A/N: Now it all comes together. Still don't own it.
Karis cast a series of magelights around the cove, letting the soft lavender light spill over the rough hewn walls. Baurus stood nearby, watching the shadows.
"Relax. This is a peaceful meeting. It's not like assassins are waiting to kill us." She said, trailing a hand down his spine. He turned and gathered her into his arms.
"I understand, and I trust you, it's just…." He trailed off, again glancing about.
"Something feels off." She finished. He nodded and they both turned to the door as a creak was heard. The door to the outer walls of the castle was still shut.
"Rule number One; When someone is waiting for you, never use the front door." A feminine voice said through the darkness. Karis turned to see an Argonian man standing next to a woman wearing a familiar gray cowl.
"I thought the Gray Fox was a man." Baurus said, and the woman's mouth twisted up in a grin.
"Rule number Two; misdirection can save your life. This is Amusei, my faithful guardian and messenger." She introduced. Amusei nodded his dark scaled head at the pair.
"I am Arch Mage Karis, and this is my beloved, Baurus of the Emperor's Blades." Karis responded.
"Dibella's blessings on you both. May I ask why you requested this meeting?" the Gray Fox asked, perching on a nearby rock, while Amusei crouched down next to her.
"To be honest, another requested the meeting." Karis replied. Just then, the door to the cove opened, and a Redgaurd couple entered the cove.
"Arch Mage, I am Zathira. This is my husband, Azzan." The woman introduced.
"Greetings Guildmaster. This is my beloved, Baurus, and I'm sure you recognize the Gray Fox." Karis replied. Zathira's eyebrows rose as she took in the Imperial woman in the cowl and the Argonian man crouched at her side.
"Lex would be fuming if he knew you were here. Though that's probably why you requested this meeting in Anvil." She commented. Both the other women frowned in confusion.
"The Arch Mage asked for the meeting." The Gray Fox said.
"I received a letter from you asking that I contact the Gray Fox and arrange this meeting." Karis said to Zathira. Azzan and Baurus drew their weapons and began looking around, as did Amusei and the women.
"Something's not right." Amusei muttered as the Gray Fox searched the corners of the room, looking for someone hiding in the shadows. Her cowl was enchanted to detect life around her, but she saw nothing.
"We've been set up." Zathira spat, drawing her enchanted blade. Sensing movement behind her, she spun, her blade cutting into a sudden attacker. A blur of movement to the group's left had them staring at a figure in black robes pinning a small Dunmer to the wall by his throat.
"Did Eno truly think to send one of his assassins into my territory without the Night Mother being aware? Did you truly expect us to allow you to eliminate the leaders of the guilds and take the blame without a fight?" the woman hissed. Grunting, the man kicked out, catching her in the chest, sending her flying back. The hood of her robes fell back, revealing a mass of midnight blue curls.
"Verity!" the Gray Fox and Karis cried out simultaneously. The pair looked at each other for a moment, then focused on the fight between assassins. Verity drew her blade and launched herself at the Dunmer. He flicked a hand, and sent her flying back with a powerful telekenisis spell. Giving a shout, several more dark clothed figures appeared out of nowhere.
"They're vampires! Be careful!" Verity cried out. Karis quickly called fire spells to her hand, blasting several of the vampires as they tried to swarm over Baurus and Azzan. Zathira was easily cutting through the few around her, the creatures bursting into flames with her strikes. The Gray Fox was standing before Amusei, firing arrows into the vampires as fast as she could, while the Argonian trembled. Verity looked at the leader and threw her Blade of Woe at him. He caught it by the hilt and flicked it right back at her with blinding speed. Knowing she would never catch it in time, she closed her eyes.
I'm coming Lucien. I'm sorry I failed your lessons. She thought, waiting for death to embrace her.
"I think you need a refresher on my most important lesson, Verity." His silky voice whispered in her ear. Eyes bolting open, Verity took in the dark brown eyes of her beloved Speaker, holding her dagger in his hands. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she stamped down the joy in heart for the moment.
"Excuse me for a moment, Speaker." She said formally, taking her blade from his hand. Moving faster than any would have thought possible, she pinned the Dunmer to the wall, her blade forced through his sternum to the hilt.
"Perhaps the lesson need not be repeated." Lucien's teasing tone drifted to her, drawing a wicked grin to her lips.
"If even a trace of the Morag Tong shows up in Cyrodiil again, I will wipe you all from the face of Nirn." She spat, drawing her blade from his chest, watching with satisfaction as his body crumbled to dust. Karis came forward and waved her hand, a telekinesis spell drawing the ashes into a small jar she had found.
"I think the Tong's leader might like these back. At least as a lesson before the Imperial Legion storms in and takes them down." She said dryly. Verity sheathed her blade and turned to face Lucien, who stood near Amusei and the Gray Fox, his arms crossed lazily across his chest. She strode forward and slapped him across the face, hard.
"That is for letting me think you were dead, and that I was all alone." She slapped him again. "That is for waiting this long to reveal yourself to me." She snapped, then grabbed a handful of his shirt and pulled him close, her mouth crashing into his fiercely. Lucien slid his arms around her waist, pulling her close and returning her kiss with fervor. When they broke apart for air, he gazed down into her shimmering green eyes.
"And that was…?" he breathed, and she smiled faintly.
"That was for being alive, and not giving Bellemont the satisfaction of taking you from me." She whispered. Someone cleared their throat, and the pair looked up. Zathira was calmly cleaning her sword, while Azzan and Baurus looked over the remains of their enemies, making sure they were well and truly dead. Karis and the Gray Fox stood side-by-side, arms crossed, gazing expectantly at Verity.
"Nearly eight months we feared you were dead, and you couldn't even be bothered to just send a note saying, 'I'm still alive'?" Karis asked calmly.
"And now we find out that you became an assassin?" the Gray Fox added, her tone calm, accepting.
"Actually, she is the Listener. Our beloved Night Mother speaks directly to her." Lucien said, a trace of pride in his voice. Karis smiled slightly.
"Who'd of thought, the Terrible Trio would become the leaders of three of the guilds of Cyrodiil?" she said, as the Gray Fox pulled her cowl from her head, her royal purple curls tumbling down past her shoulders.
"Where's Amusei?" Zathira asked, noticing the Argonian's absence.
"Sending off a message to Morrowind for me." Teslina replied. Verity slipped from Lucien's arms and flung her arms around her twin. Teslina hugged her back as tightly as she could.
"I'm sorry. I had so much to deal with these last few months, I didn't want to put you in danger." Verity whispered. Teslina smiled and looked her sister in the eye.
"I knew you were alive. My information network let me know you had been in Cheydinhal and Bravil. I kept hoping I would run into you eventually." She replied.
"Well, this was the most fun I've had at a meeting in a while." Zathira chirped, sheathing her blade.
"Zathira, your idea of fun involves Ayleid ruins, zombies, and skeletons being blasted into dust." Azzan remarked.
"I know, and you love it just as much. Now then, we have a vacation to prepare for. Arch Mage, Listener, Fox." She said, grinning as she led her husband from the cove. Baurus shook his head and encircled Karis' waist with his arm.
"Are all your reunions like this?" he asked.
"So far? Yes." Karis replied, causing Teslina to giggle.
"I'm afraid we must cut this meeting short. My Listener and I have many things to discuss, and I'm afraid that the family business simply will not wait." Lucien said, his hand snaking around Verity's middle. Pressing a kiss to her twin's cheek, Verity allowed Lucien to lead her from the cove. Teslina smiled a little sadly.
"What's wrong, Tes?" Karis asked. The Imperial gave a half hearted shrug.
"I'll be fine. Goodnight you two." She said, heading out the door of the cove. Baurus turned and pulled Karis into his arms fully.
"How long do you have until Jauffre needs you back at the temple?" Karis asked.
"About that. Jauffre has decided that the Blades will return to our origins as a monastic order now that we have no emperor to protect. Several of us have moved over to the Fighter's Guild or the Imperial Legion. I, on the other hand, have gone freelance. I was hoping to offer my services to the Arcane University. Maybe as a guard for a certain redhead mage who never stays in the city?" he said, pressing his lips to the sensitive spot above her eyebrow.
"I think that could be arranged. It would be a very intensive position, including nights, weekends, holidays. Most couldn't handle it." She said.
"I'm confident in my staying power. Although I might have to prove it."
"Let's move our negotiations back to the inn." Karis said, pressing a searing kiss to his lips, and sashayed out. Baurus grinned after her.
"Took the words right out of my mouth." He remarked, before hurrying to catch up with her.
A/N: Hee Hee, I've been reading to much Iron Man, Karis and Baurus were starting to sound a little like Tony and Pepper. BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!! I have a couple more chapters left. I would love some more reviews. The next chapter will be dedicated to DarkRocketX
