I thought about totally rewriting these, but changed my mind, since they are still my most popular work and honestly not that bad aside from lack of editting, plus I want to go ahead and finally get to writing the official sequel to this. I did, however, go back and edit them, so the quality should be much improved. The content will be the same, nothing different happens, so no need to go back and reread if you've already read the story and despite the editing it is still primarily the same, my early 2012 writing style and abilities (slash lack thereof) included. However, if you haven't already read it or if you just want to go through and confirm that I'm not BSing about editing the damn thing, by all means, go right ahead.

Pairing: Astrid/Dragon(OFC, if you prefer vagueness) Come on, don't tell me that I'm the only one who thought that she was totally hot and had a sexy voice (even if a crap-ton of other characters have it too, I mean, come on, there were only like ten voice actors in the whole game). Astrid is somewhere between twenty and twenty-three and Dragon is seventeen, almost eighteen

Universe: Elder Scroll Series V: Skyrim

Warnings:

Rating: T

Other: Okay, so for the sake of the plot, Astrid and Arnbjorn aren't married. In fact, I'm probably just going to ignore him altogether in this little one shot. And I apologize to you all for my overuse of parenthesis, it's one of my biggest vices in writing

Summary: Before the Night Mother came, Astrid was the most important thing to me. Now, the Night Mother is not only here, but she has chosen me as her Listener. Now, everyone expects me to push Astrid onto the back burner, even Astrid herself, but... What if I don't think the NMs more important? What if no matter what happens, for me, Astrid will always be better than her?

I... really hadn't anticipated this. maybe I should have, but I didn't. Obviously, I knew that something would happen, I mean, seriously, you don't just pretend to be a member of the Dark Brotherhood and take a potential kill from right under their noses and just expect to get away unscathed. Even if their power has greatly diminished from what it was when my so-many-greats grandmother was the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood, some four-hundred or so years ago (Ironically, she was also the Arch-mage of the Mages Guild, the "Gray Fox" in the Thieves Guild, Arena Champion, Master of the Fighters Guild, which I think was her equivalent of the Companions AND Champion and Savior of Cyrodill, by the end of her long and very interesting journey. I would know, she kept a journal, several, actually, it would have been impossible to record her whole life in a single book, which have been passed down through our family since her death, and I've read all of them in detail several times. They're quite interesting, to say the least), it's still a known fact that you don't screw with the DB and expect to get away with it, you just don't!

Regardless, when I had heard a rumour about a young orphaned boy trying to trying to contact the Brotherhood, I was very curious- And when I get curious, the curiosity refuses to leave me alone until its satisfied. So, eventually, I ended up in Windhelm, where I knew the boy was. Of course, at first I had no idea where in Windhelm he was, but you would be amazed how far a slightly low cut tunic, a pretty smile, flattery, and a pouch full of gold, or some combination of those things, can get you.

Within half an hour of arriving, I already knew the exact location of the child (though suppose that, being only 17, I probably shouldn't be refereing to a 12 year old boy as a child just yet). I strode into the house, not sneaking, since that would just look strange and suspicious if someone saw, and was immediately greated by the boy. He asked me if I was from the Dark Brotherhood, but then answered his own question (incorrectly, as he decided that I was, indeed, a member of it), leaving me no time to deny it before he told me of his predicament. I shouldn't have listened to what he was saying, I really shouldn't have, I should, instead, have listened to that little voice in my head that said that I should have just told him I wasn't from the Dark Brotherhood and just left.

But no, I just had to stay and listen, and by the end, I was cursing my stupid self and how I could never walk away from someone who was in trouble but didn't deserve it, and it wasn't just Aventus Aretino who was suffering either! All of the orphans who remained under her care were currently suffering, and the thought both saddened and incensed me. I couldn't stand it when people who were supposed to take care of children, their own or otherwise, failed to do so properly, or, even worse, abused those children in some way, it just hit way too close to home.

So, by the end, I just knew that, despite the voice of reason saying that this was a bad idea, and if I wanted to live, and keep all of my limbs and not be tortured to death by pissed-off assassins, I should really just apologize to this kid and walk away, despite all of the people who had warned me off of it when I got info about it from then, I just couldn't break this kid's heart and I could knowlingly let children, who had already lost their parents, suffer when all it would take is a bit of sneaking, a slash from a dagger, and perhaps an invisibility potion to keep people from noticing me leaving.

I actually only said one word to the kid. After he finished giving me all of the necessary information, the name of the caretaker, the orphange location, ect, I assumed my role as an "assassin" and only nodded, signaling that I would "Accept his contract" and finally (too little, too late, though), but before I could sneak out (just cementing my image as an "assassin" in the kid's mind), he had one more thing to say. Honestly, it really got to me, it was just so innocent and childlike, and it broke my heart that this innocent young boy had gone through so much.

"Thank you, Miss..." I could hear the uncertainty in his voice as he spoke to me, probably for the last time. Obviously he wasn't sure whether it was okay for him to, first of all, thank me for killing somone, and secondly, he started to call me something, probably Miss Assassin or something similar, but then realised that it might be offensive or I might be a "Mrs" rather than a miss "Miss." Gah, I literally felt might heart go out to him- I really should have been a teacher or an orphanage worker or something, kids are like the only thing that can get past my shields and worm their way into my heart. Deciding to not make him suffer the anxiety of wondering if he should have said anything or not, I simply turned around, towards him, smiled kindly (perhaps breaking character, but then, my so-many-greats grandmother was an assassin and she loved kids too, even had some of her own, and from the stories people passed down about her, she was pretty much the most loving mother ever) and simply said, "Dragon". Then, I actually left.

Yup. Dragon. That's my name. Ha ha, laugh it up all you want, "The Dragonborn's name is Dragon, what delicious irony," Yada yada yada, I've thought and heard it all before, it's old news, get over it.

The second I closed the door behind me, I came up out of my crouch and face-palmed at my stupid protective, sympathetic and motherly nature as I leaned against the stone building. This really isn't the first time it's gotten me into an awkward and not-necesarily-safe situation, but this is by far the worst one I've ever been in. Oh well, maybe fate'll get me out of this one too, I mean, I'm currently the only Dragonborn of this century and there are more than enough Dragons out there to severely decimate, if not wipe out most of the people in Tamriel, since they would keep coming back no matter how many times you kill them without me. Whatever, I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

I groaned, though, as I began the journey to the familiar city of Riften. I could practically feel someone watching me, and, as it was, I wasn't sure if I was just being paranoid (which happened fairly often, actually) or if I truly was being watched, it could go either way at this point.

The actual process of finding the with was fairly uneventful. I really just talked to the children, the secondary caretaker, and then I had a short, unpleasant experience where I actually talked to the hostile bitch herself.

I left after a few minutes, seemingly because I was disappointed that I was not able to adopt any of them, though honestly, I just felt really bad about getting the orphaned children's hopes up that they would be adopted only to let them be crushed by a heartless shrew moments later.

I stood outside of the orphanage awkwardly for a moment, not really knowing what to do since, judging by the position of the sun, it was around noon-ish- Too early for a quick visit to an inn to have a drink while I wait for the sun to set and the residents of Honorhall Orphanage to call it a day, but too late to travel to another city or finish any important quests.

For lack of any better idea, I simply strolled into the center of town and browsed. I was given a welcoming nod as I passed Grelka's kiosk, which, honestly, I think may be the most friendly reaction anyone in Skyrim can get from her, though I didn't stop by as there was nothing new in her stall that I actually wanted

I was greated very cheerfully by the Argonian running the jewelry kiosk, and at this stand, I actually stopped, remembering some jewels that I had picked up recently in my travel.

"Hey Madesi, I believe I recall that, earlier, you mentioned something about needing flawless sapphires?"

"Indeed I did, Dragon, so good of you to remember." He teased lightly, but then a curious look took over his lizardesque face, "You wouldn't have happened to have gotten your pretty little elven hands on them, would you?" I could understand his suprise and doubt- sapphires were rare enough, but flawless sapphire were nearly impossible to find.

"Suprisingly, yes. Four of them actually." I took them out of my pack as I spoke and handed them to the Argonian for the extreme inspection that I knew they would endure under his expert gaze, trusting that A) Madesi is not stupid and unloyal (for we have been friends a good while, after I got him flawless amethysts and gold ore for his jewelry and he paid me quite generously) enough to try to steal precious gems from me of all people and B) In the very unlikely case that, through some bought of insanity, he tries to make off with them or cheat me, I would be able to catch him easily enough and I would see his lie if that is what he chose to do.

Luckily, my suspicions were put to rest very quickly. The only thing that happened when I let him inspect the precious stone was his eyes steadily, and quite comically, widening as he turned each of the jewels over in his palm in ever direction several times, looking for some indication that they were fakes or imperfect in some way. When he found done, her reached into his pocket and brought out a small but very powerful magnifying glass. I had been informed of it by Madesi in another discussion of ours. Though initially very expensive, it had, apparently, paid for itself eventually. Many serious jewelers saved up money to buy them because the human (Argonian, Khajiit, Orcish and whatever else) eye could not detect certain flaws on jewels that made them imperfect, so they bought the gems at extremely high price, only for the gems to show their imperfection as the jewel was used to make some very exact piece of jewelry that could not be made with anything less than a flawless gem, since a normal one could not withstand being cut so finely and precisely.

I wasn't insulted that he was double checking my opinion on it being flawless, I would have too, though I was almost certain that they were, indeed, perfect, as I had found them in dwarven ruines and the Dwemer accepted nothing but the best.

After several moments of critical scrutiny, the Argonian finally set the small object down on the table in shock and prompty asked, "That's amazing, four flawless sapphires! Where in Tamriel did you find these?"

I grinned and replied, "You probably won't be suprised at where I found them- They were in Dwarven ruins."

Madesi laughed and replied, "The Dwarves, of course. They never did settle for anything but the best, back in their time. If they were less dangerous and I was more of a fighter, I'd have half a mind to brave a few myself for these gems! As it is, these are definitely worth a hefty price, and I have a commision from a Jarl to make a necklace for his wife, so these should be perfect. Now, what would you say is a fair price...?"

In the end, we both walked away happy and on great terms, I with my money pouch significantly more hefty and he with priceless gems that he had gotten for a fair price. In fact, I don't think that either of us have ever walked away from one of our transactions in anything less than a good mood. We work very well together when it comes to bartering- He is not stupid enough to try and cheat me by giving me a bad price, and I, in turn, extend the same courtesy by not demanding more than a reasonable amount for whatever I happen to be selling (and I assume that it would work vice-versa, should I ever decide to buy any non-magical jewelry, which, sadly, is all that he sells.

"Okay" I thought to myself, that cut off a bit of time, but I'm still relatively in the same boat as before. So, I wandered around town for a while, and I happened to end up at the Temple of Mara, which is one of the few buildings in Riften that I hadn't actually been in yet, and, as a half wood elf(the other half is imperial, which shows in my pale skin, inky black hair and some of my facial features), curiosity and love of exploration, not to mention that, though I wasn't really as close as most people were to the Divines, out of the Nine Divines, Mara was the only one that I had ever felt any real connection with.

So I figured, what the hell? May as well check it out, since I hadn't done it before because I have only been in Skyrim for a few months and only recently found out which city Mara's Temple is in.

I was actually quite happy with the result. The priests, I thought, reflected their Goddess, Mara, Goddess of love and compassion quite well. They welcomed me warmly when I came in, and I easily struck up a conversation with the head priest. I ended up talking to him for a good portion of the afternoon, walking with him as he did his duties, and occasionally helping when I could. I was a very enlightening experience and, while I may not be ready to forsake everything and become a priest of Mara, I do understand the Goddess a lot better, and I truly think that, if circumstances were different and if I didn't have so much riding on me, I think that maybe I could one day do that. As it is, I neither know her well enough nor do I have the time or circumstances, but still! And I can tell you for sure that I have made a new friend.

One of the things we talked about was marriage, you know, Goddess of love and all, and he asked me if I was married. He was suprised when I said no, apparently I was "too pretty to be single, and I didn't even have an Amulet of Mara!" (it was purely friendly, I swear, one of the thing we found out was that he's gay and married to another priest and I'm definitely into my fellow females). When I asked him what, exactly, that was, he gave me a gobsmacked, and perhaps slightly insulted, look and promptly asked if I had live under a rock all my life, to which I replied, "No, I lived in Valenwood".

So, I ended up finding out what an amulet of Mara was, which explained why some people gave me certain looks when I flirted! I didn't have an amulet, and I specifically recall some of them not wearing them, which means I probably seemed really obnoxious.

I believe I owe certain people an apology.

I ended up buying an amulet, because my pouch was nearly splitting because it was so full, especially after the deal with Madesi, and he had mentioned earlier that the temple needed all of the help it could get. Besides, it could come in handy, now I can flirt with pretty barmaids and not seem like I'm trying to cheat on a spouse or I'm too cheap to just get an amulet.

Sadly, however, the hour grew later, and eventually I decided that it was time I get out of Maramel's hair and find something else to do from now (the sun was just setting, so probably around six-thirty or seven-ish) until all were asleep in Honorhall Orphanage (there were windows, so I could check to make sure that everyone was asleep before entering, but probably around ten or so)

Honestly, I'm not gonna lie, I did nothing productive, just went into the Bee and The Barb (the owner of whom I had recently managed to convince to forgive me after that incident with the Guild where I had to, ahem, persuade her to pay her debt) and got dinner, just some bread and with butter and cheese and a glass of water- The perfect meal before a job, as Brynjolf had taught me- No meat, nothing with a strong smell, enough to be considered a meal but not enough to actually fill you up, nothing with even a hint of alcohol in it. In my mind, I would think that the same sort of meal would be best for a murder. I talked a bit to other inhabitants of the inn as I wasted time.

Brynjolf, when he walked in, immediately noticed my choice of food, and though no other people noticed it, I saw the subtle question twitch of an eyebrow, his way of asking "Are you doing a job tonight?". After I joined the thieves guild, Brynjolf had, in essence, taken me under his wing, which was why I heard "So, your Brynjolf's new protege" Or some form of it nearly every other time I met someone else who was part of the Guild. Apparently he treated me differently than most new recruits, and honestly, I can kind of see how, he definitely spent much more time on training me personally, rather than recommending that I go to so-and-so to train me in such-and-such. He's taught me nearly everything that I've learned since joining the Guild, including the trick about what to eat before a job. I shook my head, not subtle like he had been, but instead as though to shake my hair out and raking my fringers through it a few times afterwards, just for effect. He nodded and looked away from me, and I doubted that he would ask question me about it later- Luckily, though he was oblivious when it came to his affection for Vex (which was obvious to everyone but him and Vex), he knew when not to question. It was a good trait to have in the theives guild.

Time passed rather quickly until the moon suddenly appeared in the window and I knew that it was time. I thanked the hostess for the meal (which I had already paid for) and left quickly. The short walk to the orphanage went seamlessly, as no one I passed saw me since I was nearly perfect at sneaking, and picking the lock on the door was even easier.

I was actually disappointed in the actual murder part, it was way too anticlimatic. I just walked in, not even having to try to sneak, since the secondary caretaker had her door closed and all of the children were sleeping. I was very tempted to wake up the sleeping shrew, Grellod the "Kind", just so that it would be more interesting, and say something like "Aventus Aretino says hello" or something even more foreboding, but then I decided against it, not wanting to risk the children somehow realising that I was a murderer, though I suppose that that was the reason why I had specifically put two invisibility potion in my pocket, rather then my pack, for easier access should anything happen.

Just to be more dramatic, instead of simply slitting her throat with a dagger, as I should have done, I just assumed that it wouldn't make a difference, though I should have figured it would and shot her with my daedric bow, which I had made and perfected myself. That was a stupid thing to do, as she ended up letting out a cry when she died, which she wouldn't have if I hadn't decided to be fancy and I had simply slit her throat. I could hear the occupants of the other rooms getting up, and cursed my stupidity, but quickly slipped one of the vials of invisibility potion out of my pocket- Thank Mara for planning ahead!

I had just consumed the entire potion when the first boy ran into the room, disappearing just in time to not be seen. I stayed crouched as I had the whole time, and easily slunk by the gathering children and out of the orphanage, and no one was any the wiser that it was me.

I didn't wait for the guards to hear of it, in fact, I simply drank the other potion the moment I reappeared and then headed out the gates and away from the city, back towards Windhelm before most people even knew what had happened- I told you I was paranoid sometimes, but hey, it usually tends to nip situations in the bud before they even arise, so I don't think I'll try to fix it for now.

The route back to Windhelm was pretty typical, just bandits, wolves and rogue thieves, nothing interesting happened. I was bored nearly the whole way there. When I did arrive, it was only just beginning to get bright outside. I was barely noticed by the guards as I silently walked into the city and I encountered no one but guards, who were too tired to care about me since their shift was almost over, and I slipped into the Aretino house without even having to pick the lock on the door, which kind of worried me, because Windhelm, while it is no Riften, is not exactly a place where you should leave your door unlocked, especially at night, especially if your a twelve year old boy all alone.

Even this part was boring, because the boy wasn't even awake. I wondered which I should do, leave a note or be creepy and wait in his house for him to wake up. I just decided to leave a note.

-Aventus Aretino

The contract is complete. Grellod the Kind is dead. I require no payment, and this will almost undoubtedly be the last contact you and I will have, therefore I wish you luck in all of your future endeavores. Please don't try to get in contact with me personally and don't cast suspicion on yourself concerning your involvement in Grellod the Kind's death.

And one more thing boy- Remember to lock your door, Windhelm is not a nice place for a child living alone.

-Dragon

I decided that that short but clear message should suffice and simply set it on the end table next to the bed, no doubt his Mother's bed before her death judging by the size and the contents of the room. Then, for good measure, I took out a dagger, one that I had been planning on selling, as it was a simple iron dagger, useless to me, since I had a Daedric dagger as well as my bow and another invisibility potion. I had to slam the dagger into the wood to get it to hold it the way I wanted it to, which made a somewhat loud sound. I chugged an invisibility potion immediately afterwards, just in case the sound woke him up. It was a good thing too, as he started when the sound occured and I turned invisible just before he looked in my direction. I crept backwards towards the entrance of the room, just in case he should decide to get up suddenly, then stood there, wondering how creepy it might be considered (not that anyone would find out) if I stood there and watched his reaction.

It didn't take him long to notice my message, it's a bit hard to miss a dagger sticking out of your night stand, and I wondered if, perhaps I had stabbed a little to hard when he seemed to have trouble pulling the dagger out, but he got it eventually.

I watched as several emotions flashed across his face- Happiness, relief, confusion at my not taking payment and at my apparent concern for his well being and finality as he finished it. He sat still for a few seconds, looking at the wall in front of him, as if in deep thought. Then his head snapped up, as if realising something important. His eyes swept around the room, not seeing the very vague abstracting effect of invisibility, though that was no suprise as I wasn't moving, and even if I was, a good portion of the time, using sight alone, I cannot detect someone when they are invisible, let alone an untrained child.

He immeditaly jumped out of bed and ran to the door. I flattened myself against the piece of wall between the door of that room and the door of another and he ran past me obliviously and looked over the bannister at the lower floor. It took me a second, but then I figured out that he was looking for me, after all, if my putting the note there had woken him up then I might not have left yet for some reason, as that was maybe a minute ago at most.

The boy must be a psychic, because almost immediately after thinking that question, the boy spoke to the supposedly empty house, though, obviously, he was talking to me, if I was still there (which I was.)

"Miss, er, Dragon?" He began hesitantly. "I doubt your still here, but just in case you are, thanks. For, you know, everything." I wondered vaguely what he meant by everything, obviously it wasn't just killing Grellod... Maybe it was the fact that I let him keep whatever he was going to give me as payment or maybe it was my warnings. Maybe it was the fact that I cared, at least enough to give him those small warnings. Perhaps all three, perhaps something else entirely. I don't know and I don't think I'll ever know, but I did feel compelled to do one thing before I left.

I made my voice move in such a way that it could have been comming from anywhere in the house but it was quiet enough that he could have imagined it- It was a much smaller, more controlled version of one of my Thu' um's.

"Your welcome." The child whirled around, and for a moment, I almost wondered if he saw, me, but that fear was in vain, as he immediately searched the two rooms next to me with his eyes before calmly walking down the staircase and doing the same to those two, before, I think, concluding that he wouldn't find me. I quietly left the house through one of the second story windows, closing it behind so that no one would have known that I had been through there.

All of that had happened about four days ago. I had left Windhelm, having really nothing to do there and then deciding to go to Whiterun, where I had a house of my own.

As soon as I arrived at the city, about half of a day later, I was stopped by a courier. He handed me a message and left just as quickly as he had appeared. When I opened it, all that was there was a black hand print (my stupid paranoid mind suplied me with the info that my so-many-greats grandmother's journals had talked about "The Black Hand" in the Dark Brotherhood, and, hmm, could there be a connection?) and below it were the words, "We Know"

That was it. No death threat's, I haven't been murdered yet, nothing!

Of course, however, it made me paranoid. I felt constantly like I was being watched, always looking over my shoulder, keeping my back to walls, assossiating only with people I had known before. I almost asked Lydia to stay up and watch me while I slept, I was so paranoid. Instead, I just ended up sleeping in my bed in Jorrvaskr. I still didn't feel one hundred percent safe even there, in a room with four other companions, at least two of whom were werewolves (though I am not one, I know about them from that quest with Farkas), it was better than nothing, and I wasn't bothered at all on the first three nights.

The thrid night, however, was a different story. You know how sometimes, when your really tired and injured, you stop thinking clearly and you just don't care and you do something that would have been dangerous under normal circumstances, and is even worse now? Well, that's kind of what happened.

You see, I had been sent out on a quest for the companions. It was supposed to be very easy, trolls, maybe, and some bandits, nothing more. However, what was not taken into account was the fact that the "few" bandits that were seen were actually a very large hunting party of a huge bandit clan. It also wasn't taken into account that the place that they went into to stay for a while was ancient nordic ruins, and while that shouldn't have been a problem as they would have cleared them out while they were going deeper into it, it turns out that the most important chamber, which was huge and had an epic amount of gold and treasure in it for them to plunder, connected directly to the first chamber that you walk into. Here's the problem- It only opens from that side, but you know what? They have someone, someone who'seven better than me at sneaking, and they sent this person all the way through past fifty or so draugrs and he opened the passage for them from that side, and then they closed it behind them, so that no one could follow them.

Do you know what that means? It meants that I had to go through all of the freaking draugrs to get to them, and while I did sneak past some, for the most part, it was almost impossible to sneak past a good deal of them, I have no idea how the person they sent through did it.

So, after fighting my way through, oh, I'd say maybe thirty or so draugr, I finally made it to that stupid antechamber where all of the bandits were. I mentioned above that this was supposed to be a small bandit clan, right? And I also said that, apparently, the people who saw them only saw a large hunting party, rather than the whole band.

So, I was expecting fifteen, maybe twenty bandits. There were about fourty in that room. I ended up climbing up into a niche near the ceiling, using an invisibility potion (yeah, I use a lot of those, I admit it, but they're just so useful!) and all of my stealth skill to not be detected. So, after giving it some thought as to how I'm supposed to take them all out, I finally decided on my favourite plan- Conjure something, in this case, a flame atronach, to distract and attack and take out as many as I can with a bow, while continually resummoning the flame atronach whenever it gets killed (which, with fourty bandits, happened fairly often.) I took out all of the people with bows and magic first, so that if nothing else there would be less people who could attack me if and when I was noticed.

Of course, I was somewhat suprised when an arrow flew at me suddenly, just barely missing my head. I looking if the direction that it had come from, but, try as I might, I could not see anyone from the crowd who was looking at me. Another arrow whizzed towards me, and I jerked my head to the right, just barely managing to not lose an eye or an ear.

That had definitely not come from the crowd. I aimed my gaze higher up towards the wall, but I still couldn't see anything for a moment, until a small movement caught my eye.

Another arrow was comming towards me, but this time I knew that I didn't have to move, as the shot hadn't been quite strong enough to reach me. I knew now, however, where I was being shot at from. It had come from a nich much like my own in the wall, and I'm pretty sure that the person was the one that they had gotten to sneak past all of the draugr when even I couldn't. And obviously that person must have been using an invisibility potion.

"Smart one, then, too bad I have to kill them." Were my exact thoughts. Then, I smirked as another arrow flew from the niche, hitting the wall above my hiding spot. They may have been better than me at sneaking, but I knew for certain that I was better with a bow than they were. I dipped to tip of the arrow into a potent poison, wanting to just kill the person before they realised that I knew where they were and moved or something.

I notched my arrow carefully, not letting it show that I noticed then and was going to aim at them, and I waited. The second I saw another arrow appear seemingly out of thin air, I immediately brought my bow up and shot, my aim flawless, if I do say so myself, not letting them have time to duck back into their alcove. The arrow "THP!"ed into seemingly nothing for a moment, until a body appeared, face sporting a shocked expression, as it would until it rotted away, as the woman's face had an arrow going straight through one eye, and she was already dead. The body, anticlimactically, fell quietly out of the alcove and onto the ground below.

I grinned in triumph and summoned the flame atronach once again, then, counting only fourteen left between my picking them off and my flame atronach, I decided to end this with a bang as I sheathed my bow and chose my two most powerful destructive spells, one ice and one electricity, and jumped into the fray.

That was a very stupid move. You see, from up above, I didn't realise that the men who were still alive though bandit, were probably mercenaries at one point and maybe still are, or something like that. They were a lot tougher than I had anticipated, and while I probably could have handled six or seven of them by myself, even with my flame atronach, fourteen is a lot, and I definitely didn't bring enough health and magick potions.

I didn't even bother to loot the bodies, I just limped harshly towards the door which I needed to open to leave, bleeding severely from several different places. My magick was mostly gone, and one of the men had had a poison or something on their blade that prevented my magick from regenerating, and I didn't know how long it would last. I had to use my actually body weight, rather than just my arms, to pull on the lever, and even that almost resulted in me falling over.

I was in trouble, big time, and I knew it too. I couldn't stay down here because I would definitely bleed to death in my sleep if my magick did come back quickly enough, that is, if the remaining few draugrs down here didn't kill me first. Outside, sure, there was a higher chance that I would run into some creature that could kill me. Hell, a plain old wolf could probably do me in easily at this point in time, but being outside was the only chance I would have at someone finding me before I bled out. I basically had to crawl up the stairs on my hands and knees, and it was alarmingly difficult to stand back up afterwards. Each step got harder and harder, but after a lot of struggling, I made it to the door leading outside. I was so glad that this wasn't one of the nordic ruins where the entrance to the ruin was down in a hole and you had to climb stairs to get to the top, I think I would have given up right there if it had been.

It knew that the closest road that was was directly in front of me, even if, at the time, it seemed miles away, and that my best bet was to get to that road or as close to it as I could.

I trudged and stumbled my way forwards for as long as I could, but eventually it just became too difficult and I fell to my knees. I sat there a moment, collecting myself and breathing heavily, specifically not looking back because I knew that, even though it felt like I had walked for miles, I would be no more than fifty yards away from it, and nowhere close to that road. I tried to use a healing spell, just to see if the poison had worn off even a little. No such luck.

I tried to get back up again and keep walking, truly I tried, and I did manage to do get back on my feet once, but I fell almost as soon as I did. I almost cried then, but I knew that it would do me no good. No matter how humiliating it was, whether or not anyone else saw it, I would actually have to crawl if I wanted to have even a chance of living to see tomorrow. And you know what? I may be a companion, but I'm also a theif and the arch-mage at the college of Winterhold. My pride and dignity may be important to me, but when they're pitted against my being alive in general, you know what, pride and dignity can suck it.

So, I crawled. I don't know how long or how far I crawled. I don't know if I even got more than ten feet from where I had been, I just remember almost blindly pushing my way through the grass, wondering if I was suddenly going to be pounced on my a sabre cat or something else stupid like that. I remember that my knees and arms gave out of me several times and I fell flat on my face, and every single time that happened I lost a little bit more of the already miniscule amount of hope I had left and every time I laid there just a little bit longer, contemplating giving up.

Then, for the last time, I fell, almost immediately after getting up from another fall. I didn't even try to get up, I just laid their. I'm pretty sure that my thought went something like this- "Screw it, if I'm gonna die, I'm gonna be laying down and relaxing, not fighting a pointless, losing battle. Nuh uh, not gonna happen. If death is gonna take me, then I'm at least gonna be relaxing when it shows up." Or something similar to that. I also remember that it was the kind of night that, had I not been almost dying, I probably would have laid down on the grass for a while and watched the stars, because the sky was clear and the stars were perfectly visible from here, and the breeze was slightly warm but not too warm. It would have been one of my favourite nights.

Except I was dying.

And that was all I remembered before I passed out.

That was... much longer than I had planned. The longest thing I've uploaded so far by a long shot. It was probably a pretty boring chapter, I mean, Astrid wasn't even in it. Regardless, she's gonna be in the next one, which, if I don't put it up later tonight (or should I say later this morning, since it's 1:23 AM?) then it should be up very shortly, I plan to get this one finished quickly. It was originally going to be a one shot, but then the part leading up to her meeting Astrid turned out to be so long, I just figured that I should cut it off there. This really won't be a long story, two or the chapters, four at the absolute most, I promise, and I hope to finish it before I go back to school. Sorry for any mistakes, I wrote some at four-thirty AM New years day and the rest I wrote just now, so it'll probably start out alright, get slightly worse, suddenly become really good, then slowly get worse until it's kind of on par with how it started out.

Now, I'm not gonna say for sure that, hey, I'm gonna upload another chapter, but I really think that there's a good chance that I can get the second part out before I go to bed, I already have some of it written, since I was actually gonna put the first part here, but then I figured, meh, it's already epic, lets just put it in the next one, it'll seem more together that way anyway.