Astaria awoke with a groan, her head pounding. She opens her eyes, scowling against the dim light. She was back in Brynjolf's room, spread out on his bed.
She stretched, trying to chase away the headache that threatened to make her throw up.
Her movement was met with a chuckle.
"Morning little Ria."
Looking over, Brynjolf was sitting at his desk putting his boots on.
"Morning." She mumbled in reply, throwing her arm over her eyes.
"I have to say, for someone that's never drunk much, you did pretty well for yourself last night." She grunts in response. "The mornings the worst part of course, but you seem to be doing fine."
"Stop talking Bryn." She sensed him standing next to her and peeked her eyes out from under her arm.
He was smiling widely. "You know, I have a recollection you said that to me last time we shared a bed."
She snorts. "In which I was correct, because father found you and kicked you out."
"I can't imagine why, we still had our clothes on and everything."
She gives him a look that makes him laugh. "You know I would never little Ria, that night was simply cold and you'd already had a bad day. It was just another night of sitting up late and talking. He just happened to walk in at the wrong time."
"I missed you Bryn." She said quietly. "I was furious when he threw you out, I refused to talk to him for weeks."
"Well, he wasn't overly fond of me from the start." He sat on the bed next to her. "It's alright though, six years there was better than six years on the street any day."
She rolls over and hugs him tightly around the waist. "I'm sorry."
"For what? You know as well as I do that I was a natural at thievery, it only made sense for me to come here, and I haven't done too badly for myself in just seven years."
Astaria snorts, ignoring the pain in her head. "Still not natural enough to be caught by Mama."
"I was thirteen, cut me some slack." He ruffles her hair affectionately. "Besides, if I hadn't tried to steal from her, then I wouldn't have you and so on." He stands, making her unwrap her arms. "Anyway, you can rest up here, stay as long as you want, I'll be around if you need anything."
Waving him off, she wraps herself back up in the blankets, determined to slip away into sleep again to rid herself of the headache.
Brynjolf returned several hours later to find her up and dressed, but pacing his room like a caged wolf. He put a bowl of stew on the table for her and sat down to eat his own.
"Can't say I've seen you like this before."
She jumps, having been so focused on thinking that she hadn't heard him enter. Seeing the food, she practically pounced on it and started eating. He watches her carefully and she eats.
"So, shall we continue our discussion?" He asked it lightly as possible, but saw her tense.
Astaria sighs and rests the bowl in her lap. "I'm afraid of what it means Bryn. I'm afraid…I mean…gah!" She was blushing heavily and covers it by shoveling in another mouthful of food."
Brynjolf knew what she was referring to, but does not tease her for it. "Work that out if it comes to it Astaria, for now, you only to need to worry about his intentions."
She raises an eyebrow at him. "His intentions?"
For a moment, Brynjolf simply looked at her, thinking about a simple way of putting what he wanted to say without offending her.
"You're a powerful woman Ria." She frowns at this, so he continues. "Surely you realise that being the Dragonborn will give you certain leverages over others?" She nods slowly. "Well, don't you think that others would try to exploit that power?"
Astaria thinks it over. "You think…he is only interested because of the power I wield?"
He shrugs lightly. "It is possible."
She remembers the gentleness of it, the light way in which his lips had pressed hers, and she finally shook her head. "No…I don't think so. There was something…" But was that just her making assumptions? Her heart told her know but she wasn't even sure she trusted that at the moment.
"Anything is possible, however, you are not going to find out unless you talk to him." He watched her think, a small frown creasing her forehead. "You don't have to do it right away, but by the gods Ria, don't leave it too long."
Biting her lip, she puts the empty bowl down. "I don't know how."
Brynjolf gives a light chuckle. "What? All those lessons in sweet talking and little Ria doesn't know how to talk?" She glares at him. "That's your fear, little Ria, I would suggest trying to not let that win you over."
Finally, she sighs. "I guess so." She gives him a sharp look. "And what about your problem?"
He raises an eyebrow. "My problem? I don't have a problem."
But the smirk on her face told him that she knew otherwise. "Please. You talk about me being smitten."
"I'm not smitten by anybody." He cursed himself silent for saying it so quickly.
Now, it was Astaria's turn to laugh. "Please Bryn, who's the one lying now? The great playboy of Windhelm and Riften, smitten, swept of his feet, head over-"
"Have you made your point?" He grumbles.
"Not much fun on the other side is it?" She snickers. "Tell her."
He shook his head. "I can't."
"Why not?"
Astaria watched as sadness seemed to come over him, his shoulders sinking slightly. "Because she's been through too much already, she doesn't need that on top of everything else."
"Brynjolf…Snow and I talked last night, she didn't really say it, but I got the gist of what her past held. She's not beyond looking past it you know." She looked at him with caring eyes and saw him relax slightly.
"I'm surprised you remember much of last night to be honest." He said it half-jokingly, but catches her look. "We'll…see. I need time to sort it out."
"Just don't wait too long." She gives him a wink and he grins, rolling his eyes. Astaria stands, stretching. "Well, I suppose I should head ou-" She stops suddenly remember. "Oh…well, since I'm here anyway, I don't suppose you know of an old guy living down in the Ratway? Well hidden, keeps to himself. Esbern, I think his name is?"
"Well, there's certainly an odd sort down there, ourselves not included, but I think I know who might mean, he pays us good coin to make sure no one finds out he's there." He watches as she checks her knives and sword at her belt.
"That sounds like him. Where about is he, do you know?"
"You're not considering going down there alone?"
"I'm the Dragonborn, I can handle it."
Brynjolf shakes his head and stands. "Not a chance little Ria, I have nothing to do anyway so I will go with you."
"You don't have-"
"I want to see my little sister in action." He grins and walks out the door, she rushes to follow.
"I'm nothing special, plus there's no guarantee that there'll be trouble."
"Nothing special? After all those knife fighting lessons? You'd be second best here little Ria." Brynjolf was pleased to see she was matching his look of smugness. "Plus, it's the Ratway, there is always trouble."
So, Astaria found herself down in the deep, very smelly parts, of the Ratway with Brynjolf. She could almost feel her meal threatening to come back up as they headed deeper through the winding paths.
Their footsteps were silent and so far they hadn't encountered anyone or anything, but there was a feeling in the air that that was about to change.
"Do you hear that?" Brynjolf whispered.
Astaria nods, there was talking further down the path they were walking. Both crouching, they slowly got closer until they could see into the larger room ahead.
"Thalmor." Astaria hissed. She could see about four of them, two mages and a two soldiers. "They must be looking for him."
"They're going to be hard to sneak around." Brynjolf looked worried. "We may have to fight them."
Astaria stared at the closest one, a mage, his back was too them and he had no idea they were there. Her eyes searched for the others, the two warriors deeper along the paths, large bars partially blocking their view up to where the first mage was. The other mage had just turned back to the path that lead down to the soldiers.
She didn't hesitate, drawing a knife and approaching silently. The mage didn't stand a chance as she covered his mouth and buried the blade in his throat, lowering his body silently to the ground. The other's hadn't noticed.
Brynjolf came up next to her. "You'll be making a good assassin next."
"You gotta do what you gotta do."
They continue on, avoiding a very poorly made trap, and coming around to where the second mage was patrolling, or more, sitting lazily in a chair reading a report.
"Hide in the shadows." Brynjolf whispered in her ear.
"What?" She looks at him confused, but he just shoo's her until she steps back into the darkness, and he grins.
The man was leaning back in the chair, swinging it. Brynjolf approached, easily picked the mages pocket of his coins and kicks out the back of the chair. It crashes to the ground with a loud, echoing bang, the mage giving a startled cry as Brynjolf laughs and dashes off, the mage struggling to his feet to follow, while two heavy footfalls coming up from down the path told Astaria that the soldiers were coming to investigate.
The mage bolted after Brynjolf, yelling curses as he did, one of the soldiers not far behind. Astaria wasted no time and stepped out in front of the second soldier, her blade digging through her armour and sending her quickly to the ground.
A loud agonised shriek told her that one of the Thalmor had walked straight into the trap.
She waits patiently for Brynjolf to return, and he does with an even wider grin, his thieves armour splashed with blood.
"Not too bright are they?" He asked and picks through the pockets of the one Astaria had taken down. "Sadly, light on coin."
Shaking her head, they continue on. Brynjolf easily picks through a lock in their way, something the Thalmor clearly hadn't been able to do, and they step into an eerie room, mumbling could be heard from a couple of them and Astaria did everything she could to repress a shudder.
"Let's not linger here." Brynjolf said and led her up some stairs to a very secure looking door. "This one."
Swallowing hard, she knocks.
"Go away!" A voice from inside calls.
"Esbern?" Astaria asks hesitantly. "I'm a friend, I just want to talk."
"What? No, no, no, I'm not Esbern. I don't know what you are talking about."
"She's here to help Esbern." Brynjolf said, he was also watching out behind them, the air of threat still not clear.
"I'm a…friend of Delphine. She needs help to stop the dragons." Astaria spoke as gently as she could, trying not to make the older man within even more nervous than he already was.
"Delphine? How do you…? This is just a trick to get me to open the door, eh? I told you to go away!"
"There are Thalmor here in to get you Esbern, but trust me when I say that they are not only a threat to you, but to me as well. I'm the Dragonborn."
There was a moment of silence from within.
A small window in the door is opened and nervous blue eyes look out. "Delphine is really alive then? Hmmm, you'd better come in and tell me how you found me and what you want." He closes the window and the sounds of many locks being moved comes from the door.
"I'll stay out here and keep watch." Brynjolf says quietly. "I have a feeling we won't be alone long."
Astaria nods as the door opens and Esbern lets her inside.
He looks her up and down suspiciously. "So, Delphine keeps up the fight after all these years. I thought she'd have realised it's hopeless by now. I tried to tell her, years ago…"
"What do you mean it's hopeless?"
"Haven't you figured it out yet? What more needs to happen before you all wake up and see what's going on? Alduin has returned, just like the prophecy said!"
Astaria blanches. Oh, right, that.
"The dragon from the dawn of time, who devours the souls of the dead. No one can escape his hunger, here in the afterlife! Alduin will devour all things and the world will end!" He looked grim and defeated and Astaria couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
"It's still not hopeless." Her voice was quiet. "I can stop him."
He gives a short, joyless laugh. "Only a Dragonborn can stop him. It seems that the gods have grown tired of us. They've left us to our fate-"
"But I am the Dragonborn." She said it with more conviction than what she wanted to, but she had a feeling he needed to hear it like that, even though she had already told him.
Again, he looks her up and down. "Can it really be true? Someone as small-"
She folds her arms, her eyes flashing.
"Dragonborn?" He said it with breathless wonder and a light returns to his eyes. "Then the gods haven't abandoned us! We must…we must…"
"We must go." Brynjolf's voice said from the door. "We have company."
"Get me to Delphine, Dragonborn." Esbern said and hurriedly moves to collect a few things.
Astaria nods and re-joins Brynjolf, they can hear voices approaching.
"Up for a good scrap?" She asked him.
"Always."
By the time Esbern left his little room, Astaria and Brynjolf had taken care of the couple of Thalmor that had come down the path. Brynjolf had a small cut along his cheek from getting slightly to close to a Thalmor blade, but apart from that, they were both unharmed.
"Let's go."
The way out became easier than they expected, they met more Thalmor along the paths back, but as it turned out, Esbern was a particularly gifted mage, easily taking down the mages and leaving the soldiers for Astaria and Brynjolf.
Once back in the Ragged Flagon, they quickly made their way out onto the streets of Riften, in the public eye, they would be safer if attacked again.
"Now we just need to get to Riverwood." Astaria said quietly, looking around. "Thanks for your help Bryn, I'll-"
"I'm coming with you." He said quickly. "I'll be damned if I let you go with those bastards after you."
She looks at him. "I'll be fine, Esbern can-"
"No little Ria, not going to happen." He looks back to the guild entrance. "Just give me a minute, even if you leave, I'll catch up."
He dashes off without another word, leaving Astaria and Esbern standing there awkwardly.
"So you really have the power of the voice?" He asks eagerly.
"Yes." She huffs. "And I assure you, everyone is surprised when I tell them. I'm sure no one thought the Dragonborn would be a tiny female warrior."
Esbern chuckles, his mood much lighter now they were outside and somewhat out of harm's way. "No, but fate and destiny usually work that way. You should feel blessed."
She couldn't respond to that.
Brynjolf hurried back over, a small bag on his belt. He grins. "Alright, let's go."
They left Riften, Astaria almost feeling sad to see it go so soon, and headed down the path. It seemed strangely deserted and made the three of them uncomfortable.
Walking in silence, they came to the point where the path split, one road leading the Windhelm, the other to Ivarstead, which would be the quicker way to Riverwood.
Astaria stopped at the road, listening. Brynjolf and Esbern had continued, but when she didn't follow, they looked at her.
"What's wrong?" Brynjolf asked, coming back to her.
She was looking down the path to Windhelm. "I'm not sure."
"We don't have time to delay Dragonborn, we need to get to Delphine." Esbern called from further down the path.
A chill went down her back and her eyes were drawn to the sky, that was when she saw it.
A dragon.
She couldn't hear it from where they were, but she could just see it roaring in challenge. It was heading straight for Windhelm.
Brynjolf looked uncomfortable. "Well, at least it's heading that way. Hopefully it won't go for the city."
Astaria remained silent, watching it.
"Dragonborn, I know you have a responsibility to take out the dragons, but right now, our task is more important." Esbern insisted, watching her indecision.
"That's my home." She said quietly.
Brynjolf looked at her. "Astaria…it's a city full of trained soldiers, I'm sure they can handle it if it attacks, even enough to scare it away…" He was worried for her.
Astaria probably would've agreed, she probably would've turned and gone to Ivarstead then and there, but an unbidden thought came to mind.
The rumour of the dragon attack on Windhelm and Ulfric's death.
She couldn't let that rumour become true.
"Bryn, get Esbern to Riverwood for me." She said, not looking at him.
"Astaria, you can't be serious?" He asked. "You're one person, this is a dragon-!"
"And I am the Dragonborn. What kind of person would I be if I let it attack my own city?" She gave him a sad but stern look. "Please Bryn, I need you to do this for me."
His green eyes stared at her, saw the emotions going through her. He nods and brings her into a tight hug.
"You be careful. Please." He said in her ear and she nods.
"I'll come as soon as I can, if not, I'll send word ahead." She starts down the path.
"Gods be with Dragonborn." Esbern called. "Don't take too long, we need you."
Astaria doesn't answer, she focuses on the path ahead, walking at a brisk pace, not wanting to risk running for fear of being too exhausted when she got there.
She had a feeling this was going to be a bad fight.