Runa gasped as her feet came out from under her, slipping on the shingled rooftops as rain came pelting down on top of her. She threw her hand out, barley grabbing hold of the roof, her nails feeling as if they would tear from her fingertips as they held her weight. With a grunt that bordered on a scream she began to pull herself up, her feet flailing about for some foothold to take advantage of. Her boots were only made from simple furs, and were nowhere near enough to get a grip on anything. The rest of her attire, including her hood, were made from similar material, and did little to keep the rain out, causing most of her body to go numb, which did not help her grip on the roof.

Lighting exploded over head, and it was only for the briefest of moments that she saw three shadows cast across the rooftop. She looked up, and true enough there they were. Three silhouettes, each a figure of almost pure darkness. Runa reacted on instinct, letting go of the roof and sliding off it into the streets below. Her feet struck the cobblestone first, and a wave of pain radiated from her feet to her waist. The angle of her fall from the rooftop combined with the pain in her feet and the wetness of the cobblestone sent her sprawling to the ground.

Though her fall was enough to hinder most men, Runa picked herself up almost as quickly as she had fallen, before scurrying off down the streets once more. Thunder roared over head once more, and Runa risked a glance quick glance behind her to check on the location of her pursuers. The chill of fear gripped her heart, and for a moment she thought she might have screamed. Two of the three silhouettes were following her still from the rooftops above. She ducked in and out of alleyways, and yet it always seemed like they were right on top of her. She looked ahead of her, there glowed a light in the darkness and rain. The doors to the temple of Mara glowed from the warm light within. As much as she hated to admit it, the temple was one of the safest places in the city when it came to shadows like her pursuers.

She gave all she had into running for the temple, through the wide open space of the Riften streets. At this point it didn't matter if anyone saw her. She had reached the doors, almost hearing the prayers of the priests inside. Her hand reach for the door, to push it open and in doing so granting her safety. But all she heard was the solid thud of metal striking wood, and she looked to her hand to see that her sleeve was nailed to the door, a bolt of dwarven make pinning her to the wooden door. She reached for it, almost screaming in frustration as she failed to remove it from the door, she couldn't even pull her sleeve free of it.

'You might as well give up Runa,' a woman's voice said from behind her. 'You've failed.' Runa turned behind her, and was met with the sight of two of her pursuers. Even with their hoods hiding their faces Runa could tell it was Vex and Delvin, both of them had their arms crossed, and neither one looked impressed. Runa sighed and pulled back her own hood, her blond hair falling down her back, quickly becoming soaked in the rain. She was a young, beautiful Nord girl, barley older than sixteen thought short for her age. Her blue eyes looked over the two of them before scanning the nearby rooftops. It was only then she saw where the bolt came from.

The third pursuer stood on the rooftop, a crossbow in their hands. Even in the darkness and rain of the night Runa could tell that this ones armour was nothing like that of Vex or Delvin. Theirs was like it had been woven from the darkness itself, a short black cape hung from their shoulders, almost as black as the night. The figure slung the weapon over their shoulder standing there for barely a moment more before disappearing before her eyes.

'Come on kid,' Delvin said as he walked up and yanked the bolt out of the door. 'Let's get you inside before you freeze to death.'

Most of the guild were gathered in the cistern by the time the three of them returned. They either sat by the water on the cisterns edge, sat at tables with a plate of food and a mug next to them, or they leaned against the walls watching as the two senior thieves lead the young footpad into the centre of the Cistern. There Delvin moved to stand in front of her, a small space between them. The two had removed their hoods, their eyes cast upon the young Nord girl.

Runa knew for certain that she had failed. The chase had been a part of her initiation. She had already gone through the other trials that the Guilds had thrown at her. She had stolen a priceless ring from a member of the Jarl's council, picked her way through every lock in the guilds training room, and had remained hidden for hours within the shadowed alleys of Riften as other footpads were tasked with finding her. Her final test had been based on a scenario where she would not be able to hide, where she needed to make her way from the city docks, through the city and into the temple of Mara to place a single gold coin in their charity box. It was an odd practise for certain, but one that the new Guild Master encouraged.

And yet despite being one of the best initiates the guild had received, she could not succeed. Her dreams of being one with the guild were dashed. She would be nothing more than another gutter rat, left to die after being tossed out of Honour Hall. Her thoughts were interrupted with a sigh, and she looked up to see the third pursuer once more, standing between Delvin and Vex in their armour made from the purest of shadows. Now that they stood before Runa, she could tell by their figure that they were in fact a woman, their form fitting to their slim body. A mask and hood covered their face, the only trace that she was even human was the fingerless gloves she wore, allowing Runa to see a set of soft, young human fingers.

The shadow clad woman shook her head. 'Well Runa,' they said. 'You failed to reach the temple, you failed to place your coin into Mara's charity box. If this had been a real job, you would have either been arrested or killed.'

'I understand,' Runa said, knowing that she spoke out of term as she stared at the ground in shame. 'I failed, I don't need to be told that.' The young Nord could barely keep the tears from running down her cheek.

'You sure did,' the woman said, almost laughing, causing Runa to sob slightly. 'But I have to say, you did an amazing job.' Runa's tears stopped for a moment, and looked up to the woman, who stepped towards her. Runa could not even see the woman's eyes through the hood and mask, it was as if she were staring into the void itself. 'You were placed up against two of the Guilds most senior members, and me. You reached the door of the temple. Another few seconds and you would have been the first to succeed.' Her hands reach up, pulling down her mask and pulling back her hood.

That was the first time Runa saw the Guild Master's face. She was a young and beautiful Imperial woman, little more than a few years older than her. Her long oak brown hair falling as far down as her chest, her soft green eyes looking into the young Nords. 'You're young, but I have not seen someone with such natural talent come to us in a long time, Runa Fair-Shield.' To her side approached Tonilla, a Redguard thief who held a small bundle in her arms. The Guild Master took the bundle from Tonilla, who smiled at Runa before departing. Runa looked down into the Guild Master's hands to se that the bundle was in fact a set of armour worn specifically by the guild, a pair of boots and gauntlets rested on top of it. 'This is the same set of armour I wore when I joined the guild,' the Guild Master said as she held the bundle in her hands. 'If you're truly ready to accept this life as your own, it's yours.' She said as she held it out for Runa.

Slowly, Runa's hands reached out to take the armour from her, her eyes wide with amazement and shock, yet still tears lingered there. As she held the armour in her hands, she looked up into the Guild Master's eyes once more.

'Welcome to the Thieves Guild Runa,' she said, and young Nord could not help but throw her arms around the woman, her tears steadily flowing from her eyes now.

The Cistern suddenly came alive with cheers and shouts, and Runa could not help sob openly and loudly as she was welcomed by her new family. Even Vex could not help but wipe a stray tear from her eye, an action that Delvin noticed, but chose to simply smile and keep quiet about it.

'Thank you Guild Master,' Runa said as she pulled herself away from the embrace. 'You have no idea what this means to me.'

The woman simply smiled, placing a hand on their newest member's shoulder. 'Call me Artemis,'

The celebration would continue into the night, and the cheers would grow louder as Runa appeared from a changing room in her new armour, fitting her perfectly. Though many of the other thieves would encourage her to have a drink, Vex kept the young girl away from such things, and threatened any of the men who so much as looked at girl in a way that displeased her. Ever since Runa had shown up in the Ragged Flagon, Vex had had a soft spot for the child, taking her under her wing and becoming her personal mentor. Now that she was a fully fledged thief, Runa would receive jobs just like the rest of the Guild, though many knew that Vex would watch her protégé from the shadows for the first few, just to be safe.

As the laughter and drinking continued in the cistern, Artemis sighed, propping her crossbow against the wall before walking over to the seat behind the guildmaster's desk and practically falling into it. With the extra wealth coming in with the rise of the Guild, Artemis had taken the time to invest in a newer larger chair made from snow bear furs and stuffed with some fuzzy material that had been too soft and comfortable for Artemis to even care where it came from. The design had come from Highrock, supposedly made by the finest craftsmen. Though money was said to make people very particular when it came to the finer things in life, all Artemis had cared about were the fact that it was comfortable enough for her to sleep in, and that it possessed a design that very few chairs in Tamriel had. It could spin.

She smiled to herself as she grabbed onto the desk before launching herself to the side, the chair spinning with her. She grinned like a child as she looked up to see the ceiling spinning above her. It was true that money could buy jewellery and clothes and large houses, but sometimes it was the simple things in life, like being able to watch the world around you spin, that made money something worth having. As her gaze lowered she noted a figure walking towards her desk though due to her spinning she hadn't the slightest clue who it was. It seemed as if the moment the person came into view, they were gone the next, replaced by the blurring walls and shelves that passed her over and over again.

'Having fun their lass?' they asked, and Artemis knew who it was in an instant.

'You should try it sometime Brynie,' Artemis said as she continued to spin, barely able to tell that the ginger Nord crossed his arms as he watched his Guild Master spinning like a fool.

'I'm more likely to lose my lunch than enjoy myself on your little contraption,' he said. 'Besides, I wouldn't want to spoil your fun,' he added with a smile.

Artemis began to slow down, her grin beginning to widen as her vision returned to normal, though her head still felt woozy. 'Seriously, this thing is better than skooma, we should ship some of these to Elsweyer, we'd make a killing!'

Brynjolf merely shook his head at the notion of the cat-men of the south spinning on chairs all day, though he did make a note of it. Any profit was good profit in his books. He pushed the thought aside as Artemis came to a stop, her child like smile looking up at him now. He turned back to watch his brothers and sisters in crime dancing, drinking and laughing the night away.

'So I take it the girl exceeded your expectations?' he asked.

'If anything I'd say just set a new record,' Artemis replied fondly. 'Larceny is in her blood, I haven't seen someone with such talent before.'

'I have,' Brynjolf noted with a smile as he turned back and looked at his Guild Master.

'Well then,' Artemis said, 'perhaps I just inducted the next Guild Master, I best watch my back else I'll be overlapped by these youngsters.'

'Wait another couple of decades lass, then you can say that.'

Artemis could not help but giggle at that. 'So,' she spoke. 'What's going on?'

'You sure you're head is alright lass?' he asked. 'Wouldn't want you falling out of your chair like last time.'

'I'll just stay in my chair this time,' she said. 'Now fill me in. What little scheme is cooking in that little brain of yours?'

'No schemes boss, just passing on a message.' His hand going into his armour, before pulling out a long black arrow. 'Struck a wall nearly inches from my head. He sure likes keep his distance, doesn't he?' he asked.

Artemis groaned as she stood up from her chair. 'In more ways than one. You know the drill Bryn, you're in charge till I get back.' She began to walk from her desk, proceeding down a separate corridor and into her own chambers.

The room was grand combination of a bank's vault room and queen's royal chambers, with all the comforts of a monarch like a large four poster bed and a fireplace, as well as a small collection of miniature vaults and strongboxes, their contents known only by Artemis herself. Bookshelves lined the room, each one packed with rows of books with titles like, "Advanced Lock Smithing." and, "Avoiding Traps for Fools." A large table resided to the side, opened books scattered all over its surface along with various maps and outlines for buildings. As Artemis walked into the room she began to remove her Nightingale armour, peeling the leather like fabric down past her chest before wandering behind an ornate changing screen that she had stolen from a Thalmor Diplomat's manor. Brynjolf only managed to catch a glimpse of the girl's exposed back before she disappeared behind the screen.

'What shall I tell the Guild whilst you're gone?' he asked as he tilted his head slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of his Guild Master between the gaps of the changing screen, though to no avail. He instead wandered towards the table with the maps and outlines, his eyes darting over what he could only guess were plans that Artemis had yet to share with the Guild.

'Tell them the usual, that I don't delve into their private affairs and they should do the same for me.' Her head and an exposed shoulder popped out from behind the screen briefly. 'Especially if they don't want to find themselves back on the street.'

'You're starting to rendezvous with him a little more often than normal boss,' Brynjolf noted as he shifted some of the papers around the desk, memorizing as many details as he could. 'Should we be concerned?'

'Only if you keep asking questions Bryn. That whole "finding yourself on the street" rule applies to you too.'

'It's just...' he paused a moment. 'The company he keeps. I don't hold any grudges for the lad, but anyone who hangs around with that kind of crowd is someone who I'd want to be cautious of. Especially when they're around you.'

'As I said before Bryn,' Artemis spoke as she stepped out from behind the screen, doing up the last straps on her black guild master armour. 'Keep out of it. I trust him, and that's all you should be concerned about.' She said as she wandered towards Brynjolf who turned towards her, holding a large piece of parchment by its top corners. Though to most it was just another outline of a large manor, it was something of a taboo amongst the Guild.

'And is he the one talking you into this?' Brynjolf asked, becoming deadly serious.

'That, is none of your concern at the moment Bryn.'

'Oh come off it will you lass? You know he's still got a vendetta against them, this could ruin us if given the chance.'

Artemis snatched the parchment from him, folding it back up and placing it back in her desk. 'As I said, none of your concern until I say otherwise.' It was her turn to become serious. 'His feelings towards them have nothing to do with my decision.'

'Nothing?' Brynjolf asked, nowhere near convinced.

A dark look crossed over Artemis' face, and Brynjolf felt a chill run down his spine as he looked into her eyes. 'None of your business,' she said simply. Before storming off past him. Before she left the room, she stopped and turned back to him. 'We're not as weak as we once were Bryn,' she said as he turned to face her. 'We're capable of making our own decisions now, with or without the Black-Briars.' She then turned back around and continued back out the way she came, leaving Brynjolf standing there, uncertain on the future of the guild. He looked back down at the parchment, the layout of the Black-Briar's manor in Riften, before exiting out after her.

Now I know for a fact that I rushed this one, and there are probably half a dozen or so spelling and grammar mistakes to prove it, but I just want to get this one out. Originally this chapter was going to be expanded much more, but with some gaps in the writing of the next scene i've decided to split this chapter into two parts. The next one will be uploaded soon, depending on whether or not I can get some uni assignments done, unless one of you guys wants to do them for me :P

Mostly I really wanted to post this one just to let you know that I am alive, and that I am still slowly but surely working on this. I want to thank each and every one of you who have reviewed and followed this story, you have no idea how much it means to me, and a huge thanks to some of you guys for messaging me about the story with some of your questions and comments, they are a massive inspiration boost that go a long way into writing this.

Either way I'll see you next time!

-xcaliber234

P.S a cookie to those who knew who Runa was the moment she popped up :)