Tsunar and Borgakh both backed up in surprise as the woman fell to one knee. She sighed as she stood and blinked a few times before addressing the adventurers.
"Where..? Who sent you here?" She asked, dazed.
"A man named Isran. Who where you expecting?" Tsunar replied, hand subconsciously edging towards his sword.
"I don't know. Someone like me at least." The mysterious woman answered.
"Like you?" Tsunar then noticed her eyes. They seemed to glow slightly and where almost completely orange, save for the dark pupils. "A vampire?" The woman nodded. "Isran would have me kill you." Tsunar muttered, half to himself.
"Not fond of vampires?" The woman asked sarcastically.
"Not many are." Borgakh replied. The Orc leaned in and whispered to Tsunar. "Why exactly don't we kill her? We haven't met any good vampires so far."
"How many feel the same about werewolves?" Tsunar whispered back. "At least give her a chance. She hasn't attacked us yet." Tsunar turned back to the woman. "So how long were you in there?" The woman blinked.
"I don't really know. Let's see… Who's Skyrim's high king?" She asked. Tsunar scoffed.
"Matter of debate." He answered.
"A war of succession? Good to know the world didn't get boring while I was gone." The woman smirked. "So, who're the contenders?"
"Empire supports Elisif, Stormcloaks are in favour of Ulfric." Borgakh answered.
"Empire?" The woman gave a confused expression. "What empire?"
"The Empire..? From Cyrodiil? Been around for about two thousand years?" Borgakh gave the woman a strange look. The Nord woman's eyes drifted to the ground.
"Must've been gone longer than we planned…" As she went silent in thought, Tsunar noticed a familiar gold tube on her back.
"Is that… Is that an Elder Scroll?" He asked is surprise. The woman met his gaze.
"Yeah, and it's mine." She backed up to the monolith slightly. Tsunar raised his hands as a sign of no ill intent.
"Listen," The woman seemed to grow more nervous as she began to speak. "I need to get back to my family. We lived on an island off the coast of Solitude. Any chance you could help me get home?" Tsunar and Borgakh looked at each other in a silent conversation, expressions enough to get their points across. They nodded to each other. Tsunar looked back the way they'd come, the stone bridge was destroyed when the platform rumbled. Looking around, another bridge seemed to lead to the exit. Tsunar gestured for the woman to follow as he headed off.
"I'll take that as a yes. I'm Serana by the way."
As Tsunar crossed the bridge, he saw a pair of statues, both depicting some horrid Daedra creature. They seemed to be place to look as though they watched the bridge, but Tsunar could smell that something was off about them. Before he had a chance to think, both statues burst, and a pair of gray skinned monsters screeched, hands glowing ever so faintly with red light. Tsunar growled as he drew his saber and raised his shield. Borgakh brought up her axes and charged the beasts. Serana raised her hands and a spear of ice flew at the creatures, striking one in the chest. Tsunar charged in and collided with the being Serana had struck, his shield forcing the ice deeper in. He could see Borgakh fending off the other monster's claws and return with a flurry of axe swings. Tsunar slashed at the being in front of him, the blade's fire leaving scorch marks as though it were striking stone. He blocked and parried the beast's claws, each strike sending a wave of pain through his arm. He kept it up until he saw an opening. The creature was powerful, but top heavy. As soon as Tsunar saw it was off balance, he shoved the creature down and leaped into the air. He brought the sword down and pierced the monster's skull. He looked up just in time to see Serana fire a bolt of ice into the other beast's chest, just as Borgakh sliced into the throat. Whichever blow did it, the beast dropped dead.
"Gargoyles." Serana explained. "Always hated those things."
"What are they? Vampire pets?" Borgakh panted as she sheathed her axes.
"More like guard dogs." Serana corrected.
"Some dog." Borgakh muttered as she looked the gargoyle over.
The three fought there way through the rest of the ruin, facing draugr after draugr before they finally saw streaks of sunlight streaming in from under a door. Tsunar sighed in relief as he placed his hand on the iron and prepared to push, but hesitated for a moment.
"You won't die if I open this, will you?" He asked Serana.
"No." She answered, lifting a hood. "But it will be uncomfortable."
As Tsunar lead the trio out, Serana took a deep breath.
"It's so good to breathe again." She smiled.
"You breathe?" Borgakh gave a puzzled expression. Serana seemed almost embarrassed.
"Well, I mean, we don't have to, but it's nice to have fresh air." Tsunar smiled.
"Which way to your island?" He gestured to Solitude, the city barely visible in the distance through a mist. "North, north east, what?"
"Just go along the coast." Serana squinted at the city. "There used to be a ferry, I'd hope there still is." The three made their way to Skyrim's northern and eventually, found a small wooden boat tied to a run down dock. Serana hopped in and guided her new companions towards her home. The two couldn't help bu exchange nervous looks, unsure of what exactly they were rowing towards.
