I used my own set of summoned creatures to keep the lower section guards busy. I slipped into the inner hallways of the tower, working my way up higher and higher. At several levels, I found more Dremora to kill. Again, all meant to delay my arrival at the top of the tower. And I didn't have the time to waste! 

The siege engine was closing in on the Great Gate. Once more than half of it was through, the entire engine would appear on the other side, and all would be lost.

I was nearly there. I made my way up several spirals along the energy shaft and was nearly at the top rung when I encountered a Dremora Markynaz. He was a tough one, too. He was about to summon a clanfear to his side when I struck him with my Sword of Silence. He spoke the spell, but nothing came out. It was now just him and me.

I hit him with everything I had. He stood there, stunned for a moment. I guess he didn't expect anything like me to be coming up his stairs. I made sure he died with a look of surprise on his face.

This was the top level. From here, it was just getting into the chamber where the stone was kept and grab it.

And time was running short...

Once in the chamber, the two guardians knew I was there. I just waited for them to come to the door, looking for me. A spell of God's Fire took care of one of them. My sword took care of the other.

Up there, the Great Sigil Stone waited for me.

But this is no time to gloat!

I cast several summoned creature spells around me, just in case I might have missed a guard or two.

There were none. I made my way up to the stone, checked around for anything that might be sneaking up from behind.....

....and grabbed the stone from its perch.

I just hoped it was grabbed in time.

As before, the power flow was disrupted, and the gate fell apart.

I found myself right under the siege engine, hearing it making a huge groaning sound as the power that supported it's movement, it's very life, was taken away from it. The other three gates around me also fell.

The siege engine, now no more than an elaborate hunk of metal without power and a purpose, fell flat onto the ground, squashing a daedroth under it's weight.

More than likely, this is what my people faced in Ald'Ruhn.

They didn't have a hero to cheer for.

"Shakula!" shouted Martin. "Great work! I knew you could do it!"

I showed him the Great Sigil Stone. "This is what you needed, correct?" I asked, tossing it to him.

He caught the stone, looked it over, and smiled.

Many people died to get this." he replied. "We need to ensure that this battle was not in vain."

"We have won a great victory here today!" he said, putting the stone away. "We now have the means to recover the Amulet of Kings from Mankar Camoran. But we need to act quickly. Camoran will not take long to recognize his danger."

"What do we do now?" I asked.

"Prepare." came his reply. "Remember, the portal will close behind you. Anything you need, potions, weapons, amulets, etc, must be carried with you."

"How long until you are ready?" I asked.

"I will have the ritual ready in the Great Hall when you arrive." he said. "Until then, heal your wounds, rest if you must. I will be ready when you are."

With that, Martin headed back to Cloud Ruler Temple.

And all I could do was look upon the carnage we had left behind. Oh, I'm sure one day, someone will sing a song of the battle that took place here. The Nords, probably. They tend to do that sort of thing. I just wondered if I'd live long enough to hear it myself.