Dala grumpily opened her eyes as the offending beam of light continued to intrude on her morning sleep. Growling as it didn't go away Dala threw off her covers and pushed herself into a sitting position. She groggily rubbed at her eyes before freezing in her tracks at the awkward cough that came from the other side of the room. Dala opened one eye before diving back under the covers at seeing Arya standing there with the deepest blush she had ever seen gracing her cheeks. Dala cursed under the covers, she forgot that Arya was used to seeing her sleep in something a bit more... concealing.

"Sorry Dala, uh... Regan sent me up here to get you. I thought you would uh... be asleep?" The last word was said barely above a squeak. Dala had her own blush forming as she peeked out from under the covers.

"Its okay sis, I didn't hear you, I'll be down in a minute, thanks." Arya nodded and practically bolted out of the room. Dala sighed and slowly slipped out of the covers after making sure no one else would come to interrupt her. The walk downstairs was painful just like always, her left leg would spasm every now and then making the fifteen steps seem much much longer. When she finally did get to the bottom step Regan cautiously walked up to her.

"How do feel?" Dala smiled but it was forced.

"Give me some time, ill get used to it." Regan nodded but Dala could see the torrent of emotions in her eyes. Before she could say anything Arya walked up to her with a rather bleak expression.

"We have been called to Dragonsreach, Tullius is here." Dala snarled, that damn imperial wouldn't take a hint. As soon as Dala had been able to she had told Tullius to shove off, she wasn't dying for anyone. Especially some bastard Imperial.

"Fine... ill be up in a minute, tell them to wait." Arya nodded and quickly left the house. Dala turned back to Regan. The woman looked as if she were about to cry.

"I promise, I'm not going back. I him back to Solitude if I have to." Regan nodded as she let Dala fold her into a hug. "I wont leave you again." Dala let go of her wife and was struck with the odd sensation of it being the last time she would ever see her. Shaking off the disturbing feeling Dala turned and, after giving her children hugs, walked out of the house. The walk to Dragonsreach took all of two seconds as she used whirlwind sprint., thankfully her gimp didn't appear to hinder the effectiveness of the shout. Dala tried not to let her anger show as she shoved the giant doors of the great chambers open with her right arm. Arya was standing at the foot of the stairs, her irritated look now replaced with one of fear. Dala quickly walked up to her and gently grabbed one of her arms.

"Arya what's wrong?" The smaller women simply shook her head as she shuddered. Then Dala heard it, barely above a whisper but it might as well have been shouted.

"Vampires." Arya shuddered again and Dala wrapped her in a hug. Arya's family had been brutally turned in front of her then forced to feed on her when the hunger got to be too much. The only reason she was alive was because Vex had seen her during a burglary of the vampire's estate. Vex had instantly fallen for the young half elf and rescued her. It had take three months before Arya even spoke and it had only been to quietly whisper a thank you to Vex. Dala had never seen the tough Nord women cry but she'd be damned if she didn't see the lone tear escape the master thief's eye as she nodded at the smaller women. Dala knew what the thought of vampires did to Arya and her heart broke all over for her.

"Why don't you go back to the house, I'll take Lydia on this one." Arya shook her her head, her eyes becoming hard. Dala hated seeing her like this, it happened whenever there was mention of those bastard leeches.

"No, I can't avenge my family anymore, so I'll avenge the ones these monsters stole from." Dala sighed as she nodded wearily before looking around.

"Where are they?" Arya shook her head,

"Tullius is gone, he heard about the coven and went after them. We are supposed to meet up with him. The coven is right outside the city, near the giant campgrounds. that's how they found out, both giants had lacerations and bite marks all over them. Balgruuf wants them exterminated before they start taking people from the city. I don't think anyone can take much more right now. Half the guard has gone, its a large coven, the rest are starting to escort people to the shelters. I don't know if everyone will fit Dala, many were destroyed during the battle." Dala nodded, not wanting to think about what that meant. Her family would be safe, they had to be.

"We can't worry about that now. If we can stop these leeches then Whiterun can sleep safe tonight. Besides, I would hate for Tullius to get hurt while we're not there." This got the desired snort from Arya as Dala threw an arm over her shorter companion and walked out of Dragonsreach. Hardly anyone was out now, the few stragglers that were left would most likely stay with the guard and lend an extra hand if things went awry. She just hoped that everyone else had gotten to their bunkers. Dala didn't know if they would stop the strength of vampires but if these were just regular cave leeches then they should be safe. As they neared the gates of the city Dala couldn't help but look back one last time before quietly slipping out of the large doors.

Dala didn't have to ask where the den was located, the harsh glow of torches in the distance, giving her a clear path to follow. They reached the cave in record time thanks to a waiting pair of horses, only to find the mouth of the cave filled with bodies. Dala tried not to hiss as she looked upon faces of people she had come to know and love over the years. Most of them were guards, but still, each member of Whiterun had dug a hole in her heart. Arya was having no such luck, Dala could hear her soft sobs as they continued farther into the cave.

"Be careful and stay next to me. These aren't regular cave vampires, and this isnt a regular den." As soon as she said it four vampires jumped from the shadows. Unlike regular cave vampires who were all but starving and feral, these monsters looked to be well fed and adorned in very nice and elegant armor. Dala let out roar and started to advance causing all of them to stop.

"Stop! Leave her alone, the master doesn't want her hurt." Dala cocked her head as she grinned.

"Well, the same can't be said for you. YOL, TOR SHUL" Dala couldn't help her satisfied purr as the vampires instantly lit on fire. She moved past them with their screams accompanying her down the tunnel. Up ahead Dala could hear the sounds of fighting and quickened her pace. They suddenly broke from the tunnels into a giant cavern. The mass of the fighting bodies were mainly centered around the back wall but a few stragglers were scattered near them. Dala let out a snarl and started for the nearest vampire. It saw her and let out a sickening screech before taking off for the horde of bodies. A series of other screeches sounded throughout the cave before the vampires broke from the battle and raced out of a tunnel towards the back. Dala was dumbfounded, she didn't understand why they were all so afraid of her, but it was pissing her off.

"Follow them! Don't let them escape!" Dala started for the tunnel when she noticed that all of the men still standing were doing just that, standing. She angrily walked up to Tullis who was breathing hard but was otherwise unmoving.

"Tullius?" His eyes drifted to hers and Dala could see the rage in them.

"They cast a mass paralysis spell, none of my men nor myself can move. You will have to get them yourself Dala."

Dala sighed and looked at Arya,

"Start reversing the spell, catch up when you are done." Arya stepped forward and shook her head.

"No, I won't leave you alone to face those monsters!" Dala smiled as she gently laid a hand on her friend's shoulder.

"Arya, I will be okay. I need you here, the paralysis will stop their hearts, you need to reverse it. Please." Arya nodded grudgingly before turning around and starting to work on Tullius. Having settled the matter Dala turned and started sprinting down the tunnel. A sheen of sweat formed on her brow as she prayed for her leg to behave, she couldn't afford to be a gimp right now. Finally she broke out of the cave and immediately scanned the horizon for her prey. There was no sign of the vermin. Swearing Dala turned to head back into the tunnel when a faint sound caught on the wind. Dala's heart seized as she turned to look at the city in the distance. It was burning. Dala couldn't help the rage born scream as she took off as fast as she could. Her leg hurt terrible and she had a pronounced gimp now but she didn't care. Only one thought raced through her mind at the moment. Her family was safe... they had to be.

By the time she got to the gates her left side ached terrible she could barely hold up her own weight. She hissed as she shoved her body against the door, it didn't budge. With fear laced adrenalin coursing through her system Dala sucked in a breath then shouted at the doors.

"FUS, RO DA!" The doors sailed away from the arch to crash into the surrounding buildings. The sight that greeted Dala made her gag in horror. Everywhere she could see the bodies of her friends and colleagues lay strewn about. Blood ran like a river threw the street into the sewers below. This couldn't be happening, they had all be safely in their bunkers. Dala gagged as she identified the ones she could. , Carlotta's daughter, Adrienne and her husband, Hulda, and so many more, half of which were to mangled to even make out which gender they were. Dala shook her head quickly as tears started to fall freely, with a snarl she bolted over the dead bodies to her house, her family would be in there. They would be terrified, but alive. Together they would get over this whole ordeal and rebuild this city. With the desperate thought spurring her on she hesitated a fraction of a second before kicking at the door. It gave way easily, as if it had been unlocked, but Dala knew that she had locked it when she had left the house earlier.

Not even one step in the door she froze, pools of blood lay all over the floor and up the walls. A dull ringing sound started as Dala took in the bodies of her family, Regan was still clutching her swords, both reddened with blood. Her eyes vacant of all life, looked up in horror. Dala could see the gouges all along her body as well as the blue and purple bruises around her neck. Blood coated her wifes hair and slowly dripped into the dark would underneath. Her eyes moved a fraction to the right and Dala let out a choked sob as she saw Rorin only a few feet away, his arms outstretched to his dead mother. Like Regan, he was covered in bite marks and lacerations. A look of pure horror in his eyes. Grief and another emotion started to cloud her vision as she turned to the vampire responsible. He was well over 6 ft and looked to be Nordic in heritage but she couldn't know for sure. His face was covered in ugly scars that must have been from before he was turned. He grinned at her before glancing at the little girl he had in his grasp. His hand was around her throat as he lifted her four feet off the ground. She desperately clawed at his hand in vain as he laughed, her struggles only seemed to spur him on, the sick fuck. Dala shook her head as she slowly raised her hands. Suddenly there was no air in the room, she had trouble breathing as her eyes locked with blood red ones.

"Please." It was barely said above whisper but Dala might as well have yelled it, it would make no difference. She could see that as the vampire's eyes flashed with glee. He shook his head as he made a tsking sound before slowly bringing her daughter to his mouth. For some reason Dala couldn't move no matter how hard she tried. Her muscles strained as he gently kissed the pulse on her daughter's neck.

"Always a shame when they die so young." Time stopped as a shrill scream filled the air. The vampire didn't hesitate as he ripped out Thalia's throat with his teeth, all the while never taking his eyes off Dala. The dull sound in her ears exploded into a painfully loud ringing as the bastard threw her daughter to the side and grinned, blood still dripping down his chin. He licked his lips as he looked at the carnage in the room before settling his gaze on Dala. Before she had even blinked he was standing in front of her, his canines inches from her skin. She could feel his hot breath on her ear as he inhaled. He grinned as he spoke.

"See you soon love, we are all so excited to meet you." With a jovial laugh he lightly nipped her ear before turning and jumping through the wall. Dala didn't follow him, her eyes were fixed on her wifes as she slowly walked over to the remains of her family. An emotion she didn't know how to explain started to well up inside of her causing her vision to go red. She dropped to her knees as she grabbed her wife and pulled her to her. She ignored the blades, which she had bought for Regan with the intention of keeping her beautiful wife safe, digging into her thighs and knees as she turned and grabbed her children next. Blood soaked through her clothes and into her skin as the sobs finally came. With rage she shouted into the air creating a hole in the ceiling, debris fell around her, a few of the larger shards digging into her skin. Another shout blasted out the back wall, leaving the kitchen in ruins. The blonde started hyperventilating as she looked down at her wife and children. Dala rocked back and forth, clutching her family to her. A soft gasp behind her had Dala turning in rage, one bloody hand holding up Regan's sword.

Arya stilled as tears clouded her vision, this couldn't be happening. She couldn't breath as she watched the sword slip from Dala's bloody fingers. The blonde simply stared at her with dead eyes before looking back at her murdered family. Arya let out a choked sound as she fell back into the door, she slid to the ground, completely unaware of the blood, or splinters coating her back.

" . . . . . ! They can't do this to me... not again!" Dala either didn't hear her whispered words or chose to ignore her as she continued to rock back and forth. By now every inch of her body except her face was covered in blood, Arya felt real fear as she looked at Dala, this was not her friend. She could see the older womens lips moving but no sound came out as she buried her head in her wifes shoulder. Arya slowly stood and turned as a knock sounded behind her. She opened the door and simply stared as Tullius looked at her in horror, he knew something was wrong.

"Dala..." Arya shook her head and opened the door farther so he and his men could see the carnage that lay within the house. Tullius eyed Dala, who wouldn't look at him, before looking back at Arya. "What do we do?" Before Arya could answer a loud moan sounded next to them. Lightning quick Arya turned towards the sound, fully expecting to see a dying vampire. Arya shook her head as more tears came, accompanied by a broken cry of agony. Lydia was sitting in the chair, her face was covered in deep lacerations and Arya could see multiple claw wounds all along her chest and arms. With shaky hands Arya dropped her sword and gently cupped the wounded housecarls cheeks.

"Lydia... please... don't leave me too." Arya held her breath as one silver-blue eye painfully opened to stare at her. Arya let out a laugh of joy as tears started falling from her eyes in rivulets. She looked back at Dala who had finally focused her eyes and was now staring at the pair with a mixture of fear and hope in her eyes. Lydia coughed and tried to move only causing her many wounds to start pouring blood. "Lydia stop!" The Nord women instantly stilled as she closed her eyes against pain.

"Save her." Arya almost missed the whispered plea, she cast a quick glance at Dala who seemed to be falling farther in on her self each second and nodded. With determination calming her shredded nerves Arya tried to summon up her magicka. All she got was fire laced pain, she still didn't have enough magicka reserved. Arya swore and turned to Tullius.

"Find me a healer, all of them if you have to. Now!" He nodded and sparring one last glance for Dala he and his men shot off towards the back to Lydia Arya didn't let go of her as she started smoothing her blood matted hair away from her face. "It's going to be okay, you are going to be okay." Lydia coughed, the action causing more blood to flow from her wounds. Arya swore and tried to still her when a pair of hands gently pushed her out of the way. Arya couldn't breath as she saw Dala lean over Lydia. She had never seen the older women perform magicka before, the sight was beautiful. Despite the torrent of emotions flooding through Dala Arya couldn't help but gawk as the softest golden glow gently flowed out of her to wrap comfortingly around Lydia. While not a master, Arya could tell the Guardian Circle was extremely powerful as Dala softly chanted. Tears sprung up in her eyes as she turned to look at the death behind them, Dala had gently set her wife and kids down. Making sure that Regan had her swords in hand, and that their eyes were closed. White cloths were draped over each of them, though it didn't hide the ruby that stained them.

Taking a deep breath Arya turned back to the two people she still had left. Before her eyes the worst of Lydia's wounds closed as her breathing evened out. Dala was breathing heavily at this point and on closer inspection Arya could see that she had many cuts on her legs and shoulders. By the time Tullius got there with three of the healers Dala was slumped against Arya as Lydia slept peacefully. The healers, after checking to make sure Lydia was stable, went over and healed the others. While it wouldn't bring them back to life, Arya was at least grateful that they wouldn't look hurt anymore. Once done the healers said a quick prayer before putting Lydia onto a stretcher and taking her back to the temple. Tullius left without a word, no doubt needing to consult with Balgruuf on what they should do now. Silence filled the room as Arya wrapped her arms around Dala.

"We need to go Dala, you can't stay here." Dala's knees gave out as she slumped further into Arya.

"They're dead... my family is gone. My life." Arya managed to sit them down in one of the chairs by the door, Dala mostly sitting on top of her.

"Dala please, I know this is hard. Trust me, I can barely accept this myself, but staying here will do us no good." Dala started to hyperventilate as she looked down at Arya.

"I can't live without them Arya, I can't." Arya glared at Dala as she pulled them both up.

"Don't you dare say that! I know what if feels like to lose your family Dala! I know how it feels, I have felt what you're feeling twice fold now! It hurts, the pain never truly goes away. But don't you dare sit there and say you can't live without them! Because I have been doing it for years." Arya couldn't continue to yell as her eyes welled up and her throat closed. She fell back into the chair as the tears started to fall. "I lost them too Dala, the only thing we can do in life is get up, and keep going. Because if we don't, if we stay in the past, then we are lost forever." Dala crouched down so she was eye level with Arya. Her eyes cleared and she saw Arya for what she was, a small girl who had lost her family twice now. Dala nodded, more to herself than to Arya and pulled the smaller woman to her.

"I'm sorry Arya... I'm so sorry." She let Arya cry into shoulder for a while longer before gently pushing the other girl back and smiling, it was broken, but it was a smile. "I'm sorry I shut out for a bit." She nodded and wiped at her nose as they both stood.

"Don't ever do that again, I thought I lost you for a minute." Dala shook her head,

"You will never lose me sis." Arya smiled through her damp eyes before turning to look grimly at their life.

"What are we going to do?" Dala took a deep breath and Arya could see her eyes shining.

"We are going to bury them." Arya looked at her,

"Where?"

Dala stared at the three graves. Hundreds more were around them, victims of the battle and vampires alike. The large burial ground rested just behind Dragonsreach on the hillside. Eorlund was already working on sections of the large fence that would go around the site. Dala's family rested in the middle along with two of Balgruuf's children. The people left wept for loved ones and friends alike as they all clasped hands. A large circle formed around the stones that lasted well into the night. Torches broke up the circle here and there as the clouds opened up and started to cry. The gods wept for their losses as the sky flashed and roared in rage. Dala and Arya stayed the longest. One by one everyone else left, either patting her on the arm or giving her a hug. Now standing in the rain Dala stood silently as her tears mixed with the water running down her face.

"I love you Regan. One day I will see you all again and we will feast in the great halls of Sovngarde. Good bye." Her words were accompanied by a loud clap of thunder as she turned to look at Arya. She stood with a look of understanding as she held out one of the reins to her. Dala took them gratefully then hopped on the horse.

"Are you sure you want to leave?" Dala nodded as she looked at Balgruuf, his eyes were bloodshot from crying, his two boys had been murdered like Dala's children. She felt his pain like her own.

"They were my home, without them I do not belong here. Your city will rebuild itself and forget about the Dragonborn. Arya and I are going East, somewhere in the forests near Riften. I think a quiet house on a lake will do us both some good. The only thing I ask is that you send me word once Lydia awakes. Please don't tell her anything, I only wish to know she is alright... her life is better off without me in it, that is clear now." Balgruuf nodded, he understood the Dragonborns need to go, but it hurt no less as he watch his friend turn to leave.

"Dala, whether you live here or not, you will always be thane. We are here for you, should you ever need us. And you are wrong about Lydia, she does need you. But I will heed your wish, I won't tell her." Dala gave him a small smile as tears brimmed in her eyes, it was time.

Dala sighed as she looked back one last time at her home, a single ray of light split through the angry clouds to illuminate the city. Yes, they would rebuild, and would forget the awful tragedies that had befallen them. As Dala kicked her horse into a steady trot she prayed to whatever god that was listening that she would be able to do the same.