Arc 2—When Darkness Falls—Chapter 8:

It was my duty to return to Fort Dawnguard to face Isran and tell him of my failure. I considered sending a courier, but didn't want to risk the message falling into the wrong hands or to risk the life of the courier if anyone saw me give it to him.

However, I had another duty that was calling me: to my family. Therefore, in looking at my map, I decided to take the slightly longer northern route that would take me to Whiterun rather than the somewhat shorter but more dangerous southern route through the ruins of Helgen and the snowy mountain passes. That way I would be able to spend a night with my Lucia and talk with Lydia before heading out for the fort early the next day.

It was late afternoon and the foul weather and a newly onset illness were making the going rough as I reached the end of the Rorikstead Road. The snow was falling heavily and was starting to cover the road, making it more difficult to see the way. I was about to turn onto the main road toward Whiterun when I saw three figures approaching, heading to the west toward Markarth at approximately the same pace I was keeping. They saw me though the falling snow just as I saw them, so there wasn't an option to step off to let them pass without appearing suspicious. Therefore, I continued on as if I was just a regular traveler not expecting trouble or bringing it with me, with hopes that they were the same. Nonetheless, I gripped the bow I carried in my hand a little more tightly.

We were ten paces apart when I realized that these weren't just ordinary travelers out for a jaunt in the snow. While covered by a heavy cloak similar to the one covering my armor, I could see the elven-style helmet within the hood and the elven gauntlet move warily to the hilt of the sword he or she carried at their side. This was a Thalmor patrol.

I pause in my reading as the children are wide-eyed. Telling stories of Thalmor patrols taking Nords prisoner is a favorite method by which older children sometimes scare their younger brothers and sisters, but, unknown to them, the truth is sometimes scarier than the tales they told.

It was some months before that I'd infiltrated the Thalmor embassy and obtained some valuable information related to the coming of the dragons and other information so secret that I'd hidden it away in case I ever needed it. In that case, I'd seen the way the Thalmor treated one of their prisoners before I helped him escape. However, it wasn't that event that really tainted my view of the Thalmor but, rather, their unwillingness to let my people worship as we choose and the horrible results at a roadside shrine where they'd exercised that unwillingness with the lives of four of my fellow countrymen. I breath slowly, still remembering that horrible scene all these years later as if it was yesterday.

Andres quietly asks, "What did you do, Grandpa?"

I swung out a bit to give them plenty of room to pass as I continued on at my same pace as before. The lead Thalmor, a male it appeared, locked his eyes on my bow for a moment and then watched me closely as we passed, so I only nodded in his direction, without speaking. The second Thalmor, a female mage, was about ten or so paces behind the first and acted exactly like the leader. I started to regret having my ebony bow visible, but another silent nod got me past her without any issues.

All would have probably gone the same with the third, but it was at that moment that a gust of wind blew off the hood of my cloak, fully exposing my helmet; the faceplate was removed for travel, so my face was visible, too.

Whether the third Thalmor soldier recognized me in particular or just saw me as a threat, I'll never know, but he issued a challenge. "Hold, traveler! I am a Thalmor Justiciar. You are under arrest as a suspected worshiper of Talos the Imposter and for possible crimes against the Aldmeri Dominion. Throw down your weapons or prepare to—"

Knowing I didn't have much time, I hit the justiciar with a full blast of the Unrelenting Force shout, sending him flying about fifteen paces off the road and into a rock face, from where he fell down into a ditch passing in front of it. I'm not sure if he'd even hit the bottom as I turned, drawing a dragonbone arrow from my quiver. It was nocked, drawn, and sent on its way before the wizard had time to turn and fully realize what was happening. The arrow surprised her, sending her falling backward to the ground.

Unlike the female wizard, the lead soldier didn't care if he completely understood the situation. He came at a hard run with his sword drawn, fully intent on removing my head from my shoulders. He was about five or six paces away and was raising his sword high above his head for a sweeping, powerful attack when I threw my bow at his feet and drew my own sword. He got entangled in the bow and its string as he took another step or two and fell face first into the snow before me, where I quickly made sure he didn't get up again.

Thinking I might need it, I quickly retrieved my bow, but the Thalmor soldier had accidentally cut the string on his armor in his fall, so I tossed it to the side where I could find it a little later.

The reason I did that is that a battle isn't over until your enemies, or you, are dead, have surrendered, or have fled. I didn't know the status of my first opponent so I quickly turned and searched for a target for my sword through the now-blowing snow. Some might laugh that I didn't try to cast a detect life spell, but that was one of the many that still caused me great difficulty, and with the wind and snow getting worse by the moment, I didn't know how much I could trust it even if I were to cast it successfully.

To my surprise, no one was rushing in, so I moved forward, as silently as I could, and looked down in the ditch. Seeing the broken body of the Thalmor soldier, I knew he wouldn't be getting up again.

With the snow falling to help hide the little battlefield, I retrieved my arrow from the mage and then dragged the two bodies over to the ditch. They slid down into it with their fellow soldier before I picked up my bow and restrung it with a new string. As I did, I glanced down into the ditch one more time and decided that a brief memorial service might be in order.

"Talos, take them and do with them as you will."

Despite the way I felt, I couldn't resist a brief smile before continuing on my way toward Whiterun.

~ESV~

It was two or three hours after sunset when I gave my customary knock on the door to Breezehome before putting the key in the lock. On turning the lock, the door didn't budge. Not expecting me, Lydia had apparently set the bars I'd installed on the door. I knocked again, several sharp, loud raps, before signaling much more lightly with my code knock. I was starting to get worried when I had to repeat it again.

"Who is it?" came the response from inside a few moments later.

"Aerik."

"Aerik who?"

"Gods, Lydia. Open the bloody door. It's freezing out here."

Laughter. "Just a second."

I heard one bar being removed and then another before a quiet voice called, "Come in."

On opening the door, I was surprised to be nearly blinded by a couple of reflector lanterns, set just a few feet back, shining in my face. The room beyond was as black as pitch. I quickly closed and locked the door behind me.

"Thane? Is it really you?"

"By Talos, Lydia! What a greeting!"

She didn't respond to me, saying, instead, "Put it down, Lucia. It's—"

"Pa!"

My girl stepped out of the darkness with her shortbow in her left hand and a wickedly-pointed ebony arrow, rather than one of the practice arrows I'd given her, in the other. She rushed forward to me. "You're alive! You came home!"

I gently relieved her of the arrow before hugging her close as Lydia closed on us. I noticed my friend and housecarl looking at me closely, as if studying my face, while Lucia held onto me and cried with joy.

"Thane, I'm sorry to have to ask, but you're not, ahem, one of them?"

"Them?"

"The vampires. They've mounted several attacks in Whiterun since you left. It's fairly safe in the daytime, but nobody goes out alone after dark anymore. Too many people who did didn't make it home."

"No, not a vampire," I replied. "Somehow."

Once I stopped moving, the illness I'd been fighting during the day hit me with its full force. I felt feverish and my joints were aching so bad I was having difficulty moving. Even going up the stairs was painful.

"I think it's the flu," I told Lydia. "Terrible time for it. I'll go to the Temple of Kynareth tomorrow morning and see if Kyne will have mercy on me."

Lydia helped me out of my armor and underclothing while Lucia was downstairs heating water for me to use in cleaning up. I stripped down to nothing so my clothes could be washed while Lydia got a dry towel and clean bedclothes out of the bureau.

"My gods, Thane, it must have been an awful time. You...you have bruises...all over," she said, holding onto the towel and looking me over in my birthday suit for a little longer than I would have preferred. I was wrapping the towel around my waist to cover myself when Lydia added, "At least your hardware doesn't seem the worse for wear. Been to see the Morthal princess?"

I glared at her but wasn't able to say more due to Lucia's arrival with the kettle of hot water. She poured it into the basin and set down a new bar of lye soap before plopping down on my bed.

The water felt good as I put my hands in to test it. It was the first time I'd felt anything so warm and soothing in several days. I splashed some on my face and then started trying to wash.

"Give it here," said Lydia, taking the lye-soaped cloth. "You're so tired you're going to take all night and we'll never be able to hear your tale. I'll wash, you talk, and you," she said looking at Lucia, "don't peek."

A little later, I was clean and feeling refreshed, but I ached everywhere and felt as if my fever was getting worse. Lydia helped me dress, and then Lucia brushed my hair and short beard. After a few moments to relieve myself and clean my teeth, Lydia came back in and helped me into bed. Lucia was about to jump in with me when Lydia told her to stop.

"What is it?" we asked together.

"I'm not sure, but I'm going downstairs for a minute. Lucia, you sit over here at this table and don't you move from it until I get back." She mouthed something at me, leaving both Lucia and me both wondering what she'd been trying to convey. Despite our best efforts and combined guesses, we still hadn't figured it out by the time she returned a few minutes later with a small potion bottle in her hand.

"Take this," she whispered. "It should cure the rockjoint."

"What? Rockjoint?" I said aloud before thinking. I quickly added, "Lydia, you're crazy," trying to calm the growing fear on Lucia's face as much as to deflect Lydia's silly idea. Rockjoint was one we hadn't thought of.

She shook her head, still holding the bottle. "See the bruising? Most of it's around your joints rather than scattered all over as if you'd gotten them in a fight. Your face is contorted, gaunt even, too. Based on your status, I'd guess 24 to 48 hours ago?"

"Where would I have...Damn!"

"Pa!" Lucia was looking quite frightened but a chance to catch me cursing and to make me put a septim in the swear jar was too much for her to pass up.

"Sorry, Lucia. I'll be okay, sweetheart." Looking at Lydia without moving my head toward her, I continued, "Lydia, there were a couple of wolves early yesterday near Dragonbridge. It was just a scratch and I didn't think anything about it."

Lydia looked over at Lucia. "Men! I swear our Nord race wouldn't be around long if it wasn't for the men having us women to take care of them."

Lucia giggled, put more at ease by Lydia's teasing than by my attempted assurances. "Thane, chasing after vampires, I thought you'd have one of these cures in your pack so I dug it out. Looks like the last one so you better go see Arcadia before you head out again. Now, take it. All of it!"

"She'll probably try to sell me a potion to cure my already-cured rockjoint," I said after draining the little bottle of foul tasting liquid.

"Or the Rattles!" laughed Lucia.

I looked at her in surprise. "You've been going to see Arcadia?"

"Yes, Pa. She's taught me how to make a few potions in return for doing some sweeping and cleaning for her. And Aunt Lydia and I have gone outside of town and picked some flowers and things that she said could be used to make potions. I've made a few for you downstairs in the cupboard."

I smiled at her. My little girl was growing up much faster than I would have liked, but I was very proud of her for the way she was trying to learn and be helpful.

"Smiling. That's good. Much better than the grimace that looked to be almost permanently affixed to your face when you arrived," said Lydia. "Are you starting to feel better then?"

I nodded. "I think so. By morning, I think I'll be fine."

"Okay, sweetie. He shouldn't be contagious now, but if he tries to take a bite of you, pop him in the kisser," said Lydia, motioning for Lucia to join me in the bed. She jumped into bed and snuggled up close. Lydia climbed into bed on the other side of her, and we lay there talking, laughing, and being our own peculiar version of a family until we fell asleep.

I was feeling much better the next morning after sleeping in later than planned. I visited several shops in the Whiterun market district with Lucia and Lydia in tow, treating them, between visits, to flavored shaved ices from one of the vendors, Khajiiti candies from Ysolda, and lunch at The Bannered Mare.

Hulda at the Mare seemed happy to see me. "I'd begun to fear you were dead, Dragonborn. Between dragons and vampires, your life expectancy can't be that long. When you're gone and I no longer have you giving me money to put on your family's account, I'll be so sad I'll just have to retire and sell this place to Ysolda." She grinned at me.

"Is she getting any closer to reaching your selling price?"

"I don't know, but someday, I hope. Then, I'll retire to somewhere far to the south where it's warm."

"And be back in Skyrim the next spring after the passes reopen because you miss us and our wonderful winters."

"Perhaps," she agreed with a smile as I pushed a small pouch across the counter to her.

"On account for Lydia and the girl. Just make sure they get out of here in plenty of time to be home before dark."

"Certainly, Dragonborn. With the recent vampire attacks, people in Whiterun now know not to be out after darkness falls. At least, those with any common sense do."

~ESV~

With the day half gone by the time I'd taken care of business, I visited Bjorlam, the carter at the Whiterun stables, to arrange transportation for early the next morning. He agreed to be ready just after sunrise. Later in the afternoon, I took some time to do repairs on my armor and sharpen my weapons in preparation for the trip.

Lydia, Lucia, and I returned to The Bannered Mare early that evening where we visited with friends and sang songs until shortly before sunset. With the exception of staff and guests, most people left then like us. The three of us spent the rest of the evening together at home. When I kissed Lucia goodnight, I told her, "I'll be leaving early in the morning, Lucia, well before you awaken, but I'll see you again soon. You stay safe, sweetheart, and listen to Aunt Lydia."

"I promise, Pa. And you, too. She's awfully smart."

~ESV~

For an extra twenty septims and a promise that I'd help him get the cart turned around before taking off, Bjorlam agreed to take me closer to Fort Dawnguard. That way, I arrived at the fort just before dinner time. With the cold outside, I was looking forward to a good, hot meal, but the guard just inside the entrance, a man I didn't recognize, said, "You'd better see Isran right away. He's looking for you."

I was surprised he'd be expecting me but a bigger surprise was waiting for me when I found them in the dinner hall. Isran and a number of other members of the Dawnguard stood on one side of the table and Serana was faced off with them on the other side.

"What the...?" I said, just avoiding owing another septim in Lucia's swear jar.

"'Bout time you showed up," said Isran, but I was focused on Serana.

"I suspect you weren't expecting to see me again," she said.

"Serana, are you crazy? How'd you find this place? And what are you doing here?"

"Your little group has attracted the attention of my father's spies, so finding you wasn't that hard. Escaping from him wasn't exactly easy, but then again, I must admit to having some practice, admittedly a long time ago, in slipping out of Volkihar Keep without his permission, so I guess that really wasn't that hard either. As for the last part, I'd really rather not be here either, but I needed to talk to you. It's important, so please, can we talk, alone, before your angry-looking friend loses his patience. It's... well, it's about me. And the Elder Scroll that was buried with me."

"Give us some privacy," I said to Isran and the crew.

He frowned, then slowly nodded, but didn't move. I arched an eyebrow at him, hoping he'd take the hint to leave.

"You're in the dinner hall," growled the boss.

"Oh, sorry," I said, as I took Serana's elbow and steered her out of the room. The sounds of dinner being served made my stomach growl and drew a giggle from Serana.

When we reached a private spot on an upper level, I asked, "You said it was about you. What do you mean?"

~ESV~

After Serana and I had a long talk, we went to see Isran. As far as meetings go, this was not one of history's better ones. Isran and Serana basically threatened to kill each other a few times while I tried to mediate and get them to work together. He didn't look happy with what we had to tell him, but after hearing Serana's story and seeing the scroll she'd brought with her, he became more willing to listen. It was when she mentioned the blind Moth Priests of Cryodiil that he finally seemed to accept her story.

"So the Elder Scrolls may give us the information we need to defeat the prophecy. We have one scroll but have to find two more if we're going to have a chance to figure it out so we can defeat him? Where in Oblivion are we going to find two more Elder Scrolls?" he asked.

I cleared my throat. "Ahem, I'm not sure if it's one we need, but I know where to find one."

Isran stared at me in disbelief, as if I was insane. "You? You have it."

"I had to find it to use when I was dealing with Alduin. I just haven't figured out what to do with it yet."

"I think I know where to find another of the ones we need," volunteered Serana. "But it won't be easy to get. Then there's the issue of finding a Moth priest to read them."

"Not easy? What else is new?" groused Isran. "Okay, I had something important planned for you, but we've been able to get a couple of old friends involved in our cause while you were gone. I hate to do this more than I can tell you, but I'll dispatch them to find one more person we're going to need, and then send them to find your blind priest. I think we may have a lead on that. You two are to get the Elder Scrolls."

~ESV~

"So where is the Elder Scroll?" I asked.

"Well, I don't know, personally. We need to find my mother, Valerica. She'll definitely know where it is, and if we're lucky, she'll have it herself."

"But you told me you didn't know where she went."

"The last time I saw her, she said that she'd go somewhere safe... somewhere that my father would never search. Other than that, she wouldn't tell me anything. But the way she said it... "someplace he would never search." It was cryptic, yet she called attention to it."

"Maybe your mother didn't trust you, either."

She sighed. "That's always a possibility, but I don't think so. She was almost as obsessed as my father by the time she shut me in, but I think she was giving me a clue. We just have to figure out exactly what it is and what it means."

~ESV~

Author's Note:

Readers may note that some less essential parts of the main quest have been left out of this story, assigned to others to move the story along. Please let me know how you're finding the story with your reviews, comments, et cetera. Thanks, and thanks for reading!