Morning After

Gyrmallion came to himself with what felt like unbearable slowness. It was not exactly a pleasant awakening. For starters, his mouth felt and tasted as though there'd been a mouse sleeping in it for most of the night, and he wasn't sure which hurt worse: his shoulder or his head. The events of the night before, at least, were all clear...up until about five minutes after he'd taken a swig from that bottle Nevano had offered. Six-thousand-year-old Dagoth brandy. He wasn't sure it had been worth it.

Someone had thoughtfully left a cup of water close at hand. The good hand too. Just as well, for silence reigned in the house. He pushed himself up without aggravating his shoulder or his head and picked it up. There was a time he would have sniffed such a cup suspiciously; but there hadn't been any poisoning attempts made on him for nearly a year...and besides which, he was no longer with the Thalmor. It did occur to him, slightly too late, that there might have been something not poison in the water, which could have had equally unpleasant effects...but he didn't taste anything strange. It was just...clean, cold water, and he was most grateful for it.

Sunlight streamed in through the window. It was going to be a very pretty day despite last night's bloody battle. Wait...sunlight? It finally registered he wasn't in his cellar quarters but in the room the Dunmer had been sharing, though currently none of the dark elves were there. Apparently whoever had moved him hadn't been keen on carrying him down the trapdoor.

He finished the water and rose gingerly, noting, gratefully, that he was, at least, still wearing pants. It seemed a little odd that he was alone, though he might have just slept hard enough not to notice if anyone else got up around him.

As he went into the rest of the house, it became obvious he was probably one of the few that had actually gotten a bed. Many had fallen asleep where they had dropped. Elealda was sound asleep in a chair by the fire. He went back for a pillow and shifted her slightly, propping her head so that she was at least lying on something soft. He knew from long experience that if he tried to actually move her somewhere softer, she would wake up cranky, but at least this way she might not be so stiff.

Outside there was some movement but not much. Most movement came in the form of someone rolling over to get away from the rock digging into their hip.

"So, the first one up is the one who was insisting there were striped horses in the room." An accented voice came from the side. "Fortunately you aren't the kind who likes to fight when drunk. I'd have tossed you in the bay." Veleth eyed him. "Though you seem over it. That stuff lingers."

"I'm not sure I would have been up to fighting even if I did get cranky when drunk," Gyrmallion answered. "Not on that stuff."

"I've dealt with enough drunks that nothing surprises me about it anymore." Veleth said honestly. "Though, next time, unless they are actually pulling your guts out, I wouldn't drink that stuff. I'd use it to strip enchantments off weapons instead."

"I'll take that advice." He grimaced. "Is there possibly anything to eat? I could eat a boar raw."

Veleth nodded over to where the twins had gotten another deer over the fire. "Dumb thing nearly landed on them around dawn. So now he's breakfast. Unless you've gotten spoiled by my mother and Ravenlight. In which case there's possibly something left over inside."

"I'm used to camp rations; that'll be fine." He made his way over to it, removing a chunk of venison with his own knife, then sitting down near Veleth. "Did anything else happen after I passed out?"

"Other than the amusing part where Boethiah claimed that demon it's been very quiet." Veleth said. "Typical after battle, everyone dropping one by one where their feet decide to stop moving."

He nodded. "The children-are they all right? I know we stopped that thing before it could reach the cellar where they were hiding, but..." His eyes clouded, and he gazed into the distance.

"They're okay." Veleth finally smiled. "The little one is mostly upset Drizzt isn't here but they are a tough little lot. In fact..." He pointed to where a tired looking Nevusa was showing the kids how Ashlanders made paint using campfire ash.

Gyrmallion relaxed. "Good. I..." He shook his head. "I didn't even know that thing had come in before Kaelen suddenly screamed and went down. Pure luck that enough of his blood spattered it that I could see it. And then it just...nothing I did was stopping it. Pinning it to the wall was a last-ditch effort, and even then I didn't know if it would hold. And I knew it was after the children; Kaelen was standing over the trapdoor."

"They are the children of Molag Bal and Vivec." Veleth said with an enormous amount of distaste. "Supposed to all be dead but that was just one more lie, I suppose. Far more powerful than they should be. They're only going to be stronger." He frowned. "Eighty eight...and that was the third one we killed. I think...I think I need to look into this. Something has to be out there these things fall easily to."

"Well. That's a...sordid little bit of history I think I'd be happier not knowing about." Gyrmallion grimaced in revulsion. Then he frowned. "There's something I don't understand, though. I know why it attacked Kaelen, he was in its way. Ripping him open was just...malice. But why Zak? It didn't attack anyone else. Why did it go out of its way to attack Zak?"

"They seem to be trying to hit right where it hurts the worst." Veleth said. "First one attacked at my father's shrine. Now this one the kids and Drizzt's father. Smart moves, strategy wise. Hit us where it hurts the worst."

"Maybe." He looked to the south, where the spire of the Throat of the World could just be seen above the mountains hedging Morthal. "I hope they're all right."

"They will be." Veleth said confidently. "Your mer won't be allowed to slip off. It'll make my mother mad. His soul will dive right back in."

Gyrmallion laughed for the first time that morning and leaned back. His headache was finally starting to fade, though his shoulder was probably going to give him problems for a while; and he might as well enjoy the morning peace while it lasted.

Dawn arrived earlier at the Throat of the World than it did anywhere else in Skyrim. Ravenlight managed to be awake before anyone else, and while they were all still asleep, she slipped out of the tent and sat down by Paarthurnax, watching the sunrise, and talking with the old dragon. It wasn't about anything serious; not yet. Just the general goings-on of her household and the country, the sort of thing an isolated old creature would enjoy hearing.

The gentle hum of their voices reached Drelasa but didn't quite pierce through the haze between sleep and awake. She merely held the warm body next to her closer.

"The mal gein, then. It is not usual for one so young to display such aptitude for lah, is it?"

"Not really. It's got me wondering, who he really is, and what kind of world he came from." There was a sigh. "Not that it matters. He's my son; I'm not giving him up to anyone just because of that."

Drelasa was pulled into wakefulness a bit more. She stretched her back a bit, hearing more than a few pops.

There was a seismic rumble of laughter. "I should like to see anyone try to take your kiir from you. There would not be much left after they tasted your Thu'um."

"No." Her voice sounded almost...smug. There was a moment of silence. "Recently, when we went to the Card'vel of the Ashlands, one of them called me something...fitting, but a little strange. Dragon Mother."

"Hmm. Interesting." Something massive shifted outside, scales scraping against each other. "Dov do not know what it is to be a monah; we have no kiir, we do not bear young. But you...they are not of your slen, but they are yours. I deem this...Card'vel named you well."

Inside the tent, the warm form Drelasa was hugging shifted a little. There was a little, confused noise, another shift, then a sudden gasp of pain. Drelasa, in automatic mother mode, shushed him. A little further away, someone else stirred. There was a muffled grunt, the furs shifted, then a half-strangled yell. The tent flap instantly opened, allowing sunlight to pour in.

"Hey. You all right?"

Drelasa sat up, making sure to keep the furs close around Kaelan. "Seems our patients are waking up. Easy, darling. Don't fuss."

He nodded a little, face taut. Zak was growling, flattened out again. Ravenlight came in, picking her way over to him. "Easy," she said. "Here. Let me see that wound. It was looking a lot better when we got you in here, but it could probably use another round or two of healing."

He glanced over his shoulder at her and blinked, apparently confused. "Where am I?"

Drizzt pushed himself up. "We're on the Throat of the World, a mountaintop. In Skyrim. Do you remember last night?"

Drelasa put her hand on Kaelen's forehead. "Hear that? Don't think an Altmer has ever been this high up before. You are a first. Lie still so you can get up sooner to see the view."

Chiming gold streamed over the injury in the older Drow's back. This time, though, instead of hissing or gritting his teeth from pain, he relaxed. "That...feels better."

"The malice is gone, that means." Ravenlight continued stroking her hands across the slowly-healing injury. "I don't know if that Shout destroys it, or if it just doesn't last; but either way, it's a good thing."

Drelasa peeled back the furs and placed her hand over the Altmer's belly, slowly letting her magic flow through. He relaxed as well, letting out a long sigh. Then he blinked and looked around, puzzled. "I heard...the Throat of the World...but how did we get here?"

"Dragonback, darling." Drelasa said, letting more magic flow when he didn't fall immediately into distress. "You were on top of Odahviing this time. You did well stopping that demon. Gave them time to protect the children."

He smiled a little. "Stopping...well, I was good for something then. Didn't even see the damn thing, and it was right in front of me. None of us had any idea it was there until I went down." Kaelen paused. "Though...it defeated itself. I thought we were done; was right on the verge of stepping away from the trapdoor when I suddenly felt a line of fire run across my belly, screamed and fell. If it hadn't attacked me..." He shivered. "Odd thing to say, but...I'm glad it did."

"I've heard a saying," Ravenlight commented, "Oft evil will, will evil mar. Means that something done out of sheer nastiness or spite might end up coming back hard on the one who did it. Alduin did that to me: when he attacked Helgen, my head was on the block waiting for the axe. The timing of his attack saved me from execution."

"No patience. If they had patience, things would be very different. They get bloated on confidence." Drelasa frowned. "For it to go there...to only attack Zak outside...do you think it was targeting the children? So far you have defeated a few of these hybrid demons and a titan, not to mention rallied forces and stopped a few waves of attacks. Are they going after the flanks? Attacking family?"

"The fact that it attacked me..." Zak pushed himself up. "I've been wondering. Would it have anything to do with...with Ebornarm? The children..." He grimaced. "I've seen folk...lose the will to fight after losing a child. It makes...a cruel sense for it to have been specifically going after them. But I'm...do you think it was trying to cut off what influence Ebonarm might...exert before it can even truly begin?"

"It very well could." Drelasa said. "That was what the Mutes did...do. They attack vulnerable places, cut the strong off from their source of strength and leave them to rot. You are new to your influence. You might be a bit of a beacon yourself until you settle with it. As for the children...They are safe for now surrounded by us. But...oh gods." She sat up straight suddenly, her magic dying on her fingertips. "I didn't...Ravenlight, I need to get to Blacklight!"

Ravenlight sat up. "What's wrong?"

"Dusty..." She whispered. "We thought...in the middle of the city but...no guard there, no matter how loyal, can stop one of those demons!"

They all sprang up. "You're right," Ravenlight said, face growing white. "And-yes, Boethiah's champion-they'd definitely go after him. I don't know if Odahviing-"

The tent trembled with a motion outside. "Come, Dovahkiin," Paarthurnax rumbled, "I am not so old I cannot leave my strunmah. I can bear you there as swiftly as Odahviing, and you will not need to wait for him to return."

Drelasa scrambled outside, frantically pulling her boots on as she went. "I'm a fool. I should have realized that instant you told me what was going on!"

"We didn't know what was going on until we were already in Skyrim." Ravenlight snatched up a couple of furs and brought them out, looking over at Kaelen. "Do you know any bound weapon spells?"

He nodded, face grim. "We all had to learn them. Never knew when we might be disarmed."

"Good." Ravenlight took a quick look around. She, Drizzt and Zak still had their weapons; Kaelen and Drelasa were unarmed and unarmored-though, as she'd often learned, with magicka, no one was really unarmed. "We don't have time to wait. Come on; Paarthurnax is waiting. We've got to go!"

"Dreyla knows little to protect herself. Her father sheltered her and now it's difficult to learn." Drelasa's hands stumbled as she helped get them ready to go. "The guards are strong but if these things are escaping our warriors' notice then the city walls are useless."

"The first one didn't bother with stealth," Drizzt said, remembering. "The second one was hiding, but not...impossible to find. The third...I'm hoping the rest of them don't have that trick." He helped Drelasa up onto the dragon's neck.

"Or malice in their claws," Ravenlight said grimly. "Because that... I may need you to teach me the Shout for a healing sleep, if that's the case." She scrambled up in front; Zak and Kaelen followed, Kaelen waiting just long enough to wrap a fur around his bare torso. The second they were all seated, Paarthurnax launched into the air, his tattered wings somehow catching the wind and keeping it, as he wheeled in the direction Ravenlight pointed out to him.

As they hurtled toward the borders of Skyrim, two other dragons noticed, and followed behind him.

Drelasa held tight to the ancient thing under her, praying to any higher being listening that she was wrong.

Urgency drove Paarthurnax to a much faster pace than Odahviing had taken. In less than two hours, the city of Blacklight rose before them. And it was instantly clear that they were just in time: even from a distance, the city looked like a kicked anthill. Ravenlight focused, peering down-then pointed. "There! Down there!"

Smoke rose from the section of the city where the Veleth's resided. Drelasa gasped in terror. "No.." She whispered. "No, no-please no."

Paarthurnax swooped low. In the streets, a group of guardsmen armed with spears and pikes struggled to hold off an unpleasantly familiar figure. Behind them, two others were helping a young woman clutching a small form to run down the street. Blood dripped off of her-but the baby's terrified screams were audible even from a distance.

"Paarthurnax!" Ravenlight shouted. "Drop lower. Get that thing into the clear!"

"Geh!"

It was doubtful the guards thought the sudden appearance of a dragon hovering right overhead meant anything good-until Paarthurnax Shouted. "FUS RO DAH!"

Coming from Ravenlight, it was capable of bowling over half a legion like ninepins. Coming from Paarthurnax...it not only blew the demon halfway down the street and into a wall so hard it left a dent: it sent any loose cobbles on the street flying after it.

"The cursed son of a rotting whore!" Drelasa's fear had been replaced with rage. Lightning danced at her fingertips as clouds began to gather. "Get me down there. Its suffering will be something the demons talk about for centuries!"

Paarthurnax needed no second urging. The guards had already scattered: understandable, when suddenly faced with what might have been an ally-or a new threat that none of them had ever thought they'd have to deal with. Which meant the street was clear when he landed heavily.

Drelasa jumped down as the clouds turned black. "First you attack my husband's shrine. That is a death sentence enough among my kind. But my children's' children?" Her voice seemed to magnify the closer she got. There was little doubt half the city heard her. "You will beg for the Webspinner to take you by the time I am finished!"

Ice froze the demon's limbs in place as she came closer. Nevano had pointed out that Veleth's temper had an origin. There was very little doubt of that now.

Ravenlight watched closely, remaining on Paarthurnax's neck: if necessary, he could lift her up for a clear shot. Behind her, she heard Zak, Drizzt, and Kaelen leap down.

She hoped Drelasa's spells would do the trick, but she remembered that Veleth had to finish the demon at her house, and was silently afraid that this one, too, would need something closer to either Aedra or Daedra to finish.

When Drelasa got close, it wasn't lightning at her fingers. Black energy raced along her arms as she grabbed the demon by the throat. "You will learn the price for touching a child!"

"Paarthurnax, lift me up," Ravenlight hissed, pulling an arrow. She wasn't going to keep Drelasa from her revenge, but if it looked for a second like the demon was about to break free, she was putting an arrow through its eye before it could rip the Dunmer into shreds.

"Hold a moment." A hard woman with a massive claw mark on her face stopped her. Next to her, a very familiar enormous, wrinkly dog. "Drelasa has this."

Though both Drelasa's hands were occupied, the black energy seemed to form a second pair of limbs, further holding the demon in place.

Drelasa suddenly plunged a hand deep into the demon's chest, black energy tinged with purple erupting from the wound. The demon shrieked.

"Who else are you bloody half-breeds targeting?!" Drelasa screamed in its face.

"Who else stands in our way?" it managed to gasp out. "Strike the weak-bleed the strong."

Drelasa twisted her hand, causing it to shriek. "You have learned nothing. Stupid, weak and pathetic!" She spat. "You bleed the strong until the strong have nothing left and you will face the bitterest of opponents. Where before there might have been mercy there is only rage. By trying to bleed us you have only made your loss so much worse!" She dug her nails in deep. "We will never stop. The world will never stop. Pitiful fools already tried to bleed me and it only made me hate you n'wah more. I ask you one final time. Who are you targeting next?"

Its mouth moved, bloody foam flecking out. Panic suddenly flashed across its ugly face as it strained. Finally, it managed to gasp out two, strangled words. "The...heart!"

"Which Heart you fetcher?" Drelasa growled. "Now!"

"Empire!" Suddenly, it slumped, dark blood erupting from its skin in a dozen places.

"Enjoy your eternity with Mephala." Drelasa yanked her hand out before motioning with a fist. Two black and purple portals opened next to the body and long black legs reached out. The demon's body was torn in half as it was dragged away. When the portals shut, only black blood remained. Drelasa turned back to them, casting a fire spell in her own hands to burn the filth from them. "Where are Dreyla and Dusty?" Her voice was hoarse.

Paarthurnax shifted slightly, allowing Drizzt to approach, escorting a young woman with a frightened, tear-stained face and her still-sobbing baby. She saw Drelasa and nearly burst into tears again, running toward her. Drelasa grabbed them into a hug. "It's gone. It's gone now." She murmured. "It won't see the mortal world again. I swear that."

"The heart...Empire," Ravenlight muttered. "Akatosh save us, that could be any of well over a dozen things. The Emperor? The Temple? The Imperial City?"

The woman next to Ravenlight sighed in relief. "I know the note said watch out for trouble but this...if Lady hadn't alerted me they'd both be dead." She glanced at her. "Perhaps broader? Heart of Tamriel? Mundus?"

"Heart of the Empire..." Kaelen had come close enough to catch those words. "And they're going after children. I know what that is. It's the Emperor's family. His daughter and grandchildren."

"That will take a bit." Drelasa said, staggering a bit as she let Dreyla go. "As I recall, the Emperor's family was killed, during the Great War. A truly cruel move to sap the strength out of him."

"They're not dead. Now, I don't know where they are...but Gyrmallion will." Kaelen smirked a little. "He's the one who hid them from the Thalmor during the Great War."

"Oh good. So you aren't one of those scum, then." The scarred woman said.

That was when everyone started to realize attention was going to the Altmer and it was decidedly not friendly, even with that declaration. Ravenlight slipped off Paarthurnax and moved up beside him. There was no menace in her movements...but there was decided purpose.

"All of you! Stand down!" Drelasa drew herself up again. "Do any of you think I would bring a howling Thalmor fanatic into this city? Ravenlight, darling, standing like a mother wolf over pups will not rebuild a relationship. This Altmer is part of a group that has broken away. Much like how the Chimer did! We have much to hate of the Thalmor, this is true, but we cannot deny those who are doing what we ourselves have done before! He is as different from the Thalmor as we are alike to each other. They deserve the chance to prove that and today he has. He came to save one of our children, not soak the streets with our blood. Now stand down!"

The guards, though still wary, accepted what Drelasa said readily enough. Other residents took a step back but a murmur went through the crowd. It was true, he had come with this strange group to save a child. In their eyes...that was deserving of high praise, veneration even.

Drelasa looked at them. "It won't be easy or fast...but, things like this will go a long way in building a bond."

"And I might add," Ravenlight said mildly, "that he came without hesitation, despite having neither armor nor weapon...after the last one of those, which attacked my home, came within a hair's-breadth of disemboweling him. Because he stood between it and my children."

Drelasa smiled. Now she was getting it. Bring the children in. Now no one would dare harm him.

"I think," Ravenlight said, looking around, "we're going to need to return to Windstad and soon. Something tells me Gyrmallion's going to be the one with the whole story concerning the 'Heart of the Empire', the children will need to see that we're all right after we had to leave so abruptly last night..." She sighed. "And it just occurred to me that the two people who could absolutely keep the peace among the motley crew currently gathered at my house are both here."

She looked around, quickly spotting the other two dragons perched on different buildings nearby, simply to watch the goings-on. "Ah, I thought we'd had an escort. Well, this means we'll have enough transport to take all of us and Dreyla and Dusty back. I don't think they should be alone: there is nothing to stop these monsters from trying again, and I strongly suspect they will."

"No. And I'm starting to think we need to bring your children with us as well, darling." Drelasa said. "We are being watched at all times now."

Ravenlight nodded, pursing her lips. "There is a place..." Then she shook her head. "No, no, and no. Not with all of them here." Catching the confused looks, she sighed. "I'll clarify back at Windstad. We need to find a more open spot to let those two land so we're not all crowding onto Paarthurnax."

Drelasa nodded. "Dreyla, is there anything you can get?"

"No it...destroyed everything." Dreyla's voice shook.

"We will tell your father you are leaving. If he pitches a fit, tell him to look at the house." Drelasa said. "Cruivah..."

"I'll take care of this," the hard woman said.

"Good." Drelasa nodded. "Hopefully there's no demon in my house, because I have a few things to grab there and we will head off."

Ravenlight stepped forward and gently hugged Dreyla. "Whatever you lost, I will help you replace," she promised. "Anything and everything."

Dreyla was shaking but returned the hug, albeit a bit hesitantly.

"Veleth's at my home," Ravenlight said. "We'll fly you straight there." She glanced over her shoulder at Paarthurnax. "You won't mind going there before returning to the Monahven?"

"Ni." Paarthurnax shook his head-carefully, to keep from banging into anyone or anything. "It is good, once again, to see a little of the world before returning to my meditations." He raised his head and looked around. "Though I may well see more of it; sitting in quiet meditation is well and good when a threat of this degree is not in the world."

Drelasa staggered a bit, only Paarthurnax's enormous shoulder keeping her upright. "Oh, that took more than I thought..."

Ravenlight stepped forward to steady her. "Magicka low? Ah, here." She dug in the pouch at her side. "After Labyrinthian...where is it...ah! I always carry a few restore-magicka potions with me." She pulled out a small, blue-glazed bottle. "Here. Not one of my strongest, but it'll give you a needed boost."

"Thank you, darling." She took it gratefully. "Daedra Lords require an enormous amount."

"I imagine. Probably as bad as getting hit with the Staff of Magnus was in that blasted ruin." She checked the pouch. "If you need another, I have a few more. And dozens at home."

"They don't do half measures for sure." Drelasa threw it back quickly. "Whew. Actually...Dreyla, stay here. I'll deal with Fethis. I'd rather you and the baby stay where it's safest."

Ravenlight smiled as Dreyla cast a nervous look at Paarthurnax. "Don't worry. The time when he might have been a danger to a mother and child is long past. And those two..." She turned and looked up at the two lesser dragons. "Will behave themselves if they know what's good for them."

Though still rather cranky from the days events and not at all happy about leaving the safety of his mother, Dusty looked up at Paarthurnax...and promptly blew raspberries at him. The massive dragon seemed to smile. Dreyla's eyes went wide and it looked for a moment as if she were going to pass out. Dusty, it seemed, took a bit more after his father in terms of fearlessness. A giant dragon was merely something to make noises at to get funny responses.

"Think you'll be okay with riding him with Drelasa?" Ravenlight asked, gently supporting her from behind.

"Yes..." She didn't sound fully sure. After all that had happened, no one could blame her.

Ravenlight squeezed her shoulders. "At the very least, you will be completely safe," she assured her. "I can promise: nothing, not even the unreconciled dragons, will attack Paarthurnax. 'Old' does not mean 'weak' among the dov."

"Oh good. Just...no more demons. I'll take dragons over demons..." she said.

"Yeah, considering what that other one did, I don't blame you." Ravenlight grimaced. "I can't promise no more attacks. But I can promise that you will be surrounded by people who can do something about them. If I have to make an arsenal's worth of weapons and have every one of them consecrated to all nine Divines, I will."

The guards, having been told these were allies, had formed a loose ring around them, keeping people away and the street cleared. Paarthurnax looked around, then lifted his head and spoke in Dovahzuul to the two dragons. Ravenlight could only get the gist of it; he'd told them to obey her and allow passengers to mount, and to wait to come down until after he'd taken off. Dusty looked way up at the other two and waved while blowing raspberries, complete with drool bubbles.

Drelasa returned not long after that, carrying two bags and looking almost as murderous as she had when she had stormed up to the demon. Behind her was a Dunmer man, carrying on in such a way it was difficult to tell what he really was going on about. Dreyla groaned in exasperation.

"And who is this?" Drizzt asked, glancing over at him.

"That...is my father." Dreyla's ears turned red as the nearby guards rolled their eyes. "He's a bit...well..."

"Over-protective, overbearing annoying little S'WIT!" Drelasa rounded on him. "YES! I heard you the first forty six times! I am not changing my mind, she is going, you will shut up and that is the end of it!"

Ravenlight got a sneaky grin on her face. "Paarthurnax, would you mind?" She leaned forward and whispered something beside the dragon's head. He instantly seemed to mirror her grin, and lowered his head almost to the ground. Ravenlight lightly climbed up his neck and offered her hand to the Dunmer woman. "Dreyla...let me give you a hand up here before he notices you."

Dreyla took it and crawled up. Dusty squealed in delight, reaching out to pat any part of the dragon he could. Ravenlight helped her get settled. "There we go...yes, that's the most comfortable spot. Legs covered under you? Good." She moved back slightly. "I'll see if Drelasa has something to help tie Dusty to you; he'll probably squirm around worse than Nevusa did, and he won't have a cat's balance." She hopped down, just as the man stepped forward, still complaining. As he did, Paarthurnax lifted his head-slowly enough not to startle or unseat his novice passenger, then turned toward him.

He fixed his eyes on the man...and snorted.

Drelasa's murder eyes turned swiftly to wicked delight as Fethis was nearly bowled over and laughed uproariously as he scrambled backwards. "You think she's safer here or with him?" She pointed at Paarthurnax. "If you stop me now, you'll have your son-in-law to answer to. He doesn't know about this yet. What part about you am I going to tell?"

Fethis stammered but had no good answer.

"Plus," Ravenlight added lightly, stepping up to Drelasa, "she will soon be surrounded by half the warriors in Skyrim, and then some. Drelasa, do you have anything I can use to anchor Dusty? Something tells me he's going to be a little more excited than is really good for him in a few minutes, and I'd like to spare his mother the heart attacks."

"Little wiggler. Yes, here." Drelasa pulled out a long shawl dyed in the rather muted colors the Dunmer prefered.

"Thank you." Ravenlight took the shawl and climbed back up, balancing effortlessly on the raised neck. She came up behind Dreyla and helped her tie the baby to her chest. "There. And you'll keep each other warmer that way, too. It'll get pretty cold up in the air." Finished, she turned back toward Drelasa. "I think it's best if you go with her; she knows you best. Need some help coming up?"

Drelasa climbed up. "I've got it, thank you, darling."

Dusty started fussing, not pleased at all at being confined like this.

"He might calm down in the air," Ravenlight said. "Or...not. But it'll only be two hours before you're at Windstad; not too long." She waited until both women had settled themselves securely, and Drelasa had an additional shawl around Dreyna's shoulders, before hopping down and nodding to Paarthurnax. "I'll see you at Windstad Manor, then."

"Geh." He smiled a little. "We may tinvaak there for longer, or perhaps not. We shall see."

Drelasa gripped Dreyla firmly as he reared back, crouched, then launched himself into the air and flew away.

(Yep, curveball! We weren't...quite...making this up as we went along.
Who am I kidding. We had a few end destinations in mind, but otherwise, we were totally making it up as we went along. Please review and let us know what you think, we love to hear from y'all!)