Dragonborn part 10

Serana woke early. Her black hair had fallen over her face and she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Half awake, half sleeping she turned around and grabbed Tarrion's arm… but he was not there. When she finally opened her eyes she looked at this scar-covered back as he sat on the edge of the bed. The claw and fang marks were clearly visible to her and she saw that he was far gone…. Lost in thought. He didn't even notice her when she got up, the soft covers gliding over her pale skin.

"Tarrion?"

He did not respond and even after she placed her hand on his waist he still stared at the wall.

"Tarrion?" she asked a bit louder and he woke up from a trance like state. He turned his head and immediately conjured up a smile.

"Morning," he smiled and he gave her a soft kiss.

"What is bothering you?"

His smile did not fade but the look in his eyes betrayed him. It was a look she had seen numerous times before. Something was severely bothering him.

"Nothing really," he lied. "I just didn't sleep that well."

"Tarrion…. What is wrong?" she said calmly, but her tone was serious.

"No, really… I'm fine," and he still had that annoying fake smile and a muscle pulled in Serana's face. "No need to worry."

"Don't you trust me?" she asked him and finally his smile faded. "Why won't you tell me what is wrong?"

"Trust has nothing to do with it," he said harshly and he turned to the wall. "Worry… and fear… but not trust."

He stood up, grabbed his tunic and walked out the room, leaving Serana alone with a fear she had felt before.

Half of her wanted to rush after him, to corner him and force him to tell her what was he was so worried about.

'He promised,' she thought to herself. 'He promised not to shut me out. He should tell me,' but she sighed. 'No… later, not now.'

She grabbed her clothes and put them on. Running after him would only cause more problems. It would not help. She dressed herself and packed for a long journey.

Leaving Raven Rock they headed north, past the coast. Adril had told them where to find the last Standing Stone, the Water Stone. It was near the coast, next to an old mine from there they would be able to climb the mountains onto the glaciers where Tarrion was certain they would find Dukaan. Vahlok had told them that his tomb lied in the frozen glaciers of Solstheim, and that is where they would search. After that they had planned on going straight back to Storn to ask him again if he would accept the bargain that Hermaeus Mora had offered. Neither of them had any doubt that he would keep his word, but both were concerned about the manner in which he would keep up his end of the bargain.

As the part started to climb a bit Serana walked behind Tarrion and she hardly payed attention to where she was going. Ever since they left Raven Rock they had not said a word to each other and she had seen the look of determination on Tarrion's face. He wanted to get this over with, she knew this. And she agreed with that thought. She wanted to leave this island as soon as possible. She wanted to find the last Dragon Priest, kill it, kill Miraak… and then return to Skyrim and go on a vacation with Tarrion. She knew… or she could at least understand, why he was so distant, because he wanted the same.

After a few hours they reached the Wind Stone. Only a handful of people were working and the structure was nowhere near finished. It seemed a few unlucky miners were under the spell and instead of mining for ore, they now had to mine for stone to build the structure around the stone.

GOL

Tarrion Shouted and the men and women stopped working and stared in a daze at the stone, waking up from a long nightmare. The structure broke into pieces and another monster appeared, just like the ones they had faced before. It was tall and covered in slimy scales. A long tentacle-like tongue and tentacles for arms… it howled at them in rage. It took little effort to take it down and after the miners were able to say anything rational they thanked the two and left for their camp… where they fell asleep and didn't wake til the next day.

Tarrion and Serana had quickly climbed the mountains and now stood at the edge of a massive glacier. The cold wind blew the snow against the mountains and everywhere they looked they saw only white. Tarrion could not see as far as Serana, but her vision was blocked by the sun, and so they both climbed further until they reached a large crevice in the ice.

After many hours of searching the seemingly endless icy landscape they tried to find shelter. As if it was built for this purpose, they found a small hut built near the mountainside and the walls held the wind back… be it only a little. Tarrion's face suffered from frostbite and his hair had turned white with snow. Serana was not bothered by the cold, but her hair too had turned white with snow.

"W-w-we should rest for a m-moment," Tarrion muttered and he rubbed his hands together, trying to warm them.

Serana looked at him and felt sorry for him. She rubbed the snow from her hair and sat next to him. "I'm sorry."

"Hmm?"

"I'm sorry I can't help you get warmer," she said and she stared at the snowy floor. "I'm a Vampire…. I cannot keep you warm with my body the way a human would. I…. I don't need your warmth to survive… but I cannot give you warmth either. I….. I'm sorry I can't."

He looked at her and saw a deep pain etched in her face, and he felt sorry. Sorry for how he had been acting for the entire day… for keeping things from her…. For not confiding in her. He removed his hood and gloves and wrapped his arm around her shoulder while pressing his head against hers.

"As am I."

She answered his advance and took his hand and he drew hope from this.

"I am sorry for what I said and did this morning," he continued. "I…. I'm sorry I'm not there for you as much as you for me. I'm sorry I can't get us away from this place… as much as I may want to."

He sighed deeply and a tear rolled from his eye. "I'm sorry I choose my own path over you."

She turned her head to him and pressed her forehead against his cheek. She could feel the warmth come from his face and it soothed her. The warmth from his breath touched her skin and she parted her lips slightly.

Outside the strength of the wind increased and old boards of the hut creaked as the snow outside piled up against it. Inside the shed Serana had hugged Tarrion and desperately clanged herself to him. A few tears welled up in her eyes as the emotions from the entire day overwhelmed her.

"I know that you want to leave this place…. And I know you want to do what is right and save these people. I know that you worry about the people and me… and I know that you prefer to toughen up rather than breaking down. But you promised me that you would be there for me. You promised not to shut me out…. Let me help, Tarrion. Allow me to help you."

He did not answer immediately, but instead he held her tighter to his chest. The hard armour pressed against her but his lips were pressed against her forehead.

"I…. I am afraid."

She could feel a shiver come from his body, and she held him tighter.

"I am afraid of Miraak. I am afraid of what will happen if I fail. You see him as just another enemy… an evil man that needs to be put down… but he is not."

"What do you mean?" she asked and she pulled away and looked him in his eyes. This time there was no strength in them… only fear and that alone scared her more than anything.

"I am Dragonborn… that you know," Tarrion started and she nodded. "I have the same powers as Dragons…. One of them is that I can absorb the knowledge and power of any Dragon I kill. But it goes much further than that. It isn't just the knowledge and power…. I absorb their very soul. Their knowledge, power, experience, wisdom… their very being, everything that makes them into who they are… it disappears and fuels and increases my power."

He sighed at thought and Serana saw that it was something he seemed ashamed of. To rip one's soul out and absorbing it… she shuddered at the thought.

"As Dragonborn… I too have the soul of a Dragon. Miraak is Dragonborn too, and he too can absorb the soul of a Dragon…. If I kill him, I will absorb his soul. But if I die by his hand..."

"He will absorb yours," she finished his sentence and he nodded. Her eyes went wide and she looked at his chest where she could hear his heart beat. It was almost as if that heart was his very being… everything that he was, all the knowledge and experience… all the pain and suffering he had been through…. All the love and affection he felt for her… beating faster, desperately fighting against the very idea of being unmade.

"If I die by his hand," Tarrion repeated. "I will cease to exist. There will be no Sovngarde for me. There will be no afterlife. All that I am will be destroyed and turned into Miraak's power."

If Serana had not been through all the adventures and hardship of her life… if she did not already know the powers of Dragons… she would have fainted on the spot after learning this. She knew that Tarrion, as Dragonborn, could indeed absorb the knowledge and experience of Dragons… maybe she even suspected it went further than that…. But she had never even considered what would happen to him. She saw that Tarrion's greatest strength, having the power of Dragons, was also a great weakness. She knew that her soul would continue to exist, even after death…. But if he died by the wrong man…

"Then we leave!" and she jumped up. "We leave right now! We're going back to Skyrim… this will not happen! You hear me!? Never!"

Her already pale face was now rife with fear and it had taken control of her completely. Outside the wind only hammered harder on the little shack but they were both deaf to it. Serana desperately tried to gather her thoughts but she felt herself shaking with fear and was unable to think.

"This is not worth it! You cannot do this! You cannot do this to me! Let Miraak take this island. Let him have it all! He will not have you! You hear me! NEVER!"

Tarrion saw she nearly went mad at the thought of losing him like this. She started to move around erratically and she pulled her hair.

"No! no, no, no! NO!"

He quickly grabbed her hands and placed them on his head, yet it calmed her only slightly.

"I know, Serana… I know," he said as calmly as he could. He too was afraid and almost every fibre in his being screamed at him to leave Solstheim immediately. "I don't want this, I really don't. But I have to."

"WHY?" she shouted at him and she held his head tighter. "Why do you have to do this?! You already have done more for them than they have done for themselves. You don't owe them anything. Why do you risk everything, even your soul, to save them? Why!?"

"Because it is right. I have a change to help them, and I should. I have the power to protect the innocent…. What kind of man would I be if I would leave them? But most of all, I want to protect you-.."

"I DON'T NEED YOUR DAMN PROTECTION, I NEED YOU!"

Her widened eyes looked at him in pure desperation. There was no anger to be seen… only fear and pain. Tears had welled up and crawled down her cheeks. Her heart was not beating, but she could feel it ache with pain and desperation. Her body shook as she gritted her teeth, and she fell to her knees.

He caught her just in time and kneeled next to her. He removed his gauntlets, ignoring the cold outside and gently held her, trying to make her feel his warmth. He softly rocked her back and forth while tears ran over his cheeks as well.

She opened her mouth, although it took her extreme effort to do so. "Don't do this Tarrion," and her voice was weak and drenched with grief. "Don't ask me to watch while you die… while your soul is taken from you. I… I can't…. watch that…. Don't ask me to, I beg you. Don't ask me to."

And Tarrion saw that he had no choice. He knew he could not ask her to stay, to watch while he risked everything, to stand by unable to help. He could not ask her to take the risk of losing him again. He had come back once, but this time, there would be no return… ever. There would be no reunion in Sovngarde, and he saw that she would sooner kill him herself, than risk that.

"Then I will not ask it," he finally answered. "I will not do this. We will kill the last Dragon Priest, tell the Skaal we can go no further… and leave Solstheim."

It pained him to give up on this, but he saw that his pain could never be compared to the pain that Serana now felt, and he surrendered to it. He held her tightly as he kissed her forehead, yet he did not feel any better.

After the wind had died down the two searched further for the last Dragon Priest and eventually they found signs of a ruin nearby. Large rocks lay scattered on the glacier, likely from towers that were either destroyed by time or conflict, and they finally found a large Barrow. As they entered it they noticed a few things. One of them was that is seemed not as old as the other tombs they had entered thus far. A wooden bench was placed near a wall, yet it did not look decayed or rotten. It looked like it was placed there not two years ago. Secondly, and more disturbingly, they saw webbing. Large webs had covered the walls and ceiling and nearby they saw a body that looked like it has been used by a great number of spiders to lay their eggs in. Large parts were torn open with webbing covering the face and mouth.

"What is going on with all these Priests?" Tarrion asked himself.

"No idea," Serana responded. She felt a bit better after she was able to pour her heart out to him, and with renewed strength she followed him further into the dungeon.

After several corridors, and spiders beyond count, they found themselves in a massive hall and here too the walls were covered with webbing and they saw strange spiders crawling over the walls, floors and ceiling.

Some of them were small and pristine white. They were still larger than normal spiders, yet not nearly as large as the Frostbite Spiders of Skyrim. Their eight legs tapped on the floors or climbed up the walls and it looked like they followed their larger brethren. These spiders looked either fiery red, or poisonous green. They were larger than their white brothers and a powerful heat emanated from the red ones, while a green poison dripped from the green ones. As soon as Tarrion and Serana entered the hall all spiders were alerted by their presence and with heavy clicking they rallied each other. Crawling down from the ceiling or jumping from the walls.

Both fighters immediately cloaked themselves in fire and ice and hurled their spells at the onrushing enemies. Tarrion sprayed fire around them, but saw that the large, red spiders walked right through it. They were finished off by Serana firing her ice spells and before long the ground was littered with the corpses and ashes of countless spiders.

Thinking the danger has passed, Tarrion ended his cloak-spell, but Serana was not so sure. She could sense other enemies nearby… underneath the webbing. She could feel an unsettling pulsing going on underneath the white silk of the spiders and she was repulsed by it. Urging Tarrion to move on, the two continued… leaving the pulsing behind.

As they continued the webbing became less frequent, until it stopped completely. It seemed the spiders would not go near the heart of the tomb and were only used as an outer defence. Yet the two intruders did not take this as a good sign, and both readied their weapons.

After another corridor they found another large hall and they saw a large number of people wandering about or standing still like statues. A few of them looked like they were normal men and women, yet the majority of them looked unsettling.

They were covered in what looked like green webbing. It covered their arms, legs and even their faces. They moved slowly, like they were in a trance, or stood so still it seemed unnatural. From where they stood Serana could see something on their backs and after looking again she saw what it was, and an unsettling chill went down her spine.

A spider, large and grotesque had latched itself to each of their necks. Their mandibles bit deep into their neck and spine, while their stinger pierced their lower back. Their eight legs were wrapped around the torso of the man or woman, and Serana could see a slight pulsing coming from their bodies. There was no doubt that these spiders controlled them and turned them into slaves, while the handful that were not enslaved were their masters.

"By the blood," Serana whispered as she saw how the people down there were mind-controlled into doing another's bidding. "They're enslaved… by these spiders? Disgusting."

"Agreed," Tarrion whispered back. "Mind-controlled thralls… not unlike what Miraak did through the Stones. An effective, but cruel tactic."

At the far end of the hall they saw a massive stone door and both knew it would lead to the final Dragon Priest… but between them and that door was a horde of spider-controlled thralls that would no doubt attack if they would make their presence known.

This proved true when they entered the hall and even though they tried to be as silent as possible, they were caught. Immediately all in the hall attacked. The ones that were not controlled shouted and screamed.

"Kill them! Kill them for the Master. He commands you!"

The thralls answered with disgusting voices… each completing the other's thoughts.

"Kill them…"

".. the master commands it."

"He will reward us…"

"… with more prey to feed on."

"Yes, stick them…"

"… stick them again."

Tarrion and Serana were quickly made aware of the cruelty of the spiders. Serana had tried to avoid harming the man that attacked her and instead sliced the spider on his back in two. Immediately the eight legs contracted and crushed the man's torso. Tarrion tried to cut the legs off, but as soon as the spider was harmed, the legs would either crush or pierce their victim's body… killing them instantly.

Suddenly three more acolytes appeared from one of the other corridors, each carrying spiders in their hands. Without hesitation, they threw the spiders at the two intruders, missing Serana only by a hair.

TIID

Time slowed as Tarrion Shouted and he fired a massive fireball at the three acolytes while cutting down two near him. He fired an Ice Spike at a spider that flew at Serana and decapitated the last acolyte near him. As the Shout wore off the Ice Spike killed the spider, while the fireball hit the central acolyte and exploded with such force that the other two were killed as well.

With the ground littered with spider corpses the two continued toward the large door at the end. It was one of those doors where everyone know that something lay behind it, and Tarrion and Serana had passed more of these doors than they could count. They knew that the last Dragon Priest was waiting behind it. Dukaan. Dishonoured

They entered another large hall, and they felt the dark influence of the island almost tangible in this room. The walls were covered with sarcophagi and a large, gilded coffin was placed at the far end. But all this they had seen before and it was not that which worried them.

Across the walls they saw runes. Not engraved in the stone, but ever shifting and moving. Like lights they moved over the stone walls, ceiling and floors, all seemed to originate from the gilded coffin at the far end.

"What on earth is this?" Serana whispered, both in fear and in awe. The markings terrified her, and she felt strange as she walked there. Weakened somehow.

"I feel… weaker, somehow," Tarrion answered and she understood what he meant.

"So….. you made it here at last."

Both of them felt a chill running down their spines as the voice echoed through the hall.

The large stone slab that covered the gilded coffin slowly hovered away, and this was strange to Tarrion. He had faced Dragon Priests before and each of them had burst from their tombs, yet Dukaan now rose calmly from his slumber.

"It seems my acolytes have failed… no matter, I trust you punished them accordingly."

"Speak plainly, if you can!" Serana shouted at the priest, as she could not understand the Dragon Language as well as Tarrion.

"Tell your whore to stay silent, False One," Dukaan answered. "My message is for you only."

FUS RO DAH

Dukaan slammed into the walls behind him as Tarrion Shouted.

"I've had enough of you Priests!" he shouted at Dukaan. "Give Ahzidal and Zahkriisos our regards."

Both charged at Dukaan with relentless fury, but when Serana tried to impale him with Ice Spears, she saw that her magic did not work, and Tarrion was unable to Incinerate him.

"Fools…. This place is no longer part of this world only!" Dukaan yelled in fury. "I have brought Oblivion itself here… and it is beyond you!"

But as confident as he was, he quickly became more desperate. Neither of his foes were able to use magic, yet Serana's vampiric reflexes and speed were not lessened, and Tarrion's Shouts had lost none of their potency and Dukaan was forced on the defence.

Before long Dukaan realized he could not win it, and he shouted in anger. With a massive blast he froze the entire room and teleported to a small alcove near the far end.

It was only then that Tarrion and Serana saw what was placed on a small pedestal in the alcove. Dark, oozing the same green smoke and almost sounding like the bellowing of a massive creature, a Black Book lay there. Dukaan shouted again and laughed and he fired a small, golden orb at the book. Immediately a massive wind went through the hall, all being pulled by the book. It was as if it tried to suck everything in it. Serana and Tarrion felt how they were pulled toward it and Dukaan laughed again.

But it ceased quickly as something went wrong. He too felt the power of the wind, and he tried his best to stay away from the Book, yet had trouble doing so.

"No, No! Not me… them, only them! Leave me!"

But there was no answer, and the wind only pulled harder. Serana barely managed to grab the large, gilded coffin, but Tarrion was less fortunate.

"Take my hand!" she shouted, but it was too late. He lost his balance and was pulled away by the book. Dukaan laughed as he saw Tarrion tumble, but through luck, or something else, Tarrion managed to grab Dukaan by his bony arm and he too lost his balance. Pulled by the sheer force of the wind the Black Book sucked them in and closed.

"TARRION!"

The wind stopped and Serana fell to the ground only to run to the Book, but no matter how hard she tried, it would not open.

"Tarrion!" she shouted again… hoping for an answer, but even if he could hear her… he could not answer.

-Apocrypha-

Both enemies fell on a hard surface and Tarrion let go of Dukaan's arm. He was dazed by the fall, but Dukaan stood up and looked around.

"No! No no, no! Not here… not this place, anywhere but this place," and a voice seemed to come from the ground itself to answer him. Harsh, dark and terrible it echoed across the realm of Apocrypha.

"Dukaan! You will not escape me any longer….. I will collect my due."

Dukaan was petrified for a moment, but then he turned to Tarrion. "You! You brought me here!" and he raised his staff.

FEIM

The staff came down and went right through Tarrion. With a massive burst of ice and flames it cracked and broke on the hard stone and Dukaan was thrown backwards. As Tarrion managed to get to his feet he saw the fear through Dukaan's mask.

Everything Tarrion had learned about Dragon Priests was thrown overboard as Dukaan fled before Tarrion. He chased the old Priest over bridges of stone, and past oceans of writhing tentacles, but as soon as Dukaan saw the murky waters he turned around and ran the other way.

"Where is it? Where?! It is the only way! Where is it?!"

Tarrion did not know what Dukaan was looking for, but he knew he had to get to it first and before long, they both found it.

On a small island, on the far end of a small bridge they saw a large pedestal with a Black Book. Dukaan rushed to it, with Tarrion right behind him, and both knew it was the way out. Tarrion was fast, but Dukaan was faster and reached the book first.

FUS

Dukaan lost his balance by the shout and Tarrion caught up with him

"NO! You will not have me!"

Dukaan now shouted at something Tarrion did not see, but he did not care. He ducked under a deadly strike from the Priest and pushed him away. Again Dukaan stumbled, but this time he made a misstep and fell into the waters of Apocrypha. Immediately tentacles grabbed his arms and torso.

"Noooo!"

He desperately tried to break free, but more tentacles wrapped themselves around him and dragged him down until only his head was still visible.

"Dukaan…" that dark voice echoed again. "Your debt is paid."

And with a last muffled cry the old Priest was swallowed by the murky waters and disappeared.

Tarrion stared for a few moments at the place where Dukaan went under. His mind went rapidly, trying to understand what just happened. After a few moments he turned around and walked to the large Black Book, knowing it would lead him back. He opened it and felt a powerful surge come over him and the world around him faded.

-Solstheim-

Serana still desperately tried to open the book, but no matter what she did, it would not budge. She wanted to force the book open, to tear it apart… but she dared not to, afraid it would destroy Tarrion's way back. She knew this time was different. Tarrion went inside the Book. Last time his body remained here… transparent, but here. But now she had no idea what would happen. What if this was a trick from Hermaeus Mora to claim Tarrion after all? She paced around the hall… staying close to the Book, hoping to hear something that would indicate Tarrion was alive.

An echo came from the Book, a sound like the bellowing of a giant beast, and a singular pulse came from it. Suddenly it slammed open and pages flew aside until, with a shout, Tarrion was ejected from the pages. As he landed on the ground the Book slammed shut, and Serana jumped on top of her man.

"I'm alright… I'm alright," he calmed her as her arms were wrapped around him.

"I… I feared I lost you," she softly sobbed, and he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.

"You won't," he panted. "You won't."

-Skaal Village-

After a long and cold journey they finally returned to Skaal Village. The sun had just gone under and the stars had become visible. Throughout their travels through Solstheim, both Serana and Tarrion had noticed how the land had changed.

On their first day the sky felt far away and distant. The land felt wrong and it seemed as if something or someone was constantly watching. A feeling of dread was over the land, and they understood what the Skaal meant when they would say that 'the Oneness of the Land was corrupted'.

But now they felt better. The stars were clearly visible, as if there was no longer a veil over them. The land felt renewed and young again, and the journey was not tiring. The Dark influence over the land had lessened, and Serana hoped it would be enough. Enough for them to leave this island and return home.

In the village Storn was waiting for them. He kneeled in front of the Great Hall, with the Black Book lying on the ground in front of him. It was wrapped in cloth, but the green smoke was oozing out from between the folds. Frea leaned against the Great Hall, trying to calm herself, but it did not seem to work. Her eyes flared as she stared at the Book and when Serana and Tarrion returned she did not look happy. Storn opened his eyes as they approached.

"Ah," he sighed. "The land is free again from the Dark Influence… I can feel it. You have freed the All Maker Stones from Herma Mora, and restored the land. I thank you."

"Yes," Tarrion answered. "But we-…"

"Father," Frea interrupted him and she came standing next to Storn. "Are you sure? This Book is wrong and evil… against everything you have taught me my whole life."

"I know this, Frea," Storn answered and he looked at his daughter. "But there comes a time when everything must change. Nothing that lives remains the same forever."

He took her hand and kissed it, and he smiled at her. "Do not fear for me, my daughter. This is the destiny the All Maker has in store for me."

He turned to the Book and before Tarrion could stop him, he opened it with the words: "I am ready for you."

Immediately green tentacles came from the pages and wrapped themselves around Storn's arms, legs, chest and neck. A last tentacle slowly rose from the Book and hovered in front of the old man's face. Frea grabbed her axe and swung it at the tentacles, but she was thrown aside.

"At last."

A dark and terrible voice echoed over the village and people came running from their houses and fell to their knees at what they saw.

The Black Book now hovered above the ground and the tentacles held Storn tightly, Frea was still forced on the ground by an unseen force and all around them countless writhing tentacles and eyes appeared. Hermaeus Mora himself had come to Solstheim to witness the end of his waiting. The skies darkened at the presence of one of the Daedric Princes and a feeling of despair came over all.

"The Skaal yield up their secrets to me!"

Serana wanted to rush to Storn's aid, but Tarrion grabbed her shoulder and stopped her. She looked at him, wanting to ask him why he stopped her, but his head was bowed in defeat as the final tentacle jammed itself into Storn's forehead.

The old man shouted in pain and his eyes rolled back.

"Finally," Hermaeus' voice echoed. "My waiting is over," and he turned to Tarrion. "Dragonborn… you have given me the Gift I requested. You have served me well once more, and I will give you what you want."

"Do something!" Frea shouted, but Serana saw tears running over Tarrion's face and his mouth moved silently, but she thought she knew what he said.

Forgive me.

"Here then is the final Word of Power that you need to challenge Miraak."

Hermaeus Mora's voice sounded happy, like he had won a long lasting battle…. A deal fulfilled…. A life destroyed.

"You will either be a worthy opponent…. Or his successor, as the tides of Fate decree."

The Black Book glowed brightly and Storn screamed in pain again until his body fell limp. The tentacles let him go and as his body dropped to the ground Frea felt the invisible force disappearing. The eyes and tentacles of Hermaeus Mora disappeared and the skies became clear again.

Frea crawled to her father and lifted his head from the snow.
"Father! No!... What have you done?"

The villagers gathered around Frea and Fenari closed Storn's voice.

"Be a peace, old friend," she whispered. "Be with the All Maker."

Each of the villagers said something. Remembering the man who had guided them, protected them and was tasked with guarding their secrets. The man who just gave his life to help an outsider. Tarrion knew that back in Skyrim they would erect a statue in honour of such bravery… yet he thought it would not be the way of the Skaal.

Frea let go of her father's body. She took one look at the Black Book and she kicked it to Tarrion. Both Serana and Tarrion had not moved as the villagers gathered around their fallen shaman and Frea had to force herself to remain calm as tears rolled from her eyes.

"Go! My father sacrificed himself so you can destroy Miraak. Do not let his sacrifice be for nothing. Go! Kill Miraak. Do not fail."

And instinctively Tarrion nodded. "We will leave at first light tomorrow."

Frea gave them one last look before turning around and falling to her knees at her father's body, in pain and mourning.

"I agree," Serana said as soon as they had closed the door of their house behind them. "We leave and do not come back."

She fell on the bed and covered her face with her hands. The appearance of the Daedric Prince had affected her, and Tarrion realized it with a shock. Last time this happened to Serana she was brutally raped and turned, and the terrible echo of that memory was now etched in her face.

She sat on the edge of the bed. As she moved her hands away she saw that they were shaking. She saw them bleeding and black blood leaked from under her fingernails and she wanted to scream. But then two other hands took hers. Two thumbs softly stroked her fingers and she saw that her hands were pale as always. The hallucination had lasted only for a second, yet she felt her entire body raging with fear and pain.

Tarrion held her hands softly in his and kissed them. His warm touch and breath calmed her, and she looked at him and saw how the pain was also etched in his face. Like a scar it marked him and tears welled up in his eyes.

"I am sorry," she heard him say, but she did not want to hear it. This was not his fault, he knew that. "I should have known what that would have done to you. A Daedric Prince so close-…"

"No…. please," she stopped him and she gritted her teeth. "We leave in the morning," and he nodded.

In silence he moved out of the bed. Utilizing every skill he had ever been taught to stay as quiet as possible. As fast as he dared without making noise he opened the chest at the far end of the room and pulled out his armour. Carefully he carried them to the next room and put them on. First his trousers, then his boots. His armour was difficult to put on without help, yet he managed. But when he grabbed his gauntlets he stopped. He looked at the door that lead to the bedroom and bowed his head. He silently cast a spell to muffle his movements and headed back in.

She lay there peacefully. Her black hair had fallen over her pale face. A single ray of moonlight fell on her body and hit made her skin almost shine. He kneeled next to her, no longer holding back the tears. He stared at her for what seemed like years, desperately wanting to remember her like this. Peaceful and beautiful. Carefully he stroked her hair behind her ear and as soft as he could he planted a slight kiss on her lips.

He would remember them as they are. Soft and rosy. He would remember her eyes as they are. Lively, with a soft, red glow. He would remember her as she is. Loving, caring… and he would face both Oblivion and Aetherius to be with her.

He opened his mouth. The pain in his jaws was agonizing, and with more effort than ever he forced words from his mouth. "I am sorry…. I am so, so sorry."

He clenched his teeth not to shout in pain and his tears blocked his vision. "I love you, Serana…. I will always love you…. No-…. No matter what happens…. I love you."

Silently he moved back to the other room and put on his gauntlets. He placed his sword on his back and grabbed his shield.

It was dark in the room as he neared the door that would lead outside. Shadows covered almost every corner, and only a few moon rays peaked through the windows. He took one last look at the door to the bedroom and cursed it all. All he had seen and heard in the last few weeks. He cursed the day he heard about Miraak. All of Solstheim could be damned to Oblivion… He wished he never heard of this accursed place. He sighed and turned his head to the outside door.

Nothing has ever scared him more, and nothing ever will scare him more, than what he saw then. Not even the return of Alduin himself could frighten him as much as this.

Two glowing eyes had appeared in the shadow in front of him and stared at him in fury. They glowed brightly in the dark and as he stumbled backwards, an icy voice asked him one question.

"Where do you think you're going?"

=End of Chapter=

=Author's Notes=

I have started to hate writing this Arc more and more. Not because it is a shitty arc and has a stupid story, but because of the plans I had made for this story beforehand, and the ones I got during the writing. I always prefer to write happy stories, but this one doesn't looke like it will have a happy ending. There is but one final chapter left for this arc to be over, and I'll say it honestly; 'I am so looking foreward to ending this arc. There is too much pain here.'

Dragon Language used:

TIID: Time (from the Slow Time Shout)

FUS RO DAH: Force Balance Push (full Unrelenting Force Shout)

FEIM: Fade (from the Become Ethereal Shout)

GOL: Earth (from the Bend Will Shout)

The fight with Dukaan (Dukaan: Devour-Kyne (or Dishonour)) was one I thought should be a bit different. For backstory (sine there is none about him) I decided that he made a Deal with Mora to increase his power, in exchance for his soul. Dishonourable as he is, he refused to hold up his end of the bargain...

As for the part where Tarrion explains that he will not go to Sovngarde if he is killed by a Dragonborn…. I am not sure what the Lore says about it. I tried to look it up, but there are only fan-theories to be found. I decided to raise the stakes (and increase the pain for Serana) by saying that his Sould becomes absorbed and will not go to Sovngarde. He will cease to exist.

Let me know what you think of this idea and of the chapter. :)