A/N- Hey everyone, here's chapter 8! Sorry it's a bit late again. I had some medical issues this week, so it put me a bit off as far as getting my chapter out on time. However, anytime I am late posting a chapter, I will still try to post as soon as possible. Again, thanks a bunch for the follows/fav/reviews, and just stopping by to read! Hope you enjoy!


Chapter 8: Willing

"Alright, Miss Astrid," Delvin grinned broadly, handing Astrid her usual payment. "I thank you kindly for your services. My people will fetch your crops shortly. They know the drill."

"So...Are we going to do this?" she asked impatiently, feeling a bit eager to test her skills.

Over the past month, she'd frequented Riften quite often to meet with Delvin as they'd previously discussed. Astrid had been giving Reiner a better cut of her pay, and he'd remained blissfully unaware of her plight. Delvin had also been mentoring her in his profession, little by little, day by day. In the beginning, he simply let her observe him in action. He'd pickpocket or steal items in plain sight, allowing her to study the ways in which he'd remain inconspicuous and blend into crowds. Over time, she'd even picked a pocket or two herself. She had to admit, Delvin was a professional thief for a reason. The ease and fluid-like motion with which he operated was certainly something to be admired.

Astrid concluded that Delvin was somehow graceful in his own way. Sure, he wasn't refined in the way that aristocrats and well-mannered nobles often carried themselves. He was quite the opposite, really. Delvin was a scruffy young thief who delighted in being a criminal - and yet - the grace with which he moved when he worked was astounding.

There was something about him that began to draw her in. He had no reason to be kind to her - to help her - and yet he did, all the same. For the first time in what seemed like forever, he had given her an inkling of hope. Granted, joining a band of theives wasn't exactly honorable or prestigious, but Astrid concluded that honor, prestige, and all things resembling them could kindly go to Oblivion. She'd also realized that Delvin's kindness was completely baffling to her. For some reason, she couldn't quite wrap her brain around the idea.

"Question is...Do ya think you're ready?" Delvin folded his arms, raising an eyebrow.

"You tell me. You're the instructor here." Astrid replied, smirking.

Delvin playfully scratched his head, pretending to doubt her. "Well...If you're not sure an' all..."

"Okay, okay...I want to. I'm ready to try." Astrid rolled her eyes, grinning.

"That's better, luv. Now, just follow me. I got the perfect job for you. It's a little cottage in the woods, not far from here. It's discreet and there ain't no guards to catch up to us in case things don't go as expected. As easy as it gets, really." Delvin explained, leading her out of town.

"I take it you don't expect things to go swimmingly, then..." Astrid muttered, feeling slightly less confident in hearing his blatant doubt in her abilities. Not that it wasn't warranted - she really had next to no experience. She wasn't quite sure why, but it did sting just a little.

"Oh, uh...Miss Astrid..." Delvin stumbled over his words, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced at her over his shoulder. "It's not you, per se...I'm just takin' the necessary precautions."

Astrid sensed that Delvin really didn't mean to sound so doubtful, but that he actually was looking out for her. Why had she become so defensive - so insecure? Perhaps Reiner had gotten to her more than she'd realized. "I see...You don't have any faith in me, do you? I'm not one of your dumb tavern wenches, you know..." Astrid smirked playfully, attempting to tease him and lighten the mood.

Delvin stopped in his tracks, eyes wide and mouth pulled up in a startled grin. "Aye, you certainly aren't..." he chuckled nervously, apparently not expecting her response.

"So you do have faith in me, then?" Astrid continued, a wicked smile forming on her lips.

"Aye, all the faith in Nirn," he smiled warmly, causing Astrid's own features to soften. "Now I believe it's time we rob an unsuspecting citizen, eh?"


"Here it is, luv." Delvin beamed proudly at the small cottage from behind a thicket. He watched as Astrid crept up from behind him to peer around the bushes. Her eyes seemed to narrow, scoping the place out for any threats. He half-grinned to himself, noticing how naturally sneaking came to the young woman. There had been many times in the past when Delvin had to scold new members who accompanied him on his jobs for wanting to haphazardly dart out into the open without using their heads. However, this girl seemed to instinctively be cautious and constantly thinking ahead.

Astrid grew quiet, silently studying before she finally turned to him. "So...Are we ready?"

"Almost..." Delvin spoke softly, digging through his leather pouch and pulling out some crumpled items of clothing. He held them out for Astrid, who gave him a confused look.

"What's all this?" she asked in a hushed tone, hesitantly taking the old garments.

"It's an old set of the guild's light armor, Miss Astrid. It ain't much, but you'll need to put it on before we go in there. You'll see that it has quite a few hidden pockets an' such. There's a hood with it, too. You'll need that as well. Don't want nobody seein' who you are, an' all. I tried to find ya some boots but this is all I could scrounge up, luv."

He watched as Astrid shot him a look. "And just where do you think I should take off my clothes?"

Delvin realized that he'd forgotten about that part. Oh well, he couldn't miss out on an opportunity to joke with her a bit. "Well, I certainly won't complain if you change here."

Astrid rolled her eyes, which Delvin found completely amusing. "Of course you wouldn't. I mean it, Delvin..." she replied, her tone growing more serious.

He held up his hands innocently, chuckling. "Alright, luv. How 'bout I turn around an' close my eyes? I won't peek at you. I promise."

Astrid sighed, "Fine." She glared in his direction, twirling her finger at him in a command for him to do just that.

Obeying her, he turned and closed his eyes, listening to her shuffle out of her dress and into the old armor. "Okay. Finished." He heard her speak once more.

As he turned around and opened his eyes, he found that the armor fit Astrid quite nicely. Too nicely. As a matter of fact, he had to control his urge to gawk at the way it hugged her curves, accentuating them perfectly. He quickly moved his eyes up to meet her own, half-hidden under the hood.

"So?" Astrid gave him a questioning look.

"What?" Delvin mumbled, secretly fearing that she'd caught his wondering gaze.

"So...Are we ready now?" she asked impatiently, folding her arms across her chest.

"Oh, of course, Miss Astrid..." he answered, feeling a bit sheepish.


Delvin heard the door close quietly behind him, as he crouched low, scanning the inside of the home for threats. The dwelling was relatively small, with only one person occupying it. He was a middle-aged hunter, and he was fast asleep on a small bed in the corner.

His mind instantly reminding him of the rookie thief that accompanied him, he glanced cautiously over his shoulder. His eyes widened when Astrid wasn't behind him. Hearing another tiny click, his eyes darted to the sound. By Nocturnal, the girl had already picked the lock on a dresser! He grinned happily, watching Astrid gently pull open a drawer, sifting though its contents. Damn, she was a quick learner.

Mesmerized by her efficiency so early in her training, Delvin simply watched her in action. He looked on as a small, devious smile curved on her lips. She pulled out a small coin purse, quickly stuffing it in one of her many pockets. For a brief moment, her hazel eyes met with his, glimmering in the faint light emitted from the glowing fireplace. He nodded, signaling his approval, while watching her smile grow just a bit wider in response.

Finally tearing his eyes away, Delvin searched around a little, pocketing a few coins and a nice looking pelt. He wasn't interested in gaining many valuables for himself - he'd let her aquire as much of the loot as possible. She needed it more, anyway. He mainly wanted to appear busy to keep from staring too much. Delvin actually became uncomfortable, realizing how much he wanted to simply gaze at her.

He really couldn't understand why he felt so intrigued by her. It wasn't like he'd never seen an attractive woman before. He'd had plently of experiences with pretty ladies in the past. However, it wasn't just her appearance that pulled him in. There was something else about her - that mysterious, deep, fascinating part of her - that he'd never encountered before. Even when it came to the women in his profession, who were talented in the arts of the shadows, they didn't quite seem like her. Astrid moved instinctively, precisely, and in a predatory manner that Delvin found to be nothing short of a stalking Sabercat.

"Delvin..." he quickly whipped around, hearing her smooth, hushed voice behind him.

"Yeah?" he whispered, pulling himself away from his thoughts.

"I can't find anything else. I think we've searched everything, haven't we?" she crept closer, whispering in his ear.

"Yeah, luv. I think you're right. Let's make a break for it, eh?" he replied, slowly opening the front door and motioning for her to leave.

Astrid quickly nodded, silently bolting out the door and into the evening air as Delvin followed behind the enigmatic woman, secretly in awe of her presence.