Bound By Madness

52. Bound Together

I curled up against the warmth next to me, reaching out to try and grab at it before being stopped by the layers of blanket that separated the warm object from myself. Slowly blinking away some of the haziness of sleep, I looked in front of me to see my Cicero draped halfway across the bed with the rest of him slowly slipping out of the chair he'd fallen asleep in. I didn't even try to hide my smile as I reach my hand out of the blankets and gave him a gentle shake to the shoulder that I'd been curling up near, looking down into those warm honey-toned eyes as they began fluttering open.

My sweet Cicero, you fell asleep in the chair. You should get in bed. You'll hurt your back sleeping like that.

"Mmm, 'kay Fay. Cicero's still tired," he slurred as he pushed himself up before slumping forward again, his legs curling up as he draped himself across my bed.

At least he wasn't climbing under the covers in his daze, but it wouldn't do for him to get a chill either. Slowly, I worked one of the blankets out from under him before covering his exhausted form with it, leaning over to press a kiss to his forehead.

Sleep well, my treasure.

Laying back down, I curled one arm over his side and fell back into my dreams. Dreams filled with soft laughter and slow dances across a field of flowers.

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I'd spent the day trying to convince the Angry Nord to teach me how to fix the ceiling, explaining that he wouldn't have to do the actual work if he could just show me how to do it myself, but the man was stubborn to a fault.

I'd gotten so upset, I'd nearly ended up throwing the trinket I'd found at him instead of tucking it under one of the shields he had been working on. For a moment, I'd worried that he'd caught me, but he'd ended up frowning more before simply turning back to his anvil and hammering away at the glowing hot metal he'd been working on.

Someday... someday this Family will become a real family, right? They'll come around, won't they Mother?

"Don't expect anything to happen quickly. Change takes time and some of them resist the change that is coming," Ellery muttered as he jumped down from the ledge as I walked past. "Their leader is not going to let power slip from her grasp without a fight."

That makes sense. People in power do not like having to give it up. But Mother is the real leader of this Family and the Listener is her voice. It doesn't make sense to ignore either of them and the False Leader will just have to figure out her new place in the Family. It isn't like we want her gone or will not acknowledge her seniority in the Family. She just needs to accept that change is happening. Of course, it would be easier if she had a better attitude toward those she didn't hand-pick for her Family.

"Yes, well, she doesn't and you aren't. Neither is the Keeper and it shows. Especially when you are gone with the Listener. She's going to break him if something doesn't happen to stop it first," I felt my blood run cold at his words, looking up to stare into his own worried eyes.

What do you mean break him?

"When you're gone, sometimes he wonders to himself if you are real. He's been alone too long before meeting you and as much as you heal him, he doesn't have anything to hold him together when his cracks start to grow. He has nothing like your stitches to keep him from falling apart at the seams."

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Three days later, the Listener returned and made his way to Mother's chamber in silence. My Jester Assassin and I stood and welcomed him Home, even though we both knew it meant I would be expected to leave with the young man as soon as the Pretender gave the order and he was ready. If she hadn't given the order already.

"Listener! Are you able to complete Mother's request now? Has the Pretender finally decided to listen to Mother's order and send you off to take the contract?" The sing-song quality of his voice had me reaching over to grab his hand as we stood together before walking over to the Listener.

"Astrid said she wants me and Faith to head over and see if the contract is real or not. I'm sorry. I know you two haven't had much time together," he said, lowering his head guiltily as he saw our hands clasped together. "So you're finally together, huh? Knew it wouldn't take much longer."

Reaching out, I patted the Listener on the head and grinned at him when he raised his eyes.

Don't worry. We'll go as Mother has asked. Now, where is this contract petitioner waiting for us?

"Volunruud. He waits somewhere called Volunruud. Astrid marked it on my map for me," he said, pulling his map out and unfolding it to point at a mark on the upper section of the parchment. "Here, over in this area. It's in The Pale hold, some ruins kinda like the ones we've already gone to. But I've never been to this one, so I don't know what we should expect, Faith. What if you get hurt again? What if we don't have enough potions to heal us both?"

Then we heal you as much as we can and then get me healed enough to have you take me to the nearest town. And if we can't do that... then we heal you and you leave me behind.

I made sure my Cicero couldn't see my lips when I spoke those words. I wouldn't let him see me ever speak those words, even if we both knew that I would sacrifice myself for the Listener if it came to it. Just as I knew he would do the same if it was a choice between him and the Listener or him and Mother.

There was a difference between knowing it and having it spoken in front of you. I would not put him through that pain if I could keep it from him. It would be painful enough if the sacrifice ever needed to be made, for whichever of us was left behind.

Come, let us all prepare for the trip. And Cicero, come with us. I have something I want to give to you that I picked up when I went out yesterday.

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"A ring! A ring! A pretty ring for sweet Cicero to remember that he is cared for, even when his dear Faith isn't there to tell him!"