Hey all! Soo this chapter is a lot shorter than the others. Kinda suffering from writer block.

Anyway, see you next Friday!

Enjoy!

-Rosey❤❤

Chapter 17:

Vilkas sat at the table in the mead hall, an empty seat to his left and Farkas on his right. Hana was still down in her room getting changed and cleaning up. Winter rain still poured down outside, causing small drips of water to leak from the ceiling. Even for a Nord, the wet weather was getting to him.

The hall was buzzing with laughter, mainly from Torvars drunken state. Vilkas looked over towards Lockan and Aela. Seems as though something is between those too. "Farkas, have those two always been like that?" Vilkas asked his brother, nudging him in the side. Aela was right next to Lockan, the two constantly talking and Aela usually giggling like a little girl. Vilkas had not seen that side since he was younger.

"Aye, haven't you noticed. Seems like Aela has fallen for a wannabe mage," Farkas laughed catching the attention from Lockan with a raised eyebrow.

"What about a mage?" Hana asked walking up from behind the two. Wearing a loose fitting green dress, Hana wondered over and sat next to Vilkas. He couldn't help but laugh at how much he missed her curiosity. She had propped her elbow on the table, holding her head in place while looking at Farkas. Her hair rolled down just past her shoulder in loose chocolate wave, funny, last time her hair wasn't that short.

"You're brother, wants to join the college," Farkas jeered, pointing at Lockan who just rolled his eyes back at the twin. Vilkas turned to Hana who was having a fit of laughter.

"Don't you start Hana," Lockan fussed, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"I'm going to start thank you very much fella, I know Father joined them a while back but why a damned mage? The only thing I can see you doing is causing the other half of Winterhold to blow up," Hana laughed. Even Aela laughed at what Hana had said.

Vilkas chuckled to himself, not wanting Lockan to give him a death stare that was pointed towards Hana. "Yeah whatever Hana. Unlike everyone else in this hall, I take great interest into magic so scold me if you want I am going in the next week or so for the college." Lockan fussed.

Vilkas scoffed slghtly at Hana's reaction, she was smiling from ear to ear. "Aye, finally I won't have you barking orders here," Hana sighed happily.

"Careful, you might get dragged along with him," Vilkas laughed nudging her slightly. "Next thing you know Grace will come back and wreak havoc in the hall."

"Thank you for reminding me!" Hana squealed, jumping out of her seat and running down the stairs to the living quarters. Vilkas looked back with an eyebrows raised, confusion written all over his face.

"What in Oblivion just happened to her?" Athis asked from down the table, trying to avoid bread being thrown at him by Njada.

"If I ever figure it out I will let you know," Vilkas shrugged his shoulders, taking a small sip from his tankard. Rain pelted down harder than earlier causing the whole hall to roar louder from the water than before, sending a cold chill through Jorrvaskrr.

The slamming of doors caught Vilkas's attention but didn't need to worry. Hana sat back down in her seat slightly panting. "I swear Grace taunts me everywhere I go," Hana chuckled, "Farkas I believe I have something for you."

"It better not be a spider again, I hate those damned things," Farkas eyed Hana.

"Don't worry it's not a spider, it's a gift from Grace," Hana giggled, reaviling a chain with a small pendant attached to the chain.

"Grace gave this to you.. to give to me?" Farkas questioned, taking the trinket as though it was cursed.

"Trust me it's yours." Hana smiled, Vilkas raising an eyebrow at her.

"And what is it for exactly?" Vilkas asked, a slight smirk on his face.

"I think the little midget has finally fallen for this giant," Hana scoffed, "It's about damn time that they did."

Vilkas could not help but laugh. It was very true; Vilkas could see the way that the two had been acting around each other. The next time they see each other, he could guarantee something would go down between the two.

"The symbol, it's their symbol isn't it?" Farkas asked, turning the small object over in his rather large hand.

"Aye it is, I would advise that you tuck it away when you pass guards, they might think that you are up to something," Hana suggested, stealing Vilkas's mug of mead and taking small sips from.

"Do you mind?" Vilkas chuckled, snatching his drink back. "Where's my present?"

"You really think I forgot about you? I picked up a few books back in Solitude and in the Embassy, nothing that they will miss," Hana shrugged. "They're in my bag, which is somewhere…"

"Aye, so that would be why it weighed so much," Farkas laughed, pulling the chain over his head. "So where has Grace been up to lately?"

"Well the last time I saw her which was a few days ago, she was heading past Windhelm to some burrow," Hana shrugged, "Who knows what type of trouble she has got herself into. Since I'm back for a while now, may as well get some contracts done around here. Aela! Anything new?"

Vilkas shook his head at how up front Hana was somethings, always speaking her mind. Half of the time she didn't seem to have a filter in her head, well that can be said the same for her brother.

"Aye, there is but Kodlak was asking for you earlier. You best see the old man," Aela suggested.

"Don't worry, I doubt you aren't in much trouble for leaving," Vilkas laughed receiving an elbow to the side.

"Very comforting Vilkas," Hana scoffed before jumping from her chair and heading back down the stairs.

0o0

"Why the heck do I have to go in first Mercer?" Grace spat, crossing her arms over her chest. She was cold and miserable. Why the heck did she have to be going into some crypt with Mercer Fray, in her opinion, that prick.

"I'm sorry, I was under the imperession I was in charge. You're leading and I'm following, does that seem clear to you?" Mercer barked back walking over to Grace, hovering over her.

She just raised an eyebrow at the man and brushed him off, "Whatever Mercer but if I get shot or stabbed, I'm blaming you." Grace mumbled before walking over to the door, pushing against it with no prevail.

"Step aside useless, you don't know how these locks work," Mercer pushed the small Breton aside, knelt down in front of door. A series of clicking sounds came from the door grabbing Graces attention. 'Great, I'm just the human shield,' Grace scoffed to herself. If Mercer could pick a few locks, she was sure he would be able to do fine.

She was a thief. Not a crypt robbing adventurer unlike Hana, who would much better in this situation. Since leaving Hana on the road, she felt bad for her friend. The whole Dragonborn business, the Companions and the new love in her life. Please, Graces life was nothing compared to Hana's.

"There we go, I'll follow you from behind," Mercer announced, stepping back from the door allowing Grace to file through. She just rolled her eyes and tracked on through the crypt. Traps. Why do Nords love there traps and poisons and the draugr.

"I thought the dead were meant to stay fucking dead!" Grace complained, hacking at another creature with her daggers.

"Karliah is very nimble, I'm surprised she managed to sneak past all of these draugr not even waking one." Mercer commented while slicing down more draugr. Grace just wanted to get out of this place, it smelt of death and was giving her a headache.

"Can we just find her and get out? I don't like this place, it gives me the creeps. You are much better having my friend with you than me," Grace added, spinning one of daggers in her hands, looking around the crypt at all the slain draugr.

"Don't sass me Grace, we are finishing this no matter how long it takes now move," he commanded.

Grace rolled her eyes and moved further on into the winding tunnels. Why did she have to be caught up in this mess? She had been with the guild since Hana had left many years ago and only now she was being put into danger, damn her quick learning skills.

The only thing she could think of other than getting out was heading back to Whiterun, seeing Hana and more importantly Farkas. Sure nearly double her height but she had to give it to the man, he was too precious for this world sometimes when she had talked to him. The charm that she had given Hana to give to him was her first gift that she had received from the guild when she joined just being a young girl then. She had a feeling that somehow someone would get injured or even killed in this tomb, that's why she gave it to him, to remember her if she got killed.

Continuing on walking through the halls, more draugr kept appearing and each time Grace was only a small help compared to Mercer swinging his swords, one specifically absorbing something from the dead in a red glow. "Mercer why did I have to come along? I'm practically no help to this." Grace whined, continuing on further into the tunnels.

"You are one of the only thieves in our guild that has been tangled up in the mess that Karliah has managed, you may as well continue on with us and killing her," Mercer stated, sheathing his swords and walking straight past Grace towards a large Nordic puzzle door.

"So? I don't want to specially get killed in here Mercer. Unlike you, I have a life to attend outside of the crypt in which I want to return to." Grace sassed leaning against the engraved stone walls of the tunnel.

"Shut up Grace, Karliah is close I can feel it. Ah a Nordic puzzle. Usually we wouldn't be able to get through without a dragon claw, luckily for us , I know a way to get through these doors easily. " He said standing back from the door. A series of clinking noises came from the door before the sound of stone against filled the small tunnel.

Grace walked ahead with Mercer slowly following behind her. Grace scanned the room no one in the room. She turned and almost spat at Mercer, "There is no one even in here, all of this was for nothing." She walked forward another step but cried out in pain as an arrow pierced her leather armour. Her vision blurred and she fell to the ground, unable to keep standing. 'Shit,' was the only thing Grace could think of as she saw a woman appear out of nowhere, Mercer standing directly in front of her. She tried to move her arms but they were stuck in place from whatever the arrow was laced with. She could still hear what was going on and could see everything happening in front of her.

"Did you honestly think your arrow would reach be before my blades find your heart?" Mercer snarled.

"Give me a reason to try," a soft voice came from the woman that must be Karliah.

"You're a clever girl, Karliah. Buying Goldenglow Estate and funding Honningbrew Meadery was inspired."

" 'To ensure an enemy's defeat, you must first undermine his allies.' It was the first lesson Gallus taught us."

Grace zoned out from their talking and was focusing on the bigger picture at hand, how the fuck was she going to get out of this mess. Paralysed in a damned crypt while two people bicker over the guild. A flashing of bright purple snapped Grace back to her senses and shifted her eyes back up towards where Karliah had been standing.

"How interesting," Mercer twisted back towards Grace, her body motionless on the cold stone ground. "It appears Gullus's history had repeated itself. Karliah had provided the means to be rid of you, and this ancient tomb becomes your final resting place." Mercer snarled at her.

'You fucking prick Mercer! I should have know you conniving bastard!' was the only thing Grace wanted to say at that very moment .

" But you know what intrigues me the most? The fact that this was all possible because of you. Farewell. I'll be certain to give Brynjolf your regards, oh and your two friend. What were they're names? Hana and Farkas? Oh it doesn't matter, not like they will see you again anyway," Mercer sneered.

Pain wracked through her whole body as Mercer plunged his sword into her side. Internally, Grace was screaming in pain as he twisted the blade further into her side. She could feel more and more blood seeping from the wound making her eyelids feel heavier every second.

'It can't end like this,' Grace whimpered to herself as she closed her eyelids for what she thought was the last time.