Chapter 3

I woke up, feeling warm and comfortable. There was music playing and people talking. I thought I was dead, until I heard Cicero's frantic voice in hushed tones.

'Oh Listener please, wake up, stop scaring poor Cicero' he was borderline sobbing, I could barely open my eyes and he was only a blur of red and black, he hadn't noticed I'd awoken yet.

He began muttering the same thing over and over again, I strained to listen.

'The Dark Brother is nothing without the Listener; Cicero is nothing without the Listener'

It turns out that Cicero had carried me back to Whiterun and rented us a room in the Bannered Mare. He stated to the guards that we were visiting Loreius on business for crops when his wife walked in and saw me and thought Loreius was having an affair with me, she stabbed me and Loreius, resulting in Cicero having to kill her. As farfetched as it sounded the guards bought it and wished me to a full recovery.

The inn owner, Hulda called upon the local healer who fixed me up well enough to travel home, I still felt weak but I was determined to get back to the sanctuary and out of the public eye. We hired a horse and carriage to Dawnstar and made it back safely. We waited til the carriage pulled away before we made towards the secret hatch behind the rocks and we climbed down the ladder and into the Sanctuary.

For the next few days Cicero never left my side, not even to sleep, he talked to the Night Mother of course, but he simply returned and slept on a bedroll bedside my bed. I told him I'd be fine but he stayed, and for the first time I saw him as a mature grown man, he broke into song every once to cheer me up and he still muttered to himself, but it was the first time I'd seen him worried. It was flattering but I knew I'd be fine.

Babette helped tend to my wounds everyday and gave me a dose of healing potion every few hours, Nazir checked up on me, as did the initiates Wulfren and Mylah.

It was funny; although we were a family of seasoned and trained assassins we still cared and looked out for each other like any other normal family did.

Well, we were the only family each other had.

6 months later

In my quarters was counting all our gold and dividing them evenly into separate coin purses. I kept the loot, solid gold trinkets, family heirlooms, that sort of stuff, aside; I had every intention to travel to Riften and sell it to Delvin Malloy, he was an old friend of the Brotherhood, even before I joined. It'd been a long while since I sold him any of the stolen goods I looted from my contracts.

I gave everyone their pay and made up my mind. I began packing for Riften.

There was a knock at my door and with an absent mind I welcomed them to come inside. It was Cicero. He came in practically bouncing off the walls.

'Another hunt Listener? Please tell Cicero we are! Shall Cicero get to packing too?' he asked hopefully.

'No just me this time, I'm off to Riften for business with the Thieves Guild'

His face fell.

'But Cicero will be bored and lonely without the Listener!'

I sighed. 'Can't the Listener have some time to herself once in a while? I'll only be a couple of days besides I take you on every other contract don't I? let me be just this once.'

He pouted and nodded solemnly. 'As the Listener wishes'

He sat at my desk playing with my quill by sticking it in his hat and humming to himself.

Once I was done packing I bade him farewell and he followed me to the entrance.

'Are you sure Cicero can't come? What if the Listener gets lonely? Or hurt? Not that humble Cicero doubts the Listeners skills, certainly not, no no! But Cicero will miss you'

He looked genuinely sad. I felt so very guilty and I reached over and gave him a hug.

'I'll be fine Cicero I'll-ack' I cut off as he almost squeezed the air out of me. He waved me goodbye and I mounted Shadowmere and set off.

'See you in a few days'

I would really miss him; this would be the longest we'd be apart for the first time in over a year. But I was definitely looking forward to having my own space for the first time in a long time.

The journey to Riften was unusually quiet, and pleasant. As soon as I arrived I head straight towards the Ratway, I hated the smell of the place, but I covered my nose and pressed on, shortly making it towards the Ragged Flagon.

I was greeted warmly as most of the guild recognised; but only as a supplier, only Delvin knew I was with the Dark Brotherhood. We had an agreement to keep my identity private, I didn't want too many people knowing who I was naturally.

'Ah Allo luv' long time no see, how's business?'

'Thriving and you?'

'Positively wonderful, I spect' yeh heard about our little Mercer Frey incident?'

'Of course, glad the bastards dead, so the new Guild Master? Treating you well I hope?'

'Take a look 'round luv', you ever seen this place in such a state? Guild's been at its best for the first time in yonkers'

I gave a small chuckle. 'It does indeed look spectacular, congratulations on all your successes'

'Anyway luv' I don't think you're ere' to stand around talking mindlessly, yer here for business no doubt, take a seat, make yerself at home. I'll get yer a drink, what's yer poison?'

'Just a mead will do' I said as I sat down across from him.

The bartender brought me my drink and walked away.

'Now, to business, what 'ave you got fer us luv'?'

'Yes, in fact here' I pulled the full satchel I was carrying up and placed it on the table.

He opened it and inspected a solid gold urn and swore to himself.

'Good Gods, all this in a year? Luv' you really 'oughta think about joining up wiv' the Guild, I keep telling yer'

I laughed. 'I'm fine, so do we have an agreement? Will you buy everything?'

'Of course luv' of course, come wiv' me and we'll get yer papers sorted.'

We stood and I followed him behind the bar and through a secret passage way in a large room, a cistern of sorts. There were many other Guild recruits resting, talking and eating.

One of them walked up to us with an interested expression. He was a Breton for sure.

'New recruit Delv?' his voice was coarse and gravelly.

'Nah Cynric, just business, erm in fact, could you keep this lovely lady comp'ny while I go fetch the official papers'

'Sure' he said with a smile, and I watched as Delvin walked off to another part of the room and back at the Breton.

'So business eh?' he asked, he had a cocky demeanour about him, but I couldn't help but feel warmly towards him.

'Maybe'

'Don't see many other Breton's here in Skryim,' cept Mercer and those Forsworn lunatics, but Mercer, he's, well not apart of the guild anymore, it's nice to see your own kind once in a while'

'You me both' I smiled at him.

He paused thoughtfully before asking, 'So how long is business keeping you in town?'

'Two days, why do you ask?'

He gave another cocky smile 'How about drinks at the Bee and Barb? Say about 8, tonight?'

'You're on' I said confidently, what was the harm? I was only going to be here for couple days, might as well have some fun.

He grinned triumphantly and walked away 'see you then'.

Delvin came back with the papers which I signed and we talked a little more, he gave me the gold and I exited the cistern through their secret passage way in the graveyard so I could avoid the Ratway.

I made my way to the Bee and Barb and booked myself a room for the next two nights, rested for a while then went downstairs and sat in a two seater table by the wall and opened a book.

As usual I became quite immersed in my book that I jumped a little when a voice spoke out to me.

'Yeah, I took you for the book type' I looked up and saw Cynric with two bottles of mead at hand.

'You're right on time' I mused.

'Of course I am, can't make a date and not be punctual, we'll leave that to the Nords, drunken louts' he joked.

We laughed and he took the seat opposite me.

'So I never caught your name'

'What's it to you?'

He rolled his eyes playfully 'ok, , I suppose you want to know all about me first.'

I raised an eyebrow 'well?'

'Well, The name's Cynric Endell, Breton, I'm 31, born in High Rock and as you already know, member of the Guild, and master lockpicker.' He then pointedly looked at me, I sighed.

'Elawyn Wirthlir, Breton, I'm 21 born in Cyrodiil, supplier to the Thieves Guild' lie! Well that last part, but seriously, who'd casually come out with 'oh yes, and Listener of the Dark Brotherhood'? I barely knew this man. As I said, I don't like many people knowing my real career. Who would?

'So , how exactly did you become so good at picking locks?' I said diverting the conversation.

'Well, well, it's quite the tale'