InsaneJournal

The Sanctuary laid in charred ruin. Some of his Family's bodies weren't able to be recovered, but all of them received a nightshade flower at the graves their Listener had dug for them. Hopefully in due time, those seeds would grow new bushes.

He wasn't sure how to hold a proper funeral for a mötley band of assassins. Though they all certainly had their issues, they grew on you after a while of spending so much time around them. He'd grown to care for them - they were truly a family in their own, twisted way.

Astrid had betrayed them all out of jealousy of the Listener. She saw him as a threat to how she ran things within the Brotherhood. To her, there was no more Night Mother. There were only jobs, getting them done, and her "Family".

Trying to keep things her way had only destroyed her. Even so, she was his Sister. Astrid was the matriarch that had successfully kept what was left of the Brotherhood together for a damn long time, and she was excellent at what she did. Was excellent.

Veezara died fighting for his life.
Festus Krex's body was found outside, pinned to a tree with arrows.
Gabriella was found dead with her frostbite spider Familiar, Lis.
Arnbjorn was a true Nord, fearless and vicious to his very last breath.

Sweet Mother, Sweet Mother
Send your Child unto me
For the sins of the unworthy
Must be baptized in blood and fear

Astrid... he had killed her himself, as she requested him to. She'd made herself into a "living" Black Sacrament. Her last tribute to the Night Mother.

Astrid's Blade of Woe was attached now to his belt on his uniform. Thankfully, Nazir and Babette had made it out mostly unscathed. Nazir had already healed the worst of his wounds. Andrel had chosen to not kill Cicero - the Night Mother would have frowned upon losing such a dedicated Keeper, even if he was a little irksome, at times.

His ascension to the rank of their Listener was the beacon of a new era for the Dark Brotherhood, a nod to the old times. He, Nazir, Babette, Cicero, and the Night Mother would bring the Dark Brotherhood to its former glory, and they didn't care how many throats had to be slit to make sure it happened.

May they find peace in the Void with their Dread Father.

A gentle tug of Shadowmere's reins, and the black horse inched closer to his new Master, allowing the Listener to hoist himself up onto the saddle, urging him forth to the Dawnstar Sanctuary - their new home.