Isran met us in the main hall when we returned; Serana went to make a blood potion. I showed him the bow, and his eyes widened. "You have it! Auriel's Bow!" He took the weapon gently, reverently. "I've heard it described in tales, but I could never have imagined its beauty."
"We need your help, Isran." I told him about the power of the bow, and what Serana and I had planned.
"Indeed. The day hasn't been won while Harkon still walks Tamriel." He glanced at the alchemy room. "But what of it? Can it be trusted to lift a blade against it's own kind?"
Snapping his neck would not have been helpful, but for calling Serana "it", he truly deserved it. "I trust her."
Isran grunted. "I suppose that's all I can hope for. Let me address the Dawnguard and we'll be off. The men deserve to know that we've gained the upper hand. Everyone!" he shouted. "Gather 'round."
The vampire hunter began a speech that I was sure was inspiring, but I could care less. I went to check on Serana before I went and found a better sword. I was beginning to enjoy carrying one, but the Falmer blade wouldn't suit me. It was tossed aside for a glass sword that glinted in the firelight. Back downstairs, the speech was finished, and they were getting ready to leave.
Serana and I met them outside the castle gate. We left the hunters to fight the others, pressing through the crush until we reached the chapel. Harkon waited there, in that sick, demonic form he had shown me before.
"Serana, my darling." He greeted her cordially, as though the tension in the room wasn't so thick you could cut it with a stick. "I see you still favor keeping a pet."
I growled as Serana said, "You know why we're here."
The creatures face gave the impression of disdain. "Of course I do. You disappoint me, child. You've taken everything I've provided for you and thrown it all away for this... mongrel."
She scoffed. "Provided for me? Are you insane? You've destroyed our family, you've killed other vampires, all because of some prophecy we barely understand." She swept her dagger to the side, flicking blood from it. "No more. I'm done with you."
"So I see this dragon has fangs," he sneered. "Your voice drips with the venom of your mother's influence. How alike you've become."
"No," she snapped. "Because unlike her, I'm not afraid of you anymore."
He raked her with an derisive look before turning his gaze on me. "And you... It appears I have you to thank for turning my daughter against me. It knew it was only a matter of time before she'd return with hatred in her heart."
"Hatred borne of your neglect," I spat.
"A small price to pay for the betterment of our kind," he snapped.
"Which one? Backstabbing snakes or vampires?" I shot back. "Vampires wouldn't be 'bettered' by this, they would be massacred."
"Always the noble one," he said, voice full of scorn. "And when you slay me? Is Valerica next? Is Serana?"
I spat on the floor, enjoying his outraged hiss. "Neither of them would be foolish enough to start a war to destroy all of the races," I growled, voice changing as my beast-blood sang through my veins.
"Auriel's Bow will be mine!" he thundered, gliding toward us as the crackle of stone heralded his gargoyle allies.
The battle was of a ferocity that I had not fought in a very long time. Harkon would melt into a cloud of bats just as I would have hit him with a Sunhallowed arrow, and once or twice he rose to hover over the shrine. A blood-red shield protected him from harm until Serana shouted at me to use the bow. The light of the sun brought spots into my vision, but it brought down the barrier quickly enough.
A shriek startled me, and I spun around with the bow drawn. Harkon held Serana in his arms, standing on the ground rather than floating. "Shoot me," he cried, madness evident in his voice. "Destroy me, and watch Serana burn too."
I dropped the bow, head tucked as I growled at him.
He laughed, a maniacal howl that echoed throughout the room.
He had no way of stopping the knife.
Harkon's laughter broke off in a gasp, as he dropped Serana and stepped back, black eyes wide. Her knife clattered to the stone floor below, as blood drained from the wound. He staggered up the steps to the altar, but collapsed just short. "No," he panted. "Serana.. your own father..." The vampire's words died away as he melted into smoke and dissipated.
Serana dropped to her knees, head bent. though she made no noise, her frame shook with silent sobs. I knelt by her, my arms around her and my head against her shoulder. We stayed like that as the sounds of fighting slowly quieted.