The smell of fish from the ratway was enough to keep anyone away from the Thief's hideout.

Katjia walked the wooden steps with ease, her tail swung behind her as she bounded out of
the city. She had been itching to go out exploring with Faelin. Being guildmaster made it
difficult to leave the cities as freely as she used to. The walk into the birch tree forest was
quick. Not too hard to find a wood elf and an imperial clad in jester clothing. "There you are!
We've been waiting for hours for your hide to get out here!" The wood elf called seeing her
feline friend jog up to her. "Yes well Katjia has to work if little dragonborn wants to continue
living comfortably." She hissed through her cowl. "Yes, well, my jester is getting antsy and ai
swear if I hear him sing another blasted song..." she huffed collecting an arrow from a dead
rabbit at her foot, placing it back into her quiver.

Cicero's ears pricked up at his mention, "Yesss, Faelin and pooor Cicero have been waiting
sooo long! How dare you keep the Listener waiting?!" He crossed his arms and threw his
head dramatically to one side. "At least console poor Cicero by telling him you were late on
account of brutishly murdering someone...?" His voice went unnervingly high towards the
end of his question, eyes gleaming at the idea.

Faelin swung an arm around her literal partner in crime. "Yeah c'mon tell me you were atleast
doing something important other than stealing Jewelry and being a boring boss. You used to
be so much fun!" Faelin complained. "Yes well Katjia happens to enjoy her job and not
murdering every noble she comes in contact with." "What can I say? They're asking for it by
being such assholes all the time," she snickered. Her hand patted the Keeper's back and pulled
off. "Let's go before it gets too dark. I don't want to camp again out here!"

With a finger to his lips and his other hand resting comfortably on a hip, Cicero leaned in to
whisper way, "Cicero saw a cottage over that ways when he was scouting earlier... perhaps
we can stay there tonight? ...And murder it's occupant?" His giggles trailed off as he dances
his way towards the aforementioned cottage, red hair billowing out from under his Jester's hat
in the late afternoon breeze.

"Katjia does not understand why he comes with us now.." Katjia sighed rubbing her temples
to soothe her headache. "Oh come on! He's adorable! You know I love a man who can make
me laugh," the wood elf elbowed her friend with a toothy grin. "You worry Katjia so much
my friend," she sighed walking up to the cottage. It seemed empty, or at least the occupants
weren't home. "Think you can get this door open, thief?" Feelin whispered "You know Katjia
can," she scoffed, offended her friend would accuse her of being rusty. It took a single
lockpick for the door to creak open.

The cottage was very dark inside, only illuminated by the evening light trickling in through
the doorway and the cracks in boarded up windows. Thick clouds of dust hung in the air,
much of which resettled on an alchemy lab and enchanting table to the far left of the room.
On the right was a cooking station and a single bed, upon which slept a woman of Bosmer
appearance.

Darling brought a finger to her lips and crept inside walking on the balls of her feet. She
motioned Cicero to take one side while she took the other. She'd let him have this one. Faelin
gently peeled back the covers of the bed to get a better look at the bosmer.

The eleven woman's face seemed peaceful in her sleep, with the evening light casting
shadows across her and making more prominent her gaunt cheekbones. Her white hair fell
softly over her high brow, and thick white eyelashes encircled now open... and very angry
eyes. Eyes that glowed red and flashed in a furious, startled, almost scared way. She threw
back her covers and jumped lithely out of her bed onto the opposite side of her intruders.
Baring gleaming white death with two razor sharp canines, she growled, "What do you think
you're doing here?!"

Katjia was already about to just book it out of there. "H-Hey my friend!" Faelin stammered
"w-we're just here to..to..fuck Cicero help me out," she hissed. She wasn't going to risk
tangling with a vampire tonight. Hopefully she could just talk their way out.

Cicero's dagger was already out, "Ah! You want a piece of Cicero??!!" He squealed. "Why,
it'll be YOU who ends up in pieces! Itty bitty ones that I'll bring back to Mother! She'll be so
pleased to hear of your death!" With a wide grin and eyes that gleamed in a way only a
madman's could, the Jester lunged forward, up and over the bed and towards the strange
eleven woman. Whom which, in an effortless motion, knocked the blade from Cicero's hand,
and tackled him to the floor. She pressed down on his neck with her forearm and hissed
fiercely into his face. She once again bared her teeth at Cicero and the two women in his
company. "Tell me why you're here or your friend dies!!"

"Good." "Katjia shut your whore mouth!" Feelin snapped "Okay, Okay we're assassins and
my friend there is /really/ bloodthirsty and w-we saw the cabin- look don't hurt him please!"
She cried visibly upset at the sight of her beloved jester under her fangs.

Sicarii was really quite softhearted, and even with her attempted murderer laying under her,
yelling obscenities, she felt she ought to let him go. Under any other circumstance, no one
would let themselves be cornered three to one, but Sicarii felt safe in the knowledge of her
vampirism. She was an ancient vampire and highly skilled with an almost unattainable
prowess in the vampiric arts. These three wouldn't stand a chance against her, she thought.
And so she lifted herself off the red-haired, crazy-eyed Jester, and stood with her arms
crossed. "So you're assassins... at least you" she looks at Faelin, "and the Jester are." With an
sniff of the air, Sicarii smiled ruefully, "and you... cat... you're a thief. That or a beggar,
considering you smell just like Riften's Ratways."

"Katjia is theives guildmaster. She would gut you like a fish if you didn't have my friend's
lover by the throat" "Katjia he's not my lover, he's my partner," faelin growled hugging
Cicero once he was free. "Are you okay Keeper?" She asked holding his cheeks and looking
him over. "You're a vampire, Katjia can tell, oh yes-you remind us of a friend of ours." She
snuck up around her, sniffing her hair. "You smell of old and flowers, been here I'd say a few
months correct?" She asked, her tail swishing under her.

Sicarii tossed her long hair over her shoulder and lifted her pointed chin, "Why, aren't you
nosy! You come in my house, attempt to kill me, and now you want to hear my life story?"
She side-eyed the Khajiit who was currently invading her personal space. She huffed and she
sighed before saying, "I've lived here a little while, yes. Though I don't see how that's any of
your business."

"You move around a lot correct? Katjia needs to be good at profiling for her job," she purred
"Do you need a more...permanent, home?" She asked "katjia can supply you with one. Dark
and safe oh yes," she replied "Plenty of food and entertainment. Curtesy of our jester, and
what ever Faelin here drags home."
Sicarii pondered the Khajiit's offer... these weren't the first band of interlopers to break into
her home, and they surely wouldn't be the last. But would a vampire be safe in a den of
thieves, if that's what Katjia was suggesting? "I might be interested in moving..." she said
slowly, "but perhaps you'll show me this place first, before I make any decision... And--" she
added hastily, "you should provide me with a peace offering for your rudeness earlier! Maybe
a certain Jester!" The elf looked evilly at Cicero, her eyes narrowing as their red glow grew
brighter.

"Sorry honey this one is mine?" Faelin held Cicero in a vice grip. "But we can offer you
something better. I have a few people in Windhelm that needs to be put in their place," she
replied. "Racist nord." "We can bring you back to our home. You'll like it, I promise," she
replied

Without much else keeping her busy, and with the lure of this exciting new development,
Sicarii decided she'd see how things play out. Perhaps these people will betray her and she'll
have the satisfaction of killing them after all. Or perhaps... she might make some friends?
With a shrug of her shoulders, Sicarii let out a reluctant sigh. "Fine, I'll come with you. But I
swear that if you even think of trying anything, you'll be dead before you draw your blade."

"Fair enough, that is if I don't shout you to piece," the elf replied. The four of them walked
back to Riften, the jester dancing and singing ahead of them. "Thank you for not killing him,"
katjia whispered to the vampire. "Faelin would be in deep trouble if she came home without
him..."

"Hmm? In trouble with who?" Sicarii recalled something Cicero had said earlier... "Oh, you
mean his Mother? Isn't he a bit old to still be living at home?" She smirked at the idea, then
took a good look at the Jester and realised maybe it was a good idea there was someone older
and more mature there to look after him... he looked like he needed the stability of a parent...
or a therapist.

"'Our' mother. Ever heard of the Dark brotherhood?" She asked. "That man right there is the
keeper to the nightmother. I'm the listener. We're basically the leaders of it," she replied
stretching alittle. A tiny bosmer and an insane jester as leaders d a sophisticated cult of
assassins...incredible"

Sicarii raised her eyebrows at this. She'd heard of the rise and fall of the dark brotherhood,
even its recent re-establishment in Skyrim. So the one who assassinated the Emperor was this
tiny wood elf... Sicarii didn't know wether to be impressed or disappointed. She decided to be
friendly instead, "My, what an accomplishment. And here I am in the presence of such
notable people: the thieves' guildmaster, and the nightmother's Listener and keeper. However
could I keep up with you all?"

"dragonborns. Trust me we didn't sign up for it. But you could by telling us what you are, I
know you're a vampire but tell me what you used to be. Everyone has a story to them." She
replied. "Even Cicero has a story on why he is the way he is."

"My story is a long one, maybe I'll tell it to you another time." She laughed before saying, "I
imagine it now; us all sitting by a campfire telling each other our life stories." They'd reached
the gates to Riften by this point, and were accosted by a guard standing duty. "Stay where
you are!" He shouted, his thick Nordic accent evident even through his helmet. "There's a toll
for entering the city! 100 septims or I'll have you all turn back the way you came." A second
guard came to stand by the first, his arms crossed imposingly.

Katjia looked the guard in the eyes. "This is a shakedown. You've seen us come through here
before." She hissed "Does Katjia need to sick the jester on you everytime this happens?"
Faelin leaned in to Sicarii's ear. "Racist bunch, if you ain't a nord you get treated like dirt."
She huffed.

Sicarii had dealt with the Nords' prejudice for many years. They believed her a Bosmer, a
race often taken as servants to the Altmer, and so by most everyone she was treated as lesser.
Perhaps it was better they thought her Bosmer... than knowing what she really was... it was
why she accepted this treatment, in a way she felt she deserved it. The guard must have been
new--straight out of the academy--as this was a line that repeated itself in almost every fresh
recruit. But at gazing around him to the four people before him: a very agitated Khajiit, her
tail flicking from one side to the other in obvious annoyance; a Bosmer who stood ready and
willing for a fight; a Jester (of all things), who's fingers were twitching just above the hilt of
his dagger; and another Bosmer who appeared almost bored... but had vibrant red eyes that
cut through him whenever she looked his way. "A-Alright... I'll let you through this time. But
I'll be keeping my eye on you lot!" He backed away and unlocked the gate, scrambling back
to his post afterwards while his partner did the same.

The bosmer glanced at her as they walked down the alley to Honeyside. "Are you okay?" She
asked "You still look a bit pissed off.." she mumbled "Don't worry, you're not going to sleep
in the sewer, Katjia's got a place here you can use."

"Are you sure about this? I mean, you said it yourself--I'm a vampire, why would you help
me?" Suddenly Sicarii remembered hearing rumours of the Dawnguard resurfacing... What if
all this was a trap?

"I will admit. I murder people for a living, I killed the emperor, his cousin on his wedding,
and steal for fun but, I will help someone if they truly need it. I just got a feeling." She
shrugged. Katjia opened the door and ushered everyone inside. "You can stay here....as long
as you....Katjia take Mercer Frey's house." She fell into a chair and let her hood fall back.
"We have a bed in the basement of that suits you better," she replied

A bit unsure of herself, Sicarii lowered herself into a chair beside Faelin. The hearth fire
warmed her, a feeling she hadn't had in a long time, often had she endured the bitter cold of
outdoor living. Or worse--taking residence in a dark, damp cave... With a grateful smile she
said, "Thank you all for your hospitality. But I assume you'd want some form of payment?
Rent or board? I have no money, but I can offer my services as a companion on your travels."

Katjia raised her hand up. "No need. We have enough, Just relax." She curled into her chair
with an apple. "But suppose traveling with you would be appreciated..Faelin?" She asked "I
like this one. Doesn't complain," the elf smirked "Okay, Cicero? What are your thoughts on
our new tenant?" The kahjiit asked

"Cicero only likes the Listener! Oooh, the Liiissstenerrr! And his sweeet Night Mother!!" He
did a little jig, before looking to Faelin, "But if you're intent on having her with us, I'll just
*have* to put up with her." He sneered in Sicarii's direction before turning around and
dancing off.

"Looks like he's happy to have you," she smirked. "You'll like it here I promise, and if you
don't I can escort you to the castle. It's a place for vampires, my friend lives there, Serena."
She smiled.

"I don't think I'd belong with other vampires. I've been on my own so long, and grown so
independent, I doubt I'd be able to to coexist with them." Sicarii smiled, her lips curling to
reveal the gleaming white points of her fangs. "So now that we're all aground a fire, how
about we have some stories? What are a Khajiit, a Bosmer, and an Imperial Jester doing in
Skyrim? And the Rift, no less?"

"Well..." the two girls looked at each other. "It started when were about to be executed by the
imperial legion. Thankfully we were spared. That was only because a dragon came and
completely destroyed Helgen. Me and Katjia found each other and an imperial soldier and
fled. We were able to get out with another stormcloak soldier who was about to be killed too.
The four of us got out and went our seperate ways. Except for Katjia. She followed me
around for a bit. Pretty sure she was profiling me," faelin smirked and looked at her feline
friend. We travelled together for awhile until we got to whiterun. After returning a stone for
some wizard there until a dragon was spotted. We beat the living shit out of it. It wasn't the
one we saw earlier. No I haven't seen him for awhile...anyways once it was dead something
happened..it's body started to peel away l-like it just burnt off into the air and a gust of wind
hit us. Next thing I know some nord is calling us Dragonborn," she replied. "Maybe that's
why Katjia felt so close to you..." the cat whispered, drinking some mead. "After celebrating
we came across Cicero. He was stuck on the side of the road. Faelin just had the help the
damn fool.." she huffed. "Love at first sight," she gagged. "We came here for work and soon
enough Faelin comes home after killing the orphanage matron, covered in blood." "She was
hurting them Katjia! She deserved it! Next thing I know imm getting notes and I wake up in a
marsh and have joined the dark brotherhood...." she trails off. "That's um...I need a drink.."
she sighed getting up to get a drink downstairs. Once she was gone with Cicero tailing her
Katjia sat next to her. "Her family was murdered...she doesn't like to talk about it.." she
mumbled handing the vampire a drink

Accepting the mead gratefully, Sicarii nodded in understanding. "My family was killed as
well. It was so long ago, but the pain still tears through me at the thought." She took a large
swig and looked down to the floorboards at her feet. "I was a noble in a time Elves ruled
Cyrodiil. We enslaved humans, and after a while they turned on us. An attendant of mine--
and a very good friend--saved me from the conflict by turning me into a vampire and making
me immortal. I was able to escape... and I've been alone travelling Tamriel since." Her voice
wavered, but her long white hair was able to conceal the tears that welled in her eyes. She'd
never admit it, but she'd suffered a loneliness these past millennia no one could ever
understand.

Katjia laid a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay...We know we aren't much but...we are happy to
have you here. A new face. Maybe you can help my friend with mourning her surrogate
family...we buried them near the new sanctuary but she still is in pain of what happened. In
return We hope to offer the same shoulder to cry on,"
Sicarii peered through her pale locks at the Khajiit who sat beside her. She smiled sadly, and
also raised a hand to rest upon Katjia's shoulder. "Tell me some happy times you had before
coming to skyrim. The past can ache terribly sometimes, and happy memories can heal if you
let them."

"Hmm....well Katjia was really happy she joined the thrived guild...place to belong and call
home." She smiled "-and this little girl in Windhelm...Sofie. Katjia found her freezing and
she took her in. She's asleep down stairs most likely," she sighed. "She is a good girl, you'll
love her."

"Oh, you mean you adopted a daughter?" Sicarii had to admit--she had a soft spot for
children. "I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but would you tell me about her? If I'm being
honest, I always wanted children of my own."

"Oh, of course! She's very smart, pretty, We found her on the streets. She was selling flowers
all on her own. Everytime she had more we would buy them all. Eventually when Faelin had
enough money we bought this house and adopted her. She's very sweet," she smiled warmly,
a rather rare look in all honesty.

Sicarii shared that warm smile. In the firelight her cheeks glowed rosy pink, and her eyes
shone cheerfully. "I'm glad you have such a fine daughter, and I'm sure she is glad to have
such loving parents. Though I pray to the gods Cicero doesn't have a hand in any of that
parenting." She glanced over to the Jester peering at her around the corner to a room aways--
he'd been practically staring daggers at her.

"He's surprisingly good with her. He's a good playmate for her. Taught her to dance just last
week," she smirked, canines showing. "He's absolutely insane but he's..charming?" She bit
the inside of her cheek. "I mean...." she looked up at the jester peering into the room,
whispering and humming to himself. "Cicero! We can see you! It's a small house!" She called

Cicero hunched his shoulders and scowled. "You're not the Listener! Cicero doesn't take
orders from YOU!" But he skulked away nonetheless. Sicarii was well and truly weirded out
by Cicero, but he was Faelin and Katjia's friend, and she owed loyalty to them, to tolerate
him she must. "Not that I'm the kind to overshare, but I'll tell you a little of my past. I've been
almost everywhere in Tamriel, all the way from Black Marsh to High Rock and everywhere
in between. Skyrim was the last on my list, and of course I should choose now--when the
dragons are returning--to come here. But come I did, but troubles have befell me, and I've
been forced to live in hiding since setting foot in the province."

"We know how it feels, truly we do. But now we can at least promise you protection. Not
many would want to tangle with us besides petty bandits," she smirked and patted her
shoulder gently. "We thank you for trusting us with your story. It truly means a lot." It was
nice to relax and get to know someone who you didn't have to worry about stabbing you in
the back.

Sicarii sat back in her chair, feeling more and more at home in this quaint little house. But
something they had said earlier kept nagging at her. "Did you say earlier that you and Faelin
are Dragonborn? I was alive during the Septim reign. I know much of the history of
Dovahkiin..." she looked at Katjia intently. "I didn't think it possible for anyone other than a
Nord to be of Dragon blood."
"We didn't either. We expect only birds were capable but here we are...Katjia don't use it as
much as Faelin. You should have seen her. As soon as she learned to go ethereal she shouted
herself off the mountains just to see what it was like."

"Ethereal? Off mountains?" Sicarii seemed a little taken aback. Firstly at the confidence one
must have in her powers to jump off a mountain--and secondly how different these
dragonborn were to any she had ever seen before. But then, all those dragonborn were royals
in Cyrodiil, they never fought dragons. They never needed to worry about much more than
their wealth or armies. "So..." she began slowly, "would it be too much to assume... that you
and Faelin are here for a reason? What with the dragons reappearing... could you and she be
here to put a stop to them?"

"We suppose so. She enjoys it. Katjia has just been trying to enjoy having a normal like for
alittle bit longer. We just wanted a quiet life at home...had to come to this horrible
providence..." she sighed. "It's hard having all of this tossed at us at once but...what can we
do?" She looked up at her companion with sad blue eyes.

Sicarii felt the sadness in Katjia's eyes. It helped her come to a decision. "Katjia, I want to
join you. Let me help you with this dragon menace. That way you can return to a normal life
sooner."

She looked at her with almost pure shock, her whiskers twitch and fur fluffed up. "You...are
you sure you want to?" She asked softly rubbing her arm gently, she hadn't expected her to
actually want to help.

Sicarii brightened with unexpected excitement. "Yes, of course! For so long I've lived in the
shadows, with no goal ahead of me or quest to pursue. Nothing to give me any sort of
purpose. I'd be more than happy to join you in arms, against the dragons or any enemy of
yours."

Katjia laughed. She normally wasn't happy but she supposed right now was a good time to be
joyful. "Oh my friend, may you always walk on warm sands." She replied, pressed her head
to hers in a friendship nuzzle.

Sicarii laughed right along with Katjia--she hadn't felt this happy in a long time. The
excitement of friendship and adventure was thrilling to her. After a little while of contented
silence, Sicarii asked, "Has Faelin gone to bed? Why hasn't she returned yet?"

"I'm not sure, let's go look," she got up and offered her her hand and lead her down the
wooden steps to the basement. Faeling sat on the floor with Cicero and a small girl in a blue
dress, playing with dolls. Feelin smiled fondly at the two. She occasionally wiped her eyes
and played with Sophie's hair, brushing it out. It was almost strange seeing the two being so
tender despite being murderous psychos.

Sophie noticed Katjia and Sicarii first, and smiled brightly at the Khajiit. She stood up
quickly and ran over to them--doll in hand. "Look Aunty! Look at what mummy brought
home for me! Isn't she pretty?" Sophie lovingly stroked her doll's hair.
"She's gorgeous just you my little jewel." She cooed and swept her up in her arms, kissing her
cheek. "My cub, we have a new friend living with us, this is Sicarii, she's very nice and will
have many stories to tell you," Katjia smiled

Sophie's cheeks were flushed with delight as she turned her eyes to Sicarii. "Hello," she said,
"I'm Sophie, and this is Dolly!" ((I'm so unoriginal.)) She cast her doll up into Sicarii's face,
obviously very proud to have such a beautiful new toy. The mysterious elf had an affinity for
children, but had never been very close to one since her transformation. Sometimes the
bloodlust was strong, and she refused to ever feed off a child, so stayed away from them in
general as an extra precaution. But in this case she bent down, and showing particular
attention to the little girl, said, "Hello Sophie. Hello Dolly." She smiled at them both, "My,
aren't you both just the cutest things?"

"Isn't she?" Feelin smiled. "Sorry I disappeared on you guys, I came down here and saw that
this little missy had woken up. Stol-erm bought the doll back Whiterun," she chuckled. "She's
our little angel," katjia replied. "Isn't that right my cub?" The cat sat on the ground and pulled
out some more toys. Most were handmade by Cicero to keep him busy with his knife when
they were home.

"Yes, aunty! You and mummy say it so often!" Sophie was so happy, but she couldn't help
suppress a wide yawn. Suddenly her eyes looked very sleepy, and she turned to her mother
Faelin, "Will you tuck me into bed, mummy? And would you please read me a bedtime story,
too?" She clasped her hands in front of her, pleading--her new doll safely held against her
chest.

Faelin nodded and picked her up and put her to bed, pulling out a book from the shelf to read.
"Come, Katjia will show you your room," she replied closing the door to the child's room
behind her and next room to a furnished guest room.

Sicarii followed her into the guest room. It was small: with a bed and bedside table, dresser,
as well as an armchair in the corner of the room. All of this was more than enough for a
vampire who really need not sleep. Sicarii turned to Katjia and said, "Thank you again for all
of this. I appreciate your hospitality... but perhaps even more... your trust. I can't remember a
single person I could call friend in all my years of exile."

"We, too, appreciate your trust and friendship, especially in these times, if you need anything
please get one of us. We are more than happy to help you, Sicarii. Now-" she yawned. "I need
some rest. Help yourself to anything in the barrels to eat, there is potato soup on the pot.
Good night, my dear ." She did a polite bow and smiled at her.

The eleven woman of long, braided white hair smiled kindly back at the Khajiit. "Goodnight
Katjia, may you sleep well." Sicarii now found herself alone in her new bedroom. "My...
what a day this has been--to be swept up by not one, but TWO dragonborns." She thought.
Her stomach growled and her mouth was dry, it was time to feed. Sicarii slipped out of
Honeyside, the small house almost on the outskirts of Riften, and disappeared into the night.
It wasn't until daybreak that the elf returned home.

Faelin sat on the back deck and waved to her. "Morning!" She called "where have you been?
We almost thought you ran off," she joked, eating her breakfast of porridge and some
chopped apples, Cicero was thankfully still asleep letting Sicarii escape his angry gaze for
awhile longer.

Sicarii almost blushed, always ashamed of her feeding habits. "Oh, you know..." she started,
"...Vampire stuff." She felt silly saying it, but there was really no delicate way of saying
you'd been out all night sucking the blood of hapless victims. "You're awake so early, the sun
has only just begun to rise." She tried to move the subject off of herself.

"I always wake up early, plus Cicero snores and it drives me crazy," she sipped her mead and
offered her some. "Need something to get the taste out of your mouth?" She asked. "Divines
know the after taste is horrendous."

"Are you telling me you've tasted it before?" She gladly accepted the mead, drinking as much
as needed to wash away that awful metal taste.

"Yeah, A follower of Namira stopped me in the hall of the dead in Markarth. Asked me to
clean out her shrine and bring a priest of arkay to her. In return I got this really cool ring," she
replied holding up her hand the daedra's ring on her finger. "I tried everything to get the taste
out."

Sicarii let out a little laugh, maybe one of disbelief. Her race of elves had great ties to the
Daedra--in fact almost wholly devoting themselves to the princes--and the idea of
communing with them or becoming one's Champion wasn't shocking to her, but the way
Katjia and Faelin seemed to be involved with so many was surprising. Sithis, Nocturnal, and
now Namira as well. Not to mention the Aedra such as Akatosh or Talos. "My..." she choked
on her words slightly, "the adventures you've had."

"Had to make money somehow. I don't think too much of it as just getting loot to help me.
There are only few that I actually did a damn about. Sanguine is pretty cool, he was fun to
hang out with and so was Mehrune Dagon. Gave me my favorite dagger," she handed the
dagger to her to look at. "But I'm sure you've done plenty of amazing things. I hate being the
leader for everything. I didn't ask for any of this. It just.." she sighed "It just got dropped onto
me. Now I have to deal with all of this shit with just Katjia. Cicero is helpful but he's only the
keeper. He doesn't have 11 million of titles to him like I do. Titles I don't want." She slid into
her chair and leaned her head back, her hood falling off to show her pale face and black
Mohawk. "I'm just tired..."

Sicarii looked intently at the Wood Elf who sat beside her. It was obvious Faelin was
unhappy with the amount of responsibility she had--over the guild, over Daedra worshippers-
-but Sicarii was sure, even if the Bosmer was exhausted from it all, she would give none of it
up. Everything she had had been fought for and won. There was pride in what she'd made for
herself, and Sicarii was proud to know a person like that. She thought though, that the topic
should be changed to something lighter. "So," the elf began, "when you aren't galavanting
about... what is it you do in Riften?"

"Well it's usually me and Cicero, I like to take him out exploring and scavenging." She
replied with a small smile "I met him before I was even in the brotherhood. His cart broke
down while he was on his way there. I convince a farmer to help him." She smiled fondly at
the memory. "I was only a week out of Helgen and unsure what to do. Was just taking a walk
and there he was. He's different, that's what I like," teasing jokes about the two aside, it was
obvious she did have real feelings for him. Feelings that would most likely be unnoticed.
"He's dedicated, even if he's crazy. Next time we go out I'll have you tag along with us, you'll
love it," she smiled

"I'm sure I would," she said genuinely. "And I like Cicero, even if he seems to hate me. I
believe him to be innocent enough... well, as innocent as an assassin can be." She tacked on
the last part with a rueful smile. She wasn't afraid of Cicero--he was a crazy Imperial Jester,
and she an ancient vampire. There was no need to fear him, and so she felt she could be
friendly enough with him. "And your daughter Sophie, she plays around here?" Sicarii's nose
turned up at a thought that popped into her head. "I forgot there's an orphanage here in
Riften... I suppose she plays with the kids there... I'm appalled at the stories I've heard of the
old mistress at Honourhall."

"Oh yes, she was absolutely asking for it, the new assistant there is quite nice from what I
hear. What was her name? Amor-no Amaryllis I think that's it. She watches over Sophie
when she goes out to play, we can meet her when I drop Sophie off for the day." She smiled

Sicarii nodded her agreement, tresses of white hair falling out of her thick braid in doing so.
She turned her head towards the rising sun, it having come up since returning home. She
figured the others must be awake by now, and suggested Faelin follow her back inside. There
Sicarii saw Sophie and Cicero by the kitchen hearth, him excitedly showing her how to
properly carve meat--possible preparing tonight's dinner in advance. Katjia was sitting at the
dining table counting out septims from a coin purse.

"Home sweet home, huh?" She smiled to Sicarii. "Sophie, sweetie in a little bit we're going to
go see the kids at the orphanage, make sure to behave okay?" She smiled and kissed the
young nord's cheek.

"Yes mummy, I'll be good!" Sophie smiled up at Faelin then turned to Cicero, "May I go
wash up, Cicero?" The girl's sleeves were pulled up past her elbows, and her hands were
bloody from carving the meat. Cicero was humming a tune and slicing away, off in his own
world. He hadn't seemed to hear her, so Sophie shrugged and skipped off to a washbasin to
clean up.

"Cicero," Faelin said, crossing her arms and walked over to him poking his cheek. "Don't
ignore your daughter okay?" She pinched his cheeks and helped Sophie wash up. "Come,"
katjia motioned to the elf to join her at the table.

Sicarii came over and joined Katjia at the table. Jewels and septims covered it in piles.
Obviously Katjia's latest haul was a big one. "How was your night, Katjia?"

"Great as you can tell~ Katjia napped and got up just in time to raid a few houses." She
replied and handed her a healthy amount of septims "Just to give you some pocket money,"
Maybe in the 100s idk I know it's noisy and gross and deadly though!

Sicarii's hands were being weighed down with gold coins--a healthy amount, indeed. She
blushed a bright red, not ever expecting to be given a share. "Th-thank you, Katjia. You're too
kind..." She attached the coin purse to her belt and smiled graciously.
"Well if you're going to be joining this merry band of misfits and freaks, might as well be rich
huh~?" She smirked and pocketed the rest of the gold. All of it was always on her. Never risk
it being at home Faelin came back upstairs with a freshly washed Sophie in her play outfit
and clutching her new doll. "We're heading out, coming Sicarii?" She asked

Sicarii stood up from her chair--like Sophie, she was looking very fresh. With her long hair
nearly braided, her face washed, and her robes spotless. Of course her boots were old and
scuffed, but serve their purpose they did, and so Sicarii never thought to replace them.
Standing by the table, Sicarii once again thanked Katjia and made to follow Faelin and
Sophie out the house.

Sophie was quick to join her friends and leave the adults to talk. "I never thought I'd be good
with kids. I'm surprised she's turning out okay," she chuckled "Did you have any kids of your
own? Sisters or brothers?" She asked

"No children," she replied, "but I did have siblings." Her voice lowered to almost a whisper
as she spoke her next words. "My brothers and sisters and I... we were considered princes and
princesses among our people. Our slaves turned on us--humans against elves--and we were
slaughtered in droves. I don't believe any of my siblings survived, and even if they did,
certainly wouldn't still be alive today." The two adults were sitting under a tree in the
courtyard of Honourhall Orphanage. The children played together with two women
overseeing them, one with dark brown hair and the other with blonde, both were very young.
Sicarii looked to the wood elf beside her and smiled softly, grateful for someone who she
could share these secrets with.

Faelin was quiet and attentive to her. It was important that she told her things. "Oh really?
See I told you there was something special about you," she smirked lighting punching her
shoulder.

"Special indeed," she said. "Special enough to survive a genocide... or to then live off the
blood of innocents for thousands of years." Sicarii spoke ruefully, appreciating Faelin's
friendly attempt to comfort her, but ultimately feeling quite pessimistic. In an attempt to
lighten the mood, Sicarii turned to her companion. "What of you? I know about the
brotherhood and Katjia and Sophie, but do you have any blood relatives left?"

She shook her head. "No, my parents passed when I was little, I had a brother but for all I
know he's in the woods, probably dead or feral." She shrugged. "I was never close to them. I
found myself straying to other families and caravan's I got there to Skyrim for stowing away
on Katjia's caravan. Best/ worst decision ever." She smiled

"Oh, I see. That explains how the two of you met... though I'm very sorry for your loss. It
seems so many in this world have lost their family, in part or in whole." She looked sadly at
the orphans running around the small courtyard, laughing as they play together. "But then it's
up to us, in the end, to make our own family. To find the people we were meant to have in
our lives."

"Absolutely, my family is Katjia, Sophie, Cicero and the family...and you," she replied with a
soft smile, holding hand hand. "I know we let you in quick but it's hard to find people to trust
who don't want you for just your money or things,"
Sicarii held Faelin's hand and gave it a slight squeeze, a soft smile curling the corners of her
mouth. "I understand what you mean. I don't know how to explain it, but as soon as I met you
all... well, I trusted you the second I saw you. Like some kind of fate or destiny had led us all
to that moment." She laughed, thinking herself silly at voicing those thoughts.

"Even with Cicero's knife in your throat?" She asked rather shocked. "That's incredible. And
yeah maybe it was fate." Frankly she believed in fate bringing her this far. Faelin looked over
at the orphanage assistant, she waved her over to the two

The young blonde Nord, having been called over, approached the two elves who sat under an
aspen tree. She wore a plain cotton dress with a muddied apron--having been playing with the
children earlier that morning--her hair was a fair blonde, and her eyes hazel, spotted here and
there with gold flecks. She smiled down at the women, cheeks rosy, and said, "Hello, Faelin!
What can I help you with?"

"Well I wanted you to meet my new friend, Sicarii, Sicarii this is amaryllis. she helps out
here at the orphanage." She leaned into her ear. "She's Sophie's favorite."

Sicarii offered a smile and small wave, "Hello Amaryllis." The orphanage assistant continued
smiling, saying, "Hi, Sicarii. It's so nice to meet you." A breeze rustled the aspen tree's
leaves, and its gust blew stray hairs from Amaryllis' bun. Tucking those locks back behind
her ear, Amaryllis asked, "I haven't seen you in town before. What brings you to Riften?"
Sicarii looked between Faelin and Amaryllis, before trying to carefully word her response.
"Well..." she began, "Faelin, Cicero, and Katjia stumbled across me in their travels. I was
living just outside the city, and they offered I join them."

"Yeah! She's new to Skyrim, so we thought we'd take her around and introduce her to the
scenery," darling smiled nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. She was trying hard not to
mention her affliction. "Sophie seems to have taken a liking to her too!"

"Sophie's a great girl--she can always see the best in people. In which case," she said,"You
must be pretty great, too." Amaryllis exuded genuine happiness, as though everyone she met
was a well-beloved friend to her. "Well, welcome to Skyrim, Sicarii. I hope the land here and
its people treat you well."

"Isn't she just a bundle of joy~?" Faelin grinned. "I was hoping Amaryllis if you could watch
Sophie while I'm gone. I need to head out for a few days to do some jobs and I just need to
make sure Sophie is going to be in good hands," she summoned hopefully. "I'll make sure
you're paid 100 septims a day,"

"Of course, I'd be hap--" Amaryllis was cut off by a commotion coming from the town
square. From the orphanage courtyard, they could see a large crowd of people, but not much
else. Faelin and Sicarii were quick to stand, saying their goodbyes to Sophie, Constance
Michel, and Amaryllis before departing. Amaryllis, as curious as a Khajiit, couldn't help but
follow them--slipping lithely out through Honourhall's front door, and trailing the duo to
Riften's centre. The young Nord, barely an adult, had always been naive, blissfully ignorant
of much more than her own unquenched curiosity. She longed for adventure, and as much as
she adored children, her heart placed her in the shoes of a valiant Nordic warrior. Oh how she
wished she were as carefree as the Wood Elf Faelin. Amaryllis ducked and weaved her way
through the packed crowd of onlookers, her blonde head poking up here and there as she
stood on tippy toes--hoping for a better look. She could see the two elves Faelin and Sicarii
standing before two strangers--both dressed alike in brown leather robes and matching masks.
They were speaking in a Dunner accent, saying, "You there!" pointing at Faelin, "You're the
one they call Dragonborn?"

"Yes, I am. What are you doing terrorizing the people of this town?" Faelin snapped, crossing
her arms over her chest. Katjia came out to see the ruckus and to join her friend. Looks like
the two were going to need some help taking the cultists down.

The female dunmer, her voice slightly muffled by the strange mask, replied angrily, "Your
lies fall on deaf ears, deceiver! The true dragonborn comes... You are but his shadow. When
Lord Miirak appears all shall bear witness. None shall stand to oppose him!" At this the
cultists extended their hands, attacking Faelin and Katjia in a flurry of lightning magicka. The
crowd of townspeople screamed and ran away in all directions, leaving guards to stand
aimlessly, quite unsure of what to do in all the panic. Sicarii drew a small dagger from her
robes, but was feeling paralysed by the electricity coursing through her. These strangers were
strong--very strong...

Faelin pulled arrow after arrow from her bow and shot into one of the cultists. "Amaryllis!
Get down!" Faelin shouted from across the market. Katjia shouted the other cultist into Brand
shei's market

The female cultist was pushed by Katjia's Unrelenting Force shout into Brand Shei's stall,
knocking over his displays. The woman quickly composed herself and shouted back, except
this time using curse words instead of Dov. She then threw more lightning bolts at the group,
targeting the two dragonborns. The male cultist tore Faelin's arrow from his shoulder--bright
red blood pouring from his wound and staining his leather robes. He also continued attacking
with his shock magicka. Amaryllis had been born and raised in skyrim, her father had been a
fierce warrior--having been victorious in many legendary battles. He had taught her many of
his techniques--humouring his curious little girl. So, in saying this, she knew her way around
a fight. Amaryllis was quick to pull a sword from a Rift guard's scabbard, and, ducking under
Faelin's oncoming arrows, she dashed towards the male cultist. She slashed him upside the
chest--leaving him alive but with a gaping wound.

"Amaryllis!!" Faelin shrieked, worried over the young nord but she had to finish off the girl
dunmer. She lunged forward with her dagger. She grabbed her shoulder and stabbed her gut
over and over. Bitch had it coming. Katjia waved her hand over her face and disappeared into
the shadows and backed up against Amaryllis. The male dunmer staggered back, blood
dripping from his mouth.

Sicarii watched, dagger in hand, as Faelin repeatedly stabbed the female dunmer. The white
haired elf began running towards her, ready to assist, when she noticed Amaryllis and Katjia
to her side. The Nord was up against the male cultist, he was clutching his chest and pointing
a blood soaked hand at her, apparently charging for his next attack. Katjia was behind her,
but help was unneeded--Amaryllis plunged her blade into the man's chest. It's other end
peeked out from his back, and as quickly as she had made the attack, she withdrew her
weapon, leaving the cultist to fall heavily onto the cobbled street.

Faelin pushed the female to the ground. After taking a moment to catch their breath she
groaned and plopped on the cobblestone She panted and looked up at Sicarii and then to
Amaryllis. "What the fuck was that?" She cried "Katjia get Cicero from the house!" She
called "we're fucking leaving!" She held her head in her hands frustrated in what happened.

Sicarii was struck dumb, pondering the situation herself. This short, young Nordic girl just
took down a fully grown dark elf with two strikes of her sword. The idea of it was almost
inconceivable. And yet here she was, blood now staining her already muddied dress, spatter
leaving droplets in her blonde hair and on her pale face. Amaryllis' eyes had taken on a
fierceness one would expect from a seasoned fighter... she stood still with the guard's sword
still in hand, then turned to face Sicarii and Faelin--Katjia already having slipped off to
retrieve Cicero--a bright blush now covering her cheeks, and hard eyes suddenly turned
demure. The sword fell from her hand and clattered to the pavement below.

Faelin picked her head up and looked at her. "Where..where did you learn to do that?
Amaryllis you could have gotten hurt!" She got up shakily. She didn't want to bring the fight
home where Sophie was. Sophie did not need to see her mother tear into someone or
worse...get hurt because of her. "Are you hurt?" She asked checking her over nervously

Amaryllis allowed herself to be looked over--Faelin was checking ever inch of her for some
hidden injury. "I-I'm alright," her voice shook a little. "My father taught me how to fight... I-I
never thought I'd have to use my skills... especially not like this." She gazed over at the
cultist's bodies and shivered. Her home had been violated by these people... she was just glad
nobody was injured during the fight. Sicarii made her way over to the two and said, "Faelin--
should we give their bodies a once over? We may find a clue as to who sent them or where
they came from."

"Yeah, check their bodies, grab everything and toss them into the water below. I'll take
amaryllis back. C'mon" she replied taking her by the shoulder. "Amaryllis you know I'm not
angry I'm just startled." She sighed. "I was worried about you. Thank you...I really appreciate
what you did for us..."

"It's ok... you don't have to apologise... and honestly, what was I thinking?" She laughed. "I'm
the assistant at a children's orphanage... you guys are adventurers--by the nine, you and Katjia
are dragonborn! Whatever made me think you needed my help." Sicarii then came running up
to the two--breathless--and with her incredibly long braid trailing behind her. "Faelin!! I
found this note on one of their bodies! It says they took a boat from Raven Rock to
Windhelm. And then at the end it mentions this guy 'Miraak'. Didn't one of them say his
name to you before?"

"Miraak? What? No I don't. Not yet anyways." She growled and turned her attention back to
Amaryllis. "You're important and by the nine if I knew you could fight like that I'd have you
protect Sophia with us!" She replied. "You saved us Amaryllis. It was amazing," she smiled

Amaryllis' brought her hands to her blushing cheeks and smiled shyly. "Faelin, I have a
question--" she clasped her bloodied hands in front of her, and pleadingly she asked, "May I
please join you? I know of Raven Rock, my father had brought me to Solstheim as a little
girl--I could even lead you to an old Nordic village I remember visiting...?"

Faelin stared her down and pursed her lips and nodded. "Yeah you can come with us but I
want you to be extra careful okay? I don't think I could live with myself if you got hurt." She
gave her a reassuring smile. "Go get your things, we can get you some armor and weapons in
windhelm."

Amaryllis' squealed with delight and turned quickly to skip back to the orphanage. Her
golden braids shimmered in the early morning sunshine as her figure slipped lithely away.
Sicarii and the others stared after her... Quite taken aback at this girls' hidden talent, and her
almost apathetic response to the whole situation. Killing seemed to come naturally to this
young Nordic beauty... The mysterious elf was the first to speak, her eyes still locked on the
door of Honourhall Orphanage, as if staring and seeing Amaryllis through its walls.
"Did... did that really happen?" She asked, finally blinking and breaking her gaze. "And
what's all this Miraak nonsense?" She directed her question at the Bosmer, pure confusion
written upon her sharp features. "When I said I'd join your gang I thought I was only up
against dragons and the odd bandit... But a cult leader? What have you and Katjia gotten
yourselves into?" At that moment Cicero came dashing from the shadows. He latched onto
Faelin's arm and screeched, "Oh, Listener!! I'm soooo glad you're safe!" He then spied the
two bodies of the dunmer and slithered off to investigate. Sicarii watched him in disbelief...
He was so strange!

"I don't know, this is the first I've heard of this guy but they're telling us he's dragonborn. We
knew two dragonborns was strange enough but a third? Something is wrong here and we
need to get to the bottom of it. Now. "Katjia can not wait to dig her claws into some more
cultists..." she growled and walked over to Cicero. "Cicero, are we ready to travel out to sea?
Enough supplies?" She asked

"Oh yes! Plenty plenty!" He replied. "Dried meats, salted fish, bread and mead to spare!
Cicero's also made sure we always have large stockpiles of weapons and potions to spare.
Oh dammit I sent it too early again!

"Oh yes! Plenty plenty!" He replied. "Dried meats, salted fish, bread and mead to spare!
Cicero's also made sure we always have large stockpiles of weapons and potions to spare."
Normal words from an abnormal man who danced blithely over the two dead cultists' bodies.
"I've packed our things already," his hands clapped along to a tune only he could hear, "we
can leave as soon as the Listener wills it."

"Good, let's say goodbye to Sophia and then let's leave. I want to get there as soon as
possible. I need to crush another cultist under my boots." She growled walking towards the
orphanage with Katjia and Sicarii.

Faelin opened the orphanage door to find Amaryllis hoisting a large napsack over her
shoulder. She was still wearing her muddied dress, but had put on a fur coat knowing how
cold their trip to Windhelm would be. At her hip was the embossed leather scabbard of a steel
sword and on her feet were a pair of well-worn travelling boots. At sight of Faelin, Katjia,
Cicero and Sicarii, Amaryllis flushed a deep red and bounded towards them. Eyes alight, she
said, "I'm all packed! See, I knew it was a good idea to keep a travel bag handy--its got tons
of provisions in case you guys run out of anything." The bag weighed down heavily on the
young Nord, but it was obvious her burden didn't bother her. Too great was her excitement
and the lure of adventure. Sophia ducked her little head out from behind a wall. They could
tell she knew, from the ways her eyes seemed sad and downcast, that her family were setting
out questing once again.
Faelin patted Amaryllis shoulder in a proud matter and went to pick up her daughter, kissing
her cheek gently. "I know sweetie, but we have to go. We can have you stay with uncle
Reyvn, or uncle Vilkas? Maybe Nazir will watch over you and you can play with Babette?
Yeah?" She hugged her tightly, strong enough to hold the ten year old up in her arms. "Sicarii
would you mind if we dropped her off somewhere before leaving. We only trust Amaryllis
and I don't think the Guild want to care for a child right now. It's too dangerous for her in the
cistern." She purred and nuzzled her head to her cub's. "Amaryllis do you mind? Katjia only
trusts you in the city to care for her precious cub."

Sicarii nodded yes to Faelin's question and Amaryllis agreed vehemently. "No, I don't mind at
all! Who were you thinking we leave her with? I wouldn't suggest anywhere further than
Whiterun, but preferably somewhere within the Rift." Amaryllis was thoughtful for a
moment, and with her hand clutching her chin, an idea struck.
Oh dammit. I send my messages early alllll the time.

Her gold-flecked eyes sparkled as she said, "Why don't we take her to my mother's cottage
North of Riften? It's where I was living before I moved to the city. And," she added with a
small blush and downcast eyes, "if you like me, you'll love her."

Faelin held Sophie close and kissed her cheek. "Are you okay with that sweetheart?" She
asked brushing some hair behind her ear. As someone who killed people for a living and was
a plaything of a Daedra, she seemed so in love with her child, adopted nonetheless. "Me and
Da will be back soon okay? We'll all be back as soon as possible,"

Sophie looked deeply into her mother's eyes before throwing her arms around Faelin and
hugging her tightly. "Just stay safe, mummy! I'll pray every night for you to come home
safe." She had tears in her eyes but smiled nonetheless. She knew she had to be brave for
mummy. Amaryllis chimed in, "You needn't worry while you're with my mother, Sophie. Do
you remember? She came to visit us a few times. She even made sweet rolls for everybody
one time." The older Nord bent down to confirm the younger one, "I promise you have
nothing to fear. She'll look after you as a grandmother and will likely spoil you rotten."
Amaryllis laughed and gave Sophie's nose a little pinch.

Faelin hugged her tight and picked her up into her arms. It was hard not to choke up when
Sophie got upset about her leaving. She had already been through it twice with her own
parents she didn't need it to happen a third or even a fourth. "We'll be okay my little gem. I
promise we'll be okay." She kissed her cheek a few times.

Sophie kissed her back then quickly wiped away her tears. She put on a brave face before
saying, "Ok, mummy, I'm ready to go." The group left the orphanage, waving goodbye to the
other children and Constance Michel, but before leaving, made one last stop to Honeyside.
There they were sure to take Sophie's new Dolly--her newest gift from Faelin--so she may be
comforted while her mother was away.

Faelin secured Sophie's backpack and picked her up into her arms. "Is everyone ready?" She
asked looking back at her rag tag team of misfits

"Oh yesssss, Listener! Cicero won't hesitate to slit more throats!" He smiled devishly as he
branded a Daedric dagger. He imitated the knife movement then chuckled loudly. "Poor
sweet Cicero can't WAIT to send more souls to Sithis!" Sicarii nodded her head in
affirmation. The mysterious elf held no noticeable weapons, presumably she would rely on
her Magicka and vampiric abilities in any fight. And Amaryllis was happily bouncing from
foot to foot, anticipation bubbling over into an excited laugh! "I'm ready when you are,
Faelin! I honestly can't wait! I haven't been back to Solstheim in year!"

Faelin smiled and nodded, hoisting Sophie up more and they made their way to the carriage.
Katjia piled everyone onto the carriage and paid the driver. "We need to go to a cabin nearby
and then wind helm." She replied dangling a bag of coins in front of him

The man grabbed the coinpurse and replied gruffly. "Get on in," he said in a thick Nordic
accent, "I'll take you wherever you want." They rode in the carriage for a while, enjoying the
scenic views of an early morning, and talked and laughed together. It was a merry time, and
merrier still when they arrived at Amaryllis' mother's cottage. It was a small building with its
own herb garden, flower bed, chicken coup, and even horses' stable out front. At the
commotion caused by the trundling carriage, and out of curiousity, a woman of stoutly
appearance stuck her head out of a vine shrouded window. At seeing her daughter, she
gathered up her skirts and dashed to answer the door.

Faelin got out with Cicero and Amaryllis, the two assassins cooing over their child and giving
her plenty of kisses goodbye. "You're going to have fun here I promise, me and Da will write
to you I promise." She whispered nuzzling into her neck. Katjia stayed in the wagon with
Sicarii. "I don't think I know anyone who those two love more. Cicero I'm surprised he has
enough room in his heart for anyone other than mother or Faelin." She sighed "You okay
with boats?" She asked

Sicarii looked from the happy family to Katjia. "To be truthful, I'm not sure. I haven't ever
really been on one. Small row boats, yes, but not large ships like I've heard the ones
Windhelm has." She sighed before stretching her arms and legs. "I truly hope I don't get
seasick. Do you know if it's a long trip? To this... Solstheim, I mean?"

"I'm unsure, hopefully just a few days or even a week at most. I hope it's just a few days..."
she sighed Faelin greeted Amaryllis's mother, Cicero holding Sophie for now and cooing
over her. "Hello ma'am I'm so sorry to bother you right now,"

"Oh, that's perfectly alright." The rosy, rotund woman bent down to greet Sophie. "Hello,
little one!" she said, "My but haven't you grown? Each time I see you you're at least a head
taller!" The woman smiled and extended her hand to Faelin and Cicero in greeting,
"Welcome welcome, you must be Sophie's parents? What brings you both all the way out
here?"

"We need someone to watch Sophie, I only trust so few people in Skyrim to watch over her.
We're going out to an island near Morrowwind and it's too dangerous for her to come with
us." She replied Cicero was bouncing anxiously with his daughter in his arms, he didn't know
whether to trust the old woman or not, but if Listener trusted them than so did he.
Morning! Not paying attention to math!

"Oh, well of course you can leave her with me! My, there's plenty we can do together here--
gardening, cooking--" she put her hand to her chin in thought, "and well, plenty of other
things, I'm sure. I have my own horse and carriage here, I can take Sophie to and from the
city whenever she pleases." Amaryllis' mother patted the young girl softly on the shoulder
and bent in to stage whisper, "I also have a stash of long taffy treats you might like to help me
eat." She gave the girl a conspiratory wink then laughed.
Math is hard because if you don't understand the formula you won't understand anything...
It'd help if your teacher could explain it to you one on on one.
Darn autocorrect.

My teacher is an old lady's that over complicated math so imm in a boat without a paddle
Sophie giggled and started to cheer up. "Thank you Amaryllis," she whispered "Perfect,
Thank you so much ma'am, you're doing us a huge favor! I promise to pay you," Faelin
grinned Cicero came forward begrudgingly, kissing Sophie's head and giving her one last
tight hug and handed her over to Faelin. Despite the girl being ten and not a tiny toddler, the
two were able to hold her without any trouble. "Goodbye my little flower," she purred,
kissing her cheek gently.
I just realized this never sent!

Sophie kissed her adoptive parents goodbye. She no longer had tears in her eyes, as she was
determined to be brave, and even managed to smile at their departure. Amaryllis hugged both
her mother and Sophie goodbye, kissing each of them and wishing them well. They said their
farewells and ventured back down the winding dirt road to the waiting horse and carriage.
Sicarii could see from her vantage point little Sophie take the cheery woman's (Amaryllis'
mother's) hand, and enter into the small cottage..

Faelin took a shaky breath. She hated leaving Sophie but she needed to get to the bottom of
this cultist stuff. The road to Windhelm was quiet, save for a few bandits that tried to hitch a
ride only to get an icicle to the face by Sicarii. "So what are we doing when we get to the
island?" Faelin asked. "We need a plan,"

((Haha, I loved that icicle part!!)) The group was sitting at a table in the Candlehearth Hall,
Windhelm's biggest and most popular inn. It was night by the time they arrived in the city
and the first few flakes of a snowstorm had begun to fall. They had decided to seek shelter in
and rent rooms at the Hall while they waited out the storm. Candlehearth was almost dead
that evening, not many had wanted to brave the weather, and save for Faelin's group, there
were only the innkeeper Elda Early-Dawn and Luaffyn the bard to be seen. Sicarii answered
Faelin's question, candlelight flickering and casting shadows against her hollow features.
"Let's see about buying armour for Amaryllis tomorrow." "Oh, yes!" The Nord began, "And
then we have to take... Hmm, what did that note say? The Northern Maiden? To Raven Rock.
I suppose we'll ask around in town there if they know anything about this Miirak guy."

((Thank you!! :DDD)) "I swear when I see Miirak I'm going to rip him limb from limb and
toss him to Cicero. I'm sure little man will have a ball tearing him apart for trying to kill us."
She sighed looking back at the Jester eagerly playing guard dog to anyone who came close to
the group. "Calm your anger Faelin, we can't have you getting yourself worked up" katjia
whispered to her Elven friend

"They say he is Dragonborn," said Sicarii. "But how can that be? It's odd enough we'd have
two Dragonborns in the same era, but three?" The elf leaned back against her chair and
sighed. "It's ok, you guys." Chirped Amaryllis. "Think of it this way, we have the upper hand
here. Two against one!"
"Still-if this jack off has a cult it's going to be a lot harder." Faelin grumbled, gripping the
table. "This is such horse shit.." she growled, her anger boiling with each passing minute.
"Faelin maybe go take a walk to cool off, you're starting to singe the table," it was true, where
her hands laid were perfect hand sized burn marks.

Sicarii called over the server girl and requested drinks for the table. She came back quickly
with tankards of mead for everyone. "Here Faelin, drink this. It'll calm you." The elf, with her
long snow-white braid that fell to below her knees, stood. "I'm thirsty... I'm going out, I'll be
back by morning." Amaryllis looked after the woman as she abruptly departed. "But... But"
she looked down at her own tankard. "What does she mean she's thirsty?"

"Bye-Bye, please do be Careful as well?" Faelin called over her shoulder to her as she took a
long drink, "Cicero, sit." She nodded to the empty stool next to her. "She means that she's
going to get some water is all." Yeah it was best that Amaryllis didn't know right at the
moment. Didn't want to scare the poor girl

Amaryllis accepted the answer without a second thought. She skulled down the entirety of
her drink and wiped her mouth dry. "I might head off to bed, too. We have a very long few
days ahead of us, I suggest you three don't stay up too long."

"Yes ma'am," Faelin replied as she started to get tipsy and lean on her Jester sidekick. Katjia
on the other hand handled her booze with care and watched over the two assassins.
"Goodnight Amaryllis," she replied

"Goodnight!" The young Nord yawned and stretched her arms. Then she toddled off to her
room and fell fast asleep... Where she was rudely awakened hours later by a figure
silhouetted against the darkness of her bedroom. It's eyes glowed but in them there was no
hostility. The figure held out a hand before it and from there produced a palm sized flame.
Through the flickering of magefire, Amaryllis could see it was only Sicarii. "I was wondering
how long it would take you to wake." She said. "Get up, will you? Faelin and the others have
been waiting for you." Sicarii turned to leave and Amaryllis followed, quickly jumping out of
bed and pulling on her well-worn boots. She stumbled out into the hall still fastening them.
There the gang we're settling in to an early breakfast, kindly provided by Nils, the resident
cook. "Good morning, everyone! Did I miss anything?"

"Katjia spent some time with the local nords in the gray quarter." The cat purred, retracting
her claws. "They seemed to learn their lesson to speaking of the dark elves in such a manner."
"Katjia almost clawed a guy's eyes out," Faelin replied with a mouth full of food. "We'll leave
after breakfast and a little shopping for you Amaryllis, get you all fixed up." Katjia replied.

Amaryllis excited gnawed her way through a breakfast of apple cabbage stew and ale. She
even ate a whole loaf of bread and a sweet roll she'd stowed away with her. Now with a full
belly, she was ready to be fitted for her new armour. "I'm so excited," she told the group on
the way to the marketplace. "I've never had proper armour before--my father wanted me to
follow in his footsteps but mama would never hear of it. I'm no milkdrinker now so I can
have a say in what I do or don't do." The pretty young Nord tapped against the sword at her
side. "I'll prove to both my parents I'm a true Warrior."

Katjia chuckled. She recognized that attitude anywhere. She was the same way as a cub.
Wanting nothing more than to travel the world and go exploring. Looks like she got her wish.
Plus the repercussions. "Get whatever Armor you want." She replied, a sneaky hand grabbing
a coin purse out of someone's pocket. "Katjia has many coins." Towards the back Cicero
bounced in circles around Faelin and Sicarii

The group sidled up to the various stalls dotting the marketplace, and glinting at her from
Niranye's display was a steel chest piece of Nordic design. To anyone else the armour would
appear ordinary, but on it was markings similar to those her departed father once wore.
Amaryllis scrambled to grab the breastplate and it's matching pieces. "Could this be anymore
perfect?!" She almost yelled--her eyes were alight and a flush was creeping up into her
cheeks. Sicarii had also had her eye caught by something--on Aval Atheron's stall was a set
of jewelry, a pair of blue teardrop earrings and a matching teardrop tiara that would rest
against her forehead. She paid the vendor and applied the jewelry using a small mirror Aval
had on hand. She looked at herself admiringly... For a moment she thought the figure looking
back was pretty, but a toothy grin that exposed viciously sharp fangs brought her back to
reality. Having her attention now drawn away, she noticed Amaryllis was trying to get her
currently unpaid for armour on. It looked to Sicarii that the pieces needed to be refitted... And
bought. She smiled while looking at Faelin and Katjia trying desperately to help the incapable
Nord.

"Okay, Okay calm down we're going to get it fitted, just let us pay first!" Faelin laughed
trying to sort through her coins for the right amount. "You're an excited little one, aren't
you?" Katjia asked with a chuckle helping pack up the other pieces of armor. Cicero stood
next to Sicarii, a wife smile Stretched across his face but his brows furrowed in a glare. "Tell
me, unchild. What are your intentions for our little family?" He asked malice dripping from
his cheery demeanor.

Sicarii glanced at the Jester who stood beside her. He was all sorts of suspicious, eyeing her
from head to toe. "I'm not sure what you mean, Cicero." Sicarii said, turning to face him
directly. The elf of mysterious origins had a haughty lift to her chin, and looked down her
sharp nose at the Imperial. She was especially tall for an elf, and cut an impressive figure
beside the 'little man', as he was often referred.

"I mean~" his words ok a sing song tone to them. "What do you plan on doing with /my/
listener? I do not intend to share her. She is all mine!" Whether he thought Sicarii was trying
to get in the way of their weird romantic relationship or even replace him was unknown.
"Listener shouldn't trust you so easily. She has problems with /trust/~~," he coped. After
watching her family burn in front of her and leaving the brotherhood to her, Cicero, Babette,
Nazir, the night mother, and two recruits. "Fae-listener....is mine."

Sicarii hid a sly smile under her delicate hand. "Cicero, dear Cicero... I'm an old woman,
perhaps even older than the Night Mother herself... I'm far too weathered to be playing games
as the young ones do. I'm simply here for the thrill of adventure, and to experience a taste of
youth once again... You wouldn't hold that against me, would you?" She flicked strands of
white hair from her face in an effortless motion. She really had a regal quality to her.

He pouted and shook his head. "No...Listener wants you here. She likes you, Her and the
cat." He grumbled. "But-If I suspect you are here harm my dear, sweet, listener~-" his voice
dropped atleast two octaves "-I'm cut you where you stand and wear your skin like a suit." He
growled.
Sicarii burst out laughing. She wiped tears from her eyes and breathed a response through her
chuckles. "Oh, you are too good, Cicero! You really found your life calling when you became
a Jester!" How funny she found it that this little blood-crazed man was threatening her... A
millennia old Ayleidic vampire...

His face got red and just as he was about to shoot another threat, Faelin stepped in. "Hey! It
looks like you two are getting along," She replied with a sweet smile "We got Amaryllis a
Nordic breastplate and some fur boots and some gauntlets. we are going to get them fitted
over at the blacksmith." She looked at Cicero smiling softly.

Sicarii nodded her head towards Cicero and said, "Thanks for that, little man. I haven't
laughed like that in years!" She chuckled as she walked away--leaving a red-faced Cicero and
fondly smiling Faelin in her wake. Amaryllis was standing outside the Blacksmith with
Katjia, talking to Oengal War Anvil about being fitted. "I'll take your measurements now, but
your armour won't be ready until tomorrow morning." He eyed the lithe little Nord. To him,
she didn't appear to have ever lifted a sword before, and noticing the fine blade at her hip
made him wonder where she could have gotten it. The craftsmanship of it resembled
something almost legendary. Coming back to his senses, Oengal continued. "I'll take half the
payment now. That'll be 100 septims."

Katjia paid and looked at him just before the coin purse landed into his hands. "I can give you
more if you get it done by tonight. We're on a rather, tight, schedule." She purred, hoping her
honeyed words would get to the man. "Or we can take our business elsewhere."

Oengal raised his eyebrows at the offer, but also the brashness of this Khajiit's statement. He
pondered for a moment before replying, "I don't have much else work today, I can have it
done by this evening but I'll be charging you twice as much." He pocketed the hundred gold
and was already thinking about the weight of an extra 300.

"Deal," she purred and patted Amaryllis's shoulder. "Now let's get you some potions and
some lunch," she was going to treat this girl to no end. Maybe she could prepare her better
than what she had when she first came into Skyrim.

Amaryllis jumped on Katjia and gave her a mammoth of a hug. "Thank you so much, Katjia!
Now, where should we go to eat? I heard there's an alright place in the gray quarter. Should
we try there?"

((!!!!!)) "Oh course, we should get used to Dark eleven cooking." She chuckled and wrapped
an arm around her and walked her to the gray quarter. She was a sweet kid all and all

The pair found the New Gnisis Cornerclub and entered together. Faelin, Cicero and Sicarii
had been left behind in the marketplace to join them once they'd finished shopping. The
Cornerclub was dingy and not well lit. A dark elf, presumably the owner, was standing
behind the bar. He greeted them without looking up, "Have a seat, there should be plenty of
space."

"Thank you sir," Katjia sat down at the bar and ordered some mead and some yam soup for
herself and amaryllis. It was frigid outside and she could use a pick me up
Amaryllis sat down beside Katjia. Ambarys, the tavern owner, turned to his assistant who
was sweeping the floor. "Malthyr! Get me two bowls of yam soup and the mead!" The
assistant scurried off to procure the food, and in the meantime, Ambarys scowled at his two
guests. He wasn't one to hide his emotions, and this was evident in his hatred for Nords. He'd
had a run in with some bigoted Stormcloaks earlier that day, and was looking to take out his
frustrations on someone. He chose Amaryllis. "What's someone like you doing in the gray
quarter, anyways?" He asked gruffly.

"We're on our way to Raven Rock." Katjia answered for her. "We'll be there for a while and I
need her to get used to ash yam soup and mead. But she's a good kid," Katjia smiled softly

He hurumphed before carrying on with his work. Malthyr came out from the kitchen
balancing the two bowls of soup and bottles of mead in his arms. He placed them on the table
before the two women and said in a hushed tone, "Forgive Ambarys--he has trouble
forgetting the slights of Ulfric and his Stormcloaks. Of course it would be easier to do so if he
weren't living in Windhelm, but what can be done?"

"Katjia knows how to help. Katjia is in the imperial legion. It is only a matter of time before
we smite the jarl." She growled. She hated the stormcloaks with a passion. Save for Ralof. He
was one of the few she could stand.

Amaryllis had no ties to either side, her family had always been nuetral in regards to the
Stormcloaks and Imperial Legion. Of course she could sympathise with people from both
sides who'd endured hardship. "Should I consider joining as well, Katjia?" The assistant
Malthyr took his leave.

"Only if you would like. Katjia will not dictate your descions as much as Katjia would like
you to join the imperials. You are a free thinking young woman." The cat kissed her head
gently and continued to eat.

Amaryllis gleamed--she really was so childlike and responded to affection enormously. The
pair finished eating together and left the Cornerclub to regroup with the others at
Candlehearth Hall. There they all talked strategy until it was time to recover Amaryllis'
armour from the Blacksmith. Oengal War Anvil was awaiting them, her pieces of armour laid
out on the counter for collection. "That'll be 300 septims." The old Nord extended his hand
for payment.

Katjia dropped the bag of coins into his hands and took the armor. "Thank you kindly,
Oengal, we really appreciate your hard work." Faelin excitedly looked over the armor.
"You're going to look so tough in this!" She giggled

Amaryllis flexed her arms and pouted. "Don't I already look tough, Faelin?" Then she
laughed and took the armour from Katjia. Both the Wood Elf and Khajiit helped the young
Nord don her new armour, and before long she was equipped from head to foot. "Ok!"
Amaryllis began as she drew her steel sword from its scabbard. "Are we ready to board the
Northern Maiden?"

"Yes we are, now does everyone have all of their stuff?" Faelin asked looking around at the
crew to make sure they were ready to set sail. It'd be a few days that they'd be on water and
so time to get off and look around at any stops along the way
Everyone nodded their affirmation. And so at that they made their to Windhelm's docks.
There was a ship there being attended to by the Argonian dockworkers, and onboard was a
man who sat upon a pile of wooden boxes--presumably resting after making port. He looked
suspiciously at the group of people who boarded his boat, and asked them, "What can I do for
you?"

"We need to go to Raven Rock. Now." Katjia said sternly. There was no way that this man
would say no to five warriors with death in at least four of their eyes right?@

Realising he hadn't much choice in the matter, he sighed deeply in resignation. "Your passage
will cost 250 septims, and don't even bother haggling." The captain began preparing the ship,
then the Northern Maiden was sailed from the docks of Windhelm, setting off into the Sea of
Ghosts.

Faelin sat on the railing of the boat, enjoying the sea salt air and ready to attack any monster
that dared cross her path. Cicero at her side, eager to serve her in anyway that she wanted.
Anything. Katjia sat on the desk with Sicarii and Amaryllis, stretching out and preparing for a
catnap.

Amaryllis was lounging on some boxes, napping, while Sicarii was engrossed in a spell tome
Katjia had stolen for her back in Windhelm. The tome was old and valuable, something she
as a Master Destruction Mage could appreciate. However, this certain spell book wouldn't
teach her fire, frost, or lightning, but a completely new school of arts altogether. Conjuration
magic. And so every now and then the bronze skinned elf would cast a spell on the body of a
dead skeever who had stowed away aboard the ship. As yet she'd been unsuccessful in
bringing it back to life.

"Hey Sicarii," Katjia mewed sleepily and let out a soft purr to show her relaxation around her.
"How long do you think it will take for Cicero and Faelin to finally settle down? As in
actually admit they are crazy in love? I know Faelin is but Cicero? What are your thoughts?
Think it's unrequited?"

Sicarii looked up from her tome, her concentration breaking and once again failing to
resurrect the skeever. But she'd become bored of this endeavour and closed her new book,
placing it away in Amaryllis' knapsack for safekeeping. "Cicero... He doesn't seem to know
what love is. True, he may feel it, but could he ever recognise it? To him his attraction to
Faelin may just be the natural bond of a Keeper and the Listener. I'm not sure he could ever
admit those feelings to himself, let alone Faelin." Sicarii had lived many years, ((I calculated
and she's more than 4000 years old.)) and in that time had loved and lost, but more
importantly she'd learned.

"Faelin is going to be crushed when she hears that. Katjia has told her there are plenty of fish
in the sea but she won't hear it. Poor thing is lovesick..." she signed and began to file her
nails. "Maybe it's about time we relook for a replacement for her affections? You have been
around the block, Katjia is sure you ha e good advice."

The vampire laughed, then leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms. "Oh my," she said.
"Yes yes, I would have plenty of advice for young Faelin. And are you insinuating we
become matchmakers for her? T'would be hard in the confines of Solstheim. I hear it's nary as
populated as Skyrim."

The vampire laughed, then leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms. "Oh my," she said.
"Yes yes, I would have plenty of advice for young Faelin. And are you insinuating we
become matchmakers for her? T'would be hard in the confines of Solstheim. I hear it's nary as
populated as Skyrim."

"Katjia is sure we can find some lucky dunmer to sweep her off her feet." She purred. "She's
still young and deserves to find someone else to fight for. We have tried; the mage for hire in
Riften, Farkas in Whiterun, the argonian in Windhelm. None of them caught her attention."

"We need to find somebody with a similar personality to Cicero. She obviously has a thing
for fools..." Sicarii tilted her head on her hand in thought. "We simply must keep our eyes
out."

"It might be fun, looking for a partner for Faelin. Maybe we can find one for you too," she
snickered. "I'm sure you've been lonely for the past, god knows how long?"

Sicarii bristled. "And what of you, Katjia? I see no reason why you should be yet unmarried.
I've seen Brynjolf around Riften, my but he's a handsome one." She grinned devilishly at the
Khajiit.

She purses her lips and looked away scratching her ear. "He uh...he wouldn't go for a cat..not
while Karliah is around. She is much more deserving of his affection than I am. Plus they're
quite cute together."

"Karliah? I learned through the grapevine she'd returned to the Thieves Guild. I remember
hearing stories of her floating all around Tamriel back in the day. Her and Gallus, that is...
Tell me, are they really a couple? I don't see why he shouldn't be interested in a woman such
as yourself, Khajiit or no."

"Well no...they just seem close. Katjia is worried that maybe they already have gotten
intimate with each other.." she mumbled but smiled slightly. "Thank you Sicarii, you are truly
a diamond in the rough." She gave the elf a friendship nuzzle and lick to the forehead. "A
custom of the Katjia when accepting a new family member."

Sicarii smiled graciously. "So we're sisters now? I feel silly in saying this, but I'm overjoyed.
I've had no family for so long." Amaryllis began to stir beside Sicarii--her hair was
disheveled and her eyes were droopy with fatigue. "Mmm?" She mumbled. "My, but that was
a nice nap..." With trouble, she pulled herself into an upright position. "Ladies... I don't know
about you, but I'm completely starved. How about something to snack on?"

"Katjia is sure she can snag you a man for the evening Sicarii to help you feed for the night."
The cat purred and stretched out a bit more. "Amaryllis deary, get Faelin so we can get some
dinner."

"Will do, Katjia." The Nord bundled her blanket around her, stood, and waddled off in
Faelin's direction. Sicarii shook her head at the Khajiit's offer. "I've fed plenty, I'm sure my
appetite can wait until we make port in Raven Rock." Over by the railings, Amaryllis tapped
the Bosmer lightly on the shoulder. "Fae, we're all a bit hungry. Shall we go inside for
dinner?"

"Sure," she replied and nodded for her jester to follow her. The two had been talking rather
calmly over the railing. "Well Sicarii are you able to eat normal food?" The cat asked, a bit
worried that she would starve on their voyage

Sicarii nodded. "Certainly," she said. "I'm rather partial to Breton cuisine in particular. Have
you heard of the Gourmet? I have his cookbook back home." She smiled lightly, a little
embarrassed to be admitting her hobbies.

"Oh Faelin met him, sadly he got in the way of the brotherhood. We're sorry about that," she
rubbed the back of her neck. "But she has a signed book she can give you." She offered

"Oh, that would be marvelous, thank you! Perhaps we can cook one of his recipes for dinner?
Provided we have the ingredients, that is." Sicarii stood and offered her hand to the Khajiit--
helping her up. They walked inside and down into the common room, also known as the
saloon. There they found Faelin, Cicero, and Amaryllis already seated.

Faelin had her head on Cicero's shoulder who was bouncing in his seat eagerly. The two had
a long talk about their relationship, somethings got through to him while some parts got lost
in time. "Once we get home we'll treat ourselves and the family to a nice dinner, get you
introduced to Babette."

"Ah, Babette. Who is that, again?" Sicarii sat down beside Faelin. Amaryllis was absorbed in
a game she was playing, where she would throw what looked to be small bones in the air and
try catching them on the back of her hand. "Hey, Katjia!" she yelled, "come here and try
this." Her eyes were transfixed on what she was doing. "It's called knucklebones."

Katjia struggled to get out of her seat, now excited to play. She needed something to do with
her hands. "Babette is our resident vampire child back in the brotherhood. You'll love her."
Faelin replied with a smile. "She loves alchemy and spiders."

"Ok Katjia, there are a few different ways of playing. But all you really need to do is throw
these bones in the air and do a couple tricks at the same time. Like this..." She threw a
knucklebone and with lightning fast reflexes grabbed another before the first one fell. "It's a
very simple game" she said. Sicarii replied to Faelin, "A child vampire, you say? And an
assassin to boot? I dare say we'll get a long."
Grabbed another off the table*

"Katjia likes this game already." She purred and tossed a bone up into the air and caught it
between her nails. "Does it need to be with the back of your hand?" Katjia asked curiously.
"Does this count?" "She's great, a wonderful companion. Not at crazy as our jester here
though." She faintly patted his hand. Truthfully she heard her and Katjia talking. She was
used to being able to pick up conversations from afar. It was true. She knew he was incapable
of loving her like she loved him and it broke her heart.

"Yep!" Amaryllis said. "You don't have to have it land on the back of your hand." She picked
up another off the table and threw it up high, it came back down but missed her hand
completely--instead whacking her on the head and bouncing off on to the floor. "Ow!!" "Oh,
that's good to know," laughed Sicarii. Cicero glared at her and turned his head away,
mumbling obscenities at Sicarii. The elf ignored him and focused her attention on Faelin. "I
can't wait to meet her. I imagine I'll think of her as a younger sister, or at least I hope so."

"Oh Divines-! Are you okay Amaryllis?" Katjia asked setting a hand her shoulder while the
other rubbed her head. "Hey! Can we get some ice wraith teeth please?" She growled to the
crew "She'd definably younger than you," Faelin giggled and held the elf's hand tightly.

Sicarii gave Faelin's hand a squeeze before letting go and walking to Amaryllis' side. "You're
a silly one, aren't you? Do be more careful..." She placed a long, slender hand atop the Nord's
blonde head. She summoned her frost magic--turning her hand icy hold as a way of soothing
the fast-forming bump. "Faelin," Sicarii said, turning to speak to the Bosmer once again. I
heard you made acquaintance with the Gourmet? I was thinking you and I could prepare once
if his recipes for dinner?"

"Oh! Yes that sounds great! I'd really enjoy cooking like the Gourmet again." She smiled
"Cicero would you want to make a dinner for the family?" She asked the jester next to her

"So long as humble Cicero can carve the meat, deeeaaarrr Listenerrr..." Low, quiet chuckles
escaped his lips as his eyes shifted suspiciously. "Er..." Sicarii grimaced. "I never thought I'd
say this, but perhaps we should have a vegetarian meal..." "Or we can skip dinner altogether
and make dessert instead!" Amaryllis interjected--bouncing from her seat and leaving
Sicarii's hand to float aimlessly in the air, her magicka chilling the space Amaryllis filled
only moments before.

"We'll make whatever you guys want," Faelin replied. "We'll get some venison for the
keeper, some potato soup and sweet roll surprise for the ladies here." She smiled and took a
bite out of her supper.

The group were bustling around the ship's kitchen when a sailor tapped on the door. It swung
open and he said, "Land ho! You lot coming? We've just entered Raven Rock's harbour--it's
time to make port, so hurry and grab your things." He left as quickly as he'd arrived.

Faelin and Katjia gathered the group's stuff and rounded the girls, and erm..Cicero up and off
the ship. The air was that of a hot blanket- cozy but suffocating at best

The air was thick with ash, a remnant of the eruption of Red Mountain a hundred years
earlier. And the wind that blew dirt around their ankles was stifling, even though by now it
was late evening. Sicarii held her cloak to her mouth and crinkled her nose. The land smelt of
an old, lingering smoke. Amaryllis however seemed overjoyed. "How glad I am to be back
home! I never thought I'd be back so soon!"

"Home?" Faelin asked. "I thought you were a nord?" The elf pulled her hood and cowl back
to let herself breathe better. It's grown too hot already with the hood covering her face.

Amaryllis laughed blithely. "Yes, silly. I was born in Skaal Village. I grew up there before
my parents took me to live in Skyrim."

"Oh! Then welcome home! You must know this place like the back of your hand then right?"
Faelin asked hopefully. She didn't know how long she could stand this type of air for.
"Oh yeah, I used to explore all over Solstheim. I'm sure some things have changed, though it
looks exactly as I remember it." She glanced around smiling. The sun was quickly, and
dunmeri guards were already lighting torches. Other than then and Faelin's group, no one else
roamed the streets.

"What time is it?" Faelin asked looking around and up towards the sky. "I can't even tell with
all the ash in the air." "It's dark Faelin dear..." Katjia sighed giving her a pat on the pat.
"Maybe we need to take a rest in a bed that doesn't move so much.."

Amaryllis laughed, "let's look for an inn. I'm not keen on setting up camp around here. I don't
want to wake up next to an Ash Spawn." "Ash... Spawn?" Stammered Sicarii. Amaryllis was
already wandering off and so didn't hear this. The elf turned to Faelin and Katjia in
bewilderment. Honestly, this Nord was so flighty and airheaded, how was she supposed to
lead them across this dust bowl of a province?

Katjia sighed and placed a hand on each of their shoulders and lead them towards Amaryllis
to follow her to an inn. "don't worry we should be fine," the cat replied patting her back.

"Now... Was it this way?" She stumbled down an alleyway. "Hmm? No." She led them to a
dead end. Inside the guard's barracks. Inside a private residence. "I'm sure it was this way!
100 percent! No doubt!" The group were beginning to doubt her navigational skills when
they came upon a number of people still outside, though by now the Sun had long since set.
They were mumbling to themselves, no they weren't. They were chanting. Each of them
repeating the same thing..." "Here in his shrine, that they have forgotten. Here do we toil, that
we might remember. By night we reclaim, what by day was stolen. Far from ourselves, he
gets ever near to us. Our eyes once we blinded, now through him do we see. Our hands once
were idle, now through them does he speak. And when the world shall listen, and when the
world shall see, and when the world remembers, the world will cease to be." Amaryllis
approached one of the people--it was a Dunmeri man who hammered away at a large stone.
"Um, hello, sir? Could you direct me towards the local inn please?"

He ignored them, just humming and chanting with the rest. "What the fuck..." Faelin
whispered and walked up to the stone. "Sir?...excuse me sir? Do you know anyone by the
name or Miraak?" She asked pulled him back from the stone he was hammering

A man approached the group from behind. "You there." He was Dunmeri like the others, but
wore rather extravagant robes. He had an air if refinement to him. "None of you appear to be
in the same state as the others. How curious. May I ask what it is you're doing here?"

"Looking for Miraak and the inn." Katjia replied getting Faelin to drop the poor dunmer
before she accidentally hurt him. "We need to find him...for personal reasons.." murder was
the reason.

The man folded his arms and though intently for a moment. Clouded confusion was obvious
upon his features. After a while, he spoke softly...almost as though he weren't quite there.
"Miraak... Miraak... It sounds familiar, and yet I can't quite place... Oh. Wait, I recall. But that
makes very little sense. Miraak's been dead for thousands of years." Sicarii's ears pricked up
at this. Dead? Thousands of years? Then how could cultists be getting orders from him to
assassinate Faelin and Katjia? This wasn't making sense.
"Well he sure as Oblivion ain't dead. His little lackeys came and tried to kill us." Faelin
snapped. "Where do we find him or his fucking corpse if he really is dead." She asked
crossing her arms, ears twitching in anger

"I'm not sure, but it is fascinating, isn't it?" His eyes darted towards the people who continued
hammering away. "Perhaps it has some relation to what's going on here. Quite unexpected."
Pausing once more, he unfolded his arms and sighed deeply. "I'm afraid I can't give you any
answers. But there are ruins of an ancient temple of Miraak's towards the centre of the island.
If I were you, I'd look there. And assuming you don't have a map of the area, you may take
mine." He withdrew a weathered scroll of parchment and a feather quill, for which he used to
mark the general location of where the group was headed. Before handing it to Faelin, he
apologised saying, "Forgive me, how rude, I haven't even introduced myself. I am Neloth, of
House Telvanni."

"Neloth? Hmm," Katjia mumbled and eyed the man "What's the House of Telvanni?" Faelin
asked curiously as she pocketed the scroll into her backpack for safe keeping

"House Telvanni is one of the Six Great Houses of Morrowind," said Neloth. "It's members
are oft born with innate magical abilities, far more powerful than that of the average Dunmeri
mage. In solitude, we prefer to pursue wisdom and mastery over our gifts. My family has a
long history, one that would take far too much time to divulge, and I would suggest you make
haste on your journeys instead of listening to me prattle on." He waved them off with a
dismissive flick of the wrist.

Faelin crossed her arms and eyed him before a slight blush dusted her cheeks. "....where can
we find you if we need help?" She asked. "Sicarii remember how Katjia told you we'd find
someone else for her," Katjia whispered with a snicker. "Think we found and eligible
bachelor.."

Sicarii crinkled her nose at the idea, and, side-eyeing the wizard, she looked him up and
down. His robes were fine--no doubt, which only added to his regal air. They were a deep
red, trimmed with gold brocade, had a high collar, extended sleeves, and a leather belt. His
face was relatively attractive, with red eyes and a neatly kept beard. Except, thought Sicarii,
despite all this--he exuded an aloofness and eccentricity that didn't appeal to her. Neloth was
speaking to Faelin again, replying to her question. "I live in the main tower of Tel Mithryn--
you can find it on your mail already, should you have need of me." The Dunmeri mage wasn't
looking in the Bosmer's direction as he spoke, conveniently missing her slight blush and her
fluttering, downcast eyes.

"He's atleast a better replacement of our dear keeper." She shrugged. "Maybe it'll pass."
Faelin nodded eagerly and gripped her dagger. "Thank you, I'm very sure our paths will cross
again," she replied, running a hand through her Mohawk.

Neloth didn't reply, instead he wandered off to further investigate the since. Katjia took the
map from Faelin's backpack and opened it for Sicarii to see. "Looks like we'll have to
traverse the mountains. I can't say I'm excited." The elf frowned and crossed her arms. "I
suppose we should be glad to have Amaryllis lead us there... Hmm? Amaryllis?" She looked
right to left in search of the little blonde Nord, but couldn't find her. "Now where has she
gone?"
Katjia sniffed the air and walked back to the dunmeri building away and called her name
"Amaryllis!!" She yelled "Girls, and Cicero, go back to town, Katjia will look for her," she
called back

Sicarii nodded agreement and began walking back towards town. She was scanning the area,
standing outside the guard's barracks and looking towards the town centre. There, illuminated
by the flickering of torchlight, was Amaryllis. She stood facing a man, and seemed to be
having an animated conversatiom with him.

"Amaryllis!" Faelin called having noticed her as well. "What in oblivion are you doing over
there? You gave us a heart attack!" The elf ran over to the nord before noticing the man she
was talking to.

"Oh hey, Faelin! Sorry if I worried you." She smiled and clasped her hands behind her back.
Swaying backwards and forwards on her heels, she said, "I was looking for the inn and this
kind man here showed me the way." The Dunmer turned to Faelin and Sicarii, the latter
having caught up to them by now, and bowed slightly. "My name is Adril Arano, and I serve
as Second Councilor of Raven Rock. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance." He was a man
of average appearance, but certainly seemed to hold himself in high regard. Amaryllis
continued smiling broadly as she said, "So here we are, The Retching Netch! And Mr Arano
says they have enough spare rooms for us."