I am Laeilwyn Riverpool (A Skyrim Adventure)

Chapter Nineteen: A Thief Without Hands

-Laeilwyn's Perspective-

I woke up in a lot of pain. Sadly, I lost in Delvin's five finger fillet match, although he was much more drunk than I was, I couldn't seem to beat him. My hands were a mess of bandages. I tried to peel the one on my ring finger off, but the amount of dried blood was making it too difficult to investigate the largest cut I received that night. Great, what good is a thief without hands? I should go see Erandur about this. I downed my last healing potion (still as gross as they've ever been) to help speed up the process and headed up to the Temple. When I entered the Temple, I saw Erandur healing a badly wounded Stormcloak soldier. 

"Please. It hurts." The young man spluttered. 

"I know Brother. Hold on to my hands." He grabbed the soldier's bloody hands and began to recite Mara's verse. "Come to me, Mara, for without you, I might forget the ways of our fathers, and preening by the light of latest fashion, my words might tremble like the thin reeds of novelty in the tempest of enthusiasms."

The glow from Erandur's hands encased the soldier for a few moments, and when it faded, he looked much better, although still very ill. "You are very lucky Brother, Mara has graced you with a second chance at life today. Rest now." The soldier smiled at him weakly, before closing his eyes and dozing off. Erandur turned around and saw me standing there. 

"Good morning Elle. Did you sleep well?" He asked, rinsing his hands of the young man's blood at the washbasin. 

"I did, thank you. I'm heading out at midnight tonight, but before I left, I was wondering if you could help me with this." I held out my hands sheepishly. 

Erandur gave me a stern look. "Delvin got you beat huh?"

"How did you know that?"

"I played him last night too. My hands took quite the beating." Erandur admitted as he removed the bandages. I winced, it stung quite a bit. He brought me over to the washbasin and rinsed them. It was probably the most pain I'd been in for awhile. He took my hands in his and began to heal them. When the light faded, my hands were in much better shape. 

"Thanks Erandur. I was worried I would have to stay in the carriage while Brynjolf had all the fun dealing with these wannabe thieves!" 

"I can't imagine you staying behind even if your hands were incapacitated!" He pointed out. 

I nodded in agreement. "You're probably right. I better go get packed up. Sigaar is going to get sick of me really quick, considering the amount of trips cross Hold I'm making."

"The more trips, the more money he makes. Besides, I think you're his favourite person to have along for the ride." Erandur said. 

"Again, you're probably right. Anyways, have fun with Tonilia tonight, but not too much fun alright? You don't have to spend a fortune to impress a woman!" I advised. 

"Don't you worry about me, Elle. You try not to get yourself killed alright?" Erandur warned me sternly. 

I brushed him off. "Don't worry about me, worry about our gold pile." Before he could lecture me about being careful, I blew him a kiss and opened the doors. I breathed in the fresh air and took in the sunlight. I reflected off my pale skin like diamonds, likely blinding the two guards that stood at their posts outside the temple. I need to visit Brand-Shei, I'm overdue for a visit! I quickly went back down into the cistern to grab a few other things I wanted to sell before heading up to the centre of town. I traded a few gold rings and jewels I picked up in the East Empire Shipping Warehouse with Madesi while I waited for Brand-Shei to open up for the day. When he finally came out of Helga's Bunkhouse, I was the first to approach him.