Astaria stood staring up at the Palace of the Kings. It was morning and she wasn't sure how long she'd been standing there. She'd gone to Candlehearth for a room for the night and had essentially cried herself to sleep.

Now, she didn't know what to do.

She knew that she would have to deal with this eventually, and she knew that there was no way that Ulfric was just going to let her run away from it forever. Confused and racked by indecision, she still stood staring up at the building.

"Astaria?"

The voice made her jump and turn around, Ralof standing there watching her sporting a very dark, black eye.

"Ralof-" She bites her lip, looking at his eye. "I…I'm sorry, I…I didn't think I'd hit you that hard. It was just-"

But Ralof was shrugging it off. "It's alright, I deserved it. Got too carried away." He frowns. "I'm sorry Astaria, I meant no disrespect."

Astaria remembered Ulfric's word of punishing anyone that did that. "Um…Ulfric didn't...?"

"He's got me on patrol, guess leading men out in the field will have to wait a bit longer." He looked annoyed at this, but says nothing.

"Ralof, I didn't mean for anything to come out of it, I accidently ran into him on my way out…" She sighed, feeling her head starting to hurt from and even more complicated situation.

"It was my fault, I don't know why you are feeling so guilty over it." He said, watching her. "Why aren't you in uniform?"

Astaria looked down at herself, realising that she'd put the leather armour back on. "Oh…I guess I've just been used to this…" She trails and off, knowing that she had really made the decision as soon as she got up.

She wasn't going to deal with this right now.

As much as she hated running from problems, this wasn't something that she could do right now, she doubted that he would be happy about that, but she needed someone away from all this to talk to first, and there was only one person that she could talk to right now.

"Ralof, could you do me a favour?" She asked.

He looked at her suspiciously. "What kind of favour?"

"Would you be able to tell Ulfric I've left on Dragonborn business?" She hated that she was asking him this, but she had no other choice.

"Why not tell him yourself? You are right here."

"I would but…there was an incident yesterday, and I…" She didn't know how to put it. "Look, please Ralof? If I go in there, there will be a scene that will not end well, and…" she hesitates. "Tell him I left early this morning, don't tell him I'm leaving now. I can't explain why." She said as he went to ask. "It'll just be…easier."

Ralof was frowning at her, trying to work out what she was up to and what was going on. "Alright, but if I end up in more trouble because of this, you owe me big time."

She hugs him quickly. "Thank you." And wastes no time in rushing out of the city, Ralof watching confusedly after her.

Astaria knew it would take her a fair while to get to Riften, but considering the snow last night, the day was nice, the sun breaking through the clouds brought her a bit of peace of mind.

She hoped she could keep her mood that way.

She made good time to Riften and the guards let her through without any problems, now she just had to find who she was looking for.

Or, more specifically, for him to find her.

Sure enough, about ten minutes walking around Riften, she felt movement at her hip. Whipping around, her knife nicked the hand of the pick pocket and dropped her purse back into hers.

"Getting sloppy Bryn." She says with a smile.

The red haired Nord smiled widely, his green eyes gleaming. "Oh really?"

She frowns and feels for her other dagger and sighs when she feels it's gone. "Yeah, yeah, very funny."

He laughs, handing the dagger back over and hugs her hard. "It's good to see again little Ria."

She hugs him back just as hard. "It's been a while."

Brynjolf looks down at her, examining her with a careful eye. "You look awful."

She shoves him away with a roll of her eyes. "Thanks."

But the concern was clear. "I mean it Astaria. What's been happening?"

She sighs and looks nervously at him. "Do we have somewhere we can talk?"

Brynjolf led her down into the Thieves guild quarters, below an old crypt. He didn't mind, nor did any of the other guild members, more than enough familiar with the tales Brynjolf had told them of her. The only one that did, was Mercer.

"Brynjolf, what do you think you are doing?" He growled from his desk. "First you bring in strays, now you're bringing in noble filth."

Astaria scowls at this but Brynjolf was the one to speak up.

"Astaria already knew we were here Mercer," he said it loud enough to get the rest of the guilds attention. "I told her she could come here if she ever ran into trouble."

"And who gave you permission to do that?" He snarls.

"I gave myself permission. Astaria is the closest thing I have to a sister and should be treated as such by all of you." He was addressing everyone, but his eyes did not leave Mercer. "Now, if you are finished, Astaria and I have some things to talk about."

He walks away, leaving a very sour and mean look on Mercer's face.

"Charming fellow." Astaria says brightly as she follows him down a long corridor.

"You're telling me." He laughs and pushes open a door.

Inside was Brynjolf room, a bed sitting in a corner and a desk in the other. He had a bookshelf, but only the top shelf was full of books, which Astaria knew were his favourites, the rest was full trinkets that he hadn't want to sell back to the guild.

A white haired woman was sitting at his desk and looked up when they entered.

"Oh Brynjolf, sorry, I just...just had to find some where quiet." She said standing.

Astaria looked at her, she was young, probably a few years older than her, her hair was long and white, tied in a lose braid that fell just above her hips. What stood out the most were her eyes, they were a vivid and bright blue.

"That's alright Snow." Brynjolf says gently and Astaria glanced at him. "You can stay if you want, I just want to talk to Astaria."

Snows eyes turn to Astaria and clearly gives a very suspicious look. Astaria smiles warmly.

"Nice to meet you."

Snow did not return the smile, looking back to Brynjolf who looked slightly uncomfortable, shaking it off with a smile. "Astaria is the one I told you about, from Windhelm."

"Oh." She looked back at Astaria. "Brynjolf has told me a lot about you. Sorry, I'm not overly good at trusting people. Nice to meet you." She looks uncomfortable. "It's alright Brynjolf, I'll just find somewhere else for a while. Hopefully away from Mercer."

He grabs her arm as she walks out. "Hey, remember what I said, if anyone gives you a rough time here, come straight to me lass."

She nods slowly and leaves, Brynjolf watching the door close.

"Is she alright?"

He looks at her. "It's...complicated." He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "Very complicated."

"Sounds like you could use someone to talk to." Astaria says with a smile.

Brynjolf chuckles and throws himself on his bed, patting the spot next to him until she joins him. "Maybe, but let's deal with your problems first."

Astaria snorts. "Which ones?"

"Well, let's start with you not telling me you are the Dragonborn."

She looks at him as he grins. "Of course you know."

"No one else matches your description little Ria." He laughs.

She sighs. "Bryn, so much has happened lately I've barely had time to process it myself. I thought joining the Stormcloaks would be-"

"Oh? So you did join?" He winks at her causing her to blush furiously.

"Shut it you." She snapped. "Yes I did join, now I'm stuck dealing with dragons and Imperial's and the Thalmor. Much more than what I had bargained for."

"And what you did bargain for?" His grin still wide but avoiding her furious glare.

"I didn't bargain for anything Brynjolf except fighting off the Imperial's." She said it with as much anger as she could, but it was clear there was more behind it.

"Little Ria, little Ria," he says shaking his head. "I've known you too long now to know when you are lying."

"That's not funny Bryn."

"I'm not trying to be funny. In all the years I tutored you, how long did it take me to work out your feelings?"

Astaria remains silent.

"What happened Astaria?" When she doesn't answer, he forces her to look at him. "You came wanting to talk, so talk to me. You know me, have for what, thirteen years now?"

"That makes me feel old." She says with a small smile.

"Just remember I'm older." He laughs. "Come on, talk to me."

Astaria sighs. "I'm sorry Bryn, the last couple of years haven't been great, I've gotten used to not talking about things."

"Why didn't you ever come see me?"

She gives a dry laugh. "Please, I was hardly let out of the house, let alone the city. Do you know many marriages he tried to get me into? Twelve. Twelve Bryn, my only saving grace was Mama, who refused all of them."

Brynjolf was frowning. "It really got that bad?"

"You know how bad it got after Gabriel left." He nods. "Well think of that but times it by ten." Her eyes were distant. "He refused to trust me anymore, with anything. Joining the Stormcloaks really became my only option."

"You could've written, I could've-"

She gives him a sad smile. "You know I'm not cut out to be thief Bryn, I can't steal worth a damn."

"That could easily be changed." He looks at her seriously. "At least you got away from the mad bastard."

"I have a feeling he won't go down quietly." Astaria leans against him tiredly. "Becoming Dragonborn has probably made it worse."

"He doesn't know?"

She shrugs. "I haven't spoken to either of them since I left."

Brynjolf looked worried at this. "Ria…you know Mama will be at risk now?"

Astaria sighs. "I know. I've been trying to think of a way to help but I'm not sure how without revealing…" She lets it hang and it wraps his arm around her.

"Let me handle it."

Her amber eyes stare up at him. "Bryn…"

"Astaria, she was closest thing I had to a mother, I would do anything for her. You know she saved me from an early grave."

"I know." She says quietly. "I wish I could do more."

"Let me handle it Ria, it's the least I can do."

Silence falls between them for a moment.

"What else is bothering you Ria?"

Astaria stirred uncomfortably, she wanted to talk, but suddenly she was afraid too. "You first."

Brynjolf chuckled. "Oh no, you are not getting out of it that easily."

"Why not? We can do this as a give-give scenario. I tell you one thing, you listen, then you tell me one thing and I listen and we keep going."

"Your sweet words don't work on my little Ria."

She sits back to look at him. "I've barely said anything."

He laughs. "I've taught you well." She punches him in the arm as he laughs harder. "Just trying to lighten you up a bit, you look so serious."

"Because it is serious." Astaria looks angry for a moment but relaxes when he rests a hand on her shoulder.

"Then tell me."

"Ever since…ever since I became Dragonborn I feel like my life has been out of my control. I have to go and solve the dragon problem, I have to find out where they are coming from, I have to kill the damn things and everyone treats me as if I'm something special and yet barely know my name." She stares at her hands. "You know, I joined the Stormcloaks to gain some freedom, among other things, and instead I feel more trapped than ever. Bound by a responsibility that I never even wanted."

"We're all given challenges Ria." Brynjolf said quietly, he could see the pain in the set of her shoulders and he knew it wasn't like her to show it. "Yours are just more open than most."

"He kissed me Bryn." The words were out of her mouth sooner than what she meant them to be and Brynjolf looked stunned for a moment. "That in itself adds more complications than I was ready for."

"Wait…he kissed you? The man you have pined-"

"I haven't pined." She growled, sending him a sideways glare. "Just because you knew doesn't mean I did. That's changed now I will admit…" Trailing off, she rubs her temples. "It's making my head hurt Bryn."

Brynjolf was grinning. "Didn't I tell you, for years, that I knew what I was talking about?"

"That doesn't make me feel better."

"What did you do?"

She was silent for a moment and her voice came out very quiet. "I ran."

Brynjolf's eyebrows shot up. "You what?"

She doesn't answer, staring at the floor and he realises how much that this is eating her up. Slipping off the bed, he sits in front of her so she has to look at him.

"Hey," he said softly and her amber eyes are filled with years. "What are you freaking out for?"

"I don't know…"

He smiles and pulls her into a hug, which she gratefully accepts and they sat like that for a long time.

Brynjolf had undone her hair and was now rebraiding it. "Did I ever take you for a drink?"

She snorts, her eyes shut. "No, but I hardly think that would be wise."

He grins. "Why not? Drown out your troubles and I'll drown out mine, then we'll stumble home together, sleep it off and wake up with a hangover." He laughs as she looks at him. "Come on Astaria, relax a little."

He finishes her hair and she sits up with a sigh. "We haven't solved anything Brynjolf."

"That's what the drinking is for." He stands and holds out his hand to pull her up. "Come on, it'll be good for you. They've all wanted to meet you as well." He was pulling her out the door before she could complain any further.

And that was how she found herself in the Ragged Flagon with a band of thieves drinking the night away. She tried to drink slowly, but Brynjolf kept pushing more mugs of mead in front of her and eventually found herself in a very happy mood and getting drunker by the minute.

Most of the guild were drinking, including Snow, who didn't move far from Brynjolf's side. As it turned out, Snow and Astaria got along quiet well, and both relished in jeering up Brynjolf.

"You two will be the death of me!" He laughs as they tease him again causing a roar of laughter from the rest of the guild.

While the night passed quickly, it become obvious that Astaria was not used to drinking as she drunk more and more, many were surprised she hadn't thrown up by this stage, instead, she just slipped into a deep sleep, her head resting down on the table.

It was the most peaceful sleep she had had in a while.

I'm not overly happy with this chapter, I tried to capture their relationship but I'm not sure how well it worked. Still, hope you guys are still enjoying! Lot's to go yet!