Goldenglow Estate

"J, you will accompany Asha to Goldenglow Estate", Mercer said nonchalantly, picking at something beneath his fingernail. I looked back at J and shivered. I'd already attempted mild conversation and that went up in flames before it even started. He was overly rude and I was convinced he'd kill me at any chance he got. He'd threatened me before I'd walked into the Ragged Flagon and I'm sure he would go through with those threats if I caused him trouble.

The Ragged Flagon seemed to be an underground bar or tavern of some sort and looked run down as anything. The chairs threatened to shatter when touched and the entire place smelled of skeever blood. It was pungent enough to make my hair stand on end. J pushed me forward and around the small pool of water in the middle; most likely the source that caused the musty smell that made the air feel heavy and thick. Candles were scattered around every surface and were the only source of light throughout the entire cavern.

"WHAT?" J's voice echoed through the Cistern, a large room that was hidden behind a dresser with a secret door. I flinched at the sound, slightly embarrassed by his outburst. He obviously wanted nothing to do with me.

"No arguments. Go and observe. That's an order", Mercer clarified. I stood by sheepishly as J threw his hands into the air and growled deep in his throat.

"I am not a babysitter", he spat back out.

"No, but you're one hell of an observer." And with that Mercer turned around and left the two of us alone. I stared at the stone floor and then shifted my eyes to J's. His face was hardened by years of hard work and turmoil. I could see it in his eyes. He looked at me and then shook his head; he radiated pure anger.

"I'm…sorry?" I managed to get out. He lifted his eyes to meet mine and turned away from me.

"We leave tomorrow at dawn", he answered in ta'agra.

"That's fine but-" He swung around and brought his face mere inches from mine. I could smell the mead on his breath, but I knew his mind wasn't close to being muddled by it.

"One wrong move and I'll kill you."

I believed him. He stormed out of the Cistern, leaving me inside alone and unsure of myself. I headed back into the Flagon and Brynjolf was waiting for me there. He waved me over to his table and gestured for me to sit down.

"Listen up, lass", he murmured, "Goldenglow is swarming with mercenaries and your job is to get in and out without being seen." I didn't say anything at first. The thought of having to go somewhere with J alone frightened me and Brynjolf read that in my eyes.

"J doesn't have to accompany me", I said, waiting patiently for Brynjolf's reply. He rubbed his face and smiled at me.

"Don't worry about him, lass. Just do the job and do it well. He's merely a fly on the wall." I nodded, still unconvinced.

"What do I have to do?" I asked.

"Goldenglow Estate is a bee farm. As a warning, I want you to burn down three of the beehives. The catch is that you have to do it without burning down the entire place. I don't care how you do it. Just get it done." I nodded in confirmation. I knew one spell that would be useful enough; a flame spell that I'd learned from an elderly mage in Whiterun. I found his daughter inside of a cave outside of the Hold and he had rewarded me with the spell. "Next, you need to go into the house. There is a safe somewhere…most likely in the basement. You'll have to pick all the locks unless you find Aringoth himself and steal the keys off of him. Maven, the client, would prefer that he remain alive, but if he's killed…nevermind. Let's just keep him alive."

"What if I'm seen?" I asked, my ear twitching back and forth.

"Kill them and hide the evidence", was all he said. He took another swig from his mead bottle and watched me silently. "I'd talk to Vex. She knows more about the place than I do. We sent her in a couple of weeks ago, but she couldn't get the job done." He pointed to the slender, blonde woman across the way. She stood by herself, leaning against the wall and sipping from her tankard. Her eyes shifted quickly across the things around her. I stood up and walked over to her, slightly intimidated by her eyes as they focused on me.

"What do you want?" She asked, her voice dripping with venom.

"What can you tell me about Goldenglow Estate?" Her eyes narrowed at me and I dropped mine to the floor out of embarrassment. Her darkened expression was unreadable, but swiftly changed to mock annoyance.

"That old shit hole? All I know is that Aringoth's room is on the second floor and heavily guarded by mercenaries…why do you want to know?", she smirked at my expression and then looked me up and down.

"Mercer assigned it to me." She simply smiled at that and rolled her eyes, cursing herself silently for not being able to complete a job.

"If you're going to be a part of the Guild, you better start wearing the garb. Talk to Tonilia. She'll have what you need." She pointed toward a small woman sitting at the bar. She looked to be a Redguard and her hair was pulled back into a tight bun. I smiled sheepishly at Vex and then left her to speak with Tonilia. She smiled as I approached.

"Ah, you must be Brynjolf's new protégé. Here, here. Let me take a look at you", she turned me around and sized me up, then led me over to a chest full of light armor that had a dark brown tint to it. She sifted through the stacks and pulled out boots, gloves, a hood and the rest of the armor. She held it up to me.

"This looks to be the right size. Go try it on. It's quite comfortable and lightweight. The shoes are practically soundless. I know how you Khajiits are and shoes. They're perfect", she smiled, dumping the clothes into my hands and pushing me towards the Cistern. "There are a couple of raised dividers, just change behind one of those and let me see."

"Yes, um…thank you", I smiled, walking back through the dresser and past the door that led to the Cistern. Tonilia gestured toward a divider that stood up near the resting area and I went behind it, taking off my dress and putting on my new armor. I stepped out from behind it and Tonilia smiled with delight.

"A perfect fit. You look wonderful. Now I hear you are attempting Goldenglow tomorrow with J'Rakha. You'll need your rest. Take my bed for the night", she smiled, gesturing toward one of the several cots that lined the wall.

"Thank you, Tonilia", I smiled and walked over to her bed and took a seat. She said J'Rakha. Who- That was his name. His real name was J'Rakha. A smirk spread across my face and I lay down against the pillow. His name meant young protector and I smiled at the thought. He seemed menacing, but perhaps he wasn't underneath all of that anger and silent hatred. I sat up quickly and reached into my pocket for my Bard's pin and clipped it on my left shoulder. Good luck. I rubbed my fingers over the small lute and laid back down in bed, mentally preparing myself for tomorrow.

I dreamed of Elsweyr. The forests were as green as ever and just across the way my mother was standing beside our small farm. She waved to me, beckoning me to come over, but something was holding me back. I turned and raised my eyes to meet a figure that resembled J. He glowered over me and smiled, then laughed a dangerous, hearty laugh before unsheathing his own sword.

"You've failed, Asha. Now it's time to meet your end", he growled, bringing the blade to rest on my throat. He drew it across slowly, but I felt no pain. The blood trickled down my front and began to pool around my feet. I sank to my knees and fainted, the vision of my mother screaming left in my mind and the sound of his rumbling laugh echoed.

I was shaken awake by someone and pulled from Tonilia's bed just as my eyes opened.

"It's time", came a low growl. I shivered at the sound and just the sight of him was enough to make me run and hide. His menacing voice from my dream repeated itself over and over again in my mind. It was just a dream, Asha. Just a dream. I thought to myself. I grabbed my hunting bow and quiver from the spot I laid it down and sheathed two steel daggers at my side. "Follow me."

I watched him climb up a ladder on the opposite side of the cistern and disappear through a small hole. I followed him quickly and watched him as he pulled down a chain to his right.

He was significantly taller than me. His fur was dark and his war paint was menacing. He had two vertical stripes across each eye and one that ran down his entire face. I'd seen his before and it was generally painted on warriors, people who served under the king of Elsweyr, Ri'Sada.

"Begin", was all he said to me. I looked around nervously and my tail flicked involuntarily. I headed toward the docks at the edge of the city and Goldenglow was barely visible across the small lake. I looked around and picked a boat, hopping inside of it and then checking around me for suspicious guards. We were alone.

"Get in", I gestured to him. His expression was judging but he made no comment, getting in silently. I picked up one of the oars and stuck it in the water, steering us toward the estate.

"What's that on your shoulder?" he asked, touching it with his finger. I felt uncomfortable with this but I made no move to stop him. "You've just gone against the thieve's guild dress code…and probably damaged the armor that has just been given to you."

"It's a good luck charm. I got it when I graduated the Bard's College in Solitude." He scoffed at it and turned away, looking out across the water silently.

"These mercenaries are ruthless. They'll cut you down without a second glance", he said under his breath. I looked at him and nodded, touching the daggers at my side. The house loomed into view and I paddled around back, hiding the canoe in some of the reeds. I hopped down into the water and J followed me silently. We waded up to the tall rocks and I climbed up them easily, flattening myself against the side of the wall as I waited for him. I looked to my right and then to my left; I noticed a small fenced area that contained six beehives and in order to get there I'd have to walk out in the open. I crept along the side of the wall and then ran across the path, ducking close to a wooden platform. I continued along the edge silently, looking around for the rumored mercenaries. One of them was patrolling the bridge and I pulled out my bow, notching an arrow. J's hand grabbed my shoulder and he turned me around to face him.

"If you kill him, you'll alert the others and with a shitty bow like that you won't do much damage. He'll run off and raise the alarm", he hissed at me in ta'agra. I was slightly hurt by his comment about my bow. I'd been using it ever since I came to Skyrim. It may not have been the best, but it had worked well for me.

"A shitty bow?" I asked him.

"Yes."

"All right…J'Rakha", I smirked and then shrugged nonchalantly, turning back around. The guard was leaving his post with his back to us and I ran across the path and over the bridge quickly without being seen. I ducked behind the closest beehive and J followed me. He leaned in to whisper something,

"Who told you?" he growled underneath his breath.

"Tonilia mentioned it", I said with as much satisfaction in my voice as I could muster. He took a deep breath and ground his teeth together.

"Well, you know what to do. Go on with it." He narrowed his eyes at me and watched as my hand ignited in flame and I shot bursts of fire into three of the hives. Bees buzzed furiously and I backed away, running around the edge of the fence and jumping into the water below, J jumping in after me. Voices could be heard from above and I sank low in the water. An alarm was being raised, but I didn't care much. My heart was racing and I couldn't keep a smile from my face. Part one of the job had been completed.

"Since you know my full name, what's yours? I know Asha isn't it", he grumbled at me. I raised an eyebrow and shook my head. I was slightly surprised that he was asking me a question…

"It's none of your concern", I mocked him, swimming away and ducking beneath the surface, heading back towards the original rocks I'd climbed up. I flattened myself against the wall again, ignoring my dripping clothes and I hurried around the outer edge of the wall until I found an unguarded door. I turned the handle, but it wouldn't budge.

"Locked…" I reached into my back pocket and inhaled sharply. No lockpicks. I'd forgotten them inside my dress pocket. How incredibly novice of me…I looked at J and he simply shrugged. I facepalmed myself dug around in all of the spare pockets. I found a single lockpick, brittle as ever. I stuck it in carefully and turned counterclockwise slowly until I heard a nearly silent click. I pushed the door open gently and the lock gave way, giving me access to the house.

I walked inside and crouched low to the ground, sniffing for any unfamiliar smells. I could hear the mercenaries talking in a room that was down the hall. I crept forward and then saw two men sitting in chairs in a larger room. I snuck past them easily and came upon an iron gate that led down to what I could only assume was the basement. I tried the door and it was locked. Since I was out of lockpicks, stealing the keys was my only other option. I looked to my left and saw a flight of stairs that led up to the second level and I dashed up them quickly.

The door wasn't locked and I crept forward…a guard stood at the end of the hall and I pulled out my bow, ignoring J's warning. I notched an arrow and shot the guard in the back of the neck. He fell instantly and I ran forward, pulling his body behind a bookshelf. I crept on down the hallway and it led me to a door that I assumed was occupied by Aringoth. Soft groans could be heard from coming inside and I reached out to touch the door handle. Locked.

"Damn it…" I whispered to myself.

"Problem?" J mocked me, raising an eyebrow. I shook my head at him. Two guards appeared at the end of the hall.

"No, but we do now." I tilted my head towards the approaching mercenaries and I stood up, drawing my two daggers and holding one in each hand. They spotted us.

"Hey! You aren't supposed to be here. TRESPAS-", he shouted. J had notched an arrow and shot him mid-sentence. I ran up to meet the other mercenary and I pounced on him, driving my daggers into his chest and twisting them until I heard his ribs crack. I pulled them out and wiped them on his robes. My eyes were narrow slits and adrenaline pumped through my veins. I went back to the door and tried it again. Still locked. What had I expected? Some miracle to open them for me while I butchered a Nord too courageous for his own good?

"Do you have any lockpicks?" I asked him. He stared at me and shrugged.

"Maybe", he answered. He seemed different than before…less menacing. I think he was starting to accept me. "Tell me your real name." I narrowed my eyes at him hatefully and sighed.

"Ashiramayaneth", I told him.

"Helluva name…" I nodded. It meant Singing Constellation. My mother was a Bard and she expected me to be one too. That's why she sent me to Skyrim. He handed me a couple of lockpicks and I lodged one into the lock, turning it this way and that until it clicked open. I walked inside and took a glance around. A few heavy coin purses were perched on a table nearby and entire shelf was stocked with Alto Wine. I took a few hesitant steps forward and a figure in the corner caught my eye. He looked sickly and pale. This must be Aringoth.

"I knew you'd come", he grunted, shifting around to face me.

"I'm only here for the keys. Give them to me", I commanded him. He chuckled to himself and it turned into a rough cough.

"No, Khajiit. I can't give them to you", he smiled. His teeth were yellow and very unhealthy. A couple of the ones in the front had already fallen out and it made him look even mangier than he did already.

"Then I'll have to take them from you…" J took the back of my arm and jerked me toward him.

"Maven wants him alive…" he growled at me.

"Maven can't always get what she wants, can she?" I hissed back. I walked over to Aringoth and picked him up, cutting his throat with one of my daggers. I dropped his lifeless body and began searching it for the keys. There was one to the cellar door and then another to the safe. J was next to the shelf of Alto Wine and he picked up a bottle, taking a long swig. I narrowed my eyes at him…that wasn't necessary. I took the coin purses, pocketed the keys and then stepped over Aringoth's body, J following in my footsteps. I noticed a bow in the corner. It looked to be an Orcish bow. I walked over to it and picked it up. It was much better than my own. I took my hunting bow from my back and replaced it with the Orcish bow, putting it over my shoulders. I walked from the room and hurriedly past the dead guards that lined the hallway to the stairs. I walked down them as silently as I could and glanced down the hallway. No guards in sight. I stuck the key in the iron gate and it swung inward with ease. I climbed down the ladder and opened another set of double doors that led down to the basement.

It smelled like the Ragged Flagon and my nose wrinkled as it filled my nostrils. I walked on quietly, going around some barrels and into another passage. A guard was sitting in a chair and I didn't waste time notching an arrow and taking him out. A little further beyond that was another ladder that led down to a lower level and I descended it quickly. The floor was lined with a metallic, pink and orange liquid and I walked across it lightly and I noticed the trip wire too late. Three glass jugs fell to the floor and ignited the liquid.

"Run J!" I shouted at him, running past all three jugs as they hit the floor. I could feel the flames licking at my fur, but I didn't let it stop me until I reached the end of the passage that led into a room with a desk and safe. I breathed heavily and went down on one knee.

"Renrij!" He shouted at me, throwing his hands in the air. "What the fuck is WRONG with you? Tread lightly. Be aware. Was that not bored into our heads as cubs? Goddamnit." Renrij was the word for scum in ta'agra. I felt ashamed of myself.

"The safe is right there. I'll just get the stuff out and we can escape through there…", I pointed to the safe and then to a hole in the floor of one of the cells. A sewer. I walked up to the safe and stuck the key in, grabbing the paperwork and putting it in my pocket along with 130 gold septims. I opened the cell door that led to the sewer and hopped down in it, instantly surrounded by darkness. The sound of skeevers growling bounced off the walls. I flattened myself against the wall and my breath became short and my head began to feel much lighter. I didn't do well in dimly lit, tight spaces. The walls were a mere three feet apart and I backed into the wall, shaking my head while J just stared at me, waiting for me to move. I couldn't. The memory of receiving my Talons panned across my vision. I was by myself in a dungeon, in complete darkness and the growls of draugrs echoed across the walls repeatedly. My breath caught in my throat and silent tears streamed down my face as I tried to keep from screaming. If I made any noise whatsoever I would alert them and surely meet the end to myself and my wit.

He gripped my forearm and pulled me through the tunnels. My eyes remained fixed on nothing; the memory taking over and panic setting in. I pulled in the opposite direction of the way he was going and he stopped and stared at me. I wasn't looking at him anymore, but something beyond him. It wasn't real, but behind my eyes the thought of it gripped my entire core.

"What the hell…" he whispered more to himself than to me. I only whimpered.

"No, don't make me go forward. Please, no. R'Vasha's dead. The draugr killed him", I whispered, shaking my head and trying to pry myself loose.

"R'Vasha…"

"Yes, he's gone. They slit his throat as I watched, but they didn't see me. No, they didn't see me. I was lucky to get out."

"Get out from where…"

"They're coming", I whispered, biting my knuckle. Tears fell from my eyes and I felt like a cub again. J gripped my shoulders and shook me hard. I blinked several times and realized where I was: in the sewer at Goldenglow…not in the several caves that lined the mountains outside of Senchal. A high pitched growl sounded from my left and I jumped at the noise. He stared at me with wary eyes and I made no effort to explain myself.

"Skeevers…" He said and stepped ahead of me and I followed him through the passage until we reached another hole in the floor. He dropped through it first and I followed him hesitantly. The memory shook my memory and caused me to jump at any sound. Straight ahead was another ladder and it led up and out of the sewers. I thanked the Eight I didn't have to stay down there longer. The darkness and the constant thought of skeevers lurking in the darkness scared me more than J did.