The Dark Brotherhood [ON HOLD]

The Plan

Rhila had gone to sleep when Maro arrived back at the Penitus Halls. He stopped by outside her room, considering telling her about the meeting with Astrid but decided to wait until morning.

Some nights Sam didn't sleep, he just sat in his bed and looked out the window with a grin, these were nights when he had "taken care" of someone. Rhila used to think he had sleeping problems that kept him from falling asleep but now that she knew the reason, she understood the feeling of satisfying the bloodthirst. The strange phenomenon made her connected to the other members, they knew each other like real siblings.

This was one of those nights. He had heard Maro outside the door, his heartbeat beating quicker since he still wore his uniform thinking that Maro had gone to sleep and wouldn't notice. Sam reached for his steel dagger, just in case. Then the thought hit him, I'm not allowed to kill him... What should I do? But as Maro had turned and walked away he promised himself to never risk being seen in his uniform.

Rhila woke up feeling like herself again. She didn't feel the throbbing thirst of blood. Her senses were sharpened, she could smell every scent, see every detail and hear the smallest noise. Sam looked at her from his bed. "I can see that the bloodthirst settled in on you. It will be weaker now but your senses sharp." Rhila didn't know how to answer to that, but was glad there no longer were any throbbing predatory thirst clouding her mind.  "Is Maro back yet?" she asked. Sam nodded and said "Yes, he came back by midnight." Rhila shook her head "I didn't think Astrid would let him be back this soon." Sam frowned "Did Astrid meet with him? Then I'm surprised he came back at all"

Rhila changed into working clothes and went to Maro's office. He sat in his chair, his frown deep with concern. She didn't bother knocking, she never had. "Commander? I didn't notice you coming back yesterday, I was beginning to worry." Rhila said softly. Maro's distant look turned to Rhila and he answered "Turns out, Astrid – the leader – just wanted to make a deal. Her target is the Emperor, she wants us to let the Brotherhood kill him." his voice was steady but Rhila could sense his fear.
"What are we going to do?" She asked with a frown.
He sighed "We've been tricked by a fox, now we are going to outsmart the fox. It's going to be hard, but we'll make it work" he said with both hope and concern.
"But, Astrid didn't kill you? I think she wants to live in peace with us." Rhila thought out loud. "I understand how one might think so, but she made it clear that she wanted revenge" Maro said, his eyes was distant again.
"Why? We haven't even been close to arresting them in years!" Rhila blurted out, her words carefully chosen but the wonder sincere.
Maro looked down. Some moments later he said "I don't know if I should tell you this but, Astrid and I were once friends... If you could call it that. One day we went out in the forest, to pick berries... Some wolves attacked and I told her to run, she was frozen in her tracks, couldn't move. I didn't realize that she wasn't following.
When I noticed that I was alone, I jumped to the conclusion that she was dead.
My thoughts was supported the next day when I went back to where the wolves had attacked. It looked like the wolves had knocked her out and dragged her away, the blood was spattered all over the place.
Obviously she survived, I don't know how though" Maro told the story with a slow steady voice, his eyes filled with remorse and frustration. "I left her for dead, that's why she want revenge" he added, turning his eyes back to his desk.
Rhila sought contact in his eyes, and when they met hers she said "Then we will outsmart her. We tell her we agree to the deal. But instead of granting entrance to the Emperor's chambers we grant entrance to our trap." Maro's eyes sparkled as he came up with an idea.
"I know exactly what we're going to do now, thank you!... And, by the way, Astrid said we have Dark Brotherhood members in the organization, we can't let them know about the plan. Keep an eye on anyone suspicious. "
Rhila smiled and said "Will do, Commander" then turned to leave.
"Oh, and one more thing. I know you've been up to something. I believe it's something bad, and I really don't need any more bad things right now. With the civil war about to begin and the Brotherhood coming back. We've got plenty to deal with." He said watching her, analyzing her reaction. She was tense as she listened to him. She turned back at him and said "I'll tell Brynjolf I won't be attending the next meeting..." She lied flawlessly, with a low regretful voice.
Maro was disappointed but pleased, she had not been meeting with the Brotherhood but Thieves Guild? Really? He never would've taken her for a thief.