A Series of Daedric Events (a Skyrim fanfiction)

Chapter Nine - Waking Nightmare pt 1

We get to Dawnstar and I help us slip into the Dawnstar Sanctuary...where we're greeted by Andriel and Lavinia holding blades to our throats. 

"It's me! Lucia! The Listener's sister!" I plead with them. 

"What in the name of Sithis is going on?" Maryse strides through into the room. She sees me and Marcurio and her look of fury breaks out into a smile. "Lucia! I was so worried about you!"

She nods at Lavinia and Andriel and they lower their weapons and Lucia engulfs me in a hug. Marcurio nods his head awkwardly at her. 

"I'm Marcurio,"

"I don't approve of you bringing outsiders into our Sanctuary," Maryse frowns. "But it doesn't matter. These are dark times. The cities are under lockdown...how did you get into Dawnstar?"

"Boat," I reply. "We sailed from Solitude. I think everyone back in Whiterun is safe and I'm going to assume Blaise is okay at the College,"

"Dawnstar has enough troubles, let alone the lockdown," Maryse says tiredly and that's when I notice she has dark bags under her eyes. "You two are welcome to stay with us for as long as you need,"

We follow Maryse into the kitchen where Nazir is stirring something in a pot, Thomas is writing something at the table and Babette and Cicero look like they're bickering over something. 

"Nightmares aren't real, Cicero," Babette huffs. "Oh...guests," she smiles when she sees me and Marcurio. "My my, who is this handsome young man?"

Marcurio looks stunned. He clearly didn't think wandering into a Sanctuary of assassins through. Good thing Maryse is my sister or neither of us would be standing here. 

"I'm, ah, Marcurio," Marcurio introduces himself.

"Marcurio, this is Babette. Don't be fooled by her appearances. The darling jester is my Keeper Cicero. This is Nazir and Thomas and you've already met Lavinia and Andriel," Maryse swiftly makes introductions. "I am Maryse, Listener and leader of the Dark Brotherhood. This is my husband Veezara, son of Hermaeus Mora,"

Veezara emerges from a tunnel, looking surprised at all the commotion in the kitchen. He nods his head at Marcurio and waves at me. 

"Son of-" Marcurio trails off. "Oh. I see,"

"I was never aware of it and it brings me some shame," Veezara responds. "What can we do for you, Lucia?"

"We need somewhere to stay and...answers," I look at Maryse, trying to hint to her that I want to talk to her alone. 

"I see," Maryse frowns. "Lucia and I will be in my chambers. Nazir, fix up some extra food for my sister and her delightful companion. Don't kill him!" she adds as an afterthought as she leads me to her room. 

"I'm, ah, supposed to unite the Daedric Lords and Tamriel against your father-in-law," I blurt out when me and Maryse are finally alone.

I had issues trusting Maryse when she came back into our lives. So did Blaise. In fact, I think Blaise still holds a large degree of mistrust towards her. But family is important and Maryse saved our mother from an attack by cultists and figured out that it was Lydia who betrayed us. She came running to Whiterun, potentially putting herself in danger, as soon as she heard that we were in danger. That gives me a good enough reason to trust her. 

"Oh, Luce," Maryse looks at me sympathetically. "How is that going for you?"

"Well, actually," I shrug. "I have quite a few Daedric artifacts already and I'm the champion of Mehrunes Dagon, Azura, Clavicus Vile, Hircine, Mephala, Sanguine, Sheogorath and Meridia. So, really, it could be going worse,"