Mum's the Word

Part III – Don't Do unto Others

The dim light of the torches made the damp stone walls of the sewer look oddly pretty.

It was hard to believe that these were the same walls he used to find so comforting. It was hard to believe that these were the same walls that actually signaled… home. After what felt like ages, these walls were a place to belong.

Now they just felt oppressive. Daunting. Ominous. The slow drip of the water around only made Jules fully aware of every passing second.

They would be there soon. To take them back.

Back to Thorn.

Jules was doomed. He knew this now. He had so much hope for that mutiny, but now all was lost. And he knew that he wouldn't be able to survive long under Thorn's care. He could feel his condition getting worse down here in the warrens and he didn't even want to imagine what punishments Thorn would have in store for him.

He knew that Bishop would do anything to spare him those, just like he had now. But none of it would do any good. It would only make them both suffer.

Why did that idiot always have to protect him? He could have stayed. He could have stayed here. It was shitty, sure, especially for him, but it was better than Lost Knife. It was better than Thorn.

But no. Bishop would never allow this. Mercer was punishing him after all. Except that his very creative punishment was torn straight out of Thorn's book of tortures – he took it all out on Jules. Sent him here into the warrens and called the bandits to take him back.

But Bishop, in his infinite wisdom, insisted on sharing Jules's fate. Jules knew he would do this – he knew that Bishop would never allow him to be sent away and left to his fate. But he fucking hated that Bishop did this anyway. Jules was doomed whatever happened. At least he could have gone out knowing his brother was away from Thorn.

Now he didn't know what awaited them.

Maybe there was a small part of him that was happy that Bishop would be by his side. It was a reluctant comfort, but it was the only comfort he had.

This was his own fault after all, no matter what Bishop thought.

Jules was the one who told him the secrets willingly, even though he pretended in front of Raven as if he hadn't. Jules was the one who encouraged Bishop to start talking about the mutiny – he was constantly advising him, supplying him with information and tactics. He felt so… powerful. A bed-ridden sickling masterminding a revolt behind the scenes. And nobody knew. Not even Raven.

Bishop was willing to take everything on himself. He let Raven think he was the one to manipulate Jules into this, he was the one to risk speaking to everyone. He was always the one to take on the responsibilities.

And while Jules was playing his games, he was the one to risk it all.

It should have been obvious. Jules should have known that Raven would rat out Bishop if it came to that. He should have seen this coming. But he was too preoccupied with the visions of their bright future at the Guild that he hadn't realized what he was throwing his brother into.

It was only right that Jules was the one being punished.

Bishop should have just stayed here. It would have been fitting. Even if Jules would have been terrified beyond belief to be thrown back to Thorn without him.

Guilt, regret, there was no escape from this in the small cell.

Jules wasn't even sure where Bishop was. Mercer only gleefully came to tell him that Bishop had 'volunteered' to be sent away along with him and that was it. Now Jules was just waiting for the bandits to come. Maybe the guilt and regret were preferable to whatever was in store for them.

Every sound echoed through the warrens so vividly. Whether it was the madman's ravings from across the chamber or whether it was… footsteps.

Like now. One, two, three, coming closer. Someone was heading down towards his cell. Maybe for him. Maybe for someone else. Jules had no idea how many people were in the cells.

Maybe it was time.

Two sets of steps. That didn't bode well. Possibly bandits.

Soon enough, there was a familiar sound of locks and bolts moving. Someone was opening his cell. This was it.

But the face he saw before him was definitely one he didn't expect.

One he never thought to see again.

That beautiful face.

"You got a few minutes, lad. Don't make me regret this." Brynjolf's voice echoed through the chambers before Jules heard his steps walk away a bit. Not that it would help in the silent warrens.

But Raven was the one to stay. Inside his cell, with black bags under his eyes as if he hadn't slept in days and with a forlorn expression on his face.

"Jules… I…" Raven was the first one to speak, but his voice cracked right away. "I'm… so sorry. I… I had no idea this would happen. Why? Why did he send you away? I don't understand anything."

"It's a punishment, Raven," Jules almost had the urge to chuckle. Was it really so surprising to see Mercer do shit like this? And whatever else, it still made Jules happy to see Raven. At least one last time.

"But why you?" Raven shook his head desperately. "I swear, I didn't say a word about you. He had no idea, I promise. It was all…"

"On my brother. I know," Jules scowled. Raven's 'solution' was unfortunate. He should have just ratted out Jules. It would have at least been deserved. But that wasn't Raven's fault. Not by a long shot. Especially not when all this time Jules had been keeping him in the dark about the real culprit. Just out of pure selfishness. Just because he didn't want to disappoint Raven. It was so much easier to let him think that Jules was the innocent one, being manipulated and betrayed. It was so much easier to have Raven coddle him and hate Bishop instead.

But the easy way out was never the right one, was it?

All these innocent little half-truths and white lies, they all led here. He did this. To all of them.

"I'm sorry, Jules. I didn't want to. I didn't want to hurt you. I know you care about him, but…" Raven's breathing was so erratic that he was barely able to speak properly.

It was heartbreaking to see. Especially knowing that Jules was the one to blame for all this. But what would the truth do now? It would just break Raven's heart more if he knew that he was the one being played before. No matter the intentions.

"Things never go as planned," Jules sighed. He was talking more about his own plans rather than Raven's, but he didn't need to know that. "Don't do unto others. It will all come back to bite you. It's never as simple as you expect it to be."

"I…" Raven took a deep intake of breath. He looked like he was holding back tears. It was hard to see, but by now, Jules felt like he didn't even have it in him to cry anymore. "I just wanted to save them. Save you. It was going to end badly, Jules. And it was all his fault," he snarled.

"I know what you tried to do, Raven," Jules nodded. He understood. None of this was on him.

"I… I know you'll never forgive me," Raven's head hung low as he continued to speak with a quivering voice. "I just wish there was something I could do to stop this. Maybe I can still convince them to send him away instead of you…"

"He's coming with me, Raven," Jules sighed. It was surprising that Raven didn't know, but surely Mercer would spread the news soon – show everyone what happened to people defying him, what he was capable of driving them to do. "He won't let me go back alone." Even though he should.

Raven raised his gaze at last as he stared at Jules in disbelief for a moment. Probably about the fact that the man he had condemned would do such a thing.

"That's…" Raven stammered. "I want to go with you too."

"No, you don't," now Jules did chuckle at him with a scoff. That was just not going to happen. Ever. Raven was going to be safe here, even with Mercer. "You're gonna stay here and you're gonna live." And he was going to move on. Eventually.

"You… you say that like you're not…" Raven's eyes widened at him in fear.

"Raven, you must have known that this would be the end, one way or another," Jules sighed. There was nothing more to be done. Jules had brought this on himself, unbeknownst to many.

"No, please, we can still run," Raven shook as if his knees were about to buckle under him. It was a painful sight. But he would move on. He would survive. He had so many times before. Maybe he had a point. Maybe he was cursed. But he was strong enough to live with it, Jules was sure of it.

Or maybe he just had to keep telling himself that to ease his own mind.

"There's no running from them. From here," Jules shook his head. There were no more options. No way out. It was a prison of his own making. And it would get worse.

"I can't just…" Raven tried to speak again, but the sound of footsteps interrupted him. Brynjolf was surely coming to retrieve him before someone noticed. They were likely not allowed to be here.

There was only one more thing to say.

"Go, Raven," Jules gave him a reassuring smile. "I forgive you." Was there anything to forgive? Raven did rat out Bishop, but Jules couldn't help but understand. Completely. But if he didn't say this, he was afraid that the guilt would eat Raven up.

"I love you," Raven whispered into the silence of the warrens as the footsteps got close.

It was… encouraging to hear. Despite it all, Raven had always been the very thing that made Jules feel so… right. Feel at home here. No matter the lies, there was one thing Jules had never lied about, not even for a second. He loved him too. If only he had deserved that love in return.

"You shouldn't have," Jules let out a final defeated sigh. "I told you, no one has it easy with me."

It was a painful truth.

But in the end, with all the guilt and regrets, Jules was still glad he tried. To fight. To build a real life without the fear. Maybe one day, Raven and Bishop and everyone he cared about would actually have that.

Even if he wouldn't.

Author's Note:

Thank you for reading!

I hope you have enjoyed this little prequel to the Thieves Guild plotline and seeing more of Jules and Raven. There was not much action in this side story, but hopefully it was interesting regardless :)

By the way, if you have any suggestions or requests for another character's story, lay them on me ;) No promises, but I will consider them and see if I can scribble something up. Or maybe some of them are already included or planned for the main fic too ;)

In any case, thank you again and I hope you'll all continue to enjoy the main fic :)