Sivaas
Chapter 4
Imitation Amnesty
a/n idk what im doing \_(ツ)_/
The bosmer thief walked towards the guild master. "Here, Mercer. This is the paper from Honningbrew Meadery. It's the same symbol as before." She handed him the paper.
Mercer arched an eyebrow at her attire. Estinan just shook her head and her pleading eyes told him not to ask. He took the paper and looked it over. He grumbled. "Well, good work. I'll have a look into it and give you a word when I find any leads. Now, I'm busy."
Estinan nodded and walked away. She rubbed her aching shoulder and sat down on her bed. She took the fine clothing off and folded it into drawer. She looked at the decent sized hole in her shoulder. It had stopped bleeding and healed a bit because of her beast blood. But, it still hurt. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Looks too old to be from today?" She felt the bed shift as Brynjolf sat down. "Do you need someone to dress it?" Estinan looked over at him and shook her head.
"No, thank you. It's okay. Bugging me particularly today." She rotated her arm. She stood to look through her drawer and pulled another fur tunic. "I'll be good in a few days; I heal pretty fast." She smiled and threw the tunic over her head. She pulled her long hair out of the shirt and ran her fingers through it. "Tunics are so much more comfortable." She fixed the tunic and found her pants.
"You could always wear the guild armor. It's way more protective." Brynjolf arched an eyebrows as he watched her.
"But, then I look suspicious. I can't exactly go around town with all these bandoliers and expect people to leave me alone. But, now," She sat back down on the bed and put her boots on, "if I look like a commoner, or a hunter, they don't expect a thing."
"Smart, Lass. Are you sure you don't want me to look at that wound? It looked pretty good, but it never hurts to get it dressed properly."
Estinan shook her head. "Are you also a great healer?" She laughed. "No, trust me. It's good. Thank you, Bryn. Now, if you'll let me, I'm going to talk to the others for extra jobs." Estinan stood and straightened her tunic. "If I feel like I need it later, maybe I'll visit you."
"This is a one time offer, lass." He chuckled.
"Even if I come back more wounded, would you leave me to die from an infected wound?" She placed the back of her hand on her forehead. "You would let a fair maiden perish?"
"If that happens, certainly I would help a lass out. Now go get that gold, lass." He nudged her butt with his foot.
Estinan frowned and then laughed. She rubbed her butt as she walked to the Ragged Flagon. She walked over to Delvin's table and sat down. She yelled out a drink order to Vekel. "So, a little birdie said you may have a special job for me?" She leaned on her propped up hand and smirked at the bald breton.
He shook his head with a chuckle. "After your good job with Honningbrew, word's gone 'round Whiterun. An old friend from a pretty high place contacted me." Delvin leaned closer to her.
Estinan took a large gulp of a rather strong beverage and then leaned closer. "That sounds pretty important."
Delvin nodded. "Absolutely. Olfrid Battle-Born needs someone with a delicate touch, and I suggested you. So, make your way to him in Whiterun. Don't go mucking it up either. I don't want to look like a fool. Nor do I want you to let me down. Finish your drink and go."
"I wouldn't drink that too fast, Esti. I made it extra strong." Vekel chuckled as he cleaned another mug.
Estinan smiled. "You think because I'ma small wood elf I can't hold my liquor." She shook head and laughed. "I'll have you know…" She paused. "Okay, maybe it is a little strong." She laughed.
"Will you be okay to get to Whiterun?" Delvin clapped her shoulder.
"Well, if I walk, sure! But, a carriage wouldn't be too much faster." Estinan finished the drink and tossed the empty flagon towards Vekel. "I shall return home my fair family." She gave a two-finger salute and went back into the Cistern. She stumbled a bit and almost landed in the water. "Oh, dearie me."
"You okay, lass? I leave you alone for 5 minutes and you are drunk?" Brynjolf grabbed her arm before she fell into the water.
"Vekel made that drink waaayyy too strong." Estinan laughed. "Let me sit." She sat once Brynjolf let go of her arm. She took her shoes off and rolled up her pant legs. She stuck her feet in the water. Brynjolf sat down next to her. "Let me rest for 5 minutes. He's never made it that strong for me before. I need to make it to Whiterun too. It takes half a day to get there if I keep my pace up. But, I planned on taking a carriage." She leaned on Brynjolf. "Sorry, Bryn." She laughed. "Tell Vekel he's fired." Esti held onto Bryn's shoulder and then lifted herself up. She wobbled a little and inhaled. "Alright, I think I can go now. Thank you, Bryn." She knelt over to get her boots and walked to the secret entrance with them in hand.
Once outside, she let out a curse. Her skin rippled with the need to change. She shook her head. "What in Oblivion did Vekel put in that?" She leaned over on the fence and gripped it. She nearly caused the fence to bend by her strength. She shuddered and then turned around to lean on the fence. Estinan slipped the boots on and tied them off. She needed to get out of the city and fast.
"You sure you are okay, lass? You can rest and then leave? Your job in Whiterun can wait a few more hours." Estinan jumped when Bryn placed a hand on her shoulder. Her eyes glinted gold as she turned to him. "Maybe you should rest more?" Brynjolf forced her to lean against the fence against.
"Yes, sorry." The wood elf rubbed at her crawling skin. Damned nord had to come to her. She was already inebriated. She didn't need to lose control of her beast blood along with her emotions. She shook her head at her thoughts. "I think I will get some water on the way out and then I will be okay. Thank you for worrying about poor little ol' me Bryn." She smiled and placed a hand on his face, dragging her thumb across his stubble.
"Where would we be without our newest recruit? Going out there doing big jobs while there rest of us lot sit here with thumbs up our arses." He chuckled. "Promise me you will be safe?"
Estinan wagged her finger. "I can make no such promises of being safe and unharmed. I can promise to return to here." She patted his cheek. "You are distracting me from a very important job now, Bryn."
Brynjolf chuckled. "Yes, lass. All eyes are on you."
Estinan shook her head and walked in the alley towards the main gate. Once ample space was put between her and civilization she took her clothing off and placed it in her bag before the transformation took place. She shook her orange fur and clumsily grabbed her bag. She managed to throw it over her shoulder before running off through the forests towards Whiterun.
That stupid nord and his stupid pretty face. And his stupid accent.
The same thoughts that intruded her mind also fueled her beast blood. By the divines, she has never had such a reaction to a person in her life. She shook her head when she came to a halt. She panted and then shook the rest of her body. She still had a long ways to go. But at least she managed to get out before losing all control. She felt the itch subside and her transformation reverse. She rubbed her hands together to fight of the now chilly air. Estinan threw on her clothing and wrapped a cloak around her body as well.
The sun slowly rose over the horizon as she made it towards Whiterun. She spotted the familiar meadery, now a new Black-Briar Meadery. She popped in to say hello to Mallus before continuing on her way. A familiar scent hit her nostrils once inside the gates of Whiterun. An old pack member. A certain young nord she had trained. But, they would need to wait until after she met with this Battle-Born. Job first; mingling second.
It wasn't hard to find Olfrid. She approached the battle hard battle ready Battle-born. He looked down on her, and not because of her stature. "Delvin sent me." His face lit up. His complete demeanor changed at the revelation she was with the Thieves guild.
Olfrid clasped his hands and then walked around towards the Gildergleam tree. "You're here! And not a moment too soon. If anything should happen to Arn, there'll be hell to pay." He looked back at her to see her reaction: an arched eyebrow and slight confusion. He stopped and leaned close, whispering in her ear. "Arn is a close friend of mine. We fought together on the battlefield for many years until old age got the better of us." He cleared his throat. "Now it's up to me to save him one more time... this time from the executioner's block. That is where you will come in." He put a hand on her shoulder. "He is in jail right now for drunken behavior. But the guard in Whiterun aren't aware of who he is yet." Estinan nodded. "No prison breaks. I need to get rid of Arn's name from the books and give him a new identity. Also, I believe the Jarl has a letter from Solitude warning the guard about Arn. I need to destroy that letter and give Arn a new identity."
"Sounds pretty easy." Estinan backed away and looked at Dragonsreach.
Olfrid shook his head and chuckled. "If it were easy, I would've hired a local thug. And if you get caught…"
Estinan laughed. "If I get caught… I don't know you. Don't worry. Before you know it, you won't even know who Arn is. Now," Estinan turned away facing another building, "if you will excuse me. I will need to plan on how I get in there." Olfrid nodded and walked back towards his home. Estinan walked up the flight of stairs to Jorrvaskr. She could smell wolf all over the building. She smelled it the last time she came here. Of course she could smell her pack member intertwined with these other wolves. Estinan walked to the back. A large nord stopped his training session and looked at her.
"Are you looking to join the Companions?" He excused the two with him and approached Estinan.
Esti shook her head. "I had no idea about the Companion's secret." She looked over the nord. "I am actually looking for Sifkni." The wood elf looked around. "I smell her all over this place." She looked into the man's silver eyes. "All over you…" Estinan smirked when he widened his eyes, slight pink tint appearing on his cheek as he looked away.
"There you are Farkas. You oaf! You promised to not train until that wound was closed."
"So, oafs?" Estinan arched an eyebrow and turned to look at a below average height female nord approach them. Her long auburn hair plaited over shoulder. Her blue eyes widened in surprise. Estinan wrapped her arms around the now crying nord. "Oh, Sif. I am so glad to see you doing so well." She rubbed the young nord's back. "Hush. We have met again."
Sifkni nodded and held the wood elf close. "I thought I caught a whiff of you recently but with the Silver Hand and the pack…" She leaned back. "I honestly thought I was going mad."
Estinan ruffled the nord's long hair. "I was on business and didn't have time to visit, sorry. But…" She looked at Sif and then the other nord named Farkas, "Who is this?" She raised her eyebrow with a smirk plastered on her face.
Sif wiped the remaining tears off her face. "This is Farkas. He is one of the members of the Circle. He is also teaching me how to fight with a sword." Sif looked around. "I don't know how much time you can spare but, I'd like you to meet Aela at the very least. She and Farkas have helped me out the most. Knowing you are alive…" Sif sniffed. "I know how much Thonro meant to you and I know papa meant a lot to you as well." Sif laughed as more tears fell from her eyes. "I'm honestly done with this crying. It's been almost a month, but it's hard."
"It's alright, Sif. It was a rough time. Those Silver Hand are bad people." Farkas put a hand on her shoulder. "Why don't we sit down?" He guided them to a table. He sat down next to Sif.
Sif took a deep breath. She accepted a handkerchief from Farkas. "He has put up with me so much. I'm ever grateful Farkas." A shuddered sigh left her lips. "Aela is on a hunt but promised to be back tonight. So, if you are still in the city please come by later this night. I think you'd like her. I'll even get some Firebrand Wine for you."
"Because the hunting?" Estinan leaned back in the chair.
"More than that. You'll understand when you meet her. But, if you need to leave, I don't mind. You can come back here. Just ask for me or Farkas now that you've met him. I'll probably be out here though. Making sure this man doesn't reopen his wound." Sif kicked his greaves. Farkas frowned and groaned.
Estinan chuckled. "I have to stop and say hi to the Jarl for my job, I'm glad to see you are feeling good. Try not to let her kill you, Farkas." She winked.
"Too late to be honest. Ow." Farkas narrowed his eyes at Sifkni, who feigned innocence.
"Oh? Was the wound your fault?" Estinan smiled.
Sifkni shook her head. "It was mainly the Silver Hand. But, it was my trial and I mucked it up. And after Skjor told me not to get you killed."
"It wasn't that big. Besides, Kodlak is allowing you to redo the trial, even though he already says you can join the Circle." Farkas rotated his arm to show it was okay. "You should accept his offer."
Sifkni pouted. "No. I want to do this properly."
"How did we know the Silver Hand were waiting for us?" Farkas crossed his arms. "Accept the offer into the Circle."
"She's hard-headed. She's not going to do it the easy way." Estinan stood up. "I wouldn't have you any other way though. Let me go finish my job. I'll stop by here later on. My job shouldn't take too long." She walked away.
Sifkni stood and followed after her. "What is your job?" Sifkni turned and looked back at Farkas, "you stay put." He groaned and sat back down.
Estinan threw her arm around Sif's shoulders. They walked down the stairs of Jorrvaskr. "I'll let you know. I'm part of the Thieves Guild." She winked.
Sif grimaced. "I can imagine it though." She frowned and shrugged. "You are doing okay though? They're taking care of you?"
Estinan rubbed the nord's cheek. "Of course, you know I wouldn't stay if they were mistreating me. The assistant guild master has been taking care of me. Honestly, that man will be the death of me. But, please. Tell me. You and Farkas?" She raised her eyebrows and smirked.
The young nord flushed. "That… I just. I'm waiting a while. I know Thonro would want me to move on. But, I just can't forget him, not…"
"No, it's okay. Be happy for him. And for yourself. Skyrim is a harsh land. You know that. You are strong enough. I knew you were since we first met. I know you can handle it. Well, this is my stop." Estinan stopped in front of the doors to Dragonsreach. "I will be back to celebrate a successful job. If you don't have any Firebrand wine when I get back, I'll tell Farkas about that time you cried after accidentally killing a mother doe. And how you tried to be a vegetarian for a week."
Sif flushed bright red. "You wouldn't dare!?" Sif laughed. "You would. I'll be sure to have that wine for you then. Don't get into trouble you hear? I know the Jarl, so I could probably get you out. But… don't make me abuse my powers like that."
"You are too good. How are you a werewolf?" Estinan winked. "Save a spot for me. And it looks like Farkas is disobeying your orders." She pointed to the back of Jorrvaskr. Sif groaned loudly and stormed off.
Estinan walked into Dragonsreach and looked around. It looked like they were busy running around. Something about dragons. At least the chaos would mask her identity. The guards were equally distracted. She walked up the stairs and looked around briefly before heading to a set of double doors. No guards still. She opened the door to her right. She cursed silently as there was someone asleep in the bed. She noticed an open book, a ledger of some sort, before she turned. Maybe that was her prison book? She snuck in and closed to door so there would be no other peering eyes.
She looked over the book. It was the prison book. She flipped through and found Arn's name. She scratched out his name and wrote a new one underneath. Toveling Rich-Tamer. She shrugged. It'd pass. She went back out the door. No guards still. This dragon business must be something. She walked up the stairs. The Jarl's quarters had to be up here. She did catch a whiff of the Jarl himself as he walked around the kitchen area. This area smelled strongly of him. She almost regretted not changing her clothing. If she had on common clothing, maybe she could pretend to be a new cleaning lady. She shook her head. She found a room with a desk. She closed the door behind her and walked over to the desk. A couple books and a map of Skyrim laid on top. A couple letters. She opened a few and closed the ones that weren't the one she was looking for. She frowned. "Ah-ha." She picked one up and saw Arn's name written on it.
Estinan turned to the door. She heard footsteps coming towards the door. She cursed silently. She looked around the room. There was a panel covered window. She knelt down and unlatched the panel. She dropped from the window onto the roof, no time to close the window.
"I don't remember opening that." She overheard the Jarl.
"Perhaps it was one of the kids playing on the roof again." She heard a female respond to him.
Estinan looked around the roof. She needed to find a way down. There was water below, but she knew it wasn't deep enough to safely catch her jump. She found a way to a lower level and dropped to it. There was ground below her and some trees. There was also the wall of Whiterun that was pressed up against the back of Dragonsreach. The wall seemed the safest. It was out of sight. She climbed over to the wall and jumped to it and climbed down. Now back to the Battle-born.
Estinan used her nose to find him. He was at his house, no surprise there. She knocked on the door. "I'm here to see Ofrid." She waited outside as the woman retrieved the man.
"You're back. Did you get the things on Arn?"
"Who's Arn?" Estinan tilted her head. She handed him the letter.
"For your troubles." He handed her an enchanted ring. "Tell Delvin that he has my support and all the weight it carries in Whiterun. I'll think he'll be pleased."
"Thank you. I'll let him know." Estinan nodded and left the house. She looked at the ring and started walking back to Jorrvaskr. Hopefully, Sif had that wine she promised. She walked to the back of Jorrvaskr. She spotted Farkas sitting down next to a red haired nord woman. Another wolf.
"Ah. Estinan. Sif just went to get your wine. She should be back soon." Farkas called her over. "This is Aela. She's the one Sif wanted you to meet."
Aela turned and looked over the wood elf. "I thought I smelled a strange wolf in the city. You are the one Sif's talked about a lot. That taught her how to hunt."
"I only improved what she knew."
"Ha. I like her. Why don't join the Companions as well?" Aela grabbed the wood elf by the arm and forced her to sit in the empty chair between them. "The more the merrier."
Estinan laughed. "I'm kinda a one guild gal. But if I ever leave my current guild, I'll think about the Companions. But, only because Sifkni is here, never the amount of endless alcohol you all have stored in here. Or the fact there are others like me."
"Does your current guild know about you?" Farkas arched an eyebrow. He leaned back in his chair, lifting the front feet off the ground. "Sif. You better have that Firebrand Wine."
"Oh. Is Estinan back?" Sif rounded the corner. "Lucky for you, I got 3 bottles of the finest Firebrand Wine. Also, a sweet roll for you, Farkas." Sif placed the bottles in front of Esti and handed the sweet roll to Farkas. "I swear if I heard another guard ask about the sweet rolls again…"
Farkas set his chair back on solid ground and started munching away on the sweet roll. "My savior."
Aela rolled her eyes. "Ever since he was injured, he's been begging for sweet rolls from Sifkni and because she's such a goody…"
"Oh. I know." Estinan popped the cork off and took a long gulp of the wine. "Ah… That was good… Sif has always been a goody. I can tell you all the juicy stories of her as a teenager. I also heard some stories from Fjolfr of her childhood."
Sif reddened. "Esti. You promised me. That's why I got you 3 bottles."
Aela laughed. "Oh, do tell. I'd love to hear anything about this kid."
"Tell us a story." Farkas grinned.
"My friends have betrayed me." Sif sat down and sighed.
Estinan yawned as she woke up the next morning. She must've fallen asleep outside. She stretched and walked around the backside of Jorrvaskr. She looked around. Sif was pressed up against Farkas and Aela was pressed upto Sif. They must've gotten drunk enough to wipe out a mammoth if it quieted their beast blood. Estinan scrawled a note and left it on the table near the trio. She yawned again and made her way back to Riften.
Oh, how she wanted to rest as soon as she got back to the cistern. Before she had the chance to talk to Delvin, Mercer was yelling at her to come to him.
"The parchment you recovered mentions a 'Gajul-Lei'. According to my sources, that's an old alias used by one of our contacts. His real name is Gulum-Ei. Slimy bastard." Mercer paused to look at her. "Gulum-Ei is our inside man at the East Empire Company in Solitude. I'm betting he acted as a go-between for the sale of Goldenglow Estate and that he can finger our buyer." He wrote something down on a piece of scrap paper and handed to to Estinan. "Get out there, shake him down and see what you come up with. Talk to Brynjolf before you leave if you have any questions." He waved her away.
Estinan shook her head. By the Divines, she was tired. And her head hurt. Too much drinking any one day. She rubbed her head. Her eyes watered as she yawned for the umpteenth time. She groaned and walked to the Ragged Flagon.
Delvin grinned when he saw her. "Olfrid sent ahead his compliments. Looks like his friend Arn is soon to be released thanks to his brand new identity." He looked pleased.
Estinan smiled. "Who's Arn? Well, since you know I've completed the task, I will be going to bed. I haven't slept in awhile." She waved at him. She walked back to her bed and fell into it. It was time for a much needed rest. This Gulum-Ei could wait until tomorrow.
