HAHAHAHA-hack- -cough- -gasp-

For some reason that reminds me of the lusty argonian maid -vomits in corner-

-turns off computer and walks away-

ROFL! Your welcome

Things are heating up! (Or cooling down, depending on how often people are being told to freeze) The good news is, our heroine did not forget to bring her sword for this fight.


I'm also intrigued by the vampire thrall thing. Up till now I'd thought they were essentially pre-vampires, infected but not yet fully matured. But they're actually mindcontrolled slaves? Well, that suddenly makes me feel bad for killing them.

It's only my theory on them. In the game quest, if you kill Alva and let Hroggar live, he goes back to normal. Of course, when other thralls come about and you kill their vampires, they'll still attack you. I'm basing my definition of "thralls" off the dictionary meaning, which means mental (or moral) servitude. Alva was using Hroggar to protect her during the daytime. He was her slave, and Laelette served to quench her thirst. I don't think Alva ever transferred the disease to Hroggar, but did to Laelette, which is why Hroggar is only a thrall while Lselette turned.

Chapter 9: The lair

I have no plan.

I realized this once I reached the balcony overlooking Movarth's "dining room." I could smell the rotten flesh and the thick smell of iron, probably blood. I swallowed the spit and bile that threatened to force its way up my throat. Belly to the floor, I watched to see what they did. I saw no signs of Onmund or Alva, and hoped they were making love somewhere, and not here. I never thought I'd say that.

Movarth feasted on some poor soul's arm, while the other two vampires with him had a foot apiece. I calculated how quickly I could take out the other vampires before Movarth got to me. Before I could make two scenarios in my head, Movarth's head snapped up.

"Ahhh... I smell the familiar scent of prey."

My heart slammed in my chest. I wasn't even moving, how did he find me?! Before I could I could get up and take my punishment, Movarth's voice carried through the cavern. "Is your thirst slaked for now, Alva?"

What what what? Alva came into view, pulling what seemed to be a drunken man. Onmund?! His blonde hair matted against his head and neck, I could see the spot where the "hickey" was from earlier. It looked a lot bigger and a lot redder now.

I could hear the grin in Alva's voice as she slurred "Mmm, yes, magic has a wonderful effect on the senses." She let go of Onmund's arm and he dropped to his knees, then fell on his side. He wasn't drunk, he was dizzy from blood loss.

"You took a little too much again, didn't you? At this rate there won't be any men or women left in Morthal if you keep turning them," Movarth said in a lecturing tone.

Alva sniffed. "I can't help that I enjoy men and women who lie and deceive their spouses over me. This man was easier than Hroggar and Laelette. His elf wife kept him holed up in a house and took him away from a life of adventure. Well, now he's having an adventure," she giggled. Onmund took in a raspy breath.

"Maybe he won't survive long enough to change. It was fun while it lasted."

"You TRAMP!" I jumped off the ground and sent a firebolt towards Alva's head. She dodged it in time, but looked around, panicked, before darting off, leaving Onmund on the floor and me to face Movarth and his men. One met me head on while the other flanked me. Movarth just watched from his chair as I swung wildly at the vampire in front of me. He dodged each slice, whether at his abdomen or neck, legs, or arms, until the one who flanked me kicked my legs out from under me. They laughed as one kneed me in the nose, knocking me onto my side.

Tears stung my eyes as my nose throbbed in horrible pain. I screamed until one kicked my throat. Unable to Shout, I covered my face as they delivered blow after blow, kick after kick and licked their knuckles and fingers clean of my blood. One delivered a particularly powerful kick to a kidney, which made me see stars. Sobbing from the pain, I curled into a protective ball. I heard a sword unsheath and accepted my end.

But the end didn't come. At least not at that time. Someone stepped near my face and after a moment, I looked up through swollen eyes. It was Movarth, looking the same as he did so many years ago. His eyes gleamed coldly as he regarded me.

"What's the matter, don't recognize me?" I rasped, and he smiled what I assumed to be a kind smile. It was like looking at a grinning sabrecat.

"Can't say that I do, pet," he purred, kneeling to the ground. "Tell me, is this your husband over there?" I knew he meant Onmund, as he made no gesture, nor took his eyes off me. I kept silent. I felt oddly sleepy in spite of my pain.

"No answer, then? I suppose you won't mind if I just let Alva have him, then."

"No..." I felt my breath quicken and my heart started pounding on overdrive. I slowly rolled onto my stomach, despite the feeling that I was carrying a water pouch in my stomach I stood up and held Dawnbreaker shakily in one hand and tried to load the right spell. My chest hurt, and I could only take in little breaths before the pain became too much.

Movarth watched and let one side of his mouth turn up in a smile. "So this IS your husband. You must be the neglecting elf Alva has told me about." Movarth looked me up and down. I wavered for a slight second, and Movarth knocked me down with one punch to the cheek. I landed a few feet away and couldn't get back up. I vomited up a mouthful of bright red blood and coughed. I had lost my grip on Dawnbreaker when Movarth had knocked me down, and he bent over to pick it up. The blade's light shined brighter when his hand got near it, and he straightened up.

"Dawnbreaker. A daedric weapon made specifically to fight the undead," he mused. "Tell me, elf, were you anticipating this town being overtaken? Do you have a crusade against the undead?" He pressed his boot against my throat. I whimpered and struggled to breath, and tried to push his foot away. My legs kicked uselessly.

"How many of my undead bretheren have fallen to this sword?" He shouted.

When I didn't answer and continued to attempt to remove his foot from my neck, he pressed harder, effectively cutting off my air. I felt my lungs panic and my eyes opened wide. My mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for water. The edges of my vision began to blur, and I felt my eyes drooping as I began to pass out. I had one last line of defense.

I loaded all the will I could tap into and gripped Movarth's robe, fire in hand. His robes caught fire, causing him to jump off me and drop my sword. His robes caught too quickly for him to put them out, and his undead flesh caught fire as well. I used this opportunity to drag myself to his flaming, screaming form and grab Dawnbreaker. He had fallen to his knees and was trying to heal himself right up until I used the rest of my strength to try to bury Dawnbreaker into his heart. It barely broke the skin, but Dawnbreaker got the hint and there was an explosion that incinerated Movarth. I was done.

I couldn't heal. All of my potions were broken, except one cure disease potion that had fallen out of my pack when the vampires began beating me senseless. I belly-crawled to it and dragged myself over to Onmund. He was breathing, still able to make it. If he rested, he would be able to make more blood. I, on the other hand, was not going to make it. And I was alright with that.

I pulled the cork off, which took more time than it should have. The swelling in my belly became more evident and more painful, and I was coughing and vomiting more blood. I poured a small bit on the bite Alva had given him to cleanse it, then lifted the bottle to his lips. He coughed and choked and bodily instinct made him drink. He began to stir. I wilted onto the floor. That was alright. Everything was alright. I was going to die next to Onmund, and he would live. And that was fine.

"Kayla?" I barely registered Onmund's voice. I smiled regardless. He was awake. He was cured, and would be alright. I was ready to go to the Colored Rooms of Meridia's realm. No Sovngarde for me, but that was alright too. I was tired of fighting. I felt a liquid go down my throat, but knew it was too late. I heard voices and the sound of chaos, firebolts being hurled, and death screams. Someone shook me and sobbed while they held me. They rocked back and forth and kissed my face.

And then that was it.

This post has been edited by Elisabeth Hollow: Jan 9 2013, 12:06 AM

Is Kayla alright or is this really the end? I'm pretty sure she's alright though.

Movarth is quite cruel and greatly deserved to die the way he did.



Do you mean "Dawnbreaker" Don't worry, I make spelling mistakes ALL the time, and usually don't catch them.

Excellent chapter, it's nice to sit down and read after a long, stressful day if being yelled at by teachers. All I have left to say is:

Well Done


EDIT: I even make spelling mistakes in my comments I fixed it though

This post has been edited by King Of Beasts: Jan 9 2013, 12:04 AM

-snort- Thanks for catching that!! I missed that with the three edits I made lol

This was a great episode! What a fantastic and tense fight scene where the outcome was constantly in question. After finally managing to kill Movarth, Kayla’s nurturing nature really shined through as she tended to Onmund’s condition instead of her own wounds. You did a fabulous job of describing her loss of blood and disorientation from internal bleeding as she slipped into shock. Not surprisingly, she is suffering a bit of delirium and I don’t think we’ll know exactly what transpired at the end until later.

Let me join KoB in offering you a hearty ‘Well done!’

Really? -girlish squeal- I was so nervous about getting this chapter perfect.

Oh wow, what a great chapter!


Even if there was a plan, I think it would have gone out the window right there. Damn that Alva!

The fight was very tense, and you still have me worried for Kayla. Her devotion to Onmund really shone through.

I like the way you showed events at the end through Kayla’s increasingly blurred perspective. I can guess what happened, but I’m looking forward to finding out for sure.

What an exciting and very enjoyable chapter!

Thanks, Grits! Y'all are gonna give me a huge head lol.

The first paragraph was so gritty you could smell it - Love how you can bring the reader right into the scene like that!



This sent a chill down my spine!


GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



What an amazing, POWERFUL write !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was riveted to the page from the second Movarth's head snapped up .... HOLY CRAP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


AWESOME, AWESOME WRITE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-blushes- tooo kiiiind!

I'm going to let you guys in on a little secret. This chapter was difficult for me to write. I'm hoping you see why.





Chapter 9: Ripped Away

A warm breeze blew the pink mountain flower bush, scattering a few petals on the dirt ground around it. The Skyrim sun bgan to set, the sun's rose-petal fingers stretching out one last time before slumbering. I watched the sky slowly darken from my spot on the small boulder outside my home, built by my and my husband's own two hands.

Another breeze wafted the smell of cooked rabbit, seasoned to a sweet scent, under my nose. My stomach growled, and I looked down at my portuding belly. The physician in Solitude said I was coming to full term very soon, and should take a trip to the city and stay there until the baby was born. She asked what I wanted. I said a healthy baby, and she had laughed.

A large hand reached from behind me and rubbed my belly. "How's our little man?" Onmund cooed at my stomach. "Has be been giving you trouble again? Are you feeling sick?"

I shook my head. "Not today. I think it's my rest day." I gave Onmund a half grin. "You know it's a girl."

"I don't know how you would know."

"I just know." I leaned back into Onmund and took a deep breath. "This is wonderful. It's everything I've ever wanted. You, a child, peace and quiet. No one to bother us. No one to answer to."

"It's perfect." He kissed the top of my head. "Dinner's ready."

We stood up and I let Onmund lead the way. The breeze felt chilly for a moment, and Onmund turned around to say something, but froze. The leaves stopped in mid-air, the trees were in mid-bend, but the sky continued to darken. I looked around wildy. Everything had stopped. Time itself had stopped, except the sun.

"You cannot have this."

I whipped my head around, searching wildly for the source of the voice. It sounded both male and female, both angry and comforting. The child in my belly flinched, and I grunted.

"It's alright, mama's okay," I soothed. "Who are you?" I demanded loudly. "What do you want?"

The leaves whipped up by the breeze gathered in front of me. Dead leaves, deep green leaves, and red, orange and yellow leaves formed a human figure in front of me. The lids opened, and the figure took a gasping breath as the leaves fell away. The figure seemed to be both male and female, neither lacking nor over-compensating in feminine and masculine qualities. The clothes it wore were both flattering and modest, and gave no hints to its gender.

"I am Meridia."

I blinked. Meridia wore a hood over its head, and no small tuft of hair escaped to allow me to see what color hair it had chosen for this form. Strong, high cheekbones adorned the face of the daedric prince, yet full, pink lips delivered the devastating verbal blow.

"You cannot have this. This is not what you were meant for."

"And why not?" I demanded, angry tears stinging my eyes. "Can't I just stay here and be happy? Haven't I earned that?"

"No." Firm, yet sorrowful. "You cannot have this. Not yet. Not here, not now."

"But when?"

"Only Time will tell."

I sobbed, and rubbed my swollen belly. The child inside was still, and a feeling of dread came over me. I felt my heart falter for a second, and sobs wrenched my body. Meridia touched my belly, a sorrowful look in the Daedric Prince's eyes.

"This one was never meant to be. I gave it life in hopes it would prevail, but its light was snuffed out."

A faint memory of pain, kicking boots and bloody knuckles... Laughter and death...

"No..." I wailed. "Please..." I fell to my knees, stroking my abdomen in hopes that the child would stir, that it was a lie, a dream...

"This IS a dream," Meridia knelt beside me. "One you must awaken from. Come." Meridia grasped my hand and pulled me to my feet. "No sense in dwelling on has happened. You have lost one thing, but if you do not steel yourself, you will lose everything."

Meridia pressed a hand to my heart.

"Return."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


My eyes flew open. The wooden beams of the dwelling I was in was the first things I saw. I blinked a few times before taking a deep breath. My chest hurt, like I had not breathed in days. I turned my head slighltly to the right and saw my nightstand. I looked to my left and saw that the bed was unmade and empty. I pushed myself up slowly, and winced when a sharp pain in my abdomen brought me back down to my bed.

I began to shake.

Did I really lose a child?

I knew I did. A breath snaked its way through my lungs, past my lips and into the air that suddenly became too hot. It became a high-pitched wail. I laid on my side and clutched my now barren womb and sobbed. My heart and body ached for the child that will never be. No gasp of air and a sudden cry. No ticklish baby feet. No lessons on how to properly pronounce "r's," nor teaching the value of a septim.

There will be no sword lessons, nor chasing off any boyfriends or girlfriends with an evil eye. No musical giggles. No bedtime stories. No one to give my love to that would love me unconditionally back. An entire lifetime of hopes, dreams, and experiences ended suddenly with a swift kick.

I wished I had died with the child. That Movarth had simply drained me and was done with it. Anything to get rid of this pain. Anything. I continued to cry out for my child, the sobs jerking my body so much that it riddled my lower half with pain. Eventually I was so exhausted that I must have fallen asleep.

A loud crash, followed by a loud curse jerked me out of my sleep. A male voice, slurred by alcohol carried up the stairs.

"Did you die yet, you filthy elf?"

Who...?

A body stumbled in, reeking of mead, wine, and vomit. When it looked up, bloodshot eyes looked back. The green color made me recognize who it was.

"Onmund?!"

"I thought you would have died by now," he slurred, laying on his belly. He rolled onto his back. "Too bad you didn't. Then I could take a wife who wouldn't kill her children." He scratched his newly formed beard. "I'd say we could always make another one, but Danica said you're ruined."

I could only lie there, my already pained heart breaking even more. Tears rolled down my cheeks as Onmund belched and continued.

"She said elves can only have maybe 1 or 2 kids. Since you killed this one, that means you may never be able to have kids again. So, thanks for wasting my time and ruining my life."

"You idiotic, milk-drinking, scamp-suckling, son of a half-septim prostitute!"

Lydia's slight, yet imposing figure silhouetted the doorway in front of a bleary-eyed Onmund. "I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it. Are you so lost in your own selfish self-pity that you can't see that she has lost a child too?" She stepped closer. Her face read nothing but fury, her full mouth thinned in a scowl while her blue eyes shot poisoned arrows at Onmund.

"It's her fault!" Onmund protested.

With that, Lydia's armored foot kicked him in the stomach, causing him to spill its contents all over the wooden floors. Lydia continued while I gagged.

"I knew there was a reason you told me to leave. You wanted to come here and make her feel worse than she already does! What kind of man are you?" She pulled him up with one arm and pushed him against the wall. Onmund looked dazed and green, half-digested mead and wine dribbling from his mouth.

"You need to wake up. YOU let some vamp tramp coax you out of your clothes and into her bed while Kayla was SOLVING A MURDER!" Onmund shrank against the wall as much as he could.

Lydia continued, "She risks her life every time she goes out those gates and you know this! How many times has she come back half dead? How many times has she come back to YOU?" Lydia took a deep breath and exhaled.

"You are staying at the inn until further notice. Got it?"

Onmund fumed. "I don't have to take orders from you! You are under MY employ!"

Lydia cocked her arm back and quicker than I could register, she socked Onmund in the mouth, then on the cheek. Onmund slumped onto the ground, knocked out. I burst into tears.

Lydia sat on the edge of the bed and shushed me gently. I gripped her hand and bawled. I bawled for my own grief, and for my husband's. In a low voice, she sang to me. I don't remember the words as much as the tune, which was soothing and sad. When I quit crying, Lydia patted my hand and stood up.

"I'm going to take him to the Bannered Mare. The jarl pays me well enough for me to keep him there. He tried to use your savings for a nurser-" she cut herself off, then changed her wording. "He tried to use your money instead of his own. I've been paying for his room, but he's racking up quite a debt to Hulda and other townspeople."

"I'll pay it off," I said quietly. My voice was hoarse, and Lydia raised an eyebrow. "He's still my husband, and I can't have him thrown in jail for not paying off his debts." Lydia nodded, then slung one of Onmund's arms over her shoulder. She supported almost all of his weight and called over her shoulder that she would be fetching Danica on her way back. I almost didn't hear her. I simply laid there, numb.

I killed my child.

I... killed my child.

I never even had the chance to feel it move.

Onmund was a real [censored] in this chapter. I Say: Feed him to the hounds if Hircine!

I feel really bad for Kayla, lt must be horrible to lose a child...



Tell him Lydia

I can see why you had a hard time writing this chapter, but it was amazing.

Since one good Job isn't enough I'll give you:



EDIT: I can't write one comment without a spelling mistake, can I

This post has been edited by King Of Beasts: Jan 12 2013, 10:04 PM

Very powerful and emotional chapter! I can understand how hard it must have been to write, very real emotions came through! Left some mystery for how she survived the attack in Morthal and found herself where she is! Awesome Write!

This post has been edited by mALX: Jan 12 2013, 10:08 PM

Oh my, it's not getting any better, is it?
Even after getting his neck saved, Onmund just acts like a jerk. Wait a sec, had it been mentioned before that she was pregnant? I remember her saying she didn't want to be a baby-factory, but that's it.


Oh, and a tiny nit though it's not your fault. Species that only ever get one or two kids never made sense to me. At best it leads to a stable population. But as soon as someone trips over a pebble and breaks his neck, you're on the road to extinction.

I think they did the "Only 1 or 2 babies" thing for elves because of their long lifespan. If they could repopulate like humans, then there would be no room for humans or beastfolk. It's a way to balance out the advantage.

And no, she didn't know she was pregnant. This was her way of finding out she was.