Thorin IV

A/N: So the story is winding down. I have less than ten chapters left and I am starting to close story arcs. This is the last of Thorin in this story, but he will appear in a Thieves Guild story that I plan to eventually write. Eventually.

"You just happened to be passing through?" I looked at the mercenary band that were bringing us to the capital of the Rift.

"No, Maven sent us." Their leader, a man named Maul, laughed. "She sent us to try to rescue the Silver-Blood Family, when we snuck into Markarth we found the Silver-Blood's heads on spikes. One of our contacts inside told us that many prisoners, including yourself and Raerek were taken to Karthwasten."

"We didn't realize that the Stormcloaks and the Imperials would give us enough of a distraction to get you out of there!" A younger Breton shouted. His face hidden under his hood.

"The Stormcloaks was the ones who rescued us!" My housecarl shouted.

I looked at Argis questioningly. Was he now a fervent Stormcloak?

"Be what it may, we are taking you to Maven." Maul told us as we entered the city gates.

It was not long before we were in Maven's dining room where the matriarch was eating her supper with her family. The younger Black-Briar woman looked at me and smirked.

"Come, sit." She motioned to my group.

"The Young Bear, Edric Stormcloak." Maven smiled at my young rescuer and his housecarl. "Raerek, the now exiled Jarl of Markarth. I am sorry for your loss." She looked to my former employer. "And you I presume are Thorin Vlindrel, Thane of Jarl Igmund's court. Also his spymaster." She smirked at me. Few knew me as that role.

An Imperial in mages robes stood at her side. "Now Maven, my end of the bargain is upheld I want my pay."

"Marcurio, do you see any of the Silver-Blood family here?" She addressed the mage. "I do not. Therefore you will receive not a single Septim from me, unless you can give me a Silver-Blood."

"Maven! I sent out several of my Guild, and it seems that Etienne and Thrynn didn't return."

"Fine you will get some gold as compensation for the two Thieves who didn't return, but you will not get any money from me for not completing your job."

"You will regret this, you bitch." The Mage's hands lit up. Lightning crackled between his fingers. A purple glow lit the room.

"Say that again," She rose and soon everyone's swords were out.

"I said you will regret that, you bitch." The Imperial repeated himself. "I brought down Mercer Frey, who made you his bitch, and I can do the same with you." With a flick of his wrist and lightning stuck Maul in the chest and flung him into the wall. Smoke sizzled from a black spot above his heart.

The Black-Briar family all stood in silence until Maven spoke, "You will regret this, Marcurio."

With another spell her table caught fire. I grabbed the younger Black-Briar woman as Argis grabbed Maven and we ran from the house.

"Thank you, Thorin." She smiled at me. "My name is Ingun."

"It is my pleasure, Ingun." I looked down at her. She seemed young, hopefully inexperienced.

A few nights after Calder and Edric departed for Windhelm, Marcurio approached us in the Bee and Barb. "I seek your help." He sat down and motioned for the bar keep to bring us ale.

"Doing what?" I looked to the young Imperial.

"Well I am sure you have figured out, you are here as a hostage to Maven. She keeps you put up all expense paid so if and when the Stormcloaks or Imperials take the Reach back she can place you or Raerek on the throne. That will depend on who she sees at more pliable."

"You know this how?"

"Who do you think helped her come up with the tactic?" Marcurio began to drink from his flagon. "I have served Maven for too long. I grow tired of her. As I can assume you have figured out, I am the Guildmaster of the Thieves Guild. I am tired of being under her thumb."

"What does this have to do with me?" I looked to him.

"Well, I know of your skills and your exploits from your days at the court of Markarth." He started. "I need someone of your skill set to help run the Guild. Not in any official capacity, I need the capital and the resources that Maven provided, without you thinking you can boss me around."

"Why would I just take over her position and not want to have her fun?" I laughed.

"Because I will give you her daughter's hand in marriage, the entirety of the Black-Briar meadery, the Black-Briar Manor, and more money than you could spend in a lifetime." He answered. "You will get a cut from our yearly profit, I will give you plenty of opportunity to ply your trade."

"So all of the perks of being Raerek's spy master without the threat of the Forsworn?"

"Exactly."

"What do you want in return?" I asked.

"Well, first I want use of Goldenglow Estate for the Guild. It is officially property of the Black-Briar's, thanks to myself several years ago. Secondly, I want your absolute silence on anything we take part in. Lastly, I want you to forsake all oaths to Raerek, if something happens to him in the cross fire I do not want you next in line to the throne of Markarth. As much as it would benefit us, the last time we had a thane as a contact it did not serve us well.

Marcurio had everything arranged. Maven was killed by "bandits" on her way to the Manor, and Hemming was sent a message saying he was next. The man was a craven and soon fled to get away from the possible murderers. Her elder brother would remain in prison for murdering his lover's brother. Ingun would be the only Black-Briar to run the meadery.

With Maven dead, Hemming in hiding, and her brother in prison no one would blink about me stepping up to help run her family's business after we finished the ceremony at the Temple of Mara. Ingun would make a wonderful wife. Now I would just need to convince her to marry me.