Trace: Amazing isn't it Keeper? It's only been a few months, but you still can track me down as if I was an initiate... those were the days...

 

Astrid: What was with that act, Jalena? Are you alright in the head?

 

Trace could feel herself redden when Astrid used her given name. The familiarity of the act made her remember days past when she could still call the Brotherhood family.

 

Trace: I'm fine Sister. It was just a fake out. Nothing more, nothing less.

Astrid: Why do you still wear your gear?

 

Trace: Well it is mine. Why wouldn't I wear--

 

Astrid: THAT'S NOT THE POINT!

 

Astrid was livid, and Trace gave her the time to calm down, else the two of them come to arms in the here and now. When she had seemed to settle down, Astrid took a deep breath and gave Trace a fierce look.

 

Astrid: That armor represents something more than you, more than your defiance or immaturity.

Astrid: It represents--

 

Trace: It represents what you made me become!! It represents the happiest time of my life!!!

 

Astrid's eyes widened momentarily in surprise, but the coldness in her voice was still there as she spoke.

 

Astrid: Hand the gear over Jalena, and stop taking on Brotherhood contracts.

Trace gave her a smug look at the ridiculousness of the whole situation.

 

Trace: You made me this Keeper... You turned me into an assassin. It's all I know, all I'm good at. Do you know how many contacts an assassin-for-hire can get in Skyrim? Zero. That's the amount I got before--

 

Astrid: Regardless, if you continue your actions will lead the Brotherhood to ruin. Can't you see that?

 

Trace: My actions?! You're the one who's been all bent out of shape ever since the Listener and that clown showed up. Don't you dare be the kettle!

 

Astrid swallowed the next words she wanted to say and simply gave Trace a somber look.

Astrid: I will say this once more... Hand. It. Over.

 

Trace: What'll happen if I don't?

 

Trace knew the answer. She was even part of the unit that used to specifically hunt down renegade or runaway Brotherhood members and eradicate them. However she need to hear it, she need to hear the words from Astrid's mouth.

 

Astrid: You'll be hunted down like a dog. The hunt will never cease until your body is laid before the Night Mother, and it takes too long I will personally take part.

 

There it was... Trace felt something break inside her. She always believed that she was special to Astrid, that besides Arnbjorn she may have occupied some part of her heart.

 

Trace: ....ng about you...

Astrid: Excuse me?

 

Trace: I was obviously wrong about you! All I did was take a contract I knew no one else could or would! Now I'm being hunted like I killed fucking Veezara or something! I thought you'd understand I thought that you... that I still... that I meant something to you...

 

Astrid: ...

 

Astrid's silence spoke volumes and suddenly Trace could feel herself getting madder and madder as the tears began flowing down her cheeks.

 

Trace: But I was wrong... Like I've been since the day I joined the Brotherhood. You may call me Sister, Keeper. But you're just the bitch that ruined my life!!

Suddenly and without warning Astrid came at Trace. The Imperial made a move to push her away, but the Nord slipped inside her guard and wrapped her up into a... hug?

Trace: W-w-what trickery is this!?!

 

Astrid shushed her and held her closer until Trace stopped struggling. She then cooed in her ear.

 

Astrid: I'm sorry Trace, I really am. I knew that you saw me as more than a Sister... That you saw me as more than family... I've known this for a while now and I should have nipped your feelings in the bud, but I thought that the fact that I was married would have been enough... But I could have never imagined...

 

Trace: Astrid!?! What are you saying!?

Astrid laughed and brushed Trace's hair.

 

Astrid: Don't worry Jalena, I'll keep them off your trail for as long as possible. But if you keep taking our contracts... There's only so much I can do.

 

Trace could feel her body loosen up. It was like all at once she was putty in this woman's arms. She was ready to just collapse in Astrid's arms and let her handle everything, but as childlike as her wishes may be, Trace was not a child and she wouldn't get wrapped into childish games.

 

Trace: You make promises that you can't keep, Keeper.

 

Astrid: Can't you just trust me? Like you once did?

Trace drew back from Astrid, but remain in her arms.

 

Trace: This is insane... don't you want me dead? Why would you--

 

Astrid: I thought I killed my emotions long ago, but then I met Arnbjorn... I tried to lock my heart away again, but then a spunky Imperial lass came along with the key.

 

Trace blushed and tried to get away from Astrid, but the Nord's grip wouldn't falter.

 

Trace: W-w-w-what!!!!?

Astrid: Listen to me Trace. You know me. I may be many things, but a liar to my family I am not.

 

Trace: B-but I'm... I'm not--

Astrid: Our rules, the others, and the Night Mother may figure you to be a part of the Dark Brotherhood no more, but to this Nord... You'll always be family.

Astrid brought her and Trace's hands down and in the same motion drew forward towards the Imperial and their lips locked. At first Trace didn't know what to make of it, it was so surreal so unimaginable that she was just going with the flow and kissed Astrid back. But then, her feelings got into it and just as she was about to try and take this to another level Astrid pulled back and stepped away.

Breathless and with her heart ready to rip through her chest, Trace's knees gave out and she fell hard on her rear though it seemed to do nothing to her. Astrid heard the crunching thud as ass collided with snow, and worried about Trace's condition.

 

Astrid: Are you alright?

 

Trace: Wha-wha-wha-wha--

 

Astrid: Damn.I think I broke her. Heh.

Trace's brain finally began to register what had transpired and all at once a million questions popped into her head, but only one reached the surface.

 

Trace: Why?

 

Astrid smiled and shook her head. She rubbed the back of her head she she tried to honestly answer Trace.

 

Astrid: I've honestly no idea. I mean, I already know you've got a thing with Vex and... I don't know. Maybe it was knowing that you have feelings for me, and me knowing that our time together before either of us are killed is limited... Maybe I just wanted to see your reaction.

 

Trace: !! ASTRID!!!

Astrid gave Trace a hearty smile and shook her head again.

 

Astrid: I was just kidding Trace. I do have feelings for you as well. I don't know if these feelings are of love, but I do know that if time permits I wouldn't mind finding out. Although my husband might have a thing to say about this...

 

Trace: Oh fuck!!! The Big Guy!! PleaseohpleaseohpleaseOHPLEASE!!!! Make sure you bathe thoroughly before you go back!!!

 

Astrid: And if I don't?

 

Trace: DON'T PLAY LIKE THAT!!!

Astrid laughed at Trace's fear filled remarks and began to walk off.

 

Astrid: Listen... just lay low for a while. The Brotherhood seems to be going through a restructuring phase and as long as you're not raising too much havoc, you might just be able to live long enough to see me again.

 

Trace: Issues with the Listener?

 

Astrid: More than you know... Good luck.

 

With that Astrid waved as she walked away and soon was out of Trace's sight.

As soon as Astrid was gone, Trace's mind went back towards the kiss and all over again she felt as if she were in a daze.

 

Trace: Sweet Mother, Sweet mother... I'd definitely baptize the unworthy from dusk til dawn for another moment like that...

Shaking the cobwebs out of her head, she got to her feet and wiped the snow off her bottom.

 

Trace: Haaa.... sadly dreaming about her will have to wait... I wouldn't want to be rude to you guys.

As soon as Trace finished talking a quartet of assassins appeared before her. There were no veteran faces among them, so Trace assumed that they were the eradication unit that had been at her heels for the past four days.

Trace: (Astrid was always spot on with her timing, if a bit tight...) Thanks though babe! I always get treated well when you're involved. A spread like this after getting doubly lucky already? This story's getting better and better!!

Trace: But I wonder... Which of you should I kill first? It sometimes gets too hard to decide when there's too many of you guys...

Nord Assassin: Arrogant bitch! The Night Mother sends her condolences.

Trace: ...Arrogant?

She drew her sword and the assassins drew back a little.

 

Trace: (Amateurs...)

Trace: You fools may be too young or too stupid to know who I am, but at least you'll be able to go to your graves knowing this... You won't have to worry about anyone mourning you...

The assassins came at Trace, and although she hadn't fought in a skirmish like this in over three months, the coordination between these amateurs was so abhorrent that she almost felt bad for having to kill them...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Khajiit Assassin: Gods helps us!!

Almost...

 

Trace: I am your God, you wretches.

 

 

Trace closed her eyes and had to take a few moments to calm herself. Assassinations were one thing, but whenever she was actually in combat she could feel herself becoming another person. The last time she felt this way was when the Shadowscale challenged her to a training exercise that got a bit too real for most of the members of the Brotherhood. Both of them couldn't go out on any contracts for weeks and from then on Veezara always gave her a dirty look for taking a chunk out of his tail (even after Festus Krex healed him and made it good as new).

Walking over the fallen assassins, Trace stepped on the female's chest and spread her arms. The feeling of the cold wind and the falling snow on her skin helped to cool her down.

Still in a slightly frenzied state, Trace began talking in a low throaty voice.

 

Trace: Sweet Mother, Sweet Mother send your children unto me, for my sins will be baptized through their blood and fear...

She placed a Nightshade over the Khajjit's heart and struck it with a dagger. The acting seemed to calm her down as Trace realized her sacrilege and retrieved the Nightshade and threw the blade away.

 

Trace: Haa... haaa... Astrid, you better keep your end of the deal...

Trace: Otherwise I don't think there will be much of a family to go back home to...

Trace was about to head off towards Windhelm when she remembered Astrid's words.

 

Trace: Great... just fucking great! You tell me to stay off the radar but send these goons after me! What the fuck do you want from me!!?!?!

Trace was so fed up with the whole thing. She almost had the presence of mind to out the Brotherhood to that Maro fucker over in Dragon Bridge. She'd run through there several times as an initiate and anytime she mucked something up, Maro always made a pass at her to turn on her fellow brethren as she was being held in captivity. She purged the idea from her head as the thought of facing Astrid so soon after what just happened was gut-wrenching.

 

Trace: Gods, Astrid! Why do you always have to make things so complicated... I can't even hand in my fucking contract now...

 

She stomped around in the snow for a bit when she got an idea.

 

Trace: Lay low? I've got the perfect place for that. I just hope a certain Imperial hasn't forgotten about me...