A Kiss Before Dying - Alternate Ending to Oblivion Dark Brotherhood

4: Cavity

 **NOTES: this chapter is mostly dialogue, but stay tuned for more action and twists it will be worth it I promise.

After overcoming the shock that he was still alive and the Traitor was not, Matuul heads over to his horse.

"Sorry buddy" Matuul says, he didn't like having to do this. He slashes the neck of the animal and it lets out a whine of pain and then is still. The elf waits for a moment and he hears the horse began to take breaths again. Shadowmere stands up and shakes his head. His wounds are gone and his eyes glow red again, just like Matuul's.

"Good boy!" Matuul encourages him. Hoping his horse is difficult, he's sore from his episode and multiple fights, and as his adrenaline fades he notices various injuries he's sustained. It was mostly bumps and bruises but there's a notable gash on the back of his hand.

Just a few minutes after they start trotting down the path, Matuul sees a man holding a torch. When he approaches he can make out the face of his Argonian friend Right-Wind, who has a very relieved expression.

"I'm so sorry, I can't believe I let you fall behind. I went searching as soon as I noticed" Right-Wind says in earnest walking up to him. "I'm ashamed, truly."

"Honestly, I'm just thankful you came back for me at all. No need to apologize." Matuul replies. "Come to think of it... why did you follow me in the first place?"

Right-Wind pauses for a moment. "For now, let's just get back somewhere safe. Bumph and your friend are at the guild house with a healer."

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Matuul stands outside the doorway to the living quarters. Inside the room, I nicely dressed mage tends to Lucien. He watches her work her alchemy and tries to pick up knowledge. She also casts various restoration spells and Matuul wishes he had gotten involved with the guild. He was technically an associate, but apparently he needed to get recommendations from each hall in the various cities of Cyrodiil, and that was going to be exhausting. He was already running around doing random chores for the Fighter's guild, and at least with them he got paid. In his current situation, whatever he put time and effort into needed to be quickly fiscally beneficial, such as assassination contracts.

Apparently, Lucien has been awake some and talking, but Matuul hasn't yet visited him. They haven't spoken since the intense interaction in Bravil.

He's going to be upset with me again. I wouldn't forgive me. I was stupid. Where do we even go from here?

"You want to talk now?"

Matuul's thoughts are interrupted by Right-Wind's voice.

"Yeah, sure. First I want to say again I'm grateful for you and B, neither of you had to do any of this. I owe you a lot." Matuul answers as they sit at a wooden table.

"Of course, it's our job"

"But I've never paid you or anything." Matuul says.

The Argonian smiles. "What I meant was, it's our duty to look after our dark siblings. Let's take this conversation downstairs."

They head to the basement which was their training area and find B sharpening some steel. She gets up and follows them to a corner of the room where they all take a seat on some cushions. Bumph sits right up next to Matuul, but he doesn't mind. She's intimidating yet a comforting presence.

Right-Wind sighs and says "Regarding your original question, why did we bother to follow you and help you out. Somewhat it was because we were invested in you after taking care of you earlier. But also... since we used be involved with the Brotherhood, I recognized your armor. And forgive me but I also did a little snooping. You had multiple kill contracts on you, so any doubt was erased."

"Don't be sorry, it was dumb of me to keep those on me anyway" Matuul says with a half smile.

"Yeah well it's not as dumb as Right-Wind hanging upside down to try and make himself taller!" B jests.

"Hey! I'll have you know that it did work! My head hits the headboard of my bed now" Right-Wind says confidently. Matuul and B both smile from ear to ear giggling.

"I may be short and insecure about it, but at least I've never done that!" Matuul says blithely. He and B burst into laughter. The lizard crosses his arms and looks grumpy while also suppressing a smile. Matuul has a good feeling in his heart; he could tell they were going to be good friends.

"Let's stay on topic alright?" Right-Wind says trying to reel the conversation back in. In his head though he was thankful for their lightheartedness.

Matuul turns his attention back to the Argonian, a small smile still reminiscent on his face.

"Alright, so..." Right-Wind begins again "When you made your departure it was clear you were in danger and—"

"Wait-wait-wait" Matuul interrupts, shooting the lizard a glare "You can't just skip over the whole 'used to be with the dark brotherhood' part, what do you mean 'used to be involved?'"

B and Right-Wind look at each other. "It's not a very happy story so I'll keep it short. Not that long ago, maybe three or four years back, the two of us where part of a smaller chapter here in Cyrodiil. As we started to grow and Cheydinhal was doing well, we moved are group East into Morrowind but..."

"We never got very far," B picks up. "the Camonna Tong took care of us 'N'wahs' pretty quick, saw us as a threat. Since then, me 'n him never tried to get back into it. It's been a well-needed break I think."

"The tragedy gave us a unique opportunity to live somewhat normal lives again. Not that I regret joining the Dark Brotherhood. I truly loved our family. Our dark art bonded us." Right-Wind adds.

Matuul asks gently: "So... what are your reservations? Why do you hesitate?"

"Just look at what happened to our family and whatever in Oblivion happened to yours." Right-Wind answers.

Matuul glances away at the ground for a moment. "Yeah... I guess I'll clue you two in on that." He takes a deep breath, preparing himself mentally. "Ever since I first joined a few months ago, there were rumors in the sanctuary about a traitor in our midst. I never found out much about this or had any information until Lucien Lachance, who contacted me originally, met with my privately and gave me 'special orders' from the Black Hand itself. I was to complete a purification ritual. Kill everyone in our sanctuary for the greater good of preserving the Dark Brotherhood. So I did."

There's a moment of silence and the other two look at Matuul with stone faces for a second. B puts a hand on Matuul's shoulder in comfort. "Well I haven't even gotten to the worst part yet." He wants to move this conversation faster. He quickly fills them in on being tricked with dead drops and how irrationally decided to take out the rest of the Black Hand instead of tracking down the traitor in order to save Lucien.

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"So yeah, it's all my fault." Matuul concludes.

Lucien stands undetected by the doorway to the basement, dropping in on their conversation. He hadn't caught everything but it was clear in Matuul's voice he was weighed heavy with guilt. He himself hadn't yet had the time or energy to really work through all of the emotions and trauma of the past few days.

In such a short of amount of time he had lost so much and this was the first time Lucien felt this powerless.

"The traitor actually turned out to be Mathieu something-or-another" The Dunmer adds, breaking the silence. "But in a way I kind of wish I hadn't found out. I think there would have been some comfort in never knowing who it really was."

Mathieu Bellamont...Lucien thinks. I should have known.

Lucien decides to make his appearance, slowly walking over to the group. He sees worry and relief grow on Matuul's face.

"My Silencer... I'm upset with you if that's what you're afraid of."

The elf's face relaxes some. "I'm glad you're okay, um, relatively speaking." He replies.

Lucien motions to Matuul and says "Come. We have business to attend to."