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

"You're back from your job?"

"Yeah, Carissa,"

"How was it?"

"It went well,"

"You're a terrible liar, you know that?"

"Beg your pardon, lass?"

"You went with them, didn't you? To give up our son,"

"… Carissa, it was my decision. I didn't mean to lie to you; I know we had an agreement but-"

"I'm so sorry,"

"For what, love?"

"The reason why I had you agree that we don't give him up ourselves is because I wanted to save you the pain. I knew I shouldn't stop you but I just didn't want to hurt you anymore…"

"Now, now, lass. You didn't hurt me. You didn't do anything wrong in the first place. Actually, in a way, I'm glad I went. I needed to let it all go. It's been a long time coming for me,"

Location: Cistern, Thieves Guild, Riften
6th of Second Seed, 4E 212
4:12pm
(10 years later)

"Right this way, little lass,"

"Please, sir! I said I was sorry!"

"You did. One too many times. And I told you one too many times I'm not going to hurt you. I'm taking you to a place where your talents would be more… appreciated,"

Carissa, now 46 years of age but still able to pack a mean punch, was at her desk updating her ledge book when she spotted her beloved husband, Brynjolf, entering the cistern from the corner of her eye. She was expecting him home from a small job anyways. However, something was a little different:

He walked into the cistern with a young girl sticking close behind him.

She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion at that sight. She quickly sat the quill down, closed the ledger book and got up from her seat to greet Brynjolf and question him. Maya, her loving and loyal pet wolf of 15 years got up from her comfy position and followed her as well, just as puzzled as her owner.

"Hey, Bryn!" Carissa greeted with her bright sweet smile. "Friend of yours?"

Brynjolf, now in his own early 50s, returned the smile. "You could say that. Carissa, this is Lucie. Lucie, this is the leader of the Thieves Guild, Carissa,"

"Hi," Carissa gave a little wave.

"Hi," Lucie remained in her hiding place behind Brynjolf, but managed to at least return the greeting in a squeak.

"Come on, don't be shy," He gently pulled her to the front. Carissa then got a better view of Lucie: fair-skinned, dirty-blonde hair with pale blue eyes. Quite possibly a Nord. She wore a simple shirt and pants, both dirtied and torn. "This little lass here tried to pickpocket me. And she was almost successful too,"

Carissa widened her eyes at her husband, and then met eyes with little Lucie. "Pickpocket? You tried to pickpocket my second-in-command? And you were almost successful?"

"I said I was sorry!" She apologized sincerely once again.

"Honey," Carissa folded her arms across her chest. "You don't look a day over 10!"

"I'm 8," She said.

Carissa and Brynjolf exchanged a shocked look, completely taken aback. "Lucie, why were you doing pickpocketing people?" He asked in a gentle tone.

"It's all I do now," She replied in her soft voice. "And steal if I can. I have to try and eat now that I ran away,"

"You ran away? From home?" Carissa asked.

Lucie shook her head. "No, miss. From bandits,"

"Bandits?"

"I… don't remember all the details, and I don't know how much of it is true but…" Lucie shifted in her place. "Those bandits told me that my mother sold me to them when I was little. I've been with them ever since: doing whatever they asked me too. And if I didn't do what they asked or if I did it wrongly, I would be… punished…" She almost grimaced at the last word, pulling the sleeves of her messy long-sleeved white shirt closer to her fingers.

Carissa noticed that action, and kneeled down in front of her and took one of Lucie's hands. Without any resistance from the little Nord, Carissa found some bruising on her wrists. "Monsters… How did you escape?" She asked as she got to her feet.

"A few nights ago they were all drinking a little too much and everyone passed out. I had been working on escaping my cage for a while. I knew that that was the right time so I made my escape and arrived at Riften,"

"'Cage'? You've got to be kidding me…" Carissa murmured to herself. "Alright, Lucie. I'll hear no more. You're been through way too much. You need to start afresh. And you can start right here, in the Thieves Guild,"

Little Lucie widened her big innocent eyes at Carissa. "I'm… I'm joining the Thieves Guild?"

Carissa flashed a smile. "Hey, you managed to almost pickpocket my second-in-command! I think you have talent! Don't you think you deserve to be here?"

"I… I don't know…"

"You do, Lucie. Trust me," She held her smile. "You need the love you've been missing out on. And you'll only get it from family,"

"But family means a mother, father… brothers and sisters…" Lucie said, saddening slightly.

Carissa grinned at this little bundle of innocence. "You want a mommy and daddy? Alright. I'll be your mommy. This handsome red-headed Nord you tried to pickpocket? He'll be your daddy," That statement caused Brynjolf to arch an amused eyebrow. "And this lovely men and women around you? They're your loving brothers and sisters. Look around you, Lucie,"

Lucie took a moment to scan her surroundings: she saw a few more people in the Cistern, dressed in their Guild uniform, looking on at the scene going on in the center of the Cistern.

"You join? Not only will we develop your skills that will earn you gold, but you'll get a family who will care for you. Fight for you. Protect you. And love you," She said.

"All you need, little lass," Brynjolf then spoke. "Is to give us your loyalty. That's all,"

After glancing around, Lucie looked at Carissa once again, still a little uncertain.

"Hey, you ever wanted a pet dog?" Carissa chuckled and then presented Maya. "A pet wolf is ten times better!"

Maya wagged her tail at Lucie, further agreeing with her owner. Woof, woof?

"Lucie," Carissa knelt down in front of her once again, and took on a mellow tone. "You had your life ruined by bandits. So did I. And so did some others here. You're not alone. We can give you everything you've never had,"

Lucie managed to blink once again. And when she did, she took another quick look around the cistern, but was this time, greeted by smiling faces and assured nods. The little Nord felt a little more certain after seeing those faces. So she turned back to Carissa and gave her own nod. "Alright," She said with a small smile.

"Alright?"

Lucie nodded again. "I want a family, miss. And I think I'll feel right at home here,"

Carissa giggled, reached forward and pinched both her cheeks. "You have no idea, you cute little Nord, you! Alright, if you're going to be part of this Guild, you'll need a good set of armor. So I'll get that done for you. Second, we'll need you to get started on your 'lessons'. So you see that handsome Nord over there?" She pointed to Vipir the Fleet, who gave a little wave. "That's Vipir the Fleet. His specialty is pickpocketing. So he's gonna be your mentor from now on," She got her to feet. "Other than that, we'll just have to get you settled in. Is there anything else you want to add, Lucie?"

"Well…" Lucien looked at her feet and shifted in her position. "There is one more thing…"

"Tell me, sweetie. You want to call me mommy? You've got full rights,"

Lucie giggled at that. "Thank you but… I was actually hoping I could change my name,"

"Change your name?"

"Those bandits named me Lucie. I've hated it ever since. It just… reminds me of the bad moments…"

Carissa smiled. "Say no more. We'll give you another name. Do you have something in mind?"

She shook her head. "Not really…"

But Carissa had the perfect name. "Alayna,"

Brynjolf furrowed his eyebrows at that. Did his wife just seriously suggest her own real name to replace Lucie's?

Lucie giggled. "I like it!"

"Perfect! Alayna it is, then. What about birthday?"

Lucie shook her head.

"7th of First Seed then,"

"First Planting?"

"Why not? A time to set aside past differences, but most importantly, to begin anew. And that's what you're about to do,"

"It's perfect!"

"Great! Then you're all done. Sapphire!" She then called for her right-hand woman as she got to her feet. "This is Sapphire. She's my right-hand woman. She'll set you up with a bed and nightstand. Welcome to the Thieves Guild, Alayna."

She beamed, probably her first real smile in a very long time. "Thanks so much!"

11:25pm

"So. Alayna, eh?"

"It's a pretty name, Bryn, and somebody needs to have it. So why not Lucie have it if she's looking to remove herself from the past?" Carissa said, as she climbed onto their bed.

Brynjolf could not help but agree to that. "Fitting, I suppose. You comfortable?" He asked, as he wrapped his arms around her, her head on his chest.

"It's perfect," She sighed.

"I heard you talking to Sapphire earlier. About those bandits that kept Alayna?"

"Then you would know that I'm having Sapphire get a description of those bandits from Alayna, so that I can send in some of our people to eliminate them,"

"Anything to protect her, right?"

She nodded. "Anything for Alayna. We're taking care of her from now on,"

"I know: 'This handsome red-headed Nord you tried to pickpocket? He'll be your daddy'," He quoted her from the conversation with Lucie.

Carissa lifted her head from his chest so she could look at him. "You know what I mean, Bryn. She needs parents. Parents who can love her unconditionally. And I know you can give her the love she needs. Since I robbed you of the chance to love your own son…"

"Carissa, we don't have to go into that now-"

"Don't tell me otherwise, Bryn. You know I'm right," She laid her head down once again. "Here I was, saying that it's dangerous to raise a child, and we now have an 8 year old in the Cistern…"

"Carissa," He could hear the slight crack in her voice. "This is a completely different situation," He stroked her hair tenderly. "Only the Gods know what Alayna has been through. And if she's survived all this while, then she must be good at protecting herself. Keeping her from danger won't be a big deal,"

Carissa shut her eyes tightly, trying not to let the tears roll. "10 years in 4 months…"

"I know, love. I know," Brynjolf hushed her in his gentle tone. "But at least he's safe and sound."

A/N: Well, I hope you guys like Lucie! We'll see her in her teens in a bit :)

More flashbacks in the next chapter!