Brief Note: I changed the Breton in the last chapter to a Redguard, just a small change.
Serana is fast asleep in Fort Dawmgaurd when I find her, her breathing barely audible. I shake her awake and stand back as the woman rises. When the vampire is up she rubs her red eyes and asks, "What?". I already know what I want to say, and instantly ask her, "Can you take me back to Castle Volkihar?". The Nord sighs in disapproval, but begins getting dressed in her armor as she questions, "Why do you need to go back so soon? Did you already destroy the head?". I adjust the satchel on my waist, my multiple potions clinking together. "No, but I discovered something highly important about the gargoyles.".
Without looking over her shoulder the vampire speaks, "What on earth did you discover in such a short time?". I finish adjusting my satchel and explain, "From what I currently know, the gargoyles are made from living things. People to be exact. I wouldn't imagine any animals would be made into the monsters, but I won't know until I do further test.". Something clicks together in my mind and I question the vampire, "Were you aware the gargoyles were humans? Are you even aware of when you got the gargoyles?". Serana finishes dressing and turns around, putting a dagger in her boot as she tells me, "I wasn't aware that the gargoyles were people, I always assumed my mother made them out of literal stone.". A contemplating looks comes over her face before she speaks again.
"I think I briefly recall a friend of my father coming over briefly before we got the gargoyles. Harkon slit his throat the same day we got the statues. It might be related, or it could be just a random coincidence. Either way, why do you want to return to the castle?". I nearly balk and reiterate, "They're people.". The vampire shrugs and says, "So what? They've been stones for centuries, they don't know anything else. Besides, you aren't the one that turned them into gargoyles. They're not your responsibility. Just briefly pity them in your mind, then get over it and continue on with your life.".
A sudden burst of shock and offence at the mere thought I would do such a thing fill me. "Serana! They're living creatures! It's our duty to help them.". The vampire rolls her eyes, but mumbles and begins walking away. I follow her as quickly as I can, multiple members of The Dawnguard glaring at us as we pass them. The Dawnguard are still displeased to have a vampire among their ranks, and apparently their disapproval also goes to the Khajiit that made them take the vampire into their ranks. Our walk back to Riften is rather uneventful, the lone howl of a lost wolf the only sign of an enemy. I pay the carriage driver and we both get in, the gigantic horse already pulling the wagon down the rocky stone road. The rocking of the wagon sends my eyelids downwards, and I'm falling asleep before I realize what's going on.
I'm awoken by my vampire companion gently shaking me awake. I mumble and stand up, hopping down from the carriage and instantly beginning to walk away. The Nord follows me, neither of us speaking as we travel up into the mountains. The snowy ground around us is still as the winds fall silent, an ill-omen if some people can be believed. But I've never been one for superstitions, so I continue on without the slightest bit of thought for anything as trivial as the weather. When we reach the boat Serana hands me some paddles to assist her in rowing, but it's clear she's doing the brunt of the work.
When we reach the rocky shore Serana ties the boat up, then leads me back to the castle she grew up in. The abandoned palace is foreboding and silent, invisible enemies of the mind moving around in the shadows. I might not believe in fairy tale monsters, but the castle still puts me on edge. Everywhere we go broken furniture, bloody bodies, and burnt stone are the only things to greet us. Even Serana seems a little on guard, her shoulders are tensed and her hand never leaves the hilt of her dagger. We reach the passage where we came from, and the Nord pulls back the entrance for me. I nod in thanks and cast a magelight spell, the eerie glow our only source of light. My traveling companion shuts the entrance behind us, locking us in the icy tunnel.
Serana slowly leads me down the twisting corridors, ice slowly beginning to form on the path. When we reach the area with the gargoyles I pull some potions from my pack, making my way to the back of the room. Serana closely follows me, careful not to be out of range of the low magelight. When we reach the stone monuments I go over to the one on the far right, pulling out a potion labeled Nord. I pour the potion over the stone, but nothing happens. I curse and begin rummaging through my bag, pulling out a potion titled Orc. This time the stone absorbs the liquid, and another green light flashes before my eyes.
But this time I'm prepared, and pull Serana to the side. When I look back I see a dead Orc in the gargoyle's place, his glassy eyes gazing at nothing. Serana walks over to the corpse, gives it a swift kick to the head, and asks me, "Now do you see? These people are dead inside their stone skins, reviving them will only lead to their demises. It's better to smash them and think of them as statues. The alternative is admitting they're people, and that you've brought them back purely to die. Now, can we please get to breaking some stones?". I shake my head and say for a third time, "They're people. I'd rather free them all of their stone skins and admit they're dead. Besides, we can give them a proper burial now.".
The vampire sighs and disappears into the darkness, mumbling as she goes, "Fine by me, just be quick.". I nod and look at the four remaining gargoyles, each of them with a frozen smile on their faces. I pull out a potion called Redguard and dump it on the beast's head, the stone greedily gulping down the liquid. By now I'm use to the green flashes, and can withstand the glow to some extent. The Redguard falls to the floor, doing a sick twisted jig on the freezing stone. I move to assist him, but he's already dead by the time I take my first step. I sigh and move onto the next one, pouring another Redguard potion on the next gargoyle's head. Nothing.
However, the Breton potion works just fine. This one manages to sway on his feet for a few moments, then tumbles to the ground and gargles his last breath. I can practically feel Serana's gaze burning a hole into my back, and I know what she's thinking. However, I ignore the cynical woman and pour an Orc potion on the next statue. I praise my luck as the stone burst into green light, an Orc woman revealed. This one doesn't last much longer than the other ones. She briefly looks around, works her jaw a little, and falls to the ground. I sigh as I feel Serana walk up behind me, the one remaining statue the only surviving gargoyle in the entire caslte (at least to my knowledge).
My companion puts her hand on my shoulder and encourages me, "Let it go. Let the poor thing rest where it is, or smash it to bits while it still doesn't know what's going on. You saw what the last one did. We both know she knew what was going on, and don't lie and tell me you didn't see terror in her eyes. The other two were just as bad. Imagine waking up after thousands of years of rest, just to take your last breath as fear pumps through your veins. You wouldn't sentence any creature to a death like that, would you?".
I shake my head, but argue, "It could still be alive. If it is, then we owe it to the person inside to try to save them. Or at least wake them from their slumber, so we can give their body a burial it deserves. No human deserves to have this disturbing castle serve as their eternal resting.". I can practically feel Serana roll her eyes as she counters, "Thanks, I appreciate that generous comparison of my ancestral home to something disgusting. Now, why can't you let this go? Just go back to your college and let your life move on. What can you gain from this? If the person does live, they'll be thousands of years behind. It's hard enough for me to grasp the social structures and norms of modern day, I can't imagine what oblivion they'd be going through. They wouldn't even know what to do. Please, allow this one to finally rest in peace?".
I shake my head and step forward, pulling a Breton potion from my bag. "We have to release whoever's inside. It's the only moral thing to do.". Serana sighs, but gives in. "Fine, but I'm not helping you carry the bodies out.". I nod to agree and uncork the liquid, pouring it over the stone. This venomous light is even brighter than any before, and I feel Serana yank me away from the statue. The vampire trips and we both end up on the floor, my companion cursing as I accidentally crush her foot beneath my own. When the light finally subsides I look at the newly revealed person.
A naked Breton sways back and forth on the stone pedestal where she was previous perched, the naked woman looking around in confusion. Before I can blink she crashed to the ground, but there's one thing that separates her from all the other gargoyles. When they hit the ground they took their last breaths, but the unconscious Breton is still breathing. It's shallow and definitely not healthy, but at least she's alive. I apologize as I get off of Serana, crawling over to the downed woman. I gently place my fingers on her neck, a steady pules confirming that the woman hasn't killed over. I motion for the Nord to come closer, and within a few seconds the vampire is beside me. I excitedly tell her, "She's alive!". My cynical friend nods and mumbles, "I noticed.".
It suddenly occurs to me the woman most definitely needs medical attention. I'm gifted in magic and alchemy, but the anatomy of every race is Tamriel isn't my specialty. What could cure a Nord could kill her, and that's the last thing I want to do. I slap Serana on the shoulder and tell her, "Come on! Help me lift her, we have to get her to Solitude!". The vampire eyes me and questions, "What about all the dead ones? I thought you wanted to give them proper burials?". I nod and agree, "I want to give them proper burials, but in this case the living take precedents. I can bury the corpses later, but this woman could die at any minute. Please?". The woman nods and helps me with the Breton, and as we lift she tells me, "We'll have to be careful in the boat, but we should be able to take all of us across in one trip.". I nod and we both rush out of the cathedral, leaving piles of stones and bodies behind us.