Skyrim's Saviors

43: Emeaen Nightshade

When I return to Mistveil Keep, I hurry upstairs to the Jarl's quarters. I knock and knock, but there's no sign of her even being in there. I take a deep breath to center myself and then pull the key from my keychain, unlock the door, and walk inside.

Immediately, the smell of blood assails my nose. I sneeze and then look around. "Jarl Law-Giver?" I walk over to the door that leads out to her balcony, and draw my daggers from my sides.

But when I reach the edge of her balcony, I see her body laying there, broken on the street, her face turned toward me, her eyes closed. "Laila!" I cry, climbing onto the railing and jumping from there onto a barrel, and then onto the ground. But then, Laila turns her head and whispers my name.

Just as I reach her side, something covered in shadows grabs hold of her and drags her away. Ignoring the smear of blood left behind from Laila's body, I bolt in that direction.

I run through the back streets of Riften, following the trail of blood all the way to the edge of the cemetery. I don't see her until I look up. My heart stops, and I can only stare.

Someone tied her wrists to either side of the doorway that leads to the Thieves Guild entrance. Her ankles are also tied up there, making her look like a floating star. If it weren't for the noose around her neck as well, I would wonder how she remains up there.

"No," I breathe, not willing to accept defeat. I dart forward and jump up, scaling the side of the altar, I use my dagger to cut through the rope about her neck, then her wrists. She falls forward, and someone catches her.

I gasp, looking on as a hooded stranger cuts the ropes free and then they run in the direction of the catacombs of the Hall of the Dead. I bolt after them.

The bloody trail takes me deep into the catacombs, and by the time I've reached her, she is barely clinging to life. She turns her head slowly to look at me, and I drop to my knees beside her.

"Don't let.... Maven take ... the throne."

"Shh, it's gonna be okay."

But it isn't. I have no healing spells or potions.

"Maven.... arrest her. She ... did this. Please. Talk to Anuriel."

She ends up dying in my arms. Her last request will be granted. With Maven herself to blame, I need to be stoic and look for her. Taking only people I trust along with me. And that doesn't include Brynjolf.