Chapter Seven

In Riften

Scouts-Many-Marshes looked around and breathed in the lake air. The city had recently undergone a dramatic shift in policy, the Empire was in control of Riften but Maven Black-Briar, despite all of her influence and power, had finally been put to justice. She was executed by beheading, along with every single member of her family save Ingrid, who was defended by Elgrim, Mjoll the Lioness and Talen-Jei, who denied that Ingrid had any involvement in the family business.

The city was taking itself back, the guards having finally enough time and resources to take out the dreaded Thieves Guild. Most of them were pardoned by the Emperor himself, expect for the key members- Vex, Delvin Mallory and Brynjolf who were scheduled to suffer the same fate as Maven Black-Briar.

The canal at the bottom of the city was slowly being cleaned. New technology from Cyrodil was brought in, purifiers with the cleansing power of new found magic thanks to the White Gold Tower. It was a new day for Riften, a new life for everyone in the city, and there was much rejoicing to be had, the corruption and the tyranny were finally put to rest.

Mjoll the Lioness reinstated the former Jarl, Laila Law-Giver. As a reward for her service, Mjoll became the new housecarl, the former one having died protecting the city from an Imperial attack. The only reason that Laila was still alive was because the people respected and knew her.

With the treaty between the Argonians and the Dark Elves now passed into law, Talen-Jei, Madesi, Keerava, Brand-Shei and most of the dark elf population walked freely throughout the city as if they were on top of the world. They laughed, they danced. They cried and sang. The market was filled with their presence that day, almost as if it were spring time even though it was dead in the middle of winter.

Scouts, Brelyna, Samuel, Ghorbash and Hadvar walked through the street heading towards the Temple of Mara. Talen-Jei and Madesi recognized Scouts immediately; they rushed over to greet them.

"Well if it isn't Scouts-Many-Marshes" Talen-Jei exclaimed, "How have you been?"

Scouts was so taken by surprise that he forgot to so much as speak. Madesi laughed and playfully jabbed Scouts in the shoulder.

"Look at him" Madesi replied, "He's so surprised he can hardly believe it. Come on Scouts, you remember right, In Black Marsh? We romped through the slime together, fell in love with the same women and hunted the Werecrocs."

"Werecrocs?" Samuel asked

Talen-Jei looked down to Samuel and recognized him immediately.

"Samuel? You're back? I thought you left ages ago!"

Samuel shrugged and looked up towards Ghorbash and Scouts.

"We've taken him in under our wing" Ghorbash replied, "Ghorbash-gro-Dushnikh" he continued with an outstretched hand that Talen-Jei and Madesi took.

Scouts and Brelyna made their way into the Temple of Mara for rehearsal, the wedding wouldn't be for another few hours and they wanted to make sure that they were doing things right. Talen-Jei and Madesi showed the others the new Riften.

"It's a quite a change" Samuel said impressively, "Quite a change indeed."

"The Bee and Barb is partnered with the project" Talen-Jei explained, "Part of the reason why the Empire agreed to the purification project. That and Maven's execution...really put things into prospective again."

The more of the city they saw, the more that Samuel thought about returning. Hadvar saw this, for he had the same look in his eye when he first saw the Imperial City in Cyrodil, the look of wonder and awe.

J'Zhargo and Tsavani walked through the city gates, making history at the same time.

"So this is what Nord cities look like on the inside" J'Zhargo said to himself," What a shithole."

Tsavani however was grateful for the opportunity which made J'Zhargo change his mood; there wasn't anything that he wouldn't do for her.

"Do you think it's weird that Scouts and Brelyna are getting married?" Tsavani asked

J'Zhargo thought about the question long and hard, he came up with his answer but he was afraid to give it. The real answer was that yes, it was weird, especially since at one point in time J'Zhargo had feelings for Brelyna, when they were but students at the College and Tolfdir was the Master Wizard. Instead of this answer, he gave the one that he knew that Tsavani was looking for.

"No" J'Zhargo exclaimed, "If it's love it doesn't matter what appearances are. We should be happy for them."

Tsavani nodded and said nothing more on the issue.

Paarthurnax flew low and finally landed on top of the Bee and Barb, Talen-Jei, a close friend of Scouts, had installed a landing pad similar to one at Lakeview Manor, mostly because he had helped build the house and suggested it. The pad was made specifically for Paarthurnax and Odahviing but unlike the one at Lakeview, this one could only hold one dragon at a time.

Paarthurnax looked around nervously for Ghorbash, when he found he called out his name.

"Ghorbash!" he screamed, "Ghorbash come here, quickly!"

Ghorbash walked over and looked up in Paarthurnax's direction.

"What is it Paarthurnax? Is something wrong?"

Paarthurnax nodded, "I can't find Odahviing. I've looked in every possible place, he's gone!"

Ghorbash shrugged, there was little that he was able to do.

"Do something!" Paarthurnax continued

"What do you want me to do?" Ghorbash asked, "It's not like I just go looking for him all over Skyrim. Besides he's a dragon, he can take care of himself."

Paarthurnax listened to Ghorbash's words but he did not believe them.

Ghorbash went back to the market, leaving Paarthurnax to his own worries. J'Zhargo and Tsavani had joined the group; Talen-Jei was playing the lute while Keerava danced as if she were a gypsy girl, mesmerizing and captivating all who saw her.

Jarl Laila came out to see the festivities, Mjoll was beside her. Laila leaned in, curosity getting the better of her.

"What's going on Mjoll? Did we miss something?"

Mjoll smiled and answered her, "It's a celebration milady. The Dark Elves and the Argonians have finally made peace between their peoples. Quite a jubilee indeed."

A song broke out from the crowd; it was a sung in the traditional bar tune style, in context, "An Irish Drinking Song." Its title was appropriate- All Hail Riften. Hadvar and Madesi led the song, with Madesi starting the first verse.

Gather round all my friends

And listen to my ode.

While I tell you about the city

Laden with its gold

Underneath the city streets, yes we know it's true

The Guild has enough of it for me and for you.

Hadvar took up the next verse of the song.

So raise your swords and raise yours shields

Let's face the enemy

Liberate ourselves from this tyranny.

Take it from my man, this good faithful bard

When we've won, we'll have fun

All hail the Bee and Barb!

Everyone cheered at this, especially Talen-Jei and Keerava. Then the chorus came, the song turning into a crowd song.

All hail Riften, you are so great and true

This is why we happy few, sing this ode to you.

The water's clean, the people sing and everyone is fine

Put down the mead, come drink with me and open up the wine!

The song transitioned over to Samuel.

I used to roam these streets at night, I know every stone

The cracks upon the walls and ground I used to call them home.

But I now I have family who loves me just the same

And if you don't mind I will call them out by name-

My loving uncle Ghorbash, my brother he's a Scout

My grandda is dragon; he's a bit of a lout.

My cousin's the one who started with the bard

He shouted that immortal phrase, "All hail the Bee and Barb!"

The song stopped for a moment, everyone turned towards Samuel, Ghorbash and Hadvar and applauded them. They then turned towards Paarthurnax and did the same. Talen-Jei pulled out a lute and slowed the song down. As a joke Madesi added this verse.

I don't why, I keep getting called a bard

All I did was start this song

It's getting rather long

The real craft of the world, is what I really do

A jeweler who makes things for both me and you

Stop calling me a bard

It's getting on my nerves

I don't know when to stop

It's really quite absurd

So come on Talen-Jei my man

Please play me out

Help me and help I'll you

Learn how to screw!

Scouts and Brelyna burst from the Temple of Mara and joined in the song, the scene had now turned into a full on musical. Scouts and Brelyna did not add a new verse to the song; they simply started the chorus up once again, with one added twist.

All hail to Riften and all hail to you

This is why we sing this song, we happy few.

The water's clean as are the swords and everyone is fine

So stop drinking all that mead and open the wine.

Hadvar closed the song with a call and response. He stood on top of a box and shouted as loud as he could.

Raise your swords, raise your shields

(Yes we'll raise them high)

Let's stick it to our enemies, gouge them in the eye.

(Protect our home, our city, our family and our friends)

Come on down and drink with me, we'll start this song again!

Scouts and Brelyna, the rehearsal for the wedding over, decided to rest until the real thing happened. In their hearts and heads though, Scouts and Brelyna were already on their honeymoon. Speaking of which, when it came to their honeymoon, there was only one location that came to mind-Solstheim. It was the one place that they've never been to before and Scouts and Brelyna were not the sort to spend all of them time lounging at lake houses, they liked a little of adventure and mystery. Solstheim was the perfect destination.

Jarl Laila turned towards Mjoll

"I like that song. From henceforth it is the song of Riften."

Mjoll looked at the Jarl as if she were insane

"But milady, you can't just-"

Laila gave Mjoll a look, "I like that song." Laila replied, "It's jovial, it's happy and something that Riften needs. Especially now with the city on the rise and happier and wealthier than it's ever been, I want that song recorded in the historical records and made into our song!"

"But it's a bar song!" Mjoll protested

"I don't care Mjoll" Laila said, "I like it. It goes. End of story."

Mjoll nodded; incidentally the crowd started the song again, taking Hadvar's last line a bit too seriously. Nevertheless, those involved, gladly started over. Mjoll wrote down everything that they said and walked inside Mistveil Keep to put it in the historical records.

Eventually the music died down, but the celebration still continued, especially after the wedding of Scouts and Brelyna, which happened almost immediately after the end of the second time around with the song. Odahviing at this point, was present, hovering over the Temple of Mara. Paarthurnax, whose ears were better and more attuned to human speech, remained on top of the Bee and Barb, silently listening to the ceremony while blocking out all other noise.

Ghorbash, Samuel, Talen-Jei, Madesi, Derkeethus, Stands-in-Shallows and Neertrenaza took up Scouts' side of the room. J'Zhargo, Onmund, Faralda, Mirabelle Ervine, who was resurrected by J'Zhargo and the new Arch Mage of the College and Brand-Shei, took up Brelyna's side.

After the vow exchange, Scouts took up Brelyna in his arms and walked her out, kissing her as he went. Brelyna laughed and pushed Scouts playfully off.

"Wait until we get to Solstheim" Brelyna said, "Then we can have some fun."

Ghorbash, Hadvar and J'Zhargo heard this and immediately became uncomfortable.

"You're going to Solstheim?" Ghorbash asked turning to Scouts, "But that's crazy. That island is crawling with who knows what!"

Scouts laughed and shrugged him off, "That's why it's prefect Ghorbash."

"But what about Cyrodil, Or the Summerset Isles or High Rock, or any of the providences! They all have ideal vacation spots, even in places like Black Marsh, the most inhospitable place in all of Tamriel, has cities on the coast that would be more than enough for the two of you."

"We've already made up our mind Ghorbash" Brelyna said as she stood on her own two feet. "We're going to Solstheim and that's that."

"Then I'm coming with you" J'Zhargo volunteered, "I won't bury you. I've done enough of that with Mirabelle and Savos. You need protection."

Brelyna thought about it for a bit, ultimately she agreed.

"But you can't do it alone" Brelyna continued, "Solstheim is full of dangers; different from Skyrim...We'll need at least three more to round it out."

Madesi, Talen-Jei and Hadvar immediately volunteered.

Scouts shook his head at Talen

"I can't let you do this Talen. You're my best friend and I love you like a brother. But you have Keerava to think about. You can't die, she would be lost without you."

Talen brushed him off, "What's the point of living if you don't die for something that you would fight for? Let me come with you, it's time that I own up to our friendship."

Hadvar smiled and commended Talen-Jei, "Good man" he replied, he turned to Scouts, "It's not every day that you get to fight with your friends now is it?"

Scouts shook his head, besides it would be a great opportunity for them to reconnect.

"Alright fine" he relented, "But remember, this is about me and Brelyna. I don't want you getting in the way of things."

"Don't worry" J'Zhargo said reassuringly, "I'll keep them in line."

Scouts smiled at J'Zhargo and walked out, the Khajiit, the Nord and the two Argonians following behind.