"Fool."

That wispy, deep voice sounded like a gong in his ears and a flash of heat struck him quickly. How rare it was to hear the Listener's voice.

How long had it been since that frozen mountain top? How long since the Listener kept him alive with her own body? A month? A year or two? Time seemed to pass by so quickly to reach this point…

Don't call out. Don't distract. Those were the last thoughts he thought he'd ever think and the last view he had was of his Listener sending rows of bandits to Sithis by sword and magic. It brought a savage surge of joy when he saw her skill first hand.

Then he fell and all he knew was darkness.

"You are smarter than this, far more clever and sneaky," the Listener's voice grew with power, transforming the whisper to a rumble of earth. She finally stepped through the room, coolly eyeing the Jester's prone form. Cicero's glazed eyes focused back on her. She looked none the worse for wear after all his traps…after the troll. He grinned a bloody grin once more. Like back then, he knew she would be all right.

"There is only one cure for your madness, Cicero," she whispered once more,"And that is me."

Cicero laughed with delight. Such a clever creature his Mother had chosen as her voice! He honestly could see no one else at this point. That pretender cowering in her cave was but a pale imitation of the glorious creature in front of him.

Mother was right. Mother had always been right. He could think that thought with peace now. She would bring glory back to the Dark Brotherhood.

However…she didn't move to kill him. What she did was far more potent.

"Poor Cicero…dear Cicero. Such a humble servant," she crooned in that deep voice of hers as she stalked around the room, keeping their eyes connected as she murmured,"But he will never hear my voice."

Cicero felt a hand suddenly seize his heart and squeeze. He gazed up at her with that frightening sanity once more as she repeated word for word her words.

The Night Mother's very first words to her Listener.

The tightening in his chest eased as he listened to her hypnotizing voice. He rolled to a crouch, ruining his act of injury, as she slowed to a stop in front of him.

"Tell Cicero the time has come. Tell him the words he's been waiting for all these years…"

Her warm fingers slipped down to his chin, cradling it tenderly as she brought his eyes up so she could watch. Petrified amber met milky white.

"Darkness rises when silence dies."

Cicero's lashes fluttered as his eyes closed. Those sweet words…and…his dear, gracious Listener was sharing them with him.

"Darkness rises when silence dies," Cicero repeated in a whimper, taking the hand that held him and kissed the fingers reverently as he tried desperately to ignore the heat and pounding in his groin,"Darkness rises when silence dies. Humble Cicero lives to serve, my Listener."