A/N: Big thanks to everyone that has followed along so far. I so appreciate it. The next chapter will start the complete break from the Dark Brotherhood story line and move forward into the largest part of the story which will be my own original fiction. I hope you all enjoy what's to come as much as the first two parts of Sable's tale. I look forward to any reviews.
-Edward
She woke in darkness. The ensconced candles had burned to the wick and gone out; the only light peeked in from the hallway through the crack at the bottom of her room door. Sable reached up and touched her nose. Surprisingly, there was no pain; no tenderness. She was glad for that. The actual healing had been horrifyingly painful. Her nose seemed to be exactly as it was before her encounter with Dufont.
She pulled the fur covers off herself and rose up. She was still in the ivory and pale green dress. Though it now clung to her in places where it had soaked through with sweat during the healing of her face and then dried again afterwards while she slept. Sable walked across the room and cracked her door open a bit to get some more light. Her eyes stung for a moment with the banishment of darkness. A moment later, after her eyes had adjusted, she pulled two new candles from her desk and lit them using a torch outside her room. There was no one in the hallway beyond her door and she was actually relieved. The white-haired assassin wasn't sure she was ready for the attention of the entire Family just yet.
Back inside, she set the two candles in goat horn scones on opposite sides of the room so she could have enough light to re-dress but still leave it dim enough for her eyes. Sable initially went for her favorite hip-hugging red dress trimmed in cream and gold, but when she felt the weight of it decided otherwise. It was made of a heavy material and she didn't want put on any more weight than she had to. She decided on a dress made of a much lighter material. It was dark green with pale violet embroidery twisting its way up the sides. This one held tight against the curves of her body before flowing out at her waist.
She turned this way and that before snuffing the candles and heading out to find Astrid. She didn't have to search long as Astrid was coming down the corridor carrying a plate of food.
"Up already. Still the overachiever I see."
"How long did I sleep?" Sable asked.
"Only through the night. It is late morning now. The Family has just finished breakfast and I was coming to leave some fruit in your room. I would imagine one might be hungry after such an ordeal."
Sable wasn't sure if her leader was referring to the contract, the healing session, or both. Still she took an apple.
"Would you like to talk in your room?" Astrid offered.
"That would be nice."
Once back inside her room, she grabbed a few more candles. Astrid set the tray of fruit down and lit one using the torch outside and then passed the flame to each candle within until there was a warm glow.
"So tell me all about your first major contract." Astrid requested as they both sat down.
Sable re-counted the whole trip. She did her best to not omit any detail, even telling about the extra hit that Muiri had offered and she completed. Astrid seemed unfazed by it and said little throughout the dialogue. Her leader's brow furrowed a bit as she recounted how she had introduced herself to Dufont, but Astrid did not interrupt to chide her in the slightest. Her hazel eyes lit up with amusement and she smiled when Sable told her how she had ultimately bested the bandit leader.
"Nicely done, turning his overconfidence against him." The matron of the Dark Brotherhood congratulated. "We don't normally take on more than one victim per contract. However, I can see why you choose to do so and will not say anything further on it. You did well." Astrid rose to leave. "And now I suggest you go see the rest of the Family. They should be gathered in the dining hall. They have been waiting to see you."
"May I ask, mistress, why did you not warn me of the pain beforehand?" Sable inquired. Astrid sat back down.
"You speak of the healing of your broken nose I assume?" Sable nodded. Astrid's answer seemed tinged with sorrow. "Never have I warned a family member that required it the first time. I have always viewed it as sort of a tough love. Healing can be quite painful and the assassin that has experienced and remembers that pain as a tendency to be more careful and not need it nearly as often." The matron seemed unbothered by her recruit's darkened countenance. "I am truly sorry you had to go through it. I have required Gabriella's talents in the past, so I have a very good idea of what you endured. I hope the experience will serve you well in the future."
Sable's face softened. While it had been horrible to endure, Astrid had put her through it for her own good. She very much seemed a mother pained by knowing her children would learn a lesson best by enduring it the hard way.
"Come. Let's not keep the others waiting any longer."
Sable followed Astrid through the corridors leading to the common room that served as the dining hall. All of the guild members were gathered and, as she came into view, welcomed her warmly. Well, almost all of them did so. Festus was standing off to the side, arms folded across his chest, looking grumpy as usual. He was probably only there because Astrid ordered him to be. She didn't care. He was just an old curmudgeon anyway.
Once they made their way down, Astrid quieted them all. At her prompting, Arnbjorn brought forward a sack and handed it to Sable. Sable opened the sack and found a pair of boots in it. They appeared to be the exact same boots that had been given to her when she had first arrived. Thick leather dyed black and dark red.
"Today," Astrid called out, "our newest sister has proven herself worthy of the Dark Brotherhood. Having completed her first major contract, she is to be celebrated and held in high esteem by the Family. We all look forward to her career in the shadows." She then looked directly at Sable. "Kill well. Kill often."
There was a loud cheer by all gathered as they celebrated their sister's first great achievement. She couldn't help but smile as she felt her cheeks flush.
"We called them Shrouded Boots. They're enchanted." Astrid said to her as the clamor died down a bit. "That's what makes them special. While you're wearing them, your movements will not be heard. Perhaps with your skill at stealth, you may not even need them, but it I'm sure it would honor the Family whenever you wore them."
Sable looked at her in awe. The no one had ever given her anything so valuable. She felt nearly overwhelmed at that point. Of course she would wear them. She might not ever take them off. Astrid smiled warmly at her before telling her to enjoy this day and slipping away.
All the rest talked to her for a while and welcomed her back. They had demanded a full re-counting of her contract. She left out nothing, giving them every detail, knowing they accepted her and any judgments made on their part would be imparted as wisdom to help her improve. She knew that they only wanted to see her get better and better at her craft. It was odd, but this band of assassins was more of a family to her than anything she had previously. Tears of joy rolled down her face every now and then throughout the afternoon and evening. She was truly loved here, she knew. It was strange to her, but wonderful as well.
Eventually, Babette found her, a sheepish look on her face.
"Remember when I said Gabriella and I had present for you?"
Sable nodded.
"Well, in my excitement, I spoke too soon. It's not ready yet. Do mind waiting a bit before I show you?"
"Not at all, Babette," she giggled, "Come find me whenever you're ready."
Later that night, when she had returned to her room, Sable tried on her new boots. Just as Astrid had told her, she made not a sound as she stepped around the room. In delight, she jumped several times stomping her feet on the floor. The silence was startling. She smiled again and found her cheeks hurt slightly as she had been smiling almost the whole night. She would certainly have some fun in these.
About a week later, Arnbjorn found her and asked for a moment of time. Sable followed him to the area where he kept his anvil and forge.
"Listen, hamshank." He started seeming a bit nervous. "I have something for you. I've been working on it since you told us how your dagger was ruined. It hadn't occurred to me til then that I while I ain't no quartermaster or anything, you should probably be better equipped than pair of common steel daggers. So … uh … here. I want you to have these."
He reached back to behind him and picked up a box off his workbench and gave it to her. Sable opened the box to find two perfectly crafted elven daggers inside. They were beautiful. The silvery curved blade melded into a very dull gold colored metal shaped to roughly resemble the wings and tail of a bird of prey. The handle had a slight curve to it and had the same dull golden metal criss-crossing over tight padded leather to serve as the feathers of the bird while also improving the grip. At the base of the handle, the pommel was shaped into the hawk's head. In general there were no round edges to the embellishments on the dagger, but there was no doubt the creature they made and that a great deal of skill and time was required to craft them.
"How did you make these so fast?" She asked in astonishment.
"Well the wolf in me doesn't allow me to rest much and there's not much else to do at night when everyone is sleeping." He explained before his gruffy façade returned. "Now, don't you lose or damage those daggers. The refined moonstone and quicksilver is a pain in one's shank to shape and I'll not see my hard work go to waste. You hear?"
Sable closed and clutched the box to her chest, beaming at him. "Thank you, Arnbjorn. I will treasure them as I do my own life." She rushed forward and kissed him on the cheek.
"Bah, get out of here, tidbit." He cried out. "I'm already married." He shooed her out of his forge area, but there was no need. She was already running off towards her room to stow away her precious gift.
Having stored the box, Sable was just closing the door to her room when Babette found her.
"I'm ready for you to see it now." The vampire chimed.
"See what, Babette?"
"Your present. Come see it!" Babette grabbed her hand and led her to the crafting room. "Close your eyes and no peeking."
Sable did as directed placing her hands over her eyes. She felt the false child's hand take hold her elbow and lead her to the table in the middle of the room.
"Okay, you can open them."
The Nord removed her hands and opened her eyes. Babette and Gabriella were standing on the opposite side of the table watching anxiously for her to spot her present and enjoy her reaction.
Sable's gaze eventually drifted down and, there on the table, she spotted a small planter with a very young deathbell plant sprouting a single bunch of white petals. Her mouth dropped open as she sat, cupping the clay pot in both hands.
"How did you do this so fast? It's only been a couple of weeks." She wasn't sure she could take any more surprises that day.
"It was mainly Gabriella." Babette explained, quite enjoying the reaction she was seeing. "I mentioned your little project to her shortly after you left. She was the one that had the idea of using Alteration magic to change the appearance of the flower. She ensorcelled the seed and I then planted it and used every trick I knew to nurture it and get it to grow."
"Babette makes it sound simpler than it really was, but as you can see we managed it." Gabriella clarified.
"Yeah, who knew that such a small flower seed could explode that violently?" The child vampire chimed in.
"Were you injured?" Sable asked.
"No," Gabriella stated, "though there were some rather … lively afternoons in here."
"This is wonderful." The Nord exclaimed.
"You'll still have to let it grow for a while." Babette explained. "Obviously it's still too young to have its flowers plucked yet. But I'll take care of it and let you know as soon as it's strong enough."
Sable turned her gaze back to the white flower and took it in. She was overjoyed. Soon a new terror would be unleashed upon Skyrim. Her name would become renowned; something to be feared. The legend of The White Deathbell had begun.