Dry leaves crunch under Libby's feet as she leads Brynjolf up the road Karliah described. She told Brynjolf he wouldn't need much except for his favorite weapon. Libby swore not to tell him anything due to her swear to secrecy from becoming a Nightingale.
"So what's this big thing Karliah wants, dare I ask. It sounds enough to make your head spin." Brynjolf says.
"It's pretty incredible." Libby smiles.
Brynjolf wraps his arm around her shoulder and pulls her close. He chuckles. "It's good to have you back, lass."
Libby smiles. "It's good to be back."
"Does Diamond know?" he asks with a sly smile.
"Yeah, she does." Libby chuckles. "She was the first to find out. I didn't expect her to come to the tomb to find me."
"Well, she is as stubborn as a mule." Brynjolf nudges.
Libby giggles and shoves Brynjolf as they approach the path up the mountainside. They find Karliah leaning against a standing stone with the emblem of a bird etched into the stone.
Karliah approaches Libby. "I'm glad you're here." She smiles.
"So, what's the significance of this place, Karliah?" Brynjolf asks.
Karliah looks to Libby who smiles. "This is the headquarters of the Nightingales, cut into the mountainside by the first of their kind." Libby explains.
"Our, kind." Karliah corrects with a smile. "Our kind. We've come to seek the edge we need to defeat Mercer Frey."
"What kind of an edge?" Brynjolf interrogates.
"If you'll follow Libby, I'll explain on the way." Karliah says.
"Wait, what happened to capturing Mercer alive? Not that I'm complaining." Libby asks.
"From the moment you were struck with my poisoned arrow at Snow Veil Sanctum, my path changed its course." Karliah says. "Perhaps I couldn't bring Mercer back alive, but together, we were able to clear my name and put Gallus's memory to rest. I'd always intended Mercer's fate to ultimately be decided by the Guild, and it seems they've spoken."
Libby grins and turns leads the way. "This way, please."
They enter Nightingale Hall and Libby guides them through like she knows the place like the back of her hand. She walks sure-footed now. She looks back to Brynjolf who freely gazes in awe, craning his head around to gaze at each detail.
"So, this is Nightingale Hall. I heard about this place when I joined the Guild, but I never believed it existed." He says.
"The assumption that the Nightingales were just a myth was seeded in the Guild on purpose." Karliah educates. "It helped avert attention from our true nature."
Libby glances over her shoulder. "What's wring Brynjolf. I can almost hear your brow furrowing."
"I'm trying to understand why I'm here, lass." He says. "Gallus was your father, but I'm no priest, and I'm certainly not religious. Why pick me?"
"This isn't about religion Brynjolf . . . it's business." Is all Karliah says as Libby continues to lead the way into the main hall. "If you'll proceed to the stone to no your armor, we can begin."
Brynjolf looks to Libby who only escorts him further. She can't help but giggle at how hesitant he seems. She takes his hand and tugs him towards the stone, and when the armor is adorned, she smiles and hugs him.
"Easy lass, don't get used to this." He says, and Libby only smiles and giggles more.
They follow Karliah down the hall that leads to hemi-circle with a set of stairs that leading deeper in.
"Okay lass we've got these getups on . . . now what?" Brynjolf asks Karliah.
"Beyond this gate is the first step in becoming a Nightingale." She answers.
"Whoa there, lass. I appreciate the armor, but becoming a Nightingale? That was never discussed."
"It's not that bad, or different Brynjolf." Libby gently reminds.
"To hold any hope of defeating Mercer, we must have Nocturnal at our backs. If she is to accept you as one of her own, an arrangement must be struck." Karliah explains.
"What sort of arrangement? I need to know the terms." Brynjolf demands.
"The terms are quite simple Brynjolf. Nocturnal will allow you to become a Nightingale, and use your abilities for whatever you wish. And in return, both in life and in death, you must serve as a guardian of the Twilight Sepulcher." says Karliah.
"Aye, there's always a catch. But at this point, I suppose there isn't much to lose." Brynjolf sighs. "But if it means the end of Mercer Frey, you can count me in."
And what about you, Libby. Are you ready to transact the Oath of Nocturnal?"
"You haven't been indoctrinated yet?" Brynjolf asks in surprise.
Libby shakes her head. "Nope. I was, nervous. But now I'm ready." She assures.
She looks to Karliah and smiles. "I'm ready."
"Good. After I open the gate, please stand on the western circle." She instructs. Libby nods.
Karliah takes the lead and opens the gate leading into a rotunda with three circle platforms. There's one giant circle at the epicenter of the room, like that in the Cistern, then that branches out to three cylindrical floor glyphs with the emblem of the Nightingales.
Libby stands on the one at the far left, then it's Karliah and Brynjolf.
Libby watches Karliah carefully. She extends out her arms, and when she speaks, the acoustics of the room make her voice boom around the walls. It echoes and rattles Libby's skull.
"I call upon you Lady Nocturnal, Queen of Murk and Empress of Shadows . . . hear my voice!"
The wind picks up despite there being to drafts to begin with. Libby watches as fog from the chasm below drifts upward and towards the epicenter of the room. Her eyes widen as the water turns a deep purple and becomes thick purple and black smoke. The entire room tints purple and a sphere of pure energy swirls and billows above the platform.
"Ah, Karliah. I was wondering when I'd hear from you again. Lost something did we?" the voice provokes.
Educated guess, that's Nocturnal.
Karliah bows to one knee and lowers her head. "My Lady, I've come before you to throw myself upon your mercy and to accept responsibility for my failure." She pleads.
"You're already mine, Karliah. Your terms were struck long ago. What could you possibly offer me now?" the voice sneers in disappointment.
"I have two others that wish to transact the Oath; to serve you in both life and in death." Karliah explains.
"You surprise me, Karliah. This offer is defiantly weighted in my favor."
"My appetite for Mercer's demise exceeds my craving for wealth, Your Grace."
"Revenge? How interesting . . ." Nocturnal stretches out the word. "Very well, the conditions are acceptable. You may proceed."
"Lady Nocturnal, we accept your terms. We dedicate our lives to you as both your avengers and your sentinels. We will honor our agreement in this life and the next until your conditions have been met." Karliah vows.
"Very well." Nocturnal says. Three smoky beams of light shine down on Libby and Brynjolf. Streams of wisps emanate from the shadowy orb of Nocturnal towards Brynjolf and Libby. "I name your initiates Nightingales and I restore your status to the same, Karliah. And in the future, I'd suggest you refrain from disappointing me again."
The orb vanishes and the room's color returns to normal. Libby blinks her eyes as she follows Brynjolf and Karliah to the epicenter of the room.
Karliah approaches her. "Now that you've transacted the Oath, it's time to reveal the final piece of the puzzle; Mercer's true crime."
"He's done more?" Libby asks with a mixture of shock and annoyance.
"Mercer was able to unlock the Guild's vault without two keys because of what he stole from the Twilight Sepulcher . . . the Skeleton Key. By doing this, he's compromised our ties to Nocturnal and in essence, caused our luck to run dry." Karliah preaches.
"So the key unlocks any door?" Libby clarifies.
"Well, yes. But the Key isn't only restricted to physical barriers." Karliah reminds. "All of us possess untapped abilities; the potential to wield great power, securely sealed within our minds. Once you realize the Key can access this trait, the potential becomes limitless."
"Sounds like no one should possess it. It can easily be abused." Libby says.
"Good, then you understand why this is about more than Mercer's lust for power." Karliah sighs. "If the Key isn't returned to its lock in the Twilight Sepulcher, things will never be the same for the Guild."
"As time passed, our luck would diminish to the point of non-existence. And whether you know it or not, our uncanny luck defines our trade." says Karliah.
"First time I've ever set out to return something." Libby chuckles.
"Very true." Karliah smiles. "In our line of work, it's quite rare we set out to returns a stolen item to its rightful owner."
"Let's go." Libby smiles.
"Before we depart, Brynjolf has some business to discuss. I suggest you listen to him."
Libby turns to Brynjolf. "Listen lass. There's one last piece of business we need to settle before we go after Mercer . . . the leadership of the Guild."
Libby feels her heart jar in her chest.
"W-why tell this to me?" She breathes through a laugh.
"Karliah and I had a long discussion while you went to Mercer's mansion. Thanks to your efforts, Mercer's treachery has been exposed. After we deal with him, all that remains is restoring the Guild to its full strength." Brynjolf explains. "As a result, we both feel that you have the potential of replacing Mercer as leader of the Thieves Guild."
Libby breathes a laugh of shock. Shen looks to Karliah who she can tell, smiles underneath her mask. "M-Me? What about you?"
"I've been at this game a long time, Libby. A long time. I've stolen trinkets from nobles and framed priests for murder. I'm good at what I do, maybe even one of the best. But it's all I know." Brynjolf chuckles. "I've never been one to lead. Never desired it, never cared for it. Don't want it."
Libby can't stop the burst of bubbly giggles. She hops up and down and glomps Brynjolf in a hug, then Karliah.
"I don't know what to say." She smiles, her eyes starting to water.
"Well we've got a bit of an errand to run before your coronation, so save the sentimental joy." says Brynjolf.
"I accept." Libby squeals.
"Then it's decided. When this is all over and Delvin's contacts assure me that we've regained our footing in Skyrim, we'll handle the details." Brynjolf promises. "Until then, we have quite the task ahead."
"Then let's get to it." Libby grins with determination.
"I've been pouring over the plans you brought us, and I'm convinced the Eyes of the Falmer are in the dwarven ruins at Irkngthand. Karliah and I will meet you there. Prepare yourself, lass. This will be a fight to remember!" says Brynjolf.
Libby nods and after a hug from Karliah and a kiss on the forehead from Brynjolf, she follows Karliah out towards the main hall.
"I guess we're Nightingales now, huh?" Libby nudges Brynjolf with her hip.
"Aye, and some of what Karliah said is starting to make sense. Mercer may have damaged our reputation and raided our coffers, but this goes well beyond even his twisted form of larceny." Brynjolf says. "Old Delvin kept calling it a curse and we all laughed at him."
Libby laughs. "Looks like the jokes on you."
Brynjolf quirks an eyebrow at her.
"I never said I didn't believe him." Libby defends. Brynjolf wraps his arm around her shoulder and pretends to choke Libby in a headlock. Libby pushes him off and keeps laughing.
"It's so good to have you back, lass."
"You've said that like three times now. I didn't know you cared so much." She teases.
"Don't get all teary-eyed. I was just upset because I had to take over your shift of raking in gold." Brynjolf denies.
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that."
Once they're out in the main hall, Karliah heads left down a hall. Libby looks to make sure they're alone and leans close to Brynjolf.
"So, do you really think we stand a chance against Mercer?" she whispers.
"If you would have asked me that yesterday, I'd said no. But now I think our chances have improved."
"But, you still don't trust Karliah?" Libby interrogates.
"I never said that. I do now. This just seems too, out of sorts."
"I know. It takes a little getting used to. But she's genuine, Brynjolf. She wouldn't lead us down a suicidal path." Libby assures.
"I suppose. Besides, I'd rather die with some of Mercer's blood on my blade then spend the rest of my life regretting that I ran the other way."
Libby nods. "So, I'll meet you at the ruins?"
Brynjolf nods. "You worried."
"A little bit." Libby admits.
"Don't worry. You'll be fine. After all, you're a thief." Brynjolf says.
"I really don't think I'm that kind of thief."
"Oh sure you are. You just don't know it yet."
Libby sighs and pulls her hood over her head. Before she leaves, Brynjolf takes her wrist.
"Just, be careful, Libby."
After leaving the Hall, Libby mounts her horse and fast travel to a dragon summit she discovered. The trip takes about two hours. She hasn't yet found Irkngthand, so she navigates her way down the mountain until she drops down into the ruin's main courtyard.
The ruins themselves are built into the mountain with towering turrets with rounded tops. Wooden plank bridges connect from one tower to another, and gives Libby the notion that bandits have made this place their home. Killing and looting their valuables was simple, but the tricky part was trying to remain unseen with her black armor contrasting with the pure white snow. With a light powdering blanketing the ruin, it could easily be mistaken as rock ridges.
Libby keeps close to the walls and kills any bandit in her way, making sure to hide the bodies, as she enters the arcanex.
Once inside, Libby toggles along, keeping her breathing steady as she sees a fire brewing ahead. Silently rolling behind a main desk, she peeks out from behind and a cry hitches in her throat.
The bandits bed rolls border around the fire, but the bandits lay bloodied and mauled. Splatters of blood dot along the fur beds and stairs from one who tried to escape. Libby creeps down and forces herself to loot their bodies for supplies. She finishes off with a middle-aged woman; there are hints of blonde in her dark hair. She tries not to look at the slash wound across her forehead, but the dim light of the fire glows on what looks like gone, and Libby gags.
Think. I don't care who she was, or what her name was, or how old she was. Libby's thoughts demand. All I care about is their supplies.
Libby adds a few more arrows to her quiver and shrugs on an extra bow before jogging up four steps and turning right. As soon as her foot enters into the next room – one with a small fountain against the one wall – she wonders if it was Brynjolf or Karliah. But they're not one to kill so, savagely; but then again they both harbor secrets that Libby would've never discovered.
The chamber is scattered with the remains of dwarven spiders and spheres. Their guts scattered across the floor and soul gems crushed. Libby can only hope that Mercer, Brynjolf and Karliah took care of most of them before she arrived. She shoves open the gate with her shoulder.
The room opens up wider and already Libby can hear the clanking of metal against metal as a Dwemer Sphere rolls along the floor; steam puffing out whenever it stops to turn. Libby looks ahead and finds one of those holders where the spiders and spheres sometimes jump out. Instead of going around, she jumps down and her arm smacks into a rock wall, making her groan. She lands on the concrete floor, hard, and pain from the impact prickles up her shins.
When the sphere goes off in another direction, Libby sneaks/limps past it, rounding a corner leading into a room of fire. Large widened square pillars spew fire from a thin indent along their bodies rotating in pace. There are spaces in between the spigots so Libby preps herself and rolls along with the pillars. She climbs over rock piles made of stairs and columns while trying to navigate her way through the ruins.
As she walks down the hallway, stepping over broken dwarven inventions, she thinks of how just a few more feet below her Mercer is tinkering away at giant jeweled eyes the size of a man's head. The thought of finally being able to face him makes her muscles grow numb, but she tries to remember that Brynjolf, Karliah and Nocturnal are at her back.
She can do this.
She vaults and climbs over rocks and piles of rubble before heading up a staircase and finding a door on her right. She finds a lever in the middle and hauls it to the right, taking her down to the grand cavern.
From there she finds Karliah and Brynjolf waiting by a door. Libby sighs and goes to hug Karliah. "Glad you're here."
"Mercer's been here too. I hope we aren't too late." Karliah says.
"So . . . those bandits back there . . ."
"Brynjolf and I found them like that. Mercer's doing. We have to catch up to him before it's too late." says Karliah.
"I'm ready. Let's go." Libby urges.
"We should tread carefully." Karliah reminds. "I wouldn't be surprised if he's left behind a few surprises for us."
Libby nods and carefully opens the door. There's the clang of metal and Libby drops to the floor as a mace comes swinging down. "You so called it." Libby snips.
Libby takes the lead and Brynjolf and Karliah follow. Once outside the hall, they come to a huge chamber where a gated guard blocks off the tower from the lower level. As Libby peeks through the bars as she passes, she suddenly pauses, an ice bomb exploding in her stomach.
"Wait, what's that?" her voice trembles. Brynjolf and Karliah come up to the gate and follow her gaze. "It's Mercer! Look . . . down there!"
"I'm on it lass!" Brynjolf says.
Libby draws her bow and readies an arrow. She tries to shoot, but the shots never hit. She slams her fist against the metal bars, causing them to rattle. She swears under her breath.
"Dammit, there's no way through!" Brynjolf hisses.
Karliah and Libby watch as he slices at the throat of a Falmer, completely unaware of his presence. A shiver crawls up Libby's spine as the sound of the Falmer choking on its own blood echoes in the quiet chamber.
"He's toying with us. He wants us to follow." Karliah seethes through grit teeth.
"Aye, lass . . . and we'll be ready for him." Brynjolf assures.
Libby can't help but snarl as she watches him enter the next chamber. She whirls around and barrels for the door around the chamber. She shoves it open with her shoulder and runs down then a ramp and around a corner to where she enters the lower level. Instantly she can spot a few Falmer walking around the room and sitting in huts.
Picking a rock from the pile, Libby aims and chucks it at the head of one Falmer. The rock shatters on impact and the thing collapses unconscious to the floor. The other that was next to it readies its sword and Libby can hear it hissing.
The trio scatter and take to the shadows.
The Falmer creeps up the steps and Karliah takes it down with an arrow. Brynjolf handles on the ones on the right, while Libby handles the left. Libby crawls atop a hut and when one comes out to investigate, the jumps and spins her blade, stabbing it through the shoulder. Brynjolf and Karliah pull the switches located on either side of the room and makes sure to avoid the switchblades that launch out of the ground.
They continue through the narrow hallway into the next room. The ruins are like a maze. She's so disoriented that she can't possibly find her way back to her point of origin to where they are now.
This place is even in more than ruins. Collapsed towers and shattered bridges pile on one another and connect into new roads and pathways. Falmer huts gather in corners and Falmers hiss and scratch.
Libby groans as she huddles between Brynjolf and Karliah.
"Looks like we can take the low road or the high road across this chamber." Brynjolf says. "You're choice."
"They'll just slow us down." Libby says.
"Whatever you want to do, just lead and we'll follow." Brynjolf says.
Higher ground would be logical, but the low road has overhangs to where they can easily conceal themselves. Libby bites her lip and decides on higher ground. She jumps and leaps across the piles, twirling and landing softly on a bridge above their heads. She draws two daggers and runs on soft feet the connecting bridges and towers. Brynjolf and Karliah follow.
As she lands on the roof of a lookout tower, when the entire room shakes. The Falmer have little to no reaction, probably because cave-ins are a normal thing here.
Her footing falters. She slides backwards, headfirst down the slope of the roof.
"Oh!" Libby's hands rush to cover her mouth, so her suppressed scream comes out as a high-pitched squeak. She fights the urge to shut her eyes as she careens towards the edge. Her foot catches on the corner of an upturned shingle and unbalances her. A heavy hand grabs her wrist and stops her at the last second, just in time for the heels of her boots to catch against the gutter. She looks up and finds Brynjolf.
He smiles. She smiles back. He effortlessly hauls her back up and Libby instantly collapses into his arms. She tries to make her breathing normal.
"Glad I caught you." He chuckles.
"Me too." Libby's breath hitches in her throat. "What was that?"
"Not something good." Karliah answers.
When the room falls silent, they hops and leap across the roofs until they find a dirt ridge and hop off a Falmer hut and quickly and quietly sprint to the other end of the chamber. An entire tower is freshly demolished. Dirt from the ceiling still sprinkles down atop two more Falmer guards.
"So this is what we heard. The entire tower collapsed." Brynjolf whispers.
"The only reason to do that would be to block pursuit. It must be Mercer." Karliah theorizes.
"I can't believe Mercer managed to bring this entire tower down." Brynjolf says.
"It's the Key Brynjolf. With it in his possession, there's no telling what he's capable of." says Karliah.
Libby loads an arrow and takes out the first Falmer at the head of the remaining bridge, and then the other across the way. They ascend further up the steps and into another small room. The slashed body of a dead Falmer lies in a puddle of its own blood.
"The body's pretty fresh." Libby comments.
"We're getting close." Karliah says.
"That strutting rooster is going for the henhouse." Brynjolf jokes with a sly smile.
"Well then, we'll play the fox." Libby smiles back.
In the next chamber, more Falmer are walking around and a ginormous Dwarven mechanism that Libby has never seen.
"Shor's bones! Look at that monstrosity." Brynjolf gasps.
Libby hangs back, enclosing herself between Karliah and Brynjolf.
"It's a Dwarven Centurion. Very powerful and very deadly." Karliah educates.
"How tough?" Libby asks.
"Enough that I wouldn't recommend facing it on alone."
"We can take the beast on or sneak around it. It's your call, lass. We're right behind you." Brynjolf tells.
"You guys get down. Get back in that corner." She orders pointing to a small abandoned hut.
"What?" Karliah questions.
"Just trust me. Please, just trust me." Libby says.
Karliah looks to Brynjolf who shrugs. "Alright."
They fall back into the hut and Libby loads an arrow. She takes a deep breath and aims it at the Centurion.
The thing roars to life and Libby hurries back toward Brynjolf and Karliah. Brynjolf instantly wraps his arm around her shoulders and shoves her to the ground. The Falmer all hiss and screech as they all charge towards the Centurion.
Karliah and Brynjolf retreat back from the entrance as the machine hisses steam and stomps the ground. It smashes one Falmer with a Warhammer hand, the air leaving its body on impact. The machine looks ahead and starts to walk, crushing the elf's head under its heavy foot. Libby gasps and holds her hand over her mouth. Brynjolf crouches around her to shield her from the sight. Libby curls her hands into fists around his cape.
She doesn't look, but she can hear the snarls, the growls, the howls of pain from the elves. The screeches and ear-piercing screeches of the Falmer go on for a couple of minutes. There's the sound of stone hitting metal and hoarse voices choking on blood. There's the cool wind sound of ice as Falmer casts a frost spell. Still there's a whack and the sound of a body hitting stone.
The noises gradually stop, Libby's vision is too blurry with tears and her hands too useless to fire an arrow. She hears Karliah load an arrow as the Centurion's footsteps approach; more in checking rather than them being spotted. She shoots and with one arrow its down, weakened by the army of Falmer.
"It's alright lass." Brynjolf coos. "It's over."
"No." Libby's voice shake, and still she forces herself to stand. "It's not over. Not yet."
With all the Falmer gone, the room is free to them. They run up the steps and across the connecting bridges to a verandah with two more huts and a Frostbite Spider den. Libby slinks to the side of one hut as a Falmer exits to enter the den. The other Falmer re-enters its hut. Libby ushers everyone forward and through the doors as quickly as possible.
Libby hopes that's the end, but she knows it's not. For the room the just entered is the Irkngthand slave pens.
As they navigate through, a wretched smell hits her nose and Libby wrinkles her nose in disgust.
"The stench . . . this place reeks Falmer." Brynjolf says.
"This must be their hive. We'll have to keep silent if we want to avoid drawing their attention." Karliah suggests.
Libby takes out a Dwarven spider and nods.
She leads them into a room where they find a couple of bones chimes and two Falmer I the room. There's a table and two torture reels. Bloody rags and embalming tools lay scatted across the table and small pits of fire are at the ends of the reels. Libby notices a lever, and instantly pulls it.
A razor fan rises from the ground and instantly spins taking out both the elves.
"Even the Falmer don't deserve the pain these implements must have inflicted. The dwarves were a cruel race." Karliah says.
The body of a thief lies on one of the tables and Libby finds a note poking out of the brim of his ragged trousers. She pulls it out and reads it out loud:
Nobody thought they were real, but I've seen them.
The Eyes of the Snow Elves!
The Dwarves thought they took them from the Falmer, but they themselves were fooled. A statue, built in secrets by the slaves, the eyes burn into you, and I see them even now. S'raffa escaped through the collapsing tunnel, but he'll never escape what we've seen. Men will never believe him, and he'll be driven mad by the knowledge that he'll never see them again.
But I may yet see them again before I die.
Libby folds the note and tucks it away in her pocket. She looks to Karliah and Brynjolf who look to one another.
"We need to go." Libby says taking the lead.
Navigating through the halls, Libby stops when she finds the next room filled with multiple fires and huts huddled around the light.
"There's a mass of the Falmer in this chamber. We can sneak through or take them down . . . I don't care. As long as we get to Mercer." Karliah says.
Libby looks all around and finds pipes twisting and turning all around the chamber. It's aboveground and leads all the way through.
That'll do.
"This way." Libby motions.
"Aye, whatever you want to do, we're with you." Brynjolf says.
Libby nods and sneaks behind the huts keeping close to the walls. They come up towards a ramp and the clicking of Chaurus reaches Libby's ears.
"I hate those things." She grumbles.
Looking up, she finds a small rock wall that leads up to the pipes. She points and signals. Brynjolf boost Libby up, then Karliah, then the girls haul him up. They crouch along the pipes and eye the Falmer carefully as they reach the end gate. Libby drops down onto the Falmer and stabs it through the neck. No others were alarmed and Brynjolf picks the lock to the gate. He hurries them through.
They reach a narrow tunnel with a thick pipe replacing one wall. There's a hush whisper.
"I can hear water rushing through these pipes. We must be beneath a lake." Karliah says.
More pipes emerge and Libby clings to them, climbing up and along them as they enter another hive. They keep atop the pipes, crouched for minutes as they navigate. Libby's fingertips skim a pipe beside her. Not long now.
They head towards the end gate. Libby looks all around and no Falmers come out. Libby drops down beyond the locked claw gate and Brynjolf and Karliah follow. Once they re-enter a small narrow hallway, at the end they see a dwarven door.
"He's close." Karliah whispers. "I'm certain of it. We must prepare ourselves." She says.
Tremors go through her body now that she is close, making it difficult to walk. Breathing is tricky too; she stops trying to be quiet, and lets air wheeze in and out of her lungs. She concentrates on forward motion, on moving her legs even though they seem to be unwilling to support her weight.
This is the last moment she will be able to turn back. The cold air stings her cheeks and her hands as she hesitates. She can walk away right now. Take refuge in the Guild. Hope and pray and wish they still have respect for her and wish that the Guild doesn't suffer because of her selfishness.
But she can't walk away, or the guilt, the weight of Karliah's life, and her father's life, and now Brynjolf's life, will break her bones, will make it impossible to breathe.
Libby slowly pushes the door open. A hand grips her shoulder, and Libby contracts.
"We're with you, lass." Brynjolf whispers.
That is the only thing that keeps her from suffocating.