I update fast. I know. Because I too want to know what's going to happen. I usually don't plan out my writing… it doesn't work for me. Anyways, I hope you enjoy reading and I really hope you enjoy this chapter. Thank you again for reading! Enjoy!

-+-

A heavy cup slammed down upon a great black table, grog spilling over the rim and staining into the glass itself. Broga lowered his eyes to his drink with a frustrated glare. His reflection glared back at him with a level of hatred that matched his glare. He sighed deeply and heard a hissing voice from in front of him. "Commander Broga the Great who led the armies into Kvatch and took over in merely a few minutes," his bloodshot eyes slowly rose to a great figure in the darkness. The siren's voice making chills roll down his spine. Three great slender legs came from the darkness, jagged like spikes. "All Dremora shall honor his name as a King among beggars and yet," the spider's legs clawed against the ground sending the vixen's body forward, a smirk curling across her pale lips, "you are sitting here alone… drinking your sadness away."

Broga lifted the cup to his lips with a scoff, "I need my peace to plan."

The Spider Daedra moved forward around the table. Her skinny arms crossed before her with a wondering look dazzling in her eyes, "Something is bothering you, Commander Broga." The hissing seductive woman said attentively.

Broga placed down his jug and glanced off. His lips were pursed as he thought deeper into the matter. He was a force not to be reckoned with. All Daedra cowered before him as though he were Lord Dagon himself. His hair, which was as black as jet, fell to his crimson eyes as he bowed his head. The situation that clouded his mind was that of the Elven maid and Xilivicus. She was very rebellious with him; however, when Broga was around her she seemed very tamed. The behavior of a human fascinated him. Surely, his hands were tainted by the blood of his prisoners and by the blood of his enemies. But this creature, Elizabeth, seemed so complex and surely her blood would be the sweetest of blood that would ever stain his body. "… it's nothing, now leave me be."

The Spider Daedra tossed her eyes over Broga a few times. His posture was tense and his facial expression seemed bothered down to the core. "As you wish, sir," she purred as she turned and vanished within the darkness.

Broga's jagged nails caressed the rim of his jug as his mind slipped deeper into thought. She is by far the most talented and educated human I have seen. There were scholars in her group who surpassed her by far in age and yet she exposed more knowledge then all combined. Perhaps, she has more then history to tell us about her people. Perhaps, she could expose us to far new ideas and methods that might led us into the destruction of Tamerial.

The Dremora smirked as he took yet another drink of his grog. He gave off a satisfied sigh and nodded, "… I think we might need another interrogation."

A chuckle protruded from his eerie jagged tooth smirk as his mind fell deeper into darkness as he planned.

-+-

A soft moan came from Elizabeth as she awoke and greeted the new morning. However, she couldn't even tell if it was morning for the sky looked precisely the same. She arose with a messier hairstyle than normal. She rubbed her eyes furiously and as the blurriness disappeared she saw three Daedra looking over her. Her eyes widened immensely as she conjured a voice to herself, "… excuse me…?"

The Daedra chuckled and gave each other glances. A foreign language was muttered off in between the three of them as they tossed their sinful eyes her way. Elizabeth sat up even more and backed up into the wall that her pallet was by. She swallowed down wariness and called out, "Xilivicus? Are you there?"

One Dremora with chilled ice hair crossed his brawny arms and sighed, "Poor little human, so naïve yet soiled with her race's blood that flows through her veins."

The Dremora next to him with curled red hair chuckled and elbowed him, "Being the decent servants that we are… we would be all too obliged to relieve her of the suffering caused by being a filthy human."

Elizabeth's heart began to pound heavily and she could feel bullets of sweat begin to form on her forehead and chest. The last Dremora chuckled and leaned down to give her a good glance. The Elf pulled away and glanced to the ramps where Xilivicus would be. "She's far too pale and scrawny… what good of a fight would she put up?"

"She wouldn't," purred the first Daedra, "That's the point."

The three cackled like animals and as the middle one removed a dagger from his black belt, a deep royal purple claw snatched his shoulder and ripped him backwards. Elizabeth could hardly see past the Daedra to see her guard standing fully erect and full of a blazing hatred. His tongue snapped and his voice cooed as he snarled in his native language. His swift hand snatched the dagger from his fellow Dremora and he tossed it aside.

The other two Daedra turned and encircled Xilivicus with glares. They all soon began to scream at one another shaking fists and shoving each other away. Xilivicus pointed at Elizabeth and snapped at the Daedra soon pushing past them and standing between the High Elf and the eccentric Daedra. He held his head high and held up his hands in an offering gesture. His body language was the only thing that Elizabeth could decipher: Who wants to fight first?

The Daedra whispered curses and soon left the tower keep, their tails in between their legs. Xilivicus threw his hand in the air and shouted at them as they left. Elizabeth rose to her feet and asked him, "What did you say to them to make them leave?"

He turned around and looked down at her. Her long silver hair was loose from its bondages and hung in her face as she looked up at him with those large diamond shaped questioning eyes. Xilivicus glanced over his shoulder knowing they had departed the tower. "I told them not to harm you, that it was upon Broga's orders to keep you safe and that I was your guard and was to protect you."

Elizabeth nodded softly and looked away, "Thank you; I wasn't really sure what they were going to do."

"They are cowards and only pick upon creatures smaller and weaker then they are. Do not fear, I'm here to keep you safe." He said with a comforting nod.

"Good," she sighed; relieved. She leaned down and straightened her skirts and then looked up at him, "I am in need of bathing and new clothes."

Xilivicus nodded and walked over and snatched a bag of clothing for her. "I will take you to the grand tower, then. Do not wander far off or Broga will have my head and even your head upon a silver platter."

She promised and quickly followed him as he led her out of the tower.

-+-

"Didja hear that he might be developing human feelings for tha' girl," whispered a Dremora to a fellow Kynmarcher who happened to stop by when he was walking back to his post. "That's what Xollas, Brin, and Zaraiv say. They all are Kynreeves and he bossed them around and told them never to get near that girl again or he'd slaughter them all."

"That Churl is too new to know his left horn from his right. He mighta been serving Lord Dagon in his court but now he's just a pathetic useless Churl," the Kynmarcher snarled with hateful eyes. "You better watch your tongue, too, Kynval; if Broga heard that sort of talk when you're on duty he'll turn you into a Clannfear and feast upon your innards."

"Bah, what rot," snarled the Kynval, "… well, well, if it ain't the Churl and his maiden now."

The Kynmarcher gave a fiery glare to his fellow Dremora while hissing, "Hold your tongue, you pest. If she was anyone's maiden, it would be Broga's."

The two Daedra watched as Xilivicus led Elizabeth into the main area. On their first entering, Elizabeth grabbed her mouth in amazement as she saw a cyclone of hellfire swirl up, up, up through the roof of the tower. How far did it go? She questioned herself. Xilivicus glared at his brother Daedra, he snorted and took Elizabeth by the arm and led her away. She glared at him and he whispered to her, "I can't just let you walk; I need to force you around."

Elizabeth scowled and watched as he led her through a few doors. The corridors were all long and twisting and the walls smelled of fresh blood and burning corpses. She didn't want to know of the other rooms in this tower filled with death. "Are we almost there?" whispered she.

Xilivicus looked back at her and nodded, "Yes, Elizabeth, we are."

There was something about him saying her name that made her chest burn away all the worries and doubt and instead hope replaced it. He held her close to him as they walked through these ebon corridors. A few mages gave Xilivicus dirty looks as he passed with a human girl. However, the Dremora just kept the girl tightly in his grasp making sure no harm ensued her.

As they walked past the drinking hall a voice called out to them in the Daedric language. Xilivicus froze and slowly turned his head around. Elizabeth looked up to him with a frown, "What is it?"

"Broga," he whispered.

Elizabeth quickly closed her mouth as the Daedric Prince walked out of the drinking hall. He smiled down upon them and crossed his burly arms before him. His face and body was clean of sweat and blood. His skin color was now a dark midnight blue, this was very visible for his stained shirt had been removed and his built torso was revealed. Tattoos were marked all over his body, different designs symbolizing different things. His long jet hair was not completely pulled back from his strong face and a few strands cascaded down like leaves from an autumn tree. "Maiden… I was just thinking about you. I believe that it is time we have another nice little talk. There are still many more things that I long to know."

Xilivicus stood before Elizabeth, seemingly to block the way. The Churl bowed his head and said, "If I may intrude, sir-"

"No," Broga interrupted him in mid-sentence, "you may not."

Xilivicus glared at his superior and knew that he must hold his tongue. He merely bowed his head fully and curled his firm hands into solid fists. Elizabeth could hardly look up at Broga; his mere essence was an eccentric evil that almost burned her very eyes. However, his crimson eyes were captivating and paralyzed her like she was his prey. The Superior Dremora began easily, "I believe that I have more questions for you, human girl. They do not involve much of Tamerial, however. When shall you be ready?"

Elizabeth cleared her throat and answered, "In a few minutes, I would like to freshen myself up and clear my mind of any worries or doubts first. Would that be alright, sir?"

Broga pursed his lips and sighed deeply through his flared nostrils. He pondered the thought then finally agreed. He wouldn't want to be with her if she smelled like Clannfear sweat or looked as disgusting as a Tamerial flower. "Be back soon, I won't wait long for you."

The barbarian sneered at the Churl and turned around and walked back into the drinking hall. Elizabeth's eyes rose to his back where she saw black long tribal designs tattooed upon his back. They amazed her and captured her icy blue gaze. Xilivicus took her by the arm and quickly pulled her down the hall, "Come… we must get you prepared."

Elizabeth was snapped from her spell and quickly followed her guard.

-+-

"Elizabeth," a man seated at a bar muttered. He glanced down at a roughly drawn picture. He then looked up and questioned, "You want me to… what?"

Count Jerald narrowed his wintry eyes and said, "You are the Champion of the Arena, you are the Master of the Fighter's Guild, you are Arch-Mage of the damn Arcane University as well! I need you to go to Kvatch and find my daughter!"

The Hero turned his dark woodland eyes back to his drink. His curled locks were falling into his face as he bowed his head to think. His locks were the color of the midday sunrays; bright gold. He leaned back and took the last chug of his ale. He slammed down the goblet and glanced over with a smile, "So where's this lass, anyway?"

Jerald furrowed his brow and looked away with saddened eyes, "Possibly somewhere in Kvatch. There were rumors of people inside the Chapel. I suppose that she would be one of them. Please, I beg you to save her. She's my own daughter and she's the heir to my name. I will pay you beyond your wildest dreams—gold, silver, rubies, diamonds… name the price and I shall pay it."

The Hero pushed his sun kissed hand up to his firm square jaw where he rubbed there furiously. Oblivion would be his toughest quest yet. All the training that he had accomplished at the guilds and even in the Arena had prepared him for this moment. He hadn't found a monster or problem in Cyrodiil that he hadn't conquered. The two options were weighing in his mind upon a golden scale. Before he made his decision, he turned to the bothered Count and said, "… this girl, Isabella-"

"Elizabeth," interrupted Jerald.

"Sure, whatever," the hero pressed on, "Elizabeth… she must be the eldest of your children. I have heard about your sons and I know they are reaching the middle of teenhood. How old is she?"

"She's turning twenty-one, soon." Jerald answered in almost incredulity. It felt like just yesterday she was only a little girl.

"Ah! The golden age… her last year to be wed and become the new Countess. I suppose that you have a line of suitors already waiting to be her husband, hmm?" One of his dark eyebrows perched high on his forehead.

Jerald gave him a perplexed glance, "… yes… there are many in line. Her mother and I are looking for the best to take care of her and become the new Count. Hopefully someone strong and intelligent, brave and religious… just like-"

"—like a Hero?" questioned the man who then smiled brightly with a deviant twinkle waltzing in his dark woodland eyes.

-+-

Xilivicus watched as the citadel doors pulled open a sick sliding noise soon following. He glanced over his shoulder at Elizabeth and then said, "There is a bathing area in there," he pulled out of his pocket perfumes and oils, "I found these in Kvatch… I guessed that you would have need of them, hmm?"

Elizabeth smiled and took them as he handed them to her. The brightly colored mauve bottles gleamed in the vague light given off by phenomenon fiery lights coming from within the walls. "Thank you very much," she said. "Do you have clothing that I could use?"

The Dremora nodded and replied, "I will go fetch you my black robe. I have no need for it. Please hurry, Broga is a very impatient being."

Elizabeth gave a nod of acknowledgement and she rushed into the room, the doors soon closing behind her. Xilivicus turned and quickly made his way to the living quarters. Silence walked beside him as he made his journey. His lips almost seemed sewed together. He could hear his own cold heart begin to beat within his mind like clockwork.

Tick-tock…tick-tock…tick-tock…

His eyes relaxed as this hypnotizing melody captured his attention. He could only see a blur as he walked down the darkened ramps. He saw many Daedra walk past him and give him wary glances. They all knew his name. He was not an unknown Churl here. He heard whispering from behind him as he entered the living quarters.

"Is that him? The Dagon prodigy?" whispered one Dremora.

The Kynreeve next to him whispered back, "Yeah, that's him. I heard that Lord Dagon took him from the realm of Nocturnal and turned him into a Dremora so Nocturnal could never find her beloved knight of darkness who would be used in a plot to overthrow Lord Dagon."

The Dremora leaned closer and whispered, "I heard back before history began, Lord Dagon and Dibella, the so-called Goddess of Beauty, were great enemies and in an attempt to prove who was greater, Dibella swept away one of the grand court members and changed his frightful appearance to one of beauty. This would anger Lord Dagon. Mara, the Goddess of Love, changed his heart to match a human's heart so that he would never kill and only care. Lord Dagon, in all his fury and rage, banished him from his court and placed him here to serve as a low pathetic Churl."

Xilivicus kept walking. He learned by now to ignore their words and comments. Even if their stories were dipped partially in truth.

Great spikes protruded through the ash-colored walls of the living quarters. Stain glass windows of crimson gave off an eerie light. A hanging torch was in the middle of the room. A few resting Daedra lay in slots in the walls, like burial crypts. They had no accessories to their little bed chambers. They only lay there in their trousers and when they awoke they would climb down pegs in the wall and pick up their armor and go back to their duties.

The Dremora opened a black chest and rummaged through his weapons and things to find a black robe. As he picked it up he saw a glittering object lying on the bottom of the chest. His fiery orange eyes fell down and he saw a golden necklace of rope and a flower pendant. His eyes narrowed as he thought back, long ago.

Yes, he remembered.

Mara danced around him, her golden rope fluttering in the air like a ribbon as it wrapped loosely around his neck, "The blessing of Love. A love like this rope. Even though it may take the longest time to weave the strings it will make a tough sturdy fondation for you to build anything off of," she had once said to him.

As Dibella finished molding his face she stepped back with a beautiful smile. Her fingertips rose and caressed past his royal purple skin. His face seemed almost angelic. His eyelids fluttered open and fire engulfed his irises turning them a warm pumpkin orange. Dibella pulled out the snow white flower from her robe and placed it upon his golden necklace. It soon melted onto the gold and turned to a flower pendant, "The blessing of Beauty," she purred. "This necklace shall show your destructive Lord Dagon of your new birthright. Wear it proudly, my son. The Divines shall be with you all your life and will lead you into victory over your monsters."

He closed his eyes and sighed deeply. In his lifetime he had never felt love or beauty for his birthright was a beast and a beast he had become. He had given up so many eons ago that he had almost forgotten the trinket given to him by the Goddesses. He leaned down and scooped it into his palm. He watched the glittering of the gold and realized that this memento only brought up painful and sad memories. He scoffed and before he could place it back into his chest he heard someone calling for him.

"Hey, Churl," snarled a Kynreeve, "why don't you get back to your little princess? I bet she's waiting for you to return to her like the filthy mutt you are"

Xilivicus bit the inside of his cheek and said, "Yes, sir." He kicked his chest closed and soon stormed off up the stairs, whispering curses beneath his breath.

He absolutely loathed being treated like such an animal. The Clannfear and Daedroths were hardly inferior to him. They were almost classified into the same group according to every other Daedra here. The Dremora rounded the corner, cradling the black robe in his hands. Damn this place, he hissed to himself, damn this place into the darkest of voids.

The Citadel doors opened and he rushed in without much thought. After a few steps in he immediately froze. His eyes grew wide and he nearly dropped the robe he was carrying as he took witness of the subject before him.

Elizabeth's head swirled around as she heard Xilivicus's noisy entrance. She was facing away from him with nearly her whole body exposed. Her toffee colored panties was all that she was wearing. Her hands flew up and crossed over chest soon grasping the opposite shoulder. Her long silver hair was drenched with the used water that was in the bathing tub. Her entire form was rather slender and pure like snow. Droplets of water rolled down her back and Xilivicus extraordinarily couldn't look away. His eyes absorbed this image for he had never seen such a smooth and pure living thing before. Suddenly he had snapped to it and he turned away with a cough, "Pardon my intrusion… I… I wasn't really thinking when I came here."

Elizabeth hurriedly scooped up her clothes and covered herself. A pinked blush rushing to her cheeks as she stuttered, "N-No, it's fine. I understand. D-Do you have the robe?"

Xilivicus held out his arm with the robe grasped in his hand. His eyes were clenched closed as he told her, "Yes, I had no trouble at all finding it."

Elizabeth pulled on her brassiere and quickly made her way over to take the robe. She pulled it over her head and it fit rather loosely. It smelled of firewood and she was reminded of Kvatch evenings with her mother resting on the couch and her father reading books near the fireplace. Her heart became weary and she became homesick. She pulled her hair through with her. "Thank you for letting me borrow this robe," she said, "It's very kind of you."

The Dremora frowned and bowed his head. "… You may keep it. I said I had no further use for it."

Elizabeth nodded and bowed her head as she tucked her hair bondages inside the pockets of the robe. She felt her fingertips touch something cold and she frowned as she pulled out a golden necklace. The flower pedant gleamed and she gave it a cautious glance. How could something so beautiful end up with a Daedra?

"You better head off to Broga. He'll probably be waiting for you and by now he'll doubtlessly be very edgy."

The maiden nodded, returning the necklace inside the depths of the pocket. She quickly walked past Xilivicus and out of the bathing area. As she passed, a fragrance followed her and ignited Xilivicus's nostrils. He watched her and then called out to her. She stopped and looked back at him. Her eyes as bright as ever as he said, "I will walk you there. I don't want anyone to come by and hurt you like those Daedra tried this morning."

Elizabeth looked taken back and she smiled as he past her and began leading her, "Do you actually care about me, sir Xilivicus?"

The Dremora stopped and nodded, "Yes, I do."

Elizabeth's smile faded and she watched the back of his head. She saw his long horns wave over his head and as he bowed his head slightly she could see how long and pointed they were. He then glanced over his shoulder and said, "Come along, we can't keep Broga waiting any longer."

Elizabeth bowed her own head in disbelief. Had he just said that or was it sarcasm? Maybe her mind was playing tricks upon her. She closed her agape mouth and quickly followed behind him as he led her to Broga. So many things were being revealed, how long was it to be before their own lies stopped hiding the inevitable truth?

-TBC-

Thanks for reading! This one took a lot of research so I should have another chapter up this week or so. God Bless you all for reading, I really appreciate it. R&R to tell me your opinions and maybe I just might use some suggestions if anyone gives me some.