Maven POV:
I smile as I read the letter Queen Elisif sent me, the royal seal at the bottom identifying the letter as of utmost important. The Queen was going to assign Jarl Kraldar to Whiterun, and promote Thonjolf the Housecarl to the position of Jarl of Winterhold. But after she received a letter from one of her trusted Thanes, she changed her mind and wishes to appoint me to the position of Jarl of Whiterun. She talked with the moot (a formality), spoke with her court, and now all she needs is my approval. I quickly write her a letter saying I accept, I'll pack my bags, and I can be in Dragonsreach by tomorrow night. While the raven flies away I pack my bags, then go to straighten out the rest of my family. I quickly tell Hemming how I want the city to be ruled, what to do in my absence, and everything he needs to know. Then, I release Sibbi from jail, tell him what to do as steward, and give him specific instructions what not to do. Finally, I head to the manor to find Ingun. I ripped the Khajiit from her presence, but I have no reason to deny her the ability to go to Whiterun. If she wishes to go with me, then all she has to do is swear never to go near her friend again. It may seem cold and heartless to her, but I have my reasons. Two more potions and the Khajiit will love me and only me for the rest of her life. And, she'll no longer care for Ingun.
Within a week the side-effects will appear, and the Khajiit will become a different person entirely. I'm saving my granddaughter the pain of watching her friend become a snarling, angry, and muscular beast that only cares about me. I'm nearing the manor now, but I stop dead in my tracks when I see the Khajiit in question step out of the house. She fixes her hair as she walks over to The Bee and Barb, her orange tail swishing as she struts. Damn Ingun. I quickly jog to the manor, and rip open the door. Ingun is in bed when I find her, sleeping off a hangover. I instantly shake her awake, my granddaughter's eyes widening in fear when she sees me. She clears her throat and asks, "Yes?". I all but snarl, "You saw the Khajiit again.". She gulps and nods, waiting to see what I'll do. I take a deep breath, exhale, and tell her, "I forbid you from seeing her again. She's a bad influence on you.". Ingun scoffs and tells me, "You're fucking her! Why is it okay for you to have sex with her, but I can't talk to her?!". I inwardly groan and explain, "I'm an adult, and I can handle the woman. You'll only end up getting hurt if you continue being her friend. Now, I came here to tell you I'm now the Jarl of Whiterun. Feel free to come with me to the city if you feel like it, but I don't want to see you talking to the Khajiit.". She looks absolutely shocked, but nods. I roughly stand up and leave, my granddaughter still in bed.
Ingun POV:
I sit up and run my fingers through my hair, a headache pounding behind my right eye. My grandmother knows my friend and I have made up, and she isn't pleased. I need to tell the Khajiit what's wrong, and fast. I rise, dress, and head for the bar. I'm not sure if my friend is there for sure, but she likes drinking. As I walk across the bridge a storm starts, my anger rallying.
Dovahkiin POV:
I'm deep in my cup when Ingun finds me, her face grave. She says something I ignore, heaves me out of my chair, and leads me upstairs. I manage to grab a mug of ale from a passing tavern wench, chug it down, and try to toss it into the garbage (I miss by a mile). One of the owners curses me in Jel, but I couldn't care less. Ingun leads me to a private room, sits me down on the bed, and tells me, "We need to talk.". I rub my eyes and respond, "We've already made up, there's nothing to talk about.". Ingun was drunk only a few hours ago, but the buzz seems not to effect her as she tells me, "It's about my grandmother.". I instantly say, "Don't do this. Don't start something else. Your grandmother has already told me the good news about her becoming the new Jarl of Whiterun.". She sighs and tells me, "It's not about that.". She goes on to tell me horrible accusations about Maven, makes up lies about what her grandmother said to her, and a thousand other tall tales. By the time she's done I'm grinding my teeth in anger. I take a few deep breaths and tell her, "I appreciate your concern, but your grandmother isn't using me.". She sighs, and our fight begins anew. Damned Ingun. I thought we had settled this matter, but she's starting it all over again! Finally, the woman yells, "FINE! I don't give a shit what you do any more! Fuck my grandmother all day and night, I couldn't care less. Just don't come to me once she's pushed you to the side!". She rises and runs away. I follow her down to the bar, but no further. I sigh and grab another drink.
Maven POV:
I wake up with the Khajiit wrapped in my arms, the smell of drink leaking from her. I can't help smiling. Last night Ingun told the Khajiit every single rotten thing I've ever done, but the woman denied the accusations. The Khajiit is in love with me, and I only need to give her one more potion before it's final (I gave her one last night when she came to me). I rise, dress, and call some servants to get my things. Today Ingun, the Khajiit, and I are going to go to Whiterun. I originally didn't want to bring my granddaughter after her little stunt, but the Khajiit insisted. The cat like woman in question is getting dressed, and when we're both ready we head down to our carriage. I sigh when I find Ingun isn't there. I impatiently tap my foot as we wait, the sun slowly rising.
Ingun POV:
The wizard cowers before me, her eyes trained on my knife. I snarl and tell her, "I'll ask you once again. IS MY GRANDMOTHER USING A LOVE POTION ON MY FRIEND?!". The woman cowers, but nods when I raise my knife. I lower my weapon, step closer, and snarl, "Which one?! Tell me exactly what it does!". She whimpers, but gives in and starts talking. "It's one of the most powerful ones. It's complex, and takes me hours to make. The drinker only has to take it six times before the effects become permanent. It's made of nightshade, daedra heart, some of Maven's hair, bear claws, and mountain lion piss. Maven demanded it go unnoticed when she gave it to the drinker, so I had to mix in honey to prevent it from tasting like sewer water.". I snarl, "I don't give a damn what the potion taste like, just tell me what it does!". She keeps cowering as she tells me, "It makes the drinker completely infatuated with Maven, and eventually they'll believe it to be true love. The drinker begins to ignore Maven's flaws, will forgive her for the most horrible of things, and resents anyone who attempts to correct their misguided love. And, there are numerous side-effects. Not to mention it's shaved about twenty five years off of the drinker's life. Your grandmother has already given the drinker five, and all in a close amount of time. So, I'd actually be surprised it the drinker lived to see fifty.". My heart is racing as I snarl, "Tell me the side-effects!".
She squeaks and tells me, "A small amount of muscle growth, an extremely shortened life, they'll anger easier, they'll soon disregard anyone that isn't Maven, and their entire life will revolve around the woman.". I feel the dagger slip from my grasp, but I manage to hand onto it. Then, I snarl, "Tell me how to undo this.". She gulps, shakes her head, and whispers, "It can't be-". She screams as I charge forward, lift her off the ground by her robe, and press the blade to her throat. I calmly demand, "Tell me how to save my friend, or else I'll saw your head off.". She grows paler and squeaks, "There's one love potion more powerful than the one Maven is using. If you use it on her with someone else's hair, then the effects of Maven's potion will disappear. However, she'll fall irrevocably in love with the new person. Maven won't be able to undo the new potion, but the effects will be even worse. And, by that point the Khajiit will be lucky to see thirty years of age.". I pull her closer and snarl, "Make me the potions with my hair. How many will it take before she forgets about Maven?". She nervously swallows and tells me, "Three, but you can only give her one once a week without killing her. And, I highly recommend against it. The side-effects are unknown, the Khajiit would be highly confused because of the two conflicting potions, and she'll die before her life even truly starts.". I growl, "Do it.". The woman's eyes show the sadness behind them as she whispers, "She'll never truly love you.". I roar, "I KNOW THAT! JUST MAKE THE DAMN POTIONS!". She doesn't cower, but tells me, "I'll make them, but only if you can answer me one question and be completely honest. Is it better to let your friend live a long, happy life thinking she's in love with Maven, or a short, conflicted life thinking she loves you?".
Maven POV:
When the sun is high in the sky I turn to the Khajiit and tell her, "I don't want to wait any longer. Ingun can meet us in Whiterun.". The Khajiit glumly nods. She was the one who convinced me to wait this long, and now even she's fed up with waiting for my granddaughter. We climb into the carriage and the driver lashes the horse, the wagon slowly beginning to move. I sigh and lean back, enjoying the sun. Soon enough the weather will be dark and gray.
Ingun POV:
I run down to the stables, but curse when I don't see my grandmother or the Khajiit. I quickly grab a horse, yell at the stable master who I am, and ride away. As the horse speeds down the road the wind snaps at my hair, the sun at my back. I can only pray I arrive at Whiterun in time.
