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R.I.P. neildarkstar. Haven will miss you dearly.
| The Measure of a Woman; Serana's Tale | |
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| Topic Started: Sep 6 2017, 09:48 PM (643 Views) | |
| Serethil | Nov 21 2017, 07:31 PM Post #141 |
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Et'Ada
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Nineteen: Well, THAT was a climb! It’s a good thing I’d kept in shape in Bruma all those months, because by the time I got to the final climb to the Shrines, I was dead on my feet. So for a bit after I got to the top, I just slumped to the ground, wrapped my arms around my knees and tried to get my breath back, and let my leg muscles relax and stop shaking. Melkioran had stayed down below with the horses, and said he’d a letter to give to Edilla from Tiercel, waving me on up the path. I wondered if he had ever been up here.... The view was spectacular; I wished I knew how to paint because I’d love to have a painting of this view to treasure. By that time I’d my breathing back to normal, so I clambered to stand on my still somewhat shaky legs, moving to center myself between the two Shrines; I lit some candles set ready and a stick of incense in a sand-tray. I composed myself as much as I could before beginning my plea. “Lady of Light and Life, I ask your indulgence and that of your sister Azura, Lady of Twilight and Roses. I am, as you see, a creature of Molag Bal’s making - I am a Daughter of Coldharbour by my parents’ machinations in giving me to him without my consent. I would shed this evil, and return to simple humanity. I have labored long at making the herbs and potions necessary to remove the taint, but there is also a magickal component; I am far more apt to alchemy than spells. “I beg your indulgences to assist me in this endeavor, to support me with your own magicks as I cast the necessary spells, and also I ask your protection from Bal as I make this attempt.” I waited, I didn’t know how long - but eventually I heard within my mind two female voices: ‘You ask a great deal’, spoke the twain. “Aye. I do. I am already bound, once I am human again, to offer the instruction of how to remove this evil taint to any of my sort who wish to know it. But I will offer to you whatever you desire, assuming it is something I will be able to find for you.” ‘Tiercel has sent you here, has she not?’ “Not precisely. I thought through the last months in Cyrodiil, that I would fail due to my lack of magicka and spell-knowledge. And then I remembered Tiercel’s setting of your Shrines on the highest peak of Solstheim, and - I thought to beg you to help with the spell-casting, so that I would spend no more of my life in this evil case.” I could hear them talking together, but was not able to understand what they said. And then there was a long silence. ‘We hear your plea. We will assist you as you have asked. Once you are human again, we will ask a boon of you. But not until you are fully human, and can fully understand what you give.’ Ah, that was rather a facer. However, I knew that both were considered the “good” Princes; I determined I would have to trust them. “I accept. I would ask to sleep the night before starting - I am weary.” ‘You would do well to sleep below - this is a perch uncomfortable for mortals - or even the undead.’ I smiled. “Aye. I will return as soon as I can see to make the climb in the morning.” And then I began the return trek, hoping the descent would be easier than the ascent! |
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| Areial | Nov 21 2017, 08:08 PM Post #142 |
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Et'Ada
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:clap: Nice read! Anticipation! |
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| Serethil | Nov 21 2017, 08:19 PM Post #143 |
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Et'Ada
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Thank you Sis! Right now, Serana is on tenterhooks.... her heart is jumping, her pulse racing.... |
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| neildarkstar | Nov 22 2017, 12:20 AM Post #144 |
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Overlord
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Interesting... on several levels. :) :thumb: |
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| Serethil | Nov 22 2017, 09:56 AM Post #145 |
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Et'Ada
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Thank you neil! |
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| Lapuaboy | Nov 22 2017, 08:33 PM Post #146 |
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Thane
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Hmmm. What will that boon they require be? Waiting anxiously! :thumb: |
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| Serethil | Nov 22 2017, 08:36 PM Post #147 |
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Et'Ada
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Thank you Lappy! Well.... I won't know until I write it.... |
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| Kane | Nov 24 2017, 10:19 AM Post #148 |
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Overlord
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Hopefully they don't ask too much of her! |
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| Serethil | Nov 29 2017, 10:44 PM Post #149 |
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Et'Ada
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Twenty: “Thanks” cannot even begin to express.... Morning was barely born when I began the trek up the mountain again. It was - frightening really. How had this path come to be? I would have to ask Tiercel for the tale, because the reality - well, it must have a most harrowing tale behind it.... So. I did reach the Shrines by mid-morning, and settled myself at the midpoint between the sisters’ loci. “I await you, Princes of the Dawn and the Dusk, the Light and the Roses. Please to help me remove this taint - this evil from my body and soul.” I waited. And eventually there was a glory of light and sound, a cacophony of voices not all in tune with each other. It seemed to go on forever - I finally wrapped my arms over my head, shielding my ears. At last, silence reigned. And into that silence..... ....the voice of Molag Bal insinuated its slimy nastiness, its putrid dreck, its - essential evil. “So. You three think to shut me out?” The voice seemed compounded of brass bells all deliberately set out-of-tune with one another. Meridia spoke softly. “Ah, but see you, Bal - this child was given unwilling by her parents. She never wished that ‘gift’ of you.” I felt its gaze upon me, raping my soul as it had once raped my body. “So. You think to abrogate my boons, little child?” I swallowed hard, still remembering the - entire mind-numbing and body-violating meeting in a seraglio from the Hells. “I abjure you, Molag Bal. I was given to your abuse unwilling. I require that you release me.” I felt his regard as a great darkness intended to swallow me. “NO! You do not own me now. I will be free!” Azura blessed me with her light, aided by that of Meridia. “Bal. Take yourself off. This child will be free of you.” It laughed. And then it said “Well, no. I don’t think so. After all, it’s just a child - if a Daughter of Coldharbour. So, by that, it’s mine forever.” I stood facing this horrible daedra and said again, firmly: “I am not yours. I was give to you without my consent, by parents who.... were anything but parents. I did not accede to rape. I did not accede to becoming a Daughter of Coldharbour. And I abjure you! Now and forever!” Somewhere in the back of my mind, I heard a small whisper. ‘Laugh at him child.... tell him the only way he can have the sex he craves is by parents who give their children to him in exchange for silly boons.’ So I stood up facing him, and laughed. “Ah, Molag Bal. You crave sex with humans - but none will have you unless they are given to you by parents who want boons from you! No one would couple with you by choice, you know. Well, of course you know it. It’s why you chose to make Daughters of Coldharbour after all! “Give over, daedra. I’m done with you. I’ve the knowledge to remove this evil taint from my body and my life, and I will do so. Get you hence!” It brooded over me. Finally - “So - you choose death instead of life everlasting? You are not very bright. So. Toss me away, complete your little conjury - you will find that you cannot be rid of me so easily!” A laughter as of bells greeted that statement. Meridia and Azura - laughing at Molag Bal! “Little brother - you cannot retain grasp of one who has truly abjured you, as Serana has done. Begone. You have no more dominance over her. Take yourself off.” The twinned voices contained much of contempt. The heat of Bal’s fury rose -and then as suddenly dissipated. He was gone. Those twinned voices laughed again, and then spoke into my mind. 'Well child. He is a bad enemy. But we think you will manage to - handle - him. So. Now to spells. Show us what needs doing.' Over a day later, it was done. The Princes had looked at the potions, herbs, and medicaments; they had dissected the spell-components. And then they had - taken me somewhere.... Other. And there - I threw Molag Bal out of my body, my mind, my emotions, and my blood. So. Now I sit limp on this peak in the deepest cold of Solstheim. “Thank you my Princes. I know you have - requirements - of me, in exchange. I will do whatever you need, for the removal of Bal’s - evil - from my body and blood is worth anything you ask.” Again those twinned voices laughed and this time it was like the bells of the morning of a new world chiming. ‘Child, we require nothing more of you than that you revere us in future, and live a good life. We.... may have.... led you to believe we had some geas of magnitude that you would be compelled to accomplish. This is simply one way to know - how - determined - a supplicant may be. We read you aright - you have hated the taint of Bal, and the need to subsist on human blood. ‘So. We are quits - you shall keep ever in mind that some princes are benevolent rather than the opposite. And - you will live a life totally opposite to that planned for you by your.... parents....’ I was dumbfounded. Nothing I knew from before had prepared me for - being set free. And that’s what it was - freedom. I bowed dumbly. I couldn’t say a word, my throat was so swollen with tears. I fumbled amongst the candles, but could not find a way to light them. Then there was a warm body wrapped around me, and hands guiding mine to do what needed doing. Melki.... Something in my now-human body sang a song I’d never known before. I - think - life will be good in future.... though of course it will be much shorter! And that is a VERY good thing. Edited by Serethil, Nov 29 2017, 10:52 PM.
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| neildarkstar | Nov 30 2017, 12:20 AM Post #150 |
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Overlord
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Excellent! :clap: |
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| Areial | Nov 30 2017, 02:57 AM Post #151 |
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Et'Ada
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Awesome Read!!! totally awesome!! The future now look's pretty bright! |
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| Poncho | Nov 30 2017, 05:22 AM Post #152 |
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Noble
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A great deal of free time on my hands has landed me here....I much enjoyed the story Serethil, I will in future be picturing something of this sort when Serana leaves to cure herself in future adventures. Now to catch up on the rest of Serana's adoptive clan... |
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| Serethil | Nov 30 2017, 10:17 AM Post #153 |
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Et'Ada
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Thanks everyone! You know, settling Serana into a new life and seeing her in a better light has given me the ability to view her that way when doing Dawnguard now. We have entire "silent conversations" during the DLC quests based on what I've written for her here.... a bit different with each of my girls, of course - but it's far more satisfying than just having her trailing behind.... |
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| Lapuaboy | Nov 30 2017, 03:47 PM Post #154 |
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Thane
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So good, and so thoughtful. Very nice handling of the Princes "boon," and so heartfelt with Melki at the end. :thanks: |
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| Serethil | Nov 30 2017, 07:02 PM Post #155 |
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Et'Ada
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Thank you Lappy! I'm quite pleased with the way it all turned out myself! |
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| Kane | Nov 30 2017, 07:28 PM Post #156 |
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Overlord
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Nice to see Bal get put in his place. Love the interaction, and I'm glad that Serana has Melki. :clap: |
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| Serethil | Nov 30 2017, 07:31 PM Post #157 |
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Et'Ada
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Thank you Kane! |
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4:44 AM Jul 11