Truly // Brynjolf

Chapter Ten

"Oh, thank the gods!" Brynjolf sighed in relief as I entered the Flagon. "I was so worried." He tackled me in a hug and I chuckled.

"I'm fine, Bryn." I said, pulling away. "Look, I'm okay, completely unharmed."

"What, uh, what did you find out?" He asked, nervously. I narrowed my eyes slightly.

"I found out that it was, in fact, Lydia." I said. "Did... you know about this?" When he stayed silent, I had my answer. I pushed passed him and into the cistern. I grabbed all my things out of my desk and from Brynjolf's night stand. I walked back out to him and glared at him.

"You knew I was going to be killed." I said, my voice cracking and confusing my anger for sorrow.

"Ruoma, no I-"

"And you said nothing to warn me. I should have known you were working with her. Were you fucking her, too?"

"Ruoma, listen to me please, I-"

"I don't even want to know. Whatever we had, if we even had anything... it's over. I'm out of here." I stormed out into the ratway and back out into Riften. I fell onto my knees and cried into my hands. I curled up on the floor, sobbing, and eventually cried myself to sleep on the cold ground.

I woke up hours later in a bed, covered up and warm. I sat up and recognized the room Brynjolf and I had shared at the inn. I looked over and jumped as I saw Marcurio sitting in the chair beside me.

"Hey, you're awake." He said, looking at me. "Are you all right?" I shook my head.

"No." I sighed. "Brynjolf, he... he was working with Lydia to get me killed." My voice was cracking again.

"What?" He asked in disbelief. "Are you sure? Isn't he in love with you?"

"I thought he was." I whimpered. "I-I just don't know anything anymore." He moved to sit beside me on the bed and he hugged me tightly. I returned the hug and cried onto his shoulder, soaking his clothing.

"It'll be okay, Ro (haha fus ro)." He whispered. I smiled and chuckled at his nickname for me and buried my face in his neck. "I'm here, I'm not gonna let anyone or anything hurt you." I kissed his cheek and buried my face again.

"Thank you." I sighed. "Why can't every man be like you?" I felt him chuckle and he pulled away.

"Because not every man can see what I see in you." He spoke softly.

"What do you mean?" I asked, blushing lightly.

"I mean, not every man can love a woman the way I love you." He whispered, inching closer to my face.

"Marcurio..." I gasped. "You love me?" He nodded slowly as our lips nearly touched. I closed the space and kissed him. He deepened the kiss, but I pulled away. "I-I can't." He looked at me.

"I'm sorry." He sighed.

"It's ok, really." I assured him. "I just need some time." He nodded and exited the room after kissing my forehead. I rested my head again and sighed, staring at the ceiling.

"Ruoma..." I heard a familiar voice. I knew it was Brynjolf.

"Leave." I said sternly.

"No." He retorted. I shot up and looked at the door. Nobody. I sighed in relief and went to lie back down but I only leaned onto someone's lap.

"What are you doing here?" I spat. "Shouldn't you be working on getting me killed?" He rolled his eyes.

"Ruoma, I admit I knew about it." He said. "But I wasn't part of it, and neither was Lydia.

"And now you're defending her." I glared at him. "Please leave." He sighed and walked to the door before turning around.

"I love you with everything I have, Ruoma." He said before leaving.

"I love you too." I whispered. I was speaking to him, though I knew he couldn't hear me. My heart ached for him; for his touch, his kiss, his heartbeat. But I didn't need any of that. I didn't need him at all.