Author's note: It's been a while since I updated. Sorry. Life happened. Couple little reminders and whatnot. It's been nearly ten years since I played Oblivion so I don't remember exact details about the geography from the game. I'm going off of wikis and quick snippets of youtube walk-throughs.

One other major note about Lucien. I hated Fort Farragut in the game. I've watched crime shows and action movies. Serial killers who manage to go on extended streaks without getting caught seem to have OCD tendencies. Lucien in my mind is sadistic and possibly slightly sociopathic. I also believe that he would be a neat freak and definitely a little on the OCD side. That being said Fort Farragut is a little AU as is Lucien's personality.

If anyone finds any major grammar issues pm me. Also I'm not a review ho, but if anyone is actually enjoying this trip into my imagination I'd love to hear it. Enjoy y'all.

The smell of roasting meat woke me several hours later. My cheek still hurt but the pain was much less intense. I could hear Lucien moving around on the other side of the room. After another few relaxed moments I sighed and rolled out of bed.

At the end of the partition I paused suddenly. What if Lucien was angry? I peered around the wall tentatively to assess the situation. Almost immediately Lucien spotted me. Before I could panic, he smiled.

"I was about to come and wake you. I made us an early dinner. Afterwards we will leave for town. While I take care of matters in the Sanctuary, you can go take care of some other matters for me around town."

I nodded as I approached the table. The first difference I noticed about my surroundings was the lack of mess from my fall earlier. Lucien must have cleaned it up while I was asleep. That thought made me frown.

"What is wrong?" He asked as I sat and he placed a plate of food before me.

"You cleaned up the mess I made? I should have done it." I couldn't help feeling guilty. Melancholy was the only other word I had for the other emotions running through me.

Lucien shrugged and sat at the other end of the table with his own plate of food. "You were injured and needed to rest. Your physical condition is much more important than you serving me. If you are ill or injured you do not need to worry about any duties."

"I have a feeling that I'm going to be injured often." I mumbled with an apprehensive glance in his direction before I continued. "I'm not going to be a very good servant." My emotions were too much for me to contain suddenly. A sob broke from my chest and tears flooded my eyes and spilled down my cheeks.

Lucien was quiet for a moment before he asked, "Are you crying because you finally realized how dangerous it is for you to dwell here with me?"

I shook my head. "If I'm not a good servant you won't have any reason to keep me. I can't go to the Sanctuary, which leaves death as my only fate."

"You are greatly mistaken Amiee." He paused for a minute in an apparent attempt to gather his thoughts. "I do not need a servant. You offered your servitude, which is just fine, but I've taken care of myself all of my adult life. You meeting your death at my hand is no longer a possibility unless you threaten my life or the lives of my Brotherhood.

As I told you before the Night Mother allowed you to enter the Sanctuary through a door that is spelled and physically unbreakable. She has a purpose for you. I don't know what it is but until we figure it out you will reside here. If you wish to assist with chores that is acceptable but it is not a requirement for your wellbeing or your survival."

For a minute I couldn't formulate a response. I wasn't sure what was more overwhelming, being Lucien's prisoner but also kind of his houseguest or the reminder that his dark deity had some sort of purpose for me. I finally decided on the latter and realized that Lucien was the only person who I could actually discuss the matter with.

"I don't have it in me to kill someone in cold blood. What if she's mistaken?" I didn't even think I had it in me to kill Cassius and he had caused me serious mental and physical harm.

Lucien just shrugged. "You may not be here as a killer Amiee. As I said you are the first occurrence of this nature. I have no idea what your purpose is. Finish your meal so that we may leave."

I was surprised to see that he had already finished eating. The man was obviously in a great hurry to get to town. While he cleaned up from dinner and moved about gathering up various things, I quickly finished eating. Once I was done I followed suit and cleaned my dish and then turned and quietly studied him.

For a few moments Lucien seemed completely oblivious to my presence. He was reading and scribbling on a piece of paper at his desk. His brow was creased slightly in concentration and he was leaning over the table braced on his arm. It was quite a sight to behold. I nearly had to look away or make a fool of myself.

Before that moment I hadn't realized just how attractive a man's arm could be. Thick and defined with muscle that twitched every few seconds when he drummed his fingertips against the table. The only thing that looked remotely soft about it was the coating of dark reddish hair that covered his forearm. I wondered what it would feel like if I touched it.

That thought ignited heat that went straight to my cheeks. I looked away then and tried desperately to redirect my thoughts. What was wrong with me? That arm was connected to a dangerous, aggressive murderer who had struck me no more than a few hours before. At the end of that arm was a large hand that had tortured and killed more people than I wanted to know. All of this couldn't seem to drown out my curiosity. Finally I just had to conclude that something was wrong with my head.

"Can you read Amiee?" I jumped at his quiet voice and my blush deepened as if he could hear my thoughts. He finally glanced up from what he was writing and I shifted and nodded. "Good. This is a list of things for you to pick up. Don't worry if you can't find any of it. Might as well kill two birds with one stone and try to get out of town quicker."

He handed me the folded up list and a small coin purse. I took both on impulse and then my eyes widened and I swallowed a bundle of nerves. Before I could attempt to protest he spoke again. "I see the look in your eyes. Don't say anything. You'll be fine. Listen. If you need to mention me when you are in town my public name is Michael Whitmore. I'm a traveling hunter and a mage."

I nodded in understanding. It made complete sense that he had a pseudonym. If I had recognized his true name I was sure that there were other people who would as well. He smiled warmly and gestured for me to follow. "Before I forget we must perform the ritual to allow you to pass among the Dark Guardians."

"Is this going to require blood?" I asked suspiciously.

Lucien laughed at my expression and nodded almost sheepishly. "Just a bit. Can you make the cut yourself or do I need to. I will not cause you needless harm."

He picked up an amulet off of his desk. My step faltered for a moment when he picked up a wickedly sharp dagger. I looked up and studied his molten gaze. He was calm. There was no anger in his features. No frustration at my hesitation. For being such an evil man he'd shown bouts of kindness that made a saint look cruel.

"Let me see your left hand," he said softly. I swallowed nervously and held up the requested limb. Lucien stepped closer and I inhaled and looked away. "No Amiee. Look at me." I obeyed and nearly gasped at the gentle warmth in his honey eyes. "Breathe deeply and relax your body. Pain is worse if you are tense."

A flash of my old spirit returned to me and I blurted, embarrassed, "I'm not weak."

Lucien shook his head. "Never would I call you weak. The scars on your skin are testament to your strength and perseverance." A teasing tone entered his voice. "If anything I'd say you might be a little off in the head since you just willingly allowed a sadistic assassin to cut into your flesh." I glanced down in surprise to see blood welling up from a small wound on my palm. When I looked back up at Lucien he smiled. And winked!

"Now you're questioning my sanity? You're a little late. I've been questioning my sanity since I stumbled through the Black Door." He met my eyes after he squeezed a few drops of blood onto the amulet. I smiled to assure him that I was teasing.

He shook his head with a smile of his own before he started speaking over the amulet in a language that I didn't understand. Whatever he was saying it was beautiful. The words flowed and danced like water in a spring. When he finished he handed me the amulet, which, to my surprise had no blood on it anywhere.

"Just carry that with you. They don't have to see it. You just have to have it on your person. They will also now protect you from anyone except me. If you are ever being pursued or someone is trying to use you as a shield you will be safe once you step inside the door of this building." He turned and began tidying up the area.

It was pretty neat that the Guardians would protect me. I figured it was ironic that they wouldn't lift a finger against him considering the fact that he was probably going to be a threat to me more than anyone else around the area. When Lucien picked up his bag and gestured for me to follow once again I obeyed.

I had to blink and shield my eyes when Lucien opened the door and we stepped outside. Even though the sun wasn't shining directly on us it was still bright after being inside for so long. I shivered as a chilly wind blew through my tattered clothes. I might as well not even have been wearing anything. Suddenly a warm weight settled on my shoulders.

The black cloak was delightfully warm. I looked at Lucien in shock. "Among the items on the list I gave you is three sets of new clothing for you. Before you protest, it is my gift to you but if it really makes you uncomfortable you can repay me whenever and it doesn't have to be money."

"Thank you. I'll never be able to repay you for all of your kindness." Lucien just smiled and turned, walking toward the road. A loud growl and a flash of gray fur on the edge of the trees made me gasp.

In a flash Lucien gripped my arm and pulled me to his side, placing himself in between me and the threat. "Timberwolf," he said in a low voice. "Usually they don't come this close to the fort but the early winter in the mountains is probably driving them closer to the city and thus closer to here."

He quickly strung a bow that I hadn't even seen him pick up on our way out of his home. "I'd like the fur but I don't have time to clean and gut the animal right now. I'll have to freeze it and do it when we come back."

I was insanely curious. Being a pirate's daughter, the only thing I knew how to clean was a fish. I could scale, debone, or filet a fish with my eyes closed and I was adept at cooking them in many different ways. I'd never had the opportunity to handle any land animals.

I saw the flash of gray again and like a flash of lightning Lucien drew the bow and released an arrow. It found its mark perfectly and the wolf dropped to the ground without even a cry. "Woah." I breathed. It was the only response I could formulate. His speed and accuracy were amazing.

Lucien relaxed his stance and smiled at me once before he moved toward the animal. I followed, still in awe. When I get closer I saw that the arrow was embedded deep in the neck of the wolf. The body was twitching as the muscles settled into death. The wolf was beautiful but he was huge. I'd never seen one so close. Lucien lifted the back legs and began to drag the animal toward the fort.

I hurried to help and lifted the front legs mindful of the arrow. Once again I was surprised, this time at how heavy the animal was. "Lucien?" I questioned. He glanced back but didn't say anything. "Will you teach me?"

"Which part? The hunting, the shooting, or the cleaning?" He set the wolf down behind a group of boulders and conjured a dark blue cloud that swirled around his fingers for a moment before he sent the cloud toward the animal. The purpose of the cloud became clear when the wolf froze solid. Once again we started for the road.

"All of it. Everything that doesn't directly relate to the murder of people. I know ships and the sea. I know nothing about land animals or tracking or plants. I want to learn to protect myself." Lucien was quiet for a few moments and I began to worry that I had upset him.

Finally he answered. He sounded thoughtful. "Actually that isn't a bad idea. It would explain to the people of Cheydinhal why you're here all of a sudden and would allow you to come and go without being questioned." He smiled suddenly, "You being my apprentice also absolves you from having to repay me for anything. No apprentice of mine is going to be poorly outfitted."

I shook my head. "Very well. You got me. I will say no more about trying to pay you back for anything."

"Good. Since that's settled. You can help me with the wolf when we get back if you are not too tired. I know you're still recovering." Lucien unstrung his bow as we walked.

I rolled my shoulders and then replied, "I feel very refreshed. It's been a while since I've been able to sleep so well."

He nodded. "You feel good now but by the time we walk to town, run errands, and return you might be tired. I'm sure your stamina was greatly affected by your kidnapping. It'll be okay if you can't assist me this evening. There will be other times to learn."

I frowned at his words and the sudden feeling that washed through me. It was a mix of urgency and apprehension. "I'm not so sure that I have plenty of time to learn from you. It's hard to explain and I don't know why but I have a feeling that me learning all that you can teach me is part of why your Night Mother sent me to you. And from the nearly choking sense of desperation I have right now, I'm going to guess that I don't have much time to learn it. Now the real question is why?"

Lucien nodded once. "Very well. Then I will teach you all that I can but you will set the pace. I will not push you. Only you will know exactly how much you need to learn. Trust that feeling that you have now. It will guide you."

I had to push that feeling down a lot or it was going to immobilize me. It was intense and if Lucien was right I was in trouble.