Stefan almost ran back home to Serana. He was so elated to tell her the good news. He walked as fast as he could back under the rope bridge. The bandit seemed to be lonely by himself and had since departed. Stefan virtually skipped up the path to his homestead. He reached the front door. He found his horse was still in her stables. He opened the front door.
"SERANA!" he called his voice echoing around his enormous house. "SERANA!"
Serana sprinted into the house from the back yard. She skidded into the lounge and saw Stefan standing in the doorway.
"There's my ravishing Vampire," he said happily.
Serana approached him as he closed the door. He removed his sword and leaned it against the wall.
"Stefan," cried Serana. "You're home."
"Yes,"he said. "I bring you good news."
He took out the folded piece of paper and handed it to Serana. She took it and unfolded it.
"Read it," he instructed.
"The wedding of Stefan and Serana will take place on 16th Frostfall at Lake-view manor," read Serana. "Guests should informed as soon as possible."
Serana looked up at him. He nodded. She screwed up the piece of paper in her hand, made a small noise of happiness and ran at him. He picked her up and twirled her around and around in his arms. He put her down and she kissed him happily.
"Thank you,"she said.
"Anything for you my Serana," he replied.
She smiled, tears of joy ran down her face as he kissed her once more. She then suddenly thought of something.
"Oh no," she said. "I must tell mother."
She was about to go but Stefan didn't release her.
"No need,"he said. "I already have a courier travelling to Castle Volkihar."
"It's going to be lonely with just mother here," said Serana.
"The dawn-guard are also in attendance and my court from Whiterun," said Stefan.
"The dawn-guard?"asked Serana. "You invited Vampire hunters to your wedding? You're marrying a Vampire."
"I know," he said. "I thought they might enjoy the irony."
Serana shook her head in disbelief.
"So that means I only have 5 days to get ready," said Serana suddenly realising.
"Quite," said Stefan. "Will you have enough time?"
"Yes," she replied. "Will you?"
"Of course,"he answered. "We'd better get started."
Serana kissed him once again, deeper and full of gratitude.
"Thank you Stefan," she said happily.
She released him and made her way to the stairs.
"Mother gave me something for our wedding," she said. "I want to check on it."
"As you wish," he said. "I should check to make sure that we have enough chairs."
Serana walked up the stairs. Stefan began looking around the house, counting the amount of people he could seat. He had decided that he would a couple more benches. It was better to have too many than too little. He went into the garden and picked up his woodcutters axe. He wandered down to the edge of the lake and found a large tree. He began attacking it with his axe until it collapsed into a heap near him. He dragged the tree back to his manor gardens and began removing branches and forming logs. He would use these logs to make several large benches.
Serana had entered the spare room. It was now the spare room because she and Stefan now slept in the same bed. She opened the wardrobe and found her wedding dress waiting for her. She pulled it out with difficulty and lay it on the bed. She would leave it there until the 16th as to avoid it from creasing. She glanced out of the window and watched Stefan working tirelessly. He finished cutting the wood into the right size. Now he was fashioning the wood cuttings into long shaped objects.
She decided that she would go down and try to help him. Even if she couldn't, she was going to try. Serana tore her eyes away from the window and made her way down the stairs. She crossed the ground floor and stepped out into the yard. She approached Stefan who made several of the long shaped objects.
"Do you need help with that?" asked Serana.
Stefan looked up at her, little beads of sweat were peppered on his brow. He ran his forearm across his brow.
Serana grabbed a small handkerchief from the table and dabbed his forehead gently.
"Thanks,"he said breathlessly.
"Can I help you with that?" asked Serana.
He looked up at her.
"Honestly," he said. "Yes. You can."
"What can I do?"she asked.
Stefan smiled. She was determined to do something to help him.
"You can take those smaller squares and nail them to the longer pieces," he instructed. "Let me show you."
He lead her to the pile of wood pieces. He picked up a longer piece and a small square piece. He then leaned the longer piece against a well worn tree stump. He slipped the square piece underneath the other side. On the grass was a small pile of iron nails and a hammer. He picked up a nail and the hammer. He placed the nail on the longer piece above where the square one met. He lined up the nail and began hammering it into the wood. Serana watched him intently. Once the nail was in he brushed away the debris and showed Serana.
"Seems easy enough, " she said.
"Wait," he said. "You should wear gloves."
"No," said Serana. "I don't need them."
"Your hands are too dainty," he said. "I don't want them to get hurt."
He ran inside the house and picked up a pair of leather gauntlets and returned to Serana.
"Here,"he said handing them to her.
Serana beamed as she took them and slid them on. They were surprisingly comfortable. Serana followed Stefan's actions. She took a nail and began hammering it into the wood. Once she was finished she admired her own handiwork. The nail was slightly wonky but other than that is was almost identical to what Stefan had shown her.
Stefan looked up from his work to see how Serana was getting on.
"Not bad," he said. He blew away the debris.
"Now the other side," he instructed.
Serana turned it around and nailed in the square piece just as she had done before.
Once she had finished, she showed Stefan her work. He smiled at it.
"Nicely done," he said. "You've just made a bench."
Serana smiled happily, exposing her fangs.
"It's a little uneven," she said placing it on the ground and rocking it a little.
"No," he said. "That's just because the ground is uneven. Your bench is perfect Serana."
She smiled at him.
"Where shall I put it?" she asked.
He pointed over to an empty section in front of the stone wall.
"Just leave it there," he said. "I'll move them later."
"I can carry it," she said standing up.
"No, no, no," said Stefan also standing up. "It's too heavy for you."
He took the bench she made and carried it over to an empty spot near the stone wall. He placed it down and returned to Serana. She picked up more wood pieces, along with the hammer and nails and began making another bench.