Three
Stephan awoke slowly. He opened his eyes and looked outside. It was still dark. He clearly hadn't been asleep for long. A few hours at the most. He sat up in the covers and allowed his eyes to adjust. His thoughts turned to Serana, he wondered if she was asleep or still reading. He decided he was going to find out. He got up and crept quietly along the corridor to the library. He opened the door to find her still in the library. However, her head was lolled to one side and she was asleep. The book she had been reading had fallen to the floor. He smiled at the sight. It was almost childlike in its setup.
He crept into the room and picked her up gently. He placed a hand around her back and around the back of her knees and hoisted her up in his strong arms. Serana stirred but didn't wake. Instead she rested her head on his shoulders. He carried her out of the library, along the corridor and into her room. Stefan opened the door with this shoulder and carried her into the bedroom. He reached the bed and gently lay her upon it. Serana stirred once again as took off her boots and covered her with the blanket.
He watched her sleeping. She slept so gracefully in nature that for a moment it was almost impossible to tell she was a vampire. A creature of the night that all mortals feared. She twitched her mouth slightly as she slept. Her long fair fell onto her face, he moved it aside and kissed her lovingly on her forehead.
"Good night Serana," he whispered. He backed out of the room slowly, his eyes still glued to her. The door closed silently. He stood outside for a moment, listening to her sleeping. He then went back to bed.
It was morning. Serana opened her eyes slowly. She was in bed. She had rolled to one side. She could see her boots arranged neatly neatly next to her bed. She looked around to see a goblet on the bedside cabinet. She sat up, and allowed the duvet to fall from around her. There was a knock on the door.
"Enter," she said.
The door opened. Without thinking she covered herself with the duvet. There was no need however as she was still fully clothed.
Stefan stood in the doorway. Serana beamed at the sight of him.
"Did I wake you up?" he asked.
"No," she replied.
She picked up her goblet and took a drink.
"How did I get into bed?" she asked. "I remember falling asleep in the library."
Stefan raised his hand and smiled awkwardly.
"You?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied. "I carried you. Even took your boots off and tucked you in."
Serana beamed at him, he saw her fangs and his heart skipped.
"Next time read me a bedtime story," she joked.
He laughed. His nose crinkled, something she found cute.
"Talking of reading," he said. "You can take some books for the journey. It's a long ride to Solitude."
"How long?" she asked taking another drink.
"About two or three days,"he replied. "I think ten books should be enough. Don't take too many, my horse can't carry us and the library."
Serana who was taking a drink, slipped at the word 'horse'. She choked. Blood slid down her chin and all over the bedsheets.
"Oh no!" she exclaimed. "I'm sorry."
She put her goblet down and began trying to clean up the mess with the cuff of her robes.
"It's perfectly alright," he replied.
He dashed out of the room and returned with a small bottle of clear looking potion. He threw it over the stain. It disappeared instantly.
"All done with," he said.
"What about my robes?"she asked.
Blood had slid down the front of her robes and stained them. She also had blood on her cuffs from trying to remove it from the bedsheets.
"Have a look in the wardrobe," he replied. He collected her empty goblet and left the room.
"Don't dally," he called. "We will be leaving soon."
Outside the house stood a magnificent brown Shire Horse. Skyrim was famous for its hardy horses. Stefan was loading his steed with supplies for the journey. The bottles of potions and poisons he made yesterday clinked in the leather sack hanging from the saddle. He attached his shield to the other side and was tightening the straps. He heard the front door open. He turned to see Serana standing in the doorway.
She had found the robes in the wardrobe. They were a deep, dark red. A leather dress that stopped short of her knees but were complimented by black trousers, also made of leather. Elaborate workings had been embossed around the bust area with two triangular shaped peep holes at the beginning of the bust. Her long hair fell onto her robes, complimenting the workings on the robes. The set was completed by a set of boots, similar to her current ones but at first glance looked stronger and were slightly darker.
Serana saw her looking at her.
"What?"she asked frowning at him and putting her hands on her hips.
He smiled at her.
"Wow," he said. "You look wonderful."
At once her frown changed to a smile. She beamed at him.
"Does it fit alright?" he asked. "I wasn't sure about the size."
"It does," she replied. "It's a perfect fit."
"It's a little heavier because it's double stitched leather," he explained. "So that should keep you safer from any vampires that want to try and trouble us on the journey."
Serana smiled at him.
"Thank you," she said.
He shook his hand, as if to dismiss her gratitude.
"Do you know how to ride?" he asked.
"Ride?"repeated Serana taken aback. "Ride what?"
"Ride a horse my dear," he replied. "Did you learn how to ride?"
"Er..." she began. "Well...my mother...she...er...she..."
"That's a no," finished Stefan. "Now I understand why you were so nervous this morning."
"I'm sorry," she replied.
"It's not a problem," he reassured her. "I can teach you."
He patting his horses head gently. He stroked her mane and patted her once more.
"Horses can tell if you are nervous," he explained. "So don't be. She's not going to hurt you."
Serana stood rooted to the spot. She didn't need a horse to tell her if she was nervous.
"Come on," he said. He extended his hand. Serana looked at the horse and then looked at his extended hand. Slowly she approached him. She took his hand gingerly. Her hand slipped.
"Sorry," he said. "My hands are all sweaty."
He wiped the sweat on his armour and extended his hand again. Serana took it. She felt the callouses and scars from his handling of a sword. His skin was rough, and she could feel breaks here and there.
Stefan grasped her hand. It was graceful how small her hands were. His fingers closed just short of her knuckles. Her skin, it was this point he could see how white she was. As a Breton, he was white, but Serana was paler than him almost the colour of...death. Despite this, her skin was smooth, smooth as silk but soft at the same time. The way he has always imagined a woman's skin to fell like. She was also cold, cold as the grave.
He grasped her hand and lead her to his horse. Serana swallowed hard.
"Put your foot in the stirrup there," he instructed pointing to it. Serana did as he instructed.
"Now," he said. "Stand on the stirrup and swing your leg over the horse."
Serana stood on the stirrup. She placed her full body weight on her left leg and tried to hoist herself onto the horse. She failed and instead clattered into Stefan.
His reactions were quick and he put his arms on her waist to stop her from falling. It was at this moment he felt how slender she was.
"Oops," said Stefan smiling.
Serana blushed in embarrassment.
"Sorry," she said meekly.
He chuckled as she allowed him to hold her.
She tried again. This time as she attempted to mount, he held onto her and guided her onto his steed.
Serana placed her other foot on the stirrup and fixed herself on the saddle, trying to make herself comfortable. She leaned back as Stefan mounted in front of her.
"Gosh,"she said. "You make it look so easy."
He blushed. Serana smiled, he's cute when he blushed she thought.
"You might want to hold on," he said. "It can get a little bumpy."
Serana placed her hands on his waist. He felt how cold her hands were. He suppressed a shudder. He waited until they were as tight as she was comfortable with. She let go suddenly.
"I can't," she said urgently.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
"My hands are so cold," she replied. "And your body is so warm. I...I can't. It feels...unusual."
He took her hands and placed them around his waist again. He caressed them softly and smiled at her reassuringly.
"I don't mind," he said. "Hold on tight."
He shook the reigns of his horse. The horse shuddered and began cantering. Serana held onto Stefan's waist, afraid she would fall off.