Thanks for the reviews and alerts everyone ^_^
-pprillla, I was wondering where you were, thank you for reading the fic still and hope you continue to enjoy the story!
-bubbajoe117, Thank you so much once again for your thoughts and ideas :) I won't be changing Serana into a mortal because I wasn't fond of that idea and it would make it harder for me to write the sweeter scenes between Morgan and Serana after what they have gone through already :) But thanks for the input though!
-redchillismoke, Don't worry, I won't change her in the slightest ;)
Another week passed and Morgan and Serana were sitting inside Dragonsreach and laughing at the children that chased each other round the table in the centre of the room. Lydia and Farkas were sitting beside them and were talking quietly as the rest of the people there drank, sang and some were even kissing.
Jarl Balgruuf smiled at the sight. It had been a rough few weeks as everyone began to work together so that Whiterun would be better prepared against a possible attack from the Stormcloaks. A few scouts had been sighted in the last few days, and Balgruuf was certain that Ulfric had had enough and wanted to make an impression by gaining a vital Hold and showing off his ability as a leader.
"Milk drinker." Balgruuf muttered.
"I would have thought 'shithead' would be a better name for him." Morgan said with a grin after overhearing him.
Balgruuf chuckled as he drank from his tankard before replying. The Dragonborn had been helping every single person it seemed. Every time he saw her and her companion, she was doing something for the people. Sometimes she was helping forge weapons and armour at the blacksmiths, other times she had been making enchanted items for the people, and one time he had even seen her help braid his daughters hair while gently Shouting insults at people in whispers.
He had been laughing ever since seeing that last moment.
"Very true. Do you think he will do it though?"
Morgan nodded.
"I think he will. After not being able to gain any ground since Tullius died, he's getting desperate now for a victory. He sees that if he gets a victory, he will gain new followers to his cause and may even get another Jarl to back him up." Morgan replied softly as she sipped her wine.
Balgruuf nodded at her words. He knew she was an intelligent woman, but who would have thought that she had a warriors mind as well? As if reading his thoughts, Kodlak Whitemane joined in with the discussion after being silent all evening.
"I have to agree as well My Jarl. But if he should try anything, you will have my axe." Kodlak said with a smile that almost reached his eyes.
Balgruuf raised an eyebrow. He knew that Kodlak was a mighty warrior in his own way, but he also believed that the Companions shouldn't get involved in politics in general. What had made him change his opinion?
Kodlak chuckled now.
"I know that you are confused so let me explain. You see, Whiterun is my home. Our home. We will not allow some False King to dictate how we live when the same False King never has the courage to lead his armies in battle. No, we cannot abide this sort of cowardice, and we will not allow Ulfric Stormcloak to get a single foot inside Whiterun!"
Morgan smiled as the elderly man shouted the last sentence at high volume. She admired him for his bravery and dedication to his home. The thought of her old home and her mother was still fresh on her mind though, and she didn't say anything as everyone else cheered and applauded Kodlaks words.
Kodlak just nodded as he sat back down, and Balgruuf raised his mug towards him.
"To the Companions."
"To Whiterun and Skyrim." Kodlak replied.
"To the Dragonborn!"
Everyone looked at Aela and Vilkas, who had yelled the last toast as loud as they could.
Morgan was thankful that she couldn't really blush anymore, but even so, she felt embarrassed at being the centre of attention again. And when Kodlak and Balgruuf joined in with toasting her, she gave Serana a look.
Get me the hell out of here please!
Serana just giggled though and Morgan sighed as the hall exploded with cheers again. She almost wished that the Stormcloaks would attack soon, just so that she could focus on something other than the object of attention.
"Oh come now Morgan, you deserve the praise." Kodlak laughed as he drank.
"I just did what I could." Morgan replied politely.
"So, taking down Alduin in Sovngarde wasn't a huge deal then huh?" Vilkas said with a wry grin.
Morgan smiled then. He had a point. It had felt satisfying when she had defeated the bastard.
"So, what are your thoughts Dragonborn?"
Morgan looked at Irileth, who was looking at her with her usual piercing gaze. But she just smiled now, no longer feeling intimidated by the Dunmers eyes.
"Just wondering about how far we have all come."
"I'll drink to that" Kodlak said solemnly as he raised his tankard.
And everyone followed suit and drank without saying a word.
Ulfric Stormcloak was in a bad mood. In fact, he had been in a bad mood ever since he discovered that the Dragonborn was supporting Elisifs cause. And that meant she was now an enemy, which is what he hadn't wanted in the slightest. But it had happened now, and unlike a typical milk drinker like Balgruuf, he wasn't going to sit back and see what happened. No, he would act, and act quickly.
"Galmar, are our forces sufficient?"
Galmar Stone Fist looked up from the war map and nodded to him. Galmar was a man of few words, yet when he spoke, many people listened because of his straight talking and no nonsense manner.
"They are Ulfric. It will be a difficult fight, but I believe that we can overcome the Dragonborn and her vampire friend if we get them separated from the main forces."
Ulfric nodded. Galmar was the only person who ha allowed to speak with him so openly, and he agreed with his logic.
"The scouts were probably seen but that will not make any difference." Galmar continued. "They are under orders to stay away from the walls as much as possible."
"Good. It would be a waste if they were to sacrifice themselves so cheaply. And what of the news of the Thalmor?"
"No sign of them so far Ulfric. Maybe the bastards are running home scared, but I believe they are hiding in their embassy for now. There is no way we can get any men that far east though to be certain."
"No need to be worried about them for the time being then. Let Elisif blunder around in trying to run her Hold while we gain a foothold, beginning with Whiterun."
Neither of them saw the shadowy figure in the open window vanish suddenly…
One day later…
Babette swore as she threw her dagger into the Stormcloak soldier that was chasing her and she smirked as he fell to the ground, the dagger in his neck. The bastards had seen her running through a small village, and because of the speed she had been running, she had been pursued since then. Her musings were cut short as another Stormcloak appeared in the fork of the road. She chuckled now. There had been five of them. This was the last one.
So she quickly climbed up a tree and waited for the fool to come closer. He would see the dead body of the other soldier and come to investigate. And that's exactly what he did. He held his iron axe in a grip that made his fingers go white, and Babette could now hear his heart pounding as he crouched down to check the body for signs of life.
Just a little closer…
Then he walked right past the tree where she was sitting in and she smirked again before leaping off and landing on his back, wrapping her arms and legs round him as he fell onto his stomach. And before he could roll or even scream, she ripped into his exposed neck with her fangs, smiling as his life fled him.
After a few minutes where she had drank her fill, she stood up and smoothed down her dress before walking down the road as though nothing had happened. She knew that the assignment that Astrid had sent her on was a dangerous one, but the chance to spy on what one of the most powerful people in Skyrim was doing was an opportunity she couldn't pass up. And that reminded her of Astrids final orders. She fished out the note from her pocket and read it as she walked, not bothered about the moonlight not being bright enough to see the wording.
One of many benefits about being a vampire.
She smiled as she read the note now:
Sister.
You know your orders. You are to spy on the Jarl of Windhelm and ascertain their plans. Kill anyone that gets in your way should you be discovered. After your mission is successful, you are to tell the Dragonborn of their plans. Think of it as a way of getting her to trust us fully before I meet her again. Then return to the Sanctuary as fast as you are able.
Good hunting Sister.
-A
Babette smiled wider as she out the note away. She loved how Astrid entrusted her with such missions, and she also admired how she planned her ideas. Telling Morgan about the attack long before it came would allow them to defeat the attackers easily. And in return, Astrid would undoubtedly ask Morgan for something. It wouldn't be gold or anything like that though. No, Babette thought that it would be something much greater than that.
The next evening, Morgan was outside the walls of Whiterun and was busy setting up magical traps on the fields. She had learned them from a book of all things, and now that she had had time to read it, she was glad that she had done. These traps would slow down any army and allow the defenders to attack with magic and arrows for a few more precious seconds. And hopefully, they wouldn't know they were there, as she set them in patches of grass and even in the water that trickled down the stream.
She had asked Jarl Balgruuf if she could do this, and he had agreed, asking her in return to be careful outside the walls. A scout or two had been killed by the archers on the battlements and the Jarl believed that Ulfric would come within a week or so.
"Impressive. But then again, you are a Breton."
Morgan smiled as she spun around and scooped up Babette in her arms and laughed as she squealed. She had sensed her approach a good distance away, but she knew how much fun Babette had when it came to stalking people…she had told her that herself. Babette was hugging her and she hugged back before the girl vampire pulled away and smiled at her, her red eyes not betraying anything as usual about her emotions.
"Nice to see you approve. But what are you doing here Babette? I appreciate the visit, even at this time, but there must be a reason for a Dark Brotherhood assassin like you to come see me at this hour." Morgan said.
"I have news that you and the Jarl needs to know. And in return, Astrid wishes to meet you when the situation with the Stormcloaks settles down a little." Babette replied with a grin, her small fangs visible in the soft moonlight.
"What's the news?" Morgan asked. She had an idea of what it could be, but she wanted someone to say it.
"Ulfric Stormcloaks army is coming this way. They will be here by tomorrow night. He plans a sneak attack late at night so that resistance will be minimal." Babette said quietly.
"Shit." Morgan muttered.
Babette covered her mouth with her free hand and shook her head.
"Language."
Morgan smiled though as she removed her hand and she nodded to her.
"Thank you Babette. If they had attacked tomorrow night and most of Whiterun were asleep, the fight wouldn't last long. Who told you of their plans though?"
"Lets just say we have an assassin skilled in eavesdropping."
"You mean you spied on Ulfric? I'm impressed now but…oh god. That means you knew what Serana and I…Babette!"
"Hey, its only natural that two beautiful vampires like each other. Okay, one of them is over a thousand years old but…EEEEAGH!"
Morgan tickled her ribs and she squirmed in her arms. She smirked now. Babette had met her match.
"Okay, sorry!"
Morgan stopped and Babette smiled before embracing her again tightly, her legs and arms clinging to her as hard as she could without hurting her. She had missed the vampire girl, she and Serana had bonded to her very well during their stay with the Dark Brotherhood, and she missed the times when Babette teased Nazir about his cooking, or when she teased Gabriella about which person she had a crush on at that moment.
"For the record, I am winning." Morgan grinned.
"Bitch."
"Language."
Both vampire burst out laughing and Morgan let her down and watched as she smoothed her skirts down and stared up at her with her 'innocent face'.
"I hope we meet again soon."
"Take care Babette."
Babette just smiled before sprinting off into the gloom. Morgan stood there until she couldn't detect her anymore before running back to Whiterun, using her Whirlwind Shout to get there faster than even a vampire could run. If Babettes information was correct, then they only had a short time before Whiterun was attacked….and the next few hours would make a big difference in preparing for it.
Come of you dare Ulfric Stormcloak. Because if you are there, I will rip out your intestines and skip with them.
She didn't know where that train of thought had come from, but it did make her grin as she vaulted the high walls of Whiterun and into the streets themselves…doors and gates were too slow for her now.
"You're certain he's going to attack?"
Morgan nodded as Jarl Balgruuf sighed heavily before nodding. He motioned to Irileth and Proventus, and they immediately came forward to listen closely to the Jarl.
"You heard her. It seems Ulfric has had enough and is on his way. Irileth, make sure that the defences are as fortified as you can make them, then get the guards to prepare for battle. Make sure the Guard Captains check every single flaw and correct them."
"Yes, my Jarl." Irileth said, thumping her hand on her chest before sprinting away.
"Proventus. You and Farengar are to prepare as many poisons and anything else that can be used to defend the city."
"Yes, my Jarl." Proventus replied before jogging over to the area where the Court Wizard worked.
"It seems you have come to Whiteruns' aid again Dragonborn."
"Seems that way. I will call Odahviing tomorrow when they attack. He will scare the daylights out of them when they see him."
Balgruuf chuckled at that.
"Indeed. And what of you and your friend?"
"I will fight for my home. Serana will fight as she chooses to, I wont force her to however."
"That's fine. Get some rest Morgan. And thank you again."
"Thank me when Ulfrics head is rent from his body." Morgan said before walking away without another word.
Jarl Balgruuf shivered as she turned around. He had never thought someone could scare him so, but when the vampire Dragonborn said that so calmly, he knew that she wasn't bluffing. If she met Ulfric, she would kill him before even saying a single word. Gods, that woman scared him sometimes, but she was on his side.
He hoped she always would be as well.