Cearbhail: This chapter is great. I tried to write it like I write my serious book, with more depth, kinda. Well, we'll see if you guys enjoy it. Hope you all enjoy your holidays and ... good luck for the whole 12 21 2012 thing. I personally believe that anything is possible so I will be on guard. And knowing how people work, someone somewhere will do something to someone at sometime because of the belief that this day will end the world..and it will for someone.

Oh, and prayers to all the deceased of that tragic day at the school. May you find everlasting peace now.

[Nexa]

My life had returned to a silent routine. In the week that I returned to training, I had quickly fallen back to my old patterns. I would wake up in my bed, rub my eyes, brush my fangs, get dressed in my morning training attire, and meet Shadowmaster Julanza outside for a few laps around the underwater city. Swimming laps are easy enough but they helped me build my muscle back up quickly enough. After the morning laps were finished, I was tested in combat skills: evasion, reaction time, combat solutions, and of course…fighting. When that was finished, I was allowed to be released to fill my body with food. The servants were more than happy to give me the most fattening and nutritious food we had. Within the eight or so days that I had been back in training, I already had most of my body repaired. I still woke up with cold sweats, thinking that I was back in my cage. I could still feel the electric shocks if I dozed off for too long. It was all in my mind; I had to keep reminding myself. All in my mind.

After my morning breakfast, I was released to my room for an hour to conduct personal hygiene. When that was over, the servants escorted me to Shadowmaster Yuvenni. She helped me catch up on my magical studies. Sometimes I had to be pulled from the studies to join my father in the war room. Some cases, it was merely because he wanted to show me off to his allies that he was collecting. The Khajiit Representative showed up a few days ago and was now getting settled. I was forced in that dress again and I had to present myself to him in a typical Argonian royalty manner. He seemed very cautious of me but accepted my invitation to show him around the underwater city of Lilmoth. It was my job as the Warlord's daughter to entertain our guests while their quarters were ready for them. The Representative arrived three days early. Our Thalmor, Fiirnar, did not tell us about his planned arrival. He just popped up.

But other than that, my days have been more or less the same. After my usual classes with Shadowmaster Yuvenni, I spent time in my room again, just relaxing. I didn't have much a life here now so I didn't know what to do. Once or twice my father would invite me to join him and the Queen for family time. It wasn't optional, at least, I think it wasn't. I attended and they spent time discussing with me what was happening in the world, what they had learned, how to use it to my advantage later. There was little emotion shared between us. I had more emotional moments with Julanza in the past few days than I've had with my father in my whole life. The majority of my emotional moments with my father were over mother's passing. I was seven when she died. Father offered me this when we were at her funeral: "Stop crying, we're in public." You can see why we don't get along anymore.

After family time was spent, I was released for dinner, and then I usually went to bed. Of course, anytime I wanted to leave my room I could. I wasn't a prisoner in my room, even though I felt like it sometimes. I tried to hang out with other shadowblades, but they all scowl whenever I'm around and do the whole high school gossip thing while I have my back turned. They know I can hear them but there is really nothing I can do about it. They all talk about how I betrayed the country for a Khajiit that I fell in love with. They're right, of course, but it still sucks to hear about it a month later. So, I'm still avoided like the plague and as far as the older shadowscales are concerned, I don't belong back in my training robes.

Today was normal. I woke up, did my training exercises with Julanza. He kicked my ass so hard that I almost couldn't walk back to my room. It was pretty bad. I actually fell in the hallway when my knee buckled from the repetitive kicks I received earlier in the day. I was certain that there was going to be some nasty bruising later. Beautrishu found me leaning against the wall, trying to push myself back up. She helped walk me back to my room and told me that she was going to send food with an extra dosage of healing herbs and hist to drink. I thanked her for helping me. She was always nice to me, even after I was found guilty for treason.

After breakfast, I was called to my magical studies. Today was mostly about weakness scanning and soul trapping. Tomorrow was supposed to be banishing Daedra. It wasn't much, I know, but I've already covered all the basics of using my magicka to fight again. Restoration training reminded me too much of how I met Vatu back in our Restoration class. Imagine, I might not have even known Vatu if I hadn't tried testing out of the class. He stayed after class just to make sure I would have been ok leaving the classroom. I got in a bit of an argument with the teacher and I was purposely staying behind to assess whether or not I had to kill her. She didn't take my bait with Vatu near me. But it did get us introduced and for that…I am thankful.

My magical studies were going just fine, until Shadowmaster Julanza walked into the library. I took my eyes off the book to glance at him. Yuvenni barely acknowledged him but waved him in. "Julanza, do you require something?" She asked in her usual bland voice. I knew she was one of the 'husks' from the Shadow Magic Institute. She made it to the rank of shadowmaster by being utterly ruthless and emotionless in her tasks and judgments.

Shadowmaster Julanza nodded to her and turned his look to me. "Princess Nexauvia needs to make herself presentable and report to the war room…immediately." He said. He motioned me to follow him.

I stood and bowed to Shadowmaster Yuvenni. "Thank you for today's studies, ma'am."

She didn't even blink. "Do not forget to practice combining a draining energy spell with a paralyzing shock spell with the use of one finger jab. I will have you present it on me first thing tomorrow. Understood?"

I nodded back and bowed away. Homework, she was the only one that ever gave me homework. But it would be fulfilling if I ever needed to paralyze, injure, and drain energy from my target at the same time. Not to mention, it would help refill my own energy in the process. I could see hundreds of scenarios when I would need such a spell. I bet she wants me to learn how to use this spell because it may have saved her own life more than once. It is a common saying among our people "The only techniques that are worth teaching are taught by the survivors." It may be as simple as sticking a sword in someone's throat as opposed to come complicated form that does nothing to help you fight. You only need to learn what will keep you alive, that simple. And it's usually the simple moves that work so well. The basics are called basics for a reason; they are the techniques that will always work.

I joined Shadowmaster Julanza out in the hallway and he started taking me away. As we started walking, he took a glance over his shoulder and started evaluating me with his eyes. He finally sighed and said, "Princess, we'll stop by your room so that you may dress in more…appropriate attire. We have new guests and your father wants you to introduce them to our little family. I seriously doubt your father will appreciate you showing up in your training robes."

I glanced down at my training robes. They were two separate robes. The top layer were loose dark purple cloths that were meant more for keeping my figure obscured so that if I trained around some teenage boys…it didn't distract them too much. The under-layer was our typical black rubbersilk, skin-tight and, even if it did cover every inch, it was very revealing. Looking down at my robes, I had not noticed just how burnt, torn, and sweat-stained they really were. Yeah, I needed to change before I introduced myself to new guests. Better get my dress.

I continued to follow behind Julanza, who was dressed in his Shadowmaster armor. I don't think I've ever seen him without his armor. I knew he was my uncle but I've never really seen him socialize with my father or the Queen. I wonder if he didn't get along with them. I got along with Julanza just fine, so maybe he was just like me then. Someday I hope to find out what happened to him. But it really wasn't my business. He was my trainer at the moment and that meant keeping my mind on the training.

Julanza stopped by my door, standing beside it, looking at me from behind his covered face. "Try to be quick, Princess. We must not make our guests wait too long."

I nodded, pushing into my room. I closed the door behind me and glanced around. My room was as clean as it always was. My desk was cleared of everything, my bed perfectly made. I made sure my door was locked before I started pulling off my training robes. Since they were more or less ruined, I tossed the clothes into my hamper. I quickly ran myself through a small shower and toweled off. As soon as I was dry, I went to my dresser and ran through my various amounts of Argonian royalty clothing. I did not want to wear any purple dresses today, but it seems that everything in my dresser was purple. So, I decided on a dark purple loose top with a long black skirt. I finished it up with long purple gloves that reached up past my elbows. It was amazing that I could ever get these things on with all the spikes I have on my arms. But…they were designed for it. They just strapped on instead of pulled over. Quicker to get off too, if I needed to.

I paused by my door, wondering what Vatu was up to. My training was going great, I was healthy again, my body back up to its almost physical perfection (at least I wasn't showing my bones anymore). It was because I was becoming so healthy that I wondered what happened to him. It was only a matter of time before I saw him again. I wonder what our heart-felt welcome would be like. Knowing him and me, it will be brief, not very emotional but with all the weight of the world behind it. Well, I hope it is at least.

Twisting the doorknob, I met Julanza outside. He took a glance at me before nodding in acceptance. "You've really changed since you left Argonia, Princess."

I nodded to him. "Yes, I learned a lot about myself at the Arcane University." Actually, I was forced to learn a lot about what I was supposed to kill and what I wasn't capable of doing, like killing a friend. I thought to myself.

Julanza didn't respond to me, leaving me to my thoughts. We silently strode down the hallway, my steps nearly matching his. Julanza only stood a foot taller than me but with how he held himself, he stood towers above me. I could only hope that I project myself as tall someday. If I was to rule this country, I would need to.

We finally made it to the war room and Julanza opened the door for me. He ushered me inside saying, "Remember to smile and make friends."

I smiled at him as fake as I could and whispered, "Like this?"

He only scoffed before shoving me inside. "Behave, niece."

Julanza closed the door behind us and he took his usual spot in the corner of the room. Shadowmasters were the silent and imposing guardians of the Queen so I guess he was just here to remind everyone that the Queen had protection at all times.

As my eyes drifted over to the group of humans standing near the shadow portal, my father walked over to me, his huge boots quietly thundering over the floor. "Everyone, this is my daughter.." He paused by my side, throwing his arm over my shoulder, pulling me closer. "Princess Nexauvia, Shadowscale, and leader of my special task force."

The shorter balding man wearing what appeared to be Blades armor bowed as he stepped forward. "It is an honor to meet you, Princess but…" He turned back to look at my father. "we still have more to discuss with you, sir."

The equally short…Breton, I think she was, walked up. She glanced up at me and I found myself lost in her facial features. That sharpness to her looks, the hair…everything seemed familiar. It was only a few seconds before, "Arch-Mage?!" burst out of my mouth.

She paused, glancing at me equally. "I remember you, you were at the University. I heard from Jurard that you helped them escape the disaster that occurred there."

I nodded, quickly saying, "Yes, I did. I accidentally sent them here, where they were imprisoned. They escaped."

The woman nodded. "Yes, I remember Jurard talking about that. She is sorry for blasting you, by the way. She knew you were only doing as ordered."

That left father dead in his tracks. He glanced at the Arch-Mage and said, "What?"

The Arch-Mage glanced at father and smiled. "Jurard told me that your daughter attacked her. She had no choice but to knock her out. She felt sorry for it because your daughter saved their lives. But…orders are orders, I guess." She looked down at a wrapped bundle in her hands and I heard some light cooing from the blankets.

My father noticed the wrapped bundles as well and looked over to one of the servants waiting by the door. "Weirhavenam, go fetch some human baby formula."

She bowed by the door and exited. "Right away, Warlord."

"Warlord, may we get back to what we were discussing?" The short bald Blade said. I believed he may have been Jauffre, but never meeting the man myself, I could have not been able to say for certain.

My father sighed and stepped away from me. "Of course, Grandmaster." He stepped up to the giant glowing orb of the world and said, "As I've been saying, the Aldmeri Dominion has supplied us with this map of the world. It shows us everything we need to know: enemy location, enemy numbers, even power level of each soldier. Just imagine how much this will evolve the battlefield."

Arch-Mage walked up to the map, running her free hand over it. "It's glorious, Warlord. Is that how you knew we were in trouble?"

He nodded. "Yes, I responded as soon as I noticed that you were being attacked. I was busy researching an incident in Bruma, an incident that involved necromancers. I was so busy researching into that bloodbath that I did not notice more than half of your temple had burnt to the ground."

Jauffre crossed his arms. "I'm just happy you arrived at all. It would have been too easy to leave us behind and let us die."

I was still standing in my spot, watching my father respond to everyone. I could tell by the way he grabbed onto his hands behind his back that he was lying to them. He called it diplomacy but he only put his hands behind his back when he was trying to keep himself calm. It allowed him to look peaceful and open, while he contemplated what lie he was going to use next. Knowing him, he was watching them die and then jumped in at the last second to 'save' them.

My father hunched his shoulders and sighed. "This world is going to Oblivion. You are the leaders of your respective organizations. If we are to survive this war…we need leadership, all united, and coordinated on the enemy." He gestured to the spying world and said, "And with this globe of the world…we will know exactly where our enemy will be. With magic, we can call our forces, we can plan in advance, evacuate in advance, and coordinate joint efforts in ambushes. That can buy us time, a lot of time. But we really need…is a solution."

The huge Nord that I knew as Hans the Hardy, Battlemage Commander, stepped forward. His normally golden steel armor was glistened bright blue and human blood. "I have a solution. In Elsweyr, there is an old ruin with a device that will actually trap the Aedra. If we can find it, it will get rid of every single Aedra on our planet, for good."

I looked over to my father. He glanced around the map before looking back at Fiirnar. "Fiirnar? You've been in Elsweyr before. Is there such a device?"

Fiirnar shrugged. "We would have to ask our new Khajiit friend. He would know of such a device, or legend, more like."

Father looked back to our new visitors and said, "We shall discuss this after dinner tonight. For now," He gestured over to me. I already knew what was going to be said, so I began stepping up beside my father, letting him put his arm around me again. "my daughter will show you to your rooms." He glanced over to me. "Dearest daughter, west wing, guest bedrooms."

I bowed to him and looked over to our guests. Time for me to do my duty. "Follow me and I'll show you around the town if you want. But I suggest we hurry, dinner if in a few hours."

…

[Vatu]

The first thing I noticed was there was still a fluffy ball of warmth wrapped in my arms. The surrounding air was cool and the constant breeze was welcome. The smell of sewage was not, however. I didn't really care for the stench, but if it kept Aedra away from us, it was tolerable. There was something off, I just knew it. I opened my eyes and glared around. Everything was blue, so…it was so dark that my night vision had kicked in. Everyone was turned in, curled up in their mats. I could see that Davilia and Primrose had returned from this mission. I wonder how it went.

The sudden realization that I had to piss overwhelmed me. So, that's why I woke up. I hadn't gone piss in a while. I glanced down at the sleeping ball of Nisha and gently started pushing her away. Her arm snaked out and wrapped around me. She mumbled in her sleep and nuzzled her head in my chest. I sighed/groaned as I really started moving her. She moaned but she didn't wake up as I pulled her off of me. She was still young enough that she wouldn't wake up from me moving around. I placed her inside my sleeping bag and quietly made my way away from the others. I didn't want them waking up to me pissing in the sewage water. I mean sure…it's already what it is but…they didn't need confirming what's in this water, or to see me adding to it.

I quietly snuck away in the dark, happily able to see everything with my night vision. I paused a few tunnels away and let myself pee in the quiet. For the minute I was there, my ears were very active. I guess trying to evacuate my bladder makes one very…paranoid and hyper sensitive to noise. I could hear the quiet snoring from further down the tunnel. When I pulled my pants back up, I decided to journey down the tunnel. Maybe they were goblins. If I got rid of them now, I wouldn't have to worry about them finding us sooner or later.

I instantly went into stealth mode, crouching as I stepped into the tunnel, making sure to keep my feet out of the water I just pissed in. I guess it didn't bother me to step in other people's body products, but my own disgusted me. Weird, I know.

I paused further down the tunnel when I started picking up the faintest scent of fish. I could tell it was rotten. I had encountered a similar stench when I toss the head of a fish away and leave it for a day or two. That would mean that someone down here was tossing fish heads, probably. And goblins don't ditch the heads. They eat them.

I decided to follow my nose, keeping as silent as possible. The scent took me down the tunnel to my right and dead-ended at a wall. Confused as ever, I looked around for the source of the stench. What I found was a vent embedded into the ground of the sewer wall. A vent…down this far into the sewer? I have spent a lot of my youth in sewers like this one, hunting for food and stuff, and I had never noticed a vent before. Not to mention, it looked new. I lowered down and sniffed with my nose. Scents of humans, fish, Orcs, and other things filled my nose. Flicking and focusing with my ears, I could hear muffled breathing, some people coughing. It sounded like they were sleeping. This vent…wherever it led, it led to someone. I had to follow it.

While the vent was too small for me to fit down under, I had another plan. The vent more or less led down or to the other side of the wall. So, I just had to find a way to follow this vent, one way or another. I pulled out a small ball of string that I carried around when I wanted to annoy Nisha. I willed my energy to fill the ball and I willed it to unravel itself inside the vent while following it to the smell of the fish. I then filled a homing energy into the string. I would be able to feel its energy while it rolled away. Once I finished, I placed the ball of string in the vent and watched as it slowly started rolling away, while I tied the tip of the ball onto a bar.

I followed the wall for a few minutes, trying to keep up with it. It took me down some corridors, past some rivers of sewage, and surprisingly, through a gremlin camping area (all the goblins were dead, though). The energy finally took me to another dead end that was further away from our temporary camp than I would have liked. I paused a moment and studied the way. Usually the walls within the sewers were known to have secrets rooms behind them. That's why it's so hard to kill the goblins; they grow up in these tunnels and know every secret there is to know about them.

Towards the bottom of the wall, I could see a loose brick sticking out. Smelling something weird with the rock, I bent down to investigate it. The rock was real, that was for sure. I pulled it out and the wall started to shift. I backed up as the wall broke in a section and started pulling in. In that second, two armed Imperial Army guards stormed out to meet me, both armed with pikes aimed at my throat. I, like an idiot, continued to lie on the ground and pushed myself back as the guards approached me.

"What do we have here?" One asked.

"State you name and business!" Another said.

"What's going on out there?" A voice called from inside. It was a voice I'd heard before but did not expect to hear.

"Mr. Davilia's father?" I said in astonishment. That was his voice, I'd never forget it, even if I did only hear it once before.

With thundering footsteps, I heard and felt him come flying through the hole in the wall. When he came out, I could see his mohawk graying hair, his dark complexion, and his iron armor. It was Modryn Oreyn, Davilia's father, and second-in-command to the Imperial City Resistance.

Modryn glared down at me for a second with his judging eyes. He finally remembered something about me before he pushed the pikes away from my throat. "Don't worry, he's friends with my daughter. A battlemage, if I remember correctly."

I nodded. "Yes, sir. I'm a scout from the 4th Battlemage Troop. I smelled your rotten fish heads so I enchanted a string to find you."

Modryn smiled and stuck out his hand. "Well done, soldier. Come on in for some food. Then we can find the rest of your unit. Sound good?"

I was about to refuse, but my growling stomach answered for me. "Thank you, sir."

Cearbhail: Next chapter will be up soon. Maybe after this 21 stuff. That is...if we all live. If not, i'll meet you at your respective afterlives and we'll all share a shot or two of Jameson's. Seems only right.