The Taken 4

Vanis crouched low, and with a shrill scream leapt at Nero both daggers flying out of her hands. Nero swung and batted them away, but Vanis used that opportunity to pull out two more and slice at Nero. The daedric blades easily cut through the old leather of Nero's armor but before he could swing down at her, she jumped back. Nero glanced down at his wounds. She had cut across his abdomen and his upper left arm.

Dashing forward Nero swung low at Vanis' legs. She crouched and while still holding onto her dagger used her hand to move her sheathed sword block the blow. She then swiped at Nero's neck with her other dagger, but Nero caught her arm. She opened the hand of the arm Nero had grabbed dropping the dagger, but with the hand still facing Nero, unleashed a bolt of lightning, which only just missed Nero's face as he let her go and kicked her away.

Skipping back Vanis reversed her grip on the dagger in her right hand, dug her feet in and once again charged forward, but unlike before she wasn't leading with the dagger itself but came in like she was about to punch him. Alarmed Nero brought his sword up flat side facing Vanis like a shield so her fist hit and was deflected, but when her fist was deflected away, the blade of the dagger slid with her hand. So while her fist would miss Nero, the blade wouldn't. Bending back Nero watched as the dagger swished right over his nose.

Pulling out another of her many daggers she held it the same way as the other. Nero frowned; he was fast with a sword but with the way she was fighting always getting in close, the long reach of his sword was more a hindrance than advantage. She knew this and was using her skills with close quarters combat to her advantage.

She went in again, but as she got in close Nero did something she hadn't expected, he threw his sword at her. The sword spun like a disk, forcing her to move to the side, though not fast enough as the sword took a few inches off her hair on her left side. Nero moved in with a flurry of jabs pushing Vanis further back. While he was an excellent swords man, Nero never studied much in the way of pygmachia which showed in his sloppy fighting style. However what he lacked in his skill he was making up in speed and power.

Vanis deflected one of Nero's punched and slid forward. Unlike Nero, Vanis was quick and more flexible as she fought. Close up she stepped forwards and to the side, so she stepped into Nero's stance so that if he tried to step back, he'd trip. In this close, Vanis unleashed quick blow after quick blow and if the blow missed, the daggers she held would cut something.

Reaching out Nero grabbed hold of Vanis' bandolier and pulled her into a jarring head butt. Still holding on, he pushed her back and slammed his right hand into her gut making her to drop both daggers. Going for a second gut shot, Vanis leaned back and kicked out, connecting with Nero's chin forcing him to let go.

As he stumbled back and Vanis followed up with a jump kick that connected with his shoulder. Powerful kicks and quick punches hammered in Nero who kept his hands and arms up to block as many blows as he could. When a right kick from Vanis landed, Nero drove forward with a round house left that Vanis dodged, she didn't see the right hook that followed however and Nero ended up breaking her nose. Blood splattered across her face but Nero didn't stop hammering away pushing her further and further back till she was against a wall. With no where left to move she crouched in as Nero kept up his assault. In a desperate move, she swiped her arms out, fire shooting from both hands. Nero let up to duck away from the fire, and Vanis reached back and pulled her great sword from her back.

The heavy blade crashed down, shattering the stone where Nero had been standing. Nero backed up as she swung again and again. Backing up Nero's foot hit one of her dropped daggers. During another one of her wild swings, he kicked the dagger up and into his right hand. After the heavy sword swung over head, he stood and stabbed into her collar driving the blade to the hilt. With her stunned Nero quickly conjured a bound sword in his left and drove it up into her stomach

Both fighters stood still for a while before with a loud clatter; Vanis dropped her great sword and looked down at the blade stuck in her. Then back up to Nero's face. Blood dribbled out from the sides of her mouth, but even like this she was smiling.

"Oh so that's the look you have when you kill someone. It's a good look."

Nero let go of the dagger and after the bound sword vanished from his hand he stepped back. Vanis fell against the stone wall and slid down, leaving a red smear as she did. She brought her hands over the stab wound in her stomach then up so she could see them covered in her blood, "first times always messy. Guess that goes for stab wounds to."

Looking up she smiled once more, "thanks Dragonborn…it's been…fun." Her hands dropped to her side and her head fell forwards slightly.

She died with a smile still on her face.

Nero stayed still, breathing heavily. Part of him waited for her to pop back up. Behind him he heard the prisoners moving about before Carlotta finally asked, "Is she dead?"

The prisoners watched as Nero crouched down next to the elf. A moment later a crack was heard, as Nero snapped her neck. Just to be sure.

"Yes."

Pulling her remaining swords and daggers off her body, he walked around and collected the ones she had dropped and slipped them into his armor and belts.

"Can everyone walk?"

After many yeses Nero sighed, "Then let's get you all out of this hell hole."

As they finally made it out of the keep, the prisoners said their thanks and went their own way. After that it was only Nero and Carlotta, and after helping her to his horse the two rode back to Solitude.

-Proudspire Manor-

Nero helped Carlotta up the stone steps to his house and after finding the door locked, like he had asked calmly knocked on the door.

"I TOLD YOU IF YOU HORKER SHITS CAME BACK I'D RIP YOUR GODS DAMNED THROATS OUT! GO AWAY!"

Carlotta glanced at Nero. Nero just smiled sheepishly, "my lovely fiancée."

"Ah…do you have to do anything special to make sure you aren't keeping the whole city up at night? She sounds like a screamer."

Clearing his throat with a slight blush, "Knowing some magic can come in handy."

Carlotta smirked which Nero tried to just ignore, "yeah um…Serana! It's me. Open up!"

After a bit Serana opened the door, "Nero, you're back! …Why do you look like crap?"

"A girl beat me up a bit, let us in."

Serana turned to Carlotta, "this is Carlotta right?" After she nodded, "I think your daughter will be happy to see you."

Coming into the main living room Serana walked up to the bed room. Jorids came up from the basement, "My Thane, Carlotta I am glad you have returned safely."

Nero shrugged, "was there any doubt." He then pulled off the large great sword and his dragon bone sword, "put this away and this one on of the racks please."

"Ah another trophy then…though what about all those other ones?"

"These are for something else."

Nodding, Jordis took the swords down to the basement. As she did Mila came bounding down the stairs, "Mommy!"

"Mila!"

Mother and daughter hugged each other crying in joy at seeing each other safe and sound.

Serana stood in the stair way smiling at the two.

"Are you ready to go home Mila?"

"Yes mommy. I want to go home."

Jordis returned, "I'll go and get a coach ready then. Will you want me to accompany them?"

"Yes and I want you to take these weapons and sell them. I think the profits should cover the time Carlotta has missed at her stall."

Carlotta looked at Nero alarmed, "but those daedric weapons…they'll sell for…well more then I've made in…"

Nero smiled, "take it Carlotta."

"Thank you. For everything."

With a smile Jordis lead the two out and on their way back home.

With Nero and Serana left alone in the house, Nero turned and sat down in one of the large chairs and let out a deep sigh, "that was too close Serana. Divines how am I going to protect every single friend I have, against enemies I've never even met. This wasn't a Thalmor attack. It was one crazy woman who'd I've never met or heard of that wanted to get at me. What can I possibly do when people I don't even know decide to go after me through my friends? The one I love?"

Serana walked up and knelt next to Nero. Laying her hands on his, she leaned forward and gave him a peck on the cheek, "you'll do what you always do. You'll defeat every threat with good old fashioned Nord stubbornness."

Smiling, Nero pulled Serana in so she was sitting on his lap across the chair, "What fool said that?"

After kissing Nero deeply Serana said, "hmm someone I love with all my heart."

While tomorrow may hold some unknown threat, today had ended with Carlotta and Mila safe and heading home. And that was a happy ending.


Authors Notes:

Pygmachia is what boxing was called back in ancient Greece/Rome and since the Empire has a very Greek/roman look I thought the name fit. The fight was kind of supposed to be like a less refined Muhammad Ali (Nero) vs Jet Li (Vanis) with knives… if that makes it any clearer how they were fighting. Well I hope you enjoyed The Taken arc!If you see any grammar errors let me know, and please leave a review! Those reviews keep me going... well that and the cocaine.

Characters: No new ones

Dragon Language: none used