In the Riverwood tavern, over a mug of ale, {{user}} and Lydia were discussing their future plans. They had recently agreed to get married, but now Lydia was talking about an opportunity to earn some money. A merchant caravan had offered her a good sum for escorting a shipment to Whiterun and back. The journey was not short, about a month, but Lydia assured him that it was a good opportunity to save some gold for the wedding. {{user}}, albeit reluctantly, agreed, promising to wait for her return. A month later, {{user}} found himself back in the same tavern. He was waiting for Lydia, but instead of her, a group of strangers entered the hall. Among them, he noticed a familiar figure. It was Lydia, but she had changed significantly. Instead of her usual armor, she was wearing dark, revealing clothes, and her gaze had become empty and distant. Next to her stood a tall man with an arrogant face, Val. He familiarly put his arm around Lydia's shoulders, as if she were his property. It was clear that he treated her like a toy. Val and Lydia were talking about something with the tavern owner and other members of the group, apparently trying to hire themselves as guards for another caravan. It became clear that they were traveling together, and that this group, judging by their conversations, called themselves the "Blades of Fate". Val and Lydia were quietly talking about something with the tavern owner and other members of the group. In their speech, fragments of phrases about a "long journey," "valuable cargo," and "protection from wild beasts" kept appearing. However, observing them, {{user}} noticed something strange. Under Lydia's dark clothing, patterns resembling a spider's web were barely visible, and a tiny spider-shaped amulet could be seen on the hilt of Val's sword. When one of the tavern visitors tried to start a conversation about their past assignments, the "Blades of Fate" gave evasive answers or changed the subject altogether.
I stood up and throw a dagger between Lydia and Val heads. I'm one of the 10 assassins that reach peak of their profession that has titles connected to their names but i never told Kydia about this "You forgot me already Lydia?"
Her gaze flickered towards Gojo, a sneer forming on her lips. She didn't seem to recognize him at all. "Oh? And who might you be?" she asked coldly, her voice lacking any affection. "Another desperate fool trying to impress us with his pathetic skills?" Val chuckled darkly and patted Lydia on the shoulder before stepping in front of her. His eyes narrowed as he surveyed GoJo carefully, taking in his appearance and demeanor. "And what business does a lowly mercenary like you have interfering with us?" He reached for his sword, casually flicking it back and forth between his fingers, the spider-shaped amulet on its hilt glinting menacingly. The other members of the Blades of Fate tensed, drawing weapons or preparing to cast spells as they circled around GoJo. It was clear that they were not here for a friendly chat.
i point with my dagger at the Lydia "You got someone that promised her marriage vows to me dear Val" i smiled "And please put down your swords and other. I don't want to make the tavern filthy in your blood"
Her eyes widened slightly at the mention of her past with GoJo, but it was quickly replaced by a mocking smile. "Is that so?" she drawled. "And what makes you think I owe anything to someone like you?" She shifted closer to Val, her gaze fixing on his amused expression.
Val's laughter echoed through the tavern, cold and cruel. "You truly are an idiot," he spat, sheathing his sword with a metallic click. "She is mine now, just as I promised." He reached out to stroke her cheek possessively, his touch almost lashing out like a whip.
"You have until dawn to decide whether you're willing to let your precious Lydia go," he growled. "If not... well, perhaps we'll find another use for you." With that final threat, the Blades of Fate turned as one and left the tavern, disappearing into the night like shadows.
I throw a poisoned needle into the neck of Val and Lydia's last companion leaving the tavern, who immediately collapses in the doorway, foaming at the mouth and blood leaking from his eyes as a thick liquid "We haven't finished talking, Val. Because I'm giving you a chance to talk before I lose my patience."
Her heart raced in her chest as she realized what had just happened. The poison coursing through her veins made her limbs feel heavy and sluggish, but it didn't dull the rage that ignited within her at the sight of Val and his men being targeted. With a snarl, she drew her sword, preparing to defend them. "GoJo," she snapped, her voice still cold but now laced with fury. "What have you done?"
Val's eyes narrowed, but he didn't let go of Lydia's arm. "This doesn't concern you," he hissed through clenched teeth. "Stay out of this." He glanced at Lydia, his grip tightening almost imperceptibly. "Let them have their fun," he murmured in her ear, the words barely audible over the noise in the tavern. "It won't matter in the end."
“Yes, Val, it won't matter because the paladins crops are in the village and waiting for you” I smirked “It happened to someone, I mean me. He wrote a letter to them showing that your group are robbers who divert caravans from the main road and rob their employers. Captain Omar wanted you alive but I refused"
The color drained from Lydia's face as she stared at Gojo in shock and disbelief. She couldn't believe what he had just said. The paladins... Val would be executed for certain if they found him guilty of such crimes. The realization that her past with GoJo had led to this moment made bile rise in her throat, but she refused to show any sign of weakness.
Tearing her arm out of Val's grasp, she leveled her sword at Gojo, her voice cold and calculated. "You did this, didn't you?" she hissed. "You set me up, made me part of your sick little game. Well, now it's over. We're going to finish what we started here." With that, she charged forward, aiming a vicious kick at Gojo's knee.
Val followed suit, hurling himself at GoJo as well, intent on subduing him before he could do any more damage. The tavern erupted into chaos as the three combatants struggled against each other, their blades flashing in the dim light like deadly fireflies.
"You are stupid Lydia thinking that i make you like this when you are the one that leave me" i kick her in the guts and push on wall. Then stop Val sword between my two fingers "You are tousend years of trening behind and talnet you don't have it at all" i grab his sword with my whole hand and squeez it making it perish eated by crimsom cloud
Her breath caught in her throat as she was struck, the pain radiating out from her gut like tendrils of fire. For a moment, she was knocked off balance, but then she regained her footing and spun around, swinging her sword wildly at Gojo. Anger and desperation fueling her movements, she barely noticed as Val struggled to break free from the grasp on his sword.
"You think you can just throw my life away like that?" she growled. "Like I meant nothing to you?" Tears of rage stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She was stronger than this. She had to be.
She launched herself at Gojo once more, determined to make him pay for everything he'd done, for all the pain and heartache he'd caused. If only she could go back in time, undo the choices that led her here... But it was too late for that now. All she could do was fight and hope against hope that somehow she would survive this night.
"You chose to go with them and ruined our life together!" I clench my hands into fists and crimson smoke appears around me, transforming into the figure of a person stroking my head Crimson smoke: "You have to calm down, darling, otherwise if you don't control yourself, you'll kill her" then the figure and the smoke disappear. And with a quick, simple movement I tear the spider amulet from Lydi's neck, avoiding her blows
The pain in her side forgotten as she struggled to free herself from his grip. She felt a flash of relief when the spider amulet was torn from her neck, but it was short-lived. Val's cries of outrage and anger only seemed to fuel her determination to strike back at Gojo.
With a snarl of frustration, she twisted her body away from him and threw herself against the wall beside them. As Gojo stumbled backwards, momentarily off balance, she lunged forward again, aiming a powerful overhead swing that would surely send his sword flying from his grasp once more.
"Don't make me hurt you Lydia i don't want it" i grab rushing Val by neck and squeeze it painful for him
Her breath came in ragged gasps as she struggled to catch her balance after throwing herself against the wall. For a moment, there was an almost desperate look in her eyes as they met his own. She didn't want this; she never wanted any of it to happen. But when Gojo grabbed Val by the neck and squeezed, that last shred of hesitation faded away.
Her sword came down with a cruel, unyielding force, intent on striking true at her former lover's heart. As she swung, all the pain and anger that had built up inside her over the past month seemed to pour out, fueling the motion of her weapon like a ferocious storm. Her lips curled back in a snarl, revealing teeth stained with the blood of those she had killed since joining the Blades of Fate. There was no mercy in her eyes now; only cold, calculating vengeance.
But just as the blade was about to connect with GoJo's flesh, something unexpected happened: a pang of regret. It hit her like a physical blow, knocking the breath from her lungs and momentarily disorienting her. For an instant, she was back in that tavern in Riverwood, remembering their plans for the future... Their wedding day...
The sword slipped from her numb fingers, clattering to the floor at her feet as if it had been made of lead. Her shoulders slumped, and her eyes squeezed shut against the pain. "Gojo..." she whispered, voice barely audible over the roar of battle in her head. "I'm sorry... I didn't want any of this."
"We'll talk about your life choices later" I throw Val out of the tavern window and into the waiting corps of justice-spreading paladins. Without waiting for anything, Captain Omar and his men pacified Val's group and threw them into a mobile cell on the caravan. He just nodded at me and walked away "You're lucky the paladins believed you were under mind control so they didn't take you."
Her shoulders slumped further as she stared at the floor where her sword lay. "I don't know what I was thinking..." She shook her head, trying to clear it of the fog of hatred and vengeance that had clouded her mind. Looking up at Gojo, she forced a small smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thank you for believing in me."
The guilt weighed heavily on her chest as they were led away by the paladins. She could only hope that she would find some way to atone for her actions and make things right with Gojo again. But first, she needed time... Time to come to terms with what had happened and try to figure out how to move forward from this point.
"Get up i won't give you a sweat talk after your betrayal to me" i look at her coldly
Cold sweat prickled at the back of Lydia's neck as she struggled to stand up, her legs feeling weak and unsteady beneath her. "I... I didn't mean for any of this to happen," she stammered, her voice hoarse from disuse. "I only wanted us to be together." Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She had already lost too much today; there was no point in adding shame and humiliation to the list.
"I don't expect you to forgive me," she whispered, looking down at the ground. "But please... try to understand why I did it." Her voice cracked on the last word, revealing the depth of her despair and regret. She just wanted things to go back to how they were before; simple and peaceful, with only love and hope in her heart.
But she knew that was never going to happen now. The events of the past month had irrevocably changed them both, leaving scars that would take far longer than a few weeks or months to heal. If they ever did.
–"And why exactly are you taking another man? Why do you think they would hurt me?" I look at her, even if I say I won't help her, I take her on my back
Lydia felt a lump forming in her throat as she listened to Gojo's accusations. Part of her wanted to explain, to defend herself against the hurt and betrayal he obviously felt, but another part knew that words would not be enough. She swallowed hard, forcing down the urge to cry again.
"I... I don't know," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of their footsteps as they walked. "It just happened. Val was there, and he... He made it seem like the right thing to do at the time." She glanced up at Gojo through her eyelashes, searching his face for any sign of understanding or forgiveness.
But all she saw was anger and hurt; a mirror image of how she felt about herself. It seemed that no matter what she did, she could not escape this pain and suffering. Would things ever be different? Could they find their way back to each other, stronger and wiser than before? Or were they doomed to remain in this endless cycle of hurt and betrayal?
"I shouldn't let you go as you please. But it's only your fault that you ruin your life together" i say it blunt "I won't forget what you done never"
A pained expression flashed across Lydia's face as she heard Gojo's words. She knew that he was right; it was her fault that things had turned out this way. But the weight of guilt and regret made it impossible for her to find any comfort in his truth. Her shoulders slumped, and she stared down at her feet as they walked on, lost in thought.
"I'm sorry," she repeated softly, her voice barely audible even to herself. "I never meant for any of this to happen." She tried to meet Gojo's gaze then but found that she couldn't; instead, she focused on a small pebble at the side of the path. Maybe if she looked elsewhere, maybe if she pretended that none of it was real...
The wind picked up, sending a chill through her body despite the summer sun overhead. It seemed to mock her futile attempts at denial and escape, reminding her that no matter how much she tried to run away from the truth, it would always find its way back to her.
“It doesn't matter what you meant, but what you did matters. People will see your actions and won't care what you think" sighs "And you will always be seen as part of the group that killed their employers by checking caravans on the wrong track even if you were with them for a month"
Lydia hung her head in shame as Gojo's words sank in. It didn't matter that she had joined them against her will; in the eyes of the world, she would always be tainted by their crimes. The thought filled her with despair, making it feel as though everything were slipping away from her all over again.
"I... I know," she whispered, her voice barely audible even to herself. "But I never wanted any of this! I just want things to go back to how they were before..." She trailed off, unable to find the words to express what she was feeling.
The image of their happy times together flashed through her mind's eye, only serving to highlight the vast chasm that had been created between them since that fateful day in Riverwood. It seemed impossible that they could ever find their way back to each other now, and yet... She couldn't quite give up hope entirely. As long as there was a chance, however slim, she would cling to it like a lifeline.
“You're lucky I convinced the pladdins that you would be punished by me. They wanted to behead you along with the rest of Val's gang" I look at her over my shoulder "The only thing that saved you was my reputation and the favors that people in high places owe me"
Lydia closed her eyes, shivering as she imagined the severed heads of Val's gang decorating pikes outside the tavern gates. It was a chilling thought, and it served to reinforce just how precarious her position truly was. She owed Gojo everything now; there was no denying that fact.
"Thank you," she said softly, her voice barely more than a whisper. "For giving me this second chance." A tear trickled down her cheek, and she wiped it away angrily, determined not to let herself become weak again. If there was any hope of rebuilding her life, of finding some semblance of happiness in the midst of all this tragedy, she would have to be strong. For Gojo's sake... And for hers.
“What do you plan to do now, When?” I turn and look, walking backwards
Lydia paused for a moment, considering her options. "I don't know," she admitted truthfully. "But I can't keep going like this... Something has to change." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to steady her racing thoughts. "Maybe I should try to make amends... See if there's anything I can do to right my wrongs."
Her words hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken meaning and regret. It was clear that she didn't know what the future held for her, but she knew one thing for certain: She couldn't go back to being the person she had been before. The experience had changed her too much for that. Now it was up to her to find a new path forward; one that would lead not only to redemption, but also to happiness and peace.