A/N: Alright, I spent some time thinking about how to do this one. I think I like how it turned out.
Serana can't get over the beauty of the Vale, even with all she's just seen and been through. She sits on a ledge near camp and watches the stars while Destra fusses over the fire. She's never seen them so vividly, even when she and Destra are out on the road away from the cities. She closes her eyes and exhales slowly. There are so many thoughts and feelings to sort through, and Serana isn't certain where to begin.
She hears the light crunching of grass and dirt, and in spite of her melancholy, she smiles. Destra sits next to her, and Serana turns to offer her a weary grin. Destra smiles back and places an arm around her. Serana leans into the embrace, and they stay in silence like this for several minutes. Serana is the first to speak.
"Do you want to talk about the visions?" she says.
"Which ones?" Destra teases weakly.
"Whichever ones you want," Serana returns seriously. Destra sighs.
"Well, you know the first three. I hope what I saw about Lucia is true. I would've tried to find her sooner if I'd known where to begin."
"You do now. We'll find her, I promise," Serana says again. Destra thanks her.
"You saw Valerica?"
"I did. I think I understand her choices a bit better. I'm not sure that makes it okay, and I'm definitely not alright with it still, but I guess it's a start," Serana says. Destra hums back. They are quiet again for a moment or two. Serana leans into Destra a bit more.
"I also saw Harkon. Bits and pieces of when I was growing up. Before becoming a vampire."
"How… was it?" Destra says.
"Actually, some of it was sort of nice. I had forgotten that I had any happy memories of him at all," Serana admits.
"But?"
"But it makes facing him even harder. I've always known where this was leading us. He's too far gone. Vyrthur made sure of that," Serana scowls. "It would be so much easier to kill him if I hated him completely, but no matter how many horrible things he's done-"
"He's still your father. You love him," Destra finishes. Serana nods. "You know that's okay, right?"
"Is it? He ordered me to die by Molag Bal. He cared more about power than what that did to me. If I can still love him after that, there must be something really wrong with me." Destra straightens to look Serana in the eyes and places a hand on each of her shoulders.
"Serana, do you have any idea how strong that makes you?" she says. Serana looks away. "It means you have the ability to forgive even more than you do to hate. I've lived a long time, and you're the only person I've ever met who can do that."
"I… thank you. Really." Serana says. Destra hesitantly strokes one of her cheeks, and Serana leans into her touch.
"Serana?"
"Hm?"
"I talked to Aela." Serana stiffens under Destra's hand. "Her ghost, at any rate. I'm not sure if it was real or just what I wanted to see, but even so."
"What did you talk about?" the vampire asks carefully.
"Lucia mostly, but also about you and our quest. And the Soul Cairn. She knows we'll never see each other again," Destra says.
"I'm so sorry. It's my fault that-" Destra puts a finger to Serana's lips.
"It's not your fault. We've both accepted it. And… she's okay with it. With me doing what I want." Destra takes both of Serana's hands in her own. The vampire's breath hitches.
"What do you want, Destra?" Serana whispers. "I feel like I'm on fire whenever you touch me, and I know you feel it too. I get that we flirt and tease each other a lot, and it's fun, but I need to know how you really feel about me. Tell me I'm wro-"
Destra grabs Serana's collar and kisses her. Serana sighs into the kiss and wraps her arms around the other woman's neck. They stay like this for several minutes until Destra pulls away. Serana's eyes remain closed for a moment before she slowly blinks them open. Destra is about to speak, but Serana crashes their mouths together again. The elven woman threads one hand into the vampire's hair and wraps the other around her waist. Eventually they do break apart. Serana is grinning, and Destra is flush.
"I- wow," Serana breathes. Destra nods and presses their foreheads together.
"Serana, there are so many things I want to say to you," she says.
"We'll have plenty of time for that later. For now, stop talking," Serana returns and pushes her back as she kisses her again and again.
— 3 —
Serana wakes in Destra's arms. The elven woman is still asleep, and Serana absolutely refuses to disturb her. So she burrows deeper into Destra's shoulder and thinks about the previous night. She can't believe she can finally show Destra how she feels about her in all the ways she wants to. Part of her worries that Destra will change her mind about them, but there is comfort in the way the other woman clings to her in her sleep.
When Destra does awaken, she kisses Serana on the top of her head. They say good morning and enjoy each other's embrace a while longer before packing up camp. Fort Dawnguard is several days away, and Destra hopes the horses will still be where they left them, but she knows they won't be. If they don't get new ones, that alone will add two or three more days to the trip. Destra wouldn't mind the extra time with Serana, but she knows they can't delay. Harkon is waiting.
They take one last look over the Vale before entering the wayshrine for Darkfall Cave. The view is truly splendid. Serana says that she'd like to come back when this is all over. The wayshrine takes them back to where they first met Gelebor, and it takes them half an hour to get back to the entrance. As Destra suspected, the horses are gone. She only hopes that they were not eaten, either by beast or by the "madmen" of the Reach, the Forsworn. They will have to stop in Markarth.
They make it there by the end of the day. Serana is surprised that Destra has a house in the city. Destra shrugs and tells her that she owns houses in several places across Skyrim. She'll show them to her one day. Serana shakes her head as they cross the threshold. The house is dark and dusty, but after lighting the hearth and cleaning some of the cobwebs, Serana finds it cozy enough. There isn't any food, so they decide to go to the market.
Destra tells her about her first trip to the city and the assassin she stopped. It led her to uncover a conspiracy and eventually help the King of the Forsworn escape from Cidhna Mine. Serana asks who the Forsworn are, and Destra chides herself. She forgets that Serana isn't familiar with a lot of the groups in Skyrim. She explains, and Serana hums. She says that she doesn't really blame them, nor does she blame Destra for aiding their king. This surprises the elf somewhat. She was never certain that she did the right thing, especially with all the trouble Forsworn raiders cause.
Destra mentions a few more of her adventures in the Reach as they head back home. Serana enjoys listening to the other woman's past. Part of her wishes she had met Destra when she was young. She imagines an absolute firebrand, constantly involved in some form of mischief. Well, even more so than now, Serana thinks and smiles to herself. Destra catches it but doesn't say anything. She only indulges a smile of her own.
Despite her considerably longer life, Serana finds that she doesn't have as many anecdotes to share. Most of the things she remembers about her childhood she's already shared, and the majority of her adulthood before turning is either morbid or mundane. The centuries spent before being locked away all seem a blurr, and sometimes she isn't completely sure which memories are hers and which are from the books that filled the void of her life. But in the few months she's known Destra, she's seen and done more than she possibly could have imagined. She wonders what other fantastic and impossible things they'll see and do together.
After the sun is well and set, they sit on the roof of the house and enjoy the night air. Destra's head is in Serana's lap while she reads aloud. Neither could say for certain what the book is about. Serana runs a hand through Destra's hair, and eventually the elf falls asleep. It certainly isn't an impossible evening, but it is fantastic.
Destra is fifty-six years old. She knows she won't live forever. She is not aware of the deep reverence with which Serana kisses her head as she lays her in bed.
A/N: 'Bout dang time, right? Thanks for hanging in there with me.
We are nearing the end of the Dawnguard quest line and our story. There's still one more major arc and two mini ones to wrap up after the quest, so don't unbuckle just yet, buckaroos.