Emperor Yamamoto gave me two secret orders that held the fate of the entire Akaviri empire: travel to the cold lands of Skyrim in search of the Elixir of the Nine Dragons and stop Maven Blackbriar from obtaining it in the process. Today my path has led me to attend a secret meeting with former member of the Dark Brotherhood, Lucienne Lachance. I will meet him at the Thieves Guild, while forming an alliance to aid in my quest.
As I enter Riften's gates I notice a Redguard girl causing quite a stir with the local guards. So I figure I've got time to kill till the meeting and want to see what the fuss is about. I approach and ask of her crimes for being arrested. With an angered voice they tell me, "This girl is wanted for stealing from our lady, Maven Blackbriar."
"Let her go. I'm sure she didn't mean to cause any harm," I ask sarcastically, but they decline and tell me she is to be executed for stealing, and I will be too if I don't leave them be.
"Ah, see that's where we have a problem. I can't allow you to kill this girl for stealing from your swine for a leader Maven. I'll take all of you on at once. Who wants to see the Night Mother first?" They all pause and laugh at me.
For a moment time stands still, as I draw my blade Kitetsu and all ten guards are slashed twenty times each. Then I say to the dead guards, "I'm sorry but I can't let you do that, so don't mind if I cut in."
I quickly grab her hand and tell her to hurry, as more guards show up and Maven Blackbriar tells them to close the gates. We run down an alleyway, dodging arrows along the way. I lift her onto the roof where we make our escape.
When she starts running towards the lake, I say, "Wait and be quiet. I see more guards are on the bridge above us."
"I can take damage," she protests, motioning to her heavy armor.
I watch her run five feet in front of me and pass out face down in the water with a poisoned arrow stuck in her back. While the guards try to recover her body I race over to it, dodging arrows and fire blasts, to grab her quickly and put her on my shoulder. I carry her to Goldenglow Estate. There seems to be no guards and it looks abandoned.
I notice her finally awaking three hours later, after I remove the arrow, clean and bandage her wound. "Glad to see your finally awake."
She turns invisible and tries to jump out the window.
"You dumbass, you're not gonna leave without taking your gear are you?" I ask, walking towards her. "You could at least tell me what your name is."
She stops in front of the window and replies, "My name is Azali and I'm going to forge more armor with a hidden stash."
I stand facing her and say, "Those weren't just your average Riften guards I slaughtered for you, you know; they were Maven Blackbriar's personal army. Which means you've stolen something important and I'm curious what."
"A flawless diamond from her house safe," she answers, not seeming to care if I know or not.
"Surely they'll send more guards after you and you're in no condition to fight. Let's just camp here for tonight and figure this out in the morning."
She tries to jump out the window anyway, and I laugh as she stumbles and falls.
"Look, I told you that you aren't in the best shape to fight right now," I say. "I want to take her down just as much as you do but your leg is paralyzed from the venom in your back; it needs to heal."
"I don't care about Maven. I can sell this jewel and get all the money I need."
"How can you sell the diamond if you can't even walk, much less enter a city, when you're currently the most wanted girl in Skyrim?"
"I know a fence in Markarth and I can turn invisible."
"Let me go with you first thing in the morning, since you can't move and could use protection."
"Why'd you save me anyway?" she asks curiously, ignoring my offer.
"I was on my way to meet with a former member of the Dark Brotherhood, when I noticed you fighting with Maven's army. I thought that you'd make a loyal ally against her," I admitted.
"I don't know what you're quarrel is with Maven, but I'm not interested in helping you exact any kind of revenge." she says while trying to move her leg. Her invisibility has finally timed out and she looks rather pale.
"Well you see, I have been at war with her ever since I trapped her husband inside the Soul Cairn. About five years ago, I was sent on a mission by my emperor to go to Skyrim and seek the means for immortality. Along that journey, Maven and I made an alliance, but then her family betrayed me and her husband absorbed one of the Nine Dragon Elixirs to become immortal. I trapped him in there and have been hunted ever since."
"Guess you'll have to let him out," she says. She still doesn't seem interested in helping me.
"Even if it was possible to free him she'd come after me. I know Maven; she is the kind of woman that never lets go of a grudge."
"Then I hope she forgets about what I did at least, but I can't say the same for you."
"Why did you steal a diamond from her?" I ask with a confused look.
"Does it matter? Aren't you trying to steal these dragon elixirs you keep talking about?"
I smile and laugh a little. "You have valid points. I like how your good at getting out of trouble."
"Well then, if you have nothing else interesting to say, I'll be finding another place to hide as soon as my leg starts moving."
"Hey, I wish you luck with that. They have guards patrolling outside the house and you couldn't handle five of them, much less an army."
"Really?" She grabs onto the window ledge so she can see for herself. "You're telling the truth. I would snipe a few with my bow before sneaking past, but I don't think I could shoot with this pain in my back."
After observing this, she slouches back down to the floor. "I'd be willing to make a deal if you're interested," she says.
"Oh, and what deal might that be?"
"If you have a health potion to give me, I'll help you defeat Maven."
"Ok, I accept. I honestly could use a partner."
"Then do you have one?"
I search my backpack. "You're just in luck. This is my last one." I give her the health potion as I help her sit up to drink it.
"It's getting late. Should we escape from here tomorrow?" she suggests.
"Yes, I think that would be best. If you like, I can stand guard while you rest?"
"Why not just barricade the door?"
"That's a good point." I proceed to place tables in front of the doors and then cast rune spells on the windows.
"Don't they know that we're hiding here?"
"I'm pretty sure they got an idea at least, but at the moment they're just patrolling the area."
"Alright."
"That should hold them now. Then what should we do about sleeping arrangements since we only have the master bed?"
"As long as you need my help to defeat Maven, I can trust that you won't try anything funny. We both need sleep if we're going to make it out of here alive."
"Yes, I agree. We need to work as a team to make it out of this in one piece. Let's get some rest."
Recovering movement in her leg, she stands up and goes to sleep on the bed. Noticing that she is still loopy from recovery, I help her into the bed and lay down next to her.