#fools prayer

Part 9 here

———

“Youre desperate, and yet you refuse to give in to your exhaustion… why do you do this to yourself?…”

Vivec: ugh… it… stinks… *blearily opens his eyes to see the dark, swirling skies of cold harbour beyond a balcony of blackened stone, and the long abandoned marital bed he’d once shared with his daedric husband* I may be desperate. But what choice to I have? Beyond which of the two evils I must surrender to, that is…

“Would it truely be so, terrible, to return to my embrace?… together we could defeat the Sharmat reborn, and obliterate all who stand in your way.”

Vivec: and you’d have all I swore to serve and protect, suffer beneath us…

“They abandoned you. They turned their backs on you the minute they had the chance. They left you to rot and squander away in the shadows. Cursing your name while you served them unknowingly.”

Vivec: hate me or love me, it was, and still is my duty to love and care for them, especially they whom the temple forgot and willingly forsaken. I cannot turn my back on th- *shudders feeling clawed but oddly soft hands slide over his shoulders and around his neck* them. *glances back slowly to see the long dark hair and pale blue grey skin of one of molag bals more handsome forms, the prince very obviously trying to play to the living gods love for beauty*

Molag Bal: *slowly and carefully shifts Vehk around to face him in his embrace as his leathery tail curls around his torso and draws him in closer* They turned theirs, on you. *slides his hands up their neck and pauses for a moment before moving up further to hold his face. As if contemplating giving into his nature for a brief second and squeezing the life out him*

Vivec: *sighs and leans into his touch, too tired to bother pulling away, the exhaustion from his long and difficult life clear on his face* and if they didn’t they’d be cast out, punished or killed… I hold no blame to them… *closes his eyes as the prince strokes his cheek with his thumb, as if wiping away tears cried long ago* why are you bothering me now when you’ve been so distant in my dreams?…

Molag Bal: Would you rather I let him come to you again? And let his lies tempt you further into his hands?

Vivec: You say that as if you are the better option… *smiles and opens his eyes looking up at him* once again… which of the two evils must I choose?…

“Vehk?…”

Vivec: *jolts awake with a sharp breath to find nerevar leaning over him, his hand stroking his face and smoothing his hair back from the cold sweat glistening across his gold and blue skin* N-neht? Whats happened? Are you alright? Did he come back?

Nerevar: shhh, I’m okay… I was doing to ask the same thing, I woke up and you were trembling in your sleep. Did he come back?

Vivec: *smiles as a calm and serene expression crosses his face, one nerevar saw him wear plenty of times when he walked as the nerevarine, an expression he now knew was just a mask to hide deeper concern and pain* no… just, revisiting an uncomfortable experience… I’m fine.

Nerevar: *furrows his brow and shakes his head with a deep sigh* you’re lying to me.

Part 10 here

———

Nerevar: *eyes practically glazed over as he sits at the head of the table reading the meeting agenda* why has house Dres blanked out all topics for an ‘important revelation’, more so, why is it so important to have delayed your journey home, divayth?

Divayth Fyr: Why does house Dres declare Anything they do important? Perhaps it’ll be an elongated apology for the behaviour of Sen Dres… but if that were so house redoran should surely be blotting out the rest of the meeting.

Vivec: *quietly folding his legs and relaxing on the cushion next to nerevar, finding immense comfort in the familiarity of sifting through and filing his paperwork as he did when he first became Hortator, and then later king* His spies are loud and clumsy. They believe us sharing a bed together to be a gossip worthy revelation.

Nerevar: …What?

Vivec: they believe we’ve had sex and thus must be conspiring.

Divayth Fyr: the gift of prophecy continues to be present with you Vivec.

Vivec: no they’re just painfully predictable in their stupidity. It could very well be something else or hold deeper issue but there are rice paddies with more depth than anything they could bother presenting as a problem.

Nerevar: Ha! Hhhn… *rubs his face* please let today be over with quickly… *looks up as the door opens revealing sen dres, standing there with temple guards and flanked by the other house heads all looking confused*

Sen Dres: *grins darkly at nerevar* The good daedra mysteriously quiet, a tribune spared by your hands, and one you gladly bedded and conspired with to erase the council… what do you have to say for yourself, my, lord?

Vivec: I can’t even sit upright without being in pain if you think for a minute I let him fuck me then you’re as dumb as you are stupid.

Nerevar: V-vivec?

Divayth Fyr: *snickers behind his sleeve as the other council heads and guards do the same* he’s not an official anymore he’s no standard to set, nothings holding him back.

Sen Dres: I- Excuse me?!

Vivec: you’re excused.

Sen Dres: *steps forward and hisses in pain as his whole body aches from his punishment* I was addressing the Hortator not you, whore!

Nerevar: Guards remove grandmaster dre-

Sen Dres: You’re not-

Vivec: Allowed to address the king directly following your grave insult to him before the public. You’re lucky he didn’t have you killed for your transgression. *fixes his choppy hair behind his ear as he continues sorting papers* Tell me Grandmaster, do you have any evidence to support your claims against your king? Or simply word of mouth from a spy dressed as a servant?

*silence*

Sen Dres: *suddenly very tense realising the blunder he’s now committed himself to* Yes. I do. Blood was found upon the bed you two shared last night. Following the sudden disappearance of the good daedra along with the subsequent destruction of Azuras summoning chamber we’ve reason to believe-

Vivec: You are correct. The blood was mine.

Sen Dres: You confess then?

Vivec: No. the blood was mine, from my womb. But it was not spilled by ill prepared ecstasy. It weeped from the wounds you caused me when you struck my abdomen, just as the other sores you inflicted upon me wept into my dressings… Tell me, Sen Dres… Were any other bodily fluids found upon his majesties bedding?

Sen Dres: … *bows his head lowly realising he’s made himself the fool and condemned himself again* no.

Vivec: do you have any further evidence to condemn his highness for daring to show familiarity to me?

Sen Dres: … *shakes his head* no…

Vivec: Are you aware of the punishment you’ll receive for such bold false accusations to your betters?

Sen Dres: *unable to hide the vague flint of excitement in his eyes as he nods, body already trembling at the idea of further pain and fuel to his anger* yes…

Vivec: *looks to nerevar* you’re allowed to get rid of him… why do you allow him to step over you? Why do you bend to the whims of worms beneath your feet?

Nerevar: to maintain order… *sighs sitting upright to give his sentence*

???: And how well as that been working out for you?

Nerevar: *blinks and looks at vivec only to scramble back in a panic and scream his throat nearly bloody in terror as he sees Voryns red eyes staring back at him with a wicked grin* GET AWAY! GET OUT! GET OUT OF MY-

“Neht you’re hurting me!!”

Nerevar: *jolts awake to find himself in his bed, the room dark beyond the dim yellow glow of the oil lamp, and vivec holding his hands with a shaking and frightened grasp* v-Vehk? Vivec is it really y-you? Please tell me it’s you I can’t- I can’t tell what’s real anymore!

Vivec: *heavy bags under his eyes as they both slowly turn red and his forehead begins to split open* wake up.

Nerevar: no- no no don’t say that I am awake! Im awake!

“WAKE UP!!”

Nerevar: *shoots upright as he’s snapped back to reality via the sudden urge to use the bathroom* Hnuhhh? What?… *looks up to see himself back in the meeting room, just himself, Divayth, and vivec… and his hand in a cup of tea* what the?…

Divayth Fyr: oh good you’re awake, are you going to stay awake or are you going to slap vivec in the face for trying to wake you up again?

Nerevar: I? Wh-what? *looks at vivec*

Vivec: *looking just as exhausted as nerevar only now visibly irritated as he rubs his cheek* I found that document you wanted, are you awake now or should I hit you back?

Nerevar: I… I’m sorry… I- *rubs his face and leans over to vivec kissing his cheek, smiling as he smells his familiar scent of parchment, white musk and patchouli. The scent giving him tether back to reality, thin as a hair, but a tether no less* I’m just so tired…

Vivec: *smiles and leans into the kiss, knowing nerevars lips anywhere and enjoying the genuine warmth only they could have* me too… *sighs* me too…

Nerevar: *sits back on his cushion* What was the meeting plan again?

Vivec: house dres is unable to be present, house redoran has sent a secondary councillor as stand in, grain allocation and talk of what influence I may have in the temple, and- Oh! Ash yam wedges and fried scrib for lunch.

Part 7 here

Part of this shows Vivec’s perspective from voryns dream visit.

———

Vivec: *tucked into his bed after nerevar finally left him to rest for the evening. His body still sore but healing, though the pain was greatly overshadowed by the immense sense of relaxation and exhaustion washing over him as his aching muscles felt the comfort of a warm, soft, cushioned mattress for the first time in so long*

Ordinator: *steps to his bedside gently taking the now empty teacup from his hand as he ‘begins’ to fade into sleep* did you enjoy your tea, Hla uripe? (Little amusement, insult implied)

Vivec: *so utterly exhausted for a moment he didn’t even register their words* hla uripe?… tea?… I didn’t drink any- *opens his eyes to see himself no longer in his bed, but another he’d once been familiar with long ago… when his reputation was little more than a concubine to the Hortator or whomever would feel the want to have him. The blankets and cushions in shades of dark blues, rich greens, deep reds and warm yellows, and the canopy above lined with glass and carapace lanterns illuminated in a rainbow of colours, all dancing off the thin veils of purple and pink silks, and shining through the heavy smoke of incense in the air* I can’t- move… *turns his gaze to his bedside as he sees a familiar figure from his path step into view from behind the curtains surrounding his comfortable nest* voryn…

Voryn: *golden skin practically glowing in the lantern light as he sits down on Vivec’s beside, a seemingly friendly smile on his face from the red of his lips, but lined with a cruel malice with the sharpness of his eyes as he admires the empty cup in his hand* of course you can’t. I drugged you. You wanted to serve Nerevar tonight, didn’t you?

Vivec: *seeing directly through the illusion before him. Having dealt with voryns tricks long before he’d become dagoth ur and the house of shadow turned his enemy, but deciding to play along to see just how far he’ll draw out this memory and see if he remembers just as much as he does* I did- I do- *catches himself off guard hearing how young he sounds before blinking once more and looking down to see a golden illusion over his blue dunmer half* I owe him my life, every thing I am belongs to him why did you drug me?! My body feels weird! *whines and tries to squirm, not to try and actually move, but to mimic the memory exactly as he remembers, seeing more and more cracks in the illusion as voryns friendly smile doesn’t turn to unfazed amusement, but a dark, cruel grin*

Voryn: shhhh. *leans down gently stroking his cheek* don’t fret. I merely wanted to have him for myself tonight. You serve him so loyally without rest, I thought you might benefit from my little trea-

Vivec: did you forget the part where you allowed the guards to rape me while I lay helpless as you walked away to seduce nerevar?…

Voryn: … *smirks dropping the illusion, his gold skin melting away in the smoke of the incense to reveal ashen grey beneath it, his third eye glowing bright as it stares down at him* hm… you always were so annoyingly clever. It seems not much has changed… except… well.

Vivec: speak.

Voryn: I seem to be overflowing with power with no one to care for, despite the villain you wish me to be. And for all the good you’ve done, you’re scraping for change in the dirt to feed those you abandoned-

Vivec: I abandoned no one! *snarls trying to move, to push him away, to strike him, and failing as his sleeping body refuses to wake for his dreaming mind* All of this! It was all your fault!!! If you hadn’t of-

Voryn: if I hadn’t of what? Vehk?… Ohh right. Become dagoth ur… and whose, fault, was, that? *leans in close as the vision of the bedroom around them gives way to the boiling interior of red mountain and the heart chamber where vivec enacted mephalas orders*

“VIVEC PLEASE!! DONT DO THIS!”

Vivec: *closes his eyes tight wanting to cover his ears as nerevars terrified and agonised cries echo throughout the chamber* n-no- no I I was just-

Voryn: listen to him vivec. Listen to him cry for you. Listen to what you did.

Vivec: *unable to escape the memory as he recalls so vividly in his mind how he cut down the man he’d devoted his life, his heart to* no! No I was only obeying Mephala! She tricked me! She lied to me! I thought I was doing the right thing!

Voryn: you murdered us… you murdered him, when all he ever did was love you. You condemned us to that mountain. You turned me into dagoth ur. You convinced him to leave me with that accursed heart!

Vivec: *sweat pooling on his brow and tears pricking the corners of his eyes as voryns words cut into him like knives and nerevars screams become deafening* IM SORRY!!

*silence*

Voryn: *gaze softening having gotten what he wanted* I forgive you, vehk. *gently smooths the younger mers hair from his face, holding his hand as he watches vivec breath deeply, so close to unravelling in his grasp* you were lead astray by the so called, good daedra… and they only made our sweet nerevar do their bidding further, not only against you, but me as well, and in turn, him too. You know better than anybody their cruelty, you know the pain I’m burdened to carry. No matter how much you may despise me… it is an agony we share… and when at last nerevar is at my side, I promise you, you’ll be taken care of…

Vivec: n-neht?… at your side?… taken care of?…

Voryn: yes, we will bring a new age of light to our people, the good daedra can harm us no f- ARGHH! *falls back in shock as Vivec finally pushes himself from his body and through voryn, right into nerevars mind* neht? *opens his eyes to find himself in the doorway of nerevars room, staring not at the Hortator passed out at his desk, but the golden mask on the floor by his safe*

Nerevar: *jolts up from his desk as he opens his eyes in fright* Ah- wh-what? I- huh- *pauses seeing him standing there* Vehk, what are you doing up? You need to be-

Vivec: *walks past him and his desk to the mask, bending down and picking it up to feel it’s very real weight and cool touch against his hands, sending dread deep into the pit of his stomach knowing that voryn was indeed here.* …Mephala… didn’t lie to me completely then… *looks to him with fear lingering behind his eyes* Dagoth Ur was never the true threat… it was Voryn. *sets it down on his desk and shakily hugs his robe tighter, feeling the shudder of fear and a cold sweat on his brow, even in his dream state* I expect you’re used to him coming to you in your dreams by now?…

Nerevar: *eyes widening in a mix of concern and suprise* he… came to you as well?

Vivec: he… *sighs recalling it* he did… I almost prefer my visits to cold harbour over his presence in my sleep… *meets his gaze as the Hortator stands and grabs his cape as he approaches him*

Nerevar: he didn’t hurt you did he?… *gently drapes it around his shoulders*

Vivec: *smiles from the gesture, his heart feeling a deep warmth that seeps into his soul, that they could return to such friendly, comfortable familiarity so quickly despite all that had happened* no… and I think that’s what scared me so much about it… I opened my eyes and he was at my bedside… he promised I’d be, looked after, when he’d at last he by your side again… so I pushed my way out of the dream and came to find you- *gasps as he’s suddenly pulled back from nerevars mind, and directly into voryns, the taller dunmer holding him prisoner from behind as one hand holds his arms, and the other his neck* Let me go!!

Voryn: Shhhhhh *leans over his shoulder kissing his cheek with a feathery, but firm touch* you’ve always been such a brat, running to tattle on me to nerevar. Can’t you see I’m trying to offer you a gift? I only want what’s best for you and our neht. *slides his hand further around his neck, his thumb and index finger grasping his jaw and holding his head steady* you want to help people don’t you?… you want to look after, your, people, don’t you? You want to be loved by them right? How can you continue doing that as you are now? Desperately hoping your mask will be enough to keep you going forever.

Vivec: *eyes wide as he tries to turn his face to look at him* how did you- ahh- *whines softly as voryn firmly holds his head in place*

Voryn: Because your heart is so, predictable in its kindness. *rests his chin on Vivec’s shoulder, loving how he struggles feebly against his grasp* you’ve seen it yourself, the good daedra have abandoned us, abandoned their people, the temple has become greedy, they abused your gifts, they abused your love. And now they abuse our poor sweet Nerevar as he tries to make everything better, Just join me at my side and we can make it right. Forgive our past and We can bring forth a new era, together.

Vivec: *wanting for a moment to give into him, knowing deep down his words are true. He’s powerless as he is now, and Nerevar is much the same, the temple is corrupt, the good daedra lead him astray, and the suffering won’t stop until change comes… but even then how could he trust him as he is now, after everything he’d done to him, after how sneaky and conniving he’d been with his intentions in the past* …No, I can’t- I won’t.

Voryn: *smirks letting go of his arms and sliding his arm around his waist as he whispers into his ear* perhaps you need more convincing then.

Vivec: I don’t need- *blinks and immediately pushes back into voryns embrace as overwhelming horror and fear shocks him to his very core. The void before him gone and replaced with the burning, crumbling magma of what once was the heart chamber in red mountain. And where the brass tower once stood, now replaced with mephalas still breathing, mutilated body. And from her open rib cage, the heart of creation, no longer just that of lorkhan. To it now bound not only Voryn, but so too now the lady of whispers, the lady of twilight, and the dark lady… the daedras forms and cries twisting in and out of the beating mass as they struggle to break free from their subjugation beneath Voryn Dagoth* wh-what have you done?…

Voryn: I punished them, as they did me. Isn’t it beautiful? Bound to the heart, bound to me, they will finally serve their people… *snickers and sighs fondly* and now, you can’t get rid of me like last time, because if you do. *nuzzles into his ear and whispers with a soft growl* They die with me. *bites his ear hard*

Vivec: *jolts awake and shoots upright in his bed, gasping for air and crying out in a mix of fear and shock, from both voryn, and the two ordinators at his bed side trying to wake him from his nightmare* n-nerevar! Where’s nerevar- *coughs*

Ordinators: shhhh lord vivec please breathe, here drink some water we’ll fetch him for you- where did this cup come from?

Vivec: *eyes wide, staring at the almost empty teacup left behind by voryn, filled with a now sold, black substance, ebony… his blood* v-voryn, he was here- he was here he was actually here nerevars in danger I need to protect him it’s all my fault I should have had more faith in Mephala I failed everyone it’s my fault-

Ordinator: shhh- shhh lord vivec we’ll inspect the area for signs of a break in-

???: Vivec?

Vivec: *turns his gaze to the door looking pale as a sheet, sweat coating his brow and body feeling cold and numb as he realises with mounting horror what his refusal to continue following Mephala had actually done* he actually did it…

we… we can't kill him.

Nerevar: what do you mean he did it?… what do you mean we can't kill him?…

Part 6 here

———

Nerevar: *steps back into his office with a deep and heavy sigh as he closes the door. His communion with Boethia silent. And Azura too far gone to answer his call* I don’t understand… *rubs his face leaning against the door as he recalls his dream, Mephala strung up within red mountain, her body split open and her heart beating in place of the heart of creation* if she was the one responsible, why was she-

*creak*

Nerevar: *immediately snaps to attention, drawing his lance and casting detect life… but sensing nothing* … gods im tired… *sets his lance down and walks to his desk before pausing as he sees the door to his safe unlocked but not open* huh? *quickly opens it up and sighs with relief to find Vivec’s spear still inside, where Beyte Fyr had placed it… but next to it, a familiar golden mask with three eyes whose mere presence sent shivers down his spine* Wh-what?… *reaches in with a trembling hand, picking it up and staring at it in shock* how did-

“You freed me. From the curse she’d condemned me to.”

Nerevar: *drops the mask and spins around in shock to see… Voryn… alive, his long dark hair tucked behind his, and his skin just as good as the precious metals adorning him, contrasting the red paint decorating it beautifully, exactly how he remembered him… his closest friend* voryn? I- I’m dreaming. I have to be. Or I’ve lost my min- *blinks and shivers as voryn suddenly appears right in front of him, the councillors slender and soft hands sliding up his armoured shoulders to his neck, and slowly creeping up a little further to hold his face lovingly as his lips falter so close to his own* Mephala wanted us dead. She wanted me dead. But now I’m free, we’re free… we can be together… together at last… *leans in closer pressing his lips to the other chimers, his skin cold against nerevars, his touch cold, his body cold… no pulse. No heart.*

Nerevar: *closes his eyes and moans softly into the kiss, wanting for a moment to give in and reach out to take hold of him, but ultimately deciding to not feed into his dreams as he opens his eyes and stifles a scream seeing Voryns skin now grey, and three red eyes, locked onto his* WHAT IN-

???: neht?

Nerevar: *jolts awake to find himself at his desk, his neck and back aching as he lifts his head from the scattered parchment he’d fallen asleep reading* Ah- wh-what? I- huh- *freezes seeing a familiar figure standing at his door, Vivec* Vehk, what are you doing up? You need to be-

Vivec: *walks quietly from the door, past his desk and to the safe, before bending down before it and picking up the mask of dagoth ur* …Mephala… didn’t lie to me completely then… *looks to him with fear lingering behind his eyes* Dagoth Ur was never the true threat… it was Voryn. *sets it down on his desk and shakily hugs his robe tighter, the dim glow of the candlelight finally showing the sweat on his brow and the tussled mess his pillow had made of his now short hair* I expect you’re used to him coming to you in your dreams by now?…

Nerevar: he came to you as well?…

Vivec: he… *sighs recalling it* he did… I almost prefer my visits to cold harbour over his presence in my sleep…

Nerevar: he didn’t hurt you did he?… *stands from his desk and picks his cape up from his chair, draping it around Vivec like a blanket as he closes the gap between them*

Vivec: *smiles and hugs it close, his heart feeling a deep warmth that seeps into his soul, that they could return to such friendly, comfortable familiarity so quickly despite all that had happened* no… and I think that’s what scared me so much about it… I opened my eyes and he was at my bedside… he promised I’d be, looked after, when he’d at last he by your side again… so I pushed my way out of the dream and came to find you.

Nerevar: pushed your way out of the dre- *blinks and staggers back, seeing vivec no longer there, and his cape on the floor* … *picks it up and turns to run out the door thinking it was open only to smack face first into it hard* UURGH!!! IM TIRED OF DREAMS BLURRING WITH REALITY I THOUGHT I WAS DONE WITH THIS! *fumbles for the knob and finally staggers out into and up the hall, his pace only quickening as he hears Vivec gasping for breath behind the door of his room* Vehk?! Vivec?! *opens it to find Vivec sitting upright in his bed, the guards assigned to his room trying to help him breath while another checks the window and room for any signs of an intruder* I- Vivec?

Vivec: *pale as sheet as he slowly turns his gaze to him, evidently having seen something as his mind entered back into his own when it left nerevars* he actually did it… we… we can’t kill him.

Nerevar: what do you mean he did it?… what do you mean we can’t kill him?…

Part 4 here

———

Vivec: head held high but posture relaxed and heart heavy as he’s paraded through the streets of Mournhold to the jeers and shrieks of the crowd gathering to mock him before his execution. His body and mind too tired to run, knowing no matter how far he’ll go he’s condemned regardless. In life his name holds no worth, and in death he’ll ascend to cold harbour as consort to the beast he’d promised himself to long ago. Too weakened to fully ascend to his own plain, too wrapped up in mortal affairs to have ever created one as his fellow tribunes once did. Stranded, hopeless and helpless to the whims of the very people he’d once served, and in doing so, condemned them from his actions as a pawn to mephalas whims.*

Dunmer woman: TRAITOR!!! *hurls a rotten yam at him as others fling rocks, rotten fruit and shit, their anger only growing as he barely shows any reaction and simply continues walking through the plaza until he reaches the gates to the temple where his fate awaits*

Dunmer man: OI! WHORE!!! *throws a half filled bottle striking him hard across the back of his head*

Vivec: *composure cracking like the shattering glass of the bottle against his skull as his eyes flash white and he staggers forward falling to his hands and knees* ngh- *moves to push himself back up*

*CRACK!*

Vivec: *unable to stop the pained scream from escaping his throat as the rough leather of a whip cracks hard against his back, immediately drawing blood* GAAAHHNNnn! *falls forward onto the ash covered stone as another lash strikes him, then another, and another, unable to fight, unable to retaliate, knowing it’d be futile in the end*

Sen Dres: *grinning darkly as he brings the whip down on him again* MOVE! Face your conviction with grace or crawl to the block like a dog!

Archmagister Vilinu Sadras: *trying to grab the whip from him not agreeing with this public display in the slightest* Grandmaster dres please see reason in your act-

Sen Dres: *snaps his gaze to him as his hand reaches for and grabs Vivec’s now short and choppy silver hair* Do you wish to join him?! And mark your entire house as traitors to the temple?! Because I will gladly take your head with his!

Archmaster Redoran: *now beginning to doubt his decision in partaking in this as well but holding his stance firm* Stand down archmagister sadras. *watches as sen dres pulls vivec up by his hair, the living god obeying his every pull with the little dignity he has left* He must die.

Archmagister Vilinu Sadras: *gritting his teeth knowing he’d be risking his houses place in the grand council by denying their wants* no. No I will not go against the hortators orders! *pushes past the guards and runs to the temple to fetch nerevar*

Sen Dres: *huffs* no matter. He’ll be gone by the time he arrives. His word holds no weight without our houses approval. *grips Vivec’s hair tighter threatening to rip it out as he leans over his shoulder* it is a shame to be throwing away a pretty thing like you-

Vivec: *jaw clenching as he turns his gaze back to him* I’d rather relive my marriage to Molag Bal than even for a moment humour the idea of you bedding me.

Sen Dres: *grin turning to a deep scowl as he throws vivec back to the ground and kicks him hard in the abdomen* Youd be lucky for me to even consider bedding you whore! *kicks him again as he gestures to the guards to drag him the rest of the way to the block where his executioner awaits, not with an Axe. But with muatra*

Vivec: *coughs and tries to curl in on himself as the councillors boot makes impact with him, the cheers of the crowd doing nothing to drown out the pain as they all desperately try to push their way into the gates to witness his death* id- *cough* be lucky if you’d have killed me at the gate- *grunts as the guards grab him by his arms and lift him just enough to drag him to the block and hold him against it, making sure all will see his exposed chest as his own spear rips his heart from his body*

Sen Dres: *stands before him and the crowd, smirking down at him with cruel eyes as he revels in the rush of over powering a god* any last words before the end? My ‘lord’?

Vivec: *ear twitching hearing footfalls from the temple steps behind him* last words?… *smiles* I’ll save them for later.

Sen Dres: what-

???: ENOUGH!!!!

Everyone: *falls deathly silent as nerevar steps into view, his golden armour glinting in the morning sun and his handsome face masked with unbridled rage as he rips his cape from himself and kicks one of the guards away from Vivec’s restrained form sending him tumbling down the platform* Unhand him this instant! *snarls at the other guards making them let go and back away, his anger alone being enough to put the fear of the gods into them, and his own ordinators doing the rest as they swarm the temple courtyard and begin pushing the crowds back* Vehk?… *kneels down slowly to the half dunmers side, his gaze softening as he takes in his exposed, filth covered form* Vivec?… *gently lays his cape over him to give him back some shred of modesty*

Vivec: *smile gone from his face, unable to meet his gaze as the immense guilt he’d carried for hundreds of years swells within him* …

Sen Dres: *knowing he’s truely in for it if he doesn’t attempt to save face* Your grace you need not waste your time on this disgusting fiend. He disrespects you even n- *falls back in shock as nerevars armoured hand strikes him hard and violently across the face* h-Hortator- I-

Nerevar: *glaring down at him with malice in his eyes as he reaches for his lance* You dare speak to me after what you’ve done?… you undermined my explicit orders. You conspired against my back with the archmaster- *gestures to archmaster redoran*

Archmaster Redoran: Y-your grace we were only acting in the best interest of our people! You decided to invite him here without the approval of our houses and-

???: The Hortator only needs your agreement in matters involving your houses and their place within the council.

Everyone: *looks back to see Archmagister Vilinu Sadras helping another, dunmer down the staircase. A dunmer older, and far more powerful than all of them, Divayth Fyr*

Divayth Fyr: *sighs as he finally reaches them, tapping his cane impatiently as he stands between them and nerevar with the aid of the younger councillor* and last I checked. All five houses must agree, if their decisions are to override that of our king. *glances at them, then down at vivec as the god barely clings to consciousness, or present reality as his guilt ridden heart sets his mind adrift in his memories* Vilinu. Will you take lord Vivec inside and have his restraints removed so he can be cleaned? Nerevar and I have a few choice words to be explained to the councillors. I believe they need to be refreshed on how, demotion to a lower rank, works.

Sen Dres: d-demotion? I- n-no-no! Please my lords! I’ve forgotten my place!! *crawls to them on his knees, grovelling at nerevars feet, the courtyard now silent beyond his loud pleas*

Nerevar: *kicks him away slightly before looking back at vivec and seeing not the god he’d become, but his mind recalling a scrawny young ruffian he’d taken in during his life as a caravan guard* … *looks back at the Vilinu* Archmagister if you could have him placed in comfortable accomodation too until I can see to him I’d appreciate it. He looks like he needs a rest.

Archmagister Vilinu Sadras: *nods nervously, knowing he’ll get a talking to for letting the other councillors bully him and for not coming to him sooner, but just glad to be avoiding greater punishment* y-yes my lords. *bows before hurrying to Vivec’s side and moving to lift him* my lord I’ve been asked to assist-

Sen Dres: *rubbing his face where nerevar kicked him, desperately trying to reach for him once more* m-my lord please! Mercy! Forgive me I only had our people’s best interest in mind- *looks past his legs to Vivec, his desperation leaping to stupidity yet again* l-lord Vivec! Please! Tell him I only meant well! Please forgive me!! *staggers forward on his knees to beg the god, whom he’d only just moments prior was ready to condemn to death, for mercy*

Part 3 here

———

“My heart… I tried… he took it… my heart.”

Nerevar: Voryn?… *blinks open his eyes to find himself in the ever familiar heat of the heart chamber beneath red mountain where his destiny was made, the air hot and searing, steaming the very moisture from his eyes and skin as he finds his foothold in what he knows is a dream* Voryn is that you?… *looks around with a tired gaze, having relived this so many times before in his endless, restless nights, before finally resting his eyes upon the horror before him*

Mephala: *strung up by her own thread, her body split open and her heart now replaced with that of the heart of creation, just as Boethia and Azura had forewarned* I’m too late- *staggers back as steam bellows from the pipes connected to the heart as it pulses weakly from her exposed rib cage, making her scream and writhe in agony*

Mephala: *speaking with a voice not her own, one deep and familiar in the crevices of Nerevars mind, voryns voice* my heart… he took my heart… I tried to stop him. I tried to- *freezes in place, her gaze snapping to nerevar as her face twists and contorts to that of a handsome dunmer man, with three, red eyes* Nerevar…

*BANG! BANG! BANG!*

Nerevar: *jolts awake, shooting upright in his bed as sweat glistens across his golden skin* VORYN!! *gasps for breath as he clutches the sheets, grounding himself as he realises he’s safe in his bed* I don’t… I don’t understand- *jumps as the doors swing open and a guard staggers in dropping to their knees as they beg for forgiveness for disturbing his rest*

Guard: Forgive me for waking you your highness. I tried to stop the temple councillors. We tried to recite your orders but they said that justice for the good daedra and their people must be brought.

Nerevar: I- justice?

Guard: they’re preparing the execution of Vivec. Your men are approaching the city as we speak.

Nerevar: … *fumbles out of his sheets and swiftly grabs his armour* ancestors no we have to stop them!!

*meanwhile*

Vivec: *bound and kneeling amongst his captors as the silt strider bringing him to his fate sways slowly with each step, his body stripped bare and only covered with a rough sheet and the magic suppressing irons around his wrists and ankles, and his eyes heavy and fluttering closed with exhaustion, forbidden to rest, forbidden to be comfortable, and forbidden to hold a shred of dignity* …

Temple guard: *suddenly shoves him hard knocking him forward onto the hollowed ‘floor’ of the striders carapace* Oi, N’wah! I warned you about closing your eyes.

Ordinator: … *gently sits vivec upright once more, fixing the sheet over his exposed body* Back off from him. We were told to avoid excessive force until nerevar himself declared otherwise.

Vivec: nerevars word will not reach you in time to decide… my fate is sealed beyond those gates.

Ordinator: what-

Temple Guard: *raises their hand to strike the bound god* What did I tell you about tal-

Ordinator: *grabs their hand* shut up… *turns his gaze over the edge of the striders carapace as the noise of a crowd finally reaches his ears* what the?… *steps to the head of the hollow to see the entire city gathering at the gates with torches and weapons drawn as the stable hands hurry to push the raised platforms to the beasts side*

Vivec: *glances up at the ordinator* I’m ready to greet my end… *slowly rises to his feet with an exhausted, pained grunt, and a slight wobble to his step. Looking like he’s ready to pass out at any moment. His candles wick burned out at both ends, and the end of his rope unravelling in his grasp*

Ordinator: I- no wait!! Sit back down what’s happening?! Nerevar never mentioned this.

Ordinator 2: he said to retrieve him for interrogation not execution!

Ordinator 3: can you even kill a god- Hey wait unhand him!! *draws his weapon as temple guards suddenly ascend the steps to the striders platform and apprehend the living god with ease*

Vivec: *glances back at them for a moment, his pace halting like an immovable force, the shackles in truth doing nothing to halt him of his abilities* my words will not reach nerevars ears in time before it’s too late… please… tell him… I’m sorry.

Ordinator 3: *eyes locking with the gold and red of the dunmeri peoples embodiment of the present. And feeling his heart ache and hang heavy in his chest as Vivec’s words ring of truth in his mind. Bringing tears to his eyes from the tongue of the warrior poet, unable to speak or barely hold his weapon aloft as the temple guards lead him away* I- I will.

Vivec: *allows the guards to pull him away and down the steps once more, their hands rough and their grip tight, leaving visible bruising on his skin that once would have never of shown at the height of his power, now laying bare for the world to see as they finally set foot on the ashen soil before Mournhold and its people, and the sheet removed, leaving him exposed and helpless before their judgment* … *slowly raises his head, his gaze landing on several figures approaching him and the guards holding him as the crowd falls silent with hushed whispers overshadowed by the breeze, the high councillors of House Dres, House Redoran, and house Sadras* … *effortlessly pulls his arms free from the guards grip and kneels down into a graceful bow amongst the ash. A submissive gesture of respect made somehow insulting as he shows a poise befitting a god before them* if my death has been ordered, I go to it willingly. I will not delay the inevita- *coughs as a boot suddenly greets his face with a swift kick, knocking him onto his side and earning a mix of shocked gasps and cheers for violence from the crowd*

Sen Dres: *the new head of house Dres and holder of their seat within the temple of Mournhold, a young, and arrogant councillor with more vitriol and spite than reason and thought* You dare prostate yourself at our feet and pretend still to be more than a whore who stole power from your betters?!

Archmagister Vilinu Sadras: g-grandmaster dres please we should wait for the hortators decision on this mat-

Archmaster Redoran: Silence! Nerevars kindness allowed him to live once before, and look at where it lead him. Lead our people! And now he wishes to afford it again! He kneels before us a traitor to the temple and all of morrowind. He must die.

Vivec: *winces as the guards pull him up from the dirt by his shackles, his blood turning the ash to ebony where it fell from his nose and lip* I, *raises his head, his very gaze though tired and gentle, freezing them in place out of fear for what he may still be capable of* Am ready. To receive my judgement.

Part 8 here

———

Nerevar: *holding Vivec upright as the two walk through the temple to the communion chamber of the good daedra* you should be resting Vehk-

Vivec: *leaning against him as exhaustion overwhelms him once more, mixing with the effects voryns blood had left in his body* I can’t- I need to confirm what I saw. I saw them, all three- they’re trapped, I need to know, I have to kn- *gasps as nerevar scoops him up with ease, holding him bridal style* n-neht-

Nerevar: you’re in no state to walk, I’ll carry you…

Vivec: I… th-thank you. *sighs and leans into his touch. His feelings of unworthiness and guilt giving way to familiarity in his comfort* I… I have to be sure… maybe the dream was a lie. Maybe there’s still hope.

Nerevar: I hope so, but… if lady Azura called for you then… maybe she’ll answer you… my prayers to her were left unanswered.

Vivec: *stomach twisting into knots* that’s not a good sign… *looks up at the giant doors as the guards open them for the them. Some casting perplexed glances their way, confused as to why nerevar and vivec are so close knowing all that’s happened, the others either unbothered or simply informed of the earlier events of that day*

Nerevar: *steps into the chamber and feels dread creep further into his soul as he feels no presence from any of the good daedra* it’s quiet… *looks around the room as the doors close leaving them in total darkness* the torches didn’t light?…

Vivec: *holds out one of his hands casting a small fireball, half expecting to see voryns face appear from the shadows but seeing nothing beyond Nerevar and his gentle eyes reflecting his magics light* I don’t think… they’re here anymore… *tosses the flame into one of the large bowls of oil, igniting it and letting its flame travel around to the others, illuminating the dark space* maybe their reach can’t go beyond the mountain-

Nerevar: n-no don’t say that, we have to try, maybe they’re just fighting to free Mephala if what we saw was true. They’d- they’d never abandon us. *sets him down before azuras statue*

Vivec: *ears slowly shifting, picking up the doubt in Nerevars words and tone, wondering if he too felt the want to succumb to voryns requests and offers, wondering if it was enough to bring the Hortator into questioning the faith that lead him to walk as himself once more after all he’d suffered through* just… be prepared… if they are bound to him, he could reach us just as easily…

Nerevar: I’m aware… *sighs and walks to azuras altar, placing incense and dried flowers as an offering before joining vivec on the floor, kneeling quietly as he opens his mind and closes his eyes* Azura, lady of twilight, I’ve done as you asked. I brought vivec to y-

“Too late… it’s too late…”

Vivec: Boethia?… Azura? No- it’s not- neht? Nerevar-?! *opens his eyes to find himself no longer in the temple or beside nerevar* n-neht?

Nerevar: lady Azura?… *opens his eyes to find himself no longer beside Vivec, but instead, voryn*

“They belong to me now.”

Voryn: *smiles at him fondly, his lips moving to the words but speaking with azuras voice*

“To the heart of creation we are bound as we long wished to be, Boethia worshipped the scarab, lorkhan, the true creator, she wished to become him. Mephala, admired his lies and deceit as he spun his perfect world with the threads of time. And Azura wished to be loved by all of his creation. We are happy. This is no punishment. This is a blessing.”

Nerevar: *frozen in place as he stares at voryn, his mind cracking like glass as he struggles to discern reality from illusion, unable to fathom his closest friend would be back like this, that he could do this* n-no I-I don’t- no Mephala she- I- h-how did you trick them? How could you do this to them?! This is no blessing this is madness voryn!!!

Voryn: *grins looking up from him to the statues*

Nerevar: *looks up and barely contains his horrified scream as he sees the stone replaced with the princes themselves, their bodies ripped open and their rib cages formed around the heart of creation, bound by vines of roses, bloodied silken webs, and the still coiling and twisting bodies of snakes. All of them groaning, all of them powerless, all of them slowly turning to ebony as their power seeps further out of them and into the heart of creation, the heart of the scarab, voryns, heart* wh-what have you done?

Voryn: *smiles as he suddenly looms over him, his slender hands sliding around the hortators neck and cupping his jaw to tilt his head back and meet his hypnotising gaze* I did what was necessary. They tricked poor, naive Vivec into killing us. They didn’t answer my prayers for salvation as the heart corrupted me and drove me insane. They allowed me to become dagoth ur, and they rebirthed you time, And time again, just to force you to do their bidding for them. *gently strokes his face and runs his other hand through his mowhawk* like this, they can harm you no more. And at last, they can finally serve their people as they serve me. Vehk spoke the truth, for when he and the tribunal ruled, our people were loved and cared for, their needs were met, their prayers were answered. Together we can do the same nerevar, we ca- AAAAAGHHH!!!

Nerevar: *stares in utter shock as the head of a familiar, leathery spear punctures through voryns chest where his heart should be, and behind him holding it, vivec* V-Vehk!

Vivec: *eyes glowing white having seen through the illusion of the house of shadow, scowling as he grabs voryn by his hair pulling him back further onto the spear* GET YOUR HANDS OFF HIM!!!

Voryn: *grits his teeth into an irritated, but eerily satisfied grin* so this is what nerevar felt when you betrayed him. *smirks as his third eye glows a vibrant, hypnotising red* you’ve always been so annoyingly clever Vehk… why can’t you see reason this one time when it could change the lives of our kin forever?… don’t you want them to be happy? Don’t you want to atone for all you’ve d-Ghhgh *looks down again as vivec let’s go of his hair and stands there, looking in front of voryn in shock* n-nerevar?…

Nerevar: *face inches from voryns as he drives his lance through him* this isnt right, this isn’t the real you, you’re not him, you’re not my voryn.

*deathly silence*

Voryn: … *slowly withers away into a swirling, shadowy mist as tears fall from his eyes, and all light within the chamber turns a bone chilling red* I tried being reasonable.

*BOOM!!!*

Vivec: *staggers back, hitting the ground hard as the heart held aloft by the good daedras bodies pulses like a deafening drum* w-we have to get out of here! *grabs nerevars arm*

Voryn: I tried being kind.

*BOOM!!!*

Nerevar: *stands and pulls vivec to his feet before lifting him into his arms as the ground beneath them begins to split open revealing a burning, glowing heat from beneath as magma bubbles up from between the cracks* the door?! Where’s it gone?!

Voryn: all I wanted was what was best for you!! Why won’t you let me help you?!

*BOOM!*

Azura: *suddenly turns her gaze down to nerevar and vivec as a final tear wells in her eyes, one final parting blessing*

Voryn: *too lost in his rage to notice the good daedra* If you won’t come Willingly. ILL BRING YOU TO ME MYSELF!!!

*BOOM!!!*

Azura: good luck, my Hortator. *smiles as the tear falls from her face and swallows nerevar and vivec into its embrace as her entire form tenses, and becomes solid ebony*

*a few seconds later*

Temple guard: they’ve been in there a while.

Temple guard 2: well the Hortator seemed worried, maybe the good daedra have a task for him.

Temple guard: maybe they’re killing vivec after all.

Temple guard 2: or sleeping with him…

Temple guard: …

Both of them: *open the doors a crack to have a peek, only for the both of them to get taken out as a flood of perfumed water gushes out of the chamber*

Vivec: *coughs as he crawls out seconds later, nerevar crawling out beside him* …no… no… What have I done?… it’s too late, it’s too late…

Nerevar: *coughs up another mouthful of water and slowly opens his eyes to see his reflection in the ripples against the marbled floor, his face giving way between each one to voryns smiling grin and glowing eyes* … n-no… *chokes out a sob and falls to the floor as a sense of hopeless dread and heartbreak consumes him*

*Several hours later*

Vivec: *staring out the window of nerevars room, knowing the sun will be up soon but now too afraid to sleep despite the lingering exhaustion luring him back further and further into the pillows of the hortators bed* …I took it when I saw the mask… in your office earlier…

Nerevar: *holding muatra, trying to inspect it for any clues of voryns presence* I figured… I’m not mad if that’s what you’re wondering… I’m… im glad you took it. Gods only know what voryn would have done to us if I’d of let him take hold of my mind.

Vivec: thank you for bringing your lance… I could feel him pulling at the corners of my mind…

Nerevar: … *sighs and sets it down before sitting on the bed and rubbing his eyes* is it wrong… that I… I wanted to give in?…

Vivec: *glances at him from across the bed* …I was hoping you’d have an answer to that same question… I wanted to. So… so badly…

Nerevar: *looks back at him with tired, but gentle and understanding eyes* …

Vivec: he… he had me believing I could fix my mistakes… that I could heal everyone who needed it. That I could rid the temple of corruption that… *sighs* that I could make you happy…

Nerevar: … *crawls across the bed and sits beside him, fixing one of the newly laid bandages across his still fresh wounds as he takes his hand* he promised me the same… *sighs* we… we’ll figure this out together… I promise you, Vehk… We’ll rid the temple of corruption, we’ll fix everything on our own, we just… we just have to find a way to deal with him and save the good daedra first…

Vivec: *staring at his hand in his before slowly looking up and meeting his gaze* I thought I’d know everything when becoming a god… but… I still don’t know how you can always be so hopeful… I always envied that of you.

Nerevar: *smiles fondly at him* you don’t know? Impossible, you taught me yourself.

Vivec: I did?… hm… *looks down with an amused smile pulling at the corner of his lips* perhaps you’ll need to remind me of what I’ve forgotten then…

Nerevar: … *gently lifts his chin to meet his gaze once more* …

Vivec: … *leans forward a little, testing the waters, before smiling and falling into his arms as nerevar gladly let’s him move closer* neht…

Nerevar: *lays back into the pillows holding him close, running his hand through his short, cloud like hair* shhhh, stay with me tonight, Vehk…

*meanwhile outside*

‘Temple Guard’: *holding a tray of tea, peering into the room before stepping back and nodding to the other guards* Ah, it seems sleep took them before I arrived. I’ll return when they wake.

Ordinators: *both nod and hold their positions as normal*

‘Temple Guard’: *turns and leaves, walking not to the kitchens, but to the accomodations for house dres, dropping his disguise as he enters and bows on his hands and knees* my lord.

Sen Dres: *moaning and whining as his personal healers tend to the hundreds of open wounds across his back and legs, smirking between blissed and pained cries knowing he’s making them uncomfortable by getting off from the pain* Ahmnnn? *lifts his head looking at his spy* well, did you find anything?

Dres Spy: *staying on his hands and knees just to avoid looking at the display before him* y-yes my lord… the good daedra are in peril from what I heard, but-

Sen Dres: *interest already peeked* but?

Dres Spy: the Hortator and vivec… they discussed overthrowing the temples system, to ‘rid it of corruption.’ As they- they-

Sen Dres: as they what? Speak up!

Dres Spy: a-as they shared each others company in Nerevars bed.