Warning for Lothian being a bit of a creeper, but you guys know that already, so...


The cellar door opens, and the scrape of heavy wood upon the gritty cobblestone floor sends a chill down Lumen's spine. She starts to shake at the sound of footsteps descending the wooden stairs. Each step growing closer and louder like the thunder of an approaching storm. Lumen presses herself hard into the corner of the room, wishing she could just disappear into the cold, stone wall.

A sob escapes her when Malrian appears in the doorway of the small room. "Master, please- please let me explain!"

"You presume," he growls, and a tendril of electricity flickers across his clenched fists. "That I am interested in your excuses."

"I was frightened," she gasps, crawling across the floor and groveling at her master's feet. "He grabbed me and I panicked!"

"Frightened? You have nothing to fear from Lothian, pet," Malrian says, and if he is upset about Lothian touching his property, he doesn't let it show. Instead, he grabs Lumen by her hair, just above the nape of her neck, and yanks her to her feet with ease. "But you have everything to fear from me," he growls, his eyes boring into hers. "I may look the other way when you butcher my guards, but do not think for a moment that I will tolerate you attacking a Thalmor agent in my own home!"

"But-"

"Silence," he hisses. "Do you have any idea how this makes me look? How can they trust me to command my guards if I cannot control one, lowly Bosmer? As it is, Lothian is threatening to file an official complaint, and he's demanding monetary compensation for the pain and suffering you inflicted on him." Malrian's fingers tighten in her hair, and he gives her a little shake, as if she is nothing more than a naughty pup. "I am in no mood to empty my coffers for that indolent fool, so you are going to apologize and beg him for forgiveness. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master," Lumen gasps. "I understand."

"Good," he says, and starts to walk toward the staircase, dragging Lumen along by her hair.

Lumen walks quickly on the tips of her toes to reduce the pain of Malrian's hair-pulling. Her eyes sting, and she isn't certain if it's from pain or from shame. The thought of falling at Lothian's feet and begging him for anything is appalling, and it's all Lumen can do to keep from crying. She may have to submit to him, but she'll not give him the satisfaction of seeing her tears.

Malrian drags her up the stairs, through the kitchens and the hallway, where the departing guests take notice and laugh. Lumen can't tell if they are laughing at her or Malrian, but his fingers clenching even tighter against her scalp is all the answer she needs. He practically throws her into his office, and she stumbles forward, landing gracelessly on her knees at Lothian's feet.

"Ah, I see you've finally found your little mongrel," Elenwen says, then turns to Lothian. "Do I need to be here while you and Justiciar Malrian sort things out?"

"Oh, no. But I thank you for your concern, First Emissary. I'm sure Malrian's little beast knows better than to attack me again," Lothian says, narrowing his eyes at Lumen. "Don't you, dear?"

"I know better." Lumen splays her hands on the floor and bows until her forehead touches the polished wood floor. "I've come to- to beg you for your forgiveness, sir," Lumen says, then against her better judgment she adds, "and to ask you to punish me, and not my master. I acted rashly, and I would hate to see his name sullied among the Thalmor ranks by my bad behavior."

Lothian laughs, and Elenwen makes a small, amused sound as she steps away from him. "I'll leave you to it. Malrian, I will see your guests out while you and Lothian work towards a resolution." Elenwen slips from the room, gently pulling the door closed behind her.

"Stand up, girl. I'm sure we can handle this in a more civilized manner." Lothian grips her by the arm and pulls Lumen to her feet. "If you're so concerned about your master and I smoothing things over, then perhaps you ought to offer me a glass of wine. I am so much more agreeable after a fine red."

Lumen gives a slight bow before stepping away from him to fetch two wine glasses from a nearby serving table. Malrian takes a seat behind his desk, while Lothian settles into the chair on the opposite side.

"Agent, I do hope we can come to an agreement. It would be a shame to get any officials involved in this little misunderstanding," Malrian says as he accepts a wine glass from Lumen.

Lothian takes his offered wine glass, caressing Lumen's fingers with his as she pulls away. "This is hardly a 'misunderstanding'. Your little savage attacked me. There are multiple witnesses, you know."

Malrian's eyes flick to Lumen as she pours his wine, then back to Lothian. "There are also multiple witnesses who claim you got what you deserved. That you were, in fact, manhandling my property."

"Perhaps they are misinterpreting what they saw. I barely touched the girl, whereas she kicked me as hard as she could," Lothian says, watching Lumen as she comes to fill his wineglass, and purposely tilting it so that some wine slops over the edge and spills across his fingers. "Oh dear, how clumsy of you."

Lumen grits her teeth. "I'm sorry, sir- I'll get a towel-"

"There's no need for a towel," Lothian says, offering his hand to Lumen. "And it would be a shame to waste such fine wine, wouldn't it?"

"Sir, I-" Lumen stammers, disgust twisting her stomach when she realizes what he wants her to do. She looks to Malrian and says, "Master, please. Don't make me do this."

"Did you not ask that I punish you rather than your master, girl?" Lothian chuckles. "You see, Malrian, you pet is in dire need of proper training. Though it's really not surprising that you're a soft touch, I hear tale that your father bought your way into this position." He smirks at Malrian, then says to Lumen. "Kneel."

Malrian's face is as hard as stone, and just as emotionless. "Do as our guest commands," he says smoothly, but Lumen can hear the hint of danger in his voice. A promise of pain woven in his calm tones, and for once, the threat is not aimed at her.

Lumen swallows hard, praying to the Eight Divines that she doesn't throw up. She kneels beside Lothian, unable to keep from shaking all over when he traces her lips with a wine-slicked finger. "I'll make you a deal, Malrian. Grant me a night with your pet, and we can pretend this little fiasco never happened."

"A night to do what, exactly?" Malrian asks, even though he already knows what Lothian is after.

"Presumably to do the same things you do with the little tart every night- or should be doing, at any rate." Lothian pushes his finger between Lumen's resisting lips and says, "I am aware that you Bosmer are quite fond of biting, but I'd better not feel teeth there, or any other part of my body."

For all the times her Master has looked at her in the same way that Lothian is, he's never acted on the latent lust that lies beneath his gaze. He might watch her as if he'd like to. But he's never touched her, never violated her, or even threatened to. And clearly, the agent has gone too far. When the faint sizzle of electrical energy reaches Lumen's ears, she throws herself away from Lothian as a bolt of electricity tears through the air and hits him with so much force that it knocks him and the chair backwards.

The door to Malrian's office opens and Elenwen pokes her head inside. "Is everything all right, I thought I heard-" She gasps, quickly stepping inside and slamming the door. "Malrian! What is the meaning of this? You were supposed to correct a problem, not cause more of them!"

Malrian walks around his desk to stand above Lothian's convulsing form. "Oh, dear. I do believe he's going into cardiac arrest." he says coolly, his lips curling into an amused smile as he watches Lothian struggle and gasp for breath.

"Malrian!" Elenwen hisses. "This isn't funny. He could die-"

The thunderous roar of destruction magic drowns out Elenwen's words and silences the agent's futile gasps for breath. "There," Malrian sniffs. "Now the vile wretch is no longer a problem."

Elenwen's eyes are wide with fury. "You do realize that you have just murdered a Thalmor agent in front of the First Emissary? Explain yourself!"

"I don't have to explain myself." Malrian nudges Lothian with his foot. "I have every right to protect my property when it is threatened."

"Don't you dare try to claim self-defense on this one," Elenwen says, folding her arms and glaring at her brother. "It's murder."

Malrian shrugs. "It's only 'murder' if someone tells, dear sister. My pet and I won't speak of what happened here if you don't."

"How dare you put me in this position!" Elenwen shrieks, clenching her fists and looking as if she'd like to electrocute Malrian as well. "How dare you!"

"You have a choice to make this an issue or a non-issue," Malrian snaps. "Which are you going to choose?"

Elenwen rubs her temples in a vain attempt to ward off a headache. "Do you have any idea how much trouble it's going to be to cover this up?"

"Very little if you let me handle this on my own. I know what I'm doing," Malrian says, his voice softening as he tries to soothe his sister. "I can make this go away."

"Should I be worried that you have experience in covering up illicit activities?" Elenwen asks, sounding a little defeated. Then she shakes her head, clearly not wanting to hear any of Malrian's reasons. "I don't care- just make it happen, and by the Eight, you'd better give me multiple nieces for all the stress I've had to endure tonight!" Elenwen storms away from Malrian, muttering a string of some of the most vile curses Lumen has ever heard. She leaves the office for the second time, slamming the door so hard the paintings on the walls rattle.

Malrian stares at the door, then turns his attention to Lothian's still smoldering remains. A definite overkill on Malrian's part, but it was done to make a point. The point being that Malrian will not tolerate having his properly molested, nor did his father buy his way through the Thalmor ranks. It was good breeding and an impressive command of destruction magic that earned Malrian his title, not his father's wealth.

He turns away from Lothian and steps toward Lumen, walking slowly as one would approach a frightened animal. He reaches out and gently caresses her jaw as he guides her to look up at him. "Are you well, pet?" he asks.

"I am," Lumen answers, shivering from the prickle of electricity that still lingers on her master's fingertips. "Will things be all right with Mistress Elenwen? She was quite angry..."

"Don't worry about her. My sister may act proper, but her hands are just as bloodied as mine. I know for a fact that she's had to permanently silence a few problem Thalmor in the past." At Lumen's confused expression he chuckles softly, and explains, "Chatty guards, dear. Information is quite valuable, as you know. A guard claimed to have some rather scandalous information on my sister, she found out what he was planning to do before the information trade could be organized, and he disappeared."

Lumen nods her understanding, not in the least bit troubled with the knowledge that Elenwen is just as bloodthirsty as Malrian is. Murder and intrigue are fairly commonplace within the upper echelons of the Thalmor, and Lumen has lived with it for most of her life. Even now, in the wake of watching her Master murder a fellow Thalmor, the scent of his smoldering body still lingering in the air, Lumen feels nothing at all.

"Stand up, pet," Malrian says, helping Lumen to her feet. "It's time to make Lothian disappear."


The night air is hot and sticky, and Lumen is covered in sweat thanks to her master ordering her to drag Lothian's worthless carcass out into the orchard for disposal. Her silk dress clings to her sweaty skin, which only adds to her discomfort and irritation. Once she's past the first two rows of fruit trees she drops Lothian's corpse and leans against the trunk of an apple tree. The thick, humid air is filled with the scent of fruit and pollen. Night birds and various insects sing their songs of summer and for a moment it's almost pleasant. That is until Lumen looks down at the lifeless body at her feet. A body she still has to drag to the edges of the orchard.

"Bastard," she hisses. "It wouldn't kill him to help me, the lousy son of a-"

"I apologize, my lady. But I got here as soon as I could," Silvan says, stepping from the deep shadows of the grove and into a silvery pool of moonlight. The ash-wood handle of his shovel rests against his shoulder, and he smiles tightly when Lumen claps her hand over her mouth to keep from crying out in surprise.

"I wasn't talking about you," she says through her fingers, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

"It would be better for the both of us if you were, Lu." His eyes are hard and serious, devoid of their usual warmth and replaced by a bitter fear. They both know if Malrian heard her talking about him like that, beloved pet or not, she'd probably lose her tongue.

She turns away, unable to sustain eye-contact with him when he is looking at her like that. "The grave is prepared, I take it?"

"Yes," Silvan says. "Near the plum trees, just as the Justiciar requested."

"Good, let's get this over with."

Both are eager to be done with this gruesome task, and between the two of them it does not take long to drag the body through the orchard. The grave is near the edge of the grove, near the tall, stone wall that surrounds Malrian's property. Silvan rolls the body into the grave with little ceremony, and a heavy silence falls over them as Silvan fills the grave with dirt.

This isn't the first time her master has taken a life, and it isn't the first time Lumen and Silvan have had to dispose of the remains. The servants and the guards know Malrian has a temper, and they may even have their suspicions as to why the Nightshades grow so well on his property, but only Lumen and Silvan know the truth.

Silvan leans his shovel against the stone wall. "You are awfully quiet," he says while wiping the sweat from his brow. "Are you upset?"

"About this? Hardly." Lumen glances at the newly filled grave. "Master did me a favor when he killed the Agent."

"A favor you will have to pay for, no doubt," Silvan says quietly, his eyes full of concern.

Lumen laughs, but there is no humor behind it. "Didn't you advise me to hold my tongue earlier?"

The corner of Silvan's mouth quirks into a mirthless grin as he looks away, and Lumen can't help but notice how the moonlight dances off his dark hair, illuminating the sparse, silver hairs that have become more numerous over the years. "I mean no insult to the Justiciar," he murmurs, turning to face her again, and chancing a step closer. "But I do worry about you."

"You shouldn't," she says, attempting to keep her voice steady. "You'll give yourself more gray hair."

He does smile at that, and a pleasant warmth settles over Lumen at the sight of it. "I didn't realize they were getting so noticeable," he says, running a hand through his short, messy hair.

"They are, but I actually like them," she says, and her eyes are inexplicably drawn to the small dimples that form at the corners of his mouth when his smile widens. Her flirtations are painfully clumsy, and she knows she's probably making a fool of herself. But she doesn't care. She'll gladly continue to be foolish if it means he'll keep smiling at her like that.

"I am glad they meet your approval, and since we're exchanging pleasantries, might I say how lovely you look tonight?"

She looks down at her dress, feeling self-conscious despite the compliment. "Oh- um, thank you," she says uncertainly, wincing at how stupid she sounds, but she finds it hard to believe that she looks 'lovely' at all. Not when she's covered with sweat, her hair mussed, and with mud and grass stains adorning the hem of her white, silk dress.

"You're welcome," he says, stepping even closer, his voice low and somehow deeper, and Lumen doesn't even know how that's possible. Stranger still is the fluttering in her chest, and the way her stomach leaps when his fingers curl around hers, his thumb rubbing across the back of her hand as he places a soft kiss on her knuckles.

For a moment she feels like she might faint. She isn't certain how something so simple and innocent could send her reeling and make her weak in the knees but it does. Lumen's eyes flick from her hand, to Silvan, and then back again. Not quite knowing how to respond.

"I- I'm sorry, Lu. I shouldn't have-" Silvan says, dropping her hand as if he's touched something he ought not to.

He isn't wrong to do so, and Lumen wouldn't blame him if he ran away from her for his own sake. It's not as if her heart and body are hers to give anyway. Not a single piece of her truly belongs to herself, and if her master caught them like this- well, she'd rather not think about what he might do. Instead of fretting, she takes a breath to steel herself and says, "I wouldn't mind if you did it again."

He shakes his head, looking as forlorn as Lumen has ever seen him. "I'd cover you in them if I could," he says breathlessly. "But the Justiciar- He'd kill me for certain, and I'd rather not think about what he'd do to you."

"You- you would-" The idea of having his mouth travel further than just her hand brings Lumen's thoughts to a halt, and the threat of punishment is not enough to prevent her from closing the gap between them and pressing her lips to his. Her kiss is clumsy and desperate, but she doesn't know when she'll get another chance to find out exactly what his lips feel like.

To her immense pleasure, the threat of death by Malrian's hand is not enough to deter Silvan from responding to her kiss. He gently cups her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing lightly against her jaw while his lips move against hers. But where Lumen's kisses are clumsy and inexperienced, Silvan's are slow and deliberate. His certainty quells her desperation, and his deep, searching kisses chase away all her worries. Unfortunately, Silvan has not forgotten about the dead Altmer resting beneath their feet, and Lumen's master awaiting her return.

Silvan presses his forehead against hers, his eyes shut tight as if he's in pain. "Go home, Lu," he says softly, and even though his voice his warm and soft, his dismissal still stings.

Lumen turns away, not wanting him to see the hurt in her eyes, and knowing that he is right to send her away. Knowing that he is right to deny them both of the thing they want for the sake of their own safety. But that knowledge does little to ease the bitter ache that forms in Lumen's chest, and grows stronger with each step she takes closer to home.


In the following days, Lumen throws herself into her duties. Preferring to dote upon Malrian rather than allow her thoughts to wander back to what happened just a few nights ago. The passage of time does little to ease the ache she feels in the pit of her stomach whenever she thinks of Silvan, nor does it douse the heat that courses through her whenever she thinks of the kiss they shared. But it is easier not to think of such things. Longing will cause nothing but misery in the end.

Unfortunately for Lumen, longing is all she can seem to do. Everywhere she goes something reminds her of the handsome groundskeeper. Outside every window is a garden he has tended to, and inside every corridor and on top of every table is a vase of fresh-cut flowers that he personally grew.

Lumen stands near the large, bow window in Malrian's study. Her master and his sisters chat amicably behind her, but Lumen pays no attention to their conversation. The window is slightly ajar, letting in the pleasing aroma of the Evening Stock planted just beneath it. Beyond the scape of small, purple flowers is a path, and beyond the path is a lush rose garden. The rose garden is particularly interesting to Lumen this evening. Not because the Moonlight roses happen to be blooming, but because Silvan is tilling the dirt beside them. She can't help but watch, utterly fascinated, at the flex and pull of his lean muscles, which are made all the more noticeable by the way the thin, sheen of sweat on his skin catches the last rays of sunlight.

"Pet. Pet- Are you paying attention? Lumen!"

She spins around to face her master, her heart pounding. "I'm sorry, Master, I was-"

"Daydreaming," Malrian snaps.

"Forgive me," she says, bowing. "What is it you wish of me?"

"I was going to ask you to bring us some tea, but I'll just go do it myself since you're so busy woolgathering." With a sneer, Malrian rises to his feet and storms out of the room.

Lumen winces, knowing her inattention is going to cost her dearly later on. Her master can be kind enough when he wants to be. He can be affectionate and generous, and sometimes he can almost fool her into thinking that he actually loves her. But it is just a facade used to lull her into a false sense of security. Her true master is the one that emerges when she's done something to anger him. Her true master is sadistic and cruel, taking pleasure from the pain he inflicts on her and anyone else who is unfortunate enough to be the focus of his rage.

Elenwen and Aelfwynie talk quietly after Malrian leaves, and Elaninde shares a look with Ravienne before coming to stand next to Lumen. "What's got you so preoccupied, dear? Oh-" Elaninde grins when she glances out the window. "Ravienne, come here. You simply must come see."

Ravienne stands on the other side of Lumen, practically purring when she says, "Oh my, this window offers quite the view, doesn't it?"

"Indeed," Elaninde says, then quietly, just so Lumen and Ravienne can hear, "I'd let him plow my garden any day."

Lumen gasps, unused to such innuendo and uncertain as to how she should respond to it. Lucky, Ravienne steps in. "Your brother's little pet has good taste, doesn't she? I wonder what Malrian would say if he knew she was ignoring him to gawk at the groundskeeper."

"He'd blow his top is what he'd do," Elaninde says, grinning wickedly at Ravienne.

"Please mistresses," Lumen pleads, terrified of what would happen if he knew. "I was only looking at the roses!"

"Oh, please. We weren't born yesterday," Ravienne says. "Besides, there's nothing wrong with looking."

"I'd do more than just look if I were you," Elaninde says. "It must be so terribly frustrating being stuck in here with that old curmudgeon all the time. Especially when you've got a groundskeeper who looks like a gift from Dibella herself."

Ravienne laughs softly. "Judging by the way she's blushing, I daresay she has done more than just look, Elaninde."

Lumen buries her face in her hands, her voice muffled when she says, "I've only ever talked to him- and we only spoke about flowers." A lie, obviously, but she has no desire to put Silvan or herself in harm's way, and she knows better than to trust an Altmer with her secrets.

"That's a shame," Elaninde says, sounding a little disappointed. "I'm sure you can think of more interesting things to do with him than just talk. Well- maybe you can't. You do live with my brother, after all. But I assure you, a man's mouth can be put to far better uses than just talking."

"I- I wouldn't know," Lumen admits.

"Perhaps you'll find out. I'll have your Master distracted for a while, which will give you plenty of time to sow your wild oats," Ravienne laughs. "I guess you could just have the groundskeeper sow them for you."

Lumen grits her teeth and curses herself for being so damn obvious, and curses the two lovers for being so damn perceptive. But despite her annoyance with herself and them, what Ravienne is saying is- well, it's true. Her master will be distracted for unknown amounts of time until this breeding business is concluded, and the Eight only know how long that will take. Lumen knows she ought to leave Silvan well alone and simply count loneliness as her lot in life, but the desire to feel his touch again is chasing all sense from her mind. Maybe if she's careful, and really, really sneaky, then perhaps she can get what she wants without her master ever finding out.


Notes: I want to thank my lovely betas, Heiwako and CSphire, for all their feedback and support. And I also want to thank everyone who's taken the time to leave me feedback for this story. I struggled with this chapter (actually, I've just been struggling with writing in general lately) and so all the nice comments have really urged me to keep going. So thank you all! I hope you enjoy this chapter. :)

This chapter is a little darker than the previous two, I think. But I am going to try my best to keep this story somewhat light.