Thieves and Fairytales

When I entered Riften night had fallen. The city was dark, few lamps lining the street and of those at least half of them seemed broken. I had decided to sleep at the inn at the center of town rather than camping outside the city mostly for convenience sake but also as a precaution against the enemies I knew I was accumulating lately. The last thing I needed was another Dark Brotherhood member who was unhappy with my aunt or a Silver Hand member sneaking up on me.

As I neared the Inn, I felt someone behind me, a hand slip into my bag. Instantly I turned my hand on their throat as I pressed them up against the inn's wall. The first thing I did was look down to see that they weren't armed but in their right hand was my Dark Brotherhood hood. Their wide eyes looked to mine as I snatched the hood, placing it in my bag and hoping they hadn't had time to consider their temporary prize before holding up one of my swords just in case the man thought to try to go for a weapon on himself.

"I'm sorry! Don't kill me," the person practically squeaked.

It was a young man, maybe seventeen or eighteen, an Imperial with light brown hair cleanly washed and wide light eyes. He didn't look like a typical thief but as I looked him over once again I saw that he was in the Thieves Guild Armor.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Alex – Alexander," the man said. "Please, I was just trying to –"

"You need to pick your marks better," I said, frowning. "You can see I'm heavily armed and that I am confident traveling at night. Didn't they teach you anything?"

Alex's eyes widened again, "The Thieves Guild? No – I – I just joined. Ran away from Honorhall a year ago."

"Can you read Alex?" I asked.

Alex nodded that he could and I reached into my bag, pulling out the book I had on basic thieving skills I had been reading in my down time in preparation for whatever Mercer wanted of Brynjolf and me next.

"Read this, and be more careful. In the meantime, better to get nothing than get killed," I said.

"You're – you're letting me go?" he asked, surprised.

"Only if you never saw me," I said.

Alex nodded his head as vigorously as he could with my hand at his throat. "Of course!"

I let go of my grip, keeping my sword out as Alex bowed his head at me as he turned, backing away quickly before turning and running off. I sighed, entering the Inn, wondering which of the Guild was still recruiting young and untested thieves. Brynjolf had thrown several madmen to test me as I made my way to the Guild's headquarters and that only after knowing I had some measure of skill and wouldn't be murdered instantly. At least I knew that he wasn't the one who was responsible for the Guild's high new-member mortality rate.

I entered hoping to get a room and some privacy fairly quickly. Instead I was greeted with some familiar faces smiling at me and inquiring whether I was there to get a new home in the area. Being Dragonborn and helping get the orphanage back on its feet apparently made me a highly anticipated resident. I couldn't blame them, if I knew the only person who could kill dragons was in the area, I'd probably want them to stick around too.

An hour later, and a couple of polite drinks (most of which were discretely discarded) later, I was finally able to make it to my room which I had to insist I would pay for. Tired I flopped down on the bed.

"Nice to see you too, lass," Brynjolf said as my door opened behind me.

I groaned into the pillow. "It's nearly midnight," I said, my words muffled.

The thief chuckled, "And here I thought you had come all this way to see me."

I rolled over, throwing my pillow at him before smiling. "Only partly."

"I had a talk with an Alex," Brynjolf said, shutting the door behind him as he slid into the chair near the door, resting the pillow on his lap. "He said he stole this from half-Breton woman."

The thief held up the book.

I rolled my eyes. "Of course he did. Who is recruiting for you nowadays? Is this because the madman is no longer deterring people? I can go find you another one. Put a bit more pressure on that guy shouting outside Jorrvaskr then send him your way."

Brynjolf smiled, tossing the book to me. It landed on the edge of the bed as I sat up. "We have more than our share of crazy men and women in the Ratway. Alas, I have been away frequently and thus recruiting has been left up to others."

"I am starting to think the only curse your Guild has is that of bad judgment," I said, sitting up. "So, is there a job that needs done? If I can avoid seeing Mercer that would be great."

"Yes but I am afraid he still wishes to see you. Try not to hold a blade to his sword tomorrow," Brynjolf said. "He's been more irritable since that day."

"That possible?"

"So it seems," Brynjolf said. "But we do not have to speak of him at this moment. Here I am, in a beautiful and cunning woman's room once again. There are many other, more pleasant things, we could speak of."

I rolled my eyes, "Something tells me you often find your way into ladies' rooms."

"Not at all," Brynjolf said, his eyes seeming alight. "Just fascinating ones."

"That makes me sound like some sort of science experiment," I said.

"It would be interesting to get to the bottom of you," he said in a way that sounded pondering.

"Is that –" I stopped myself from asking if that was some sort of innuendo, deciding I'd rather not know. "Is there something you came here or are you in some sort of book-delivering business now?"

"I came to speak to you of course," he said. "It has been some time since we last talked and it seems that you are injured once again."

"How –"

"You're not wearing armor," Brynjolf said.

"Well, I was going to sleep."

"I entered shortly after you. Had you changed out of a set, I believe I would have found you in a state of undress," Brynjolf said, one corner of his mouth quirking up.

I blushed at the thought. "Ok, yes, I was injured. But I shall likely be fine to go back to wearing my armor and normal activities soon."

"What happened?"

I heard the scream of the man as he fell down the mineshaft, saw the surprised look on Narfi's face when he realized I wasn't his sister, felt the blade stabbing into my side, sending poison rushing into my veins.

"Oh you know, I make friends so easily," I said lightly, trying to dislodge the images.

Brynjolf's concerned look told me I hadn't been able to convince him I was fine. "Was it the vampires again?"

"I – no. Angry widow," I said.

"Ah," Brynjolf said with sympathy. "Well, I am glad that you survived without my assistance this time. I would hate to learn that I was put under several weeks house arrest by your burly bodyguards for nothing."

I gave him a small smile and said with humor, "I am so sorry to inconvenience you by saving my life."

Brynjolf waved his hand, "Don't think on it. I made off well enough."

"You didn't steal from them did you?" I asked. "Because –"

"No, but I did see to some business there," the thief said. "Your Companion was suspicious enough of me. I did not need the anal man to realize something had been misplaced during my stay."

"Well, it is his home," I said.

"Oh, so he is typically all smiles?"

I laughed, "Ok, no. I cannot say that."

He smiled. "Did your new injury require you to spend more time in his bed? Because if so I pity you. It had a peculiar smell."

I blushed, "No, thank you. The only beds I've been in are my own."

"Well, with one exception," Brynjolf reminded me.

"You wanted to meet me early! It is hardly my fault you were so tardy," I said. "Anyway – so have you spoken with Lynn lately?"

"I got back into town myself yesterday and she told me that you were expected soon, which is why I have lingered," he admitted.

"Oh," I said, surprised. "That's nice of you."

"Well, that and I could use your help," Brynjolf said, his voice sounding oddly awkward. Almost as soon as I began to wonder at it, his face smoothed and he sounded normal as he said, "She tells me she may be adopted soon."

"Yes, I was visiting this couple wishing to adopt her earlier today. They were so perfect it almost didn't seem real."

"Suspiciously?"

"Oddly no," I said, shrugging. "And I was looking."

"That is good then."

"Yes. Though I'm sure she's going to miss you. She has a huge crush on you."

"Does she now?" Brynjolf asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You had to have noticed," I said.

He smiled, "Guilty. Though I also got the impression she was hoping to live vicariously through you."

"Vicariously through –" I asked, confused. "What? She – she wanted you and me…?"

"Oh yes," he said. "She has a whole day planned tomorrow upon which she was so eager to include me that I was felt forced to agree."

"Felt forced did you?" I asked, rolling my eyes. "Tell me, what does this big day have in store? Something tells me you are already aware."

"Perhaps, but where is the fun in telling you?" he said, grinning. "Besides, she would never forgive me if I ruined all the surprises."

I groaned, "I hate surprises."

"Well then it is a good thing I warned you."

"No because now I have to anticipate it," I said. "I should talk with Constance about reading her too many fairy tales. I am not a princess or damsel in need of a man to rescue or marry her."

"Ah, but I am no prince, either," he said.

"No, but you are the charming rogue. Depending on the tale you are the hero or the villain," I said. "I am not entirely sure where I fit."

"Charming?" Brynjolf asked, raising an eyebrow while giving me his best seductive smile.

I rolled my eyes, feeling a blush start to creep to my cheeks. "You are well aware of your charms."

"Aye, but I had started to think they remained invisible to you."

"Not invisible, just frustrating."

"Ah yes, I do recall you being quite frustrated with me before," he said. "Tell me, is this a good or bad frustrating?"

I smirked, "Where is the fun in telling you?"

Brynjolf laughed, "Touché."

I yawned, leaning back against the wall the bed was against. Brynjolf rose, placing the pillow in my lap and grabbing the book to put on the end table.

"Tomorrow, my tired not-princess," he said humorously.

"Tomorrow, oh not-prince," I said as he exited the room, shutting the door which clicked behind him, locked (for whatever good that would do in the city in which the Thieves Guild called home).

I laid back down, glad to have seen my friend again, even if he was sometimes irritating. Tomorrow I would have to deal with Mercer early but it was good to know I had the rest of the day to look forward to with Lynn, even if she did plan on trying to play match-maker with the red haired rogue.

That night when I fell asleep I did not dream what I had the last several nights: of screams, of dead eyes, of fallen friends. I dreamed of Vilkas, in shiny armor sitting on a throne looking displeased while Brynjolf, the roguish thief, bowed mockingly before him. I dreamt of the loyal huntsman, Farkas, a warm smile on as he brought back his game to help feed the hold. And from the sidelines I watched, amused and in the shadows, not a princess or a damsel, just Everlee.