M'rissi stirred in her sleep as the scent of a familiar dish filled the lake-side home. She rose from the bed that Erik had put her in and sniffed the air.

"Mrrow…she smells something wonderful." M'rissi purred, but then she realized that her belt felt lighter. She turned her attention to her side and let out a surprised hiss. "Someone has stolen M'rissi's gold!"

"What?" Erik asked from downstairs, seconds later, M'rissi rushed down the stairs and growled, her fur puffed up.

"Someone has taken M'rissi's gold!" She repeated. "We must go back to Falkreath! No one takes from M'rissi!"

"Calm down flu—" Erik paused, took a good look at the pissed off M'rissi, and cleared his throat. "M'rissi. It's just gold. We can get more. Sit down and eat, love."

"No! She is going to get her gold back!" M'rissi declared and started towards the entrance of the house.

"Gods damn it all." Erik sighed. "You two enjoy dinner. Guess I'm going to make sure she doesn't kill anyone."

"Does…this happen often?" Lucien asked S'ahara.

"More often now that M'rissi is with child." The older Khajiit sighed and shook her head.

Erik groaned as he mounted his horse and helped M'rissi on.

"You sure you really want to waste this time? The thief is likely halfway across Skyrim by now." He said as he watched the moons rise above the horizons.

"She is sure! M'rissi will not let some thief take her money! It is hers!"

Erik sighed and took off towards Falkreath. It wasn't long before they were back within the town, and as soon as they were, M'rissi hopped off the horse and began to walk through the darkened streets.

"She smells her scent! Follow M'rissi!"

"Damn it, M'ri, wait!" Erik's pleas fell on deaf ears as he hopped off and hurried after his lover. He watched as she rounded the corner and he heard her painfilled scream.

Anger and panic filled Erik's heart as he followed her and saw a group of vampires as they used their blood magic to feed off of his lover.

"Yol-Toor-Shul!" He bellowed and blue flames poured from his maw, and cooked the leather-clad vampires to ash. "M'rissi!" He gasped and took her into his arms. "Are you okay?"

The young Khajiit whimpered, but stood on shaky legs.

"She feels weak…she still feels the kitten kick though."

"Vahraan-Kaan-Laas!" The Dragonborn sighed and a golden glow came over M'rissi. "Thankfully, Runil already blessed you and the baby—" Erik was cut off as more Vampires creeped out of the darkness that surrounded them.

"Aw, that's too bad." One of them sneered. "Lord Harkon would have certainly enjoy such a beautiful pet."

"Do you know who you're messing with, Vampire?" The Nord growled out.

"Oh, we know, Dragonborn. Our Lord sent us to retrieve you, so that he may convert you and bring you into our ranks."

"You assume I want to join your ugly ass?" Erik chuckled and prepared himself for a fight. "Dii lokaal, hi dahmaan zaan Zu'u mindov hi?"

"Zu'u dreh." M'rissi replied with a wide grin. "Fus-Toor-Yol!" She shouted, and unleashed a blast of fire that ripped through the vampires in front of her.

Erik took a deep breath, but before he could speak the first word of his shout, a volley of bolts flew through the air and landed themselves in the skulls of the vampires before him from behind the creatures.

Seconds later, two arrows whizzed passed him from his left and landed in the heart of the one who spoke, and ignited the creature from the inside out.

Moments later, a small detachment of men clad in heavy armor emerged from the forest around the town, and from his left, an imperial woman in leather armor, and bright red hair.

She held a basic hunting bow, but there was no one else with her.

M'rissi perked up as the woman approached, sniffed the air, and growled.

"You stole her coin!" The Khajiit declared as she rushed the girl and snatched the heavy coin purse from her side. The coin purse had an embroidered M on its front, which the woman had been hiding. "You are lucky you helped save us, or she would be very tempted to sink her claws into you!"

"Excuse me? I found that coin purse earlier today. Had I known it belonged to someone, I'd have—"

"Cut the shit." Erik sighed. "I had that coin purse made specifically for M'rissi. She was sleeping on the cart we came in. Unless that bag untied itself from her belt and rolled off of the cart, the only way you "found" it, was on her."

"I—" The lady groaned and sighed. "Fine. I took it. So what, you gonna turn me into the guards now?"

Erik cocked his eyebrow and turned his attention to the pile of ash that was the vampire she'd shot.

"No, but I'm not done with you. M'rissi, if she moves, subdue her."

"With pleasure." M'rissi grinned and flashed her claws.

"Who are you?" Erik asked as he turned his attention to the soldiers, who had finished dealing with the last of the vampires.

"We are the Dawnguard." An Orcish man replied as he stepped to the Dragonborn. "We were tracking this group from Solitude, are you the Dragonborn?" He asked.

"Aye, I am. If you're about to ask me to join you, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to refuse."

"You don't understand. Attacks like this have been happening all over Skyrim. We've done what we can, but…" He paused and turned to reveal several citizens of Falkreath, who'd been drained of their blood. "You and your woman were lucky. What will happen if your luck runs out? What if one of them sneak into your home, and kills her, and takes you while you both sleep?"

Erik hesitated to answer.

"M'rissi will not stop you from joining them, dii lokaal." M'rissi told her lover. "She will not try to follow. She knows she cannot fight like this."

"If I join, I want nine of your soldiers to replace the guards that protect my house." Erik answered.

"You will have to speak to Isran—"

"No. I want it done. Those are my conditions."

The Orc hesitated, but nodded.

"Very well. I'll give you nine of the best of my battalion." The man motioned for nine of his soldiers to step forward. "They'll join you on your way back. We can meet back here, or at Dawnguard castle near Riften."

"How about in Riverwood? We can meet there and cross over through Helgen."

"Sounds good. What about the other girl?" Durak asked.

"She's coming with me."

"What?" The girl asked.

"You're good with a bow, it takes skill to land a shot like you did, besides, you want to pay off that debt you took when you stole from my family, don't you?" Erik asked and turned to the woman with a smirk. "Look, in all seriousness, I was just going to let you go, but I need an archer to cover my back since M'rissi's pregnant."

The woman looked to the Khajiit before her, then to the Nord and sighed.

"Fine. The name's Arissa Acies Aufero, at your service." The woman gave a short bow.

"Hi ov daar tafiir?" M'rissi asked.

"Nid, nuz Zu'u lorot rek mindok fos koros waan rek gahrot nol zey." Erik replied. "So you know, Arissa, I'm a very good tracker and a light sleeper. If you steal from me, it'll be the last thing you do."

"Got it. So, are we leaving?" The woman asked.

"Yeah." He nodded. "What's your name, Orc?"

"I am Durak." The man replied and reached out for a handshake.

"Erik." The Dragonborn replied and shook his hand. "Thank you for the save. I'll meet you in Riverwood."

And with that, Durak left with all but nine of his soldiers, and Erik and his group returned to the lake-side house, only to be met with S'ahara and Lucien.

"You keep bringing back more people. Do you plan on building a town here?" She joked.

"I wish." Erik sighed and got off his horse. "Lucien, it looks like you'll get your adventure after all."

"Oh?" The man perked up with a smile.

"Yep. I have a set of steel armor in the basement. The Dwarven set next to it is for me."

"Hold on, what is going on?" S'ahara asked as she stopped Erik. "This one is confused. Are you leaving?"

"Unfortunately, yes. We were attacked by vampires in Falkreath, and these fine people," He motioned to the Dawnguard soldiers behind him, "saved our asses. They'll be replacing the guards, as promised by their commander."

"But the guards—"

"Have no idea how to handle vampires, and I'm not about to put them in a situation like that. They have families too, and they're undertrained for that." Erik cut her off. "M'rissi, bring Lucien to the basement, make sure that armor fits him. If it doesn't, I'm sure the Dawnguard has something."

"Wait, vampires?" Lucien asked.

"Yeah, vampires, you'll be fine. Go with M'ri. Arissa, you're with me." He ordered and walked to the guard house, where several guards slept.

He knocked, not loud enough to startle them, just loud enough to wake them.

"Boys!" He called out.

Moments later, a guard wearing Solitude colors opened the door, with several guards behind him, awake, but groggy.

"What is it, Dragonborn?" He asked.

"I have some news that some of you might want to hear." He told them and stepped into the guard house. "You're being relieved of duty."

"What? Why?" The Solitude guard asked. "Did something happen?"

"Yeah. M'rissi and I were just attacked by vampires in Falkreath, and they were specifically there for me." Erik told them. "You boys were just here in case bandits, or a pack of wolves came by. You shouldn't be caught in something you aren't prepared for."

"Vampires?" One of the guards gasped.

"Yeah, vampires. Damn bloodsuckers." Erik sighed and motioned to the guard from Windhelm. "Thank you for suggesting that we get the baby blessed by the Priest of Arkay."

"Forgive me for asking, but who will take our place?" A guard from Whiterun asked.

"The Dawnguard and Odahviing. The Dawnguard are vampire hunters, they saved mine and M'rissi's life—"

"Hey, don't forget me! I helped!"

"You helped, yeah, but they did most of the work." Erik grinned. "Anyways, I'll have Gunjar take you back to your home towns. Thank you all for your service, you've all been wonderful."

"It was an honor, Dovahkiin." One of the guards told him.

"I wish all of you a safe trip." Erik told them before he left and returned to his house, where he found Lucien in full steel armor. "How's it fit."

"A bit loose, but otherwise, fine." The man replied. "That basement of yours is quite impressive."

"Indeed." Erik nodded. "The guards have been informed. Do you know any magic?"

"I know some intermediate healing spells, a fireball spell, and a frostspike spell." Lucien asked.

"Good, what about a ward?"

"Only basic, why?"

"We can use that fire magic and healing spells. I'm sure the Dawnguard can teach you a spell or two to deal with the vampires."

"I—I still don't know about this. I know I said I wanted an adventure but—"

"You'll be fine." Erik reassured him. "I promise, nothing will happen to you, unless you're just dumb and charge into a fight without thinking."

"Right…what about her?" He pointed to Arissa.

"She has a bow. And she's pretty decent at shooting it."

"Don't worry, pretty boy. I'll keep you safe." She winked and gave a smirk as M'rissi growled at her. "Don't worry, cat, I wasn't talking to your boyfriend."

"Don't call her cat." Erik warned her. "She's not an animal."

"Geez, alright." Arissa crossed her arms and sighed.

Erik shook his head and pulled M'rissi into a hug.

"Zu'u lokaal hi."

"Zu'u lokaal hi ahk." M'rissi replied and nuzzled her lover's neck. "Come back safe. If she has to bury you…"

"You won't." He assured her before he took a step back and called Odahviing to him. Moments later, the enormous dragon landed on a small cliff beside Lakeview Manor.

"Hail, thur. What is it that you need from me, Dragonborn?"

"Oh my god…you're actually Dragonborn." Arissa gawked and stared at the dragon.

"You literally watched me burn a vampire to ash with my breath. Yes, I'm dragonborn."

"The girl did the same thing!"

"I taught her how to do that." Erik replied and turned his attention back to Odahviing. "I need you to watch the house. Vampires have attacked us, I'm going to deal with them. If anyone comes that isn't with me, scare them off. If they attack—"

"I will burn them to ash." The dragon flapped its wings. "Your ragnavir will be safe under my wings."

"Thank you." The Dragonborn gave a bow and returned his attention to M'rissi. "I'll be back in time for the baby…"

"She knows you will." She smiled and kissed Erik. "Now, go kill those bloodsuckers."