The Story of the Listener, My first fanfic. Options

[Kayla]

Ok. This is my first fanfic. I'm a tad nervous about it, but I'd like to see what everyone thinks.
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I sat quietly on a bench beside the pawnshop on the docks of Anvil, staring out over the dark Abecean Sea. Through the clouds in the sky, I could see that the sun was setting. A chilly wind blew my black robes and hood as though they were weightless, but the persistent breeze was unsuccessful in penetrating the black light armor I wore underneath my robes. I listened to the fragmented conversations of the dock workers, and watched as people hastily walked by, fearing that it would soon begin to storm.

Before I knew it, the sun had set completely. The Nord who owned the shop I was sitting in front of walked outside. He locked up his shop and began to make his way down the stone street toward the resident area of Anvil. He hadn’t even noticed that I’d been sitting just feet away from him. I heard the Nord loudly greet someone before he walked completely out of earshot. Soon after, an Orc walked by. I studied the Orc carefully as he passed. He walked with a slight limp and had a large scar on his left arm, and just as I expected, he opened the door to the dockside warehouse and went inside.

It was completely dark now. Neither sun nor moon shone through the twisting clouds in the sky. The wind picked up, carrying moisture in it.

I stood and made my way to the back door of the warehouse. I picked the lock and the door swung open. Quickly I slipped into the thick darkness inside. The warehouse was fairly big but, a few candles on a large table in the middle of the room revealed the Orc’s position. He was busily unpacking things from crates and setting them on shelves. He was completely unaware of my presence, and I preferred it that way. I slipped through the shadows toward him. In the darkness I felt strong, invincible, and incapable of fear. I observed his movements, the way his body flowed with each contraction and relaxation of each muscle. I watched every joint in his body, paying close attention to his spinal cord. The Orc was old, and moved as though he’d been doing hard labor his entire life. Almost every movement looked as though it pained him.

As soon as I was sure of his reactions, I silently unsheathed my ebony blade, a gift from a dear friend, and I closed in on the Orc. He was still unaware of my being there, even though I was soon right behind him, almost breathing down his neck. In one quick motion, I lunged out of the shadows, grabbed the Orc with my right arm, wrapping it around the front of his neck and shoulders, then I brought my left hand up and stabbed him right in the jugular vein. The poor old Orc didn’t even have a chance to yell. I let go of the body letting it fall limply onto the wooden floor of the warehouse. I waited for his gurgled breathing to stop, then I snuffed the candles out and exited the warehouse the same way I’d come in.

(Expect updates!)

[Kayla]

Ok. I've been working on this update all day.
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Lucien stayed true to his promise. When I woke up, he was sitting at the foot of my bed.

“How long have I been asleep?” I asked.
“Quite awhile. The murderers tended to your wounds. The Argonian is a good healer.” He answered.
My body still ached as I tried to sit up.
“Don’t strain yourself.” He said, with a concerned tone in his voice.
“I’m fine.” I said with a grunt.
Ignoring the dull ache from the wound in my stomach, I sat completely up.
“Can the other murderers see you?” I asked. “This is the first time you’ve visited me outside of a dream.” I said.
“No, they can’t see me.” he answered.
“Why not?” I asked.
He laughed. “Because, I don’t want them to see me.” I guessed that was a good enough answer.
I thought for a moment.
“Do you think it would be wise to tell the new murderers about what happened to the Brotherhood? You know… why you’re dead?” I asked.
Lucien answered my question with another question. “Do you think it wise?”
“I see no harm in it.” I answered.
“Then neither do I.” he said.
“Then I intend to speak to them.” I said, struggling to stand.
Lucien sighed. “And I must return for the time being.”
“Return where? If you don’t mind me asking…” I asked curiously.
“To the side of our father.” He answered, lowering his head.
I grabbed his shoulder to keep him from leaving. He was cold as ice.
“Lucien, why do you help me?”
He pulled me close and wrapped his arms around me.
“Because your embrace is more comforting than even the Night Mother’s.” he answered.

Before I could even wrap my arms around him, he was gone.

I walked out into the main hall of the sanctuary. Immediately, I found Saprius. He was working on repairing a large, rather damaged silver claymore.

“Saprius, do you think you could gather all the murderers and have them come in here?” I asked.
He looked up at me.
“Of course, Sarelle. Just give me a few moments.”
He set down his armorer’s hammer and walked into the training room returning with the rest of the occupants of the sanctuary.

“I’d like to talk to all of you.” I said.

They situated themselves around me. I looked upon all their bright eyed faces, listening intently, and completely oblivious to the horrors I was going to tell them about.

I cleared my throat. “Arquen and I agreed that we would not talk to you about this. But, she’s gone now, and I never really saw any harm in telling you in the first place…”

Sitting in front of me, were two Imperials, an Argonian, and a Bosmer. Now that I had mentioned the past confidentiality of the subject, they were deeply enticed.

I continued. “When I joined the Dark Brotherhood, this was the busiest sanctuary in all of Tamriel. Soon after I was promoted to Lucien Lachance’s personal Silencer, he told me that there was a traitor that had been traced to this very sanctuary.”
As I spoke, I began to feel like an old teacher, lecturing a group of students.
“By the judgment of the Black Hand, I was ordered to do the hardest and most burdening thing I’ve ever done…”

I paused for a moment, trying very hard to push the echoing screams out of my head.
“Why, sister? Why?”
“I killed every member of this sanctuary.”
“Sithis save your soul…”

“After that, things calmed down. We thought that I had killed the traitor along with everyone else. Lucien explained to me that I would receive my orders at dead drop locations all over Cyrodiil. So, things continued that way. I did as my orders commanded me. Among many of my orders, were the entire Draconis family, a Khajiit master of hand to hand combat, a Nord who lived in the mountains, and a Wood Elf in Bravil. After I killed the Wood Elf, I was confronted by Lucien, who was very, very angry. He accused me of betraying him…”

I could still hear his voice, ringing throughout my memories.
“I came here to end your miserable life!”

“Thankfully, he allowed me to explain myself. It turned out that I was set up to go to the wrong dead drop locations, and I was receiving fake orders. Since the murder of the Draconis family, I’d been systematically killing members of the Black Hand and their Silencers. The Bosmer I’d just killed was the Listener himself. The traitor still remained. My cleansing of this sanctuary hadn’t worked, and my brothers and sisters had been killed for nothing. Worse, the surviving members of the Black Hand thought that Lucien was the traitor.”
“I am being tracked day and night by the Black Hand.”

“Lucien told me to spy on the next dead drop location in Anvil and see who planted the orders, then to investigate who was behind the betrayal. We agreed that we would meet each other at the old Draconis house after I had recovered some information. That was the last time I ever talked to Lucien.”

I hadn’t even gotten to say goodbye.

“I found that a young Wood Elf had been paid by a man who lived in the cellar of the lighthouse in Anvil to place the orders. When I inspected the lighthouse, I discovered carnage beyond belief. Corpses of humans and animals alike were everywhere… the smell was incredibly sickening. Dried blood covered the floors and walls. I found a shrine-like room, adorned with the severed head of a woman.”

The murderers were still listening intently with pale faces.

“It was horrible… even for the murderer I am.” I continued. “But, I also found a diary, revealing that the writer wanted to kill Lucien. I returned to meet Lucien and tell him about what I’d found. When I entered the Draconis house, I found the surviving members of the Black Hand; including Arquen… they’d killed Lucien, truly thinking that he was the real traitor. Only I knew for a fact that it was one of the surviving members of the Black Hand, and whoever it was, they were standing under the same roof as the rest of us. I just didn’t know who it was. Arquen personally promoted me to speaker and we set out to ask the Night Mother to appoint a new Listener.”

I cleared my throat. The murderers shifted uncomfortably.

“We entered her crypt… as she spoke to us, the true traitor exposed himself. He was a Dunmer named Mathieu. He killed two of the other speakers and tried to attack the Night Mother. Arquen and I killed him. The Night Mother promoted me to Listener. She told me that Arquen would be my adviser. We returned here and began to rebuild the Dark Brotherhood.”
Too bad Arquen had devised her own death. She was a good adviser.

Saprius spoke up. “You saw the Night Mother?”
“Yes. Just being in her presence was amazing. She enchanted this dagger for me.”

I unsheathed the Blade of Woe. Lucien had given it to me when I first met him.
The murderers were amazed by the ebony blade, shining with the light of a powerful enchantment. Each one of them touched it lightly.

“I wish to rebuild the Dark Brotherhood. I wish to have a sanctuary and a family free of betrayal.” I said.
Saprius stood. “We swear to you our loyalty, Listener. History will not repeat itself.” The other murderers nodded, smiling.

Telling the story had really taken its toll on me as it brought back a lot of memories. They were surprisingly painful now.

“Thank you, murderers for listening. I just thought you should know about what happened. I must go now to see the Night Mother and tell her about Arquen.” I said.
The murderers all stood.
“I trust you’ll care for the sanctuary while I’m gone, Saprius?” I asked, looking at him.
He smiled.
“Of course I will.”

I walked back to the living quarters and put my Black Hand robe on over my armor. I wanted to get started on the way to Bravil. I needed some time to think. I turned to walk out into the main hall to leave the sanctuary when I ran right into Lucien.
“You told the story well. Do not fear the past. Memories can kill you.” He said, his blue eyes peering deeply into mine.
“I do not fear the past.” I answered, not breaking his gaze.
“I believe you do.” He said.
I walked around him, toward the door.
“I do not fear the past.” I repeated.
“Then, why do I sense fear in your voice?” he asked, grabbing my hand.
“I fear further betrayal.” I answered, squeezing his cold hand.
“You have nothing to fear.” He replied. “I am here. I am watching over you.”
Within the blink of an eye, Lucien was gone.

I walked out into the dim main hall. I used the main exit this time, walking through the stone door, and out the front door of the abandoned house.

It was sunset when I exited the main gate of Cheydinhal and climbed on Shadowmere’s back. It looked as though I would be traveling throughout the night.

This post has been edited by Kayla: Apr 25 2006, 02:21 AM