A/N: So Durnehviir doesn't get much attention outside this chapter. He's cool or whatever, but I ain't got energy for him in this fic. Shorter chapter.

Here are the shouts and phrases used in case you don't know the Dovah words and the effects aren't obvious:

Feim Zii Gron- become ethereal

Gaan Lah Haas- drain vitality

Yol Toor Shul- fire breath

Tiid Klo Ul- slow time

Faas Ru Maar- dismay

Gol Hah Dov- bend will

Drem- peace

Krosis- sorrow, sorry

The other two Keepers are similarly defeated. Destra is pleased that she is less frightened than with the first. As they descend the final spire, a great screech booms across the sky. Destra knows this sound, even in a place like this. No matter the influences of the Soul Cairn upon her psyche, this sound could never scare her again. Serana shares no such luxury. She jumps, but Destra steadies her by the shoulder.

"Durnehviir," she says. They hurry to the ruins that house Valerica. As they arrive, the dragon dives from the sky and into the courtyard of the keep. The barrier is gone, and Valerica stands just outside the great doors.

"I'm certain you saw the dragon. The Elder Scroll lies on the other side of the courtyard. There is no way but through Durnehviir," the older vampire says. Destra nods.

"Serana, wait here with Valerica," she says.

"What? I'm not leaving you to face that thing alone," Serana retorts.

"DO VAH KIIN," the dragon calls.

"This is a duel. I have been summoned." Serana realises what is expected and relents.

"I'll be watching. If it looks like you're in trouble, don't think I won't interfere." Destra does not doubt it.

They enter the courtyard, and Durnehviir waits for Destra in the centre. She approaches, cracking her neck and drawing her blades. The dragon lowers his head. The werewolf bows. Then, a flurry. Durnehviir lashes out with his tail, and it connects with Destra's chest, knocking her into the sand. Serana makes a step toward her, but Valerica holds her by the arm. Destra is back on her feet in a moment. She rushes the dragon, clipping him in the wing before he rears and swings his great talons at the elf.

"FEIM ZII GRON!" Destra's entire being is translucent. The dragon's claws pass through her, and seconds later, Destra is corporeal again. She slashes Durnehviir's wing again with both blades, leaving a bloody window in the leathery flap. The dragon roars, and the weight of his voice forces Destra to her knee. Durnehviir knashes at her, but she dodges a second before losing an arm. With his good wing, the dragon attempts to take to the sky.

"GAAN LAH HAAS!" Durnehviir plummets, hitting the ground with such force that a cloud of dust obscures Serana's view. The beast attempts to raise his head, but his energy is sapped, and again he falls. Destra sputters as the dust fills the air around her. She attempts to search for the dragon, but she cannot open her eyes. As her vision clears, she sees the talon crashing toward her. She partially parries the blow, but his claw still catches her across the shoulder. Blood drips onto the sand, and Destra grins. Finally, a real fight.

"YOL TOOR SHUL!" Durnehviir shouts. A wall of fire hurls toward his opponent.

"TIID KLO UL!" The fire moves much slower. Destra steps to the side, and as time speeds back up, the flames disappear on the sand. Durnehviir sneers.

"FAAS RU MAAR!" This shout Destra stands and takes. Durnehviir waits, but Destra does not falter. The dragon's eyes narrow.

"I am the last of the Dragonborn, vanquisher of Alduin. I am not less than you, and I will not cower at your Thu'um," Destra calls. "But you will bow to mine. GOL HAH DOV!" And Durnehviir does. Destra's shout compels him to once more lower his head. "Yield!"

"I… cannot. Finish me now, Dovahkiin, or I will devour you," Durnehviir says. Destra exhales her disappointment before squaring her shoulders. She sinks her blades into the dragon's skull. He jerks once and then collapses. Destra waits. The dragon's body begins to burn like so many before him. When only the bones remain, Destra braces herself.

But no soul arises from the beast's skeleton. Soon his bones are ash. Destra sighs in relief at this. Then she falls to her knees. Serana at last runs to her, and she begins removing Destra's cuirass to examine her wounds. In spite of the blood, her gashes are primarily superficial. When Destra regains her breath, Serana helps her to her feet. Valerica approaches them and presents the Elder Scroll.

Serana bids her mother farewell and tells her she'll return when Harkon is no longer a threat. Valerica gives her thanks and tells Destra to watch over her daughter. As they leave the ruins, a great voice thunders above them.

"DO VAH KIIN!" Durnehviir lands on a collapsing wall in front of them. Destra groans, a hand instinctively reaching for her sword. "Drem. Stay your weapons. I would speak with you." Destra releases her grip.

"I thought you were dead," she says.

"Cursed, not dead. Doomed to exist in this form for all eternity. Trapped between laas and dinok, life and death."

"Why are we speaking?" Destra crosses her arms.

"I believe in civility among seasoned warriors. You are Qahnaarin, the vanquisher, and I find your ear worthy of my words," Durnehviir says as he lowers his head. "I have never once been felled on the field of battle."

"Nor have I," Destra smirks. "I also found you a worthy opponent."

"You do me great honour. Your soul bears the mark of this place. Krosis. When the time comes for you to rejoin me here in this plain, I shall be ready to serve you," the dragon says. He bows once more before taking to the sky. Destra watches him until he is but a speck on the horizon. Serana whistles lowly, and she grins back at the vampire.

Destra is fifty-six years old. She knows she won't live forever. Her Thu'um is still the first among dragons, and the Dov shall bow to her for all time.

A/N: The battle felt a lot more epic when I was writing it. :/ That's all I got for Durnehviir practically speaking, really. I always forget to summon him in-game, so that's not a feature of this story.