Stefan pushed his plate away. He had eaten his fill. Serana laid down her goblet, it was empty. Even though they had decided to get married here at his manor, Serana still had a small look of sadness on her pretty face. Stefan could see this and put his arm around her to comfort her.
"I'm going to fix this," he said simply.
He stood up.
"Where are you going?" asked Serana as he stood up.
"I'm going to Falkreath," he replied. "They have a temple there. The priest can do our wedding for us."
"What if he refuses?" asked Serana fearfully.
"I can be very persuasive," replied Stefan.
He turned to leave and entered the rear of the property. Serana was hot on his heels.
"Stefan," she began in the same fearful tone.
He turned to look at her.
"Serana," he began softy. "Don't worry."
He took her stroked her cold face softly. Serana touched his hand and held it firmly, almost to give her a sense of security.
"We are going to be married," he said softly but firmly. "I chose you. Even if I have to travel the entire continent of Tamriel, I will find a priest to marry us."
He stroked her face reassuringly. He then kissed her forehead.
"Suppose you can't,"she said once again.
"I can be very persuasive," said Stefan again.
He then walked over to the weapon rack. He took off his Dragonbone sword. He buckled the scabbard to his belt and slid the sword into it.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," he said.
He made his way to the front door. Serana followed him.
Stefan saddled his horse and instead of mounting it, he left her standing in the stables looking at him confused. He then walked back to Serana who stood in the doorway.
"I've saddled my horse," he said. "If there's any trouble, get on her and say my name. She will know where to find me."
Serana nodded. Stefan stroked her face again.
"Don't worry," he said.
Serana gave him a small nod. He kissed her forehead once more. It took an eternity for him to turn and leave her standing in the doorway.
"I'll be back as soon as I can,"he replied. He walked backwards through the forest, his eyes on Serana. She watched him leaving. He stumbled on a small rock. He then decided it would be a good idea if he walked forwards. He reached the end of the path. He looked back and could see his house in the distance. Serana was still standing at the door, watching him leave. He turn right on the road and made his way towards Falkreath.
The road was deserted. He could hear voices in the distance. Up ahead was a bridge, which was home to two bandits. Both of them archers, he would never be able to get past them without being seen. Then he had a brainwave. He crept behind a small cliff with one of the bandits in his sight. He called the fury spell. His right hand glowed a sinister red colour. He took aim and fired it at the bandit nearest to him.
At once the bandit glowed red. She stood up and drew her bow. She loaded an arrow from the quiver and shot it at her companion, who was closest.
"What do you think you are doing?" he called.
He stood up, drew his bow, loaded an arrow and fired. It flew through the air and caught her in the shoulder. The furied bandit loaded another arrow and fired. It missed. He fired another. It missed.
Stefan ducked behind the rock. His sides split with silent laughter as he watched them battling each other. He peered over the rock. He tried to silently sneak past, but his body was reluctant to move. He wanted to stay, laugh and see the results of the chaos he had created.
They advanced on each other. The furied bandit drew her dagger and lunged at her companion. He drew his sword. He blocked her. She lunged at him again. He blocked it. He slashed at her. She leapt back. He slashed at her again. She jumped back. She lunged at him. He lunged at her. His sword penetrated her stomach. He pulled it out as she fell to the floor.
"That's the last of them," he said with a sigh of relief.
Stefan was still crouched behind the rock, fighting to keep his laughter silent. Once the battle was over his laughter died away. He now had to silently creep past the bandit without being seen. He emerged from behind the rock and crept slowly underneath the wooden rope bridge. The bandit, who was too occupied looking at his fallen comrade, didn't notice as Stefan crept under the bridge.
Once he was clear of the bridge, he stopped sneaking and continued his journey to Falkreath. He entered the city, which the main gate was flanked by two guards. They motioned to him as he entered. Stefan entered the quiet city and made his way towards the Hall of The Dead. Once he reached his destination, he opened the door and entered the building.
It was smaller than most places he was accustomed to. It was quite unreal to think that a temple could be this small. Nevertheless, he could find two occupants sat at the table. One of them in robes and the other in normal clothes. He approached the individual wearing the robes.
"Excuse me," began Stefan. "Runil?"
Runil looked up at him.
"Ah Stefan,"he said. "Come, please sit."
Stefan sat as requested.
"What can I do for you today?"asked Runil.
"I need a priest," replied Stefan. He decided to get right to the point. "To marry me."
The priest looked at him.
"This is a temple of Arkay," said the priest. "We don't..."
"...Yes, yes," said Stefan dismissively. "I know about Riften. But they refused to marry us."
"That's most unusual, I've never heard of that before," said Runil.
"My bride is a Vampire," replied Stefan. He decided that honesty was best in this case.
Runil looked at him.
"A...,"he began.
"Vampire, yes,"finished Stefan.
Runil was silent for a moment. Stefan gave him time to process the information.
"Well," he began at least. "This is something I've never heard of before. A mortal marrying a Vampire."
"Look," began Stefan. "We can't choose who we fall in love with, and as priest you cannot tell us who are allowed to marry. It is purely our decision."
Runil looked at him, stung.
"Now,"continued Stefan. "I intend to marry Serana and I will gladly travel the entire continent of Tamriel to find a priest who will marry us. So you can either save me the journey or this conversation is over."
Runil looked at him. It seemed that Stefan had made his point and was silent.
"I've never performed a ceremony with a mortal and a Vampire,"said Runil. "Are there any special circumstances you require?"
"Just the one," said Stefan. "We would like to get married beside the lake near my house I live at Lake-view manor, just past Pine watch."
"Very well," said Runil. "I think we can manage that. When would you like to get married?"
"As soon as possible," replied Stefan. "I'm tired of waiting. Furthermore, if left too long you might get cold feet and change your mind."
Runil gave him a patronising look. He then stood up and walked over to his schedule book.
"Today is the 11th of Frostfall," said Stefan as Runil flicked through his book.
"How are you suited for the 16th?"asked Runil.
"Perfect," said Stefan.
Runil scribbled his name and Serana's name in the book. Stefan stood up and approached the book.
"Give me a copy of that," he demanded.
Runil took a clean sheet of paper. He scrawled the details upon it and handed it to Stefan.
"We shall discuss payment after the ceremony," said Stefan.
Runil was about to argue, but then decided against it.
"Very good," he said nodding his head.
Stefan folded the paper and slid into his leather pouch.
"See you on the 16th," said Stefan.
Runil gave him a small smile.
Stefan turned to leave. He opened the door and exited the building. He then made his way to Dead Man's Drink. He was about to open the door when someone had already beaten him to it. A courier exited.
"Wait," said Stefan.
"I'm in a rush," said the courier. "I can't stop."
"I'll give you 300 coin to make my deliveries first," said Stefan.
"Can't," replied the courier.
"Fine 500," said Stefan urgently.
"Now you're talking," he said. "What do you need?"
"I need you to send some letters to these places as fast as you can," said Stefan.
He lead the courier into the tavern and to a corner table of the room. Stefan then grabbed several pieces of empty paper and began scribbling the following,
"You are invited to the wedding of Stefan and Serana Volkihar at Lake-view manor on 16th Frostfall."
He then signed one of them to the Dawn-guard, one of them to Lydia and the other to Valerica.
The courier looked down at the addresses.
"Fort Dawn-guard, Castle Volkihar and Whiterun in 5 days," said the courier. "That's impossible for one man."
"Then you can hire some of your friends," said Stefan.
The courier swung his legs over the bench and dashed over to a small room in the corner. Three more couriers appeared.
"I trust we shall all get the same amount?"asked the courier.
"Fine," said Stefan.
They huddled around him.
"Here,"said Stefan. He finished the letter for the Dawn-guard. The courier gave it his colleague. Stefan finished the letter to Lydia. The courier gave this to his second colleague. The first courier took the letter to Valerica. Stefan pulled out his coin purse, which contained exactly 1,500 coins. The courier took the purse and shared the money equally between the three of them. They then took their letters and bounded out of the door.