Sorry I have been gone so long guys, life ya know? Thank you so much to those who have read and favorite, I am really surprised and overjoyed! This chapter like the others has not been checked by a beta, so there could be mistakes. I do not own Skyrim or its characters, Dala, Rorin, Thalia, Arya, and Regan are mine. I hope you Enjoy.
The journey to Riften took the better part of a week as they had to go over the Throat of the world. Dala remembered her first time going up that damnable mountain. Four trolls and a dragon later she had stood at the doors of the Greybeards. Those old codgers had forced her to go to some remote tomb to find a stone horn! And the damn thing hadn't even been there, instead a simple note that said the horn was with someone in Riverwood. It had started a very long and hard process that ended with the death of one certain blade. Dala smiled to herself as they tethered their horses in the stables, she wouldn't ever miss Delphine, the women had only used her. Her thoughts went mute as a small hand touched her arm. Looking over Dala smiled again, it was forced, but it was a smile none the less.
"I'm fine, just thinking about an old quest I went on." Arya nodded but the concern never left her face. Sighing Dala grabbed onto the hand touching her and squeezed. "Come on, I'm sure we have a lot to do, I don't think I have ever stepped foot in Honeyside, I'm sure it is atrocious." Arya simply nodded as they walked over to the gates. The guard on duty today was the same one who had tried to rob her the first time they had come to this city. A nice little scar across his cheek was his reminder. He looked down as she approached as he practically threw open the gates. Dala snickered as she passed. Once inside the city They were met with the bustling noise of Riften. Dala sighed as she looked around, everywhere she looked memories surfaced. Brynolf trying to get her to join the thieves guild, Maul threatening her, breaking his arm afterwards. And nothing that reminded her of her family, that was her point in coming to Riften, it was the only city in this blasted land that didn't have some connection to her family.
They walked the short distance to her estate and shoved open the door. Arya immediately started coughing as a thick layer of dust was upheaved into the air. Dala swiped her hand through the air to try and clear the bothersome fog as she looked around. The space was completely barren except for a few wooden chairs and a small box.
"Homey, don't you think?" Dala cut a glance to Arya and sighed,
"Its not perfect, but we can make it a home. Please just try, for me. I couldn't have stayed there, not after... after what happened." Dala knew she was being selfish, but she needed Arya to stay with her. If she lost her too, she didn't know what she would do.
"I know Dala, they were taken from me too, just... just give me some time. I didn't want to leave. But I would never leave you." Dala let out a breath as she let go of Arya, silently they both went through the house, too lost in their own thoughts to speak.
After the quick walkthrough Dala came to the conclusion that not only did they have no furniture but they didn't have a single piece of food, clothing, or any weapons except for the ones on their backs.
Dala simply sat on the floor as Arya left, she knew the younger woman was off to start buying the things they needed. Sighing she laid down, the ceiling was made of brick, a nice contrast to the dusty wood around here.
Dala shot up at the sound of the door opening. She hadn't meant to doze off but the floor had been so comfortable, and she had been so drained.
"Did you fall asleep?" Dala turned to look sleepily at Arya. The smaller woman had both arms full of sacks. Dala could see some contained clothing, while others contained food.
"I guess, I didn't mean too." Arya shrugged as she set the sacks down then proceeded to sit down next to Dala.
"I got some food, enough for a few weeks. And some clothing, down here its not really cold but they still get a freezing rain. I talked to Brynolf, he has guys coming over with all the furniture that we'll need as well as weapons. This place should look more like a house by tomorrow." Dala took the offered apple gratefully as Arya started sorting the items she had gotten.
"Thank you." Arya turned to look at her with a questioning look. Sighing Dala gestured to herself.
"I'm useless right now." Arya gently smiled at her as she dug out her own apple.
"Don't be sorry, and you know me, I hate when you shop anyways, you have no self control." Dala felt a real smile light up her face as she laughed sheepishly.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Arya just gave her a look as she stood pulling Dala up with her.
"Come on, the guild wants to give us a welcome home party." Dala sighed as the smaller woman practically dragged her towards the door.
"Not tonight please, I don't feel in the party mood." Arya kept her grip on the blonde as she threw open the door
"Come on, there will be mead and wine. Brynolf said he got in five cases of that Argonian blood wine you like so much!" At the mention of her favorite alcohol Dala perked up slightly.
"Okay fine, but if anyone touches my wine, there will be blood." Arya nodded as they walked through the door... and straight into a city guard. He caught Arya as the two fell to the ground. Dala couldn't help but laugh as Arya scrambled to get off of him. Unfortunately for the two Vex just happened to be walking by at that exact moment. She glanced over at the commotion before continuing on her way only to stop and swivel around. Dala shook with laughter as Arya shot up and after the now fuming Vex. Dala turned to help the guard up, she remembered him from one of her earlier trips here. He was very sweet.
"Sorry, Arya doesn't always look where she is going." He shook away her statement and grabbed onto her arm.
"Dragonborn we need you!" Dala's face grew serious as she gently pried off his hand.
"What's going on?" He had fear in his eyes as he whispered the one word she never wanted to hear again.
"Vampires." Dala took off running, she was going to kill these bastards this time. She could hear fighting at the gate as she ripped her swords from their sheaths. The first one didn't even see her as her blade sunk deep into his shoulder. With a yank his head dropped to the ground. Dala roared as she went for the next vampire. This one was smarter than its dead brother and quickly started to run. With her rage fueling her Dala shouted harder than she ever had.
"WULD NAH KEST!" She shot forward and split the bastard in two. Turning she scanned the area for any more of the fuckers. Disappointment gnawed at her when she saw none alive. A firm hand on her shoulder had Dala turning, her blade inches from the face of an Orc, a human Orc unfortunately. Dala immediately lowered her sword as she glared at the man.
"What!" It was said more harshly than she meant but she really wasn't in any mood to be civil anymore. For his part the Orc looked genuinely sorry as he gestured to her kills.
"You fought well, they didn't stand a chance. I have an invitation I would extend to you if you so permitted me." Dala motioned for him to continue for which the Orc was grateful. "I heard what these monsters did to you Dragonborn. They deserve justice, I am part of an organization that serves that justice. We call ourselves the Dawnguard, our goal in life is to exterminate those vile creatures. You would be a welcome addition to our campaign. Plus, I'm sure you will come across the thing that killed your family." Dala shoved away from him only to step into his personal space to press a blade to his throat.
"Don't you everuse my family for your personal gain. I am not some damn sellsword for hire! The only reason I'm not shoving this blade into your miserable neck is because... well.. there isnt a reason actually." The Orc screamed as Dala slowly pressed the blade into his neck.
"Dala stop! What in Talos's name are you doing?" Dala turned to Arya with dead eyes and blinked, the red haze slowly dissipated and she looked back at the Orc who, at this moment was trying not to pass out from blood loss. Lightning quick she withdrew her blade, the Orc fell to the ground clutching his neck.
"Well, if you are done trying kill me, the entrance is to the East. Just follow the trail and you will come upon a cave to the left. It will take you to the Fort." Dala simply nodded before walking to the gates and out of the city. Behind her she could feel the assessing eyes of Arya, she couldn't look at her yet.
"Dala!" The blonde ignored her friend as she hopped onto her horse and started in the direction the Orc had told her. Only to be stopped by a short pixie like woman with fury in her eyes. "Don't you dareignore me!" Dala simply looked at her and sighed.
"I know Arya, I fucked up. I shouldn't have lost it back there but I did. Can we go now?" Arya simply glared at her before stomping over to her own horse and getting on.
"Don't think this is over Dala, I get that you are hurting. Believe me I know. But you are the Dragonborn, and more importantly my friend. I won't let you throw away your morals because of this." Dala, not in the mood for another heart to heart simply nodded before gently nudging her horse into an easy trot. It took them all of ten minutes to get from the gates of Riften to the cave. Dala snorted as she hopped off her horse.
"They could have hidden in better, every low life vampire in the Rift will be looking for this place." Arya nodded as she squinted at the cave, unlike Dala she had been born on the elf side of her heritage giving her some useful skills, like elf sight.
"I don't see anything, it looks pretty safe. There is a path through the cave that opens into a hidden pocket in the mountain and it looks pretty used." Dala patted her on the shoulder as she started into the cave. Her horse whinnied behind her and gently nudged her.
"Are you sure there isn't anything in here, Angus doesn't seem to like it that much." The black Shire horse neighed again and nudged closer to his master. She patted him affectionately as she led them deeper into the dark.
"He is worried by the smell, many vampires have come through here." Dala inhaled and picked up the faint scent of vampire, as well as blood.
"Can you pick up how many?" Arya shook her head even though Dala couldn't see it.
"No, the scents are of varying times, not all of them came at once. But most of them died here, you can see the blood stains." Dala quickly cast Candlelight to illuminate her surroundings. Arya had been right, blood painted the walls everywhere she looked. bodies also lay in the cave, some vampires, most, men and women in tattered and rotting armor. Most were in later stages of decaying.
"Good to know these people are good at their job." Arya sighed behind her,
"Most of these bodies are months old. There must have been a battle." Dala shrugged,
"Why haven't we heard about it? The last four months we have been in Riften working with the Guild. This isn't recent enough for when we went to Solitude." Arya shrugged as they emerged from the tunnel into a large path blocked by solid towers of rock on both sides.
"You're right, this pocket is well hidden, not many people would find it except for that cave." Dala turned and hopped back onto Angus as gently nudged him into a slow trot down the worn path. As Dala took in her surroundings she noticed a man standing farther down the path, he shifted from foot to foot as he looked between Dala and what she assumed was the way to the fort. She encouraged Angus faster as she quickly rode up to him. Stopping the horse she simply looked down at him, he didn't look like a guard, in fact, he barely looked older than 16.
"Is this the way to the Dawnguard?" He nodded jerkily before shifting from foot to foot again. Dala tried not to roll her eyes as huffed out an irritated breath. "What do you want boy?" He looked down before slowly meeting her eyes.
"I was wondering if I could ride up with you? It will take me most of the day to get up there, it's quite a distance, and... and I don't really want to go up alone." Dala's eyes softened, this boy reminded her of Rorin.
"Sure, why don't you climb on up?" He looked at her gargantuan horse and paled,
"You want me to get on... on that?" His voice rose an octave as panic entered his eyes. Dala smiled as she patted Angus's neck.
"He won't hurt you, Angus is a fluff ball at heart." He looked at the ground again as he mumbled something.
"It is not polite to mumble youngling. Especially not to people your senior." He quickly looked up, a blush in his cheeks.
"I said I have never ridden a horse miss... I don't know how to get on." Dala sat back on her horse as she thought.
"Well then I will just show you." She gracefully hopped off the horse to land lightly on her feet. Surprise registered on her face as she came nose to nose with the boy, for such a young age he was quite large. "How old are you youngling?" He tried to steel his stance as he puffed out his chest.
"I am 18 miss, old enough to enlist." Dala cocked her head as she crossed her arms.
"And what does an 18 want to enlist for?" A hard glint entered the young man's eyes as he looked down at the axe at his side.
"My Ma and Pa were killed when I was 12 by those monsters. I want revenge." Dala shook her head sadly as her own memories flashed before her eyes. A soft hand touched her shoulder and she looked behind her to see Arya smiling gently. Taking strength from her friend, Dala turned back to the boy.
"I should tell you that revenge is not the answer, it only creates a bigger hole inside of you. But it is exactly why I am here so I won't." He simply nodded his thanks before letting her help him onto the massive horse. Dala hopped on in front of him and gently kicked the horse into a slow trot.
It took them an hour to get to the fort even on horses. As Dala looked around she was less than impressed, there were no gates to protect the fort, a measly camp with only one guard stood outside the fort, and the monolithic structure itself looked run down and in serious need of repair. She hopped off the horse and waited for the young man to as well before walking up to the gates, Arya on her heels. Only one guard stood guard, he looked them up and down quizzically before smiling.
"You here to join?" Dala simply nodded. "Good, we need people, and you look pretty capable. Go on in, Isran will put you to work." Dala looked at her horse,
"Angus, hold." The horse neighed loudly before walking over to the base of the fort to eat grass. Arya did the same with her horse, neither would move without their master's command. Turning back to the guard she smiled.
"If you could get them some water that would be great." He started to speak but Dala ignored him as she pushed past and into the fort. Inside was dark and musty, cobwebs and dust piles littered the walls and ground. She could see dimly, a few piles of crates here and there, and a few tattered flags. Overall, very unimpressive. The immediate entrance opened into a circular room that had three archways breaking off of it, leading to other parts of the fort. In the center stood two men, who appeared to be arguing. Dala sighed as she prepared herself for what could possibly be the stupidest decision of her life so far.
The blond snarled as she ripped the head off yet another death hound. The disgusting beast howled in agony seconds before it dropped dead, its head falling next to it. Dala turned to watch Arya as she ran her sword through the vampire, who had set the dogs on them, with a satisfied smirk as the creature screamed.
"I am going to kick that Redgaurd's ass." Arya nodded in agreement as she wiped her blade on her pant legs, both of which were covered in blood.
"Lets just skip out now, its not like they know what is in here anyways." The thought tempted Dala, but in the end her shred of honor won out as she shook her head.
"We gave our word that we would scout the tunnels for them. I don't want to break my word, it is the only thing I have left Arya." The half elf looked at her with understanding as they continued farther into the caves. Not fourty feet in front of them, behind a large metal gate, a vampire and a giant frostbite spider were battling ferociously, neither getting the upperhand. Arya started forward but stopped when Dala touched her shoulder.
"Let them fight this one out, we will take on the victor if there is one. No sense in fighting both when we don't need to." Arya nodded and stepped back as they both waited for one of them to die. Dala grumbled when the vampire finally sunk his rusty blade into the spiders heart, killing it. Arya swore next to her with a matching look of irritation.
"I really wanted the vamp to die." Dala nodded her agreement as they threw the switch to open the gate. The vampire turned and snarled at them, he was obviously wounded, his body was covered in his own blood. But he was still strong. That was apparent the second he threw Dala into one of the many pillars in the room, her back making contact with a piece of stone jutting out. The air left her lungs as she slid to the floor clutching her middle. Arya yelled causing the vampire to stop his advance on the downed blonde and turn to her. Dala used the opportunity to get to her feet and lunge forward, her blade pointed in front of her. She grinned as it easily slid through the dead flesh of the creature, almost purring as his yells of agony died down. She jerked her blade from his body and looked up to see Arya eyeing her worriedly.
"I am fine, he didn't break anything." The smaller half elf nodded as they walked through the destroyed room and into a very large cavern. Dala practically snarled as voices floated up to them on the cliff edge. Two more vampires, and possibly another one farther along. Dala couldn't tell, all she knew was another three people to kill. They were only about thirty feet above the unsuspecting vampires, the jump would hurt Dala, but if she rolled right, it wouldn't break anything. Taking a deep breath she leapt off of the stone and braced her body for the impact. The vampires hissed as she hit the ground and rolled (quite perfectly she might add), using the momentum to drive herself forward and into the first blood sucker.
It was a female, the high pitched yell attested to that. She was dead before she even had time to bring her hands up in defense. Her head rolling a few feet away. The male vampire snarled and ripped Dala off of his dead companion. Bringing her close as he got ready to bite her. Dala's heart stopped for a moment as his fangs touched her skin, fear clogging her throat. Before those disgusting points could sink in, a blade was being shoved through hm, the tip almost slicing into Dala's skin. Arya glared behind the monster as she ripped her blade out causing him to drop Dala. As soon as she had cleared his body Arya twirled, decapitating him. She quickly ran up to the blonde and touched her shoulder.
"Are you okay? Did he bite you?" Dala shook her head as her hand went to her neck. There were two slight indents where his fangs had been, the the skin wasn't broken.
"No, you got him before he could." Arya's face loosened with relief as she helped Dala to her feet. Dala smiled a second before her face twisted in pain. An arrow had just sunk into her shoulder, the tip protruding from the other side. With her good arm she grabbed a dagger from Arya's waist and, turning, flung it into the neck of the thrall who had shot her. He grabbed his throat as blood flowed from his mouth, dead before he hit the ground. Arya glared at the wound as she broke the top off before jerking the shaft out of Dala's shoulder. The blonde hissed in pain as she pressed her palm to her shoulder and summoned her magic. A soft golden glow filled the cavern as her wound knitted itself back together, until a smooth circle of scar tissue remained. Dala rolled her shoulder experimentally, it was sore but movable.
The blonde sighed as she looked around. In the center of the cavern, raised on a island of rock, were a bunch of pillars, as if the area had once been part of a fortress. In the center stood a lone pillar with a blood red dome on its top. It was shorter than all the rest, the top coming to Dala's stomach. They slowly walked up to it, nothing else moved in the musty space of the cavern, only the sounds of the flowing water beneath them penetrating the air. Several busts with glowing purple dust sat at random points, the only other things on the island of stone. Dala ran her hands along the side of the short pillar, not yet willing to touch the top. It looked like dried blood crusted it, especially around the skinny hole at its center.
"It is a trap, we should move on." Dala sighed as she looked back at Arya.
"What if this is what the Isran was talking about? Why the vampires were here? It is most likely a trap, but I have to take that risk." She gently put her hand over the half dome and pushed down lightly. The mound was actually a button, it slid down easily before she lifted her hand. She wasn't quick enough though as a twelve inch spike shot out from the hole in the center of the button and impaled her hand. Dala screamed in pain and anger as the spike disappeared, taking with it a good stream of her blood. She cradled her hand against her chest, she couldn't heal this one. Using too much magic, even healing magic, was not a good idea. Arya started forward in worry, quickly binding Dala's hand a a purple mist sprung up around them. Some touched the busts, but others flowed in front or behind it.
Dala put the pieces together and quickly walked up to one of the busts. The purple light flowed through the cracks on the ground behind it. She shoved her body against the bust, puffing out a breath as it started to move. The thing was heavy, it took a lot out of her as she finally got it into place. A sound like something locking echoed in the cavern as a purple flame exploded in the bust, causing Dala to jump back in surprise. The purple light started moving again, showing Dala where it wanted the next bust to be. She sighed in irritation as her and Arya slowly moved the rest of the heavy busts into place. Finally they were done, they started back towards the pillar only to stumble to their knees as the ground shook and dipped, creating a sort of bowl in the stone as a giant tomb like pillar slowly rose from the ground. Dala slowly rose to her feet as soon as the ground stopped shaking and walked up to the stone structure. She reached forward to touch it only to jump back as the front slid down with a click to reveal a woman. She fell unconscious to the ground, her head slamming against the stone hard.
Dala swore as she bent down and picked the woman up slightly to check her head. Not even a scratch. Dala cocked her head in confusion as two eyes opened, orange flames dancing in them. Arya yelled behind her as the vampiress pulled out of Dala's arms and quickly pinned the woman to the floor. She shoved Arya into a stone pillar, effectively making the half elf go unconscious before turning back to Dala with a somber expression. Hate filled Dala's veins, but so did something else. She couldn't help it as arousal coursed through her system. She glared in disgust at her body's betrayal as she looked up at the vampire. She was incredibly attractive, with perfect pale skin the color of fresh snow. Her hair was the perfect contrast, the ebony locks flowing softly around her face in perfect loose curls that fell to what Dala assumed would be her chest. Her lips were plump for a vampire, her fangs peeking out from behind their pink cover. Even her eyes had a sort of hypnotic beauty, the fiery orange irises swirled with intensity as the vampire appraised Dala. Without meaning to, Dala let herself feel the strong grip of the vampire, her slender arms rippling with power. She closed her eyes in disgust and arousal as she felt the vampires thighs flex around her waist. Hatred flowed through her as she opened her eyes again. The vampire still lay on top of her, an un known expression entering her eyes, it almost looked like remorse.
"I am sorry for this, but I am just so thirsty..." Dala tried to buck the vampire off as she lowered her lips to Dala's neck. The blonde tried to ignore her bodies immediate hum of pleasure at hearing the vampires voice, or the feeling of her lips on Dala's skin. But her body refused to listen as it went slack in the vampires grip.
"Please... please don't bite me." Her voice was breathy as she said it, what the hell was wrong with her! Soft lips skimmed over her skin as the vampire inhaled before slowly opening her mouth and setting her fangs against Dala's skin.
"I'm sorry, I can't stop." Dala screamed as fangs pierced her skin, but it soon turned to a moan of pleasure, her hands fisting as she arched herself into the vampiress.
Seranna closed her eyes as she drank greedily, she hated what she was doing. She hated hurting humans, but she was so thirsty, she couldn't help herself. Power coursed through her veins as she lapped up the woman's blood, she tasted like the sweetest wine in the world. Serana felt as if she had the blood of the ancients in her as she slowly lifted her mouth from the woman's neck. She looked down at the woman quizzically, tears were in the blonde's eyes, but her expression showed one of pleasure. Serana sat up, still keeping the woman pinned underneath her as she frowned.
"What are you, you don't taste like a human."
Dala was knocked out of her trance as the vampire spoke again. But she could not speak as tears started to fall from her eyes, she would be turned into the one thing she hated most... and she had let it happen! And she had enjoyed it! A wave of nausea flew through Dala and she turned her head to the side.
"Please, just kill me." Serana cocked her head as she looked down at the woman.
"I'm not going to kill you, why would I do that?" Dala opened her eyes to look up at the vampire, Arya was still knocked out a few feet away, there was no way for her to escape.
"Stop toying with me! Just kill me and be done with it!" Her tone was harsh as she peered up at the vampire, tears still falling freely. Serana shook her head as she loosened her grip on the woman.
"I don't kill humans unless they have attacked me first." Dala shook her head as desperation entered her voice.
"Please! I can't become a vampire! I will kill myself before I let that happen! Spare me the agony and kill me!" Serana actually laughed as she shook her head.
"Just biting you won't change you, there must be an exchange of blood. don't worry human, you won't turn into one of me. Speaking of, since you are not one of my kind I can only assume you were here to kill me. Thank you for freeing me, but I must go now, please don't feel like what I am about to do is personal, but I cannot let you stop me." Dala was about to ask what the vampire meant, but she didn't get the chance as her vision went dark, something hard connecting with her skull.
It is a longer chapter this time, and I think it turned out well, tell me guys what you think!