Chapter 8: Letting go

Mirana stopped at Applewatch farm and just looked at the building. The windows were dark as she slipped from Shadowmare tying her up at the fence. She stroked the horse's glossy black mane as she stared at the door. "Why do I continue to come back here Shadowmare? Or do you keep bringing me here?" She asked as the horse stayed silent looking at her with intelligent glowing red eyes. Mirana sighed as she took a step forward but stopped, her feet unwilling to go any further as a sudden light came on in the small abandoned farm. "What in the name of Sithis?"

She felt a nudge from behind and looked to see Shadowmare pushing her forward with her nose. "Alright alright I get it…" She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she pulled her hood up and walked silently to the door. She pressed her hand against it and found it warm despite the cold of the air around her, as if there were some sort of warm fire in the home beyond the door. "Impossible, no one's been here in over eight years." She muttered to herself as she pushed the door open.

Inside the house was well lit by a fire in the fireplace, candles on the tables and end tables, and a hot meal waiting for her, as if freshly prepared by a concerned mother or a loving spouse.

"Ah, I was wondering if you were ever going to come in." A deep dark voice slipped around her, caressing her skin like silk and making her shiver.

"That voice…" She turned around to see Lucien smiling at her. "No…no it can't be…by Sithis this is cruel…even for the dread Father." She fell to her knees gazing at her long dead lover; her blue eyes welled with tears as she felt her heart breaking. "Why would he send me an apparition of you….you of all people in my time of darkness?"

Lucien looked at her with dark eyes that held the love he only showed to her as he stepped closer. He was paler than the last time she had seen him, well with his skin intact that is, but everything about him was still the same. The muscular but slim build, the long dark hair pulled back from a chiseled defined face with dark eyes, a slim nose and full lips. He was dressed in black pants tucked into black boots and a blood red shirt bearing the black hand of Sithis. "I am here because you called for me, my love."

"But you are dead…Arquen and the rest killed you…I suffered so long because of your death, I sat in that rat infested prison grieving for you." Tears ran down her face but she couldn't tare her eyes away from him.

"All true my love, but think; did you really think that you would never see me again? I have always been with you." He knelt down and smiled reaching out to take the Blade of Woe from her. "This blade, you continue to use it even though it is not the most powerful blade given to you."

"It was a gift, both from you and the Night Mother. I couldn't part with it."

"And you kept the tie to myself with you my love, I have watched you progress, grow, become the woman I knew you were destined to be. I have been with you watching you kill, watching you guide this boy, Martin, to his rightful place as King. Granted this is not how the Dark Brotherhood usually goes about it, we are hired to kill kings not to put them on the throne." He chuckled softly.

"The Night Mother tells me to go to him, but if you have always been with me…then gods….you've seen….you've seen me….and Martin…" She covered her face with her hands. "Lucien…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry my love…please forgive me."

"For what? A betrayal? Hardly." He moved her hands from her face and lifted her chin. "Stop your crying Mirana, you are Listener of the Dark Brotherhood and you will act like it. I am dead no denying that fact, The Night Mother and Sithis have given me a brief window of time to where I can act in their stead. They have been watching you and are not happy with how you are handling everything. My death is holding you back from your potential from your destiny. You were meant for more than me when you were born. Sithis has forever held you in his grasp; He has foreseen that you hold the key to the Dark Brother hood. But you refuse to let me go, hindering the gifts you have been given."

Mirana's brows knit in confusion, "but Lucien, you were my first love! How can I get over your death? It's been almost 10 years but I still feel the ache of losing you and I long to feel your touch."

Lucien shook his head and stood up, "Mirana, how many times have I told you that to serve the black hand is to serve Sithis, you are Listener now, you are the link between the dark family and our Father and Mother." He walked to the window and looked outside, "do you know what day it is my love?"

"No, I've been so busy doing things for Martin that I haven't looked at the days in I don't know how long."

"It is the anniversary of the day I left the mortal coil to join Sithis in the dark waters of his realm." He turned back to her. "I belong there Mirana, I knew from the moment the Dark Family came for me, that I would not be on this world long. I am thankful that I was shown love by your hand, and I will never forget it. You were the most amazing thing in my life, and I loved you for it." He smiled at her. "Let me go Mirana, let my memory die and be free my dark angel." He walked to her again and bent down to kiss her softly. "Now, stop sitting here and crying like a stubborn child, you know what you have to do…go do it." He stood up straight walked to a chair and grabbed his cloak putting it on and pulling the hood over his head. He walked silently to the door and opened it. "May Sithis guide your path sister." He stepped out the door and the cabin grew dim as everything vanished and the smell of old death and she looked around to see the cabin she knew.

Mirana stared at the now closed door in the cold cabin and looked around lost. Shadows flickered from the windows outside and she stood up. "You're right…" She smiled chuckling softly to herself. "You were always right." She pulled her hood up and walked out of the cabin to Shadowmare who stood waiting patiently for her. She smiled at the horse and stroked her mane. "You knew all along, didn't you you dark beauty?"

Ruby red eyes just stared silently at her and Mirana chuckled. "Thank you for bringing me here…Now, it's time to let go." Mirana turned and took off her gloves as she faced the house. She conjured fire to her hands and let out a cry as she flung the fireballs at the house sending it up in roaring flames. She pulled her gloves back on and hopped onto Shadowmare turning her to Cloud Ruler Temple. "Lets go Shadowmare, we have a King to enjoy." She laughed as she rode away, the house burning behind her, and her farewell to her love being swallowed by the night.

A/N: Finally Progress! Took me forever to figure out what I wanted to do with this chapter. I hope you enjoyed.