The pair finally docked at the Island and Halfdan got a first look at the massive castle. Possibly due to their time under the sun, Halfdan felt the vampire sorceress's hold over him weaken, not enough for him to fully defy her but the fog in his mind cleared enough for him to use the opportunity to recognize the situation and hopefully take advantage of it some way.
"So this is your home?" He asked carefully. Serana narrowed her eyes at him. He realized he'd been using honorifics every other time he'd addressed her and quickly added "lady Serana?" to try to allay her suspicion.
She looked at him for a few more uncomfortable seconds before seemingly dismissing her doubts and looking back up at the weathered castle. "It is. Home, sweet… castle."
"It's impressive, mistress." He looked up at the castle with studious eyes.
"It's something all right." She spoke with suppressed emotion; Halfdan wasn't sure if it was bitterness, regret, or something in between. She then walked to the bridge that crossed a moat in front of the gates of the castle.
"Wait! If I may, lady Serana, why were you locked away?" He needed to try and find out more information and stall, maybe if he waited out here enough the spell would wear off and he could make his escape, before entering the lion's den.
"That's not your concern. Now come-"
"It is my concern, my lady. Earlier you said you might not be safe if it was your father in there. I am merely trying to ensure your safety, mistress."
Halfdan insisted but hesitated when Serana turned around. Her eyes were glowing menacingly and his senses began to overwhelm him, screaming at him to run the other way. The aura emanating from the ancient vampire felt like a mammoth pressing it's entire weight on Halfdan: it was suffocating.
He stood frozen with his eyes wide and a drop of sweat forming on his creased brow; his body's fight or flight response struggled against the spell trying to get Halfdan to do something about the situation. His left hand subtly reached behind him to pull out Mehrunes' Razor, which he kept hidden on the back side of his belt hidden under his tattered cloak; while his right hand approached a bandolier where he kept some powerful scrolls for emergencies such as this. His survival instincts were rapidly dulled, however, as the aura emanating from Serana shifted from one of overwhelming power and doom, to one of allure and passionate seduction. He stared, entranced, as Serana slowly walked towards him, swaying her hips while emanating magical charm and desirability.
Reaching him, she gently placed her hand on the side of his face and made eye contact. She spoke in a sultry and honeyed voice: "Halfdan, look at me. Focus on my voice. You trust me don't you?" His eyes glazed and he nodded. A rebellious little voice in the back of his consciousness screamed at him to fight, to not go back to servitude; but it was muffled, and insignificant compared to the silvery voice of his new mistress... "Good. Now be a good boy and follow me, please." she pushed more magic into her words as she used the eye-contact and her touch to reinforce her hold over him.
Just like that, all initiative to try and learn more about the situation disappeared from Halfdan's mind and was replaced with loyalty towards his mistress once again. His shoulders sagged and his eyebrows relaxed.
"Yes, mistress." He obediently followed behind her when she let go of his face and they turned around to resume walking towards the entrance of the castle.
After crossing the bridge they were greeted by a lone elderly man dressed as some sort of groundskeeper in front of the gates.
"Who goes there? Turn back now, less ye seek death!" He aimed a pitchfork menacingly at the pair.
Serana lowered her hood and revealed her startling vampire eyes then spoke: "Tell your masters 'Serana has returned', thrall."
The old man's eyes widened and he yelled back to whoever operated the gate to open it before he fell to his knees in reverence to Serana.
"Lord Harkon has searched for you for a great many years, my lady." He spoke while he kept his head bowed.
Halfdan noticed Serana flinch slightly at the mention of this 'Lord Harkon' but otherwise her face remained unreadable as she stared at the opening gates. The gates opened and revealed a high elf vampire dressed in fine attire standing in the middle of a courtyard and flanked by four armored individuals whose faces were shadowed by dark hoods.
"Lady Serana… Is it truly you?" The high elf wore an awed expression and his voice betrayed his astonishment. After seeing her properly, he quickly bowed in great respect; the shrouded individuals flanking him fell to one knee and lowered their heads. "You have no idea how long your father has waited for this moment..."
"Greetings Vingalmo, it has been a long time since I last saw you. Seems you've done nicely for yourself." Halfdan noticed how Serana dragged her gaze over the elf's fancy clothing.
Vingalmo chuckled though it held no mirth. "It has been a long time since you last saw me, my lady. A very long time." He grinned mischievously before turning his attention to Halfdan. "And what's this you've brought a meal with you? You do realize we keep a stable of premium thralls here at the castle?"
"Hmm? Oh him, well he's more like a pet. Halfdan here has proven to be quite the interesting little companion. In fact, it was he who freed me from my entombment." She spoke nonchalantly while her eyes shifted from Vingalmo to Halfdan and back.
"Oh, I see… well he certainly has a unique, and-" Vingalmo stepped well inside Halfdan's comfort space and gave his neck a sniff. "-very alluring scent." He steps back.
"But enough of this, I'm sure the court will be eager to hear the news of your return and Harkon won't be happy if I delay your reunion any further. Please, you must follow me, quickly!" The elf hurriedly turned and strode across the court. The armored individuals stood to the side waiting patiently for Serana and Halfdan to walk past them before they followed behind them in an organized fashion. The elf guided them through several hallways before bursting through two big double doors and reaching a grand throne room.
"My lord! Everyone! Lady Serana has returned to us at last!" His voice was full of joy and excitement as he announced their arrival. He quickly walked off, descending some stairs that led to the throne room proper and allowing Serana to enter, Halfdan close behind.
They were greeted by a gory sight as they entered and Halfdan's nose was assaulted by the smell of blood in the air. The throne room contained several grand tables that were filled with goblets of blood and plates or bowls that contained human flesh and body parts. There were even full bodies here and there: alive ones. As several vampires feasted on the grotesque banquet, human thralls walked around carrying goblets and serving their masters, seemingly oblivious to the depravity around them. A lone figure sat slouched on the throne at the end of the room while looking down at a goblet, presumably filled with blood, with a bored countenance.
All conversation and noise in the hall stopped suddenly at Vingalmo's announcement and all eyes landed on Halfdan and his mistress. His magically compelled loyalty struggled and wavered against his survival instincts desperately screaming at him to flee. The figure at the throne suddenly raises his head. The goblet in his hand dropped almost as quickly as his jaw. He stood up and hesitantly stepped down from the throne.
Serana descended the stairs Vingalmo had used, and Halfan followed. They reached the landing just as the man from the throne stopped in the middle of the room staring intently at Serana and following her every move as she slowly approached him. Halfdan hesitantly walked behind her.
Now that they were closer, Halfdan got a better look at the man. He looked to be about middle-aged and was tall, pale-skinned (probably a nord) with long black hair slicked back and tied into a fine ponytail. He wore elegant clothes colored in shades of black and red, not unlike Serana. His eyes like most of the individuals present was a startling yellow, betraying his vampiric condition. However, this man, even through his composed and elegant posturing, radiated an intense aura of power and danger even more intimidating than the aura Serana used earlier to subdue him. One thing was certain, never during all his years in the brotherhood, nor since he joined the Companions had he ever faced vampires of this caliber. In the back of his mind, the part free of Serana's influence, a spark of fear, but also excitement ignited within him.
The entire room waits in silent tension as Serana and the middle-aged man stand in front of one another, staring at each other in silence.
"Hello, father. It's been a while…" Halfdan hears an uncharacteristic timidness and hesitancy in Serana's voice as she breaks the ice. She looks almost nervous.
The man looks back at her with an unreadable expression and his lips parted slightly, as if he's about to say something. Then he took a step towards Serana, which made Halfdan tense, ready to jump in to protect his mistress before one of the shrouded guards that was escorting them positioned the tip of his spear in front of him, as a warning to not interfere. Halfdan relaxed a bit when Serana's father took another step then wrapped his arms around her in a quiet embrace. She stiffened initially, apparently surprised by the gesture, before melting into it and returning the hug, with a small smile.
Most of the people in the room stared at the reunion with rapt attention, ignoring Halfan; yet he felt a single pair of eyes fully focused on him. He looked around and finally caught a pair of glowing eyes in the corner just before they suddenly turned away from him and back at the reunion. The corner was too dark for Halfdan to make out any of the observer's distinguishing features and he shifted his focus back to the reunion.
Serana's father stroked her hair affectionately and smiled warmly before he pulled away slightly and gently cupped Serana's face with both hands.
"I always knew in my heart that you would return to me, Serana. You are even more beautiful than in the memories I've cherished all these years; after your mother betrayed me and took that which I value most." His tone soured lightly at the mention of Serana's mother but his expression remained joyful. He kissed her forehead before releasing their embrace and taking a small step back.
"I sense you have also brought back one of the elder scrolls Valerica had stolen from me, am I correct?" He smiled at her expectantly.
Serana hesitated briefly, and snuck a small glance back at Halfdan before speaking: "I… Yes, father. I have the scroll." She took off the cloak Halfdan had given her, and pulled the scroll off her back revealing it to the room. Immediately, the entire room broke out of it's silence; whispered voices and excited murmurs erupted all around Halfdan. Serana's father's smile widened considerably and he took a deep contented breath before he finally shifted his focus to Halfdan, as if he finally noticed him.
Halfdan felt unnerved as now the entire room's focus was on him and the murmurs shifted to gossip about him; he managed to keep calm and retain his stoic expression, however. Serana's influence probably helped in that regard.
"And who is this stranger you have brought into our hall?" Her father's voice was just as alluring and honeyed as Serana's but with less playfulness and sultriness, and laced with a subtle undertone of power and authority.
"This is the one who freed me from my tomb. My saviour." She spoke with mock romanticism and placed her hands sarcastically over her heart, while batting her lashes. Her face then shifted to genuine interest as she continued: "He's proven to be no ordinary mortal, however, even I've barely managed to charm him and keep him under my control."
"Hmm… but how would a mortal manage to stumble upon and free my long-lost daughter when I've spent thousands of years focusing all of my efforts into this singular purpose only to come up empty-handed?"
"Maybe it was fate?" Serana mused, once again her tone sarcastic.
"Silence." Halfdan noticed Serana drop her confident facade and shrink meekly under her father's commanding growl. It seems the sweetness from their reunion was short-lived. "I want to hear the mortal speak. Now, answer me this, thrall: how did you find my daughter?" His eyes were focused intensely on Halfdan, studying every minute detail of his face for any and all response.
Halfdan kept his face neutral and gave none, he merely shifted his gaze back to Serana, looking for approval before he spoke. He found her still shaken at her father's earlier chastisement, but eventually she noticed his gaze and gave him a small nod. Serana's father looked annoyed at being ignored but patiently waited for Halfdan to shift his attention back to him.
"I was sent to Dimhollow Crypt by an organization called the Dawnguard to investigate strange vampire activity in the area..." Whispers and murmurs erupted from the spectators once more.
'He's a vampire hunter!'
'Dimhollow Crypt, that's where Lokil was sent…'
'No way he was slain by that brat!'
'I knew he was weak but that's just pathetic.'
'Wasn't he also joined by Sarari, Ulric and a dozen or so nightstalkers though?'
The murmurs were quickly silenced as Serana's father calmly lifted his gaze and glared at the gossipers, who fearfully bowed their heads in apology.
"Continue."
Halfdan continued, recounting how he slew several vampires and other lesser undead before reaching the chamber where Serana was entombed.
"I wished to ascertain why the vampires were so interested in the location, so I solved the simple puzzle, expecting to find an artifact or weapon of some kind, instead lady Serana was what emerged and then…" Halfdan's voice trailed off as his thoughts and memories were muddled from the encounter. The act of remembering the moment was triggering resistance to the spell.
"Then my daughter charmed you, yes. I understand now. But it appears my daughter's jests were not exaggerated. Lokil was a member of my court; and if you truly slew him and all those other vampires alone, then your skills are truly formidable for a mere mortal. Skills I could certainly make use of, especially now that Serana and the elder scroll are back in my possession." He took a step towards Halfdan and his eyes narrowed.
"I sense something about you… Something different. Something special. It's clear keeping you charmed won't work for long, and you could prove to be an annoying obstacle to us when you are freed. I would prefer to eliminate such grievances before they occur..."
Serana suddenly tensed at her father's words. It's not like she really cared for Halfdan, he'd merely been her guide and a source of mild entertainment. Yet, she felt somewhat responsible for him. After all, she could've just ordered him to leave the island and forget her as soon as they arrived, or better yet just kill him. But something about him interested her. Maybe it was his blood, maybe it was his strange behaviour when asked about himself, or maybe it was just the fact that he was the first attractive man she'd seen in a few thousand years and she was just feeling lustful. But now her father was about to take him away from her, just like he'd taken everything else from her for her entire life…
She subconsciously loosened her magical hold over Halfdan.
"However, you possess great skill and have proven to be particularly competent, something that is sorely lacking in my court. You have also recovered the elder scroll, rescued my daughter and returned both safely. That deserves a reward… What is your name, thrall?"
"Halfdan." Halfdan answered firmly.
"Well, Halfdan, I am Harkon Volkihar: the lord of this castle. As you can see, we are vampires, though as you may have noticed, we're not just any vampires. I count only among the oldest and strongest vampires in Tamriel as members of my court." Harkon walked slowly towards Halfdan, gesturing to the vampires surrounding them as he went. "You have done me a great service and I could yet have further use of you. Therefore it is my decree that you shall become one of us, Halfdan." Halfdan suddenly flinched as he felt Serana's hold over him vanish completely.
His eyes were prevented from shifting to the vampiress by Harkon's intimidating approach. Did she release him on purpose? No time to think about it, he needed to find a way to escape.
Thankfully Harkon seemed ignorant to Halfdan's newfound freedom. Halfdan quickly used the corner of his eye to scan the room for exits. The entrance to the hall was guarded by a pair of heavily armored hooded figures, probably vampires. No good. He saw an unguarded hallway that seemed to lead deeper into the castle. Not ideal. Finally, he spotted a stained glass window above a small balcony overlooking the hall; there still seemed to be a little bit of sunlight filtering through: night had not yet fallen completely. He spotted a bookshelf and statues below he could use to quickly reach it, however he needed to find a distraction.
"Rejoice! For you will walk like a lion among sheep, men will tremble at your approach and you shall never fear death again…" Harkon's voice became more demonic as darkness began to envelop him and his eyes turned black. Suddenly the darkness dissipated in an explosion, revealing a greyish half-bat and half-man monstrosity standing in Harkon's place. Halfdan's eyes widened at the terrifying sight. This is bad. One hand subtly reached for Mehrunes' Razor, the only weapon guaranteed might at least injure the ancient vampire or, if Halfdan is lucky, even kill him. The other hand reached for a small scroll in his pocket containing a powerful sunburst spell that might be enough to stun the vampires long enough for Halfdan to reach the window.
"Behold! This is the power that I grant you: my blood." Harkon spread his large bat-like wings and lifted his arms toward Haldan, as if to embrace him. "Come, join me and embrace your destiny!"
Destiny.
Halfdan remembered the Night Mother whispering similar words inside his head. Because of her he lost his first family. It was then that Halfdan learned a very important lesson.
Fuck Destiny.
The anger served as just enough fuel to motivate Halfdan into action just as Harkon had enveloped him and was about to bite his neck. In one swift motion, Halfdan unsheathed Mehrunes' Razor and swung it at the vampiric nightmare's neck. Harkon's unnatural reflexes were enough to save him from having his head completely lopped off by the strike but the daedric dagger still landed a grievous blow. He was forced to release Halfdan, stumbling back surprised and clutching his spraying neck wound. Halfdan wasted no time and unfurled the scroll before infusing it with magicka and launching it into the air. He covered his eyes as a large, luminous explosion enveloped the entire room. Vampires all around him shrieked in pain and he sprang into action, acrobatically following the path he'd traced in his mind to reach the window. Halfdan shattered the window with a solid kick as soon as he reached it and jumped through it without hesitation, sensing some of the vampires behind him already recovering from his bold distraction.