A/N: As always, a big thanks to all my readers out there! Here's chapter 26! Hope you enjoy!


Chapter 26: Baffled

Astrid watched as the silver-haired Nord approached her. His eyes were so intense and cold, and yet his smile was so charming and infectious that she felt herself grinning like a small child. It actually alarmed her just how much of a hold this complete stranger had over her emotions. She couldn't help but to remember the way he'd praised her for killing the monster, and how free and relieved that had made her feel inside that night. In the midst of her darkness and despair, this person she barely knew had given her a tiny inkling of hope and happiness. She then fell silent, watching and waiting for him to speak.

"I see you've made it back in one piece." he spoke, his voice rugged and deep, causing Astrid's heart to beat just a bit faster as it hit her ears. What was it with this fellow? Why did she suddenly feel so alive in this moment?

"Yeah...I'm sure it wasn't much of a feat, given that my first contract was practically handed over to me..." she shrugged, feeling suddenly small and modest in his presence. Surely this beast of a man had taken many lives and had countless contracts. Her rookie contract was probably nothing to him.

"You'd be surprised how many meatheads get their asses killed the first go. I'd say you're doin' pretty good, compared to them." he replied, smirking.

Astrid smiled, averting her eyes from his unwavering gaze. There was just something about the way he looked at her - much like the way he had in the Ratway the first time - it felt as if she'd known him a lifetime. Astrid found herself feeling quite uncomfortable, so she attempted to remain as cool on the exterior as possible. She wasn't used to such overwhelming sensations flooding her in such a way, and that was a bit unsettling.

"If you say so..." she folded her arms, trying not to fidget about. The last thing she wanted this man to know was what a strange effect he had on her. "So, were you on a contract or...?" she began, secretly wondering if this man was the Arnbjorn fellow the other assassins had spoken of.

"I was. Not now." he answered in a terse manner, not giving her much information to go on. She had a terrible feeling that this could be him, and that didn't sit well with her. He was the last person she'd wanted to stab, and it was more than likely that she'd done just that during her abduction.

Astrid sighed quietly, not being able to keep the thought to herself any longer. "Are you...?"

"The name's Arnbjorn. You must be Astrid." he took another step toward her, as she cringed inside, feeling more awkward than ever.

"Oh, gods..." she sighed, rubbing her forehead. "You were the man I attacked, weren't you?"

"Heh. You've got a damned good grip. I had to pry that blasted dagger out of your hand." he chuckled, seeming more amused than anything.

"Yeah, well I wasn't exactly given a heads up that I was going to be abducted, if you get my drift." Astrid replied, feeling somehow embarrassed for harming him in such a way. Why she felt this way, she had not the slightest idea. It wasn't as if she'd asked those assassins to throw a hood over her face and run off with her.

"Remind me to tell you next time." he said, with just as much sarcasm as she'd thrown at him. Caught off guard by his remark, she glanced up to see that he still wore a slight grin. Automatically, she felt her lips curve up again in response. "C'mon. We're both beginning to look like a couple of drowned rats out here." he spoke, motioning for Astrid to follow him out of the rain and back to the sanctuary.


"So, what were you doing out there? You said you weren't on a contract..." Astrid inquired, sipping wine from a tankard as she glanced up at Arnbjorn, who seated himself beside her at the dining table.

"I'm pretty sure you're aware of what I am by now. I'll give you three guesses." he smirked, drinking straight from the bottle.

"Ah..." Astrid raised a brow, realizing he'd been on a nightly prowl. She then remembered the times when she'd lay in bed at night in the farmhouse, listening to his haunting howls echo in the distance. She recalled the uncanny way her heartbeat would intensify, her skin would tingle, and how she felt somehow envious of the precious, fearsome power he held. Astrid traced the mouth of her tankard with her finger, remembering just how beautifully the blood from his fresh kill sparkled in the moonlight. "Did you...go there tonight?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Where?" Arnbjorn grunted, curiosity in his tone.

Astrid faintly smiled, her insides a mixture of euphoric feelings and confusion in the Nord's presence. She couldn't help but feel bewildered by her own deep desire to find out just why he'd been hanging around there. True, he found easy prey in Reiner's livestock, but he hadn't always been hunting. "The old farmhouse." she replied, hoping for an answer to satisfy her yearning.

However, she began to feel even more flustered when Arnbjorn began to fidget and appear uneasy. He gazed off in the distance, as if his mind had somehow wandered far away from that moment. Quickly, he took another large swig from the bottle. "Nah...Figured I'd stay local this time. No use draggin' my ass all the way to Riften right after a contract."

"I see..." Astrid nearly sighed, feeling slightly disappointed that he didn't say something about the fact that she wasn't there anymore. Then she began to mentally scold herself for such silly thoughts. Of course he only went there to hunt! It had nothing to do with seeing her! However, that didn't seem to quiet her strange attraction to him, or her insane hope that he'd been lurking in the shadows to watch her from time to time. Now feeling like a complete fool, she simply switched her mind back to the business at hand. "I guess I'd better go see Zirath. I still need to pay him half of my profits..." she mumbled, standing from her seat.

To her surprise, Arnbjorn's expression grew into one of displeasure. "Figures." he blurted out to himself.

Astrid furrowed her brow, feeling baffled. "What?"

"Looks like our fearless leader started with that split-the-profits bullshit again. Happens everytime our contracts get scarce - and that's pretty damn often." he explained bluntly, not holding back on his thoughts about Zirath. Astrid had to admit, Arnbjorn seemed very bold, and that was something that only intensified her already bewildering emotions. However, she had not the slightest idea why he'd be angry at Zirath for a lack of contracts. Perhaps when she grew more aquainted with the inner-workings of the Dark Brotherhood, she'd find out more, she mused.

"Is this something I should be concerned about?" Astrid inquired, raising an eyebrow. "Or do you just dislike him?"

Arnbjorn finished the rest of the wine, before standing and beginning to leave her to her business. "No use worrying. Nothing you can do about it, anyway. As far as your second question goes - no, I don't like him." he grumbled, before stepping out of her sight. Not only was Arnbjorn mysterious, but so was his particular problem with their leader. Perhaps, in time, she'd find out more. Until then, she figured she would need to adhere to her leader's instructions. Zirath had given her the gift of joining the Dark Brotherhood, after all, and for that she was truly grateful - grateful enough to follow his rules, even. That, in and of itself, was completely and utterly baffling.


"Back so quickly? Such remarkable timing, Astrid..." Zirath purred, as Astrid handed him half of her earnings. He beheld the coin purse, eyeing it with a hungry look in his crimson eyes, before despositing in inside of his desk.

"Well, it wasn't like I had far to go..." Astrid shrugged casually, secretly elated by his praise. It was such a wonderful rush to hear someone compliment her ability to slay another human being.

Zirath stood tall, clasping his hands behind his back and pacing about. "As true as that may be, I'm afraid you don't realize how many new initiates do not return from their first contracts. Easy or not, what we do for a living is quite dangerous. You not only survived - you excelled. I see big things for you in the future...should you listen closely to my word, that is..."

Astrid paused a moment as she briefly recalled something her client had mentioned. "The man who sought our services - he mentioned some sort of ritual he'd performed..."

"Ah, the Black Sacrament. Yes, though we don't actually work by the rules most other sanctuaries are accustomed to working under, our potential clients do not realize this. That ritual is an ancient one in which a desperate soul summons our kind. The tormented being will gather various items and pray to the Night Mother, our beloved matron, who will then relay the message to our Listener. The Listener will learn of our contracts through that dark, divine power." he explained, though Astrid still found herself feeling bewildered.

"Who is our Listener? Is that you?" she asked, hoping to learn more.

Zirath simply smiled, chuckling. "No. As I mentioned, we do not operate as the other sanctuaries do. Our Listener resides in Cyrodiil, as do our remaining families. The body of the Night Mother rests there, as well. However, as much as I respect our Unholy Matron and the power she wields, I am the leader here. You could say we're a bit unorthodox here. I have my own methods, and those work quite splendidly."

"So who exactly is this Night Mother-" Astrid began, before being interrupted by the Dunmer.

"I'm very sure Babette would be more than happy to fill you in on those insignificant details. Unfortunately, I have my own duties to tend to, and I have little time to educate you on our history. One would most likely benefit from learning more about our family, I suppose. However, those ways are not our ways. I am ruler here. Do not forget that, my sister." Zirath remarked, as he returned to his desk, writing something on a blank piece of parchment.

Astrid could feel a strange tension in the room, as if she'd spoken of something that Zirath wasn't very fond of. Perhaps she would have a little chat with Babette to help clear up such confusing matters.

"I guess I'll be going now..." she muttered, not wanting to linger around and frustrate her leader any further. He simply smiled, nodding in agreement with her decision to leave.

As she turned to leave, she heard his silky voice one final time. "Astrid..."

"Yes?" she asked, stopping dead in her tracks.

"You should be proud of your accomplishments tonight. You've done beautifully..." he commented, causing her to feel that light, free feeling inside once more. She couldn't help but to appreciate his kindness, despite Arnbjorn's opinion of him.

Astrid smiled, as a warm feeling filled her insides. "Thank you." she replied softly, closing his door behind her.