The door to the four shields tavern opened. Stefan emerged alone. Serana had chosen to remain on his horse to wait for him and guard her wedding dress.
She smiled as she saw him. He had just paid a courier to deliver his message to Riften. He mounted his horse. He pulled the reigns and they cantered slowly in the direction of Falkreath.
Serana held onto his waist tightly. Even though she was used to the feeling of riding a horse, she wanted to hold onto his waist because she liked it. They rode in silence, the wind whistling around them. Serana rested her head on his back as she held onto his waist. The journey was so relaxing that she had begun to feel sleepy. Slowly, she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
It was almost midnight before they had arrived at Lake-view Manor. His horse slowed to a stop outside the property. He looked behind him to see Serana had fallen into a deep sleep. He rested her head on the leather case as he dismounted carefully. He removed her right foot from the stirrup and made his way around his horse. He then removed her left foot before putting his arm around her chest. He gently lifted her from horseback and placed his other arm around her legs.
Serana noticed a change in her position and she awoke slowly.
"Stefan?"she whispered sleepily seeing his face and smiling.
She rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck. He opened the front door with his shoulder and carried her through the door way towards the stairs. He carried her up the stairs, along the corridor and laid her down gently on his bed. He then turned to leave the room. Serana gripped his belt.
"Come to bed," she muttered sleepily.
"I will my Serana," he said. "Momentarily. First, I need to collect your case from Valerica."
She released his belt.
"Don't be too long," she demanded still in a stupor of semi-consciousness.
Stefan left the room. He exited the house and unloaded the leather case containing Serana's dress. He carried it into the house, and placed it onto the floor. He was about to shut the door when he heard a noise outside.
He froze, clutching the hilt of his Dragonbone sword. He looked around outside. His horse had cantered off to the stables to get some well earned rest. It was pitch black and he could see nothing. He cast the detect life spell. Nothing. Satisfied he closed the door. A second later he opened it again, he cast the detect dead spell to find two objects hiding in the bushes nearby. Vampires!
He cast a flaming familiar. The flaming wolf bounded menacingly towards the hiding Vampires. It exploded in a ball of fire causing the Vampires to yelp in pain. The fire burned their skin.
"Stefan!" they hissed. "Your blood is mine."
They ran from the bushes and ran towards him. Stefan drew his sword. One of them lunged at him. He raised his shield and blocked the blow. The Vampire staggered. Stefan slashed at it. The vampire screamed in pain.
Its companion lunged at Stefan. Stefan blocked it, barely. The force staggered Stefan. He slammed his shield into the Vampire's face. Its nose broke, spilling blood everywhere. Stefan lunged his sword into the Vampire. He opened its chest. It fell to the floor in a pool of undead blood. The first Vampire, outraged of the death of his companion lunged at Stefan.
Serana, who was asleep upstairs heard the commotion. She awoke with a start. Her Vampire senses could detect another of her kind. She leapt up, threw open the door and sprinted down the stairs. She jumped the last three stairs to see Stefan putting a tremendous fight against the advancing Vampire.
Stefan raised his shield as blow after blow hit him from the Vampire's Ebony sword. Stefan lunged his sword at the Vampire. The Vampire jumped backward. He lunged at Stefan once again. Stefan thrust his sword at the Vampire, his shield raised. He caught the Vampire in the arm. Blood gushed from the severed Artery. Furious, the Vampire lunged at him again.
"No!" cried Serana. "Not my Stefan!"
Serana grabbed an Ebony war axe from the weapon rack. She raised it and sprinted to the the Vampire. She brought it down on the Vampires shoulder, cutting off his arm. She then kicked him aside and sliced her axe through the air decapitating him. His headless body fell slowly to the floor. Stefan looked at Serana breathing heavily.
"What?"she asked returning the look.
"That's my girl," he said in awe. He sheathed his sword, dropping his shield and pulled Serana close to him.
Serana dropped the Ebony war axe with an almighty clang on the wooden floor. They kissed deeply and passionately.
"Are all Vampires this much trouble?"he asked flirtingly.
Serana cocked her eyebrows at him as they kissed once more. Stefan kicked the door shut.
Frostfall, 11th of. A few days after the Vampire attacks. Serana and Stefan had been enjoying some peace and quiet. Stefan had been reading her the contents of his library. Serana sat on his lap as they passed the days together. He read her book after book and she sat on his lap listening intently. Serana loved listening to him read to her, something she never experienced when she was a child; the joy of being read to. She rested her head on his shoulder with her arm around his neck as he read and explained the historical events and stories of the centuries she was locked away. He would never tire of explaining the events to her, and was patient enough even if she found something difficult to understand. Something else that she loved, he had the patience of a saint.
The 11st of Frostfall dawned bright and cold. Stefan stood at the table of his kitchen. He was cutting up some vegetables and fruit. Since he had learned that his diet affected the blood he gave Serana he had dramatically changed his eating habits. Serana sat at a table in the garden. She was looked out over his flowers and over to the lake behind the house. A place she frequented, as she enjoyed watching the sunrise.
Stefan looked up and he saw a figure through the window. The figure approached the door and knocked on it. Stefan lowered his knife and walked over to the front door. He opened it to see a courier standing at the door.
"Stefan Volkihar?"asked the courier.
"Yes,"replied Stefan.
The courier opened his leather pouch and rifled through some papers. He pulled out a three folded one and handed it to him.
"From the Temple of Mara in Riften," he said. "Something about your wedding."
Stefan took it nervously.
"That's it," said the courier. "Got to go."
"Thanks," said Stefan.
The courier nodded. He turned and disappeared into the forest. Stefan stood at the doorway looking at the letter. He broke the seal and opened it slowly.
"Stefan Volkihar,
We regret to inform you that due to the recent Vampire attacks on our cities and hold capitals it would in poor taste for our temple to host a union of marriage involving a Vampire and a mortal such as yourself.
Thank you for your understanding.
Temple of Mara."
Stefan read and re-read the letter. He screwed it up as anger suddenly pulsed through him. He returned to the table and slammed it down in fury. He picked up the tray of food and an empty goblet. He carried it outside to where Serana was watching the sunrise, waiting for him. He placed the tray on the table, Serana looked up at him as he sat next to her. He placed the goblet in the centre of the table. He suspended his hand over it. He pulled out his dagger and was about to cut himself. But he stopped.
"Stefan?"asked Serana sweetly. "Is something the matter?"
He was silent for a moment, his hand still suspended over the empty goblet.
"Stefan," prompted Serana. "Is there something the matter?"
He looked over to her. He lowered his hand and placed the dagger on the table.
"Stefan," she said concerned. "I can tell when something is bothering you. I can see it in your eyes."
He sighed.
"Wait here," he said. He got up and retrieved the letter. He returned to her and handed it to her.
"Oh," said Serana. "It's from the temple."
Serana opened it and read it. Her face fell as she reached the end. She lowered the letter and looked at Stefan.
"I'm sorry," he said dejectedly.
"What are we going to do?" asked Serana.
Her eyes welled up and tears began rolling down her pretty face.
"We are going to get married here," he said simply in a voice of determination.
Serana looked up at him.
"Here?"she asked.
He took her hand. She stood up and he lead her to the end of the garden, down the stairs to the edge of the lake behind his house.
"Right here," he said.
Serana looked around. The scenery was indeed spectacular, much better than that of Autumn-shade Clearing. It was also devoid of hostile wildlife, thus making it safer.
"But the priests at the temple of Mara won't perform the ceremony," said Serana sadly.
"We don't need those priests," said Stefan. "We can find a priest in Falkreath to do it."
Serana wiped her eyes.
"You can?" she asked.
Stefan faced her and pulled her close to him. He wiped her eyes.
"Hey," he said soothingly. "You are my Vampire. Whatever you want, I will do everything I can to give it to you."
She smiled at him.
"Do you want to get married here?" he asked.
Serana looked around. She nodded.
"Yes," she said. "It's beautiful."
He kissed her.
"Then we shall," he said determinedly.
Serana threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. She then turned her head and looked around at the surrounding area. It was indeed truly beautiful. A place where she had imagined she might get married, long before her ordeal and imprisonment. They stood in silence with their arms around each other for a moment. Eventually Serana released him.
"Thank you," she said gratefully.
"You are most welcome," he replied smiling down at her.