So I take it that you like the story then, ?ber?

I'm really glad to hear that you're enjoying it. As for the speed with which I've been posting the chapters, that was to get caught up with the ones I'd already written. But now that it is all caught up, there'll be a more significant delay between each update as I actually write the chapters. So feel free to leave that feedback, guys!

As far as Fenix goes, though, there's about a dozen different ways I could take that character. Despite my best efforts I can never set one of my stories in stone before I actually write it...

So I might actually influence Fenix's character by giving you suggestions?

:drool:

Omghe'sinthedarkbrotherhoodormoragtongorhe'saconvictedrapistandmurderschildrenintheirsleepforhispleasureandhedrinksunicornbloodtostayyoungwhilehereallyisathousandyearoldvampire.

Ahm... Yes? You like it?

Uh...sure?

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Chapter 10

Following our stop at the Ayleid ruin, Fenix and I had quickened our pace back to the Imperial City, intent on finishing our job before the day was through. We managed the remainder of the journey without any further interruptions, and found ourselves at the sprawling metropolis by early afternoon. We left our horses at the stables outside the gates to the Talos Plaza, and quickly made our way into the city itself.

Unlike the last time I'd been there, the streets of the city were bustling, the voices of the individual pedestrians welling together into one incomprehensible chorus. Throughout the Market District, individual merchants sat outside the entrances to their stores, shouting out the latest deals, clearly lured outside by the hospitable weather. However, I was hardly in the mood to window shop, and instead pressed wordlessly through the crowd, towards the Legion compound with Fenix by my side.

The foot traffic was considerably less as the two of us reached the bridge spanning the gap between the market and the prison, and I felt slightly more comfortable at the lack of people; having grown up in a town of little more than one hundred people, I found myself slightly put off by crowds. The sun overhead was bearing down warmly on me, so I decided to remove my leather jacket, leaving me in my short sleeved white shirt as I turned to Fenix.

"So, tell me Fenix," I began innocently enough, glancing at the man from the corner of my eye. "How much did McGregor offer you for this little assignment?"

Fenix let out an amused chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief. "Felicity, you really are something, you know that?" he replied rhetorically. "Asking outta the blue like that. Besides, what makes you think I'm not just doing this out of the generosity of my heart?" he asked jokingly.

"Oh c'mon!" I cried out quickly, smiling as I nudged Fenix with my elbow. "I'm gonna find out eventually anyways, so you might as well just tell me."

Fenix glanced over at me, a single eyebrow arched in a mock sense of scepticism. I met the man's gaze with one of my own, and after only a short minute he gave a slight shrug in defeat. "Well, if you insist, we agreed on fifteen hundred," he finally admitted, although from his tone I could tell he thought it was a decent enough sum.

I simply gave a curt nod of my head in response, choosing to remain silent at that point. I wondered how he'd react when he found out I was making a whole five hundred Septims more than he was? Fenix seemed to choose not to ask the question of me, however, remaining silent as we reached the entrance to the Legion compound.

There was a fair amount of activity inside the small fortification, squads of practiced Legionnaires conducting training exercises while well dressed officers either barked orders or made their way between various offices in the area. I noticed the occasional glance from some of the soldiers, but whether it was because a pair of mercs were trespassing on their turf, or some woman happened to be passing through, I never could tell. I didn't pay it much mind, however, as I made my way towards the metal gate leading to the rear buildings.

The youthful guard who stood watch at the large metal gate had a familiar look to him, and I realized quickly that he was the same one who'd been standing guard the last time. The recognition seemed to be mutual, because the young soldier's interest seemed to pique as he saw me. "Ma'am, welcome back," he greeted, nodding his head slightly. "I...I assume you'll want to speak to the General?" he asked, although he sounded slightly hesitant.

"Yeah, that's right," I replied, somewhat concerned by the manner in which the guard had spoken. I noticed the guard's gaze drift over to Fenix, where he shot the man a confused look, clearly not familiar with him. He looked back over to me, as if for confirmation. "Don't worry, he's with me," I explained, holding up a single hand to signal it was alright.

The soldier continued to scan Fenix for another moment, scepticism lining his features. Finally, he let out a sigh and turned to the gate behind him, producing the keys. "Alright then, ma'am," he said, before unlocking the gate and pushing it open. "If the two of you will follow me, I'll take you to the General now."

Together, Fenix and I followed the soldier along the path that led to McGregor's office, although I noticed him fidgeting ahead of us, his fingers thrumming nervously in the air. "Say, is something bothering you?" I asked, provoked by curiosity.

The soldier glanced back at us, a slightly disturbed look on his face. "It's just that, well, the last few days, we've been getting reports from around Cyrodiil," the young man explained grimly. "It sounds like alot of the mercs and guards that got sent out to investigate have been killed, and there've even been reports that a few of the hired guns went and joined up with the bandits. Or whoever the hell they are." The guard directed his glance forward again. "The General...he's been in a bad mood, to put it mildly."

"Well, this should prove interesting," Fenix commented with a hint of sarcasm, folding his arms over his chest. "Nothing like asking a General whose battle plan just went down the crapper for a few thousand Septims."

I kept my thoughts on the matter to myself, though. It certainly wasn't good news, hearing about the other teams, and had it been up to me, I would have liked for them to be successful. But as cold as it sounded, this kind of thing happened, and I didn't see why it should affect Fenix or me. We'd risked our asses getting the job done, and I damn well expected to be paid. Frankly, the deaths of the other mercs and guards, while unfortunate, just wasn't my problem.

We finally reached the General's office, and the young soldier hesitated for a moment outside the door. He timidly reached out, cracking the door open slightly, before gazing inside. "G-general, sir?" he asked, a trace of fear and anxiety in his voice. "Two of the mercenaries you hired here to see you, sir."

I waited to hear some kind of response from inside the dark confines of the building, unsure of what the man's response would be. "See them in," the General's voice finally came from the blackness, cold and detached, disturbingly emotionless. "And then get the hell back to your post."

The Legionnaire held the door open for us, and then looked nervously at me. "Good luck," he whispered quietly.

I gave the young man a slight nod as I patted him on the shoulder, and then made my way inside the building, Fenix right behind me. The office seemed far more confining than it had the last time, with its abundance of dark wood, coupled with my sense of foreboding about the encounter this time around. The two of us made our way into the central room as the door was shut behind us.

A single lance of sunlight beaming through the window cut the darkness of the room in half, Fenix and I standing on one side and McGregor behind his desk on the other. Without the fireplace to the right to light up the room, he was nothing more than a black silhouette, featureless. The same shroud clearly wasn't offered to Fenix or I, however.

"Aquila. Carhart," McGregor muttered from the opposite end of the room, identifying us immediately. "Sit down."

Making a conscious effort to avoid showing any anxiety, I calmly strode across the room, taking one of the available seats on our side of the desk, with Fenix quickly sitting down beside me. From this close, I could finally make out McGregor's face, and beneath his calm, aging face, I could clearly see anger and frustration seething within him.

"I assume that your mission was a success, or else you wouldn't be here," the General grumbled gruffly, his eyes drifting periodically between the two of us. His lips pursed into a fine line as he looked to the surface of his desk. "Should I even bother asking what happened to Hukral, or the Anvil guard?"

Fenix leaned forward, his mouth open and ready to speak, but I thrust my arm out to the side, holding him back. "All but three of the guards sent on the mission were killed during the attack," I explained grimly. "And as for Hukral...he didn't make it either," I added, feeling it unnecessary to elaborate on the Nord's contribution to the battle.

I faintly made out a slight growl emanating from McGregor's chest, watching him clench and unclench his large hands in frustration. The growling gradually grew louder, until suddenly the General let out a loud bark of anger. "Gods damn it!" he roared, smashing his fists into the desk before him with a loud crash. Without meaning to, I jumped slightly with surprise.

"Of all the teams sent out, only three were actually successful in clearing out their respective areas," McGregor growled, looking off to the side, his fists still clenched. "Three. And even those groups suffered severe casualties. All others were either completely wiped out or forced to retreat." The General looked towards the ceiling of his office, shaking his head. "What a disaster."

For a moment, I felt a slight sense of pity for the General. I was sure he felt the failures were at least partly his responsibility; after all, he was the one who'd hired the mercenaries, and organized the entire operation in the first place. What a burden it must have been; the weight of an entire province on your shoulders.

"The news isn't all bad, General," Fenix added with a hopeful tone beside me. "Miss Carhart and I were able to interrogate one of the enemies during the operation, a Dunmer necromancer."

McGregor slowly looked back at the two of us, his look of anger and resentment subsiding, replaced by one of intrigue. "You managed to interrogate him?" he asked, as if not quite believing it. When the information finally sank in, the elderly Imperial gave out a sigh of relief in reply, and seemed to relax, although only slightly. "Finally, some good news," he said. "So what did you find out?"

Fenix crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back in his seat. "Apparently, those folks were all hired by some fella in Cheydinhal by the name of Brenus."

"Brenus?" the General asked, as if he recognized the name. "I wonder if he meant Brenus Patrice? He's a wealthy and rather popular noble in Cheydinhal, and apparently quite the party thrower." McGregor cocked his head curiously to the side. "Was there anything else?"

"Now that you mention it, there was," Fenix replied, nodding in confirmation. "Buddy happened to tell us that Brenus was actually hired by some other party, a group called 'Blackwood'. Apparently, they're the ones who wanted the Welkynd and Varla stones in the first place, but he didn't tell us why."

"Blackwood, huh? I wonder..." There was a long pause in the conversation, as the three of us reflected on the information shared. Finally, McGregor gave an affirmative nod, the weak makings of a smile on his face. "Excellent work, you two," he said, reaching into one of his desk drawers. He retrieved two bags of gold, and set them before each of us. "Here's your pay, as promised."

I gladly took the bag with my pay, and hefted it in my hand, checking the weight. It seemed about right, and I wasn't about to count every last Septim in the bag, so I'd have to assume that McGregor wasn't trying to screw me over. Fenix grabbed his pay as well, and I was readying to get up and leave when McGregor spoke up again.

"I was wondering if perhaps the two of you may be interested in another job?" the General suggested, his tone enticing. He clasped his hands before him, the anger from his earlier outburst all but gone. "You've proven yourselves more than capable, after all."

I kept myself firmly planted in my seat, cocking my head slightly to the side as my gaze remained locked on the aging Imperial. "Just what did you have in mind, exactly?" I asked curiously.

McGregor got up from his seat, and began walking towards the fireplace at the side of the office. "If this Blackwood group really is the culprit behind all these attacks, then it's imperative we figure out what they're really up to," he explained. "And right now, the Legion is too tied up trying to keep the people safe from these gods damned thugs to conduct a proper investigation."

"So that's where we come in, I suppose?" Fenix asked rhetorically, a hint of interest in his voice.

"Exactly." The General slowly turned around, a sombre look on his features. "I'm not going to bother haggling with you two," he admitted openly. "This situation has gone from bad to worse, and it's too damn important to waste time and risk lives over a few lousy Septims." He strode towards the two of us, and stopped a few steps away. "If you can find the leader of Blackwood, and find out why they've orchestrated these attacks, I'm authorized to pay each of you seven thousand Septims."

For a moment, I found myself speechless, unable to find a response other than gawking. I'd never been offered that much money for a single job, ever. Hell, I couldn't even remember talking to somebody who had. It was certainly a tempting offer, even if it was just for the money. But, more than that, I felt like I had to go on this mission, as if the gold was just something frivolous thrown in on the side. It was a sensation I couldn't remember feeling for any other mission I'd been offered before, and I found myself confused by it.

Nevertheless, I quickly nodded in agreement, forcing myself to remain calm as I got up from my chair. "Alright then, General," I replied, smiling smugly. "I'm in for seven thousand."

McGregor gave a bemused huff of approval, before looking over to Fenix. "And what about you, Aquila?" he asked. "You game?"

I glanced back at Fenix as he shrugged, before standing up from his seat. "Sure, what the hell," he shot back casually. "Seven gees sounds like a good offer to me. Besides, can't let my girl Felicity have all the fun to herself, now can I?"

"Very good," the General replied, satisfied. "Now then, you may want to head to the Arcane University, check a few records to see what you can dig up on Blackwood before you head out," he suggested, making his way back to his seat. "Or, you can always head straight for Cheydinhal and get the goods straight from the horse's mouth. Either way, find out what these attacks are all about."

"We're on it, General," I replied, turning around and heading for the door. Fenix was quick to follow suit, and the two of us briskly made our way to the exit. "Can you believe it?" I asked him quietly, still slightly dazed from the conversation. "Seven thousand? That's more than what somebody in the Fighter's Guild would make in two months."

"Yeah, it's a big damn meatball alright," he replied, although his tone was slightly reserved. "But it makes you think, doesn't it? If that necromancer and his buddies were the lackeys, then who's the big cheese?"

We reached the door leading back outside to the compound, and I opened it for my once again ally. "Well, I guess that's what we're gonna find out, isn't it?" I shot back, a grin working its way across my features. Fenix chuckled, and made his way outside.

He had a point, though. Orchestrating attacks across an entire province wasn't something that a single man, or even a small group, had the resources to pull off. I couldn't place it, but I had a feeling that the whole situation went higher up then the Blackwood group we'd been discussing up until now. A lot higher.

I pushed these thoughts aside, however, as I stepped out into the Legionnaire compound, closing McGregor's office door firmly behind me.

Neat, but... (OW, There's a 'but' in there! NO!)

Err, so in the second sentence, you have the word 'managed' twice. It would perhaps sound better if you simply replaced [...]and managed to find ourselves[...]
by [...]and found ourselves[...] if you want it to be longer, you can include some useless word like 'eventually' or 'soon'.
But apart from that, it was long and good. Quality and quantity, a wonderful combination indeed.

Agree with Uberbau. And interested to figure this who is doing all of this.

Thanks for pointing that out, ?ber. I usually manage to avoid repitition like that, but I guess I missed it there. And it's funny: I always seem to think that my chapters will be too short, and then I get in the zone and write well over two thousand words. If only it worked the same for essays, I'd be laughing.

And thanks to you too, FC4. As for who's behind it all...

Chapter 11

"You shouldn't be so impatient, Felicity," Fenix commented casually to my right, as the two of us made our way across the bridge leading to the Arcane University. "A little research now might save us a lot of grief later on. It never hurts to know what you're getting yourself into."

"All I know is that I didn't sign on to this job to write a research paper," I shot back, slightly irritated. When the two of us had left the Legion compound, I'd wanted to head straight for Cheydinhal, and interrogate Brenus for the information we needed. Fenix, on the other hand, had wanted to check for some background information on the Blackwood group first, and, after close to fifteen minutes of listing reasons why it was a better plan, had gotten me to grudgingly agree to it.

Fenix huffed in an amused fashion, shaking his head. "I guess you're just not the scholarly type, are you?" he asked rhetorically. "Ah, well. I don't think this'll take too long anyways. Just dig up a little info on our mystery group, and then we'll head out."

I certainly hoped that would be the case. I hated the idea of the guy with the answers we wanted just sitting back in Cheydinhal, sitting idle while the two of us worked through a library of books like a pair of rookie mages. Studying wasn't my forte, after all, and it never had been.

The two of us finally reached the Arcane University, yet another island linked to the Imperial City behind a tall stone wall. As we made our way inside the barrier, I could immediately identify the area as the sanctum of mages. Everything seemed so ordered and uniform, from the symmetrical, well managed walkway that led further in, to the precise and practiced manner in which the grass and the trees had been trimmed. Even the air itself seemed to smell differently, more sanitized and processed, if that even makes any sense at all.

Together, we made our way towards one of the large iron gates marking either side of the large tower in the centre of the area; the 'Orrery', I believe I'd heard it called in the past. Almost as if to mirror the Prison area we'd just recently left, a guard stood watch at this gate as well, with a similar set of armour to boot. However, instead of a standard issue Legion helmet, this guard sported a loose, aqua coloured hood.

The guard glanced in our direction, and with a discriminating eye seemed to scan the two of us up and down. As we drew closer he stepped forward, a curious look on his face. "Excuse me, you two," he began, gesturing for us to stop a moment. "Forgive me for saying so, but you don't exactly look like you're students here at the University. Are you perhaps new members of the guild?"

"No, we're not," I replied, before glancing beyond the gate to the rear section of the University. A number of different people, all wearing robes of a similar style, wandered about, a few of them occasionally stopping to speak with one another. I turned my attention back to the battlemage. "That's not a problem, is it?"

"People who aren't a member of the Mage's Guild, and who have not received proper clearance from the local chapters, are not permitted inside," the battlemage explained professionally. "I'm sorry, but I can't let you inside."

"We've been hired by General McGregor of the Imperial Legion," Fenix explained, his hands actively gesturing in front of him. "He suggested that we get some information here, before we start our mission. Are you saying we can't get in?"

The battlemage furrowed his brow, hesitant, as he looked back into the University. "Well, if it's a job from the Imperial Legion, then I suppose so." He turned back towards us. "It's just that, well, the mages here aren't too happy when the Legion mucks around in the little sanctuary they got here. I can let you in, but I wouldn't expect a real friendly reception from this lot."

"That's a shame," Fenix replied sarcastically, an amused smile on his face. "It shouldn't be a problem. I doubt we'll be here very long anyway; we just need some specific information, and then we should be on our way."

With an affirmative nod, the battlemage spun around and unlocked the large metal gate. "Alright, then. Knock yourselves out."

"Yeah, right," I replied jokingly, rolling my eyes. "This is how I like to spend every day." The battlemage just shrugged, obviously understanding but not quite sure what exactly to say.

I casually made my way further into the University grounds, noticing how many of the nearby mages turned from whatever they had been doing just a moment before to look at me. Their gazes seemed distant and judgemental, almost entirely without emotion, and I crossed my arms over my chest as Fenix walked up beside me.

"I don't know how you talked me into this," I whispered, frustrated. I looked around, meeting the gazes of several mages with a stern glare. "I feel like I've just been thrown into a pit full of guars ready to rip my face off."

"Must be my boyish charm," Fenix teased, and I shook my head in annoyance. I suddenly felt something against my shoulder, and I looked over to see Fenix's hand, his arm wrapped around behind my neck. "Besides, I'm right in that pit with ya. We're in this together, right?"

I was initially kind of shocked by Fenix's gesture, and didn't speak for a moment. I quickly recovered, though, and clasped his hand with mine. "Right," I replied, a strong sense of comradery suddenly rising within me. I looked over at Fenix, the warm smile on my face mirrored on his, before glancing towards one of the nearby mages, the majority of them having returned to their previous tasks by now. "Well, what do you say we get this research done, and then get the hell outta here?" I suggested, before Fenix removed his arm and we made our way towards the mage.

"Excuse me, I was wondering if I could ask you something," I said to the Altmer man before me, his back towards me. The middle aged Elf lethargically turned around to face me, an uninterested look on his face. "Could you tell us where-"

"Do I know you?" the Altmer interrupted, although his tone told me that he didn't much care one way or the other. The skin just beneath his short white bangs wrinkled slightly as he arched a single eyebrow.

I hesitated for a moment, narrowing my eyes slightly. "Uh, no," I replied, shaking my head slightly. "At least, I don't think so. But I was won-"

"Then why am I speaking with you?" he asked quizzically, before turning about on one heel and striding calmly away. I silently grit my teeth as I watched him smugly wander off.

"Dammit, I hate mages," I grumbled sourly. What was it about magic that made people so arrogant and haughty? Maybe a good melee brawl would snap them out of their smugness?

"Eh, don't worry about it," Fenix assured me. "We'll just wander around a bit, and find what we need on our own."

"Um, excuse me?" I heard a soft, feminine voice from behind me. I turned around to see a young Breton girl, probably a bit younger than myself, standing timidly before me, a large volume under one arm. Her long, wavy black hair fluttered slightly behind her as the breeze caught it, and she pursed her lips slightly as both Fenix and I faced her.

"Yeah?" I asked, wondering to myself what the girl could possibly want. "What is it?"

"Well, I overheard you talking just now," the young woman explained, before her delicate features broke out into a small smile. "I know that he can be a bit uptight sometimes. So I was wondering if there was any way I could help you?"

I gave a silent thanks, relieved that the Breton seemed more understanding than her colleagues. "Well, we're looking for somewhere we might be able to get some information, like a library," I explained. "Any chance you could point us in the right direction?"

"I'd be happy to," the Breton said with a nod. "I'm actually headed there myself, if you'd care to just follow me."

The young mage led us to a nearby set of steps, leading down to a semicircle of old yet well kept buildings, lined up side by side against the inside of the University wall. She entered one of the structures, and I followed her inside, Fenix right behind me.

I felt a cold lump in the pit of my stomach as I entered the building, looking around in disbelief. The place was massive, at least two stories tall with bookcases spanning that height placed everywhere, and each one of them packed to the brim with thick, musty volumes. Large wooden chandeliers hung from the ceiling, providing enough illumination to read by, and a number of mages sat at available tables, scanning their respective books.

Finding something in there could take hours.

"Well, here it is! The Mystic Archives," the Breton woman exclaimed proudly, looking at the bookcases. "One of the finest libraries in Tamriel! I'm sure that you two can find what you're looking for here." She turned around, and flashed a happy smile. "Is there anything else you need?"

"No thank you, miss," Fenix replied, stepping up beside me. "I'm sure we can manage from here. Thanks for your help."

The woman gave a quick curtsy before heading towards one of the bookcases on the other side of the building, and I turned to face Fenix. "Would you look at the size of this place? We could be here for days and not find what we're looking for."

"No way," Fenix shot back, shaking his head. "We just need to find somebody who knows what to look for, is all." He glanced back at an Argonian standing behind a nearby desk, and without another word made his way over to him.

"My good man!" Fenix cried out as we neared the desk, his voice boisterous and lively, hardly suiting for a dreary hole like the one we were in. "How does the day find you?"

The Argonian narrowed his eyes with irritation. "Keep your voice down," he growled. "People are attending to their studies here. The last thing they need is a loud mouthed Imperial disrupting them."

"Uh, right. Sorry 'bout that," Fenix quickly apologized. "We're looking for some information, and we were wondering if you could help us. We need some background info on a group called Blackwood."

"Very well," the Argonian sighed, his shoulders drooping as though he were submitting. "If that is all you require, I suppose I can accommodate you." He gestured towards a nearby shelf covered with books. "This way." Eager to get the effort moving, the two of us followed the lizard through a path between two of the massive bookcases.

"You're quite fortunate, really. A young mage just wrote a report on organizations dating around the time of the Oblivion Crisis, and I happened to remember seeing a passage mentioning the Blackwood Company," the Argonian librarian explained as we walked.

"Wait a minute, did you say the Oblivion Crisis?" I asked, slightly confused. "I think you must have the wrong Blackwood in mind. That was over one hundred and fifty years ago."

"I think not," the librarian replied smugly, stopping at the nearby shelf. With expert precision he rifled through the various books, before finally stopping at one of them. "You see, the Blackwood Company was a mercenary group not unlike the Fighter's Guild, back in the day," he explained, pulling out the book and opening it. "It was shut down around the same time as the Oblivion Crisis, and there hasn't been another documented instance of that name being used since."

Fenix crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head. "Wait a minute, that doesn't make any sense," he shot back. "How can we be going after a group that only existed a century and a half ago? Are you sure that it was shut down back then?"

The Argonian pointed to one of the book's pages, and I leaned in closer to see. "Positive. As you can see, the Fighter's Guild's second-in-command at the time, Modryn Oreyn, documented the entire incident. With the aid of another member, who went on to become the Master of the guild, mind you, they were able to effectively shut down Blackwood completely."

"So, what then?" I asked, finding this new information only added to the confusion surrounding the situation. "Blackwood is starting up again, and they're covertly hiring people to commence attacks across the province?"

"Unlikely," the librarian replied, shaking his head. "You see, Blackwood did engage in some rather questionable activities, but they were a legal organization, and anything but subtle. If the group had managed to resurface after all this time, I'm sure that you wouldn't need my help to find it out."

"Well then, what is all this? Just one big case of mistaken identity or something?" Fenix asked curiously. "C'mon, help us out here."

"Well, perhaps it isn't Blackwood at all?" the Argonian mused, shutting the book and spinning around to face us. "If the people you're referring to really are engaged in criminal activities, it hardly makes sense for them to go by their actual identities. Perhaps the Blackwood organization you're after is merely a guise, a way for whoever's really orchestrating things to cover themselves."

"Well that's just great," I growled, looking up to the ceiling of the Archives in exasperation. "Now we don't even know who the hell we're after anymore. Terrific."

"Thanks for your help," Fenix told the Argonian. "We should be good from here on."

I brought my gaze level again as the librarian made his way back to his desk, and looked over at Fenix. "Well, this was a waste of time," I pointed out, tapping my foot impatiently on the floor.

"I disagree," Fenix countered quickly. "Now when we interrogate Brenus, we'll already know that Blackwood is just an alias. Maybe then we can get to the bottom of all this."

"Maybe," I replied, starting back to the entrance of the Archives. "I just hope we don't run into any more complications in Cheydinhal."

"We'll just take them in stride, I suppose," Fenix pointed out confidently behind me. "But, it's getting kinda late now. I don't know if we're gonna be able to make it to Cheydinhal before dark."

As my thoughts turned east of the Imperial City, my pace towards the door gradually slowed when I remembered what I'd wanted to do after the last mission. I'd gotten so caught up in the whole Blackwood problem with the new job, that I'd almost completely forgotten.

"Felicity? You okay?" Fenix asked as he came up beside me, concern in his voice.

"Uh, yeah," I replied, an idea springing to life in my head. "Say, Fenix...would you mind if we made a quick detour tonight? It's kinda outta the way from Cheydinhal, but I was planning on somewhere after the last mission, and in all the stuff that's been happening..."

Fenix simply smiled as he held up a single hand, gesturing for me to stop. "Say no more, Felicity. I don't mind going, as long as you don't mind me tagging along." He cocked his head to the side, his grin growing wider. "Mind if I ask where it was you were planning on going?"

"You ever heard of a town called Cropsford?"

I'm currently working on Chapter 12. I've got some other things I need to do coming up, but I should probably get it done within the next few days.

Wow, I can think of nothing more to say, im truly utterly speechless! Well Done!

Very good... now I wanna know the answer to the mystery!

Wow. That was very good. Keep it up.

Chapter 12

The sun was beginning its slow descent towards the horizon as Fenix and I finally made our way to the lonely, dead end breakaway from the main road. Dense clusters of unkempt foliage and the packed dirt road leading to the town gave the area a distinctly rural feel, while the sign that had once pointed in the direction of Cropsford, now so worn and faded from years of neglect that the letters were illegible, hinted that somebody may have lived near here, once. I took point along the path that led into town, a familiar orange haze settling over us as the sunlight began to die off.

"So, what do you think?" I asked Fenix behind me, making no attempt to hide the fact that I found the whole place distasteful. "Makes Hackdirt seem like a regular Imperial City, doesn't it?"

There was a brief moment of silence, as he made no attempt to reply. Maybe he was worried about offending me? He didn't have to be, because almost anything he could say about this place I'd probably already told myself. "It's...quaint," Fenix finally replied behind me, and his voice was surprisingly sincere. "Sometimes a little rural charm is a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the big city."

I rolled my eyes, shaking my head slightly. "Yeah, well, try saying that after being cooped up in this dump after eighteen years. Believe me, you'd feel differently," I explained.

"Hey, something up?" he asked me, concerned. "You said you haven't been here in awhile, right? I thought you'd be happier to come back to your hometown after all that time."

I sighed slightly. "I was never really fond of this place when I was growing up. And now that I actually know what the rest of the world is like, I'm even less impressed."

"Well, do you just want to forget about it, then?" Fenix offered politely. "I'm sure we could find an inn somewhere before it gets totally dark. I mean, if you don't want to-"

I looked back at the black haired man, and smiled warmly. "Thanks, Fenix, but...it's alright," I replied. "I just want to check in on my mother, maybe a couple of my friends. I haven't contacted them in years, after all." I turned my attention back to the road ahead of me. "I could be dead, for all they know..." I whispered to myself.

As we made our way further down the road, faint signs of civilization made themselves known to us. The glow of lanterns outside the doors of houses, and wispy curls of smoke fuming from chimneys gradually grew into view, everyday sights that for some reason I felt I hadn't seen in years. I noticed a single figure ploughing the earth in a nearby garden, and guided Clover towards it.

The figure turned around to face me as I grew closer, and that's when I was able to make out his features. It didn't take me long to recognize the head of messy, dark red hair, although the thick beard of the same colour had changed from the patchy facial hair I remembered from four years ago.

"Magnus?" I asked, before dismounting from my horse and walking towards the Nord, just to be sure. Once I was close enough to see his steely gray eyes, though, I was sure it was him. "It is you, isn't it?"

"Felicity?" he asked back, before his memory seemed to click into place, and his eyes went wide with joy. "Felicity! Damn girl, it's been awhile!" The Nord wrapped his thick arms around me in a tight bear hug, and despite the somewhat excessive enthusiasm with which he did so, I managed to get my arms around him in a similar gesture. "[censored], haven't seen you in years!"

"Yeah, I know," I replied, suppressing a slight pang of guilt for how long I'd gone without so much as a hello to my old friends. I was here now, I figured, so that's what counted. "It's good to see you again, Magnus."

The Nord released me from his grasp, and with his arms still on my shoulders, looked me up and down with a happy, and somewhat impressed, look on his face. "Holy hell, girl, who knew you'd end up so good lookin'?" he asked jokingly. "Guess all that time outta town did you some good, eh?" I replied with a good natured punch to the side of the Nord's arm, to which he simply chuckled.

Magnus quickly turned his attention behind me, however, a curious look on his face. "Who's he?" he asked quizzically, and I turned around to see Fenix, dismounted from his horse, walking casually towards us.

"This is Fenix Aquila, a friend of mine," I explained proudly, as though he were some kind of living proof of my accomplishments outside the town. "I met him recently during a mission."

"So I guess that whole merc thing worked out for ya, then?" Magnus asked, grinning. He walked towards Fenix, and stuck out a large, sun baked hand. "Name's Magnus the Bold. Damn pleasure to meet ya," he introduced warmly.

"Likewise," Fenix replied with a polite smile, taking the Nord's hand in his. As he shook Magnus' hand, he glanced between Cropsford's various buildings with a look of interest on his face. "You folks sure are off the map around here, if you don't mind me saying so. If Felicity hadn't told me about this place, I would've never known you were here."

"Well, that's how folks 'round here like it," Magnus explained, likewise looking about the town. "Most of 'em figure if we stay outta everybody's business, they'll stay outta ours." He chuckled as he released Fenix's hand. "Got it in their heads that everyone outside town is about as dirty as an unwashed Guar's backside, if you catch my drift."

"I'd argue if I could," Fenix replied with a slight chuckle of his own. He then turned his attention over to me. "So Felicity, what did you have in mind? You want to go check in with your parents?"

I lightly bit my lower lip for a moment, before nodding my head. "Yeah, I guess I may as well get that over with," I agreed, looking over at Magnus. "I assume that the old stable is still available?"

"You bet it is. Ain't too many horses in a town where nobody goes anywhere," Magnus replied, gesturing towards a rundown old building in the distance. "But before you check in with yer parents, you should say hi to the gang," he suggested, before starting towards the stables, Fenix and I following closely. "I'm sure they'd be happy to see ya."

I felt my attention perk up, and I shot an intrigued look in Magnus' direction. "Don't tell me you guys are still up to practicing on the same hill every night?" I asked with a hint of amusemant in my voice.

The Nord glanced back at me, a wry grin on his face. "What'd ya think? That the whole town'd shut down when ya left?" he teased. "Sorry, but the world don't revolve around ya, Felicity."

I shrugged dismissively as the three of us neared the stables, a mishmash of uneven and miscoloured timber, and the small number of animals already there turned around to look curiously at Clover and Ranger. With their well managed white and black coats, respectively, they stood in stark contrast to the muddy coloured beasts currently residing there. We secured our horses, and let them mingle amongst the others as we made our way towards the hill.

"This is probably a stupid question," Fenix began as we walked, crossing his arms over his chest. "But just what is it exactly that you guys practice around here?"

"Fightin'," Magnus replied smugly, grinning. "Friend of ours managed to round up a couple swords years ago, and well we come out here most everyday to mess 'round."

"No kidding," Fenix replied, as we grew closer to the group of figures at the top of the hill. As usual, most of the group was gathered around the two selected fighters, the familiar clanging of iron on iron ringing out in the still evening. But from where I was standing, I could make out the two combatants, and I found myself genuinely confused at how slow and clumsy their movements seemed, not at all like what I remembered it to be. Maybe those two were having an off night?

"Hey, Magnus!" one of the figures cried out, before heading towards us. I found myself drawing a blank as I tried to recognize the youngster; he seemed to be a few years younger than me, fairly wiry and with coarse brown hair. "What's the hold up? We've been waiting for ya!" As the kid got closer to us, he looked curiously over at me and Fenix, and cocked his head to the side. "Who're they?"

Magnus shook his head as he clasped the youngster's shoulder, and looked back at me. "This here's Max, Felicity," he explained, patting the kid's shoulder. "Jus' another newcomer to our little 'gang o' thugs.' Max, this here's Felicity Carhart. I'm sure you've heard me or somebody talk 'bout her, right?"

The kid, Max, crossed his arms over his chest, shooting me a defiant look. "Yeah, I heard of her," he replied, before walking closer to me. "So, you're Felicity, huh? Magnus and the older guys talk about how great you were at fighting, back in the day." He narrowed his eyes slightly. "You don't look so tough to me."

I simply stared at the kid for a moment, stunned. I was taller and more muscular than he was, and he was questioning how tough I was? I shot a dumbfounded look back to Fenix, who simply pursed his lips, slowly shaking his head.

"And what's your story?" Max asked, looking over to Fenix now, the same defiance in his voice. "Don't recognize you either. You the boyfriend or something?"

Boyfriend? I was about to give the little bastard a piece of my mind, when Fenix slowly walked up to the kid, and shot him a cold glare, looming over him. "What's it to ya, punk?" he asked coolly.

The youngster didn't have a chance to respond, before Magnus gave him a good clap outside the head. "Ah, show some respect, Junior," the Nord insisted, before leading our entire quartet to the group. "She was kickin' ass long before you ever picked up one of those swords, ya hear?" We found ourselves at the edge of the group of people, maybe about a dozen or so, just as the current fight ended. "Hey everyone, look who I brought!"

A number of the figures, both new faces and ones that I remembered from years ago, looked up in our direction. The old members of the group, those who knew me, soon came rushing over, excited looks lighting up their faces.

"Felicity!" Rebecca cried out happily, the young Altmer maiden rushing towards me with outstretched arms. "Oh, it's so good to see you!" she said, wrapping her arms gently around me.

"Yeah, you too!" I replied, returning the gesture. There was a flurry of nods and handshakes between me and the others, before finally somebody seemed to notice Fenix. "Say, who's this?" Rebecca asked curiously, looking at the man.

"Oh, this is Fenix," I explained, as he walked up next to me. "He's a friend of mine I met-"

"He's the boyfriend," Max taunted obnoxiously, giving the old 'puckered smooch' face as he did so. If he hadn't been so young, I probably would've clobbered him.

Magnus, however, clearly didn't have the same problem, as he forcefully hit the youngster outside the head. "Boy, don't make me tell you 'gain!" he roared, before shaking his head. "Damnation."

I chuckled to myself as Max painfully rubbed the back of his head, grumbling to himself. As I did so, Rebecca looked back at the now abandoned swords, laying on the grass, before glancing back at me. "Say, Felicity, don't suppose you're up for a match, for old time's sake?" she suggested.

I glanced over at the rusty, dulled weapons; it'd been so long since I'd used a longsword, it wasn't even funny. Still, though, I was intrigued by the offer. "Sure, why not," I replied, shrugging. "But, who should I fight?"

"Me, of course," Magnus piped in, puffing his chest out before him. "Since you've been gone, I've been the undisputed champ 'round here. Gotta make sure you ain't too outta practice."

With a huff of amusemant, I nodded my head in acceptance. "Alright, then. You're on," I replied, before making my way towards the discarded blades. Magnus did the same, and as per usual, the group of people began encircling us, looks of anticipation on their faces. I glanced back at Fenix, who was standing closest to me.

"Here," I said, removing my daikatana from my back, and handing it to him. "You don't mind holding that for me, do you?"

"Not at all," he replied with a grin, taking the weapon. "In fact, I'm kind of interested to see how this whole thing is going to turn out. Just try not to go too hard on him."

I flashed a grin as I picked up the rusty iron blade, and hefted it easily in one hand. "No promises." I turned towards Magnus, who was already holding his own blade, although his positioning seemed clumsy, frankly.

"Our last duel was a draw," he reminded me with a smile. "Not gonna happen this time."

My only response to the taunt was a sharp huff, before the group formed a circle around us, and a quick whistle marked the start of the duel. I immediately dug my right foot back into the dirt behind me, eyes trained on Magnus as the Nord charged haphazardly at me.

He started off by raising his blade over his head, before releasing a slash aimed down and to my right. It was easy enough to block with my own weapon, though, and I simply let my blade absorb the momentum of the attack, causing Magnus to stumble forward. While he was struggling to recover, I hit his sword three times in rapid succession, forcing him to fall back.

But the problem I had was it was just so easy. When I remembered fighting with the others years ago, I remembered fighters who practiced religiously, honing their skills and refining their technique. But as I effortlessly put Magnus on the defensive, attacking him so that he had no chance to let out another strike, I realized that we'd just been a bunch of delusional kids who'd fancied ourselves sword fighters.

Amazing how four years of real combat could change the way you saw things.

After only a moment or so of toying with Magnus, I decided it was time to end the match. I directed a flurry of quick but easily avoidable attacks down at Magnus' legs, which he struggled to block. At that point, it was a simple matter to knock his weapon out of the way, and gently press the tip of my blunted sword into his stomach.

"Game," I announced bluntly.

The Nord's eyes were wide with surprise, and possibly even shock, as he resumed a casual stance. "I didn't even touch you," he muttered, awestruck, the entire group silent for a moment. He soon shook off the initial disorientation, however, and his smile quickly returned. "Damn, Felicity. You sure have changed since you been gone, haven't ya?"

"Yeah," I replied, setting the blade down on the ground before me. "I guess I have."

The red haired Nord looked out at the rapidly blackening sky, and looked to the others. "Well, looks like it's getting late," he announced. "Guess it's time to pack up. Besides, you still gotta check in with yer ma and pa, don't ya Felicity?"

"Yeah, I probably should," I replied, taking my own weapon as Fenix handed it back to me. "But I'll see you tomorrow morning, alright?"

"Aight, then," Magnus said, nodding as he and the others dispersed. "An' make sure ya say goodbye before ya off and leave this time, ya hear?"

After a brief wave, I led the way towards my parents' house, relatively close by. The rest of the town was quiet as Fenix and I walked, practically abandoned this close to dark.

"Quite the crew, that lot," Fenix commented as we walked, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his pants. "But they seem nice enough. I think I can understand why you wanted to see them again."

"Yeah," I replied fondly as we neared the house, its architecture antiquated and worn down. "I just wish I felt the same way about my parents."

"You didn't get along with them too well?" Fenix asked as we approached the door.

"Well, I got along with my mother just fine," I explained, extending my hand towards the door. "But, as for my father..."

"Yeah, what about him?"

I didn't even bother answering before I knocked casually on the door.

Let me know what you guys think, aight? Constructive criticism is welcome.

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Chapter 13

After I'd knocked, and began waiting outside the front door to the house for some sort of response, my heart hung suspended in my chest, and I felt my arms shaking slightly. The last time I'd been there, I'd actually come to blows with my father. What if there was still bad blood between us? What if that same anger welled up, and we ended up fighting again? The prospect bothered me, but I supposed I was willing to risk it, if it meant clearing my conscience of the whole affair; I'd let that moment clutter my mind for too long.

After a moment of waiting in silence for a reply from inside the house, the door slowly creaked open, a veil of dim light bursting forth and piercing through the darkness outside. The light initially threw off my vision, and I was only able to make out a small, feminine figure at the door. But that was enough for me to recognize her, and in that same moment she recognized me.

"F-Felicity?" my mother asked, a surprised look on her face as my sight gradually returned. She placed her hand over her chest, and managed a relieved smile as she stepped forward. "Oh, Felicity, it is you, isn't it?"

I gave a timid nod, smiling weakly. "Hi, mom," I replied, feeling slightly uneasy. I hadn't seen her in four years, and I wasn't really sure what I should say after all that time. "Would it be alright if we came in?" I finally asked.

She nodded in a quick, delicate manner, stepping to the side of the door. "Yes, yes of course!" she said, smiling widely. I cautiously stepped inside, scanning the immediate area for my father, but he was nowhere in sight, fortunately. Although I supposed now that I was inside, it was only a matter of minutes, or even seconds until the fated confrontation.

"I see you have a guest with you," I heard mom mention behind me, and I turned around as she addressed Fenix. "I'm Margaret Carhart, Felicity's mother," she introduced with a happy smile, clasping her hands in front of her large white apron.

"Fenix Aquila, ma'am," Fenix replied, giving a slight bow as he did so. "I appreciate you having me in your house."

Mom gave an affirmative nod, before gesturing further inside the house. "Well, please, come in," she invited, heading in herself. I quickly removed my boots, as did Fenix, and together we followed my mother into the kitchen, the familiar aroma of homemade dinner wafting in the room. And, sitting at the kitchen table, in his grungy work clothes, was father.

When I entered the room, he looked up at me from the table, and his mouth fell slightly agape.

"Look, Jason!" mom said excitedly, walking up next to him. "Felicity's come back! Isn't this wonderful?"

My father quickly regained his composure, his mouth returning to a straight, neutral line, and without so much as a grumble, he got up from his seat, and slowly strode towards me. As soon as I saw him, looked into his eyes, I knew there was still hostility between us, and that he knew it as much as I did. I found myself wondering what he might do as he stopped a few feet ahead of me, our glares locked with each other.

"Uh, Mister Aquila, was it?" my mother finally piped in, breaking the awkward silence. "Perhaps I should...show you around the house, some?" she suggested nervously.

"Yeah...yeah, that'd be nice, Misses Carhart," Fenix replied with an equal amount of anxiety, and I turned to the side briefly as the two of them left my father and I to face off alone.

"Well," my father finally said once they'd left, and I turned back to face him. His brow was furrowed slightly, and he still had a cold look about his weathered face. "I'm surprised to see you here. The way you were talking last time around, I thought you'd never set one foot in this town again."

"Yeah, well," I replied vaguely, crossing my arms over my chest. Once again, I found myself at a loss for how I should reply after all this time. My father was the last person I wanted to show the slightest bit of confliction to, knowing that he'd probably find a way to exploit it.

He gave a slight huff in reply, before heading back towards the table, and retrieving an old antique pipe that I remembered him using once in awhile. "I hope you didn't come back here, hoping to find me guilt ridden about what a tyrant I was years ago," he said gruffly, and indeed his tone revealed no hint of remorse, smugness or even anger. It was just...cold. "I'm not about to apologize to you."

I stifled a weak chuckle, shaking my head in disbelief; even after all these years, he was still the same arrogant ass. "Well, that's alright," I replied with a mocking tone. "I'm not about to forgive you."

My father remained facing the opposite direction, even as he lit his old pipe, and began smoking it thoughtfully. "So then why did you come back, Felicity?" he asked curiously. "I don't suppose you've come to a revelation, and decided that you were wrong all those years, have you?"

I narrowed my eyes slightly. "You're really full of yourself, you know that old man?" I shot back bitterly. Already, I could feel the old rivalry between us rekindling, and I was hardly in a state of mind to stop it. "I came back for mom and the others, not for you. Any [censored] notion of obligation you think I've got to you or your town is just a delusion."

My father quickly spun around, his calm and collected features showing genuine anger now. "You know, I thought that four years on your own would teach you some gods damned humility, and some respect," he growled, before storming towards me. He held an accusing finger in my face, just like he had that one night, but I refused to back down. No, not after everything I'd been through. Not to him. "But it seems you're just as stubborn and bull headed as you were four years ago!"

"You wry bastard," I growled angrily as I brought my face closer to his, silently daring him to try and hit me again. "You're the one who was always so damn intent on making sure I never left this little dump of yours! You're the one who tried to keep me here! You're the one who-" I glared angrily into my father's eyes, gritting my teeth. "You're the stubborn one, you pig headed bastard!"

I expected my father to explode, to scream and yell, or to lash out with his fist. Hell, I almost wanted him to, so I'd have an excuse to knock him on his ass again.

But he didn't. In fact, the anger in his face seemed to dull, to die down and dissipate, as he backed slowly away from me. I remained still for a moment, genuinely confused. He pursed his lips in irritation, and seemed to look off into space for a moment, before turning his back to me. "Heh, I don't believe it," he grumbled to himself. "Maybe she was right, after all."

She? Who was he talking about? He couldn't be talking about me, could he? "Who-" I began uncertainly.

"Your mother," he shot back, cutting me off. "It was after you left town. She told me that the reason...the reason you and I could never get along was because..." My father chuckled, as if the whole situation was funny somehow. "Because you and I are so alike."

Alike!? How could my mother say something like that, comparing me to him!? I glared balefully at my father's back. "I'm nothing like-"

"That girl's as stubborn and headstrong as an Orc," he narrated thoughtfully. "And when she's angry, she's got a temper like a grizzly during mating season. Just like you, Jason." He glanced back at me, and his tone held only a fraction the fury it had a minute ago. "That's what she said. I thought she was upset that you'd left, that she was trying to convince me that I was somehow responsible." He shook his head. "But, maybe she was right."

I felt my shoulders slump as I stared blankly into space. Could my mother really be right? I'd always resented how rigid my father had been in his beliefs, how obstinate and closed minded he'd been. I couldn't be like that...could I?

"I still think you were wrong, Felicity," my father pointed out, his voice now calm, as was his expression. "I still believe that you should have stayed in Cropsford, and that it was a stupid mistake for you to leave the town. And I certainly don't understand what possessed you to think that way in the first place." He took in a deep breath, as though he were preparing for some impossible task. "But...I'm willing to accept the fact that you've made a life for yourself, out there. Even though I don't sanction it."

I stood completely silent for a moment, shocked at what my father had just said to me. Granted, it wasn't an apology, but it was still more than I had honestly expected him to admit. I recomposed myself, forcing off whatever ridiculous look of shock was on my face, and forced myself to look as serious as possible.

"And I can accept the fact that you actually thought you were helping me all those years, trying to keep me here," I admitted somewhat grudgingly. If my father was willing to make an effort to resolve this animosity between us, then I supposed I could too. "But I don't think I'll ever agree with you about it. It's hard going sometimes, but I like the life I've got now. And if I had to go back four years, and do it all over again...I would."

"As would I," my father replied solemnly, nodding. "Although...I may have handled it differently."

I gave a weak, appreciative smile. It was a far cry from the clich?d reconciliations you sometimes read about, with their teary eyed apologies and the ensuing emotional outpourings, but it was a far better resolution than I'd thought we'd come to.

The corners of my father's mouth curled up, if only slightly, and it looked like he was about to say something before the shuffling of footsteps neared the kitchen. His mouth immediately straight lined as he turned around, and made his way back to his chair, picking up the pipe he'd left on the table.

"We aren't interrupting anything, are we?" my mother asked timidly. Of course, with the way that the two of us had been shouting, there was no chance that she and Fenix hadn't heard it.

"No, dear. Everything's fine," my father replied coolly, his pipe in hand. "I trust you gave our young guest here an adequate tour?"

"Yes sir," Fenix replied, standing near the door with mother. "You've got a lovely home here, sir."

Father gave an intelligible grumble in reply, and I could only assume it marked some kind of approval. Mom looked between Fenix and I, an expectant look on her face. "Tell me, have you two eaten yet?" she asked. "We have more than enough food prepared, if you'd care to join us."

I had to admit that I was hungry, not having eaten since I'd been in Anvil earlier. And the food cooking did smell good... But surely my mother hadn't cooked food for four people, when only the two of them lived there? "That's alright, mom," I began. "We-"

"Don't be ridiculous," my father shot in calmly. "I'm sure the chefs at whatever feed lot you've been eating from couldn't cook a potato. Indulge your mother, and let her serve you a home cooked meal." He paused for a moment as he tucked a napkin into the collar of his shirt. "Your room upstairs is the way you left it, by the way. The two of you will stay here tonight," he explained, with the assuredness of a moth priest reading an elder scroll.

I sighed slightly. "Well, if you insist," I agreed, my hunger siding with my father.

"Thank you, sir," Fenix replied politely, as we made our way to the table.

For the next half an hour or so, the four of us sat around the table, eating and talking. My mother seemed curious as to what kinds of things I'd been up to since I left, and although he didn't ask me directly, I think my father was interested too. He didn't really talk much during the meal, but I think that on some level, he was happy to see me again.

And maybe, on some level, I was even happy to see him.

After dinner my mother and father made their way to bed, as I'd offered to clean up for them. It didn't take long to do, and afterwards Fenix and I headed upstairs to my old room.

"I know it's not much to look at," I explained as I closed the door behind him, the light of the rising moon pouring in through a single window. "Then again, not alot of consumer goods around here."

The room was somewhat smaller than the rooms you'd expect to find at Cyrodiil's finer inns, but it was still larger than what we'd been subjected to the night before. It was also fairly unfurnished, a moderately sized bed and a wooden dresser making up most of its contents.

"It's fine, Felicity. Don't worry about it," Fenix assured me, setting his claymore on top of the wooden dresser. He stepped away and I laid my own blade next to his, before turning around and watching him laying out on the floor.

"What're you doing?" I asked him, walking forward.

"Getting ready to sleep," he replied, before gesturing at the bed next to him with his head. "Only one bed again. Don't worry, I know the drill," he explained jokingly.

"Well, actually," I began, hesitant with embarrassment at what I was about to propose. "I mean, I was just going to sleep on top of the bed, and I mean it's bigger than the one in that room last night, right? So I was thinking..."

"Felicity?" Fenix asked curiously, sitting up with a puzzled look on his face. "What are you saying, exactly?"

"Well I can't let you sleep on the floor again," I explained, my feet fidgeting nervously. "And as long as we're just sleeping on top of the bed..."

Fenix gave a slight nod of understanding. "Alright, then," he replied, standing up. "As long as you're sure about this."

I gave a quick nod to let him know I was, and he cautiously made his way onto the bed, his back facing me. As I stepped forward, my arms were shaking and my heart was pounding in my chest. But why? It was just two friends making the most of one bed, wasn't it? Nothing to worry about.

I laid down on the side of the bed opposite Fenix, facing the door to the room with his back against mine. I gave a quiet, stuttering sigh as I closed my eyes.

"Hey, Felicity? Thanks."

I smiled contently, my head propped against the pillow. "You're welcome," I replied, before the small room fell silent.

I'm exceptionally impressed, DarkNova. Not trying to give you a big head or anything, but I'd say that as far as the -writing- itself goes (I'll get to my thoughts on the actual story in a moment) you're possibly the best pure writer I've seen on these forums, and I'll easily include my own writing in that statement.

I havent finished the story (think I was chapter 5 or so? I have to sleep at some point,) itself though; I only just discovered this late tonight ) but it's very good so far. There have been a few times (admittedly) I've kinda 'skipped ahead' when momentum was slow or somewhat inconsequential to the main plot. (I tend to do that even in the occasional novel though, so it's not really a criticism so to speak, but I do think that, polished and exceptional as your writing is, the story itself could be improved a bit by a bit of trimming here and there, at least at a few parts up until where I've gotten so far.)

Don't get me wrong, that's about ALL that comes to mind. Personally, when I throw up a fan-fic, I throw it up pretty much as a first draft, simply because I don't have the patience to fine-tooth edit a fan-fic. You obviously have the patience and temperament to polish it to a shine before letting it see the light of day, and that in itself is impressive.

Overall, you're a great writer and you tell a very good story. If you aren't writing professionally, you should be at least seriously thinking about it.

Thank you, Mote. I really appreciate your feedback, and the compliment.

As for the "slow momentum" parts, I'll definitely agree with you there. There are certainly sequences that tend to steer away from the main story here and there, including my most recent chapters 12 and 13. But I'd argue that sometimes these slow sequences are necessary for transitional purposes, because it wouldn't seem good to gloss over all the travelling sequences, right? Plus, alot of stuff that seems unnecessary right now I'm planning on bringing back later in the story, when it will relate to the main plot.

I also use those parts to try and develop the characters a little more, and to break up the plot based chapters, but you're definitely right. I'm going to work on cutting down the amount of transitional stuff, but just remember that some of these things will be relevant later on in the story.

In any case, the next chapter is going to return to the main plot, and probably hammer it until the whole mystery gets uncovered. Hope you keep reading, Mote, and let me know what you think. And thanks again for the criticism.

Any other comments or feedback?

I like all of the parts. Especially the slow parts, the ones without any bloodshed.

I find it interesting how you have Felicity meet her friends and family so early in the story. (Early??? ->Yes, because you will make this longer. Much longer. If you don't... You don't even want to know what horrible punishment I have in mind for you.)

And I thought it was sad how easily she defeated her old friend. Very moody atmosphere there...

Anyway, I still await Fenix's dark side to show. I mean, romance is good, but every (real) person has some bad characteristics. So, the artistic, funny, strong, wellbehaved, courteous, intelligent, unselfish guy either doesn't exist, or he's the darkest shade of evil ever encountered in Tamriel. :chaos: :flame:

Well I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the story, ?ber. Esepcially if you're especially enjoying the slow parts.

As far as Fenix goes, though, just keep in mind that from the perspective of the story, he and Felicity have known each other for less than two days. Which means that realistically, there's still a whole lot that they don't know about one another. Plus, I've thought of taking the character in so many different directions it's not even funny anymore.

I know that he comes off as a little too good right now, but hopefully I'll be able to start fleshing out his character more in the next chapter.

This is a great read, im only on chapter 7 but so far im really enjoying it

Maybe his obnoxious politeness is to cover that inner darkness?

great chapter, and slowly but surely your lads are getting together... sleeping in the same bed

I know it's been awhile since the last update. I've been playing with different ideas on how to advance the story from here, and how much longer I'm going to make it. Not to mention incorporating the advice you guys have given up to this point...

Anyway, I'm working on the next chapter now. Don't know when it'll be finished, but I haven't forgotten the story.

Took me a while to finally decide how I'd do this chapter, and I think you'll see why. As always, feedback and suggestions are appreciated.

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Now THAT caught me completely off guard. Fenix is one hell of an actor. And the change in perspective, though appropriate, had also caught me off guard, and took me a few moments to get accustomed to.

I have a feeling I may not like this new Fenix so much as a person, though I still think he is a wonderful character. Complex.

I'm actually glad about that. I wanted the change in perspective to be a surprising twist, and I purposely used a different tone during the chapter to further distinguish it from those previous. You can expect the chapters to begin switching between the views of Felicity and Fenix at this point.


Thanks, FC4.

Browsing the old forum posts recently, I've decided to pick up this story again. I'd been thinking of possibly doing a re-write, but I actually like the characters and the plot in this story so far. So, I'm going to spend some time actually re-acquainting myself with the story and the characters, maybe tweeking things a little, and then I'm going to start working on it again.

Feel free to browse, and give any constructive criticism you might have.

Good. I haven't seen anything out of you in a long while. That may be my own fault, though.