“In a way,” said Madanach softly. “I don't know if there's a literal place called the Void out there or not – I hope so for Kaie's sake. But our oldest tales talk of another world that was our first home and it's out there somewhere, travelling round a distant star. A world with blue skies and seas and mountains, and only one moon, and we lived like gods there, Liriel. We didn't have magic like we do here, but we had machines like the Dwemer have to do everything for us, clean our clothes, cook our meals, sweep our floors, take us anywhere we liked, hold all human knowledge for us to look at whenever we wanted. It was paradise, Liriel. But we got too greedy, took too much, our machines changed the very weather and the world changed. So we built ships of steel and silver, great sky ships and we left and we came here, and we were all one race, not Nords or Bretons or Imperials yet. The Nords went north to their Atmora home, the Imperials went south to the jungles of Cyrodiil and we went west to High Rock and the Reach, and that's where we met your folk. Thousands of years later, and here we are, part-elven witches. I don't know if it's true or not, but we'll never know for sure so why think too much on it? All I know is we're alive here and now. So we make the most of it.”
They'd reached the camp by this point, and once inside the gates, the atmosphere shifted, becoming a bit more lively, more like the camps Liriel was familiar with. There were drums, flutes, fiddles in the distance, and a bit nearer, the sounds of at least one couple in a tent having a very good time.
“Are you alright?” Liriel whispered, squeezing Madanach's hand. He looked exhausted and at the end of his resources, but he nodded.
“Yes,” he sighed. “The Dance didn't stop just because Kaie's did. Life goes on, with or without us. I...” He stopped, breathing heavily as he stared at his feet. “Life goes on,” he whispered. He raised his eyes to look at her, haunted, desperate expression in them.
“Liriel, stay with me tonight,” he begged. “Don't leave, don't go, just come to bed with me, make love to me, let me love you any way I can. Please.”
A strange request – where else would she go? - but he'd just lost a loved one, it probably had made him a bit clingier than usual.
“All right,” she whispered, taking his hand in hers. “Let's get you laid.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
They spent the rest of the night making love, Madanach getting creative and getting her off in as many different ways as he could think of. She'd laughed and told him to slow down, they had the rest of their lives together. He'd just smiled sadly and told her no one knew when the Dance would end and so she'd given in and acquiesced to whatever he wanted. Finally they'd collapsed in a heap, exhausted, and Madanach had clung on to her like he was afraid she'd vanish. Liriel had pulled covers over them both and held him, stroking his hair and soothing him until he drifted off to sleep. Then she closed her eyes and soon joined him.
When she woke, it was daylight and the bed was empty. Liriel sat up, immediately casting her eyes about to look for Madanach. Where was he? Should he be left alone right now? Or did he need privacy? He was used to having people around but he was also vulnerable right now.
She needn't have worried. He was still there, up and dressed, sitting at his desk, brooding.
“Madanach?” she called, reaching for her own clothes. “Are you all right?”
He hesitated before answering. “Not really, but it hurts a little less than it did. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. Come, cariad, get dressed, we need to talk.”
Four words that never boded well, and Liriel felt all her hair start to prickle. He sounded gentle enough, but he wasn't looking at her, and all sorts of little signs from the past day started to slot together. She'd chalked it all up to grief... but perhaps it wasn't just Kaie he was mourning.
Liriel pulled her Shrouded Robes on and perched herself on the bed behind him.
“Madanach? What's up? Is something going to happen?”
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Nightshade and Juniper 19.8
Date: 2013-07-09 09:19 pm (UTC)They'd reached the camp by this point, and once inside the gates, the atmosphere shifted, becoming a bit more lively, more like the camps Liriel was familiar with. There were drums, flutes, fiddles in the distance, and a bit nearer, the sounds of at least one couple in a tent having a very good time.
“Are you alright?” Liriel whispered, squeezing Madanach's hand. He looked exhausted and at the end of his resources, but he nodded.
“Yes,” he sighed. “The Dance didn't stop just because Kaie's did. Life goes on, with or without us. I...” He stopped, breathing heavily as he stared at his feet. “Life goes on,” he whispered. He raised his eyes to look at her, haunted, desperate expression in them.
“Liriel, stay with me tonight,” he begged. “Don't leave, don't go, just come to bed with me, make love to me, let me love you any way I can. Please.”
A strange request – where else would she go? - but he'd just lost a loved one, it probably had made him a bit clingier than usual.
“All right,” she whispered, taking his hand in hers. “Let's get you laid.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
They spent the rest of the night making love, Madanach getting creative and getting her off in as many different ways as he could think of. She'd laughed and told him to slow down, they had the rest of their lives together. He'd just smiled sadly and told her no one knew when the Dance would end and so she'd given in and acquiesced to whatever he wanted. Finally they'd collapsed in a heap, exhausted, and Madanach had clung on to her like he was afraid she'd vanish. Liriel had pulled covers over them both and held him, stroking his hair and soothing him until he drifted off to sleep. Then she closed her eyes and soon joined him.
When she woke, it was daylight and the bed was empty. Liriel sat up, immediately casting her eyes about to look for Madanach. Where was he? Should he be left alone right now? Or did he need privacy? He was used to having people around but he was also vulnerable right now.
She needn't have worried. He was still there, up and dressed, sitting at his desk, brooding.
“Madanach?” she called, reaching for her own clothes. “Are you all right?”
He hesitated before answering. “Not really, but it hurts a little less than it did. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. Come, cariad, get dressed, we need to talk.”
Four words that never boded well, and Liriel felt all her hair start to prickle. He sounded gentle enough, but he wasn't looking at her, and all sorts of little signs from the past day started to slot together. She'd chalked it all up to grief... but perhaps it wasn't just Kaie he was mourning.
Liriel pulled her Shrouded Robes on and perched herself on the bed behind him.
“Madanach? What's up? Is something going to happen?”