5th of the Morning Star, 4th Era 203
"Where did you get Daedric armour?" Lydia asked with surprise and shock as she looked over the now armoured Dragonborn who was wearing the complete set of Daedric armour, the only things that didn't match with the set were the sword, which was the Dragonbone sword, and he worse the Dragon Priest mask of Konahriik
The last time Lydia had seen Rahgol, he had been wearing his Dragonbone armour to go battle Alduin, now he was wearing Daedric armour.
"I killed a few Dremora and took their hearts, found some Ebony Ingots and soon enough I was crafting Daedric armour." Rahgol said coldly as he fixed his gauntlets. "better this way than wearing other armour."
Lydia watched him, seeing Rahgol was much more closed off than he was when they first met. Hard to believe that was nearly two years ago. Hard to believe it had been nearly two years since many incidents, but it had been five months since the battle with Alduin, and Lydia could tell Rahgol was hurting badly. She hated having to bring him out of his retired life, but Skyrim needed him. He may say otherwise, but he needed purpose in his life again and Lydia was going to help him achieve that.
The two had taken a carriage from Ivarstead to Riften, and were now making their way in the direction of Forst Dawnguard which required going through a cave named Dayspring Canyon in the mountain area to reach the other side were Fort Dawnguard was located.
Suddenly, they heard the distant roars of a Dragon and Lydia tensed while Rahgol remained calm as the Dragon flew over them and spotted them. Instead of attacking, it bowed his head at the Dragonborn who nodded back before the Dragon flew off somewhere.
"Well there's a sight you don't see everyday." Lydia commented.
Rahgol just grunted and walked on. Lydia sighed before she followed after him.
They reached Dayspring Canyon and entered, neither saying anything as Rahgol clearly didn't want to talk, and Lydia didn't know what to say to her friend. He had changed, was colder than he usually was and more closed off. He clearly didn't want to speak about anything unless he decides to, so she'll give him time.
The cave wasn't that long and the two soon found myself back in the open. Rahgol and Lydia were in a small canyon that stood between two mountains. Going further down the path, They arrived at a pond that was partly frozen with two beautiful waterfalls that brought the crystal clear water from a massive lake between the mountains. Rahgol heard footsteps behind him and Lydia, and in the blink of an eye had whirled around with his sword pointed at the throat of the one behind them.
"Oh hey there..." A Nord boy barely older than 17 spoke with a nervous tone as he glanced from the sword to the covered face of Rahgol. The boy had blond hair that stopped at his shoulders and he had a very nervous look on his face. He doesn't look like the warrior type to Rahgol, considering his clothes and stance. He only had a cotton shirt that was held together by a few robes, old farmer pants and winter boots. He had leather bands on his wrist and he had an old iron axe sheathed to his leather brown belt.
"Were you stalking us?" Rahgol growled coldly as he inched the sword closer to the boy's throat.
"No! Uhm, I mean yes but well you know…"
"Rahgol , stop scaring the boy." Lydia said with a chuckle as she stepped forward and lowered the sword, getting a dark glare from Rahgol not that she could see it but she could feel it. Rahgol grunted, sheathed the sword and walked on, leaving Lydia and the boy to themselves. "Sorry about him. He's... going through some tough times right now."
"Rahgol... Rahgol as in... the Dragonborn?!" The boy asked with shock and excitement as Lydia nodded. "The one who slayed the World-Eater?! I thought he was dead."
"So did I." Lydia muttered as they walked on after Rahgol. "Just... don't piss him off."
They made it to Fort Dawnguard, Rahgol glancing at the old fortress just once and he didn't even look interested not that anybody would see it due to the mask. They approached the gate where a guy in a strange suit of armor stood on the stairs, eyeing them carefully. He wore a greyish leather breastplate with belts holding the two parts together. He also wore leather gloves and boots and he wore a skin tight leather suit for extra protection.
"Here to join the Dawnguard? Good. Isran will decide if you got what it takes. He's right inside." The man with brown locks said with a smile. Rahgol just grunted and entered, Lydia and the boy following behind.
The Vigilants and I were finished with each other a long time ago, Tolan." Was the first thing Rahgol heard upon entering the fort. A bald looking Redguard veteran with a steely gaze said that in front of a Vigilant of Stendarr named Tolan. His blueish grey robes were in tatters, probably from a very bloody fight.
"The Vigilants are gone Isran. We've been hunted down everywhere. The vampires are much more dangerous than we believed." The bald Tolan said. The man known as Isran snorted.
"And now you want to come running to safety with the Dawnguard, is that it?" Isran spat quietly. "I remember Keeper Carcette telling me repeatedly that Fort Dawnguard is a crumbling ruin, not worth the expense and manpower to repair. And now that you've stirred up the vampires against you, you came begging for my protection? Isran asked with venom dripping in his voice. Tolan took a step forward, his face full of despair.
"Isran, Keeper Carcette is dead. The Hall of the Vigilants… everyone, they're all dead. You were right, we were wrong, isn't that enough for you?" The man said.
Isran was clearly shocked but he regained his composure, but his voice was softer when he spoke. "Yes, well... I never wanted any of this to happen. I tried to warn all of you... I am sorry, you know." Isran then noticed Rahgol standing there, Lydia and the boy not too far. "So who are you? What are you doing here?"
"I heard you were looking for vampire hunters." Rahgol said with his arms crossed.
Isran nodded. "You heard right. I'm glad word's finally starting to get around. But that means it won't be long before the vampires start to take notice as well. Who are you? You look like someone who's faced death many times."
Rahgol scoffed. "And you'd be right. I've stared death in the face many times and walked away a living man without a care in the world. My name is Rahgol Dinok Krosis, Dragon of the North, Dragonborn."
Isran's face lit up. "Well, it seems the cries for help have brought the mighty Dragonborn back from the dead." He chuckled. "I'm honored to have you in this fort. The Vampires however will definitely take notice of your recruitment here."
"I don't care." Rahgol said dismissively. "I don't really care what people think of me anymore. I'm here to sort this damn problem and then never do anything for anybody again. Now what do you want done?"
Isran nodded, seeing Rahgol was someone who'd rather get to the point than dally about. "I need someone out in the field, taking the fight to the damn vampires, while we're getting the fort back into shape... Tolan was telling me about some cave that the Vigilants were poking around in. Seemed to think it was related to these recent vampire attacks." He turned to Tolan. "Tolan, tell him about, what was it? Dimhollow?"
Tolan nodded as he looked at Rahgol. "Yes, that's it. Dimhollow Crypt. Brother Adalvald was sure it held some long-lost vampire artifact of some kind. We didn't listen to him anymore than we did Isran. He was at the Hall when it was attacked."
"That's good enough for me. Go see what the vampires were looking for in this Dimhollow Crypt. With any luck, they'll still be there. You probably don't need a crossbow huh?" Isran asked with a knowing tone, glancing at Rahgol's sheathed sword, his bow and quiver of arrows.
"No." Rahgol said before he turned and left to get this over with. Lydia followed, grabbing his elbow which caused him to pause and look at her with annoyance behind his mask.
"First, we're going to Whiterun." She said with a tone that dared him to argue with her, seeing he was about to, she cut him off. "The Companions deserve to know you are alive. You are their leader after all."
Rahgol growled in annoyance before he just nodded and walked outside. "We'll take the quick way then."
"What quick... way..." Lydia trailed off with shock as she watched Rahgol transform into a Dragon before her. He spread his wings and looked at her before picking her up and placed her on his back, then with a flap of his wings he flew off into the air while Lydia screamed before she started laughing with delight.
Rahgol landed not too far from Whiterun and allowed Lydia to get off before he changed back to human, still clothed as usual. He rolled his shoulders, since it had been a while he last transformed.
"You... you can become a Dragon?" Lydia asked with shock and awe. Rahgol just nodded and walked on, Lydia quickly following. . It was just past noon when they finally arrived at the gate of Whiterun. Guards were guarding the gate and immediately blocked Rahgol's path when he approached them.
"Who are you? Put off your mask." One of the guards ordered him. Rhagol just took his mask off, an annoyed expression on his face as the guards looked shock. "Dragonborn? Y-You're alive?!"
"Obviously." Rahgol said with annoyance as he placed his mask back on. "Can i enter now?"
The guards immediately bowed and opened the gate for him and Lydia "My apologies, Dragonborn, but the vampire threat forces us to be more wary." The guard said solemnly.
"Understood." Was Rahgol's reply as he entered the city of Whiterun with Lydia. Rahgol glanced at Breezehome as they passed.
"I've been taking care of it, don't worry." Lydia assured him. He nodded. Whiterun was as busy as ever, with the different stalls lining the roads. The sound of screaming children, clangs of a hammer against metal and the conversations of people invaded Rahgol's ears in no time.
They quickly walked towards Jorrvaskr, unwilling to get the attention of everyone. Someone dressed as if he is some sort of assassin doesn't sit well with the people after all. Lydia quickly pushed the door open and with jovially announced her return. Soon, many faces gathered around, all of them Rahgol know. Their eyes were all fixated on him, while he sighed.
"Hey chick, who's that?" Rahgol suddenly heard Farkas' voice and noticed him walking up to Lydia and giving her a kiss, which she gleefully returned. Rahgol's expression turned to surprise and brief shock underneath his mask.
"Hey furry, I've missed you." Lydia said, while giggling. Farkas frowned, before looking at Rahgol.
"You, show yourself." This wasn't Farkas' voice though. Rather, Rahgol noticed Aela walking up to him, her eyes fierce. rahgol sighed before he reached up and took off the Dragon priest mask to reveal his face, which shocked everyone, however Aela's expression went from shock to downright furious.
"And what gave you the right to leave us?! To make us believe you were dead?!" Aela spat angrily.
"I had my own problems to deal with, Lydia." Rahgol said with coldness in his voice as he looked at her. "I grew tired of being Skyrim's hero. It's only thanks to Lydia that i even bothered to help this problem with the vampires. Hate me all you want, I don't care."
"She doesn't hate you. She was just worried." They looked to see Vilkas approaching and he wrapped an arm around Aela's waost, pecking her cheek which made her smile. Rahgol frowned.
"I'm gone for five months and suddenly Aela's with Vilkas, Farkas is with Lydia?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. They smirked at him.
"We're just better with the ladies." Farkas said jokingly. Rahgol looked away with his hands clenching into fists at the reminder, even though Farkas didn't know of how he really felt for Alduin, the hurt was still there... it will always be there. Lydia elbowed Farkas in the stomach and gave him a look to his cofnusion.
"Well, I said hi, I'm still alive, now I have things to do." Rahgol said before anyone could say anything, he turned and left.
"He's changed." Vilkas commented with a frown. "He's much colder, uncaring and is hurting."
"He lost the one he loved." Lydia said with a soft sigh. So much for hoping bringing Rahgol to the Companions would make him lighten up. "He killed her in Sovngarde."
Soon, everyone's expressions went wide eyed as they understood what she was saying. Farkas had this to say. "Yeah, he definitely outclassed us by falling for a Dragon..."
7th of the Morning Star, 4th Era 203
Rahgol had left Whiterun, transformed into Dragon form and flew in the direction of Dimhollow Crypt after he looked for a map and directions to the place. Finally, he arrived and transformed back to human form. Immediately when he navigated through the small cave corridors that was covered with snow, he heard voices talking with each other.
"These Vigilants never know when to give up. I thought we taught them enough of a lesson at their Hall." A gruff male voice chuckled.
"To come here alone… a fool like all the rest of them." Said another voice, feminine in nature.
"He fought well though. Jeron and Bresath were no match for him." The male said afterwards. Rahgol walked on further and soon arrived in an open room with a small waterfall with a stream. Indeed two vampires were talking to each other.
"Ha. Those two deserve what they got. Their arrogance had become insufferable." The woman cackled. Rahgol grabbed his bow and two arrows, his skill with archery had grown quite a log way and he was a skilled archer.
"All this talk is making me thirsty. Perhaps another Vigilant will wander in soon." The male vampire said with a huff.
"I wish Lokil would hurry it up. I have half a mind to return to the castle and tell Harkon what a fool he's entrusted this mission to." The female vampire said. Rahgol paused upon hearing the name Harkon, his mind went back to the council meeting in High Hrothgar five months ago, when that vampire showed up and he mentioned another named Harkon.
"And I have half a mind to tell Lokil of your disloyalty." The male vampire said
"You wouldn't dare. Now shut up and keep on watch." Just when the woman said that, Rahgol had lined his shot up before he released the arrows, which flew and struck the two vampires through their heads, killing them instantly.
Rahgol put his bow away when suddenly a dog as black as night with glowing red eyes and horrid looking fangs appeared. Rahgol unsheathed his sword as the hound leapt at him but Rahgol tackled it and stabbed his sword through it's chest before he ripped it out and walked away, heading deeper into the crypt. he killed anything in his path that came in front of him, vampires, vampire slaves, and their hounds.
Rahgol soon arrived in the cavern and heard voices up ahead, so he crouched down and walked on ahead until he stopped and looked down to see vampires and a Vigilant.
"I will never tell you anything, vampire. My oath to Stendarr is stronger than any suffering you can inflict on me." The Vigilant said defiantly.
"I believe you Vigilant. And I don't think you even know what you found here." A masculine voice full of malice and delight said with a chuckle. "So go and meet your beloved Stendarr."
There was the sound of a blade cutting through flesh, indicating the vampire had killed the Vigilant.
"Are you sure that was wise, Lokil? He still might have told us something." The voice of a woman echoed throughout the cavern. "We haven't gotten anywhere ourselves with-" The woman was immediately cut off by this Lokil guy. One vampire back at the entrance wasn't too pleased by this Lokil and judging from his actions and temper, he seemed to be the leader of this expedition.
"He knew nothing. He served his purpose by leading us to this place. Now it is up to us to bring Harkon the prize." Rahgol frowned upon hearing this. What is it the vampires wanted? "And we will not return without it. Vingalmo and Orthjolf will make way for me after this."
"Yes, of course Lokil. Do not forget who brought you news of the Vigilants' discovery." The woman then said.
"I never forget who my friends are. Or my enemies." Lokil ended. Rahgol rolled his eyes before he unsheathed his sword, jumped and dropped down on the vampire with his sword through the neck, then he ripped the blade out and killed the female vampire who was in shock at the sudden action, then Rahgol whirled and threw the sword at the third vampire in the room before he could make a move, killing him instantly. Rahgol walked over and reclaimed his sword before he sheathed it and walked over to the weird temple-like area.
There were three circles around the platform, both carved on the stone floor. Carved lines came towards a pentagon with some sort of strange pillar with a button on it. Many arches with a sharp point on top lined the place and five braziers were scattered around on nodes of the carved lines. In the braziers lied a strange semi-liquid substance that was purple.
He looked at the button again and decided to press it. It was a foolish mistake though, because he heard something snap. Something collided with Rahgol's gauntlet but failed to pierce it. Rahgol frowned as he thought this over before he took off his gauntlet and placed his hand back on the button, and his hand was suddenly pierced by something which caused him to grit his teeth as his blood dripped. He took his hand back and used a quick healing spell to heal the wound up quickly.
Rahgol quickly got to work in solving this puzzle, and it gave him a surprising result as a sarcophagus came out of the floor and opened to reveal... a woman.
The woman fell to her knees and behind her was... an Elder Scroll. After some heavy breaths, the woman stood up again. She groaned while grabbing her head. "Unh… where is… who sent you here?" Her voice was groggy, but it was a beautiful tone.
"A man named Isran." Rahgol said rather honestly as he frowned, arms crossed but he was tensed and prepared.
"I- I don't know who that is." The woman said with a thoughtful look on her face. She was breathtakingly beautiful, Rahgol will have to admit. Probably the most beautiful human woman he's ever seen. Her shining black hair was shoulder length and the bangs seemed to have been braided to not let it fall in front of her face. Her alluring orange colored eyes showed power and regality, not common for a vampire in his personal opinion. Even her nose was normal by human standards, it wasn't flattened. Her skin was pale, but not to the point that it became greyish and she radiated youth. She was dressed in some noble looking vampire armor, red and black colored. Rahgol briefly glanced to her not so modest looking cleavage before he looked away, his thoughts turned to Alduin before he shook them away.
"Is he... like me?" The woman asked.
Rahgol shook his head. "No. He's human, like me. But he will kill you as soon as he sees you." His voice was deeper because of the mask and she seemed to have realized that. A not so innocent smile spread on her face as she tilted her head.
"How so?" She asked.
"We're vampire hunters." Rahgol replied. She wasn't intimidated and was about to speak, but he cut her off. "Why were you locked away like this?"
She squinted her eyes. "That's… complicated. I'm not entirely sure if I can trust you. But if you want to know the whole story, help me get back to my family's home."
"Where do you need to go?" Rahgol then asked with a quiet sigh.
"My family used to live on an island on the west of Solitude. I would guess they still do. By the way, my name is Serana. Nice to meet you…" She gave a smile.
"Rahgol." Was his simple response before he turned and left, Serena following him...
Don't worry, this is still a Male Dragonborn x female Alduin story.
by the way, I'm still needing ideas for my future Skyrim/Inheritance Cycle story. Where should it start? How should the Dragonborn/Saphira pairing go?