Chapter 14: Lies, truths, and somewhere inbetween!
Ally's POV:

After my wonderfully encouraging thoughts of yesterday, I continued with my routine of dancing, it was too late to start travelling by the time I'd come up with a plan, and worrying Zar-Nas wasn't at the top of my list of priorities, considering that it wouldn't be surprising to be put into the entire over the top, very long speech in the 'mummy voice', something she possessed that would make some of the most cold-hearted assassins feel a bit guilty of their previous actions… and that at very least!

Yes, she was also one of the people I was living with that was easiest to get along with, after her it was probably Kalina, as she was usually quite open… you just didn't want to be the one with the task of waking her up… no, you really didn't!

Vij-qu was also rather easy to get along with, once you got through his entire shy personality. After you got passed that, he was incredibly easy to talk to. Though, one thing was for certain, he wasn't too serious…

Riden on the other hand was the one person living here that did seem quite hard to talk to, no offence to him. From what I can guess he's around mid-twenties, and let's just say… if I thought that Padfoot had shown no emotion, and hadn't spoken at all… that's a bit of an overstatement with Riden around…

"Good morning!" I called happily, swinging myself down the stairs, and I swear, I wasn't high, nor was I drunk!

Heck, first I'll have to find a skoomer dealer… which might not actually be such a bad idea… no, wrong thought line.

Though perhaps getting involved in illicit activities wouldn't be too bad…

The only true question would be how would I get the skoomer passed everyone in the house, or evade the guards while under the influence of skoomer in the first place!

Yup… first I'd have to come up with another plan, though at the moment that could definitely wait. For now, I'd have to go by hunch and tell Zar-Nas that I had to go on a trip… I'd have all of breakfast to make up an excuse for that though! Sitting at the table I started eating in silence, too used to being ignored if I seemed too hyperactive, Kalina was still missing though… my best bet would be that she was still in bed…

And I sure as hell wasn't prepared to go up there and wake her! Someone else can do it today, I did yesterday and I have the scratches to prove it! No one moved to wake her, though I heard Zar-Nas sigh slightly.

"We'll let her sleep today; she doesn't have to go to work anyway…" Zar-Nas said, rolling her eyes at the grin that came over both my and Vij-qu's faces. It was usually left to us, and without Zar-Nas it was always scissors, paper, rock… and let's leave it at I fail at scissors, paper, rock…

Yup, I'm never going to recover from waking her up… the pain, the screaming, the torture and the running for your life and having guards laugh rather than help you until she actually does pull a dagger out… but her fingernails are sharp so she doesn't have to be too unsubtle about it! Life is unfair… that's my verdict on it all!

"Well… um… Zar-Nas?" I started unsurely, her head swivelled around to me so quickly I was almost afraid she'd snap her neck, but fortunately she didn't!

"Yes Ally?"

"Well… I was wondering if I could go up to Bravil? I've gotten an offer on a horse up there and I was thinking that it was perhaps a good investment, besides it would be an entirely new audience, perhaps some more people who'd be willing to spare a few coins… I can't rely on the people here for too long!"

"Well" her pause almost made me lose the serious look on my face, almost gulp with worry that she'd realised. I guessed that meant that I wasn't showing too many signs of lying… unless she could hear my heartbeat… my skin probably hadn't gone paler then… not that it could really!

I'd never really gotten a tan… I remain pale… extremely pale… I swear, although the roots were already starting to show, once they completely grew out, I'd be able to pass for an albino… well if I didn't have blue eyes… truly all I'd need is to become a vampire and then I actually would pass for an albino! Wait… unless blue eyes count for an albino…

Do they?

Am I an albino?

"Zar-Nas, I don't think she'll have many problems… a couple of suitors perhaps…" I glared at Vij-qu, only to see him waggling his eyebrows suggestively. Rolling my eyes I looked back at Zar-Nas, on the bright side I had one more argument now.

"I think it'll be good for me to get out, meet others… unlike this lot" Vij-qu shot me a mock offended look, his hand flying to the chest as he mouthed what I guessed was 'I'm wounded' which I ignored, seeing Zar-Nas almost smiling. Almost laughing at it in fact!

"Alright" she said grudgingly, and I swear, someday soon I'll probably start calling her mum, especially with that look! That would at least provide some amusement, calling her mum around others, or with people unaware of different parts of what took place. Yes, that would be amusing; I certainly would hang around for the explanation where they'd suddenly claim they knew it, or be too embarrassed to say anything else on the matter. Perfect way to set up an awkward moment… now to find a time to use it!

"Thanks" I said, basically springing out of my seat. "I'll need to pack up everything, it's going to take a while for me to get anywhere without a horse!"

It wasn't hard for me to see the raised eyebrows of everyone that was awake, especially my dearest Riden; please notice the sarcasm! Well… maybe it's slightly blown out of proportion but still… oh well?

Truth is we're getting along slightly better… or rather I just avoid him half the time. And yes, on chat this would be an *insert smiley here* moment! Sure, I found him kinda creepy (especially at the beginning and for the record I never thought the following and if you mention anything to him I will personally hang you from the roof by your entrails!) but he was a really cool guy and pretty nice on top of that (ignoring his usually cold hearted personality of course)… and dare I say it? Although he looks absolutely plain and unmemorable, somehow that look works for him and actually makes him rather handsome.

But I'd die before telling anyone that I thought that!

No seriously, if anyone mentions anything like that I'll throw up and then throw myself into the fireplace or fling myself off a cliff first!

Running up the stairs, skipping a step as I went I grabbed my already packed bag… then again I'd never unpacked really so that could be why put still!

Oh and by the by, I was absolutely refusing to buy any clothes here ever! Unless I miraculously save what's his name… Martin! That's it, unless I save Martin Septim, crown him the emperor and fall in love like in one of those pathetic fairytales which never happen in real life and become the empress of Cyrodiil, only then would I wear proper clothes… and only 1 day a year! That's my limit; go throw yourself down a well if you think otherwise!

Until then I'd buy fabric, or get clothes and take them apart to make my own, I'd never be caught dead in any of these clothes… except maybe armour which I may eventually be forced to buy as I'm not going to survive due to my super awesome fighting skills!

'Or lack thereof' Matt said.

'It was sarcasm Matt!'

'Well I never understood the point or sense of sarcasm… you do know that they call it the lowest form of wit don't you'

'They obviously haven't met me before now have they?'

'That would just prove their point'

'As soon as we're out of this mess and have a bit more money I'm going to find a way to get rid of you and I don't care if it means banishing you or killing someone to give you your own body I'm getting rid of you one way or another!' my mind hissed at him as I tip toed to the steps before running down them carelessly. Perhaps Kalina would kill someone here in my absence if that woke her from her beauty sleep.

Then again I wasn't too sure.

"Zar-Nas, thanks heaps, I'll be back in by tomorrow, at most sometime next week" I said as I burst out of the door.

Bolting I ran across the courtyard and out of Leyawiin before slowing to a slight jog. What was my current plan? I really didn't have one to be honest but even with my weapons, obviously the ones out of the dungeon passage thingy which makes no sense, is illogical and really, really doesn't belong there… and especially the well is out of place! But anyway before I get sidetracked…

With my current weapons I was beginning to doubt my first plan of going up to the Inn of Ill Omen as a while east of there was that random place with the unicorn, so basically I'd be torn to pieces by the minotaur, or the unicorn would attack me… so that really wouldn't work… well… there goes all the plan I had!

Plan B which I'm making up on the spot, Matt's advice, David always joined the Dark Brotherhood when he played, so I'd continue up to the Inn of Ill Omen and then see if Rufio was dead or alive, simple right?

Well here's hoping to the fact it is!

Shifting the weight of my bag I continued in my jog, all the exercise here was really doing wonders for my fitness! Then again… a screaming bandit wielding and axe that's charging at you also seems to work wonders when it comes to running for hours!

Trust me, I have experience!

A lot of experience…

Too much experience actually… anyone willing to trade places with me for once I mean honestly, being chased by bandits is way under rated, so why should I get all the luck this time?

Glancing over my shoulder I saw he was gaining on me as I slowed down, I couldn't keep running like this forever, if I stopped somewhere he'd anyway come after me in there, the guards couldn't help now. Naturally, I did the first thing that came to mind, which may've been the stupidest thing anyone could've done.

I skidded to a halt, turning to watch him charge at me. His charge pace slowed slightly, just enough to be noticeably different. Readying his axe he held it above his shoulder, as he swung I ducked underneath running behind a tree which I crouched behind.

I'd protected myself when Baurus hid behind me when that zombie attacked, but what had I done? Suddenly I wished that I'd actually bothered to learn to use magic as well as a really basic aim with bow and arrow. Weaving between a few trees I hid behind another one, were I couldn't be seen as well as before thanks to the thicker trunk. It was now or never. I pulled my bow off my back, reaching for an arrow at the same time. Pulling it back I focused on the bandit's angry form, searching the first line of trees. Shoot, sling it back over my back and run was my current plan, especially with an aim like mine. If it hit him, it would possibly delay him though. Which is what I was hoping for, after all would that really be too much to ask for?

Probably yes… but oh well…

Releasing the arrow I slung the bow back over my shoulder, hearing the cry to rage as he turned to find me, pressing myself up so the tree I didn't dare to breathe till he walked passed my tree as I carefully trod around it, sprinting again in the direction of the Inn of Ill Omen. Glancing behind me he was there, running unfortunately without a limp but instead quicker than before in his anger about injury, suddenly I was airborne. His laughter echoed through the trees as pain filled me as I landed on the ground, rolling due to momentum until I crashed into a tree.

I wanted to cry out in pain but that was probably what he wanted so I stayed silent, glaring at him as he laughed, licking his lips in glee and anticipation. The anticipation of what he was going to do, the anticipation of the kill filled him. I didn't much like that idea; in fact I really dislike that idea!

~Flashback~

"KILL IT, JUST KILL IT, IT'S EVIL!" I screamed at Baurus, alas, he didn't head my advice… instead he ran and hid behind me! Me of all people! I couldn't fight if my life depended on it… wait… my life does depend on it! It raised its hand to attack me so I instinctively raised my hands to shield my face.

Suddenly I heard a small zoom noise and then a noise of something being hit by… well, something. I also felt my hands suddenly heat up before cooling down a bit. I opened my eyes to see the mutilated corpse on fire!

~End Flashback~

My eyes widened in shock, I'd probably have to thank Matt even if he didn't cause that to happen, because he'd claim he did, but for now I'd realised that was what I'd been looking for, rather desperately actually. He swung his axe fancily around him body, trying to scare me. I just had to play right into his hands now. I closed my eyes, imagining the axe hitting me, hearing the swings as it moved quickly through the air. My pulse was accelerating; lifting my hands defensively in his direction I bit my lip. If this didn't work I'd be a random mutilated corpse that no one cared about, literally walked over without second thought.

My hand tingled, going to that same heat as it had once before, before the temperature returned relatively normal making me feel drained. I heard a startled yelp, before a slight scream, smelling the burning flesh. Forcing myself to look the other way I ran before someone like a guard came and look me away. He was dead, truly and utterly dead, his yelp, his distressed scream echoing in my ears.

By the time I reached the Inn I found myself almost in tears, that's how I'd play this card. I stumbled in, collapsing in a heap of tears almost immediately, both of weariness and relief as well as what just happened. But the inn keeper didn't have to know that now did he?

"M-m-m-my father's s-s-su-supposed to be here" I said, inserting a gulp for good measure as I wiped the tears from my face. "My m-mum and I had an… an argument and I couldn't take any more of it, is he here?" I asked innocently enough, my rugged appearance and all the tears probably worked because his eyes softened immediately, he was probably sure I wanted a free room when I came in like this… which wouldn't hurt but I wouldn't bother.

"Who is he?" who is he I wonder? I mean honestly there was only one person that stayed at the inn at this current time wasn't there? Not like there were any other rooms taken! I forced myself to sniffle pathetically, trying not to burst out laughing. Drama classes were a true blessing!

"R…" I trailed off, bursting into a group of sobs which I used to force more tears to come. " R-r-rufio… I have to see if he's alright… we come from Skyrim and I came as quick as I could…" I inserted another sniffle for good measure. "She threatened to send an assassin… go to the dark brotherhood for help to get rid of him… m-m-my daddy" I forced another group of sobs to escape, though I knew well that that was a lie, he was a lying, deceiving scoundrel that deserved death for the rape that resulted in death of that poor woman!

"Oh" he looked at me with pitying and concerned eyes. "His rooms in the basement… the furthest door on the left" I nodded feebly, forcing myself to run to the hatchet, my hands trembling wildly as I undid it, climbing down. I stopped with the guise, acting normally though I had the feeling someone was watching, of course it was probably just me being stupid.

I walked into his room, seeing the white sheets filled with blood, Rufio still looking as though he was in a deep sleep. Screaming as loud as I could I forced myself back into the guise of the worried daughter, trembling as I fell backwards at the wall hearing footsteps approach.

My whole body shook, trembling but not because of his death.

'See what I meant?' Matt asked.

"No… it can't be… he wouldn't… it can't be… not him" I said aloud, both for Matt to hear and for the Innkeeper to keep up my act and what not. It worked for both quite well actually. I found myself picked up, carried across and upstairs to the top story, laid in a bed I shivered. Fear coursed through my body for my brother.

He wouldn't do something like this would he?

Blackness overcame me suddenly, the screams of distress and the yelp of the bandit that I killed mixed with the scream of my own; and the paranoia of being watched.

Next stop Imperial city; the waterfront.

A/N Huge thanks to all reviewers and readers, and a special call out to XXDarkXSisterXX and Lostlovemanami who both read and reviewed all chapters recently… (author is actually surprised she still has readers with the amount of time it takes her to update) so thanks heaps for your continued support, it's much appreciated!

All best wishes to you all

FaelwenofLothlorien
(who is currently and overly happy and gloating authoress)