DISCLAIMER: all publicly recognizable characters are owned by their respective authors and I do not take credit for their creation and I make no $$$ off of the story.

All characters recognized from Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, JRR Tolkien's "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" books, Peter Jackson's filmography, TURN: Washington's Spies (Akinbode), The Underworld Saga, Blizzard's Warcraft III and Warcraft III: the Frozen Throne, Dracula: Untold (Mirena, and certain quotes), The Count of Monte Cristo (Za'Tara name and joke only.) and Dragonheart.

Sarthinias told his friends what had happened to their home. All of the friends had tears in their eyes after hearing about Tak-Galborn's demise. Sarthinias sat up and said "What is done is done, and we cannot change what has happened. We must move on; see if our village made it to safety"

As he attempted to stand he was sent back down as he was struck with pain. Shaylar and War-Claw went to see how bad his wounds were. Shaylar let out a gasp as she saw the extent of his wounds as War-Claw let out a very defined growl at the sight of his friend's injuries. Shaylar thought to herself, "He should not have been able to survive this. Just being able to talk after all these injuries is miraculous, there's more to my friend then what appearances suggest." War-Claw laid next to his friend to provide him with some warmth and comfort.

After being bandaged, Sarthinias laid down and said "Tomorrow we must move on, we need to make sure our people made it safely to Windhelm. The Thalmor could be tracking them. The one that Tak-Galborn and I fought hired bandits to burn our village, I don't want them destroying my father's body."

"And what about the Thalmor that, Murderer!?" asked Shaylan through clenched teeth.

"If we should find him again we should fight him only to live, not out of vengeance." replied Sarthinias.

"What!?" shouted the three Wood-Elves in unison.

"We shall not seek revenge, justice will find its way to pay that man back in kind. If justice should determine that I must take his life then I'll do what I must." replied Sarthias heavily. Though he wanted to avenge his father and get back at the man that brought him so much grief. He could not act on revenge; it was not a part of him. Not yet at least. He knew his priorities, protect his family, find shelter, and survive the Thalmor that would be hunting them.

"We should stick to the mountains, there is a frozen pass that leads to Windhelm. Dawnstar is no longer safe for us, and are homes burn from the torches of bandits. We must make haste." said Sarthinias.

"No! You must rest now, you are no use to us half alive." cried Talim.

"I'll be fine, we must carry on and we cannot delay. We're all in danger here." replied Sarthinias stoutly.

"My friend, one night's rest will aid you more than harm you, you and our friends shall be safe with my clan and I." declared the mighty War-Claw.

"Very well, but on the 'morrow we make for Windhelm, I would not want to risk your family's safety War-Claw." agreed a reluctant Sarthinias as all of his friends heaved sighs of relief. War-Claw held his tongue but spoke to Sarthinias' mind. "My friend though you are correct in stating that I am looking after my family; you are not remembering that my friends are also my family." Sarthinias merely looked at the Great Snow Bear and laid back down and let sleep take him...

As the sun rose early the next morning, Sarthinias arose with it. He had some trouble standing, but he eventually gained his bearings. Out of the bark of an old Sycamore tree he fashioned himself a pike/staff. He had a great deal of trouble walking and the staff would prove invaluable, if he did not wish to slow his friends. Shaylan and his sister simultaneously awoke next, and Talim was the last to awaken. They bid farewell to War-Claw and his clan, but War-Claw spoke before they departed. "My friends, I will not be parted from you for long. I will rejoin you on the outskirts of Windhelm soon; I just need to get my clan back on its feet. My brother Fury-Fur has a den not far from the city, that we could use."

"War-Claw my friend as much as I would like to say 'I just want you to stay here with your family.' I'd be lying if I did." sighed Sarthinias. "It is no longer safe here for any of us, the Thalmor will return on the hunt for us all. I cannot be parted from any of you for long either. I have come to regard your family as my own. Very well War-Claw, I will see you when the time comes. Farewell for now."

Just as Sarthinias finished speaking, he and the three Wood-Elves departed. War-Claw's youngest son, Snout-Snapper ran out out of the den and called out to them, "Farewell my friends, I hope to see you soon!" yelled the energetic cub.

Sarthinias and company chuckled at him, then made their way towards the Shadow's Pass. The Pass was the quickest way to Windhelm from Dawnstar, but it had an infamous reputation. It was as treacherous as an underwater trench. The sides enclosed around the traveler, and all manner of darker creatures could be found in the caves, abandoned mines, and caverns. It was named the Shadow's Pass, due to its illusions. Many creatures of darkness and deceit lurk and watch for easy prey in the Pass' shadows and blind spots. As dangerous as it was, time was of the essence. The journey through the pass itself was only about a day's trek, but a thunderstorm befell the Pass as they entered it. The storm set them back a few hours, and the watchful night began to descend. The wind howled ominously, and the quartet fell a chill course through their veins, it was not from the cold. Out of the darkness a man appeared in front of them, he bore a strange armor, with dark colors and hints of deep red present in the armor. He held himself high, and wore a very disarming smile as the rain seemed not to phase him, and the cold appeared to flee from him as if he were the colder of the two. As they approached him, they realized that he concealed his teeth, he had skin as pale as the snow. His eyes were red, not bloodshot, but a shining red, with a deep hunger to them. As soon as Sarthinias gazed into the man's eyes, he realized that he and his friends were in danger. Sarthinias had his friends stop. "Ah, my dear travelers, why don't you rest, lay down your weapons, and join me for dinner." said the man in a charming tone.

"I believe we would only burden you kind sir. We really must press on, time is of the utmost importance to us." persuaded Shaylan, attempting not to sound fearful.

"Come now friends, don't be shy. I don't bite." said the man with a hint of anger as he began to advance on them.

"BACK OFF! We're no friends of yours!" threatened Sarthinias menacingly, "There's something off about you, I demand you keep your distance!" As Sarthinias spoke, he raised his pike and pointed it at what he knew was no longer a man. The creature's eyes widened in fear as he hissed at Sarthinias and he mistakenly revealed his teeth, which were perfect, except for the two elongated top incisors. "Vampire!" shouted Shaylan as he drew his bow.

Lightning flashed just in front of the Vampire, only to reveal in a split-second, that he was not alone. There were at least two dozen other Vampires watching the scene unfold with smirks on their faces. A female Vampire with jet-black hair similar to Sarthinias' spoke up, "My, my, my. Look at what we have here. A four course supper!" she licked her lips, "I'm thirsty, let's feast!" and she started towards the four, with glowing eyes. The man raised his hand in a stopping motion.

"Wait my love, let the fear sink in, their blood will be that much sweeter." said the original Vampire, who was now eyeing Talim with hunger as Sarthinias stepped in front of her.

"Leave us be, you cursed creatures!" growled Sarthinias, steeling himself as his adrenaline kicked in.

"Caligula, the young pretty one is mine." said the female that spoke up, apparently she was Caligula's mate, as she pointed to Shaylar. Shaylan and Sarthinias both growled and Shaylan growled and aimed his bow at the female's chest.

"Well, well. It appears they are not as fearful as I had previously thought, Merienna." spoke Caligula to his mate. "That is enough waiting. Let the games begin!" ordered Caligula with a sadistic smile and a small nod of his head.

"Stand fast my friends, and don't let them get their hands on you! Their grip is stronger than anything we've ever known and their strength is unbelievable." warned Sarthinias as he drew his blade and tightened the grip on his pike.

The Vampires charged at them, but not with the speed Sarthinias had anticipated them to have, still he would not take any chances. The male vampires drew their weapons which consisted of war-axes, maces, and short-swords. They bared their teeth, and their hands contracted as their nails darkened and became claws. The females slowly followed behind their mates, with their hands in the same condition. The females had looks of hunger and insane joy on their once elegant faces, but also a deep inherent desperation in all of them except Caligula and Merienna. Then it clicked in Sarthinias' mind; they were blood-starved, their powers and enhanced abilities had receded until they fed on humanoid blood. Sarthinias smiled as he felt a brief hope, they could survive this, they could win.

Talim and Shaylan let loose their arrows at a rapid rate. Shaylan hit his targets in their shoulders and knees, only slowing the males down, but one of his arrows struck a vampire directly in its heart. The Vampire roared in pain and he began to shrivel and his pale skin turned black, as if it was burned, after no more than five seconds, he was nothing more than a pile of ash. One female roared in despair and charged at Shaylan. She jumped into the four friends and threw Shaylan into the walls of the pass; Shaylan's forehead began to bleed, and she raised her hand to slash his throat. Then out of the darkness mingled with thunder and rain, an arrow struck the Vampiress in her hand and she reeled in pain as she jumped back into Caligula's ranks. Then a male Vampire smelled Shaylan's blood and ran to drain his blood. Then out of nowhere a yell was heard from the top of the Pass. "Za'Tara to the rescue! Graaaaaaahhhhhhh!" yelled a Kajiit clad in leather armor, as he jumped onto the male Vampire and stabbed it in its heart with a pair of Elven daggers. The ash pile gave the Vampires an icy hatred towards the Khajiit named Za'Tara as they attacked him, another person joined the fray. A bulky Imperial man picked up an unconscious Shaylan with one arm, then charged with Za'Tara alongside him. The pair charged towards the Vampires battling Sarthinias and the girls.

"Bite this you Undead scum!" shouted the Imperial as he drove his fist straight into the Vampire's face, breaking its jaw. He then used his sword to cut off its right arm, the Vampire shrieked in pain. Finally the Imperial stabbed the bone of the arm into the Vampire's heart.

"Xander, have you ever heard of Overkill? Za'Tara thinks you show off too much." teased Za'Tara.

"Shut it cat! What do you call that dramatic entrance you made? 'To the rescue!' Haha come on! We've got more Vamps to stake!" laughed Xander as Za'Tara mock-glared at him. As Xander began to use the mace of the fallen vampire along with his own sword to cut down the Vampires with his friend. There was only a single male left, Caligula himself whom bore an amused look on his face. The female Vampires were enraged as their mates were naught but ash in the snow. They all prepared to rush Xander and Za'Tara with their claws at attention and their teeth barred. They were seething with anger and hate-filled fury as their auras became visible and lit up like a red whirlwind. Yet, this was not the Vampire's day, one last person appeared, a young Breton woman with Wood-Elven ears, eyes, and physique. She walked slowly and steadily, with a haughty air about her. She had short flaming-red hair, tanned skin, and her eyes; she was blind. "What do you say you leave this fight between these women and I? Xander? Za'Tara?" she asked.

"Za'Tara thinks that you should bury them, Ari. They've already risen out of their old graves." joked Za'Tara, brandishing his daggers.

"Go for it Arianna, I'd rather not strike a girl. Even if she is a blood-sucker." said Xander nonchalantly.

Arianna merely spat on the snow and smirked. She cracked her knuckles and neck, then the earth below the Vampires shook violently and they staggered back in bewilderment. Arianna closed her eyes and focused her energy. She slowly moved her feet and arms as if she was moving something, and sure enough, a chunk of the wall's side crushed three of the Vampires. They began to flee from the girl. One was brave enough to charge Arianna, but she met with a spike of rock that formed from under the snow, it pierced her right through the heart. The other two ran for it. Arianna smirked and shifted her feet again, this time one of the Vampires fell into a hole, she would have lived, had there not been spikes at the bottom. The final Vampire looked at Arianna in terror then at Caligula and Merienna with anger. She frantically searched for a way out, but she could not find one. She fell into ashes as a dagger pierced her heart, then Arianna smiled, crossed her arms, and blew her hair out of her face as she twirled her other dagger in her left arm. "I guess I win." said a haughty Arianna.

Caligula gasped as he saw her power. He whispered to his mate, "An Earth Elementalist, I thought they were wiped out, around the time the majority of our coven was destroyed."

"I don't care Caligula, I'm not leaving with an empty stomach!" screeched Merienna as she jumped at Arianna. "Let's see who has the superior power! My Ancient Blood Magic against your Elemental Magic!"

"Let's dance." said Arianna with a smirk. Merienna was outraged and cast an ice spike at Arianna. "Dodge that blind girl!" thought Merienna with an evil smile. Arianna side-stepped as the ice missed her, and Merienna felt a blunt pain hit her side. She looked at her side to see a boulder on the ground.

"How's that for a 'blind side'!?" said Arianna. Merienna was seething, she summoned up her strength and used her Blood Magic to siphon Arianna's life. After feeling weaker, Arianna realized her life, energy, and strength were being leached from her. She had to move fast to prevent herself from becoming too weak, but Merienna moved first. She lunged at Arianna and hissed in her hunger, but before she could sink her fangs into Arianna's neck, Shaylar pushed Arianna out of the way. Merienna was not a picky eater. She sank her fangs deep into Shaylar's neck. Arianna could not do anything she was having enough trouble getting up. Then, Merienna wasn't anything but ash. Talim had aimed carefully and her arrow found its mark, Merienna's heart.

"NOOOOOOOO! YOU WILL ALL PAY!" roared Caligula. Out of blind rage he charged towards Talim, Xander and Za'Tara ran to intercept him. Caligula did not hold back his fury. He broke Xanders sword, then dislocated his arms, and finally broke the large man's ribs incapacitating him. Za'Tara jumped at Caligula with determination, his joking facade gone. Za'Tara was caught as Caligula snapped the Kajiit's wrists, Za'Tara roared in pain, and Caligula hit him square in the chest. Za'Tara soared through the air, hitting the wall next to Arianna. Caligula then turned to Sarthinias who was resolutely defending Talim, he charged and Sarthinias gripped his pike and short-blade tight as he met Caligula. Caligula gripped Sarthinias' wrist that had the blade and Sarthinias stifled a howl of pain as Caligula snapped it. Caligula laid a clawed hit directly on Sarthinias' chest, he fell backward and Caligula left him to bleed out. Caligula turned his gaze to Talim as she shot another arrow at him, he caught it and broke it in two. The next thing Talim knew, she was a foot of the ground and her neck was in the grasp of a true monster; she knew she was already dead. Just as Talim let out a single tear Caligula roared again, but this time in pain.

Sarthinias reached inside himself and summoned a deep power forth, he rose to his feet to see Talim held up by her neck by Caligula. Enraged, Sarthinias gripped his blade and cut the arm Caligula was holding Talim by clean off. Talim fell backward and Caligula's arm fell straight to the floor. Caligula turned to see Sarthinias, but then felt a sharp pain in his chest and roared again. Sarthinias had thrust the pike he fashioned straight into Caligula's chest, where his heart should be. Sarthinias then shouted to him, "NEVER FORGET, WHO... I... AM!"

Caligula's eyes darkened and his strength left him as the blood-sucker bled out. Sarthinias out of anger raised his pike up with the body still on it and stuck the blunt end of it deep into the earth beneath the snow; mounting the impaled body atop like a banner in the air. Sarthinias rushed to find Talim, she was at Shaylar's side. Sarthinias ran to their side as Talim was bandaging Shaylan's forehead. He also saw Arianna healing Shaylar's neck, she would have a scar but she was no longer bleeding from her neck. Though, Shaylar had lost a great deal of her blood, she was faintly breathing. "I've done all I can for her, her fate rests with her alone." spoke Arianna solemnly.

"Thank you." said both Talim and Sarthinias.

Za'Tara and Xander were helping each other walk to where the others were. Talim bandaged Xander and Za'Tara while Arianna was mending Sarthinias' arm. Suddenly, it became a lot more silent. All eyes looked towards Shaylar her breathing had stopped, Sarthinias' eyes widened and rushed to his feet. Just as suddenly as it happened Shaylar's breathing returned, but it was different, it wasn't as if she was unconscious anymore; instead it sounded like she was sleeping. Nevertheless, she was alive and making a recovery. The group all went to sleep a few minutes later, except for Sarthinias, he began to feel an uneasiness as if they were being watched. He figured it as just paranoia, but still did not allow sleep to claim him, instead he looked at the impaled body of Caligula and wondered, "Why did he not turn to ash as the others did?" he then sighed heavily and spoke to himself, "Just be happy you, and your family are alive."

Unknown to the group, a pair of eyes was watching them from the top of the pass. It was not a malicious gaze, however. No, this person was studying them and watching them. Soon he would reveal himself, but not yet. For now he let them sleep, and he too wondered, "Why has his body not turned to ash?"

A/N: Sorry for the delay folks, I needed a lot of time for this chapter and numerous problems ensued. Hope you enjoyed the extra detail and this chapter! See you next time! Oh! And feel free to comment, I do love new ideas and will try implementing them!