Board Thread:Skyrim/@comment-110.146.134.32-20130814063646/@comment-7153552-20130815221815

I think Astrid is the one who has the contract. . . this is assumed by me, not backed by any real evidence. I come to saidconclusion because of the two following things ((warning, there are spoilers to follow)):


 * She makes a point that somebody must die before the door will be unlocked.


 * Couple that with her quote of "Well . . . done . . . " upon killing her and you could assume she was the contracted kill.

This can be further backed if you play through the DarkBrotherhood questline and se that she isn't following the old ways of the Night Mother. This makes me believe she was destined to die one way or another. However, just to be on the safe side, I always kill all three of them.