Liriel picked the torc up and as Madanach lowered his head, placed it back around his neck, patting the eagle's heads into place before using it to pull him closer and before everyone present, kissed the newly restored Reach-King for all she was worth.
“A thing for powerful men. Knew it,” Madanach murmured as he slid his own arms around her and returned the kiss. Liriel blushed and nestled in his arms as the kiss broke off, but Madanach could sense the arousal in her. Back to their bedroom as soon as possible, but first, an announcement to make.
“Thank you, daughter. I accept the post and responsibility. But not forever.”
“Not – what do you mean?” Eola asked, confused. “I thought you wanted the torc back?”
“I do, but like I said, not forever. These past few weeks have helped me refocus, remember why I did all of this, why I led the Forsworn in the first place. To correct injustices, yes, but because the Nords destroyed Reachfolk families, including mine. I've got no intention of having a new family torn apart. I want to live to raise my children, Eola.”
“You're going to live another decade to see Sissel and Lucia grown, I'm quite sure,” Nepos pointed out. “And Ancalime isn't actually your child, you know that, right?”
“I know,” said Madanach, squeezing Liriel's hand and feeling the answering squeeze of assent back. “But even so, I can't be King forever. So I'm accepting it back for twenty-five years... and then I'm abdicating. Daughter, you'd better get working on the grandchildren, you'll want adult heirs when you take over properly.”
“I – right,” Eola said faintly. “But why? You'll be an old man by then, you might not even live that long!”
“I'll live that long,” Madanach said quietly, working up his courage as he took Liriel's hand in both of his. “Start planning for a Reach-King that isn't dying of natural causes. A year or so from now, I'll be taking the blood. Serana's agreed to turn me into a vampire.”
As one, the erstwhile council exploded.
“Are you out of your mind?” Uraccen demanded. Nepos seemed of like mind, but was generally not nearly so blunt.
“Madanach, why on earth are you doing that? Liriel, tell me he's definitely not gone back on the Skooma?”
“He's fine,” Liriel said, smiling. “We talked about it, it's what we both want.”
“You're doing it for Liriel,” Eola said, comprehension dawning. “You don't want to die and leave her alone. Da, that's so sweet. But why now? You always said no before! You wanted to see Kaie and the others in the afterlife.”
“I know,” Madanach said quietly, hanging his head and trying to fight the pain that always accompanied the mention of Kaie's name. “I miss your sisters, I always will... but they're in the Void and they don't need their father there.” A pause and a look exchanged with Liriel. After they revealed this one, things would never be the same... but Madanach at least was prepared to take what came, and Liriel was of like mind, he knew that. Every healer visit made her glow, as did the little moments when they were alone and she'd run a hand over her stomach and squeal. Liriel wanted this and so did he.
Keirine, quiet so far, had raised her hand, casting a spell... and then her hand fell to her side as even a Hagraven could still be surprised.
“By Sithis, Madanach. I don't believe it. You really don't need Stallion's Draught, do you?”
“Stallion's Draught – what's that got to – no!” Eola had never been a fool, and she saw the soppy looks Madanach and Liriel were exchanging and realised just why Madanach might suddenly want to live beyond his years. “You're not kidding!”
“My dead children do not need me, and the Dragonborn of legend certainly doesn't need anyone,” Madanach said, stroking Liriel's face and idly wondering what their child would look like – Altmer obviously but would any Breton influence show through? He hoped so. “But my pregnant wife does, and my child yet unborn certainly will. How can I leave Liriel to raise our baby without me?”
Re: Thicker Than Blood 14.5
“A thing for powerful men. Knew it,” Madanach murmured as he slid his own arms around her and returned the kiss. Liriel blushed and nestled in his arms as the kiss broke off, but Madanach could sense the arousal in her. Back to their bedroom as soon as possible, but first, an announcement to make.
“Thank you, daughter. I accept the post and responsibility. But not forever.”
“Not – what do you mean?” Eola asked, confused. “I thought you wanted the torc back?”
“I do, but like I said, not forever. These past few weeks have helped me refocus, remember why I did all of this, why I led the Forsworn in the first place. To correct injustices, yes, but because the Nords destroyed Reachfolk families, including mine. I've got no intention of having a new family torn apart. I want to live to raise my children, Eola.”
“You're going to live another decade to see Sissel and Lucia grown, I'm quite sure,” Nepos pointed out. “And Ancalime isn't actually your child, you know that, right?”
“I know,” said Madanach, squeezing Liriel's hand and feeling the answering squeeze of assent back. “But even so, I can't be King forever. So I'm accepting it back for twenty-five years... and then I'm abdicating. Daughter, you'd better get working on the grandchildren, you'll want adult heirs when you take over properly.”
“I – right,” Eola said faintly. “But why? You'll be an old man by then, you might not even live that long!”
“I'll live that long,” Madanach said quietly, working up his courage as he took Liriel's hand in both of his. “Start planning for a Reach-King that isn't dying of natural causes. A year or so from now, I'll be taking the blood. Serana's agreed to turn me into a vampire.”
As one, the erstwhile council exploded.
“Are you out of your mind?” Uraccen demanded. Nepos seemed of like mind, but was generally not nearly so blunt.
“Madanach, why on earth are you doing that? Liriel, tell me he's definitely not gone back on the Skooma?”
“He's fine,” Liriel said, smiling. “We talked about it, it's what we both want.”
“You're doing it for Liriel,” Eola said, comprehension dawning. “You don't want to die and leave her alone. Da, that's so sweet. But why now? You always said no before! You wanted to see Kaie and the others in the afterlife.”
“I know,” Madanach said quietly, hanging his head and trying to fight the pain that always accompanied the mention of Kaie's name. “I miss your sisters, I always will... but they're in the Void and they don't need their father there.” A pause and a look exchanged with Liriel. After they revealed this one, things would never be the same... but Madanach at least was prepared to take what came, and Liriel was of like mind, he knew that. Every healer visit made her glow, as did the little moments when they were alone and she'd run a hand over her stomach and squeal. Liriel wanted this and so did he.
Keirine, quiet so far, had raised her hand, casting a spell... and then her hand fell to her side as even a Hagraven could still be surprised.
“By Sithis, Madanach. I don't believe it. You really don't need Stallion's Draught, do you?”
“Stallion's Draught – what's that got to – no!” Eola had never been a fool, and she saw the soppy looks Madanach and Liriel were exchanging and realised just why Madanach might suddenly want to live beyond his years. “You're not kidding!”
“My dead children do not need me, and the Dragonborn of legend certainly doesn't need anyone,” Madanach said, stroking Liriel's face and idly wondering what their child would look like – Altmer obviously but would any Breton influence show through? He hoped so. “But my pregnant wife does, and my child yet unborn certainly will. How can I leave Liriel to raise our baby without me?”