A/N - This is the final chapter. For those of you who made it this far, I hope you enjoyed this tale. If anyone can spot the Easter Egg in an earlier chapter after reading this final installment, extra brownie points ;)

Thadyn was more desperate than I had estimated. He recovered far more quickly than I planned; he had scrambled to his feet by the time I managed to swing the heavy gate door open. For an old man, he moved swiftly when the occasion called for it.

I took off at a breakneck pace, dashing down the dusty stone path. As I rounded a turn in the path, I looked behind me to see Thadyn in pursuit. I saw him preparing to cast a spell - likely to immobilize me again - and threw up one of the rudimentary barriers I had been practicing.

Beyond the farm and over the bridge, and even passed a small Stormcloak camp, I ran and Thadyn chased me. I could feel my lungs burning from the several minutes' constant exertion. But, this was life or death, and the adrenaline kept my legs motivated. The sight of Sky Haven Temple also renewed my efforts. If I had to run all the way to where the Blades laid in wait, I would do it.

As I approached another bridge, the one just before the path leading up to the Karthspire, I felt a swell of magicka in the air and dove to the stone path. Swiftly rolling over, I saw Thadyn huffing and wheezing his way closer, determination etched into his face.

"Clever...trick. But I won't be fooled again," he breathed, hand outstretched in preparation for another spell. The sound of hooves galloping on stone alerted both of us to an incoming presence. While he was temporarily distracted and glancing over his shoulder, I took another deep breath.

"FUS RO DAH!" I Shouted again, watching his body fling backward through the air before rolling over and pushing myself up to my feet.

I was frozen by a sick squelching accompanied by snapping wood. Looking in the direction of the sound, I was horrified to find Thadyn's body impaled on a brittle, dead tree off the path. The approach of a horseman should have had me fleeing, but I could only stand in shock as dark crimson spilled off the large branch breaching his stomach. My gut twisted as he coughed up blood.

There was no recovery from such a wound. I knew that, in my heart of hearts. I had doomed a man to death with my Voice. Dropping to my knees, I gazed up into his somber eyes as tears flowed down my face.

"Oh, my God," I breathed out shakily, hands covering my mouth in alarm.

With surprise, I saw him lift his hand in my direction and try to cast a spell. Still in shock, I desperately tried to kickstart my body as a swirling white ball of magicka flew in my direction. Just before it hit me, time seemed to slow down, and I saw his body go slack. Simultaneously, the horseman came around the corner and I saw Brynjolf's worried face catch sight of the spell hurtling my way.

Relief flooded through me as the spell hit and I felt my eyes roll backward.

I sat on a sack of flour, watching the baker's son kneading a ball of dough. It was hot in the room to assist the yeast, but he didn't seem to notice.

"You really don't get bored? Just sitting there watching me work?" he asked, a charming smile in place.

"It beats being around my harpy of a step-mother and her plans to marry me off to some far-away farmer's son," I replied with a grin, sliding off the sack to approach him. Swiping a hand across some of the flour on the work surface, I raised it to slide up his chiseled forearm. A trail of flour followed my palm.

"Well, if you let me finish this batch of bread, I can show you a really good time," he offered in a seductive voice, waggling his dough-caked fingers and leaning in to capture my lips. I couldn't help but press my body against his.

. . . . .

I smoothed at my hair as I made my way out of Riverside into the Dryside district. I didn't want anyone to suspect I'd just been rolling around in a hay pile behind the baker's shop.

Over the roar of the nearby river, I thought I heard a shout and paused to listen more intently. Crime wasn't anything new in Markarth, but I tried to be attentive when I could.

Following the sound of groans and moans, I worried someone had been attacked and left in an alleyway. My brain didn't put the pieces together quickly enough, for when I rounded a deserted corner, I looked down a path between two shops and saw none other than Thongvor Silver-Blood's prized nephew - Robin - fucking our neighbor's wife into the wall. Both panting heavily, neither noticed me for a moment as I continued to watch in amusement.

Blackmail was common among the nobles of the city, but I'd never been interested in their petty games. No, I was intending to leave everything behind as soon as the opportunity presented itself. Still, it would be fun to scare both of them by simply knowing about their rendezvous.

"Should I invite the rest of the neighbors for the show?" I asked, watching as they both spluttered apart. I matched Robin's glare as they both beat a hasty retreat.

. . . . .

"I thought you said they wanted to marry you to a farmer," the baker's son said, spreading a sweet sauce over some pastries.

"They did. I have no idea why they've arranged for me to marry him," I hissed in disdain. I'd found out that morning that my father had struck a deal with the Silver-Bloods to wed Robin. "It must be his failsafe to keep me from announcing to all that he was fucking Tyrma's brains out in an alleyway."

"How would marrying you prevent that?" he asked, concentrating on his work.

"If we're married, I'd be ruining my own family's reputation too," I sighed, taking a bite from a sweet roll. "And it would seem like the ramblings of a jealous lover."

"The only jealous lover is me," he replied with a simper, setting his brush down and walking to me. I grinned as his lips smashed into mine.

. . . . .

I hadn't made it three steps into the house when my step-mother, Sylvia, had me against a wall and was feeling up my dress to my crotch.

"What are you doing?!" I asked indignantly, knowing what she was searching for. I cringed as her fingers found the wet remains of my recent coupling.

"Erpur!" she shrieked, standing back indignantly and dragging me down the hall by the wrist.

"What is all this shouting for?" my father asked with frustration, rolling his eyes when he caught sight of Sylvia tugging me toward him. "What now?"

"This," she screeched, lifting her glistening fingers and showing him the sticky substance. "She has been whoring herself around!"

My father's composure was replaced straightaway with fury as he grabbed me by the hair and drug me into his work room. He threw me down in front of the fire and directed Sylvia to shut the door.

"Who's the boy?" he asked, pacing. I could see the anger rolling off him. When I didn't reply, he turned on me and unleashed his fury.

"WHO'S THE BOY YOU'VE BEEN FUCKING AROUND WITH?!"

I recoiled, a hand rubbing at my tender scalp.

When his hand drew back to strike me, I quickly shielded my face and whimpered, "Askel, the baker's son."

"I'll take care of it," Sylvia spoke up, standing at the edge of my father's desk. Several letters of correspondence were strewn across the surface.

. . . . .

"You can't do this! He didn't steal anything, and you know it!" I screamed, flinging the door to my father's work room open.

"Shut your mouth girl; the servants will hear and then gossip," Sylvia hissed in my ear, ushering me into the room and closing the door far more gently than I had been.

"We still need to think of how to handle her lack of virginity," my father said, ignoring my outburst. "The Silver-Bloods will know when Robin goes to consummate the marriage."

"Well Robin has his own little secret that I'm well aware of! You can't throw Askel into the Cidhna Mine for a crime he didn't commit, and you can't make me marry that foul creature! I'll go shouting all your misdeeds to the town if you try!"

I saw a worried look pass between my father and Sylvia before they recollected themselves.

"If you don't watch your tongue, I'll make sure that boy is killed before he can even get his first week's ration," my father hissed, looming above me. "And if you want him to have an easier time, you will be wed to Robin before that filth is released."

"You don't even care about my happiness at all, do you?" I accused, tears brimming in my eyes. My father had never treated me as kindly as he did my younger half-siblings - perhaps he blamed me for my mother dying in childbirth - but even this was a new low.

"I care about power and influence… that is what has gotten our family to where we are. I was young, but I well remember when we were still poor before the Forsworn Invasion. I vowed I would never live like that again, and you won't stop me."

He had spoke in such a low, powerful voice that something deep inside me genuinely feared for my life. Still, my heart was riled up. I didn't particularly love Askel, but I hated to see the injustice being done simply because I didn't think my virginity mattered in the long run.

"If you make me do this, I will tell the world about Robin and Tyrma sleeping with one another - something that may very well bring into question her newborn's parentage - and I will bring everyone down with me."

I didn't have proof, but youthful confidence reassured me I would find a way to prove what I'd seen. Surely the accusation itself would warrant an investigation into the claim.

"Lock her in her room," my father ordered, returning to the chair behind his desk. Sylvia passed me a fake smile as she took me by the arm.

. . . . .

I had been confined to the house, much to my sisters' delight. As we were preparing for bed, they had quite the laugh while taunting me with tales from their day out in the city. Having quickly gotten fed up with their antics, I quietly walked down the stairs to read by the fire. As I passed by my father's office, I heard voices filtering out from the slightly-ajar door. Curiosity overwhelming me, I looked around for any straggling servants and edged closer to the threshold.

"She's too big a threat to everything we've worked toward," my father sighed, his chair squeaking as he shifted his weight on it.

"You honestly believe she'd turn on everyone like that?" Sylvia asked softly, her voice almost melodic.

"I wouldn't put it past her - the unruly vermin," he grumbled. "No, we mustn't risk it. If she makes good on her threat, we'll lose all power we hold and have to face the might of the Silver-Bloods."

"What do you suggest, then?"

"What do you suggest, my clever wife?"

I heard Sylvia's lilting giggle as my blood ran cold.

"Perhaps a good push off a bridge when walking around the city? Divines know it happens to enough children fooling around… Then we can offer up Joslinna in her place. And if Robin doesn't like that, we can tell him we know what he's been up to..."

"Not suspicious and clean… I like it. The sooner the better."

"In a few days, then, to allow the dust to settle from this Askel business."

. . . . .

"Father, I need to run to the alchemist for ingredients. It's that time of the month," I said shyly, keeping away from his desk.

"Send a servant for such menial tasks," he replied, scrawling numbers into an account book.

"They always bring back such poor ingredients. I want to make sure I get good stuff," I pouted, twisting a toe into the floorboard.

"Fine, but straight there and back. If you loiter around, you'll be punished even more severely," he huffed, waving a hand in my direction as though shooing off a bug.

'Can't be more severe than murder by rocky waterfall,' I thought, plastering a smile to my face.

"Thank you! I'll just go grab my bag," I replied, climbing the stairs to the room I shared with my three sisters.

"Change into something more presentable, as well! You're dressed like a common servant!"

And that had been my plan. It wouldn't do to travel the roads in the fine dresses and jewelry of my station in life. Wearing some lower-class garments around the home wasn't out of character for me, and I had counted on it not giving me away.

Luckily, my sisters were spending their days out in the city to ensure they could hold it over my head during the evening, so I'd been able to pack a light bag before even approaching my father. The less I carried out of the house, the less suspicion I would arouse from anyone who spotted me. Inside my satchel was a hefty bag of coin and some jewelry - surely enough to get me as far from Markarth as possible - along with a dagger. I was quite skilled in alchemy - it being my family's trade - so I wasn't too worried about finding employment where I was heading. Surely Riften would need a skilled alchemist's assistant.

Upon arriving in the marketplace, I pulled some more coins from my pocket to acquire a few small bread rounds and fruit… perfectly normal purchases. Casting my gaze around the vicinity, I surreptitiously headed toward the gates of the city. Everyone was milling about for their midday hauls, with several guards changing post. Amid all the hustle and bustle, I slipped out of the gates with no one the wiser.

. . . . .

I struggled against my bindings, the rope rubbing my wrists raw. Several Forsworn milled nearby, gazing at me through the tent's entrance on occasion. I really needed to learn how to use a blade if I wanted to defend myself from thugs.

"I swear, she one of them noble's daughters," one man was insisting.

"Who's your family, girl?" another man asked, squatting in front of me and slipping my gag down. Resolutely, I kept my mouth shut and just glared at him.

"We aren't going to hurt you… much," a woman cackled, a couple of her teeth obviously knocked out during a fight long ago. "You obviously aint no working woman, such soft skin."

I tried in vain to scoot away.

"We'll make this easy," another man said, looming over me. "You tell us who your family is… we ask them for a bit of money… then we release you."

"I'm better off with you lot, trust me," I said, glowering at them all.

"Come on. Maybe her lips will loosen when she's hungry in a couple days."

And indeed, two nights later, the same looming man had gently cradled my head, limp from fatigue.

"Tell us who you are, and this stew is yours," he said, almost kindly. I had to remind myself, he hadn't been kind by taking me hostage, let along starving me for two days. Still, I was hungry, and didn't stand a chance at escaping in my current condition.

"Gulisien," I whispered, voice dry and hoarse.

"That's a good girl," he cooed, holding some water up to my lips to let me sip at it. "And what's your family name?"

"Raynott."

I could feel the cold water winding down to my stomach.

"Very good. Let's undo these so you can eat," he said in a friendly tone, pulling out a dagger from a nearby chest. After slicing at the rope binding my wrists, he placed the dagger on top of the chest and proceeded to unravel the remaining rope. Not wanting to draw attention to his mistake, I kept my gaze on my legs as he exited and called for someone to keep watch.

I rolled my hands around, encouraging normal blood flow. Not wanting to be tied up again right away, I ate slowly and kept eying the Forsworn posted to watch me with his double axe.

"Hey, over here," another Forsworn called to him, waving him over from the nearby forge.

"No funny business, or we'll get you in the back with an arrow," he warned, standing and walking out the open tent entrance and the twenty or so paces to his companion.

I set down my bowl and massaged at my still-bound legs while casting my eyes around the large tent I was being kept in. Not seeing anyone within my line of sight, I reached out an arm toward the forgotten dagger and grabbed it in my hand.

Eyes glued to my watchman, I took the sharp edge to the binding on my ankles and worked at fraying the rope apart. Luckily, the rope wasn't too thick and I felt the tension go slack. Another man joined the two at the forge and shared a round of laughter. Shoving the dagger underneath my bottom, I grabbed my cup of water and downed the contents.

"May I have more water, please?" I called out, turning my cup upside down to signal I was out.

"Fine," my guard huffed, roughly taking the cup and fetching me more water before lighting a small lantern and rejoining his friends by the forge. It was growing darker outside, and the cold was settling in, so being near the heat was desirable. Every couple minutes, he would look my way to ensure I wasn't up to anything suspicious.

When he wasn't looking, I unraveled the rope from my ankles, leaving it draped over to appear as though I was still bound. I finally finished my stew and downed my water - not knowing when my next chance at a meal would be. More and more of the Forsworn were settling in for the night, and there would be fewer guards posted around the camp.

If memory served me correctly, the tent I was in was located on the back edge of the camp near a small rocky cliff. If I were careful, I could climb down the face of it to my freedom. I gathered my nerves as best as I could, massaging the feeling back into my now prickling legs.

"I should get back to my post," I heard my watchman say, putting down a bottle of mead.

"One more!" another insisted. "Look, she's not going anywhere."

And indeed, their whole group turned as one to spy me on the ground inside the tent. They shared another round of laughter before he relented and cracked open another bottle. I would need to act fast. Looking to the other Forsworn within my line of sight, no one appeared to be paying any attention to me. Reaching underneath me, I gripped the hilt of the dagger and scrambled to the back edge of the tent and ripped a cut to climb out through.

. . . . .

"Uncle Thadyn," I cried, pounding on the door of his small cottage. A small vegetable patch sat happily on one side of the home south of Lake Ilinalta. I'd only been to the place a few times as a child, but it remained as lovely as I remembered it. I had even surprised myself by being able to find it after so long. I had wandered through the wilderness for a day before venturing back to the road and instantly recognizing my surroundings.

"Gulisien? Is that you?!" I heard his familiar male voice call out before the door swung open.

"What are you doing here? What happened?"

His hands cupped my face as he took in my ragged appearance. My clothing was ripped, I was dirty all over, and I was sure my hair looked ghastly. I even had some cuts and bruises from my mishandling at the Forsworn's hands. But, I was alive and safe. Dropping my dagger, I leapt into his embrace. My Uncle Thadyn, while I knew he did awful things on behalf of my father, had always treated me kindly.

"Come in and let's get you cleaned up," he said in his warm, crackly voice. I could only smile as tears blurred my vision.

. . . . .

"There's nothing you want in Falkreath?" Thadyn asked, tying a coin purse to his belt as he eyed my sloppily mended clothing. He was heading into town again for some potion supplies.

"No. These are fine for now," I smiled, pausing in my reading of a rudimentary book on spellcasting. He had agreed to teach me some basic spells for self defense, and we found fire magicka came to me rather naturally.

"If you're certain," he smiled, heading for the door.

I had continued to read, stopping occasionally to consider how long I should stay before "going home". He hadn't asked why I had shown up or how long I would stay when I appeared a few days ago, but had welcomed my presence instantaneously. I'd put my appearance down to encountering some bandits, and he'd accepted it readily enough. If he had heard from my father prior to my arrival, he certainly didn't indicate so. Nevertheless, as kind as he was to me, I knew his loyalty was primarily to my father, and to stay too long would be risky.

"Tomorrow," I decided, setting the book down. Yes, the next day, I would continue on my way to Riften to start a new life far from the corruption of Markarth. Briefly, I thought of Askel and how he was holding up in the Mines. Father had said he would only be there a few months, but a few months in there must end up seeming like an eternity.

My reading was interrupted a couple hours later by a sharp rapping on the door.

"Courier for Thadyn Raynott," a young man announced when I opened the door. A satchel brimming with letters was slung around his body.

"I'm afraid he's just gone into town," I replied with a sheepish smile.

"It's rather urgent. I was told to specifically deliver this letter first thing - at his home," the young man, who could only be a few years younger than me, worried.

"Here," I said, reaching out for the letter. "I'll read it and - if it's something truly urgent - I will go to Falkreath myself to inform him. Otherwise, I'll alert him when he returns."

"Thank you… I sort of have a full load today," he grinned sheepishly, indicating his bursting bag.

"Have a good day," I smiled, closing the door and returning to the dining table.

Using a nearby candle, I softened the wax seal and opened the letter, only to find the familiar handwriting of my father. He urged Uncle Thadyn to continue playing ignorant to events in Markarth and to dispose of me as soon as possible. He'd even posed putting my disappearance and death down to a bandit attack while I was en route for a planned visit to his home.

My body went numb as I continued reading through the letter. My father reminded Thadyn about what was at stake, should I ever have the chance to air our family's dirty laundry. He also boasted about now holding power over the Silver-Bloods thanks to my reveal about Robin's illicit activities.

Setting the letter down, I took a moment to consider everything. Obviously, my uncle had sent a letter behind my back to my father. I had no doubt he already had blood on his hands, but wondered if he would really kill me in cold blood.

Not wanting to chance it, I began to hastily pack one of Thadyn's travelling satchels with some food and spare clothing. I even threw my beginner's magicka book, a blank journal, and a few potions in for good measure. His chest was locked up tight, so I only had access to a few gold pieces spread thoughtlessly on a bookshelf.

Mind whirling with self-preservation, I took off east down the road.

. . . . .

I stood outside the inn in Helgen, having grabbed a quick bite before continuing into the mountain pass. I was a bit shocked to see Imperial carriages hauling what appeared to be numerous Stormcloak soldiers. They were parking the prisoners directly in front of the inn while a priestess and executioner prepared near a chopping block.

"Excuse me, miss. I'm going to need to you step back," a handsome blond Nord said, indicating for me to climb back up to the inn's porch. I saw him consulting a list with a female Imperial.

"I'm sorry, thank you," I replied meekly, doing as I was told.

As the man began to call names of prisoners, checking their name off a list, I inspected where my shoddy hemming job had already unraveled. I had never practiced my sewing, so I wasn't surprised that the numerous rips in my clothes had already returned.

Hearing a fuss, I looked up to see a man trying to run away from the guards, only to be riddled in the back with a volley of arrows. I cringed, watching the blood pool around him.

As the guards and prisoners moved to the chopping block, several surrounding townsfolk stepped closer and began to jeer at the Stormcloaks. After the first prisoner's head was sheared off, rolling a few feet away from his body, I felt my stomach become queasy from the sight.

It was when the second prisoner's body was in position that a terrible sound pierced the air, sending a shiver down my spine. Stepping off the porch and onto the steps, I looked around the sky, wondering what kind of creature could have issued such a cry. When it happened a second time, several others began to search the sky.

It was while I was looking around that I saw him. My Uncle Thadyn stood further up the path, closer to the eastern gate, watching me intently. More than the eerie sound issuing through the sky, his presence caused my blood to run cold and my legs to feel like lead.

'How did he track me!?' I worried, not noticing when General Tulius directed the execution to continue.

Thadyn seemed to be staring coldly into my soul, promising I would not escape. But then I saw a large creature, with leathery sail-like wings land heavily onto the tower behind the executioner, whose axe was raised high above his head. The force of his touchdown set the ground trembling and I nearly lost my balance.

"DRAGON!" several people shouted, running as the black beast took a deep breath and let out a thunderous roar toward the assembled crowd. Firey balls began to rain down from the clouds hovering low in the sky. As people scattered, one fireball hit a large tree and knocked it into the path leading back to the eastern gate. At once, I was relieved that Thadyn's access to me had been cut off, but it was followed by dread of being blocked in.

"This way!" one of the escaped Stormcloaks called, signalling the nearby stone tower.

I had been lead up a stairwell, figuring I was safe from any fire within the stone building, but then the dragon had burst through the wall and breathed hot fire at a couple of the men.

"We'll have to jump across to the inn's second floor!" one man yelled, the citizens' screams of terror barely heard over the sounds of the dragon. I was the last one left in the stairwell, gazing with trepidation at the gap between the tower and the inn's exposed second floor. Closing my eyes, I took a couple steps back, inhaled deeply, and ran forward.

. . . . .

I truly couldn't have been more thankful to Hadvar and his family. He had taken charge in battling our way out of Helgen, saving my life from more than one foe. Then his uncle and aunt had kindly taken me in and, despite my absolute breakdown from the stress of everything, had cleaned me up, given me new clothes, fed me, and given me encouragement.

I'd had terrible nightmares about the dragon and Thadyn that night, and wanted nothing more than to put everything behind me and start anew. And they had all encouraged me in that pursuit, despite that fact I dissolved into a blubbering mess just thinking about the events of the last week. I had tried to be strong and positive, but I learned that even I had a limit.

But as Alvor and Sigrid had emphasized, I had proven I was stronger than I previously thought by surviving the attack at Helgen. And that alone had gone a long way to bolstering my resolve. And so, the next morning, I informed them I would be continuing to Riften.

However, all my anxiety and trepidation returned ten-fold after taking just a few steps out of their home. For there, across the path on the porch of Riverwood's inn, was my uncle.

"Something wrong, Gulisien?" Sigrid asked when I stood perfectly still.

"Gulisien! I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"No," I whispered and shook my head, seeing my uncle's look of triumph as he descended the steps. "No!"

I turned and took off down the path, surprised to see Thadyn keeping up despite his age. I knew from the numerous stories he told me growing up that he had never learned to swim, so I veered off the path and ran for the river. Perhaps he would be too afraid to even attempt swimming across.

"Gulisien!" I heard voices yelling, too far away to help should Thadyn catch up with me.

I had nearly made it to the water when I felt a cold wash of magic hit my back and spread through me. Instantly, my heart went calm and I stood apathetically. I couldn't speak, but my mind was screaming in protest.

"You're not getting away this time, my dear," he huffed, standing beside me. Vaguely, I heard other footsteps join us.

"Is she alright?" Alvor asked from behind me.

"Yes, yes. I'm her uncle from Markarth," Thadyn explained, reaching up to gently smooth my hair down. "She mistook me at first… I've been looking everywhere for her. Her father has wished for her to return home."

"Her uncle, you say?" Sigrid asked, her voice laced with hesitation. "Gulisien?"

Calmly, I nodded my head, turning to face them. I could feel the tear tracks drying on my cheeks.

"Well, I suppose you're in safe hands then," Sigrid sighed, turning to her husband with a questioning look.

"Thank you for taking such good care of her," Thadyn smiled, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

My mind screamed out for them to stop him - anything but let him walk me out of town and to my death… But I wasn't so lucky, for he lead me passed the two guards at the southern gate and back along the path toward Helgen.

"If only you had learned to control your temper, all of this could have been avoided," he sighed, walking a couple steps behind me. "You just had to go and make threats against your father."

"He framed an innocent man and planned to force me into a marriage purely for political gain," I managed to mumble, my mind trying desperately to break the spell he had cast.

"If you had simply left, he would have let you be," Thadyn replied emphatically, his voice sounding older than ever. "And now I have to take care of you, or face my own punishment."

I could hear the regret in his tone, and thought frantically of how I could appeal to it as the spell began to wear off.

"Uncle Thadyn," I cried out, turning and dropping to my knees. I felt my heart beginning to pick up its pace again as tears flooded my eyes. I looked up into his face, pleading.

"Gulisien," he sighed, crossing his arms.

"Please, I beg you. There must be another way. I swear, I want nothing more than to leave everything behind - to forget about Markarth and life as the unwanted Raynott daughter. To forget the awful sound of that dragon and the smell of burnt flesh..."

I could see his eyes soften, knowing I had been longing to leave the city and its internal world of conniving nobles behind. And he had witnessed the horror at Helgen as well - his own robes charred in places and smeared with soot.

"You must have some spell that could make me forget everything… and never want to return."

"Such a thing exists, but it comes with a cost… as all spells do."

He paused, looking stonily into my distraught face, before relenting.

"I would not be able to entirely erase your memories. Doing so will leave you as nothing more than a shell, sitting comatose until your dying day. No - they will still lurk, in your head, unless the seal is released. And if it stays in place too long, it has been observed to drive a person insane."

"So I would need them unlocked eventually…" I concluded, blinking away the tears blurring my vision.

"Likely. It is impossible to truly run away from your past. You would need to face these demons sooner rather than later… but it might be enough time to allow all of this to blow over and for you to establish a new life."

"I'll do anything," I swore, grasping at his crossed arms. "Please."

"Even risk insanity, should I not have the chance to unseal your mind?"

"Yes," I said confidently. Insanity wasn't as bad as death, after all.

"Then we will need to get you as far from Markarth as possible, but not too far for me to monitor you. If you're discovered, it will be my head as well as yours."

"I was going to Riften," I said, feeling the anxiety lessen its grip on my heart.

"Yes, I figured. You always were fascinated by it… yes, Riften will do. Not many of consequence in The Reach often go that far into the Rift."

He walked around me and continued up the path. I scrambled to my feet to follow him.

"Once we are outside Riften, I will seal your memories. Your mind may create false memories to compensate, but that will help keep you disguised. Truly deluding yourself is less detectable than trying to pass off a lie."

"Uncle Thadyn, thank you," I said emphatically.

"You're lucky I've always been fond of you," he smiled before sighing and rubbing at his face. "Pray to the Divines Erpur doesn't discover any of this."

. . . . .

"How long do you think I could keep my memories sealed before it becomes dangerous?" I asked as Thadyn had me sit down near a tree. I could hear the horses at the nearby stable.

"Journals from those who experimented with this branch of mind magic have indicated some test subjects went years without any adverse effects… others only managed a few months."

"I see," I replied, wondering why there was such a disparity. Nonetheless, this was the only way - apart from being outright killed - Thadyn could ensure my silence on my father's behalf.

"Are you ready?" he asked, crouching before me.

"I won't remember anything?" I asked again, feeling the tiniest bit of fear at my unknown future. Still, I had never let fear stop me.

"No. Subjects have been known to even forget about Tamriel itself after being sealed."

"How will I know to trust you, when it comes time to unseal me?"

I heard my own voice quaver, but held my head high. The fog - something so foreign to me - was making the surroundings more intimidating.

"I will see to that - don't worry," he smiled tightly, patting my hair.

"Thank you, again," I whispered, my breath catching as his stoic demeanor broke.

"I do this because I care about you," he said hoarsely. "I know our family doesn't express such things, but I want you to know that. You're the only one who's never asked anything of me. That's the only reason I'm willing to do this."

"Yet you were going to kill me for my father's political agenda," I accused softly, the rocks beneath me already digging uncomfortably into my legs.

"An old man's sense of self-preservation," he explained, shaking his head. "It's time."

I nodded and laid on my side, staring at the bark of the nearby tree while I waited for the spell.

"Arkay preserve us, and let this be enough," I heard Thadyn pray before a pain shot through my head and I fell unconscious.

"Uhg, where am I?" I groaned, sitting up in a dimly lit stone chamber. I could hear the crackling of a fire in the next room, and groggily sat up. I hadn't quite made it to the door before everything reached me in a rush. I dropped to my knees, having regained all my memories as Gulisien. But the false memories and my life as Dani were still there. Thadyn had unsealed me before dying…

I took deep breaths, trying to prevent the onset of shock. Yes, my memories had returned, but I still felt like Dani. I could recall with perfect clarity spending several afternoons with Askel in the baker's kitchen… but the emotions associated with them were gone. It was as though they were a lifetime ago. I was the Dovahkiin now.

Then my mind caught up with me and I remembered Brynjolf's worried face before Thadyn's final spell struck me. Had he brought me here? Slowing my mind down, I took closer stock of my surroundings. Through the doorway, I could make out parts of the living quarters within the Blades' compound.

"Brynjolf?" I called out, my voice dry and weak.

Using the doorframe, I climbed to my feet and progressed into the living quarters, only to find it empty apart from the blazing fire. Exiting out into the main chamber, I couldn't help blinking at all the sunlight filtering in from natural skylights. I only saw Mjoll standing by the Wall with Esbern, who appeared to be explaining part of the relief. Leaving them be, I continued in search of Brynjolf, climbing the stairs up to the outside courtyard.

After opening the door, Lydia and Delphine, who had been sparring at the nearest pavilion, turned to look at me. I saw Delphine smile and her lips move, but I couldn't hear her over the gusty wind. Slowly, my legs still fatigued from my exertion before, I climbed down the steps and greeted them.

"How are you, my Thane?" Lydia asked, eyes wide with concern at my tired look.

"I… don't honestly know," I replied, running a hand through my hair. "Physically just tired."

"You've been out for nearly a day," Delphine chuckled, slapping a hand on my shoulder.

"How did I get here?" I asked, eyes casting about the rest of the courtyard.

"Brynjolf brought you," the older woman replied, nodding her head to the other pavilion. Looking that way, I failed to see him.

"Said you were hit by a spell and went unconscious, so he carried you and your things up here through Karthspire," Lydia explained, inspecting me for any obvious hints at being unwell.

"He was initiated into the Blades," Delphine added, standing with her arms crossed.

"He what?" I asked, blinking at her. He had mentioned wanting to stay with me, but he had never mentioned joining my cause in that capacity.

"He mentioned you planning to look for a man to fill the last recruit spot, and figured he might as well take it since he planned on going wherever you do."

My feet felt glued to the ground as a wave of gratitude and love swept through me.

"He's over there?" I asked, looking to the other pavilion, which stood over the edge of the mountain upon which the Temple sat.

"He's been a bit sulky, worrying about you," Lydia admitted with a small smile. I nodded, waving at them as I made for his location.

It wasn't until I was under the overhang that I saw his foot peeking out from behind a pillar.

"Brynjolf?" I asked softly, watching in amusement as he swiftly turned my way.

"Lass!" he exclaimed, rushing forward to engulf me in his embrace. I burrowed into the crook of his neck and absorbed his warmth. My mind was full of too many things I wanted to say, so I settled for pulling back and pressing my mouth to his.

"How are you?" he asked in concern, cradling my head with both hands as he searched my face. His thumb gently prodded where my split lip was still healing.

"I'm alright, just recovering from his spell," I smiled, drinking in his green eyes.

"What did it do?"

"It unsealed my memories as Gulisien."

His eyebrows furrowed as he processed the news.

"I thought he wiped your memory?"

Standing back, I grabbed his hand and walked toward the cliff's edge.

"My restored memories revealed he sealed them. There was a risk of going insane from the process, with no definite time frame, but I was willing to take it over death. I guess, however willing he was to kill me to save his own neck, he still cared enough to take care of me in his dying moments… he is dead, right?"

"Aye… awful way to go…"

"I… was shocked," I admitted, the guilt returning as I pictured his body run through with a dead tree limb. "The Greybeards warned me about the power of the Voice, but I disregarded it. I feel… dirty… It wasn't intentional, but my careless use of my ability directly lead to his death."

"It was life or death, Dani," he said passionately, turning me to face him. "There was no bargaining your way out a second time…"

"Especially because my father wanted my detached head upon Thadyn's return," I groused, wrapping my arms around his waist.

"What exactly happened? I came back to the inn to give you an update, and the innkeeper said you hadn't even made it in. I was waiting for you in the room when I heard you. So I grabbed our things and booked it outside. When I asked someone what happened, they said you and the mage had run out the front gates, so I stole the horse to catch up with you."

"Well…" I huffed, contemplating how to explain it. "I was drinking the pain relief potion when I bumped into someone. As my luck would have it, turned out to be my half-sister. She got my father and step-mother's attention, and I ran off. They pursued, and I managed to ditch them, but then Thadyn caught me off guard."

Brynjolf nodded, obviously holding back a dig, and encouraged me to continue.

"I woke up in my old home, with Thadyn pacing around. Then my father came in and ordered him to take me out of the city when the market closed and relieve me of my head. If he didn't do the job this time, my father threatened to kill him as well."

"I see… then there really was no talking your way out again."

"No, which is why I didn't even really try."

Brynjolf reached up and tenderly brushed my cheek.

"And now you have all your memories?"

"Yeah," I sighed, leaning into his touch.

"How are you?"

I looked off into the distance as I thought. The sun was setting behind the mountains, casting bright oranges and reds onto the clouds.

"I'm okay. What happened to me wasn't as bad as I thought - no rape, torture, or stuff like that. I was just a trapped girl trying to escape her gilded cage. But even then, I feel so far removed from who I was… I'm more than I ever thought I could be."

Brynjolf smiled, leaning in to kiss my hair. I stepped closer and fully embraced him.

"Delphine said you joined the Blades…"

"Aye. I'm with you every step of the way."

Turning my head to rest on his chest, I took a cleansing breath.

"You know, I've been through some pretty trying things in the last year… however…"

I pulled back just enough so we could look one another in the eye. He continued to smile down at me with a tender gaze.

"I don't know what the future holds, or where all the future tomorrows will take me, but knowing you - my guildmate; my fellow Blade and Nightingale; my lover; my best friend - knowing you will be by my side through all of it makes the thought far less daunting."