The tavern was silent. The inhabitants from the night before had dispersed. It was morning and they all returned to their daily business. Stefan and Serana were fast asleep in room two of the tavern. They were spooning as they slept. Serana slept on her side with Stefan behind her and his arm around her waist and his face touching her hair. Stefan awoke slowly he kissed Serana's hair as he awoke.
Serana felt this and she awoke slowly. She smiled as she felt it and sighed happily.
"Good morning Stefan," she said.
"Good morning my ravishing Vampire Queen," he replied kissing her hair and stroking her slender body.
They lay in silence for a moment.
"We should get moving," said Stefan gently.
Serana took his hand and squeezed it softly.
"Give me a moment," she said. She rolled over and faced him. "Let's just enjoy the morning together."
She kissed him passionately and he stroked her hair. They gazed into each others eyes for a moment.
"Let's go," she said.
Stefan got up just as she followed suit. Stefan opened the wardrobe and removed his armour. He began suiting up, as Serana took out two blood potions. One for her and one for him. She removed the cork from hers and drank it one. Stefan clipped his armour to his chest. He then uncorked his potion bottle and drained it in one. He sheathed his sword and followed Serana out of the room into the tavern proper. They crossed the room towards the door.
Serana stepped out into the weak spring sunlight. She pulled her hood over her head to block out the sunlight. Stefan followed her seconds later. He blinked in the weak sunlight. His red eyes re-adjusted as he pulled his hood over his head. He lead Serana down the front steps towards his horse. He stopped as he noticed something different.
"Where's that werewolf?" he asked looking around.
"What werewolf?" asked Serana, automatically raising her hands for a battle.
"The werewolf you killed last night," replied Stefan. "It fell right here. I remember."
Serana looked at the patch of the ground. The corpse had indeed disappeared. There was nothing except a pool of blood.
"It's gone," said Serana.
There were patches of blood leading away from the pool. The patches lead away from the tavern and towards a steep hill to their right.
"He's up that mountain," said Stefan pointing to the trail of blood leading towards the mountain. "We should eliminate him now before he finds us again."
"You need silver to kill a werewolf," said Serana.
Stefan put his hand behind his back and drew a short silver dagger from a scabbard on the rear of his belt. He drew it and presented it Serana.
She took it and inspected it.
"Where did you get this?" she asked.
"I made it before we left," he replied. "Just in case."
"I could have used this last night," she said scornfully.
"You were too busy knocking me on my back," he said stung. "There wasn't really much chance for you to use it."
He took it from her and held it as Serana frowned at him. She was tempted to blast him with an ice spike as punishment for not informing her about his dagger. She decided against it however, there were other ways she could exact her revenge.
"Let's go hunting," said Stefan his silver dagger glinting in the sunlight.
He patted his horse gratefully and followed the trail of blood along the stone pathway.
He looked back at Serana whose red eyes were fixed on the mountain next to them.
"Coming?" he asked looking back at her. His red eyes glowed in a way that was reminiscent to way hers did all those years ago in the Cathedral at Castle Volkihar. She shook herself out of her stupor and sprinted after Stefan.
The trudged up the steep path, occasionally slipping and sliding on the rocks and dirt that hindered their progress. The blood trail was getting smaller and smaller ans it became clear that it would get more and more challenging to follow this trail. They stopped to catch their breath. Stefan looked up the mountain as the trail of blood thinned. Up ahead was the entrance to a small cave. He pointed to it.
"In there," he said.
Serana nodded.
"Stefan," she said batting her eyelashes. "All the climbing has made me very tired. Can you carry me in your strong arms?"
"Anything for you Serana," he said at once. He bent down and she climbed onto his back. Her legs dangled over his shoulder.
"Thank you Stefan," she said.
He smiled up at her and continued to follow the trail.
It was tough going, made worse by Serana sitting on his shoulders. He wasn't going to point this out however as she was perfectly content sitting there. Serana ducked as they passed under low branches and trees. Stefan slipped across a set of damp rocks as they reached the mouth of the cave. He bent down again to allow Serana to climb off. She landed with a crunch on the gravel. Stefan drew his silver dagger and lead her into the mouth of the cave.
Their eyes adjusted to the darkness of the cave. Stefan lowered his hood and crept carefully through the darkness. He looked back to see Serana following him, her hands were sparking with chain lightning at the ready. They crept quietly as the cave opened up to a small opening. A large black object could be seen slumped against a rock face. The yellow eyes glowed in the semi-darkness. Stefan crept closer to the beast.
At once there was movement. The beast saw them approaching. It stood up and roared loudly. Stefan drew his dagger as the werewolf advanced on them. Serana shot chain lightning at it. She alternated to ice spike. The advance slowed. She resumed chain lightning. The werewolf lunged at her. She moved aside. The werewolf landed. It skidded to a halt, throwing up dust.
Stefan advanced. He lunged at the werewolf. The werewolf strafed. Serana threw chain lightning again. The two attackers were driving it berserk. It roared again and advanced on Serana as she was closest. It sprinted towards her. Her magicka ran dry. She drew her Daedric Sword of Fire. She slashed it across the chest. The beast roared. It slashed its claws at her. The claws caught her arm. A wound opened and blood spurted from it. Serana leapt back clutching her wounded arm. Stefan raced forwards at double speed. He leapt high into the air and landed on the werewolf's back. The werewolf roared and tried to shake him off. Stefan clutched the werewolf around the neck. He drew his dagger. He plunged it deep into the werewolf's chest.
The werewolf roared and pain. Stefan stabbed him again, and again and again. He leapt off the beast as it fell to the floor. It keeled over into a heap on the floor, dead. This time for good. Blood leaked from the many wounds in it's chest and torso. Stefan sheathed his dagger and bounded over to Serana. She was stood in the corner nursing her open wound.
Stefan took her arm, pulled it straight and moved his hand across the wound. Gold light issued from his hand as it passed over the wound. Serana felt it heal instantly.
"Thank you," she said gratefully flexing her arm.
"You're welcome," he replied. "How does it feel?"
"Much better," she replied.
He hugged her tightly and kissed her on the cheek. He turned his attention the corpse of the werewolf. It seemed the transformation was wearing off as it had died. Stefan frowned as he saw the werewolf changing back to it's human form. Serana, still in Stefan's arms, turned to look at the body laying on the ground.
"I recognise him," said Serana. "Wasn't he at Bloated Man's Grotto?"
She looked up at Stefan frowning with confusion.
"He was," said Stefan.
They looked at each other. Something clicked into place.
"Sinding," he said quietly.