The tail end of a battle, it seems. Red-cloaked figures fallen to the ground, conjured weapons and armor falling into mist.

Any fighting ongoing?

No, but there seems to be one fewer guard than there was last Lilou saw them. They're arguing discussing what the best way forward it.

Berengere looks up. "Come out," she calls. "I know you're there."

She steps out. "Turns out those caves just looped back here," she says, dryly.

"The prisoner!" Baurus says. "She must be working with the assassins." He makes to draw his sword.

"No, Baurus," the emperor says. "She's not one of them. She can help us. She must help us."

She takes a step back what with the threatened sword, ready to run into the cave and make the jumpy guards into the goblins' problem. "Uh. Yeah, not an assassin, and if you let me follow you guys the fuck out of here, I will absolutely help stab any actual assassins."

"...As you will, sire."

"Okay, cool."

Hmmmm, she has some political notes that she wants to say, especially on their judicial system right now, but during an assassination attempt isn't the best time. Maybe if she takes out a couple she'll be able to get the emperor's ear when it isn't an emergency...

She doesn't get very close to the emperor, but does come to lurk slightly closer to the group. Especially the guard who gave her the dagger earlier. That guard seems more reasonable.

She passes her a torch. "Here."

Yeah not unreasonable to hand the random prisoner the 'look at me' beacon. Lilou takes it, evaluates its use as a bludgeon a bit, but - she's gonna have to be on the lookout more now for 'being the one stabbed,' and she'll have to drop it if she wants to go around backstabbing enemies... Means she has control over dousing part of their light, though.

"Where do you want me to walk?"

"In front. With me."

"A moment," the emperor says. "Come closer, let me see you."

She steps closer, as asked.

(The torch isn't exactly steady, but it does make her features much more visible.)

He's an old man, grey-haired and wrinkled, wearing a rich purple robe, slightly dirtied at the hem, and a large red jewel in an amulet at his neck. He studies Lilou's face.

"Yes... You are the one from my dreams. Then the stars were right and this is the day. Gods give me strength."

Um???

"...Which dreams???"

"I have never been the ruler of my own dreams. I have seen the Gates of Oblivion, beyond which no waking eye may see. Behold, in Darkness a Doom sweeps the land. But in your face, I behold the sun's companion. The dawn of Akatosh's bright glory may banish the coming darkness."

...Okay maybe he has dementia and she should be submitting her proposed legal changes to whichever kid or advisor is actually running things. Which, it's kind of annoying there's no clean mechanism for letting a senile emperor retire, but 'yeah the emperor is senile, but his heir is handling things for him' is much better than 'there's no emperor' or 'the emperor's heir deposed him.'

"Yes, sire," is all she says, only very subtly in the tone she uses with old people with dementia.

His gaze is remarkably sharp and focused for someone with dementia. "You've not seen what I've seen. How can I explain? Listen. Assassins attacked my sons, and I'm next. My guards are strong and true, but even the might of the Blades cannot stand against the Power that rises to destroy us. The Prince of Destruction awakes, born anew in blood and fire."

...Okay that's actually straight to alarming, given the existence of the daedric princes and magic dreams.

Not dementia, then.

"I apologize for doubting, sire. What should I do?"

"I chart my course by the cycles of the heavens. The skies are marked with numberless sparks, each a fire, and every one a sign. The signs I read show the end of my path. I go to my grave. A tongue shriller than all the music calls me. You shall follow me yet for a while, then we must part."

Not actually very helpful, that. "And after...?"

"My dreams grant me no opinions. Their compass ventures not beyond the doors of death."

"We must keep moving," Berengere says.

Nod.

She steps up beside the guard.