[A/N]: Hey guys, I just thought I'd update one last time before my first day of college tomorrow. After today, I have no idea when my next update will be. Updates might be sporadic, and less frequent until I figure out my schedule, so bear with me.

Also, thanks everyone for the feedback on the last chapter! Some were really funny (from the reactions of shock), and others brought new ideas to the table. But, I truly loved every review.

This week I'd like to thank asqwerty3345, for checking over this chapter! :)

[DISCLAIMER]: I don't own the Elder Scroll Series that's Bethesda's gig not mine, I'm just giving them the credit they deserve. But Arela, Enden, and Celta are my characters and I call all rights to them.

~Awolnation, Not Your Fault

Maybe I'm a little confused,
It's not your fault,
It's not your fault, yeah and
Baby, it's a wonderful news.
It's not your fault
It's not your fault, yeah.
Oh, it's not that you should care.
I just wanted you to know.

The winds in northern Skyrim were always strong, as powerful gales tugged at Serana's hair, and took vicious nips at her already cold cheeks. Instinctively, she pulled up her black leather hood to protect her skin from wind burn and the icy snowflakes. But the elements around her never succeeded, as the wind still whipped around her and water churned and splashed up against the boat.

Enden had taken the liberty to row the small boat all the way to the castle, even in his tired looking state.

Serana had taken note of his haunting features, he had dark circles ladened under his eyes, and it was obvious he was straining himself to stay awake.

It was even more impressive that he was still rowing, even against the sea's choppy currents, and the prevailing winds.

"Are we getting closer?" Enden shouted over the deafening winds. His voice sounded wary and she could see his arms were beginning to shake from the force he was exerting.

"We are almost to the shore." She responded, as she tried to stop water from splashed up into the boat.

Serana looked out over the edge of the dinghy, and to her relief she could finally see sand down below the water. Which only mean one thing, they were approaching the shore, and the castle. We're finally back home, she thought, morbidly.

Enden kept rowing, but Serana jumped out, and helped guide the dinghy to the dock.

But once she left the boat, and the water was up to her knees, and she regretted her decision to get out. The sea water was so frigid, it numbed her nerves and killed any feelings she had in her legs.

She quickly pulled the boat along and tied it to the dock with lightning speed, mostly so she could speedily clamber out the water.

Enden finally crawled out of the boat and ran his hands over his light brown, stubbly beard. He just sat there on the dock for a few seconds, it was obvious he was exhausted from the long trip off Skyrim's shore.

"You look quite tired." Serana stifled a laugh.

"What gave it away." Enden was desperately trying to catch his breath, as he looked up at her.

"I might have something that can help." Opening her knapsack, Serana wasted no time looking for a stamina potion.

Once she found one, she handed it to Enden, who examined the concoction suspiciously.

"Stop acting like I'm trying to poison you. It's just a stamina potion, it will give you some energy." Serana sighed.

Enden shrugged, "I was just making sure. I'm not much of an alchemist, so I don't really know what you're giving me."

Without anymore protest Enden uncorked the bottle and slammed the contents. After he was done drinking, Serana noticed Enden wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"That tasted like the most repulsive apple. But I already feel like I have more energy." Enden pulled himself to his feet.

"You've never had a stamina potion before?" She couldn't help but feel shocked; he was a warrior after all.

"No..." Enden said defensively. "I never really had a use for one. I was in the Stormcloak army, and the army is more about endurance than using all your strength in a short time."

"I didn't mean that to be rude. I was just surprised, warriors usually use stamina potions."

Enden wasted no more time talking, and he walking straight past her.

One step forward, two steps thought in frustration. No matter what she said or did for him, he always had to take it as an insult.

Serana watched Enden slowly walk toward the Castle's bridge before stopping. The look in his eyes was one of pure awe.

Awe for the castle was something that had never plagued Serana. Even when she first moved to the island she had never been taken-back by it's looks. The home looked daunting and empty, with the dark stone color, and the accenting gargoyle statues.

Their home in Atmora had been larger, and very clinical, nothing like this castle, which seemed to be the epitome of darkness. But Serana couldn't remember much about Atmora, time and memories often blended together when she had millions of memories packed into her brain.

"Is... Is Arela in there...?" Enden's voice disrupted Serana's thoughts.

"Yeah, she is, but don't worry, she's fine. She can take care of herself, plus most vampires don't mess with her." Serana reassured Enden, just the look in his face voiced his concerns for Arela. Deep down Serana hoped she was right. She prayed that Arela had taken her advice and stayed away from everyone else, particularly her father.

"Really? Why do you say that?" Enden inquired.

Serana honestly didn't really want to delve too deeply into an explanation, because there was more than one answer to that question. Starting with Arela proving her battle prowess by shouting Feran across the dining hall, as well as Father's possessiveness of her.

Serana concluded to kept her answer simple. "They're afraid of her."

Enden actually smiled at her, "It's good to hear Arela isn't letting anyone push her around. So where are we heading again?"

"The western side of the island, there is an inlet where cargo ships use to come in." Serana started heading along the shore in the direction of the cove.

The shore was barren, except for the occasional debris like boards and broken crates that were littered among the rocks. Enden was enjoying kicking an empty bottle of mead across the rocky sand.

Serana smirked, it was good to see the less hostile side of Enden for a change, even if he wasn't being particular nice to her.

"You seem to have a bit of an inner child." Serana commented, as she watched Enden kick the bottle into the Sea of Ghosts.

Enden frowned. "So." He replied flatly. "I think I should be allowed to have some fun on occasion, unless you just want everything to be about business all the time." He let out an angry huff, as stalked past her.

"Well, why else are we out here, if it wasn't for business? I just want to find my mother and get this Elder Scroll as soon as possible." She confessed. "I... haven't seen my mother in a few thousand years, so I would like to reunite with her again."

But Enden had walked too far ahead and most likely hadn't heard her say a word. Well I guess I was being too hopeful that things would get better.

Serana stormed after him, as he approached a very small jetty, that marked the entrance to the undercroft. She knew the undercroft could be dangerous, so she readied herself by summoning an ice spike and drawing her ebony dagger.

She watched as Enden slowed his pace, she wasn't sure why until an arrow narrowly missed his shoulder.

It seemed Father had resurrected skeletons to defend the inlet, though she wasn't quite sure why.

Serana rush toward the cove and was taken-back by the change in scenery. The last time she had been to the inlet it had still been very clinical, probably because of Mother. But it seemed years of disrepair and lack of care on behalf of Father had taken its toll.

Parts of the castle were crumbling into the small cove, and even the once sturdy stone overhang was tumbling straight into the sea.

There was even a sunken and rotting ship positioned in the loading dock, which Serana was sure hadn't been there all those years ago.

The action of Enden pulling out his crossbow snapped Serana out of her reminiscing.

He already had taken aim and removed one skeleton from the balcony, as it's bones rained down to the stone below.

Feeling no reason to hesitate, Serana unleashed an ice spike from her fingertips. It cruised through the air and landed directly in the bony chest of a skeleton mage. Instantly, it crumbled into a pile.

Enden finished off the last bone man by planting a well aimed bolt into his skull.

Once all the skeletons had been taken care of, they started up the steps toward the entrance to the undercroft in silence.

"You ready?" Serana finally broke the thick stillness.

Enden responded by giving her a curt nod though he looked a bit nervous and jumpy.

Still, Serana wasted no time opening the door, and working her way into the undercroft, with Enden close at her heels.

Immediately, an overpowering smell of sewage and death assaulted Serana's super sensitive nose. She felt her throat close up, as the acrid fumes filled into her airway. All she could do was try and take small breaths to control the power of the scent.

Enden started coughing violently, and she could actually see tear forming in his eyes.

"What is that smell?" He said in a raspy and weak voice.

Serana finally found her voice. "This is the castle sewer, Home sweet, eh... sewer. Not the most pleasant part of the undercroft, but this is the only way to the courtyard."

"I can handle the smell. I use to live in the sewers under Riften with the Thieves Guild." He coughed out. "Let's just push on."

Serana looked around and realize how much had changed. Icicles were hanging from the ceiling now, something had never happened before.

Bones were scattered across the dull, gray tile floor. Some bones even looked recent, as piece of flesh and cartilage still clung to them. Something made her believe that either father had been using the undercroft as a dumping ground for the castle's useless waste, or they weren't alone down here, and Serana was betting on the later.

"Do you know where we are going?" Enden urged.

"Yes, I use to spend a lot of time poking around down here." She said.

"And why would you spend time down here?"

"I was a curious child. My parents never let me have any freedom off this damn rock. So I spent my time exploring down here. I guess a little vampire girl was enough to scare off the rats." Enden pick up on her emphasis of the word rats.

Enden shifted uncomfortably, "What makes you say that?"

"It's just... I feel like we might not be the only ones here. The bones still have flesh in them, which can only mean someone or something has been eating off them. Stay on your guard, I don't know what's been lurking down here since I've been gone."

She swore she heard Enden gulp in anticipation. Silently, they slunk down a few pair of steps before they reached a door that lead to the entrance of the old Cistern.

There was an ugly and smelly skeever blocking their path, but Enden shot a steel bolt right into its throat before it would squeal and give their position away.

Of course, as soon as Serana had opened the door to the old Cistern, Enden happened to trip over a trail of chains that were laying in plain sight. He cursed, but it was too late to undo his actions, as a group of death hounds farther ahead locked their beady red eyes on them.

There wasn't much time before the pack started sprinting toward them. All Serana could do was back up and conjure an ice spike that luckily smashed into the jaw of one hound that had been trailing in the back. The dog's face dived down and connected with the stone, and it lay there still and motionless.

Enden had reloaded his crossbow in enough time to take out another charging hound, but one of the dogs was left alive. The canine lept into the air and with its teeth bared, the hound crashed into her.

Serana felt herself flying in the air and she landed painfully on her back, feeling the wind rushing out of her lungs from the force of the blow. But she ignored the pain, for her attention was called to the hound that was snapping at her throat.

It's hot breath was beating on her neck and she swore its saliva was dripping on her face. Serana had to use both of her hands to hold the dog back.

Enden grasped the hellish hound by its thick collar and chucked the dog right against the wall with back-breaking force. The mutt whimpered in agony, before it was silent.

"Thanks." Serana muttered, as she got to her feet and brushed off her armor.

Enden gave her a weak smile. "Yeah, I wasn't about to let that hound maul you. What would Arela say if I returned with you in a million pieces? Now where to?"

Serana was relieved at his light-hearted joke. "There should be a lever nearby."

So, they headed toward a pair of steps. It wasn't long until they found a small room which was filled with books, vampire apparel, and a coffin.

The floor was slippery from pools of blood that seemed to accumulate on the tiles. It was suspicious, but with all the death hounds lurking about anything was possible.

But there was the lever, they were looking for, it was positioned right next a small balcony.

"Hey, look there's the lever!" Enden said loud enough to stir something that was inside the coffin.

A thunderous snarl filled the air, as a bald, female high elf, with blood red eyes erupted from the coffin. The woman was adorned in raggedly spun garments, and her body was covered in patches of filth and dried blood. It was obvious she has been living down here a long time.

Before Serana could move, the vampire smacked Enden out of the way; he tumbled over the small overhang and fell down below. She heard a thud, and prayed Enden wasn't hurt. But she had no time to check, for it seemed the feral vampire had her eyes fixated on Serana.

"So, a Volkihar vampire finally has the nerve to show up here? I'll teach you to reject me!" The women spat, as she let forth a drain life spell from her finger tip.

Serana anticipated the action, and nimbly dived to the right just in time.

Like lightning, she jumped forward and tackled the woman to the ground, pinning her arms to the grimy and slippery floor. The bald vampire hissed and squirmed in sheer anger.

Dexterously, Serana had used one of her feet to pin the woman's arms down; she grabbed her dagger and planed it straight into the vampire's throat. Blood squirted onto her face as the dagger pierced her skin and jugular vein. The feral vampire let out a gurgle before going limp.

Serana sat down next to the vampire; she wiped the blood off her face. This is just not my cup of blood, fighting these vengeful vampires. She thought in frustration.

Oddly enough, the feral woman had a small note that was hanging from her pocket, and at this point Serana had no care for personal privacy.

She snatched it up and read it with haste:

Not good enough to live in their stupid keep, am I? Stupid sods don't realize I've moved into the undercroft and started taking control of their own death hounds. I'll get my revenge.

Serana let out a sad sigh. She often struggled to understand the nature of her own kind, everything vampires seemed to do was linked with power or vengeance.

This feral vampire didn't even realize she was no different from the very man that rejected her. Father was driven by power and the thought of bring justice to the mortal world by blocking out the sun. It just seemed entirely ironic, how every vampire was fighting for the same thing: power. It was just sickening to her.

But Serana was snapped for her thoughts, from a voice. "Uh, damn vampires! I hate them so much!" Enden hissed.

She leaned over the balcony to witness Enden standing up, next to a bridge that was drawn up.

"Why is that?" Serana asked in pure curiosity.

"It's none or your business why." He said hostilely.

"I'm going to pry you for a reason. I've just been so curious, how men like you come to hate my kind."

Enden let out an angry huff. "Well, if you didn't know your kind isn't the friendliest. Now can you pull the lever?" Enden said from down below.

Serana couldn't fight the smile that was forming on her lips. "Once you tell me why you hate vampires so much."

"Really? This is so childish." Enden scowled at her.

"I'm not the one with the inner child. I don't play kick the bottle on the beach, Enden. Once you tell me, I'll pull the lever." She didn't even try and keep the teasing tone out of her voice.

"Really..." Enden glowered at her, but finally he completed. "Fine, I'll tell you." He let out a heavy sigh.

"I was stationed in Falkreath during my time in the Stormcloak army. One day I went out to collect supplies, and when I came back the whole camp had by destroyed by vampires. All these men I considered brothers and friends had been killed. My best friend Saljolf, I found had been enthralled, and attacked me on sight. I had to kill him... it was one of the hardest things I had to do in my life."

Enden's tone was shaky. "I never returned to Windhelm to report the whole attack, they probably assume I'm dead... Which is probably better, because I wanted to join the Dawnguard, and seek my revenge on the group that killed my brothers. So, I asked Arela to join with me, and that's how this all happened."

Serana blinked in surprise. That was one of the last things she expected; she had assumed Enden would hate her kind for some petty reason. But this reason had real significance, having all your friends slaughtered in cold-blood was something some people could never even stomach.

"I'm so sorry, Enden. Words can't even express how terrible that is."

He nodded. "Now, can you pull the lever?" He asked, quietly.

"Ok."

"Wait." Enden called her attention again. "I just want to say thanks for making me get that off my chest. I've had the truth cooped up for so long, and I guess it was eating away at me. I never even told Arela... I just never knew how to tell her. But I'm glad I told someone at least."

"I'm glad you got it off your chest too." She smiled, and she turned away, feeling as though her heart was about to break. She felt so bad for Enden now.

But she went back to the task at hand, and pulled the lever, but it seemed the gears were rusted. Serana let an angry huff, and then used her foot to kick the lever down.

Wasting no time, she jumped off the balcony, feeling the rush of air tickle her face. She landed on the floor with grace and finesse.

"Graceful, are we?" Enden asked.

"It takes years to master grace and dexterity." She smiled.

Enden rolled his eyes, obviously not amused by her comment. But she could tell he wasn't trying to be hostile either.

Serana brushed past him and continued across the old wooden bridge, until she reached the small stone split.

But in her haste Serana had missed a slick patch of ice that formed from the run off of the icicles that hung from the rocky ceiling. Instantly she felt her feet disappeared from beneath her, as she lost her balance, and slide right off the stone bridge.

She was falling straight into a pit of spikes, and all she could do was close her eyes so she didn't have to witness this last moment before she was impaled.

It seemed as if an eternity had passed and still she felt nothing, but a choking force around her neck. Am I dead already? She wondered.

"What happened to being a master of grace?" Enden's teasing voice broke the silence.

Serana opened her eyes to see that she was hanging a few inches from the pit of spikes. She looked up to see Enden had grabbed hold of her cape was now pulling her up.

She was finally able to grab hold of the bridge, and yank herself up. "You... You saved my life." Serana said in a wild rasp for air.

"All in a days work." Enden chuckled. "Now let's get this bridge down."

Serana smiled, and for the first time she was glad Enden was here. Not simply because he had saved her life, but because everything had changed between them. She felt as if the hostilely was melting away, and now something new was blooming. Something fresh, and now she wanted to find out what.

[A/N]: Well, I've already started the next chapter, and it's quite interesting so far; the conclusion to that kiss and an upcoming battle scene. But please, leave me some of your thoughts for this chapter, I really do appreciate feedback! :)