A/N Okay, so I always found it ever so slightly suspicious when a courier would walk casually up to me in the middle of nowhere when no one should know where I was, so I've replaced the idea with birds. I think it fits in more with the times as well. Oh well, just so you know :)

Dawnstar really was the most godforsaken place in all of Tamriel. Unlike the other frigid cities of skyrim, this one had nothing to actually offer to balance out as a merit for the bleak, cheerless, freezing landscape. Windhelm was impressive; the city of kings, Winterhold boasted an impressive mages college, Solitude was a bustling stone giant of a capitol city- but Dawnstar had nothing. Why the dark brotherhood had ever chosen to build a sanctuary there, Lyra would never know but one thing she did know as she huddled further into her armor against the blizzard was that she really bloody resented them for it. The only drive she had was that she would soon be able to win herself and Babette's teasing game once and for all. Serana walked close to her, buried under her fur hood and muttering to herself about the beautiful Skyrim weather she'd apparently always been told about. The sanctuary had a secret entrance disguised as a sewer outlet, which at least saved them some walking, and Lyra began to scan for it as she knew they were drawing close. She found it within minutes, and slowly started making her way over to it.

"No. Not another sewer. I refuse. You can't make me." Serana grumbled from behind her.

Lyra turned to look at her. "It's not an actual sewer. It's just disguised as one. Promise."

Serana scowled and walked a little closer to it. "Better be.."

Lyra hauled the heavy wooden planks aside, and dropped down into the tunnel below. She moved aside and after a little snow, Serana appeared next to her.

"See?" Lyra said to her companion, gesturing at the carved stone corridor they found themselves in before reaching up to drag the planks back into place in the world above. "Not a sewer. Just a freezing, damp, dark underground tunnel. And that's marginally better."

Serana rolled her eyes and took down her hood. "I suppose. At least there's no blizzard down here. I mean, I'm no fan of the sunlight, but that was just taking the piss."

Lyra smirked and began to lead the way towards the Dawnstar sanctuary. They were greeted by Nazir, who laid eyes on Serana first.

"Oho, and now ancient vampires. Today's getting better and better."

Serana turned around and Nazir stopped, his drink held halfway to his mouth. He stared at her for a moment, before suddenly booming with laughter. He set his drink down and slapped his knee in thrill.

"And- you- you're- AHAA, Oh Babette is. Gonna. Be. Thrilled." He composed himself slightly enough to add "That is to say she's going to kill you."

Lyra grinned. "Oh good. Where is she?"

"Out. But she's due back any time now. Sit down, Astrid should be around, I'll go find her." He looked at Serana again. "I'm Nazir. I shall assume you know where you are and spare you the talk."

Serana just smiled. Lyra sat down as Nazir left to find Astrid, gesturing for Serana to do the same. "These people are pretty much my family. You'll get used to them."

Serana raised an eye brow. "Trust me, they'll be better than mine, I'm sure."

The fire burned merrily in the corner and along with the warm coloured banners and furniture, the sanctuary was looking a lot more homely that it was when they arrived. Lyra and Serana both looked to the door at the same time as Nazir strolled back into the room, astrid in tow.

"Lyra. Honestly, I give you the week off and you come back a pure-blooded vampire."

Lyra smiled at Astrid who, she noted, was looking a hell of a lot better than she was the last time Lyra had set eyes on her. "Well, you know how it is, you go out to get supplies and one thing leads to another."

Astrid chuckled and sat down opposite the two vampires. She turned to Serana. "Sorry, I don't know your name- I'm Astrid."

Serana smiled and as she had for Nazir. "Serana. Nice to meet you."

Nazir scooped a small heap of things from the table in front of them, carrying them over to a draw on the other side of the room and slowly beginning to put them away. Astrid sat back in he chair.

"So, I don't mean to be rude and talk about ages, but the last I heard, pure-blooded vampires came close to extinction many moons ago."

Serana looked blankly. "I'm sorry. I've been sealed in a stone tomb underground for over four thousand years. History isn't my strong point."

Astrid looked almost shocked. Almost. "You mean to say... You've been alive since the first era?"

Serana nodded casually. "..Yeah."

Astrid raised her eyebrows and took a sip of her drink. "Should give Barbette a run for her money."

Serana frowned, looking from Astrid to Lyra. "People keep saying that. Who exactly is Babette?"

A loud thud reverberated through the walls. "There's the door." Nazir laughed.

Astrid smiled a little To Serana. "I think you're about to find out."

The distant sound of Babette's lyrical morbid prose floated down towards them, followed by the raspy sound of veezara's laughter. Seconds later, the worlds shortest vampire appeared, oblivious to the other sanctuary members all watching her, ex-shadowscale following behind. She held a curled piece of parchment in one hand, and was making hugely over emphasized gestures with the other.

"...I mean, why do people assume that because I look like a child I have to just deliver messages? I'm not stupid, I can talk and articulate with just as much understanding and maturity as anyone else here- oh bloody ball bags!" She cried, her jaw trailing along behind her as she finally noticed Lyra's gaze. The room was silent for a moment, and then, in perfect synchronicity, an entire guild of killers and plunderer's roared with laughter. All except Barbette, whose sagging jaw wouldn't allow for it. Even Astrid was laughing, Astrid whom Lyra had almost given up on. The laughter slowly subsided, but Barbette didn't even make a sarcastic comment.

"Good morning Barbette." Lyra said pleasantly. She gestured to Serana. "This is Serana. We were just talking about you."

Babette's jaw opened and closed, much like a fish out of water. "Wha-?"

Lyra looked triumphant. "Sorry Betty, I don't speak fish."

Babette scowled, the nickname pulling her slightly back to her senses. "Don't call me Betty."

Lyra grinned. "Did you prefer pint-size?"

Babette scowled further. "I'm not going to rise to it. I'm very glad for your newly found vampire love." she set the parchment down next to Lyra's arm on the table, smiling broadly at Serana. Her gaze went back to Lyra as she withdrew to her alchemy garden. "And for the fact you chose to become a vampire too."

It took Lyra a second to get what the un-child was implying. "Serana is not-" she gave up. Babette was giggling away to herself. Lyra got the feeling she was plotting. She turned her attention to the rolled piece of parchment Babette had set down next to her. There ware clear marks where it had been tied to a bird. She lifted it up and unfurled it slowly. "It's for you." She said to Serana, proffering it.

Serana waved her hand. "You can read it. There's only one person in the world that would send me a letter, and it's definitely not a clandestine lover."

Lyra shrugged. "Okay.

To Serana.

As lovely as it was to hear from you about your moving out, it would be appreciated if you would at least come back and hear me out. The prophecy involves you, and you can't just run away from it. We need the bow, and you're going to go and get it wether you like it or not. It will also be an opportunity for you to remove your things from your room.

Don't keep me waiting.

Harkon."

Lyra looked confused. "You told him you were moving out?"

Serana rolled her eyes. "I believe it was an attempt on his part to create sarcasm." she groaned. "I don't want to go back. I'd forgotten how nice it was to have just a small amount of time away from him and his stupid raving prophecies."

Lyra considered. "Well, what if we go there, tell him to stuff it, get your things, and leave again? Sound fair?"

Serana didn't look convinced. "What if he doesn't let us go?"

Lyra laughed. "You think little lord Harkon is going to stop, how did you put it earlier? 'The queen of just about everything?'"

Serana snorted. "It's true. Harbinger, Nightingale, master assassin, arch mage, Thieves Guild master, thane, Legate, vampire... What have I missed... Oh yeah, Dragonborn. Theres no pie you don't have a finger in."

Lyra choked oh her drink and Serana rolled her eyes. "Graduated from Innuendo College too."

Lyra clapped. "I know, I'm awesome. So- we going today or not?"

Serana pouted. "Do we have to?"

Lyra nodded. "Yes. Let's just get it out of the way."

Serana sighed. "Back out into paradise then."

"Back out into paradise."

The two said their good byes, and Lyra left Serana by the door for a moment whilst she went to say goodbye to Astrid. She found her, training as always.

"Hey. Me and Serana gotta go now." She said, smiling.

Astrid put her knives down and pulled her hair out of her pony tail. "Oh, that's a shame." she crossed the room and gave Lyra a tight hug. "Come back soon. I think I'm finally starting to feel a little better... I want to get the brotherhood back in action... The way that it used to be."

Lyra pulled away and smiled sympathetically. "Sure. We'll be back in no time, don't worry."

Astrid gave her one last smile. "Go on. Before Serana leaves with out you."

Lyra looked towards the door as she began to leave. "Don't joke, she would."

She soon heard the clatter of knives on wood as she turned her back on Astrid and made for the entrance to the tunnel where Serana was waiting.

"Come on then." She said.

Once back in the tunnel, the two made haste to get back into the open air. There was something claustrophobic about it, that neither of them liked. To their relief, the blizzard had subsided as they hauled themselves into the chill of the morning air. They sky had cleared to a brilliant blue, and even the birds had begun to sing once more. They traipsed through ankle-deep snow until they reached Dawnstar itself, and found the carriage at the stables. They agreed a price, and set off for Solitude. Serana sat next to her, decidedly sulky.

"We wont be there long." Lyra compromised.

Serana sighed and rested her head on Lyra's shoulder. "I'm just annoyed. I wish he'd leave me alone."

Lyra sympathized. "I know... I know." She put her arm around Serana's shoulder. It was going to be along ride.

When they reached the boat to the castle, it was mid-afternoon. The fog had lifted, and the sea lay as flat as a mill pond. Castle Volkihar loomed just where they'd left it, drab and austere. Lyra approached the boat. "Hello again old friend." She muttered. This time, wise to the rope-goo, she kicked at the rope until it came loose enough for her only to need to poke at to set them lose and got in, waiting for serana to follow. She did so, and Lyra jabbed at the rope with the hilt of her sword. It gave in, and the two began to float slowly from their moorings. Serana, in exchange for being spared the handling the rope, began to row. Lyra sat and waited whilst they made the all too familiar journey. Serana said nothing. Lyra got the feeling that with every meter closer they got to the castle, Serana's anger was growing. When they finally got off of the boat, Lyra as usual swearing never to get back on it and Serana as usual reminding her she had to if he wanted to get off of the island, the two made their way up the relative steepness of the stone path towards Serana's awaiting father. As they reached the door, Lyra caught Serana's arm. "Serana, I know you hate your father and trust me, I do too, but if you want to be in and out of here as quickly as possible, you're going to have to just bite your tongue."

Serana took a deep breath. "Or I could just knock him out."

Lyra looked pleading. "No, no, for the love for Dawn, no! We need to be patient. Okay?"

Serana nodded. "Okay."

Lyra looked relieved. "You mean it?"

Serana sighed. "I may hate my father, but I am four thousand years old and I was taught common etiquette."

"So you'll be tempered?"

Serana nodded. "Yes."

Lyra was satisfied. "Alright then."

The two pushed the doors open, and entered the great hall. Harkon was stood in his usual place, and already watching them. The rest of the coven were sleeping away the daylight hours. Lyra took the lead, letting Serana follow behind her.

"Harkon." she said brusquely, approaching him. "We got your letter. As touching as your concern is,-" Lyra let out a small yelp as she was pushed aside, and watched in deadpan incredulity as Serana punched her father in the jaw so hard he collapsed to the ground.

Well I walked into that one. Lyra thought, strangely unsurprised."Or we could just do it that way." She groaned to herself.

Serana stalked off towards her room, stepping over the heap of precocious clothing and unconscious father as she went. Lyra followed her, before any of the coven members woke up and caught them.

"Serana!" She hissed.

"It was quick wasn't it?" She wined.

"That is not the point! How hard did you have to hit to knock him out?!"

Serana didn't answer. They skipped the stairs two at a time, until they reached Serana's room. She made straight for the dragons egg. She picked it up, grabbing a silk table cloth from the night stand next to her bed, and wrapping it up slowly.

"This is all I want." She said, slipping it carefully into Lyra's bag. "Do you want me to carry it?"

Lyra shook her head. "No. It's fine. Are you sure this is it?"

Serana looked around and then nodded. "Yeah. Everything else is just... Bad memories."

Lyra understood. "Okay. Let's leave before someone finds us."

The two made their way back down stairs. Lyra prayed all the way that they wouldn't run into anyone conscious. She was grateful that this time, lady Nocturnal heard her prayers. Once they were out of the castle, the two both broke into a run, flying down towards the boat. Serana got in first and Lyra passed her the bag and the precious egg with it, quickly following suit. She kicked at the rope and Serana began to row, putting much needed distance between them and the castle. Once she felt a safe distance away, Lyra began to relax.

"Sorry." Serana sighed.

Lyra shook her head. "No, it's alright. I understand."

They said nothing more until they reached the shore line. They got out of the small boat, taking care not to get the bag wet. Lyra put the strap over her shoulder, and turned her attention to Serana who was stood looking around, her back to Lyra. The younger vampire walked up behind her and slipped her arms around her waist. "Come on, don't be sad."

Serana turned her head to look at Lyra as best she could. "I'll try."

Lyra smiled and squeezed her gently before letting go.

"Good. Now lets just get home."

Serana smiled. Home.