The End of Time

5. A Bumpy Ride

I walked into our quarters, and sighed as I looked around. I missed him terribly. I pulled out my bag from under our bed (and yes, I refuse to stop saying "our") and laid it down on the bed. I opened up the drawer and pulled my nice blue dress that Martin had picked out for me. I only wore it on formal affairs. I laid it in on the bed and stared at it. After a moment, I felt someone wrapping their arms around my waist faintly. I looked around, but there was no one in sight. I just shook my head, and put the dress in my bag. I packed a few of my perfumes, and my Blades armor, for just in case.

I slung the bag over my shoulder, and walked out. Jauffre was standing next to Ocato, ready to go. "Mikaela, I would put on your armor, in case we run into trouble." I said "Nonsense. I'm a better mage than swordsman, anyhow." He shrugged and said "As you wish. We're ready to push off, then." I nodded, and we left for the carriage. Jauffre sat next to Ocato, and I sat next to Baurus. We talked on the way over, and when it came time for night to fall, I fell asleep on Baurus's shoulder. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and fell asleep with me.

"Can I ask you something?" Ocato whispered. "Of course." Jauffre said quietly. "Do you think Mikaela and Baurus might love each other?" — "Oh, no, no. They're like brother and sister. They've been joined at the hip since two. Mikaela truly loved Martin. But, if she gets over Martin... I think they would make a lovely couple. I thought she was going to marry him, until Martin came along." Jauffre said plainly. Ocato shook his head, and said "I really hope she gets over it... The poor thing was hurt terribly. I want her to be happy, and I know Martin wanted her to be happy, too."

Jauffre nodded, and his eyes went dark, and he looked out of the carriage window distantly. "I think she'll be okay. Whatever Martin wrote in that letter seemed to mend the wound quite a bit, but she'll still miss him badly. I know how she feels. She may not want to be with anyone else. But I have a feeling she'll still be a happy person. Only time will tell, I suppose." He thought to himself.

I was awoken by the rising sun in my eyes, and the churning of my stomach. I gripped my stomach, and said "Daddy..." Jauffre looked up at me, and instantly yelled "Stop the carriage!" It stopped, and he flung the door open for me. I dropped by the side of the road, and threw up everything again. Once I finished, Jauffre had a mint leaf ready for me to chew on. "Sweetie, is something wrong? Why are you having such hard time keeping food down?" He asked as he rubbed my back. "I don't know. I just feel like my stomach is churning..."

He looked at me worriedly, then picked me up to carry me back. "Father, I can walk. Put me down, please." — "No. Hmmm... Father... I don't think I'm ever getting used to that one." He said plainly. I grinned, and laid my head on his chest. I climbed in, and laid down with my head in Baurus's lap. We were silent for the next little bit, until Baurus and I started talking about the fundamentals of heavy armor. When Jauffre started chiming in, the awkward feeling left, and we started making jokes and laughing. Jauffre was very red, and had his hand over his mouth, trying hide his smile. Baurus and I were teaming up to see how hard we could get Ocato to laugh, because when you get him to laugh really hard, his voice skyrockets, and he starts to hiccup, then he gets embarrassed and laughs even harder. These were the little moments I never took for granted. And for a moment, it felt like it did before the Oblivion crisis. Before all these crazy things started happening, and tore our world in two. This moment gave me hope. Maybe things could get back to normal, but they'll never be the way they were ever again.

When we finally got to the Imperial Palace, we got out and walked in. I was met with applause by the Imperial Legion, and by the Lords from the Provinces that were already here. I heard one of the Jarls of Skyrim mutter "That's the Seventh Champion of Cyrodiil? She doesn't look like much." I overheard him, and saw who it was. Obviously a new Jarl, because I didn't recognize him, and no other Lords would've been as foolish to offend me. I was about to go give him what for, when Ocato started towards him with a death stare. Oh, man, if looks could kill.

He got right up in his face, and said "You are new here, so I will give you a very important piece of advice. You will learn to hold your tongue, and keep your ignorant comments to yourself. This young woman protected the late Emperor until he sacrificed himself. Not only that, but she has more knowledge in politics and speechcraft than you could ever hope to gain. To top it all off, she has a legitimate claim to the throne, with her place in the Council, and being the love of the late Emperor. I trust that in the future, you will refrain from making foolish statements, Jarl Battle-Born."

He bowed, and said "Yes, High Chancellor. My greatest apologies to you, Lady Mikaela." I nodded to him, and walked alongside Ocato as he took his place next to me, still fuming. I touched my hand to his, and he glanced down at me. His expression softened when he saw the innocent look in my eye. He put up his straight face, and kept walking. When we got out of the hall, and Imperial guard was there to escort me to my room, as was customary.

When I went to leave with him, Ocato stopped us. "Wait milady! You must be escorted by a Blade from now on." I looked at him strangely, and he explained. "Like I said, as the love of Martin, you have a very legitimate claim to the throne. Being in the position you're in, you must be treated as such. Until a final decision is made, that is." I looked at him crossly, and said "But I am a Blade." He looked at me apologetically, and said "If you become Empress, my dear, you will cease to be." My eyes widened. Not being a Blade? What would that be like? I'd been with the Blades since the day I was born. Almost, anyway.

I turned to Baurus, and he extended his arm to me understandingly. I took it, and we walked down to my room. He didn't say anything, just kept walking. I wished for Martin to be there. He could comfort me with just a touch. He would know what to say. We would get back to our room, and I could curl up in his arms and cry. He would rub my back in that loving way, and kiss my forehead, telling me he would be there for me. I could wish all I wanted, but that wasn't changing a thing.

When I got back into my room, I laid my bag on the bed and started unpacking. Baurus stood in the corner, as I silently put my clothes and armor away. After a moment, I guess he got sick of seeing me fester in my own sadness all alone, and walked over to me and engulfed me in a hug. It wasn't as reassuring as Martin, but it worked. I held him close to me, then he released me. I wasn't crying, so he asked me "Are you alright, my Lady?"

I snorted and said "Am I alright, he asks... No, my old friend. I am not. If you want to know why I'm not crying, well, it's because I have no more tears left to cry." He nodded, and stood in silence for a moment. He took in a breath, and asked "Can I get you anything? You must be hungry, after the journey, and throwing up." I grinned, and thought, "What do I want to eat?" The first thing that popped into my mind, to my surprise, was seared slaughterfish. I'd always hated slaughterfish, and it was no secret.

"I think I want some slaughterfish." Baurus snorted and said "Funny. No seriously, what do you want?" I looked at him genuinely and said "No, I seriously want some slaughterfish. I'm craving it badly." His eyebrow furrowed, and he said "Cravings? Is it that time? But, you've never craved slaughterfish before..." — "I know. It's weird, but I want it terribly." I said honestly. He just shrugged and walked out the door. He came back a little while later with two steaming plates of slaughterfish and sautéed blue entomola. We sat and ate for a while, then he took the plates to the maid who was making her rounds, and then stood erect in front of the door, as a Blade does to protect the ruler of the Empire. It was going to take a while to get used to this.