I stand before Cicero, the Dark Brotherhood's jester, clutching a gaping wound as he lay on the floor of the Dawnstar sanctuary. I was instructed by Astrid, leader of the Dark Brotherhood, to kill the fool and send him to The Void for attacking his fellow comrades.
"You caught me! I surrender!" Cicero wheezed, letting out a cackle. My war ax trembled in my hand, despite the fact the man was insane, I felt so much pity to him. I wanted to speak and explain everything, but there was no point. He knew why I was here.
"Oh, you prefer to listen, eh? Of course, of course! The Listener Listens! A joke! A funny joke! I get it!" He said in a sing-song but fading tone. He wasn't going to make it much longer just laying here. "Then listen to this- don't kill me. Let poor Cicero live! I attacked the Strumpet Astrid, I did! And I'd do it again! Anything for mother!" God, he sure wasn't making this easy on me. Nothing like saying you don't regret anything to get someone to spare your own life. "Cicero, I-" I tried to gather my words but Cicero continued "Return to the pretender! Tell her I am dead, tell her you strangled me with my own intestines! But lie, yes lie and let me live!" Should I lie to Astrid and tell her I killed Cicero, or should I do what I was instructed to do in the first place? It is my job to protect the brotherhood and do as instructed, surely The Night Mother knew what she was doing when she chose Cicero as her keeper. Would Night Mother, the very entity that chose me to be her listener, be pleased? I look over at Cicero and sigh. "Cicero.. What am I going to do with you? The Night Mother chose me as her Listener, it would be wrong of me to take away her keeper. We are one in the same, I can not do that to her or yourself." I put away my weapon and extend my hand. "Come with me, take my hand and I will lead you somewhere safe."
Cicero suddenly broke out in hysterical laughter, clutching his wound tightly with his other arm pressed against the floor. "Oh, Listener! I knew you wouldn't betray poor Cicero!" he said, now sounding a bit faint. I roll my eyes at Cicero's hysteria and kneel down to pick him up myself. I put his free arm around my neck and push him up with my other hand. His body was small and slender, easily movable by an average person. I can hear Cicero panting as I start to walk us towards the rooms barricaded entrance. "Bare with me" I huffed as I fumble with the board holding the door shut. This is our only way out, the other way out is guarded by a yeti I had to sneak past to find Cicero in the first place! I manage to get the board lifted by pushing it with the top of my hand and I ease the door open. I guide him through the first floor of the sanctuary, pressing my arm into his waist to keep him steady. As we approach the outside of the sanctuary, I can see Shadowmere, the horse Astrid let me borrow, waiting for us. "Has Shadowmere come for Cicero too? Has the pretender come to slay Cicero herself?" Cicero asked, breathing heavily. "Astrid lent me her horse, I am going to use it to take you out of here."
I climb onto the horse and tried my best to pull Cicero up on top of Shadowmere. Cicero groaned as he exerted some of the little energy he left, strands of his Amber hair falling onto his face. I wrap Cicero's hands around my waist to make sure he won't fall off. He pressed his head against my back as if he didn't even have enough strength to hold his head up. "Hold on tight, I don't want you falling off" I said, causing Cicero's nails to dig into my armor. "Yes listener.."
