#brynjolfxreader

[missternarrator]

Entwined Paths

Fem!Reader!Dragonborn x Brynjolf (can be found on Wattpad “Entwined Paths” by my account Mrs. Narrator. LMK if you guys want to read more!)

My throat felt like sandpaper, as I broke through the barrier. I gasped for air and frantically clawed at the rock walls, "Gah!" I choked out some water, its almost as if my Armour was trying to drag me back down. "(Y/n)!" Karliah's voice bounced off the small entrances walls, she knelt down and reached for me. I pulled myself along the side and grabbed her hand, "By the eight- I didn't think I would make it." Water rose fast during our fight with Mercer Frey, hell our victory was short lived as the water began to rise above our knees. There was no way out down there and at that point we all had to escape through the roof entrance...

we...

"Brynjolf?!" I drug myself onto the mud, turning on my back and looking to the water filled hole. Water began to splash onto my boots as it continued to rise. Karliah's hand fell atop my shoulder, "We should go-" "-No," I took off my hood and mask, letting it hang lazily to the side of my face, "BRYNJOLF!" Almost in response to my calls, his face came up and we could hear him gasp for air, only choking as water filled his mask. I reached in and grabbed the shoulder of his Nightingale Armour,  pulling hard in order to bring him to shore. He was so heavy, I assumed it was from all the water. Karliah dropped down and tried taking off his mask but stopped, "Did you-?!"  That's when I looked to his side and noticed he was holding onto something, SOMEONE. I let go of him as he dug his hand into the soil, "Trying to kill yourself?!" Brynjolf threw Mercers lifeless corpse onto the ground next to me, pushing his mask out of the way, "I couldn't just..." he caught his breath, "just... leave him there..." My heart pounded as I got to my feet, taking another look at Mercer, his eyes laid peacefully closed and part of me forgot the evil that once stared at me.

"He deserved death but not a watery grave," he looked up at us, eyes squinting from the dim light, "Mercer was a brother once, and I'll be damned if I let a dwarven ruin hold him." My eyes softened as I looked to Brynjolf, he was right. While yes the man tried to kill me and the others, he wasn't always this way. Maybe this was his way of coping, Mercer was his best friend and guild master before all of this. I sighed and held out my hand, he took it and stood up, eyes not leaving mine, "Lass.. I am sorry if you don't understand but-"

"-I request we give him to Nocturnal."

Karliahs voice interrupted him and we both looked to her, she crossed her arms, "I hate you brought him back up, we should've left his soul to drown for eternity." He did kill Gallus, her lover, after all. I found myself feeling conflicted, there was nothing more in me that wanted to kick him back into the ruins he wished to leave us in, but he also had a point. Yet there is no use burring someone in the name of their former self, "May not be a watery grave but I feel Nocturnal would give enough punishment to his body as she already has on his soul." His hand dropped from mine as I continued, "It's the least we could do Brynjolf, seeing as how you already brought him up." His bright green eyes dropped to the corpse that laid between us, water now played with his hair, "Fine." "Well," I pursed my lips, "on a brighter note..." They watched with brows raised as I dug into the large pouch on my side, "At least we got something to bring back to the guild if not Mercer~" Two large opal-like jewels laid in my hand as I took them out, "You didn't," Karliah covered her mouth almost to hold back a laugh, "oh god-" I chuckled and held both of them out, "Don't be shy now, Gallus would've wanted us to at least gawk before handing them over to Delvin." Brynjolf smiled softly and took one of them in his hands, "Eye of the Falmer..." _________________________________ "It's quite an interesting tale... really," I folded my arms as a dark elf walked next to me, "but maybe not one for right now." He nodded, "I should've known this is where the Dragonborn was holed up." I looked away from the shelves behind my desk, "Hm?" "I mean-" Elwin nervously smiled, "-people have been asking. Riverwood Trader gained business because people heard you stopped by but suddenly you vanished."

Damn... it didn't feel like long but it's actually been months since Mercers death. All this time I have been stuck in the Cairn trying to handle guild business and cleaning up his mess. It's taken my time from adventuring and the sun.

Part of me felt like the sudden realization was his fault. I kind of regretted taking over Runes training but I wanted to be hands on with the Guild. The new recruits needed to see their Guildmaster at work and know that I was involved. Mercer was distant so not only was he stealing from the vault but any new recruit they brought in with him weren't too honest with their findings. Nothing was going to pass me. My stomach felt sick, it really has been months since I have been up top hasn't it?

"Rune- ah," I rubbed the back of my neck, "Show him to his bed and chest." The man nodded from his seat and ran over, long brown hair swaying over his shoulders, "Of course m'lady." "So formal," I pat his arm and smiled. Rune smiled, "I only learned from the best." I felt redness crawl over my face as he reminded me, back when I first joined I got so nervous speaking to Mercer I accidentally called him 'sir'. It wouldn't have been so embarrassing if it wasn't in front of the entire guild, and I audibly made a squeak. Yea... my early Dragonborn days weren't so intimidating. Am I intimidating? ____ I stepped into Whiteruns tavern, The Bannered Mare, and stepped up to the bar. "What have you got for sale?" "Food for the hungry," she looked up at me from the mug, "drink for the-" her eyes widened, "(L/n)..." I raised a brow but was suddenly deafened by silence, the bards music coming to a hault and the chatter dropping. Looking to my left, I noticed Lydia... my housecarl. "My lady," she looked over to the people and back to me, "everybody has been eager of your return from the Grey Beards." ____

I actually hoped that maybe people weren't so intimidated anymore. Then maybe my visits in town would be a bit quieter. I found nothing wrong with questions but causing a scene every time? Not a fan... One thing I did miss was the adventure. Maybe I could do a job... I should speak to Delvin. "Lass," my attention was brought up from my thoughts, "looks like you could use a drink." I smiled at the green eyes that peered at me, "Brynjolf~" Red peppered his cheeks, "you already look like you've indulged." He shook his head, "It feels like a celebration is in order. The Thieves Guild is thriving and we have Nocturnal at our sides." I sat down on one of the beds and he took a spot next to me, "Celebration... Yes but maybe not in the Ragged Flagon." "Where?" he rubbed his face, it looked as if he has been 'celebrating' since early noon. I crossed my arms, "You are in no shape to go. Not today. Lets set out tomorrow morning for some celebration." "Ah, women... can't be satisfied with a simple bit of mead~" I rolled my eyes knowing he was only joking, "Off to bed with you. Or I'll make sure to share that comment with Vex." Brynjolfs eyes slightly widened, "Ah.. yes we wouldn't want that." Vex has grown quite haughty towards Delvin so both of us knew she wouldn't hesitate to take Bryns joke seriously. The womans a little uptight but she is a great theif. I got up and began to step away, "Lass?" "Yes?" turning back I noticed he has begun to follow me, "You alright?" "Of course," I continued to pass our statue to Nocturnal and went to one of the free beds. A few of the members wished me goodnight as we all began to turn in. I guess at this point, me not seeing the daylight was my fault. Since I have became Guildmaster, Maven Black-Briar has given me ownership of Mercers home. I have yet to make it mine or even really take a good look at it since I broke in last time. Months stuck in constant work but it felt like some sort of stability, I loved it at first but now that I was taking a moment to really think about it...

Laying down, I looked and noticed that my dominant hands fingers were stained in ink, this was a new low for me.  It was something Niruin said to me a month ago, "Might as well attach a bucket to your desk." Since then I have found myself being self conscious on how long I stay behind and work on damaged business ledgers, instead I will go for a walk and help others in our training room. Last thing I wanted was for the guild to think of me as a desk warmer, I wanted to be involved. I'll have to start participating in actual jobs, show these new comers who is boss. Maybe stability was the opposite of what I wanted. Turning to my side, I could see others asleep... Brynjolf was a few beds away. Nothing was predictable with that man, last thing I thought he would do was bring up Mercers corpse with us. Something in me loved that about him. Loved? I chuckled to myself, yes loved. He was my best friend in this place and was the only one who REALLY took the time to know me. Especially when he hand picked me out of the many in town square. I only had a few friends in Skyrim, they seemed to be the only ones that didn't mention my Dragonborn status any given opportunity.

My heart raced just thinking about my loved ones, none biological but all family. How was I supposed to go to sleep thinking about them? I turned to my other side, Ralof, Lydia, Madesi, Arneir, even Paarthernax. God, the old dragon that was lonely and wouldn't want to do anything but talk all day. I wasn't complaining, before the Thieves Guild took up my time, I would take the 7,000+ steps to meditate on words with him. _______________ "Dovahkiin," his hot breath, smelt like old stockings might I add, fanned over my cold face as the wind whipped around us, "which word would you like to meditate on today?" I rolled my eyes and reached up, my hand stroking alongside of his large scales. Some were chipped and cracked, cold from the climate up here... I felt bad that he wasn't comfortable leaving the mountain. "No meditating today~" he puffed out as I continued to pet the side of his face, "Just wanted to visit." ________________

I would have loved to take Paarthurnax to the small mountains outside Solitude and Markarth... My eyes drifted shut at the thought of my old friend. Maybe that would be my "adventure" tomorrow... It would be a little hard of a trip on Brynjolf though. There were plenty of potion ingredients in the Cairn, maybe I could brew some stamina potions for him. With that, even my eternal voice died out as sleep overtook me.