The Chantry of Auriel is spectacular. The top seems to almost touch the sky, and Destra feels a deep sense of reverence when she sees the Deity of the Snow Elves' great statue at the base of the main stairway. Serana, too, stares in awe at the grand building, despite her typical aversion to places of worship. They ascend the steps to find the basin they need to pour the contents of the ewer in. They watch as the water flows through the grooves of the carving at the foot of the door and into the centre. A divine light casts upon the doors, and the lock turns and opens.
The inside might once have been as illustrious as the out, were it not for the thick layer of ice that covers every surface. Several figures stand frozen in various places around the hall, and upon further inspection, Destra sees that they are Falmer. Serana wonders aloud what sort of magic could freeze this entire building at once. Destra is certain she doesn't know.
They both breathe a sigh of relief when the Falmer do not awaken as they pass through a hidden door. It leads them to an also iced-over hall. This time, the Falmer and Chaurus are not frozen. The two women quickly dispense of the sorry creatures, but Destra feels badly for them anyway. If the Falmer were really once like Gelebor, then she regrets that such a fate has befallen them. She shakes this thought as they enter a chapel of sorts. Sitting in a throne at the far end of the room is another Snow Elf. He smiles wickedly as they approach. Vyrthur.
"And here you are," he says. "Come for Auriel's Bow. Yet you've only done as I'd known you would and brought your fetching companion to me." He licks his lips, and Destra practically growls.
"Give us the bow, and your death will be swift," she returns.
"I think not. Slay the lesser elf, but leave the other alive," he commands and snaps. Several frozen Falmer break free and rush the women.
Destra decapitates the first before Vyrthur can blink. Serana uses her own ice magic to run the next three through. Vyrthur baulks and unfreezes several more, none of which prove any more a challenge. The ice atronach he summons next is more cumbersome. Destra dances with it while Serana casts a few well-placed fireballs at it. When it too is felled, Vyrthur stands.
"Enough of this!" he says as his raised hands glow with magic. The ground begins to shake, and several icicles fall from above.
"He's bringing the whole ceiling down!" Serana calls as she tackles Destra out of the way of a mass of brick.
"Come, face me. I will not let you ruin centuries of preparation!" Vyrthur climbs to the roof of the building while the rubble settles.
Serana and Destra are disoriented from the fall and the dust. Serana sits up, and Destra can't help but notice how the sun filtering through the dust lingering in the air amplifies Serana's mysterious aura. She also thinks she might have a concussion. The vampire asks if she's okay as she pulls her to her feet. Destra nods, but this makes her vision blurr a bit. Serana knows she's lying, but they turn toward the ruined stairway anyway. Vyrthur waits for them at the top.
"Enough, Vyrthur. Give us the bow," Serana shouts.
"How dare you. I was Arch-Curate of Auri-El, girl. I had the ears of a god!" he spits back.
"Until the 'Betrayed' corrupted you. Yes, yes. We've heard this sad story."
"Gelebor and his kind are easily manipulated fools. Look into my eyes. You tell me what I am." And Serana does. Her brow furrows.
"You're a vampire? But Auriel should have protected you…" she mutters more to herself than to Vyrthur.
"The moment I was infected by one of my own initiates, Auri-El turned his back on me. I will have my revenge, if not on him, then on his influence in this world. With his own weapon and the blood of a Daughter of Coldharbour, I will end his shine on Tamriel!"
"You? You created that prophecy?" Serana says. Vyrthur grins back.
"And now I shall have your blood to-"
Serana rushes forward. She lifts Vyrthur off the ground by his throat and glares into his eyes.
"Do you have any idea what your pettiness has done to my family?" she shouts as she slams his head into the battlements. "You prophecy ruined us, brought war between vampires and Skyrim, and has caused the death of dozens of people. All because your feelings got hurt?"
Vyrthur makes to respond, but Serana decks him. And then again. And again. Vyrthur's head is a bloody mess, and he does not move. Destra checks for signs of life as best she can on a vampire. She informs Serana that he is un-undead. Serana spits on his corpse. When they turn, Gelebor is waiting for them by the roof's wayshrine.
"So it is done. I should be glad, but he was my brother once," he says. He walks to the centre vestibule and casts an incantation. It opens, and inside is an ornate golden bow. It shimmers in the sunlight as he hands it to Destra. He also gives her a quiver of what he calls "sunhallowed arrows." They will unleash Auriel's light upon creatures of darkness. The two thank Gelebor before taking the wayshrine back to the valley below. They are both physically and emotionally exhausted, so they make camp before leaving for Fort Dawnguard.
Destra is fifty-six years old. She knows she won't live forever. If she lives to be ten-thousand years old, she will never understand how the most pathetic of creatures are always the most dangerous.
A/N: Serana got primal rage ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Woo! Finally done with the Forgotten Vale quest line. Did that feel super long to anyone else?