Brynjolf looked on idly as Delvin over-enthusiastically listened as little Runa and Hroar recalled one of their latest adventures to the pair of them. He loved the little monsters, thought he would never admit it, and was interested in their story, but he had a job waiting for their adopted mother that was all but made for her.

"And the hare was this big!"

"That big?! Did you use your slingshot, or the bow and arrow that we got you?"

"My slingshot. Ma says I'm not allowed to use the bow and arrow you got me, even if it's just a toy. Say, do you think you can give me a real one soon?"

Delvin chuckled. "Maybe soon, but we have to do it on your Mum's time. I've been on the other end of her wrath before, I'm never doing it again."

"Uncle Bryn doesn't seem to mind!" Hroar pointed out.

Delvin opened his mouth to respond, then thought better of it and grinned.

"Oi! Don't bring me into this!" Brynjolf teased. After a moment, he grinned and leaned forward. "Speaking of that bow and arrow why don't you get it for me and I'll fix it up for you so you can try getting birds now,"

Hroar beamed before hurrying down the flight of stairs to his and Runa's room.

"She's gonna kill you this time, you know that?" Delvin asked.

Brynjolf shrugged. "Ro's barely ever in these parts these days. Off travelling to new lands, I'm surprised those two even still call her 'Ma', since they have us and the other housecarls watching them more than 'er."

"She was retired from most of that business," Delvin pointed out, leaning forward so they could have the hushed conversation without worrying the kids. "It's not her fault the requests for her help piled up. I mean-"

Both jumped when there was a rather loud slam from the foyer, and a moment later, a stranger turned the corner with something distinctly human hoisted over one shoulder. He was wearing some sort of armor neither had seen, made from some unfortunate animals' chitin, by the looks of it, and he just stood by, watching them silently for a moment before the thieves hurried to action.

Delvin put himself between the stranger's path and the staircase, barking at Runa and Hroar to stay put, and Brynjolf drew his sword. The latter was about to make a threat until he realized he knew the person the man was holding. Pale skin, long black hair that twisted in the back, all wrapped up in ebony mail. "He's got Ro," he reported before glancing at the stranger. "If you're looking for a ransom on the Dragonborn, I think you'll find that her allies will gladly kill you before you have the chance to get it,"

"I'm not here for ransom, I'm here because she called this place home and clearly she's not in any shape to be bringing herself, so if you would lower your weapon," the man began.

"Put her down," Brynjolf snarled.

"Your friend would have to let me through to do that. Now who are you?" the stranger demanded.

"I could ask you the same," Brynjolf challenged.

"Teldryn Sero, at your service- or Rowena's, anyway."

Brynjolf's eyes flicked to the unconscious woman at the mention of her name. "What did you do to her?"

"I did nothing except drag her half dead body onto a boat and back here, you ingrate! Now I asked you a question. According to her notes this is her home and she didn't speak of a husband."

"We're friends,"

"Good. So am I. Can I put the lady down now?"

"Uncle Bryn! What's going on?" Runa called from downstairs.

Brynjolf flinched. Of course the girl would give herself and Hroar away. "Nothing, Runa! Stay down there!"

"But-"

"Runa!" Brynjolf barked, and that effectively silenced her. Brynjolf looked back at Teldryn, and to his surprise, he was still waiting to be directed over. "Give her to me,"

"I told you my name, you tell me yours before we continue."

Brynjolf studied him, but sighed. He had a point. "That's Delvin, I'm Brynjolf-"

"And your relation to Rowena-"

"Family," Delvin interrupted. "Now give us our girl."

They could both tell the man was sizing them up under the mask.

Teldryn finally spoke up again. "That's… Thieves Guild armor, isn't it? Forgive me if I don't trust you-"

Delvin snorted. "Then if you're really her friend you're putting your trust in the wrong people. She runs the bloody operation. Now hand her over," he repeated. "We don't do well when strangers have one of our own."

Teldryn hesitated, then nodded and eased the Dragonborn off her shoulder and passed her over to Brynjolf, who carried her to her room and laid her on the bed. He looked her over, pushing the hair from her face. "She's running a fever. Delvin, get Vekel. He'll have some supplies."

"On it," Delvin replied before leaving.

Brynjolf glanced over at Teldryn. "Any chance you'll take the helmet off, Friend?"

"Not one. So, are all Skyrim people this welcoming?"

"Only when our land's hero who happens to be a close friend looks dead and is carried in by a sketchy stranger," Brynjolf shot back. "Now, what happened? Be quick, and be honest. We're not ones for lies- and nor are two twins who have taken a shining to her and would gladly rip a man's head off for messing with her."

"Ah. Those two must be Farkas and Vilkas. She mentioned them. Mentioned the Guild, too."

"Then why the fuss of not giving her back?"

"Because she pays well and I wanted to make sure we talked things out before a fight may have happened and she might've gotten hurt."

Brynjolf rolled his eyes.

And then from downstairs came two calls of "Uncle Bryn!" again, and he went over to close the wooden hatch door that Delvin had suggested installing after a new thief attempted to break in and got in the basement- where Rowena kept most of her valuables at the time.

"I'm not one to harm children," Teldryn pointed out.

"I'm not taking chances."

The pair glared each other down before a weak moan came from the bed. "Stop… stop… fight'n,"

Brynjolf sent Teldryn a warning look before closing the distance between him and her and taking her hand. "What was that, Lass?"

"I… no fighting," Rowena repeated, squeezing her eyes shut as if just thinking about moving hurt. Knowing how determined she got with her missions, it probably did.

Brynjolf frowned and watch the woman tremble as her body tried to fight whatever was going on ."Any ideas what this is from, Ro? Poison? Spell?"

She shook her head, then flinched and attempted to curl in on herself. "Are the kids…?"

"They're fine. They're in their room. I've got them."

Rowena nodded, then prodded his arm. "Trust Teldryn… he looks rough around the edges but he's okay."

Brynjolf's frown deepened. "Vekel's on his way. Can I… can I do anything?"

"Just… try not to start anything when I'm out… and killing makes for… bad things,"

Brynjolf leaned forward and tried not to make a face. She knew he wasn't one for killing, so where'd that come from? Of course he wasn't going to kill the person. Besides, she had found her start in the Dark Brotherhood before leaving after one too many innocents were slain, and then moved onto the Companions and then came to him. She had no qualms about killing before, and had been almost okay with going against them and killing people who gave them trouble, so why start caring now. "Lass?" He moved her hair again. "What happened?"

" 'Nother… Dragonborn," she curled in on herself again. "Hurt… alone,"

Brynjolf leaned forward. "Alone? Hold on. Did you just say another Dragonborn? How …?"

"Bryn, tired. Can we…?"

Brynjolf gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze in agreement, then nodded. "Try to hang in there, Ro," he replied. "Vekel's on his way to get you sorted out," he assured her, then smiled weakly when he noticed she was out cold already. He stood slowly, then looked at Teldryn, motioning at the chair. "Sit. Where did you find her?"

"She was out cold in Raven Rock. There was… trouble. I don't know all the details. There were books… books that some people say were living. I didn't see it, but… she just showed up out cold, came to long enough to tell me to come here," he replied. "Though I doubted she would lower herself to such standard surroundings if she's Dragonborn…"

"They aren't her usual. She has an estate near Falkreath. She came here to get away from that life for a time,"

"A lot of good that did her," Teldryn replied.

Brynjolf shot him a glare. "She put me in charge of this place when she left to… wherever she found you. I will throw you out if you disrespect the lass or our home."

"I'd like to see you try," Teldryn countered.

Brynjolf growled and stood up, only to glance over when Delvin and Vekel stepped inside, the latter with a satchel slung over his shoulder. He got up. "We don't know what's wrong. He found her," he reported, watching the bartender dig into his bag and take out three different potions and look from the woman and back for a moment before waving Brynjolf away.

"What-"

"Things may get ugly with any of this, Brynjolf. I'm your best, but… I've never seen her like this," Vekel replied, then finally seemed to noticed Teldryn in the corner. "And who's this?"

"A friend," Teldryn replied before Brynjolf could respond.

"Cryptic," Vekel blinked. "Where are the little ones?"

Brynjolf tapped the hatch a couple of times with the toe of his boot.

Vekel nodded after a moment. "Maybe it's best they stay there for a while. Delvin, last I asked, they like you better, so you might be preferred to explain."

Delvin nodded, then paused and nodded at Teldryn. "What're we doing with him?"

Brynjolf sighed. "He stays, but not here. The Bee and the Barb is the place for you now," he replied, glancing at Teldryn.

"How hospitable of you and your people," Teldryn deadpanned, then stood slowly. "If she gets worse, find someone to tell me, would you? It's best she has someone who cares as opposed to not doing a damn thing and pointing fingers about where her allegiances lie," he added before getting up and walking out.

After Vekel unstopped one of the vials, he nodded at the door. "Who was that?"

Brynjolf shrugged. "Still not entirely sure about that myself,"

"… Do we need Dirge?"

"Not yet, but… who knows if that'll change in the future."


Teldryn was quite pleased when, three days later, Brynjolf showed up at the Bee and Barb, looking tired, hesitant, and quite miffed. His satisfaction grew when the Nord approached him. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Troubles, Master Thief?"

Brynjolf shot him a glare. He inhaled sharply. "I'm sorry for my rudeness. Rowena's awake but not saying much, but she did send me to bring you back to Honeyside, where you're perfectly welcome,"

Teldryn smirked at how terribly rehearsed the apology was- not that the Nord was trying to sound sincere begin with. "I assume she told you to say all that?"

Brynjolf didn't respond.

"Well, I could, but there was a traveler looking for a companion and he paid well-"

Brynjolf reached over, grabbed him by the back of his armor and started dragging him towards the door. "I'd say the Dragonborn takes precedent, don't you?"

"Depends who's asking," Teldryn replied, and didn't let the other man notice how the next shake jarred him for a moment.

Then again, that was the cost of befriending a boss who just happened to be the Dragonborn and Gods only knew what else. This was going to get interesting. He couldn't wait to see where it went.