Morrigan woke to the gentle nudging of a chilled hand prodding at her bare shoulder. Dazedly, Morrigan blinked heavy lids until the distorted image of her lover came into focus. Crystal sat beside her on the edge of the bed, the cerulean beauty towered over the witch and peppered her face with sweet kisses.
What had happened? Morrigan's last memory was of death, or so she thought. Did she not impale herself on a life-absorbing blade? Not that she was ungrateful but why was she alive? And how did the assassin look completely unscathed from the past week's events?
Crystal looked vibrant and animated, healthy even. Gone, were the ropey blue veins that had collared snugly around her neck and seemingly threatened impending doom. Morrigan shot a quick peek down the brunette's partly open robe, the thick veins had disappeared from that region as well. Just smooth flawless sapphire colored skin all around.
She needed answers but first she was determined to enjoy the moment and seized the assassin's bobbing head between her fingers and forced their lips together in a harsh, hungry, demanding kiss.
They had come so close to death, both of them. They had nearly lost everything. When air became a need, Morrigan pulled away but held Crystal tightly to her, breasts on breasts. With a smile, the assassin appeared all too glad to swing a leg over Morrigan and straddle her. Crystal's weight felt heavenly against the witch's lithe body. She was relieved to have another chance to experience the sensation, she wished they could lay this way forever.
Morrigan arched her body into her lover's and gazed into unfamiliar eyes. She took a second glance when she noticed something was different; they had changed again. The once silver iris' with flecks of blue were now completely silver. There was a new wildness behind those orbs. Morrigan must had been staring because the assassin inclined her head and asked, "What?"
Morrigan shook her head and traced her azure-skinned lover's lower lip with a gentle thumb. Two sharp white tips peeked out just below the top blue lip. That's when Morrigan noticed another change in appearance; Crystal had two noticeably longer canines just either side of her two front teeth. Carefully, Morrigan traced one fang with her soft thumb, eliciting an unexpected moan from her lover, they must had been extremely sensitive. And judging by the assassin's full blown pupils, sexually stimulating. The white incisors gleamed in the firelight illuminating from the hearth across the room.
—hearth? Where was she? She needed answers. "Crystal I… need answers. What has happened?"
The assassin groaned and instead sucked Morrigan's thumb into her cold mouth and lavished it vigorously, careful not to nip the witch with her new additions. A laugh escaped her as Crystal's hips began to gyrate. Lips latched on to Morrigan's elegant swan-like neck, quick hands discarded her already half off blouse and underwear before she ever had a chance to protest.
Hoping she wouldn't come to regret the action, Morrigan cupped her lover's face with both hands, forcing the assassin to meet her gaze.
"I need answers," Morrigan repeated.
Crystal let out a whimper but slowly rolled off and sat up. Morrigan pulled her top back over her shoulders and covered her breasts before Crystal let out a sigh and continued. "I found the Blade of Woe beside your body. I assume your intent was to transfer your life force into me?"
Morrigan nodded, "Yes. I realized dark magic could only be healed with dark magic."
"You were healed by the Night Mother afterward; I believe she did it as a gift."
Morrigan shook her head furiously, "That… cannot be! Are you aware she possessed you? She spoke to me through your lips. She tried to coerce me into a deal, a deal in which if I did not agree she would take your life. Obviously she was not expecting my sacrifice but believe me my love when I say she wants something from us. I am certain her agenda is a dark one."
Crystal stood abruptly and spun around to face Morrigan, fury in her eyes. "Of course her agenda is dark and probably sinister, she's the bride of Sithis! The deity to the Dark Brotherhood and as of three days ago, the Dark Sisterhood too. She blessed my transformation, Morrigan. The bite I received during the ritual was not only an infectious one but an intentional one, the Night Mother had always intended for me to be a Daedra."
"I know she intended it, Crystal! Whatever this Daed-ra being she has turned you into," They were both yelling now, "she told me she strategically placed every event leading up to that moment the other night. It seemed crucial to her that she had an offer that I would be unable to refuse. She used you, she threatened me with the life of the woman I am in love with in exchange for my unyielding obedience and cooperation for some unknown task in the future. I do not trust your god, Crystal."
Crystal was silent for a long moment and slowly sat down on the bed again facing away from Morrigan before she spoke again, "You're in love with me?"
It dawned on Morrigan just then that Crystal wasn't aware of what went on when under the Night Mother's control. Of course she never heard the witch's declaration of love.
"Yes," Morrigan professed again bravely. Long elegant fingers crawled across the bedsheets and interlaced with Crystal's.
"I'm the new Daedric Leader of the Dark Sisterhood, as promised you are free to stay and I extend to you the protection of the sisterhood and the Night Mother. I hope you will stay but you are free to go if you please." Crystal met Morrigan's gaze before uttering her next words, "Know that you are not required to join the sisterhood. I will never ask that of you. I want you to stay for my own selfish reasons. Think it over; if you're hungry I left cooked mudcrab on the bedside table for you.
Suddenly, Crystal wrenched her fingers from Morrigan's before rising from the bed and hurrying out the room. The witch visibly deflated as she watched the assassin race away from her. Did she not feel the same way? Morrigan had been so certain of the brunette's affections.
Swinging her legs over the side of the mattress, Morrigan braced elbows to knees and buried her face in her hands, feeling like an idiot. She ignored the rumble of her stomach as the smell of cooked crab pervaded the air. It wasn't until she felt a dip in the bed beside her that she realized Crystal had returned and was sitting beside her, concern in her eyes.
"I'm sorry I left like that," Crystal whispered.
"'Tis alright, I did not mean to—"
"No, you did nothing wrong. I love you too, Morrigan. So, damn much. But are you sure you can love me like this? My human side is still intact but it's… weak."
Morrigan's heart fluttered wildly at the returned affection. "I see no issue with your new form. It does nothing to change how I feel about you."
A pained smile slowly tugged to life against blue lips, one of both relief and happiness. Morrigan smiled back and captured that succulent blue mouth with her own.
OoOoO
Morrigan found herself outside the sanctuary some time later for exploration. Upon first waking she had felt weak, drained, exhausted. But after her morning hearing Crystal's returned affections, and mudcrab breakfast, she was energized and itching to run the perimeter of their entire home while in wolf form.
And that's what she did. Paws scurried across the marsh at top speed while she expelled the exuberance swirling inside her chest. She ambled up the hidden staircase Crystal had pointed out to her and zig zagged between the many standing swaying warrior corpses throughout the lands.
Morrigan did not doubt the truth in Crystal's words at having the ability to command an army of undead, but to see it was something else entirely. As long as the assassin kept her wits about her and remained in control, they would be safe from everyone, especially Flemeth.
The shapeshifter slowed amid the forest bordering the mire when she sensed an odd presence. Not a malicious one, just an unfamiliar one. Golden eyes snapped in the direction of ruffling bushes ahead of her. That's when golden suns met chocolate browns, and not those of a human but those of a creature.
Morrigan carefully crept closer, the eyes watching her steadily observing the witch's every move. Morrigan stopped her advance when the creature let out a whimper. It sounded like a dog. A moment later, her suspicions were confirmed when met with a loud bark.
Swirls of mist and colors polluted the space of the witch until she successfully transformed back to human form. She rose to her feet and crossed her arms as she waited for the dog to come out.
"Well? Are you going to come introduce yourself or not?" she asked the canine.
Finally, the dog limped out from behind the bush cautiously to greet Morrigan. It wasn't just any dog, it was a Mabari war hound. A beast of pure muscle, although this one looked a bit skinnier than the ones she had seen. It looked extremely malnourished. She had heard them to be quite intelligent. The breed was intentionally bred and highly valued, a feral Mabari was fiercely unheard of.
It whined again as it limped closer; its front paw appeared to be home to a long thick thorn. Blood dripped from the foot. The witch rolled her eyes and moved closer, "Oh fine, let me help you then." She said while kneeling to dislodge the heinous spike.
Deciding to do it quickly, Morrigan pulled the thorn out in one smooth motion. She chuckled when she thought she heard the beast gasp. She continued to hold the injured paw in her hand, she was surprised the large dog allowed her to, she wasn't ready to let the open wound touch the ground just yet. If only Crystal had been there she could seal it.
Morrigan's eyes fell on the armband just above her elbow and quickly slipped it off to wrap around the paw. "This is the best I can do for you. Good luck, then."
The witch didn't get far before she heard another pathetic whine. With a long groan she turned around, "If you'd like, I suppose you could come back with me to my home. There is a woman there who could heal this for you."
* (Happy bark) *
"Alright, follow me then mongrel. Do try to keep that paw covered please." Morrigan was answered with another affirmative bark before she shifted back to all fours and headed back home.
Crystal was engorged in some type of ritualistic dance at the bottom of the ravine when the witch returned. Magic and colors of every sort swirled around her as she released the brilliant strands of energy from capable azure fingertips.
She barked, announcing her return causing Crystal to halt what she was doing and smile up at Morrigan as the witch descended the hidden steps.
"You brought a friend," Crystal observed.
Morrigan responded after shifting back to human form, "No, this dog simply followed me home. Its paw was injured; I did what I could but requires a healing touch if you would not mind."
Crystal smiled wider as she stepped closer to her lover, "Of course I don't mind. I'll do anything for you, Morrigan." Chilled lips pressed themselves to Morrigan's cheek before motioning for the dog to come inside. "We should do this inside, out of the swamp water."
"Agreed," said Morrigan as she entered the sanctuary with Crystal and the Mabari close in tow.
Once inside, Crystal turned toward the dog and held out a hand. The beast looked to Morrigan as if seeking permission first before lifting the injured wrapped paw for the assassin. Crystal smiled at the Mabari as she slipped the armband from the wound and handed the bloody fabric back to Morrigan. Her hand began to grow a brilliant pearl of white. The light dimmed a moment later and the dog began to tap the floor cautiously before testing it out and adding weight to the leg. Once it seemed satisfied, it gave a happy bark and began bouncing around the entryway room.
Crystal laughed, "You are welcome."
* (Happy bark) *
"Have you two eaten? I caught a couple of rabbits while you were gone." Crystal announced.
"I suppose I am slightly famished since this morning's breakfast."
The Mabari barked happily again.
"Great, let's eat in the dining hall. You come too, buddy." She said to the dog, "You need to think of a name for your new friend, Morrigan."
Morrigan's eyes shot wide, "He is not my friend! And we are not keeping him unless you would like to care for him."
Crystal laughed; and how good it was to hear the woman laugh again. "I don't think he'd let me if I tried. I'm pretty sure he's imprinted on you."
Morrigan spun around and glared at the dog menacingly. The Mabari held its head in shame and shied away. "Did you imprint on me?" she demanded.
The dog laid on the floor and covered its eyes with both paws. Crystal began laughing hysterically. Morrigan had never heard the woman laugh harder than that day.
"Of all the motherless mongrels!" Morrigan wailed, throwing her hands up in the air.
OoOoO
The next few days were spent in that domestic blissful world of illusion while the women readied the sanctuary for the next steps of the sisterhood. Crystal had said the Night Mother would speak to her again when ready for them to move forward.
In the meantime, after repairs had been made, dusty rugs had been beaten free of dust and rolled out, and the sanctuary began to look alive again; the couple spent every second they could together. The couple… and Meeko. Morrigan had allowed her lover to name the war hound, the assassin said she chose the name for his quiet and gentle nature despite his Mabari roots. The three had instantly bonded and for the first time, Morrigan had a family.
It wasn't until the next day that their lives would truly begin. Tomorrow, Crystal would become plagued with deity driven nightmares that would bring change to both their lives forever. The beginning of the end.