Chapter 4

Song Bird

Walking down the road Ari was shocked when she stepped over a dog. It's surprised whine made her smirk "Stupid Dog!" She murmured.

"Hey!" A small nord boy made her way over to her intending to scold her. Ari's curiosity was peaked. Without fear or hesitation the boy stopped a foot in front of her and looked up into her eyes. "Your new around here so I will go easy on you," he said confidently. Oh if only he knew what I am amused she continued to bare the boys scolding. "that's my dog, and no body calls him stupid. Not even me." He defiantly crossed his arms and waited for an apology. Ari almost laughed out loud. Not all children were like this if they were maybe she wouldn't despise them so much.

"My apologies good sir, I didn't know that this noble beast," she motioned to the dejected flea bitten mutt, "belonged to such an upstanding young man." Her smile turned mischievous as the gave a short bow. "It wont happen again." she stood and the boy seemed pleased with her show.

"Ya, well see that it doesn't cause' if you get me mad I'll prank ya." Turning to his dog he scratched behind its ear. "Come on boy." The boy took of down the street and the loyal beast followed after him. Shaking her head she walked up the stairs to the sleeping giant inn. When she cracked the door she was both pleased and disturbed at what she found. Pleased because there was enormous hearth in the center of the floor she immediately went to it to warm her hands. Disturbed because of the voice that was accosting her ears.

"When the age of agression is now nearly done." The shrill voice was both sharp and flat at the same time. She didn't know how it was even possible.

"Welcome to my Inn, how can I help you." Ari turned to see a blonde nord standing across the hearth from her. If you hadn't seen battle before you would think that she was just a sour old woman. The war warn eyes filled with grief was clear to Ari. Even the woman's perfectly arrogant posture was enough to suggest that she may have been a commander at one point.

"I'm looking for a room to freshen up." Ari studied the woman's face in greater detail. Had she met her before? "Delphine?"The shock on the woman's face was clear and she placed her hand under her apron.

"Do I know you?" Delphine's eyes grew dark, as if challenging Ari to make a move.

Ari smirked, "Well you should I only saved your sorry hide three times." She raised her hands in defense and her mischievous eyes twinkled. Delphine glared through slits in her narrowed eyes. Then slowly as if she was recalling a memory she relaxed her grip on her iron dagger but not completely.

"I see your still holding on to that iron dagger I gave you." Ari nodded to Delphine's pocket.

"Bella?" Delphine's eyes opened wide "I thought you died!" Delphine walked around the hearth and hugged the immortal. "What happened?"

"After the siege I found my way to a tavern and after a particularly memorable run in with the Lord of Debauchery I made my way to Skyrim." Ari shrugged.

"Wait, what?!" Delphine shook her head trying to wrap her head around what her friend just said.

"Oh and I have also been working for the black hand for the last month." Ari closed one eye and tucked her head down and turned her shoulder preparing for the slap that was about to hit her. When it never came she cracked open her eye to look at the ex blade.

"Explanation, Now." Delphine's arms were across her chest in a look that could only be described as the scolding mom.

"You do know that I am older than-" Ari started

"Bella!, now." The look continued and she raised an eyebrow. Ari smirked and nodded.

"Alright, just not here." Ari said looking around at the taverns occupants. Many of them were already salivating over her. "Unless you want me to end them all." Ari giggled to show that she was only joking. If it came to it though, both women knew that she was full capable of it. She spoke low enough that only Delphine heard her. Delphine nodded.

"Alright follow me and no one will ask you any questions." Delphine turned on her heel and led Ari to the room on the left of the bar. "Change and I will be in, in a minute." Ari nodded and quickly changed and folded the fur armor and put it on the table. The new armor was a little loose but it would work better than the other set. It has a few pockets and she placed her belongings in the various pockets. She set about looking trough the room. The only thing that maybe looked personal was a book on the fall of the blades. Ari smirked, and almost dropped the book when Delphine barged into the room. She had a pitcher of water and a towel. "Can you get the door?" She asked, Ari jumped and closed the door quietly. "Gods I forgot how fast you were." Ari grinned.

"Thanks." Ari took the pitcher and towel from her old friend.

Delphine put a finger to her lips and made a motion for Ari to follow. Delphine opened the cabinet against the wall and opened the false back. Now there is the Delphine that I know Ari grinned. Delphine let Ari go first again and closed up the wardrobe behind them. The small room at the base of the stairs was more like it. It had an enchanting table and various potions and ingredients and even a practice target for archery.

"For a minute there I was afraid you had gone all domestic housewife on me." Ari said smiling. Delphine pulled out a washbasin from a trunk against the wall. "What happened to you?"

"While you escaped out the back I had to run for my life Thalmore agents followed me to Riften. I hid in the Ratway and a man named Brynjolf covered for me. I owe him a lot." Delphine found a chair to sit in and the mom look returned. "Now quit stalling. What happened you were in control last time I saw you-"

"It was Sanguine." Ari sighed. It was true, the last time that the warrior had seen her she was in control of her appetites but- "H-He brought me to misty grove. It felt like I was there for an eternity. It was an endless party for centuries and my resolve slipped and I can't get it back now." Ari shook her head. She poured the warm water into the basin using the towel. She washed the blood and dirt from her face. She seemed to fade then as if in fondness. "After breaking my resolve he held onto me, I was his plus one to some of the most impressive parties of the empires elite." Ari chuckled, "Titus Mede on Balmora Blue is quite a lively man."

"Sounds like quite the life." Delphine said flatly.

"It was, sometimes I wish it hadn't ended, but-" Sadness flickered across her porcelain face once again. "The Daedric Prince grew tired of my compliance, he found another soul, some bosmer whore. He dropped me of in the Imperial City and suddenly I was alone." Ari shook her head as if she was shaking off a ghost. "I decided to return home because where else would I go?" She splashed water on her face giving her a chance to pause.

Delphine's hard expression slipped for her damned friend, to a look of compassion and sadness. She waited patiently for her friend to continue. Drying her face and moving on to her arms and chest Ari continued.

"I arrived in Riften hoping to find the market still in tact but- it wasn't. After a week of starving and having no purpose I was approached by your Brynjolf. I completed a few jobs but I needed one more score to escape Riften, so I decided to go big. Maven Blackbiars horse was my last quest for some nobody in the tavern. Someone squealed and an assassin was waiting for me. I battled him for hours and after calling it a draw he invited me to join the Dark Brotherhood. It was a good life again I seemed to be happy, and I made a decent amount doing it-"

"So why are you here looking like a rabid troll?" Delphine jabbed. She was unhappy with this story so far.

Ari turned to face Delphine, she was mostly clean now it would have to do. "There is a contract that they tried to send me to complete, the target is an ancient friend of mine. Rargal. I owe him my life, so I am headed to Solitude to warn him."

"What can you do? Once a contract has been accepted doesn't the Brotherhood never back down?" Delphine asked.

"Rargal is a member of a major clan of the north coast of Skyrim, they can protect him. Plus they are not the real black hand the are lead by a psychopath named Astrid." Ari placed the rag in the bowl then jumped up and sat on the table. Kicking her feet as though she was a child.

"Well if they can take care of him why go at all?" Delphine asked.

"You know how I am with blood debts. I wont let him be ignorant of the coming danger, if a warning can save him then I owe him." Ari's face was expressionless. Delphine nodded.

"Alright, I'm sorry you're right."

"I probably have to go now Astrid has probably already sent someone." Ari sighed the long journey ahead of her was beginning to look more and more tedious.

"I cant convince you to stay a night can I?" Delphine asked it wasn't really a question more like a fact.

"I'm afraid not." Ari stood standing.

"At last stay till nightfall? I have a few bottles of mead that are about to go bad."Delphine grinned.

"Alright for old times, I never could turn down a free drink-" Ari shook her had and remembered that's how she met Sanguine. "Plus maybe I should teach your bard a thing or two about pitch."

Delphine laughed, "Please! You would be doing this small town a favor."

A few meads latter Ari was ready for the toughest challenge she would ever face. Attempting to teach a male nord, not just any male nord though, one that believed that his voice was smoother than pure moon sugar.

Ari left the bar and took up residence at the table closest to the lamentable bard, He had been starring at her for a few hours but hadn't made a move but now.

"What's your request beautiful?" He winked, "I am at your desires disposal." Ari had to hand it to him she hadn't hard that one. Rolling her eyes she stood and placed a finger on top of his lute. Running her finger up and down and gazed up into his eyes. A wicked smile curved her lips when she saw the shock on his dopey face. She had him right where she wanted him. She curled her finger at him motioning him to come closer, in a daze he puckered his lips and lowered his head. Dodging his lips she whispered in his ear.

"My deepest desire is,-" She lifted her hand and played with his ear lobe, "To never hear you sing ever again." It took a few moments to register but when it did all he had to say was-

"Huh?" He pulled away from her his head jerking back up and the look on his face made Delphine spit out her mead, which hit the now clean bar top. The bar tender grumbled and pulled out a new rag.

"Your singing is akin to listening to a hoarker mating with a skeever, sit down and shut up." Still stunned the dejected young man went to the bar to get some wine.

She held up the lute and began to strum, the beautiful sound wafted over the few souls and even carried out the door to the children playing outside. She played like this for a while. It had been a long time since she had played any kind of instrument. When she looked up she had forgotten that there was even a crowd. The children were siting quietly at her feet, even the little boy she had met earlier.

"Sing for them!" Delphine cheered from the bar.

The cheers from the patrons smile which made Ari beam, it had been over three hundred years since she had last sang, she almost wondered if she still could.

"Very well," She purred, "You will have to bare with me I don't know how this is going to sound.

Shifting her fingers down the lute she began to hum, the tone changed and the entire inn froze waiting in anticipation. The tune was sad and full of longing and when she shifted her hand once more she sang out,

'There once was a song bird that told no lie,

That used its voice to fill the skies,

Beauty filled each dawn with hope

A treasure more valued than gold.

As she sang she looked around the room and even Delphine was enthralled she continued-

'The kingdom was blessed with days of cheer

As long as the bird song was near,

Content to fill the world with song

The bird wandered from the safety of the dawn.

Gasp's came from the children as the huddled closer together.

'Singing through the night the bird was desired by the shadows own

The king of mer choked the light from its song

And filled it with this carrion song

Ki-milemo, kill my karo ki milamo ki mo

She could feel it then the fear at her dark tale, it permitted the room and made her jaw hurt with the need to feed.

'The carrion Crow made now his own

Still calls through the dawns first rays

Be warned for now that you know

The crow may call for you.

Finishing her song she felt the spell break, and the patrons take a collective breath, She heard the bard still sitting at the bar say "Well I'v never heard that one-" and the children ask "Is it real?" She needed to leave, and quickly. Delphine seeing her friends need in her eyes yelled above the din of the crowed.

"First round's on me!" The fear broke with rowdy cheers as the men stormed the bar.

Ari found the door and waited in the cool night air for her friend to find her, it was refreshing after the crushing urge to feed. The air cleared her mind and let her relax for a moment closing her eyes she began to feel the area around her. The night was calm and the rain had finally cleared. She could hear a torch bug take off from a flower and hover its quiet hum adding to the symphony of the night. The rustling of the wind through the trees the breath that the guards drew from the sweet perfumed air. This is where she thrived, the symphony shifted as a new sound was added metal striking metal. Alvor working late on his forge.

Through the open door Delphine observed her friend, she was struck by just how at ease she was, and yet how out of place she looked. Sighing she grabbed a sack of supplies that she had prepared for her friend and disturbed her friends meditation by saying, "You are the crow, aren't you?"

Ari turned and with a sad smile said, "I never could get anything past you." She continued to lean on the rail as though it was all that was holding her up. Delphine nodded and tossed the bag at her friend.

"There should be enough supplies in there to get you to Solitude." Ari caught the satchel and slung it over her shoulder it rested nicely on her hip.

"Thank you my friend." Ari turned to go and Delphine stopped her with a hug.

"Will I see you again?" Delphine asked pulling away, she had hoped that maybe she could reach her friend through the hug but it was like hugging a tree. Her friend was gone the being that stood before her was cold and distant. A true shadow of the night.

Ari pulled away, considered for a moment and asked, "Would you want to even if I say yes?" Without waiting for an answer she walked down the steps and disappeared into the night. Delphine waited on the steps starring after friend long after she was gone.

"Stay safe, Bella." Delphine breathed, she pulled herself away and back into the warm safety of her inn.

Far to the north in an abandoned castle Ari's song carried to a small man, who if you hadn't have been paying attention looked rather like a statue. When the soft melody called him he gasped. Turning back into the castle the double doors flew wide open. Amidst the chaos and blood soaked floors statues of elegant lords and ladies glared at the door.

"My lord, LISTEN!" Through the already deathlike chamber the haunting tune stirred up the air and made the cobwebs dance.

'The carrion Crow made now his own

Still calls through the dawns first rays

Be warned for now that you know

His crow calls for you...

The statues cracked as they looked to the head of the room. Sitting on a thrown a dark angel sat forward. Slowly each muscle came to life as his dark laughter met with Ari's haunted song and consumed it. His eyes opened his pitch black eyes, as his laughter consumed Ari's call the darkness faded from them to be replaced with menacing red light.

"The crow, come home to roost at last." He breathed in deeply and reveled in the thought. "Go now, and bring her to me. Lord Molag-bal has waited long enough for his song birds return." The statues creaked as they left their chairs and walked out the doors to capture the Dark Princes prize. "See you soon, Aribella."

Authors Note

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter I am pretty sure this is the longest one yet. Let me know if this is ok or if I should break it up like I was doing!

Thanks again!