Authors Note: Okay here's chapter two! I don't know how regularly I'll be updating the story but I will try to make sure to not take to long between chapters. For those who noticed the Dragonbon/Onmund pairing and are wondering how on earth a Nightingale ends up at the College of Winterhold, well keep reading and see.

Chapter Two

The journey to Windhelm was a long but mostly uneventful one. The woods outside Riften were always teeming with bears but they posted far more danger to a lone traveler or trade caravan then they did to the Dragonborn. The two bears who thought they might make a meal of her were brought down by her Nightingale bow before they got within ten feet of Katlyn's horse.

The sky was just beginning to tint with the orange and red of sunset when Katlyn approached the walls of Windhelm. Dismounting in front of the stables she called out to the young man standing nearby, "Hey you, stable hand!"

"Yes, what can I do for you?" he asked approaching her.

"This is Frost. I want him fed, watered, groomed, and in the morning I expect to see him saddled and ready ride by midmorning," Katlyn ordered handing him the reigns. The stable hand made an expression that suggested he didn't like being ordered around by complete strangers but seemed to quickly change his mind when Katlyn held up a small leather purse jingling with coins. "Take good care of him and I'll take care of you." The stable hand quickly grabbed the purse from her hand and immediately began removing Frost's tack. "There's a good lad," Katlyn smirked before heading towards the city gates.

She only ever came to Windhelm for Guild work. Delvin had given her a simple numbers job to be completed at Sadri's Used Wares. Katlyn liked numbers jobs because they were quick, easy, and nearly impossible to mess up. Not that she was in the habit of botching jobs, but just sometimes an easy job with a guaranteed payoff was nice. She was getting to the point where she didn't have to worry much about money anymore. Brynjolf's promise when she joined about the Thieves Guild making her rich was coming true it seemed.

The sun was just starting to dip below the horizon as Katlyn approached Candlehearth Hall. The ride had taken all day and she wanted somewhere to eat some dinner, rest, and wait for the cover of darkness. She also purchased a room for the night so there would be somewhere to rest after her job was finished. Sitting down at the bar, Katlyn removed her Nightingale hood, and made small talk with the innkeeper while she waited for her dinner. Elda Early-Dawn was just telling her about how Candlehearth Hall got its name when the waitress placed a steaming bowl of stew, a piece of bread, and a small tankard of ale on the bar before her. "Thanks," said Katlyn taking a bite of the bread, "so have you heard any good rumors lately?"

"There's been talk of a little boy in the city, name of Aventus Aretino. Get this – he's been trying to contact the Dark Brotherhood. Foolish lad. . . ."

Katlyn raised an eyebrow, "What business does a little boy have with the Dark Brotherhood?" she asked.

"I have no idea, bus as far as I'm aware the Dark Brotherhood has only one kind of business." Elda replied walking away over to the just vacated table in the far corner and began wiping it down.

Katlyn's curiosity was well and truly piqued at this bit of news. She'd heard of the Dark Brotherhood of course but hadn't personally had any dealing with any of their members and preferred to keep it that way. She was a master thief, not a murder. But the mention of a child desperate enough to seek their help was not something you heard about every day. After her Guild business was done Katlyn decided to stop by the Arentino house just to see what was going on.

As it was nearing midnight Katlyn tucked her hood and mask over her face, picked up her bow, and silently slipped out the door. Her boots made no sound on the cobblestone as she moved through the city's alleys and streets. She didn't make many trips to Windhelm and didn't know the layout as well as most cities but after a short time she found sign for Sadri's Used Wares. The lock was picked in a matter of seconds and after a quick glance around to make sure there were no city guards in site, Katlyn entered the building in a stealthy crouch. Only mere minutes later she emerged her work completed. "Like taking candy from a baby," She thought triumphantly. Her black cloak flared behind her as she quickly spun and headed back the way she came. Now to find this Adventus kid. . . .

She wandered the streets looking for the house. Arentino didn't sound like a Dunmer name so Katlyn figured it had to be on the other side of the city outside the Grey Quarter. One of the main reasons she didn't like coming to Windhelm was the laws set down by Ulfric Stormcloak against people of non-Nord decent. Even though she was a Nord herself, the whole Stormcloak rebellion left a bad taste in her mouth and preferred to stay as far away from the Stormcloaks and their leader as possible. Katlyn could understand why having your religious freedoms suppressed was unacceptable to many of Skyrim's people, but in Katlyn's opinion the "Skyrim is for the Nords," mantra was total horse shit. There was no reason the Dunmer or any of the other races shouldn't be allowed to intermingle and live peacefully within Skyrim. "Maybe I should join the Imperial Legion," Katlyn thought to herself as she walked, "I certainly am sounding like one. Ah! Here it is!" She stopped in front of the Arentino residence.

Once again casting a glance around for wandering guards Katlyn proceeded to pick the lock and entered the Arentino residence. Immediately the sounds of muffled rhythmic chanting could be heard coming from the upstairs. As she silently ascended the stairs the words became clear.

"Sweet Mother, sweet Mother, send your child unto me for the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in blood and fear" Katlyns eyebrows skyrocketed as she realized it was indeed a child's voice speaking. Crouching she rounded the corner and the owner of the voice came into view. The boy was kneeling over a skeleton in a circle of candles. An old book, a deathbell flower, a nightshade flower, a skull, and something that looked shockingly like a human heart were also scattered inside the circle. Katlyn had seen many disturbing things in her travels throughout Skyrim but couldn't think of a single one that disturbed her more than the scene taking place in front of her.

"Grelod you old crone you'll get what you deserve! The Dark Brotherhood will see to that!" Aventus said angrily hitting the floor. Still crouching silently Katlyn tried to decide what to do. Should she reveal herself and intervene? Maybe try to talk some sense into the boy or should she leave him and not interfere with the Dark Brotherhood's work? While she deliberated in the shadows Aventus continued his chanting. "No", she decided, "I'll see what I can do for the boy. A child that young shouldn't be having anything to do with the Dark Brotherhood. Hell, I'm the Dragonborn and a Master Thief and I don't want anything to do with those people."

Katlyn took a step forward. "Hey kid, are you alright?"

"Finally my prayers have been answered!" Aventus cried in delight noticing Katlyn for the first time. "It worked! I knew you'd come I just knew it! I did the Black Sacrament, over and over. With the body, and the . . . things. And then you came! An assassin from the Dark Brotherhood!"

"Woah, woah, woah. I'm sorry kid, but I'm not who you think I am," Katlyn said a half step backward her hands rising defensively.

"of course you are! I prayed, and you came, and now you'll accept my contract!" Aventus insisted desperately. Katlyn supposed it was the black Nightingale armor she was wearing that made him think she was Dark Brotherhood.

"Contract?" Katlyn asked suddenly feeling very uncomfortable with the whole situation.

My mother, she . . .. she died. I, I'm all alone now. So they sent me to that terrible orphanage in Riften. Honorhall. The headmistress is an evil, cruel woman. They call her Grelod the Kind. But she's not kind. She's terrible! To all of us!" Aventus's voice broke. He took a breath and continued, "So I ran away and came home and performed the Black Sacrament. Now you're here! And you can kill Grelod the Kind!" As he was speaking Katlyn felt her stomach sink, having spent so much time living in Riften she knew exactly who Aventus was talking about. But murder? Killing an innocent in cold blood? Katlyn didn't know if she could do that. Oh she'd killed before, certainly: bandits, vampires, and most recently Mercer Frey. But those were all people who had attacked her first. Kill or be killed. Suddenly realizing that Aventus was looking at her expecting an answer, Katlyn gave a brief nod of acknowledgement not trusting herself to speak and turned to leave.

The crisp night air was welcome on her face as Katlyn stepped back into the street. She took a few deep breaths trying to decide what she should do. Truly she had no idea. She didn't even know if she could bring herself to do as Aventus asked. Even if she did, what would happen if the Dark Brotherhood did find out? That could be very bad for her. She'd have to think it over on the ride back to Riften tomorrow. It was now nearly three in the morning but even as she headed back towards Candlehearth Hall, she knew she would find no rest that night.

~~~~

Yay chapter two! Hope you guys are enjoying the story. Feedback and critiques would be most appreciated 3