A Tale of Dragons: Tanz do Iiz ahrk Yol
Chapter: 35
Uncovered
Maybe it was the way he moved around the mages that did it, or perhaps it was the way he so easily dealt with them. The way he simply dodged their spells, evaded their swords and bypassed their defenses, it was impressive, truly. And the way he just changed, the way his eyes turned brighter at the mere sight of them, it was like he was both man and beast, both merged into one being. Because how he ran looked brutish, the way he grabbed his foes made her feel for the mages, the smile on his face as he ripped their throats open made her see what so many mortals saw when their eyes meet orange-glowing ones. She looked at a man yet saw a monster. And so she was so very glad that he was on their side.
"So, he was the one in Bloodlet Throne?" Serana asked Khara as she, the wolf and Angi simply stood to the side and watched Vighar deal with the mages at Cracked Tusk Keep. Her eyes were wide as she simply watched the man fly by them. By the look in the man's eyes, Serana could tell that he had a lot of anger within him, and he was currently working it out, releasing it on the poor mages.
Khara slowly nodded as her eyes followed Vighar's movements. She wanted to help, sort of, but the vampire had told her not to as he himself wanted to be the one to paint these stone walls with the blood of his enemies alone, and the tone in his voice when he had said so told Khara to let him have his wish.
They simply stood by as the man ripped limbs off of the mages within the keep. Screams of torment filled the stone halls as they heard Vighar fight his way deeper into the heart of the keep, into the very core of it. They had lost the count of different cries that could be heard, there were just too many to keep track of.
Now, normally Khara wouldn't let a vampire go absolutely psychotic while under her watchful eye, but this time was different. In a way, this was Vighar's way of healing, in a very twisted way, but a way nonetheless. She was just glad that the man turned his fangs to the mages and not her.
Suddenly a head rolled over to their feet and Angi took a step back. "I'm glad he's with us."
As her words faded into the now silent keep, Vighar came back into view, his face covered with blood. He gave them a wicked grin as he grabbed a rag from a nearby table and did his best to remove it. His breath was uneven, his clothes were ripped and shredded, but the man still stood strong. "Now then,-" He inhaled deeply before continuing. "You said there were another place we needed to clear out?" He asked Khara.
"Uh, yeah. Knifepoint Ridge, we're meeting the others there." She told him, a little shocked over how civil he suddenly seemed.
They had all agreed that after they were done with the smaller camps, that they should point their weapons at Glenmoril Coven's hideout right away. That way, no information of the other bases would have time to reach the Coven's ears and they would most likely be able to take the witches by surprise. A raven had been sent to Aela, and the Huntress had answered, they would meet soon and finish this once and for all.
"Good, good. Well, no point in standing here any longer then, is it? Let's get a move on." Again, the way he completely changed were fascinating, especially to Serana because she knew how it felt to be in a bloodlust, and she knew how hard it was to come back from it, it made her respect Vighar's strength and willpower, because it was impressive.
They moved out of the keep, trying to avoid the corpses as they did so, and when they were finally met with the cool fresh air once more, they headed over to Knifepoint Ridge.
They followed the mountains to the west as they walked, Knifepoint was close and it wouldn't take long before they got there. As time continued to pass, Khara looked to her side and spotted a dirt road which led into the mountains, she smiled a little of the memory of when she last traveled that road. For in that way laid Twilight Sepulcher, the place she had traveled to so long ago to return the Skeleton Key, that Mercer had stolen, back to Lady Nocturnal, back to where it belonged. She didn't know much about the Night Mistress, who she was and how she was, but for the brief time Khara had spoken to the Daedric Prince whose sphere is night and darkness, she had come to the conclusion that Nocturnal was a mystery, like the thing in the dark your eyes couldn't see what was. But she was curious, not afraid, because there was something so incredibly pure in the way the Night Mistress had spoken to her that made her feel, feel safe. So she wasn't afraid of the dark, of the night that came with the Daedric Prince, because she didn't fear the unseen thing within. Truth be told, her interaction with Nocturnal had been one of the more pleasant ones compared to the other Princes who she had traded words with.
"There they are." Angi said as she spotted the Companions.
Khara shook her head and focused her senses, she had been completely lost in thoughts for the entirety of their journey, she really should stop doing that.
Without any other words being spoken, the three women and Vighar walked up to the Companions. Farkas huffed as his eyes landed on one of the two new faces. "Found another bloodsucker, I see." His tone demanded punishment, or so the wolf within Khara said.
She walked past him, making her shoulder bump into his side as she did so, making him stumble back. "Watch it." She warned, not even letting her eyes fall to his.
Aela walked up to him and dismissed him, letting him walk back to his brother. "I apologize for Ice-Brains over there,-" She nodded to Farkas. "Ever since arriving to Falkreath, he's been complaining about his aspect, Vilkas too." Aela informed her.
"Well, as long as he keeps his distance and mouth shut, then there won't be a problem." Khara then turned to look at Vighar and Angi. "I got these two with me, they'll help us clean up this mess. This is Angi and Vighar, they both have dealt with the witches' minions before."
"Good, we'll take all the help we can get." Aela looked at her fellow members and nodded to herself. "Shall we start?" She asked Khara, and the wolf agreed. With their group's number came confidence and safety, there were strength in numbers after all.
They followed the path up to Knifepoint and when they saw a wooden tower, they movement stopped as a man spoke to them. "Halt! This mine has been taken over by me and my men, by the orders of the Jarl himself! State your name and business or you will taste steel!"
Khara turned her head to look at Aela, both women shared a quick look before Aela spoke. "We are the Companions, we have come here to deal with the rogue mages and witches who hide in these woods. We have come to deal with the Glenmoril Coven."
He nodded to her. "There be no magic wielding folk here. We killed the mages who lived here, there are none left." The man made his way down from his little tower and carefully stepped closer to the group.
"You're mercenaries?" Vilkas asked the man, and the man nodded.
"That's right, we were hired by the Jarl a few days ago. These mages had been disturbing the wildlife and taken the lives of too many hunters." The man looked behind him, to his friends. "I lost a few good men and women dealing with those bastards." His eyes met Aela's. "I'm glad that we're not the only ones out here dealing with them. If you want, you can use the camp and we can talk some more of the matter?" He offered.
"What's there to talk about?" Farkas asked him as he walked up to stand beside his brother.
"We're both after the same target here, might as well join forces, don't you think?" The man told the Companion.
"How about we talk first and decide later." Athis offered his fellow Companion. He then looked to Aela for support and confirmation.
The Huntress offered the elf a smile and a nod a she turned her attention back to the mercenary. "Let's talk then." Why charge into a place that were mostly filled with mages and witches that had a good understanding of the magical arts alone when they could have allies with them? It would be more efficient, safer for all, and also the obvious choice to take in the given situation. And these mercenaries had dealt with the mages before, they knew of how they fought and that information would prove most valuable.
Khara had little interest in the conversations that sparked between her allies in wolf armor and the mercenaries. She saw that Angi were discussing bows and arrows with a fellow archer by the range, she saw that Vighar sat for himself and prepared his body and mind for the battle to come, but…Where was Serana?
Knowing that the woman hadn't gotten far, she grabbed an unused cup from the table offered to them, which had drinks and food on it, and she set out to find the missing woman. Now she didn't know where to start looking, but that wasn't a problem. Ever since their ride with Odahviing, both her aspects and she herself felt the need for Serana's attention and touch increase, Khara simply followed the path set out to her by her feelings and aspects.
She walked past a few trees and walked over to a ledge. It was over watching the path that they had taken up here. It was a sight indeed, because due to the height they had climbed, they had a view over the tree tops all the way to the mountains and more. Khara looked to the east and due to the clear weather, she managed to see what little remained of Helgen.
Her eyes left the ruined town in favor of something else, someone else. With a few feet still between them, Khara quickly and with ease filled the cup with her blood before walking closer to Serana. She made sure to walk over a few branches to let the woman knew of her presence, she didn't want to spook her because it seemed like just like herself, Serana too was lost in thoughts.
She didn't turn around to greet the wolf, but she found the gesture to be kind. She knew Khara was coming, she could feel it, that warmth, but it didn't make the wolf's actions any less admirable. With her feet dangling in the wind, she noticed that something was placed next to her, it was a cup. And along with the cup came an explanation.
"Since we aren't going back to the manor just yet, I thought that you might be wanting this? You'll need your strength." The wolf said as she kept her eyes on the view in front of her.
Serana smiled, she was waiting for something from the wolf, but it never came. "You aren't going to try and make me stay behind this time?" She was almost sure Khara would try and make her stay here or go back to the manor, saying that it wouldn't be safe for her to come with.
Khara wanted to, she did. But her words had been promised, and so she must do what she can to keep it. "No, I made you a promise and I'll keep true to my word." This conversation felt so, so strange for her. There were no humor, no banter or eye contact. It wasn't like them, it wasn't like them at all.
Khara didn't know what else to say, what else to bring up. She decided to leave Serana to her drink, but the vampire weren't done with her just yet.
"There was this thing I wanted to ask you." Serana said, but she kept her silence for a few moments after the words had passed her lips. She heard how Khara leaned against a rock behind her and so she continued. She held the cup with nervous hands. She just needed Khara to answer this one question, because it had been bothering her for some time now. "Who turned you?" She asked, her voice was low and steady, yet filled with so much more.
Khara knew that she should probably stop staring at Serana's head at this point, but it was so hard not to look. She felt how worried she suddenly became over those words, but as she was beginning to come up with an excuse, her aspects spoke to her and their words were simple yet heavy. No more lies, they whispered in unison. She swallowed as she prepared herself to speak, to finally let Serana know something. "You did." Her muscles tightened as her whole body and mind prepared for the consequences of those two words.
You did, such simple words had never felt so heavy for her before. It didn't mean anything, it didn't. She sat a little sideways and so she could easily turn to look at Khara, but she didn't dare it, for she had more questions now. Things she needed to ask in order to make all of these feelings more understandable. If she had been the one to turn Khara, then it would explain some of what she felt, but not all. Because people got turned all the time, it happened, for all sorts of reasons. She just needed to know their reason.
She needed to know the reason why she had been the one to sink her fangs into the neck of the woman behind her, she needed to know why it was her blood that was mixed with the wolf's, she needed to know why it happened. "Were you dying?" Vampirism had often been given to dying mortals, it was away to trick death, to avoid it. If they were as good friends as Khara had said, then she could see why she had turned the woman if there were no other way. She knew that she would have done it to save a friend from an early end, but when the wolf finally spoke, it only caused even more questions to surface.
"No." She didn't have any control left, her body were currently working on its own, her words were honest. She was so very tired of lying, of avoiding the truth. She didn't want to anymore, she only wanted Serana back.
Serana looked down to the cup as she suddenly found it very interesting. She didn't have the strength to look at Khara in this moment, it would probably cause her words to come out wrong, if they managed to come out at all. "Were you sick?" She asked, because maybe Khara had been bitten by something, maybe she had been poisoned by someone? Werewolves could still be inflicted by disease, could they not? Or were they immune to it? She couldn't remember, but it was no problem, for Khara answered her questions with one word again.
"No." Was Khara's answer again, her voice lower this time.
It meant nothing. The wolf had gotten hurt then, sliced with a blade or battered with a hammer. Something had caused Khara to have been cursed with a broken bone that didn't heal properly, or perhaps a leg that carried pain. It was possible, it was so very possible. "Injured?" She asked this time, unsure of what to say next if the wolf's answer remained the same.
And just like the other times, the wolf's answer didn't change. "No." Tell her, her wolf begged. Speak the truth, her dragon pleaded. Make her remember, they cried together in her mind, but Khara was at a loss of words. What else could she say? What else were there to say? She didn't know, she didn't see. But she did decide on one thing, if Serana asked, then the wolf would answer honestly, she didn't have any more lies in her.
And ever so slowly Serana turned to look at Khara, and unlike so many other times, their eyes met and held each other. Serana saw how the wolf's glowing-blue eyes slowly faded until the glow had almost died out. For the first time in a long time, blue looked into orange, ice into fire, day into night. Words may be false, may be all but the truth, but eyes…They spoke the truth, they didn't lie, eyes could show so much about a person, and at times, perhaps too much.
Serana were about to speak, to ask one final question, but she wasn't given that privilege as Angi, Aela and Vighar walked up to them. "We're heading out, we've gotten four mercenaries to come with us as the rest of them need to maintain the mine." Aela said as she looked around them.
Khara cleared her throat, hoping that her voice didn't sound as weak this time. "We're finally ending this then? We're going to the heart of this little cult?" She asked as she placed her hands on her belt.
"That we are, ready to use that blade of yours?" The Huntress asked with a small grin.
"More than ready." Khara answered as she needed to release some frustration and other emotions in some way, and she guessed that slicing up some mages would do just fine, it looked like it worked for Vighar after all.
Serana rose from where she sat and walked up to the rest of them. Looks like that one question will have to wait till later, so she was more than motivated to see this done. And so, without anything else, they sat out to their final destination. It was time to slay some witches.
It almost surprised them over just how close the Coven's main base were. It took them less than an hour to get there, and once the cave entrance were in sight, they prepared themselves. There weren't anyone outside standing guard, and if it had been anyone else, then Khara would have cheered, but she knew that mages had little need of guards in order to know they had visitors. She did hope however, that the mages didn't see their arrival and that they didn't know of the battle that would take place soon.
Aela shared some inspirational words with her fellow wolves as the others simply listened and waited for the attack. With weapons drawn and spells charged, they slowly entered the dark cave. With the exception of two people, they were all prepared and ready for anything that the mages would throw at them. They crept closer to an opening in the cave and when they could hear the faint sound of someone talking, they stopped.
"So, where is our next target?" A voice of a man asked, his words echoed throughout the cave.
"Bannermist Tower, the Masters' want it and I can see why, it would be a good vantage point. And when the old man comes back from Moss Mother Cavern, then we'll send someone else over there too." The group kneeled down and ever so slowly, they moved closer.
"Speaking of the old man, shouldn't he be back already?" Khara already knew of who the spoke of, the mage that she had killed not long ago, when they were at Hunter's Rest.
"Ah, leave the man be, he's old, his legs aren't the way they used to be." Apparently Farkas have had enough of the men's little chat, because over those words he charged them, not being able to stand still no more. Unable to shout to his brother to come back, Vilkas had little choice but to join Farkas in his assault. And when two charged, the rest followed.
It was odd how the silence and calmness of a place can change so quickly, because now there were shouting all over the place, quickly followed by footsteps and then the sound of spells flying through the air.
Truth be told, it was pure chaos. The first mages who entered the room they were now in, well…They didn't last for too long. And it wasn't all that strange either, they were inside a cave, everything was so very close and the mages simply didn't have the range needed to keep their enemies away from them. In here, it was the ones who used physical weapons who had the obvious advantage, and they used it to the fullest.
Serana kept spotting mages with arrows on them, some still standing, but most of them already lying on the ground. Angi and Aela had a little contest it would seem like, who could shoot the most mages.
In the chaos, Khara managed to spot three tunnels that probably would take them further into the cave systems and when she saw that Vilkas led most of the Companions into one, and that the rest of them and the mercenaries chose the other one, Khara had little choice but to take the third option. With her blood pumping in her veins, the adrenalin made her movements faster and stronger than before. Every sound were louder, every smell stronger. She didn't mean to, but she let her wolf take over. And when the change had taken place, she felt so aware of everything around her, she felt so in control. She was still angry and frustrated over the situation, and so she channeled those feelings into the swings of her claws. All of her focus were on the other mages in the room, and all of her attention were locked on them, and that is why she failed to see Serana entering the same room.
And Serana was surprised to see Khara like this, it looked like the woman were dancing with the mages, because the way she moved out of their spells looked to rehearsed yet improvised. The wolf had her attention, and unluckily for Serana, someone spotted it and used it to their advantage.
A mage or someone who worked for the Coven came up behind her, and with strong movements, they placed a knife to her throat. Serana moved her hands up to his arm, but she was advised against it. "Now, now. Easy there, fangs. I took this dagger of a hunter a few days ago, I bet you that he used it for skinning, seeing to how sharp the blade is. And if that is the case, then I think that it would be an easy task for it to cut through that delicate skin of yours." He was pleased by himself, that much was clear.
When Khara had mauled down the mages she could see, she turned around and spotted Serana in the arms of that man. It made her furious as she growled and approached with great speed, but the man spoke to her. "You better keep your distance, wolf! Or my hand might just slip!" He said as he gestured to the hand holding the dagger to Serana's throat. And when glowing-blue saw it, Khara stopped completely, commanding her wolf to stand still.
She stood up on two legs and growled at him, letting him know that she did not like the idea the man had, but he only licked his lips before speaking once more. "That's it, good dog. Now, move back." Khara did as he said and the man were forced to smile, because why was this werewolf following his orders so willingly?
He might not be the smartest mage in Tamriel, but he soon connected the dots when he saw how the wolf kept looking at the woman in his arms and back at him. It forced him to laugh out loud. "What is this? The puppy cares for fangs here? Now this is proper writing material this." He tightened his hold on Serana. "I might just write a book about you two after I'm done with you."
Serana kept trying to move out of his grasp, but the blade to her neck told her that it wasn't happening. She could feel how it had already broken through her skin, because she could feel some drops of blood rolling down her throat. She were about to try again, but with more force. Don't move, she heard in her mind and all of her movements stopped as she looked at Khara with wide eyes.
She ran through her mind, trying to find any information about the ability to communicate with others with their thoughts alone. She looked through her memories, her old thoughts, remembering all the books she had read, but she only found one answer. As far as Serana was aware, there was only one way to do what the wolf had just done, and it was through the bond of blood, an act so incredibly intimate that Serana felt a shiver at the mere thought of it. She almost didn't believe it, but only almost. Her lips parted as she were at a loss of words, because the mark on the wolf's shoulder weren't from anyone else, it was her mark, she was the one that had marked Khara, it had to be her. The current situation was not all that important to her right now as her mind were filled with so much more. She didn't think of the man who had the power to end her life, all she could think about was the owner to those blue orbs looking back at her.
Khara wished she could have done more, that she could have ripped the arm of the man who were threatening her Serana, but she saw how ready he was to go through with it. Khara spotted movements behind the mage and growled again to gain the mage's full attention. And it worked, because he didn't even hear Vighar sneak up behind him.
It was amusing to Vighar to slice the mage's throat open, seeing to how he was about to do the same to Serana. He wasn't planning on entering this tunnel, but he heard growling and needed to see what it was all about. And now he had just saved the life of a Volkihar vampire, he cheered within himself as he now knew that he would for sure be accepted by the clan.
He cleaned his dagger and spoke. "I think that is it, ladies. The wolves have dealt with the witches, they bloody ripped their heads off." He chuckled, unaware that neither women were listening to him.
Khara were still transformed, but that didn't make her able to move, because those orange eyes kept her in place. She knew what Serana was thinking about, maybe she shouldn't have let Serana hear her thoughts, but she couldn't risk it, she wouldn't.
Serana was about to speak, to confront the wolf about it, to finally have Khara tell her the truth and the whole truth, but it looked like the Companions enjoyed their perfect timing, because here came Vilkas. "It's done." He panted. "We're going to gather the bodies and burn them. Aela and Athis is going back to Whiterun with the heads, we need to prepare them for a ritual." He walked closer to Khara. "Aela wants you to be there when the ritual takes place, it should be ready in two days from now."
Khara inhaled deeply and her wolf released her from its form. She turned back to herself and looked at the Companion. "I'll be there, shall I just meet you in Jorrvaskr when the time comes?"
"Aye, that would be best. You can go now, we'll deal with the bodies." He didn't even grasp the possibility of what he was interrupting, and it was for the better that he never knew. His words however told both women that they were no longer needed here, they could leave. "There is another thing I would like to ask." He said. "If it's not too much, then could we use your manor to heal our wounds?"
"Of course, Vilkas. Everything you need is in the kitchen and laboratory." She told him and the man smiled at her generosity. Vilkas then asked if she could help with the injured and get them to the manor, and she gladly accepted, happy to have something to focus on.
Khara handed over a few bandages and health potions to Brand as he and Linreth had managed to get a few burns and cuts from the mages. Once she was sure that her assistance were no longer needed by the wolves, she made her way upstairs and entered her bedroom. She closed the door and sat down at the bed. Her hands gripped each other as she leaned her forehead against them. She waited, and she waited, every second seemed to last for too long as she tried to prepare herself for what was coming. And after what seemed like an eternity, the door finally opened and closed only a moment later.
Serana wasn't sure what to say or what to do at this point. She only knew that she needed to get to be alone with the wolf, for she needed to know. She needed to know who this woman was, who she was to her. She didn't know where to start because she didn't know where it would end. "I…-" She shook her head at herself as she just couldn't find the right words. "Who are you?" Those words were so simple and could mean so many different things, but the wolf knew of what she asked.
"I think you know…" Khara told her.
Serana leaned back against the wall, for she felt the need to get closer, but feared doing it. She felt both warm and cold at the same time, it was torture. "It's my mark, isn't it?" She wasn't whispering, but her voice came out weak and low. "On your shoulder."
Tell her, her dragon aspect pleaded. "It is." She was afraid, because this could only end two ways. And she prayed to every single god she knew about that it ended her way. Because her heart felt weak. Serana had been her air and now she needed to breathe again, but would the woman grant her this or deny it?
"And I carry yours?" Serana asked, she felt how she about to sweat from the uncomfortable warmth and how she shivered at the unwelcomed coolness that traveled through her body.
Khara furrowed her brows and closed her eyes, because she were on the brink of tears. Serana sounded so small and fragile right now, and all the wolf wanted was to hold her, to make it better, but she couldn't. She opened her eyes and finally look at Serana. She stood up from the bed and inhaled, the air was so very thin now. "You do." Her aspects told her to stay, but everything else in her mind told her to leave. She made her way over to the door. "I can get Odahviing to bring you home-" Serana interrupted her.
"Do you want me to leave?" Serana whispered as her eyes followed the wolf. As the space between them became smaller, something in Serana stirred, something was building up. She didn't know what else she could have said, she just needed to make the wolf stay.
Khara leaned her forehead against the wall as she closed her eyes once again. Stay, her aspects cried out. I can't, she said back. She felt how her dragon aspect growl within her. Show her, it commanded, but Khara didn't know how. "I don't." She flinched over her own words, her dammed aspects were making it difficult to speak. If you won't, then I will, her inner dragon said.
Serana made her way closer, she didn't have a choice in the matter, her body were currently in charge, not her mind. With each step the coldness faded and were replaced with warmth, the comfortable one. A faint light were beginning to glow around them, dancing its way between their bodies. It was so very welcoming and…And familiar. It was almost like it whispered, come closer. Her shoulder met the wall as she leaned against it, and she was so very close to the wolf now.
She saw how a single, lone tear rolled down Khara's cheek and she couldn't help but feel sorry for the woman, and along with that feeling came something else. The light touched her, and with it came the feeling of pure electricity, and it asked her a question and it was simple, and so Serana accepted.
Time froze as her mind opened itself to what was about to be shown, to be given. She heard a voice, but it wasn't Khara's, it sounded like it was a dragon, and it spoke to her within her mind.
It was so very dark, but in a cave filled with twilight, you shone brightly for our eyes. And when you asked us your question. "Who are you?" We were forced to answer.
"I am a Thane, I'm Khara."
She could hear her own words and Khara's, she could even see herself from the perspective of the wolf. The memory, the vision faded as another one came and took its place.
And you were a breath of fresh air, which made it hard to exist when we parted ways. She saw herself on a boat heading for Castle Volkihar while Khara stood by and watched it happen. She felt a small sting in her chest, a little tingle of pain. Khara's feelings were on display for her to both see and feel.
But our paths were linked together, and when we met again, you managed to get closer than all others before you. You had the very design to our defenses, to our walls, and with ease you defeated them. She could see Riften, the town that she had heard so much about. When she saw those stone covered halls and the Flagon, she couldn't help but feel the heaviness in her mind become lighter. She could see herself and Khara sitting so very close, talking about everything and nothing. And she could feel the touch, the warmth on her hand like it was happening all over again.
You saw weakness and vulnerability but remained with us despite our mistakes. She could see the town of Helgen, she could remember a conversation with a woman within a house in Whiterun, she could see the wolf killing a man with a smile on her lips as she did so. But you did not judge, you did not cast us aside. Before you we were burning, but you tamed the flame within, you gave it purpose once more. And because of that, we will never forget. And if you cannot remember, then we will remember it for you.
The voice, the soothing strong voice faded slowly as Serana was forced back to reality. She opened her eyes and it seemed like only mere seconds had passed, because the wolf was still here, but the lights had faded. She could remember laughing with the wolf, crying, drinking ale and wine and joking about whatnot. She could remember the friendly touches and the looks, but she couldn't remember the intimate ones. But she had just seen visions of the past of her being in Dimhollow, and now she remembered it. She had been given the ability to feel what she felt back then, and she felt it. But no visions of true affection had been given, and so none were felt.
But that only made her wonder, could she trigger those memories to resurface as well? She remembered the wolf's last words before the visions. I don't. It triggered something within her.
What are you feeling? "What are you feeling?" She was forced to repeat the words, she had no choice.
Khara opened her eyes and parted her lips. "Everything." But Serana could hear something else within her mind. Excitement and hunger, but there was supposed to be a word between those two, but what was it? "A longing." There it was.
This conversation had been spoken before. What do you- "What do you want, Khara?" She said in unison with the voice within her, and as she spoke she could remember what had happened up to that point. Dimhollow, she remembered Khara's thoughts, a lady in a crypt, thoughts of the journey home, the drunken tales spoken by Lydia, a journey to remember as she and Khara traveled from Whiterun to Riften, and she remembered the new territory she and the wolf had discovered, but there was one last piece of the puzzle that still remained hidden from her.
And then Khara spoke, and the last piece was within reach. "You." The wolf whispered, eyes aimed low as she did so. "I want you to be able to look at me without seeing a stranger, I want things to be like they were, and that's not fair to you." Her voice were so weak, it was about to shatter. She couldn't blame Serana for not remembering them, and so she could only blame herself.
Khara was about to break down, to release all of those blasted emotions to join her as she was about to fall to the floor, but she was stopped. The most delicate, smooth and comforting hand touched her cheek, forcing her to face the woman who was the source to all of her happiness, to all of her pain. Those blue eyes weren't glowing no more, and Serana knew that she had seen them before so many times. Her eyes followed the scar under the wolf's eyes and she remembered of how the wolf had gotten it, the dwarven sphere.
She just needed Khara to say three more words, she just had to know before she did was her mind was screaming her to do, what her body demanded she did. "I just need to hear you say three words, Khara. Like the first time you spoke them." She whispered, lips trembling as more memories came flooding in. They joined all the others and blocked the doorway, unable to move in or out. They were stuck within her and she knew that Khara had the key, the woman only needed to speak. She needed to hear those three words like she had heard them for the first time, back in the cave filled with the little pink moths.
And Khara looked at her, she searched Serana's face because the way she had just said her name was different from all the previous times. It almost sounded like…She swallowed and blinked her eyes. She couldn't help but lean into the touch as the tears rolled down. She inhaled before finally letting her aspects have their wish. "Zu'u lokal hi." She finally said them.
Serana felt her own cheeks being flooded by her own tears as the memories unlocked themselves for her, every single one of them except some, but it was no loss, for she knew how to make them appear within her mind, she knew what to do now.
Her hand caressed the warm and wet cheek as she came closer, the warmth covering her like a cloak. And she saw how the wolf stood straighter and leaned off of the wall at her approach. She heard the familiar sound of a heart increase, she heard how the flow of blood went faster, how Khara's breathing came out ragged. And she was met with that soothing scent. She could feel herself become lighter and lighter with every inch that decreased between them. And she felt how her own body became less aware of anything and everything around her, all of her focus was on the wolf, like it had been so many times before.
Her hand fell to a shoulder as her lips came in contact with the armor on the wolf's chest. Just being this close was difficult, but Serana was not letting it stop her this time. Ever so slowly she let her head rise. She savored the feeling of having her nose trace a line along the wolf's cheek, she would make sure to remember the way she heard the wolf's heart jump and her breath hitch. She let her hand take its time as it came in contact with a warm neck, one that she had been so very close to before, on several occasions. Her nose touched the wolf's as her eyes began to feel heavy and so she was forced to shut them.
She could feel how Khara's whole body became less stiff as she brushed their lips together. A thrilling feeling was the result of her actions, and with her own desire to feel them again increased, she finally pressed her lips firmly against the wolf's.
It took a second, because Khara couldn't believe that this was happening again, but when she finally realized that it was indeed happening, she kissed the woman she so deeply loved back. It was so different from their other kisses, but Khara was in no way about to complain about having those sweet lips against her own again. She did however feel how uncertain Serana was about this, and so she herself slowed down, letting the woman choose the speed, the pressure. And all too soon Serana broke the kiss and clenched her eyes even tighter together.
It was certainly not the reaction one would like after having just kissed a person, so as unsureness came over her, Khara took a step back, letting Serana have her space.
But the other woman wasn't flinching over the kiss, she was doing so over the memories that unlocked themselves, the feelings. She quickly opened her eyes and looked at Khara, who looked back at her with discouraged eyes. Serana only shook her head as she took the one step needed to be close to the wolf again, her wolf. Both her hands found the wolf's cheeks and she kissed Khara again, and with so much more force. She stood even closer this time, body pressed against the wolf's. She took the woman's lower lip between her own as she continued to let the tears roll down.
And Khara was crying too as she kissed her back. Slowly her arms came to hold around Serana, unsure if it was fine to do so, but when Serana pressed herself even more against her, she knew that it was more than fine. After their lips had turned swollen due to their dance, Serana broke the contact once more and hid her face in the crook of Khara's neck, something that she hadn't done in such a long time, too long. She inhaled deeply as the need to smell that scent of raw fire was overwhelming to her. She held around her wolf in such a strong embrace that she was sure that Khara was on the brink of breaking a few ribs, but she couldn't help it, she needed to hold on to her.
"I'm so sor-." Serana cried out but weren't able to finish the sentence before the wolf silenced her. Khara hushed as she shook her head, there was no need for such words, no need at all. Serana's head was a mess, there were so many things coming back to her, so many memories and thoughts, feelings and fears, but they were hers. Her hand came up to the back of Khara's head, she needed to be held, for her legs were beginning to fail at their current task.
Neither knew who moved who, but ever so slowly they crept closer to the bed. Serana was holding onto her wolf because she was unsure if she could stand on her own and Khara held onto her because she was scared that this was just another scheme of the Dreamweaver, another nightmare that would soon turn into chaos, but it never happened as they ended up on the bed. Nothing else happened, they only continued to hold onto the other, neither willing to let go.
It was in the middle of the night when Khara had awoken. She rolled onto her side and reached out for Serana, but she was met with emptiness. Her eyes shot open at the loss of the woman and almost immediately her mind began filling itself with unhealthy thoughts. She leaned back on her elbows as her head were slowly catching up to her. She was mere seconds from getting out of the bed when the door closed. Blue orbs shot to the door and was met with orange ones.
Serana saw the distress on Khara's face slowly fade away with each step she took. With confidence she got into the bed, removed the blanket to the side, laid down on Khara and threw the blanket back over them as their lips met once more.
Khara melted at the touch and was now fully laying against the bed again. Serana's lips left a trail of affection down to the wolf's neck before opening her eyes. She moved a little to the side to get a better view and when she had done so, she let her fingers run along the wolf's jaw and chin. She didn't understand how she had lasted this long without the wolf's warmth and affection, because as of the moment she felt starved off it, she just couldn't get enough. Her eyes connected with Khara's and she had never seen such raw emotions in them before. There was both happiness and sadness, joy and heartbreak, the list just went on. But luckily for her, she knew what she needed to do to remove all the negative ones from those beautiful eyes. Their foreheads met, and with all of their focus being on the other, their minds opened themselves to the other, their feelings on display and shared with the other. She had no words on her mind as they laid there in the silence. There was nothing to be said, not yet, but that was alright, it was fine. The silence that floated around them spoke for itself and it told them both what they wanted to hear.
What did you do? Khara asked her dragon. I gave you a much-needed nudge, goraan gein, it answered. In all honesty, her heart felt sore due to how full it felt. It was almost pain, but the good kind if that made sense. Khara couldn't really explain it all that well, for she didn't even know how to feel about it, to feel about this. She was only grateful to whoever it was that was watching over her, to whoever god or other unworldly being that had granted her this. It amused her how she just couldn't fully grasp that this was happening. She was lying in a bed with Serana again, it all felt so unreal.
Serana only smiled as she placed her head under the wolf's chin, reveling in the warmth. She didn't stay like that for long though, the need to see those eyes again were overwhelming. And when their eyes did met, both shared a small smile. It had been so very long since the last time, it was about time they did it again. "Hey." She whispered, careful not to speak too loud nor to low.
And that word had never made the wolf as overjoyed as she was now. She smiled bashfully as she reached around Serana and pulled her into her. In her tight, warm embrace she spoke back. "Hey yourself."
My opinion on the Chapter and info:
I didn't feel like I could have dragged that out much longer. I've would have finished this chapter on Friday, but I got distracted with a game :P Anyways, hopefully all is well and back on track for the girls now, but we'll have to see what happens. I'm still working on a new questline to take on, but there is going to be a few things involved and so I need time to prepare it. I do believe that I will be able to get some more chapters out before I start on it thought.
As for this chapter, I didn't feel like putting all that much focus on the fighting itself, I tired to fill it with thoughts and feelings as I thought that made the most sense for the time. I didn't get to tell you anything really about Vighar, but I'll keep him in mind so if I need him again, then I may be able to tell you more about the man.
I chose to focus on Serana's perspective when Khara's aspect offered to show her the memories that they shared, seeing to how Khara wasn't even aware of what was happening.
I thought that I'd also let you know that I will have a rather busy week, but I'm sure I can find some time to sit down with the story. It's crazy that its been over a year, I never would have thought that when I sat down to simply try and write a little, that it would end up in a story that had over 300k words in it and was still going. I'm so bloody glad that I did it thought, my ability to write English now is unreal compared to how it was, I've learnt so many new words and meanings, sayings and such. So in a way, I wanted to thank you for taking the time to sit down with this and read it. Without you guys and gals I wouldn't have ever gotten this far, of that I'm sure, so thanks.
The Dovahzul words in this one is pretty simple, so no translations for you, ha!
Not much else to say right now, so have a nice day and take care.
-Zep