Daaaaamn, I never expected to get the reaction for this story :) Thirty or so faves for the opening chapter :O Thanks everyone who reads this (and for putting up with my abnormal updates XDDDDD)
Just thought I would get this chapter out there before the holidays begin. Have a Happy Holidays and a fangtastic Christmas (yes, I did that XD) and hopefully this will whet your ravenous appetites for more Morgan bloodspilling...I mean, for more adventures :D
"Fresh fruits and vegetables for sale! Freshly picked from the plains!"
"Baubles and trinkets! Necklaces and rings for sale! High quality and low prices!"
Morgan grinned as her two adopted daughters snorted at the claims. Serana had simply raised one slender eyebrow and ensured her arm was snug around Morgan's waist.
Whiterun was as busy as Morgan could ever recall. Dozens of citizens wove around the other as they scrambled for their purchases. The city guard were stationed at most of the vendors and a few of the newly created 'elite guard' that Jarl Balgruuf had created were positioned at the enticed, the archway that led to the Cloud District and Dragonsreach itself.
Morgan appraised the guards. The armour had more steel plate than the regular guard, the leather dyed white instead of the pale yellow. The blades they carried were Skyforge steel and were a foot longer in length. She nodded to the two closest and both elites thumped their fists against their chests in salute.
She sighed. She would never get used to anyone giving her that level of respect.
"Come on, we need to get to Jorrvaskr."
Morgan nodded to Serana's gentle prodding remark and the four of them continued to walk through the busy streets of Whiterun.
"Thank you for coming."
Morgan dipped her head respectfully at Kodlak Whitemane, who was lying on an elongated chair with two of the Temple healers in attendance.
She spent a moment to observe the man lying before her. He was a far different man than the one who had led Whiterun's scattered forces in retaking the city. The man lying before her was watching her with a calm and accepting expression, not a man who was facing death itself.
"Don't give me that look, girl. I'm not dead yet," Kodlak chuckled harshly.
Morgan smiled weakly.
"Having died twice now, I never faced it as calmly as you are doing," she replied quietly.
Kodlak chuckled again as he waved the healers away, before smiling at the two girls standing beside the Dragonborn. They had the same fire that their new mother had, that was certain.
"Lucia and Runa," Morgan introduced them.
"Aela has mentioned them on more than one occasion," Kodlak smiled. "For the Huntress to talk of someone with such respect is a great honour, young ones."
The girls beamed at him and he chuckled again softly.
"Do you mind if I talk to your mother alone, girls?"
The two girls nodded and Serana escorted them from the room, leaving the two of them alone. Morgan sat down on the offers seat and adjusted her long black dress before meeting the old mans gaze.
"You worry that you will never travel to Sovngarde," Morgan said after a moment.
The Harbinger smiled.
"And I never had to say a word. I can see why Aela and Farkas in particular admire you."
Morgan shrugged.
"I saw that look in the eyes of hundreds in Windhelm," Morgan replied quietly. "Every mortally wounded soul had that look. That uncertainty of what comes next. What will happen when you leave the mortal realm…"
She sighed.
"If only it were as simple as it could be."
He raised his eyebrows.
"You travelled the entirety of Skyrim within a few short years. You travelled to the afterlife of the Nords in the flesh, met the heroes of old. I envy you, girl."
Morgan grimaced.
"For you, it may come down to a choice," she said softly. "For me… I have every single Daedric Prince and possibly Akatosh himself claiming me when I die for good."
She met his piercing gaze again.
"And one other deity."
He nodded.
"What will come for us both us beyond us. We can only overcome when it happens."
She smiled.
"You would get on well with Paarthurnax."
He coughed before laughing, managing to sit upright.
"I ask for one thing before I meet my end."
"If I can do it, I will."
He smiled.
"Keep doing what you have done. Be a beacon of hope for the thousands that follow you. For the vast number that whisper your name in the lands beyond the borders. For the ones that tremble when your deeds reach the ears of those that prey on the innocent."
Kodlak Whitemane reached over and took one of Morgan's pale hands, not caring at how cold her skin was, not thinking of how no heartbeat could be felt.
"But most of all, keep being that innocent soul that did what needed to be done when none stepped up to save the lives of every soul in Tamriel. You may wish for the quest life yet we both know that as warriors, your adventures have only just begun."
Morgan found no words to respond with and she simply nodded.
"Let me guess. He told you what you didn't wish to hear?"
Morgan rolled her eyes as Aela approached, a rich green apple in her hand. The Huntress threw the fruit into the sky and caught it easily before taking a colossal bite before smirking at Morgan as she chewed.
"Kodlak and Paarthurnax talking is something I would want to avoid," Morgan managed after a few seconds of thought.
Aela barked in laughter and nodded as she took another bite.
"The Harbinger thinks his life is at an end. His wolf calls for him to retire to the Hunting Grounds of Hircine."
"Could think of worse fates," Morgan muttered, the image of Coldharbour flashing through her mind.
"The three of us who know him too well…myself, Farkas and Skjor have an idea. We will be away for a few weeks at the least."
Morgan stared at the young wolf.
"You plan on challenging Hircine? Interesting."
Aela blinked.
"I met him, remember? Sinding? Falkreath and the murders?" Morgan reminded her.
"You think he will punish us?"
Morgan shook her head.
"If anything, he will be impressed. He won't make it easy though. He will know what you are thinking of."
Aela nodded as she took one final bite before throwing the core over the nearest city wall.
"If it makes the old man happy, I am all for it. Besides, I am satisfied with my wolf so the idea of travelling into Hircines realm is something I am going to be ready for."
"You need any help?"
Aela smiled.
"For once, Dovahkiin, this is a quest we can manage for ourselves. Besides, from what Lucia was telling me, you are going to Solitude for a grand opening of a museum."
Morgan shook her head.
"The Dragonborn Museum. Sometimes I wish Elisif told me what she has planned."
Aela chuckled.
"She's the High Queen, she can do what she likes. Besides, a museum dedicated to you is flattering. Imagine, a hundred years from now, your name will still be sung in taverns all over Skyrim if not further…"
Morgan stuck her tongue out at Aelas teasing.
"Don't fucking start, wolf."
Aela grinned at her.
"Wouldn't think of it, Dovahkiin."
Morgan glared as the slender figure sauntered past her, close enough that their shoulders brushed against each other as Aela passed.
Reminder to not be in public for a hundred years.
Lucia and Runa giggled as Farkas and Vilkas argued. They weren't sure what the argument was about, but the way that they continually shoved each other was highly amusing. Their fun was stopped when Serana gently but firmly escorted them away, a small smile on her face.
"Grown ups argue," Serana explained.
Lucia cocked her head to one angle.
"You and Mama never argue."
Serana smirked.
"Oh we do. Just not when you are awake."
Lucia stuck her tongue out and Serana playfully swatted the top of her hair.
"Hey, who are they?" Runa said as she pointed down the street.
Serana looked up and frowned as three figures made their way up the street towards them. She barely registered that Morgan had appeared beside her, such was the focus of her concentration.
The three figures were consisted of one female and two males, yet they all wore the same garb. Yellow and orange robes which had clearly seen better days, judging from the tears in the fabric. They had weapons sheathed and while she couldn't tell if they were steel or not, they were not high quality from the scent of rust coming from the weapons.
But it was the masks they wore that held her attention. She frowned as the three figures came closer, close enough that the masks came into sharp focus.
Tentacled masks? Creepy and definitely not local.
"Are you the one they call Dragonborn?" the female said in a raspy tongue, pointing at Morgan.
Morgan gently moved her children towards Aela before turning to face these three figures with a sense of alert running through her body. She was aware that the city guard and the elite guards were approaching but she knew that they wouldn't get here in time, the masses of the civilians slowing them down.
"Zu'u Dovahkiin," Morgan replied, her thu'um causing the ground to shake.
She was satisfied when the robed people staggered, she knew they were a threat and the masks were.. familiar somehow.
"Your words lie on deaf ears, deceiver. When Lord Miraak returns, the weak and unworthy shall be cleansed!"
Morgan moved before the first man had grabbed his blade. While she regretted she wasn't wearing her own weapon (a dress was not friendly to weapons after all), she didn't need one. Darting forwards, she thrust her hand out in a knife edged shape, her fingers digging into the unprotected throat. She effortlessly picked the wounded attacker up over her head before throwing him into the side of the nearest building, his neck snapping from the impact.
The woman had managed to free her dagger from its sheath but Serana had also been moving, and she has been armed with her dragonbone daggers. A second later, the weapons had been embedded into the attackers head, leaving one…
"For Lord Miraak!"
Morgan dodged the thrust, leaping into the air and landing on the mans shoulders. She snarled as she twisted her legs to one side, breaking the neck instantly. She jumped off the collapsing body and spat on the corpse.
"What the fuck?!"
Serana coiled an arm around her.
"I know you're upset but please…"
Morgan sighed as Serana's calming voice soothes the fire within her.
"For what it's worth. That last kill… In that dress…" Serana whispered in a sultry tone.
Morgan snorted.
"Later. I need to know who put my children's lives in danger."
Serana nodded as she released her dragon, watching as she expertly dug through the corpses for information. She noted that the guards were silent and made no move to stop or assist her.
A good thing, I have never felt such anger before.
Morgan had stood up and was snarling at a piece of parchment in her hands. After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, Serana took the offered parchment and read the neat handwriting.
When you make landfall, make your way to the city of Whiterun. If the Deciever is not present, use any means necessary to discover her whereabouts.
When she is found, teach her the errors of her ways but do not kill her. Anyone else is fair game for the teachings of Lord Miraak.
Do not fail. Lord Miraak is watching.
E
Serana bared her fangs after reading and burned the paper in her hands, looking at Morgan, who was staring at the three corpses on the floor, black tendrils of smoke oozing from her skin pores.
"This Miraak will pay for this."
Serana nodded as she wrapped her arms around the smaller woman.
"Let's make sure we have everything we need and ensure the children are safe before we leave."
Morgan managed a small smile.
"Good thing you are here… I don't think…"
Serana pressed a finger on Morgan's lips.
"We will sort this out. Together."
Morgan gave a firm nod and the two of them turned away from the carnage, ignoring the muttering crowd as they passed. Even as she embraced her children and held them close, the anger within her continued to fuel itself.
I need more answers than that note. Miraak… It reminds me of something but I cannot think of what. It even sounds ancient. Like Vahlok, that Dragon Priest…perhaps Paarthurnax will know.
She held her daughters a little tighter.
She wouldn't let anyone harm her children. This 'Miraak' had made a fatal mistake in attacking her directly. She would make sure he or she would pay for this. As would this 'E' who had sent them here.
She vowed it.
Paarthurnax fought the urge to flee as the Dragonborn explained the assault. He could sense her fury, her souls' demand for blood. He hadn't spoken to her for some time but it was clear she no longer followed the Way of the Voice. She was on her own path now, and from what he could sense, her path involved more blood than he wished to think about.
But when she uttered that accursed name, he found he could no longer be silent.
"That name is forbidden! None may speak of the Betrayer! NONE!" he bellowed, baring his teeth at the mortal standing before him.
"So you know of him." Morgan said quietly, the air thrumming as her thu'um shook the land and sky.
He flinched at how easily she used the weapons of the dov so easily and brazenly. If he didn't know of the attack, she reminded him of Alduin all those years ago. She cared little for the innocent now, that much was clear.
"I will not speak of him, nor of his name. If you demand answers, Dovahkiin, I cannot and will not give them."
Morgan narrowed her eyes.
"First the Greybeards tell me I have fallen too far and now you, Alduins' very own fucking brother no less, tells me he will not help me from protecting my children? You hypocritical fucking LIZARD!"
He did flinch now as her raw thu'um washed over him, scales peeling off his hide from the assault. But he would not tell her. One giant leap into the sky, he flew higher into the clouds and away from the bellowing roar of the second most devastating thu'um he had ever been on the receiving end of.
She was so much like Alduin, a far cry from the young warrior that had visited him six years ago.
Cowardly? Perhaps. But the Betrayer is so named because we cannot physically call him by his name. One day, I hope she finds this out before her rage consumes all.
He glanced to one side and was not surprised to see Odahviing keeping pace with him.
"She will learn the truth, Old One."
Paarthurnax couldn't help but chuckle.
"You still think she is in control of her soul?"
Odahviing nodded.
"You have never seen her anger in full. She is not angry at you or I. The Betrayer is gone and has been for some time. Drem, patience, is what all of us need."
The older dragon chuckled again.
"I hope you are correct, young one. For all our sakes."
Morgan stopped yelling as the two dragons that she trusted the most flew out of sight. She was pissed off now. Serana holding her hand helped her regain control however and she leaned into the taller woman.
"We will figure this out. By ourselves if we must." Serana said after a moments pause.
Morgan sighed and simply stood there in Serana's embrace, the howling wind at the Throat of the World blowing her hair gently. She looked to the northeast, where Windhelm was situated.
Biggest port in Skyrim. Makes sense they would dock there. And Solstheim? I heard of the place when I was little. The BloodMoon. The Nerevarine.
Feeling Serana kiss the top of her hair made her feel better.
"So much for a quiet life."
Serana sniggered.
"We have the time. We find out who attacked you, tear their heads off, come back and watch our children grow up."
Morgan smiled.
Miraak. I am coming for you.