Stories of Skyim: The Dark Brotherhood.
I want to thank you all for reading my story. I'm glad to have the opprotunity to do somthing so fun! I'm happy for both the wonderful reviews of kindness and the harsh, but fair constructive critisizim. Even the flames are fine.
I don't own Elder Scrolls.
Chapter Three: The sudden death of Grelod the Kind.
Aloven, as it turned out, was a very great guide. I let him lead us through the mountain pass andwe spoke a little about our past. He inquired about my background and my homeland and I did my best to describe Elseweyr: The lush jungle filled with creatures and plants both colorfull and dangerous, the badlands and the sands. I spoke of my family, who fled the rule of the Mane and lived as merchants in the city of Riverhold. I told him of my journey to Skyrim, all the training I had as a merchant and my slight addiction to moonsugar.
He spoke of his life too. Before he came to Skyrim, Aloven lived in the city of Narsis, in Morrowind. Before that, he lived as a blade for hire in Balmora. When the volcano erupted, he fled to the main land and set up a life as a minor adventurer, building his skill as a blademaster and bowman. He eventualy set off to travel Tamriel and her provences moving from Morrowind to Black Marsh and from Elsweyr to Cyrodiil.
When he crossed Pale Pass into Skyrim, he was caught in an ambush involving Imperials and Stormcloaks. The Imperials though that he was a traitor to the Empire and lined him up with the others to the headsmans block in Helgan. Everyone in Skyrim knows what happened then. A huge black dragon swept out of the sky and set the poor town on fire.
Aloven escaped the grasp of the dragon, saved the city of Whiterun, met and trained with the greybeards, escaped the Altmeri Dominion headquarters and now he was on a mission to Riften. Hush hush business from a secret orginisation called...
"The blades" He spoke this name with reverence, "They used to be a very old, very grand order. Of course they lost favor and were nearly whiped out during the last war. I remember them during their prime, when they helped Tevashelle bring down Merunes Dagon."
"Tevashelle...she was the Hero of Cyrodiil. I'm suprised someone knows her name. I thought she craved her privacy."
Aloven blushed, making his cheeks turn a shade of dark blue, "Teva...she is very...was very special to me. I stayed with her for such a long time, but she was one of a dark character."
He stopped and surveyed our surroundings. I could see the wooden watchtowers ahead surounded by birch trees with red leaves. A few guards patrolled the dirt road, carrying shields with crossed daggers.
"Not much farther, just down the road a ways. I wanted to ask you somthing, before we get to the gates." He slowed his pace and I did the same.
"What do you need to know?" I asked.
"What business do you have in Riften? it' not exactly the safest city in Skyrim."
"I have a job there," I lied, "With the meadery."
Avelos nodded, "steady work, that. The whole of Skyrim seems in dire need for mead these days."
We walked a little longer in silence, I could see the stone walls of Riften close by.
"You said somthing about Tevashelle, about her having a dark character." I said.
Avelos noded grimly, "Yes, after her victory she traveled around Cyrodille just to see the sights. There was a fight in an inn and she killed the patron's wife. She was spared for a lifetime in prison when a man paid her bounty. That man brought her into a life of the dark brotherhood. Assasans for hire, you know."
"Yeah, " I replied, "I heard of them."
"Well she found herself a profitable life there, and became quite notorious. She even told me that she was the listiner: the only one who could hear the dark matron. The Night Mother. Of course that was years ago. The whole organisation was rumered to be burned to the ground, and not a trace of the guild remains."
He paused, his expression darkening, "We met with each other when I visited Chedenhal, which was as often as I could. I even planned to buy a home there and never leave. The night I told her I loved her was the night she burned along with the sanctuary."
"I shouln't have brought her up, I'm sorry."
"It's been only two years since the fire, I'm glad I could talk about it," He said softly, "And here we are."
Two guards greeted us at the gate, both clad in in fur and iron armor. The one to our right held out his hand, "You want in the city, I'll need about twenty gold."
"Twenty gold, what for?" I asked, a little surprised. The guards of Windhelm didn't require anything to enter the city.
"For a tour of our beautiful city, of course." Replied the guard.
"This is obviously a shakedown, " Avelos said loudly.
"Alright, keep your voice down. I'll let you inside."
The guard quickly unlocked the gate and opened the doors. When we filed inside, the doors slammed shut behind us. I took in the city: The broken down wooden shacks, the cracked stone walls. Riften smelled like fish and honey, it's streets were lined with beggars calling for gold and buff, scarred men robbing people for their jewles.
Riften was the opposite of beautiful. What have I gotten myself into?
"This is where we go our seperate ways, young Kasirra. Good luck with your job."
"Thank you for the company. I doubt I could have made the trip alone."
He nodded and turned down a dark corner. As soon as he was out of sight, I made my way to the middle of the city where a small group of beggars sat along the bags of goods. One of them looked at me when I aproached.
"I'm looking for Grelod the kind, " I told them.
The one who looked at me, an old nord man in filthy rags, smiled a toothless grin." You got gold?"
"Take one of my arrows. Pure ebony, you could probibly pawn it." I pulled out a single black arrow from my quiver and gave it to the beggar. He examined it briefly and gently touched the tip with his finger. He then ponted to an old weathered home just to the east.
"Thats the orphanage, old Grelog's haunt." Rasped the begger, "Nasty old witch, she spat at me the other day just because I walked in front of her."
I shook my head in disgust, more determined than ever to kill this woman. I left the beggar with his prize and walked along the street and to the old orhanage. I entered, surprised by the warmth of the place. I could hear a high, reedy voice fill the air. I followed the sound to find a wrinkled old woman looming over frightned children.
"And I don't want to hear another word about adoptions. Nobody wants you, nobody needs you. And thats why your here my little gutter snipes. Thats why you'll always be here until you become of age and get thrown into that cold, cruel world out there. Now what do you say?"
All of the children mumbled, "we love you Grelod, thank you for your kindness."
I about took out my bow and sniped the witch right there, but a soft voice interupted my impulse, "Can I help you?"
I turned to see a beautiful brunette with kind eyes , "I'm sorry, I was looking for Grelod, we have business to discuss."
She frowned softly, "Are you talking about adopting a child? Grelod made her stance clear on the subject, she wont let these little ones go. Not since Aventus ran away."
"My business is private, I'm not here to adopt." I said calmly, "I need to speak to her. Alone" I emphasized.
"Oh of course, forgive my curiosity. Grelod rarely recieves visiters. If you'll excuse me." she went about checking in on the children. She spoke kindly to them, gently hugging their sholders in confort. She would be a refreshing change for the kids here. A little hope.
Grelod had left the main room and retired to her bedroom just a few feet away. I crept out of sight and followed close behind her. Her bedroom door opened with a soft creak and I slipped in.
The old witch turned at the sound, glowering at me, "Who the hell are you?"
"I'm a friend of Aventus Arnetino. He asked me to give you somthing." I didn't give her a chance to responed. I drew my bow, notched an arrow and shot her through the chest.
Grelod breathed her last and was still. My contract was complete. I took the gold on her body, just thirty gold pieces.
I think it was natural Khajit luck that the hag didn't make a sound. I told her helper that she demanded privacy. Hopefully they wont notice her death until morning.
The only regret I had about this was the Argonian who helped me out of the cold. With Grelod dead, he can't collect his bounty. I hoped he wouldn't connect the murder to me.
I decided to spend the night at the Bee and Barb. Tomorow I'll make my journey to Windhelm. The Arentino child needs some good news.
A/N: Another chapter down. I've been busy with a lot of stuff, so working on this fanfict was kind of the lower part on my to-do list. I love this story though and I'm going to continue so please read and review.