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The cart came to a sudden stop waking Tucker as he felt his head somehow hit the floor of the cart again.

"Gods DAMN IT."

The carriage driver had the decency to seem a bit guilty.

"Sorry Dragonborn but we're here."

Tucker sighed and stood up.

"You're fine. I'm just a bit grouchy."

"He's always like this" Serana chimed in with a glib smile.

Tucker glanced at her tiredly with a huge fake smile.
"Thank you Serana."

He turned back to the driver and handed him some extra coins. The driver held his hands out to reject the money.

"Oh no Dragonborn, I could nev-"

"Just take the coins Bjorn. And how many times have I told you to call me Tucker?"

"Dragonborn, I couldn't-"

"Seriously or I'm gonna start shouting. You can guess which version of shouting I'll be doing."

Bjorn smiled and took the money.

"Well thank you Tucker."

"No problem. Come on Serana, let's get moving before I throw up in the cart."

Serana was already out of the cart and waiting for Tucker with arms outstretched to help him down.

"Please, I can get down myse-"

Tucker paused mid sentence as he saw Serana's eyes harden again. He took her hands and she helped him out of the cart.

"Fine, you win. Normally I would not suffer this kind of indignity since I am a grown man-"

"Oh, shut up, you didn't mind when I helped you into the cart."

Serana earned a chuckle from Bjorn at that. The sight of the young woman practically lifting the Dragonborn and gently laying him into the bottom of the cart was a sight not often seen. Tucker took notice of the chuckle.

"Ha, ha, harty har har. A building fell on me. Of course I'd need help getting in."

"Oh come on grouchy. We've got aways to go now. Here, put your arm around my shoulder."

Tucker didn't even bother to argue and slung his arm around her shoulder. Once again, Serana used her inhuman strength to practically carry him one-handed. Of course she let his feet touch the ground so he could feel the pride of mostly walking himself though she was carrying the majority of his bodyweight. She knew if she fully carried him he would resist. Damned nords and their stubbornness and pride.

They managed to get to the Fort just as the sun started to set. Serana could feel her strength growing and Tucker felt even lighter than before. Gods she loved the night time. She and Tucker usually travelled at night time since he knew it was easier for her. Today they only rode in the day because of how important their cargo was. Auriel's bow. This thing was the key to the prophecy her father was obsessed with. Though she wished that Tucker had taken some time to rest she understood that Fort Dawnguard was probably the safest place for the bow as of right now. Though Lydia was a fierce warrior and the Whiterun guards were noble warriors she knew Tucker wouldn't want to risk the danger to any innocents that wanted no part in this war. Enough people had suffered as far as he was concerned.

The guards at the gate started to shout as they saw the two hobbling towards them. She could hear crossbows being positioned on them. Despite knowing that these were Tucker's friends she always feared that one day they would kill her. The way they talked about all vampires as being monsters just set her on edge. How long was it before she outlived her usefulness and was put down like the rest of her kind? She knew Tucker would never allow that though she had her doubts at first.

He was an odd man, despite joining a group of vampire hunters he harbored no ill will or hatred of vampires at all. He hated the group of vampires that had been terrorizing the people of Skyrim and hated any vampire that did such monstrous things but there was no hatred of vampires purely for being a vampire. It was all based on their actions. And what's more, he had no fear. Even the Dawnguard, famed vampire hunters who were unafraid to do combat with a vampire, were scared of her. She knew they weren't scared to cross blade with her but her presence made them uneasy and they kept their distance. Almost as if they were afraid she would pounce on them and drink them dry with no warning. Without a sword between them and her or a crossbow at the ready they showed their fear of her kind.

Tucker didn't though. Here he was with his arm wrapped around her shoulder, putting most of his weight on her, with his neck fully exposed. No fear, no hint of it. It wasn't even him hiding his fear and acting confident. She could just feel his calm radiating out as if she were just another person. There was nothing there but trust. It made her feel good. She had felt like any non-vampire would see her as a monster and unfortunately, most vampires she knew did act like monsters. Tucker had even offered her the chance to feed on him if she desperately needed it. She had refused, of course, but she could tell that if she ever did truly need it he would let her.

Her musings were cut short by a familiar sharp bark.

"WHO GOES THERE! WE CAN SEE YOUR EYES AND I SWEAR TO STENDARR THAT A BOLT WILL BE BETWEEN THEM UNLESS YOU ANSWER US!"

"By Kynareth Isran, calm your crazy ass down!" Tucker yelled back.

"Tucker! And that thing. What's going on? Why are you here so late?"

"We've got some important cargo! It guarantees us victory! You wanna let us in?"

There was a pause. Tucker guessed that Isran was weighing out whether or not Serana had turned him and the two had come to drink the Dawnguard dry in a daring two-man frontal assault.

"Get those doors open now! Keep an eye out for any bloodsuckers that might have followed them here! If they've got that kind of cargo an attack could come any minute!"

The gate opened and the pair came in, Tucker still on Serena's shoulder to prevent heroically collapsing in front of his fellow vampire hunters. Isran took notice with only mild disdain on his face which Tucker took as progress.

"Alright, it sounds like you've got quite a story judging from how you look and that giant bow on your back."

Isran nodded at the large bow strapped to Tucker's back, although it was wrapped in some silks so that nobody could see what it was.

"It is but we should talk somewhere more private about it all. This is some world-ending information."

Isran nodded sagely.

"I was thinking that same thing. Guards! Night is falling and with it the bloodsucking fiends strength increases! Keep an eye out, see anything suspicious, put a bolt in it and we'll ask it questions in the morning."

With that Isran led the way into Fort Dawnguard.


Fort Dawnguard Interrogation Room

"This is as private a place as we can get. Nobody will be around here. Now if that thing will just set you down and leave we can talk."

Tucker's eyes seemed to flicker at this.

"No."

Isran crossed his arms.

"No?"

"You heard me. No, she is staying here. She's the reason I was even able to make it back in one piece. She's just been just as important to this mission as me. She deserves to be here."

Isran's eyes blazed in turn but he could see that Tucker wasn't backing down. Serana could feel something inside of her flutter in appreciation for Tucker's words. She really didn't care if she was allowed into the clubhouse or not but Tucker cared a ton. Finally Isran uncrossed his arms and took a seat.

"Fine. She hasn't had any incidents so far and, even if I think your trust is greatly misplaced, I'll allow it."

Serana sat Tucker down in a chair and took a seat herself. Tucker then began to fill Isran in on the prophecy, how the bow was the key to ending the tyranny of the sun, Harkon's obsession with the prophecy, how this bow was what he needed to achieve it, and how this bow was likely the only thing that could stop him. Serana noticed that Tucker left out the part about her blood being essential to the prophecy. Isran's face went from its normal grim, to grimmer, to a level of grim that Tucker never thought possible, and then to a bit of a softer vicious happiness at the realization that this bow could kill Harkon.

"So, this bow is the key to the prophecy? So long as we keep it away from Harkon he can't do anything?"

"Yes."

"But you're also saying that it could be the key to killing him so we should bring it as close to him as possible and kill him with it?"

Tucker rubbed his neck a little awkwardly.

"Yes."

"So, if this attack fails, and he gains the bow he will be able to destroy the sun?"

"Well, not quite. He would need the blood of a pure vampire."

"Isn't he a pure vampire?"

"Well yes but it needs to be a female one."

Tucker braced himself for what was to come.

"A female one. Like that." He gestured to Serana.

Tucker hesitated. He knew that Isran would refuse to launch the attack if it meant Harkon would have everything he needed but he couldn't out Serana. He was shocked when Serana spoke up.

"Yes. My father would need my blood to use the bow to destroy the sun."

Isran put his hand on his chin and stared at Serana. Tucker had a bad feeling of where this was going.

"Well, if she's the key to using the bow. Then she will simply have to stay here while we use it to destroy Harkon."

Tucker was shocked. Isran knew that one of the greatest dangers to the sun was sitting in the same room as them and did not suggest destroying it?

"Wait, you're not gonna suggest killing her?"

Serana shot Tucker a look. Tucker, of course rushed to defend his comment.

"Not that I want you to! No, I would fight the whole lot of you to protect her! I just was surprised."

Serana's look softened but maintained its edge. A partial save. Isran let a small smile creep across his face.

"Though that would be the most direct route to ensuring the safety of our sun I think it would be a poor way of doing so. Despite my distrust of it, it has proven to be a useful asset in this war. You clearly care for it and you're probably my best soldier so that makes it doubly difficult. And I don't want to risk it defecting if it somehow escape. So, no we will not kill it.

"Aw, Isran. You're getting soft aren't you. You just said she was a valuable asset. How sweet."

Tucker guffawed with his characteristic grin. Serana sighed and rolled her eyes. Isran started to sputter.

"I am NOT. I am just able to put aside my emotions for the greater good-"

"It's fine Isran. We all knew that you cared deep down."

"I do not! How dare you-"

Serana decided it was time to end this squabble before it got started.

"Boys, there will be time for this later. We have a more pressing issue."

"And what would that be?" Isran growled, clearly still incensed by Tucker's comments.

"I need to come with you to face my father and we need to use the bow to destroy him."


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