December is here. We're on our holiday season and dread fills me. Times like this I really wish I didn't work in retail. Well, here's a chapter I know you guys have been waiting for. Thanks go to xTRESTWHOx and NaanContributor for being awesome dudes.

"Uh… Were you expecting someone specific?" Yang asked awkwardly, scratching the back of her head.

"I was expecting someone from my family," the woman explained before looking at Weiss. "I don't recognize you. Are you one of my father's little acolytes?"

"No," Weiss answered with a shake of her head, filing away the snippet of information given for later. "We're here on behalf of the Dawnguard. Well, she is. I was a tagalong."

"Dawnguard?" The woman shook her head while crossing her arms. "That's not a name I know. And it doesn't sound like a name a group of vampires would choose." She looked back over at Yang. "Or werewolves."

"Wait, how could you tell?" Weiss asked in surprise while Yang subtly sniffed herself. Occasionally in Whiterun, guards would complain about the smell of wet dog when she got near, especially if she had gotten sweaty recently. Yang quickly found that she did indeed smell like a wet dog, and she had taken to wearing perfumes to mask the stench. She was worried the fighting had caused her latest application to be washed off.

"You think I can't tell my own kind?" she asked with a gesture. "I could smell you almost before my eyes were open. Just picked up on your friend, though. You two have each other's backs or something?"

"You could say that," Yang inserted while sighing, knowing she would have to bathe or mask herself soon. "Okay, so we just fought through hell to get here, and I gotta ask, what were you doing six feet under stone under sixty feet of mountain?"

"That's…complicated," she said while wiggling her hand. "And I'm not totally sure I can trust you. But if you really want to know more, help me get back to my family's home."

"Well, I guess we could do that," Yang supposed after a brief pause, then chuckled. "Turns out the so-called vampire artifact was just a vampire." She stopped a moment and looked back at the woman. "Wait, you're not evil, are you?"

"Seriously?" The woman held out her arms, her face warping into a look of indignation.

"Yang, that's hardly appropriate," Weiss admonished her teammate.

"Hey, " Yang began to retort, "we just fought, like, a dozen evil vampires to get here."

"I'm aware," Weiss seethed, telling Yang to back off the subject.

"Look," the woman sighed and shook her head, "if it makes things easier, I promise I'm not going to slaughter the innocent or enthrall the countryside."

"Eh, I guess that'll do," Yang waved away. If it turned out she was lying, Yang was confident that they could take her down. "What do you say, Weiss?"

"I say we should get some rest before we make any further plans, " Weiss answered curtly, "but that's not to say I'm against the idea of helping."

"Thanks. I appreciate the thought." The woman smiled brightly, appreciative of the assistance.

"Where do you live anyways?" Yang asked with a raised brow.

"My family used to live on an island to the west of Solitude. I would guess they still do." She started to walk away from the stone she had been interred in before looking back at the Huntresses. "By the way, my name is Serana. Good to meet you two."

"Good to meet you, Serana. I'm Weiss Schnee," the heiress introduced herself with a curtsy.

"Yang Xiao Long. Good to meet ya."

Serana nodded at both, idly beginning to wonder how long she was in that sarcophagus. As they started walking one way, the group paused and began looking around, scratching their heads.

"Know where the shortcut's at?" Yang asked as she began eyeing some statues on the far end of the room.

"Well, it's been a while. Your guess is as good as mine," Serana admitted. "It looks totally different from when I was locked away."

Yang shrugged in acceptance. "Well, we've done this a few times. I'm guessing the direction of the angry looking statues." Everyone looked at the statues in question and shrugged. It did seem to be the most likely place, and as such, they began walking towards it.

"So, you were in there a long time," Weiss began. "How long do you think it's been?"

"Good question. Hard to say. I… I can't really tell." After a groan and pausing in her steps to think, she looked back over at Weiss. "I feel like it was a long time. Who is Skyrim's high King?"

"Right now?" Yang asked with a shrug. "That's up for argument."

"Oh, wonderful. A war of succession. Good to know the world didn't get boring while I was gone." Yang grinned while Weiss just shook her head with a small smile. "Who are the contenders?"

"On one side the Empire is backing Jarl Elisif, but there are many people in Skyrim who are loyal to Ulfric Stormcloak."

"Empire?" Serana shot back with a confused look. "What…? What empire?"

"Ya'know," Yang tried to explain awkwardly. "The…Empire in Cyrodiil."

"Cyrodiil became the seat of an empire?!" she asked in amazement. "I must have been gone longer than I thought. Definitely longer than we planned."

Weiss blinked in astonishment as she brushed back her hair.

'This is going to be something else.'

After fighting through more draugr, including one with an ebony sword that Weiss had taken as spoils of war, and snapping a photo of a Word Wall next to a large arena-like area, the three women found the secret exit, hidden away amongst the mountain's rocky and forested side. Just outside, they came upon the settlement of Dunparwall, where they entered the Frozen Mug Inn. Yang had quickly run back out and regathered their steeds and happened to come across Erevan on her way back to the quaint village. The four now sat in the mostly empty place, with the innkeeper snoring quietly in an extravagantly cushioned chair that was, in Yang's opinion, one step away from being a recliner.

"So, it should be around here," Weiss indicated to her map while pointing out the location described to her by the other vampire. "That's quite a way out into the sea."

"We should be able to find a boat," Serana pointed out. "I know we used to keep one near this shore. They'd still need occasional supplies from the mainland, so there'd have to be one somewhere."

"If not, we could always rent one in Solitude," Weiss suggested. "My partner and I did that fairly recently, actually."

"Maybe, but I'd prefer to stay out of any large towns or cities for the moment, if we can."

"Well, by the time we get over there, Ruby should be done with her stuff," Yang explained before looking back at the wrapped up object on Serana's back. When she'd first seen the vampire wrapping the golden cylinder in linen, she'd asked what it was only to get a defensive response from the vampire, so Yang decided not to press for more details than necessary. Once Serana assured her it was safe and not a weapon of mass destruction, she let it go. "So you'll either be home, or we can get Ruby and Blake to help us get you there." The werewolf hummed a moment as she thought over the situation for what felt like the hundredth time. "What is this place, anyways? A small town? A mansion? An old castle?"

"Castle and palace," the vampire answered quickly before leaning back in her seat and taking a drink of mead. "At least, I hope it still is. A lot could happen in," she paused to scoff and shake her head in near disbelief, "a few thousand years. Still, it's my family home. Not the most welcoming place, but depending on who's around, I'll be safe there."

"You fear you wouldn't be safe in your own home?" Erevan asked pointedly.

"Yeah, what gives?" Yang added. "Someone you don't wanna run into?"

"My father and I don't really get along." At that, she rolled her eyes and set the mug back on the table. "Ugh, saying it out loud makes it sound so…common. "Little girl who doesn't get along with her father." Read that story a hundred times."

"No, I completely understand you, trust me," Weiss tried to assure her.

"I don't know if you really do, but I appreciate the effort." Serana began folding up the map while looking at the group. "So, what's all this about these people, Ruby and Blake, being your partners? Is that what people call it now, or are you all part of some kind of team?"

"We're a team," Yang began with a grin. "Where we're from, we're called Huntresses, professionally trained monster slayers and occasional crime fighters."

"The Huntsmen academies teach us in team groups of four," Weiss continued. "While the selection process varies depending on the school in question in different ways, ranging from pre-selected by complimentary abilities to random chance, the result is usually about the same."

"Does your homeland normally allow vampires and werewolves into their 'monster slaying' schools?"

"Our respective afflictions are…rather recent developments."

"So you're new to all of this. That's great," she said with a sarcastic sigh. Serana could only hope that Weiss knew how to comport herself as a proper vampire beyond the basics. "Don't suppose you're some kind of Daedra?" she asked Erevan.

"No. I am but a simple Dunmer."

"A what?" Serana cocked her head while Erevan looked surprised, thinking over his next words carefully.

"A…Dark Elf."

"Never heard of them. Are they new?"

"We have so much to explain…" Weiss realized, drawing Serana's attention.

"They kinda popped up like the Orcs did," Yang filled in. "Speaking of which, did we forget that guy? I think we forgot that guy."

"Oh, he'll be fine."

"Almost…melted…enough," Dokkum said as he rubbed his limbs against his frozen restraints to build up heat, his newly freed mind allowing him to work against his binds beyond just mindlessly pushing against them. He was certainly thankful for the pair that freed him from his former master, but they seemed to have completely forgotten him afterward and left him stuck to the floor. "At this rate, I should be free within three hours. Four at the most." He stopped to rest and catch his breath.

"…I'm hungry."

With a large pack filled with her armor and weapons, Blake entered the Winking Skeever and darted her eyes around for Delphine's contact. He was fairly easy to spot, but only if one was looking for him, sitting in a secluded corner that she didn't see until she reached the center of the floor. M'rissi and Inigo had come along, but only to help make the visit seem more natural and less suspect. Luckily, aside from themselves, Malborn seemed to be the only non-human in the inn at the moment. Blake slowly walked over and shot him a smile as she sat down, placing the bag on the ground near him.

"Hello. I believe you were expecting me?"

"By the Gods, I was beginning to get worried." He looked her up and down and sighed. "I hope she knows what she's doing." He leaned back and looked down at the bag. "That everything you need?"

"Gear, potions, lockpicks, all there. Can you get it in?"

"Don't worry about me. I'll make sure it's there for you when you're ready. Just make sure that really is it. The Thalmor take security very seriously. Whatever's in there is all you're getting in."

"Good thing it's everything I need."

"Yes, good." Malborn stood up and pretended to lazily stretch. He picked up the bag and slung it over his shoulder. "I'll get this in. The rest is up to you."

Blake nodded and the Wood Elf left. She hoped no one else would pick up on his nervousness like she did as she stood up from her own seat and walked over to where Inigo was sitting with a mug. As she took a seat across from him, he nodded and took a sip.

"So that was it, huh?" he asked while nursing his drink.

"Pretty much. Gonna be without my blades until the day after tomorrow. And until then I'll have to be trying on dresses. Ruby's orders, said I had to "share her pain."" Blake couldn't help but chuckle at Ruby's demand, both now and when she first gave it.

"Eh, could be worse," he said before looking over to where M'rissi was talking to a Redguard woman, who seemed to be even shier than Ruby when Blake first met her and Yang. However, the catwoman was warming up to her rather easily, smiling with her tail flicking as she conversed with the stranger. "At least you're supposed to be plain-looking. Ruby has been dressed up in some of the frilliest things I've ever seen. I did not mean to laugh so much, though I suppose I could have tried a little harder to stop myself from continuing."

"No, it convinced them to change their minds. I'm sure Ruby's grateful, in the end." She certainly wasn't appreciative of Inigo when he started, but Blake was confident her leader would come around shortly. She seemed to bounce back from things quickly.

"Maybe." They saw the woman stand up, with M'rissi focused on her intently. She cleared her throat while looking around nervously and began singing.

"~Snow falls on all the land, all the land, all the land. Snow falls on all the land, shrouded by dark wings. A child prayed unto the Gods, "Save the land, save the land," and the Gods said unto the child "To Skyrim comes spring.""

"Ack!" Ruby cried out as Endarie pulled the string of the corset as tightly as she could. "Can't breathe!"

"Oh, you'll be fine." The Altmer waved off Ruby's concern. "Give it a minute and you'll be used to it."

"I've worn corsets!" Ruby squeaked out. "This is not how you wear corsets!"

"Oh no, absolutely not," Taarie objected while softly slapping her sister's hands away. She practically tore the piece off Ruby, allowing the girl to breathe in utter relief. "That puts far too much emphasis on her chest. No one will ever look at the rest of her like that."

"Thank you," Ruby sighed before glaring at Lydia, who was giggling at the whole thing.

"Here, try this one," Taarie suggested before fitting a different corset around her torso. This one went over her bust rather than pushing it up like the last one did, and curved in to her waist before going back out at the top of her hips. The Altmer tied it securely but left it loose enough for Ruby to breathe easily. "Yes, this will work. I'll get a red one and replace the strings with black to match the dress."

"I'm not sure, Taarie. It makes her look childlike," Endarie pointed out.

"Seeing as she is a child, that's somewhat the point," Taarie replied. "So long as she looks like a child of nobility and not a waif."

"Lydia, what's a waif?" Ruby asked, annoyed that she had been called that for the second time now.

"It's like a ragamuffin," Endarie answered before she could.

"What's a ragamuffin?"

"An urchin," Taarie filled in.

"The spiky sea critters?"

Before anyone could explain any further, there was a knock on the door of the dressing room before it opened up a crack.

"It's me," Blake announced before walking in. M'rissi darted in behind her and started looking Ruby over. The girl was currently dressed in a three layered skirt that fell until just past her knees, with the top and bottom both made of red silk and the middle one black. The top of the dress had been a simple affair, now covered mostly by the corset with only its shoulders visible. "Looks good so far."

"Wait until it's your turn," Ruby half-seethed.

"She thinks it's not finished," M'rissi pointed out.

"Well yeah, they're still working on it." Ruby was more than aware of that, and her frustration was easily seeping into her voice. If M'rissi seemed to care, she didn't show it.

"Ooh, she has an idea!" The Khajiit ran over to a shelf and picked through a few things until she pried up something red and lacey then ran over and draped it across Ruby's shoulders. The seamstresses were ready to object, but then Taarie held up her hand and looked it over.

"Hm, I think we could work with that, actually. Sister, do we still have that rose pattern lace?"

"I believe so." The other Altmer walked over and more calmly searched through the fabrics until she pulled out a bolt of similar cloth. Looking it over while comparing it to Ruby's current dress, she hummed in contemplation. "Yes, I think this could work. A black corset instead of red and the color scheme will be perfect."

"Ah, glad we're on the same page there. While you're working on that, let's see what we have for shoes."

"Not heels," Ruby quietly begged, but the sisters ignored her.

"Hold on, what about these?" Blake asked as she picked up a pair of heeled boots.

"No," Ruby let out quietly, dismayed at Blake's apparent betrayal.

"Come on," Blake declared with a roll of her eyes, "these are only about an inch, not those five-inch monsters Weiss thought was a good idea. It's only a little more than your normal combat boots. Here."

Ruby groaned, but reluctantly put her foot out and slipped it into the offered footwear. Once the other one was on, she took a few hesitant steps before her confidence picked up and she began walking a little more normally.

"They're still a little awkward, but I think I can get used to this," she admitted with a small smile. "Yeah, not bad. A little big, though."

"I think we have more in your size. Give me a moment," Endarie requested. Blake smirked and then looked over at Ruby.

"Feeling nervous?"

"A little bit, but it'll be fine. It's just a party, after all. Just gotta walk around, act like I'm interested in what people are saying, and drink some wine here and there. Weiss gave me pointers. I'm more worried about…that note."

"That note? From Labyrinthian?"

Ruby nodded. "I still don't know what that was about, or whether we should even trust the person who sent it. How many times have agents from the Thalmor tried to kill one of us? But then at least one of them might be helping us?"

"It's confusing, I know. I think it's kinda working to our favor that a lot of them seem to be self-serving to one extent or another. Not enough to topple everything, but enough to get in each other's way. In Ulquarrion's case, what he was doing was, in a roundabout way, helping the Thalmor and Dominion. If this is him, or even someone else, you can be sure they have a similar branch of thought."

"Ugh, I hate politics."

"Yeah, but when you live in a society, you have to have them."

"Here we are," Endarie said as she returned from the shoe closet. "If these aren't a perfect fit, I'll eat the left one."

"Thanks for the lift, Jarl Elisif," Ruby expressed towards the woman.

"It's no problem at all, Thane Ruby," Elisif replied with a wave of her hand. "Considering what you've done for me before, this is little more than a kind gesture to a friend. I'm surprised you got an invitation to Elenwen's party, although I suppose your name is getting around."

"Yeah, I'm getting a little famous, I guess," Ruby admitted with a slight blush.

"And that dress looks like it was made just for the occasion. Let me guess, Radiant Raiment?" Ruby smiled and tugged up at the skirts of the new dress. The sisters had finished it up and threw on a velvet shawl and sleeves for added warmth, with thick cotton hose beneath for her legs. Going the extra mile, M'rissi had found her a black-laced choker with an onyx stud.

"They're basically a sponsor for me at this point. Besides, yours looks like it came from them too."

"You got me." Elisif smiled and shrugged. "What can I say? They have an eye for clothing and fashion. They could use a little adjustment on how they present, however."

"Yeah." Ruby nodded at that. "At least for the business. It's like they say back home, when you feel down but the customer needs a smile, fake it 'til you make it."

"Oh, an interesting phrase!"

While Ruby continued to converse with the Jarl, Blake stood up in her more plain, black dress and looked over the high-class carriage's roof. The Embassy was coming into sight, and looked a great deal different than it did at night, much more lively and less obviously ominous. Already some guests were present, likely those from much further away than Solitude. A few she saw wearing the sigil of Markarth, a few more from Falkreath, and then there was the surprising presence of Maven Black-Briar. She almost ducked down as a knee-jerk reaction, but instead hummed in thought before taking out her scroll and snapping a photo of her.

'I somehow doubt Jarl Laila's going to like her cozying up to the Dominion,' she thought before reaching into her back pocket and pulling out her old ribbon. She looked at it for a moment before tying it around her ears. She was only a little out of practice, but after the months of donning it after every shower at Beacon, it was easy to get back into the swing of it. The carriage soon pulled to a stop inside the perimeter fence of the Embassy and its occupants started walking out.

"Ah, my lady!" Erikur greeted Elisif the moment he saw her. "Glad you're here. Didn't want to think I'd be the only one representing Solitude today."

"Yes, but whether I'm here or not, I do expect you to be on your best behavior," Elisif reminded the nobleman, who unashamedly threw his arms to the right and bowed slightly.

"Why, when am I ever not, my lady?" he replied with a smile as he straightened himself. It was then that he noticed the Jarl's companion, and he turned his attention Solitudes' latest Thane. "Ah, hello, Ruby."

"Hi, Gisli's brother," Ruby greeted him. The man looked downcast at that.

"It's…Erikur. Do you really even know Gisli all that well?"

"I spoke with her a time or two. She worries about you, you know."

"Yes well…family is one of the tightest bonds in the world, after all."

The three continued speaking as they headed into the indicated building, each one showing their invitations to the guards at the door.

"Here you go," Ruby said as she handed hers over before the Altmer nodded and handed it back. "Also, with me are my housecarl and my assistant."

"Here's my Writ of Covenant," Lydia offered, handing over the proof of her oath to Ruby, signed by Balgruuf. The Altmer guard looked over the Writ and hummed to himself before nodding and handing it back to Lydia.

"Everything here seems in order. I suppose your assistant will be your guest, then. No weapons save for the single sword of your sworn servant, yes?"

"Honestly, I wouldn't even know where to put one," Ruby said as she held out her skirt just a little and somehow accidentally pulled off a curtsy.

'Oh, and of course Weiss didn't see it! She'll never believe me!'

"Very well. You may proceed, miss."

Ruby nodded and walked in after the others. The main ballroom was wide, but kept warm by two separate fireplaces. A string group was playing a tune off in a corner, and a few servants were going about, offering silver goblets. Ruby began to walk around, with Lydia and Blake just behind her, looking for anything that might be out of place or significant. A Bosmer woman offered them all a drink, but they all told her no one wanted anything yet. A guard walked by them and took up position at a corner opposite of the band, then an older looking Altmer walked up to them.

"Welcome," she greeted them, but paid special attention to Ruby. "I don't believe we've met. I am Elenwen, the Thalmor Ambassador to Skyrim."

"Ruby," the Dragonborn squeaked out before clearing her throat. "Ruby Rose, pleased to make your acquaintance." She tried to curtsy again, but nearly fell back. Before she could completely fall over, Blake reached out and stabilized her. 'Ah, come on!'

"Ah yes." Elenwen nodded, a fake smile plastered onto her face. "I remember your name from the guest list. I believe I've heard of you before, but it was the insistence of-"

"Madame Ambassador, I am so sorry to interrupt," a voice came up from behind the woman, catching her attention and making her scoff.

"What is it, Malborn?" she shot back while turning towards the source of the disruption.

"It's just that we've…run out of the Alto wine. Do I have your permission to uncork the…Arenthia red…?"

While the two elves talked, Ruby began hearing the tune from the band stop and something else start. The Cathay-raht Khajiit at the long-necked bass moved his bow and began plucking the strings in a solo start, the three notes sounding very familiar to her ears.

'No way,' she thought as she turned to look back at the band composed of Bosmer, Altmer, and the one Khajiit. Her eyes followed the bassist's hands as he continued, repeating the line before a slight variation of four notes came, then went back to it. After the second repeat, the viola and violin joined in, running their bows along their strings as a cello began to echo the bass, and it became unmistakable.

"One," she whispered, her throat tightening a bit as her mind ran with the implications. Blake elbowed her and brought her attention back just as Elenwen turned back to them.

"My apologies. We'll have to get better acquainted later. Please," she said while indicating to the ballroom, "enjoy yourself."

"Of course. Thank you, ma'am."

As the Thalmor left them alone, Blake sidestepped over to where Malborn was and nodded to him.

"You made it in, good," he whispered. "As soon as you distract the guards, I'll open this door and we can get you on your way."

"Thanks," Ruby said before looking back to the crowd. "I'll go in and…do stuff. Blake, wait over here for something to happen. Lydia, go around and see if you can find something distraction-y."

The two women nodded and Blake turned and started looking very interested in the cups sitting on the counter before Malborn. Lydia went off into the outer circle of the growing crowd and seemed to disappear into it. Ruby walked out and started heading towards where the band was playing.

'"Just listen for One and look for twenty-three." Twenty-three of what, though?' She looked at the different instruments, but none of them seemed to have any sort of marking upon them. Most of the players seemed fairly normal, but then she did a double-take when she realized the lead violinist was wearing the purple inner garments of the Thalmor, with the outer coat hanging on a coat rack next to him. More surprising, when she looked up and saw his face, his skin was the brown of a Bosmer rather than yellow or golden. If that wasn't enough, from his brow two antlers had grown, this pair larger and far spikier than any she had seen on an elven head before. Her eyes flitted around, trying to count them, but in the end she was certain that she had counted twenty-three spikes. Their eyes then met, and silver stared into red for a long moment before he smiled at her, closed his eyes again, and focused on playing. Ruby nearly stumbled back, but held herself steady as she looked him over again, her eyes eventually going back to his antlers and the hair below them. It seemed wheat-colored, but toward the ends where his hair thinned it took on a silvery sheen.

"Ruby," she heard before jolting in place, Elisif having come up to her and pulled her around. "Sorry, but you were staring. I already have one Thane's eyes glued to an attractive elf, and I don't need you adding to it."

"Sorry! It's just… I mean…"

"I'll be honest with you, the antlers caught me off-guard when I first saw a Wood Elf with them as well," Elisif admitted, believing she understood why Ruby was staring. "They're not too common, and from what I hear, they've only gotten rarer. Still, it's hardly appropriate to stare."

"I understand. He just… Never mind." The band's tune then changed, their tempo having increased at the part where the song got harder in its original version before going into the solo and then finally ending. The two listened, Elisif in far more interest.

"My, it sounded so melancholy before, but now it sounds…raging."

"It does," Ruby agreed. "It…reminds me of another song I know. Maybe I could sing it one day."

"Really? That sounds wonderful."

"It's no Velveteen Rhapsody, but it's definitely one of my favorites."

A minute later, the song ended, and the Bosmer set his violin down before taking up his uniform's coat. He slipped in on almost instantly and put the buckles together before walking over towards the Jarl and Thane. He bowed politely and smiled to them both.

"Lady Jarl, wonderful to see you. And you must be Ruby Rose. I'm glad we finally get to meet. I had hoped you got my invitation."

Ruby's mind went for a whirl before she forcefully stopped it.

"Uh, well, you know. It was such an…ambitious occasion…"

"You mean auspicious?"

"Yeah, that. Being a party for Emperor's Day and all, and it's my first Emperor's Day in the country, and my birthday's tomorrow while I'm trying to get things done around this part of the kingdom while slaying dragons and saving people… I'm rambling, aren't I?"

"A little bit." The Bosmer chuckled. "Lady Elisif, do you mind if I take your Thane away for a moment? I was actually hoping to discuss some things about dragons with her."

"Go on then. I think I'll try and see if Jarl Idgrod is around." He watched Elisif go and then looked back to Ruby.

"I see you got my message, that's good. I was afraid I might shed these before we got a chance to meet. Right one's already a little loose. Sorry, I'm Capric Thorn."

"Nice to meet you, Capric." Ruby looked over at the band and then back to him, her eyes narrowing in slight suspicion. "So...what is it that you want, exactly?"

"Well, I started hearing rumors out of Skyrim about a group of four women taking down the dragons that had just as suddenly appeared. After some investigation of my own, I figured out that four new Thanes of Whiterun appeared right when the rumors started, and it wasn't hard to determine it was you four, especially given how active you are. The dragons are a threat to us all, and I've decided that cooperation would benefit us both. Let's discuss this later, though. In private. I bought a place down near the river. Almost no one goes there. Once the party's over, we can meet and discuss things further. Until then," he looked over at Blake and smirked, "your friend needs a distraction."

"Yeah, I…kinda got distracted myself."

"I seem to have that effect on people." Capric smiled then shook his head. "Well, let's get it on out then. You can breathe fire, can't you?"

"Uh, I'm not sure if that's such a good idea indoors."

"Come now! A simple puff wouldn't hurt anyone," he said loudly, catching more than a few people's attention. As several onlookers turned to them, Ruby realized what he was doing.

"Oh, well, okay. Um…" She looked up and saw that there was plenty of clearance between her and the ceiling. "But you asked for it," she reminded him before taking a deep breath and concentrating on her Thu'um, willing the Voice to speak Fire as small as it could.

"Yol!" she Shouted, releasing a small puff of fire that went out almost as soon as it appeared. Party-goers and guards alike had their attention stolen by the display, surprise and awe clearly seen on their faces, and Ruby saw Malborn quickly slip Blake out through the servant's door from the corner of her eye the moment every Thalmor's eyes were locked onto her.

"What in the world is going on here?" Elenwen demanded as she stomped up to them.

"Sorry, Madame Ambassador," Capric swiftly apologized with a slight bow. "I was just wanting to see a small display of Miss Rose's power. I suppose we should have taken it outside."

"Yes, you should have." Elenwen scowled and pointed at his chest, subtly reminding everyone of who was actually in charge here. "Don't let it happen again, Thorn."

"Absolutely, Madame." He smiled at Ruby as the woman huffed off.

"Nicely done, I must say."

The first thing Blake did when getting past the door was pull up a mask over her mouth and nose and then pull the ribbon from her ears. Up ahead someone was stirring a pot, and when they came into the kitchens, she saw a Khajiit woman attending to some sort of stew.

"Who comes, Malborn? You know I don't like strange smells in my kitchen."

"A guest, feeling ill. Leave the poor wretch be."

"A guest? In the kitchens? You know this is against the rules…"

"Rules, is it, Tsavani?" he said while turning to her. "I didn't realize that eating moon sugar was permitted. Perhaps I should ask the Ambassador-" The Khajiit interrupted him with a hiss.

"Get out of here, I saw nothing."

Malborn nodded and led Blake into the larder, where he closed the door. "Your gear is in the chest," he indicated with a nod. "I'll lock the door behind you. Don't screw this up. If you do, it's both of our heads."

"Don't worry about me," Blake said as she took out her belongings and laid them out. After a second, she was about to prepare, but paused and looked at the elf with a frown. He jumped a little, his face turning red, and turned away, allowing her to change into the Shrouded Armor, though she kept looking back to make sure he wasn't stealing a look back at her. Once she was done, she stuffed the dress into the chest and closed it. Malborn nodded and left out one door and she went on out the other, winking herself out of sight with Invisibility before slowly moving forward. Her already silent footsteps were deafened by her armor's boots, and she progressed through the Embassy without making a sound.

"Did you see those robes march in this morning?" she heard someone asking from a nearby room. "Who're they with? More of the Emissary's treaty enforcers?"

"No. They're high mages, just in from Alinor. I guess Herself is finally getting worried about all the dragon attacks."

"Ah, good. I was wondering how we were supposed to defend this place from a dragon." Blake backtracked from the hall where she had just gone down and looked into the room they were in. Just at the other side was a door, but the two were blocking the way to it.

"If a dragon does show up, maybe we'll get lucky and it will eat the mages first. Might give us enough time to kill it."

"Ha! I'd like to see those arrogant bastards taken down a notch. Always looking down their noses at us lowly footsloggers." The two laughed a moment before going quiet again, and then he let out a harrumph. "Then there's that damn Bosmer. What was his name again?"

"You mean Thorn? I'd be careful about him if I were you."

"I don't see what the big deal about him is, aside from somehow becoming a Justicar despite being a lesser elf."

"That's just it. It's hard enough for pure-blooded Altmer like ourselves to get this far. What do you suppose he's done to make it?"

For a moment, the guard stood in quiet contemplation before suddenly shivering. "Gods, what has he done?"

"He's half the reason we succeeded at the Great War, is what." Blake's ears turned upward and she concentrated on what they were saying. "Beyond that, it's almost entirely state secrets. What little I ever hear about him comes up right at the peak of some of our worst points, just before they go down and get under control again. The West Insurgents, the Anequinaean Riots, the Siren Rebellion. Every time something like that happens, he shows up, and then everything is straightened out. And everyone knows he was a part of the Thrassian Expenditure. He may have even been one of the main ones behind it. I may not know what he's doing here, but I know enough that I'd never want to cross him." The two began walking out of the room, and Blake moved out of their way.

"You think he's going to straighten up everything happening in Skyrim?"

"Depends on what you mean by that. If you meant stop the whole dragon situation, well I doubt even he could do that. It's as out-of-context as could be, short of those Magne-ge rumors coming true."

Blake shook her head and made her way out. For a moment, she was outside and almost in the open, but she was able to go to the centermost building's doorway and slip inside just behind the coattail of another Thalmor.

"But I need that money. I earned it," she heard a man say from within the building. "I have my own expenses, you know."

"Silence!" another demanded. "Do not presume, Gissur. You are most useful, but do not presume. We have more informants who are less…offensive." Blake found a chest in an office on the ground level and opened it to find a few folders filled with files. One was labeled 'Delphine', which immediately made her suspicious enough to open it and scan its contents, only to find that it was an investigation on the older woman. She pocketed it, knowing that the Blade would want to know about it.

"But no one else has brought you such valuable information, have they?" Gissur asked before pausing for a moment. "Etienne, he's talked, hasn't he? He knows where that old man you're looking for is, he told me himself." She leafed through the folders, pausing and taking the one on Ulfric Stormcloak, as well as the one on Viarmo, the Dean of the Bard's College. Why they were investigating a bard, she didn't know, but the elf knew them and occasionally spoke with Ruby. That alone may have been enough. The last one she took was labeled 'Dragon Investigation', which she put away with the other stolen files before moving on.

"You'll get your money when he's told the rest of his story, as agreed."

"So he has talked! I knew it!"

"Everyone talks, in the end. Now, I have work to do. Leave me to it, if you ever want to see the rest of your payment." Blake checked around the floor she was on before finding a secluded corner. Seeing no one there, she stood up and began looking through the Dragon Investigation files. While a lot of them were simple field studies showing nothing, one file seemed to indicate that they thought that the Blades may have had something to do with it. It also said that someone they were interrogating might have information on someone who knew something more about the whole situation.

'Yeah, looks like nobody knows what the Hell is going on.' Blake mused, knowing Delphine would be disappointed that her paranoia was slightly unfounded.

"Can I... I could help you. He'd talk to me. He trusts me."

"You'd like to come downstairs with me, is that it, Gissur? Shall we loose his bonds and put you in a cell together? You can ask him anything you like and see how he answers."

"No, no. I... I'll wait outside."

"That would probably be best. Now get out!"

As a man left the building, an elf came down from the upper floor as well. Figuring he might lead to something important, she followed along after an application of Chameleon.

'They've got a prisoner here,' she thought while heading down a set of stairs. 'So, I've gotta get him out. Hopefully whatever he isn't telling them he'll tell me.'

Following him, Blake came into a wooden dungeon. A single prisoner was shackled to the walls in one of the cages, bruises up and down his arms and torso. The elf headed down the stairs while an armored guard unlocked the cage and walked in before the prisoner at a gesture from her superior. Blake came as close as she dared, hiding in a shadowed corner.

"Stop. Please," the chained man begged the elven woman holding a blunt mace before him. "I don't know anything else. Don't you think I'd have told you already?"

"Silence," she commanded before slapping him across the face. "You know the rules. Do not speak unless spoken to. Master Rulindil will ask the questions."

"Let's begin again," the robed Thalmor said as he took a seat and picked up a quill before holding it over an inkwell.

"No... For pity's sake... I've already told you everything..."

"You know the rules," the Thalmor said nonchalantly while nodding at his subordinate.

"No!" the prisoner, likely the Etienne they mentioned, cried out before the woman smacked the mace against his shoulder, hard enough to bruise flesh but not enough to break bones. Blake felt her teeth gnashing as she grabbed the hilt of Gambol Shroud, but held herself back.

"Start at the beginning, as usual," Rulindil demanded. "If you persist in this stubbornness I'll have..."

"No, wait! I was...just catching my breath... Why wouldn't I tell you again? I don't even know anything... There's an old man... He lives in Riften. He could be this Esbern you're looking for, but I don't know. He's old and seemed kind of crazy. That's all I know."

"And his name is...?"

"I don't know his name. Like I've already told you a hundred-" The guard hit him on a leg. "Ahhh!"

"You know the rules. Just answer the questions. And where is this nameless old man?"

"Like I said, I don't know. I've seen him down in the Ratway. Maybe he lives down there, but I don't know for sure."

The Thalmor sighed as he dropped his quill and stood up from his seat "That will be all for now. I must say I continue to be disappointed in your lack of cooperation. I hope next time you will do better."

"What else do you want from me? I've told you everything. Listen, if you let me go I can take you to Riften, show you where-" The woman then hit him in the chest, knocking the breath out of him. "Gha!"

"Silence, prisoner!"

After the Thalmor left, Blake looked over at the guard who had left the cage the man was in and closed it shut. Blake listened for the other's departing footsteps until they were extremely faint, then headed over to where the guard stood. With a swift movement, she unsheathed her Daedric dagger and then slid it across the Altmer's throat. The elf gurgled in shock before collapsing and bleeding out all over the ground. Once she went completely still, Blake took the key from her belt and swiftly entered the cage.

"I told you," the tortured man groaned out pitifully without even looking up at her. "I don't know anything else about it."

"Hey, I'm not here to torture you. Etienne, right?" He looked up and gasped.

"Belladonna?"

"What?" Blake felt herself stiffen while her ears shot up at the man's recognition. "You know me?"

"I… I saw you a time or two down at the Ragged Flagon. Most of us know about you pretty well at this point." Realizing that meant he was a member of the Guild, Blake breathed a little easier while he began to cry. "Oh thank the Gods, they sent you to rescue me?"

"Not exactly," she said while undoing his shackles. "But, I will get you out of here. What were they trying to figure out?"

"They kept asking me about an old man, Esbern. I don't know what they want with him, and I don't really care. That agent's been taking some notes, though. He has a whole bunch of them in that cabinet over there." As he pointed to the furniture piece, Blake heard the door leading into the dungeon open and saw Rulindil return, this time with two guards holding Malborn between them. Blake felt her breath hitch, and Etienne whimpered and backed into the corner of his cell.

"Listen up, spy!" the agent called down to her. "You're trapped in here, and we have your accomplice. Surrender immediately or you both die."

'Damn it!' she screamed internally. While she was certain that she could defend herself, Malborn was right there in their clutches, Rulindil holding up a dagger almost lazily near his throat.

The Wood Elf looked up at her, disheartened, but not cowed. "Never mind that. I'm dead already…"

"Silence, traitor!" the female guard commanded while shoving him forward. Rulindil turned and grabbed the shorter mer by the shoulder.

"Go down there and get those two in-" The agent's words were cut off as a translucent sword shot up from seemingly nowhere and buried itself into his gut. As the Altmer gasped and stumbled back, a purple-cloaked figure dashed in, both hands casting spells on either side of him. One hit Malborn and then surrounded him with a green barrier, while the other summoned up several tiny portals that fired out thin wires which wrapped themselves around the male guard's limbs and them pulled him in every direction while glowing blue. The woman readied her weapon, but then the figure's other hand moved again and cast another spell, this time summoning conjured shackles that clamped around her neck and wrists before yanking her to the floor, her sword clattering away and a cone of flames uselessly hitting the banisters next to her. A bound axe and mace appeared, hovering above the combatants, and Blake finally got a good look at the person who came to their rescue. She recognized him as the Bosmer that Ruby had been talking to earlier.

Capric looked on in disinterest as he threw his floating weapons at the woman, smashing the blunt one against her face and chopping deep through her ribcage before striking her skull one last time, leaving her face a bloodied broken mess and her torso split open. He then turned toward the suspended guard and summoned up a new axe while the other weapons disappeared.

"No!" the Thalmor soldier yelled in fear before the axe flew up and into his gut as though wielded by an invisible being. It yanked out then came up and down into his chest, slicing most of the way through. As the victim gurgled in his death throes, the axe came again, this time chopping most of the way through his neck before it and the wires disappeared. As the lifeless body fell, the Bosmer turned towards Malborn and waved his hand, dissipating the barrier.

"Capric?!" the Bosmer asked in shock. "You saved me!"

"Well, it was partly my fault you ended up in this-" The antlered elf stepped back and ducked as a spark of lightning flew out from Rulindil's hand at him. The dying Altmer was looking at him with rage, even as he clutched his mortal wound and slipped from his feet to his knees.

"Thorn, you…traitor!" he got out past his blood-filled lungs.

"Ah, thought I'd forgotten something." Capric pointed a hand at the dying elf and a spectral arrow flew from his wrist and through his throat. He then lightly shoved forward with his foot and sent the corpse toppling over to collapse against the banister between them and the lower floor.

"Sorry for the mess," he called out to Blake. "Once I saw our friend here was being secreted away, I came to make sure everything was all right. A good thing, then." He bent over and took a key from Rulindil's belt before handing it to Malborn. "You should be able to get out through the cave below, but mind the troll. I have your dress hanging out a little past the exit. Come back around to the front when you have a chance, and I'll get you back in unnoticed."

"What about me?" Malborn asked. "After everything…"

"I'm afraid your role has been fulfilled, my friend," the Thalmor told him before patting his shoulder. "Morrowind should be fairly safe. There's almost no presence of the Dominion there. I'm afraid this may be our last time seeing each other."

The other elf nodded. "Well, for what it's worth, thank you." As he headed down the stairs, Blake refocused on Capric and then looked at the carnage surrounding him, disturbed at how nonchalantly he was moving the corpses around.

"Why?" she asked.

"Why what?"

"You helped us. There's nothing for the Thalmor to gain by doing this."

"Debatable, given what it is you do, but at the same time, you're assuming I did this for the Thalmor's sake." He smiled lightly and then looked atop her head before laughing and heading towards the door. "Gods, it's been a really long time since I saw another Faunus."

Blake nearly jumped out of her skin at that. "What?" Capric continued on, saying nothing else to her as he closed the dungeon's door behind him. "What did you say?"

"Belladonna, let's go," Etienne called over to her and he held up the trapdoor while Malborn climbed down. "If there's really a troll down here, then I'd prefer the Shadowkiller take it on than me without a weapon. Or even me with a weapon, for that matter."

Blake looked back to where the man had left one last time, then headed over to the tunnel.

As Ruby flicked her tongue in and out a few times, she accepted a goblet of wine and took a swallow to wash out the taste that Lightning Breath sometimes left in her mouth. The crowd was still clapping at the display for a moment, and then she turned to them with a smile and a theatrical swirl of her skirts.

"And now, for one of my newest learned Shouts, a greater example of Akatosh's sacred gift! I have recently come to understand the meaning of tiid, the dragon word for time. Be warned, while it may appear that I am going faster, in truth, I have made all of time around me go slower." She took in a deep breath and then released it into a Shout. "Tiid!"

As the world around her went into a crawl, Ruby calmly released the goblet, walked forward to a cat-eyed Ohmes holding a tray of "horse durves" as gravity belatedly started affecting the suspended cup, and then picked up a small sandwich before taking a bite. She chewed for a moment before nonchalantly returning to catch the falling goblet before it had descended even an inch as everyone's gazes slowly tried to keep up with her, but then time resumed and everyone was looking at Ruby munching away as though it was a perfectly normal occurrence. The guests all clapped again, a few laughing at her casual disregard of the laws of nature, though most of the Thalmor looked on grimly. None of them seemed hostile or aggravated, but they certainly weren't as entertained as the humans, Bosmer, and Khajiit. Either that or they were much better at hiding it. Ruby then spied Blake coming out of the door of the building, Capric Thorn right behind her. A few others started noticing and some of the women began whispering while blushing and giggling, while most of the men seemed to look on either approvingly or jealously. It only took Ruby a moment to put together what they must have thought, and she couldn't help but groan.

"Well, I guess that's it, everyone. My throat's getting kind of sore. Let's all head back in and enjoy the rest of Miss Elenwen's party." As the guests started filing back into the building, many of them talking about the powers they had just viewed or quickly spreading a newly crafted rumor or two, Ruby walked over to Blake and made sure they were out of anyone's earshot, human or not.

"Find everything okay?"

"Found things, but about as much as we expected."

"They don't know anything?"

"They know about someone who might."

"And us?"

"I think I can dig him up."

"That's good." Ruby looked back at the crowd that had mostly gone back inside at this point. "Um, I think they saw you coming back with Capric and now…"

"I couldn't care less what the nobility of a country considered a backwater by the standards of a medieval world thinks about me." Somehow, from her tone, Ruby figured she did care a little.

"Yeah… Wanna finish up the party with me?"

"Might as well. At least I've got an alibi."

"Guess you do," Ruby muttered while blushing and rubbing the back of her neck.

"Yang, I feel like this is a tad unnecessary," Serana cautioned the Companion.

"No, no, let her finish," Weiss said with a wave of her hand.

"I'm sorry!" the reluctant witch screamed while flailing her arms around as tears poured down her face. "I promise I'll go to a temple and become a priestess! I'll give up on gaining power and smiting my enemies!"

Yang shifted her grip, letting the girl feel as if she'd dropped for a second. She shrieked as she dangled from over the edge of Bird's Eye tower, Yang's strength being the only thing keeping her from plummeting four stories to her death.

"Promise you'll never even think about so much as helping a Hagraven."

"I swear! I swear to the Gods!"

"Don't swear to the Gods, swear to me!"

"I swear to you, I'll never look for a Hagraven or a coven ever again!"

"Good!" Yang yanked up the young girl and set her onto the solid floor, where she collapsed to her side and immediately rolled into the fetal position while shivering. "And don't you forget it."

"Are these Hagravens really so bad?" Serana asked while eyeing the pitiful girl on the ground.

"Yes," the Huntresses answered at once. Yang then dusted her hands and looked out across the horizon.

"Well, now that I'm done scaring the Dagon out of that girl, I can appreciate the view. Hey Sera, is that your home over there?" The older vampire walked up and looked to where she was pointing before giving a nod.

"Yeah, that's it. We're pretty close."

"Well that's good. Hopefully we can drop you off and then we can run over to Solitude in time for my little sister's birthday." As she headed towards the stairs, she looked back at the crying pile of a woman. "Hey, I'll be coming back here, and if you haven't packed up and left I'ma eat ya, and not in the fun way!"

"I don't know what that means," she got out through sobs. The other three continued on down, pausing at the second level, where Erevan had been conversing with the oddly calm Dremora Dravos while warming himself at a fire pit.

"Ah, I take it the heart to heart with the apprentice witch went well?" he asked them as they returned.

"More or less," Weiss said with a sigh.

"Hopefully she takes the advice to go up to Winterhold. I'd really hate to have to kill her."

"As would I. She seems somewhat decent, just in need of direction. Farewell, Dravos."

"Have a good one," the pleasant Daedra said while raising a mug towards them. "Don't stay out of trouble, now!" Yang waved back and almost laughed at the thought of 'Sam' selling tomes to teach novices how to summon Dremora, only for them to get someone like Dravos. Back on the ground, they headed down the road and then off onto a trail that took them to the shore. It actually felt a little warmer next to the water than out in the open, which Yang was grateful for. As they neared closer to their destination, she took a whiff of air and then sniffed it a few times before looking towards a nearby fort.

"Whew! That is a lot of elves!" she exclaimed.

The vampires smelled the air as well, and Serana nodded. "Yep. Altmer. How'd so many settle here?"

"Seeing as that banner is one for the Thalmor, it's not a settlement," Weiss indicated. Yang looked over the fort, and then saw the purple flag waving slightly in the breeze.

"Huh, I'll be. Guess that's where a lot of them are stationed at."

"Wait, who are the Thalmor again?"

"Political faction of the Aldmeri Dominion," Weiss described. "Haven't met a pleasant one, yet. If you listened to just the rumors you'd think they were the worst examples of their race, and you'd only be a little wrong."

"Didn't that Ulquarrion guy help you and Blake?" Yang asked her friend.

"Begrudgingly, with complaint, and not without his own gain." Serana looked at her questioningly. "It's complicated. All you need to know is never trust a Thalmor completely."

"Right." The four stopped as they came across an old dock and a couple of rowboats moored to it. "Well, better than I expected." They all looked forward and saw the castle and its island. Weiss looked around it and noted how much of the island was rocky and barren, with the castle taking up much of the flat ground. "Let's head over then."

They all hopped into the boat and Yang and Erevan grabbed the oars and started rowing. As they came closer, Yang swore the sky seemed to darken even as hawk-like creatures flew around the place in lazy circles. They eyed them warily, only to duck and cover when one swooped down low right over their heads.

"Gods damn!" Yang shouted as she ducked, Weiss doing the same. As the creature flew back up, she glared at it. Next to her, she could hear a faint crackle of electricity as Weiss prepared a shock spell. "Sera, how the hell does your family have Nevermores at your castle?!"

"Nevermores? Is that the name for bone hawks now?" Serana seemed nonplussed by their violent reactions to the admittedly unsettling bird. "Don't worry, they're harmless."

"They better be," Weiss said as she dispelled. The trio sat in silence while Yang took the time to look everything over more closely. The more she did, the more unease she felt.

'Okay, no surprise that the vampire castle looks and smells like death. All it needs now is a flash of lightning behind it,' she thought to herself as they brought the boat to shore next to a more well-kept dock. The group stood up and walked onto the sand while looking up to the castle just before them. Weiss rubbed her arm and then looked over at Erevan.

"Do you mind watching the boat for us?" she asked him, really just wanting an excuse to not drag the most vulnerable of them any closer to whatever dangers lurked within.

"It will be no trouble," he replied. If Erevan realized why he was asked to stay behind, he didn't show it.

"Thank you."

With that, the three women started heading uphill towards the castle gates. Just before they passed the first pair of gargoyle statues, however, Serana slowed to a halt.

"Hey, so…before we go in there…" the vampire woman paused and looked down at her feet.

"You okay?" Yang asked as she turned towards her.

"I think so," she sighed out. "And thanks for asking. I want to thank you for getting me this far, but after we go in there, whatever happens, I'm going to go my own way for a while." She looked back up at the fortress and closed her eyes while releasing a breath. "There's a lot of old feelings wrapped up in this place, and I don't think either of you are quite ready for them." She nodded and crossed her arms. "So let me take the lead in there."

Both the huntresses nodded, while Weiss held an arm forward to let Serana ahead. The vampire went on and led them up to the gate, where an elderly looking man holding a torch was posted.

"Who goes there?" he asked while standing up and looking at them. Weiss took one look at his face and knew he was a thrall. "No one enters without-" Serana pulled back her hood and the man's words stopped in their tracks. "Gods above," he finally muttered. "You're back. Open the gate!" he shouted upwards while banging a wooden mallet against the wall. "Lady Serana's back! Open the gate!"

Seconds later, the iron and wood gate blocking their entrance started rising up. The three walked in, the watchman's jubilant face following them, and then went through the doorway. As soon as the air from within hit their noses, the two girls were nearly blown back.

"Oh god," Yang muttered while shaking her head. "I never smelled this much blood before. That big Namiran cult didn't even cut it close."

Weiss, on the other hand, was wincing and cursing herself. Part of her was actually finding the smell to be appetizing. "Let's-"

"How dare you trespass here!" a High Elf declared as he grabbed the hilt of his sword and started towards them. After a few steps, though, he stopped in place, looked towards an old painting on the wall, and then back at the group.

"Wait, Serana?" he asked the woman in question. "Is that truly you? I cannot believe my eyes." He looked at the painting again, and the two Huntresses did as well to see that it was a family portrait. Weiss felt her throat tighten at its familiarity. It was a painting of three people, one of whom appeared to be Serana, and the two behind her seemed to be her parents, though there seemed to be claw marks going across the woman's face.

"Wow, hello ominous family painting, which Bela Lukus movie did they get you from?" Yang snarked, to which Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose while Serana just looked confused. "How old is that thing?"

"It was old before I left. They must have restored it a few times."

"My lord! Everyone!" the elf announced from a balcony as the three walked forward. "Serana has returned!" Mutters and hushed whispers rose up, and Serana herself shrugged as they went.

"I guess I'm expected."

Weiss and Yang's eyes quickly scanned the room, seeing vampires sitting at a trio of large banquet tables, set with goblets full of blood, platters with blood marinated meats, and even saucers with blood that a couple were using as a dip for bread. One vampire had even just had someone lie down on the table in front of them to take occasional sips. Yang did her best to put scents to faces while Weiss felt her sixth sense reacting to all of her fellow undead. Most of them felt just like Galla, threatening, but nothing she couldn't handle. The one before them and a couple others felt like more significant threats. But then there was one who was walking from behind the main table, who held the same appearance as the man in the painting. Weiss felt her footsteps grow heavy in his presence. He did not feel just threatening, but overwhelming. Part of her wanted to fall at his feet and hope for mercy, while another part wanted to run away and hope his sights never landed on her. Luckily, his sight was focused on the woman they had brought from the Pale.

"Ah, my long-lost daughter returns at last!" he intoned with a thick, Nordic accent. "I trust you have my Elder Scroll?"

"After all these years, that's the first thing you ask me?" Serana shot back with a scoff before pulling the cloth from the golden object on her back. "Yes, I have the scroll."

'Honestly, the first thing he says to her…' a part of her mind that had pulled itself from the fear began griping. The familiarity of the dynamic certainly wasn't helping matters. 'What kind of… Wait, did he say Elder Scroll?'

She would have stumbled over had she not stopped walking. Weiss looked over at the object in question and felt her breathing simply stop. She only read sparse details about the Elder Scrolls, but there was one thing oft repeated enough to be taken as bold-faced truth: the Scrolls were prophetic, able to tell the future, or at least how to reach a certain future, to those that could read them. While it was far more complex, possibly far more than she knew, the fact remained that they were in the last step of handing over one of the most powerful items in the known universe to a clan of vampires.

'Oh, shit.'

"Of course I'm delighted to see you, my daughter," he expressed amongst whispers as Serana walked up to his side. "Must I really say the words aloud?" He clapped his hands together and smiled brightly. "Ah, if only your traitor mother were here! I would let her watch this reunion before putting her head on a spike."

Yang nudged Weiss and leaned over to her. "Looks like he's gunning for 'worst father ever' at this point."

"Y- yes," Weiss muttered back. "Listen, this just got a lot more complicated."

"You mean about the Scroll thingy?" Yang guessed. "I think I've heard of those before. What do they-"

"Now tell me, who are these two strangers you have brought into our hall?" the man asked pointedly, eyeing Weiss and Yang as if they were nothing, at best.

"Father, these are my saviors, the ones that freed me." Serana introduced the two, who, now in the spotlight, walked forward.

"For my daughter's safe return, you have my gratitude," he cordially extended to them. "Tell me, what are your names?"

"Weiss Schnee," the heiress managed to get out.

"Yang Xiao Long," the warrior said with no reluctance. "Who're you?"

"I am Harkon, lord of this court."

"Holyshi- You're Harkon!?" Yang shouted, her eyes wide with shock.

"So, you have heard of me?" he laughed. "And I suppose you know what we are."

Yang blinked and shook her head before looking from side to side. "Well, going by the blood-based diet, and the fact you all smell half-dead, you're vampires."

"Yang," Weiss tried to warn her teammate, not wanting to antagonize the powerful force before her.

"Not just any vampires. We are among the oldest and most powerful vampires in Skyrim. For centuries we lived here, far from the cares of the world. All that ended when my wife betrayed me and stole away that which I valued most." Both doubted that what he meant by that was his daughter, Weiss more so, but neither were going to say anything about it.

"And now?" Weiss asked after a moment of silence, hoping that maybe he would spill a little more information that they could use.

"You have done me a great service, and now you must be rewarded. There is but one gift I can give that is equal in value to the Elder Scroll and my daughter. I offer you my blood." He spread out his arms, as though the offer was within them. "Take it, and you will walk as a lion among sheep. Men will tremble at your approach, and you will never fear death again."

"Actually, we're already taken, so to speak," Yang told him. "I'm a werewolf, and she's already a vampire."

"Yes, I can smell it on you," he pointed at Yang, a dismissive frown on his face. "My blood, however, is strong. It will cleanse that filth from your body and make you whole. As for you," he continued while looking over at Weiss, "you've simply contracted a disease, but you are no true vampire. Accept my gift and I promise that you will learn the difference. Refuse me, and I will banish you from this castle. I will spare your life this once, but after that, you are prey."

Yang's eyes narrowed while Weiss froze in place. The kneejerk reaction to refuse him outright came, but then her eyes went to Serana and the Elder Scroll still strapped to her back. For one, she was already almost all alone and seemed out of sorts and on guard. If Weiss was in her place, one thing she'd want more than anything else would be someone to count on. Even if that weren't an issue, there was still the matter of the Elder Scroll. She didn't know what they wanted with it, but if this vampire clan was the same one that had begun stepping up and sending probing attacks against the Holds of Skyrim, going so far as to destroy the Hall of the Vigilant, then their ends could only be just as ambitious. The sheer number of vampires in the castle did nothing to alleviate her worries.

Yang was about to speak up, and from the looks of it, it wasn't going to be pretty, but Weiss reached forward and grabbed her shoulder, stopping her just in time.

"Lord Harkon, please, allow me a moment to speak to my companion," Weiss requested while bowing her head. When the man nodded his approval, she pulled Yang away from the vampires and to a back corner before silently putting up a Muffle Area.

"Listen to me, Yang," Weiss started, making sure the larger girl was blocking their vision of her mouth. "I'm going to stay here."

"What?! Are you insane?!" she shouted. Although the other vampires could not hear her, they could see how agitated Yang was getting. "There's literally a guy eating-"

"Yang, we just handed the instigators of all those vampire attacks an Elder Scroll!" Weiss laid down while gesturing. "Using an Elder Scroll to see into the future is one of the more mundane applications of them I've come across. There is legitimate evidence that one was used to rewrite a man's fully erased history, undoing a Daedric Prince's own curse."

"Why do you know that?"

"Because there's evidence pointing to Lie Ren being the one who did that. The point is, we don't know what they're planning. The Dawnguard is fighting against this group of vampires specifically, right?"

"Yeah," Yang said with slight uncertainty. "Which is why we should go back, tell Isran and Kodlak about them, and then storm this castle."

"Which would get everyone killed," Weiss countered. Yang moved to retort, but then thought it over. The more she did, and the more her sense of smell expanded, the more she realized Weiss was right. These vampires outnumbered the Dawnguard at least ten to one, with several being Vampire Lords. If they attacked as they were now, they'd be slaughtered.

"Damn it," she grunted. Weiss wanted nothing more than to hug her, but she had to keep up the ruse from their audience's captive eyes.

"Yang, listen. This is a chance to get someone on the inside."

"But… I can't just leave you here on your own! Who knows what these creeps will do to you?"

"I can handle myself, and I won't be alone. Not really. If anything does happen, you can bet I'll have escape plans ready. And you're all just a scroll call away."

Yang reached up and began rubbing her eyes. "I… I don't know Weiss. This is way too heavy to be-"

"Yang, like you said, I'm already a vampire," Weiss pointed out while holding out her arms. "I can't get any more damned than I am right now. Maybe we'll get lucky and this sort will actually be easier to cure. Like this, at least, I can help you in a very meaningful way. Any information I can get I can instantly send to you, and you can give it to the Dawnguard."

Yang looked at her teammate for a long moment, trying to ignore the feeling of the scrutinizing stares of the court of vampire lords on the back of her neck, before finally releasing a sigh. "Okay. But you better promise to be careful," she said while putting her hands on Weiss' shoulders. "Everyone else is going to hate this. Especially Ruby."

"I know."

"Also, how's your acting?"

"Acting?"

"Well, we can't let it seem like I was okay with my friend joining a reclusive cannibal cult if I'm going to walk away."

Weiss almost smiled, but instead focused on faking an angered expression. "The spell will let up in five seconds. I'm ready."

"You be safe."

"You too." A moment later, Weiss ripped herself away from Yang's hands and then shoved past her. "I've had enough!"

"You think joining them is going to help you?!" Yang screamed after her.

"Far more help than you or any god has! I'm done being led around like a dog! If you can't handle it, then go!"

"If you do this, it's going to be the death of you!"

Weiss turned her back to Yang. "So be it." She kneeled down before Harkon, hating how right part of her felt doing so. "I accept your gift, my lord."

"And you shall receive it," he told her gladly. "As for you…"

"I'll see myself out," Yang seethed before turning on her heels and heading towards the entrance, leaping from the hall up onto the balcony just to get out a little quicker. As everyone watched her leave, Weiss took the chance to glance at the vampires. Only Serana seemed to be suspicious, but the others appeared to have bought their ruse. For her part, Serana didn't look like she was saying anything anytime soon. Harkon crossed his arms as she left, then waved Weiss up to her feet.

"You have made a wise decision, child. Now, behold, the power I give!" Harkon's skin seemed to turn red as his clothes became soaked in what seemed like blood. Soon his whole form looked to be covered by the substance before his arms and wings burst out, revealing his new, monstrous body. What Weiss felt before in his presence was nearly doubled and she had to resist the urge to fall back to her knees. "Hold still," he told her before coming forward, holding her head with one clawed hand and her shoulder with the other. His wings wrapped around her and his teeth came down onto her neck. Pain shot throughout her, lancing through seemingly every nerve, and then everything began fading to black.

Outside, Yang huffed her way back to the boat. While the act she put on was just that, having to go through with it really worked her up. Erevan turned to see her coming and looked past her.

"Is everything…"

"Small change in plans, Erry. Weiss is going to stay here for a little while." Yang made sure everything was in the boat and began unmooring it, even as he looked back at her and the castle with shock and alarm. "I'll explain on the way back to land, but first I need to get Ruby and Blake on the line."

"What exactly is going on?" he asked as he stepped into the boat with her.

"A whole lotta stuff, bud. A whole lot." Yang began rowing them away from the island, looking back at the castle with her teeth clenched. "Gods, I just hope we didn't mess up."

As the bone hawks flew overhead, Yang went on, leaving her friend and teammate to the mercy of the vampire den, feeling sick to her stomach.