Innocence Lost

I walked into the Bannered Mare, feeling warm and happy. "Hello Hulda," I said, waving to the woman who runs the inn. "How are things in Whiterun these days?"

Same as before," she said. "But in Windhelm..." She leaned towards me. "Do you know anything about the Dark Brotherhood?"

"Um, no, I don't think so," I said. Where was this going? I just wanted to buy a sweetroll. "I mean, I know that they're a group of assassins..."

"Well," she continued, "I heard a rumor that a boy in Windhelm has been doing the Black Sacrament."

"Wow. Can I buy a sweetroll, please?"

"Sure," Hulda said. I handed her some money and she passed me a sweetroll. "But keep listening; I heard that the boy is trying to kill an old woman from Riften, someone they call Grelod the Kind.

My mouth, which was about to take a bite of sweetroll, gapes at her instead. "Grelod the kind?"

"Mmmhmm. Why, did you know her?"

"I have to go." I left my sweetroll on the counter, and ran out the door.

I think that I ran the whole way home, but I can't remember. A boy in Windhelm, trying to have Grelod the Kind murdered? What is happening?

I wasn't sure how I should be reacting. On one hand, murder is wrong, of course. On the other hand, the world might be a better place if Grelod was no longer alive to abuse children.

Maybe I ought to find this boy. Maybe if I talked to him, I could find out why...

Actually, I knew why. She is a terrible, cruel woman who deserves to die. I felt my anger from my childhood years coming back to me.

Maybe I want her dead too.

I have to talk to this boy.

When I woke up the next morning (although I didn't get much sleep last night), I walked to the Whiterun stables and used some of the gold that Cicero gave me to hire a carriage. It would be a lot quicker than walking, and I didn't have the energy to make the long walk.

It occurred to me that I didn't know what I would say to the boy, or how he would respond to me. Truth be told, I didn't even know this boy's name, or where in Windhelm he lived, but I have to try.

I must have fallen asleep at some point, because I opened my eyes and I was in a city very different from Whiterun. Everything was kind of dark, and there was a thick layer of snow on the ground.

"Be careful," said the carriage driver as I stepped off. I didn't know if he meant be careful getting off of the carriage or be careful in Windhelm.

I didn't have to look around for too long. A little ways in, I found a little boy and an older woman standing outside a small house.

"Is it true what they say?" asked the little boy. "About Aventus doing the Black Sacrament?"

The older woman sighed. "You shouldn't ask about such things," she said. "Go home, to see your father."

When the boy left, I approached the woman. "I'm sorry to bother you," I said, "but did I hear something about the Black Sacrament?"

"I'm afraid so," she said. "Aventus Aretino, from Riften. Poor boy, his parents died, and he was sent to live at Honorhall Orphanage. He ran away, not that I can blame him, and he's trying to have Grelod the Kind killed. I understand disliking the woman, but murder? It seems a bit extreme."

"Do you- do you think I might be able to talk to him?"

"You could try," the woman said. "I'd rather not get involved."

"That's fine," I said. "Is this his house?"

The woman had already started to leave. "Yes," she said. "It should be unlocked."

I didn't know what I'd do if it wasn't, but luckily the door was unlocked.

"Hello?" I called out. "Hello, Aventus Aretino? "

I heard chanting coming from the dimly lit section of the house; "Sweet mother, sweet mother, send your child on to me, for the sins of the unworthy must be baptised in blood and fear." Aventus was on the floor, surrounded by candles, bones, and nightshade, among other things. "Come on," he moaned, "Why isn't it working?" Then he looked up and saw me.

"Um, hello," I said.

He scrambled to his feet. "You're here! I thought you'd never come!"

"I'm sorry," I said, "but I don't know what you mean."

"You're an assassin from the Dark Brotherhood, of course!" he said excitedly. "I did the thing. With the body, and the...the things. And you're here now! And you'll be able to hear my contract."

I was too surprised to respond.

"You see," Aventus said, "My mother... she died. And I'm all alone now. I was sent to live in Honorhall Orphanage with a woman they call Grelod the Kind. But she ISN'T kind at all. She's a horrible old woman, and I want her dead." He smiled. "That's why you're here."

I shook my head. "I'm really really sorry, but I'm not the Dark Brotherhood."

His smile faded. "Then why are you here?"

Why WAS I here? "Well, I, um..."

He shook his head. "No, It's fine. I understand. I can just keep trying the Black Sacrament."

He started to turn around, but I stopped him. "Wait!" He looked up at me, and I put my hand on his shoulder. :I'm not from the Dark Brotherhood. I've never even killed anyone, but... are you sure about this?"

Aventus nodded.

"Then I'll see what I can do."

He smiled so brightly, his smile lit up his whole face. "Really? You will? Oh, thank you so much! You'd better get going then! Maybe you can make it to Riften before nightfall." He showed me to the door. "Good luck," he said.

"Don't worry about me," I said. "It'll be easy.'

But by the time I got to Riften, I was starting to think that maybe it wouldn't be as easy as I thought. Sure, Grelod was a cruel and abusive woman, but murder was still murder. Before I could change my mind, I bought a dagger from a woman named Grelka and walked to the orphanage.

I remembered where the house was, even after all these years, and managed to slip inside without being noticed. I heard Grelod telling the kids that they'd never be adopted, and that they needed to get to bed this instant. My stomach clenched in anger, and I stepped deeper into the house.

"The children aren't up for adoption," Grelod snapped when she heard me come inside.

"That isn't why I'm here," I said quietly.

Her eyes narrowed. "I remember you," she said. "You ran away from here, didn't you? Well, you have no business here anymore, so get out!" She stormed off to her room, and slammed the door.

Well. Let's try this again.

I followed her, taking care not to alert the kids to my presence, and crept into her room, closing the door behind me.

"What the hell are you still doing here?" she asked angrily.

"I'm sorry, Grelod," I whispered.

"Damn right you should be sorry," she said. "Wasting my time like this. Just who do you think-"

But she didn't get to finish, because I plunged my dagger into her chest.

Her screams echoed through the building, and I heard the kids wake up. I opened the door, blood-stained dagger in hand, and every single child in the orphanage hugged me. I had to untangle myself from them, though, because I needed to get back to Windhelm so I could speak to Aventus.

On the trip there, I was extremely bothered, not because I felt guilty. I felt bothered because I didn't feel guilty at all.

I actually kind of enjoyed it. That was what hurt the most.

In Windhelm, I ran to Aventus' house, and was out of breath by the time I got back.

"Well?" Aventus said. "Is Grelod...you know..."

"Grelod is dead."

"I knew you could do it!" Aventus shouted. "Oh, thank you so much! You've helped not only me, but all of my friends in Riften! Here," he said, pushing a fancy dinner plate into my arms. "This should get you a lot of money! Goodbye, I'll never forget you!"

I simply left. I had nothing more to say. As I walked through the door, though, I heard Aventus say happily, "When I grow up, I want to be an assassin so that I can help kids too!"

"Oh Talos above," I whispered.

What have I done?

(A/N: Okay so I just wanted to say that I won't be posting on the weekends, because I only have computer access at school. Also, If you want to stay updated on the story progress, follow me. or don't. You don't have to, I don't like to beg..._