Fire And Fangs

Chapter 48

"A good strategy," Aela said approvingly after a moment of silence.

Morgan was pleased that she had taken the plan so well. Aela loved the thrill of a fight, no matter whether it was in a tavern or in some foul cave full of Falmer. But she also knew when to remain behind and to cover her tracks or anyone elses if a group needed to separate. Of course, Jordis wasn't as easy to mollify.

"Can't I come with you?" she asked quietly.

Morgan silently noted that Aela was gently holding the younger womans hand and she had to wonder whether they were getting close as Serana had once said they would end up doing. On one hand, she hoped they were. She loved seeing happiness in people, no matter who they were or who they loved. On the other hand, if they were an item, Serana would gain five hundred septims from Morgans pocket.

Crafty minx played me again.

Morgan held in a grin as she walked over to gently wrap an arm round Jordis, kissing the side of her cheek gently.

"It's not because I think you cannot fight Jordis. Nor is it because I think you will be a hindrance. If there were any two people that I would love to have with me in there, apart from Lydia of course, it would be Aela and yourself," Morgan said quietly, tilting up Jordis head by placing a finger under her chin.

Jordis said nothing and Morgan knew she had to explain why. She sometimes forgot that Jordis had no experience in battle. She had proved her prowess during the fighting through the castles passageways after all.

"We need a few people here to ensure that no-one comes inside....or that something comes out of that portal while we are in there. And there's also the problem of how to get inside. Serana can explain more."

Serana nodded as she walked over and patted Jordis on the small of her back sympathetically.

"The Soul Cairn would kill you as a mortal. The same with Aela. Vampires can pass through because...well...we are already dead so to speak. But for you and Aela to pass through would require the two of you to take one of two options."

"What are those?" Jordis asked curiously.

"The first option is to partially soul trap your soul. You see, the Soul Cairn is ruled over by beings called the Ideal Masters. No-one knows what they even look like but they are frequently contacted by necromancers in exchange for magical knowledge....and most cases, the necromancers end up dead or wishing they were dead. That's why I wouldn't recommend that course Jordis. The Ideal Masters may accept the initial payment of a partial soul, but they would try and screw you over and get the rest of you," Serana explained, her face twisting in disgust at the thought of the Soul Cairn rulers doing such a thing.

"And the other?" Jordis asked, shivering slightly because of the way that Serana had explained the option so glumly.

"You need to become a vampire."

Jordis opened her mouth and then closed it. She loved Morgan as a friend and as a Thane, and she was also beginning to like Serana a lot as well, mainly because of her wit and her ability to keep Morgan under some semblance of calmness...something that she had never seen anyone do before. But to throw away her mortality just to enter a realm full of monsters...

"Fuck that."

Morgan snorted with suppressed laughter at Jordis' reply and hugged her gently.

"That was what Aela would say as well. Take my word for it my dear, you are both doing a job just as important as we are going to be doing in there," Morgan said reassuringly.

"You're right. Just...come back safely would you? Both of you."

"You heard her Serana, we better make sure we stay out of trouble in there," Morgan grinned.