Alexander: WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S GOING TO BE EXECUTED?! WHAT HAPPENED!?
I slam the table in front of Keerava. She pulls back in shock at my sudden outburst.
Keerava: Calm down buddy, it's like I told you before, I've only heard rumors. You want details ask the guards. Now if you got nothing else I need to get back to work.
Lucien grabs hold of my arm and chuckles.
Lucien: So sorry miss! We'll get out of your hair.
We exit the Bee and Barb and I start pacing the floor in a panic.
Alexander: Son of a bitch! How could this happen! Why is so much changing!
Lucien: Sir?
Redcap: Friend. Ok?
I maintain what little composure I had left and clear my throat.
Alexander: Right well, change of plans. You two will go into the Ratways, I'm going to see to the prisoner before he gets executed.
Lucien: What?! But why?!
Alexander: If we go down the ratways we risk losing the prisoner, but if we go to the prisoner, we risk losing the Telvanni down in the ratways! There's no telling how long either event will take!
Lucien: While I wholeheartedly agree that trying to find the Telvanni is important, there's simply no rhyme or reason to be this adamant about a lowly prisoner!
The words nearly shock me but it made sense, despite the friendship Lucien and Inigo had in the game, at this point he has no clue the kind of person he is, still it felt surreal to hear Lucien speak this way about Inigo.
Lucien: Sir, nobody sane would ever just force themself in jail! And who knows what he could've done to put himself on the block! I simply can't abide by this! We should leave him be! He decided his faith the moment he committed a crime severe enough to be executed!
Lucien stares me down the same way he did when we sparred. He was going to be stubborn about this. But I wasn't going to falter.
Alexander: Lucien, I'm about to give you another lesson you should take to heart.
Lucien remained silent, still staring me down.
Alexander: A long time ago there was a Beautiful girl who lived in a village, she was peculiar, but smart, and the village adored her, and so did her father. One day he had to leave for business, days went by, then weeks, until one day news came of what became of him-
Lucien's stubborn face begins to soften little by little per word I said. Meanwhile Redcap sat down quietly to listen to what I said.
Alexander:-It turned out a horrible monster had kept the father captive, he had discovered the father delving into his lands and the monster retaliated, keeping him imprisoned. The villagers were scared of the monster, wishing to save their fellow peer, but too frightened to go, except for his daughter-
Is this starting to sound familiar? Well just keep waiting.
Alexander: She went into the Monsters domain and offered to trade places with her father, accepting his role as the monsters prisoner. She was scared but she loved her father more then feared the monster. However, days soon go by and she was not tortured, she was not assaulted, she was not eaten. The girl remained there almost like she was a houseguest. The monster fed her, he gifted her clothes, she felt…comforted with his prescence.
Yep, it's Beauty and the Beast. If you didn't connect the dots by now that's a bit embarrassing.
Alexander: For a time the girl even started to make friends with the monster, however she felt sick, she wanted nothing more then to return home to her father, and her village. The monster, seeing her sadness decided to let her leave, not even giving the action a second thought. The girl was able to reunite with her friends and family, and they celebrated, but throughout the day celebrating her return the girl felt a strange sense of uneasiness and sadness. She felt as though a part of her was separated. She finally realized that she was in love with the monster, so she returned to his lair, and gave him a kiss, turning the monster into a human prince. The two married and live together happily till they died.
Lucien: That…was an interesting story…but what in Oblivion was the point of all that?!
Alexander: During the story did you not think the girl to be stupid for fraternizing with the beast? Maybe she was crazy?
Lucien pauses, not saying anything for a minute.
Lucien: I did think it strange. For such a smart girl to fall for her captor, I thought it was stupid she was friends with him, but after hearing that the monster willingly let her free, it seemed easier to go along with the story, and when she left the monster it almost felt infuriating that she claimed her love?
Alexander: So…do you understand?
Lucien looks back up to me.
Alexander: Not everything is in black and white Lucien, sometimes it will be necessary to wait and listen, because you might miss a detail that will better allow you to judge the situation you're in properly. And most importantly…peacefully. That's why I want to see the prisoner with my own two eyes, I don't know the full story, nor do I know what he's done. So…are you with me?
Redcap jumps up immediately for joy.
Redcap: Me. Always. With. Friend!
Lucien takes a deep breath and nods.
Lucien: I'm still iffy on the prisoner, but…I'll take your word for it Alexander. But if it goes bad expect a long and deserved "I told you so."
Alexander: I'll be sure to remember that. Now get to the ratways! I'll head to the jail!
***********
????: I don't know about this.
???: Oh what now you big idiot?
????: I just have some concerns on what you said.
???: What's there to be concerned about? I told you how it is and you should accept that!
????: For crying out loud Drahff! You're talking about laying in bed with a damn Daedric Prince! You have any idea how crazy that is?
Drahff: You're crazy if you never saw a statue of Azura and never felt randy Hewnon!
Hewnon: I don't know who in Oblivion Randy is but if he thinks having sex with Azura or any of the princes, I don't want to have anything to do with him.
Drahff That's just a- gah! Nevermind! Azura is a benevolent daedra at least! So I'm less likely to die!
Hewnon What? Are you suggesting I'd die with my pick?
Drahff: You're choosing to lay your pipe with a damned Spriggan! What makes you think that's a good idea?!
Hewnon They look nice, they're strong, and they smell like flowers and springs! I won't be judged!
Drahff: But they're hostile towards any human entering their vicinity! And besides does anybody even know how they're born or if they even reproduce? I heard their bodies are made of wood.
Hewnon: Rather that then Haelga from the bunkhouse. At least I know a spriggan wouldn't sleep with 3 men in a month.
Drahff: Yeah I can't argue with that, wood or not a spriggan is definitely cleaner then that dirty bitch-
???:-If you two are quite done now, I would appreciate if you would let me go.
The two turn their heads towards the source of the voice and laugh.
Drahff: Yeah right, with all the gold you had on you?! I bet we could fetch gold out of you too.
???: You two already took most of my belongings, what more could you possibly want?
Drahff: Those clothes of yours, they're not just some random bits sewn together, you came from a prestigious house, I'm sure whatever master you serve would try hard to pay us to get you back.
???: That's what you intend to do with me? You fellows are bigger idiots then I thought.
Hewnon steps forward angrily.
Hewnon: What did you say you damned-
Drahff: Hold it Hewnon, don't let him get to you…he's clearly lying. We just gotta be patient. Wait here, I'll send the ransom note to his master and we'll just have to wait.
Hewnon: Can't we just sell his organs to a black market or something?
Drahff: If you know how to harvest organs then be my guest. But I'd rather keep him in one piece for right now. Wait here and don't do anything stupid.
The man named Drahff walks over towards the direction of the exit, coming close to the door.
Drahff: Now what was the house he said he was from? Tenvani? Checknani? Ugh-!
Hewnon: Drahff?
Hewnon walks over to see what happened only to be met with the sight of his comrades dead body, punctured and skewered.
Hewnon: Whoever did this is going to pay! Show yourselves right now!
Redcap: Buwawathu!
Redcap jumps out from above and lands directly on Hewnon's head with a spear, directly stabbing the spear through his skull. He falls over, without even realizing what happened, and I turn around to throw up.
Lucien: By the eight, Redcap! Did you seriously have to go that far!
Redcap turns around to see me in the corner left of the entrance.
Redcap: Friend. Said. They. Enemies. We. Kill.
Lucien: Yes I'm well aware that Alexander told us negotiations weren't on the table but for crying out loud you didn't have to stab your spear through the man's bloody-h-he-blurgh!
I end up committing again before finishing my sentence.
???: Um, excuse me.
We hear the voice echoing down the hall.
???: If you killed the large gentleman with the sledgehammer, could you possibly assist me? Unless you're hostile then in which case I have no desire to fight.
We move down the hall, and there we meet and Argonian, constrained, sitting in the corner by a lit fire. Redcap undid his bindings and he stands tall, well over a foot higher then me, and was dressed in purple robes mixed with plated armor of a design I couldn't recognized.
???: Thank you young imperial…and-
He looks down at Redcap who looks at the argonian with a toothy grin, he kneels down to meet Redcap's gaze and stares intently with a fascinated look.
???: Uh…is that a Riekling? How did you manage to keep one as a pet?
Redcap: Pet?! Not. Once. But. Twice. Same. Day!
Lucien: Uh…he is not my pet, he's my companion. We both were tasked to meet with you by our friend, didn't think it'd turn into a rescue mission though.
The argonian appears intrigued and stands up.
???: This friend wanted to meet me personally? I didn't think many knew I was in Riften, much less Skyrim. Who is this person you speak of?
Lucien: Oh you'll get to meet him quite shortly I assure you! He just needed acquaint himself with another person at the moment! If you'd like we can relax at the Bee and Barb until he returns!
???: Sounds good, if you don't mind I'd like to explore the Ratways just a bit longer, I came down here to find some alchemical ingredients, and after all the trouble I'd like to at least make the trip worthwhile.
Lucien: Oh that sounds most interesting! I haven't started studying alchemy yet, I'd be happy to help!
???: I would appreciate that, I wouldn't mind working alongside my rescuers. Speaking of, I'd like to know the names of said rescuers if possible.
Lucien: Lucien Flavius at your service my new friend.
Redcap: Me. Redcap. Not. Pet.
???: Charmed. My name is Xelzaz.
Xelzaz steps back a bit and bows before us.
???: Xelzaz, Lawman of House Telvanni, I truly appreciate your assistance and would gladly meet with the man who you call friend.
Lucien: Marvelous to make your acquaintance Mr. Xelzaz, and you won't regret meeting our leader, Alexander is quite the capable warrior, and sharp as a dagger too!
Xelzaz: Well, if two of his companions were able to ambush some thieves down here, I'm sure he must be quite the capable warrior.
***********
Alexander: These are not the droids you're looking for.
Guard: What in Oblivion is a Droid? And what're you even doing down here?!
Alexander: Uh…