(Fort Dawnguard)
It didn't take long for Fury to convince Sorine and Gunmar to at least arrive at Fort Dawnguard, he and Gunmar had delved into a damp cave, and killed a cave bear that had taken the lives of several innocent people. And finding Sorine's pouch, full of Dwemer gyros', didn't take long due to the pouch being a little over ten feet behind her, hidden behind a rock.
And so he entered the fortress, and took notice that the two had arrived, but the gates closed before they could enter inside the living areas.
"Hold it right there!" Isran yelled from above. He pulled some lever that made a beam of sunlight hit the floor.
"What are you doing?" Sorine nearly yelled.
"Making sure you're not vampires...can't be too cautious." he answered as the gates lowered.
"So welcome to Fort Dawnguard, I'm sure you've been informed of what we're up against, vampires, AND they have an Elder Scroll, but if anyone's gonna stand in their way, it's gonna be us!" he finished.
"What exactly do they plan to use it for?" Sorine asked.
"We'll figure that part out later, but for now, let's get set up, Sorine, there's a work area where you can tinker with that new crossbow design you told me about those years ago, Gunmar, there's an area large enough for you to pin up some troll, get 'em armored up and ready for combat, and Fury, you and I are gonna get to the bottom of why a vampire came, asking to speak with YOU specifically," he emphasized before continuing, "Let's go and have a chat with it."
Gunmar and Sorine went where Isran had ordered, but Fury found the staircase to the upper level and made his way up. He finally reached the top of the stairs and Isran gestured for him to follow. They entered a room, a medical room, but when they turned the corner, Fury was greeted to a torture room, blood covered the wall, and there was bottles of mead lining the wall…Isran was definitely a busy man.
But that wasn't what Fury was startled by,...but the familiar vampire he had found sealed away in Dimhallow Crypt.
"Serana! Wha-what are you doing here?" he asked her, ignoring Isran's disgust.
"I know I chose bad timing to arrive, but I needed to speak with you, because for some odd reason, I feel that I can trust you." she smiled lightly, he was lucky that he had his helmet for that, because his cheeks reddened at seeing her smile.
"It must be bad if you came to the fortress," he gestured to Isran and the torture chamber, "this man owns." Isran rolled his eyes.
"Yes...I know, but...well it's about why I was sealed away with the Scroll." he removed his helmet as his dark eyebrows furrowed.
"What about you?" ha asked.
"Well...it goes back to my mother, see my father wasn't always cruel...we actually used to be a happy family, but all that changed when he stumbled upon this absurd prophecy."
"What kind of prophecy?" he asked.
"Oh, vague and cryptic like most Skyrim prophecies, it was about vampires' ruling over the sun, and sending Tamriel into an eternal darkness." his eyes were as wide as they could be when she finished.
"That's vague? I'm the dragonborn of destiny, sent to Skyrim to kill Alduin and save the world from being consumed, and you call THAT vague?" now it was her turn to feel her eyes nearly fall out of their sockets.
"Dragonborn? Alduin? What are you on about?" she asked.
"Oh...err...I should've kept my mouth shut...look I'll tell you later, but right now, I believe you, but it's Isran that needs convincing." he looked to the old Redguard.
"Alright, we've heard what it wants to say, now give me a damn good reason I shouldn't make this creature a stain on the wall." Fury grew irritated with the Redguard.
"Because we'll need her." he answered plainly.
"Why?! Because of some prophecy about some vampire trying to put the sun out?! …Do you actually believe that?" he raised one eyebrow.
"Yes...why else would she come to a fort, housing literally VAMPIRE hunters?" he questioned Isran.
"I don't know, maybe it has a death wish...or maybe it's just plain mad." he grumbled.
"IT, has a name Isran." he growled.
"Alright fine, it-she, can stay...for now." he looked at her now.
"Do you hear me? Don't feel like a guest, because you're not, you a resource, an asset. And don't make me regret my sudden outburst of acceptance and generosity, because if you do, your friend here is going to pay for it." he warned her.
"I'll remember that, the next time I'm feeling hungry." she chuckled, earning a growl from Isran.
"So now we need to read this scroll...but unfortunately, none of us can, and the only people who can, the Moth Priests', are all the way in Cyrodill unfortunately..." she lowered her head slightly.
"I saw some imperial scholar being escorted by a unit of the Empire's best fighters, the praetorian guard. He wore a gray robe, and he was bald, had a beard, that was all describable about him, that may be your moth priest. But I won't waste men trying to search, we're at war with your kind, a war that I intend to win." he turned and left the room.
"Well, at least we have a lead...what do you think we should do?" she asked Fury.
"Well...if anyone knows of a moth priest, then it's the mage college." she nodded in approval, remembering the old college.
"Alright, I guess we'll head there." she threw her hood over her head.
"Tonight, and since I'd rather not have you stay here, in a fort full of people who want to see you dead, we're staying in Riften, until dawn you and I can get some rest." she nodded in agreement.
(Hours later, The Bee and Barb)
While Riften was mostly gloomy, the inn was usually safe from the crime run city. Hardy music played as the townsfolk drank. Fury had gotten out of his heavy, black plated armor, only wearing a simple white mining shirt and dark, cloth breeches, and simple boots as Serana sat next to him, since dawn wasn't coming for another two hours.
"Back at Dawnguard, you mentioned something about being dragonborn...what was that all about?" she asked him, earning a slow, heavy sigh from him.
"When I first came to Skyrim, I was running from the past, and soon after I came, I learned I had the blood of a dovah in me. But see, there's one dragon who wants to see me and the world burn...Alduin." the name chilled her, it was rare to not know the tale of the world eater, but to know it wasn't a fantasy...it scared her to think of it.
"I remember when I faced him...upon the throat of the world…" he remembered the battle.
(Flashback)
"Bahloki nahkip sillesejoor. My belly is full of the souls of your fellow mortals, Dovahkiin. Just die now and await your fate in Sovngarde, like the vermin you are!" Alduin fired a blast of fire at the party of nords, which they quickly rolled out of the way from.
"A lost funt, you are too late, Alduin!" Paarthurnax quickly raised himself into the air.
"Dovahkiin, use Dragonrend if you know it!" the elder dragon began flying after the black dragon, both breathing fire at each other. Alduin conjured a shout, as if hell fell from the heavens, meteors struck rapidly upon the throat of the world.
"Joor, ZAH FRUL!" the blast soared quickly, and struck the World Eater. The dragon, as if he had willfully done so, landed roughly against the ground, unable to move his wings.
"GAH! What-what have you done?! My teeth ache, my wings tear, what have you done to me Dovahkiin?!" Alduin was in a frenzy.
"Now's our chance, go!" Fury yelled as he drew his heavy sword, and began slashing at Alduin. Farkas, Vilkas and Lydia joined their leader, while Aela sent dozens of arrows into the dark dragon with her light, yet powerful bow.
Using his powerful tail, Alduin smacked Farkas into the tall rock wall that Paarthurnax used as a perch commonly. Like a battering ram, he bashed Vilkas to the ground, but before he could finish the nord, he was penetrated by steel at his side. He looked to see the housecarl, with her sword buried in his leg. Like he had with Farkas, he sent her sailing into the rocks.
He received more arrows, piercing him with pain, he located the archer and with a powerful inhale, he blasted searing red fire from his large mouth at Aela. She had barely enough time to roll to cover before the blast hit her.
"ALDUIN!" a voice thundered.
He turned to look at Fury, the thorn in his side.
"You...you cannot escape the cold hand of death and terror. Tell me, little wretch, what makes you...so special?" the large dragon snarled.
"I should ask you the same?" he provoked Alduin. Alduin once again blasted a huge wave of fire from his mouth, but before it reached Fury-
"FUS RO DAH!" the force of the shout sent the flames back into Alduin's face and through the flames, leaped Fury, his sword drawn. The blade buried itself into the dragon's neck. Alduin howled with pain, he threw off Fury and painfully removed the sword from his long, bleeding neck. He knew he was not fit to fight anymore, and with a growl of anger, he gained height from the ground.
"An empty victory Dovahkiin, know that it will be the only one that you receive, for the next time we meet, it shall be in sovngarde." Alduin warned him as he quickly flew off towards the mountains. Vilkas picked Farkas up from the snow, Aela helped Lydia up from the rocks, where as Fury continued to watch Alduin soared off into the distance.
"It's barely over..." he spoke softly. Parthurnaax landed close by.
"Alduin could never be defeated so easily Dovahkiin, but know that if you could weaken him, then it proves that he is not immortal to you. It will take an entire year for the ritual that will make his portal into sovngarde, to be completed...take the time you have to prepare, for you shall need to be much more prepared when he is at full strength." the old dragon spoke slowly.
(present)
She had been deep in thought as he explained the battle against Alduin, how it could have been easily lost if not for Dragonrend.
"Why were you so skeptical about telling me?" she asked.
"Well...not everyone wants to see a dragonborn return, the Thalmor for instance. They have a spy network that's been hunting me ever since I made a name for myself, I keep myself hidden so they don't learn who I'm close to, and can't use the people I hold close against me." it made sense to her, the Thalmor were ruthless and cared not for who they killed or robbed.
After some time passed and the music died down, she began to feel drowsy.
"Well, I think I'm gonna get some sleep...wait, where will you sleep?" she asked him, but she took notice that he had his armor on again.
"I don't intend to." he stepped outside the room, made his way downstairs, and out of the Bee and Barb.
She could see him from her window, he stood guard at the bridge, his helmet held to the side, the full moon shining down upon his black armor, reflecting it in a magnificent silver.
She decided to just let it go and get some rest. But after some time of rolling around, she couldn't find herself to sleep.
She suddenly felt a gloved hand cover her mouth, and pulled a cloth around it so she couldn't bite the hand. She squirmed and tried to call out but her cry was silenced by the cloth gagging her.
"Alright little bloodsucker…time to take you back to your daddy so I can get my pay." the voice was soft, yet cold and unforgiving. She continued to fight his grip, but he was much stronger than she was, which surprised her greatly.
But she could hear heavy footsteps come up the stairs, if it was help, he'd hear it any second, so she continued to struggle to distract the man.
"Let her go!" she heard the thundering voice of Fury. She could hear the plated boots clash against the floor as he charged her assaulter. Fury threw a nose breaking punch at the man's face, sending the man skidding back, and releasing Serana. Fury grabbed the vampire and moved in front of her, unsheathing his greatsword. She could now see the man who had attacked her, he wore mostly leather armor over his clothes, and a hood that hid his face.
The man drew his dagger, which was surprisingly long to be considered a dagger, and thrust at Fury with it. Fury barely had enough time to dodge it, he tried to uppercut him with his large greatsword, but the man was too fast.
When he sent a successful thrust at Fury, the dagger, in response to contact against the hard plated armor, shattered, the shards fell to the floor. Fury growled and grabbed the man by his neck, and slammed him into the nearest wall, the red eyes on his tall, horned helmet glaring holes into the assaulter.
"Why are you here?!" Fury interrogated the man. More footsteps were heard from the stairs, Serana turned to see a man in similar leather armor as the unknown attacker, but he lacked the hood, his hair was a golden brown, and he looked very sly, yet menacing, in a handsome way.
"Damn, I should have been quicker." the man had a smooth and very rough voice.
"Fury turned slightly to look at the man, "Brynjolf, good to see you, do you know who this, bastard, is?" Fury asked him.
"Aye lad, he's a rouge member of the guild, some vampire, who claimed to be a "business man", offered and he slunk away in the middle of the night for the bounty." he looked at the young appearing woman in the room.
"This must be the bounty, who's the lass?" he asked,
"My name is Serana." she answered, as he admired her form, but took notice of her glowing orange eyes before attempting to look at her backside.
"Serana, this is Brynjolf, my right hand in the thieves guild." Fury introduced Brynjolf as he bowed in front of her.
"It's a pleasure." he commented humbly.
After conversing, "Well, I think I'll take this sorry excuse of a thief to be interrogated, I think Vex will have one hell of a time questioning him." he smirked, Fury nodded and handed him the man who attacked Serana, who was now unconscious.
They decided to head out of Riften since neither of the two would be able to sleep after what happened.
"Well Serana, I wish it was a better visit, but that's Riften for you." he commented on the city as he walked alongside Shadowmere as the horse carried her.
"Well, it sure beat being stuck my castle with my father." she chuckled as they made their way to Winterhold.
Hey people, I hope that chapter was good, sorry it has been forever since I posted an update, but I have been busy with school, I hope you all understand. Anyway, I don't know when I'll have the next chapter, but I'll have it ready some day in the future.
