Hi everyone. This message comes at the end of what would have been TES Summer Fest 2025. It's not running this year because of the boycott against Microsoft (which owns Bethesda) due to its complicity in the Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people.
Why Microsoft?
The boycott has been called by the BDS movement because Microsoft "knowingly provides Israel with technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), that is deployed to facilitate grave human rights violations, war crimes, crimes against humanity (including apartheid), as well as genocide. In light of the International Court of Justice’s legally-binding rulings to prevent Israel’s plausible genocide in Gaza, as well as its July 19 Advisory Opinion affirming Israel’s illegal occupation and apartheid system, Microsoft has failed its corporate obligation to prevent genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity." (bdsmovement.net/microsoft).
Why boycott?
Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) is a movement to place international economic pressure on Israel for its oppression of Palestinians - inspired by the similarly effective anti-apartheid strategy in South Africa. The mod team at TES Summer Fest believe that we have a responsibility to take whatever action we can to oppose the many and varied human rights violations of Israel however we can, and by taking our business, our passion, and our interest elsewhere, we can support the Palestinian people. We also encourage you to donate to Palestinian organisations, pressure your officials, engage in community organising, and educate yourself on Palestine and its history. The people united will never be defeated.
Educational websites and resources:
The Palestine Academy - Learn about Palestinian history and decolonisation. (https://www.thepalestineacademy.com/palestine-101).
DecolonizePalestine - Very accessible educational library. (https://decolonizepalestine.com)
Palestine is. - Educational resource. (https://www.palestineis.org/learn)
Visualising Palestine - Collection of free info graphics about Palestine. (https://visualisingpalestine.org/visuals/)
Protect Palestine - Tips on talking to friends and family about Palestine (https://www.protectpalestine.org/conversation-guide) and guide for answering tough questions about Palestine (https://www.protectpalestine.org/tough-questions).
"The Hundred Years War on Palestine" by Rashid Khalidi
"Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine" by Noura Erakat
"The Question of Palestine" by Edward W. Said
"The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine" by Ilan Pappe
"Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics" by Marc Lamont Hill and Mitchell Plitnick.
Oldest mer to ever mer <3 I love thinking about Ismarizzt just ignoring all paths and getting lost in the middle of the woods so I had to draw him enjoying some sun amidst the trees :)
Posting my art after almost a year? It's more likely than you think !
Being Emperor isn’t easy. In fact, in some ways, it kind of sucks. Part of a Martin Lives AU. Prompts by @tes-summer-fest
Nord HoK x Martin Septim
Warnings- pregnancy
Wordcount- ~1300
***
It was much later than he’d hoped when Martin climbed the stairs up to the Emperor’s Suite, grumbling a little at how many damned stairs were in this tower. It was too late to read Gemille her bedtime story; she’d have been put to bed a good two hours ago now. There were few things he hated more than the way this damned crown took him away from little things like reading to his daughter and tucking her in.
Once inside the doors of the royal suite and having shut out the rest of the world, he dropped the tall, square-shouldered walk of the Emperor. Ironically, this grand and overly-sumptuous apartment was one of the few places he could just be Martin for a little while. He closed his eyes, letting out a long sigh.
Gentle arms encircled him, a kiss planted on his cheek as a soft voice asked, “How did it go, love?”
“Longer than it should have. But we’ve got the dispute sorted out. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to come see the new Blades taking their oaths. I really wanted to be there.”
“I know. Baurus and I handled things, don’t worry. I’m still technically a Blade myself, among all the other titles. I’m a good substitute for the Emperor when needed.”
He turned, reaching up to take her face in his hands. “Aethelfrid! Don’t say that about yourself! You are, among your other titles, Empress of Tamriel. You’re not a substitute, you’re just as important as I am. Considering how we got here, I’d say you’re more important than I am!”
She grinned. “Yeah, but you’re the Septim. Either way, it went very well. Gemille tried to stay up and wait for you, but she had a long day. She barely made it half an hour past bedtime. Come see what she got today.”
They crept over to the door leading into the nursery. Their daughter lay curled up around something wooden, her orange hair a riot around her. As she shifted, Martin got a look at what she held.
“Is that a wooden sword?” he whispered in disbelief.
“It is!”
“She’s three!”
“That’s probably when I got my first training sword,” Aethelfrid shrugged. “She won’t do proper lessons just yet, but she can have it and maybe we can do a few small techniques like proper grip. She’s very excited to show you.”
His face softened into a smile again, “She’s so much like you.”
“She’s more like you than you think.”
***
Once they’d come away from the nursery door, Aethelfrid took Martin’s hand and led him to another door, behind which the large bath waited. It was all prepared, enchantments keeping the water warm and inviting. As Aethelfrid pushed the robe off of his shoulders, he took off his crown, frowning at it.
“I hate this thing,” he muttered.
“I know, love. But we don’t need it right now.”
He put it down on a small table, feeling the weight of it fall away. For a little while, it could. It was these few, precious moments that got him through the day, that made the weight of the crown bearable. He sighed again.
“I didn’t even ask you how you’re feeling. I’m sorry, my heart.” He rubbed his face with the heel of his hand.
She was still undoing and pulling off his clothes, and he reached out to the hem of her long tunic, beneath which her stomach had begun to get round again. She giggled.
“I’m doing just fine. Feeling good. This feels as though it’ll be another strong, Septim child.” She pulled the tunic over her head. “It’s good it’s starting to show. Some of the nobles have been very pissy that we didn’t just have babies back to back to back. I think they just want to keep me busy and out of Council meetings.”
As they settled into the tub together, Aethelfrid’s strong, deft fingers began to message water and soap through Martin’s hair. He leaned back, savoring the feeling.
“Can I tell you something, my dear?” he asked.
“Of course.” She planted a kiss on his forehead.
“I… I wish we could disappear somewhere. Live quiet lives, just you and me and the children. Maybe somewhere near the mountains.” He’d fallen in love with the mountains during their time at Cloud Ruler Temple. “But there’s still so much to be done, even with all the progress we’ve made.”
Her fingers stopped scrubbing for the briefest second. “I wish we could, too. My family is from Morthal, and it's not too far from there that you could find a little spot in the mountains. Or east closer to Dawnstar. It’s about as far away from everything as you can get.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
“Let’s retire there. Once the rebuilding’s done and we get everything back on its feet, let’s retire to Skyrim.”
“Deal.”
Martin helped Aethelfrid unbraid and wash her hair next. He ran a gentle comb through the flame-orange waves, wondering if their second child would also inherit this color. They made many grand plans as he worked; discussing the house they’d build and where.
“I’d love a garden,” Martin admitted. “I had one at the chantry in Kvatch. I miss it.” Kvatch was being rebuilt, but even if a new garden was planted, he wouldn’t have the chance to do more than maybe see it.
“I need a training yard. We also need a library.”
“Of course. And enough room for our family. You said you wanted a big one.”
“I do. It’s a Nord thing. We always have big families.”
Well, I will build the house myself to your exact measurements.”
***
Once they’d bathed, they settled down for a late-night supper. More pressing realities took over the conversation; an envoy from Mournhold arriving in two days’ time, a gala planned for the day after that. The trading guild had a petition about a contract to Hammerfell, and builders in the city wanted to meet about their progress. There was also a feast day coming up quickly, and they’d have to find the ceremonial robes to wear to the temple that day.
It seemed never-ending, but Aethelfrid was as firm in her commitment as he, and it was less daunting with both of them facing it together. After all, they’d faced down the forces of The Dead Lands and its ruler together. Once you’ve done something like that, the mundane jobs of contracts and noble posturing seemed much less intimidating.
After dinner, they retired to their bed with a book each. Snuggling up, they did a little reading, before returning their attention to the other.
“I’m sorry for being so grouchy,” Martin kissed his wife’s cheek softly.
“You have a lot on your plate, love. We both do. It’s not easy. It’s a lot of pressure.”
“I really wish we could retire to the mountains.”
“We will. We’ll get things back on track and retire to Bruma. Or Morthal, or wherever you want. Falkreath is very pretty and has less snow.”
“They’re not going to let us just leave like that.”
“When the time comes, we’ll leave before they realize. You have no idea the hidden places and trails and things I found running around doing Hero of Kvatch stuff. I mean it.”
“I would never doubt you on that. And, I hope we can take you up on it.”
“We will. I promise you that.”
***
It took Martin a long time to fall asleep that night. It seemed so impossible! That he could truly leave behind this crown and the weight it carried. But Aethelfrid had done the impossible before. Many times, in fact. He had no doubt she could do so again. One day, he told himself, once we’ve got things back in order.
When he finally fell asleep, he dreamed of a little farm with a garden and a gaggle of flame-haired children.
