Beyond Death part 4
Serana and Tarrion left the fortress behind them and descended the hill. Serana walked close by Tarrion, and their hands would touch often. Tarrion saw that Serana had a conflicted expression on her face. She looked troubled and even grieved, but behind that he saw a smile and a relieved look in her eyes.
"Are you alright?" he asked her.
"I… I'm not sure." Serana answered. "Maybe. All those things I said…. They have been building up for a while. I didn't know what to say at first, but…"
She sighed.
"I think I am relieved. I think she now finally understands what I had to go through, and what I felt. Even if she still feels the same, I know that I could at least speak my mind. One the one hand I know that she tried to protect my, but I don't think she thought of the costs."
With the ashy dust around their feet they walked down the hill and toward the nearest of the three towers. The closer they came to the towers, the more souls they came across. They could also the strange, undead creatures look at them with bright, glowing eyes.
"They haven't attacked us yet, but I have a feeling that will change." Serana said.
"Yes. I think they want to know if we try anything. As long as we don't do anything that might upset them, I think they will leave us be."
"Hmm… then I suggest you draw your sword." Serana remarked. "We are about to kill those Keepers, and I don't think they are going to like it. And you are still weakened, so… stay close to me."
"I will." Tarrion smiled.
They reached one of the towers, and they saw a large figure with a massive battle-axe. He was clad in armour, made of bones, and his head and hands looked like they were made of black flames. His blue eyes shone through the flames, and he looked at them with a threatening gaze.
Hi fent ni rahn
Valerica sil engein wah mii!
"What did he say?" Serana asked, but Tarrion could not answer because the figure charged at them.
Tarrion could not find the strength to put up a real fight, but Serana did. She ducked under the incoming axe and sliced through the armour that covered one of the legs. The Keeper shouted something and turned around and raised his axe to crush Serana, but then Tarrion leaped forward and drove his sword through its back, and it came out the other side. The Keeper roared and crumbled to dust, and Tarrion saw how the tower it guarded crumbled as well.
"Two to go." Tarrion panted.
"Yes. Are you alright?"
"I am…. I think I am."
Tarrion had to force himself to stay up. He felt the fatigue of being in the Soul Cairn with a weakened soul.
"Let's just keep going and finish up here as fast as possible."
The two of them now continued to the next tower. The undead creatures that previously just watched the, now followed them, yet still from a distance. Tarrion and Serana could hear them growl and cry with undead voices.
When they reached the second tower, they found another one of the Keepers. He was also clad in bone-armour, with his hands and head made of black flames and he had a large sword in the one hand, and a thick shield in the other.
Hi fen ni ahkron!
Hi nis lif daar staad!
Serana fired several Ice-spikes at the Keeper, but he blocked all of them and his shield was now impaled with ice. Tarrion charged forward, ducked under the sword, and grabbed the shield. With a huge surge of energy he lifted the Keeper up and threw him against the tower. Serana then jumped forward and drove her dagger in the Keeper's face, and with a loud cry he crumbled to dust. Tarrion heard a loud roar behind him and he turned around, only to see one of the creatures, who had two heads and a large mace in his hands, charge at him.
Tarrion took a deep breath and braced himself.
YOL TOOR SHUL
An inferno escaped from his mouth and the creature was incinerated to ash. Tarrion fell to his knees and grabbed his throat. The Shout had rented his throat and he couched blood.
"Are you alright?"
Serana came rushing and grabbed him by his shoulder.
"Tarrion, talk to me! Are you alright?"
Tarrion nodded.
"Yes…. Yes, I'm fine. I… just feel weak. But we have to go. The sooner we resolve this, the better."
Under Serana's protests he lifted himself up and continued. The other creatures that were still watching them kept at bay, but still followed them.
They continued, ignoring the creatures, and headed for the final tower. But when they reached it, they could not find the final Keeper. A few lost souls wandered around, but the large, bone-clad Keeper was nowhere to be found.
"Where is he?" Tarrion asked.
Serana looked around to see if she could find any sign of the Keeper, but she saw nothing. She was about to turn around, when a suddenly a spectre appeared before her. It looked like it was the soul of a little girl, and she looked at Serana, with her head slightly tilted. Serana looked at her, and she felt bad for her.
'A little girl does not belong in a place like this' she thought, but the spectre beckoned her to follow and she walked to the tower. Serana followed her and saw that she entered a small corridor, and up a staircase.
"Tarrion, this way."
Tarrion followed her, although Serana could see that he did not trust it.
"Where is she leading us? How do we know this isn't some trap?"
"I.. I don't know." Serana answered. "But I have a feeling it isn't."
"How do you know?"
"I'm not sure, but I don't think they are on the side of the Keepers. They are imprisoned here as well."
Tarrion still held his sword in his hand and would be ready for a trap. But the spectre of the little girl led them up more stairs, until they reached the top of the tower. There, clad in bone-armour just like the others, stood the third and final Keeper, looking out over the dead plains. He had a large bow in his hand, but he did not attack them. He simply turned around and looked at them, sizing his two opponents up. And then he laughed, or that is what Tarrion thought he did, because it did not sound like a laugh, but it was clear that the Keeper seemed amused.
ZU'U FEN….
FUS RO DAH
Tarrion was not in the mood for another threat and shouted the Keeper off the tower. With a loud cry the Keeper disappeared over the edge, and not a moment later they heard a deep rumble. The tower creaked and cracked.
"Run!"
The two of them ran down the stairs as fast as they could, and were able to escape the tower just in time.
"That was… the last one." Tarrion panted, but Serana looked at the strange creatures that now looked at them.
"I think we have a problem."
But the creatures did not attack, but instead they retreated to the shadows of the ruines.
"What? Why are they…."
"No matter." Tarrion interrupted her. "I'm sorry, but his place is wearing me down more and more. Let's get back to the prison and get the Scroll."
They returned to the large fortress on the hill. Still Serana could see how the creatures still followed them, and yet also seemed afraid. None of them wanted to get too close and every time Serana looked around, they seemed to recoil and retreat. But she couldn't spend any attention to them, because next to her, Tarrion was severely weakened and he panted incessantly. No matter how much Serana tried to help him, he kept saying it was nothing.
"I'm alright…. Just….. tired." he panted.
"No! you're not alright." Serana kept saying. "You're here with only half a soul! You must rest."
"No…. that will only make it worse…. We need to finish this first…."
When they reached Valerica back at the prison, she was more than impressed.
"You managed to destroy all three Keepers? That is… impressive."
Serana refused to look at her mother, and tried to support Tarrion.
"You are stronger than I anticipated… but I see that you are also weakened."
"Yes… I had to surrender…. a piece of my soul to enter this place. Can I ….. I can't hold out much longer…"
Valerica looked from Tarrion to Serana, and then pointed at some nearby ruins.
"I see that my daughter has applied some of my lessons, but I think I can help. There is an offering altar nearby. I think you will find your soulgem there."
Without a word, Tarrion turned around an walked toward a few small ruins. Serana did not try to stop him, because she knew it wouldn't help.
They reached the small ruins and Serana saw a large altar with a few black soulgems hovering over it. A large, shining crystal hovered a few meters above the altar, and Tarrion stood up.
"You have stolen me…. and I'm here to take myself back."
He stumbled toward the altar and without hesitation he grabbed the black soulgem that hovered in the middle.
As soon as he touched the gem, he felt a massive energy surge go through him. He saw the dark light escaping the gem and entering his body, and he felt his entire body contract. He stood there for a few seconds, not being able to move, but then the surge stopped, and the soulgem crumbled to dust.
"Ahhhh."
"Tarrion! Everything alright?"
Serana came rushing and grabbed his face, and Tarrion smiled.
"Yes. I'm alright now." Tarrion said as he grabbed her hands and Serana could see that he did not lie.
They returned to Valerica.
"Thank you for that." Tarrion said. "Now… the barrier is down. Can you give us the Elder Scroll?"
"Yes, I've hidden it here, inside the fortress. Follow me."
The two of them followed Valerica as she led them through a few dark corridors and into a massive courtyard, surrounded by black walls and dark towers. Valerica walked ahead, while Serana and Tarrion walked a bit behind her.
"I can't believe we actually found my mother alive." Serana whispered. "Or… as alive as she was before."
A deafening roar echoed through the courtyard, and Tarrion saw dust fall of the walls. He looked up and saw a Dragon. If this was the first time he saw one, he would be terrified, but since he had killed more Dragons than he could count, he was not afraid and simply sighed and grabbed his sword.
"It's Durnehviir!" Valerica shouted. "He has come!"
Serana seemed to be in a slight panic, because she did not know what to do.
"How do we bring him down?" she shouted. "Tarrion! You know how to do this!"
Tarrion looked up and saw Durnehviir flying straight at him, and he saw that he looked different than any other Dragon he had ever seen.
Durnehviir had a green skin, and it looked like his flesh was rotting away. His eyes seemed black, in his mouth Tarrion saw black teeth. It looked like Durnehviir's skin was peeling off and the two horns that came out the back of his head were not covered with scales, but laid bare and the bones glistened.
DIIL QOTH ZAAM
The old Dragon Shouted and the ground shook and cracked and out of the holes, black skeletons appeared.
"You take care of them!" Tarrion shouted at Serana and Valerica. "I'll deal with him."
Tarrion braced himself and gathered his strength. With the return of his soul he felt strong again and he Shouted Durnehviir out of the skies.
JOOR ZAH FRUL
The Shout reached the Dragon and struck him like lightning. Durnehviir was forced to the ground and Tarrion ran toward his undead foe. As soon as Durnehviir tried to get up he opened his mouth to Shout again, but Tarrion was quicker and staggered him.
FUS RO DAH
Serana fought beside her mother and held off the onrushing skeletal horde. She had grabbed her dagger again and was a whirlwind ice and blade. She tore her foes apart, bone from bone, and slowed others down with Ice-Storms. Valerica had cloaked herself in ice and fired many spells at her attackers.
"Serana! Behind you!"
Serana turned around, ducked under a sword and severed the arm that held it. She still refused to talk, or so much as look at her mother, and she rushed to Tarrion after she severed the head of a skeleton.
Tarrion now fought with Durnehviir and landed many strikes until black blood gushed from the Dragon's head. With a final roar, Durnehviir bit at his opponent, but Tarrion dodged it and drove his sword to the hilt in Durnehviir's throat. The Dragon roared in pain and when Tarrion removed his sword, black blood gushed out of the wound, and Durnehviir collapsed on the ground.
But his soul was not absorbed by Tarrion, and instead his body burned to nothing with purple flames and disappeared.
"Strange…" Tarrion mumbled to himself.
Serana came running and looked at the place where the Dragon disappeared, and then to Tarrion.
"Unbelievable…. You just killed a Dragon on your own…"
"He was not the first, and I don't think he will be the last."
"Astonishing." a voice said and Valerica joined them. "I never thought I'd witness the death of that Dragon."
"Why do you say that?"
"Volumes written on Durnehviir say that he cannot be slain by normal means…. Unless….. you haven't killed him, but simply forced him to regain his strength somewhere else."
"Then I think we should hurry."
"Yes, agreed." and Valerica walked to the edge of the main courtyard.
"Why do you think that you didn't kill him?" Serana asked.
"Because as Dragonborn I can absorb the life-force and soul of any Dragon that I kill, but that did not happen here."
"You absorb their soul?"
"Yes," Tarrion nodded. "I'll explain another time."
They followed Valerica to a small alcove. There they saw a few tables filled with strange ingredients and a few vials. Valerica walked to a pillar, pressed a small stone, and the pillar opened revealing a large locked box. Valerica opened the box with as small key and pulled out the Elder Scroll. She wrapped it in black cloth, and gave it to Tarrion.
"Now that you have the Elder Scroll, you should make haste. I don't know how things are back in Tamriel, but I have a feeling that Harkon would look everywhere for you two… but… if you… or Serana… has any questions, feel free to ask."
"You will not come with us?" Tarrion asked.
"I'm afraid I cannot. I am also a Daughter of Coldharbour, and if I would return to the castle, the change that Harkon would complete the prophecy would only increase. But there is no need to feel concern for me. I already expected an eternal exile."
Tarrion had no other questions, but he felt that Valerica meant this for Serana, hoping for something. But Serana looked like she wanted to leave as soon as possible and simply shook her head and turned around. Tarrion nodded at Valerica and followed Serana, leaving Valerica alone. When they were out of earshot of her mother, Tarrion looked at Serana.
"Are you sure you want to leave? Maybe we…."
"No." Serana cut him off. "Let's just leave…. Please."
Tarrion saw that Serana still felt conflicted, but he also knew that forcing her would only make matters worse, and he asked no further. But before they reached the main gate, they heard something behind them.
When the two of them turned around they saw a flash of black and Valerica hugged Serana.
"Get off…"
"I'm sorry!"
Valerica did not let go of her daughter and Serana seemed to be taken by surprise and stopped fighting.
"I am sorry, Serana." Valerica said. "You were right, I was wrong. I should have taken your will into consideration, and I was wrong to treat you the way I did. I… I've allowed my hatred for your father to estrange us for too long…. Please… forgive me."
Serana had a look of terror on her face, and she looked at Tarrion, not knowing what to do. Tarrion also did not expect this and stood there and shrugged in surprise.
After a few seconds Serana pushed her mother away, but she did not smile.
"I…I…" she stuttered and she sighed.
"Mother, I cannot forgive you… not yet. Not now."
"I.. I understand."
Tarrion wished he would be able to leave and give the two of them some time on their own, but Serana didn't want to wait any longer. She turned around and opened the gate, and Tarrion followed her. Valerica stayed behind in the shadow and, unless Tarrion was mistaken he saw a small tear glistening before he shut the gate behind him.
The two of them descended the hill and continued to follow the path that would lead to the portal to return to the castle. Serana did not say anything but walked sternly past the ruins. She did not know how to feel. She still felt the anger toward her mother. What she had done, could not be undone or forgotten. But there was a slight feeling of relief inside her. A feeling that she couldn't silence. She knew that her mother was trying to make amends, and that meant a lot. She walked on without saying a word, and she didn't notice that Tarrion drew his sword.
"Serana!"
Serana looked up and she could hear the sound of massive wings. A roar echoed over the plains, and they could see Durnehviir approaching. But he did not attack, and landed on a few ruins next to the path that the two travelled.
"Stay your weapons! I would speak with you, Qahnaarin."
Tarrion did not sheath his weapon, but did not attack either, and he looked at the old, undead Dragon that now slammed his tail on the ruins behind him.
"I thought we killed you." Serana said.
"Hmmm, I am cursed, not dead, kiir do vulon. But my claws have rend the flesh of countless of the joor, and never have I been defeated. Until now."
Tarrion did not take his eyes of Durnehviir, and still held his sword firmly in his hand.
"Why are we speaking?"
"Hmm, I want to honour a fellow kendov. You are the only one who has ever brought upon me my… demise. I therefore honour-name you; Qahnaarin. 'Vanquisher' in your tongue."
"I thank you for that," Tarrion answered and he sheathed his weapon, now that he saw that Durnehviir was not here for revenge. "but something tells me that is not the only reason why you are here, Old one."
Durnehviir bared his teeth in a smile, and even chuckled.
"Hmm, krosis. I have forgotten that the hadrimme of mortals are just as fast as their tongues. You speak true, Qahnaarin. I have indeed a favour to ask."
"What is it?"
"For countless years I have been bound to this place. It has become my grunz, my… prison. I shall place upon you my faan, my name. I would only ask that you would speak my name to the skies of Keizaal, and grant me some time away from this place."
"That is it?" Serana asked. "Just bring you to Tamriel for a while?"
"Hmmm, trivial in your mind perhaps, but you would do me a great favour if you did."
"You cannot leave this place by yourself?" Tarrion asked.
"Hmmm vogluuskei I cannot. My time here has left its mark on me. If I ventured too far and too long, I would surely perish. I do not require an answer, Qahnaarin. Simply speak my name to the heavens, when you feel the time is ripe."
They ascended the large staircase to the portal that would lead them back to castle Volkihar.
"So now you also have the allegiance of a Dragon?" Serana asked. "You grow more and more interesting every day we travel together."
Tarrion laughed. And it was the last thing the creatures and souls in the Soul Cairn heard from him, before they passed through the portal, and returned to the mortal world.
They left the castle, following the same passages that they previously took to reach Valerica's laboratory. It was still night time, despite that Tarrion thought that they had spent many hours in the Soul Cairn. He guessed that, since it was a part of Oblivion, time would pass differently there.
Tarrion rowed the boat away from the castle and headed for the main land. He saw how Serana sat silently and she looked at how the castle disappeared in the distance.
"Are you alright?" Tarrion asked her.
"… I'm not sure." Serana answered. "I… I'm just worried."
"About what?"
"About my mother."
Serana turned around and he saw a look of desperation in her eyes.
"What if I will never see her again, and the last thing I ever said to her is that I cannot forgive her? I…. I wish….. I wished she would have come with us."
Tarrion dropped the oars and held Serana's hands.
"Maybe, when all of this is over, we can come back for her."
"I… I don't know…. I don't ever want to return to the Soul Cairn."
Serana let go of Tarrion's hands and simply looked out over the sea that surrounded them, deep in thought. Tarrion didn't know what he could say, and he continued rowing.
When they reached the main land Serana let out a long breath, like she made up her mind, and wanted to put it behind her.
"So…" she said. "We have found another Elder Scroll, but we still need one more. But we have no idea where to find it."
"Actually, I do."
Serana looked with shock at Tarrion.
"What? You know where it is? Why didn't you say something before?"
"Because this Scroll is easy to find, and I didn't want to lug it around everywhere."
"…. Easy to find?"
Serana's look of surprise only increased.
"Then… where is it?" and Tarrion smiled.
"We have to visit a few old friends of mine."
"Old friends?"
"Yes. Very old and very bearded."
=End of Chapter=
=Author's Notes=
And so ends our adventure in the Soul Cairn. The second Elder Scroll has been found, Serana has met her mother, and Tarrion and Serana have gotten closer together. All in all that was a busy trip. I hope you like it so far, and stay tuned for the next chapter.
I would also like to thank everyone that has read my story thus far. Last month i had over 900 views on this story, so that really made me happy. Please follow, favourite, review if you like, it really helps me to motivate myself to write more.
Dragon Language used (a lot!):
Shouts:
Fus Ro Dah: Force Balance Push (from the Unrelenting Force Shout)
Diil Qoth Zaam: Undead Tomb Slave (Durnehviir's shout to bring bonemen and wrathmen to his aid)
Joor Zah Frul: Mortal Finite Temporary (from the Dragonrend Shout)
Non-shouts:
Keeper Dialogues:
Hi fent ni rahn: (You shall not pass)
Valerica sil engein wah mii: (Valerica's soul belongs to us)
Hi fen ni ahkron!: (You will not prevail)
Hi nis lif daar staad!: (You cannot leave this place)
Zu'u Fen…. : (I will….)
Durnehviir dialogue: (Dur-neh-viir means: Curse-Never-Dying)
Qahnaarin: Vanquisher
Kiir do vulon: Child of night
Kendov: Warrior
Krosis: Pardon (or sorry)
Joor: Mortal(s)
Hadrimme: Minds
Keizaal: Skyrim
Vogluuskei: Unfortunately (rough translation)
PPS: I am Dutch (from the Netherlands) so if there are any mistakes in spelling/grammar, please let me know.