-Chapter Ten-

After much deliberation, it was decided that Serana and Ivan should find the other Elder Scrolls. The only clues to Serana's mother's whereabouts were in Castle Volkihar. Ivan dreaded returning there, but Serana assured him that there was a safe passage through the back of the castle that would lead them to her mother's private garden.

Together, they snuck into the castle, and climbed the tower into the garden. Serana looked around the unkempt courtyard at the wild weeds and thorns that grew in place of the exotic and beautiful flowers she remembered.

"This place used to be so beautiful." she said longingly. "I'm afraid it won't ever be that way again. There's a rift between my parents now that can never be breached." Ivan remained silent, unsure of how to help her. He looked around the garden for clues. He wasn't even sure what to look for. Was finding Serana's mother even possible?

"Hold on. This moondial is turned the wrong way." she said. She pushed on it. It didn't budge. "Ivan, help me."

"Serana, we need to focus." Ivan said sadly. "Harkon's vampires might find us if we stay too long."

"Just help me!" Serana insisted. Ivan nodded and helped Serana push the moondial back into place. Suddenly, a flight of stairs opened up in the floor. Serana smiled.

"I knew she left me a clue." she said.

Beneath the garden, there was a strange room. Bookcases lined all the walls, each one filled with books or alchemical supplies.

"I... I didn't know this room existed." Serana said finally. "Come on, maybe my mother left a journal or something." Ivan and Serana searched the shelves. Ivan stole a glance back at her.

"Serana, you seem tired. Are you alright?" he asked. Serana looked up from her search to Ivan. Then she lowered her eyes.

"It's... been a while since I ate..." she finally said. "I haven't eaten because I thought it might disgust you." Ivan realized what she meant by this. He swallowed.

"Do you... kill people and then eat them?" Ivan asked, slightly hoarsely. Serana's eyes grew wide.

"No, of course not!" she insisted. "I eat deer and other animals, just like humans! I maybe just don't... cook mine." Ivan heaved a sigh of relief. He smiled.

"That's the best news I've heard all day." he said gratefully. Serana smiled in response. The two kept looking. Ivan flipped through book after book.

"Serana?" he asked a while later. "Is your mother's name Valerica?" Serana whirled around and flew to Ivan's side. He gave her the book. She read through the notes eagerly.

"Yes... Yes! This is it! This is where she went!" She bustled about the room, gathering alchemy ingredients and pouring them into a bowl at one end of the room.

"My mother wrote of a place called the Soul Cairn. It's where people's souls go who have been soul trapped. She also describes how to summon a portal to get there! We can go in after her, and find her!" she explained. After putting the ingredients into the bowl, she took out a knife.

"Stand back, Ivan. I'm not sure what this will do." She made a small cut in her hand and bled into the bowl. A spark lit up in the middle of the room, and opened up into a purple, cloudy portal. They both stared at it for a few moments.

"Well, here goes nothing." Ivan said. He stepped towards the portal. It shocked him. Ivan groaned. Serana grabbed his hand and pulled him back.

"Ivan, are you okay?" she asked worriedly. Ivan put his hands on his knees and breathed for a little bit.

"Yeah... Yeah, I'm alright." he said breathily. Serana looked up at the portal.

"I think I know what's wrong. The portal won't allow you in because you're alive." she said sadly. "You wait here. I'll go find my mother and-" Ivan grabbed her wrist, straightening.

"No way in Oblivion." he stated. "I won't let you do this alone." Serana smiled gratefully.

"I have an idea on how to get you in, but you're not going to like it." she said.

"You'd turn me into a vampire." Ivan realized. Serana bit her lip and nodded. Ivan sighed. Could he do it? If it meant helping Serana, could he allow himself to be turned?

"Wait! I might know of something else." she said. She pulled a Grand Soul Gem off of a shelf.

"My mother said it was possible to partially soul trap someone." she said. "It should be enough to get you through the portal."

"W-would I ever be able to get that part of my soul back?" Ivan asked with a worried tone.

"You would just have to touch the soul gem, and your soul will reconnect." she said. Then she added, "In theory." Ivan swallowed. Serana put a hand on his shoulder.

"I promise, I would never do anything to hurt you." she said. "The only reason I bring this up, is because I think it'll work." At this, Ivan felt a warmness in his chest. He smiled at her.

"I trust you, Serana." he said quietly. Serana's face turned slightly pink. She smiled sheepishly and took a step back.

"This might sting." she said, readying a spell.

Ivan opened his eyes. Was he hallucinating? The sky was black and purple. He lifted his head. His surroundings were a gloomy blackish color, and there was a faint, misty blue haze blanketing the ground.

"Awake? Thank goodness. You had me worried."

Ivan sat up to see Serana sitting on the ground next to him. She was holding the soul gem.

"I'll hang on to this for you." she said, pocketing it. "I won't let anything happen to it."

"I appreciate it." Ivan answered. "So, this is the Soul Cairn."

"Yep." Serana said. "And I have a pretty good idea where my mother is." she pointed to a large structure on top of a hill.

The two hiked up the hill quickly. Both felt out of place in this darkened dimension. The sooner they could get out, the better they would both feel. As they entered the large building, Ivan could see a woman working at a makeshift alchemy table. Serana saw her and gasped, running to her.

"Mother!"

"S-Serana?!"

The two embraced. Valerica held her daughter's face in her hands.

"It's so good to see you again." she said. "I'm so sorry I had to lock you away."

"I know, Mother." Serana said. "I found out what Father is planning. We've come here to stop him!"

"No one people should rule this land." Valerica said wearily. "It should be shared with everyone."

"Mother, we need your Elder Scroll. We need it to stop Father!" Serana said. Valerica shook her head.

"You're gathering the Scrolls to stop Harkon?" she said slowly. "If he gets you, and the Scrolls, everything will be lost!"

"We need to get them before he does. We have a secure place to keep them. Mother, you don't need to hide here anymore. Come with us!" Serana said eagerly. Valerica blinked at Serana.

"It's so good to see you again!" she repeated.

"Mother...?" Serana asked. Ivan looked at Valerica. Her face looked drawn, and wearied. Her skin looked tinted purple, like the sky.

"Valerica." Ivan said cautiously. "You... you can't leave this place, can you?"

"It has a way of shackling you here, if you stay too long." Valerica spoke slowly. "This place has seeped its way into me. It's a part of me. If I left, I would whither away, and return here."

"But..." Serana looked anguished. Her mother hugged her comfortingly.

"It's so good to see you again."

With that, she let go of Serana.

"Dearest, would you go into the other room over there? There's a cabinet on the far wall. The Elder Scroll is in there." she instructed. Serana nodded, leaving. Ivan watched her go. Valerica turned to him.

"You. You're in love with my daughter, aren't you?" she asked. Ivan stiffened, his face reddened.

"Wh-what makes you say that?!" he stammered. Valerica smiled.

"The way you look at her." she answered. "Harkon used to look at me that way. We used to be a happy family, a long time ago..." Her expression grew momentarily distant. "You'll take care of her, won't you?"

"Of course." Ivan answered, almost immediately. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for her." Valerica chuckled.

"That much is apparent." she said. "I mean, you're here, aren't you?"

Serana returned, carrying the Elder Scroll. She looked upset.

"I'll miss you." she said. Valerica hugged her again.

"I'll miss you too, Dearest." she said. "It was so good to see you again."

As Ivan and Serana left the Soul Cairn, Ivan put a comforting arm around Serana's shoulders. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and they stepped through the portal together.