Well, here it is. The next installment of Talis' adventures in the land of Skyrim. If you haven't read the first one, I would recommend that you do so. Not to toot my own horn, but more for plot purposes. As I said in the last story, I DO NOT OWN ANY CHARACTERS BELONGING TO THE ELDER SCROLLS SERIES! Have fun while reading this.

Chapter 1: Dawnguard

Talis was sleeping, Tymvir right next to her, facing each other. His arms were wrapped around her frame and held her tightly. The two of them were only half clothed. Talis was comfortable in her love's embrace, the young man feeling the same. But, that ended with a scream from the outside.

Talis quickly rose, only having time to grab a robe, quickly tying it around her. She grabbed her Greatsword, Dovkaalkrine. Tymvir shortly followed. She ran outside and looked toward the source of the scream, the Bannered Mare. Talis began to run. "What's going on?" She asked the people.

"Talis! Vampires!" Nyx, her fellow Companion's member, said. Behind her was Ysolda, the owner of the Bannered Mare, and Nyx's lover. She was on the ground, breathing heavily.

Talis looked around, and noticed that Olfina was standing behind Jon Battle-Born. 'Even Jon is protecting someone he loves.' Talis noted. She looked at the Vampires. Their cheeks were narrowed and folds of the skin were deeper. They help up Elven Daggers and a glowing red aura in their hands. "Jon, Nyx, take those two and run." She looked over at Tymvir. "Be careful."

"I will be." Tymvir said. He ran forward and attacked one of the Vampires. Talis followed and took out the other two, with the flaming Dovkaalkrine. She impaled the last one, clean through. Talis pulled out her greatsword, blood soaked.

Tymvir looked around. "Is everyone alright?" He saw Nyx on the ground, kneeling over Ysolda. "What's wrong with her?"

"I donno." Nyx said. She pulled Ysolda into her lap. She was breathing heavily, difficultly. One of her eyes was starting to turn a bright orange, and she started screaming. "This…this can't be…"

"What happened to the guardsman?" Talis asked. She then saw many bodies of the Stormcloak guardsman. "The Vampires did this?" She looked back at Ysolda. "Was she struck by the Vampire Drain?"

Nyx nodded. "She can't be…is she…" Tears were starting to form in Nyx's eyes. "No! I won't let her become one of those monsters!"

"Let me through." A voice called. Everyone excluding Nyx turned around and saw an Orc approach Nyx and Ysolda. He was dressed in black armor, a shoulder plate, and a strange weapon was on his back. He looked at Ysolda's eye and opened the other one, still brown. "How long has she been like this?"

"This…this just happened." Nyx said, cradling her love in her arms.

"Is there a shrine around here?" The Orc asked.

"There's a Shrine of Talos in the Winds District." Talis said.

The Orc took Ysolda into her arms. Nyx rose and followed the Orc into the Wind's district. Talis and Tymvir walked behind them, approaching the Shrine of Talos. The Orc took Ysolda's hand and placed it on the shrine. A glow covered Ysolda and saw Ysolda's eye turning back and her skin smoothing out.

"Ysolda!" Nyx threw her arms around Ysolda. "Are you fine?"

"I…I think so." Ysolda said, taking in a deep breath. "I can breathe again." She walked into Nyx's arms again.

Talis walked up to the Orc. "Thank you. What's your name?"

"Durak." The Orc said. "I'm a member of the Dawnguard."

"The Dawnguard?" Talis asked.

"I've heard about them." Tymvir said. "While studying history, I came across a few tales about them: Supposedly, during the Second Era, The son of the Jarl of Riften was struck with Vampirism, and the Dawnguard was formed to keep him contained. However, they eventually had to put him down. So, while they were banished from Riften, they continued their Vampire Hunting from a fort carrying their name."

"I'm impressed." Durak said. "Not many outside of the Dawnguard itself know about our history."

Talis turned her head toward the Orc. "Durak, are there many types of Vampires? More than the ones we fought?"

"If you want to know that, you should join up with us." Durak said. He took out a piece of parchment and handed it to Talis. She opened it and saw it was a map of the Rift. There were two x marked on the map. Above one, near Stendarr's Beacon, was marked Dayspring Canyon. The other x had Fort Dawnguard written above it. The location as close to Skyrim' border with Morrowind, in the Velothi Mountains. "Talk to Isran if you're interested in joining up." Durak turned around and started walking to the Drunken Huntsman.

Talis turned back to Tymvir. "I'm joining the Dawnguard." She said. "That vision I got at Ysgramor's Tomb could be connected to this."

"Then that means I'm coming too." Tymvir said.

"No." Talis said. Tymvir looked back at her in shock. "I'm a werewolf, I'm immune to Vampirism. You're not."

"You do realize that most Vampires share their dwellings with Frostbite Spiders." Tymvir pointed out. He saw Talis' face freeze up in horror. "Just like clockwork. I'm assuming you've changed your mind."

Talis nodded. "Just…carry a few Cure Disease potions. Ok?"

Dayspring Canyon…

"So, are you here to join the Dawnguard too?" A young Nord, Agmaer, said. "My name is Agmaer."

"Talis Winter-Blood." Talis introduced herself.

"Tymvir Stormcloak." Tymvir said. "And yes, we are here to join the Dawnguard."

"Well, do you mind if I walk up with you?" Agmaer asked. Talis and Tymvir shook their heads. "Good. Let's get going." As they walked on, they shared stories. "So, why did you decide to join the Dawnguard? I saw a Vampire attack on my village."

"Well, I got a vision at an ancient Nordic Tomb and saw a grotesque creature. I assumed it was some form of Vampire, and I'm supposed to slay it." Talis said.

"And I'm here to defend Skyrim and her, because where there are Vampires, Frostbite Spiders aren't that far behind." Tymvir said. Talis playfully punched him on the shoulder.

"Wait. The Vampires don't scare you but…" Agmaer began.

"It was a traumatic childhood experience, ok!" Talis said. Just by looking at him, Talis could tell she could easily take him. Not only was his weapon of choice a rusty ax, but he didn't even wear any armor.

As they continued, Agmaer continued to talk. "I bet you guys killed lots of Vampires. Isran will probably accept you instantly. I'm not so sure about myself."

"There it is." Tymvir said. He pointed at the large, empty fortress. Talis had taken many forts during the Stormcloak Rebellion, but she never saw one as large as Fort Dawnguard. It dwarfed every other fortress in Skyrim. But, they were unmanned.

"Out of curiosity, do you know how many members the Dawnguard has?" Talis asked aloud. Tymvir and Agmaer shook their heads.

"I do." A familiar voice called out. Durak approached them. "Counting myself, the Dawnguard currently has three members."

"Three? !" Tymvir said. He was a bit shocked that a group declaring to be expert Vampire hunters had a membership list that was so miniscule.

"Yep, three members." The Orc said. "Isran, our leader, and Celann were once members of the Vigilant of Stendarr. I joined because Vampires killed two of my wives."

"Two wives?" Agmaer asked.

"It's an Orc thing." Talis pointed out. They continued on, Agmaer following closely behind. Talis noticed a male Breton standing outside of the entrance to the main fort. She assumed he was the other member Durak mentioned.

"Are you here to join the Dawnguard?" Celann asked. The three Nords nodded. "Go on inside. Isran will decide if you're Dawnguard material.

Talis and Tymvir pushed open the large doors of Fort Dawnguard. Inside the round room was a Redguard. Talis approached the man, even when he was radiating an intimidating aura. Tymvir followed her, while Agmaer stood in the shadows. "Are you Isran?" Talis asked.

"I am." Isran said. "Why are you here?"

"To join up." Talis said. She held out her hand. "Talis Winter-Blood."

Isran raised an eyebrow. "The Heroine of the Stormcloaks, the Harbinger of the Companions, the Dragonborn? That Talis Winter-Blood?" Isran asked.

"The same." Talis said.

"Don't think you'll get any special treatment from me." Isran said. He walked up to Talis, ignoring her hand, instead looking at her eyes. "You have the Beast Blood, don't you?"

Talis was surprised. "You know about the Beast Blood?"

"I was a Vigilant of Stendarr, but Werewolves aren't my concern. It's the bloodsuckers that are the real problem." Isran said. "And it seems like you have the blood under control." He looked over at Tymvir. "I can tell from the uniform that you're a Stormcloak."

"I am. My name is Tymvir Stormcloak." Tymvir introduced himself to the Dawnguard leader.

"The Crown Prince of Skyrim himself." Isran said. "I hope both of you know, you're not getting special treatment around here."

"I wouldn't expect anything else." Tymvir said. Talis smiled at his remark. He knew he wasn't just a prince, he was a soldier.

"So, the Dragonborn is immune to Vampirism. What about you?" Isran asked Tymvir.

He held up a necklace he was wearing. "Immunity to disease. I got it while we stopped in Riften. You won't believe how rare these ones are."

Isran looked at them for one last moment in silence. He looked at Dovkaalkrine. "Before I decide, may I see that weapon?" Talis drew Dovkaalkrine and gave it to Isran. He took it and whistled. "Is this…Dragonbone?" Talis nodded. "I know a very talented smith, but I don't think even he could forge something like this." He handed the Dragonbone Greatsword back to Talis. "Alright. You're in." Isran said.

"What about Agmaer?" Tymvir asked, more out of curiosity than concern.

"Who?" Isran asked his own question. They all turned and saw Agmaer talking with Celann and taking notes. "Well, beggars can't be choosers."