Author's Note: I did break canon a bit with Eriah having helped the Thieves Guild get rid of Mercer but declining the rank of Guildmaster in favor of Karliah. That said, Eriah is considered a Nightingale as far as canon goes but isn't active as one, preferring to keep her hands clean. I doubt Nocturnal would've cared either way. You could say in this universe, Eriah's only contract with the Daedric Prince was simply return the Skeleton Key to its right place and she fulfilled that contract, which released her from Nocturnal's service. It also keeps in line with Eriah's distaste for the Princes, even though by her own admission, not all of them are that bad.
Eriah Quintence strode into Riften one day, her steps full of purpose. Some time ago, she had slain Grelod the Kind, the headmistress of Honorhall Orphanage, in her sleep. While she didn't deny the old hag had it coming, something she and Astrid agreed on, the fact remained that Eriah had raised a weapon against a noncombatant. Eriah had no desire to be the start of a new Dark Brotherhood after she had destroyed the old one with the help of Hadvar, a Nordic Legionnaire she had met in Helgen. When she and her husband, Farkas, received a flyer from Constance Michel, Grelod's former assistant and new headmistress, asking for people to adopt children orphaned by the war, the two agreed that perhaps they could take in a child. Eriah was unable to have children, having been born "defective" in that area somehow. She had wondered if it had something to do with her being Dragonborn but Paarthurnax said that was not so and there was the fact that the Dragonborn Emperors, starting with Tiber Septim, were obviously able to produce heirs. The fact she couldn't have children never bothered her but she still wanted to give love to a child if she could. Adoption was her only option and she did want to atone for what she had done.
She was walking by the marketplace when she heard someone raising a fuss. She looked over to see Brynjolf, an...associate she had made when she was looking for Esbern, manhandling a boy. Her eyes flashed and she strode over just as the man was ready to backhand him. She managed to catch his wrist, stopping him before he could move. "Back off, Brynjolf." she said, catching their attention. The Thieves Guild's number two looked over at her and his face broke out into a grin. "Well, well, well. Nice to see you again, lass." he said, still retaining his grip on the boy's upper arm. "Let go or I break your arm." Eriah glowered. Brynjolf, still wearing his sarcastic smirk, did as he was told. Eriah looked over her shoulder as the boy ducked away behind her. "Get going, kid. I'll handle this." she said. Blinking, the boy just nodded before running off. "Man, lass. That boy tried to pickpocket me and I was about to teach him a lesson in trying to steal from a master thief." the redheaded man complained.
Eriah let his wrist go before crossing her arms. "I know you too well. You'd never raise your hand against a child unless you were having a bad day. You're still not stewing over my refusal to lead the Guild, are you? You need to get over it." she said. That was how far their association went. Eriah got tangled with the Thieves Guild for a while after finding Esbern. Turned out the former Guildmaster, Mercer Frey, had brought the Daedric Prince Nocturnal's wrath down when he stole her Skeleton Key from the Twilight Sepulcher years before and the Guild was cursed with bad luck by Nocturnal. The Dragonborn helped the Guild get back on its feet as far as getting rid of Mercer went and promptly handed leadership off to fellow Nightingale, the Dunmer Karliah. Eriah's talents were not for thievery and while she and Brynjolf, also a Nightingale, had something of a friendship, she didn't associate with the Guild at all after leaving them behind. Her own Nightingale armor was in a chest in her Riften home, Honeyside.
"Aye, lass. You're right. I'm in something of a bad mood." Brynjolf said. "Good thing I came when I did then. If I had seen a mark on that child's face and I traced it to you, I would've kicked your ass. Do I even want to know what's eating you?" Eriah asked. Brynjolf gave her a slightly withering look before sighing. "Sorry, lass. Guild business and all. Nothing to worry you about since you're not even in the Guild anymore." he said. "I never was to start with but I'm still grateful Nocturnal's seen fit to leave me alone. As far as the Daedric Princes go, she's one of the less annoying ones. However, if I can help with anything, you know I will." she said. The master thief just shrugged. "I'm afraid there's nothing you can do about that, lass. But if you want to help me..." he trailed off, taking her chin with a couple fingers and leaning in. Eriah's expression was an irritated scowl. She blocked his attempted kiss by pushing his head back. "Hands to yourself, idiot. I'm married now." she said. Brynjolf just laughed and held his hands up in mock surrender. "Of course, love. I forgot. Not like that would've stopped me if I was serious." he said.
Eriah sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Brynjolf wasn't overly flirtatious as one would assume but he never made it a secret he was interested in her during her short foray into Guild matters. It was a good thing he was something of a gentleman. He never overstepped his boundaries but he often teased her with some tame flirting and sometimes crossing them slightly, like he just did in his bid for a kiss. Unlike some men she had the misfortune to cross paths with, Brynjolf knew no meant no. Those other guys, mainly bandits and the such, learned the hard way that Eriah wasn't to be trifled with. Even if she wasn't Dragonborn, her mother had taught her well in self-defense. Having use of the Thu'um was just a bonus, giving her something to humiliate a would-be assaulter with. "So what brings you to this cesspool of a town, lass? I know it was mere coincidence that led you to stepping in to save that little rat's hide." the redhead asked, leaning against his stall. "Just here to see about adopting one of the orphans. Then it's back to Whiterun with me." Eriah replied as the tension deflated.
"The Dragonborn wants to be a mother? Never pegged you as the type, lass." Brynjolf replied, raising his eyebrows. Eriah just shrugged. "That's because you don't know everything about me." she said. She turned her back to continue on her way but was halted when the man took hold of her elbow. "You can't have children, can you?" he asked, in all seriousness. The Dragonborn's head whipped around to meet his eyes. "How did...?" she asked. "...I know? Sorry, lass. When you first started staying in the Cistern, I lifted your journal so I could learn more about you. There was an old entry in there dating 4E 190, back when you were nineteen. You had gotten the news from a mage that you were unable to have children. I'm sorry I snooped around." he said, sincerely. Eriah blinked before letting a smile grace her lips. Her journal had been taken from her when she was captured by the Imperials when she first entered Skyrim. She had managed to retrieve it later from the ruins of Helgen after the war was won. "It's okay, Brynjolf. I use that book as a means to write my feelings down. Nothing in it is news or a secret to anyone I call friend. I'm happy in spite of the diagnosis, even if we still don't know why I'm unable to bear children. Doesn't mean I can't be a mother, still. That's why I'm here. I helped put some of these children in the orphanage because I'm a Stormcloak soldier. I want to make up for that." she said.
Brynjolf let her go then and Eriah continued to Honorhall. When she opened the door, she smiled when she heard the happy chatter of the children. Constance approached her. "Welcome to Honorhall. Can I help you?" she asked. "Yes. I'm here to adopt." the Dragonborn replied. "Wonderful! Before I take you meet the children, I need to ask a couple questions." the headmistress replied. "Fire away." Eriah said. She and Constance sat down at the table, not minding that the children were listening in in the next room. "What's your name?" came the first question. "My name is Eriah Quintence." the Dragonborn replied, folding her hands on the table. Constance nodded before continuing. "What do you do for a living?" she asked. "I'm the Dragonborn." Eriah responded, prompting excited whispers from the next room and a skeptical look from Constance. "What? If you're not going to be..." she started before pausing and taking a closer look at the Dragonborn. Eriah's expression showed how dead serious she was about her claim in how...neutral it was. "Wait...Shor, you're serious! Well, I...all right then." the young woman deflated a little. Eriah just smiled a little. She was always willing to demonstrate her claim but was always happy not to. She only had to demonstrate it once to date when Ulfric asked her to when she joined the cause. Constance accepted she was who she said she was without much trouble.
"Where would your child be living? Do you have room?" Constance then asked. "I own homes in Whiterun and here in Riften but my husband and I make our home in Whiterun." Eriah replied. The headmistress smiled and got up from the table. "That's all I needed. Congratulations. I know you'll make an excellent mother. Head on into the next room and meet the children. When you've picked the one you want to adopt, I'll gather their things." she said. Eriah stood up and the women shook hands. They went into the room where the children were. Eriah looked over them all before her eyes were drawn to a boy in the corner. She recognized him as the boy Brynjolf had threatened to hit. "Constance, who is that boy over in the corner?" she asked. "That's Samuel, an Imperial boy who's been a resident here the longest. His mother used to work here before she died and his father is unknown. He's something a leader to the other children and tried his hardest to protect them from Grelod. I've even seen how he would take punishments meant for the others just so they wouldn't have to suffer." Constance replied.
"An Imperial, you say? He has the heart of a Nord." Eriah remarked, crossing her arms and resting her chin on a fist. "I'm inclined to agree, even though you Nords are stubborn." Constance said. The Dragonborn just chuckled before heading over to where Samuel was fiddling with his hands. "I remember you." Eriah said, sitting down in a chair near him. Samuel jumped, haven't had noticed she had come over. "You're that lady who helped me in the market." he said, somewhat dumbstruck. "I am indeed. Don't worry about Brynjolf. He may be a thief but he's not that bad of a person. He was just having a bad day and I set him straight." the Dragonborn said, reaching out and ruffling his hair. Samuel gave her a shy smile. "Constance tells me you've been here since you were young." Eriah said. "Yeah. I've done a lot to keep the others safe when Grelod was still alive." he replied. "So I heard. You have the heart of a Nord. I like that." she said. Samuel gave her a huge grin. "Thanks. I might be an Imperial but I think I'm just as much a Nord as you are." he said.
Eriah smiled back, having made her decision. "How would you like to come live with me and my husband?" she asked. The boy gave her a shocked look. "You want to adopt me?" he asked. "Well, yes. I have a good feeling about you, Samuel. My husband and I can be your new family. I even have a dog. Of course, it's entirely up to you." Eriah said. Samuel jumped to his feet, his excitement evident. "I would love to!" he said. "Then, let's be on our way, son." the Dragonborn said, getting to her own feet. Samuel went to tell his friends as she went to Constance. "I've chosen Samuel. Farkas and I will raise him well." she promised. Constance beamed before shaking her hand again. "Excellent. Samuel's been here for so long, I felt saddened that he may never have gotten a chance to have a family before coming of age. Are you going to accompany him to Whiterun or did you have someplace to be?" she asked. "I'm heading straight home so I can watch after him." Eriah said. The Imperial woman nodded with a smile as Samuel approached.
"Congratulations on your adoption, Samuel. I'd like to introduce you properly. This is Eriah Quintence. She's the Dragonborn." Constance said. Samuel's eyes grew wide as dinner plates as he looked up at Eriah. "You're the Dragonborn!? That's so amazing! My ma's the Dragonborn!" he said. "That's right, kiddo. Farkas, your father, is one of the Companions. So you just became a part of an amazing family." Eriah said, rubbing his head. Her new son look positively ready to burst from excitement. Eriah nodded farewell and the two left. Samuel immediately bombarded her with questions about her adventures, what Farkas was like, how where they getting to Whiterun, and what breed her dog, Bran, was. Eriah answered them all patiently, grateful he was so enthusiastic. When they came out of the gates, Eriah's piebald mare was there to greet them.
"Wow. That's a pretty horse." Samuel said as Eriah cooed words of love to the animal. "Thank you. This is Keizaal. It means Skyrim in the dragon's tongue." she said. Samuel pat the strong mare. "You named her for our homeland?" he asked. "She's a strong, proud beast like the land and the Nords who live here. Of course, I fought for everyone who lives here during my service to Ulfric Stormcloak." the Dragonborn said. "You served under him? What was that like?" her son asked, as Eriah lifted him up into the saddle before mounting herself. "It was something, all right. I'll tell you all about it as we ride for home. You're going to love Whiterun, Samuel. It's a small city but it's home." Eriah said. They rode off together, with the Dragonborn giving more details on her quests, not noticing that Brynjolf was leaning against the wall, watching them go.
"That lass is something else. I've heard rumors of how compassionate she could be and now I'm witnessing it. Her journal was a good indication that she really had to struggle coming to grips with the fact she can't bear children but now, I see that she really has accepted that about herself. She's taking in a whelp because she has love to spare. I feel somewhat regretful I didn't want anything more than a fling with her. She certainly denied me in spectacular fashion. Shows what sort of woman Eriah Quintence is. I think I like her better this way. She marches to the beat of her own drum, she knows what she wants, and she doesn't let much stop her." he thought. Smirking a little as he pushed off the wall and shoved his hands in his pockets, Brynjolf headed back inside.
"Good luck, Eriah. Been real nice knowing you."