“What is it?” Maven was curious but also worried. There were aspects of her life that no one should have known and she killed those who did know, yet she couldn’t kill the Dragonborn.
“How old were you when you married your now deceased husband? 15? 16?”
“13.” Maven said through clenched teeth. She didn’t like where this was going. Perhaps she figured out what she did to her husband…
“Oh, 13, far too young.” She shook her head. “He was a silk merchant if memory serves…” She was right, Maven said nothing “It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you had the Black-Briar name and he had money. Money that would keep your father’s dying Mead Empire alive. I mean what use were you to your father other than another chip to sell. It’s a shame he never knew how capable you really were.
“But there you were, married to a piggish Nord with more sense than brains who spent more time with other women than his own young bride. I’m sure you didn’t mind though, from all accounts he was disgusting. Then a year later little Hemming was brought into the world and it made it all worth it.” Maven wondered where Ada was going with this. “How old were you when your father died?”
“24.”
“To take over the business at such a young age and with an eleven year old to take care of. Must have been tough, but you had to, your oaf of a husband would have run the meadery into the ground otherwise. He wasn’t interested in the Black Briar business. So you built, Black-Briar mead became your life, something you had to deal with all on your own. Then when you were…” she did some math in her head, “29, you became pregnant again and Sibbi was born. A miracle child really, I mean 15 year after your first child is a while to wait.”
Maven narrowed her eyes at the Dragonborn, she didn’t like where this was going. “Then the next year, you and your two darling sons went to the Black-Briar Lodge for a few months. A holiday, your husband only visiting every few weeks the rest of his time consumed by merchant business… The isolation from your husband let you focus on Black-Briar mead and… other things. Then after these months you fell Pregnant again! I hear your husband was overjoyed at the miracle of it. Then lovely Ingun was born into this world yet just after her birth your dear husband fell ill and died. Now that Ingun is 18, that makes Sibbi 19, Hemming 34 and you 48.” Ada laughed, “You husband died of the strangest illness though. The records say illness and I’m no healer but I don’t know of any illnesses that result in multiple stab wounds.”
Maven shifted on her feet, but Ada simply shrugged. “Oh Maven don’t worry, killing an abusive, neglectful husband is something I encourage. I applaud you…” Ada smiled, “and dear Hemming, of course.
“Enough talk, get to the point.” Maven had a terrible feeling.
“Maven, I’m saying that I know. It’s amazing that the rest of Riften is in the dark about it really. I mean any other upper class man in their mid thirties would have been married off long ago.” Maven waited. Ada sighed, “Maven, I know the Hemming is Sibbi and Ingun’s father.”
Maven felt her knees go weak. “And I know you and Hemming still... ice the sweetroll together.”
“You can’t tell anyone!” Maven pleaded.
“Oh I won’t, it would destroy you.” Ada smiled, it was an oddly kind smile. “I find the whole idea rather… erotic. The ultimate forbidden love; mother and son.”
“I’ll do whatever you want.”
“Oh I know you will.” Ada didn’t say anything for a while. “I suppose there may be something I can do…”
Maven looked up at the woman.
“I might not be able to get you to keep your throne but you can keep your name. A few kind words to Laila and you’ll keep your name and won’t be exiled to Solitude for the rest of your days. Wouldn’t what you away from your lovely son now?”
Maven felt grateful. Most others would have just tore her down, yet here was the Dragonborn giving her back everything she had before.
Black Mail 3/?
“How old were you when you married your now deceased husband? 15? 16?”
“13.” Maven said through clenched teeth. She didn’t like where this was going. Perhaps she figured out what she did to her husband…
“Oh, 13, far too young.” She shook her head. “He was a silk merchant if memory serves…” She was right, Maven said nothing “It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you had the Black-Briar name and he had money. Money that would keep your father’s dying Mead Empire alive. I mean what use were you to your father other than another chip to sell. It’s a shame he never knew how capable you really were.
“But there you were, married to a piggish Nord with more sense than brains who spent more time with other women than his own young bride. I’m sure you didn’t mind though, from all accounts he was disgusting. Then a year later little Hemming was brought into the world and it made it all worth it.” Maven wondered where Ada was going with this. “How old were you when your father died?”
“24.”
“To take over the business at such a young age and with an eleven year old to take care of. Must have been tough, but you had to, your oaf of a husband would have run the meadery into the ground otherwise. He wasn’t interested in the Black Briar business. So you built, Black-Briar mead became your life, something you had to deal with all on your own. Then when you were…” she did some math in her head, “29, you became pregnant again and Sibbi was born. A miracle child really, I mean 15 year after your first child is a while to wait.”
Maven narrowed her eyes at the Dragonborn, she didn’t like where this was going.
“Then the next year, you and your two darling sons went to the Black-Briar Lodge for a few months. A holiday, your husband only visiting every few weeks the rest of his time consumed by merchant business… The isolation from your husband let you focus on Black-Briar mead and… other things. Then after these months you fell Pregnant again! I hear your husband was overjoyed at the miracle of it. Then lovely Ingun was born into this world yet just after her birth your dear husband fell ill and died. Now that Ingun is 18, that makes Sibbi 19, Hemming 34 and you 48.” Ada laughed, “You husband died of the strangest illness though. The records say illness and I’m no healer but I don’t know of any illnesses that result in multiple stab wounds.”
Maven shifted on her feet, but Ada simply shrugged. “Oh Maven don’t worry, killing an abusive, neglectful husband is something I encourage. I applaud you…” Ada smiled, “and dear Hemming, of course.
“Enough talk, get to the point.” Maven had a terrible feeling.
“Maven, I’m saying that I know. It’s amazing that the rest of Riften is in the dark about it really. I mean any other upper class man in their mid thirties would have been married off long ago.” Maven waited. Ada sighed, “Maven, I know the Hemming is Sibbi and Ingun’s father.”
Maven felt her knees go weak. “And I know you and Hemming still... ice the sweetroll together.”
“You can’t tell anyone!” Maven pleaded.
“Oh I won’t, it would destroy you.” Ada smiled, it was an oddly kind smile. “I find the whole idea rather… erotic. The ultimate forbidden love; mother and son.”
“I’ll do whatever you want.”
“Oh I know you will.” Ada didn’t say anything for a while. “I suppose there may be something I can do…”
Maven looked up at the woman.
“I might not be able to get you to keep your throne but you can keep your name. A few kind words to Laila and you’ll keep your name and won’t be exiled to Solitude for the rest of your days. Wouldn’t what you away from your lovely son now?”
Maven felt grateful. Most others would have just tore her down, yet here was the Dragonborn giving her back everything she had before.
“Would you like that Maven?”
“I would very much.”