𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰, 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. Astrid had overheard their whispering as she crept up to the room; not exactly knowing what they were whispering about, but surely, it wouldn't hurt to insert herself into the conversation. It was her sanctuary after all. They all shared a place within it, and secrets were far from the norm there, but thriving is such a funny little word, isn’t it? Was the Dark Brotherhood thriving when the Night Mother decided to not pick out a listener? When the Dark Brotherhood fell into disarray, being bound so tightly by its rules that it nearly choked on it? It was all up to interpretation and Astrid’s perception of thriving entirely differed from Meredith’s.
Astrid’s voice fell into a soft, considerate tone as she looked down at her, a gloved hand cradling her chin. ❝ If you have any concerns, I’m all ears, sister. ❞ More so, judgments to be made. She stood there, silent for a moment, pursing her lips before she opened her mouth, ready to speak again in a measured manner. ❝ I see you have a close connection with Void. Lucien Lachance, I assume? Is Sithis treating him well? I would hope so. ❞
Astrid prodded as tactfully and as carefully as she could. She was just curious is all, nothing more, nothing less. Just friendly conversation in the dead of night, hidden away from the listening ears of others, just as she was moments ago. Just checking in, is all she would say if she was asked why she was here discussing with Meredith. She was up awfully late and Astrid happened to notice.