Capture

Just walk in there, get the information and walk out of there. It will be simple, she said. They won't suspect a thing, she said. You'd think that there wouldn't be twenty Thalmor mages on site during a party. Oh how mistaken I was.

I'm thrown into the cell, hands bound. Thalmor scum. My hands are locked against the wall in a position that means I can't use any spells.

"Just you wait until Rikke hears about this! You'll be chased out of Skyrim quicker than you can say sorry." The torturer then enters the room.

"You've done enough. Maybe you should just give up and tell us what we need to know. If you're lucky then we'll just throw you into the Troll pit with no weapons to end it quickly."

"I have no information for you, slime."

"I think you do." An evil smile lights his features. "We shall start with the location of the Blades."

"Tamriel. There you go."

"A little more specific?"

"Northern Tamriel."

"Getting closer." He pulls out a bow.

"Skyrim." He looks somewhat surprised. I shoot him a cynical smile.

"Maybe we should try something else to motivate you." He loads the bow with a single arrow. He fires it into my upper leg and I gasp in pain.

"Sithis will take your soul for this."

"Oh yes, I forgot about your history with the Dark Brotherhood. How is Astrid?" I blink hard to make sure that he never sees the tear that appears in my eye.

"You will have to answer to the Empire for this." The sparks spell appears in his hands, just for long enough for dread to spread through my mind. Then he sends the electricity through my bones. My tortured screams should be heard throughout the entire embassy. After the pain has finished, my head hangs low. He grabs my face, crushing it slightly. I glare into his eyes. It is the only thing I can do.

"Where are the Blades?"

"I don't know. They were waiting outside for me to leave the embassy. They will have guessed what's going on by now." That is true, apart from the word 'outside'. He senses the truth in this and cusses.

"How many Blades are out there?"

"Several." I spit in his face.

"What was that?"

"You heard me."

"Well why don't you just behave while I attach you to the racks. Maybe then you will be more willing to share some information with me." I feel something burning inside my throat. When I realize what it is a smile lights my face.

"YOL TOOR SHUL!" The mer is sent flying backwards in a terrifying demonstration of fire and blood. I utter the Dragons' word for 'unlock' and I fall free of the chains.

Rubbing my wrists, I walk out of the room, ignoring the mess behind me. I pick up my bow, arrows and twin daggers. After picking up the key belonging to the torturer I gather up all the information I found on the Blades and Ulfric Stormcloak, plus the small amount that had been written about me.

Unfortunately, I can't find my armour. Hopefully Nazir still has some armour left after the Sanctuary was burned to the ground. I sigh as I realize that the Thalmor will now try to kill me on sight. The main word being try. I leap into the Troll's den and shoot an arrow into its forehead. Then I blend into the shadows. Once hidden, I crawl behind it. Then I dig my daggers into its skull, killing it. I pull out my arrow and clip the daggers back to my belt. Using my natural stealthiness, I sneak out of the complex, leaving no footprints behind.

When I reach Solitude I head straight into Castle Dour. Rikke tackles me with a hug.

"You're back!" She cries with delight. My expression concerns her. "What happened to your clothes?"

"The Thalmor captured me and interrogated me."

"Why?"

"Someone planted this on me." I hand her my amulet of Talos. I actually have another one but for Rikke's sake I won't tell her. She looks utterly horrified.

"We have to tell the General!"

"I'd prefer it if you went without me. I have some things that need doing in Dawnstar." She nods and heads inside the castle. On my way out of the castle a hand grabs my shoulder.

"Hello there Niki."

"Sorex." I briefly acknowledge his presence.

"You can't honestly be thinking about going out there in that." He motions to my clothes. The roughspin tunic must offend him in some way.

"Actually I was just about to stop by at home for some spare armour." I snap at him.

"Have you thought about my marriage proposal?"

"Thought about it for two seconds, then I couldn't think about it any longer otherwise I would vomit."

"You can't run from settling down and making a family forever Niki. One day you're going to want to slow down. I'm ready for that day."

"Maybe I'm ready for that. Maybe I want to slow down. Just not with you."

"I'll be waiting." I sigh and enter my home, Proudspire Manor. I bought the place when I finally got enough money. I pull out my Thieves Guild armour and put it on. This will do until I get my Brotherhood armour back.

Throwing my hood up, I leave Solitude once more. I get the carriage in front of Katla's farm.