Disclaimer: I only own a copy of Skyrim.
Blame my friend, he got me addicted to Borderlands. I also feel like this chapter is kind of slow and eventless, but hopefully I can get some throat-slitting action in the next one.
Cicero stared at me in disbelief. I stood still, unsure of exactly how this mad fool would react. Before I could move, he had me in his arms, twirling me around as he laughed insanely.
"The words! The Binding Words! Written in the Keeping Tomes! The signal so that Cicero would know!" he cried out happily. I was quickly becoming dizzy. "She's back! Our Lady is back! She has chosen a Listener! She has chosen you!"
"What is Sithis name is going on here!?" Astrid's voice boomed as she burst through the door. "What is all this shouting for?"
"The Night Mother has spoken!" he chirped, ceasing his twirling and releasing his hold on me. I awkward stumbled into I smacked into a wall. I gripped it and waited until the world stopped spinning. "The silence has been broken, the Listener has been chosen!"
I noticed Cicero beginning to twirl and dance again, and Astrid's form growing bigger as she approached me.
"I heard Cicero screaming, so I knew he returned. I heard your voice too, and with how on edge Cicero has been lately, I was afraid he snapped," she told me in a hushed tone so that Cicero wouldn't overhear. Her eyes were worried and confused. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied equally as hushed. I glanced at Cicero. "He's correct, you know. The Night Mother said that I'm the one."
"Tell me what happened."
I spilled the whole story. Astrid's eyes grew wider and wider as I told her about the flower-arranging, the contract in Riften, the returning, Cicero and mine's argument and finally her arrival. I heard her mutter "By Sithis" before turning away from me to stare at the fool. After a moment's pause, she looked at me.
"Well…what did the Night Mother tell you?" Astrid asked, turning towards me.
"Journey to Volunruund. Speak to Amaund Motierre," I repeated my Matron's words. "Should I head there?"
Astrid looked conflicted, but slowly shook her head no. She scowled before giving an annoyed glare.
"No…no!" she said, turning to stare at us both. "I am the leader here. I accept and give out the contracts to you. Luna became lucky with Maven Black-Briar, and it was only real because she constantly calls on us. There is no Amaund Motierre in Volunruund, so forget about it and wait until I find another contract to give out to the family. Are we clear?"
"Yes mistress," Cicero and I both replied in unison. She gave us a suspicious look before turning on her heel and leaving.
I looked at Cicero, who once again seemed lost in thought. His expression was so…depressed and curious. All the silent conversations, the mumbles, and the time he spent with the Night Mother. It was obvious.
"You wanted to be Listener, didn't you?" I accused more than asked.
"What leads Luna to believe that?" Cicero chuckled, grinning insanely at me.
"The silent conversations with Mother. Her lack of responses," I replied with a shrug of my shoulders.
"Oh. Well…Yes. I did. I did indeed," he said, dropping the grin and looking almost…depressed. "But the Night Mother picked Luna, and Cicero knows she picked Luna for good reason."
I nodded slowly.
"So do you want to come with me?" I asked.
"To where?"
"Volunruund."
Cicero gave me a grin and a small, demented chuckle.
"Oh, Luna. Didn't Astrid tell us to forget about it?"
"Yes," I replied with a small smile before turning serious. "Cicero, look around this Sanctuary. We're not the Dark Brotherhood anymore. It's like…it's like we're…a…shop. We're selling weapons and potions to make ends meet because there are no contracts! If I really am the Listener, and if there really is some man hanging out in Volunruund, then I need to go there. This is a chance for us to rebuild the Brotherhood."
Cicero gave me a serious look back, nodding understandably. He suddenly turned happy and cheerfully again, linking our arms together.
"To Volunruund then, my Listener!" he chirped. I flinched at the title, but shrugged it off and exited the Sanctuary with him.
I brushed some spider webs aside. Volunruund turned out to be some sort of underground tomb, filled to the brim with dust, the dead and various insects that decided to make the place their new home. It took four hours of riding behind Cicero on Shadowmere, half-awkwardly pressed against the jester as he cheerfully hummed. Was he always in such a good mood? I looked around cautiously, just waiting for one of the undead to spring up and attack.
Cicero grabbed my arm, pointing to an open door. I brought my attention to it, seeing a man walk past the door, speaking aloud.
"Maven said that the woman from the Brotherhood told her that they fixed the problems with the communication," he was complaining.
"Sir, you performed it not three days ago, take in the traveling time," another voice replied.
Cicero looked at me, raising an eyebrow, and I nodded, brushing past him as I pulled my hood up and walked into the room. The second I entered, the two men turned their attention to me. One was in armor, the other dressed in fancy robes. The one in robes took a glance at my black and red armor before giving the jester a curious look.
"Are you the child to prayed to the Night Mother?" I asked, tilting my head as I took in the Breton's appearance. He was examining me nervously, but he seemed relieved at my words.
"I am," he said a bit confidently. I nodded, encouraging him to tell me his contract. "I have a big job I need done, and I need it done correctly. If you execute this right, you will walk away with a beautiful sum of gold and I will be reaping in the rewards."
"Very interesting," I commented smoothly, trying to mimic's Astrid's constantly calm and seemingly uninterested style of speech. "Go on."
"I need you to assassinate several people," Amaund continued. "Rexus!"
The armored man stepped forward and handed Amaund a letter and a jeweled amulet.
"This is to be given to the leader of the Brotherhood," he told me, handing me the letter. I accepted it. "And this amulet is for any and all expenses. For final payment, come find me in the Bannered Mare in Whiterun."
He handed me the amulet, which I studied closely before looking up at him.
"So begins a contract bound in blood," I told him with a sly smile as I handed Cicero the items to carry for me. Amaund returned with a huge grin as I turned on my heel and exited, my surprisingly silent fool following me. The jester burst into amused laughter the second we exited the tomb.
"Oh, Listener! The Brotherhood will no longer be a shop, but the headquarters for the assassins!" he laughed. I smiled before turning to Shadowmer. The demonic animals neighed happily and pressed him nose into my hand. I reached into his saddlebag and fed him a carrot. While he ate happily, I turned to Cicero and gasped in horror. He had opened the letter and was reading it. "Cicero! That's for Astrid!"
I reached for it, and Cicero scowled, holding it above my head.
"He said it was for the leader of the Brotherhood! The Listener is the leader, and you are the Listener so you are the leader!" he argued. I sighed, closing my head and cracking my neck.
"Cicero, just give me the damn letter."
He handed it to me, and I glanced over it.
Most esteemed overseer,
As was already communicated to your subordinate, I wish to hire your organization for some delicate ambassadorial work. All of this, of course, would culminate in a historic meeting with the Emperor himself.
In order to secure an audience with the Emperor, some secondary meetings must first take place. They have been outlined below.
1.) You must attend the upcoming wedding at the Temple of the Divines in Solitude. The bride must be given a gift she will never forget, one that will get all of Solitude to talking and which will, undoubtedly, reach the ears of the Emperor himself.
2.) A certain high-ranking military officer, permanently stationed in Skyrim, is responsible for securing the Emperor's safety should he choose to schedule a visit. When this officer learns of the Emperor's journey, he will begin the necessary security arrangements. You must learn this officer's plans, and meet with his people, to ensure appropriate security for your eventual audience with the Emperor.
3.) Several months ago, the Emperor planned a visit to Skyrim that was canceled unexpectedly. In that time, a world renowned chef was contacted, and brought to Skyrim in order to prepare a lavish meal. That chef remains in Skyrim on retainer. Take his place.
When the final part of our arrangement has been carried out - that is, when you have secured an audience with the Emperor himself, and brought such business to a close – come to me for final payment.
Most sincerely,
A friend
I looked at Cicero, who grinned madly at me.
"The Brotherhood is going to kill the Emperor," I spoke softly aloud, mostly to myself. He grinned bigger and gave a mad laugh. I held up the amulet, examining it. "How much you think this is worth?"
Cicero shrugged his shoulders.
"Perhaps the Listener should get it appraised?" he suggested.
"I will after we tell the others," I promised him, skimming over the letter again. "This is such a big contract…it would be selfish for us to carry this out ourselves. Our brothers and sisters haven't killed in such a long time, I'm sure they'd be eager to assist with this."
Cicero nodded in agreement.
When Cicero and I walked into the main room, nobody paid much attention. Arnbjorn was pounding away at a new shield with Astrid tanning some leather for him as Veezara basked in the warm of the blacksmithing fire. Gabriella and Babette were playing with Liz. The others I couldn't see, but I knew Festus was probably reading and Nazir cooking.
"We found a contract!" I announced, trying to sound cheerful. Everybody immediately snapped their attention to us. I glanced at Babette, who was giving me wide eyes. "Could you get Nazir and Festus for me?"
She nodded, and the unchild scrambled to her feet to run for them. Astrid gave me a curious look before narrowing her eyes.
"You went to Volunruund," she accused. I nodded in response. "I told you to not go. I should remove you from the Brotherhood for disobeying me! My word is law!"
"You expected me to pass up on a potential contract just because it didn't come from you?" I accused back. She looked surprised for a moment before giving me a hateful look. Cicero seemed pleased at my assertiveness, but didn't say anything. "Astrid, look around us. We're not making money from contracts anymore. Gabriella and Babette sell potions and poisons, and your husband is selling weapons. This is a shop, this isn't the guild for assassins anymore. I know you're mad that I disobeyed you, but you should be thankful that I did. I began a contract, and this is something major. Something so big, that we can all take a part in this. This contract could even bring the Brotherhood back to its former glory."
Astrid went from hateful to very interested. She motioned for me to go on, and I handed her the jeweled amulet and the letter.
"So that Amaund Motierre…he wants us to assassinate the Emperor," she said slowly, beginning to sound very pleased. Everybody gave her a baffled look as she began to examine the amulet. "I've never seen something like this before."
"Maybe Delvin knows something," Babette suggested. Astrid nodded.
"Yes. Delvin can identify and give us a price for it," she agreed, turning to me. "Luna, take the amulet to Delvin in the Ragged Flagon to see if he can price it for us. If he's willing to buy it, sell it."
"Ragged Flagon?" I repeated. "That's in Riften."
"Yes, it is," she replied, raising an eyebrow. "Is that a problem?"
"No," I lied, sighing lightly.
"Meanwhile, I'm going to read over this letter and decide who gets what contracts," she announced, looking over the letter's contents again as she turned and walked towards her room.
"Can I come with you to Riften?" Gabriella spoke up to me. "I'm good friends with some of the ladies in the Thieves Guild. It's been a while since I dropped by for a visit."
"Of course," I agreed hastily. The dark elf grinned widely as we exited the Sanctuary together.
I followed Gabriella to the entrance of the Ragged Flagon. To our surprise, Lydia was leaning against the wall, staring at the door. Noticing us, she stood up straight and gave me a warm smile.
"You're Byrnjolf's friend," she observed, looking a tad relieved.
"And you're the Mrs. Dragonborn now," I teased lightly. Lydia's smile turned a bit warmer. "Where's Gjak?"
Her stressed-out look returned as she quickly frowned and tensed up.
"We were asked to go get some friend of a woman he needs information from," she explained, voice cracking.
"Is he part of the Guild?" Gabriella asked.
"No, he's one of the crazies that live down there," Lydia replied. The more she spoke, the more stress and panic she seemed to show.
"Are you alright, sweetie?" I asked, moving towards her and putting hands on her shoulders. She shook her head no.
"The Thalmor are also looking for the man," she choked, eyes watering some. "Gjak told me to stay outside because he didn't want me to get hurt. He said he'd be back soon, but that was hours ago."
"We need to speak with the Guild, but I'll keep an eye out for him," I promised. She nodded and hugged me.
"Be careful," she warned. I smiled at her, and Gabriella and I entered the Ratway.
We surprisingly went past the Thalmor with no problem. Apparently, they saw us as no threat to their search, and we reached the Guild quickly. I winced as Gabriella's shrill shriek of joy was accompanied by that of a blonde Imperial. The two ran for each other and hugged, excited chatter too quick for my understanding. The other thieves present, mostly male, had winced at the shrieks too.
Gabriella finally separated herself to motion for me to come over and introduced me to Vex. She gave a forced smile to me, and I gave an awkward, half-smile back.
"Where's Delvin?" I asked. Vex motioned to a bald man drinking mead a table before hooking her arm in Gabriella's and walking off.
I strolled over to the man and sat down across from him. He looked exhausted and cranky, but smiled at my approach.
"We don't get visits from many pretty ladies here," he chuckled, his voice a heavy accent.
"Astrid wonders if you can appraise this," I replied, giving a small smile back as I pulled out the item and pushed it towards him. "A client wants to pay with this."
Delvin put the mead cup down and picked up the amulet. His eyes grew wide as he examined the jeweled amulet.
"I don't know how you got this, but this is certainly a once of a kind amulet, given only to the members of the Elder Council," he murmured, a giant grin growing on his face. "After all the bad luck and events, nice to finally see something so beautiful and valuable come into my possession."
"What's been happening?" I wondered. Delvin sighed.
"We got a bunch of Thalmor running around the Ratway, and our newest recruit tried to kill the Guildmaster while they were out on a job together," he sighed. "Not to mention this curse."
"There is no curse, you old skeever!" Vex yelled, overhearing the conversation.
"I'm tellin ya, Vex, somebody's piss-drunk mad at us!" he shouted back. Vex shot him a glare. Delvin glared back before turning his attention back to me.
"So will you buy the amulet?" I asked, interrupting the argument. Delvin turned his attention back to me, smiling as his eyes sparkled.
"Oh yes," he agreed. "Oh yes I will." He took out a piece of paper and scrawled words over it as he spoke. "This is a letter of credit for Astrid, as per our standard arrangement. And tell her to come over for a drink, to catch up."
"I will," I assured him, accepting the paper he handed me before turning to Gabriella. "Gabs, I'm going to get a room at the inn."
"I'll be there later," she replied cheerfully before giggling at something Vex whispered to her.
