This story is part of the ‘Seal Upon Your Heart’ Series, find the timeline here.
You can find my fanfic master list here.
“Plagued by nightmares her whole life and finally free from her prison of twenty years, Vilvyni finds herself being cared for by the Dark Brotherhood’s Keeper. Will their paths reveal themselves to be more entwined than it first seems?” Cicero/OC
Rated M, for some adult themed content, and abuse themes.
Chapter One - The Beginning
I reveled in the feeling of the grass beneath my bare feet. The night air was crisp and clean, burning my lungs. I stopped in a field and looked up to the stars; I couldn't get enough of looking at the night sky. The stars were beautiful but seemed larger than normal. It was as if someone had reached up, grasped the sky itself and pulled it closer to us. I was so enraptured by the sky that I didn't even notice the nude Dunmer woman approach me. Startled, I took a step back and locked eyes with her.
She was more beautiful than I could have imagined a woman could be. Her skin was a wonderful shade of dark gray-blue and her red eyes were wider than a normal Dunmer, I couldn't look away from her.
"Do not be frightened, my child," she smiled at me, producing a dagger from behind her back, "you will find your path in time." She raked the dagger up her forearm, producing an outpouring of blood onto the ground. As I watched the blood pool on the ground it looked less and less like blood. I knelt down and reached out to it. What I touched wasn't warm, or a liquid. I picked up the crimson silk robe and turned it over in my hands.
"It's for you," she smiled at me, "now that you have found your way to my side you belong to Sithis."
I pulled the robe on, feeling the coolness of the fabric against my bare skin. Looking back into her eyes I could hear the same laughter that had filled me when I was in the cave. The laughter grew, louder and louder until I had to cover my ears.
"Purify what belongs to me!" she bellowed over the laughter, "Cleanse it!"
I couldn't get my eyes to open, my eyelids were too heavy, yet I was coming out of consciousness very quickly. With my eyes still closed I tried to listen to the noises that were becoming clearer to me.
"Why did Cicero bring her here?" it was the same voice I had heard before, on the road, "good question… very good question," the same giggling, "she is pretty, very pretty; like a flower. Yes, yes that is why Cicero brings her here. A gift for Mother, like the pretty, pretty flowers."
I tried to open my eyes again and call out to the voice. Everything was a blur of light, but my movement and awkward vocalizations seemed to get the attention of the man who had been speaking.
"Waking?!" he squealed. I felt fingers touching mine, they were gloved but with something soft, unlike the rough hide gloves Master and Sir wore. "Pretty flower is waking up!" the voice sang as it took my hand.
"Wh…" I still couldn't make out distinct things, but I was beginning to see shapes and shadows. "Where…"
"It wants to know where?" he asked, "deep in the arms of Sanctuary, where Mother and Cicero have made their home with our small family, with the serious Redguard and un-child."
I scrunched up my face, he wasn't making any sense.
"I don't understand," I managed to croak.
As if he was ignoring me he began to trail his fingers along my arms. I blinked my eyes, forcing them to focus. Slowly I began to get a clearer image of the man standing over me. He looked much like Master and Sir in the sense that he wasn't a Mer, Orc or Khajit. He had medium length red hair that was smoothed back and tucked behind his ears. His features were sharp, but not unattractive and I found myself staring at him. I was caught off guard when he turned his golden eyes towards mine and he seemed equally startled to see me looking back.
"Err… Umm…" he stood up and pulled away, "Flower is awake." I could see blush burning in his cheeks. "Cicero brought the flower clothes, but doesn't know how to properly dress a living lady,” he motioned to the fresh clothes he had laid out.
"Th…" I pushed myself up onto my elbows; my head felt as though it was splitting in two and my heart was pounding in my ears, "thank you." It was then that I realized the reason for the man's blush.
"Why am I naked?" In truth, it didn't bother me. I had spent half of my life naked or at least half-naked in front of people I didn't know.
"Flower was bathed in blood and her foul smelling tunic didn't suit her petals," the man motioned to a bowl filled with dirty water and a few rags. "Cicero cared for her petals, just like he cares for Mother's."
I frowned again. I understood that this man had taken me in, bathed me and had provided me with new clothes; but I didn't understand his ramblings.
"Thank you," was all I could think of to say.
He smiled a small but sincere smile, "Cicero is happy to help the flower."
"Vilvyni," I stood up, making my way to the dress he had draped over a chair, "I told you my name is Vilvyni."
"Vilvyni…" he said it slowly, sounding out each syllable, "it's a pretty name; befitting a pretty flower."
Now I was the one to blush, "thank you." Again I found myself rather at a loss for words.
The dress he had provided for me was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. I turned it over in my hands, admiring the handiwork that had gone into crafting such a beautiful garment. It felt just like the robe in my dream as I pulled it down over my head, indulging in the feeling of the cool, smooth cloth against my bare skin. The skirt found its way to just above my ankles and the sleeves just below my elbows. The lacing up the back, however, I couldn't do on my own. Pulling my hair over my shoulder I turned my back to the man, "could you?"
"Oh yes, yes," I could hear him make his way across the room. Again, his gloved hands were against my skin, this time they traveled down my back. "Vilvyni's skin has seen many sharp pains and hot burns," he whispered.
I bit my bottom lip. I knew my skin was scarred; having lived with the ones who had inflicted those scars it had never bothered me, but now that this man was noticing them I felt ashamed of them for the first time.
He finished lacing up the back of my dress. "I must take you to visit Mother," he stated, turning me around. "She will be pleased to meet you," he smiled at me.
"Oh," I couldn't meet his eyes, "okay."
"M'lady," he bowed with an exaggerated flourish, and upon standing reached for my hand.
I forced an awkward smile and took his hand. He led me out the small doorway and down a long hall. The hall spilled into a round room with a wooden bridge hanging in the middle of it. I was so in awe of the vastness of the room and was trying to decide how they had hung the bridge when I heard a small voice behind me.
"Cicero, is this the girl you were telling us about?" I turned around to see a small girl looking up at me.
"Hello," she smiled, showing her fangs. Her eyes were a lovely crimson color rimmed in gold, and her skin was so pale it was reminiscent of paper. I couldn't help but smile back.
"You are beautiful," I replied.
She giggled, "it is nice of you to say so. Not many look at a vampire and see beauty."
"Then they don't see what I see," I continued to smile.
She pursed her lips, but they remained in a smile, "Cicero wasn't wrong, you are small; very small. How many summers are you?"
"Twenty-six, I think," I shrugged, "last time I was outside of the cave, I was six summers."
"Your body doesn't look older than seventeen summers, maybe eighteen," she walked around me. "You were kept in a cave, you said? For almost twenty years?"
"Yes…" I stammered, watching her circle me.
"Not by your family, I imagine," she stopped in front of me, “based on the state you were in when Cicero brought you here.”
"By Master and Sir," my smile faded at the mention of their names.
"I see," she frowned, "I have no doubt your body has suffered from severe malnutrition. This is probably the largest you will grow."
I wasn't sure what she meant. I had noticed changes in my body and I thought I looked like a woman. I was certainly more grown in physique than her.
She smiled, "it's no matter. For I have been this size for over three hundred years and I have managed just fine."
"That is a long time," I smiled again.
"Yes," she met my eyes.
"The un-child asks too many questions," the man hummed, "makes Cicero's head hurt."
"Have you learned no new information from these questions?" she snapped at him, "like that our new friend here was kept captive by someone for over twenty years? Most likely against her will, I might add." She frowned, placing her hands on her hips.
"Vilvyni," I murmured.
The child looked at me, confused.
"My name is Vilvyni," I murmured again.
"Babette," her smile returned, and her posture relaxed, "I am Babette."
I leaned in close to her, I wanted to ask her a question but was fearful I would cause another outburst. She mimicked my movement, growing closer to me as well, “what is his name?”
She looked at him and back at me, bursting into laughter, "you didn't gather from his speech, did you?" She hugged her sides, "this jester is Cicero."
"Cicero," I breathed. I had heard him refer to Cicero over and over, but I didn't think he meant himself. I looked to the man only to find him slouched, hands behind his back looking very unhappy. "I am sorry," I reached out and placed my fingers on his shoulder, "I didn't realize you were talking about yourself." Again his eyes locked with mine and blush burned in his cheeks. I quickly removed my fingers.
"I need to speak with Nazir about a contract," Babette had wiped her eyes and was turning away from us, heading down a hall perpendicular to the one we had taken. "Vilvyni," she turned once more to look at me, "it was nice meeting you."
Once she had left and we were alone again Cicero's smile returned and he bowed again, "Cicero, the fool of hearts, is here to serve Vilvyni, the flower."
I returned his smile.
"Come," he stood and took my arm, "Cicero wishes for you to meet Mother."
This story is part of the ‘Seal Upon Your Heart’ Series, find the timeline here.
You can find my fanfic master list here.
“Plagued by nightmares her whole life and finally free from her prison of twenty years, Vilvyni finds herself being cared for by the Dark Brotherhood's Keeper. Will their paths reveal themselves to be more entwined than it first seems?” Cicero/OC
Rated M, for some adult themed content, and abuse themes.
Intro - The Whisper
As far back as I can remember I have dreamed. The dreams that I remember are always void of color, save a rich, dark crimson. When I was little my mother use to stroke my hair, soothing me after a nightmare, saying:
"They are a gift from Sithis my dear. You must bear these nightmares; they will lead you to your future."
Later, after I was taken from my mother I would hear that name again.
I cowered in the corner of my cage, freshly awoken from another nightmare. Shaking and trying not to cry I could hear my Master and Sir talking between themselves.
"Do you think it's a good idea to keep her around?" Sir would ask Master.
"Of course! Why?" Master would continue to stuff meat into his mouth.
"She cursed by Sithis, that one," Sir would look over his shoulder at me, an emotion that escaped me flickering briefly over his eyes.
The dreams were my only constant in the years after I was taken from my mother. At first, I thought my constant was the pain and cruelty I felt at Master and Sir's hands, but soon even that changed. As I grew their treatment of me during the day and when others were around was the same but at night, when I was alone, they would crawl into my cage and slowly run their fingers along my skin. They would tell me how pretty I was and that I would learn to love them. I would lie there, allowing them to share what they called 'love' with me while I tried to remember what the night sky looked like.
It was after one of these nights when Sir had rolled off me and fallen asleep on the floor of my cage that I first heard the voice that was from my dreams.
‘Killlll himmm,’ it hissed my ear.
I shook my head, thinking I was dreaming.
‘Send him to me, my child,’ the man's voice was echoing clearly through the cave, but it didn't seem to bother Master, or Sir in their slumber.
I sat up and looked down at Sir. His pants were still thrown to the side, with a small dagger hanging out of its sheath.
I straddled Sir, watching his eyes blink awake.
"What are you doing?" he grunted, reaching up for me.
I slowly shook my head, and pinned his arms under my knees. "No touching," I could feel a wicked smile stretch across my face.
Although there was uneasiness marked in his eyes, he smiled as well, "I see. I told you that you would come to love me."
Licking my lips I pressed a finger onto his mouth. "Shhh…" I hissed as I began to rock my hips, rubbing myself against him.
He groaned in response and I could feel him pulsing and growing larger under me. I continued to rock, waiting for my chance. Eventually, he closed his eyes in pleasure and I slowly leaned down to grasp the dagger, my fingers curling around the handle of the blade. Once I had it firmly in my hand I stopped rocking. Sir's eyes opened and he looked at me in confusion. In one swift movement, I covered his mouth and slit his throat. He tried to move under me, but he was losing blood fast, and it wasn't long before he couldn't even lift his arms. I loosened my grip on his mouth and leaned in close.
"Sithis is coming for you," I whispered, "do you hear him?"
I could see the same emotion in his eyes that I would always see when he mentioned the Dark Lord, but this time I realized what it was, what he had always looked at me with; fear. I dipped my fingers into the pool of blood that was covering the floor and wiped them on his chin.
"Now you will serve the Dark Lord in the Void," I laughed lightly as I pushed myself off of him. I reveled in standing over him, watching the life drain from him.
I smiled as I left my cage, the only other person in the cave was Master and he had drunken himself into a deep sleep. I watched him sleep for a time, the rise and fall of his chest, the twitching of his dreams, and the hands that had caused me so much pain. I enjoyed watching the dark crimson liquid pour from his neck as well. I enjoyed it so much that I began to laugh again, the laughter felt like a sickness that invaded my body. As I sat in the dark cave, covered in their blood I could feel my connection to the Dark Lord, the connection that had always been my one constant.
I had been walking for miles and the thin tunic I had pulled over myself wasn't doing anything to keep me warm. I hadn't moved much from my cage for the past twenty years and I had begun to feel the fatigue in my limbs almost immediately, but I knew I needed to put distance between myself and that cave.
The feeling under my feet changed and I recognized the road from when I used to travel before Master and Sir kept me in that cage. Half-conscious from exertion, hunger, and the cold; I stumbled along the road until I could hear a horse behind me.
"Please!" I called, falling to my knees, "please help me!"
The man stopped the horse and dismounted. He grabbed my arm and lifted me to my feet.
"Oh my," he giggled, his voice flighty, but guttural, "what has Cicero found?"
I frowned. I wasn't sure what he was asking. My vision was darkening and my thoughts were muggy. "Vilvyni," I mumbled, "my name is Vilvyni."
This story is part of the ‘Seal Upon Your Heart’ Series, find the timeline here.
You can find my fanfic master list here.
“Plagued by nightmares her whole life and finally free from her prison of twenty years, Vilvyni finds herself being cared for by the Dark Brotherhood’s Keeper. Will their paths reveal themselves to be more entwined than it first seems?” Cicero/OC
Rated M, for some adult themed content, and abuse themes.
Chapter Two - The Binding Words
Cicero led me up the wide, spiral stone steps. I found myself standing on the edge of crossing the wooden bridge that had been hung in the upper part of the round room I was in previously. I panicked slightly at the idea of crossing this bridge. I wasn't sure about the feeling of the ground moving beneath me, but Cicero gingerly coaxed me across with smiles and encouraging words. His warmth was new to me, besides my mother and Jordgen, I had never felt such kindness.
It wasn't long before we ended up in a small area with a tall cylinder sarcophagus in the corner. The sarcophagus was on a stone platform and had been rested up on its side so it stood vertical, and was taller even than Cicero. He led me right up to the large metal cylinder. I reached out and touched it, the silver was warm, as though there was heat radiating from within it. Cicero giggled to himself as he watched me trace the smooth lines that were etched into the sides of the sarcophagus.
"Sweet Mother will be happy Cicero brought her such a pretty flower," he sang. "Here, here, here," he took hold of my shoulders and led me to stand about five feet in front of the platform, "Flower will wait here."
He undid a latch on the front of the sarcophagus and heaved open the heavy silver doors. I could see the smile on his face change at the sight of the corpse that had been secured to stand in the silver cylinder. He was still smiling, but it was darker, the smile of a mad man.
"Dearest Mother," he cooed, "loving Cicero has brought you a pretty flower." He bowed to the corpse, "please, please be happy and let your voice be heard, Sweet Mother."
"Her voice?" I furrowed my brow. I took a step closer to the corpse, squinting my eyes, trying to get a good look at her. "She was a dark elf," I realized.
"Yes!" Cicero squealed with joy, "Mother was the most lovely of Dunmer!"
I took another step closer. "I am sure she was," I smiled at him.
He was turned towards her, busying himself with adjusting her clothes, her hair or whatever else he found that needed to be fixed.
"For a long time, there was only Cicero and the Night Mother," he was smoothing her hair back. "Yet the only one to speak was Cicero, Mother was quiet. Cicero cared for her, sang to her, and kept her safe. Yet she did not speak…" his voice had trailed off and he was staring at her. I had moved so I was standing next to him. His fingers were hovering just above her lips. "She has been quiet for so long. Cicero wishes only to hear the voice of his beloved Mother," his voice quivered and broke. I could see the sorrow on his face and my chest ached for him. I knew that feeling. Many nights I had cried myself to sleep, wishing only to see my mother once more. I would have given anything to hear her voice again, to have her hold me. Something deep within me was resonating with this broken man I saw in front of me.
I reached out and place my hand on his arm, startling him, as if he had forgotten that I was there.
"I am sure she will speak soon," I smiled softly.
He returned my small smile. "Yes," he hummed.
Suddenly a sharp pain shot through my head. "Ugh," I released his arm and covered my eyes.
"Flower is unwell?" I could hear a hint of concern in his voice.
I uncovered my eyes and smiled again. "No," I turned and stepped down from the platform, "only tired." I took another step away from the sarcophagus and my legs buckled under me. I felt a strong hand grab my arm.
"Flower lies," Cicero clicked his tongue and shook his head, "naughty, naughty Flower, lying to Cicero."
"Sorry," I stood and shook my head, "I don't know what's wrong with me."
"Cicero will take the flower back to the bed to rest," he didn't release my arm as he led me back the way we had come and had me sit on the bed I had awoken in only a little while before.
"Thank you," I laid down and pulled the covers over myself. I had never laid on something as comfortable as this bed. It wasn't long before the pounding in my head subsided and my eyelids grew heavy. I listened to Cicero hum to himself across the room as I drifted to sleep.
I was sitting, naked in my cage. The cave was dark, even the candle that was normally lit by Sir's bed was dark. I noticed my cage was open, so I stood and made my way to the small wooden table near my cage. There wasn't anyone here, I was alone. On the table, I found my silk robe the Dunmer woman had given me. I turned it over in my hands, enjoying the feeling of it against my fingers before pulling it over myself again. Deciding there was nothing for me in this cave I walked out into the night.
There was a small lake near the entrance of the cave and in the lake, I found the Dunmer woman again. She was bathing, her smooth skin glistening in the moonlight.
I stood and watched her for a while. She was as beautiful as the last time I saw her, but this time she resembled someone else I had seen, but I couldn't place who. She turned towards me and extended her arms in an invitation to join her. I moved into the lake, so the cool water was pooling around my feet.
"Come to me child," she smiled, "I wish to speak with you, alone."
My eyes slowly opened. The room I was in was dimer than before, the only candle lit was next to the bed. I slowly sat up and realized that Cicero was asleep on the bed next to me. I took the moment to examine his face closer. Sleep had relaxed his face and his smile had faded, leaving only a tired look.
"For a long time there was only Cicero and the Night Mother," He had said. "Yet the only one to speak was Cicero, the Mother was quiet. Cicero cared for her, sang to her and kept her safe. Yet she did not speak…"
Again, my heart filled with a familiar ache.
I turned my face away from his, to try and forget my own pain that was echoing in his. I quietly swung my feet over the side of the bed and slid to the floor. I crept out of the room and into the hall where more candles were lit. Based on the silence that filled the hall, mingled with some snoring, I figured it was night and everyone was resting. I was making my way down the hall when I caught my own reflection in a mirror. It took me by surprise at first, I had never seen my own reflection. My skin was pale, much like Cicero's, Master's and Sir's but the undertones in my skin were blue, not pink like theirs. When I was little I had often wondered why my skin didn't match my mother's and now I knew that my eyes didn't either. Her eyes were like those of a normal Dunmer woman, they were wide and red; while mine were as wide as hers, only my irises were red. Pulling my silver hair to the side I ran my fingers through it, Cicero must have brushed it in my sleep, it wasn't this well-kept when I had left the cave.
Giving myself one last smile in the mirror I continued the way Cicero had taken me earlier. I found myself standing before the open sarcophagus, unsure of what brought me here. I could feel a pressure rise in my head, similar to the pain I had experienced earlier and decided coming here on my own was a bad idea. I had only turned around when I heard her voice.
Welcome my child.
I could hear her voice as clear as day in my head. My vision began to blur around the edges, and I fell to my knees. There was a high pitched noise that was echoing behind her voice, it was eating into my brain. I opened my mouth, but no scream came, nothing but silence.
Accept it! She hissed, You have been chosen, it is an honor to hear my voice.
Tilting my head back, so I was looking at the ceiling I clapped my hands over my ears. The high pitched whine had gotten louder. It was building and building, working its way through my very being.
It's almost over my dear child; soon you will be able to hear me without pain, she cooed.
I could feel the hot tears streaming down my face. Reaching up to wipe them away I realize they are not tears, but blood. The whine was so loud now I knew it would consume me, this is how I would die. I closed my eyes and waited for the end to find me.
Instantly the pain vanished. The whine stopped and only a dull pressure remained.
Very good my dear, the voice sounded pleased, only when you accept death do you find yourself.
I smiled, "Sweet Mother," I closed my eyes, stood up and turned to face her.
Yes, my Listener, I could see her as I saw her in my dreams, standing in the sarcophagus. She was smiling at me. You are the one I have chosen. You will hear my voice, see my visions, and tell my family of the prayers I have heard.
"Yes, Mother," I bowed slightly.
First, there is action that must be taken within the family. You must find my Keeper, dear, sweet Cicero. You must tell him the binding words, she laid her hand over her heart, only then will our family be bound together.
"Yes, Mother," I closed my eyes and heard her whisper the words to me.
Then we must cleanse what has seeped through from the void and tainted my Keeper, she smiled, sweet Cicero has been alone for so long, only now can he find himself again.
"Flower?" I heard a shaking whisper behind me. I turn around to see Cicero hiding behind a pillar, he seemed scared, "Flower was speaking to Mother?"
"Cicero," I breathed, reaching my hands out to him.
He hurried towards me and took my hands in his still gloved ones. I could see dried tears on his cheeks, "but Flower must whisper the words. Tell Cicero the words he has waited to hear, please, end my tormented silence, Flower." He was trembling, although normally he stood a head taller than me he was so hunched that he was at eye level.
I leaned forward and kissed his forehead "Darkness rises when silence dies," I whispered into his ear.
With a gasp he falls to his knees, his gripp on my hands tightening, "Cicero lives to serve, oh great Listener!"
I crouched in front of him, "you're not alone anymore Cicero. I am with you now. We are family."
His eyes look into mine and a wild smile covers his face. "Yes!" he exclaims, "Family."
"I wouldn't believe it if it wasn't Cicero telling us so," Nazir rubbed his chin. The large Redguard was standing at the end of the long wooden table in the main hall. The rest of us were seated around the table; myself, Cicero on one side and Babette on the other. Across from us sat a female Altmer named Mortha, a small Bosmer named Tagan, and directly across from me a large Nord named Erorn.
"I agree," Babette mused, "but I don't believe Cicero would say she is the Listener if she wasn't able to say the binding words."
"Why should we trust this lunatic?" Mortha sounded disgusted, "I know he's the Keeper, but I don't feel he is trustworthy."
"In true Altmer fashion," Nazir chuckled, "Cicero is outlandish, but is deeply loyal to the Night Mother. He attacked our last leader simply because she questioned the authority of our Holy Matron."
"Yes," Babette smiled, "if Cicero says she is the Listener then it must be true."
The discussion about my conversation with Mother from the night before had been going on for some time. It was primarily Nazir, Babette and Cicero trying to determine exactly what would happen from here, it had been over a decade since the last Listener had died, and even when she was alive, the Sanctary in Skyrim had little contact with the other Sanctuaries. Mortha and Tagan had spoken a few times, but were quick to trust their elder Brothers and Sister. I hadn't said a word, I had been trying to avoid eye contact with Erorn, who had taken a seat directly across the table from me. As soon as he had sat down my stomach turned. The resemblance between him and Master was undeniable. He was wearing a smirk on his face that made my skin crawl.
"Perhaps since our Sister here is new to our ranks we should lift some of her burden and elect a Speaker to handle the contracts she will give us," Mortha suggested.
"Excellent idea!" Nazir exclaimed, "I am glad to see you are educating yourself on our history."
"Yes! Yes!" Cicero sang, "A Speaker for the Listener, a Listener for the prayers, and a Keeper for Mother! Family at last!" Cicero was beaming. He hadn't stopped humming all morning, "Cicero thinks either the Redguard or un-child."
"Not me," Babette held her small hands out in refusal, "I keep busy enough with my alchemy, and I would miss going out on contracts."
"I can't say I would argue," Nazir sat down slowly, "these old bones wouldn't mind a break from horses, and sneaking around in dark corners."
"Then it's decided," Babette smiled, "Valvyni is our new Listener, and Nazir will act as her Speaker."
Cicero began to giggle, "Cicero is pleased to see the old ways returning! Soon our family will grow and the blood will flow!" His smile was so wide I thought his face might crack in two.
"Brothers move in the shadows quick and skilled,
blood will flow and the void will be filled.
Sweet Mother shares her voice again,
over all the Dread Lord will reign!"
Cicero had begun to dance and sing.
I couldn't stand Erorn's stares any longer. "I am going to lay down," I stood and whispered to Cicero. Before he could reply I strode out of the room and into the long, narrow hall that led to the bed chambers. I immediately regretted not waiting for Cicero when I heard the footfalls behind me.
"You!" he hissed at me, grabbing my shoulder and throwing me against the wall. "I know you," He sneered. He grabbed my wrists, twisting them back and pinning me against the stones.
"Let me go!" I growled through my teeth.
"I've seen you in my Uncle's barrow," he ignored me, "huddled in your cage, naked and crying." I could see the same look in his eyes that Master would give me and my heart sank. I had moved from one cave to another. "Yet, here you are, suddenly a great Listener for the Night Mother," he waved his hand in the air, "how did you get away?" He thrust his face in mine.
I whimpered. I knew what was coming. I had begun to hope in the hours I spent with Cicero the night before that what happened in the cave I had lived in for so long was behind me, but seeing Master's eyes stare at me now, I knew I would never escape him.
"I will ask you one more time, dirty Dunmer bitch, how did you get away?" he spat in my face.
There was a flash of red and suddenly a small, black dagger appeared pressed into Erorn's neck. "Brother will release the Listener," Cicero snarled in a low voice.
Erorn released my wrists. Swallowing hard he backed away from me, the dagger still pressing into his skin.
"New Brother should know not to touch the Listener," Cicero smiled his dark, twisted smile, "the wrath of Sithis will find you." He quickly pulled the dagger away from Erorn's neck and held it so the point pressed slightly into the startled man's chest above his heart. "This Keeper will gladly bring it to you," his smile turned into a scowl and he seized the Nord, throwing him to the ground. "Touch her again and I will rip your heart from your chest myself!" his voice was deep. I had never heard him speak like that; his voice had always been high-pitched and wistful.
"Y… yes," Erorn stammered, holding his throat, "yes, my Keeper."
Cicero stared at him until he stood and quickly walked away, like a dog with his tail between his legs.
"Flower?" Cicero had turned to face me, his eyes kind. He reached for me, but I jerked away. Fighting tears, I turned away from him and quickly made my way to the room I had been sleeping in. I buried myself under the covers, trying to find somewhere safe.
I cried. I cried harder than I had in a long time. While in my cage all I had felt was emptiness. My grief had slipped away and all that remained was vast nothingness. In the past two days, I had felt more than I had in years, but I was realizing with the return of all my happiness was all my heartache. The numbness was gone. It had begun when Cicero's words of the Night Mother triggered thoughts of my own. Since then the darkness had been rising within me, Erorn's eyes that matched Master's had broken down the final barrier.
"Flower?" I heard Cicero call to me softly from outside the covers.
I remained silent.
I could feel him sit on the side of the bed. We sat in silence for a while, me hiding under the covers, while he simply sat with me.
It was Cicero who broke the silence, "Cicero has cared for the Night Mother for a long time, it is the Keeper's job to care for Mother so she is able to speak when she chooses. Cicero swore he would care for all of Mother's needs, if she was to be silent it would be because she chose to be, not because she had to be." He pulled down the blankets, "Mother has chosen her Listener, and if that Listener is damaged, it is the Keeper's job to make sure they get well. So Mother can speak when she chooses to."
I allowed my eyes to meet his. He smiled down at me and stroked my hair, "Cicero will care for Mother's Flower."
Cicero had finally convinced me to leave the room for a time to eat. I was sitting at the table while he prepared my food for me when Babette joined me. She placed her small bowl of stew with what looked like raw meat in it on the table.
"May I sit with you, Listener?" she smiled sweetly at me.
I nodded, returning her smile.
"Cicero told me to keep an eye on Erorn," she took a bite of her stew, "he didn't say why exactly, but anyone could see how he looked at you this morning."
I continued to watch her as she ate. She really was the most beautiful child I had ever seen.
"Between you and me," she leaned in, whispering, "I would love to see him gone. He has been nothing but trouble since he came. No respect for the old ways, or pride in his work. A child, really." She patted my arm, "he will find his penance in the void for anything he has done to you."
"Thank you," I mumbled.
"Of course, Listener," she said loudly, drawing Cicero's attention to us, "what else is family for?"
Cicero stared at us, curiosity in his eyes.
"I was just telling Vilvyni that we all think she is a lovely Listener, prettiest we've ever had," she called to Cicero.
My cheeks burned, and I could see him smile and turn away, blush in his cheeks as well.
"Well, at least he thinks so," Babette jerked her head towards the Keeper. Her laugh rang through the hall, warming my heart.
