She knew that making a deal with a Daedra wasn't the best decision she ever made but it was the only option she had.
It was the only option, right?
"Very well, Dragonborn" she shivered as Hermaeus Mora's voice echoed throughout Apocrypha "I will release Miraak to you"
With that he flicked his tentacle, Marielle visibly cringed as the former dragon priests body was separated from the appendage with a sickening sound.
Miraak's unconscious form landed in front of her with a loud thud, she rushed over to him as she gathered what was left of her magicka to use her healing spells. Grabbing ahold of his upper body she pulled him closer to her while pouring the healing energy into his bloodied chest. She could see the tissue start to regenerate around the wound as his irregular raspy breaths slowly normalized. Marielle's brows furrowed together as she felt a strange pulling sensation from him, she shook her head as she finally let out the last of her magicka to fully close the wound.
She sighed in relief, for now he was out of immediate danger. Looking down at the man she held in her arms she realized that there was no guarantee that he would go along with her plan, in fact it was just as likely he would kill her and get back to whatever it was he intended to do after escaping Apocrypha.
"Do not worry, my champion" Marielle grimaced as she gently laid the mans body on the ground "It will be unlikely for him to try to slay you...for awhile at least. And should he try, it will end badly for him"
What did he mean by that?
She realized her confusion must have been plain to see as Hermaeus Mora gave a slow chuckle. A mass of tentacles wrapped around Miraak while holding her in place, Marielle struggled as one attached itself to Miraak's mask.
What was he doing?
"Miraak has taken knowledge from me" he explained, the tentacle looking as if it were now piercing through the mask and into the dragon priests forehead "Knowledge that I am not willing to part with"
She then heard a loud scream, it was the same agony filled one she had heard from Stron Crag-Strider before his lifeless body fell to the ground. Marielle would never forget his horror filled expression looking up at her nor would she forget Frea's hysterical sobs as she clung to her father.
She watched Miraak's body convulse violently as Hermaeus Mora tore through his mind, bile rising in her throat as her small frame shook in terror. The scene in front of her had lasted for a minute, but to Marielle that minute had seemed like an eternity. She continued to stare ahead, too frightened and shocked to do anything else.
"Miraak harbored fantasies of rebellion against me. Learn from his example. Serve me faithfully, and you will continue to be richly rewarded"
Marielle felt sick, and as soon as the tentacles had finally let her go she clamped her hand over her mouth. She was breathing sharply through her nose trying to calm herself as she fought away the nausea.
A large part of her regretting ever setting foot on Solstheim, going into the temple and touching that damned book. She wished that the cultists had never heard of her, wished that they had never sought her out.
"I will allow you to remain in the mortal realm for now. When the times comes, you shall return to me"
And with his final words, Marielle's vision turned black as she was thrown back into her world. The sense of vertigo overwhelmed her as she could hear people walking towards her.
"Hmm. I see you're still alive and you brought someone back with you" she heard Neloth as he stood in front of her. Marielle looked up to see his calculating stare while his apprentice, Talvas, looked nervous. She glanced down to her side at Miraak, it seemed that he didn't regain consciousness and probably wouldn't anytime soon.
"Any chance that you have a spare beds I could use?" She asked as she stood up shakily, not realizing how much energy the fight actually took out of her.
"Follow me" Neloth huffed, Marielle helped Talvas with picking up Miraak. After being lead down a hallway into a small room with two cots, Marielle placed Miraak onto one while she practically fell onto the other.
"Since you are in no condition to explain what happened, it seems that we will have to converse tomorrow" With that Neloth and Talvas walked out of the room, Marielle sighed as she shifted on the cot into a more comfortable position. She closed her eyes, the fatigue from what just happened was now too much to fight.
"I hope it was worth it" And with that she fell into a deep sleep.
Author's note: Just a short prologue