Forgive my delay in updating. I have been very busy. Thanks to all who have made it this far!
Cicero! Mordelia instinctively held her breath. She let it out a few seconds later when she realized Cicero probably couldn't hear her breathing through the stone coffin anyways. Mordelia waited to hear what he would say.
"Yes, yes. We are alone. The plan is coming along splendidly!" A little giggle. "Even the Argonian is considering." There was a loud sigh and the sound of Cicero plopping down on a stone bench. "But still no Listener! Will you ever choose a Listener, Mother?"
Suddenly the coffin was lit up by a red glow, illuminating a gruesome sight in front of Mordelia. She now saw what the Night Mother was; a shriveled old corpse, her head tilted to one side and her mouth open in a silent scream. As if that wasn't horrifying enough, the Night Mother spoke.
"Poor Cicero." The Night Mother's voice was raspy and strained. Mordelia was afraid Cicero would hear, but then she realized the voice was in her head. What is with the Dark Brotherhood and voiceless voices? "He tries so hard."
The voice stopped and the red glow went out, plunging Mordelia back into darkness. She was panicking inside and wanted desperately to get out of the coffin, but she also didn't fancy getting shanked by Cicero's dagger. The red glow came back a few seconds later.
"You are the 'One'." The Night Mother said. "Speak with Amaund Motierre in Volunruud. And tell Cicero, Darkness rises when Silence falls." The glow went out again and Mordelia felt herself falling backwards.
As she stumbled to the ground, breathing in the fresh air, Mordelia heard Cicero inhale sharply behind her.
"DEFILER!" Cicero screeched. "How dare you desecrate the Night Mother's coffin!"
Mordelia quickly rose to her feet and faced Cicero, who was glaring at her with his dagger drawn. Uh, oh. "Wait!" Mordelia put her hands out in front of her. "You don't understand! The Night Mother spoke to me!"
"Liar! The Night Mother hasn't spoken to anyone in ages!" Cicero seemed a bit taken aback by her claim, but was still dangerously furious.
"But it's true! She told me I am the 'One'. And she told me to tell you, 'Darkness rises when Silence falls'."
That seemed to grab Cicero's attention. He stared at Mordelia, open-mouthed. "She said that? The Night Mother said those words?"
Mordelia nodded. She was still concerned Cicero might decide to attack her.
Cicero's expression changed from one of murder, to one of joy. Mordelia noticed that he seemed a bit sad, however. "Those are the words written in the Keeping Tomes. The words Mother gave us to let us know she had chosen a Listener."
"A what now?" Mordelia asked. "A Listener?"
"Yes!" Cicero finally sheathed his dagger, much to Mordelia's relief. "You are the Listener!" He clapped his hands excitedly and did a little jig.
Mordelia couldn't help smiling; he was such an excitable fellow. She was about to ask what the Listener even was, when the chamber doors burst open and Astrid came striding in.
"I heard screaming and figured Cicero had found you." Astrid explained. She lowered her voice, although Cicero was too busy tending to the Night Mother to notice anyways. "Did you find out who Cicero was talking to?"
Mordelia laughed. That whole ordeal seemed trivial compared to what had just happened. "He was only talking to the Night Mother."
"That's all? What was this matter I heard about the Listener then?" Astrid crossed her arms. She was good at weaseling information out of you.
"Well..." Mordelia was hesitant to say anything so soon, especially when she had no idea what any of it meant. But Astrid would find out eventually, and it was best if she heard it from the source. "When I was in the coffin, the Night Mother spoke to me." Mordelia said simply.
"She spoke to you?" Astrid sounded skeptical. "And what did she say?"
Mordelia shifted nervously. What if I had imagined it all? I mean, that smell in there would make anyone feel strange. "She said I was the 'One'. Cicero thinks that means I'm the Listener. She also told me to go to Volunruud and speak with some Amaund Motierre guy. Do you know who that is?"
Astrid looked Mordelia in the eyes, trying to read any signs of deceit or lies behind them. "Hmm. This is all a bit strange." Astrid still had her arms crossed. "No, I don't know who Amaund Motierre is. But I do know where Volunruud is."
"Should I go there and try to find Motierre?"
"No." Astrid said firmly. "I need to think about this. Go do a few contracts for Nazir and see me when you're finished." Astrid waved her hand in the general direction of the Grotto and left.
Mordelia's mind whirling, she was about to leave and go wash the stench from her armour when she saw Cicero sitting on one of the stone benches. He still seemed sad, even though he wore a huge smile.
Mordelia sat down next to him, not sure what to say. "Did you want to be Listener?" She said aloud before she could stop herself.
Cicero sighed, the smile vanishing from his face. "Yes. Cicero wanted to be the Listener. Cicero stayed with Mother and kept her clean and oiled. Cicero talked to her and hoped one day Mother would answer. But the silence... it was almost... maddening." Cicero said the last word in a menacing tone. Mordelia didn't doubt he was half-mad. Cicero looked up at Mordelia and gave her a warm smile. "But Mother chose and you are the Listener." His sadness seemed to have vanished completely.
Poor soul. He must be so lonely. Mordelia felt something in her heart soften towards this little fellow. She smiled back at Cicero.