A/N: The pace is slowing down a bit now as we approach the final chapters. After this one, I'd say we have about three more to go, roughly.
One reviewer expressed surprise at Madanach not having said anything to Liriel about the pregnancy despite the presence of his granddaughter. He has indeed been brooding on it constantly but fortunately has sufficient self-control not to say anything yet - his reasoning being that Liriel has enough on her plate what with just having lost her father. But it's coming, don't worry.
Dawnguard spoilers in this one too. Also a bit of slightly rough sex involving dirty talk and biting and dom!Madanach.
Summary: Sabrinda's hearing produces mixed results, with Liriel finding herself in the judge's chair after realising she's the official Reach representative post-regency. But one revelation has knock-on effects for Madanach, and the results lead to an emotional conversation with Liriel and a decision that will change everything.
The meeting took place in one of the chambers in the re-opened Pelagius Wing, Elisif holding closed court to decide what to do with Sabrinda. Not a formal criminal case, of course, that would involve pressing charges, at which point Elenwen would get involved and everything would go to the Void. No, this was just a meeting to decide where everyone went from here.
The fact that Sabrinda was sitting apart from everyone else with two big burly Haafingar guards at her back was just for the Justiciar's own safety, of course.
Elisif was sitting in an improvised throne of sorts, with Sabrinda off on the left-hand side, Argis at her right, Madanach and Liriel opposite, Borkul and Jordis standing guard behind them, and Cicero nowhere in sight, having been packed off to entertain Ancalime while the grown-ups were talking.
“Good to see you up and about, Liriel,” Elisif said gently. “We were all so worried. Thank Mara you're well again.”
“Thank you, Elisif,” Liriel replied, blushing a little. “I'm feeling a lot better now. I've had better weeks, I really have.”
“I'm sure you have,” Elisif said sympathetically. “Not every day you get abducted by your own parents, after all.”
“We did not abduct-!” Sabrinda cried, falling silent on receiving a chilling glare from Elisif.
“You by your own admission threw her in a trunk, tied her up and took her from her home city by force,” Elisif snapped. “Sounds like abduction to me!”
“She would have left anyway, Madanach had asked for a divorce!” Sabrinda protested. Elisif and Argis as one turned to Liriel and Madanach for confirmation of this.
“We argued,” Madanach said stiffly. “It is possible that rash words were said that weren't meant. But Liriel and I have talked and we're not getting a divorce. I love Liriel, I don't want her to go.”
Smiles from High Queen and Consort and Elisif continued.
“That's good to hear. But regardless of the state of her marriage and if Liriel was planning to leave anyway – that doesn't change the fact you and Meryndor did in fact cast paralysing magic on one of my Thanes and take her by force. Sabrinda, I hope you realise that under Skyrim law, that's a lengthy prison sentence.”
“Under Reach law, it's the death penalty,” Madanach said quietly, glaring at Sabrinda. “Liriel's not just any old citizen, she's a member of our royal family, it's an offence against the state. And the abduction took place in Markarth.”
“Extraditing you back to Markarth for a trial is an option, Sabrinda,” said Elisif calmly. “Although I'm sure the Embassy will intervene should a formal charge be brought – but that would be Madanach's problem.”
“Not right now, it wouldn't be,” Liriel said cheerfully. “Due to Madanach rendering himself unfit for duty via substance ingestion while the abduction was going on, there's presently a regency arrangement in force, although I'd prefer that didn't leave this room.”
“Substance ingestion?” Elisif said, confused. “What, you were drowning your sorrows on that jenever stuff? That's a bit harsh.”
Re: Thicker Than Blood 12.1
One reviewer expressed surprise at Madanach not having said anything to Liriel about the pregnancy despite the presence of his granddaughter. He has indeed been brooding on it constantly but fortunately has sufficient self-control not to say anything yet - his reasoning being that Liriel has enough on her plate what with just having lost her father. But it's coming, don't worry.
Dawnguard spoilers in this one too. Also a bit of slightly rough sex involving dirty talk and biting and dom!Madanach.
Summary: Sabrinda's hearing produces mixed results, with Liriel finding herself in the judge's chair after realising she's the official Reach representative post-regency. But one revelation has knock-on effects for Madanach, and the results lead to an emotional conversation with Liriel and a decision that will change everything.
The meeting took place in one of the chambers in the re-opened Pelagius Wing, Elisif holding closed court to decide what to do with Sabrinda. Not a formal criminal case, of course, that would involve pressing charges, at which point Elenwen would get involved and everything would go to the Void. No, this was just a meeting to decide where everyone went from here.
The fact that Sabrinda was sitting apart from everyone else with two big burly Haafingar guards at her back was just for the Justiciar's own safety, of course.
Elisif was sitting in an improvised throne of sorts, with Sabrinda off on the left-hand side, Argis at her right, Madanach and Liriel opposite, Borkul and Jordis standing guard behind them, and Cicero nowhere in sight, having been packed off to entertain Ancalime while the grown-ups were talking.
“Good to see you up and about, Liriel,” Elisif said gently. “We were all so worried. Thank Mara you're well again.”
“Thank you, Elisif,” Liriel replied, blushing a little. “I'm feeling a lot better now. I've had better weeks, I really have.”
“I'm sure you have,” Elisif said sympathetically. “Not every day you get abducted by your own parents, after all.”
“We did not abduct-!” Sabrinda cried, falling silent on receiving a chilling glare from Elisif.
“You by your own admission threw her in a trunk, tied her up and took her from her home city by force,” Elisif snapped. “Sounds like abduction to me!”
“She would have left anyway, Madanach had asked for a divorce!” Sabrinda protested. Elisif and Argis as one turned to Liriel and Madanach for confirmation of this.
“We argued,” Madanach said stiffly. “It is possible that rash words were said that weren't meant. But Liriel and I have talked and we're not getting a divorce. I love Liriel, I don't want her to go.”
Smiles from High Queen and Consort and Elisif continued.
“That's good to hear. But regardless of the state of her marriage and if Liriel was planning to leave anyway – that doesn't change the fact you and Meryndor did in fact cast paralysing magic on one of my Thanes and take her by force. Sabrinda, I hope you realise that under Skyrim law, that's a lengthy prison sentence.”
“Under Reach law, it's the death penalty,” Madanach said quietly, glaring at Sabrinda. “Liriel's not just any old citizen, she's a member of our royal family, it's an offence against the state. And the abduction took place in Markarth.”
“Extraditing you back to Markarth for a trial is an option, Sabrinda,” said Elisif calmly. “Although I'm sure the Embassy will intervene should a formal charge be brought – but that would be Madanach's problem.”
“Not right now, it wouldn't be,” Liriel said cheerfully. “Due to Madanach rendering himself unfit for duty via substance ingestion while the abduction was going on, there's presently a regency arrangement in force, although I'd prefer that didn't leave this room.”
“Substance ingestion?” Elisif said, confused. “What, you were drowning your sorrows on that jenever stuff? That's a bit harsh.”