"You'll know her when you see her," assured Fasendil as he pressed the slip of paper containing the orders, along with a few coins, into a young courier's hand.
He scrambled out of the house to carry out his duty. He wondered what could be so important that he had to run out at night to find some random thief in town.
The courier looked around to make sure that nobody was around and then decided to take a peek at the slip of paper.
"We know you are here, Dragonborn. Your presence in Solitude would be appreciated. I can collect you, or you can come willingly. You have three days to decide"
"Huh," grunted the courier as he folded it up and stuffed it back into his little purse. He made his way into the town center and waited, unsure of where to begin to look for the Dragonborn.
Soon, someone came stumbling out of one of the inns, obviously drunk. The person came through the town center, singing some drinking song the courier did not recognize.
The drunken person danced a bit close to a brazier, giving the courier a glimpse under her hood.
He looked a bit closer at the woman and he realized her markings were similar to what Fasendil described earlier.
Two Stormcloak soldiers approached the woman, warning her to quiet down and go home.
She argued, "Listen you shits, I'm a free woman. Don't harass me."
One retorted, "We're here to keep the peace Ulfric fought so hard to obtain. Show your gratitude by shutting up and going home."
She pulled out an axe and snapped, "Oh yeah? I fought alongside Ulfric and killed Tullius when he asked. You answer to me!"
One of the soldiers pulled the axe from her grasp and gasped.
"Would you look at that, Hylder? Don't that look like an ancient Nord battle axe?" asked one of the soldiers.
The other inspected the axe and confirmed, "Yeah 'tis, Balfgar. Got the blade and all its markings. A beauty like this can't be cheaply copied."
Balfgar continued, "I remember stories from when I was a lad about the draugur who would use these to protect the crypts. Only the bravest souls would go down there to fight those nasty creatures."
Hylder nodded, "Aye, and I only know one person alive who wields this weapon, and I've seen many an axe in my days. An axe like this was used to kill Tullius at the end of the Rebellion."
Balfgar asked tentatively, "Didn't it belong to Storm-Blade?"
Storm-Blade removed her hood and smiled, "The one and only, brother!"
Hylder looked at her closely and smiled. It was indeed the one and only Storm-Blade.
He asked, "Storm-Blade, what are you doing in Riften?"
She pulled up her hood and responded, "I'm a woman with a mission, brother! Dragonborn duty called!" and she took off into the night.
The courier took off running after her. The Stormcloaks were not as warm with him as they just were with their sister.
"Why are you chasing our sister?" asked Hylder.
The courier pulled out the paper and stated, "I have orders for her."
Hylder read the note, and asked the courier, "Who sent you, boy?"
He responded, "Fasendil."
Hylder asked, "Yeah? And what would Fasendil want with Ulfric's right hand woman?"
The courier puffed out his chest and answered, "It is in Tamriel's best interest and Skyrim's that you quit asking me questions and let me through."
Hylder nodded at Balfgar and Balfgar promptly grabbed the courier.
Hylder got in the courier's face and growled, "Skyrim belongs to the Stormcloaks, and you better answer my questions."
The courier snarled, "This filthy country will be reinstated into the realm soon enough. It is best that you let it happen."
Hylder sliced his throat open, and pocketed the note.
Hylder told his Balfgar, "Something is going on here that I don't like. Ulfric still has enemies in Skyrim and they're targeting Storm-Blade."
Balfgar pointed in the direction she ran off and added, "She went that way. We'll bring her the note."
They ran off into the night, searching alleys for their sister.
They found her in the graveyard, seeming to go underground. They sprinted to the grave where she was at, discovering a flight of steps, and then a door at the bottom.
Inside was a group of rough looking men and women, all of whom drew their swords.
A blonde woman grabbed someone at the bar and slapped them.
She scolded, "Eimile, you IDIOT! You left the door open and now the damn Stormcloaks discovered the hideout."
Eimile looked up and explained, "Oh no Vex, I'm one of their officers. They'll listen to me."
Vex shrieked, "You're ONE OF THEM? BRYNJOLF, YOU LET THIS SNAKE INTO OUR GUILD?"
Eimile defended herself, arguing, "I'm Ulfric's right hand woman. If I give an order, these fools have to listen."
She turned to her men and barked, "Boys, you will not say one thing about this place. I don't care if your captain gave you orders to find and destroy the Thieves Guild, I order you to keep your mouths shut. Is that clear?"
The soldiers nodded.
She replied, "Good, now get out of here."
Hylder begged, "Storm-Blade, we have urgent business to discuss!"
Eimile answered, "First I have to control my friends down here. Every second you two are in here upsets them more. Get out and I will deal with you in a moment."
After the two soldiers left the Ragged Flagon, all eyes went on their guildmaster.
Brynjolf asked, "Why didn't you tell us before, lass?"
Eimile answered, "I didn't feel that it would come up."
Vex accused, "You think that having special favors with the king will make everyone like you. Well, I hate you as much as I hated Mercer."
Eimile snorted, "You really are living up to your name, bitch."
Vex frowned and stormed off to her quarters.
Eimile made her way to the exit. She had business with her brothers.
"Now what was worth risking my friends' lives and identities?" demanded Eimile as she came out of the exit.
Hylder handed her a slip of paper and she read its contents.
He explained, "The courier we took it from was sent by Fasendil. That means that Ulfric still has enemies here in Skyrim."
Eimile asked, "What would he want with me?"
Both soldiers shook their heads.
Eimile decided, "I have to tell Ulfric. Keep the city safe and do not tell the other Stormcloaks here about the existence of this place or else."
She turned and ran down the stairs, covering them up as she made her way to the Guildmaster's chambers.
She took off her Thieves Guild apparel, locking it in a trunk under her bed. She donned her old Stormcloak Officer uniform, sighing at her reflection.
Brynjolf stood in the doorway to her chamber and caught her eye as he stood behind her in the mirror. The image reflected back at him made him sad.
"Tell me what you think you're doing," demanded Brynjolf.
Eimile explained, "Ulfric is in trouble and I have to help him."
Brynjolf responded, "You're shirking your duties to the guild."
Eimile replied, "I am not. I swore an oath a long time ago to protect our king."
Brynjolf argued, "You swore an oath to do all you could to serve and protect the guild when we crowned you guildmaster, and now you're leaving for some mission that doesn't affect you at all."
Eimile showed him the note and snapped, "This man sent me a note ordering me to Solitude when all of the imperials are still holed up there. They're trying to get to Ulfric by taking me out first."
Brynjolf yelled, "You would have the guild at your back if someone tried to take you! You can't leave the guild behind!"
Eimile looked in his eyes and asked, "This isn't about the guild, is it?"
He walked over to her and held her hands in his, saying, "Last time you went off on a huge mission to help someone, I was scared you wouldn't come back. The guild can't lose you. I can't lose you."
He kissed her hands slowly yet tenderly and looked her in the eyes. The Nord's eyes pleaded with her in a way words could not.
Eimile assured in a whisper, "Brynjolf, I always come back. You know that."
Brynjolf pleaded, his voice cracking, "Let me come with you, lass."
Eimile shook her head, answering, "I need you here to care for the guild. I trust you more than anyone in the guild. I will come back from this mission alive and drunk, like I always do."
Brynjolf laughed, and then he kissed her forehead.
He smiled, "We'll then complete a mission of our own when you return, lass."
She looked up at him in confusion.
He answered her unspoken question by revealing the Amulet of Mara and saying, "You're my best lass, and I want to be by your side for life; not just as members of the Thieves Guild or fellow Nightingales, but as something more."
He pulled out a gold emerald necklace and put it on her.
"Whose hold did you loot for this one?" asked Eimile jokingly.
He explained, "I stole a good amount of gold today and I thought that necklace would look pretty on a certain guildmaster when I saw it in the market."
She asked in shock, "The best thief in Skyrim BOUGHT something?"
He winked, "Gotta keep 'em guessing, lass."
She looked him in the eye and answered, "Just for that, I will marry you. I will keep this on forever as a symbol of my promise to you."
He kissed the top of her head and helped her pack her belongings.
She smiled, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do," when it was time for her to go.
He responded, "That doesn't leave me with much. Come back to me quickly, lass."
Eimile nodded and ran off into the night. She was met with her men as she made her way to the exit to the city. They were waiting with a horse for her to ride.
"Talos be with you," said Balfgar as he opened the gates. Eimile put her heels to the horse and galloped off into the night.
After riding all night, she arrived at Windhelm, throwing some gold at a stable hand to take care of her horse.
She straightened up, and marched into the Palace of the Kings.
"Welcome, Storm-Blade!" exclaimed Ulfric as she approached him.
She knelt before him, replying, "You're looking well, my King."
Ulfric said, "You don't need to bow down, you are a friend. Now tell me, what brings you here?"
Eimile handed him the note and responded, "I have come here from Riften to bring your awareness to orders given to me."
Ulfric read the note and raised an eyebrow.
He asked, "Where did you get these orders?"
She answered, "Fasendil sent a courier to track me down, but two of our men intercepted him and brought it to me."
Ulfric exclaimed, "Fasendil?!"
He thought for a moment and looked at Eimile.
He commanded, "Follow these orders. See what they want, but report back to me. I will send 10 of my best men ahead of you to make sure your journey is safe. You are not going as a soldier from these orders and I want to make sure my second-in-command will not be harmed."
She nodded, and made her way to the stables to collect the mare that she received in Riften. She fed the horse one last bucket of oats, brushed its coat, and put her saddle on its back.
She rode out of the stables and out of town, the open roads of Skyrim greeting her once again. She fiddled with Brynjolf's necklace, silently vowing to return to her intended.