A/N: This chapter marks the end of the first part of The Legend of The White Deathbell. In the next chapters, she will get some training and then her first major contract dealing with a certain apothecary's assistant. Afterwards the story will break away from the DB storyline of the game. Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, followed, favorited. I appreciate it and PM's are welcome.
A couple of days of travelling found Sable staring at what had to be the Black Door. The entrance to the Dark Brotherhood sanctuary was quite gruesome. Carved into the dark gray stone was a depiction of a skeleton sitting against the left hand side with its knees bent. At the base of the skeleton under the legs were five smaller skulls jumbled together. Above all that was a much larger skull, taking up nearly the top half of the door, with a large, red hand print on its forehead.
Before approaching the door, Sable thought again about her decision. Stepping through this door most likely meant the end of her rather prosperous life with the thieves guild. She had wondered whether she wanted to join the assassin's guild, or as her brief captor had put it, the Family. Should she step into a life of murder for hire? The prospect of killing didn't really concern her much. It never had before. And assassination was bound to be just as lucrative, if not more so, than larceny. So why was she hesitant? Perhaps it was the nature in which she was recruited. Or perhaps the bizarre demeanor of her recruiter. Eventually, curiosity and the prospect of the power over other's lives had caused her to journey to the southwest reaches of Skyrim, to a corner of the Falkreath hold, to a dark and forbidding door. Those same feelings carried her a couple steps more to stand directly in front of the door.
"What is the music of life?" whispered several raspy voices in unison she heard in her mind rather than out loud. It was a bit disconcerting, but also quite intriguing.
"Silence, my brother." She answered.
The door slowly opened inward and she stepped into the darkened passageway, carved into the stone, beyond.
On instinct, she dropped into a sneaking crouch and made her way down the dimly lit passage. It sloped downward and to the left, ending at a small cave that was well lit with torches. On the far side, leaning on her hands over a table, stood a Nord woman, her blonde tresses cascading down just past her shoulders. Sable didn't step into the room immediately. She waited patiently surveying the room to be sure, as best as she could, that there were no other people or surprises lurking. She couldn't, however, see around the corner to the right where the passageway opened into the cave. She would have to just take the risk and step out into the light at some point.
Reasoning that she was here by invitation, and also hoping she wasn't being foolish, she stood to her full height and stepped into the room. As soon as she was heard, the woman at the other side turned to see her. It was the same woman that had kidnapped and tested her in the shack. She could tell from her hazel eyes. The woman smiled.
"Ah, at last! I hope you found the place, all right." She said, giving a friendly wave, gesturing her to come closer.
Sable crossed the distance between them in a couple steps. "Yes, it wasn't terribly difficult, though the door is well hidden. What happens now?"
"Well, what happens now is you start your new life in the Dark Brotherhood. You're a part of the Family, after all. This, as you can see is our Sanctuary. You won't find a safer place in all of Skyrim. So get comfortable."
Sable thought it a bit amusing to hear a den of assassins described as the safest place in Skyrim, still she figured there would be any number of things to get used to within the Dark Brotherhood.
"Here is a set of armor more befitting your new place in the world." She said, handing Sable a set of the same black and dark red leather armor. She couldn't tell why, but it had a slightly different feel to it than any other leather she had come across before. "I am Astrid, the head of our family here. Go and meet the others."
Sable turned in the direction of Astrid's gesture and saw another passageway leading down, further into the cave. It was shorter than the first, but before she reached the end, she heard voices float up to her from the cavern beyond. On instinct, she froze to listen before moving on.
"Festus, how'd your latest go?" a deep rich voice asked. "Wasn't it some young noble?"
"It went rather well." A voice made of gravel replied. "I used a new destruction spell I've been working on. Nearly turned him inside out. It was quite messy."
"And you Babette. How'd yours go?" A female voice chimed in. "Some old man, yes?"
"It was such fun," came the answer. If Sable hadn't known better she would have said it belonged to a child. "I used the candy trick again." The voice changed, mimicking a supremely old man. "Would the sweetie like a sweetie?" The voice change back to that of a young girl's. "Oh yes, sir! Let's go through this alleyway, it's a shortcut to the candy store." The old man's voice came back. "Why aren't you such a pretty one. Wait, your teeth. No! Nooooooo!"
There was a burst of laughter. Then a raspy voice joined the conversation. "And what about yourss, Arnbjorn? A Khajiit merchant, right?"
The young voice piped in again. "Oh, how adorable! The big dog chasing a kitten."
Another burst of laughter, before the answer came.
"The cat was a mercenary and it took me nearly a week to track him down." This voice spoke quite angrily and was gravely as well, though not as much as the first. "I tore him apart when I caught him. Perhaps I'll use his fur coat to make a new jacket!"
There was more laughter. The white haired Nord stood still listening for more as the laughter died away, but the group conversation was apparently over.
"Have we become suddenly shy?" Astrid startled her. By the Eight, the woman was uncannily quiet. This was the second time the assassin leader had snuck up on her. For one that was always used to having the situation reversed, it was rather unnerving. "Come, I will take you to meet the others."
It was then that Sable realized she had not moved. It looked like the overly cautious habits Brynjolf had pounded into her would die hard.
Before she could say anything in her defense, Astrid began walking down the passageway before them, not waiting to hear any explanation her newest recruit would offer. Sable followed her out of the passageway. It opened into a much larger cavern that served as the large common area for the guild. There was a smallish pool of water to her right that fed the smallest of streams that flowed out the back of the large cavern through a small crack in the wall. Immediately to her left was an area set in with a forge, grinding wheel, and workbench. It looked to be a fully functioning black smith right there in the cavern. A large, grumpy-looking Nord man sat at the grind wheel sharpening a huge double bladed axe. He had a light blonde beard and long hair.
Astrid strode toward him. "Arnbjorn, this is our newest recruit, Sable." She turned back to Sable slightly. "This is Arnbjorn, my husband."
Before she could say anything, Arnbjorn addressed her. "Before you get to thinking of us getting to know each other, let me tell you all you need to know." He said aggressively. "I'm a werewolf. I like killing people. I love my wife. I hate annoying people. And the color blue gives me headaches. We probably won't be friends, so the more you can leave me alone, the better."
"Arn, you could at least try to be nicer to our newest addition." Astrid scolded before shuffling Sable off to the next meeting. "Don't worry about him, I'm sure he'll come around to you with time." She assured her.
Before she could really contemplate the implications of a werewolf, Astrid led her further into the cavern back towards the pool of water, where she saw a very dark-skinned Redguard man crouching near the pool. He got up and faced them as they approached. His trimmed mustache grew across his upper lip and out into his beard that grew down below his chin and was gathered together into a gold band. He wore a scimitar in a scabbard at his hip.
"Nazir, this is Sable, the newest member of our family." Astrid introduced her.
"Greetings, sister." Nazir said with a rich deep voice. "I hope you survive long enough for me to learn your name."
Astrid shot him a look – which he completely ignored – but did not respond to his comment. Instead, she led Sable towards a dark corner of the cave near a ledge where some stairs had been carved out of the stone in order to reach the higher level of the cave.
As they drew near, the shadows under the ledge, near the stairs, moved and out stepped an Argonian covered in dark green scales with large horns growing from the back of his head and several smaller tusks along his jaw line. He was wearing the same black and red armor as Astrid. It was disconcerting to Sable that she never saw him sitting there. She was a good thief and an even better sneak. It was unsettling that she hadn't known the lizard was there.
"Sable, this is Veezara." The introductions continued. "Veezara, Sable is new to the family."
"Welcome, ssisster." The Argonian said, his speech marked with slight hissing. His voice was raspy but full of genuine warmth. "I am Veezara, the lasst of the Shadowsscaless. Pleasse let me know if I can assssisst you in any way."
After the first two, Sable hadn't expected any friendliness among the so called family so she was caught a bit off guard by Veezara.
"Shadowscale?" She inquired.
"Yess." Veezara answered, again without a hint of malice in his voice. "It used to be in Black Marsh that any who hatched under the ssign of the Shadow were taken by the Dark Brotherhood and trained from birth to be assssassssinss. We, then sserve the king until we come of age. At that point, we are accepted into the Dark Brotherhood. But alass. I am the lasst of my kind. My order is extinct."
She wanted to talk more with Veezara, but Astrid, apparently, had more people for her to meet. "Thank you, Veezara, for such a warm welcome. I trust you will help our sister with anything she needs."
"Of course." The lizard enthused before sinking back into the shadows under the ledge. It was uncanny how he seemed to just disappear into them. Sable resolved that she would have to have him show her that trick.
Astrid directed her up the stairs and through another short passage that opened into yet another cave. This one was well lit and seemed to serve as the assassins guild's apothecary. There was a set of shelves on the wall near her as well as on the opposite wall along with a long table, several chairs, an enchanting alter, and an alchemy table complete with a mortar and pestle, alembic, retort, and calcinator. This room had three occupants who all turned to gaze at her when they entered. One was an extremely old man wearing black and red robes to her left. Directly across from her was a dunmer wearing a hooded set of the same black and red robes. But it was the girl, aged about 10 to 12, sitting at the opposite side of the table that caught Sable's attention the most.
The man, she learned, was named Festus Krex and he was even more crotchety than Arnbjorn. He wore robes since he was a mage and preferred turning his contracts into ash. The dark elf was Gabriella, who was also a mage, but specialized more in the healing magics – which Festus considered a waste of time – mainly using poisons to finish her work. She was also quite warm and friendly, welcoming Sable into the family. But the child was the most shocking of everyone she had met. She sat there while Astrid introduced her to the other two, though it looked like she might burst from the wait. Finally, Astrid brought her before the girl.
"Is this our new sister?" she asked unable to contain her enthusiasm any longer.
"Yes, Babette," Astrid chuckled, "This is Sable."
"We're all so excited to have you here. A part of the Family." The child enthused.
"Not of all us, Babette. Don't speak out of turn. I, for one, don't care."
"Shush, Festus. That's enough from you for now." Astrid shot back at him.
Sable stood stunned. "How … how old are you, child?" She asked.
Babette, giggled. "Nearly 300." She smiled quite wide and that's when Sable spotted her long, pointed incisors. "Vampirism tends to keep one remarkably … fresh."
The surprises just kept coming with this one. "You're a … vampire?"
"Yep." She answered with the exuberance of a child. "Don't let my appearance throw you off. I'm older than you. A lot older. Getting bitten by a vampire when you're ten will do that to a girl. It's been quite a boon, looking like a child. No one ever suspects a thing. My targets make the mistake of not perceiving me as a threat. Last mistake they ever make."
A forever ten year old, 300 year old vampire with quite the devious side of her? This guild had everything, Sable thought.
"Come, sister." Astrid beckoned. "I'll show you to your room. I'm sure you'll want to rest from your long journey before we share our evening meal."
Astrid led a bewildered Sable back through the passageway they had come. They crossed to the other side of the large cavern and into another set of passageways in the caves. Eventually they came to a hallway of doors. Astrid led her down the hall to the last door on the left.
"Here is your room. These quarters are your own and no one else's. Rest up and join us for the evening meal. If you need anything before then, don't hesitate to ask any of us." Astrid grabbed both of her shoulders in an affectionate squeeze. "Welcome home, sister." She gave Sable a warm smile and then left her to explore her room.
Sable opened the door and went in. It wasn't lavishly furnished, but wasn't bare either. The door opened in about the middle of the room. To her right was a desk complete with ink, quills, and rolls of paper. To her left, two chairs for her to position wherever she desired. Further down the wall to her right was a mannequin and several wall racks on which to hang her armor and weapons when not out on a contract. Directly across from those was a set of shelves that had already been stocked with various liquid-filled bottles and vials. There was note pinned to it.
"Some healing potions and some helpful poisons. Enjoy, and let me know if you need more." It was signed by Babette.
On the far wall was a bed covered with fur blankets, with a sizable chest resting just beyond the foot of it. But it was the object lying on the bed that caused Sable's jaw to drop open.
Resting on the bed, in perfect condition, was the beautiful red dress trimmed in cream and gold that she had worn to the banquet in Windhelm the night she had stolen the broche from the very drunk Jarl of Falkreath. She couldn't believe it. She had made her peace on never seeing, much less wearing, that dress again. And there it was; a gift from her new family.
She picked it up and held it to her body and twirled around a couple of times. She smiled as a tear slowly made its way down her pale check. After all the years, after all the searching all this time, finally, she was truly home.