Dawnguard
Chapter .01
The morning sun hung low on the horizon of Falkreath's pine forest. Thick fog clinging to the ground and lake Ilinalta.
Just behind the south tree line stood a manor clearly under renovation. An ornate stone wall was slowly being erected. On the North end of the manor was a balcony where a man stood draped in silk and fur robes, overlooking the construction stirring a bowl of steaming beef stew. A voice drew his attention to the door behind him as he took a bite of his breakfast.
"The day looks promising so far my Thane". The voice was light and warm, belonging to a Red guard, his Housecarl.
"The workers are making great progress and the skies are clear miles". The man inhaled deeply, savoring the smell of his meal and the morning dew. Not too long ago he wouldn't have even thought to stop and take in his surroundings to simply enjoy them. "How many times Rayya", he started, setting down his bowl on the table at the right side of the balcony and taking a seat. "Have I told you? You don't have to keep up the formalities in front of others". The Red guard took a seat opposite him, wearing a grin. "As you wish sir". The Nord rolled his eyes as took another bite of stew before passing it to his companion.
The two sat quietly, enjoying their breakfast. Rayya was right, the was looking promising. This year's Rain's Hand had been brutal having caused construction around the manor to grind to a halt.
He was even considering the rebuilding of Whiterun's walls that he'd offered to fund. They probably hadn't seen as much rain being in the tundra but surely, they were still having their difficulty's. He poured himself and his companion some wine once they had finished the stew.
"So, any plans for the day sir?".
The man sniffed his wine and swirled it in its tankard, letting it breathe a little before sipping on it. "Not particularly, some light chores maybe".
Rayya sighed internally, it wasn't so much that she wanted her Thane to throw himself in harm's way at every chance he got, but admittedly things had become mundane being a steward.
As the two sat and drank their wine in silence the door opened and behind it was a young Nord, her hair a dark brown and braided wearing a green silk dress. "Lucia my dear!", the man exclaimed as he stood to embrace her. As the two broke from their hug Lucia looked at the table, "a little early to be drinking already don't you think papa?'.
She said light heartedly. Both he and Rayya chuckled. The man walked back to the balcony, Lucia following behind him. "So, what would you say to a trip. You, your brothers, Rayya and myself?" Lucia smiled. Rayya excused herself to go make some rounds around the manor. "Where would we go?", Lucia asked, absentmindedly.
The man watched the lake through the trees. "Where would you want to go, anywhere in Skyrim". Lucia started to hum, thinking of where her and her brothers could visit. It'd been a while since they had left the manor. "Solitude", she decided. Briefly he became lost in his memories. "It would be nice to see Jordis again wouldn't?" The question was rhetorical of course. Jordis would be more than happy to see the children again. "And I can get some new dresses", she chuckled. The two continued to talk and plan out the trip.
Her and her younger brother Aren would happily go, seeing as how her younger brother was only five. Her older brother Blaise, was a different story entirely.
Before long Rayya returned, coming up the stairs to the left of the balcony. It was clear she had run; she was panting slightly. "Sir, there's a situation in front you need to come see". The man nodded, placing his hands on Lucia's shoulders.
"Find your little brother and stay upstairs". Lucia nodded, heading through the balcony door and inside the manor.
He followed Rayya down the stairs and to the front of the manor. producing a dagger seemingly out of midair, though Rayya knew he had a weapon hidden on him at all times. At the front of the manor, standing just up the path to the road stood a young Nord with blond hair. He was holding his right shoulder, sword in hand and bleeding badly. He was young. The boy couldn't have been much older than Lucia or Blaise, and his armor was badly dented and broken in several places.
The older Nord approached him slowly, having already concealed his dagger again. The boy was clearly frightened, and there was no way of knowing just how much blood he had lost before stumbling upon the manor. Rayya stayed at her Thanes back, knowing he'd be able to handle the situation himself but still ready to act if necessary.
"Easy son", he started. "Whatever it is that happened, you're safe now". The boy starred at him but didn't see him, he was fighting the fatigue but it was winning. As the older Nord steeped closer the boy went to his knees, his sword clattering to the ground. Both he and Rayya went to his side to hold him up. "Let's get him inside", he said as he picked him up. Rayya picked up the sword and looked to the carriage driver who was just coming out of the manor.
"Gujjar!", she called. "Help Arkyn with the kid, I'm going to take a look around". The two Nords disappeared inside as Rayya walked towards the road where the boy had appeared. The only tracks around been made by the kid, an easily visible blood trail coming from the woods. Whatever had done this, and wherever it'd happened wasn't near the manor. The Red guard had a bad feeling in her stomach but decided to make her way back to the manor.
Just inside the South entrance of the manor, Arkyn and Gujjar had laid the young Nord on the double bed, his armor laying in pieces on the floor beside the bed. The kid was pale from the blood loss and was showing signs of fever. With his armor and clothes off his wounds were now visible, long gashes that looked like claw marks and badly bruised. The commotion had brought Lucia down stairs holding her little brother Aren.
Arkyn started to un fasten his fur robes. "Lucia go grab my green robes, Gujjar grab me a pot of warm water and some towels". He threw his fur robes on the night stand. Rayya put a hand on his shoulder.
"Arkyn, I don't think…". Lucia came back into the room before with his robes folded neatly. They had soft golden glow around them as he slipped them on. His hands started to glow with the same hue as the robes, causing the boys breathing too slightly more relaxed.
His knowledge in restoration was limited, but Danica in Whiterun had showed him enough to keep someone alive. "I'm not going to watch him lay there and die Rayya". The Red guard stepped back, letting him attend to the boy. Gujjar came back with a bucket with rags soaking in it and handed one to the Housecarl.
An hour or so had passed and the boy's condition had become stable, though he was still deathly pale.
Gujjar had left to tend to the horses while Rayya had went to inform the foreman to keep everyone on alert. Lucia tended to her little brother while Arkyn stayed by the boy's side. Arkyn thought about the wounds, he'd seen them before. All signs pointed to vampires. The boy had lost a lot of blood, but not nearly enough of it was on him or left with the trail he had made when he stumbled upon the manor. He was too lost in his thoughts to notice the boy had started to stir until he tried to sit up. Arkyn put his hands on the boy's shoulder to keep him steady.
"Easy son, you've lost a lot of blood". The young Nord looked around wide eyed, clearly confused. "Where am I?", he asked shakily.
Lucia had heard the commotion and brought a water skin to the boy. Arkyn gave Lucia a small grin. "Thank you dear", he helped the young man drink the water. "You're inside my manor son. My steward found you stumbling out of the woods and ready to knock at death's door". The kid continued to drink until Arkyn took the water skin from him.
"Easy now, you'll make yourself sick. What's your name son?". The boy took a deep breath. "I'm… my name is Erik. I'm from Rorikstead".
Arkyn starred for a moment. "Erik… By the Nine. You're Marlki's boy". Erik looked bewildered. "You know my father?", Arkyn nodded slowly. "Do you remember what did this to you? Or where it happened?". Erik lowered his head, starring at the bed as though he were ashamed. "It was just a cave. Just supposed to be some wild animals". Erik's body started to shake and he could hear light sobbing. "A wall, a wall of rock, it just opened up and they appeared. I tried to run but… there were to many".
Arkyn pulled Erik to his chest and held him. "Shh, it's alright son. You got away, and you're safe now".
Back at the North end of the manor in storage room underneath the balcony they had their breakfast, Arkyn and Rayya were talking quietly as he fastened his fur and chainmail armor. Rayya stood with her arms crossed watching her Thane.
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather something a bit sturdier?". Arkyn sighed. "Rayya… I'm only going to Whiterun to see about any rumors. Nothing serious".
The Red guard rolled her eyes, she knew better with him. The entire time she'd known him, he was incapable of staying clear of trouble, but she'd grown accustomed to it in their travels till he decided to go it alone. Neither of them had noticed when Lucia walked in with her little brother until he became excited to see his father. Arkyns face warmed a little as he met his son's gaze with arms outstretched. Aren giggled as his father picked him up. Lucia stood quietly, starring at anything but her father. She had always hated when Arkyn left out on business, but to go out seeking vampires? She couldn't accept that.
"I told Blaise, but he ignored me, staying outside with the workers".
Arkyn sighed, pulling in his daughter and hugging her tight. "I won't be gone long, I promise". Lucia forced a grin and took Aren back into her arm's before leaving her father and Rayya alone in the room again.
"Should I send word to the others?", she asked, spinning a dagger in her hand absent mindedly.
He thought to himself, watching the dagger in her hands. If there were vampires about it would only be a matter of time till they ventured out, and an increase in bodies around the manor could provoke them. With the workers there were already to many around to risk bringing in more. "No", he said decidedly.
"Tell the foreman and arm the workers with some of the stuff lying around. Don't tell them it's vampires unless it's necessarry". The Housecarl nodded, throwing the dagger into the table.
"And if they're not enough?".
She hoped in the back of her mind that it wouldn't come to that but she knew what to do if so. Arkyn ignored her question, walking to a chest and throwing the lid open. Inside was filled to the brim with gold. "If they need convincing, give them a raise. A substantial raise. Before closing it, he filled a decent sized satchel and fastened it tightly to them small of his back.
"I'll send Lydia if she has no objections".
Rayya chuckled. "You mean about going at it alone. Again?". Arkyn was in the doorway and paused, remaining silent. He lifted his leather hood, running a hand on the frame of the doorway. "Rayya", he said quietly. "Yes, my Thane". "Keep them safe for me", he didn't wait for a response, instead he made his way out. Rayya lowered her head. "With my life sir", she said to herself softly.
Stepping outside Arkyn inhaled deeply, he'd grown to love the smell of pine. He'd come out the on the balcony and could see Blaise helping the workers. He had grown into a strong young man. He'd let his hair grow out and had the beginnings of a beard around his chin. The two had grown apart after Ysolda had been taken from them. The memory still as fresh as the day it'd happened, and still just as painful. No matter the boy's feelings he still loved him, that was something that'd never change.
Blaise and some workers were in mid conversation as Arkyn approached them with the workers noticing him first, lowering their heads and walking away. Blaise crossed his arm and shifted his gaze to the lake, the occasional fish popping out. Arkyn joined silently.
"You're leaving". Blaise said bluntly.
Arkyn nodded his head, "Aye". The younger Nord inhaled sharply. "When will you return?". Arkyn hadn't the slightest idea of when that would be. Erik had mentioned something about a group of vampires trying to recruit, the reason he had left Rorikstead in the first place.
Rumors spread quickly, his reason for heading to Whiterun. "I do not know". Blaise scoffed. "Right. Of course, not". Blaise tried to walk away but his father's hand landed on his shoulder. "Take care of Lucia and Aren for me". Blaise said nothing and shirked away from his father's grasp making his way to the group of workers he'd been talking to previously. Arkyn sighed, checking that his swords were fastened and made his way back to the South end where Gujjar had Frost saddled and ready for him.
Arkyn mounted his stead and made for Whiterun.