Chapter 2: Serana

Talis and Tymvir grew accustomed to Fort Dawnguard. The two of them trained in use of the Crossbow: While Tymvir used it with proficiency; Talis still preferred her bow, Riikkrinejun. Celann walked back into the fort. Among them were a few new recruits, and a Vigilant of Stendarr.

"Isran, Tolan is here to see you." Celann had a saddened expression on his face.

Talis and Isran walked up to him. "What do you want Tolan? The Vigilants and I were finished with each other a long time ago."

"Isran, the Vigilants are being attacked everywhere. Their threat is even greater than we imagined." Vigilant Tolan said.

"And so you come here for safety. Keeper Carsette kept telling us that Fort Dawnguard was a crumbling ruin, not worth the resources." Isran said.

"She's dead." Tolan said. "Carsette is dead Isran."

Isran was silent for a moment. "I'm truly sorry Tolan." Isran said.

"How did she die?" Talis asked.

"The Vampires, they attacked the Hall of the Vigilant."

"They're pretty bold if they were confident enough to attack your headquarters." Talis said.

"I think they were on their way to Dimhollow Crypt." Tolan said. "I overheard them say they were looking for something."

Isran turned to Talis. "Alright Talis: This is your first mission as a member of the Dawnguard. Take Tymvir with you and seek out what the Vampires are after at Dimhollow."

"I'll meet you there." Tolan said. He ran out before anyone could suggest otherwise.

Outside the Hall of Vigilant ruins…

Talis and Tymvir took a look around the burnt ruins. "Wow. The Vampires really did a number on this place." Talis said.

Tymvir looked upon the ruble. "Do you think they would be rash enough to attack Fort Dawnguard?"

"Possibly." Talis said. Talis looked around and saw a trail of footprints; three human sets, and one belonging to a dog. One of the human ones came from a different path. They were heading up the nearby mountain. "Look. Tolan must've got here before us."

"Hopefully, he didn't go inside the crypt." Tymvir said. They followed the trail up the mountain, and saw that Tolan wasn't at the entrance.

"Don't tell me: He went inside. That idiot." Talis said. The two of them ran into the crypt. They crept in and listened. Talis peeked around the corner and saw two Vampires, one Death Hound, and Vigilant Tolan, dead. Talis drew Dovkaalkrine and Tymvir drew his Crossbow.

"Well hopefully, another Vigilant will…" The male Vampire began to smell the air. "Hold on. I smell a dog."

"Vampire hunters are said to take dogs into battle with them." The Female Vampire said.

"No, not that kind. I mean a filthy Werewolf." The Vampire said.

Talis ran from her hiding spot with DovKaalkrine drawn. "Damn right." She charged forward, slashing at the Death Hound. Tymvir shoot the female Vampire. Talis turned her attention to the male one. He started to cast Vampiric Drain on her. "Uh, did you forget what you just said? I'm a Werewolf. Vampiric Drain won't work on me." She walked up to the Vampire and took his head, swinging her sword to flick the blood off of it.

They continued down the crypt, slaying the Draugrs, Vampires, and Tymvir slain the few spiders the Vampires left alive. When they continued on, a gate blocked the way. On the other side was a Vampire fighting a Giant Frostbite Spider. He killed it.

"Oh. Well, the Vampire did my job for me." Tymvir said, pulling a leaver to open the gate. The Vampire turned and saw them, resurrecting the spider.

Talis' eye twitched as the spider rose. "Oh fuck this son of a bitch!" She drew Dovkaalkrine.

"Hey!" The Vampire called out. "While she may have been a mortal, no one talks about Mother like that!" Tymvir shoot the resurrected spider, killing it again and making it disintegrate. Talis charged at the Vampire, as it began to unsuccessfully cast Drain Life on her. She slashed diagonally, from left shoulder to gut.

They entered into the deeper parts of the tomb. Talis and Tymvir peaked over the balcony overlooking a strange sanctuary. They saw two Vampires with another Vigilant of Stendarr, stripped of his clothes, and being beaten.

He coughed up blood. "I'll never tell you anything Vampire. My oath the Stendarr is stronger than any suffering you can inflict on me!" Vigilant Adalvald said.

"I believe you Vigilant. So go and meet your precious Stendarr." The male of the two, Lokil, said. He drew a Steel Sword and drove it through Adalvald's chest, right through his heart.

"Are you sure that was wise Lokil? He still might have told us something." A female Vampire said.

"He served his purpose." Lokil said. "Now it's up to us to bring Harkon the prize. Oh, when I come back with it, Vingalmo and Orthjolf will be so jealous when he praises me in front of the entire court."

Talis and Tymvir snuck down the stairway. They drew their weapons. "Watch this." Talis whispered. She looked at the open area next to the body of Adalvald. "ZUL MEY GUT!" She shouted quietly. Near the area she was focusing on, her voice was thrown. "Hey, Melon-Nose!"

Lokil turned around. "Who's there? Who dares to insult my nose?" Talis drew Riikkrinejun's string and let her arrow fly. In irony, she aimed for his heart, and pierced it. The second Vampire tried to find them, before Tymvir's Crossbow bolt hit her.

After dealing with their thralls, the duo was looking around the ruin. "Look at this place. Have you seen anything like this in all of Skyrim?" Tymvir asked. The look of the structure was definitely not Nordic.

"No. I've been inside almost every tomb in Skyrim, even Valthume." Talis did not have pleasant memories of Valthume: Yet another Frostbite Spider den in the tomb. She looked around and noticed a pillar in the center of the structure. Talis placed her hand on it, only for a blade to stick out of it and stab her hand. She yelled out in pain when it hit. The blade then retracted with Talis' blood still on it.

"Talis!" Tymvir ran to her side. He took her hand. "What happened?"

"That blade. It just shot up and pierced me." Talis said. She began to use Close Wounds to heal herself. A strange, purple aura surrounded the outside of the pillar. Talis looked around at the braziers surrounding them.

Tymvir stood up and moved one, and is ignited. "We have to move these." Tymvir began to move them, Talis doing the same once her hand healed. When they were all lit, the ground shook. The pillar began to rise from the ground, looking more like a coffin now. The stone lid slid off, revealing a woman. She collapsed.

Talis ran up to her. "Hey, are you alright?" Talis asked.

The woman, her eyes glowing orange, looked at her. "What…who are you? Who sent you here?"

"We're part of a group called the Dawnguard." Tymvir said.

"Never heard of them. I was expecting… someone like me." The woman said.

Talis took a better look at her, noticing the fangs. "You're a Vampire."

"Gee, what gave it away? The glowing eyes or the fangs?" The Vampire said. "So who are the Dawnguard?"

The two Nords stood in silence for a moment. "We're…Vampire hunters."

"Oh. Well look. Kill me, and you've only killed one Vampire." She said.

"Actually, by my count, we've killed at least seven." Talis said.

"Well, if someone was looking for me, than something bigger is going on. I can help you find out more if you get me to my family's home." The Vampire said.

Tymvir turned to Talis. "Well, it's your call."

Talis looked at the Vampire. She noticed the Elder Scroll on her back. "Alright." Talis said. "Where is your home?"

"On an island to the west of Solitude." The Vampire said. "There should be a boat by a fort named…what was it again?"

"Northwatch Keep?" Talis asked.

"That's it!" The Vampire said. "By the way, my name is Serana."

"Talis Winter-Blood." Talis introduced herself.

"I'm Tymvir Stormcloak." The Skyrim prince said.

As they slew the Dragur and Gargoyles, Talis approached the Word Wall at the end of the tomb. She absorbed the word of power.

"How did she do that?" Serana asked.

"Oh. I'm Dragonborn." Talis said, turning to her.

Serana's eyes, well, who knows if they could light up even more? "Well, didn't expect to travel with an ancient hero."

As they made the journey back to Northwatch Keep, the Nords began to talk with their new Vampire companion. "So Serana, how long have you been shut in that crypt?" Talis asked.

"Hmm. Good question." Serana said. "Who is Skyrim's High King?"

"My father, Ulfric Stromcloak is the true High King." Tymvir said.

"I don't know the name Stormcloak. Is he well supported?" Serana asked.

"Well, during the Civil War, many of Skyrim supported Ulfric while Elisif was supported by those who were loyal to the Empire." Talis said.

"Empire? What Empire?" The Vampire questioned.

Talis and Tymvir looked at each other in shock. "The Empire…in Cyrodiil." Tymvir said.

"Cyrodiil is the seat of an Empire?!" Serana asked, shocked.

"Wow. If you didn't know about the Empires, then that means you've been down there for at least 4000 years." Tymvir said.

"That long?!" Serana was shocked. "Definitely longer than we planned."

"Well, you look good for your age." Tymvir said. Talis elbowed him in the side. "Ow."

On the way, they told Serana about the important events that happened while she's been sealed away; Tiber Septeim, or Talos, the Oblivion Crisis, the Empires, and most recently, the Stormcloak Rebellion and Dragon Crisis. After a few days of travel, they finally reached Northwatch Keep, now under the control of the Stormcloaks. "I'll go with Serana to her home." Talis said.

"Good. I'll stay here and write to Father." Tymvir said. He entered the keep.

Talis and Serana got on the boat. They rowed across onto the island, to the large castle fortress. Talis found the place foreboding. "Yep. This is definitely a Vampire lair." She turned to Serana. "By the way, is that an Elder Scroll on your back?"

"Yes, and it's mine." Serana said.

"Who said it wasn't?" Talis asked.

"Sorry. It's just that, until I get home. I don't know who I can trust." Serana said.

"I get it." Talis said as they pulled up to the shore. "Well, either I'm going to meet Serana's friends, or I'm walking into a trap…maybe both."