An illustrated Skyrim story beyond the fall of the Dark Brotherhood~
After a surreal event, Cicero is inexplicably thrown back into a clear state of mind and his memories from his life prior to his madness return. We begin to learn who he really is...
Cicero pulled the reins on Shadowmere as they neared the entrance to the Sanctuary. Jade, half asleep, had her arms around his waist as she wobbled involuntarily from the shift in speed. They had ridden all night in an attempt to get back to nurse their physical and emotional wounds. A familiar and loving face welcomed them as they slowed upon the rock face near the shore.
Ruby had a basket of wildflowers on her arm and a big grin on her face as she ran over waving. She wasn't well dressed for the cold climate but being a snow elf, that probably didn't bother her as much. Shadowmere came to a stop and Cicero slid off with a grunt before turning to help Jade. She didn't kick his offering hand away this time and silently accepted. She was too tired and feeling a bit too awkward from the previous events to make a fuss.
A look of concern crossed Ruby's face when she noticed Cicero's strange bloody clothing and injuries. Dried blood in his hair and around his mouth, the bridge of his nose slightly bent and swollen and a very visible black left eye; he was quite difficult to look at. Ruby held her distance but her expression of concern was clear. Cicero smiled and moved closer, pulling her into a hug. When he last saw her, she was crying and visibly hurt by his actions. His gentle embrace calmed her, but she could feel something was very wrong with him. The feeling almost made her ill.
"I missed you, Miss Ruby," he said in a warm tone.
She leaned her head back to look at him. His damaged face was even more startling up close. Ruby gently touched his cheek with her fingertips. As a slave of the Dwemer, she was too small and frail to do much physical labor. Her job was to aid the others. Prepare meals, midwife expectant mothers, care for the babies, aid the sick and elderly, and treat the wounded. She may have been a bit simple in the head, but her skills to care for others were quite advanced and she knew that now was the time to earn Cicero's love again. She had feared that he no longer had need of her now that that 'other female' had arrived.
Jade quietly took her supply sack from the horse and began making her way into the Sanctuary without so much as a greeting to the little elf. The unfortunate adventure couldn't end soon enough.
"Babette has you picking flowers, I see," Cicero said, trying to make conversation with a girl he knew couldn't understand him anyway.
Ruby brightened up hearing his friendly tone and reached into her basket. She eagerly held up what appeared to be a homemade jester's cap very similar to the one Cicero had thrown into the fire a while back. It was made from pieces of old shrouded robes and even had little ear flaps that hung down on the sides. The stitching was a little sloppy but not much worse than his own.
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"You made me a cap..." Cicero cooed in a weak voice, "A jester's cap..."
Ruby reached up and placed it on his head making sure the flaps rested snuggly over his ears. She patted them lightly to draw attention to the addition.
