Chapter 6

He remained unconscious for the next few days.

In this time, I dressed and treated his wounds with the potions Babette made.

Nazir and Wulfren helped me carry him to my quarters, as my bed was warmer and more comfortable, and his room was a mess.

After that I let no one touch him, for some reason I felt like this was my fault, I didn't know why, it was my job to nurse him back to full health.

Mylah cooked me my meals as I tended to Cicero so much I myself forgot to feed myself.

On the third night, I sat at my desk reading when I heard stirring and coughing behind me.

I turned to see Cicero had sat up, looking around with a confused expression upon his face.

'Cicero!'

I rushed over and sat by his side and took his hand into mine.

'Listener, you're home!' his voice was feeble and hoarse, not at all his loud and merry voice.

I nodded.

'Nazir sent me a letter, I came home immediately, how are you feeling my friend?'

'Cicero feels a little sore, but he is glad to see the Listener at home where she belongs'

'Cicero, please, tell me what happened to you?'

He went quiet and looked slightly uncomfortable.

'Cicero hopes that the Listener will forgive me. Cicero saw the letter you had sent to Nazir, and when Cicero read that the Listener was getting married. Cicero could not hold in his temper and he destroyed the training room, which Cicero regrets, yes. I do, I do! But all Cicero could think about was the Listener leaving the Dark Brotherhood forever.

Without the Listener there would be no Brotherhood… And without Elawyn, Cicero would never be happy again. Cicero would be nothing'

I was stunned; he's said my name, called me, by my actual name. Before I could answer he continued and I remained silent.

'So Cicero left the Sanctuary, to travel to Riften to try and convince the Listener to not get married. But Cicero was intervened, yes, I was. By a group of bandits, stupid, lowly bandits, eight of them. Cicero managed to cut down every one of them, but as you can see they got Cicero badly. He had no choice but to return home, knowing he'd failed and the Listener would get married and leave us all. Cicero would rather have died.'

I was fighting tears by the time he'd finished. I took in a hard breath to stop myself from blubbering.

'Cicero, my dear friend. I would never ever leave the Brotherhood, you are all my family. I wouldn't leave for anything. Not even marriage.'

He let out a loud groan of frustration, then pain.

'Oh Listener! Don't you see? You can't get married, you can't, can't, can't!'

'Why not Cicero!'

'Because' he began cautiously.

'Because you see Listener, Cicero needs you. Cicero…he…loves you'

He said the last part so quietly I almost did not hear him.

I stared at him in shock.

His eyes widened in worry.

'Listener! Cicero is sorry if he offended you, pretend foolish Cicero said nothing at all!'

I shook my head.

'No Cicero, don't be sorry, it's fine. You just lay back and rest'

I stood and began to walk away.

'Listener?'

I turned to him, looking at him questioningly.

'You are not mad with Cicero?'

I forced a smile.

'No Cicero, of course not. I just need time to think. Now rest'

He nodded and sank back into the pillow, twiddling his thumbs.

I walked the cold streets of Dawnstar, my mind running over everything that had just happened. Everything made sense now, but was just as confusing at the same time. I felt a swell of happiness, then a wave of hot guilt.

I now realised why I thought of Cicero so much, all the guilt for leaving him all alone, why I missed his company.

I felt for him.

Suddenly the wedding seemed like a bad idea, that I'd rushed into it too fast.

No, I couldn't do this to Cynric. I loved him for Sithis' sake! And only him.

Didn't I?

No, no. This wedding will happen. I want it to happen, I want to spend the rest of my life with Cynric. I'd made a promise and I was damned if I were to break it.

The next day I wrote a letter to him;

'Cynric,

My love, I am so sorry to have up and left so suddenly. I feel so terrible, truly I do. But I have to stay longer I'm afraid; my family here needs me, as does Cicero. He's been badly injured and I cannot just leave him until he's well, the wedding will have to be postponed a little longer. I will write often.

I hope you can forgive me.

I love you.

~ Elawyn.'

I sealed the letter tightly and paid a young courier, sending him on his way to Riften before I walked out of the inn and back to the Sanctuary.

Two months had passed, Cicero had fully recovered. He was back to his old jolly self; he didn't need me to nurse him any longer.

And yet I stayed in Dawnstar, writing Cynric excuse after excuse as to why I couldn't return as of yet.

I didn't know exactly what was holding me back.

Perhaps it was because I had returned back into the flow of life back in the Dark Brotherhood, fulfilling my duties as Listener, everything was normal, the way it used to be.

Cicero hung around me constantly, in fear I'd slip away and back to Riften. Telling me that everything was better now and the family was complete.

Because of this I rarely brought him with me on contracts anymore. It was the only time I had space and time to think by myself.

Cicero begged me to take him.

'On the next one, on the next one' I'd always say, but I never did. I needed to think.

I travelled to Riften for my next contract. I had to admit I was slightly nervous in fear I'd run into Cynric and he'd somehow convince me to never go back, but half of me wanted it to happen.

But thankfully I was to meet my contract giver behind the stables in the dead of night. I wouldn't even have to enter the city, much to my relief.

The moon shone brightly tonight, bathing the city walls in light. The trees casting dark shadows on whatever they towered over.

I dismounted Shadowmere and pulled on my hooded black robes and made toward the stables.

The contact was there already, their face also shrouded by a long black hood. A male.

He turned to face me.

'Dark Brotherhood am I right?' he began in a low whisper.

I nodded.

'Continue, who must be eliminated?' I replied in an equally hushed tone.

'I want a man killed, slowly, and painfully. I'm not too sure about his whereabouts, all I know is he resides in one of the Northern holds of Skyrim.'

'The Dark Brotherhood requires a name' I hissed.

'Oh I know his name' He chuckled

'Some Imperial bastard by the name of Cicero'

My guy gave a horrible jolt and my heart skipped a beat. I knew that voice. I knew that chuckle!

I reached over and ripped the contacts hood back.

'Hey! What do you think-'

My fears were true; his face was shocked and angry.

'Cynric…'

A.N/ I'm not sure If I've mentioned who Wulfren is, my memory is pretty bad. Anyway If I haven't he's the male initiate in the Dawnstar Sanctuary.