Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Okay, this is the inroduction to my first multi-chapter fanfiction! I can tell you're excited from here. (Don't deny it.)
EDIT: Just added something after a second thought.
The sunlight streamed through my window as the sun rose on another morning, but I wasn't waking up. I was coming inside after a morning of fishing on the Waterfront, a bunch of slaughterfish and mudcrabs tucked in my bag. Not my finest catches, but one of the crabs had some decent meat on it. It's easiest early in the morning, which is why I was out before the shops were open. Except one, but I won't mention his name, not until we get to that part of the story.
I sat down at my small dining table and spread one of the fish out in front of me. Unsheathing my dagger, I ripped its stomach open in one fluid motion. Guts spilled out, but mixed with them were close to 12 septims. I wasn't just fishing this morning. Some travelers happened to arrive at the docks this morning, and I couldn't resist. You see, that's what I did before going back to the Waterfront. I lived at the Shrine of Nocturnal, where hobbies are pretty limited. I spent my time stealing petty things from Sheogorath's Shrine nearby, stealing from Castle Leyawiin (After I memorized the guard schedule, there's no one in the Great Hall from 1 to 4 in the morning.), or fishing. I never bothered to take more than I needed, and only ever once stole something for no reason.
The Skeleton Key suddenly felt heavy in my pocket. This was the reason I found the Thieves Guild. This is how I managed to live on the Waterfront with a full stomach. I had no need to do it, yet when I found some nightshade one morning while looking for the ever elusive Nirnroot. Its properties are quite interesting when combined with… ah well, never mind that. I brought it back with me, and Mor, the priest, said that I should offer it to the shrine and, all the while thinking it was a bad idea, went through with it.
So, sometimes my gut is wrong. I earned enough money to buy this shack on the Waterfront, but not enough to make myself well-known. It wasn't until Captain Avidius caught me sneaking around the barracks that the Thieves Guild was made aware of a freelance thief on their doorstep. Although I hadn't even stolen anything yet…all I did was look in the (open, I'm not a creeper) door to his office.
A knock on the door startled me and I covered the fish. I opened the door to see a familiar face. Hassiri, one of the brothers who run the Black Horse Courier, smiled his toothy Khajiit smile and waved slightly.
"What a nice surprise, normally only a courier comes by with news." I opened the door wider to let him in.
"Ah, I'm actually not here with news today. A package that was supposed to get to the Imperial Commerce was dropped off with us by mistake, and when I saw the recipient I decided to deliver it myself."
"So I suppose this repays your debt." I gave him some information on the Waterfront taxes a few weeks ago, and apparently he always makes sure he doesn't owe anyone anything. A habit, a mindset, a personality, whatever you want to call it, it's useful for someone like me.
"So it seems." And that part of the conversation was over.
I unwrapped the loosely bound package, not used to getting anything and not knowing what to expect, to find a lightweight blue silk garment. So it's either from my mom or my aunt. I lifted it up to see how the sleeves trailed to nearly touch the ground. Only Mom would buy this for me. She loved me dearly, and, unlike my extended family, she and Dad respected my decision to leave home. She always tried to dress me up in things like this, said I looked pretty and it matched my eyes. Grey, tired, ever-seeing, eyes; like anything could match them without looking too dull or too gaudy.
I smiled and narrowed my eyes a bit at the memory. "It should fetch a nice price." I couldn't bring myself to say it very loud.
"Margot," My name sounded strange in his Cathay-raht accent, he always accented the –got too much, "you're keeping it." I gave him a confused look and he continued. "It's beautiful, and you never know when you might need it."
"It's not the kind of thing I wear, really Hassiri."
"Someone thinks so." He pointed to the neat handwriting on the package. "Marguerite Louise daughter of the Count and Countess de Reynald of High Rock," He proclaimed in a false Breton tone, as if announcing it to the world, "not exactly the kind of thing normally delivered to the Waterfront. Family doesn't know where you live?"
"Of course not, and the title 'Count' means something different here. We don't rule a city, we own an estate." I corrected, and he thankfully didn't catch my avoiding the question.
"Well either way you're keeping it." He shoved it farther into my hands and looked at me expectantly, smiling.
"Alright, and here's this for delivering it." I placed the dress on my bed and picked up a few Septims. He patted my shoulder in thanks, grabbed a handful of grapes from the bowl on the table, and left.
I started to get back to work until I remembered that he was technically paying me. And people call me a thief...
A/N: So its short and nothing really happens, but I wanted you to get some idea of Margot's past and the general setting. More will happen later, I promise. Feedback is wonderful and reviews are honest cakes!