The Sea of Ghosts
Nirn
The 20th of Frostfall, 4E202
Serena carried Belinda out of the Soul Cairn, making Karr and Lucien jumped. Serena started barking orders for food, warm water, blankets, and blood. Lucien produced a bottle of blood and had it warmed up for Serena to consume. Karr came with blankets and wrapped them and himself around Belinda. Lucien produced food and water for her, and they nursed her back to health. They then hurried through the passages they had come through and got Belinda back onto the ship. The sailors were hesitant to let Belinda back on, seeing how sickly she was. Serena threatened to turn them into skeletons if they did not sail them back to Windhelm. They were very agreeable after that.
Lucien and Karr stayed huddled around Belinda during the boat ride back, and was mostly in decent health by the 20th, during which the man and the lynx felt comfortable to be away from Belinda for more than a few minutes. The room was still kept warm for Belinda's sake though. She looked to Serena, who sat at the desk in the room, reading.
"Does it bother you we're going against your father?" Belinda asked.
Serena looked to her. For the past couple days, she had been fetching Belinda food and drink. "I figured that's what this was all leading up to," she answered. "So, I've been trying to make my peace with it." She sighed. "I want so badly for us to be a real and normal loving family again, but I guess that's not going to happen. Maybe people like us don't deserve such happiness."
"Ya know, I always say that the only ones who don't deserve happiness are dictators, greedy bastards, racists, people who hate someone for stupid reasons like their gender, race, religion, etc; pedophiles, rapists, and child molesters," Belinda pointed out, "because there is no excuse for any of them. And if they do make an excuse for their disgusting behaviors, they are generally trivial and are as disgusting as the true atrocities they commits against other people. They don't deserve happiness, and they'll all rot in Oblivion until the end of time. It's part of why I left home. I lived in a country where all that shit ran rampant and people who graffitied got longer jail sentences than a rapist."
"When I was your age, rapists got their genitals chopped off," Serena pointed out.
"They don't do that anymore where I'm from," Belinda stated. "But my point is, you've been polite, civil, and are just a generally nice person. I should point out I do not like Necromancy at all. I hate using it. Makes my skin crawl. And most Necromancers I meet are fucking dickheads. And I heard about this one Necromancer who sold her soul to four demons just to maintain her youth and beauty, and that she supposedly killed two of them already. I gave that a solid 'what the actual fuck out of ten.' And-. I was going somewhere with this, I swear. My point is: For all your faults, you're a good person and deserve good things. Sadly, life sucks and hates good people."
Serena giggled. "You're a true friend," she commented. "Which is odd, because I've never had true friends before. Just people who wanted to be important."
"Nah, we're family now," Belinda corrected. "A family of dysfunctional weirdos."
"I drink to that," Lucien pointed out, trotting in and hopping up onto the bed at Belinda's feet.
"You'll drink to anything," Karr snapped, shutting the door behind them. He had a tray with bowls of horker stew.
"Hey Pot, name's Kettle. Is that flask of yours full of whisky or water?" Lucien retorted.
"Oh, bite me," Karr responded.
"Dysfunctional weirdos!" Belinda barked, laughing.
Fort Dawnguard, the Rift Hold
Skyrim, Nirn
The 30th of Frostfall, 4E202
Isran grumbled. "They've been gone too long," he told Grete, keeping watch at the wall with her. "I bet you fifty septims the vampire ate them, stole the scrolls, and went back to its sire."
"I'll take that bet," Grete responded, sounding confident.
"You sound sure of yourself," Isran commented.
"Because I know Belinda pretty well by now," Grete explained. "She's more hard-headed than you, but she's also open-minded, passionate, and has a good head on solid shoulders. Also, you owe fifty septims," she added, pointing to the approaching group.
Isran followed her pointing, and grumbled. He handed Grete a pouch of septims. Belinda was guided Queen Alfsigr, Karr holding her gently. Serena followed on a flaming, clearly undead horse. Lucien trotted alongside the steeds. Grete saw that Belinda looked paler than when she had left and just looked bit exhausted. Grete called to Brynjolf to get a bed ready and a healer. The thief nodded and hurried into the castle. Soon, Grete and Isran opened the barricade gate.
"You look dead," Isran commented.
"Just tired and drained," Belinda pointed out. "Also not good at sleeping on boats and surviving certain planes of Oblivion." Karr helped her dismount and carried her inside. Dione was waiting for them with Ralof and Belinda laid on a cot to sleep. Serena turned to Dione.
"What happened exactly?" Dione asked.
"Ever heard of the Soul Cairn?" Serena responded.
"I did some study on it for my enchanting classes," Dione pointed out. "Wait, you found an entrance to the Soul Cairn?"
"We did; place is not meant for the living," Serena explained. "It saps life essence. Thankfully, I know how to soul trap a fragment of a person's soul. However, we couldn't bring food and water. It turned to dust in the Soul Cairn. Belinda started declining on the third day there. After we got my mother's Elder Scroll, we got out as fast as possible. Being on a ship didn't improve her health, but she said we needed to get back to Fort Dawnguard as quickly as possible."
"Of course she pushed herself…" Dione mumbled, pinching the bridge of her nose. She looked back up to Serena. "I heard there was a flaming horse?" she asked.
Serena nodded and summoned Arvak. "We reunited him with his master in the Soul Cairn and he told us how to summon the steed. He's a damn good mount."
"And because he's undead, he doesn't need to rest like a normal horse," Dione added.
Belinda woke up later that night to the smell of food, and consumed the food and a mug of water greedily. She was still tired, but sleep could wait until she had spoken to Dexion. She, Serena, Dione, and Lucien went to the Moth Priest, but quickly sensed that there was a problem. He was wearing a blindfold, and one of the other Dawnguard soldiers was help him around. When the young trainee saw Serena, he drew his sword, moving in front of Dexion to protect him.
"At ease, Landen," Dexion chuckled. "I have a hunch that is the vampire helping your cause."
"So you've lost your sight then?" Belinda asked.
Dexion turned his head in her direction. "I'm afraid so," he answered solemnly. "I was reckless in my desire to read the Elder Scroll. I have paid the price. Whether or not it returns is for the Gods to decide."
"Gods fucking damn it," Belinda groaned.
"What now?" Dione asked, getting Dexion's attention.
"What now indeed," Dexion chuckled. "There are special groves around Tamriel where the rare Ancestor Moths gather. The nearest one is up in the Jarrell Mountains, east of Falkreath."
Belinda produced her map and a pendulum. "Can you mark it?" she asked.
Dexion felt the pendulum and Belinda guided his hand over the map. She made sure the pendulum was still before stepping back. The pendulum moved, pulling to the spot on the map where the grove would be. Belinda made a mark. "Okay, we have it," she declared. Dexion returned the pendulum to her. "Anything else we need to know? I assume we need to do more than just go and read the Elder Scroll there."
"But of course!" Dexion exclaimed. He then explained about the ritual involved. They would need to get the draw knife provided there, use it to cut bark from one of the grove's mystical Canticle Tree, use the bark to gather a few dozen Ancestor Moths, and then stand where the light shone brightest to read the Elder Scroll.
"I'll read it," Belinda declared, getting everyone's attention. "I've read one before. I can do it again. I think it's just something I'm meant to do."
"Indeed," Dexion agreed. "Now, I think it's the one of blood you wish to read…"
Ancestor Glade, Falkreath Hold
Skyrim, Nirn
The 5th of Sun's Dusk, 4E202
They managed to find the trail to their destination, at least, Belinda hoped so. They encountered a couple bandits and a bear. They collected some loot and continued to the entrance of the cave. Belinda double-checked her map, looked out over the cliff, and concluded this might well be where they needed to go.
"Then we best get inside; I foresee a storm coming this way," Karr reported.
They slipped inside, leading their horses in. The cave was surprisingly warm, with foliage growing about. Serena looked around, not the least bit impressed.
"If this turns out to be a wild goose chase, Dexion and I are gonna have…words," she pointed out.
"Fangs or no fangs?" Belinda asked.
"The answer is yes," Serena replied.
They crossed a log that was wedge between rises in the cavern and followed a tunnel into a large, beautiful glade full of hot springs, trees crowned by pink flowers, and soft, yellow flowers. The Ancestor Moths flitted about, fluttering mostly about the trees. Some were among the flowers. Light streamed in from a hole in the ceiling and snow drifted down. Now, everyone was impressed.
"I've never seen anything so beautiful in my life," Serena gasped.
Belinda looked to Serena in disbelief. She had spoken highly of how beautiful her mother's garden was, had seen much of Skyrim's beauty, was thousands of years old and surely had seen more stunning sights, but this, this was the most beautiful sight she had ever lain eye upon?
"You are so sheltered," Belinda commented.
They made their way down to a rock that had been carved into a doughnut shape resting upon a half circle. Levitating via magic within was a draw knife. Belinda took it in her hands, the worn handles soft. She went to the nearest tree and scraped some bark from it. She ran around the grove, drawing moths to her. Then, she began to glow. Her amethyst eyes sparkled, her skin glowed gold and silver, and she felt the mana around her well up. Soon, a beam of light shone where she needed to stand. She went to stand there, surrounded by the Ancestor Moths and shinning like the sun.
"They seem to like you," Serena giggled, handing her Valerica's Elder Scroll.
"It's probably the bark, but I do feel elated," Belinda pointed out.
"You look like a true Planeswalker," Lucien told her.
"I am a true Planeswalker, Fuzzbutt," Belinda snapped.
Karr may have been blind, but he could still see magic, and what he saw of Belinda made him go to his knees. She was more beautiful and brilliant than he could handle. Silver and gold swirls and waves rippled over sparkly stars, each Ancestor Moth like gold and silver shooting stars zooming past and around her. Belinda looked to him.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"You're just too beautiful for words," Karr answered.
Belinda giggled, blushing. "I wish I could see what you're seeing right now," she said. She turned back to the Elder Scroll in her hands. She raised it, unfurled it, and was hit by power. The words and runes burned into her vision. It was hard to keep reading, but she stood fast, despite her knees suddenly going weak. She shook, holding the scroll, and forced her will against it. Her vision shoot from the grove and into the Reach, flying like a Dragon. It showed her a where to go, to a cave. It went through the cave, and then took flight into a great, beautiful valley. There were Frost Giants and ruins far more ancient than most of the ones that dotted Skyrim's landscape. She landed beside someone, and turned to them. They were tall and armored, with snowy features and icy eyes. They turned to her, pointed ears twitching in surprise, and then Belinda was back in her own body, collapsing to the floor. The Elder Scroll's words were still burned in her mind.
When she awoke, her eyes ached. Every time she tried opening them, she cried out in pain and just kept them shut. Granted, that meant she still saw the runes of the Elder Scroll. She groaned. Serena went over to her and sat down.
"Will this be permanent?" she asked, concerned for her friend. She also wanted to leave, and soon. She had an unpleasant feeling in her gut.
"Doubtful," Belinda answered, fidgeting with her braid. "My eyes just really hurt right now and it's annoying." Her eyes were wet and tears streamed down her cheeks. Then she sensed it. "You want to leave here because you think we're in danger."
Everyone looked to them.
"I've been getting more uneasy the longer with stay here," Serena explained, now twiddling her thumbs. "I want to leave before my father's people find us."
"I'll go check and see if the storm passed," Lucien pointed out, turning to the path up. He then paused, sensing five minds coming toward them. "Never mind, they found us."
"How many?" Belinda asked.
"Five vampires. Strong vampires," Lucien answered, ears going flat. "And two Death Hounds! Everyone who isn't Belinda get ready!"
"Why am I not fighting?" Belinda snapped, standing abruptly. She felt vertigo and Karr sat her down.
"Because you're not accustomed to fighting without your eyesight," he responded calmly.
Belinda groaned, letting Karr guard her. The others drew their weapons as a Death Hound leapt at them from above. Lucien met it, throwing a rock at it. The creature yelped and hit the ground hard. Lucien went and slashed its thick, foul-smelling hide. The hound turned to him and tried to bite, making the lynx draw back, hissing loudly, eyes glowing teal. He threw more rocks at the hound, but it charged him. He jumped up and over the hound, twisting in the air to claw the hound again. The hound staggered, black blood oozing from the wounds on its back. Then it breathed ice at Lucien, who moved his cloak to protect himself. He shook off the ice as the hound charged him again and bit hard. Lucien let out a growl-yeowl sound of pain, making Belinda jump up. Karr charged at the hound, raising his scythe and bringing it down. He cleaved the hound in two. Lucien was still injured though, and Karr helped his old friend to Belinda's side. She fumbled around for the quartz crystal that contained a healer's magic. Blinded, she couldn't find the crystal and cursed.
"Karr, I can't find it!" she exclaimed.
Lucien couldn't have known. Gargoyles were artificial constructs, and there were two of them! They were shot at by Dione, so they went after her. Dione withdrew her Nightingale bow and summoned a Daedric Bow that sparked and burned with lightning and fire magic. She drew two arrows, both covered in fire and lightning, and aimed. She launched the two arrows, which pierced the chests of the Gargoyles and exploded. Both had gaping holes in their chests, but one lost its left arm, shoulder and a chunk of its face and the other's wings had been blown off, making it fall to the ground. The one with wings zoomed at her, trying to claw at her face. She leapt back, drawing her saber and swiftly cutting its arm off. The Gargoyle bellowed in pain. The wingless Gargoyle charged. Dione dodged and spun away. She made a stab through its back and then kicked it away. The winged one had taken flight while Dione killed the wingless one. It charged for her again. Dione conjured fire, ice, and lightning and launched the spells at the Gargoyle. It exploded, a rain of stone flying across the grove.
The vampires came. Grete, Serena, Ralof, Astral, and Brynjolf met them. Serena and Astral drew knives and readied spells. The latter had been practicing lightning magic. Astral went for the Breton vampire who was readying spells of lightning and ice. Astral knew to avoid the lightning spell. It would drain them. Astral threw knives at the vampire as she tried to hit them with bolts of lightning. The vampire hissed and screeched as each one pierced her. Finally, Astral charged their lightning spell at the vampire. The lightning struck deep and connected between the knives, all made of copper. The vampire collapsed, blood pouring into the water.
Serena jumped out of the way of the large Nord vampire whom was armored and wielding a large warhammer. She used ice spells on him, and cut with her knife. She was managing to weaken him, but her soon caught her in the side and sent her flying into a boulder. She felt something break and winced. She looked up and saw her opponent approach. At that point, Grete had dispatched her opponent and charged, cutting the vampire's head off. The vampire collapsed. Brynjolf had stabbed his opponent in the heart and decapitated him. Ralof burned his opponent to ashes before running over to Serena.
"Your spells won't work on me," Serena pointed out, cringing in pain, "but I'm not the one you should be worried about." She gestured to Lucien, whom was being held by Belinda. Ralof nodded and ran over while Grete helped Serena to her feet.
"You okay?" Grete asked.
"I will be with time and rest," Serena answered.
Grete nodded, and went to get the dead away from the water. Astral and Brynjolf helped her. Serena went to check on Lucien; he would live. They needed to get away from here though.
To the Bow of Auriel, Serena thought.