Entry 52

Morndas, 24th of Sun's Dusk

Yesterday morning, Khajiit received a mysterious note from an unsettled courier. A black handprint and a statement; we know. Hmm…perhaps the Dark Brotherhood is onto her. She should either expect assassins after her, or a more civil approach. If assassins do come, Khajiit will simply break one until he reveals their location. On a lighter note, Khajiit went and bought furniture for a child's room to fill the place where her alchemy table originally was. She never used that thing anyway. Vilkas is convinced about adoption now.

"You're right, you know."

"Of course, don't you know? This one is always right!"

"Sure, sometimes. Anyway, you're right."

"About what specifically?"

"Having a child. Life is short and unpredictable and dangerous, but that doesn't mean we should live cautiously and in fear. While I'm alive, no matter what happens, I would like to experience the joys of fatherhood."

"Truly?" This one smiled so widely it hurt.

"Aye. I promise to be the best I can be for our daughter and how many other children we have. Though I'd prefer we not go higher than two." This one embraced him tightly.

"To Windhelm! Let's give Sofie a home!" He pulled this one close.

"To Windhelm."

We never got to Windhelm. This one was exhausted from her night out with Aela (we spent the night finding the last totem of Hircine!) and wished to nap before we made our journey. Instead, she woke in an unfamiliar place; cold and dark and smelling of rotting wood. The whimpers and soft sobs of fear whispered in the air behind her. A masked woman sat on a wardrobe, twirling a blade between her fingers.

"Good. You're finally awake." She said in a sultry purr of a voice that would have charmed the pants off any man except for the malicious intent lacing her words.

"I hope you slept well."

"Who are you? What is this place?"

"Does it matter? You're safe, dry, and very much alive. More than I can say for old Grelod."

The Dark Brotherhood had found this one!

"Where's Vilkas? Did you hurt him?"

"The man in bed beside you? Oh no, if I had a score to settle with him, he would be dead. He's your husband? I'm a little disappointed. If my husband let me get dragged off by a shadowy stranger while I slept beside him, I would have a few cross words reserved especially for him."

"Oh, this one will speak with him, alright. Now, what do you want?"

"Grelod was a good kill. The old crone had it coming, and you saved a bunch of urchins to boot. But it was a Dark Brotherhood contract. A contract you stole."

This one was not sure she liked where this was going...

"If you'll look behind you, you'll meet my associates. There's a contract on one of them. Make your choice, make your kill. Repayment of your debt is just a discreet knife thrust away."

A truly gruesome situation, no? But had this woman—Astrid—thought that perhaps this one had a feeling the contract was actually on Astrid herself? Khajiit drew her battle axe and sliced into Astrid. Astrid tried to fight back, but this one cut her down.

"Well done…" she whispered as she fell and the leader of the Dark Brotherhood moved no more. Khajiit freed the three prisoners behind her and left the shack. Vilkas was outside, sword raised and ready to cut through the door.

"By the Gods! Are you alright, J'Hirra?"

"Vilkas…"

"What?" Vilkas put his hands on this one's shoulders. "What did they do to you? Are you hurt, where are they? I'll make them—,"

This one bopped him on the head.

"You let this one be kidnapped!" She shrieked and birds took flight all throughout the swamp. "She was sleeping right next to you, stupid dog! How could you?"

"It's not my fault! I heard movement and woke up but whoever was in the room with us cut me on the arm! There was paralysis poison on the blade! You really think I would let someone kidnap you that easily? They got the drop on me!"

"You didn't hear them enter the house? Didn't Lydia, Inigo? Anyone?"

"You didn't either!"

"This one is a deep sleeper!"

"Deep enough that you let someone pull you out of bed and waltz out with you?"

"This one was cut, too!"

"Alright, then neither of us were at fault, so what are we fighting about?" Vilkas yelled and we both went silent, breathless.

"This one…just felt a little hurt, that's all."

Vilkas scowled and wrenched this one into a hug. She hit her head against his armored chest.

"I followed you all the way here. I lost you in the marshes for a while, then I saw this cabin. You scared the hell out of me."

"This one killed the leader of the Dark Brotherhood." Vilkas choked.

"You…you what?" he shouted, wrenching this one back to look at her, mouth hanging down to his knees. "That was the Brotherhood that captured you? Ysmir's beard! We have to go, now! To Dragon Bridge, that's the closest town to here; the guards need to know!" He seized this one's wrist and led her through the marsh.

Well, Morthal was closer, but Dragon Bridge was a good choice. J'Hirra rushed to a guard, told him the news, and he sent her to Penitus Oculatus outpost which was stationed in Dragon Bridge. Khajiit spoke to Commander Maro and has told her to head right to the Falkreath Sanctuary to join his men to destroying every assassin in the place. So perhaps this one should stop writing and go.


It is done.

The last Dark Brotherhood sanctuary in all of Skyrim has been cleared out. There were quite a few people inside, though not nearly as many as Khajiit thought there would be. An old man, a Dunmer, an Argonian, and a werewolf. This one was expecting a truly challenging encounter. Ah well. Skyrim is now a little safer and that is what matters.

Unfortunately, Inigo missed the adventure and slept the night away in the spare room in Breezehome.