It's been nearly a decade since Delvin Mallory's baby brother ran from Riften and settled down in Morrowind. But even though he's technically settled, Glover has never found peace. Why? Because he left a lot more than just the Thieves' Guild behind. Something worth more than any treasure. And the only thing he's more scared of than letting go...is reaching out. This is a series of letters between the brothers about the one jewel Glover shouldn't let slip through his fingers.

Delvin & Glover Mallory. Platonic, familial. Mostly angst. NSFW due to language.

Family Matters

23 F. Seed, 4E200

Del,

I know, I know. It's been too long since I've written. I'm sorry for that. Honestly, at this point, do you expect any different from me?

Things in Raven Rock don't change. Maybe that's a part of why I don't write much. Most exciting thing around here is that we got a new barmaid, a month back. Cute little thing. Won't give me the time'a day, though. But you see what I mean. This shit doesn't matter.

How are you? Did you get the crate of Emberbrand I sent for yule? Thanks for the gift by the way. Jackass.

How is the guild? How is Sapph

How is my

How is she?

You knew I had to ask.

Write me back quick. The boat will only be in Windhelm a week.

— G

30th F. Seed 4E200

Glover, you pisshead. What's it been this time – near on a year? An' I don't hear a word from you, an' then it's 'hurry up, look sharp!'. I ought've put itching dust in the letter. How hard is it to pick up a quill and drop your only brother a line?

I'd ask why you stay year after year on that busted old rock, but I have my answer. Don't complain about how bored you are, if you ain't gonna change anything.

I'm fine. The same. The Emberbrand was good – so good I sold half to Vekel, an' made a pretty penny. So, good on you for that.

The guild is bad. But you knew that. Every year, it's more'a the same. Mercer an' Bryn don't listen to me. Mark my words, shit's going from bad to worse around here.

She's one of the only things around here that's good. You should see her, Glove – a right beauty. Looks nothing like us, an' thank all the gods for that. We celebrated her turning three-an-twenty, last week. She actually let us, this year. Lucky...I think it's only cuz' Brynjolf managed to lift a whole batch of her favorite sweeties for her. She did a big job for us quick an clean in Solitude a month back, an' Mercer paid her handsome for it. Bought herself a whole new set of knives. She's a practical one, an' mostly quiet still. Like you. You'd be proud of her.

I know I've said it, an' you don't wanna hear it. I'm sayin' it again. Why don't you come home? Why don't you tell her the truth? What are you waitin' for? Nobody knows what tomorrow brings. You know that.

Don't be a shit and wait to write back, this time. You make me feel as bad as ma was with the nagging. Gods rest her.

Del

9 R.H, 4E200

You manky son of a bitch! Next time I think to drop 300 gold on your lousy ass, I'll remember you turning half of it for a profit!

And ha! Don't make me laugh. You're worse than ma ever was, you old hen. I feel bad for not writing, send a letter, then remember why I wait to write!

Okay, that's too harsh. I'm sorry. It's just...hard. And you know why.

When I imagine her, I always picture Petra now – just like she was when I left. I can't believe it's been 24 years. Gods.

I am proud. And glad she's finally settling. Which is why I don't plan to fuck it up, with my shit. She's got you, even if she doesn't know how much. And you said last year that Bryn is good to her. Speaking of, make sure he isn't too good.

The stones in the crate are for her. They're a set of whetstones, for the knives. But of course you know that. I'm rambling. Anyway. Say they're from you. A late nameday present, whatever. Just make sure she takes them.

It's the best I can do, right now.

Take care of yourself, and her.

– G

20th R. Hand 4E200

You haven't changed a whit. Head so big, you think you can call the shots from across an ocean. But you can't ride two horses with one ass, Glove. You wanna poke your nose in on her like a father? Come back and be one.

But I'll toss you a bone. He doesn't see her that way, or she him. 'Sides, he's still too busy with Tonilia. Sometimes I regret those two meeting.

Anyway. I gave her the stones. She's happy with 'em. Thought it was a mite odd though, since I'd already got her a gift.

You should be giving them yourself. I can tell she still wonders. Even if she won't say a word to no one, I can see it in her eyes, when something hits a memory. And then not long after, she's always gone 'out for some air'. But she ain't gonna find what she's lookin' for in the canal.

She's had a hard go of it, before she found the guild. Would be nice, if things turned up a bit.

And I don't wanna hear nothing about guilt, in your next. You know I'm right.

– Del

29 R.H 4E200

What d'you want me to say, Del? That I'm a coward? I know I am! I was one then, and I'm still one now. Just a gods-damned coward.

It eats me. If I hadn't left Petra, everything would be different now. I know it. What happened to them on the farm...I'll never forgive myself. It should've been me.

And that's what it always comes back to, in my head. What good would I be to her, the way things are? After all these years? I fucked up, so bad I could never deserve her forgiveness. She finally has some stability, some peace. Who am I to fuck that up a second time? I don't deserve her. Never did.

This way, she can tell herself a story, if she wants. I can be whatever she wishes I'd be. And not just the shitty truth.

16th S. Seed, 4E200

Are you done with the pity party, yet? If no, tuck this letter in a drawer and try again in a couple. And if yes, listen good.

You made mistakes. We all have. Not one of us on this bloody ball is perfect, and you know it.

What's past is past – you can't change it now. But what you COULD do is stop wasting the future, before it's too late! You talk in circles, 'bout what she deserves. What she really deserves is the truth, Glover. Gods know she's been lookin' for it long enough.

I know damn well I can't make you do nothin'. Never could. But the least you can do is hear me out, instead of only hearing yourself. There's nothing more important than family.

Think it over.

– D

10th Mid Year, 4E200

My dearest daughter Sapphire,

I write this letter with a heavy heart. For too many years I've thought about how I could tell you this, and each time I imagined it would be face to face. That's what I figured you deserve. But I'm just so afraid of making things worse, I didn't want to come and it upset you. Either way, this letter is far too long in the making, and I'm so sorry. Words can't express. I'll always be ashamed of what I did, and I hope that someday you'll learn to forgive me.

Whatever you do, don't blame Delvin for any of this. I begged him not to tell you anything. I didn't want it to hurt you. But I owe you the truth, and so here it is, now.

Long after I joined the guild, but was still a young man, I was sent to rob a caravan that was stopping at a little farming village in the boonies. A tiny spit of a place, southwest of Rorikstead. Gone now. You know it well. When I got there, I was a day early for the job, and decided to spend the night in the barn of a pig farm. I woke up the next morning to a bucket of icy water on my head. I jumped up choking and spitting to see the most beautiful woman in the world, looking back at me. She wasn't even scared when she saw me – in fact, she was ready to spit me on her pitchfork. It was the luckiest thing I ever did, talking my way out of that one...because we fell in love.

That woman was your mother, Petra. We ended up living together for a year on the farm. The greatest year of my life. Then she came to me and told me she was carrying a child – carrying you. And then, like a coward... I ran away. I was a thief, and liked being one. I didn't want to end up a farmer. I left her a note and all the gold I had, and slipped out in the night.

It was a terrible thing to do. I've always regretted it. I know that doesn't change a damn thing, but I wanted you to know. I'm so sorry.

I didn't have the courage to return to that village for fifteen years. I would hear bits and pieces, through the grapevine. I knew you were born healthy. Knew you were a girl. Knew that the two of you hadn't gone anywhere. But I was a coward. I didn't want to come to you, and get chased away. And then when I finally decided to visit, it was too late. It had been raided by bandits and burned to the ground. Everyone was either dead or gone. Including you...my only child. When I think about what happened...I'm sick. Sick in my heart. Words can never make it better. I know that. It should've been me. I'm so sorry I failed you, Sapphire.

Finding the village sacked broke my heart, and I left Skyrim for Morrowind. I had to get away. But I kept in touch with your uncle. He told me, when Brynjolf brought in a new recruit. Then told me he would do some digging, when you showed up looking like Petra, and just the right age. The rest is history. I couldn't believe the words on the page. To think that you'd survived, and then somehow made your way to MY guild...followed in MY footsteps...I would've sworn it was the gods, if I hadn't turned my back on them long ago.

I need you to know, I wanted to come to you. To tell you the truth. So much it was driving me crazy. But I was too much of a coward. I didn't deserve your love, but I couldn't bear the thought of you hating me for what I'd done. So I just...stayed away. It's so wrong. But I can't change the past. Would if I could, everything would be different. That's my regret to live with.

I'm sorry, my daughter. I'm sorry for never being there to hold you at night. To teach you what you needed to know, or protect you from what you've endured. One day, I hope you'll make the journey to Solstheim and visit your father. Or just say the word that you want me there, and I'll come straight to you. Or say nothing at all, if that's what's best for you. I've been spending these years doing what I could live with. It's time to do what you deserve, instead.

Yours,

Glover Mallory

12 M. Year 4E200

Del, I did it. Few days back, I got next to black-out. When I woke up and crawled out of bed the next morning, I sat down and wrote her a letter. It's locked in the safe room, and so far I've managed to talk myself out of running in there and burning it. I'm gonna try to find the balls to actually send it.

Wish me luck. We're all short enough on it, these days.

G

We all know that Glover's letter stays tucked in his saferoom for quite some time...but does it stay there forever? Eventually I'm gonna write a Thieves' Guild arc, and then we'll find out. What did you think of this piece? Drop a review or find me on Twitter, and let me know!