I am Laeilwyn Riverpool (A Skyrim Adventure)

Chapter Five: The Nord Strikes a Deal

"Elle, I had no idea. You didn't share this before because you didn't want me to be put in harm's way?" Erandur asked, locking his eyes with mine. I nodded. "That makes you better than any thief I've met! If this Brendald guy needs our help, you can bet on Azura's Star I'm going to be with you every step of the way."

I smiled. "Thank you Erandur. Let's not keep him waiting too long, Brynjolf can get really impatient sometimes."

We entered the Bee and Barb. It was busy, people bustling about singing, laughing, drinking. I noticed the orange hair at a table in the corner. I went over and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Brynjolf, my friend, it's been ages."

He got up and turned around. "Elle! By the Eight I've missed you so much!" He squished me in a big bear hug and kissed me on each cheek. "It's really been too long, my lass." He whispered in my ear. "Thank you for coming so quick, please sit. Who is this?" He looked at Erandur cautiously.

"This is my companion Erandur. He can be trusted." I assured him.

"Well... if you say so, down to business." He ordered three Black Briar meads from the barkeep. "As I hope you read in my letter, I requested that you come here for reasons other than to catch up. The Guild has been having some difficulties lately and I thought you might be able to help us." 

I raised my eyebrows. It's been a long time since I've done jobs for the Guild... I wonder if all my skills are lost... "What sort of difficulties?"

"Everything has been going wrong lately. We're no longer a force of significance in cities anymore. Our number has decreased dramatically. It's like someone drained all the power from the Guild. We just can't explain it." 

"You want me to help you, because your luck has run out?" I asked, unimpressed with his request. 

"It's not just that. All of our best agents left when you did. We're on a downward spiral that could be very deadly to the organization. We need your help finding more agents and getting ourselves established in the cities again. When Mercer asked me, I couldn't think of a better thief than you." 

I sat back in my chair. It was a lot to process. "Mercer is still there?"

"Yes, he's Guild Master now. After Gallus... you know... someone had to take over, and every other good agent had left."

"Why didn't you assume the position?"

"I was too young. Too inexperienced. Not a good enough thief yet. My skills didn't develop nearly as fast as yours. Mercer has been doing the best he can, given the circumstances. He saw we needed help, and asked me to find it."

His arguments were making it very difficult to say no. "What about Erandur? He's not a thief and never will be. That being said, he'll also never leave my side."

"If you hire someone to follow you around and help you with your work, that's no business of the Guild, so long as they don't get you arrested. There is more than enough space in the Flagon for you two to stay since everybody left." Brynjolf persuaded. 

I made eye contact with Erandur. He nodded. "Alright Brynjolf, you've got yourself a deal."

"By the Eight this is great news! Delvin and Vex, even though she'd never admit it, will be overjoyed to see you again, Elle." Brynjolf lept out of his seat and took us outside towards the Temple of Mara. 

"There's a Temple for Her Lady here?" Erandur asked, excitement surrounding his words. 

"You bet. Maybe this will be a better arrangement than I first thought. You can work at the temple and pray while I steal diamonds from nobles and frame innocent people for crimes they didn't commit" I joked.

He narrowed his eyes at me, clearly not finding the joke as funny as I thought it was.

"I'm kidding of course... I would only be selling out the guilty people..." He landed a good punch on my non-injured shoulder as I tried to duck away laughing.