That's Madness (a Skyrim fanfiction)

Chapter Sixteen - Hail Sithis!

Sixteen is an adult in Skyrim. You can marry, birth children and drink legally in taverns at that age. The guard or army can be joined at that age and you can move away from the family home and own your own property, if you can afford it. I am that age now. 

It's early evening when I arrive at Whiterun. I expected to feel nervous or anxious being in a place where there is absolute no chance of slipping in unrecognised but I feel an odd calm instead. I'm not quite sure at how long it's been since I ran away. It feels like eternity. Entering via the main gates would be asking for trouble. Luckily I know several more discreet entrances to Whiterun that allow me to slip into the city without being noticed.  The entrance takes me to the marketplace and thankfully the shopkeepers have packed up their stalls. A few people walk the streets and I recognise them with a pounding heart. I keep my face down and stay close to the shadows. Aela and Njada stroll past me back on their way to Jorrvaskr and they pay little attention to me. Become one with shadows. 

I walk up the steps to the Bannered Mare and push open the doors. The familiar chaos of a drunken night greets me. A bard sings with some other musicians in a corner and a few people are dancing and singing along. The barmaid, Saadia, is busy delivering drinks and dodging drunk men's attempts to kiss her. The owner, Hulda, doesn't notice me as she too is working hard behind the counter alongside Ysolda. 

Seated away from the madness is an all-too-familiar man. Motierre's servant Rexus. I approach him slowly and clear my throat. He looks up and the shock on his face is apparent. 

"Well I'll be damned. We heard you were dead. Motierre's in the back room, if you've got business," he nods his head in the direction I'm supposed to go. 

"Thank you," I say curtly and walk slowly to the back room, not making eye contact, and keeping to myself. Before I push open the door I hear a familiar roar of laughter and I spin around. I see Uncle Farkas and my father sitting by the fire, facing me. I turn back around my sweaty palms. They didn't see me but they could have done. It was stupid of me to turn around. 

I push open the door and close it behind me. Motierre is seated at a desk and he has clearly seen better days. His hair is longer and some facial hair is growing. 

"What is it? I said I didn't wish to...be disturbed," he snaps, not looking up. 

"We have unfinished business and Sithis is due a soul," I respond. 

This makes Motierre look up and gasp. "By the gods - you...you're alive! But I had heard - your Sanctuary - please! You musn't think I had anything to do with that!" he starts rambling. I keep my face blank and stand my ground. "I wanted the Emperor dead! The true Emperor! I still do! It was Maro! He-"

The name stirs a rage inside of me. "Enough. Where is the real Emperor?" I snarl. 

Motierre looks dumbfounded. "You mean after all that's transpired the Dark Brotherhood will still...honour the contract?" I nod and a sly grin breaks out on his face. "Why this is astounding news! Wonderful news! The Emperor is still in Skyrim but not for long. He's on board is ship, the Katria, moored offshore in the Solitude Inlet. But you must hurry! If you can get on board that ship and kill Titus Mede II as contracted...I will reveal the location of the dead drop that holds your payment,"

"Of course," I nod and without another word I leave his room and slip out of the tavern as fast as I can, taking great care to avoid my father and uncle. Once I'm outside the inn I take a deep breath of air and clench and unclench my fists. The enormity of what I have to do begins to sink in. I have to sneak onto the Emperor's ship, take out all of his security and then kill him. The chaos it would cause is inconceivable. I think Titus Mede II does have an heir in his niece Lexa Mede but would she ascend? Would the Stormcloaks use his death as a move on liberating Skyrim? Speaking of Stormcloaks, my mind wanders back to the vision I had of Daenerys and Ulfric - what was going on there?