"Mr. Brynjolf said he would teach me a few things... when I'm older." My sixteen year old son, Samuel said. When I heard this, My eyes grew wide and my heart began to race, my palms sweaty and my emotions fuming. Samuel is all I have left of my family as of now. My husband, Vorstag had died when we went to Arkngthamz to discover more about this "aetherium". After we met Katria, the ground began to shake and he was swallowed by the earth. We later found his body, cold and lifeless by the resonators to the aetherium's location. After opening the door with the correct sequence and grabbing the aetherium, I grabbed his body, his Aegisbane that I had given him after killing Alain Dufont for Muiri, and hauled him up to Shadowmere. I took his body back to Windhelm, where my son stayed up with the housecarl, Calder. They were awaiting a safe return from our adventure. Yet, when Samuel opened the door, his face was full of agony and despair.
"Mama, is that-"
"Yes, Samuel. This is your father. He fell during an earthquake in the Dwarven ruins of Arkngthamz. I am so sorry... we.. we shouldn't have gone there. We were interested in finding a new type of ore and wanted to discover something together. Samuel, I am so sorry." I had tears in my eyes, he saw his adoptive father, lifeless on Shadowmere and there was nothing I could do because I was heartbroken as well. All I could do was hold him. "We have to take him to the priest. We'll have his funeral in two days, okay? You can visit him tomorrow in the Hall of the Dead, I have some people to notify about what happened, okay?" He looked at me, wiped his face and nodded. He stood up and kissed him on the head, as if to say good-bye forever. I looked at Calder, "Make sure he gets some sleep, please? I have to tell some people of the news..." He nodded and I left and took him to Helgrid, where I explained what happened. She handed me his wedding ring, offered her condolences, and went right to work. I had to leave for Riften as soon as possible.
I made it to Riften within a few hours and went straight to the Ragged Flagon where I knew Brynjolf would be waiting for me. I looked at him and tears came to my eyes. I dropped to my knees and wailed in agony. Everyone came rushing towards me. "Valinia, what happened? Are you okay?" Brynjolf picked me up and sat me over by the bar where Vekel handed me a mead. "I just lost Vorstag, everyone. He died on our delving into Arkngthamz during an earthquake..."
That was a terrible night. The funeral was full of people we had come across in our travels together before even being married. Samuel's friends came to see him from Honorhall Orphanage. Just because he was adopted, didn't mean his love was any less for his father. Samuel adored Vorstag's ability to wield a sword and finding happiness even in the toughest of times, like during the civil war where we fought against the Stormcloaks. Or assisting me in fighting Alduin and the return of the dragons. He loved his father, and that night made him who he is now. Four years later, sixteen years old and he's grown to be such a strapping young boy! His dark brown hair is longer, he's become tall and fit, his dark brown eyes now have a tint of amber in the middle. He's training to become a city guard.
I stopped adventuring after I discovered the Aetherium Forge with Katria after Vorstag's funeral. We moved to Riften so I could take jobs quick and easily. I am the Guildmaster, after all. Samuel doesn't know that I'm even affiliated with the Thieves Guild. It's been a hard secret to keep, everyone in the guild knows of him and Maven Black-Briar does as well. Brynjolf knows the most, when we take harder jobs, we talk about his growth and adjustments to everything. When I told everyone about my late husband's death, he insisted that we moved back to Honeyside here in Riften. So here I am, in Riften, sitting in my home while Sam visits Constance Michel and Runa Fair-Shield at Honorhall. Runa is working there now, but only when she's not working for me under the Dark Brotherhood. They both know I'm the Listener, but Samuel chose a livelier path than that of Runa's, but Runa's seemed more honest. The way they were treated by Grelod did each child different. It was more than depressing to hear of one as he took his own life at the age of fourteen. Samuel was so distraught and didn't speak to me or anyone for months. But today, when he came inside and told me that Brynjolf wants him to work for him, I became so enraged. I rushed down to the Flagon. There he sat at the bar Bastard! I thought and smacked him clear across his face. The smack was heard all around the Flagon. Everyone looked up, but they weren't surprised. It looks like they all knew about it...
"Well, lass, it's good to see you too. I-"
"I don't want your damn quips Brynjolf! Fuck! What in oblivion made you go over to my son and invite him to work with us!? You know I want what's best for him and working with the guard will give that to him. He doesn't even know I am the damned Guild Master!" My emotions were raging.
"Now, lass, you and I both know you need to tell him about you running things here. I'm surprised Maven is still keeping this secret for you. We need to train him for when he time comes for your retirement. He's next in line to own the master title. Adopted or not, he's your son." His face, stern. My face changed from anger to understanding.
"Well, why didn't you warn me first?" I slapped his arm a few times.
"Well, seeing as you're always busy with things here with the guild, Delvin and I decided to go to him first to see if he was even interested in working with us." I looked at Delvin, he was sitting at his normal table, and he continued, "An' he is. Truth be told, I'm a bit upset that we can't take 'im in sooner than eighteen." I sighed, looked at both men and looked down pressing the bridge of my nose. They're right, I know. They'll need another master ready whenever I decide to retire. I just didn't think it'd be here already... "Okay. I'll do it. But! He is not allowed to know I am the master until he's an official member. In two years, he has to steal from the Black-Briars. I'll set it up with Maven. It'll be nice and hard. But if he's anything like me, he can do it." I waved the men off and went to Mistveil Keep.
I opened the large doors to find Maven in her throne as Jarl of Riften. I walked up to her and spoke, "Jarl Maven, I request a private meeting. Is that possible at the moment?" Maven understood that this was a business call and not social hour. She looked at me and nodded. I am the Listener in the Dark Brotherhood and the master in the Thieves Guild. They are more in my command than they are hers anymore. We have respect for each other though, and have become quite good friends and allies over my years in the guilds. However, this was a business matter. We walked up to her chambers.
"Valinia, I trust this is of upmost importance with how you addressed me today." She questioned.
"Why of course, Maven. Why else would I come to you so formal? This is regarding the thieves guild. We'll more like Sam. The boys decided to ask him about joining the guild but told him to wait until he was 18. I wanted to give him a hard test. Not the normal test." I explained.
"Well, I don't see why this concerns me. You're their Guildmaster. Why come to me about this?" Maven was intrigued. She leaned back in her chair.
"Well, I wanted him to steal the Quill of Gemination and a fake recipe. There would be "mercenaries" acted most likely by Rune and Etienne. Maybe Vex too. you can choose and others you want in your house. He is allowed to incapacitate them, but not kill them. The items in question will be locked in a master lock safe and Etienne will have the key. He can try picking the lock or picking his pocket. He will be given three lock picks and will have to return through the ratways and find his way to the Flagon. What do you think?" I looked at her, searching for any signs of disapproval.
"Well, Valinia." She said, "It seems that you've thought this through. I assume he's still not to know about your standing with the guild until he passes?"
"Yes, because if he somehow manages to fail. What's the reasoning in telling him unless he asks?" I responded.
"then I believe all things will be set in motion in two years time. Please allow him time to train not only with the guard, but with adventuring as well. He'll have to do a bit of adventuring to become experienced in picking both locks and pockets." She had a stern look on her face, "I trust you will allow this?" She said.
"Of course! I'll even take him to some of the places to raid bandits and hone those skills." I chuckled, and began to fondle my wedding ring. "How else did I become so advanced so quickly?" I looked up and noticed a softer look on Maven's normally stoic face. I stood, "Well, I must be on my way to explain to my son why I reacted the way I did."
"Mhm, good luck. We'll keep in touch with progress." Maven stood and we walked down to the throne room. We bid our farewells and I left for the market to bring food home for dinner.
When I walked into the house, Samuel was pacing back and forth in the living area. "Mother, why did you act so angry when I said something about Brynjolf? I know he's a thief, but I was quite interested in how they work. I know, you don't find that kind of work right and honest, but I want to go on adventures, feel the crisp air, visit other holds and their townsfolk." He looked at me with fire in his eyes. "But it's like you got angry at something else besides what I told you. What is it?"
I sighed, I knew I was going to have to lie. But I didn't know what to say, or how to even answer that question. "Samuel... it's not that I was angry about you being approached by Brynjolf. I just believe that being a thief isn't for a nice honest young man like you. That's why you were going to become a guard, remember?" I turned to the counter and began cutting potatoes. Samuel walked up and began salting and cutting the meat.
"I'm aware, and I thought about that too. I want to be an adventurer. I want to go out and delve into ruins and bandit hideouts. I want to do those amazing things you and Papa used to do when I was younger!" I quickly stopped cutting the potatoes and looked at him, fear radiated throughout my body. "It's boring staying in Riften all the time. I mean it's more exciting than Dawnstar, but I'd like to go out and enjoy the open world. Which is why I am considering it. I'll try both out. If I like the guard, I'll stop thieving and vice versa."
"I just don't want you to get hurt..." I could feel the tears coming into my eyes, but I held them back. "But, if that's what you want to do, I can't stop you from making your own life." I began to place everything in the cooking spit and a thought occurred to me. "How's about we going adventuring tomorrow and raid some bandits?" He turned and looked at me beaming a smile from ear to ear.
"I'd quite enjoy that! Hunting bears is pretty boring now. Where should we be going?" So many questions, he reminds me of myself when I was his age. I thought to myself.
"Raldbthar. There's more than just bandits there too."
"Really!?" He was bursting at the seams with excitement.
"Oh yes, darling. There are riches beyond belief, Falmer, and the city Blackreach. The beautiful epitome of Dwarven architecture still in tact today. This will be a large challenge for you, we're going into a very dangerous place," I warned, "city guard armor and steel, won't do too well there. You're going to need adventuring equipment. You've seen Mjoll around town haven't you? Ask her about what to gear up into." He quickly ran to the door, "Oh and Samuel? You'll need empty pockets." I smiled as he ran out the door. I walked over to my armor mannequin and grabbed my Nightingale armor. I looked over to see Vorstag's scaled armor. I ran my hands around it. I miss you, Darling. Quickly, I set out to find Brynjolf, surely he would have time to talk.
A/N: Okay guys! So, please tell me what you think of this! I know this is a different story than my normal fairy tail and atla fics. But The first line in this story is what I heard one day while I was in Riften playing Skyrim. I wanted to kind of play with what could happen if that actually came true! Please R&R! Thanks so much!