A/N: There I was hoping this would be done in 20 chapters. HAHAHA ohgod. 25 then? Maybe? Definitely no more than 30.
Summary: Madanach's delighted to have his daughter back, but as predicted, Eola's finding her new life harder than she ever thought, prompting Argis to do the brotherly thing and call in Liriel for aid. Eola's problems may have to take a back seat however as Reach politics take a disturbing new turn.
Nearly a month after Eola had left Dawnstar. Liriel had fallen into a routine ever since, living in Solitude, finally being a proper mother to her two girls, reading them stories, playing games, taking them shopping, teaching them magic and many other things besides. At the weekends, she'd leave them with Jordis and visit Dawnstar to listen for contracts, doling them out to Nazir to deal with and follow up. She'd saved her guild and the world, others could do the work now, especially with two new initiates in the Sanctuary that Nazir had recruited from somewhere.
In week three, Argis had visited Solitude, stopping in to see Liriel and promptly having been mobbed by Sissel and Lucia, both excited beyond measure to see their beloved Uncle Argis again. They'd been even more excited to learn he'd be moving to Solitude permanently in a matter of months, although they'd not believed him at first when he told them it was because he was marrying newly-Mooted and newly-crowned Queen Elisif. Then he'd said the king who'd rescued them from the Dark Brotherhood was his father, and now he had his kingdom back, he needed to find a wife for his son and who better than the Queen of Skyrim?
"But if he's king, why isn't he marrying the queen?" Sissel piped up, a bit confused as to why a queen would marry someone who was only a prince.
"Because he's a lot older than Queen Elisif and thought she might prefer someone nearer her own age," said Argis, grinning. "Also he's busy running the Reach, he can't be here all the time looking after the Queen. I can, so here I am. That and Queen Elisif's really pretty. I wasn't going to say no to that."
Both girls readily agreed Elisif was indeed really pretty, and wanted to know if they could come to the wedding.
"Of course!" Argis laughed. "Your ma's a very important person, you know, she's one of Elisif's thanes and she saved the world and killed Jarl Ulfric herself. Of course she'll be on the guest list, and that means you two are coming too."
Both girls looked at their mother hopefully, and squealed when she smiled and nodded.
"Of course you will, and your Uncle Cicero will be coming too, and you will get to wear pretty dresses and go to the wedding ball and meet all sorts of people and eat lots of nice food," Liriel told them.
"Uncle Cicero's coming?" Lucia gasped, delighted. "Yay! I love Uncle Cicero! He's funny!"
It was true – Cicero had a genuine way with children and had turned on the charm with hers. He'd got on particularly well with Lucia, listening sympathetically to her complaints about Braith and soothing her with tales of horrible things that might happen to Braith and then she'd never pick on poor Lucia again. It had made her laugh, although when Liriel had gone out to the market the next morning and found out Braith's parents had both been brutally killed in the night and no one knew who by, and Braith was being put on the coach to Riften to go to the orphanage as soon as the funerals were done, Liriel could cheerfully have throttled Cicero. Right up until Lucia and Sissel had both pounced on her and whispered she was the best, despite Liriel's protestations it hadn't been her. Cicero had just sat at the dining table, grinning to himself, then patted Lucia when she'd gone to cuddle him.
"Sweet Lucia and Sissel should be able to walk Whiterun's streets without being beaten or robbed," he'd purred. They'd adored him ever since.
"Uncle Cicero?" Argis said, raising an eyebrow at Liriel, who'd only been able to shrug.
"They like him?" she said apologetically.
"Takes all sorts," Argis muttered.
"And is King Madanach coming too?" Sissel asked, ever hopeful. "He was nice, I liked him! He could do magic!"
"Of course he'll be there, he's my da, he's got to give me a good send-off, right?" Argis laughed, but his eyes never left Liriel. Liriel could only laugh nervously at the thought of seeing Madanach again. She wanted to, gods she wanted to. It was just awkward, that was all. He'd talked about sending her away to get an heir! And even though she'd sent Eola back to him, she still didn't know if Eola had actually turned up yet, or if Madanach had even accepted her back as his child. She needed to ask Argis, but broaching this topic was going to be delicate with the girls around.
"King Madanach doesn't have a queen, does he?" Sissel asked, frowning. Oh good. Trust her daughters to walk into the one topic she'd been hoping to avoid.
"Not yet," said Argis, looking nervously at Liriel. "I'm sure he'd like one though. He gets lonely without one."
Both girls sat up, exchanging grins, and Liriel could feel a headache coming on.
"Mama's not married," said Sissel, sounding very sly and Liriel could swear she'd picked that grin up off Cicero. "Mama's one of Elisif's Thanes and very important, you said so, Uncle Argis."
"And Mama's really pretty!" Lucia added. "And she does magic too! King Madanach could marry Mama! He rescued us, he must like her, right?" Both girls turned hopeful eyes on her. It was no secret that both girls had seen other children with both a mother and a father, and wished they could have the same. They'd tried to set her up with any man who'd crossed her path, and even a few women, but ever since Madanach had rescued them, he'd turned into the number one option. She hadn't even told them he'd been her lover, but somehow they'd guessed there was something there. Why else would an important king swoop in with all his soldiers and take on the Dark Brotherhood just to rescue two little girls? Why indeed. Either that or they'd decided he was perfect father material and should therefore marry their mother.
Liriel gave in and decided they could at least know some of it.
"I'm sure he does, and I quite like him too, but the fact is he's in Markarth and I'm here and he's not sent me flowers or poetry or jewellery or anything yet. So if he sends me any of that and asks me to be queen, I'll think about it but not until then. Besides, his little girl Princess Kaie died, and Madanach needs to have another one who's a Reach native like him to be king or queen when he dies. Argis can't be king because he's a Nord and I can only have Altmer children of my own. So he needs to have a queen who's a Reach native." Amazing how much less it hurt when said as matter-of-factly as that. Both girls looked a bit disappointed... at least until Argis coughed quietly.
"Actually... that's not true now," he said, starting to smile, and Liriel looked up and realised, realised Eola had done it, she'd gone home and Madanach had taken her back.
"See, Kaie had a younger sister called Eola who ran away years ago and no one knew where she was. Her being away from the war and trouble meant she didn't get killed, and when she heard Madanach was king again, for good this time, she came back to find out more. Then her sister was killed before Eola could get in touch with Da, but after he got back from Windhelm, she found him again. And because she's the last Reachborn child he's got, she's heir to the throne now. He made the announcement a few days ago, just before I left Markarth, and made the entire city guard and his court swear fealty to her as heir, me included. Da doesn't need to marry a Reachwoman now, he can marry whoever he likes. All he needs is for Eola to get married and have a kid or two, and he's sorted. I think he's already started to have a few enquiries come in."
"She did it," Liriel whispered, dazed. "She went back to him."
"Yeah," Argis laughed, grinning from ear to ear. "She really did. I've got a sister, Liriel!"
He looked like he was about to burst from sheer delight, and Liriel didn't blame him. It was going to be all right, really all right, Madanach was free to love her again.
"We've got an Auntie Eola," Sissel ventured. "She does magic too. She's a nightblade. I'm not sure what that means though."
"Means she can creep up on people and kill them without anyone knowing she's there!" Lucia said proudly. "And she can use magic to do it as well as swords, because she used to be in the Forsworn as a kid and they taught her lots of things."
"Don't be stupid, Lucia, Forsworn don't take children, they're all scary warriors!" Sissel cried, having grown up in Rorikstead with Forsworn outposts mere miles from the village and having been told lots of scary stories about Forsworn stealing children and attacking people.
"Even scary warriors can have children, and Eola's parents were both in the Forsworn," said Liriel firmly, before a fight broke out. "Children don't fight with the Forsworn, but Forsworn camps often have children living there, and Eola grew up on one."
"Auntie Eola or Princess Eola?" Lucia asked, frowning.
"They're one and the same," Liriel told them, watching in amusement at the stunned looks on their faces. "Your Auntie Eola is King Madanach's daughter and now his Crown-Princess."
Silence and then ecstatic squealing.
"You have to marry him now, you have to!" Sissel cried. "If Auntie Eola and Uncle Argis are his children, that means he's family, so you have to."
The things that made sense to a small child's mind, really.
"We're related to the Reach-King," Lucia whispered, amazed. "Wow! Can we visit him, can we? Do you think he'll do more magic tricks for us?"
"Oh, I think I can arrange a trip to Markarth at some point," said Liriel, sounding far more poised than she felt. "But he's not asked me to marry him, so as I said, until he sends the aforementioned flowers and poetry and romantic gifts and letters telling me he can't live without me, there will be no wedding. But if he does... I'll think about it."
Cheering from both girls, who both promptly turned to Argis.
"Uncle Argis, Uncle Argis, you'll tell him to send Mama flowers, won't you?" Sissel asked hopefully.
"And the letters, don't forget the letters!" Lucia cried. "And a ring, there's got to be a betrothal ring, everyone knows that."
"You two are aware that were I to marry the Reach-King, we'd all have to move to Understone Keep in Markarth, aren't you?" Liriel said, amused. "And that as he would not only be your stepfather but the king, you would have to do what he told you and behave yourselves. And that when I was off travelling, he would be looking after you."
Not a single fade in either smile.
"We'd have a papa!" Lucia cried.
"And he'd be king and everyone would have to be nice to us and no one would bully us ever again, because no one picks on you when your papa's the king," said Sissel, nodding sagely. Liriel's heart went out to them both. Not the wealth, not the power, just being looked after by a second parent and not being bullied.
"And when Argis marries Queen Elisif, we can come back and visit!" Lucia sighed happily. "Because King Madanach will want to visit his son, and maybe Queen Elisif will have a baby and then she'd have to visit Markarth with it."
"That's the plan," Argis grinned, ruffling Lucia's hair. "Elisif needs heirs of her own and she loves kids. She says she wants about seven of them, but I'm thinking two or three is probably enough. We'll see how she feels after she's had the first one."
More laughter, and Liriel finally felt contented and happy for the first time in weeks. It was going to be all right, it really was. Her girls clearly liked the idea of her getting married, and honestly Liriel was running out of reasons to stay away from Markarth. She'd send Argis on his way with instructions to find out from Madanach if she'd be welcome and if their engagement was still on, then she'd retrieve Cicero from Dawnstar and make her way back there. Eola was heir, Madanach was free to marry her, her daughters were all in favour, everything was going to be fine.
Two months after Eola had left for Markarth, and Liriel was still in Solitude. She'd waited for Argis to go back to Markarth, and then waited to hear from Madanach.
A week after Argis had left, three of the ReachGuard showed up at her door.
"Brenhina," the lead one said, bowing low. "The Reach-King sends his regards." He held out a flat wooden box, and Liriel felt her heart skip as she recognised it. Flat, square, dragon with its tail in its mouth – she knew what was in it before she even opened it.
Sure enough, her torc was gleaming up at her, along with a rune-sealed card. She flicked it open and read it.
"Liriel Brenhina,
After all this time, all that's happened, you need an invitation? Very well.
I love, adore and worship you. Come home, Reach-Queen that will be.
– Madanach"
"Mama, what is it?" Sissel had come running up, curious, and she actually gasped to see three of Madanach's soldiers there.
"They're from the Reach! Did King Madanach send flowers and poetry and gifts?" Sissel saw the torc gleaming in Liriel's hands and gasped.
"Lucia!" Sissel cried. "LUCIA! Come quick!"
"What is it?" Lucia called, running down the stairs and across Liriel's front hall.
"Come and see, come and see, King Madanach's sent Mama jewellery!" Sissel cried. "And it's beautiful!"
Lucia ran over and both girls were staring at the torc, mouths open.
"Wow," Lucia whispered. "It's really shiny!"
"He had it polished up especially for you, Brenhina," said the lead ReachGuard, eyes still lowered in submission.
"So I see," Liriel said, feeling light-headed all of a sudden. She had her torc back. Madanach loved her and wanted her. She was going to be getting married. By Sithis, she'd need a wedding dress, jewellery to go with this, everything, and what exactly did a Forsworn wedding involve anyway? She certainly hoped it didn't involve all the guests standing up in turn to share stories of how they knew the happy couple. She could only imagine what Cicero might come up with, and the last thing she wanted was Eola deciding to be truthful about how they'd actually met.
"Tell him I'll see him. I just need a few weeks to put my affairs in order and sort the girls out and order a dress and... oh Sithis, just go back and tell him yes, I'll marry him, expect us in Markarth within the month."
Actual shrieking from her daughters who both pounced in unison.
"We're getting a papa, we're getting a papa!" Lucia cried.
"Our papa's the Reach-King!" Sissel cried, doing a little dance on the spot, and Liriel could tell that under those head-dresses, the three ReachGuard were all trying not to laugh.
"Also tell him I'm very sorry but it appears my two have adopted him," Liriel sighed. "I hope he's got a good supply of bedtime stories, he's going to need them."
"Will do, Brenhina," the lead ReachGuard said, now definitely grinning. "He raised his four well enough, he'll cope with the two Rhan-Hirilai. We'll see you in Markarth soon?"
"You will," Liriel promised. The ReachGuard all bowed and took their leave, presumably to tell Madanach their mission had been a success. With the door closed, Liriel sank into a chair, shaking all over while two excited little girls bounced around the room. Sissel was trying the torc on, exclaiming at how heavy it was, while Lucia had picked the card up and was reading it.
"What does Brenhina mean?" Lucia asked, frowning. "Is it your family name, Mama?"
Altmer didn't really have family names as such – their long lives and low fertility rates meant Altmer society had never been founded greatly on blood ties. Liriel had just adopted Dragonborn as her surname after coming to Skyrim, but didn't really use it much. She was just Liriel and that was how she liked it. Except now she wouldn't be, she'd be Liriel Rhan-Brenhina for the next few decades. And her children Rhan-Hirilai from the sound of it – the Aldmeri word for a high-ranking female was hiril, the Reach word could well mean something similar.
"Means queen, sweetie," Liriel whispered. "I'm going to be Madanach's queen."
Lucia had read the rest of the note by this time and had seen that for herself.
"He does love you!" Lucia smiled. "I knew it!"
"Of course he loves her!" Sissel piped up, still trying to keep her balance with a heavy torc around her neck. "Mama's the most beautiful lady in the whole wide world!" Both girls turned to look at Liriel, identical soppy looks on their faces as if there was no doubt in either's mind that no one was prettier than their mama, not even Queen Elisif. Liriel held out her arms to them, tears in her eyes.
"Come here, you two," she sighed, pulling them both in for a family cuddle. "I love you both very much, I hope you know that."
"Yes Mama."
"We love you too, Mama!"
Jordis chose that moment to emerge from the kitchen, having heard all the excitement.
"Is everything all right, my Thane? Goodness, where did that come from? Is that solid gold?"
"Close enough," said Liriel, taking the torc off Sissel and putting it away. "Jordis, are you going to be all right watching these two for me? I've got to get to Dawnstar right away and retrieve Cicero. Then I've got plans to put into action. Jordis, I'm getting married!"
Jordis actually squealed. "My Thane, that's wonderful! Who's the lucky man? Are you living here?"
Liriel shook her head. "No, the girls and I are moving to his house in Markarth, although we'll be back visiting, seeing as his son's marrying a Solitude girl soon."
"Oh now, that's a shame," said Jordis, smile fading a little. "I'll miss you all. Who is he? I hope he's worthy of you."
"It's Madanach the Reach-King!" Sissel exclaimed before Liriel could stop her. "We're going to live in a palace!"
Jordis' mouth dropped open and she stared at Liriel for confirmation.
"It's true," said Liriel, getting no little enjoyment from her normally unflappable housecarl sinking into a chair in shock. "He insists he's madly in love with me, so I thought I should probably marry the poor man, put him out of his misery."
"Oh," Jordis breathed. "You and King Madanach. Oh my. Well, he is a king, I suppose, and rich, and you did fight alongside him at Windhelm and they do say he's handsome in a frightening kind of way, and... you just be sure and tell him king or no king, I'm still your housecarl and if he mistreats you, he'll have me to deal with!"
Bless Jordis, her bravery was undeniable and her loyalty warmed Liriel's heart. Madanach would tear her apart in seconds, of course, but Liriel was fairly certain it would never come to that. Madanach was a ruthless man, but not a pointlessly cruel one and he cared deeply for his family.
"I'm sure he'd never do that," Liriel told her. "He's seen me fight."
That did bring a laugh from Jordis, and the conversation moved on to more cheerful topics such as wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses for the girls and sundry other wedding related topics until night fell.
Two months and Liriel was getting ready to go. Beautiful blue and gold Alinorian-style wedding dress produced courtesy of Radiant Raiment, and some earrings to match. All her most important things packed. Cicero retrieved from Dawnstar and his worldly goods, such as they were, got together. Two excited daughters wanting to take everything with them, and having to be constantly reminded that they were going to a palace, anything they really needed would be there. Between the overprotective housecarl, hyperactive children and one hyperactive jester who wasn't helping in the slightest, Liriel was starting to feel a little frazzled. Still, she had it under control, just about.
Right up until a knock came on the door and Jordis opened it to find Argis there, grim look on his face.
"Liriel there?" he asked without preamble. That didn't sound good. Argis was normally charm itself. For him to be that brusque meant something was wrong.
"Argis?" Liriel asked, getting to her feet, watching as Argis shook the rain out of his hair and accepted a towel from Jordis.
"Liriel, thank the gods," Argis said, striding over once he'd got most of the water off his armour. "Can we talk? In private?"
"Girls. Your room. Now," said Liriel, nodding at the pair of them to clear out. Both girls pouted at this.
"But I wanna talk to Uncle Argis!" Sissel wailed. Oh good, this was all Liriel needed.
"Not now, Sissel. Later," Liriel snapped. "Now go. Quickly!"
Jordis helped shepherd the girls away, not needing to be told to make herself scarce, leaving Liriel alone with Argis. She motioned for him to take a seat.
"What's up?" she whispered, only guessing what might have driven him up here. "Is it Madanach? Is he all right?"
"Yes. No. Kind of," Argis sighed, sinking into a chair and helping himself to a bottle of ale. "It's Eola. She's... she's not well."
"Not well – what do you mean, not well, she was fine when I saw her last, the woman's ridiculously healthy!" Liriel cried, heart pounding. No, no, Eola couldn't die, she needed to be heir to the Reach so Liriel could marry her father! Eola being seriously ill was not what Liriel wanted to hear! Not to mention Eola being ill and unhappy just seemed wrong.
"Oh she's healthy enough physically – for now," Argis sighed. "But mentally – Liriel, she's not doing great."
"What's wrong?" Liriel whispered, although in her heart she guessed the truth. Eola had sacrificed her freedom and as Cicero had predicted, it was slowly killing her.
"I don't know," Argis sighed, head in his hands. "She won't talk to anyone about it. Not even me, and I thought we were getting on. She seems to trust me more than anyone else there, other than Da. She tells me I get it, and that I'm as much yours as Da's, but I don't know exactly what I'm supposed to be getting. All I know is that my little sister is dying before my eyes and I don't know what to do. Da doesn't know what to do. All Bothela's potions aren't helping. She's off her food and all she does seem to want is red meat, the rarer the better, but it doesn't seem to be enough. I don't know, Liriel. Da's beside himself with worry. So am I, so's everyone but not for the same reason, I don't think. Everyone's looking at her, when she's actually out of her bedroom that is, and they're thinking of Kaie and comparing her to Eola, and wondering how on earth that invalid's going to lead them. I think her best hope might just be getting married quickly and getting grandchildren soon – Da could live another twenty years, one of them could take over if she can't. But I'm not sure who's going to want to marry someone who spends half her life in bed crying and who barely eats. Liriel, I don't know what to do, none of us do, we're running out of options. Please help."
Oh gods, Eola. It was exactly as Cicero had feared, exactly as Liriel had feared. No space, no privacy, not able to hunt or arrange for anyone to bring her food. Namira's priestess was cut off from her goddess and slowly fading.
"How's Madanach coping?" Liriel asked. It couldn't be easy for him, wouldn't have been anyway but if the strong young woman she'd sent him was falling apart before his eyes, it must be breaking his heart.
"Not well," Argis said softly. "It was fine at first – beyond fine. I've never seen him so happy, and they were both smiling all the time. He made the proclamation, declared a public holiday, made everyone swear fealty to her as heir. She barely left his side, they were constantly with each other, holding hands, cuddling – it was almost like watching him with a new lover. They'd spend all day with each other, him introducing her to people, going over state records with her, taking her on tours of Markarth, holding court with her at his side. Then in the evenings they'd have dinner together, sitting up late in his room talking and drinking, then he'd see her to her own room and sometimes they'd keep talking there as well. Then he'd kiss her goodnight and leave her to sleep, but I know he'd sometimes slip back and just watch her sleeping, just to make sure she was really there. He didn't like being away from her for long, he hated not knowing where she was. If she wasn't in sight, he'd have guards with her, accompanying her wherever she went. By the end of the second week, she was starting to look, well, tired but I brushed it off, she was probably fine, and came up north to see you and Elisif. Then when I got back..."
"It had all gone wrong," Liriel whispered. Argis nodded.
"Yeah. She had her time of the month, and she really had it bad apparently. Cramps, bleeding, she took to her bed in agony and nothing worked. That's when it really went down hill, she must have spent an entire week crying her eyes out in bed. When it finally stopped... she didn't want to come out again. Must have taken another week before Da finally coaxed her out and you do not want to know the amount of subtle guilt-tripping involved. When she finally did emerge, she just wasn't the same girl. All the life had just gone out of her. She just went listlessly along with whatever Da said, smiling but it was fake, we all knew it. Da bought her loads of pretty dresses and jewellery and she wore them but it was obvious to all she didn't really care any more. I've never seen him look quite that desperate and heartbroken before. Don't get me wrong, he still loves her, still dotes on her, and she just smiles back and tells him she loves him but something's wrong and we all know it. He's terrified something horrible's going to happen, that he's going to lose her. He asked Matriarch Keirine for help, but all she'd say was that his family was too small, he was putting too much on one member when he should be sharing it out, which wasn't helpful. Da's this close to losing it, he's already getting short-tempered with everyone else, and I'm worried he'll lose patience with her in the end. Her next time's due in two days, she was already frightened when I left. I'm not even sure what I'll find when I go back. Liriel, please. You know her better than we do, you shared a Sanctuary with her. Making the family bigger, all I can think of for that is having you in Markarth, having the Dark Brotherhood have a presence there and Eola joining them. Was she like this when she lived with you?"
"No," Cicero growled, moving noiselessly from the shadows. "No, she never was."
"Cicero!" Liriel hissed. "What have I told you about eavesdropping?"
"You told me not to listen in when you didn't know about it, so now Cicero is telling you he's doing it," Cicero said, little shrug of the shoulders. "And a good thing he is too, because Cicero lived with sweet Eola for weeks at Dawnstar, and she was never like that! She was mouthy and annoying and pretty and dangerous and bloodthirsty and murderous and pretty and she liked hunting and killing and feeding and playing in the torture room and tormenting poor Cicero – not in the torture room," he added, seeing the way Argis' eyes had widened, glaring at him in a way very reminiscent indeed of Madanach. "Just in general. With her eyes and her voice and the way her armour clung to her – Cicero didn't do anything!" he protested as Argis had actually started to growl. "Cicero had Kaie, Cicero restrained himself! But Cicero had eyes, Cicero saw, and Eola was a true Dark Sister. She is a wild creature, a creature of night and shadows, moving unseen, unheard! When she had her time of the month with us, she turned into a moody harridan until Cicero finally lost his patience and took her hunting to that necromancer den down the coast and once we'd slaughtered them all and she'd had a chance to eat, she was just fine and cuddled long-suffering Cicero and told him he was a sweet little man. Now Eola has been with her father for two months and she is falling apart? Cicero told you this would happen!" He'd rounded on both Liriel and Argis, face twisted in rage and eyes bulging, and Argis had sat back down again, actually looking nervous.
"Cicero," Liriel said softly, reaching out to touch his arm. He was breathing heavily, gasping for breath, shaking all over and frankly Liriel had never been more glad that she'd sent the girls upstairs. "Cicero, it's all right. We'll go to Markarth, we'll find her, I'll talk to Madanach, we'll do all we can..."
"IT IS NOT ALL RIGHT!" Cicero howled. "SWEET EOLA IS UNHAPPY AND SUFFERING!" He had his hands over his face, unresisting as Liriel pulled him into a hug, soothing him as he hyperventilated in her arms.
"We'll come," Liriel promised Argis. "Never mind sorting the girls out, they'll have to stay here. Cicero, we're leaving tomorrow."
Liriel had no earthly idea what to actually do, but maybe when she'd seen Eola for herself, had a chance to talk to Madanach, she'd get a better idea of what to do.
"Thanks," said Argis gruffly. "If anyone can help, it's you."
Liriel could only smile nervously and wonder how on earth she was going to manage getting a ready supply of human or elven flesh to a cannibal princess without her extremely smart and perceptive father realising what was going on. A puzzle, but something she could think about on the way to Markarth.
A knock on the door, and Argis looked up.
"Should I get that?" he asked, housecarl training taking over. Liriel shook her head.
"It's fine, I'll go," Liriel said, opening the front door.
Of all the people she'd thought it might be, Queen Elisif with her housecarl in tow was not one of them. The poor girl was soaking wet from the rain, hair plastered to her face and clothes clinging to her but she ran inside, realised Argis was there and promptly flung herself into his arms in tears.
"Argis," she sobbed. "Argis, thank the Divines, I was so worried, I -" She started crying again, sobbing on his shoulder. Behind her, Bolgeir had stepped into the room, looking a bit sheepish. Argis nodded in understanding and sat Elisif down in his chair, kneeling by her side.
"Elisif?" he said softly. "What's wrong? How did you know I'd be here, did the guards tell you? I know I wasn't meant to be here for another week, but something came up in the Reach, I needed to see Liriel..."
"Damn right something's come up in the Reach!" Elisif cried. "I just got the report from Rikke – Forsworn attacks all along the Whiterun and Falkreath borders! Rikke doesn't know if they're renegades or your father just tore up the treaty and she doesn't care, she's going to send the Legion in!" Elisif turned pleading eyes on Liriel. "Liriel please, you're a Legate, she'll listen to you! You have to stop her, you have to find out what's going on! I refuse to believe Madanach would just turn on us, he knows Argis and I are happy together! I can't not marry him, not now!"
Argis had gone a deathly shade of pale and Liriel sank into a chair before her legs gave way, heedless of Cicero fluttering around her. Forsworn returning to raiding Nord settlements and travellers – no, surely not, why would Madanach do that, was he insane? After all the trouble to get that treaty, why?
"Da never ordered this," Argis whispered. "He's been too busy worrying about Eola, he's not had time even if he did want to cause trouble or declare war, which he doesn't. Where did you say these attacks were? Near Falkreath?"
"Falkreath and along the border with Whiterun up to Rorikstead," Elisif whispered. "It's been sporadic, just travellers so far, and a couple of Imperial couriers, but the reports are saying it was Forsworn warriors."
"Lost Valley," Argis breathed, shock turning to anger. "Fuck."
"Lost Valley?" Liriel asked, confused. She'd not heard of that one.
"Lost Valley Redoubt," Argis confirmed. "One of the bigger Forsworn camps and controlled by one of the Big Four Matriarchs. There used to be Keirine, Mireen, Drascua and Sharreela – Keirine's on Da's side and always was, Mireen and Drascua are dead and buried but Sharreela's still strong and still powerful – her camp's a major source of Briar Heart production. She used to have Broken Tower under direct control too, although not any more."
Not since Liriel had torn through there looking for the missing Sybil, no.
"You think she's turned against Madanach," Liriel gasped. Argis nodded.
"Sounds like it. Liriel, you need to get back there, find out what's going on, if the Legion intervene, Da loses everything."
Elisif clung on to Argis, crying even louder. "No!" she wept. "I can't lose you, I can't! Argis, I love you!"
"I love you too," Argis whispered, kissing her hand. "I don't want to lose you either. We'll sort this out, I promise. Da'll go in there personally and raze the camp to the ground if he has to. He's gonna keep his throne, I'll still be able to marry you."
Elisif shook her head, wiping tears away. "You have to," she gasped. "Argis ap Madanach, you have to marry me. Eight months from now, I'm having your baby, you have to!"
For a moment, silence, as Cicero scratched his head and tried to work out if he'd heard that right, and Argis could only stare in disbelief at Elisif, and Liriel... well, there was a reason sex often got delayed until after the wedding, wasn't there? Honestly, humans. Thank the gods for potions, but Elisif had clearly not felt it seemly for a queen to be seen taking them.
"Oh," Argis said faintly. "I mean, really? Are you sure?"
"Sure," Elisif whispered, face scarlet. "Visited Styrr this morning, he confirmed it for me. What, he's discreet and Arkay deals with life and death!"
"Still weird having one god for both," Argis said, before looking up at Elisif, radiant smile breaking out on his face. "You mean it? I'm gonna be a father?"
Elisif nodded, biting her lip and then Argis had swept her into his arms, saying nothing, just holding her tight. Behind Liriel, Cicero did a little dance, squealing quietly... at least until the happy couple parted and Elisif glanced up, looking at Cicero properly for the first time and narrowing her eyes.
"You know," she said thoughtfully, "Jarl Igmund's murderer was said to be a short red-haired Imperial who smiled too much. Very odd that you have one of those right here, Liriel."
Cicero had frozen mid-caper, grin fixed in place while his eyes bored into Elisif's and Argis coughed nervously.
"Ah. Now, cariad, now is not the time..."
"Yes, quite, we have a kingdom to save and an angry Legate- no, sorry, General now, isn't it? - General to placate and persuade not to invade the Reach and then I have to leave immediately with my associate here," said Liriel hastily. "Lady Queen, in the interests of peace and the long and happy lives of all of us, I'm thinking that maybe you could lift the bounty on Igmund's killer? Let it go, perhaps? I'll make sure you can still marry Argis, and you can do this in return as a little favour? A little wedding gift to the House of Madanach? After all, Cicero here is a blood-brother to the King, he's hoping to marry Princess Eola some day, it would politically be very embarrassing for him to be up on murder charges..."
Argis gave Cicero a pointed look as Liriel mentioned Eola but mercifully said nothing. All housecarls knew when to shut up.
Elisif kept staring at Cicero, eyes narrowing very tightly indeed, and Liriel could see Cicero's poise about to fall apart. He was about to lose it and this was not going to end well.
"Fine," said Elisif and Liriel could almost collapse in relief. Cicero had also sagged against Liriel's side, all smiles again now. "Make it so I can still marry Argis without having a traitor father-in-law in the family, and I will tell the Haafingar Guard the bounty on Igmund's killer's been cleared."
"Thank you," Liriel said, smiling. "I promise I'll sort this out for you, my Queen. Come on, Cicero, get your things, you and I have work to do."
"What about me, do you need me as well?" Argis asked. Once a housecarl, always a housecarl... Liriel shook her head.
"No. Stay here in Solitude. Look after Elisif. If this all goes Voidwards, I want you out of it. Even if your kingdom's forcibly re-occupied and your father's executed, you can still marry Elisif if you're safe here in Solitude. You're a Nord, it's amazing how people will forget your Reachman side if you marry Elisif. You can't marry anyone if you're dead."
"Liriel," Argis whispered, but Elisif's hand clamped down on his.
"Don't argue, betrothed, you're staying with me," Elisif said firmly. "No sense hiding anything now, everyone knows we're engaged, you may as well stay in my room. I know you're innocent and the rest of the world will know it too. Come on, back to the Palace." She led Argis out, leaving Liriel to sort out her and Cicero's travelling gear, kiss the girls goodbye, give Jordis a quick update and then run to Castle Dour. She had work to do.
"General!" Liriel cried as she raced into Castle Dour. "General, don't invade the Reach, I'm sure this is a horrible misunderstanding."
Rikke looked up from the map of Skyrim she was examining – red flags for the Empire, and black ones all over the Reach. All marking the locations of towns or Forsworn camps, although Liriel was perversely pleased to note half the camps weren't marked. Rikke's intelligence had its limits, it seemed.
"Misunderstanding, is it?" Rikke snorted. "We've had the Khajiit traders attacked, a Thalmor patrol wiped out, three couriers killed and various travellers murdered, and all the survivors say Forsworn, or people dressed exactly like them, skilled in magic and using their tactics. Pretty big misunderstanding."
"Rikke, please," Liriel pleaded. "I'm sure it's not what it looks like – Madanach wouldn't have ordered this! He wants to rule his country in peace!"
"Peace? He has no idea what it even means," Rikke scowled. "Look, Liriel, I know there's an understanding between you two, but you can't let it cloud your judgement. The Forsworn are supposed to be an official state force now, under Madanach's control. If he's turned traitor or even lost control of the Forsworn, we need to do something. He swore an oath of fealty, Liriel."
"Legate Liriel," Liriel snapped. "I still hold that rank even though I'm retired now. General, I agree, the Legion can't stand idle but you can't just invade, not without proof! A few travellers tales aren't proof, we need solid intelligence. General, put me in charge of it. I can get that information, I can deal with this."
"You can, can you?" said Rikke, frowning. "Despite your links to Madanach. Tell me, Legate, what will you do if he really has turned on the Empire?"
"Because of my links to Madanach," said Liriel. "And if he has turned on the Empire, he'll have broken my heart, Argis' heart, Elisif's heart, and there's an excellent chance his daughter will turn on him too. Princess Eola is loyal to me, not just her father, if he's turned traitor, I'm sure she'll help me supplant him and take his place. If he authorised these attacks and I don't believe for a second he did."
Rikke stared back at Liriel, not convinced. Then she looked down at the map.
"Rugged and hard to assault terrain, they all know magic, I don't suppose I even have half his camps on here, do I?" said Rikke quietly. "And I've seen those Briar Hearts in action too. All right, Legate. You can consider yourself brought out of retirement for this assignment. Get to Markarth, find out what in Oblivion your lover's playing at, get these attacks stopped at source. Well, soldier, can you do this?"
Liriel saluted her. The Legion really did have a way of getting into your blood, it seemed.
"Consider it done, ma'am," Liriel purred. That was the immediate disaster averted. Now to get to the Reach and find out what exactly was going on.
A/N: Rhan-Hirilai means ladies of the Reach, and it's based on a combination of Welsh, Sindarin Elvish and a made up plural form.
Despite the summary, Eola and Madanach weren't even in this one in person. Never mind. They will be back next time as Liriel finally gets to Markarth to sort her in-laws out, Eola finally loses her temper with her father and Cicero makes his move.