Arise, my daughter, my loyal agent, my love. Today you begin a journey of utmost importance. You will bring about a branch of our organization to Thedas, and spread death to the lands there. You will lead, my child, but not alone... Please me as you have the Dark Lord. Oh yes, Sithis enjoys your family; your loyalty will not go unrewarded. The girl is my gift to you. Convince her to join you. She is key to our success.
Silver-blue eyes flickered open at her deity's melodic whisper. The voice was closer than before, it was inside her mind now, echoing from the depths of the void.
Crystal blinked a few times and rubbed her eyes before rolling over. She was startled when she came face to face with the beautiful witch she had met the night before. She had forgotten they were sharing a bed.
This was the first time Crystal had ever woken up beside another. Her eyes loitered over the sleeping form of Morrigan; raven hair fell messily across her face, a few strands settled across full lips, steadily rising and falling with every inhale and exhale of the witch's breath. A tight-lipped smile spread across Crystal's face as she continued to watch the amusing display while suppressing a giggle. Morrigan, although asleep, looked deep in thought if her clinched eyebrows were anything to go by. Perhaps she's having an intense dream. Crystal's smile broke when her eyes traveled further down and landed on a very swollen wrist. Or perhaps she's in pain.
The health potions wouldn't be enough. They'd help with the pain and reset the bones, but the mending portion would take time. Time they didn't have. The Night Mother told her she needed to begin the journey. They couldn't stay here anymore, which raised another question; how in Skyrim was she going to convince Morrigan to go back to Thedas with her? Didn't she say she was fleeing from her mother who wanted to eat her?
It didn't matter, she was going. The Night Mother required the witch as well. She had said, "the girl is key," whatever that meant. Though, Crystal was hoping Morrigan would agree. She was tired of hurting the girl.
Crystal reached out, rubbing a knuckle up and down Morrigan's bare shoulder in an attempt to gently wake her. Yellow eyes fluttered open slowly before closing again.
The action made Crystal's smile widen as the stubborn witch tried to go back to sleep.
"Come on, Morrigan. It's time to get up." Crystal cooed.
"And what reason could there be for me to want to commit such a heinous deed?"
"Well, a health potion for one, and you must be hungry."
Gold orbs snapped open at the mention of food. This time, a laugh did escape the assassin.
"Food it is. Here." Crystal sat up and grabbed a vial of fluid from the bedside table, handing it to Morrigan. "I'll get us something to eat, and maybe something to wrap your wrist in too."
Crystal managed to acquire bread, cheeses, and apples. Enough to last them a couple of days, anyway. She had the tavern keeper put the food on Alva's tab. Along with the medical wrapping, she procured as well.
Morrigan was sitting at the edge of the bed when Crystal returned. The witch wasted no time taking a loaf of bread from Crystal and ripping off a generous sized piece. She must had been starving.
"This should hold us over until tomorrow at the very least. Can I see your wrist, Morrigan?" Crystal asked, holding up the remedial wrappings.
In answer, Morrigan held out the purple swollen wrist and allowed it to be wrapped snuggly. A few minutes later, the limb was covered and ready for the day. Turning away, Crystal reached for a cheese wedge when she felt a warm hand cup her neck. The assassin turned back to her companion who wore a most curious expression.
"Morrigan?"
"What is that on your neck? Did someone bite you? It looks human."
Crystal reached a hand to where Morrigan was starring and felt the tenderness beneath cold fingertips. Oh, right.
"It's nothing."
"It certainly looks like something. But no matter, I will not pry if you do not wish to tell me. Though if it gets worse, I may be forced to readdress the issue later."
"Fair enough."
Crystal liked this Morrigan. She knew when to leave her alone. Maybe bringing her on the trip wouldn't be so bad.
"I'm leaving." Crystal blurted. "I have a long journey ahead of me. I'll be departing after we've finished eating." Silence fell between the two, thickening the atmosphere around them. "You're, welcome to come with me. But you should know you may not like where I am headed."
Morrigan looked away briefly as if considering her next words carefully.
"You are going to Thedas, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"And what is the purpose of your journey, assassin?"
"You're asking an awful lot of questions."
"And why shouldn't I? It affects my life too does it not? Especially if you are to return to the land in which I desperately fled. I think I deserve to know what I'm getting myself into."
A nervousness settled over the assassin as she debated telling Morrigan what she was up to. She glanced toward the door to make sure it was firmly closed before leaning toward Morrigan and lowering her voice, "I belong to a secret organization of assassins. I've been tasked with establishing a sister-branch in Thedas, the Dark Sisterhood." Crystal covered Morrigan's hand with her own just then without knowing why, she just felt the urge to before speaking again, "Come with me and I promise you will be protected, Morrigan. I will guard you with my life. Together we can build a new family and make the new sanctuary our home, a permanent one. Of course, you can leave whenever you like."
Morrigan stared hard into Crystal, after a few moments, she nodded her head. "Alright. I shall take my chances with you then. There's something about you, assassin."
Crystal smiled wildly on the inside at her success. She had convinced Morrigan. Now, all she had to do was get to Thedas.
OoOoO
"You must be joking! You expect me to ride on that—" Morrigan gestured toward Shadowmire, "thing?"
Crystal rolled her eyes at the self-entitled witch and reached an arm toward her once more, offering to pull her up onto Shadowmire's back behind her.
"It's just a horse, Morrigan. Until your injuries heal and you can shift it's either this or you walk."
The witch let out an exasperated sigh before taking Crystal's extended limb and allowing herself to be heaved atop the silly creature. Morrigan fiddled with her hands, unsure of where to put them. She knew where she wanted to put them but didn't want to assume. In answer to her thoughts, Crystal grabbed her limbs gently and pulled them around her waist. "Don't want you falling off. Hold on as tightly as you like."
Morrigan could almost hear the wink in her comment. But without being able to see her face, couldn't confirm it.
Crystal clucked her tongue and the beast beneath them responded, propelling them forward at a brisk pace. Morrigan squeezed her arms around Crystal tighter, enjoying the closeness as well as the toned shape of what was Crystal.
"So where are we headed first?" Morrigan called behind Crystal's ear.
"We're headed for Dawn Star. There's a ship there that can take us straight to Thedas. It'll be a few days' journey."
They traveled the next few hours in comfortable silence. Morrigan never once let go of Crystal, nor did Crystal lift her right hand from resting on Morrigan's. It was a small interaction, but Morrigan extracted a great comfort from it. She desperately hoped Crystal did as well.
Eventually, they came to an abrupt halt. Morrigan looked up at Crystal's insistent tapping fingers atop her hand. Nodding in the direction ahead of them. Peering over the assassin's shoulder through squinted eyes, Morrigan was able to make out four travelers in white robes on the path ahead. They didn't look threatening, but Crystal approached with caution anyway. Clearly, she knew something Morrigan didn't.
Kicking her heel, Crystal urged Shadowmire forward.
"Halt citizens, we are agents of Stendarr. We are missing brothers and sisters, have you happened to cross paths with any of our own in your travels?"
The human male stared up at them hopefully, his hood pulled over. Morrigan looked to Crystal, deciding to take her lead, but the assassin said nothing. Instead, she slid from the horse, rather elegantly, as if she had been riding horses her entire life and the act was second nature.
"You're in luck," Crystal began as she turned to Morrigan extending her arms to help her down. Morrigan slid right into the embrace, being sure to hold her hurt wrist away from herself. Her slim form slid against Crystal's; Morrigan couldn't help the hardening of her nipples; her shirt was indeed many sizes too small but hopefully the assassin hadn't noticed. Crystal didn't speak again until Morrigan had two feet firmly on the ground. "Not only have I seen them," Crystal continued, striding quickly toward the vigilant, "I can send you to them."
"Send us?" The man looked confused but wasn't for long as Crystal brought a dagger across his throat. His eyes flew wide as he grasped at his throat, choking and gagging as he crashed to the ground to bleed out. Crystal had already dispatched a second vigilant and already had a dagger aimed at another before Morrigan had even processed what happened. The assassin had moved so unbelievably fast. The second dagger had been thrown with such precision. Watching this woman kill was like watching an artist.
Before the last vigilant could react, Crystal already had two hands around her throat. Judging by the whitening of the assassin's knuckles, she was squeezing with all her strength. The gasping woman tried to scream, but no sound came, tried to breathe but was impossible as her bones snapped beneath the assassin's literal death grip. She clawed toward Crystal to no avail. Awkwardly, the vigilant collapsed backward, her futile attempts at escape slowed as life began to leave her. Crystal straddled her, still squeezing, taking deep breaths and clutching harder on each exhale. "Shhhhh," Crystal whispered. "Your family awaits you," Morrigan almost couldn't hear she spoke so quietly, "in the void." She finished.
Finally, the body stilled. Crystal stood. Morrigan felt nothing for the act that had just taken place, yet, everything between her and Crystal had changed. Her true wickedness revealed. Within knowing her for only a day.
Crystal turned toward Morrigan; a half smile flickered as she raked her eyes over Morrigan's body. "See something you like, Morrigan?"
Morrigan furrowed her brows in confusion. What was she talking about? Crystal strode back toward Morrigan. The witch stepped back unsure of Crystal's intentions. She didn't feel afraid; it was just a reaction. Crystal slowed her movements, taking Morrigan by the waist and gently guiding her back against a nearby tree, stepping close. Slowly, deft hands raised to Morrigan's breasts. Thumbs circled hardened nubs, blasted, it feels so good. The assassin did notice her hardened nipples after all or at least she did now. They poked through the thin material, alerting her companion like lighthouses warned ships of shore.
Morrigan's mouth fell open to say something, anything, but words wouldn't come. Crystal let out a chuckle. "There's a stream over there," Crystal nudged her head toward the trees. "Why don't you take Shadowmire to get a drink?"
Morrigan nodded, stepping away from Crystal and taking the horse by the reins and leading him over to a nearby stream.
When she returned with the horse's thirst quenched, Morrigan noticed the bodies were gone. Crystal must had taken care of them. But where was she? The witch jumped when she felt a tapping on her shoulder.
"Sorry. I found a clearing this way. It's getting dark; we should make camp." Again, Morrigan nodded obediently and followed.
As promised, Crystal led them to a decent sized oval of earth free of rubble but surrounded by trees. They'd be safe from the road here. "I'll start a fire; why don't you get the bedroll off Shadowmire? And you can just take his bridal off; he won't run away."
"Won't he? 'Tis curious a creature that will not flee."
"He's tied to me. He'll follow me anywhere."
Crystal disappeared amongst the trees to collect firewood while Morrigan set up the bedroll on the ground. The single bedroll. As in one.
"Err Crystal?" Crystal looked up as she placed the firewood down and began to arrange them.
"Morrigan?"
"There is only one bedroll. As in one fur between the two of us."
"Yeees. Problem?"
"Yes, there is a problem! Where shall I sleep then hmm? On the floor like a dog? Did it not cross your mind to pick me up a fur back in Morthal?"
"Did it cross yours?"
Crystal had a point there. Here she was complaining, and Crystal had offered to take Morrigan with her. She was frustrated as she was finding herself more and more attracted to the assassin. She became aroused by Crystal's kill display earlier, and she still wasn't sure how that sat with her. But if they had to share that tiny bedroll she wasn't sure she'd be able to resist the urge to fuck Crystal into oblivion until her needs were sated.
The draw she felt to this woman was nearly suffocating. Her heart beat wildly when she came in close proximity. Her breathing altered at the smallest touch. Somehow this stranger felt like a part of her very soul, like she was an extension of the witch. The instinctual need developing inside Morrigan to have Crystal nearby at all times was a powerful sentiment.
Crystal ignited a flame with the flick of her wrist and the fire roared to life. Turning away from the entrancing flames, she turned back toward Morrigan. "What's really going on in your head? Talk to me; did I scare you?"
She looked genuinely concerned. Morrigan took a step back as Crystal got closer, why did she keep doing that? Did she not want to be in the arms of the seductive killer that aroused her? It was too soon. She didn't know a thing about the other woman and didn't know if her feelings would be reciprocated.
"You did not scare me, Crystal. In fact, I rather enjoyed the display. I didn't mean to snap like that. I do apologize."
Crystal seemed to accept the apology and nodded with a half-smile. "Well you don't have to worry, Hjalmarch is a shady place. I'll take first watch. You can have the bedroll all to yourself tonight."
The assassin dragged a good sized log over from the treeline near the fire and sat down, patting the spot beside her for Morrigan to join. The log was just wide enough for the two of them, elbows and hips pressed together. Morrigan couldn't help but note how warm and soft the assassin's elbow felt against hers.
"So… you liked what I did to those vigilants of Stendarr?"
Morrigan visibly shrunk a bit at that moment, embarrassed and wishing she could take those words back but decided to go with the truth.
"I… yes. You in action, is like watching a dance or an artist at work. I found myself, fascinated."
This earned a grin from her companion.
"I'm glad I didn't scare you off. I like having you around, Morrigan." Crystal's voice got quiet at that last part. The conversation was turning heavy although the words were pleasant ones. Morrigan decided to defer the subject, "Is there anything you are afraid of assassin?"
Crystal snickered and thought a moment before answering. "Spiders. I've always hated spiders."
They chatted lightly for the next few hours back and forth. Crystal opened up a little about her upbringing to Morrigan; she learned the assassin had the toughest of lessons and harshest of punishments.
When learning to pick locks, she had been scolded for being too slow. Crystal had said she liked to take her time, but that it was unacceptable in the upbringing of killers. Assassin's had to excel at speed and efficiency. So she had been locked in a small room with a coffin and a single candle with her set of picks. Her educator had told her it was almost sundown and a vampire resided in the coffin.
She said she had escaped just as she heard the creaking of the coffin door open behind her. The lesson had been learned. When the witch asked of her teacher's fate, an evil grin graced Crystal as she hinted at putting the instructor through the same lesson. It seemed the educator had not been as successful as Crystal. She had many stories like that. As did Morrigan.
Morrigan told Crystal of her life with Flemeth and how she was raised away from civilization. Flemeth wasn't the most tentative mother, her lessons had been harsh but effective. She told her tale of straying from the woods when she was a child and stealing a golden hand mirror from a noble woman's carriage, the mirror had dazzled Morrigan as a child, but Flemeth had been furious with her, smashing it to pieces.
The women bonded over their isolated upbringing and distrust of humankind. They learned they had similar views, valuing power and independence above all. As they continued to talk through the night they had subtly shifted closer, casually touching each other's arms when one made a joke.
At the end, a comfortable silence fell upon them as they held one another's gaze. Eyes flickered back and forth between orbs and lips, but neither moved, neither initiated the kiss they each longed to share.
"May I ask you something, Crystal?"
"Absolutely."
"When we met, your eyes were a dark rich blue color, like sapphires. Now, they have faded to a silver-blue, what happened that night? When you came back, you were covered in blood, incoherent, you looked… petrified."
Crystal's entire demeanor changed then, and that faraway look retook residence in those stonewashed eyes. She managed to get out the words "ritual, blood baptism, no choice," but couldn't form a sentence. She inched away from Morrigan, rose to her feet and crossed the camp to kneel beside the bedroll Morrigan had set up and pulled back the fur, patting the bottom material, urging the witch to slide under.
"You should sleep, dawn comes quick."
It was cute how Crystal tucked the fur around Morrigan, making sure she'd stay warm.
"Oh, just a second," Morrigan's eyes followed Crystal as she crossed the camp to retrieve something from the saddlebags. "Here, after this, there's only one left."
In Crystal's outstretched hand was one of the last two healing potions. It touched Morrigan's heart how considerate her companion was for her well-being.
"Thank you, Crystal," Morrigan replied taking the vial and downing the contents.
"You're welcome. Goodnight Morrigan."
"Goodnight Crystal."
OoOoO
Crystal awoke early the next morning to a breeze so piercing it chilled her to the bone. Hugging the fur tighter around her, she forced her eyes open, scanning for Morrigan. Except for her, and Shadowmire grazing nearby, the camp was empty. The fire had been kept lit so she could not have been far.
With a groan, Crystal sat up and looked to the sunrise. She had switched with Morrigan a few hours ago. Apparently, the woman was terrible at keeping watch if she had left Crystal alone in camp. Tossing the fur aside, Crystal got to her feet grabbing her daggers in the process and tied the weapon belt around her waist.
She took in a deep chilly breath, allowing her senses to come alive with the cool crispness of the air. The assassin paced the campsite, throwing a few sticks in the fire and greeted Shadowmire. The giant horse greeted her back with an exaggerated whiny.
Crystal rolled the bedroll and tied it back hoping Morrigan would return by the time she finished but still found herself alone a few minutes later. Worry began to settle in the pit of her stomach. Where the void was she?
"Morrigan!?"
Her voice echoed through the trees like a gentle song. Crystal closed her eyes and listened carefully, picking out each sound and identifying its source; breeze ruffling through the leaves of the trees, Shadowmire taking a step amidst his grazing, birds chirping, and a footstep, the step didn't belong to a human, it was an animal, and it was directly behind her.
Deft fingers slid to the hilt of a dagger as she took a calming breath before whirling around and raising her weapon high about to throw—
Crystal stood frozen in place.