Authors Note: Wow sorry about the break there guys! Is anyone still out there reading this thing?

I feel like the past month just disappeared. But I'm back and will try to be updating the story more regularly. I've never written a story this long before and I really want to finish the whole thing.

Chapter 6

Katlyn slammed the door to Honeyside and collapsed back against it. She felt like a thousand pound weight was crushing her chest. Every breath she took was a struggle. The fear was paralyzing like nothing Katlyn had ever experienced before. She half expected members of the Dark Brotherhood to jump out from her wardrobe and try to kill her.

For the longest time Katlyn stood leaning against the door battling her fear. Each breath was a struggle. "Breathe. Just breathe." She repeated the mantra in her head. She could feel her heart pounding against her chest as panic threatened to overwhelm her. She'd rather face all the Falmer in Irkngthand alone than contemplate directly taking on the Dark Brotherhood.

Finally after what felt like an eternity of leaning against the door, the adrenalin rushing through her system began to fade and rational thought returned.

"Get a grip Katlyn!" she ordered herself. "You need to think! Think of a way to get out of this"

She began pacing the room her trembling hands balled into fists by her side. Her body was still filled with nervous energy but had no outlet. Katlyn was trying to figure out where she should go when an idea occurred to her. Her pacing broke mid-stride as she considered the spark of inspiration stirring in her mind. It was a brilliant, mad idea; so much so that Katlyn probably would have laughed if it had been suggested by anyone else, but it should successfully hide her from the Dark Brotherhood and aid her in searching for an Elder Scroll essentially killing two birds with one stone.

Katlyn's eyes widened as she mentally fleshed out the idea circulating through her head. It was a crazy plan, but if she were really lucky, it was one that just might work.

Katlyn would pose as a novice mage and enroll in the College of Winterhold. Rather than hiding in the shadows as Brynjolf and the Guild had taught her, she would hide in plain sight. It was the perfect cover. Anyone looking for the Dragonborn would be looking for a Nord warrior in black armor wielding two enchanted swords and a bow. The Dark Brotherhood or one of their accomplices wouldn't look twice at a lowly novice mage, even one that matched a rough description of the Dragonborn. The College was also known for having a vast library which as a student she would surely have unimpeded access to. Surely within its walls there was information about either Alduin or an Elder Scroll. It was the perfect plan. . . provided she could pull off posing as a mage.

That was the one hitch. Katlyn had never performed any magic in her life and knew practically nothing about the schools of magic or magical theory. But Brynjolf had taken her on enough undercover operations that she felt she could reasonably pull it off provided she could learn what she needed to know quickly enough.

Now armed with direction and purpose Katlyn strode about Honeyside gathering supplies she'd need and making mental notes of what she would have to acquire before she left. It was said that aspiring students were required to pass a test of their magical abilities before they could even enter the college so she would have to steal a tome and learn at least one spell before arriving in Witerhold. Acquiring the tome would be no problem. Riften's court wizard was so off her head that Katlyn very seriously doubted that she'd even notice an entire bookshelf missing, let alone a single spell tome. She would also need some plain clothes. If the entire point was to hide then waltzing up to the college in her regular getup was out of the question. Clothes were also something easily attainable for a master thief.

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Katlyn silently opened one of the upper windows of Mistveil Keep and slipped out onto the rooftop and into the darkness. The pack hanging across Katlyn's back was now heavier with the weight of Wylandriah's spell tombs. Alone on the roof Katlyn paused a moment before climbing down the walls of the Keep. The sky above Riften was unusually clear that night and the Auora was shining a beautiful blue and green across the sky. A passing breeze stirred the still night air gently tugging on Katlyn's cloak as she stared up at the sky. The roof of Mistveil Keep was the tallest point in Riften and from the roof Katlyn could see the whole city. It was one of Katlyn's favorite get away spots. When she first joined the Guild she used to climb up there just to get away from the Cistern's cramped quarters and get some air, whenever she was feeling down about a botched job or bad training session, or just whenever she wanted to be alone. As she watched the Auora, Katlyn wondered how long it would be before she stood in her favorite spot again. Sighing, Katlyn adjusted her pack over her back and jumped to a lower ledge and began the climb down.

Before the night was over Svana Far-Shield's lock had been broken and she'd been relieved of a green tunic and black pants. Katlyn did feel a bit bad about stealing from Svana but she was the only person in the city outside of the Guild who was close to Katlyn's size. Nobody who felt guilty for thievery ever made it very far in the Guilt, but she knew Svana's situation wasn't great and didn't like stealing from her so she left a few gold coins behind in the wardrobe.

With her pack slug over her shoulder, Katlyn made for the city graveyard. It was approaching midnight and Katlyn wanted to leave at first light. However knowing she was wanted by the Dark Brotherhood was deeply disconcerting and she didn't feel safe sleeping in Honeyside that night. Too many of Riften's citizens knew she lived there and she wouldn't blame any one of them for selling her out if a member of the Brotherhood came knocking on their door.

After throwing a glance around to check for the city guards, she pressed the secret button that would gain her access to the Thieves Guild headquarters. She climbed down the ladder and looked around the Cistern. Given the lateness of the hour several of the guild members were already asleep in their respective beds. Niruin was stretched out on his bed reading a book. The Bosmer gave Katlyn a friendly nod as she approached.

"Hey Nirun" she greeted him just above a whisper so not to wake the sleeping others. Niruin and Katlyn had always gotten along well within the guild. Niruin had been the one primarily responsible for her archery training when she'd first joined and the two had spent many hours together practicing in the guild training room.

"Hey Katlyn. What brings you down here? We don't see you much after dark these days." It was true. Katlyn usually was either in Honeyside or out running a job after dark.

"I just need to talk to Brynjolf a minute. He's here right?"

"yeah, he's in his private quarters." Niruin replied with a knowing smirk. Katlyn resisted the urge to roll her eyes. It wasn't exactly a secret that she and Brynjolf occasionally slept together, but it seemed the true extent of Brynjolf's relationship with "his new protégé" had become greatly exaggerated in the minds of the other guild members. Apparently the Dragonborn was the one woman with enough fire to get their old scoundrel of a Guild Master to finally quit his womanizing and settle down and run the Guild together like Karliah and Gallus used to. Katlyn on the other hand, very seriously doubted either her or Brynjolf were even capable of settling down let alone with each other.

"Sometimes talking is just talking, Niruin." She retorted slightly annoyed as she started towards the Guild Masters quarters.

"As you say, Katlyn," Niruin replied to her back.

Katlyn picked up a lit candle from one of the tables and walked down the dark hallway away from the Cistern. She quietly rapped on the door to the Guild Master's quarters. When she received no reply she figured Brynjolf was sleeping already. Quietly Katlyn slipped through the door. By the light of the candle she saw his sleeping form on the bed. The room wasn't very large or luxurious but it was private and had room enough for a bed large enough for two (no doubt Gallus and Karliah's doing), a table and two chairs, a wardrobe and a chest. A mannequin dressed in Brynjolf's Nightingale armor silently stood in the far corner of the room. Sitting the candle down on the bedside table, Katlyn gently shook his shoulder.

"Brynjolf" He awoke startled and pulled out dagger under his pillow and brandished it at Katlyn.

"woah, hey easy there!" Katlyn put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Bryn, it's just me."

"Kat? What's wrong?" Brynjolf asked breathing hard.

"Nothing is wrong. Calm down." Katlyn sat down on the foot of the bed.

"By Talos, lass. Are you trying to startle me to death?" He asked lowering the dagger. Brynjolf threw the sheet back and sat up on the bed rubbing his eyes. He was shirtless and dressed only in a pair of light sleeping pants. The amulet Brynjolf always wore around his neck glistened in the candlelight against his chest.

"Sorry. I thought you might still be up. I wanted to talk to you." Brynjolf's eyes roamed over her tense body language, her full armor, and the fact that she was carrying a large bag of what he assumed were supplies.

"You're leaving." It wasn't a question. His accusing green eyes met her regretful ones.

"Yes."

"Something's happened." Again it was not a question. Brynjolf's perceptiveness amazed her at times.

"Yes."

"Are you going to tell me what?" Brynjolf prompted.

"I can't tell you. I've gotten myself into some trouble and I just need to get out of Riften for a while and lay low. Plus this will give me the opportunity to search more for the Elder Scroll." Brynjolf was surprised. Katlyn never kept anything from him. He knew she played things pretty close to the vest with most everyone else, especially her past and memory issues, but Brynjolf always thought of himself as the exception.

"Lass, you can tell me anything. Ya know that. If you're in some sort of trouble maybe I can help. Being the Guild Master does come with resources."

"It's for your own good that you don't know where I'm going. You're just going to have to trust me on this one okay?" Katlyn knew Brynjolf would never betray her to the Dark Brotherhood willingly but she didn't even want to take the risk. She suspected they were not above using torture to get the information they needed from people.

"Okay, lass." Brynjof sighed heavily running a hand through his dark copper hair. "I don't like it but okay. How long are you going to be gone for?"

"I don't know," Katlyn shook her head.

"When are you leaving?"

"First thing in the morning. I'm going to sleep in my old bed tonight." Brynjolf's protective instincts flared up at that. If Katlyn was choosing to sleep down in the Cistern that told him she didn't feel safe sleeping in her house. He surmised she was afraid someone would find her and was hiding in the Guild headquarters. If that was indeed the case she would be sleeping in the safest place in the city if he had anything to say about it.

"No, you're not." Katlyn looked at him surprised but before she could speak he cut her off. "You're staying here with me tonight."

Katlyn briefly considered arguing with him but knew there was no point once his mind was made up. Stubborn Nord men. And besides it wasn't like she'd hadn't slept in that bed with him several times before. She sighed internally; she just knew Niruin was going to make a comment in the morning about her staying the night.

"You get changed. I'll be right back." Brynjolf exited his room and made for the Ragged Flaggon where he knew Delvin and Vex would be.

"Hey boss, something wrong?" Delvin asked seeing the Guild Master's stony expression.

"I'm not sure, but I want you to make extra sure the Cistern is secured for the next few nights."

"Are you expectin' trouble?"

"Not really, I don't know details but I know something's going on and we can't be too careful"

"I'll take care of it, boss" Delvin nodded.

"See that you do." Brynjolf turned and headed back to his room and bolted three different locks into place behind him. Katlyn had changed into her night shift and was sitting on the bed waiting for him.

"What was that about?" she asked curiously.

"Nothing, just taking care of something real quick." Brynjolf assured her. Then he climbed back into the bed and scooted as far back against the wall as he could to make room for her. Katlyn resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him. He really could be over protective at times but secretly she didn't mind all that much.

"Come here, lass." He smiled warmly at her. Katlyn returned the smile and slid into the warm bed and felt his arm wrap protectively around her torso. Katlyn reflected a moment on just how utterly safe and content he made her feel. For someone who didn't have a past or a family he and the Guild were the closest thing she'd ever had. Katlyn knew even when she had to leave, she could always come back to Brynjolf. As long as she had him, she would be alright. For her, Brynjolf was home.

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The moment he awoke Brynjolf knew something wasn't right. Katlyn was no longer in the bed with him and the whole atmosphere of the room felt off. Without moving he opened his eyes and looked around. Katlyn was fully dressed standing with her back towards him across the room with one foot resting on his chair as she did up the buckles on her Nightingale boots.

"So you were just going to leave without a word?" Brynjolf asked. That stung him more than he liked to admit. At the sound of his voice Katlyn visibly tensed her fingers pausing momentarily over the last buckle.

"I was going to wake you." They both knew it was a lie. The atmosphere of the room was tense and slightly uncomfortable. Brynjolf sighed and sat up on the bed rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Why does this feel like goodbye?" He had his heavy feeling deep in his stomach that he wasn't going to see her again. Many long years of experience had taught him to trust his gut instincts.

"I don't know because it's not." Katlyn said looking at him strangely as she turned to face him. "I'm not leaving forever. I'll come back. I just have to take care of some things first. I swear it."

"You left the Companions." He said almost accusingly.

"That was completely different and you know it," Katlyn argued putting her hands on her hips.

"I know. I'm not trying to start a fight, lass" He rose from the bed and walked over towards her. "I just hate to see you go"

"I going to miss you to" She smiled softly up at him. She stepped forward closing the distance between them and embraced him. Brynjolf wrapped his arms around Katlyn tightly and buried his face in her hair. He squeezed for a moment as if by sheer force of will he could hold her to him forever and prevent her from leaving. Then an idea occurred to him. He released his grip on Katlyn and reached up slipping his amulet from around his neck.

"Here. Take this with you, lass" Brynjolf said slipping the pendant over Katlyn's head.

"Your lucky amulet?" Katlyn looked up at him her eyes wide, "Bryn, no I can't take this."

"I'm not giving it to you permanently. I'm letting you borrow it for a while. You never know when you could use some extra luck." Katlyn ran her fingers over the amulet's shiny black surface. She strongly suspected it had belonged to Brynjolf's father and knew how much it meant to him. The gesture overwhelmed her.

"I don't know what to say"

"It just means you have to come back eventually to return it" Brynjolf smiled at her a glint in his eye.

"I promise" She meant it with every fiber of her being. The air was heavy and slightly awkward between them. "I need to get going," she said after a minute breaking the silence. Brynjolf nodded and sighed. He pulled her in for a final kiss.

"Take care of yourself, lass"

"I will." Katlyn assured him donning her mask and hood before shouldering her pack. She unbolted the locks and opened the door to leave when Brynjolf's voice stopped her.

"Lass," she looked back at him questioningly. "Eyes open, and walk with the shadows."

Katlyn smiled and shut the door behind her.

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Authors note: those of you still reading this, do please let me know what you think so far! What you like, what you don't like. I'd even love to read some predictions about where you think the story is going to go.