Briani P.O.V.

…x.X.x…

That night, the nightmares were different. I hadn't had any in several days, and after a day and a half with no sleep, I was not surprised that they were more intense than usual.

I did not expect them to be so… focused.

It's dark. Where am I? The floor is rocking ever so slightly... am I on a ship of some kind? I crawl, stumbling over small boxes, cursing quietly as splinters needle my hands. I see a light.

I'm in a hallway. I recognize this place; it's my father's favorite ship, the Katariah. I know now what I will find if I continue, but I am no longer in control. Horror fills my chest, nauseating me.

A figure, cloaked in black and red. He slips between the large doors to my father's study, and I am filled with fear, knowing what is about to happen. I follow him, but he seems oblivious to me. My father stands across the room. He doesn't see me either.

He is not surprised at the intrusion. He seems resigned to the fact he is about to die. He has a calm conversation with the cloaked figure. The assassin seems almost sad to have to kill him. He his respectful and almost thoughtful, up until his blade slides across my father's chest.

Red. On the floor, soaking my father's clothes, splattered on the strangers sword. Red, everywhere. The stranger turns. His eyes lock on me and I know he sees me. A horrible smile spreads on his features, but he says nothing. I only watch in shock as he shifts, until it is not a stranger staring back at me. Dark hair spills from the hood, the slim figure lurching towards me. My face stares back at me, my own eyes filled with unnatural malice.

The doppelganger's eyes are a frightening pale red. It's not me. It can't be. Only a dream. But the voice that comes from her throat is mine.

"Your fault!" She sings. "Your fault! You ran away. You chose to turn your back. Does it haunt you?" Her laugh is manic, and I back away, dread crushing me, suffocating me.

"No." All I can manage is the choked sob. "NO!"

"Your turn." Insane giggles spurt from her throat like the blood welling from my father's chest.

She leaps.

I shot up, a shuddering gasp erupting from my chest. My cheeks were wet. I had been crying in my sleep.

I curled in a ball, feeling the guilt wash over me again. I shivered, and realized that all the furs had fallen from the bed. I must have been fidgeting in my sleep as well.

"Briani?" A low voice called quietly. I look up. Cayn was standing in the doorway. His arm appeared to be fully healed, and he had returned to his normal color, no longer the clammy pale color he was turning when we got back to the College.

"I-" My voice was hoarse. "I'm awake."

"Are you okay?" He steped into the room. "You were calling in your sleep."

"Yes." I wanted to tell him. I needed to. But I couldn't. "Just nightmares."

He snorted at that. "Don't lie, Briani. I'm surprised you didn't wake the whole College." His response was tart, but his voice was gentle. "Do you want to talk about it?"

I was about to refuse, but there was a lump stubbornly lodged in my throat. He sat down on the bed next to me, letting the silence hang for a moment. He was close, and in my sleep-addled mind I knew I shouldn't like it, that it shouldn't comfort me, but it did.

"I have nightmares too." He said quietly. "Almost every night. If it makes you feel any better."

I shook my head numbly. It didn't.

"It was about my father." The words floated out of my mouth without permission, barely a whisper. But I knew he heard it. "It's my fault he died." I clenched my eyes shut, curling my knees tighter against my chest. A heaving gasp emphasized my words. "My fault."

"What are you talking about?" Cayn said indignantly. "How could it be your fault?"

"Cayn…" I was going to tell him. What was I doing? "I ran away. I left." I looked up at him, willing myself to meet his eyes. I didn't know how he was going to react, but I was afraid. Afraid he'd turn his back on me, be angry for hiding it. Afraid that I'd lose the only person left that I care about.

"Briani-" He spoke again, but I cut him off.

"My last name." I shook my head, unable to keep the sad smile off my face. "You asked me my last name." I took a deep breath. He thought it was inconsequential- just another thing the unforthcoming girl refused to share. Why was I telling him this? Was my sleepy, nightmare-ridden mind so incapable?

"My last name is Mede."

Recognition flashed in his eyes, and shock painted itself on his face. "What? As in-"

"As in Titus Mede II." I said, the exhaustion edging my voice. The tears were welling up again and I blinked hard, willing my eyes to stay dry.

"I…" I watched the emotions morph on his face. Surprise, denial, disbelief, confusion. He gaped at me.

"I always knew there was something about you." He said finally, a pained expression on his face. "You always seemed… commanding." He laughed, but there was a bitter note in it.

I stared at him, mildly taken aback. "Wait… you aren't… angry?" I refused to let any hope enter my voice. I lowered my eyes, praying he couldn't see their color in the darkness. "That I didn't tell you?"

He looked at me long and hard, and I felt heat rush unreasonably intense to my cheeks. "No." He said after a moment. "I'm not angry. I tried to hide things from you too, although I wasn't as successful." Another bitter laugh. "But… I'm hurt. Did you not trust me?"

My relief was tinged with shame. I hadn't trusted him. I had a second chance, at least. "Put yourself in my place." I mused. "Daughter of the Emperor on the run, with the Emperor recently assassinated. I was going to tell you, but when I learned…" I choked, feeling the overwhelming guilt hit me again.

"Hey… it's ok…" He put a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I understand."

I opened my mouth to talk but to my mortification only a sob came out, and soon I was crying. I felt strong arms go around me and realized that he was holding me. I was too tired to be embarrassed, and buried my face in his chest.

After what feels like an eternity I spoke. "I didn't want you to hate me." My voice was small.

"I don't hate you." I felt his arms tighten imperceptibly before he sat back. "But you can talk to me about anything. I want you to know that." His words were carefully crafted.

I smiled halfheartedly. I felt like a child, insecure and weak-hearted. I didn't know what to say, so I simply whispered, "Thank you. Really."

He stood slowly, hesitatingly. "Get some sleep. It's a few more hours until sunrise. Then we'll leave for Mzulft." And then he was gone.

Just as quickly, I fell back into blissfully empty dreams.

…x.X.x…

The sun was shining brightly in the sky when I emerged from the sleeping hall. My pack was slung over my shoulder, the worn leather bag filled with potions, food, and other supplies. It was windy, and I was almost afraid to be knocked off of the bridge when I crossed, painfully aware of the precarious footing.

Cayn was waiting by the horses at the end of the bridge.

"Good morning!" I said over-brightly, hitching my pack onto the back of my horse's saddle. In the hour since I've woken the memories of last night had returned. Now, with my mind clear and fully functional, I was slightly embarrassed.

He raised a brow, a friendly smirk on his face. "Good morning. Sleep well?"

"Like a rock." What was wrong with me?

He chuckled. "Good. Mzulft is not very far. It's farther than Fellglow was, but we don't need to cross the mountains. It should only be about a day's ride."

"Good." I released a relieved sigh. "I wasn't really looking forward to riding for another two days."

"Afraid I'd challenge you to another snowball fight?" He said, a wicked grin spreading across his features.

I shot him a glare. "Don't tempt me."

…x.X.x…

However irritating, Cayn was correct. After about a day we had crossed Eastmarch hold, and there was a few instantly recognizable towers in the distance. With their intricate metal doors, and stout rounded towers built into the mountain it was certain that this was Mzulft, the dwemer ruin. Cayn, who had, per usual, talked the whole trip, went strangely silent.

"Dragon got your tongue?" I asked.

"I…" He sighed. "I guess I was hoping I'd never see one of these again. They're not very nice places."

"I told you that you didn't have to come!" I said indignantly.

"I couldn't let you come alone!" He cried. "You have no idea what's in there! If you died…" He shook his head. "I would never forgive myself."

"I…" I wasn't sure what to say. "Thank you. But you could've just told me what to expect, huh?"

He smiled sadly. "Either way, we're here now. We'll camp outside tonight and go in tomorrow."

The terrain down to the entrance of the ruin was treacherous, and it took us another half an hour to reach the bottom. The sun was setting and I was more than happy to set up camp and sit by a roaring campfire.

Six months ago I would have gladly traded a campfire for a soft bed of feathers. I thought to myself, a bit struck by thought. But now I think I prefer the campfire. I shot a shy glance at Cayn. My present company doesn't hurt, either.

I shook my head angrily. Stop thinking like a star struck fool. We have a job to do.

It was peaceful if a bit frigid, and soon the latter was remedied with a flickering fire. I huddled by the flames casting various protection spells around camp while Cayn heated up some rations. When we retired to our tents the sky was dark, if you could really say that. Bright stars stretched across the expanse, brilliant lights of color leaping across the sky and highlighting the clouds. We never saw skies like these in Cyrodiil, but in the frozen north it was almost commonplace. And for the first time in what seemed like years, I slept without nightmares.

…x.X.x…

The next morning we wasted no time in entering the ruin. It was what was inside the very first chamber that made me hesitate, adding a single straw of fear onto the already large pile in my heart.

A man lay dying slumped against the wall right by the door.

I rushed forward, and heard him exhale a few breathy words. Something about a stolen crystal.

"Sir?" I asked quietly, knowing he was well on his way to the afterlife. He was silent, and after one more rattling breath no more came. I closed his eyes.

Cayn stood behind us, a concerned look on his face. "This is the work of the falmer. But I've never seen them this close to the surface." His concern was replaced with sudden sadness. "Is he gone?"

I nodded solemnly. "Yes." I reached into his robe , probing the large pockets for anything of use. My fingers brushed a small leather-bound notebook, and the cold metal of a key. I brought them out, handed Cayn the key, and flipped through the journal.

"It says something about a group of mages. Some sort of focusing crystal… they were delivering it?" I shook my head, confused. "Let's just continue."

It turned out that we did need the key. At the end of the first chamber there was another pair of massive doors, and after a bit of tugging we discovered rather sheepishly that the key we had picked from him was a perfect match.

We continued through the ruin, and the sounds of machinery echoed around us. The air was warm and damp, I presumed because of the hot steam erupting from the ancient machines. It was eerie, the giant machines moving even thousands of years after they were abandoned. However dangerous the ruins were, their builders were certainly genius on a level far above us. We passed another dead researcher, and skirted his body silently. I was just congratulating myself on our luck so far when I heard a strange clicking to either side of us.

"Spiders!" Cayn cried, drawing his sword and sending his hand up in flames. "Only a nuisance. They can't do any real damage, but they are irritating."

The spiders were about the size of my torso, shiny gold dwemer metal and steaming angrily. They whirred angrily as they approached, their legs clacking on the floor. A swift swipe of Cayn's blade and a frozen ice spike from my palm quickly dispatched them. We walked on, keeping our magic and weapons ready just in case something a little bigger than a spider decided to attack. Several more spiders attacked, but they had little more success than their fallen brethren. Before long we came upon a much larger chamber. Two sets of doors led out. I approached the one on the right of the chamber, and tugged on them. They swung open easily. I turned to Cayn, and he shrugged.

"Let's go that way then. These things have a way of working themselves out."

It didn't do much to comfort me, but we continued that way anyways. Beyond the door the structures were much more natural and cave-like, although dwemer machines and architecture still erupted from the walls at random intervals. We crept through the tunnel, and rounded a corner. The sight made me sick.

Two giant bug-like creatures hovered over the bodies of two more researchers. They were long and heavily armored, huge sharp pincers gnashing together as the emitted peculiar clicking noises. I had to clap a hand over my mouth before I could let out a horrified gasp. Cayn cursed quietly under his breath.

"Chaurus." My eyes widened at that. I had heard stories, but… "They won't be the worst thing we meet in here, but they're certainly unpleasant. Watch out that they don't bite you- their poison is vile." He finished.

I couldn't help the nervous chuckle. "Good thing I brought potions this time, huh?"

He shot me a concerned look. "Just don't get bitten, okay? Even if you survive it'll hurt like hell."

"You have experience." It wasn't a question. My voice was suddenly quiet.

He didn't say anything. He didn't need to. He summoned two spikes of crackling lighting. "If they survive this I need you to be ready to hit them again right away." But luckily it wasn't necessary. They both went down, hissing and filling the room with the smell of burnt flesh. I wrinkled my nose, and we crept past the bodies. The ruin continued past in a blur of fighting and sneaking past bodies. When we encountered our first falmer I could barely look at them.

"Vile things, aren't they?" Cayn said, kicking away a small body. "Unfortunately they infest these ruins like rats. There'll be many more."

We had been walking for what seemed like hours when the scenery changed suddenly. Ornate pillars and pipes billowing steam lined the walls of the chambers, which were much larger than most of the other chambers. Two heavily armored falmer assaulted us, giving both us minor wounds before we could fell them. Something felt off as we walked across the room. I don't know how neither of us noticed the heavy whirring and clanking, but I supposed we were used to the noises by the time we had gotten that far in the ruin.

It wasn't until a massive gold arm struck Cayn in the chest and sent him flying across the room that I realized how stupid I was.

…x.X.x…

Gasp! Mzulft part one complete! Hope you enjoyed, there was indeed much fluff this chapter!

Please rate and review! I love all my readers and love your comments even more :3

~ElderSkie 3