Chapter 7

Before the Apple Falls

My compliments on another job well done! Havilstein Hoar-Blood was more swine than man, and deserved to die quivering like an animal! You must not stop! You must kill again!

Your next target is a Wood Elf named Ungolim, who resides in the city of Bravil. Bravil is also home to an ancient statue known as the Lucky Old Lady. It is seen as a symbol of good luck and prosperity, and the fools of Bravil often speak to the statue and wish for good tidings. Every night, poor lovestruck Ungolim visits the Lady and pleads desperately for the heart of a young maiden. This maiden is married, and her husband has learned of Ungolim's affection for his bride. He fears the competition, it would seem, and has commissioned the Dark Brotherhood to help in the matter.
You must go to Bravil, locate Ungolim, and kill him. The Wood Elf owns a house in the city, but he spends his days securely locked inside. I recommend you lie in wait at the Lucky Old Lady statue, and then eliminate Ungolim when he arrives for his nightly visit. He's generally there between the hours of 6:00 PM and 1:00 AM.
By all accounts, Ungolim is a deadly archer and a fearless opponent. I also have reason to believe he is expecting trouble, so if Ungolim senses danger, he may attack you on sight. And, like the Khajiit J 'Ghasta, Ungolim has bribed the guards to look the other way if there is a fight, so they won't interfere. Be vigilant, and bring the Wood Elf down! You must not fail!
When Ungolim's body lies broken at the foot of his dear Lady, you must journey to the city of Anvil. Your dead drop is in a barrel located behind the statue in the pond. As is standard, your reward and next contract will be waiting.

These last few dead drops had been both encouraging and discouraging. He wrote to me as if I were a mere tool. I suppose I could be wrong but these last few dead drop letters have been quite different from the first two. The letters had a sudden change to parchment as well.

I swiftly dismounted the horse and entered Bravil's main gates. I made my way to the statue to make note of where it was when a wood elf suddenly attacked me. I had no choice but to defend myself. I showed no mercy to this attacker. I grabbed his left arms with both my hands and quickly snapped it. A loud cracking noise was heard along with a groan of pain.

"Who are you? Why are you attacking me." I sneered. He simply answered with a look of disgusted.

"My name is Ungolim. I hope your death is most painful!" With that he shoved and arrow into my upper chest. I yelped in pain. He drew a dagger to attack. I conjured a quick fire spell to keep him at bay for just a few moments. I drew my Blade of Woe and attacked him with it. He put up quite the fight.

As I tried to lash at him he would dodge and make a counter attack that almost always hit. He was ruthless in his attacks and spared not a moment to attack when the opportunity arose.

I coughed out a bit of blood with his last hit but I finished him when I sawed off his head with the dagger. I let the body fall to the ground as I held his severed head in my hand. I let Ungolim's head fall to the ground.

"No! No, I'm too late! I thought I could get here in time, thought I could stop you!" It was Lucien and he was angered, I quickly turned only to be violently grabbed by him. "By Sithis, what have you done? What madness has claimed you? You have betrayed me, you have betrayed the Dark Brotherhood! Why?" I was stricken with fear and confusion.

"L-Lucien what i-is wrong?" I feared the worst.

"What is wrong? What is wrong! You are what's wrong!" He drew his dagger "I am here to end your miserable life!" My eyes started to tear, I was going to die, by the hand of the one I loved most.

Lucien grabbed me by the throat with one hand and lifted me a few inches from the ground. I did not attack him back, I couldn't. I tried to release myself from his deathly grasp as his dagger came closer to me.

"to..." His expression started to change and he stopped midway before the dagger had pierced skin, he merely kept it just above my heart unmoving.

"Lucien please… Please stop…" I managed to cough out a few words before suffocating completely under his grasp.

He looked at me a bit confused.

I simply accepted my fate in defeat after discovering no matter how hard I tried I wouldn't be able to break free. I began to feel weak and I let my hands simply caress his hand that was bringing death upon myself slowly. I looked into his eyes with defeat and sorrow. I tried to choke out a few words before everything went fuzzy.

"Lucien…" His grip started to loosen and he put me down. I immediately fell to my knees and coughed. It was hard to breath with all the blood coming out from my previous wound but I managed.

"But... You... You refuse to attack me when I clearly mean to kill you…" He was confused.

I look up at him with fear and confusion.

"You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?" His voice softened and he lowered himself to my grounded level.

I looked up at him and shook my head; my eyes sought answers from him.

"What's wrong? I did everything you told me to do?" I could feel the blood rushing in my vein, heart pumping fast with fear, my patron had almost just killed me... But why?

"Your first dead drop contract, you carried that out, killed Celedaen. After that, you eliminated the Draconis family, as ordered. Then, betrayal! Your dead drops went unvisited, your targets ignored. Instead, you have been systematically killing off all the members of the Black Hand! J'Ghasta, Shaleez, Alval Uvani, Havilstein Hoar-Blood - Speakers and Silencers all. And Ungolim... the Listener himself!"

My expression fell, I had killed my own brothren.. And... The listener. I had broken The Five Tenets.

"The surviving members of the Black Hand know that you're innocent, they know you were only following orders. They believe I am the traitor!" He was angry again.

"The traitor somehow switched your orders, and has been sending you to the wrong dead drops. You and I have been deceived, dear friend. We must find out who is behind this betrayal! We haven't much time... I am hunted day and night by the Black Hand! They want me dead! Here is what you must do. Go now to your next dead drop, lie in wait, and confront whomever drops off the false contract! Uncover the true traitor's identity, and then come see me. I'll be in hiding. Fort Farragut is no longer secure. It's under watch by the Black Hand. I'll wait for you at Applewatch, the farm where you killed the old Draconis woman. It should be empty, and safe. Now go! And may Sithis help us all!"

I shook my head, "But what if they find you there?" I was stricken with worry for him. "Come with me and we shall both identify the betrayer. You'll be safe with me." I pleaded.

"No, I cannot risk your life as well for my well being." He said firmly. All of this at once, I was feeling mixed emotions. I pulled him into an embrace. I expected he'd push me away but no such thing happened.

"Just come with me, for one night at least." I waited for his reply patiently. He sighed defeated.

"I suppose, but afterwards I am to leave. I cannot be risking your life!"

We had both left Bravil and headed North West towards Anvil. He steered Shadowmere while I sat behind him as the passenger. The ride was silent, I wanted to tell him of my feelings, I felt that I should, but I wasn't sure if now was the best of times. I wasn't worried about rejection nor acceptance, I just wanted to tell him how I felt. He had Shadowmere slow down to a trot. We stopped at an abandoned campsite. He tied Shadowmere to a nearby tree. and we both sat inside the small shelter. There was only one bedroll. I volunteered to take the floor but he refused the offer.

"You're uneasy, you take the bed, I'll stand watch." I wasn't going to lose.

"I don't care what you say, I will sleep on the floor." He lied down on the floor facing away from the small bed-like area. I was stubborn and decided to lay next to him, back facing him. There was silence before he sighed in yet another defeat.

"Why is it you insist so much?" He was a bit irritated; I suppose he was much to stressed to be patient.

"I can't tell you that, all I can say is it'll help ease you to sleep comfortably." I really didn't really know how to tell him in truth. I suppose I could just tell him bluntly.

"Can't tell me what?" He abruptly sat up and looked at me suspicious. I suppose I should have chosen better words, he is a bit jumpy. "Tell me!" He had a hint of fear in his anger as he grabbed me by the collar of my shrouded armor.

I looked at him with sadness and looked away to the ground. "I fear what you might do if I tell you..." After that was silence. I suppose he caught onto where this was going. After a few more moment of silence he made me look up at him after letting me go.

"Tell me dear Silencer." He was peering into my eyes. I detected neither fear nor anger anymore.
"Lucein I... I'm worried about you, that is all I can permit myself to say." I looked away flustered. "I want to tell you, I truly do. But fear is preventing me to say anything."

"What is it you fear?" He inquired.

"...I'm not sure..." I looked up at him again. There really was no reason for me to fear his response. "If I tell you, will you stay with me tomorrow as well?" I looked at him pleadingly. His expression went into deep thought. After a few moments, what had seemed like hours was only a few minutes.

"I suppose so." He looked back at me.

I sat up and brought my knees towards myself. "In truth, I am worried about not only your situation, but your state of mind, you are distressed and... It pains me to see you like this. I have heard so many stories about you, the great Speaker Lucien Lachance, yet here you are in fear of your own life... I don't want you to be in this situation, I want you to follow me, so that you can find the true traitor for yourself, and if need be, I will take accuse of being traitor for you to extend yours a bit further, so that you may unveil the truth to them soon after."

Lucien was taken aback by my last statement. "You have no idea what you're saying, do you have any idea what the other speakers would do to you?" He was appalled.

"No, but I do know, you wouldn't have to go through it." I looked over at him, he was full of confusion.

"And why would you sacrifice yourself like that? You may be my Silencer but there is no need for such an act."

"I want you safe… Because… I love you." I boldly came out with the truth but as soon as I said it I looked away from him, towards the small bedding inside this tent. There was silence again; he said nothing to me after that. I suppose this is what I feared. I feared he wouldn't look at me the same way anymore, perhaps even useless. After a bit he pulled me towards him in a small embrace.

"Looks like you've turned out to be more than loyal." He whispered softly.

I said nothing to him, I waited for him to continue.

"I'll let you in on a little secret, I love you as well." I was happy but didn't know what exactly to say back. I simply looked back at him, his auburn eyes met my crimson eyes.

"You mean it?"

"Truly." He was sincere; I couldn't detect anything else in his sincere eyes. I smiled at him happily and wrapped my arms around him. I longed for this since I had discovered how strongly I felt about him. I wasn't quite sure why I felt this way towards him, I barely knew anything about him. I wasn't even sure if he knew anything at all about me. I slowly pulled away and smiled up at him. He returned the smile happily.

"We should get some rest, we have a long journey ahead of us."

We both laid in the small bed cuddled up next to each other. My last thought was of the dream I had days before. It frightened me greatly. I looked up at Lucien's face to see he had already succumbed to a peaceful sleep. I shyly gave him a small peck on his lips. His eyes fluttered open afterwards, I blushed as he stared at me. I buried my face into his neck to hide the redness in my face. Soon after I had calmed I began to fall asleep.

Later that night I had awakened for a second time. I slowly sat up, The portions of skin that were exposed quickly grew cold as the cold humid air touched my skin. I remembered it had gotten much too uncomfortable and I took off my Shrouded Armor replacing it with just a linen shirt. I pulled up the robes we had used as a blanket. Lucien's bare chest had been exposed as I moved the robes.

A light blush came across my face. He was full of lean muscles. I quickly laid down to face away from him and tried to cover myself as best I could. Suddenly I had begun to hear light armored footsteps.

I quietly reached for my dagger and peeked outside the camp. A Bosmer in leather armor approached the camp. Quickly I started to dress myself quietly but another had came into the small tent, ripping through the rough fabric. I quickly turned but was grabbed and pulled out of the small shelter. More hands joined in to restrain me. I was quickly blindfolded, I could only get a glimpse of three other bandits; a khajiit, an orc, and a dark elf. I felt another stuff some clothe in my mouth so I wouldn't cry out for help.

"Oh lookie here, we've caught such a beauty!" One voice had said with a snicker.

"It must be a gift from the Gods!" A second voice agreed.

I could feel a blade run across my abdomen lightly. Moving the linen shirt upwards, the blade traced up and down my abdomen. I tried to break away and yell out but they were too strong and my voice was much too muffled for Lucien to hear me.

"Let's have a little fun with her." A third voice had said, the blade had stopped just below my navel. The blade left and I could feel them tying me up. I struggled but was simply hit in my stomach hard. The pain struck fiercely and I was immobile for a few moments, enough time for them to finish tying me up properly.

I could feel a hand going places it was unwelcomed at and I started to struggle much more and cry out for them to leave me alone. I didn't accomplish anything but bruising myself and letting out muffled screams.

Suddenly I felt a warm liquid splash upon me and a scream of agony. The other bandits dropped me onto the floor. I heard the other screaming in agony as well. I could feel a blade cut the rope and blindfold off.

I looked up to see Lucien, he covered me in his black robes before helping me up. I felt ashamed that I couldn't fend off a few lowly bandits. I looked away feeling useless, if I couldn't fend off a few lowly bandits what chance did I have against keeping Lucien safe from the other Black Hand members?

I could feel Lucien pull me into an embrace.

"Quite clumsy aren't you." Lucien teased as he began to wipe away the blood upon myself; I didn't look up at him.

"I'm sorry, I should have been more prepared. If they were Black Hand members we'd both be dead by now… I'm sorry about my incompetence."

I felt Lucien guide my face up towards his so that I may look into his eyes.

"You are far from incompetent. You alone, single handedly wiped out half of the Black Hand." His entrancing voice said with a tender softness, that even I did not think he was capable of.

"…I suppose."

He led me back inside the now ripped shelter. The black clouds above began to rain down mercilessly against the tender green nature that surrounded us.

I wrapped Lucien inside the robes around myself so that he would not get cold. I felt a bit embarrassed being in just my linen shirt and undergarments, but it was nothing I couldn't handle.

I could feel Lucien giving me chaste kisses on my right shoulder as he slowly wrapped his arms around my small body frame.

"My dear Silencer, it is vital that we both get rest before tomorrow, you must reach Anvil in time to catch the one who had switched your dead drop orders." He cooed, oddly enough his words relaxed me. It reminded me of what was to be done.

"Yes we should get some rest…" I turned towards him and smiled. "In the morning we prove your innocence to the Black Hand!"

Lucien smiled warmly. This was a side of him I never knew. I had always simply seen the more coy, mysterious, and potentially dangerous side of him. No one else in the guild had seen this side, they had only seen his ruthless and merciless bloodlust side.

We both got resituated on the bedroll and I began to fall asleep again as Lucien ran his fingers through my loose hair. My last thought was of the warm smile he had given me just moments ago. I limply wrapped my arms around him and dosed off.