A/N: I just wanna start this one with a huge Thank You to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited and followed this story, especially my 'regulars' – lilidove, SorenDevin, SkullKing223, and YuePantera – you guys rock and you make my day every time I see a review from you:D True story;) So, to everyone else, I'd love a quick review from you, even if it's just a few words. So, may Sithis guide your blade just as the Night Mother wraps you in her cold embrace, Brothers and Sisters. Oh, and I took out artistic license with Festus' race, considering he's only classed as 'Elder' in game; I thought this one fit him best (you'll understand when you see it:))

Chapter 12: Astrid's Decision

I found Astrid and Arnbjorn in their separate room; the wolf was in a very casual pair of pants, and Astrid was propped up on an elbow on the bed, pulling the covers over herself when I opened the door after I knocked and was called in. I just resisted wrinkling my nose in disgust – could they at least pretend to be decent? I couldn't help but remember what Cicero called Astrid – a pretender. I supposed it was accurate enough.

"Astrid, I was just wondering –"
"Yes, I want to speak to you about Amaund. I'll meet you just outside in a few," she said, a lazy smile on her face. I nodded curtly, closing the door behind me.

Thank Sithis she was quick. I wasn't particularly patient with her before, and now that she kept questioning and second-guessing what was happening only served to irritate me more, never minding the fact that she distrusted me because I was Listener. It all added fuel to my fire. Had I not asked her if I should go speak to Amaund? Had I not turned to her even though I could over-rule her now? I had still turned to my leader about it, despite the fact that I could easily have overridden her, and taken her place – I still respected her enough to do that. Was she so jealous she was acting petty?

I watched her as she leaned against the wall, crossing her arms even as I folded mine across my chest. "Look. Something is happening here. I'm not sure entirely what that something is, but…. Well, we need to find out. If the Night Mother really did give you an order to talk to a contact, we'd be mad to ignore it. And I think we'd both agree – Cicero's brought quite enough madness to this Sanctuary. So go. Go to Volunruud. It's a crypt, pretty far to the northeast. Talk to this… Amaund Motierre. And let's see where all this leads. Hmm?"
"Hn. I've already been there; he's given me details about what he wants done. I'll fetch the items," I said, ignoring her look of shocked outrage and strode to my chest, quickly removing the letter and the amulet and brought them back to a flabbergasted Astrid. She straightened for long enough to take the items from me. She examined the amulet, then put it on the table, the letter next to it. "All right, so? What did he want?"
"He wants the Emperor assassinated."
"You're joking," Astrid blurted. I raised my brow, looking pointedly at the letter and amulet. She quickly opened the letter, and read it quickly. "By Sithis, you're not joking…. To kill the Emperor of Tamriel… the Dark Brotherhood hasn't done such a thing since the assassination of Pelagius! As a matter of fact, no-one has dared assassinate an Emperor of Tamriel since the murder of Uriel Septim, and that was two hundred years ago…" her voice was full of awe.
I nodded lazily. "So we'll accept it?"
"You're damn right we'll accept it!" Astrid exclaimed, putting the letter down. "If we pull this off, the Dark Brotherhood will know a fear and respect we haven't seen in centuries! You think I'd abandon an opportunity to lead my Family to glory?" she scoffed.

I didn't bother reminding her that the only reason we would get this glory is because of what I had done, because the Night Mother had chosen me.

She shook her head as she picked up the letter again. "But this is all so much to take in… I need more time to re-read the letter, and figure out where we go from here. And this amulet… hmmm…."
"What are you thinking?" I asked.
"I'm thinking we need this amulet appraised. I want to know where it came from, how much it's worth, and if we can actually get away with selling it. There's only one man who can give us what we need – Delvin Mallory," she finished, looking proud of herself. I stared at her blankly. Her grin faltered a little. "He's a fence, a private operator. Works out of the Ratway, in Riften. I'll keep the letter, you take the amulet to Mallory. Find out everything you can, and sell it if he's willing. He'll probably offer a letter of credit – that's fine. Mallory and the Dark Brotherhood have… history. He can be trusted."
"Fine with me," I said, taking the amulet. "I want to take Aventus with me, to see how he can handle himself on the road and train him while we're out there."
Astrid just narrowed her eyes slightly at me. "If he'll go with you, then you can take him."

I sniffed, then left. This would be interesting. I didn't get very far, though.

"Alysaaa…" Babette sang, her hands clasped behind her back, her eyes glinting.
"Babette," I returned, matching her tone but I ended up sounding wary instead of innocent. She sidled up a little closer to me, grinning broadly in that way only a vampire can grin. I wondered what this was about. I raised my brows at her. "Sooo… I didn't get a chance to ask you earlier when you were with the new blood, and this morning I was so very tired, but, you and Cicero –"
"Nope. Nothing happened between me and Cicero," I interjected just too quickly. She was going to call me out on that one…. I frowned at her. It was surely only afternoon now. "Why are you awake, Babette?"
She sighed, shuffling her feet as her grin faded. "Gabriella agreed to be a… donor." Drinking blood gave Babette energy, and she wasn't particularly fond of drinking from any of us – mostly to keep everyone in top form if the Penitus Oculatus agents found our Sanctuary. Babette grinned again, looking up at me as she continued. "So, Cicero running after you last night was nothing, never minding the fact that you didn't quite make it back to your own bed…?" Her eyes were glinting.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I felt my face grow warm with a blush, and I ran my hands over my face and through my hair. Babette was grinning impishly at me. "Oh, I know nothing happened, but it's good to see you happy, Alysa. Couldn't resist a little teasing, especially since our new brother seems to have a crush on you…" her eyes twinkled, and she turned away from me. Before she glided away to another part of the Sanctuary, she said over her shoulder, "Just take care of yourself, Alysa. I don't wa-need to have to fix you if something goes sour." She left without another sound. I allowed a small half-smile: I had always considered Babette as my closest friend in the Sanctuary, and her rare moments of sincere caring were seemingly reserved just for me. But she was right: Aventus did seem to have a crush of sorts on me… Sithis help me, things were going to get rough in here…. And if both of us noticed it, the whole Sanctuary would be buzzing with it for weeks.

Aventus had eagerly agreed to accompany me, and Arnbjorn had returned my things to me a little while after he fitted our new brother in new armor – that little appointment lasted well into the early evening. Aventus had been surprised at how easily he could move in it, and he was also much quieter than before, which was a miracle. Enchantments made a world of difference. But he would need much more teaching if he had even half a hope to make it through his first contract, never minding anything else.

Someone was cooking something that smelled wonderful, and I let my nose guide my feet to the dining hall, where I found Nazir reclining on a bench with a large tankard of something in hand, bantering with Festus about spices and food. The two made very different kinds of food, but they were both delicious. I sat on the fence whenever they argued over whose was better and why that was true. I shook my head, smirking as I planted myself next to Nazir on the bench's arm. "Well, I owe you some money for that competition last night. Apparently, you won. I can't say I ever saw that coming, little Ice-Wrath," Nazir rumbled, laughing at the expression on my face. I hated being called 'little', even if it was only an endearment; and a fairly accurate one at that. "That you do. Plus the pay for my contracts; you haven't paid me for them yet," I nodded.
"Hm, yes: wait here and I'll fetch the coin; no, really, your offer is unnecessary," he replied dryly, ignoring the fact that I hadn't even been given a chance to speak. He stood and headed up the stairs to his chest. I sighed happily.
"So; you're the Listener, Alysa," Festus said, glancing at me before he tasted whatever he was cooking. He scrunched his face, smacking his lips. "No, no: that won't do… now, where did I put that…?" he thought aloud, and I smiled. Watching Festus cook, craft spells – despite how much magic freaked me out – or make the odd potion was always entertaining. I doubted he could do it quietly, and certainly not even in silence.
"Yes, Festus: I am the new Listener," I replied. I had been Listener for just over seven months: it suddenly got me thinking – the Night Mother had been silent until she mentioned Cicero briefly this morning, and then she had stilled. Surely there were hundreds of outstanding contracts across Tamriel? Or, was she just giving preference to this specific one? I shook my head in thought. "…Alysa?" Festus asked.
"What? I didn't get that," I replied, looking at the old Breton assassin.
He frowned at me, grumbling something to himself before speaking louder, a scowl faintly etched over his face. "Have you heard the Night Mother speak? What was her voice like?"

I think he saw I was struggling to find the words to describe the Night Mother's voice. I just nodded, and Nazir came down the stairs again, a large, fat coinpurse in hand. I mulled over the right words to use to explain the cold terror I had felt the first time I heard our matron speak, and the cold, calculating calm the second time around. It was enthralling, addictive…. "Well, little Ice-Wrath –" I growled at Nazir, and he chuckled unfazed. "– Here is you pay, one hundred gold per target – so three hundred as you took three contracts – and the extra hundred for beating me last night," he handed me the purse. I loved the weighted feel of gold in my hands, especially after a contract well-done. And the bonus of beating Nazir – that was a feat well-done, despite my new no-repeat policy: I would have liked to try it again. "Good doing business with you," I said, holding the coinpurse in my hands. I shifted to sit down on the bench instead of the arm, Nazir next to me. "So, you and Festus over there were talking about the Night Mother and you being the legendary 'Listener'…." Nazir was good at prompting information.
I took his bait, and nodded. "Festus just asked me what it was like to hear her voice. I can't say that I can really describe it: it was terrifying the first time, and the second time just cleared my head. I felt like I was only made for killing in that moment…." I let my thoughts wander over the training today. I felt both of my elder brothers' incredulous eyes on me.
"Yes," I snapped. "It was terrifying the first time. I've never experienced anything like it before, and Sithis and the Night Mother know I'll make damned well sure I never have to experience that kind of terror ever again." I glared at both of them in turn.

Festus gave me that look I had come to recognize as the one he wore when considering using magic on another member. I narrowed my eyes at him, about to make his choice about magic for him when Gabriella glided in. "Ah, yes: I can imagine the Night Mother's voice must be cold, and full of an ancient, fear-inspiring quality… I almost wish I was you, just to be able to hear her," she said dreamily. The dark elf swayed a little, and I wondered for the millionth time if she had a secret Skooma stash no-one knew about, or if her arcane skills made her this way. Then I suddenly remembered Babette had drunk some of her blood. That would make her tired, not dreamy, I thought, looking her over. She smiled under her hood, 'hmm'-ed and headed up the stairs without another word. Festus, Nazir and I stared after her with a collective snort. Even the old Breton managed a brief chuckle.

Aventus swung into the room, almost crashing into my bench. He looked breathless from excitement, with a new glass war axe in his belt. I rolled my eyes. "Who let you into the armory?"
"Arnbjorn let me choose any weapon, as many as I liked, and this one; it's, it's just so…" he trailed off, pulling it out of his belt and admired it. Nazir and I exchanged a glance. Aventus's bubbly personality meant he was going to rave about it for at least a week. I suddenly realized I would be the only outlet for that week. "Good luck, Alysa. Try not to come back with the axe only," Nazir laughed. The joke was entirely missed by the young Imperial. His loss, my gain!

The rest of the Family trickled in, short of Babette, Gabriella and Veezara. Even Astrid an Arnbjorn decided to grace us with their presence. I could feel Nazir give me a strange look, noticing the shadow that fell over my face. Cicero's loud appearance a few moments after dinner was served cheered me up a little – at least it wasn't so bad anymore. Astrid started talking about the contract from Amaund, planning a series of spy operations across the country. No-one said anything, but the odd glance kept coming my way. I was sure Cicero was about to correct Astrid when Veezara walked in. "You! Where've you been?" I asked, turning in my seat to look at my favorite Shadowscale.
He held up a few quails and two rabbits. "Hunting. They were quite easy to trap, really," he said.
Nazir and Festus had their first showdown. "You're not spoiling those perfectly delectable creatures, Festus! This gump you call 'food' would waste the tender meat on those quails and rabbits!"
Festus went a shade of red. "You dare insult my superior cooking?! Bah, you can barely spice the meat without burning down the Sanctuary! I –"

I tuned them out. They'd be at it for a while still. Aventus was next to me, and watched them intently before grinning and turning to Cicero, who sat across from him. Veezara put his catch on another table to deal with a bit later. "So, Chickpea –"
"Cicero doesn't like being called that," the Keeper warned, not looking at his younger kinsman. This was going to be very interesting after all. If only the two chefs would shut up…. But Aventus kept insisting on using 'Chickpea'. I briefly considered telling him to stop it, but I closed my mouth. I could almost see the smoke coming out of Cicero's ears, and I wasn't about to waste an opportunity that could teach Aventus a little something.

I smirked.

Chickpea… Chickpea… CHICKPEA?! Oh, sweet Mother, who does he think he is?! "Ok, well…" Aventus said to Cicero. Calling the Keeper 'Chickpea'… Cicero remembers the last one who called him 'Chickpea' – Cicero poisoned him – paralyzed him – and skinned him alive! Cicero grins at the memory. Hehehe, oh, it was funny! Do you remember, sweet Mother, loving Mother? Of course you do! That's how you told the old Listener to tell the old Speakers to find Cicero! So grateful he is, oh Night Mother!

"What are you grinning about?" the boy asked.
"Cicero? What this Cicero grinning about?" Alysa was watching, her eyes shining. Oh, such pretty eyes… such pretty-pretty blue-gray eyes…. She looked like she was expecting trouble. Cicero wondered if she wanted to tell the boy to be quiet.
"Yep, Chickpea. What are you grinning about, Chickpea –"
Cicero snarled, punching Aventus. "Cicero told the boy he doesn't like being called CHICKPEA!"

Alysa was cackling darkly. Nazir and the wonderful old Breton Festus stopped arguing, and the Redguard even seemed a little amused, but it was hard for Cicero to tell. It was just the boy's cheek, but really, he should have some respect in the Family. He was rubbing his cheek, and Cicero sat down again. Astrid the pretender just looked on wide-eyed, so did her lapdog. Horrid, mean old wolf…. Cicero still doesn't like them. Cicero frowned at his plate. "Now Cicero doesn't feel like eating, and this is the best food since humble Cicero has arrived! Cicero is so very grateful to have such a master chef to prepare food for him and the Family! Much better than Nazir…" Cicero frowned at Nazir after all his grinning. He really did like the wizard's food best. It was just better, like magic! Oh, oh! Magic food from a magic man! Cicero giggled. "Magic food from a magic man!"

Festus had to smile: Cicero saw that! He did, he did, he did! Cicero saw the smile! "Well, I do try…" Festus admitted, looking smugly at Nazir. So sarcastic, but Cicero thinks he might have liked Nazir, if he wasn't so sarcastic. But I will never know! "Hey, he punched me!" the boy exclaimed.
Alysa sniggered, leaning close to Aventus over the table. Cicero wasn't jealous, no, not at all… not even a little bit…. "Welcome to the Family!"

The table broke into laughter, and Cicero saw Alysa had water in her tankard after her third mead. He raised his brows at it when she looked his way. The Listener rolled her eyes at sweet Cicero. Oh, Night Mother, Cicero does like the Listener so much…. The pretender and her lapdog left as soon as their dinner was finished, and Veezara brought out cards, and the table played for a while, eventually gambling later on.

Festus left when the gambling started, and Babette was working at her lab – I saw her come in looking for ingredients that she didn't have there. She watched the round end, then went back to making potions. Cicero smelled some awful smells, sweet Mother. Alysa was a fair player, but after she won twice in a row, Cicero wondered briefly if she was cheating. She even winked at Cicero! Now he was sure she wasn't playing fair… but she also said Goodnight at the third round of gambling.

Now Cicero was winning! Oh, he loved taking from Nazir and Aventus! Cicero was giggling and cackling the whole time, and he told jokes, too! Even the one with the horker's husband! Hehehe, Cicero likes that one… but he knows his limits. Cicero must leave to stay with the Night Mother, and he was glad the Argonian and Redguard were beating little Aventus at cards once he left. So long as he knew his place in the Family, and didn't call dear Cicero 'Chickpea' again, he'd be fine, just fine, don't you think, beloved Mother?