Chapter 37

Ragnthor

"This place is wrong." He said for the hundredth time. "These souls shouldn't even be here."

Serana shook her head, growing tired. "You really can't call them souls. They are…."

He snarled. "Pale reflections. Cursed to be here by men who play god, dooming their souls to wither away until only a glimpse is left, their strongest trait or, more often, their eternal fear of this place." He smiled and it was full of wickedness, cause by this place, the sight of so much torture, and barely contained fury. "You have explained it several times."

"And yet you insist on calling them souls. Is it a ploy to bait me into a fight? I don't Soul Trap Men or Mer!"

"But you bring them back from the dead."

She bared her fangs. "And almost all of them have been killed by you or your niece. What is the difference? I am using the dead to make more dead."

He had to fight the urge to draw his sword. "Because you rip them from whatever heaven or hell their gods has sent them to." As she drew her dagger he dropped his voice. "Have you heard them, actually listened to them? They're in pain. Deep pain. Like someone has been beating them for weeks. Do you ever wonder what you are doing to their souls?"

She started circling him, like a predator hunting prey. "Do you not trust me?"

"I trust you because I know I can beat you."

She drew her lips back farther. "Oh really?"

"Without doubt." Before he had finished she sprung, faster than he could truly see.

He swept his left arm across his chest in pure reflex and deflected her dagger, throwing her off balance. As she staggered past he slammed his fist into her head, dropping her instantly.

He slammed his fist into the nearest headstone, causing it to crack. "This place, this Rutting place!" The ground rumbled under his feet. "And now rutting bonemen." He slung Serana over his shoulder and took off deeper into the seemingly endless hell.

He was sitting on the ground near what looked like a castle. Only place he had found where the bonemen couldn't rise and there were none of the crystals that sucked a man's will to live. He had sat there for about an hour before she came to.

"Where am I?"

"What's your name?"

"Serana."

"What are you?"

"A woman?"

"What else?"

"A Vampire."

He nodded. "Alright, you pass. I didn't muck up your mind."

"What happened?"

He sighed. "We lost our tempers due to this damned place. You attacked me and for some reason I didn't draw my sword. Just hit you hard enough to make you lose 3 hours."

She nodded. "Sounds right. But you have changed. Why?"

He pulled out his left gauntlet. In the middle of his forearm there was a scar that spanned the whole arm and was over and was as wide as his thumb. "I got married 3 years ago this spring. When to Cyrodiil for our honeymoon. To a friend's ranch. Things happened and someone insulted my wife. I lost my temper completely. I only know what Lydia told me. But I killed 2 armed and armored men bare handed and bare chested. 2 more ran. I caught one. A girl about Lucia's age. Shared her name too."

He took a breath and rubbed his head. "Grabbed her by the ankle and swung her like one would swing an axe to spilt a log. Shattered almost all of her bones. Then I did it again. I brought the rest of her family to work the ranch, now mine. And I paid a blood price. Almost killed me. But I made a vow, to myself, to never lose myself again. This was the second time I have come close to breaking it."

She nodded. "Alright. But that doesn't explain why you have changed."

"Because I could hurt someone I care for." He tapped his head. "When I lose control, this only thinks of one thing, killing. Anything I can lay my hands on. While I was gone I never really formed close relationships, so if someone got in the way of my swings it was their fault. But now I have Lydia and Lucia, Hadvar, Ralof and Brasella, you as long as you stay around. People I would rather cut my arm off for than hurt. So over the last few years I have forced myself to change. I can't even lose myself when I am alone. Took on a dragon armed with a dagger and naught else. I still don't think Lydia has forgiven me."

"So what did you do? How did you manage to control it?"

He smiled. "By controlling it. For years my anger was how I fought. I just directed it, tried to steer towards the enemy instead of the men next to me. And that works, when you're alone. A one man battering ram. But in a group, you can't lose control. You have to rein yourself in. I can see it in a fight. Dancing around the corner of my vision. A black haze beckoning to me, seductively telling me to lose myself in its warm embrace. I see it now. This place has wormed into my mind and triggered all that is evil and destructive."

She looked at him, concern and fear on her face. "Are you going to be alright?"

"As long as the fight is not too long, I'll be alright. But here, even my iron hard will could snap like a twig. So watch yourself. You be able to tell when it snaps. And if it does, back away. It's like a wildfire or an avalanche. Nothing is spared in my path until it has run its course." He pushed himself up. "But enough talking. Let's find your mother and get out of here."

A few hours, maybe, time flowed strangely here, later they were walking up to a castle surrounded by a barrier. Ragnthor pointed up at it. "You sure she will be there?"

She shrugged. "Maybe. She always did like the castle and this is one."

"What about that barrier?"

"Maybe it's a way to keep the souls and bonemen out." She turned and glared at him. "You have a better idea."

He raised his hands. "Easy there. Lets do this."

They walk up and suddenly Serana breaks into a run. "Mother!"

A figure behind the barrier turns around. "Maker…Serana! Why are you here? Did Harkon finally decipher the prophesy?"

Serana took a step back. "Really mother? That the first thing you ask?"

Valerica stopped her pacing. "Of course I'm glad to see you. In the presence of a" she bared her fangs "Vampire hunter. Step away Serana."

"Stop it mother. He has been helping me."

"Until you lower your guard!"

"Mother…"

"ENOUGH!" Ragnthor roared and slammed his sword into the ground, point first. "I have defended Serana against the band I work with, not for. She is the key to defeating Harkon and I have come to think of her as a friend."

Valerica sneered. "Of course you would say that."

Ragnthor roared and slammed his sword into the barrier. As it hit there was the sound of breaking glass, magnified 1000 times. It echoed over the Cairn. A burst of strength surged into him, making him feel whole for the first time since being here.

"Maker…he recalled his soul offering through sheer force of will. What righteous fury. With the he could defeat the Keepers."

Serana looked at her. "The Keepers?"

"They maintain the barrier keeping me here. With them gone, I would be free."

Serana smiled. "Mother.."

Ragnthor leaned on his sword. "For what price?"

The look of shock left her face and was replace by anger. "What price? What do you mean what price? Am I not the one you are here to free." Serana shook her as Ragnthor replied

"We are here for the Scroll you have. We need it to learn the whole prophesy. So that is the price. The Scroll for your freedom."

"And if I say no?"

"I kill the Keepers and take the Scroll. I was really just hoping you would go along with it. Save face."

"And if I hide it?"

"Serana knows you well enough to track it down."

"And if I fight?"

"I've wanted to fight one of your kind again for a while. The last one caught me out of shape and tired. In fact he almost ended me. But I'm better now. I know your tricks and am in full fighting form." He sheathed his sword and walked toward where his gut was telling him he would find one. "Have your answer by the time I get back."

Valenrica looked at her daughter. "He couldn't fight me, could he?"

Serana nodded. "I saw him kill 3 of our coven without breaking a sweat. And even in our Lord form you wouldn't be safe. He moves like lightening and his strength seems endless. He is a fully realized Dragonborn. And I believe the gods of men watch over him."

Valenrica looked at her, shocked. "Do you think he can beat him?"

Serana nodded."Without a doubt."

A few hours later he was walking back, looking down at his sword. He was running the finger along the edge of his blade, scowling every time he found a nick. He cursed under his breath. "By the Nine, weapons made of dragon bones. I've heard of armor being made from them, even seen some made from the scales, but never a weapon." He ran his hand down the other side, cursing. "In the time it's going to take to fix this I could make a new one. Damned things are stronger than that devilish Daedric metal."

He sheathed his sword as he walked up to them. "Have you chosen?"

She nodded. "The scroll for my freedom is a fair price, I will lead you to it." He rolled his shoulders, easing the tension in them. "However, you need keep watch for Durnehviir."

"Who is Durnehviir, mother?"

"A Dragon who patrols this part of the Soul Cairn. With the barrier down he is sure to come and investigate."

As they walked across the courtyard, Ragnthor heard the unmistakable roar of a dragon. "Protect the scroll! I'll handle the dragon." They both nodded and took off as he drew his sword.

As soon as Durnehviir cleared the edge of the courtyard, Ragnthor summoned his strength into a shout. "JOOR ZAH FRUL!" As the dragon fell from the sky he smiled. "It's just you and me now."

As he hit the ground he roared and met Ragnthor's headlong charge with a lunge of his own. Ragnthor dodged and sliced off one of the horns surrounding Durnehviir's head. He roared and spat purple fire. Suddenly a horde of bonemen burst from the ground. Ragnthor swung his sword as hard as he could as Durnehviir's head, staggering him. Slamming his sword point first into the ground he roared "YOL TOOR SHUL!" The heat from the fire was so intense he smelt his beard being singed. The bonemen who weren't incinerated crumbled. Ragnthor wrenched his sword from the ground and turn to face Durnehviir, who spat out yellow green blood.

He spoke to Ragnthor in Dovah speech. "So, you speak like a Dragon?"

Ragnthor replied in kind. "As well as you or any other."

Durnehviir laughed. "Then fight me as a Dragon."

Ragnthor smiled then roared as he slammed the point of his sword in the ground hard enough to leave it standing. "STRUN BA QO!" Then threw a right that popped Durnehviir's eye. He roared as Ragnthor laughed, throwing himself into the fight.

At the first clap of thunder they stopped and looked back. The sky was filled with flashing and roaring, both dragon and human.

Valenrica spoke first. "I didn't know your friend was a mage."

Serana swallowed. "He's not."

"Ye gods, are they fighting as dragons?" As Serana nodded she gasped. "By Molag Bal, is that his sword in the ground?!"

Serana's eyes widened as she cursed. "Shit, that means he's gone."

She looked at her daughter. "What do you mean gone? Surely he is not dead?"

"No, not dead. Berserk. His niece told me. He can lose himself completely in a fight like this. HE will win, most likely, but his BODY will not. Remember the most powerful healing spell you know, we will need it."

The blow from Durnehviir's tale threw him back until his head hit something that gave, his sword. He stood, blood streaming down his face. He stalked forward, rage coursing black around the outside of his vision and think through his blood. "I will not give." He dodged a blow and they started circling, blood dripping from both.

"Give to what Dovah?"

"Into myself." With that he let just another trickle of rage flow through him, bringing himself even closer to the edge, and charged at Durnehviir's bared fangs and tore one out. "Give me one of your fangs, I have none of my own." Durnehviir screamed fire. Ragnthor dodged, mostly, the heat still setting half his beard and hair on fire.

Ragnthor tore forward and threw himself in the air, driving the fang deep into Durnehviir's arched neck and letting his weight drag it down, getting covered in the puss filled blood of the dragon. The dragon roared and threw him.

As he hit the ground he felt something snap. As he rose there was a pain in his chest and another wave of black anger flowed over him, spurring him onward. He tore forward, the anger driving him half mad. He could smell it, taste it, hear it's sweet voice calling to him. His vision narrowed to cones as he struggled to overcome the anger. Still he tore forward, eyes darting from the spot right behind the crest of horns were the scales would be small and thin to the area around the wing joint and a dozen other places. He roared like a beast driven mad.

Durnehviir met his headlong charge. Then something happened that no one could have expected. Ragnthor stopped him. He drove the fang down through the bridge of the old dragon's nose and, grabbing the nose with both hands, stopped him. What was left of his rational mind screamed at him to stop, that the pops and snaps he could hear were his muscles being pulled from his bones from the strain and the bones themselves as they snapped. But each one served to fuel the fury, served to beat back the restrictions of the human mind, to drive him mad. The last thing he saw was Durnehviir's eye, gleaming.

The next thing he heard was someone yelling, maybe. It sound like he was under water. Then it clarified. It was Serana, and she sounded worried. "Ragnthor! Wake Up Dammit! We don't have much more power we can pour into you."

He coughed. "Valenrica. What happened?"

She looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

He pushed himself up and winced. "If Durnehviir had been truly killed, I would have taken his soul and been pulled back from the edge faster. So what happened?"

"His body vanished in blue flame. So it is possible that…"

Ragnthor shoved himself to his feet. "That I only displaced him, rather than killing him. A similar thing happened when I defeated the Alduin." He limped over to his sword and cursed. The tip had broken off and there was a crack through the blade. "Damn, this was a good sword. It had served me for a number of years." He sheathed what was left. "I hope he stays gone for a while. I would hate to dishonor our duel and this hunk of metal would shatter cutting bread."

Valenrica looked shocked. "You fought the World Eater?"

"Seems like a lifetime ago but aye, in a rage like this one. He had eaten my mother's soul." He shook his head. "But enough about that. Are you coming with us Valenrica?"

She shook her head. "I would love to leave this place, but I can't. I, as well as Serana, can fulfill the prophecy. We are both Daughters of Coldharbour. And while I have seen enough to know that you will be able to protected my daughter, I highly doubt you…."

"Can protect you as well. So the only way you will come back is if we defeat Harkon?"

"Not defeat, kill."

Serana looked shocked. "Do you really hate him so?"

Valenrica put a hand on her face. "He is no longer the man I married. He is a rabid dog, a danger to all. And he must be put down. I'm sure you understand."

She nodded. "Yes mother."

Ragnthor took a step forward and held out a hand. "When we finish this, I will send word. You must pardon me for never wanting to come back."

She shook it. "I understand, Dragonborn Ragnthor."

They had just left when Durnehviir landed in front of them. "Stay your hand, Vanquisher."

Ragnthor stopped. "I wondered who long you would be gone."

Serana looked at him, eyes wide. "What are you saying, what are you speaking?"

Ragnthor made a sharp wave with his hand and whispered. "Dragon speech. And be quite, this is very formal. A visit of respect."

Durnehviir laughed. "Then you know some of my curse. I am doomed to live in this form forever. Trapped between life and death."

Ragnthor nodded. "I thought as much. But why are we talking?"

"Because I believe in civility between seasoned warriors. Because you are worthy of speaking to me. I have felled more foes then there are stars in the sky, but never once have I been beaten. Therefore I honor-name you Vanquisher."

"I found you equal worthy, Curse Never Dying."

"Again your grasp of our tongue surprises me. And you do me a great honor. And as a fellow Dragon, I respectfully ask a favor of you."

Ragnthor nodded. "What kind of favor?"

He looked longingly at the sky. "For years innumerable I have been here, in unintended Service to the Ideal Masters. My wish is to fly the skies of Tamriel once again."

"And what is stopping you?"

He shook his head. "My time in this dread place has taken its toll on me. I share a soul bond with this dreaded place. If I left my strength would wane until I became no more."

"How may I help you?"

"I will grant you understanding of my name and grant you permission to call upon me. And when you feel the time is right Vanquisher, speak my name to the heavens."

Ragnthor's eyes widened as understanding came to him. "Such a call from one stronger than you would ease the bonds holding you and grant you guidance to our plane."

Durnehviir bowed his head. "It is as you say."

Ragnthor stepped forward and put his hand in the middle of Durnehviir's head. "A request from a worthy warrior will never fall on deaf ears. As soon as I need you, you will hear my call. The call of The Dragonborn."

A short while later they were walking out of the door that lead to the harbor. As soon as they shut it a person covered in blood stained armor slammed into him. It was Lucia.

"Where have you been?! You've been gone so long I thought you were never coming back."

Ragnthor held her at arm's length. "We have only been gone a day, 2 at most."

She looked up at him, shocked. "Ragnthor, it's been 2 weeks."

"Shite. Alright Lucia, give me a report."

She squared her shoulders. "4 days after you went in, more guards came. Another 3. I took them out, quickly and quietly. Another group came 4 days later. No more since, but I have been peeking around and I found a spot I could listen to what's been going on in the main hall." She swallowed. "Tonight Harkon is sending out ten. And they are going to search the isle from stem to stern."

Ragnthor nodded and striped off all his armor except gauntlets and boots. "You two are going to sail straight from here. Lucia, hand me your sword." He belted it on. "Serana, I need your dagger."

As he took it Lucia looked worried. "What are you going to do?"

He swung the dagger, testing it's balance. "They will be here soon, judging from the light. And they will see us whether we want them to or not. So I'm sending you two in the boat, because it will take you longer than me swimming."

"Ragnthor, this counts a stupid."

Serana looked at him. "She's right."

He gave a borderline feral smile. "For them. Now get gone. And if I'm not at the jetty in an hour, move out. I can always catch up."

He found them as he walked out. The largest of them saw him first. "You! You have been declared prey!"

"And."

The vampire smiled. "You will be my new thrall." Ragnthor smiled and drew his weapons.

Lydia

Lydia was just bringing Ragnar and Bryta inside from playing in the snow when a courier burst into the hall. "I'm looking for the Housecarl Lydia!"

She walked up holding the two little ones' hands. "That would be me."

The courier bowed. "An urgent message from Solitude."

"Who from?"

"Thane Ragnthor."

She handed him 20 gold. "Thank you for your speed." He handed her the message and left.

She went to her room and shut the door. After pulling the snow wrapping off of the little ones she opened the letter, half scared at what she would find.

Little one,

It has happened again. I was in some realm of Oblivion and I lost control. I don't know what happened but I would put it on the scale of the of when I fell from the sky. But the gods were with me this time, one of my companions is a mage, a powerful one. She is different. Her name is Serana and she is involved in all this mess. You will be able to meet her soon. Because as soon as I finish this sword, for my old one broke, I'm coming for you. We have pushed hard enough that I have made the damn Vampire worried at least, have them on guard. So you can leave the little ones with Ralof and Brasella, or whoever you want. Ask Balgruuf to give you my share of the taxes to give them. It should be around 10,000. It's only been a few months but I miss you sorely. You are my rock, my shield. You keep me grounded and safe. By the time you get this I should be only a week away. I'm coming Little one.

Ragnthor.

Authors note:I FINALLY FINISHED IT! Sorry it took so long. First there was a family trip, then I got sick as sin. And then it took forever to get back into writing again. But here she is, in all her glory. There is most likely a boatload of spelling errors but i thought, for all of those who love it as much as me, that you would like it errors and all. And there was some Lydia in here. And I always enjoy some Lydia.

And now for my Dragon Age fans. A fan fic I read here years ago has been bouncing around my head for the last week and I can't remember the name for the life of me. So if you could help me find it you would be the most awesome. Its an AU with a modern setting. Origins characters. They all work in an office building and play some online game with each other. I would love to read it or find out if it has died. Thank you for any help.

And once again, thanks for reading.