Cicero was escorted into the dark brotherhood sanctuary by the blonde mistress, Astrid, followed by Arnbjorn and Nazir who carried the Unholy Matrons coffin. He felt excitement and anxious having located the last sanctuary running in Skyrim, he was not sure how this leg of his journey would go, seeing all the bad luck that followed him. He hoped that this one wouldn't burn down or be infiltrated. He was even unsure of this leader and 'her' sanctuary. The night mother was the true lady to follow but yet he was glad to have a home again after having been on the road for what felt like years. It had been a long journey. But they got into the sanctuary and placed the night mother's coffin in the main area past the entrance by a small water fall while everyone gathered around to greet the new comer. Astrid introduced him to everyone, Festus Krex, Babette, Gabriella, and Veezara, she also mentioned that one was missing due to the fact that she was on a mission. Cicero was surprised how small this sanctuary was, no wonder the Dark Brotherhood didn't have much of a reputation out here. But that was all going to change now that the night mother could reestablish out here and he felt that he may be able to do a few missions himself, oh how he missed the sweet killing with his blades.
"Hello, hello, hello everyone, I am Cicero the night mothers Keeper. I look forward to meeting all of you individually." He said in his high laugh tilted voice, he danced in his place laughing.
"Guys, will you help Cicero get situated in his room and help set up the Night mother in the glass room?" The men nodded to follow her orders and Cicero saw a shadowy figure enter the room from the same hallways he came in from. She wore the black and red robes like Gabriella but instead of her hood she wore in place a circlet of silver and ruby, a hood down over her shoulders. She looked to be half elf and maybe Nord her ears only slightly pointed and pierced. She had a half shaved head with the blackest hair, like raven wings, her eyes down as she quickly walked over to Astrid. Cicero stopped dancing and stared for a second. He was astonished by her for the moment. Then Nazir called upon him, breaking him from his staring.
Raven POV
Boy was I tired. I had just finished my first three contracts from Nazir and was walking back into the Sanctuary, hopefully Astrid had that real mission she was talking about when I had left. It had been, refreshing, to get out there and spread the fear of the Brotherhood. Watching the light leave their eyes always gave me such a high. It was glorious to have a place to call home that accepted me for how I was. I walked past the entrance where Astrid normally was and I heard laughter in the main area of the Sanctuary, a very strange laughter. I wondered what was going on. Walking down everyone was gathered around a large shipping chest and there was a jester dancing there laughing. I had never seen him before, he must be new, past the jester clothes he wore he had striking red hair and white Imperial skin, his green eyes danced with his jester happiness. My heart skipped a beat as I flushed a little, I turned my head down and walked over to Astrid quickly as it seemed he was going over the box with the guys.
"Ah, Raven, you're back how did it go?" She asked with a small smile.
"They went well, another great day for the Brotherhood. Sooooo uh, who's the clown?" I asked, barley glancing towards him.
"Some guy claiming to be the Keeper of the Unholy Matron named Cicero, and in the box is her and her casket. I'm not completely sure about it yet." She said quietly to me. I nodded and watched the jester while he talked to Veezara, his back to me. "By the way see me at some point tomorrow; I have your first big contract available." She smiled at me with a rare happiness.
"Will do Astrid, I'm going to grab a drink and go to bed probably, I am tired." And almost on cue I yawned. She patted my shoulder. Nazir walked by me to go outside and I stopped him to turn in my contracts.
"Welcome back Raven, how did it go?" He asked his voice dripping in his usual sarcasm as I told him they were all dead. He gave me my cash out for them and kept going about his business. I heard a soft crunch behind me and I turned around quickly, thinking Veezara was trying to scare me again. Only thing though is Veezara didn't wear a jester's hat. I gasped in shock almost stumbling back a little from the breech in personal space and the fact that I didn't expect him to approach me.
"Oh, what the hell, by Sithis you startled me" I exclaimed, he leaned forward, raising an eyebrow.
"And who might you be little raven?" He asked, I eyed him as I was caught off guard for a second. His green eyes were like emeralds.
"Raven…" I said with slight uncertainty, he was confused for a second.
"You know, a black bird associated with dark and death?" He laughed.
"No, my name is Raven." His eyes got bigger.
"Ooohhh Cicero see's now. Such a fool. Well I am the Keeper of the Unholy Matron, Cicero. Mother and I have traveled far from Cyrodil" I tried to smile as friendly as I could without being awkward.
"Well welcome to the Sanctuary, I'm pretty new myself" I subconsciously ran my hand over the shaved side of my head. It was then that Arnbjorn called the jester over to help retrieve his stuff from the wagon. Cicero glanced at me again before he ran off to follow him. I breathed a sigh of relief, it wasn't till then that I had felt tense. I shook my head, 'I must be tired' I walked over to the center dining area in the back to sit with Gabriella, I was going to sit and relax and have a drink before I made some food. I sipped my ale.
"Sister, how are you today?" She asked in her high soft voice. We smiled.
"Tired, ready to sleep in my bed" We quietly had some chit chat for a while, Babette joined us too and I restocked some of my poisons with her. "So Gabriella, stab any unicorns with crocheting needles lately?" I asked, we laughed heartily. It was our joke from when we first met. They headed out of the kitchen at that point as they went to go about their business and I got up to make some food. I looked about to see what I had available. I threw some venison in the cooking pot with some water, carrots, potatoes, some grain and salt. I stood by it, watching it simmer and boil up. 'What was up with what happen with Cicero, I'm normally good around people, and something about him threw me off.' I shook my head a bit and finished the tankard of ale I had. I heard someone coming down the wooden stairs.
"Care for a refill sweet sister?" It was Cicero again. I coughed slightly and he walked over to me.
"Please, thank you Cicero." He took my tankard and filled up two, returning my one to me.
"That smells delightful, who are we cooking?" He laughed smelling deeply, and I couldn't help but laugh, covering my mouth before we both took a drink.
"Just a little lost deer. Care for some?" I spooned up a bowl, he tilted his head smiling. That smile made me feel excitement in my soul. It was unsettling but I ignored it.
"What kindness from the little bird, thank you thank you. We're going to be fast friends and mother will like you." He said followed by his laughter. We sat down with our food across from each other.
"So where did you come from?" I asked curiously.
"From the Cyrodil sanctuary before it was taken over and everyone there was wiped out. Poor Cicero made it out with our Lady and began the hunt to find this sanctuary here in Skyrim. We have been searching for the Listener but we have not found one, I have failed Mother to bring her a reliable person to hear her voice…" He said getting quite upset.
"What do you mean Listener?" I asked, he looked at me shocked.
"Are you kidding sister? Surely you are, but I guess not. A Listener is the person that the Night Mother speaks through to give us our contracts." He explained and it was like a missing link fell into place, so that's how it is suppose to work. "I have been on the mission to find a Listener but she will not speak to anyone yet. Sadly I will never hear her sweet voice for I am the Keeper, so I must find her the Listener. I will never find that person though, and I will fail mother, it has been so long, why could it not be me, why couldn't I just keep killing. Oh mother I have failed you." He said going off on a tangent getting himself all riled up. I wasn't sure what to do; I wasn't used to being around someone so emotional or, unstable. I put my hand out on top of his clenched fist. His eyes shot up to me calming quickly.
"Apparently it's been a long struggle for you but I'm sure you will find the Listener, they may even be here it might just take some time, or that they aren't part of our sanctuary yet. I'm sure though that the Listener will appear." I said, trying to be optimistic. We continued eating, changing the subject to something lighter before we retired to bed, I slept in the main room with everyone else while he had a designated room next to the Unholy Matron's chambers seeing as how he was the Keeper. Astrid believes that is was necessary.
Cicero's POV
Where had the little raven gone? I had not seen her this morning; she was not in a bed, or in the kitchen, nor the main area or with the Matron. She disappeared like a cat. I had gotten up this morning and started taking care of the Unholy Matron. After the long journey she was in need of delicate tedious tending. I went through my packs of belongings grabbing assorted oils, balms, candles and such things. I needed to start the set up of the Unholy Matron's room. The glass mosaic of the void and dread lord was a perfect location to have mothers viewing from. The room was in worse condition then I remember yesterday. 'So much to be done to make it acceptable for Mother, I will work in here till the raven comes back.' I set about to clearing the webs, and righting furniture. Lighting candles and incense, I made it a proper worship site.
"Have you spoken to anyone, sweet mother? Have you found the Listener? I found us this home and hope that it will satisfy…" I continued talking without much thought as my own thoughts drifted to a black bird, wishing they would deliver the voice of the void. I hummed a tune that a bard once sung before I killed him; funny how tunes tend to stick after the composer was long cold and dead. I spent all day in the Night Mothers chambers cleaning and organizing, oiling and singing. I find myself though talking to her, about the birds and sweet voices and the color blue.
"Mother dearest if any place was the place to find a Listener could it not be here? Cicero likes this place, well sort of. The lizard is nice enough and the cranky uncle sees us for what we are. Cicero's sure the others will come around, but what of the pretty half elf, she seems like water on rocks trying to find a path, hopefully to you sweet mother. Speaking of water, blood flows sweetly enough but she is in mine like poison. Poor sweet Cicero can't get his work done when his brain is in the clouds with the birds." He rambled on and on, till it was time to eat and sleep. No signs of blue eyes, maybe tomorrow.
