The three elves set out around 7pm to leave Winterhold, the three had a complicated mission ahead of then, and yet Enya is unsure if they would be conflicted about her being associated with the famous Dark Brotherhood, would this paint her older sister as weak and unsuccessful if she discovered that Enya was the one who slaughtered the Emperor? she didn't seem like the kind to be jealous. Especially over silly things like that, if anything, she may be proud.
Enya didn't think much about Enthir, other than he seems like he cares about Karliah and getting the justice that she deserves.
The three surprisingly talked alot on the path to Dawnstar, all getting closer by learning a piece of information about eachother, all Karliah and Enthir know about Enya was that she came to Skyrim a few months ago to follow a rumor that Enya guards for the moment.
Meanwhile Enya learned that Enthir was a fence for the guild in the college of Winterhold, one of their many contacts, he also gathers secrets and trinkets worthy of fortune to sell, so he had his uses. If Enya did get bored and wish to pursue magic and goes to the college at some point, she will definitely contact her new friend.
The three were unstoppable in combat, Enya using her mastery in dual wield, Karliah used her marksman ability with a bow meanwhile Enthir was no stranger to magic. They got on soo well, their fighting capabilities matched well.
After many battles, the group soon approached Dawnstar, they all smiled thankful to make it to a safe place, however Enthir and Karliah were surprised to meet with the Black Door.
"That seems... ominous" Enthir pointed out.
"What is life's greatest illusion?" the Black Door inquired with a deep tone of voice.
"Innocence, my brother" Enya whispered, as the door unlocked, Enya ushered for Enthir and Karliah to follow in behind her.
The Listener guided her posse down the stairs, to her right she faces the elegant and adorned coffin, infront of the coffin was the jester. The happy and crazed jester who turned to face Enya, his face glowed in her presence. Enya dropped her things and ran up to hug Cicero.
"L-Listener! you're back! Cicero missed y-you so!"
"I... I missed you too..."
Cicero let go as soon as he saw the guests, his reddened face only grinned, he approached Karliah and Enthir, shaking their hands with glee.
"C-Cicero is happy to serve the Listener's g-guests..."
The two stared at Enya with both confusion and joy.
"I will introduce you both to the rest, follow me" They all follow Enya down the steps into the lunch room where Babette and Nazir stood, however new unfamiliar faces who wore the armour of the Dark Brotherhood were here.
"Listener!" Babette exclaimed, Nazir pulled up a seat and sat down, Cicero grabber extra seats for him and the guests to sit at. Nazir sat next to the Listener whilst Enthir sat opposite of Enya, next to Enthir was Karliah, at the other side of the table sat the young and youthful Babette, next to her and Enya was Cicero.
"I received your letter Listener, we have been worried" Nazir placed his hands together on the table.
"We're fine Nazir, before we go into business, allow me to introduce Athir of the college of Winterhold and... Karliah... my long lost sister" Enya smiled when Karliah pulled down her hood.
"Is this younger or older sister Listener? she's very... pretty" Babette giggled, Karliah thanked her.
"Older, Karliah, that is Babette, our... vampire child and that man is Nazir, he should be promoted to my... second-in-command by how he runs things"
They greet eachother.
"As for our guests who... I haven't actually explained anything to... I am the current Listener and Leader of the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim, I suppose the final surviving group in Tamriel, or so I'm told"
The two appear surprised, shocked at most, Enthir will of course have heard of her 'wrongdoings', uncertain about what Karliah knows.
"This is why you have been secret about your past sister..." Karliah leaned in with her hands holding her leg anxiously".
"Of course I will explain more later, it just would be easier to fill you all in at once, as for business" Enya ushered Karliah to hand her the journal.
"My sister was framed for the murder of the previous guildmaster of the Thieves Guild, however I did not know she was alive or even associated with them as she had been in hiding for years. Upon pursuing her after her leading a trail in hopes of capturing Mercer Frey, current Guildmaster. Plans went awry for Karliah as Mercer intended to kill her and the guild was lied to about who committed the crime and I was left to die, including being framed for betrayal"
Karliah handed the leather journal to Enya who then stood up to stare at the book as she spoke.
"We may have the evidence to clear my sister's name, however we have an issue..." Enya placed the book, opened on one of the many pages where everyone began to lean in.
"Enthir, could you please do the explaining?" Enya asked, he gulped and stood up while the Listener sat down.
"As you may have noticed, the book is not in our tongue, but in the Falmer tongue, a rare and difficult language to learn, a handful of people in the world can translate this. We are going to try pull strings to find a way to translate this. However, the language being difficult and alot of pages must be vital to clearing Karliah's name" Enthir sat down on his seat, Karliah smiled at the two before Enya got back up to approach the cooking pot.
"The book is the journal of the last Guildmaster, the one that Karliah is framed for murdering, however there must be a reason that Mercer killed Gallus, the answer must be in that book. I ask that we find ways to translate the book or suggestions about who can help, aswell as a place for us to stay.
Babette raised her hand, in which she was granted permission to talk.
"Is this... Mercer Frey aware that you live?" Babette questioned, "I am unsure, I was accidentally poisoned by my sister who mistook me for Mercer aswell as him stabbing me in the gut, the way he... left me... I wouldn't have made it if it weren't for Karliah's antidote"
Cicero stood up to help Enya out with the boiling hot soup nearby and began giving it to the people at the table.
"Of course as the Thieves Guild has their uses, contacts, they are more valuable to us alive than dead, so slaughtering them is an option nor is it professional"
Karliah stood up wishing to make an announcement, everyone stayed quieted and seated, "I have another piece of information that it is worth knowing, it is no secret that the guild has been having tough luck recently, that is because Mercer has taken a key that influences our luck, more of this will be explained once we clear our names" Karliah stated which made everyone ponder in what she mentioned.
"That will be all, Cicero, can you take our guests to where they will stay?" Enya smiled at Cicero as he nodded and playfully guided them away.
Nazir approached Enya, patting her on the back with a wide grin, "You know, that has been your first speech as leader, you did well"
"I appreciate that Nazir, now there's a few people you haven't introduced me to" Enya turned to face three individuals; two men and one woman. Nazir approached the three with a smile on his face, "Ahh recruits, you finally get to meet your Listener and Mistress of the Brotherhood"
The recruits bow to honor their boss, leader and meaning of life, this kind of formality was still very new to Enya, this was her new set of recruits. "It's a pleasure to meet all of you, I apologise for not welcoming you sooner, welcome to the Dark Brotherhood. Remember to kill well... and often"
The recruits went back to doing their thing meanwhile Nazir and Enya moved away to talk, "Cicero said he found you at the Ragged Flagon, I apologise he found you Listener" Nazir sat down at the head of the table.
"He nearly got himself killed there, but he left peacefully... it was worrying, has he said anything to you or Babette?" Enya asked crossing her arms, Nazir searched the room to make sure Cicero wasn't nearby to listen in.
"I found out from Babette that he suspects you left because you had 'romantic feelings' for someone in the business, it became too much" Nazir crossed his arms, continuing to keep an eye out.
"He's... not wrong, I did confess that" Enya admitted weakly.
"You didn't do it well then?"
"What do you mean by that Nazir?"
"He's convinced that you have the hearts for me"
Enya's dark purple eyes widened when hearing it, confusing her, she simply scratched her neck unsure but glad.
"Should I tell him... the truth?"
Enya sighed knowing the advice he would offer, she hasn't been able to go to anyone for their thoughts, not since Gabriella, she would encourage Enya to confess her deep feelings for Cicero. But how would she do it?, the elf is now debating on speaking to Karliah for her opinion on the matter.
"I would speak to Babette, she heard it directly from Cicero" Nazir recommended.
"I will speak to her, can you keep Cicero distracted for a bit, is it possible to involve the recruits in looking into any materials about the Falmer language?"
Nazir simply put his thumbs up, Enya left to search for Babette in her room, the young vampire was reading a book, a pale sheet that fabricated her skin, her charcoal black hair that lingered down her fragile neck.
"Hey Babette, can we talk?" Enya smiled weakly as she slipped into her room, shutting the door and being granted permission.
"Nazir told me about Cicero speaking to you, I wish to know what he said and your advice" Enya sat down on a chair I'm the corner of the room.
Babette folded the corner of the page of the book she was reading and sat it down to the side before focusing all of her attention on the Listener.
"Cicero came back after a few days, he said that he found you with that 'dreadful and rude thief' Brynjolf who he claimed you left the Dark Brotherhood for as you wore their armour and so on. He stated that you left also because you had fallen for Nazir and wished to not complicate the relationship and so you left to create distance" Babette twiddled her fingers as she calmly watched Enya struggle to comprehend her feelings.
"I do have feelings, just not for Nazir, I need your advice on how to tell Cicero how I feel..." Enya lowered her head with a low sigh, her hand pushed to rub her head.
Babette remained quiet for a few moments to try think would be best, however Cicero is a complex puzzle.
"Tell him, be honest, remind him that it's okay if he doesn't feel the same, it's alright, but remind him your feelings towards him aren't exactly 'professional' and should be discussed" the vampire was certainly wise for someone who was turned as a child.
"Thank you Babette, I... I will try tell him soon" Enya smiled tamely before standing up to leave. As she left, the last thing the Listener heard was 'Goodluck' as the door shut behind her.
It was definitely too soon to trust Karliah, she may be family by blood, however as Karliah was romantically involved with the Guildmaster, her advice would be valuable given that Cicero is apart of the Dark Brotherhood, in a higher position than most of the group.
Enya wandered around the sanctuary in search of Karliah, its ironic its back to the early years of a young child searching for their older sister, that seemed all too familar. Soon enough Enya had come across Karliah unpacking her things with Enthir by her side.
"I got Nazir and the new recruits searching for the Falmar material, it'll take longer than a few days as it's a rare item so try to relax" Enya smiled at the two.
"Do you have a quiet room, a library maybe, I like to go through my books on the Falmer people to see what I can find" Enthir questioned, "Ahh yes, go ask one of our members to take you to a quiet and unused area, they would probably take you to the torture room so if you want less blood and more comfort, just say my chambers, i'm never there"
Enya smiled with a chuckle at the thought of Enthir being uncomfortable in a room where people have been tortured. The man sighed and walked away carrying the satchel of books, Enya glanced at Karliah with a worried expression.
"What... do you think of my people?" Enya laughed to herself understanding how strange they will be to Karliah.
"I like Babette, hard to imagine how old she must be, or how many people she has killed, I like Nazir, he seems like a suitable leader, he reminds me of Brynjolf" Karliah smiled when she thought of Brynjolf, in a way he must've been like a friend to her.
"A useful man like Nazir reminds you of Brynjolf? he's anything but useful" the dark elf laughed.
"Cicero is a charmer, dangerous possibly, but he worships you, he's loyal" Karliah crossed her arms with a smile.
"Well... you met the 'lucky guy'"
"Cicero? I admit I find your type a bit strange, but I won't judge" Karliah snickered playfully.
"I want your advice, on telling him, he's... well our relationship in the Dark Brotherhood, is... similar to you and Gallus, I would like your advice as how you two became... involved?" Enya'a face was a frail tint of pink, finally knowing what it's like to ask a family, a real family member about relationships and so on.
"Gallus told me after one of our jobs about his feelings, he told me everything he felt and that he would not think of me less if I did not share his feelings, we of course, were professional infrokt of the guild, we had our love behind closed doors" Karliah began to smile as she seemed to reminisce on the good times.
"I want to tell Cicero, about my feelings... I think its gone on for... far too long... If something was to happen.... he must know" Enya's eyes weakened with that thought of coming that close to death again.
"Tell him, as soon as possible, tell him your feelings and If he needs time... remember you still have to clear our name so he'll have time to process all of this" Karliah leaned in to give Enya a warm hug, this felt like such a big moment, not only to Enya, but to Karliah as she could become the parent that she often longed to be.
"I... I will tell him... as soon as possible... tomorrow?... today?... I will think about it".
Enya will have to face her final fear before going to face Mercer, she was determined.