Chapter 30: Frost Versus Fire

Emily smiled, nestling further into the pillow, one hand resting on the arm encircling her waist. When she stirred Serana, still half asleep, tucked her in closer to her. Her blonde hair had grown over the last few months and now tickled her nose. She withdrew her hand to scratch at her nose and the moment her hand left Emily's waist the Earthling opened her eyes, turning over to face the vampiress.

"Hey," she said sleepily. Serana smiled.

"Hey," she replied. She glanced over at the curtains still covering the windows. "How long were we out for?" she asked. Emily pulled her arm out from under the covers and checked her watch.

"Just under ten hours," she said, "We've still another six before nightfall." Emily sat up, leaning against the headboard. She ran her fingers through her hair, smoothing out the worst of the knots as best she could.

"Gosh, I wish we were in our little cottage in the forest," she said, picking up a brush from the bedside table. She began brushing her hair. "I never appreciated until now just how many shadowy corners it had that we could hide away in." She paused mid-brush. "I wonder how far from here it is."

"You told me before about space, the planets and their place in the galaxy," Serana replied, "What was it you called it?"

"The Milky Way," said Emily.

"That's the one," Serana replied. She folded her arms, leaning against Emily's lap as she looked up into the Earthling's face, "Surely Nirn must be somewhere in there. Somewhere." Emily set down the brush, resting one hand on Serana's soft dark hair.

"Not necessarily," she said, "That's assuming we're in the same universe as Nirn." Serana listened as Emily continued. "For a long time Earthlings have theorized that there may be more than one universe. They, rather fittingly, call it the Multiverse Theory."

"And just how many of these multiverses do they theorize to exist?" Serana asked. Emily shrugged her shoulders.

"An infinite amount," she replied, "And because of that there are infinite possibilities as to what exists in those multiverses. There might be one with another Emily and Serana but maybe in that universe you were the mortal and I was the vampire." Serana frowned.

"How could there be another us even if there are so many multiverses?" she asked, "That seems like one Oblivion of a coincidence."

"That's the thing about infinity," said Emily, "If there are an infinite number of multiverses out there, literally anything could exist. But it is just a theory. There may be no other universes. Maybe Nirn is somewhere in the Milky Way. Or perhaps…"

"Perhaps what?" asked Serana.

"Perhaps we're in the Andromeda Galaxy," Emily replied, "That's the one closest to the Milky Way."

"If these things are all so far away," said Serana, "How do Earthlings know about them?"

"Because of something called the Hubble Space telescope," replied Emily, "It's up there now somewhere."

"What's a telescope?" Serana asked.

"It's…well, it's like…," Emily paused. During her time in Skyrim she could not recall seeing a telescope or anything similar. She looked around the room and her gaze fell upon an old magnifying glass sitting on the edge of the bookshelf. Serana sat up as Emily got up and fetched it down from its lofty perch.

"Imagine this," she said, handing Serana the magnifying glass to look through, "But way bigger and capable of sending images of what it sees back to Earth. I think I have a few images taken from the Hubble Space telescope somewhere around here." With that she got up from the bed once more and began rummaging through a cupboard in one corner of the room.

"I used to keep all my space junk in here," she said as she sifted through the papers, books and figurines, "I was mad keen on space when I was a kid. I was so certain I was going to grow up to be an astronaut." She checked herself, "That is, someone who goes up into space. But then the thought of blasting off into outer space and leaving Earth behind. That was way too scary." At last she found what she was looking for and returned to the bed.

"And yet you did," Serana smiled as Emily handed her the pictures, "Still too scary?" She quirked an eyebrow at the Earthling. Emily chuckled.

"Not anymore," she smiled. Serana looked for a second as though she wanted to say something else but she hesitated and her gaze faltered. She covered this up by looking at the various images Emily had given her. One looked like towering orange clouds against a night sky, pierced by several bright pinkish-red lights. Scrawled below in what was clearly a child's handwriting were the words, "The Eagle Nebula." She smiled to herself, glancing over at the Earthling. Emily caught her gaze.

"What?" she asked with a half-smile.

"It's just kind of funny seeing things from your past," she replied, "It's nice." She shuffled through the pictures, looking at images of galaxies, of a star going "supurnova" as it was labelled and a cluster of seven stars known as the Pleiades.

"Do you think there's anything you'll take with you when we leave tonight?" Serana asked. Emily glanced at the bulging backpack that stood at the foot of the bed.

"I don't think there's room for much else," she said, nudging it with her foot, "Even with that shrinking charm you put on it. I already packed a few books from my house and a couple of other bits and pieces." She got up from the bed. "Though…perhaps," she reached the wicker basket of stuffed toys in the corner. She picked out one of them, a black knitted cat with green knitted eyes. She turned to Serana, holding the cat, "I know it's silly but…" Serana shrugged her shoulders.

"I won't judge," she said as Emily sat down on the edge of the bed, "So, what do you call him?"

"Promise you won't laugh?" Emily said sheepishly. By means of reply Serana chuckled.

"Well, if you're going to be like that," said Emily with mock annoyance.

"Fine, I won't laugh," smiled Serana. She rested a hand on the knitted cat's head, "So, what is it?"

"Knitty Puss," Emily replied, "My nana knitted him for me and gave him to me when I was five. Honestly, the only reason I didn't have him with me in Tamriel was because I left in such a hurry." She chuckled.

"What?" Serana asked.

"I was just thinking if he had come with me one of the first things you learnt about your rescuer was that she had a stuffed toy for a companion," Emily replied, still laughing.

"Yeah, instead you had Finn," Serana reminded her.

"I hope he's doing alright," Emily replied, "I mean, I know we made him that otter door to come and go as he wanted but.."

"Well, in another couple of weeks we'll find out just how much he and Tibius have managed to trash the place," smiled Serana as she lay back on the bed.

At last the sun set outside and Emily and Serana trooped down the stairs to the front room. Ernest greeted them at the bottom of the stairs, wagging his bushy tail. Serana patted his head as they passed and he followed them into the front room where Emily's parents were watching television. The television, however, seemed to be more a means of providing some background noise than entertainment. They looked up when Emily and Serana entered the room.

"Hey ummm," said Emily awkwardly. She rubbed at her arm, not sure where to look, "Thanks. You know, for letting us stay over and... Yeah, thanks."

"Will you be returning to this world you mentioned?" her mother asked.

"Yes, yes, I think so," Emily replied, "As soon as Miraak's been dealt with. Then we'll need to hurry back to the portal." She paused. "I'm afraid I probably won't be able to come back here again. So.." She felt her voice catch in her throat. "Goodbye." She felt tears beginning to prick the corners of her eyes and she turned to wipe them away. Emily's father got up. He looked first at Emily and then at Serana.

"Serana," he said, "I don't pretend to understand all that's happened. This other world, Tamriel, and Miraak. And I can't say I'm altogether comfortable with what my daughter's become. But…Emily is clearly very fond of you and trusts you a great deal. All I ask is that you keep my little girl safe."

"I will," Serana replied. Emily smiled, then she threw her arms around her dad's neck.

"Thanks, Dad," she said in a shaky voice. Her father returned the hug.

"Look after yourself, squirt," he replied as he took a step back.

"I will, Dad," said Emily, wiping at one of her eyes, "Bye mum."

"Take…take care of yourself, sweetie," her mother said, getting up from the sofa. She did not move towards her daughter but remained where she was, her hands folded in front of her. She could not seem to bring herself to move any closer.

All of a sudden the television which had hitherto been showing a weather report turned to crackling static, ghostly figures jumping across the screen. Emily's mother turned to look at it as the sound, likewise, stuttered and crackled.

Emily hurried over to the window and peered behind the curtains. Outside a strong wind had picked up. The previously cloudless sky was rapidly being swallowed up by a sea of swirling grey.

"Whoa, what's going on with the weather?" Emily's father said, joining her at the window.

"It's Miraak," said Serana, "You should both stay inside." With that she turned and headed for the door. Ernest started barking as Emily ran past him.

"Emily, wait," Emily's mother called after her.

Emily pushed open the front door. The wind whipped back her hair and ruffled the loose fitting top she wore. Above them the clouds swirled. Leaves rained down in cascades from the nearby trees, ripped by the wind from their lofty perches. There was a thundercrack accompanied by a flash of lightning. The noise of the thunder echoed all around them as the weaker-limbed trees were bent double under the onslaught. At the heart of the cloud the grey swirling matter parted to reveal a large green eye. Emily's parents watched in shock from just behind the two vampiresses as the eye swivelled around to focus upon them.

"Laat Dovahkiin," a voice that echoed with thunder spoke from the clouds, "I see you continue to evade my people. Very well, I issue to you this challenge. This is your chance to come to me willingly to that you may face us in fair combat. There will not be another. Come to the tower my people have built in my honour on the stone rings of the past. If you do not, my servants will hunt you down."

The wind doubled in strength as the eye closed and became nothing more than cloud once again. Slowly the wind dropped and the echoes of thunder died away, leaving Emily, her parent's and Serana looking at the sky.

"The stone rings of the past," said Serana to herself. She turned to Emily. "What do you think he means by that?"

"I think he means a stone monument," Emily replied, "Somewhere ancient. You said he had to be somewhere close by, right?" Serana nodded.

"I'm more convinced of that than ever after that performance," she said, pointing at the storm clouds.

"I think he means Stonehenge then," said Emily at last.

"Is it far?" Serana asked.

"Far enough," Emily replied, "We could probably walk there in about two days, maybe three."

"That's not quick enough," said Serana thoughtfully, folding her arms, "That would give his "servants" plenty of time to track us down."

"Emily," came a voice behind them. Emily's father was fishing in his pocket. He pulled out a set of keys. "The car's in the garage." Emily smiled.

"Thanks, Dad," she said as he tossed the keys to her. She caught them and they hurried around to the side of the house to the garage where an old red Ford focus was parked. They piled into the car and Emily put the key in the ignition. The engine roared into life and Emily backed it out onto the driveway. She waved to her parents through the front window before heading off down the road.

They travelled Eastward out of Winscombe, following the A38.

"What's the significance of this place?" Serana asked as they drove, "Stonehenge I mean."

"It's old," Emily replied, putting on the brakes as they reached a junction. She turned left and continued on. "Prehistoric in fact," she continued, "It's aligned perfectly with the sunrise of the summer solstice and the sunset of the winter solstice though no one really knows exactly why or when it was built. Why Miraak has any interest in it? I have even less idea about that." She hesitated.

"There is an old legend I read about once," she said, "There was supposed to be a wellspring somewhere around there. But loads of people over the years have tried drilling for it and never found it."

"Could he be after that?" Serana asked.

"I doubt it," Emily replied, "If it ever was magic, it wouldn't hold the kind of powers he'd be interested in. I don't think healing powers would factor in much for an immortal dragonborn. Besides, if Earth ever had any magic it died years ago."

The roads took them through several smaller settlements including the villages of Oakhill and Cranmore. They were forced to take a detour as they neared Longleat, likely due to the Daedric Prince of Madness' activities the night before. Many a fence in the area had been broken and a great swathe had been cut through one of the wooded areas near the animal park. Serana watched the scenery slide by the car window. The car they were in did not run as smoothy as the little car of Emily's and she noticed one of the lights on the dashboard seemed to flicker on and off entirely of its own accord. A silence had settled over the car and all that was to be heard was the whoosh of the other traffic on the road speeding along in the opposite direction or passing them on the outside lane. Serana was the first to break the silence.

"Are you nervous?" she asked.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit," Emily replied, "To be honest I'm terrified. I can't shake this feeling that we're walking right into his trap. But," she gripped the steering wheel more firmly, "This is the best chance we've got." Serana rested a hand gently on her arm.

"We'll be alright," she said, her voice betraying more confidence than she felt, "We've been through worse than this after all." Emily returned the smile gratefully.

A roar from above suddenly shook the car violently.

"What in Oblivion was that?" cried Emily, looking up through the sunroof. Above them the sky was dark and Emily could see nothing but clouds.

"Emily, look out for that car!" Serana yelled. Emily's gaze snapped back to the road in front of her and the car looming horribly close on their left. Emily seized the wheel and turned it sharply to the right, the car jumping across the lane and almost colliding with the metal barrier running up the centre before she was able to steady it. Another roar, closer this time, shook the car. Emily heard a whooshing sound as of great leathery wings beating overhead. The car ahead of them suddenly screeched to a halt and Emily was forced to swerve to the left to clear it. The car behind blared its horn. At them, Emily thought.

"Can you see anything?" she asked of her vampiric companion. Serana looked up through the sunroof and froze. The air above them had been entirely consumed by a red scaly mass. Great leathery wingbeats signalled the close proximity at which the beast soared above them.

"Get down, Emily," she yelled as the scaly being drew near enough for her to see individual scales on the creature's belly. She grabbed Emily and pulled her down. In the same instant the metal framework was gripped tightly in curved talons each as long as Emily's forearm. They pierced the windscreen, turning the glass into a meshwork of cracks and bent and warped the metal frame of the car out of shape like it was made out of cheap plastic. The car lurched heavily and Emily felt her stomach drop several inches. The next second they were thrown to one side, held in place only by the seatbelts that secured them to their chairs. The car swung violently in time to the wingbeats and Emily realised with a sick feeling that they had left the ground far behind. She fought her way back to a sitting position and stared out of the window. Ahead of them, floating just above the horizon was a great stone tower. The stones that made it up, however, were not still. They moved ceaselessly in circling motions, keeping the towers shape in a constant state of fluctuation. A sickly green light pierced the cracks and it was from the summit of this strange tower that the grey clouds were spewing. Above the tower the clouds had a greenish yellow cast to them, giving the impression of wounded flesh left to go septic.

"That has to be it," said Serana. Emily felt her fingers digging into her shoulders. "Come on, we've got to get out of here. I don't know about you but I'd rather enter that tower on my own terms." Emily nodded. There was another crunch overhead as the red dragon tightened its grip on the car. Glass rained down upon them in tiny fragments. They summoned lightning upon their palms, aiming it at the holes in the metalwork and glass created by the mighty ivory talons. As their magic struck the winged entity a great booming voice echoed around them.

"Pitiful, your lightning is to me little more than a prick of a thistle," he growled, "Sit quietly, Lord Miraak has ordered that you should be delivered alive but I have little qualms in ceasing your struggle if necessary." The dragon turned his attention from his struggling quarry to a light object that had materialised out of the gloom.

"My pearly "brother"," he said in a mocking tone, "Ye have come too late. I have captured the immortals my Lord Miraak desires. It is I who shall receive his boon."

"Thy arrogance truly knows no bounds, Goch," replied the other in gravelly tones, "It is thy hubris which will make an end of thee." As red as blood were the scales of the dragon that carried them, his eyes burning bright in his head and trails of smoke flaring from his nostrils as he regarded the white scaled beast keeping level with them. His eyes burned with blue fire.

"Thou would do well to hold thine tongue, Hwit," he said, "So long as I hold the prize master craves, ye are but a lizard under a stone to him."

Emily redoubled her efforts, striking against the side of the car. It jarred, wobbling to one side and causing the red dragon to shift his hold on the metal framework. He hissed angrily and the white dragon bared his brilliant white teeth in amusement at his brother's folly. It was then that Emily spotted a gap in the framework where one of the dragon's talons had been only moments before.

"There," she shouted to Serana. Serana nodded and they each gathered icy energy about their palms, forming great icy spikes. In one motion they drove upwards, releasing the spikes which shot through the opening, piercing the red dragon's belly. In an instant his talons relinquished their hold and the car plummeted back to Earth. Emily let out a yell as she collided with the roof of the car, flattened against it as it rolled over and over in mid-air. A roaring sound filled her ears and the world before her seemed to spin. She felt Serana grab her around her waist. Then darkness surrounded her as there was a terrible splintering of glass. She thought at first it must be the impact of the car against the ground and expected every sense to be flooded with pain in the next instant. But when she next opened her eyes she saw the patchwork of fields far below along with the flaming pyre that marked the car's final resting place in the middle of a field. Her legs dangled in mid-air and she looked up into the face of her rescuer, distorted though it was by her transformation. Then she saw the dragons wheeling about in the sky. The red dragon was roaring savagely, twisting about in mid-air in an effort to dislodge the icy spikes.

Serana had told her once before that she could not carry her in the form of a vampire lord. Now Emily saw why. Though enough to keep them from plummeting to their deaths, their combined weight was dragging them surely down to Earth. Emily held on tightly to the vampiress as the ground rose to meet them. The dragons, too, had caught sight of their escaping quarry and had changed direction, closing in.

Serana regained human form as their feet touched the earth and they pulled their bows from their backs as the dragons soared overhead.

"Let us see who shall have the honour of delivering thy quarry to Miraak," said the white dragon as he hovered overhead. His scales glittered like shavings of ice in what little light there was.

"So be it, Hwit," roared the red dragon, loosing a tongue of flame from his maw. It lit a swathe of grass close by and Emily and Serana took to their heels, fleeing the hungry flames. They stopped by a large rock that jutted up out of the ground like a giant's tooth. From here they nocked their arrows and fired. But for all the good they did they might as well have fired matchsticks.

"These beasts are a lot tougher than the ones back home," said Serana through gritted teeth. The next second they were forced to dive behind the rock as the white dragon unleashed a breath of razor snow which coated the rock in a thick frost.

"We hit him before," Emily cried, "The arrows don't faze him but the ice did."

"Of course," yelled Serana, "He's a fire dragon. Fire dragon's can't stand ice. The same's the other way around. Ice can't stand fire."

"That's all well and good for the red dragon then," cried Emily, "But what about the white? We can't use fire spells. We'll burn up."

"Let's worry about the red one first," said Serana as she sprinted off into the darkness, towards the wall of flame that marked the red dragon's presence. Emily followed. Amidst the flames they could see the red dragon. He had risen up onto its haunches and was watching them with his eyes of yellow flame. His bat-like wings were silhouetted against the smoke as he reared back. Then flames were rippling across the grass towards them. Emily darted to the left while Serana veered off to the right. His great tail lashed from side to side as his gaze flicked from one to the other. He swiped at Serana with clawed forepaws as she drew near. She launched icy spikes whenever opportunity allowed, striking the beast and piercing holes in his leathery wings.

Emily veered around the wall of flame and drew level with the beast's spiny back.

FO KRAH DIIN

The icy wave broke over the red dragon and he roared in pain, bringing around his ugly spiked head to meet his attacker. Emily found herself staring into piercing yellow reptilian eyes. She backed away, conjuring icy spikes on her palms as the great mouth lined with razor sharp teeth opened and she stared down the glowing gorge of the beast. She hurled the spikes in the direction of the beast, diving to one side as a tongue of flame lit up the night air, scorching the grass she had occupied moments before.

Serana continued her onslaught on the beast's wings. They were tattered now and would lift him into the sky no more. He roared, writhing and twisting and Emily saw that one of her ice spikes had lodged itself in the beast's right eye. He slammed his tail into the ground in a fury, gouging great swathes in the ground with his claws. The fire surrounded them now on all sides and the space they had to occupy was diminishing at an alarming rate. Emily summoned ice on her palms, trying to extinguish the flame and she saw Serana doing the same. The red dragon fixed Emily with his one good eye and she was forced to dodge to one side as his great clawed forepaw crashed down into the earth. He roared savagely as his claws missed the Earthling by mere inches.

"Succumb to my power or burn," he bellowed, loosing a tongue of flame into the night sky in is anger. The air was acrid. It burned their throats and stung their eyes. As the dragon reared back to strike once more Emily braced herself against the ground, an idea forming in her mind. She saw the fire welling up in his gorge, preparing to stream down upon her like a rain of magma. She felt the icy surge rising in her own throat. As the fire ripped past the deadly fangs so did the surge of frost erupt from her own mouth. They clashed in mid-air, blazing and freezing, blinding white and fiery orange all at once. The two powers fought for dominance.

The red dragon's roar guttered as the ice pushed against the flame, forcing it back. The ice coated his jaws and he felt his smoke turn to steam. His eyes went wide and his roar turned to a gurgling choking as the fire within him was smothered. The great red spiked head lolled forwards and the heavy spaded tail fell limp against the earth. Above the crackle of the flames Emily heard the roar of their second adversary. Cresting the wall of flames, fire reflecting off of every polished white scale, was the white dragon. Freezing breath, every bit as cold as her own, gushed forth, quelling the flames before him.

"I told him his arrogance would be his downfall," he laughed, a great booming laugh, "Now it is I who shall bring Miraak the prize. He and his lady will be most pleased."

"His Lady?" yelled Emily at the white dragon, "And who is she?" The dragon's scaly lip curled.

"My Lady Maylene," he replied. Emily froze.

Only when the dragon sent another icy blast her way did she break from the spell of stupefaction, diving into the burnt remnants of the grass. Serana grabbed her hand and they ran towards the unburnt section of the field.

"Hiding will not save you now," roared the white dragon, sending an icy gale after them.

"What'll we do now?" cried Emily as they ran, "I doubt arrows will be anymore effective on him than his brother."

"Maybe now's the time to use that shout Hermaeus Mora taught you," Serana shouted back. Emily nodded. They skidded to a halt as the great winged silhouette of the white dragon surged toward them, grass bending double under the wind whipped up by his wings. Emily braced herself against the ground as he reached them, hovering above the earth with great ragged wingbeats.

"Face me, immortal," he bellowed, "See if thee can withstand my frozen wrath." Emily called forth the words from within herself, the words to control, to manipulate. She hated the feel of them within her. They twisted, coiling like slick oily tentacles around her thoughts. Her lips parted and she shouted.

GOL HAH DOV

A bright golden light erupted from her mouth. It coiled and writhed through the air, even as the white dragon open his mouth to expel his frosty breath. The yellow coils ensnared the white beast and forced his wings to fold. He crashed to the ground, bowing under the weight of her thu'um which seemed to shackle each of his four limbs in place. His head was bowed and he fixed her with icy blue eyes.

"Master, your voice carries weight to it," he growled, "What would you wish of me?" Emily steeled herself before speaking.

"Tell me your name," Emily asked.

"I am Hwit, lord of this island and guardian of its borders," said the dragon.

"Hwit, I ask that you leave us to enter Miraak's tower unhindered," Emily said, her voice still shaking with the Thu'um's energy.

"This I cannot do, master," replied the white dragon, "Miraak's tower is impossible for mortals to scale. Even for immortals such as yourselves." He fixed Serana with his piercing blue eyes.

"Then how do we get up there?" Emily asked.

"Master, my wings could carry you and your companion up there with ease," growled Hwit, "The winds still do my bidding."

"Very well," said Emily, "Take us to Miraak."

Hwit lowered his great head to the two vampiresses. His scales were cold, colder than their own skin as they climbed astride his vast scaly neck. Emily gulped. Riding a broom was one thing but riding a dragon was another. She gripped the ivory horns that decorated the beast's mighty head tightly. She felt Serana's arms around her waist, gripping just as tightly as the dragon braced himself against the ground. Great wings arced overhead. And then they felt themselves thrown forwards as the wings beat downward, launching the great reptilian form into the sky.