Chapter Forty-One

Needless to say, the last thing Valerica had been expecting to see was her daughter swoop down on the back of a dragon with four legs and an oddly humanoid appearance. Her mouth struggled to form words as she stared at the conflicted face of her daughter, and she took a few small steps forward as Serana slid down from Yosa'Min's back. Her legs picked up into a sprint, and Serana gasped as Valerica crashed into her, pulling her into a tight hug and burying her face in Serana's dark hair. Yosa'Min blinked, watching the surprisingly affection reunion as she began to transform to her normal body, managing to keep her pained noises to a minimum while the mother and daughter embraced.

"Serana!" Gasped Valerica, pulling back and stroking her hair with wide eyes. "How is this possible?"

Serana looked near to bursting into tears, and she gave a grand smile. "We followed you through the portal mother, well... our own portal."

"We?" Valerica repeated, an edge coating her voice and she looked at the newly changed Yosa'Min. "Who is she? Is your father here?" Accusation was thick in her words as she glared at the unfamiliar redguard, releasing her daughter and stepping away. "Are you what's been making all that noise? Why are you here?"

Frowning, Serana shook her head swiftly, trying to reach out and touch her mother but Valerica stepped further away. "Yes that was us but father doesn't know we're here and he didn't send us either. We came for you mother, we have to stop father he's gone mad!"

"I know that, that's why I locked you away and came here!" Snarled Valerica, glaring at Yosa'Min as she approached and she took in a deep breath. Her eyes held an icy chill that made the redguard debate moving any closer. "Who is this? She smells like us but I don't recognize her. Is she with your father?"

"No! Divines no!" Said Serana, waving her hands and taking hold of Yosa'Min's shoulder. "This is Yosa'Min... My fledgling." Yosa'Min waved awkwardly.

Somehow Valerica appeared more stunned than their initial appearance, glancing between the two rapidly and stumbling with her words. "You're a sire? How did this happen?" She pointed at Yosa'Min, the redguard bristling slightly in response.

Grimacing, Serana shrugged awkwardly. "It's a long story and a bit embarrassing."

"She was a dragon!"

"She's special... Very very special."

"A dragon Serana!"

"I know I know... She has rather unique blood."

With a heavy scowl Valerica began to pace. "Was that how you got through the barrier then, on the back of a vampiric dragon?" She gave Yosa'Min a critical look, eyeing her up and down. "I suppose something that potent could do the trick."

"What barrier?"

She blinked, and gave a frustrated noise that seemed particularly undignified for a vampire of her status. "The Ideal Masters... They must have let you through but why? They hope for my death but truly they don't think you'd achieve that for them do they?"

Clearing her throat, Serana looked at the two other vampires before her, Valerica still pacing and Yosa'Min looking like the most awkward and uncomfortable redguard to have ever existed, and sighed. "Mother, is it possible for someone to experience visions here?" She asked, hoping to get some answers for the strange things she'd witnessed. "See things that are utterly impossible but seem so very real?'

"Yes of course, everything that makes up the Soul Cairn is up to the Ideal Masters. They are the sky and the ground and the air within this realm, their will shapes it and we are all subjected to their whims of design." Valerica gave a dismissive sigh. "It's impossible to understand their minds so why even bother trying?" Valerica fixed her daughter with a glare that made Yosa'Min's back pickle with worry, the redguard growing more defensive towards the elder vampire. "Why are you here? Has Harkon discovered the truth of the prophecy?"

"Not... entirely. He's read the first scroll but he's still searching for the other two."

"He probably has the Dragon Scroll by now," added Yosa'Min.

"So you're here for the Elder Scroll?" Asked Valerica briskly.

"We're here for you!" Serana said, stepping forward with hands balled into fists and she struggled to restrain herself. "Not everyone is as power hungry as you and father! He searches for you but only I knew the proper way to find you and I will not complete this prophecy of his as he wants, I'm going to stop him!"

"Do you know what the prophecy truly requires? What the price it demands to be paid in order to end the tyranny of the sun is?" Snapped Valerica, stopping her pacing and glowering at her daughter. "Your life or mine." Serana's anger faltered and she stepped back. "The scroll I have states the Blood of Coldhardbour's Daughter will blind the Eye of the Dragon; the sun itself. We are both Daughters of Coldhardbour, either of our blood will work. If Harkon uses our blood on Auriel's Bow he will be able to fulfill the prophecy at the cost of one of our lives."

Serana stared at her, mouth struggling to form the words she wished to speak. "Would he really kill one of you?" Asked Yosa'Min.

Sneering, Valerica waved a hand. "Of course he would, he'd see it as for the good of all vampires. He'd probably take a special joy in me being the sacrifice." She stared at her daughter evenly. "Do you understand now why I had to seal you away, why I had to protect you?"

Yosa'Min watched the conflict that was roiling beneath the surface of Serana's stunned face, her sire struggling with how to react. She could only imagine how hard it was to learn all of this. Instead of the burst of anger she expected, Serana gave a bitter laugh as her eyes narrowed with cold rage. "Why didn't you tell me?" She demanded.

"Where was it safe for me to tell you? Your father had eyes and ears everywhere, and I bet that number has only grown even more impressive in my absence."

"Perhaps before you sealed me away for centuries in the crypt!" She snarled, voice growing thicker and louder with each second, "You never asked if I thought what we were doing was for the best, if it was the path we should have taken, you just expected me to follow and listen like always. I'm a pawn to you both! It doesn't matter if your motivations are different, you may want to protect me and he may want to sacrifice me but neither of you have ever given me a choice in my life about anything! Not a damn thing!"

Valerica gave a fierce snarl, stepping towards her furious daughter in a manner that usually would make Yosa'Min attack her to protect Serana. However, as Yosa'Min watched keenly, she could tell that unlike Lord Harkon, Valerica was sincere in her intentions to protect Serana and that she wouldn't dare harm her. At least not physically, words were always another thing. "I suffered through that summoning day just like you," said Valerica tightly, "It was an honor to be blessed by Molag Bal, do not spit on it."

"I'm sorry I don't feel blessed for being raped by a daedra again and again until I wanted to die!" She screamed in her mother's face, Valerica's eyes widening and she tried to step away from her venting daughter but Serana simply followed after her. "I know how you both want me to feel about it, that I should be proud to have survived the ordeal or of the power I now possess but for centuries I wanted nothing more than to be mortal again! You've let this madness consume you and father both. This blessing has become a curse thanks to you two! I might finally have learned to accept what I am now, but that will never change that I had no choice. Nothing can change that I was played like a pawn and offered to a monster in order for you two to gain power."

"You grew strong as well," said Valerica weakly.

"Strong?" Serana's eyes blazed with rage, and she gestured at Yosa'Min. "I wasn't strong enough to stop myself from nearly killing her! I wasn't strong enough to stand up to either one of you! I wasn't strong enough to do anything on my own and I'm still not strong enough to stop father by myself! I am sick and tired of being tossed around between you two. What's the point of all this power if I don't get to use it for anything I want!"

"And what do you want?"

The air grew silent, only the distant sound of thunder between them as the ancient vampires faced off, mother and daughter seething with rage at one another. Valerica gave a brisk hiss and stepped away, unable to keep the heavy gaze with her daughter any longer. "All I want is for us to be a family again," said Serana a bit more calmly though the pain and rage was still thick in her voice. "But I know that'll never happen... Father has to be stopped, as much as I wish something good still could come of all of this he cannot enact this prophecy."

Valerica's burning gaze met her daughter's. "You still care for him... Even though he's a fanatic that will kill you if he finds out the truth?"

Tisking her tongue, Serana crossed her arms. "He's still my father. I'd like to think that somewhere deep down inside of him there could be that man that you fell in love with and used to read me stories to bed but I'm no fool. He's changed and now it would be a mercy to stop him."

It was Valerica's turn to struggle with finding words now, and after a few minutes of trying she finally gave a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry."

Serana blinked, arms dropping slightly. "Sorry?"

"Yes. You are right, you never did ask for anything that's happened to you. It was expected of you to offer yourself but I was the one who decided for you, just as I decided to protect you and keep you away from your father. I've only ever wanted what was best for you, but perhaps I should have realized what I was doing was only making things worse," Valerica said, "please Serana, forgive me."

Every bit of pain and anguish on Serana's face washed away as she processed her mother's words. Hesitantly, she stepped forward and pulled Valerica into a hug, her mother wrapping her arms around her as she did earlier and they did not let go for some time. When they did, they both appeared to be feeling better than they had before. "You can't come with us... Can you?" Serana asked softly.

"It's as I said, I'm as much a threat to Tamriel as you are. I can give you the Elder Scroll however, perhaps you can use it to defeat your father."

Serana gave a nod as if she understood, but there was no hiding the disappointment in her eyes. "Is there anything else you can tell us about the prophecy? Anything we can use to combat father?"

Giving a heavy sigh, Valerica shook her head. "No. You must hurry and you must not fail my dear." She dared place a hand on Serana's shoulder, the younger nord stiffening slightly. "If your father succeeds he will surely bring about the end of all vampires. The mortals of the day will hunt us all down until we are no more to restore what once was. He seeks domination but he will bring our destruction."

"Of course," muttered Yosa'Min, getting a dark glare from Valerica.

"Serana... Do you trust this vampire?" Asked Valerica carefully.

There was no anger when she spoke but her words cut deep into Valerica. "I trust her more than anyone else."

Dipping her head, Valerica turned to Yosa'Min. "I see... Please, keep my daughter safe, she is all that matters to me."

"I will," vowed the redguard. Relieved, Valerica stepped away from Serana towards a small alcove where various alchemical objects were, and a long ornate box. As she walked away, Serana turned to Yosa'Min and the redguard weakly smiled at her. "Are you okay?"

"I... I think I will be," said Serana, "I didn't really plan on saying all that but I do feel better now."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

With a shaky breath, Serana stared after her mother. "Later... When we're gone from here."

Giving her an understanding look, Yosa'Min perked up as Valerica walked back over to them with the Elder Scroll in hand. Yosa'Min found it amusing that it was such a rare sight for a person to see, but this marked the third one for her. "You mustn't allow your father to learn of the power of our blood," said Valerica firmly as she handed it to Serana.

"There's a moth priest in the castle, he's the only one who can read it," said Serana in return as she slipped it onto her back as she had the previous one.

Valerica grimaced. "I only peered at it for a moment, enough to see what I saw but I know there is more written in it than that. You need to learn what that is Serana, it's most likely where to find Auriel's Bow. If you can get that you can stop your father."

"Or bring it right to him," countered Yosa'Min, "he could try to steal if from us."

"He no doubt will," said Valerica heavily, "which is why I am trusting you to protect my daughter. You can turn into a dragon, use it. Do whatever it takes to keep Serana safe and alive. Do you understand me?"

The redguard gave a resolute nod. "Aye, I do."

"We need to get the moth priest somewhere secluded where he can read the Elder Scroll," said Serana, trying to formulate a plan.

"Last I knew your father took him to the cattle," replied Yosa'Min.

"Has the castle changed?" Asked Valerica after a moment.

Serana nodded. "Many of the old towers are gone, collapsed or destroyed... The courtyard can only be accessed through the undercroft."

Valerica gave a small frown with thought. "The flowers are all dead aren't they?" Serana nodded. "Shame. However I might have something you can use. There's a passage to where the cattle are kept in the castle, you'll have to go through some old tunnels but it's a path that's used to dispose of refuse without bringing it through the rest of the castle, you should find none of the court there."

Instantly Yosa'Min's nose crinkled. "Fun."

"It's that or Harkon sees you with the scroll," countered Valerica sharply.

With a thoughtful frown, Serana sighed. "I think I remember what you're talking about, it exits to the sea." Valerica nodded. "We can snake around the rocks without having to even go into the rest of the castle. Sorry Yosa, it's our only option. We'll have to see where we go from there."

"Do we dispose of the Elder Scroll afterwards?" Asked Yosa'Min.

"You can't destroy an Elder Scroll," said Valerica with a roll of her eyes, "everything would be much easier if that were possible. Hide it, throw it into the sea, just don't let Harkon get his claws on it."

"Mother..." Serana started, choking on her words for a few more painful moments before she managed. "We'll come back for you when its safe."

She looked at her as if she didn't believe it were possible but smiled nonetheless. "Thank you. Now go, before the Soul Cairn gets even deeper into you."

"Wait!" Said Yosa'Min, holding a hand up desperately. "Lady Valerica, please, I have a few questions." The elder vampire scowled but gestured for her to speak. "This burning sensation I feel in my chest, what is it? It hasn't stopped since I've come here."

"Now that you mention it... Same here," said Serana with faint concern. "Did coming here do something to us? Something permanent."

Valerica gave a heavy sigh. "The Soul Cairn is not a place for guests. It is only powerful and experienced necromancers that come here and they typically do not leave. Being soulless as we are-"

"What?" Yosa'Min cut her off, quickly earning an offended frown but she ignored it. "Soulless?"

"Yes, that's how a vampire is immortal... How old are you?" She blinked between Serana and Yosa'Min.

Serana gave an embarrassed smile. "Not even a month..."

"You're kidding..." She looked at an equally flushed Yosa'Min. "You're not kidding... Do you know anything about what we are?"

"Just a little..." Answered the redguard.

She gave a frustrated growl and shook her head. "You're most lucky that time here does not pass as it does in the mortal world, or I would be shoving you out that portal right now because we wouldn't have time to discuss all of this."

"It's kinda hard to teach her about being a vampire with all this business with father," Serana defended softly.

"Yosa'Min, you are immortal because your soul has been separated from your body and put in a special place where it will remain for all of eternity. Without your soul your body does not age as it does when it was mortal. It's like being soul trapped but you're in control of your body still. Here in the Soul Cairn, a place that feeds off of souls, being without one makes you a potential vessel. The Cairn is trying to fill you with itself and take control as it does every other undead nightmare in this place, but because you're also alive so it cannot do that. What you're feeling is a battle for control of what you are."

"Vessel?" Yosa'Min gasped, "Could I... I take a soul out of here?"

"You mean be possessed? It's not entirely impossible but I don't know if it's feasible either. Most likely that soul would be bound to you and you'd struggle with controlling yourself or it would. I'd advise you don't do that, whatever you're thinking." Yosa'Min frowned, but nodded her head. She was no necromancer, in fact she didn't have a clue about anything going on here aside from 'weird' and 'magical', putting her decidedly out of her element in everything they were doing. She'd have to trust the judgement of those more experienced with such things.

Serana gave her a wary look. "Yosa... Why are you asking about that?"

"I... I met my brother."

"Your brother? But how?"

"His soul was trapped Serana, he's here but he's not like the other spirits. I could touch him and everything but he said he cannot leave."

Valerica perked with interest. "It's possible that whatever gem he's been trapped within hasn't been used," she offered.

"I thought only souls that have been used end up here though," countered Serana.

"Mostly, but there are rare cases where a soul is bound permanently to a gem instead of released due to spending too much time within it. The Ideal Masters are greedy for souls however, and will bring them here even though they cannot claim them like the rest but they're able to draw upon the soul and feed off of it to some degree." She narrowed her eyes at them and gave a dismissive wave of a hand. "It's also entirely possible and more plausible that it was simply a vision from the Ideal Masters. They give them to aspiring necromancers in order to sway their minds to them, show you your deepest and most secret desires in order to convince you to make a deal with them. They might just offer to bring your brother back to life if he truly is here, but they will ask for a heavy price in exchange." She caught the uncomfortable looks crossing the younger vampires' faces. "You both saw something... Didn't you?" Their heads nodded in unison. "Take my advice as a foolish necromancer who fell for their tricks, refuse them."

Serana swallowed dryly, and gave a heavy nod. "Right, nothing good can come from them."

Yosa'Min appeared far less convinced, but while Serana missed the look in her eyes, Valerica easily caught it. "Yosa'Min," she said, the redguard looking up at her with a blank expression. "Do not listen to them, no matter how sweet their promises they are all lies or will get you killed. If you are truly as special as Serana claims, then I guarantee they will go to extreme lengths to claim your soul."

"I will save my brother," she vowed.

"Do so, but do not make a deal with these monsters," said Valerica, "I know well the dangers of consorting with them. I have been trapped here for more centuries than I can count because of how they've played me. You will not win in a deal with them, so do not even try. Sometimes the surest thing to do to win is to just not play." Yosa'Min stared at her, ideas milling about in her head, and then gave a nod of admission. "Good! Now leave, the both of you!" She gestured towards a large set of black doors on the far side of the courtyard. "Good luck with Harkon, for I fear you will need it!"

Serana stepped forward, and took her mother into a deep hug one last time. Valerica held her tightly, and seemed to be struggling with keeping a straight face as she moved back. "I'll come back for you, I promise."

Valerica gave her a broken smile and nodded her head. "I know you'll try."

The pair of them slowly stepped away, Serana's lips pressed in a sad smile and her eyes lingered on her mother until the doors had slammed behind her. Yosa'Min walked a bit further along while her sire stood at the door that hid Valerica from her sight. The fledgling stopped at the edge of the black stone steps before her, the ashen ground path sloping downwards and curving around a bend out of sight. There were many ruins around them as before, the strange stone that comprised the Soul Cairn shimmering with purple light. Yosa'Min could only imagine what was going through Serana's head at that moment, hoping a bit of space to process it all would be good for her. She herself had some thinking to do. The redguard pressed a hand to her chest, listening closely with eyes shut, hoping to hear a beating heart or to feel each pulse through her skin. Instead she got nothing, an emptiness rising up inside of her to join that burning fire of discomfort that filled her chest.

"I'm sorry brother," she whispered, opening her eyes and staring at the stormy purple sky. "I wish I could have made you proud when you saw me again... Looks like I'm a failure as always."

"You're not a failure."

Yosa'Min blinked, turning around to see Serana frowning. "Serana-"

"You're not a failure," she repeated firmly, "Don't let me hear you say that again."

"How could you know? I've managed to mess up enough things with you as it is not to mention my past."

"Because I know enough about you to know that you're not a woman that fails," she replied, "You might not get it entirely right but you don't fail."

Yosa'Min laughed bitterly. "I hate to correct you, but I've messed up plenty and lost enough to know what failure is."

"But that doesn't make you a failure," said Serana, "you're a failure when you believe it and give up. When you stop fighting and lay down in defeat you have failed. You can always fix something or die trying if you give it your all instead of submitting."

Squinting softly, Yosa'Min studied the face of her sire. She was hurting, Yosa'Min could tell, dark swirls in her eyes and exhaustion on her shoulders, but there was something else within her, something strong. "Everything's about the mind to you, isn't it?" She asked, staring into burning orbs that stared right back.

"Well I've already lost my soul and probably my heart," Serana said with a shrug, "I've got to hold onto something don't I?"

Cracking a smile despite herself, Yosa'Min gave a short laugh. "I suppose so... Let's get out of here."

"Please," said Serana with relief, "this place gives me the creeps."

They hadn't gone more than three steps down before a terrible roar filled the air and they dropped low to the ground, Serana prepping spells while Yosa'Min strung her sole arrow on her newly claimed bow as they scanned the area before them. Purple fire shimmered up in the ruins of black stone above, and with a rush of heat Durnehviir dropped down before them and took a perch amongst the stone. He did not make a noise, staring at them with rotten eyes at they stared back with caution. The dragon looked a bit younger to Yosa'Min, if that was possible, but there was no escaping the decay and the rot upon his body. She smiled softly with pride as she spotted a fresh looking scar along his maw, scales absent from where she'd snapped his jaw in half.

"Qahnaarin, I would like a word," Durnehviir rumbled, his body language neutral and guarded but Yosa'Min didn't suspect he was waiting to leap at her.

"You're the first dragon I've killed that's come back," she said as she stood up properly, Serana staring at her with alarm, "I suppose you've earned that right."

The rotting dragon gave a bellow of laughter, the Soul Cairn vibrating around them slightly. "You did not kill me," he corrected, "you simply defeated me."

"I tore your jaw in two," she retorted.

"Yes you did," the dragon replied, the talon on the edge of his wings touching the fresh scar as he keenly stared down at her. "But I am cursed, I cannot die."

Yosa'Min shrugged. "Sounds terrible."

"It is," he agreed, "I am trapped between laas and dinok, life and death... The folly of my lust for power I am afraid."

"You made a deal with the Ideal Masters," concluded Serana, "and they betrayed you."

Durnehviir laughed once more, and for a few terrible moments the vampires weren't certain if he'd just swoop down and try to eat them or not. "I like you kiir, child, you have a sharp mind."

"I'm not young," she said.

"To me, even your mother is young," he countered with another chuckle, spreading his wings to his side and once more they were reminded of his massive size. Yosa'Min was fairly certain his head alone was longer than she was tall, though she was on the short side. Rotten yellow eyes settled on Yosa'Min, who squinted up at him. "Qahnaarin, you are the only being to have ever defeated me in combat," he rumbled, "I am most impressed you have discovered how to unleash your true being. Why do you remain in daar kopraan, this body? It is sahlo, weak, compared to that of a dovah."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she replied briskly, "I can turn into a dragon sure, but it's not permanent."

"You are the Dovahkiin are you not?"

"How else could I have killed you?"

Durnehviir rumbled with laughter, he was surprisingly cheery after their fight. "By simply being a true kendov, a true warrior. For every mighty king there is an assassin waiting to end his life, no matter how strong or powerful the crown may be. I respect you for killing me, and I wish to speak to you as one mighty being to another, civility amongst skilled fighters is possible after all."

She eyed him keenly, picturing another dragon she knew well in his place and gave a deep nod. "There's no reason for us to kill each other simply on principle now is there?" Durnehviir nodded. "What is it you wish to discuss?"

"I would ask of you a favor, Qahnaarin. I am bound to this realm until the death of Valerica, which we all know will not come naturally."

"Why would you even deal with the Ideal Masters? What does a dovah want with them?"

"Long before I was ensnared in this place, the dov were free and soared in the skies. We fought over territories, small scraps of land that ended with death and glorious battle. I sought power unlike any other, and learned the ways of Alok-Dilon, or necromancy as it is known to you, in order to keep my land and position above all others. I bowed only to Alduin. The Ideal Masters offered me legions of undead and the power to remain undefeated."

Serana shook her head. "But they wanted my mother dead in exchange?"

"Indeed, they tricked me and refuse to release my from the contract. I have been here as long as she, and in that time my body has changed and become attached to this dreadful place. Even if I could leave I would soon perish from being away for too long and I fear it would be a death I would not return from... This is where I need your help Qahnaarin."

Yosa'Min gave a short laugh, disbelief flittering in her voice and upsetting the dragon. "You wish for me to summon you? To call your name and bring you into Tamriel don't you? Last time I brought a dragon somewhere it tried to eat me."

"You are Qahnaarin, vanquisher, not of just me but Alduin himself!" Durnehviir said forcefully, roaring loudly into the Soul Cairn and rippling the purple sky.

"How do you know about Alduin, you've been stuck here have you not?"

"This is Oblivion Qahnaarin," he replied with a bellow, "it is an ebb and flow like a great ocean, streams of each other mixing before returning to their own current. Alduin was defeated in Sovndarde, which is in the Aetherius, the place in which all magic is from and the souls of the dead go unless they've been swept away elsewhere like this place. Your slaying of Alduin reverberated throughout all of Mundas, Oblivion and Aetherius, the entirety of creation was witness to your defeat of the World-Eater."

Yosa'Min stared up at him with wide eyes, shocked by his words. "I hadn't realized I was such a big deal," she managed.

"For me to try and betray you, to ask you to grant me this great boon in which I can taste freedom once more, would be the greatest injustice and treachery for one to ever commit. You are the Dovahkiin, the Qahnaarin of Alduin and Durnehviir! I was required to attack you because of my deal with the Ideal Masters but I am no nikriin, no coward, and I will respect my qahnaarin. Simply call my name, Durnehviir, curse never dying, to the heavens and grant me a few precious minutes in Tamriel and I shall repay you by teaching you how to wrench someone's soul with but only your Thu'um and I will fight at your side. The Ideal Masters might own my mind, but they do not own my soul. Speak my name in Tamriel, that is all I ask, and you shall have a loyal and powerful dovah at your service, and unlike the Ideal Masters I shall do so willingly and with much nox, much gratitude."

Long moments passed before the redguard looked up at him, and smiled brilliantly. Having a dragon at their side would no doubt have great benefits, and while she could perhaps call upon a certain sour red dragon she'd once captured, this one would no doubt be more willing to aid her. "I ask one more thing in return," she said, Durnehviir perking up with delight.

"Anything Qahnaarin."

"Fly us to the portal out of here."