This book is after the Thieves Guild book. It won't follow exactly the same storyline of the Dark Brotherhood from the game. I've decided to take it a different approach for my OC where she learns more about her past. So there ya go! Enjoy.
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Chapter 1: Visiting Windhelm
I walked down to the east walkway of the city to visit a general goods shop that was located near a bar where most of the Dunmer still socialize and gather around in small groups. They still prefer to be away from the local Nords, even after that damn war.
Gods, it's really cold out here. I'm going to have to buy another cloak since I left mine back in Riften when I was in a hurry. I thought I wasn't going to make the trip up here. Yet, something drove me back here. Maybe it's just my instinct to believe something is going on here, and that's why I've returned after 6 months.
I felt a slight tug on my lower right side. I looked down and see that a young Nord girl trying to get my attention. She looked about 7 years old, her skin was pale white because of the icy winter cold, wearing an old dress which didn't look like was warm enough, her hair long and brown and braids. She was carrying a basket full of flowers, also at the same time hugging her arms around herself to keep warm. The poor little girl, she's freezing, and what is she doing out here at this time of day.
"Lady, would you like to buy some flowers?" She asked me.
I bend down to her eye level, and I smiled. "I would love to…" I frowned a bit. I placed my hand over her hands and face softly. Gods, she must have been out here for a while. "What is your name?"
"Sofie."
"I'm Saiyuri. What are you doing outside at this time?" I asked. "Where are your parents?"
"My mama died when I was a baby… I don't remember her very well. My father was a Stormcloak soldier. One day he left… and he never came back."
I listened to her story. Oh gods, it was much similar to my parents. I don't even remember my own mother too. And my father strangely disappeared one day he went traveling.
"You're out here by yourself most of the time?"
Sofie nods. "I try to sell flowers so I can but food. But what else could I do?"
I thought to myself, if this girl stays like this she could die from the server cold, or worst be taken advantage of from disgusting bandits, and no one wouldn't even care about it. The guards of Windhelm are so heartless sometimes. I can save this girl from going down that path right now.
"Sofie, I really don't want you to go through this for the rest of your life. I know you've just met me, but I think I could help you."
"Really?" Her face brightens up with a smile.
"I know very nice and talented people that would love and raise you as one of their own family members. You will be taken care of, and you won't have to worry about being in the street again."
"What if they don't want me?" She asked.
"Non sense, they will love you. I promise."
"So I won't be alone anymore?"
I shook my head. "You won't."
"Oh thank you!" Sofie's arms reached out and gave me a hug. I embraced her back. Seeing this girl with a big smile on her face brighten my heart up. It was like everything she had wished for finally came true, waiting for the day when someone finally saved her from the streets.
I took her hand and we started to walk towards the path that leads to the market area.
"We're going to see a friend of mine." I told Sofie.
I looked around the shops for Niranye. She's a Dunmer that runs a merchant booth in Windhelm's market place. Also, she's one of the fences for the Thieves Guild. I knew her well enough to help me out on a few favors here and there. I thought she could take Sofie to Riften for me. It would be a bad idea if I did. The roads are normally dangerous for me because the dragons would pick up my scent anywhere I go.
Her booth was already being packed up for the day. She saw me approaching as she was about to grab a few things from the table to take with her into her house.
"Well, nice to see you again." Niranye greeted.
"Niranye, I need you to do me a favor." I told her.
"What is it?" She asked.
"This is Sofie. I found her wondering around the city. You think you can bring her to the Guild safely tomorrow morning?"
"A new recruit or something? You're making us train the little ones now?"
I rolled my eyes. "Just tell Brynjolf I need her to stay there until she's old enough to make her own decisions." That means it's entirely up to her if she wants to roll with the Guild or not. I just want her to be in a place I know she'll have support and protection.
Niranye sighed. "Alright, I'll do it."
"Thank you." I looked down at Sofie. "This is my friend Niranye. She will take you to Riften tomorrow morning. You will meet my other friends there."
"Are you coming with us?" Sofie asked.
I smiled. "No, but I'll be coming back to check on you. I promise." I kissed her forehead.
I let her go with Niranye. She went to her house to drop off some items that were fenced. Hopefully afterwards, she'll get a ride back to Riften with the girl.
"Dragonborn!" Ulfric called out. His eyes widen at me. It's been almost a year since we last met. The last time was when the Imperial Legion made their attempt to take over his city and kill him.
"My lord, it's been awhile." I said respectfully.
"So it's true that you're coming back to the people?" He asked me.
I slightly nodded. "One cannot ignore their destiny forever."
Ulfric gave a smile, he goes up to me and take my hand gently and kissed between my knuckles. He's never done that before, but I guess it's out of politeness and respect to me.
"You should give care for the streets of Windhelm more." I said to him.
"My men are doing the best they can to ensure the people are safe."
"Well, from seeing that orphan girl I picked up, she was roaming around at this time of the night. I don't think they're trying hard enough." Ulfric didn't say anything after that, I was surprise. He knew I was right.
"Oh, you mean the young girl with the flowers?" He asked. "I knew her father, I am truly sorry she lost both parents."
I nodded. "She told me her story. You don't need to worry. I made sure she's in good hand with someone I know very well. But it's nice to see you again." I turned around as I was getting ready to leave the city.
"You're leaving so soon? But didn't you just arrive?" Ulfric called back to me.
I stopped and sighed. What does he want now? "I was only here to check on something."
"It's a cold night, you'll freeze to death out there if you travel at this time. Why not wait until the morning?"
I turned back to him and stared into his eyes, I guess he's right. I always leave without noticing the time and how bad the weather could be. Maybe I should stay the night at the inn or something.
"I should, I don't know why I wasn't thinking of that. Maybe I was such in a hurry to go back."
Ulfric walked with me to the palace. He told the steward to get food and a vacant room ready for me. He told me that I was welcome to take as much food I wanted from the long dining table. Actually, it's been a while since I last had a meal today.
"Where were you at the time of your disappearance?" He asked me.
I was trying to think of something to answer his question. I know at the time I was wondering around Skyrim for two months before I joined the Thieve Guild, but I cannot tell him that. There was one thing I didn't really mention to anyone else, other than to Brynjolf. During the time I was trying to hide from my Dragonborn destiny, I was also looking for my father. Deep in my heart, I know he's alive somewhere. I just don't have a clue left where to look or go to next. There have been times I would randomly go off and adventure alone, my main reason is because I thought I may run into him on the road, dead or alive.
"I was searching for someone, my father." I replied. "He disappeared a few years ago, and never returned home. I thought if I could find him alive, maybe he might know something that I didn't know when I was a child."
"That you were the Dragonborn?" He guessed right.
I nodded. "My guess, it came from his bloodline and passed on to me."
"I wanted you to know, that I've had visions."
I shrugged. "What sort of visions?" I asked. Ulfric steps very close to me where I could feel his breathing down my neck. I didn't move from him at all.
Ulfric moved closer to me. "I can imagine us together."
Did I just hear him say that? Oh gods, I'm laughing internally in my mind. I gave him a fake smile. "Really?"
"Yes, just the two of us. Don't you see, we both have the ancient power of the voice. You could rule this land with me as High Queen."
High Queen? Is he being serious or is this a joke? I would have to refuse that offer, even if I wasn't currently taken by someone. I never desired to be a queen or any title that's high. Being the Dragonborn is actually good enough for me as it is.
"Your words are flattering, Ulfric. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but my heart already belongs to someone." Automatically, I pictured Brynjolf in my mind. There is no other man I want to myself, but him. Yes, I belong to a master thief.
"I knew you were, judging from the ring of Mara on your hand."
"Even if I wasn't, we wouldn't be the perfect match. We're not the same. You and I may have the voice, but I carry the dragon bloodline." I cleared my throat. "Good night, Ulfric."
I rose up from the chair after I was done eating, and talking to him. The steward respectfully lead me to my room that was set up for me to stay for the night, Ulfric did not follow me surprisingly. He's probably disappointed he couldn't have me.
I didn't expect Ulfric to offer me to stay in his palace for the night, and actually get a few guards to stand outside the room for protection. That was very generous of him, but he's just trying too hard to charm me. Or maybe it's to make up for being the stubborn Nord he was during the Dragon crisis and the war. I had to leave early in the morning so that I can get back to Riften, and let the Jarl know that the skooma dealer has been taken care of.
"Leaving so early and you're not going to say goodbye?" I heard Ulfric's voice called out behind me before I could even get to the doors of the palace.
I looked back at him. "I didn't think you were up at this time." I said.
"I have duties that I must attend to soon. Wouldn't want to be late for any of them."
"Well, so do I." I smiled. "I appreciated that you let me stay for the night. You know, you don't always have to do things like this for me."
Ulfris laughs a little to himself. He approaches to me. "What kind of a High King would I be if I don't treat the Dragonborn with respect she deserves?" He takes my hand and kisses it as a farewell. "Safe travels."
This man is probably still after my heart, but sadly it's not going to happen. I didn't say anything back to him and left the palace.
After a while traveling on the road, something was very strange around me. Something in my mind told me that I better stop where I am right now. I got down from my horse quickly. I placed my hand onto my sword, looking left and right. Someone out here is watching me.
And there he was. He launched out at me from the right. I saw he had a dagger in his hand and a spell casting in the other. I moved aside making his strike missing me. I took him down as quickly and quietly as possible. There was no one around to witness the kill.
After I cleaned my blade removing the blood, I looked down on the dead encounter. His uniform was tight fitted, red and black. I never saw this type of armor before. I reached down with my hand and uncovered the hood from his face. He was a Wood Elf, but someone I have never seen before in my life.
I checked his pockets to see if there was some kind of evidence of who he might be. There was a large bag of gold, a lot of it too. It seemed he received this recently from someone. Well it's was mine now. I dig my hand through one of the back pockets, and pulled out a folded paper, it was folded up about three times, and the seal was already broken. I opened up the letter, and as I read the last sentence my mind blanked out. This was getting suspicious. I had step away from the dead body and get back on the road, to farther myself away from the scene just for safety reasons.
I never ran into this kind of assassin before, and I've heard horror stories about their cult. Why would they want to go after someone like me, the Dragonborn? I don't know what's going on.
