Somewhere in the Dark Brotherhood's Sanctuary...

The leader of the Dark Brotherhood, Astrid, searched through the stone halls of the sanctuary for her best assassin. As a favor for someone, she had agreed to take on a contract without the Black Sacrament being performed and knew just the right person for the job. Finding her lounging atop a high shelf, she looked up at her and called out. "There you are, Rian. You have another job." Astrid was not surprised that she didn't say a word as she glanced down at her. Rian rarely ever said anything to anyone unless it was required of her and let her actions speak for her, one of the things Astrid liked most about her.

Rian shifted onto her side and reached down to take the contract, reading through it before hopping down from her perch. She handed the contract back to Astrid, nodded, then pulled her hood over her silvery white hair- tucking any loose strands out of sight.

Astrid watched as she left the room, making her way to the sanctuary's front door. She had given Rian dozens of jobs like this before, so she expected things to go well for the young assassin. As Rian disappeared, Astrid had to smile fondly as she remembered the first time she had met the strange girl with starkissed hair, nearly eighteen years ago.

Astrid had happened upon Rian just after she had killed her first victims- a nobleman from Cyrodiil travelling into Skyrim with his caravan. Rian had been trying to steal from the man, but she was caught and the man proceeded to beat her. Rian managed to escape from his clutches, but then his guards awoke from their slumber and cornered her. She did her best to fight her way through them, but she was kicked to the ground. Astrid watched as she went limp for a moment, seemingly unconscious or dead, then found herself smirking as the little girl caught the men off guard- grabbing one of their daggers. Astrid was impressed as Rian weaved in between the men, driving the dagger into the nobleman's chest first before grabbing a nearby sword and running the blade through the guards- one at a time until they all fell. Astrid approached her from the shadows, coming to stand before the blood drenched girl as she raised the sword to Astrid next. She had told her she was not her enemy, asked her name, then commended her victory and offered her a position within the Dark Brotherhood. Rian had nowhere else to go and with the promise of food, shelter, clothing, and a job, she agreed without hesitation.

'Good luck, Rian. Make us proud once again.'

Rian made her way to Eastmarch Hold, more specifically the Palace of the Kings, where she would find her target. By the time she had reached the ancient city, night had fallen and the aurora of Skyrim lit up the clear skies as she slunk through the shadows and into the city.

She drank an invisibility potion then took to the roofs of the buildings within the city walls, carefully and slowly making her way across snowy and icy rooftops until she reached the walls and climbed up the stone bricks of the palace to a nearby window. She took one of her lockpicks and wedged it through the seam of the window until she was able to push the latch up and unlock the window. She slipped inside and closed the window behind her before making her way silently through the halls.

Rian marvelled at the vastness of the Palace of the Kings, having never seen something so imposing or impressive before, but she quickly returned her focus to the task at hand and made her way to the upper levels of the palace. She searched each room, remaining completely still whenever a guard passed by, and continued through the halls until she spotted her target making his way into his room. She followed close behind him, slipping into the room before he closed the door. She waited in a corner of the room, watching him for a few moments as she waited for the perfect opportunity to strike. As she watched him, though, she found herself wondering why he would be the target of assassination.

'Are people really that bloody petty?' she thought to herself, realizing that it was most likely one of the Empire's dogs who was responsible.

The Jarl seemed to pace his room for a few moments before going to stand by a window and look out into the night, watching the aurora dance over the city. Rian continued to watch him until he made his way towards his wardrobe and started to undress. She averted her gaze- something that was unlike her- and when she was sure that he was finished, she shifted her gaze back to him and saw him settling into bed.

'It's nearly time, lord of this hold...' Rian said, silently. 'It would seem that it is your fate to taste my blade...'

Waiting about an hour longer- and as the clouds shifted in the sky to block out the light of the moons, stars, and aurora- Rian crept forward with her hand resting on the hilt of her dagger. Having perfected her sneaking skills, she made no sounds as she moved- which greatly benefitted her as an assassin. But when she drew her dagger and had it poised to strike, her target lunged for her and knocked her to the floor as he launched himself out of bed.

'How in Sithis...?!'

Rian was so confused; she was so certain that she had been completely silent even when she drew her dagger. She tried to regain her footing, rolling out of the way as the Jarl made to grab her- only succeeding in grabbing ahold of her hood and pulling it from her head. As she got to her feet, she sprang forward and wrestled the Jarl back to the floor and straddled him as she pinned him down. She raised her dagger above her head, ready to drive it into his heart, but what came next gave her pause.

The Jarl had been aware of a strange presence in his room, thanks to his years of experience in battle, but it didn't seem to be going away. He suspected that it may be an assassin sent by his enemies to slay him in his sleep, so he just played dumb and went about his usual routine. He pretended to be asleep, wondering how long before this presence would make its move, but then an hour later it finally did and he was ready for it. He launched himself out of bed in an attempt to tackle the assassin to the floor and disarm them, but they were quick and rolled out the way as he tried to grab them. He only succeeded in grabbing their hood, pulling it free before they slipped out of his grasp. Almost immediately as he stood, the assassin pounced forward and wrestled him to the floor where they managed to get him onto his back and straddled him- dagger poised above their head. Just before they could drive it down into his chest, the clouds parted and the moonlight shined through the windows- illuminating the room and revealing the assassin's face. The Jarl was taken aback when he saw a young woman with pale skin, silvery white hair, and silvery purple eyes that seemed to glow in the moonlight.

"You're beautiful..."

The assassin faltered when he said that, clearly taken by surprise. They stared at each other for a moment before the guards burst into the room and apprehended her, dragging her off of the Jarl.

Rian struggled to break free from the guards as they pulled her off of the Jarl, their grips strong enough to keep her arms pinned behind her back.

"My lord, are you alright?"

Rian watched as some of the guards helped the Jarl to his feet and she glared at him through her bangs as he approached her.

"What should we do with her?"

The Jarl reached forward, grasping her chin and lifting it up until those strange silvery purple eyes met his. He looked her over for a moment, then ordered the guards to take her to a cell.

When the Jarl gripped her chin and forced her to look at him, Rian wanted to spit in his face and rip her face free from his grasp. But for whatever reason, she found that she couldn't and felt frozen beneath his blue-grey gaze. Then when he ordered her to be imprisoned in a cell, she knew that she had failed. For the first time ever, she had failed as an assassin.