A/N: Hi everyone! Thanks to all my readers out there and thanks to everyone who followed/fav/reviewed thus far! I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I'll see you guys again next week!


Chapter 12: Dreadful

Astrid wiped the sweat from her brow, finishing the second pot of stew in time for her uncle to inspect it. She seated herself, drinking a cool tankard of water to ease her fatigue and dehydration. Reiner grabbed the ladle eagerly, taking a gulp of the stew and cursing loudly when it scorched his mouth. It was as if he was completely unaware that hot stew had that effect on one's insides. Astrid wanted to laugh, but stuck with a slight smirk to keep their newfound truce afloat.

"Is it any good, uncle?" Astrid asked, trying her best not to chuckle as she spoke.

"Damned good, young Astrid. Maybe even better than the first pot. We won't force it on them this time. If they want any, just serve 'em and be hospitable, alright?" he explained, being civil and of good manner for once. Astrid had to admit, this was a foreign concept to her. Reiner and manners just didn't seem to go together, but she was grateful he'd stopped being an all-out tyrant. "Anything that butters them up will only prove to sweetin' the deal." he grinned deviously, rubbing his grimy hands together.

Suddenly, various shouts and conversations could be heard outside. Astrid immediately tensed, hoping against hope that nothing terrible would happen with all those criminals loose on Reiner's property. Not that she had anything personal against criminals - she practically was one. It was the fact that they were associated with the likes of her uncle that made her skin crawl. Even the Thieves' Guild wanted nothing to do with Reiner, and that was saying something.

Reiner dropped the ladle back into the kettle with an abrupt "clink", while swiftly bolting out the door. Astrid immediately stood, nervously straightening the crinkled fabric of her work dress, waiting for whatever unpleasant scenario awaited her.

She hesitantly approached the open front door, catching a glimpse of the twin moons high in the night sky. Bandits, most of which were rough, gritty looking men of various races, were in the process of vacating two large caravans. They spread across the front of the property like a fast-traveling plague, causing Astrid to feel quite edgy.

Reiner stood, grinning like a madman, while speaking to a large bandit chief of Orcish descent. The other groups of men and women whooped and bellowed out, raising bottles of Skooma and various other alcoholic beverages. This was not pleasant in the least, Astrid quickly decided.

"Astrid, come here!" Reiner called to her, motioning for her to quickly meet the large, intimidating leader. Astrid timidly approached the two men, feeling like a small, awkward child approaching the Emperor of Tamriel. She swallowed hard, hearing various lewd remarks and whistles coming from certain individuals among the rowdy lot as she passed by them.

When she finally stood beside her uncle, he swiftly snaked an arm around her shoulder, causing her to cringe. "This is my young niece, Astrid. She'll be happy to serve your people if need be." he smiled merrily, putting forth his best attempt to appear accomodating.

"Uh...Nice to meet you..." Astrid choked out, feeling completely idiotic about the whole ordeal.

The large chief nodded dismissively, rounding up many of his companions to deal with her uncle. Astrid did notice, however, that many of the bandits, perhaps of lesser status within the group, had chosen to wait outside. She watched them warily, as they began to break apart into smaller groups, snooping about the property.

It was at that moment, that Astrid nearly retched from the anxiety that made its way through her being. Her eyes watched in horror as a group followed the small trail leading to the defunct old well. Surely they wouldn't look, would they? What was she thinking, of course they would! They were bandits!

"Come along, niece! There are hungry folk needing served!" Reiner called, waving her inside. Of all the people in Skyrim, Reiner certainly couldn't know about her hidden stash of coin. She'd just have to hope against hope that those scoundrels would take her loot without him noticing. Even if all her earnings were to vanish in vain at the hands of some greedy thieves, Astrid knew that coin could always be earned again when she became part of the guild. Delvin would certainly help her out. Her life however, had no do-overs, and she wasn't so sure what Reiner would do to her if he knew what she'd been doing behind his back. The man was dangerous and unpredictable, and his small bout of polite behavior didn't deter from the fact that he could still snap at any given moment. That much Astrid knew for certain.

"Young maiden, I'd like another helping of this fine stew." the large, fierce Orc motioned toward his empty bowl. Astrid timidly nodded, gripping his wooden bowl with a trembling hand. She nearly spilled the broth on the floor, resulting from attempting to fill the bowl with such frayed nerves.

"H-here you go, sir..." she briefly bowed her head, as she glanced to Reiner, who seemed to be overjoyed with the situation.

He'd just finished his large transaction with the ruffians, and she could tell from the look on his greedy face that he'd made a hefty sum. Even more, he seemed to be pleased by Astrid's submissive actions this time around. Little did he know that her behavior wasn't because of wanting to please him or the buffoons who scarfed down every bit of her food, but it was due to the fact that she was fearful that something awful was about to happen.

When she wasn't being called on to perform some mundane task, she simply stood, head lowered, glaring out the front window. Astrid gasped in disbelief as she witnessed a fight emerge at the old well. This was it, she thought. They've found it. So much for things looking up.

She drew a shaky breath, as the chief, who couldn't be bothered with such distractions, ordered one of his lessers to take care of the situation. Astrid could only hope that it would be taken care of out of Reiner's sight. Unfortunately for her, it wasn't.

"I'll go with you, if you need any assistance." Reiner added politely, as the lesser bandit nodded quickly, apparently in need of said assistance.

"But uncle!" Astrid remarked hysterically, catching Reiner's attention just in time to stop him from bounding out the door. "Are you sure it's of good manner to leave our chief with no company?" she asked, hoping to coerce him into staying. She needed something - anything - no matter how weak and pathetic the argument.

"It is fine, maiden. Carry on." the Orc waved dismissively, taking another indulgent bite of stew.

Reiner gave her a confused look before continuing out the door. Astrid, full of adrenaline and horror, ran after him as the world crumbled before her eyes.

Astrid knew, in that instant, that everything had shifted. The fates had aligned and made their decision - and punishment would surely be cast down upon her. She froze, watching time bend and slow with her consciousness.

Pale moonlight rained down on two vicious, dangerous men who were ready to murder each other over a small lockbox. A small, quite heavy lockbox filled to the brim with various coinpurses. One of Astrid's personal safes, out of the many she had hidden by now. Sure it wasn't all of her small fortune, but it was enough to speak the truth of what was happening before Reiner's narrowing eyes.

Stricken dumb, Astrid watched as Reiner and the other bandit pulled the warring comrades apart. Astrid noted how Reiner flung the large bandit with ease, and feared how much easier it would be to fling her in much the same way.

Finally giving in to the ruckus outside, the chief walked out of the front door, approaching the men slowly. "What is the meaning of all this? Speak now...Explain yourselves..." he ordered his inferiors, his voice gravelly and threatening.

Astrid watched as the chief eyed the lockbox, which now lay open on the gound, surrounded by shiny coins glinting in the night. Her wide, terrified eyes slowly moved to meet with her uncle's. The deathly way in which his eyes had narrowed on her froze her in place. His features seemed to completely harden, as Astrid caught a tiny glimpse of the full monster hiding just underneath his seething surface.

"It wasn't me, boss. Honest! Viktor took it out! I tried to put it back, I swear!" the smaller bandit cowered like a scolded child.

"LIAR!" the larger bandit yelled, nearly foaming at the mouth.

"Enough! Give the man his coin and be done with it. We have obtained what we came here for. We have enough enemies in Skyrim, and we don't need to beg for another. Now, go! We must return to our hideout before daybreak." the chief demanded, as the crowd of ruffians cleared the area immediately. He then turned to Reiner. "My apologies. I hope this doesn't sever our bartering."

Astrid trembled as a feral smiled painted itself across Reiner's mouth. "No, quite the contrary...Here, take it..." he said calmly, handing the remaining coin to the chief. His eyes met Astrid's for a brief moment, narrowing ever so slightly as if to silently tell her she was done for. She swallowed hard, instinctively edging away from the imminent danger in front of her.

"Astrid!" Riener called out sharply - enough to sting her ears.

"Y-yeah?" she whimpered, terrified.

"It's rude to leave without being dismissed. Now be cordial to the chief." he spoke low, and calm, his head lowered in a way that made Astrid even shakier.

"N-nice to meet you sir..." she spoke, her voice soft and thin from the fierce tightness claiming her throat.

The large Orc briefly aknowledged her before taking the heavy lockbox and leaving with the caravans. As the last carriage rolled out of sight, Astrid turned to see Reiner's predatory glare. His features appeared wicked from the shadows cast by the moonlight.

Reiner took a step forward, as Astrid instinctively stepped back. Their eyes met, neither turning from the other's intense stare - one from volatile anger, and the other from sheer terror. After what seemed like a thousand years passed between them, Reiner moved his lips slowly. "Get out of my sight..." he growled.

Astrid nearly bolted for the woods, but knew he'd become even more furious, and she didn't want to end up in the ground anytime soon. Hot tears now brimming in her eyes, she fled up to her room, slamming the door shut and locking it, knowing good and well that Reiner could kick it down and bust her head open at any moment. What had she done? Why did she ever move in with him? Why had her mother died, leaving her to be fed to the monster she herself had fled from?!

Eerie silence filled the farmhouse all thoughout the night, leaving Astrid on edge to the point of insanity. Every creak of the floorboard, every piece of lumber shifting in the old house, and every creature stirring outside had triggered complete panic inside of her.

She found herself sobbing uncontrollably at one point, steeped in pain and longing for Delvin - her one protector, who couldn't protect her now. It was only after a long and intense bout of weeping, that she had tired herself out enough to finally succumb to sleep.