My head was throbbing, I raised my hand to my head and felt something warm… wet? I quickly withdrew my hand as I felt a sheering pain shoot through my skull. Blood stained my palm. Those corrupt bastards must have hit me harder than I originally thought. Pushing those thoughts from my head I looked around, and took in my surroundings, I was in the imperial prison there was no doubt about it. A simple wooden chair and table were to the right of me.  The table was adorned with a simple cup and jug of what appeared to be murky brown water. Wrinkling my nose I learned back against the cold clammy stone wall.  The coolness eased the pain from my aching skull.  The cell was completely stone from the ceiling to the floor. The only colour was of the moss growing from between the stone. Two torches hung from metal holders in the far right of the room, there flickering light glistened on the chains that hung before them, and something glistened in the light as the chain swayed menacingly, I did not really want to know what would be glistening from those chains but I already knew what it would be. Closing my eyes I looked away. There was a nauseating smell in the cell with me, it clung to me., and would not leave. Looking up I could see a small shaft of light seeping through from a poky hole above me. How I yearn to be free, to feel the breeze on my skin and the sun to warm me through. I plunged my fist down vigorously beside me, my hand hit something hard and round, not plucking up the courage to look down, I felt it with my hand, it was smooth but rough in places with something moist and flaking, slowly I looked down, my eyes widened in horror. Sat next to me, was the source of the putrid smell. Rotting flesh. Next to me was the last inhabitant of this cell. Yelping I bolted from my seat on the floor and jumped towards the metal bars that were holding me in the pen.
‘Ah pretty Redguard’ said a voice from behind me.
I turned my head to the source of the voice.. In the cell across from me, leaning casually on the bars was a dark elf, his red eyes fixed upon me, I stared back, his blue skin showed signs of age, he watched as I took in his appearance. His receding hair line was the last I observed before he continued to speak. ‘How do you like your cell huh? Roomy enough for you? I can’t even imagine what it is like for you, no more sunshine, no more open seas. Just a box and a dirty beam of light for the rest of your life.
I frowned, but he continued. ‘Bet your glad it won’t last long huh? Oh didn’t you know no one ever leaves this prison alive. You’re going to die in here Redguard! Die! Hey you hear that the guards are coming for you! Hehehehehaha’ I looked at him with disgust and as I was about to let loose a few colourful words, but I could hear voices coming from the direction of the stairs outside the cells. The faces behind these voices were a mystery to me, all I could see was the torchlight flickering on the far wall.
‘Bararus lock that door behind us’
‘Yes ma’am’
‘My sons they are dead aren’t they?’
‘We don’t know that sire the messenger said they were only attacked’
‘No, their dead I know it’
‘My job right now is to get you to safety’
The voices where getting closer they sounded like a woman, a man and an older mans voice. What where they doing down here? A loud demanding voice made me jump from my thoughts
‘What’s this prisoner doing here this cell is supposed to be off limits!’
The Older man was dressed extravagantly, robes of fur and velvet his face was kindly but his eyes were weary, and the other two were dressed in armour of that I have never seen. Gold and Sapphire colours with ornate designs upon them.
‘‘Usual mix up with the watch I....’ The male guard stammered.
‘Never mind, get that gate open. Stand back prisoner we won’t hesitate to kill you if you get in our way’
‘You! Prisoner! Stand aside, over by the window, out of the way and you won’t get hurt.’
I slid my arms from the bars, my eyes never leaving the older mans face’ I turned and walked slowly towards the window.
‘You I’ve seen you, let me see your face’
His voice was strong and rich I turned and faced the man.
‘You are the one from my dreams, so the stars were right this is the day, may the gods give me strength.
‘Sir, what is going on here?’
‘Assassins attacked my sons and I am next, my Blades are leading me out of the city, along a secret escape route, by chance the entrance to that escape route leads through your cell’
‘Forgive me but, who are you?’ I asked
I am your emperor Uriel Septim. By the grace of the Gods I serve Tamerial as her ruler.’
All I could do was gape at him; he was the emperor…THE emperor.
‘You are a citizen of Tamerial and you too shall serve her in your own way’
Shutting my mouth quickly I look stood straighter
‘Why am I in here, I haven’t committed any crime!’
‘Maybe the Gods placed you here so we should meet, why you are here does not matter THAT is not what you will be remembered for.
‘What should I do?’
‘You will find your own path. Take care…there will be blood and death before the end.’
‘Please sire we must keep moving’
The woman walked toward the wall where the rotting skeleton lay forgotten with these events, she pushed in a brick and the wall sprung backwards. I coughed as dust and cobwebs came flying at my face. The emperor Uriel Septim turned from me and walked down the dark corridor that had now appeared.
‘Must be your lucky day, but stay out of our way’
With that said the male blade turned and too ventured down the corridor after the female blade and the emperor. I looked across at the cell opposite me and smiled, there was the dark elf looking at me with dark enraged eyes, I shrugged my shoulders and stepped into the dark corridor myself a new spring in my step.