The Return of Sithis, Volume 1: Awakening

"You okay?" Elena asks, trying to suppress a grin, as she and Varren sit on the shore of the lake, just outside of Riften. "My liege, you look exhausted... Is there anything I can do?"

He merely glares at her, ignoring her pretend innocence. She wasn't even trying, really, considering she was one step shy of bursting into laughter."You set me up you witch," Varren accuses bitterly. "You sent me to rescue her knowing full well she would obliterate me."

Elena finally can't hold it in any more, and she bursts into a fit of very loud laughter. Loud enough to make the guards at the gate look over. "Oh come on V, you're so melodramatic. Kya isn't that bad. In fact, she's a very good person and quite fun. She isn't even the most eccentric member in the Guild, not by far."

"Fun is not the word I'd use," he argues, gingerly touching his aching forehead. "She gets as wasted as a bloody Skeever, and then blames it all on me the next morning. She even had the nerve to accuse me of trying to take advantage of her! Hell, she didn't even remember my damn name, let alone the fact that I rescued her! She kicked me, in the worst possible part of my body, and then when I doubled over, she punched me! In my damn head! In Auriel's name, I should have left her with the bandits. No, those poor bandits didn't do anything to deserve that."

Elena gives a sympathetic smile. "Sorry... I made her pay the fine for assaulting a member of the Guild. What else would you have me do?"

"Throw her into the lake," he growls.

Elena's smile quickly hardens into a scowl, and she crosses her arms. "Now, you know I can't do that. Stop acting like a big baby. So, she bruised your ego. You'll live. And you two will have plenty of time to make up, because you're roommates. Yup, that's right. That's who the empty bed in your room belonged to."

"I don't think so," Varren growls, more like a Cave Bear than a person. "I'd sooner rot in Oblivion. No, forget that. My stay in the Evergloam was more pleasant. I'd sooner turn myself into the Dread Lord's hands. Nocturnal herself couldn't order me to stay here, if you're going to force me to sleep in the same room as that demon. I'm leaving."

As Varren gets up to do just that, Elena rolls her eyes. Then she realizes he's deadly serious, and bolts after him. "Wait, V! You can't be serious. Please V, just wait a moment. Let me talk. Please." He reluctantly stops, keeping his back to her.

Elena takes a deep breath before continuing. " Okay, I can see you're angry, and you have every reason to be. But please. Don't do anything rash. If you're really adamant about it, I'll switch you with one of the other members. You can even stay with me if you want."

Varren narrows his eyes a bit. He can't decide whether she legitimately doesn't want him to leave, or if she's just afraid of what impact Nocturnal's retribution would have on the Guild. Still, he relents. A bit. "Fine, I'll stay. Switch me with one of the other members."

Without even waiting for her to respond, he storms back into the city. The guards wisely make way for him.

As Varren makes his way back to the Guild, he finds himself repeatedly looking over his shoulder, triple checking every shadow. The last thing he wanted was a run in with the She-Devil. Alas, it was not meant to be. The She-Devil still managed to corner him, when he tried to go to his room.

"Are you... Avoiding me?" A familiar voice asks, nearly startling Varren out of his skin.

"Good Oblivion, woman!" Varren breathes, jumping about six feet before turning to face his worst nightmare. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack too, on top of everything else?"

Kya gives a small smile. "Sorry... I promise that wasn't my intention. I've been trying to find you all morning... I just wanted to apologize. I'm so sorry about what I did... Please, can't we start over?"

Now, normally, Varren would have said Oblivion no and be done with it. But something about her made him soften. "Alright," he agrees hesitantly. "But only if you agree to my terms."

Her eyebrows raise slightly, and you see a flicker of the Kya from before. "Terms?"

"Yes," he replies seriously. "1:You will never, ever approach a Mead Hall ever again. 2:You will only ever hit me if I expressly deserve it, and if a witness is there to record and observe the encounter. 3: You will never, ever break rules 1 and 2."

Kya blinks. And then, much to Varren's surprise, she giggles. "Do I need to hire a scribe to sign this contract? Maybe we should have the Jarl sign it and serve as witness? Fine, I'll agree to your terms. So... We can be friends?"

Varren finds himself... Smiling. "Alright. I'll try not to hold a grudge."

But I'm still moving to a different room.

The days passed in peace and quiet, surprisingly enough. Or at least as peaceful and quiet as a thriving den of iniquity can get. Varren's training continued under Elena's strict guidance, and he continued to improve. Before long, he was considered a top member of the Guild, and even given a new set of Guild armor to commemorate the promotion. Although, he never used it. His Ebony armor was still more trusty and versatile in his eyes, and it bolstered his reputation even more, that he could sneak better in heavy armor than most thieves could in lighter garb. Kya proved soon proved a good friend and companion, and the pair became partners in crime before long. It was a week after meeting Kya, that Elena showed him Nightingale Hall for the first time. The other two Nightingales- Droith the Khajiit and a female Dunmer named Tel'Aryon- were less than pleased. Even more so when Elena resolved to bring him along when they went to the Twilight Sepulcher within the month. However, both eventually conceded. Elena had that effect on people, he noted. She could persuade a Nord away from his battleaxe, or convince the clouds to part from the skies.

On the way back to Riften, she pulled him aside. "When we get back to the Guild, I need you to come see me."

Varren nods, more curious than surprised by her sudden need for secrecy. "Anything I should be aware of?"

Elena bites her lip nervously, which is highly unusual. She hadn't been nervous around him since their first morning together, what seems like years ago. "I have a very important job, one I can only trust you with."

She didn't say anything more until they were back at the Guild, and even then, she didn't receive him at her desk, but in her room. "What's wrong?" He asks, now genuinely concerned. This wasn't like her at all.

"Nothing at all," she says, smiling. Varren's eyes narrow a bit. She's acting. For whatever reason, she's putting on a show, when she's obviously worried about something, even afraid. Just what the Oblivion is going on? "Why does something have to be wrong? Can't I just spend some time with my lover?"

His eyes have seen a great deal in his lifetime, and he's learned much over the course of two centuries. He may not be the sharpest elf, the eldest, or the wisest... But he prided himself on his ability to read people, to understand their thoughts. After all, a King who can not understand his people is an unpopular one. And in the Dominion, unpopular rulers don't live very long. Varren's father learned that lesson the hard way. Elena clearly suspected a mole in the Guild, though from what organization, he doesn't know. She obviously didn't want to take the chance her room was bugged. From that perspective, she was being very clever. There is always one sure way to make people listening in avert their ears...

Later that night, she whispered the job in his ear. "Go to Windhelm. Sneak into the Palace of Kings. Discover why Jarl Nelod betrayed us, and get out. No heroics."

"Why me?" He whispers back, turning over, so that to an outside observer it would look like he was trying to get comfortable. "I know for a fact you have better infiltrators."

She bites her lip. "True, but... I trust you. You, above all others, I know won't betray us... Me. And you are the favorite of Lady Nocturnal, and we will need her blessing. And... If things go south, I am comforted by the thought you are the greatest warrior beneath the sun."

He's tempted to remind her he was bested once already, but chooses to remain silent instead. The next morning, he sets out from Riften without a word, with only a leather pack slung over his shoulder. He heads north, sticking to the wilderness and avoiding civilization. Around noon, he stops for lunch in a small glade, ignoring the smell of newly dead Spriggans. He opens his pack to find a small note, in Elena's handwriting.

Skeever in the Guild. Possibly a Sorcerer, or worse. Trust no one, not even me or Kya. If I say or do something wrong, it is not me. Should the Guild fall, go to the College. Seek out the Archmage. Destroy the Gullwind. And... Be safe. I...you.

It looks like she said something else at the end, but she scratched it out. Varren calmly tucks the note away, finishes his lunch, and leaves.

Siegemund stopped inside Jorrvaskr with Kira on his shoulder.
She had fallen asleep after her feet had began aching.
Siegemund felt a connection with the girl. Maybe because she was also abandoned.
Kira stirred awake and looked at him with her black eyes. "Hey." She said stiffly, punching him in the back.
Siegemund hurriedly put her down and took a seat.

"So, where are your parents?" He asked. Silence was his answer, and just as he was about to speak
Kira spoke. "Dead. I've been following his bandit for a year." She said quietly.
Siegemund winced, his earlier thoughts were indeed true.
"Look, I can't raise you, but I can help you find a family." He offered a genuine smile.

"I don't want a huge family. I want you to be my family." She insisted, eyes wide.
Siegemund cursed that look. It was one all children and women alike used.
"Fine, don't expect me to be around much." He sighed.
"That's okay. I can brag that you're a hero." Kira smirked.

Siegemund snorted at that thought. He wasn't a hero in the least.
"Guess we're stuck to each other then. Try not to get into trouble." Siegemund warned, spinning around.
He took a sip of his water. "I'll be fine dad."

The contents of the water were spot across the counter, hitting the bartender.
She glared at him, and he knew his problems were only beginning for that night.

On the next morning everyone knew about Kira, and Siegemund meant everyone.
Currently, she was with Nephle which made Siegemund feel tons better.
He found himself at the forge with his newly completed Nord armor.
It was there he found his fellow companions waiting on him.

He looked between them with a curious eye, they had never came to the forge for him. At least in his perspectives.
"We heard the news." Abheim said seriously. "Yes, did you think you could hide it?" Adarya asked.
Siegemund blinked. "What?" He asked, clearly bemused. "We heard about the girl." Abheim continued.
Siegemund closed his eyes, wanting to punch something.

"Congratulations!!!" Abheim roared, charging at him.
Before Siegemund could move he was tackled and promptly dragged back to Jorrvaskr.
He was thrown in front of Kira and promptly interrogated.
"Did you even check if she was a spy?" Adarya asked, pacing around him.

"No." He answered cooly. The idea wasn't far-fetched, but not likely to him.
"You could be endangering us. I honestly expected more from a Sep-Grey-mane." Adarya corrected.
Siegemund narrowed his eyes. "You know something I don't?" He inquired.

"No. No, we don't." Adarya replie quickly. For a moment he could have sworn she had almost said Septim. Almost.
"She is gonna be your responsibility from now on." Abheim clarified.
"..." Siegemund answered.

After they left Siegemud gave a heavy sigh. "The next time they drag me from my newly made armor..." He trailed off.
He set off to find Kira.

Why don't you yell a little louder so everyone in Whiterun knows our plans.

Despite being annoyed by Avenicci as he continued to knock on the door and yell, by the time shs opened the door Lorelei was already packed up, and wearing the traditional Archmage's robes.

"Let's leave as soon as we can. We need to get there really soon if we hope to actually find Odette before Cor returns. I'll be able to pose as Odette, and buy you time to investigate while making sure no one gives you any trouble, and I'll also be listening to rumors to figure out where Cor has been lately."

Siegemund found the girl running in circles around Nephle.
"You're going to break something." He told the Kira. She simply ignored him an kept running, giggling.
"Is this how parents feel?" He thought with annoyance.

"Oh sure, now come on." Dorian scooted over a bit as Avenicci began to pull Lorelei up.

"Only if you tell me a story." Kira yelled.
"Tell her a story." Nephle grinned. Siegemund fumed. She was enjoying this!
"Um, a story about a boy oh got bit by a spider and became a super hero?" He asked hopefully, pulling out said book.
"Spider-boy!" Kira exclaimed in glee.

"Yes, Spider-boy." Siegemund said after a few moments.
Kira hurriedly sat on the floor as he opened the book. He glanced at Nephle who grinned darkly.
"I shall have my revenge." He whispered to her, and began to read.