Bond Of Blood

Chapter 33

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."