“One of my blood-brothers steals into my little girl's bedroom, I'd say it's entirely my business!” Madanach shouted, bearing down on her. He still had the spells armed and while Liriel didn't think he'd used them, not on Eola anyway, she drew closer, poised to intervene if she had to. Eola was standing her ground, glaring back, her own magicka flaring in response and Liriel realised that it wasn't far off Madanach's own in intensity.
“I am not a little girl!” Eola announced, drawing herself up to her full height and shaking her hair back. “I'm twenty five years old!”
“You're in a vulnerable and delicate mental state!” Madanach shouted back.
“I'm not delicate!” Eola yelled. “Or fragile, or vulnerable, or anything like that! I'm a Forsworn-trained nightblade, priestess of Sithis, Winterhold-trained mage and as fearless and capable as you are! I can decide for myself who I'm going to love!”
“Love??” Madanach seethed. “Eola, he was having an affair with your sister!” By now the entire court had fallen silent, all gathering around to watch what had to be the single most interesting turn in Madanach and Eola's complicated relationship.
“I know!” Eola shouted. “But Kaie is dead, Da! She's not coming back! Her dance is over! Damned if I'm turning my back on someone I love just because my sister took a shine to him once!”
Cicero had peeped out from under the table, blinking as if he wasn't sure he'd heard that correctly. Eola ignored him, eyes not leaving her father. She had her hands on her hips, clearly in no mood to back down, no mean feat considering most people faced with an angry Madanach usually ran or prostrated themselves in terror.
Madanach looked no less grim, but the anger at least had subsided. He lowered his hands, spells flickering out of existence.
“How long,” he said quietly. “How long has this been going on, Eola?”
Eola did look away then, folding her arms and looking defensive.
“I always liked him. Ever since I first met him at Falkreath, after he killed Astrid. But nothing happened, Da. He didn't even seem interested at first. Then later, a little – but he still mostly avoided me. Before the battle of Windhelm, we finally talked it over but I could see he was still pining over Kaie so told him to go after her. Then she got herself killed and...” Eola took a deep breath before continuing. “Cicero and I mourned together, but nothing happened between us. I knew I'd have to come here by then, didn't think it'd ever go anywhere with him so I just said goodbye and left. Didn't see him again until last night, and that's the first time we've been together, I swear it, Da. He didn't cheat on Kaie, I promise. Not unless cuddling is cheating, and he cuddles everyone.”
Madanach said nothing, but something in his stance had softened just slightly, and Liriel had a feeling that maybe, just maybe, he was going to relent.
“Liriel,” said Madanach thoughtfully. “You said Cicero wasn't always... like he is. That he was more normal once, until he ended up alone for a decade.”
Liriel confirmed this was so. “Why do you ask?”
“So... it's a response to events and not inborn then? It's not hereditary?”
“I don't think so,” said Liriel, beginning to smile as she realised where Madanach was going with this. So did Eola, because she was looking up, astonished.
“Da? What are you saying?”
“It's too soon for either of you to be getting married,” Madanach growled. “Mourn Kaie properly first, both of you. She deserves no less. However, seeing as he's managed to make you smile for the first time in weeks, I suppose I can permit some form of courtship for now. But no getting engaged for at least six months, and no wedding in the next year, understand?”
Eola stared at her father, hardly able to believe her ears.
“You... you mean it?” she gasped. “You don't mind?”
“Of course I mind, the man's a gibbering halfwit,” Madanach growled. “But if he makes you happy, I suppose I'll have to live with it, won't I?”
Next thing Liriel knew, Eola had flung her arms around her father, clinging on to him tightly, head resting on his chest.
Re: Nightshade and Juniper 22.12
“I am not a little girl!” Eola announced, drawing herself up to her full height and shaking her hair back. “I'm twenty five years old!”
“You're in a vulnerable and delicate mental state!” Madanach shouted back.
“I'm not delicate!” Eola yelled. “Or fragile, or vulnerable, or anything like that! I'm a Forsworn-trained nightblade, priestess of Sithis, Winterhold-trained mage and as fearless and capable as you are! I can decide for myself who I'm going to love!”
“Love??” Madanach seethed. “Eola, he was having an affair with your sister!” By now the entire court had fallen silent, all gathering around to watch what had to be the single most interesting turn in Madanach and Eola's complicated relationship.
“I know!” Eola shouted. “But Kaie is dead, Da! She's not coming back! Her dance is over! Damned if I'm turning my back on someone I love just because my sister took a shine to him once!”
Cicero had peeped out from under the table, blinking as if he wasn't sure he'd heard that correctly. Eola ignored him, eyes not leaving her father. She had her hands on her hips, clearly in no mood to back down, no mean feat considering most people faced with an angry Madanach usually ran or prostrated themselves in terror.
Madanach looked no less grim, but the anger at least had subsided. He lowered his hands, spells flickering out of existence.
“How long,” he said quietly. “How long has this been going on, Eola?”
Eola did look away then, folding her arms and looking defensive.
“I always liked him. Ever since I first met him at Falkreath, after he killed Astrid. But nothing happened, Da. He didn't even seem interested at first. Then later, a little – but he still mostly avoided me. Before the battle of Windhelm, we finally talked it over but I could see he was still pining over Kaie so told him to go after her. Then she got herself killed and...” Eola took a deep breath before continuing. “Cicero and I mourned together, but nothing happened between us. I knew I'd have to come here by then, didn't think it'd ever go anywhere with him so I just said goodbye and left. Didn't see him again until last night, and that's the first time we've been together, I swear it, Da. He didn't cheat on Kaie, I promise. Not unless cuddling is cheating, and he cuddles everyone.”
Madanach said nothing, but something in his stance had softened just slightly, and Liriel had a feeling that maybe, just maybe, he was going to relent.
“Liriel,” said Madanach thoughtfully. “You said Cicero wasn't always... like he is. That he was more normal once, until he ended up alone for a decade.”
Liriel confirmed this was so. “Why do you ask?”
“So... it's a response to events and not inborn then? It's not hereditary?”
“I don't think so,” said Liriel, beginning to smile as she realised where Madanach was going with this. So did Eola, because she was looking up, astonished.
“Da? What are you saying?”
“It's too soon for either of you to be getting married,” Madanach growled. “Mourn Kaie properly first, both of you. She deserves no less. However, seeing as he's managed to make you smile for the first time in weeks, I suppose I can permit some form of courtship for now. But no getting engaged for at least six months, and no wedding in the next year, understand?”
Eola stared at her father, hardly able to believe her ears.
“You... you mean it?” she gasped. “You don't mind?”
“Of course I mind, the man's a gibbering halfwit,” Madanach growled. “But if he makes you happy, I suppose I'll have to live with it, won't I?”
Next thing Liriel knew, Eola had flung her arms around her father, clinging on to him tightly, head resting on his chest.