Beautiful Insanity (A Skyrim/Oblivion Fanfiction) ((ORIGINAL))

Doubting

The mortals in the few towns we passed through showed clear terror at our appearance. I expected nothing else, as we Mazken received the same welcome from those who called the Isles home. Although it was our first visit to the mortal world, I made several swift judgments over the direction to go. 

"Our Lady wishes us to retrieve an artifact," I said to Adeo once we neared the mountains above Bruma. "It is present in southeastern Skyrim." My second-in-command simply nodded, even though mere minutes before, she'd been more than willing to speak openly. I waited for her to ask about the artifact, but received the same steely silence. As we did not need sleep, I was given more time to think-- and that was all I'd been doing for the past several days.

"Dylora!" My Lady's strength had clearly diminished in the weeks following the former Sheogorath's death. The others made no note of her failing health, but as the captain and commander of the Dark Seducers, it was easy for me to see. "Dylora?" I approached Regina and bent my knee to her. Friend she may be, but as our Sheogorath, she still deserved all manners of respect.

"Yes, madam?" I tipped my head and looked into her eyes. The color had diminished, the once-bright blue irises now a dull gray. The change in her attitude was concerning, and I wanted more than anything to see my liege full of joy. I hated it, hated more than anything, the fact that I doubted her and her ability to rule. Her ability to heal us. My lack of confidence in her might prove dangerous.

"Please bring me The Sixteen Accords of Madness, if you would be so kind." It was a dull request, and it was clear from the slight hesitation beforehand that she'd intended to ask me something else. This was a fool's errand, something for a servant to do. However, I had a plan. My doubt had a plan. Instead of finding her the book in question, I gave her an old story from the original Sheogorath's collection. She began to read aloud, fingers gripping the leather cover tightly.

"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful young girl with a terrible life. She was a princess treated as a slave. Though she was a servant in her own home, her beauty was unmatched. Her voice was melodic like the moon's rise, her hair like a night sky, eyes like a day sky, and had the grace of the dawn. She was more beautiful than a sunset. One day, this young lady was stolen away from her bed by a strange man. He didn't show his face, covered by a gray mask, and she was scared. But she wasn't courageous enough to rise up against him. He brought her to a large stone palace in a gorgeous land. It was a beautiful place, bright and gay. The man hid the maiden away in his palace. He had fallen in love with the lady and did not desire to see her suffering at the hands of those who should have loved her.

"He did not allow her to leave, but he acquiesced every other request the lady had. If she desired the rarest fruit from the deepest cavern in the world, he would retrieve it. If she desired the finest silk and pearls for a gown, he himself would spin and sew to make her happy. Her desires became his, and he fought hard to earn her love."  Regina's voice was tinged with anger as she continued. Seemingly, my attempt was making things worse... far worse.

She was silent, leading me to wonder if I'd gone too far. "Milady?" I took a step back. "Are you alright?"

"Of all those I'd expect to bring me back to yesterday," she began quietly, "I never would have suspected you." Regina's eyes closed, and the storybook went up in flames. I jumped back in surprise as the tome burned to ash at our feet. "I told you to fetch me the Sixteen Accords, Dylora. I'd suggest you listen." I nodded, keeping all regret from my doubt as I obeyed. My Lady had changed, and it wasn't for the better. If only the former Sheogorath was with her. They'd been calming influences on each other.

After I handed the Sixteen Accords of Madness to Regina, she commanded me to return to watching the streets of Crucible. "Sheogorath," I began, "I never intended to bring you pai--"