Chapter Fifty

"Qahnaarin," rumbled Durnehviir as he watched the pair of vampires step away from him towards the jetty. "Are you sure you do not wish for me to fly you there?"

"Our best bet against Harkon is to take him by surprise. He probably saw us coming so far but Serana knows another way into the castle, should at least give us an edge," replied the redguard, standing besides Serana who was staring intently at one of the posts of the decaying dock. "If we get in over our heads, would you mind lending us a claw?"

The undead dragon gave her a fanged grin. "It would be my zin, honor."

"Thank you," she said with a half smile, and reached out to touch his snout. The dragon's scales were cold and slick, and he leaned his head into her hand for a moment, eyes shut, before his body was consumed in violet magic. As he faded away in flames, Yosa'Min's smile slipped away. Once he was gone, she turned to her sire and spoke. "At least the sun is back."

Laughing, Serana finally tore her gaze away from the strange mark upon the wood. "Never thought I'd agree to something like that."

Yosa'Min half smirked as she approached closer, looking at what had caught her sire's attention and her voice caught in her throat. "That's impossible," she uttered, staring at the shadowmark, "there's no one in the Guild here."

"You recognize that?" Questioned Serana, relieved she wasn't going crazy by noticing something was amiss but the fledgling's reaction setting her ill-at-ease. "What is it?"

"A message..." Whispered Yosa'Min, pressing her fingers against the cut wood, trying to assure herself it was real. Looking in the direction the arrow beneath it pointed, she started following it with little explanation to her sire, leaving Serana confused as suddenly their quest was derailed. It didn't take her long to find the marked stone, pushing it off with ease and blinking dumbly at the journal hidden beneath it. "She was here," uttered the redguard as she lifted it, legs shaking beneath her.

"Who?" Serana asked, already suspecting the answer.

"Vex."

The nord felt a jolt at the name, and looked up and down the coast warily. "Do you think she's still around, waiting for you again?" Serana sniffed the salty air, just barely able to detect the mortal's scent along with a few others. The dried scent of blood also caught her attention, and she started in the direction of it while Yosa'Min remained by the stone. Hands shook as she held the leather bound journal, knowing its meaning and purpose. Fingers gingerly felt along the jagged lines on the cover, not even having to look at them to know her name. She knew what was inside of it, knew the anger and sorrow the book contained, could feel it seeping back into her body. What Vex could possibly thought she'd gain from Yosa'Min reading it was beyond her, but the redguard's confusion and shock was quickly swallowed up by rage. Who does she think she is? Yosa'Min mentally sneered, claws digging into the book as she imagined Vex hiding it there thinking herself so clever. Why would I want to be reminded about how sad I am? Hissing between her fangs, the redguard hurled the book away, disgust filling her from head to toe. There was nothing but pain in between those pages, a part of herself that Yosa'Min never wanted to return to.

With a heavy thunk the book hit the wet sand and came open, loose paper flying out in the wind and dashing back towards the redguard. She made a noise of frustration as the escaping papers blew back into her, snatching them with the up most intentions to tear them in half when burning eyes caught a few words and froze Yosa'Min in place. Lowering the pages she'd rescued from the wind in hand, she began to read familiar writing that did not belong to her, words that were not her own.

They flowed with dignity and duty, resonated with forgiveness, and shared news in which Yosa'Min could hardly believe. Lydia was not only alive, but was recovering from the injuries that Yosa'Min had inflicted upon her. She couldn't understand why the nord forgave her, citing that she had not been herself. The self-hate she'd been keeping locked away resurfaced, consuming her and Yosa'Min hunched over as she continued to read. There was no anger when Lydia told her about Falion, instead she could feel the care and worry the housecarl wrote with, the purest desire for Yosa'Min to be saved from what she was becoming.

Tears welled in burning eyes as Yosa'Min read the letter again and again, trying to recall if this truly was Lydia's handwriting or some trick. When she'd finally decided it was real, she clutched it against her chest tightly, struggling to breathe. "She's alive," whispered Yosa'Min, the memory of attacking Lydia shrouded with bloodlust and pain. As she tried to relive that moment, force herself to accept what she'd done once more, a wall moved into place. Try as she might the wall would not budge, Yosa'Min pressing against it and struggling to see what lay on the other side. Lydia swirled in her mind, one moment beneath her fangs and little more than prey and the next she was trying desperately to save the nord. She could easily remember all the times they fought while hunting Alduin, but the moments of peace and happiness she knew had to exist eluded her.

Was what Lydia said true, could she truly be changing?

"No, no," she uttered over and over again as she reread the words of her housecarl, picturing her dying in her arms again. An image of the nord in snow with a troll corpse nearby flashed through her mind, followed by her rushing to her rescue when Yosa'Min fell from the ice cliffs. She knew there were good times between them and yet she couldn't quite remember them. "I'm okay," she lied, hands shaking as she began to read the other letters she'd caught. "I'm me."

Iona's was similar to Lydia's, pleading and dutiful, expressing their desires only to help her and mentioning Falion once more. The words felt distant however, Yosa'Min knowing the writer but not truly, a passing stranger or acquaintance rather than dear friend such as Lydia. Her breath caught in her throat as she read Vex's, struggling to believe the words. Vex had hurt her, had attacked her and her friends, there was no way she was trying to save her now. Yet, as she read the deeply personal words that confessed missing her friend and not knowing what she would do if she lost her, something inside her shifted. Vex spoke of how she understood that she was to blame some for what had gone wrong in the past, Yosa'Min recalled kissing the imperial in the rain on a beach, or embracing her in an ancient ruin as Vex sacrificed herself for her. She blinked in confusion, the positive memories whisking past for only a moment but she understood what they meant. Vex was her friend, not her enemy. Guilt filled her as she recalled attacking her, screaming and wanting the thief to hurt as she did.

With burning eyes she began to read the final letter, Mjoll's. She lingered on every word, pain and sorrow filling her. The nord's voice swirled in her mind as if she were speaking the honest words to her in person. The familiar pit in her chest rose, Yosa'Min struggling to even understand the letter as her mind reverberated with confusion and anger. She could feel her all around her, hear her hearty laugh and smell the Riften woods as if she stood in the birch forest right then. The world was reduced down to just her and the parchment, the redguard holding it inches from her face as she hunched over it. Yosa'Min focused on three words at the end with wide eyes, unable to move past them to where Mjoll signed her name and revealed her identity, unable to admit to herself that they would dare exist. They couldn't have been what she meant.

Yosa'Min gritted her fangs, closing her eyes and picturing the four women before her. It hurt to think about them, to remember what she or they did wrong, paintings of red and black swirling in her mind. Shadows clung at her, begging her to turn back, that it was far too great a burden to see what waited beyond but she cast them off and rushed forward. A wall blocked her from reaching them, dragging her back into the hungry black as she clawed and pounded at it. With everything she had she fought back, and shouted the wall to pieces. What surged forward was more than she could have possibly imagined, and Yosa'Min collapsed into the sand.

The redguard wasn't certain how long she lay there, her mind a storm of thoughts and memories, when Serana was shaking her. "Yosa! Yosa what happened?" Serana turned her over, frowning with worry.

"I'm not sure," whispered Yosa'Min in pain. "Did you find anything?"

"Blood and corpses, vampires."

"They were here," said Yosa'Min slowly, struggling to think as images flickered before her eyes, visions of her friends there one moment and then gone the next.

"I smelled my father too..."

"He has them."

Serana stiffened before giving a slow nod. "Most likely."

"Fuck the hidden passage," growled Yosa'Min as she rose to her feet, "it'll take too long. He knows we're coming, so let's go meet him."

The shrine of Molag Bal was filled with vampires. Every loyal member of Harkon's court waiting in the archways and balconies, watching as the duo walked in, the rest of the Castle empty. Yosa'Min's eyes immediately focused on the leader of all those vampires, and the four mortals bound before him. Her grip on Auriel's bow tightened as she walked alongside Serana, their heads high as they entered. Harkon drank slowly from the chalice, transformed into his vampire lord body and watching them with predatory eyes. They stopped a few feet from the line of hostages, Yosa'Min examining them carefully to assure herself they were still alive. Fluttering, pained heartbeats reached her ears, and she glared up at Harkon who simply smirked in response.

"It's over father!" Shouted Serana, glaring into his smug eyes.

"For once you are correct my darling daughter," he replied, flicking a hand. "Yosa'Min, give me that bow."

"No."

"Give it to me!" He repeated loudly, his usual calm demeanor lacking. Yosa'Min narrowed her eyes and shook her head. The vampire grimaced, something violent just barely contained as he looked at her. Slowly that violence was replaced with a dark smile, sipping from the chalice further. "My dear fledgling, I was hoping we could avoid things becoming so messy. Why do you wish to protect the mortals? They're beneath us!"

"I am not your fledgling," snapped Yosa'Min, "and it's not just the mortals I'm protecting it's vampires too. You think they won't figure out vampires are behind the sun blackening when everyone is being drained and hunted? They'll kill us all because of what you do!"

"Father you should know better," cut in Serana, "you're going to destroy us all." She turned to those gathered of the clan, her eyes roaming over the familiar faces and trying to see if any of them might be swayed to their side. Surely some of them had to have realized the insanity of her father! Garan Marethi gave her a slow nod, a surge of confidence rising up Serana as she caught similar looks among the clan while others like Fura seemed willing to give their lives for Harkon without question. Others seemed conflicted, struggling to decide who to follow. "The moment the sun is blackened the Dawnguard will grow exponentially and come for us. We've already encountered them, they're strong and will have the support of all the mortal leaders. We are not invincible father, no matter what that chalice might make you think."

Harkon's brow twitched, and he snarled in frustration. "These mortals will fall beneath our boots where they belong! They hate us, they'll kill us anyways!" A curl came to his lips and he gestured to the four women before him. "They hate you."

Yosa'Min scowled. "For once speak the truth Harkon."

"Am I not? Perhaps you should hear it from them then. Go on Lydia, tell her what you really think."

Lydia rose her head, blinking up at Yosa'Min with pain and confusion. Instantly the redguard locked eyes with her, relieved at seeing her alive in person and wanting to scoop her up into a hug. "My Thane," she said slowly, struggling over the words as if trying to stop herself from saying them. "I wish... I wish I was never your housecarl. I wish that I walked away that night in Whiterun instead of gone back to you. I deserved so much more than what you gave me."

Yosa'Min stared at her, before she dipped her head softly. "You should have left but you didn't, you deserve so much more than me. Even knowing why you stayed I still can't believe it."

"I was a fool."

The redguard was silent for some time, her mind clouded with memories. Looking into hazel eyes, she could see the very same clouds muddling Lydia's mind. "You are charmed," replied Yosa'Min at last, dismissing the pain the words caused inside her. She could see what he was trying to do, and refused to fall for it.

"You're pathetic!" Snapped in Iona, Yosa'Min taken off-guard by the rage in her voice. "You can never admit the truth, not before and not now. What kind of hero runs away from everything they face? We hate you Yosa'Min, we hate having to take care of you like some child, you're a grown woman you need to act like it!"

"Shut up," snarled Yosa'Min with prickling anger, her words striking a nerve.

"Stop this nonsense father, fight us with whatever scrap of honor you have left," demanded Serana.

"But you haven't heard what everyone thinks," he easily replied, "Vex? I'm sure you have plenty to say to your dear friend."

Cloudy amber eyes were settled on Yosa'Min, pain and anger mixing with defeat. Her mouth worked back and forth but nothing came out, Yosa'Min's chest tightening in anticipation. "I-I should have let you drown," she hissed slowly, "None of us would be here if you'd died in that cave."

"Stop," whispered Yosa'Min, the darkness that had clouded her memories returning. Already she could feel them locking away, something sweeping them behind a heavy wall, making her grit her fangs in anger. Harkon gave a malicious smile, and prodded Vex to continue speaking.

"Why couldn't you have kept your legs closed? I gave you my heart and you broke it for the next blonde to smile at you."

"I'm sorry!" Shouted Yosa'Min, "I never meant to hurt you!"

"What else were you going to do to me?"

"I- I don't know..."

"Yosa," Serana whispered, a hand on her fledgling's shoulder. "Don't believe any of it, I can see the charm my father has on them. They don't mean any of this. Let's fight him, if we move quick enough we might save your friends."

Yosa'Min was stiff, staring dead ahead at the women her mind couldn't decide were her friends or not. A part of her mind roared to kill them, while the other begged her to save them. Serana's words confused her, why would she save those who hated her? She wanted to attack Harkon, but she couldn't move, rooted in place as she awaited Mjoll's charmed anger. The Lioness rose her head, a blow to her skull marring her beauty as pained golden eyes settled on Yosa'Min. She gave a pained grunt, brow furrowed as she struggled against Harkon. A long moment of silence passed, Harkon's manic grin growing crazier by the second. "Tell her what you think," he ordered, a swirl of magic around his fingers.

Mjoll jerked to the side, chest heaving with effort, and she bared her teeth in a pained grimace. "Yosa," she uttered, slowly looking up at her, "I-" she cut herself short, hunching over and shaking her head in refusal. Harkon's grin turned feral, and he cast more magic upon her. "I'm sorry," whispered Mjoll, fighting back against Harkon's control. "I'm sorry I left. I'm sorry I gave up. I'm sorry I became what I hate, a liar and a coward." The words came in a rush, "I should have talked with you, this is all my fault."

"Speak the truth!" Snapped Harkon, looming over her.

Golden eyes met burning suns, no fogginess of charm obscuring her gaze. "I love you."

A dead silence fell upon the castle, the tension suffocating as all looked at Yosa'Min, waiting to see how she would react. It dragged on, the redguard blank and staring back at Mjoll as she processed what had been said. Desperate, Harkon burst into laughter. "How cruel, even still she lies and toys you along!"

Yosa'Min walked forward, each step making Harkon twitch. She stopped a few paces from the Lioness, her grip upon Auriel's bow firm. Burning eyes shut tight, a grimace upon her face as she let out a ragged breath. When they opened, Mjoll could almost imagine blue instead of orange. "Kitten?" She asked raggedly, the three words shattering the walls that were rebuilding themselves, the one thing she'd yearned for.

Tears welled in golden eyes, and she gave a desperate nod. "Yes! It's me!"

A smile tugged at Yosa'Min's face. "No!" Shouted Harkon, surging forward and grasping Mjoll's head, he dragged the nord away from Yosa'Min and threw her into the fount of blood, Mjoll crying out in agony. "You're supposed to kill them!" He screamed at Yosa'Min, the redguard drawing an arrow and attempting to fire it before he struck her. "They're pathetic, weak and insignificant! Why do you allow them to hold you back?" With a sweep the vampire lord knocked her away, Yosa'Min sailing across the shrine, Serana catching her before she smacked into the stone floor. "Mortals are nothing but food!"

The redguard wiped her mouth, a trickle of blood left on her hand. "That's where you're wrong," she replied slowly, drawing a fresh arrow and taking aim. With the shot came chaos, the shrine exploding into civil war as she attacked Harkon. Vampires turned on each other, those who supported Serana and those who did not grappling up in the rafters, hisses and snarls echoing off piles of bones. Harkon dodged the arrow in a cloud of bats, summoning a pair of gargoyles as Serana transformed besides the shooting Yosa'Min. Vex, Iona and Lydia gave shouts of alarm as they snapped out of Harkon's charm, his focus shifted to the battle at hand rather than controlling them.

A vampire gave a vile scream as another cleaved them in two, shouts of who to follow soon becoming an incoherent babble of noise. Yosa'Min continued shooting arrows at Harkon but he dodged them with ease and returned fire with magic. The redguard dodged to the side of one of the gargoyles, rolling around it and using her dagger slashed at its back before she sprinted away. The monstrosities roared and stomped after her, Yosa'Min recalling far too many battle with the creatures and started to climb into the rafters to put some distance between she and them. Glancing behind her, she was pleased to see a trio of vampires had come to her aid, stalling them long enough for her to reach safety up high. Turning her focus on the pair of grappling vampire lords, Yosa'Min tried to assist her sire.

Serana held Harkon against a column, fangs snapping into each other's necks while hands pushed and clawed, legs kicking out to inflict as much damage as possible. Harkon howled in pain as an arrow pierced his side, another nicking his long ears and narrowly missed his face. Harkon pushed Serana off of him, ribbons of blood streaming after her as she tumbled down to the stone floor, her father pursuing swiftly. Serana cried out as she smashed into the fount of blood, Harkon slamming down after her but before he could crush her into the remarkably sturdy object Yosa'Min deflected him with a shout, "FUS!" Harkon spiraled aside, crashing through one of the rafter's supports and making a whole section collapse onto him.

"Yosa!" Came a shout, drawing the redguard's attention to where Lydia and the others were limping to her across the rafters, their weapons in hand. Instantly she forgot the battle and rushed forward, taking Lydia in her arms and holding her as tight as she possibly could.

"I thought you were dead," she whispered guiltily, feeling the housecarl return the gesture in full. "I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay," replied Lydia as they pulled back, "I made it that's what matters."

"Yosa'Min... Are you yourself?" Iona asked softly, making Yosa'Min frown.

"I am enough... I read your letters." The four mortals grew tense. "Thank you for them." Her gaze lingered on Mjoll, Vex trying not to frown as the nord gave a weak smile. "I wish it hadn't come to this."

"Yosa-" Mjoll had begun to speak but her words were cut short as a vampire shrieked in terror, rushing past them as a gargoyle climbed into the rafters.

"Talk later!" Shouted Vex, jumping to the side as the gargoyle roared and came to attack. Yosa'Min felt a rush as she watched the imperial dive into the fray, images of the past rising to the surface of her mind and she clung to them like they were driftwood at sea. Mjoll was at Vex's side, bringing her battleaxe into a stone shoulder as daggers lanced its bat like face. Together they drove it back down below, disappearing into the chaos of civil war. Lydia remained behind, guarding Yosa'Min as she fired arrows while Iona began to glow with magic, a sheath of fire coating her blade before she too joined the fight, not going as far as the blondes.

A vampire allied with Harkon came at their flank, hoping to capitalize on the gargoyle's distraction but Lydia gave a warning just in time. Yosa'Min rolled aside and fired an arrow at the vampire's skull. He dodged in a flurry of bats, reappearing a few meters away and hissed in frustration. "Harkon is our Lord!" He screamed as he blocked Lydia's strike, "How dare you defy him?"

"Your lord is a mad man!" She replied, shooting another arrow but this time it pierced his shoulder. Lydia's sword swiftly removed his head before he could escape them. The brunet smiled at Yosa'Min, having missed fighting alongside her. Before they could revel in the moment further however, there was a deep boom that filled the shrine, and Yosa'Min felt the castle shake with thunder. Battle cries and the clank of metal rose above the torrent of combat, and from the grand doors came a stream of Dawnguard, Isran at the front.

"Attack!" Came the order, and the well equipped vampire hunters surged forth like a wave, pushing back anything in their way. Armored trolls came from the rear, instantly zoning in on the gargoyles who roared in challenge at the invaders. They battled like natural disasters, heedlessly killing anything that got in their way, tears limbs and crushing underfoot. Every vampire turned to face the hunters, ignoring their civil war as their mutual enemy appeared. Harkon at last pulled himself from the wreckage of the rafters, Serana struggling to her feet and just faintly hovering above the blood-slicked ground. Burning eyes settled on the redguard at the head of the attackers, and Harkon swooped forward to strike his enemy. Isran brought his warhammer to bear, blocking the claws of the vampire lord, and a stream of bolts flew from various crossbows, Harkon narrowly avoiding a majority of them with his shadow dash but even still his wings bled from fresh wounds. With clear determination, the vampire lord dove once more, killing a pair of soldiers and raising their bodies to battle their own.

Yosa'Min glanced to where Serana was fighting with by a duo of Dawnguard, her sire easily defeating them but they seemed endless, more and more of them coming and attacking before she could catch her breath. Vex's scream echoed off the stone walls followed by Mjoll, Yosa'Min unable to spot them in the tide of battling bodies. Iona stuck close to Lydia, covering her as Dawnguard managed to climb into the rafters, shouting as they charged the pair of housecarls. Suddenly Yosa'Min felt a split, wanting to help all of her friends fight but she could only be in one place at a time. Iona roused her from her paralyzing thoughts of protecting some and losing others with a loud shout. "Go help your sire!" She exclaimed, "she's all alone out there!" Yosa'Min blinked at her, before giving a nod of gratitude.

With arrow strung the redguard rushed across the rafters, mindful of the chaos below and any damage in the half ruined shine they fought in. She'd manged to maneuver herself around to where she had a clear shot of Serana and her enemies, laying on supporting fire that earned a relieved smile from her sire. Serana dove down and a red wave of magic sailed from her hands, sucking the life out of anyone who was struck by it and closing her wounds. Rejuvenated, the vampire lord grabbed one Dawnguard by the throat and slammed him into another, shards of ice battering their armor and making them stagger in pain as none pierced through. A screaming woman came at Serana's rear, only for her to fall dead as a burning arrow penetrated the back of her neck. Working in unison, the pair were making quick work of those that came for Serana.

Across the way Iona gave a shout of challenge as a vampire charged at her, stabbing them through with a flaming sword and with a shriek they turned to ash. "You know that magic is pretty useful!" Shouted Lydia as she parried a Dawnguard soldier, fairly stationary compared to him as he darted this way and that. Iona gave a laugh, exhilarated with the fighting despite the danger, and with a punch sent a fireball into the hunter's face, making him run away screaming. "Very useful," further praised Lydia. Before Iona could respond, a curly haired bosmer came at her side, Lydia barking a warning just in time. Iona blocked his sword, the pair gritting teeth with effort as they tried to overpower the other. Kicking outwards, Iona broke the dual and Syldus rolled away from her flaming blade. With a snarl Iona rushed after him, the bosmer moving as if he were made of shadows rather than flesh and nigh impossible to land a solid blow on that wasn't deflected.

Lydia rushed to assist her, only for another Dawnguard soldier to tackle her, the dwarven apparatus she wore preventing him from forcing her to the ground and instead caused her to stagger back. The brutish man shouted violently as he punched her face with an armored gauntlet, blood erupting from her nose with a loud crack. Darkness swirled in her vision as his fist connected again, a pillar blocking her from moving backwards further. She grimaced through the pain and brought her shield up, the man's strike bouncing off it and buying her enough time to collect herself. Holding fast to the hilt of her blade, Lydia stabbed at him as he tried to tear her shield away, a yelp accompanying the softness of flesh as she pulled back. The man fell to the side, Lydia slitting his throat before he could get back up.

Struggling to catch her breath, Lydia downed one of the health potions the College had been so generous in giving them, a rush of cooling rejuvenation filling her from head to toe. The pinprick marks on her neck still burned, nose aching something fierce too, and she winced as she took in the ensuing battle. From up in the rafters she could see Vex and Mjoll tangling with a pair of vampire hunters, covering each other best they could from the various attacks. They worked surprisingly well together despite their differences, Mjoll stopping the stronger enemies from devastating Vex while she ducked and rolled, slashing knees and stabbing backs. Iona was still fighting with the bosmer Dawnguard, deflecting his attacks and growing frustrated when he blocked hers as well. It didn't take her long to spot Yosa'Min, no longer in the rafters but instead half hidden by piles of bones and archways, firing one arrow after another to where Serana and Harkon now grappled above them, each projectile causing little sunburst explosions that made Harkon hiss in pain.

Lydia blinked as she noticed movement, and quickly started towards her Thane as swiftly as she could in the heavy dwarven rig, sliding down the rubble onto the chaotic floor. Isran was moving quietly with a heavy warhammer, cuts and claw marks speckling his face, pale eyes keen on the other redguard in the castle. "Yosa!" Shouted Lydia in alarm as she drew closer, Isran glaring at her with rage and rushing towards his target. Yosa'Min almost didn't hear the brunet over the thundering battle, and turned to look at her with confusion. "Behind you!" Leaping forward with everything she had, Lydia brought her shield to bear, blocking the downward swing of Isran. She gasped as she felt her weakened legs quake, hoping the apparatus would hold up. Hazel eyes widened in terror as her shield cracked, and then shattered above her, the image of a silver warhammer coming down filling her vision.

There was a sick thud as the housecarl fell to the ground, her skull caved with blood gushing from the wound, making a dark puddle upon the already crimson slicked ground. Yosa'Min's chest tightened, eyes fixated on the sight, begging Lydia to move but she was still. "Your turn," uttered Isran, raising his warhammer up once more.

"FUS!"

Isran went flying back, his weapon ripped from his hands and smashing into a nearby pillar. Yosa'Min rushed to Lydia immediately, magic swirling around her hands as she desperately tried to mend the wound, praying to the Divines that she was unconscious and not dead. Tears welled in her eyes, burning down her cheeks as she shook her and tried to heal her, the wound not changing. In a blink of an eye Iona was at her side, magic in her hands and reaching out to wrap Lydia's body as prayers ran wild from her mouth.

The nord remained unchanged, the blood slowly seeping out of her exposed skull. "No," uttered Iona as tears welled, "No, no!" She desperately pressed her hands to the wound, as if distance was playing a factor in the magic working when she knew very well it was not. "Lydia! Come on Lydia wake up, please wake up!" Taking a healing potion from her hip, Iona tried to save her with it but to no avail nothing changed. "Come on dammit!" She screamed, magic fizzling out as she could no longer concentrate. "Please..."

Isran pulled himself from the archway, grunting in pain and readying himself to fight the pair. Yosa'Min snapped her head up from Lydia's body, fangs bared with unrestrained hate, and she rushed forward in a stream of bats and shadows. Isran grunted as his throat was wrapped in her claws, and she screamed, "You killed her!"

"I was trying to kill you," he said evenly, kicked out with his boot into her chest and she staggered back tearing great lengths of his skin with her. Isran swung with his warhammer, and was blasted back by a trio of fireballs. He squinted at Iona who looked more furious than Yosa'Min, tears streaming down her dirtied face. Lydia's blood was upon her hands, still warm and dripping. "Celann!" He called loudly, and in a blink the breton man was at his side, ready to assist him in the fight.

Yosa'Min's lips pulled back as she bellowed, feral and bloodthirsty, pupils becoming serpentine. What wariness she had possessed about changing inside the shrine, with how tight and constricting it was, was cast aside as her grief consumed her. While scales burst from her body and her neck elongated, Iona rushed forward with a flaming sword and bowel-loosening scream. Isran blocked her attack, but winced as the fire nearly burned his face as she pushed hard against him, backing him into the wall. Celann bashed her off his friend, Iona blocking his next attack with her shield and swinging her sword at his neck.

As Isran went to stab Iona's exposed side, Yosa'Min intervened with a strike of her claws, and the redguard balked at her transformed body. She snarled viciously as she lashed out, Isran desperately trying to block her with his warhammer but she easily caught his flank and sent him into another pillar. Celann grunted as Iona blasted him with fire, and then sliced him across the side he wasn't protecting from the flames. The nord danced around his counter, slashed his knees out and stabbed his chest as he fell, following after him with her boot and twisting her blade to assure he was dead before she rushed to join Yosa'Min's fight.

Yosa'Min's tail whipped out, stumbling anyone nearby before she managed to catch Isran who tried to escape the corner he was in. She grabbed his warhammer with her mouth and hands, wrenched it from his grasp and spat it to the side. Snarling, Yosa'Min shoved him against the pillar as she towered over him on her hind legs, wings flared to shield herself from all the desperate bolts and arrows that were targeting her face. Iona was shouting with fury, demanding his death herself but Yosa'Min ignored her. Every part of her yearned for revenge, blocking out the redhead's cries. "You killed her," came a deep snarl, Isran struggling against her.

"She made her choice," replied the man bravely.

Serpentine pupils drew into slits, her face contorted with emotions, and she grasped his head with one of her hands. Despite his attempts at breaking free, Yosa'Min squeezed, feeling the crunch and wetness with each moment. She felt nothing, no satisfaction or anger as she killed him, blood seeping between her fingers. When she released him there was little but gore left, and she turned to the fight that had slowed.

Serana and Harkon were hovering, still grappling one another but clearly their attention had been drawn to Yosa'Min. Cold yellow eyes settled upon Harkon, and with a flap of her wings Yosa'Min had covered the distance between them and tore the vampire lords apart. Serana crashed into a trio of Dawnguard soldiers, Vex and Mjoll quick to assist her. Harkon screeched in fury, claws dashing her scales, as she shattered the stain glass window and took him into the sky.

"Unhand me!" He demanded, Yosa'Min clutching him tight but not tight enough to crush his innards. The hybrid said nothing, instead going further into the air, the clouds consuming them. "Let me go and I can bring her back!" He screamed, feeling the burn of the sun as they cleared the clouds and Yosa'Min hovered, clouds bending around them with each heavy beat of her wings.

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, fangs bared. "Impossible."

"I can!" Harkon repeated, trying to wriggle his hands free but she held him with both arms. "You underestimate me Yosa'Min, I am centuries old I have learned much over those years. Necromancy is a vampire's favorite past time even, I can bring her back for you! You just have to let me go!"

"And give Serana and the bow to you," she hissed slowly, tightening her grip, Harkon's ribs nearly cracking at once.

"No no, I'll bring her back if you simply help me defeat those vampire hunters! We'll deal with all that once your friend is alive once more!"

Yosa'Min flapped her wings silently, staring deep into the vampire's eyes as if to see the soul he no longer possessed. With a snarl she shook her head. "Liar."

A sly grin dawned across his face, and he gave a half shrug. "Of course I am," he purred as he managed to free a hand, tossing a powder into her open mouth as fire bubbled in the back of her throat, the hybrid retching instantly and releasing him. The pair began to fall, Yosa'Min's body shifting back to her human form as they plummeted to the Sea of Ghosts below, green scales shedding like emerald drops of rain with tendrils of blood and shadow chasing after them. Harkon took hold of her, his leathery wings opening as he began to coast them back to the castle. The redguard groaned and swore incoherently as she transformed back to normal, and by the time they'd returned through the window she was herself once again.

"Serana!" Harkon bellowed, hovering above the fountain of blood with Yosa'Min in his arms. "Stand down."

The vampire, who'd been fighting with what few Dawnguard remained, turned to him and scowled darkly. Everyone gave pause, Mjoll clutching a bleeding side while Vex took the chance to down a potion. Iona however did not, instead she continued to slice and burn any Dawnguard she saw, the soldiers no match for her combined powers. "Let her go father!" Demanded Serana.

"As soon as I have your word that you will stand down. This nonsense has gone on long enough! It is time that the prophecy is fulfilled!"

"You won't kill her," snarled Serana, ice magic swirling in her hand, "you want to make her your fledgling."

"Of course I do," he grinned, "did you not see what power she possesses? Power I could control!"

Serana narrowed her eyes, and drew closer to him but he instantly placed his fangs above Yosa'Min's neck and she stopped. Her gaze flickered from his to something else, confusing him as she smirked. "The thing is father, no one can control a dragon," she said slowly, "not really."

Harkon arched a brow, about to mock her, when Yosa'Min surged and bit down into his neck. The vampire lord snarled something obscene as she put everything she had into the hold, Harkon desperately trying to get her to release him. As claws pulled at her face, Yosa'Min shouted between blood and flesh, "YOL TOOR SHUL!" Fire swept forward to consume him, burning the man from the inside out and all around. His green skin bubbled and boiled as smoke and fire escaped his gaping maw, an unholy scream filling the shrine as he burned, every orange flame hungrily devouring him until there was nothing left. The proud, unstoppable vampire turned to ash before their very eyes, the pile falling to the fount below along with a drained Yosa'Min. Before she smashed into the blood fountain, Mjoll caught her in her arms and pulled her close, golden eyes checking for deadly wounds.

Serana looked at where the Dawnguard stood, in awe and terrified, and curled her lips into a menacing snarl. "Run," she ordered, any remaining vampire in the shrine looking at her obediently. With Harkon no more it was clear who the new reagent of the castle was, and from the look upon a few of their faces it was easy to see they were relieved it was her that had won, despite whom they had fought for in the battle. The vampire hunters glanced between where the Daughter of Coldharbour stood and their fallen leaders. Instantly they swiftly began to flee. Syldus lingered, eyes settled upon Isran. "Now," hissed Serana, drawing him from his grief and thoughts. Brown orbs hardened, promising revenge, before he too fled. "Wait until they're out of the castle," ordered Serana lowly, "we've had enough bloodshed in our halls." The vampires nodded, and slowly followed the mortals fleeing for their lives.

Serana turned back to those that remained, taking in the injured imperial and broken nord, her eyes lingering on Vex as the pair hovered over Lydia's corpse. Iona's hands were pressed to the injury, magic flowing as she tried to revive the brunet one more time. Serana looked at Mjoll who held an unconscious Yosa'Min tightly, as if she were afraid of letting her go. Despite the victory, there was nothing but sadness in her heart as she realized what was to come.

AN: Apologies for the lateness, this is the longest chapter in all of Dawn (7K!) and rightfully so. A lot of things got in the way of writing this, lots of life changes and trips, but here it is! I'm very excited to here your thoughts on this chapter, from Lydia's death to Mjoll's confession and what's to come. How fitting that the battle should happen in chapter 50! Thanks so much for reading, especially 50 chapters worth!