Touching the Sky part 1

-Fort Dawnguard-

Even though it was the middle of the night, Tarrion was wide awake. He snuck down the stairs, trying to make as little noise as possible. The few torches that lit the darkened hallways made it difficult for him to see, and to avoid knocking things over. He turned right, left, down the stairs, left again and then the hall to the right. He saw that it was abandoned and he silently grabbed what he was after and left the room.

He heard a noise behind him and ducked behind a few old barrels. The spider that was calmly making her web in the exact same place were Tarrion hid was forced to start all over again. As Tarrion looked over the edge of the barrel, he saw that someone had just woken up and now walked in his direction. He was not carrying a torch, and when he passed by Tarrion he did not notice anything. Tarrion silently cast Muffle and Invisibility, and he walked back the way he came. Up the stairs, right, left and then the room at the end.

"You have it? Nobody saw you?" a voice asked as soon as he entered the room.

"Wait, how do you even know I'm back? I'm invisible." he asked.

"I can sense your blood…. Even with my eyes closed, I can know where you are."

"Right… well I have it yes."

Serana smiled.

"Thank you… I'm sorry you have to do this for me, but…."

"Don't worry…. I asked you to tell me if you needed it…."

"Yes, but… this is something that must hurt a lot."

"True, but I have suffered much worse than this… besides, it doesn't hurt that much. What do you take me for?"

'Someone who I love…' she thought to herself, but she didn't say it.

Tarrion grabbed a small dagger, and placed the goblet he just took from the dining room on the table. He held his wrist over the cup and pulled the blade past it.

He let out a small grunt, and he felt the blood flowing from his wrist, and he saw it filling the cup.

"You said that one cup was enough?" and Serana nodded.

"Yes, yes of course."

Tarrion filled the goblet to the edge and removed his wrist before he healed it. A small scar was what was left of the bleeding wound, but no-one would be able to notice it. Tarrion's entire body was scarred so one more would not matter.

Serana grabbed the goblet and drank its contents, to the last drop. His warm blood flowed through her mouth, and it's taste made her feel better. She knew by now that Tarrion's blood was different from that of other humans, but this was because he was Dragonborn, so one could say she was drinking the blood of a Dragon. To her it did not matter why it tasted so good, she only thought of how grateful she was to him. That he let her feed on his blood, without giving it a second thought, was something no-one else would do for her.

"Hmmmm…. Thank you."

This was the second time that Serana drank Tarrion's blood. She knew that he did not mind, and yet it did make her feel uncomfortable. She didn't want to hurt Tarrion, but she also knew that she had to feed every few days. The more often the better.

After a few hours they left Fort Dawnguard. The sky was bright, and the moon and stars gave Tarrion enough light to see everything. Serana, with her Vampiric Sight, was able to see everything. To the last flower and animal that was on their path. They made their way past Riften and headed for the mountains that would lead them to Helgen. From there they would go southwest to find Ancestor Glade.

The previous night they asked Dexion which of the three Scroll they would need to read to understand the next part of the prophecy. He told them that it was the Scroll they obtained from Serana's mother, Valerica.

"Then why did we need to get the third one?" had Tarrion asked.

"Because I did not know which Scroll would tell the next part." Dexion explained. "I read the first one, and now I can sense that the second one is that Scroll. I did not know before."

And so they had left the other two Elder Scrolls in Tarrion's room in Fort Dawnguard. They knew it wouldn't make sense to lug them around everywhere, and the Dawnguard was a good place to hide them for now. Tarrion had made provisions for the journey ahead, while Serana only needed her weapon.

While Tarrion and Serana travelled through the Rift, he told her stories of things he had seen before. Other tombs he had raided, and ancient artefacts that were locked away and protected in these tombs. When Tarrion told Serana of an old sword he found in a tomb, Serana had to laugh.

"So you have found many artefacts while raiding tombs. It must have been a surprise when you found me."

"A big one… yes." Tarrion said. "When they told me there was some 'long lost Vampire artefact' in there, I expected an old weapon, or tomes of ancient knowledge, or…. Something like that."

"Ha.. and you got me."

"Indeed… but it is not so bad, really." he teased her. "I don't have to carry you everywhere."

"Is that the only reason?"

"No…. you, eh…." Tarrion stammered, and he sighed. "You are also pleasant company…. I …. I'm glad I found you."

It was dark, but Serana could see that Tarrion became red in his face, and she decided not to say anything. She was glad that he could not see in the dark, because she also felt herself becoming red.

-Falkreath Hold-

With the sun slowly coming up, they decided to move faster. They kept largely to the high road because Dexion said that Ancestor Glade was 'a bit into the mountains'. They passed an old watchtower and looked for a path that would lead up into the mountains.

Tarrion breathed in the morning air. Out of all the holds in Skyrim, he loved Falkreath the most. The pine air, green forests, mountains on all sides and Lake Illinalta made it a place that radiated peace. He heard that countless battles had been fought in Falkreaht, but there was almost no trace of it, except for a large cemetery in the town. It looked like nature had claimed everything back and lived on and prospered.

After a while of searching they found a small pathway that lead upward, into the mountains. They steered the horses carefully up the narrow path, but after a while it had gotten too steep to ride. So they dismounted and led their horses higher and higher. As they walked on they found small piles of stones, standing next to the path they walked.

"I guess we are on the right track." Serana said. "These stones definitely mean something."

Tarrion simply followed her and it was a good thing that they climbed the mountains on the northern side. The sun had climbed higher while they searched and they now walked in the large, mountainous shadow. Tarrion saw that it would not take long for those shadows to disappear and then they would be exposed. This mattered little to him, and he even looked forward to seeing the sun again. He had travelled with Serana mostly during the nights, to make the journey easier for her, but now it looked like they would walk in the sun. Serana noticed this and started to walk faster, almost dragging her horse up the mountain.

"There…. I think I see an entrance."

Serana pointed ahead and walked past another few piles of rocks, and Tarrion saw it too. A small, almost invisible entrance could be seen, and a small pathway with a few last steps lead to it. A small plateau gave enough room for the horses to rest under two large trees, and Serana and Tarrion walked to the entrance.

"So…" Tarrion said. "are you ready?"

"Yes, but…"

Serana seemed conflicted and she looked at the dark entrance before her.

"What is it?"

"Well…. One of us has to read the Scroll, right? Which one of us will do it, knowing the danger?"

"I will." Tarrion said calmly and Serana looked surprised.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I have read an Elder Scroll before, and I survived then. I am confident that I will survive now."

"You have? Really?" and Tarrion nodded.

"Yes, but I will tell you about that later. For now, let's just focus on what is ahead."

"Yes.. yes you're right. Then let's go."

Without hesitation Serana stepped into the entrance and disappeared in the dark. That was not a moment too soon, because the sun peaked over the mountains and the plateau now bathed in sunlight. Tarrion closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He felt the warmth of the sun on his face and it was a pleasant feeling. It invigorated him and gave him new strength, and when he opened his eyes he was blinded by the light.

"Tarrion? You coming?" he heard Serana say, and he stepped into the cave, away from the sun.

After a bit of squeezing they found themselves in a small cavern, but unlike most caverns, this one was filled with small bushes and plants, and grass covered the floor. A small path lead across and a fallen tree was leaning against an elevated area where the path continued. A small amount of light came down from a few cracks in the ceiling and the cavern bathed in a pale, almost blue light. Tarrion looked around and saw that it was beautiful, but nothing that would look like a draw knife or a Canticle tree. He also did not see a single moth fly around, and there was no sign of life in this small cavern.

They followed the path and climbed on the fallen tree to the elevated area. Another path lead deeper into the cavern and more piles of stones were made that marked it. Tarrion walked ahead, but Serana followed slowly and looked back at the cavern.

"It looks nice but…. Hmm. Not very impressive is it? I thought there would be more. If this ends up being a wasted trip, your friend Dexion and I are going to have some words when we get back."

Tarrion had walked on and suddenly stepped into a giant open area, and his mouth fell open in awe.

"Ehh, Serana…. Care to revise that statement?"

"What do you….. mean?"

Serana came standing next to Tarrion and her mouth fell open as well and she looked around, like she had never seen anything like it before, and Tarrion could only agree.

A massive cavern was before them. They stood on a higher point and from where they stood, they could see everything. The entire cavern was filled with trees, large, straight pine trees and smaller, crooked trees and Tarrion thought that these were the Canticle trees. The path continued and many steps, engraved with figurines of flowers and branches, lead down to the central part of the cavern. In the middle, about ten metres below them, a hot spring filled the entire place with a soft and warm smell, and steam rose from the water. There were bushes everywhere, bushes that neither of them had ever seen before, and moths flew near every tree and plant. The moths themselves were large and their wings had a deep grey colour. They fluttered around Tarrion and Serana as they walked down the steps. Thick, wet moss hung down from the rocks and Tarrion saw more pathways leading to other, elevated areas with more trees, plants and bushes. A large hole was in the ceiling and the rays of the sun fell through it, making the entire cavern bathe in a golden light.

"Dragon's bones…" Tarrion said.

"By the blood…" Serana said. "Look at this place…. No-one has been here in centuries."

They continued to walk down the steps, and both of them wished they had an extra pair of eyes, because neither of them had ever witnessed such beauty in nature.

"This… this is.." Tarrion started, but he could not find the words.

"I… I doubt there is another place like it in Skyrim…. It's beautiful."

Tarrion looked at Serana and she had tears in her eyes, and he could not blame her. He had never seen anything like this before, and not even Eldergleam Sanctuary was as beautiful as this.

Both Serana and Tarrion forgot about everything else. It was like nothing mattered and only they, and this place of beauty existed. Serana walked up to the hot spring and her black hair was getting wet from the damp that came from the water. She let out a deep breath and sat on the ground next to the water. Tarrion sat next to her and he felt that the ground was warm. Small water plants grew on the edge of the spring and a few white lilies floated on the surface.

Tarrion removed his gauntlets, because it was too warm to wear them. He saw Serana remove her cloak and throw it against a tree. She leaned back and closed her eyes.

"Please, Tarrion. Tell me….. is this place real? Or just a dream?"

Tarrion came closer to her and place his hand on hers. Her pale skin had always felt cold, but now it felt warmer.

"It is real." he said. "But even if it were a dream… it is one we can share."

They sat next to each other, her shoulder pressed against his, and Tarrion felt a surge go through him and before he could help himself he leaned in to kiss Serana. But as he leaned in, Serana turned her head, and instead of kissing her on her cheek, he pressed his lips against hers.

Tarrion pulled back, and he had a feeling that he ruined the moment. Serana looked at him with her eyes open, and a warm glow came from them.

Then, without a word, she grabbed him and kissed him, like never before. Tarrion fell on his back, and for a moment he was stunned. But then he grabbed Serana's back and pushed her body against his, and Serana moaned softly.

When Tarrion would previously fight it, he now gave in completely. When he would previously think of something else, he now thought of nothing else, and when he would previously try and do something else, he now ran his hands over Serana's back and through her hair. Her face felt cold against his, and his skin felt warm against hers.

And Serana finally admitted to herself, that she had found love. As a Pure-Blooded Vampire, a Daughter of Coldharbour, she thought it would forever elude her, but she now felt alive. More alive than she had ever felt before, as she cupped Tarrion's face and tugged his lip. Tarrion kissed her on her neck and she grinded her body on his chest.

With a gentle push, Tarrion pushed Serana aside as he rolled on top of her and kissed her. She grabbed his head and pressed it on her chest, and he reached around and passionately ran his hand over her back, and Serana felt the warmth coming from him.

They rolled over so that she was now on top of him, and she grabbed his wrists and pushed them away as she pressed her forehead on his. She smiled and closed her eyes.

"Tell me again, Tarrion…. Is this real?"

"Yes… all of it, is real." he answered.

He pushed her up, making her sit on his lap, and he gave her a soft and playful bite in her neck. Serana wrapped her arms around him again and moaned.

After a while they stood up, but still they did not let go of each other. Tarrion still held Serana pressed against him and she looked up at him with a smile.

"We should have done this before…" Tarrion said.

"No…" and Serana shook her head. "if we had… we wouldn't have had this moment."

Tarrion agreed, and for a moment he wanted to stay here with Serana. To forget about everything else, because everything he needed, was now in his arms. Serana felt the same, and pressed herself against Tarrion. But they both knew that they had to continue. They knew that they couldn't stay, and they let each other go and looked around for the draw knife.

In the middle of the hot spring, Tarrion saw a small statue. It was round and engraved with runes and figurines, and there was a small pedestal made in the centre of it. On the pedestal he saw a strange knife, with two handles, and with a curved blade. He grabbed it and held it up. Both of the handles and the blade were engraved with figurines.

"I guess this is what we're looking for."

"Yes it is." Serana said. "My mother had a similar one, to scrape fungus and mold off the trees. That one's far nicer though. Almost ceremonial. I guess we just need to scrape some bark from one of those Canticle trees."

Tarrion walked up to one of the nearby trees that was crooked and scraped off some of the bark. A large piece came off, and he smelled a power scent coming from the tree and the bark.

"Wow." he said as he grabbed the bark. "That is some powerful smell."

The inside of the bark was very light brown, almost white, and it was dripping with sap. He grabbed it and not a moment later a large moth flew around him. Then another moth flew past his ear, and another one.

"I see those moths like that bark as much as Dexion said they would." Serana said as more moths gathered around Tarrion. "Look at them, they've definitely taking a liking to you."

In less than no time, Tarrion was surrounded by countless moths. He could hear their wings flap around him and they landed on his hands to suck the sap from the bark.

"Damn these moths…. They're everywhere."

Serana had to laugh as she saw Tarrion struggle to keep himself from waving his hands around to get rid of the moths.

"They really seem to like you." she said smiling. "I guess we could have expected this. 'Moth Priests'… moths… they are related in some way….. and unless my vision is playing tricks, you're starting to… glow."

Tarrion saw that the air around him, indeed started to look like it was lighting up, and he felt different as well. He felt a warm feeling flow through him.

After a few moments, the moths started to fly away. The bark was completely dry and now looked almost dead. Tarrion saw the moths leave one by one, until the last one started to fly right in front of him. It flew so close to him that Tarrion had to look cross-eyed to see it, and the light around him did not fade. The last moth left and Tarrion stood next to the statue, and waited for something to happen.

"Alright…. Now what?"

"I don't know. Did it work? Do you… feel different?"

Tarrion thought for a moment, but he could not say that he felt any different. The warmth that he felt before was gone, but he knew there was only one way to find out if it worked.

"I have no idea if it worked, but I do know how to find out."

He grabbed the Elder Scroll and held it in front of him.

"Here goes nothing." and he pulled out the roll of parchment.

A blinding light came from the parchment, and Tarrion was stunned. Unable to move he stared at nothing and saw how small lines appeared in front of him, and connected with each other. A voice echoed through his head, and it shouted to him.

The Tyranny of the Sun is almost near, the Power of Aetherius draws close.

The Bow of Auriel Akatosh shall be wielded, bringing death wherever it goes.

With darkened Skies or flaring Sun, how the course of history may go.

It's power shall open the way, to the vanquishing of every foe.

The Wolf and Ram, North and West, guard it from all the brave.

The ancient Elves, of mountains cold, guard it, in Darkfall cave.

Tarrion saw how the lines unfolded in a map, and he saw the banners of Solitude and Markarth shining red. Then another small rune appeared, to the north of Markarth and to the West of Solitude, near the slopes of the mountains. His vision flared and faded, and then ended.

"Tarrion? Tarrion! Talk to me!"

Tarrion opened his eyes and saw Serana's face hovering over him, with a terrified look. she tapped him on his cheek to wake him up. Tarrion had not realized that he had fallen on his back, and he grabbed Serana's hand to stop her from tapping his face.

"Uuugh, that was weird."

He pulled himself up and shook his head to wake himself.

"Are you alright?" Serana asked, and he could hear the concern in her voice. "You fainted as soon as you opened the Scroll. You went as white as the snow."

Tarrion still felt a little woozy, but he was able to stand up and he grabbed the statue to retain his balance.

"That felt strange."

"I could see it in your eyes…. You looked like you were a thousand leagues away. But… did you learn anything? Do you know where we can find Auriel's Bow?"

"Yes… yes. The Scroll gave me it's exact location. It's in a cave called 'Darkfall Cave'."

Serana seemed relieved to see that Tarrion was alright, and to hear that they knew where to find the bow.

"Good, then let's go. We should get there before my father has a change to track us down."

"Agreed."

And thus they left Ancestor Glade. Tarrion placed the draw knife back on its pedestal, since it would be of no further use to them, and he threw the bark away. After Tarrion put his gauntlets back on, and Serana wrapped her cloak around her shoulders, they climbed the steps again to the exit, but before they left the large grove they turned around one last time. Neither of them knew if they would ever return to this place, and so they took one last, long look. They stood there, overlooking the grove, for only a few moments, and yet it seemed like an eternity for them.

"Being out here with you… it is exactly how I imagined adventuring would be."

Tarrion pulled Serana close to him.

"It sounds like you were a young romantic."

"I was."

And before they left, they shared a long kiss. She ran her hands through his hair, and he gently caressed her back. And Serana's heart grew under this newfound love, and the world changed for her. After a long time, countless years of being a Vampire, she saw that the world was alive, and so was she.

=End of Chapter=

=Author's Notes=

Soooo…. The two of them finally gave in to their feelings. This was a moments that a bunch of you were waiting for, so I hope it lived up to the expectations. True, they didn't even make it to second base, but I have no intention of doing that just yet. This is a 'Romance story' not a porn, so… not yet. I want to do something with that moment as well, and that will take a bit. I hope this is enough for now.

No other languages used.

(As always) PPS: I am Dutch (from the Netherlands) so if there are any mistakes in spelling/grammer, please let me know.