Disclaimer: I don't own anything - all Bethesda...if I did own it, then Brynjolf, Ulfric and Ralof would be marriable :(

Hope you like the story as much as I like writing it! Hate to ask, but please leave a review - I don't care if you think it's worse than what Alduin throws up, I'd like to know!

"Well, well, well, Karia, you never fail to amaze me." The Redguard chortled, looking up as a sweaty, blood-spattered Dunmer ran towards him, her breath heavy and quick.

"Run...can't...speak..." with that, she collapsed onto the floor, panting. When she managed to regain her breath, she pushed herself up and said "I believe that was a new record, Nazir"

Nazir laughed his deep, booming laugh and helped her to her feet. "I think you may be the only person who could say that they managed to eliminate every single person at the Burning of King Olaf festival without anyone realising...and in 5 minutes."

The Dunmer shrugged, her mouth curling into a slight smile. She drew a dagger, glistening with blood, from its hilt and wiped it on her leather cuirass. "I like your disguise. Very subtle."

The Redguard looked down at his costume. "Well, I was only dressing for the occasion. Everyone knows the tale of Olaf and the Dragon..."

Karia raised her eyebrows and then reached out and poked his wings. "So are we flying back to the Sanctuary?"

"Ah, now, see...I'm a very special type of dragon...one that can't fly."

Karia rolled her eyes. "Oh, how ferocious! If only I'd been fighting ones like that..."

"By Sithis, spare me the tale. If I had a septim for every time I've heard about your slaying of Alduin, I'd...well, have a lot of septims." His smile faded a little as she gave him a cold glare, but then he snorted. "Oh no, Dragonborn, please don't Shout at me! I'm just an innocent little Redguard..."

"That'd be easier to believe if you weren't dressed up in a child's costume."

"This isn't a child's costume. Babette made it for me."

"I rest my case."

The air of Solitude was tainted with blood.

The Falkreath Sanctuary filled with a tumult of applause and cheers as they entered, mainly from Cicero. He danced around the Night Mother's coffin, waving what looked like a severed rabbit's head. He began some strange caterwauling, that Karia presumed was singing.

"Oh, the sweet Dunmer maiden of Vvardenfell,
She slew dragons and dragons and more dragons as well,
But deep down inside,
Was her secret disguise,
Her blade yearned for innocent lives to quell!"

Karia grimaced slightly. "Er...thank you, Cicero. That was..lovely."

Astrid approached them, a smile twitching at her mouth for the first time in many years. "I must say, you did well, Karia."

The dark elf smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. She was thinking of Cicero's song...she had once been a dragon slayer. She had been a brave and noble warrior, an honourable member of the Companions, loved and revered by almost all of Skyrim...but those days were over. She never spoke of what turned her to the life of the Dark Brotherhood...and she never would.

Everyone believed the Dragonborn to be dead. Karia felt she was. She couldn't bear the title of someone who was believed the symbol of goodness and hope. Her past life was over, gone with the belief of her demise, and with the Dragonborn had gone the eternal love everyone had for her.

So she'd had to take up a disguise. No longer could she live by her real name, the name everyone knew. The name she never spoke.

Did she regret it? No. This was her home. She may have once been "destined" to save Skyrim, and she had. Now, she was living how she wanted. She'd never been a hero. People had just fooled themselves into believing she was. And she'd let them...just showed how weak and foolish people were...though they did bleed very nicely.

Astrid made to speak again, but caught sight of Nazir and was momentarily distracted. He was still trying to fit through the doorway. Evidently, his wings had got stuck. "Anyway...Karia, dear, I'm afraid there's little time to rest. The Black Sacrament has been performed...and I wish to give you the honour of this contract."

"Who do I have to kill?"

"Ulfric Stormcloak."

An awful silence rang through the Sanctuary. Even Cicero stopped dancing to stare at Astrid. Karia couldn't form words in her mouth. Suddenly, Nazir toppled through the doorway and, with a loud crash, fell to the floor. He didn't stop there...he rolled down the slope and straight into the lake.

By the time Nazir had been rescued, Karia felt herself able to laugh again. She turned to Astrid, and nodded. "It will be an honour. But...who asked for him to be killed?"

Astrid gave her a look that was empty and unfeeling. "I don't know."

Somehow, it sounded like a lie.