THE SHIVERING ISLES

Get this, the whole world is in chaos. At least my world is. The Daedric Princes have locked us all away on the Shivering Isles, for no good reason. All scared of one person and man, she is scary. But not as scary as the lack of a good bone…

Barbas whines once again. He is seated right outside the great hall where the Princes were discussing matters. No, scratch that, they've been arguing for days. Screaming matches inside and out on the grounds. Crossing from one place to the other, the Dementia Sector then the next day to the Mania Sector. All strange places with strange plants and animals. Mushroom towers in one area, tree huts and little evil elves in another area. Sheogorath thought it was funny, but the rest thought it was only wasting time.

He scratches at the door. Won't anyone take time away from important matters to come play? They were in the house of madness after all.

His prayers are answered when the door bursts open and Molag Bal, confident in his stride, passes him. Barbas glances up. The Prince of Enslavement was never really that fun. He always ended up wanting to torture things…which means…

Barbas whines. Molag Bal sneers. "No bone dog, go hunt for yourself, would do you some good to use those fangs of yours." Barbas knows Molag Bal is only making fun of him. Under that intense demeanor he is taking joy in this. All the Daedric Princes have been rattled for…what was it now? Weeks?

Sheogorath is the next to emerge, which is surprising. He's the one hosting this party so he should be staying until the last guest leaves. But he seems too distraught. Or mad. "A crisis once again. A crisis on our hands! Skyrim is becoming a mess. I thought this place was bad!" He smacks himself on the forehead and waltzes past Barbas. He whines, but the Prince of Madness pays him no mind. He's lost to his own world.

Something big must have happened. It only makes sense with the racket going on inside. The little Irish Wolfhound lookalike creeps up to the doorway. Barbas peeks in to see the rest of the Daedric Princes, all fifteen of them now arguing bloody murder.

Must have been real bad. Barbas sits to ponder. The girl, Eve, the one who saved him when the Night Mother wanted him dead. Was she alive? Were things alright? He whines but no one pays attention to him. Barely did before. He was only the sidekick to a lesser Daedric Prince after all. That's one of the reasons it was so fun to roam around Skyrim. But now it looks like that might be coming to an end…

More Princes pass him in rage. Sanguine, Prince of Hedonism, looking ready for a drink or two. He pats Barbas on the head on the way out, Barbas savors it. Melphala, Prince of Discord passes without a glance, her terrifying spiderlike form not even the most bizarre among the Princes. Jyggalag's armor clangs as he exits the hall. Barbas tends to forget his domain but always remembered when he saw the massive sword he carried. Prince of Order. He definitely kept it. Especially after that tiff with Sheogorath back during the Oblivion crisis. Peryite emerges. The Prince seemed to always be on the fringe, he was helping the best he could but knew it was better not to go to Skyrim right now. He did have the appearance of a slim green dragon and was the Prince of Pestilence.

"Can you not get to her? Even if it's horrible?" Nocturnal yells across the room. Something is definitely wrong. Nocturnal wasn't the first to yell.

"Possibly, only if she wishes to relive her worst waking hours." Vaermina the Dreamweaver replies. Barbas thought that ring of Eve's was keeping all of them away. But, come to think of it, the Prince of Nightmares would be the best bet to getting to her. Yet, in his heart, Barbas knows Vaermina cared little. Most of them don't care, they never met her.

He wonders why. He wonders why they didn't try. Some didn't know what was going on until they were all locked here in the Shivering Isles. It sounds like it used to be a prank from Sheogorath but now…now things were serious.

Hircine, Prince of the Hunt, consoles her. "Nocturnal, I can try. I can use one of my progenies to find her. Aid her."

"That might be what we need." Is her whispered reply.

"Molag Bal sent a Champion? Did he not?" Hermaeus Mora, Prince of Knowledge and god of all that's creepy asks. Barbas isn't sure how he talks, he's just a floating cloud of eyes.

"He did, but Molag Bal hasn't talked to him. I think he was disowned." Hircine reminds him.

"Does he always tire of his playthings?" Sighs Clavicus. Barbas can't help but shake his tail at the sound of his master, Prince of Deals.

"You're one to speak." Hircine sends a jab Clavicus's way.

"Not my fault the dog got tired and ran off!" His master yells.

Elation fills Barbas's heart. Clavicus wasn't always on best terms with Barbas, it was more like being around a family member all the time. Sometimes they get irritating. But Hircine always had a soft spot for Barbas, must be because he was the Prince to create werewolves.

"Fine. I'll be going then. Nocturnal don't worry, I'm sure that ring of hers will come off eventually." Hircine says firmly.

"And then what?" She whispers. "You wish for us to have faith? We are Daedric Princes!"

The silence hangs heavy in the air. Good thing Sheogorath wasn't there, or else he'd burst out laughing at the seriousness of it all.

"If I had a chance, I could get to her." A deep, fraying voice growls. Barbas ducks his head a bit to hide. He knows the owner of that voice is in the corner of the room. No one speaks.

Mehrunes Dagon. Prince of Destruction. He was the one responsible for the Oblivion crisis and isn't allowed to set foot in Tamriel ever again. Out of all the Princes, Barbas thinks he's the most peeved. This doesn't affect him like it does the others so there's no real reason for him to be here.

"There will be a way." The hunter says with confidence. Hircine emerges from the stone building, the fading light of the afternoon lights up his rippling muscular body. The mask of the deer is bright as ever. His red eyes only burn brighter than the light piercing him.

"Barbas. They left you out here again, didn't they?" He kneels on one knee and holds out his arms.

Barbas takes the chance, the only one in so long to be folded into someone's arms. He races across the way and lets them envelop him. He squirms, that excitement just couldn't get out of him fast enough!

"There, there, it will all be alright." Hircine scratches the fur covering Barbas.

No one gave me a bone!

"They didn't? Well, we can look for one." Hircine stands, Barbas looks back at the hall where his master is. He doesn't want to leave the area in case Clavicus need him…but…

"Follow me, pup." Hircine begins the walk into the dense forest which promptly swallows him whole. If one weren't looking the Prince could blend in with the emerald foliage for days.

What was that about? Barbas asks, not really wanting to know if it's as bad as it sounds. But Hircine and Clavicus are the only ones who would tell him, and Eve was worth it. He knew it.

"Long story. The Night Mother is encroaching on our territory." Hircine breaks a branch, one as wide around as his forearm and begins to tear at the end to turn it into a sharp point. "Has everyone in a panic. If only she didn't get that ring on the Nightingale."

Nightingale, that's what Nocturnal called her. She claims Eve when she can. Barbas grumbled a few times that Eve was his best friend after feeling some pangs of jealousy over the relationship she has with the Prince of the Night. Clavicus would only laugh when he expressed those feelings.

"You're sure she's still with Lady Death?" The hunter speaks from the shadows. A question that demanded an answer.

Barbas sighs, he told this tale so many times since he was one of the only ones to reach her. Duh, or else she woulda called out to us.

Hircine laughs deeply. "I guess so, Molag Bal was the last to see her in the Soul Cairn, but he is unreliable."

Barbas certainly remembers that. Molag Bal would do anything to stir the pot, if only to send the Princes into another frenzy.

What now? Barbas asks the Prince of the Hunt.

He holds up a hand, to say "wait". Something was in the bushes. Before Barbas can look, Hircine flings the sharp branch down into the underbrush below. A cry sounds. Hircine dives for it, at once falling into the sea of greenery.

Barbas plants his furry butt where he was standing. He's seen this act so many times before, it was getting boring. Hircine tracks down some sort of organism, animal or otherwise, then stabs them straight through with whatever weapon he has. After that, he tears it open and guts it. Usually for fun… but now he had a purpose. And, Barbas supposes, a distraction from the events at hand.

"Here." Hircine drops a bloody forearm bone to him. Not sure what the creature was, but it was definitely humanoid. Barbas picks up the bone with glee, tail wagging.

"Let's get back, I need a word with Nocturnal before turning in." Hircine leads the way and Barbas says nothing. Hircine enjoyed the silence, if only to hear potential prey.

Nocturnal is right outside the hall, her mascara streaming around her eyes, nothing Barbas has ever seen before. He lays on his stomach and begins to lick the bone, the blood and flesh a delicious treat before gnawing on the meat of it all.

"I have to go." She says.

Hircine grabs her shoulders. "I can get someone to her."

She shakes her head. "You can try. All options are good, but I need to get back there in case."

"In case the ring comes off?" He questions, his antlers frame his body in the sharp lighting. They were about the length of his shoulders and always impressive.

"Yes. Somewhat. I will go now." She gives a glance to Barbas then back to Hircine before disappearing with the breeze. Hircine's fingers brush Barbas's fur.

"I'll be around, come to me if you need to get away." He then begins the long walk to his quarters. All the Princes expected a lavish arrangement for their forced stay, and Sheogorath came to their aid in spades. Each Prince gets their own grounds with their own mansions and smaller houses for whatever followers they wanted here. Clavicus didn't have many, so it was just him and Barbas.

Barbas chuckles at that as he gets through the first part of the bone, the marrow was mouthwatering. "Barbas! Barbas where are you?" Clavicus rushes out of the hall. He wasn't an impressive looking Prince, he was no Molag Bal or even Nocturnal in his presence, but he was approachable. That is until someone hears his lamenting voice.

Clavicus was decked out in the most elaborate robes of deep purple and gold. His lean muscular build filled it out and peeked over the edge of the cloth. His beautiful face was framed in newly groomed, windswept white hair. Little horns, like what you'd see on a goat peeked out the top of it. Clavicus Vile was always one to take up an offer of luxury and he was eating up everything Sheogorath threw him.

"Barbas! There you are! Looked everywhere for you, what were you doing? Ah, Hircine got you that!? Disgusting. I could've ordered you a fricken bone of gold if you just asked!" See? Annoying. But Barbas just cozied up to him. Clavicus scratched at just the right spot, right behind the left ear.

"C'mon pup, sounds like that friend you had back in Skyrim is causing something worse than the Oblivion crisis! Should've told her to cool it down. I knew something was wrong when we caught her in Solitude." He begins to walk. Barbas expects them to go straight to the opulent mansion for Clavicus to relax in the large outdoor hot tub. It had a great view of the valley below and room service at the snap of your fingers.

"Ah, things like these, they always get to everyone! Stir the pot and scare them into mortality!" He sneers. The white bricks were leading them north, out of the forested area. Barbas kept pace with Clavicus, that is until Clavicus made an immediate right turn. Barbas nearly drops his bone with the speed Clavicus is gaining.

They go up a hill, a very green and bare hill. Then, Clavicus plops on the ground. He gives Barbas a dirty look when he questions him.

What's this?

"Oh, come now Barbas! Can't we just relax and…I don't know, enjoy the stars and the great outdoors for a bit? Then we can go feast and enjoy some down time. Gods know how everyone's going to be at each other's throats tomorrow."

Something had certainly shaken Clavicus Vile. That was the only explanation Barbas had for the Daedric Prince of Deals wanting to suddenly enjoy a little nature. Usually, he was too fed up with it after being in that cave for so long. So, Barbas plops down next to him and begins to gnaw on his bone once again. Clavicus rubs his head. "We'll be alright, pup, we always know how to get out of a pickle, you and I."

Barbas agrees. Even though they had that little argument back in Skyrim, he still loves his master. He leans against Clavicus for more rubs when the stars come out. Here, they were the brightest he's ever seen. Nebulas were even visible on the clearest of nights.

Nocturnal left.

"I know, I know, I tried to tell her to stay."

Should we?

Clavicus nearly chokes on his own breath. "And what?! Go looking for that delusional woman and beg her to get that ring off? No! If Molag Bal couldn't then there's no way we could."

You sure?

"Relentless dog! Ugh! Let us enjoy a few days here then…ah, we'll go back to Skyrim and see what we can do. Happy?"

Barbas barks, a happy sound. Deal, master.

A/N: Thank you all so much for reading and embarking on this journey with Eve! The final five chapters for this story will be posted tomorrow night. I have decided not to split them up since I feel that they are best read together as one. I'm very excited for them! It's been something I've been building up to for a long time. It's been hard keeping the secrets at bay but now they'll finally be out there. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!