Author Notes
Soundtrack recommendation: What It Is by Jonathan Davis
~~-x-~~
14th of Evening Star 4E 206
The group knew they had to return to Skyrim. The prophecy made clear all the locations that existed, all were in Skyrim from the screaming mountain. Even with the Silt Striders and horses, getting from Suran to Riften took time. At the top of the pass, Tenaya stopped to look out over Skyrim. She returned to Skyrim, renewed and with purpose, now a greater good required everything she had. Her memories drifted back to the first steps before.
"To think Serana, I looked out over Skyrim from this very spot to find you. I came with a purpose then Serana. To think I wanted to kill you. Now I return with you, trying to find my place in the world." Tenaya said, looking around at the snow-covered landscape below.
"You are not alone anymore. We are a team now and I must admit, I even enjoy having the other two around." Serana replied.
Matria and Ivy smiled feeling their place starting to make sense. For Matria, she had someone to speak with about who she was. Like Serana, she lacked the preparation and confidence to face her demons. She never accepted what happened during her offering. Her emotions barely came out anymore. Her family long gone, having abandoned her once they got their power.
They walked down the path towards Riften slowly. The sun took its toll on each vampire with it sitting high in the sky. Tenaya knew if things were to ever work, she needed Grelka. She needed her forge sister again. Tenaya walked with more confidence than she had in recent memory. Her heart felt healed, Serana showing her there is no point in holding doubt. Having Serana's hand intertwined in hers put things into perspective. What mattered now became most important, finding a way to Azura, and bring the fight to Velatin.
It didn't take long for bandits to strike. On the other side of Lost Tongue Overlook, groups of bandits swarmed the path from both sides. Tenaya slowed to a walk seeing the large group ready to strike.
"What are four woman doing walking such a dangerous path?" Their leader asked.
"We are but simple merchants trying to make a living." Ivy replied, bowing her head in respect.
Whispers through the group made the chatter clear to three of the four. Tenaya tensed her hands together with a spell already going through her mind at the ready. She waited to see the very first move against any of them. Their leader walked forward to Ivy with a dagger pulled from his belt. Serana looked to the sides seeing a combination of archers and warriors all around. Their numbers didn't leave much comfort to the group.
"Merchants eh? Where are your wears?" He asked, dropping a hand towards her belt.
"Let me show you. Do you have interest in weapons or ingots? We do not meddle in common items." Ivy replied.
The man scratched his jaw through the rough, shaggy beard. By the looks of it, he led this entire group. Matria dropped a bag to the ground while pulling out ingots of various types to prove they carried something of value. His eyes shifted from one to another without much regard for any of these merchants.
"Pay the tax and you can pass. Thirty gold for each of you," he demanded, wanting something for their time. "Another thing, do any of you know a woman who goes by the name of Tenaya Darix?"
"What is the name?" Ivy asked again.
"Tenaya Darix. The armor you wear is the armor described to us."
Serana looked to Tenaya very concerned. Random bandits were hunting them. The discomfort dwelled inside and at the same time pushed her rage forward. Why did these bandits want Tenaya? How do they even know her?
"I bought this from a merchant at the Imperial City."
"Well then, you could purchase another one. Remove your armor."
Matria and Serana looked to each other not liking the way this conversation turned. Ivy would be a sitting vulnerable, helpless without her armor. They had the luxury of durability and another form capable of taking massive amounts of punishment. While they seemed to think the same, neither expected Tenaya to do what she did.
"What do you want with Tenaya Darix? I know of her." Tenaya said.
Their leader rushed over, eager to meet the woman who spoke up. He pushed Ivy to the side while one of the bandits held her arm. Tenaya didn't back down from the man. She dropped her hands from their clinched state down to her sides. She unwillingly breathed the stench of the man who stood in front of her. The strong scent of wine reeked, oozing from every direction of the man. His armor didn't bother her. Tenaya stood in front of him with nothing but clothes protecting her body, choosing no armor before they left.
"Where is Tenaya Darix?" He yelled in Tenaya's face, moving closer, nose to nose with the woman.
"Why do you seek her?" Tenaya wanted an answer, she wanted her fate revealed.
He slapped Tenaya across the face. He yelled again demanding an answer on what she knew. Tenaya lifted her head and leaned his direction. She moved to his ear, whispering only the softest of words in the most articulated voice she had.
"I am Tenaya Darix."
Her teeth clamped down hard on the side of his neck. She ripped the entire side out and spit it to the ground. Blood came down her face and mouth as battle broke out. Tenaya threw Ivy to the ground knowing this fight didn't pertain to her. Matria and Serana shifted forms quickly. Arrows went by their heads while Tenaya stood in the middle of the path waiting for a challenger. The first approached with his axe drawn.
Tenaya grabbed the dagger from Ivy's armor on the ground. The man charging felt the sharpness across his throat while another charged with a sword. Arrows came to a quick stop while Tenaya grabbed the axe. Anyone foolish enough to charge lost their life with the axe becoming an extension of her body.
As quickly as it started, the bandits fled to the safety of the trees. Matria and Serana looked around for a moment. Each of them watched the bandits running further from the path. Neither left the spot wanting to stay as a group with their numbers helping. Tenaya pulled Ivy to her feet wanting a moment to explain herself. Before the words came out, Ivy said thank you. She already knew the truth about this group. All of them were leagues beyond anywhere she could ever hope to be.
"I did not like them knowing who you were." Serana spoke, changing back to normal.
"Nor did I. Let's hope everything is good. We cannot have this happening again. It felt like a trap." Tenaya replied.
The bandit encounter left them rattled. Tenaya cleaned herself up at the first stream they found. Walking around with blood on her face might present problems they didn't need. She still felt concerned over bandits knowing her name.
Tenaya kept ahead of the group on their way to Riften. She wanted to get there and speak with Grelka as quickly as possible to get armor going. It became clear they needed the armor and quickly. She wouldn't be sitting around exposed for long.
"Why didn't you change Tenaya?" Matria asked, curious, wanting to know her more.
"That form is a gift from Molag Bal. I despise him. I just can't…"
Matria chose not to ask anything else or even reply. It didn't appear Tenaya would accept what she was so quickly. This was not the gift she chose to have. Matria and Serana at least went into things being followers. They knew they could be picked. Tenaya didn't get that. She received the tear, under circumstances totally different to what the others experienced.
The walls of Riften came closer. Ivy took the lead from the group knowing the city better than anyone. Guards of Riften watched them as they walked through the gates. The entire group managed to get through, without of a problem. The city itself seemed to be bustling, for the time of day and the time of year. Tenaya went straight to the market knowing Grelka would not be far from there. She smiled seeing Grelka in her booth across the wooden bridge. The same smile wasn't returned when she recognized Tenaya.
"What are you doing here? Are you crazy?" Grelka said quickly, yanking her to the side.
"Nice to see you too. What are you talking about?" Tenaya asked.
"Half of Skyrim is looking for you. There is a bounty on your head. Dead for 10,000 gold. Alive for 20,000 gold. People are already gathering on the streets seeing you. The guards will let it happen for half."
"It has to be Velatin. They are hunting you. We need to get out of here." Serana said, urgency now coming through her voice.
"Go somewhere and get away. It is your only hope. Take this sword. It's all I can do."
"Wait! I need your help. I need to forge something new…"
Grelka walked to Tenaya pulling her to the side with others closing in, wanting her words to be private. "People threaten me every day, just for knowing you. I would help you if I could, but not here, not now. My warrior days are over. Please do not hate me Tenaya. I will find you soon, I promise my sister."
Tenaya's frustrations grew hearing this. She needed Grelka more than ever. The recipe she knew from Adrianne didn't seem to make complete sense. Together, they could figure it out. She needed the help, and no one seemed willing to be there anymore. Those years of asking for something and it being done were over.
Ivy pulled her sword and ran through the first person who came with a dagger while Tenaya and Grelka talked. The city seemed to recognize her immediately. There was no time to waste. Tenaya grabbed the sword from Grelka and looked around. Serana prepared magic on both hands while Matria waited for a moment. People inched their way closer to the market wanting to be the one to make the reward. Only those who either didn't need the money or were a friend backed away. Almost an entire city came to a halt with her appearance.
Tenaya swung the sword stepping to the middle of the market. She looked at the growing number of people around. Through the crowd she made out countless thieves, bounty hunters, random adventurers and of course the Dawnguard. She knew none of them would back down. All wanted the bounty on her head.
"Are you scared? If you want me, come get me." Tenaya yelled.
Two figures started causing a commotion in the crowds. Some of the crowd parted and they emerged wearing identical armor. Both stood in front of Tenaya, ready for a fight. The crowd itself started to back away some with their presence. Tenaya didn't recognize the armor at all. She turned to Ivy wanting to see what she knew. This was something different, something she wasn't quite sure what to make of it.
"Nightingales," Ivy said. "This is going to get messy."
Tenaya readied herself for the fight to come. She looked to them, one male and one female. As they approached closer, no one else moved. Thieves murmured about if they were real or fake. No one saw Nightingales walk in the daylight. Tenaya watched their every move with care. Each step they took looked well planned with intentions. These two were assassins from what she could figure out. Their movements were too fluid and too careful.
"Allow us to make a path for you out of the city." The man in the armor said.
"Path?" Tenaya asked confused.
"Nocturnal made the order clear, you must live to save Azura. They are sisters and Nocturnal instructed all of us to clear a path for you to go to Whiterun. As Thane, you have protection. From there your luck is your own."
Without saying another word, both turned to the crowd. As each walked through, they began to throw daggers to select patrons in their way. Others in the crowd started cutting people down, striking anyone who would threaten the way out. What appeared to be a hostile crowd, gave way to a surprise ambush to those who wished harm.
The path opened as they promised. Death moved swiftly. Tenaya didn't dare wait around and took off running. The others followed her steps immediately. Tenaya watched as more popped up through the city to remove anyone who walked in their way. Anyone who moved towards her with a weapon died at the hands of this group.
Outside the city, Tenaya kept running with them noticing the path had bodies on the ground already. Every so often they looked around to see a dead body. The entire way to Whiterun remained the same. The amounts of Bandits cut down shocked them, but true to their word, they encountered not a single person to try and collect the reward.
"Nocturnal and Azura are sisters?" Serana asked.
"I never knew that. I never paid much attention to Daedra. Looks like I need to study up." Tenaya replied, taking deep breaths to keep the pace.
"All these bodies. They wanted you dead. Skyrim, I doubt, will not be the same when it ends."
Around every corner, the shadow figures in the trees kept their path clear. Any bandit they saw became a part of the death toll. The Nightingales kept just ahead no matter how hard they pushed to get to Whiterun. Once they crossed the last bridge, the Nightingales backed away. Tenaya looked back to see one of them. Whoever they were, bowed in her direction. Now another Daedra joined the fray. Nocturnal chose a side.
Inside Whiterun, things took a much different path. Adrianne quickly ran over to warn her of the bounty. Before she could finish, an adventurer ran from the market with his weapon drawn. Tenaya pushed Adrianne aside to save her life. His mace came down between them. Tenaya backed him away from the group with each swing. She quickly waved the others off wanting to make an example of this guy as others looked on with their weapons drawn.
"Another friendly welcoming…" Serana cursed.
His swings missed repeatedly as the crowd around grew. Guards looked on refusing to interfere. The entire market emptied as did the Bannered Mare. Almost the entire city came to watch or wait their turn to take down Tenaya. Even under the danger, she shook her head when Lydia approached. Lydia struggled keeping to the side. She swore an oath, to the death, but Tenaya wanted this on her terms, not another.
Tenaya kicked his knee out from under him and drove her dagger into his chest. Another swung his sword and touched the back of her leg. Tenaya fell to a knee for that moment. Her eyes met others in the coming, all eager to join the fight. Her blood brought new energy to the fray. A moment of weakness made everyone feel like a hero.
Her mindless moment brought him forward. His return swing came down between her legs. She kicked his stomach and bounced up. Another woman threw a dagger landing in her lower arm. Tenaya looked on in anger. She flipped the sword to her other hand. His sword clanged from hers. The woman threw another dagger barely missing. A man ran through the streets screaming, axe raised over his head.
Serana threw ice spikes in his direction. The second pierced his leg, sending him tumbling to the ground. Everyone shifted to high alert, looking to the crowd as it formed around the streets. The woman threw another dagger with it grazing the side of her face. The trickle of blood dripped to the street. Tenaya swung around with the sword. The man stumbled backwards from the shockwave.
The sword flipped to her wounded arm, the other pulled the dagger out. Tenaya charged with the sword and stabbed him with the dagger. Another dagger flew through the air from the woman running around the crowd. The dagger hit Tenaya in the back, dropping her to the ground again. She looked up, Serana running to her side, seeing the woman readying another dagger. This time, she knew the target wasn't her, it was Serana.
"Move!" Tenaya yelled.
The dagger flew and hit Tenaya in the arm, resting over Serana's heart. Serana looked down at the dagger in her arm, realizing how close she was to death, had Tenaya not sacrificed herself. Serana watched Tenaya struggle to get back up with another wound. Another man pushed through the crowd with an axe drawn. Matria and Ivy tackled another woman trying to come through the crowd behind.
Tenaya barely made it to her feet before the axe swung her direction. Serana went for the woman circling through the crowd having no choice. Tenaya moved around as quickly as she could. When she finally thought she stood on her own, a fireball came through the crowd hitting her in the chest. The eruption alone threw her backwards. Tenaya pushed to her elbows with the man charging forward to strike her down.
Each wound inflicted took more of her strength. The sun overhead made the flames feel so much worse. She looked at her hands seeing the charred markings mixed with blood coming down her arm. Her head felt like it was spinning from the impact of the fireball. Every attack felt worse. All around, her friends fought the onslaught.
Against her wishes, Lydia joined the fight. The mage who appeared with the fireball didn't stand a chance against her blade. Much to her surprise, the guards stood back allowing it all to happen. Not one of them moved towards the attackers. They willingly allowed their Thane to be attacked without recourse. This world seemed out of place. She didn't recognize it anymore.
When the man came down with his last strike, Tenaya jumped in his direction. Her hands ripped the helmet off to expose him. Her eyes caught a man stabbing Ivy, a brief curse brought Tenaya to focus quickly. She looked to Matria holding up a ward against another mage. Serana chased the woman who threw daggers, almost losing her head to another deciding to join the fight. Lydia moved closer to the group seeing the attacks not slowing down while yelling for the guards to do something.
It all became too much. Tenaya trembled, overcome with anger and emotion all at once. The man who wanted her dead pulled himself together, but she had enough. Tenaya screamed, while everyone who fought ceased to do anything. The shriek rattled buildings, echoed off the mountains, sounding like a call from the Greybeards. What everyone started to witness brought forward fear and awe all at the same time. Tenaya didn't have Azura's light to balance out the pure darkness of Molag Bal anymore. With a single fit of rage, darkness swirled around Tenaya.
Serana looked on seeing the woman she loved, her Tenaya, give way to the darkness in her heart. Tenaya embraced a gift, another thing she didn't understand. This wasn't a transformation into a vampire lord form like her and Matria, this was something else. She knew Tenaya could shift forms at any time, having witnessed it before. This was something different. She didn't know what to expect, staring at the darkness swirling around Tenaya. Whatever Tenaya did made her become something much worse.
Seeing what Tenaya was shocked even Serana. The darkness she carried was unreal. Her skin changed before their eyes. Instead of just a paleness, she looked darkened like the creatures from Coldharbour. Her eyes glowed brighter and darker together. Serana realized what happened remembering her day on Coldharbour. Molag Bal did this before her very eyes to show his dominance. The very mist circling Tenaya, circled Molag Bal.
It wasn't just being a vampire. Molag Bal gave her something else, something he never meant to, a piece of himself. She tapped the essence of Coldharbour and embraced the darkness. This was what Azura meant by the gifts of a Daedra. Serana assumed it meant she was a vampire, one of his children. She never assumed that what Azura and Meridia did was something more. That wasn't just a tear hitting Tenaya like it did Matria and Serana. They needed to know the truth from Azura or Meridia.
The walk towards the man who wanted to kill her changed. She walked with purpose, boots digging into the dirt before kicking up. The man swung his axe wildly. Tenaya moved quicker than anything he tried. Her steps, articulated. Her movement, smooth. The darkening inside came full circle, ripping his neck out, drinking his blood for the entire city to see. No one fought seeing a true demon, a demon of their own creation. The viciousness consumed Tenaya, an entire city watching on.
The man struggled, feet kicking, only for a moment. She ran towards the woman who threw the daggers. Even with the speed, she couldn't get away from Tenaya. The daggers on her belt became the weapon of choice. Tenaya wrapped her arms tight with blood dripping from her mouth, taking the first in her hand. The dagger drove deep into her chest. Another dagger into her neck. One by one, Tenaya grabbed a dagger, stabbing deep into every part of her body. The woman died, but Tenaya refused to stop.
Serana grabbed Tenaya, attempting to stop her. Tenaya reacted so fast, punching her hard and threw Serana away. She looked on in shock, Tenaya not realizing what she did. Serana crawled backwards staring at the love of her life. Tenaya let herself go with the moment. The woman died a long time ago, but she chose to continue impaling her with every dagger on her belt.
"Tenaya!" Serana shouted.
Tenaya slowly turned her head to look at Serana, eyes blackened on the edges with brightness filling the middle. The Tenaya she knew looked possessed. This wasn't the woman she loved. Tenaya looked like she enjoyed what she did. Even Lydia gasp in horror seeing the likes of Tenaya, their Thane, doing something so sinister.
"What is wrong with you?! Stop this, please!" Serana pleaded.
"Why? They would torture me if they could. Don't you remember, my dear Serana? Alive I was worth double, just so I could be tortured." Tenaya replied monotone.
"This isn't you. Look at yourself! Do not become what they are. Molag Bal might have his claws deep in you, but I will fight to keep them away. I love you damn it! Stop!"
Tenaya opened her mouth as if she meant to gasp but didn't. The body fell to the ground with a thud, only the sound of daggers rattling in the air. She looked at her hands for a moment seeing for herself what she became, what she was capable of. Her head shook slowly, everyone slowly stepping backwards. Only one person caught her eye, in the back of the crowd, a familiar face with a smile growing wider; Ysolda.
When she moved, the crowd parted. She walked with intent, towards Ysolda. The movement through the crowd brought the death of another, stupid enough to attempt taking Tenaya out. Ysolda noticed Tenaya walking, quickly turning around to run. Tenaya took off her direction. There is no way she would let her get away. The Ysolda of old died. This was a twisted form of the once amazing person who roamed the market of Whiterun. Her smile no longer showed, except at the expense of others.
"Did you really think you would kill me?" Tenaya yelled, grabbing her arm.
"Let me go! I did nothing!" Ysolda yelled.
Ysolda tried to play the innocent one. It didn't work with her anymore. She revealed the foulness she was. Farkas however, knocked Tenaya's arm aside, pulling his sword in defense of Ysolda. "I know this woman. She is a good person. You have no right to come for her. I do not tolerate your crimes within these walls."
Tenaya slammed her head directly into Farkas. She pulled her sword ready for another to take the fight towards her. Aela came running, yelling for him to stop. Farkas didn't falter until Aela demanded he sheath the blade. When he did, Tenaya did the same. There existed no bad blood between them, as long as she remembered. Aela moved towards Tenaya wanting to get answers.
"You are a vampire. I knew you before, something changed. Speak Tenaya." Aela said, blunt as usual.
"There is no story for me to tell. I am what I am now. Ysolda is not what she appears. The man she serves, he is the same who wants me dead. I need answers from her."
"I cannot believe you are this. The companions cannot trust you anymore."
Aela walked away with Farkas. He didn't forget the bump forming on his forehead. Tenaya turned to Lydia who brought Ysolda back behind Arcadia's Cauldron, refusing to let Ysolda get to her house. She stood no chance of getting away, and had no love lost for the person Ysolda was now. Tenaya seemed more than pleased with the woman coming back who served the one coming for her.
"Doesn't look like you get away so quickly," Tenaya said, turning to Lydia. "Can you put her in jail? We cannot have her run back to Velatin?"
"Of course, my Thane. Her master almost killed me in your absence. I believe it is time to speak with the Jarl. You will not get a warm reception after the show you just put on."
"I will head to the keep now. See you soon enough."
Tenaya left where Ysolda and Lydia stood. She bumped into Farkas to send a message. His interruption was not welcomed and could have cost her precious answers. Ysolda held a lot of important information. His holier-than-thou approach left Tenaya less than thrilled. Had Aela not been there, the fight would have erupted between her and the companions. She had every intention of treating him the same as the others who attacked.
The others caught up to Tenaya as she walked through the market, heading towards the keep. Residents moved aside when she walked their direction, wanting no part of their Thane. To make it worse, her secret was out for the world to see. No one would look at her, in the same way, again. Tenaya, vampire Thane didn't have the same ring to it as she wanted, but the fear wouldn't change now.
Both guards stopped Tenaya outside the keep while pulling their weapons. She didn't have time for their games either insisting they move for their Thane. Neither refused until she pushed them through the door and into the keep. Everyone inside started to scramble to protect Jarl Balgruuf. Some guards who witnessed the events moments ago stood with the Jarl. Every guard and protector poured around the throne. Serana looked directly at the madhouse, seeing how the slightest rattle sends them off.
"This looks familiar…" Serana laughed.
"I am Thane of Whiterun. Why are you treating me as a criminal?" Tenaya yelled.
Not a single person eased up with her words. This seemed too much for them to handle. The guard standing at the edge of the stairs refused to move to the side. His presence blocked her from going up the stairs to speak with the Jarl. She moved left, he moved left. Tenaya balled her hand into a fist trying to keep her anger under control. These were once her friends. They helped her through the years, and she saved the city, anytime they called.
"Thane Tenaya Darix?" Jarl asked, standing up to look for himself.
"Yes. Your guards the last time beat me up, threw me in jail, refusing me entry to the city. Now I stand here a common criminal."
"I know of no such actions against a Thane. Now I hear word spreads of you, being a vampire. Speak Thane!"
Tenaya threw the guard to the side no longer having the patience to deal with him. She approached the group protecting the Jarl. Every person in that hall, stood ready to give their life, in protection of the Jarl. She stopped between the tables to give them a moment to ease up. She didn't want this to be a fight for no reason. The only people in this room she no longer cared for were the guards who beat her, leaving her for dead.
"I come to you seeking help. Years ago, I helped Whiterun overcome the criminal problems, fought the dragons, when no one else would and made this a better place. You granted me the title of Thane and assigned Lydia my Housecarl. Now I come to Whiterun, needing its help, in my time of need. It comes with great risk to Whiterun and one I am not sure that I can win."
"You are covered in blood from your head to your feet. Speak to what happened, I implore you. What has happened? Why do you to seek our help?"
The Jarl was a man of knowledge and action off what he learned. He never wanted to get into wars. During the rebellion, he chose not to take a side. He didn't want to put his people at risk and for good reason. What she asked of him invited war. She knew what could come or who would come. The city stood against the rebels when they attacked, and she hoped it could withstand the onslaught of people with gifts beyond this realm.
"The blood, I wouldn't worry about it. A lot has changed Jarl. I am a vampire now, one not of my choosing and at the same time, one of destiny. What comes is much worse. The Daedra are at war. I chose the side of Azura and accepted the role as her champion. Their champion, Velatin, represents the House of Troubles. The war is coming to this realm whether we like it or not. What I ask is for your great city to give me the time I need, without people trying to kill me."
"She speaks the truth my Jarl. The man, assisted by Ysolda, attempted to murder me. He killed guards without thought, and they also stood idle while she defended herself." Lydia spoke on her behalf.
"Tenaya Darix, I am not sure about this. I doubt I can honor your request. To put so many lives in jeopardy is not the way of Whiterun. To support a vampire, those requests are mighty."
"One week, can you give me one week to do what I need?"
Jarl Balgruuf walked around his court in deep thought. He wanted to support the Thane who willingly protected this great city, but to run such a risk meant endangering the entire population or worse, bring war to its walls. He walked down the stairs to give his answer directly to Tenaya. Guards ran over as if they would need to get involved. Irileth remained by his side with a hand on her sword. He looked Tenaya over closely.
"Tenaya Darix, you supported our great city when we needed it the most. It is true, you brought down countless dragons to protect our walls. It is just too much to ask this great city to put itself in danger, especially for the likes of a vampire. I ask you to renounce your title as Thane, in order to let the city have its title back, untainted."
The look between Tenaya and the Jarl brought tensions back to the room. Tenaya wanted nothing more than to kill everyone standing here. She bled for this city and in a moment's notice, they turn their back on her. Not even in her time of need would they help. No one in Whiterun wanted a vampire holding the title of Thane. No one in Whiterun wanted her around regardless of what she did for the city.
"With all due respect, I feel your decision is wrong. If you deem it so, I ask to leave and remain at her side. She has earned a life debt and a title means little." Lydia said as she remained shaken by the Jarl's orders.
Tenaya shook her head stepping backwards. "I will no longer be your Thane as of today, and I relinquish the title and my house. I hope your walls hold the city together when the war comes."
Jarl Balgruuf retreated to his throne. Everyone in the room remained a witness to the events seeing for themselves the request and denial. Most seemed pleased and others upset. Those who knew Tenaya shook their head in disbelief, while others felt relief. The tension quickly dissipated within the hall as she left with Serana.
People acted indifferent knowing what she was. The guards tensed up with her approach. No one seemed to enjoy their former Thane's presence anymore. Her mind refused to get bogged down with the thoughts of others or worrying what they thought. She would get the items from her house and leave this city. All she wanted was to speak with Adrianne to get a few things and perhaps a little bit of help on the recipe.
"Adrianne, I really need your help." Tenaya said running to her forge. "You told me bits of the recipe, but I need to know how it is forged. This might be all that saves my life."
Adrianne looked at the person standing in front of her. This was Tenaya, but a different person she knew than before. Her demeanor wasn't the same. A perpetual frown came over her face seeing the woman standing before her, no longer a friend.
"You expect me to help you, a vampire? I watched the attacks in this city from your kind. I even carry the scar from them so I cannot. My forge is no longer available to you and my store is closed."
"After all we went through, you cannot help me because I am a vampire now? I didn't choose this! I am caught between Daedra. Molag Bal did this himself. Azura saved my life. What more do you want from me?"
"What you are sickens me. I cannot and will not help you."
Tenaya ran off knowing she had few options. She needed help to get things done. Eorlund Gray-mane wouldn't help no matter how much she asked. Her time with the Companions ended quickly when she used magic. Each of them voted to expel her from the group and remove the bounty, only for the deeds she did in Whiterun. That wouldn't ever open again. Her mind raced. Her thoughts went around in circles as she puzzled of what she could possibly do. Though, no matter how hard or long she thought, the result was always the same. She had no answer, no idea of what she should do now.
"Slow down Tenaya." Serana said having enough of this constant back and forth.
"Why Serana? They hate what I am. No one in this damn city cares what I did! None of them!"
Teneya yelled loudly at Serana. She stood in the kitchen ready to breakdown again. Serana grabbed her hands trying to calm her down. This wasn't the worst situation they were ever in. She remembered much worse. Serana thought back to the moments in Bal Ur where Tenaya said she didn't know what to do and lived a lie. Seeing her scramble around like this without a clue made her see the truth, and one that needed to be said, even if it ripped them apart.
"Perhaps it is time you accept what you are Tenaya. I do not mean a vampire either. Together we faced my demons and you started to face yours. I think the time has come for you to accept the truth. You were dependent on others to get to where you are now and would have failed on your own."
Matria and Ivy whipped their heads around quickly hearing the statement. The shock from those words brought Tenaya to tears. She nodded her head in agreement, knowing the truth. This very thing she admitted not long ago. Tenaya followed the Dragonborn allowing him to make the decisions. She had followers to make sure over the years, everything was right. For the first time, everyone turned to her wanting direction. She wasn't the best, she relied on others as much as possible to cover her gaps.
"You were nothing more than a follower who managed to get through things with a little talent. You aren't the best with a weapon or with the arcane arts. The truth is Tenaya, you haven't needed to be that person, until now. Now the world needs that Tenaya. No more trying to be something you are not. Be the person we all see and the one the Dragonborn knew."
Serana pulled out the journal from her house in Bruma. Tenaya looked up through her tears. Serana smiled seeing the message went through loud and clear. She didn't have the anger or contempt for hearing the truth. Serana saw the reality of Tenaya after their time in Bal Ur. She lacked the conviction as someone once said and in the words of the Dragonborn, Tenaya needed to see how she brought hope. Serana turned Tenaya around to see for her own eyes.
"You are my forge sister. I am sorry I couldn't leave with you, but I will stand with you." Grelka said.
"We all believe in you Tenaya. Screw Whiterun and its people." Lydia added, handing her a spare sword.
"Do you get it now Tenaya? You were that person. She doesn't exist anymore." Serana added.
Tenaya looked at each of them seeing the people who she knew could help. They looked to her the way she wanted to be seen. Tenaya felt the energy radiating through her. The darkness no longer felt as strong. Inside, the light she felt from Azura, grew. She smiled for the first time without a hidden meaning or out of love.
"Lydia, we need a place to go, where no one else would know. Where would you recommend?" Tenaya asked.
"Frostflow Lighthouse. It sits abandoned after you and Serana cleared it and the cave. I know for fact it is vacant."
"How do you know?" Grelka asked.
"I have the key and stay there when I have to go for supplies in Dawnstar and Winterhold. Do not think for a moment Tenaya, that I didn't care for all your items, that I knew of."
"What about a forge, and supplies?" Tenaya asked.
"Let me take care of that. If we can get quarry stone and an anvil, the fuel will be readily available in any city. I am sure we can get ingots as well."
"Looks like we are going to the lighthouse then. Get everything you can for the trip, we will need it."
