An: Hello everyone! So I am going to apologize times a million for this chapter's length but I simply couldn't spilt it up. I do very much hope you enjoy it! Major plot stuff occurs in this chapter and I am dying to see what you guys think about them. It is really long because of all the events I packed in this and how I look forward to your reaction so if you have the time please leave me a review . As always thank you to everyone reading, reviewing and following this chapter. It's all for you.
Another big thank you to Katsara-Yuki for looking over this chapter for me!
Disclaimer: I don't own the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, all that credit goes to all the amazing creators at Bethesda Softworks. All original characters such as Elvi, Darius, Evander, Keaira and Ylva belong to me. As does the original story
Once she and Farkas got close to the camp, Keaira clung onto Farkas' arm in fear. Now that they were reaching their destination, she had a better idea of how many werewolves were there due to the overwhelming stench! She was never a fan of werewolves; they weren't the nicest of beasts! Even with the treaty, the wolves were known to pick at any lonely vampire that wandered into their path. Cautiously she looked up at the noble warrior, whose arm she was squeezing so tightly, it was a miracle she hadn't broken something! He looked down at her and gave her a reassuring smile. To her delight and surprise, Farkas moved her so that she was walking behind him when they made their way through the entrance. Now only the tips of her flipped hair was seen by the onlookers of the camp. One of the werewolves raised his nose to the air and took in a deep breath. When the decaying scent of the bloodsucker entered the wolf's nostrils, his mouth filled with saliva. The alpha's brother must have caught a spy! He prepared a fearsome howl in his chest but Farkas narrowed his eyes and demanded.
"Don't." A simple but stern order. Aela looked up when she heard her brother's authoritative voice. That was unlike him. When she saw the glimpse of midnight hair appear from behind him, she put two and two together. After she finished off the tankard of mead she was nursing, she stood with the intention of joining him. Aela was happy to knock some skulls together if these pups thought they had free reign to act like idiots just because Vilkas was away. As she approached, it seemed that her normally quiet brother didn't need her help whatsoever.
"You brought another leech here?! What purpose does she serve? Unless this vampire is your pet or something, Farkas, I'm ripping her head off!" One of the werewolves shouted. Keaira hissed in response which sounded distinctively like that of a saber cats in Farkas' ears. He kept Keaira behind him as he approached the beast.
"She is my guest and you will treat her with respect." Farkas said calmly. He made sure his voice reached a serious tone at all the key points but he wasn't going to let the wolf think he could rile him. If he did, it would just provoke him to keep up his 'tough guy' act. The werebeast didn't respond but Farkas watched a few other werewolves join his side as if they were preparing to push him out of the way to get to Keaira. Farkas rolled his eyes and let his tone change to one of annoyance. This was an empty threat if he had ever seen one. They knew that Vilkas was his brother and that the moment he returned to camp, all Farkas would need do was inform him of their defiance and he would be livid. The fear the members of the pack had for their alpha was outrageous but what excelled even fear; was their respect. They wouldn't risk upsetting their leader. It simply went against their nature.
"Do you really want to test my patience?" Farkas asked the reckless wolf. "I wonder how useful my brother will find you to be; if you cannot follow a simple order. I will say this one last time, the vampire with me is my guest. You will not attack her, or so much as raise your voice to her or you answer to me. I don't need my brother here to keep order. I'd learn that right away if I were you."
By the time Aela made it over to him, the trouble maker was already backing down. He mumbled something under his breath but went back to what he was doing without putting up a fight. Aela smirked then gave Farkas a firm slap on his shoulder which startled Keaira. Her crimson eyes looked Aela up and down in confusion. She smelled like a wolf but she didn't look like any werefolk Keaira had ever seen before. Her silver eyes were vacant of the mad hunger that most werewolves harbored. This made Keaira relax a little though she did frown again when Farkas let go of her, once the 'red wolf' started speaking.
"Well done, brother. I didn't know you had it in you." Aela teased. She raised an eyebrow when she saw Farkas shift uncomfortably at her encouraging words. That was strange, Farkas never acted…bashful?
"I promised Keaira that she would be safe." Farkas explained in the simplest way he could. Losing his contentment with speaking as much now that he was back in the camp. There was no fooling big sister however. Aela knew Farkas well and therefore she also knew that his single sentence, had several meanings hidden behind it. When she took a peek around Farkas to get a better look at Keaira, she smiled a small smile before returning her attention to him.
"Of course she would be brother, with a big lug like you at her side." Aela knew by Farkas' quick break of eye contact that he was still acting a little off. Something must be special about this little vampire for her to capture Farkas' attention so efficiently. The gentle warrior looked down to his vampiric companion before asking.
"So, Keaira are you ready to see Serana?" That was his purpose after all. After Keaira tied up her business with Serana, he would be of no further use to her. The notion made Farkas a little regretful. She had been a joy to be around. Though in the end he supposed he should have prepared for this. They were from two completely different worlds. She belonged with her family of vampire's and he belonged with his shield brothers and sisters. All he could do was hope the memory of his kindness served her well in the future. As they both began to search for Serana (Keaira still hot on his heels) a bitter smile came across his face. In fifty years' time he would be long gone. Yet she would still be alive and depending on how this prophecy played out she would either be surrounded with loving members of her race or continuously hunted by his. Would she remember him during that time? Would she remember that there was once a complete stranger that turned friend for her in the matter of moments? That she had earned one man's loyalty simply by being herself? Or would the harshness of this world turn her cold? He hoped not, he adored Keaira's bubbly personality despite the hardships she had faced.
Farkas was unsure where this train of thought came from but he didn't care for it one bit. He would just have to make for certain that Keaira knew that he would remember her. That she was special and that she didn't need to be anything other than herself in order to connect with someone. If he had to leave her, it would be on these terms. If he could invoke just a small amount of confidence in her; that meant he had done his job. He would relish in that victory for years to come. After a short while, they found Serana. She was returning to the roaring campfire. Farkas noticed that she was shyly wiping her bottom lip with her sleeve so he assumed that she had just come back from a feeding. When her glowing eyes found his, they immediately travelled down to the vampire next to him. A mixture of confusion and fear swept across her face as her footsteps towards the duo escalated to a rapid speed. In a second flat she was standing before them and Keaira jumped into her arms once she was still. Farkas noticed that the look of worry remained in Serana's eyes as she wrapped her arms around the unique vampire in return. Odd…Farkas was fairly certain Keaira had mentioned that they were friends. Why would Serana fear her?
"SERANA!" Keaira bellowed as she nuzzled the side of Serana's face with hers. Her glee made Farkas a little less nervous but he kept a watchful eye on Serana. When he promised Keaira that she would be safe it meant that she was safe from anyone. He would never attack Serana but you better believe, he would defend Keaira.
"Keaira missed you so much Serana! Why is Serana here and not in castle? Harkon lord had upside down smile when he told Keaira Serana was gone." She pouted. Serana's head was swimming now. She could barely concentrate on what the little vampire had to say. This…was…bad. It wasn't Keaira that she feared; but her clan. If Keaira was with the Volkihar, that meant one of two things. Either her clan was already at the castle or they were on their way to join sides with Harkon. This soon!? No, no it was far too early, wasn't it? She knew better than anyone the unstoppable force her father and the leader of the Stibolt clan; Alrik was when they combined forces. For most of their kind this alliance was reason enough not to step to either clan. If Alrik was on his way…Her father had all but won, already.
Serana gulped back her fear and showed Keaira a smiling face. She was delighted to see her since it was almost impossible to be sad around such a creature, but Daedra how she hoped it wasn't as it appeared to be.
"I missed you too Keaira, it is so good to see you! But why are you here alone, sweetie? Are you and your clan visiting my father?"
"Somethin' like that. It's hard for Keaira to explain. Good news is that Keaira is here! Master Alrik comes to see Harkon soon, no worries! But they boring! Master Alrik said he couldn't play games with her so much once he got to the castle. Business and stuffs. Dunno what he was talking about. He is careful not to lie so Keaira doesn't see."
Damn...Damn, damn, damn! They were already on their way?! Serana looked around the camp in desperation to get another head count. The number she received wasn't very assuring. Both the Volkihar and the Stilbolt clan combined outnumbered them by a vast amount. What's worse was once word spread that they had united, other clans would follow. In no time, her father would have a full-fledged army of immortals at his command and the prophecy wasn't even completed yet! This was probably his plan all along. Now the moment the sky blackened he could march through the cities of Tamriel and leave behind such destruction the likes of which this world hasn't seen in over a millennia. He really had it all figured out didn't he? If mankind didn't know, they would have no way to prepare for the attack! Thinking fast, Serana did the only thing she knew to do to help the situation.
"Keaira, I'm going to tell you the truth, okay. I need you to listen to me very carefully. Can you do that for me, old friend?"
Keaira frowned and pulled her headband down a bit closer to her eyes when she heard Serana's tone. She knew that change in voice. It meant bad things. It always meant bad things. Keaira nodded which caused Serana to gently lead her over to the fire pit where she could sit down comfortably on a small pile of chopped wood that was placed near it. When Keaira was seated, Serana sat next to her on the ground. She tried to think of the right words to say but decided the direct approach was the best option. She looked around to find Farkas who was still standing near them but was far enough away to give them some privacy. Serana smiled briefly when she saw that the warrior's stance resembled that of one a body guard usually took while awaiting for their clients to finish up their business.
"Do you know about the prophecy that my father is trying to complete?" She asked smoothly. Waiting to judge Keaira's reaction before she continued.
"Mmmhmm. Harkon is going to make our kind mighty and strong with no weaknesses. He is making the sun go to bed." From her answer and the shining innocence in her eyes, Serana assumed that was her dark father's explanation to her which was actually far more concerning. It was one thing if Alrik supported her father's cause out of fear or necessity due to their alliance but if he actually believed in it…That just made this power union all the more frightening. Father somehow managed to ensnare most of the vampire's in this world that had additional power's thanks to his blood but Alrik had a few terrifying members as well. If his expert trackers combined with Orthjolf or Daedra forbid Darius, were sent to find her, well needless to say they would succeed. So once father found out about the blood of Coldharbour's daughter the pending war over the sun would begin. Unless…
"That's right, the prophecy states that the sun will no longer hinder vampires. Only there is something that no one knows about the prophecy, save for a few exceptions. In order to complete the prophecy the elven arrows used with Auriels bow must be tainted with the blood of a pure female vampire. Because of this, it means I am no longer safe being around my father. That's also why you can't tell anyone that you know where I am. Or whom I am traveling with. Things will get out of hand fast if you do. I need you to do me a big favor, Keaira." She placed her hand on her shoulder and gulped when she saw the horror filled look on the smaller vampire's face. Why was everything so damn complicated? Why did this one thing cause so much pain? Serana cursed her father further for this.
"I need you to try to distract my father and your master if they try to find me. The men and wolves I am with want to stop my father from completing the prophecy. If so much as one of my father's men attack us then the second the first blood is spilt, there will be no stopping the war between them. Despite my desires I know it is destined to come no matter what any of us do but if delaying the inevitable is my only use in this crisis then so be it, but I need your help. Can you do your best to throw them off my trail if the time comes?"
Keaira contemplated this question. She never lied to Master Alrik. She would fib from time to time if it kept someone from danger (much like the lies she would tell for Elvi) but never in her existence could she bring herself to lie to her dark father. The only thing that kept coming to her mind was friend…hurt. She knew what using the blood to taint Auriel's arrows meant. To block out the sun, that would take more than a trickle to say the least. It would end her life. Keaira felt tears form in her eyes again and she clenched either side of her head in despair. What was she supposed to do? She tried to answer Serana, to ask her what was best but all that came out was quiet sobs. Lying is bad…But her friend dying was worse. But Harkon lord always good to Keaira. Makes her feel like a person, he does. He and Master Alrik would be so mad at her if she lied! She didn't want to lose Serana, either. Bad things! Why was there so many bad things?
Carefully she brought her knees up to her chest and hugged them as a way to console herself. Bad things were supposed to be in the past. Why were they here now? Immortals didn't die. Daddies didn't hurt their children…What was going on!? No! Just come back to the castle and be happy with Keaira! That's what she wanted. Not all of this. Her lips trembled as she looked up at Serana. To her there was only one answer she could give, but Keaira wasn't sure if she could. She had a family she could lose too! Serana grew a little impatient as she waited for Keaira to answer so she sighed and said in a firmer voice.
"Keaira, I need you to make a decision. I'm sorry to put all of this weight on you, but if you can't keep this a secret or promise me you can help then I can't be your friend anymore. I can't associate with anyone that could both lead to my death and the destruction of the sun. I'm sorry it has to be this way, but that's just how it is. Now, answer me!"
Keaira had already started crying the moment Serana said 'I can't be your friend.' She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and pleaded.
"But Keaira and Serana always friends!" She rocked back and forth a little on her seat as she shouted this. She didn't want Serana hurt but she didn't want to be exiled from her family because of her betrayal either. Serana sighed and shook her head.
"Not if you go to my father and tell him where I am or what you know. I told you how important this is Keaira, if you can't keep it a secret you need to return to the castle and leave here. Your presence would be putting everyone in danger. So one last time, can you do this for me or not?"
Keaira squeezed her legs tighter as she thought about it but knowing that Serana wanted an answer right away made it even harder for her to think. What she did not expect however, was a different pair of arms wrapping around hers, which also held her in place and kept her from rocking. When Farkas' soothing voice reached her ears she hummed in relief. Farkas always made everything better.
"It's okay Keaira, you don't have to do anything you don't want to." Farkas said softly from behind her. He had begun listening in on their conversation when he heard Keaira shout. The best thing he knew to do was to hold her, and tell her that everything was okay. Which explained why he was now sitting in the dirt with his arms around hers. Serana flinched a little when she saw his pale eyes find hers. The anger in them was completely unprecedented to his character. She must have…angered him somehow.
"Don't rush her, Serana. Don't you see how upset she is?" Farkas scolded as he tightened his grip on Keaira. Keaira smiled weakly in response. He was so warm, it comforted her. Serana bit her lip before she stated.
"I'm sorry Farkas, but I have to be firm. She has to understand." Serana defended. Knowing better than he, how Keaira could be if she was left to her own devices. His thick eyebrows turned into a scowl as he looked at her.
"She understands just fine Serana. She's not a child, stop speaking to her as one. She will come to a decision when she is ready." Farkas sounded even angrier than he had before which made Serana raise an eyebrow in confusion. She decided it was best to let it go as she anxiously awaited for Keaira to respond.
"I won't tell Serana." Keaira said weakly. She felt drained from all the dark and heavy thoughts that weighed her mind. They hurt her more than lies. Still, she rationalized that she would be a bad friend to Serana if she disobeyed. And she wasn't a bad friend.
"I can try to mislead my overseer's but I no promise it will work. Keaira can do this for Serana."
Farkas frowned when he heard how strained her voice was but he didn't comment on it. Really it wasn't his place to intervene at all. He just couldn't take the sound of her crying anymore. It felt like a thousand razor blades had flown into his windpipe the second he heard her very first sob. It hurt just to breathe because of it. Beautiful creature, please never make such sounds again…
"Thank you, Keaira. That means a lot to me." Serana said in a whisper. She wondered if she had been a little too harsh with Keaira in her desperation but in a world where she couldn't even trust her best friend anymore, she had to be sure. When Keaira moved forward to hug Serana again, Farkas let her go without restriction. His watchful eyes remaining on Serana to ensure that she didn't upset her further. As the two vampire's shared a hug, he looked to the moon to judge how long his brother had been away. He hoped he would find the closure he needed or maybe even, the answers now that he was with Elvi. One thing was for certain, both vampires would have to leave. At least by daybreak. Farkas wondered if he should speak to Elvi about Keaira's well-being before she left but he dismissed it. She had enough on her mind. He'd just have to leave Keaira a reminder before they departed. A reminder of him. Something she could hold onto for years to come if she became lonely or upset. A small smile came to the Nord's face when he knew exactly what that something would be.
(xxx)
Ylva shivered as she continued to stare through the darkness. In reality, she wasn't the best person to be left on guard duty. She hadn't quite gained her 'night eyes' so to speak. In fact her eyes had always had difficulty seeing through the blackness of night. Some warrior she was going to be, eh? Great, now she was meant to be alone with her thoughts while the real fighters were enjoying themselves at camp. To pass the time she decided to gaze up at the stars as often as she could. Using her imagination she saw a frost troll, dragon, and even a brave warrior clad in animal skins. An unwanted sigh left her lips as she looked around once more. Deluding herself into thinking she could spot any approaching danger if she tried hard enough! She wished something could at least capture her attention aside from the stars. With all this time alone, she could very well be attending a pity party for herself soon.
"Hey there pretty lady, what brings you to my neck of the woods?"
Were the words that made Ylva jump out of her skin and leap around in the most graceless fashion possible! When the only thing she saw was a pair of glowing red and gold eyes she yanked her elven greatsword from its sheath and pointed it at the man's chest. She probably would have seemed far more intimidating if both of her arms weren't shaking out of control. She had never faced a vampire before; she never faced any real threat before! Yet here stood a vampire a mere foot away from her...Dammit! Okay so pity parties weren't so bad after all!
"Wh—what are you doing here?! What do you want?! Leave now before I cut your face off!" Okay a little weak at the start but she thought she saved it towards the end...
Darius only smirked in response with his arms raised at his sides to show his 'surrender'. He could easily destroy this delicious little beauty in a few short seconds, but what fun would that be? With the tilt of his head he realized why her arms were trembling so much. She wasn't holding her sword correctly, so all of its weight was centered on the hilt instead of the blade. Adorable. Keeping his smirk he took the time to blatantly stare at her in appreciation. She had long, thick light red hair which was pulled back in one long elegant braid. Two strands of her luscious hair was loose and curtaining her oval shaped face. Mmm...Those now blushing cheeks were speckled with exactly three freckles on either side. Her body was tone but not as much as Elvi's but that's okay. It was still hot as hell when Darius managed to find athletic women. Even ones that couldn't hold their swords properly. It just made her all the more delectable. Darius wouldn't exactly call the pretty little thing a warrior but she had a cute face and hot body. Add swords and blood to the mix and of course he was all the more aroused. Those emerald eyes reflected both fright and intrigue which was all he needed to continue. He kept his arms at his sides but walked closer to Ylva until the tip of her sword was touching his chest. Ylva raised her eyebrows in surprise but stood firm. Ready to plunge her sword into the pale creature if she had to!
"Come now, why would you want to damage such a charming face?" Darius asked while he flourished his hand next to his face for evidence. Loving how outraged she looked after he had obviously admired her.
"As far as what I want is concerned, I was just going to give you some company if you'll allow it. Beautiful ladies like you shouldn't be left alone in such a wicked land." A quick wink and those blushing cheeks matched the same color as her hair. Delightful.
"You're not welcome here, vampire! Go back to wherever it is you came from or I will slay you in the name of the Companions!"
Slay me? How marvelously innocent of you my dear, Darius grinned. This one was going to be a bit difficult to ensnare or all too easy. No matter. He'd learn how far those freckles traveled before the hour was over.
"Companions, eh? Well aren't I in luck? It just so happens that I'm in pretty close acquaintance with your Harbinger. I assume she and her guests are welcome, are they not?"
"Why should I believe you? You're a vampire and-"
"Elvi is a vampire." Darius tsked wagging his right index finger in a taunting way. Oh, she was one of those goody goody types eh? Sure, Darius often hid his vampiric appearance from his conquests but the few times he revealed himself to his mortal maidens, they often became even more aroused by him. That little hint of danger made him all the more alluring. Would he bring them to a beautiful bliss or drain them of their very life. Decisions, decisions and how he loved the game.
Ylva scowled and kept her eyes on the bloodsucker in front of her. She wasn't prejudiced against vampires or anything but after being told that a group of them were attempting to blot out the sun, how could she trust any vampire that showed up claiming to know Elvi? Even vampires as attract—
"You know my meaning, stranger! Can you prove to me that you are aligned with my Harbinger?" That I met for the first time this evening Ylva added in her head. Oblivion, how was she to know if he was lying even if he did present her with proof. A part of her considered shouting so that the others could hear and know that she was possibly in peril but dismissed it. How was she going to be allowed in the Companions if she couldn't handle one pesky vampire?
"Hm, no, I'm afraid I don't have the evidence you require. Though, I would be more than willing to show you just how friendly I am." Darius chuckled. Daedra if the girl got any redder in the face, Darius would have assumed she was hammered. Slyly he placed his index finger on the blade of her sword and with precise movements and to Ylva's utter shock, he pushed her sword up a little so that a lot of its weight now centered on him instead of her. His fingertips had become so calloused during his glorious career as the impeccable warrior that he was; he didn't so much as bleed when the sharp edge dug into him. At Ylva's wide eyed expression, Darius elaborated:
"Forgive me, I noticed that you struggled to hold your sword to my chest so I decided that I would lend you a hand if you desired to continue. Can't have ya grow weary on me now, I would rather see you at full strength for the agenda I have in mind." Another wink followed his words which left Ylva more than a little confused. Was he…Was he hitting on her?! When she heard that Skyrim was full of dangers she didn't exactly envision vampires appearing from nowhere to proposition her! She wasn't quite prepared for that.
"Are you trying to entice me!?" Ylva hissed in both outrage and embarrassment. It wasn't as though she was dressed provocatively nor held a sign beckoning men to her! Did he think she was a prostitute?! Granted she was standing alone in the middle of nowhere, but who in their right mind would attempt to lure men to them in such a place! What were they animals!
"I can answer that question better if you lower your sword, sweetling." Darius purred. She acted angry, as some did at first. The ladies of this generation had the ugly notion that if they laid with gorgeous beings such as himself, it stated that they were whores or had no respect for themselves. What a horrendous lie! Life was short, well for them, after all. Why would they be placed in this world if they weren't meant to enjoy life to the fullest? That's how he perceived all his questionable conquests. He was simply taking in as much pleasure as he could before he met his own end. Plus he was leaving these women with the feeling of utter satisfaction in return. Who could call such a generous display of graciousness a whorish act? Prudes, priests and housewives. That's who.
"Listen…Whatever you name is-" Ylva began. She wasn't entirely sure where she was going with her statement though it didn't matter since he responded with a smirk.
"It's Darius, wondrous warrior."
Ylva blinked a couple of times but stayed still. Seriously…Who in Oblivion was this man! She wanted to do something, anything. Yell at him, banish him, or even attack but she couldn't. As egotistical as this man appeared, there was a certain courteous quality about him that made him difficult to despise. What was she supposed to do? As quickly as she could, she let her emerald eyes fill with the sight of him. Now that she was calmer and took the time to get a good look, she saw how ridiculously attractive he was. Like…unbelievably attractive, the level of which was unheard of. His skin was pale but flawless; his hair was the perfect length between long and short with waves as well as curls swept in a lazy yet tidy fashion. His lips were thin but as her eyes lingered on them she imagined how soft they could be. Just below his lips, his blonde hair graced his face with a single patch on his chin. When she went to examine his eyes once more she frowned when she noticed his predator like smile. He had caught her admiring him…That couldn't be good…
"If you wish to appraise my body sweetling, I can assist you in the matter. I assure you that the hidden sights of me are just as admirable as the shown ones."
Before she could register what was happening, Darius pushed her sword away from him to close the gap between the two. Ylva's breath caught in her throat due to his swift movements which caused her to make a sharp gasping sound. She closed her eyes in preparation for the dreaded vampire's bite. He won. He had tricked her into becoming an easy meal. How foolish was she?! What would be her defense when she was denied the wonders of Sovngarde? "Forgive me Akatosh, but the vampire that destroyed me was the most attractive man in Tamriel!"
She let one of her eyes pop open when no pain came to her. Instead the bloodsucker was ever so lightly grasping her chin. Tilting her head upward a bit so that the moonlight hit her complexion just right. She closed her eyes again when she heard him let out a very soft…growl? Divines why in Oblivion did that arouse her? His smooth voice assaulted her ears and his free hand lightly grazed one of her cheeks, making it impossible for her to ignore him as she wanted.
"You know…there is one trait about my race that I find not so desirable. See, those little specks on your face would be considered a flaw so once you were turned, you'd be without them. I find it a pity. Such a beautiful flaw freckles are. They have been known to decorate the body in such a splendid way."
Darius felt Ylva tremble just a twinge under his touch and chuckled. My, my brave warrior, where did your fighting spirit disappear to? He used his thumb to push the hilt of her sword out of her limp grasp. Enough of that. He very much enjoyed seducing warrioress' but he loathed it when they had their weapon in hand. It made him appear to be forcing them which was something he would never do. She was free to deny him if she desired…He had his own ways of convincing her otherwise, which was much more enjoyable anyhow.
When Ylva heard the clanking sound of her sword hitting the ground she was forced back into reality. Her mind was still clouded with lust but she had much more important reasons for ceasing this before it got too far. Vilkas was the one she admired. He was the one she desired the affections of, not this (albeit gorgeous) man that she would probably never see again! Would she wreck her chances to be with the Companion just to sleep with a vampire that didn't know her name?
"I um, I have to keep watch for danger. If you wish to see Elvi you can wait for her at our camp, it's just ahead once you make your way down the cliff. You'll need to speak to Farkas; he'll decide if you are trustworthy or not." She gave herself credit that she managed to say all of that while she was entranced by the vampire's bizarrely glowing eyes. Darius' chuckle sent shivers up and down her core and no matter how often she ordered her body to move away from his grasp, it wouldn't obey.
"Never fear brave little warrior, I am the scariest thing in these woods and I am much too preoccupied to cause your kin any harm. See how amazing fate can be, when it choses?"
Somehow seeing his fangs when he grinned made him all the more tempting. Was this really happening? Was she truly nothing but mere putty in this immortal's hands? When she opened her mouth to protest, he pressed his lips to hers before she could get out a word. She closed her eyes and on instinct she began to kiss him in return. She leaned into him and moaned when his talented tongue moved past her lips. She let him explore her mouth freely and shivered when she heard him growl in appreciation. The kiss ended all too quickly but she narrowed her eyes with desire when she watched him lick his lips.
"You're quite exquisite, sweetling." His eyes were mischievous but it didn't frighten her like it should. It dazzled her. Ylva never thought herself to be one that fell so easily for men like him. She knew the tricks most men played. She also knew that even though this overly attractive man seemed interested now, as soon as he had his thrills he would be gone without a trace. Naturally, those were the men she usually avoided. Yet all she could focus on was the icy feeling his lips left behind. It wasn't unpleasant, it was new; fresh. She despised herself, but she wanted more. The sole reason she was here, was to prove her worth and to become a Companion. Only everything that motivated her to be where she was today began to slip away with every touch, word, and feeling this undead creature provided for her. She trembled with a mixture of fear along with desire when she heard him growl a little louder than he had before. Darius was savoring Ylva's citrus scent. Yummy. Sweet, sour; perfect.
Darius closed his eyes while attempting to keep the beast at bay. When he found a mortal woman that pleased all his senses, the bloodlust often kicked in. He felt his throat dry instantaneously while the urge to taste this innocent beauty went from desire to need. It was one of the most arousing things Darius had experienced. His entire body demanded a form of satisfaction from this strawberry blonde beauty and he would see each of them sated before sunrise! She was easy enough to read, and he knew soon her lust would be just as consuming as his. Yet he was surprised with his second discovery. The way her body moved under his touch and the way she was begging him without her realization stated one thing. She still had her virtue. What a promising treat he had stumbled on after all! He normally went against taking virgins since they weren't quite as pleasing as those with experience but when he looked into Ylva's hazy eyes, he decided he was in a teaching mood. It could be such a wonderful exercise.
"Now, back to the agenda I had in mind for us. Perhaps we should take this to a more appropriate or more secluded area?" Darius asked waiting to judge her properly. She could still resist which normally only encouraged him to seduce his target further but with Elvi elsewhere and the knocked out drone left unwatched, he hadn't the time. Ylva swallowed back her emotions and imagined the man whose affections she truly wanted to give her strength.
"Um…I…uh, I'm not exactly involved with anyone right now, but I still think it is best that we stop now while we're ahead. My heart wouldn't be in it." She said as strongly as she could. Which made Darius close his eyes so she wouldn't see him roll them in annoyance. Who the hell said anything about hearts? Her heart wasn't exactly what he was after. No matter, he could still recover.
"Ah, let me guess, sweetling. There is a special man in your life whom you wish to be yours but he has yet to show you any interest, am I right? No worries darlin', I'll happily enjoy the treasure he foolishly mistook for a common coal." Darius purred. Ylva was about to sink into his words again until a fire ignited in her mind. This vampire knew nothing about the noble leader of the Companions! How dare he assume such things?! It gave her the will to push away from him. With both her hands placed on her hips Ylva screeched.
"Hey! Watch your mouth, you don't know anything about Vilkas! He is a good man that wouldn't take advantage-" Only her angry tirade was interrupted. To her bewilderment she heard the vampire scoff obnoxiously as she also watched the heavy roll of his eyes.
"Vilkas? Truly? He is the man that you devote yourself to with no merit? What is with this man, is his cock made of gold?" Darius pondered aloud. He really couldn't see why women desired him the way they did. For Divine's sake, Darius was far better looking than the pocket sized werewolf! It wasn't even a competition and yet here he stood having to convince a woman that he was a better option than he. Even if it was purely for the sake of a one night passion. Perhaps the world really was ending and this was one of the impending signs that the end drew near!
Ylva flinched at Darius' vulgar words but was busy trying to sort out their meaning. Did the vampire know Vilkas somehow? Was there a secret alliance between the vampires and the Companions that she knew nothing of? If so, it would have been nice if someone had notified her before she was left alone atop a cliff! Not being able to keep her curiosity to herself, Ylva asked:
"You know Vilkas?"
"I do." Darius couldn't help but roll his eyes a second time. He rolled them so hard he could have sworn he actually saw his brain in the process.
"And believe me sweetling, he has the tendency of mishandling the treasures in his possession." His second statement came out in a wicked hiss. Ylva was a little unnerved by its toxicity.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ylva asked defensively. She was in no way going to allow her opinion of the noble warrior to be tarnished by this stranger.
"It means that he is a fool and a poor lover, darling girl. He was a big enough idiot to let Elvi slip through his fingers and I could guess by the way he clings to her; his negligence is weighing heavy on his guilty mind."
Darius found his mood to be quickly plummeting to a darker nature. What could Elvi be thinking? She couldn't actually want to be with him right? Harkon, yeah that was a whole different can of worms but at least the demented lord made a small level of sense. He has shown Elvi a side of him that no one else has ever truly seen. That was something. It was improvement; promise that Harkon could look after Elvi the way she deserved. Yet Vilkas seemed to only cause Elvi more heartache. She has no reason to feel obligated to appease him. He was the one that walked away, not her. In fact Darius had to use all his strength to keep his face neutral when Elvi explained the origin of her and Vilkas. Even then he wanted to slap the smaller Nord on the shoulder and congratulate him on becoming the greatest imbecile Skyrim had ever seen! And Elvi having the Divine heart she had of course would feel obligated to hear his tiresome devotions of "love." Oh gods if he was putting her through a guilt trip to sway her right now…
"Elvi and…Vilkas?" So it was as Ylva suspected. Something told her by the way he looked at the Dragonborn, that he was completely smitten. Now the little hope Ylva held onto was melting away in a painful; scorching manner. How in Oblivion was she supposed to complete with Elvi? The hero whose song still sounded in some taverns and whose beauty could only be compared to that of Mara herself? Well, there went that wildly inappropriate fantasy that she had been harboring for a while.
"I didn't say he wasn't skilled." His voice hit another sour note. He didn't know where all this hostility against Vilkas was coming from, but he didn't question it. Somehow hating Vilkas…Just felt right. And to think; not long ago he actually went out of his way to spare the Companion's life. Though…He didn't want Vilkas dead. If not only because Elvi would be hurt by his death. For whatever reason. He calmed himself when the wind swept past the two of them and he was greeted with Ylva's sweet scent once more. Ah…Well, he wasn't going to let little man ruin his night. And if he was the only one Darius was in competition with well, it shouldn't be too difficult. He regained his composure and returned to his naturally irresistible self.
"Never fret, freckles." Darius smirked and he casually used his index and middle finger to lift her chin up a little. Now he could watch those emerald lovelies cloud over with desire again. He wouldn't give up until he beheld the wonderful sight once more. "As I said, I am happy to tend to any needs you may have in his stead."
Okay…It was much easier to ignore his flirtations when he wasn't so close to her. Each time she looked up at him, she could swear that he was a figment of her imagination. Men of that caliber never so much as spoke to her. Let alone insist on sating the slight lust that she may have for them, no strings attached. It was becoming difficult to resist him. He spoke so vulgarly and direct yet somehow he worded it so that she couldn't stay offended. When Ylva reminded herself that this man had probably rehearsed similar lines with hundreds of girls before her she cleared her throat and corrected the bold vampire.
"Ylva." When the look of confusion was evident on his face, Ylva continued, "My name is Ylva. Not 'sweetling' or 'freckles.'"
"Don't be like that sweetling, I call every beautiful girl a delightful pet name. So naturally you deserve one of your own, seeing how deliciously adorable you are." And my pet names are easier to remember, Darius continued in his head; smirking at his own internal remark.
"I know who you are." Ylva said in frustration. It wasn't meant to be literal, more a statement that she knew his type. It was like the embodiment of temptation had appeared before her and was turning her to sin. This was a test of her convictions. She wouldn't get caught in this demon's web! He seemed unaffected by her words. She actually saw a dark curiosity ignite in his forever glowing eyes. It sent an unwanted thrill up and down her spine and she struggled to keep her body from trembling because of it. When she heard his hearty chuckle she gasped sharply despite her efforts.
"What a bold statement, warrior." Darius hummed in amusement. He didn't enjoy it when his partners feared him but with this little redhead, she feared giving into her desires. Not fear of harm. Which really, made her all the more alluring to the womanizer. He ever so loved being that sin the pure ones committed after vows of valor. "Enlighten me, sweetling." He effortlessly wrapped one of his arms around her waist then pulled her close to him. With her eyes shut tight, Ylva truly trembled when she felt that his lips were insanely close to her neck.
"Who am I?" She felt his breath and the very movement of his lips on her flesh with those words. She tried to remember her prepared retort but with his icy lips now grazing her neck in a slow and ever so light fashion, she found it difficult to focus on anything else. Gods if he was already giving her such thrills…
"You're a cunning snake, a heartbreaker." She said through her teeth and pushed him back a bit. When her hand met his chest and she felt the tone muscles hidden underneath his armor she gulped. Seriously…Who in Oblivion really was this man?! Darius tilted his head back with unhindered laughter. Now that was new. Usually such venomous words were spat at him after a passionate night, not during. This kitty had claws. How he wished she would use them in a much more pleasurable way.
"Sweetling, the only thing I and a snake have in common; is our expert tongues." He winked and Ylva felt herself all but melt in his arms. Did he have a seductive response to everything? "And why would you say such a wicked thing? We've only just met." He acted offended but only in mockery. In truth he had been called a lot worse…by a lot of women's husbands.
"I hear things. Talk in the city about men like you."
"What do you hear?" He asked. His eyes now traveling to her partially exposed chest. Only three frail buttons prevented him from seeing her in all her glory. Slyly his hand traveled to the first one while she was busy losing herself in his eyes.
"Enlighten me."
"You uh…" Ylva began but froze. She was beginning to wonder herself why she was so against this. It's not like she was saving herself for anyone anymore. At her hesitation, Darius grinned and unfastened the first button of her leather armor. More of her ivory skin was exposed to him but he refrained from exploring it with his tongue for now. She wasn't quite ready.
"I…?" Darius asked to encourage her. Though from Ylva's point of view it was clear he was greatly enjoying her clumsy attempt to refuse him.
"…You are the type to abandon a woman after you have had your way with her."
"Ah, that's your issue?" Darius asked as he quickly undid the second button. When Ylva realized what he was doing he quickly added.
"You see sweetling, those men are horrible, awful creatures! The ones that promise devotion to their partners in order to win them to their beds. Only to leave before daybreak."
In the blink of an eye, Ylva felt her back being pressed against a solid tree. Her legs wrapped around him to where they connected in the most sinful of ways. Darius smirked when he saw the blatant lust in her eyes return. Wouldn't be long now.
"I have made you no such promises. Reasons such as this is why commitment is so vastly overrated. We are both beautiful people that wish to bring the other to a just as beautiful bliss. Tell me, what is so despicable about that? Can we not spend a passion filled night with the company of a lovely stranger? Walking away with our lust sated and our hearts free of pain or worry? I know that must tempt you, just a little." Darius smirked. At that the final button was released and her armor fell open for him. The leather pieces hovered over her breasts; keeping them concealed but Darius growled in appreciation anyway. Those cute freckles did in fact grace her chest as well. Such a joy.
Ylva let her better judgment fly out the window without restraint at long last. He was so gorgeous, so tempting, she couldn't take it anymore. She had to feel more of the affection he was happy to give her. And she couldn't even remember his name. He even seemed to have dismissed hers. Ylva couldn't believe how much she wanted him. With only a few touches and enticing words, she was rendered helpless with desire. It wasn't possible.
"How…how could you be so…" Ylva tried to ask only to find that there were no words. She was his toy to play with however long he desired. It didn't matter how he did it or why anymore. The only important thing left in her world was seeing, tasting and feeling more of the man that had her wrapped around his finger. With another dark chuckle Darius explained.
"I used to be a god." His brows quivered upward for a second at his statement in excitement. "You see, my family were so jealous of my perfection; they cast me down to Tamriel! Oh the pain of rejection has already scorched my now sensitive body! Please don't make me feel its sting again." Darius grinned. Now if Keaira was near she would have been rendered unconscious from that obvious lie, but as Ylva looked at the blonde vampire before her, his explanation didn't seem too farfetched. After all he was the most attractive man she had yet to lay eyes on and he somehow managed to control her emotions along with her body without any real effort. Well, whether he was a god, vampire or mere man, didn't matter to Ylva. She just wanted relief from this scorching desire that he bestowed upon her. When Ylva leaned forward and planted her soft lips on his, Darius smirked as they kissed. Finally! He hadn't had to work this hard in a while! When Ylva ripped her lips away from him, Darius almost roared in frustration until he heard Ylva whisper between her panting:
"Touch me!"
Darius grinned. Again so seemingly innocent. If only she knew exactly what he was going to do to her, she would be pleading for something a little more…intense. Still, Darius chuckled and nodded his head in agreement.
"Yes, ma'am."
He peeled back her armor so that he could see her freckled chest fully and a low growl escaped his lips at the sight. How perfectly, imperfect. Her breasts were rather small in size but they were perfectly shaped. Those freckles on her pale skin truly brought out a primal desire in Darius the likes of which surprised even him. Without further hesitation Darius took one of her breasts into his mouth and eagerly circled his tongue around the deliciously pink bud there. She tasted as good as she looked and for the first time in a long time, instinct took over and Darius fell victim to his wonton desire. Normally he planned out exactly what he needed to do to bring out the most pleasure for both himself and his partner but now all he could fixate on was enjoying every aspect of this innocent warrior's body! Before his brain could process it, he was pulling at Ylva's belt and in impressive time both it, as well as the bottom portion of her armor fell to the ground after he stepped back to give them the room to do so. This new distance allowed Darius to take in all of her and by the way he immediately pressed her back against the sturdy tree, Ylva assumed that he approved. It was the first time she had been naked in front of a man which was rather nerve racking!
All her anxiousness began to vanish when Darius' hand found the sensitive bundle of nerves that was her womanhood. She gasped at the foreign touch in such a forbidden place, but when the movement of his fingers began to bring forth a hot and indescribable pleasure, her gasp turned into a loud high pitched moan. Darius' own desire escalated at hearing this proclamation of pleasure, knowing that those filthy wolfs nearby were bound to hear her. He did love it when it was known to the other men around him that sadly, they could just never compare to him. In her daze, Ylva realized that she was completely bare and yet he remained fully clothed. To alleviate this, she slowly reached out to him. When she began to undo the top portion of his armor for him, she gasped when his hand pressed against hers. The act completely halted her attempt as well as the vampire's wonderful movements. She saw a look of worry cross the blonde man's face which made her incredibly nervous. Had she done something wrong…?
Darius gulped as he looked at the beautiful woman he had wrapped around him. This was an issue every now and again but with her…He didn't want to reveal his hideous scars to her. He wanted to keep that 'perfect' image she had for him in her head. If she got a good look at his chest well…That image would be shattered. He didn't know why it was so important to him this go around with the strawberry blonde, but it was. Perhaps it was because she made him work for her so in a way he wanted please her thoroughly for allowing him to be the first to enjoy the wonders of her body. The one that took her virtue. He should therefore make it somewhat memorable, right? He was after all not only going to be the first lover she ever had but the best one as well. He couldn't exactly please her if she was repulsed by his body…
"If I did something wrong I'm sorry, I just wanted to help things along." Ylva whispered softly. Those freckled cheeks were now flushed red with embarrassment. "Just tell me what you want me to do…"
Darius shook himself from his inner turmoil and showed Ylva the most charming smile he could muster. Everything about her was sweet, wasn't it? Strange, usually his lovers didn't give him so much regard. With his composure regained Darius answered huskily.
"Just feel and enjoy sweetling, just feel and enjoy."
At that he cautiously removed the first layer of his upper armor. Knowing that the black tunic he wore underneath it only showed the tail end of one of his scars and if he was quick, she wouldn't even notice it. With his skilled hands and a quick step backwards while still keeping Ylva in place he kicked his boots off unfastened his belt. When he stepped out of his pants, Ylva tried desperately to see the parts or more part of him that had been concealed from her but he was pressed against her again before she could get a good look. The loss made her whimper in disappointment which only made Darius smirk. To appease her, he stepped back again and marveled when he watched her eyes widen in utter surprise. Ah, it was good to be him. Just as quickly he moved back against her and tenderly placed his forehead against hers. His lust demanded him to take her in the most primal way possible but he calmed himself when he recited the word virgin in his mind. She wasn't ready for that kind of loveplay yet. Keeping this in mind he gently spoke to her.
"I'll try my best to make the pain fleeting, sweetling." He frowned when he saw her lip quiver and eyes widen at the word 'pain'. Alas it couldn't be helped but lucky for her, Darius had learned a trick or two in all his centuries of pleasing women. Though Ylva didn't know it, her virginity couldn't have been in better hands.
"Know that the discomfort will subside in time and only pleasure and ecstasy will follow it. If it does become too unbearable I can and will stop. I don't want to bring you any pain that you can't handle."
Ylva felt herself fall back into desire at his encouragement. The fear she had for the upcoming events faded and for whatever reason, she trusted him. She nodded her head to show that she was ready and slowly Darius began to push himself inside of her. A loud growl escaped him once he was fully inside. She was even tighter than any of the other virgins he had, had before her or so it seemed in his consuming lust. He paused so that she could get used to the sensation and get used to his size. He was pleased when he saw that her pained expression eased quickly. With a genuine smile he started a slow and deep rhythm. One that made Ylva see stars with each thrust. How very right he was. It was uncomfortable at first but soon enough she felt another orgasm take over her body. She was filled with blissful tingles that shot up and down the entirety of her body. She cleverly snaked her hand under Darius tunic so she could explore the part of him that remained hidden from her eyes. When she again felt the unbelievably tone muscles of his abs she wondered why he deliberately left his tunic on while they continued.
Though soon any real thought left her when she was overcome with pleasure the likes of which made her wonder if she would ever come down from her endorphin high. Darius shut his eyes when he left himself getting close to his end. Every time he made the warrior orgasm, she got tighter and tighter around him and he couldn't take it anymore. Another growl vibrated up his chest when his need for her blood took over once more. She was pleasing in every way and already she was able to bring him the pleasure he had hoped for from the experience. After a short while she even began to meet his thrusts on instinct and it helped him get as deep inside her as humanly possible. He wished now that he had the time to do this properly and see exactly what else she could do without experience.
Ylva grabbed his shoulder when she shattered around him once again. She had lost count on how many times he was able to bring her to a climax but she would have been more than satisfied long ago. The feeling of her back scrapping against the rough bark of the tree somehow only seemed to intensify her pleasure. She was now gasping, moaning and even screaming without any thought and her godlike partner seemed to be encouraged by her slips. When Darius knew he was mere seconds away from his end, he leaned forward and nipped at Ylva's shoulder. When her enchanting blood met his tongue, Darius' eyes rolled to the back of his head. He was so very, very thankful that he had found this lovely lady all by her lonesome. Her very blood was just as intoxicating and sweet as some wine he had tried in the past! He had to restrain himself from biting harder into her so more of the glorious crimson liquid could grace his mouth.
As the two panted softly against the tree, Darius could not help but hum a little in amusement. He was actually satisfied in every way. He may not have to find another partner or drink himself into a stupor in order to get the kicks he needed to fully enjoy the night. Not bad, sweetling, you sated the beast. Perhaps there is a warrior within you after all. Darius commented in the solitude of his mind. He lightly let Ylva go, so that she was on standing on her own two feet again. Ylva dressed herself with shaking hands while her mind tried to process everything that had just occurred. Did she just…Did she just have sex? With a stranger?! A vampire no less? Way to do the family proud Ylva! Though she had to admit, it was hard to stay ashamed when her entire body still shook from pleasure. Before she could finish buttoning the top portion of her armor, Darius was already fully clothed and approaching her. Adoring that even after all of that, she still blushed when she looked at him. What an unbelievable shame that he couldn't enjoy her further but it was a rather pleasant use of his time. Surely Elvi was done humoring the wolf boy by now. She had to return to the castle soon without a doubt, only she had to know of Harkon's sneaky intentions before she did.
"Well sweetling, it's been a blast though sadly I must away. I'm afraid incredible creatures such as I have a very strict schedule and I am late for an important…meeting, if you will. So for now, I say my goodbyes. Though I will tell you that you were quite the treat my dear. Stick to your instincts and you will ensnare any dashing young man you desire, I'm sure."
He pulled her to him to give her a quick peck to her already kiss swollen lips. He admired his work from the dreamlike gaze in her eyes to the slight bite marks on her shoulder. Hm, perhaps he was a bit rougher on her than he intended but she didn't seem to mind. He turned on his heels to make his way back to his last known location of Elvi but as his steps quickened her heard Ylva stammer.
"You um…Can I see you again?" She felt foolish for asking since he had made it more than clear that this was a one-time thing but with her desire quenched she wanted to...know a little more about the enchanter. If nothing else she would be grateful that her eyes would be filled with the sight of such a gorgeous being again. Darius halted and smirked to himself. Already? Damn he was good, wasn't he? He turned to face her with his arms outstretched in a friendly manner. Even went so far as to do a slight bow with his devilish smile planted on his face.
"Would you like to see me again, sweetling?"
Ylva averted her eyes to the ground underneath her boots in embarrassment. With words escaping her, she merely nodded in response which Darius thought to be an adorable gesture.
"Then of course you may see me again! Who am I to say no to such a pretty little woman? You may slay me if I refuse after all." Oh how she squirmed in embarrassment. He wondered if she was truly that shy or if it was just a clever ploy to entice men without them realizing it. No matter, either way, Darius found it rather entertaining.
"See you around…" Darius tilted his head and looked to the sky in thought. Taking the time to scratch his head as he contemplated. Oh come on now it was on the tip of his tongue! He snapped his fingers when a name came forward in his mind then pointed to Ylva for confirmation. "…Ylva, right?"
Her eyebrows raised in surprise and she whispered a "Yeah, that's right." In response. She truly didn't think he would remember her name…
"No worries, babe. I will find you again soon. And just for you to ponder in my time away; I've been told that my encore performance often excels the first go 'round." A quick wink followed his statement but before Ylva could say another word…He was gone. She looked to her left then to her right but there was no trace of him. He couldn't have ran so fast that her eyes couldn't detect it…right? While Ylva looked back to the valley beneath her, she wondered if she did in fact just meet a former god. It would explain a lot, at least. Maybe that's why every memory with him now burned in her mind and his wintery touch seemed to remain on her flesh. And she was supposed to be seeing him again soon. Great, what exactly had she gotten herself into? She didn't feel strange, nor did she feel like she had just lost her virginity. She just felt content. Happy. Despite these feelings she warned herself not to get attached. He was a vampire and an obvious womanizer. Her heart couldn't handle another rejection so she would just have to remain cordial when she saw him again; whenever that would be.
Elsewhere, Darius laughed when he returned to the site where he had left the unconscious spy. He got back just in time to see him sit up and begin to climb to his feet. He looked up at Darius; his eyes wide with confusion.
"Wha…What happened?" he asked the blonde.
"Nothing." Darius answered in a calm and concerned voice before he delivered the spy another hard kick to his face. Causing him to fall over backwards into another comatose state. Darius chuckled loudly as he enjoyed the sight. Tonight had turned out to be rather splendid after all. Now, he only had to find Elvi.
(xxx)
Elvi and Vilkas walked in silence in the field they had taken their meeting to. Neither had said a word since they embraced. It seemed fitting though. Elvi never felt the need to make small talk with Vilkas while in his company. Everything that could be said between the two had already been uttered yet sadly Elvi still wasn't quite at ease. Her heart seemed heavier than normal. She couldn't understand where all these emotions were coming from. She was so sure that she loved Harkon before she left the castle, yet now she couldn't even recognize the very emotions that assaulted both her mind and body. They seemed both familiar and foreign at once. Now that she was a little more used to his presence, Elvi pondered if missing him was what made her a blundering mess. She accepted that she had feelings for him, even if she was unsure what the nature of them were. It was obvious that her preferred outcome would never occur yet now with the road now leading her further away from Vilkas and her family the fear of losing them for good became more real. It was sobering from Elvi's blissful state she remained in while with Harkon. Though she supposed that wasn't an awful feeling whatsoever. The times the prophecy or whatever other business they were tending to wasn't their focus and they were alone; Elvi was happy. Satisfied in every way imaginable. She was even content just being in his presence, most likely settled into his lap, falling asleep to the sound of his heartbeat. She had to admit that she was a bit spoiled now in this regard. She didn't know if she could fall asleep alone anymore.
The sound of Vilkas clearing his throat was what made Elvi realize that she had escaped this cruel reality for the far more pleasant one in her mind. She smiled apologetically to Vilkas as though he had caught her thinking about Harkon while in his company. He reminded herself that currently no one had the ability to read her mind. It was quite the luxury for the time being. She knew even if it wasn't his intention; that Harkon could hear her innermost thoughts by being near her. Which…Could still be a major problem in the future. Vilkas wasn't looking at her when he spoke but his voice reached the one he used when addressing the Companions at meeting. No hint of emotion there and professional to the tee.
"Elvi, may I ask you something?"
"What's on your mind?"
"What happens to you were I to fail? Say the prophecy is completed and Harkon gains his control over all of Tamriel. What is your role then? What is expected of you?"
Elvi paused, which at last ceased their aimless wandering. Elvi considered Vilkas' words carefully. Though if she was honest…She didn't know. She was needed now but once the prophecy was complete and Harkon had armies of vampires at his command…What could she really do? She was no longer afraid of Harkon dismissing her or losing interest yet really what use would she be after that? Other than being Harkon's lover she wasn't quite sure. She felt like Vilkas' question was merited and that she should have an answer for him but she was without.
"Um…"
"Well, it's obvious that he thinks of you as his woman, so if he becomes a 'king' would you be in the same leadership role, or more of one like a typical housewife?"
"Um..."
"The only reason I ask my love, is because I recall you telling me time and time again; that the very idea of being a monarch made you sick. Having to sort out the world's problems while being stuck inside a castle all day, unable to get out there and actually make a difference. I never knew your views on marriage but I always assumed whomever you were betrothed to wouldn't stop you from adventuring or battle in general? Do you believe this lifestyle would suit your needs?"
It was a valid point. One that hadn't occurred to Elvi before. She wasn't sure how life was going to be once the prophecy was completed. All her energy and time was devoted to making it happen; she had no idea what would occur to her afterward. There was still far too many 'if's" for her to really know for certain. Though…Harkon was going out of his way to leave her out of his plans recently. Which kept her in the dark. There was so much that he knew but simply wouldn't share with her. So would that be her life? Trapped in a palace somewhere with him refusing to let her help him for her safety? The more she thought about it the more she realized how very unhappy that would make her. Perhaps Elvi's perfect little union wasn't as perfect as she thought it was, after all. What could she really do once Harkon didn't need her anymore? In their latest time of passion he had referred to her as his 'queen' but really that could have been words only used to provoke her desire. And Elvi truly never desired to be a queen before. For all the reasons Vilkas had stated. She was of more use to the world being a warrior. Not someone in charge of them. Maybe in Harkon's darkened world she wouldn't exactly be saving anyone, but there was still a chance to defend what was hers; what was theirs. Only any time Harkon spoke about any future events it was clear to her that he didn't want her involved. Her sacrifice had really shaken him…Now he was consumed with a paranoid worry of losing her. It was sweet but…crippling. Now was she supposed to just stand by Harkon's side and look pretty? Sure all her intimate needs were met but there was so much more to her than that. At Elvi's troubled expression as well as silence Vilkas took in a sharp breath. Wondering if he should venture down this road or not. Knowing that he had nothing else to lose, he decided he could give it a try.
"Elvi…I know about your secret desire." Vilkas said firmly. "I know that despite your need for battle, what you have longed for is stability. Something to call your own that you can care for…That you can love with that divine heart of yours." His voice was gentle and kind but Elvi shook her head at his words. Don't Elvi begged in her mind. Wanting Vilkas to gain the power to read her thoughts; if only to hear her one word plea.
"I know you want a family." Vilkas finished which caused Elvi to exhale a long and frustrated sigh. Her mood changed to that of anger quicker than she had before. She never felt the sting of defeat the likes of which that was this very topic.
"Well, that desire escaped me long ago, Vilkas. Why did you have to say such things?!" Her question came out in an unnatural hiss. For the first time Elvi heard her inner beast in something that wasn't an unholy roar. It was almost like it had a voice of its own and she was just the puppet that moved its lips when the timing was right. She didn't care. Her inner darkness could take over at any moment without a fight. She didn't need to be reminded of the future Elvi knew she would never see. She didn't need foresight to know that her want for a family was just simply…Out of her reach. It had been since the night she had her 'victory' over the Dark Brotherhood. Sure, she had Harkon. She loved him. But how she wanted more. Tears filled her eyes when she once again felt like less of a woman. All female vampires were unable to conceive, that much was true but even if she was human it would be impossible for her. She absentmindedly placed her hand where her scar used to be at the memory of receiving it. Yes, the scar was no longer there but she wasn't naïve enough to believe that the real damage from it was relieved as well. Like Darius said, her now patron Prince probably just spruced her up so that she looked nice and pretty. Nothing more. He wouldn't go out of his way to heal the wounds that had occurred to her so very long ago.
Elvi's haze of anger slowly began to evaporate when she saw Vilkas drop to his knees in front of her. He clasped both of her hands with his and the look on his face was one Elvi had never seen on the young Nord before.
"Elvi, I did not broach this subject to upset you!" He said earnestly as he squeezed her hands in desperation.
"I did it because I can give you that life. You are a vampire now, yes but Falion can't be the only being in Tamriel that can cure the disease. If you were mortal again, we could start a family. Jorrvaskr isn't the best place to raise children but Divines how they would be loved! You could continue to lead the Companions, and I can watch them when you feel the need to go out and do whatever you have to in order to sate your desires. I love you, Elvi. I will give you anything you want. Things that…things that Harkon, can't. That's what you have to think of, my love. What you want. What you deserve. Don't ever compromise yourself for a man in your life. You're better than that."
Elvi didn't know what to say. There was some highs and lows to his point and she wasn't sure which to comment on first. She refused to lose her composure again so she pushed past her sorrow to address the situation properly.
"Wouldn't becoming mortal compromise me, Vilkas? Curing my disease?"
"Don't be like that, you know I meant no disrespect by my choice of words." Vilkas said firmly. He sensed that Elvi was about to dive into an uncalled for anger and he wasn't going to allow it.
"I only mentioned finding a cure; to help you reach your dreams. Don't give up on them Elvi. Why do you let yourself be defeated by such things? Have I not helped you reach all your goals before now? I can continue to do so. Think on it Elvi, that's all I ask. If I were to fade from this world, the only comfort would be knowing that you were happy. So tell me Elvi, can you really be happy being a trophy the rest of your life? One that never see's battle or love shining in your children's eyes? I know you love him, but sadly Elvi sometimes…That just isn't enough. When all the love has gone away, can you find yourself content being with Harkon? For eternity?"
After Elvi's softened expression and the horrendous silence that followed Vilkas whispered with a shaky voice:
"Just think on it…"
Elvi closed her eyes and let out another elongated sigh. At her lack of words, Vilkas took the liberty of wrapping his arms around her while placing his head on his stomach. Personally he had never wanted a family of his own, until he met her. That was one of the reasons he knew he was madly in love with her. He couldn't even fathom a better wife or mother of his children. Gods she wanted it too! So why was this so damn hard on both of them? Why was she shaking? Why was he? Why couldn't their love for each other and the possible future they had be enough? Elvi swallowed hard so that her voice didn't shake. It wasn't his fault; he didn't know. He didn't realize that Elvi's seemingly easy dream wasn't as simple as it seemed.
"You don't understand, Vilkas." She whispered. Which prompted Vilkas to look up at her with those beautiful silver eyes of his. An eyebrow was quirked upward in confusion but the rest of his expression suggested the very sorrow that consumed her.
"What don't I understand?"
"I can't…"
"While you are a vampire, Elvi. If we—"
"I can't!" Elvi said louder through her teeth. Just stop…please just stop. She didn't want to say it. She didn't want to make it more real. He would look at her with disgust she just knew it! She wasn't a wife, a mother…she was a warrior or even a killer. How fucking foolish did she have to be? To think for even a second that she could have that kind of life. Funny thing was, after all her victories, her conquests, her everything…she would trade it all away. She would gladly give up the title of Dragonborn for the humble…loving one…Called simply "Mommy."
It didn't take Vilkas long to figure out what Elvi was referring to. Though he had only seen it once, Vilkas recalled the scar that plagued Elvi's body in a horrible way. His eyes shut tight at the realization. Of course…How could he be so foolish? No. Not like this. He wasn't about to give up that easily. Not when he could plainly see how much she wanted this.
"I'm so sorry, Elvi. You never mentioned the scar during the entirety of our relationship and were I not to have seen it for my own eyes I probably wouldn't have known of it at all. Though it's still okay, my love! I know of both men and women that have suffered in similar ways and still have conceived children. There are healers that can make men walk again, I am certain one can help us too! As a Companion and the savior of the world, I know someone could help us have a child. Don't let this defeat you, Elvi. Please. I don't have the strength to watch you give up." His voice was shaking out of control and he wasn't even considering the words that were leaving his mouth. Yes, he was desperate. He couldn't live with himself if Elvi was away from him and unhappy. It may be selfish but…this was an edge that he had over Harkon. If it would help her realize that she was where she was meant to be in this very moment, he would remind her that he could give her the lifestyle she had always wanted. While Harkon could only satisfy her darker nature, Vilkas could satisfy both.
"I am defeated, Vilkas." Elvi said mournfully. Looking straight ahead of her instead of peering down at her Companion. This was too much. She couldn't take another second of this conversation. It already consumed her mind every silent moment. Accompanied by the stone cold blue eyes of the assassin that did this to her. Vilkas shook his head and was consumed with his own surge of anger.
"Why? Because of this?" To her utter horror Vilkas managed to snake his hand down her pants and past her belt to touch the area her scar once belonged to. She flinched but his arm around her kept her in place. He was so close to most private of areas and though he wasn't exactly a stranger to it, Elvi felt completely violated. She didn't have time to protest since Vilkas' voice got louder and louder with each passing word.
"This is just flesh Elvi. We worldly creatures are flawed in this way but you of all people should know that it isn't the only thing that matters! Heart, soul, and determination really make up the difference between victory and defeat! You can have a child and damn it you deserve to! Don't let your body make this decision for you without at least attempting to mend it!"
When he moved his hand slightly to pull it away from her; he stopped. To be certain he ran his fingers along the predicted area and felt only smooth skin. Not a rough patch or trace of her scar was found. In aggravation, Elvi ripped his hand away from her but her anger subsided quickly. The look of absolute glee on Vilkas' face broke her heart.
"You're healed." He said through a jubilant chuckle. It was like he had been brought back to life. Like all the hope in the world suddenly returned to him. Elvi sighed and let her head fall to her chest. It felt too heavy to hold anymore. Was this what he wanted? Did he want a family with her? Had he always? Or was he using this as a bargaining chip to win her affection? She didn't know. Nor did it really matter. She just wanted this whole ordeal to be over with. Elvi felt exhausted. Like she could curl up into even a coffin at this point and sleep for a good hundred years.
"We don't know that. All I know is that for whatever reason; I don't have a scar anymore. It doesn't mean that I am healed."
"What else, could it mean?" Vilkas questioned. At last he stood to his feet which gave Elvi a slight sense of comfort. He wasn't gripping onto her anymore in a convincing manner. She actually began to think that he was angry.
"Elvi, let's put whatever trials may come with this possibility to the side for now. As I stated, I just want you to realize that Harkon isn't the only one that can make you happy. Am I wrong in assuming what I have? Don't you want a family?" He persisted.
Elvi clenched her hand so tightly that her nails dug into the sensitive flesh of her palm. She wanted to scream how much she wanted it but stopped herself before she did. They would only keep going around in circles if she did. Instead, Elvi took the time to think. Really contemplate everything that was before her. Unfortunately it didn't bring Elvi happiness like he wanted. It only brought despair. Her options of having a family with Harkon was extremely limited. Before, she planned to adopt once she found a suitable man if her life but the more she thought about, the more ridiculous that plan sounded! Harkon didn't want children…For Oblivion's sake he had a child of his own. One that was Elvi's elder by a good three thousand years. He also hated mortals with a passion. He wouldn't be okay with her just bringing a little one into the castle for them to raise. Harkon had already had his 'family' life. He had already raised a child and he was thousands of years old and turned when he was in his later years in life. He wouldn't want to go through all that again…
Elvi shut her eyes in unison with the tears that fell from them. Now she realized why she felt the complete doom of this topic here of late. Because really, it wasn't possible with Harkon. She had the man of her dreams but with such awful tribulations. The only family she would have would be him in the centuries to come. It was just the way it was. With a long sigh she looked Vilkas in eye as she at last answered Vilkas' question.
"I do want a family." Elvi confirmed. Two more tears fell from her eyes before she summoned the strength the finish her thought. Just saying it brought her physical pain.
"…Just not with you."
Vilkas looked at her in disbelief. The world shattered around him and he felt as though a searing hot dagger had been plunged into his chest to the hilt. How could she say that? She couldn't mean it. Not after everything. Not when he knew that she loved him still. He shook his head and couldn't help the fact that his words came out as strained and pained as they did,
"Don't say that." He struggled just to breath. His mind was working in overdrive trying to move past the horrible comment Elvi had made, it was as though he had forgotten how.
"Elvi, you can still have your desire. I can give you what Harkon can't." He repeated. Not even knowing what he could possibly add to convince her. Would she really rather be without…Than to have that life with him? It didn't make sense. There had to be something else at play here, which kept bringing her back to Harkon if she was willing to throw her life away from him. By all the Divines he would kill the vampire lord for doing this to her! As confused as she felt but a few moments before, Elvi couldn't have been more certain. The feelings she had for Vilkas remained, however while she imagined the picture Vilkas had painted for them she began to see that her 'dream' only truly involved having a family with someone she loved. As much as it hurt even her to admit, she didn't feel that kind of connection with Vilkas. Maybe in the past but the love she did harbor for him currently was that of a different nature. It wasn't even close the love she had for Harkon. Vilkas may have been the one that introduced her to such feelings but Harkon was the one that took it to extraordinary new heights. Harkon may not be able to give her child or vice versa but he could make her feel things that Vilkas never could. She may never know what she and Vilkas could have been and maybe it would still haunt her yet with Harkon still with her, she knew that in time…She would forget.
"Don't say that, I know you still love me Elvi. We can have everything! Please, just…don't give up on us yet. I have promised to exclude killing Harkon from my plans for you, so return that kindness by at least considering my offer. Remember, everything that the beast lacks, I still have." Vilkas knew he was pushing too far but Divines how he didn't want to say goodbye to her again. Not without having the possibility of having her return to him. He wanted her happiness to be genuine which is what she could have with him. Not artificial happiness produced by Harkon and his accursed blood bond.
Elvi took in a shaky breath and bit her lip. However, before she could give him such a promise, a new voice was heard in the quiet stillness of the night.
"Daedra, you are such a whiny little bitch."
Elvi and Vilkas turned their heads in unison to see Darius standing but a few feet away from them with his arms folded against his chest. His dark smirk shined on his face but the normal humor was vacant from his eyes. Elvi shut her eyes and felt a small sense of doom. Darius had lost his patience with Vilkas and the way the blonde Volkihar normally spoke was provoking enough, Elvi wondered exactly what could slip from his lips now that he was angered. Vilkas growled in response while showing Darius his fangs. The blonde only seemed more amused over worried. It was a pup trying to take on a mountain lion in his eyes.
"You have no business being here, bat! I don't believe anyone invited you to my refuge." Vilkas said venomously as he stared menacingly at the vampire. Darius sauntered forward and instantly wrapped his arm around Elvi's shoulders as he explained.
"Ah, but you see little wolf, I do not need an invitation, I go where I am needed. Or perhaps you believe that Elvi shouldn't know that I am not the only party crasher for this evening." He shot Vilkas a charming smile while batting his long eyelashes in a mocking way. Though Vilkas' rage climbed Elvi stepped away from Darius so that she could face him properly. His words causing her feeling of doom to escalate.
"What are you talking about, Darius?"
He sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets. Truly hating that he often was the bearer of bad news but she had to know.
"Well babe, a little birdy told me that you might need some looking after, so once I noticed that you were away from the castle, I decided to go in search of you. As it is, there were others that had the same plan. Harkon sent two of his servants to follow you. One revealed to me that they were to return to him with a full account of where you had been this night."
Elvi's eyes widened in shock and her head again fell to her chest. This awful feeling began to corrupt her as her thoughts spiraled out of control. He still didn't trust her. And she was violating that trust whether he did or not. Were they destined to keep this up? Could neither of them be at peace with each other nor honor their word? After her meeting with Vilkas Elvi truly intended to cease all of her lies. She hated lying to Harkon but Vilkas deserved to have his answer. Even if he was delivered a rather weak one by her part but she believed the point had gotten across now. She did her best to keep her voice emotionless as she asked,
"What of these servants, have they already returned to the castle?"
"Well, one of them caught a bad case of death and the other unconsciousness." Darius winked. Elvi felt uplifted by this. If there really was someone out there actually looking out for her without so much as a hint of deceit; it was Darius.
Elvi's mood returned to a sour one when she recalled Harkon's vow to let her leave the castle freely. Seemed he failed to mention that he would send spies in her wake! Vilkas noticed the small amount of fury that came across Elvi's fair face and saw an opportunity. So he took it.
"You see what I am referring to Elvi? Harkon can't give up his control. Not for you or anyone. Do you wish to spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder? Having to abide by whatever rules he decrees?"
Elvi wanted to argue. Only the sheer surprise by Harkon's scheme left her breathless. Was she the fool for thinking that he could trust her? Wasn't that a vital element in any relationship between two people? Could she really trust him now without worrying that he was deceiving her? Or better yet, could he ever bring himself to trust her fully? If not…
"Hey, how about you give it a rest, pup." Darius growled. He instinctively placed his arm around Elvi's shoulder once more and allowed his flawless face to show a scowl. He was already tired of the Companions attempts, Daedra knew Elvi had to be too. She was just too kind to say anything about it. No matter, Darius didn't mind being an asshole in her stead. It was actually rather enjoyable.
"If you can look past yourself for a moment, you would see that Elvi has greater concerns at the moment." He turned his attention back to Elvi but his next thought left his mind when he saw the way she looked up at him. She was hurt. Confused. Darius wished he could alleviate those symptoms though he would try his best to mend them without any further damage. He'd be an awful 'knight' if he failed to do so after all.
"I killed one of the fools, while I knocked out the other but who knows when he will come too. That and well…In the game of 'who are you more afraid of' Harkon could have the advantage so there is no guarantee that he will tell the clever lies I feed him. My suggestion is that we get you back to the castle before he regains consciousness then let me continue to work my charm on the bastard. If left alone with him I'm sure he could be swayed."
"No Darius, if he does reveal the truth to Harkon you would be in just as much peril as I for aiding in the lie. We'll have to come up with something else." Elvi said in a tone that suggested that there was no room for argument. If she was going down, she sure as hell wasn't dragging Darius down with her.
"What was your reason for leaving the castle?" Darius inquired. Knowing that he was Elvi's superior when it came to lying to Harkon. Daedra knew he had done so on the many occasions that he left the castle for 'business' rather than 'drunken orgy.'
"I uh…" Shit. She had completely forgotten about her excuse! She told Harkon that she was receiving a payment for a past mission in Solitude. A payment of enchanted armor, not something simply like gold or other various riches! Now after she had been gone for so long, if she turned up empty handed…Well it didn't look so good. In a total of three breathes Elvi exclaimed her predicament to her fellow Nords. Hoping one of them may have a solution to this small crisis for her. When she was met with an awkward silence she envisioned herself literally digging her own grave. Darius let out an elongated sigh and placed his hand on the back of his head.
"Baby girl, when I coached you about lying, I suppose I left out the part about making said lies convincible as well as easy to follow through." When he saw Elvi sink into herself he tried to come up with something. "Enchanted armor, huh? Well…That can't be too difficult to find…"
"You can teleport her to Whiterun. There are various vendors there that owe Elvi a long list of favors. Maybe one of them has armor like the one she described." Vilkas offered. After he had calmed down he realized that he needed to aid the current problem before he returned to his own issues. Elvi perked up a bit when he remembered seeing both Belethor and Adrianne having flame resistant armor in their shops at several points during her time in Whiterun. Yet Darius sighed and kicked at the dirt in aggravation.
"Whiterun is too far away. I've already used my power twice tonight and I don't have enough of it to get us there and back. We'll just have to search Solitude for something passable."
"This late at night? No one is selling merchandise at this hour." Elvi said grimly. She just kept digging that hole didn't she?
"You can use a forge and make the armor yourself, Elvi. You don't need a full set, you can make a gauntlet or helmet in the matter of minutes." Vilkas encouraged. He said this because he had seen her do just that countless times before. "There is always material lying about Blacksmith's work stations. I'm sure they won't mind you…borrowing them."
"But I can't enchant it." Elvi urged. It was true, she was a damn good blacksmith but she never picked up the art of enchanting. That fell into the category of magic and oh how she hated magic! Darius shrugged his shoulders and got back to another impending point.
"How long did he allow you to be gone?"
"Three hours. After that he said he would come looking for me himself." Now that was a horrifying image. An outraged Harkon walking through the streets of Solitude; tearing ever building apart while in search of her. Darius growled and clasped his hand over his forehead. Fuck time limits! He was sick and tired of such restrictions! Before he knew it, he would be timed pouring himself a glass of mead and if he failed to meet it someone would snatch it from him!
"We're reaching our second hour now. If not a little over. That doesn't give us a lot of time to scour Solitude for armor. I say we grab Keaira and get a move on." Darius said firmly. Happy to be rid of the pint sized warrior for any excuse that came to him, though this was a valid one. Elvi looked back to Vilkas who sighed yet nodded in approval. Cursing the blonde for interrupting the little time he did have.
"Just think about everything I said, Elvi. I'll be staying at this camp for a good while longer…" Vilkas said weakly. The smile Elvi shot him was just as weak. She didn't know how much good thinking about the subject would aid him, but if it comforted her Companion she could give him that much. Another thought occurred to her and to both her company's surprise Elvi let out a stream of curses. When she pulled it together she elaborated for the baffled Nords.
"I have to speak with Serana before we leave. I told her I would."
"Well, make it quick, time as always is of the essence. Both of you, go on ahead of me. I have to grab the dead weight until we find better use of him. I'll meet you at the camp." Darius ordered. With no time to argue all three of the separated and in a dead run. Darius preserving his power since he would obviously need it in the near future.
As the trio disappeared there was one observer that had remained unseen all the while the major events unfolded. When the coast was clear, Evander stood from his hiding place. His eyes glowing wickedly with a furious rage. Silently he ran a good distance away from where the four once stood until he knew he was out of there earshot. Once he was still he roared in his unhindered fury; dropping to his knees and slamming both of his fists into the ground which left a rather impressive sized crater behind. With a trembling hand he clenched at his forehead until he found the strands of his midnight bangs, tugging at them a little while he was lost in thought.
How?! Why?! He was so fucking careful! He thought for sure that this plan would work out in his benefit. He had seen it! Every breath he took sounded like a hindered growl. No, now it was going to be even harder and more time consuming. Now he had to wait even longer before he saw the end of Harkon and Elvi! Damn you Othello, you had a decade to perfect that formula! There was so much more to the antidote Vilkas had used on Elvi that only he and the maker knew of. Now, there was no such thing as a 'love potion' but Othello's knowledge of blood bonds aided him greatly. The vampire had found a way to make a 'mock' version of a bond that would give the receiver the same infatuated feelings that an actual blood bond did. That's why the vial of liquid glistened and sparkled when shook. It held some of the rarest ingredients in all of Tamriel! It was supposed to bring forth Elvi's feelings for Vilkas and Evander even went so far as to ensure this since those artificial sensations would be for whoever gave her the antidote. Which again was Vilkas! So by all accounts the antidote while weakening the bond with Harkon, was supposed to create one with Vilkas. That's why their damn bond was weakened to begin with! It was the only way to dampen it by creating a new, more powerful one! It wasn't able to reach its full effect at first because Elvi left Vilkas shortly after receiving it but Evander thought for sure once Elvi saw him again, she would fall in 'love' again. Which was why he hinted to Darius to keep an eye on her.
What was supposed to happen was Elvi was to abandon Harkon to be with Vilkas and Darius being her loyal follower would stay with her as well. Which would put a major dent in all of Harkon's plans. And yet…She still wanted to return to him! After all that planning, the little bitch remained devoted to the demented vampire lord!
"It makes no sense." Evander hissed a much different voice than the one he used in the castle. It no longer was calm and quiet. Instead it was sharp with a much deeper tone. He ran his hand through his messy hair as he paced back and forth.
"It worked, I know it worked! The antidote did what it was meant to, so why does she still feel for Harkon!" Evander asked himself. No one could honestly love that man! It had to be Harkon's influence, though the daft Dragonborn refused to acknowledge it. Then again, Elvi changed all futures once she made her sacrifice. The one not even Molag Bal himself foresaw her actually completing. Now all that work he did, and the greatest chance he had at peacefully succeeding in his plans vanished before his very eyes. The moment Elvi and Harkon's bond was back at full strength the intense feelings she felt for Vilkas would be destroyed. All their bond really needed was one more sharing of each other's blood and it would be back to normal. Evander roared in fury once again. Now, he was left with no choice.
Elvi had to die. And he had to be the one to see it done. They were just too damn powerful together. The thief took in a few calming breathes to gather himself. It was still his game to win. He held all the cards, he simply had to go down a few more bumpy roads to get where he needed to be. So you see, there was one selfish desire Evander had in doing everything he had so far. Something he wanted before his death. Serana was his main concern and he could do without but if he could fulfil his desire his upcoming death would still be rather sweet as well as later down the road. Evander's shoulders arched backward when he was filled with a mad man's laughter. Oh what a fun game it truly was though. Harkon had taught him a lot more than anyone actually realized. In fact everything he knew about tactics and underhanded maneuvers he learned from his beloved father in law. He could never stand to Harkon in battle so now it was all a war of the minds. Harkon's brilliant strategic while paranoid mind versus Evander's conniving and knowing one. Funny thing was…Evander knew Harkon's secret even though he never spoke it to him. Harkon's assumed madness was all a clever front he had polished over the centuries but in reality Harkon was quite sane. What appeared to be insanity, was only the man's outstanding genius that most common minds simply couldn't follow. Harkon's train of thought was always precise as he explored every possible outcome of any given situation. That was why he was also so unbelievably dangerous. Well, Evander had a front too. One that seemed to be working rather well for him though he shivered when daddy dearest's words echoed in what seemed to be his very ears. It was true, Harkon did know what Evander was capable of since he had taught him well but while he knew all of Evander's short comings, he knew all of Harkon's in return.
That's why he didn't need to lie to Harkon in order to reach his goals. Instead what he cleverly casted into the vampire lord wasn't deceit but fear. Now it was only a matter of time. Thanks to the second vision he showed Harkon it was only a matter of time before he destroyed himself and his blessed union with Elvi. The paranoia aspect of Harkon was very much real and Evander exploited it to the best of his abilities. So even with this unfortunate set back he prepared for the worst. Making him another two steps ahead of the game. He could leisurely sit back at the castle and watch Harkon destroy the best thing that ever happened to him all because he now saw exactly what Elvi was capable of. He wouldn't kill her, that much was certain yet he would still cast her out. Which left Evander the time to dispose of the persistent little troublemaker before Harkon could come to his senses. He chuckled once more before looking back in the direction he had come from.
"Oh Elvi, seems you are everyone's toy to play with." It was quite a show, watching the tears fall past her cheeks and the way her voice shook from the emotions that weren't quite as honest as she once thought. If only she had listened to them, then perhaps she could have been given a longer life span. Such a waste. He could have honored her if she would have traveled down the path that destined her to destroy Harkon. Only now that road had escaped her, as did her life. All was still well. There were many, many ways Evander could put an end to this prophecy, the Harkon and Elvi union and reach his own personal goal. He even looked forward to seeing what Harkon might come up with to stop him. Then he could prove to the fiend that he had the superior mind in the end.
"Perhaps you should have stayed dead, girl. You wouldn't have to face the misery that is to befall you if you had." Evander finished as he headed back towards the castle. His voice dropping from the deep maniacal one of his natural voice to the calm and smooth one he had perfected. On his way back his eyes searched for the werewolf he knew Vilkas had sent to spy on the castle so he could easily find him again in the future. When he spotted the not so well hidden beast he smirked and said the winds.
"Stay put little wolf, I will be visiting you very shortly."
He was referring to another clever tactic that Harkon was still unaware of. It really was too easy in many ways. Now he had to wait and see what came of the vampire's that had left the castle before knowing when to make his next move. The possibilities for this one was actually vast though most ended the same. Such a thrilling, thrilling game.
An: So, we got to see a little more of Ylva, Keaira and even Evander's character. What did you think? And the scene with Vilkas and Elvi got rather intense I wonder how you all viewed that. How I loved writing for Darius in this chapter I really hope you enjoyed reading this chapter and again thank you to everyone reading, reviewing and following this story. The next chapter will be shorter, and hopefully produced sooner. Leave me some feedback if you can. Thanks again!
