Arc 2—Chapter 4:

First thing the next morning, I was at Dragonsreach visiting Farengar, the court wizard. He pulled several books from his shelves and let me read the pertinent passages on vampires. I wasn't sure how helpful they'd be since some contradicted others. This was once when I wished I had the resources of the College of Winterhold at my disposal, but I feared there wasn't enough time to make the trip.

I spent the latter part of the morning training with our local alchemist, Arcadia, and the early part of the afternoon mixing several potions that she'd taught me to make. When I was done, I had a lot of small, stoppered vials and bottles filled with various liquids. Arcadia gave me an alchemist's satchel and showed me how to efficiently organize and pack the little containers so they would be easy to find and safe from practically anything other than a direct blow to the case. In return, I gave her several of my leftover potions that wouldn't fit in the satchel.

There was a service for Adrianne and Ulfberth late that afternoon, where I was surprised to see Lydia, wearing one of her new dresses, step forward to sing a dirge for our friends. While I'd heard her hum to herself many times during our journeys and even sing aloud a few times when we shared a bottle, I didn't know she could really sing. The gathering was silent when she finished, and I doubt that there was a dry eye, including my own, in the whole crowd. Andurs, the priest, and Proventus, Adrianne's dad, then led the procession down the steps into the Hall of the Dead, with Adrianne's coffin and Ulf's urn being carried behind them.

I made the trip down the stairs with Lucia holding my hand and Lydia on her other side. We walked by our friends' resting place and slowly moved forward until I finally reached her father and briefly shook his hand.

"I'm very sorry, Sir. Adrianne and Ulfberth were two of my best friends. I will miss them greatly." I paused as Lydia and Lucia moved on before I whispered to him, "And I will avenge them."

"Good," replied Proventus quietly, once again grasping my hand. This time, though, there was something cold and hard in his hand which remained in mine when he pulled away. "Take whatever you need. All of it, if you need it. Every last bit. Make...them...pay."

I waited until I'd taken a few steps and was out of sight of the people following me in the line before looking down in my hand to see the key to Warmaiden's.

~ESV~

I entered the shop early that evening and spent the next several hours going back and forth between the work area outside and the items that had been for sale on the inside. When I left shortly before midnight, I'd repaired or upgraded my armor, weapons, and equipment. As I was leaving, I turned back toward the counter where Ulf had been such a constant, welcoming figure. "My friends, I'm going to avenge you both. If I don't succeed, I'll see you soon in Sovngarde."

I locked the door and handed the key to a passing guard as I was on my way home. "Please give this to Proventus Avenicci, the steward at Dragonsreach. He'll understand." Several septims in the guard's hand assured that he would make the delivery.

Early the next morning, I hugged and kissed my girl goodbye, and then wished Lydia well. She was quite mad at me that I wouldn't let her come, too, but I told her that taking care of Lucia was far more important to me, and with that off my list of worries, I'd be able to do what needed to be done.

We stepped outside out of Lucia's hearing before I whispered, "Lydia, whatever you do, don't let Lucia go outside after sunset. When darkness falls, it may not be safe for her or for you. Please, my friend, stay inside, stay safe, and keep her safe."

"Don't' worry, I'll keep her safe, Thane." She leaned in and kissed me on my cheek. "We'll pray for you every night; may the Divines go with you and keep you safe, too."

~ESV~

It was late afternoon when the cart driver took the turn to the steep and narrow road down to Morthal. Just outside the gate, I told him to wait; I didn't expect either part of my business to take very long and despite it being late, we needed to go as far as we could before nightfall.

I marched right down the center of Morthal's main street. Several guards saw me coming and, on recognizing me, stepped out as if to draw their weapons.

I was in no mood to play. Striding directly toward them, I growled, "I warn you. Don't even try it." After having fought dragons, trolls, a couple of hagravens, and a giant in recent weeks, I wasn't about to let a few guards intimidate me.

Most of the guards recognized my look, but one brave, or perhaps foolhardy, soul stepped in front of me, drawing his sword. I'd already warned them all, so I didn't bother with a second warning that would likely be heeded no better than the first. I hit him with a dragon shout that caused him to careen backward at least 20-feet. I would have sent him flying much further but I really didn't want to hurt him, so it was a glancing blow.

The guards backed off and gave me a wide berth after that, though I saw a couple running toward the guard house. I hoped they were fleeing, but knew they were probably going to get more help. Getting out of Morthal might be more difficult than getting in.

Stopping at the disheveled guard, I pulled him to his feet, kicking his sword away as I did. I asked him a one word question, to which he replied, rather unsteadily, by pointing to the building down the street. I gave him a pat on the back and gave him a little shove toward his fellow guards before heading where he'd indicated.

I wasn't looking forward to that first stop, but it had to be done. I had to see Idgrod one more time to tell her how I felt, how her rejection had hurt me, and how I'd finally convinced myself that I was completely over her, even if, in reality, I wasn't really sure I was. I'd spent practically the entire ride to Morthal thinking about her rather than the vampire problem, so I had see her, tell her how I felt, and get her out of my mind. If I didn't, I knew I never would and would regret it for the rest of my life, if that very life wasn't cut short as a result by the continuing distraction of her.

At the alchemy shop, I opened the door to go inside. As I did, the reality of what I was doing was pressing on me. I really hoped I'd be able to tell her how I felt without making an even bigger fool of myself.

Lami, the alchemist, was working behind the counter. When she saw a potential customer entering, she immediately started into her usual welcome, but when she recognized me, she said, "Oh. I'll, ah, just be upstairs if you two need me."

I didn't know what her look and comment were about, but I actually appreciated not having an audience when I turned to see Idgrod at the alchemy lab in heavy concentration as she worked on brewing a potion. Knowing how important it was to do it carefully and without distraction, I said nothing until she was done. I was prepared to say so much when she completed her work, but, when the time came, not a word came out. Similarly, when she looked up and saw me, she stood staring at me. My heart raced as my anger cooled and my resolve started to waiver.

She broke first. "I'm not sure about in Cyrodiil, but in Skyrim, when a young man from out-of-town is courting a young woman, it is customary for him to give her a bit of advance warning so she can at least wash her face, do her hair, put on a nice dress, and perhaps even rub in some berry juice to color her lips and cheeks."

It was almost as if she had a hint of a grin as she cocked her head slightly, but, being young and lacking the wisdom that comes with experience, I didn't quite understand the opening. In hindsight, I realized that experiences such as this are just how one slowly gains that precisous wisdom that I was so lacking. I really should have have said something. Perhaps I should have told her she looked nice even without all of things she'd mentioned. More importantly, maybe I shouldn't have stood looking at her with my mouth hanging open, no longer having a clue what to say.

The moment passed. Receiving no response, she stepped forward and hit me on the chest with the base of her balled fists. Against my armor. For her, it was hard.

"Oww! You bastard! You don't write me for nearly six weeks and then you just show up? And you just stand there without word?" The back of her hand wiped away a light glisten of sweat, from her efforts over the alchemy burner, from her brow and moved a stray strand of hair out of her face. She also tried to straighten her dirty frock. "Aerik, listen, I thought I liked you, maybe even a lot, but I'm not sure now. You're definitely going to have to do better than this if we're going to have a chance."

As cute as she was when she was mad, it was all I could do to keep from smiling at first, but confusion must have clouded my face as she concluded.

"What? What's wrong?" she asked with a questioning frown.

"You said 'if we're going to have a chance.' So you've changed your mind? Without telling me, of course." Thoughts of how cute she'd just been and how I'd once again, briefly, wanted to take her in my arms evaporated. My anger was returning and I finally remembered what I'd planned to say. Of course, I didn't say any of that. Instead, I picked the stupidest thing possible and let it slip from my lips. "So I guess Nord women are really just like Imperial women after all."

Idgrod's eyes narrowed as her face reddened. "I'm not sure what you're talking about, but comparing Nord women to those from Cyrodiil won't win you any points in most parts of Skyrim. So, exactly what do you mean?"

I wish I could say I was smart enough to recognize the trap. Since I wasn't, and since I was used to battling dragons, I took my recently adopted method of charging ahead. "Having daddy dump the potential boyfriend instead of being a big girl and doing it yourself was a real cowardly move—"

"Aerik! My father? Dumping you? What on Nirn are you talking about?"

Once again, Idgrod gave me a chance, but, idiot that I was, I charged on. "And then playing dumb about it. Guess I was the dumb one for hoping you might change your mind and give me another chance, but no! Nothing!"

"Me? Not giving you a chance? I've given you five chances, but you haven't even had the decency to reply."

"What are you talking about? Five chances? Did you whisper and hope the Divines would somehow let me hear? 'Yoo-hoo? Aerik?' Or did you decide you'd give me another chance if I showed up at high noon on the 5th or the 6th? Oh, and do you consider that one chance or two?"

"No, Aerik. Nothing stupid like that. No, I sent you five letters, but I haven't heard back from you on any of them. Not even a 'Hi, I'm in,' well, wherever the Hell you were. You didn't have to respond to all of them; I didn't expect that. And depending on carters, there's always a chance one or two might get lost. But five, Aerik. Five letters don't all get lost. Not all five." She stepped close and was looking up into my eyes with a confused look now covering her own face.

My heart was suddenly tingling as I looked in her eyes. "Idgrod, you sent me letters? Really?"

"Five." She held her fingers up in front of me before balling them and hitting my chestpiece again, though I noticed it was with much less force this time. "Five letters." She pounded her fist against me several more times. I later realized it was probably five in total, but I wasn't counting at the time. I was too interested in what she was saying.

"Idgrod, I'm sorry, I didn't receive any of your letters. Not a single one. And you didn't tell your father you never wanted to see me again?"

She shook her head violently. "No! Aerik! I didn't. I promise on all Nine Divines, I didn't tell him that."

I sighed, defeated. "After the way I'd made fun of that Orc and his vampire story, I really thought you were mad at me. That made me believe it was true when your dad said you didn't want to see me anymore. I felt bad about making fun of the guy in front of you, so I came by to apologize and tell you goodbye the next morning. That's when I ran into your father. He told me you'd decided that you didn't want to see me again. He said for me to go and never come back."

She shook her head again. "No, none of it's true, Aerik, I swear. I wasn't upset with you. My best friend was killed by a vampire a few years ago, and the talk about them..."

I could see tears forming in her eyes, so I reached out and held her arms. "So you really didn't want me to leave?"

"No. I was sad when you left, but Father told me...and Father handles the mail for Morthal…oh, that bastard!"

"Idgrod, what do you mean?"

"Father lied to you about me saying that since he must not have liked you—"

"No, definitely didn't like me."

"—and he lied to me saying you'd left after telling him you didn't want to see me anymore—"

"That last part's also definitely not true."

"—and then he must not have put my letters into the mailbags since I know I put them in the mail drop. Aerik, I'm so sorry. I really didn't know. And I truly do love my father, but he is definitely going to pay for this."

As angry as she was, I waited a few seconds to see if she had more to say before finally asking, "With all of that being true, do you think we might still have a chance."

She was biting her lower lip and she cocked her head slightly, similar to before, when she looked at me. "Aerik, I'm sorry. I...I really don't know. I have another one...here." She put her hand over her heart.

I was confused. "Another man? In your heart?"

"What? No, silly," she giggled, the first sign of levity since our discussion had begun. "Another letter. In my bodice. Well, I guess it is over my heart, isn't it. I really shouldn't give it to you though. I was really mad and told you off in it for not answering any of my other letters. The ones you didn't get." She pulled it out and, before I could stop her, she held it over the little flame at the alchemy station. She waved it around for a moment to fan the flame, and then dropped it in the fire bucket filled with sand as the vellum charred and then turned to ash.

"There! Done," she said. All the anger and frustration that had been present only minutes earlier was gone from her face as she gave me a hint of a smile. "So...do you want to try to start over?"

"Idgrod, I think I'd like that very much, but, unfortunately, it can't be right now."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm here on important business. With that Orc guy, Durok? Have you seen him recently? It's really important."

She nodded. "Yes, Durak. He was just down the street at lunchtime, like always, trying to recruit someone into his group. Why do you need him?"

"He doesn't know it yet but he's taking a trip with me to get some answers to some really important, life-or-death-type questions." I was looking at her trying to decide how much more to tell her. My emotions were churning, all the anger I'd felt toward her was gone, so I added, "I hope to see you again soon, Idgrod, and that you'll give me a chance then to see it there really can be something between us, but for now, I must go. If something happens and I never return, I want you to know...I...I cared a great deal about you, and, if I'm completely honest with myself, I still do."

She looked at me with tears in her eyes before she nodded. "I thought so, Aerik, which was what confused me so much. I, ah, I care about you too. A lot has happened though, and I'm just not sure how I feel about you now. I wish you could stay so we could talk and get to know each other better, but if you really have to go, please, come back safely. I don't know what will happen—my gift has given me nothing, though I'm really not as skilled with it as Mother is—but I'd really like for us to have a chance to see if there might still be something between us."

My heart was fluttering at the thought that there might still be that chance with Idgrod, but I struggled to put it out of my mind as I kissed the back of her hand and went on my way.

~ESV~

I seriously thought I'd be dragging the Orc's half-dead body down the center of that street in Mortal while fighting off the guards, but I was surprised when he readily, and happily, agreed to come with me. We stopped at the inn where he wanted to collect his pack. There, I was quite prepared for a trick, or even a trap, but he lived up to his word and soon we were on our way out of town, walking side by side as if long-time companions. The guards gave me evil looks as we passed them, but young Idgrod had given them orders to let us pass; she was looking on them with such a commanding presence I'm not sure if it was the guards or me that was more surprised.

Durak turned out to be a very nice guy, and, on hearing my story, he expressed genuine sorrow at the loss of my friends. He did, however, urge caution, with regards to my mad rush to destroy the vampires.

"You said you've read about vampires, but books don't—can't—tell the tale. Have you ever had a real encounter with vampires? No, I don't mean one or two vampires like your encounter in Morthal; yeah, I know about that. It's what attracted me to you in the first place. I mean a pack of vampires, a whole clan?"

Thinking of the group of bears, I couldn't help but say, "I thought a pack was a group of werewolves."

"I can tell you a little about werewolves, but vampires are a far worse sort, no matter what their group's called. Let me tell you..."

With rainy, cold days and the roads being in poor condition, it was late on the third day before we finally reached Fort Dawnguard. I'd learned just about everything that the Orc could teach me about vampires during that time, and had even gotten practice with his crossbow in the evenings at the inns where we stayed along the way. There were a couple people working on the fort's battlements as we arrived, but they called a friendly hello to Durak and gave me an interested look as we walked up to the main gate.

Durak took me inside where one of the toughest-looking men I've ever seen stood standing in front of a few new recruits. His name was Isran and he didn't look happy with the state of things or with the level of training of the potential new vampire hunters. He was just finishing an address to them, but I was lucky to be spared listening to most of it.

A couple of minutes later, I was handed a crossbow, a heavy contraption that shoots a pointed bolt on a flatter trajectory with a harder force than most typical bows. I practiced with Durak's on trip, but I still fumbled with loading the thing for a few seconds.

Isran came over and shouted at me in his gruff voice. "The vampires would have killed you three times over by now! Faster, recruit! You've got to be faster! Draw! Load! Aim! Fire!"

"Sorry," I said, putting down the monstrosity.

As I walked over to my equipment and backpack, Isran's face was turning red. "You're giving up that easily, recruit? Gods be praised that we didn't let you go out in the fie—"

With my regular bow in hand, my first arrow impacted the target, dead center, and the second, fired a moment later, brushed the fletching of the first arrow as it hit. It wasn't a full draw and was fired quickly so I tried not to show that I was as surprised as everyone else . The third arrow, taking a bit more time with the bow fully drawn, followed practically the same course and hit with a thud, seeming louder than it really was since everyone in the training area was silent and watching. It was within a couple of inches of the others. I shot one more for good measure; though a little further from the others on the other side of the first two, it was still within the bullseye.

Holding up my bow, I said, "Boss, if you don't mind, I'll be using my own."

Isran was nodding slowly. "Uh, no problem."

~ESV~