The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Brynjolf and Carissa "Stealing Hearts"


Location: Outside of the Twilight Sepulcher
18
th of Sun's Height
6:15pm

"And that's the best I can tell you about the Pilgrim's Path: created by those 'priests' who had worshipped her, as a test of worthiness… Carissa? Is everything alright?"

Just hours after finally killing Mercer Frey, the former Guildmaster of the Thieves Guild, Carissa and Karliah stood outside of the Twilight Sepulcher, the resting place of Nocturnal's Skeleton Key. It was now Carissa's job to put the Key back and reverse the damage Mercer had caused all those years ago.

Carissa was slightly startled by Karliah's concerned questioning. She continued to stare at the doors of the Sepulcher with a dejected look on her face. "How did you feel when Gallus told you of the Nightingales?"

Though Karliah was slightly confused by her question, she still gave her an answer. "A little puzzled. I mean, I didn't think the way we would handle a job would be determined by the luck Nocturnal hands to us. It all seemed surreal. But… I grew into it," She said. "I mean, what did I have another than the Guild and Gallus? Why shouldn't I go a place where I can be at peace after living a good life? I didn't mind at all, Carissa. I had no problems. Sure, it was all confusing at first but… when you've determined that you know your place in this world… then get go with it," Karliah then glanced at her. "It finally sank in for you, didn't it?"

Carissa faked a little chuckle. "Ha, yeah… In my rage and need for revenge, I signed up for something without giving it a second thought. And now that it's over, I finally had time to think about it all. Brynjolf seemed alright about it though,"

"He wanted Mercer to pay for his crimes too, Carissa. It'll sink in for him too. And when it does, the three of us can always sit down and talk about it. It's not all that bad, you know,"

"Nah. It seems alright, I guess…" Briefly, Carissa glanced down at Maya, who responded with a slight wag of her tail. She 'smiled' at her owner. "But not entirely. Which is why I need you to take Maya back with you to the Guild,"

"What?"

What? Rissa, what are you doing? Maya thought.

"Karliah, I've been at this for 25 years now," Carissa turned her whole body to Karliah. "But this?" She pointed at the Sepulcher. "This is Daedra business. It goes two ways: you either live or you die. I've never messed with the Daedra before," She admitted, trying her best to keep calm. "And if this place is also a portal for Nocturnal to come to Skyrim, and we had the only solid pathway close on us, then who knows what we'll encounter in there? I've taken care of Maya since she was a baby. And I'm not about to lose her over putting a key back. No, I can't," She raised both of her hands. "I can't lose Maya over this. It's a journey I'll have to make alone, and I'll make it alone,"

Carissa, you arrogant Breton! I'm NOT leaving you! Maya scratched her owner's leg and whimpered.

Carissa took notice and got to her knees, acknowledging her wolf. "I'm sorry, Maya, but this how it's going to be," She massaged her neck. "We've never messed with Daedric magic before. Anything can happen. And I mean anything. I don't you caught in the middle of all of this. Just go with Karliah,"

Maya began to whimper again, trying her best to argue. I won't! I won't, I won't! I won't leave you, Cariss-

"Please, Maya. Just do as I say. It's for the best," She held back the tears and kissed her wolf companion on the forehead. Carissa got back and looked at Karliah.

"Carissa, why are you making it seem like you're saying your final goodbyes?" She asked, completely baffled by her actions and words.

Carissa faked another laugh as she continued to stare at the doors of the Sepulcher. "I have… no idea. Maybe it's because I've never done anything like this before? Maybe it's because that now, every time I do a job, I will always have this thought in my head which would say, 'Hey, Carissa. You're about to go out and do this job, but what if you don't make it? What if something goes wrong and this is the last time you ever see Brynjolf?'" She turned her head back to the Dark Elf. "I never worried about doing something wrong in the past because dead or dying, I didn't have anybody waiting for me. But now I do! I have Brynjolf! And ever since we began to be with each other, I tell myself to be extra careful because anything could happen at any time and you would want to make sure that you go home to that handsome Nord," Tears formed in her eyes this time. "I had never almost got killed before," She then confessed to Karliah. "Mercer's attempt at killing me… that was a first-time for me. And I had no idea how scary it can be, realizing that you were on the brink of death. There were things I wanted to do and say and I would have never gotten to if you hadn't got me out of there in the first place, Karliah. So I'm not making any mistakes this time. Tell Brynjolf that he's the best thing that's ever happened to me, if I take too long to come back out,"

"Carissa-"

"Just promise me this, Karliah," She gripped her upper arms. "Please,"

By the Shadows, Karliah had never been put in a position like this before. Should she promise Carissa? Or should she assure her that she would come back out alive?

"I'll tell him,"


Location: The Twilight Sepulcher

"I don't recognize you, but I sense you're one of us. Who are you?"

As soon as Carissa entered the Twilight Sepulcher, up ahead was a larger door, possibly taking her deeper into the Sepulcher as its 'tests'. However, a spectral spirit, a pale shade of blue, was in her way. He spoke in a rather serene tone.

"I could… ask the same thing of you. Who are you?"

"The last of the Nightingale Sentinels, I'm afraid. I've defended the Sepulcher alone for what seems like an eternity," She could hear the tiredness in his voice.

"The 'last'? What happened to the rest?" She asked.

"We were betrayed by one of our own kind," He said. "In fact, I'm to blame for what's happened here. I was blinded. Blinded by dark treachery masquerading as friendship. Perhaps if I had been more vigilant, then Mercer Frey wouldn't have lured me to my fate and stolen the Skeleton Key," He shook his head slightly, as if he was ashamed of himself.

Oh my Mara… "Wait… Gallus? Gallus Desidenius?!"

Despite the pale color, Carissa was able to catch his expressions well. He seemed amazed that this Breton knew his name. "I… haven't heard that name in a long time. How do you know of me?"

She almost smirked. "Karliah,"

"Karliah...?" That name almost stunned him. "She's still alive?" He stepped forward, unable to believe that his lover was still living. "I feared she'd befallen the same fate, ending up a victim of Mercer's betrayal!"

"She didn't, but she got the blame for your death," Carissa said. "She's been running for 25 years now. It's finally ended…. after I stuck my dagger into Mercer and watched the life drain from his eyes,"

"You… you killed Mercer? Then what of the Skeleton Key?"

She patted her side, where she had kept the Key in a small satchel attached to her hip. "Right here,"

"Then it's over and my death wasn't in vain," And she finally saw a smile on his lips. "I owe you a great deal… Nightingale."

She smiled as well, waving her hand at him. "Don't worry about it. I did this for the Guild,"

"Ah," A wide smile appeared this time. "I knew you were a woman of loyalty when you walked in. Of course you did this for the family. Very honorable, Nightingale."

"Thanks, but now, we have to return the Key back. So you think you can lead the way?"

Gallus then saddened at her question, and went onto explaining. "Nothing would bring me more pride than to return the Key, but I'm afraid it's impossible. From the moment I arrived here, I've felt myself... well... dying."

"Say what?"

"The Sepulcher isn't merely a temple or a vault to house the Key. Within these walls is the Ebonmere... a conduit to Nocturnal's realm of Evergloam. When Mercer stole the Key, that conduit closed, severely limiting our ties to her."

"I knew that. That's why I'm taking this stupid path that might very well get me killed… but I still don't get it…"

"I'm weakening, Nightingale, and I can feel myself slipping away. The years without restoration of my power have taken their toll. Whatever damage has been caused can only be corrected by following the Pilgrim's Path to the Ebonmere and replacing the Key."

"Ugh…" She hung her head, grunting in great annoyance. "Alright. I'll do it. I'll put the Key back. I'll just have to try not to get killed."

Gallus gave her another smile, this time, a confident one. "Your will is strong, Nightingale. You have a little black heart, indeed, but one that's filled with loyalty and confidence. You can do this, Nightingale. I believe in you."

"Thanks, handsome. No wonder Karliah fell in love with you,"


The First Test

"Shadows of their former selves, sentinels of the dark. They wander ever more and deal swift death to defilers."

"Who knew spirits could feel pain? HEY! OVER HERE! MORE IRON DAGGERS COMIN' AT YA!"


The Second Test

"Above all they stand, vigilance everlasting. Beholden to the murk yet contentious of the glow."

"This… is a brightly-lit room, but there's a shadowy trail running from here, to the other side of the room. I don't get it. What's the trail for? Am I supposed to walk along the shadows? And not step into the light? Might be, considering that we work with the shadows… but what happens if I'm under the light? Do I die? Get burnt? But… BUT I'M NOT A VAMPIRE…"


The Third Test

"Offer what She desires most, but reject the material. For her greatest want is that which cannot be seen, felt or carried."

"Ugh, DON'T tell me it's a dead end! What am I supposed to do here? All I see is a statue of Nocturnal! I have these two large torches as well, but what else is there? Hm… maybe there's a hidden door somewhere… or maybe I took a wrong turn somewhere along the way…"


The Fourth Test

"Direct and yet indirect. The path to salvation a route of cunning with fortune betraying the foolish."

"I smell traps… and lots of them… Ugh, how typical! Only an idiot would walk on a pressure plate! YOU'RE MAKING THIS TOO EASY. And here I was, ALMOST GOING TO CRY OVER NOTHING!"


Location: Outside the Twilight Sepulcher
Meanwhile…

"I think we should go now, Maya,"

NO. I'M NOT LEAVING WITHOUT CARISSA. Maya wished that the Dark Elf could hear her thoughts, or that she could speak and say actually what she was thinking, but all Maya could do was stay outside of the doors of the Sepulcher, and wait patiently for her owner to come back.

"Look, I'm worried too. She said some pretty powerful words just now. But don't you want to honor her wish?"

TOO BAD. I'm staying until she comes back! I've NEVER left that woman for anything, so I WON'T leave her now!


Location: Inner Sanctum, Twilight Sepulcher

"The journey is complete, the Empress's embrace awaits the fallen. Hesitate not if you wish to gift her your eternal devotion."

"…" Carissa was staring at what was, quite possibly, a dead end. The door she was facing with was going to take her nowhere else but down. And there was not even any stairs or anything; it meant she would have to jump! "Oh Gods, please tell me I really took a wrong turn!"

But it did not appear like she did. Glancing below her again, she was ready to cry. So she got to the edge, grabbed it, and began to slide down, the Nightingale gloves protecting her hands. Thankfully, she was able to support her own weight. "Mara, GUIDE MEEEEEEEEEE-OH… I made it…" She felt as if her life had been given back to her the moment her Nightingale boots touched the solid ground.

She moved away from the wall and to the center of this tiny area. Oh snap. How was she going to climb up? This was a dead end! "Oh, what have I done to myself…"

But as soon as she said that, the floor sort of 'gave way', disappearing like smoke and causing Carissa to land flat on her back, to which she let out a pained cry. "OH GODS, THE PAIN…" She quickly rolled to her front, injuring her abdomen once again. "OI. How did THAT happen?!"

As she got to her feet, palming her lower back, she glanced around the room: it had three closed doors… and a lock directly under her feet. It was an interesting-looking lock – only one kind of key could fit it perfectly, and it was the Skeleton Key. This had to be Ebonmere.

So Carissa slipped the key into the keyhole and was almost thrown off by an unseen force. Her back collided with the wall, "OW! WHAT THE-" Suddenly, the keyhole shape-shifted into what looked like… a shrine. From within it, dozens of ravens emerged screeching, bringing with them a female in a hooded, low-cut black gown. She had two ravens on her shoulders, as her pure white eyes searched for the fallen Carissa.

"My, my, what do we have here? It's been a number of years since I've set foot on your world. Or perhaps it's been moments. One tends to lose track…" Her tone was rich, yet she sounded unimpressed with Carissa, who was still on the ground, her back against the wall as she stared at Nocturnal with the best confused face she had.

"So... once again the Key has been stolen and a 'champion' returns it to the Sepulcher. Now that the Ebonmere has been restored, you stand before me awaiting your accolades, a pat on your back... a kiss on your cheek…" She smirked at the Breton, but it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared. "What you fail to realize is that your actions were expected and represent nothing more than the fulfillment of your agreement,"

"Ex-CUSE ME?!" Carissa exclaimed at that. "Look, lady, I don't expect you to tell me that I've been a good girl and followed whatever was in that agreement! I did this, because I wanted to!"

Nocturnal definitely did not expect the Breton to talk back. Yet, she did not seem to have taken offence to it. "Oh, don't mistake my tone for displeasure, Nightingale. After all, you've obediently performed your duties to the letter. But we both know this has little to do with honor and oaths and loyalty. It's about the reward, the prize. The trinkets, the desire for power, the hunger for wealth…"

You… did NOT… just say that to my beautiful face. "Say WHAT?! LISTEN, lady!" Carissa got to her feet in an instant, upon hearing that accusation. "Don't you DARE accuse me like that! Aren't you a Daedric Prince?! Aren't you supposed to see all and know all?! This had NOTHING to do with any rewards, or power or coin! I did this for the Guild! At this point of time, I don't care for money or power! I just want to return the Key and bring the luck back to my Guild! I care for them more than I care about wealth. Let me establish that right now…"

"Do you, Nightingale?" Lady Luck did not seem to believe her Nightingale. "Are you sure this love you harbor is for the Guild, or is it for a sole individual? Surely you know of the little story of Karliah and Gallus? He felt comfortable around her, which enabled him to let his guard down, and it subsequently led him to his fate,"

"You're putting the blame on love? Really?" She faked a laugh. "Love is blind, Nocturnal. It also happens without reason, but when it does, it's usually because it's meant to be something beautiful. Now Karliah and Gallus had something beautiful. It's too bad Mercer didn't let them have it…"

'Hmph… You are a stubborn, aren't you, Nightingale?"

"Apparently, it's attractive. So help me,"

"I grow tired of this debate, Nightingale. So I bid you to drink deeply from the Ebonmere. For this is where the Agent of Nocturnal is born. The Oath has been struck, the die has been cast and your fate awaits you in the Evergloam." Then, out of nowhere she gave Carissa genuine smile. "Farewell, Nightingale. See to it the Key stays this time, won't you?"

"BITCH, I OUGHT TO-"

But then, the shrine closed up and returned to being a piece of the ground, before Carissa could continue. Perhaps it was for the best.

"OOF!" Just then, Carissa was tackled to the ground by a strong force… which turned out to be Maya! "Maya?!" She managed to say between her ticklish licks of death. "What are you doing here?" She giggled.

"Come on now, Maya, you're crushing her!" Karliah came running up from behind.

"Karliah? Hey, how did you get in?" She questioned, trying to put a stop to Maya's licks to her face. "What are you two EVEN doing here?"

"Well… I tried to leave, but Maya refused to come with me," She said. "So we decided to wait until the Ebonmere was restored, and we took the route that the Nightingales were originally meant to take. The route that had been closed off, but you brought it back. You did it, Carissa. The Skeleton Key is back where it belongs."

By then, she managed to get back to her feet, after Maya was all out of ticklish licks of death. "And here, I made a big deal about surviving Pilgrim's Path…"

"It's alright to feel vulnerable every now and then, Carissa," She gave her a smile. "Don't worry about it. Right now, we'll have to start getting ready,"

"Ready? For what?"

It was then that Carissa witnessed Karliah smirk for the very first time. "Why, perhaps the greatest crime spree Skyrim's ever known! There are pockets brimming with coin and coffers overflowing with riches ripe for the picking. We may be Nightingales, but in our hearts we're still thieves and we're damn good at what we do."

"Ha! You're DAMN right!" She hi-fived the Dark Elf.

"Karliah?"

That voice was all too familiar to Karliah. She turned around in an instant, and was shock-struck. "Gallus?"

"OH yeah, I forgot to mention that I ran into your Imperial lover…"

Words could not express how Karliah felt right now. She broke into smiles. "I… I feared I would never see you again! I was afraid you'd become like the others."

Gallus brought along his own smile, one that Karliah had missed seeing. "If it were not for the actions of this Nightingale," He quickly acknowledged Carissa, "your fears would have come true. She honors us all."

She walked up to him, step by step, but eventually was taken into his arms, touching foreheads with him. "It's really you… I'm- I'm so sorry for everything that's happened-"

"Hush, darling. You did nothing wrong. You never did. Do not let trivial thoughts confuse you," Gallus knew exactly what she was thinking.

"I've missed you…" Those words were spoken in voice barely above a whisper.

"I missed you too, Karliah," He lovingly cupped her perfectly chiseled cheeks, trying to capture her stunning violet eyes. "But… Nocturnal calls me to the Evergloam. My contract has been fulfilled."

Karliah was, indeed, disappointed to hear that. But she was never going to voice it out. Instead, she understood completely, and nodded. "Will I see you again?"

Gallus smiled at her in assurance. "When your debt to Nocturnal has been paid, we'll embrace once again." Without a warning, he leaned in and kissed her on her lips. "I swear,"

Carissa was not a mind-reader, but she could tell every easily that Karliah was thinking, please don't leave yet…

Part of Karliah wished that kiss could stay forever on her lips until the next time they would meet again. She felt like this brief embracement was not enough to make up for 25 years of pain and solitary. But she also realized that this was the best that she was ever going to get until they would meet again. "Farewell, my love…"

Giving her one last half-smile, he detached from her, walking backwards, away from her. "Goodbye, Karliah. Walk with the Shadows."

"Always,"

And he disappeared into thin air.

Karliah brought her hands to her mouth, trying her hardest to conceal a sob that was unexpectedly coming to her. Carissa knew of this, and with tears in her own eyes, she placed a hand on her comrade's shoulder. "It's alright, Karliah. Come here." She made her turn to her so she could envelope the Dark Elf into a tight hug, hoping to take the last of the pain away.


A/N: Thumbs up for the longest chapter in this story!

As much as I wanted to split it up, I couldn't. Somehow, every little thing was so important that it wasn't possible to split it up x)

"Human" by Civil Twilight SO helped with Gallus' goodbye. It has nothing to do with the lyrics, but the structure of the music just made it so right x)

Expect the next chapter to be short! But it's gonna hold a lot of significance :)