(Reader's personality/story is loosely based off my Skyrim OC Sithia.)

Chapter 14: Shout and Listen

You didn't know how long it has been since you fell asleep. You woke up groggily and unconsciously snuggle into the source of warmth that was beside you. Only to find that the 'warm source' was actually Cicero. You recognize just who you were cuddling into and as quickly as possible you pull yourself away in embarrassment. Cicero didn't seem fazed but rather he was grinning at you.

"Did the Listener have sweet dreams?" Cicero asked while you were staring at him and blushing furiously for falling asleep on him. 

"I-I… I didn't expect to fall asleep! I'm sorry!" You apologize a bit shyly. Cicero giggles and shakes his head at you like it was no big deal.

"(Y/n) doesn't need to apologize to Cicero! Cicero only hopes he was an adequate pillow for the Listener!" Cicero exclaimed, which you couldn't help but chuckle nervously at. It was so embarrassing that you fell asleep on Cicero! You just remembered being very cold and staring at the camp fire that somehow lulled you to sleep. 

"Uh, yeah… thanks, I guess." You said a bit awkwardly, "How long exactly have we been here?"

"Hmm, Cicero would have to say about a few hours!"

"W-what?! Why didn't you wake me up?" You said in disbelief that you managed to spend hours here sleeping next to Cicero (or rather on him). You go to stand up as Cicero follows you as usual. 

"Cicero didn't want to wake up the Listener! You must have needed the rest to of fallen asleep and it gave you the time to dry up as well! Plus, Listener looks adorable when she's sleeping, just like a sleeping newborn kitten! Hehe~"

You blushed as this and stubbornly turn your face to look away from him as you pouted, "I-I'm not adorable. I'm a lethal deadly assassin for the Dark Brotherhood." Cicero snickers at this which makes you sent a glare over at him for laughing at you. "What's so funny, Keeper?" You say defensively. Cicero keeps giggling and then grins at you.

"Oh, nothing, Listener~! Nothing at all!" Cicero insists while you kept glaring at him. "What's with the scary look? Did Cicero strike a nerve or two?"

You rolled your eyes as he fell back into a fit of deranged giggles. You walk by him and playfully swat at his hat which almost made it fall off his head. Cicero of course only finds it funny as he keeps laughing. You get back onto Shadowmere and glare back at Cicero. "You're so obviously laughing at me. Maybe, I should make you walk the entire way back by yourself."

Cicero finally stops giggling and grins at you even while you were still glaring at him. "The kind sweet Listener wouldn't do that to poor Cicero!" Cicero says as he comes over and gets on Shadowmere, anyways. You looked back to glare at him over your shoulder. "The Listener is simply an adorable lethal deadly assassin!"

"I can't be adorable and lethally deadly at the same time! It doesn't work like that!"

"Cicero thinks it can!" Cicero chirped which made you scoff as you turned your head to look back in front of you. 

"Well, I'm thinking you're wrong." You countered as you began to get Shadowmere moving towards your next two victims that were both apparently going to be at Whiterun. Cicero once again makes you blush as he leans in and rests his chin on your shoulder. "Now what are you doing?"

"The Listener isn't angry at poor Cicero is she? Cicero sincerely apologizes if he has offended you."

"… No, I'm not angry. I just don't like when others underestimate me." 

"Oh, Cicero wasn't underestimating the Listener! Cicero knows you are a proficient and oh so deadly killer! That goes without saying, of course!" Cicero says reassuringly. "But anyways! Who is our next victim to stab? hehe~"

You try to ignore the fact Cicero still had his head rested on your shoulder as you reply to him. "A wandering cat by the looks of it. His name is Ma'randru-jo and he should be stopping outside Whiterun with the Khajiit caravan."

"Ooo, a Khajiit! Cicero knows we'll have fun with this one! Haha! This time Cicero hopes to actually see the Listener when she makes her deadly strike! Ooh, Cicero is so excited!" Cicero finally pulled back from having his head rested on your shoulder. You ease up a little as he does. The feelings he was stirring up were driving you mad with him being so close to your face. Cicero continued to talk about how excited he was to kill the Khajiit for the rest of the trip to Whiterun. You even got to hear Cicero make up a rather morbid rhyme about killing a cat and feeding it to his pet rat. Somehow, you doubted Cicero had a pet rat but either way you found him amusing with his usual mad rhymes and ramblings. 

Upon arriving at the stables outside Whiterun, you and Cicero got off Shadowmere. You saw that the traveling Khajiit caravan was on the other side of the stables. You didn't want to kill all the Khajiit so you had to try and figure out which one was Ma'randru-jo. "So which one do you think it is? There of course has to be like four of them and I have no idea which one is our target." You say to Cicero as you both were staring at the caravan together from the stables. 

"Hmm, we could go and ask!" 

"Wouldn't that make us look really suspicious?" You say to Cicero with a doubtful look. He puts a hand to his chin thoughtfully.

"Well, we could just kill them all!" Cicero starts giggling at that, "Cicero really likes that idea!" You sigh and bring a hand to your face from his blood-thirsty plan of action. You were about to tell Cicero how terrible that idea was but before you could Cicero starts heading over to the caravan. You scowl and chase after Cicero before he had all of Whiterun trying to kill the both of you. 

"Cicero!" You hiss out his name irritably and glare him from behind as he approaches a Khajiit that was sitting on the ground in front of his caravan.

 The cat looked up at Cicero and smiled, "Good day to you my friend, my name is Ri'saad. If there is something I cannot help you with one of my other traders can do so." He greets Cicero politely. Cicero was just about to take out his blade but you slapped his hand away before he could. You glare at him which makes him look at you questionably. Ri'saad looks between the two of you curiously, "Ah, is this your wife?" He asks which makes your eyes widen and a blush to immediately rise on your cheeks. Cicero on the other hand seems to find that funny as he replies in a way you weren't expecting.

"… My wife? … Heheh, oh YES, this is my wife! My most dearest sweet wife! She and Cicero come from far away to come here to Whiterun! We're ever so lucky we could come across your caravan! Isn't it wonderful, (Y/n)?!" Cicero says as he grins over at you who was looking at him like he grew two heads. What in the name of Sithis was he doing!? You had no choice but to play into his game that he now started. You make a strained smile at Ri'saad and stiffly nod your head with a noticeable blush.

"…. uh, wonderful…" You reply awkwardly. Cicero keeps grinning brightly as he places his arm around your shoulder and brings you in closer to his side. You were mentally panicking as Cicero was trying to fake you two being married. Why the Khajiit even had to mention if you two were married was beyond you, but even more so why Cicero wanted to pretend you were his wife was even further beyond your comprehension. 

Ri'saad smiled at the two of you, "It's very nice to see love still blossoming even in these darker times here in Skyrim. You just ask Ri'saad for anything and it will be cut in half off for the lovely couple." 

"Ooo, hear that 'my wife'? The kind Khajiit will let us 'cut' anything in half! hehe~ I think I have an idea what Cicero wants cut in half!" Cicero said to you while obviously hinting at his inside-joke that only you would understand. You wanted to hit him over the head for goofing around like this. So much for professionalism… 

"… My dear 'husband' and I need to talk for a moment. Excuse us, please." You said politely to the cat before grabbing tightly onto Cicero's arm and yanking him off to the side. Being out of ear-shot you put your hands on your hips and look at Cicero with a faint glare. "What are you doing, Cicero!? Now's not the time to goof around! We need to be professional about this!"

"Don't fret, Listener! Cicero just thought it would be a funny joke! Cicero means no harm… well not to you, anyways! hehe! Cicero even got the kindly Khajiit to let us cut anything in half!"

"Yes, I get it the joke but…" You sigh tiredly and advert your eyes away from him in embarrassment, "Let's just kill our target, alright?"

"Of course, 'my dear wife'!" Cicero replies teasingly which makes you scowl. This was too embarrassing. Cicero takes your hand into his own and leads you back over to the Khajiit. 

"Need something?" Ri'saad asked as you both approached him again. 

"Cicero and his dear lovely wife would like to know which one of you is Ma'randru-jo!" Cicero asked the Khajiit merchant who looked at him and then over to a certain Khajiit who was currently standing by himself off to the side. Ri'saad pointed which Cicero grinned and nodded his thanks before once again dragging you by the hand over to your target. Ma'randru-jo looked at you both once you approached him. 

"I heard you both talking to Ri'saad. Is there something I can do for the couple?" He asked while assuming you two were a married couple from what Ri'saad had said. You eye your target up and down and notice his sword. He was armed, not that it would make the difference. 

"Actually there is! The kindly Khajiit said Cicero and his wife could have anything cut in half!" Cicero started saying with a dark menacing smile appearing on his lips. You hover your free hand over your blade in preparation for the kill. 

"Did he say that? Well, what do you want cut in half then?"

Cicero and you glance at each other knowingly before both looking back at Ma'randru-jo who was none the wiser of both your grisly intentions. "You!" You and Cicero say at the same time before you and Cicero both take out your swords. Ma'randru-jo didn't even have time to scream as the both of you from each side of the cat literally cut him in half. You felt the adrenaline rush of the kill make you brightly grin as you watched the two dismembered halves of the Khajiit drop to the ground. Cicero was chuckling eerily from the gory kill. He looked up at you and both of you couldn't help but share your psychopathic grins to one another. You two were both really quite a team. "I think they already noticed. We better get moving, Cicero." You said to Cicero as you glanced over at the other Khajiit merchants who were now running away and shouting for help. 

"With pleasure, my Listener." Cicero replied back with a rather sexy smirk. Your face warms up as you nod and quickly take out a nightshade flower and drop it down next to Ma'randru'jo's corpse. Cicero takes note that you did that and was tempted to ask you why you did it. However, now wasn't the time though as both of you were going to head into Whiterun to hide out. That was until the ground rumbled like an earthquake and both of you suddenly heard the loudest animalistic roar pierce through the hazy skies above. You and Cicero look at each other again but this time out of confusion. 

"By Sithis! What the hell was that?!" You say to Cicero as the both of you are looking around to see where the noise came from. You didn't have to look long though as a monster from above flew over your heads and towards a stone fort in the distance. You and Cicero both gawk in disbelief once you saw what appeared to be a dragon flying through the air overhead. "I-Is that a dragon!? No way…" You utter as you stare at the winged beast that was now circling around the fort in the distance. Something inside you seemed to spark at that very moment. 

You weren't even thinking as you started running in the direction of the dragon and fort. Cicero looks at you and then makes a glance at Whiterun, "Listener! Shouldn't we be running in the opposite direction of the dragon!? … Listener!?"  You ignored Cicero as you kept running towards the fort. Cicero looked perplexed by what you were doing but being the loyal faithful Keeper that he was, Cicero went running after you. "Listener! Cicero thinks you are running in the wrong direction!" Cicero kept trying to get you to turn around but you weren't listening. You were literally following your instincts at that very moment. When you got closer to the fort, you saw many Whiterun guards scattered around the area and trying to shoot the dragon with bow and arrows. The field around the small fort was littered with random fires where the dragon had blown fire at. You stood in the middle of the battlefield and stared up at the dragon with wide eyes. "Listener!" Cicero yelled as you stood there staring at the dragon that was flying straight in your direction.

"Dovahkiin!" You swore your heard the dragon cry out as it was coming straight at you. You didn't move but just stared in the face of possible death. If it weren't for Cicero suddenly tackling you down to the ground, you would had been rammed into by the beast. You found yourself on the dirt of the ground with Cicero lying on top of you. You looked at him in the eyes and looked confused. Cicero had his whole body shielding you of anything that would bring harm to you. 

"Listener! What were you doing!? You could have died if Cicero hadn't come by in time!" Cicero scolds you with obvious concern written all across his face. You were speechless and didn't know what to say. You had no idea why you froze up like that in the middle of battle. "(Y/n) are you alright? You're worrying Cicero!" Cicero tried to evoke a response from you. You shook your head slowly as you stared into his golden eyes.

"I-I'm sorry…" You muttered before turning your head to see the dragon was busy with a group of guards that were persistently trying to take down the dragon themselves. Cicero went to get off you before holding a hand out to help you up. You kept looking like you were in a trance like daze as you take his hand and let him help you up off the ground. 

"Cicero thinks we should take shelter in the fort before it decides to come back!" Cicero told you with an unusual amount of seriousness from him. Cicero grabs your hand and starts yanking you forward towards the fort where many of the guards were hiding in and fighting from the dragon's wicked fire breath. Cicero takes you inside the stone fort and begins checking all around you for any wounds. Except for a few scratches and bruises you seemed fine but Cicero was far from thrilled you risked your life like you had. "Listener, why did you run over here towards the dragon!? Cicero knows madness but usually people run away from a dragon rather than go towards it!" 

"…It spoke to me…" You murmured in a far-out daze.

"What?" Cicero replied with a confused expression. 

"It called out to me. I heard it. It called me by a different name… It called me Dovahkiin." You suddenly run over to a window past Cicero and looked out at the dragon that was hardly taking any damage from the arrows that were hitting it. Cicero was perplexed by your strange behavior all of a sudden. He ran over to your side and grabbed onto your shoulder to get your attention on him. You merely glance at him before trying to pull away from him. "I… I have to kill it." You said which only succeeded to make Cicero look even more confused if possible. 

"Oh no, you're not, Listener! Cicero has to put his foot down to this one! Cicero is not letting the Listener go and get herself eaten alive by a dragon!" 

You completely ignore Cicero's demands again as you tear away from his hand that was on your shoulder. You only managed to make Cicero panic for your life as you rushed out of the fort's entrance. "I have to kill it." You murmur as you summoned fireballs from both your hands. Cicero tries to run and stop you but you sped forwards from him and jumped back down onto the main battlefield to fight the dragon.

"Cicero is starting to wonder who truly is the mad one here?" Cicero says to himself with a sigh before following after you into battle. You stood there and intensely watched the dragon from the skies. Narrowing your eyes, you extend out your hands and both fireballs go hurdling towards the dragon. The fireballs make impact and burn the dragon with your magic but hardly do much damage. Cicero was back at your side and looking up at the dragon that you were fighting. "Listener we can still turn back now!"

"I'm not turning back, Cicero! I want that dragon dead!" You loudly replied back and began expertly throwing more fireballs at the beast that was still resisting your fire based magic. The dragon roared and suddenly flew down towards the ground. You make this your chance to get close-up attacks on it while it was on the ground since fire magic wasn't doing much against it. You unsheathe your obsidian blade and run towards the front of the dragon. Cicero swore he would protect his Listener no matter what, even if you were purposely trying to get yourself killed like you were seemingly doing right now. Faithful Cicero will follow you to the ends of the earth and back! 

"What in the name of the Divines is she doing!?" A red-haired Dunmer woman who seemed to be the head of the guards yells out as she watches you take on the dragon up front. The guards around her also seemed clueless to what you were doing.

You cry out as you swing your blade at the dragon's head. It tried snapping back at you with it's sharp teeth but you were able to dodge the attacks but not by much. Cicero comes running up but looks shocked when you suddenly jump up and climb on the dragon's head. Everyone was taken back by your brash actions as you clung to the top of the dragon's head and began stabbing your sword through the head repeatedly. Cicero was in pure awe of you. He wanted to see you truly fight and by Sithis you were fighting a dragon! It wasn't exactly what he had been expecting but he was amazed. 

You keep stabbing over and over again as the dragon tries flinging you off it's head. You held on tight and with a few more stabs through the head, the dragon roared out in pain and began to stumble around in a stupor. You jumped off the head of the dragon and expertly landed in front of it while breathing heavily. The Dunmer captain of the guard makes her guards lower their weapons as she and the guards watch in astonishment. You stood there and watched the dragon suddenly fall to it's side. You looked at the gold eyes of the dragon that stared back at you. "Dovahkiin, w-why?" You heard it say to you before it finally fell limp. 

You couldn't believe what you had just done. You single handedly killed a dragon. You don't know what overcame you to kill the beast but it just felt too compelling to ignore. Suddenly, the dead dragon exploded into flames. The fire started eating up the remaining skin of the dragon until there was nothing but bone left. Everyone was hiding away from the large explosion except Cicero who was standing off to the side and watching you and the dragon in disbelief. You gasp when you see streams of pure bright energy burst out of the dragon and carry over towards you. "Listener!" Cicero exclaimed as the energy from the dragon started going straight into your body. You felt a sense of raw power building up inside you as the energy engulfed your entire body and glowed around you. You looked down at your hands as your whole body was shimmering with light. You never felt such power before course through your veins. When the energy that was being passed on from the dragon to you started to fade away, you looked up at everyone who was watching you from a safe distance. Cicero was the first one to run back up to you now that things seemed to calm down. You looked back down at your hands in bewilderment before looking at Cicero. "Listener… What just happened?"

"I… I have no idea." You replied back while looking as confused as he did. 

It was then when the Whiterun guards and their Dunmer captain came out of hiding and walked up towards you. "You! I can't believe it. You're Dragonborn!" One of the Nordic Whiterun guards started saying over to you. You veered your eyes over to him and immediately glared him.

"What did you just call me?" You reply sharply back to the guard.

"Dragonborn!" 

"Dragonborn?" You repeated before suddenly thinking back to the times you spend at inns where the bards would sing about the hero called Dragonborn coming. You automatically assumed it was just plain folklore that the Nords had made up to drunkenly tell adventurous tales about to one another. But here this man was calling you Dragonborn. You didn't know what to make of it. You absolutely knew nothing about being Dragonborn. This man must be crazy to think YOU were Dragonborn. You were the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood not this so called Dragonborn! It just didn't make sense to you. 

"Yes, in the very oldest tales, back from when there were still dragons in Skyrim, the Dragonborn would slay dragons and steal their soul and gain their power. That's what you did, isn't it? Absorbed the dragon's power?" 

You instantly scoffed at what he said and shook your head, "Look.. I don't know what just happened to me. I thought Dragonborn was just some stupid myth the Nords came up with."

"It isn't just some 'stupid' myth! I can prove it to you! Go ahead and shout and you'll see what I mean." The Nordic guard retorted defensively. You look at him like he was insane and scoff again before looking over at Cicero who was back at your side. 

"Can you believe it, Cicero? They think I'm Dragonborn. I've heard some pretty outlandish things in my life but come on… Dragonborn? That's ridiculous." 

"Well, Listener… Cicero isn't so sure to be honest. Cicero saw you with his own eyes take in some kind of magical energy from that dragon! Maybe, you should try shouting to see. Even if only, to humor them at least, heh!" Cicero replied back with a sheepish smile. You couldn't believe even Cicero seemed like he was even falling for this Nordic rubbish. You sigh heavily and look over at the other Whiterun guards that were surrounding you. 

"Alright… Fine. You want me to shout? I'll shout then." You said with obvious skepticism in your tone. As if it were mere instinct alone you loudly shout the word "Fus". It startles you once an unseen force suddenly propelled forwards straight at the guards and makes them all stumble and fall down to the ground from the shout directed at them. Your eyes widen and this time you were speechless at what you had just done. "Impossible…" You murmur to yourself in disbelief. 

"See, I told you! According to the old legends, only the Dragonborn can shout without training, the way the dragons do. Just like what you did right now. You're Dragonborn!" The guard continues to tell you. 

"My grandfather used to tell me about the Dragonborn! Those born with dragon blood in em'. Like old Tiber Septim himself!" Another guard mentions.

"I never heard of Tiber Septim killing any dragons." A third guard retorts back with a scoff.

"That's because there weren't any dragons then, idiot! They're just coming back now for the first time in… forever. But the old tales tell of the Dragonborn who could kill dragons and steal their power. She must be the one!" You looked in between the arguing guards over the fact you were Dragonborn. It all made sense when you had become Listener but now you were being told that you were also a legendary hero that kills dragons and steals their souls for power? It was terribly hard to believe but the guard was right. You had just shouted and somehow were capable of bringing down the whole throng of Whiterun guards to the ground by merely shouting a single word. You didn't understand it but you knew something powerful deep inside you was surfacing for the first time in your life. Could you really be Dragonborn?

You lowered your head as a million thoughts were running through your mind all at once. The Dunmer captain of the guard suddenly walked up to you and started speaking, "Look, I might not understand this whole Dragonborn business but what I do understand is that here's lies a dead dragon. Now we know we can kill them. But I don't need some mythical Dragonborn. Someone who can put down a dragon is more than enough for me. I've been all across Tamriel and seen just as outlandish sights as this. I suggest you go speak to the Jarl of Whiterun about what you have done here for us. You did well." She said before turning away to walk off with her guards.

You stood there confused by the whole situation. You supposed you might as well speak to the Jarl to see what he had to say about this. You tried to stay out of affairs like this but you needed answers to these many questions that were running through your mind. You needed to better understand what it meant to be Dragonborn. You glance over at Cicero and spoke up to him, "I don't know what's going on exactly but I think I should go speak to the Jarl. Maybe, he knows something about this Dragonborn business." 

"Cicero wishes he could answer all the Listener's questions but Cicero is unsure himself on this one. It seems the mighty oh so powerful Listener is also Dragonborn! Oh my dear Listener, it seems you were just destined for such greatness! Hehe! Cicero thinks you should speak to the Jarl of Whiterun if that is what you feel is right! Faithful Cicero will follow you no matter if you're Listener or Dragonborn or whatever!" Cicero exclaimed with a grin. You smile back at Cicero and were so grateful of his unwavering loyalty towards you no matter the circumstance. 

"Thanks, Cicero. I really appreciate it. We need to head to Whiterun, anyways. We have a target waiting to be be send to the void. Although, we should probably see the Jarl first before we kill him. Let's go!" You gestured with your hand for Cicero to follow you, which he did as the two of you started heading back towards the entrance of Whiterun. When you both were approaching the front gates, both of you were taken back when you both heard rumbling thunderous voices shout, "DOVAHKIIN!" 

"Now what the hell was that!?" You say as you look around for where the voices came from. "Please tell me I wasn't the only one to hear that." You look over at Cicero who was also looking around for the source of the voices.

"No, Cicero heard it too! Loud and clear!"

"Those voices just said the same thing the dragon called me… Dovahkiin." You told Cicero who looked over at you curiously. 

"Do you think whoever said that is calling out for you?" Cicero asked and you looked down and shrugged your shoulders unsurely.

"I'm not sure… I don't even know what Dovahkiin means. I just know it's for me and that I can't even tell you why. We better get to the Jarl before anything else strange happens. I really hate being left in the dark." Cicero nods in agreement and chases after you as you head through the front gates of the city. You and Cicero quickly walk towards the Jarl's castle that was called Dragonsreach. Heading up the steps to the castle, you both enter into the Jarl's domain. Cicero was behind you once you were in the throne room where the Jarl was sitting at the front on his throne. By his side standing there was the same Dunmer captain back at the fort where you fought the dragon. She walks forward towards you and begins to start speaking.

"Good, you made it. I've told Jarl Balgruuf about what is going on. He wants to speak to you." You nodded to her and then looked over at the Jarl who was examining you from where you stood. 

"Ah, so you must be the one Irileth and everyone is talking about. What is your name?" 

"My name is (Y/n). I heard that I should come speak to you." You said with seriousness to the Jarl and he nodded. "Some of your guards are referring to me as Dragonborn." 

"And what do you know about the Dragonborn?"

"Not much. I only know from what your guards have told me. They call me Dragonborn. When the dragon died, I absorbed some kind of power from it." You explained to Balgruuf who replied back.

"So it is true… The Greybeards really were summoning you. I'm sure you heard them on your way here." 

"Greybeards? Who are they? Are they the ones that shouted out for me?" You questioned him in confusion. 

"Indeed, they have. They are the masters of the way of the voice. They live in seclusion high on the slopes of the Throat of the World."

"What could they possibly want with me?" 

"The Dragonborn is said to be uniquely gifted in the Voice. The ability to focus your vital essence into a Thu'um, or shout. If you really are Dragonborn, they can teach you how to use your gift. (Y/n) you better get up to High Hrothgar immediately. There's no refusing the summons of the Greybeards. It's a tremendous honor. Also, I want to extend my gratitude for slaying the dragon. You've done a great service for me and my city, Dragonborn. By my right as Jarl, I would like to name you Thane of Whiterun. It's the greatest honor that's within my power to grant. I assign you Lydia as a personal Housecarl, and this weapon from my armory to serve as your badge of office. I'll also notify my guards of your new title. Wouldn't want them to think you're part of the common rabble, now would we? We are honored to have you as Thane of our city, Dragonborn." Jarl Balgruuf said as he surprisingly just made you Thane of his city. 

You were taken back that he would give you such a title of high regard. You almost wanted to laugh at the fact he was giving an assassin of the Dark Brotherhood such a noble position as Thane. If only, he knew when you walked out of here you planned on murdering someone in his city. Oh well, being a Thane could definitely work to your advantage. Nobody would suspect the Thane of being a murderer of the same city they were appointed too. "Why thank you. It is an 'honor' to be your Thane." You said with a faint smirk on your lips. One of the guards walked up and even handed you over an axe. It wasn't a weapon you would ever use, but it still was a weapon worth having for the sake of bragging about. You took the steel axe from the guard and then turned around to look at Cicero who was eyeing your axe in your hands. 

"Wanna axe?" You said teasingly to Cicero. 

He snickered and shook his head, "Oh no, I would never Listener! Cicero is not worthy of taking the axe from the 'Thane of Whiterun'!"

You chuckled in amusement, "Apparently, I get a Housecarl too. I'm feeling rather special today." You said to Cicero with a humored smile as the two of you began heading to leave Dragonsreach. Before, you could get out the front doors a Nord woman with long black hair and steel armor on walks in front of you. You and Cicero pause and look at her. "Who are you?" You asked her with the raise of your eyebrow.

She bowed to you before replying, "My name is Lydia. I am your new Housecarl, my Thane. I am sworn to protect you."

"Humph, so you're the Listener's Housecarl." Cicero started to say as he examined Lydia up and down while looking unimpressed, "Cicero is already accompanying and protecting (Y/n) so you're not needed." Cicero said as he turned his nose up at Lydia. You were getting the vibe that Cicero didn't trust Lydia. He seemed to be very distrustful towards other people, mainly when they were around you. 

Lydia glanced from Cicero to over at you, "I will remain here in Dragonsreach if I am not needed. But always feel free to come to me when you do need something, my Thane. I am honored to serve and protect when ever you might need me."

"Don't worry about me, Lydia. I'm perfectly capable of protecting myself. Plus, I do already have Cicero with me and I'm sure you don't want to be the awkward third wheel of the group." You politely told Lydia who seemed a little bothered by Cicero who was giving her a rather smug look. She didn't say anything to it though as she bowed again to you. 

"If that is what you wish, my Thane. Just remember my sword and shield are always available to you."

"Trust me, I don't think you'll be up for some of the kind of business I'm into. It can be rather… squeamish at times." You said and chuckled darkly. Cicero smirked knowingly by what you were hinting at, while Lydia looked a little confused by what you meant but she still did not vocalize it. "Come on, Cicero. We have some important 'business' to take care of. Cya Lydia." 

"Gladly, my Listener!" Cicero chirped and seemed in much better spirits now that you declined Lydia's offer to tag along in your endeavors. Lydia watched the two of you leave Dragonsreach together side by side."What a weird pair they are…" Lydia murmured to herself once you and Cicero left and were heading to your next assassination target.