Sorry for such a late update. Next one will be faster, hopefully.

-+-

Broga opened the great door to the Watch tower and he walked in with a sigh. The once burning fire in the center of the room was now merely a crumbling carcass for the fire had died many an hour ago. Xilivicus walked in and watched Broga pace around the room a little; unsure of what to do. The Churl narrowed his eyes and called out, "What… did you want me to do, sir?"

The great black Dremora lifted his heavy head and glanced over. A smirk creased over his black lips and he answered, "Well, since we still have a while. Tell me about Elizabeth. You're more of a songbird than she is. Possibly I can get more information out of you."

"What's there to tell?" puffed the Churl whose eyes were tossed to the skies outside the marvelous window.

Broga chuckled lightly and he walked closer to his brethren. "How does it feel when she tells you she loves you?"

Xilivicus' muscles tensed and he continued to look out the window; ignoring his master's question. The Commander placed his hand upon Xilivicus' bare shoulder and he questioned, "How does it feel… to know that she belongs to me now?"

"She belongs to no man, Broga. She is her own person." The Churl tossed his tangerine eyes up to the Commander.

Broga laughed and patted his brethren's shoulder lightly. "Oh, Xilivicus… you are so trifling." The Dremora walked to the window and glanced out with a deep sigh. His wicked waved horns rose as he lowered his head to some extent. "When will you finally accept the fact that you're a Daedra?" He turned around with a smile. "You're no human, you're no Mer, and you're not some Saint from their world! As long as you continue to act like a human you will continue to be treated like a human." Broga stormed forward and purred, "I think I know exactly what is wrong with you. You haven't had Cyrodiilic blood on your hands for years. Deep within your heart you're lusting for the feeling of power and that will cure you of this human attribute of love and… purity." He sneered.

"I don't want to kill anyone," Xilivicus hissed. "I am perfectly fine with clean hands." He glanced down to his violet palms. His eyes were etching the creative creases.

"You're letting those damned goddesses speak for you, brother! Push them from your mind and pick up your own opinions and voice. Let the hatred consume you! Let it flow through your veins once again!"

The Churl lifted his head and stared at Broga. "No… this is my voice. This is my opinion. You've let Mehrunes corrupt your mind. You're just like him. Shallow, opinionated, cruel… yes, you're just like him."

Broga bore his jagged teeth as he grinned. He leaned closer and snarled, "… and who gets the girl at the end of the night, Xilivicus, hmm?"

The Churl's body tensed and he felt the power to strike this man down. How could he refer back to Elizabeth in that horrible context? His muscles bulged as he could feel the hatred of Mara, Dibella, and even himself overcome him. Broga's eyes lifted and his face fell emotionless as he stared at something other then Xilivicus. The Churl furrowed his brow and whipped around to see Velthada and Elizabeth standing in the doorway.

The elegant Daedric dress embraced Elizabeth tightly and a crown-like headdress was placed over her head; holding back her silver hair. Her long silver locks had been braided and bounded up into a ponytail, a bouncing silver tail falling from the style. Her porcelain face was enhanced with charcoal around her eyes and upon her lips. The charcoal lined her eyes and drew out to a long black line, giving her the impression of cat-like eyes. Her lips were a dark black like Broga's and upon her thin neck was a black collar that Velthada had made for her.

"Elizabeth…" Xilivicus managed to mutter as his face flushed of color. His heart leapt and he felt automatically weak by her enticing appearance. Suddenly, he could see flashes of Anaxes. That was her dress, wasn't it?

Broga smiled and called out, "Velthada… you have done a marvelous job for once." He stepped forward and looked the maiden over. "She looks completely… inimitable."

Velthada crossed her arms and questioned, "Is that not what you asked for, Broga?" She sneered at his name.

Elizabeth's large crystal eyes lifted past Broga and she could see Xilivicus gawking at her. A smile pulled across her face and she burst past Broga nearly causing him to fall over. Broga spun around and watched as Elizabeth leapt into her friend's arms. The Churl held her tightly to him feeling her heartbeat burn into his chest. His black nails running through her silver locks. He leaned his head upon hers and whispered in her ear, "I'm so relieved you're back."

She ran her fingertips across his shoulders and she smiled as she whispered back to him, "I couldn't leave forever."

They pulled apart and the Churl smiled sweetly. He caressed her cheek and told her, "… you… look beautiful."

Velthada grinned and glanced up to Broga. "It looks like it's not working how you wanted afterall, Commander."

Broga glared over his shoulder at the Spider Daedra. She laughed lightly and quickly left through the doorway. The Commander turned back to the couple and he walked closer with a smile. "Xilivicus… I want you to present our guest to all of the other commanders. Try and get as much information as you can from her while I am gone. There are some… important matters… that I must attend to. Afterall," he grinned an enormous eerie grin, "Tamerial will be ours very soon and I must assure myself of our brutal victory. Goodbye, Elizabeth. I shall see you again before long." He bowed appropriately to show her respect. As he rose, his eyes flashed with an abrupt annoyance and he beckoned his brethren to him. Xilivicus obediently sauntered over to his Master. Broga placed his hand on his neck as he drew him closer and snarled, "I'll be gone by tomorrow's light and I expect Elizabeth's purity to be in tact. Lay a hand on her in a way that I would not approve of and I will make certain that you will never see the light of day again, do you understand?"

Xilivicus pursed his lips and he muttered hardly coherently, "… yes, I understand."

"Good," said the Commander. "I'll be keeping tabs on you while I'm gone. I have a few good men who wouldn't mind stalking the two of you for a while. Don't let her beauty ensnare you, Xilivicus. You are better than her race… so start acting like it." The great black Daedra turned round and quickly stormed out of the watch's keep.

Xilivicus bowed his head and for once in his life; Broga's words began to amend his heart.

-+-

The grand mahogany doors to Cloud Ruler Temple slowly pulled back and exposed the Hero seated upon a dark auburn horse. The Asquerana men were behind him on their white stallions, staring up in awe at the temple gates. Snow danced through the grey sky and soon cascaded down upon the land. The bitter cold nipped at their noses and froze their lungs into crystallizing orbs. The Hero road up the old stairs into the temple's embrace. A few Blades watched as their great hope approached. They all knew that he was supposed to be gone to Miscardcan looking for a Great Welkynd stone. He should have been gone for many a day before finding it. His sudden appearance did not bring joy to the Blades' hearts. Something had been bothering him. What bothered the Hero bode Hell for everyone else.

Jaufree stepped out into the coldness with a furrowed brow. He moved swiftly for a warrior of his age. He ran to the stairs and watched as the Hero bounded from his horse and walked it over to the stables. "I hadn't been expecting you back for a few more days. Is there something wrong?"

"The Daedra have gotten the scholar again. I thought it would be no worry; however, it seems they've been after her all this time." Hero snarled with the Asquerana men behind him; tying up their horses.

Jaufree bowed his head as he comprehended this. What could they possibly want with a youthful female Altmer? The Blademaster lifted his old misty eyes as he questioned, "Nothing from Mysterium Xarxes reveals of Mehrunes Dagon needing a scholar. No one has any idea what he could possibly use her for."

Hero brushed a firm frozen hand through his hair soon melting the snow particles. He approached the grand doors nad opened them; storming into the main part of the temple. Martin's weary eyes lifted from his books and he called out unsurely, "…dear friend, are you alright?"

Jaufree walked quickly in after and glanced to Martin, "Our hopes are darkening in these times, my liege. We are unsure of our next actions."

"They've got her," the Hero speedily told the heir to the throne. "They took her back and we are precisely where we started."

Daelon pushed down his hood allowing his wild waved hair to fall into his frozen face. He stormed over to the Hero and snarled, "Xilivicus is with her! She'll be safe!"

"Stop your nonsense, will you? This is a war… no one is safe here… no one." The grand knight snarled while walking to the looming fireplace whose flames nearly blinded the man.

The twins pulled down their hoods as well as they walked together; side by side. They both watched the Hero and Daelon with intriqued eyes. Caldwyn cleared his throat and questioned, "If this is a war… then why don't we storm one of their gates. Get a few hostages on the way and see what we can find."

Jaufree shook his head and said, "Young altmer, we will lose time and men that way. We need to find a more effective method that will hopefully spare the lives of so many faithful soldiers."

Jerald walked near the fireplace and glanced to the hero, "What choice do we have here, sir? We're running out of options to save my daughter."

"Right now, our current mission is to stop Mehrunes Dagon from conquering Tamerial." Jaufree scolded while closing his eyes for a moment. "Your daughter will be recovered more easily than defeating the greater evil here."

"If she could be recovered so easily then why don't we have her?" Daelon snarled while twirling around and glaring at the old Blade. The heat of the fire pulsed out upon his back and melted away the coldness of the Jerall Mountains. His detailed features vanished within the shadows as the brightest light was now behind him. Everyone watched as the eldest of Asquerana sons protested. "Right now, we shouldn't be worrying of Tamerial. My sister should be the greatest of worries. Lord Dagon sent out his assassins to find and capture her! The great Daedric Prince wanted my sister! If this was a great priority to the Prince then it should be a great priority to us! Gods know what he could be doing to her! Xilivicus is only one Dremora who would be willing to look after her. We have the rest of Dagon's realm to worry about as well. Especially the great black Dremora, Broga. From what I have gathered he is the strongest of them all, no doubt about that. He lead the attack on Kvatch and he will lead the attack on all of Tamerial."

Orrick nodded and said, "If we attack the weak points of Dagon's army…"

"… then we shall overcome this obstacle and win back Tamerial," Caldwyn finished.

The Hero chuckled and whispered above the crackling of the fireplace. "… don't be so naïve… you honestly think that we can overcome this obstacle so easily? We have been raging this war for longer than either you or I have been alive. We're not going to be finishing it in less then a fortnight. We need strategies… allies… weapons and magic."

"Then get strategies! Get allies! Get weapons and magic! You all are the great Blades! The protectors of the Emperor and all citizens of Cyrodiil!" Daelon bellowed with a hysteric laugh. His face fell into sadness as he calmed down and spoke, "… if we don't take action and step up then our hope will disappear and Tamerial will be lost forever."

Jaufree nodded and with his cracking voice he purred, "They're right… we need to work harder and faster. No more will people be idly standing by; waiting for instructions. Every man here will go out and collect allies, get armory and supplies. We need all the help we can get."

Baurus, an old Redguard, glanced over from a post and questioned, "… is there any idea of the next attack?"

Daelon bowed his head as he began to think. The Hero lifted his eyes and glanced over, "The most reasonable thing to do is attack where the Emperor is. More and likely they will attempt to anchor a gate near Bruma. If we are lucky it will only be a small gate and not one of the great gates like Kvatch had."

Martin Septim was hunched in his chair as he absorbed these words and collected them in his mind. His eyes scanned over his books and he called out, "Alert the Countess of Bruma, Hero. Dear Asquerana family, you are welcome to stay here in Cloud Ruler Temple. Please consider becoming soldiers in our army. We shall need all the help we can get."

Jerald nodded softly and said, "We shall surely consider it, my liege."

Jaufree nodded and glanced over to a watching Blade. "Get a few more mats for our guests to sleep in." His eyes shifted back over to Lord Asquerana, "If you have any more information please let us know."

The Hero turned and just as he was about to walk to the grand doors, Jaufree caught ahold of his shoulder. The knight tensed and turned his storming eyes to his senior. The old Blade narrowed his worn eyes and hissed, "Calm yourself, friend. Do not let your hatred for Daedra and your jealously of this… Xilivicus… control you. I am sure that if it overwhelms you, you might fall into their hands."

"I won't," snarled the Champion as he jerked his shoulder out of Jaufree's hand and stormed out into the cold bitter air of the mountains.

-+-

The watch tower door shut and Elizabeth watched Xilivicus' frozen structure. He stood motionless near the door with a scowl looming across his façade. Elizabeth took a few steps forward and began, "… Xilivicus…"

The Dremora heaved a sigh and he turned to her. His eyes were drained of life as he looked at her. He seemed weak and broken inside an empty shell. His eyes shifted and he walked past the girl to a grand dresser. He pulled open the crooked spiked doors and within it he saw a suit of armor. He quickly pulled it out and began fitting it upon his structure. The armor wasn't like the other Daedric armor upon the beings of this plane. It was much darker and wicked with black spines sticking off the shoulders and curving back.

Elizabeth bowed her head and whispered out into the silence, "… where did Broga go?"

"… I don't know," replied the Churl who cradeled a jagged unique helmet in his arm. He turned around to the girl with lowered eyes. His heart ached when he looked at her for the reality of never becoming her only lover began to manifest him. "Let us do as he says, Elizabeth. It wouldn't be wise to go against him."

Just as the Dremora sauntered past the girl to the door, she caught ahold of his shoulder with sadness crystalizing in her eyes. "Xilivicus… we can still escape. Come with me to Cyrodiil, you'll be safe there. People will understand… they'll accept you, I promise."

With a hopeless head shake he glanced to her and ran his gloved fingertips across her porcelain cheek. His eyes furrowed and he said, "I will find a way for you to back to Cyrodiil before tomorrow morning; however, my place… is here in Oblivion."

"No," she shook her head and objected, "No… you'll come with me. If you stay here they'll kill you! I can't lose you, Xilivicus, not again."

His voice was rich with sorrow as he looked upon this beauty that stood before him. How he wanted to rejoice for her being so near and returning the affections that he gave to her. But, there was something blocking that joy from escaping him. "We can't deny the inevitable, Elizabeth." She moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around his body, pulling him close to her. The Dremora closed his eyes and hunched over soon leaning his forehead against hers.

The Altmer pursed her lips and shook her head silently as she could feel his warm breathe cascading down around her. "I-If you don't come back with me to Tamerial… then I'll stay here with you."

"No, I couldn't subject you to this life. If you reside here then you shall be under Broga's control and you would be far more miserable than you ever have been." Xilivicus stated while caressing his fingertips through her glistening ponytail.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and grasped his armor even tighter as it seemed like there would be no other option then to leave each other and forget all about that unfortunate day when Kvatch had been taken over.

-+-

The moon had risen high into the snowy Bruma sky. The Hero had alerted the Countess of what was to happen and he even did a few more errands around the city that the Blades and even some citizens needed help with. The chapel tolled twelve and the Hero closed his eyes tightly. Grey mist billowed from his pouted cherry lips as he heaved a sigh in weariness. The snow began to stumble even harder across the midnight blue and the Hero knew in his heart he wouldn't make it to the Temple in time.

He pulled the hood up to his cloak as he quickly sprinted across the cobblestone street, his steels boots clicking along the way. His eyes lifted to the steeples of the temple and he wondered if the monks would give him food and drink until the storm had subsided and he could wander back up into the mountains. His gloved hands wrapped around the frosty handles and with one quick jerk he pried open the doors. The warmth of the chapel flodded out past him and heated up his body. He quickly ran in while shutting the doors. He bowed his head and turned around slowly to see a monk bowing before the altar.

Golden candles lined the chapel and illuminated it quite nicely. The Hero walked forward and pulled down his hood allowing his curled sandy locks to fall around his face. A solemn façade iced over his face as he walked closer; attempting to stay as quiet as possible to provide the monk with his privacy in prayer. Suddenly, from the silence the monk spoke. The voice was deep and familiar to the Hero as he listened, "Forgive me, Great Talos… for I have sinned."

A lifeless form fell to the speaking monk's side and the Hero saw that the body was that of one of the primates of the chapel and that his neck had been slashed and the blood drained from his body entirely. The black robed monk rose to his feet and the Hero's gut began twisting inside of him as this monk loomed seven feet in the air.

Broga turned around with a bloodied grin as he chuckled, "I fear... I have sinned quite a lot."

"You," snarled the Hero who quickly reached for his sword to find it missing. His eyes fell to his belt and he remembered removing his weapons back in Cloud Ruler temple.

Broga laughed and walked down the aisle while crossing his burly oynx arms. Upon his thick leather belt hung a wicked Daedric claymore. "What sort of Hero are you? Not even carrying weapons with you. Don't you know that the most likely place that you'll have a combat is at a place you think you're safe? Take Kvatch for example…"

"What do you want, Daedra?" The Hero snarled while shifting his eyes around for any sort of weapon.

"Dremora, please." Broga sighed profoundly while bowing. "Dremora Broga. You may use either one if you like. I come with a proposition involving Elizabeth-"

"—where is she?!" The Hero boomed. His voice echoed high in the steeples.

Broga's brow creased and he walked closer. "If you would allow me to speak then I shall tell you…. Elizabeth is residing with a guard in Mehrunes Dagon's realm. She is safe and promised to be safe. We have no intention whatsoever of harming her. She is a guest and shall be treated as one, you see." The great black Dremora turned around and walked back to the altar. His crimson eyes fell to a few splatters of blood lingering on the stone altar and the floor itself. He smirked as he looked back upon how easily he had slain the primate. "I've come to you with a proposition in mind."

The dark woodland eyes of the Hero shifted around nervously. He had never taken on a high level Daedra without some sort of weapon. Even if he was very strong at hand to hand he would not defeat this monster so easily. The only thing he could possibly do now was succumb to his will. "… I'm listening."

"Good," Broga chuckled while turning around and sitting upon the stone altar. He leaned back and glanced up to the stain-glass windows that were high in the walls. "You have murdered much of my Kyn, sir. I do not wish to avenge them. I come here in hopes to avenge… myself… in a way—" The Dremora lifted a hand and caressed the jagged scar down his face. He closed his eyes and spoke softly, "We share the same enemy; you and I. Through the course of this war we have both been humilated by a certain being. He has taken something very dear to us, my friend. For me, it was my dignity and right as a commander… for you, I am certain… you already have an idea."

The Hero's mind flooded with only one picture. Xilivicus and Elizabeth embracing one another with a loving kiss. The kiss that was supposed to be his. The Hero's fists clenched tightly and his jealously and rage began to consume him. Broga chuckled and unlatched his claymore from his belt. He pushed himself off the altar and quickly laid his weapon upon the frigid stone. "… kill him with this enchanted sword and I shall return the Elven maiden to you; unharmed."

"… but why?" the Hero questioned.

Broga's eyes lifted and he turned around to him. "We don't have to fight… there are ways that we can settle this feud—privately. You and I, both, get the pride of watching Xilivicus fall dead and you get your bonny maiden back. Either way we both win. What say you?"

Silence overwhelmed the couple as they stared at each other with unshifting eyes. Their bodies stood motionless and finally the Hero stepped forward; cagily. Broga stepped aside and watched as the knight picked up the sword and watched as a purple gleam shivered down the charred spine. He furrowed his eyebrows and whispered, "… on your grave do you swear that I shall get Elizabeth back?"

"I swear on my loyalty, my friend." Broga bowed lowly allowing a few stray strands of crimson and jet hair to fall into his face. "… shall you accept my proposal?"

"… I accept." The Hero whispered.

Broga chuckled and lifted his gargantuan body. He strutted to the door with a sly smirk. "You won't regret this, sir knight… the Daedra shall attack this city in seven days. On that day you must rush into the gate and find Xilivicus. Plunge that sword into his deceiving heart and capture his soul, then the maiden will be yours once and for all."

The Hero looked down upon the blade that he held lightly in his hands. His eyes tossed up as he watched the great black Dremora seize the chapel doors. Just as he was about to open it, Broga's head turned and he spoke, "May your sword strike true, sir knight…. Don't disappoint me."

With that, Broga pulled up his hood and quickly jerked the chapel doors open. The gusting wind raged into the chapel soon taking the life from all the lit candles. The Dremora slipped out into the night and disappeared. Just as the door shut, the Hero was embraced with the darkness of the chapel and even the darkness of his heart.

--TBC--

I do hope you enjoyed. Not much fighting and such, just fillers and explainers, really. Anyways, R&R! I get very discouraged when I don't have as many reviews. It feels like no one likes the story anymore +tear+