Note: In the work that I am writing, the different standing stones in Skyrim is treated like horoscopes, people born under certain stones will have its abilities, the strength of the abilities will vary depending at the time of their birth. So some people will have weaker abilities than others and etc.

Also, the Thieves Guild members are given more distinct personalities based on their dialogues and my first impressions of them. It may not hold true as they are pretty much drunk in this, so yeah.

Enjoy :P

The Cistern was bursting with merriment that night as most of the thieves sat down together for a leisurely drink.

They were seated by the pool of water, around plates filled with meats and cheese laid out on the floor. They were also surrounded by a few dozen bottles of various wines and mead they've taken from the Flagon. Talk and laughter echoed off the walls as they celebrated the revival of the Thieves Guild as it drove its long arms deep into the major cities of Skyrim.

The thieves were getting drunk, having guzzled about a dozen bottles of the finest wine that they could find, as they began their talk into more trivial things.

"I believe he's under the Steed Stone," Rowan suggested as he took a small sip from his mug.

Cynric starts laughing heartily, "Right, that story!"

"He pretends to be shamed but then he goes around telling everyone about it," Niruin muttered, watching the liquid slosh around in his tankard as he tilted it about, "Twice."

"Where is he now?" Cynric asked as he took a swig of his drink.

"Busy running off to another job," Thrynn snorted as he tore into a chunk of grilled goat.

The group burst into chuckles over the matter.

Thrynn tossed his drink back and cast his judging eyes upon Rowan.

"And you? Aren't you under the Shadow?" He asked suddenly.

Rowan turned to him with a huge smirk, "Well, yes."

Before Thyrnn could say anything about that, Cynric let out a huge sigh as he got onto his shaky feet.

"Oh, I am envious," Cynric admitted as he pointed his swaying tankard at Rowan, "How are you so fortunate to have been born directly- directly, under the Shadow Stone. I'm barely under the Lord and it's mighty useless! And you, you blend into the darkness with nary an effort!"

He tossed his drink back and Niruin laughed, "Slow down you lightweight, we've a long night ahead of us!"

"Who're you calling a lightweight?!"

"Leave him be," Thrynn groused, "That idiot always drinks too much."

"What can I say? Better drunk than sober!" Cynric spread his arms sloppily, forgetting he had a drink in his hand and spilled the entire thing.

"Hey, the cheese, mind the cheese!" Rune exclaimed, picking up the plate. "I paid solid gold for this cheese!"

"You're the only one here who cares about the cheese," Thrynn complained, draining an entire bottle of mead.

Rowan laughed as he dropped a chunk of pheasant into his mouth.

"It's the gold, the jewels that are real valuable," Thrynn continued on his rant and raised another bottle, "Even this mead here, much better than some stupid cheese."

"But I paid for these…" Rune said sadly.

"You paid?!" The former bandit spat out his mead.

The group roared with laughter. Cynric fell over from his unsteady movement and knocked over a few bottles of wine. They rolled down the stone floor and into the water, bobbing cheerfully across the surface of the water.

Cynric shakily got back onto his feet, "Oops."

"Get him in the water!" Thrynn shouted angrily.

Cynric raised a finger as he swayed on his feet, "'s alright. I can get in myself."

The man proceeded to fall into the knee-deep waters face-first. It drew another bout of laughter from the group as he turned and pulled himself upright, cursing and spluttering in surprise.

"It's bloody cold in here!" He shivered.

"Of course it is, you blubbering fool!" Thrynn jeered.

The poor man uselessly paddled back to the edge and pulled himself out of water. He dripped water all over Niruin, who cursed and unceremoniously shoved him back into the pool.

His fellow thieves laughed at his plight as he surfaced and screamed, "Bullies! Thugs, scoundrels and ruffians, all of you!"

"Sod off!"

Cynric huffed as he pulled himself out of the pool again and proceeded to drip water all over Rune and his cheese. Rune yelped in protest, then moved to sit far away from him, right next to Rowan who chuckled as he took a sip of wine from his tankard.

Niruin was staring at the latter when he mentioned, "So, you're the only one who's got a scar." He tapped his own left cheek, "What's the story behind that?"

Thrynn scoffed, "Was it from one of your maidens who found out you were a whore?"

"That is beyond rude," Rune said in his defense.

Rowan ignored both of them as he popped a bit of cheese into his mouth. He chewed for a moment before muttering, "It was from a bear."

"What?" Thrynn spat.

"Ho, our golden boy here fought a bear!" Cynric said sarcastically.

Rune looked impressed, "Really?"

"No?" Cynric looked confused, "I think not."

Niruin stroked his chin as he studied the scar, "It looks like it was from a cat."

"A sabre?"

"A house cat."

"An angry Khajiit!" Cynric laughed.

Rowan laughed as he took another sip of wine, "No, you fools, it was from a bear."

"Go on then, Rodent," Thrynn said in a challenging tone, "Tell us your story."

He popped open another bottle of wine, pouring it into his tankard as he started, "It was during one of the days when I was a wandering bard. I was on my way to Markarth. It was approaching dusk, I was in the mountains surrounded by juniper trees when I came upon a bear in the dark."

"So what did you do?"

"The only thing that is sensible," Rowan said, "I ran away from it."

Cynric burst out laughing and Thrynn turned to glare at him.

"What? It was funny."

The former bandit rolled his eyes.

"Now," Rowan said as he began his story, lowering his tone as if narrating a great tale. "I was at a severe disadvantage. The way is dark and full of dangers when suddenly, the bear attacks me!"

"The great beast slowly rises on its hind legs. Its form towers over me, throwing its black shadow over the trees. Its enormous form blocks the waning moon above. Its eyes are as red as blood, they bore into my very soul and pierce into my skull. There was a cold chill in the air as it huffs, its breath misting the air around us in damp, foggy clouds. A loud, guttural growl reverberated as if from the heart of the mountain, my heart pounds along with it."

Rowan smirked in satisfaction as the thieves stared at him, captivated.

"I watch as the beast opens its great, big maw," he clasped his hands together, one on top of the other with crooked fingers on one hand in between of those on the other. He parted them to imitate an opening jaw. "Its dark lips curls back to reveal rows upon rows of yellowed, dagger-like fangs, glinting from the pale moonlight."

He paused, making a show of holding his breath with a look of dread on his face.

"SNAP!" He exclaimed as he suddenly snapped his hands back together. His audience jumped and he held back the urge to laugh, even more so when Thrynn began glaring at him.

Rowan switched back to his low, serious tone as he continued, "I stare straight at it, my heart thundering in my chest, my blood roaring in my ears. I should not make any sudden movements to agitate it any further. Once again, it opens its massive maw and let out a roar that sounds as if the jaws of Oblivion are opening right beneath my feet. My mind is blank, there is no other thing I could think of, except to get away from the dark beast as soon as possible."

"I turn and run, as quickly as my weakening legs can carry me. I feel as if I am running in a bog, my legs are numb from the fear rushing through my veins. Behind me, I can hear its unholy roar, reverberating, tearing through my flesh. My heart feels as if it is going to beat out of my chest, beating in time with the thunderous footsteps as it came charging at me. Plants and twigs cut through my trousers and into my skin but I can feel none of it. Its hot, wet breath ghost over the back of my neck as it snarls and growls and grunts right behind me. Twigs snapping and rocks crumbling under its feet. I duck under a fallen tree, the cold air stabbing my lungs. And, a heart-stopping CRASH! Pieces of chipped wood fall to the ground just by me. Its enraged roar send a rush of air into my back and I could not help but turn, and see that the truck had snapped in two and the bear is glaring at me with red, blooded eyes."

The Cistern was silent except for his voice as they stared at him.

"I dart towards the rocky hill as the beast bring its paws down unto me, the ground that I was just standing had been crushed under its feet. I let myself fall down the face of the rocks. And it follows me, unrelenting, as it tumbles down the hill with me. The air was knocked out of me when I hit the bottom, my sides ache but I could not stop for comfort as the snarling and growling is still right by me. I tossed my pack and my broken lute aside, hoping to distract it. But the bear was determined, it was going to have me, one way or another. I realize this just as a force knocked me to the ground, the beast having successfully struck me in the back. I gasp and struggle and twist onto my back, the bear roaring, its fangs glittering and hot spittle landing on my face. I knew that I was a dead man as it raises its claws and brings it down in a flash. Hot, stinging pain erupted on my face, there was a wetness and I knew that I bled. It rises for another strike, a killing blow, my hands scrambled for anything, anything useful that could help me buy some time. My hand grasps onto what seems to be a stone. I fling the stone at it with all my might, with all the strength that I could muster. The stone strikes the bear in the eye and it snarls in pain. I turn and try to crawl back onto my feet. But my strength was gone and I collapse back onto the ground, certain that I'd met my doom."

Rowan trailed off, letting it sink in.

"That was when a voice, a shrill voice calls out from the dark. 'Hey, ugly!' She yelled. At that time I hoped she wasn't referring to me as I was sure, my face had been marred and covered in blood beyond recognition."

There was a low chuckle among the thieves as Rowan smiled.

"The beast was distracted and an arrow flew from the trees and embedded itself in its other eye. It roared, and more arrows fly, right into its gaping mouth. And it was felled, the great form of the bear crashed to the ground. It was all silent and still."

"And from the trees emerged a maiden, the great huntress who defeated the great beast that chased me so. 'Are you alright?' She asked."

"All I could do was stare at her, for she was far fairer and more beautiful than any huntress I have laid my eyes upon."

"There it is," Thrynn snorted.

Rowan ignored him, "'Aye,' I replied. 'I have never been better.' To that, she laughed, 'How can that be, when you are bleeding so terribly?' So I looked at her and said, with the utmost sincerity, 'It was your fairness that healed my ills. With such a striking beauty in sight, how can I feel any pain?' So taken was she by my words that she blushed a most pretty shade of red. 'Come with me,' she said graciously, 'And let me tend to your wounds. My camp is this way.' I accepted her request, and went with her."

Rowan paused and took a sip of his mead.

"What happened next?" Rune asked, curious.

Rowan looked like he was about to say something, then stopped. "Oh, look at the time, it's quite late," he said smilingly, "I think I've had enough, time for bed."

"What? Wait," Cynric protested when he stood up, "You haven't told us the rest?"

"The rest?"

"You know, the night with your fair huntress?"

"Ah, yes, it's quite-" Rowan looked down the Cistern, "Hey look, the boss is calling me."

"Huh?" Rune craned his neck in the direction that he's looking, "I don't see-"

"Gotta go!"

Rowan ran off before the rest can say anything else.

"He's a devil," Niruin commented as he downed another tankard of wine.

"I wanted to hear more about the huntress…" Cynric grumbled as he flopped onto the stone floor.

Thrynn stared at where he saw Rowan last, "I still do not believe he got that scar from a bear."

"Why is that?"

"Well, he'd be dead if he took a blow from a bear."

"How do you know that?" Rune asked.

Cynric perked up immediately, "Is it because you bandit types like to 'get friendly with the wildlife'?"

Thrynn threw a bottle at him and almost nailed him in the face. Apparently Cynric was no longer drunk enough to be an easy target.

"I agree with Thrynn," Niruin said calmly, "A bear would've killed him with a strike from its claws."

"So what do you propose?" Cynric asked.

"We get him to admit the truth, one way or another."

Brynjolf walked towards the archery range, hoping to sharpen his blade when he spotted Thrynn cornering Rowan once again. He felt a sense of resignation, he thought that Rowan had learnt his lessons last time about daring to mess with that one. Thrynn aimed a punch at his face, which Rowan easily avoided. The former bandit was gearing up for another assault when Brynjolf rushed in.

"Stop!" He barked.

Thrynn and Rowan both turned to him and Brynjolf was surprised when the former bandit regarded him with mortification rather than anger.

"What's going on?" He asked, puzzled.

"We're having a… urm," Thrynn stammered, "A little combat practice! That's it."

Brynjolf raised a brow at him, "Rowan?"

He shrugged, "Whatever he said."

Brynjolf stared at the both of them suspiciously.

"Alright then," he said finally and went on his way.

However, as he left, he heard Thrynn whisper, "Twenty septims and you tell me what really happened that day."

Brynjolf turned to look at them curiously and walked right into the grindstone.

The Guild leader rubbed at his bruised shin while he sat at the edge of the pool, wondering about the scene he'd seen a few while ago.

It was then that he saw Rowan walk across the bridge with Cynric in tow.

"Oh come on," Cynric grumbled, "Tell me what it was again, was it a cat? A Khajiit?"

"It was a bear."

"No, you didn't mention a bear," Cynric said, "It must be a Khajiit, I remembered you said a Khajiit."

Rowan scoffed, "You must've been drunk, it was not a Khajiit."

"You were drunk!" Cynric protested, "You mentioned a Khajiit, a female Khajiit in fact, with light fur and shapely body and you were invited to her camp."

"What?" Rowan stopped and stared at him for a long moment.

"You said a Khajiit."

"Ah, yes, I see what you're trying to do." Rowan chuckled, "It was an interesting strategy but it'll never work because I never get drunk."

He patted Cynric in the shoulder and swiftly left.

Brynjolf watched as Cynric sighed in disappointment, before he ran after Rowan, "You still did not tell me more about that huntress of yours!"

And once again, he was left wondering when the both of them were gone.

At the training room, he heard Niruin muttering, "I'll make a bet with him and get him to beat me in unlocking the chests, deliberately lose and then buy a drink for him, perhaps a couple, and get him drunk enough to start talking."

"Well, he just said that he never gets drunk."

There was a long silence as the words sank in.

"Damn."

"But I heard Thrynn said that it can't be a bear," Rune said.

Brynjolf sat at the table with Delvin and just happened to hear another snippet of conversation. He was hoping to take his mind off the strange happenings with a meal at the Flagon but of course, he had to hear something.

"It was a bear, believe it or not."

"Really?"

"Really."

Rune fiddled with his bottle for a moment before he insisted, "Well, Niruin said it wasn't either, I don't know what to believe."

"Just trust me."

"Okay."

The man watched the liquid slosh around in his bottle and suddenly said, "But I heard otherwise, they said it wasn't possible, even Cynric mentioned it when I asked him."

Rowan actually sighed, "It was… It was a bear."

"The Guild seems to be astir," Mercer announced angrily in the office, "What I want to know is why that is the case, why do I see all of them, all of them behaving strangely today?"

"Almost all of them," Delvin corrected, "Vipir is still out there on his job."

Mercer proceeded to glare viciously at him.

"Alright," he held up his hands, "I'll be quiet."

"BRYNJOLF!" Mercer yelled suddenly, making the man jump, "Surely you must know what the oblivion is going on. This whole… disarray revolves around that Rodent of yours, care to explain?"

"I have no idea, sir."

"You have no idea?!"

"Uh…"

"Oh, give him a break," Vex rolled her eyes before Mercer could shout again.

"What?"

And as Mercer gave her a long, hard stare, Delvin spoke up, "They're all trying to get Rowan to tell them where his scars came from."

The Guild leaders all stared at him.

"What?"

"He'd already told them but none of them believed him."

"The fools," Vex looked annoyed, "You cannot be serious."

"I'm serious, it's all very entertaining." Delvin laughed, "Can you believe it, all that ruckus over a scar? I love it!"

"Well, I don't," Mercer growled.

"Why is that?"

"Because none of them are doing their damn jobs!" He roared.

Rowan snuck out of the Guild before anyone could catch him, having had enough of the others pestering him for an answer.

As he rounded a corner, a young child bumped into him.

"I'm sorry!" She blurted, then took a long look at him, "What's that on your face, mister?"

Rowan chuckled as he got down into a crouch, "It's a scar, do you want to feel it?"

She nodded and traced the mark with a look of wonder on her face.

"Wow…" She marveled at it, "What is it from?"

"I got it from a bear," Rowan answered with a smile.

"Wow, really?"

Rowan laughed, "No, not really."

"Then what did you get it from?" The child asked.

"A tree branch, while I'm running away from the bear."

The child giggled, "You're funny, mister."

"Aye, I'm glad you think so," Rowan said. "And do you know how I got away from the bear?"

"How? How?"

Rowan smiled, "A huntress killed the bear and saved me."

"Wow… was she pretty?"

"Aye, she was very pretty. She was the prettiest huntress I have ever seen."

"Wow… is she here? Can I see her?"

"Nay, she's not here, I haven't seen her in years."

"Aw…" the child pouted, "I hope I can see her sometime."

Rowan smiled, "Aye, I hope so too."