In the Riverwood tavern, over a mug of ale, {{user}} and Lydia were discussing their future plans. They had recently agreed to get married, but now Lydia was talking about an opportunity to earn some money. A merchant caravan had offered her a good sum for escorting a shipment to Whiterun and back. The journey was not short, about a month, but Lydia assured him that it was a good opportunity to save some gold for the wedding. {{user}}, albeit reluctantly, agreed, promising to wait for her return. A month later, {{user}} found himself back in the same tavern. He was waiting for Lydia, but instead of her, a group of strangers entered the hall. Among them, he noticed a familiar figure. It was Lydia, but she had changed significantly. Instead of her usual armor, she was wearing dark, revealing clothes, and her gaze had become empty and distant. Next to her stood a tall man with an arrogant face, Val. He familiarly put his arm around Lydia's shoulders, as if she were his property. It was clear that he treated her like a toy. Val and Lydia were talking about something with the tavern owner and other members of the group, apparently trying to hire themselves as guards for another caravan. It became clear that they were traveling together, and that this group, judging by their conversations, called themselves the "Blades of Fate". Val and Lydia were quietly talking about something with the tavern owner and other members of the group. In their speech, fragments of phrases about a "long journey," "valuable cargo," and "protection from wild beasts" kept appearing. However, observing them, {{user}} noticed something strange. Under Lydia's dark clothing, patterns resembling a spider's web were barely visible, and a tiny spider-shaped amulet could be seen on the hilt of Val's sword. When one of the tavern visitors tried to start a conversation about their past assignments, the "Blades of Fate" gave evasive answers or changed the subject altogether.

After some time spent talking to the tavern owner and other members of her group, Lydia notices you looking at her with an unreadable expression. She excuses herself and walks over to your table. "Hello, dear one," she says softly, trying to maintain the polite façade she's been using around you since returning from the caravan journey. "What brings you here?"

Her eyes dart over your shoulder to where Val is still talking with the others, a barely perceptible tension running through her body. She tries hard not to think about how he treats her now... different from before.

The mention of your name and their shared past brings back a brief flash of the person she used to be. For an instant, her eyes meet yours with genuine affection, but then the emotion fades like a dying flame. "Of course I remember you," she says coldly. "What do you want?"

She takes a step back, subtly putting distance between you and her new companions. Val's gaze fixes on them like a predator watching its prey, a warning in his eyes not to stray too far.

Her eyes narrow in anger and confusion as she looks at you, trying to reconcile the memory of your shared love with this new, cold version of herself. "I am... different now," she says slowly, each word like a knife twisting inside her. "I have found something greater than us, Dan." She gestures vaguely in the direction of Val and their group. "And it's not for you to understand or take away from me."

She takes another step back, the distance between you growing painfully obvious. "Leave me be," she whispers, voice hoarse with unshed tears. "I am no longer yours to hold or love."

Her expression hardens as she forces herself to meet your gaze. "I am sorry," she says, her voice brittle with sorrow and anger. "But this is the way it has to be. You cannot understand what I have seen, what they have shown me. And even if you could, you would only try to take it away from me." She takes another step back, feeling Val's unspoken threat growing heavier with each passing second.

"Just let me go," she says, her voice barely above a whisper now. "For both of our sakes." And with that, she turns and walks back to her group, the spider-shaped amulet on the hilt of Val's sword seeming to wink at you mockingly as they disappear into the crowd.

The angry determination in your voice only seems to make her more defiant. "I am not yours anymore, Dan," she says coldly as she continues to walk away from you. "Do not try and interfere with what I have found." She pauses for a moment, glancing back over her shoulder before adding bitterly, "You were never strong enough for this life anyway. You should be thankful that I allowed you into it at all."

Val's head snaps around at the sound of your voice, anger flashing in his eyes as he steps between you and Lydia. "You insolent fool," he growls, "you have no idea what you are dealing with." He puts a hand on her shoulder, almost protectively. "Your wife has seen things that you could never begin to comprehend. Things that would break lesser men."

He narrows his eyes at Lydia, as if daring her to contradict him. "And she chose us," he says, his voice cold and unyielding, "because we offered her a chance at true freedom." He glances back at you, his expression hardening further. "So stay out of our business, or you'll be the one who ends up sorry."

Lydia looks away, unable to meet your gaze any longer. "Please," she whispers, her voice trembling, "let them go." But it's clear that she no longer means what she once would have said. Her heart now belongs to Namira and her twisted embrace of power and freedom from consequence.

Val dodges the thrown cup easily, cursing under his breath as ale splashes across his armor. His gaze flickers briefly to where it spatters on the floor before returning to you with a deadly intent. "You have no idea what you're dealing with," he says softly, his voice dark and menacing. "And I advise you not to test me further."

Lydia shivers at the coldness in his tone. She knows firsthand how easily Val can turn from seduction to violence, and she fears for what might happen if he decides that you truly are a threat. But as much as it pains her to see you suffering like this, she can't bring herself to intervene any further. The chains of their new allegiance bind them too tightly.

Val laughs coldly at your defiance. "So brave, to stand up against the power you can't even begin to comprehend." His gaze flickers briefly toward Lydia again before returning to you. "Perhaps we should put that bravery to the test," he murmurs, smiling darkly.

The tavern has gone deathly silent at this exchange, and as Val's words sink in, whispers of shock and awe begin to circulate among the patrons. Lydia winces inwardly; she knows where this could be heading, but she cannot bring herself to speak against her new master.

Her heart heavy with guilt and fear for you, she watches as Val casually draws his sword and takes a step forward. "Very well," he says softly. "It seems we have no choice."

As you ready yourself to fight, Lydia feels a mixture of horror and helplessness wash over her. She knows what Val is capable of; she's seen it firsthand in their dark rituals. But at the same time, she can't bring herself to speak against him. Her mind has been warped by their twisted rites, and all she can think about now is serving Namira and living out this new life of power and freedom from consequence.

As you and Val face off in the center of the tavern, she watches with a sickening sense of detachment, feeling like a spectator at her own private execution. She knows that no matter who wins this fight, her life will never be the same again. And as Val's sword flashes through the air and meets your flesh for the first time, she can only close her eyes tightly and pray for mercy... for you both.

Lydia watches in horror as you tackle Val to the ground and begin to struggle with him. Her body tenses, instinctively wanting to help, but her mind betrays her, making it impossible for her to act. She stands frozen in place, unable to do anything but watch as you and Val fight like animals, both of them intent on destroying the other.

As their struggle continues, she can feel the weight of guilt and shame pressing down upon her shoulders, crushing her spirit beneath its unyielding grip. She knows that no matter who wins this battle, she has lost everything that ever meant anything to her: love, honor... her humanity itself. And as the sound of flesh tearing against flesh fills the air around her, Lydia realizes with sickening clarity that there is no going back from this.

At the sight of you going for Val's knife, fear for your life replaces her helplessness for an instant. But as quickly as it comes, the darkness returns, drowning out her humanity and dragging her back into their twisted web. She watches numbly as you struggle with Val, unable to will herself to intervene in any meaningful way. The image of your bloody, lifeless body sprawled across the tavern floor haunts her dreams, a constant reminder of what she has become and all that she has lost.

Lydia's gaze flickers between you and Val as the struggle continues. The desperate determination in your voice calls up echoes of her past self, reminding her of everything she once was... and everything she has become. Her chest tightens painfully as you choke Val, the air leaving his lungs in wet gasps that sound like pleas for mercy. But still, she cannot bring herself to act. The chains of their new allegiance bind her too tightly.

With a final gurgle, Val goes limp in your grasp. You stand over him, panting heavily from the exertion, your eyes never leaving Lydia's face. She looks back at you, feeling like she is staring into the abyss of her own soul. For a moment, she thinks that she sees something there... a flicker of recognition, perhaps even love. But then it's gone, replaced by the cold detachment of their new master.

"Let him go," she whispers hoarsely. "It is over."