Author's Note: Render unto Bethesda what belongs to Bethesda. I do not own Morrowind.

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Before The Prince of Madness Found His true Form...

Before The Gates of Hell opened on the Land...

Before The Emperor's Line came to an end...

After The fulfillment of the Stranger...

A servant's story begins...

The Imperial capital of Cyrodiil was busy as usual. However, the sun shone pleasantly enough. Masses of men and mer went about their daily business, only breaking from their routine if something out of the ordinary grabbed their attention. It seemed like the controlled chaos illustrated the world of Tamriel. Within this small microcosm, it was only a matter of time before one found most anything they were looking for.

A Suthay-Raht Khajiit that worked in the Imperial Cult was what the report prescribed, though Leyda Alen wished the department had at least done more of its homework and given her a name. The dark elf woman went over the report again with her searching red eyes, wondering if she somehow missed it. Nope, a name was nowhere to be found, only that the Khajiit was a crusader. “Well, that will certainly be easier to find. You don't find too many Khajiiti crusaders around.” Leyda muttered to herself. She looked around the busy streets, trying to find the building that housed the Imperial Cult of this city district. After a few searching glances, she found the medium sized stone building. Her objective spotted, she made her way to the building.

The Imperial Cult was the religion of the Cyrodiil empire. They worshiped the Nine Divines, and preached the nine virtues they deemed “Humility, Inspiration, Piety, Work, Compassion, Justice, Ambition, Learning and Civility.” To even further simplify their statement, the cult came up with the five word statement “help and protect one another.” Where ever there was an Imperial fort, town or establishment, one could count on an Imperial Cult temple following right behind it.

Leyda stepped into the building, allowing the wooden door to close behind her. It had all the makings of a cathedral, the inside brilliantly illuminated by the stain glass windows each depicting one of the Divines, Akatosh, Dibella, Arkay, Zenithar, Mara, Stendarr, Kynareth, Julianos and the first emperor, Tiber Septim.

“Excuse me, can I help you?” a voice asked her. Leyda looked to her side to find a welcoming if serious looking Imperial woman watching her through a pair of spectacles. She was older, some gray starting to form on her brown hair, and dressed in a simple white robe.

“I am looking for the crusader, a Khajiit, I am told.” Leyda explained. The woman nodded her head knowingly.

“Down that hall, first room on the right.” Leyda was directed to a door and followed the instructions she was given to the letter. She passed another robed monk, this time a jovial looking Redguard man who greeted her with a broad smile. She acknowledged him, but promptly opened up the prescribed door.

The room that opened up before her was brilliantly illuminated by the large pane windows that dominated the back of it. Immediately in front of her and to the left was a large L shaped counter which held a few identical sets of alchemy and chemistry equipment as well as a host of various ingredients scattered orderly along it. The right side was dominated by a massive book shelf that spanned the entire length of the room, shelves upon shelves of books. However, Leyda only gave them a passing glance, her eyes locked onto the seemingly diminutive figured that had its back to her, tinkering with some of the equipment. Like the others it was clothed in a simple brown robe that almost matched his orange, brown fur with faint black stripes. Under the hem of the robe, she spotted a white and black tip of a tail, lazily rocking back and forth seemingly of its own accord.

“What can Khajiit do for you?” the monk asked her. Leyda inwardly bit her tongue. The Khajiiti dialect often bothered her. They either referred to themselves as “Khajiit” or in the third person, not to mention a host of other grammar mistakes in the de facto language of Cyrodiilic. How hard could it possibly be to learn the use of the word “I,” especially since their own name had two of them in it?

“I am looking for the crusader.” Leyda asked for what seemed to be the upteenth time. The Khajiit turned to face her now. His feline appearance resembled that of a tiger but he looked harmless enough, almost too harmless. This must be the crusader's servant or assistant.

“What do you ask of the crusader?” the Khajiit asked. His voice was harsh, like that of a cat, which was common of most Khajiit. Their voices better fitted their native language. Leyda was growing tired of this.

“This is something I can only discuss with the crusader himself. I take it you are his servant, now please show me to him or tell me when I can meet him.” Leyda demanded. The Khajiit lowered his head knowingly and bowed in a type of submission.

“Crusader is busy now. Return in 30 minutes, Khajiit will let crusader know.” the Khajiit apologized. Leyda growled.

“Is there no way you can get him now?” Leyda asked through clenched teeth.

“Crusader busy, most rude to disturb him.” the Khajiit stated apologetically but firmly. Leyda grumbled a Dunmeri curse under her breath and left the room. “Stupid Khajiit.” Leyda muttered venomously as she stalked down the hallway to wait in the sanctuary.

Twenty five minutes later the agitated Dunmer woman barged into the room. This time she found the same Khajiit assistant sitting on a cushion in the middle of the room, apparently in a meditative state, his eyes closed with his legs tucked beneath him. The only movement came from his tail which flopped in front of him in slow, tired motions.

“You are early.” the Khajiit said, without even opening his eyes. Leyda failed to notice a change in his voice.

“Are you not the same Khajiit I talked with earlier?” Leyda charged, she felt like she didn't need to ask, but she wanted to make sure.

“One and the same.” the Khajiit answered, still not moving from his pose.

“Will the crusader listen to me now?” Leyda demanded. The Khajiit opened his eyes this time. Leyda noticed they were purposeful, though all she saw was a pathetic Khajiiti slave with a white muzzle and two black strands of hair falling from them like a mustache. Rising from his position, the Khajiit answered her.

“Yes he will. I am listening.” the Khajiit answered, folding his paws across his chest. Leyda stared hard at him.

“I told you, I will only speak to the crusader himself.” Leyda warned.

“And I am listening. Speak what you wish.” Leyda glared at him.

“You mean to tell me that you were the crusader this whole time?” Leyda fired, anger rising into her volcanic red eyes.

“Rather, I would have told you that I was the crusader, but you seemed well intent on making me a common slave. It is not I, but rather you, who has been telling yourself that I am not the crusader you seek.” the monk answered firmly. Leyda strode up to him and faster than the eye could follow, she pulled a blade hidden somewhere in her cloak and pressed it against the large cat's furry neck.

“I can very easily silence you, and I really don't much care for your attitude. This is your last chance to get the crusader I am looking for and if you don't bother him, I will make sure you won't bother anyone else, especially me, ever again!” Leyda spat venomously. The Khajiit noticed the sharp blade at his neck. It was a brilliant green dagger with a wonderfully sharp edge. A glass dagger. This type of glass was not to be mistaken as the type used for windows. It was volcanic in origin, always a deep green hue, harder than steel only much lighter. There was a moment pause between the two of them.

“There will be no need for that, wait here.” the Khajiit finally said. Leyda tensely let him navigate around the dagger point and watched the cat disappear behind a door in one of the walls. Leyda fumed, but decided that since things were finally moving, she decided to cool off a little. Did that Khajiit just use the word “I” a few times? Leyda walked quietly over to one of the bookshelves and read some of the covers. In a time when not everyone could read, and the printing press had yet to be invented, books were a form of wealth beyond words. A whole library such as this was worth a fortune not just in gold, but intellect. Leyda noticed some of the titles. She nearly did a double take when she hit a whole section of books that were written in Dwemer script. These books were beyond ancient! The Dwemer had disappeared long ago, all that was left were their writings and artifacts and here was a whole section of these priceless books.

The dark elf turned around, finally deciding to take in the chemistry sets and what might be cooking in them. As she suspected, they were nothing but the regular potions that an Imperial cult might need, bottles to bring healing to wounds or to cure any number of diseases and afflictions. She turned around when the door opened. At the doorway, again, was the same Khajiit with his annoying, composed manner, pretending to be a mighty crusader. Only this time, he had shed his robe.

The Khajiit walked up to her, clad in deep black ebony armor, obviously custom made just for him. Ebony was like glass, of volcanic origin. However, it was much denser, heavier, and it too was harder than steel and could be fashioned into weapons of a much keener edge than steel.

“Now, do you believe I am the crusader?” the Khajiit asked, still keeping his servant's composure. Leyda realize she had made a mistake, but she was not about ready to swallow her pride.

“Well, you certainly look the part. We'll find out if you can actually do the part soon enough.” Leyda answered.

“I have no clue what you mean. Either way, why do you bother this Khajiit about his old trade? I prefer to think of myself as a healer now.” the Khajiit inquired.

“You are not to hear the details yet. All you are to know is that you must follow me.” Leyda retorted. The Khajiit stared hard at her with his probing cat eyes.

“Unless you have a good reason, I will not be leaving the cathedral.” the crusader stated.

“Oh, I have a good reason why you should follow, Khajiit.” Leyda answered, her red eyes flashing.

“And what pray tell is it?”

“Because it is the order given to you by the Imperial Order of the Blades.