#ch: sadara

[curiosity-killed]

the last of the Soko siblings!

[ALT ID: A digital drawing of 11 people from roughly their shoulders up. Each are in 3/4 view, have medium-brown skin and black hair.]

[mayaketu]

How do the shinju pick their targets?

Most ppl believe that the shinju pick targets based off who is closest to them.

But that’s not confirmed so far in this story (as of ch 14) and we can see from current targets that’s not necessarily the case.

My theory is that the shinju pick targets based off ppl their human counterparts want to understand more than anyone else. People who have deeply impacted them that they want to learn more about/from.

Juras connection with Naruto is likely due to isshiki dna from Codes karma being mixed into the 10 tails. Naruto bested Isshiki by using a power even isshiki was shocked by.

Then upon meeting hima, she has intrigued Jura by showcasing a power he is shocked by as well. (She’s not a normal jinchuriki) thus choosing her as his next target.

Matsuri chose konohomaru, her childhood best friend. We don’t see Moegi enough to expand on this BUT she did seem jealous when konohomaru was bonding with Hanabi in the anime. So Moegi may have feelings for him she’s been ignoring

Hidari chose sadara. Sasuke doesn’t know Sarada well due to being gone most of her life. He said he feels connected to Sakura. Sakura even saying she knows him in & out. Since Jura picked Naruto, sasukes next closest living person would have been Sakura. But the person sasuke would want to understand and learn from the most rn, would be Sarada.

Mamushi chose Eida. This pick was very interesting bc mamushi didnt make this choice until he saw Eida spying on them. It wasn’t so instinctual & emotionally driven like the other picks. This confirms something else also. Eida’s charm ability doesn’t allow you to hurt her- yet mamushi still chose to devour Eida despite them making eye contact. It’s not confirmed yet but if Mamushi is able to attack Eida this would mean the shinju are not subjected to Eida’s ability. Meaning omnipotence also shouldn’t affect them. Very important info, esp for theorizing who Ryu will choose as a target.

Despite Bug being Eida’s captive, which likely added to why Mamushi chose her, it seems the shinju are most fascinated by her Senrigan, which Jura comments on making her interesting.

Ryu’s target, which will likely be made known in the next 2 chapters, will confirm how they pick their targets. If it’s the people closest to them, he will pick someone from the Sand village/his family. If it’s based off curiosity/impact, he will pick someone from the leaf.

*i already wrote a post on my theory for who Ryu will pick as his target. But I will also make a list for all the possible picks from most to least likely.

[aladaylessecondblog]

#WeFoundTheHeart (Red Mountain Waffle House ch. 2)

"The fuck is that thing?" Jiub, from behind the grill, gestured at the pot that Sadara was adjusting on the front window-sill. "Looks awful."

The plant in question was definitely under the weather. The leaves were turning yellow towards the base, the red petals were looking dry, the white-ish ones weren't much better, and Sadara was hoping the nice bit of water she'd given it, combined with the nice spot at the window, might be just the thing to perk it back up. She'd considered repotting it--the pot was a bit cracked, and had some daedric-looking figure on it. 'N,' she was pretty sure, but it was faded enough that she couldn't be entirely sure.

"Google calls it a bleeding heart. I found it outside the apartment...it's not doing so well there so I thought the sun might be better for it here."

"You've got a black thumb, that thing's going to be dead inside of a week." Jiub laughed, flicked at his cigarette and went back to work on a scrambled egg, "Put it out of its misery."

"Says the man that once killed a dandelion." Sadara handed over a buoyant armiger's coffee and then looked back.

"Fuck you, it only died because my nix-hound decided that exact spot had to be where it pissed."

"Enough with the chit-chat, can I get my eggs?" a shirtless dunmer called from the table on the other side of the jukebox. Near the bathroom. Usually, Sadara was told, a problem table given the view it gave of the road. "Or are you two going to go at each other right here in front of Dagoth Ur and everybody?"

He looks like he doesn't get enough sleep, Sadara thought, Probably a tweaker. Skooma head, at the minimum.

"I've got about fifteen reasons why that'd be a bad idea," Jiub called out, and dished the eggs out and onto a plate next to the waffle.

Something told her to put on the corprus gloves, so she did, and then brought the plate over. "There you go. It's just been a slow night. People must be getting a good night's rest...unlike you. If you'd like some more coffee--"

"Coffee's the last thing I need right now. Maybe something...less...wake-y."

"We don't have any weed or we'd sell you some," Sadara replied, "And warm milk doesn't do anything except make you want to brush your teeth right that second. I could hit you over the head if you wanted."

"I've tried that. Doesn't work. All it did was give me a headache. I just...I got really bad insomnia." There was a pause, a look past her, and then, "Where'd you get the plant?"

"The plant? Oh, I found it outside my apartment. The sun's better here, so I set it up. Poor thing looks like it could use a little extra light. Better than it'll get on...well, you get the idea."

The conversation petered out and the dunmer paid his check. As she looked up he was snapping a picture of the plant with his phone, but when she was coming back with the receipt she realized he was making a grab for the plant.

"Hey, hey, that's MINE!" she snapped at him, "Fuck off, get your OWN plant!"

"It's not yours!" he snarled back as she was tugging the pot from his hands, "It's my LORD'S!"

One of the weaker blooms shed its bulb from all the motion and the shirtless dunmer moved back suddenly.

"Then tell your lord to come and get it!" she said, "And to ask politely instead of asking randos to do the job for him!"

For a moment the dunmer looked like he was going to give a really acidic reply, but when Sadara raised a hand like she was going to smack him--he stared at it just for a second, and then left.

"The fuck was that about?" Jiub called from the back.

"He says the plant belongs to 'his lord'...whatever the hell THAT means." Sadara put the plant back once she was sure the dunmer wasn't coming back.

(Within the hour #WeFoundTheHeart was trending on Morrotwitter, all accompanied by the same damn picture of the plant in the Waffle House window. Had it not been for what followed she would have been sure that she was hallucinating the whole thing.)

-------------------------

The shirtless guy wasn't the first one to try stealing the bleeding heart plant, and after the next four attempts Sadara felt it was pretty safe for her to assume he wouldn't be the last either. It wasn't just regular dunmer either, it was ash zombies, ash ghouls--It had gotten to the point where she considered telling them it died, but something always seemed to stop her doing that.

"You'd think it was moon-sugar cane, the way they're after it," Jiub said, passing her the bottle of sujamma over his shoulder, "Did you sprinkle it with skooma? Seriously, the fuck'd you do to it?"

"I didn't do anything to it! Well...I gave it some compost I got off Nibani, but...other than that, nothing."

"Heads up," Nibani said suddenly, from where she was cleaning up one of the corner tables, "Ascended sleeper. Stay polite, but don't talk to 'em much and--"

"Don't ask about his god. I know, I know." Sadara took a gulp from the bottle of sujamma and then breathed deep.

The ascended sleeper meandered in and took a seat in the middle of the dining area, right at the counter. There was a look in the direction of the bleeding heart plant. Or Sadara assumed it was a look, anyway, the damned thing didn't seem to have any eyes, what in the hell would it look WITH?

"Coffee, please."

The tone was...strange, not like any voice she'd ever heard. Like someone was putting it through an instrumental filter or something, maybe talking next to a fan.

"Dark? Any sugar, creamer?"

"Black."

"That's the best way," Sadara gave a slight smile, and moved over to the coffee maker to pour him out a cup. "You had a pleasant walk...ah...float here, I hope."

Laughter came, like an orchestra of slightly-off-key flutes. "Pleasant enough. I hear this is where I can see the Heart."

"What, the plant?"

Another couple customers came in. One was a buoyant armiger, off-duty from the look of him. He gave the ascended sleeper a strange look but went on and called for a steak with his waffle.

"Rare, medium, or get the hell out," Jiub said.

"What's wrong with well done?"

"What's wrong is it's a crime against fucking nature. A guar died to give you this meat and you want me to burn the shit out of it?" Jiub asked.

"I was going to ask for it medium anyway." A huff, and then a look back to the menu.

"Is it always like this?" the ascended sleeper asked. "I don't often come here, you see."

"That? That's nothing." Sadara laughed. "Now, what do you want to actually eat? Can you eat?"

"I can, yes. One gets the urge for something more than corprusmeat, now and then..."

"It doesn't sound like it would taste very good, but you must enjoy it or you wouldn't keep doing it."

After a short pause the sleeper said, "Some sausage and a waffle, if you don't mind."

Sadara gave a slight smile. The next fifteen minutes or so were actually rather pleasant--the ascended sleeper would glance at the bleeding heart plant now and then, but mostly he would watch her and make polite conversation. How long she had been in Morrowind, how she (disliked) the weather. All weird, unconnected questions, but she was glad to have one of them talking to her that didn't

She took a from the sujamma bottle when he'd turned his head to look at it.

"I've seen that mark a few times," the ascended sleeper said, "Strange that you should find it on a flowerpot of all things."

"Everyone likes to plant things." Sadara shrugged. "I usually have a black thumb, but..."

"But that plant seems to grow for you?"

"Yeah, it does. Strange, that. It's finally starting to look better."

It was a nice feeling, really. To have plant after plant after plant die--to the point, way back when she'd lived with Jiub the first time, he wouldn't even let her step inside the room he grew the weed in--and then to have something actually grow for her.

The sleeper gave several nods. "It means 'Neht,' if you wanted to know."

"What?"

"The symbol on the flowerpot. It means 'Neht.'"

"Huh. Interesting."

"Well--"

"Oh, come on!"

Sadara looked down the bar at the off-duty buoyant armiger. "Sir?"

"You're going to let that thing stay?"

"He's being more polite than you are," she replied curtly, "And his money spends just as well as yours."

"I spend my day defending the Ghostfence from that sort. Why does this place just--let them--"

"See previous answer. The only one being rude here is YOU, jackass."

That was when Nibani spoke up. "Either shut your mouth or leave, we don't want fighting here if we can help it."

"You two're awfully mouthy for someone who's cozying up to the Sixth House's monsters," the armiger stood and crossed the room. "Makes me think maybe you're involved with them too."

"Makes me think you're about to write a check your ass can't cash," Sadara replied. She took another sip of sujamma, and walked through the little gate at the end of the bar. "So do like the manager says, shut your mouth or leave."

"As if I'm going to let some Sixth House sympathizer--"

The buoyant armiger lunged. Sadara ducked his wild bolt of flame, and clocked him right in the jaw.

"You BITCH!"

Behind her was another shout, Jiub, who'd let out, "I JUST started that egg!"

Then, a rapid fire alarm.

Sadara sidestepped and grabbed the back of the armiger's armor, and with a great effort hauled him towards the door that she pressed open with her foot. "C'mon, I don't care if you paid or not. You're out, and if you try to come back in I'll drag you right back out again. Got it?"

The armiger did not, in fact, get it. He swung at her, got her hard in the shoulder, and found himself hit in the jaw once again, this time with the hand she wore the ring on. It left an immediate imprint, and would probably end up bruising, from what she could guess.

"Now are you going to leave, or am I going to have to kick you in the balls?"

It took the actual kick for him to figure out Sadara was serious.

---------------------------------------

The ascended sleeper had been very pleased with what he saw. Very pleased, indeed. He'd told them, hadn't he--those beneath him--that they could get more information if they just used their words and asked nicely. But then again, niceties weren't their strong point.

That was why HE had been sent.

Once #WeFoundTheHeart started going around, his lord had asked - discern the truth. See if what they were seeing (and hearing) was true. Don't attempt to steal the plant, it was too precious to risk in a tug-of-war situation. It was a delicate variety, after all, it couldn't hope to stand up to much of a stiff breeze this far away from its usual soil and tending.

"Well?"

His lord did not turn around, but that was usual. It was a privilege merely to be in his presence, to behold even part of his magnificence.

"It's true, lord Dagoth. The plant is there. And the one who chased off the dreamer claimed to have a black thumb, yet somehow the bleeding heart grew for her. And she was wearing...the ring."

"The ring?"

"THE ring, my lord, I saw it with my own eyes. Briefly--there was a bit of a scuffle, as a buoyant armiger decided he wanted to make trouble because I was allowed to dine there, and the one in question fought him half-drunk."

There was a pause, and then a sudden sharp intake of breath.

"Nerevar's ring, his plant that I've kept alive for these centuries...and now you tell me there was a drunken brawl."

The next breath was shakier.

"Nerevar really has returned."

[scioneeris]

Got more done on CH 113 again.

Ahhhhhhhh. Why is Sadara so hard to write?!?!😤😖😭😭😩

I need to shift scenes or write a diff. Story at the rate I’m going. 😬😑

Also. Shadow is having the time of his life. 🥳

Worked on the Molly and Sadara scene today. Whew. It’s kinda exhausting. 😅

Also, a new fluff snippet on Patreon if you had a lousy Monday too. 😔

[aladaylessecondblog]

Fallen Star, ch. 9 (female nerevarine x dagoth ur)

You disappoint me, moon-and-star. You defile yourself with the demon who calls himself a god. You gorge yourself senseless on the sweet wine of the forbidden fruit, and for what?

"If I can convince him--" Sadara started, in as low a whisper as she could manage. But she was cut off.

You cannot convince him. You cannot sway him. The Sharmat's eye is fixed upon the subjugation of Morrowind, and then, of all Tamriel - and you, Sadara, are nothing more than the vessel that carries that which he truly desires. You are set dressing. You are nothing.

"But to be his nothing is better than to be it alone." Sadara went on in the same low tone. "And why should I not save him, as long as it is possible? Why should I not show mercy to the soul who needs it most?"

He is the SHARMAT, foolish child! The devil of Dagoth, the source of corprus, the bane of all Morrowind! He does not DESERVE your mercy!

"And what of the people of the city of Vivec? The people who would die if Vivec himself could no longer hold back Baar Dau?"

Silence.

"Is it because they worship Vivec and not you?"

Silence still, but one she could feel fury from as well. A long pause, that was finally broke by a tense question.

Why are you so insistent? Do you not know he could kill you?

"I want to help him. I know if I don't try, then no will else will...and if I manage it - how much better off Morrowind would be for--"

Azura faded from her mind mid-sentence.

Sadara took a deep and shaky breath. This made it no easier. Azura either didn't see or didn't wish to see the benefit of what she was trying to do. If she could change Voryn's mind, if she could make him see the error of his ways...

If, if, if...

I have to try. But what if it doesn't work?

As much as she wanted to believe she could change him, it suddenly came to Sadara that Azura's point of view, though the complete opposite of Voryn's, was no less rigid at its core. She could not seem to persuade Azura, suppose that she could not change him either?

The thought she'd had before Azura spoke returned once again.

There were three courses of action if she could not convince Voryn to change his ways. To fulfill the prophecy and release the Heart of Lorkhan (and by the same action, murder Voryn), to join House Dagoth and participate in the subjugation of all Tamriel via Akulakhan and corprus, or...

Sadara swallowed, and shut her eyes.

...or walk away, leave Morrowind to tend its own prophecy, leave Voryn and all the love he and House Dagoth had to show and give.

To be alone again.

Her hands came up, and her face sunk down into them. No, no, she wouldn't let it come to that. She would change his mind; there would be no need to think of what to do if she couldn't.

Everything would be alright.

A sudden breeze brought dust against Sadara's face, and on opening her eyes she saw that a blight storm was beginning to kick up. The sunrise was ever more beautiful for it, but the stunning color was quickly overrun by the storm. She heard Rather drifting closer, and stood quickly, turning towards him.

"Right, right, I know, back inside."

Immunity to corprus or not, it wasn't good to be outside during a blight storm.

The answers she'd hoped for hadn't appeared. And there was no one but herself she could go to for answers. The closest option was Nibani Maesa, but she could already imagine what the woman would say...likely it would be a repetition of Azura's opinion on the matter.

You submit yourself to the Sharmat's will, and it is only a matter of time before you fall too far to rise again. Do not listen. Do not go back to him. Retrieve Wraithguard and give him the only mercy he is yet able to receive.

She thought then of the Divines, casting her mind about for any of them that might have advice or guidance for her. Certainly not Arkay, he didn't like the undead. Mara...well...she had prayed to Mara before...she had prayed to some one or the other of the Divines since coming to Red Mountain, and none had yet answered.

She thought of Dibella, one of her teachings. "No matter the seed, if the shoot is nurtured with love, will not the flower be beautiful?"

Perhaps with love she could fix this...

But Dibella cared neither for the undead nor relations with them, and however warm Voryn's embrace the heart in his chest did not beat.

So there would be no aid there, either.

Everything that would be done she would need to do all on her own.

---------------------------

The household of Kogoruhn seemed to have a definite routine, and in the interest of staying out of its way Sadara went to the Vault of Aerode to eat and look over the notes of the prophecy and associated things on Nerevar and the Sixth House that she'd collected so far. Perhaps she would find some wisdom to help her figure things out in their words.

It seemed to make the ash slaves nervous, to have her seated in one of the chairs, to not have it stacked with the others but they said nothing more when Ulen shooed them away with some order she didn't hear.

Ulen eventually returned to her, looking over the scrolls and books, the first of which was Saint Nerevar.

"I thought it might be helpful," she said, seeing him look over the title. "It was...mostly drivel."

She opened it and turned to a random page, noting the next.

Nerevar died not long after of his wounds, but he lived to see the birth of the Temple, and to bless the unity of the Dunmer into the safekeeping of Almsivi, the Temple...

"Made up nonsense that never actually happened." She shook her head, and moved on to Nerevar Moon-and-Star. "Funny how the Imperial view seems to be more accurate."

But after this great victory, the power-hungry khans of the Great Houses slew Nerevar in secret, and, setting themselves up as gods, neglected Nerevar's promises to the Tribes.

But it is said that Nerevar will come again with his ring, and cast down the false gods, and by the power of his ring will make good his promises to the Tribes, to honor the Spirits and drive the outsiders from the land.

"Not that I would say funny, of course," Ulen said, "Strange, perhaps. You have come to us again, and will aid Lord Dagoth in driving the outsiders from the land. If this were part of the prophecy, I might be inclined to remark on the fickle nature of such things. That the words can have more than one meaning."

Sadara nodded in agreement and then brought forward the Stranger.

Though stark-born to sire uncertain / His aspect marks his certain fate / Wicked stalk him, righteous curse him / Prophets speak, but all deny.

"Some parts might not even apply," Sadara replied, "I know who my father is."

She did not remember his name, but did recall her mother speaking of him, that he had died...the details of it all were very fuzzy, though. Righteous cursing, though...that sounded like Azura. All denying made sense too, no one seemed to believe in her until she wore the ring.

"His aspect marks his certain fate," Ulen said, "Perhaps it means your sign. What is it?"

"The Thief," Sadara said. "I thought it was 'most blessed and most cursed' but I mixed that up with the Serpent. Thief signs...I'm not a thief but that's not a certain thing under this sign anyway. It's said they takes more risks and rarely come to harm. But...that their luck would eventually run out, that they tend not to live as long as other signs."

"Appropriate, but also inaccurate. You shan't have to worry about death, now that the gift of Lord Dagoth runs through your veins."

She could not see his mouth if he had one, but she could hear the smile in his voice.

"This pleases you?" she asked.

"You make our lord happy, and his happiness is ours."

"Do you...feel his mood? How does that work?" She turned over The Seven Curses as she spoke.

"We do not receive specifics, if that is what you are worried about," Ulen replied, "But we feel his sorrow, his joy, his anger--the extremes, in essence. The higher in his service we rise, the more subtleties we may be privy to. For example...when first you came to him, I and other ascended sleepers felt something from him that we had never felt before."

"What...what was that?"

"Hope."

Sadara looked down to the paper. The words set a bloom in her chest, a warm feeling, and yet a fear along with it. So to distract herself she read over the Seven Curses.

First curse, Curse-of-Fire, second curse, Curse-of-Ash

"Clearly these two are about Red Mountain and its surrounding...area," she said. "And curse of flesh I assume is how the writer refers to the corprus and blights."

"If only they knew the blessing it can be."

"Curse of dreams...also obvious. The dreams were strange at first, but...after a while they began to be comfortable, despite the relations to death." Sadara took a deep breath. "I wonder what curses four, five, and six could mean, though."

"Which?" Ulen looked. "Curse of ghosts, curse of seed, curse of despair...from the writer's point of view, perhaps the curse of ghosts could be the discovery of your identity as Lord Nerevar's incarnate. Perhaps the despair that they assumed an incarnate would feel."

Neither of them remarked on curse of seed. She couldn't even begin to fathom what that might mean--there were certain references they could make, but nothing that would leap out as an actual solution to the riddle of it. And debating on it would be...awkward. Like, she imagined, discussing the enormous hornet's nest on the statue of Dibella she'd seen once that had formed between the statue's--

"What do you think it means?" he asked suddenly.

"Perhaps," Sadara swallowed again, and reached for the bottle of ale she'd brought with her, "Perhaps the writer imagined the despair one might feel, to be guided to act against her country. If I were--less inclined to join this house, I might feel despair. Torn between what I had been told in this life and what had happened in the other."

She took a few sips from the bottle and then moved on to the Lost Prophecies.

Blessed Guest counters seven curses / Star-blessed hand wields thrice-cursed blade / To reap the harvest of the unmourned house.

"Thrice cursed blade...Keening, obviously, given the association with the Tribunal." Sadara took a deep breath. "But as for the rest..."

There was a long pause.

"What wisdom do you hope to gain from this, Nerevar?" Ulen seemed to notice that she was struggling with something, "Perhaps you wish to understand the view that Lord Dagoth's enemies have on your return?"

"That and I am trying to put Azura's words from my mind by keeping it busy," Sadara replied. It wasn't entirely a lie. She knew her current course of action wasn't approved by the Queen of Dawn and Dusk, and wanted to keep the doubts that kept sneaking into her head silent for a while. "She spoke to me as I sat outside earlier, and...was not at all pleased by what I have been doing. She wasn't pleased by the--I told her I would not do what she wished of me. That I would not raise a hand against V...Lord Dagoth."

Ulen patted soothingly at the hand of hers on the table that was within his reach. "To be expected, of course. The daedric princes do not care for mortals that think for themselves. They are angered by those who decline to place a hand within reach of the silver-tongued viper's venomous fangs. And her you might have to fear, were it not for Lord Dagoth's protection."

"I am...fortunate, in that regard." Sadara replied slowly.

She was safe from all harm...so long as she did not leave Voryn.

------------------------

"The ash slaves will not admit it, but I think you've upset them."

Sadara looked up. She was currently kneeling on the floor, and attempting to scrub one of the symbols of House Dagoth from it. Uthol stood there in the doorway, watching her with something of an amused smile.

"What, why?"

"You've replaced the chairs and you're cleaning up all the symbols they've drawn on the floor," he replied, "I have to admit I allowed them to fool about with the chairs and the drawing because it kept them occupied...I hope you've something in mind for them to do otherwise, or you'll likely find your sleep interrupted by their wailing."

"I asked them to draw the symbols on the walls instead of the floor...and suggested if they erased them at night, they could repeat the cycle the next day," Sadara started, "If there were materials to spare I would suggest weaving the symbol instead of drawing it...something that could be repeated to ease the noise in their minds that would also bring some benefit or the other."

"Why clean the symbols yourself?"

"You're the noble one here, and I'm certainly not going to ask you to do it. I suppose I could ask the ash ghouls or the ascended sleepers, but..." she trailed off, and after a pause started again, "If this is meant to be the seat of House Dagoth, it shouldn't look as though a pack of children have been let loose with chalk."

Uthol laughed. "That is fair, I suppose. But perhaps don't let our lord find out we've been letting you do such menial labor."

"It's not menial if I enjoy it," Sadara replied, "But if you insist."

He left then, and she spent the rest of the day in further cleaning. The Vault of Aerode looked much nicer without stacks of chairs and clumsy drawings scattered all over the place. Such a mindless task as tidying up gave her time to think, though it did her no good overall in the matter of figuring out what to actually do.

But after it was done she had something to show for all the effort she'd put in. Perhaps, she thought, it could eventually be a proper library...if there wasn't already such a room in Kogoruhn. She hadn't seen all of the place yet, after all.

Though she had spent the day pondering her dilemma, she lay down to sleep with some small measure of satisfaction.

Sadara opened her eyes to the same ballroom as before. She gave a smile when a look in the mirror showed not just the sprig of red salvia Voryn had placed behind her ear in last night's dream, but an entire crown of it atop her head.

Even if he would never call her anything but Nerevar, to be so marked and wanted warmed her in a way she truly hoped would never end.

[aladaylessecondblog]

Fallen Star ch. 4

More smut ahead.

To no one's surprise Dagoth Ur is aroused by being called a god.

-------------------

There were no angry words from Azura, only the definite feeling of anger. Moon-and-star burned briefly on her finger, but then seemed to calm down. Her ladyship's displeasure, of course, was ever-present in her mind.

Sadara had awakened atop Voryn, with his arms wrapped around her and her head pressed against his chest.

It was strange--to be able to lay there, to hear no heartbeat, not even to feel one.

He is dead, but dreams he lives.

She shook off the words of Nibani Maesa and stirred a bit, thinking to slip out of his grip. But it tightened slightly, and she heard a soft chuckle from him.

"Finally awake. You are a lazy thing, aren't you?"

"Not all of us have the power of--" A yawn cut her off, and she shifted again, though this time trying to be more comfortable.

"The power of what, hmm?" The hand at her shoulder stroked softly at her skin.

"Oh, you know what I mean."

"Perhaps," he said, his tone insistent, "You might indulge me. Simply finish the sentence."

I'm not surprised in the least, Sadara thought. But she listened.

"Not all of us have the power of a god."

Voryn bristled slightly.

And he called ME vain.

"Hearing that from your lips is among the sweetest moments of my dream." Voryn finally let go of her, and she sat up beside him.

"Dream?" Sadara was immediately confused. "But you're awake...unless this is a dream, and you simply--"

"No, you're awake, but within the dream." He sat up with her, and apparently noting her confusion, went on, "You don't understand, but you will in time."

What did he mean?

"Explain," she said, "Because you're right. I don't understand. We've already got things to discuss, but...we didn't exactly speak much last night."

"And whose fault is that?" He smirked, and brought her left hand to his lips. "I had every intention of having that talk. You are the one who tempted me further...and I have never been good at denying myself things that I want."

"Well...still...what did you want to start with? In the talk you meant to have. I suppose you--want to speak of Wraithguard."

"That will be one of the things, yes. But I am in no hurry to have you go out after it...especially considering the way my vision of your place here has shifted." He smirked, and brought a hand up to her face. "Certainly I didn't expect you to be as...enthusiastic...about this as you have been, but I can assure you wholeheartedly that it is welcome."

"And unexpected on my part. I still don't...understand why..."

Sadara shut her eyes, and relaxed into his touch.

"You know where you belong," Voryn's voice was as soft as his touch. "At least the part of you that is Nerevar. As for the rest...perhaps you seek comfort. An easy place to land after all the hardships you have faced. Or perhaps you seek a cause, and a god worthy of worship..."

She couldn't find words initially; having just woken up she wanted not to ruin the mood. Yet it was inevitable that something would come up, and since the talk had already started...

"Maybe all of the above," she said, "And maybe vengeance as well. Vehk and Seht were one thing...and I want them gone. But.. Ayem...Ayem, I want suffering. I want--"

The mood struck Sadara hard.

"I want her broken. Bleeding. I want her to feel the despair that I felt, the agony from her wounds as she dies..."

"And that vengeance you shall have," Voryn said, "I will give you the heads of the Tribunal, if you wish it. Once I have Wraithguard, of course. Vengefulness must be tempered with reason...and I would not have you rush off to enact it, only to lose you again."

"I'm foolish, but...not that foolish. I've gotten better at 'the arts of war' but...I'm afraid I have not the brilliance that Nerevar himself did."

"There's no shame in admitting that. But you have time to learn, thankfully, and you need not lead armies yourself."

She looked away.

"You mean when you...finish Akulakhan, don't you?"

"What else would I mean?" Voryn asked, and turned her face back in his direction. "Something is wrong. What?"

"I...it's only that..."

He waited.

"...there are already people suffering from the blights, and corprus, and...war will only create more of that suffering."

"You have such a tender heart," Voryn said softly, "I understand that it pains you, and I assure you that I feel it too. But nothing worth having comes easily, or without some measure of pain. And as for the corprus..."

"It hurts people," she said, fearing to meet his eyes, "Do you know how many Dunmer I've met who've lost their minds to it? The dwarf Divath Fyr tends to, who lost his legs to it?"

"Not every soul is capable of bearing the burden of divinity," Voryn said insistently, "Some minds and bodies will inevitably break, Sadara. But every body it touches will be blessed with the immortality to outlast those who might seek their doom."

"There must be a better way," she said, "Some way to do this that doesn't require minds to go by the wayside. Is it that you are afraid of their treachery? That you think your followers may turn on you?"

"That is the fear of every leader. A fear I had when I heard of you."

"I can't--wouldn't--" Sadara started quickly, and tripped over the words. "Voryn, please. If I don't do it, someone else might still try. And..."

"You don't understand," Voryn said gently, "But it's alright. I will have plenty of time to enlighten you. And in time...you will comprehend that what I do, I do for the betterment of our people."

Before the protest could form, he pressed a kiss to her lips.

"And I would have you at my side as I elevate them," he said softly, when he drew back, "So that my king, my hortator, my moon-and-star, sees that his trust has been well-placed."

Sadara took a deep breath.

He truly believes he's doing the right thing. Maybe--maybe there's hope after all. If I can just...persuade him...

"I think you want your moon-and-star to worship you, too," she said, "Can you deny it?"

"I can't, no." He made a half-laughing noise in his throat, and pulled her closer, "I would not want to, either."

She fell against Voryn as he lay back.

"You want me to call you a god," Sadara said, and shifted so she could watch his face. "You want to hear those words from your Nerevar's lips."

She did not need to study him to see his agreement and interest; she could see it obviously written all over his face.

(And feel it, from his hardening cock)

"I can't tell if this is more Nerevar, or more you," Voryn replied, "He was a flirt with those he had interest in, but he was more subtle...unless he'd been drinking."

"That was just what he let you see. Maybe he was afraid to show you more...for fear he would...well.."

Her arms were folded on his chest now, and her head resting atop them. This was natural, easy...right. It felt the way she had been feeling for the past several days, and if she guessed right, Voryn was feeling it too.

Maybe it could be helpful...

"I have things to do, you know," he said after they'd lain together for several more minutes, "We cannot simply lie abed for half the day, and I'm sure you're hungry."

(He wasn't wrong about that, merely the type of hunger.)

"I thought a god could do as he pleased?" On impulse, she leaned forward and added a whisper in his ear, "Or does my lord not wish for worship after all?"

"Nerevar--"

His voice was tight. Strained.

"But you are right. You have work to do." She moved up, and was on the point of getting off him when she felt his hands on her hips.

"Don't you��dare--"

She slipped, and as she propped herself back up, Voryn growled at her throat.

"Do not think to tempt a god."

Had she not felt his arousal, she would almost have thought he was angry.

She wanted to forget the difficulty of that conversation, at least for a little while. She slipped a hand down over his chest, his abdomen, taking a firm hold on--

"I was doing no such thing," Sadara replied as she started to stroke at him, "If I weren't serious, I wouldn't have my hands on you."

Voryn shut his eyes and gripped tightly at the wrist of the hand she had moving over his cock.

"And if you are displeased, you need to say so. I can hardly do my lord's will if he does not speak his desire."

It did not appear to be necessary at this point. The tenseness in his thighs was still there, his breathing was labored, and far from stopping her, he was guiding her hand's movement himself. He seemed determined not to respond to her teasing, however.

For a minute or two they stayed that way. Eyes locked, her hand closed around his length, his breathing steadily growing more ragged.

Need, settling in her lower abdomen, pooling and--

She let go, prompting another growl from his lips. This time in frustration.

In a sudden turn quick enough to send her head whirling, Sadara found herself suddenly on her back. Voryn was over her now, giving her a look that made her feel almost like an object of prey.

By Dibella, if I wasn't already about to take him...

He didn't give her the chance to speak; instead he spread her legs and thrust forward to fill her in one stroke.

"Oh--"

"Is this what you wanted?" he braced himself and started moving at a quick pace, "To tell me what I wanted to hear, to make me--"

"I...oh...I wanted you to know I wanted YOU...I..." Sadara reached up to his shoulders, and clenched as he thrust deep enough to take her breath away. "Gods..."

"No," Voryn growled and lowered his lips to her neck, "There is only one god here, and you serve at his pleasure."

He didn't stop, not for a moment. There was no rest from the lusty onslaught, not that she wanted one. She relaxed beneath him as best she could, only wanting more--harder, she begged internally--of him.

Did his power extend so far as to make this feel so good? Did it matter? Either way, she found herself quickly overwhelmed by the ecstasy. If this was how he would have her serve, she would do it gladly. Anything that felt so heavenly would find her eager.

For several minutes Sadara clung to him, his hips rocking rapidly against her own, his lips on her neck.

The end leaped almost into her throat but fell away before she could finish.

"Please," she begged, as her nails dug into his skin, "Oh...oh, yes!"

Steadily, slowly, with a torturous rising anticipation that was almost painful, her end was coming.

"Let me hear it, my siren," Voryn spoke with his lips at her ear, "My moon, my star--let me hear it."

It crested--broke--

"Oh--god--" she groaned, and shuddered as her body was flooded with ecstasy. She barely registered his own end, the pulse and the spill inside her, so mired in the heady heat as she was. What brought her out of her mental reverie was his withdrawal.

She was breathing hard, staring up at him as he looked down on her with satisfaction written all over his face.

"If that is how you intend to worship, moon-and-star, you will hear no complaints from me."

He didn't speak again until she finally sat up.

"Now, as much as I would love nothing more than to keep you in my bed..."