In an attempt to get my creative juices flowing again I am going to write this new fic. I will hopefully get back to Blood on the Moons soon, but my muses are being very silent and this damn jester is laughing in my head. So please bare with me those who are following me and my other stories. I will finish them come hell or high water, but I have to try to get this out of head so the others will start speaking to me again. This one will be much darker than the fics I am use to writing so if you don't like gore and heavier violence please I warn you now not to read this. I also apologize now for not putting the dates. I am having a blonde moment and trying to figure them out made my head hurt. So here we go.

I'll be your keeper for life as your guardian
I'll be your warrior of care your first warden
I'll be your angel on call, I'll be on demand
The greatest honor of all, as your guardian
Guardian by: Alanis Morissette

Bruma Seventeen years before the fall of Helgen.

Bad memories are the hardest to lose, even after time has blurred them. Time does not heal all wounds some stay with you long after the one who caused them are gone. As a orphan Cicero knew all to well life was not fair. It was even less fair for those who have no way of fighting back. He had broken the chains long ago when he had killed his tormenter, his foster father. The man was abusive in more ways than one and made the boy's life a living hell. One night the man had been deep in his cups and came home to do Divines knows what to Cicero, but the boy was no longer a child. Cicero was now a boy of sixteen summers and his "father" was now a broken old man, too drunk to aim his blows. It was his first kill, but would not be his last. He marveled at the way the blood flowed from the man's neck. How it pooled at his feet and the way the color drained from tormenter's skin. It was in that moment he knew blood would be his life's work. He left the old man in their house and did not look back.

In the years following he fell in line with the Dark Brotherhood and reviled in his work. He had a true family again and had enough coin to spend on whatever he fancied. It was a great time to be alive or at least he so he thought. The nights without contracts he went and walked the streets of Bruma. Most nights he would sit up on top of the Chapel of Talos and watch the drunkards stumble their way home. It never changed. It was colder up here so close to Skyrim. It was not a place to tread lightly, but it was home. He liked the Nords up here well enough, but they were simple people, proud people. On this particular night he was restless. His hands itched to end someone's life, but he had no one to kill. He swore Sithis was probably laughing at him from the Void, that is if the Dread Lord did laugh. He had almost given up hope that the night would go by quickly and the next day would bring a new contract. A shrill scream woke him from his thoughts. A wicked grin rose on his lips and he thanked Sithis for the scene that was in front of him. His blade would taste blood tonight and the thought of it made him giddy.

Windhelm Eight months after the fall of Helgen

Dracen Corvina had not thought to go back to her old life, but when she overheard the guards talking about a boy right here in Windhelm her blood began to sing. She crept closer to the conversing men and listened. Their hushed voices carried in the silent night.

"Has there been any word from the Jarl about what we should do about the Arentino boy?"

"No, and I hope he doesn't. I don't want to have to go in that house. Who knows what he has doing in there. Talks of The Black Sacrament gives me the creeps."

"Aye, don't need those bastards in the mix." Dracen heard all she needed to and moved away. She made her way to her house here in Windhelm. She was happy her housecarl was out hunting for the weeks stock of meat. So she did not have to explain why she was wearing her armor. Once inside she began sifting through her pack. Buried deep inside was her old armor. It had been years since she had donned it. The black leather was still well cared for despite it's none use. Her hands shook a bit as she laid all of it on her bed. The last thing to come out was her elven blade. It was sharper than a dragon's claw and twice as deadly. She had killed dozens of people with this blade, most never saw her coming. The ones that did were not alive long enough to more than one scream.

"Lord Sithis guide my blade, let this be your will and bless me for a righteous kill." Those words were taught to her by her last guild master and Dracen had always said them as she prepared for her next contract. Slowly she dressed and let out a content sigh. Her armor felt like a second skin. After she was ready she threw her cloak over herself and silently left the house. She had been staying in Windhelm for weeks and knew the lay of the land well enough to know which house belonged to the Arentino boy. Before placing her hand on the door she looked over her shoulder and made sure no one could see her. Once she was satisfied that no one could see her she took a lock pick and swiftly unlocked the door. She heard the boy speaking further in the house and drew her blade. It would be her luck that this was a trap.

"Sweet mother, sweet mother send your child unto me, for the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in blood and fear." Dracen heard the words and smiled. It had been so longs since she had heard them spoken aloud. She silently made her way up the stairs and saw a young boy no older than she was when her life had been forever changed by death. The boy's arms were shaking as he stabbed the effigy over and over. The words falling from his lips sounded exhausted. She stood over the boy and waited for him to notice her. He did after all have a dagger in his hands, not that it would matter. She had been trained by the best and was not about to let her guard down. The boy sat back on his knees and noticed a larger shadow cast by the candles he had illuminating the home. He quickly spun around and stared at Dracen with wide eyes. "You're really here! I...I have waited so long and now you are here. I knew this would work."

"I am here to for fill a contract. Whom do you wish dead?" The boy jumped to his feet leaving the dagger on the floor. He walked quickly into the other room and sat down. Dracen followed and remained standing for now. A heavy sadness ebbed off of the boy as he began to speak.

"My...my mother died and I was taken to Honorhall in Riften. The woman who runs it...Grelod The Kind. I want her dead. She treats all of us like dirt. She hits us, yells at us and starves us. She tells us no one wants us and that our parents died to get away from us." Dracen felt a pang of sympathy for this boy. She had been where he was and would have most likely died had it not been for one of the Brotherhood saving her. Her memories flooded back to her and she felt her eyes sting. Sithis she missed him the most. Shaking her head she let the visions fade and let her eyes focus back on the boy.

"This Grelod, has she hurt you in other ways." She hated asking, but that information would deed if the woman got a swift death or a draw out one.

"N...no, but she might have done it to others. None of us talk because she always hears." Dracen put her hand on the boys shoulder. She knelt down a looked him right in the eye.

"Once you say yes to this it can not be undone. I want you to be sure." A hard look came over the boy's eyes and she knew he had made up his mind.

"I want her dead." A sweet smile crossed her lips even though the child could not see it because of her cowl.

"I will return when it is done." Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a small bag of coins. "Take this and buy some food and warm clothing. Do not open this door to anyone till I return."

"Thank you, oh thank you." Aventus jumped up and hugged her catching her by surprise. She let her hand land on top of his head and she fluffed his hair in a show of affection. Dracen left the home and made her way back to the inn. She changed again and put her beat up heavy leather armor on. The road to Riften was a long one and she did not want to get caught undefended. She was after all very out of practice. With a deep breath she went out into the cold night air and made her way to the carriage.

"Where can I take you?" She smiled up at Alfarinn and placed her coin in his hand.

"Riften my good man, I have a craving for fish and Black-Briar mead." She climbed in the back and half listened as the drive chatted with her. Her mind was now in assassin mode as she planned her next move.

OoO

To see her one would have a hard time figuring out what race she was. Dracen was a mix blood, born and raised in Cyrodiil. Her dark red hair hung just below her shoulder line. It was not a color that was seen in her kinsman Her black eyes held mystery if looked into for too long. When she was angry they almost glowed red. Her creamy skin was free of blemishes save the sprinkling of freckles that adorned her nose and cheeks. She looked far younger she really was and far shorter than other those of her races women. She use to laugh at this point when she was younger. Being a mix of Dunmer, Imperial and Nord should have given her at least some height, but it was not to be. Her agelessness came from the Dunmer blood, while her tolerance for the snows came from her Nordic blood. She kept her face hidden with a hooded cloak. She tired years ago of people asking why her eyes were the color that they were. Or why her ears had a slight point to them. To most she would appear to be a Breton or possible a Bosmer because of her size. When she arrived in Riften it was just as the sun was setting. She made her way easily through the streets and headed back behind the Temple of Mara. She had been lucky enough to make friends with some of the Thieves Guild on her last pass through the harbor town. Knowing she needed it to be darker out she decided to kill her time talking to Devlin Mallory.

"Hello there little lass, was not expecting to see you so soon." Dracen smiled under her hood and turned to find the guild's second in command standing in the shadows.

"Just here on some business Bryn. I have a few things I think Devlin would like to look at and I really need the septims." The tall Nord barked a laugh and pushed himself off the wall of the mausoleum.

"You are a wonder lass." Dracen grinned and pushed the button on the stone slab. Brynjolf motioned for her to go first and Dracen slipped down the ladder into the Cistern. She ignored the dirty look she received from the thieves leader Mercer Frey. She did not trust the man, but that was not unusual. She really did not trust anyone anymore. "Dev should be up at the Ragged Flagon. I have a few things to do, but if you have time later I would love to speak more about making you one of us lass. You have the talent for this."

"I will think about it Bryn. Right now things are complicated."

"I understand, just when you are ready I will be here." Dracen nodded and gave the larger man a quick hug. She sent a glaring look at Mercer before heading to the Flagon. She found Devlin sitting in a dark corner drinking what looked like mead. She was more partial to wine, but mead worked in a pinch.

"Was wondering when you were going to be back this way. I guess I owe Brynjolf ten septims."

"I have some business tonight, but I was wondering if you could take a look at a few things I have found and tell me if they are worth anything." Devlin took the pack she had pulled from her back. His eyes twinkled at some of the bobbles he found.

"Someone has been busy."

"I hate sitting idle."

"Get yourself into trouble if left to boredom?"

"You have no idea. My...my friend use to tell me it was my greatest flaw." Dracen's eye's had a far away look to them. She shook her head quickly and hoped Devlin had not seen the pain in her eyes.

"Don't worry love, I don't pry. I will give you six hundred for this and the rest of it will only fetch about a hundred."

"Sounds fair." Devlin handed her a bag of coin and she placed it in the side pouch of her belt. "Thank you."

"No lass , thank you. I have been searching for some of these things for a while. Now why don't we share a drink while you wait for night fall." Dracen whirled her head back to stare wide eyed at the thief. Devlin leaned closer and dropped his voice to a bare whisper. "Oh don't look so surprised, ya think I can't tell another member of the Brotherhood when I see one. You hide it better than most, but there are tells you give away."

"How...how do you know?" A smirk crossed the man's face and he brought his lips to her ear. His fingers pulled her hood down so he could look at her when he pulled away.

"You check to see where every exit is for starters. Next you looked at all the patrons of the Flagon. I am guessing you were seeing which ones you could take down quickly and which would give you a hard time. Lastly the pendent on your neck. It is if I am not mistaken the Black Hand of Sithis. No one wears one of them without being in the Brotherhood. Now my question is which family were you from?" Dracen sighed and looked down to her hands. They were shaking and her stomach was in knots. Devlin stared at her and made note of her eyes, her features. He had never seen a woman like her before.

"I...was a member of the family in Cyrodiil. I think I might be the last one that still lives."

"Seeing as the word is all of your brothers are dead, I would say so." Dracen bit her lip to keep from sobbing. Devlin patted her shoulder and gave her a sympathetic look. "From what I hear there was nothing to stopping the corsairs from burning all of the Brotherhood to the ground. If you are the only one to survive than I would say you are a lucky one."

"Yes, ever so lucky. My family is gone, I was forced to hide. Turn my back on the the only life I had ever known."

"You have your life at least lass, that is more than I can say for some." Dracen nodded knowingly. She had sent many people to the Void and did not feel pity til she was on the other side of the blade. "Now one more thing before you go whatever business you have." Devlin turned and began rummaging through a sack that sat behind his chair. Out of it he pulled a small set of daggers. "These have not been used in some time and it is shame to let them sit idle while they can be used by knowledgeable hands." He placed the handles in her hands and pulled the sheathes from them.

"Ebony?"

"Aye, sharp and deadly. Good for a defense or..." Devlin gave a devilish wink. "Well, I know you would put them to a good use."

"Thanks." Dracen tied the sheaths to her belt and stood up. Devlin grasped her wrist as she went to walk away.

"Kill well and often."

"Thank you my brother." With that Dracen took her leave. She went back through the Ratway and up to the main level of the city. Most of the venders were heading to the Bee and Barb for their nights meal. Still others headed to their homes or the local flop house. The night was settling in and she breathed in the cooling air. Her hands fluttered over the new daggers and a wicked smile came to her lips. She waited til the moon had passed over and the shadows grew darker. "Night Mother bless me." She whispered before heading into the orphanage. She hated places like this. At least she had been raised by the monks who had lived at Cloud Ruler Temple. It was lonely being the only child, but it was better than most children got. It was now or never. She gently closed the door behind her and crept into the main room of the building.

OoO

Dracen heard voices and kept to the shadows. An old weathered woman stood admits a group of waifs. Her beady eyes flitted from one child to another and her shrill voice made Dracen want to silence the woman right then and there. She knew she couldn't but it would have made her feel better.

"Slobs the lot of ya. No one wants you. You will never be adopted. Now go to bed and I want to hear no more talks of someone coming to take you away from this place. You're mine until you are too old to stay here." For good measure Grelod's hand lashed out and caught one of the girl's faces. The blow sent the frail little thing reeling. Dracen had seen enough. Aventus had been right, Grelod was a monster. Dracen hated monsters even if she could be called one too. She waited til all the children and the assistant were tucked in their bed. Quietly she made her way to the back room. The door was open and Dracen watched the old woman counting her coin. Disgust rolled in her gut. With footsteps that only a hound could hear Dracen stood behind the woman who was oblivious to her presence. The woman did not react til it was too late and Dracen's hand was over her mouth. The cold feel of the ebony blade was at Grelod's neck and her eyes went wide. Dracen lowered her head and put her lip right next to the woman's ear.

"Aventus says hello." Without another word or sound the blade crossed over wrinkled flesh and bit deep. One single gurgle came from Grelod as her life's blood drained all over her desk. Dracen left the room taking nothing. She did not hurt for coin, nor did she want a memento of her kill. She use to keep such thinks, but now it did not matter. The only memento she needed was the one she wore around her neck. A small gasp made Dracen turn her head. It was the girl Grelod had hit, staring wide eye at the assassin. Dracen put her finger up to her lips and the girl nodded, but followed the assassin to the entry way. She grabbed at the cloak and gave a small tug. Dracen leaned over so the girl could whisper in her ear.

"Aventus did it, didn't he? He freed us."

"Yes little one. Now go back to sleep and do not go into Grelod's room. It is a mess and your young eyes do not need to see that." The girl smiled and hugged Dracen before she scampered back to her bed. Dracen opened the door and walked back into Riften.

OoO

"Welcome home My Thane."

"Hello Calder." Dracen shook the snow off her cloak and hung it on a hook by the door. She had purchased Hjerm after Jarl Ulfric's steward rewarded her for stopping The Butcher. She had taken pleasure killing the man. It takes a killer to find a killer. "Where you able to hire someone to clean all that mess out of the back room?"

"No, no one will set foot in this house, they say it is haunted."

"And you my housecarl, what do you think?" The Nord straightened his back and shook his head. "I am glad to hear that. There are far scarier things out there that ghosts."

"Dragons being one of them. The Jarl is worried what their return means for the war." A heavy sigh came from the Thane as she unlaced her travel boots.

"There are more things to life than war." Calder knelt down to Dracen's left and began to unlace her armor.

"Still haven't chosen a side I see." Shrugging out of jerkin Dracen let out an almost vulgar groan. She hated wearing armor like this. Her Brotherhood armor was light and felt like a second skin. The chunky leather armor the Nords favored left a lot to be desired.

"I would prefer not to get involved. I have been chased by the Thalmor, almost beheaded by my country men and then lastly being pressured by Ulfric to join him...I am done with it. I just want to survive."

"Yes My Thane." Once she was free of her armor Dracen made her way up the stairs and changed her clothes. She had planned on stopping in to see the Arentino boy, but she was tired. Four days of travel by carriage made her stiff and tired. She just wanted a nice hot bath and to slip under her soft warm bed furs.

"Calder, did they ever deliver the tub I requested?"

"No My Thane, I have a wash basin and cloth." Dracen sighed and moved toward the kitchen. She took the water from one of the barrels with a pot and put it over the fire.

"Whore's bath it is then." She heard her housecarl snicker as he gathered her discarded armor.

"Guess they did not teach you manners in Cryodiil." Dracen rolled her eyes as she sat down in a chair near the fire.

"I was raised by a group of men. Blame them!" She could see Calder's shoulders shaking from silent laughter. She hated that the man could rile her up so much, but he was one of the only people she found that she could trust. Hadvar being the other. Both men had saved her life and she was very grateful. Even if she had yet to fully embrace her destiny, she would always be grateful to be alive.

"I will fix the broken strap on your armor. Bathe and get some sleep."

"Thank you Calder. I will be heading out early in the morning to visit a friend that is on the other side of Windhelm."

"Will you need your armor?"

"No, I don't think I will need it." Calder nodded and left Dracen to bathe in peace. Once she was satisfied she had got all the grime from her travels off her skin she wrapped herself in a towel Calder had put out for her. She ran up the flight of stairs to her room and dressed for bed. She could see snow falling outside her window and her heart ached. She missed Cloud Ruler Temple, she missed her family, and most of all she missed her Dark Angel. Dracen gave one last longing look at the snow and settled herself in bed. It did not take her long to drift off and start dreaming of days past. The last vision she could remember before full dreamless sleep took hold was a sweet smile and a flash of red.

OoO

"Are you sure you want to be left alone with this woman? Nazir said he saw her fight a few bandits on the road and she butchered them before they even got a swing in."

"I will be fine Arnbjorn. She is just a little girl who got lucky. She stole a death from us, she owes one back in return. Whether it is one of them or her own. I care not. Now please wait outside. She will be waking soon."

Dracen woke with a screaming headache. Her eyes tried to focus as she lifted herself off the dirty wood floor. Her mouth felt like she had swallowed cotton and her throat burned. As her vision returned she saw a shrouded woman sitting idly by on a wardrobe. She knew the armor this woman wore all too well and silently she cursed herself for being stupid.

"Ah, you're finally awake." Dracen knew she should be afraid, but right at that moment she was livid. The last place she remembered being was at Hjerm and there would be hell to pay if anyone had hurt her housecarl.

"Did you have to drug me?"

"It was necessary to ensure your cooperation. We know what you did. You took a kill that was meant for the Dark Brotherhood. You owe us a life." The woman motioned to the back of the room and Dracen saw three people bound and hooded. Her stomach dropped for a moment thinking one of them might be Calder or maybe even Hadvar. It was like the Brotherhood to take something you care about and use it against you. She had done it many times, but to know be on the receiving end of it hurt.

"I would never have taken the contract if your family had done their job." The woman flinched a bit at the girl's tone. "Was the boy's coin not good enough or has the Brotherhood in Skyrim gone soft?"

"Watch your tongue girl. You owe us a life and it is up to you to choose which one of them will die. Now choose or I will end you right here." Dracen growled and snatched the crude iron dagger out of the assassin's hand. She stomped over to the victims and looked them over. One was a woman, another a Khajiit and the other was man moaning and crying he did not want to die. The voice was neither Calder's or Hadvar's and she breathed out a sigh of relief. Deep down Dracen knew that these people were dead anyway, but a small part of her pitied them. If she killed them she would be quick and clean. She was unsure their host would be so generous.

Silently she moved and made her way behind the armored man first. The dagger she was given was at least sharp, but it would not cut like her ebony ones do. The man's begging got on her nerves so she slit his throat first. The gush of hot blood splashed on the dirty floor and the man was dead before his body fell forward. With the woman Dracen thrust the dagger deep into her back and twisted the blade. She also died quickly and without much of a sound. The Khajiit on the other hand was spouting threats and insults. Dracen took her time with him. She nicked an artery in his leg and let it bleed out only to put pressure on it to stop the bleeding she did this several times and watched the cat's fighting get weaker and weaker. The dark part of her enjoyed it, but she was no longer that person. At least she thought she wasn't. Once the three were dead she heard clapping and her attention turned back to her capture.

"I have given you three deaths. Now can I leave?"

"I have never seen a person other than an assassin kill in such a way. You would be a great addition to my family."

"And if I chose not to join?" The woman jumped down from her perch and stood before Dracen. She did not seem to care that her prisoner had a dagger that was pointed in her direction.

"Then you go on your way and I go mine, but think of the possibilities. You have talent and with talent you could make a fair share of coin. You would have a family that would always welcome you with open arms. My name is Astrid and I lead my family. If you decide to join us come to Falkreath. Look for a black door when it asks "What is the music of life?" You must answer..."

"Silence, my brother." The assassin's eyebrow raised and Dracen crossed her arms over her chest.

"How...?"

"I was always good with riddles. I will think about it. That is all I can promise. Now if you don't mind I have a payment to collect and a friend who is probably worried sick. Since you did not see fit to at least bring my weapons and armor with you I think I will keep this dagger and the armor from that that man so I don't die on my way back to Windhelm." Without any preamble Dracen striped the corpse of the man and donned his armor. The assassin watched her exit the shack and stood there in silence til her companion from earlier entered.

"I see she at least killed one of them."

"No Arnbjorn she killed them all. And all with the precision of a master. Even her face gave nothing away. She is a coldblooded killer. I think she will do nicely."

"Whatever you say Astrid. I just hope she was worth the trouble." Astrid did not hear her husband's last words. Her mind was on what she just saw. The girl was ruthless, but not overly cruel. Something about her made Astrid wary, but the gain of a new family member was too much of a draw for the woman to resist.

"Let's go home and see if our newest sister shows her face." Arnbjorn sighed and followed his wife out into the marsh. It was going to be a long cold march back to Falkreath.

OoO

It took Dracen four whole days to return to Windhelm. When she collapsed through her door the afternoon of the fourth day she found a very relieved, but agitated housecarl. Calder picked her up like she weighed nothing and took her to her room. The armor she wore did very little to keep out the cold and she was shaking violently. She feared if she tried to speak her teeth would chatter so hard that they shattered. Calder stripped the worthless armor from her body and began to wrap her in furs.

"What happened!?"

"I...I mmmmigh...t havvvvve pi...sssed offf the Da...rk Br...bro...ther...hood." Dracen saw a tidal wave of emotions run through her housecarl's eyes. First was fear, always fear when anyone hears that name, lastly it was anger. Anger at himself, at the Dark Brotherhood and she was sure some of the anger was for her, for being stupid.

"I am not even sure I want to know."

"Nooo...y...you really do...don't." Calder jumped up and stoked the fire in the main room before throwing more furs down on the floor in front of it. He picked her up again a laid her next to the fire before striping down to just a shirt and doeskin trousers.

"Don't take this the wrong way My Thane, but..." He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to try to warm her up. Dracen felt his warmth seep into her bones and gave out a shaky sigh. "I worried."

"I'mmmm ssssorrrry." She drifted off to sleep before he could say another word. Four days of travel and cold had sapped her of any strength she had. It took her days to recover from it all. Calder barely left her side other than to get food or to chop more fire wood. When she finally was able to stand on her own was the day her let her get out of bed and leave her room.

"Are you hungry?"

"Not really. Just stiff." Dracen stretched her arms over her head and bent her body to work out the kinks from sleeping to long. Calder opened his mouth, then shut it quickly, but not before she noticed it. "Something on your mind my friend?"

"You...forgive me, but you were talking in your sleep and you kept talking to some one named Dark Angel. Who is it?" A healthy blush came to her cheeks and Dracen sat down.

"It was a pet name for the man I loved."

"Loved?"

"He died...I...I really don't want to talk about it right now." Calder nodded and went to work making himself something to eat. The smell of stewed venison and potatoes filled the house. "Can you make extra?"

"Smell got to you did it?"

"Yes, but the person I was to meet before the whole Brotherhood business could use a good meal in his belly too."

"You are going out then?"

"Yes I need to stretch my legs and I am over to to see him. I will be in the city so hopefully no worries." Calder barked a laugh.

"My Thane with you there is always a lot to worry about." Dracen stuck her tongue out at the man before going to dress for the day. She put her shroud armor on and placed a simple dress over top of it. She hoped her cloak hide the lines of her armor til she arrived at Aventus' home. She clomped down the stairs and found Calder holding a basket. "I took the liberty of putting food in here for your friend."

"Calder has anyone ever told you you're a sweetheart?" The Nord blushed a bit and shook his head. "Well you are. I will be back before sundown. This time I promise."

"I will hold you to it." Dracen waved her hand as she walked out the door and began weaving her way to the other side of the city. Windhelm was a harsh contrast to her first home in Cryodiil. Bruma though Nordic by look was simple and warm. This city was cold and harsh. The people here were cruel to any that weren't human and Divines forgive if you were elven. She hated that it was this way. Being a mix of bloods made her a bigger target. She never truly fit in anywhere. The Nords saw her as an offense, the Imperials saw her as beneath them and her Dunmer kin thought she was putting on airs. She never blamed her parents for her being a mutt. From what she was told they had loved each other very much. It just made her life harder having to fight both her linage and her destiny. She had been so engrossed in her own thoughts she did not realize she was on the other side of the city til she heard shouting.

"Stop struggling boy. You're going back to the orphanage and that's all there is to it." She saw a guard struggling with a boy and her heart jumped into her throat. The boy was none other than her for lack of a better word employer.

"Let go, I can't leave. I'm waiting for..."

"Enough, we all know you have no kin boy. Be thankful I am ignoring that...that mess in your house. It ain't right what you've done." Dracen placed her basket down and ran up to the guard.

"Let him go now."

"Stay out of this woman. You have no business here."

"I don't think Jarl Ulfric will be very pleased at you talking to his Thane that way." The guard turned and if she could have seen his face she knew his jaw was probably agape. "If you would like I can have someone fetch my housecarl so he can straighten this up. Or do you prefer taking this to the Jarl."

"I..I...forgive me Thane I had no idea. I was only following orders. This boy is parentless and he was doing dark things in that house."

"Dark things? What like raising a undead servant or perhaps he is a vampire waiting to turn us all into his minions." Dracen rolled her eyes and took the guard's hand off of Aventus' shirt. "You don't have to worry about him anymore my good sir. He has a home and a guardian."

"Who?"

"Me." The guard went to say something and thought better of it. He just gave a quick nod and walked away. Aventus just stared at her. "Well come on let's get out of the cold and you can pack up things from your home." The boy followed her numbly into his home. Once they were away from prying eyes she slipped out of her dress to reveal the black and red armor underneath. "The job is done. Grelod is dead."

"You're the..."

"Assassin, yes, yes I am. I am also the Thane of Windhelm and Whiterun. Scourge of the Thalmor, oh and yes the Dragonborn. I think I have too many titles don't you?" Aventus just stared at her wide eyed and Dracen smiled. "I meant what I said. I have a home here in the city and you are welcome to stay there. Divines know it will be a far better place for you than here or even the orphanage. I am gone a lot, but my housecarl Calder would take good care of you in my stead. I leave the choice to you."

"Why would you want to adopt me?"

"I'm an orphan too Aventus. My father died before I was born and I don't know if my mother is still alive. She left me when I was an infant to be raised by other people. I know the kind of life you have, not belonging, no one to turn to, no one to care if you are alive of dead. I want to help you." She pinched his cheeks and gave him a lopsided grin. "Plus it will do me good to come home and see this angelic face. The guard was wrong, what you did was not evil or wrong. You wanted justice, but were unable to take it yourself. That is what the Brotherhood is for. We do what you can't. Your soul is pure in this."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Now pack if you have to. We are going home." Aventus packed the few things he had left in this world and followed her back to Hjerm. Calder was not surprised to see his Thane bring home a stray as he had so affectionately called the boy. Even for all her faults he had seen the caring side of Dracen. She hid it well under humor and in darker times violence, but it was there. He just wished he could figure out how to wipe the sadness from her eyes at times. She was very tight lipped about most of her past and even after almost six months of him being her housecarl she still would skirt around the topic. Calder figured she would tell him sooner or later. For now he was happy to be guardian her and her home.