Chapter Forty-Four

"So what do you think we'll find?" Asked Serana as they left the Ancestor Glade, having already descended the mountains and returned to the forest below, their bodies feeling rejuvenated from the springs.

"Knowing my luck? All the falmer in Skyrim," replied the redguard with a sour tone.

"Not a fan?" Chuckled Serana.

"Not in the slightest. I've had a few... less than pleasant run-ins with them. Other than that, they're just damn creepy. It's certainly a sad tale that they were once the snow elves but now? They have my pity and that's it."

Shrugging, Serana blinked up at the dark sky, clouds still blocking out a great light she suspected was the sun. Her sense of time was a bit off thanks to having been in the Soul Cairn, muddling her internal clock in a way she did not appreciate. "I suppose considering they attack on... smell, that's a fair statement."

Nodding her head, Yosa'Min shrugged. "I hope Auriel's Bow isn't too hard to get," she said, scratching the back of her neck, "things like these tend to involve a lot of dungeoning." Serana gave an agreeing nod. As they continued through the isolated woods the redguard paused, glancing at her hands. "Do you think I have enough strength to summon Archer?" She asked, looking at Serana who gave a shrug. "Let's find out then!" The thought of seeing her stead again, even in the fiery ghost form he now possessed, seemed to cheer her up from the thoughts of falmer, and she dug through her pockets for the piece of blackened bone. As she pulled it out however, she heard the sharp twang of a bolt being loaded and had only a moment to move before the projectile sailed out, narrowly missing her. "Dawnguard!" She hissed, pulling her dagger up as she tried to spot the assailants.

A glint of metal in the din light of a stormy day was her only warning before the next bolt was fired, grazing her leg and slicing her pants. "Can I not keep an outfit from being destroyed?" Snapped Yosa'Min as she rushed forward, bringing her dagger forward to stab the vampire hunter. Then she saw the sword, and dodged in a flurry of shadowy bats just before they'd have taken her head. She rubbed her neck at the mere thought. Serana was already fighting another member of the Dawnguard, dodging the heavily armored man's swings with a nasty looking battleaxe. Yosa'Min didn't have a moment to spare and assure if Serana was holding her own or not as the sword and shield wielding man rushed her. Hissing in an attempt to rattle his nerves, she dodged to the right around his shield, and kicked out his legs. That only bought her a second to bring her dagger down into the slats of his helmet as he fell, but he was quick enough to tilt his sturdy shield, her attack deflecting off with no effect other than making her wrist string.

She'd try arrows, only these hunters were covered from head to toe in steel and she doubted the arrows she'd stolen from Volkihar Castle would have any effect. The man was on his feet too quickly for her to gain enough distance, and rushed after her with a trio of powerful swings. She blocked one and dodged the other two as if it were a dance. With uncanny grace she pivoted around him and smashed the hilt of her dagger into the back of the hunter's head. Dazed, he stumbled forward and she once more knocked his feet out from beneath him. Snarling, Yosa'Min tore the brown and steel helmet from him and tossed it aside. The vampire gave pause as she recognized this man from Whiterun, a fellow redguard. She stepped back in confusion, knowing full well that the man had a wife and child. "Amren?" Balked Yosa'Min, suddenly finding it difficult to kill him. She'd helped him reclaim his family sword once, and she glared at the blade only to realize it was the very one in his hands. "What're you doing here?"

Before she could receive an answer she felt a bolt pierce into her shoulder, making her cry out in pain. Blinking through bleary eyes, she spotted a third Dawnguard approaching, a special sigil upon his helm that made him appear to be of importance. He had a crossbow trained on her as he loaded another shot, and Amren was quick to pull his helm back on, terror and rage filling pale eyes as they vanished behind finely crafted steel. "Go home to your wife Amren!" Shouted Yosa'Min, some part of her hoping he could be spared as she dodged the second bolt.

"She's dead!" Shouted Amren as he picked up his sword, "She and Braith both thanks to your kind!"

Her mind was filled with a thousand questions as he charged and another bolt sailed out through the air. Neither of them made it however as the woman took in a deep breath before unleashing her mighty Thu'um. "FUS RO DAH!" She shouted, blueish waves of light slamming into them. The bolt shattered entirely while Amren was sent into a tree, the large pine snapped from the force and yawned down into the center of where they were fighting, putting a barrier between Yosa'Min and the important looking vampire hunter. From the side came a cry of alarm, and she turned to see the battleaxe toting Dawnguard hadn't realized there was a tree falling in the middle of his fight, and was pinned beneath the heavy tree.

The officer of sorts went to climb over the trunk, but Yosa'Min was quick to set it alight with a burst of magical flame, the vampire hunter retreating with a hiss of pain. Darting over as quickly as she could, Yosa'Min tore the helm off the pinned man and tossed it aside, Serana giving her a confused look. She knew this man as well, Sinmir, a frequenter of the Bannered Mare like she had once been. A man she'd shared drinks with while they lamented how much they despised the city for one reason or another. "What happened in Whiterun?" She demanded, gripping him by the collar of his armor and forcing him partially up to look her in the eyes.

Grimacing, the bearded nord man looked up at her and spat blood in her face. Even she was disgusted. "You bloodsuckers attacked it remember?" He sneered, "Would've killed everyone if not for the Companions." Her blood ran cold as he spoke, and she looked over her shoulder at Serana who was just as stunned.

"He's lying... That wasn't us... It couldn't have been!"

"We'll figure this out later," Serana vowed, catching sight of Amren and the third hunter rushing around the fallen tree. "But right now... We need to leave." She grabbed Yosa'Min's hand and started to backpedal into the thick pine forest. They couldn't waste time fighting, and the more noise they made the easier it would be for Harkon and his minions to find them, not to mention any other vampire hunters.

"Okay..." Yosa'Min agreed, not wanting to fight them anymore either and pulled out Archer's bone once again. It was one thing to kill nameless enemies, it was another to know they'd once had a wife and child or shared drinks with them. That voice inside of her that would occasionally scream louder than Alduin's roar returned, refusing to let her harm people who had never done any bad to her in the past. In her eyes they were innocent. Then there was another voice that demanded their blood and lives and that terrified her more than anything else.

A bolt whizzed by and Serana deflected it with an expertly fired ice spike. She clutched it tightly, trying to concentrate her power into it like Durnehviir had instructed her. It began to shimmer and glow between her fingers, tendrils of black and purple light swirling around it before consolidating a few feet away in a spherical shape. The vampire hunters paused their advance as the magic spun around wild and powerful, bleeding waves of dark light before imploding and there stood a skeletal, glowing, flaming horse. Yosa'Min mounted him with practiced ease and held a hand out for Serana who was swift to take it. The undead horse reared upwards, Yosa'Min having to clutch his bones for a grip and the hunters tried desperately to stop them with a rapid barrage of bolts.

Undaunted, Archer took off into a fierce gallop, darting through trees and underbrush with unnatural ease. She kept herself low to the stallion as he sped away, Serana's arms wrapped around her to keep from falling off as the ghost horse kept up the impressive speed. Fire flickered in her face, tickling like feathers rather than burning. All she could think about was what they'd said, and with terror she realized what had transpired. "Orthjolf," she uttered, Serana just barely catching her words. "It must have been Orthjolf!"

"Why would he attack the city? He was just supposed to get the Elder Scroll."

"Maybe someone caught him? Bastard seems like the type to fight rather than charm his way out of a situation."

"It couldn't have been just him to do so much damage... Dammit," hissed Serana, "that just spurred more people to join the Dawnguard, and now we're probably a well known threat what with Morthal too." The vampire buried her face in Yosa'Min's back as the redguard guided the ghostly stead to their destination. "We're going to have to be extra careful now Yosa."

"I know..."

"Which means flying is probably a bad idea."

Smirking, Yosa'Min have a half hearted shrug. "Good thing we've got Archer huh?" She stroked the side of the horse's neck, marveling still at his cool touch. With a smile, Serana nodded, and watched the scenery change as the undead horse relentlessly galloped through the forest.

Darkfall Cave was just as Yosa'Min thought, another pit of darkness. After a few hours traveling through a storming day, rain battering them the entire way, they'd arrived. It'd taken a lot of careful riding, aside from the physical effects of the storm, dangerous roads and muddy cliffs, there was an unnerving amount of travel upon the roads. Orthjolf's attack on Whiterun had spoked many people, sending them running to anywhere they felt safe and suddenly that wasn't in the city. If it weren't for their ability to charm weak minds they'd have been forced to fight many times over, guards patrolling the roads in more force than she'd seen since the war first picked up. They'd had to steer around several Dawnguard patrols as well, and at one point fought with one of Harkon's agents but managed to kill them before they got away.

By the time they'd arrived at Darkfall Cave, Yosa'Min was exhausted all over again. They wound their way through tunnels infested with spiders, webs and egg sacs littering the place while just inside the entrance was a waterfall. They moved deeper inside, arriving in a large chamber with a wooden plank bridge, rope only on one side while a rushing river ran far beneath them. When Yosa'Min tried to see how deep it was, all she could make out was the swift movement of water but no reflections of any light. Yosa'Min's nerves jolted a little with caution. Despite treading carefully, they were only halfway across when the sound of wood snapping below reached their ears. Yosa'Min attempted to reach the other side but it was much too wide in the split second it took for the planks to give beneath and the rope snap.

"Serana!" Screamed Yosa'Min as they fell into the chasm below, twisting to see Serana fade into shadows before reappearing besides her, taking hold of her just moments before they hit the river. The water was cold and hungry as they plunged into it, Yosa'Min struggling to keep hold of her breath as she felt flashes of nearly drowning before surge through her mind. In a gutter, the Cistern, in a long forgotten cave like this one, at the bottom of a waterfall, just recently against the dragon in the lake; each time she'd nearly met her end because of water swallowed her just as surely as the current around them and Yosa'Min began to panic and thrash and scream into the dark water with all the air she had, mindless and afraid. Serana kept hold of her with one arm while she attempted to reach the surface, Yosa'Min struggling against her as her panic only grew worse the longer they were underwater. They broke the surface just as the current carried them into a tunnel, a small pocket of air at the top as the rock bowled upwards, darkness consuming them still. Yosa'Min screamed something incoherent, sputtering up water and struggling against her sire. Gripping her by the wrist and face, Serana forced her to look her in the eye.

"I've got you," she promised, Yosa'Min giving a whimpering nod.

Then they were falling again, the water shooting out into another great chasm where it pooled down below. Crashing into the deathly cold water, they spun about as if falling through the sky, up was down and down was up, confusing them both as there was no light to guide them only darkness. All they could see was each other's blazing, terrified eyes. Rocks battered their bodies as the current once more tried to force them through a tunnel, far too powerful for either of them to fight. Serana managed to grasp a stone at the mouth of the tunnel, pulling Yosa'Min and she up to the dark world above just long enough to refill their lungs before she could hold on no longer and they were swept on through. The faint glow of mushrooms on the tunnel wall where the water broke rushed past their eyes while the dark current carried them forward.

Serana held onto Yosa'Min as tightly as she could, the redguard clutching onto her almost like a child before they were sent flying through the air once more. Yosa'Min cried out as her back slammed into a rock, pain erupting throughout her body. Then they were on the ground and no longer being carried away, both of them struggling to breathe while a far less deep river raged on around them. Yosa'Min panted hard as she looked up at Serana who cracked a half smile. "Darkfall Cave," she uttered at last, sliding off Yosa'Min. "What a literal name."

The redguard was shivering, staring up endlessly at the dark cave ceiling, burning eyes distant as her cheeks were dampened by the rushing water. She gurgled up water, frozen in fear still before she felt a hand lift her head and Serana's eyes met her's. Yosa'Min gave a sputter of water, having inhaled so much of it in the ride through the tunnels, and Serana's brow knit together with worry. She seemed uncertain what to do, her only thought to help Yosa'Min expel the water, and with an apologetic look the sire punched Yosa'Min's gut. The redguard groaned and pushed away from her with shaking limbs. She rolled onto her stomach and vomited the last of the water with pained hisses, blood mixing in with the dark liquid before it was washed away by the shallow rapids.

When she was at last done retching, she fell flat onto her back, taking in agonizing gasps. In the corner of her eye she could see a red bottle being offered to her, and drank the blood potion with desperation before letting the bottle clatter loudly on slicked rocks, drifting downstream with everything else. Serana sat there, watching her with worried silence, before at last the redguard spoke. "Thank you... Are you okay?" She blinked at Serana who looked worse for wear but gave her a brilliant smile despite her hair being plastered to bruised skin and a few near tears in her cloak. Blinking at her, Yosa'Min couldn't help but compare her to a drowned cat.

"Just give me a minute," she uttered, "but you? Are you going to be alright?" Shame was starting to creep up her, and the redguard averted her gaze, jaw clenched tight. "It's fine," Serana said swiftly, reaching for her again and taking hold of her nearest hand. "Not everyone is good with water."

Grimacing, Yosa'Min still couldn't meet her gaze. "Perhaps... but heroes are supposed to be good at just about everything..." She gave a heavy sigh, recovering quickly from the physical effects of the water and she could only wonder if it was because of her vampirism and supernatural endurance, or something else as while the panic lingered in her mind, the pain her body felt was already fading away, as if ready to continue on. A part of her wanted to stew in the pain for a bit longer, as if it would somehow change something of what happened, as if she'd deserved it.

"I used to be but... I don't know."

"Things change," replied Serana with a sad note, "sometimes for the worse."

Unable to verbally respond, Yosa'Min simply nodded and rose to her feet. They pressed on, feet sloshing in ankle deep water in a much wider cavern, the roof low and the sides sometimes rising up to snake alongside the loud shallow river. It didn't take long for the spiders to arrive, the pair making short work of the overgrown arachnids. They worked their way through the frosbite spider corpses and the cobwebs, feet sloshing in water or sinking in muddied earth, until at last the water diverted one way and a passage of stone went the other, rising high up with torches on their last wisps of life burning along the way. Wary of a potential enemy, the pair climbed the steep path.

Reaching the top, they were both confused to find a campfire burning, half embers and the wood mostly damp with rot but the dry parts still burned. A chest, a few bedrolls, and small table with various supplies filled the small circular cave at the top of the passage. To their immediate right was a body, breton by the looks of her, at the mouth of another tunnel that sloped down at not quite as steep an angle as the first. With a bit of looking Yosa'Min found a note upon her, and she frowned at the words. "She and her sister were hiding here from something I guess, thought the trolls would leave them alone if they did."

Grimacing as she looked around, Serana gave a soft sigh. "Looks like they were wrong."

"Which also means we have trolls ahead of us," said Yosa'Min with a hateful tone. She drew the bow she'd stolen from Fura Blood-Mouth, stringing an arrow. "Best way to combat them is speed and fire, take them off guard if you can."

"Fought several have you?"

Sneering, Yosa'Min tilted her head up and gave a half gesture to her scars. "A few too many if you ask me."

"Lead the way then." They began the descent into the darkness, the torches having stopped quickly and black nothingness swallowed them. A burned out torch was fashioned to the cave wall, and even with all the moisture in the air there was no mistaking the scent of blood. Even with their improved sight it was difficult for them to navigate the depths of Darkfall Cave, the only sources of light the occasional patch of glowing mushrooms, illuminating the damp stones as fog rolled around their feet and they soon heard water once more.

The redguard was trying not to mutter about how much she already hated the place as they emerged into a massive cavernous chamber, a shallow lake in the center as stone curved this way and that. Several pillars held up the ceiling of old stone, in the middle of the water or the edges, and the scent of blood was much stronger there. Creeping along the dry banks of the underground lake, Yosa'Min was quick to spot the hulking forms on the far side. Narrowing her eyes, the redguard picked out a more human like body laying on the ground, chest ripped open and the bloody scent saturated the air.

Taking aim, the redguard made sure not to waste the advantage of surprise. The troll gave a mighty roar of fury as an arrow penetrated its skull, not enough to kill but enough to do a serious bit of damage. They turned towards where the projectile had come from, the dark acting as much against them as it was the vampires, and the first was rewarded with another arrow to its face, burrowing through its thick nose and blood erupted like a fount. Thrashing wildly, the troll stumbled backwards while its companion came racing across the deep water towards them, splashing great waves as it spotted their glowing eyes. Serana stepped around the crouching Yosa'Min, lightning crackling around her hands, and the lake became a thunderstorm, water evaporating and empowering the magic. The troll fell dead in a lump of burned flesh. The first one was rushing towards them, blinded with rage, and the pair of them finished it with an arrow and lightning bolt each.

Grimacing, Yosa'Min walked out into the knee deep water and nudged the burned one with her foot. "I could have sworn these were harder to fight," she said.

"You're stronger than you used to be," replied Serana as they started walking away, curling around the shore of the cold lake until they reached another offshoot of stone. Entering more darkness, they stayed close to one another, half expecting more trolls to pop out and attack them but nothing came. They walked for not very long before arriving at another large chamber, only unlike every other one this one was brilliant and bright. "No way," breathed Serana.

Hidden within Darkfall Cave was a sight they'd never have thought to find. Ancient rubble of pillars and platforms scattered the place, in the center of a pool of water was something that resembled the top of a stone pavilion, a shaft of light filtering through a hole in the rock ceiling. What shocked them most however, was the tall and pale skinned mer waiting for them, dressed in strange white and grey armor like clothing as he stood next to what Yosa'Min guessed was an idol, an intricate sun made of metal resting at the top. The mer turned to them, blinking in shock, caution filling his ancient looking features. "Hello..." He said softly, voice reaching them with smoothness and warmth. "Please, come closer, it has been some time since I've seen another being," he urged and with careful steps the two approached. "I mean you no harm."

"Who are you?" Asked Serana, taking in his snowy skin and spikey platinum blonde hair. He had rather sharp features and was certainly some kind of elf, but he did not look like any she had seen. Glancing at his exposed muscular arms, she could only guess he hadn't stayed alive in this place by sheer luck or tenacity, and he held himself with the pride of a warrior.

"Knight-Paladin Gelebor," introduced the mer, one arm crossing his chest as he gave a respectful bow, "welcome to... what's left of the Great Chantry of Auri-El." He gestured to the ruins around them with sadness and sighed. "You've come to a place most sacred to my people."

"Auri-El? Do you mean Auriel?" Spoke Yosa'Min, frowning softly. She'd hate for them to have come here only to be after the wrong god's weapon.

"Auri-El, Auriel, Alkosh, Akatosh, it is all the same person. A name does not change the essence of a god, only the face."

"Who's god is Auri-El?"

"The snow elves."

Yosa'Min stiffened instantly, jumping back from him and drawing an arrow. "You're a falmer?" She snapped, taking aim but Serana was quick to brush the bow to the side. "You're one of those savages!"

"Savage is most accurate a term," sniffed Gelebor with disdain, "but I am not one of them. The falmer are the Betrayed, and while I might have been stabbed in the back I am not twisted such as they." His icy eyes narrowed at them, examining the both of them closely. "Why are you here? Who are you?"

"Serana," said the nord one, "and she is Yosa'Min. We're here for Auriel's bow."

Sniffing, he tilted his head up slightly. "But of course. Why? What do you want with it?"

Giving a soft sigh, having never expected to explain it to someone else, Serana fixed him with a heavy gaze. "We need to secure it before my father does. We must stop him from obtaining it else he will do something terrible."

Terribly long moments passed before Gelebor replied, clearly thinking hard upon her words. Yosa'Min was slowly started to grow fearful they might have to fight him, having no idea just what strength this snow elf might possess and not very keen on finding out the hard way. At last he gave a nod. "Very well. I can help you, but I must ask something of you first."

"There always is," muttered Yosa'Min dryly, the elf no doubt hearing her words but chose not to respond directly.

"What I need done will be difficult, but you will need to do it anyways if you are to claim Auri-El's bow. The Arch-Curate must die... My brother must die."

"Why?"

Sighing heavily with regret, Gelebor pushed those emotions aside and gave a sorrowful dip of his head. "The creature that wears his face is not my brother, not anymore. Millenniums so long since passed I no longer know him... Whatever has happened to him most have been a result of the Betrayed, trying to twist him like they themselves are." There was an unspoken word of doubt they both could see in his eyes. "He will stand in your way and try to kill you, I ask that you assure he meets his end instead. Afterwards you may claim the bow for your own."

Yosa'Min grimaced heavily. "So there are falmer ahead of us?" She glanced around the cave but saw no exit aside from the hole above them, doubtful that was the way to continue the journey for the bow. "How'd they get here?"

Gelebor's eyes were glazed with pained memory but he gave them their answers nonetheless. "I am not entirely certain how they found us, but when they did they attacked with fervor. Their numbers and savagery were far too much for the small group of paladins I commanded, and in quick time they had overrun us. This is the only place they do not occupy, even the Inner Sanctum and Vyrthur fell to their corruption."

"Wait, how do you know he's alive then?" Questioned Serana with a frown.

"Because I've seen him. When the dust settled I tried to find him. What I found however was not Vyrthur, but instead a ghost of what he once was. He does not even move from his throne, instead waiting for... something... Unfeeling, hollowed, patient. I returned here because I cannot abandon the wayshrines else violate my sacred oath. I may also be powerful, but I cannot take on all of the Betrayed or even just those in the Inner Sanctum myself."

"But you think we can?" Asked Yosa'Min with a bit of annoyance.

With a half smile, the snow elf tipped his head. "You found your way here did you not? I suspect it was not an easy path. Now, let me reveal the rest of the path before you." He stepped away from them and the shrine, and stopped in front of the domed structure in the center of the cave. Yosa'Min noticed the metal symbol of Auriel rested atop of it just as Gelebor's hands began to glow with yellow light, raised above his head before the symbol burst with the same magical light. With a great noise the structure rose from the ground to touch the ceiling, encircled on all but one side with magnificent stone, a basin rising up in the center. "This is a wayshrine," Gelebor stated, gesturing to it with the half smile still upon his face.

"Impressive," lied Yosa'Min, not finding much use in the stone but expecting something was about to change her opinion on it. It was certainly well carved, age having done nothing to mar it's beauty, but it seemed decorative at the most to the redguard.

"What's it for?" Asked Serana.

"Meditation... and transport. The Chantry was once a place of enlightenment, and at each wayshrine a prelate would instruct the ways of Auri-El to initiates, teaching them our mantras. When the initiate completed them, he dips a ceremonial ewer into the basin you see there and the wayshrine allowed him to continue his journey for enlightenment."

"Like portals into Oblivion?" Asked Yosa'Min, hopeful they wouldn't be skirting through different planes of existence any further.

"Similar," replied the snow elf with an approving nod of his head.

Serana was examining the basin keenly, walking around it with a finger trailing the edge. A liquid filled it about halfway up, a peculiar smell rising up from it. "So I'm guessing you want us to do that?"

"Indeed I do. By following the initiate's path you will eventually be able to pour the filled ewer into the sacred basin at the Inner Sanctum, granting you an audience with the Arch-Curate. Naturally this audience will be more hostile in nature, but it's the only way to assure you will reach him. I wish there were another way, but there is not."

The vampires shared a long look, before nodding in unison. "So what can we expect?" Asked Serana.

"Darkfall Passage is where you will go through first, it was symbolic for a lack of enlightenment. There are five wayshrines in total, and at each a spectral prelate will allow you to draw from the basin present in order to continue, as the initiates did."

"Are we going to have to learn your religion to do so?"

"Perhaps some, if you choose to believe it is up to you," he replied politely, "The spectrals after so long might not even remember them properly, so I suppose you will simply find out. The path ahead is dangerous, I must warn you of that, but it will take you to where you desire."

Serana and Yosa'Min gave a nod each, before turning towards each other while Gelebor crossed back to the idol to pick up what they assumed was the ewer. A few others were collected with it. "Are you sure about this?" Asked Yosa'Min.

"There doesn't seem to be many other options," replied Serana, softness to her features before she suddenly jerked her head up towards the entrance of that particular cave, squinting into the dark. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" Asked Yosa'Min with worry, trying to see what she spoke of but to no avail.

After a few tense minutes, Gelebor furrowing his pale brow at her, Serana relaxed. "Must have been a spider," she sighed, relaxing.

"They stay away from here," replied the snow elf as Serana accepted the ewer. "I tend to set them on fire when they approach."

Smirking, the redguard gave a laugh. "Eventually they learn I suppose?" The snow elf gave a laugh as well, their short presence lifting the sorrow from the ancient mer's shoulders if only for a moment.

"Good luck," he wished upon them, "both of you."

With a smile each and a grateful nod, they turned to the basin. Serana dipped the ewer in to fill it with some of the water, and then the world began to shudder. For a few moments they thought they'd been tricked as the wall the entrance began to glow and fizzle with magic, until at last it calmed and shimmered. The impress Yosa'Min had earlier lacked resounded then, staring through the magic image as if it were a window, a dark cavern on the outside of another wayshrine before them. Already she could tell it would live up to its name. Saying goodbyes each, they clasped their hands in caution and stepped through the portal.