“Keirine will be pleased,” he replied, glad that at least he'd have some good news for her. The shrieking he'd been subjected to after having to admit he'd lost the Dragonborn was still ringing in his ears. She'd be pleased at the balance being restored, and she'd also be at least a little pleased he'd salvaged the alliance. He and Liriel's love affair was purely a matter of their own feelings, and if his heart got broken, he'd make the sacrifice. But having her on the side of the Forsworn – that was far more important than anything more personal between them.
“You be sure and say hello from me,” Liriel grinned. “Oh, talking of which! You must tell Argis this if you see him – Inga didn't get eaten. I saw her in Sovngarde!”
That got his attention. “Really? You did? How is she? Does she remember...?”
“Of course she remembers,” said Liriel, a touch scathingly. “You fathered her child, she's not likely to forget you in a hurry. She said to say hello and that she hopes you're doing well. Doesn't approve of Argis being in the Forsworn, but she's glad you acknowledged him in the end.” Liriel leaned forward, slight smile on her lips. “I think she still had feelings, you know.”
“I know,” said Madanach quietly, remembering Inga fondly. Sweet, kind, compassionate, just a simple hunter, not powerful or well-educated or anything, just a kind young woman making her way in the world and who'd saved his life. The polar opposite of Mireen and that might have been why he'd given in to his impulses and taken her to bed. He didn't think it would have worked out with her as his wife, but that didn't mean he hadn't cared. “I'm glad she's well. She was a fine woman, and Argis is a lot like her, more like her than me. I think that might be a good thing on the whole.”
“She was nice,” said Liriel, smiling at some fond memory. “I liked her. I told her you and I had been... but weren't any more... and she gave me a cuddle and told me it would be all right. Says if anyone could help the Forsworn, it was me. I hope she knows what she's talking about.”
“You killed a dragon god, you can handle a bit of politics,” said Madanach, pushing his plate away. “Come on, Dragon-Queen, we've got a contract to renegotiate. Don't suppose you have a razor and a mirror in the house? I dread to think what I look like by now.”
“Terrifying and dangerous, so exactly what you need to look like,” Liriel said cheerfully, heading off in search of the required items. “But if you want to look like a well-groomed murderer, that can be arranged. Here. Clean yourself up while I get changed.”
Madanach set about grooming himself while Liriel went in search of her Shrouds. All right, so that hadn't been as awkward as he'd thought, the alliance was still in place, and he and Liriel were still friends. It was more than he'd expected. It just wasn't, and never would be, enough.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Poor Madanach, he's clearly got his work cut out for him to win Liriel back. It's a good thing he's a man who thrives on taking on the impossible, isn't it? Next chapter, it's All The Politics Ever and the King in Rags is in his element, although Liriel will be rather less pleased with him after it all goes down.
Re: Nightshade and Juniper 14.12
“You be sure and say hello from me,” Liriel grinned. “Oh, talking of which! You must tell Argis this if you see him – Inga didn't get eaten. I saw her in Sovngarde!”
That got his attention. “Really? You did? How is she? Does she remember...?”
“Of course she remembers,” said Liriel, a touch scathingly. “You fathered her child, she's not likely to forget you in a hurry. She said to say hello and that she hopes you're doing well. Doesn't approve of Argis being in the Forsworn, but she's glad you acknowledged him in the end.” Liriel leaned forward, slight smile on her lips. “I think she still had feelings, you know.”
“I know,” said Madanach quietly, remembering Inga fondly. Sweet, kind, compassionate, just a simple hunter, not powerful or well-educated or anything, just a kind young woman making her way in the world and who'd saved his life. The polar opposite of Mireen and that might have been why he'd given in to his impulses and taken her to bed. He didn't think it would have worked out with her as his wife, but that didn't mean he hadn't cared. “I'm glad she's well. She was a fine woman, and Argis is a lot like her, more like her than me. I think that might be a good thing on the whole.”
“She was nice,” said Liriel, smiling at some fond memory. “I liked her. I told her you and I had been... but weren't any more... and she gave me a cuddle and told me it would be all right. Says if anyone could help the Forsworn, it was me. I hope she knows what she's talking about.”
“You killed a dragon god, you can handle a bit of politics,” said Madanach, pushing his plate away. “Come on, Dragon-Queen, we've got a contract to renegotiate. Don't suppose you have a razor and a mirror in the house? I dread to think what I look like by now.”
“Terrifying and dangerous, so exactly what you need to look like,” Liriel said cheerfully, heading off in search of the required items. “But if you want to look like a well-groomed murderer, that can be arranged. Here. Clean yourself up while I get changed.”
Madanach set about grooming himself while Liriel went in search of her Shrouds. All right, so that hadn't been as awkward as he'd thought, the alliance was still in place, and he and Liriel were still friends. It was more than he'd expected. It just wasn't, and never would be, enough.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Poor Madanach, he's clearly got his work cut out for him to win Liriel back. It's a good thing he's a man who thrives on taking on the impossible, isn't it? Next chapter, it's All The Politics Ever and the King in Rags is in his element, although Liriel will be rather less pleased with him after it all goes down.