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The wind howled in Ulsea's ears as she held tightly on her parents' hands, walking with them the short distance between home and the mine. She waved them goodbye as they secured their pickaxes on their waist, sitting on the first flat rock she could find, waiting for the other children to come and meet up with her.Raven Rock was lonely. Far from the mainland, far from Skyrim. Grey skies with reddish hues that seem to twinkle in the pale sunlight from the ashy air, a constant thick haze, a strong smell of sulfur floating around. People came and went, never staying long enough for Ulsea to memorise their faces. She had friends, just a handful. Few of them had been here for years- others left back for Morrowind, others passed from the ash and dust poisoning their lungs. It didn't matter to her. As long as she had a playmate, all was well and good in her own little world.To a child, Raven Rock was a treasure trove of adventure. Pet and play with the guars that the merchants hauled around to carry their merchandise, ask about adventures from the guards and the rare few mercenaries, learn about the mainland and the Gods from the Temple. When the occasional ship that came from neither Morrowind or Skyrim docked in the port, the children would gather around and drown the sailors in questions, hoping to get the tiniest taste of what life outside of Solstheim.Sometimes, in the depths of winter, a Nord or two would come around town, buying supplies. From the Skaal village up North, they said they were from. And Ulsea could only wonder about the kind of people who'd willingly set up there, where frost and snow ruled over the land. And sometimes, she wanted to sneak up and hide on the sled they'd pull behind them, to live a life full of adventures. But she knew she couldn't, for two reasons. One, her boots were full of holes and the soles were threatening to fall out at any second. Two, she'd left her thick coat at home, and she knew that by the time she'd find it, put it on, and came back to the marketplace, the Skaal would've already left. So she sat on her rock, and longingly looked at them.When Ulsea knew her parents would be gone in the mine until the moon was high up in the sky, she'd head for the Retching Netch to buy herself a few pieces of stuffed flatbread that she'd carefully wrap in a spare handkerchief, place in her small bag, and walk down the coast to the Earth Stone, and watch it hum with energy. She was alone, but the excitement of going on a trip alone, without anyone knowing, was enough to make her content. The small wild guars kept her company sometimes, warming her up by cosying next to her. She'd teach them a trick or two- shake hands, turn around in circles, fetching a stick she'd throw. The crashing waves on the ash sand, the wind that shook the bare pine trees, the distant column of smoke that would occasionally rise from the top of Red Mountain, just barely visible from where she stood- it wasn't much, but it felt like home to her. Her little universe, and she'd dream of one day becoming an adventurer who'd trail through the entirety of Solstheim, uncovering lost relics and secrets.On days where she'd want more company and fun, hide and seek was Ulsea's personal choice of game, just like the other children around, as it was one of the few games that never ended in a fight. She loved winning and didn't mind losing. If anything, she saw her losses as a way to challenge her to do better, to find better hiding spots. Hiding behind the stalls at the marketplace. Hiding between the barrels full of salted fish and meat. Hoping the blacksmith would let her hide between him and his apron, only to have him blow her cover by pointing at her once a gaggle of kids was searching for her.She was fast and silent, sneaking from one hiding spot to the other, learning that sticking to the shadows was her best bet in either winning, or being one of the last children to be found- though the feeling was uncomfortable, losing her boots and running around in socks made her footsteps quiet, so much so that the unknowing merchants that she'd sneak behind would shriek in surprise and reveal her spot, not having heard her or seen her come up behind them.She'd get an earful, being told that no one likes a sneakthief before having her pockets checked, making sure that she didn't get her hands where they didn’t want her to. Ulsea didn't care- or rather, she only cared about the lecture being over so that she could go back to hiding before either the countdown was over, or before the children looking for her would come for her. The wind howled in Ulsea's ears as she held tightly on her parents' hands, walking with them the short distance between home and the mine. She waved them goodbye as they secured their pickaxes on their waist, sitting on the first flat rock she could find, waiting for the other children to come and meet up with her. Another game of hide and seek, just to get the blood pumping for the day. One hid behind a guard, who humoured him by covering him further with shield. One hid behind a banner that reached the ground. One hid in a pen of guars, hoping they'd stop sniffing her by the time the seeker would stop counting. And Ulsea hid between the barrels of a ship that had come in the early night yesterday, sailors too busy picking up and dropping off merchandise, barking orders at each other. The soft rocking of the boat on the waves, the warmth of being shielded by the thick cloth that had been thrown over the barrels and crates to protect them from the elements- Ulsea couldn't help but doze off, perfectly comfortable leaning against the rough wood of the barrels, curling up on herself.The moon was high in the sky when she woke up, a sharp breeze almost slapping her in the face. The ship had sailed long ago, it seemed. There they were, in the middle of the sea, where no land could be seen; or at least, from where Ulsea sat. The deck completely silent, she hesitantly crawled out of her small space, making sure no one could spot her, before walking up to the railing and jumping up and down a few times just to get a glimpse of her surroundings, but to no avail- she was far too short, and there were no crates around for her to prop herself up on. But in the few glimpses that she caught of the sea, she thought it was the most wonderous thing she'd ever seen- the water twinkling under the moonlight like the glittery fabric of the visiting nobles' robes rustling as they walked, the ice cracking apart as the ship passed close by like the dry and crackled soil in the rare dirt gardens in Raven Rock, Masser and Secunda immense in front of her, seemingly dipping into the ocean like the flatbread she'd dip in her morning bowl of milk.She didn't mind not seeing much, it was far too cold anyways to stay up here. Rubbing her hands against her arms in an attempt to warm herself up, she crawled back into her hiding spot, half-awake and deciding that she'd simply hide once again on another ship the second this one would arrive at its destination. And blessed be the winter winds, for the ship safely arrived at midday at its destination. Ulsea had spent the time sleeping, nibbling on the carrots stored in the crate behind her, or simply throwing curious glances at the Nords that worked on the deck. She thought they were the fascinating people- Men were rare in Raven Rock, Mer being the most common people. Sure, there were Glover and Crescius, but Glover didn't have their long blonde locks or their blue eyes, and Crescius was just an old wrinkly man in Ulsea's eyes and she'd never stay around the mine long enough to properly look at him. The Nords were far stronger than Glover, and far taller than him. In fact, she was almost scared at how tall they were, looming over her with their heavy steps. But the more she observed them, the less scared she became.Once the heavy cloth that covered the crates and barrels were lifted, Ulsea decided it would be best to stay put and put on her cutest face on, instead of darting off into the unknown. Aphia always said -while pinching her cheeks- that by simply acting bashful and innocent, most children could get away with anything, and now was the best time to test out her theory."Captain, there's uh… there's a kid here."
"Sod off and get to work! I'm not paying you to do fuckall!"
As soon as Ulsea and who she assumed to be the ship's captain met eyes, he grew silent, bewildered by the situation. He'd been taught to handle stowaways by his former superior, but he'd never have a child hide on his ship, much less one as young as her. After a few seconds of staring at her, deciding the best course of action, he'd settled on ordering his men to take over while he took Ulsea by her hand, getting her off of the ship before asking the locals to show them to the Cornerclub. He'd been to Windhelm a few times but had never felt the need to explore the Grey Quarter until this very moment.Windhelm was unlike anything Ulsea had ever seen. Tall stone walls covered in snow and frost, stretching over her like the Nords that lived here. Snow and dirt crunching under her boots, flapping around as the soles had started to come undone and getting her socks terribly frozen and wet. In the cold, Ulsea recognised the efficiency of the walls, stopping the sea breeze from entering the city, though the wind rushing down the mountain that the city had embedded itself into could hardly be controlled, not that its effects were felt much in this almost hidden corner of the neighbourhood. It was bright and sunny, something she hadn't felt in months- Red Mountain had violently erupted back in Frostfall, and Solstheim had been deprived of sunlight since then. When the captain stopped for a second to catch his bearings, she'd turned her face towards the sun, taking in as much warmth and light as she could, her eyes closing and a shy smile creeping on her. She couldn't feel much, but it was enough for her.The New Gnisis Cornerclub was dusty and loud, men and women yelling over each other, trying to hear their own conversations. It reminded Ulsea of the Retching Netch, and for a moment, she felt herself transported back to Solstheim, being surrounded by so many Dunmer."Captain Bjarik! Long time no see!" A Dunmer in a simple linen shirt called out. "If you're looking for a new crew member, you know I'm always available, right?" "Now's not the time kid. I've got bigger issues going on." The captain yelled out, pointing at Ulsea with his chin.Ulsea, who'd been fiddling with the fraying hem of her tunic, had finally figured out what felt different here. The Dunmer didn't have the same dialect and accent as those in Raven Rock. Despite the thick wafts of cooking stews and roasting meats, the air smelled different. The sky was clear and the wind howled differently, shrieking instead of piercing her ears."Ambarys! Get over here, I need your help!" He yelled out once more.Captain Bjarik and Ambarys had known each other for years now, with the captain taking orders for crates of supplies and Ambarys going down to the docks every month to order directly from him. Despite his disdain for Nords, the captain had always stayed courteous, and Ambarys was willing to put up a front in hopes of getting the freshest supplies."Hhm. Always wondered when you'd show up here. What will it be? Mead or Sujamma?" Ambarys asked, throwing the tower he'd used to wipe down the counters over his shoulder, grabbing a tankard ready to be filled. It was only when he turned around to face Bjarik that his smug smile turned into confusion."I've got a kid. Hid on my ship from Raven Rock. Figured she'd be more comfortable with… you people around her." He explained, earning glares from customers who'd tuned out from their conversations to see what the only Nord in here was doing.Ambarys could only sigh. Not only was he terrible with children, but he had customers to attend to, lunch rush being in full swing."C'mere." The Dunmer walked up to Ulsea, kneeling in front of her to meet her eyes. "What's your name?""Ulsea. I'm this much old!" Ulsea replied, doing her best to show her age with her fingers, taking the time to remember how they should be placed."By Azura, she's only six." Ambarys mumbled to himself, before getting up to his feet and rubbing his temples, Bjarik clearly apologetic about the situation."Sorry about all this, I just… I just don't know where to take her. Windhelm's not safe for her, but I can't just take her on my ship." "It's… It's alright we'll figure something out, I think. Sit down kid." Ambarys went in the back of the tavern while Ulsea climbed on the chair at an empty table, pulling down on Bjarik's hand as a way to tell him to join her. It wasn't long before the Dunmer came back to them, placing a plate and silverware in front of Ulsea and sitting down with them.It was an ash yam. Cut in half lengthwise, steam rising up the ceiling, still piping hot. Covered in a thick stew with mushrooms and carrots, pieces of tender meat that looked as if they'd fall apart the second Ulsea would pick them up with her fork. She'd never had the luxury of eating both stew and ash yams, and as soon as the plate was in front of her, her eyes brightened up, starstruck.She looked at Ambarys, almost asking for his permission to dig in. And as soon as he gave a gentle nod, she grabbed her fork, easily cutting through the ash yam and blowing on it to cool it down before putting it in her mouth. What a medley of flavours! She'd never eaten anything as rich as this before, her mother's stews almost tasteless in comparison. The fatness of the meat was a perfect match to the plainness of the yam, while the fragrant mushrooms added a familiar taste, reminiscent of the meals she'd eat at the Retching Netch. Overwhelming at first, an explosion in her mouth that became moreish with every bite she'd take. The dish had captivated her to the point that she'd ignored what was going on around her, not caring a single bit about what the two men were talking about."Orphanages are full all around the province, and I doubt the farmers here will want another mouth to feed, especially in this time of year." Ambarys sighed out, worried. He'd never been one for children, but seeing Ulsea in her tattered clothes, her soleless boots, tore his heart apart."It's okay. I can just go on another boat tomorrow to go back home like I did with you." Ulsea piped up for the first time, after wiping her sauce-covered mouth on the back of her sleeve."'Fraid it's not that easy kid. It's the start of winter, the sea's frozen over and it'll stay that way for the next four months. You won't get to Raven Rock anytime soon." It was Bjarik's turn to sigh, afraid that Ulsea's parents or family might come after him.Ulsea pondered for a moment."I can wait. Ma and Pa are always working in the mine, I'm sure that they won't even notice I was gone by the time I get back!" She said, a bright smile flashing on her face, seemingly not understanding the complexity of the situation. But deep in her mind, she understood some of it- she clearly wouldn't be able to go back to Solstheim for years, she was on her own now, and the world was full of dangers she wasn't prepared for. But she simply thought that Azura had called upon her to do her bidding, as Elder Othreloth claimed she often did, though she was a few years too early."Bring her to Sadri's, and give him this note. He owes me a favour." Ambarys dug in his pocket before fishing out a piece of paper that he handed to the captain as soon as Ulsea seemed to have finished eating.Ulsea thanked Ambarys with a cuddle of his leg, before waving him goodbye as the captain took her by the hand. -----"No. I'm not doing it. I've too much to do around here." Revyn Sadri refused, his arms crossed. Ulsea glanced around his shop, still clinging onto Bjarik's arm as he did his best to convince the Dunmer. Small trinkets and potions that sat on shelves, shining in the flickering candelight. Glazed pots and vases, books and dusty tomes, dull swords and daggers hanging on the wall. "Tell Ambarys I can't take care of a child, much less of a stray!" "Come on, at least, watch over her for the day! You eat dinner at the Cornerclub, right? Just… bring her back to Ambarys then. She just needs a quiet place to rest for a moment, she's been out on the deck during yesterday's blizzard."Revyn finally glanced at Ulsea, before rolling his eyes."Fine. But now you owe me a favour." A wave of relief hit Bjarik- ever since they'd arrived at port earlier, all he'd wanted to do was to head to the tavern, throw his boots off and warm himself up at the fireplace with a tankard overflowing with mead, and now he was free to do so, after checking up on his crew. Though, he was also relieved that Ulsea would be in safe hands.Ruffling her hair, he quickly wished her well before disappearing outside. Now, it was just her and Revyn- the two of them seemed to be fully engaged in a staring contest, not knowing what to do next."What in Azura's name am I going to do with you around… Kids… Kids like things, right? Hey kid, you like things?" Revyn broke the silence first, rubbing the bridge of his nose trying to think of something that could entertain Ulsea.She nodded, silent. She wasn't shy, in fact, back in Raven Rock, she was told off for speaking too much. She figured it'd be best for her to keep quiet for the moment."Good, good. Come here, I need you to organise this." The man pointed to a small crate of trinkets- small precious stones, rings, amulets, bracelets that he'd bought off from adventurers. "You know how to organise things? Just put all the rings in here, the bracelets there… You get it, don't you?" He handed her a box with dividers, before helping her sit up on his counter.Ulsea immediately put herself to work, remembering she did the same for Glover, although she used to organise nails and hinges and locks, instead of jewellery.She took her time, inspecting each item carefully, admiring how beautiful the carved gemstones glimmered in the light, wondering if one day she'd own amulets as beautiful as these. She'd bring a bracelet up to her eyes before showing it to Revyn, who'd force a smile before pointing to the spot reserved for the bracelets.A ring caught her eye, a simple gold band."Aw, this one's got no gem!" She pointed out to Revyn, who's bored face grew into a panic. Snatching the ring from her fingers, he turned it around, observing every groove and detail and scratch."That… That's Viola's ring! By Azura, this can't be!" He cried out, shushing himself halfway through his sentence. "I never should've trusted that bastard… Using me as a fence!""How do you know? It looks just like a normal ring." Ulsea asked, confused, reaching for the ring to look at it once more."Look, on the inside. Can you read? It's written V.G., stands for Viola Giordano. Oh, what am I going to do! I'll be dead if someone learns that I have the ring!" Revyn grabbed his hair, placing his arms across the countertop and planting his face straight down on it."I can give it back to her, if you want. I'll just pretend that I found it in the snow while playing in the streets!" "You… You'd do that?" He straightened up, deciding whether he should trust the child or not. On one hand, her excuse would work fantastically, and no one would ever suspect a child of such theft. On the other, she could very well simply rat him out.But it was a risk he had to take. Seeing her nod vigorously convinced him, and he spent the next hour anxiously waiting for someone to cross the threshold of his store. He'd paced the store a thousand times, praying to whatever Gods he could think of in this very moment. Divines, Daedra, Saints of past and present… With every sound of footsteps that would approach the door, his heart would bounce out of his chest, wondering whether Ulsea or a guard would enter. When his feet started to hurt, he'd prop his elbows up on the countertop, rubbing his temples and passing his hands in his hair, firmly grabbing it when the wait proved to be too intense. Would Ulsea find her way to Viola? Would she even find her way out of the Grey Quarter? Would a guard apprehend her the second she'd presumably picked the ring out of the snow?Drowning in his own thoughts, he couldn't hear the door open, and didn't even feel the cold from outside slap him in the face."It's all done!" Ulsea cried out when Revyn didn't even notice her pulling down on his shirt. She climbed back on the countertop to the best of her abilities, before dumping the contents of a small fabric pouch next to her. Caramels and hard candies made of honey wrapped in waxed paper, alongside a few coins, clattering and rolling around before settling. "She even gave me sweets as a reward, so you don't need to give me anything." She told him, before unwrapping a candy and popping it in her mouth, her face scrunching up at how sweet it was."You did it… Azura be praised, you did it!" It was Revyn's turn to cry out, picking up Ulsea in his arms and spinning her around in relief. Perhaps Ulsea would be useful to have around, earning her keep. Well, doing as much as a young child could do. "Alright kid, what else can you do?""Elder Othel… Oreth… Otherloth says I'm good at reading for my age. I'm good at sneaking around for hide-and-seek, and I'm good at keeping guars and chickens in their pens." Revyn's smile died down a little, realising what he'd asked was nonsensical. Ulsea was only six, there wasn't much she could do much, apart from growing up. But she seemed like an easy child to take care of, and the next few months spent watching over her couldn't be that bad, right? She'll… She'll help him run errands, clean up the store and keep him company on cold stormy nights. With the many books that sat around the shop, untouched in years, he could make sure she'd improve her reading skills, and every night, she could learn basic maths skills with counting the day's profits."C'mere, we'll close the shop early. It's getting dark, and I don't think anyone is going to stop by." He said as he picked Ulsea up, putting her down on the ground before scooping back up the candies in the small bag.Hunched over the small dinner table, Revyn and Ulsea started preparing supper. Ulsea watched him carefully cut thin slices of a green onion, doing her best to keep a distance as soon as the smell hit her and made her eyes water up. Then, potatoes, grossly cubed to keep their shape after cooking. Mushrooms and carrots, cut in half-moons. Finally, slices of horker meat, the fat trimmed off to the best of Revyn's abilities with his dulling knife.He fried the onions and the meat in the cast iron pot over the fireplace with the horker fat, with a sprig of thyme and rosemary for flavour, alongside a heavy pinch of salt. Once the onions had softened and the meat had browned enough, a beautiful golden crust forming on the sides, the rest of the vegetables joined in, bathing in water and a dash of ale. Ulsea had the delight of adding in two bay leaves and a handful of peppercorns, watching the stew simmer down and thicken with the slurry of flour and water Revyn had poured in.As Revyn cleaned up the table before closing his eyes for a moment, resting them, Ulsea dutifully kept watch over the stew, stirring occasionally to get a smell of what awaited her. Once she was sure he'd drifted off, she snuck back over to the table, grabbing the smallest piece of bread she could find, before dipping it in the thick sauce, blowing on it to make sure she wouldn't get burnt from it. It tasted like a dream, the rosemary and thyme being anything unlike anything she'd ever had before. Herbs that were rare and far too expensive for her family back on Solstheim, and how dearly did she wish her parents and friends were here to taste the delight.Ulsea gently prodded Revyn's knee with a spoon to wake him up, ready to eat dinner with him. She confessed to having already had a taste, to which the Dunmer could only chuckle and ruffle the hair on her head, before scooping up a healthy serving into a bowl for her, handing her a piece of bread to eat the stew with. It was comforting to him, to eat dinner in his own home with someone by his side. Though he still felt unsure about Ulsea, it was clear to him that she was already slowly winning his heart over, and he promised himself to make sure she'd come back to her parents happy and in one piece. And seeing her sprawled out under the covers, like a cat lazing in the sun would, won him over. Though it was unpleasant to sleep sitting at a table, he remembered how nice it felt to finally rest in a proper bed after his long trip from Morrowind to Windhelm, warm and sheltered from the raging storms outside. Sure, this shabby shop wasn't the ideal place for a child to live, even temporarily, with the frost that seeped in between the floorboards and the cracks in the window, but he knew it was far better than living out in the streets.-----The door slowly opened up, making the bells attached to it chime, before it was slammed open by a violent gust of wind, threatening to shake off every item Revyn had painstakingly placed on the shelves. Ulsea, who sat on the ground behind the counter, doing her best to decipher the letters and words from a random book she'd picked up from the displays, stretched herself until she could take a peek at who'd come in, before loudly crying out for Revyn's attention."Yes, yes, shut your mouth, I'm here. How can I-" Revyn stopped himself halfway through as he finally took a look at who the potential customer was. "Brynjar, it's been years! I thought you'd finally kicked the bucket, but here you are! So, how can I help? You've any good treasures?" Revyn invited the tall man to sit down, eager to hear of his most recent adventures. From where Ulsea stood, he was immense, just like everyone she'd met so far. His long cloak that brushed the floor, made of furs and dusted with snow, made him look even more imposing. And as he took a step forward, a small figure darted from underneath his cloak, stepping to the side while glaring at him.A child, just like Ulsea, who stood even shorter than her. Bright red eyes, pitch black hair like hers, and a slight scowl that looked almost comical on him."I didn't know you had a kid. Nice to see you've kept yourself busy." Brynjar chuckled out, teasing Revyn who poured him hot tea."And I could say the same to you. But she's not mine, she's… well, it's a long story that I won't bore you with." "Oh, please do tell. I'd give everything to listen to anything other than this brat's questions." The tall man sighed out, keeping an eye on the children."She's an accidental runaway. Hid on a ship while she was in Raven Rock and arrived here just about a week ago." "Raven Rock, eh? Tough luck getting her back there. I'm sure you heard the rumbling yesterday, but the entire island somehow caught all the ash from the eruption. Doubt anyone who was waiting for her back there made it through." Brynjar said, throwing Ulsea a sorry glance.But Ulsea didn't pay any attention to the two men, instead staring at the child, wondering whether he'd stay with Brynjar, or if he'd be willing to play with her. She showed him the wooden horse she'd picked up as she walked up to him, before introducing herself.
"Wanna play? I have more toys behind the counter!"
The boy nodded, following Ulsea. They sat down on the floor, building small structures with wooden blocks before knocking them down with a horse with wheels affixed to its feet. They took turns, one stacking blocks while the other made the horse glide on the floor. They played in silence, a mutual understanding of how the game they invented should go. And when playing with the horse became too boring, they'd make a tower of blocks, going as high as they could before it either fell under its own weight or they ran out of blocks."Ulsea, c'mere a moment." Revyn called her to him, and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder when she stood at the table, her eyes going back and forth from him and Brynjar. He took in a deep breath before continuing. "Kid… listen. You remember the earthquake we felt yesterday? That was Red Mountain erupting, and most of the ashfall hit Solstheim because of the winter wind. Raven Rock's not safe. It won't be for a while, even when the sea will have melted back in a few months' time. So… how would you feel about staying with Brynjar? He'll watch over you and make an adventurer out of you, just like he's started with Kaidan over there."
"Do I have to? I like helping around the shop."
"You don't have to, but staying here can't promise you a good future." Revyn explained, his hand lifting off of her shoulder to ruffle her hair."Okay, I'll go then." She turned to Brynjar. "Can we come and visit here sometimes?"It was Brynjar's turn to ruffle her hair, turning it into a tangled mess."Yeah, we can do that. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning, then we'll head for Riften. Kaidan, come boy! We'll go to the inn."Ulsea had set her mind on an idea. To become an adventurer as fast as possible, so that one day she could go back to Raven Rock and help rebuild it to be stronger. She'd become a knight in shining armour, the same as those in the tales that she read in Revyn's books. And with the riches she'd make, she'd repair his shop, and all of the Grey Quarter.And as Revyn tucked her in for the night, it was with a mind full of hope that she fell asleep with, dreams of exploring the world and discovering secrets and treasures.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
After spending four years under his care, Ulsea had come to the conclusion that Brynjar seemed to have a knack for picking the worst places for her training with Kaidan. Being the eldest between the two, she'd grown to taking care of him, whether he wanted it or not, calling out without remorse Brynjar when he'd push them too far, overestimating the children's abilities. Over time, she'd honed her sneaking skills, favouring the bow and hiding in trees while hunting, keeping to the shadows. At the occasional tournament where any random person had the chance to test their skills against others and professionals, she'd proven to be quite skilful at the bow despite her young age, though far from even beginning to rival the masters. And Kaidan was showing promise with the sword, even if Brynjar felt as if he was still too young to use anything else other than a wooden toy sword. His stance and footwork needed work, but according to Brynjar, he was on the right track.It was a harsh life, staying put and observing Brynjar as he killed or captured those who needed to be dealt with, taking mental notes and remembering what he'd done right and what the bandit had done wrong. A life of camping in the wild, keeping watch through the night, hunting or fishing in the early morning, and packing up as soon as dawn broke. But such a life had its perks, or so thought Ulsea. Trips through Cyrodiil's lush forests, golden sunsets and lavender sunrises on the Rumare lake, stories from strangers at taverns before the three of them shared a well-deserved rest in a bed, all cramped together.Despite how difficult life had shaped up to be for a bounty hunter and the two children that had come under his care, there were moments of softness. Moments where they'd celebrate birthdays with a sweetroll, moments where they'd stop at a temple to learn of the Divines, moments where they'd take the time to learn how to read and count.They were riding alongside the north-western coastline of Skyrim, after a few nights spent in Solitude collecting bounties. Kaidan and Ulsea shared a horse together- Kaidan, being shorter and smaller than her, sat the front, while she sat directly behind him, holding the reins. When they'd have the occasional complaint about wanting their own horses, Brynjar would joke about, asking them if they had the money for a third horse, before promising them that he'd get them a third one once they'd grown too big to share one. In the cold of Skyrim, they didn't mind the closeness. Ulsea's large cape covered them, and Kaidan enjoyed the warmth emanating from her, and they'd talk about nothing and everything to make the time pass, sharing and making up their own jokes. They'd sprint ahead of Brynjar, stopping at snowberry bushes to fill a small pouch with them, snacking on them in between stops. It always was a competition to see which of the two could stuff the most in their mouths, egging on each other as they went on.Ulsea liked travelling, even if the trips were long and Kaidan couldn't stay put. After having visited so many provinces, she was confident in saying that Skyrim was her favourite place. Tall mountains that seemed to touch the sky, crowned with white clouds, vibrant green trees that loomed over her, white crystalline snow that she loved to play in. Though the road they'd taken was bare, sparse with trees, the seaside with crashing waves on one side, an abrupt mountain flank on the other, she knew there was beauty in the roughness of it all- Brynjar often said that their kind of life followed one rule, to kill or be killed, and Skyrim seemed like a perfect example of it. To adapt to the harshness, to seek out danger before it sought you out.It wasn't long before Brynjar stopped in his tracks, observing the skies that had begun to darken, shielding them from the sun. Hastening their pace, making sure the horses wouldn't slip on the icy roads, they rushed into a cave. Shadowgreen cavern, he called it. And Ulsea could see why. Pine trees that had managed to grow at their own pace, lush bushes and moss-covered rocks. And despite being under the earth and underneath a mountain, it was almost warm, with the murmuring of a water spring that rushed through rocks, bunnies hopping around and butterflies fluttering around, visiting every flower. While Brynjar was setting camp in a small clearing near the entrance, making sure the horses were calm and settled, starting up a fire to warm themselves up for however long the blizzard would lock them in for, Kaidan and Ulsea were exploring. Climbing tree stumps, crossing the stream on fallen logs. Trying to catch frogs only to have them jump away, watching snails slowly eat their way through a bush. And when exploring got too boring, they made their way to the very top of the cavern, where a tree sat surrounded by its own little pond, alone. They decided to keep the tree company, parring and practicing Brynjar's moves with their own weapons. A wooden sword, for Kaidan, who Brynjar deemed too young to own an actual weapon. A dull iron dagger, for Ulsea, who stole it from a bandit behind everyone's backs. Right foot, left foot, keeping watch on their surroundings, making sure they wouldn't fall to their death.It wasn't long before they laid down, throwing their weapons to the side while staring at the holes in the cavern's ceiling, watching how the wind carried the snow away from them, a few stray snowflakes still making their way onto their faces. And when they'd caught their breaths, they'd look around, picking mushrooms, using their shirts to carry them around when there were too many.Brynjar had already fallen asleep at the camp, his dinner consisting of a sole bottle of mead they'd bought a few days ago in Solitude. Ulsea could only sigh, covering him up with his cape before turning to Kaidan, who'd begun to clean the mushrooms in the spring. Opening up a book, they thoroughly checked which mushrooms they picked were edible, and which ones they'll use to turn into the poison that would coat Brynjar's blades.A fragrant soup, topped with dried meat and a few wild herbs they'd found earlier, to soften their stale bread."What's High Rock like, do you think? I think… it's got big castles, and it's all green. Like Solitude!" Ulsea asked Kaidan, who struggled to tear his bread into pieces."I think it'll be like Cyrodiil. But with more coats, and more nobles. I read in a book once that Rivenspire's like the Reach." He replied, taking a gulp of soup. "I don't like the Reach." He whispered afterwards, wiping his mouth with his sleeve."I wanna see the sea. I hear, you can see the Adamantine tower from the south coast. Do you think he'll let us take a detour?" Ulsea placed her empty bowl aside, laying down, Kaidan following suit."Don't know. It's full of Thalmor, I don't think he'd want to stay there too long. I just hope we'll at least get to sleep in our own beds at least once." Said the boy, earning a chuckle from Ulsea.They'd dragged themselves to their cots, haphazardly folding up their capes to use as pillows, letting the bubbling of the stream lull them to sleep.Ulsea twisted and turned in her cot, falling asleep only to jolt herself awake, unable to get any rest. Her mind wandered, and soon, she opened her eyes to let them do the same. Jumping from Kaidan's sleeping form, to Brynjar who snored loudly, to the sparks dancing in the fire. It was a life she loved, adored even. To wake up every day to a new adventure, spending her time dancing around with a sword and a bow, but there were some comforts she missed. Reading all cosied up next to a fireplace, resting and sleeping in her own room, not worrying if a beast would attack them in the middle of the night. She knew that Brynjar was more than capable of defending them, but the fright, the rush of fear that flowed through her veins was terrifying. How dearly did she wish to be Kaidan in these moments! Having known nothing but the wilderness and Brynjar, he cheered on, believing that this was the right way of living.He was only two years younger than her, and yet she was the one that admired his tenacity, his eagerness to learn and improve, which he seemed to be doing with each passing day. He was shaping up to be an amazing warrior, and Ulsea couldn't be anything else but proud of her shield-brother. -----Rivenspire. They'd been inching across the northernmost coast of Tamriel, bearing freezing beaches and frosty mountains for the past month and a half, Brynjar cursing under his breath his lack and inaptitude for magick. Had he even the slightest skill in it, he would've been able to easily travel around using the wayshrines that mages consistently used, avoiding the constant panic and stress of having to watch over Kaidan and Ulsea.A local lord had tasked them – or rather, tasked Brynjar- with getting rid of a tumultuous group of bandits that had been stirring trouble in the neighbourhood. Settled up in a tree, Kaidan held up a shield to protect him and Ulsea as she took her aim and aided Brynjar. Her bow pulled back, arrows as sharp as the north wind that found their place in the neck of bandits, dropping dead after a final hit from her guardian. And Kaidan could only cheer her on silently, not wanting to distract either of them and focusing on his task.While the fight itself didn't take too long, retrieving the arrows from the bodies did. As Brynjar stacked the bodies in a neat pile in a corner to be thrown away by the lord's men, Ulsea and Kaidan took their time, never having gotten used to the smell of blood and the sight of viscera splattering on the ground and dripping from the arrows. Wiping them down on the bandits' own clothes, they replaced them in the quiver, discarding the ones that had been broken during the fight.With a pat on the back for the both of them and thankful praises, they made their way to Shornhelm, sore and tired, in need of a hot meal and bath.Rivenspire was dull in their eyes. Constant grey skies, burnt grass in sandy shades that their horses couldn't nip at, devoid of any life. Kaidan was right, it was like the Reach. But Ulsea far preferred the Reach to Rivenspire, the latter being too silent, the sound of them travelling being the only thing she could hear.When they'd arrived in Shornhelm, it was already the late afternoon and Brynjar quickly parted ways with them."I'll head to the local tavern and get us a room, then I'll check the castle for work. You two are sharing, can't risk losing either of you. Just ask the innkeeper for your room. I'll bring the horses to the stables, while you go fetch something to eat," He grumbled, throwing them the pouch of gold he'd gotten in the morning from the lord.The two children settled themselves on a short brick wall, quickly taking a glance at how much they'd been given, their eyes shining in excitement as they realised they could very well buy an entire inn's worth of food."We should head to the market, we can get some good deals there." Kaidan quickly agreed to Ulsea's idea, eager to see what they'd stumble onto.Though relatively empty, every stall was busy. Crying out to others to buy their goods and wares, grilling meats and roasting chestnuts over roaring flames. Despite their hunger, they took their time, looking at every stall. Clean shirts and linen dresses, wooden toys shaped like animals, woollen scarves and hats, small amulets for luck. It took everything in their power to not rush over, remembering that they could only bring the bare necessities with them on their trips, much to their chagrin.But Ulsea had sticky fingers. And under the careful watch of the vendor, with some sleight of hand she learnt from a street mage, a set of knucklebones, gone without anyone noticing. Pretending as if she'd done nothing wrong, smiling and listening to Kaidan's wishes for his birthday gifts, even if it would be months before it'd arrive.Chicken and beef skewers, prepared in a Redguard style, with plenty of spices to warm their hearts and soothe their hunger, with flatbread and fluffy rice. While Kaidan found a good spot to eat their meal, Ulsea had gone to buy a few fruits, to stand in as dessert."Taste it, it's really good! It's still hot, so watch out." Kaidan said as soon as she finally joined him to eat, showing her how he'd split the flatbread open to stuff it with meat and rice. She quickly copied him, deciding it was the easiest way to eat all of it at once. And how right was he! The fluffy rice was seasoned with just enough oil to give it taste without distracting from the spiced meat, charred in some places, catching the juices that dripped from the skewer. How dearly did they miss eating something that wasn't game or venison or plain saltrice porridge! Tasting something that had more than salt was a delight to them, and though they knew they might get a stomach-ache from the richness of it all, it would be worth the trouble. The food had barely the time to cool down once they'd finished it all, content with their meal."Kaidan, look, I bought you an orange, I know how much you like them!" Ulsea grinned, handing him over a lemon she bought earlier."Why is it yellow? And… long? This isn't an orange, and if the vendor told you so, you got scammed. C'mon, we'll beat him up!""It's… an Altmer orange! You know how they're all long and yellow over there? I hear they specifically bred this variety in honour of the royal family, and it's a delicacy over there!" For a moment, Ulsea was thankful that Kaidan wasn't interested in what was going on around him, nor was he interested in learning much. Still raising an unsure eyebrow, he hesitantly took the lemon in his hands, observing it under all its angles, before starting to peel it, struggling with the tough rind. He struggled with peeling away the wedges from each other, offering Ulsea one which she refused, telling him it was all for him, a gift from her.He popped the wedge in his mouth, absentmindedly biting down, waiting for the sweetness to come. And the sweetness never came, sourness overtaking his senses. His entire face scrunched on itself, he could only repeatedly hit Ulsea, yelling nonsense at her."Hey, hey, look, I'll eat one too!" She reached for the wedges that Kaidan still held, only for her hand to be slapped away."No, they're my Altmer oranges!" He finally could say, after a painful swallow."Kaidan, they're lemons. They're not oranges." The hits resumed as soon as he realised that Ulsea had pranked him, and it wasn't long before they chased each other to the inn, racing in between the onlookers. -----They'd calmed down by the time they arrived at the inn, taking a moment to take deep breaths and recompose themselves before entering. As Brynjar had promised, the innkeeper had showed them to their room, where two neatly made beds awaited them, a warm bath sitting in front of the fireplace.As they sunk in together in the water, they couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, grime and dirt washed away from their skin. Ulsea helped Kaidan wash his hair, untangling the mess it'd become from days of not brushing it. Sometimes, she'd purposefully pour water down his face, knowing that he couldn't protest as she was her only hope in saving his hair. And once they were finally clean, they'd lay back for a moment, enjoying the bath for as long as it'd stay warm."D'ya think Bryjnar's back from the castle already?" Kaidan asked, rubbing a bar of soap to add more bubbles in the water. "I wanna see him before we go sleep." "Think so. But I heard some noise from his room, he might be busy talking with someone. He'll wake us up tomorrow morning anyways, we'll see him then." "Ew, look. My fingers are all pruney now. I'm getting out." The boy quickly changed the subject, his face wrinkling in disgust at the sight of his fingers. Ulsea handed him a towel that sat on a stool right next to them, all warm from the fireplace. Once he'd dried himself up and gotten himself clothed up, Ulsea did the same, before settling up on her bed, a hairbrush in her hand.Kaidan followed her, sitting in front of her, eager to get his hair brushed. There were moments where Ulsea wanted Kaidan's long and silky straight hair, jet-black that shone blue in the sunlight, like feathers of a crow. Slowly, she combed through it with her hands first, getting rid of the biggest tangles first. Then, with the hairbrush, she started brushing through the ends, making her way up to the roots. Kaidan couldn't help but close his eyes, the feeling of getting his hair played with and his scalp massaged giving him bliss he'd forgotten existed. And once his hair had gotten all brushed out, Ulsea took the time to loosely braid it so that it wouldn't get tangled up once more in his sleep.He insisted on brushing her hair next, though it wasn't much of a task- she'd kept it short so that she wouldn't worry much about it on the road. But she appreciated Kaidan's dedication on returning the favour, and she could only obey to his wishes. Three strokes of the brush, and they were done. They laid down on the rug in front of the fireplace, letting the heat of it dry them fully."Kai, I've got a gift for you." She whispered, as if she was afraid of breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them. He turned towards her, his eyes twinkling in excitement, before a hint of apprehension took over, remembering her sour prank from earlier.She crawled on all fours to her bag, pulling out of it a small wrapped object that she handed over to Kaidan. It'd been wrapped in fabric stained by dirt and water, but he didn’t mind- a gift was a gift, and they were a rare occasion. A dagger, made of steel. The hilt was wrapped in leather, well worn but it would easily be fixed by any blacksmith they could visit tomorrow morning."You lost your wood sword, right? I know that Brynjar said that he'd get you an actual blade, but that was weeks ago. Do you like it?" Kaidan threw the blade to the ground, squeezing Ulsea with all his strength, before she squeezed him back, starting a small wrestling game between the two, as they'd often do. Though he had the advantage of pouncing first, she'd quickly taken over by sitting on his back, him lying down face first into the floor."I have another gift for you. But if you're going to jump on me again then I won't give it to you." Kaidan weighed the situation. He could wrestle with Ulsea and not get a gift, or he could get a gift but not wrestle her.He'd wrestle her. The gift could wait, and he knew Ulsea would eventually give it to him.Wriggling around until she slid down to the ground, he launched himself at her, wrapping his limbs around her arms while she got up and ran around before crashing into the bed, Kaidan squeezed between her and the covers.The inn was roaring with the hustle and bustle of customers, yelling over each other, music filling whatever gaps were left. They could loudly play and laugh, not worrying about getting scolded by anyone.While Ulsea crushed Kaidan underneath her weight, she quickly wondered what else she could do to torment him. But she was pulled out of her thoughts as he started tickling her, knowing which spots to hit as he'd seen Brynjar do so many times. And she retaliated by wrapping her own limbs around his arms like he'd just done, before the two exploded in some much-needed laughter, rolling on the bedsheets, before calming down, catching their breaths. Taking a moment to hear what was going on below them, they noticed that it was far less noisy than before, the dinner rush slowly coming to an end.They'd decided they had enough and Kaidan pulled the thick covers over them, ready to settle in for the night. Though they had two beds, one for each of them, they'd ended up sharing one, unable to stop their habit."Where do you think we'll go next?" Kaidan whispered, hiding most of his face in his pillow, just a single eye watching Ulsea's moves. "I want to go back to Skyrim. I miss it there."
"I miss Skyrim too. I like the Rift, it's pretty there. Remember that time when we made that big pile of leaves that Brynjar threw us into?"
An autumn day, where they'd stopped to take a small break from travelling. Kaidan and Ulsea had started piling on leaves to jump into from a tree, doing their best to do a stack big enough for the both of them. As they'd started to climb up a tree, Brynjar caught the two of them, throwing them into the pile as they erupted into laughter, pulling Brynjar down with them once they'd landed. They'd stayed there for a moment, watching how the sun peeked through the trees, shining and warming up their faces, cuddling up to their guardian, begging him to throw them in the pile one more time.They smiled at the memory- leaves of fire and gold, a soft breeze with its last taste of summer, pure glee and not a care in the world. They knew they only had one last autumn left where they'd be able to do it once more, Brynjar constantly reminding them of how much they were growing. Soon, they'd have their own horses. They'd sleep in their own beds. And they'd grow in separate directions. Ulsea the archer. Kaidan the warrior. He'd go searching for secrets of his family, that Brynjar promised he'd tell him about one day, and she'd head for Solstheim, wondering if her own family was still around, or if they'd become the very dust that piled high around Raven Rock.And they'd stick together. Not because Brynjar made them promise to do so, but because they were shield-siblings. "Can you help me again?" While she was deep in her thoughts, Kaidan had gone out of the bed's thick covers to fetch one of the few books that laid on top of the dresser, light entertainment provided by the inn. Those who couldn't read didn't see the value in stealing books, and those who could read knew that stealing books was a foolish action.Ulsea had learn to read from her youngest age, and the temple in Raven Rock made sure to drill into her head the value and power of reading. And it was a value that she'd taught Kaidan, who she'd done her best to teach him. At first, the boy didn't have much of an interest- lack of images, too much sitting around and too much concentration that he'd much rather pour into perfecting his swing of the sword. But books showed him. Showed him that the pursuit of knowledge could be from hitting a target a thousand times or memorising entire tomes. That knowledge wasn't just practical, it was also theoretical. Books laid out the framework, and it was up to him to create the tools he needed from it. The adventure tomes that Ulsea were so fond of didn't particularly entice him, but he loved getting inspiration from whatever twists took place.And Ulsea held her finger under each word, slowly making her way through a chapter, Kaidan practicing reading out loud. He'd stumble and trip on a few, and Ulsea would guess the meaning of complicated sentences, before they'd chuckle at how pretentious the author was. When Kaidan had fallen asleep, tired from concentrating, his chest softly rising and lowering with each breath, the occasional snore coming out of him, Ulsea had slid out of the bed, making her way to the window that the moons had illuminated. The room basked in a white glow, overtaking the dying red embers of the fireplace. The wind howled outside, a storm suddenly picking up, rain pouring down the streets and down the windows, the pitter-patter of raindrops comforting her in the dead silence. Rain was one of the few constants in her life- no matter where she went, where she stayed, the sound of rain falling down always comforted her, a small familiarity. The wind too- how it carried the scent of flowers in the spring, how it cooled her down in the summer, how it gave her a taste of the upcoming winter.It'd been long since she'd been home. Long enough for her to forget what she called home. Was it Raven Rock? Where she grew up, where she first felt the breeze on her face? Where her parents waited for her to come back, waking each day hopeful and going to bed with despair? Or was it Windhelm's Grey Quarter, where she'd only spent a handful of days, where she ate like royalty and slept in a warm bed? Where she met Brynjar and Kaidan, who took her on the adventure of her life?She remembered a book she once read on a long boat trip- a tale about a group of travelling minstrels, travelling around the world in the search of a new place to live, a trip that never ended when they'd realised that as long as they had each other, they'd be home. Home is where the heart is, Ulsea whispered to herself, convincing herself that the words were true. She didn't know where her heart was- she cared for her semblance of a family, enough to love them, but her heart didn't belong with them. Did her heart belong to Skyrim? Skyrim with its snowy peaks and its frozen seas, its forests of ruby red leaves and emerald trees, Skyrim with a nature as dangerous as it is beautiful, Skyrim that didn't bend to anyone's will, just like Ulsea.Yes, she was sure now. Her heart belonged to Skyrim. As long as she was there, she'd be content and happy, even if life there was tough. Oh, how dearly did she hope that their next stop would be Skyrim! Where she and Kaidan would climb the high pines, throwing snowballs at each other, building snow forts before eating a dinner of roasted chestnuts and whatever game they'd get their hands on. -----A final stop before they'd leave High Rock for another place full of adventure and thrill- a local candy shop. Unassuming on the outside, looking like any regular store, but a treasure within, with walls lined with sweets from the floor to the ceiling, all freshly made and baked, with care and master craft. Brynjar had brought them here on a whim- the pay from his last job was more than he'd ever wanted, and he knew that the two children deserved a treat every once in a while to soothe the harsh weather and the beaten paths. "One treat each," he'd warned them, reminiscent of the many lessons he'd taught on priorities. He smiled as he saw their starstruck faces, in awe of the richness spread in front of them, laid out in neat rows on clean tablecloths, a small index card describing each delicacy.Soft floral marshmallows that tasted of rose, lavender, and violets, sticky buttery caramels, rich milk chocolates that melted in the mouth and dark chocolates that broke apart with a distinctive snap. Lollipops of berries and citrus, chewy nougats made of honey paired with pistachios and hazelnuts. Dried jams and fruit pastes made from summer fruits they'd never seen or tasted before, candied orange peels and fresh snowberries coated in clear melted sugar. Raisins, dried cherries and figs and apricots, marzipan shaped like bunnies and cats with cheerful expressions. And biscuits, so many biscuits that their eyes couldn't believe what they saw. Small tarts filled with marmalades and jams, domes filled with custard or chocolate, simple sugar cookies with a bright colourful icing on top.It took them more than a dozen of minutes to explore the entire shop to get a sense of what was available, and it took them twice as much to settle on a sweet. Ulsea settled on a small jar of quince jam that only held a few generous spoonfuls, so that she'd have something that would last longer and was much lighter than everything else the shop had to offer. Kaidan set his heart on a chocolate mendiant- a thin disk of chocolate topped with dried nuts and fruits, a small taste of luxury. As they made their way to their horses, he'd already started picking the nuts from the chocolate, popping them into his mouth and enjoying each element as they were, instead of enjoying the harmony they made together.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Cold. Trees that swayed in the wind. A breeze that brushed on their faces. Kaidan jumped to his feet, realising that everything around him had disappeared- the cots they'd set up last night, the campfire, the horses. All that was left was Ulsea, a waterskin and a dagger. He pounced onto her, shaking her awake."Wake up. It's urgent." He kneeled next to her as she rubbed her eyes, getting adjusted to the sunlight."Yeah, yeah, calm down, I know it's your birthday, no need to say that it's an emergency." She blindly waved her hands around until she touched his face, proceeding to gently pat his cheek."Brynjar's left us. In the middle of nowhere." Though panicked, he knew he needed to ground himself if he wanted to make it out alive."Oh. Good, we can sleep in for a bit." Ulsea patted Kaidan's cheek once more, before lying down. To which Kaidan could only pinch her nose, stopping her from breathing for a moment to make her realise what was at stake. "FINE, fine, I'm up. What's your problem, we've been trained for this kind of situation. We just… have to put ourselves to work."She sat in the same spot she laid in, looking around to get a sense of her surroundings."He left us… your bow, some arrows, a dagger, a waterskin and some flint." Kaidan pointed at whatever they had on hand, slowly calming down. Ulsea was right. He'd been trained for this kind of situation since he was a child- hunting on his own, surviving the wilds, getting to know the world around him. And he wasn't alone, Ulsea was here. A tinge of uncertainty was still blossoming deep in his heart- not for his own fate or Ulsea's, but for Brynjar."You think… he'll be alright?" He hesitantly asked, worried about their guardian. He'd been getting more and more erratic over the years, sneaking a bottle here and there when he'd send the two of them out in the woods to collect kindling or mushrooms or berries for their short stay. Kaidan knew better than anyone that he had his inner demons, still haunting him after decades and decades."Think so. If he's on the run again, it'll take us a while to find him. But hopefully, he's just in some shitty tavern drinking shitty mead. C'mon, let's go." Ulsea sprung up, before climbing the tallest tree that surrounded them, to get a view of where they could be."What's he on the run from, you think?" Kaidan cried out as she started climbing, waiting near the base of the tree to keep an eye of where she was."The Thalmor, maybe. Or people he's wronged. Either way, a lot of people are after his ass." She went quiet for a moment, doing her best to figure out where they'd been, and where they'd head next. "There's a river nearby… East of where we are. We should follow it. It's at least half a day's worth of walking, so get your shoes on."She climbed down, almost jumping down the branches until she reached the ground."C'mon. Stick close." Kaidan nodded, promising himself that today was the day he'd stop depending on Ulsea so much. He was thirteen now, a man, according to Brynjar, and he was going to guide them out of this."Wait. I want to lead. If I don't start now, I'll never be able to be independent." He pulled her hand back as she started walking forwards, stopping her. It was her turn to nod. When she turned thirteen too, she felt the same need as him. And, she was more than happy to hand over the reins to someone else. Though the sun was still low in the early spring sky, it was high enough for them to guess how long they had left until they'd need to set up camp for the night and where north was."Man, I can't believe Brynjar took the birthday gift I got you with him. Do you think he'll let me beat his ass?" Ulsea yawned, trying to break the tension of the situation. Kaidan had his usual all-too serious face on, which meant that he'd ignore everything Ulsea would tell him, until they would be out of danger.
"I got you something really nice too. Too bad it'll be a while before you can open it."
Nothing from him, which both amused and annoyed Ulsea. She often took it as a personal challenge to see what would tear him away from his thoughts and let him focus on something other than whatever the goal was at the moment, even for just an instant."It's a book. On the battle of Sancre Tor. Remember when we stopped there when we were in Cyrodiil?"This time, Kaidan sighed. She was close."Brynjar told me what he'd give you too. But seeing that he's abandoned us here… I don't think that he wants to give it to you.""Will you just shut up." He turned towards her abruptly, almost causing her to stumble and crash into him. "Just… shut up." He sighed once more, staring into her eyes. His ruby red eyes that matched hers. She thought that though they weren't related, the Gods were kind enough to give them the same eyes so that they'd know that they'd be family the moment they'd meet."We're in the middle of nowhere, without any food or drink, with a dull dagger and the flimsiest bow I've ever seen. This isn't the moment for jokes. We don’t know where the nearest town or settlement is, and the forest is full of beasts that want to kill us." It almost scared her, the way his face scrunched up in anger, the way he threw a scowl at her, the way they met eye to eye. He'd grown. He'd started growing into the warrior he was always told he would one day be. Worthy to wield the sword strapped to Brynjar's back that he never seemed to use."Calm down, I'm just trying to lighten the mood in here, and you need it. We'll be back to Brynjar safe and sound in no time, I'm sure of it!""No, you're not. Stop pretending that all will be well and good, you can't know what will happen. Maybe we'll make it, maybe we won't. Maybe Brynjar got too drunk and passed out somewhere in the woods and we'll never find him. Maybe he's not even in the nearest town. Maybe he's ditched us for good." Kaidan continued to stare her down, mustering every ounce of confidence he had within him to make her understand his point."And maybe he's not, and you're worrying for nothing. We've made it alive this far with a drunkard who collects bounties for a living." It was Ulsea's turn to stare him down, confused at his sudden change in personality.Kaidan, who was nice and sweet yesterday, Kaidan who now was cold and harsh like the wind that blew in their faces.She continued walking before he could add anything else, staring straight ahead of her, not even daring to quickly glance back at him.He had a point- she had the unshakable habit of trying to keep situations light-hearted, so that she wouldn't worry too much. A habit that kept her in check, that helped her hit every target thrown at her. That made her the marksman she was today. And her habit was what kept the three of them from collapsing. Brynjar's chuckles from her witty comments when his target had spotted them and had retreated elsewhere, instead of groaning and lashing out in frustration. Kaidan's half smiles when she'd pretend that she wasn't hurt, hiding her winces with embellished stories of what she would've done if only she was a tall and strong warrior.And her habit was tearing the two of them apart. She couldn't stop herself. How could she? She didn't know how to act any different, she never learnt how to. Either she was funny and clever, or she was small and cowardly. Detaching herself from reality, believing herself to be invincible, that she'll always win every single battle- it was what she had to do to keep herself from losing faith, because she knew she could never be as calm and cool and collected as Kaidan. Kaidan who ran headfirst into fights as soon as Brynjar told him he could join the two of them. Kaidan who was born with fighting in his blood. And what did she have in her? Only the blood of poor ebony miners, whose lives could never amount to anything.She could feel him fuming behind her- because of her, because of Brynjar. If he hadn't snapped at her, she would've agreed with him. Though they weren't children anymore, and though they've passed through these woods countless times, the wilds of Skyrim were deadly to anyone ill-prepared, just like they were.Ulsea was glad the wind froze her face- she could focus instead on the numbing feeling, rather than think too much about Kaidan. When night fell, nothing but silence. Kaidan, who's eyes kept darting left and right, worried that anyone and anything could've followed them to their campsite, ready to take them on once their guard was down."Stop worrying, will you? You need to calm down and rest, you'll need it for tomorrow. I'll keep watch, if you're convinced someone's after us." Ulsea sighed out, concerned with how nervous he'd been all day. Surely, that would eventually take a toll on him. And she didn't want to find out how that toll would look like.
"Of course someone is after us. We may not know the extent of it, but whoever is after Brynjar is most definitely after us."
"Hey, geez, you're not that special you know. There are plenty of Dunmer kids and… whatever-you-are kids running around in the province. They could take anyone!"
"And run the risk of being taken away and tortured in front of Brynjar's eyes so that he'll spill whatever they're after?"
"Ha! Maybe." Ulsea scoffed- though what he'd said held some truth, if anyone was following them, they would've noticed it by now. She knew how her own footsteps sounded like. She knew how Kaidan's footsteps sounded like. And she hadn't heard the sounds of other footsteps. Even if whoever was following them used magic to camouflage themselves, she would've felt the faint aura of magicka around them. "Listen, you're making all of this up in your head. Lay down, and sleep. Now." "Like hell I am. I've seen Brynjar- you've seen Brynjar! He's protecting us from something, and you're just as careless as ever." Kaidan leapt to his feet in anger. He'd calmed down earlier, but Ulsea was getting to him once more."Brynjar's a war veteran and a drunkard! Who knows what his drinks have been whispering to him at night!" It's Ulsea's turn to jump up, her tone getting louder."Take that back, now." He froze. How could she! How could Ulsea turn her back against the one person who's been at their sides for this long, who'd watched over them and who'd raise hell if anything were to happen to them!
"What for? I'm just telling the truth. We can leave right now, to go and ask him, if you don't believe me."
Ulsea stood her ground. Yes, Brynjar was their guardian. Yes, Brynjar cared for them, loved them, even. But Brynjar carelessly put not only them, but himself in danger. He was right to leave them alone, to see if they were strong enough to fend for themselves. And that only meant that he was free to do as he pleased, to gorge himself on drinks and whatever he could get his hands on like he'd been starved of them his entire life. They'd pass his test, sure. But there was a strong chance that it would be the last test they'd ever face from him. No goodbyes, no last words, nothing. Just one last memory of them silently eating their dinner, too tired to even look at each other.Something broke, in Ulsea's heart. Kaidan had spent his entire life only knowing Brynjar. He'd known no one else. But Ulsea did. Though it was years ago, she remembered how it was, to sit at the marketplace waiting for her parents to come back, to distract herself from the wait by watching people stumble out in a daze from the tavern, too drunk to walk, too drunk to even remember where they'd live. All they knew was work and drink, and they'd fall down the mines trying to get back to work.They knew that Brynjar drank to forget. And Ulsea knew that he'd be headed towards a path where he'd forget himself. But Kaidan couldn't understand. And he couldn't know. It'd be too much for him, to realise that the man that he worshipped, that he thought was the strongest of all, was nothing more than a shadow of his former self, a former self that died years ago before they were even born. There were good days, where Brynjar acted as if all was good and well, where they'd finish jobs as quickly as they'd gotten them. And there were bad days, where Brynjar would send them on fetch quests so that they wouldn't see him in a most deplorable state. And for a while now, there'd been nothing but bad days. She was thankful though, that Brynjar's heart was still in its right place, that he cared enough to make sure they wouldn't be near him.Something broke, in Ulsea's heart. She couldn't stay. No, she couldn't. She couldn't let herself sit idly by, watching Kaidan slowly figure out the truth as their world was being slowly destroyed.It hurt. It hurt to know that she wouldn't be able to help them out. It hurt to know that she'd be facing an uncertain fate alone. But she knew that it would hurt even more to stay with them.And so, Ulsea walked. Grabbing her bow and arrows, she walked.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going? You're not seriously going to go out and find him, are you?"
"I'm not. Brynjar's done enough for me, now it's my turn to leave my mark on the world." Of course she couldn't tell him. She'd falter right then and there, and she'd ruin herself listening to Kaidan's praises of their guardian.Kaidan was strong. She knew without a doubt that he'd find his way back to Brynjar. And she wasn't. Though it was a good life, it wasn't for her. Though she'd live with honour and serve those in need, it wasn't for her.But what was for her? Where would she carve herself a spot in this world?It was an issue for future Ulsea. Right now, all that mattered was getting away from here, before she'd fully realised what she had done and regret would settle in."F-fine! Leave me alone here, then! I'll tell Brynjar everything you said about him!" The same taunts he gave when they were children, when she'd pretend to leave him alone in a pond, before running back to him and pushing him in the water.This truly was goodbye, wasn't it? For a moment, she wondered what Brynjar would think of her, what he'd think of her running away.It didn't matter, did it? At the rate he was destroying himself, he'd only have a couple of years left. She couldn't make him proud. She couldn't make her parents proud. But at the very least, she could make herself happy with what she'd get. --------------Riften. Riften, with its lake that shimmered in the sunlight, Riften with its trees of fire, Riften, nestled in between the mountains. Days, no, weeks of travelling alone. It was scary, at first. To barely have a hint of where she was going, to guide herself by stars in a corner of Skyrim she'd rarely been to. The underbelly of the province, home to the Thieves' Guild. She still had much to learn. But she knew that she had the drive, the skills. She could only get better. Sure, theft wasn't the best job for a child like her, or for anyone else, and she was certain that her ancestors were looking down upon her, but what else could she do? Her sticky fingers and her sneaking talents couldn't go to waste, and she'd realised that she'd be a terrible assassin. Fingers that stole back from a thief. Enough to catch their attention, enough to put her to the test.There was Mercer. The guildmaster. Though she'd proven herself to him and had been accepted in, there was something about him that made her feel uneasy. The way he spoke to her, the way he'd make her feel as if he'd taken her in out of pity.For now, all that she needed to do was taking everything that she could get her hands on from whoever she could. Jewellery here and there, shiny gems that enchanters used, a silver candlestick. Sometimes, she'd directly take from people- her strategy was simple. Haul around empty baskets and crates, rush into busy streets and let her hands do the work. She was lucky, she thought, to look this way. A scrawny Dunmer kid clad in rags, helping around wherever she could to scrape together a few coins. Though, she'd get far more than a few coins. On good days, she'd get her hands on bracelets and rings.Delvin praised her everytime, ruffling up her hair before bringing her wins to Mercer, who'd only glare and pretend to care about what she'd gotten them. She didn't care. As long as he'd stay out of her way, she would to.She'd gotten along fine with Niruin. When neither of them were busy, he'd train her, help her hone her skills. A certain kinship brought them close, being Mer in a world of Men. While he'd make her laugh with tales of horrendous clients from back in Valenwood, she'd impress him with tales of her bounty hunting with Brynjar and Kaidan. When he'd ask her if she missed them, she hesitated for a moment, wondering. Yes, there was a part of her that terribly needed them to be by her side. But there also was a part of her that was finally able to breathe freely for the first time in her life. The taste of this newfound freedom was invigorating, and she'd reply that it was for the best, that their paths could never be compatible. And he nodded, as if he himself had gone through the same. It certainly didn't take long for her to see him as some admirable brotherly figure, a figure that though she didn't need, she gladly welcomed in this new step of her life. She'd listen to his woes, and he'd train her. A favourable exchange.With Niruin's friendship came others. Rune, Cynric, Vipir. All far older than her, but all ready to guide her, giving her precious advice that they knew they would've loved to hear about when they'd started out. She'd watched over Kaidan and Brynjar for so long, that she'd forgotten what it was like to be looked after. They weren't a family. But there was some care in their words, in their gestures. Deep in her heart, it didn't take long for her to see them as rambunctious elder brothers, and little did she know, it also didn't take long for them to see her as an eager younger sister, ready to hear what wisdom and lessons they had in store for her. "Hey, you. A word." Sapphire had come up to her, almost impatient. Her arms were crossed across her chest, and it seemed as if talking to her was a chore she'd been putting off. Motioning Ulsea to come with her, she followed her to one of the empty alcoves, where Tonilia and Vex were waiting, leaning against the damp walls.Though suddenly nervous in the presence of women she'd barely spoken to since her arrival, Ulsea did her best to appear posed and confident."Oh, is this an ambush?" She joked, a grin plastered on her face."Listen, kid. This world you walked into, it's not safe. We're only going to tell you this once, so clear out your ears." Vex spoke up, and Ulsea froze in place, half intimidated by her, half impressed. "Someone does anything to you, you tell us, and we'll break their knees. Simple as that. Now run off, people are staring." Ulsea knew she could take care of herself, but she most certainly didn't mind having some reassurance, though she hoped that it would never have to come to this. Riften. Riften, with its murky waters, Riften with its dark and dank Ratway, Riften with its newly returned prodigy.She'd been playing cards with Tonilia, both of them barely concentrated on the game, focusing their attention on those who had come and gone into the Ragged Flagon. On occasions, Tonilia would whisper to her their names, their professions. What had been stolen from them, and what was left to take."Mmh, he's back. Thought he'd run off with the gold by now." Tonilia muttered out as she hesitated on which card to put down next."Who?" Ulsea blurted out, before cringing at herself. Her head held low, her eyes wandered around, trying to catch a glimpse of whoever Tonilia was talking about.And there, she spots him. Dressed like a nobleman, his hair red like the fiery forests of Riften, a hefty casket in hand. He could only be a couple of years older than she was herself, his face much younger than the ones surrounding him, a dashing smile full of pride and an air of arrogance.
"Brynjolf. Mercer's prodigy. Came into the guild when he was about your age too. He's talented, you should go and see him once you have the time."
"He's awfully well-dressed to be in here. What brought him to the guild?" Ulsea whispered, trying to match Tonilia's tone."Don’t know, don't care. As for his job, you'll have to ask Delvin, I just know it involved moving around a lot of gold, and that I'll have to get back to work soon. I win, you owe me a drink." Tonilia placed her cards on the table, before walking away.Brynjolf, Brynjolf. She wondered why she'd never heard of him, despite having getting to know well the guild for the past couple of months. Perhaps, they'd also thought that he'd run off, or they'd simply forgotten about him.It was the first time Ulsea had seen Mercer so… cheerful. Well, as cheerful as someone like him could be. Grinning and smug, it was a welcomed change from his usual frown and pout, his eyes now gleaming instead of staring daggers into her soul."Sit down kid, bet you wanna hear all about Brynjolf, eh?" Delvin beckoned her to him, raising his glass and calling Vekel to bring her something to drink.UIsea obliged, curious to hear what Delvin had to share. She pulled a chair, sat down and looked at Delvin intensely, waiting for him to start.
"Well, for starters, Brynjolf is Mercer's prodigy. Came into the guild after he successfully pickpocketed him. He was mad, at first, obviously, but Mercer's not dumb. He knows potential when he sees it. How old 're you, kid? Fifteen? Sixteen? The boy was about your age when he joined us. He's what, eighteen now? Anyways, just shows you what you can do, at your age."
"What about his job?" Ulsea asked before taking a sip of her drink. "Must be an important one if he's looking like that."Delvin chuckled."Pretended to be some noble looking for marriage. He found himself a Imperial countess, and from what I hear, he ran away with her dowry as soon as he got his hands onto it. Would've stayed there and made myself cosy, if I were him. That kid's loyalty is impressive. Give it a day or two, and he'll be back to being just as grimy as the lot of us." She nodded, thinking for a moment about the bandits and thieves she helped hunt down back then. Now that she could very well be at the other end of that blade, she felt a hint of compassion. The nobles could cry their losses before wiping their tears with silk cloths, while she and the rest of this dark underbelly of the world could live pleasantly for a year or so. Yes, the countess would mourn what could've been, but in return, she could only be more wary of those to come- a blessing in disguise.Silently, Ulsea promised herself to chat up Brynjolf, to ask him for guidance. Mercer wasn't one for speaking to her, and if she hoped to learn and improve, it would have to be through his prodigy.He seemed approachable enough, laughing around as Rune and Thrynn egged him on with details of the job while roughing up his neatly combed back hair. And with a stroke of luck, the two men called her to them, eager to introduce her."Ah, you're my replacement, eh? Good to see Delvin has someone else to look after now." Brynjolf chuckled, while Ulsea almost broke her neck yet again trying to look at the men around her. If there truly was one disadvantage of being in the guild, it was the constant neck pain, as she was far smaller than anyone else in here."I don't mind, he lists me all the good spots to hit up. Look at what I got my hands on the other day." And out of her pocket, Ulsea pulled out a small metal box, rather simple in design. Brynjolf and the other men shared a quizzical look, before she popped the box open.
"Lass… Those're Barenziah's stones, aren't they?"
"Sure are. I've more stashed away, but I only need ten more to complete the collection. And the crown too, but that's a bridge I'll burn when I get to it."
"Where did you get all of those?" Thrynn asked, fascinated by the stones, shining in the candlelight."Collected them over the years, except for two. Got them from the Keep, and from Black Briar Lodge on Loredas." She smugly replied, bringing them closer to his face."Black Briar Lodge? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Brynjolf could only say, his eyes open wide in surprise and far too stunned to say anything else."Calm down, I replaced some of them with replicas. It'll take them years to be noticed, and even then, they're not worth much by themselves." Pulling a pouch out of another pocket, she placed it into Brynjolf's hands.Full of glass gemstones, identical to Barenziah's stones. This time, Brynjolf could only laugh, and showed the contents of the bag to Thrynn and Rune, who quickly joined him.Wiping the tears that were forming at his eyes, he handed back the pouch to her, before placing a hand over her back and gently guiding her away towards Mercer's desk, ready to share some of his knowledge in their line of work.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"So you're saying… That you want me to break into Goldenglow and burn down some stupid bee hives because Maven's wonderful presence can't keep around a business partner?"
"For the third time, yes. That's precisely what I'm asking you to do." Mercer loudly sighed out, pinching the bridge of his nose out of exasperation."Fuck no. It's not my problem. Can't I just continue what I was doing before?" Ulsea threw her hands in the air, irritated. Though infiltration was something she found thrilling and exciting to do, infiltrating a place full of mercenaries ready to kill her the second they'd spotted her wasn't something she was too excited to do."After you're done with this, yes. You're even free to fuck around and get your hands on whatever you want from there, as long as you do everything you're asked." Matching her movements, it was Mercer's turn to throw his hands in the air."You have to understand lass, you're not just doing this for Maven, you're doing this for the entire guild. At this rate, there'll be nothing protecting us from the guards." Brynjolf chimed in, trying to calm the two of them down- he felt better than anyone the animosity between the Breton and the Dunmer, being so close to both of them.Brynjolf's words were all that it took for Ulsea to give in, though it didn't take long for her to curse herself for doing so.
"Fine, fine. But why me? Can't Vex have another go at it? She did get in pretty far last time, from what she told me."
"The mercenaries Aringoth hired are keeping an eye on Vex, that's why she's hiding down here for the moment being. You're small, you're fast, and as much as I hate to admit it, you're good with that bow of yours." Mercer spun on his heels, and left quickly before Ulsea could argue with him even more.Ulsea could only loudly groan, before heading towards the chest sitting at the end of her bed, gathering supplies for the mission awaiting her."Lass… thanks for doing this. Good luck on your mission." Brynjolf said, standing behind her.
"Yeah, yeah. I just hope I won't have to hide like Vex once I'm done. Ten years of being in this guild, and Mercer still doesn't understand that I hate this sort of infiltration!"
"Make it out in one piece, and I'll treat you to a meal."
"Deal." With a smirk, Ulsea stood upright, ready to go ask Vex for any possible help she could get. A surprisingly fast mission. In and out, using the dark night sky to veil her from the eyes of the men keeping watch on the estate. Though Aringoth was a light sleeper, she'd even managed to get her hands on his Queen Bee statue, earning her a shower of praises from Delvin. Even if it was mildly embarrassing to have a middle-aged man boasting about her to everyone and anyone at the tavern, he did remind her of Bryjnar when he'd get cheerfully drunk and praise both Kaidan and her.Gathering over a large serving of her favourite meal, Brynjolf pressed her on all the details, eager to hear about her heist.
"Nothing impressive really. It's just setting fire to a few hives, and breaking into a safe. But by Azura, how annoying this was! I’m positive all the money Aringoth got from the sale went into hiring his security. I didn't get caught, of course, but there were so many close calls."
"And getting the statue? That was in his bedroom? Colour me impressed, that must've been hard to pull."
"Sure was! But I'm too amazing to be subdued by such a mission." Eating the last mouthful of her meal – grilled beef with potatoes and greens- she turned to face Brynjolf. "Wanna help me with a thing? Apparently Keerava still hasn't paid her debts yet."
"Lass, it's just a few hours past midnight. Can't this wait until morning?"
"No. Because you see, Keerava works long and tedious hours. All day and night, every day of the week. Which means, it won't take much encouragement from us to have her hand over the money." She explained, as if it was the most obvious course of action to take."Alright, let's go, then." Stretching himself as he rose up from his seat, Brynjolf followed Ulsea, curious to see how well her method would work. It truly didn't take long for Keerava to cough up the money. In fact, Ulsea's mere presence, which elicited a long groan and sigh from the Argonian, sufficed. Throwing the pouch of coin at her, Keerava scoffed and turned her back to the Dunmer.
"I'll take a bottle of mead too!"
Receiving the same treatment as the pouch of coin, though much harsher, Keerava threw the bottle at her, breaking against the wooden walls as Ulsea skilfully avoided it at the last second.
"Get out of here!"
"That's fair."
As soon as Ulsea and Brynjolf had stepped outside of the tavern, the two burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.
"Daring, aren't you?"
"Hey, you're looking at someone who ran away at age six and spent the rest of her childhood being raised on the roads by a bounty hunter. I'm nothing but daring."
They leaned against the wooden railings, breathing in the crisp midnight air that invigorated their hearts. Despite it all, Riften wasn't all too bad. The humidity let to frequent sickness, and run-ins with the guards were plenty, but it was a little home that they carved themselves into this corner of Skyrim, and it was just enough."What was the mead for? I thought you didn't drink." Brynjolf asked, curious.
"T'was for you. You're a good friend."
"Too bad it got broken. But thanks lass, I appreciate the gesture."
A comfortable silence filled the air around them. It was one of these moments where simply being in one's company was all they needed, words unnecessary."My guardian used to drink- a lot. Towards the end, there wasn't a day where he didn't have any sort of drink in him. It got bad, scary even. Besides, even the smallest drop breaks my focus, and what kind of thief would I be if I couldn't focus? Anyways… " Though talking about her past wasn't as painful as before, she knew there were far more interesting things to talk about. "Hey, didn't you say you were from Honorhall? Can't imagine how bad it must've been to be around Grelod for that long. I'm glad the Dark Brotherhood took care of that." Ulsea didn't like to linger too much on herself- to her, learning about others was far more interesting than talking about her past."Ah, yes, Honorhall. I got in just a few weeks before Vekel got thrown out." Brynjolf sighed with a nostalgic smile, thinking back to when he was just a snot-nosed boy."Thrown out? What did he do?" Ulsea's ears perked up.
"He practiced his bartending with us. Gave us some real strong stuff. Had some of the kids hammered for an entire day, sometimes."
"Sounds like him alright. Any of his… concoctions made it to the menu here?"
"Doubt it, I'm sure what he made back then could kill a horse if he hadn't diluted it in our drinking water." Brynjolf chuckled, realising how truly terrible Vekel's actions were, even if in this very moment, they seemed like nothing but a joke.They raised their eyes to the skies, watching the stars twinkle, ribbons of blue and green dance around, slowly. Riften wasn't all too bad. It was a little home that they carved themselves into this corner of Skyrim, and it was just enough. Riften cradled by wilderness, Riften almost tucked away from the rest of Skyrim, Riften, home to their guild.For a moment, Brynjolf caught a glimpse of Ulsea, a rare opportunity where she stood there in the moonlight, silent. Was this truly the life she'd wanted? No, surely, someone with her talent must've other opportunities elsewhere. And though her talents were well appreciated and admired here, there was something deep within him that wanted to see her shine in her glory in a place that would fully let her do so. A diamond in a sewer may shine bright, but it's still just a diamond in a sewer. You gotta polish it real well, he remembered one of the fishermen say, in his youth when he'd be their errand boy for a day or two. Though there could surely be a better way to word that saying, Brynjolf recognised its truth. When he could, he'd whisper a word or two to Mercer. Ulsea's potential couldn’t be wasted down here, chasing purses and forging ledgers, no. She'd have to join him, or even go on her own high-stakes missions. "You know, I ran away from home on accident." Ulsea broke his train of thoughts, and he could only stare at her, trying to see if this was another one of her jokes, or if she was serious. "I did, really! Found myself a nice spot during hide and seek, until there was no one to hide from anymore."Brynjolf's chuckle turned into stifled laughter, and he turned around, avoiding her gaze- he knew that if he looked at her in the eyes, with that casual smug of hers, the guards would run after them, yelling at them for causing a ruckus at this time of the night.This time, it was Ulsea's turn to look at Brynjolf. How his green eyes shimmered as they tried to fight back tears of laughter, how he hid the lower half of this face in his hands. There was nothing more she wanted to do than to make him laugh even more, but this was neither the place or time for it.This wasn't even supposed to be funny, but hell, if it's comedic to him, I'll take that as a win, she thought to herself. Though times were tough, between the guards almost closing in on her ever so often, or Mercer's blatant hatred of her, she felt that as long as she had moments like these, then this would be all worth it.-----------Sharp air, a nice breeze. Blue skies and green pine trees that stretched to the clouds. These parts of Skyrim were all too familiar to her. Memories of summers spent trekking in Eastmarch, in the very same paths she was walking along right now, with chirping birds and specks of sunlight peering through tree leaves, bees buzzing and butterflies taking their time to visit each and every flower. "Heard Mercer's got a new lead." Whispers ran around the Ragged Flagon as Ulsea settled into her seat, glad to rest for the first time in hours."Oh? He's not Maven's little lapdog anymore?" The whispers got louder, and she couldn't help but try and focus on what bribes of conversation she could hear.
"Hey, keep it down! He'll get our asses if you're any louder."
Curiosity overtook her, and she walked up to where the conversation was loudest, pulling up a chair.It was none other than Vipir, trying to get Thrynn and Cynric's attention by telling them about a potential job.
"What's all this talk about Mercer? He's finally saved enough to buy himself a nicer personality?"
"I was just getting to it, but some of you keep interrupting me. Anyways. Word is, there's an Akaviri relic stashed somewhere near the border of Eastmarch and Whiterun. Place's full of Thalmor though, might be hard to get hold of it." Vipir explained, trying to hush down Ulsea, far too eager to openly bash Mercer."You got a buyer lined up?" Ulsea was more than interested. A job far away from Riften? Without Mercer bothering her every step of the way? A vacation.
"No, but every scholar worth their salt would jump at the occasion to get their hands on such an item."
"I'll do it. I don't care if no one's buying it, I just want an excuse to get out of here." Ulsea stared down every single person that sat at the table, making it understood that the relic was hers, and hers only. Thrynn and Cynric didn't care in the first place, but nodded anyways, curious to see what Ulsea would bring back, while Vipir sported a bright smile, digging in his pockets a small piece of paper where he'd scribbled down what his informant had told him.
"It's likely in that old abandoned prison, though no one really knows where it is. You'll have better luck asking the locals around for it. Last time my informant checked, the outside isn't guarded, but the inside is."
"Mind if I tag along, lass?" Brynjolf. Tall, rugged Brynjolf, with a voice that Ulsea found far too distracting to her liking these days. "I'm headed to Whiterun, I'm meeting up with a buyer there."
"Yeah, sure. Could use the company."
Why did she say yes? As they trotted along the road to Whiterun, enjoying the few weeks of freedom they'd have, freedom from the guild, freedom from themselves, Ulsea wanted nothing more than to run off to where she was supposed to go, feeling overwhelmed. She kept to herself- nodding and letting out a sound of approval every once in a while, while he talked and rambled.Oh, by Azura, why did she say yes? Her heart beat faster now than on any heist or job she'd ever been on, and how much did she want to stop feeling this way! Stupid Brynjolf and his stupid long hair that she wanted to run her fingers in. How much did she want to shut him up by pressing her own lips against his! But she knew that she couldn't. Her first reason being that she'd simply follow him to Whiterun, and insist on spending a few days in a tavern room alone with him. Her second reason being much more rational, in that mingling in that way with fellow thieves could only lead to heartbreak and despair. And so, she sat there, clutching the reins of her horse until her knuckles turned white, her nails digging into the palms of her hands despite the thin leather gloves she donned, begging whatever Divine or Daedra to save her from the torment that was love. She'd had crushes, before, here and there. Crushes that lasted just a few days, crushes that were manageable by waiting for the feeling to pass over and simply hiding out in dark corners of the Ratway, where the ramblings of insane prisoners would distract her.Oh, why did it have to be him? Her mentor, her friend! Vekel used to laugh about the heart wanting what it wanted when talking about Tonilia and his endless proposals to her and her refusals of them, and she never really understood until now, when she was forced to confront her feelings as she had nothing else to do.Just hold on a few days, she'd tell herself, over and over, as the scenery changed from cool shaded forests to hot springs that smelled of pine and sulfur. She'd talk herself out of it! Yes, that was the only way, and she'd go back to seeing Brynjolf as nothing but a friend. But the more she thought of him, glancing at him whenever he'd ask for her opinion on a thing, the worse things became. How he'd watch out for her by distracting the guards, how he'd praise her in front of Mercer and the guild, how he'd save her the one bed that wasn't in the way of any drafts! Thinking back to these moments, these small actions, she could only feel her heart sink deep in her chest. He'd only done good for her, and she felt terrible once she'd realised that she'd barely done anything back in return.Maybe if she stopped caring, maybe if she stopped thinking with her heart, maybe the feelings would stop. Maybe she'd be able to go back to laughing with him without a care with him over a hot meal, maybe she would stop getting lost in his eyes, green like the moss that grow on the walls that surround Riften.And despite how much she wanted a spark to start between them, a spark that would turn into blazing fires that would take over her life, she knew that it was best for her, for the guild, if nothing ever happened at all. She knew better than anyone that there was no honour amongst thieves, and no one, not even Brynjolf, not even herself, was an exception to that rule.And she knew she'd always made things difficult for herself. That she destroyed her own life, whether she wanted it or not. When she left Solstheim. When she agreed to a life of adventuring with Brynjar and Kaidan, instead of staying put in Windhelm, where she wouldn't have much, but she'd have an honourable life. When she left Kaidan all alone in that forest. When she joined the guild, when she stuck her nose and fingers where she shouldn't.And maybe, she should spark that fire. If disaster was bound to follow her no matter what she did, shouldn't she have some fun? If her days as a thief surely were to crumble down at some point, shouldn't she cut her losses and have her fun with Brynjolf before this ship that she called life would sink?So many questions, so many doubts that made her head spin, almost threatening her to make her fall down from her horse from the dizziness of it all. Night time was the hardest for her to bear. Sitting right next to him, their shoulders almost touching as they studied a map together and looked at the stars to know how much longer they'd have together- for a moment, she wholeheartedly believed whatever Gods were looking over her were punishing her for everything she'd ever done until now. The way that his hair, tucked back behind his ear would fall in soft strands over his face, or the way his low voice would resonate deep within her own heart… It was too much for her, and she felt that she'd go insane at any moment.It was a miracle that he'd decided to go to sleep earlier, and it was torture too. How he was so close to her, and yet, she couldn't be in his arms. She couldn't tenderly pepper his face in kisses, and she'd never hear him whisper sweet nothings in her ears as she'd fall asleep. Here she sat, at the fire, poking it and throwing random bits of twigs and leaves, trying to desperately not catch a glimpse of him, his chest slowly rising and sinking with every breath his sleeping form took.It was torture how he almost teased her with a taste of what it'd be like to be with him, standing so close to her, making sure the fire was hot enough to warm her up in the cold Skyrim night, placing his bedroll right next to hers.There were moments where she doubted Brynjolf's intentions- was he just doing these things as a friend? Or was there something more behind his actions? It all made her grip her head in frustration, knowing that her friends sometimes sought out her help with matters of their hearts, but that she never had even an ounce of courage to go to them with the very same matters. And though it was for the best, that her secret infatuation for the guild's second-in-command stayed a secret, she knew how terribly relieved she'd feel if she'd opened up to someone. And as night and day came and went, the stars dancing with the moons high up in the sky with every passing hour, ribbons of azure and emerald floating, it was more than time for them to part. Relief and sadness overwhelmed Ulsea- despite how much torture it was to be in Brynjolf's presence, she didn't want to see him go.
"This is it, lass. It's just down the road. If the locals were saying the truth, then you'll see the entrance quite easily."
After getting down from their horses to give each other a proper goodbye, silence settled between the two, as they both wondered what to say next. Good luck? They were thieves, they didn't need luck, only their skills."See you in Riften, then." Ulsea almost whispered out, her gaze somehow stuck on the road she'd need to take. "Stay safe," she dared to add.His hand placed on her shoulder, giving a short squeeze as they gave each other a nod, quietly wishing each other good luck. A hand that lingered, almost caressing her as he slowly pulled away, ready to hit the road. A hand that set her heart and face ablaze, that couldn't help but pull a smile on her face as she waved him farewell.Perhaps, she'd spark that fire of destruction, if Brynjolf's feelings were what she thought. If only she dared. But for now, the relic. The Akaviri relic that could only make Mercer finally respect her, see her importance for the guild. The relic that would make her fame through the guild, instead of being everyone's apprentice.Guiding her horse into the bushes, where it'd be safe from harm and away from thieves, she whispered to it a few praises, asking it to please stay put for her. With a whinny and a peck on the nose, it was time for her to part ways with it too.The entrance to the prison was clear, though the way to it was dangerous- slippery and uneven rocks in a waterfall. One wrong move and she'd end up dead. She took in a deep breath, lifting her eyes up to the skies, enjoying how the sun warmed up her face, how the birds sang and how the breeze ruffled the leaves of trees. If she were to possibly die in this mission, she felt at peace knowing that she took a moment to enjoy the softness of nature.Observing the rocks, the flow of the river, she leapt, as fast as she could so that she wouldn't have the time to think. Despite her ankle slightly hurting from the final landing, it was a miracle that she made it through. Brushing off her clothes and making sure the arrows in her quiver were still all here, she gently tapped her cheeks to get herself in the right mindset, before finally entering the abandoned prison. Dark, damp. Water pouring in from every crevice, walls covered in thick moss. It was clear that Thalmor had settled here- braziers were lit here and there, breaking the darkness that had overtaken the place.'Looks like an old Imperial prison. Wonder what happened here,'Despite what she could get out of this place, old habits took over and she couldn't help but stick her nose in every chest and cupboard, hoping to scrape together a few coins here and there. Shelves were stocked with plenty of food, confirming what she already knew. Wheels of cheese piled in a corner, stale bread in another. Potions and dried herbs sitting in drawers. Surely, they won't notice a potion or two disappearing, would they? Stuffing a pocket full of hardened nut crackers in case she'd feel peckish on her way home, she continued on.Anxiety grew as she ventured deeper and deeper, wondering why she hadn't met any agents so far. Had something happened to them? Or were they just simply too busy scheming in the deep end of the prison? Readying her bow in case anything was to jump up on her.Finally, from the corner of the corridor, she spots one. His back turned, his helmet resting on the table. An easy kill, an arrow shot in the neck, precise and calculated. She braced for a few agents to rush by his side when his body hit the ground with a loud sound, but no one.Another, patrolling a narrow corridor, facing towards her without noticing her, perfectly blended in the flickering shadows. This time, as his body hit the ground, the rattling of shackles could be heard. A prisoner? Someone else after the relic? She'd deal with the Thalmor first, before figuring out what she'd do with whoever was chained up in here. She dragged the body to a far corner, hoping that the sound of the metal armour scraping on the stone wouldn't alert anyone. Carefully sneaking along the walls of the room as best as she could until there was nothing but cells and braziers, she kept an eye and an ear out, praying to the Gods that she'd find the relic quickly without a hitch.Empty cells, with nothing but an unlit candle and a pile of hay, moss growing on the stone cold ground and walls. All locked, some in ruins, others still intact. The sound of water slowly dripping down, the occasional groans from the structure growing unstable with every passing moment, it all started to come down on her. She had to be fast.There, she spotted him. The prisoner, with the wall of his cell broken down, revealing another passageway. Basking in the shadows, seemingly unconscious, his body held up by nothing but shackles.If she was silent enough, she could even sneak past him. Though, for that, she hoped that the door to his cell wouldn't creak as she opened it up. Pulling out a lockpick out of her pocket and pulling out a cracker from the other one, she worked on the lock while nibbling away, her mind and body more at ease with her little snack.By some Divine grace, the door didn't make a single noise, and it was with impatience that she stuck to the walls and snuck past the sleeping prisoner, venturing into the passageway. As she was about to pass the threshold, however, curiosity overtook her. A glance. A tiny peek.Turning towards him to face him, she didn't expect his eyes to meet hers. And she didn't expect them to be so familiar.
"Ulsea? Is… is that you?"
"Kaidan? H… How are you here…"
Ulsea was glad she was already close to the ground when she fell back in shock, her back hitting the broken bricks that were lying on the ground.There he stood. After all these years. Alive, though unwell, but alive.The relic she'd been after was nothing other but his sword.Her eyes were wide open, trying to understand what cruel twist of fate brought them back together. Like a knife reopening old wounds as it created new ones. Surely, the Gods were watching over her today only so that they could meet up once more.
"Stop staring and help me out, would you?"
Ulsea snapped back into reality, and jumped back up, lockpick in hand, ready to free Kaidan. Now, the idea of being caught by the Thalmor wasn't even a thought in her brain. She could only worry about what Kaidan had to say to her once he'd be free. Would he insist on staying by her side? Would he berate and yell at her for what she did all these years ago? Or would he simply leave her be, and let their paths stray away from each other once more?And what did she want?Deep within her, what did she truly want?Right now, all she wanted was to get out, to be back breathing fresh air. And after? She didn't know. It all depended on what Kaidan would say to her next. Her heart tightened as it beat faster and faster, her hands shaking as Kaidan's intense eyes stared at her. Stomach knotting itself, her hands getting warmer and sweaty despite the gloves she wore, her vision getting blurry. She had to focus. Not just for Kaidan, but for her sake too. The distant sound of a bottle being opened reminded her of where she was- a Thalmor base, that kept her once-brother captive. She could get killed by simply being outside of the entrance door.Finally, an all too familiar click and release. Kaidan would've fallen down on the ground, if not for Ulsea catching him with her entire body.He'd changed, and a lot. He was no longer a scrawny boy that looked up to her. He was a warrior, like those she'd read about in books. Big, tall. She could tell that he hadn't been eating well for a while, though his build was already impressive as it was. His hair still long and silky, and his eyes… Still ruby red like hers.Kaidan.He was here. He was back.He sat on the floor, clutching his body to the best of his abilities, visibly wincing under the pain of whatever had been done to him. Digging through the small bag she held on her, Ulsea eventually fished out a health potion, one she'd borrowed from the very building they were in. With a nod, he thanked her, and he downed the contents in one go, sighing and groaning out of relief."Wait here. I'm guessing your stuff is over there?" She asked, pointing to the broken-down wall. He nodded once more, his face scrunched up in pain from the potion taking effect on his body. "Here's some food and water, if you need it. I won't be long."Leaving him with her belongings, taking only her bow and arrows with her, she took a peek into the passageway, making sure it was clear. Sticking to the shadows was hard, the entire corridor being brightly lit. A sharp corner with stairs, and there he stood. An agent, holding Kaidan's sword. Quickly, an arrow between the eyes. Another after his body fell to the ground- Ulsea wanted to be safe.She scoured the room, making sure that every single thing that could belong to Kaidan was there, before venturing in deeper. Nothing but a storage room, filled with food supplies that Ulsea piled high on a plate, before going back to where Kaidan's belongings were, opting to steal the blanket on the lone bed that rested against the wall. Kaidan'll eat, while she'll bring him his things."Eat up, pretty boy." She said, handing him a slice of dried meat she'd carved out of a smoked boar leg, that once hung in the storage room. "Pretty… boy?" Kaidan took the slice, mildly confused by her words. Confusion that he was left with, as Ulsea headed back to the passageway to drag the heavy chest that contained Kaidan's armour and sword. She couldn't help but take a peek at the sword, unsheathing it. Runes carved in the blade, a grip with intricately weaved leather. Despite the life it had lived, it was almost as good as new, the Thalmor having seemingly cleaned it up. "Got your stuff back." Ulsea pushed the chest down the stairs and into the passageway, stopping at the broken wall.
"Thanks."
An uncomfortable silence settled in- Kaidan still wasn't a man of many words, and Ulsea's heart was threatening to jump out of her chest, bursting with anxiety. So many questions that they knew the other wanted to ask. Were they alright? Did they live a good life up to here? Did they fall asleep at night, wondering about each other's fate, or did they fall asleep without a care in the world?Questions that needed to be asked once they were free of this place. Ulsea helped Kaidan slip on his armour, his arms and hands still sore from being shackled up. The silence became less and less unnerving, the sudden closeness being an all-too familiar feeling despite the years they'd spent separated.Kaidan had clearly spent a rough few years, his skin littered with battle scars of various sizes, scars that Ulsea desperately wanted to know the story behind. And yet, behind those eyes that showed a tough life, they held the same softness she felt when they were just children laughing around.Her little brother had grown up. She'd grown up. And soon, she'd stop. But Kaidan would continue to grow. He'd be old and grey and feeble, and she'd be the same, her hair still pitch black and her skin smooth. How cruel. He'd grow old by her side, while she'd be unwavering, running around while he'd struggle to live with every passing day. Ulsea blessed her past self for dealing with the Thalmor agents that roamed around, because Kaidan was possibly the worst at sneaking. His armour loudly clinking with every move, his groans of pain as he walked up the stairs would've brought upon them a lot of trouble. Though she walked ahead of him, she constantly turned back, making sure he followed along at a steady pace.Daylight washed over her like a wave of pure relief. They were free. Finally free, and back together. From what looked like it, they still had half a day's worth of sunlight, though right now, all she wanted to do was force Kaidan to rest.Luckily, it didn't take much convincing to have him settle down as she prepared their camp, striking a fire as he laid back on a bedroll they'd taken with them from the prison. Stolen glances here and there, making sure he wasn't in too much pain.Finally laying down on her own bedroll once a fire had been struck and the camp had been settled, she breathed out a sigh of relief, before a rush of thoughts took over her. What would she do next? Would she accompany Kaidan to a safe place? Would they go to Riften together? And the guild… Oh, how she'd never hear the end of it. She mentally kicked herself for making a big show out of how she'd bring the relic back there and make herself a fortune."Is everything alright?" Kaidan broke the silence, staring at Ulsea nervously hiding her face in her hands. He knew well how she acted when she was stressed out, and despite the distance between them, he couldn't help but worry."Yeah, I just… I just need a minute." The two of them knew it was a lie. But Ulsea didn't want Kaidan to worry about her. No, she couldn't have him worry about her. It'd make their separation even more painful than it needed to be.Ulsea prayed for a distraction. She couldn't bear this silence between them, but the thought of speaking to him, of actually holding a conversation with him, tortured her even more. How would they even begin to talk of what had happened? They could well ignore the past, leave it all be, and focus on the now. Pretend as if nothing ever happened, as if they simply grew distant over the years. And that this was simply a reunion between old friends."So… what have you been up to?" Damn him. Damn him and the Gods. How badly did she want to get up on her horse and ride away to Riften! But she couldn't. Mostly because of the guilt that she knew would soon chase her, and mostly because her belongings were sitting right next to him.
"Nothing much, really. Live in Riften now, I'm just getting by. I'm… I'm with the Thieves' Guild now."
"That's… nice."
Once again, silence. Kaidan's conversational skills seemingly hadn't changed since they were kids- he was just as bad at small talk as before."And you? Kicking ass all over the province?" She asked in return, after a short moment. It's not that she didn't care about Kaidan's current fate- she knew that with every passing second spent with him would only make her care. And she couldn't afford to care for him, not right now. Things were almost good for her. Only a few more years until they'd be great. But with Kaidan back in the picture? An immense setback. She'd spent the past ten years burying everything about herself, about her past. About Kaidan and Brynjar. Only keeping a few select parts, carefully picked so that she wouldn't have to lie too much about herself. And it had worked! She was Ulsea from Solstheim, who'd travelled across Tamriel in her childhood with a mercenary; a life that she left the second she didn't like it. And it was enough for her."You could say that." Ulsea took a look at him, curious, only to see his face tinted with doubt, as if he was withholding some truth from her. She stared at him, pressing him with her gaze to continue on. "I'm looking for who I am. My ancestry. Everything points to Skyrim. Except that these damn Thalmor have been making things hard for me."
"Hey, cheers to that. Fortunately, they're not too keen on snooping on this side of Skyrim. You got any plans? I'm headed back to Riften, though I'm not too much in a hurry. My boss isn't going to be too happy when he learns that there was nothing in that jail."
"After my sword, eh?" Kaidan chuckled while he unconsciously clutched its handle."Mmh, yeah. Word travels fast around here, you'd better keep that thing hidden, or at least, hide it in another sheath." Ulsea laid back down, looking at how the leaves of the trees let out small beams of light that warmed her face in the shade, freckling her face with sunlight.
"You can take my bow. I'm not that good at it, and your boss won't be mad at you."
"I can't. It's yours! I'll just say that I was too late, and that it got sent back to Alinor with some of their Thalmor magick before I could get there." Ulsea jumped back up, surprised at Kaidan's offer.
"Please, take it. I… You were right."
'Did he hit his head? What is he on about now?' Ulsea's surprise turned into confusion, trying to decipher both Kaidan's words and his face.
"I feel so stupid for not seeing it back then, but you were right about Brynjar."
'Oh. So we're really talking about this, huh. I'll just… die now. Yes, now seems like a very good time, if any Princes out there are listening to my thoughts right now, please end me.'
"Brynjar…"
"He passed, when I was seventeen. I didn't handle things well, and I ended like him for a while. I'm glad you ran away, so that you didn't have to see what I became."
"How did he… you know."
"Drank himself to death. He dragged himself into a tavern in the middle of a blizzard, drunk, and froze over. I found him in the morning."
Her mind went blank. How she hated being right. And how badly did she wish she was there, not only to stop Brynjar, but to comfort Kaidan. The brevity of his words could only convey how hurt he was, how much pain there was hidden within him. And she wouldn't press for details. She knew that neither of them would be able to handle it.She sat upright, and reached for his hand. She was good at joking, but comforting? That realm was entirely unknown to her. A soft touch, warm like the sun that shone over them. Familiar, like how these parts of the forest were familiar to them."What did you do, after?" Any question was as good as any to distract him- his eyes were the eyes of a broken man, full of sorrow and despair. Despair from not being able to go back in time to fix all of this, despair from not seeing how things were back then on that day.
"I picked up his job, I couldn't let his employers down. Until I fell with a group of bandits, and…"
"I see." She'd pry for information another day, if there was to be another day. It was all that she needed to know.Brynjar was dead, Kaidan turned to crime. The Kaidan that always vowed to be full of honour and justice, had turned towards a group of bandits. This… This couldn't be because of her, could it? Would things have ended up differently, if she hadn't walked away on that day? Would have they become bandits together, or would they have simply continued Brynjar's work?
"Let me come to Riften with you, please."
The same eyes he'd bear when he wanted the juicy piece of meat she had in her stew, when he'd gotten the short blanket while she'd gotten the big one, when she was allowed to work with a steel dagger instead of the wooden toy sword. Eyes that she could never refuse. Was he doing this on purpose, or was it a habit he unconsciously picked up over the years?And what would he do in Riften? There was nothing there for him. He'd make a terrible thief, the guards were too corrupt to anyone's liking, and his head was still screwed on right- he'd never work for Maven. But the fishery needed extra hands and wouldn't refuse someone with his strength, and the blacksmith always welcomed help.Who cared. She'd promised herself earlier that she'd spark that flame of destruction in her own life soon enough. After a few months of fun, she'd simply travel back to Solstheim- pirates and treasures were plentiful there, and if all else failed, she'd do her best to ask the Skaal to teach her their ways.
"I… fine. But the guild is off-limits."
A soft smile and a nod, words caught up in his throat. Regret and apprehension built up in Ulsea, wary of what was to come next. But she knew that Kaidan would keep his word, and for now, she'd have to trust him. "Get out of here, now!" Keerava yelled out, throwing an empty bottle in Ulsea's direction. The usual greeting. 'Nice to see that nothing's changed in a month,' she thought to herself as she dodged the bottle, before hiding behind Kaidan's imposing stature."Buy whatever you want, I'll wait outside on that bench." She snuck him a few coins, before crawling out of the tavern. Kaidan could only blink in disbelief- neither Ulsea or the people dining here seemed to be fazed by what had just happened, and he assumed that it was a common enough occurrence.With two plates of food in hand and bottled snowberry juice in his bag, he stopped for a moment at the door, searching for Ulsea before waiting, noticing that she was busy talking with someone,. Someone who's company she must enjoy, seeing how her smile was bright and her cheeks lightly tinted with pink, leaning against the railing in a way he knew all-too well from whatever encounters he'd had in the past.And Kaidan could only smile. Despite how easy-going and relaxed her demeanour has been, he knew that it mustn't have been easy, to live on her own surrounded by thieves. And if she'd found love, or some semblance of it over the years, he could only share her happiness."Kaidan, come here!" She called him forward, and the man she was speaking with greeted him with a nod. "He's my shield brother, from when I was with that bounty hunter. Kaidan, this is Brynjolf, from the guild.""Is that so? I'll leave you to be, then. Wouldn't stand in the middle of a sibling reunion. See you later, lass." Brynjolf left, with another nod to Kaidan, and a soft smile to Ulsea with a lingering gaze."Shut up." Ulsea mumbled out- as soon as Brynjolf was out of sight, Kaidan smirked, ready to relentlessly tease her.
"I didn't say anything."
"But you were about to. Like you've never had a girlfriend in these past years. Or... a boyfriend?" She tried to turn the conversation around, but to no avail."Girlfriend. But it ended terribly. More than you can imagine. Now, about that Brynjolf…" He continued, his smirk growing as he leaned towards her, as if he was ready to hear every single secret she held."Hey! I'm kicking you out of Riften myself if you're going to be like that!" She laughed, lightly pushing him away with her shoulder. It didn't take long for him to join her, laughing for a few seconds before calming down, the guards staring them down as night time fell around them."I'm… I'm glad you're alright. It's good that you've a solid life here. As solid as a thief's life is." Kaidan said, leaning against the railing as she did."It could be better, but it could be a lot worse. Hah, could you imagine what kind of reunion we would've had if someone put a bounty on my head?" She replied, holding up her head with her hand, watching the guards patrol around.
"I would've just given you a big scare to teach you a lesson. Then… maybe I would accidentally let you escape."
"You're far too kind, Kaidan. Now, I've got some good news. Turns out that everyone here is willing to pay good money for work from an honest man like yourself- I've written it all down. While I'm off doing… things, you can keep yourself busy with this. Besides, if you paint yourself as someone good and honourable, everyone will warn you if the Thalmor are looking for you, because good and honourable people are starting to get rare around here."
"Thanks, Ulsea." Handing her over a bottle of juice, they toasted to new beginnings, wondering what the Gods would bring them next."I also have a gift for you. Well, two." Digging into her bag, she handed him two wrapped gifts. "This one was for your thirteenth birthday, and this one… well, this one had no occasion. But I got my hands on these during one of our trips to Rivenspire, and every time I tried to gift them to you, you preferred fighting me instead."A set of wooden knucklebones, the very ones she'd stolen all these years ago from Rivenspire, and a book. And Kaidan could only chuckle, amazed that Ulsea hung onto them for this long, and remembered to give them to him.The wind howled in Ulsea's ears as she held tightly her bottle. Despite the few weeks she'd spent in Kaidan's company, she still felt uneasy. But her old wounds were healing, for the first time in her life. And she was warming up to him, and she knew it would only be a matter of time before that old familiar feeling of closeness would come back. And they'd learn to live alongside each other. And like Brynjar had told them, they'd watch out for each other.