Lands Unknown part 12
When Tarrion woke up he saw it was nearly dawning. Despite that he fell asleep late last night he felt refreshed when he looked through the room and out the balcony. Their room faced west and they could never see a sunrise from their quarters, yet the sunsets were beautiful enough for them.
He felt a slight move and saw a familiar sight of Serana lying on top of him. He noticed how her hair had fallen over her face. He softly stroked her hair behind her ear and she smirked as she dreamed. Immediately lying as still as he could he watched her face, since he had not seen her dream peacefully in a while and he had never heard her talking in her sleep since they met, and he silently hoped she would do so now. After a few moments his wish was granted.
As he moved her hand she let out a soft mumble.
"Hmm.. no," she giggled in her sleep. "not there."
He let go of her hand and she moved again as she mumbled with the most girlish voice he had ever heard from her. "Tarrioooon… you know I'm ticklish."
Tarrion had a hard time containing his amusement as she continued mumbling… sometimes clearly.. and sometimes almost unintelligible.
"Hmm.. yes, very bad… oh, I would never…. Hmm no, that doesn't fit…"
Under his breath he accidentally snickered and she moved again before opening her eyes for half a second..
"Hmmm…. What time is it?"
Still clearly not fully awake she moved again trying to find a more comfortable place for her head on his chest.
"Nearly dawn," he answered with a whisper.
"Uuggghh, then I can stay for a few more minutes… or hours… until the sun goes down."
"You want to sleep for the entire day?" he asked amused.
"Vampires are nocturnal," she mumbled and she pulled the covers over her head. "You should know that."
"I thought you didn't mind it since I gave you that ring."
She pulled the covers away and finally started to wake up.
"Hmm? What? What time is it?"
"Almost dawn," he answered again and smiled at her. "You were far gone, weren't you."
She looked at him and blinked a few times.
"Was I talking in my sleep?"
He slowly nodded. "Mhm… and it was adorable."
"Did I… say… anything embarrassing?" she asked yet she thought she knew the answer already.
"Only that you are ticklish," he smirked. "And that you have been 'very bad'."
Serana moaned and buried her face in his chest. "I'm not going to hear the end of that, am I?"
"I won't tell a soul," he chuckled and he kissed her hair. "I promise."
Another 'ugh' came from her and she pulled the covers over her face again, yet he softly ran his hands past her sides and she started to move.
"Alright… alright," and a smile appeared on her face as well. "I guess I am a bit ticklish. Stop that."
She raised herself above him. The covers fell past her naked body and she stretched herself to wake up further. He was still pinned under her and looked at how the room slowly started to light up from the rising sun. After taking a deep breath she smiled. "This is the second time you fell asleep as soon as I start to talk about the wedding. Am I boring you?"
"I… feel at peace when you talk about that," he said hesitantly.
"Said very convincingly," she smirked.
Tarrion stopped himself from protesting when she left to the bedroom to wash herself and get dressed. Tarrion stretched himself to wake up and rubbed his eyes. He remembered last night and although he no longer felt the same as then, his problem wasn't solved. He knew this was not something they could ignore for a while so it would go away. He knew he would face this problem again, yet for now he had found some reassurance that as long as he tried to be with Serana, she would not leave him and this gave him more comfort than he could say.
That morning they had another audience with Tosh Raka, something Tarrion was looking to since he wanted to know what the Emperor of Ka Po Tun had in mind for them. Yesterday he had said that the Tsaesci had weather-changing magic to sink any ship that would try to leave Akavir. And even without it, their ships were apparently stronger than anything the Ka Po Tun or the Tang Mo could build for the seas. Tarrion knew that Tosh Raka had a plan for the two of them and he thought it was high time they heard it. Both were eager to return to Tamriel, yet both knew they still had a long way to go before that would happen.
In the throne room they found Tosh Raka, along with a number of seemingly high-ranking Ka Po Tun, waiting for them in front of a large and incredibly detailed map of Akavir, and Tarrion immediately saw a number of locations that represented cities. A large figurine in the shape of a tiger-head was placed on their current location, Rakash Tol, likely indicating a large force or army. Several other figures were spread out over areas that Tarrion assumed were the lands that belonged to the Ka Po Tun. Kamal had no small statues at all, and neither did Tang Mo, yet the lands of the Tsaesci had a few and those were shaped to represent a snake's head. The largest of them was placed near the sea in the west and Tarrion assumed that to be the location of their capital.
"Ah," Tosh Raka exclaimed and he raised his hands. "Our humans have arrived. Good. Right in time to hear our plan of attack."
"Plan of attack?" Serana asked surprised and she looked at the map and all the other Ka Po Tun that sat around it.
"Yes…" Tosh Raka explained. "it is actually a good thing that I have returned. In my absence it seemed the Tsaesci have grown bold and they need to be reminded of our strength. We will wage war on them as we did when I was still young. Yet this time we will crush them."
'He's not back for a month and he already goes to war,' both Serana and Tarrion thought to themselves when they heard him speak.
"My generals and I have devised a plan to cripple the Snakes for a time," Tosh Raka continued. "They will be open to more attacks to eventually wipe them out. But it requires a great deal of subterfuge and stealth from you two."
Serana looked at Tarrion who seemed just as surprised. "Why?"
Tosh Raka nodded to one of the generals present and he stood up. He seemed fluent in the Tamriellic language and he explained. "Their main force is here," and he pointed at the large figurine of a snake's head on the map. "in their capital of Shae'Sal… it means Serpent's Home in your tongue. But it is not our true intended target. We will direct our forces to meet with theirs, while a smaller group of fighters infiltrates this city, Shae'Shem."
The general pointed at a smaller object on the map and Tarrion saw that it was, just like the capital, positioned directly against the western ocean. It was smaller in size than the capital, yet it still seemed to be a large city.
"This is their main port. They built all of their warships here. Smaller ships are built elsewhere, but this port is important to them. But if we attack it directly, their main force will hit us from behind. Thus we attack their capital while we sabotage their shipyard. That is where you will help us."
"How?" Serana asked. "That is a city filled with Tsaesci… how are we supposed to infiltrate that?"
Tosh Raka nodded. "We know this… yet we have learned you have powers unlike anything we have seen before, Serana of Tamriel."
All now looked at Serana and she wasn't sure if she should be flattered of afraid.
"I have learned from the queen of Telom, Shazra who you captured and forced to help you in Telom, that you can step into the shadows and disappear without a trace. She couldn't even smell you when you disappeared and you can do this at will. If you are under the cover of night, you can cross the entire city without the Snakes sensing you."
"It might even be possible that we can learn this power as well," the general said. "It would be extremely useful. Can it be taught?"
"No," was her stern answer. "It can't, and even if it could… I would not teach it."
"Maybe you will reconsider in time," the general said with a slight bow.
'Doubtfully,' she thought to herself. She knew that it could be taught, yet it would ask a heavy price and force her to do something she does not want to do… not to them.
"As for you, Tarrion of Tamriel," Tosh Raka continued. "You seem to possess a vast amount of power. The strongest warrior of Telom surrendered to you in single combat. You crossed the glaciers of Kamal and defended your companions from a horde of the Demons themselves. You seem to be both powerful and resourceful. I have no doubt you will be able to infiltrate the city and disable the shipyards."
"Before we were brought to Telom," Tarrion said as he thought about the plan. "we were told by one of the Tang Mo that going to any of the Tsaesci cities is a death wish. Why would that have changed?"
Tosh Raka nodded. "Under normal circumstances that would be the case… yet when we distract their forces, from both cities, you can infiltrate them and meet far less resistance. This is not a suicide mission… we need you to succeed. Those shipyards must be destroyed, or at least disabled."
Both Serana and Tarrion had their doubts about this plan, but it was already agreed upon and they were not asked for advice. On top of that both of them knew that they had to agree with the plan if they ever wanted to return to Tamriel. Tosh Raka showed them that the plans for their ship was being made, yet it would still take a long time for it to be finished. He also assured them that if they failed to agree with their plan, the ship would no longer be built and the plans would be destroyed.
Left with no other choice Serana and Tarrion agreed with the plan and were told to set out for the city of Telom, where they would receive further instructions. The assault would begin in three months, for it would still take a while for the forces of the Ka Po Tun to gather.
A few weeks later, after an easy but uneventful journey, they arrived back in Telom, where Shazra was now queen. Having renamed herself to Akashael, which means 'Dragonblessed', she had wasted no time in making sure the females of Telom were treated with as much reverence as the males. She had no intention of going down the same path as her predecessor and exacted no revenge on the males, but instead seemed determined to teach mutual respect to and for both sides.
When Serana and Tarrion arrived she was quick to give them the same house that the previous king had given them, yet they had little time to enjoy the respite after their journey as they had to find a way to infiltrate a Tsaesci city. The day after they arrived in Telom they were needed at a war-council and were given new information on the Tsaesci, something, they realized after only a few seconds, they desperately needed.
"Their most obvious features are not their danger," they were explained. "Their weapons and muscular tail are the least of your worries. If they can get themselves wrapped around you, you are unlikely to escape and they can crush your body with little effort."
This was something that Tarrion knew since he was nearly crushed by a Tsaesci not long after the two of them arrived on Akavir.
"Their weapons are not stronger than ours, so that is not something to worry about, but here are a few things you might not know about them. Their teeth are venomous. If they bite you, a powerful poison will ravish your body and you will die in seconds. Many of them also have powerful magic and can conjure illusions… some of them so real, they seem to shapeshift before your eyes. If they combine their powers, they can change the weather, as you well know. But what makes them the most dangerous, and nearly impossible to ambush, is their ability to sense us. They see us differently than we see them."
"What do you mean?" Tarrion asked.
"Their vision is not like ours," he was explained. "They do not see you as you are… but they can see your heat. If something has a heat of its own, they can see it. We know this from Tsaesci we captured and questioned. Their vision is based on heat. And even if they cannot see you… even when they close their eyes, they know where you are. We know not how, either by scent or some other sense."
Serana did not move yet she understood what they meant. She had the same abilities. Although she could not see heat, she could sense the living all around her, No matter where they were, as long as they were near her she would sense them, a presence that was tangible. A feeling she had gotten used to after centuries and she had honed her skills and harnessed her powers in that time. Yet she knew not how the Tsaesci were able to have the same abilities. She remembered when they ambushed her and Tarrion. She could sense them in the trees above her and she knew they were living… yet at the same time they were not. She remembered that they were rumoured to be Vampiric… yet she did not know if that meant that they had the same abilities. Now it seemed they possessed at least a few.
"We do not know if there is a way around this… to dull their senses or make us invisible to them… but we will have to manage."
"How?" Serana asked and she looked at all who were present. "If they can sense you, even without seeing you, how do you plan to infiltrate their city and disable their shipyard? They will alert the entire city to you within minutes and your plan will fail before you have scaled the wall."
"It is difficult, we know this, bu-…" one of the captains tried, yet Serana interrupted him.
"No, not difficult.. impossible. You admitted you do not know how they do this. You cannot find a way to shield yourselves from it. You have no idea how to infiltrate their city while they have this ability. You cannot ambush them and only seem to be stronger than them in brute force… yet infiltration is suicide for you."
"We were told that you ca-…"
"Yes," she exclaimed. "'I can'… I can indeed infiltrate their city… but there is no-one else that can. Not even Tarrion would be able to do that unless I… teach him. Your plan is suicide, and I will not walk into a certain death. You will have to come up with a better plan than this if you want our help."
And with that she left the room.
Tarrion joined her a few moments later and he seemed to be both proud and amused. The leaders in the city of Telom were clearly not as confident as Tosh Raka, or as proud as him, and were left silent after Serana's lecture. He stood next to her but remained silent for a time.
After a while he spoke. "I agree… their plan is stupid."
"I know… that is why I said it was," she answered. "They have to be able to see that as well, right?"
"I think they have been at war with the Tsaesci for too long… and with Tosh Raka returned they are willing to do anything if it means defeating their oldest enemy. They are desperate."
"So am I," was her answer and her voice became softer. "But, I do not rush into a suicide mission. You are desperate… you don't have a death wish."
Tarrion looked at her as she said that and he waited for her to continue. He saw her face change a few times with her thoughts until she sighed deeply and pressed her head against his shoulder. "I am desperate too. I want to go home. I want to leave this place as soon as possible, and I am willing to do quite a bit for it. But I will not rush into certain death. If we are to return home, we will do so with both of us still alive."
She sighed again and looked at him. "As we are now… we cannot do this. I can infiltrate their cities, and be relatively sure they cannot sense me… but you can't. And even if we can infiltrate their city, as soon as we sabotage their shipyard, the entire city will know where we are, and we have no means of escape. Or…. I have," she admitted. "You don't. I don't suppose you have a shout that makes you invisible to all senses."
He shook his head. "No."
"Then you cannot survive it," she concluded. "The only way I know of is if you-…"
She averted her eyes as he looked at her, not understanding what she meant.
"If I… what?"
She opened her mouth and closed it, but after forcing herself to face him she answered. "If you become like me."
His expression changed as he started to understand what she meant. "A… Vampire?"
She still did not look at him but that gave him the answer he needed. "You want me to become a Vampire?"
"NO!" she blurted out and she looked at him with her eyes widened, hoping he would understand. "That is-…"
She took a deep breath to recollect herself. "No.. that is not what I want. I would never ask it of you. If I ever do ask, it will be out of curiosity only. I love you, Tarrion, for who you are. If you become a Vampire, it will not be because I ask."
She sighed again. "But this is not about that. This is about what we are trying to do. We both want to return to Tamriel. To go home to our friends… to get married with our friends there. The only way to do that is by getting a ship that will lead us past the Tsaesci. The ship we have… not yet… but soon. But the Tsaesci can still block us, and we both know they are not exactly friendly. Based on what we have learned here and on what we already knew, it is unlikely we will leave Akavir if they are not dealt with. That means we have to infiltrate their city and disable their port… to buy us time to leave Akavir without being chased. But.. right now… we both know infiltrating their city will be impossible. Not for me… but that is because I am a Vampire. My powers allow me to be imperceptible to them. You are not. You cannot infiltrate their city… unless you obtain my powers. And the only way to do that…."
"… is by becoming a Vampire," he concluded and although she hesitated, she nodded.
After that night in Rakash Tol, where Tarrion felt torn between two sides of him… the Dragon and the Man… they now waged their war in him again. But this time it became even more clouded than ever. He knew that Serana meant it when she said she would never ask him to become a Vampire like her. He also knew she was right when she explained that it would be impossible to leave Akavir while the Tsaesci were not delayed. And the only way to do that is by disrupting their largest port… which could only be done by infiltrating it without them noticing. As a human he knew he had no powers to do that… but to become a Vampire was something he never even considered.
Back in their home Tarrion considered all that he had learned. They had called for a recess of the war-council and now he tried his best to gather his thoughts. This was easier said than done, and he weighed and measured all of his options… calculated his moves… thought about the consequences and tried his best to hide his headache from Serana. This failed quickly as Serana sensed how he felt, and that made him even more worried about what he had to do. About what he might have to become.
"You are hesitant," she remarked and he found himself being pulled form his thoughts. Serana sat in front of him and looked him in his eyes. The soft glow was barely visible, but Tarrion had seen that glow so many times under so many different circumstances, it was unmistakable for him. He had seen them flare with anger, twinkle with joy and burn with passion. He remembered, as he looked in them now, that they had often stared at each other in the early hours of the morning. She would look into those deep, strong eyes that always gave her strength and would always put her at ease… knowing that all would be well. And he would be enamoured, still after several years, by that soft, loving glow that she had and just find himself lost in them.
"Very," he said. "And I hope you know that it is not because of you."
"I certainly hope not," she chuckled slightly. "I make being a Vampire almost look appealing, and that is not just because of my looks."
He found himself chuckling as well and he nodded. She answered his smile. "Yet… I understand why you are hesitant.. or feel absolutely nothing for it."
"That is closer to the truth," he nodded. "I don't want to become a Vampire."
"I know," she nodded. "and I agree. I also do not want you to be one, mostly because I would never ask anyone to become something they're not. I would never ask it of you…. But…."
"… but circumstances might ask it of my anyway," he finished her sentence and she nodded. "I know, and I know you would never put me in an uncomfortable situation, Serana."
He knew this about her with everything that he was. He had spent too much time with her to believe otherwise. He knew she was kind and caring to her friends, dangerous and deadly to her enemies… and she was loving and passionate and stern and fierce to him and for him. He loved her more than he could express and he trusted her with his life.
That made what was about to come not easier. He knew he was in good hands, and he knew she would never hurt him. That did make the decision heavier. Yet in all of it, although he knew he would be facing the unknown… he would not be facing it alone.
The longing that they both felt to return home… to their friends and loved ones was something that had become stronger with every passing day. To no longer be strangers in a distant land, but to be among those that you have travelled with and fought with and feasted with. To return to a comfortable home where you knew you were welcome. This was something they both craved and they agreed that they had stayed away for too long. They realized that it had been almost eighteen months since they had left Skyrim, far longer than they originally intended and promised. They wondered now how their friends would fare… if they would be worried.
Tarrion wondered what the College would do if he would take too long to return. He had little doubt that Faralda would take the reins and replace him as Arcmage. He knew the college would be in good hands if she would lead them. She was knowledgeable, headstrong and able to stay calm under pressure. She had lead them well when he was off adventuring, and he knew she would continue to do so.
He wondered how the Companions would react when they saw that the Harbinger was gone. He had no doubt Aela would be able to keep them in line. She was still solitary like she had always been, yet less so now that she found a confidant in Ria. Ria was able to keep Aela calmer than before and in turn Aela was able to push Ria to test her own limits. The balance between them would serve the Companions well, this Tarrion knew… and the twins would assist them whenever needed.
But Tarrion was not sure what the Jarls would do. Would they wait? Would they replace him? And if they would replace him, what would his housecarls do? What would happen to Iona, Argis, Calder and Jordis? What would Lydia do, or Rayya? What would happen to all of them?
The recess lasted for hours and eventually Tarrion asked if they could continue the next day. This did not sit well with queen Shazra, but she allowed it. That night Tarrion again could not sleep and he thought long and hard about what had to be done. Again he weighed the for and the against… measured the possible outcome... and put his own feelings against what he knew had to be done. And it all lead him to a single conclusion.
The next day, when the council came together again, Tarrion agreed on the plan. He had discussed it with Serana in the early hours of the morning and she had an understanding expression on her face when he told her. Now, again she showed little emotion as they agreed on the plan when Tarrion gave in.
"I will do it," he said. "I will learn the abilities necessary to infiltrate the Tsaesci city from Serana."
The captains and Shazra were delighted to hear that they could continue, but Serana interrupted their feelings of joy.
"Know this," and her voice was stern and sounded almost ominous. "You ask something of us that you do not understand. There is a heavy price to this, and it will ask something of you as well. I will ask it in due time and I expect you to help us. You have asked this of us, and I expect you to understand that you are in our debt."
"As I understand it," one of those present said. "that debt will be paid when you have your ship."
But Serana shook her head. "That was before you asked this of us. Not only that, but that ship was already promised to us… we discussed this with Tosh Raka already, and we will not discuss it again. You owe us a debt… and I expect you to honour it."
The war-council agreed, be it reluctantly, and Shazra looked at Serana with suspicion in her eyes. She knew more about her than the others, but even she had no idea what would be asked of her. She desperately wanted to be rid of the Tsaesci, or at least have their threat neutralized, but the way Serana spoke of this 'price' made her feel uneasy and she started to wonder if the Ka Po Tun have asked the right people for help. As of now she knew she had to agree and she too had given it when Serana had asked for their word. As queen she was now bound to honour it, but she held her reservations.
Tarrion and Serana returned to their house. The sun was setting and it gave Tarrion a feeling of unease. He knew he was close to becoming a Vampire, something he did not want, and yet it was something he knew had to happen. He looked up and felt the warmth of the sun and for a few moments it felt like he would not feel it ever again. He felt his heart beating in his chest and his throat at the thought.
Serana noticed his silence and took his hand. This encouraged him a little and he followed her inside their house.
After the sun had set, they closed all but one of the windows and found their house to be quiet. Tarrion stood next to the open window as he looked at the starry skies. He felt how the entire city felt eerily quiet, like all were waiting for something to happen.
"Are you alright?"
Serana hugged his arm and pressed her body against him. She could feel the hesitation in him.. and yet also the resolve he had and she admired him for it. To go until the end to help… to get both of them home… she wondered if she would have the same strength.
"No," he answered. "but… I will manage."
He walked away from the window and Serana closed it. The entire house was now closed so no-one could look inside.
"So.. I guess this is it."
Serana nodded but reassured him as well. "Again, Tarrion… if you say 'no'… I will not do this. This decision is all for you.. no-one else."
He nodded. "I know… but I will go through with it. I want to go home… I want to bring you home. And to do that… I am willing to do this."
Serana nodded and smiled slightly. "Then come," and she lead him to the bed.
"So… you will just give me a bite, and that is it?" he asked.
"No… more than that," she answered. "If I wanted to turn you into my thrall, I would indeed give you a bite and that would be all."
She found herself breathing heavier and she noticed her chest going up and down more intensely. "But turning you… intentionally turning you… that is something else. For a Vampire that is not done easily. Often it happens through infection… or a thrall survives for long enough to be turned…. But this will go quicker… and is more…. Intimate."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
She took a step towards him and explained. "There are three ways of turning into a Vampire. The most common cause is through infection. Someone survives an encounter with a Vampire, or the Vampire allowed them to survive, but during the encounter you were infected. Either through spells or a bite that only succeeded half. Either way you are infected and the turning process will take days or even a few weeks… depending on the severity of the infection. Eventually, unless cured, the transformation is inevitable. The newly transformed Vampire will retain his own mind and thoughts and he may join a clan… or survive on his own."
"The second way," she continued. "is through enthralment. A bite can enthral a person if executed properly and if the Vampire intends it. Normally thralls do not survive long and are either drained completely over time or just killed. But if a Vampire takes a liking to a thrall, or lets him live for any other reason… the death of the master or abandonment… can cause the thrall to eventually turn into a Vampire themselves. This process takes the longest and will always ensure a level of enslavement of the newly turned Vampire to his or her master."
She took another step to Tarrion and now was mere inches away from him. "The third way is… different. It is not accidental, and it is the quickest way to ensure the transformation. It leaves one vulnerable, but also well protected."
She swallowed and caught herself looking down instead of at him. "It can happen when a Vampire takes a liking to a human.. or really wants to turn someone."
"Then how does it happen?" he asked softly and she took him by his hands.
"I cannot tell you… but I will show you."
She gently guided him on the bed and kissed his hands. Moving ever closer to him she undid his tunic and helped him out of it. More so than ever before, with the exception of their night after the Blood Moon, she felt a shot of adrenaline go through her head as his bare chest was in front of her. She touched the many scars and felt her hands run over his muscles. The lightheaded feeling did not go away as she breathed in his scent… a scent that she knew would go away after tonight.
She stood on her toes and felt how he tugged her tunic and she let him take it off her. she felt how her breasts were exposed to his warmth and she knew she would miss it more than anything else. After a few more moments their trousers lay on the floor as she guided him on the bed. Crawling over him she felt his warmth all around her and she let it overwhelm her senses. She could hear his heart beat… the sound she would miss most of all.
This night Tarrion let Serana take the lead and only indulged himself when she allowed it. His blood was flowing downwards and Serana could feel his manhood push against her body. She knew she would miss this all. This feeling that overwhelmed her again. The warmth of his body… the sound of his heart… his scent filling her and making her feel him all over was something she knew she would be longing for soon enough. As she embraced him she kissed him and tasted his lips. His arms were wrapped around her, pushing her closer and making her feel every inch of his body.
She agreed with him. This was not something she wanted either. She knew her reasons were selfish, but she didn't care. She did not want to lose this. She wanted to keep him the way his was right now. Warm and tender. Loving and caring and although she knew that becoming a Vampire would not change him… she feared he would change either way.
She banished those thoughts from her mind as she guided herself over him and felt him enter her. Not wanting it to ever leave her she pushed herself down and kissed him again. His warm hand touched her face and she quivered at it all. More than ever she wanted to feel everything. Every breath… every beat of his heart… every kiss… every thrust… every sound… she wanted it all, for she knew it was all about to change.
As she pulled back she found herself breathing heavier than ever before. Their eyes were locked as they stared into each other. Her eyes were both desperate and longing. She feared all that was still to come. The uncertainties and changes frightened her more than before and she found herself desperately waiting… almost hoping he would shake his head or in some way make known he would not go through with it.
But then his eyes changed. Where there once was uncertainty she now saw Tarrion. Just Tarrion. The same strength was still there and the same love that had been there for years was still there. In her own desperation she could hardly see it anymore, and as he touched her face she found herself almost smiling.
He nodded.
She lowered herself again and kissed his lips under their movements. As he softly embraced her she kissed the corner of his mouth… then his cheek… then his jaw and she slowly went further down to his throat. She felt how he prepared for a painful sting in his neck, yet she smiled at it. She knew that it would not feel painful. She would not let it be painful.
For her time stopped as she stared at the base of his neck. She could hear his heart beat faster and she sensed his blood flowing through his veins. In a few moments those veins would be pierced by her fangs and they both would make a step into the unknown once more. She closed her eyes as she took in his scent one last time.
She felt her fangs lengthening slightly as she pressed her lips on the base of his neck. She could feel his limit approaching and she pressed herself against him as tightly as possible and she took the leap.
A shot of lighting shot through Tarrion's body as he felt Serana's bite. It was not pain.. but something else. He felt a fire spread though his body with the source under Serana's lips. He felt his body contracting and he gripped her body now as the fire changed into an icy cold. His vision became blurred as Serana drank his blood for what could be the last time.
She felt how his arms gripped her back and pressed her against him ever tighter. The warm blood flowed from the wound into her mouth. Her tongue tasted it all and as she drank from him, she felt his release inside her. Tears now crawled from her eyes as she silently begged for it to create life within her. She knew the changes of her ever having children was now almost non-existent and that last release could very well be her last hope.
After a few moments she let go of him and saw how the blood still leaked from the wound. His breaths were now shallow. His chest had almost stopped moving and she felt his heart beat slower and slower.
She was now overwhelmed with dread. Nearly collapsing on him she pressed her forehead against his lips and felt more tears crawling down her cheek and dripping on his throat. With the last of his strength he took her hand and made her look at him. Her eyes were now wet with tears and she saw the strength leave his eyes as he spoke with his last breaths.
"I will still love you when I wake."
Her heart broke when she felt his hand letting go and his eyes closed. She saw how his chest stopped moving altogether.
Now, at her end, she collapsed and she wept bitterly. In a strange land.. in a house that she did not know… she was alone. She cursed it all. Akavir… the Tsaesci… the Ka Po Tun… her Vampirism and herself. She cursed it all as her tears now fell on his cold chest.
=End of Chapter=
=Author's Notes=
I wanted Tarrion's decision of becoming a Vampire or not to take about two chapters. But I found out it would take too long and be rife with too much filler and meaningless moments. So, if it is a bit rushed, I do apologise.
As for what Serana explained about the three different ways of becoming a Vampire… I made it up. Again, the Elder Scrolls is very strange and mostly vague about these things. Lots of backstory but little in terms of details. So I took the liberty of making my own version.
But that is it for now… stay tuned for the next time.
Also... 300.000 words. Wohoo!