The sickness will take over; it will not do to fight. Morrigan is against me. Show her the way. You will assume responsibility for her insolence! I own you. You are mine. Should her thoughts stray from your path, or should you stray from the task, the mark will twist and scald. It is your reminder, your rock; your salvation lies in obedience.
"Crystal!? Crystal, my love, wake up! Open your eyes, my love. You must fight this."
On command, Crystal's eyes popped open as Morrigan shook her by the shoulders. Soft hands cradled her face, warm lips peppered across her cheek. "Are you alright?"
Crystal sat up with Morrigan's help, then shoved the witch away from her as she shot Morrigan an evil glare, her eyes glazing over as she debated how to react to this new information. The witch had done something to distress the Night Mother.
"Crystal?" Morrigan asked, shaking her head in concern, "What's wrong? What happened?"
Crystal pressed two hands against her mark, the pain had receded, it was returning to its familiar chilled state. Having a freezing patch of skin there use to bother her, now that she knew the damage it could inflict, she'd never complain again.
"We should talk in private."
Morrigan nodded in agreement before throwing an arm around Crystal and heaving her up to her feet. Crystal held on to the witch, hunched over in discomfort until they made it back to their room and shut the door. Crystal collapsed on the bed face first feeling drained, the mark had burned so violently, it had taken so much out of her. The veins spreading from her bite wound weren't helping either; they hardened by the day as if another being was growing inside her, slowly taking over.
Morrigan sat beside Crystal, resting an affectionate hand on her back, rubbing gently. Crystal wanted to push her away but the small gesture comforted her, everything about Morrigan always brought her ease and a sense of safety. What could she have done? Why would she derive Crystal from her task? The assassin sat up on the bed just then, facing Morrigan, deciding to get the conversation overwith.
"You angered the Night Mother. She spoke to me; she said your thoughts strayed from our path. What's going on, Morrigan?"
Morrigan's brows creased and eyes narrowed, "How could your god possibly know what I am thinking!?"
Crystal thought about that a moment. It was an excellent question; it made sense for the Night Mother to have access to Crystal's thoughts because they were linked, as far as she knew, only the minds of Daedras or agents that bared the mark could be monitored. She was certain Morrigan was neither of those things.
"I don't know how. But she knows Morrigan, tell me what you were thinking. Why are you trying to sabotage my mission?"
"I was not trying to sabotage you, Crystal," came Morrigan's gentle voice, "not intentionally, I just, I— thought what it might be like to runaway together. What life might be like if we stayed in Skyrim, just you and I."
"Oh," Crystal breathed. Her anger melted away. Those were pretty innocent thoughts actually, but she knew the Night Mother would take no risk. Failure was not an option. Crystal took the witch's hands in hers, "We can be together, Morrigan. But you have to understand the Brotherhood is my life, always has been, always will be. This mission to bring about the Dark Sisterhood is a new chapter; one I'd like to make you a part of. It's a requirement you accept this if you wish to be with me, it's not negotiable. You must understand I am owned. I belong to the Night Mother now. But we can make a great life together if you wish to make it so."
"So, you see me in your future?" Morrigan asked, casting her eyes downward.
Crystal squeezed her hands tighter and held them against her chest. "Yes. I want you with me, Morrigan." Crystal slid off the bed to her knees, kneeling before Morrigan. "Will you be my sweetheart, Morrigan? Will you be with me and only me? Will you accept me as an agent of the Night Mother and bear any consequences that may bring?"
Tears filled the witch's eyes but did not fall; she opened her mouth, but no words came out. Instead, she nodded wildly with a huge grin pulling Crystal into a tight hug."
OoOoO
A few hours later, the women boarded the Siren's Call hand in hand, the ship that would take them to Thedas.
"Long time no see, Crystal!" Called a busty woman with caramel skin, a suggestive pirate outfit and bright blue bandana. The woman was breathtaking which was probably why Morrigan felt the familiar twinge of jealousy when the pirate wrapped Crystal in a tight hug, lifting her into the air and eliciting a laugh from her girlfriend.
Morrigan was slightly shocked at Crystal's laughter and easiness around the pirate as they made small talk. Morrigan had only observed the assassin interact with the public a handful of times, but it didn't take her long to learn Crystal was much different with her than others. When alone with Morrigan, Crystal came to life; she laughed, she teased, and was incredibly affectionate. It was like an alternate personality would emerge,and only Morrigan got to see.
Among strangers, the assassin was cold, unsociable and abrasive. Crystal would shoot a look of warning to anyone that got too close to her partner. The witch rather enjoyed having someone so protective of her. Having the irritating townfolks kept at bay was a delightful only smiled and laughed with Morrigan, until now. She didn't like that another woman prompted the same traits out of Crystal as she did.
"Geeze Crystal, you look like death. What happened to you?" Isabela said looking over Crystal's ghostly white skin and dark blotchy eyes.
"I've definitely seen better days, but I'll be fine. I have someone I want you to meet." Crystal wrapped an arm around Morrigan's shoulders, breaking her line of thought. "This is Morrigan, we're together," Crystal said proudly with a cheesy grin. "Morrigan, this is Captain Isabela, she's an old friend and another business partner of the Brotherhood."
The women grasped forearms in greeting. "Just Isabela will do, kitten."
"Tis Morrigan, not kitten, pleased to meet you."
A sly smile graced the pirate's lips. "Likewise. How about a tour of the ship you two? We'll be setting sail in about an hour or so; the crew likes to take their sweet ass time coming back from shore leave."
The tour consisted mainly of cargo decks, the cannons and where the crew resided. There was a mess hall, kitchen, and the Captain's quarters. "As my special guests, you'll be dining with me every evening. No need to eat with the common rabble." The tour concluded with Isabela showing them one of the few cabins available where they'd be staying. It was a confined space consisting of a bed and a porthole. Crystal and Morrigan would be snuggling close each night for the remainder of the journey it seemed. She didn't mind.
"Thanks, Isabela," Crystal said, squeezing the pirate's shoulder, "for everything."
"Anything for an old friend." Morrigan didn't miss the wink at the end. "Feel free to walk around whenever; it'll be a few days before we reach Thedas. Why don't you take a nap? You look awful; I'll come get you for dinner."
Crystal smiled and nodded before the pirate turned down the narrow corridor and left them alone. The assassin did look rather ill; it was then Morrigan noticed her beginning to sway. Immediately she wrapped her arms around her love and shut the door behind them. Guiding Crystal onto the small cot and laying down beside her while stroking her cheek. The witch watched her lover's eyes close as she wondered what to do. She desperately wished that she could help. But she never learned the ways of a healer. She didn't even know if Crystal could be healed with magic. What if she didn't make it?
"I'm fine, Morrigan."
"I didn't say a thing."
"Your thoughts are loud."
Morrigan smirked.
"That's better; I like it when you smile," Crystal said, eyes still closed.
"And how do you know I'm smiling, your eyes are closed."
"I have many skills," Crystal replied as a stealthy hand crept up Morrigan's torso between her valley, clutching her blouse and pulling her into Crystal's warm lips.
"Mmmmm."
OoOoO
"You two sure can eat!" Isabela observed as she watched Crystal and Morrigan devour their dinner in unison.
"Morrigan eats way more than I do," Crystal laughed.
"I need the energy to keep up with your insatiable sex drive!"
Isabela looked thoroughly amused. "You know, the privilege of being Captain, not only do I have this entire cabin to myself but my bed is big enough for three.
Crystal raised an eyebrow at Morrigan in question. Was she seriously considering a three-way with this vile tramp!? Shooting Crystal a look of distaste, Morrigan reached under the table and pinched the assassin's thigh, hard.
"Ow! I mean err—, thanks, Isabela but we'll have to respectfully decline. We're kind of exclusive to one another."
"Awww, how sweet. Invitation's open kittens, if you change your mind."
Isabela downed the last of the wine bottle in her hand before slamming it against the table and saying, "well, if you two aren't going to entertain me, guess I'll head to bed. See you in the morning. Night both."
"Night," Crystal responded, watching the captain stumble across the room and collapse on the large bed. Morrigan slipped her hand into Crystal's and urged her out of the captain's quarters.
"Care to walk about the ship before turning in, my love?"
"Sure," Crystal replied, wrapping her arm around Morrigan's shoulders as they walked the perimeter of the upper deck, stopping by a railing to look up at Skyrim's two moons.
"Tis quite beautiful isn't it?"
Crystal stood behind Morrigan, wrapping both arms around her, blowing soft tufts of air against her neck, trailing kisses up toward her ear, "not as beautiful as someone I know," Crystal whispered before spinning the witch in her arms to face her and pulling her in for a long kiss. "You're so gorgeous it hurts, you know that?"
Morrigan began to feel light, dizzy, her heart raced as her stomach fluttered. Was it time? Could she finally tell the assassin how she felt about her? Would she reciprocate?
"Morrigan?"
Crystal gently nudged Morrigan until locking eyes. She must had gotten lost in thought again. "I lost you there for a minute, you okay?"
"Yes, I just—, tell me more about the Sisterhood," Morrigan said instead, silently kicking herself for being a coward.
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything. How will it run? What am I to expect? And—" Morrigan turned to Crystal her expression serious, "am I expected to join?"
Crystal took a deep breath and walked over to the railing and looked down at the water before answering. "I will never force you to do anything you don't want to do, Morrigan. If you don't want to join, then you don't have to. Even the Night Mother requires free will from her followers. As I told you before, you can leave at any time. Should you join, however, I'd want you at my side, helping me lead and organize. The Sisterhood is guided by what's called The Black Hand. It consists of five members that guide the clan, four speakers, and a listener, also know as four fingers and a thumb. That's why the black handprint is our symbol. Few know it's significance."
"And are you the listener?"
"Yes, as listener, I heed the Night Mother's instructions and relay the information. The speakers ensure her will is enacted." Crystal's tone wilted with defeat, but she didn't let it show, her eyes drifted back toward the moons, reflecting the stonewashed colors of those beautiful orbs.
"And where would I fit into the hierarchy, if I were to join?"
Crystal hesitated and looked away before turning toward Morrigan and grasping both her hands staring intently at her. Crystal's pasty skin stood out against the darkness surrounding them, Morrigan could barely make out her eyes, with the dark splotchy circles encasing them, it seemed like she was staring into two bottomless pits.
"Morrigan you can have any position you desire. I care about you a great deal, you must decide carefully if this is the life you want, though, it's a life-long commitment."
Morrigan stepped closer into Crystal's personal space, "I just wish to be with you," she whispered.
"Then just be with me, my love." A single tear escaped the witch just then. That had been the first time Crystal referenced her as being her love.
OoOoO
Crystal awoke with a raven haired beauty cuddled closely into her, pushing the assassin against the wall. She didn't mind though; she enjoyed the warmth radiating from the witch. The sun streamed through the small porthole shining brightly. It seemed to be mid day. They had gotten back to their room late the previous night; Crystal had fallen fast asleep as soon as Morrigan forced another health tonic down her throat and her head hit the pillow.
Crystal rested the back of her hand against her forehead, she still felt like death. She had never experienced anything like this. She was burning up, blood boiled beneath the surface yet long flexible icy ropes wrapped around her body. If someone was to ask her if she was hot or cold she could not answer; she wouldn't know how to.
Crystal slipped an arm around Morrigan, pulling her impossibly closer and kissing her lovingly on the mouth. Morrigan pulled back slightly with a growl, "You're freezing. Why are you so cold?" Golden orbs fluttered open meeting Crystal's gaze before snapping wide with full alertness and bolting up and out of the bed. Morrigan braced herself against the wall as she stared at Crystal, a horrified expression in place.
"Morrigan? What is wrong with you?"
Morrigan took her time returning to the bed and sat beside Crystal, gently grasping her lover's hand, eyebrows clenched together, "You're blue," she said sadly.
"What? For Sithis' sake, what the void does that mean!?"
Slowly, Morrigan raised Crystal's hand in front of her, sure enough, the skin was as cerulean as the captain's bandana. "You're blue," she repeated.
