I'm still happy people are critiquing my fan story as well as giving me encouragement on continuing. Thank you all for taking time to read this and review. I appreciate it more than you know.

-+-

The Dremora laughed happily as he leapt through the woods with such delight and happiness pulsing through his black veins. A smile broadened across his face as the first few rays of light fell from the heavens and lightened up the treetops. Xilivicus ran up a broken log and as he came to the jagged end he flipped off and landed once more upon the soft calm grass. He sprinted even faster as such adrenaline pulsed through his veins. As he bounded out of the woods and saw a long emerald hill, he leapt from it with such agility. He felt Mara and Dibella holding him up into the air allowing him to almost fly through the golden and violet sky. The wind blew delicately across his face and as he landed he could see the Oblivion gate not so far from where he was. He had to return to Oblivion to report to Dagon about the maiden's "death". Soon, this entire crisis would be over! … And forever would he and Elizabeth be separated.

His face softened as his heart became burdensome in his chest. In his own personal way he was restoring order to Tamerial. Elizabeth would be a memory that throughout eternity he would never forget. His violet fingertips rose and brushed across his supple lips. Oh, how he would miss her so. But this was how it was meant to be. He was sure of it.

As he crossed the green meadows he approached the gargantuan gate. His eyes lifted up to the portal and his happiness seemed drained and taken from him as if this portal was a parasite. Xilivicus lifted his mask and fitted it over his mouth as he entered the Oblivion gate. Darkness swirled around him and consumed him and as he opened his eyes he saw the Halls of Dagon's Court. The Churl quickly familiarized himself and headed off to the court. His alibi was pieced together like a puzzle and he even put questions in his way that Dagon could ask of him.

The Dremora was certain that he could pull this scam off. The doors of the Court loomed over him like the shadow of death and leisurely the Churl stepped forward. His hands curled around the golden handles and he pushed the doors open; entering without hesitation. His head lowered and he announced, "Lord Dagon—I have terrible news of-" his eyes rose.

Before Lord Dagon was a band of the assassins. They all turned to look at Xilivicus with insufferable eyes. Broga turned as well with a relaxed façade, his nostrils flaring every once and a while. The armrests of Dagon's primeval throne seemed shredded apart by the Daedric Prince's jagged ebon nails. A cagey and homicidal vibe was pulsed out from the Lord of Misery and Disaster. Dagon's black eyes shifted over to the door; fixing the abhorrence upon the Churl. "Dear Dremora Xilivicus," called out the hoarse and vile voice of Dagon which sent a frightened chill to roll down the Churl's back. "… I've been waiting for you."

-+-

Elizabeth watched as the guards opened the market district doors for her. As she entered, a guard bowed to her and said, "My, you look very lively for such an early time in the morning."

The Elf laughed softly and shrugged, "It's been a good morning, I suppose."

She entered the city and held herself back from leaping around screaming happily. Surely this would frighten the beggars. She held herself tightly and bit her lower lip trying to calm down her ever broadening smile. The breeze blew upon her warm body and encased her in such a delightful feeling. Xilivicus was alive! Oh, how her heart sang out to the heavens! She praised Mara and Dibella for keeping her heart strong. She rounded the corner and ran to the Elven Garden District. She couldn't hold back this happiness any longer! Her feet were a blur across the ground as the guards speedily opened the door for her and watched as she sprinted through with a giggle. All worries and dangers fell from her mind as she was merely enveloped in this power.

Her eyes lifted to the door of the 'King and Queen Tavern' and her smile was lost. Her father, the Hero… what were they going to say for her late return? She compiled herself and with her pale fingertips she smoothed her hair and with a deep breathe she entered the establishment. The tavern owner was wiping down the tables which held many a spilt drink. A few broken glasses lay in ruins upon the floor appearing as crystals. The owner glanced up and smiled, "Good morning, Ms. Asquerana. You are up rather early."

She laughed sweetly and walked to the stairs, "Yes, I believe I am. I'm rather tired, too."

The owner chuckled causing his round belly to jiggle lightly as he stood up and rested his hands upon his arching back, "Oh, well I hope you catch at least a small rest."

She thanked him and skipped up the stairs hoping her father and the Hero were asleep. As she opened the door she saw them sitting at the newly repaired table. The Hero sat upon the top with folded arms. His hair drenched with sweat. Jerald heard the door open and his long pointed ears perked. He tossed his eyes over uninterested and sighed, "Ah, Elizabeth, you've finally returned."

The maiden smiled and nodded, "Yes, father. I thought I would go on a small walk about the city. I knew you wouldn't be too worried about it."

The High Elf lord flipped through his book with a purring voice, "Indeed." He closed his book and turned himself around in his chair giving her a look. Her clothes were soiled from the sewer corridors no doubt. He cleared his throat and questioned while turning forward in his chair, "Anything… interesting happen while you were out?"

Elizabeth took off her cape and furrowed her brow as she folded it before her very neatly, "No, I don't think there was anything."

Jerald pushed himself out of his chair and turned around with a scolding gaze, "Meet anyone new?"

Elizabeth shook her head while biting into her deceiving tongue. She turned to her door and said, "No one, really. It was still very early in the morning."

The Hero's nostrils flared and he calmed his voice, "What about… that assassin in the prison?"

Elizabeth froze and eyed the knob for a moment or so then she had serenely responded, "I didn't get to know him, sir." She turned to him with a rivaling gaze. "Why do you ask of him?"

The Hero shrugged his heavy weary shoulders and made his way over casually. "I went on a walk, too, Elizabeth. I went out to the outskirts of town." Elizabeth's eyes flashed with condemnation and the man continued while moving closer, "I saw you and that foul murderous Daedra together, so tell me…" he leaned against the wall and overlooked her, "what about that assassin in the prison?"

Elizabeth sidestepped away soon scoffing and crossing her arms as she stumbled for the words, "How absurd… that a-a-assassin and me? Don't be silly…"

Jerald tossed his gaze to the floor as his daughter lied before him. "I saw too, Elizabeth." His eyes lifted in shame. "What were you thinking?!" He pushed himself off the table and sauntered to his daughter. "He was trying to kill you and you…" he couldn't finish the sentence.

Elizabeth furrowed her brow and retorted, "He wasn't trying to kill me! He's my friend!"

"What a friend," the Hero snarled. "Befriend a goblin… befriend an ogre… befriend a bloody slaughterfish—but a Daedra?! He's using you for the benefit of Mehrunes Dagon!"

Elizabeth's body tensed and she snapped, "No he is not!"

Jerald rubbed his eyes with a firm hand as he proclaimed, "Daedra are the loyal servants of Lord Dagon—they do everything only to please him. Elizabeth… he is no friend to you."

The maiden looked between them and shook her head in disbelief. "You both are so stereotypical! Xilivicus is not a hateful and uncaring man! He is kind… and sweet and gentle-"

"So, 'Xilivicus' is this creature's name?" the Hero hissed.

"Damnit, Elizabeth!" Jerald snapped while tossing his hand down from his eyes allowing his icy eyes to pierce through her. "Are you so blind to the fact that you have freed a Daedric assassin and have helped him and his group to freely walk out of the Imperial City and back to the shores of Oblivion?! You are breaking forbidden laws by even ensnaring this Daedra in your mind and acting out to assist him! You could be condemned to death…"

"Then condemned I will be," she chuckled weakly. Her eyes frosting over with sadness and frustration as her father and her knight could not understand that not all Daedra were evil. "This man is not evil, father. He saved me from being killed more than enough times. He gave his life for me and I'm not sure how, but he had returned from the graves of Oblivion and he has warned me of Dagon's plans. He is not our enemy! Why can't you understand that?"

Jerald turned his eyes away from his daughter. His lips became sewn together as he no longer wished to argue over this. The Hero stood beside the Master Elf with a bowed head. There were a few questions that were nestled upon his tongue that he feared asking. The main one was: Do you love him? He already knew the answer. It had been told by the way she held that Dremora and kissed him. His body became the temple of jealously and he lifted his eyes, "I shall depart for Cloud Ruler Temple where the blademaster, the heir, and I shall find a way to close Oblivion and for once and for all end this crisis."

Jerald glanced up and feebly said, "May the Asquerana blessing be with you, dear sir."

The Hero nodded in thanks and turned his eyes to Elizabeth. They exchanged glares and the knight walked up to her and snarled from the corner of his lips, "I shall slay all Daedra that I see. Even your little assassin friend."

Elizabeth's eyes rose and she glared at the knight. She then hissed evenly, "I hope he returns the favor, then."

The Hero snorted and pushed past her soon walking out of the living quarters. The father and daughter stood near each other in utter silence. Elizabeth tossed her gaze to her father wondering what loomed upon his bothered mind. Her brow furrowed and she wished only to hug him and apologize for making him so angered. The man nodded and said, "We shall be leaving for Anvil as soon as possible. We shall stay there until this crisis is in every respect over."

Elizabeth pursed her lips and questioned, "Anvil? I thought we were going to live here in the Imperial City."

Jerald shook his head, "Bromus and your mother have found a perfect manor for a very reasonable price in Anvil. We shall live there and… and in due time when we move back to Kvatch you shall more and likely be awarded the title of Countess of Kvatch after marrying a nobleman who can support you."

The maiden shook her head and said, "Father, I don't want to marry some nobleman. Can I not choose my own path for once?"

Jerald's dark eyebrows lowered and he snarled, "Precisely, what would you choose? That filthy-blooded Daedra? Elizabeth, you are too naïve and dim to elect a suitor. That is why your mother and I shall… approve of a man for you."

"Dim? Naïve?" The maiden scoffed. "How would you know what I am, father? You haven't been a true part of my life in the last twenty years! I believe I will know what is better for me than some pompous cynical man like you."

"That's enough," Jerald snapped making his daughter cringe to some extent. "Gather your things… we're heading out to Anvil by midday. That's final."

The maiden lowered her head with vexation and disagreement. How could her father act like this towards her? She was practically her own woman but he still ordered her about like some sort of dictator. Yet… she still had to obey him. It wouldn't be safe for her to go out on her own with no money and no place to go. She stormed to her bedroom and as she entered she slammed the door and was encased wholly in darkness.

-+-

Xilivicus fell to the floor gasping for breathe. His tangerine hair completely fallen from the bound he had put it in. His hair falling all around his deep royal purple face. Sweat rolled down his forehead as he attempted to support himself. Blood ran down his body and pain overpowered him. Broga grinned as he stepped back and kicked his fellow Kyn harshly in the stomach sending him rolling onto his back. Lord Dagon lifted his hand and Broga backed off a little with a grin. Mehrunes leaned forward in his throne as he snarled, "… so far… we're at the part where you were captured. What happened next?"

Trembling; the Dremora pushed himself up to stand. He turned to his lord and called out, "I… I was… taken to prison-"

Dagon lifted his hand and Broga stepped up behind his rival and lifted his foot soon kicking him harshly in the back. The Churl toppled over, losing his breathe. A spurt of blood flew from his mouth as he hit the ground; nearly collapsing. By this time, the council members had reentered the courtroom and watched high upon their stands. A few Daedra turned away in pity. They cared for their brethren and wished that Dagon would stop this cruelty. One of the assassins who traveled to Tamerial glanced up to his lord and questioned, "My lord, must he be beaten so? Can we not hear this story without all these… intervals?"

The black vexing eyes of the Daedric Prince fell down upon his follower. He laced his fingers and sat back in his throne, "Continue, Churl…"

Xilivicus spat out a glob of saliva and blood. He quivered upon the ground and continued telling his part of the story. All of his brothers became highly interested as if they were little children listening to myths and legends. The Churl explained how the maiden had felt much pity for him and only wanted him to return to his Kyn. He told of their adventurous journey through the sewers. Broga crossed his arms and stood tall listening to these lies. He knew that Xilivicus was not going to tell of his admiration for the Elf and his betrayal to Lord Dagon. "… When we had escaped from the sewers, she had bid me blessings and let me go."

The councilmen nodded in approval as if the Churl had done nothing wrong whatsoever. Surely befriending an Altmer was a small crime in these parts of Oblivion; however, he had escaped from the Hero's clutches and Dagon's plans and goals were still mainly hidden from the Cyrodiilic people. Broga pursed his lips and then he called out and Xilivicus tilted his head listening, "Tell me, Churl, was this before or after you had kissed the girl?"

The councilmen froze in their stands. A few horrified gasps were let out and Dagon's jagged nails clenched tightly into his skin as his eyes began to burn like an everlasting inferno. Xilivicus' eyes widened and he protested, "No! I… I…"

Broga walked closer to the throne and boomed, "He's in love with her! He's been devastating our plans making certain that she is out of our reach!"

"No I haven't," Xilivicus boomed while forcing himself up. His legs quaked and he nearly fell over in pain. A droplet of blood seeped through his lilac lips and he snarled, "I've been making certain that animals like you don't harm or even assassinate her!"

The court exploded in chatter and yells as Broga and Xilivicus began a heated argument. "SILENCE!" Dagon boomed causing the walls to nearly shatter and building dust cascade from the ceiling to the floor. Everyone fell silent and turned to their lord awaiting his commands and his punishment for Xilivicus. "Broga," Dagon announced, "go forth and gather the strongest of warriors for our final battle. Send a message to the Mythic Dawn and demand them to send out spies to locate and annihilate this wonderful Hero."

Broga bowed and replied, "As you say, my liege," he turned to his assassins and nodded towards the door. They quickly made their way out. The crimson eyes of the commander fell over to Xilivicus and as he turned to leave he smirked victoriously.

The Churl glared at him hatefully and he heard a growling hoarse voice call his name. He jerked his head forward to see Dagon's fatal gaze that held him in place like prison bars. "… as for you, you traitorous foolish imbecile… you shall be damned for eternity to dwell in the darkest of torture chambers—and upon the day that we conquer over Cyrodiil I shall force you to watch as I skin that little Altmer alive… then… I will make you devour her entrails. Possibly this will make you respect my laws more often." Dagon's eyes lifted to two guards standing near the grand doors, "Take his rotting carcass out of my court and put him into the darkest and smallest of cells that we have."

The guards stormed forward and grasped Xilivicus by the arms. As they hauled him to the doors, a vexation rose within the Churl's throat and his bright eyes pierced through the court and locked onto Dagon. He opened his mouth and boomed, "It was worth it, Dagon! It was worth it!"

The court room's doors slammed shut and that noise seemed to echo throughout all of the Oblivion Planes. Xilivicus was tossed upon a charred stump of wood in the middle of a bloody dark torture chamber. He narrowed his eyes and his long strong nails pierced through the wood as he prepared for his punishment. One of the armored Dremora walked over to an altar and picked up a whip. As he lifted it from the altar, the jagged razor ends jingled together. The guard turned around and gave the whip a wave, preparing for a customary ten lashes before sending the prisoner to his cell.

Xilivicus' back tensed as he knew what was looming on his horizon. The second guard moved forward and removed a Daedric dagger from his belt. He leaned over Xilivicus and with one firm hand he grasped his clothes and tore through them easily. The tearing noise echoed in the chamber as the Dremora's royal purple brawny upper torso was fully exposed. His tangerine eyes fell to the ground where his shredded clothes lay. His ears perked as he heard the razors and his heart began racing in his chest. His trembling grip tightened on the stump as he tried to calm himself. His eyes closed and he saw Elizabeth. This is for her… this is for us.

The whip ripped through the air and the razors tore through Xilivicus' skin easily. At first, all the Dremora could feel was a cold rush and suddenly the pain overcame him and his eyes ripped open and the image of Elizabeth was set ablaze. His fingers ripped into the stump as this unbearable pain was placed upon him like tossing salts onto wounds. The whip was ripped backwards pulling chunks of bloodied skin and muscle along with it. Blood sprayed across the ground like a falling rain and the Churl gritted his teeth as another lash was sent out and tore into his already raw back.

Crack!

More skin was pierced and ripped out like pulling weeds from the earth.

Crack!

Blood rolled down his glistening back soon staining his trousers and the floor.

Crack! Crack! CRACK!

The agonizing screams echoed through the corridors like a sweet melody. The Churl laid in a pond of his own blood. His vision became blurred and he quickly forgot how many lashes there were left. Just as the guard lifted the bloodied whip, a hand grasped his wrist. The bloodstained helmet swirled around to see the intruder. Broga grinned brightly and questioned, "May I have the last few lashes?"

The guard furrowed his brow and handed over the whip to his superior. Broga whirled the whip around a few times with a chuckle, "Ironic, isn't it? How once upon a time you were the one standing here with the whip in your hand. Now it appears you are merely its victim," the Dremora tossed his arm back and as he moved forward he pushed all his force into the whip. The razors burrowed deep into the muscles of the Churl's back, chipping across bone. Xilivicus cried out and gritted his teeth even harder knowing they would soon shatter like glass.

Broga chuckled and soon jerked the whip back. Blood flew along with it and splattered across his face. "Three more lashes to go, brother!" He forced all his power into the next lash as well.

Xilivicus screamed as his nerves were shredded into pieces. His nails broke off into the stump as he tried to redirect the pain away from him. As the commander ripped the whip back he looked unsatisfied. "Surely your back must be numb with pain… you can't feel the lashes any longer! Well that won't do…" Broga walked forward and seized Xilivicus by the horns soon pulling him backwards. The Churl fell onto his back and writhed in pain as the dust upon the floor felt like acid upon his abrasions.

The commander grinned as he lifted his foot and placed it upon his lower abdominals. He lifted the whip and cracked it down upon his neck and chest. He ripped it backwards and Xilivicus screeched in agony. Another crack upon the chest made Xilivicus' gaze blur completely. Broga laughed and leaned over soon snarling, "Last one… for today." Broga lifted the whip high and slammed it down upon Xilivicus' chest.

He ripped it out and tossed it aside soon storming to the door. The guard bowed and thanked Broga. The Commander stormed out of the chamber and as he ascended the stairs to the planes of Oblivion he lifted a hand and caressed a deep jagged scar on his shoulder. He narrowed his eyes and remembered that day clearly. When it was Xilivicus who cracked the whip upon his back in punishment. The Commander shook that memory from his head as he headed off to his quarters.

Xilivicus' eyes rolled back into his head as he slid into a peaceful painless unconsciousness.

-+-

Elizabeth looked back upon the Imperial City with saddened eyes. Her father approached her upon his black steed. He stopped before her and looked at the Imperial City himself. There were so many great times back there when he was just a lad in the Arcane University. "Elizabeth… let's go."

The maiden nodded and snapped the reins upon her chestnut horse. The two headed down the long coiled road that led to Anvil. With each gallop her heart became heavier and the hope for seeing Xilivicus extinguished like a flame underwater, and this was how it was going to be for such a long time to come.

--TBC--

R&R! I'm glad people are enjoying this story. New update soon. I'm typing it right now so don't worry about another long updation period.