Maven Black-Briar

"Where in Oblivion have you been?" Mercer demanded.

"I... uh... Kathryn... she... I," Aila stammered uselessly.

"Never mind! It doesn't matter. You're here now. Our most essential client had asked to see you."

"Client?" Aila wondered aloud. "Maven? Why would she want to see me?"

"For a job, what else?" Mercer patronized. "She's waiting in the Bee and Barb. Get going!"

"Yes, sir!" Aila dashed out of the Cistern as fast as her skinny legs would allow. Her mind wandered as she made her way to the inn. Why would Maven want to see her? She didn't know much about her. She saw her on the streets of Riften occasionally, but that was the extent of her interaction with her. But she did know this: those who went to see Maven Black-Briar either came back a little richer, or not at all.

When she came to the marketplace, Aila saw Brynjolf in his usual routine of selling phony products. Aila never understood how he was able to fool so many people with his theatrics.

She did her best to avoid his gaze and enter the inn unseen, unfortunately, things rarely go as planned. He set down whatever her was presenting and walked directly to her. "Brynjolf, I can't talk right now," Aila said.

"I'll only be a moment," he said. "I realize that I was out of line asking those questions. Who you are with is your choice and if you wish to keep it want secret, I will respect that choice."

"I... thank you, but I rally need to get going," Aila said. She was glad to hear Brynjolf's apology, but she would rather not keep Maven waiting any longer than she had to.

"Right," Brynjolf said. "I'm sure you have much to do." he returned to his stall.

Aila turned and entered the Bee and Barb. She immediately encountered hostility from the innkeeper. "You!" the Argonian spat. "You were with that bitch! You have some nerve coming back here."

Aila bit back a retort. She hated the insult directed at Kathryn, but she couldn't rally blame her. Besides, she wasn't here to argue. "Is Maven Black-Briar here?" she asked as calmly as possible.

The innkeeper's eyes narrowed at her question. "Upstairs... why?"

Aila ignored her and headed toward the stairs. With every step, her heart beat faster and faster. When she reached the top, she took a deep breath and turned the corner.

There, a woman sat, quietly scribbling an a parchment. If she took notice of Aila's arrival, she did not show it. "Um... you wished to see me?" Aila asked nervously. Maven did not answer. "Uh... I'm Aila. Mercer said that..."

"If the Guild believes that my word is not of immediate importance and thus forces me to wait to meet with a single member, then you shall receive similar treatment."

Aila stood there with her mouth half-open. She quickly shut it, for fear of embarrassing herself. Not sure what to do, she seated herself in a nearby chair. She sat quietly, twiddling her thumbs. She waited nearly an hour. Aila founder herself wishing she had brought a book to read. Though even if she did, she likely would have been too nervous to read it. Aila wondered what it was Maven was writing. A letter, perhaps? From the way she was writing, it could've been a history book. Her quill never left the pater, save to dip it in the ink-pot.

"So," Maven said so suddenly, Aila nearly fell out of her chair. "You're the best the Guild had to offer. You don't look like much to me."

The best? "I... I'm sorry you're disappointed."

Maven scoffed. "You see? I ask for the best thief in the guild and Mercer sends me a little girl."

Aila wasn't sure to feel more insulted or flattered. Maven didn't think her adequate for what ever it as she wanted, but at the same time, Mercer thought she was the best thief in the guild. Aila wondered when that happened. "You don't have faith in the Guild?" Aila asked.

"Faith? I don't have faith in anyone. All I care about is cause and effect. Did the job get done and was it done well?"

"Then... what is the job?"

"Yes, down to business. Perhaps you're not as useless as you look."

Aila humphed.

"I'm sure you've heard of Honningbrew Mead?" Maven said.

Aila shook her head. "I'm not really much of a drinker."

"Yes, well, Honningbrew Meadery is my main competitor. It's owned by a man named Sabjorn. He was never anything more than a nuisance, but somehow he's found the gold to expand. He had started to mass-produce his mead, selling it at an obscenely low price. Now my patrons have taken to buying Honningbrew instead of Black-Briar mead, which means that I am losing profits."

"And you want me to... what?" Aila asked.

Maven looked at her with an obvious annoyance in her eye. "I was getting to that. Go to Whiterun. For now, all you need to know is that there is a man there named Mallus Maccius. He will tell you the rest."

Aila stood from her chair. "Yes, ma'am. Is there anything else?"

"No," Maven said, apparently pleased with her use of ma'am. "Remember, do this well and you'll be rewarded greatly."

Aila left the inn, ignoring the angry glares of Keerava as she did so. That had gone better than expected. Whiterun! She was going back to Whiterun. She would get to see Aela again. Aila realized she missed her. She had been a good friend to her and Kathryn. She had brought them together, in a way. Without her, it was possible that Kathryn and Aila would never have been a couple.

Then a thought struck her like a slap on the face. They had first left Whiterun with every intention of coming back. That was almost a month ago. Aila wondered if Skjor even bothered to send someone to look for them. Even if he did, they would've found a burned up camp and a dragon's skeleton. She wasn't sure what they would make of that, but she doubted it involved them surviving. Aila mentally kicked herself for never thinking to write.

But for now, she needed to speak with Kathryn. She entered the marketplace and made her way to Brynjolf.

"Aila," he said when he saw her approaching. "I didn't think you wanted to speak with me."

"Brynjolf... I'm sorry. I really am. But, I'm just not attracted to you."

Brynjolf smiled sadly. "I know. And I understand. Plus you've got you mystery lover to worry about."

Aila laughed softly. Speaking of lovers... "Have you seen Kathryn? I need to speak with her."

"Aye, she just left the Keep. Seeing the court wizard, I'd imagine. It's useful having a mage in the guild, you know. Those spells of hers help out quite a bit."

I wonder if she got those books I asked for. "Yes, but do you know where she is now?"

"Hmm..." He reached up and scratched his thin beard. "I think I saw her head out the gate."

"Out the gate? Why would she leave the city?"

"Afraid I don't know, lass."

"Ah well. Thanks anyway." Aila left him to his work. She wandered out of the city and stood outside the gate. Why would Kathryn leave the city? Where would she go? Maybe... Aila headed off into the woods.

She wondered if she would be able to find it again, and for a frightening while, Aila was afraid she had gotten lost, but eventually she stumbled upon the Standing Stone. Sure enough, Kathryn was standing at the edge, looking out upon the world. Aila was about to call out to her, but then it occurred to her that Kathryn probably already know she was there. She heard her voice a few moments later, confirming her suspicions. "It's so beautiful," she said.

"It's even more so at night," Aila said.

"I'd like to see this during an aurora." She turned and smiled at Aila. "Come her. Come see."

"Um, no, I'm fine here."

"Oh come on, Aila. You have to get over your fear somehow." She held out her hand.

Aila took a deep breath and took a step forward. She grabbed Kathryn's hand, and Kathryn pulled her in front of her and wrapped her arms around Aila's waist. Aila looked out in front of her. The sight was incredible. She could see so much more in the daylight than the previous nigh. There were so many trees. Aila never realized how rugged the land was. It would rise and fall sharply in many different places. Skyrim truly was a harsh place, but it was also beautiful.

Unfortunately, Aila couldn't enjoy its beauty. She was too busy focusing on trying not to fall off the edge. The bottom of the cliff seemed to stretch farther and farther away. Despite her best efforts, her mind fulled with gruesome images of her stumbling over the edge and falling to her death. Kathryn held her tighter and tried to comfort her. "Don't be scared. Don't be frightened, you're not going to fall." Yet Aila began shaking and her legs buckled. The only thing keeping her up was Kathryn, who pulled her away from the overlook as soon as she collapsed. She set her down up against a tree. Aila gradually calmed sown and got her breathing under control. Kathryn sat next to her, still wrapped tightly around her. "I'm sorry Aila," she said.

"No, it's... It's alright," Aila said. "I'm fine."

"No, I shouldn't have made you..."

"Oh, shut up." Aila pulled herself closer to Kathryn and kissed her. "You didn't make me do anything."

Kathryn sighed. "How did you know I was up here, anyway?"

"Brynjolf told me that he saw you leave the city. This was the only place I could think of that you'd go."

"So you talked to him?" Kathryn asked.

"Yeah."

"What did he say?"

"He apologized for prying into my personal life," Aila told her.

"What about... you know?"

"Well, he didn't specifically say so, but I don't thing he's going to keep trying to court me."

"Well that's good," Kathryn said.

"Mm. I kind of feel bad for him, though. I mean, you would think he already had a lover."

"I guess we're just lucky."

Aila smiled. "I guess so." She leaned in once more and locked lips with Kathryn. After several minutes of their heated embrace, Aila pulled back suddenly. "Oh! I just remembered. We're going back to Whiterun!"

Kathryn looked at her questioningly. "We are?"

"Yes. I just got a job from Maven Black-Briar. She want me to got to Whiterun and do something for her."

"Oh. That's... that's great."

"You don't sound very exited. Why aren't you exited? We'll get to see Aela again."

"Aila... I can't go."

"You can't go? What do you mean you can't go?"

"Exactly that. Aila... I probably should've told you this already, but I've been falling behind in the Guild. I haven't been completing enough jobs and Mercer's really been on my back about it. He's been threatening to kick me out if I don't get it together."

"Why haven't you told me this?" Aila asked.

"I just didn't want to worry you. It's just... I can't afford to spend my time traveling."

Aila lay her head on Kathryn's chest. "But I don't want to go alone."

"I know," Kathryn said apologetically. "I'll make it up to you when you get back, Okay? I promise."

Aila only grumbled in answer.

"Oh, by the way, I have something for you," Kathryn said.

"You do?" Aila said. "What is it?"

"This." Kathryn reached into her armour and pulled out a couple of books. "One thing I love about this armour is that there's always a place to put something."

"You got the books I asked for!" Aila exclaimed.

"I told you I would, didn't I? You should have seen Wylandriah when I asked for them. Halfway to the bookcase she forgot what she was doing. I had to ask her two more times before she managed to keep her head long enough to give them to me."

Aila was only half listening. "I think I've seen this book before," she said.

"What's it called?" Kathryn asked.

"The Dragon King."

"Oh, that one. Wylandriah said it was more of a legend about a fairytale than an actual resource."

"But I've read it before. It seems familiar." She thought for a moment. "Oh! This it the same book I got in Whiterun the night I had that nightmare." She looked at Kathryn and smiled. "The night I fell in love with you."

"Really?" Kathryn said. "That was the exact night you fell in love with me?"

"Well, no. Probably not. But that was the night I first realized it."

Kathryn chuckled and turned her attention back the books. "I wonder if you really are the Dragonborn. How amazing would that be? My own little dragon."

Aila groaned. "Please don't start calling me that."

Kathryn smiled at her. "Too late."