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<\/p>\nBrynjolf knocked on her door the next day, then opened it and stuck his head in.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it safe to come in, lass?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dag nodded.\u00a0 \u201cWhy are you knocking? It\u2019s your house too.\u201d<\/p>\n
She was sitting in a chair near the fireplace and couldn\u2019t bring herself to go to him.\u00a0 She\u2019d been both longing for and dreading his arrival ever since Roggi had left.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not really. Not yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He pulled a chair from the table and turned it around, straddling it so that he could lean on its back and look at her. \u201cSo he came to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked at him and nodded, not trusting herself to say anything.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd \u2026 you were with him all day.\u201d<\/p>\n
She snorted. \u201cYou know that already. You have eyes everywhere in this place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brynjolf heaved a sigh and ran a hand through his hair. \u201cIt\u2019s my job to know things, isn\u2019t it. It really doesn\u2019t matter. Yes, I know you were with him all day and yes, I know you weren\u2019t in the house with him long enough for anything to have happened.\u00a0 All right?\u00a0 So then. Down to it. Should I head back to the Cistern and leave you to him?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dag reached for his hands.\u00a0 \u201cNo. Try to leave and I will beat you up, Brynjolf. I\u2019m not kidding.\u201d She looked at him for a long moment, but couldn\u2019t tell what he was thinking. \u00a0\u201cBryn, why did you bring him here? Why did you go to find him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat. Well I\u2019m not really proud of myself,\u201d he said, looking regretful. Odd that he would use that particular phrase.\u00a0 Nobody in this whole mess was proud of themselves. \u201cAfter you came back from Honningbrew and said you\u2019d had a friend along I was afraid he was a threat to the Guild.\u00a0 While you were off on the Solitude job I went up to meet him, to find out whether I needed to have Delvin make some\u2026 arrangements.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dag gulped.\u00a0 \u201cYou were going to have him killed?\u201d Her mind flew back to that moment when she\u2019d imagined him creeping up behind Roggi, knife drawn.<\/p>\n
He nodded.\u00a0 \u201cOnly if we had to.\u00a0 I just didn\u2019t know. I needed to see for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut how did you know who to look for?\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked surprised.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really don\u2019t remember?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRemember what, Bryn?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLass, you told me who it was. That night you came back from Whiterun. I was putting you to bed and you called for him.\u201d<\/p>\n
So I wasn\u2019t imagining that, Dag thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u2026 so sorry,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cIt was the night he left me. When he figured out that I was in the Guild. That whole night was a disaster.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo need to be sorry. All I knew at the time was that I needed the Guild to be safe. I didn\u2019t realize that it mattered – to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid it matter?\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYes it did, lass.\u00a0 I was bothered by it and didn\u2019t know why. Then I met Roggi and he was not a threat at all, just a decent man. I like him a lot; he\u2019s a good time. \u00a0After I mentioned you, all he could do was talk about you.\u00a0 On and on and ON,\u201d he added, grinning.<\/p>\n
Then he got serious again, looking down at the floor, speaking slowly. \u201cListen, I can\u2019t have you marrying me if your heart is really with him. \u00a0It wouldn\u2019t be right. What we\u2019ve had the past little while has been wonderful, and I could be content with that if I have to. Not happy, but content. I\u2019ve been on my own for a long time, after all, and I could manage it again. I had to know. You had to know.\u00a0 It\u2019s obvious that the lad loves you dearly. And I think you love him too. Nobody just calls out someone\u2019s name like that unless they do. So\u2026 I made arrangements.\u00a0 To give you a chance to change your mind, if you need to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dag looked at him, his red hair falling across his face, his beautiful green eyes looking a million miles away, and very sad. It was all so very complicated. \u00a0She leaned forward and brushed his hair back with her hand.\u00a0 \u201cBrynjolf,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cLook at me.\u201d<\/p>\n
He did.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded, then looked down again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI needed the chance to make things right with him, and I did. You can\u2019t even imagine how much that meant. And\u2026 I do love Roggi, in my own way. But Bryn,\u201d and she touched his rough beard, lifting his face so that he had to make eye contact again, \u201cYou\u2019re the one I want, and need. He knows that, and so do I.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure, lass? Do you love me enough to make things permanent?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Don\u2019t you know that?\u201d Brynjolf, she thought, what happened to you to make you think nobody could love you? Why do you believe it never works out? \u201cI ran all the way here from Falkreath just to buy a silly amulet because I want you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShall we go see Maramal, then?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, we should.\u201d<\/p>\n
He rose from the chair and took her hand.\u00a0 Dag brought that hand up to touch his face, and then leaned in to kiss him. The thrill that ran through her, right to her core, told her this was the right decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d she said, and led him toward the door.<\/p>\n
———–<\/p>\n
Dag dragged herself to the Temple early the next morning.\u00a0 She and Brynjolf had made a joyful night of it, but a late one, and dawn came early. \u00a0She\u2019d gotten up extra early to shoo him out of the house so that she could dress in something other than her Guild armor, to at least try to look a little bit special for him. It wasn\u2019t much, just a plain green dress, but it did make her look like a woman more than a mercenary.<\/p>\n
To her surprise, there were a number of guests there; she hadn\u2019t really been expecting anyone.\u00a0 Most of the Guild was there, with the exception of one or two of the newest members who had been left behind to guard the place.\u00a0 She was shocked, though, to see Maven Black-Briar, with Maul at her side glowering at everyone else.\u00a0 Grelka was there, and Wujeeta, Balimund, and even Madesi.\u00a0 And Roggi, seated at the back of the room by himself.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
She went to Roggi and gave him a hug.\u00a0 He glanced across the room at Brynjolf, who was standing in a corner in conversation with Delvin, and his eyes flickered in recognition.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the guy I met, all right. That\u2019s him?\u201d Dag could only nod; her voice failed her.<\/p>\n
Roggi studied Brynjolf for a moment, then sighed and looked back at Dag. In a voice pitched so that only she could hear, he said, \u201cMen aren\u2019t good, or bad. They are just men.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dag struggled, but in spite of herself several fat tears plopped down the sides of her face. Roggi reached up and wiped them away, his eyes glistening as well. \u201cNow don\u2019t be crying on your wedding day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Roggi,\u201d Dag whispered to him.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re the best friend I\u2019ve ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roggi looked across the room again to find Brynjolf watching, and the two of them locked eyes. Roggi\u2019s were intense, dark, and serious, as though he had removed a mask and was revealing the full measure of himself. This is the man I saw lift a bandit off the ground with his sword, Dag thought. This is the man who fought in the Stormcloak army, and lost a wife, and fell apart into a bottle of mead, but who was still strong enough to fight beside me when I needed him. \u00a0His eyes said “be there, Brynjolf, or else I will be.” Not a request, but a statement.<\/p>\n
Brynjolf\u2019s expression never changed, but his eyes said \u201cI understand.\u201d After a heartbeat he nodded. It was a long conversation that happened in a moment. \u00a0Then, to Dag\u2019s astonishment, the two men smiled at each other across the room, like friends.<\/p>\n
Brother Maramal walked to the front of the temple.\u00a0 \u201cAh, here\u2019s the blushing bride now! Let\u2019s begin the ceremony.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess I\u2019d better go up there now, huh,\u201d she whispered to Roggi.<\/p>\n
He laughed.\u00a0 \u201cI think so,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cGood luck.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dag approached the altar, and Brynjolf met her.\u00a0 He stood to her right, smiling at her as he had rarely done.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t blush, Maramal,\u201d she said quietly.<\/p>\n
Brynjolf\u2019s mouth twitched up at the corners. \u201cYes you do. Bright and red. Just like an apple.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dag wanted to smack him.\u00a0 Instead, she just glared at him.<\/p>\n
Maramal smiled and continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was Mara that first gave birth to all creation, and pledged to watch over us as her children. It is from her love of us that we first learned to love one another.\u00a0 It is from this love that we learn that life lived alone is no life at all. We gather here today, under Mara\u2019s loving gaze, to bear witness to the union of two souls in eternal companionship.\u00a0 May they journey forth together in this life, and in the next, in prosperity and poverty, and in joy and hardship.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at Brynjolf.\u00a0 \u201cDo you agree to be bound together in love, now and forever?\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Brynjolf smiled at her, that little quirk of a smile, as though there was never any doubt about the answer once they finally figured out what the question had been.\u00a0 \u201cAye.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maramal turned to Dagnell.\u00a0 \u201cDo you agree to be bound together in love, now and forever?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dag looked into those sparkling green eyes and smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do. Now and forever.\u201d \u00a0Even when we both walk together in the Evergloam, Brynjolf.<\/p>\n
Brother Maramal turned to the gathering, his voice joyful and strong.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder the authority of Mara, divine of love, I declare this couple to be wed.\u00a0 I present the two of you with these matching rings, blessed by Mara\u2019s divine grace.\u00a0 May they protect each of you in your new life together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dag held Brynjolf\u2019s hands, leaned in close to him, and whispered \u201ceyes open.\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled at her and answered, softly, \u201cand walk true with the shadows.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dag caught her breath, remembering Gallus\u2019 final, lingering glance at Karliah.\u00a0 That means so much more than you know, Brynjolf.\u00a0 Thank you.<\/p>\n
And they shared their first kiss as husband and wife.<\/p>\n
______<\/p>\n
The next morning, Dag woke to the sounds of movement in the rooms above and a fine, deep voice humming a tune.\u00a0 She had heard it around the inns before: \u201cThe Dragonborn Comes.\u201d She listened for a few moments, impressed; it wasn\u2019t the lilting, heroic version she\u2019d heard in the inns but slower, darker somehow.<\/p>\n
I wonder what he\u2019ll think when he finds out Roggi and I met the guy from the song, she thought.\u00a0 My life has been so strange since I came here.<\/p>\n
Upstairs, the oven was glowing red. Brynjolf was wearing a loose green robe, looking positively domestic.<\/p>\n
\u201cA man who cooks! I\u2019m going to be so spoiled.\u201d<\/p>\n
He laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know you could actually sing. I thought you were joking.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked up and smiled at her, pulling a warm pastry out of the oven.\u00a0 \u201cBah. I don\u2019t sing. I hum.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell you should.\u00a0 That was nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to sneak up on your mark if they can hear you coming a league away.\u201d<\/p>\n
She laughed and sat down at the table. \u201cYou do realize I\u2019ve never seen you do such a thing as sneak up on a mark, right?\u00a0 A Falmer doesn\u2019t exactly count.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPffft,\u201d he snorted. \u201cAnd that is just exactly the point, isn\u2019t it. You\u2019re not supposed to see me do it. Here. Eat up, it\u2019s fresh. And we need to get going to the Cistern.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh that.\u201d She grimaced.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, lass, that.\u00a0 I don\u2019t intend to keep this job of mine for a moment longer than I have to, and that\u2019s where you come in. You\u2019ve got work to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
She sighed.\u00a0 \u201cYes, boss.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStop that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look better in that armor than I will, if it ever comes to that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou seem awfully sure of yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course I am. I\u2019m always right.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you are insufferable.\u201d<\/p>\n
He turned to smile at her, a big, brilliant, evil smile. \u201cAye, lass.\u00a0 And you are stuck with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
They ate, dressed, and headed to the Guild. \u00a0Dag stopped to double check with Delvin and get details on the special job he wanted her to handle, the job that had been postponed for the better part of a week because of the wedding.\u00a0 Torsten Cruel-Sea, one of Windhelm\u2019s more affluent citizens, wanted his deceased daughter\u2019s locket back, and it was going to be a tricky job because it involved snuffing out an upstart group of thieves. \u00a0Delvin had known about the situation for a while, but hadn\u2019t felt confident about sending anyone else.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll take care of it, Delvin, I guess I\u2019d better be able to handle such a thing, huh.\u00a0 Keep Brynjolf honest while I\u2019m gone,\u201d she grinned.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want me to keep the head of the Thieves Guild honest,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cSure, pet. I\u2019ll do my best.\u201d<\/p>\n
She laughed, and looked around for her husband, to say goodbye.\u00a0 He was prowling about the Cistern, checking in on everyone, just as though he\u2019d never left it.<\/p>\n
He was wearing his Guildmaster\u2019s armor, of course, but he\u2019d also put on the hood.\u00a0 Dag sighed, walked up to him, and tugged on his arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy in the world are you wearing that right now? You\u2019re indoors. In the dark, even.\u201d<\/p>\n
He shrugged. \u201cIt seemed the thing to do at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell I don\u2019t like it. I can\u2019t see your eyes.\u00a0 Take it off.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was one thing Dagnell had been itching to do ever since she met this man, and she did it at this moment:\u00a0 she curled her hand into a fist and belted Brynjolf in the chin as hard as she possibly could.\u00a0 The hood flew off.<\/p>\n
Brynjolf stared at her in astonishment, rubbing his jaw. Then he threw back his head and laughed, his great hearty rumble of a laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like that,\u201d he grinned. \u201cNow go out and make us some coin, lass.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then he grabbed her and kissed her, long and hard, right there in the center of the Cistern.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you, lass,\u201d he whispered to her.<\/p>\n
She smiled up at him.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I love you, Red.\u201d<\/p>\n
He tried to swat her on the rump but missed as she skittered away from him.<\/p>\n
And Dagnell walked out, waving, to head to Windhelm, to catch a thief.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Brynjolf knocked on her door the next day, then opened it and stuck his head in. \u201cIs it safe to come in, lass?\u201d Dag nodded.\u00a0 \u201cWhy are you knocking? It\u2019s your house too.\u201d She was sitting in a chair near the fireplace and couldn\u2019t bring herself to go to him.\u00a0 She\u2019d been both longing for … <\/p>\n