I was asleep, dreaming of snowflakes falling on my skin and a dark prince who I had to rescue because he'd locked himself away when I was rudely awoken. There was a woman sitting on the end of my bed and my eyes widened as she smiled at me.

Nadine. My… aunt.

She grinned at me in the dark and motioned for me to follow her. I grabbed my boots and coat and left, not wanting anyone to see her and not sure at all what she'd do if I didn't follow her. They had promised not to kill my friends but they'd never said anything about letting me stay in the Companions if it inconvenience them.

Once outside I rushed to put on my boots, the snow on my feet chilling me. I followed her to a secluded alleyway before either of us so much as breathed loudly.

She then turned and said, "Here."

I caught the little brown bag on instinct, hearing the coin jingle within.

"For your contracts… and you're trouble," Nadine said.

"You mean almost dying," I said deadpan.

"You really should be more careful, sister," Nadine said.

I narrowed my eyes and outstretched my arm.

"Here," I said. "I don't want your money."

"And here I thought you weren't beyond spilling blood for money considering you do just that in the Companions often enough," she said.

"There's a world of difference between the two," I said irritably.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Is there now? Hmmm…" she said.

"What do you want? You didn't come all this way to deliver money," I said.

"Clever girl," Nadine said. "You are needed back at home -"

"Not my home."

"Big changes are happening, sister," Nadine said. "And I think you will play a key role in them."

"I just got here, I'm not -" I began.

"'But you will. Or -"

"Don't," I said. "I'll… figure something out."

"Already done. Now go back to your Companions," Nadine said.

I thought of telling her how little I cared for being ordered about but before I could she had vanished into thin air. Stupid invisibility spell, could have used that to get in there instead of waltzing right in like she owned the place.

When I got back to Jorrvaskr I sat at the table, not yet prepared for breakfast and put my head in my hands looking down at the solid, polished oak. I hated the Dark Brotherhood. Even if maybe the people in it weren't as terrible as I thought - they did save me after all. I hated being at the beck and call of them and the Thieves' Guild.

"Are you alright?" Farkas said.

I looked up into the broad face of Farkas. He'd grown something of a beard since I'd been away. His brows were pinched in concern for me as he lowered himself into the seat across from me.

"I'm fine," I lied.

"You're up early," he said.

"Couldn't sleep," I said, lying again.

"You," I heard a voice bark.

I turned my attention to see the perpetually angry looking Skjor.

"There's a job for you."

xxxx

The job was a dragon and for some reason I was sent alone. Too many people had requested aid from the Companions to send anyone else. Conveniently. I waited until after the soul absorbed into my body, filling me with new power and understanding before reporting to the Dark Brotherhood, ready to ask how in the world did they lure a dragon. Gods only knew how many lives could have been lost because of it. I didn't want to ask and I determined to give the reward for the job to charity, just as I had with the contract money Nadine had given me.

It was night by the time that I entered the Sanctuary. Not that it mattered as most of the Dark Brotherhood operated at night in general. There was always someone awake. I took one last look at the beautiful Skyrim landscape, for once it was a clear night and between the trees I got a wonderful view of the stars. I found myself wondering what the Companions were doing. What Vilkas was doing. I hadn't even had time to say anything to him with Skjor rushing me out the door.

I took a deep breath and turned to the skull and whispered the password so that the secret door would open. It was warm inside the Sanctuary. That hit me first. It was winter in Skyrim and the underground chamber was insulated and lit by fires so that the freezing cold of the outside didn't come in.

When I came down the stairs I walked in on everyone surrounding a coffin and… the weird little jester that had given me the chills. My hand went to my blade and then I realized the reason he had made all my instincts go off was because the madman was an assassin.

One of us. No. Not us. I wasn't one of them. Not by choice. Not really.

"But the Night Mother is Mother to all!" the screechy little voice said in shock and outrage. "It is her will we follow, her voice! How dare you risk obedience and her… punishment?"

I blinked a few times. So… the dead lady was alive? Or was Cicero simply mad.

"Keep talking little man," the deep voice of Astrid's husband said, "and we'll see who gets "punished.""

"Hush you lumbering lapdog. You can at least be civil," Festus said. "Mister Cicero, I am for one glad you have arrived. Your appearance signifies a return to tradition."

I watched the conversation play out. Astrid eventually stepping in to defend the man. Which was surprising, and she seemed somewhat reluctant to do so.

"So… he's staying?" I said.

"He is. The Night Mother was removed to Skyrim many years ago from Cyrodiil. She is how we used to get our Contracts, but there has been no Listener, one who can supposedly hear her words, in a long time," Astrid explained. "Come, let us talk somewhere else."

I followed her to her little office area, glad to be removed from the screeching man and his ancient "Mother." She then proceeded to give me my first "official" contract: one where I was to kill a thieving ex-lover. I had no choice but to accept, which meant traveling to Markarth.

"Do not worry, Sister, we will make it possible for you to go there," she said.

"Please don't lure another dragon," I said.

She only smiled at me, a gleam in her eyes. I sighed and backed away, ready to go home again, even if only for a little while.