Story Ideas

Mara's Burden

World: Skyrim

Status: One chapter, but really only a couple planned. If made, would probably be completed fairly quickly. Not posted anywhere. 

Why I wrote it: I felt that the Priestesses of Mara were so nice, so at peace... I wanted you to see how they got there. The pain, suffering, and utter misery that had to be endured to reach that peace. How they earned the right to say they had truly found enlightenment, and to call others "My child".  This story is about being angry with the world, with everyone, and wanting justice in any way, shape, or form. **TRIGGER WARNING**, there is mention of sexual assault in this chapter. Also, I'm not sold on that title to the story, it was just something I had to make up quick. 

Link: None

Summary: Feurette was raised by her mother in a secluded cabin in the Rift. She was taught to always be vigilant, never trust anyone and never, ever  trust a man. However, when tragedy strikes, she must make a choice: should she trust a man, the very beings she was raised to be wary of, or should she take the risk?

Chapter one:

Feurette woke up to the blinding sunlight of morning. She yawned and stretched, rubbing her eyes as she sleepily got out of bed. She brushed her shoulder-length ebony hair out of her face and idly tied it up with a strip of leather.

"Good morning sleepy head." She heard a soft voice say, and she smiled to herself.

"Good morning Mother." She grinned at the tall, dark-skinned elf that was her entire world. Red eyed and black haired, she was the most beautiful creature alive; in Feurette's eyes at least. In this cabin out in the Green Wood forest, she had only been to town once. Everyone there seemed hostile and mean, nothing compared to her mother.

At 16 years old, Feurette looked almost exactly like her mother. Other than a more bluish tint to her skin and shorter hair, she was almost an exact copy.

But today something was different. Instead of the usually happy and smiling elf Feurette had grown to know and love, the Dunmer seemed weak and frail, the smile on her face strained. She suddenly coughed into her hand and, as she drew it away from her mouth, Feurette could see it shining with blood.

"Mother! What is wrong? Why are you coughing up blood?" She cried out, stricken with concern. Her mother stiffly lowered herself into a chair and sighed.

"It is as I feared, my dear Feura. I worry I have been infected by a traveller from Cyrodiil. I knew something was off, but I traded with him anyways, because I was being foolish and did not wish to make the trip into town. And now, I am afraid that I have contracted Blood Lung."

"But you'll be okay, right? There has to be a cure!" She felt tears blooming in her eyes.

"Blood Lung is not very common in Skyrim. I doubt they have the right treatment." She sighed. "Feura, my darling, I am dying."

"No!" Feura wailed, rushing to her mother and throwing her arms around her. "You can't leave me!" She sobbed.

She then stood up straight and wiped away the tears. She knew exactly what she had to do.

"I will go to Riften and search for a cure. I'm sure they have something that can make you better."

"No!" Her mother sharply exclaimed. "There is no way I am letting you put yourself in danger like that!"

Feura shuddered. Her whole life, she had been warned to never, ever trust anyone, especially men. No matter how much they seemed to be sincere, all they wanted was to throw you around and treat you like a toy until you failed to amuse them any longer. She had been conceived because her mother was brought here from Morrowind as a sex slave. It was only after she had escaped in the night had she found out she was pregnant. She had vowed to teach her daughter how to defend herself, and she had kept that promise. Feura knew everything there was to know about self-defense so that she too would not become a victim. But deep inside, she knew that some men weren't like that. At least, she had hoped.

"I know how to defend myself, Mother. I will bring your dagger if it makes you feel better."

Her mother sighed. "I can see already that you have made up your mind. I suppose all there is for me to do now is to prepare you the best I can. Here." She stood and turned, opening a drawer in the table beside her bed. She pulled out a long, sleek blue dress with black ribbon. Feura gasped, encaptured. All thoughts of death and illness were stricken from her mind.

"Mother, that is gorgeous! Where did you get it?" She stared in awe at the beautiful gown.

"You know that traveller I spoke of? Well, he was offering this to me for 100 septims. Now, I know that it was a bit much, but I figured that I could give it to you for a special occasion..." She handed the dress over to her daughter.

Feura pressed it against her body to see how it would fit, and it looked amazing. It was just her size, and as she slipped it on, she could tell it was made just for someone with her kind of body.

Feura wrapped her arms around her mother, tears leaking from the corner of her eyes.

"I love you Mother." Her mother smiled, and whispered,

"I love you too."

...

She took a deep breath, and saw her breast rise and fall under the dress.

"You remember your training?" Feura nodded, smiling soberly.

Her mother sighed heavily, her fatigue showing through her chiseled features.

"Don't talk to strangers, or anyone who you don't have to. Get back as soon as possible, and if you cannot find a cure, do not fret. It is my time anyways." The corners of her lips rose ever so slightly. "Go, now, my Feura."

Feura closed her eyes and sent a quick prayer to Azura. She was never particularly religious, but if there was ever a time to ask for otherworldly help, it was now. She quietly walked out the door to the cabin and closed it behind her, aware that this was perhaps the biggest decision of her life.

The walk to Riften was quiet and peaceful. With her dagger clutched in her hand, Feura felt a strange calm come over her. She was in complete control now, and as the cool air filled her lungs and cleared her thoughts, she felt like she had some sort of presence walking with her. However, every time she turned to look, the forest surrounding her was empty. Truthfully, she had never been this far away from home before without her mother. She had always been a little protective of her child, something Feura could understand. Other than her, her mother had nothing good in her life. Even her memories were tainted by blood, horror, and nightmares.

Feura loved her mother to no end, but sometimes she felt the weight of her past bear down on her. Her mother had no one to talk to and vent her feelings out to other than her daughter. This meant that Feura had to bear some of her mother's emotional baggage to lighten the load. She sighed as she reflected on how she wished things could be. She had always wished that she had a normal family that lived in the city, with a father whom she looked up to, and was strong, brave, smart, and kind. However, all she knew of her father was that he was a volatile excuse for a human being, and even if he had survived this far (which was unlikely being as Bandits usually have a relatively short lifespan), Feura had no desire to meet him. However, although she had matured very quickly for her age, she knew that being mature could only work to her benefit. The quicker to learn, the quicker to adapt. She just hoped that it would help her in saving her mother's life. 

Notes: This story will have sexual assault trigger warnings in it, just to let you know. If you would like to see this story finished, vote on this chapter!