The Bears Shortcoming

Chapter 4 - Windhelm

(4E 201 6th of Sun's Dusk)

Brynjolf had sent me off to Windhelm on an important job, he needed me to help him bring the guilds influence to all nine holds of Skyrim, and so I was sent to steal a valuable pendant from someone called 'Tova Shatter-Shield'. Brynjolf said she was a member of an important clan in Windhelm, and stealing the pendant would show the guild was everywhere, not just in the Riften sewers.

"You're the best thief for the job lass, but be careful out there. The cold is bitter, but the Stormcloaks are worse" Brynjolf had said to me before I left. When Brynjolf spoke of the Stormcloaks I remembered that Ralof had asked me to go to Windhelm and join the war all those months ago. I sighed and wondered how he was doing, and whether he was still alive.

My carriage arrived in Windhelm; I gave the driver my thanks, and parted with my coin. Brynjolf never told me I'd have to pay for my own travel; I made a mental note to have a word with him when I got back to Riften.

Bryn was right, the cold was sharp and it bit my skin like an ice wraith. The air in Windhelm was much fresher than the air in Riften and there wasn't a tree or a plant in sight, only old stone houses and huge walls that i couldn't even see the tops of. Although it wasn't snowing when I arrived, fresh gleaming snow sat on the walls and pathways. I made my way to the entrance into the city and I was greeted by two huge brass doors so tall they seemed to touch the clouds. The doors groaned with age as they opened, and I stepped into the old city.

The first thing I saw when I entered the city was two rough looking nords and a dark elf woman. I was happy to see another elf in such a historic Nordic city, but my happiness faded when I overheard their conversation.

"You dark elves" one of the nords spat "You eat our food, pollute our city with your stink, and you refuse to help the Stormcloaks!"

The dark elf woman took a step back "But we haven't picked a side because it's not our fight!"

It seemed like the prejudice against elvenkind was all over Skyrim. I walked over and stood beside the dark elf woman. "Are these people bothering you?" I smiled at her.

"Go back to Morrowind dark elf maggots! You're not welcome here!" the second nord bellowed.

"Maybe I'll pay you a visit tonight little elf, we've got ways of making you run away" he said before turning and walking away.

The dark elf woman turned to me, tears forming in her eyes "What about you?" she demanded, her voice was low and she had a distinct northern accent "Do you hate the dark elves?!"

I looked at her and gave her a sympathetic smile "No, I don't hate your people"

"You're in the wrong city then"

"Does this happen often?" I asked, referring to the Nords who had just been bullying her.

"Every day" she sighed "They like to walk the grey quarter at night and express their opinion on our race...very loudly"

"What's the grey quarter?"

"The grey quarter is the run down, filthy part of Windhelm where the dark elves are forced to live. The mighty Jarl won't permit us to buy property anywhere else" she uttered sarcastically.

"Ulfric?" I said, surprised. I remembered the man from Helgen, a true leader who cared about his soldiers and his cause. I started to wonder if we were talking about the same person. "Why won't the Jarl help you?"

The dark elf woman laughed "The Jarl is too pompous to care about anyone who isn't a Nord".

I spent the rest of the day thinking about what the dark elf woman had told me, I pitied the dark elves in Windhelm and I wanted to help as much as I could, but I couldn't help but silently hope that they had misjudged Ulfric; as he seemed like an honorable man the last time our path's had crossed.

I spent the night at an Inn called Candlehearth hall and slept early. I had a big day ahead of me.

(4E 201 7th of Sun's Dusk)

I woke up with a start and grinned, time to make some gold.

I walked into the city and asked around about Tova Shatter-shield, and after bribing a few shopkeepers and tailing a few people I finally found her. She looked like a nice enough woman, her hair was turning grey and wrinkles ran all over her face. I noticed she was carrying a small leather bag on her shoulder, and I decided this was the most likely place I was going to find the amulet.

I tailed her for a while until she arrived in the market square. There were people everywhere and guards were patrolling the streets. I did what I do best and used my surroundings to my advantage, weaving in and out of the crowd and doing my best to go unnoticed. My target stopped at a butchers stall and I took my chance.

I slipped a nimble hand into the bag carefully, feeling around with my fingertips until, Bingo! I pulled out the amulet and smiled, it was silver with delicate red and orange gemstones in the middle, no wonder Brynjolf wanted it. 

Everything was perfect until I tripped.

I fell over an uneven cobble on the ground and attracted Tovas attention. Shit. She took one look at my face and the amulet in my hand and screeched "Guards! Help! Thief!" suddenly everyone's eyes were on me. I bolted. I heard the sound of swords being unsheathed from their scabbards and people shouting. All I could think about was running. I'm fast; they won't be able to catch me. I kept telling myself that, until a strong hand grasped a strap on my armor.

The grip on me wasn't tight enough to pull me over but I tripped up again and before I knew it there were a group of guards running dangerously close to me. I put my hands up as if to surrender and only then did I realize I'd made a terrible mistake. "You're the best thief for the job lass, but be careful out there. The cold is bitter, but the Stormcloaks are worse" Brynjolf had said to me.

I realized this too late when an armored fist brutally collided with my cheek and knocked me onto the cold stones below.