The second Etcetera saw Arnbjorn she knew that it would not be a good day, the big man was sitting in a puddle of his own blood, she chucked him a healing potion before grunting the passphrase to the door and pushing inside.

It was child's play to cut and bash her way through the Dawnstar Sanctuary's meager defenses and she could hear Cicero talking, but didn't register his words beyond the strain in his voice.

The final door burst open with one good kick and there he was, Etcetera could smell the blood and when she stepped closer, the huddled man quaked before her.

Too right! He should shiver and tremble at the mere sound of her footsteps! Etcetera felt her lips slide into a smile for the briefest of moments before she was reminded that this was Cicero and not an enemy on the old ethereal battlefields. She slowly approached, not knowing what a wounded human would do when threatened, would he try to fight her like a dog? Delirious with the pain he was obviously in and not thinking about the consequences?

"Oh . . . it's you, Listener . . . poor Cicero should have known you'd get past his traps . . . " Cicero whimpered and his face contorted in pain, he licked dry, cracked lips and inhaled sharply, "Cicero . . . Cicero knows also that the strumpet must have sent you . . . to finish poor Cicero off . . . "

Etcetera sheathed her daggers and crossed her arms.

"Ha! Even now, Listener is so silent and impo-imposing." Cicero chuckled then it turned into coughing fit, making the small man wince and shudder in pain.

Etcetera squatted down and tilted her head, removing her mask and frowning, "I have my orders."

Tears rolled down Cicero's face and he whimpered, "N-No . . . you-you could just walk away! Let poor, sweet Cicero live and tell the Traitor that you killed him! Cicero'll go away and you'll never see him again! He-He promises . . . please, sweet Listener, spare Cicero his life . . . please . . . "

Etcetera listened to the man's pleas, her frown deepening until it was a scowl and Cicero shied away when she reached out her hand, only to cry in relief when the Dremora only stroked his cheek.

"Y-Yes, just let Cicero live, he'll go far, far away! He promises!" Cicero sobbed, "Abandon poor Cicero . . . like . . . like everyone else . . . "

Etcetera blinked then shook her head and she rubbed her forehead irritatedly, "You . . . you stupid fool."

Cicero bit his lip uncertainly as the daedra assassin stood,

"I can't."

Cicero's eyes widened as the Dremora leaped at him, he cried out loudly in fear, expecting to feel a knife in his throat only to blink in confusion as his motley was rapidly unlaced and pulled aside. Cicero shivered as chilly air hit his bare skin, especially unpleasant on the gashes in his side. Etcetera's hands rapidly packed the motley against the wound,

"Hold this." She muttered as she reached into her belt-pouch for a healing potion.

Cicero shook his head frantically, "No, Listener, you must go! The great dog is still out there and if he comes in-"

"He won't. He went home." Etcetera snarled and pulled the tattered motley aside again to sprinkle the potion on the wound. It stopped bleeding but didn't mend, "Shit . . . werewolf."

Cicero's eyes widened, "Werewolf? You mean Cicero might-"

"Not if I can help it." Etcetera growled in frustration, "It will just take a long time to heal and you'll need continual treatment."

Cicero blinked, "How will Cicero manage that?"

"He won't. I will." Etcetera wrapped the fool's midriff tightly with bandages made from his shirt and then helped him to his feet.

Cicero cried out in pain and leaned heavily on the Dremora woman, "L-Listener, it's rather cold, don't you think?"

Etcetera nodded and dug in her pack for a cloak and wrapped it around Cicero.

"Can you walk?"

Cicero furrowed his brow and took a tentative step forward, only to collapse as his side and leg erupted with pain,

"N-No . . . "

Etcetera huffed and carefully lifted the small man into her arms and proceeded to carry him back to the entrance. Cicero leaned into his Listener and bit his lip,

"Where will Cicero go?"

"My house. Near Falkreath." Etcetera muttered, grunting and shifting her burden.

"Won't Cicero be found there?"

"No one knows of it. You will be safe there."

Cicero tilted his head then let it rest once more on Etcetera's shoulder, letting his eyes slide closed, "Listener?"

"Hm?"

" . . . thank you."

" . . . you're welcome."


Cicero settled back into the fluffy pillow and glanced about, Etcetera finished disposing of the soiled and tattered motley then turned and looked at the wounded man, her lips pursed and she went to the bed,

"I have to go back. Stay put and don't cause trouble."

Cicero nodded and wrung his hat in his hands, "Yes, Listener. Cicero will obey."

Etcetera grunted and looked at the bedside table where the medicine bottle still sat, "You didn't take it."

" . . . well, no, Listener, Cicero did not like the look . . . or smell of the stuff." Cicero shrugged and bit his lip.

Etcetera picked up the bottle and held it out to Cicero insistently. The red-headed fool leaned away further from the stuff, shaking his head like a child. The Dremora sat on the edge of the bed and with one hand pushed down on Cicero's wounded side. Cicero cried out then coughed as the bottle was thrust into his mouth and emptied. He blanched and gagged,

"L-Listener!"

Etcetera glared at him, "You will not heal if you fight. Stop it now."

Cicero pouted and rubbed his sore side, "Very well, Listener."

Etcetera shook her head and leaned back, "Do not make me do that again. Understand?"

"Yes, Listener." Cicero muttered, glaring down at his hands.

Etcetera sighed and reached out a hand, tucking Cicero's hair behind an ear, "Rest. I'll be back when I can but I make no promises."

"Yes, Listener." Cicero said softly, looking through his eyelashes at her.

The Dremora stood and turned to leave, but Cicero shifted and opened his mouth then closed it, Etcetera turned fully to him and crossed her arms,

"Yes?"

" . . . you saved Cicero, why? You had orders to kill him! I know that's what Astrid told you to do, but you're taking care of Cicero instead. Why?" Cicero twisted his cap again in his fists.

Etcetera sighed and took the hat from him, smoothed the fabric then placed it back on his head,

"A Listener needs her Keeper."

Cicero blinked and would have said more, as he was always wont to do, but Etcetera turned and stalked off toward the stairs. She stopped at the door before leaving and looked at her housecarl,

"Keep him in that bed, no moving too much and a dose of the medicine twice a day, you have the recipe."

The Redguard woman nodded and with that Etcetera left.


Etcetera stood in disbelief for the first time since her exile at the burning remnants of the Sanctuary, she turned away from it and threw her head back, howling at the ceiling angrily and drawing her weapons. She rushed through, killing any and all in her way, blood spattered across her face and body in the wake of her fury.

She'd been tricked! And now, someone would pay with their lives.