Ch. 25 Prelude to Brewing War
It's time for everyone's favorite and dysfunctional couple going another day in each...er never mind, one doesn't want anything to do with the other while the other doesn't know how they should feel.
I will reiterate this since some people still don't get it: I will not ever write any sex scenes or lemons in my stories. 1) They aren't needed in every story and if that's your only reason for reading my stuff then you are better off finding other stories and 2) Sex scenes can lead to being banned so I strive to make all my stories T rated at the most to mitigate the risk of being reported. Call me a chicken all you want, I err on the side of caution and not risk.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, all characters are copyright of Bethesda; any OC's belong to their respective creators.
The rain intensified as Marius continued to trudge through the soaked grass and trees of the Rift. Each pelting drop felt like another sting on an otherwise wide open wound that was his heart. "I know, you're pissed off but what did you want me to do?" he stopped and shouted to the sky. "Did you want me to ignore everything and just let her get away with the whole "It's going to consume you and you're going to go crazy" lie?"
Thunder and lightning was his response.
"Like hell is that ever happening." he muttered before continuing his lone trek to Riften where he would rest before continuing back to Whiterun.
-With Alduin-
Rain splashed against her scales with increased force but she didn't even register it at the moment. Her mind was in complete turmoil and for good reason; part of her roared that he was her enemy and should be given no mercy while the other wanted to capture him and force him to acknowledge her as his but both wouldn't solve the problem of her own heart.
"I am a Alduin, the Destroyer of Worlds and yet here I am sitting in the rain and thinking about one damned Joor." she muttered to herself angrily. They were enemies and destined to fight until the end but now they were mates until the end and that was where the confusion lied.
What was Marius to her? An enemy to be eliminated or the one she was fated to be with by her mother.
That answer continued to elude her as thunder roared in the distance.
-With Marius-
The Bee and Barb looked different than the last time he was here, it looked more open and inviting with an atmosphere that could only be described as jovial when Marius stepped into it. The tables were practically brand new, the chairs were new and the whole placed looked completely clean and spotless. Even the bar was newly painted and sanded as Marius slid into a seat put his head on it.
"Look who came slogging back into town, what brings you back?" Keerava asked as Marius picked his head up.
"A lot but what happened to this place? It looks brand new and out of place compared to the rest of Riften." Marius asked as Keerava leaned on the counter.
"Well since I no longer had to pay rent and "protection" money to the Thieves Guild I've been able to afford updates to spruce up the place." she replied as Marius looked at the doors.
"And new Bouncers it seems." he remarked as he saw two new guards by them.
"Taleen needed some help and we had plenty left over to hire them. It's taken a lot of weight off my shoulders about bar fights as well." she replied as Marius gave a small chuckle despite his mood before turning serious.
"What happened to the Thieves Guild?" he asked as she gained a small smirk.
"Dead, all of them. They were found strung up in Mistveil Keep and Maven Black-Briar has been vetting every place in town to find who did it. Not that the Legion stationed here cares about looking; the searches usually are a couple Legions walk in, look around then leave with a shrug." Keerava replied in an upbeat tone while Marius narrowed his eyes.
"Do you know who might've done it?" Marius asked in a low voice though he could probably guess and be perfect in said guess.
"Nope though I wish I did so I could give them a big thank you and all the mead they could drink for a year." Keerava replied as Marius smirked.
"I know who and you wouldn't believe me if I told you." Marius said as Keerava snorted.
"Try me." she said simply and he told her. It would be some time before she picked her jaw up off the floor.
-Scene Change-
"I still do not agree with this." Maven said as she stood up. "We need someone as High King who could command respect from the people not someone who wouldn't have a spine to make harsh decisions." She dreaded the Moot at first but the chance to possibly become High King, or High Queen in this case, of Skyrim was too much to pass up for her. She loved being in control and becoming High Queen puts her in control of Skyrim completely.
"You mean using underhanded tactics to make them fear you." Balgruuf stated in a bored voice. In his opinion this should've been cut and dry: Show up, declare allegiance to Elisif and be back in Whiterun within the next couple days but this woman was trying his patience. "The High King or Queen needs to be a symbol the people can look to for hope not fear."
"And what if the people rebel? How will you handle them when they don't behave?" Maven challenged as Balgruuf shrugged.
"By finding the ones responsible and convincing them peacefully or if force if that fails." Balgruuf responded as he leaned back in the chair.
Tullius could only shake his head in exasperation as the Moot dragged on and judging by the faces of the other Jarl's they were as fed up as he was. Brunwulf looked as though he was about to fall asleep as did Kraldar, Siddgeir looked like he didn't care at all, Idgrod was already asleep, Igmund was jumpy as he was anxious to leave and Brina was only moderately paying attention. Technically they already had enough votes to appoint Elisif but Maven still had a lot of pull in the Empire and that gave her some measure of protection and allowed her to drag this out.
"Since we are getting nowhere, I vote we reconvene tomorrow morning after we have had a chance to recover." Elisif said as one by one the Jarls gave a yes and stood up.
"This is taking too long, we need this wrapped up within the next few days or else our timetable will be screwed up." Tullius said after the Jarls had left.
"There's nothing we can do except watch how things play out right now General. If worst comes to worst we can go with the votes we have and as much posturing as Maven does, she won't be able to pull enough sway to do anything worthwhile." Rikke said as Tullius shook his head.
"She still has enough to gridlock essential supplies for the Legion and that is what I am afraid of." Tullius replied as he grimaced. "I'm afraid we may have to do something drastic if it comes to that."
"We could have Laila Law-Giver installed as Riften's Jarl again, she wasn't too keen on the Stormcloaks nor us but she knew how to properly govern." Rikke suggested as they walked back to the Dour.
"Time will tell Legate but just to be safe I want you to prepare a message for her. Give her some rules but don't do too much or else she'll feel as though it's not worth it." Tullius said as he sighed. "Things have gone to Oblivion in the last couple months."
"It's better than it was then though sir and no one can argue that." Rikke replied as they continued on in silence.
-With Marius-
"If it were anyone else, I would have them sleep off all the alcohol they drank or have them arrested for being crazy." Keerava said as Marius threw back the mead. "Things always follow you don't they?"
"You're preaching to the choir Keerava." Marius muttered depressingly. "I don't know if I should hate her or thank her."
"Lover's quarrel?" Keerava teased as Marius shrugged.
"Just a lot of things happened and now I can't even look at her without wanting to kill her but at the same time it's like I need to be near her." Marius replied as Keerava snorted.
"You need to sleep before you hit your head on my bar; go upstairs and tell me the story tomorrow. Taleen, take our guest upstairs to his room or else he'll pass out on the way up." Keerava said as the green Argonian came and practically dragged him off the stool. "Be easy with him, I want to hear the story he has to tell in the morning." she finished as Marius groaned before being led off by an irate Taleen.
"You have some nerve to keep coming back." Taleen said angrily as he hoisted Marius up the stairs.
"You hold a grudge worse than a dragon does and here I thought the present I sent you would've healed that." Marius replied as he sneezed. "Damn dragon made me catch a cold."
"A few gems wouldn't suffice for what you did. You hurt her where it counted the most and for that you can't be forgiven." Taleen replied as Marius shook his head.
"I told her before that I don't mean anything I say and that I needed an in the Guild. Even she didn't get that upset when I told her before we started or tirade." Marius shot back as he stood up. "I even promised her I would pay her back and then some which I did."
"You act like a child." Taleen said hotly as Marius growled before ripping a key off his neck and throwing it to him.
"Lakeview Manor, Falkreath Hold near the banks of the Ilinalta." Was all Marius said before slamming the door shut.
-Scene Change-
"Are you sure we won't run out of Ebony?" Adril asked Crescius with some degree of skepticism. "We've already dug up so much."
"There will be no doubt it will run out eventually but judging by how much I've sniffed out that won't be for another hundred years at the least but by then we should have other ways to keep trade." Crescius replied as the old man was keeping busy checking over the inventory and keeping track of mine logs. "Still we are barely making the quota with what miners we have and we will need more workers soon."
"I'll see what we can do but for now we need to last through the end of the month before we can adjust our finances." Adril replied as Crescius set his board after checking the last crate.
"Why does the Empire need so much? I know they plan on winning this time but why Ebony when Iron and Steel are less expensive?" Crescius asked as Adril sighed.
"They have a project in the works that requires it, I can't say more but let's say they are paying us almost triple what it's usually worth. You'll have your workers hopefully by next month and I mean hopefully because other Redoran Councilors have hired most of the workers for their own mines since this trade agreement was ratified." Adril said as Crescius grimaced.
"Even if it's only one or two more it's better than none." Crescius replied as he waved Adril off. "We will make the month's quota and maybe beat it by one crate but that's as best as we can do."
"That is acceptable just keep your workers from being over worked or else they may get angry." Adril said before he departed as Crescius picked up a pickaxe and went into the mine.
Let it be known that the old man preferred a pick in his hand and dirt under his nails.
And I will end it there.
I'm sorry this took a while but I worked the weekend to take Labor Day off but I got called on Sunday after work and was told that a lot of people in my area were taking the day off too. Since I am still on probation I had to give up my day for them and since there were only TWO people who knew how to operate the Pallet Jacks working yesterday, my day went from 5 in the morning to almost 7 at night. The good thing is since me and the guy worked from last Tuesday to yesterday straight we got Thursday and Friday off this week.
Still I got this out for you all and I am working on Dragonesses as you all read this so it's not too bad.
Nothing else except read and review!
So tell me guys; In a normal world, Jedi or Sith? Would you like to spend time with? (Pretend the Jedi aren't stuck up prudes.) Any race and Gender is accepted so give me your thoughts!