Summary: Cicero, Aela and Ria head off to Saering's Watch, but the real discovery isn't what's written on the Word Wall.
Saering's Watch wasn't far, not at all, but it involved glaciers and snow and trudging across icefields. They knew it when they saw it though. A Nordic ruin facing out across the ocean – and it was defended by several Draugr, all fighting a huge dragon.
"Oh good," Cicero muttered. "A dragon. Just what poor Cicero needed."
"Dragon!" Ria yelled, reaching for her bow. "About time, I needed a real fight!"
"For Jorrvaskr!" Aela cried, already firing off some shots. Companions, honestly. Cicero loved them all dearly but really, did any of them have any sense of self-preservation? Given that both women had gone for the dragon but ignored the Draugr on the ground, clearly not.
"JOOR ZAH FRUL!" Cicero shouted at the dragon, grinning as it wheeled around before crashing to the ground. Unsheathing Dawnbreaker and his ebony sword, he left the dragon to Ria and Aela and prepared to face the Deathlords heading his way.
Maybe he had an impossible task ahead of him. But dealing with Draugr? That he could more than manage.
While Cicero was taking on the Draugr, cackling gleefully as he carved them up, an explosion from Dawnbreaker sending the remainder running, Ria was staring down the dragon, alternating blocking and hacking, constantly dancing out of the way of those jaws. It was getting easier. She'd only faced one dragon before, the one she and Cicero had fought by Lake Yorgrim. This one seemed tougher, but even so, her katana was doing the job. All the same, the Dragonrend didn't last and it was in the air again, bloodied but not dead, not remotely.
Ria looked for Cicero, currently running around on the ruins, laughing as he chased down the Draugr. He did deign to Shout at the dragon again for her, which was nice of him, but Ria and Aela were otherwise on their own. Then another Draugr made a break for Aela, and Ria was really on her own. Just in time for the dragon to land again.
"I'll end you, dragon!" Ria shouted, sounding braver than she felt. The dragon almost seemed to be laughing – right up until Ria abandoned her shield and dual-wielded her Blades katana and the glass sword from Madanach instead. Blood went everywhere as Ria dived and slashed and cut, heedless of anything but the fight, just her and the dragon. She was dimly aware of Aela finishing the last of the Draugr, and then arrows raining in from her and Cicero, all hitting the target but Cicero's seeming to sink through the dragon's skin like butter. One hit the dragon square in the eye, then Ria marshalled her strength and stabbed down with both swords. The dragon roared its last and expired in front of her.
Aela lowered her bow, checked quickly to make sure Ria wasn't injured, before wandering off to gather her arrows. Cicero meanwhile was still up on the ruins, clearly poking about in search of the Word Wall. Leaving Ria to watch the dragon. It was burning in front of her, something she'd been told only happened when a Dragonborn was around, and any minute now the soul would boil out of it and rush for Cicero. Ria just hoped he was close enough.
White light and rushing and fire as the dragon soul emerged, and Ria had to close her eyes. Was it her or did it feel brighter than the last time this had happened, and why did she feel so warm? She could feel something wrapping around her like a dragon's fire and then the warmth sank into her skin. Something like a dragon screamed inside her, and then doors snapped over it and it was gone – no, not gone. Lurking. Trapped. Waiting for something, and all the words of Draconic she'd ever seen on a Word Wall glimmered in front of her – KLO, SHUL, QAH. She had a feeling she should be able to do something with them, but she wasn't sure what. What she did know was that something had just gone very very wrong. She opened her eyes to see one dragon skeleton – and Aela staring at her from the other side of it.
"Ria," said Aela slowly. "What did you just do?"
High up on the ruins, Cicero had heard the sound of the dragon burning, braced himself for impact... and nothing. No soul. No white light. No dragon fire. Nothing. Alarm bells ringing, he turned to see one dragon skeleton, Ria staring at her hands, and Aela staring at Ria. The dragon's soul was clearly gone... but he'd not taken it. So if he'd not got it, where was it?
"What happened?" he growled as he ran over. "Where is my dragon soul?"
Aela was still staring at Ria, and slowly Cicero turned to look at her, realisation starting to dawn.
"Ria," Cicero purred. "Where did my dragon soul go?"
"I – I don't know," Ria gasped. "I was just standing here, watching it burn, and then there was this light and it was so loud and I couldn't see and then it was gone!"
"Gone?" cried Aela. "Ria, it flowed round you then disappeared!"
Cicero's eyes had widened, his entire face going rigid, lips curving in a horrible fixed smile.
"You took my dragon soul."
"I didn't mean to!" Ria cried, backing away, it suddenly occurring to her that Cicero was a Dark Brotherhood assassin at core, and while he was normally all smiles and friendliness, he could turn into a vicious murderer in a second. He'd certainly just turned vicious, and Ria, for the first time in a long time, began to feel afraid of him. Cicero's grin widened and then he began to laugh, throwing his head back and howling, but this didn't reassure Ria in the slightest.
"A joke! A joke! A funny joke! Ria has hidden the dragon soul, playing a trick on foolish Cicero! Hahaha! Look, it's funny, Cicero is laughing, see!" The laughter died in seconds, as Cicero's face twisted in rage. "Give it back."
"I don't – I can't!" Ria cried, backing away. "I don't know how!" Cicero's glare intensified, and he drew Nettlebane, closing the gap between them.
"Give. It. BACK!" he shrieked, left hand grabbing Ria by the throat as he raised his knife, apparently deaf to her sobs and pleading.
"Cicero!" Ria sobbed. "I'm sorry, please!" Cicero just snarled – and then an iron arrow smacked into his side. Cicero staggered from the impact, letting Ria go. Ria scrambled back, raising her shield, terrified.
On the other side of the dragon, Aela was advancing, nocking a second arrow, an Elven one this time, and pointing it right at Cicero's throat.
"WE DO NOT KILL OUR SHIELD-BROTHERS AND SISTERS OVER A DISPUTE, CICERO!" Aela roared at him. "YOU LAY ONE FINGER ON HER AGAIN AND THE NEXT ARROW WILL BE IN YOUR SKULL, I MEAN IT!"
"Kodlak would not be pleased to learn you'd killed his son, sister," Cicero hissed, yanking the arrow out and radiating healing magic into the wound.
"The agreement was you'd kill no more Companions," Aela growled. "You harm Ria, you are no longer a Shield-Brother."
"She stole my dragon soul!" Cicero protested. "Thieving is not permitted in the Companions any more than the Brotherhood allow it!"
"It's not her fault she's Dragonborn too!" Aela cried, and that did it. Ria sank to her knees, feeling faint. Dragonborn – no. She couldn't be. She really couldn't be. She wasn't... she wasn't a hero, she was just a warrior and not even that skilled.
"Dragonborn... oh gods," she whispered, and then she started to cry.
"I'm not!" she sobbed. "I'm not, I can't be, I can't be, you're meant to be the unstoppable deathbringer, not me!"
Cicero was staring at her again, the anger gone from his face, and replacing it was something not seen often there – sorrow, pity and guilt.
"Cicero wasn't meant to be either," Cicero whispered, sheathing his dagger. "The Dragonborn died – was killed when Alduin attacked Helgen. The only other person in Skyrim with dragon blood was humble Cicero, so the gods had to make a pact with the Night Mother. But if you have dragon blood too – why?" He caught his breath then laughed, sounding bitter. "Of course, of course, they did not trust the Night Mother to keep her word, they wanted a back-up. Ria was not ready to fight Alduin, she was barely trained back then, she would have died. But if Cicero could at least buy time for Ria to get trained at Jorrvaskr – yes, yes, Cicero sees." He approached her, kneeling on the snow a few feet away. Ria flinched a little as his fingers reached out for her, and he saw, looked away unhappily and lowered his fingers.
"Cicero is sorry, sweet Ria," he whispered. "Cicero didn't... he would never... Cicero cares, he does! Only he did not know you were Dovahkiin too."
"I never fought a dragon before," Ria whispered. "Only with you, and you took the soul."
"Because I was nearer that time, sweetling," said Cicero quietly. "Whoever is closest gets the soul."
Aela had lowered her bow and come to crouch next to Ria.
"Are you all right?" she asked, an arm around her shoulders. Ria shook her head.
"No, of course not! I'm a bloody Dragonborn, I'm expected to kill dragons, I have no idea what I'm doing or how the Thu'um works or anything, and he just tried to stab me!" Ria shifted loser to Aela, shaking all over. "Is it true, what Delphine and Esbern said? That there can only be one Dragonborn at a time because the strongest kills the others unless they're his kin?"
"He'd better not," Aela growled. "He may have killed Alduin, but he is not immortal."
Cicero went very pink at this. "Sister Aela flatters me – but I am not the strongest. Miraak... Miraak is stronger."
"Don't say that!" Ria cried. "We've got to kill him, he's really powerful and you have to fight him, you're all we've got!"
"Not any more," Cicero breathed, breaking into a gleeful smile as he gazed fondly at her. "Now there are two of us!"
"No. Oh no," Ria gasped, feeling hysterical at the mere thought of taking on Miraak. "Cicero, I don't know a thing about the Thu'um. I can't fight Miraak, I can't!"
"Cicero did not say he would let you do it alone," Cicero whispered, drawing closer, still smiling. "Cicero shall be there. Cicero knows you are not ready. Cicero shall teach you things, many things! If he could teach Elisif, he can teach you. And you are a far more skilled warrior than she was, not to mention less averse to blood and violence."
Stendarr, no, she'd always been fond of a good fight. Her mother had tried to persuade her to more ladylike pursuits, but then she'd got married to a Nord warrior and any attempt to encourage her daughter not to take up the blade had died a death right there.
"Please tell me I'm not going to start dancing in the blood of my foes and singing about 'those who try to fight sweet Ria, die in pain and blood and fear'?" Ria asked, hoping the dragon blood didn't automatically mean she'd turn into an insane murderer. Cicero raised his eyebrows then burst out laughing.
"Hee! That is a good one, very good indeed, Ria is getting the hang of it already!" Cicero cackled.
"You are not helping!" Aela snapped, rubbing Ria's arm. "Don't worry, Ria, from what Eola tells me, he was like this a long time before the dragon blood got activated. I think you'll be fine. At least you're not related to him."
"Yeah..." said Ria faintly, remembering Odahviing's reaction on first meeting her. He must have known, must have been able to tell, been able to sense the dragon blood. He'd even asked if she and Cicero were kin.
"There is nothing wrong with being related to Cicero!" Cicero protested. "Kodlak is related to Cicero and he is a fine and honourable man, and Mama is a kind and loving woman! Even if she does keep nagging poor Cicero to eat his vegetables..." He tilted his head, looking curious. "Ria does not have any Stelmarias or Di Rossos in her family, does she? Ria is not short for Stelmaria?"
"Silmaria," Ria said, finally smiling a little, as she recalled her mother talking about her real father. "It was nearly Stelmaria though. Ma liked the name, but my real father asked her not to use it. It had bad memories for him. You might be related to him maybe. I don't know anything about him. Ma would never talk about him, only that he'd done more for her than she could ever repay, but that she didn't know where he'd gone and then she'd got word he'd died. She went out to Bruma of all places to find him, but I don't think she got anywhere. But she did meet Pa out there – he was one of the guards there and he helped her. Followed her back to Cheydinhal after, he was that smitten. I was about five, I think."
"Five," Cicero breathed, and he'd gone very still and very pale. "Ria is how old now?"
"Twenty one, why – no. You... no," Ria whispered, and she knew intellectually Cicero was twice her age, more or less, but he acted like such a child most of the time, it was easy to forget.
"Sixteen years ago, Bruma Sanctuary burned," Cicero whispered. "All Cyrodiil heard the news. Cicero was the only survivor, because he was out carousing while his brothers and sisters died. So he escaped to Cheydinhal Sanctuary instead, and that Sanctuary was never breached, no one knew of it. And Ria was five, and Ria's mother came out to Bruma because she feared Ria's father had died... Sweet Sylvana wanted to know if I'd escaped."
"NO!" Ria howled, although she knew it in her heart it must be true. Dragon blood had to come from somewhere, and Cicero's mother was Stelmaria, killed in the war, no wonder he hadn't wanted anyone named after her. Sweet gods, her mother had hired the Dark Brotherhood? In her teens? Been so grateful, she'd had sex with the assassin? No wonder she'd always refused to talk about him.
Cicero was still babbling, actually looking pleased, damn him, in fact he was staring adoringly at her face. "That is what she looked like! Cicero had forgotten! Vaermina took the memory and he didn't know any more! But Ria is here and she looks like her mother, and she is pretty and so was Sylvana!"
"You are not my father!" Ria screamed, tearing at her hair and feeling about ready to cry. She'd always thought of him as a good man, a kind man, a gentleman, maybe even a hero. Not... not Cicero. Not a madman in a jester's hat, however lovable he could be. Not a Dark Brotherhood assassin.
"Ria?" Cicero whispered, actually looking hurt and that was worse, realising that not only had he sired her, he seemed to want to actually be a parent now. "Sweetling?"
"I can't..." Ria gasped. "I can't deal with this, I'm sorry, I just can't." Before Cicero could react, she turned and fled, desperate to get away, get anywhere but here.
"RIA!" Cicero howled, reaching for her, but Aela was there stopping him from following.
"Leave her," said Aela through gritted teeth. "She's just found out she's Dragonborn and it's your fault, she'll need time to get used to the idea. I'll go. You got the word off the wall? Good. Get back to the Skaal Village, I'll find Ria and meet you there."
Cicero's face fell, but he nodded sadly. Aela squeezed his shoulder and ran after Ria, leaving Cicero there, despondent. Sweet Ria, his. All these years and he'd never known and she was Dragonborn too. Doubly his fault, both the blood and the fact she'd ever been called. He'd never really wanted children, but he did like them. He liked Ria, always had. She was kind and nice and innocent. He'd always felt protective of her. Well, now he knew why. Ria, moni, I'm sorry. You don't have to call me father but... I'll do whatever I can for you, sweetling.
That of course was when the screaming started.
Ria ran, desperate to get as far away as possible from Cicero, from the dead dragon, from all of it. Dragonborn, Dragonborn, I can't be Dragonborn, Cicero is not my – he and my mother never... oh gods. She remembered the first time she'd seen him, Shouting Farkas to the floor back in Dustman's Cairn before advancing on the cage she'd got stuck in. She'd been terrified, especially when he'd smiled – but there'd been something about him, even then, some sense of knowing him, understanding him, and it had clearly been mutual, because he'd cooed and fluttered over her and shown her how to fight properly. He'd been more help in a few hours than Vilkas had ever been, and he'd seemed keen on her not dying.
He wasn't her father. He couldn't be. He must be the least paternal male she'd ever met – come to think of it, he was the least male male she'd ever met. Fierce, yes, strong, yes – but those weren't qualities unique to men and from what she'd seen of Stelmaria, Cicero was every inch her son.
She really couldn't see Cicero as anyone's father, much less hers. And yet he not only seemed to be exactly that, he'd landed her with dragon blood. Kynareth help her.
A growl from up ahead, and Ria stopped dead. Sounded like a bear – well, she'd dealt with bears before. She drew her sword, looking around. Three bear-like shapes padded out of the shadows – all right, perhaps a bit of a challenge.
Then they stood upright and Ria knew she was in trouble.
Werebears. Oh gods. She screamed, holding her shield up and readying her glass sword. Aela, Cicero, please, please help me.
Then the werebears were on her, claws tearing at her armour, her shield fending them off, her sword getting a few hits in, but there were three of them, they were strong and they weren't going down like bears did after a few swipes.
"Cicero!" she cried, willing to forgive him anything if he turned up and saved her. "CICERO!"
One of the bears raked its claws down her arm and another was preparing to pounce. Ria remembered Cicero calling Odahviing by name, and what had Odahviing called him? It was worth a try.
"ZII-ZAH-RO!" The Shout echoed out, causing the ground to shake and her to fall back. The bears all stopped, looking at her oddly, before growling and moving in for the kill.
Then a howl split the sky, giving the bears pause but bringing hope to Ria's heart. A wolf howl – more than a wolf howl. Aela.
Two ghost wolves and an all too real werewolf sprang into action, Aela taking on the biggest werebear by herself while the spirit wolves took on one each. Ria rallied, tackling one of the bears while a wolf distracted it – only to see the spirit wolf torn apart by the bear she'd attacked, and the other bear do likewise, and the two of them turn on her. Aela was wrestling the other one, blood and fur going everywhere, and wouldn't be able to help. In fact, the werebear had her on her back, pinning her down, and Ria had the horrible thought that Aela and she weren't going to win this one, that this was it, dying alone on the far reaches of a small island out in the Sea of Ghosts.
Mara have mercy, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, not like this, please...
"MUL QAH!" The Shout rang out, and then he was there, short red-haired lunatic, but far more than that now, glowing with a dragon's shape and both swords out. One of the bears went for him... and regretted it at once.
"YOL TOOR SHUL!"
Ria had seen him breathe fire before, but never like that. The flames virtually incinerated the bear, and a thrust from Dawnbreaker finished it. Then Cicero was on to the other werebear – not able to Shout at this one, but his sword thrusts carving into it as if he was dual-wielding battleaxes. She'd never seen him fight anything like this before.
On the other side of him, she saw the big werebear reach up to claw Aela, who had gone very still and was bleeding heavily. She reached for her bow to distract it – and then saw a fourth werebear appear from out of nowhere, smacking into the first one and roaring at it, claws slicing into its flesh. Aela rolled away, weak but still alive at least, crawling to safety while the bears fought. Flesh shimmered and then she was human again, collapsing in a heap on the snow. Cicero finished off his werebear and, raising his swords, began to advance on the other two. The newcomer growled and tore the throat out of its opponent, before its own flesh rippled and a man stood there, blonde, Nord, unashamedly naked.
"You?" Aela gasped, glaring at him, rolling over to hide her own nudity. "What in Oblivion...?"
The man grinned at her, lust and triumph in his eyes. "You're mine, Red Wolf. Maybe you don't realise it yet, but you are."
"I am not your mate!" Aela shouted. Cicero tilted his head, dragon form still flickering around his body.
"Sister, is he bothering you?" Cicero purred, in the tone of voice that positively hoped the answer was yes so he had an excuse to butcher the man. The werebear might be strong, but he was also clearly bright enough to know not to pick a fight with a Dragonborn.
"See you around, Red Wolf," he laughed, turning and running. Cicero wiped his blades off on the snow and sheathed them, turning to Aela and casting Healing Hands on her. Wounds healed and mended and Aela slowly sat up, resting her head on her knees.
"Clothes? Gear?" she asked wearily. Cicero placed a healing potion down for her and ran off in search of her things. Ria winced as she sat up, not sure where anyone went from here. At least they were all still alive and she wasn't badly hurt. Cicero arrived back a few minutes later with all Aela's things and left her to get dressed. His eyes fell on Ria and he hesitated, suddenly nervous. Now that was weird, the same man who'd charging howling into battle a second ago intimidated by her.
"Are you well?" he said softly, passing her a healing potion. She downed it and nodded.
"Thank you," she whispered. "I think you saved my life."
Cicero smiled a little at that. "It was no bother. No one hurts a Dovah's loved ones."
No one hurts a Dovah's children, was what he clearly meant but did not say. Ria didn't see him like this often, the fool persona dropped for once and the man beneath on show. When he was like this... it was far easier to see just how capable he really was. Especially after what he'd done to those werebears.
"I'm apparently a Dovahkiin too, but I couldn't do that," said Ria quietly. "I don't know anything, Cicero! I'm not ready!"
Cicero stepped forward and held out his hand to her. Ria took it and let herself be hauled to her feet.
"No," said Cicero, his voice steady and calm and his lips curving into a smile. "But you will be, moni. Cicero will teach you every Thu'um he knows and then, Sil-Maar-Yah Kiir-se-Ziizahro, you will be strong." His other hand reached up, fingers gently caressing her face and the look on his one of delight, pride and a fierce joy. "You will be a Dovah to be feared, moni."
I don't want to be feared! But a far greater part of her, something dark and terrible that was lurking in the back of her brain had other ideas.
"Teach me," she whispered to him. Cicero's grin widened as he nodded.
"I will," he promised. "Come."
Aela sat huddled on the snow, watching the open ocean. Behind her, Cicero was training Ria in the Thu'um, every word of power he knew, literally all of them, carving each one into the snow and patiently teaching Ria like, well, a father teaching his child to read, except this was in a way far more crucial than learning Tamrielic.
"YOL TOOR SHUL!" Fire blasting over the snow, melting the glacier beneath. Awed silence, then squealing.
"Oh my GODS, I just breathed fire!"
"YES, YES! You did, you did! Cicero is so proud of you, sweetling!"
Wonderful, now instead of one fire-breathing lunatic, she had two of them to cope with. At least Ria was mostly sane and fairly level-headed, but Cicero was notorious for being a terrible influence. Ria probably wasn't going to turn into a murderer any time soon, but there was such a thing as being too bloodthirsty.
Such as Torkild. Aela shivered at the memory. Why'd he intervene? Was she that fascinating? Really? Had he just not had a woman in a while? Maybe he was just insane, losing himself to the beast. But he'd turned on one of his own for her, probably saved her life. She had no idea how to feel about that. Given he'd done it so he could try and claim her as mate later, gratitude wasn't it. She didn't find him attractive, in fact she wished he'd leave her alone. All the same, she had to wonder what was going on with him. Werebears didn't seem to be solitary animals. Was he alone, did he have a pack? Were the ones he'd helped kill part of it? Solstheim didn't seem big enough to support two werebear packs.
The whole thing worried her. She'd come here looking for family, but all she was finding was blood and savagery. She hadn't thought she was that put off by either, but she'd not forgotten she was human either. These werebears weren't even close. Even Eola could manage a veneer of civility – she was a king's daughter after all. There was none of that here. Aela was about ready to give up and go home. Once Miraak was dealt with, that would be it. No more trying to find another pack. Jorrvaskr was home, the Companions her family. She'd seek her kin amongst them, turn those that proved willing. None so far... but she wouldn't give up hope.
Finally, Cicero and Ria were done, approaching her, both smiling. Ria looked nervous still, but her face was flushed, and Cicero positively radiated pride.
"Well, how did it go?" Aela asked, although she already knew the answer.
"Ria is learning so fast!" Cicero trilled. "Cicero is very proud."
"There's so many," Ria whispered. "All these words! Cicero, how do I know which one to use at any point?"
"Oh, do not worry, sweetling, Cicero doesn't use them all himself," Cicero grinned. "You just need to try them out and soon you will find your favourites and use those. Cicero is particularly fond of Marked for Death and Fire Breath."
"I'd noticed," Ria said dryly. "I'm not you, though."
"No, no, Ria is not," Cicero sighed. "But Cicero loves you anyway."
Ria still looked rather uncomfortable with the idea of Cicero being her kin, and Aela honestly couldn't blame her. But she did squeeze his hand and cuddle him back. The affection between them was undeniable and always had been.
"So what was the new word you learnt at Saering's Watch then?" In all the excitement, it was easy to forget they'd had a mission.
"Gol," Ria said. "Means 'Earth'."
"Cicero thinks it is the first word of Miraak's mind control Shout," said Cicero, his smile fading. "Cicero is going to have to learn the other two somehow to defeat him, isn't he?"
"You don't want to?" Aela asked, surprised. Cicero always struck her as exactly the type to enjoy messing with people's heads for fun. To her surprise, he shook his head, pensive.
"Cicero doesn't want that sort of power!" Cicero cried. "What if... what if he misused it? I mean, on strangers, sure, or enemies. But... what if he became angry and used it on a Shield-Sibling? Or on a Sanctuary member? On sweet Eola? Or... or on the Listener?" His voice dropped to near inaudible on that last sentence.
"You wouldn't do that," said Ria softly, rubbing his back. "I know you, Cicero, you've got some standards."
"Cicero has broken the Tenets before," Cicero whispered.
"Because you thought you were doing the right thing," Aela pointed out, having heard the true story of the Jester Dragonborn's adventures by this time. "When you know you're not? You wouldn't do it then. I've seen you with Delphine, Cicero, I know you love her."
"I don't want to be stronger than her!" Cicero wailed.
"You're Dragonborn!" Aela cried. "You're already stronger than most of us, her included!"
"This is different!" Cicero growled, kicking at the snow in frustration. "This is the power to force and compel, and Arngeir said when we learn Shouts, we take them into ourselves. Shouts to kill and fight with, or to make Cicero more stealthy, these are Shouts Cicero likes. A Shout to compel another, enslave another? Cicero is no slavemaster! Cicero does not want to be!"
"I'll learn it," said Ria softly. "I already learned the first word, I'll learn the others instead of you – I'm young, I'm not as skilled as you, if I get carried away and turn into... into a monster like Miraak... you'll be strong enough to stop me."
"No," Cicero breathed, and then he was hugging Ria, crushing her in his arms. "No! Cicero isn't killing Ria, Cicero likes Ria, Cicero doesn't want her to die!"
"No one wants Ria to die," said Aela, tugging at Cicero's arm so he'd loosen his grip. "But you'll only have to defeat Ria if she starts turning into a megalomaniac and abusing her powers, and if that starts happening, I'm sure we'll notice at Jorrvaskr before it gets to that stage."
"I don't think it's gonna happen, Cicero," said Ria gently, stroking Cicero's hair. "I'm not ambitious, not really."
"Like me," Cicero whispered, snuggling into her. "Bless you, sweet child, you are very kind-hearted to help poor Cicero so. Cicero just wishes you did not have to."
"I want to," said Ria firmly. "Or rather, I don't like seeing you upset. It's sad. You're much better when you're cheerful, even if you're usually talking about stabbing."
That did get a grin from Cicero, who let go of Ria and began skipping about, singing yet another one of his many little ditties about blood and murder. Aela actually felt relieved. It felt wrong somehow to not have Cicero fearless and excited about the job in question. The capering and singing were much more reassuring. Time to get back to the Skaal Village. They had a job to do.
A/N: I think some of you saw this one coming - hope it wasn't too cliched. Cicero is going to need a little help with this one, so why not get him a Dragonborn who's on his side? Plus it means Kodlak gets a grandchild and if anyone deserves one, it's him.
Moni - my daughter. Sil-Maar-Yah - Soul-Terror-Seek, so Terrifying Seeker of (dragon) Souls. (Or possibly Seeker of Terrifying Souls, which Ria would argue is a little more accurate.)