Chapter 10: Argon Unmasked
Finally the team got over their shock of Argon being alive, but they went into a stage worse than shock. Nerevar charged forward and knocked Argon down. He climbed on top of him and held his sword up to Argon's throat, slightly pushing the skin in. The rest of the team drew their weapons and surrounded Argon and Nerevar.
"What are you doing, Nerevar?!" exclaimed Argon
"Do you think I'm an idiot?! I know you're not really Argon! They know it! We all know it!" shouted Nerevar
"I don't understand." said Argon
"Argon is wiped from existence! He's gone! We know that you are not really him, rather you were sent here by Apocapher himself to try to trick us so that you could lead us to him and then he would kill us!" said Nerevar
"Nerevar, this isn't a trick. I really am here, you have to believe me, trust me. You didn't trust Kriid, but trust me, Argon, instead. Please." said Argon
"Give me a reason to. Prove you are Argon." said Nerevar
"When the Soul Wars first began, when there was that first battle in Sovngarde, you, Fayen, and Garnin, all restored hope in the heroes of Sovngarde as they were running away. I was lying on a rock, in pain, and not understanding how I was hurt or what was going on. Then, last year, just a little over a year ago, when we were still fighting Xan, on top of the White-Gold Tower which now lays in ruins, you and I were both influenced by Xan to chop Haldan to pieces." said Argon
Nerevar realized this really was his friend. Argon was actually here, alive and in the flesh. Nerevar threw his arms around Argon and tears rolled down his eyes.
"We missed you so much." Nerevar said, "I can't take the stress of leading this team, you were always better at leading it than I was. Please relieve me, take back your position as leader."
"Nonsense, you were a great leader, despite what I said when that Sigil Stone was influencing us. But, I would happily take back my position as leader. That is, if the whole team is okay with it." said Argon
"Go ahead." said Garnin
"I have missed fighting under your leadership. I'm fine with you taking back power." said Fayen
Sheogorath was so overwhelmed by Argon's return, tears of joy were streaming down his face and he could barely maintain his description as a dark, powerful, and strong god.
"I- I would greatly enjoy having y- your leadership once again, gra- grandson." said Sheogorath with puffy red eyes
"Well, I guess I am leading you guys again. You are relieved Nerevar." said Argon
"Oh thank the Divines." Nerevar said rejoicing
Argon walked up to Sheogorath and brought him in for a big hug.
"I missed you grandfather." Argon said
"I missed you to grandson." said Sheogorath not wanting to let Argon go for fear that he might leave again
"And who's this?" asked Argon motioning to Sheogorath's sloth
"It's my pet. I accidentally created him before we met Kriid at Skingrad. I call him a sloth." said Sheogorath releasing Argon
"Well, I have the utmost respect for this fella. He's so small, yet he tried to bring down a great and powerful dragon and he lived. I respect that." said Argon
"Yeah, he is rather great isn't he?" said Sheogorath admiring his pet
"Yes he is." said Argon
"So what now?" asked Nerevar
"Serana." said Argon
"Huh?" Fayen asked
"Serana. I want to see her." said Argon
"There is a madman on the loose who has the powerful to bring down the universe, and you want to see a girl? Look, nothing against her and all, but she doesn't seem so important when at any given moment the world could end." said Nerevar
"I want to go see her. Now." said Argon, "Sheogorath?"
"On it." Sheogorath snapped his fingers and the team teleported to Lakeview Manor in Falkreath
********
They appeared outside of the house, things seemed to be just like Argon had left them. The bee keeping thing was still intact, the cow and the chicken were fed and healthy, the white horse in the stables was eating and the house was in perfect shape. The steward Marlion was still gone, he had left for Hammerfell after the Soul Wars and was never seen again.
"I've missed this place." said Argon remembering how he had built the whole thing with his own two hands
"Well, let's go inside." said Nerevar
The heroes opened the front door and walked in to the front room. The house was dimly lit and had a depressing air about it. Serana sat with her back to the heroes at the table in the main room of the house. She was leaned over a plate slowly and sadly eating a loaf of bread. Around her lay empty bottles of mead and wine. She had no clothes on except for her underwear, and it seemed like she had been sitting at that same spot for days.
"After you sacrificed yourself, she went into some sort of depression. Remember how she used to go to Falkreath to buy things from the market? She doesn't do that anymore. Now she spends her days locked up in here, trying to keep the house in order, just like you would want. Nobody has seen her for months. She was so depressed after you sacrificed yourself that she never even went to get cured of her vampire blood again." whispered Nerevar
"By the nine...." said Argon
He slowly and quietly crept forward, careful not to startle Serana, the heroes let Argon go by himself as they figured that they should leave the two alone as they reunited, still they stood and watched though.
"Serana?" Argon said softly
"Go away. I don't want to see anyone." said Serana not turning around
"Not even little old me?" asked Argon
"Not you, not anyone! I said go awa-- Argon?!" shouted Serana as she turned around to face the man in her house
"Hello Serana." said Argon
"You-- you're dead, gone, erased from existence. How-?" began Serana
Argon silenced her ranting with a kiss.
"I have missed you, so very much." said Argon
Serana started to tear up. "I've missed you too, I don't know how you're here, but I don't care." said Serana happily embracing Argon
"Oh, oh gods, this place is a mess... I'm a mess. Where are my clothes?" Serana began to realize how poorly the place looked
"It's okay. How have you been?" asked Argon
"Terrible, after you left I was driven into a deep depression. I have tried everything to keep myself out of it. I saw mages who gave me rings that were supposed to make me feel better, I have tried casting illusion and alteration spells on myself to try and give myself a sense of happiness, none of it has worked. Except this, this is working." said Serana
"Sheogorath," said Argon, "do you mind perhaps casting a spell that will clean this place up?"
"It would be my pleasure." said Sheogorath
Sheogorath raised his hand and let a spell fly out of it, instantly the place livened up. The lights grew brighter, things were put back in place, cobwebs disappeared, and it looked once again like the happy home that Argon had left.
"Thank you." said Argon
"I think it's time we rest." said Nerevar
"Good idea, in the morning we can get the Divines in here and tell them you are back, I think they would like to know." said Fayen
"Agreed. Let us go sleep for the night then." said Argon
The heroes walked upstairs to the three beds up there. Nerevar and Garnin each got their own beds, but since there was only one other, but it was a two person bed, Sheogorath and Fayen had to share that one. The sloth climbed up the wall and hung from one of the trusses. Argon and Serana both went into their room to sleep for the night. A few minutes later Fayen got up from the bed.
"Where are you going?" asked Sheogorath
"I forgot to ask Argon something." said Fayen
"Now's not the time, he's busy down there." said Sheogorath hearing the sounds of what was going on
Fayen laid back down and went to sleep
********
The next morning, when Argon awoke he saw that Serana had already gotten up. Argon was laying naked in his bed remembering the events of the night before, it had been so long since he had done that. He looked around for his normal armor that he would wear before he sacrificed himself, his Kriid outfit had been thrown around the room. He then realized that his normal armor was still at his "house" in Skingrad back in Cyrodiil. He picked up his Kriid outfit and put it in his wardrobe. He then dug around and pulled out an outfit that looked like Kriid's outfit except it was bluish and on the shoulder pads, bandolier, gloves, and boots it was orangish-brown and it had no hood. He put it on. He took Kriid's iron sword, but decided to leave the daggers with the Kriid outfit. His good sword and Auriel's Bow were also in Skingrad. Once he was done with the Apocapher Crisis, he would go back to Skingrad and retrieve his items.
Argon walked out of his room fully clothed and with the sword dangling at his side. He found that Serana, washed and fully clothed, the team, and Argon's daughters and their husbands were all sitting around the table and there was an empty chair left at the head of the table for Argon. Apparently, this morning before Argon had got up, Sheogorath had teleported to Argon's daughters and their husbands and had brought them back to Lakeview Manor so they too could reunite with him.
After a breakfast full of eating, laughing, and joking around, the team decided to summon the Divines. They went down into the basement and they prayed at the shrines to the Divines Argon had made. The Divines appeared at the house to see what the heroes needed.
"Argon? Is that really you?!" Akatosh asked shocked
"Yes, it is really me." said Argon
"This is amazing, now there is a chance to defeat Apocapher! The Dragonborn has returned!" exclaimed Talos
"Let's have a party!" said Garnin
They had a big celebration at the manor. The Divines were keeping them entertained with monsters to battle, and endless mead. They were all celebrating the return of the Dragonborn and the fall of Apocapher. There was more laughing, and drunken singing. It was so festive and fun, that Argon felt bad having to ruin it.
"Everyone." Argon said standing on the table to get everyone's attention
"Yes Argon?" asked Sheogorath
"I can't beat Apocapher." said Argon
"Well sure you can, you're the Dragonborn, that's his one weakness. Don't let his powers get to you." said Zenithar
"No, I cannot beat him. I do not have the power to." said Argon
"Argon what are you saying?" asked Akatosh
"I'm saying," Argon began, "I'm not Dragonborn anymore."
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