A/N: A nice fluffy chapter, leading in to the final plot arc. Yes folks, we are drawing to the end. I hope you've been enjoying the ride, I know I have. There's one short, vanilla sex scene in here but otherwise, nothing to squick anyone other than much cuteness.
Summary: With the aftermath of Lost Valley cleared up, the House of Madanach are winding down, relaxing and enjoying themselves, with a wedding on the horizon and a happy announcement to make. However, Madanach's not feeling entirely secure on his throne just yet, and decides it's time to fulfil one of the Reach's greatest legends...
A few hours later and Liriel was awake, feeling much more like herself, up and dressed in a simple blue dress, drinking some lavender tea while Jordis made stew. The whole kitchen smelt of venison and Liriel could hardly wait. Cicero was downstairs in the alchemy lab doing Aedra only knew what, but he wasn't making any noise nor was he bothering her so Liriel was inclined to let him get on with it. Every entrance to her house was being watched over by one of the ReachGuard, all on duty outside. It was a little odd but Liriel supposed she'd better get used to it. She was marrying their king after all, and Madanach was a great believer in keeping up appearances. Maybe the Forsworn court was less formal than most, but Madanach had rarely travelled anywhere without an entourage before he became king and he'd not eased up in that respect since. Liriel could only imagine what the gossip was in Solitude today – the Reach-King himself arriving in the city, descending on the Dragonborn's house, making himself at home there and then escorting her daughters around the city was going to make waves, no doubt about it. Still, no help for it. Word would have got out sooner or later. As long as no one assassinated Madanach, that was the main thing.
She could have sworn she heard something out there though. Raised voices, shouting... and explosions?
"I'm just stepping outside for some air," she told Jordis.
"Is that wise?" Jordis asked, alarmed. "In your condition?"
Probably not, but someone had been slinging Destruction magic about out there, she was sure of it, and she had a horrible feeling it had been Madanach.
"I'm feeling a lot better today," said Liriel firmly. "I'll be fine. You stay here, guard the house. I'll take Cicero."
Jordis had no objections to that – while Cicero had been perfectly lovely to her housecarl, Jordis still found him a bit creepy. Liriel couldn't rightly blame her for that. Heading downstairs, she paused only to stop Cicero from destroying her entire alchemy store and hauled him out.
"Where are we going, Listener?" Cicero asked, curious.
"Out," Liriel answered, opening the door to an overcast day but not one where it was actually raining. "Someone is using magic out there and I think it is your blood-brother."
Cicero cackled and scampered ahead, dagger at the ready. Liriel followed, casting mage armour just in case, and noticing the ReachGuard on the door fall silently into step behind her as she left. Up by the main door of the house, the other ReachGuard on duty did likewise. Clearly they knew who they were guarding. Liriel wasn't at all sure how she felt about this, but she wasn't quite at full strength yet and two fearsome warriors of the Reach at her back was not to be turned down.
Up near Solitude bridge, she could see bodies, a crowd gathered, guards trying to herd people away, Sissel and Lucia dancing around and cheering, an awful lot of ReachGuard standing around and exactly how many people had Madanach brought with him?
Madanach himself was in the middle of it all, ignoring the Solitude guards in favour of arguing with someone. A shorter, blonde, female someone in scaled armour and a Forsworn headdress.
Cicero promptly shrieked in delight and bounded over, pouncing on Eola and clinging on to her, exclaiming how pleased he was to see her, he'd not expected her to come in person.
"She wasn't supposed to!" Madanach snapped, still glaring at his daughter. "Eola, what are you actually doing here? You're meant to be helping Nepos look after the Reach!"
"Well, good thing for you I turned up when I did, isn't it?" Eola said firmly, indicating the bodies on the floor with the hand that wasn't cuddling Cicero, one of them crumbling into ash. A vampire and two thralls from the look of it, attacking Solitude in broad daylight. Fortunately, there weren't any other bodies around, not that Liriel could see anyway.
"Eola, I had Borkul and two of my better soldiers, I assure you we had the situation under contr- WHAT IN THE NAME OF SITHIS ARE YOU DOING HERE? I LEFT YOU IN CHARGE!"
Nepos had emerged at Eola's side, smiling calmly as if absolutely nothing was amiss.
"Oh, the Reach will be fine for a week or so," Nepos assured Madanach, who looked about ready to implode. "Don't worry, Captain Soneen can keep Markarth ticking over and everyone else will just have to wait."
Madanach's eyes were boring into his steward and anyone else on the receiving end of that stare would have fled the scene screaming. Mercifully, Nepos was quite immune to Madanach's mood swings, forty years of dealing with him having inoculated him by this point.
"Sir, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to-" one of the Solitude guards said hesitantly. Oh gods, this was all Liriel needed, the guards arresting her not-quite husband. Bad enough he'd been flinging Destruction spells around in front of the girls, although in fairness, if vampires had been attacking, he probably hadn't had a lot of choice in the matter.
"What's going on?" Liriel asked, and Madanach turned from berating Eola and Nepos to glaring at her.
"You should not be out of bed!" he snapped, striding over to her and taking her shoulders. "Look at you, you're pale and tired already and your house is only ten minutes away."
"I'm not tired!" Liriel protested, although she could do with a sit-down now that he mentioned it... Madanach was tutting loudly, an arm around her waist, holding her up, and she took the opportunity to snuggle him. Fortunate in the event – the guards all knew her and relaxed noticeably on seeing the dangerous-looking Breton mage with all the Forsworn around him was actually with the local hero Thane Liriel.
"Excuse me, Thane, is he, er, with you?" the nearest Solitude guard asked. Liriel nodded, smiling hopefully at the guard. "And all these...?" He indicated the massed gathering of ReachGuard who were standing around, hands on weapons, and they weren't all Reachmen in Forsworn gear either, there were a few Nords around in light chain mail as well, along with all Madanach's blood-brothers and even young Muiri on Odvan's arm, with little Skuli holding her hand. Muiri noticed Liriel looking at the boy and smiled apologetically.
"Oh, hello Liriel! I hope you don't mind, but Skuli kept visiting the Hag's Cure and he's really keen on alchemy and then Odvan started teaching him weapons skills and, er..."
"Muiri, have you adopted him?" Liriel sighed. Muiri was all of twenty years old and far too young to be caring for a ten year old, but all the same, someone needed to be looking after him and Liriel had to admit she had enough on her plate with the girls, never mind a third. Muiri nodded guiltily, and Skuli hugged her.
"Muiri's the best and Odvan's awesome," Skuli said proudly, and Liriel felt her own fears abating. The boy was in good hands and she couldn't raise every orphan in Skyrim after all. "I mean, it's not the same as having Ma back, but Princess Eola declared it official and Mr. Nepos did all the forms and even let us have his house to live in and everything!"
"They might as well have it, I'm not using it," Nepos shrugged. "The steward's room at the Keep is a lot more comfortable."
"Enjoy it while you've got it," Madanach growled. "One of these days, I might decide I want a steward who actually does what he's told. And you've still not told me why any of you are here."
"We're here for the wedding!" Eola chimed in, cheerful as ever and looking surprisingly dignified for someone who still had a jester draped over her and nibbling her ear.
"Wedding?" Liriel asked, confused. She hoped to Mara that Madanach hadn't booked the Temple of Divines for a surprise wedding for them both, but fortunately he seemed as confused as she was.
"Wedding? What wedding?" Madanach snapped. Eola rolled her eyes and handed an ornate scroll over to him.
"Your son's wedding. You know, the one you arranged for him with the High Queen of Skyrim? Here's the invitation for you and Liriel and the little ones. It arrived just after you left for Solitude."
Madanach unrolled it and sure enough, it was a formal invitation, decorated with a red and gold dragon along the bottom and a red and silver eagle at the top, and the wolf's head of Solitude in the corners, inviting Madanach ap Caradach, King of the Reach, Thane Liriel Dragonborn of Solitude and Sissel and Lucia ap Liriel to the wedding of High Queen Elisif of Skyrim and Argis ap Madanach, Prince of the Reach, to be held at the Temple of Divines in Solitude on...
"But that's next week!" Madanach cried. "What are they playing at, it wasn't meant to be for another three months! Dammit all, I was supposed to be sending them coin to help pay for it..."
"Taken care of," said Nepos calmly. "I've already authorised payment in instalments over the next three months – I'm sure that won't be a problem for them."
"Right, right, but what about gifts, I haven't got them anything!" Madanach ran his fingers through his hair, clearly most put out by all this. Eola bit her lip, clearly trying not to laugh.
"Da, relax, we brought some pretty jewellery for Elisif and two bottles of the good jenever for Argis. It'll be fine. We also brought all Argis' things, and a wedding outfit for you. Stop worrying! We're organised!"
"I don't feel it," Madanach growled. "What is he thinking – I haven't even seen him yet, we got sidetracked and ended up visiting the Bards' College, then we came out and heard fighting and those vampires were here..."
Liriel tightened her grip on Madanach, really not liking the idea of him going into battle without her, even though he was quite capable. She liked the idea of her daughters being in danger even less.
"Girls, where are you?" she cried. Sissel and Lucia broke off from where they were bragging to Kayd and Svari about how the Reach-King was going to be their new papa and he was the best and bravest warrior ever who could kill vampires and shoot lightning and fire from his hands and wasn't scared of anything, and rejoined their mother.
"Mama, you're up!" Lucia cried, cuddling her. Liriel put the arm that wasn't clinging on to Madanach around her, while Sissel had snuggled up next to a surprised Madanach.
"I heard someone flinging fireballs around and came to investigate. Good thing I did, hmm? Are you two all right? You're not hurt or frightened?"
Emphatic shakes of the head from both girls.
"Oh no!" Sissel announced. "Well, a little bit at first, but then Mr. Borkul and the guards ran at the vampires and Madanach told us to stay back and out of the way and then he blasted the scary vampire with lightning, and it ran straight for him with a weird red spell aimed at him, but Madanach warded it off and then Mr. Borkul hit the vampire with an axe and it fell to its knees and then Auntie Eola ran round the corner and shot fireballs at it while all the ReachGuard with her went for the vampire's guards and then they all fell over and they didn't get up again after that."
"I'm glad you weren't here, Mama," said Lucia softly. "It was dangerous, you might have been hurt again or killed!"
"I should be saying that to you!" Liriel said faintly, tightening her grip on her daughter. But she was fine, they both were, and thank Mara they'd had Madanach with them and Eola had turned up when she did – the guards might have been able to deal with it, but not nearly as efficiently as magic-wielding, magic-resistant Reachfolk.
"I think it's time we all got inside and left the people of Solitude to it," said Madanach firmly, getting himself under control again and taking charge before anything else happened. "Nepos, I hope you had accommodation in mind for all this lot, the Dragon-Queen's house does not have room for you all."
"Not to worry," said Nepos calmly. "I've got it all under control. Elisif including a charming letter with all the invitations saying she could host us all at the Blue Palace, although I daresay you'll be staying at Liriel's house?"
"Of course, what is the point of marrying a Thane of Solitude if I can't make use of her very nice house while I'm in town?" Madanach growled. "Now if you'll excuse me, I am escorting said convalescing Thane back to said very nice house, along with these two, so if you can get everyone up to the palace and convey my regards to my son and tell him I'll be along to see him this evening, I'd be most grateful. Go on, off you all go – not you, Eola."
Eola stopped, rolling her eyes and turning to her father.
"What?" she sighed. "Don't tell me I'm in trouble still. Honestly, I turn up to see my big brother married off, save you in the process and just get abuse for my trouble?"
"No," Madanach growled, letting Sissel go and holding out a hand to Eola. "You're getting a hug. Get over here, show some affection to your old da."
Eola's eyes widened in surprise, before she broke out in a smile.
"I missed you," she told him, snuggling into him and kissing him on the cheek.
"I was only gone a day," Madanach said gruffly.
"I know," said Eola softly. "But it was weird being in Markarth without you. I tried sitting in the throne, you know. Felt really strange."
Madanach hugged her tighter, kissing her hair. "Want to know a little secret?" he murmured. "I can't get used to it either."
Eola laughed and rested her head on his shoulder, eyes fluttering closed. Liriel stroked Eola's hair, smiling at her. It was good to see her again and not just because Cicero had been wistful and pining without her. It was like having the final piece of her family fall into place.
"Come on, all back to mine," she said, eyes flicking to where Cicero had placed his dagger into Sissel's hand and was demonstrating several ways to stab someone. "Time we had a little mead and caught up."
Everyone agreed with that. Leaving Solitude to its own devices, the little group made its way back to Proudspire Manor.
Liriel felt rather pleased with the way this afternoon was going. She'd been swept off back to Proudspire Manor, settled at her dining room table, had food put in front of her and a glass of wine poured for her, while Eola and Cicero entertained her children with the story of how they'd triumphed over the Lost Valley Rebellion. Thankfully, when Eola got to the part where Cicero had crept in to Serpent's Bluff, killed their Matriarch and stolen her heartbox, and then Eola had torn the hearts apart in front the entire camp the next day and destroyed them, killing the Briar Heart warriors in the process, Eola did not tell them she'd torn the hearts apart with her own teeth and destroyed them by swallowing the pieces.
Cicero hadn't gone far from Eola's side, cooing and doting on her and sitting on her lap and cuddling her, squealing "you're real, you're real! Cicero didn't imagine you!"
"Of course I'm real, honey," Eola purred, resting her head on his chest. "You're stuck with me."
Cicero squealed and wriggled in her lap, cuddling her. Next to her, Liriel felt Madanach's hand squeeze hers.
"All right, they are cute together," he murmured in her ear. Liriel rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes and basking in happiness.
"Going to let them get married then?" she whispered. Madanach shook his head.
"Not yet," Madanach muttered back. "Far too entertaining to let them believe themselves a pair of starcrossed lovers. Also I have to pay towards Argis' wedding, not to mention ours at some point. I'm not sure the Reach's economy can presently afford a lavish wedding for the heir of the throne on top of that just yet, especially when I know full well the groom has no money and will be paying for none of it."
"I can help him out if you like?" Liriel whispered. "And I've got no objection to helping out with ours as well, you know that."
Madanach glared at the mere suggestion. "Don't you even think about it. You're my queen, I'm marrying you, all you need to do is turn up and look beautiful. You're not paying for it. How am I supposed to spoil you, adore you and lavish affection on you if you insist on paying me for the privilege, hmm?"
He was nuzzling her neck, then kissed her on the cheek as he put an arm around her, and Liriel smiled happily, letting him embrace her. All right, this whole husband business was nice.
"Are you marrying Uncle Cicero, Auntie Eola?" That was Sissel, looking hopefully up at them. Cicero went pink and giggled nervously, while Eola just smiled.
"Perhaps. After we've got to know each other better. If Cicero's a good boy." Cicero squeaked and snuggled up closer to Eola.
"We're going to be living in Markarth again when Mama marries your papa," said Lucia, still sounding a bit pensive about the fact. "Will you and Uncle Cicero be living there too?"
Eola hesitated, glancing at Liriel. They'd already decided in theory to turn Reachcliff Cave into a Sanctuary, but it was going to be some time before the place was properly liveable. And even when it was ready, it was likely Eola would still be spending a great deal of time in Markarth.
"Most likely, yes," Eola replied, smiling. "I didn't see a lot of my da growing up, I want to make up for lost time."
Lucia cheered on hearing that news, going to Eola for a cuddle. And so the day drew on, lunch was had, Eola and Cicero hauled the girls off for the aborted visit to Argis and Elisif, and Liriel retreated to bed for a lie-down, seeing Madanach also looked tired and given he'd likely been travelling until the early hours of the morning, a rest wouldn't do him any harm either. Not that he was going to admit he needed one any time soon, especially not during the day, but he was quite willing to keep Liriel company. Needless to say, he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Liriel watched him doze, smiling as she stroked his hair. So fierce, so unstoppable and yet like this, so vulnerable. She could watch him sleep all day. Hers. Her beloved Reach-King. Happy, at long last. Safe, free, protected, at long last. The Reach less corrupt and unjust, at long last.
Liriel loved him dearly. Her children loved him dearly. All was going to be well.
Early evening, and Liriel and Madanach awoke in each other's arms. No words, just smiles and then kisses and then Liriel whispering "how long since we...?"
"Not since Windhelm," Madanach murmured back, pain flickering briefly through his eyes as Kaie's memory passed through his mind. It was never far away, but whenever Liriel kissed him it seemed to lose its sting for a while. "Did you want to? Are you feeling strong enough?"
Liriel kissed him again, and when she finally let him go, she whispered in his ear "Please? Please just touch me?"
Madanach made no answer other than rolling her on to her back, unlacing her bodice and freeing her breasts, gently kissing them, trailing his lips to one nipple, planting kisses over her skin while his hand slid down her stomach, hitching her dress up and sliding into her smallclothes. Liriel closed her eyes, putting her arms around him and leaning back, sighing in delight as Madanach's fingers slid into her, first caressing her clit then sliding further back, entering her and exploring her. Liriel held on to Madanach, still feeling sleepy and guessing tonight was going to be fairly gentle. He'd left her breast, kissing his way down her stomach, then he paused, stroking the hair between her legs, and then Liriel was wide awake as he took her clitoris in his mouth.
"Oh! Oh you don't... oh don't stop..." Liriel breathed, fingers in his hair as lips, tongue and fingers teased, licked, devoured, Madanach groaning in to her and not seeming to care about anything other than tasting her. Liriel lay back, helpless to do anything other than give in and let the pleasure take her.
Afterwards he kissed her gently, cradling her in his arms and stroking her hair. Liriel had a vague feeling they should be doing more or perhaps she should do something for him, but she was tired now, so tired.
"How was that?" she heard him murmur.
"Nice," she whispered. "Really nice. Do you need me to...?"
He shook his head, kissing her again. "No, it's fine. I just wanted to have you in my arms again. Have I told you you're beautiful lately?"
Liriel shook her head. "I don't think so." Madanach tutted, snuggling closer.
"How remiss of me. Liriel, Davrha-Brenhina, love of my life, you grow more beautiful with each passing day, and a day without you in it leaves my life that much the poorer for it. How's that?"
"You old romantic," Liriel whispered, tears in her eyes as she held him. He cuddled her back, smiling although he looked a little embarrassed.
"I try," was all he said. They stayed that way, warm, content, happy, until Liriel was feeling a little more alert.
"It's getting dark out there," she whispered. "Did you want to go and see Argis tonight still?"
"Of course, I've been in this city nearly a day and not laid eyes on my son. He'll think I've forgotten about him. What about you, do you feel up to it?"
Liriel nodded. She wasn't entirely certain but she also didn't want to sit around here all evening either. It'd be nice to see Argis again. So she got up, got dressed and prepared to follow Madanach out.
The skies had cleared, the aurora was blazing and the stars were shining down on them. Liriel, changed into one of the nicer dresses she owned, took Madanach's arm, staring up at the sky in delight. He gave the sky the odd glance, but mostly he was just watching Liriel, pleased to finally have no emergencies demanding his attention, no crises or grand political plans afoot. Just Liriel on his arm, beautiful as always, and his children waiting inside.
Falk Firebeard was still around, going over a few papers as he sat in Elisif's empty throne room. He glanced up, eyes cold as his gaze fell on Madanach, but brightening up as he saw Liriel.
"Thane Liriel, good to see you up and about at last. I'd heard you were gravely ill."
"I was, but I got better." Liriel stepped forward and embraced Falk in the traditional Nord bear hug, before letting him go and beckoning Madanach forward. "Falk, this is Madanach. Argis' father and my husband-to-be."
Falk's eyes took Madanach in, radiating disapproval. "So I gathered. Your daughters were talking about him non-stop while they were here. Welcome to Solitude, sir. Your son is in the queen's bedchamber, along with your daughter and her..." Falk didn't seem quite able to find words to describe Cicero, although to be fair, most people had that problem. Liriel thanked him and led Madanach away. To her surprise, he was actually smirking.
"He hates me," Madanach purred. "He's heard all the stories, and he loathes and despises me."
"I'm sure he..." Liriel sighed and gave in. "All right, he probably does. Does it bother you?"
Madanach actually laughed. "Bother me? Are you joking? Means I'm doing it right. Honestly, all the sirs and milords I've been getting from the Nords lately, it was unsettling. Thank Sithis one of them still hates me. I was worried I was losing my touch."
Liriel could only roll her eyes. You could take Madanach out of a Forsworn camp, bathe him, brush his hair out, dress him in fine clothes and a Jarl's circlet, but underneath it all, he was still the old savage he'd always been. On the other hand, at least it kept things interesting.
"Da!" Eola sprang off Elisif's bed, skipping over and giving first her father then Liriel a cuddle, and Cicero had sat up, kneeling at the end of the bed with a big grin on his face.
"LISTE- LIRIEL!" he cooed, holding out his arms to her, and Liriel went to cuddle him too. Then it was Madanach's turn.
"DEAREST SWEETEST BLOOD-BROTHER!" Madanach's good mood evaporated as he realised he wasn't getting out of this one. Cicero's eyes were fixed on him, the grin was unmoving, and his arms were held out expectantly to Madanach.
"One hug," Madanach warned him. "Lasting no longer than five seconds. Hands restricted to my upper back or I frost cloak you. Absolutely no kissing."
Cicero giggled but did as asked, cooing over Madanach before Eola grabbed his arm and hauled him off her father and back into her own arms, cuddling him at the foot of Elisif's bed.
Said Elisif was reclining on her own pillow, looking happy and positively radiant, and Argis was alongside her, out of his armour for once and looking very relaxed in an outfit not dissimilar to his father's. He'd got up and gone to greet Madanach, both men embracing for far longer than the five seconds Madanach had limited Cicero to.
"You're looking well," Madanach said gruffly, finally letting his son go. "Look at you, you're looking like a Nord Jarl now."
"Yeah," said Argis, not meeting his father's eyes. "Sorry, it's just these clothes..."
"Don't be," said Madanach softly, hands resting on his son's shoulders. "I knew this would happen. It's why I chose you for this. You're going to be so much happier among your own people."
"The Reachfolk are my people," Argis replied firmly. Madanach just smiled sadly.
"So we are." He saw Elisif approach, smiling nervously, and turned to her, holding out his arms to her.
"Elisif, my daughter-to-be, it's a pleasure to see you again."
"Madanach," Elisif laughed, kissing him on the cheek and also exceeding the five second limit, much to Cicero's whispered displeasure. "It's good to see you. General Rikke was telling me you'd managed to sort the Reach out?"
"Liriel and my daughter between them dealt with it, yes," Madanach told her, smiling as he let her go. "No need to worry, my kingdom's safe and you still get to marry my boy here."
"I'm relieved to hear it," Elisif said, blushing, and Liriel wondered if she'd told Eola the real reason for the early wedding yet. Madanach clearly had no idea. "Liriel, thank you, thank you so much, I knew you'd be able to help." Elisif turned to her, hugging her in a way Liriel was more accustomed to from her daughters than from the High Queen of Skyrim.
"It's all right," Liriel told her, ruffling Elisif's hair. "Thank you for telling me, it could have turned really nasty. As it is, we managed to nip it in the bud. We weren't able to stop them attacking a settlement in the Reach though."
"I heard," Elisif said sympathetically, letting her go. "I got to meet poor little Skuli. That poor boy! He must be so brave, and I made sure to tell him that. At least he's got some adoptive parents now. He was getting on with your two quite well! I think your little Lucia likes him."
"He's not good enough for her," said Madanach without missing a beat, summoning two chairs from the far side of the room and taking a seat in one of them. As there wasn't an awful lot of room on the bed with Argis, Elisif, Cicero and Eola all lounging on it, Liriel took the seat next to Madanach.
"They're nine and ten, a wedding's hardly imminent," Liriel told him, rolling her eyes.
"Exactly, boy hasn't even got a job," Madanach growled. "Lucia can do better than an alchemist's son."
"Oh gods," Argis and Eola sighed in unison, both shaking their heads in identical expressions of exasperation.
"Thank the gods he was in prison and missed out on our misspent youths, hey sis?" Argis sighed, pouring himself another glass of mead and handing an ale bottle over to Eola, who uncorked it and drank straight from the bottle.
"Those poor girls," Eola agreed. "They're going to be thirty before they get their initiations."
"Oh that is all right, Cicero shall teach them how to sneak, they shall be creeping out to see boys or girls behind the King's back well before then," Cicero purred, heedless of the icy glares he was getting from both Madanach and Liriel by this point.
"Talking of imminent weddings," Madanach said, scowling. "I was given to understand yours was months away. Why the hurry, mabion? I hope you realise the inconvenience this has put us all to."
Argis and Elisif both hesitated, a blush staining Elisif's cheeks as Argis was very definitely not meeting his father's eyes. Liriel wasn't sure what to say either, but fortunately Cicero had no such inhibitions.
"Oh Reach-King, why do a young couple usually have to get married in a hurry?" he sniggered. Eola's eyes widened as the septim dropped for her, and the guilty looks on both Argis and Elisif's faces confirmed it.
"No!" she gasped, delighted. "Seriously? When did that happen? And I've been here all afternoon and neither of you said?"
"Wanted to wait until we were all here," said Argis gruffly, an arm around Elisif as she cuddled up to him, looking very uncertain. "Da, I – I'm sorry..."
"Madanach?" Liriel asked, taking his hand. He'd not said a word, in fact he was staring into space as if he'd been slapped. "Are you all right?"
"Elisif's pregnant," he said faintly. Elisif nodded, smiling a little.
"Nearly two months along, we think. That's why we had to have the wedding now, I wanted to still fit in the dress, plus people would talk. I mean, they're going to talk anyway, but I don't care, I'll have a husband I love very much, and a baby, Kyne I wanted a baby so much...!"
"I'm going to be a grandfather," Madanach whispered, and there were actually tears in his eyes. Argis finally looked up.
"Yeah," he admitted. "Um. That's – that's all right, isn't it?"
Madanach blinked and finally looked at his son, dazed but happy smile on his face.
"Yes," he breathed. "Yes of course, gods of course, why wouldn't it be? Come here, boy." He got up and reached out to Argis, who got up himself and hugged his father, both men too choked up to speak.
"I'm so proud of you," Madanach finally whispered. "Don't ever think I'm not."
Argis nodded tearfully, saying nothing, just holding his father, and Liriel could feel her own eyes misting up. Right up until Eola rather ruined the mood anyway.
"My brother got the High Queen of Skyrim pregnant out of wedlock!" Eola cackled, leaning against Cicero who was likewise giggling. "Way to go, Argis. You're an ap Madanach all right."
"Eola!" Liriel scolded her. "Behave, for once." Eola grinned but did subside, and Cicero knew better than to make a point of it after the Listener's displeasure had been made clear.
Madanach had let Argis go at this point and was now embracing Elisif, who looked a little shaken by the experience but not actually displeased.
"Welcome to my family, cariad," he was saying. "I'm so happy for you, I really am. If there's anything you need, anything I can do..."
"I'll let you know," Elisif gasped breathlessly as he let her go, sitting back on the bed and looking quite flushed. Then Eola was there, hugging her and telling her the Nord form of Eola was Aela, and if Elisif wanted to call a child of hers that, Eola wouldn't mind at all.
"I need to get married first," Elisif laughed, settling herself back in Argis' arms as he rejoined her. "And you can't tell anyone else, any of you! Not until the official announcement, which won't be until after the wedding."
Promises to this effect were made, with Eola and Liriel both staring Cicero down until he promised not to say a word on pain of, well, pain. That done, drinks were poured for all present and toasts were drunk to the future High King or Queen of Skyrim. Liriel squeezed Madanach's hand and leaned her head on his shoulder. Step-grandchildren, and one of those within the year. Not something she'd ever have seen happening a year ago. She wasn't even sure she was the same person as a year ago. But she was happy and in love and she was looking forward to every second.
The impromptu little party went on for two more hours, at least until Elisif started to yawn, at which point Argis tucked her up in bed and started commenting about how perhaps this could all move to Eola's room in the guest suite. Liriel took the hint and started shepherding everyone else towards the door, Eola and Cicero clinging on to each other and giggling like a pair of children, Madanach on her arm, still dazed over the whole going-to-be-a-grandfather thing, and Argis at her back, holding the door for her.
"Glad you're feeling better, Liriel," Elisif called sleepily from the bed. "Thank you for coming!"
"You're welcome," Liriel called back from the door. "I'll see you soon, my Jarl."
Elisif smiled and burrowed under the sheets. "You can just call me Elisif," she said, smiling. "I think you're allowed to now."
"Elisif," Liriel said, feeling rather pleased at the implied intimacy. "You take care now."
Madanach meanwhile was talking to Argis. "You should come with us. Just for a bit. Got something I need to talk to you about. I don't think your lady wife will want to know. It's... a Reachman thing."
Heavy sigh from Argis. "It's not a contract, is it? You know, you don't need me along for that, you and Liriel and Eola and Cicero can take care of those all on your own."
"Not a contract, no, it's... look, you said the Reachfolk are your people, right?" Madanach sighed. "So come and listen. I'd like you along, Argis, you're part of the family too, you know!"
"I know," said Argis, wry smile in place. "Hang on. Elisif! Elisif, Da wants to talk to me about something. Is it all right if I disappear for a bit? I promise I'll be back soon."
Elisif waved him off, blowing him a kiss before turning in. Argis smiled before closing the doors and following them out.
"So what are you planning?" Argis asked, making himself comfortable in a nearby chair. They'd gathered in the guest room given to Eola – Madanach and Liriel were reclining on the pillows, Cicero and Eola had curled up at the end of the bed with Cicero cooing up at Eola while she stroked his hair, and while Argis was glad to see his sister happy, he did have to wonder about her taste in men. He had to wonder about her taste in a lot of things, particularly after hearing stories of Lost Valley and Serpent's Bluff from some of the visiting Forsworn. His old Nord friends from the former city guard, mostly now employed as miners or construction workers, had all told him not to worry about it, the whole heart eating thing was probably some sort of metaphor, but Argis was a bit too familiar with Forsworn culture to really believe that. By and large, the Forsworn managed to combine a deeply spiritual culture with a very pragmatic mindset, and they didn't really do metaphor. If they were calling his new sister Creenitha, that probably meant she really had performed the Hagraven rite of, well... He didn't like to think too long about it if he was honest. Just keep smiling and if Madanach didn't have a problem with it, it was none of his business. Just meant the woman had balls, that was all.
Madanach sat up, dazed grin of I'm-going-to-be-a-grandfather fading as the Reach-King took over.
"Simply put, Argis, after the recent debacle involving a settlement getting sacked, three Matriarchs and their Briar Hearts having to be put down, and a great deal of internal re-organisation, it's become manifestly clear I put too much emphasis on dealing with the Empire, and not enough on dealing with the Forsworn. I messed up and we all paid the price." He squeezed Liriel's hand as he spoke, keenly aware he'd almost lost her.
"You weren't to know," said Liriel softly. "They've followed you loyally for years, and the Empire, the Nords, they were your enemy."
"Yeah, you invented the Forsworn!" Eola added. "What were we before you took over and united us all? A bunch of squabbling hill tribes, so Nepos tells me."
"We're still a bunch of squabbling hill tribes," said Madanach wearily. "Good gods, Eola, you helped Liriel out with contracts against Matriarchs, you know the trouble I've had uniting this country. Read it in the Empire's guide to High Rock – it's the curse of the Bretons, we're disunited, everyone wanting to be king or queen of their own little patch of land. I keep looking at the maps, at the political boundaries and I can't deny it, the Reach is the single largest Breton state out there, both in land and people. If we joined up with High Rock, we'd dominate the politics there, warp it out of all recognition. That's probably why they're not beating down our door asking us to join officially, although I've had numerous High Rock potentates trying to seek me out unofficially. I just tell them to perform the Sacrament like everyone else."
"And so you should," Liriel purred, nestling against his shoulder, making a mental note to go over these offers with him later, High Rock politics looked set to be a fine source of income for the Brotherhood. Madanach grinned and put an arm around her.
"Indeed, but all this wealth, all this influence, it counts for nothing if I can't hold the country together. If the House of Madanach fails, if we all dissolve into factions and infighting again, if the Reach separates into the ten tribes again, we lose it all and the Nords will take over again. I'm not having that. I've got to prove to them I'm their rightful king, not just some smelter worker's son who murdered his way to the top."
"But you did, you did! Nepos told Cicero that dear Madanach didn't have any rival houses to deal with because he'd killed them all!" Cicero protested, looking rather disappointed at the idea of Madanach not being a hardened killer. "Is that not true? Did Madanach not in fact slaughter, maim, burn, freeze, shock and eviscerate all his rivals for the Mournful Throne?"
"Decapitated, strangled and poisoned a few too," said Madanach, grinning nostalgically. "But that's not the point, Cicero. Point is, I need people to see me as a king, not some bandit warlord who managed to persuade the Empire to give him a crown. I need to prove I'm a worthy leader. I need the blessing of the greatest of us, someone all the Reach respects. Who here's read the Legend of Red Eagle?"
Nods from Eola and Argis – no one on a Forsworn camp could be unaware of it. Liriel recalled it too – she'd made a point of reading everything she could on the Forsworn. Only Cicero looked a bit confused.
"Cicero isn't sure... isn't he a king of the Forsworn?"
"The first," said Madanach, nodding in confirmation. "When the First Empire conquered the Reach, he led the resistance. Drove them out, held the land for two years. Then they came back, and he died fighting them. He was the first Briar Heart too, made that pact with the Hags. When Nepos and I hatched our plans to re-unite the Reachfolk again, drive out the Nords once and for all, we used his legend to do it – subtly of course. We implied, we hinted, we spread rumours. That it was time again, time for the Reach to rise from its shackles. Then the Great War happened, the Empire was weak – and we saw our chance. Took Markarth, ruled the Reach for two years after driving Talos' Empire out... and then, just like in the legend, they came back. And like a coward, I ran, only to be hunted down five years later. Didn't even get executed, I just made some Daedra's pact with the Nords to save my own life. Some still haven't forgiven me for that. Some never will."
Liriel had a feeling one of those people was Madanach himself, but she'd never say it out loud. She just held him closer.
"Well, I'm glad you didn't die," she told him. "You did what you had to, and you won in the end. You're king now. The Reach is free. Isn't that the important thing?"
"Yeah, Da, you can go on about Red Eagle the legendary hero all you like but the fact remains, he lost," said Eola with a shrug. "Guy took on a Legion by himself and got killed. You lived to fight again, you survived all these years, played the Silver-Bloods like a harp and then you got free, reunited the Forsworn, cut a deal with the Empire, took on the Stormcloaks and you won. Who needs a dead hero when you can have a living Reach-King?"
"Some would say surrendering is dishonourable," said Argis quietly. Eola shrugged again, not seeming to care.
"Yeah, Nords perhaps. But we're not Nords! We're not going to Sovngarde if we throw our lives away doing something stupid, we're going back to the Void regardless of how we die. All that matters is we leave this world a better place than we found it, and you've done that, Da. Ask anyone in the Warrens who they'd rather have in charge. Even the Nord citizens admit you're not that bad." The fact that the most prominent Nord citizens left in Markarth after the Silver-Bloods had been wiped out were the members of Eola's coven of Namira who had all been very sweetly told that they were going to be ardent supporters of their leader's dear father if they didn't want to be becoming one with Namira sooner than they might wish for hadn't hurt, of course.
Eola had a point, and Madanach couldn't deny it. But even the Reachfolk needed heroes and legends.
"No one's going to write legends and stories about someone who's prime gift is the ability to run a city well," Madanach sighed. "Look at Ulfric, couldn't run Windhelm to save his life and even the Nords who disagreed with him still think he's a hero. I need some of that, ideally without dying in some ridiculous fight I can't win."
"So what's your plan?" Argis asked again. His father wouldn't have called them all in if he didn't have one, and sure enough, he was right.
"When Faolan the Red Eagle lay dying, he presented his sword to his people and he swore an oath," Madanach said, recalling the words he'd memorised so long ago. "Fight on, and when at last the Reach is free, his blade should be returned, that he might rise and lead them again. Thus was given for his people: his life, his dream, his sword. But when every debt is repaid in blood, these he shall reclaim once more."
"You're not serious," Eola breathed. Argis had also sat up, frowning and Liriel tried to work out what he meant by this. Returning Red Eagle's sword to his tomb so that Red Eagle could return to rule the Reach... after fighting so hard for power, Madanach intended to give it away? It didn't make sense.
"I'm perfectly serious," said Madanach, staring his daughter down. "The Lost Valley rebels thought we were weak, that we'd not really freed the Reach at all, just invited another set of overlords in. The fact that other than Hammerfell, every other nation around us is part of the Empire was apparently lost on them. All the same, if the Reach really is free, then we need to prove it. We need to take the sword back."
"Wait, it actually exists?" Liriel gasped. "I thought... I thought it was just a legend..."
"So were dragons and Alduin, and they came back," said Argis, grinning. "You thought Sovngarde was a story and yet you went there and back. Is it so hard to believe the Reachmen look after their ancient artefacts?"
"We've still got the sword," Madanach laughed, patting Liriel on the back. "We know where the tomb is as well. We just need to gather our things, retrieve the sword, head out there and do the rite. That, dear Liriel, is where you come in."
"Me?" Liriel whispered, nerves jangling. What on earth did she have to do with an ancient rite of the Reach? Mara help her, she hoped it wasn't something requiring sacred sex in front of everyone.
"Yes, you, my Listener," Madanach purred. He reached into his pocket and produced a small book. "The rite requires a human sacrifice. Bathe the blade in human blood and present it with said sacrifice at the tomb. A life for a life, Liriel. To resurrect Red Eagle, we need to kill someone. That's why I need you. I can't just haul someone up there to sacrifice them. But someone who already has a contract out on them... that would do. Well, Liriel? Do you have anyone suitable, anyone who can disappear without anyone noticing? Who could be lured out to Rebel's Cairn? Doesn't have to be human exactly, I'm sure a mer or beastkin would do. As long as they're sentient."
Liriel had to think about this one. She'd need to go back to Sanctuary, check in with the Night Mother, see if Nazir had anything on the books. And then she remembered an old contract Nazir had given her months ago, one she'd never got around to dealing with. Yes, yes he'd be perfect.
"Leave it to me," Liriel promised. "I think I know just the man."
A/N: Next up, Argis and Elisif get married, then Liriel has a contract and prophecy to fulfil.