Chapter Text
Six daedric princes stood in the Eldergleam after Arcelia explained just what she was to her allies. After that, Hermaeus Mora explained what they were going to do. "Arcelia will meet you there, as I must talk to my Champion about something."
Hermaeus and Arcelia vanished into Apocrypha, Hermaeus hovering above her. He wouldn't usually bring his allies to speak in Apocrypha but without Miraak, it no longer mattered. "Yes?" Arcelia stammered, eyes wide.
"It appears one option remains to discover the secrets of your kind," Hermaeus replied, deciding her reaction was from not seeing his true form before.
"Please tell me what you plan to do before doing it," Arcelia frowned, no longer scared. The reaction amused Hermaeus, though he wouldn't show it.
"I shall take them from your mind directly. If they are not there, I will find someone else to inform me about what you are. But you will remain my Champion," Hermaeus replied and materialized an extension of himself. A book appeared in front of Arcelia, tentacles shooting from it and impaling her. They didn't wound her so she stayed completely still, doing her best to not resist the prodding in her skull. After a short while, the tentacles retracted into the book and it flew away. He found nothing new but decided to tell Arcelia regardless. "Well, there are some things. Dragons, like Dragonborn, have shouts exclusive to them. So do you."
"Reyth Golz Tuz," Arcelia said, and Hermaeus Mora tuned out, "I used that on Eldergleam during my fight with Gunnar."
"It was to protect it. The shout, Diamond Wood, was to fortify its wood against things like Nettlebane. This new one, however, I can find nothing on," Hermaeus Mora explained.
"Why do you tell me all of these things, when you tend to have your champions work for knowledge?"
"I am as in the dark as you are on the true meaning of Kaanviing, Kyne's Wing. The knowledge I gain is limited by yours, and vise versa. As much as I hate it, I need to cooperate with you, as you do with me, as I am unable to speak with most Aedra."
That's not even the half of it, Hermaeus Mora thought.
He continued, "however, there is one other task I have for you once this is done. Return here, to Apocrypha and aid in the final battle against Quagmire and Vaermina. Kill her permanently."
"Very well, my Lord," Arcelia bowed, "but there is business to attend to."
"Yes, go my Champion. It is time to return to Skyrim. This will not be the last battle, but the Dragonborn will die. Mehrunes Dagon would not give up so easily."
Evren groaned, opening her eyes. She hadn't expected the blast to affect her but it managed to knock her unconscious. Evren grumbled, feeling around. The snow had melted in the blast and she laid in ashes. When she looked around, she was surprised to see that everything was in full color. Evren stood and looked around, confused. "Hello!?"
Evren jumped when she looked behind her, seeing a massive flaming dragon. Unlike the other dragons she'd seen, this one did not stand on his wings. He looked more like a bird than a dragon, but Evren knew who this was. She'd been to the Imperial City and seen the statue. This was Akatosh.
Shocked, Evren bowed.
"There is no need, Evren. Rise," Akatosh chuckled and shrugged his flaming wings, "like a phoenix." Evren didn't react and Akatosh grumbled. "It was an attempt at humor."
Evren changed the subject, "am I still in that weird thing?"
"Completely," Akatosh nodded, "it's regrettable that Vaermina learned of this place, but not that you did. Daedra should not restrict portals for mortals unless they know what they're doing. Vaermina and Dagon, it seems, do not. That is why you can trust my son. He always knows what he's doing. Not in your case, though."
"Durnehviir?"
"No," Akatosh replied, "you can trust him, but I mean my firstborn."
"I'm sorry, but Alduin is dead," Evren muttered.
"He isn't dead nor is he my firstborn. Remember, tell no one of Hermaeus' true identity," Akatosh chuckled, "and if you speak with Mephala, don't mention that you met me, hm? She's still bitter that I didn't mean to create her. Krosis Mephala. She didn't give me the chance to be her father."
"Your Hermaeus' father?" Evren whispered, blinking a few times, "but if Alduin isn't the firstborn, then doesn't that make him..."
"Hermaeus is more of a world saver," Akatosh chuckled, "not that he ever chose to take up that mantle. Until now. But even I cannot see past this Kalpa's ending. We will see if he succeeds. Now, return to the mortal realm. You have people that need your help, unseen or no."
Evren opened her eyes again, gasping for air. Everything was colorless again. Evren stood, and looked around. She heard a whimper nearby and hurried over, seeing a golden werewolf laying in the ashes. She knelt by his side. She didn't recognize him, but reached out, knowing she couldn't actually touch him. Suddenly, his eyes flew open and he snarled, lunging at her. Evren yelped as he passed through her, taking her bow off her shoulder. "I'm trying to help," she readied an arrow, keeping it pointed to the ground. The werewolf ignored her and pawed at the ground, snarling. She was pretty sure none of the werewolves in the Companion's were blond, but it was worth a try. "I know Arcelia."
He paused, still bristling, but didn't attack.
"My name is Evren. She doesn't know I exist but I've been helping out," she explained and the werewolf's ears perked up. He stopped snarling and stood up straight. "You know her?"
"Yes. I'm an ally," he nodded and Evren jumped, "I almost wasn't expecting her to be alive. How has she not notice you help her?"
"Nobody can see or hear me in this realm. How can you?" Evren asked.
"I've never seen you before," the werewolf shrugged before humming, "I'm Sinding. Do you know what caused the blast?"
"Yes. There's an insane Dragonborn who absorbed a sphere and exploded. Arcelia had an army and was fighting them," Evren nodded slowly, "we should find them."
"Yes," Sinding agreed, "let's go."
"Alright. Just, try not to let them know I'm there, please? I'm trying to stay low," Evren asked. Sinding nodded and they began searching.
Arcelia said goodbye to her allies, leaving her with Paarthurnax and another dragon. Evren said goodbye to Sinding and stayed behind.
"A son of Akatosh and a daughter of Kynareth," the dragon mused, "nid. It's not the oddest pair of history. I shall reunite with Lokvensu'um if the Eldergleam is not guarded. Erei mu grind."
"True, but at least they're getting together," Evren shrugged. The dragon flew off, leaving Arcelia with Paarthurnax. "You guys going back home?" Arcelia climbed onto Paarthurnax and they flew away. Evren chuckled. "Maybe I should too. No, I don't think there's time for that. Wait up. Dur Neh Viir!"
Evren woke up confused. She'd gone down to High Hrothgar to sleep there but something felt off. She explored but found nothing. It was strange, sleeping on the porch of the Greybeards. It felt disrespectful but Evren didn't have much to do in her free time. Eventually, Evren walked back up to the top of the mountain, shivering terribly. It was surprisingly warmer at the top and Evren let out a relieved breath at the top. That was until she saw that they were all gone.
Hermaeus Mora appeared below Vulvithmaar as the dragon attempted to bring down the statue of Akatosh. "Your master is not above lying," Arcelia glared at Vulvithmaar as Hermaeus reached up, dragging Vulvithmaar towards the ground. But yours doesn't tell the full truth either, Hermaeus decided not to say that out loud. Vulvithmaar yelped, struggling against the powerful daedra as he was pinned to the ground. Paarthurnax breathed fire on him while Arcelia leapt off.
Alarmed, Hermaeus reached out and grabbed her, dumping her closer to the ground. He wasn't really paying much attention. He was more focused on magick, creating a shock that ran through Vulvithmaar. Arcelia prepared a master spell while Vulvithmaar began to glow red. Arcelia released it, tossing a small ball of fire at the ground by her feet. She winced as it exploded around her.
"Your attempts are petty, Hermaeus Mora," Vulvithmaar forced himself to laugh and his red glow spread out into a sphere. Hermaeus withdrew in pain, feeling his essence shaking at Dagon's attack. "Ag Al Deyra!"
So they did go through Apocrypha, he seethed as his body betrayed him. He felt like he was burning alive, though as a daedric prince, he could only assume how painful that was for mortals. He drooped, squinting as his other eyes vanished. He was covered in a fiery glow, unable to create another extension to continue the battle. When Hermaeus recovered, he saw that the massive dragon, Golzqahwuth, had pinned Vulvithmaar to the ground. Arcelia lifted Meridia's sword and stabbed it down. Mehrunes Dagon dragged Vulvithmaar into his realm as the sword hit the ground.
Hermaeus Mora quickly withdrew to Apocrypha, not wanting Arcelia to be seen with him any longer. He curled up, letting himself recover before sending energy into the Shivering Isles. Sheogorath replied by appearing in Apocrypha, nervous. "You called?"
"Yes. I wish to know how Evren is doing," Hermaeus replied.
Sheogorath froze, "she's doing well. Well enough for our Evren, that is."
"What happened this time?" Hermaeus glared.
"Nothing. No. Nothing happened," Sheogorath chuckled, "she's doing fine. She might have had an accident or a few. She's a little upset with Haskill at the moment too."
"Usually, you're at least somewhat capable of lying. This isn't entertaining for either of us."
"Evren is pregnant," Sheogorath blurted, no longer sounding like it was a lie. Hermaeus Mora didn't reply. No statement had ever made him freeze like that one. Once he regained himself, his mind went into a silent frenzy. Or, it would have been silent, if it didn't reflect in Apocrypha. There was a storm and Sheogorath nodded slowly. "I knew ya wouldn't take it well."