Mourning never comes…
Chapter Nine.
This chapter contains Graphic material not suitable for anyone under the age of 17. Contains Adult Language and Sexual Situations. Viewer discretion is advised. You have been warned.
I do not own Skyrim, or any of the characters except my own OC Dragonborn.
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16th Mid Year 4E 201
I crawled out of Cicero's bed, tired and aching from his lovemaking. I rotated my shoulders and groaned. My muscles were so stiff, I could hardly get them to stretch. My back felt like I had been trampled by a horse.
Gods, I needed to take a hot bath. Maybe that would help me relax.
I opened one of the drawers in Cicero's dresser and pulled out a shrouded robe. It wasn't my normal attire but it looked comfortable, and I was too lazy to put on my armor.
I was sore all over, especially my hips. We had woken up during the middle of the night and he took his time, making me come over and over, either with his mouth or his fingers, before making love to me again. It never occurred to me that underneath the psychotic murdering Jester; there was a gentle, loving man.
I gathered my armor and crept to the door. I slowly closed it behind me, careful not to wake him. I didn't know what time it was but I was hopeful that everyone was either still asleep or out on a contract.
I tiptoed down the hallway towards the bunks. I didn't see anyone up yet. I'd gotten lucky this time. No judgemental Gabriella. Any time she saw me now she would quietly tease me about secretly sleeping with Cicero.
She was right, but i couldn't admit it to her, for the fear of her saying something to someone else. Cicero and I had something special between us, and I didn't want Astrid to ruin it. The more time I spent with the Fool of Hearts, the more I felt like he was stealing mine.
Could I be falling in love with him?
As I entered the bunks I noticed everyone was asleep. Well, save Astrid, Arnbjorn and Babette. They had their own rooms. Babette because she had been here the longest and Astrid and Arnbjorn because they were married, and she was our leader.
I laid down on my bed, and pulled the sleeping furs up to my face. I would have preferred to sleep with Cicero, but I didn't want to risk getting caught in the same bed with him. While there weren't any rules against sleeping with a brother or sister, I just didn't want anyone to know my business.
I'd either look fucking insane for sleeping with him or I'd be forced to tell the Family how we met and drag them through my old life. Astrid told me to start new and that's what I did. The Family didn't even know I was Dovahkiin. And I intended to keep it that way.
I woke up to Astrid gently shaking me awake.
"I have an urgent matter I need to discuss with you. Up for a contract? It's special." She smiled at me, the kind of smile that said she knew someone was going to get what they deserved.
It was about damn time.
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17th Mid Year 4E 201
Her name was Muiri. She wanted an ex-lover killed. A bandit leader named Alain Dufont. Apparently he had used her to get close to the Shatter-Shields in Windhelm so he could rob them blind while they were mourning their daughter's death.
Well that's fucked. What kind of fucked up person would use somebody while they were suffering?
That was that then, he'd drown in his own blood. I swore to Sithis it would be so.
The bastard was hiding out in an old Dwarven Ruin called Raldbthar. Great, I just fucking loved Dwarven Ruins. About as much as I loved Windhelm.
I left the Sanctuary before Cicero got out of bed to prevent him from wanting to go with me. He followed me almost everywhere, now. He would even stand guard as I bathed in the hot springs, swearing to protect me from bandits and the like.
I went to bathe there at least once a week. It helped me relax and soothe my aching muscles. Plus it was damned near the most gorgeous place in Skyrim. It was located in Eastmarch, South of Windhelm and North West of Darkwater Crossing.
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20th Mid Year 4E 201
I entered the ruin and crouched down, my bow was drawn and I already had an arrow nocked. I stepped forward, and scanned the room in front of me. There was a bandit sleeping on a bedroll in the left corner next to a small fire and cooking pot.
I hit him in the face with an arrow and he died silently, having never even known I was in the room. I was back in my shrouded armor, with my cowl and mask covering all but my eyes. Well, eye. Whatever. I stood over the bandit, I was going to make sure he was dead. I prodded him with my boot and shifted his body so I could see where the arrow had embedded itself.
I smiled, watching the blood leak out of his right eye, around the arrow.
"Now wasn't that ironic. Eye-ronic."
I chuckled at my own joke. I didn't bother to check his pockets. I didn't have the need for extra coin. I made more than enough completing my contracts, to live out the rest of my life comfortably.
As I snuck down into the next room I noticed there was a hallway to my left and one directly in front of me leading to a gate.
I could pick that blindfolded.
The gate it was. I snuck around the right pillar in front the hallway, by passing the fire trap inside of it. I squeezed through the space between the pillar and the wall and crept forward. Down the hall I could see a fire pit with two bandits sitting in chairs, and another one off to the left. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest and his chin in the air.
That was him. Arrogant prick.
I silently picked the gate and pushed it open, praying to Sithis that it wouldn't creak…
It fucking creaked.
I cursed under my breath and nocked an arrow as one of the bandits stood up and raised the attention of the others.
"Did you hear that?" He asked.
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
I lined up my arrow with Alain's head and let loose…
He fucking ducked. What the hell?!
He pulled his weapon and frantically looked around. Thankfully, I was in the shadows, hidden from view.
Gods, you think something is going to be easy and then one thing goes wrong and you're up Shit Creek.
Alain turned around and I nocked another arrow. I wanted this bastard to choke on his own blood and I intended for that to happen no matter what. But first, I was going to get rid of his friends.
Firing back to back, I hit the first guy in the chest, directly in the heart. He fell backwards into the fire pit, limp. The second arrow found its home in the other man's crotch and he screamed in pain.
Ha ha, no more fun for you.
I fired again and hit him between the eyes.
I heard footsteps above me. I cocked my head to the side to listen, trying to determine how many more guys there were in here. Just then, a woman ran up to Alain, looking shaken and flimsily holding a sword. I furrowed my brows. She wasn't very familiar with the weapon, and she was trembling. I smiled.
That's good, she wasn't a threat. She was about the equivalent of a toddler holding a baseball bat. No worries there.
Two more guys ran over to Alain and I could faintly hear them talking. It was now or never. I nocked another arrow and hit one of the guys in the back of the head, sending him falling into the woman's arms.
She screamed, her voice reverberating off the walls. She shoved him off of her and dropped her sword.
Who was this girl and why in the hell was she hanging around a bunch of bandits if she wasn't comfortable around a dead body? Or killing, for that matter.
I sighed, I was quickly growing bored and wanted this to be over with. As I nocked another arrow and brought it up to set my sight I felt a sudden burning sensation in my back.
Crying out in pain, I whirled on whoever was behind me, smashing my bow against them.
"Son of a bitch!" I yelled, pulling Cicero's dagger from its sheath.
The man who was behind me smirked at me, blood dribbling across his lower lip and chin. He spit into his hand, and smiled. A couple of bloody nubs now adorned his smile, replacing what I assumed were his teeth.
He started to push himself up but I quickly stepped forward, pushing him to the ground with my boot. I scowled at him and stabbed him in the top of his head.
Fucking asshole.
I yanked the dagger out of his head, and it made a wet sucking sound, followed by a pop as it freed itself from his skull.
I sheathed it and turned around. My back felt like it was on fire and I could feel blood start to soak my armor, leak down my leg and pool into my boot. I must have something lodged in my shoulder blade, either there or in between there and my spine. I didn't know for sure, but I had to kill Alain before he could escape.
I turned around and scanned the room. I didn't see anyone but the woman, who was now laying on the ground clutching her stomach.
What happened?
I ran into the room, stumbling along the way, not caring if I was heard or not. I grimaced as I felt another sharp stab of pain in my shoulder. It was throbbing. I could see Alain and another man running down the hallway around the corner to the left. I wasn't too worried about the woman so I gave chase. I clenched my jaw, trying my best to work through the pain.
With each step I took, I could hear a faint squish as my blood soaked the leather sole of my boot.
Time for new boots once again.
At this rate I wasn't catching up quickly enough. The only thing I could think of was…
"Fus Ro Dah!" I shouted. It sent the unknown bandit propelling forward into the wall in front of him with a sickening crack. He slid down the wall, leaving behind a spatter and trail of blood.
Good. Now onto more important matters.
I shoved Alain over using my boot so I could look at his face. He had been thrown forward into some barrels and sacks of flour. That pleased me, since I promised myself he would drown in his blood.
I knelt down beside him, and brushed some of his hair out of his face. He groaned, obviously in pain and not willing to put up much of a fight.
How disappointing.
I pulled down my mask and smiled at him. His eyes fluttered open and he stared at me.
"Who are you?" He gasped. "What do you want? I'll pay you… I swear! Name your price! Please! Just let me live…" he panted.
I tsk-ed him and wagged my finger in his face.
"Such a big man… so tough. And yet he begs for his life from a woman." I spoke slowly, and deliberately, my voice dripping with venom.
His lower lip trembled, his eyes filled with tears.
"And now he's crying," I sighed. "The Dark Brotherhood has come, Alain. And Sithis demands a soul."
His eyes widened and he started to sit up. I punched him in the chest, forcing him back down into the broken wood.
"Did I fucking say you could get up?" I hissed at him.
He started to sob, his chest heaved with each gasp. I closed my eyes and shook my head. This wasn't any fun when your toy wouldn't play along. It was just downright pathetic.
I pulled my mask back up over my mouth and nose and pulled out Cicero's dagger. I plunged it into Alain's Adam's apple, and reveled in the sound it made as his blood squirted around the blade. His eyes went wide with terror and he pawed at his neck with his nails, raking at the skin and peeling away the flesh.
I watched him fight to try and remove my hand from the handle of the dagger, all the while choking and coughing and spurting blood from his mouth. He was gagging and coughing and spluttering, trying to speak. He was giving it everything he had.
I smirked to myself, Sithis would be so proud of me. I wished Cicero was here to see this. I pressed my knee against his chest so he would stay pinned down, and I patiently waited for him to die; watching him struggle to breathe, silently begging me with his eyes to help him.
No dice, buddy. You're headed to the Void. Give my love to the Dread Father for me, would you?
After what seemed like an eternity; Alain laid limp and lifeless underneath me. His eyes were still wide open and it made me feel warm on the inside. The last thing he saw before death was my face. And it made me immensely proud.
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22nd Mid Year 4E 201
I made it back to Markarth to collect my payment from Muiri. She had offered a second person to be killed but I declined. Nilsene wasn't who the contract was for, therefore she would not die. One contract, one person.
This disappointed her, but that didn't mean shit to me. I served Sithis and the Night Mother. Not some bitch who couldn't afford better bedfellows than a bandit. She would be better off with me between her legs, but I didn't make it a habit to fuck clients.
I received my payment and would hopefully be home within two days. I kept the steel dagger the bandit bastard stabbed me in the back with, as a token of the contract. I also kept Alain Dufont's weapon; a War hammer named Aegisbane. I figured Arnbjorn would love it.
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21st Sun's Height 4E 201
I applied several healing balms to the wound, but I couldn't see it clearly enough to make sure it was healing correctly. It was still burning and aching and the entire left side of my back was swollen.
I just spent the last three weeks in Solitude. They had a temple to Kynareth inside Castle Dour, it was dedicated to healing and providing for the citizens of Skyrim.
After the bandit inside Raldbthar had stabbed me in the shoulder, the wound steadily got worse. I spent twelve hours making my way home towards Falkreath, before the pain became so unbearable that I had to either turn around and head towards the temple to find a healer, or die in the woods on my way to the Sanctuary.
I chose Solitude.
The bastard poisoned the dagger he stabbed me with, and I was allergic to one of the ingredients. The priests in the castle told me that the wound was so badly infected from the poison, and the allergic reaction, that I could have died if I had waited a couple more hours to be treated.
Every day, I would writhe in pain while they stuck needles into the muscle and wound to drain the fluid and pus from the infected tissue. I felt like I was in a blacksmith's forge, and begged for some snow to help cool me off. My requests were denied. I was told that my fever needed to break and they were helping me sweat it out.
I was so hot, that I swore my skin would melt from my bones. I had fever dreams about Cicero and myself. I would scream in my dreams, and wake everyone up in the middle of the night. Although, when I woke up I couldn't remember why I was so scared.
I was given herbs and healing potions every day to help ease the healing process. It took them three weeks to get me back into moderate health. Just enough to make me strong enough for the journey home.
The whole ride home was agony. Every step Stranger took had me in tears. They sent me with a week's supply of healing ointment and told me to get plenty of rest. If somehow I started to feel worse, I was instructed to return there, or Whiterun so I could get proper treatment.
As soon as I entered the Sanctuary, Astrid came out of her room and cornered me. I scowled at her, not wanting any more contact with people than necessary. I was aching and sore. The only thing unwanted more than a nap was Cicero's lips on mine. I longed to have him by my side, so we could make a break for the hot springs. I needed it now more than ever.
I fantasized about what it would be like for Cicero to make love to me while we soaked in the hot bubbling water. I needed to be pampered and taken care of.
Instead, she dragged me from my fantasy with a 'personal matter'.
Never in my wildest fever dreams did I think that she was going to accuse Cicero of plotting against her, though. I nearly laughed in her face.
Cicero would never do such a thing. Not without telling me at least. But I couldn't tell her that.
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Finally finished. It took me forever. I hope you enjoy.
Next chapter : Whispers in the Dark
