Thanks to everyone who read the last chapter, as well as those who reviewed :D

Onto the story! Hope you like it :D

"Unholy Matron, I am at your command."

Morgan knelt before the coffin of the Night Mother and smiled when she felt Her embrace. Only her mother and Serana could match the love she felt for her at that moment.

"It is time, Listener. It is time for the Dark Brotherhood to be known once more."

"What is your will, My Lady?"

"You are to strengthen our ranks. Even with you and the Daughter of Coldharbour, we remain at a disadvantage. Any future contracts will come in time, but this is to be your highest priority my Listener."

"I understand. Who are the ones I should seek?"

Morgan heard the Night Mother chuckle.

"I have many children awaiting a chance to join our organisation. You only need hear their cries. But there are two who I wish to join as soon as possible. The first is a Breton like yourself. She currently lies in Solitude's jail for a guard's murder after he forced himself on her. She may have gotten away with the jail sentence had she not been laughing as she stabbed him."

"And the other?"

"There is an Orc residing inside Falkreath. Golag Mo-Grub is his name. He is a talented blacksmith and is also a wanted man back in Anvil. Bring them here my Listener."

"As you command, My Lady."

"Good. I would ask you to retrieve the Breton girl. The Orc can be collected by anyone you choose."

Morgan nodded.

"It will be done, My Lady."

Morgan felt the Night Mother's presence leave her mind and body and she stood up, turning around and grinning at the people assembled there.

"We have a lot of work to do everyone," she said softly.

"I think they will need more details than that, Listener," Lucien spoke up, an amused tone in his voice.

"We are to bolster our ranks. The Night Mother has chosen two people already but she also hinted that we will still need more."

"Who are they?" Astrid asked curiously.

"A Breton girl in Solitude, currently awaiting sentence for killing a guard. The other is an Orc in Falkreath….I was asked to collect the girl. Anyone else who wishes to fetch our other soon to be Brother is welcome to do so."

"I will go with you," Serana smiled.

"I will go for the Orc," Astrid said. "I had heard a few rumours about a would be assassin in that area but I never had enough information to follow it up."

Morgan nodded.

"Are you sure you wish to travel alone?"

"I'll go with her," Babette piped up.

"Fine. Brelyna, Nazir, Cicero. Take care of my mother while I am gone."

Morgan smirked as her mother blushed.

"You mentioned others may become assassins?" Lucien said after a few moments of comfortable silence.

"The Unholy matron only said I would 'hear their cries'."

"Tavern owners are a good source for rumours," Astrid suggested. "They would know of anyone who acted 'strangely'"

"That's a great suggestion, thank you Astrid."

Morgan smiled at her mother, who smiled back at her. She felt whole again.

Now its time I do what I do best. Pissing off Ulfric and killing people.

"Let's get to work everyone. Astrid, Babette. Be careful and safe travels."

"Keep an eye on her Serana," Lilith said with a sly smile.

Serana smirked and nodded.

Morgan watched as they all began to disperse, and looked back at the Night Mother.

I will not let you down, My Lady.

"Falkreath is such a hole," Babette muttered as she looked around.

Astrid nodded. Falkreath wasn't exactly a bustling village, but it had seemed to have taken a dive in recent times. Many of the buildings were in need of repairs, with small logs broken off in places and even burn marks on most of the structures.

"Fucking dragons," a passer-by spat as he stalked past the two of them, having noticed what they were looking at. "Every day a dragon appears, sets something on fire, and then buggers off. If I didn't know better, I would say it was looking for someone."

"Like the Dragonborn?" Astrid suggested, with a sideways glance at her fellow Sister.

"Aye, figured it would involve her. What the dragon wants with her is beyond me. Anyway, better get inside before the vampires come out…we have had problems with them recently as well. Good evening miss."

Astrid nodded in thanks and the caught Babette's smirk.

"I think someone has an admirer," the unchild grinned.

"I think someone is blood drunk again," Astrid retorted with a smile. Then she frowned. "A dragon that wants to catch Morgan's attention…and then vampires suddenly attacking once more? I thought Morgan had solved the vampire issues?"

"There are more vampires that are not involved with the Volkihar clan," Babette reasoned. "Maybe it's a small nest of them moving into the area…it could prove useful for our goals."

"You are suggesting we find and ask the vampires for an alliance?"

"Why not? It was what the Dark Brotherhood offered me all those years ago."

"It may be worth investigating…but let us retrieve our newest member first, hmmm?"

Babette nodded and the two of them walked into the Dead Man's Drink tavern and they both wrinkled their noses at the stench of stale ale, vomit and various other odours.

"Ugh, let's make this quick," Astrid muttered as she walked to the barkeep. Babette stayed in the shadows and watched everyone, sensing their heartbeats and their states of alertness.

"What can I get you darling?"

Astrid fought the urge to plunge her ebony dagger in the man's gut and forced a smile.

"I need information on someone."

"And who would that be?" he leered, looking at her chest for a short while before meeting her gaze.

Filthy pig. Maybe I should kill you tonight.

"An Orc is staying here somewhere. He is a good friend of mine and I worry for his safety."

"The only orc I know if is the one that stays in that small log cabin on the hillside. He never drinks here darling. Now, is there anything….else, I can get you?"

"No, thank you," Astrid purred before walking away, fighting the urge to add more vomit to the room.

"Can we go?" Babette asked the moment Astrid found her.

Astrid nodded.

"Good, some of this lot badly need a wash," the vampire whispered, pulling a face.

Astrid placed her arm round her and they left the tavern, maintaining their disguises as mother and daughter.

"Well, well, aren't you a fine looking thing."

The Jarl of Falkreath. Siddgeir. Morgan said he is the slimiest snake ever to have lived and should need a good ventilating with a sword….I have to say, I agree with her assessment, Astrid thought as she took in the Jarl's appearance. Young and stupid. Spoiled and clueless. No wonder this place is going downhill fast. His father may be a Stormcloak sympathiser but at least he never let the place fall into ruin.

"I am," Astrid agreed, "And I am also taken, My Jarl. My apologies."

"Who is the lucky person to have such a fine looking thing as yourself?"

Keep my blade sheathed. I don't want to clean shit off the dagger.

"You wouldn't know her. She lives in Dragon Bridge," she lied smoothly.

"So explain why you have such a…pale looking daughter…"

"I'm adopted," Babette said in an impressive impression of a ten year old girl. "This is my new mommy after dragons killed my last one. She took me in with her wife and I have never been happier."

Siddgeir pulled a face of disgust and nodded at the two of them before stalking back inside the longhouse. Astrid sighed with relief and noted that Babette had hissed slightly.

"Morgan was definitely right about him," Babette murmured as they continued to walk, the log cabin now in view.

"Surprised she never Shouted him apart," Astrid replied with a small smile.

The two of them eventually reached their destination and Astrid knocked on the door. Which was wrenched open, a sturdy steel battleaxe heading for her head….

"Good to see you again Morgan," Jarl Elisif breathed as she watched the Dragonborn appear into view. She took another breath and tried to control her racing heart. She would never admit this to her, but she did have a crush on the woman who had saved Skyrim. She still thought of her late husband of course, and she knew that her crush wouldn't last very long.

But every time I see her, my heart races and my body shivers as though the room has been submerged in water.

"It's a pleasure to see you once more, My Jarl," Morgan replied, kneeling in front of the young Jarl.

Elisif stood and stood over the vampire Dragonborn, noting her vampire companion was also kneeling next to her.

I need to control myself. I need to fight the urge to throw her to the ground and kiss her.

"Rise, please. You are my friend after all. Both of you are."

"Just thought I would follow protocol for once," Morgan beamed as she stood up.

Elisif managed to stifle the giggle but only just.

"Yes, it wouldn't be the first time would it?" Elisif smiled back, gently taking Morgan and Serana's hands in hers.

By the Divines, their skin is so smooth.

Elisif felt her blush rising and she managed to take another deep breath. She noted the two vampires were smiling knowingly at her and she sighed, admitting defeat.

"Wish my skin was like that," she muttered.

Serana passed over a small jar and winked at her.

"Try this instead of your regular soaps. I think you will be surprised."

It smells nice…is that deathbell?

"Yes, it's deathbell extract but fear not, all the venomous aspects has been removed," Sybille piped up, nodding at the two vampires respectfully. "I had heard there was a way of doing such a thing, but alas, I never figured it out. My last sired apprentice was the one who figured it out, wherever she may be."

"She's fine," Serana assured her.

Elisif held a smile. She had been thinking hard about who that assassin had been and only one person matched the woman's calmness in a battle, let alone her prowess and strength.

"Falk, pleasure clear the Court, I have business with the Dragonborn and her associate."

"Of course, My Jarl."

Morgan watched as the steward emptied the Court in a very fast time and then smiled at the young widow, aware that the young widow was struggling to control her composure.

"Are you well, Elisif? You seem…flustered."

"Leave her be, wench," Serana said, gently taking Elisif's hand and smiling at her. "Don't take her on, she is messing around as always."

"She wouldn't be who she is if she didn't," Elisif smirked.

"I am here you know," Morgan said dryly. "Elisif, we are on…well…business if you like."

"You mean you wish to take someone for the Dark Brotherhood," Elisif replied smoothly, smirking when she saw Morgan and Serana's faces when she said those words.

"I…"

"It was you wasn't it? The one who tore Erikur apart, along with the rest of them. The one who saved me and the others. I wasn't sure at first but after thinking about it for a while, I kept thinking that it was you, Morgan. The way you were so…controlled and confident."

Elisif tried to ignore the heat increasing through her as she talked and she closed her eyes for a moment.

I was like this when I met Torygg. The only difference is that he wasn't wearing a black dress that showed off his curves.

She opened her eyes and smiled.

"You don't deny it either. You are a strange one, Morgan."

"My mother says that when a secret is out, there is no point in trying to keep it a secret still," she replied with a small grimace. "I wanted to tell you, but…well, how do you tell someone you care about that you are part of an organisation that kills for profit?"

"You could have told me, I wouldn't have told anyone," Elisif said. "And besides, we did spend time with them after all. They saved my life and while I was happy to pay them for their services, I always wondered that maybe they wanted an alliance of sorts…..it might be me being silly but…"

"Its an interesting thought," Morgan said softly. "We would have to keep this between the three of us…and maybe Sybille seeing as she knows who I am."

"Can you do that? I thought Astrid was in charge?"

"I am now," Morgan said simply, "Although she remains with us as a respected Sister. Anyway, I need to ask you of a huge favour, Elisif."

"What would that be?" the Jarl replied curiously, feeling a huge weight lifting off her shoulders.

She is a dear friend to me, no matter who she allies herself with. it's a strange war and one that the Legion is losing. Rikke hasn't got the soldiers needed any longer and no reinforcements are coming. Solitude is on it's own now and the only reason why Ulfric hasn't made a move is because he fears her.

"Can we talk in the dungeons? The person I am looking for is there."

Elisif nodded and took both vampire's arms in hers and led them away, her mind whirling with thoughts.

Babette acted faster than any mortal's eyes could perceive. She saw the axe descend and she moved. The vampire reached out and grasped the hilt of the weapon and hissed as she put her own unnatural strength behind her. She held back a smirk when the Orc's eyes widened when he noticed his weapon had stopped moving. He was even more surprised when Astrid recovered from her close death and had her dagger held at the burly attacker's throat.

"Drop the axe if you don't mind, Golag. We are not here to harm you." Astrid said quietly, keeping her hand steady.

"Who…"

"Just let us in if you would, before someone sees a small girl holding a steel battleaxe the same size as herself and starts asking questions," Babette interjected.

Golag sighed and nodded, gently letting go of the axe and allowing Babette to throw it inside the hut. He walked back inside as Astrid sheathed her dagger and the assassins shut the door before smiling at him.

"Golag, please be calm. We are not here to harm you, nor turn you into the authorities," Astrid said calmly, sitting on the table and crossing her legs.

"So why are you here with a little girl who has unnatural strength. No-one has ever stopped my swing like that."

"Maybe it's because I am not a little girl," Babette said with a grin, her fangs now visible.

Golag stiffened and made to run, but Astrid smiled at him reassuringly.

"Babette will not harm you my dear, despite her…condition. She is much older than both of us combined."

"Who are you?" the Orc demanded.

Astrid smiled wider.

"Lets just say we can offer you a place of safety and a place where you can continue your craft in smithing. From what we learned, you are one of the most talented metal-workers in existence, and our organisation could do with your help."

"That's all well and good, but you still never said who you were and what you want from me."

"Babette and I are part of the Dark Brotherhood. And we would like to extend an invitation to our Family."

There was silence for a few minutes before Golag spoke again.

"I will never have to hide again?"

"Our Sanctuary is safe. Much safer than the one we used to have."

"I heard that you had been wiped out, I guess they underestimated you," the Orc mused as he smiled at them. "I accept. I am tired of hiding all the time and someone would have figured out who I was eventually. When do we leave?"

"Right now. The sooner we get back, the better. But before we go, do you know anything about the dragon and vampire attacks?"

The Orc grimaced.

"The dragon, no. The vampires…I know who the leader is. A woman calling herself Alva. Very pretty thing but has a nasty temper. Apparently she was the only survivor of a Stormcloak attack on her nest near Morthal."

"They wiped out Morvarth's clan?" Babette piped up interestedly.

"You know him?" Golag replied.

"Oh yes, he was a good friend to me a long time ago….if one of his harems survived then she will want revenge on the Stormcloaks…which means we might have a possible ally here, Astrid."

"Indeed. Where are they hiding?"

"Somewhere you might know well. They are staying in the burned out sanctuary of yours. They told me to stay silent about their whereabouts."

"And what did you do to get such accommodation?" Babette asked with a grin. "Most vampires will not leave such a string-blooded mortal like yourself for no good reason."

"Alva and I…well, she said I could be useful in the future. Apparently she learned this from a friend of hers in Morthal before she was forced to leave."

"Idgrod the Younger," Astrid muttered to Babette, who nodded back at her. They both knew that the Jarl and her daughter had a Gift of their own, and both women were friends of the Listener.

"You know of Alva? She might listen to you. But if you go to see her, may I suggest I go with you. She may be less inclined to attack if she sees someone familiar," Golag added.

"That's a good idea. We stay together and go back home together," Astrid said as she slid off the table and extended her hand. "Welcome to the dark Brotherhood, Brother."

"It is my honour to serve," was the Orc's reply, and both assassins smiled to each other.

One down, one to go, Babette mused. I hope Morgan and Serana are having as much success and less axe swinging as we had.

"You realise what you are asking me for?"

"Trust me Elisif, but we need her," Morgan pleaded, nodding to the young woman sitting cross legged on the floor and staring at the three of them.

Morgan looked once more at the Breton girl and she saw no sign of injury. In fact, she sensed no smell of blood on the girl at all. Her blue eyes were calm and showed no sign of fear or anger. In fact, the prisoner was looking back at her with curiosity burning in those eyes.

"You might want to talk to her first. But I wont stop you if you wish to take her. I will have to make something up about her disappearance," Elisif said quietly.

Morgan nodded and smiled.

"Thank you Elisif."

The Jarl nodded and the guard unlocked the door before walking out of the dungeons with the Jarl, leaving Morgan and Serana in the cell with the prisoner.

"You're the Dragonborn aren't you?"

By Sithis, she has a velvety voice, Morgan thought. It was cool and soft…very similar to Astrids' in fact.

"I am. Nice to meet you…"

"Solia. A pleasure. Now why are you here? I would have thought you wouldn't want to see a girl's head being chopped off."

"If it's a Stormcloak getting their head chopped off, it won't put me off."

Solia smiled.

"Its true what they say about you. You are unbelievably attractive."

"Good thing I am taken," Morgan smirked, her fangs visible as Serana put an arm round her waist.

"I heard you were a vampire and was courting with one…can I be one too?"

Morgan blinked.

"I don't think you would want that. There is a chance you wouldn't survive the transition."

Solia nodded and sighed.

"Leave me to my thoughts, Dragonborn and Beautiful vampire. I want to think about home before I die."

"And what if I gave you an exit?" Morgan said as she sat down opposite Solia, Serana standing behind her. "A way out and a new life?"

"Unless you are part of the Dark Brotherhood, you have no chance. I always wanted to join them. I killed so many rapists and murderers and did the Black Sacrament in Skyrim…and no-one came for me. Then that guard caught me stalking a beggar who I knew was taking advantage of young women in Solitude…and he tried to do the very same thing to me."

Morgan felt a wave of sympathy wash over her.

"But I killed him. Stabbed him with his own dagger. Then did it again. And again. I woke up in here. Great story to tell everyone in Aetherius, huh?"

Morgan pulled up her sleeve and smiled at her.

"And if you saw this? You know what it is don't you?"

Solia stared at the Black Hand on Morgan's upper arm.

"You…no…it cannot be."

"It is. Serana and I are both a part of the Dark Brotherhood, Solia. And the Night Mother heard your pleas. That is why we are here."

"Night Mother? But…but she only speaks to the Listener. But there hasn't been one in centuries. Not since Lucinda Aurelius…."

Morgan pulled the sleeve down and stared at the young woman before her.

"What name did you say?" she said quietly, feeling Serana's hands on her shoulders.

Solia looked at her and shivered when she saw the orange irises of the Dragonborn boring into hers.

"Lucinda Aurelius. She was the last Listener and vanished just after the Oblivion Crisis, two hundred years ago. Are you alright?"

Morgan looked away and stared at the enchanted ring on her finger.

This…this was Hers. So is the armour that Cicero saved. One of my ancestors was the Listener.

"Lucien. Come out of there and say this is true or not."

The spectral assassin stepped out of the gloomiest shadow of the cell and knelt before the Dragonborn, his head dipped.

"It is true, Listener. I wished to find a good time to tell you but…"

"It's fine, Lucien. I am just….shocked, is all," Morgan murmured.

"Did I say something wrong? You aren't going to kill me are you?"

"Why would I kill a Sister?" Morgan replied as she looked up. "Come back with me Solia and you are a part of the organisation you wanted to join for so long. You will have a home. A family."

"Are there any others?"

"Not many," Morgan said. "But that will change."

Solia looked at the Heroine of Skyrim and saw what many didn't see.

She saw the Dragon.

She liked it.

"Yes."

The Dragonborn smiled, and Solia smiled back, feeling a cool sensation wrapping around her gently, as though someone were embracing her.

Morgan just smiled and stood up, gently placing a hand on Lucien's shoulder and whispering into his ear.

"When we get back…"

"I will tell you everything, Listener."

"Thank you, Speaker."

"Let's go," Serana said briskly, putting a brown cloak around the frail girl. "We need to get her out of here and get her back…and get some meat on those bones."

"I will tell the Jarl you are gone," Lucien said.

"No, I will tell her. She deserves to know from myself, but thank you for the offer Lucien. Get her back safely. I will call Odahviing when I am ready to return," Morgan instructed.

Serana gave her a light kiss on the lips before gently escorting the newest member out of the dungeons. Lucien bowed to her as well and vanished from sight within a few seconds. Morgan sighed and rubbed her eyes, before looking back at the ring.

What other secrets does my family have?