Hellooooooooo! :) Sorry for the stupid wait, I bought a new desktop and it has been a royal a**e to get it working correctly :P But it is working now, and I managed to get this chapter typed and I have started on the next one too, so hopefully, the wait will be much less! Thank you to everyone who reads this story, reviews, adds to favourites etc, it really does mean alot to me :) To the non-PM people:
-Guest: thank you! Account or otherwise, thank you for taking the time to read and review, glad you like the story so far :D
-InuGhost: Yeah I wanted Morgan to have gained some level of control over her Thu'um...even though she used it in a way that would have made the Greybeards frown a bit XD Answering your question about Delphine etc, the Blades will be in this fic in later chapters ;D
-Guest2: thanks for the compliment and as for smut, not sure how far I will take it this time :P
-Dovabeth: LOL Thanks! I think O_o XDDDDD Glad you are enjoying the story!
-Koona: Thanks for reviewing :D Yeah I 3 Gabriella, she was awesome :) I had to add Scar as another character, like you say, I felt that animal companions were lacking somewhat (even though there are mods on the PC for that sort of thing :D)
"Well, the first thing I have to ask is why Cicero is lying on the floor over there," Morgan said as she sat down, pointing to the motionless assassin with a slightly concerned look on her face.
"He wouldn't shut up," Babette replied as she sat down beside Astrid.
Astrid nodded to Nazir, who promptly walked over and threw a goblet of water onto the jesters face. The reaction was instantaneous. Cicero leaped into the air as though he had been lying down in a pool full of slaughterfish and he drew his ebony dagger out of his sheath, his eyes slightly wild.
"CALM DOWN!" Nazir roared, his own scimitar blade deflecting a dagger thrust.
Cicero looked around and spotted Morgan and Serana sitting there, and once again, he changed personalities immediately. He sheathed his dagger before walking around the table…on his hands, before sitting down beside Morgan and gently took her hand in his before giving it a gentlemanly kiss.
"Ohhhh, if Cicero had known you were coming, I would have worn a better attire!" Cicero cooed, Morgan grinning in response as she eventually managed to move her hand away.
"Flatterer," she told him with a cheeky wink before looking back to Astrid, who had rolled her eyes at the scene before clearing her throat.
"Thank you for coming Morgan. I know that getting a letter in such a manner was unexpected, but we are desperate for help," Astrid started, her eyes looking more weary than Morgan would ever think could happen to someone such as her.
"Where is everyone? Gabriella, Festus, Veezara, Arnbjorn, Liz…," Morgan trailed off, seeing how all the blood drained out of Astrids face as each of those names were rallied off.
Morgan felt Seranas hand gripping hers under the table and she gripped back in kind, feeling a sense of dread settling over everyone in that cold room. Astrid took a few deep breaths while Nazir passed a few goblets of Alto wine around, a goblet of blood for Babette, Serana and Morgan. The vampires looked at Nazir, who shrugged.
"It's mine."
Morgan took a small sip, even though she was well fed already, and continued to watch Astrid as she replied with a small and almost timid voice.
"It's easier to start from the beginning," she said.
4 weeks earlier…
"So? How was the contract?"
Arnbjorn gave her wife a slightly angry look before reining in his beast blood. He knew he shouldn't feel angry at her, he knew just how bad things had gotten over the last few months, but sometimes he couldn't help but vent his frustrations out at anyone within sight. Most of the time, it was Astrid who received his anger, the rest was generally aimed at the jester.
"Fucking awful," Arnbjorn groused as he sat down on the chair with a thump.
"Explain."
"Well, the person who enacted the Black sacrament turned out to be a town guard undercover," he replied sharply, feeling his blood churn once more. "I had to kill the whelp before he could alert the town guards on duty once he found out who I was."
"And then?" Astrid hissed, feeling a worsening sense of fear smother her with every second.
"I managed to catch him and broke his neck in an alleyway."
"Good, no harm done? Right?"
"No. You see, I happened to have killed the little shit in an alleyway full of guards who must have been waiting for him to bring me to them."
"By Sithis," Astrid muttered.
"I killed a few of them, but more turned up. You know how many of the cockroaches there are in Solitude. Anyway, I managed to flee with a few arrows up my arse."
"Did you lose them?"
Arnbjorn nodded and he gently wrapped his arm round his wife's waist, bringing her closer so that she could settle on his lap.
"You were lucky…but well done for getting out of there."
"Yeah….what about the others? Are they back yet?"
Astrid shook her head. Babette was out on a contract in Falkreath, while Veezara was currently escorting none other that the Dragonborn's mother around the Reach, attempting to stay clear of forsworn and the occasional Stormcloak patrol, the latter having recently retaken control of Falkreath.
Festus and Gabriella were currently outside the sanctuary and gathering information from Falkreath, trying to learn of a way to stay hidden from the many patrols that seemed to be scouring the woods. Cicero was still holed up in the chambers upstairs, muttering like he always did. Astrid had first thought that he was plotting something, but every time she had hidden in that room, Cicero seemed to have been talking to himself.
And the Night Mother, although Astrid didn't really count her as a viable conversationalist.
"Any news from Veezara?"
"The only thing I have heard from him was that Lilith Aurelius is not to be fucked with…he said she slit a bandits throat while he was sleeping, saying that they needed the food there more than he did," Astrid replied.
"Cold…colder than her daughter anyway."
"Apart from slaughtering hundreds of people in Markarth, yes," Astrid muttered with a smirk.
She had been impressed and rather nervous after hearing about the entire population being killed by the Dragonborn and her lover a few months back. Babette in particular seemed to have generated a lot of interest about why Morgan had done such a thing, and when she found out that two Daedric Princes had been involved, Astrid knew that big things were taking place.
"And what of Morgan? And Serana?"
"They are both fine," Babette said as she emerged from the corner of the room where she had obviously been eavesdropping. "Serana is still in Castle Volkihar, and no vampire attacks have occurred since they retook the castle. Morgan…she's trying to live a peaceful life."
Astrid shook her head that last snippet of news. If Morgan thought she could forget all the killing she had done by trying to ease herself into a peasant-like lifestyle, she would be sorely mistaken.
"Speaking of which, did you send that letter?"
Babette nodded to Astrid's question and she simply stared back at Arnbjorn as he bristled in anger again.
"Why did you do that? We don't need her."
"Are you questioning my judgement…husband?" Astrid asked softly, a sharp tongue wrapped inside a velvet layer.
"No…I just want to know why," Arnbjorn replied, his anger once again being reined in.
"The reason is simple. We are in deep trouble. There are no contracts anymore, and those that do turn up seem to be lures for us. Now I doubt that Elisif told anyone about out agreement, but she is in a place full of vipers, and she is alone. Maybe one of her court found out. But that is of no consequence. All that matters now is…"
Astrid's reply was cut off as the three of them heard a yell for help, and immediately, all three ran out of the room as fast as they could.
Festus was supporting Gabriella on his shoulder, the Dunmer bleeding heavily from five arrows jutting out of her abdomen. Babette ran off to get her healing potions and remedies while Nazir, who had been sleeping moments before, sprinted over to the dinner table and threw everything onto the floor, allowing Festus and Astrid to carry Gabriella over to the table and lay her down.
"What happened?" Astrid hissed.
Festus paced back and forth before replying, the cuts and slight lacerations on his armour and body an indication of how close he had been to joining the woman in injury terms.
"Fucking Stormcloaks happened," Festus muttered as he drained a bottle of magicka.
"Just spit it out old man before…"
"Before what, you dumb wolf? Festus snapped back, his eyes wild with anger.
It was Astrid who stopped a potential murder within their own ranks, pushing the two men away with firm hands and glaring at each in turn.
"It is not the time for this," she scolded them, "What matters is what we do now."
Festus took a few breaths to calm himself and nodded, although Arnbjorn still looked rather annoyed.
"Gabby and I were watching two patrols meet in the centre of the road. We overheard them saying the 'Dark Brotherhood' and another name, 'Erikur'. Anyway, it seems that this 'Erikur' has made a power play in Solitude, Elisif being placed under arrest along with General Rikke and a few others. I don't know what happened next, it was a blur…"
"You're doing fine, " Astrid said softly, ignoring Arnbjorn exasperated look at how she talked to Festus, "What happened then?"
"Then everything went to shit faster than when Arnbjorn tried to cook," Festus muttered sourly as he wiped his forehead and grimaced at the bloody streak his arm left behind. "We made to come back when the guards let loose a bunch of arrows…I have no idea how the knew we were there. Maybe a Detect Life spell. Anyway, the bastards hit Gabby…"
Babette came back into the room and stood on the chair as she leaned over Gabriella's unmoving body and without hesitation, yanked an arrow from her abdomen. The vampire ignored the yells coming from most of the people there, leaving Astrid to explain.
"She knows more of medicine better than any of us," Astrid reminded them all, her eyes watching the unchild the whole time.
"With good reason. I didn't spend a few centuries sitting on my arse you know," Babette replied as she removed another arrow.
"You…are…listening to…Morgan too…much…" Gabriella wheezed unexpectedly.
"Hush. You have lost a lot of blood but you will survive….the bastards used nightshade on their arrows though," Babette muttered as she pressed a cloth over Gabriella's face, knocking the woman out quickly so that Babette could work.
"Nightshade? There's irony for you."
"Shut the fuck up and tell me anything else you know," Astrid hissed at Festus, who simply shrugged at her display of anger.
"I dragged her out of there after I managed a lucky hit on what looked like their commanding officer…fellow named 'Ralof'. I don't think he is dead though, he was still standing as we moved deeper into the woods."
"Did they follow you here?" Babette asked, her voice finally showing a hint of anger.
"Do you think I am that stupid?" Festus retorted.
"Do you want an answer to that?" Babette countered.
"Bah!," Festus roared as he waved his hand at the vampire and he met the gaze of Astrid.
"What now?"
"We need to leave. The door will hold for now but eventually they could break inside with magic and brute force. The Sanctuary in…"
"Ohhh, Dawnstar! Cicero will go first and ensure it is clear, Mistress!" Cicero cackled as he walked right behind Astrid, close enough that his breath tickled her throat.
"Fine," Astrid said immediately. "We will make sure that the Night Mother is looked after and will bring her…"
"Cicero will take the Night Mother," Cicero said, his voice losing its childish-like tone and becoming colder instantaneously. "And I could take the wounded girl too."
"Gabriella," Babette corrected him primly as she jumped off the chair and looked up at Astrid, her piercing red irises locked onto the taller Nord's. "He makes a good case. I can go with them and ensure we get there and Gabriella is safe."
"Yes…yes, that's good. The rest of us, pack food and a few essentials. We don't have long," Astrid said as she lay a hand on Gabriella's face tenderly and she closed her eyes, feeling as though a strange presence was watching her…then she opened her eyes and she shook the feeling off, looking at her fellow Sisters and Brothers.
"GO."
For once, her word was heeded to.
Morgan closed her eyes after hearing the tale and she could feel that part of her soul rearing up, wanting to decimate the attackers of the Dark Brotherhood. She had loved talking to the Dunmer assassin in particular, she had had a way with words that had struck a familiar cord within her, and knowing that she had come so close to death really pissed her off.
But there were other thoughts swirling around inside her head, and most of them were not pleasant.
The first was the knowledge of someone she had once trusted being on the side of the Stormcloaks. She had met Ralof at Helgen, and then again a few weeks later in Riverwood. He had been amusing to listen to and had always looked at her as a savior, a heroine of Skyrim. But he was on an opposing side now, and she knew that she may have to take his life…
The next thought was that of that pompous bastard Erikur being in temporary control of Solitude and therefore all of the Legion and it's soldiers. He had been a power hungry moron, but the news that he had usurped Elisif and had even locked her and Rikke away was something that increased Morgan's anger even more.
And then the last thought, which was by far the most troubling.
Her mother and Veezara, the two of them travelling together. But the Argonian had apparently died, which meant…
Morgan wasn't aware of her movement. One moment, she was sitting in her chair, the next she was straddling the Dark Brotherhood matron and slamming her wrists down onto the cold and unforgiving stone floor, her fangs fully bared for everyone to see.
"WHERE IS SHE? WHERE IS MY MOTHER?!" Morgan screamed.
And then Morgan shivered when she felt a calm voice penetrate through her anger.
Desist child! Let her tell her story. She cannot do that if she is a bloody mess now can she?
Morgan blinked and she looked down at the woman who was now feebly trying to remove her vice grip from her wrists. She let go and staggered to her feet, feeling Seranas arms around her waist as she practically carried her back to her chair. Nazir helped Astrid to her feet and the assassins watched the Dragonborn warily, wondering if they had make a fatal mistake in allowing her here in the first place.
And when Morgan spoke again, the remainder of the Dark Brotherhood members swore that they could feel the icy chill of Sithis himself emanate from Morgans lips.
"What happened to the rest? Arnbjorn. Festus. Veezara. My Mother? Leave nothing out. I want to know everything. Because when I know who was responsible, I will personally drain each and every one of them dry, before sending their body parts to Ulfric and anyone else who may be involved."
Astrid gulped and was glad of Babette's cold hand gripping hers under the table. She nodded and took a deep breath.
"Well well, look who is finally awake."
She opened her eyes and winced at the feel of the cold metal binding her wrists together. She blinked a few times to clear her vision and she looked around the room she was in.
A small cell, three stone walls and a thick set of steel bars. And outside, were two men. One of them was leering at her, and she instinctively moved her legs under her and knelt down, her torn rags hiding her thighs and upper body, much to the disappointment of the leering bastard watching her. He wore thick Stormcloak armour, a bears head and claws adding unnecessary detail in her view.
Dirty fuck. I will kill you last, she thought before turning her attention to the other man and she knew already who this one was. Tall, piercing eyes that could seemingly spot flaws in a persons character, and a muscular body to show he was not a simple ruler. Fine robes and shoes finished off the mans appearance, but she was not interested in him that way. For like the men watching her, she was watching them, looking for weakness.
"After hearing that ugly bastard breathe, it was hard not to," she replied with a sneer.
The reaction was what she had wanted. The bear-man roared and slammed his hand on the metal bars angrily, spittle flying from his mouth.
"YOU FUCKING BITCH! I WILL SEND YOU TO SLEEP AGAIN, YOU…."
"Enough, Galmar."
She raised an eyebrow at how those two words stopped the huge man in his tracks and she looked back at this man now, meeting his gaze.
"Forgive my friend. He does not understand people like you."
"No-one understands me with the exception of one," she replied with a grin.
"Yes, I have seen her fire…now I know where she gets it from. I am Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak, and…"
"I know who you are. Some people think you are the best thing to happen to Skyrim. I have to admit, the stories about you were interesting. Until you decided to slaughter your own people for your own needs anyway."
"You know nothing of me, you are an outlander to these parts."
"So was she. And last I heard, she still had an awful lot of support," she chuckled softly.
"Not for much longer. She will fall now that most of her allies have turned against her. And to think, all I needed was a generous offer to a Thane of Solitude," Ulfric smiled.
"Your arrogance will be your undoing Jarl Ulfric. Heed my words."
"Really? I never knew we captured someone who could see the future Galmar!" Ulfric chortled.
She smirked wickedly.
"No, I do not see the future. What I do see however is a man living on borrowed time. For she will come. For you. Him. Your family. Your friends. Your allies. Your soldiers," she said, every word spoken calmly and clearly. "And then she will wipe out the remainder of your rebellion and Skyrim will know peace once more."
Ulfric Stormcloak had never been afraid of words. After his teachings of the Thu'um, he felt that the only words he should fear were those spoken in the Draconian language. But this woman had said something that had sent cold shivers down his spine, despite the thick and comfortable garments he wore. But he also embraced a challenge.
"And I will be ready for her. Get comfortable my dear, you have a wait ahead of you. And when she comes for me, I will bring her head to you," he said, before turning around and walking away, Galmar Stone Fist alongside him.
Back in her cell, Lilith Aurelius blinked back the tears she could feel forming in her eyes and she looked at the small grate above, the stars twinkling in the night sky.
Then she smiled.
Her daughter was still out there. And Ulfric Stormcloak was going to learn that no-one messed with Morgan Aurelius. No-one.