#anyway her parents were very 'make skyrim great again' and pushed her to join the rebellion

[imogenkol]

Our hero, our hero, claims a warriors heart

I tell you, I tell you, the Dragonborn comes

Yrsa Gunnr

Race: Nord

Date of Birth: 19th of Evening Star, 4E 175

Special Status: Dragonborn, Werebear

Occupation: Blacksmith Apprentice, Woodworker

Affiliations: Stormcloaks (former), Companions, Thieves Guild

[tastesoftamriel]

Rags to riches (a long tale by Talviel)

After our literal trip to hell and back, Brynjolf and I went to our fence in Windhelm, and in the back room divided the loot that we would keep for the Guild and what would go to the High King, including the great sigil stone. We packed the chest onto a carriage with two armed guards and a courier carrying a message from us, and hired another carriage to take us home to Riften, too weary from our trials to walk home with a sack and a half of daedric treasure.

A week later, there was a great rumbling as the armed carriage pulled up to the back gate of Riften, closest to the cistern. Brynjolf, Vex, Delvin and I stood with arms crossed, looking indifferent on the outside but shaking with anticipation within. The High King had come through on his promise, and the Thieves Guild was about to receive its biggest load of coin in our generation. The Imperial guards jumped down, slowly hauling down three massive chests.

“Delvin, get a few of the kids laying about to help bring all this down.” Brynjolf said. Delvin nodded and turned back to the cistern entrance, never taking his eyes off the chests. “Well, here you go. A very, very large sum of gold most people would never see in their lifetimes.” The head guard said, visibly displeased to have anything to do with us criminals. “Good luck counting it all, but the treasurer says it’s all there.” “We’ll take your word for it, lad.” Brynjolf said, passing him a large crate of Black-Briar mead and a pouch of coin. “For your troubles. Don’t drink it all at once.” The guards, now looking much happier, jumped back on their carriage to make the long journey back to Solitude.

Several new recruits climbed out of our (not so) secret entrance, with Delvin in tow. “Careful with that, boys and girls, and I want this brought straight to the vault, you hear me?” He hissed, and the poor underlings got to work hauling the heavy chests. Vex held the door to the cistern open while they lowered the chests down on ropes before hauling them towards the vault. We clambered down after them, Brynjolf nonchalantly twirling the key to the vault when it was obvious he’d never been happier in his life. He opened the vault door, whistling, while gesturing for Vex, Delvin and I to come in. He swung shut the heavy doors behind us with a clang, and proceeded to unlock the chests.

“Holy fuck.” Vex breathed. “So we get to retire now, or what?” “‘fraid not lass, we’ve got a guild across Tamriel to take care of, and we look after our own. I’ve drawn up a list of the places that need the coin most and how much they’ve been allocated, but first and foremost I never back down on a promise. Lass, a quarter of this is yours.” He said, slapping my ass. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I know Talviel is your favourite, but Brynjolf, that is an insane amount of coin for one person.” Delvin almost shouted, looking shocked. “You shut your mouth, Delvin. Where were you fighting by my side in Oblivion? Where were you tending to my wounds as I lay dying? The lass more than deserves this. What she chooses to do with it is her prerogative.”

I stood in silence for a while, chewing my lip. All eyes were on me. “Bryn…Vex, Delvin. I made up my mind on the way home. You’re right, Delvin, this is a stupid amount of money I most likely won’t ever use up in my lifetime. I’m a simple girl who grew up near the Ratways, and now I wander Tamriel alone. I’ve decided to take 70,000 for myself, which should last me at least a few years. 10,000 goes to the orphanage, another 40,000 to my parents, and 10,000 to the Bee and Barb. The rest, I feel is only right, goes to all of you. The Riften Thieves Guild. It’s only fair. You shaped me, and I am who I am because of all of you.”

“Lass, you needn’t-” “I’m serious, Bryn. In all the years I ran with the Guild until now, the cistern looks like shit. You all deserve better. Use the coin as you see fit. Spruce the place up a little, get some light in there, get some beds that don’t feel like rocks. Let our refuge reflect our power.” “'Our’?” Vex asked with a smile tugging at her lips. “Welcome back, sister.” “Welcome back.” Delvin agreed, clapping me on the shoulder. “I’m not sure if I’m really back-” I began, but Brynjolf cut me off. “Lass, you never really left us in the first place. Ever.” “Touché.”

Once we agreed that the senior members would draw straws to see who would count our share of coin (poor Niruin got the job), we trudged to the Flagon, our heads still reeling. “Vekel, roll out a barrel of mead if you please.” Brynjolf said. “We���re probably not going to drink the whole thing, but we’re going to need as much as possible.” Vekel obliged, and brought over three tankards. Delvin filled them to the brim, and we clapped them together. “To Brynjolf and Talviel, saviours of the Guild.” Vex smiled. “Naw, lass, we were just doing what we needed to do. I mean, the almost getting killed part wasn’t very fun, but we made it didn’t we?” Brynjolf took a chug of mead and put his arm around me. I smiled into my tankard, saying nothing. My silence spoke volumes.

Suddenly, Tonilia rushed over. “Is it true? About the gold?” She whispered. “Aye lass, but this stays between us senior members. Don’t want us shouting from the rooftops that we’ve come into a vast fortune.” “Vast? VAST? That’s an understatement if I’ve ever heard one, boss.” She went over to the counter and grabbed herself an empty flagon. “Not all of it is for the Riften branch. This goes to all our branches over Tamriel, based on their need. I’ll gather you all together later and we’ll make final agreements on the amounts. But Vi here, has been very generous, and has left a huge sum for us to play with here in Riften.”

“Vi? Who’s Vi?” Vex asked quizzically, before noticing Brynjolf’s arm around me and my head on his shoulder. “Oh Nine save us, the boss is in love.” She groaned, taking a hearty swig from her tankard. “Well…I believe congratulations are in order. When’s the wedding?” Delvin asked. I choked on my mead. “Oh dear Talos, we’re not getting married.” Tonilia scoffed. “Yeah right, this is Skyrim, and most people get married within hours of meeting each other. You’ve known each other for almost a decade, and Talviel, it’s been very, very obvious that you’ve had a crush on old Brynjolf here since you first joined our ranks.” “Old? Who’re you calling old? I’m eight years older than the lass!” He spluttered indignantly. “Whatever, we’re rich, cheers.” Vex laughed, raising her tankard.

Some hours later, Brynjolf and I dragged the chest containing the sum agreed to my parents to their house. My father opened the door when he heard the loud thudding outside, and his eyebrows raised when he saw the chest. “What’s all this, now?” He asked. “Let us inside and we’ll explain everything.” I panted, and we dragged the chest inside. “And…you are?” He asked Brynjolf. “Well met. Brynjolf, at your service good man.” He said, dropping the chest when the door was safely closed behind us. “Brynjolf? The Brynjolf?” His eyes narrowed. “Talviel, you’ve got a lot of explaining to do, and fast.”

My mother clattered up the stairs from the cellar upon hearing the commotion. She looked at all of us in confusion. “What in Oblivion is going on? And why are you wearing Thieves Guild armour?” She asked. “Please, mother, never mention Oblivion ever again.” I groaned, and Brynjolf nodded in agreement. I introduced him to her, and kicked open the chest. “40,000 septims, my dear parents. All yours for the trouble of raising a shit of a kid.” I declared, as their jaws dropped. “Talviel, this isn’t a very nice joke to be playing on your folks.” My father warned. “It isn’t a joke, Sir.” Brynjolf said quietly. “Let’s just say your daughter helped pull off the biggest heist in the history of the Guild this generation, and saved my life.”

“We don’t want to know.” Chimed my parents in unison, their usual response since I was a kid whenever I brought up the Guild. “Talos almighty, what on earth are we going to do with all this coin?” My mother asked, looking as if she was about to faint. “Buy Riftweald Manor?” My father said hopefully. “Unfortunately Sir, that’s Guild property, but I know Maven has a spare manor not too far from here that’s just begging to be sold.” Brynjolf smiled. My father’s eyes narrowed. “You know, for a master thief, you sure are well spoken.” He said to Brynjolf. We all chortled, and my mother stoked the fireplace while my father brought round some cheese and cured meats while gesturing for us to sit. Brynjolf looked uncertain but I pushed him into a chair.

A couple of hours of small talk later, Brynjolf and I made our way back to the cistern to gather all the senior members together in the vault. “So it’s true.” Sapphire said, stunned. “We’re fucking rich.” “You could say that.” Delvin muttered. Brynjolf presented his plan on how to divide the coin among the Guild branches across Tamriel, and after a bit of arguing we finally came to an agreement. “Raven Rock needs it most, that’s our latest branch and we don’t even have headquarters there.” Delvin said, and we all agreed.

“Say, Delvin, what was in that letter you had me pass to Glover?” Brynjolf asked. Delvin looked embarrassed and cleared his throat. “Well, I didn’t want to make an announcement until everything was in the clear, but I suppose now’s the time. I’m resigning from the Riften branch to go work with my brother in Raven Rock.” He announced. We all gasped. “I cannot believe my ears.” Vex spluttered. “After all these years, you’re leaving us?“ “I’m not leaving the Guild my little Vex, just Riften. For now, anyway.” “Well, who’s taking over your job then?” Sapphire demanded, clearly as shocked as the rest of us. “That, I leave to all of you to decide. We senior members all know the trade, we’ve had our field time, and we’re responsible. I’d trust any one of you to make that decision.”

We glanced at each other uncertainly. “I’ll do it.” Rune finally said, breaking the silence. “I’m getting too old to be working the field, and to be honest, I’m tired of it. I’ll take over from Delvin.” We all breathed a sigh of relief, worrying just a moment ago that this would become a heated argument. “All in favour say aye.” Brynjolf said. “Aye.” We all chimed. “Well, that settles that.” Delvin sighed. “I leave for Soltsheim by the end of next month, once I’ve wrapped up my final business here. Try not to miss me too much.” We all groaned. “Who’s going to sit around the Flagon all day to keep me company now?” Vex moaned, clearly miffed by the sudden news. “Well, Rune is, obviously.” Brynjolf said, rolling his eyes. “Nuh-uh boss. You know I’ve never been one for drink. If you don’t mind, I’ll take the desk in the cistern.” “All yours, lad.” Brynjolf agreed.

“Now anyone else want to make any more shocking announcements? Because now’s the time.” Vex demanded. We all shook our heads, then left the vault before locking it firmly behind us again. “Delvin and Rune, I want this exchange to go as smoothly as possible, so do whatever training you need to, and we’ll make an announcement to the rest of the Guild once that’s done.” Brynjolf said, clapping the two of them on the back. “You got it, boss.” Rune said, seemingly astounded by his sudden promotion. Everyone dispersed, mainly to the Flagon, leaving Brynjolf and I standing alone.

“So…what do we do now?” I asked, meeting his eye. “Riftweald Manor could be fun.” I suggested. He smiled at me and kissed me on the forehead. “Sorry lass, I’ve got important things to do. We’ll speak another time.”