After hours of travelling, the duo had finally reached the Snow Veil Sanctum.

"You sure she's here, Mercer?" Ja'red asked.

"I'm positive. That's her horse right there if i'm not mistaken"

"Why didn't we take horses?" Ja'red asked a little too late.

"We don't want her to escape using our own transportation, right?" Mercer said as he slit the horse's throat

"Right..."

Traveling through the sanctum they were forced to fend off against many draugr. In actuality, Ja'red faced off against most, while Mercer took out a handful. For an hour and a half they had been exploring, then they came across a dragon claw puzzle door like so many Ja'red had encountered before.

"She must be in there, but if she locked us out, without a claw there's no way we'll get in."

Mercer walked up to the door laughing, "Hahaha! Some thief you are. A locked door is all that it takes for you to turn tail? Brynjolf must've been mistaken to pick you up."

Ja'red held his tongue against the guildmaster even though he was the one who brought the guild back to it's former glory. Over 25 years of being looked down upon as a joke, overturned by his short years as a member. Mercer would never admit it, but Ja'red was the best thing that happened to guild since Gallus himself.

As the locks turned, Ja'red watched in amazement, "Wow Mercer you're one helluva thief! You've got to show me some things when we get out of here."

"Worry about Karliah first. She's dangerous, we might make it out alive if we aren't careful." Mercer gestured for Ja'red to go first. He took five steps before he felt something pierce his bicep.

'Damn, the one day I wear light armor', he thought as he fell to his knees, then collapsed to the ground. His vision became blurred and blue due the moon sugar interacting with the toxins now in his bloodstream.

"Do you honestly think your arrow will reach me before my blade finds your heart!? A king always makes sure to keep pawn to dispose of" Mercer said stepping on the downed Redguard.

"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."

"You always were a quick study" he remarked.

"Not quick enough, otherwise Gallus would still be alive."

"Gallus had his wealth and he had you! All he had to do was look the other way" Mercer said with a slight hint of jealousy.

"Did you forget the oath we took as Nightingales? Did you expect him to simply ignore your methods!?" she shouted

"Enough of this mindless banter! Come, Karliah. It's time for you and Gallus to become reunited!"

"I'm no fool, Mercer. Crossing blades with you would be a death sentence. But I can promise the next time we meet, it will be your undoing."

Karliah used an invisibility potion hiding from sight.

"This isn't over Karliah! I'll find you and you'll be dead just like that fool Gallus! And anyone who gets in my way!"

"M-mercer you bastard" Ja'red struggled to get out, "all these ye-ars, it, it was you all a-long"

Mercer laughed before saying, "How interesting. Karliah has provided me with the means to be rid of you. I never liked you, you know. And this ancient tomb, is now your final resting place. But do you know what amuses me the most? The fact that this was all possible, because of you. Farewell. I'll be certain to give Brynjolf your regards." He stabbed Ja'red deep in his gut.

"Guaah! Fu-ck y-"

Ja'red winced as Mercer removed his blade and left him there to die.

'So, this is how it ends', he thought shutting his eyes for what he thought would be the final time.

A strong gust of the frozen tundra woke Ja'red up. He gasped for air as he awoke from a nightmare. He put a hand on his stomach where he had been stabbed. Surprisingly his wounds had been wrapped up and treated with minimal magic. As he sat up, a hand was placed on his shoulder backed by a voice, "Take it easy, you've been out for a few days, 3 to be exact. How do you feel?"

Jared tilted his head back to see Karliah, "You shot me!" he shouted.

"No, I saved your life. My arrow was tipped with a unique paralytic poison. It slowed your heart and kept you from bleeding out. Had I intended to kill you, well, you'd be dead." the elf chuckled.

"So why keep me alive?" he asked.

"My intention was to use that arrow on Mercer, but I never had a clear shot. I made a split second decision to get you out of the way and it prevented your death. You're the only one who can help clear my name now, Ja'red"

"H-how did you know my name?"

"You've been asleep for 3 days, strange since the poison should've worn off after 36 hours. So I passed the time by reading your notes and other personal belongings. I was shocked to see a note from Jarl Elisif. It was unopened, it seems were invited to her birthday party. Did she purposely write hearts on the letter, or did she simply send it in a drunken stupor?" she cackled. "After all her letter did have a faint smell of argonian bloodwine. The future high queen of Skyrim having an affair with her Redguard Thane? Oh how I bet the local gossips would love to hear about this" She inflected.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm married to a beautiful ambitious woman" he defended.

"Oh, I know. Ysolda right? I read her letters to you as well. It's strange to think that the guild would attract an aristocrat such as yourself. Tell me redguard, you already had wealth based on your bloodline and business ventures, you're a Thane of not just one but 5 holds, you're even a Tribune of the Imperial Legion, why on Nirn did you join the Thieves Guild?"

"That's a good question. I wish I had an answer just as good," he chuckled, " I joined a before I got married, so that I could get closer to this woman, Sapphire. I pressured her into backing off of this guy who owed her money. I saw her with Brynjolf the next day, I could tell by their body language they weren't a couple, so I still had a chance. He walked over gave me a simple test to join, and I passed. I could tell by her face she didn't like that, and I guess I've been pissing her off since that day. She has a cute bitch-face" he finished by laughing until his wound began to ache.

"Bitch-face?" Karliah asked confused.

"Yea, the face women make when they're in a bitchy mood. She's the real reason I joined the guild but of course, I'd never let her know that."

"Is that right?"

"Yea we're sort of friends now, though I never even gotten a drink with her. The only conversations we have are witty banter and shit talking to each other. Now that I think about it...She was probably never interested in me to begin with" he said beginning to stand.

"If not the money, then the women. Men are so predictable" she remarked bitterly

"So why did you join 'Miss. Poison Arrow'?"

"My mother was a nightingale, her father was nightingale who seduced my grandmother Queen Barenziah"

Ja'red bursted in laughter " Nightingales aren't real, just a story to scare children. The Barenziah part is more believable, so you're an aristocrat as well?"

"No, not really. My mother was an illegitimate birth, but you'll know the truth if Nocturnal wills you to walk with the shadows."

"I see you're delusional" he said dusting the snow off of his garments

"Since you're able to stand I have a favor to ask you?"

"Favor?" he said with a raised eyebrow

"Yes, this is Gallus' journal. I believe that it may contain information we need to prove our case against Mercer."

"So why not just give it to Brynjolf?"

"Unless you know this Brynjolf fellow to be a man knowledgeable in the Falmer tongue it would be pointless. Take this to Enthir at the College of Winterhold"

"Enthir? You associate with the strangest characters Karliah. But I know a few strange folks myself. Calcelmo, the court wizard of Markarth, is an expert on the Dwemer and Falmer. I'm sure he can be of use. Plus I introduced him to his wife, he owes me one."

2 days later Ja'red arrived in Markarth alone not to arouse suspicion. He would meet Karliah at Goldenglow Estate since it was technically her property. He went to the Understone Keep where Calcelmo and his wife Faleen were in a meeting with the Jarl Igmund.

"Ja'red, what impeccable timing you have." the Jarl stated, "It seems that the expedition force into Calcelmo's has failed to return after a week and a giant frost spider has blocked the entrance. I need you to clear this out so he can continue his research."

"Of course, but I need a favor from Calcelmo. It's the reason I came here, I need you to translate this journal for me. It's written in the Falmer language and it's of the utmost importance."

"I'd love to but please, go and protect my research over 6 dozen lives have died to procure this knowledge."

"6 dozen? And you want me to go by myself? I've just been nursed to health after nearly dying. I'm in a hurry so provide me 7 capable soldiers, and I'll be back before midnight." [A/N Ja'red may be a badass, but he's still not dragonborn so he has more limitations]

"Okay Ja'red, 7 soldiers picked by Legate Emmanuel will be yours." Jarl Igmund stated.

After 3 deaths and 4 hours the expedition journals had been collected. Now all that had to be done was turn on the automated defense system to protect the site from the invasive falmer. With the twist of a valve the automatons rose to life. Looking through the bars to the lower level he could see the now active Centaurians and Master Centaurians attacking, maiming, and dismembering the Falmer menace.

A soldier saw this as well and asked, " How are we supposed get out here with those things walking around?"

"I fought my first Centaurian when I was just a boy trying to prove myself a man. Are you a man? Okay then" he said unsheathing his weapon without giving time to answer.

"Wait!" another man said, "If we jump into the water we should be able to swim back to the way we came. We can fight and defeat the machines sure, but that won't keep the falmer at bay. I say we leave them here to kill each other. We got what we came for right, Tribune?"

Ja'red sighed as he re-sheathed his blade, " I guess you're right Quaestor. You've got a fine head on your shoulders, keep it and Emmanuel may be out of job soon" he chucked.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Ja'red! And only 3 lives lost this time!" Calcelmo cheered.

"So about that journal?"

"Ah, I'm afraid that'll take some time. Although clearly written in the Falmer language the penmanship is absolutely terrible. I can hardly tell a 'K' from a 'Q' , or a 'J' from a 'Y'. Give me 2 to 3, at most 4 days and it should be complete."

"Alright, I suppose I shouldn't rush you. I feel like there was something else I was supposed to do in Markarth anyway I just can't seem to remember what it was."

While taking a stroll through the market to remember his other reason to visit Markarth, a beggar by the name of Degaine walked up, " Excuse me kind sir, could you spare a septim or two?"

"I'm sorry did you say something?"

"You have time for a beggar such as me? Well then, will you let me tell you something. Something interesting. Are you interested?"

"Sure, why not?" Ja'red replied.

" In Dibella's temple there's a statue I saw. It was golden and beautiful, the representation of Dibella herself. I'm sure if you could get your hands on it I can sell it and split the profit with you. Interested?"

"Dibella?! That's what it was. Thanks, here's a few septims for your trouble" he said running off to her temple.

At the temple, Senna greeted him with a friendly kiss as he walking through the door. He had first encountered after waking with severe memory loss. He was tasked with cleaning the temple after he soiled it in a debaucherous state. On their second encounter in the market a month later, he was curious at lifestyle of a priestess of Dibella she showed him more than enough to prove her devotion to the Dibellan Arts.

"So what brings you here after so long... has the hunger for my pleasure manifested?" Senna smiled before she leaned closer.

"No. I'm here to meet with the high priestess actually"

Senna's smile vanished, "What?! You can't be serious. I'm more than capable of pleasing you. Mother Hamal, she may be kinky but-"

"But what, my dear Senna?" Hamal said appearing from the inner chamber.

"Nothing Mother Hamal, this man wishes to see with you."

"Are you the one, sent by the accepted-reject?" Hamal asked Ja'red

"Wha-what?! No Haelga sent me she supposed to be an acolyte or something."

"Yes, her, the accepted-reject. Rejected by the sisterhood because she lacks in the face. She attempted to join long ago after coming of age. Haelga was a cute girl indeed but certainly not beautiful, thus we rejected her. Dibella however, saw something in her we could not, bestowing her with a good gift. So she became the accepted-reject"

"Yea, sure, whatever. So what do you need me for?"

"Are you indeed Dibella's chosen? I do not wish to taint this temple with the presence of those unworthy. Especially a man."

"What's wrong with men?" he replied

"Men lack the finesse that women have. You are eager to release without the pleasure of the other. Such selfishness." she scowled. " A man has yet to enter the inner sanctum since the last hundred years of third era. If you are indeed sent by the Lady of Love then you will be the first in over 3 centuri-"

"Look, I'm tired of all these weird names and cryptic speech. Just tell me my quest so I can go." Ja'red interrupted, clearly annoyed.

"To the point, I like that, but I hope you aren't so eager to 'go' when it comes to art of sensual matters. Go to Karthwasten to the north, that is where the Sybil Fjotra should be"

"Should be?" he questioned.

"Yes, should be. We are not the Sybil, so Dibella speaks to us in shrouded messages, signs if you will. Only the Sybil can converse directly our Lady. Go now, and retrieve our Sybil."

Well this chapter was all over the place and part 2 will be too. I hope you enjoyed it, leave a review, so I can know what to do to improve this story... or not. I'll just wing it and see where this goes from here.