For a few moments, Meesei could only bring herself to slowly shake her head. As much as she had tried to fight it, she had seen this coming. She had made as much of an effort as she could with the portal, but she never felt it was likely she would succeed. Still, none of that made this moment any easier. What lay ahead for her would not hurt near as much as it did to look upon her family now. 

“No…you wouldn’t be able to hold them long enough. [i]None[/i] of us can, myself included. I…I cannot control the power that has been collected in the Staff, but…it doesn’t have to be controlled to be useful. The Staff can do what I cannot to give you the time you need, but someone has to release its power, and it is not going to be you, Sabine.” Meesei answered, her voice soft, but resolute. 

Ahnasha had not reacted quite as quickly as some of the others, if only because she was trying to work out in her mind what plan Meesei had devised to escape. But, her words soon brought the reality of the situation to light. “You can’t be serious? You can’t…I…we [i]need[/i] you, Meesei! Sabine is right! Hircine said it himself that his Champion will be the one to face Vile!”

Meesei took a step forward, reached her hand through the bars of the lift, and suddenly took Fendros’ hand in hers. She locked eyes with him for a few, long moments before pulling her hand back. “He will.” 

When Fendros opened his hand, he would find in his palm the Ring of Hircine.