Thanks once more for your thoughts everyone :D And as a present, I managed to update a little bit faster :P I think I replied to everyone, so for those without accounts:
-G32: Thank you so much :) I apologise for the length between chapters, so I hope this one makes up for it :)
-InuGhost: hehehe yeah, I was going to add a little Cicero while they were 'sparring', but decided to leave it out XD Thanks for reviewing once more, it means alot :)
-Guest: LOL! I am not fond of Ulfric myself, but killing him now would make for a short story ;D Rolff on the other hand...XD
-Mirelurk: Nope, just a name I thought of :P One heck of a coincidence though, I have to say :D I like to think it went well with Morgan and I couldn't think of any other name I might like XDDDDDD
Lucien waited until he was certain that the Dragonborn was sleeping (or pretending to sleep, he was never sure whether vampires slept like mortals did) before he sought out the current leader of the Dark Brotherhood. As he had anticipated, Astrid was sitting at a battered table and idly reading a novel he caught the name of the book, 'A Lusty Argonian Maid', and he smirked a little before arranging his face into a calm expression.
"Thank you for bringing me back," he rumbled softly.
Astrid jumped a little and closed the book hastily as she looked over her shoulder. She gave a wan smile and nodded to him.
"It seemed best if you were around more often as things stand," Astrid replied.
"Indeed," Lucien agreed as he sat down opposite her, "and now that we are alone, I have information of vital importance for you."
"From who…the Night Mother?" Astrid whispered.
Lucien merely nodded before speaking. He understood her slight paranoia. She was looking out for any possible threat, and he couldn't fault her for that.
"Yes. She has a task for us. She told me to inform you that you will need to increase our numbers somehow, as well as our gold supply. The Unholy Matron also knows that this will not occur overnight, so there is no set time limit."
"But the sooner we are back in full strength, the better," Astrid said quietly.
"Exactly. That is why she also told me that you are to send Morgan to a contract. And on her own."
"A contract? From who? And more importantly, who is the target?"
Lucien grinned wickedly.
"The contact is a young girl who was slighted by the target…she hated this person so much, she killed a city guard in Solitude so that she could attempt a Black Sacrament."
"Interesting. And the target?"
"The Night Mother never said. She assumes that Morgan would find out when she gets there to meet the contact."
"We have to accept then, we are going nowhere at the moment…and her skills are already good enough for what we do. My only concern is where her loyalties will lie in the future."
"She will remain faithful to the Dark Brotherhood Astrid, I am certain of it."
Astrid said nothing as she idly poked the dirt from under her fingernails with a steel dagger before looking up at Lucien again.
"Anything else?"
"Yes. The Night Mother also wishes for Morgan's mother to be safely returned to her daughter. To do this, she asked to send someone to Winterhold where a vampire Dunmer is said to be residing, and ask for her help."
"That's Brelyna. She gave up her mortality in exchange for saving Morgan's life once," Astrid explained as she spotted Lucien's slightly furrowed forehead. "I have no idea why she would help us, but she would certainly help Morgan."
"One last thing. The Night Mother asked to not tell Morgan about going to rescue her mother just yet. I think she wishes for Morgan to concentrate on killing for our Family." Lucien finished.
Astrid ran her dagger along the battered wood, thinking hard. This was a large twist for her to accept. But she knew that everything was changing again in the Dark Brotherhood. She was sure that they would recover in time, but she also knew that it was a gamble to ask Morgan to help them in such a manner…after all, she was the heroine of Skyrim.
"Thank you Lucien. I better go and send her to her first contract."
"Of course," Lucien said simply and watched as the blonde Nord walked away. He then decided to follow her to make certain he was no longer needed.
"Morgan?"
Morgan looked up from sharpening her glass daggers to see Astrid standing at the door. She smiled and placed the daggers on the grinder and stood up, wiping her hands with a rag as she walked over.
"Glad to see you are settling in well….apologies for the state of the Sanctuary," Astrid said as she motioned for Morgan to sit beside her on the small bench nearby.
"It's safer than most places of Skyrim would be," Morgan said softly as she sat down.
"Good point. I need to be blunt Morgan. We have only one contract…we heard a rumour that someone in Solitude performed the Black Sacrament. The ritual that used to…."
"I know what the ritual is," Morgan cut in softly, "There was a house on Bruma that no-one ever used for over two hundred years because of a past assassination attempt…a beggar used a guards body to try and contact the Dark Brotherhood once."
"Well, I won't need to go into details," Astrid replied.
"Sorry for butting in…you were saying?" Morgan prompted.
"Yes, there is a rumour that someone prayed to the Night Mother…and seeing as it is most likely a simple matter, I would like to offer this first contract to you."
Morgan blinked a few times, thinking it through. She was already liking the idea of staying with the small group of assassins. She couldn't explain why, but she felt as though she belonged here. The Companions didn't really interest her, as they spent half their time drinking and the other half fighting….and while she enjoyed the drinking and fighting parts, she felt as though they were lacking something…
"I have been eager to get started," Morgan admitted.
"Good. There is no time limit of course, but best to be there as fast as possible…we don't want to lose a contract at such a…weak moment," Astrid said carefully.
"I will try to not let you down," Morgan replied as she cocked her head. "and who is the person I am looking for?"
"A young woman. All we know is she will be waiting at the Winking Skeever upstairs. Around midnight I believe."
Morgan nodded and stood up.
"I will get everything ready then."
"One more thing. I have a gift for you. Follow me."
Morgan did as instructed, and followed Astrid deeper into the Sanctuary, coming to a room that held battered manacles and various rusted torture apparatus.
"If you wanted to tie me up, you only had to ask," Morgan laughed.
Astrid hid a smile, although her amused eyes gave her away.
"Here," she said as she handed Morgan a wrapped up bundle.
"Lots of rags?"
"I can see Serana is the smarter one of the relationship. Open it," Astrid insisted with a smirk.
Morgan chuckled, glad to see Astrid did have a sense of humour. She then opened up the bundle and raised her eyebrow at what she saw.
She was familiar with what the Dark Brotherhood wore as armour, but the leather set she had been handed was much more pleasing to the eye as well as having a much stronger set of enchantments. The boots were enchanted with muffling and stealth, the gloves were enchanted to increase archery and the use of small daggers.
The cuirass was what got her attention the most though. This was enchanted with magic resistance as well as fortifying magicka. It was shimmering black all over, and the only hint of red was the inside of the material, which sparkled in the soft torchlight.
"Cicero brought it with him from Cyrodiil. It was the only set left in the Cheydinhal Sanctuary and he had the presence of mind to take it with him….it seems he is not as big a fool as what I believed him to be," Astrid explained.
"It's…wonderful. Thank you."
"Try it on and lets see what the others think," Astrid suggested as she left the room.
Morgan grinned as she started to undress, her older vampire armour sliding off her frame smoothly.
I hope it looks better than standard leather armour.
"Fuck me sideways and call me a skeever," Serana whispered.
"Is that even possible? Cicero has never heard a skeever being fu…."
Cicero's mumblings cut off when Morgan entered the dining hall. Nazir dropped the ladle onto the pot of broth he was preparing and didn't even notice that the smoke was beginning to increase.
Astrid simply smiled a little as Morgan walked further into the room, and she also noted that Lucien was looking at her as if lost in memory.
"It fits quite nicely," Morgan said, unaware of the effect she was having.
"Understatement of the last thousand years," Serana replied as she greedily admired her curves.
Serana licked her lips as she observed her lover. A shimmering black assassins outfit, a small skirt with leather leggings underneath, small pads on her elbows and kneecaps which were flexible and allowed a person to move freely….and silently.
Morgan noticed how Serana wasn't blinking and she shrugged.
"I bet you would look better in it," she said with a wink.
Serana grinned at her before blinking rapidly a few times.
"That's better."
Morgan laughed as she picked up the scolding hot ladle from the pot and froze it with an ice spell before gently using it to close Nazir's mouth.
"You could have caught a dragon in your mouth just then Nazir," she told him playfully.
Nazir took the cold ladle from her as she walked past, and averted his eyes from her figure.
With difficulty.
Lucien shook his head in wry amusement.
Of all the armours that would survive over the years, it would be hers.
There was no question that it was Lucinda's very own personalised armour. She had taken great care in making the enchantments work, and even more care had been taken in keeping the armour intact over the years. It still looked new, and the fact that it fitted Lucinda's most recent descendant was obviously an inside joke among what he liked to call the 'blasted daedra'.
Or maybe our beloved Night Mother made sure it survived somehow. I wouldn't put anything past her.
He continued to watch as Morganlaughed at something that Serana had whispered to her as she embraced her, and so he was taken aback when Morgan turned over he shoulder and smiled at him.
"I could do with an escort to Solitude. Maybe tell me more about the Dark Brotherhood. Fancy taking a trip Mr LaChance?"
Lucien almost laughed at that moniker. Lucinda had said something very similar the first time he had talked to her directly…
"You sleep rather soundly for a murderer. That is good. You will need a clear conscience for what I am about to propose."
Lucinda shivered as she sat upright in her small bed. She brought her knees together and straightened her nightdress down before reaching back to grip the handle of the small steel dagger under her pillow.
"And you will not need that my child. I come bearing no desire to hurt you. In fact, I have an offer to make."
Her demeanour changed almost instantly.
"Who are you?"
Her question was more curiosity than fear, and Lucien had to admire her control. Sometimes, when he appeared before a potential child of Sithis, they would run, or even fight in total fear. But this small Breton just sat there as she moved her hand away from her pillow and rested them on her knees, her eyes watching his face and hands quickly.
Always watching, always waiting for a time to strike, flee or even converse…a good start, Lucien told himself as he cleared his throat.
"I am Lucien LaChance, a Speaker for the Dark Brotherhood. And you, you are a killer. A taker of life. A harvester of souls. Your work, your killing of the bandits, pleases the Night Mother. And so, I come to you with an offering. An opportunity... to join our rather unique family."
Lucinda gasped a little but said nothing. She knew of the Dark Brotherhood, her father had told her stories about them to keep her temper under control, saying they would come for her if she attempted to fry anyone with the magic she was using.
She also cleared her throat, and hoped that this powerful man who had crept into her ruined home so silently wouldn't think she was being ignorant by staying silent.
"Please continue, Mr LaChance."
Lucien came back to the present to find everyone was staring at him.
"Annnnnnnd! HE'S ALIIIIIIVE!" Cicero yelled before giggling. "Oh silly Cicero, how can the spectre be alive when he is not?"
Lucien huffed and looked away from the jester, who was now cart wheeling around the room at a speed which rivalled that of a stabbed rabbit.
"Are you well?" Morgan asked him softly.
Lucien nodded.
"Forgive me, I was….lost in memories. But to answer your question, I would accompany you, should Astrid allow it…"
Astrid just nodded.
"Of course you may. I think it best if you told her what she needs to know as you travel. Besides, I don't think you should be asking me for orders such as that."
"You are wrong in that regard Matron," Lucien replied. "You are still leader of the Dark Brotherhood until the Unholy Matron decides otherwise. Until then, unless an order breaks one of the Tenets, I will do as you ask."
"Th…thank you Lucien." Astrid said quietly.
Lucien nodded back at her respectfully and walked over to the Dragonborn, who was just releasing herself from what looked like the Kiss of Death from Serana.
"You take care. And for fuck's sake, don't get arrested," Serana said sternly.
"I'll be careful. And I will have Lucien to make sure I don't do anything rash."
"You can be sure of that My Lady," Lucien rumbled in Serana's direction.
Serana laughed as she ran her fingers along Morgan's lips gently.
"Just come back safe."
"I will. I promise," Morgan muttered as she slammed her lips into Serana's for a bruising kiss before releasing her.
"Now that is what I call a promise…and Nazir, your mouth is open again," Serana chortled as Nazir slammed his mouth shut and frowned at the sight of the now ruined broth.
Morgan nodded as she made sure that her black hood was pulled over he face, smiling as the Night Eye and the water breathing enchantments took hold.
"Excellent. No-one will know your identity," Lucien observed.
"Here. Just in case!" Babette yelled as she scampered over to pass a dozen bottles of blood into Morgan's small knapsack.
"Is there nothing you cannot do?" Morgan grinned as she gave the small unchild a hug.
"Probably not," Babette grinned, her fangs peeking out of her mouth, "Good hunting sister."
"Be back soon," Morgan said as she walked up the steps, Lucien following her a short distance behind.
Serana heard the door open, she then felt the cold sea breeze rush through the room and then sighed as the door slammed shut once more. She felt more alone than ever, and it was only when Babette placed her hand into hers that she looked at the other vampire.
"She will be back," Babette said simply.
Serana nodded.
"What is there for me to do?" she asked Astrid.
Astrid smiled, although it looked forced.
"I have something for you to do as well. Not a contract, but something just as important. I was told not to tell Morgan of this, as she might react to it badly."
"I…understand. As long as this will not affect her friendship with anyone…." Serana warned.
"You misunderstand me. I apologise. I wish for you to got to Winterhold and look for a Dunmer vampire like yourself."
"What do you need with Brelyna? She belongs in the College," Serana asked.
"We need to get Morgan's mother free. But to do that, we need a few allies and people who can take care of themselves should thing's go wrong. And Brelyna seems to be a good place to ask for help."
"And how do I ask her this? I doubt she will like the fact that we are in your organisation."
"Tell her the truth. Ask for her help because Lilith's life is in the balance…and if she were to die…..imagine how Morgan would react."
"Death…everywhere. A few dragons at her command. Her blood more potent than even that of my fathers," Serana whispered.
"Now you see the stakes we are truly playing. I am not asking you to lie to Morgan or anyone else Serana. But I am asking for your help. Tell her anyway you can, and I will back you up. But we need help and fast."
Serana nodded and squeezed Babette's hand before looking up at the Nord, a serious expression on her face.
"You're right. I just hope that Morgan stays out of trouble while I am gone."
"You wont be alone. I will go too!" Babette said with a smile.
"What about Gabriella?"
"I can take care of her. Babette has already given her the last of the antidote she needs. She just needs to be watched and receive regular intakes of water, is that right Babette?"
Babette smiled.
"And here I was, thinking you would never be a good alchemist and healer. She is right Serana, Gabriella will wake any day now."
"And I can try and clear this place up a little…and get rid of that stinking troll in the cave system while I am at it," Nazir said.
"Get some fat for me!" Babette asked playfully.
Nazir sniggered and nodded to that request.
"And Cicero will look after Mother! And pick flowers for the unchild! Or is it for Nazir…I can never remember…"
Serana giggled as Nazir gave Cicero a sour look and then grinned at Astrid.
"Okay, we better get started then. I, for one, do not want to tangle with a pissed off Morgan."
"I think we can all agree on that," Astrid agreed as she walked away to join Nazir.
Serana looked down at Babette, who grinned at her.
"This is going to be so much fun!"
Serana smiled. She had a feeling that Babette may be right once again.