Cold Madness

Skyrim

The Dragonborn has gone missing and Skyrim's skies are still filled with dragons. Where has the Dragonborn gone? Does anyone care about the fate of Skyrim and it's citizens? Serana begins her search for the Dragonborn while accidentally teaming up with an unlikely fellow.

Chapter 4: Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary

"What is life's greatest illusion?"

Serana closed her eyes as she spoke the password "Innocence." The door opened letting her in. It was just as she remembered it, Serana cautiously walk down the stairs. They were assassins after all. Serana made her way downstairs she immediately looked at the right. There was no sign of the jester and the Night Mother's coffin was closed. With a small sigh or relief she made her way toward the left.

"Ahem," Serana heard as she turned to see Babette standing there her black eyes staring up at her.

"Babette," Serana let out slightly startled.

"Serana I'm assuming you have a valid reason for coming to the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary," Babette started crossing her arms. Serana looked away briefly and nodded.

"Yes I came here searching for the Dragonborn have you seen her?" Serana said getting straight to the point.

"No I haven't," Babette replied simply.

"Great," she let out sarcastically.

"I'm guessing it must be important," Babette replied.

"It wasn't too important at first but with my travels through Skyrim it's clearly that the Dragonborn's job is not done here. I can't find her the closest I've been was finding out she was in Windhelm a couple of weeks ago," Serana said crossing her arms as well. Babette started walking downstairs.

"It seems Skyrim is returning to it's usual self if you ask me but if you really need to find the Dragonborn maybe Nazir has some information," Babette said as she started walking pass the table and into a long hallway. She led her to a training room.

"Babette... what's this changed your mind, have you?" Nazir said with a small smile. Serana perked a brow crossing her arms.

"I'm afraid you're mistaken," Serana said simply.

"Serana is looking for the Dragonborn, it seems Skryim is in dire need of her," Babette said to Nazir.

"Sorry to say I haven't seen her in quite awhile," Nazir replied shaking his head.

"I see," Serana replied her disappointment evident.

"May I ask what kind of trouble Skyrim is in?" Nazir asked.

"Well other than the usual rise of bandits... Dragons are coming around more," Serana replied.

"Dragons, nasty business, a business that assassins should have no part of," Nazir replied. "It's the truth we work in stealth, we're not the gung-ho type," Nazir said shaking his head.

"I can't say I disagree it's like Vampire's in the day we don't mesh well," Serana replied.

"Well without a Listener there's no one to talk to the Nightmother that is a problem," Nazir realized turning toward his initiates. "Well tell you what..." Nazir paused staring at his two initiates.

"Which one of you wannabe assassins want to help this lovely lady find our Listener?" Nazir shouted out. Babette scoffed shaking her head. They both stopped their practicing and turned staring at the Serana then at Nazir.

"The Listener is MISSING!?" a loud voice came from down the hall. The whole room turned looking at Cicero.

"Yes the Listener is missing," Nazir confirmed.

"Oh no but who will listen to the Night Mother?" he asked stating the obvious.

"No one now so shut it," Nazir scolded as he cleared his throat. "So any takers?" Nazir asked facing the two initiates.

"And offend the Night Mother?" an initiate asked. "No I rather not my blade is only for the Night Mother," the female replied.

"Ha such a minuscule excuse. How do you expect to gain experience? You will gain none attacking a dummy all day long," Nazir scolded. "And you?" he asked and the other shook his head.

"Will there be any money?" he asked, everyone looked at Serana.

"No there will be none from me. You get what you find," Serana answered.

"No I rather not sounds like a waste of time without a boon," the male initiate replied.

"Such to expect by initiates if you ask me," Babette said shaking her head frustrated.

"I'll go! Let me find the Listener!" Cicero volunteered.

"No," Serana said immediately. Everyone turned looking at Serana. "I mean..." Serana paused.

"Why not?" Babette asked.

"I mean who... will... oil the Night Mother?" Serana asked. Babette looked at Cicero.

"Hmmm," Babette replied.

"Oh I'm sure we can have a temporary Keeper," Nazir replied. "Besides Cicero has been itching to get out there and well... make himself useful for once," Nazir added.

"Besides Cicero is one of our finest assassins believe it or not," Babette replied.

"Yes... sadly he is... took on one of best assassins, Arnbjorn he was also a werewolf," Nazir added.

"A werewolf?" Serana repeated in shock looking over Cicero who nodded with pride then suddenly shook his head.

"I- I mean no... wait who will be Night Mother's Keeper!?" Cicero realized.

"Don't worry we have some brand new volunteers and I'll be sure they oil all the hard to get places as well," Nazir said in a tone triumph. The two initiates exchanged looks of dread.

"Hmm," Cicero said thinking out loud.

"Well I better be going," Serana replied turning. "Thank you for your time," Serana added with a wave.

"WAIT... for me!" Cicero replied suddenly following Serana who started walking faster. Both Nazir and Babette muffled a laugh.

"Finally some peace and quiet," Nazir added.

"Yes Cicero can be quite a nuisance," Babette agreed. "I think some fresh air will do him some good," she added.

"Now where is that oil..." Nazir said turning to his two initiates. Serana stepped quickly her boot heels echoing through out the sanctuary.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Serana asked irately heading up toward the exit.

"Oh yes," Cicero replied.

"Even though I'm some fancy spancy... blood sucker?" Serana asked a bit confused on the term he called her before. Cicero nodded.

"OH did I say that?" Cicero asked mockingly with a giggle.

"Yes you did," Serana said stopping turning to him. "Look if you insist on following me there's going to be some rules," she said sternly.

"Rules?" he repeated.

"Yes you're following me and as I recall that means you do what I say," Serana said opening the door exiting the sanctuary. Cicero stepped out as well.

"Now that's not fair, Cicero is your equal," he defended.

"My equal?" Serana repeated thinking about it for a moment then changed her mind. "No... we are not equals I am a daughter of Coldharbor I have outlived you by many years, you are not my equal," Serana replied walking again.

"Oh if you put it that way...then fine!" he replied crossing his arms. She started walking toward Dawnstar before stopping as the cold wind blew. The thought finally sunk in, her simple journey of looking for the Dragonborn has changed and though she didn't mind a travel companion she certainly was not prepared for Cicero. She pulled her hood up looking up at the gray cloudy sky. The Gods certainly had something vivid in store for her.

"What are you looking at? A dragon? A flying Horker?" he asked as he walked up beside her raising his his hand above his brows a shield, staring up at the sky as well. Serana let out a long sigh before continuing walking toward Dawnstar.