Thanks for all your reviews and thoughts everyone :D Hope you like the chapter, I am already working on Ch34 so hopefully you won't have to wait so long. Thank you all for your support and patience :D
Lilith watched silently as her daughter greeted the Jarl, who had swept her up in his arms and laughed in joy at her return. She also saw that every pair of eyes in the room were on Morgan, and she could see the fear hidden behind their eyes.
It is a good thing they do not know the truth. Morgan was in a place worse than what any death could offer.
They had talked for over an hour. Well, Morgan did anyhow, I just listened. I wish I had never pried the truth out of her. Morgan had told her everything. From meeting the vampire attacking the monk, to her trek through the plane of Oblivion that belonged to the Daedric Prince of Domination, to the Ritual itself.
Lilith would always remember the way that Serana's eyes had closed tightly at the mention of the Ritual, and Lilith had made sure to hold Serana's hand as well as her daughters.
The poor girls. No-one should have to suffer so.
After Morgan had finished her tale, they had sat beneath the Gildergreen tree for a while, long enough for the suns light to dwindle, and to be replaced by the twin moons. They had hardly said a word, they had simply sat there with each other for company, Morgan and Seranas hands cool in hers. It was only when Aela had appeared and had suggested they see the Jarl before he received dozens of reports about the return of the Dragonborn that had broken the three women from their silent vigil.
Aela seemed happy to see her again. I wonder what was going on between them?
Lilith shook her thoughts away and sighed.
It is none of my business, Morgan is an adult now and is free to do whatever she wishes.
She looked up again and saw that Balgruuf was explaining to Morgan what she had missed, and she began to concentrate once again. This might be important.
"WHAT?!"
Dragonsreach trembled as Morgan's thu'um shook the building and all those within. Jarl Balgruuf was glad he had sat down because he was terrified of the way that Morgan's eyes were now boring into his. He had never seen her this angry.
"We expect Solitude to be under siege within a week," Balgruuf repeated carefully. "Rikke will put up a fight but they will be outnumbered three to one, and Ulfric will still have enough forces to make another attempt on Whiterun if he desires."
"Or he could simply call the Moot after taking Solitude," Morgan hissed. "All the Jarls bar Elisif are in his pocket. Siddgeir is a gold grabbing prick and only took the Empire's gold because it suited him. He will gladly take the gold off Ulfric. And what of Morthal?"
Balgruuf steeled himself.
If she took the news of Solitude badly, who knows what she will do when she hears of Morthal…
"Morthal was…ravaged," he said softly. "Jarl Ravencrone refused to allow Ulfric's forces to pass through and she was…"
"What? She was what?!…" Morgan growled, the timbers of Dragonsreach creaking once again.
"She was hung from a tree and eviscerated…I was told she was tortured for three days before then…"
Balgruuf's voice trailed off and he felt his heartbeat increase when he looked into those blazing irises of the Dragonborn.
Why did I tell her?
"What of Idgrod the Younger?" Morgan whispered.
"She hasn't been found…" Balgruuf trailed off sadly. "I do have a few people trying to find her for she is technically Jarl of Hjaalmarch. So far, there has been no word of her…I am sorry."
He flinched when those burning eyes darted back to his.
"Not as sorry as those fucking Stormcloaks will be by the time I have finished with them," Morgan whispered softly. "Thank you for your time my Jarl, I have taken up too much of your time already."
Balgruuf nodded and stood up, placing a hand on Morgan's shoulder.
"Anytime you wish to speak with me, do so. I do have one other piece of news for you…"
He was glad that Serana was standing beside the Dragonborn, one arm wrapped around the woman's waist. It made him feel a little safer. But only a little.
"It's about Lydia…"
"I'm sorry, no-one can enter while…"
The priestesses' words were cut off when another scream issued from behind the partitioned doors. She felt as though the Dragonborn was about to Shout her into the afterlife before her vampire lover whispered something into her ear. She took a shaky breath.
"She is good hands, I assure you."
She flinched when those burning eyes met hers again. She couldn't be sure, but they seemed more animalistic than anything. She was glad that the other vampire gently steered the Dragonborn away, for it meant that she could regain some control over her heartbeat.
Another scream issued from inside the room. Followed by a soft wail. And then another one.
She was glad that Danica emerged from behind the door with a small smile on her face.
"You can go inside now Morgan, but only a short visit if you would, she is very tired."
Morgan sat down beside the bed and smiled at the two wrapped bundles held in Lydia's arms.
"They are beautiful," she told her housecarl and friend.
Lydia beamed at her and shivered.
"I knew you would come back, I just knew it," Lydia replied quietly.
"How are you feeling?"
"Exhausted. But content."
Morgan nodded and she couldn't help but grin when both babies held in Lydia's arms turned to face her, curiosity in their eyes. They were both twins, and were identical in every way with the exception of their eyes. One blue, the other green. Short brown hair covered their heads and when one of them let out a little squeal, the other did also.
"Two girls to look after…sorry three," Morgan quipped as Farkas came into the room. "You have your work cut out for you."
Farkas nodded and smiled at Lydia as he sat down on her other side, placing a hand on her forearm.
"They will have the strength of Ysgramor and the beauty of the one who fought alongside the Dragonborn," he told her.
Lydia smiled at him before looking back at Serana and Lilith.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" the two women echoed curiously.
"It will be up to you to watch over Morgan now," Lydia grinned.
Morgan snorted as the room erupted into laughter, and blinked when one of the baby girls grabbed hold of one of her fingers in a tight grip.
"Looks like this one will be good with a blade," she chuckled.
"Aeta," Lydia said. "Farkas and I were talking about names for a few weeks. Aeta Fireblade will be her name."
Morgan smiled as Aeta let go of her finger.
"And the other?"
Lydia blushed.
"Well, we talked for a long time, but it was Farkas who came up with her name."
Morgan glanced over at the burly Companion, who gave her a small wolfish grin.
"We agreed on her name the moment you told Lydia we were expecting twins."
"Don't keep me in suspense," Morgan said eagerly.
"Well…we named her…."
"Morgan. Morgan Dragon-Song," Lydia said with a large smile. "We thought it appropriate."
Morgan opened her mouth but no sound came out of it. She stared at the child that shared her first name and she gently held her tiny hand with hers. And when the child gave her finger a tight squeeze, she smiled.
"You shouldn't have."
Lydia laughed quietly.
"But we did. My Thane."
Morgan laughed as Serana and Lilith came over to congratulate the pair. And she felt that leaden weight within her chest lighten slightly.
"I thought I would find you here."
Morgan tilted her head back to meet the amused expression of Aela the Huntress. She had been lying on the roof of Jorrvaskr for an hour after meeting with Kodlak the rest of the Companions. Serana and Lilith had returned to Breezehome for the night at Lydia's request, and Morgan had found she need time to think on her own. Her mind was full of conflicting thoughts and ideas and she needed to make sense of them.
She smiled as Aela lay down next to her, the wolf's hot blood calling to her, the womans hand gently curling around hers.
"Want to talk about it?"
"About what?" Morgan replied.
"I saw the look in your eyes when you were talking with the Jarl. You looked like you were going to Shout him into Oblivion," Aela said sharply.
One constant in this mad world…Aela will always say what is on her mind with as much bluntness as what you would get on a fucking war hammer.
Morgan shook off her silent musings and sighed.
"No. Not tonight, Aela."
"Yes."
"Fucking no," Morgan hissed, the roof of Jorrvaskr shaking softly.
"It might help."
"No," Morgan said softly, squeezing her hand. "It will just release the Dragon within me."
There was silence for a moment before Aela shifted onto her side, her leg draping itself over Morgan's waist. She stared up at Aela, who then rested her head on her collarbone.
"I'm losing control," Morgan whispered. "Every day I fight to keep that part of me hidden away."
Aela ran a hand over the vampire's pale skin with her free hand.
"Then maybe you should release it."
Morgan shifted so she faced Aela, who looked at her calmly, her heartbeat constant.
"Release it on your foes. That's what dragons do isn't it? All this time you have fought against it. Fought against yourself."
Aela moved closer, her lips grazing Morgans chin.
"I know about a person having an inner beast. Having a blessing that I have, I had to figure it out for myself. It was only when My Lord gave me an insight into what he had bestowed upon me that I knew why I used to be so aggressive."
"Used to be?" Morgan snorted.
Aela grinned as she slowly moved so that she straddled Morgan's waist, resting her hands on Morgan stomach.
"I was much more unruly back then. I thought Kodlak would kick me out years ago but he always said there was something holding me back from my true greatness. While he views the beast blood as a curse, I see it as a gift."
Aela lowered herself again so she lay down on top of Morgan and ran her fingers through her hair.
"Serana probably sees the same viewpoint as I do. But she is much more polite than I am."
"No kidding," Morgan grinned wickedly.
Aela chuckled and stood up, looking down at the woman below her.
"I have to go and hunt. Just think about what I said."
Morgan nodded and Aela jumped off the roof. She watched the Companion jog towards the Underforge doorway and vanish a few seconds later and then sighed, staring at the moons.
I am so conflicted. What do I do?
Then she heard the roar of a dragon and she looked to her right, towards the Western watchtower, and spotted the dragon that was heading towards Whiterun.
Fucking great. Another one to test my patience.
Morgan jumped up and sprinted towards Breezehome, her figure a blur to the people of Whiterun as she moved faster than their eyes could perceive.
"Any idea what this dragon might be up to?"
Morgan shook her head. According to the guards, the dragon had yet to use a single blast of fire or ice on the watchtower, and was continually circling overhead. She had told Serana she was going to see what this dragon might be doing, and her lover had agreed, stating that it wouldn't necessarily attack Whiterun.
"No idea. It hasn't attacked, which is a good sign," Morgan replied.
She glanced behind her and nodded to the ten guards who were accompanying her, as well as Irileth, who had stayed silent he whole journey from Whiterun.
"Irileth?"
"What is this infernal dragon up to?" was the housecarls response.
Morgan shrugged as the dragon landed on one of the remains of what used to be the outer wall of the watchtower, it's head turning towards her.
"We are about to find out. Keep your men clear for now. Attack if it so much as sneezes at me."
Irileth nodded.
Morgan motioned to Serana, and they approached the dragon, giving them an opportunity to have a closer look at the creature. It was massive, as large as Paarthurnax if not larger, the dullish purple scales covered in scratches and old scars.
It has seen a lot of battle. This is no young dragon, Morgan mused, her eyes now fixing on its single horn that crested towards its muscular neck.
"Drem Yol Lok, Dovahkiin," it rumbled, dipping its head to her.
"Drem Yol Lok," Morgan replied easily, tilting her head. "What is your name?"
"Vuljotnaak. It is an honour, thuri."
Morgan nodded and nodded to Serana, who stood aside with a small smile.
"I believe the elder speaks first in a conversation," Morgan said lightly, making the dragon chuckle.
"Geh. You are well learned in our ways, Dovahkiin. Match my thu'um if you truly are thuri!"
Morgan braced herself as Vuljotnaak took a breath before letting it loose in a torrent of frost.
"FO KRAH DIN!"
She blinked after the wave of ice washed over her, and she brushed most of it off and smirked at Serana, who had shook her head at bemusement while at the same time motioning for Irileth to stay their weapons.
"YOL TOOR SHUL!"
Vuljotnaak laughed as the fire began to dissipate off his massive body, and he dipped his head once more.
"Your thu'um is as strong as the other dov say it is. I accept your right as thuri, Dovahkiin."
Morgan gave him a small nod in response and she walked closer, Serana coming back to stand alongside her.
"It is an honour. But tell me, why do you come here and scare the life out of all the soldiers at this tower?" she asked curiously.
"I came to seek you out," the dragon replied. "But you vanished from us for some time and even the Old One could not locate you. But then he mentioned the last time one of our blood vanished and he knew that he would return…so it made sense that you would return also."
"Who is this 'he' that you speak of?" Morgan asked.
Vuljotnaak growled and dipped his head.
"Forgive me, but we never speak of him. It has been many years but his betrayal still wounds us even now."
Morgan nodded. She knew when to let a matter drop, especially when it involved a topic that pissed off a dragon as large as this one.
"You still haven't told me why you sought me out."
"That is simple. You are thuri. Like Odahviing, I offer you my allegiance. My teeth and thu'um are yours to command."
"I accept," Morgan said. "In return, I ask that you never attack an innocent. Any who attack you openly are yours to dispatch as you see fit, but take a close look before retaliating. Some joor are fast to attack on impulse."
Vuljotnaak dipped his head again in acknowledgement and Morgan smiled a little.
"I do have something in mind for you to do. Give me one moment."
She walked away and took a breath, looking at the open plains of Whiterun for a moment before releasing her thu'um once again.
"DUR…NEH…VIIR!"
She grinned as the undead dragon emerged from the swirl of magic.
"Drem Yol Lok, Dovahkiin," Durnehviir said as he shuffled around to face her. "Thank you for allowing myself more time on Keizaal. The hold the Ideal Masters have on me breaks every time I come here."
"I'm glad to hear that my friend. I am sorry, but I have no time for idle talk right now. I have something to ask of you."
"Ask, Qahnarrin, and I shall follow."
"Accompany Vuljotnaak to Solitude and make sure that my friend Elisif is safe. Attack any Stormcloaks that venture too close to the walls but do not pursue into their full ranks."
Durnehviir tilted his head to the other dragon and then looked back to Morgan.
"Of course. Will the young one be there also?"
"Yes. I need to make a quick journey beforehand but will make my way to Solitude afterwards."
Durnehviir nodded and he turned again to face the other dragon.
"Let us be swift, there is a storm coming."
"I shall not let you down, Dovahkiin." Vuljotnaak said as he took to the skies, Durnehviir following a moment later.
Morgan shuddered slightly when she noted just how much larger Vuljotnaak was in comparison to Durnehviir.
He must be ancient to grow that large. One would say Legendary…
She shook her musings away and walked back to Irileth.
"We better get back. I need to tell Jarl Balgruuf what I have planned and then I need to start pulling in a few favours."
"Dare I ask what favours these might be?" Irileth asked dryly.
Morgan grinned at her.
"Probably better that you don't," Serana remarked with a chuckle. "Despite her easy going demeanour, Morgan here is a very different person than what many think she is."
"Glad I never asked for detail," Irileth muttered, much to the amusement of the others.
"It's good to see you as well, Jordis," Morgan laughed as she was picked up in a crushing bear hug by the taller housecarl.
She chuckled as she was released. It had been a pleasant surprise to see her waiting for her in Whiterun, and she had been planning on dropping by Heljarchen House to check up on her before travelling to the Sanctuary.
"I thought I would catch you here," Jordis beamed at her. "I knew you weren't gone! I just knew it!"
Morgan loved how this young woman never seemed to allow anything to depress her. Jordis had fears, and the housecarl wasn't afraid of accepting them, but her cheery disposition always made her feel better somehow, as though Jordis was able to drain all the negative thoughts out of her simply by being there.
"Your timing is always off as well," Morgan said wryly, and was rewarded by a shrug from her steward.
"As ever, I am yours to command. What would you ask of me?"
"I want to make sure my mother is well protected. If you would escort her back to our home and make sure she is well looked after, I would be grateful."
Morgan smiled as her mother patted her shoulder gently. She felt more at ease now she had something to focus on.
"I will make sure you have extra protection while you are there," Morgan added.
"Who?"
Morgan tilted her head to Aela, who gave her a wolfish grin in return. Jordis went pink but rallied herself quickly.
"When do we leave?"
"As soon as all three of you are ready. I will be away for a while…"
"Be careful my daughter," Lilith whispered. "I will not lose you again."
Morgan turned and held her mother tightly, inhaling her lavender scent and feeling her blood pumping through her body.
"I promise you mother, I am going nowhere."
Lilith nodded and released her, before meeting Serana's amused gaze.
"Take care of her?"
"Always," Serana nodded firmly.
Morgan took a deep breath and looked into the darkening sky.
"OH DAH VIING!"
Her thu'um shook the sky and she grinned at the people around her.
"My favourite Shout," she said simply.
"The fire one is better!" Braith piped up, making everyone laugh.
"No, the ice one is!" Dagny retorted.
"Now look what you started," Jarl Balgruuf chuckled as he shook Morgan's hand hard. "Just take care of yourself my friend. Skyrim needs you now, more than ever."
No change there then.
"I will be in touch," Morgan replied as Odahviing landed on the steps leading up to Dragonsreach. "Let's go Serana."
Serana gave Lilith a comforting smile before leaping onto the dragon's back and wrapping her arms round Morgans waist. Lilith smiled and stepped back as Odahviing lifted off. She stood there for another ten minutes before finally giving Aela and Jordis her full attention.
"Take your time getting your gear. It might be better if we left in the early hours."
"The roads will be safer in the daylight," Aela admitted.
"I need to sharpen my blades. Until tomorrow then?"
Lilith nodded and she watched the two women walk towards the Skyforge.
Should be interesting living with these two, she mused with a grin.
"Excuse me lady? Could you spare a coin?"
Lilith looked down to see a young girl standing there. She took in her tattered clothing and her dirty face and she felt her heart break within. She knelt down and gently pressed a few coins into the child's hands.
"What happened to you dear?" she asked softly.
"My aunt and uncle took over our farm after mama died. They….they kicked me out, saying I was useless. That I would never amount to anything…Brenuin told me how I could get gold…and…"
Lilith pulled the girl into her arms and held her as the girl began to sob. Her heart was so conflicted. She felt the girls pain and sympathised with how afraid she was. She was also angry at the girl's aunt and uncle for doing such a thing to her. And she also felt fear and love for her daughter, who was once again thrust into the affairs of a whole province against her will.
Lilith gently stroked the girls hair and the girl moved away to give her a small smile, tear tracks easily visible on her dirty skin.
"My daughter has a large home. Maybe you could stay with us for a while? We would have to get you cleaned up first though, you have enough dirt on you to claim a mine."
Lilith smiled as the girl giggled.
"What's your name, dear?"
"Lucia. Nice to meet you, Miss…"
"Lilith," she chuckled. "Lilith Aurelius."
Lucia's eyes widened.
"You're…you're the Dragonborn's mama?"
Lilith laughed as she stood up fully, putting an hand on Lucia's shoulder.
"I am. Come on, let's get you cleaned up and get some food and drink. We have an adventure to get on with tomorrow."
She winked at Lucia, and when Lucia gave her a gigantic smile, she felt her worries lessen.
Morgan will be fine, she is strong. Serana will be keeping an eye on her. Maybe it's time I stopped worrying about her so much and start looking for ways to help her instead…and maybe help myself as well.
Lilith looked up at the night sky and took a deep breath, the cold air a smoothing balm on her skin.
Stay safe, my girl.
She linked one of her hands with Lucias and gave her a smile before leading her towards the Bannered Mare, the roars of a distant dragon echoing in the night sky.