An's Diary (Skyrim Fanfic)

Strategist Included

"Are we really going to do it?... Kill the General? I thought you liked him... or at least better than Ulfric."

"I don't have a choice," she grumbles, descending the palace steps. I glance up at the sky. The sun is setting again.

"There must be another way," I reason. "I mean... you did kind of take the oath with the Imperials."

"I took a lot of oaths. I had no intention of keeping it when I did. Tullius is just another slab of meat, surviving only to spew requests in my direction. Yes, I prefer to stay on the Legion's good side, but someone else will take over. They don't have to know I killed him."

"And I suppose that person will be you?"

She looks at me. "I don't get into politics. I was thinking Legate Rikke."

"And how do you plan on doing this?" I sigh, almost jogging to keep up.

"I'll figure it out when I get there."

"Anada."

"What," she spits.

"You're still new at being a-" I stop myself, eyeing a passing elf, "different. What if something goes wrong?"

She stops and looks at me. "It won't. I have the blessing of the shadow stone. Worst case scenario, I'll use it to escape." She continues walking.

"I have it too, I could-"

"I want you to wait at the inn."

I jog up next to her. "What? After all we've been through, you still don't trust me?"

"If any of them see you, you'll have a bounty in every Legion run hold. I'll be quicker on my own. Let's face it, stealth has never been your forté."

"What does it matter if they see me or not? I'm going to electrocute them either way."

"Remember the first time I hired you and I asked you if you would follow orders? I remember you saying yes."

I take a deep breath. "Let's just think this over. Hypothetically, if you help the Legion and help them win the war, none of them would dare believe any rumors that you might be, say, the leader of the Dark Brotherhood? Or a part of the Thieves guild. Or have committed so many murders that you lost count, or hey, how about how you assassinated the Emperor-"

"Get to the point, Curio."

"I'm just saying. If you negotiated with Tullius, you could work something out."

"As in..."

"As in, everyone pretends Tullius is dead and Ulfric thinks you helped him. He thinks he'll be winning the civil war and the Legion will have an element of surprise."

"You're forgetting a problem with that."

"I don't think I am."

"It will be awfully hard to play dead and not be when your head isn't connected to your body."

I groan. "You know that was a metaphor, right? Bring him his sword! A ring, a significant possession or article of clothing! For Talos' sake, Anada, use your imagination!"

"I don't need imagination. Why do you think I hired you?"

"I thought I was your walking diary."

"Walking diaries have more perks than paper ones. Strategist included. Now don't argue with me. It's going to be a long road until we get to Solitude."

"At least, this time, we have horses."