Azriel could feel the weight of the Prince and the wolves that surrounded them. Even if she couldn't see him, she knew he was striding forth ready to claim Aela. She bit into her wrist with sharp teeth and forced her bleeding wrist into Aela's mouth.
Aela struggled against Azriel's blood as it passed her lips.
"I will not let him have you…" Azriel pressed her wrist hard into Aela's mouth, whispering fiercely. "Drink." Her whispered Thu'um filled Aela's being as the blood filled her mouth.
Aela caved to Azriel's command, drinking from her. The pain in her abdomen racked her body. She could no longer think. The overwhelming presence of Hircine and his hunting party filled her with exhilaration. Her desires for joining the eternal hunt were second to her desire for the woman who sat blind in front of her. Azriel's blood was hotter than the molten metal in the Skyforge and Aela's blood boiled as she drank.
The inferno seared her throat and intestines as the dragon's fire began to make her body quake. She wanted to scream, feeling the fire rip through her bones as they thickened. She became more aware of her surroundings, inundated by every sense as her body changed, becoming denser, stronger. The wound on her body began to close, scorched with heat, but she could feel her soul being twisted. It was being drawn by Hircine, answering his demanding presence and the blade's magic as it severed the last of the connections, forcing it to Azriel.
Azriel ripped her wrist from Aela's mouth, praying that Saaraadgraat was right. She inhaled deeply, letting the air fill her lungs and exhaling a golden breath.
A roar filled the sky and only Saaraadgraat looked up. Odahviing circled in the heavens over them.
Serana wanted to look away, knowing what was going to happen. But, her curiosity held her captive as Azriel leaned forward and captured Aela in a single lasting kiss.
Aela's body went ridged the moment Azriel's lips met hers. The resplendent light surrounded the three of them in its aurelian glow.
Serana could feel the tug in her own self as Azriel's tethers snaked out to Aela, forming a bridge between them, unaware of how the dragon's bond with herself was also being affected.
The kaleidoscope of visions, sounds, smells and tastes assaulted Aela. Thousands of years of memories battered her inside of a second. Her mind brimmed with thoughts and feelings, none of which were her own. The knowledge Azriel contained filled her and surrounded her like the radiant luster that surrounded the three women.
She saw Nirn through different eyes and through Azriel's.
The world around her ceased to exist and a new one bloomed in its place. Colors deepened, sounds blended, and her body vibrated at the changes.
The memories of dragons and their knowledge filled every fiber of her being, reconditioning it. The din of battles filled by blood, fire, and ice clung to her senses. Visions of mountains, sky, and oceans clouded her mind. Conquests and victories contained a glorious knowledge that changed her. All of the sensations and knowledge were driving her to the brink of madness, riding on the edge of a razor of hope.
Seconds drug out infinitely as Azriel's bond enthralled her.
Colors melded into one and the Cimmerian shade swirled around her. Golden eyes snapped widely open, their slit focused on her. In an instant it was on her and the black dragon smashed into her. It drove her soul back into her body with the loudest roar Aela had ever heard in her entire life.
Its claws gripped her, tearing into her flesh without creating a wound. The dragon thrashed and snarled, driving her wolf back to its place. The dragon roared one last time as the tethers of Azriel's soul gripped hers unrelentingly.
As the dragon retreated it snapped at her. A cold reptilian voice flowed through her soul and filled Aela's mind with a single word, irresistible and ominous. 'Undagaar...'
The emotions that flowed through Serana were living the waves of a storm, assaulting her from every direction. She gripped Aela tighter as the bonds solidified and the hurricane passed within seconds.
Azriel broke the kiss.
Aela's hands caught Azriel's face and she looked into her unseeing eyes. "What did you do to me?"
Azriel's body trembled with her touch. She could feel her mind slipping away, but forced out the answer on her ragged breath. "I told you..." Her speech was slurred and Azriel fell forward on top of her. "…I can't imagine this world without you." Azriel's murmur died as she faded from consciousness.
Aela sat up, carefully laying Azriel's unconscious body in the sand. She was barely aware of the vampire's arms which still held to steady her.
The strong laughter of Hircine rang through the air. "It's seems I have been out hunted by my Champion once again." Aela pushed herself from Serana's grasp and turned to face the Prince, quickly rising to her feet.
Serana hastily shifted positions, kneeling to the Prince with her head bowed. Aela tossed her a quick glance and turned her attention to Hircine who stood before her in his mortal form.
"I should have guessed she would have beaten me when it came to you." His voice only held mirth as he looked down at Azriel smiling. "Thrice bested by the Dragonborn, I have truly chosen well! May the others be jealous that I have such worthy Companions."
He returned his gaze to Aela and she bowed her head to him. "Ah, my favored Huntress…" Aela blushed at the compliment as he ran his finger down her cheek. "…it seems I shall have to wait for the pleasure of hunting with you. Though, your prayer has been answered, my young wolf."
Aela looked up at him, but Hircine and his wolves were gone.
Serana looked up deliberately at Aela, feeling the Prince's departure. Aela looked down to where Serana knelt in the sand and for a moment the two's women's eyes linger on one another. Every bit of contempt she had for the vampire had vanished, but what had replaced it perplexed her. It was a roiling sea and Aela had no means to understand the heterogeneous mixture of emotions..
Serana cleared her throat watching the werewolf's silver eyes. She felt herself fall captive to the changes in their pale luminosity. Something was different about Aela, she didn't understand it or her feelings associated to it.
"Tolsek. Vorey. Fask." Saaraadgraat's whisper caught both of their attention, drawing them back to Azriel. For a moment her body glowed with a whitish-gold light.
Aela dropped to her knees next to Azriel in the sand and rolled her over. Her bandages dripped with fresh blood. "Fuck! We need to get her to a healer."
The rapid footsteps of Florentius broke through the fog.
"By Arkay's grace!" His exclamation pulled Aela and Serana's attention to him. His eyes were on the gold dragon that hovered over Azriel. His eyes flicked between Saaraadgraat and Odahviing.
Aela stood and shared a look with Serana. Both women turned to glare at Florentius.
Serana moved next to Odahviing and the dragon bowed his head to her. "Drem Yol Lok, Young One. Ahziial is gravely injured, I have come to aid her and you… both."
Serana watched the two dragons share a long look and then Odahviing watched Aela with keen interest.
"You there. Bring Azriel's things." Aela's commanding authority sent a shiver down Serana's spine.
Serana looked at her in surprise. There is something definitely different about her...
"Is it safe?" Florentius stared at the blood covered Huntress, his voice was almost an annoying squeak.
Aela growled and walked brusquely to him and grabbed him by the ear, dragging him back. She shoved him at Saaraadgraat. "If he moves, eat him."
Saaraadgraat and Odahviing both chuckled.
Aela's entire body felt like it was vibrating. She glanced at Odahviing, who still watched her and then to Serana. The vampire's intense stare made her insides tremble. The aloof coldness that she had always seen in them was now gone. She wasn't sure what the look contained, but it fascinated her.
Aela cleared her thoughts and her throat. "We need to get Azriel to the College. There's a mage healer there. She can help Azriel."
Serana nodded and Odahviing lowered his head to them. "I will carry her. But, I fear she will need assistance, Lahbriin."
Aela hefted Azriel up and Serana quickly moved to help her. "How can someone who barely eats anything other than apples weigh so damn much?"
Serana snorted. "You're still injured, let me help you."
Aela glared at the vampire. "Watch your tongue, Serana. I can manage."
Serana returned the glare playfully and with an evil smile, shoved Aela abruptly.
The push caught Aela by surprise and she stumbled.
Serana lifted Azriel effortlessly and walked to Odahviing, laughing. "I can see that."
Aela stifled the growl as she watched Serana move Azriel with ease to the dragon's neck. The fact she wasn't angry at the vampire was almost as surprising as how easily the woman had lifted Azriel. "You're stronger than you look."
Serana grinned over her shoulder at the wolf. "I'd have thought you would have noticed that by now."
Aela snorted at the remark and walked to the emaciated remains of the vampire. After a quick search she stood bearing only Azriel's amulet and dagger.
Serana watched Aela with a new interest, watching the way her muscles moved as the Huntress walked. Her eyes landed on Aela's bloodied abdomen, where she had been stabbed. The smallest growl hitched in her throat and Serana shook her head. The smell of the Nord's blood carried to her nose and the vampire fought the urges within herself.
"Where did he get this? I haven't seen Azriel wearing it since we parted company."
Serana fought to clear her head and Aela looked up at her.
Aela watched the vampire stare at her stomach, slipping the amulet around her neck. She bent down to the stream, quickly washing the blood from her body.
"You're worse than a man." She barked, walking back to Saaraadgraat.
Serana blushed. "I was staring at your…"
Aela barked out a laugh. "Relax vampire, it was a joke." The sense of satisfaction washed over Aela as Serana blushed harder.
The sense of urgency to get Azriel to a healer pushed them to move quicker. Both women recognized Azriel was in desperate need of attention. More than any of the five could provide for her.
"We need to go." Aela said, climbing onto Saaraadgraat.
"Florentius, ride with Aela." Serana said softly to the dumbstruck Priest.
Aela threw her a questioning look and Serana narrowed her eyebrows. "What?"
"Yes, please! I must speak with the Dragonborn. It's urgent that I do."
"You intend for him to come with us? Why?" Aela ignored him completely.
"You may not believe me, Werewolf. But, Arkay did guide me here for a purpose." Florentius snapped at her.
"Whatever, just get on." Aela replied in a bored tone. "But, I will feed you to the dragon if you so much as blink at any of us wrong."
Hircine is the only Daedric Prince that I don't necessarily view as an immediate asshole. I'd like to think he likes the challenge of a hunt and is willing to accept being bested.
This chapter is intentionally short and sweet. So expect more to come... Oh yes! There is.
Now, I'm curious what you think.