It was still night when Crystal opened her eyes a few hours later. She stretched out between the warm bodies laying either side of her. Apart from the impending death from her illness and the chilly grim resolve it brought, she felt great. All the tensity in her muscles had been worked, rubbed and licked away. She felt Isabela pressed up against her back, she turned to face the sexy pirate and placed a kiss on full lips as the caramel beauty slept before turning back toward the woman she really wanted.
She slipped an arm around the witch's thin waist and slowly guided deft fingers between her legs, circling her clit in an attempt to rouse her sleeping partner. Morrigan rolled to her back and spread her legs but didn't wake. Crystal's ministrations quickened as she crashed her lips against Morrigan's. The witch let out a guttural moan that echoed into the depths of the assassin's throat. She took it like a gift, everything this woman did, every sound she made, every word she said brought Crystal pleasure in one way or another.
"Mmmmm," Morrigan smiled into the kiss, "tis one pleasant way to wake."
Crystal kissed her again before speaking. "Want to get some air? It smells like sex in here."
Morrigan nodded with a laugh. Both slipped from the bed silently, careful not to wake the pirate captain. They quickly dressed before exiting the cabin. The outer deck was all but abandoned except for the one lone pirate steering the ship.
Morrigan walked over to the railing, pulling Crystal's limbs around her waist as she stared into the sky. Crystal all too gladly wrapped the witch in a tight hug from behind. Her smile fell when the witch shivered; the assassin pulled away.
"No," Morrigan turned quickly pulling Crystal in close again, "I want your touch."
"You're cold; I can't warm you," Crystal said sadly as she held up her blue hand. Her skin was frozen, she knew it was, and although it may had been fun to play with that between the sheets it wasn't so fun when all she wanted to do was cuddle close to Morrigan.
"You are a mage are you not? I've seen you ignite fire easily enough. Can you not warm yourself internally?"
Crystal past Morrigan and leaned her elbows over the ships edge, looking into the nothingness far ahead of her. She knew she'd have to tell Morrigan eventually, she may as well get it over with.
"I can't manipulate chi as easily as others. I'm unpracticed in the ways of magic. I can only do a few quick spells, ignite fire, a ball of light, propel myself forward and conjure a dagger here and there."
"I had wondered why I've never seen you fight with it."
Crystal let out a long breath. That was only half the reason why she didn't use magic for combat. Could she tell her? Could she trust Morrigan with her secret?
"I'm afraid of it," Crystal murmured.
After a moment, Morrigan's hands rested on Crystal's hips, spinning her around to face her. "Afraid?"
"Yeah, believe it or not, I don't like feeling the power pulse inside me. It's chaotic, difficult to control. I find the sensation, disconcerting."
Crystal hung her head in shame. A mage afraid of her magic was like an assassin afraid of her own shadow. What Morrigan must have thought of her. Morrigan's hand landed on Crystal's chilled cheek and guided her eyes back up.
"Tis wise to be cautious of power, but do not fear it. I would be willing to train you if you would be open to it. Magic thrives on use, if you fear it you cannot master it."
"Okay," Crystal said slowly, "show me something."
Morrigan nodded, took Crystal by the hand and led her to the center of the deck, so they had space. "Close your eyes," she said in that gentle voice of hers. Crystal closed her lids obediently, intently aware of the sounds surrounding them, it was natural for her, detecting sounds. The creaking of the ship, the rise and fall of the ocean waves, the wind howling and sifting its way through her dark strands and Morrigan's clunky steps coming to a rest behind her. She had to teach that witch how to walk! Especially if she was the girlfriend of an assassin.
Smooth hands rested on her shoulders, rubbing small circles with her thumbs against the tight muscles. "Relax," she whispered. "I want you to envision a storm, the quick blinks of lightning specifically. Hear the sound in your mind, let it fill you, let it rumble and shudder throughout, rattling your bones."
Crystal's heart raced as she did as she was told, allowing the chaos to spark to life inside her, thundering and swirling within, free to do what it willed.
"Focus on that thundering beat pulsating through you, let it burn through your blood."
Crystal sucked in a deep breath as she allowed the sensation to rip through her, it was like a lightning bolt had sprung to life deep down before it rapidly jolted through her with its electricity.
"Guide it, my love; you are in control. Force the pressure through your arms and out your fingertips.
Crystal stiffened and squeezed her eyes tighter as she tried to push the heavy ball of pressure congregating in her chest. Dizziness swept over her, and she fell backward, but Morrigan caught her, "keep going," she whispered as a hand held onto Crystal's wrist and held it out in front of them both. The assassin's fingertips began to spark, Morrigan's other hand trailed up her chest, firmly pressing against the center where the chaos was swirling. "Push it out."
With one last burst of energy, Crystal forced the swirling chaos out of her fingertips and sent consecutive streaks of lightning out into the sky. She collapsed further into Morrigan, allowing her girlfriend to take her weight as lush kisses pressed to her temple.
"Excellent Crystal, you learn quickly."
"That felt amazing."
Crystal tried to stand but felt completely exhausted, the ropey vines that extended from the bite and wrapped around her body tightened painfully as she tried to take a step.
"That's enough for one night, let's go to bed, my love."
Crystal leaned on Morrigan for support; together they retired to their cabin. They could have gone back to sleep in Isabela's luxurious quarters, but they wanted to be alone.
OoOoO
"Alright ladies, this is it, welcome to Thedas. Denerim specifically."
Crystal and Morrigan let the crew pile off first when the ship docked, Crystal watched while downing her fourth health tonic that morning. The symptoms were getting worse; she relied more and more on the health drink. Without it, she was sure she would have crippled completely.
"So where you headed from here?" asked the captain as she looked over the women, her eyes turned worried when they landed on Crystal. "And are you going to make it there?
"Maybe it's best we don't tell you," Crystal winked. "For obvious reasons."
"Right, well before you go, why not spend a night in the city? I have an in with the owner at The Pearl; I can swing us a couple of rooms for the night. Plus, I want to introduce you to a friend, Crystal."
"A beneficial friend?" Crystal said suggestively.
"That's right; she's in a relationship, but it's an open one. We choose to benefit each other greatly when I'm on shore leave."
"Another time Isabela, we're already behind schedule, and I need to get to our destination before I'm physically no longer capable."
"Fair enough, see you around my friend," Isabela said hugging Crystal, then Morrigan. "I've already had Shadowmire taken off the ship; he should be tied up in Denerim's stables by the city gates."
"Thanks, Is, for everything."
"My pleasure," she winked.
As Crystal and Morrigan crossed the ramp to dry land, heads turned as they strode by, probably curious to see a blue human, their stares went ignored.
Morrigan leaned in to whisper, "where are we headed exactly? You never said."
"A place called the Fallow Mire."
Morrigan was somewhat familiar with the swamp. She could see the strategy in setting up in a place as desolate as that. It had virtually no inhabitants other than the walking dead and was surrounded by endless storms. It was the perfect hideout for any organization wanting to be kept secret.
"Hey, I need to get a new whetstone, can you get us some provisions and I'll meet you at the stables?"
Morrigan nodded, reaching for the coin bag tied at her waist and giving Crystal sufficient funds for her whetstone before departing the opposite direction.
The shops were bustling with activity; it took some time before she was able to reach the vendors. She handed over payment after acquiring various fruits, bread and some much-needed health potions for Crystal. She bought several, figuring the assassin would need them all. As she turned to leave, a sweetcake caught her eye. Crystal loved the sugary treats like nobody's business; Morrigan would be rewarded with the brightest of smiles and figured her partner could use some cheering up so headed for the pastry; there was only one left. Just as she reached for it, another hand darted out from beside her, snatching up the treat.
"Hey! 'Tis my cake, I was just reaching for it!"
Morrigan spun around and came face to face with a rather attractive redhead with a sly look in her eye. "It seems you were too slow."
Morrigan furrowed her brows and squinted her eyes. She wanted that pastry, Crystal deserved a little happiness, even if it was only for a short time.
"Give it back!" Morrigan demanded.
"It was never yours to begin with." The redhead tossed a few coins at the vendor who wasn't paying any attention to the girls; he only looked up long enough to catch the vile woman's currency.
Morrigan let out a frustrated sigh, "how much?" she recognized a scam when she saw one.
A smile graced the Orlesian woman's face. At least Morrigan assumed she was Orlesian based on her accent.
"Triple."
"For a pastry!? A greedy thief aren't you?"
"How badly do you want it?"
Morrigan closed the space between them; they were the same height so she wasn't as intimidating as she would have liked but her eyes were intense with rage. The thief stood her ground; she had done this before; she held Morrigan's glare with ease.
"I could just take it," Morrigan spat.
"I'd like to see you try, especially with that guard staring at you over there." The thief nodded in the direction of a big burly towns guard staring at their altercation, waiting to step in. The woman probably had the guards wrapped around her finger in this town if she was any kind of masterful thief. Which Morrigan was getting the sense that she was.
"Fine!" Morrigan yelled, dipping into her coin pouch and throwing a gold coin at the bitch and snatching the cake out of her hand before storming away.
"Hey," Morrigan spun around shoving away the woman that grabbed her shoulder. Why was she following her?
"I want interest; you were a merdé."
Was she serious!? "I paid a gold piece for a tiny cake! Have you not burgled me enough?"
The woman lifted a brow. Morrigan turned to leave but was stopped by a harsh grip on her arm.
"I suggest you unhand me before I get angry."
"You aren't going anywhere until I get more coin."
The witch dropped the sack of provisions she had acquired just then and spun around igniting a fireball. She had it aimed high but was tackled to the ground before she could hurl it at the wretched thief.
"Tell me you women aren't fighting over a pastry!" The guard holding Morrigan down demanded.
"No." The redhead answered.
"Leliana you have hustled the customers around here for the last time! Get out of here! I don't want to see you around the shops again!"
With a nod, Leliana turned to leave, but not before shooting Morrigan a look of scorn.
"And you! Get out of here before I call the Templar's to arrest your apostate, ass!"
"What the void!? Get off my girlfriend!" Came Crystal's voice in the distance.
The guard immediately stood, allowing Morrigan to get to her feet. Crystal's arms wrapped around her and felt her all over, checking for injuries.
"Are you all right? What in the name of Sithis happened to you?"
"There was a thief, we had an argument, that's all."
"That's all? And that warranted a guard tackling you to the ground? Is the thief still here?"
Morrigan looked around; there was no sign of the one called Leliana.
"I may have ignited a rather large ball of flame somewhere during the event."
"Morrigan!"
"Everything's fine my love, but we should probably go." Morrigan picked up the bag of contents and drapped an arm around Crystal's shoulders as they made their way toward the stables.
OoOoO
Ferelden didn't look much different from Skyrim land wise, but she had only seen a limited amount of it. The fields surrounding Denerim were seemingly endless, raiders and thieves lurked at odd corners here and there just the same. Crystal and Morrigan made a great team. Sometimes Morrigan would lure them out pretending to be a damsel in distress while the assassin crept behind and slit a throat or two before gaining the attention of the pack, upon turning, Morrigan would fire off a fireball and electric bolts in their direction.
The entire journey Morrigan rode with Crystal on the horse, not once complaining or suggesting she should shift. She kept her arms firmly placed around Crystal until night fell upon them and they were forced to make camp. They caught a rabbit and cooked it up over the fire that night, had a rather sensual bath in a river and proceeded to make love under the stars. The entirety of the trip was like that until they arrived near their destination.
You are close my child, be vigilant. Home is not far. Do not fail me.
Crystal had startled when hearing the Night Mother's voice ring through her head. It had been a while, so she was unprepared.
The Fallow Mire was a desolate swampy environment, as soon as they were completely inside the perimeter, daylight disappeared. It seemed to have its own atmosphere, complete with a thickening fog of green that smelled like rot and death. Just enough light illuminated the path which eventually led to a river.
"Don't touch the water," Morrigan warned. "You will wake the creatures that lay within."
A chill slithered down Crystal's spine as a feeling of dread settled in the pit of her stomach. They took caution in their steps but came across a washed out section in the path. It was shallow, but they had no choice but to tread through and alert any unspeakable horrors nearby. Crystal looked to Morrigan, and both nodded in understanding, readying for a fight.
Crystal stepped as stealthily as she could into the dark water, immediately creatures rose up in every direction, dead corpses, and skeletons groaning and rushing toward them. Crystal leaped into action, dispatching enemies with a series of movements and special techniques she had learned over the years, she even managed to send out a wave of lightning bolts toward a group of enemies.
She quickly caught a pleased smile from Morrigan before rushing to the last two enemies standing. Crystal easily flipped over their heads, stabbing each one through the back, her daggers vibrated beneath her grip, sucking the life force out of the creatures and transferring it to her.
She furrowed her brows in confusion, she knew of the enchantment but had never felt it work before, probably because she had never fought while injured since she had them. That's when Crystal felt a dagger in her own back, the pain had been camouflaged by adrenaline and probably her illness. She had caught Morrigan's golden suns before her body went numb and she crumpled to the ground. She saw a fireball fly over her head, sinking her attacker before Morrigan's grief-stricken face came into view.
"Crystal, stay with me, keep your eyes open."
Morrigan half carried half dragged Crystal up the path until they were out of the water before setting her down on the ground. The witch opened Crystal's robe and lifted the shirt underneath inspecting the wound. Her eyes flickered between Crystal and the wound.
"How bad is it?" Crystal's voice was hoarse; she was fighting with all her strength to keep conscious.
"Your blood is black."
"What?"
Morrigan raised her hand for Crystal to see, the assassin's blood covered it, it was as black as she imagined the void to be.
Then, suddenly it all came together. The bite, the blue skin, the icy veins, the sickness, the blood, it all made sense now. She wasn't dying; she was turning…