As we enter the castle I hear uneasy murmuring, but push it aside and keep walking. Serana is right behind me, the vampire still complaining about having to walk all the way back to the castle. I shrug it off and go down to the main hall, Harkon and everyone already gathered. I walk over to my 'leader' and tell him, "I got your priest.". He nods and says, "I noticed.". He motions behind me, and when I turn around I see the priest waiting for me. Harkon suddenly shoves the scroll in my hands and snarls, "Command him to read it.". I nod without thinking and do as he says, walking over to the confused looking man.

I walk over, shove the scroll in his hands, and snarl, "Read.". He nods and takes the item from me, preparing to read it. I retreat to Serana's side, still wary of the rest of the vampires. The priest clears his throat and begins, "I see a vision before me, an image of a great bow. I know this weapon! It is Auriel's Bow! Now a voice whispers, saying 'Among the night's children, a dread lord will rise.' In an age of strife, when dragons return to the realm of men, darkness will mingle with light and the night and day will be as one.".

"The voice fades and the words begin to shimmer and distort. But wait, there is more here. The secret of the bow's power is written elsewhere. I think there is more to the prophecy, recorded in other scrolls. Yes, I see them now... One contains the ancient secrets of the dragons, and the other speaks of the potency of ancient blood. My vision darkens, and I see no more. To know the complete prophecy, we must have the other two scrolls."

I freeze at the news, terrified. Will Harkon punish me for this? I turn and see the man doesn't look pleased, but he isn't leaping to beat me. Instead, he shakes his head and announces, "This is rather...disappointing news, but we must push on. You heard the man, find the two remaining scrolls!". Everyone once again scatters, and I leap when I feel Serana's fingers brush my arm. I turn to the woman and she whispers, "I think I know where a scroll is.". Before I can react she's pulling me along, outside the castle and somewhere where she deems safe.

She turns to me and says, "I believe my mother has one.". My ears perk and I say, "Great! Where is she?". Her face falls and she says, "My mother and father-". She pauses before saying, "Aren't on good terms. She'd be in hiding by now, somewhere where my father would never find her.". The answer is obvious, but I act nice as I ask, "Could she be somewhere in the castle?". Serana's red eyes light up, and she tells me, "That's brilliant! I know exactly where she would go, there's an abandoned area behind the castle. If we can get through it, then we'll reach the garden where we use to work together.".

Huh, it suddenly occurs to me that Serana actually had and has a life. However, I simply tell the woman, "Okay, let's go.". I've gotten rid of the idea of getting my companion to go away, and Serana doesn't seem to want to leave my side. So, it's no surprise when I walk away she closely follows me. I don't care for vampires, but I want to know a little more about my traveling comrade, so I casually ask, "Are you close to your mother?".

Serana seems surprised by my questioning, but answers, "Sort of. When I was younger we were like the best of friends. We'd do everything together, spend a lot of time in the garden with each other, and I wouldn't hesitate to tell her anything. Then, one day she just shut me out. She'd shoo me out of the garden, always saying she was too busy to spend time with me. After that, it got kind of lonely around here.". She falls silent, but I enjoyed learning a small tidbit of the woman's life. So, I follow up my question by asking, "And your father?". I can feel Serana's tenseness as she response, "No, not really. We've never seen things the same way.".

Before I can ask a third question the woman stops in her tracks, and when I turn to her she inquires, "What about you? Were you ever close to your parents?". The question is sudden, but I go ahead and answer it by saying, "I never knew my parents, I grew up alone.". Serana shifts from foot to foot as she says, "I can understand that, kind of. Growing up the way I did. I know it's not exactly the same, but I can understand.". I nod and move to leave, but Serana stops me by clearing her throat. When I turn back she asks another question, "Why do you flee from battle?".

I flatten my ears and turn away, walking back to our destination. Serana trots beside me, talking as we go. "I don't get why you're walking away, it won't help you. I just want to know, so I might be able to help. Come on, it can't be that bad. I'm making a real effort to know you and understand you, but I can't do that if you push me away. Come on.".

I've had enough of her talking, and flip around to face her as I snarl, "No!". Serana sighs and says, "Tell me.". I once again repeat my answer, but Serana persist. Finally, I crack and snarl, "Fine! But what the oblivion do you care?". Serana considers my question, then shrugs and says, "You don't seem like bad company, and we work well together. We got to know each other on a small personal level back there, and I want to keep developing that bond and eventually come to think of you as an ally.". I glare as I tell her, "Funny, I love when people answer me without emotion and in a scientific manner.".

Serana looks about ready to say something sarcastic, but contains herself and says, "I was being honest. I might have sounded like an ass, but it's true. You woke me up from hundreds of years of sleep, and I want to help you. Your cowardice is your weakness, and I want to help you overcome it. Please, just tell me.". I sigh, allowing the mix of anger and fear to leak from me. Then, I look at the ground and kick a stone as I tell her, "I'm afraid.". Serana steps on the rock I'm kicking and ask, "Or what?".

It sounds extremely stupid, but I answer honestly and tell her, "Death.". Laughter causes me to snap my head up, renewed anger flaring in me. Serana sees my reaction and stops, quickly backtracking. "It's just, you're a vampire. It's harder for us to die. And, you're already technically dead. Why do you fear something like that?".

I don't want to answer that, I want to go away and hide like I always do. But for once I strengthen my backbone and whisper, "I don't want to die. I don't want to end.". Serana's eyes grow confused and she asks, "End? What do you mean?". I swallow down my rising wail of alarm and tell the vampire, "End. I don't want to die, I don't think anything happens when we die. When we die it's just the end, nothing else happens. We go in the ground and rot. I don't want to rot, I want to keep doing what I'm doing. To breathe, run, fight, drink, bet, scream, roar, fuck, live. I don't want to accept death.".

Serana cocks her head and questions, "You don't believe in the gods or daedric princes?". I nod and explain, "I don't see enough evidence. I prayed every single day when I was a child, but my only answer was the wind. Then, I prayed to the daedric princes to give me power, but my prayers fell on deaf ears. If I was ever presented with rock solid evidence that the gods and daedra are real, then I would accept them. But it wouldn't help me accept death, I would go straight to oblivion for my deeds.".

Serana's face has been a stone through all of my speech, and when it's over she says, "I honestly don't agree with your view,". Surprise surprise. "but I accept that it's yours.". Damn, I actually wasn't expecting that. The vampire continues, "I think one day, after all of this is done, I'll sit down with you and have a long talk. I might be able to give you the proof you desire, and help you accept that oblivion isn't that bad. And, if you desire it I can mumble a few prayers for you.".

I've had a hundred or so people assure me they can 'prove' the gods exist, but it's still a somewhat nice thought that she wants to ease my mind of the fears I carry. It won't work, but she at least wants to help me. Or shove religion down my throat. I promptly ignore that thought, Serana isn't the kind of woman to pull that stuff. So, I nod and tell her, "I appreciate you trying to help me, but we should focus on our current mission. And, there's nothing you can do to help my cowardice right now.". I move to leave, but Serana stays still. When I stop moving she says, "There's something I can do to help in the meantime.".

I raise an eyebrow in question, and Serana smiles as she says, "I'll be there. You have an ancient and powerful vampire on your side. Everyone must face their death one day or another, but you won't die today.". I refuse the urge to stay silent and question, "How do you know?". Serana simply answers, "I won't let you.". I've had multiple people tell me that, and it shouldn't mean anything. It's just something people say to get me to do stuff, but for once I believe the person. I believe Serana. Believing anything a vampire says is dangerous, but I can't help it.

Serana hasn't been cruel to me, and that's more than most people do. So, I swallow her words and allow some sense of courage to course through me. I begin walking and tell Serana, "Come on. That was nice, but we need to get going.". She doesn't argue, just begins trotting along beside me. As we walk I can't help wondering why the sudden burst of conversation, but I push it aside. We have more important things to deal with. As if on cue I hear a gargling sound, and look around the newly revealed docks to see a skeleton charging down at us.

Serana's ice spike shatters the walking boneman to pieces, but there are five others to take his place. I reach for my bow, then yell, "GOD FUCKING DAMN IT!". My vulgar curse causes Serana to look at me, and she quickly realizes the situation. She rolls her eyes, begins fighting twice as hard, and tells me, "Use your claws.". I sigh, but charge the nearest skeleton. If I'm going to die, then I might as well do it quickly. Although I see the fire Serana is fighting with, and realize something. I'm not going to die today, no matter how hard I try.

Note: I've made a decision to begin chopping paragraphs into smaller chunks. I enjoy it, and I hope you do also.