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While Brynjolf was out thieving, she had made a mad dash back down to the cistern and caught Vex. She'd already asked for her help earlier, but she hadn't had a chance to signal her before they'd left. She wasn't sure if Vex would help her, but once she heard what the plan entailed she was actually enthusiastic. It left her a bit more time to make an effort at the little competition she'd started with Brynjolf.
He passed out more quickly than she'd thought, given his size. She wistfully kissed him a final time, trying to ignore the crushing guilt she felt looking at him snoring in her bed. After donning her armor, she scribbled a quick note to him, hoping he wouldn't hate her forever for drugging him and leaving him behind. She ducked her head out the door to call Vex in, who immediately started laughing when she saw him.
"Alright, here's what I gave him, if you need it again. He'll probably feel awful whenever he wakes up, so this other little bottle will fix that. Just don't let him follow me. In fact, it'd be best if you just don't let him out of the house and don't let it be known he's here. At least, not widely or outside the guild," she finished awkwardly.
Vex wasn't as amused anymore. "Who did you guys piss off, anyway?"
"Uh...I'm not sure you really want to know..." she trailed off lamely.
"I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know," Vex snapped back.
"Fine. The Thalmor, okay? They've been after me for a while, and now they want him, too. Because of me, because I'm fucking stupid and should've known better. It's all my fault," she hissed back, trying to push back the burning in her eyes.
Vex was watching her intently, something like pity crossing her face. "Okay. I don't know how long I can keep him here, though. He's going to be furious when he wakes up, you realize."
She closed her eyes and nodded, trying to suppress her emotions. "I know. He'll probably h-hate me after this, but at least he'll be alive." She opened her eyes again to find Vex watching her curiously. "There's rope in that cupboard, if you need it. I need at least a few days. Not sure when I'll be back though...or if..." she told her, barely audible on the last two words. "I'll see if Karliah's around to give you a hand."
She turned to leave and Vex called after her. "Good luck."
"Thanks," she replied on her way out the door. "You too."
Once outside, she ran to the stables and hopped on Shadowmere. They circled around the city back towards Nightingale Hall. She ran inside, startling Karliah out of sleep. "What-what's going on?" the elf spluttered, standing up and grabbing her bow.
"Sorry, I wasn't trying to scare you. I just...I did something stupid and put Brynjolf in danger, and now I'm trying to fix it, and I was hoping maybe you could help? Please?" she rambled, knowing she was rambling and unable to help herself.
"Of course I'll help, but first you have to tell me what you're talking about. What did you do, and what do you need me to do?" she asked calmly.
"I... I... Well, the Thalmor have been after me for a while, and now they're after Bryn too, and I'm going to go take care of it, but I needed to make sure he'd stay home safe so I drugged him and left him with Vex and I was wondering if you'd help her out, because he might be a bit mad when he wakes up," she finished, speaking faster and faster. "Please?"
Karliah looked a bit confused and worried. "You...drugged Brynjolf? To keep him safe from the Thalmor? That makes no sense. Why?"
"Because he'd try to protect me and get himself killed, obviously!" she spat back. She saw comprehension dawn on Karliah's face at the same time as she realized that no one had ever told the elf they were together.
Karliah merely sighed, suddenly looking older and sadder. "I see. Yes, I'll go help her, just tell me where I'm going." She put on her armor and gathered her things quickly.
"Thank you," she told her and directed her to the house, then ran back out and mounted Shadowmere again. "Okay, we can't stop much, Shadow. All the way to Solitude, and then you can have a nice rest in the stable there. Remember that pretty blonde mare?" The horse tossed his head, and she patted him as he trotted off to the northwest.
...
Brynjolf slowly woke, first becoming aware of himself through the pounding, blinding pain in his head. Next he realized his whole body was aching, and the room was far too bright. Wasn't he supposed to do something today? His eyes flew open as he realized that his hands were bound behind his back and his ankles were tied together, and he was still wearing just his smalls. The room was empty, and he saw a note on the pillow next to him-not that he could read it with his hands tied behind his back.
He must've made some noise when he woke, because Vex and Karliah appeared from the kitchen area. "What the fuck!" he yelled at them.
The women exchanged a knowing glance, and Vex produced a vial. "Here, for the headache," she said as she handed it to him. He looked at it suspiciously, then looked at her. She stared back at him, unruffled, and raised an eyebrow at him challengingly. He downed the vial and she smirked with satisfaction. Too late he realized that he should've gone with his first instinct and not trusted her.
The next time he woke it was dark but for a few candles, and Karliah was napping in a chair by the bed. He tried to sit up, feeling hungry and thirsty and needing to pee, and she woke. "Easy now," she said, helping him to sit up against the headboard. "Do you need anything?"
"Water," he rasped at her. She loosed the bonds on his wrists and retied his hands in front of him, then handed him a tankard from the side table. He sniffed it before drinking, then looked at her. "Why?"
"I should think you would know why," she replied with a little dry chuckle.
"Why would you help her? I can't imagine you were pleased when you found out about us." He was hoping he'd be able to convince her to let him go, if he could just poke a few holes in her reasoning.
"No, but since I obviously couldn't dissuade either of you, I thought I should at least stop you from following in my footsteps," she said softly.
"Don't you think it's a little late for that?" he sneered at her.
She shook her head. "Don't you understand? Haven't you figured it out yet?" She glared at him in frustration. "For so many years, I blamed myself for distracting Gallus that night. Maybe if I hadn't followed him, it would've been Mercer who died. So when she came storming in the other night, I knew I had to help her and stop you from making the same mistake." She watched him, exhaustion plain on her face.
He was silent for a few minutes, unsure of what to say for once, then remembered the note on the bed next to him. It was an apology more than anything, explaining that she wanted to keep him safe and begging his forgiveness. He wasn't sure whether he wanted to strangle her or kiss her, not that he could do either as long as he was stuck here. However, he had to acknowledge that Karliah had a good point. That didn't mean he couldn't ask all his contacts for news of her, if he could just get them to let him. Or better yet, he could send someone to keep an eye on her.
"How long have I been out, anyway?" he asked her.
"Almost two days," she replied.
"That long? Have you-has anyone heard from her?" He had thought it was evening of the same day, at the latest.
Karliah shook her head. "Two days isn't that long. Give her some time to get things done before you do anything stupid, okay?"
He rolled his eyes. "I just want to know if she's okay, that's all. I promise I won't go running after her." Yet, he thought. "Can I at least put on some clothes and go back down to the cistern?"
"I suppose, if you swear you won't go anywhere else," she said uneasily.
"Fine, I swear I won't go anywhere else." Yet, he amended in his head again.
She cut his bonds and went in the other room to let him dress. The first time he stood, he felt woozy and had to sit back down, but he regained his steadiness after a minute. He walked into the other room when he was ready, and together they returned to the guild in silence.