Major trigger warning on this chapter. I mean, some of you already figured it out, but I'm still putting this here. This chapter contains mention of sexual assault/rape. Because, well, it's Molag Bal. Naturally. For those of you looking to avoid it, a chapter summary can be found at the bottom of the chapter.
Markarth was massive and terrifying, elegantly carved stone walls towering above the massive staircase that led to the large metal gates of the city. Leola stared up at the gates as they walked up the steps, her hand entwined with Erith's.
"I can't believe I've been living this close to a Daedric shrine my whole life and never knew it," Erith said softly, staring up at the gates as well.
"I bet most of the city's residents would agree with you," Samuel said as he led the girls up the stairs. It was just the three of them. For the two days, they had been travelling, stopping a few times here and there – first in Whiterun and then in Rorikstead. Now, they had arrived in Markarth, where Samuel was told they would find the shrine of Molag Bal.
Their trip had been an uncomfortable one – Leola had noticed that Erith didn't seem to like Samuel much. The Breton was always trying to act as though he wasn't there, ignoring him when he spoke to her and shying away from him when he approached her. Leola had spent much of her time in the middle, sitting between them in the carriage and trying to carry on conversation with both of them without excluding the other. She was exhausted, and had already asked to stay in Markarth for the night so she could recuperate before another two days of travel with them. They had both agreed.
"So where exactly is it?" Leola asked, looking over at Samuel.
"It has a Shadowmark, so I should be able to find it easily," Samuel replied. "It's supposed to be right near the gates, just past the market."
They passed through the gates, and sure enough, the first thing they saw was the market. A few years ago, Samuel had told Leola, a member of the Guild had discovered the house in Markarth. It was abandoned, with no hope of being repurposed or owned again, and they had deemed it a safe place to store loot. Markarth was, after all, incredibly far from Riften. Eventually, one of the members had discovered the shrine hidden away in the house. They kept it covered, not wanting to associate with it, but they had been happy to tell Samuel about its existence when he had asked.
They moved past the market and Leola smiled a bit as she saw the river that coursed through the city. "This is amazing," she said softly, moving closer to the edge.
"They sure weren't kidding," Samuel said, and she looked over her shoulder, seeing him standing in front of the doors of a house.
"This is it?" asked Leola.
"There's the mark," Samuel replied, pointing to a scrawled mark on a brick of the house. He paused, looking around to see whether or not anyone was looking, and then opened the door, motioning for the girls to go in. Erith took Leola's hand and pulled her inside, and Samuel followed.
The house was big, dimly lit and filled with loot. Leola looked around in awe. Jewels were scattered around the shelves. Small pouches of gold were all over the place. Weapons and armour were overflowing from the insides of chests.
"So we're supposed to go into the basement," Samuel said, walking across the floor into the next room. The girls followed him as they navigated the house, heading down into the basement.
The three were quick to find the hole in the wall, covered lazily by a bookshelf. They moved the shelf aside and paused, exchanging looks.
"Who's going first?" asked Erith.
"I want to go alone," Leola said suddenly, courage filling her heart. In her hands was the Mace of Molag Bal, wrapped in cloth so it wouldn't be identifiable by strangers.
"No way," said Erith immediately. She paused, biting her lip. "It's too dangerous."
"Leola doesn't know how to fight, Erith," said Samuel, and Leola noticed a slight tone of condescension in his voice. "If she comes out under more Daedric mind control, we can handle it. Without hurting her," he added when he saw the look on the Breton's face.
Erith sighed softly. "Alright…but be careful. Shout if you need us. And come if I call you," she said, and Leola nodded.
"I will," she said softly. She moved forward, placing a soft kiss on Erith's lips before turning and heading through the hole in the wall.
It was dark and dingy, and she shuddered slightly. It was a simple enough tunnel though, with a few curves and twists here and there. Had her mother walked this same tunnel once before? Had her mother come face to face with the Daedric prince who resided here?
Rounding another corner, Leola saw an altar ahead. Her eyes went wide and she moved forward, gripping the mace tightly.
"Leola…" whispered a deep, masculine voice that sent shivers down the blonde's spine.
"M-Molag Bal?" Leola asked nervously, and she heard a deep, chilling laugh.
"Yes…welcome, child…I see that you have brought me my mace…"
"I have," Leola said softly. "I – where do you want me to put it?"
"Place my mace upon the altar," whispered the voice, and Leola nodded. She moved forward and carefully set the mace down upon the altar. Before she could move, however, bars sprang up from the ground, trapping her in a strange cage. She shrieked slightly, ducking so that the bars wouldn't press against her head.
"W-what do you want? Why are you doing this?" she exclaimed, suddenly terrified.
"I won't hurt you. I only want you to listen…and with your…previous…experiences with my kind…I assumed you would run if I tried to talk to you."
"Are you going to try to trick me like the other one did?" Leola asked. "I'm not falling for it. You won't turn me against my friends."
"Leola, daughter of the Dragonborn…my champion…your mother was strong, child. Powerful. She had all the qualities I look for in a champion…and then some."
"Well, she's gone now," Leola said in a soft voice.
"Yes, such a shame…but you, Leola – you have that same strength running through you…but it is trapped…locked within…you haven't been allowed to set free the potential you have inside…"
Leola was startled. This was the first time anyone had called her strong. Even Aventus thought she was weak – he had insisted that she couldn't handle meeting with Molag Bal, but here she was.
"I'm not strong," she said quickly.
"You certainly aren't weak, child…or I would certainly have lost interest in talking to you by now, Leola."
Leola bit her lip slightly, looking down at the ground. "Well, what do you want with me?" she asked softly.
"I only want you to be able to reach your full potential…I admire strength, Leola…you have friends who will help you…if you wish it, I will help you as well, but I suspect you won't accept help from one of my kind…"
"So you're not going to try to turn me against my friends?" Leola asked softly.
"No…they are strong…mostly…except for one…"
A sigh left Leola's lips. "Naturally. And let me guess, you want me to eliminate the weak friend? Because I won't do it."
"No, not unless you choose to do so. I only want you to be aware that one of the men you call a friend is hardly such a thing…he's a coward and a fool…he attacks and violates women thinking he is proving his strength by dominating them…but all he does is show me his true weakness…desperation…a need to feel strong… because he isn't…"
Leola frowned slightly. "Who?" she asked softly. "What do you mean, he attacks and hurts women?"
"I am sure that you know fully well what I mean, my pretty child…if not, I can certainly show you…"
Leola felt her heart sink. She suddenly know exactly what he meant. The Daedric prince of domination and enslavement was…warning her about a rapist?
"Yes, Leola, that's it exactly," Molag Bal's deep voice said. "You are strong, Leola, but if he is allowed to bring you any harm, you will never unlock your full potential. He has already done it to one of the ones closest to you…"
Leola frowned. "Who?" she asked quickly. "Who did he hurt? Who is it?"
"The Breton…Mephala would not tell you, but I will…that is what you found her crying about that night…he had just left her room…she was scared…hurt…betrayed…weakened…"
Leola's eyes went wide and a sudden fury panged through her chest. "Who hurt Erith?" she whispered, almost afraid to hear the answer.
"The very one who brought you here, Leola…" Suddenly, the bars of the cage retreated back into the floor and Leola was able to stand. "Do not let the same fate befall you…and if you do kill him…know that I will be proud…"
Chapter Summary (to avoid potential triggers)
Leola, Samuel, and Erith travel together to Markarth, where Samuel has been informed they will find the Shrine of Molag Bal. Leola goes to the altar while Samuel and Erith wait in the main part of the basement. Molag Bal traps Leola in the cage after she puts the mace on the altar so that she will have no choice but to listen to him. He praises her mother and tells her that she has the same strength as her mother did, simply untapped and not yet reached. He then warns her that Samuel is bad news and has hurt Erith, and to steer clear of him – and, if possible, to kill him.