Authors Notes: Here is the Prologue of Love or Blood. Love it, hate it, review it if you like! R+R is always welcomed, along with constructive criticism. As a friendly and honest warning, this is not your average adventure fanfic and may be boring to some. It's really just something that I enjoy writing in my spare time and will continue to do so either way. :)

Love or Blood

Prologue: Abigale Lynn

I have always loved the city of Skingrad at nightfall. The light from the oil lanterns seems to shine so warmly off of the manors. It looks almost poetic really. Calming and ethereal. It is almost like a different continent entirely. If I had the courage to sing in public, I would surely endeavor to become a bard and one of my first sonnets would be about a night in Skingrad. But as said I lack the courage and voice.

No, I am not being modest. I can sing but I usually don't say more than a few words a day. I'm...well, I'm a bit shy actually. Perhaps frighteningly so. And when you're a thief, a shy one at that, you usually don't spend your time composing. Quite the contrary. You are always ducking the guards and trying your hardest to find a place to hide in or sleep in. No one really enjoys a stone pillow but protection from the elements is key. Even the living elements.

Forgive me if I am confusing you, I don't mean to. Everything is remarkably hectic lately and I am afraid that it is starting to rub off on me. I have just recently joined the Thieves Guild thanks to an accomplice of mine. No, a not friend, an accomplice. I don't have any friends, I have always been a loner. I'm afraid I was raised or conditioned that way. I know it to be for the best.

Well, thanks to that member of the guild, I'm in. Presently, I am on my first big heist. I do not do well under pressure by any means and I am worried sick because of it. I do not like being a thief but one must live. My stomach is in knots and I'm biting my lip again - a nervous and not so glamorous habit of mine.

To be honest with you, I have no idea what this mission is all about. I was given little information. But the only thing that matters is that I am getting paid. Which is good, very good, as I haven't eaten in three days. I would much rather not die of starvation but it is a realistic and grim reality. Survival is key so I must steal, regardless of my hate for the act.

I have come fearfully close to death on many occasions. It is horrifying and definitely something to be avoided at all costs. Thankfully, I have just started to gain a little bit of my weight back. I desperately don't want to lose it again. With the cold months approaching any weight is beneficial. Not to mention I look like a walking skeleton with hair most of the time. Red hair to be exact, so it is a strange sight indeed.

Tonight is one of those cool nights with a warm eastern breeze. A perfect night for a theft. No one expects thieves on calm nights, I have noticed that, though I don't fully understand the way of thinking. They always lock up much tighter when it rains as if the water gives us all power...or something of that like.

I absolutely hate the rain and I don't hate much. Rain does naught but make me squirm. You will not find this little street rat running about in a downpour if she can help it, no sir. But the weather is not on my list of worries this evening. No, it is what I am to do. I don't know how to be prepared or what to say - although I never really know what to 'say'.

Apparently, I am meeting with one of the highest ranking guild members. She is very important and is said to have direct contact with the Grey Fox himself. This mission is an important one. It could very well lead to a brighter future for me if she gives back a good report. I'm going to have to talk to her, which in itself is a daunting task. I need to pretend that I am exactly what she wants to see: a thief and not the timid miss Abigale Lynn. No, I am to be just Gale, The Prowler. An alter ego. Rather, my alter ego for tonight, that is.

I'm not a very good actress. I have to try my best to convince this Shadowfoot, Korana, that I am a cunning and greedy thief. When to be quite frank, I'm neither.

xxxx

The Castle itself is daunting but I have been told to meet her right by its bridge at midnight. I suspect that she'll be here soon. I had been brought to the dungeons by the guard for trespassing on another's property once, but I had been released. Still, it was an unsettling experience that left me apprehensive.

I made it a point to dress in my finest owned gear today: leather grieves, a shirt with suspenders to hold my pants up, a dark thin material cloak and gloves. Always the gloves. My hands are the only part of my body that hasn't been scarred yet. The leather gauntlets are to hopefully keep them that way.

I am no good with weapons and have never been trained in magic or the ways of the sword. I doubt that I would be able to efficiently wield one if my life had depended on it. All I have is a dagger on my hip, just as a precaution of course. I don't intend on killing people, but when you threaten someone while holding a dagger you seem more menacing. It tends to help get you out of sticky situations, unless you are me. Then it has a tendency to worsen matters.

Leaning against the stone pillar with my hands in my pockets and my cloak's hood up, I am trying to act as casual as possible. Even my eyes are closed. It is another important thing, keeping your eyes shut. As a thief, it means that you can sense others nearby. I really cannot but I must pretend. It is worth a try and you must always try.

As I was listening to the crickets chirp, I suddenly noticed a new sound with them: steady light footfalls, the steps of a thief, of that I am sure. I opened my eyes and there stood a hooded figure. Initially, I felt fear. The silhouette was taller than I but being partly Breton such a feat was easily achieved. I took a very deep breath and calmly pried myself from the wall. Being brave sometimes felt impossible.

"You the prowler I heard about?" Came a soft feminine voice from beneath the hood. I took in yet another deep breath and steeled myself. Not only was it time to talk, but it was time to talk like a thief.

"Aye," I answered oddly. "You are Korana?" I wondered briefly if she would be angry that I used her name but I quickly disregarded the thought. Usually, we do not use our 'real' names. And since she was so high in the ranks I doubted that she truly had one anymore. Thankfully my assumption was correct, she did not anger or hush me.

"Good to meet you, miss Gale." She said as she pulled back her hood. I felt a slight twinge of anticipation jump through me as she did so. It was strange to get to actually meet the infamous Korana.

The first thing her that caught my attention was her hair. To me, it was the strangest and yet most beautiful color I had ever seen. It was golden. Pure gold like that of a Septim. She had it pulled back in a long braid that went all the way down to her tailbone. I thought the length impractical, but I myself had long hair. My dagger proved too blunt and dull to cut it.

It became all too obvious that she had a strong elven heritage. Her features were too elegant. Her eyes were slightly tilted and her skin took on a golden sheen. Though her ears had no point and she was of human height, I suspected she was an Altmer descendant. Rare and strange.

She stared at me with hazel eyes as she waited for me to remove my hood. "Likewise, Shadowfoot." I let it fall back to my shoulders so she could see my face. I watched her smile at me though her nose wrinkled slightly as she did so.

"You are quite the pretty little mix, Gale. Imperial and Breton, yes? You are young for your rank but the Doyen spoke fondly of you. I have a mind to question your abilities but will not doubt your usefulness solely on age and loveliness." She stepped closer while I was toying with the thought of calling her hypocrite. What was she twenty-four, twenty-seven? Not too much older than me and I found her elven looks far more appealing and dignified than my human ones. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose. "Our task tonight is an important one but I cannot tell you what we will be doing exactly." She continued while looking around, "All you need to know is that I am getting a friend of mine out of jail and retrieving an important tome."

I did not like the nervous look in her eyes. I swallowed hard, "T-that is good enough for me. What am I to do? Surely there is a reason for summoning me in particular?" I tried to hide my fear and posed my questions as pleasantly as possible.

She nodded and soon went on. "You, my friend, are to help me find my way. That is all. You are the only thief currently based in Skingrad. You know this city better than anyone else...and I assure you." Korana paused as she pulled her hood back on. "It will be worth your while."

She then handed me a scroll. I took it, giving it and her an inquisitive glance "What is this?"

She smiled again, it almost reached her ears. "Your pay." My heart quickly sank. I was hoping for gold, not a piece of paper. I have never been a magic user and this was not going to put food in my belly. I glanced up at her, trying to hide my pout. She must have sensed my sudden disappointment as her expression too had changed. "This is no ordinary scroll. It is very special and far more valuable than gold. This is the Scroll of the Thief. A heavily enchanted artifact. It gives you the full Chameleon charm - you know, invisibility. The spell of Feather too. You can carry three times your weight with it!" My curiosity peeked slightly as I suddenly saw her reason for giving me this. I felt like a fool for being ungrateful. "No locks can keep you out, and you shall be as silent as the grave. Once you show me where the jail cell is, it's yours. And you alone will become the intangible thief, but only for an hour. I figured that this being the richest city, the Castle should have enough loot to make you considerably comfortable for quite a time."

I smiled, it became apparent why she was one of the Grey Fox's right-hand thieves. She was smart and a very smart thief is hard to come by. I was still a tad intimidated, it was an added burglary on top of our original heist. Still, I needed it. I was grateful. "This sounds very lucrative." I knew the Count of Skingrad was the richest around and I must be the poorest. He was also rumored to be a bit...off. Perhaps he would not even know some of his things were missing. I do not like what I do, being a thief, but I must survive. If stealing from the wealthy is the only way, so be it. "Alright, let us be off. The guards should have already changed shifts. I can take you to the dungeons. But beyond that, your guess is as good as mine." I stated simply as I pocketed the scroll, flicking up my hood I turned to face her.

"Fair enough, miss Gale." She started, "The Doyens trust was well placed. Let's begin."