~*Chapter 30*~

Despite being the capital Hold, Haafingar had never truly felt safe to Emily. Sure the cities were opulent, the roads carefully maintained and well guarded, and every garrison filled not with conscripts but professional men at arms. As a laywoman Emily could only conclude that the defenses were expertly prepared.

For exterior threats.

She'd been inside the covered carriage when a Jusciticator and his entourage had passed by them. Escorting a chain gang of Talos-worshiping Nords to their embassy in Solitude. Apparently they'd made a nice snack for Serana. Emily had gotten the story second hand from Calder who was the one driving their carriage. As he told it the vampire, seated to Calder's left, had, after giving him 'the look' , exploded into a cloud of bats. Engaging the Thalmor before Calder could utter a word. The shocked mer were overwhelmed before they knew what had occurred. Slain before a spell could be flung. Releasing the terrified prisoners Serana had drank all seven of the Thalmor dry; Returned to the carriage and then promptly fell asleep in the back.

"She tends to get sleepy after she feeds," Calder shook his head with a wry grin on his lips as he guided their carriage around a fallen branch.

Calder could tell his amusement was lost on Emily. The Breton now sat at his side. His ebony helmet in between them. She'd taken Serana's watch while the vampire slept off her blood crazed coma. Keeping an eye on the woods surrounding the road. Emily was conflicted. Her hatred of the Thalmor and glee at any of them dying was contrasted by her disgust of vampirism. Still she pushed it aside. Now was not the time for an argument. With both Serana and Agmaer asleep or out of earshot in the back of the carriage now was the first opportunity she'd had to ask Calder about what happened in Morthal almost a week ago.

"So how did it go?" She asked.

"Hm," Calder replied. His eyes not leaving the road.

"You know…Falion," She whispered the Redguard wizard's name.

Emily watched as the merriment on Calder's face evaporated away. He chewed on his cheek. Shaking his head in sorrow. Emily's heart dropped at the sight. Her worst fears confirmed.

"H-He can't do it?"

"No he's willing to try," Calder replied, "It's a matter of…materials…"

Before she could query him on what he meant Calder went on the offensive.

"Emily," He glanced over to her while still keeping one eye on the road, "Did the Vigilants ever use Falion to cure a vampire?"

"Not that I know of," She responded, "But they probably would have kept that from me."

They kept a lot of things from me, She bitterly thought.

"We'll figure something out. Speaking of which, did the records office in Morthal give you any troubles with the papers?"

It was an attempt to change the subject and thankfully it seemed to work.

"No," Emily shook her head, "They accepted it without question."

"Good."

A rather nasty bump in the road delayed Emily's response.

"I still think it's too much to give me Calder," She kept her voice neutral. As if testing the waters. Of course Calder wasn't having any of it.

"I don't think so. It's quite poetic."

An arched eyebrow prompted him to continue,

"You're responsible for me and Serana being together," Calder gestured to himself then to her, "So I set you up with a great dowry."

It was meant as a little quip. So concern flooded his being when Emily seemed to tense up. Worrying he offended her he opened his mouth to apologize but she beat him to it.

"I…um…s-someone already proposed to me."

Apparently she'd forgotten who she was talking to. Bracing for a barrage of questions and well wishes she received merely a chuckle from the Nord to her left.

"So Agmaer finally found his courage huh?"

The way her eye twitched in shock confirmed Calder's suspicions. A sliver of a smile broke out on his lips.

"He's been smitten with you since you first met. You didn't notice?"

"No," Was her one word reply.

"Well he's a good kid. Good family," He leaned back against the driver's seat, "And hey, you'll be right next to your in-laws, which…"

"I turned him down."

Now this drew Calder's full attention. Not out of anger or shock. There was an…uncertainty, almost guilt to her tone. Seeing his curiosity she sighed.

"Loudly, Angrily," She said, almost embarrassed, "We've, sort of, made up since then but I-I don't know what to do. I'm so conflicted."

"Do you not like him?"

The question was so blunt that if it had come from anyone other than Calder or Isran Emily would have thought it rude.

"No," She shook her head, "He's courageous and kind and a lot of fun to be around. His family is nice too. He hasn't abandoned Talos, he doesn't drink…alot…and he…"

"Are you not attracted to him then?"

There was a longer pause this time as she seemed to ponder the question. Once again shaking her head.

"No, he's good looking."

"So what's the problem then?"

Well that was the million septim question. What was the problem. Whether he married her or not Agmaer was going to be a terrific husband. So what was it that made her panicked or upset at the mere thought of them together.

"T-That's just it. On paper he's a great choice and I could see myself genuinely falling in love with him but…there's…a lot…that I'm dealing with right now. I feel like I…I…I…"

I don't really know who I am anymore.

The thought was like a flash of lightning that lit the forest of her mind on fire. Just like that it all made sense. Her identity had always been tied to her parents. Either implicitly or explicitly. Joining the Vigilants had been to please Carcette, the one who took her in. Now, since Markarth, learning the awful truth had dashed it all to stones.

Of course she was always scared and angry! Her entire worldview had been knocked down!

Calder watched as she seemed to deflate. Not out of exhaustion but as though a great had just been lifted off her shoulders.

"You figured it out?" He asked.

"Yeah, yeah I did," An unrestrained smile spread across her face, "Thanks Calder."

"Your welcome," Calder curtly nodded, "Now keep a lookout for more Thalmor. We're more than far enough from any major settlements."

Her smile turned sinister.

~*B*~

Calder's shield was all that stood between him and the brutal barrage of wind and snow. The twin assault was brought on by the high altitude winds cutting through Druadach Mountain range. Not content with chilling his bones, the blizzard had also rendered everything a cart's length in front of him to opaque whiteness.

The path was gone.

Panic was a choice, and one Calder refused to make. He'd scaled the Throat of the World multiple times. The Druadach's were but foothills in its shadow. His confidence was rewarded and he soon recovered the path. Yet even with sure footing regained Calder hesitated. Cautiously, ever mindful of the sheer drop to his right, he turned and faced his party. Taking stock of their situation.

It was getting close to a white out. Coupled with the high altitude mountain winds and the increasingly narrow path Calder was close to calling it. Not just from the life threatening conditions but the sheer exhaustion brought on by the three-day journey up the mountain. Meeko seemed to be the only one of their party unaffected by the fatigue and strain. Emily had long since given out, and was being carried on Serana's back. The vampire, whose raven black hair and clothes were now filled with white snow, had taken up the 'rear' of their group. They'd nearly lost Agmaer to a loose rock twice. Both times saved from falling into the abyss by Calder's quick reflexes and strength. The younger Nord was directly behind him. Plumes of steam exploding from behind his handkerchief covered mouth. Noticing Calder's hesitation, he took a few cautious steps towards him.

"Did we lose the path?" Agmaer's shouting was barely audible over the howling wind.

Calder shook his head in the negative. Having made up his mind. They couldn't make camp here on such a precarious position. They would continue forward, looking for a small crevice to wait out the blizzard. Motioning to Serana and Agmaer to continue upwards he was stopped only by Serana's desperate cry.

"Calder!" She approached the two while repositioning Emily on her back, "The kids are at their limit!"

Emily stirred under the heavy parka and face covering she wore. Briefly mumbling something inaudible over the wind. Agmaer's eyes filled with fire at the vampire's words but his body language confirmed her truth. As much as every ounce of his being wanted to deny it Calder couldn't argue with the facts. With a final look of encouragement from Serana he turned and faced the direction of the wind. Fighting back against the gales while he drew in a deep breath, and shouted out,

LOK VAH KOOR

For the first time in millennia the mountains bore witness to the Thu'um. The words of power fought savagely with the gale. With every echo of the thunderous shout throughout the forgotten peaks the harsh winds became less and less potent. Until mercifully they faded completely. Where once was the unforgiving howling of the mountain storm there was stillness.

A stillness that quickly became uncomfortable. Almost sinister.

"You can just…STOP THE…" Agmaer's rage filled shout was cut short by Calder's ebony clad hand clamping firmly over his mouth. He drew the other Nord against him. Flattening his back against the mountainside. Breathing quick and shallow. Counting down from thirty in his mind.

The stillness mercifully persisted.

Calder didn't dare let out a breath of relief. Instead merely releasing the angry but unnerved Agmaer from his grasp.

"That could have caused an avalanche," Calder murmured to him, "It still could and if there's any dragons around then we could be in serious trouble. We need to get moving now."

Agmaer didn't need to be told twice. They continued on at a brisker pace. Not even bothering to stop for dinner. Now unhindered by the blizzard that had afflicted them there was an understanding amongst them all. Reach the summit before nightfall. The sun was just beginning to sink below the horizon when they did. The path taking them to a small crevice; A break in the mountain wall. One big enough for them to walk single file through and one flanked on both sides by carvings of the sun-like sigil of Auriel.

Calder stopped dead in his tracks when he saw it. A strong sensation of deju vu filling his being.

They'd reached it.

Without a word Calder led them in. Down the winding path that he'd walked in his elder scroll induced vision. Sure enough the other end of the crevice opened into a small valley. One with a clearly defined cobblestone path. Leading to a vaguely altmeri styled building. Made of wood and about as big or maybe a bit bigger than the Torchbug Tavern in Rinis. Calder tested the door and found it to be open.

Groaning under the immense weight of the wood it swung inwards. Their breath was still visible inside. Despite the risk Calder removed his helmet. Taking a look around the place. An antechamber, filled with layered lit candles greeted them. Then a short flight of stairs before they entered what appeared to be the main chamber. Its ceiling was low, supported by pillars housing lit candles. It was so dim that Calder had to squint to make out anything. A large stained glass window lay directly ahead. Though it was partially obscured by some kind of ornate chair. Situated in front of it.

A vague feeling that there was someone or something sitting there. Watching their every move percolated Calder's senses.

Meeko's growling and movement all around caused him to reach for his sword but it was too late. White armored figures, mer by their height and build, seemed to emerge from behind the pillars. Hands grasping sheathed swords. Calder released his grasp on his sword pommel as a sign of good faith as one of them approached. Motioning with his hand for Agmaer to do the same. The young man reluctantly agreed and Calder straightened up as the Mer walked right up to his face.

"Va Hectaham," It spoke. Voice muffled by the mouth covering it wore.

It had the cadence of a question but didn't sound like any language Calder had ever heard. He glanced over at Serana who shook her head. The look of confusion in Agmaer's eyes was all Calder needed to see.

"I do not understand what language you are speaking," Calder clearly and concisely replied. First in Common and then in Nordic.

"He asked…for your name…young Nord."

The voice that answered in Nordic was oddly accented. Whispery, labored, almost pained. As if every syllable was spoken at great expense to the orator. It had come from behind the Mer in front of them. It wasn't a leap of logic for Calder to guess the source was the seated figure. Still shrouded in darkness.

"Calder," He answered. Directly addressing the shadowed one, "This is Serana, Agmaer, Emily, and Meeko. To whom am I speaking?"

The ever so slight tinkling of chimes was the only response. Slowly, painfully so, the figure rose from his chair. Backlit by the setting sun streaming in through the window. Given his height and build Calder guessed he was a mer as well. The robbed elf grabbed a cane that had been resting against the throne. Leaning heavily on it he approached them. His pace glacial. Every footstep, every tap of the cane echoed loudly throughout the room. The mer in front of Calder stepped aside as this old one approached. When the old one finally came close enough to see, Calder was at a loss of what to say.

The only thing about him that made a modicum of sense were the robes he wore. Silk like and white as the snow. Similar to the cassocks that Altmer priests wore. Yet even something as unfamiliar as that could not capture the utterly alien design. The sleeves were grossly oversized. Long enough that his arms swam in them. They draped down to his thighs and from his neck to his side was a sash of golden color. One that was emblazened with the ancient sigil of Auriel.

The elf who wore these robes was himself…odd. For starters he was the most ancient elf Calder had ever seen. Hunched over to an awful degree with withered shaking hands resting on the top of his cane. His face a mess of criss-crossing wrinkles. Not a hair on his head, including his chest length beard, wasn't as white as his robes. His skin too was…white. Not golden or gray. Not green or pink. White. For a moment Calder wondered if he was an albino but then he caught sight of his eyes. The most topal blue he'd ever seen.

"My name…in your tongue…is Gelebor," Up close Calder could now hear him drawing in raspy breaths, "Arch Curate of Auri-El…in exile."

He spoke a loud word in whatever tongue was native to them. One by one all the mer around them undid their bandanas and hoods. Revealing all present, male and female, looked similar to Gelebor. White skin, white hair, and blue eyes. Confusion wracked Calder's brain. This didn't make sense. What were these elves. Maomer? An unusual type of albinism? Could they be some kind of isolated colony of…

The answer hit him just as Serana blurted it out in astonishment.

"Shor's bones, it can't be! They're…" She looked from Calder to Gelebor, "You're Falmer!"

Calder's eyes widened and Agmaer's mouth flopped open. Annoyance deepened the canyons of wrinkles on the old mer's face. A low murmur went through the group at the name Falmer.

"Falmer…is the name the Betrayed…now carry…those twisted by…the Dwemer…We," The old mer cast a glance over the thirty odd mer in the chamber, "Are…Snow Elves. The last…of our kind."

There wasn't a trace of sorrow in his words, only a bitter all-consuming resignation. He didn't bother to give his words time to sink in. Simply continuing on as if he'd just named his price for a new hog.

"You have…read them…" Pale blue merish eyes locked with Calder's. Leaving the Nord momentarily unnerved. "I see it…in your eyes…you have read…the scrolls."

"I have," Calder confirmed, "We have come for the Bow."

It was only after he'd said the words that he realized that they could be interpreted as a challenge. Thankfully Gelebor didn't seem to interpret it that way. The old mer nodded once. An action that seemed to strain every muscle in his sinewy neck

"Of course," He wheezed, "It is…the only reason your kind…ever comes here…ever risks the wrath…of the mountain."

"Do you have it?" Agmaer asked.

The eagerness and youth in Agmaer's voice seemed to drain what little vitality remained in the ancient elf. Gelebor blinked his watery eyes before fixing them on the young man. Shaking his head once. This was not the answer Calder was expecting.

"I saw it," Calder fired back, stepping forward, "It was here. At the Chantry of Auriel."

Gelebor parted his lips to talk then seemed to decide against it. Turning his eyes to the snow elf to his right was. This apparently was the only instruction needed. The snow elf walked over to one of the doors near the throne. Opening it to the outside. Gelebor motioned once with his hand before turning and wobbling towards the open door.

Following behind Gelebor lead them out and onto a balcony of sorts. One that overlooked a vast glacial valley. Bordered on all sides by the snowcapped Druadachs. A frozen river, as large as the Karth, snaked between enormous evergreen trees and other large trees. The sight was awe inspiring.

"By the nine…" Agmaer whispered and Calder glanced over at the young man.

Whereas Calder and Serana had been looking down at the valley beneath them Agmaer had been looking straight ahead. His eyes were enraptured by what he'd seen. Calder followed his gaze and the hair on the back of his neck stood at attention. At the very end of the valley, backlit by the setting sun, was a structure. A massive utterly gargantuan temple. Visible even from their great distance. It was carved straight into the glacial ice, made from that same ice. Shimmering brilliantly as the sun's rays passed through it on its descent to the horizon.

"That…is the Great Chantry of Auri-El" Gelebor explained pride mixing with sorrow as he did, "The artifact you seek…resides in the inner sanctum. A place you…will not enter…no one has…for over a thousand years…Not I, nor my father…nor his father, or his before. The Guardians will not allow it."

"Guardians?" Serana asked.

Gelebor didn't answer her. His eyes were transfixed by the setting sun. Lips moved but produced no sound. As though offering silent prayer to his god. Only after the very last sliver of the sun dipped below the horizon did he turn to address them.

"The night…falls. I must…rest. We can…discuss this matter…tomorrow. He," Gelebor nodded to the snow elf that had opened the door, "Will take you to your quarters."

~*B*~

Calder had tried sleeping on his side, his other side, then his back, and finally his stomach. A fruitless cycle that he'd repeated, in vain, for hours. Every time he felt himself drifting off it would crop up. A feeling of unease. Danger. Persistent as an itch; It gnawed at him. Denying him the sleep his body so desperately craved. He'd tried ignoring it, focusing his mind on the small crackle of the flames or the mournful wail of the wind outside the walls of the monastery. All to no avail.

At last the Nord could take it no longer. With a frustrated grunt he pushed himself up off the floor. Rising from the sleeping bag as his back popped in protest. He sat there; Rubbing his eyes open while the nighttime chill nipped at him. The small 'guest' room they'd been assigned was just big enough to house all four of them. Gear, packs, and armor haphazardly piled in a shadowed corner of the room. Their bedrolls arrayed around the firepit in the center. The sole source of light and only piece of 'furniture' that had greeted them in the otherwise totally barren room.

Not that anyone had cared. After three days of climbing Calder was sure both Agmaer and Emily as well as Meeko had been asleep as soon as they'd lain in their bedrolls. Right now they certainly were. Bundled up like Skaal with Meeko curled up next to Emily. Seeing the color returning to the Breton's checks was a welcome sight. He'd grown increasingly worried about her. Especially after Serana had had to carry her.

The vampire herself had noticed him rise but had remained silent. Concentrating on tending to the flame as she always did on their travels. The sight of her unwavering, watchful vigil brought a bit of peace to Calder's soul. Reminding him that he wasn't alone. He had someone to talk to.

Someone who loved him.

Slipping out of his bedroll then carefully tip-toeing around the sleeping he joined Serana by the flames. The ancient wood of the floor creaked slightly as he sat cross legged next to her. The tips of their knees just barely touching. The light from the flames danced in her golden eyes. Serana's beauty always seemed to shine brighter at night.

"You need to sleep Calder," She whispered, her tone bordering on motherly, "We've got another long day ahead of us."

He grimly shook his head; Though her concern moved him.

"I can't sleep," He quietly replied, "There's…there's something wrong here."

Even just voicing his fears aloud to another person quieted them. Serana's unblinking gaze left the fire before settling on him. Tilting her head in a way that said without saying to continue.

"I don't…really remember physically reading what was written on the elder scroll. I just…" He struggled to find the right word, "know things. I know the bow is here. I knew how to get here. Now I just…know…to be afraid of this place."

His eyes roamed around the room. Half cast in shadow; The other half dimly lit. Anywhere else it would have been a homey comforting sight. Here the sight was disquieting. Tickling at his most primal fears. He felt exposed without his sword.

"Something bad has happened here," He declared conspiratorially before mumbling, "Or will happen."

The words hung heavy in the air. The meager heat from the flames didn't extend much further than his knees. It was Serana who broke the spell of doom. Scooting a bit closer to him before resting her head against his shoulder. An action that immediately made him feel a bit warmer inside.

"Whatever it is," She mumbled next to his ear, "I'm sure we can defeat it."

The certainty, conviction with which she spoke was infectious. The complete trust she had in him…in them was enough to slightly quell the fear that had invaded his mind. Calder nodded in agreement. Snaking his hand around her back before comfortably resting it against her waist. Patting it for good measure.

"Besides," Calder didn't need to see her face to know that goofy little grin had spread across it, "If these Snow Elves do try and harm us it would give me a great excuse to sample their blood. I wonder what it…"

She abruptly stopped talking but it was already too late. The subject was raised and their non-verbal agreement violated. Calder closed his eyes and sighed internally. Part of him wanted to ignore it but he knew he couldn't. If he'd learned anything in this new relationship it was that they needed to talk. Even if it was painful.

"Have you um," He cleared his throat, "Thought anymore about what Falion said?"

Serana responded by straightening her posture. Removing her head from his shoulder in the process. Punishment for addressing the subject; Or so his emotions tried to make him believe.

"A soul for a soul," She repeated the old Redguard's words to the little fire, "It's a fitting price."

She cast him a side glance. As if expecting him to protest. When Calder said nothing her eyebrows knit together in concern.

"You'd be ok with it?" She looked him dead in the eye, "Finding one of these 'black' soul gems filled with a human soul? Expending it to these 'outer ones' that Falion talked about?"

"Who said it had to be human?" Calder tried to manage a wry smile, "There's plenty of Thalmor around."

As he'd feared her brow furrowed. He'd never been good at lying.

"You know there's a reason I stopped raising the dead around you, Calder. You haven't exactly made it a secret that you don't like necromancy. So be honest with me, would you be comfortable sacrificing a soul that way?"

No. No he would not. The moment the words had left Falion's lips Calder's stomach had twisted in knots. He'd been expecting a potion or maybe a blessing of some kind not…not something so profane. There had to be another way, there just had to…

There are…other…ways to cure vampirism, I would be willing to…

"It depends," He deflected, "Do you want to be cured?"

It certainly wasn't something he wished to discuss now. Half asleep, exhausted, and stuck in a place that was pulling at his fears. Unfortunately Mora's temptation had caused him to panic. Blurting out the question that he'd been trying to dance around ever since Harvest's End. The forwardness seemed to shock Serana. Her eyebrows rose and her gaze became distant. A suffocating silence filled the room. Just when Calder was about to tell her to forget it, that he should try to get some sleep she answered.

In a way.

"I…I don't want to get old."

Her voice was but a whisper. An innocent childlike plea. Eternal youth. A desire as ancient as the Elnofey. Calder himself had become well acquainted with it over the years. Increasingly so as he'd begun to feel Akatosh's claws wearing him down. For someone contemplating doing away with her immortality…well he could certainly understand her struggle. With eyes fixated on something distant Serana touched an open palm to her face. Gradually letting it slide down her rosy cheek; Speaking softly as it did,

"Right now I'm…frozen…unblemished. An eternal portrait of youth and beauty. To give that up…to watch age eat away at my body, my beauty…"

A genuine shudder ran up her spine and she shook her head vigorously. Returning her palm to her lap. Her far off gaze suddenly snapped to him and there was a fierceness in the glowing orbs.

"Are you sure you want to watch your clear skinned busty vampire princess turn into a wrinkled old hag?"

The unusually aggressive bite in her voice paradoxically produced the opposite effect in Calder. He merely shrugged. Stretching out his palms to the flames.

"Death, aging, it's all a natural part of the cycle of life, Serana," A chuckle escaped from his lips, "I never took you to be so vain."

"Well that's what you…" She angrily retorted before immediately catching herself.

"That's what I what?" Calder probed. Increasingly concerned about her erratic behavior.

Serana chewed on her lower lip. Weighing her options before shaking her head.

"Nothing. Just forget…"

"Serana," He stretched out the last syllable of her name.

The two engaged in a staring contest. One that Serana won, but caved anyway. Though clearly reluctantly.

"Sometimes I-I," She swallowed hard, "I worry you…only like me because of my beauty."

The accusation, no matter how gentle, hurt. A lot. Yet Calder refused to let it inform his next words. How ironic that he was now having the opposite problem he'd had with Lydia. One terrified she wasn't pretty enough and now one scared he wanted her only for her beauty. Both were laughably untrue.

"If I was only interested in your beauty don't you think I would be pushing you to remain a vampire?" He gently countered.

The words bore their desired fruit. A little spark of reason flashed in Serana's eyes. The tension in her lips diminished ever so slightly. Seeing his opportunity Calder touched the back of his finger to Serana's face. Feeling the heat of the flames immediately cooling on her skin.

"I confess it was your beauty that initially attracted me to you,"He explained, tracing the path her palm had just been, "But Serana that is not enough to make me want to spend the rest of my life with a woman."

Wrapping his much larger hand around hers he brought it up to his lips. Placing a kiss on the back of her hand. When he looked back up to her a slight blush had spread on her cheeks.

"Don't sell yourself short my love."

One look into her eyes was all he needed to know that he'd dispelled her fears. As if he needed any more evidence her lips knit together and a small smile blossomed. Calder returned it. Hers remained for a few moments before gradually melting away.

"I won't," She cleared her throat, "I won't seriously consider it until Harkon is dead."

"I understand," Calder replied, letting her remove her hand from his, "All the more reason to finish this quickly."

His fears now largely dismissed, he felt the tiredness creeping up on him again. Leaning over he gave her a quick peck on the check before wishing her a good night. He made to stand but stopped when he felt Serana's hand on his shoulder. Confused, he looked over to Serana whose expression had turned downright bashful.

"If you're um having trouble sleeping then…you um…," She pushed her thighs closer together and patted her lap once, "You could rest your head here."

The offer was so genuine it hurt. A familiar warmth flooded his heart and a smile spread across his face.

"Yeah," He nodded, "I'm sure that will help."

Author's Notes: So yeah, it seems that the writers at Bethesda forgot that in ES lore Elves aren't immortal. They tap out at around 300 years. So for Gelebor to claim that he's been guarding the chantry for Millennia…yeah terrible writing. Oh also another thing, I've always hated that black soul gems are so readily available. I like to view them as extremely rare and extremely illegal. I mean come on, we're talking about a rock that can prevent you from going to the afterlife. Anyhowww thank you for all favs and follows, and thank you again for putting up with my increasingly erratic update schedule. Don't worry, I'm not abandoning this story or anything. It will be finished.