Dear reader,

Through their combined efforts the Dragonborn and the master thief, Brynjolf, managed to escape certain death at the hands of a Dragon Priest.

Perhaps such life threatening moments awaken unbridled passion in even the most stoic of persons because after the battle they ended up consecrating their love in that very crypt.

Now, however, an equally dangerous foe threatens them and the bond they have forged...

Stolen Heart

By: Anonymous

- Chapter 5: Punishment -

The two returned to Riften, both carrying hefty pouches filled with gold and jewels. They passed the empty marketplace and headed directly to the graveyard. Brynjolf nudged the Thief's crest with his foot and the tombstone-entrance slid open. They descended the stairs and entered the guild.

Brynjolf looked at her as they alighted from the rickety old ladder and smiled softly "I can't quite describe how I feel. I guess, happy? But it doesn't seem enough to say that."

"It's alright. I feel the same and you don't need to find some scholarly way to say it, either."

"You see, lass! That's why I love you." He laughed and leaned down to lay a kiss on her jawbone. His lips trailed lower to her neck. His voice was a gravely rumble against her skin "Damnit to the Daedra… I want you, again."

"Again?" she replied, feigning shock "You're insatiable Bryn…"

"Well you only have yourself to blame, lass. You make me this way."

"Hmmm. I wonder what the punishment is for doing this to you?"

"Well of course, the only answer is to give me what I want…" he scooped her up in to his arms and promptly dropped her over the nearest accommodating object: the Guild Master's table.

Cathryne laughed softly as Brynjolf laid her down, she reached out and slid her hands in to his hair "Bryn…"

"Oh don't call my name like that, lass… I don't think I can take it." he smirked at her and stole another kiss, this time from her lips.

"Really?" her eyes glittered wickedly "But… what if I want you to lose control?"

"AHEM." Their moment atop the Guild Master's table was cut painfully short by a loud clearing of someone's throat behind them.

They both tensed, sharing an uneasy glance, the source of the cough was obvious and neither of them wanted to turn and confront that glowering face. In the end Brynjolf stood up and looked to his side "Mercer… I can explain…"

"Oh. Well this ought to be good." Mercer spat back, eyes ablaze "What the hell are you two playing at?" he eyed Cathryne "I can almost forgive it from you, you're new and perhaps you haven't had chance to learn all of the Guild's rules but you…" Mercer's furious eyes turned to Brynjolf "You should know better."

"Mercer… we're all adults here and adults have desires." Brynjolf replied.

"Ha don't feed me the same mammoth shit you peddle about in the Riften Market, Brynjolf. I won't be fooled by it. You know full well that after the last Guild Master's untimely demise, I set the rule that Guild Members should not engage in sexual relationships together!" Mercers voice was low, but filled with venom as he looked between the two.

Brnjolf rubbed his head and sighed deeply "Well, what are you going to do, Mercer? Kick me out? Lynch me? I may be full of mammoth shit, as you put it, but I am still an asset to this guild… I'm still the second in command."

"Don't try my patients, Brynjolf!" Mercer looked at Cathryne "You know. You're still new here, even if you have done a few goods jobs…"

"Mercer don't even think about it! I came on to her." Brynjolf replied.

"Ha… She didn't say no, did she?"

"Mercer…" Cathryne sat up from the table "Go ahead and give me a punishment, if that's what you're getting at."

"Hmmm. You're obnoxiously sharp, aren't you? Fine. This time, it's a warning. If I find you and Brynjolf doing anything other than working then you'll find yourself out of this guild." Mercer folded his arms and looked thoughtful for a moment "As for your punishment… Well… I'll issue it to you in the morning. After all, I'd hate to miss this chance to put you in your place."

Brynjolf began to step forward, but Cathryne held his arm. He looked at her and she shook her head.

Mercer walked away, leaving the two in silence.

"… Sorry. I just think it's best to let him vent and scheme. Arguing with him seems to answer nothing." She said, holding his hand "As for his threats… I don't intend to listen to them."

"Nor do I, lass. We'll just need to be a little more… sneaky."

She smiled brightly "I suppose this will be good training."

"Aye. That it will." He bent down and kissed her forehead "Whatever punishment he has planned, I'll be sure to thwart it lass. Don't you worry."

"Bryn… provided it's fair, I'll face it head on."

"This is Mercer we're talking about. It won't be remotely fair. It'll probably be impossible and at the least, life threatening."

"Well bring it on." She replied with a grin "We defeated a Dragon Priest, I doubt Mercer can do worse."

Brynjolf looked away, for a moment he frowned "I hope you're right lass…" then he looked back at her and smiled "Now. I think we should go to bed, before I get another taste for you…" he kissed her lips and walked to one of the vacant beds.

Cathryne took the one next to him and closed her eyes, allowing sleep to claim her.

The next morning she received a harsh awakening in the form of ice cold sewer water being splashed in her face. She sat up with a yelp of shock and wiped her eyes clear of the foul liquid.

"What the?"

"Rise and shine." It was Mercer.

"Mercer…" she frowned and looked up at him.

"Now. I've thought up a suitable punishment, I hope you're still willing to take it? Otherwise, you're leaving the guild."

"I'll take whatever you've got!" she growled back.

"You see? It's that damned defiance that I'm going to break out of you, Cathryne. You'll learn to respect your betters." Mercer turned on his heel "Let's go."

She got up slowly and donned her guild armour. A sense of dread started to fill her stomach as she followed Mercer through the silent, empty Cistern. She noted, absently, that there was no daylight spilling in through the boarded up ceiling-well. Was it still night time? This realisation did nothing to calm the swirling unease.

"Perceptive as ever. Yeah. I've got you up in the middle of the night so that we can have this little talk without the rest of the guild around. You've done well in forging some strong bonds and a bit of a name for yourself down here and whilst I usually encourage that… you're proving to be a thorn in my side." Mercer's voice was as frosty as an enchanted blade.

"I don't know what you want me to say. I'm not going to beg you for forgiveness. I will complete any task you set me, but I won't be sorry for what has happened…" a fierceness started to overtake the sickening feeling – as much as she wanted to remain in the Thieves Guild and be part of this 'family', she did not want to let Mercer bully her.

He smirked at her, which promptly drained the fiery emotions from her eyes "I know. You're not sorry but you will be. I have a job for you."

"A job?"

"Yes. Failure is almost guaranteed and if you fail, you'll be spending the rest of forever in a cell."

"What's the job?"

"I want you to steal Maven Black Briar's most treasured possession. The Statue of Zenithar. I don't know how she managed it, but that statue is enchanted and turns flawed gemstones in to flawless ones… I don't need to explain to you how good that could be for the Guild's wealth."

"Steal…? From Maven Black Briar?" Cathryne knew this was nothing short of a death sentence. She could see the sneer in Mercer's eyes, he wanted her to fail but if she succeeded then he stood to gain greatly. Either way, he would come out with something he wanted. Her punishment and imprisonment, or a precious artefact. "You… bastard!" she hissed.

"Do you get it now? You don't cross Mercer Frey and get away with it, stupid girl. I always win in the end." He turned and started to walk, but then stopped and turned around "Oh and one more thing. If you mention this to anyone in the Guild, including your lover boy Bryn, then I'll have word sent to Maven about how I intercepted your plot to steal her Statue of Zenithar and… I have acquired written exchanges between you and Brynjolf which would corroborate my side of the story…" he held up a few letters for her to see. "So, happy hunting, Cathryne! I'll ask them to spare you the axe man's block as a 'favour' to the guild."

Cathryne watched him disappear, she could hear him snickering to himself. For a few moments she stood in the dingy corridor and looked at the floor. Her thoughts were swimming and she was reeling from the task at hand. She was going to steal a precious artefact from Maven Black Briar. She was going steal from the most influential person in Riften – probably one of the most influential in all of Skyrim and if she failed, she was going to hang for it.

This was different to the head-on fights with Dragons and their Priests. This was a colder, more calculating sort of a fight and one that she was not quite so qualified for. She couldn't FUS RO DAH her way out of it and she couldn't implicate the rest of the guild in this mess, either.

"Alright, Mercer." She took a deep breathe "Game on…"

~ End of Chapter 5~

I just wanted to say a big thanks to those of you who have commented on and favourited this story. I'm so happy to see that you're enjoying this! Thank you very much! ^^

- Chapter 5: Punishment -

The two returned to Riften both carrying pouches of gold and jewels. They passed the empty marketplace and headed directly to the graveyard. Brynjolf nudged the Thief's crest with his foot and the tombstone-entrance slid open. They descended the stairs and entered the guild.

Brynjolf looked at her as they alighted from the rickety old ladder he smiled softly "I can't quite describe how I feel. I guess happy? But it doesn't seem enough to say that."

"It's alright. I feel the same and you don't need to find some scholarly way to say it, either."

"You see, lass. That's why I love you." He laughed and leaned down to lay a kiss on her jawbone. His lips trailed lower to her neck. His voice was a gravely rumble against her skin "Damn it to the Daedra… I want you, again."

"Again?" she replied, feigning shock "You're insatiable Bryn…"

"Well you only have yourself to blame, lass. You make me this way."

"Hmmm. I wonder what the punishment is for doing this to you?"

"Well of course, the only answer is to give me what I want…" he scooped her up in to his arms and promptly dropped her over the nearest accommodating object – the Guild Master's table.

Catheryne laughed softly as Brynjolf laid her down, she reached out and slid her hands in to his hair "Bryn…"

"Oh don't call my name like that, lass… I don't think I can take it." he smirked at her and stole another kiss, this time from her lips.

"Oh?" her eyes glittered wickedly "But… what if I want you to lose control?"

"AHEM." Their moment atop the Guild Master's table was cut painfully short by a loud clearing of someone's throat behind them.

Both thieves tensed, sharing an uneasy glance – the source of the cough was obvious and neither of them wanted to turn and confront that glowering face. In the end Brynjolf stood up and looked to his side "Mercer… I can explain…"

"Oh. Well this ought to be good." Mercer spat back, eyes ablaze "What the hell are you two playing at?" he eyed Catheryne "I can almost forgive it from you, you're new and perhaps you haven't had chance to learn all of the Guild's rules but you…" Mercer's furious eyes turned to Brynjolf "You should know better."

"Mercer… we're all adults here and adults have desires." Brynjolf replied.

"Ha don't feed me the same mammoth shit you peddle up in the Riften Market, Brynjolf. I won't be fooled by it. You know full well that after the last Guild Master's untimely demise, I set the rule that Guild Members should not engage in sexual relationships together!" Mercers voice was low, but filled with venom as he looked between the two.

Brnjolf rubbed his head and sighed deeply "Well, what are you going to do, Mercer? Kick me out? Lynch me? I may be full of mammoth shit, as you say, but I am still an asset to this guild…"

"Don't try my patients, Brynjolf!" Mercer looked at Cathryne "You know. You're still new here, even if you'd done a few goods jobs…"

"Mercer don't even think about it. I came on to her." Brynjolf replied.

"Ha… She didn't say no, did she?"

"Mercer…" Cathryne sat up from the table "Go ahead and give me a punishment, if that's what you're getting at."

"Hmmm. You're obnoxiously sharp, aren't you? Fine. This time, it's a warning. If I find you and Brynjolf don't anything other than working then you'll find yourself out of a job." Mercer folded his arms and looked thoughtful for a moment "As for your punishment… Well… I'll issue it to you in the morning. After all, I'd hate to miss this chance to put you in your place."

Brynjolf began to step forward, but Cathryne held his arm. He looked at her and she shook her head.

Mercer walked away, leaving the two in silence.

"… Sorry. I just think it's best to let him vent and scheme. Arguing with him seems to answer nothing." She finally said, holding his hand "As for his threats… I don't intend to listen to them."

"Nor do I, lass. We'll just need to be a little more… sneaky."

She smiled brightly "I suppose this will be good training."

"Aye. That it will." He bent down and kissed her forehead "Whatever punishment he has planned, I'll be sure to thwart it lass. Don't you worry."

"Bryn… provided it's fair, I'll face it head on."

"This is Mercer we're talking about. It won't be remotely fair. It'll probably be impossible and at the least, life threatening."

"Well bring it on." She replied with a grin "We defeated a Dragon Priest, I doubt Mercer can do worse."

Brynjolf looked away, for a moment he frowned "I hope you're right lass…" then he looked back at her and smiled "Now. I think we should go to bed, before I get another taste for you…" he kissed her lips and walked to one of the vacant beds.

Cathryne took the one next to him and closed her eyes, allowing sleep to claim her.

The next morning she received a harsh awakening in the form of ice cold sewer water being splashed in her face. She sat up with a yelp of shock and wiped her eyes clear of the foul liquid.

"What the?"

"Rise and shine my little Guild Whore." It was Mercer.

"Mercer…" she frowned and looked up at him.

"Now. I've thought up a suitable punishment, I hope you're still willing to take it? Otherwise, you're leaving the guild."

"I'll take whatever you've got!" she growled back.

"You see? It's that damned defiance that I'm going to break out of you, Cathryne. You'll learn to respect your betters." Mercer turned on his heel "Let's go."

She got up slowly and donned her guild armour. A sense of dread started to fill her stomach as she followed Mercer through the silent, empty Cistern. She noted, absently, that there was no daylight spilling in through the boarded up ceiling-well. Was it still night time? This realisation did nothing to calm the swirling unease.

"Perceptive as ever. Yeah. I've got you up so that we can have this little talk without the rest of the guild around. You've done well in forging a bit of a name for yourself down here and whilst I usually encourage that… you're proving to be troublesome." Mercer's voice was as frosty as an enchanted blade.

"I don't know what you want me to say. I'm not going to beg you for forgiveness. I will complete any task you set me, but I won't be sorry for what I feel about Brynjolf…" a fierceness started to overtake the sickening feeling – as much as she wanted to remain in the Thieves Guild and be part of this 'family', she did not want to let Mercer bully her.

He smirked at her, which promptly drained the fiery emotions from her eyes "I know. You're not sorry but you will be. I have a job for you."

"A job?"

"Yes. Failure is almost guaranteed and if you fail, you'll be spending the rest of forever in a cell."

"What's the job?"

"I want you to steal Maven Black Briar's most treasured possession. The Statue of Zenithar. I don't know how she managed it, but that statue is enchanted and turn flawed gemstones in to flawless ones… I don't need to explain to you how good that could be for the Guild's wealth!"

"Steal…? From Maven Black Briar?" Cathryne knew this was nothing short of a death sentence. She could see the sneer in Mercer's eyes, he wanted her to fail but if she succeeded then he stood to gain greatly. Either way, he would come out with something he wanted. Her punishment and imprisonment, or a precious artefact. "You… bastard!" she hissed.

"Do you get it now? You don't cross Mercer Frey and get away with it, stupid girl. I always win in the end." He turned and started to walk, but then stopped and turned around "Oh and one more thing. If you mention this to anyone in the Guild, including your lover boy Bryn, then I'll have word sent to Maven about how you intended to steal her Statue of Zenithar and… I have acquired written exchanges between you and Brynjolf which would corroborate my side of the story…" he held up a few letters for her to see. "So. Happy hunting, Cathryne. I'll ask them to spare you the axe man's block as a 'favour' to the guild."

Cathryne watched him disappear, she could hear him snickering to himself. For a few moments she stood in the dingy corridor and looked at the floor. Her thoughts were swimming and she was reeling from the task at hand. She was going to steal a precious artefact from Maven Black Briar. She was going steal from the most influential person in Riften – probably one of the most influential in all of Skyrim and if she failed, she was going to hang for it.

This was different to the head-on fights with Dragons and their Priests. This was a colder, more calculating sort of a fight and one that she was not quite so qualified for. She couldn't FUS RO DAH her way out of it and she couldn't implicate the rest of the guild in this mess, either.

"Alright, Mercer." She took a deep breathe "Game on…"

~ End of Chapter 5~