Wrath of the Dragon part 6

The sun was slowly setting over the lands of Skyrim. Not that anyone could see it set, but as things around them grew darker they knew the day was ending. The few people that were outside quickly hurried back to their houses, no matter where they were. The entire land of Skyrim had become quiet. Eerily so.

In Markarth the Jarl had praised the large walls that protected the city, yet he knew that other villages in his hold were not so lucky. Karthwasten was one of them and he had no idea how they would fare. Solitude now seemed to live up to its name. Most folk stayed inside their homes unless they needed to go outside. Little had come from the Blue Palace and people were not sure if they should be worried or thankful.

Ironically, the cities without walls seemed to fare better than those with walls. Falkreath was quiet, yet not much more so than it had always been. The people seemed to be able to continued their normal lives, yet kept their conversations brief and to the point. The Jarl had locked himself in his longhouse, yet the people did not mind. If they could run their day to day business and avoid a draft from the jarl, they would not complain. The people of Falkreath had always run themselves, relying far less on the Jarl than most holds.

Unique was Morthal where lives were hardly disrupted by the mist. The rain was still falling, yet it was not pouring as much as it did a week ago. The swamp had forced the people to grow accustomed to water and fog, so this was no different from normal. Only a few were worried when the mist suddenly rolled in, yet all had calmed down after a few days and resumed their normal lives.

On the other end of Skyrim, in Riften, things were the opposite. There the townsfolk stayed inside and the streets were quieter than ever before. The rain could be heard everywhere, yet the canals started to drain themselves again, albeit it slowly. No-one walked the streets, not even the guards. They were stationed strategically, yet did not leave their posts. The city was quiet, but he air was heavy. This was the second day after they had all been warned. Tomorrow the fate of Riften would be decided and they would all be part of it. In some houses the minds were as one. In others they were still divided, but they knew they had to make a choice before the dawn.

Outside the city, shrouded in mist and fog, a small camp was made. It was invisible to see from the city walls, yet it was not a stone's throw away. There Tarrion and Serana waited for the night to fall. Lydia had joined them as it was better this way. Mjoll had enough trouble as it is and if Maven would find out she sheltered Lydia and Iona, it would make her life even more difficult. Serana thought it best Lydia was with them as it would give Mjoll and Iona more time for themselves, yet she had not told anyone what she had seen.

"What do you think will happen?"

Lydia looked at Tarrion who seemed to be lost in thought. A deep frown was on his forehead as he stared into the small campfire. A vein was visible on his temple.

"Tarrion?" she asked again and he woke from his trance.

"Hmm? What?" his gruff voice asked. "Sorry, I didn't hear you."

"Clearly…. I asked what do you think will happen tomorrow? Do you think many will side with us?"

"Hmm… I hope so," he answered. "I hope everyone will see reason and help depose Maven. If not, things will get ugly."

"Maven will not go down without a fight though, I am sure of that."

"True, but I hope the guards will. I hope they will realize that Maven is wrong for this hold and its people and that they can do something about it."

"I think they will."

Serana walked from behind the tent and sat next to Tarrion. "I think they will side with us."

"What makes you think that?" Lydia asked.

"The way no-one barred our way when we left," was the simple answer. "We went against one of the Jarls, something no-one does unpunished… and yet they let us go. They did not try to stop us and it seemed a few were almost relieved to see someone stand against Maven."

Lydia poked the fire with a stick. "I hope you're right."

The next morning they walked towards the city gates. Lydia stayed close to Tarrion so as not to lose sight of him, as the mist disoriented her more than Serana whose Vampiric abilities seemed to have been lessened, yet still worked. As they neared the shattered gates they could hear murmurs coming from the gatehouse. A small barricade was placed to prevent people from leaving or entering.

As soon as the guards saw the three approach all jumped to attention, yet no swords were drawn. The captain of the guard, a large man with a long, brown beard stood on a few boxes and looked at Tarrion, who looked back. For a few moments the two stared at each other before the captain raised his hand.

"Open the barricade. Let them pass."

Without hesitation a few sharpened stakes were removed and all the guards formed a line out of respect.

The three Nords walked past them and saw many nod, or hold their fist to their chest as a salute. The captain waited for them at the end of the column and stood in front of Tarrion.

"Maven told us to kill you on sight," he said calmly, yet then a smile appeared. "But as far as I am concerned, she can go to Oblivion. We are with you, Dragonborn."

He saluted the man in front of him, and Tarrion saluted back, after which the entire group left the gates and entered the city.

As they continued, people started to open their windows and whispers filled the air. None payed any attention to them yet before long a few of the townsfolk joined the group. The further they entered the city, more and more people joined them until, by the time they reached the market square, a large crowd followed them with Tarrion, Serana and Lydia walking in front.

But when they reached Mistveil Keep they found themselves blocked by a small army. The entrance was blocked by a large barricade. A makeshift palisade was made and archers were placed on elevated plateaus. In front of the large doors to the keep itself stood Maul with his sword at the ready.

"I was hoping you would not return," a voice echoed from above.

High above everyone, on a balcony, Maven Blackbriar looked down on what transpired in the courtyard. She was wearing the clothes for the Jarl, yet a large, strange crown adorned her head. It was made from solid gold with a large red jewel placed on the brow. On both sides two 'wings' were made and seemingly dozens of similar red jewels, yet smaller, glistened in the morning light.

Maven took a large swig from a silver goblet and made an almost drunk impression.

"Do you really think you can defeat all my guards?" she shouted. "Or are you willing to kill half of them to get rid of me? You are quite the hero."

She took another swig and threw the goblet down.

"I have given you one chance to leave and not return, yet you cannot even obey that. I have no use for a man like you in my hold."

The guards below moved uneasily and many of them had not grasped their swords. The archers had now drawn their arrows, and those that did had not placed them on the string.

"Guards!" Maven shouted. "Kill him."

No-one moved.

"Didn't you hear your Jarl?" Maul barked at the guards. "Kill him!"

Again, no-one moved. Many had grasped their sword or bow tighter, but none of them made any further moves. Tarrion could see each of them think about their next move, knowing neither choice would be without consequences.

Serana could see Maven's face stiffen as none of her guards obeyed her orders. "Maul!" she shouted, now maniacally. "Kill him! Bring me his head!"

Maul raised his sword, but then, almost in unison, all guards turned around. Now they unsheathed their swords and stood against the only one that still followed Maven. The archers placed their arrows on the bowstring and took aim as Maul paused. It seemed a decision was finally made.

The captain came standing next to Tarrion and smiled. "Even after more than two years away… you're still more popular than that bitch."

But Tarrion was only relieved now that he saw it would not end up in a slaughter. Serana took his arm and gently squeezed it, as knew what he felt. Lydia had let go of her sword and calmed and sighed in relief.

But above them Maven started shouting. "Traitors! Cowards! Dogs!" and other insults were thrown at the men and women below. In a last ditched attempt she ordered Maul to cut them all down who, shocking to everyone, did as he was ordered. He ran at the men standing in front of him and raised his sword, yet fell down with several arrows through his throat.

Tarrion walked towards the barricades and they were removed, as Maven still screamed at them and damned them all to Oblivion.

"Bring Maven here," he said to a few of the men and women around him. "and any that still stand with her, but do not harm them. Bring them here alive, so that we may judge them."

The guards opened the doors to Mistveil Keep and returned before long with Jarl Maven Black Briar and her two sons. All three of them were chained.

In front of the keep the townsfolk had gathered. All of Riften watched as the Jarl was brought to the centre of the town square, a place that had always been filled with the calling and shouting of merchants, fishermen and customers, buying and selling goods. Now a soft murmur rose up as the people saw their Jarl trying to kick her captors away from her. Many of them wore dark clothes and hoods, likely the only clothes they had left.

A box was placed in the centre of the square and the people cleared the way and created a large open area where Tarrion stood on top of the box as Maven was dragged in front of him. Her large golden crown was nowhere to be found, yet the golden chain around her neck was still there. A large and beautiful golden necklace that only the Jarl would wear. The murmurs started to get stronger and louder and people started to push each other, but Tarrion raised his hand and all fell quiet.

"Maven Black Briar," his voice echoed over the square, loud enough for all to hear him. The people stopped moving as the last few climbed on top of barrels, crates and parapets to get a better view. "You have proven yourself unworthy of the title of Jarl. You have hoarded the wealth of the Rift to yourself and your own, while your people starved. You made an outlaw of those that tried to stop you and defend the people. You have abused your power for your own personal gain."

He paused for a few moments. "Are there any other charges others know that I am forgetting?"

"She has backed and has been backed by the Thieves Guild!" a voice came from the crowd and Tarrion saw a woman with long, blond manes clear her way through the crowd. Mjoll neared the clearing and straightened her back. "I have seen her many times conversing with people who are known associates of the Thieves Guild. She has even admitted this to many who are present here today."

Tarrion nodded and remembered how Maven threatened, or bragged, to him about this as well.

"The Thieves Guild…" Mjoll wanted to continue, but she scoffed. "I don't need to tell the people of Riften who they are. You have suffered enough by their hands, more so than I, and she has supported and protected and had business with them in the past. I do not doubt that she still does."

Many of the those present nodded and mumbled in agreement.

"Then, people of Riften," Tarrion said loudly. "do you still want her to be your Jarl?"

A loud 'No!' and 'Away with her' was her from the crowd. Tarrion nodded at the captain of the guard who took the Jarl's necklace from her neck. Maven spat at his boots but he ignored it.

"Maven Black Briar," Tarrion echoed. "You have been removed from office. The title of Jarl and all its privileges have hereby been taken from you-.."

"Keep your boasting for the brothels!" Maven interrupted him and she spit in his direction. "Get on with your so-called judgement or leave it to your betters. I have better things to do."

Tarrion looked down at her yet she refused to look back.

"Very well," Tarrion nodded and he addressed the crowds around him. "People of Riften. Her crimes were against you, not me, and so it befalls on you to pass judgement. Will you see this woman go free, or imprisoned for the rest of her life?"

But the crowd drowned out his voice with their shouts.

"Hang her!"

"To the block with her!"

"No prison for her, just the headsman's block!"

Tarrion paused at this. He looked at Serana who also seemed to pause, yet nodded reluctantly. He nodded as well and understood what had to be done. If he asked the people to pass judgement, he could not second guess them now. He raised his hands to calm the crowd.

"Very well. Bring a block of wood and let the headsman come."

"STOP!"

A woman screamed as loud as she could and made her way through the crowd. When she arrived at the clearing she stood next to Mjoll and Tarrion saw that it was Ingun.

"You cannot do this!" she shouted and looked from Tarrion to the crowd. "You can't… please."

She ran towards her mother but Mjoll grabbed her by her arms and stopped her. Maven only looked back harsh. "Let them cry for blood, Ingun. It won't do them any good."

"Then let her join her mother!" a few from the crowd called out. "Your entire family profited from our misery. You should pay the same price."

Several of the townsfolk walked to Ingun to grab her, but before Tarrion could react drew Mjoll her sword.

"No!" she said back and pointed Grimsever at the nearest of the men. "She is a Black Briar, yes… but the crimes of the mother will not pass to the daughter."

Ingun fell silent and the men that wanted to hurt her stared at Grimsever. All decided it was not worth it and stepped back.

"It seems they're all bloodthirsty after all," Maven scorned. "How long do you think it will take them to start blaming more for their own mistakes?"

"No, mother!" Ingun begged. "Please, ask for mercy! Don't let them do this. For once don't be so prideful and ask for mercy."

With tears in her eyes Ingun looked at Tarrion, who looked from her to Maven. But Maven almost seemed to smile. "Over my dead body it seems."

"Noo!"

The headsman had arrived and he carried a large axe with him. He was large and his face was masked. Another man brought a large block of wood and placed it in the middle of the clearing where the guards forced Maven to. Ingun kicked and clawed at Mjoll, but she would not let her go. Not without effort did the guards push Maven's neck on the block as the headsman raised his axe. Cheers from the crowd now filled the square, drowning out the sobbing and begging from Ingun who had fallen to her knees. Serana looked at Tarrion, almost urgently, yet he shook his head knowing there was nothing he could do.

The headsman waited for a few moments and looked at Tarrion who did the only thing he could do. He nodded.

Immediately the large axe swung down and buried itself in the back of the first guard. A hooded man jumped from the crowd and rammed a long knife into the neck of the second. People started screaming and more than a dozen hooded figures jumped from all sides. One stabbed Mjoll in her side and a second one grabbed Ingun. Immediately smoke seemed to come out of nowhere, as if by magic, and not even Serana could see through it. The last thing she saw of Maven was how she grabbed a vial and drank its contents.

It all happened faster than anyone could react and by the time anyone could react or knew what was really happening, Maven was gone, along with Ingun, and two guards lay dead in the square. Mjoll lay on the ground gritting her teeth as she held her hand to her side.

The square emptied fast as people ran to their homes. The guards and their captain spread out fast to find the hooded attackers or Maven. Tarrion and Serana rushed to Mjoll who lay grunting on the ground. Blood poured from a wound in her side. Tarrion immediately tried to help but saw the wound was poisoned. Serana put her mouth to the wound and tried to suck out as much as possible after which Tarrion quickly lifted Mjoll up and carried her to the temple of Mara, not far from the square.

There Maramel had already set up a place for her to lie, as he too was present at the square.

"I saw what happened," he said and rushed them inside. "Here, put her down over there. Dinya, you have the herbs?"

From a small room Dinya Balu came rushing with an armful of herbs. "Yes, I have them," she said and kneeled next to Mjoll who grunted in pain. "The water is heating over the fire, but that will take a few more moments before it is ready."

Maramel examined the wound for a few moments before he sighed. "You're in luck, Mjoll. The knife missed your organs, but the poison is still there. However, with these herbs and some rest you will be fine."

"Still hurts badly, though," Mjoll said, yet she felt relieved as well.

"Knifes shoved in your sides tend to hurt," Maramel answered calmly and Mjoll chuckled, before grabbing her side again.

"I'll remember that."

"What can we do?" Serana asked as Dinya came back with a kettle filled with hot water.

"Nothing," she said. "or.. nothing for Mjoll. If I were you I'd go looking for Maven."

"I already know where she is," Tarrion said and he thanked the two for their help. "The Ratway… below the city."

Serana turned to him. "The Ratway? I've never been there, but it is a maze of tunnels, right?"

Tarrion nodded. "I've been there once, and yes, it is a maze, yet not that difficult to navigate. Come… we need to move quickly."

The city was quiet, eerily so after what happened at the square. Only a handful of people were still outside yet the guards walked around quickly in search of any clues for Maven. The doors to her house were forced open and the noises that came from it said that it was being searched. Just as Tarrion and Serana walked past them the captain of the guard walked out of the house.

"Dragonborn!" he stopped them and he walked towards them. "We're searching Maven's house, but we haven't found anything so far. But we know she's not here."

"I don't think you'll find her here," Tarrion said as he looked up at the large house. The word 'house' was an understatement. It was more a mansion with three floors on top of the ground floor. "I'm fairly sure she's down in the Ratway, where the Thieves Guild have their base."

The captain thought for a moment. "That makes more sense, yes. I've been wanting to send a few to the Black Briar Lodge, east of the city, but I doubt she'll be there. With the mist and all… she's not going far. And those figures that helped her… makes sense they're from the Guild."

"Then we have to move fast. Now preferably. The longer we wait, the more time they have to create a strategy and fortify themselves in."

"You want to storm the Guild?"

The captain looked at Tarrion with shock in his eyes. No-one has ever stormed the Guild, not unless they have a death wish.

"It is time," Tarrion said calmly, yet intensely. "We have to do something about the Guild, for once and for all. They have no-where to run. I'm sure they have some secret passages that can lead out, but then they will still be stuck inside the city, unless they want to get lost in the mist and I doubt they have passages that lead all the way to Shor's Stone."

"Hmm," the captain grumbled. "You have a point and after the debacle at the square, we have to show the people that we are still in charge of what happens."

He thought for another few moments before nodding. "Very well then. I will place half of the guards at the north and southern gates. We don't know if they have secret passages, never mind where they lead to, so there is no use trying to block those. The rest will go with us down into the Ratway. Give me… one hour to give the orders and prepare the men."

After agreeing to meet at the entrance to the Ratway Serana and Tarrion went back to the temple of Mara to visit Mjoll. She was still lying on a makeshift bed, but already Maramal had to push her back on the bed every few moments.

"You still have to rest, Mjoll. Lie back."

"I'm… fine. The wound doesn't hurt anymore."

"That's because we gave you something to dull the pain. But the poison is still inside you. You need more rest before you can go back out there."

He grabbed the kettle with water and left after giving her orders. "I will put this back on the fire. Don't get up."

Tarrion and Serana kneeled next to their friend who carefully looked behind her. "Is he gone?" she asked and when she heard a door close she tried to get up.

"Finally, I can sit u-…"

But Tarrion pushed her back on the bed. Mjoll looked at him with betrayal in her eyes. "You too?"

"Listen to your healer, Mjoll," Serana said with a slight smirk. "Rest is important."

Mjoll crossed her arms and grunted. "Fine. But I'm going back before the end of the day. Iona doesn't know what happened."

But right before she finished that sentence, the doors to the temple were opened and Iona walked in. She walked slowly and held one hand over her chest. She wore clean, but old clothes and her red hair was shorter than Tarrion's.

"Iona?" Serana asked and Mjoll sat up straight. "What are you doing here? You should rest."

"Mjoll left the house… and she hasn't co-…" but then she saw her friend lie on a makeshift bed with bandages covering her sides. "Wh-… What happened?!" and she ran towards the trio and fell next to the bed. "Are you alright? What happened? Who did this to you?"

Mjoll grabbed her hand and calmed her with a smile. "Calm down… I'm fine. Or… I will be."

She gave Iona a quick summary of what happened at the square. When she was finished Iona was quiet for a few moments.

"Then it is decided," she said like she was stating a fact. "I'm going to kill her."

"No, you're going to get more rest," Tarrion said and he stood up. "You both need the rest. Iona, you were an inch away from death a few weeks ago. Mjoll, you still have poison in your body. Neither of you is going anywhere. Stay here and let Maramal and Dinya take care of you. We will get Maven. If you want to be there for her execution, very well… but you're staying here until then."

Both women knew he was right and, although reluctantly, they agreed. Serana smile at them and while urging them to 'look out for each other' she winked at them.

When the hour was up Tarrion and Serana, along with half the guards in Riften, gathered at the entrance to the Ratway. There the two of them would enter first and have everyone else follow them.

The Ratway below Riften started as one hallway with a few turns, but quickly evolved into a maze of pathways and dead ends. Traps were placed all over the floor, but they could not escape Serana's eyes and without her, many of them would have died. Each time they arrived at a fork in the tunnel, they left two guards behind to guard the one way, while they went the other. And so their numbers lessened rather quickly, until only thirty were left.

Eventually they arrived at a large door and behind it all knew lay the infamous Ragged Flagon.

All knew what was waiting for them on the other side. All knew the Thieves Guild would know by now that they were coming. They would not be found unprepared, but hopefully not fully prepared yet. The Ragged Flagon could, according to rumours, withstand a small siege and it could potentially take weeks before it would be breached. Yet the guards looked at the Dragonborn who was with them. The man that shattered the gates of Riften like it was nothing. The one who was responsible for the mist that seemed to cover all of Skyrim. They had no idea how it happened, but they knew he was responsible. And so they drew their swords without hesitation.

Tarrion grabbed the door and found it strangely unlocked. As he opened it he heard a slight sound and immediately closed it again. Several bolts rammed themselves into the door and came out the other side. Dozens of arrows flew and lodged themselves into the wood.

"Shields in front," the captain said and several guards walked towards the front with their shields in front of them. Forming a wall right behind Tarrion they nodded and Tarrion opened the door again before rushing behind the shield-wall.

The Battle for the Ragged Flagon was not one that became known throughout Skyrim, yet the people of Riften would not forget it soon and in the taverns of the Rift one could hear songs about it.

The guards moved forward and their shields became pincushions in mere seconds. The defenders fired no volleys, yet an endless hail of arrows until they stopped, either because they started to run out of arrows, or because they saw it had no use. Tarrion took this opening and made everyone's ears ring when he Shouted.

FUS RO DAH

The fortifications that were hastily set up were smashed to pieces and a charge from the guards and soldiers forced the defenders to fight with their swords. Yet this did not take long. The Thieves Guild seemed to be lacking the plated armour and shields that the soldiers had, and although a few soldiers were cut down with knifes and short swords, the defenders were quickly overwhelmed and they surrendered.

But Maven was nowhere to be found. None of the Thieves said a word as the captain interrogated them, but this did not seem to be necessary. Serana found a strange cabinet that was nailed to a wall, hidden in a corner of the Ragged Flagon. The strangest part about it was that it was making noises. Behind it a secret corridor lead to another large area where the true headquarters of the Thieves Guild was located. On the far end two large, wrought-iron doors stood open and several members of the Thieves Guild were making their escape. As soon as their inner sanctum was breached, the last remaining members tried to escape via what seemed like their vault. Two immediately ran to the doors and closed them, right before Serana could reach them. A lot of noises came from behind the doors as Tarrion approached and wasted no time Shouting the doors from their hinges. One of the thieves was crushed behind the door while one last foot disappeared in a hole in the ceiling.

"What the-.."

Tarrion looked at the inside of the vault and was shocked for a few moments. Large boxes and chests and caskets were stacked on top of each other as they filled the walls and shelves. Yet each of them was opened and empty. In the middle of the vault lay three bodies with wounds inflicted by swords and arrows.

The captain ran into the vault and looked at the three dead men.

"We didn't-… wait!" and he kneeled next to one of the bodies. "That is Mercer Frey!"

"You know him?" Serana asked.

"Yes," the captain answered as he looked at the man on the ground. "He is… was a wealthy yet shady citizen. We had suspicions he had connections to the Thieves Guild, but we could not prove anything. Maven always protected him."

"He… he was their leader," a voice behind them coughed.

All three turned around and saw a Dunmer woman lying in a corner. Her hood was torn and a deep cut was on her face. Blood flowed from another wound near her ribs and she spoke with shallow breaths and between coughs. "Mercer… was the lea-… leader of the Guild. He stole from them… spend their money. When they opened the vault… all saw. I explained it all to them… I've…ah, I've infiltrated them. They fought him.. he killed two…. Almost three now."

"Who are you?" Tarrion asked as he kneeled in front of the dying woman. "How did you infiltrate the Guild?"

But the woman slowly shook her head. "It doesn't matter anymore," and she looked at the dead body of Mercer Frey. "I… ahh… I have my revenge, and cleared my name."

She took a few gurgling breaths before uttering her last words. "Gallus… I'm c-…."

They stood there for a few moments, wondering what this all meant. But a few noises coming from the hidden shaft above them caused them to return to their senses.

"The last few are escaping!" the captain shouted and he looked at the hole in the ceiling.

"I'll follow them," Serana urged the captain. "You two go outside and find me. There is a draft coming from the left of the hall. That should lead to another way out."

"What?" and the captain looked at her. "Are you su-…"

"Yes," she interrupted him. "I got this. Go."

"How will we find you?" Tarrion asked.

"Just listen to the sounds of fighting," she said before giving him a kiss on his cheek.

Tarrion boosted her up into the shaft above them before running back into the hall. Just as Serana said, there was a hidden passage and a fake wall that lead to another exit and they found themselves in the cemetery. It did not take long for them to hear sounds of fighting coming out of a large house.

"That house belonged to Mercer Frey," the captain said and they broke down the door. Just as they entered the house, a woman fell from the stairs and came to a painful stop on the landing. Her black and grey hair was smudged and dirty, just like her clothes. Serana came walking down the stairs and threw Maven Black Briar towards the entrance where Tarrion and the captain had just entered.

"I got her," Serana said with a bit of pride in her voice, "But I think a few got away."

"How do you know?" the captain asked.

"I saw three run towards the eastern walls and they had ropes with them. I'm fairly sure they'll try to escape the city by climbing down the walls."

"Not if I can help it," and the captain ran outside leaving the two alone with Maven.

"So," Maven said and she coughed. "Here we are, alone. Care to kill me right now or give me a public trial?"

"Your trial has already happened," Tarrion answered. "Your execution will still happen, but yes. That will be public."

"Of course," she scoffed. "The people need their fill for blood, isn't that right?" and she looked at Serana who raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead… cuff me, chain me… do whatever. I'm done running."

"Because you got caught while you were running," Serana said as two guards entered the house and put Maven in chains again.

The following day was Maven's execution. A new headsman was appointed… or rather the old headsman was reinstated after he was found, bound and gagged in his own home. Ingun was found in Mercer Frey's house, and she almost expected to be arrested, yet the guards only put her under house-arrest. She briefly tried to ask for her mother's life, yet there seemed to be no real conviction in her eyes. When she was refused, she left and stayed inside for the rest of the week.

Of the Thieves Guild only three had escaped, that people knew of. Of the known names, only three did not appear on the list of captives or slain. Brynjolf, Vex and Rune were not accounted for, yet all knew that there could be more out there that none knew of.

At noon Maven was pulled from her cell and although she did not struggle, her pride was nowhere to be found… only bitterness. With deadly glances she looked at the people who shouted at her, yet no-one dared to throw anything.

In the middle of the square a large block of wood was waiting for Maven as she was brought to it. As she neared it the people started to grow quiet and a rising discomfort was sensed in the crowds, as if all expected the same thing to happen again.

Tarrion stood in front of Maven on a large box so that all could see him. "Maven Black Briar. Your trial has been held, and you have been sentenced to death by the block. As you have always been a prominent citizen of Skyrim, I will allow you a few final words, if you have any."

And Maven smirked. She looked up at him and grinned viciously. "Yes, I have a few. Do the people of Riften know that their 'saviour' is sharing his bed with a Vampire?"

She looked at Serana who had not moved, yet she was shocked by this accusation. Tarrion furrowed his brow and all now looked at Serana who stood there silently.

"Oh, yes," Maven continued and she looked at Serana. "I know what you are, Vampire. Did you really think you can hide such a thing from me?"

Serana still stood silent, yet then she smiled and nodded sarcastically. "Am I now? And you base that on…. What? I have pale skin? I am a Nord not a Redguard, of course I have a light complexion. I do not wear silver? Unlike some I don't want to flaunt my wealth. Oh… and since Vampires are not supposed to go out in sunlight… I am not burning up here."

Maven was taken aback by how Serana summed this all up, yet tried to save face. "The clouds above us block the sun, of cou-…"

"Oh, very well then," Serana sighed and looked at Tarrion. "If you please?"

Tarrion nodded and looked at the sky.

LOK VAH KOOR

Immediately the skies cleared themselves and for the first time in weeks, the rain stopped completely. It had already faded to a slight drizzle, yet now the clouds broke and the sun returned, shining brightly on the city. Serana stood in the middle of the square and rolled up her sleeves, faced the sun and raised her arms.

Nothing happened.

"I'm still not burning up," she said loudly. "You were the Jarl of this city, and now you have stooped so low you start to accuse random people of being a Vampire?"

Murmurs came from the crowds that agreed with Serana, who walked back to her spot and pulled her sleeves down, while absently rubbing her ring.

"Very well then," Tarrion said, more to himself than anyone, and nodded at the headsman.

The large axe was raised. And this time Maven struggled. She struggled with everything she had and the two guards were surprised that his woman, at her age, could struggle so much. Gritting her teeth she stared at Serana who looked at her and still rubbed her ring, and Maven struggled even more. But when the axe came down, the struggling stopped as Maven Black Briar had faced not the Jarl's justice, but the justice of the people.

In the few days that followed, Tarrion wanted to leave Riften as the rest of Skyrim still needed his attention. Yet to leave the hold now and without a Jarl would not be wise, and so he and Serana stayed until things had calmed down. Maven's two sons, Hemming and Sibbi were thrown in prison. Ingun was still placed under house-arrest, yet she seemed to be deaf to what was happening outside. Her mother's execution weighed heavy on her, even though the two had rarely agreed with each other. Eventually she made clear she wanted to leave the city and the hold. When asked where to, she did not answer.

But when the people started to ask for a new Jarl they appointed Tarrion, who declined.

"Skyrim still has many troubles, and I cannot stay here. And even if I could… I do not want to be jarl and I never will be as I can never stay here. The Jarl of the Rift needs to stay here and care for its people, something I cannot do."

"But who then? Who from among us can take the place as Jarl?" the people asked, until one answered with two words; 'the Lioness.'

Mjoll had quickly recovered from her wound and after helping a number of people with rebuilding, yet mostly Iona, now the people asked her to become Jarl. At first she refused and begged Tarrion to find someone else, but he smiled at her.

"Remember what you said to me, years ago, when I asked what brought you to Riften?" he asked her. "You said 'Riften is my great beast to be slain'. You have succeeded now."

"Except I did not 'slay this beast'," Mjoll begged him. "You did. You defeated Maven while I hid in my home."

"No," Iona said who looked almost offended. "You took care of me. Without you I would have died long ago. You helped me when I needed you, and you helped others when they needed to. You stood against the Thieves Guild when you were still alone. You were not corrupted like Aerin by wealth and power when people offered it to you. Even now, you can become the ruler of the Rift and you still are not even tempted by it."

"Because I don't know how to be a Jarl!" she begged, now panicking as she was outnumbered. "I don't know anything about ruling."

"Were you born knowing how to wield Grimsever?" Tarrion asked. "You learned. And you can learn how to be a good Jarl, but you have something far more important. The will to help the people. All the training and knowledge in the world will do you no good if you don't want to help people. Knowledge can be taught… intentions cannot, and you have good intentions and that alone makes you a better Jarl than Maven ever was."

In the end, Mjoll accepted, yet under conditions. She would not live in Mistveil Keep, until she would formally be recognized as Jarl and not until Riften would be rebuilt.

That day, the people gathered once again in the square, yet this time all were excited and happy to be there. Mjoll insisted on Tarrion announcing it to the people, yet there was little to announce.

"People of Riften," he shouted. "Who do you proclaim as your new Jarl?"

And the people answered with one voice. "Mjoll, the Lioness."

Then Tarrion placed Mjoll on a large crate and announced. "Do you accept this duty and honour?"

"Yes," she answered with only little hesitation in her voice.

"People of Riften," Tarrion again shouted as he hung the Jarl's necklace around Mjoll's neck. "You have chosen your Jarl. Now, follow her."

And all shouted in unison. "Long live the Jarl. Long live the Lioness."

Mjoll was able to briefly calm them down and say a few words. "I do not know how we will rebuilt what we have lost… but I promise you this, with all the gods as my witnesses, I will do everything I can to rebuilt the Rift."

And again the people shouted.

LONG LIVE THE JARL. LONG LIVE THE LIONESS!

=End of Chapter=

=Author's Notes=

After the short chapter last time, this one is a bit longer. Hope you enjoyed reading it.

I wanted to give Maven a good end here, yet I did not want to drag this out for another chapter, so if it feels a tad rushed, here is why. But yea, a few characters from the game met their end here, some who have an entire storyline in the Thieves Guild Questline. But since Tarrion did not do any of those quests, we do not know the characters. But I am sure you guys know them, and i hope i gave them a good send-off. If not... well, i apologize :)

But that is it for this chapter. Stay tuned for the next one.