Cearbhail: I stayed up all shabla night to get this done. I had to otherwise I might forget what I wanted to do for this chapter. Now...the truth comes out. No more hiding it and ...come on... we all should have known this happened. I made it so obvious. If it stll isn't, I'll explain at the bottom.

But I will ask this: I am now taking a neutral position on the Nexa/Vatu love thing. So...i will ask you all this. Who would you rather see Vatu end up with? the sweet loving Primrose, or the kind-of tsundere Nexa?

[Nexa]

"Nexa…there is something that you should know."

I flashed with the grace of a princess assassin past the bloody remains of the Aedra that had the idiocy to stand in front of Vatu. I wanted to be careful, but I didn't have time for anything else. I had to reach Vatu and stop him before he died fighting the Aedra. I wasn't sure if his wounds were already fatal. Once a Khajiit goes blood-crazy, you can't kill them until they snap out of it. Any death they come across while in blood-rage mode is often shrugged off and ignored until they snap out of their rage. Then they die…very quickly. Don't ask me why they don't die…they're just stubborn cats.

I looked ahead of the line of bodies to see a bloodied Vatu batting aside several Aedra that were swarming above him, blasting him with all the grace of desperate blind archers. They were missing him horribly, but I could see patches of his fur already soaking with his own blood. I don't know if he could last much longer. I had to get to him before something crazy happened to him.

"You know that the future changed once we got to this battlefield, right?" Lilly told me as she pulled me away from the others. Her usual nonchalant smile was replaced with a worried frown. I didn't like it. When I nodded to her, remembering what she told us only a few seconds ago, she sighed. "I knew how this story ended before it changed. Vatu fell in love with you… but…things have changed. This battle may have changed that as well."

I swallowed hard as I came flying up to Vatu's back. I had a tranquilized dagger ready for him. All I had to do was hit him in the arm or a leg and it would all be over. I had all my throwing knives spiked. I was sure that I could hit him with at least one. I am one of the best trained assassins Argonia has to offer…ok, best trained non-Shadowmaster class assassin. That still made me very formidable against a blood-rager…ok, maybe not. After all a blood-rager killed my Grandfather and…my Mother. Two raids that no one ever spoke of. It was the reason my father hated Khajiits so much. Well, I don't think Father knew about a blood-rager killing Mother…I saw it happen. I was only seven at the time. But, my father was present for the assassination of his father. I guess history only repeated itself. The only difference is that I don't hold a grudge against Khajiits. Well…I did until I met Vatu. I almost killed him just because he reminded me of the Khajiit. I didn't kill him because I thought he was cute too.

I flew up to Vatu's back, bringing my sword up. As my tip came flying at his back, Vatu snapped around at the last second, knocking my tip away from him with his claw. He hissed at me, his eyes red as ever. His expression was of pure hatred, pure malice. And he had it directed at me. He slashed at my neck and I threw my arm up to block his shot. His claw raked off my armored arm-plate, leaving nothing more than a large scratch mark on my paint job. That blow reverberated through my arm, though. I think I felt something pop inside my shoulder. That didn't stop me from trying that again.

Vatu lashed out at me again before I could retaliate with my sword. I brought my sword up to block him with my blade. Heck…if I could cut him with it, it would end all this fighting. My sword caught his open claw. I pushed the blade into him, but I guess Vatu knew how to use his magic while in blood-rager mode. His entire palm was covered with a shield magic that actually kept swords and points from breaking his skin. Crap! If I couldn't break his skin…how was I going to drug him?

…

[Vatu]

I could not believe I had actually pulled it off. I was following in my Father's footsteps. I had successfully infiltrated Lilmoth. It was not easy getting here, though. I had to actually use my Sen'la'gar a lot to make it this far. I had to be quiet and I had to be fast. The Queen had to be somewhere around. If I just kept to the shadows, I think I could find her and kill her. I had to. If I didn't…I don't even want to think what will happen to my son.

I silently opened one of the royal-looking doors and quietly shuffled myself inside. I closed it quickly but silently behind me. My Invisibility spell would be wearing off any second now. I had to do a lot to avoid the detection of the rather imposing royal guards of this massive palace. I didn't know their names, but their strange armor and deadly demeanor did not bode well for my sneak-and-kill tactics. No Sengar could survive a fatal attack once given. And I had a son and a baby girl to go home to. I…I had to do this. It was for them. I had to kill the Queen of Black Marsh so that they could grow up without fear of being killed one day for being what they were born to be.

It was my Father's fault. During a time of war, my Father assassinated the Warlord of Black Marsh, in hopes of driving the invading forces of Argonians out of Elsweyr. What my Father failed to do was kill the Warlord's son. That son is now a man…and he hates us with a passion. But he's not the real voice of Black Marsh. He wasn't invading Elsweyr, he wasn't openly hunting my people, my clan. But the Queen was. She wanted my head as much as my son's…my daughter's. The Queen wouldn't care if they were just children. We're all the same to her. I just know it.

I grasped the Amulet of Akatosh. It hung around my neck as it always did. It made me think of the Temple of Akatosh. I was the caretaker of the Temple of One in the Imperial City. I maintained all the gardens; I made sure the temple was clean. I did a lot of stuff to keep it so. I was also a healer. I offered my healing services to anyone that needed it. I sometimes asked to be charged…but that was only when I had no funds and no food for my children at home. My wife stays home to take care of our children. One of us has to. Until they are older and can watch themselves at least. But that's still a while away. My son is only seven, our daughter almost four. I wager another three years before Vatu can watch our Nisha. Until then, my lovely Abhuki had to stay at home and watch over them. She had to give up her job of working at the Faregyl Inn. I know she regretted having to give up her job, but I know she loves being around the children all day.

Standing in the room, rubbing my amulet, I found myself remembering how I came across my religion. I was a Sengar by birth, I was a soldier during the war. I was younger than I was now, but I was still a fighter. My Father, J'mvar, was one of the last Sengar Elsweyr had during our turf war with the Argonians. It was because of this that my Father was given the most sensitive mission to go to Black Marsh and kill the Warlord. Meanwhile, I was fighting on the frontlines as a healer and a Sengar as well. I couldn't control my gift, being a young warrior, so I wasn't allowed to unleash it unless circumstances were dire. My younger brother J'skar had no such problems with his gift. He was only twelve, I was nineteen, but he fought like a demon once he got riled up.

My father had to leave for his assignment, leaving us to defend against the waves of Towers and Shadows that marched into our Pridelands. We defended ourselves, pushing the Argonians. They took potshots at us, trying to drive our Sengar out of hiding. They were here for us to start with. Once they killed our Sengar, they were planning on charging in. We didn't give them the satisfaction of invading though. We pushed them back without revealing our Sengar to them. My Father did his job and soon, the Argonians left our lands, going back to their own to grieve for their dead Warlord. My Father didn't make it back from the war, however. The Warlord's son walked in on him killing the Warlord. The son killed him. I hear he lost one of his talons doing it, however. I hoped to find him here, the son of the Warlord. I would kill him, just as he killed my Father. He and I had that in common, both our fathers were dead. Only my father's killer was still alive.

It was my Father's death that drove me from Elsweyr. I wanted a new life, one without war. So, I moved to the Imperial City only days after the war officially ended. I found myself staying at the Faregyl Inn and I met the owner. She was a lovely woman by the name Abhuki. We had a wonderful night together but I was still going to the Imperial City, so I said my goodbyes to her. I found myself in the Imperial City, taking a job as a gardener. Once I used my healing powers to heal a contestant in the Arena, I was offered a position as a healer in the Temple of the One. I was unsure about it, not having much faith in the gods after what happened to my father. I asked for a sign.

A day later, while I was pulling weeds out of the garden, I heard the light purr that still haunted my dreams. I turned my head around to see Abhuki. It had been about four months since I'd last seen her. She patted her stomach and walked up to me. I could see that it was bulging out a little. I knew a pregnant woman when I saw one. I wondered who the father was. My mind started whirring. Was it me? Doubtful, I may have slept with her but I don't remember doing much to her. "Abhuki…what brings you to the Imperial City?"

She smiled and hugged me. "You're a father."

…

That was the day I found my faith again. I had asked for a sign and I had received one. She moved in with me, we got married after Vatu was born, and we started living a normal life. I continued to heal people and she started staying around the house, keeping Vatu out of trouble. A couple of years later, she got pregnant again with Nisha, and I had to get another job to make sure we had enough gold to live comfortably with two children. I started working as a healer for the Arena, as well as the chapel. While healings at the chapel were free, I received pay for healings in the Arena. I made a lot doing it too. Abhuki did what she could by learning Alchemy. Nisha was always around her, so I assumed she'd eventually pick it up as well.

My attention was pulled off my amulet as the door started squeaking. I tried my best to hide myself in my spell of Invisibility, but the Argonian saw me before I could disappear. At first she didn't look like she was going to react, but then she started opening her mouth to scream for help. I…I had to do something. I charged up to her and clamped her mouth shut. I pulled her away from the door, kicking it shut behind us. I pulled her into an arm lock and began shushing her. "Stay quiet! I don't want to hurt you. Are you the Queen?"

The woman looked up at me like I was crazy. She shook her head. I sighed inwardly. What was I going to do? I couldn't just let her go now that she'd seen me. I could knock her out, but how long would she stay out for? I couldn't know that for certain.

"If I take my claw away from your mouth, will you not scream?" I asked.

She looked puzzled again, but nodded. So I removed my claw. "Ok, this is a simple question. Where is the Queen?"

She almost laughed at me before shaking her head. "Looking for my Mother-in-Law? What business do you have with her?"

I paused before I answered her. "The Queen is your Mother-in-Law? So…your husband is the Warlord?" When she nodded, a thought started running through my mind. The Warlord was my personal enemy. And this was his wife. I could take him from her…and vice versa. But…I'm not a cold-hearted killer. I had to shake my head. No, I was here to make sure my children had a bright future ahead of them. If I just went out and killed the Warlord's wife…I would only make things worse for us down the road.

She finally looked at me and almost rolled her eyes. "Hey…you…uninvited guest." She called to me, her voice a little deadpanned and sarcastic. "Can you please release me now? I promise I won't run and scream like a fan girl."

I shook my head. "I'm sorry, but I can't let you just leave." What was I saying? I couldn't let her know anything. I had to do something before this developed any further. "I have to knock you out." Yeah, I guess it was ok to tell her so that she could prepare for the aftermath. "When you wake up…I won't be here anymore. So…do bother looking for me."

She only rolled her eyes before saying, "Well, can you hurry it up? I have this thing in a couple minutes and…if you're here…it might scar her for life."

"What thing?" I asked.

She rolled her eyes and groaned in annoyance. "This is my daughter's room. It's her bedtime and…I always give her a bedtime story before she goes to bed." I looked around the room. It was a big room with a nice big bed. Huh…I wonder why I never noticed this before. The wife of the Warlord arched her invisible eyebrows at me, saying, "Say…you're not a pervert coming to steal my child away from me…are you?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm here to kill the Queen."

The Argonian in my arms scoffed before shaking her head. "Why?"

I looked at her and waited until she could look me in the eye. "Because I too have children. And we're from a line of Sengar, red-eyed Khajiits. And the Queen is hunting us down. If I want my children to live in peace…the Queen has to die."

The Argonian shook her head. "That won't change a thing. You'll only make matters worse. My husband already hates Khajiits and…if he knew that you were here…and planned on killing his Mother…he'd have all your heads by the end of the night."

"Which is why you won't tell him about me. Otherwise, more of us would have to come back and kill the Warlord like we did eight years ago." I replied to her. "I need to do this…for my children. This is the only way I can guarantee their safety."

She finally nodded. "Do what you must. Knock me out beforehand, though. If not…I'm afraid I might have to get in your way and stop you."

I started to apply a chokehold to her but I heard the door opening again. In walked an Argonian dressed as a maid. "Here we are, Princess Neria. The young mistress's bedtime glass of milk…" She paused as she looked at me. Her eyes went wide before screaming, "Marshals! Marshals to Lady Nexa's room!"

"Beautrishu!" Neria screamed out the door. "No! You…don't understand." She said in defeat as the maid charged out of the room. She looked over to me and shrugged. "Are you sure you're an assassin? You seem to suck at this job."

I growled to her but pulled my eyes away. "I'm not as sure as I was when I walked in here. Maybe I should just go before this gets way out of hand?"

She nodded. "That sounds like a good idea. Do you know how to leave?"

I pulled out my scroll. "I have one Teleportation scroll. It's the way my Father planned on leaving before he was killed after killing the Warlord."

That's when the door exploded in. Two armed and armored Argonians wearing dark blue armor charged into the room, bringing crossbows up to me. "Release the Princess now!" One of them screamed.

I gladly released her from my grip and I stepped away from her. Princess Neria started rubbing at her throat gently while smiling at me. "Now, now. No need for this to come to bloodshed." She said as she started walking towards me.

That's when I felt a sharp pain in my chest. I staggered back as something thumped into me. Then something else thumped in me. I had been hit by two crossbow bolts. I looked down at my chest to see that there was blood gushing out. I reached down and rubbed at my wound. I pulled my hand away to see that my hand was covered in crimson blood. Blood? My blood? I looked up at the guards, seeing them already pulling back the crank for a second volley. They fired at me after I had given up? That was dishonorable! Shabla Argonian slime!

The desire to stay alive seemed to do something to me. I had never officially transformed, never used my Sen'la'gar. But it was coming on fast and I could barely control it. But I fought it as best I could. I fell to my knees as I started fumbling with the Teleportation scroll. I could see to healing my wounds after I left. But I couldn't do it here. I would die before I could finish. I looked up at the guards already lining up another shot. I had to leave while I still could.

My mind started becoming unfocused as I started pulling the scroll out. I had to focus enough that I could teleport away. The fact that I was bleeding badly and was in a lot of pain didn't help the focusing part. Luckily, I had to only read the scroll. But I could barely read. I felt another bolt slam me in the shoulder and I felt my back crash into the floor. That's when the change happened. My vision turned red and I felt the invincible powers of the Sen'la'gar take effect. I was up on my feet and charging into the guards. The other guard was aiming frantically at me, screaming in horror as he pulled the trigger at me as I flew up to his face. I pulled my stomach away in enough time to evade the bolt. I ran my claw across his throat, tearing it open. He crumpled underneath me. The other guard had enough sense to turn tail, grab his dying buddy, and run out of the room.

I had no more reason to pursue them, so I turned back to get my scroll. When I turned around, I saw Neria lying on the ground, her hand digging at her throat. I felt worried for her so I ran up to her as fast as I could. I bent down to look at what she was digging out. When I pulled her hand away, I could see the crossbow bolt sticking in her neck. It went the entire way through. I...I couldn't fix it. I bent down and placed my claw on her neck. I was still running on Sen'la'gar juice. Maybe with enough Restoration magic running on invincible Restoration powers…perhaps I could save her.

I pushed the magic into her neck. I sat there for a second, trying to heal her. I shook my head. I already knew the truth…she wasn't going to make it. Healers are miracle workers. We can only do so much. This wound was too deep, and it hit the vein that leads to the brain. With as much blood that was gushing out…blood that I couldn't clot because of how fast it was flowing…she wouldn't last much longer. While I tried to heal her, I took her other hand in mine. "I'm sorry." I said to her.

She glanced up at me, her eyes pleading. They were becoming lifeless. She tried to gargle something to me but I couldn't catch what she was saying. I saw a tear leak down her eye before her eyes unfocused and her hand became limp. That was it…she was dead. There was nothing more I could do.

"Mommy?" I heard a scratchy high-pitched call from the doorway. I turned my head to see the tiny child…Nexa if I guess correctly. She looked cute, holding onto her stuffed dragon. "What did you do to my Mommy?" The tiny girl screamed to me.

I…I couldn't handle this. I reached down for my Teleportation scroll and activated it. I was gone before she could even shed a tear. I popped up outside my house a second later. The stars were out and as bright as ever but…it felt like the coldest darkest night ever. I had just robbed a child of their parent. I broke down outside my house, trying my best to keep my sobbing to myself. I didn't want to wake my children…who were spared a life without a missing parent. And yet…I just took the life of an innocent woman because I wanted revenge and security for my own children. And…I didn't even secure it. I only caused the death of a wonderful person.

I looked up at the sky, my eyes crying rivers. "FORGIVE ME!" I screamed to the heavens. "Oh Gods…forgive me!"

…

[Nexa]

I blocked another slash from Vatu's claw and I jumped back as he attempted to rake my stomach. He had registered me as an enemy and I had to fight him as best I could while not being fatal to him. I remembered when I first met Vatu…I hated him when I found out he was a blood-rager. He reminded me so much of the Khajiit that killed my Mother that I wanted to kill him as well. But that changed when I started actually liking him.

I jumped away from Vatu, bringing my throwing knives up. I launched two forward. Vatu dodged them with little problem and stuck his palm out. It was glowing with raw fire magicka. What? He was using Destruction now? Oh crap! I had to move!

I flashed as fast as I could before the ground behind me turned to a giant wall of fire. I kept running as more streaks of fire and electricity popped up all around me. Vatu ran alongside me, his eyes as blood-red as possible. He blasted me with every magic he had. I deflected with the knowledge of the magic I had. I had to get close. So I pushed forward, flashing right up to him. Ha! I bet he didn't expect a direct assault. What were you going to do now, Vatu?

He hissed out a war cry. A sudden wall of sheer force caught me mid-flight and began shoving me back. Vatu jumped into the air, tackling me. He started clawing me while we flew through the air. I felt his razor-sharp claws travel though my rubber underarmor as he started raking me. When we hit the ground, he stuck his claws out and started lashing out at me. I could barely move as his claws raked every single possible spot of my body. I watched as my armored plates were batted off my body, my underarmor exposed…only to be ripped open. My poor body was going to be ripped to shreds.

"Vatu…" I said, reaching out to catch his claws. "Stop it! You're going to kill me!" I screamed to him. He didn't respond; he only kept attacking me. So, I did what any sane teenage Argonian assassin would do when she was being slashed to death by a homicidal crazy Khajiit. I leaned up and kissed him. That stopped him. He paused for a second, lost in the act of me kissing him. What he didn't know was that I kept some of the tranquilizer in my mouth in a bo-shuriken. When I locked lips with him, I pushed the needle strapped to my tongue in his mouth and poked him several times in various stops around his mouth.

He started to fidget, but I held him close to me as he started falling asleep. When he finally passed out, he fell into my arms, his eyes now amber again. "Nexa?" He asked. "Sorry about your Mom…" Then he was out. And…leaving me with so many questions. Damn you, Vatu.

Cearbhail: The Sen'la'gar is a genetic trait. And all the Sengar are all but extinct. So...was it coincidence that a Sengar killed the old Warlord, or that killed Nexa's Mother? Nope, all were Vatu's ansestors. Poor J'Mhad...(Vatu's Father)... he was so torn apart by causing Nexa's Mother's death. I know, I know.. he didn't actually cause it but... if he never showed up or tried to take her hostage...she wouldn't have been killed by a scared Black Marshal.