That's Madness (a Skyrim fanfiction)

Chapter Ten - Bound Until Death

I arrived back at the Sanctuary soon after nightfall. I dismounted the stolen horse and watched as he trotted off to find his owner. I let my blonde hair free from its hair tie and walk through into the Sanctuary. Unsurprisingly, Astrid is standing by her desk and she's mulling over a map. She looks up at my approaching footsteps and smiles. 

"Good, you're back...what did Mallory have to say? Is the amulet authentic?"

"It's made for members of the Elder Council," I tell her, running my hands through my hair trying to get out some knots. 

"The Elder Council..." Astrid chuckles. "Oh, now that explains quite a bit. Motierre, you naughty, naughty boy. Hiring the Dark Brotherhood to rise beyond your station. Delicious. Is Delvin willing to buy the amulet?"

"Yeah," I nod my head and hand over the letter to her. 

"Splendid. We're ready to begin...or, more specifically, you're ready to begin. After all, you're the one the Night Mother spoke to," Astrid says mischeviously. "Now then, I hope you have something nice to wear because you're going to a wedding,"

"I'm what?" I ask, trying to mask the grin seeping onto my face. I love weddings. 

"Well more like the public reception. It should be a lovely affair. You'll mingle with the guests, eat some cake...stab the bride," Astrid smirks when I look taken aback. "Oh yes, you've got to kill the bride at her wedding...and they say romance is dead,"

I put my business face on. "Who is the target?"

"Her name is Vittoria Vici," Astrid informs me. "She oversees the East Empire Company's business holdings in Solitude. The wedding is being held in that city, at th Temple of Divines. Her death will cause an uproar, which is exactly what we want. Oh, and I'll even put in a special bonus for you if you kill her while she addresses her guests,"

"I'll leave first thing in the morning," I tell her and slope off to the living quarters. I settle into bed after a long day of riding and fall asleep within minutes. 

***

"Wakey wakey, sleepy Listener," I hear Cicero crooning to me the next morning. 

"Agh!" I exclaim and wake up. "Cicero, what are you-"

"Cicero got flowers! For the Listener!" Cicero grins at me. "Lovely, lovely flowers,"

"Um, thank you," I rub my eyes, trying to wake myself up. "Now can you please leave me alone so I can change? I've got to get to Solitude today,"

"Didn't Astrid tell you?" Cicero looks at me. "The fateful wedding doesn't happen until Wednesday! The Listener has two days!"

"Oh," I yawn. "Excellent. I'll be going back to bed then,"

I pull the blankets over my head and lay still until I hear Cicero's footsteps walking away. Then I allow myself a few more minutes to lie in and enjoy being in bed. After closing my eyes and dozing for half an hour, I throw the bedsheets off and swing my legs over the bed. My shrouded armour is folded neatly on the end table next to my bed and I grab it and walk into the small washroom. I take off the sleeping tunic and slip into the shrouded armour. I take a few moments to admire my reflection in the looking glass. The armour fits me snugly and makes me look older than fifteen. I pick up a comb and run it through the tangles in my hair and, when I'm satisfied with the way I look, I head out into the kitcen to find some breakfast. 

"Morning," I say to Nazir. 

"Good morning," he says pleasantly. "I hear you've got a big contract ahead of you. Slaughtering the Emperor's cousin? At her wedding? Those guards will be out for blood. Wouldn't surprise me if the crowd jumped in too."