A Fool's Blade

Chapter 31 - Bound Until Death

        Jade slipped on Cicero's gift after she woke up in the Winking Skeever. Gabriella had taken the long tunic and fashioned it into a more feminine dress, that accented her thin figure, but still left enough room for her to wear her armor underneath. She clipped on the gold belt, that hung loosely across her hip and wore her long hair down in waves. Sofie and Runa ran through the door to her room, looking at her in awe.

        "You look so pretty!" Both said at the same time.

        "So do the both of you."

        The two girls twirled in their dresses, Runa in a light red dress, Sofie in a light blue, and giggled merrily. 

        Sofie reached up pulling on Jade's hand. "Come on Mama! Let us braid your hair."

        "Please."

        She smiled as she knelt and let the two put two braids on the sides of her hair, coming to the back in a thin ponytail. Jade urged the two out the door "We're going to be late if we don't hurry." She took a quick look around. "Where's your brother?"

        "I'm here! I'm here!" Aventus ran up to them panting, "This...this is for you Ma. I thought I would get here in time." He handed her a gold an ruby circlet, "It matches your outfit," and smirked.

        Accepting the circlet and placing it on here head, she could feel the hum of magic. It's enchanted. Clever boy. "Now that everyone's here we can get to the temple. Come on now."

        The girls were completely attentive throughout the entire wedding while Aventus practically slept through it. The reception followed shortly afterwards.

        The dark brown haired woman smiled as she walked up to Jade, "It's good to see you my friend! I'm so glad you could make it to my wedding." 

         "Thank you for inviting me Vittoria, it's beautiful." Jade replied.

        "Yes," A blond Nord rested his arm around Vittoria, "it's almost as beautiful as the bride herself."

        "My sweet, Asgeir, always so kind."

        "Any thing for my lovely wife."

        Jade slowly slid away from the couple, "I think I'll leave you two in peace and speak with the other guest."

        "Yes! Please - eat, drink, make merry! We're all friends here!" Vittoria sat on the throne next to her husband.

        Jade walked over to Nura, Asgeir's mother. "How are you enjoying the wedding?"

        "I keep telling myself that I'm not losing a son. I'm gaining an Imperial. Daughter. An Imperial daughter."

        "Alright then..." She traveled around, conversing with all the different people, all of them trusting her quickly and easily due to her silver tongue and the enchanted dress.

        After a while Vittoria and Asgeir , stood up from their seats and walked to to the balcony. Jade snuck through the door to the stairs leading up to her sniping spot. She pulled off the Deciver's Finery and tucked her black hair into her hood, throwing it over her circlet. Grabbing Gabriella's bow, she loaded an arrow. Waiting for a perfect moment.

        "...sharing this wonderfully happy day with myself, and my new husband. Today, the problems of Skyrim are not my problems. Nor are they yours. Today we are joined in peace and happiness. So please, enjoy yourselves. You have all helped me make this a truly extraordinary wedding. All  of my dreams have come tru-" She stopped as the arrow struck her heart.

        Jade retreated back to the stair case as others started to figure out the source of the arrow. Veezara was waiting for her. Angry screams and shouts came from outside.

        "Quickly, the door won't stay locked forever."

        Nodding, she pulled off the hood, and threw on the dress. Veezara grabbed her arms and put them behind her, putting a dagger to her throat he walked back up to the parapet. 

        Runa, Sofie, and Aventus all cried out in unison, "Mama!' Which drew the guards attention away from the door and back up the the parapet.

        Most of them loaded arrows on to their bows.

        Veezara shook his head, "Do you really think that's a good idea? If you try to shoot me this poor women will get caught in the cross fire."

        "Let her go, lizard," Asgeir hissed, "or I'll turn your tail into a belt!"

        "Let's not be so rash about this, hmm? We can do this two ways, I get to leave this city without a problem and you can have this girl back, or you cause a problem and I gut you all like a fish. Starting with this one." Veezara pulled the dagger closer to her throat with an exaggerated movement.

       "Unhand her you slimy-" He begin to beat down the door with his sword pommel.

        "Do what he says!" Jade cried out.

        "What?!? He killed Vittoria!"

        "I know, but... my children, Asgeir. They've all already been motherless once... I can't bare the thought of that happening again!" She spoke with her voice breaking, but confident in her words.

        On cue, Aventus tugged on Asgeir's sleeve, "Don't let the mean man kill my Ma. Please don't." He whimpered, the other two following suit.

        Asgeir sheathed his sword, "Very well. I agree to you're terms, but only until the city gates."

       The argonian smirked, "As you wish." He walked towards the gate continuing to hold Jade hostage. "This has been very fun and all, I just hope that you remember this as the day, where you almost caught...a member of the Dark Brotherhood." He shoved Jade into the crowd and drank an invisibility potion, retreating from Solitude.

        "Mama!" Aventus and the girls ran forward, embracing her.

         She tightly hugged every one of them. "I think we've been to enough weddings for now. Let's go back to Riften. Alright?"

        The three nodded in agreement.