Madness Is Merry ~Cicero x Reader~

Grelad The Dead

I walked into Riften, making sure to avoid any men or women that looked like thugs and soon enough I came upon a building called "Honorhall Orphanage" well, me being the curious woman I am, decided to walk in. 'Maybe I can adopt?' Or put a smile on their faces?'' I thought and looked around a corner but stayed put, for some old lady was yelling bloody murder at a group of children, the orphans.

"Anyone who doesn't do their chores gets an extra beating! Got that!? And don't worry, no one will ever adopt any of you, you'll stay here until you come of age and get kicked out into that big, miserable world!" The old lady spat out. "Yes Grelad The Kind, we love you." The kids said in unison in a depressed tone. I sighed, this woman surely didn't seem kind.

I came out from around the corner and approached a blonde girl. She looked up at me with a frown, "I wish I had escaped like Aventus did..." She said. I was confused, escaped? "What? Who is this Aventus?" I asked.

"Well, he escaped and is supposed to be doing this thing called The Black Sacrament to call the Dark Brotherhood."

"Where did he go?"

"Back to his home in Windhelm."

"Oh... Well, goodbye." I said and walked out of the orphanage. I'm so curious. Black Sacrament? Dark Brotherhood? What could he need with something that sounds so, well, dark? I decided to look into this; it may be worth it...

-TIME SKIP TO WINDHELM, AVENTUS' HOUSE-

I asked around and got the place. I twisted the knob but to my disappointment it was locked. Perhaps to keep prying eyes away? Probably....I knelt down and quickly lock picked it, standing at the sound of the click that meant it was unlocked. I opened it and slipped in; unnoticed by the Dark Elf and the little girl chatting right by the house.

I controlled my breathing and crouched down. I creeped up the steps, hearing chanting in a young voice. Aventus?

"Sweet Mother, sweet mother. Send your child unto me for the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in blood and fear."

The voice continued droning on that same chant, and I then turned a corner and saw a child stabing human meat whilst chanting. A skeleton was laid out and candles lighted around it. I stood up, making the child, Aventus, look up at me. He smiled and stood up.

"I knew it! I knew you would come! The Dark Brotherhood!" Aventus said and flung his hands up in the air, the bloody dagger tight in his grip. "Yes...The Dark Brotherhood..." I said.

"Now you can fulfil the contract!"

"Contract?"

"Yes, contract. I-I want you to kill Grelad The Kind...she's not kind at all..."

"Alright, I will."

With those words he smiled even bigger. "Thank you!" He said and I turned on my heels to go back to Riften. That old hag deserves death after all, she beats orphans! Beats orphans!!!! I walked out of the house and into the cold, early Morndas air.Time to kill.

-TIME SKIP TO RIFTEN, HONORHALL ORPHANAGE-

I opened the orphanage's door, slipping in through the small opening I had. The darkness of the night helped me get in unnoticed. I crouched down and stuck close to the shadows, making sure to not wake the sleeping children as I crept to Grelad's room.

I finally reached it and snuck in. She was fast asleep, thank Talos. I unsheathed the dagger I had and got beside her sleeping form. I placed the dagger on her throat and began to dig it in, watching the blood exit the wound. With this action her eyes shot open and so did her mouth so she could call out for help, but I was to quick and sliced open her throat.

She attempted to talk but nothing came out and blood poured like a waterfall from the slice. I smiled and stood up and turned but then my jaw dropped open. Every single one of the kids where standing there, we were all in shock but for different reasons, of course. "She's dead!" One of them yelled, but, to my surprise, in a happy tone.

"Hooray! Grelad The Kind is dead!" one yelled, "Finally!" Another yelled. I smiled even bigger and ran out of the building, not wanting the guards to arrest me, but the happiness of those orphans just made me feel great. Turns out I did put a smile on their faces. Now let's go get a reward, surely there must be one for all of this trouble.

-TIME SKIP TO WINDHELM, AVENTUS' HOUSE-

I walked in, walked up the steps and saw Aventus. "Here," he said and handed me a plate that looked pretty valuable. "This should fetch you a nice price!" Aventus said and patted my back. I smiled back and nodded, walking out of the house and headed over to the nearest shopkeeper and sold the plate, 100 Septims! I'm so tired though... I'll just rent a room at Candlehearth Hall for tonight. Duh.

I walked to Candlehearth Hall then up to the owner. "I'd like to rent a room." I said and handed over 10 Septims. "It's yours for the day." He said and I walked down the hall then into my room. I closed the door and plopped onto the bed, too tired to change and closed my eyes. I soon fell into a deep sleep.