Everyone in Markarth knew Betrid cared for one thing and one thing only: Gold. That's why she married into one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the whole of Skyrim. She didn't love Thonar, but she did love the coins he gave her. So, when Nana, a servant, told Betrid she had the signs of pregnancy, Betrid knew full well she wouldn't be keeping this little monster growing inside her. She always knew Thonar had wanted a son to carry on the Silver-Blood dynasty. He had dropped hints over the course of their marriage but Betrid had always found a way to distract him from the foolish idea. Be it sex, cooking or, well, both at the same time. Anything to get his mind off such a foolish idea. Having a child had never crossed her mind, except in the occasional nightmare. Now she was confronted with what she had always feared. Children. She would have to do what she does with every problem: deal with it.

Frabbi was a broken woman. Her beloved daughter was dead and she had no answers. How could such an awful tragedy befall them? After crying for what felt like hours her eyes were red and dry and she sat alone in the understone keep. She didn't think, she didn't speak. She was waiting for the nightmare to end, but it wouldn't. This was her reality now. Her purpose in life lay dead.

The male guard stood across from her. He had never seen someone in so much pain before, so much unending turmoil. It was...difficult to watch. He tried to distract himself but couldn't draw himself away from her misery. Her misery was enthralling. It was...beautiful in a way. But oh so ugly too. He was quickly called back into the Hall of the Dead.

"Ma'am I'll be right back okay?", she didn't respond, instead staring ahead at the unlit fire. In the Hall of the Dead Brother Verulus was describing Hroki's cause of death.

"She has extensive head trauma, from some sort of pointed blunt object. Maybe...likely from a weapon of some sort".

"Would she have died instantly?" the female guard asked. "Unfortunately no. She would have been alive for a few minutes I imagine. Her skull has been completely smashed in so it would have to have been a fairly strong individual. Likely male but I wouldn't rule out a hardy female either."

"Gods" he chuckled, "there's several Nordic women in this hold who I…" he stopped and gulped immediately upon seeing the female guard's expression.

The male guard entered. "What about her possessions?" he asked. "What did she have on her? Anything of interest?" he continued.

"Not much. A few coins but nothing really worth talking about. She also had some jewellery and a dagger. However..." he trailed off, his tone changing.

"What is it?" the female guard questioned.

"She was carrying an amulet of Talos. I know it's not that uncommon but it could get her in trouble, especially around here…and... if anyone knew...if they knew…"

"I understand. Worshiping Talos is prohibited. We could be looking at the Thalmor".

"Gods! Be careful!" Verulus warned. "I wouldn't go around making accusations against the Thalmor without proof or your liable to end up…well..." Veralus's eyes trailed down to the slab, and Hroki. The female guard looked away, sighing.

"Unless you want them to take you away in the middle of the night" he began again. "Anyway, I won't have anything else for you until I see the crime scene." Veralus nodded.

"Thanks for the help" the female guard nodded. "We need to tell the Jarl".

The two guards made their way to the Jarl, pondering on their situation as they went. "Wouldn't be surprised if it was the Thalmor. Damn elves are always so secretive". The male guard ranted. There was a history there but the female guard knew better than to press Roggar. He was always very curt. But, admittedly, he was a very good guard.

"Wait!" the female guard stated. Frabbi was still sitting silently on her own, her frail appearance reflecting her inner anguish. "You need to take her home. Hopefully the rest of her family are there and... try to break the news gently will you?"

"What do you mean 'try'? I'm always gentle" Roggar bellowed. "Sure" the female guard sarcastically called back, rolling her eyes at the Nord.

Jarl Igmund was busy speaking with his much older steward Raerek. It was clearly serious although it often was where Igmund was concerned. After waiting several moments the Jarl noticed her. "You...guard" he summoned. "What have you got to report?" he spoke harshly and brusquely.

"Sir I have news on Hroki's death" She responded.

"Well why didn't you interrupt me then?" he blurted out in surprise, and looked her up and down.

"Sir...I" she paused not knowing what to say.

"Oh Gods" he sighed, glancing towards Raerek. "Just tell me what you got for me? Was it murder?" he sat in his throne, leaning back against it.

She stepped forward confidently. "Yes sir, the girl was murdered". Igmund didn't seem at all surprised. She studied him. Raerek gasped and sat down in a chair near the throne. "Shame" Igmund replied. "She seemed like a sweet girl. This is the last thing we need. Especially with the war, with that murderer Ulfric" he spat at speaking his name.

The Jarl was odd, a blind man could figure that. "How did she die?" he asked with a certain curious nature.

"Sir, she died from blows to the head with a... weapon we think. We don't know what kind yet"

"Well, that's great. We 'think'. I guess that will do, for now. Was she… raped?"

"Sir" the female guard shifted from one foot to the other, uncomfortable.

"Well, was she or not?" he repeated. "I don't know. We don't know yet".

"Hmm, interesting. How did the family react to the news?"

She sighed. "As you would expect. The mother is heartbroken...utterly. We can't locate the brother or father yet".

"Really? Strange...well, tell me when you do". The female guard nodded.

"I need you to interrogate the entire hold. We need to find out everyone's whereabouts when she died." He was surprised when she was still standing there, open-mouthed.

"Me?" she sounded shocked. "Of course" he replied. "You found her, you know what happened and you seem reasonably adept. Just don't fuck it up" he smiled.

"I won't...that's a promise" she sounded determined and began to turn away. "One last thing..." he piped up.

"Yes...sir?" she said nervously. "What's your name?" he asked.

"Emilie" she replied. "Its…Emilie".

"Emilie...it's a pleasure" he smiled another time, causing her stomach to churn and hairs to stand up on the back of her neck. The man was strange.

Emilie didn't know where to start. The hold was small, yes, but it still had a lot of residents and travellers. This was the biggest crime she had ever had to investigate. Much bigger than solving the mysteries of the stolen sweet rolls and runaway dogs. She had only been in Skyrim for less than two months and now she had to solve a brutal murder of a girl she knew nothing about. Life didn't get much sweeter.

Okay, so she couldn't really complain. This was the chance she wanted. To return to her homeland and become a guard, especially after these last few years. She needed to forget and move on. This was the chance she needed. This could be her shot. She had to solve this murder. 'For Hroki as well', of course, she taught to herself.

Over at the treasury, Betrid was praying. Praying to any of the Daedra she knew to take her foetus from her. This was dangerous. But Betrid needed to get rid of this spawn before it became just that. And she would do anything. So, she tried to summon a Daedric Prince. However no matter what she tried each one failed and failed again. She had finally given up and decided to go to bed. That's when it happened.

Boethiah appeared.

Betrid was lying down naked in her bed, dressed only in pearls, contemplating her dire situation when the door to her bedroom slammed shut.

"Thonar? Thonar is that you?" she called out.

"They can't hear you" Boethiah spoke softly and calmly from a corner of the large room.

"Wh-who are you?..." she crawled to the other side of the bed, covering her slim body with a sheet.

Boethiah laughed loudly "Who am I? Foolish woman. You summoned me and you don't even know who I am. Very, very silly of you. Very silly indeed". Boethiah moved closer, in the guise of a male.

"Wait! You're Boethiah...aren't you?" her tone changed.

"Good guess. I may not kill you for your ignorance now. Why have you summoned me mortal? And be quick" Boethiah now stood in front of her, a shadowy figure at the end of her bed.

"I need your help in... dealing with a small matter" she whispered, moving a hand over her stomach.

"Wait a moment...I see now...yes…you're pregnant. Of course. This isn't the first time either...is it?" the voice teased, prodding at Betrid.

"No...no it's not. I thought I couldn't get pregnant after the last…experience…but apparently I'm cursed with amazing fertility" she scoffed, squeezing the skin around her stomach.

Boethiah smiled wickedly from ear to ear...or at least Betrid thought it smiled. It was...hard to tell with Daedra.

"You want me to get rid of your little...problem. And in return you will do everything I ask? Everything has its price. Everything" Boethiah hovered closer again, looming over the woman.

"Anything you ask..." she said pulling her sheet slowly off her. "Anything you want…" she flirted.

"No, you silly, filthy, whore! You think I want your disgusting semen infested gutter cunt?! Maybe…you're not worthy..." Boethiah moved back into the shadows.

"No! No wait. I... I'll do anything. Just ask and I will do it." she tried to reason with it.

"Anything? So if I asked you to…. murder ten new-borns every month...butcher them…?" it spoke in a lusty tone, pronouncing each word in an almost sexual manner.

"I'll do it, every week if you ask" she said.

Boethiah laughed "Oh, maybe you are worthy. Just maybe. No... I want you to do something else for me. Something more fitting for your...talents".

"Just name the price and I'll do it. I swear".

"Oh my dear lady I believe we have a deal. Your problem will be gone in a few moments. When I call on you...do be ready, or else". Boethiah moved into the darkness blanketed corner, and vanished into nothing.

Betrid lay back into the bed and was surprised when the blood began to slowly seep from her vagina. There was a sharp pain, but nothing she hadn't had before. Thonar would never know. The deed was done...but Betrid was not looking forward to her next meeting with the Prince of deceit. It, however, was.