A/N: Hello, everyone! Welcome to another Elder Scrolls fan-fic of mine. This is an Oblivion one; I've wanted to play Oblivion since I got Skyrim. Now that I have, I feel powerful!

I thought Lucien in Skyrim was awesome and to know that he had a big part in Oblivion was even more awesome so I decided to write this! This is my new little project, unlike my previous big one, which was 100 chapters.

Some of you might be wondering: Nightshade? Well, you'll find out soon :) Enjoy!

Summary: "I didn't have anything, so I killed. I killed, and it felt good. But who knew that he would come into my life, and make things slightly sweeter for me. He was a beautiful miracle and I wanted to hang onto him forever. Then they took him from me, and he was lost... then I found him again, 200 years later."

Genre: Romance/Angst/Hurt and Comfort

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – Lucien Lachance & Anarine Valarus – "A Single Nightshade"

Life… can be a really funny thing. Sometimes, you think you know where it's going, but in reality, it's driving towards something else. Why? Because the Gods have it all planned out for us. They have it written in the stars, everything: our calling in life, the people we meet, the things we do… everything. If I had it my way, I would have changed so many things…

One, I would have had parents. Up until now, I don't even have the slightest clue who they are. Darna was the closest thing I had to family. After she passed on at an old age, who was there for me? No one. Nobody really knew me. Nobody really cared about me…

… But he did…

Two, my lifestyle. Murdering was… it was never meant to be a part of me. I just no choice when a bandit tried to rob me and force me against my will. Somehow… it left… good. I felt safer knowing that there was one less person in this world who was trying to hurt me. Eventually, I became numb to feelings, and I killed whenever I felt like it. Ha, I guess you could say I was a rather 'dark' child.

How do you become numb to feelings? Well, if you'd had it rough like me, not knowing your parents, the only family you had passing on, you'd turn away feelings. That's how it works. For me, at least. I didn't want to act on feelings anymore, thinking it would only slow me down…

… But it appeared that he was capable of turning that around.

I was in Cyrodill then. One night, I had murdered this traveler and stolen his bedroll. When I awoke the next morning, he was there, observing me, observing my every move, fixing his brown eyes on my green ones.

"You sleep rather soundly for a murderer... That's good; you'll need a clear conscience for what I'm about to propose."

That voice… it was deep and rich, almost hypnotizing. I wanted to reach for my blade but…

"Now now, child of darkness, we don't need to take things that far."

"Who are you? Speak up! I demand answers!"

"You ask so nicely. I am Lucien Lanchance, Speaker for the Dark Brotherhood. And you? You are a cold-blooded killer, capable of taking life without mercy or remorse. The Night Mother has been watching, fair one, and she is most pleased…"

The Dark Brotherhood? Well, I've heard about them a lot. Probably more than I should have. But I had admired the way they kept to the shadows when they killed, the way they commit the murder… Sithis would most definitely be proud. Maybe it was my turn?

I could join the Dark Brotherhood, only after I killed someone named Rufio. Killing him going to be child's play, I knew. I was offered an opportunity to be part of something I enjoyed to do. A chance to kill people. Why not? It wasn't like I had a better life or anything… I did as was needed, and I joined. I decided to… to trust this Lucien Lachance.

"I'll be following your progress. Welcome to the family." He greeted me with a warm smile.

I did not interact much with the others. I liked to be alone and do what I had to do. Vicente Valtieri, a rather handsome male Breton Vampire and Ocheeva, a female Argonian mainly gave me contacts and I would carry them out. I had grown to respect the Dark Brotherhood and honor the Night Mother. I killed a Breton sea captain, a Bosmer in the town of Bruma, an Altmer in the Imperial City, a dying warlord named Roderick, and go to a client's party and kill off the guests without being revealed as the killer. That one was fun, actually.

However, during that time, I hadn't spoken to Lucien at all. In fact, I had not seen him. I was told that he was residing at Fort Farragut. A shame. I would have liked to thank him for giving me this opportunity in the first place. And amongst all the assassins, he was the most mysterious one to me. I was a little curious, if I had to admit it.

Curious on why he was watching me, why he chose me. I mean, I understand that the Night Mother was doing all the watching, but he seemed… confident in me. I didn't know whether this was how he was act with all recruits…

… But I liked the attention he gave me.

Then one day, he summoned me to his Fort and informed me that there was a spy among the Cheydinhal Dark Brotherhood. Since this traitor had been active before I even joined, I was cleared of suspicion. To eliminate this spy, I had to purge the Cheydinhal sanctuary, killing everyone in it.

"But… but Speaker…. They're family. Our family. I mean, I… they… I may not have spoken to them much, but…"

"I know this is an unexpected turn of events, but drastic measures must be taken. From this point forward, you are no longer bound by the Five Tenets. Sithis will forgive any murder, any theft, so long as you serve the Black Hand."

"If… if this is what Sithis wants, then he shall have it. I will do what is needed, if it will catch this traitor."

"Excellent! I knew you would do what is right."

I had done it. I had 'cleansed' the Sanctuary.

So I returned to Lucien at his fort.

"You have such… grace in killing. Have I ever told you that before?"

"Unfortunately no, because this is the first time I'm seeing you since you invited me to join. But thank you, Speaker. You are most kind." I produced a rare smile for him.

"You look rather lovely when you smile. You should do that more often," He gave me his own smile. "The ritual of Purification is complete. Well done! Sithis has been appeased, and the time has come to acknowledge and reward your unwavering loyalty."

I raised an eyebrow. "You wound me, dear Speaker. You mean, you haven't acknowledged it before?"

"Humor? A rare trait nowadays. I like it…" He kept his warm smile. "The Black Hand is most pleased with your progress, my dear. You have been invited to share in secrets that few within the Dark Brotherhood even know exist. Your life in the Sanctuary is over. Those contracts are behind you. Now, you will serve the Black Hand," He took a step forward and ran a finger past my cheek ever-so slowly as he whispered, "You will serve me."

I thought my heart was about to stop. I barely knew this man, who was my Speaker, but he was easily silencing me with this speech. I don't know whether he wanted to control me then, or if he was building momentum for the future. If so, what was it about me that drew him to me?

I was now his Silencer. I would only receive contracts only from him, nobody else. However, I would not receive the contracts directly for him. Instead, I would visit Dead Drop locations scattered throughout Cyrodiil.

"Now you're trying to break my heart, dear Speaker. Not letting me see you unless you think I have to? How am I going to thank you for introducing me to the Dark Brotherhood then?" I felt a little confident around him, so I tried to speak differently.

His smile turned into a grin. Almost a smirk. He liked the way I thought; like the way I used my words in a semi-flirtatious manner. "Flirtatious, are we, dearest Silencer?"

"I'm just… pointing it out, that's all, Speaker," I kept my stupid small smile.

"So I see… Before you go, come with me. I have a gift for you."

His 'gift' was a purple-black horse named Shadowmere. She has served me well and now, I present her to you, as a token of my trust and love."

Love? Alright. He had not gone that far yet. He must have meant brotherly love? I was so engrossed with Shadowmere, though. She was a magnificent creature. "She's so beautiful, Speaker…" I stroked her mane tenderly. "I… appreciate this gift of yours. Thank you very much."

"You seem rather… hesitate to use that phrase, dear Silencer." He easily caught my tentative tone.

I didn't want to bore him with the story of my whole life. "I've… never really been thankful, that's all. And… no one's ever given me anything. So this is a little new to me."

"So I see…" He stroked Shadowmere's mane as well. "Maybe you can tell me why that happened one day?"

I gaped slightly at him, but then gave him another small smile. "Maybe, dearest… Speaker," I turned back to Shadowmere. "Just maybe…"

I wasn't too sure if I had really wanted to share my past with him. I wasn't… comfortable. I had been alone for so long, that I… how do I talk to someone about my pains? My loneliness? My wanting to express how lonely I was?

I was soon about to find out… that he was a great listener.

A/N: If there are some things you find not fitting, I apologize. I'm yet to go into the Dark Brotherhood part of Oblivion, but I loved Lucien too much in Skyrim and had to do if it's a little jumpy, well... my main concern will actually be around the ending, so yeah.

This USED to be a one-shot, but it seems that it's going to be a little long, so I thought it was best that I split it up :) No more than 3 chapters, I think.

Critiques and reviews are welcome and appreciated! :D Let me know if I had missed anything, or if anything seems out of place. This is slightly AU, but hey. Let me know!