The Wolf Queen Awakens

Chapter 19

Something had changed since she'd got back from Cidhna Mine. Elisif couldn't put her finger on it, but it definitely had. After fifteen hours straight sleep, two hours in the bath until she was sure all the grit and grime of Cidhna was off her, and then a solid breakfast involving bacon, eggs, toasted bread with melted cheese on it which Eola assured her was a Forsworn speciality, and a few mushrooms that Cicero had found for her (fortunately Eola had assured her they weren't poisonous), she'd been ready to face the next challenge.

Except it seemed her Blades had other ideas. First Delphine checking in and making sure she was all right, asking her if she was rested and fed and how was she feeling, and then getting the full story off her, which was a bit odd. Then Aela joining her, giving her a long cuddle and again asking how she was and telling her if she ever wanted to talk about anything, she'd listen. Then Cicero pouncing on her, squeezing her to within an inch of her life, and were those tears in his eyes?

"Cicero, what – what are you doing?" Elisif managed to gasp.

"Cicero was worried!" Cicero cried. "Cicero likes the pretty dragon, he does! Cicero would miss her if anything happened to her! So – so nice Elisif mustn't die. Or go wandering off alone without loyal Cicero or someone else to look after her and make sure she doesn't die or get arrested or anything."

"I don't think I'd have ended up in prison anywhere that wasn't Markarth," Elisif felt obliged to point out. Even a Stormcloak Jarl wouldn't have thrown her into what was essentially a pit of sex-starved Nord-hating men. She'd been lucky to get out of there with her life and sanity intact.

"Not the point!" Cicero wailed, clinging on to her. "Cicero should never have left you alone!" He'd stayed that way until Eola arrived and peeled him off her, but he'd not gone far, still fussing over her and worrying.

"Is he alright?" Elisif asked Eola. She just nodded.

"Yeah, he's fine. He was just feeling a bit guilty for letting you get imprisoned. But don't worry. He'll be OK." Eola was looking very shrewd, clearly sizing Elisif up. In the excitement of the jailbreak, Elisif hadn't really had much of a chance to get to know Eola properly. Madanach's youngest daughter, and there was definitely something in the way she was looking at her that reminded Elisif of him. It was that uniquely Madanachian combination of pleased and predatory.

"What about you, you doing OK?" Eola asked, also sounding mildly concerned, and that was downright weird if Elisif was honest. "Must have been a bit of an experience, nice girl like you ending up in prison with all those Forsworn men."

"It was that," Elisif had to agree. "I guess it's a good thing your father decided he liked me. Or more likely that he worked out who I was and decided I was too useful to kill." Elisif couldn't help but feel a little bit bitter over the fact, even though it had worked out in her favour. All the same, Madanach was a dangerous man and what if she couldn't get him the pardon and crown he wanted? He had an entire army camp essentially laying siege to Sky Haven Temple, and not even having his youngest daughter in here would necessarily deter him.

"Hey," and there was said youngest daughter with her hand on Elisif's. "He does like you. Yeah, you're a damn useful ally, but don't think he doesn't care about you. He's very fond of you, you know. Says he's looking forward to a long and prosperous future working with you. He says he'd rather have a High Queen in charge who he actually likes."

Which was nice to hear even if Elisif still thought he had some sort of ulterior motive. She was very fond of him too, she just didn't entirely trust him.

"Thank you," was all she said and Eola patted her hand, smiling.

"No problem, honey. Now you look after yourself, you hear? You be sure and eat properly, you're far too pale. And you know, if you need anything, you come see me. Got to make sure my da's new bestie is taken care of, hmm?"