency meeting with all of the Imperial City officers. I don’t mean to sound bossy but it would definitely be in your best interest to meet with your own captains.”

The idea was both smart and greatly appreciated. I didn’t mind any help at all, especially coming from an apparent experienced officer such as himself.

“Yes, that is a good idea. We shall hold a meeting tonight with all of the officers at nine o’clock,” I said defiantly, trying my best to sound like a leader.

Jauffre looked at me surprisingly. “Yes, I agree with both of you. Hieronymus, gather up the officers and bring them here. Lukas must talk with the officers and explain the situation. Then we’ll go from there.”

Captain Lex left the room, leaving only Jauffre and I, plus the Champion who had yet to say a word. I turned around and saw him breathing hard and clutching his chest.

“Are you okay?” I asked him.

“I’m fine, I just need to rest. I’m really not in shape to be doing what I did out there. This disease is crippling me beyond what I original thought it would. I’m sorry sir but I need to rest. If you need any help you know where I’ll be,” the Champion said as he left the room.

Before he left I gave him my thanks for saving my life. “Thanks for saving me out there. I would have been a goner if it wasn’t for you.”

He simply smiled and patted me on the shoulder…




At nine o’clock all of the officers were in the large room, sitting in their chairs, anxiously waiting for my arrival. I had retired to my own chambers beforehand, that Jauffre showed me. The room was absolutely luxurious, far more than anything I had ever seen. But unfortunately I had no clothing to fit me yet, so Jauffre had sent a maid to a nearby shop to get me something that would fit. I was surprised the shop owners were still in business for the day, given the riot that had recently occurred.

When I walked through the door the room fell silent as the officers were ready to hear what I had to say. But before I could say anything Lex offered a pledge of allegiance from everyone.

“We are all here to serve you my lord. All of us are on your side, and we are positive the solders will be as well. I’ve heard that several laughed at you earlier, and trust me, they were reprimanded for their acts,” Lex said as he shook my hand again.

“You didn’t have to do that, I’d be surprised too if a young boy was claming to be the Emperor of grown men,” I replied.

“That matters not sir, your soldiers are to respect you no matter what. I assure you it will not happen again.”

We all sat down and Jauffre introduced me to the three officers. I had at first wondered if perhaps all of them were not present, but then Lex explained that since the war ended some unfortunate events have taken place within the ranks.

“We had one corrupt officer and obviously he was dismissed, banished from the Empire. Who knows where he is now. We also had another officer retire, and from what I heard he was assassinated somewhere in the south. We have not had a lot of time to hire two new officers, but now that job falls to you my lord,” Lex said.

Then a tan Breton officer dressed in regular Legion armor stood up and came over to shake my hand once more. “Hello my lord, my name is Gepard Montrose. I am head of the prison guard and you have my absolute allegiance. I’d like to tell you that right now the prisons aren’t as full as I’d like. This isn’t to say that I wish them to be full, but they should. Crime is steadily rising in the city, something you’ll definitely want to look into once you have time.”

“Yes, I will look at that once I have settled in. Thank you Gepard.”

Next was an Imperial man who was dressed in the same garb as Lex. But unlike Gepard, this man sat idly in his seat and almost had a sense of defiance in his tone. “My name is Itius Hayn, second-in-command of the Imperial Legion, next to Lex of course”.

I could have sworn there was a hint of jealousy in his voice as well.

“I’m happy to see the Septim bloodline continue, and I hope you will be able to get off on the right foot. As you have already seen, things won’t be easy at first, but like Lex already said, where are under your command and are here to serve you in any way possible.”

After that it was my turn to speak. And as I took a deep breath I hoped that, unlike my other two first impressions, this one would prove more successful.

“First off, I want to thank you for support, which makes things a lot easier. I understand that the relationship between an Emperor and his men are incredibly important, and I will do my absolute best to keep that connection intact. I now know that I am commanding a great group of leaders, and this skill will drip down do the Legion soldiers all the way down to the common prison guard. Our military has taken a hit thanks to the war, but I swear to you now that will change. A military is the backbone of any country, and I aim to continue that theory.”

“Very well sir, but I would like to know how you plan on accomplishing that task. Not many people want anything to with the Imperial Legion right now. The other cities see us as weak,” Itius said.

“I realize this Itius. That is why Jauffre, Lex and I shall travel to the other cities in order to meet with the Counts and Countesses personally.” I quickly stole a look from Jauffre and again he had that same proud look about him. “I will leave within the next couple of days; for I fear civil war will result if I do not take action quick.”

“I like that idea sir. Who would you like to take control of the city while we are gone?” Lex asked.

“On second thought, forget what I said. Lex, I would like you to stay here and run things.”

I did this on purpose to see Itius’s reaction, and just as I thought his face went red when I told Lex he would remain in the city. Itius struck me as a jealous officer, and I would have to watch him closely.

“I will travel with Baurus and Jauffre alone. There is no need for anyone else. Now that I think about it, has anyone seen Baurus?”

“Sir, the last I heard he was seen drinking at the Foaming Flask,” said Gepard.

I looked over and saw Jauffre roll his eyes and breathe loudly. “I’ll go speak with him tonight and get him back on track. He’s young, I realize that, but that’s still no excuse for what he did earlier.”

“Very well, that will be it. I want to thank you all for your time and I promise when things get going I will meet with you once more to discuss matters more extensively. For now I would like to rest for the night.”

The officers left the room and Jauffre applauded me for my actions. “That was very impressive Lukas. I’m glad to see you are taking this seriously. Your tone of voice was confident and I really think the officers believe in you. You’re coming together Lukas, I sense great change in the future.”

“Thanks Jauffre, I just hope it’s for the better…”

Nice to see Lukas recover nicely after the public debacle. I guess the people just don't like kids in general... (think about it, Bethesda doesn't have any children in their games!).

Not in Fallout? (never played any of the series, but I've heard promising things from Beth about the new one, also they'll make the next installment in the ES series after this version of Fallout).

Rivetting update! Now that I look more carefully, I can see some traces of V in the Champion. Just like the Champion, V always wears a mask and his true identity is hidden, being more of an idea than an actual person. I just watched V for Vendetta last night and I must say that it was a brilliant movie, one of the best ones I've seen lately. Hugo Weaving's acting was simply wonderful, he really gave V a lot of character despite wearing a mask for most of the film. Anyway, back to your fic.

I liked how the speech progressed. Something that starts bad is bound to end up even worse. I also found Lukas' plan intelligent, seeing the Counts to get their support and all. Something I reccomend is for you to watch Rome, if you have HBO or BBC. It really is a brilliant series which portrays politics and day-to-day Roman life in the most realistic way possible. Recently in the series, Octavian has come to power. Much like Lukas, he is regarded as a child by most, a mere 18 years old. Yet he has quite some skill in the political arena and the actor playing him gives him a certain sense of power, both in the way he acts and in his words. An excellent source of inspiration I might say.

Anyway, keep up the good work!

This story has actually gotten better reviews that I had originally anticipated. I want to thank everyone who is following this story; it really means a lot to me. I would give you a timeline for my next update, but whenever I do it never gets done....

That could have gone better. Maybe next speech should be given from on top of a balcony. It would be safer for one.

Oh, and keep an eye on the jealous dude. He could be trouble.

I'm really happy that you are really getting into the characters. You are depicting them exactly how I wanted you all to...

CHAPTER SIX

I walked back to my room and said my goodnights to Jauffre, who told me that he would sleep at Cloud Ruler Temple. Though I haven’t been to the fort just yet, both Jauffre and Baurus told me of how grand the place was, and of all the history it holds.

That night, as I lay down in my most comfortable bed, I thought about the upcoming days and what they would hold for my future. I wasn’t too sure what would happen to tell you the truth. With the people’s anger towards me so high I wasn’t too certain whether I should walk the streets or not. I mean sure, it would show courage and bravery, but would it also show an interest to die? I couldn’t exactly trust my people just yet, for they do not trust me either.

Another thing that worried me was Baurus. Perhaps there was a history of bad blood between him and Jauffre. If that’s the case I was never made aware of it, and of course with my luck that will be exactly the problem. Baurus claims Jauffre is too bossy, but I never see it that way. Maybe things were different when I wasn’t around. Or maybe Baurus is simply jealous of Jauffre’s rank. It doesn’t really matter I guess; only that Baurus grows up and stops acting like a child. That sounds a little strange coming from me, a child myself, but it’s the truth. We can’t have the only Blades officers bickering back and forth.

The next morning I woke up at around eight o’clock in the morning, and I would’ve slept in longer if it wasn’t a loud banging coming from outside my door. I sat up in my bed and rubbed the side of my neck, which was aching a bit from sleeping on it awkwardly. I hated it when that happened. Quickly I slipped on some shoes and then answered the door and there was Jauffre, with Baurus right behind him.

“It’s time for you to get out of bed sir; there are many things to take care of. You have a long day ahead of you,” Jauffre said with again a motherly tone.

“I’m aware of that Jauffre, thanks for waking me up. Good morning Baurus, I’m glad to see you’ve rejoined us.”

I had expected an apology but instead he merely shrugged his shoulders a bit and nodded. There was still anger within him; that much was for sure. I just hoped it wouldn’t carry out into something larger.

“After you get dressed we’ll let Lex know that we will leave soon,” Jauffre said.

Before Jauffre could continue I quickly cut him off. “I never said when I want to leave Jauffre. Don’t you think there are matters that need attending to here in this city first?”

“Yes, obviously, but you need to talk with other rulers outside of the Imperial City. Things have been going on since the end of the war. Border control, talks of city expansions. If you don’t act soon civil war will come upon Cyrodiil. Even if you do talk with the rulers I’m not even sure if it will help,” he said.

“Very well, perhaps you are right. But who should we speak with first?”

“The southern cities of Bravil and Leyawiin have been tangling verbally back and forth for some time. It would be best if we speak with those two cities first before a small war breaks out. For right now the cities are still under our control, but I fear the worst will happen if something isn’t done.”

“Then Bravil and Leyawiin it shall be. Which city is closer, I’m afraid I have no intelligence of my country’s geography at the moment.”

“Bravil is closest my lord,” Jauffre said.

Baurus then handed me a worn out map. “Here, take this map of mine. It might be bit old but I assure you it has everything you need to learn about your country. You see the symbols in the bottom right corner? That lets you know about rivers, mountains, everything. You should study the map when you have time.”
Before we left the city Lex was informed of our departure, and he seemed happy to take over command of the city. We didn’t speak with Itius; though I’m sure he loathed the idea him not being commander of the Legion. I didn’t really even know him that much, but there was still something about him. Hopefully I was just overreacting.

The three of us entered a carriage, the same one he used to arrive at the city, with the same Dunmer steering.

“Now you’ll have to remember Lukas, The Count of Bravil may have a temper with you, and if that is so you will have to remain calm. Regulus Terentius was always a stuck up man. I have a feeling this will not go as smoothly as we want it to,” Jauffre said once we were settled inside and on our way.

“Well just think about it; has anything gone smooth just yet?” I asked with a smile.

“Other than the officers, no, nothing has gone the way we want it to. Perhaps we should from now on expect the worst heh?”

Suddenly my thoughts turned towards the Champion, who I had forgotten all about. “What about the Champion Jauffre? Did he know we left? I forgot to tell him we were leaving.”

“Calm down sir, there is no need to fret, I told him of your absence right before I came to wake you up. I don’t think he’ll be up and going anytime soon anyhow. Killing that Nord really took a lot out of him I’m afraid.”

“Is it the disease he has?” I asked.

“Yes, I’m afraid so. The condition is eating away at his very existence. I didn’t want to tell you Lukas but I really don’t think he’ll last much longer. Though he doesn’t that old on the outside his body is dying from the inside more and more each day.”

I didn’t know what to say so I didn’t say anything. I wasn’t sure if Jauffre and the Champion were close friends so I figured staying silent was the best thing to do. I didn’t want to offend or anger Jauffre in any way.

“But you can’t worry about that Lukas; you must push the thought of him out of your mind. He would want that,” said Baurus.

Baurus was right but I still believed that his presence helped us. “Jauffre said he was a huge influence to the people. If he was to pass away wouldn’t that further severe our connection with the people?”

“Jauffre was once right in that theory, but not anymore. Not after what the Champion did to that Nord. Even if he was going to kill you the Nord was a citizen either way. The people saw the act as one against all of them. Whether we want to believe it or not, the Champion just might have worsened our chances of getting the people on our side,” Baurus said grimly.

It appeared that Jauffre totally disagreed with the statement. “How can you even begin to say that? After all he did for us? The last thing the people would do is be angry with him. He saved their lives!”

“I understand that Jauffre, but did you see the way everyone reacted to his actions yesterday. Of course he had no other option, but the fact of the matter is that the people are no longer supportive of him. He saved Lukas, the boy everyone seems to despise at the moment. It was a loss-loss situation, and unfortunately the Champion had to take the fall.”

Jauffre still didn’t agree with Baurus, but thankfully the two ceased their arguments.

“Another thing Lukas, the people and atmosphere of Bravil will be nothing like the Imperial City,” Baurus said with a bit of a laugh, as if attempting to lighten the mood. “The people are dirty and dishonest, and that’s nothing compared to the local government. While Regulus is the Count, the real rulers of the city are crime lords and drug lords. In fact, the city guard is said to have allied themselves with the drug lords in exchange for skooma, but nothing has been proven just yet.”

“Not to mention the smell as well. It’s far worse than Anvil even,” Jauffre said. “To tell you the truth Lukas, we will most likely not succeed in swaying Regulus to our side. He is a drunken fool. There is great danger in traveling to this city.”

“But it is a necessary danger Jauffre. I must speak with all of the rulers no matter what,” I said.




Not too much later we arrived at the city, and I immediately understood what Jauffre and Baurus were talking about. All of the buildings were run-down, and I could’ve sworn the guards were just as drunk as the people. It was a pitiful sight indeed.

“We are here to meet with the Count Regulus Terentius please,” said Jauffre to a guard who was standing outside the castle of Bravil.

“Go inside and talk with the Khajiit. She’ll be able to tell ya’ if the Count is busy or not,” the soldier said snobbishly.

Inside we went and sure enough a Khajiit was sitting at a nearby table, looking over some kind of document.

“Excuse me, but we are here to speak with the Count,” Jauffre said.

“And just might who you three be? I’m sorry, but if you do not have an appointment I will have to turn you away,” the Khajiit said. Her tone was just as snobby as the guards, if not more.

“My name is Jauffre, Grandmaster of the Blades. The boy is Lukas Septim, the Emperor of Cyrodiil.” Jauffre was getting snippy back, and it appeared the Khajiit didn’t like it a bit.

“So you are the boy who claims to be the Emperor? The Count wants nothing to do with you, for he is much to busy to talk with a child like yourself.”

“I’ll have you know that this boy will speak to Regulus Terentius whether the Cont likes it or not. And if there are any more problems with that I’ll personally take care of them myself,” Baurus said face to face with the Khajiit. She stared into his eyes for a few seconds before finally giving in.

She got up and showed us to the Counts room, which the door was closed and locked. She knocked on the door three times and a voice was heard from the inside.

“What is it out there? How many times have I told you not to bother me when my door is closed?”

“I am sorry sir but Emperor Lukas Septim is here to speak with you,” the Khajiit said.

Silence was the only thing to be heard for the next few seconds, until at last the door was unbarred and I was then looking at the face of Regulus Terentius.

“And what in the world are you doing here in my city?” He growled at me, with his putrid beer-breath smacking me in the nostrils.

“I’ve come to discuss matters with you Regulus Terentius. Changes are to be made and we have things that need to be talked about,” I said.

“And what if I turn you away from my city boy?”

“You don’t have an option. I am the Emperor and you will do as I say.”

He glared into my eyes for some time. His hatred towards me was certain. I was sure he wanted nothing more than to strike me down where I stood, but if course that would only land him with two blades to the chest. He was at least smart enough to realize that.

“Step inside; I will speak to you only for a small time. I have important things to take care of you know,” he said grumpily.

After the door was closed and the Khajiit had gone back to her reading I immediately began pounding the Count with words.

“I am aware that your county of Bravil is in verbal conflict with Leyawiin, am I correct?”

“Leyawiin violated our terms of agreement by bringing a group of their soldiers past the border point between our two cities. By violating that pact they have already buried their grave. I have no other choice but to exterminate them. I will not lie to you, Emperor, that is what I plan to do, and I really don’t care if you like it or not.”

“First of all Regulus, you do not have the power to create such a pact. You are not the ruler of this country, I am. And what does the Count of Leyawiin think of this pact you have so created?” I asked Regulus.

“He is as ignorant as you are. He refuses to listen to my orders, and he will pay for his actions. No one, not anyone, will defy me, I guarantee you that.”

“You will not attack Leyawiin Regulus. It doesn’t matter what you think, there is now an Emperor at the throne and I will not let you split the country apart. Either you will listen to me and cease your army’s advance, or my army will stop you by force.”

“Are you threatening me?”

He then got up from his chair and stood mere inches from my face. I could sense Baurus move closer to his blade’s holder, but I had no intentions of backing down.

“If that is how you feel, so be it. I am telling you now to stop what you are doing. You know you don’t want a war with my army. It will only spell the end of your reign as Count. I am not trying to topple you from your rank, I only wish for peace.”

“Fine, have it your way! I will send word for my troops to return to the city. But mark my words, if Leyawiin crosses my border once more with its soldiers I will take action, no matter what you say”

“I thank you for your good judgment Regulus. It is important that we all agree with what goes on in this country. I assure to you that I will speak with the Count of Leyawiin, and I will make it clear that he shall not extend his army past the borders.”

I extended my hand towards Regulus, and at first I thought he might ignore me. But at last he shook my hand and gave me the most sinister smile I had ever seen. I wasn’t done with him. Not even close…