We're back in action!

You always make it seem like we were never coming back.

Eh, it's my way of coping with these long silences.

Long silences?

Our fans get so devastated when we don't update right away.

Speaking of which, we would like to give a quick shout-out to Jake12344, thanks for being the first reviewer to our story, now for the bad news.

That's right, we quit. So long fella's!

…

Nah just kidding, there is no bad news, only a new chapter. Disclaimer: We seriously do not own any of the Elder Scrolls series, if we did, there'd be some sick content coming your way. We do however own any and all OC's you see in the story.

We hope you enjoy.

Descent into Darkness

Chapter 9: The Coming Dawn

Arlia and her group proceeded cautiously down the stairs, Arlia's torch lighting the pitch black passage. She reached the bottom of the stairs, her eyes scanning the darkness. "Which way?" She asked, breaking the eerie silence.

"Straight ahead, ma'am," one of the Kvatch guards uttered. Arlia trudged ahead, stepping very lightly as she made her way forward, stopping dead in her tracks as she heard something scurry about to her left.

"It's nothing," one of the Legionnaires whispered, his voice low, "Just the damned rats." Arlia stood in the middle of the dark, dank crypt, the shuffling now coming from several directions at once.

"That's far too much noise for rats," she said, drawing her ebony dagger. Behind her, she heard a crackle of energy and quickly twisted around, dodging to her right as she turned. A loud growl sounded out in the darkness and fireball flew past her face, singing a bit of her hair. "Scamps!" She shouted. With that, the men that accompanied her drew their weapons, their eyes darting around the room frantically. Once again, a growl sounded out and another fireball emerged from the darkness. One of the Kvatch guards howled in pain as the fireball connected with his helmet, instantly heating up the cold steel. Arlia and the others looked as he dropped to his knees struggling to rip the helmet from his head. The heat of the metal had caused his flesh to melt onto it, making removing the helmet excruciating. He screamed as he ripped the helmet off, taking the skin from the left side of his head along with it. Arlia heard more scuffling to here left and swiftly turned that way, thrusting with her dagger as she went. The dagger plunged into a Scamp's chest, a slight yelp escaping his lips. Arlia snarled as she withdrew the dagger and furiously thrust into the Scamp several more times. The Scamp screeched as he fell to the ground, blood pouring from his wounds. Arlia turned to see the other men dispatching two more Scamps, making quick work of them.

"I can't believe they were beneath the chapel," a Kvatch guard muttered, "right under us the entire time."

"You'd better make that list pretty damn short," Arlia said, "After what I've seen lately, there's not very much I won't believe anymore." The guard glanced nervously at the Wood Elf, sweat trickling down his face. They all looked down at their fallen comrade, the flesh on his face burned and melted. "No sense in standing around here," She said sternly, "We need to push forward." The others lingered slightly behind but quickly gathered themselves and followed her through the catacombs. Arlia treaded carefully, her dagger at the ready. No other Scamps emerged from the darkness surrounding them, yet, the men cringed at every small sound. She led the men up another set of stairs and pushed open the wooden door. They stepped out into the ruined city, the streets littered with corpses. Mere hours before, Arlia had stalked Destri Aldwyr through these very streets, now his body laid alongside countless others. Arlia threw the torch to the ground and sheathed her dagger. She took her bow from her back along with an arrow, holding the arrow back on the bowstring as they proceeded down the street.

"Where is this guard house?" She whispered, turning to face the Kvatch guards.

"Follow me, ma'am," one of them said. With that, he stepped in front of Arlia and led the group through the city, showing them the way through the streets until they came to a small tower. Arlia used the key on the door and they all slipped inside. The Kvatch guardsmen led the way downstairs to a narrow tunnel, all shuffled in single file, squeezing through the tight space. Arlia could hear the Legionnaires having trouble, their bulky plate armor making it difficult to move. They proceeded down this tunnel for a few minutes until they entered another tower. The room was wide and open, a hole in one wall and a window across from it. There was one door in the room and a staircase leading upwards.

"This is the gatehouse, ma'am," one of them whispered. Arlia peered through the small hole in the wall and into the courtyard, seeing a large group of Dremora shuffling around. Arlia tiptoed across the room and opened the window facing toward the city. She spotted the chapel easily enough as it was taller than most buildings in the city. One of the Legionnaires peered through the hole, watching the Dremora patrol the courtyard.

"By the Nine," he whispered shakily, "So it's true."

"Where is the winch for the gate?" Arlia asked.

"Just outside this door." One of the guardsmen gestured to the only door within the room.

"Hunker down and keep quiet," she hissed. "I want someone watching this window at all times. When they give the signal, we rush out and open the gates."

"If we set foot outside they'll spot us for sure," the Legionnaire said, "They'll slaughter us all."

"I need you to keep quiet," Arlia spat, "If they hear us, they'll come barreling through that door and cut us all down before we even get to set foot outside." The Legionnaire swallowed hard, sweat rolling down his face. He slumped over against the wall and slid down it, sitting down on the floor. Arlia nodded at one of the Kvatch guardsmen and he took her place at the window. Arlia pulled up a chair at the small table in the room and rested her head in her hands. All the other men made themselves comfortable around the room. Arlia closed her eyes and quickly dozed off.

DARKNESS

"There it is!" Arlia was startled awake by one of the men shouting. She heard the Dremora outside snarl and growl in response to his voice. Arlia scrambled to her feet to see one of the Kvatch guards burst through the door and hastily pull the lever.

"You fool!" She shouted, barreling across the room, drawing her dagger as she went. She lunged through the open door and thrust her dagger into a Dremora's neck, narrowly saving the guard's life. The gate creaked as it lifted, Savlian and Cassius leading the charge. Behind them were the small group of Kvatch guardsmen as well as a small contingent of Anvil guardsmen.

"Charge!" Savlian shouted. Arlia turned to face the incoming Dremora drawing another dagger in her right hand. Adrenaline took over as Arlia rushed into the throng of demons, her daggers cutting swiftly. The main guard force collided with the Dremora, many men falling in that initial clash. Blood spray and screams filled the courtyard as the battle raged on. Arlia quickly found herself surrounded and backpedaled, only to bump into another one. She turned swiftly, aiming to plant her dagger in the beast's throat, only to find that it was Cassius she had bumped into. They stood back to back, cutting down any opposition that approached them. In a matter of minutes, their foes were vanquished, their corpses littering the courtyard. Arlia and Cassius both took a deep breath, wiping the black blood from their faces. Cassius shot Arlia a grin and nudged her shoulder as he moved towards Savlian. Savlian moved throughout the courtyard, counting their losses.

"What's next?" Cassius asked him. Savlian looked up and met his gaze.

"Now we've got to get inside the castle and find the count. Hopefully it isn't too late. Let's move!" Savlian and the rest of the guardsmen hurdled over the dead and up to castle doors, Arlia and Cassius following closely behind. They easily opened the doors, surprisingly enough, and poured through them. As they did, fireballs flew towards them, hurled by Scamps from all around the room.

"Scatter!" Cassius shouted, but it was no good., the entryway was a choke point; all of their forces crammed into that small space. One after another, their men went up in flames, their screams of pain and agony echoing through the hall. They lost ten men before they were able to enter the main hall and disperse, hurrying to eliminate the Scamps. Arlia sheathed her daggers and drew her bow, quickly taking one down with it. Cassius charged another, narrowly ducking under the raging inferno. He slid on his knees and forced his sword into its gut, lifting it from the ground before letting it all lifelessly to the ground. The remaining Scamps were quickly cut down and Savlian ran up to the throne. The hall itself was utterly destroyed; banners aflame and stone columns laid to waste.

"The Count's not here," Savlian said worriedly. He turned to face Cassius and Arlia who walked up beside him. "I know I've asked so much of you two already," he said, "but I need one last favor." Arlia sighed heavily, turning to leave the room, until Cassius caught her shoulder.

"You'll get your money," Cassius said in a hushed tone, "You have my word."

"I'd better." She said sternly.

"We'll hold this area," said Savlian, "I need you two to search the back of the castle for the Count; that's where his quarters are. Don't come back without him." Arlia chuckled lightly.

"Surely you don't expect us to drag a corpse back here with us." Savlian glared at her angrily.

"There is still hope that he yet lives."

"Not much," she smirked, "Look around you, Captain. All this death and destruction and you still believe your lord survived? Think realistically for a moment. His entrails are likely spread throughout this castle." Savlian reached for his blade, only to have Cassius grab his arm.

"We'll find him," he said calmingly. He looked over at Arlia and shook his head slightly. He let Savlian's arm go and trudged up the stairs, Arlia reluctantly following him. They pushed rubble from the doorway and moved deeper into the castle. All was quiet as they proceeded down the ruined halls.

"Why did you say that?" Cassius asked, "About the Count?"

"Because it's likely true," she answered, "You at least should have enough sense to realize that."

"Aye, but these people have lost everything. They cling to hope and you just tried to rip it all away."

"Then they are fools. Hope leads to disappointment." Cassius glanced over his shoulder at her, noticing her distant gaze.

"What is it that happened to you?" He asked, "I understand that you're mean-spirited, but I can tell you weren't always as such."

"Don't pretend that you know me," she said angrily, "I need not explain myself to you."

"Indeed," he sighed. He pushed open another door to see a large open room, several Scamps standing around it. He gasped as he leapt to the side, Arlia leaping to the other. He quickly cut down the Scamp immediately to his left and slid out of the way of an incoming fireball. Arlia flung arrows around the room, dropping three in a row. Cassius rushed the last one, cleanly cleaving off its head.

"And I was starting to think we were alone back here," he said. They proceeded through the hall, checking every room as they went. These rooms were not nearly posh and cozy enough for a Count. They reached the end of the hall and pushed open the door, which was much heavier than the others. Inside, tattered banners covered the walls, bookshelves flipped over, books littering the floor. The bed itself had been turned over and set ablaze. Next to it, laid a man dressed in very fine clothes. Cassius knelt down next to him and turned him into his back.

"What did I tell you?" Arlia chuckled. Cassius frowned as he removed the Count's ring. "Are we to take him back with us?" She said mockingly. Cassius shook his head as he rose to his feet. He brushed past Arlia and made his way back to throne room silently. Arlia followed a few steps behind as they walked through the destroyed castle. Cassius hastily entered the throne room, Savlian's face lighting up as he caught sight of him. Arlia stepped into view and Savlian's smile faded. The pair went down the stairs and stood face to face with Savlian.

"You return," he said, "But where is the Count? Why is he not with you?" Cassius held out his hand, the golden emerald ring shining brightly.

"He didn't make it," Cassis said sadly.

"He was lying face-down in a pool of blood," said Arlia under her breath. Cassius rolled his eyes as he glanced over at her. Thankfully, he'd been the only to hear it.

"We... We were too late?" Savlian took the ring from Cassius and turned it between his fingers. He turned from them and took a few steps away. "If only we'd gotten here sooner!" He shouted angrily. He turned to face Cassius and Arlia again, hanging his head in grief. "This is indeed a dark day. For all of us." He straightened up and looked them both in the eyes. "I thank you two for risking your own lives to help us." Cassius nodded in response, Arlia smirked slightly. "At least the ring is safe," said Savlian, "I shall make sure it stays that way, for the time when a new Count is crowned." Savlian whistled and two Kvatch gaurd tunics were brought forth by one of the guardsmen. "Take these," he said, "May they serve you well in the days to come." Cassius took his graciously, Arlia scoffing as she balled it up. Savlian glared at her again and sighed heavily. "Cassius Sestuis," his voice boomed through the hall, "From this day forth, you will be hailed as The Hero of Kvatch. Had you not come along, our city surely would've fallen completely. Thanks to you, we have the chance to rebuild and begin anew." The men and women throughout the hall broke out into applause and Cassius stood paralyzed. "And you," said Savlian looking over to Arlia, "You're just a mercenary. Not a hero at all." He snatched the tunic from Arlia. She chuckled lightly.

"I care not, old man," she said, "I've no need for your trinkets." Cassius glared at her and motioned towards the door, the two of them stepping past Savlian. The crowd parted as they proceeded through the hall. Two guardsmen opened the doors for them and they stepped out into the courtyard. They walked through the city silently, back to the chapel, and out of the main gates. As they walked down the hill, Cassius finally spoke up.

"Why do you have to be that way?" He asked, "You've helped save these people. You could've been hailed as a hero. Instead, you chose to mock them and out them down. Why?"

"I'm no hero," she said, "I was just in it for the money. Savlian knew that. And I'd best get it."

"You will," he assured her again. They walked into the refugee camp, people packing up and getting ready to move back into town. Martin caught sight of them and smiled as he stepped towards them.

"You've done it," he said happily, "You've saved Kvatch."

"Unfortunately, the Count didn't make it," Cassius said.

"Is that so? Unfortunate as that is, these people still have a chance to strive and prosper thanks to you two." Martin reached for a coin-purse, which was heaving with gold and handed it to Cassius. Cassius promptly handed it to Arlia who turned it over in her hands.

"Five hundred Septims," said Cassius, "And that's just to start."

"So you were good for it," she smiled, "But you still owe me quite a bit."

"That I do." He said, smiling back a bit.

"Just remember Hero, I'll get what I'm owed, even if I have to hunt you down for it." Cassius sighed heavily. Arlia brushed past Martin and disappeared into the bustling crowd in the camp.

"She's not one to be indebted to," said Martin, shaking his head slowly. "I still can't believe she helped at all."

"Tell me about it," Cassius said, watching her retreating back. He couldn't deny that she had been the reason he had survived the day, her skills were incredible, but so was her brutality. He wondered to himself if he would ever see her again, finding himself hopeful that it would be soon. "I can't focus on that for now, we must go, Jauffre awaits us." Martin quickly gathered a small pack of supplies and the two left the camp for Weynon Priory, each knowing they wouldn't forget the nightmare they had endured, each thanking the Nine for the dawn on the horizon.