Dragonborn POV:

When Serana and I enter the inn Esbern and Delphine are standing by the great fire, their arms wrapped around one another. However, when we approach the two break apart. Delphine offers me a warm smile and says, "I need to speak with you and Esbern in private.". I shoot a glance over at Serana and ask, "Can she come?". Delphine shakes her head and claims, "Classified.". My lover snarls, "I have a right to know.". Delphine turns to my love and puffs herself up, anger showing on her features as she argues, "No, you don't. You aren't the Dragonborn, and none of this concerns you.". Before the two can come to blows I carefully step in, and Esbern smartly steps back.

I gently grab Delphine's arm, yanking her attention back to me. Her glare significantly softens and she tells me, "I'm sorry, but she can't come. I don't want outsiders knowing what's going to be said down there.". Before Serana can snarl at her I beg, "Please. Serana has risked her life more that once to help me accomplish all the task you want done. And, she's saved my life more times than I can count. All she wants is to listen to our conversation. Please? Besides, I'll just tell her what's going on if she doesn't come in.". Delphin chews on the side of her lip, then turns to Serana and spits, "Fine!". The Breton turns and storm away, and all of us are forced to trail behind her.

When we're all in the secret room I hear Delphine lock the door, and the woman quickly reappears. Esbern is leaning against the table, I'm standing by the alchemy table, and Serana is pouting in the only clear corner. Delphine waves me over and I quickly comply, I have no idea what this woman would do if I didn't. When I'm standing beside Esbern the old man reaches into his tunic, finally pulling out an ancient looking book. He places it on the table and clears his throat. " I believe an ancient Blades prophecy can help us in our quest. We must leave for a place called 'Sky Haven Temple', a Blades headquarters built up around an ancient Akaviri military camp somewhere in the Reach.".

"Of particular importance within that location is a structure from the First Era known as Alduin's Wall, which may tell how to defeat Alduin.". Delphine lights up and excitedly claims, "That sounds like The Karthspire!". Esbern smiles, "Then, that's where we have to go!". Delphin turns to me and says, "Do you want to travel with us, or go alone?". I look at Serana pouting in the corner and answer, "I'll meet you there.". Delphine nods and grabs Esbern by the collar of his shirt, dragging the elderly man up the stairs after her. I faintly hear her yelling at someone that the inn is now his, but I'm too distracted by Serana to care about much else.

Serana comes over and wraps me in her arms, playfully biting on my now nearly hairless neck. I chuckle and turn my head, capturing her lips in my own. The vampire smirks and brings her hand around me, looking for the strap to take off my armor. I pull back and tell her, "We need to be going. Besides, I don't like the idea of fucking in Delphine's secret room.". Serana looks around the room and agrees, "It is a little too 'Delphine' feeling in here.". She slides her hand away from the strap of my breastplate, taking my hand in her own. As we begin walking she notices, "You didn't get to speak much in there.". I nod and agree, "I hardly do. But at least we know where to go next.".

Serana sighs and says, "Yep. The never-ending adventure of fun.". I think of something and playfully tell her, "Just more stories to tell our children.". My lover brings my hand up and kisses the back of my palm, but mumbles, "House first, spawns second.". I let out a small chuckle as we leave the inn. However, my chuckle is quickly cut off when something awkward happens. Serana and I try to go different ways. I go left towards the carriage, but Serana goes right towards the road. My lover sheepishly looks at me and admits, "We don't have enough gold to go.". I sigh and begin following her, my feet already aching from the thought of walking so far.

However, I suppose it gives us some time to talk. "Where do you want to live?". Serana throws me a glance and explains, "I've only seen a few cities, but Solitude or Whiterun will do fine. As long as you're welcomed in the city.". I smile and tell her, "Whiterun is a more child-friendly place, and I'm certain the home would be cheaper than living in Solitude. And, we're broke, so it might be good to be thinking about price.". Serana laughs and agrees, "Whiterun it is then. The next time we're there we'll sell some of the stuff you got in the jail, and see if we can scrape up a decent house.". I smile as another thought comes to me, "We should get a dog. Or maybe one of the death hounds from the castle. Guard the house while we're gone and play with the kids.".

Serana looks genuinely pleased as she tells me, "I like dogs, but I wouldn't recommend the death hounds. They'd probably prefer eating a child over playing with it.". I nod in agreement and the conversation slowly dies off, both of us just enjoying one another's presence. The scenery around us slowly changes, but no predators or people come out to face us. Probably for the best, Serana looks about ready to bite someone's head off. And, from what I've seen that's something she could actually do. I consider another conversation topic, but the silence is actually nice. So, we just continue walking, the silence enveloping us.


When we reach the Forsworn Camp I see Delphine and Esbern already standing there, watching the bandits work at their own pace. We walk up and I ask, "What are we doing?". Delphine sighs and explains, "We're going to sneak up there.". Serana puts up a brief argument, but is shut down by Esbern. Finally, we all mumble and conform to the idea of sneaking. Delphine takes the lead, then Esbern, followed by me, and finally Serana. As we all crouch down and begin moving up the mountain I feel a hand reach out and squeeze my ass. I sigh and look over my shoulder. A grinning Nord greets me, and the woman blows me a kiss when she sees I'm looking at her.

I roll my eyes and focus on sneaking up the rocky mountainous terrain of The Reach. It takes us hours of slowly moving forward, slamming ourselves to the ground when we see a Forsworn look our way, and occasionally going out of the way to avoid an obstacle. When we finally get to the cave entrance we're right on top of it, and The Forsworn are patrolling a few feet from the tunnel's lip. Delphine hops down and slinks in like a shadow, Esbern following her. The man isn't as graceful, and one Forsworn looks his way. But Esbern's now in the cave, so the Forsworn don't attack. However, I have to wait a few minutes before going in. Finally, I leap down and rush into the cave.

I wait for Serana, and the Nord comes in looking terrified. "I was nearly spotted.". I lean over and kiss her forehead, and feel another hand grope my ass. I pull back and see a grin splitting the vampire's face. I roll my eyes again and say, "Let's go.". She agrees and we go deeper into the cave, Esbern and Delphine waiting for us by the bodies of some Forsworn. The two hardly even look at us, they just turn around and keep walking. I sigh and jog to keep up with them, my lover trailing behind me. We reach a cavern, the roof opening up to the normal sky. All four of us begin walking faster. However, all of us are stopped at three pillars.

The bridge to the next area is raised. Esbern starts talking, but I completely ignore him. By now I've accepted I'm one of the few people who knows how to do stuff, so I step forward. I flip the pillars a few times until a click rings out, and the bridge clatters down beside us. As we all cross we go into another tunnel, and it's extremely cramped. And, matters only get worse when Delphine trips. It's like watching dominoes. Esbern falls on Delphine, I fall on Esbern, and Serana falls on me. Then, we all attempt to get free at the same time. All four of us become a gigantic puddle of limbs and cursing, and it becomes hard to tell who's who. I somehow end up at the bottom of the pile, my face in the dirt.

I feel a third grab to my ass and yell, "SERANA, STOP TOUCHING MY ASS!". My love yells in response, "I'M NOWHERE NEAR YOUR SEXY ASS!". I begin fighting to get free with a renewed effort and roar, "ESBERN!". The elderly Nord defends himself, "I'm not doing it! You're half my age!". I practically hiss, "Delphine!". Another response of, "Not me.". As everyone keeps fighting I threaten, "Someone is lying, and I'm going to find out who. And, I swear I'll beat the person within an inch of their life.". My lover challenges, "Even me?". A 'raw' of frustration is my response, and I finally break free of the pile (spurred on when the hand began touching places only Elenwen's come close to reaching).

I'm sitting on the ground looking at the next obstacle. The floor is a bunch of tiles, and I don't want to know what happens if I step on a wrong one. I get up and look at the symbols on the tiles. I recognize one from the pillars, and decide that it's the 'safe' one. I take a careful step on one, and when I'm not killed I decide I'm right. I keep stepping on the matching tiles, taking extra caution not to step on a wrong one. Serana, Esbern, and Delphine are still struggling on the ground. I mentally curse them as idiots, but a sense of affection rings in my heart. I eventually reach the other side of the room, a hanging chain my reward.

I yank on it and another bridge comes down. I experimentally step on a wrong tile, but don't die. Looks like the trap's been deactivated. I turn to the pile and whistle. All three of them stop and look over at me, and I motion at them. Serana breaks free, and Delphine follows her. Once we're all gathered Delphine takes the lead again. As we walk I ask, "Now, which one of you felt the need to grab my ass?". Nobody answers and I snarl, "Must have been a frisky Forsworn.". That earns a small laugh from the group, and our morale is significantly lifted as we reach the final obstacle. A gigantic metal bust of a man's head separates us from our goal, and a strange seal is in front of it.

I sight and ask, "What do I have to do?". Esbern goes 'hmm' and says, "It's a blood seal of-". I don't bother letting him finish. I walk over and draw one of my arrows, the serrated edge gleaming in the light. I open up the palm of my hand and dump the blood on the seal, the floor glowing and sucking up my blood. I wipe my hand on my armor and mumble, "Gross.". The bust of the man's head lifts up, revealing the door to what we want. All four of us stand there, but Esbern whispers, "Dragonborn, you should go first. It's your honor.". I nod and take a step forward, my heart pounding in my chest at the thought of the unknown. Gods help me.