Lands Unknown part 15
The cell was painful and she had forced herself to close her eyes. She could feel the silver that was placed over the bars and the door was one solid piece of silver. The rocking of the wagon made her cell shake and the chains and cuffs that had chained her filled the cage with the sound of metal on metal.
She had undone the chains and cuffs without effort. Disappearing into the shadows once made the chains fall from her arms and legs like they were not even there, yet she was unable to escape the cell. The cell was small and dark, with only one window. The silver bars and doors blocked the most obvious exits and the walls, ceiling and even floor were made from one solid block of steel. She knew she would not be able to fight her way out, even if she could escape the cage, not with more than fifty guards slithering around the wagon as they journeyed northward.
She had made them pay though. The bodies had piled up as they tried to take her alive, and even after she tore at the throat of their commander did they still try to take her alive… and she wondered why. Killing her would have been easier and a lot less costly, but it seems they had plans for her. She imagined she would likely be publicly shamed, or eaten. Tied to a piston to be laughed at… to be a sign of the strength of the Tsaesci warriors… to take a foe as strong and deadly as her captive would likely be a source of honour for them.
But she had a plan for them too. They still thought she was still chained to the walls, unable to move, yet they would find out they are sorely mistaken as soon as they open that door. She would make them fear humans, to make sure they will curse the day they took her captive… they would curse the one who ordered them to take her alive.
The memory of her capture was still fresh, since it only happened last night. How hundreds of Tsaesci came rushing in after she watched the ships catch fire, one by one. Foolishly she stayed for a few moments to watch the ships burn and she did not leave soon enough. One part of her told her to go back to camp and wait for him there, as they agreed. Yet another part of her wanted to go and help Tarrion in his mission. To help him where she could, to make sure he would come to no harm. She knew he was a Vampire now, yet his did not have full control over his abilities just yet. What if he would make a mistake? What if he was not fast enough?
Yet it was this confliction that turned against her as the Tsaesci smelled her out. The oil she used to burn the ships had left its smell on her. Before she realized it dozens of them surrounded her and she was in for a fight for her life. She rammed her dagger into the head of one attacker, while draining another. They were fast, but she was faster. Moving out of the way she caused two spears to miss her and hit friendlies. But soon she became overwhelmed. Like they knew what she was and what her weakness was, or maybe they have the same weaknesses that they now used against her, they started throwing nets at her. The ropes were lined with silver and many of them missed her by a hair. She threw many of them off the stone spires and they fell to their deaths. When their commander tried to prevent her from leaving she bit his throat and broke his neck. But in the end, one net was enough to push her down and immobilize her. It was only for a few moments, but it was enough for another dozen to be thrown and she was dragged toward the edge of the city.
There Serana was bound and chained in the cage she was in now. As soon as the sun was rising they left the city while making threats and laughing at her. But inside she bided her time, knowing Tarrion would come for her… and if he could not find her, she would come to him.
The wagon stopped and Serana thought she knew why. She had heard something. Faint and barely audible, but there. She wasn't sure if the Tsaesci heard it, but she heard them hiss. Looking through the bars, forcing herself to stare at the silver, she saw their tongues escaping their mouths rapidly, like they were trying to taste the air. Their tongues were long and round, with a cleft tip.
"What was that?" one of the Tsaesci asked.
Their commander looked up once and moved on. "It's nothing… carry on."
A few minutes later she again heard a noise, now louder. The first time it felt like the echo of an echo, but now she heard it clearly and not even the Tsaesci could ignore it this time. Their tongues frantically tried to taste the air and catch any form of scent.
"There it is again," one of the Tsaesci said, now a bit nervous. "Did you hear that?"
"I said carry on," their commander ordered but after another sound the Tsaesci panicked.
Inside the cage Serana could not see what happened. She tried to look but a massive gust of wind, almost like a hurricane, blew over the cage and blew her against one of the steel walls. Then she covered her ears as a thundering roar sounded, nearly powerful enough to move the cart by itself. Even inside her cell she could feel the ground shake as something massive landed on the ground a bit further away. She heard the Tsaesci panic and then she was forced to take cover in a corner.
With another roar and words she had heard before an inferno surrounded her cage. Flames entered through the window, yet not enough to fill Serana's cell. She could feel the intense heat all around her and under the roaring she heard the cries of the Tsaesci as they were reduced to ashes.
A force lifted the entire wagon up and Serana tumbled through the air as the cage rolled away, leaving devastation in its wake. Trying to dive into the shadows she tried to stop herself from being tossed around like a ragdoll, but then the cage slammed into something and warped. Breaking the door from its hinges. After a few more moments of cries and sounds of bones breaking, a silence entered the woods.
Serana rubbed her arm. Between the chaos and the cage thrown around like a yarn ball her arm slammed into the silver door and it made a slight cut. The wound started to close itself and the bleeding already stopped as Serana climbed from the cage. Carefully she dared to peak around the corner only to see smoke and destruction. Hesitantly she moved away from the cage to the road. Behind her the cage lay warped and broken against the stump of a massive tree. The two strange animals, with thick, grey skin and a single large horn on their noses, lay dead by what was left of the wagon, and large scorch marks covered the road. She knew something was here, she knew that, but the only thing powerful enough to wipe out the Tsaesci like this was….
"Serana…"
A deep and rumbling growl was heard behind her and when she turned around she saw him emerge from the smoke.
Massive, almost as large as Tosh Raka when they first saw him, did a Dragon emerge from the smoke. With one flap of his wings it removed all the smoke from the battle and Serana saw it in its full power. Its skin was black as her hair, with red patterns on his legs, back and chest… almost resembling scars. His head was rounder than normal and his front legs gave away that this was no normal Dragon. Two large horns arched backward and a long tail hovered a few metres above the ground.
Slowly, and making the ground shake, the dragon moved closer until he was only a few inches away from her. Her heart was not beating, but she could feel it in her throat. After another few moments she heard it again and she couldn't take it anymore.
"Serana…" the Dragon rumbled and her mouth fell open.
"… Tarrion?..." she said with the smallest voice, and when she saw something that looked like a smile she felt her head become light and all became black around her as fell to the ground and fainted.
"TARRION!"
Serana woke up with a shout. Her eyes flashed around her and she saw she was alone. The heavy smell of the jungle was all around her and light peaked through the canopy far above her. Breathing heavily with her chest going up and down rapidly she pushed herself against the bark of the tree. Forcing herself to calm down she tried to remember what happened. She remembered the fires in the port… the Tsaesci trying to capture her and finally succeeding… how they imprisoned her in a steel cage with silver… how they travelled with her on a wagon further north… how they were attacked by-..
"Tarrion…" she whispered to herself. Again she looked around, trying to find him, but he was not here.
Everything in her said that she had been hallucinating. She was imprisoned by the Tsaesci and they must have drugged her. Tarrion came to rescue her, but it was just him… it had to be. It was not possible that he-..
"You're awake.."
A shot of lighting went through her as his voice sounded again behind her and he emerged from behind the tree. His steps were silent and she did not sense him, due to his Vampirism. She stared at him to make sure it was still him.
After two years his hair had grown longer than hers, and it reached just past his shoulders. His skin had become paler after she turned him, but the scars were all still apparent. They had not healed. His eyes were still as deep and strong as they had always been, yet they glowed with a soft glow, almost invisible in the light of the sun. He took a slow step towards her and she saw he was naked.
He looked at her and saw her eyes were wide with fear, yet there was still that beautiful glow in them. Her hair was dirty and messy, but it was still as black as always. He saw her chest go up and down under her breaths and he saw she tried her best to reason with herself.
"It is me," he said and he held out his hands as he took a few careful steps towards her.
Then, after months of holding back as much as possible... after months of putting on a mask to keep herself sane, Serana dropped to her knees and her emotions overwhelmed her.
Covering her face she wept for all that happened. Their troubles after Solstheim when she still harboured a resentment toward him. How they shipwrecked on Akavir and were drawn into a conflict that had gone on for centuries… perhaps longer. How they, in their desperation, agreed to give up their wish of ever having children, in order to go home. And now, she did not know if the man in front of her was still the one that found her all those years ago in that tomb.
But then she felt how two hands took her wrists and he kneeled next to her. He kissed her palms and made her look at him. When she looked into his eyes, even through her tears, she saw that it had to be him.
"I am here," she heard his voice say. That soft voice that had brought her comfort for years now called out to her again and made her grab him.
Burying her face in his chest she let her tears flow freely and he wrapped his arms around her. It pained him that he was unable to give her the warmth she deserved, but the softly rubbed her arm and kissed her hair.
It took a while for Serana to regain her composure and when she did she looked him in his eyes.
"It is still you…. Is it?"
He nodded and softly touched her cheek.
"It is still me."
"But… how?" she asked desperately. "H-how is this possible?"
He did not answer at first, but after a few moments he gave her a genuine smile. "I am Dragonborn. That is how."
She knew this was the only answer he could give. She knew, just as he said back in the palace of Rakash Tol almost two months ago, that he would still be the same… and yet, just as she said back then, he had done something that changed so much. He had explained his fear of wanting to take his place in the skies of Tamriel as a Dragon… and she now saw that this could become reality.
"Serana?"
She snapped back to reality and looked him in his eyes again. She saw a soft glow that was barely visible in daylight… but she also saw the same strength she had seen for the last few years.
She nodded and made the conscious decision to trust him… she said as much.
"I am afraid now," she said. "But I choose to trust you."
He understood and nodded. "And I will do everything I can to take that fear away. And I promise you here and now… I will not transform again… unless it is absolutely necessary, and never without your permission."
She hugged him, if only to calm herself and when she pulled back she wanted to put her mind at ease.
"It seems you ripped out of your clothes again," and she looked down and giggled.
He looked down as well and frowned at her. "I am a bit cold," he defended himself. "But yes… my clothes did not grow with me… I barely had enough time to take off the ring."
He showed the ebony ring on his finger he gave her than day in Ancestor Glade and she saw it was still intact. She understood his transformation would have shattered it and she nodded.
"Good… I hate to lose your gift."
She looked around and realized again she was in an unfamiliar location. She heard no Ka Po Tun or Tang Mo around her, nor did she sense any living creature near them. She realized they were not near the camp.
"Where are we?" she asked him and his face changed from a gentle happiness to slight anger.
"Far away from the Tsaesci city, near Telom," and he looked her in her eyes. "The Ka Po Tun and Tang Mo betrayed us. We were not supposed to destroy the shipyards…. That was merely the distraction. They did not count on us to even make it out of there alive."
"What?"
"Tosh Raka had sent scouts to the Tsaesci," he explained. "They were supposed to be captured to reveal his plan to them… but only the plan he told us. He had a secret plan to kill their king, queen and princes. We were the distraction in the city, and while we destroyed their ships the others, who we thought would create a distraction in the fort, would kill the king, the queen and the princes. He was surprised I was still alive when he came to the camp."
"He came there?" Serana asked and her mind went rapid. "How did you know I was still alive?"
"In the city the Tsaesci knew a man and a woman would attack them. When they cornered me they said they had 'plans for my female'. I burned them alive and tried to find you at the port, but I hoped you would have escaped and made it to the camp. Tosh Raka there said it was likely they would take you to the capital of the Tsaesci. He wanted to wait until you arrived there, since his forces had besiege the city. You would have been freed then, but I did not want to wait that long. My anger took over as I went after you."
He made a slight chuckle. "They were surprised… no, shocked… when they saw me transform."
Serana nodded. "I'm sorry I worried you. I tried to get out of the city, but there were too many. I think I killed almost two dozen of them, but they used nets lined with silver. One stopped me for only half a moment… but they were fast and half a moment was all they needed."
She sighed. "I am sorry I worried you."
He shook his head and kissed her. "You fought with everything you had, I am sure. I am just glad you're safe now."
She kissed him back and smiled. "As long as you are there… I will always be safe."
They waited for nightfall to near the city. Serana agreed with Tarrion when he said it was best they returned to their house for the remaining vials of blood. In the chaos many of the ones they brought were broken, and Tarrion still needed to feed. They also decided to pay Shazra a visit since they did not believe she did not know what Tosh Raka had been planning. Serana was looking forward to their meeting and she decided to do the same she did in that cave in Khamal. They also agreed that Tarrion needed clothes.
Sticking to the shadows and without anyone or anything noticing them they neared the outer walls of the city and passed the gates with little effort. A few guards walked the fields between the outer walls and the city walls and they were left none the wiser. Serana felt a strange feeling she had not felt in centuries. For a few moments again she felt like she was a Vampire again. Sneaking into a city to hunt down a specific target made her feel something she did not like…. And yet a part of her told her it was a good feeling. She decided to ignore it.
Inside their house Tarrion quickly put on some clothes and they grabbed the remaining vials of blood. Tarrion drank one and Serana quickly kissed him before he could lick his lips.
"It tastes a bit better this way," she teased him.
Without hesitating both left the house and neared the palace. There were a few guards patrolling the entrance, yet the two Vampires did not need to use the front door. Using the shadows they scaled the walls and entered a small room on the third floor. Staying as quiet as possible they moved from corridor to corridor until one door suddenly opened.
Both ducked behind the pillars and they heard two voices they had heard before. Both spoke in the language of the Ka Po Tun, but after a few moments Tarsh walked past them. He walked past them, completely unaware of their presence and his massive stature seemed to fill the entire hallway. His fur was messy and he had a smile on his face as he left through the hallway toward a large staircase.
The door closed again, yet both had recognized the second voice as Shazra's. both exchanged a few looks at each other, and both shrugged before they entered the room.
They found Shazra wearing something that seemed to be a nightgown that covered her entire body, except for her head and a deep neckline, and just like Tarsh her fur was messy.
She walked toward a desk and Serana saw she walked with a slight limp. As soon as she saw them she recoiled and her eyes went wide with shock like she was staring at two ghosts.
"Surprised to see us?" Tarrion asked with a biting tone in his voice. "So was Tosh Raka when he saw we were still alive."
"You…. You're alive?" Shazra's voice was a mix of fear and surprise. "I thought you-…"
"Guess again," Serana said and she took a few steps toward the terrified Ka Po Tun. "We don't die easily… no matter the plans others may make."
"What? Wha-… what do you mean?"
"Don't even try it," Tarrion barked at her and he came standing next to Serana. "You didn't tell us the whole plan… for example that we were just the distraction so others could assassinate the king."
"Wha-?" Shazra uttered. "The king? But… you were supposed to disable the shipyards."
"Oh, we disabled them," Tarrion said and he saw how Shazra recoiled further and further until her back was against the wall. "But you failed to tell us we were merely a distraction."
"I didn't….." and Shazra's eyes flashed from Serana to Tarrion. "What are you talking about? I received word that you died."
Neither Tarrion or Serana answered. Both looked at each other and Serana saw that Shazra was not lying. She took another step toward her and saw genuine confusion in her eyes.
"You…. Truly don't know?" she asked.
"No!" was Shazra's desperate answer. "I received word that you both perished in the attack on the city. There is a letter. There…" and she pointed at a desk. "I received that two days ago. It is written in our language, yet it says that you both died. Killed by the Tsaesci."
Tarrion walked toward the desk and looked at the letter. It was written in the language of the Ka Po Tun, and he recognized writing to be similar to what he remembered from the tomb where they found Tosh Raka. At the bottom it had a strange seal with a Dragon's head as emblem.
"Tosh Raka wrote this himself?" he asked and Shazra nodded.
"Yes. He writes that you were both killed in the city of the Tsaesci. He also gave orders to send every ship I have available to Shae'Sal to prevent their escape by he lays siege against it."
"You send every ship? All of them?" Serana asked.
"Of course I did. He is the emperor. I have to obey. The majority of my forces went with them. Only my personal guard and a handful of soldiers remain to defend the city."
"Wait a minute," Tarrion interrupted her and he grabbed the letter. "You said you received this letter two days ago. We only entered the city the night after that. How can they think we died if we have not even arrived at the camp?"
"I don't know," Shazra answered and she relaxed a bit now that she saw they would not outright kill her. "But please… you have to believe me. I did not have anything to do with this. I did not know of some secret plan. I was not told. Please… I would not do this."
Serana looked again in Shazra's eyes and saw she was telling the truth. She nodded at her as Tarrion put the letter back on the desk.
"Why do you think Tosh Raka would lie about this?" Serana asked the confused queen.
"I don't know," she answered. "but he has been obsessed with the Tsaesci as soon as he returned. He thinks this attack will cripple the Snakes, but he is wrong. He will not hear that his tactics and plans are no rival for the tenacity of the Tsaesci. They have survived much, and they will survive him. But why he lied about you… I do not know."
"Maybe he does not want to be indebted to anyone," Tarrion sighed. "Royalty tends to do that."
"I will not," Shazra responded sternly. "I still owe a large debt to both of you, and if I can help in any way.. I will."
"Can you give us a ship that can take us away from here… back to Tamriel?"
With every hesitation in her, Shazra shook her head. "I am sorry.. but no. Not because I do not want to, but because Tosh Raka ordered me to send all ships to Shae'Sal. The only ships that remain are small fishing boats… not fit for the open ocean, certainly not if the Tsaesci find out and try to chase you."
"I thought this attack on the Tsaesci would keep them occupied?" Serana asked and Shazra nodded.
"True, and a good ship could take you away fast enough for them to regroup… but a small fishing boat will not. As I said, the Tsaesci are tenacious and will not give up easily. It may take months… if not longer, before you can have a ship that can cross the ocean."
Serana looked defeated as she heard the news. She fell back on a chair and covered her face, but Tarrion stepped forward.
"Do you have a ship that can take us to that peninsula where we landed? 'The Serpent's Head' you call it?"
"Why?" Shazra asked and she did not see the use of it. "Sailing there will be difficult… but it will be a nice trip compared to the open ocean."
"Still… can you take us there?"
"It is no use… unless you can fly like a Dragon you-…"
"Can you take us there?" Tarrion asked again.
Shazra opened her mouth a few times before she conceded. "I can… I can give you a ship tomorrow at noon. It will be a small vessel, but it can take you there."
"Then please," Tarrion asked and Serana saw what he was doing. "make the arrangements. After tomorrow.. you will never see us again."
Shazra sighed again and before she asked she knew the answer already. "I cannot convince you, right? Well, seeing as you clearly have a plan.. I will not stop you. I will make the arrangements."
Both thanked her and she send a guard to the port to make the arrangements. Tarrion and Serana waited around the corner for Shazra to thank her one last time. Tarrion thanked her first. "Thank you for your help… we will not forget it."
She shook his hand and smiled. "I was sworn to obey your command," she joked.
"That reminds me," he smiled back. "I hereby release you from my service. You can't rightly obey me now that you are queen."
Both laughed and Tarrion stepped away. Serana walked toward the large Ka Po Tun woman who she had once scared into submission. There was still a slight fear in her eyes, yet Serana knew it was not necessary.
"I won't scare you again, do not worry," she said and surprising both Shazra and herself she hugged her. "Thank you for your help."
"And I thank you for yours," was Shazra's answer.
Tarrion had walked towards a balcony to give the two women some space. The light of the moon shone bright and he saw it was nearly full. He would see the full moon without transforming, and it was something he knew he would find strange, and yet he looked forward to it.
Inside Serana and Shazra let go of each other.
"So…" Serana decided to tease her. "You and Tarsh."
Nearly breaking her neck Shazra rapidly turned her head and looked at Serana. "H.. how did you-…. You saw him leave?"
"Mhm," Serana smiled. "And his fur was all messy… just like yours. Plus, you are wearing nothing but a nightgown and you were walking a bit funny."
"That… doesn't mean anything."
"I can sense your blood," Serana continued to embarrass her. "and it is flowing to your face."
After sputtering a few syllables Shazra gave in and even smirked slightly. "He is not just a walking mountain of muscle… he is smarter than he looks. He has given me a lot of good advice."
"Mhm," Serana nodded. "I am sure you're not just interested in his brain and his advice… but also, 'other parts' of him."
"Isn't that the vial calling the bottle transparent," and Shazra nodded at Tarrion. "I have noticed that he is… a lot taller than you. I also have seen how muscular he was when he transformed into that wolf-form. Are you sure you're with him only because he is smart… or because he satisfied your hunger for blood. I'm sure he satisfied a lot of other urges as well."
Serana blushed, just like Shazra, but unlike her she could not hide it with a layer of fur and Shazra smiled. "Let us just agree we both like the same type of men. Strong.. in mind and body."
Serana nodded and both giggled like young girls.
A few hours later a guard came back to say a boat was being prepared. Both Serana and Tarrion bowed. "Thank you," and they walked toward the door.
"Wait!" and Shazra jumped up. "I have something…"
Both humans saw how she walked toward a large desk. A small box was placed there. It was locked tight, and had golden plating on the edges. Shazra grabbed it and walked towards Serana.
"I… want you to have this."
Serana took it in her hands yet looked confused. "What is this?"
"It….. I made…."
Shazra stammered a number of times before she lowered herself on a large chair. "Forgive me… I know it is not my place to say this."
"Say what?"
After taking a deep breath Shazra finally answered. "What you said to me a month ago. When you were still asleep," and she nodded at Tarrion. "You came to me and told me of your… condition. You said you cannot have children."
Tarrion looked at Serana and she seemed petrified at the memory that she did reveal this to a stranger… or someone she did not consider to be a friend. She remembered it as a moment of desperation, one she regretted now.
"I… could not believe it," Shazra continued. "I could not understand that you were willing to give up your future like that. I cannot imagine the sacrifice, and I praise myself lucky that I never will. But you did something that is unthinkable. You deserve more than just our thanks."
Serana looked from Shazra at the box.
"Telom is home to the best healers in all of Akavir. We are trained to understand the Art of Healing more than anyone else, since we have to find new medicine to counter the venom of the Tsaesci. We know how a body can be ravaged by disease and venoms… and we know how to heal it."
She sighed again before she continued. "In this box you will find a small vial, enough for one single dose. It contains a potion I ordered my healers to create. It is the strongest potion we have made and has one single purpose. It will heal your womb."
Tarrion looked up and his eyes widened, but Serana did not move. Her hands held the box and she stared blankly at it, seemingly unable to process what she just heard.
"I… am sure it will work," Shazra said as she looked at the pale human in front of her. "Our healers can heal anything and no matter what kind of disease has been contracted, or what kind of venom has ravaged one's body… it can be cured. And no matter how damaged your womb may be… this will heal it."
Still Serana did not move. Tarrion moved towards her and when he placed his hand on her shoulder she shuddered. He took the box from her hands and placed it on the desk again and hugged her, yet she only shuddered.
"H… how can you know it will work?" he asked Shazra.
"Our healers are skilled and knowledgeable. There is nothing we know of they cannot cure."
Serana turned toward Shazra and it took her all the strength she had to say a few words.
"I do not know if it will work… but thank you."
Tarrion placed the box in his backpack with the vials of blood and both left for their home
They both stayed inside for the rest of the evening and morning, but at noon they left for the port where they found a small boat prepared for them. A few barrels with food were placed in the centre of it, yet both knew they would not need it.
Without hesitation Serana untied the boat and Tarrion pushed them off shore. Slowly the other fishing boats glided past them as the wind caught their sail. Reaching the end of the small bay where the port was built they turned around one last time to watch the city of Telom grow smaller. On the edge of a cliff they saw a Ka Po Tun watching them, with a large one standing next to her. Tarrion stood up and made another bow, but Serana stayed seated, hugging the backpack in which a few dozen glass vials now clinked against a small box.
=End of Chapter=
=Author's Notes=
And thus they say goodbye to Shazra who redeemed herself for Serana. But is this little boat going to help them get back to Tamriel? It is no bigger than a dingy. But it is made for the Ka Po Tun, so it is still larger than a normal one.
But that is it for this chapter. Stay tuned for the last chapter in this Arc. After that, we finally return to Skyrim.