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skyrimkinkmeme) wrote2011-10-29 12:36 pm
skyrimkinkmeme) wrote2011-10-29 12:36 pm
Meme Announcements!
ANNOUNCEMENTS: UPDATED 12/16/2017
Happy Holidays, fellow Kinkmemers! I have returned and have no reasonable excuse for my absence except LIFE. I will be working on updating the archives. If anyone sees anything amiss, please let me know.
I am also hoping to find another Mod and an Archivist.
The more dedicated people we have in this Meme the less chance of it dying. I admit that being the sole keeper of the Meme is not great for the fandom. If something were to happen to me, for good, this place would go the way of the Fallout Kink Meme. Let's not let that happen! If anyone would be interested in Modding/Archiving, please drop me a line. Thanks! <3
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 10.11
(Anonymous) 2013-10-30 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)“No, no, Cicero understands,” Cicero purred. “Cicero can quite see pretty Elisif not wanting anyone to know who she is. Cicero knows she has... enemies.” His face grew serious, brooding look in his eyes as he stepped back, staring solemnly at her as he scratched his cheek.
“Pretty Elisif has enemies,” he repeated. “The Dark Brotherhood are seeking your death, you know.”
“I know, I told you earlier,” Elisif sighed. “They tried in Solitude, which is why I'm not there now. And why we can't linger – look, let's see if this dragon's got anything worth having and go.”
Cicero nodded, faint smile on his face, and then he reached out, taking her arm. “Sweet Dragonborn, pretty Dragonborn, do not be afraid,” he said gently. “Cicero shall look after you. The pretender Astrid wants to kill you, but she wants to kill poor Cicero too so do not fear. Cicero will take her down first. She has already lost her sheepdog and her lizard. We'll kill her other pets too, fear not, pretty Jarl.”
Elisif nodded, relieved to have the support, and then she realised Brynjolf had his dagger out again, Delphine was raising her bow and suddenly it dawned on her she'd never told Cicero her assailant in Solitude had been an Argonian...
“Oh gods,” she gasped, ripping her arm back out of Cicero's grasp. “You – you're one of them. That's where you learnt to fight, you were in the Dark Brotherhood too!”
Cicero had gone very still, eyes widening just a fraction, and then he bolted, fleeing down the road towards the Reach... or at least he did until Brynjolf sprang after him, long stride easily outpacing Cicero and he'd tackled the shorter man to the ground, pinning him down in a hold that stopped Cicero from getting at his dagger.
“LET GO OF ME!!!” Cicero howled, writhing in Brynjolf's grip, teeth bared in fury. “CICERO SHALL STAB YOU, YOU THIEVING WRETCH!”
“Del, we can bury him in a shallow grave now, right?” Brynjolf called cheerfully. “Right – argh! Son of a...” Cicero had bitten his hand and was trying to get free. He almost made it too, but by this time Aela had caught up and planted a boot on his hand before he could get his dagger.
“Elisif, I've changed my mind,” Aela announced, also sounding pleased at the prospect of bloodshed. “Saving him was a terrible idea, in fact the honourable thing is actually to put the little murderer down for the good of everybody. Never thought I'd end up agreeing with a thief, but dumping him in a shallow grave would solve an awful lot of problems.”
A wail that was part fury and part terror emanated from Cicero's mouth and Elisif felt it tear at her heart. This was horrible to watch – she'd got to like Cicero. Even if he was quite mad, he was sweet and charming and friendly and he'd promised to protect her even if he was Dark Brotherhood – or had been at any rate. It sounded like they'd kicked him out, which was a little worrying if someone was considered too mad or dangerous even for the feared assassins' guild.
“Please,” Elisif gasped. “Please don't kill him!”
Brynjolf and Aela just looked at each other, sighed wearily and turned their attention back to Cicero. He'd stopped struggling, but the pained whimpering from where Aela was stepping on his hand wasn't much better.
Delphine had arrived by this point, standing over Cicero with her arms folded, and Elisif knew this was it, he was dead, Delphine wouldn't hesitate to order his death, she wasn't a woman who messed about. So it was Elisif could barely believe her eyes as Delphine motioned for Aela to step back before kneeling at Cicero's side. Elisif moved closer, surprised to see Delphine actually looking thoughtfully at him. Cicero blinked and looked up, wary but no longer fighting.
“Changed your mind?” Cicero gasped. “You want Cicero for a pet after all?” He yelped as Brynjolf's knee, already wedged between his legs, jerked up into his groin.
“Bryn!” Delphine scolded. “Stop that.” She turned back to Cicero, heedless of Brynjolf groaning.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 10.12
(Anonymous) 2013-10-30 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)“Cicero still is Dark Brotherhood!” Cicero hissed, face twisting in a grimace. “They, they are the heretics! The false Brotherhood! Deceivers, liars, pretenders! All dancing to the tune of that harlot Astrid!!!”
“So you said,” Delphine said calmly, sitting down next to him, cross-legged on the tundra. “I also heard what you said to Elisif.” She beckoned her over, and Elisif approached, sitting next to Delphine. Cicero did look up at her then, actually smiling, heavy-lidded eyes blinking slowly at her.
“Pretty Elisif,” Cicero laughed, still a little breathless. “Cicero is sorry if he scared you. And for the contract too. It wasn't Cicero's idea, you know. Astrid organised the whole thing.”
“Astrid,” Elisif said softly, thinking over everything that had been said so far. “The leader of the Dark Brotherhood.”
The wrong thing to say. Cicero's face clouded over as he started shrieking again.
“LIES! TREACHERY! ASTRID IS NOT THE LEADER OF THE DARK BROTHERHOOD, MOTHER I-!” Cicero immediately stopped talking, horror in his eyes as he realised perhaps he'd said too much.
“Mother,” said Esbern softly, looking absolutely fascinated. “You mean the Night Mother, don't you? She was the one who split from the Morag Tong all those centuries ago, your order's founder.”
“But she must be dead by now, surely?” Elisif heard herself say, and then it occurred to her that the mother Cicero had been transporting to her new crypt hadn't been his own but the mother of his order. He'd been taking her... where? To the Dark Brotherhood's Skyrim base, that much was obvious.
“CICERO IS TELLING YOU NOTHING!” Cicero howled, eyes darting nervously between them all, and Elisif had a feeling he was going to go for his knife again.
“It's all right,” Delphine said, sounding gentle and kind and utterly unlike her usual self. “I'm not interested in the details of Dark Brotherhood politics. I'm just looking to protect my Dragonborn. I was a Blade once, sworn to protect and guide any Dragonborn that might arise. You understand I'm not pleased this Astrid of the Dark Brotherhood has taken a contract against Elisif.”
Cicero glared at her, spitting on the floor. “Oh, Blades. Cicero has heard of the Blades. Blades killed Dark Brothers and Sisters once. Protecting their Emperor. Pah!” He scowled at her, pouting a little and then his mouth curved into a smirk. “Cicero has heard the Blades are not doing so well these days either.”
Delphine steeled herself, pointedly not rising to the bait. “We've had better days. But we have a Dragonborn again and a purpose. We've got dragons to kill, a world to save.” Then Delphine actually smiled. “Want to help?”
“Delphine!” Brynjolf shouted. “You cannot be serious!”
“He's a murdering little fiend from an organisation that we know has it in for Elisif!” Aela protested. “How do we know he's not planning to kill us all?”
“Oh, Cicero is tempted,” Cicero muttered darkly. He glared up at Delphine. “What is in it for Cicero, hmm? And why is Delphine offering? Cicero doesn't actually believe Delphine secretly wants him for a plaything.”
Delphine did grin at that. “Sorry, Cicero. That's not what I'm after. But what I do want... The Dark Brotherhood aren't going to stop hunting Elisif. Not when there's a large amount of coin and a lot of professional pride at stake. I can help keep her safe and one step ahead, but she's going to be queen. She can't keep running forever. To get her out of this, we need to take the fight to them. But to do that, I'd need to know where they lived and how to get to them.” She tilted her head, smiling sweetly at him. “That's where you come in.”
“Delphine, this sounds like a terrible idea...” Esbern said, looking warily at Cicero. Brynjolf also looked dubious, but Aela was starting to nod in understanding and Elisif realised what Delphine was getting at. The Dark Brotherhood's safety lay in secrecy, but if someone were to spill their secrets, an outcast member with an axe to grind...
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 10.13
(Anonymous) 2013-10-30 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)Cicero looked up, eyes wide and sorrowful as he nodded at her.
“Mean they were to poor Cicero. Teasing and mocking or ignoring him!” Cicero whined. Brynjolf rolled his eyes, clearly sympathising with Astrid on this one.
“Dark Brotherhood assassins being terrible human beings. There's a shocker,” he muttered. Cicero glared at him, hissing under his breath.
“Not to each other!” he growled. “Dark Brothers and Sisters are Family! Children of the Night Mother! But Astrid isn't. Astrid thinks she doesn't need Mother any more. Astrid thinks she's better than that. And the others all follow her, the sheepdog, the lizard, the Redguard, the unchild, all of them! Heh. Well, not the sheepdog or lizard any more, pretty Elisif took care of them!” He giggled, grinning at her again. “Cicero likes Elisif! She was nice to him. Helped him! The first person in cold, frozen Skyrim to show him any kindness or sympathy.”
What that said about her fellow countrymen and women, Elisif wasn't sure – yes, Cicero was an odd little lunatic and a hardened killer, it turned out, but even so, for no one other than her to be nice to him at all was terribly inhospitable.
“If Astrid gets her way, no one in Skyrim ever will have been kind to you,” Elisif said quietly. “Is that what you want?”
“No!” Cicero gasped, shaking his head, wide eyes not leaving hers.
“Then help me,” Elisif whispered. “You know how they work, even if you never tell us how to find them, you know who they are, you can warn me if they're nearby.”
Cicero grinned, sly look in his eyes.
“If they are nearby, Elisif can be quite sure Cicero will do more than warn her. Do not fear, Cicero will happily deal with the problem for her.”
Elisif looked hopefully at Delphine, who hadn't taken her eyes off Cicero. The grin on her face mirrored Cicero's own.
“All right, he's in,” Delphine said. “Let him up, Bryn.”
“You are not serious,” Brynjolf said, shaking his head in disbelief. Still, he let go Cicero go, glaring at him.
“Don't get any ideas, lad,” Brynjolf growled, standing back as Cicero climbed to his feet, flexing his fingers and retrieving his dagger. “You're only here because your friends are after the lass here. Otherwise you'd be in the same state as that dragon.”
Cicero brushed his clothes off, pointedly ignoring Brynjolf before glancing up at Delphine, grinning at her.
“Delphine likes the idea of giving sweet Cicero orders after all, does she?” he purred, grin only widening as Brynjolf growled at him. Delphine sighed, rolling her eyes.
“Just behave yourself, don't stab any of us and do what you're told, and there won't be a problem,” she told him. “Now come on and get moving. We've got a way to go before we get where we're going.”
“Where are we going?” Cicero asked, tilting his head.
“To the Reach,” Delphine said. “There's a safe place out there where we can hole up and start planning. But before we can get there, we'll probably have to get past a whole ton of Forsworn first. Have you heard of the Forsworn, Cicero?”
Cicero's eyes lit up, malevolent glee spreading across his face. “Oh yes. Cicero has heard of the Forsworn. They think they're so scary? Cicero shall show them who's scary!” Leaving Delphine, he scampered over to Elisif, linking an arm in hers. “Don't worry, pretty Elisif! Cicero shall kill lots and lots of Forsworn for you and then, then you shall have your Sanctuary. Safe, safe, from prying eyes and lying, heretical false Brotherhoods. Come, come, walk with Cicero! You and I are going to be fast friends. Fast friends!”
So saying, he skipped alongside Elisif, cooing and babbling to her all the while and to her credit, she only looked a bit nervous and humoured the little fool with good grace. All the same, Aela followed close behind, shadowing them both with her own dagger at the ready if Cicero tried anything.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 10.14
(Anonymous) 2013-10-30 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)“I hope to the Eight you know what you're doing, Del,” Brynjolf muttered, still glaring at Cicero. “The man's not just a murderer, he's an unpredictable sociopath. Who knows what he might do?”
“I know,” said Delphine, still watching Cicero fondly. “But he's useful. He's our key to getting the Brotherhood off Elisif's back, and who knows, he might be able to help with the Thalmor too. He'd definitely make a good dragonslayer, did you see the way he went for that one?” She did look up at Brynjolf then, looking a bit sheepish. “Is it wrong for me to be a bit fond of him despite everything?”
“Yes,” said Brynjolf firmly. “Delphine, the man's insane. Please. Please tell me you don't fancy him.”
Delphine laughed, shaking her head, amused. “He's a sweetheart, but I have the feeling he'd be a bit high-maintenance.” She glanced up, sly smile on her face as she caught Brynjolf's eye. “Jealous, are we?”
“What, of him?” Brynjolf snorted. “Hardly.” A pause, during which Delphine's grin never wavered, and more than a hint of anxiety crept into Brynjolf's expression.
“Del, you wouldn't. Would you?” Brynjolf asked nervously. Delphine shook her head, laughing to herself as she looked away.
“Del?” Brynjolf asked, starting to look genuinely concerned that she might actually take up with Cicero. “Del, please. Promise you won't. If you're going to turn me down, please don't let it be for him.”
Delphine reached out and squeezed Brynjolf's hand, smiling as they made their way along the road to Karthspire. No, Cicero wasn't really her type when all was said and done. But still, he had his uses. Delphine took her oath as a Blade seriously, and if her Dragonborn was threatened by the Dark Brotherhood, she'd do whatever it took to bring said Dark Brotherhood to its knees. If that meant recruiting a homicidal lunatic with an extremely eccentric dress sense, then so be it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the other side of Skyrim, in Windhelm's Palace of the Kings, Ulfric was receiving the official report of the Battle of Whiterun. Needless to say, he was not pleased.
“What do you mean, you failed?” Ulfric snapped. “We needed that city, Ralof!”
Ralof only flinched slightly at Ulfric's wrath.
“The Legion were there in force, my King,” said Ralof, standing rigidly to attention. Always best to never let Ulfric know quite how much he got to him, no matter how angry the Jarl of Windhelm got. “And... and the Dragonborn was there. Jarl Elisif. She was on the frontlines, fighting. We couldn't get close, but her Shouts felled many of us.”
Ulfric hissed. This was not good news. For Elisif to be able to do that meant the Greybeards had taught her all three words of Unrelenting Force. Which meant her Thu'um now matched his. Not that he intended to tell Ralof that.
“She cannot Shout constantly,” Ulfric growled. “Shouting leaves you weary, you cannot keep doing it. Why is it none of you got close enough to injure her? Are the Stormcloaks incapable of shooting straight now? Is there no one capable of carving a path to her? While I'd have liked her alive, I will tolerate her death. The gods can call another Dragonborn. The Empire will have difficulty finding another puppet ruler.”
“She had protection, my lord,” said Ralof softly, his voice shaking a little as he prepared himself to deliver the next blow. “The Companions of Ysgramor took the field against us – three of them at any rate, including Aela the Huntress. They didn't stray far from her side, and they cut down anyone who came near her.”
Ulfric did straighten up at that, brow furrowing. “So. Kodlak Whitemane has taken a side. I'm disappointed. I thought him a true Nord. I also thought him committed to Ysgramor's legacy and keeping the Companions out of politics. It seems I was wrong. No matter. We will retreat and gather our forces and when we attack Whiterun again, we'll take the city and then we will see where the Harbinger's true loyalties lie. Dismissed, Ralof.”
Ralof nodded and took his leave, leaving Ulfric alone with Galmar Stone-Fist.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 10.15
(Anonymous) 2013-10-30 11:02 pm (UTC)(link)“She's a menace for as long as she remains free,” Galmar growled. “Recruitment's dried up as of late and morale's slipping, Ulfric. No one wants to raise a sword against a Dragonborn. We need to find her.”
Yes, they did. But abducting her from Solitude was a suicide mission, and when she left Haafingar, she'd proved extraordinarily good at going to ground. Ulfric was certain she wasn't so foolish as to wander around Stormcloak territories in any case, and on the Empire's side of the battle lines, there were always those prepared to help their Dragonborn Queen in waiting. Ulfric would wager she was long gone from Whiterun by now. But there was hope. There were also plenty of Stormcloak supporters in the Imperial Holds, and they'd be watching too. Sooner or later, she'd make a mistake, and then he'd have her. He hoped so anyway. This war was definitely not going according to plan, but really, who could have planned for a Dragonborn rallying the other side?
“Who approaches the Jarl of Windhelm?” Galmar barked out, reaching for his axe. Ulfric glanced up, surprised to see a young Nord woman walking into his war room without a care in the world.
“Only the very brave or the very foolish approach a Jarl without summons,” Ulfric said, standing up to look at her better. “I'd have your name, kinswoman.”
“Njada Stonearm, sir,” she replied, looking rather confident for a mere mercenary. “Formerly of the Companions of Ysgramor... until our Harbinger fell for the Dragonborn's charms and turned out to be an Empire-loving milk-drinker.”
“Harsh words,” Ulfric murmured, but there was something about the young warrior's attitude he liked. He'd always liked women with a backbone. “Tell me, do you treat all your former lieges like this?”
“Only the ones who turn out to not be what I thought they were,” Njada said proudly. “They tell me you're a true Nord, a true son of Skyrim who will bring the worship of Talos back to this land and send the elves fleeing back to Alinor. Is that not so?”
“Watch your tongue, girl!” Galmar snapped. “You're standing before your true High King!”
“Galmar,” Ulfric said, waving for his housecarl to be quiet. So there was at least one Companion who felt she could no longer back her Harbinger with any honour. Interesting. Very interesting indeed. “Our friend's come a long way. We should be hospitable, no? Well, Njada. I will let history judge me and the opinions of others fall where they may. Whether any of us are true Nords is not something we ourselves are ever the best judge of. But I do intend to rid Skyrim of the Thalmor and their Imperial toadies for good. Should I end up as King in the process, I'll accept the responsibility.”
Njada smiled, delighted to hear it. “Good, we need a proper ruler, not that pathetic child the Empire wants to land us with. So what if she's Dragonborn? Takes more than being some mystical dragonslayer to make a good ruler.”
“You don't think she'd make a good queen then?” Ulfric asked, eyebrow raised. Truth be told, he was actually starting to think Elisif had the makings of a fine ruler... but he kept the thought to himself. Others might mistake his respect for the young Dragonborn for agreement with her.
“She barely makes a good Jarl,” Njada sneered. “How much has she been in Solitude lately, hmm? Hardly at all, it seems she'd rather spend her time in Whiterun tagging along behind Jorrvaskr's glory. And all she's done is drag Jorrvaskr down to her level. Which is why I left and have come here. I want to fight for a true Nord, and there's none truer than you, Jarl Ulfric.”
“Well put,” Ulfric said, approving. Any new recruit was worth having and a former Companion... he could use that. “So then, Njada Stonearm. If Elisif has been associating with Jorrvaskr, what have you learnt about her? Is she staying there now? Going back to Solitude? Somewhere else? If I can find her, I can bring her to our side, or at least deprive the Empire of their Chosen One.”
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 10.16
(Anonymous) 2013-10-30 11:07 pm (UTC)(link)Ulfric smiled, a sudden sense of certainty settling in his heart, a sense of triumph snatched out of the jaws of defeat. Maybe he'd lost Whiterun... for now. But knowing Elisif's pseudonym, that might just deliver her into his hands.
“Galmar,” he said, grinning. “Get Jorlief in here, I've got letters to write to our friends out there. To Laila, Skald, Korir... and to Dengeir, Sorli and of course Thonar. About time we started hunting our runaway dragon in earnest, don't you think?”
“Aye, Ulfric,” Galmar said, having perked up immensely. “I'll get right on with it.” He nodded approvingly at Njada. “She'll do. You want to swear her in or shall I?”
“I'll let you have the honour,” Ulfric said, always preferring to let Galmar do the oaths. It always felt a bit odd to lead someone into declaring him King. Much better for a devoted underling to encourage the others, made him look less egocentric. “Welcome aboard, Njada. I think you and I are going to do great things together.”
“I hope so, Jarl Ulfric,” Njada smiled as Galmar returned, ready to take her oath. “Anything you need, you just ask.”
Ulfric just smiled as he watched her swear loyalty to him. Things had just moved that bit back in his favour.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: I am so sorry about Cicero, he was not supposed to be in this one! Except the little fetcher's insinuated himself in anyway. Still, he's here and he's making himself useful, so may as well put up with him. I suspect I may need to up the rating, Cicero has a way of increasing the questionable content in any fic just by being there. Ah well. OTOH, look, he's here and on the side of the Aedra (sort of). :D
Sky Haven Temple next chapter, and the Blades will need their wits about them to get past the Forsworn... both with the initial fight and the aftermath.
ION, this fic is on both FFnet and AO3 should anything go horribly wrong with the version here. Just a heads-up.