CHAPTER 3: Shadows of the past

Packing things didn't take long, since there wasn't much left to take with us. The only things the guild spared were a few books, a couple of tiny dresses, the doll my father gave me, and the dragon bone knife I'd hidden under my bed.

The thieves had taken most of the valuables in the house. All the armor, weapons, artifacts, gold, and jewels were gone. They had even eaten the food.

Faendal did his best to comfort me as we packed, telling me that that "We'll be alright." and "We'll figure out what to do once we reach Riverwood."

Suddenly I stopped packing as I had a lingering fear. Faendal was kind and dutiful, but he was certainly no caretaker. Without my father around, what reason did he have to stick around.

I turned to the stressed elf. "Faendal, will you take care of me? Will we live in Riverwood?"

Faendal bit his lip and wrung his hands. "We'll talk about the details once we get there, I promise." He rose and quickly exited the room.

I closed my eyes and swallowed twice, trying to dislodge the lump forming in my throat. I took a deep breath and continued to pack.

When my bag was all packed and ready, I waited in the now empty entryway. The thieves had cleared out almost everything in the house. The beds were stripped, the walls and cabinets were bare.

Faendal exited his room. He had only packed a bit of food, his bow, and a camping pack for the journey to Riverwood. Most of his belongings were at his house. He gave me a sympathetic look and exited the house.

As we headed down the hill, I spied a target and dummy that my father had set up. I remember how proud he had been when I hit my first bullseye. I remembered when he first taught me to swing a sword. He had smithed it just my size. The Dragonborn wasn't usually around, but when he was, he was always a kind and loving father.

I held back a sob, but it still came out as a sniffle.

Faendal looked down at me and gave me an awkward pat on the head.

Riverwood was a full day's walk and the two of us couldn't ride because the thieves guild "required" all the horses in my father's stable. So we walked.

At nightfall, Faendal set up camp beneath the guardian stones. The spot was frequented by hunters and was fairly safe to sleep by.

After an awkwardly silent dinner I went to bed in my cot with Vix and dreamt of my father.

...

In the dream, I was crying next to my mother's corpse in our old farmhouse. Behind me, my cruel aunt and uncle chuckled and whispered to me about how I was useless and they hoped I died out on the road.

As they began to drag me away from my mother's body I screamed and fought their grasp. I looked back to the spot where my mother lie and suddenly realized that the body was no longer my mother, but my father the Dragonborn.

His mouth was open as if he were screaming, but no noise came out. His once brilliant eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.

I sobbed and cried out to him, desperately trying to reach my father. But it was no use. Cruel hands gripped my arms and clothes and pulled me away. The arms shook me and covered my mouth. I felt like I was suffocating. Alone, abandoned.

...

Suddenly I jolted awake, only to find that there actually Were arms grasping mine and a hand over my mouth.

"Quiet now girl." A voice whispered over me. "You'll wake the elf with your crying."

Another voice whispered in the dark. "Be kind Babette, this one is his daughter."

I was so confused. The first voice sounded like it belonged to a child, while the second one was deep and aged as if it belonged to a grown man.

I tapped the hand over my mouth gently and it pulled away. I took a breath and whispered. "Who are you?"

The girl's voice scoffed. "Your father never told you about us? I'm almost dissapointed."

"It was his decision Babette." The man replied. "We have no right to question how he raised his daughter."

While the two were distracted I snapped my fingers and lit a candlelight spell, illuminating them both.

The first voice did indeed belong to a small girl who looked no older than me and whose eyes glowed red. The second voice belonged to a large redguard man dressed in red and black Hammerfel garb.

The girl hissed and brandished what looked like tiny fangs. "Clever indeed, learning a spell like that at your age. He always did hold you in high regard." She turned to the redguard man. "See Nazir? I told you she was worth it. This is what he would have wanted."

The man, Nazir shifted uncomfortably and crossed his arms. "Regardless, the decision is hers now. The girl's future should not be dictated by anyone but herself."

My curiosity finally got the better of me. "Again, who are you people?"

Suddenly, a third man jumped out from behind the two. He was dressed in a red and black jester's garb. "Why we are us silly! Who else would we be? Hahahaha!" The man cackled.

The first two shushed him loudly.

"Cicero!" The girl chastised. "We agreed to let you come if you promised to be silent."

The jester gave a sheepish grin. "Whoopsie hehe. But the dear listener's daughter must come! She must be the next listener! Oh joy! Off to a delightful life of murder and loyalty to our sweet mother." His face grew somber as if remembering something sad, and then immediately grew serious. "Just as her father did."

My eyes widened as my memory grew clear. The books I had read. The Five Tenets, A Kiss Sweet Mother, and The Brothers of Darkness.

I put a hand to my mouth and whispered. "The Dark Brotherhood."

Cicero applauded excitedly and hopped up and down. "Ooh so the girl does know us. Perhaps the listener mentioned sweet Cicero to her?"

Babette interjected before I could respond. "Since you know who we are girl, we're her to inform you that your father was our leader."

I shook my head in disbelief. "No, he wasn't a murderer."

Babette seemed to take pleasure in my discomfort and grinned wickedly. "You're right, he wasn't a murderer... he was an artist. Do you know how your dear father used to carry out his contracts? He would cast a spell of madness on his victims, making them blindly attack anyone near them. Townsfolk, guards, family members, friends." The girl held back a chuckle. "When the poor bastards came to, they had already murdered someone. All your father had to do was sit back and let the city guard put them down. Genius really."

Lucia felt like she was going to be sick. She rose from her cot and kneeled by the lake. There was no way her father could ever do something so horrible. He was a good man, a good father. It was impossible.

After taking a few deep breaths she looked back at the trio of assassins.

Babette's mouth was curled in disgust.

Cicero seemed confused at my discomfort and scratched his head.

Nazir closed his eyes and sighed. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I warned you of this Babette." His looked at me hard and cleared his throat. "We've come to recruit you into our dark family. It's your decision, although we feel that it's what your father would have wanted. I know your opinion of us must be questionable right now." He paused and gave Babette a nasty look. "But if you choose to join us, you may find our way of life to be to your liking. Just as your father did."

There was a moment of silence. I just stood looking at the assassins and they all stood staring back at me.

This wasn't right. My father may have done questionable things in his life, but the side that he chose to show me was his love and caring. If he had wanted me to pursue a life of murder, he would have shown me otherwise. I was almost positive that he had wanted something different for me.

I took a deep breath and answered. "No."

Nazir seemed satisfied with the answer and nodded.

Babette however was furious. "What!? What do you mean 'No'!? You're turning down a home, a family. One that your father loved and belonged to. You're willing to just throw that all away?"

Cicero sniffled pitifully. "It seems the daughter doesn't care for us." He suddenly grew angry as well. "You're nothing like your dear father are you?! You could Never be the Listener!" He hissed.

Nazir gripped the jester's shoulder, hard. "That is Enough Cicero. She gave her answer and now we will respect it." He looked down at the girl. "You too Babette."

The girl still seethed with frustration, but gave in to the redguard's order.

Nazir looked at me with a sad smile. "Fare thee well Lucia. I wish you happiness in your future. My condolences for your father. He was a great man."

Just then, my candlelight spell flickered out. Shocked, I quickly cast a new one. When the light shone again, the trio had vanished back into the darkness.