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<\/p>\nIt was mid-afternoon when they reached the gates of Riften.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
They\u2019d stopped in Shor\u2019s Stone for a quick rest and said hello to Filnjar, the old smith. He asked whether, if she was ever headed north again, she would bring him a package from the apothecary in Riften.\u00a0 \u201cI sent an ore sample down to the apothecary for them to look at.\u00a0 Want to know what it is before I start pulling it out of the ground.\u00a0 But that Elgrim.\u00a0 He\u2019d forget his pants if his wife didn\u2019t dress him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dag and Roggi had laughed, and she agreed to his request.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know how long it will be, but if he hasn\u2019t gotten the package back to you by the time I head north next, I\u2019ll bring it.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a beautiful day, and they had made good time on the road.\u00a0 The carriage driver nodded to her and so did Brynjolf\u2019s guard, the one who had tried to shake her down for coin.\u00a0 As they slipped through the gates, Roggi chuckled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess they all know you here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I think I made an impression.\u201d\u00a0 Hadn\u2019t she just.\u00a0 She was glad they had no reason to visit Haelga.\u00a0 She scanned the area; it was busy and noisy as usual, and was a welcome sight.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t believe I\u2019m saying this, but it feels good to be back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roggi made a disgusted noise.\u00a0 \u201cBah. This city is corrupt.\u00a0 Rotten to the core.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dag glanced at him in surprise.\u00a0 \u201cI thought you said you hadn\u2019t been here in years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHaven\u2019t.\u00a0 But some things don\u2019t change. The only good things here are the meadery and the Temple of Mara.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s with the Temple?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s where people in Skyrim come to get married, you goat,\u201d Roggi snorted.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s the only one in the whole province, and they had to put it in the middle of this \u2026 place.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not from Skyrim,\u201d Dag laughed.\u00a0 \u201cHow was I to know?\u201d Then she stopped, hoping she hadn\u2019t touched that raw nerve again.\u00a0 He had, after all, said they \u2013 he and Briinda –\u00a0 had been on their way to get married in Riften, back then.\u00a0 It hadn\u2019t occurred to her that it was the only place to do so, but she should have guessed. Windhelm was so much closer to Kynesgrove than Riften was, after all.\u00a0 To her relief, though, Roggi smiled at her.<\/p>\n
Well he\u2019s not going to be happy with me, then, that this has turned into home base, Dag thought.\u00a0 \u201cCome on. We have to go see the Jarl.\u201d\u00a0 Dag took his hand and tugged him toward the keep.<\/p>\n
Jarl Laila greeted Dagnell warmly. \u201cThere you are. I was wondering when you\u2019d return to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dag nodded.\u00a0 \u201cCragslane has been cleared out, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
But Laila interrupted her.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s wonderful to have good news for a change,\u201d she said, smiling again.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ve been quite an asset to the people of the Rift. I\u2019ve had reports about you from the citizens; they look to you as a protector, a beacon of hope.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dag tried not to let her mouth sag open. Really? A beacon of hope, me?\u00a0 I guess she hasn\u2019t had reports from Bersi Honey-Hand lately.<\/em>\u00a0 It would have been enough to set her laughing, but she didn\u2019t get a chance.<\/p>\n \u201cI have only to honor you with the title of Thane,\u201d Laila pronounced. \u201cThere is but one requirement.\u00a0 A Thane must maintain permanent residence within the city walls.\u00a0 It just so happens that there is such a property available at this time.\u00a0 Speak to my steward.\u00a0 Once the home is yours, return to me and I will make your title official.\u201d<\/p>\n This time Dag\u2019s mouth did sag open.\u00a0 It was all just a bit unreal.\u00a0 A moment passed, then another, until Roggi elbowed her in the ribs.<\/p>\n \u201cOh! I\u2019m sorry. Um, it would be an honor, my Jarl.\u201d\u00a0 She supposed that might be an appropriate thing to say.\u00a0 Then she bowed and turned to walk back through the great hall.\u00a0 It was baffling.\u00a0 She\u2019d walked into this city in rags, strong-armed half the merchants and gotten another put in chains, managed to anger someone enough to send the Dark Brotherhood after her, and yet somehow the Jarl thought she deserved to become a Thane.\u00a0 She wondered who might have said something good about her.\u00a0 Wujeeta? Filnjar, up in Shor\u2019s Stone? The beggars out at the marketplace, to whom she had slipped a coin here and there?\u00a0 Maybe Maven?\u00a0 She frowned.\u00a0 I have to go see Maven.\u00a0 Soon.<\/em><\/p>\n She didn\u2019t even know whether she wanted to stay in Skyrim, much less buy a home here. She did a quick mental scan of the city. There was only one place she\u2019d never investigated, a little house tucked into a corner across the canal from Bersi\u2019s shop, leaning out over the water, quiet and serene. That must be the place. I can\u2019t believe I\u2019m even considering it, she thought.<\/p>\n \u201cWell what do you know about that?\u201d Roggi gushed when they were back outside.\u00a0 \u201cA Thane?\u00a0 With a home in Riften? I feel like I should bow or something now.\u201d<\/p>\n Dag looked at him; he was grinning widely and leaning forward as if to do just that. She swatted his arm. \u201cCut it out, now. I\u2019m a lot wealthier than I was when you met me, but I\u2019m sure it will be a while before I can buy a house. Assuming I don\u2019t leave Skyrim altogether.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi looked startled at that, and more than a bit distressed.\u00a0 \u201cLeave Skyrim? What are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I hadn\u2019t ever intended to stay here.\u00a0 I was on my way to Morrowind and Cyrodiil, originally. I want to be someplace warm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d he said, his brow wrinkling.\u00a0 \u201cI see.\u201d\u00a0 He looked thoughtful, and stood quietly for several moments. Then he smiled and reached for her hand, twining the tips of his fingers lightly around hers. \u201cTell you what. Stay with me. I\u2019ll keep you warm. You won\u2019t even have to buy a house.\u00a0 I\u2019ll fix up the clan\u2019s place in Kynesgrove.\u201d<\/p>\n Dag chuckled. \u201cYou would keep me warm, too.\u00a0 You radiate so much heat.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi smiled and took her other hand, then stepped closer.\u00a0 \u201cNo, really,\u201d he said softly.\u00a0 \u201cWe could, you know. We\u2019re right here.\u201d<\/p>\n We\u2019re right here? What?\u00a0<\/em> For a moment Dag had no idea what was going on; then she realized that they were standing only a few long paces from the entrance to the Temple of Mara. Was he serious? She studied his face; he was still smiling as he had been just joking about her becoming a thane, but his eyes were deep, intense, and full of\u2026\u00a0 He was serious, she realized.\u00a0 Roggi wanted her to visit the Temple with him, and talk to the priests.<\/p>\n For a moment, it seemed everything had stopped.\u00a0 How could this be happening?\u00a0 Could she just leave everything that was going on in Riften to be with Roggi?\u00a0 Would the Guild even let her? Would they come after her? After him?<\/p>\n Suddenly, it was as though she had stepped outside herself into another place, as cold and dark as the bowels of a cavern. She saw Brynjolf, hood up, creeping up behind Roggi, that glass dagger of his unsheathed, moving in for the kill. \u00a0She shrieked \u201cno!\u201d but there was no sound. \u00a0She fought to move, to stop this awful thing from happening, and there was no motion.<\/p>\n And just as suddenly, she was standing in the sun, in front of the Temple of Mara, looking at Roggi, confused and terrified.<\/p>\n No, Brynjolf had said no killing, right? Not unless it was absolutely necessary? He wouldn\u2019t stoop to that, right? She was just being paranoid, right?<\/p>\n Roggi was still smiling at her. \u00a0Nothing had changed, nothing at all. \u00a0It was just her mind playing games.<\/p>\n Did Roggi really want her that much?\u00a0 For that matter, did she want him?<\/p>\n Oh that\u2019s stupid<\/em>, the little voice in the back of her head snickered. Of course you do.\u00a0 You\u2019ve already made that clear.<\/em>\u00a0 Yes, she thought, I think I really do, but \u2026<\/p>\n Then she shook her head.\u00a0 It was too much, too fast, and she had to take care of business.\u00a0 She decided to play dumb, as though she hadn\u2019t understood his hint. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any rush for me to buy the house.\u00a0 It seemed like a pretty open-ended offer.\u201d\u00a0 Roggi\u2019s eyes flickered with disappointment, but he didn\u2019t drop his smile, and he didn\u2019t press the issue.\u00a0 Dag was grateful. It had probably been just a whim, anyway. She knew he cared about her, but it was too soon to be thinking about\u2026 anything else.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go check out the Black-Briar Meadery, shall we?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, I haven\u2019t been there in so many years. Sold.\u201d<\/p>\n They got a drink at the meadery, then wandered about the market for a bit.\u00a0 Balimund greeted Roggi and nodded at his sword.\u00a0 \u201cBeen visiting my competition, eh?\u201d<\/p>\n Dag laughed.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t know what kind of sword Roggi used, or I would have bought one from you, Balimund.\u00a0 I hope you know that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, yes,\u201d he said, smiling as he hammered.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s what they all say.\u201d<\/p>\n Grelka grunted at Roggi but gave Dag a smile.\u00a0 Dag spotted a fine-looking leather helmet in her stall and made Roggi try it on; it fit him perfectly.\u00a0 She pushed coins at Grelka.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll take it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait, I told you no,\u201d Roggi objected.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t care.\u00a0 You need to protect your head, foolish, and you\u2019ve had too many close calls lately for my taste.\u201d\u00a0 He fussed, but took the helmet anyway as Grelka snickered and winked at Dag.<\/p>\n They wandered down to the apothecary, where much to Dag\u2019s surprise, Roggi and Elgrim got into an animated discussion about the best ingredients for healing potions.<\/p>\n Hafjorg, Elgrim\u2019s wife, smiled at Dag from behind the counter and waved her over.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t realize he was interested in alchemy,\u201d Dag murmured.\u00a0 \u201cI guess it makes sense, though, considering how hard he\u2019s tried to brew mead.\u00a0 Filnjar told us you have a package for him?\u201d<\/p>\n Hafjorg nodded.\u00a0 \u201cOh thank you dear.\u00a0 It will be lovely if you could deliver it for me, since Elgrim keeps forgetting. Men,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cSometimes it\u2019s all we can do to keep them in line.\u201d\u00a0 Dag chuckled, and tried to steer Roggi toward the door.<\/p>\n They wandered out to the docks. There was a fresh breeze blowing over the lake, and gulls screaming at the fishermen.\u00a0 A familiar figure rounded the far corner of the fishery building and made for its back door.\u00a0 It was Wujeeta, who saw them and waved. \u201cIt is our favorite company,\u201d she called.<\/p>\n \u201cHi Wujeeta,\u201d Dag replied, sharing a quick glance with Roggi.\u00a0 \u201cI hope you\u2019re well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Wujeeta said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m feeling much better now, thanks to you.\u201d\u00a0 She nodded at Roggi and headed inside.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was a good thing you did,\u201d Roggi said quietly, after the door had closed behind Wujeeta.<\/p>\n Dag shook her head. \u201cAll I did was give her a healing potion. What you did, helping me out at Cragslane, that was more impressive.\u00a0 She\u2019s better now, though, and that\u2019s what matters.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a good person,\u201d he murmured.<\/p>\n No. No I\u2019m not<\/em>. \u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d she said, shaking her head sadly.\u00a0 But Roggi is, and that makes everything so much more complicated.<\/em><\/p>\n Dag looked across the water to the next dock. Maul was standing outside the warehouse, arms crossed, scowling at her.\u00a0 Her heart fell.\u00a0 He knows I\u2019m here, she thought.\u00a0 That means Maven knows I\u2019m back.\u00a0 And Brynjolf knows I\u2019m back.\u00a0 She could just see Brynjolf scowling into his flagon, wondering where she had gotten off to and why she wasn\u2019t reporting in.<\/p>\n She frowned, and sat down on one of the crates piled up on the dock, heaving a sigh. Roggi looked at her curiously.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi. I have to tell you something.\u201d I don\u2019t want to, her mind screamed. It\u2019s the last thing I want to do, but it\u2019s time and I have to do this, somehow. \u201cThere\u2019s something I have to take care of, and I\u2019m afraid we\u2019re going to have to part ways.\u201d<\/p>\n He shrugged. \u201cOk, I can go over to the inn while you\u2019re busy. Is that what you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n She shook her head and looked down at the dock.\u00a0 I can\u2019t bear to look at his eyes.\u00a0<\/em> \u201cNo, I mean I think you will want to head back up to Kynesgrove. And I have to stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a long pause, and then his quiet voice. \u201cAfter everything? I don\u2019t understand.\u00a0 Why?\u201d\u00a0 Dag looked up at Roggi, and the look on his face put daggers through her heart.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I really don\u2019t think you want to come with me where I\u2019m going. You\u2026.\u00a0 You wouldn\u2019t like the people who sent me to Whiterun.\u201d\u00a0 She looked up at him, hoping beyond hope that he would understand now, that it would be ok.<\/p>\n He stared at her for a few moments, his eyes wary. \u201cWhen that assassin attacked, you told me there might be a connection to Riften, but I didn\u2019t want to believe it. Were you \u2026 working with the Thieves Guild?\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded, miserable.<\/p>\n He glared at her. His voice dropped. She had heard that tone before, and it sent a chill running up her spine. \u201cYou.\u00a0 Were working with the Thieves Guild. You took me with you to do a job\u2026 for the Thieves Guild. Of all people.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Roggi, and I\u2019m so sorry I didn\u2019t tell you before now.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t know how much you hate\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Tell him, her mind shrieked. Tell him how you got duped into it and don\u2019t know how to get out. Tell him how you didn\u2019t know him then.<\/p>\n He stopped her, holding up his hand, storm clouds rolling across his face. \u201cHow could you.\u201d\u00a0 His voice shook, his eyes were part betrayal, part grief, all anger. \u201cAll of this time, even after we talked about what happened to both of us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi, please try to understand.\u00a0 We needed to get this taken care of and I didn\u2019t know at that point\u2026\u201d\u00a0 His eyes opened wider for a moment, then narrowed in anger.<\/p>\n He interrupted her, shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cWe?\u201d he said sarcastically. \u201cWE? You\u2019re not just working for them, you\u2019re \u2026 one of them?\u201d He stared at the decking, breathing slowly, looking as though he was fighting for control of himself. This was the face of the man who had snapped at her for asking about his family, the one who had broken Rolff\u2019s nose \u2013 hard, angry, pained, and with every reason to be so. Long moments passed, an eternity, while Dag\u2019s heart threatened to beat out of her chest.\u00a0 This was worse than being attacked on the road.<\/p>\n Finally he looked up at her, his expression hard and full of betrayal. He spoke quietly, but in a growl. \u201cDo you know, do you have any idea at all, how hard it was for me to let myself \u2026 be with you?\u201d<\/p>\n Oh yes I do, she thought, remembering his comment about knowing the limits of his courage. I didn\u2019t then, but I do now.\u00a0 She should have said that, but her voice wouldn\u2019t come. All she could do was nod, miserably.<\/p>\n He shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cEspecially after we talked about what happened in the past? And to think that just now I almost\u2026\u201d\u00a0 He trailed off and turned away, shaking his hands as if to rid them of something disgusting.<\/p>\n Dag felt something wet on her face and reached up, surprised.\u00a0 From some place far away she marveled. She was not usually a weepy person, but had shed more tears in the past few days than she had in half a lifetime.<\/p>\n He turned back to her and shook his head. \u201cNever mind. \u00a0No. I don\u2019t understand.\u00a0 I don\u2019t understand at all. Goodbye, Dagnell.\u00a0 I\u2019m heading home.\u00a0 I\u2019d stay out of Kynesgrove if I were you.\u201d He made as though to turn away, then scowled at her again and held out his hand.\u00a0 \u201cGive me the package for Filnjar.\u00a0 I\u2019ll do your errand <\/em>for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Dag was numb.\u00a0 This can\u2019t be happening, not like this.<\/em> She pulled out the package and one of the fat coin purses she\u2019d grabbed at Honningbrew.\u00a0 \u201cHere,\u201d she said, barely able to control her voice or her shaking hands. \u201cHere\u2019s half my money,\u201d she whispered. \u201cI told you I\u2019d split it with you.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi was flushed, angry. He snatched away Filnjar\u2019s package and the coin purse, and hissed. \u201cI\u2019d like to spit on this money and throw it back at you but I\u2019ll take it. I earned<\/em> it. I owe Iddra.\u00a0 And my family always pays back every coin it owes, all the way back to Tiber Septim\u2019s time.\u201d He might as well have slapped her.<\/p>\n Then he turned, and stalked down the dock toward the door to Riften, but not before twisting the knife once more. \u201cFind your own way to keep warm.\u201d<\/p>\n The farther away Roggi got, the more it hurt.\u00a0 She wanted to run after him, throw her arms around him, tell him she was sorry, that yes, she had been stupid and selfish, that she would go to Kynesgrove with him \u2013 but it was too late and she knew it.\u00a0 When the door slammed shut, Dag sat and sobbed, not caring who saw.\u00a0 She\u2019d just lost her best friend.<\/p>\n Again.<\/p>\n It was mid-afternoon when they reached the gates of Riften. They\u2019d stopped in Shor\u2019s Stone for a quick rest and said hello to Filnjar, the old smith. He asked whether, if she was ever headed north again, she would bring him a package from the apothecary in Riften.\u00a0 \u201cI sent an ore sample down to … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/1-1-23-2.png\")
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<\/p>\nPart I: Survivors<\/a><\/div>\nPrevious<\/a> \/ Next<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"