Bond Of Blood

Chapter 46

"Alright, that's enough from the pair of you."

"But Mama!" the two girls echoed in perfect unison.

"No 'buts' and don't try the soft eyes, they don't work on me," Morgan instructed while hiding a smile. "Do your chores and maybe you can stay up a little later."

The girls exchanged a look before scampering away. Morgan rolled her eyes and allowed the smile to slip out. Runa was the confident one while Lucia preferred to use charm and persuasion.

The two of them together are downright lethal.

She had been home a week now and already she could understand what her mother had gone through while just taking care of one child. Runa had been slightly disgruntled that Morgan and Serana had arrived before she and Brelyna had done, but when she met a sister, she had become a beacon of energy and enthusiasm.

And she was not as shocked as I was.

Morgan smiled wider.

Lucia had been ecstatic at meeting her new mother and while she had been surprised at first, Morgan had bonded almost instantly with the orphan, and she had learnt the whole saddening story of how her parents and guardians had abandoned her at a young age. Morgan had ensured she filed the information away for a future 'visit' to the bastards that had thrown her away.

Morgan had also been highly amused at how the girls talked to Serana like a second mother. And seeing Serana's flustered expression always made her laugh. She was glad that Jordis was around to keep an eye on them. She was so patient with them, something that Morgan was a little jealous of.

"Having fun?"

Morgan sighed as Serana sat on her lap with a bemused expression.

"The girls are sweeping the bedroom floors so hard that I believe the wood may need to be replaced with stone or maybe dragon hide," Serana grinned. "And you said you didn't know anything about children."

Morgan snorted.

"It's like a form of blackmail."

"Something they are extremely adept at," Serana chuckled as she nuzzled her nose into Morgan's neck.

Morgan smiled and hugged Serana tightly.

"Fighting dragons? I can do that. Bandits and Stormcloaks? No problem. But two children with devilish smiles and an ability to melt the coldest heart with a smile? No fucking idea how to cope with it."

Serana giggled.

"I don't know about that. They listened to you in the end, adopted mother and Dragonborn or otherwise. And seeing as at least one if them is going to become an assassin in the future...well, that's a good sign if I have ever seen one."

"I guess you're right. I just want this war done with."

Serana placed a gentle kiss on her throat.

"It will be soon enough. The remaining Imperial armies have already passed through."

That was true enough. In the past week, dozens of soldiers had passed the house and had even saluted Morgan whenever anyone had seen her. Rikke had paid a brief visit and had been smiling as the two children had been clinging to Morgan's midriff while staring at the bulky armoured woman standing at their doorstep.

One more day before the assault on Windhelm would begin.

Morgan had spent so much time with her daughters she had not had the time to prepare for the coming battle. She squeezed Serana's midriff and smiled at her love, who smirked down at her.