Title: Rather Unexpected

Author: Kytten

Pairing: Lucien x ofc

Rating: T

Disclaimer: Don't own. Obviously.

Ungolim recast his detect life spell, warily eyeing the trees around him waiting for Lucien to show himself. How bloody long did it take to hike up to Farragut, after all? Ah, but there he was, he realized, seeing Shadowmere's shimmering form as she wound between the trees.

There they were, he amended, seeing the second shape hovering in the air some distance behind him. He froze a moment before logic set in. The hoverer was definitely a woman. And Arquen was simply not intelligent enough to manage a levitation spell. In fact, he very much doubted she even knew the motions. It was, after all, a very Telvanni spell.

Which meant that Lucien's Telvanni had followed him.

He smiled slightly, locking eyes with her as the two of them came closer.

And then, he realized, he knew her.

Hanarai startled slightly, just behind Lucien's left shoulder. It appeared Father had beaten her to the Dark Brotherhood. She recognized the short, stocky little Bosmer as one of his old friends.

Well damn.

She met his eyes with pursed lips and a sharp shake of the head.

Don't tell Lucien.

He smiled back at her, a quick twitch of the lips before nodding to Lucien.

"Are you ready?"

Lucien nodded.

"Always."

Always.

Hanarai had to stifle a snort. Lucien certainly didn't look ready. He looked like a frightened, sleepless little boy. Glaring now, she flew after them as they galloped for Leyawiin. She'd had quite enough of this foolishness. Dark Brotherhood and procedures be damned, when she found their bloody stupid traitor she was going to tear him to shreds.

After all, he should have known better than to attempt to steal from a Telvanni.

Ungolim knocked out a particular rhythm on the steel bound wood of Uvani's door before pressing a specialized unlock spell into the frame.

Clever, Hanarai thought, seeing that he'd managed to undo the deadbolts without making a sound. Cleverer still when he signaled for Lucien to wait, holding open the door as though he were inspecting the shadows, allowing her to slip by and into the room.

She floated up to the ceiling, watching from somewhere near the rafters as the rather handsome Dunmer in the next room rose with a ball of fire hidden in the palm of his hand.

"Uvani?" Ungolim called, saving himself a nasty end.

The fireball disappeared, and Hanarai frowned, watching him limp towards the small group. How odd… It was almost as though his left knee wouldn't bend. She'd certainly never heard anything like this from her little murderer. Granted, her little murderer was an idiot, but he should know his own Speaker at least.

"She's been by, I see," Lucien said, frowning as he eyed the man's limp.

"Yours, is she?" Uvani laughed and turned, limping back towards the kitchen. "Should have known. I get word J'Ghasta and Shaleez are dead and not two hours later some idiot girl bursts in, throws a pitcher of boiling honey at me and flees."

Hanarai smiled, watching the charming twitch in Lucien's jaw as he ground his teeth in an effort to keep from killing Uvani. It was a horrible habit of his and she would simply have to break him of it. But watching his muscles play like that…

Ungolim shot her a subtle glance and so she darted off into the kitchen before she'd get into anyone's way. As soon as they were all packed inside, Uvani tossed a purple ball of light onto the ceiling. It shattered there, oozing outward and coating the walls until there was an impenetrable barrier between them and anyone else.

A moment later, he was looking at Ungolim with barely veiled suspicion in his eyes. But the mer simply smiled and glanced towards Lucien with a say nothing look. Hanarai smiled. Perhaps this Black Hand was not so incompetent as she'd thought.

"I imagine she thought I was dead," Uvani chuckled darkly, leaning back in his chair. "Lachance isn't known for picking the bright ones, is he?"

Lucien glared at him, twisting one of Hanarai's hair ribbons under the table, gritting his teeth against a self-satisfied laugh.

If only you knew, you arrogant pig.

So his Silencers since Anara hadn't been exactly up to par. But seeing as how he was about to make a Telvanni his wife… Oh, it would be a bit tricky, he imagined. Hanarai wasn't the sort to keep anyone for very long. But he wanted her, damnit. And there wasn't a woman alive that could resist the full Lachance charm.

Though if there were, Hanarai would be her.

It'd take a bit of wheedling, probably. He'd have to figure out the inner workings of her game, for one. She could assume whichever personality would best please her target, but what sort of man pleased her? Power, obviously. But there had to be something else to her little conquests, something to attract her or else she'd have taken up with Farwil, killed his father and assumed control herself.

"We know Arquen and Bellamont are in league together," Ungolim was saying when he finally stopped to listen. "We'll have enough trouble with those two alone. It's the thought of allies that has me worried."

Allies… There was a very good possibility he wouldn't get out of this alive. As much as he hated to think about it, Lucien was fairly certain today he would meet his match. Vicente was the only man alive that could beat him at swordplay, but Arquen had, at one point, nearly become Arch-Mage. There was no way in hell he could hope to stand against her with his minor reflections and passable whirlwind.

Hanarai… If there wasn't such a possibility of getting her killed as well, he might have brought her along. Loathsome as the idea of putting her into danger was, they needed all the help they could get here.

"I'm sorry to say I can't help you," Uvani sighed, running a hand through his hair. "My joints are too stiff to wield a blade and I can barely walk on my left leg. If we had time, certainly. But they're probably heading after my Silencer as we speak."

"It's possible they're already there," Lucien snapped, aggravated that he was going off to his death and he hadn't even had the time to bed Hanarai properly before he left. "Shaleez and J'Ghasta look almost as though they were killed the same day."

"Definitely Arquen and Bellamont then. Sithis…"

"We'd best be off then," Ungolim said, standing. "Guard yourself."

Uvani laughed at the familiar parting.

"Sithis walks with me."

And as the two men turned to leave, he caught Hanarai's eyes and gestured for her to join him. She frowned and shook her head, pointing at Lucien but he beckoned again, something in his eyes telling her she needed to speak with him.

Slowly, she floated down from the ceiling, shedding her invisibility when she heard the front door shut.

"Yes?" she asked politely, willing him to get it over and done with. Her Imperial was running off to get himself killed and she really couldn't spare the time right now.

"You've a perfect levitation," he said, looking at her with a slight smile. "So I can only assume you're Telvanni. Another of Ungolim's acquaintances?"

"Lucien's lover," she purred, a challenge in her eyes as she sat down at the table across from him.

His eyebrows arched in sudden shock.

"Really?" he asked with a tilt of the head. "I would have never thought him capable."

She smiled, a fond light sparkling in her eyes.

"He'll take a bit of training yet."

Uvani laughed and leaned back.

"I suppose this is why he's not to know you're following."

Hanarai nodded, a soft purse to her lips.

"He'll do something stupid and heroic if he knows."

The man nodded.

"Sounds like Lucien."

"What did you need?" she asked, glancing towards the door. "I'd very much like to be off after them."

"Bellamont's only an Imperial. He has a particular weakness for charm spell of which you are, no doubt, a master. He's rubbish at most magic but strangely good at sapping the strength from anything that moves. Don't, under any circumstances, let him touch you."

Hanarai smiled, deciding she quite liked this man. Going into a fight blind wasn't the sort of thing she made a habit of doing. And if she'd paused in her contemplation of Lucien's bad habits long enough, she'd have realized she was at the distinct disadvantage going up against a mage and a stupid Imperial without knowing a damn thing about them.

Lucien was no good, after all. He had this silly notion that guild workings were Confidential and that the most she could safely hear was who was going to be killed when. As eventually, everyone would know that anyway.

"And this Arquen woman?"

"An Altmer mage. Powerful enough to amaze the mages here, but not up to Telvanni standards by any means. Standard fire, frost and shock weaknesses apply but she, in particular, cannot tolerate the cold."

He smirked then, and leaned back.

"Or, if you've the skill for them, Xivilai. She's terrified of them."

Hanarai grinned, her teeth seeming somehow sharper in the flickering light.

"Oh, I've two Xivilai actually. Not to mention a few Dremora Lords. They're really the sweetest things."

Uvani laughed, eyes glittering.

"You brilliant, beautiful woman. How in Sithis' name did Lachance win you?"

"Luck," she replied with a grin, and cast herself invisible.