One thing I never really got about the whole questline, and I know it seems really little and insignificant, but why did the emporer arrive by ship, I mean sure there is a river connecting the imperial city to the sea but he would either have to pass through aldmeri territory or past the ever so friendly blackmarsh territory. And more importantly SKYRIM IS RIGHT ON THE BORDER!!! Why not just get a carraige up past Bruma?

IDK.