Traveling south of Dawnstar, Ariel steered her personal horse Apple, down the snow ridden path. Fully decked in her Vigilant gear, ready to fight at a moment's notice. It was the tenth day of Morning star, first month of the new year. 4E 201. Eight months after leaving for Solitude and traveling across the country, Ariel was making her return to the Vigilant's Hall. With Tyrus' journal complete and off to the printer, she decided to get back to work. No matter how many books ended up being sold, fighting as a Vigilant of Stendarr is a still a priority. A duty placed upon her. One that she willingly does so, in return to the people who saved her life. The weather was freezing in this part of Skyrim, possibly in the low twenties. Ariel's fingertips had become numb, ice cold to the touch. Wearing steel gauntlets didn't help. Surveying the area, she spotted an abnormally giant pile of snow to the left. Two guards wearing fur armor conversed in front of a door under this pile. Nords by the look of it. Werewolf heads spiked on poles and snowberry plants decorated the outside.
"This must be the place." Ariel murmured. She led her horse to a tree off the road and hopped down. She petted Apple's head, commanding him to stay. The guards took notice, gripping their shiny weapons. Ariel held up her hands, approaching them cautiously.
"Turn around. You have no business here." Said one of them.
"Actually, I do." Replied Ariel, as cold breath expelled from under her hood. "I seek a group known as the Silver Hand. My understanding is that you deal in werewolf hunting. I have money in exchange for information."
The two guards said something to each other out of ear shot. One came over within a few feet. "Alright. Drop any weapons you have on the ground." Ariel complied, dropping her new elven sword. The guard who didn't speak gave Ariel a pat down while the other collected her stuff. Finding nothing except a bag of gold on her person, the guard motioned Ariel to follow.
Driftshade Refuge is the location she had been seeking. Southeast of Dawnstar. A local resident pointed her in the right direction. The inside made the Vigilant's Hall look like a king's palace in comparison. Walls and floor made of loose stone. Water leaking from almost every crack, due to all of the snow build up on top. A putrid stench of dried blood soured her nostrils. They traversed a turning flight of steps, into a large corridor.
"Wait here. I'll get the commander." The Silver Hand member disappeared into a hallway, leaving Ariel with the second who held her blade. No one spoke. Everyone there seemed invested in fighting and drinking rather than a pleasant conversation. Not exactly a welcoming atmosphere, but this is a business call. Minutes later, the guard returned with a man who immediately stood out.
A tall, jacked Nord with slicked back, red hair and a neatly trimmed beard. Black leather boots with metal shin guards. Black pants. A medium sized steel plate covered his bare chest. A sword similar to what his comrades used in his left hand. Sweating as if he just finished a battle. He scanned Ariel from head to toe. "Are you one of those Stendarr fellas?"
Ariel slid her hood off. "Yes I am. Wouldn't consider myself a fella."
"Get out. I already told your leader we're not interested." He turned to leave as Ariel double blinked in confusion.
"Wait a minute, there must be a misunderstanding. I work under the Vigilants, but a personal matter has brought me here." The commander ignored her words until she shouted, "A werewolf matter!"
He stopped in his tracks and turned around. "Werewolves you say?" Every Silver Hand stopped their current activity to all stare at Ariel. Making it quite awkward for the young Vigilant.
Ariel panned across the room at the glaring eyes and timidly nodded. "I wouldn't be here for any other reason."
"Well then, if it's about werewolves then you came to the right place. However, I will need you to answer this question for me." He slowly paced into Ariel's vicinity. Towering over the female Vigilant, he leaned on the gleaming blade. "It's my understanding that Vigilants specialize in fighting Daedra and those alike. At least that's what I've been told. Then why are you reaching out to the Silver Hand?"
"As I said, this is a personal matter. The Vigilants are very busy, and I do not wish to deter them with my issues. Now can we talk business?"
He nodded. "Follow me." Straight ahead was an opening that led to a large room. Two separate areas which overlooked the doorway. On the left, a planning station with maps spread across the wall. On the right, a bundle of smithing equipment. Other Silver Hand members of various races were scattered around.
"Name's Drexel Kass. I'm one of the Silver Hand's commanders. Have a seat." He threw on a fur waistcoat as Ariel took a seat at a table near the fireplace. Kass sat across from her. He leaned forward; hands folded under his chin. "Would you like to introduce yourself?"
"Ariel Ginter. Vigilant of Stendarr, animal enthusiast and soon to be published author."
"Ginter?" Kass' head titled in curiosity. "Would you...happen to know a Garris Ginter?"
"He's, my father. Did you know him?"
Kass released a hearty laugh. "Of course, I know him. He trained me."
Ariel's eyebrows jumped in shock. "Wow. Talk about a small world."
"Indeed. We ran in the same mercenary group, the Iron Horkers. Not the most threatening name, but we let our work speak for us. I haven't seen Garris in... what's it been, 22 years now. He was never the same after the troll incident. Last time I saw him, he said something about starting a farm. How is that old bastard?"
"Dead."
The smile quickly faded away, and Kass cleared his throat. He called out to someone. "Roxas, bring us a beverage will you. So, when did this happen?"
"Seven years ago, on that farm he worked very hard to get running. He left one day to deliver vegetables to Whiterun. He didn't return that night. What did was a werewolf. It killed my mother, brother and presumably my father as well since his body was never recovered. The monster also left three large claw marks on my back. If it wasn't for the Vigilants, I'd be dead as well. That's why I came to your group for help."
An imperial man placed two iron mugs on the table. He poured water from a ceramic jug and returned to his own deal. Kass took a huge drink before continuing the conversation. "While it's quite the tragedy that befell your family, trying to locate a werewolf from that many years ago is a stretch. That's even if it's still alive."
"What I ask for will not steer the Silver Hand away from their typical schedule of wolf slaying. That night, I managed to leave a large scar across the wolf's face, one that makes it recognizable even in human form. From the top left of its face to the right of its nose. All I need is confirmation of whether you've seen it or not. If one your men have already killed it, then I can move on. If it's still out there, then I need to know."
A Silver Hand member rushed into the room, going directly to Kass' ear. The woman whispered something and Kass nodded. "Sorry to cut this short. I have an important matter to attend to. I'll look into that werewolf with the scarred face. I can't promise anything, but I'll do my best. Stop by in a couple of months for an update."
"Oh, you can find me at the Vigilant's Hall. It's just over the mountains."
Kass rolled his eyes. "I know where the Vigilant's are. I said come back here. Now then, my men will see you out." Kass grabbed his sword and paused. He then handed the blade to Ariel.
"Take this silver sword. As a gift."
She accepted it. "Oh, thank you."
"A silver sword works great against wolves and other Daedra. Use it well." He headed for a door on the opposite side of the room.
"What about payment?" Shouted Ariel.
"Consider it a favor." He shouted back from a distance.
One of the Silver Hand aggressively tapped Ariel on the shoulder, motioning her to get moving. She was hastily escorted out of the fortress, with her belongings shoved into her chest. Without a single word, the door was slammed shut.
"How...unbelievably rude." She jumped on Apple's saddle. This was a small stop on her return to the Vigilant's Hall. Despite the Silver Hands cold nature, if anyone can get the job done, it would be them. She began thinking. "Father never talked much about his past. It's amazing to meet someone he knew. I wonder what Kass' problem is with the Vigilants?"
She kicked Apple into high gear and sped off through the snow. Thirty minutes later, she arrived. No Vigilants were present outside. Nothing strange about that. There was a lack of chopped firewood. Afiya always made it a point to keep firewood stocked, as the nights were especially cold. Ariel jogged up the steps and immediately noticed the front door slightly open. Ariel drew her sword. After taking a deep breath, she pushed it open all the way to find an empty hall.
"Hello?" She steadily wandered to the middle of the room. No lit candles. No food on the fire. No signs of life. Everything felt dead. Like the inside of a tomb. What caught Ariel's eye was a puddle of dried blood that stained the wooden floor. Horrible ideas of where that might have come from invaded her brain. Across the hall, a visual of candlelight flickered from under the door to Carcette's room. Ariel walked over and peeked inside. The leader of the Vigilants laid passed out at her desk.
"Keeper?"
No. Response. Ariel accidentally kicked one of the many empty wine bottles scattered about. Ariel put down her blade and gently shook Carcette. "Keeper. Keeper." Carcette mumbled incoherently in her sleep. Her father Garris spent many nights drunk, and she always knew a certain technique to wake him. Ariel grabbed one of Carcette's ears and twisted it. Carcette went from a low yelp to high pitched scream, jumping from the chair. What Ariel saw made her regret even bothering to raise Carcette from the dead.
Dry, cracked lips. Hair in a frizzy mess with random strands sticking out. Heavy bags under the eyes. What were presumably wine stains spotted across her robe. Wreaking of booze, being able to smell it from a mile away. To call her a disaster would be generous.
Carcette squinted. "Who in Oblivion are you?"
Ariel choked, almost being unable to speak. "Keeper Carcette, it's me. Ariel Ginter."
"Ariel?" She queried, swaying from side to side. Her exhausted face transformed into a mellow, yet creepy one. She trotted over and hugged Ariel. "Ariel! Oh my gosh. I knew you would return. I just knew it."
Ariel couldn't even find the willpower to hug her back. Still in absolute disbelief over what Carcette had become in her absence. A parade of footsteps rang from downstairs as a few Vigilants came in to see what the commotion was. Larina pushed her way to the front. "Ariel!"
Carcette was attended to by the other Vigilants. There appeared to be a method they used to get Carcette's mind straight. A lot of cold water was involved. Ariel and Larina watched from a corner of the room. The fair skinned imperial looked good. Only change being her black hair knocked down into a pixie cut.
"I'm sorry you had to see to Carcette that way. She hasn't been the same for a while now." Larina folded and rubbed her arms, giving a sense of discomfort.
"What happened here?" Asked a concerned Ariel.
"We were downstairs playing cards, and Carcette is usually sleeping off the hangover-"
"Not that! What happened to the Vigilants? The hall is filthy, no one is upstairs watching for danger. I pranced right in here with no problem." Ariel pointed at the drunken Keeper. "And you guys let Carcette do that to herself? You should all be ashamed of yourselves."
Larina shook her head, letting out small hints of annoyed laughter. Ariel's anger began to emerge. "What is so damn funny?"
"You really have no idea what's going on, do you? You waltz in here from your deluxe vacation and preach to the choir. We'll let me fill you in sweetheart. The Vigilants are in the worst shape we've ever been in. Our numbers have dropped like flies. We don't have the resources to bounce back, and vampires are becoming a massive problem."
Ariel realized someone was missing. "Wait, where's Afiya?"
Larina sighed, clearly distraught at what she knew.
"Larina, where's Afiya?"
"She left to investigate a place called Broken Fang Cave over in Whiterun Hold. Talks of vampires popping up across Skyrim got us worried. We got a tip that some may have been hiding out inside the cave. Afiya and two others went to check it out. That was four days ago, and we haven't heard from them since."
"So why haven't you gone after her?!" Ariel yelled.
Larina snapped. "It's not that simple Ariel! We've been getting slaughtered. When you left, there were forty-eight of us. Now there's around seventeen. There's only eight of us here. Anyone who hasn't quit are either dead, sick, or never coming back. The rest of them have nowhere else to go, and Afiya told me to stay put in case she didn't return. Because she expected something like this to happen." Larina threw her hands up in frustration. "I mean...I could go home to my father in Riften, but I can't leave everyone here like this. All we could do is sit here and pray that one of us makes it home."
Ariel looked at the other Vigilants, who were hanging by and listening. No one else uttered a word as the girls executed their shouting match. They were scared. It wasn't hard to tell. Ariel took a deep breath and relaxed her shoulders.
"You guys stay here. I'm going to find Afiya and the others." She headed for the door.
Larina grabbed her arm. "You're going on a vampire hunt by yourself?"
"I won't force anyone to go, but I have to. Afiya gave me a second chance at life. I owe her everything. That woman cared for me like her own offspring. If I was in her position, she wouldn't hesitate to do the same."
The mood had become grim. The hall that used to carry a vibrant and energetic atmosphere, became a cold and dark environment for petrified individuals. Nobody knew what to do. Their leader no longer capable of leading. Ariel made an impulsive decision to do something, which is better than doing nothing. She was scared too, but fear is only a mindset. A mindset that wouldn't hold Ariel back.
"Then I'm coming with you." Said Larina.
"So am I." said a Nord who ran over. Alan Iver. A veteran in his mid-forties who's been with the Vigilants from the beginning.
"Are you sure Alan?" Asked Ariel. "You don't have to."
"I'm sure. Everything you said was true. We all made a pact to protect the innocent from Daedra. We can't go back on our word now. We'll save our own or die trying."
Ariel halfheartedly smiled. "Okay. You two grab any equipment you'll need. We set off immediately."