A/N: this chapter is also paraphrased from the real thing. In fact, I more or less skipped what really happened when you go to Applewatch and just replaced it. The night mother section is an attempt at what actually happened, though.
Chaos Lachance-Valtiere: hah, interesting indeed. Well, this is how it goes.
...
(AeriusPOV)
I lick my lips. There is blood in that basement.
Twirling the key around my finger, I make my way down the many stairs to the door. I can smell the rotting flesh, hear the flies. It's incredibly appetizing.
With a heavy thunk the door unlocks and opens, revealing exactly what I had expected. The thick stench of blood floods into my nostrils and I close my eyes, letting out a low, pleasured hiss.
Back to the moment at hand. I cast my Hunter's Sight spell to find that the room is uninhabited, besides the flies that incessantly annoy me.
But, unable to resist, I dip my gloved fingers into the pool of blood below my boots. My tongue flicks out and licks the metallic liquid from the black leather and a small sound - something between a feral growl and a moan of pleasure - leaves my lips. I haven't fed in three days, and it shows.
The taste sticks in my mouth and I continue exploring the basement, searching for evidence of the traitor. I pick the meager lock on the door, feeling a small wave of Thieves' Guild nostalgia, when a horrible stench suddenly ruins the salty smell of blood.
I turn to the source of the offending smell and nearly gag. On a desk, surrounded by candles, is a green, shrunken head. The eyes are wide open and the skin is dry, making it look like it had come right off of a zombie. I feel bile burn the back of my throat.
Just below the desk sits a barrel, and on that barrel, a book. I pick it up and flip through the worn pages...
"Sithis grant me strength," comes out of my mouth as I read the last line. I have to get to Applewatch, and fast!
...
When I enter the old woman's farm, I can't believe my ears. Lucien wasn't the traitor... I don't hear anything Arquen says past what she said about Lucien.
"How could you?" I ask quietly before pushing past her. Lucien is strung up by his ankles, his blood all over the floor, random flesh and body parts missing. My body convulses and I drop to my knees as I take it all in, the sight of my lover, my Speaker, my Lucien. Dead.
I can't take it. It has been too long since I've fed, and the stress of Lucien's death isn't helping. Without caring whether the black hand sees me or not, I let out a pitiful, needy cry and lean forward to lap at Lucien's battered body.
My tongue travels along his exposed ribs, my body quivering with delight as I taste the still-warm blood. My swallows are thick as I, essentially, clean his body. Finally I pull away, sated, and dissolve into dry, heaving sobs.
All this time I'd wanted to taste his blood. But not like this.
"... Aerius, it's time." Arquen's hand is on my shoulder. I don't care if she finds this unnerving - she probably doesn't, having eaten Lucien's entrails, and all.
"No," is what I want to say, but I clench my fists and make myself stand. Lucien would have smacked me upside the head if I hadn't. I make myself go on for him.
...
"Behold, the Night Mother! The locals call this statue the Lucky Old Lady. They have no idea how lucky they are."
I simply nod. My fangs clench with malice - she has no idea how lucky she is that I haven't killed her.
She goes on. "For this stone effigy marks the entrance into the Dark Brotherhood's most revered unholy site - the crypt of the Night Mother herself!"
I stop listening after this. I don't care.
But I do finally look up to see the Lucky Old Lady twist and deform, revealing a trap door into the crypt.
The Black Hand files in, and I hesitantly follow.
Down in the cave I squint at the light of far too many torches for such a small space. My eyes adjust soon enough, and I turn to hear what Mother has to say.
"What is the meaning of this? Why have you disturbed my ancient slumber?"
Arquen responds, "Night Mother, most unholy matron, we beseech your mercy in this time of need! The Black Hand seeks your guidance."
"Ah, yes, I have been expecting you. The Listener now kneels before Sithis. There is a traitor amongst you."
"The traitor is dead, dear Mother. We come to ask your blessing anoint one of us your Listener so we may restore the Black Hand!"
"... Foolish little girl. Lucien Lachance served Sithis until his dying breath. The Black Hand remains tainted by betrayal. Restoration is impossible."
A furious hiss slithers between my fangs at this. Arquen killed Lucien for no reason.
Bellamont draws his sword. "Enough. Enough of this. You will all suffer for the pain you have caused me. I will destroy your Night Mother, and the Dark Brotherhood will fall."
With that he turns and kills two of the members of the Black Hand, and moves towards the Night Mother. Fury flares up in me and I draw my Longsword of Numbing. "You... You're the cause of all this! Because of you, Lucien lies (hangs) dead!"
With a slash across his chest Bellamont flies backwards, hitting the wall of the crypt with a beautiful crack. I sheath my sword and turn to face the Night Mother.
"You loved Lucien, didn't you, Aerius?" she asks, pity in her voice. I nod. "I apologise for his death, child, and I assure you that you will find him in the Void. When it is your time."
All I can do is nod as she goes on.
"Aerius, you are marked by Sithis. So it has been since you came from your mother's womb. You are to be my new Listener. You possess strength and cunning, and your heart is as black as midnight."
"So what now, Unholy Matron?" I ask, my sorrow lessening my pride.
"Go. Take a few moments to collect yourself. Meditate upon all that has transpired. Help yourself to any treasures this crypt may offer. When you are ready, speak with me again, and I will safely deliver you to the only place you can truly call home - the Cheydinhall Sanctuary. There is much work to be done. When you are back in the Sanctuary, speak with Arquen. She will serve as your humble servant and guide."
"Thank you, Mother," I say quietly, my voice not sounding my own. She places her hand on my cheek for a brief moment before I move away, my Thieves' Guild greed picking up once more.
The crypt is empty by the time I'm done with it. What can I say, I'm a thief. Besides, I always wondered what Lucien's obsession with nightshade was. Now I have a way to find out myself.
When I tell the Night Mother that I'm ready to leave, she places a chaste kiss to my forehead and bids me farewell.
When I open my eyes I'm back in the Cheydinhall Sanctuary. I breathe a sigh of nostalgia - it's been weeks since I returned to this place. Arquen opens her mouth to speak, but I silence her with a hand. I'm not ready to start. Not yet.
I climb up the rope ladder to the city, only to exit it seconds later. Shadowmere begins to follow me as I walk, but I make the climb up to Fort Farragut on my own feet.
The hatch in the secret entrance opens with a loud creak, and I drop down to the floor. I sit on Lucien's cold bed, draw my knees into my chest, and begin to cry.
...
Months later, the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood rides through the snowy wilderness to the west of Bruma, dismounting at a small, abandoned farm house.
He silently opens the door, his red eyes adjusting to the dark room where the fires have long since gone out, and closes it behind him. His gaze rests on the hanging, decayed body before him.
He cuts the body down with extreme care, untying the cold, rotting ankles from their binds. He smiles at the memory of being tied by this very man.
He moves to retrieve a shovel from an otherwise empty chest and goes outside. He digs a grave for the body and places it inside, covering the hole with dirt and snow. Over it, he writes with a finger:
Lucien Lachance
My master, my Speaker, my lover I go on for you.
...
A/N: OMG, I had so much fun doing this story! My only regret is that it ended so soon. I loved this chapter, especially. Angst is my thing. Making Aerius an emotional wreck is also my thing.
So, yeah. It's over. Thanks to all my readers!
