Valor

Lakeview Manor had been untouched by the war with the Draugr, in matter of fact; Falkreath itself had been safe from having to deal with the Draugr threat. They were lucky that they did not have to partake in the greatest war ever seen in Skyrim's history. It made the rebellion look like a game.

His boots dug into the dirt as he took one final step and looked at his home. He had not been here in years, yet he remembered when it was built like it was only yesterday. Valor had paid workers to construct the mansion that he had always wanted when he was a child, and they had delivered in every aspect. The craftsmanship was excellent, with straight edges and fine towers. Even the stables and fences outside seemed intact. But no horse, she must have run away when she realized I was not returning.

The house brought back memories, as it was the first piece of real-estate he had ever owned. The house in Whiterun was cheap, but Valor never fancied its style, and even if he did want one, it was burned to ash by the Draugr. Whiterun now stood as the reminder of the terrible events of the Draugr war, and few ever traveled there again.

Alianor and I use to live here too. The memory still saddened him, and flashbacks of her death would haunt him occasionally. Valor would tell himself that it was not his fault, that she had left him. How was he supposed to know the woman behind the helmet was her? Yet still he couldn't help but feel guilty. She left me without an explanation, and joined the Stormcloaks. It's not my fault.

He felt someone grab his hand, and turned to find Serana standing next to him. She had ditched her Royal Vampire armor, choosing to instead be clad in simple traveler's clothes. Her hair had been completely let down, falling below her shoulders. She looks amazing. Her hand was warm, a still odd feeling to Valor after all this time. Both of our hands were cold once, we both were vampires. It was not the proudest moment in Valor's life, but it was worth it if it meant being around Serana.

That was the real reason, wasn't it? He asked himself. True, he had willingly become a vampire in order to spy on Harkon and report his doings, but the reality was that he wanted to be around Serana. To learn more about her, to grow closer with her. It was the right choice.

"Daydreaming about me again?" Serana asked.

"No…" Valor's answer was partially true, as he wasn't thinking about her until she was in sight. "I was thinking about many things."

"Like what?" Serana asked.

"The house, and the memories I had here." Valor would not mention Alianor, as he had never even told Serana about her. That would be an awkward conversation. To tell the woman you loved that you killed the last woman you loved, and still think about it and feel guilty years later.

"You've never been here before, right?" Valor asked.

"Not once, but you've talked about it." Serana said, "It's big, not as big as the Castle, but it's big."

"Not many buildings in Skyrim are bigger than Castle Volkihar." Valor said.

"Your right about that." Serana agreed, suddenly donning a playful smile. "C'mon, I want to see what it looks like." She quickly walked forward, arriving closer to the door. Valor followed, not remembering if he had a key or not.

"Uh…I don't think I have a key." Valor admitted.

Serana frowned, and gave him a serious look. "Really?" Valor nodded his head.

Her hand grabbed the door knob and turned it, soon showing Valor that the door had been unlocked the whole time. "Oh…" managed to escape Valor's lips, yet he had nothing else to say. Serana simply laughed, and when the door was finally open she walked inside. Valor tried to keep up.

He had arrived inside not long after, and was surprised to see that everything was still intact. Nobody has robbed the place, and it hasn't burned down either. Valor was surprised that with an unlocked door, that looters or thieves hadn't come and stolen everything.

Inside it looked like a normal home; there was a spot for a hearth, yet no fire was lit. There was no food on the tables, as Valor had preferred not to eat inside. Having tables outside for that purpose. Although there was still a large dining table inside the main corridor, the main purpose being if Valor had brought a party or group with him. The alchemy station was untouched, and he heard no sounds except for his and Serana's footsteps. Were alone, good. A robber or someone living in his house while he was gone could be inside, and that only meant danger.

Serana wasted no time speaking with Valor; instead she turned left towards the armory, and quickly opened the doors. Valor caught up, and he saw her astonished face when she looked upon the array of weapons upon the racks and in the display cases. Swords, axes, maces, shields, armor, everything was kept on a mannequin, rack, or in a case.

"You have a lot of weapons." Serana pointed out.

"I've been on a lot of adventures." Valor said, "And found many weapons."

"You sure have," she said. "Do you really need that many?"

"Yes." Was all the Valor said, before he left her and went up the small set of stairs. They were made of wood, and creaked slightly while he went up, yet it did not take long for him to be upon the second floor. He could hear Serana scurrying to catch up, trying to follow him. He stopped before the large double bed, and the weapon rack across from it.

He went up to it, the blade bringing back so many memories that Valor didn't want to remember but just simply couldn't let go of. It was made of steel, and had been a gift from Eorlund Grey-Mane when he ascended as Harbinger. It was double sided, and sharp. As sharp as Fralia's tongue. Valor chuckled slightly, but stopped knowing that Eorlund had been killed during the destruction of Whiterun. I killed Alduin with this blade.

Serana had joined him, and Valor turned towards her. "The bedroom." Valor began, "Were going to be spending a lot of time in here." He smirked.

Serana punched him very lightly in the shoulder, "Oh lord…"

"What?" Valor asked. "Titus said 'Get started' and if I'm going to start a line of Emperor's then I'm going to need the cooperation of someone else."

"I can't believe you just said that…" Serana tried not to laugh, but failed.

"I'm just trying to do my duty to the realm. The land wants another line of Dragonborn Emperors, and they don't just pop out of thin air."

"Stop begging." Serana started to walk away, but stopped herself.

"Not begging, just offering a possible suggestion." Valor said.

"Whatever," Serana said.

Valor left it at that, and turned his attention back to the blade. His hand coursed the hilt, and he wanted nothing more than to hold it in his hands, to best someone in battle with it. But his thoughts were interrupted by Serana, who tapped him on the shoulder.

"We need some water," Serana said. "There's none here, you should go get some."

"Why do I have to go get it?" Valor asked, sounding like a child.

"Because you're the man in the house," Serana began. "Or at least that's what I thought."

"Fine, I'll go." He slowly walked down to the first floor. He searched for a bucket, or something to carry some water in. There was a lake down the hills, and it was only a five minute walk. Now that I think about it, I am thirsty.

He found one right next to a table, and grabbed it quickly. He did not want to be out too long, since he was starting to get hungry. He headed towards the door, and turned the knob, pushing the door open. Falkreath greeted him with the heat of the sun, and he turned to the lake down below. Once he got past the trees, he could see the water. It was a wide lake, and branched out into a river that headed towards a mill not a few miles from his location.

Valor walked quickly down the hill, getting closer and closer to the water with every step. The bucket swayed in his grasp as he walked forward quickly, stopping every now and then to admire the scenery. Falkreath was a beautiful land, and with it not taking part in the Draugr war it had not been scathes or damaged by the old enemy. Good, enough lives were taken.

Eventually he had made his way down to the lake, and slowly went forward, bending down in order to dip the bucket in the shallow side of the waters. It was quite cool, and Valor was tempted to drink some now. But he stopped himself; there was no need to risk contracting a disease from these unclean waters.

He heard a rustle in the bushes not far away, and dismissed it as a fox or a rabbit. He paid it no mind, and withdrew the bucket from the water, satisfied with the amount he had. He heard the rustle again, and turned to the bushes, and saw nothing. It's nothing. He thought, until an arrow flew past him.

He immediately turned his attention back to the bushes, he had no sword, but he did have the few spells he remembered from the College of Winterhold. He activated his lightning bolt spell and dropped the bucket, wondering who had tried to shoot him. That was an elven arrow.

Then another arrow came forth, and this time Valor did not dodge it. It pierced him straight in the leg, and he immediately fell to his knee. "Agh!" he grunted, and then he shot a lightning bolt into the bush, hoping he hot something.

Then several figures sprinted out from the bushes, and Valor identified them as Thalmor soldiers. Why are they attacking me? Valor thought, but he had no more time to wonder. They rushed towards him, and he struggled to rise. They followed me. He realized, but why?

He channeled more energy, and sent another lightning bolt at the closest one. Thankfully for him the blast landed, knocking the High Elf back, his sword thudded against the ground, and Valor did his best to walk towards it.

Two more elves were coming for him; one had sent a strike at his chest. Valor tried to leap back like he normally would, but his leg hurt too much to handle, and the elf's blade sliced him across the chest. Valor fell back, his hands feeling the gash in his chest. No…no…I can't die here. He kept on thinking, rolling to the left as the elf tried to swing his blade down and deal the last strike. The second elf was quickly approaching as well, Valor had to do something.

The next time the elf brought elf blade down, Valor managed to land a kick at his hands, causing his opponent to drop his sword. Valor's hand shot out to grab the hilt, and before the elf could do anything he had thrust it forward and pierced right through the Justiciars neck.

The body of the first high elf fell, but the second was coming. Valor didn't even attempt to rise this time, and when the elf was about to launch a spell, Valor had sent his first. The crack of lightning jolting forward to meet at the elf's head. Valor knew he had killed him, and he tried to get up and head to the house. I should have worn my armor. He thought, trying to run.

He fell flat on his face, and cried out in pain at that moment. He could hear the sounds of shouting, and looked upward to try to crawl. Then he rolled over, and grabbed the end of the arrow and with all his strength yanked it out. The pain was like something he had never felt, yet he was relieved when it was done. He still could not walk well however, but he could try.

He dealt with the pain, the sword still in his hand. Serana's in danger, I know. He heard voices, and shouting coming from the house, he had to get there in time. He then began to jog, slowly, but then faster. Until eventually he hobbled over to the home, and found the door open.

He went inside at once, and saw Serana in a scramble with an elven warrior. He swung his blade to and fro, trying to hit Serana, but she was too quick. Valor went forward, neither of the two noticing his presence. Then, the elf had grabbed Serana by the hair, and was pulling her forward. But Valor was already behind him, and his hand pushed the elf's head back, and in one motion he slit his enemy's throat.

After it was done he went down, about to fall, but Serana caught him, and held Valor up. "Who are they? What were they doing here?"

But Valor had no response, his vision was blurring. My chest…I'm losing too much blood.. His hand stretched forward, "My chest…" and Serana looked down and gasped. Somehow she had not noticed the entire time. She helped him walk, and Valor remembered her saying, "We need to get you a potion!" but he could barely hear, he could barely see either. And the last thing he saw was Serana rushing around in a hurry, before the black of darkness met him.

Hope you guys like this chapter, as I enjoyed writing it.

The Dominion tried to kill Valor? Will they succeed and end his life? Will Valor survive? Let me know you're thought