It was still dark when they left, hugging the road along the edge of Lake Ilinalta, and they made good time until just before the crossroads leading to the Guardian Stones.\u00a0 A cave bear came barreling out of the woods to attack them, but it lasted only a moment against their combined defense.\u00a0 The noise, however, alerted a small group of bandits camped a bit higher up on the hill. Andante could hear them calling out to each other.<\/p>\n
He moved up into the camp as silently as he could.\u00a0 The nearest bandit to him was nonchalantly chopping wood while the other two buzzed about the campsite like angry bees, looking for whatever they\u2019d heard.\u00a0 He rose up behind the man chopping wood and used his fangs to put him down. Behind him, he heard Brynjolf attacking the bandit farthest from him, and started toward him to help. Before he got within reach, however, the third bandit stopped him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to slit your belly like an old woman\u2019s purse,\u201d he heard behind him, and whirled to find the third bandit running toward him.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/3-2-20-1.png\")
<\/p>\n
He bared his fangs and snarled.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m Vitus gods-damned Perdeti, and you are about to have a very bad day.<\/em><\/p>\n The Bosmer shrank back for just a moment when he saw Andante\u2019s eyes flashing golden in the dim light, but he didn\u2019t move back far enough. Andante stepped forward with his axe drawn, made a complete revolution, and used its momentum and his own massive vampiric strength to strike the bandit\u2019s head off, almost nonchalantly, his pulse barely elevated.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d he said to Brynjolf, who nodded and followed him without a word.\u00a0 They flew through the forest and up the mountainside, past Helgen and once more into the pass leading into the Rift.<\/p>\n They were both beginning to be a bit winded by the time they reached that pass \u2013 it was a very long way that they had run, after all, even for powerful vampires \u2013 and while it was cloudy, it was fully day. They reached the narrowest part of the pass and slowed to a walk, and were talking about things of no significance when Brynjolf suddenly drew his sword and hissed \u201cwhat was that?\u201d<\/p>\n It was Thalmor.<\/p>\n It was a small patrol, only three elves, but Andante froze for a split second, unable to move.\u00a0 His heart started pounding.<\/p>\n Thalmor. No.<\/em><\/p>\n You have to MOVE!<\/em><\/p>\n He finally drew his axe to strike the nearest of them when he heard Brynjolf rushing past him to attack the second, but that small delay had its cost. The elf had a sword in one hand; he raised the other and began casting flames at Andante. Worse still, one of the Thalmor had taken cover behind a short tree and cast a fireball that exploded just in front of his face, blinding him.<\/p>\n No, no, NO! Not fire!<\/em><\/p>\n Andante began hacking at the Thalmor as fast as he could but his fear had his attacks uncoordinated, wasting effort, missing the mark more often than striking it.\u00a0 He was almost blinded by panic until Brynjolf, who had frightened one of them badly enough to make him run down the hill away from them, came rushing up beside him to join the attack.\u00a0 The Thalmor backed away when his compatriot behind the tree blasted a shock spell that struck Andante; but Andante wasn\u2019t afraid of shock spells. He hurt, but he was able to take a deep breath and step forward, to hammer blows down on his first assailant with enough speed to kill him before he could cast another spell.<\/p>\n Brynjolf was fully engaged with the Thalmor behind the tree when the first of them fell; Andante turned him to ice with a Shout and they both attacked him, finishing the job. The final elf, who had run away, was cowering next to the sheer cliff face, whining \u201cplease don\u2019t hurt me!\u201d<\/p>\n Andante felt a cold fury the likes of which he couldn\u2019t recall settling over him.\u00a0 He took his axe and the Razor to the Thalmor, striking faster and faster, screaming as he did so until, when he finally stopped, there was something left behind that only vaguely resembled a body.\u00a0 It oozed and slid slowly down the slope, its path lubricated by its own blood.<\/p>\n \u201cAndante,\u201d Brynjolf said quietly, coming up beside him.<\/p>\n Andante was shivering.\u00a0 He closed his eyes, and still the afterimage of flames was bright in his vision.<\/p>\n \u201cFire, Bryn.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf put an arm around him.<\/p>\n \u201cI know. It\u2019s alright now. We\u2019ve gotten rid of them.\u201d\u00a0 They stood there like that for a moment while Andante struggled to regain control of himself, Brynjolf silent but holding him, close and sturdy.\u00a0 Finally he spoke again. \u201cWe need to move now. It\u2019ll be bad if those bounty hunters out of Cyrodiil come this way and somehow run across this mess.\u00a0 There aren\u2019t many people who can do a thing like this, and we\u2019re two of them.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante nodded mutely and started back down through the pass.<\/p>\n Neither Andante nor Brynjolf paid close attention to the route they were taking after the attack, at least not until they found themselves crossing the bridge south of Nilheim.\u00a0 Even then, they were both so involved in their own thoughts that they might not have noticed they\u2019d taken a wrong turn if not for the three Dawnguard hunters who rushed across the bridge at them, weapons held high.<\/p>\n Andante swapped a look with Brynjolf and sighed, then pulled his axe and met them halfway across the bridge.\u00a0 Oddly, none of this particular group of Dawnguard was carrying the crossbow with deadly silver-tipped bolts, so it took very little time for them to go down.\u00a0 But just as they\u2019d dropped the third Dawnguard, Andante heard \u201cFound you!\u201d from behind him.<\/p>\n Up the road, from the direction they\u2019d come, was a Vigilant of Stendarr.<\/p>\n She opened up her arms. \u00a0Flames erupted from both hands just as Andante began accelerating toward her.\u00a0 There was nowhere to go.<\/p>\n No, not flames, not again, no, no, no\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n As vampires, both of them had an inherent weakness to fire, which was something he\u2019d taken into consideration in crafting the enchantments on their armor.\u00a0 He should have been immune to the greater part of any flame shot at him.\u00a0 And yet Andante felt himself burning.\u00a0 This woman had vast reserves of magicka and a fire spell the likes of which he\u2019d only met from the mouth of a dragon.\u00a0 He found himself beginning to burn.<\/p>\n Brynjolf came around from behind him and barreled into the woman with his shield, just as hard as he could, giving Andante a moment to collect himself.\u00a0 Brynjolf grunted, and cried out.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d he shrieked, rushing to attack.<\/p>\n Within moments, he found himself gasping, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.<\/p>\n I\u2019m going to die. How odd. This shouldn\u2019t be happening.<\/em><\/p>\n No, I can\u2019t die. Not like this.<\/em><\/p>\n He hurtled down the slope toward the nearby stream, grabbing one healing potion after another from his belt pouches and slamming them back.\u00a0 Before he reached the water he turned back, only to be caught full in the face by another gout of flames.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you prepared to die?\u201d the woman sneered.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you?\u201d Brynjolf answered, slicing at her from behind.\u00a0 She turned toward him and began firing flames at him.<\/p>\n What is this woman? How is it possible that she\u2019s still alive with both of us giving it everything we have? What can I do?<\/em><\/p>\n Andante didn\u2019t often use his vampiric spells aside from those he had while in Vampire Lord form, but he decided to try.\u00a0 He began casting his life-draining spell on her, circling around behind her as Brynjolf ducked in and out from behind his shield, slicing whenever he could get an opening.\u00a0 After a few moments, the Vigilant cried out and ran for the water, casting a healing spell on herself as she ran.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you even think about it!\u201d he growled, dashing into the water behind her and chasing her to the far shore.\u00a0 She didn\u2019t have enough time to get reoriented when she climbed out onto the bank, but ran forward and under the bridge abutment. He hit her as hard as he could with his axe in the right hand and his spell in the left. She groaned and slumped to the ground, and he stood over her body and dropped his hands to his side, emitting the loudest sigh he could ever remember making.<\/p>\n \u201cBy all the gods. What was<\/em> she?\u201d he asked the air.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Brynjolf answered, coming up the bank. \u201cSome sort of elite Vigilant and it felt like she was trying to take revenge on us for their Hall being burned down.\u201d<\/p>\n Revenge. I should have known it, or at least felt it.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe have a problem,\u201d Brynjolf continued. \u201cAll of this that we\u2019ve run into since Falkreath and none of it was the bounty hunters.\u00a0 I think we\u2019re in for it, lad.\u201d He reached out a hand and helped Andante up the slope and back onto the roadway.<\/p>\n Andante nodded. \u201cThank you, Bryn. And thank you for all this,\u201d he added, waving a hand at the dead adversaries littered across and under the bridge. I\u2019d be dead if not for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut you\u2019re not, and neither am I.\u00a0 Now let\u2019s get going before something else comes to play.\u201d\u00a0 He smiled. \u201cAndante. I told you whatever it was, we\u2019d do it together, and I meant that.\u00a0 Don\u2019t forget.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante looked at him and smiled.<\/p>\n I could almost believe he truly cares about me.<\/em><\/p>\n They took a few moments to have some water, and a good look around, and to drag the corpses off the roadway and down under the bridge where they would be less likely to be found, at least not until they began to smell.\u00a0 Then, after checking up and down the road carefully, they set out on their way once more.<\/p>\n __<\/p>\n Delvin Mallory had been happy to see them, or at least as happy as he ever seemed about anything.\u00a0 His expression never changed much; a slight frown, the occasional smirk.\u00a0 Still, he had seemed delighted to see Brynjolf, and had ushered them toward the back of the Flagon to his favorite table.\u00a0 After a few minutes of pleasantries, and catching up on that part of Guild business that could be spoken of out in the open, Brynjolf brought up the subject of Roggi and Dardeh.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy were they here, Delvin?\u201d\u00a0 Brynjolf asked, leaning back in his chair.\u00a0 \u201cWe stopped at their house and found a note that said they were coming here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told you, boss,\u201d Delvin said. \u201cThe boys had to take down a dragon, and that\u2019s what they did. Lost Tongue Overlook.\u00a0 It\u2019s dead now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but why were they here<\/em>? We also found a note to Roggi telling him to come see you.\u201d<\/p>\n Delvin began to open his mouth, and then glanced behind Brynjolf\u2019s shoulder and shut it quickly.<\/p>\n Andante had been listening to their discussions, carefully, and was certain he heard something more in Delvin\u2019s voice than was reflected in his actual words; but he didn\u2019t know what that something was.\u00a0 What he was afraid of, though, was that Delvin would forget himself and alert Brynjolf that they knew more than he did about Sayma.\u00a0 So as Brynjolf\u2019s questioning became more and more insistent, Andante very carefully drew magic into his hand and released his illusion spell.\u00a0 He stepped up behind Brynjolf and smiled at Delvin in the toothiest way he could.<\/p>\n Delvin wasn\u2019t bothered by most things, he knew that; but it was clear that the idea of a Nightlord vampire and the immediate presence of one were two different levels of disturbance to him.\u00a0 He was nothing if not experienced, though; he kept his expression neutral, averted his gaze as quickly as he\u2019d looked at Andante, and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, that,\u201d he said nonchalantly. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t anything special, Bryn.\u00a0 I needed to touch base with Roggi to see whether his contacts had rounded up anything new on Dag.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante smiled at him again, and nodded. Then he stepped back, onto the platform where Galathil sat reading her book, and cast his illusion spell again.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat have you done to yourself? I cannot work with you in this state, night-walker.\u201d<\/p>\n He whipped around to find Galathil staring at him, disapprovingly. A second later, his hand was at the side of her throat and his mouth next to her ear.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are going to keep your mouth shut and forget that you ever saw anything here other than an Imperial man with blue eyes, do you understand that?\u201d<\/p>\n Galathil peered up at him, her eyes narrowed.\u00a0 \u201cAnd if I do not?\u201d<\/p>\n He smiled unpleasantly, then leaned closer to her and whispered \u201cI could invite my friend with the specialized tool kit to pay you another visit.\u00a0 Alternatively, I\u2019m fairly good with that sort of thing as well although unlikely as skilled as he is. Care to see for yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n She smirked, not allowing him the satisfaction of looking afraid.\u00a0 \u201cIt seems I was mistaken. There is nobody here but an Imperial man with blue eyes.\u201d\u00a0 Then she shook her head and dropped her voice to a whisper.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know why you bother with the pretense, Andante. Everyone in the Flagon knows you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is true. But not everyone who might ever come into the Flagon has done so. Do we understand each other?\u201d<\/p>\n She bowed her head. \u201cWe do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood.\u00a0 And for the record I hadn\u2019t intended to ask you for your services.\u201d<\/p>\n Not yet, anyway.\u00a0 It would have to get really bad for that to be a possibility. I like my face.<\/em><\/p>\n He returned to the table where Brynjolf and Delvin each continued fishing for information on the one hand, and giving none on the other.<\/p>\n \u201cI said it before, Bryn, but I\u2019ll tell you again. Dardeh is all hot and bothered to find out what the Listener knows, and he was heading to Dawnstar to find out any way he could. He wants to find his sister, and who can blame him? It was all Roggi could do to keep him contained.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHmm,\u201d Brynjolf said, rubbing his chin. \u201cWell so am I, actually. All hot and bothered to find her, that is.\u201d He turned to smile up at Andante. \u201cDo you think you can keep me contained, lad?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know for certain, Bryn, but I\u2019m always up for a challenge.\u201d\u00a0 He shook his head. \u201cBut really, is it worth the bother? Shouldn\u2019t we just be heading\u2026 you know\u2026\u201d He trailed off as he saw the golden eyes suddenly flickering with anger behind Brynjolf\u2019s illusion spell.<\/p>\n \u201cYes it is, Andante. I need to find out what she knows.\u00a0 She had a reason to tell me Dag is still out there and a source of information and I\u2019m going to find out what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n He pushed back his chair and stood, and Andante swapped another look with Delvin, who shrugged.<\/p>\n Yeah. Well. I guess it wasn\u2019t especially clever of me to threaten you, was it?\u00a0 But I can see that neither one of us has any brilliant ideas at the moment, so I guess we\u2019re making a trip to Dawnstar now.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t suppose I could get you to stick around and handle Guild business for a few days, Bryn?\u201d Delvin said.<\/p>\n Brynjolf had turned toward the exit, but at Delvin\u2019s words his head snapped back around.\u00a0 One look at Delvin\u2019s face told Andante that Brynjolf\u2019s illusion spell had worn off.<\/p>\n \u201cNever mind, boss,\u201d Delvin said. \u201cYou go see if you can find Dag. I can manage.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf took a breath to speak, and Andante leaned forward to cut him off.<\/p>\n \u201cBryn.\u00a0 Yellow eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh damn,\u201d he snarled, casting his spell.\u00a0 He shook his head. \u201cSorry, Delvin. You understand, right? I really need to find out what the Listener knows and since you can\u2019t tell me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Delvin nodded. \u201cNo problem. You go do what you need to do. But,\u201d he lowered his voice, \u201ckeep an eye out, yes? Rumor has it that there are some bounty hunters making the rounds, and we\u2019re not talking your run-of-the-mill bounties they\u2019re hunting.\u00a0 They\u2019re looking for a big name killer who\u2019s been on the loose for a couple of years, and, well, who knows what they\u2019d think about taking in the likes of the two of you as well?\u201d<\/p>\n Andante stared at Delvin\u2019s narrowed eyes and tried to keep his suspicion from showing. What is this? What does he think he knows?<\/em><\/p>\n Brynjolf never so much as flinched. \u201cWe\u2019ll keep a good lookout, Delvin, thanks for the heads-up.\u00a0 And Delvin \u2013 finding Dag is<\/em> Guild business, really. Wouldn\u2019t you agree?\u201d<\/p>\n By all the gods, Brynjolf angry is an intimidating thing.<\/em><\/p>\n Delvin tossed his hands up. \u201cYeah, you\u2019ve got me there. If we could get the real Boss back, we\u2019d all be able to breathe a little easier.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry about a thing, Bryn. You know I can handle it, even if I am getting a bit long in the tooth.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf laughed. \u201cYou? Never, my friend. You\u2019ll be going strong a lot longer than I will.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re joking, right?\u201d Delvin grinned.\u00a0 \u201cNever mind. Go to Dawnstar. Tell the Listener I said hello.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf made his way toward the exit, and Andante started to leave as well, but paused as he heard Delvin murmur \u201cWatch yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n Without looking back, he nodded, and then followed Brynjolf toward the exit into the Cistern.<\/p>\n \u201cI need to say something to you, Andante,\u201d Brynjolf said without turning to look at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYes? What is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe went to great lengths to accomplish the thing you wanted to do. Off to the Soul Cairn, into the Forgotten Vale, all of it, just so that we could get you that castle. And I didn\u2019t mind and didn\u2019t hold back. You asked for my help and I gave it. I know that you\u2019ve figured out who you are, and you won\u2019t even tell me about it, but I haven\u2019t pushed you, have I.\u201d\u00a0 He nodded to Vipir, sitting quietly at the edge of the pool, and continued on toward the exit ladder. \u201cNow, it\u2019s my turn.\u201d<\/p>\n He pulled the chain, and as the sarcophagus ground its heavy way open, he said \u201cI\u2019m going to Dawnstar to find the Listener. I\u2019d rather have you with me. It would help me if you were there. If you\u2019re not, that\u2019s the way it is, but, well, then I guess I\u2019ll know where your priorities really are. I\u2019ll be at Honeyside for a few hours if you want to talk.\u201d Brynjolf never turned to look at Andante.<\/p>\n Andante didn\u2019t move for a few moments.\u00a0 He stood and stared as Brynjolf climbed the steps and turned to make his way toward the marketplace. Then he turned and rested his forehead against the cold stone, closing his eyes and thinking.<\/p>\n He\u2019s right. But how am I going to let him know that she\u2019s his wife, without creating a disaster?\u00a0 And what am I going to do without him, once he finds out?<\/em><\/p>\n Damn.<\/em><\/p>\n All this time and there\u2019s only been one thing I\u2019ve really wanted, and that\u2019s to be with him, and now I\u2019m supposed to give that up?\u00a0 Have I really asked for that much?<\/em><\/p>\n He didn\u2019t really want the answer to his own mind\u2019s question, but it came to him regardless. It wasn\u2019t \u201conly one thing\u201d that he\u2019d wanted, not really, not if he was honest with himself. Visions of everything he\u2019d done since that hillside in Markarth rushed to compete for his attention: assassinations, becoming a vampire, feeding and feeding and feeding on the blood of others. He\u2019d taken lives, he\u2019d taken fortunes; he\u2019d worked his way into two guilds and managed to become the owner of a cabin and a mansion and permanent tenant of a third home, here in Riften.\u00a0 He\u2019d pursued Brynjolf until the man had finally given in to him, and then he\u2019d used Brynjolf and everything else at his disposal until he\u2019d gotten his ultimate prize, Volkihar Castle, leaving a trail of destruction behind him. He\u2019d turned the sun dark. He\u2019d threatened Delvin, a man who had done nothing other than help him achieve his ends. And he\u2019d never once stopped to consider what anyone else might want, or think, or prefer to do.\u00a0 Not until this very moment.<\/p>\n He stood back from the wall and struck out at the pull chain, sweeping it aside so hard that it flew up and its heavy iron ring nearly hit the ceiling of the confined space.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn!\u201d<\/p>\n Of course we know where my priorities are, Brynjolf. Add up everything I\u2019ve been since the very beginning. I\u2019m a vile, selfish, uncaring bastard. \u00a0I\u2019ve never cared who I had to step over to get what I want and I still don\u2019t, really, if I\u2019m brutally honest about it. I only want one thing: you. I don\u2019t care to share you with Dagnell, or Sayma, or whatever her name is and I don\u2019t want to share you with Dynjyl, and even if I think hard about it I can\u2019t imagine wanting it to be any different than it is. <\/em><\/p>\n I should be put down.<\/em><\/p>\n Damn.<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019ll figure out something.<\/em><\/p>\n He took a deep breath and blew it out, then pulled the chain again and left the Thieves Guild.<\/p>\n A few minutes later, he let himself into Honeyside.\u00a0 He heard the unmistakable sound of a hammer, followed by the hissing of hot steel being submerged into cold water.<\/p>\n Taking it out at the forge.\u00a0 I don\u2019t blame him. It\u2019s at least a more useful hobby than cooking skooma.<\/em><\/p>\n He made his way down the stairs and stood in the doorway, silently, watching Brynjolf pounding away on a knife that looked as though it might eventually be a decent blade.<\/p>\n \u201cMaking a knife?\u201d he said eventually.<\/p>\n \u201cAye.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan we talk?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf glanced at him, frowning, for just a moment, then returned his attention to the hot metal.<\/p>\n \u201cOne moment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright. I\u2019ll be upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n He returned to the kitchen area and pulled a chair around to face the fire, then sat down and stared blankly into the flames.<\/p>\n Flames. It\u2019s always fire. I wonder when they will finally take me.<\/em><\/p>\n After a time, Brynjolf emerged from the basement and brought a second chair around near to Andante\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cSo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. So. I, uh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to apologize, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou guess? Which is it? Do you want to apologize or don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n Andante grimaced.\u00a0 \u201cDamn it, Bryn, it\u2019s hard enough for me to humble myself without you making it worse. It\u2019s not something I do well. Yes, I apologize for being an insensitive, selfish, greedy bastard, alright?\u201d<\/p>\n It was silent for a moment.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what? What more do you want? I\u2019m not wildly enthusiastic about helping you find your wife, Brynjolf, and don\u2019t even begin to try to pretend you don\u2019t understand why that\u2019s the case.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante heard a soft chuckle, and looked to see a tiny smile on Brynjolf\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy is that the case, lad?\u201d<\/p>\n You damnable, irritating, beautiful man.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBryn, look at me.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf\u2019s eyes had gone back to their deepest golden color, and gazing at them Andante couldn\u2019t help but be amazed at the level of power they revealed to anyone who knew how to read them. He\u2019s remarkable. I don\u2019t know how I can bear to give him up.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBrynjolf, if we find your wife I lose you. You know that, and I know that. And \u2026\u201d\u00a0 And you\u2019re the only person who has ever treated me like I matter. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAnd?\u201d Brynjolf reached across the gap between their chairs, as he had at Mammoth Manor, his thumb caressing the top of Andante\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I don\u2019t know if I can bear it,\u201d he said quietly, without a hint of pretense.<\/p>\n Brynjolf didn\u2019t say anything, simply nodded.\u00a0 A number of minutes passed in silence.<\/p>\n \u201cDid it turn out well?\u201d Andante finally asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe knife.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cI was working on that knife the night she left.\u00a0 Never finished it.\u00a0 I thought maybe I could shape it up a little bit more. Don\u2019t know if it\u2019ll ever be right.\u201d\u00a0 He shrugged. \u201cI don\u2019t know why. You\u2019re a much better smith than I am.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante couldn\u2019t help it; his mind popped a mischievous thought into his head and he couldn\u2019t keep it from popping out of his mouth as well.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I\u2019ve always been good with my hands.\u201d<\/p>\n To his delight, Brynjolf laughed, the big, full laugh that he so loved to hear.\u00a0 Then he looked at Andante, smiling, his eyes shining.<\/p>\n \u201cAndante.\u201d\u00a0 He sighed. \u201cI know your name isn\u2019t Andante, and I\u2019m positive you\u2019ve remembered what it really is. But keep it. Keep it until you\u2019re ready to share it with me.\u201d He hadn\u2019t let go of Andante\u2019s hand, and he squeezed it again. \u201cTo me, you\u2019re Andante, and you always will be. Listen. I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen if we find her. I don\u2019t. I don\u2019t know if I can ever really forgive her for what she did to me, and even if I do forgive her, I don\u2019t know whether we have a future or not. But\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He trailed off, clearly struggling for words.<\/p>\n \u201cBut what, loverboy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s like I\u2019ve told you before. You\u2019re special.\u00a0 There\u2019s nobody else like you, and there never has been. What\u2019s going to happen next, I don\u2019t know; but I\u2019d like to do it with you if that\u2019s a possibility.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante smiled, and squeezed his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cAye.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf wanted to go to Dawnstar.<\/p>\n So they would go to Dawnstar.<\/p>\n Brynjolf wanted to go to Riften. So they went to Riften. Andante was torn. On the first hand, he wanted to go to Riften, too, to find out what Delvin had wanted from Roggi. His rational mind told him that it was just as they\u2019d discussed, that Delvin would be the one to get in … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/3-2-20-2.png\")
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