The trip to Windhelm seemed to drag on forever. On one hand, Akiseta was anxious to see all this be finished. But on the other, she dreaded what was to come.

Being Dragonborn didn't make her invincible. And neither did wielding Auriel's bow. They gave her advantages, but she always had to consider the possibility she could get overwhelmed. She never underestimated her enemies.

Then there was Serana.

Akiseta was worried about the effects all this would have on her. Harkon didn't give a damn about her anymore, but he was still her father. That wasn't an easy thing to live with. And neither would be having to kill him.

Serana had been so strong and brave through all of this. Akiseta was so proud of her. She didn't think she could have made it through everything Serana had been through.

Serana had been through a lot of hell in her life, and survived. She would survive this too. Akiseta would help her through it.

Lake Yorgrim was a nice sight to see after traveling so much. Akiseta took off her backpack, and she and Serana rested by the shore.

"Pretty snowy up here." Serana remarked.

"Yeah." Akiseta said through her face cover. The northern parts of Skyrim were always so cold.

Serana looked out over the lake. She looked lost in thought.

"Are you alright, iluukai?"

"I'll be okay." Serana said softly.

Akiseta took hold of her hand. "I'm right here, iluukai. I'm right beside you. We're getting through this, together."

Serana smiled, and leaned against Akiseta's shoulder. Akiseta put her arms around the vampire.

They rested beside the lake a while longer, then got up. Akiseta went to grab her backpack, but Serana picked it up.

"I can carry that, iluukai."

"Let me." Serana insisted, slipping the backpack on. "You've been lugging this thing around since I've met you."

"Alright. I'll take it back when we get to Windhelm."

They walked around the lake to the far side, and followed the river, keeping close along the edge as they walked. The water rushed along side them, occasionally carrying chunks of ice.

"Hey, Aki. What are your plans for after... after we get back from the castle?" Serana asked.

"Well, to go back to Whiterun, of course."

"So, will you be finished with the Dawnguard?"

"Not entirely. I'm a member, and I always will be. But Isran knows I have a daughter, and that I have other things to attend to: The Companions, the College. I will help the Dawnguard when it's needed, but I need to get back to my life. Our life."

Serana smiled. "Our life. I've never lived anywhere but the castle. It'll be strange, living in a city, with so many people."

"Will you be able to adjust, iluukai?"

"Of course I will. It'll just take a little time. And then, there's Lucia."

Akiseta frowned. "What about Lucia?"

"Oh, it's nothing, Aki. I simply adore Lucia. She's a wonderful kid. She adores you, and I know you love her more than anything."

Akiseta tilted her head. "But?"

Serana looked away. "I don't know. It's just... it's been the two of you for a long time. The two of you are a family."

Akiseta took Serana's hands. "Serana, Lucia likes you. When we get back to Whiterun, it's going to be the three of us. We will be a family."

"A family." Serana said softly. She smiled. "I think I'll like that that."

Akiseta opened her mouth to say something, but looked around. "Did... did you hear something?"

Serana frowned. "No.."

Akiseta sniffed the air. The lack of plants and wild life around here made it easy to pick up scents. Aside from herself and Serana, all she could smell was the faint scent of wolves.

Akiseta listened carefully. She could hear the water, rushing over the waterfall, and the wind shifting the snow around.

Her ear slits caught a faint crunch.

She gripped her crossbow and loaded one of the explosive bolts she got from Sorine into it. She held it up, aiming it as she looked around. Serana called magic to both of her hands.

"I can't smell anything." Serana whispered.

"Neither can I. But I was sure I heard something." Akiseta hissed.

She shook her head. She swore she'd heard something. She looked around again. She took a deep breath.

"LAAS!"

The whisper called out, and she could see the essence of plant life under the snow. Another essence caught her eyes, a bit of a distance away from her, disembodied in the air.

She fired the bolt, and it struck something, creating a little explosion of fire, causing whatever she'd hit to screech out in pain.

An arrow struck her shoulder, piercing her scales through her shirt, and she dropped the crossbow as burning pain seared through her shoulder. Akiseta stumbled back, yanking the arrow from her shoulder. The tip was made of silver. Her own blood dripped from it, along with something else, dark purple in color. That scent was familiar. What was it?

There were more life essences now, with their owners becoming visible. Vampires, a good number of them, along with their thralls. It was an ambush.

Serana began throwing her magic at the assailants, an impressive display of ice and lighting mingling together.

Akiseta loaded another bolt into the crossbow, arms trembling. Her shoulder burned, and her body was aching with a pain she felt in her veins. She fired the bolt at what she'd hit before, a gargoyle. It looked like the one that had been at the glade. The bolt pierced its head, and the explosion knocked it down. It didn't get up.

Another arrow struck her, hitting her in the upper back. Akiseta stumbled, dropping the crossbow and falling, her body aching in more pain. Akiseta reached around, wrenching the arrow out. She sniffed, trying to separate the strange liquid's scent from her own blood.

It was wolfsbane.

Akiseta's blood seared painfully inside her, making it difficult to stand. Her body trembled violently, and her vision became hazy.

Another gargoyle lunged at her, before being tackled by a grey blur. It was Serana, who had taken her other form. Even in that form, the gargoyle was still a head taller. Akiseta swore she saw trickles of gold mixed in to the onyx and grey.

Looking around, she saw several vampires and thralls impaled on bloodied spires of ice. Markings brought about from lightning magic covered exposed areas of skin. There were still more, though. Akiseta struggled to a standing position, head pounding.

"YOL!"

The flames weren't nearly as strong as they should have been, but they caused the vampires to scatter. Akiseta fell to her knees, pressing her palms into the snow. She crawled over to her crossbow. Her bolts had spilled across the ground, and her hands trembled violently as she attempted to load one in.

Serana and gargoyle circled each other, dangerously close to the edge of the water. The gargoyle lunged, and Serana lowered herself, slamming into its stomach and driving her claws into its sides. She heaved it away from her.

An arrow pierced her side, and she shrieked, stumbling closer to the edge of the river.

Akiseta looked around, finally spotting the archer. It was one of the thralls, a Bosmer.

Akiseta struggled into a standing position, aiming her crossbow at the elf as she readied another arrow. She fired, and the bolt exploded on contact, killing the Bosmer instantly.

Akiseta fell into the snow, breathing hard. Her whole body felt drained, burning in more pain than she'd ever felt before. Her head felt heavy, and fuzzy.

"Serana..." She called out weakly.

The sunlight seemed to be taking a toll on the vampire, who was on her knees, face contorted in pain. Serana looked over at her, and pushed herself to her feet, attempting to walk over.

The gargoyle came back over, leaping at her and grabbing onto her. The impact knocked Serana off balance, and she and the gargoyle went into the river, being carried over the waterfall by the rapids.

"No... no.." Akiseta dragged herself towards the river, trying to stand.

She was pushed down into the snow, pinned by cold hands. She struggled in vain to get free. She lashed her tail wildly, striking cloth. Maybe she'd drawn blood.

Her horn was grabbed, and her headed was forced upward and towards the side a bit. She saw one of the vampires, a female, Breton. A cruel smile played across her lips, and she held a dagger in her free hand.

Akiseta continued to struggle, her body wanted to give in. Her breathing was labored, her lungs hurting.

The vampire cut through her shirt with the dagger, cutting up her chest and along the side of her neck in a thin arch, prying the tip of the blade under her scales.

Akiseta hissed as the pain blazed through her blood, the cut searing. Her body felt like it was going to shrivel away. Her head became numb, and her vision began to darken. The snow was the last thing she saw as the vampire leaned close.

"Nighty-night, little dog."

The cold from the water cooled Serana's skin off, making it easier to think. She surfaced from the river, and dragged herself out of the water and onto the snow. The gargoyle came out a few moments later, blood dripping down its head and face. Serana stumbled over to it, and shoved her claws into its throat, killing it.

The sun was drying her off quickly, and her skin began to burn again. One of her legs was cut open, and pain seared in her side. Serana lowered herself flat against the ground, pressing her chest and stomach into the snow.

She began to drag herself across the ground, the snow cooling her front. The backpack kept her back from being scalded. Her side hurt with each movement.

She dragged herself to a small outcrop of rocks, and reverted back to her normal self, curling into the little bit of shade available. She pulled what was left of the arrow from her side, and pressed her face into the snow.

They had gone the whole trip without an incident, and still took every precaution. How could they not have known? How could her father's people hide their scents? Magic? An alchemical mixture?

And... Akiseta. They had her.

Serana curled up as much as she could, clutching her hands around her stomach.

'Was that what the ambush was about? To kidnap her? They were using silver, and wolfsbane... Why? Why take her?'

The thought of Harkon wanting to take Akiseta made Serana feel sick. She needed to get her back. She needed to get to Windhelm.

Serana pushed herself up. She tore off some cloth from her torn pant leg and wrapped it around her cut. She pulled up her hood, and tried to walk, to follow the river. Her leg stung with every step, and the exposed parts of her skin burned.

It was hard to move, to take even a step. Her body didn't want to move. It felt heavy, like she was being weighed down. It went beyond her physical pain. There was a heavy feeling in her chest. It tightened, robbing her of breath.

Her every thought of Akiseta made it worse. Akiseta was in the hands of vampires, her father's people.

'And it's my fault.'

She should have known something was off. She should have known they were being followed.

Akiseta had freed her from Dimhollow. Akiseta had believed her about the prophecy. Akiseta had traveled with her to the Soul Cairn. Akiseta had been her dearest, and only, friend. Akiseta had fallen in love with her. Akiseta had shown her what it was to be loved, what true intimacy was. Akiseta had been with her when she learned the truth about the prophecy. Akiseta had been beside her through all of this, strong and unyielding.

'And now she's gone, because of me.' Tears stung in Serana's eyes. 'I dragged her into all this. It's my fault.'

Serana collapsed into the snow. The tears burned hot down her cheeks. She closed her eyes, burying her face in her hands. She didn't want to get up. She didn't want to move ever again.

'I have to. I have to help her.'

Serana pushed herself up, ignoring her body's protests. She stumbled forward, pushing herself to keep walking. She came across a dead tree, and leaned against it for support.

A scent caught her nose, and she sniffed. Wolves? No.. it was a dog. She heard the barking.

A large husky donned in protective armour ran up to her, barking loudly. It was one of the Dawnguard's dogs. It sniffed around her, letting out a whimper.

"Bran! Why did you... Serana?" Agmaer ran up, looking at Serana in shock. "What... what happened to you?" He looked around. "And, where's Akiseta?"

Serana swallowed, trying to choke back more tears. "We were ambushed. She was taken.

"By the gods..." Agmaer shook his head. "Come on. We aren't too far from the city."

He draped her arm around his shoulder, making her lean on him for support. She was to drained to care or complain. It hurt to walk anyways.

"What are you doing out here?" Serana asked him.

"The rest of us made it to Windhelm already. They got worried when you two were still not there. I offered to go see if I could meet up with you two. Bran started barking like mad, and ran off. He led me right to you."

Serana looked down at the husky, who trotted along side them. "Good dog."

"How did you get ambushed? You're a vampire, and she's a werewolf."

"They were masking their scents. I don't know how."

"Why would they take her?"

"I don't know. I'm still trying to figure that out. Maybe they wanted us both. Things got a bit out of control."

They made it to the city. Serana had enough strength to walk on her own. Windhelm, Ysgramor's city. The City of Kings. She thought it'd be more impressive. The stone buildings and street were lined with snow. Cold and depressing. It reminded her of home.

'Not home. The castle.' Serana reminded herself.

Agmaer led her through an alleyway and out to the docks. Aside from the guards, Serana could see the Argonians that worked down here. Akiseta had once mentioned to her that they were made to live in an assemblage. Serana felt sorry for them.

She followed Agmaer to the boat they would be taking. Isran noticed them and came over.

"Serana. You look like hell. What happened? Where is Akiseta?"

"I'll, um... I'll let you two talk." Agmaer said, walking towards the others.

"Serana, what happened?" Isran persisted.

"We were ambushed. Akiseta was taken." The words felt hollow to Serana, as if they wouldn't be real if she weren't speaking them.

"What!? How? It was Harkon's people, wasn't it? How did the both of you not know they were there?"

"They found a way to masks their scents! I don't know how they did it!"

"How did they manage to take both her and you down?"

"They were using silver, and they used wolfsbane. We fought back, we did, but the sunlight takes a toll on me."

"Are you sure she was taken?"

"I'm sure. They had an opening. If they wanted to kill her, they would have."

"Why would Harkon want to take her?"

"I don't know. Maybe he wanted us both. It doesn't matter. We need to get her back."

"Don't worry, we will." Isran sighed. "I'll brief my people and the captain on what happened. We'll be leaving shortly."

Serana leaned on the dock railing, looking down at the water. For the first time in a long time, she felt... cold. Cold and numb. She leaned her head against her hand.

'How could I have let this happen?'

"Excuse me?"

Serana turned her head to the speaker. It was a male Argonian. His scales her a dark shade of green, and his feathers were almost as blue as the water. His eyes were a pale yellow. He had horns on the sides of his head, curled in a similar manner to how Akiseta's were.

"I'm sorry to bother you, miss. You are with these people, yes?"

Serana looked over at the Dawnguard members, whom were talking with Isran. "Yeah... I'm with them."

"I'm sorry to pry." The Argonian apologized. "They call me Scouts-Many-Marshes. Akiesta is my marsh-friend. I overhead some of what these people have spoken about since they've been here, and I overheard something about Akiseta being.. taken. Is that true?"

Serana looked towards the ground. "It's true."

Scouts shook his head. "By the Hist... Akiseta has done so much.. for us here, and all across Skyrim. The thought of anything happening to her frightens me."

"It terrifies me. But, we will get her back. I won't let anything happen to her. I can't."

"So, you care for her, then?"

"More than anything."

"I'm glad Akiseta has someone like that in her life. I wish you a safe journey, and good luck."

"Thanks. We'll need it."

"Serana!"

Serana turned her attention towards the ship, and saw Isran waving her over. She waved to Scouts, and made her way aboard the ship, avoiding meeting the gaze of any of the other Dawnguard members. They hadn't glared at her or watched her under suspicion back at the fort, but she didn't want to see their gazes now. She wondered if any of them blamed her for what happened to Akiseta.

She was doing enough of that for everybody herself.

Deep down, Serana knew it wasn't really her fault. But that didn't keep her guilt away. The one person who had ever truly cared for her was gone, taken on order of the person who didn't give a damn about her.

Serana had never felt more alone.