p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"A small part of me was expecting Windhelm to be eerily quiet. But it's the same noisy city as it ever was. I walk up to Aventus Aretino's house and open the door, glancing around. I walk up the stairs and Aventus runs out at the sound of my footsteps./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Well? Grelod the Kind, is she… you know…?" He asks eagerly./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Yes, child." I respond./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""A-ha! I knew you could do it!" Aventus cheers. "I knew the Dark Brotherhood would save me! Here, just like I promised." He hands me a silver plate. "This should fetch you a nice price. And thank you! Thank you again!" He runs down the stairs and out the door, letting it slam behind him./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I decide not to stay in Windhelm and to travel out to Markarth. It is supposed to be warmer there, with very little snow and plenty of mountains to climb. But there are rumors of an uprising against the Nords. I dislike them and their racist, bull-headed ways, but I wouldn't use that as an excuse to kill them all. There are much better reasons to murder people./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Maybe I'll go back to Whiterun. It was nice enough there, living in the house that was given to Sidri and I by the Jarl. People respect us for our victory over the dragon, and despite my unwillingness to trust the Greybeards, they may be right. Whether we… emI/em… like it or not, we are connected. We're both Dragonborn, and whatever's going on, it's up to us to stop it./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"To avoid facing my supposed destiny for another little while, I rent a room down in the Grey Quarter for the night so the Nords don't bother me. In the morning, I set off on foot for Whiterun. I take the west road to observe the scenery, and smile at the wide beauty of Skyrim. I came here for this, not politics or dragons. But at least I still have these quiet days to occupy me./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Just after passing a small settlement around a lumber mill, a courier jogs over to me./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Hey, are you Camille Rayne?" He asks./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Yes…" I reply hesitantly. "You were looking for me?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Yeah, got this note." He responds, pulling a small piece of paper from his satchel. "Don't know what it's for."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Who is it from?" I question suspiciously. The only person who would contact me wouldn't dare do it by courier, and I have no other friends or family who care enough to send anything./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Not sure who." The courier shrugs. "Creepy fella, black robe. Couldn't see his face. Paid me a pretty sum to get this into your hands, though. Looks like that's it. Got to go." He hands me the paper and starts of toward Windhelm./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I don't like this. I open the folded paper to see a handprint in black ink along with two words written in a careful hand. My breath hitches and my heart leaps into my throat./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"em"We know."/em/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I knew it. I knew they would come for me, and they're going to kill me for taking their contract./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I quickly walk to Whiterun and spend the night in the house. I sit on the bed for hours, startling at the slightest sounds. Eventually, I fall asleep, and am wracked with vicious, terrifying dreams./p
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p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"The room spins and blurs as my head aches. I sit up and try to look around. Movement catches my eye and I see a woman sitting casually atop a shelf, her leg dangling over the edge. She is dressed in form-fitting black and red armor with a mask that covers her nose and mouth. Only her ghostly grey eyes are visible./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Sleep well?" She asks./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"My breath freezes in my throat. emThe Brotherhood… /em"Where am I?" I demand./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Relax. You're warm, dry… and still very much alive." The woman says in a soothing tone. "That's more than can be said for old Grelod, hmm?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You know about that?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Half of Skyrim knows." She replies with what I assume to be a smirk. "Old hag gets butchered in her own orphanage? Things like that tend to get around."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I scowl up at her. My initial fear is gone, replaced by annoyance and anger./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Oh, but don't misunderstand. I'm not criticizing you." The woman clarifies quickly. "It was a good kill. Old crone had it coming. And you saved a group of urchins, to boot. But there is a slight… mm, problem."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I keep my tongue still, unsure why she would tell me all this only to end my life afterward./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You see, the Aretino boy was looking for the Dark Brotherhood. For me, and my associates." She tells me. "Grelod the Kind was, by all rights, a Dark Brotherhood contract. A kill that you stole. A kill you must repay."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You want me to kill someone else?" I question hesitantly. "Who?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Well now." The woman chuckles darkly. "Funny you should ask. If you turn around, you'll notice my guests. I've collected them from — well, that's not really important. The here and now. That's what matters."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I turn and see three people, kneeling on the bloodstained floor, each wearing black execution hoods. "You see, there's a contract out on one of them, and that person can't leave this room alive. But… which one?" The woman continues. "Go on. Make your choice. Make your kill. I just want to observe… and admire."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I stare at the victims. Two men and a woman. One of them, a Khajiit./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Am I to take your silence as acceptance?" The woman asks. "Then you know where we stand. Make your kill, and we're square. Repayment of your debt is but a discreet knife thrust away."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I walk over to the first man I see, the human. "I-I can hear you talking out there!" He whimpers. "Please, let me go! I've done nothing to you."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Who are you?" I ask him, my tone soft./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""My name is Fultheim." He replies shakily. "I'm a soldier. Well, a-a mercenary, really. You know, a sell-sword. But that's all! I'm a nobody, really! So can't you just let me go?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Shh, it's all right." I whisper soothingly, placing my hand on his shoulder. "You're a very, very sad man." I draw a small, thin dagger and plunge it into his chest, blood flowing over my hands and shrouding them in warmth./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I walk up the line to the Khajiit and tilt my head. He says something charmingly, but I am too preoccupied with my dizzy feeling to care. I drag my dagger across his neck and marvel at the color of his blood. Such a dark shade…/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Only the woman remains. I turn to her and press my lips together. I snatch the black hood from her face and stare into her eyes. "Look at you; you're just an old woman. Why would anyone want to kill you?" I smirk and grimly, the same way the assassin in Cyrodiil had done to me. "Well, I know how deceiving looks can be. You're probably the worst of the lot, you old hag." I take her face in my hand and whisper, "I'm going to enjoy this," before holding out my palms and allowing magefire to engulf her./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I turn back to the hooded woman. "Well, well." She smirks. "Aren't we the overachiever? Three possibilities, three victims. Must have been one of them, right? So why take chances?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You told me to kill, and I killed." I reply, staring up at her./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Indeed. For you, my friend, seem to understand what's truly important." She responded. "When I give an order to spill blood, you follow it. No questions, no remorse."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""So I can leave?" I ask eagerly. I am quite ready to get out of the tiny shack./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Of course. And you've repaid your debt in full." The woman throws a small key at me. "Here is the key to the shack. But why stop there? I say we take our relationship to the next level. I would like to officially extend an invitation for you to join our family. In the southwest reaches of Skyrim, you'll find our Sanctuary. When questioned by the Black Door, answer thusly: 'Silence, my Brother' and you'll be welcomed in. I'll see you at home." She smiles as I turn to leave./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I suppose it was bound to happen sometime… ever since I had Atticus killed. Maybe this will be good for me, having an outlet for my murderous intentions./p
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p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"***strong One month later /strong***/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"strongIt/strong used to be a nice day. The weather was pleasant—warm for this time of year, and breezy too. I lowered the hood of my cloak and let the wind tangle up my hair. Brushing it out later will relax me even more./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"But then I see the fool./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"em"Aagh!"/em He yells at the cracked and splintered wheel of his wagon. "Bother and befuddle! Stuck here! Stuck! STUCK!" His hands rest on a wooden box lying in the wagon. "Oh, my mother. My poor mother! Unmoving. At rest, but too still!"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"He notices me as I stare at him with a raised eyebrow, and he gasps. "You! You would help?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"emI don't want to/em. "I have somewhere to be—"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Poor Cicero is stuck!" He interupts me, seemingly uncaring that I was about to refuse. "Can't you see?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I stare at him. Judging by his mannerisms, he's either very childish or very disturbed. The look in his eyes has me convinced of the latter./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I was transporting my dear, sweet mother." He explains in the same shrill tone of voice. "Well, not emher/em. Her corpse! She quite dead." He seems to be waiting for me to laugh./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I merely blink./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I'm taking Mother to a new home. A new crypt. But emaaaghh/emem!/em Wagon wheel!em Damnedest/em wagon wheel! It broke! Don't you see?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I suck my teeth impatiently. "That would certainly hinder one's day. Now I was—"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Oh! But surely the kindly stranger can help!" He smiles at me, sickeningly sweet. "Go to the farm—the Loreius farm! Talk to Loreius; he has tools! He can help me! But he won't, he refuses! Convince Loreius to fix my wheel! Do that, and poor Cicero will reward you. With coin! Gleamy, shiny coin!"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"He has a curious—and annoying—method of speech. No doubt a side effect of the madness I can see in his eyes./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I sigh loudly, making it obvious to him that I'm reluctant to assist. "Very well. I shall see what I can do." I pause, then glare at him and add, "I'm expecting good payment for my trouble."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Oh, thank you, thank you!" He squeals, clapping his gloved hands and dancing around his wagon. "You beautiful soul, you! My mother would certainly thank you herself… if she could!" He cackles and continues to dance./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I retreat up the road, looking back a little too often to see what he's doing. emBeautiful soul? He's definitely mad./em/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"The farm up ahead seems to have thriving crops. I see a man and a woman working, the former of which I assume to be Loreius. I approach him and he looks up. "Oh, for the love of Mara. What now?" He snaps at me./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""That man on the road—he really needs your help with his wagon." I say, looking back at the jester again./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""That Cicero feller? Hmph. Tell me something I don't know," Loreius shakes his head. "Crazy fool's already asked me about five times. Seems he's not satisfied with my answer. Why can't he just leave us alone?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""He offered to pay me," I remark, "surely he'll pay you."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Pay me?" Loreius repeats. "You think this is about money? Have you seen the man? He's completely out of his head! A jester? Here, in Skyrim? Ain't been a merryman in these parts for a hundred years."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""What of it? Would you leave a starving man with not a morsel of food just because of his mannerisms?"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""What? No! It's not just the madness!" He argues. "He's transporting some giant box. Says it's a coffin, and he's going to bury his mother. Mother, my eye. He could have anything in there! War contraband, weapons, skooma. Ain't no way I'm gettin' involved in any of that."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I'm starting to lose my patience. emIf this isn't resolved soon, I may have to kill someone. /em"He's just a stranger who needs assistance. If it was someone normal, you wouldn't be so reluctant."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""And just who in Mara's name are you anyway, hmm?" Loreius demands. "Come here, telling me my business. And for what? To help a… a… a fool!"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""A fool, indeed." I remark. "But why am I helping him when you will not? He is nothing to me. No one. I've never seen him, met him. He's every bit as foreign to me as you are. And yet I assist, and you give nothing."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Look, I… I…" Finally, he sighs and relents. "You're right, you're right. Feller might be nutters, might not. But I turn him away, what kind of man am I, hmm? Look, um… thanks for your help. And I'm sorry for my un-neighborly reaction. If you see Cicero, you be sure to tell him I'll be down to help soon."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I thank him and walk back down the hill, pausing when I hear the jester muttering to himself./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""My dear mother," he says. "Her new home seems so very far away…"/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"I decide it's time to tell him the news and be on my way. "The farmer agreed to help you." I say as he whirls around to face me./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Oh, stranger! You have made Cicero so happy! So jubilant and ecstatic!" He dances around the cart. "But more! Even more! My mother thanks you."/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You are welcome." I turn away, but pause as I hear something out of place./p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"The sound in the wind is back again. This time, it's clearer, and I have to stop myself from turning around to find the source of the deep whispering. I close my eyes to try to hear it better, but it still doesn't make any sense./p
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p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"emA.N.: My second revised chapter! This one is very similar to the old one. I merely removed the second perspective and filled our Camille's lines a little more. She has some more personality now. These chapters may seem a little choppy—at least, they do to me—but please bear with me and please leave a review. They help me immensely./em/p
p style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"em-Gairi/em/p