The sun was rising as they approached Castle Volkihar. Stefan held the reigns as Serana clutched his waist tightly. She prayed and prayed that her mother would be home when they arrived. She looked up to see Stefan 's head was slumping. It was clear that he was starting to show affects of his Vampirism. He was not accustomed the light as once he was. She could feel his body growing weak with hunger and starvation.

They reached the pier with the little boat. Except there was no little boat. Stefan dismounted his horse and stood at the end of the pier. He squinted out in the distance and he could see the little boat at the pier of the island which the castle stood at.

"That could be problematic," he said pointing to the boat at the rocks of the island. Serana stood looking at the water. She was thinking fast of a way to get to the castle.

"Stand back," she requested.

Stefan did as asked. She raised her hands and blasted the water in front of them with Frostbite. The water in front of them froze.

"Coming?" she asked looking at Stefan.

She lead him onto the thin ice created by the Frostbite spell. She was grateful for his magicka circlet. Her magicka regenerated phenomenally fast. It seemed that Stefan really knew his enchantments.

She froze a path in front of them on the water. The path was only temporary as as soon as they had walked over it, the frost melted into water once more. Serana stepped out onto the rocks of Volkihar Island. Stefan followed just as the last of the ice melted. The sun was almost fully risen. Stefan felt his skin burn slightly as the sunlight touched his skin.

Serana took his arm and lead him up the stone path to the castle. She reminisced back to the last time they had walked up this path together. They had informed her mother of their engagement and then made love in the drawing room. Those events seemed like a lifetime ago compared to the problems she had now. Stefan was deathly quiet as they approached the door. Serana lifted the ring and pushed it open. The hinges creaked as the door opened. She lead him into the castle and closed the door behind them.

Stefan felt better now they were out of the sun. His skin wasn't burning. However, he still had this insatiable hunger and terrible fatigue. All he wanted to do was slip into a deep sleep until the sun made way for the moon. He trudged his feet as Serana lead him to the great hall.

"Mother!?" called Serana looking around.

She looked down and saw her travel bag on dumped on the floor by the stairs. She lead Stefan down the stairs and helped him into a chair at the table.

"Wait here," she requested. "I'm going to find mother."

He nodded. She kissed him and sprinted out of the room in an attempt to look for Valerica. Stefan rested his head on the table as he waited.

"Mother!" called Serana as she bolted up the stairs.

A door opened to her left. Valerica emerged suddenly. Serana skidded to a stop and clattered into her.

"Serana?" asked Valerica.

"Mother," said Serana in relief. "I'm so glad you are here."

"Yes," she said. "I just arrived. What's happened?"

Her mother looked Serana up and down.

"Serana?"she asked, there was a touch of hope in her voice. "Are you with child?"

"What?" asked Serana absent-mindedly. "No. Vampires can't sire children mother. I thought you knew that."

"I know," replied Valerica dejectedly. "Wishful thinking."

She was silent for a second.

"So what's the matter?"asked Valerica. "Why are you here so quickly after your wedding night?"

"It's Stefan,"replied Serana. "He's..."

"...changed his mind?" asked Valerica. "Serana I warned you that mortal boy isn't to be trusted."

"No mother," she cried hysterically over her rant, trying to hide her anger for her mother talking down her husband. "He's...he's..."

She struggled to find a way to describe her predicament.

"You'd better come and have a look," instructed Serana.

Serana lead her mother back down the great hall. Stefan sat at the table with his head in his hands. Whether he was asleep or awake it was hard to tell. Valerica sat at the table next to him. Serana sat on the other side as they flanked him.

"Stefan," said Valerica gently.

She shook his arm to rouse him. He lifted his head up and looked at Valerica.

"Valerica," he said cheerfully. "It's lovely to see you again."

He smiled. His fangs exposed themselves from under his lips and his red eyes glowed in the firelight. Valerica gasped and turned to Serana. Valerica noticed these changes and looked at her daughter sternly.

"Serana,"she asked scandalised. "What have you done?"

"I..I..I turned him," she replied quietly.

"You turned him?" asked Valerica. "By the blood..."

She shook her head.

"I can't believe this," said Valerica. "I gave you my blessing to marry Stefan. Despite him being a mortal, I gave you my blessing. Now I find out you have turned him. Why Serana? What on the whole of Nirn possessed you to turn him?"

Serana hung her head.

"It was my idea Valerica," said Stefan.

Valerica turned to him.

"Your idea?"she asked.

He nodded. He put his hand on Serana's thigh and squeezed it gently. He then fished around for her hand. He found it and gasped it firmly.

"Yes," he replied. "I asked Serana to turn me."

"What ever for?"asked Valerica.

He looked at Serana. He removed his hand and stroked her long hair softly.

"I didn't want to break her heart," he replied looking at her lovingly. Serana smiled at him. "I promised to be with her forever and I intend to keep my promise. This was the only way."

Serana smiled sweetly at him. She wanted to throw her arms around him, but resisted. Valerica beamed at him as he finished his sentence. She looked at them both and was reminded of the true love between them both.

"That's very noble Stefan," said Valerica. "My daughter is lucky to have met a man as determined as you."

He nodded in gratitude.

"Although, this has created some problems of its own," she informed them.

"What problems?" asked Stefan.

"Sanguinare Vampiris," replied Valerica.