Collapse of Skyrim

Rielle Black-Briar

I am sent next to Riften. I wasn't expecting that, really. I am stunned, to be honest. But I head off towards the city in the south, all the same.

When I at last reach Riften, I am surprised to see that no one  hassles me as I enter the Hold. I wear a hood over my black hair and a mask over my nose and mouth. I walk up toward the marketplace. I stare at the stall where Cristophe said Brynjolf would be. But he's not there.

Finding a back alley, so I don't have to walk around the people who live here, I decide to do both of my jobs at once. I am here to kill Brynjolf and frame Maven for it. I'm also here to kill Jarl Laila Law-Giver.

But why not also frame Maven for that? Hmm. I'd love to do this, killing two birds with one stone, as they say. I forge a note that is from Maven to have the current Jarl killed, and then I look for Brynjolf.

After several hours, I find him. He's by the graveyard, at sundown. He sits before a particular grave and his head is bowed low in reverence. I know he knows I'm behind him. But I don't care, as I slip up and slit his throat with one fluid motion.

Brynjolf gasps and gurgles, turning to me as I splatter the letter with Maven's signature with blood, his blood. Maven is going to get in trouble, I sincerely hope.

"Who ....?"

I kneel before him. "Rielle Black-Briar says fuck you, Brynjolf."

His eyes widen, and I place the letter in his pocket as he falls over. I sheath my weapon and turn, looking all around. Brynjolf takes a shuddering, gurgling breath, and then he dies. I sigh and don my hood and mask again. I make sure I am not leaving a blood trail, and then, I head off towards Mistveil Keep.

I watch Mistveil Keep for days. The guards don't seem to say anything about Brynjolf's death, at first, but soon enough, the whole town is abuzz with news.

Maven killed Brynjolf! Maven had him killed, but why? Why did she kill him when he was so devoted to her? I thought they were partners. The Guild is enraged. First the Guildmaster, Hjoltli Ravensorrow, goes missing, and then, Brynjolf is dead. What next for them? Will they collapse, like before?

I smile as I walk into the Keep. No one can see my smile, but I don't care. After I talk to the steward, I then leave, pretending to be a mercenary. But then I go to the Bee and Barb, their inn.

Keerava, the innkeeper who's an Argonian, tells me a lot about the Thieves Guild. I ask her about the Jarl, too. And she tells me that every night around four in the morning, Laila Law-Giver walks into the inn. She drinks some alcohol in solitude, and so, I make my plan. I ask about jobs in the area, and she gives me a bounty.

After that, I buy a room and a few drinks. Talen, Keerava's husband, brings me up to the second floor. He puts me in a room next to a small desk outside the door. When he leaves me, I walk over to where the desk is. It's Maven's!

I find some papers, and shove them all in my bags. I then go back to my room. Sometime later on, as I'm barely able to stay awake, I hear heavy footsteps in the hall outside the room. I open my door slightly and see her.

Maven Black-Briar is arguing with someone.

"I told you imbeciles. I had nothing to do with Brynjolf's death! He was a strong and resilient business man, but he is now dead. You people need to get over it."

"Get over it?!" demands a silky female voice.

She's a Dunmer. The other person speaking to Maven. But why are they here? Out in the open?

"Karliah, I am not the one who killed him."

"Then why was your letter on him? One that said you had grown tired of him and that you thought he should learn what it's like to truly be in pain. One that said you were going to ensure he suffered, as did the Guild. Haven't we done enough for you? We are finally off the ground! We are bringing in a mammoth's weight in gold."

"I'm aware of that. But you don't seem to realize that I had no reason to do such things to you or him or the Guild."

"You had no reason? Oh?"

Maven sighs. "What do you want me to say, Karliah?"

"Tell me why you killed him!" she hisses.

"I. Didn't. Kill. Him," Maven snarls. "I didn't."

"I'm shocked you won't own up to your own actions. Well then, with Hjoltli gone, and Brynjolf murdered, you leave me no choice. We sever this connection with you. No more. You have no more ties with the Guild."

"You will regret this."

"No. I won't. But I must wonder .... did you tell Brynjolf that, before you killed him?" Karliah shakes her head, then leaves.

Maven snarls and draws a dagger. She stabs it into the desk and then stalks into her room.

Have I done it? Have I truly broken the Guild's connection as well as the Dark Brotherhood's with this hateful woman? I know my work isn't done yet. I'm here to kill Laila, after all. She's going to be another one that Maven kills. And hopefully, this will truly make Maven suffer.