Well here is the actual final chapter, thought I'd write an epilogue to wrap up the story with a bit more finality. Read, review and let me know what you think.

Chapter XXIV

Not we?

The ship rocks back and forth slightly on the rough ocean waves, the ship making loud creaking sounds as it pushes ever forward. Vannius sits at one of the tables in the mess, the imperial flag hanging from every conceivable surface, his leg is propped up on one of the other chairs, sword belt lying in on the table in front of him. He rubs his hand down his face, getting some of the sleep out of his eyes, his gloves and vambraces forgotten on his bunk. he reaches forward, grabbing the tankard of ale in front of him, he brings it up to his lips. He closes his eyes as the pewter tankard touches his lower lip, red eyes stare back at him. He shakes his head and puts it back down with a heavy thump. He turns his attention to the elder scroll at the other end of the table, a large piece of cloth lying beneath it, at least him and Isran can agree that the scrolls and the bow are too dangerous to be kept where people can get to them.

He grabs the cloth and drags it towards himself, the scroll coming along with it, he starts to wrap the cloth around it, securing it tightly with the yarn. there's heavy footsteps from the steps leading into the mess, he tightens the knot before he looks up at the member of the Dawnguard as he walks into the room. He's missing his right eye, a bandage wrapped around his head, there's still a lot of raw looking scaring around the empty socket, running down towards his chin. Agmear that was his name, the young lad guarding the gate, he has a haunted, far away gaze in his remaining eye. "It's time." He tells Vannius, a dull monotone voice, void of emotion and lacking any of the youthfulness that it held before. Vannius nods wordlessly, hand reaching for his cane and slowly pushes himself to his feet, leaving the sword belt on the table, he leans heavily against the cane and grabs the wrapped scroll and starts to limp towards the younger man.

They walk up to the top deck, Agmear leading the way as Vannius limps behind him, cane loud in the mostly silent ship. It's nice weather, bright sun and a cold ocean breeze, His cloak blow behind him in the wind as he leans heavily on the cane. Isran stands on the deck, near the middle, hands clasped in front of him, a large wooden chest by his feet. He moves his hand, one of them going to rest on the pommel of a sword at his waist. His stoic presence seems to be that only thing that holds the Dawnguard together, there's not many of them left and the few remaining ones seem to find some type of comfort in their leaders continued conviction.

Vannius stops a few feet in front of him, can held tightly in his hand as he lets his weight rest on it, scroll held even tighter in his other hand. He looks at him as Vannius holds the scroll out, waiting for Isran to take it from him. He takes a step towards him and takes the scroll, looking it over before he drops it in the chest, where it lands amongst the bow and a few large rocks. Vannius turns away from the chest to look out at the open ocean. "This should be far enough." Isran mutters as he also looks out at the sea, fingers tapping lightly on the pommel of his sword, he kicks the top of the chest closed and kneels down to lock it. He looks up at a couple of the Dawnguard, nodding to them as they walk over to pick up the chest. They throw it overboard at it hits the water, quickly sinking below the waves.

"We wouldn't have succeeded without you." Isran tells him, looking back to the other man. "Thank you."

Vannius carries on looking out at the ocean. It's fine thanking him now, but there was someone else who did more and gave more then he did, a woman with honour who will he will never acknowledge as a person. "Wasn't just me." He tells Isran.

Isran sighs slightly. "I know." He replies, he glances down at Vannius' cane. "I'd thank her if I could." There's a long silence between the two men. Her, not it anymore, maybe he can acknowledge that without her, none of what they achieved would've been possible. The wind blows against them, Vannius' cloak billows out behind him as his hair gets thrown around his face. He shifts his weight onto his good leg. "Everyone who knows the full prophecy is dead." Isran tells him.

"What about Dexion?" He questions as he stares out. There's only him and the moth priest left who actually know the prophecy.

Isran hums lowly under his breath. "I'll deal with him when I return." He tells him.

Vannius turns to face him, looking down at the deck and grinning to himself. "I." He says. "Not we?"

Isran's hand goes to the hilt of his sword, the Dawnguard moving to stand around. "No, not we." He tells him, so maybe he can give the same amount. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knows that he should've stayed in the brothel, he should've never accepted that contract and he never should have met with Isran at Fort Dawnguard.

One of them readies a crossbow as Isran's hand wraps more firmly around the hilt of his sword.

There we go. The end. Review and let me know what you thought, I know its a bit of a downer ending but the whole story was like that anyway. I'm going to start working on a new story soon, already have a few drafts but I plan on writing a longer one then this.