~*Chapter 23*~

"No."

Emily defiantly slammed the end of her staff against the pockmarked wooden floor. Calder took in a deep breath of the stuffy tavern air. The leather of his ebony gauntlets creaking.

"Emily you're making a scene," He hissed feeling the eyeballs of all within the tavern foyer. Emily didn't budge. Refusing to be embarrassed by a ramble of drunks.

"I'm not sleeping in the same room as it," She snarled nodding over Calder's shoulder where Serana stood with Agmaer, Meeko, and Dexion by the innkeeper's table.

"You didn't have a problem when we were out in the wilderness," Calder pointed out as another bar patron brushed past him.

"Yeah because there's no walls outside," Emily gestured around the building, "Here with one room door which she could easily freeze shut? I don't think so. They have to have another room. I'll pay mys…"

"They have one room available Emily," Calder shot back holding up a single finger for emphasis, "One. This is Greenwall. Not Riften or Sunhold. We're lucky they even have a room available."

Emily balled her fist and her grip on her staff tightened. Just when it seemed like the argument was lost Serana, who'd been leaning over the table to talk to the innkeep, approached them.

"There's an easy solution to this," She melodramatically sighed placing a hand on Calder's shoulder, "I'll go spend the night outside in the carriage."

"Absolutely not…" Calder began.

"It's ok," Serana quickly reassured him with a smile and a pat of his shoulder, "I don't mind. Besides I can keep an eye on our goods."

'Goods' had become their keyword for the three elder scrolls that were secured in a secret compartment of the Dawnguard-built carriage. Calder remained silent for a while. Exchanging one final look with Serana before a sigh signaled his acquiescence.

"A 'Thank You' is customary," Calder demanded of Emily, "She's going out of her way for you."

Emily looked to Serana, scowled, and then pushed past her. Rejoining Agmaer, Meeko, and Dexion at the innkeepers table.

"What's on the menu," She asked the innkeep, "We're starving."

Dinner like all other things was a tense affair. The food was subpar and the atmosphere of the inn only became stuffier the longer the night went on. Filling with the townsfolk and other villager's eager to drink away their meager profits. Then she had to endure the glares that her staff and new robes generated.

They had been a gift from the Arch-Mage and her enchanters. Carrying and patterned after Expert Restoration Robes but sporting the same white with blue and silver trimming aesthetic of her apprentice robes. Emily had loved them the moment she'd laid eyes on them. Unfortunately, they weren't properly fitted and she'd rushed to make adjustments. In her haste, over tightening the waist which now highlighted the size of her hips and rear. Something she worried might account from some of the more…intense…stares from the younger men in the tavern. It made her uncomfortable and she was grateful to be surrounded by such a group of powerful warriors.

Of course the external enemies were nothing compared to the threat of the internal one. While Calder and Dexion quietly discussed travel plans over the map, Emily and to a lesser extent Agmaer kept an eye on Serana. This seemed to amuse the vampire, who oscillated between leaning over to listen to Calder and casting the two devilish grins. Despite the uneasiness surrounding their interactions Emily felt a little bit better that Agmaer had not been brought under the vampire's sway. A fact confirmed by their conversation the night before they left for Ancestor Glade.

Emily was about to go to bed early when someone knocked on her door. She sighed; Bidding Meeko to stay at the edge of her cot before rising. The open door revealed a clean shaven young Nord with his dirty blonde locks pulled back into a low pony tail.

"We need to talk," Agmaer curtly stated.

A pit formed in Emily's stomach and she made to close the door. It was too late, she was too tired, and the shouting match with Calder from two days ago was still fresh. Agmaer placed his hand firmly against the door. Holding it open. The forwardness and his stoic gaze surprised Emily who yielded wordlessly.

"Listen," Agmaer calmly stated, "I know you're upset at me, but we need to be on the same page when it comes to that vampire. Calder's clearly compromised and I don't know how much help the Moth Priest would be in a fight. Which means we are all we have. So no ignoring me on the way to Ancestor Glade. Got it?"

Emily thought about it for a few minutes. Her eyes tracing the cobblestone of the wall over Agmaer's shoulder. It was hard for her to disagree with anything he'd just said. Especially in regards to Calder.

"Ok," She mumbled, "but I don't want to talk about the…thee um…"

Her words failed her but Agmaer seemed to understand the implication.

"Fair enough," Agmaer held out his hand, "Promise?"

"Promise."

For the three days since they'd left the Fort he'd kept his word. They'd even managed to fall back into some of their old routines. However, Emily suspected that the tension from working with the vampire was only masking the tension between them. He'd still proposed to her. Completely out of nowhere. While she had, and still was, dealing with a major cris…

"Alright," Calder's declaration snapped Emily back to the present, "Once the carriage is fixed we'll take the road north."

He held up the map and traced the path with the tip of his knife while he spoke,

"With a little bit of luck we can reach Sunguard in two days. We'll stock up there and then head west over the mountains to get to Helgen before going south west to where Ancestor Glade is."

He tapped the location with the knife before handing the map back to Dexion.

"How long did the blacksmith think the repairs will take?" Emily asked polishing off the water in her mug.

"Three hours," Calder sighed with a roll of his eyes.

"Three hours?" Agmaer blurted out a piece of bread still in his hand, "For a busted axel?"

"He's just trying to high ball us so he can convince us to pay a bit extra for him to 'get it done sooner'" Calder sighed exasperated by small town antics.

"Oh I'm sure with a little…encouragement," Serana turned to Calder with a twinkle in her eye, "I could get him to wave the fee."

Calder knew that look. After Dawnstar he'd forbade Serana from using illusion spells on innocents. Serana had responded that she'd have to rely on her other assets. It had been amusing the few times she'd oh so innocently charmed people into doing their bidding but now…something about the thought didn't feel right. The fact that he felt that way only furthered his emotional toil.

"No," Emily angrily protested cutting through his conflicting feelings, "Using illusion spells like that is not just unethical it's illegal."

"Why my good girl," Serana mock exclaimed, "Why would I need an illusion spell when I have all the persuasion I need right here."

With an open palm she highlighted her ample chest. Emily scoffed, shaking her head side to side in disgust.

"Slut," She grumbled under her breath.

Considering how both Dexion and Agmaer turned to her aghast it had apparently not been as quiet as she thought.

"What did you just say?" Calder barked.

"I said slut," Emily announced pointing at Serana with her fork, "She dresses like one, she acts like one. Just like all the females of her kind."

"Aww don't be jealous little one," Serana winked, "Plenty of guys like petite women."

Agmaer's stern 'that is uncalled for' was drown out by Emily's raucous laugh which joined the choir of voices in the tavern.

"Really that's the best you can do?" She shot back with an enormous grin, "I've got a heart that beats and soul that's pure. I'm not jealous of your rotting corpse."

"Enough," Calder growled slamming his fist on the table.

That shut everyone up really quick. He handed the key to Dexion who'd been uncomfortably watching the argument play out in front of him.

"Get them to the room," Calder stood grabbing his half-finished bottle of mead, "I'll be out in the carriage with Serana."

Before any of them could protest Calder left the table. Angrily pushing and shoving his way through the crowd and out into the cool night. Only then, on the empty tavern porch, did he release his anger. Slamming his hand against one of the wooden trunks that made up the tavern's outside wall. Dismay flooded his heart when he removed his fist revealing a serious crack in the wood. The embarrassment and shock gave him the force of mind to begin calming down. Forcing that old draconic rage back down into the depths of his soul where, until recently, it had been secured. Deep breaths of the fresh night air helped and gradually, ever so slowly he brought his rage back under control.

"You should go back."

Serana's gentle voice drew his attention from the crack in the wood. Of course she'd followed him out and was leaning against the railing behind him. Her back arched slightly and her eyes beginning to noticeably glow.

"Get some rest in the inn," She continued nodding towards the door, "I'll be fine on my own."

Calder just shook his head and sighed. Resting his back against the tavern wall. The two of them now facing each other.

"No. I don't want to see Emily till tomorrow morning," He took a swig from his bottle, "Ever since we left the fort she's been a little brat."

"Part of that is my fault," Serana mused crossing her arms before tilting her head to the side.

Calder shook his head in response.

"No it's not. She's choosing to start shit. Agmaer and Dexion are uncomfortable but they don't go out of their way to jeer and make snide comments about you. It's pissing me off. And then calling you a slut," Calder scoffed taking a quick sip from his bottle, "It's improper and rude, especially after everything that you've been thro…"

He caught himself too late. In the corner of his eye Serana tensed. Becoming as still and unmoving as a gargoyle. Her arms crossed tightly against her chest and unblinking immortal eyes now fixated on the flickering lantern just above the tavern door. A heavy silence, more suffocating than the tavern, fell. It stayed that way for a time and Calder cursed mentally for unwittingly bringing up such a sensitive topic. He was about to utter an apology when Serana spoke to the lantern.

"Does Emily…know…what I've been through?"

Her voice was dangerously even and low. It was a tone she rarely sported and it was one Calder didn't ever want directed at him.

"No," Calder firmly replied looking straight at her, "I gave you my word I'd never speak of that to anyone."

Serana stayed silent for an uncomfortably long time. The flames of the lantern dancing in her eyes as the night descended upon the land. At last she drew her attention from the wick and back to him. Her posture ever so slightly relaxing.

"Then don't worry what she thinks of me," Serana stated coldly, "I certainly don't."

Calder took a moment before nodding understandingly. Serana took one last look at the lantern before straightening up and letting her arms fall to her sides.

"Let's go," She stated walking past him "It's getting late."

Calder took a swig of the mead before obliging her. The two set off towards the stables. Guided by the crackling braziers on the sides of the road and Serana's vampiric vision. The silence between them was palpable and Calder grew fearful he'd offended her or worse drug up terrible memories. The thought of causing her pain made Calder even more angry at himself than he already was. Just when he was about to make small talk Serana spoke,

"If you're so worried about how I'm perceived," Her voice was low but soft, "You might want to keep a closer ear on your words."

"What do you mean?" Calder asked with a frown. Straining to make out her expression in the moonlight.

"'I'll be out in the carriage with Serana.'" She wryly repeated, "I'm sure that could be… misconstrued."

Relief flooded his body at her little joke and he laughed.

"Oh that's not what I meant and they know it," He responded.

She chuckled softly.

"I don't know. They believed me when I said I'd seduce the blacksmith," She murmured, "And you're ten times handsomer than he."

Calder would have been flattered if the blacksmith in question hadn't had ten years on him sporting a potbelly and filthy rotten teeth.

"I take it I'll have to grease his hand tomorrow then?"

He'd meant it as a joke but the melancholic sigh from Serana implied otherwise. Before Calder could clarify she answered.

"If you really want me to I could but I…I don't know…I don't feel comfortable doing it for some reason," She mumbled.

Calder's heart skipped a beat at their similar sentiments. Uncomfortable at the implications. He finished off the remainder of the mead before placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I'll never tell you to do something that would make you uncomfortable."

At just that moment they passed close enough to a guard that the light of his torch briefly illuminated her face. In that brief moment he saw her look to him. A little smile, the same she'd worn after his massage, graced her lips.

"I know."

~*B*~

Greenwall's little temple was quant and small befitting a town of its size. Containing only the most basic of shrines and pews; It was lit only by a single iron chandelier above. No fancy stained glass windows in a town of maybe a hundred people. In many ways the temple reminded Emily of the shrine room at the Hall of the Vigilant and to a lesser extent the one at Fort Dawnguard. Which meant the still room had provided her and Meeko an oasis of peace and solitude since they'd arrived after breakfast.

Unfortunately, that peace was soon to be over. For just as she finished another prayer to the nine she heard the door to the temple open and close. The sound of heavy boots approaching the altar where she knelt echoed through the empty chapel. In the corner of her eye she recognized the dawnguard boots and grieves, as well as the hilt of the sunhallowed sword. Agmaer knelt down next to her and began to pray.

She was grateful to hear him quietly say Talos' name in his prayers. Apart from Calder and a few others at the Fort she knew of no one else who did. It was sad to think that those wretched elves and their Imperial puppets were slowly but surely eroding the divine of man from the people.

"Are the repairs done?" She quietly asked after he finished his prayers.

"Yeah," Agmaer replied after a short pause, "We're waiting for you outside."

Emily rose from the floor. Using her staff to pull her stiff knees off the ground before slipping her arm through its shoulder strap. Meeko followed behind as she made towards the front door. She stopped halfway when Agmaer call her name. Turning back to him with knitted eyebrows at the look of agitation and concern on the young Nord's face.

"Listen Em. I know you're going through a lot, and I am…so sorry for adding to it…" His voice trailed off and she didn't need to hear the rest of the sentence to know what he'd meant, "But you can't keep taking it out on the vampire."

Emily scoffed, looking up the exposed rafters of the ceiling.

"Why?" She grumbled, "She shake her cow udders at you too?"

"Talos woman!" Agmaer slammed his fist onto one of the pews causing Emily to jump, "Can't you see that you're going to get us killed if you keep antagonizing it!"

Emily stood stock still. Flabbergasted at the outburst. Agmaer was yelling at her. Agmaer never yelled at her…or anyone else for that matter. Not outside of combat at least.

"You…you've got a sunhallowed sword," She struggled to respond.

"What good will that do if she slits my throat before I can draw it?" Agmaer shot back his anger rapidly giving way to a mixture of fear and desperation, "You told me that you couldn't even scratch her ward while overcasting. You're pulling the tail of sabertooth cat with every little jab, insult, and jeer you direct at her. What happens if you say the wrong thing and she actually snaps? Do you think we could put her down? Do you trust that Calder would actually step in on our behalf?"

Despite wanting to respond that her magic had only grown, Emily knew in her heart of hearts that it hadn't progressed to that degree. Just like she also knew that Calder wouldn't dare stop his precious little whore from drinking them dry. Agmaer continued speaking, walking down the aisle closer to her,

"I know that you're mad and trust me I am too," He placed his hand against his heart in a conciliatory way, "But please think about what you're doing. Isran always says that if we want to beat the vampires we have to play the long game like they do. Don't let her rile you up and vice versa. Ok? We will kill it, just not today."

Emily pondered his words in the silence that followed. He was right of course, his arguments sound and his logic impeccable. A fact she forced her emotions to recognize.

"Ok," She quietly replied at last, "I'll watch my tongue around her."

Agmaer let out a large breath of air, as though a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Gesturing forward, they departed the church together. Rejoining the others at the now repaired carriage.

~*B*~

Sunguard was the Rift's second largest city, situated on the eastern bank of Lake Geir just at the mouth of the Treva River. It controlled access to the Treva River trading route and the custom dues it imposed on all ships and barges that entered the Treva had made it very wealthy. Back then Calder had even heard it would soon surpass Riften as the largest city in the Hold. The rapid growth was evident by the increasing cluster of houses and open air bazars around and leading up to the city gates.

Unfortunately, the merchants and caravans hadn't had what they'd been looking for. So Calder and Dexion entered the city while Agmaer, Emily, Meeko, and Serana had stayed behind at the carriage. At first Calder had hesitated. He didn't trust Emily and Agmaer to not take advantage of his absence and attempt to murder Serana. However, Emily had calmed down significantly since they'd left Greenwall (what he would have given to hear what she and Agmaer must have talked about in that church.)

After confirming it to be ok with Serana he and Dexion set off. Spending nearly two hours meandering from toolsmith to blacksmith looking for the item they eventually found in a second hand general goods store. They'd returned to the carriage and set off as soon as the rest of the travel supplies had been loaded into the back.

"It took you three hours to find a draw knife?" Serana grumbled as Dexion revealed with a flourish what they'd purchased to the two women in the back of the carriage with them.

Calder felt a little sad for the Imperial who seemed genuinely dismayed at her obliviousness to the tool in question.

"Obviously there's something special about it," Emily muttered seated across from her, "They wouldn't have spent three hours looking for something we could have brought with us from the Fort."

She glanced over to Dexion who sat to her left. Narrowing her eyes at the Moth Priest as the carriage rolled over the uneven cobblestone road beneath them.

"Right old man?"

"Of course young lady," He responded sounding a little hurt at her insinuation, "It's not just any type of draw knife. This is made of a special type of material. One that will allow me to carefully remove the bark from a Canticle Tree which will in turn attract the Ancestor Moths. Once enough of the moths are gathered, they'll provide me with the second sight needed to decipher the scrolls."

"So that's the Ritual of the Ancestor Moth?" Serana asked. Which Dexion answered with a nod.

"Sounds simple enough," Calder spoke balancing his palm on the hilt of his blade, "There anything else we need to know about this ritual?"

Dexion's demeanor darkened.

"All you need to know is to not interrupt it once it's begun," He spoke clearly and seriously. Taking great care to carefully enunciate each word, "Under no circumstances should you intervene once the moths begin to hum. Even if I appear to be in pain or dying. Do not approach me until the moths dissipate from my body and the scrolls are closed. Do not intervene."

"What will they get angry or something?" Serana asked with a lopsided grin.

To both Calder and Emily's amazement the dark look the Moth Priest gave her managed to wipe the grin off her face. Then he was back to the same old affable quirky old man that they'd come to know.

"Every Moth Priest is taught this ritual, but few ever get the chance to perform it... I consider myself fortunate to get such an opportunity," He happily beamed.

The Imperial's excitement was infectious. Calder soon found a smile on his face. A smile that faded almost immediately. His mirth and enjoyment replaced with cold apprehension and dread. None of them noticed, Emily began reading from her book while Serana and Dexion began to chat about esoteric concepts. Not that they could have known.

They weren't the ones that Mora had just spoken to.

It was the first time since the Soul Cairn, not counting the awful dream. Just three words. Three words that had badly rattled his soul.

It won't work

Author's Notes: It's only the calm before the storm... Also can I get a hooray for adding back in the ES1 cities and villages that lazy Bethesda didn't code into the game? Because I'm a map nerd Greenwall is on the western bank of Lake Honrich where Heartwood Mill is. As always thanks to all the favs/follows.